Got the runny nose, everything aches, exhausted, somewhat queasy thing going on. Bleah. Hoping my tax guy can fit me in, once I'm less infested; this was not a good morning for our appointment, after all.
Didn't have enough energy to drive Clyde to day care. That's probably just as well, since today is sunny, and there will be rain much of the rest of the week -- he's just not into rain. He acts just like a cat if sunbeams are available, stretching out and absorbing the wonderfulness. ;)
My beloved has all this work to get ready for a trial in a few weeks, with bonus out-of-town meetings and stuff.
What's the happenings with you?
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PS -- SPRING starts tomorrow! For real!
Kathy, hope you are feeling much better soon!!!!
spring starts tomorrow, and we are projected to get another 6-10 inches of snow on Thursday.
sigh
But, I do love snow days! (Not the snow so much, but extra grading time is always good!)
--Neighbor Lady
Yes, you need more grading time, NL!
Boy howdy about all that snow...
I've been trying to explain to E the concept of being technically springtime when there's snow falling (context: "But it CAN'T be supper yet, because it's still sunny!"). She's still struggling with understanding it.
But, after the driest 15 months on record (including the Dustbowl Thirties), I'm happy with the snow, and especially with how it's been only gradually melting, so that we don't get flooding.
Kathy, I hope you recover quickly!
W: is it possible that everything electrical is cursed in my house today? First, the toaster was refusing to press down, and when it did, made a non-toast burning smell. Then, the stand mixer developed a new wobble and loud squeak, which caused it to overheat while kneading my bread dough. Now, all the halogen lights in the bathroom light fixture are burnt out! (Okay, we have been operating on one bulb for a couple of weeks, while trying to figure out how to get a replacement bulb, because it's weird. But now the last one is burnt out, and E is having a bath by flashlight right now.)
AW: Mr. Q seems to have figured out the equivalent replacement bulb. Let's cross our fingers that it's in stock at the nearby hardware store, and that it works, because otherwise we're buying a new fixture.
Old Skool: it turns out that the better selection and prices are at the other hardware store, on the other end of town, and now I'm feeling particularly whiny about driving there.
This is ridiculous, because according to G00gl3 Maps, it's only a 15 minute drive from my house. But it's the busy part of town!
Oy about the bulbs! And, you know, all the kitchen stuff. And, snow! When it's almost spring!
I'd just go with "it's too light for supper yet" for the time being, if that works for you. Another way to read that is, she's not hungry yet. YMMV.
But it isn't too light for supper! (She declared this in the middle of eating.) The trouble is, with us living this far north, from now until autumn, she's going to bed when it's light outside (and the sun comes up well before its time to get up). We have to use a lot of trickery (I pull the blinds in all the rooms in the half of the house where her bedroom is, while she's having a bath) this time of year, and then by late June, she's used to the sun being up virtually all the time. (At least we don't live on Baffin Island, like my friends do! Midnight sun and all that.)
It does work to remind her that this is nicer than the beginning of winter, when it's dark for part of the morning.
Sorry about your feeling icky, kathy. :(
Yes, spring snow is a puzzler. We aren't anticipating snow this week, but it's not terribly warm either. Not much melting of massive snow banks going on yet.
W: A meeting of a regional committee of the church is scheduled for next week. Yup, Holy Week. 3 of 12 people on said committee are clergy, rest are retired people. Potential days for meeting are sent out to see which works best. I found out today the meeting is on...wait for it... MONDAY. Yes, my day off. The one I indicated in GREAT BIG LETTERS SAYING "NO WAY" - but alas, all the fireplacing retired people on the committee find Monday more convenient, so sure, I'll fireplacing work 14 days in a row, leading up to Easter. Fireplace!!!!!
Grrr....I will cool off, but for now, I AM PISSED OFF.
This is an ongoing thing, where many don't respect your day off, isn't it? Is there any way to say "As I've always stated, I am not available, and also that is Holy Week"? Does the regional meeting really have to happen before Easter?
