Good Morning Pixies,
It's a quiet day around here. There are roughly ten gazillion things I could be doing today, but I need a day off more than I need to ___________ (insert holiday/cleaning activity here).
What's up with you???
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74 comments:
Day off is good! Who knows when the next one might come? xoxo
Liz, sorry about idjits on the internet.
W: Am having my own personal stressapalooza about the completion and launching of this albatross. Getting no help from somebody who should be handling this part. The wonder secretary I hired turns out to be very obsessive, so I'm check check checking things. Leeetle tiny picky things.
AW: The cats are being champs! One by my legs at night; the other helping me at the desk during the day.
Sorry about the albatross minutiae (Good Band Name!!!) kathy. :( I'm glad the cats are helping, though.
Oh, the Albatross doesn't sound pleasant at all, kathy a.
I'm with Sue on the Lazy Morning Plan. I came down with Sweet's cold Friday afternoon but powered through the weekend doing lots of fun things while we were distracting ourselves from missing daddy. It turns out, pixies, that keeping up with your normal level of activity while sick is not a very good idea. It turns out that resting is good for helping you feel better. Who knew? (I spent two hours napping on the couch after delivering Baboos to school this morning and feel much better).
Haven't gotten a "check all this" email for over an hour. KNOCK WOOD! There are still several more steps, so expect further intolerability.
I am joining Sue in the lazy Monday plans. That weekend was too hectic, with a busy Sunday of Christmas program (yes, we did it very early this year).
Esperanza, I hope you get some much-needed rest.
Crossing appendages that the "check all this emails" are finished for Kathy!
I can't focus on anything other than anticipation of tomorrow's inspections! I just want to know if everything is okay with the house. But, after tomorrow, things will be settled enough that I can start getting home insurance and making arrangements for utilities and mail.
Our Christmas program was part of yesterday's busy-ness, QWP. I confess I had a bad attitude, but it is always so cute. The three wise men have a tradition of putting a gift in one of the boxes that will make Joseph crack up. One year it was a baby chick. This year it was a picture of Joseph and his ex-girlfriend (the principal characters are all high schoolers). The heavenly host was snickering as well.
so excited about the inspections!
Yay for the inspections, and moving along from there!
Esperanza, it sounds like your program is excellent! Heavenly host snickering... :)
Got too excited about the break in the emails. OF COURSE they have kept on.
I hope the emails abate soon, Kathy!
I'm chuckling about the tradition of making Joseph crack up, esperanza. Our program ended up including E mashing the piano keys while belting out the first verse of "Away in a Manger"!
I'm making my list of all the arrangements that have to happen before the end of the month, and all the money we'll be spending, and I feel some whines coming on. But first I need to step back and be thankful: both sets of our parents have done so much, Thu help us get into a house. They've contributed so much, far more than we ever thought. We would still be far from ready to buy a house, if we were doing this on our own. I was trying to comprehend it tonight, and I was overwhelmed by gratitude.
I'm glad my mentoring in the ways of slothing has been put to good use. Sorry about the cold esperanza - 'tis the season, yes?
The Sunday programs both sound delightful. And kind of exhausting in all their bathrobe, towel, and tinfoil splendour. We have ours on the 20th. It's merry chaos and it's all good.
QWP - I hope all goes well with the inspection. I totally understand that overwhelming gratitude. My in-laws helped us out so much when I was in seminary, I still tear up thinking about it. Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY QWP!!!!!
Sorry to hear about the continued emails kathy. Ugh.
Happy birthday, QWP!
W: Mr. E met with his boss yesterday (the middle boss, not the Big Boss with the zipper issues). Boss tells him to expect to be moved this summer (in his church system, he gets told whether to go or stay, and when, kinda like the military). Cue Esperanza stress re: oh, everything. Packing, new house, new doctors, new schools, new possibilities for me. Expect many, many more whines from this department over the next few months.
Oh, NO, Esperanza. That kind of move -- any clues where? -- is just huge. Especially with baboos and yadda. xoxo
(((((esperanza)))))) I'll keep my fingers crossed for a move somewhere even more awesome, though any move is totally whine-worthy !
