Well, if our house is any measure, there is a good chance it will be a whiny week.
My calendar is enough to make me weep this week. Today is my day off, and it's a busy one, with appointments and family drama debriefing with my local sisters. The rest of the week is packed with all the stuff of the season, plus new brakes for my little car. Yes, I'm getting new brakes for Christmas. It really can't wait, so, falalala.....
What's whine-worthy in your world, pixies?
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65 comments:
W: I bumped my head, on my way into the car, this morning. And it was basically the same spot where I've hit too many times, and so I have a tiny bump, and a bit of a resurgence of concussion-ish symptoms. Mostly irritability, headache, and a little bit of wooziness in my head. And I'm at piano lessons, where children are banging sticks on a hardwood floor.
AW: oh, thank goodness, they've switched to ribbon sticks.
QWP, if you are not feeling better, call your doctor! xoxo
AW: Liz and I are humming "It's A Small World" from opposite sides of the country, because it turns out that her co-worker's sister in law used to work with me!
AW: Leftover pizza for breakfast!
Sadz: The Dog Man had to go to work. The Dog thinks this is unfair.
Sue -- new brakes for Christmas actually sounds great!
W: doctor says I have back-to-back viruses, probably 5 more days to go on this one.
AW: three different cough medicines.
Unsolicited advice: pretending one is not sick and continuing on with the to-do list is not the fastest route to wellness. Duh.
AW: today, except for the aforementioned doctor's visit/drugstore outing, I'm planted on the couch, reading a good book.
Boo for back-to-back viruses, esperanza! I'm glad that you're planted on the couch and reading now.
Kathy and Liz, that's really neat! And pretty much on opposite coasts, right?
AW/W: I'm not doing too badly today, considering how hard I hit my head this morning. But my head is bruised!
W: that kid of mine is super frustrating lately. She's been having some trouble sleeping, which is causing her to have anxiety about sleeping, which makes her a giant bear at bedtime (both because she's exhausted and because she doesn't want to go to bed). And she's coming down with a cold, which is making everything worse. And, with my headache, I don't have much patience for all this today. I just want her to go to bed like normal.
AW: I just ordered our groceries online, which always feels like I'm living in the future. (We'll pick them up tomorrow -- we aren't so fancy as to be able to afford grocery delivery -- but it'll make a big difference not to have to sacrifice an hour or two to shopping, this week.)
QWP - I hope your headache goes away quickly. If not, I would check in with the doc. Yay on the online grocery ordering.
esperanza, ugh...not the best time to be sick, right? Feel better soon...
kathy and Liz, what a small world!!
Family drama is elevating in both drama and stupidity. It's my dad and stepmom, visiting here for the holidays, both are too ill to travel, being enabled by stepsister... ACK. In any case, it's not my problem. I've been very clear about boundaries - I'm sprinting my way at work from now until boxing day, and am not available to be either driver or nurse to two people who should be fireplacing STAYING AT HOME. *bangs head against nearest brick wall*
The timing is...inconvenient, yes, Sue. Had it been a less frantic time of year, I might have rested earlier and therefore not gotten to this point. Oh well. So sorry about your unnecessary family drama.
QWP, grocery ordering might be the thing to do this week. I think ours offers the first order for free...thanks for the idea!
((( Sue ))) What can they / the stepsister possibly be thinking!?!?? And heck yeah, this has been a super busy year, with all your in-laws have been going through. I won't even get into the weather... xoxo
Pixies, the hospital persons somehow punctured Mr. Elderly Neighbor's lung, trying to put in a feeding tube. Obviously, it went in the wrong direction. This is not helping his lung problems. The adult Neighbor Kids are watching like hawks. But also -- he is not well at all.
Yes, Liz and I are on exact opposite coasts, or at least close enough to the opposite oceans. :)
Saga of the parking (in front of Elderly Neighbors' house), continued!
Somebody *else* parked there tonight, I think someone from across the street, but I happened to see the neighbor with the big fat truck -- and we had a good neighborly chat! He was glad to move his truck, and he wanted to talk about how good it is when neighbors discuss things respectfully; because apparently there was a parking issue with another neighbor that went south when someone in that house dropped the F bomb. (The son of that neighbor came and apologized for what mom said.)
Anyway, things are cool with him. And I enlisted another neighbor who knows the guy across the street, to talk to him next time she sees him about not parking in the Elderly Neighbors' spot. There is plenty of room tonight for the E.Neighbors to park behind that other car and in front of mine, albeit across their own driveway.