Yeah, that totally sounds like bad timing!
And yeah, if saying no meant my voice wouldn't be heard -- I'd go. But you need some comp days.
I'm somewhat less enraged this morning, but not by much. I would take a comp day if it were any other week - but it's not going to happen, because Holy Week. I can take an extra day after Easter, but by then, what's the point, right?
The meeting needs to happen. And I'm Chair-elect, so my absence would be noticed. We have to approve a project in which one of our congregations is converting their massive gymnasium into overflow space for their city's homeless shelter. So, great project, approved by their city council, but can't move forward until our committee gives the thumbs up.
It won't be a long meeting, but that's not the point. It's smack dab in the middle of a day when I'm supposed to be catching my breath before a week with 5 worship services to conduct.
I've made it very clear that once I'm in the Chair, no Monday meetings.
I'm so glad that you're taking over as Chair soon, Sue!
AW: we have light in our bathroom! Mr. Q went to the nearby hardware store (he decided that having the job done quickly so that he could get back to work was worth the extra $6), and finally figured out which bulbs fit in our fixture.
W: E was awake from 4-5am, for no discernible reason, and kept manufacturing emergencies to get us to come to her. Mr. Q went the first two times, and then No-Nonsense Mama went in there, and informed her that, if she didn't get any more sleep, she was going to make herself too sick to go to preschool, and that I could tell that the "missing" stuffed animals were actually in her hands, and Good. Night. (Ugh. This is because Mr. Q went the first time, to give me a chance to rest. She's been so clingy to him lately. But I have so much trouble getting back to sleep, once I've gotten out of bed!)
AW: at least I got back to sleep fairly quickly, and slept past 7:00, and so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
Time to bring back the "slept through the night" sticker chart. That kid will do an awful lot in exchange for stickers.
Puppy got up at 2 AM for a potty run, and then I had a hard time falling back asleep. If I made her a sticker chart, she would eat it.
And, what a coincidence, QWP, we have a "No Nonsense Mama" here, too. Hmm.
I, like Sue, am under piles of books and papers and worship planning for the coming week. I am also getting more and more distracted by the fireplacing bombs. I suppose that is an understandable distraction, but I don't really have time for this, Mr. T3rrorist.
Oh, in a funny-but-not-funny arena: our neighborhood facebook group never ceases to amaze me. Our neighbors two doors down were in a "sandwich" car accident--a chain reaction rear-end collision. The wife broke her ribs in TWELVE places. I can't imagine. First comment on the post: "Give {wife} a big hug!!" No!!! No!!! Do NOT give her a big hug, or a small hug, or touch her at all! Good grief, people, use your brains.
Hmm, it's been suggested that I'm the no-nonsense mama...
Yeah, enough with the bombs, already. And Esperanza, very sorry about your neighbor, ouch.
We've got a No Nonsense Mama here too. In related news, my two year old can use the word "shenanagins" correctly, in context.
AW: he's such a verbal little person that he could....
W: do the concussion screening at the doctor's office, when they read him the questions.
AW: it's only a mild...
W: concussion
(He'll be three in May. There was a terrible fall at swimming lessons, as he rinsed off to get in the pool (?), then a ping pong ball sized goose egg on the back of his head).
That anonymous was me - redzils - by the time I finished proving I wasn't a robot, the name field had cleared. Oops!
Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear about your little guy's concussion! Hugs for you.
AW: I just found out that friends who had previously announced that they are moving away are no longer moving away! But I can't tell anyone until it's all official! And so I'm quietly squealing here.
Yikes, redzils!
The latest bomb--at the g00dw1ll store--is about 20 minutes from our house. I was shopping at that store week before last.
Oh my goodness, I hadn't heard about that one! This is so terrifying, esperanza.
The authorities are saying this latest thing is not connected to the others, but haven't explained why they know that. I have a bloggy friend who lives nearer, and she says there are helicopters and sirens all over the place.
Redzils! Oh, I totally did the same thing at the pool, when I was almost 3. Also mild, no complications or anything.