-- Neighbor Lady
(((Esperanza)))
QWP, I know that level of gratitude. Hold it tight through the whine-worthy parts to come. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
AW: Hair cut and brows done for INTERVIEW! THURSDAY!
AW: Well-woman appt this morning went smoothly except for the
W: Trump-induced high (for me) blood pressure reading. I'm normally 110/70. He was on the TV in the waiting room, I seriously was shaking with rage, and even after 10 minutes of trying to calm down sitting in the examining room, I was still at 118/84. FURY.
W: Plus I had to de-friend and block a troll on FB.
AW: Most of my folks on Twitter and FB are fighting the good fight. I'm so happy to be part of a world-wide community of people who are standing up and speaking out.
QWP, I forgot to say that your parents rock!
Oy, Liz! My bp is always higher than normal when I go in, but it could well be through the roof with that kind of stuff on the waiting room t.v. They always re-take my bp a little while later, with the old-fashioned pump-cuff and stethoscope, and it is always better.
But go, sister, on blocking the mean and/or evil comments. And YAY about the job interview and new do!
W/AW: Meanwhile, back at the albatross ranch -- it is almost almost there! Still emails. Still problems. But this baby will go to the printer tomorrow, and take flight the day after.
(((Esperanza)))
AW: everything is structurally fine with the house.
W: the furnace is cracked, and the house can't be inhabited until it's replaced. We're negotiating for the homeowners to replace the furnace, and they want to just knock $1000 off of the house price. (Owners are rich, and are banker and CEO people, and are incredibly difficult with negotiation.) We don't have the money to immediately replace a furnace out of pocket!
QWP! Make them replace the furnace! You want this house (stress that) and it just needs to be replaced!! You could go up just a little bit, but think about how much carefully.
Negotiations are stressful! They've come down on house price a tiny bit more, but they keep not wanting to do cash back. We are at the place where we'd share a bit of the replacement price, if they do cash back. Arrrrgh! I don't want to walk away from this house, when the only issue is something that can be fixed in a day!
(((esperanza))) So many hugs.
Yay Liz!!!! RE: interview Thursday. Sorry about the Trump-induced BP problem. I'm sure you're not alone in that - would be an interesting study actually - the correlation between televisions in doc offices set to "certain channels" and increase in BP. Still, UGH. Sorry also about the troll. :(
QWP - I agree with kathy - make them replace the furnace.
Yay kathy on the soon-to-be-in-flight Albatross!!!!
Okay! We have a deal: they're paying $2000 cash back toward the furnace. I have a quote for $4000 for furnace plus installation, but a friend says she just got one for $2500, and she's going to get me the details for that. I hope that works out!
Woot, QWP!!! Happy dance! Yay!
I just seriously cannot watch TV much, nevermind the crazy channels.
Still waiting on the last installment of the albatross files. Bleah.
W: Just in case fretting about a possible move wasn't enough fun in the daytime, my subconscious decided I needed to dream about it. Nothing better than a packing dream, unless it's a packing while pregnant dream (which is what happened last time, and I had no idea the two were associated so strongly in my mind). And a miscarriage dream in there just to make it an even better night. UGH. And this time (for once), it's not even Mr. E's fault for telling me something disturbing right before bed--he told me all this yesterday morning.
QWP, the house plan sounds good. Hooray! And hoping the albatross lands in a timely manner, kathy a.
Yay QWP!!!!!!
(((esperanza)))
I'm with you kathy - I had to turn on sit-com reruns last evening. The news is just so depressing. What does that idiot Tr@mp have to do to bring out a bit of backbone on the part of the other gazillion candidates seeking the nomination? I'm waiting for the next news alert to say it's been proven that he's a leader of the monsters with the white sheets, and then watch his poll numbers go up again. It's madness. Utter madness.
Speaking of white sheets, we received a Christmas card from a family whose last name begins with "K." It was one of those photo cards, with pictures of each offspring with his/her significant other. They signed it "The Kfamily Klan." Were they trying to be cute? Are they completely ignorant? The choices aren't good.
