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Monday, March 27, 2017

May this week be brighter...


Doing much better, so far today.  ;)   Think it's been a low-level crud for over a week, but it came to a head (so to speak) yesterday.

AW:  Sunshine today!  And holy cow, no rain predicted all week!  The universe has been trying to make up for the 5 year drought, all in one season.  Which is cool and everything; snowpack is such that there could be skiing on the 4th of July, which doesn't happen around here, and that also means the water supply will keep flowing even after the rain stops.  But enough already.

W:  It is well beyond time to start tackling the mess of papers in my office.  They are disorganized, and there are lots of them.  Maybe one sector at a time?

Thanks for all the dress suggestions last week! 

What is new with you?

73 comments:

Liz Miller said...

W: My glasses broke.
AW: They are fixable.
W: But not by me.

kathy a. said...

Oh, Liz is a leader for style with that haiku!

But ugh about broken glasses...

kathy a. said...

Just took a depressing stroll through Nordstrom, Macy's, and (why not) amazon online. Saving eshakti for after I rest up, and thinking there might be more there. Saw a couple of possibles, but mostly they all flunk the tests of fit, size, length, style, and not out-flashing the bride. Plus, it turns out I have a no-sequin rule, and a just forget about off-the-shoulder rule. This pretty much firms up my decision that if I consult a personal shopper (an actual store might have more selection), there will be no witnesses present.

esperanza said...

On some dresses on eshakti, you can ask them to change neckline, sleeve length, adjust length to your height, add pockets (!), etc. So that may be more to your liking. I am also anti-sequins/beads pretty much, and definitely anti-anything that requires me to purchase a special bra.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I'm in firm agreement about off the shoulder, and you're right that sequins and all that sound too glitzy. Kathy, I suspect that eshakti will have dresses that are more your style: Book of Faces Memories tells me that you said that the dress I bought for last Easter was just your style, and I saw a lot like mine (just below the knee, nice shape, shoulders covered, a bit of a v neck, pockets) on the eshakti site.

W: husband's rascally phone made a beep at 4am, because he forgot to select "silence all" at bedtime. I'm helping him schedule "do not disturb" times, and threatening to disable sound notifications for everything but texts and phone calls. (I think the notification was for an email or for Book of Faces.)

kathy a. said...

Oh, QWP, a beep at 4 a.m.?? Somehow this made me think of the song, "if I had a hammer..."

Yes, I think eshakti will have more in my style range. And more options about style and size.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh my goodness, looking into further discussion of our provincial budget just made me angrier. Our minister of education just argued that we have too many libraries. And said that smaller areas should just rely more on ILL, IGNORING THE FACT THAT THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDED SHUTTING DOWN THE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY THAT DELIVERS ILL MATERIALS. Also, they're finding new and creative ways to screw over the cities, and somehow they're raising our education and library taxes (both of which they took over from the cities a while ago), and also cutting both of their funding drastically? Where the fireplace is that money going? Because it sure as fireplace isn't going to schools and libraries.

I'm so angry. Time to write to my representative again (who I know is sympathetic, and who actually asked all those angry questions in question period today). (Mostly, it'll be "Keep up the good job and I agree with everything you're saying.") And I have to get off my butt and sign some petitions, even though they're only taking hard copy signatures, and so that means I'll have to leave the house to do this.

kathy a. said...

Write! Call! Bother the hell out of all of them, QWP!

In the just kill me now category, I found this at nordie's -- please take note of the shoes, as well as the price tag. http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/alexander-mcqueen-off-the-shoulder-bicolor-jacquard-dress/4563561?origin=category-personalizedsort&fashionsize=Regular%20XL-XXL%20(16-18)&fashioncolor=ROYAL%20NAVY%2F%20LAGOON

esperanza said...

That has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, kathy a, except that you would definitely not outshine the bride. Yuck.

kathy a. said...

The cost is also approximately what we're paying for the wedding facility! Or, it could go a long way for various other things. Ahem. My daughter and I used to go sometimes to Needless Markup, just to laugh at the price tags. Some parts of this expedition feel like that.

The very kind vet sent a condolence card and pawprints of our dog. Knew what it was as soon as I got the mail, and cried for the longest. She was a good dog.

esperanza said...

That is a very kind vet. And sometimes a grieving person needs to cry for the longest.

Liz Miller said...

I wore something very like that for Halloween 22 years ago. It was my mom's lace wedding dress (for her wedding to my stepdad), that she'd dyed black after so she would wear it again but it shrank, so it came to me. But no. That does not scream MOTG to me.

Sending hugs for your grief.