Also, "shenanigans" is really exceptional for a kid his age!
Wait a minute, Esperanza. **Another** at a goodwill store?? A little earlier, I saw a total of 6, including one that blew up at a fed-x facility, and another that was intercepted before exploding. THAT sounds awful. The report I just saw on goodwill explains:
"The Goodwill employee found two artillery simulators in a box of dropped-off items, and was injured when one of the ordnances 'initiated,' Assistant Chief of Austin Police Ely Reyes told reporters.
"'This incident is not related to any of the other incidents that we've had here in Austin,' Reyes said at a late-night news conference. He added that it didn't appear a copycat was responsible for the Goodwill box."
Redzils -- just try sending without doing the "I'm not a robot" box. I never check that. We have no idea why it's there.
Re: robot...you can only skip it if you are signed in to your blogger account. If you're posting as anonymous, you have to jump through the hoops. Or that's my experience.
So now I have new questions. What the fireplace is an "artillery simulator," why would a person own such a thing, and why would they donate it to Goodwill?
I read that story, esperanza, and I have no idea (either what it is it or why someone thought donating it was a good idea).
W: 5:40am wakeup. E woke up freaking out about a runny nose and feeling sick, and none of us went back to sleep. And my throat is sore. We're all grumpy.
(((esperanza))) How awful this whole situation is...
Redzils, I'm so sorry about the concussion, but delighted to hear that your (almost) three year old knows such a great word. Shenanigans, indeed!
QWP - Oh no, the ick is back at Chez Q - bleh. I hope you feel better soon.
AW: I had a wonderful coffee gathering with three colleagues yesterday at our favourite local coffee shop. It was wonderful and involved a lot of laughter. It was just what I needed.
I'm so glad that you had that restorative time with colleagues, Sue. It's a really busy time from here on out, isn't it?
I would like to continue to whine that my throat is sore, and that I'm having a lot of trouble having any grace with the child that likes to prevent me from getting enough sleep. (I took cold medicine, but it still hasn't helped, an hour later.)
AW: screen time. Also, the kid has suddenly become a fan of a show that I actually like, and which has a bunch of episodes that she hasn't seen on N3tfl1x.
Hooray, Sue!
We're getting a bunch of rain this week. And, we just discovered another leak in the roof...
Oh no, Kathy! I'm glad that the drought seems to be over, but yikes! I hope that the damage is easily repaired.
Confession: I just sent a strongly-worded email to a large store, because I had JUST gotten excited that they had non-pink girls' clothes, when I discovered that their boys' section has a NASA sweatshirt (and no space stuff in the girls' section), and that their boys' sweatpants have pockets, while their girls' ones don't.
Further confession: I actually bought that sweatshirt and the sweatpants with pockets, because: yellow sweatpants with pockets. They're my child's dream pants. And she saw the spaceship shirt and was so wide-eyed. At least we weren't in their physical store (which is going to be opening next week), because it would crush her spirit to find out that they only have space stuff in the boys' section. She's just starting to observe the differences in girls' and boys' clothes, and I think is starting to think she needs to wear more pink like her friends do, and it's leading to complicated discussions about how ALL the colours are good, and both boys and girls can wear pink, etc. etc. (This is why I've been looking around for yellow clothes, because yellow is E's favourite colour, and it's harder to find. I think some strategic yellow will balance things out, and also make me feel like it's not nonstop pink in here.)
Great shopping choice! This is one reason it's better to shop online, rather than endure the marketing and the relentless "princess" atmosphere. Same complaint about toys, although it seems less intensely segregated now than when my kids were little.
The leaks aren't too bad. One is in the bathroom and can't damage anything. The new one drips directly onto the brick area in front of our fireplace, missing everything in the room that it could wreck. They're small leaks, managable with strategic placement of hand towels.
QWP: do a search for clothes using the word “gold” instead of “yellow”
(((Redzils)))
(((Esperanza)))
-Liz on iPhone
((redzils)) So sorry about the concussion!
