Thursday November 9, 2017

Weight 116.6, calories 1801. I BLAME the Boston crepe pie which BIL left here. He left it on Monday when I wasn't home but should have taken it. It doesn't call to anyone else so it just stares at me! Too long and depressing a day working for me to avoid it. But that's that - done and I've weighed this morning. There will be no more of that. And I only have 7 hours of working left (4 today, 3 tomorrow), whi*****ludes 3-4 meetings. The remainder of the time I will be saving material on a server and finishing one set of documentation which I have dragged out because it is boring.

Cecily, the identity theft stinks! I've been lucky that it hasn't happened to me yet but it may be just a matter of time.

Yes, cancer is an ugly word. When my daughter was first diagnosed, I wasn't as concerned as my MIL and DS, because it was a form of cancer which is usually curable and the doctor initially said the survival rate was 90%. DS was the most upset when we told him and went crying to his room saying "I don't like that 10%" (he was 12 at the time). Unfortunately somehow his instinct was right.

Devon, placing Blue must be similar to being a birthparent placing their child for adoption. It is in Blue's best interest but so hard to let go. Could some of your recent feelings be anticipating this? My DS (who if you read the previous paragraph is both intuitive and very sensitive) said last night that he's not sure Duchess will still be here when we get back in April. It made me very sad, because though she often smells of pee these days and can't hear much she still is so loving and so happy to sleep in whatever room I'm in (as I write this she is next to me sleeping on the floor).

Have a thriving Thursday!

Weight: 173 (up, suddenly!)

Wood floors are progressing so nicely. It's so great to have something go right for once! We paid the flooring store people to do it and so far it's soooo sooooo sooooo worth the money. They said they'd finish Thursday/Friday, and there's a good chance it'll be done by evening tonight!!!!

Anyone have Christmas lights installed? DH and I always put up our own lights, but we're only able to do so much because our roof is so steep. And it never fails there's bad weather, and someone gets sick, not to mention I'm now worried that my DH, who's soon to be 44, will just fall off the roof. But I'm trying to decide what to do. I could probably get a college kid come and do it for a small fee, but our lights are the old incandescent and that's the majority of our problem. they were such a PAIN last year. They literally blew fuses every other night. So we've already been contemplating biting the bullet and going with LED. I don't love the look (I think they look garish) but I'd rather having working lights than blown fuses. But here's the thing: the fancy light companies that do the whole all-inclusive cut down the lights to fit your house, measure, no worry about where to plug in, show up and do it people require you buy the lights FROM THEM. (That's how they make some of their money). So I guess what I'm saying is if we're ever going to make use of one of these pricier companies, we'd better do it now when we buy the lights (because I don't want to be in this situation 5 years from now and buy the lights all over again). Or my husband's thought was: do it this year, buy the lights, have them cut down to size, have no fuse-blowing issue, and then in subsequent years pay college kid. But all these silly, frivolous decisions make me arrive back at: let's just put them up ourselves one more year.

Can you believe Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away?!

Oh, almost forgot! So I'm not happy with the scale today. But I do have exciting news to report: DH got to feel a kick! I tried to get him to feel the other day but he grew impatient. My DSD was there and encouraged her to feel too. She started to get impatient so her dad was like "no, here." And when she felt a kick it was the cutest shocked expression I've seen. So it was a really sweet experience. I'm very very thankful that Nugget seems to be bringing our family closer. Blending families is HARD. We were not in a good position just a few years ago, and I was quite worried how the steps would react to news of a baby. And then sometimes I'm worried about over-involving them, or making them feel weird (like "hey, touch my stomach.") But I decided if I'm going to be guilty of something, I'd rather be guilty of caring too much or involving them too much than excluding them.

Over the years we have scaled down our lights (the most important being the candles in the windows). I don't like LED either - I like white mini lights only. I was thinking of stringing some in our Lanai in Florida so we have some cheer for the 2.5 weeks we are there between the holidays.

I think you are doing EXACTLY the right thing with the steps! I have been a stepmother for 36 years and it has only been in the last 5 that we have become very close to DSD (now 44 years old). Laying the groundwork by caring and including them will likely reap benefits eventually.

To balance out my identity theft woes (up to 8 fraudulent credit card account attempts now), I have the good news of meeting my goal today! Hooray! 169.6 with 1,006 calories. It's hard to eat when you're making a bazillion phone calls to banks and credit bureaus! So I'm officially in maintenance.

Liz, aging pets are so hard on the heart. But they are so worth the pain.

