Just channel someone you admire. Don't call yourself names like silly idiot! Channel someone you admire and just watch from a distance.

You can do this!!!! I believe in you! Generally I make a joke where I ask the nurse not to scream. And it breaks the ice. Except for the time the nurse coldly said, why would I scream. Okey doke

Good Morning Everyone 🙂
"Clink!"

Hi Tatoulia 🙂

Have fun at the wedding and wedding cake has no calories so eat a piece. 😉
AM or PM she had just better show up with your pillows!
Sounds like you had a lovely day yesterday.
Miss Kitty is such a loyal friend to those she valiantly protects.
This is why I cover the couch, I can wash the cover in the machine but the whole couch is too big to stuff in a washer. ;P

Looks like it will be another lovely day here today.
Thinking I will dump out and wash & sanitize all the litter boxes today.
That task really makes my back hurt so if I do that I probably won't do much else.
Around 11:00am the cats are usually all napping and won't be wanting their boxes until around 3:00pm so I have two hours until I can safely do them.

Still need help not chickening out Wednesday at 5:00pm when it will be time to get that flu shot.
I want the protection against the flu but I am scared of the whole going someplace alien to me and having to talk to alien humans.
I keep repeating to myself "be strong, be grown up, get over it you silly idiot".

And then I will have to do this all over again the next Monday when I have a dental appointment.
It's all too much! "whimper, whimper, whine.

We have a wedding today. Beautiful fall sunny day.

I'm washing my couch cover right now because someone vomited on it last night. Cat hasn't mentioned it. Not sure whom she's protecting.

I'm going to change my sheets now. I didn't do yesterday.

I have a lot to do. Let's see if I do any of it. I did change kitty's box last night. Pillow lady says she's coming tomorrow at 7:30 PM but I'm wondering if she meant AM. Time will tell.

Hello Tillie! JazzFest was a lot of fun. Great weather for it. I generally don't eat anything at these fairs but I picked up some meatballs and pasta and went to mom's to eat with her. Then I ran to the pharmacy and from there I went back to mom's then home then nails. I went for the deluxe pedicure version and it was lovely.

Wedding is early tomorrow so I'll hop to bed soon.

I have to do kitty's box. My schedule is all thrown off.

Good late afternoon/early evening.
Not yet 5pm here.

Did those other things on my list except vacuuming.
Can smell burning weeds on the breeze. 🙁
Been just sorta hanging out watching trees very slowly change color.
One chrysanthemum plant has dozens of white blooms.
I am allergic to chrysanthemums.

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WTG! for putting things away after using them!
Yes, seems like a small thing but this small thing really makes a HUGE difference.
Great that recycling can get out at any time.
Have a wonderful time at Jazz Fest!

Another lovely day.
But another day of wildfire warnings, from noon to midnight the winds will be blowing.
My burn barrel is so full since I haven't been able to burn almost all Summer long.
But the forecast says rain by Wednesday, I will believe that when I see it.
Yesterday my leg started hurting again so I spent most of my time laying down with it elevated.
Hoping today I will be up to doing things.
Need to wash some dishes and as always, cat related tasks.
But I should also vacuum and sweep.

Good afternoon everyone! I spent part of the morning packaging up some small gifts for people to take to the post office. It is JazzFest so I'll go to that and do a few other errands. I need to get a manicure for a wedding tmr.

I'm not sure of my plans tonight. I had invited a neighbor to dinner tonight and we left it tentative. She is the woman who uses my car to take her son to and from school. She works overnight shift so we left it tentative. She's not working tonight but she's in the police department so I'm not sure if she'll be called to work JazzFest. I'll just go looking for her and take it from there.

I've been working on putting things away. So after packaging things I put the scissors and tape away. Seems small but it looms large. I also had saved two bubble envelopes and cut them down for my purposes.

I have a lot of recycling to take out. I'm glad I can put it in our bins anytime. I missed garbage yesterday and I'm stuck with it til Monday. That's ok. I'm not used to being home on Fridays.

What are you doing today?

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Very glad you had it out with her and spoke your mind.
Fingers crossed it goes smoothly and as promised now.
Poor Miss Kitty without her fancy bed. 🙁

Hey I just deleted my post! By mistake!

Hello hello. I'm not caught up but WTG Tillie for the shopping and finding the dollar bill. YES get your flu shot! I get one every year and only got the flu once since I started getting them. I hope you are feeling better. I am so worried about you.

I had written about the ongoing saga of getting my pillows. I fired her last night and she was professional and said she'd bring my fabric and $ and then she begged me to let her do them for free. (No, I will pay for the work). So we left off where she would do my two bolsters and I would pay for them and then we'd take it from there as the what would happen. She sent me pictures today and they are beautiful and I told her to go ahead and finish the job. She can't do the cat bed because of various reasons but she still will do for me later if I want. I am paying for everything and she's going to hang my Roman shade for me. So it worked out. I had started to get a little hostile with her and pulled back, saying, you are a really nice lady and I enjoyed meeting you and I just want us to part as friends. Women need to support each other but I just cannot go on with your delays and bad communication. And that's when she said she wanted to do for me as a gift, which opened it up for, do my bolsters and we take it from there. I am happy with the solution.

