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Monday, April 16, 2018

Endless Winter Whining

It's officially mid-April, and it's still. fireplacing. winter here. At least we're getting some more melting happening today, but it's supposed to snow again tonight! I'm trying to keep perspective, and be thankful that the awful drought is over at last, but dear goodness!

I've lost all perspective. I'm so tired of this snow. And it's not even nice snow? It's like the grimy, brownish stuff, as the snow slowly melts and reveals all the grossness that have accumulated since November the Fireplacing First, when we also had our first unseasonably-early heavy snowfall, which never went away. And then we get a little more snow, and then it just gets soupier and grosser.

How are things where you are?

61 comments:

kathy a. said...

QWP! Thank you for hosting!

And what the fireplace? More snow?? Mid-April???

Another storm came in, and because we're below what we need in terms of water from the sky, we are grudingly grateful on that front. But I was taking Clyde to day care, and it was gloomy and dry when we left, then BAM. Hail mixed with heavy rain! This place is only a few minutes from home. In parts of a nearby city [maybe 10 miles], the hail was so thick it looked like a snowstorm, which we never get around here! Then there was sun; now more gloom, with a forecast of thunderstorms. WTF, universe?

There has been this very stressful other thing going on, and ick. And husband -- stressy, away, big work week.

Sue said...

Winter endures here as well, QWP. We had about 10 cm of snow overnight and it's still coming down. *sigh*

Sorry about the other stressful thing that's going on. :(

kathy a. said...

Oh, man. The Elderly Neighbor family came home for a bit to pick up some things. And Neighbor Daughter also called the neighbors on the other side, including the husband who just came home from sea duty and needed to talk about every single thing that they did on the ship for the last couple weeks.

Mr. Elderly Neighbor was there, too -- not really following what was going on, although he definitely knew me and tried to be friendly. He actually looks better than he was before the long hospital and rehab stint, followed by staying at his daughter's house. Mrs. Neighbor had some homemade cookies from somebody, that she insisted on heating and serving.

So, meant to pop over and say hi; stayed for almost an hour. Seemed like a lot for Mr. Neighbor! (And more than I bargained for, but ...)

esperanza said...

Yikes, snow. I...um...don't know quite what to say about that, except that I will just keep my mouth shut about our weather for a few days.

Glad you had a visit with the Elderlys, kathy.

esperanza said...

Oh, y'all will be proud of me for this:
Colleague: You know, I'm going to be finishing up on this committee at the end of the year, and I think you'd be a great replacement for [this huge job I do]
Me: well, but I'm already doing [other huge job], and I simply can't do both.
Him (you knew it was a him, right?): Oh. I forgot about that.

kathy a. said...

Good work, Esperanza!

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Good job, esperanza!!

I'm glad you got to catch up with the Elderly Neighbors, Kathy.

Sue said...

Well done, esperanza!!!!

It's good you caught up with the Neighbours, kathy. It does sound like a long visit for a still-recuperating Mr. Elderly Neighbour. Did they say what the plans are for the long term? Selling the house? Residential care?

kathy a. said...

Oh, no, Sue. Mrs. Neighbor wants to move back to their own house asap. She does not ever want to sell the house. She does not want him in a care facility. She does not like outsider help in her house.... The house is not accessible (steps any way you turn and no ramps, no grab bars in the bathroom, etc.); and although Mr. N is now using a walker, he cannot stand up without assistance (it took both me and his daughter yesterday).

I think that's a terrible idea, but just nodded my head. The daughter knows that house is not workable. (And, at the moment the daughter is totally exhausted from trying to work half time, care for her own family, do the shopping and cooking the various special diets, do all the cleaning, plus help with her father's care.) The son is supposed to come for another visit soon, from overseas -- maybe he can make more headway with a workable plan??

Really glad the other-side next door neighbors were there, too, so we all saw the same things. We're all of the opinion that moving home -- without substantial retrofitting to make the house accessible, plus 24/7 care -- would be a mistake. Mrs. Neighbor is always so effusive about how she has the best neighbors anywhere. But, we think she has an inflated view of our superpowers....

redzils said...

QWP, your snow! I live in the US-ian northernmost state, and we don't have fresh snow at my house. All my sympathy.