Sidewalk diplomacy.
Sidewalk diplomacy.... I am just happy to see diplomacy anywhere these days!!
Feel better quick wishes to esperanza and QWP!
So sorry to hear about elderly neighbor.... keeping him in my thoughts, Kathy!
((Sue)) so sorry for the stress of the upcoming visit! Maybe they will change their mind as the time gets closer......?
Just muddling through here, super busy with a billion kids events and, you know, regular job stuff. Neighbor Guy got back from Indi@ before Tgiving, but then had some weird illness, and then got a rotten cold, which the kids also had/got. He is just starting to feel better I think (knock wood).
Hanukkah starts tonight and we are 100% unprepared. At least the kids are older now and can understand when we say, "Yeah... we do not have our stuff together at the moment...."
Ah well. Good thing there are 8 nights.... maybe we'll get it together by the last few.
--Neighbor Lady
Yay for sidewalk diplomacy, kathy!!
Happy Hanukkah to you and yours, NL!
Happy Hanukkah to all celebrating pixies! (I'm also taking the opportunity to be a teensy bit jealous about the 8 night thing, with its potential of do-overs).
W: the fireplacing cough syrup did nothing. Nothing. I still didn't sleep.
AW: Once I got the other cough medicines in me this morning, I took little nap and feel slightly better. Ibuprofen seems to be doing as much as anything.
I will be attempting to get some work done from the couch. Wish me luck.
W: You know what would make this miserable virus even better? Aunt Flo, that's what.
Happy Hanukkah!
Oy, Esperanza. xoxo
An old friend had to do something in the neighborhood, so we went to breakfast!
Mr. and Mrs. Neighbor's son is changing his flight back home overseas to Christmas day. Things are still pretty unsettled. Mrs. is currently really considering moving to the in-law apartment at her daughter's house if/when Mr. is discharged, because she totally hated the rehab place he went to before. That is a ways off; he's still not very alert, still quite ill.
Happy Hanukkah to NL and family, and all the other pixies who celebrate. I'm glad that NG is home and safe, but I'm sorry that he brought weird illness with him.
Kathy, I'm sorry about your neighbor's further complications, but I'm glad that you all have worked out some sidewalk diplomacy.
Sue, I'm so mad at your step-sibling for pushing your dad and step mom to travel. (And frustrated that they made this choice.) Good call maintaining firm boundaries through this, especially because you do not have that sort of time right now.
AW/W: I did pretty well through the day today. I was nearly back to normal, although a bit run down. I made sure to take things slowly. But now, at the end of the day, my head hurts and I'm feeling pretty irritable. (And the spot on my head is so sore! It's bruised and cut a little. I've now put something in the cut, to try to help it heal more quickly, although it's had to do that with all my hair in the way.)
So sorry to hear your neighbour is having such a tough time, kathy. They've both/all been through so much this year. :(
esperanza, are you able to get acetaminophen with a touch of codeine? We can buy it without prescription from the pharmacy (it's one of those meds you have to ask for as it's not out on the shelves). Ages ago, our doc suggested one of those tablets before bed when you have a bad cough that's keeping you awake. It's worked every time. All the best cough syrups they used to sell had codeine in them. The syrupy stuff on the shelves now does not.
If you don't have an allergy to it, codeine is your friend when you have a cough. It's only a teeny tiny dose, but it does seem to help.
QWP, I'm glad you did pretty well today. Please do take it easy though, and watch for those concussion symptoms.
AW: I took a little Christmas tree up to my MIL to decorate her room a bit more. She was delighted.
Yes, QWP -- take it easy!
Yay, Christmas tree for MIL!
Codeine is Rx only in the US, even the light dose with acetaminophen. I remember the doctor on site at my law school passing out bottles of codeine cough syrup, though, like candy -- he said to just take a swig when you needed it, everybody else was! Ahem. That was a long time ago. It does work, though; and if you know the doc, they might call in an Rx.
This Alabama election is killin me. Only 21% of precincts reporting so far, but that jackass is ahead at the moment. Why why why?
I have had cough syrup with codeine before, and it was similarly ineffective. My cough is tenacious.
I can't watch the AL returns.
Esperanza! All the news from Alabama is that justice prevailed. Kinda closely, but nonetheless. Go, team!
