Solemn Sunday

Greetings Kathy, and OFF,

Living outside of Philly, Joe Biden was on the local news all the time, coz they cover Delaware regularly.  I have a friend who works for Amtrak, and she knows someone who worked on his regular train.  The Amtrak folks loved him when he made that regular run.  I just read a good article about Beau, and I had forgotten that he served in Iraq.  Not too many senators or congressmen can say their kids fought in any of the wars.  

Thanks for the compliment about my flexibility.  One of my first real life lessons in college as an education major was flexibility.  My first ed class involved visiting a variety of schools with our professor, to take a tour, and observe the differences in the structures and programs.  Well our first school visit was cancelled at the last minute, after we arrived.  So, our prof told us that as teachers, we'd have to be flexible.  I can't count the number of times I'd walk into school, with my day planned for every minute.  Then, Bam, there would be an assembly we didn't know about, or some other change to our schedules.  After the first few times that happened, I pretty much learned to go with the flow.  When it comes to my Munchkins, or my extended family out here, I don't mind helping in an emergency.  Colleen's in-laws have pretty much told me that I am part of their family now.  Her sis-in-law gave me a big hug when I saw her at church, and told me she had no idea how I ended up at her house on Friday, but she was extremely grateful.  I told her that if I'm in town, then I'm available.  

Well, I am one proud Grandma today.  My precious angel, Isabel played special music in church.  She, and her piano teacher, did a duet.  I'm extremely grateful that a friend was willing to cover the Toddlers so I could stay in the sanctuary the whole service.

Vickie, I grew up with three siblings.  Mom had six.  But, I was married to an only child.  I can only share my understanding from my experience.  Mom's older brother was in the hospital with a heart attack, around Christmas, when I was in 8th grade.  Mom asked what his prognosis was, because if it was bad she wanted to make the trip to see him.  Well, she was told that things looked good, and that he'd be discharged after the holiday.  Well, he died before he was discharged, and Mom never forgave herself for not visiting him before it.  In a way, Butch's siblings probably fear that he will go before they get to see him.  It could be selfish on their part, and they probably don't think it's a big deal to you guys.  I know you feel an obligation to probably get them something to eat or drink, but my suggestion would be to ask them to bring dinner, or coffee with them.  Also, buy paper plates and cups, as well as plasticware.  I did that when I was at Mom's.  I didn't cook, coz her stove had burners that didn't work, and I did few dishes.  In the mornings, I went to the gas station/convenience store for coffees for both of us, and Danish or muffins for her.  Then, I'd get take-out for us to eat the rest of the day.  All the major restaurant chains offer it.  I even got us seafood at Red Lobster one night.  Just ask his family to pick up some dinner.  Let them make themselves useful.  It would probably help them feel like their helping.  Plus, don't hesitate to escape to your flowers on the back patio, even when company is visiting Butch.  And, if Butch needs to close his eyes during a visit, let him.  Invite your company outside, or send them out for dinner.  Put them to work.  

Mary, my biggest fear, other than losing my glasses, is locking myself out.  I have always given a spare key to family anyway.  And, since I rent from Colleen and Trent, they automatically keep a key for all their properties anyway.  Plus, I can walk to her house.  I don't fear losing my keys, coz I keep my main set on a lanyard.  I've been doing that since I first started teaching, because I always had to lock my classroom, and it was easy to keep that key around my neck.  Plus, having them on a lanyard makes them so easy to find, especially in my huge, packed purse.  I have a Phillies lanyard for Spring and Summer, and an Eagles one for Fall and Winter.  I always make sure I can easily detach the keys from the neck part, for if I have to give them to a family member, or at the mechanic's.

I am so glad that Jazz had a good time on her trip.  I got to go to Germany with my choir in high school.  We didn't get to use a nice, charter bus for the trip from Langhorne, PA to JFK, in New York.  We had regular school buses for that horrendously long, unairconditioned ride.  When we came home, one of the other busses broke down on the Scudders Falls Bridge, in Yardley, PA.  We all got home very late, and we had been travelling for about 20 hours straight.  And, we were all expected to show up for school the next day, with jet lag.  

Sorry this is so long.  I guess I needed to talk.

