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Monday, June 19, 2017

Justifiable Whining about the State of the World

This is one of those days when too many horrible things are happening, too many to list, too many to absorb, too many.

Not to mention that Mini has been up since 4:15 a.m. and found it quite unreasonable that I wouldn't let her have screen time then.

47 comments:

kathy a. said...

Thanks for hosting, Esperanza! Sorry about the early-morning wakeup and meltdown combo plate.

The state of the world, she has not been good lately...

Yesterday, it got up to 97F in my area, which does not happen. Then around 1 a.m., we had a freak summer rainstorm for a little bit, which also does not happen here. AW: today's high will be 20 degrees cooler.

W: With the wedding behind us, now I guess I have to do all the boring and dismal tasks that had been put off. Phooey.

esperanza said...

Mini fell asleep instantaneously after stealing my spot on the couch, two hours ago. At least someone is getting caught up....

esperanza said...

...three hours ago...

kathy a. said...

Oh no! Wake her up! xoxo

kathy a. said...

Dying. It is 80F in my house, not even 4 p.m. They promised today would be cooler!

AW: We have cold leftover grilled chicken, and some chilled zucchini soup.

W: In a show of talent remarkable even for me, I managed to decorate the counter, the floor, several appliances, and my own person with zucchini parts, while attempting to use the immersion blender. New personal record!

esperanza said...

One reason I do not own an immersion blender.

W: When Mini woke up, I looked again at the rash on her arm, and it was getting worse rather than better. I called the ped, and we went in this afternoon. Impetigo, from scratching her eczema, which was flared up because of so much time in the chlorinated swimming pool water. Sigh.

kathy a. said...

Poor Mini!

I used the immersion because I hate hate hate taking the regular blender apart to clean it. Although maybe that would have been the better choice...

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh no! Poor Mini!!

Is it weird that I really like my immersion blender, and haven't replaced my old regular blender after it died years ago? (I have a food processor as well.) I have a really nice immersion, and it prevents splattering. It's a Br3vill3, and I use it daily (especially because I can throw the whole metal part in the blender).

esperanza said...

I hope you mean you can throw it in the dishwasher, QWP. Otherwise, I predict danger!

I hardly ever use my regular blender or food processor.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Hahaha, yes I did mean dishwasher!

W/AW: SO TIRED. I got sick of the overgrown hedges, and trimmed a whole bunch of them myself yesterday, while my sister was entertaining E. It turns out that I have wee little arm muscles, and I've been non-functional since then. And there's still cleanup to do, and more hedges! (I only did the ones that were restricting access to walkways.)

Also W: E is still not entirely handling the transition to summer. It doesn't help that, just like every previous June, the sun is waking her up earlier and earlier each day (in spite of heavy duty blinds and curtains, and a north-facing window), and I'm having to set two-hour timers all day, to force her to go to the bathroom, because she's had several accidents. (And, even then, she's fighting going to the bathroom each time). These regressions are exhausting.

Sue said...

Aw, poor Mini!

Sorry to hear about E's difficulty with the transition to summer, QWP. :(

We have an immersion blender, which I (of course) do not use. Hubby loves it though. It's a C@isin@rt.

AW: We had a great visit with our son and his partner on the weekend, and on Thurs I'm heading out West to see our other son. I'll wave when I fly over your province, QWP!

kathy, it's odd getting back to "real" life after such an exciting time. And by weird, I mean, ugh. I hope you make some headway on the dreary. Sorry about the heat. Not a problem here - it's 58F this morning and I'm wearing socks. Feel free to send heat!

kathy a. said...

QWP -- It's summer solstice today! From now on the days get shorter. But it really sounds like y'all are still adjusting to the less structured schedule of summer, as well. Is it possible to designate those early wakeups as "you can play quietly in your bed" time?

Yay, Sue, for the lovely visit! And the upcoming visit to your other son!

In retrospect, the problem with the immersion blender was user error -- I had too much soup in too shallow a container. Something taller would have worked better to contain mess. AW: Never too late for a learning opportunity!

esperanza said...

Sue, your visits sound lovely. And I'm glad you're staying away from the immersion blender :)

QWP, I hear ya. Last week was good for Sweet because we were at a schedule-oriented camp. This week, she doesn't know what to do with herself and constantly asks me what time it is and what we're doing. Her discomfort comes out with the above obsessive questions and general short-temperedness and grumpy. (Mine apparently comes out in poor grammar).

