Monday, September 30, 2024

Weight 120.4 - back down a bit even after eating a cupcake, coffee cake, and a danish yesterday (in addition to quiche and potatoes). More of that kind of stuff than I have had in about 6 months, but not nearly as much as I would have had in the past. All that junk is leaving today one way or another thank goodness.

The wedding weekend is over! The brunch was as good as the wedding - the weather cooperated, the food was good and people were very relaxed. We had food for an army (that's how DS cooks) and 10 less of those who had RSVP'd yes showed up but it was worth it. I think the no-shows were hung-over... So much nicer than having it in a function room and it probably cost about half of what it would have. Of course the labor was free. Most of the food work was DS and his birthmother - she was his sous-chef, with setup by her and me. We are so blessed to have close extended family.

DD's birthmother, half birth brother and her birth aunt and uncle were at the wedding and were so happy for her. I had a deep discussion with her birthmother who we have known fairly well for about 20 years about how she felt in the years after DD's adoption when she was unsure of where she was. Tough as that was she said that she could never have done for DD what we have done. It is partly financially but she never really had her life organized. Sort of a free spirit but not always a happy one.

Onto the next phase today! We get a rental truck in about 30 minutes. First we load up furniture being taken by SIL, eldest DD, and niece to SIL's house (eldest DD and niece will get it from there later). After that the furniture being taken by DS will be loaded up for him to drive back to his apartment early tomorrow morning. In between I will be packing boxes of whatever I am bringing to DH's home in preparation for the mover coming tomorrow. LOTS of very mixed feelings about leaving this house, mostly sad ones. I'm sure the relief of not maintaining it and not juggling as many homes will surface eventually but certainly not now.

Time to get somewhat motivated. Luckily I slept well after the exhaustion yesterday. Have a moving Monday!

It's normal to grieve losses even when it will ultimately be a relief! So glad the wedding was a success. What a lovely extended family you and your DH created for your kids.

Internet Towergate continues... The board president is a bully and she doesn't listen and two board members are checked out most of the time. So it's down to me and the other new guy to carry the torch for the resident's voices. Added to that all day yesterday was wrapped up with our neighborhood well pump going down so no one had water. It was restarted after 2 hours, but we don't know why it quit, so that's always concerning. This is not fun! 2 years and 8 months to go in my sentence, oops, term.

I think I will take books to the Friends of the Library today, but no other plans. Should be a few degrees cooler than yesterday today. But given it was 98 yesterday, that's not a big reprieve. Not sure what is going on with this heat dome, but it was 117 yesterday in Phoenix and the hottest temp ever recorded there for the month of September and it was the 29th!

I might also put a little fall fertilizer on some trees that are looking a little worse for wear.

Anyway, hoping for a quieter day here today to mentally regroup from the cacophony of HOA complaints, emails, and phone calls.

Hope you all have a good one!

Wow - that's hot! I sure hope Florida is less hot and rainy when we get there in 2 weeks.

159.8, up and perplexed why as yesterday was a low calorie day. I'm sure it won't stay there.

Decided for sure to not pursue buying in FL this year. Since we don't have to save vacation time to look for a new home, we booked a two week vacation on Maui for January! Yay! Our honeymoon there 5 years ago was less than ideal due to getting Covid. Hoping for a glorious two weeks!

So happy the whole wedding weekend went well. The brunch sounded delightful and how cool that DS could be the chef! I hope the sadness regarding closing the chapter on your home dissipates soon. So many memories, but those can't be taken away even when the home is bringing other's joy!

CC, hopefully there will some resolution with the tower and the disgruntled residents will be okay with however it all ends up!

Went kayaking today to our favorite place! Weather was absolutely perfect and the trees are starting to turn color. I'll post some pics on TT because posting pics here is a PITA!

A Maui trip sounds like an excellent idea as a pre-retirement venture!

Greetings all

Another great fall day. I am reminded that winter is coming because in my studio today I noticed the intense sunlight that comes in during winter months when the sun is lower in the sky. It's a south window and it makes a great place to dry clay but it can be annoying. We have drapes and they are needed.

So I did my walking again and am appreciating my very nice and sparsely populated gym. The fishing channel had surfing today. I guess its some kind of outdoor channel.

Liz what a great family you have and it's a great credit to you to keep everyone together. So warm and accepting. GL with the moving mission. You need a rest!

And CC you need a rest too from the HOA monster. You and the other sensible person need to keep the ship upright. I swear some people sit at home and do nothing buy spy on the neighbors and gripe. Years ago my friend lived in a gated neighborhood and one neighbor spent a day driving around the place and writing down every single HOA violation and then turned the list into the board. Stuff like an unpermitted shrub or a non standard mailbox color. Don't these people have a life??

Great paddle picture Paula. No doubt there is paddling in Maui.

So I was pleasantly surprised to find three of my items had been fired on Friday. My preferred kiln was not full so it did not go. My stuff accidentally got put in the non-preferred kiln but they came out fine. The difference between the kilns is the amount of oxygen vs carbon in the firing atmosphere and I prefer the low carbon. But there is a difference even among the shelves in the same kiln so these got in the lower carbon zone. All good.

And I was busy this morning and got off a response to the gallery landlord on their proposed lease rate increase. We began the negotiations in May and they did not get back to us until last Friday and what they came up with is absurd. So more work to do.

I am thawing a chunk of ham from the freezer for a dinner of ham and beans. It's kind of warm here so maybe not the best dinner plan but oh well.

Diane S

You aren't kidding about busybodies! In my former Florida neighborhood there were lots of them. One turned in a neighbor who had two elderly 3 pound Yorkies who she adopted after the woman who had them previously died. She was turned in for having 2 dogs because the rule was one dog with a maximum weight of 35 pounds and one cat. Those 2 yorkies together were smaller than one cat!

We concluded our very nice visit with DS yesterday. On Saturday, DS and DH went bike riding while I picked up a few things from Target, and then we all had an afternoon nap. In the evening we went on a walking ghost tour in the old part of Madison. It was the kind of tour I like, as you learn about the history of the city and it's folklore.

On the drive home I proved my love for my husband by listening to the Vikings vs. Packers game on the radio, irritating static included. The Vikings won, and in my opinion, are just setting the true fans up for the heartache to come. Worse than listening to the game is listening to the callers on the aftershow. The cliches, the repetition, the lingo, and the hubris that they would make better calls than coaches. Not a fan of bro talk. I tried reading but I kept hearing some dude saying things like, they didn't get the job done. In the scheme of things, my suffering is minor, but you must all hear about it regardless.

Work continues to go well. The problems that need to be solved are actually problems that can be solved or will be eventually. The stress level is so different, thankfully, than last year.

CC I hope there is some resolution to the cell tower debacle. Things like that can create so much visual tension.

Liz, so many milestones in one week. You made a beautiful home and finished raising your children in that house, so saying goodbye must ache in a lot of places in your heart. Now to continue making a beautiful life with your DH and enjoying new adventures.

Paula, love the idea of a getaway to Hawaii for 2 weeks during the bleak winter season.

Diane, do what you need to do to get things straightened out on the lease. Sounds like some game playing is a foot.

Wind is fierce right now, as a cold front drops in. We're going from the high 80s back to a more seasonal 68 tomorrow. This September was the warmest September ever recorded in Minnesota. I know climate change is not a good thing, and I don't celebrate it, but ...

I would be irritated by the football on the radio too - my DH is also a fan of football games and those ridiculous after game "discussions". So annoying!