(((Esperanza)))
You guys, I have so many tense, thriller-type TV shows piling up unwatched, because the world is so stressful. I can't go anywhere near TV news, especially with Trump everywhere!
W: I was so amped up last night that I slept for under four hours.
AW: E slept for almost fifteen hours!
Now THAT kind of sleeping by E is a great birthday present! (Maybe it was something with the moon--Mini also fell asleep very early)
Ugh, esperanza, that's a really awful way for the K family to sign their cards. Here's hoping they are just unaware...
I'm glad it was a good night for sleeping for the littles! Yay moon!
Regarding the family Klan: oh dear.
W: Why is a not-sick child, who slept for fifteen hours, this whiny? She's crying about the structural integrity of her waffles.
moon? teeth? picking up on parental stress re: house? Donald Trump?
Sorry for the whiny. It is my least favorite mood ever.
Yikes about the dreams, Esperanza.
My mother's first name and birth surname were both K names. She thought it was Kute to emphasize the K's; so, for example, her apartment after the divorce was called Kamp K**, her favorite pet was a Kat, etc. All of her children ended up with K names. It's a little insane...
Still waiting on the completion of the albatross, so I can go to the Big City to do the next part.
Woot! Albatross in motion; launching set! One more trip to Big City tomorrow, and my work is done done done. Except a small ancillary thing.
The cats are continuing to provide support, one by my legs at night and the other on my chair or desk during the day.
As for the K's, it is a little beyond insane to speak of the Klan. That only really refers to one group.
As for The Donald -- it appears he might have finally found the thing that makes EveryBody put him in the toxic category.
Perhaps that family could adopt The Donald
--NL
NL, like your style. xoxo
Kathy-- right back atcha! xoxo
--NL
ha! They're really nice people (I know, that's what all neighbors say about the people that turned out to be serial killers). I don't want the Donald living that close to me! (For once, let Texas be the state withOUT the craziest candidate).
Yay Albatross launch!
Cheering for the launch of the albatross! (Can I call it the Flight of the Albatross?)
AW: it turns out that the quote we got was a really, really good deal on a really good furnace, and so we're getting it. And the mortgage approval came through today! That was the last condition: it's all official! We sign mortgage documents tomorrow (and pay the down payment), and then it's time to make a million arrangements and do lawyer stuff, and then it's ours!
Esperanza, I think there is little danger of The D moving to your state. Or D.C. Knock wood!
QWP -- Buying a house! That is so exciting, and hear you about the daunting also. One packing tip -- do not fret the small stuff for a short move.
I *adore* flight of the albatross!
Hooray QWP!
AW: I think the real cooking (ie candy-making and cookie baking) for Sunday's Open House is finished. So my next three days look like: Sewing Thursday; Groceries and Cleaning Friday; Pottery Class Saturday. I'll take two out of three fun days!
Esperanza,
Thursday and Saturday look fun! :) Sorry, yes-- I wouldn't wish the D on you.
Yay, QWP!!!!!! Happy dance for the house! So exciting!!!
In our recent move, we were lucky enough to have some overlap, and so were able to take loads of stuff and set it up in the new space little by little, rather than moving all at once. Helps for things you want in certain places, and to frame out the space, but don't use every single day....
Helped the new space take shape and feel more exciting, rather than overwhelming, Just my 2cents.
Yay, again!!!!
-NL
QWP, I am so happy for you!!!
Kathy, so happy about the flight of the albatross!
Esperanza, keeping you in my thoughts over your pending move.
TODAY IS INTERVIEW DAY!!
Shower time. I had been planning on not washing my hair, but last night was Latke night, and thus my hair smells delicious, but not at all professional.
Crossing fingers, Liz! (and giggling about the delicious smelling hair)
Liz - all appendages crossed. I hope the interview goes really well and they see immediately how AMAZING you are!!!!
QWP - Squeeee!!!! A house! THE house!!! I'm so happy for you.
kathy - Hooray for the Flight of the Albatross!!!