As for the rest: I'm really tired. Almost-3 is busy, busy, busy and 7-months-old is teething, working on walking, and not sleeping much.

I was lying on the couch with the baby this morning, after a rough night, and the following series of thoughts marched through my brain:
1. I am so tired.
2. I wish there was some way to take sleep in capsule form.
3. A drug. Sleep in a capsule form would be a drug.
4. Maybe heroin? I hear it makes you feel energetic and euphoric, for a while...
5. Why don't more mothers of young children have heroin habits, anyway?
6. Oh: breastfeeding. We don't want the babies to have heroin and it probably passes into the milk.
(Much, much later: . . . also it's illegal, dangerous to buy [because illegal = unregulated, more back-alley than grocery store], and has terrible health outcomes: you know, like killing people).

(Nobody go take heroin on my recommendation, okay? I don't actually recommend it. I just think this series is a funny thing for me - Ms. Public Health - to watch her brain march through).

esperanza said...

(Yes, heroin passes through to breastmilk. Sweet was in the NICU with addicted babies. It was heart wrenching).

But if you find something legal and safe that is sleep in pill form, sign me up. :) Although both Sweet and Daisy the puppy slept through the night. Mini got up for the first time in months, to use the bathroom. But she put herself back to bed and back to sleep, so that was not too disruptive.

(Redzils, I do not wish to discourage you, that lo these many years later my sleep is still being disrupted by short people. Sweet is having some kind of physical? hormonal? ADHD? who knows what? issue that is disturbing her sleep).

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh, redzils, I'm sorry that you're dealing with such exhaustion. And esperanza! I wish there was a way to get a break and more sleep.

AW: so far, this snow has missed us! The forecast still predicts snow for this afternoon, but the temperature is above freezing, and so, we might get some very cold/freezing rain soon (but I very much hope that misses us).

kathy a. said...

Redzils!!! I'm sorry! But your tired brain free-style flow of thoughts is also quite funny. xoxo

Those kids sure are cute! And BUSY BUSY BUSY!

Esperanza, hugs to you, as well!

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Fluffy snowflakes! At least it's pretty, and melting as soon as it hits the ground.

kathy a. said...

I don't really understand snow at this point in the year, but guess melt on the ground is the good kind?

Because I've never lived in a snowy region, every time I see snow falling in person -- just a handful in my life -- is special.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Where I live, the only month when we have never had snow was in July! (I've only seen it in August once, and it was so freaky!) (Also, I've only once had a green Christmas here. A bunch on the west coast, of course.)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I'm hoping that our old adage "whine about the missing thing and it'll be found" works: the progress booklet for E's swimming lessons is missing, and she's driving me nuts, trying to make me find it before lessons. (We only need it before the end of lessons! It's also not an emergency if it's never found, but it has her progress stickers from the previous levels, and so she's attached to it.)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

AW: I found it! It was on the shelf beside my filing cabinet, waiting to be filed. Once E stopped following me around the house, nagging me to find it immediately, I was able to clear my head and look for it.

Anonymous said...

Whining works!!
:)NL

esperanza said...

Whining/nagging/kid demands just suck my brain right out of my head. I'm glad you found it, QWP.

kathy a. said...

Yes, whining works! What was lost, now is found!

Daughter of the Elderly Neighbors is on the same page about how her parents can't move home, their house isn't safe, they'd need retrofitting and 24/7 help (which her mom won't accept). She is fine having them stay at her much more suitable house -- but also, a little frantic because her own life is consumed by how much help they need. Her husband can't help much, as he needs surgery for a back condition. They can *never* get out and do stuff on their own. Etc. Well, glad the daughter and I are in touch, anyway. Sheesh. Please let me not do this to my kids.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh Kathy, that Elderly Neighbour situation is so heartbreaking. I've had a lot of loved ones in that position (as the result of the mix of fear of ending up in a nursing home that won't keep the couple together, plus heavy doses of stubborn independence and "what do you mean I can't take care of my own spouse?"). And I've seen the physical toll on the caregiver family members. And oh goodness: I'm exactly on the same page as you. (After dealing with it with both sets of parents, my parents also strongly agree. They're only in their 60s, and they also have plans in place for every level of help they'll ever need, out of fear of putting it all on us.)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

AW: E didn't cry during her swimming lesson, and tried a few more things this week.
W: and then she slammed her thumb in the locker, right after her lesson, and now she has a purple thumbnail.

kathy a. said...