Brownblonde, I have a terrible fear of ladders and doing work over my head, so I found this pole at Home Depot that lets you hang Christmas Lights from the safety of the ground. I don't think it would work for really high houses though. But for me it was the best $25 I spent that year!

Today I'm getting my hair done. The regrowth is making me laugh. I look like I've been electrocuted without a lot of hairspray to hold the new hairs down...

We actually did look at the Library hotel. It's still pricey but great location and much more reasonable than some. I really want to stay someplace unique. I'd rather pay a little extra for character and charm. Whereas DH really refers bigger and more modern big box hotels. He's vying for a Westin or a Hilton while I'd love to stay at the NY Palace or Library hotel. Only downside to Library hotel is currently only a full size bed is available. And with a growing belly...might be too close quarters!

But I'm also having a lot of guild (maternal guilt) starting to seep in. I have a feeling this will be a common feeling in years to come. Always something else to spend money on...college savings, water heaters, and who knows. And in some ways that's why I want to do this now!

I'm 6 ft tall and was thinking the full size bed would be torture with someone else besides me in it. As it was, I was sleeping on an angle! But it's a very cute hotel.

147.2 - down and not quite sure how.

Stress levels continue to be uber high. Got a call from the local hospital today that Ben's CT for today has yet to be approved by the dam* insurance company. They need a copy of the last CT scan that was done at Mayo (which was already faxed to them last week!). So much bullshi*! We are having the scan done anyway and will fight the insurance company later. No more waiting.

Got a visit from the local police last night after 10:00 PM. Youngest DS (not quite 15 yet) reposted a "pick up line" of the day on Snapchat yesterday. It went like this: Guy to girl - Are you a school? Because I want to shoot (ejac*late) kids (sperm) inside of you. Words in parentheses not included. He saw it elsewhere on the internet and re-posted it. The 14 year old doesn't quite get that you would NEVER post the words school, kids and shoot in the same sentence. They realize it is not a credible threat but he is still suspended for 2 days and I will have to meet with the Principal, the Dean of Students and the School Superintendent sometime later today or tomorrow - all while Ben is getting scanned to see if he will live or die. Couldn't help but think of "sheetcaking" Devon!

I'm so sorry for all of this, Paula! You really need a break.

It's unfortunate that this snapchat thing had to get blown out of proportion--I see why they have to investigate all threats and it's so sad we live in a world where these words can mean what they actually mean :(

Oh no! Our kids did some bozo things too. DD did some bullying online (didn't think that's what it was but it was - with a friend, thinking it was "funny"). The recipient was another friend. It got worked out, but we had to have meetings with parents, school, etc. The girls were friends again later. In other words, good kids do stupid things without thinking them through. Of course you know that but this isn't the best time to have to deal with this.

My prayers are with you and Ben. I'd do the same at this point - go ahead and fight later.

Greetings Busy People

Yikes, what a lot we all have going on. Is it just me or does life seem to move faster and faster? Even without the impending holidays it seems to move at warp speed.

Liz I am imagining the Times Square New Year's Eve ball as a count down to your retirement. Yay.

Yep, cancer is indeed ugly in all forms. Seems to be so much of it lately. We know what to do to help prevent heart disease and other things but cancer seems to strike with abandon. I guess we are doing what we can by keeping weight off and eating clean.

I agree Paula to go ahead with scans and fight with insurance later. Its awful what they are doing. And Ann, thinking of you too.

****ly, yikes, identity theft!! Don't you hate being tied to the phone all day with that garbage, punching in numbers and listening to phone options. Equifax may indeed be the culprit. We froze our credit some years back when Anthem got hacked.

Well Devon, sometimes we have to let go of what we love and that will be the case with Blue. Adjustment will be easier for her than you but you know she will be spoiled and loved.

I am still being haunted by my mom's debris. I am sent pictures daily of various items and am asked what to do with this end table or box of papers over and over. Brother or I may have to make another trip and this is not a good time as DH is having cataract surgery next week and there are a series of follow ups and he is so nearsighted that I don't think he will be able to drive until both eyes are done.

BB Christmas lights are a pain. Thats why I don't do them. A friend of mine once got stuck up on the roof and could not get down. Had to yell at people passing by for help. Don't so that! And yes let the other kids feel the kicks. Good plan.

Gallery duty today and tomorrow and board meetings and other nonsense. I so hate sitting and wasting time when there is so much else to do. Oh well, coffee cures all. Diane S