Alabama!!
Last night made me feel hopeful.
Esperanza, hope you are feeling better today. xoxo
I really should do more about Christmas, one of these days.... No tree yet (it might be a tabletop one, this year). The only decorations are the stockings. Must do some cleaning, too; and drag out the holiday dinnerware that my MIL gave me long ago. And lay in food supplies.
Daughter finished finals! She'll be home Monday.
Last night did make me feel hopeful, but white people have got to shape up.
I am feeling a bit better. I still didn't sleep that well, but got in another nap this morning and worked a little on Christmas projects just now. I have zero ideas for Sweet. Zero. Beyond more fireplacing legos, which she will love, and I will hate. The Baboo shopping really needs to be done by Friday, when they get out of school. Yikes.
Esperanza: what about some kind of Lego containment/organizing system? (I've seen things, like something that's basically a desk with deep drawers, with base plate glued to the top, where one can say "it all stays confined to here.") We're always working on systems for keeping it manageable -- Mr. Q is a big advocate of the stuff, because of how effective it is in developing computational thinking in kids' brains -- but I refuse to have it strewn through the house and underfoot.)
I'm a fan of lego containerage, also; but bins aren't the most festive present, unless they come with legos inside. Boxes inside boxes -- always popular!
For Sweet -- what about a special sweater or shirt? Or excellent leggings? Or art supplies? Or some kind of book about horses (or girls and their horses)?
Yes, white people need to step up. So glad that one toad did not prevail; but lots more work to do.
Also, in an occasion marked only by me, December 13 was Sweet's original due date. So, happy sorta 10th birthday, Sweet. I try not to get caught up in what would be a completely different life for her, because then she wouldn't be Sweet, but she sure has had a hard road--and made great progress, to be sure--and a tough path ahead, too.
((( esperanza ))) xoxo
(((esperanza)))
and wow-- 10! SOmehow I hadn't processed that. time flies!
W: Neighbor Boy has a fever. Lots of kids are sick at school (and are still at school). ick.
I should have bought stock in Clorox wipes. Today, I clorox wiped my tape dispenser.
blech
Trying to convince myself that I am kinda cold and achy because it's below freeezing here, not because of anything else!
Neighbor Boy is camped on the couch watching The 0ffice. I can't decide if I like or hate this show. kinda both. At least it's a break from How I M3t Your Moth3r, which I have the same love/hate relationship with. (not sure what this says about my parenting.... )
--Neighbor lady
Yep, NL, she turned 10 in October, which means we've been at this whining location for just a little over ten years.
So many hugs, esperanza, on this bittersweet anniversary. You know, yesterday (which was incidentally the fifth anniversary of the day we brought E home from the hospital) I was thinking about how, with the big events in one's history, it feels like I walk through the events annually, a little like the liturgical calendar. I guess it feels especially that way, being in the middle of Advent. I've only experienced a fraction of the stress you had with Sweet, but I suspect you're replaying all the feelings, and I'm sending you hugs.
I'm glad the creep didn't get elected.
Still plugging along here. Feeling stressed.
Yay Alabama! Yay black folks! What the fireplace, white folks? We really need to work on stopping voter suppression.
W: Aunt Flo popped by for a visit after a FIFTEEN MONTH ABSENCE.
AW: got to watch my son's tap class tonight. Such fun! RatatatatataTAT.
((( PK ))) We're here for you!
Liz, I mean -- what? After 15 months? Talk to your gyn; my spacy last few years with Aunt Flo meant I needed a test, but honestly, my doc said I was definitely menopausal.
Tap class! Yay!
(((esperanza))) Ten years...wow.
Sorry for all the germy ick, NL. I hope NB is feeling better soon.
(((pk)))
Yay Alabama!!!
Liz, 15 months is a long pause. Worth checking out. And tap class!! :)
AW: Nice dinner out with family last night - sisters, bils, step sis and her partner. Yes, there was discussion of the parental visit. A bit of tension between step-sis and my sis (the one who is offering her house for dad and stepmom), mostly about who is going to be responsible for driving, shoveling them out if it snows, etc...
W: I have a very bad feeling about this visit, and a deep determination not to let it ruin the holidays for me.
AW: I have discovered the best thing ever - Fleece Lined Tights. They are wonderful and cozy.
OMG Sue! Did I not tell you about fleece lined tights?!? I’m sorry! I bought them for my sister years ago!!!!