Go, QWP parents!

Ouchy, E! But glad she didn't cry, and tried new things.

Sue said...

(((redzils))) Sorry to hear of your exhaustion. It does pass. I remember once when our youngest (who still doesn't need much sleep!) was on a run of all-nighters and a well-meaning friend of my in-laws said "Enjoy them now, you'll miss this age when it's over." I seriously considered punching her. In any case, we're here, and we get it.

QWP - July is our only snow-free month too! We had sunshine today and some melting action going on, so there's hope! Yay for a good swimming lesson. Can you match the purple thumb nail with matching nail polish?

Whining Works!!

W: I had to go for a bra fitting yesterday. I'm up a size again. *sigh*

AW: Pretty, but supportive new bra, perfectly fitted by an amazing Bra Whisperer. I love my local shop.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Hooray for local bra shops! We have a magical one here, too, and I'm obsessed.

Every person who has ever said "enjoy it while it lasts!" to an exhausted parent needs a visit from the posse with cluesticks. When I was in the midst of my painful, high-risk pregnancy, someone (who didn't know about the pain and risk) posted on Book of Faces for me to "enjoy every minute!" And I continue to be thankful for the friend who immediately sent me a message, reminding me that I didn't have to enjoy any minute of it at all.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

AW: we had a bunch of melting today, and even though the temperature was only 2C/36F, since it was sunny with no wind, we've all collectively decided to switch to summer mode. I stood outside in capri pants (and a sweater), chatting with a friend. It's supposed to be warmer tomorrow!

kathy a. said...

Oh, I'm on the posse for the "enjoy it" people.

On the bra front, my band size went up again a while ago, but the other part of the formula seems to be in a deflation mode. It's somewhat disturbing, but not enough that I'm taking active measures to replace the bra sector of the wardrobe immediately...

I caved in on a craving, because a person sometimes has to. And no, I couldn't just buy 2 small pieces of pizza, because the "buffet" was not out, so I got a small, which is a whole lot more pizza than intended. But it is SO good. Passing the extra virtual pizza!

kathy a. said...

Oh, a big AW! Daughter called in a blue funk, because she got wait-listed for a class she really wanted for the fall, a pre-requisite for something she wants next spring. And I kept saying, it's OK! This will work out by fall! And -- well, she did not believe me. But then she checked again, and she's already in the class!! I did actually say something along the lines of "told you so," which she didn't appreciate, but she's still just happy as heck. :)

esperanza said...

kathy a, that pizza sounds so good. We've eaten virtuously for two nights in a row, and now I really want (and think I deserve as a reward for good behavior!) that pizza. (Tonight's supper was grilled pork tenderloin--even the Baboos ate it--and roasted veggies. We will not speak of the rice. How is it that I can't cook rice?)

I don't know what to say about snow in April, except that it seems unnatural.

kathy a. said...

Rice cooker. Inexpensive. Worth it.

esperanza said...

Do they do brown rice? Because I'm a weirdo that likes it.

kathy a. said...

Yes! It cooks basically the same way. The rice cooker -- you put in the rice, you fill with fluid to a certain level; you can add spices or whatever; if you want to add some quick cooking lentils or whatever, that works, too. It has some kind of sensor to tell when it's done. Turn it on, and it dings when it's done!

I have one like this, but lots of other models available: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TNXYYA/ref=asc_df_B007TNXYYA5444350/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B007TNXYYA&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167141308073&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1479761121923299864&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032088&hvtargid=pla-282707604619

kathy a. said...

This is seriously SO much easier than tending to rice on the stove. When it is done, it switches automatically from "cook" to "warm." My second-favorite appliance, after the microwave. ;) Rice is kind of a staple, around here. Have used all kinds of rice, and mixes, etc. It all works.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I'm very confused about the concept of tending the rice on the stove (I have a rice cooker that I never use). I just put white rice and water in a pot (sometimes I remember to rinse the rice first), bring it to a boil, clamp the lid on as I drop the heat as low as I can (my new stove holds the heat so much that I actually switch off the element), let it sit without touching it for fifteen minutes, and then take it off the heat for five before lifting the lid. Is that an okay way to cook rice?

esperanza said...