I'm trying so hard not to be discouraged by the news. I've been tuning in to the good stuff like our new federal govt starting an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women. It's a decade overdue because the former conservative govt wouldn't acknowledge there was, you know, a problem with 1100 missing and murdered women. Good grief. The upside is that this govt took only a month to get the inquiry set up once in office.
Also, the first refugees arrive tonight!
So...the depressing stuff is (sorry) South of us. The most recent polls have over 60% of DT's party in favour of his hateful bulls*t. That is, frankly, terrifying.
Liz, fingers crossed! Break a leg!
Right with you on the news, Sue.
Very right on with the news, Sue.
Cheering for Liz! Crossing all appendages!
Small question for both Canadian and American pixies: I was reading news about a tax break here, and is it possible that we (or at least those with middle incomes) pay lower income taxes here than there? I was always under the impression that it was the opposite, but the tax bracket here that covers $45kish-$90kish income is taxed at 20% (down from 22), while that equivalent bracket (but down to $35kish) is at 25% there? I guess that is just federal, and not provincial/state (and Medicare is provincially funded here).
Ah! Some illumination: my province's income tax rate is comparable to California's (but more than double the top rate of Missouri, the state of residence of those family members who think we're drowning in income taxes).
Last night, the copy shop guy called and asked if anybody had discussed the cost of the copy job, because it was going to be over $5,000. And I said, "HUH? How come???" And then he figured out that he had made a little mistake involving an extra zero, whoopsie! He apologized profusely this morning.
Anyway, it's copied. It's been sorted. Instructions were given orally and in writing for the 2 different deliveries. The messenger guy came. I am home, relieved, just waiting for confirmation that this albatross in fact achieved altitude.
YAYYYYYY Kathy a.!!!
Liz, hope things went well!!
:) NL
And this, boys and girls, is why you learn math. Yikes. So glad it's off and away!
Goodbye, albatross! Fly away!
We just went and signed a pile of paperwork, and we're very close to officially releasing conditions. But you guys: I knew it was coming, but it's a little mortifying to have an outside person look through the past three months' worth of your bank statements.
Houston, we have liftoff!!!! There was OF COURSE this one little picky thing that I had to rustle up and mail all in a hurry (word count, I kid you not), but it is all OFF MY DESK now.
Liz, did it seem to go OK?
QWP, yeah. But they didn't laugh and show you the door, so things are moving along!
It went well. I hope I get it
Yay kathy a!!!! Fly Albatross! Fly!!
I'm glad it went well Liz!
We hope so too! Do you know when you might hear anything?
Go, LIZ!!
I'm so glad that it seemed to go well! We all are cheering for you.
Yay LIZ! fingers crossed!!
--NL
Wild thunderstorm in the night! it scared the senior cat badly. Hail piled up in a few parts of town, so it looked like snow.
Today: two loads of dishes; grocery expedition. Some things got backed up around here.
Tomorrow's an annual fundraising reception, and I'm creating cheese platters, assembling and refilling other platters, meet + greet, and the most glamorous of all, picking up the trash that lawyers leave around at a reception. (Honestly, my people can be slobs!)
Yikes, sounds like quite a storm! We had high winds last night too and kitteh was NOT impressed. Are the previously-ferals in your house better with storms? I'm wondering if nature isn't as scary to them because it was home once. (Sorry if that's a dumb question)
I hope you get a chance to enjoy the reception as well as taking care of hands-on tasks.
AW: Watching the new refugee arrivals on the news this morning is genuinely heartwarming.
Polly left the feral life in kittenhood, and is now an old lady -- she about popped out of her fur with the thunder, poor baby. Minnie the former street cat is younger and did OK.
The reception will be fun! It is my reliable annual chance to see old friends in the work, since nowadays I work at home, mostly. The tasks let me circulate!
Maybe I'm a little obsessive about picking things up as we go along, but who wants to see somebody's abandoned appetizers sitting around?
Sue, watching the news on new arrivals to Canada is indeed heartwarming!
I'm homesick for Canada, even though I've never been there.
AW: getting all the things done today.
W: because the annual open house for Mr. E's church is Sunday.