AW: But! Mr E's church has saved the afternoon! I had forgotten, but Tuesdays are movie afternoons at church!

W: Tomorrow is the dentist. I haven't told them. Sweet's meltdown was the worst in a long time when we went in December. She can't take the sensory overload.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Obsessive questions, short-tempered, and grumpy? It sounds like we have the same kid this week, esperanza. Mine needs to be getting more sleep than she's getting, but apparently she's actually trying to wake up earlier, because she's scared she's going to sleep in and miss her daddy in the morning. (She's also really clingy and trying to make him late for work, because she wants maximum time with him. He was only gone for ONE WEEKEND, plus one evening of babysitter, and she's acting like this! Only a few more days until he's on vacation.)

Hooray for movie afternoons! And hooray for Sue's good visit with her son and his partner, and her upcoming visit with her other son. (I'll wave as you fly over.)

Liz said...

I'm having a really hard time focusing. On anything. At all.

Going to a vigil tomorrow night for the girl who was murdered last weekend. It's pretty obvious it was an Islamophobic attack, tho the police aren't going there.

kathy a. said...

((( Liz ))) I'm so sorry. Think I might have heard about that one -- the police say road rage? Like that's better... xoxox

kathy a. said...

If you are a U.S. person and worried about a secret healthcare bill that will get no hearings, that won't even be released in final until the last second -- this is the time to call or email your senators, no matter where you live. There is no good news about all this, beginning with no solid information and no transparency whatsoever about any details. There were hundreds of hearing about the ACA. What the fireplace is up with this?

xoxo

esperanza said...

The police are being completely and transparently stupid. I'm not sure what's going on there. But I'm sorry, Liz.

Will call my two useless senators. Thanks, kathy a.

kathy a. said...

They may not listen, but they do all keep tabs. No senatorial person will be able to say, "nobody really cares about this bill" if everybody is pestering them all the time about the secret, nasty, terrible, horrible, no good, very bad bill. (Kudos to Judith Viorst for some of that language.)

p_k said...

Thanks for the heads up. GAL report came back with just a week of school left. Frantically trying to get some clarifications and corrections and negotiate a summer schedule based on the GAL's recommendations.

Ultimately it wasn't quite what either of us was asking for but I think STBX is more unhappy about the findings than I am. :)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Considering which of you has the wellbeing of the kids at heart, I'd take it as a good sign that you're at least less unhappy with the findings, PK. I hope that the negotiations go smoothly.

And yes, contact representatives that have the opposite point of view from you! They love being able to say "well, MY constituents clearly support me, because I've heard nothing negative from them about it." Honestly, sometimes it feels less productive to contact my representatives (with whom I agree), because it feels more like I'm just saying "yes, more of the same." But I know that they need to know that as well.

kathy a. said...

PK, hope all that gets straightened out satisfactorily. Sure didn't leave a lot of time for planning!

esperanza said...

I am full of whines today:
W: the store did not have my regular deodorant scent, so I chose another one. It is not objectionable in and of itself, but since it is unfamiliar, I keep noticing it. This is the most Old Skool whine ever, perhaps. (Side note, I was messaging with a friend the other day, and was using "old school" as an expression and came very close to misspelling it, with the k).

W: Somehow I am supposed to be having a job. I am not finding much time for work this week. Mr. E is in charge of the Baboos Friday-Saturday because i have a meeting. This meeting technically counts as work, but it offers no opportunity to actually do the work I need to get done.

W: The Baboos have the appetites of lumberjacks. I do not know where they are putting all this food. They do not consume this much food in a day during the school year.

W: I have several mosquito bites that all itch.

W: My flip flops are hurting my toes. I wear them approximately 350 days per year. Why are my feet suddenly sensitive to them?

W: After a string of days in which I had a semblance of energy, today I am dragging. And I promised the Baboos we would make s'mores in the backyard. Because it makes sense to make a campfire when it's 95F outside.

Told ya I was full of whines.

PK, I hope things can get worked out with a minimum of angst and bad behavior on STBX's part.

Fine, I sent my faxes to my senators.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I suspect that the flip flop pain and the mosquito bites are both side-effects of camp last week? You were probably on your feet, outside, for longer last week, as well.

W: I can hardly see straight right now, because I only slept for the second half of last night. I was wound up for a number of reasons, and had sore muscles from all the outside work I was doing, and Mr. Q was soundly asleep and snoring more quickly than usual (and so it was harder for me to fall asleep), and I was at a bonfire in the evening, and in spite of the shower I had afterwards, all I could smell was campfire, which was bugging me at 2am.