That is exactly what I did last night, QWP, except for 45 minutes because brown rice. And it wasn't done, and there was still water in the bottom of the pan. It was a tiny pot on a tiny burner, and I think tiny burner's power level 1 is too low.

My sister in law is from Central America, and she cooks hers without a lid, stirring intermittently. That I haven't figured out, but it always turns out fine. She's been cooking rice since she was in kindergarten, probably, so that might help, too.

esperanza said...

Another data point: (I think this is Southern, but I could be wrong): My mom used to cook it in the oven. She measured rice and water as usual, put it in the white corning ware with blue flowers, covered it with foil tightly, and baked. I don't know for how long. I've never tried it that way.

esperanza said...

(Blogger, I'd love an "edit" button).

I had a lot of friends in high school who were from Chinese families. I told one of them, in passing, about my mom cooking rice in the oven. I thought she was going to die of horrified laughter.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oven-cooked rice! I had no idea that was possible. But, I guess, the covered pot/low heat principle ought to be the same. I have had the same problem with brown rice before, and found that I could increase the heat for a couple of minutes, drop it to medium-low, and after a few minutes, everything was absorbed.

W: over the past few days, my child has had utter meltdowns about: broken rubber boots, giving the swimming progress booklet to the swimming instructor for the next two months, realising that the daffodils we got at Easter are gone, and giving back the preschool kangaroo. I sense a theme of "I want to keep everything forever." And I am tired.

AW: after E had rejected most new pairs of rubber boots, she picked a pair that is covered in ladybugs, and now she's excited.

W: they were only available online, and so we're going to have to figure out how to patch the broken boots to last for the next couple of days, and the forecast involves a lot of melting.

AW: melting snow!!

esperanza said...

Now I want ladybug rain boots.

kathy a. said...

I've been known to lose track of cooking time. So, I love the rice cooker because it doesn't matter!

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Huh. Today I have learned that not everyone's lives revolve around a series of loud timers. (My husband is a science teacher. As the result of his influence, I even sent a timer when I brew a pot of tea!)

kathy a. said...

I have a combo plate of laziness, distraction, and also my computer is at the opposite end of the house from my kitchen. Plus, we lived in Japan for a while, and everybody uses these rice cookers, because they work perfectly, every time.

My husband, on the other hand, always uses a heavy lidded pot on the stovetop to cook his mom's famed Armenian rice pilaf. (First, you break vermicelli into tiny bits and fry in butter. Then you add Uncle Ben's rice and broth. Then the part about bring to a boil, then down to a simmer.) He bought a giant pot for our son's rehearsal dinner picnic, so he could cook for a crowd, on a camping stove! That kind of dedication, I lack that.

kathy a. said...

Esperanza, may ladybug rain boots cross your path!

Sue said...

Excellent "I told you so" moment, kathy! I'm so glad your daughter got the class she wanted. And yum on the pizza.

I don't cook rice, so I'm no help here. Hubby cooks it on the stove, only uses one particular pot, and it's always perfect. I did not know it could be cooked in the oven.

Ladybug rainboots!! Those sound awesome.

kathy a. said...

Updated AW about daughter's other classes! Apparently, not everything she wanted was up for registration yesterday. She expected fierce competition for the couple more she wanted when they went online today, but YAY! Victory! She got everything -- except, for one clinic class, she will need to submit some more stuff before being officially accepted (which she knew).

kathy a. said...

Oh, no. My beloved is up in the mountains for work, some hours away, and he got a man cold... They are done for the week, breaking a little early today; but fortunately, he decided he can't drive home tonight. And, I tried to remember to pack everything he might need, and I have travel packs of advil -- but I forgot to include those. Bleah.

kathy a. said...

AW: He got attacked on the street by a chihuahua puppy who just wanted some rubs. It helped a little [heh] with the missing his dog thing.

esperanza said...

Oh dear, a man cold away from home. They have a drug store there, yes? Or a convenience store?

(and ha! I see what you did there on the dog pun)

kathy a. said...

There's a supermarket a mile or so away. But I called to see how he's doing -- and apparently he and somebody or two from work are out at dinner [background noise], and he's all cheerful now, and reportedly self-treating with "merlot." Whatever works, I guess! Perhaps he might not die tonight....