Liz on iPhone
Aren't fleece-lined tights wonderful, Sue? I have a confession about what I wear as leggings when it's cold it: black, smooth long johns! (My cousin started doing that, with long johns from Marks WW, and it's what I do now. I wore them to a fancy fundraiser dinner, under a tunic thing, with heels!)
Bleah -- achy, sniffly, keep feeling like I'm not completely awake. Maybe the advil will help.
Meahwhile, Mr. Bouncy Dog went to play with his canine friends today.
Oh no, kathy! @dvil is the only thing that is really helping me right now. I slept better last night, but the coughing and nose blowing that commenced when I awoke...I will spare you the nasty details.
AW: I got a bunch of Christmas Baboo shopping done quite efficiently today. Still have 22 yo niece and 2 yo niece with nothing right now, but those are two that the Baboos can help me with next week.
For the curious, Sweet will get: some of that solar exposure paper, a build-a-wind-generator kit, a butterfly jigsaw puzzle. That catches her up with Mini, who is ridiculously easy to buy for. Also found some stocking stuffer type things, even though we don't do stockings.
AW: while I was gone, Alice the robot vacuum took care of the kitchen and living room for me. I love her.
Those are wonderful presents for Sweet! So fun.
Solidarity whining with all the sick pixies: yesterday, I was so tired and headachy, and thought it was all concussion symptoms, but today, those symptoms are shifting into my sinuses, ears, and throat. I think I have E's cold now. Bleh.
Oh no! Feel better soon esperanza, kathy, and QWP!
Yikes!!
Matzah ball soup all around!
W: NB still has fever and so is totally bummed about having to miss the St@r W@rs premier tomorrow-- he was going to go to opening night with a friend.
:(
Neighbor Lady
My miracle drug is helping a lot! Long distance hugs to all the others suffering. Matzoh ball soup sounds great!
Those are great gifts, Esperanza! My kids loved the solar paper; and you found something interesting to build that does not involve legos!
I meant to do a big grocery expedition today, but maybe tomorrow.
Meanwhile, got the stockings covered (the main thing this year), plus most of the small family gifts have arrived. (A sweater here; flannel shirt there.) The "big" present for the kids will be a modicum of cash; except daughter gets a gift card to her favorite market, one block from her place, which has sustained her -- that's actually what she asked for. The latter things fit in stockings.
AW: The Baboos, all week, have been playing nicely outside after school.
W: I need them to work on their teacher gifts, but I hate to interrupt happy siblings time, especially when it is occurring outside.
Yay for good Baboo play time!
We tended toward modest gourmet food / sweet items for teachers, on the theory that they could use those. The kids did the cards. YMMV.
I could barely get them to fill out the "to/from" label.
Pizza. Best decision all day.
OMG-- thank you for the reminder about teacher gifts....
I know.... you would think that as a teacher I would have had that on my radar, but this year... not so much!
Yikes
All of your gift ideas sound so good..... getting inspired. esperanza, love the gifts for the baboos!
:) Neighbor Lady
Hugs and love and @dvil to all achy pixies and loved ones who are feeling the blech. xoxo
Great gifts for Sweet, esperanza!
AW: I dragged myself out of the house to the Baboos' school. Sweet's class was having a surprise (ish) presentation from another class. I don't even know what the class is called, but it includes seven students with severe disabilities (non verbal, one has Down's, not sure about the other). These seven accompany Sweet's class when they go to PE, music, etc. And, according to the teacher, Sweet's class goes out of their way to be inclusive and kind, more so than any other class she has seen. So they came to Sweet's class today to say thank you to the students and to Sweet's teacher, and to hand out cookies. And they invited the parents to be there too, to thank us for raising children who are kind. So now I'm crying all over again, because this is how I've always felt about Sweet's teacher and her class, and how they've reached out and included her. Anyway, it was super nice.
Oh, Esperanza -- that is lovely! And yay for kind children!
Much better today. Advil before bed was a good idea.
This tax thing is exhausting me, and breaking my heart. Can I get a second on my motion for Worst Tax Idea Ever?
Oh goodness: the tax thing. I second your motion, Kathy.
Esperanza, that is just wonderful.