((Esperanza)) stay safe! Sorry it has been so stressful there!
((QWP)) hope your cold clears quick!
((kathy)) leaks are such a pain-- hope you can get yours fixed, or else it doesn't rain much
--Neighbor Lady
also, Kathy, hope you're feeling better!
--NL
Liz, a lot of stores now let you filter by colour (and they provide a list), and one store that I checked, in the "girl" (non-toddler) section, only had a yellow bikini and a headband covered in emojis!
NL, feeling better! But now I really do need to get my tax stuff together. Ugh.
I'm glad you're feeling better so quickly, Kathy! Do you hire a professional to prepare your taxes, or do you do them yourself?
I'm seeing my tax guy Friday. Which sounds all fancy pants, but I'm self-employed and this is not an area of strength, so it terrifies me. Also, he understands my weird work. He usually compliments me on being so organized, and sometimes there is an accounting office cat available.
I would also see a tax guy, if I was self employed! I was just thinking that your situation was probably a lot more complicated than mine, with a whole bunch of documents and receipts. (The office has a cat? Squee!)
It kinda depends on the cat's mood. Also, the office is in the front room of his home.
Yay for online shopping, QWP! And I'm glad you sent the strongly worded email! Seriously, everyone needs pockets. And NASA!
Sorry about your leaks and all the rain, kathy. Yikes!!
W: I remember what it was like to sleep through the night. I miss those days. (I had trouble sleeping because of my sore throat, and E woke up once in the night -- for the same reason -- and cried out in her sleep several other times, and I didn't sleep in between a lot of those incidents. Also, Mr. Q had to be on the road with a carload of kids, to go to an out-of-town robotics competition, by 6am, and I only got a tiny nap after he left.)
AW: let's hear it for good cold medicine, and many mugs of green tea, for making me feel like a human this afternoon! I thought about napping while E was at school, and decided instead to get supper in the slow cooker, while listening to folk music. (I don't do afternoon naps well: they tend to turn me into a zombie and make me have trouble sleeping at night.) Now if only I could find a nighttime cold medicine that didn't make me feel drowsy for half the next day!
Go, QWP!
The rain was fierce this morning, and when I thought there was a break and ran out for an errand, bam. But, now it's all sunny. Go figure.
AW: split pea soup with veggies! Soup always hits the spot, and like all fresh soup, I'm in love with this one.
W: Got down to the real final sorting of the tax stuff, and there are records I don't have at hand; probably my beloved has them in his stacks of stuff. (I know it's weird, but we keep different sets of records. Just how it worked out, in the grand set of marital arrangements.) AW: And long story short, my accountant is good with me mailing the super important things he needs to see or have, and emailing my accounting of this and that. (It's not like he looks at all the receipts, anyway.)
W: Both Baboos' teachers informed parents *today* that they need to bring 12 pre-stuffed eggs by Tuesday. Clergy parents need more notice for this kind of crap. I actually think 2nd and 3rd grades are a little old for this, but then I'm pretty bah-humbug about Easter bunnies and eggs anyway.
Kathy a, I made leftover-Thanksgiving turkey carcass soup with brown rice and Mexicany things the other night and thought of you.
What are pre-stuffed eggs? Like deviled eggs? Or like plastic eggs filled with candy for an Easter egg hunt? This is not a thing here. (There are various public Easter egg hunts around the city and at churches, and E's class is going to have a party, since it's a religious school. But public schools haven't done anything other than have a holiday, for at least the last 35 years.)
Hooray for being able to email stuff to the accountant, instead of hauling everything there, Kathy!
Plastic eggs with stuff (one teacher says candy ok; the other says stickers or erasers). It's some kind of math exercise, too. Totally has no place in public school. So "pre-stuffed" just means "stuffed by parents"
Oh goodness, it can't even be the filled plastic eggs from the store? (Those ones all have candy, right?) What a giant pain. Valentines are a big enough pain, without adding other holidays to the mix!