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I'm glad that he's surviving the man cold so well, Kathy!

AW: E and I are heading out of town, with my sister, for a girls' weekend with a bunch of cousins and childhood friends and their kids.
W: is there something in the water? This is going to be a low-key weekend, only a couple of hours from here, and each of my travel companions has had a stressed-out meltdown about this trip, in the past day. E has been so excited about this trip, and then before bed tonight, she was sobbing about the birthday parties she's going to be missing because of this trip. (There are two parties, both of why happen to be at the same time, which she'll be missing. I'll be honest: I'm relieved that we're missing both, because I have no idea how I could have chosen between them. We're arranging alternative play dates, and E has been fine up until this point, but I suspect that the other kids at school were talking about their excitement about the one party she'll be missing. But also: exhaustion, end of the day.)
W: did I seriously volunteer to take this kid out of town without Mr. Q? Some days, I barely handle her at home.

Sue said...

So, you're missing out on a man-cold, kathy? That's unfortunate...;) I'm glad the merlot worked.

(((QWP))) All the best for your weekend away. I hope it goes really well for all of you.

AW: I made a really grown-up decision yesterday. We've been trying to decide whether to trade up the car or keep the one we've got. After trying out a few Shiny! New! Vehicles! I decided ours is fine, and we don't need the added expense.

It helps that our car is the Goldilocks car - not to big, not to small...fits the wheelchair, easy transfer for hubby.

W: I'm heading out of town on Monday for almost the whole week (study leave) which is great, but I have so much to do between today and Monday, I can't even....

esperanza said...

For your amusement: I'm a bit of a fuddy duddy about a few things. Pertinent to this story, (1) we never ever use paper plates at home; (2) I don't like microwaving in plastic containers. So, I've been trying to reform and bring my lunch to work lately. We had some pretty good leftovers that I wanted to eat and could microwave in the church kitchen. See above, though. So...pretending like it is 1918 instead of 2018, I put my food in a glass pie plate (!) to take to work. I felt very virtuous. I've just eaten my lunch, and it works quite well. Sides to prevent food from falling off in transport. No nasty plastic chemicals leaching into my food in the microwave. Perfect.

kathy a. said...

Good call on the car, Sue!

Good solution, Esperanza!

Apparently, the man cold is better today, and he's heading into his office, back home a little earlier than usual.

White bean soup with some veggies and chopped bacon and spices, in the crockpot -- another favorite appliance, because it requires no attention once everything's in there.

kathy a. said...

INCOMING! Finally got this thing from the other side, so I can work on responding to it. The thing is close to 300 pages....

kathy a. said...

My husband just located a Christmas present he had gotten for me, and then cleverly hid in his car so it wouldn't rattle around and break. It was a really good hiding place, apparently. ;)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

W: we experience our first bout of carsickness yesterday. Thankfully, E only threw up a little, and didn't throw up until we reached our destination city, but ugh. For the trip home, we're limiting the snacks and dosing her with Gr@vol before we leave.

kathy a. said...

Oh, no! I was bad with carsickness as a kid. Think it was because I wanted to read in the car, which is a very bad, no good idea. For this reason, we played a lot of car games, sang songs -- and any time a kid of mine said "I feel like throwing up," we got right off the road.... Poor E! And, the gravol sounds like a plan.

esperanza said...

Ah, we are carsick veterans around here--3 of the 4 of us. Keep a barf receptacle nearby and accessible. Cool air, preferably blowing right in the face of the sickie is both preventative and treatment. If sickie can, looking out the front windshield toward the horizon is helpful. (If sickie is stuck in the backseat or too short or the road is curvy, never mind). And yes, reading is a bad idea. Sometimes a hungry tummy is just as bad as an over-full tummy (in a similar way that empty tummies are bad for morning sickness).

Poor E and poor QWP. I'm glad you survived, but throwing up is definitely no fun.

kathy a. said...

Thus, car crackers. Keep them as well as barf bags at hand...

My dad always said, "we'll be there in 10 minutes," which is a fine reply for "when will we get there," but not so good for "I'm gonna barf."

Queen of West Procrastination said...

We are home! We got through the trip without puke! (Gravol made a big difference.) On the other hand, I've been hit with a really annoying cold that has made me lose my voice!