But I must finish the last of my freelance project this afternoon, before a meeting tonight. Must keep eyes open through E's quiet time... (Or maybe I should nap a little now, and hope that it helps instead of turning me into a post-nap zombie?)

kathy a. said...

Esperanza -- Ouchie on the flip flops and the skeeter bites! Between the heat and the activity last week, why wouldn't your feet object? All I've got on the bites is that b@ct1ne has a topical painkiller, which helped me when I lived in mosquito country; and it also helps prevent infections. Ice might help all of it, too, except the part about getting your work done.

QWP, bleah on the lack of sleep.

We had a little wake-up quake -- only a 3.3 on the richter scale, which is nothing, but it was a sharp jolt and rattle for a second there, since the epicenter was really close to home. No worries! This kind of thing just keeps us alert!

Anonymous said...

Update: I am a terrible fire builder.

Esperanza outside on the phone

esperanza said...

mosquito bites are from my own back yard, last night. Flip flop troubles began when we were at the beach, with sand rubbing in apparently tender spots. But you're right, camp probably aggravated it.

However, we have not had an earthquake today!

kathy a. said...

Eh, a little 3.3 never hurt anybody! I do, however, still have scars from mosquito bites in the 1980's.

This health care thing is making me kind of insane. There is supposed to be something released tomorrow, but it won't be the actual bill -- more like a summary or something. The actual bill will be snuck in at the last moment before voting is called. NO hearings. Crafted by 13 white men in a back room, no discussion wanted.

One particularly amazing [not in the good way] news blip today is how they plan to exempt congressional people, congressional families, and congressional staff from all the provisions they are cutting back for everybody else. That's how fab this bill will be...

kathy a. said...

A draft of the health care bill is out -- it is not the final, mind you, so it could get worse, but so far it is as bad as predicted. All these cuts, all this heartless action to deprive people of health care, and for what? To give rich people even more tax breaks?? That really is the bottom line.

There are a lot of losers here -- anybody needing medicaid; anybody depending on PP for basic women's health care; anybody with a pre-existing condition; anybody who cannot personally afford enormous costs. The young and healthy may not always be in that category, so even they won't have a long term win unless they are extremely lucky.
Here's a summary: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/6/22/15846728/senate-plan-better-care-reconciliation-act

esperanza said...

My junior senator has come out against the bill. I allowed my heart to leap--perhaps my phone calls have made a difference? But no. He opposes it because it isn't mean enough. Fireplacer.

kathy a. said...

For this particular place in time, opposing it for the wrong reason is OK by me. (Although, yeah. What a fireplacing fireplacer.)

Liz said...

Speaking of health care, I got ANOTHER bill from LabC0rp for $1515 because they keep sending the bill to the wrong insurance company, so it keeps getting rejected.

Called in November, "We promise we'll fix it!", new bill in January. Called in January, "We promise we'll fix it!", new bill in May (billed to a DIFFERENT wrong insurance company. Sent a letter in May (addressed to the place the payments go). No response. New bill today. Wrote a much stronger letter today, with the words, "the next letter will come from my lawyer". Sending it to their headquarters via registered mail, return receipt requested.

I hate being that person, but I'm gonna be that person.

And I'm calling my two terrific dem Senators to tell them to keep up the good work fighting this POS legislation.

kathy a. said...

Liz, does your state have a department of insurance? Consumer affairs? Maybe one of those could help, should you and your lawyer need to take a next step.

I've contacted my senators again, even though they are all over this mess, and will probably keep contacting them just to keep their "people care about this" numbers up.

This is supposed to be the worst day of the heat wave, and before noon, temps in some locations topped 100F. We're so far lucky, only 73F here so far, though already 80-something other places in my small town. (There are lots of microclimates!)

esperanza said...

Yeah, I get what you're saying about any opposition is good opposition, but....I'm worried that it's a staged and planned opposition--like what happened in the house--the bill got meaner in order to appease the right wing fireplacers. I further doubt that these four clowns would actually vote against it, should push come to shove.

kathy a. said...

But everybody should complain away, anyway. We do not know what might get one person or another. If you have any connection at all with a particular critter, or a story that might link to something they say they care about, mention it. The secrecy of the process, the dire results, those are both plenty to complain about.