I didn't mean to Haiku, btw. The glasses are fixed.

Liz Miller said...

QWP, keep at them. I know that your team will win, even if not always in the short term.

Liz Miller said...

Kathy, what's your price point?

Your length is below the knee, right? No sequins. No special underwear or bra. But I do need to ask, how are your current bras for fit? Remember to tighten up the straps a bit when you try on the dress, if they've stretched, you will feel dumpy in the dress. Ask me how I know.

What do you think of this one? http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/komarov-embellished-a-line-dress-jacket-regular-petite/4579280?origin=category-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=NAVY

Liz Miller said...

Or this one? http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/alex-evenings-mixed-media-fit-flare-dress/4625169?origin=category-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=SILVER

Liz Miller said...

The Komarov dress comes in lots of colors

http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/womens-mother-of-the-bride-dresses?origin=leftnav&cm_sp=Left%20Navigation-_-Mother%20of%20the%20Bride&top=72&sort=PriceLowToHigh&flexi=60197317_60197321&brand=1330&size=%272%3Aregulars~~2%27%7C%272%3Aregularm~~3%27%7C%272%3Aregularl~~4%27%7C%272%3Aregularxl~~5%27%7C%272%3Apetites~~12%27%7C%272%3Apetitem~~13%27

kathy a. said...

I have a deep, spiritual need to go watch more Grace and Frankie.

but thanks, Liz. xoxo

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I am out of Grace and Frankie episodes, and feel bereft. I'm tempted to watch them again. That was a really good season.

Hugs, Kathy. That's a thoughtful vet you have.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I think E and I might venture out to our first-even protest! We're facing some drastically awful cuts to our libraries, and there's going to be a read-in outside all of the constituency offices (at noon on the 7th). My MLA is involved in it, and so I'd be going to her office to support her in it. I think E and I will stop at our local library branch first, to pick up a few books to read, and have fun with it. Since everyone's encouraged to take their kids, we might even be able to get a story time going!

Liz Miller said...

QWP, that sounds like a terrific first protest!

kathy a. said...

Go, QWP!

I will return to virtual dress shopping sometime soon. Tomorrow, going to costco to pick up my brand new card (yay), and do some bulk shopping. This is probably the closest office supply store now, too.

Sue said...

I'm glad the glasses situation has been sorted, Liz.

kathy a, I'm so pleased the vet sent such a nice card about your precious pup. That's good care.

As for the dress, I agree on the sequin/glitter/shiny aversion. I concur with Liz on the checking of the bra fit prior to trying anything on. Been there, done that.

Yay QWP and E, on your protest plans!!!!

Good luck with sorting out your office, kathy!

W: Both hubby and I have had an annoying head cold over the weekend. Better now, but zero energy and a small mountain of work to do. We have a TaiChi class in the church hall this morning and their soothing music is making me very sleepy!

AW: Nice music.

Liz Miller said...

These fireplacing allergies are killing me. I've had to use my rescue inhaler twice today, and I still feel like I can't breathe.

kathy a. said...

Ack, Liz! xoxo

kathy a. said...

Sue, hope you guys are feeling better!

Ack. The bra fit, too! I'm so doomed...

Also, all out of Grace and Frankie. Told n3tflix, I want more! Stat! So do my friends!

esperanza said...

AW: feeling efficient and accomplished today. *Before* out of town meeting, and while on the way to it, I (1) got the oil changed in the car; (2) stopped at Big Box Hardware Store and got what I need to fix our leaking outdoor faucet (I hope); (3) deposited my check at the bank; (4) filled up the car with gas. Then I attended the meeting and had lunch with its chair (outgoing) to pass on info to the new chair (me).

W: tired

kathy a. said...

Esperanza -- Wooot! And congrats, I hope, on the chairmanship, too!

esperanza said...

I think so...it's a committee whose work I enjoy. And being chair of it will give me a plausible reason to either not be asked to do other things, or to say no when asked. I've said no to a couple of things lately which I would not enjoy, and this felt different, so I said yes. It's lots of detail work to keep up with, but details are my natural inclination, so I think it will be ok. I'm taking over (next year; this year is a transition year) from a not-detail person, so I may need to develop some systems to help me keep track better than he does.

Anonymous said...

Esperanza, I bet you will be terrific at that!!!

kathy a-- have been admiring the picture you posted this week, and thinking what a beautiful tree that is!

:) NL

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Hooray for the new committee chair! I'm sure you'll be great at the job, esperanza.

