Thursday, August 11, 2022

Last day at Mike's place for the next 2 weeks, then we will return for one last week. I plan to bring everything back to my place and just pack lighter for that last week. Justice will miss it here as he loves his walks on the beach. He will probably also miss the coyote who seems to lope around here every evening just before dusk. It must be eating somewhere because it looks quite healthy and unafraid of barking dogs and people. It doesn't come close but it doesn't seem phased by our presence.

We are going out for "date night" tonight as we will be with family every night for the next few days. I think all is ready for the party though I am afraid we may have some more Covid cancellations before Sunday at the rate it seems to be spreading these days.

Have a thrilling Thursday!

First down (ish) day in a long time! I worked a long stretch last week and then on my first day off yesterday had to travel to my parent's place 3 hours away. Dad (91) is declining rapidly both physically and cognitively and it is becoming much too much for my mother (86 today) who has her own physical and beginnings of cognitive issues. They currently live in an Assisted Living facility. Thankfully they have a Memory Care unit that should be able to meet Dad's current needs. It is only an elevator ride away from Mom so she can still visit him daily but won't have to try to meet his every need! Dad won't like the change at all. She has been at his beck and call for 68 years and he won't know what to do without her.

Today will be spent getting ready for Kevin's daughter and her boyfriend's visit for the weekend. We have not seen them since Thanksgiving. There was a bit of a feud going on between Kevin and his daughter but I think the embers have cooled some and hope for a good weekend.

Feeling like we are truly in the sandwich generation of taking care of our parents and still needing to parent our adult children! Speaking of, I send my 6 foot 3 inch, 220 lb. "baby" off to college on September 1st. DS #2 seems to be the only one that really has hi**** together, but I'm sure the others will in time!

I'm trying to catch up on all of your lives. Is Mike selling his CC house Liz? CC, would love to hear more about your new house and see pics if you have any! Love to you all! I've missed knowing what is going on in your daily lives!

Hi Paula! Yes it takes kids a long time to get it together. Mike says early to mid 30's based on his kids (40, 42, 36). My older two (49 and 34) have their acts together but DS (31) is still finding himself (returning to school for a second Bachelors degree).

I sold my Florida home in April so we just have one there now. Mike has owned his home on Cape Cod for 38 years and does not plan to sell it - his kids use it for several weeks in the summer. This year we stayed at my place/traveled during those times. I would like to sell my Cape house as it is too big with too much yard and maintenance. It is in great shape right now and I want to sell before I have to deal with a capital gains issue (which I do have on the Florida home). I'm leaning towards buying a smaller more seasonally focused condo which Mike and I could use as our retreat but my kids could also use as a vacation home. We shall see.

Good morning! Or almost noon. Musing on adult children. When I think about whete they are at, i remind myself that Covid really shook things up. For example, DD would probably be almost done with her Masters.

DS, turning 27 next week seems to be very settled in his career. He's been recruited, gets bonuses, promotions. This from a kid who we had to drag to the finish line in college. We wondered at the time if we were doing the right thing. Great engineer, not so great student. He is launched, Career wise, for sure. Also very responsible with his money. Our prayer for him is to find a quality partner. He does want marriage and a family, but his dating life is a circus. DD will be 30 this winter. She is a dynamo, and if she had gone into business, would likely earn a great salary. Working in human services, her passion, doesn't pay so well, and we worry. Money can smooth out a lot of rough edges in life, like being able to afford uber in the evening instead of the subway. Safer. Once she had her MSW, salary should increase. We also pray for her to find her partner in life, because she says she wants this. DS gets falls in love easily, while nobody ever seems to light a fire for DD. I always liked the saying, to have a child is to have your heart walking around outside your body for the rest of your life. I've found it to be true.

I think I was having an allergic episode yesterday, after decongestants and sleep, I feel better. I read a book, cover to cover. Loved it. I also ended up making banana bread. Not so smart when there are only two people in the house...

You had to use up the ripe bananas though, right???

I really did! There were so many! LOL.

Greetings all

A lazy day here like any other. I did a grocery run mainly to get rice and cream of rice cereal for the old dog. My grocery shopping habits are so different from pre VSG. I used to do the once a week trip for a big load of stuff and come home with 6 bags of stuff including non grocery stuff. Now I go every two or three days and just buy stuff for a day or two. It may have as much to do with age as being post VSG and with not wanting to cook. But I no longer feel the compulsion to be "stocked up" with canned and dry stuff like I used to.

So as professional old people, DH and I are fixated on news programs. Today as an important news conference started, the dogs decided to rock and roll and engage in very noisy play. Had to shut them up to hear our program. Old age indeed.

We started watching the show "Severance " last night. Interesting and weird but it has great reviews. DH fell asleep during the show so he had to watch it again today while I was running errands.

Have a good date nigh Liz. Hug Justice too.

Paula love your comments on your kids as well as everyones. It is indeed quite the process to become an adult. WE have watched it with the nieces and nephews. My niece is about to turn 40 and has kind of always been a grown up but I think she is the exception. We have some that are still pretty young (and one who does not yet exist but hopefully will soon) and its great to watch.

Did some banking work today for the gallery. More chores to do there but maybe tomorrow. Time to start the cycle of preparing dog dinners. Meanwhile, more bears spotted in our town. DH has a birthday on the horizon. I am thinking of getting him some type of wild life camera to see what is in the back yard in the wee hours.

Cheers. Diane S

The camera sounds like a great idea! When I was working from home, I saw, at various times in our backyard, a fox, a coyote, wild turkeys and deer. Who knows what passed by in the night when I wasn'****ching. Could be very interesting in your area.

Today I decided on a drive to Flagstaff. I took the longer way, which goes up Oak Creek Canyon. So beautiful. It's green here with lots of wildflowers. Apparently this has been a very good monsoon year. Flagstaff is a bigger town with a university. It's pretty high in altitude so it's cooler and less deserty, more piney.

That's about all that's new here. Hope everyone is doing well!

Good Morning All,

Popping in quickly - Friyay here and Im hoping to finish mid afternoon so I can head up to the farm in the light. Work is super busy and I have been doing lots of long days. Have finally caught up from my holiday - its taken a while.

Mum enjoyed her birthday on Wednesday, we all went over and had Pizza with her. I got her a nice cake and she felt very special. It was lovely to be able to spoil her this year after shes missed her last 2 birthdays incl her 80th due to Isolation

Will be mowing most of the weekend if its dry enough as I need to get it cleaned up before DH goes away again next Sunday. I am planning to go up later in the month for a long weekend. He will be away a month so I will be back juggling the farm, work, kids and our city house. Im thankful not to be a person who just sits - I would honestly not be able to get as much done.

Planning lots for my grandsons 3rd birthday. My DIL is making it a dinosaur theme so I will do some party foods to fit in. DH's ex wife has decided to come. It could be interesting but I am hoping she decides to be an adult and focus on why shes there - for her grandson and children. I dont like this sort of tension but will just smile and nod as I term it and get through the day. I have my fingers crossed it is incident free

Loving reading about all your adventures. I miss coming her every day and need to try much harder to come post

Love to you all and stay safe

S