Saturday, May 22, 2021

DS is flying out of Boston to Colorado at 9:30. DD is here with her very large cast on her hand and lower arm. Her BF will be here by midday.

Mike and I will finish planting my deck flower boxes, possibly power wash the outdoor shower (it is open but could use a more thorough cleaning), then maybe go kayaking? I should also work on some closet and drawer organization. I am slowly returning my house to a more orderly situation- DS doesn't mind clutter but it drives me crazy. Though Mike has put clothing in the drawers I emptied for him, he keeps partially living out of his small suitcase. Whenever I visited his place in Florida, I put everything away including my bags. Hmmm... I guess time will tell.

Tonight we are going out to dinner with DD and her BF. I would actually prefer to barbecue at home, but maybe we can do that for Memorial Day weekend. No rest for the weary.

Have a safe, healthy and enjoyable Saturday!

Planting and power washing complete! I think I will attack other projects (and kayaking) another day.

Haha, I've had some tea, and am thinking about taking a shower now, and getting dressed for lunch. I need to channel some of your initiative.

Good morning! Well Liz, your house is rocking and rolling. Filled up with family, sounds awesome. But you have been running full out!

We had a very nice dinner out with my SIL and niece. Our niece just moved back to Minnesota after working/living in Missouri and Oklahoma for five years. She and my daughter were born 3 months apart and grew up together, so it's nice for them to have this time together for however long DD is making our house her base.

My parents bought part of my grandparents farm years ago, in the woods of northern Minnesota. It's become a family compound, but not for me. My parents and my brothers family go up north together, but have not invited me for years. My DH and DS get invited to deer hunting. So anyhow, I open my texts and start reading one from my brother, Do you have plans for Memorial Day Weekend? We're all going up north. Wow, I think, I'm being invited? I keep reading, Mom might not feel well enough to go, could you stay with her if she can't go? Oh well. Yes I can stay with Mom, and I tell my husband later, the only way I'll ever see him again when my parents are gone, is if I drive to his house and wait in the driveway. I won't. Thank heavens for DH's siblings.

Time to get ready for my lunch date and catch up on all the gossip. One of my friends has her finger on the pulse of our city (in a good way, she volunteers for so many civic organizations). DD and I were joking she probably already knows who made the bomb threat. :) It's going to be a warm, steamy day, and I couldn't be happier.

I can't believe your brother acts that way. Just animosity from long ago or is it because you are female? And the audacity to ask you to stay with your mother so they can go! Yes, thank goodness you have DH's family.

Enjoy your lunch date with people you choose to be with.

No particular animosity. He's 6 years younger. It was probably hard for him when I moved out at 18, and he was 12. I think he just doesn't think about me at all. If we end up at a family gathering together, he's pleasant, and we chat. We text more now because of decisions with my parents. I like his wife and I love my nephew and his wife. But yeah, I'm not really anybody that registers with him. Last summer, when I was diagnosed with cancer and hadn't heard from him, I thought my parents didn't tell him. (Which seemed odd because he was at their house when I called to share the biopsy result). So I texted him to let him know, and he texted back, yeah, Mom told me. Sorry to hear that. Anyhow, I'll stay with my Mom if she can't go, because I want my Dad, who is her main caregiver, to have a weekend off. I love my family, but there is a lot of dysfunction to navigate. My parents want to push through every reasonable boundary, and my brother ignores me. All the more reason I cherish my husband and the family we made. We're not perfect, but we're pretty darn normal.

Your brother's obliviousness is outrageous! I'd have lost my mind...

Greetings all

I am worn out from all this puppy care. They want to eat and romp every couple of hours starting at 5 am! Whew, it was much easier when they were tiny and didn't do anything. Five weeks. And I am having trouble getting the pups into the vet for a health certificate that two of them need to get on an airplane. Must get creative. I will probably end up paying emergency room prices for someone to take a puppy temperature.

Hey Liz my DH keeps socks in a suitcase. I have no clue why and have giving up trying to figure it out.

Not much progress on getting rid of stuff. I at least cleared out one cupboard of mugs and stuff we don't use so that the things I do use are on a shelf I can reach. Baby steps. Still dreaming of a dump run but probably won't happen.

All this puppy stuff is making me eat even worse than usual. Too many carbs and too much wine.

Friends came by to see the puppies. Luckily I had just done poop patrol or I really would have been embarrassed. The pups promptly went to sleep in everyone's lap.

Well they are napping now so I'd better get the trash out.

Cheers all. Diane

I should clarify - within 10 days of outbound travel. The health certificate must be issued within 30 days or return travel.

Thanks, I am getting all kinds of different info. One thing is that one pup is going to Mexico. Different from going to omaha. It will work out somehow. The pups are healthy. In fact they are FAT. d