Plus, from a college friend -- "If the newly proposed Healthcare bill is something you are not in support of, you can now call the Senate Finance Committee at 202-224-4515 and leave a message saying "I call for the committee to hold a hearing on the healthcare bill that was just released." Leave your name, city, state & zip code."

Queen of West Procrastination said...

My perennial weather whine: it's the second day of summer, and it is cold and dark outside! Rainy and 56F. I had to turn on the lights at noon! I'm wearing long sleeves! So wrong.

AW: E is going camping (in a nice camper) tomorrow night, for one night, with her grandparents. She's excited for an adventure, and we're going to a movie tomorrow!

W: this was supposed to be a beach camping trip, but with the weather as it is right now, it might be a board games in the trailer trip. But E will be thrilled about staying in the camper, and won't care of it's too cold to swim.

(Note to self: pack sweaters, and many pairs of socks, in case of irresistible puddles.)

kathy a. said...

Oh, yeah. Extra socks and sweaters cannot hurt. For one field trip to Muir Woods with maybe 3rd graders, right after it had rained, I just packed all the extra socks I could find (lotta sox, with 2 kids and the idea that there can never be too many), and most of the kids needed dry socks. Because, dampness! Creeks and puddles!

Probably all the U.S. Pixies are getting "do this" overload, what with all the problems, and sorry for adding to that. This does seem like a critical place where more bad can be averted, though.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I'm watching the news from Canada, and feeling so angry for all of you, about that healthcare bill! I wish I could phone/fax senator offices as well.

Liz said...

I will be contacting the state if I have to go the attorney route.

And yes, I am ragingly furious with the GOP. The cruelty of their bill is what they love about it.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Liz, I'm livid for you. Such absolute incompetence!

kathy a. said...

The bill is so awful. But I'm trying to find the "what now" parts. Many states have medicaid expansion, and putting pressure on governors and state legislators may also help move senators in those states -- which will end up hugely burdened by all that this horrible awful no good bill intends to do. Time is short! This may not work in some states, but no down side to trying!

My sweet older neighbor's son has been visiting from overseas, and they have been going back and forth between my neighbors' house and their daughter's house maybe 20 miles away. So I did not know that the older gentleman ended up in the hospital again, near the daughter's house -- all kinds of tests run, he's supposed to have OT and PT and I don't know what else. It has been wonderful that the son has been here for a while, but the son and his family need to go back home tomorrow. Sigh. (The parents could not make the son's daughter's wedding because of the last hospitalization; and so they came here for a visit. It's a long trip!)

kathy a. said...

It's so quiet!

Hoping to work out flights to go look for apartments with my daughter. The place she's going has a small airport, only a couple of direct flights per week.

kathy a. said...

I might have picked the stupid airline, but it is the one with direct flights from our nearest airport, albeit offering those only 2 days per week. It charges, literally, for everything. Bags, whether onboard or checked. Choosing your seats! The oddest one was choosing some kind of flexibility thing in case you need to change flights -- $74 to choose the flex, or a $75 charge if you did not choose the flex. Jeepers! The flights themselves were super-cheap, so I guess it worked out OK.

Contrary to what I usually do, I also booked a hotel through this airline. And that was weird, because most of the offerings did not have the usual 2 beds in a room. So for basically the same cost, we ended up booked -- this is the good part -- at a B+B that looks lovely and has a full breakfast! Restored old house; poster beds; bay window. Yes.

Liz said...

Lovely!!

esperanza said...

To whomever is in charge of these things: if we could arrange for me *not* to be awakened at 4:30 am tomorrow morning, that would be great. The smoke alarm night before last was annoying. The Baboo with a hurting leg last night was a little much. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

kathy a. said...

I'd be glad to borrow and entertain an early-rising baboo every so often, since I have odd wakeups anyway. Except, I'm not really nearby... 4:30 is pretty darned early, though. xoxo

kathy a. said...

We visited my SIL today at her care facility, and she is getting good care, but her condition continues to decline and be heartbreaking. She's almost non-verbal; only a rare word is understandable, and often she just doesn't reply even in a mumble. Almost immobile; she cannot rise or walk without assistance, has frequent falls despite assistance. It was an OK visit; she (surprisingly!) responded with "that's nice" to news of our son's wedding, and she liked looking through a magazine with us. She's younger than us, younger than basically everybody at her care place.

The proposed cuts to medicaid, which she will absolutely need if she needs to step up in her level of care (her facility is already going above and beyond for her) seem really devastating just from a personal angle. Much more so from a societal angle.