(On that note, I also looked up Easter baskets, since my only experience of them was empty baskets that you carry to fill with eggs during an Easter egg hunt, and apparently Americans give filled Easter baskets as gifts? Is that really common there?)
Oh, I don't know that I've seen pre-filled ones at the store?
Yes, the Easter basket as gift is a thing.
It's so strange, the little differences between our countries! At least in the western half of Canada, I've never seen a filled Easter basket given as a present, although some people give general Easter presents (E has received a dress one time, and a DVD another time.) Maybe in Sue's region?
QWP, the temptation to move to your country is pretty strong today already; the "no Easter baskets" may just push me over the edge...
I'm guilty of doing Easter baskets, every year of my kids' lives (except this one, when everybody will be gone). And of spreading candy around, like I did in the dorm one time (however, that story about a bunny costume and hopping is totally false).
Haven't heard of a demand for parents to deliver Easter related stuff at *school* before. I mean?? How darned many of these eggs do they expect to send home with each kid??
Spreading candy around happens here, too! We go to a church camp every year over Easter, and that reminds me to pick up some Easter candy on the way there, to share with the kiddos (and grown ups).
To reduce esperanza's temptation to move here, I'll whine that ANOTHER huge snowstorm is about to strike. I've been so happy with the gradual melt (and thus no flooding), and now another foot overnight? Blah.
Snow is definitely in the "con" category, especially when it occurs in March.
My son and DIL stopped by at 7:30 a.m., on their way out for the Honeymoon / Anniversary (almost) road trip! I forgot to put on actual clothing instead of the flannel nightgown, but oh, well. Our son wanted a digging tool (found), and also a hatchet -- which his dad thought son had taken a number of years ago, but being a Dad, a thorough search was conducted, anyway.
Anyway, off the kids went! Hoping to fit in a belated Easter dinner with them and the inlaws, somewhere between the kids' return and my beloved's trial.
We're in the midst of a wild snowstorm! (Apparently, for it to be locally considered a blizzard? But we have high winds and heavy snowfall.) I walked E and her bestie to school, and we pretended to be polar explorers, in order to keep going.
W: I have an hour and a half to rest, and then I'll have to head back into this mess. (It's less scary to walk than to drive, but ugh.)
QWP, glad you have some respite, anyway! And, good for E to be with her pals, also -- run off some of that preschooler stuff.
AW: good day. Visits with my nursing home folks for work. Then I took supper to the neighbors who were in the car accident and had a nice visit with them too. The neighborhood Bunco night, which is always fun. I've missed several months in a row, and it was good to be back.
W: ....and there are still a bunch of things on the to-do list.
Esperanza, I think those good things make the looming to do list -- less important? More manageable? My theory; sticking to it.
That really does sound like a good and productive day, esperanza!
How 'bout those kids? And their supporters? This is so wonderful. xoxo
Those wonderful kids! They're putting my generation to shame. They make me feel so hopeful about the future!
I know! Just so powerful a message. And, yeah -- they shouldn't have to worry about some jerkface with a weapon of mass destruction shooting them in school (or the movie theater; or a mall; or a church; or in a parking lot; or on a military base; or or or).
I keep crying today. It's partly tears of joy about those great kids marching. Partly real sorrow, because this was the day my "adopted nephew" died at age 12 from brain cancer -- his name was Alexander, and his favorite color was blue, and he was born on Sept. 12, and he loved Pokemon; and I talked to his parents today.
A little bit about the cat who pees outside the box, and missed the puppy pad, creating a big mess. But that part's not important.
Somebody else needs to moderate this week, and I nominate none of the minister members. xoxo
I'd better nominate myself, then! I'll be out of town for the end of the week, and might have sketchy internet access, but I'm sure that everyone can keep a vague eye on things. (Also, it'll probably be lunchtime before a new post is up tomorrow, since we have piano lessons, and while I can comment from my phone, I can't create or edit posts.)
No prob! Thank you, QWP.
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