AW: and I can't do it tomorrow because I'm enjoying my Christmas present early: pottery class.
W: still have too many things yet to do.
AW: Mr. E and I went out to lunch together. It is embarrassing how rare this is.
Lunch is good!
Lovely that you had lunch together! It's a rarity here, too.
AW: my sister and I successfully got E to a special event, where she got to meet a (costumed equivalent of) beloved TV character.
W: fun morning = meltdowns after, and exhausted toddler not napping.
AW: in a text conversation with our big niece (age 20) she asked for pajamas for Christmas. Then she said, "Oh ha ha! I just realized the ones I'm wearing are the ones you made me. I just need some more so I don't have to do laundry so often!" She's wearing something I made her! She wants me to make her some more! Nothing could make a sewing person ("seamstress" sounds so old fashioned, "sewer" is something else entirely icky) happier than someone actually wearing something I made.
W: yikes. I had not budgeted time for making pj pants. I'm barely going to finish the projects I already have going. She may have to take an IOU.
IOUs are fine esperanza, especially for family. She will understand and will love her new pjs all the more when she wears them. My mom used to knit sweaters for Christmas... grandbabies first, sons-in-law next, then daughters. My sisters and I usually received a nice warm sweater some time in early April. We still chuckle over her Knitting Triage. No matter when it came, the sweater was always beautiful and made with love.
The IOU is a good idea! So sweet she loved the jammies.
W: Ants.
Kathy: oh no! Ants are my archnemeses (or at least they were when I lived on the west coast). How bad are they? Are they getting into the kitchen?
Esperanza: an IOU is entirely appropriate, especially since she made the request in December. But so very sweet the she loves that jammies you make!
AW: we signed papers to release all conditions on our house last night! We're homeowners!
W: the cumulative effects of the week (stress, insomnia), and probably an impending visit from Aunt Flo = my body shut down today. Awful nausea and stomach pain. We missed church (but I wish Mr. Q would have taken E, because I would have napped more with them out of the house).
AW: The benefit was a success! I think we raised more than in any year, to support the excellent work of colleagues in the South.
As always, a great chance to catch up a bit with a bunch of people -- such a treat for someone working from the home office! Even got to talk to some young people still in school, getting ready to launch their careers.
Oh, the food! Cheese platters + crackers + baguette; veggie platters + dips; 3 kinds of sushi; smoked salmon; jumbo shrimp + sauce; lumpia; meatballs; tri-tip + baby arugula on thin baguette slices; deviled eggs; ham; bits of chicken salad on tiny lettuce spears; 5 kinds of desserts. (When we started this event about 20 years ago, it was a regular potluck -- people signing up to bring a little of this, little of that. No complaints about food then, either.)
W: Long day. Achy back. This Santa-con pub crawl was happening in the city, so there were many annoying people in festive dress on the streets and public transit. AW: Some nice young man gave me a seat on the crowded train home late evening. A perk of looking my age!
Woot, QWP! You're a homeowner!!
AW: My husband seems to have gotten the ant thing under control in my absence. They had appeared overnight, and were marching all around the main counter, through the dirty dishes in the sink, up to the syrup bottles kept above the over-counter cabinets, and ick! But nary a stray ant today.
W: it looks like this is a stomach virus, because E keeps waking up screaming about stomach pain and feeling like she's going to puke. My sister has had the same symptoms this week (headache, muscle pain, acid reflux, nausea), but she was certain that it was the side effects of new medication, and so we spent a lot of time with her.
Oh no. I hope you can all get some sleep, QWP.
I would like to consider hibernation next December.
Hibernation really is the best option, Miranda.
AW: I'd like to thank the makers of Tyl3n0l for the eight straight hours that E finally slept, after all those wakeups and all that screaming. She's doing well this morning (a little slow moving, a big congested, a bit sore). Mr. Q is home sick, too, but thankfully it looks like he has a mild version.
W: and it's a combination of a virus and Aunt Flo for me, because my body hates me.
That is the Injustice of the Universe, QWP. So sorry. Hope you all get well soon, and that Mr. Q can take a little of the burden off of you today.
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