Love, Hugs, and Prayers,

Trish

Hello...well just got off the phone with my sister and mom...sister NOT doing so great after her surgery this week. Prayers please for her!!!! Thankyou ALL so much!!!

Went back shopping today for groceries...OMG lol how stupid were we yesterday???? forgetting to get groceries???? LMAOOOOOOOOOO Anyhow I found some VERY pretty shoes...tried them on...took about 3 steps in them...OMG I CAN'T WALK IN HEELS!!!!!! Now mind you these had 1&1/2 inch heels!!!!!!!! A few years ago I had a surgery on my hammer toe that was NOT supposed to EVER cause pain to me EVER again. Well let me tell you this.....IT DOES!!!!!!!! The dr is/was a QUACK!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wear certain shoes EVER AGAIN and this pair is one of them!!! They were a sparkling slip on and would have matched my jewelry perfect also!!!! Soooo I put them back on the shelf and found a paid of Isotoner satin white slippers to wear for my shoes. SIGHS.............So much for pretty wedding shoes huh? Maybe I can find some sparkling clips to put on them? HAHA.

Rick is making his stuffed pork chops...omg they are smelling sooooooooooo GOOD right now!!!!

Weather here is rain on and off...thunder and lightning last night also...today heavy rains here and there...so far no flooding for us...my hands hurt ALOT so I can only imagine how poor Connie feels and Eileen.

Also so far this weekend we have had TWO refrigerators go on the blink. SIGHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lucky we have 2 empty apartments!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My hair is thin enough I do not need to pull it out...GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

If you are on FB and one of Vickie's friends on there....she is posting rate the porch and now rate the oh heck what is it called now...its a Ladies get away frilly shed like room....anyhow....I posted to her if it keeps the funny farm away I am for it!!!!!!! Very pretty one she posted!!!

Next weekend is my mom's 94th birthday. She wants me to come home. I am trying to see if we can do it. 1st of the month and rents due here...all this nasty weather.......SMH...I am TRYING MOM!!!! My sister not well after her surgery also...I NEED/SHOULD go home!!! Guess a good talk to Rick at dinner tonight.

Well he is setting the table....  time to go I guess...

Thoughts and Prayers for ALL that need them right now and especially those that are in the Floods....

HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

LOL, Judy!  It's called a She-Shed!  LOL!  

For those of you who don't know me on FB (I'm Vickie Gibson Poe--send me a friend request), I started a game called RATE THE PORCH.  I post pictures of fabulous porches and we all give them a rating from 1 to 10.  

Today I decided to change it up a bit and post a series of She-Sheds.  Oh, these are fun!  Here's today's entry.  (I gave it a 10, btw.)

Vickie....ROFLMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Ok so I have major CRS at times.... LOL

HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Garden sheds are to store the lawnmower, garden hose and spades, rakes, mulchers, whatever.  If the gardener is a lady, this is a winner!   Or it's a doghouse for a female Great Dane and a very decorative, nice doghouse!

😊

jennifer

Ladies,

No rain...I'm keeping my fingers crossed...we do have clouds but no rain.  Yesterday, we had tornados touch down a few miles from here and the wind and rain was awful...I'm ready for a little dry time.   

DH is doing the grocery shopping and I will probably live to regret it.  I gave him a detailed list and said no candy, no chips, no this...if he brings home anything that is not on the list, it's going in a bag to the neighbors. We have to get his blood sugar under control so they will do his other cornea transplant...dang it man. 

Today, I am not sewing, not writing, or am not cooking...I am organizing my sewing corner which has taken over our house.   I have two sewing cabinets and three machines and that doesn't take into account all my yarn and hooks and needles for that and recently, don't laugh, I have started modgepod...Let me just say that I found out I can transfer my grandkids picture onto rocks, wood, plastic, and even cups...and I've just gone crazy.   Last week, I bought a unfinished wooden box and the grandkids and I modgepodged pictures of me, granddad, my kids, my mom, my grandparents, and even the sperm donor all over the box...the sperm donor is on the bottom and we are giving it to my daughter for her next birthday...I am going to see how long my grandkids can keep the secret. LOL...it is beautiful and my husband being the handidandi wood worker even helped us put a homemade walnut finish over the pictures which aged it...