W: I have to get over my nervousness and send two emails to Germans in my field, this evening. (A major archive and a professor.) My written German ist nicht sehr gut, and so I'm writing in English to both (with the hope that it'll be okay, since the archive has an English-language website, and the professor's university has a major English-language degree program, and he's written a book that involves British people). I haaaate sending emails asking for a favour, and I'm especially nervous because I'm doing it on behalf of someone else.

AW: I'm being paid for this uncomfortable task, and I just managed to send off the email to the archive, and received back an automated response in both German and English (saying that it could take between 5 days and 4 weeks to get a response, depending on how complicated the request is).

Okay okay, I have to email this professor. My HOPE is that he's nice and will be willing to meet up with my client when she's in Germany this summer (she's a historian too! She needs more information about his field! Please please be a nice person who is interested in her question).

esperanza said...

QWP, take comfort that you do not have to apologize for your country's president while sending emails to Germans.

Seriously, why is stuff like that so hard? The only thing worse would be having to do it in a phone call.

Anonymous said...

Spent the evening in the ER making friends with a nebulizer. Now am sitting in the recliner trying to stop coughing enough to get to sleep

Liz on iPhone

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh no, Liz! I hope you are okay, that you get some sleep, and that your breathing improves quickly.

esperanza said...

W: Terrible thunderstorm last night = no sleep.

W of much more consequence: Little buddy Waylon's condition continues to worsen. A ventilator is likely today. They've called their families in.

Sue said...

Oh no, esperanza. I'm so sorry to hear about Waylon.

Ugh, Liz. Sending good energy your way and hoping you managed to get some sleep.

QWP, good job with the bilingual emails!

kathy a. said...

((( Waylon and family ))) I'm so sorry, Esperanza.

Liz, hope you are better today! xoxo

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh no, that poor little Waylon. I'm sending hugs, and praying, esperanza.

Liz, I hope you're home and doing better now.

esperanza said...

Waylon died this morning. Send all your thoughts and prayers for his family, especially his twin sister. Fireplacing cancer.

Thanks for being here, y'all.

kathy a. said...

((( Waylon and his family ))) xoxoxoxo

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh no, esperanza. I'm so sorry. I'm sending you hugs, and praying for his whole family.

Sue said...

I'm so sorry, esperanza. Prayers and hugs for Waylon's family and for you. xoxox

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry, Esperanza. Many hugs to you and my thoughts are with everyone who loves him.

Liz on iPhone

Miranda said...

((Waylon))) (((all those who loved him)))). Cancer can fireplacing fireplace itself. 😓😓

esperanza said...

Thank you, everyone. It helps to have you here.

W: thunderstorm interrupted sleep + 2nd grade field trip + emotional upheaval = esperanza tired in every way a person can be tired

esperanza said...

AW: I learned way more than I knew about llama poop.

Anonymous said...

((((((esperanza))))))) Keeping Waylon's family and friends in my thoughts.
--NL

Liz Miller said...

Today I went to the allergist for follow-up on yesterday's ER visit.

All my allergy and asthma meds are changing: off Zyrtec, on to a prescription drug; switched my inhalers for different inhalers (one of them will be $267 with insurance. No, I'm not kidding).

Got a blood test to see if the skin and subdermal allergy tests missed anything because mold count is pretty low, and all the tests I took before say I'm not allergic to pollen (my itchy mouth and throat are telling us otherwise).

Allergist warned me that I might just have "highly reactive airways" and that even if I'm not allergic that particles of stuff may inflame them.

I pointed out my itchy mouth and throat. He said that was probably a good indicator that we're looking at allergies.

THEN I went to the eye doctor and I'm getting a pair of bifocals. The kind with the line. Much better than the two pairs I've been juggling.

esperanza said...

Ugh to all of that, Liz. I hope all of the changes get you some relief.

kathy a. said...

Oh, Liz. I really hope the med changes help! Because preventive meds really can. xoxo

Esperanza, sending more love for you and Waylon's family. xoxo



esperanza said...

Funeral is scheduled for Monday, right when I was supposed to be making a report at a meeting. Oh well. Meeting, schmeeting.

kathy a. said...

Funeral trumps meeting, for sure. xoxoxo

I am up to my eyeballs with this person in a support group for my SIL's fatal degenerative disease, who is the most "it's all about ME ME ME ME ME" person I've ever virtually met. Grr. If a man bops her with a cluestick, she takes it (somehow) as an affirmation. The rest of us? Hold onto your helmet, because something is incoming. Grr. Think I am overdrawn at the Bank of Patience for Fools.

esperanza said...

Cluesticks to ME person.

Liz Miller said...

Funerals trump meetings. I am so sorry and still thinking of all of you.

I am feeling loads better, but still feeling like crap, which tells you about how I was feeling before, right?