W: I overdid yesterday, and had a splitting headache today. I kept E home from school (she also has a bad cough), and we cancelled orr evening plans, so that I can rest. And I NEED to be functional tomorrow: E has her first piano recital, and I have tickets for Star Wars. I refuse to miss either of these.
esperanza, what a lovely school the Baboos are in, and how blessed they are to have such a thoughtful, kind teacher. (No, I'm not crying, why do you ask?)
QWP - all appendages crossed for a good day today for your family.
kathy, this tax thing is mind-boggling, and heartbreaking.
Things aren't sounding so good for Mr. Elderly Neighbor. They report progress, in that he's awake a little more, and he ate a few bites of pureed food. The hospice people came by, but his family does not think he is at the end, and plans to go forward with treatment. He's been on antibiotics, but had a fever last night.
Oh, Kathy. I hope Mr. Neighbor starts improving soon.
W: so much for E's first piano recital: her cough got a LOT worse today. We've maxed out her inhaler dosage for the first time ever. (Apparently one of her friends had the same thing this week, and it involved throwing up so hard that she threw up, but then she was better the next day. At least, a steamy shower got E's cough under control.)
Now, we have to see what this means for Mr. Q and my plans to see a movie tonight (we already bought expensive tickets!). My MIL is still very willing to put E to bed and manage the coughing stuff, but I'm feeling serious Mom guilt right now.
Go to the movies, QWP! You MIL can handle it, and E can handle it.
I coughed so hard yesterday that I almost threw up. It happens. Ick.
it sounds like Mr. Elderly Neighbor's family is in a tough spot.
Rainy, cold, gray here today. We're all still in pajamas. I'm slowly improving, but still needed an hour nap to get through the morning.
QWP -- Y'all need a date night! First of all, kids are resilient. Second, grandmas live for those special times! Third, she's not exactly in the hospital, and the cough is in a manageable stage now. Fourth, it's not like you're going for a week, or overnight even -- maybe a few hours, during which you will no doubt call to check. Fifth, your beloved survived to adulthood under this woman's care; E will be fine for an evening.
Just my opinion. But it's important to give yourselves a break and a treat, every so often. xoxo
GO OUT, QWP. Let your MIL revel in Grandmotherliness.
When I had Whooping Cough in 3rd grade, I coughed so hard I vomited more than once.
AW: Because I am a frequent flyer at the Women's Imaging Center (I am religious about the annual mammogram and I got a transvaginal there back in 2012 when my periods started going wonky), they gave me an appointment for Monday morning for another transvaginal ultrasound due to the new wonkiness.
W: I do not like the di1d0 cam. I do not like it, Sam-I-Am.
No one likes it, Liz. I'm sorry you have to be subjected to it again, but I'm glad they were able to get you in quickly.
Thanks, Esperanza. I am glad, too. Also, gotta make an appointment with an OB/GYN. There's a well-recommended one in the same complex as my son's pediatrician, so I'm gonna call Monday and see what they can do for me.
I'm out of deductible, so I'd like to get into see them this year, if possible. (it's probably not possible)
Ack,Liz! But it might be better than the uterine biopsy I got under reasonably similar circumstances, which felt an awful lot like severe labor.
Off to my annual fundraising event, fresh sliced baguettes and snacky things as my offering! This is at least 21 years, benefiting a wonderful organization in the South.
No one likes that cam, Liz! Hugs.
AW: we went out last night, and it went well for everyone!
W: E is still in rough shape this morning, and so Mr. Q and I had to do some negotiations about which of us has to miss the church Christmas program to stay with her. That lot has fallen to me, since Mr. Q is reading the Christmas story, and I'm still mildly concussed. I'm feeling pretty emo about missing out on carol singing.
(QWP) I highly recommend buying The Roches album “We Three Kings” for listening while staying at home missing the caroling.
AW: tfw your husband asks you to be a sounding board for something work related he’s having trouble with (computer code-related, not interpersonal), and after he gives you a brief tutorial, you ask a question, “I know you’ve probably already tried this, but could you do x thing that’s akin to the y thing you just showed me?” And it turns out he had never tried x thing, and it works and solves his problem.
I am a trouble-shooting goddess.
Liz on iPhone
Go, Liz!
W: Computer is sick. It tumbled off the coffee table and must have landed on the corner with the power cord. The cord and the jack are both messed up. It barely connects and charges, but it's going to have to go to the hospital and get fixed. It's a good thing this isn't a busy week at work or anything.
Oy, Esperanza! Yeah, not a busy week at all.....
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