So, I have all these hobbies and no room for storing the supplies.   It's either get rid of my books or my hobbies and I refuse so I am doing some major organizing.   

I hope you guys all have a good and restful Sunday...Monday is coming around way too quickly.  Right now, I am enjoying the quiet of husband being at the store and the cats sleeping and the TV being off.....

Hi Kathy and my OFF family:

Just a quick hello before I get ready for work. It's kind of cloudy around here. I can't tell if we're going to have rain or not ... body kind of feels like it is at times. My right middle finger was getting that stiff feeling this morning again, but then I iced my neck and it seem to be better. 

Talked with my brother Gary this morning on Skype ... he was in the car (I hope he wasn't driving) going to see my mom at the assisted living home. He's having some issues with his health ... when he was cleaning this week, he felt lightheaded and his heart was pounding. He is on blood pressure meds and statins. Hope he will be OK. I suggested that when he moves down here, we can use my cleaning lady. He said that might be OK. 

Not much else going on. Work was busy last night but except for the late Cardinals game (which pushed us past deadline) it was OK. The Cardinals game wouldn't have been late except for a long rain delay. Rain everywhere ... we had our own cloud burst here, too. 

Well, I should get ready for work. Don't remember what everyone wrote but love ya all. 

Hello ladies, 

So many challenges in our little family today.  And yes, prayers to VP Biden and family - he has had a very tough burden in his lifetime.

Vickie, my dear, everyone has given you wonderful advice and I have little more to add. Since Butch has such a loving and supportive family, why not have them come over not to visit, but to give you an afternoon free?  Maybe do some cleaning and cooking?  LOL  Seriously though, I hope you can take some of the advice given somehow - and by all means, this is your place to vent my dear!! We are here for you!!

Connie, I checked in on your thread but I am concerned about you too.  Please do take care!!!

Kathy, you've likely lost MORE weight than I have thus far!  Somehow though, my sizes are dropping quickly which is gratifying.  But you're doing an AMAZING job!!!

Mary, I hope your Jim is doing better and that you are getting more rest.  You'll need it too.  

Power is out from thunderstorms so I need to conserve battery power.  Please know you're in my thoughts and prayers!!!

Christine

Hi Everyone!!  

Not much happening here--Jim is still in the hospital.  One of the doctors told him they may "tap" him again tomorrow because he still has quite a bit of fluid in his abdomen.  Hopefully, if they do have to do it a second time, it won't leak.  Otherwise, they'd probably keep him there for another couple of days to be sure he doesn't get an infection.  It's tiring going back and forth to the hospital, but at least I can "sleep in" and go in around noon or so.  Very strange having the place to myself; I keep looking around at projects I should tackle, but I'm just drained.

Vickie - I understand the family coming.  My Mom came to live with me during the last years and a half of her life.  She and all my brothers lived in NY, and I'm in MA.  No one visited the whole time she was here, until she suddenly became sick and the doctors gave her a very short time. Suddenly, everyone discovered there's a highway that goes from NY to MA!  All my brothers came for a final visit -- more for themselves than for my mother, because she was so heavily medicated I don't think she was aware of them when they came.  Hopefully, once this initial wave of visits is over, everyone will go home and stay there.  At that point, you can set up some rules for future visits.  IE, visits on Saturday only, between 2:00 and 4:00, period, and you will not be playing hostess.  It's so tough on you because you have been caring for Butch for such an extended period and it has to take a toll on you.  I know you'll get through this round of visits, and I hope you can set up future guidelines.  Take care of yourself.  Butch is truly blessed to have you by his side.

Prayers and good wishes to all of you.   

Hello Kathy and everyone.....I am sorry I didn't get a chance to post to everyone. I am just so weak and shaky. I have been sleeping off and on. I know I am sick because I rarely can sleep during the day.

I just want you to know how much I love each of you!! Thanks so much for the sweet messages!!! God Bless!!

I will read your posts here on Kathy's thread. I like to know how everyone is doing. I just can't reply. I am exhausted from just this little bit.

I pray tomorrow is a better day. I never did get the other two loads of laundry done. Oh well it can wait!! I got the rugs done and that is it for today.

LOADS of LOVE and BUNCHES of HUGS...to everyone...connie d