Monday, December 23, 2024

That is why my brother and I tell each other what we "need" at the moment. This year for me it was a new rain jacket. For him the very specific golf balls. Then we each get something we'd be getting for ourselves anyway. Ron still loves doing the gift thing, so I go with it, but really, at our age a nice evening out works just fine for me! More than anything I want to purge things, not add to the collection!

I absolutely agree!!! My family stopped gifts for everyone under 18 except our own spouses and our children. My 2 SILs and I do exchange gifts but since we are "best sister friends" we know what small thing will make them happy. But DH's family still buy gifts for everyone. The first year with them I was caught unawares because DH just gives everyone a homemade card and check and he said that was enough. But they all had gifts for me! So a lot of my shopping now is for that side. My 3 favorites to shop for are my 2 grand-nephews (both age 4) and a new grand-niece (9 months).

Today is work as hard as I can day, which I embraced by sleeping until 9am. It felt so delicious. By work as hard as you can, I'm hoping to do a lot of prep for the 2 meals I'm serving Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The more I can get done today, like 2 pans of Pasta Shells, and the famous Bacardi Rum Cake, the more relaxed I can be tomorrow.

CC, I feel you on the present buying. I'm confident about my judgement on many things, but not always on gifts. I had a beloved great aunt, and she would always hand us gifts and say, it's just a bunch of crap. It wasn't. She'd also hug us goodbye and say, don't take any wooden nickels. She never married, and always wore a red hat, long before that was a thing. What a character.

I am adding to my exercise some stretches and strengthening moves to increase the mobility of my hips. They seem clunky and tight. 2 days of stretching and I already feel some release. I know I need to look at a few core moves to get started. I have a few in mind from previous PT. And there is also Tai Chi. There is a 10 minute routine on YouTube that I enjoy, I just need to commit to doing it on a regular basis. I mean 10 minutes, I don't even need to change clothes or get up and off the floor. There is no excuse for not making it a daily practice.

I have a bone density scan this afternoon. I'm hoping for good news. I've been taking Fosamax for almost 4 years. TBE last scan, 2 years ago, showed stable bone mass. Hopefully any loss these 2 years is minimal.

Proud of you, Diane S, for your new stretching exercises.

I hope the bone scan shows good results. We seem to get so rickety in our old age.

Greetings all

Early check in for me. I am waiting for studio payroll to be completed so I can pick it up and deliver it and then start my rounds of studio, gallery, bank. I am in a different town from studio and also gallery so trying to avoid extra trips up and down the freeway. I am trying to finish my Christmas organizing with my usual emphasis on logistics and ease of activities. I need a trip to the health food grocery to get chicken livers. Our widowed friend loves chicken liver pate so I thought I would make him some and for the couple of other people who like it. People either love it or hate it - no in between. Chicken liver supply is iffy around here but the health food store is the most reliable. First world problems.

So CC, Kirby loves the guests. Think of it as a baby sitting break for you! Yeah I hear you on gift anxiety. When I was younger I always hated gifts I was given as they were so not me. Makes me sound like a spoiled brat but when you are given clothing that is way too small and really ugly it felt like fat shaming. Ugh. Anyway don't stress about the right or wrong gifts. (she said...)

Paula sorry DD had another spell. Can't get that scan too soon. Mint choc cheese cake. Now thats a cake!!

DD hope you can have a lot of sleep late days over the break. Go for it.

Liz I bet Justice is 'off" from traveling. Holidays must be confusing for pets sometimes.

Yay Peps, partying with music teachers must be a hoot! Enjoy. Party in the skinny pants!

Time to get busy. Grrrrrr, where is that payroll?

Diane S

I actually like a small amount of chicken liver pate - one of those foods DS got me to eat over the years which I probably would not have tried otherwise.