Saturday, December 23, 2023

Two days until Christmas! The great thing is that we have no obligations at all today other than getting the house ready for Monday and we have most of the day tomorrow to finish up what we don't get done today.

I think I mentioned that I met with a friend/realtor on Thursday? What a pleasure to talk to a professional (as opposed to the first one we had at the Florida house which goes back in the market January 2). What she says the house will sell for amazes me. But she also gave me a lot of homework - permits to close, fire detectors to install, and septic inspections to be done. I will bring back as many decorative items that I wish to retain as I can when we fly home this week. I also decided I am going to spend the next couple of months thinking seriously about what furniture I might want in Florida and arrange to have it moved when I am home for shoulder surgery in March. When we are back in June there is a ton of decluttering that has to happen before we can list it. It is almost as much as I had in the home I lived in for 20 years (I have been here part-time for 5, then full-time more or less for 9). DS can do a lot of the obvious junk removal while I am gone, but I wonder if he really will? He talks a good game but doesn't always follow through.

Last night we went with DS to a wonderful light display nearby and a pub nearby which featured a singer. Nice night.

Today, as mentioned is a day to take things slow. Have a safe Saturday!

The puppy has been so overwhelming, I told my folks I couldn't get it together to buy Christmas gifts. None of us need anything and I stress over their gifts in good years. I did say, stockings I can manage. The stress is compounded by the fact there is nowhere to shop here and they absolutely need or want nothing. Anyway, I ran into Walmart and Walgreens hoping to find candy stuff they might like and silly things. If you want to kill any remaining Christmas spirit left, go to Walmart in a town with no other shopping 2 days before Christmas!

I found a couple of things, but nothing I'm excited to give them. Argh!!

Anyway, now I'm getting my hair done. The parents are watching football and the puppy. I hope he's being good!

The guy came to work on my floor heater boiler and found it didn't work because wasps built their nests in the vents and air intakes!! So he's replacing the pipes for those next week for $500+. Homeownership!!

Anyway, that's it! Take care all!

Always something to take care of in a house.

I shop almost 100% online for a variety of reasons, but mainly because I can have stuff sent directly up north. It makes life much simpler. These days the delivery time is fairly short for most things so I don't have to think a ton in advance (though I do have to plan a minimum of a week or 2 in advance).

Between the Florida house and DHs house it seems you will have opportunity to keep many of your favorite things, and lighten your load by parting with things that don't really serve you well. And what a wonderful thing for your children that you will pare down now, possibly giving them some things they could really use, and not leave a heap of stuff for them to deal with one day.

CC, it's hard to buy things for parents I think. Mine don't need one more thing in their already crammed to the rafters house. I try to buy them consumable stuff. That probably works better for my parents than yours, because mine live far away from most stores, so if I go buy some treats from the fancy grocery stores in Minneapolis, it's unlikely they would have enjoyed any since the last time I brought it. And Wal-Mart is soul killing just about any day, can't imagine how dreary the scenario you described!

Last night I did my bit of grocery shopping at 9:30pm when the store was empty! Loved it, and then I was able to sleep in this morning. I woke up and realized I hadn't finished shopping for BFF. I had a little something, but not really a decent present. I hopped on Amazon and found a few things that could be delivered today!!! We went to pick up DD from the airport at 1:30pm, and when we got back, it was sitting on the porch. Talk about a Christmas Miracle.

Sadly, DD woke up with a sore throat, and aches and chills. We fed her tea and toast, and tucked her into bed with a dose of Tylenol pm. She's still sleeping, which is good. She took a Covid test, negative, which is also good.

Still giddy from not feeling the hosting pressure. I'm going into the kitchen to bake a rum cake to take to brunch tomorrow. In the past, this would have been one of many, many tasks. Now I think I'll enjoy putzing in the kitchen.

I'm not worrying about what I'm eating, I'll get back to that next week. The Wegovy and sleeve slow me down enough to avoid any big damage. Just trying to keep an eye on protein.

Greetings all

More sun today though Christmas is supposed to be rainy. Big deal. The only real issue is that I get wet because I don't move very fast. Maybe I need a raincoat. Duh.

Last night we got a call from DH's technically challenged friend. He could not figure out how to turn on the tv. The ensuing conversation was as hilarious as any Abbott and Costello bit. Which was the tv remote for which tv and which is the tivo and what is it for and on and on. After a half hour DH concluded he would have to go over today as there was no hope on the phone. This is the same guy who two days ago could not work the tv because it was not plugged in.

Stopped in the studio today for a bit and caught up on gossip. People are still coming in and buying stuff. Some people really have a knack for picking out nice things and others have no taste and buy junk. Of course, the junk is cheap.

Well yesterday I proudly wore a brand new sweatshirt to lunch with the name of my prestigious college across the front. Then when I got home I discovered one of those stickers right on the front that said X-L X-L X-L about 10 times. Wore it half the day. Duh again.

Liz glad you have an adult realtor. Let the de-junking begin.

CC I am sure puppy is enjoying football with the folks. Trip to Walmart sounds hideous. My coldolences. I am with DD on the edible gifts. Good plan. Stuff to read and stuff to eat is my motto and thats what I got this year.

DD I too am giddy about the fact that you don't have to do Christmas eve. Being a guest rocks. It's so much more fun to bake when it's not an item on a list. Indulge.

DH is actually following up on his promise with the E waste. he has taken a lot of stuff apart. Of course, it has not actually left the house yet....

Pot roast underway. I just tossed a cup of red wine in. Smells so nice. But the dogs won't settle for kibble...

Diane S

The sweatshirt sticker made me laugh, been there, done that! Nice to hear that there is movement on the E waste. I used to ask DH for chores to be completed for birthday or mothers day gifts (example, paint the bathroom or hang a new light fixture) maybe clearing out stuff could be your present in the future?

Maybe the non-tech friend needs labels and simple instruction sheets created? Or maybe he just wants some companionship?