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I'm sorry that the missed meeting will probably create extra work for you, but of course the funeral takes top priority. Hugs, esperanza.

I'm glad that you've improved, but am sorry that you were merely downgraded to feeling like crap, Liz.

So many cluesticks for the "ME!" person, Kathy. The support group sure does attract frustrating people, doesn't it?

kathy a. said...

Liz, glad you are feeling better. It takes a while, though, after a bad attack like that. xoxo

Sorry, I guess I have whined in the past about Ms. ME.

esperanza said...

Ms. ME deserves continued whining.

Sorry that "crap" is an improvement, Liz.

I chatted with Waylon's dad (via fb) for a bit. Twin sister is back at school today, by her choice. Poor kid, I'm sure she just wants a little bit of normal.

Sue said...

I hope you're feeling better soon, Liz.

esperanza, meeting schmeeting indeed. Continued prayers for Waylon's family, especially his twin. Poor child, I'm sure her school friends will provide some important pastoral care for her.

kathy, so many cluesticks are on the way for Ms. ME. The posse rides!

Liz Miller said...

Kathy, Ms. ME ME ME totally deserves continued whining. What is up with the other moderators that they are so resistant to blocking her?

((((Esperanza)))) I hope that Waylon's twin sister gets comfort from her classmates.

esperanza said...

I'm sure Morgan (Waylon's sister) will get lots of love from her teachers and classmates. But those poor overwhelmed kids, especially her.

W: I decided that two weeks before Easter was a great time to figure out the church website. This is...um...not my strong suit. But we needed Easter info on it, and it had stuff from May 2016 on it instead. I got that fixed, using the previous pastor's account. Now I am working on getting it transferred over to our own hosting.

Liz Miller said...

Love, love, love my allergist's office. I called with a question re: how to use one of the inhalers (conflicting instructions on the sheet from what I and MS remembered from what the doctor said at the office.) The nurse told me to come right in with my inhalers and she would train me.



kathy a. said...

Cool allergeist!

Esperanza, so much love for Morgan and the whole family. They probably know this and are keeping an eye out, but it is not unusual for kids to feel somehow responsible when there is a death - that maybe they could have done something -- or just general guilt that is hard to explain. Or anger. All of that is absolutely normal! But kids may not always have the emotional vocabulary to talk about it. Or, if they say something, adults around them sometimes feel it is inappropriate, that the family members "should" feel some other emotion. (There are no shoulds with grief.) I am so glad you are their friend in this awful time. xoxo

esperanza said...

I've got some resources and directions to point them in for Morgan, which I'll offer after the funeral. Hospital has also been really good about making sure she has what she has needed. I can't process this as a grownup; I can't imagine how an almost 9 year old is coping.

Liz Miller said...

(((Morgan)))

Liz Miller said...

Shout out to Luigi's Real Italian Ice (orange flavor). Soothing to the throat, and no dairy to increase congestion.

kathy a. said...

Gosh, Liz. That sounds good!

Liz Miller said...

Took my last dose of prednisone last night. Breathing way better, but still feeling like crap: coughing, some sneezing, still wheezing, and sinuses periodically filling up with liquid (seems like quarts).

I keep hoping to be able to sleep in a bed, but looks like the recliner will be on the agenda for at least a few days longer.

How are you all?

esperanza said...

I'm better than that! How long has this crap feeling been going on, Liz? I know you're ready to be better.

Liz Miller said...

Itchy mouth and throat (+ sneezing and cough) started a week ago? Maybe longer? Uncontrolled asthma was Tuesday.

esperanza said...

Ah, rats. Mr. E just got home, and we had a lightning strike nearby that fried his computer and the internet modem.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh no, esperanza! How are your appliances? (And were they on surge protectors with warranty? I'm pretty sure that some of those have money-back guarantees against damage.)

W: midway through the day yesterday, I was hit with stomach pain, muscle aches and nausea. I hope that the crud doesn't spread through our house again. I can handle being sick, but can't handle E throwing up.

esperanza said...

I'm not home yet, but I told Mr. E to check everything. It flipped the breaker that the computer was on, so maybe that saved other things? My parents had something similar, and their homeowners' insurance was helpful. We just need to get it sorted out soon.

QWP, y'all need to stay well! I'm so sorry you're feeling crummy again.

Liz Miller said...

(((QWP))) GERMS STAY AWAY FROM QWP and E. They do NOT need this right now (or ever)

(((Mr. E))) UGH.

kathy a. said...

Yikes about the lightening!

Liz, fingers crossed this clears up soon.

QWP, sorry you feel yuck again; hope it goes away fast!