Sleepless in Michigan
Good Morning Trish and OFF-
Okay ladies, enough with this insomnia catagion that you are spreading electronically. I had difficulty going to sleep last night but I attribute that to the hair raising ride I took yesterday.
Mary happy to read your post today as you have been in my thoughts. I like your brother's idea for finding a church. I can relate to finding something to do as sitting is the worst for depression and weight loss. But caution to you to not over commit to escape the grieving process. I agree with Kathy, people are going to say nasty things no matter what so just ignore them.
Kathy you're making me tired with the cleaning. Of course that's what I have to do eventually this weekend. The place is getting cluttered gotta get back into control. Have to start thinking about what goes in the car with me and what goes with movers.
So today will be another rest day. The Mah Jong group needs a sub so I will play with them today. We have to drive 40 minutes to the other side of the lake to play with the ladies on that side. They take turns playing at each other's houses.
Thoughts going out to all of you today. Hope everyone has some improvement in pain levels or sleep cycles. Eileen hunker down and get that packing done, you're moving on to a better place with your brother.
Cindi B.
Cindi, I have a case of CRS and can't recall when your move date is. When will you and your possessions make the trek to TX? I hope you have a good time with the Mah Jong ladies.
I was up early (I actually did sleep from 2 .m. to 6 a.m.) and put together a batch of chili in the crockpot for hubby to enjoy. I love the smell of chili cooking (I just can't eat it).
Cindy P.
Cindy P-
Movers are scheduled to come on the 28th to finish packing the china, crystal and kitchen along with pictures, lamps, etc... Then depending on the delivery date they give me I'll either head right for Texas or go to NC to check on my mother.
Mah Jong was good, I couldn't see combinations worth a damn today. Hostess is a sugar addict so there were lots of things served. Augh! One of the reasons I quit going full time.
4 hours contiguous sleep is good. I love chili. I have a great beanless chili that I like to make.
Cindi
Cindi, what's in your beanless chili? (I'm thinking that maybe no beans = maybe I could eat it.) I guess I could go to one of my recipe sites and do a search for a beanless chili and see what I come up with.
Your move date is coming right up! I bet you are looking forward to getting settled in your new place and having all this move stuff in your rearview mirror. 
Yeah, 4 hours uninterrupted sleep is pretty good. It's certainly better than what I had been having.
Cindy P.
Cindy P-
The recipe is called El Cid chili. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/el-cid-chili-recipe.html If you don't like spicy cut back on the chili's. One of the canned chili company's has a beanless chili. I keep a can or two in the pantry when I need an easy meal. Hormel I think is the brand that has the beanless one.
Yes I want to get this move in the rear view mirror so I can get away from the constant "what have you done" thoughts that go through my head.
Cindi
Cindi, thank you for the recipe info. I'm going to check it out.
I think your move to TX will work out nicely. You have the advantage of wintering there the last several years so you are familiar with the area your house is in and you have friends there who are actually friendly. I do understand the "what have you done" thoughts. A certain amount of anxiety/uncertainty is to be expected.
Cindy P.
Good morning sistas,
It was another Sleepless in Texas night too. I am beyond "tired". I am living in a permanent brain fog.
Since I got up this morning I have read on FB 3 posts that have put me in a deep blue funk. One was from a sweet friend (and one of Butch's cousins) who lost her little boy at age 4 months. Today was the 11th anniversary of that sad day. Another post about a woman who woke up to find her husband lying dead in bed next to her and NOW she has Stage IV breast cancer and has two little ones to raise. And a third about a young teenager who committed suicide after being bullied. ENOUGH. I think I will stay off of FB for awhile.
Mom and I need to go to the store today. I ought to be getting ready, but my crappy headache will not go away. I'll go take a hot shower after I post this. Maybe that will help.
Some of the things I've been ordering are starting to arrive. The big curtain rods came yesterday. If I can shake my headache, we will try to hang the new curtains I made for the front bedroom this afternoon. My new bedspread should arrive tomorrow. And my new rug is scheduled for delivery on Monday.
Also, that cool little rotary blade came in the mail. I can't wait to try that. It cuts evenly spaced little holes along the edge of flannel or fleece so that I can crochet pretty borders for baby blankets. Or any kind of blanket. I have several yards of fleece I bought a few years ago, intending to make myself some around-the-house fleece pants. I think there is red, brown, and black. I'm thinking I can make seasonal blankets with colorful borders and try selling them on Etsy. I can do Halloween with the black, autumn with the brown, and Christmas with the red. We'll see. Seems like the minute I make plans to do something creative, my family has a crisis and my quiet time disappears.
Last night I got out an old manuscript of a novel I wrote many years ago and began re-reading it. (Yes, I wrote a novel. No, I never submitted it to anyone.) You know, it's not bad. A bit immature in some places. I think I'm quite a bit older and wiser now. LOL! I don't know. Maybe I'll try re-working it. The biggest problem is that when I saved it--oh, so many years ago--the technology was floppy disks! Obviously those don't work anymore. I would have to retype the whole thing, but if I re-work it, I would need to do that anyway.
A friend of mine approached me about doing some grant writing for the private school she works for. They need a new gymnasium. I've never done any grant writing, and I told her that, but she seems to feel my "writing skills" would be adequate. I'm thinking about taking the job. For one thing, it would help with my depression. For another, I could use the money. And for a third, it might lead to a new career path for me. I will see. I told her I need a little more time to think about it and she said that was fine.
Well, I'd better close and get ready to go to the store. Mary, hon, I feel your pain and I pray for you. I'm sorry for what you're going through. Cindi & Eileen, it's hard to be a self-starter when it comes to packing. NOBODY wants to pack. I think you're both doing great. Kathy, we got a tiny smidgeon of rain yesterday afternoon. I'll take it, but we need MORE. Trish, I was sorry to hear you might have to have oral surgery (OWEEE), but if it will stop your killer sinuses from wrecking your life, I say go for it! Judy, I can't remember what all you posted, but I love you, sista! Praying for your mom and sister. Connie, I love you, too. Hope you are feeling well today. Did you see I colored yesterday? Benny used the fat markers and I used the skinny ones. LOL! We had fun. Carla, hope your stoma can be corrected easily. Enjoy going to see Miss Vinnie for her 2nd birthday! Can you believe our babies are 2 years old this month?
I know there are others I've missed. Brain fog. Love you all!
Vickie
Vickie, I have a friend who wrote grants for a non-profit for many years. She enjoyed it. Sounds like that kind of thing might be a perfect fit for you.
Did you and your mom get your shopping done? Hubby and I did that yesterday morning early. The store was pretty well stocked (which isn't always the case with tourists in town) and I was able to get everything I needed.
I wrote a whole bunch of poetry back in the '80's and '90's. It was so fiercely personal to me, that I copyrighted a lot of it. I had thought about putting together a collection for possible publication but I never did it.
Hope you get to get your curtains for the front bedroom hung -- and possibly some sewing too!!
Cindy P.
Vickie- If you still have the floppies there are people who can convert the files and put them on a jump drive.
Grant writing isn't that hard to do. You just have to write the story answering questions that they give you on grants. There are some great grant writing sites on the Internet that offer webinars about grant writing and online tips. I've written grants and been successful getting money.
Hope you resolved the headache!
Cindi