I am home today. I have to make contact with the person who'll be putting my fireplace together for me. Baby steps. Trying to get so much finished here before friend arrives.

I love you all dearly. I'll grt caught up on your posts soon.

Good Afternoon Anybody

Been having a nice day.
The weather is lovely.
Did a bunch of laundry, things that don't get washed all the time like some curtains & tablecloths.
Cats are happy and have all their needs taken care of.

Handed Steven a bag of assorted frozen meats from the fridge freezer last night and asked him to see if there was anything there he wanted to eat this weekend.
The stuff all smelled very strongly of that old/been in the freezer too long a time smell.
The smell got on my hands and was terribly strong.
I told him that that food probably wouldn't taste very good and it was all freezer burned.
But, that bags worth is no longer in the fridge freezer, YEA!
Plan to keep doing this every week until the freezer is empty or he starts fussing too much.

Good Evening

This morning I could have done some chores around here.
Decided that I did not want to so I went into town.
Was at the hospital auxiliary thrift shop and discovered that I can get a FREE flu shot.
Just need to go to the county hospital on Wednesday between 5pm to 8pm.
The shots are donated by the hospital auxiliary.

I will be 65 in December. I have never had a flu shot because they have always been too expensive.

Will you all please badger and yell and cajole and remind me NOT to chicken out and to go get a flu shot?

Today I also found a whole dollar bill just laying in the road.
Went to the food bank thrift shop and had a nice visit and bought a tiny cat quilt and a pair of garnet earrings.
Then since I am almost out of laundry detergent I went to the store, got cat snax too.

Came back home and did a bunch of chores.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
I appreciate a person who answers honestly when asked a question rather than one who pussyfoots around the subject.
Many people consider my bluntness/honesty as being rude but I consider their problem is their own and not mine. 😉
I do not consider you being in the wrong for answering honestly and wonder what their true motives were for asking you in the first place if they did not want to hear the answer.

Many people have appreciated and many people have been very upset when they have asked my opinion about what they are wearing cause I tell it like it is.
So, if they can't handle the truth then they should not ask me. ;P

But I do understand what you are saying about the ridiculous social games that people feel they must play and it's frustrating trying to figure out their rules of play. (((hug)))

Last night the skunk must have just sprayed a dog because when she came around here it was so heavy it woke me up gagging.
I remembered Jack's kibble bowl on the back porch had food in it and was able to bring it in before Miss Stinky discovered it.
I like the skunks but don't want them getting used to eating on my porch.
The intense pain in my spine and the sick headache are much better today and I was able to sleep last night without tossing & turning trying to get comfortable.
Anyways, I now know that I can no longer prune or move branches thicker than just a couple of inches thick.

Oh, and that "Is it ok if I sit here?" Thing - just saying "no." Because it isn't ok and the reason is because I don't like you or find you annoying, but it would be rude to say that - that is really not ok.

I learned "go ahead." And then I leave as quickly as possible.

Tillie, i'm Glad you have made friends with the kitty.
And i'm Sorry about the branches.

CM, I hope the plumber was able to help you and that all is fixed quickly!

There are a lot of lies people tell that don't really make them "liars". People pretend they want to go to social events and can't when they don't want to go. They say they will miss you when they won't. They say they don't care about stuff that they care about. There are many rituals and assumptions around lying to each other in society that for most people make the world better.

Here is an example:
"Do you want the last donut?" (Might mean "can I have the last donut?" or might mean "I want to wash the plate." Or might mean "I am trying not to eat this donut." Or might mean "I want appreciation for giving you the donut" or "I ate more donuts than you did and I will feel better about myself if you eat one.")

"No, you can have it." (Might mean "I want the donut but realize you just asked for it and don't want to seem rude." Or "the donuts are bad." Or "can we share this donut", or even "I actually don't want the donut.")

90% of the time I say "sure, thanks." And eat the donut. Or "no." And stick with it in the face of continuing pressure to which I respond with increasing annoyance. And then later a family member explains what I did wrong.

"Want to go get a drink after work?" "No."

"Are you busy?" "Yes."

"What do you think of this shirt?" "It's a little tight."

"Is it ok if I sit here?" Is a different question. "No. I want to sit by myself." Is not an acceptable response.

I get myself in trouble a lot.

Hello

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
Iced tea "CLINK!"
WAY TO GO!!! getting the AC repaired and the heater all serviced and ready for Winter!!!
Very happy you have the plumber there right now.
Hoping that it is an easy fix and not too much damage has been done.
It may just be ugly old common dark mold and not the extremely dangerous "black mold".
If the subfloor is not damaged you can easily coat it with a product that will seal in the spores and help keep it more water resistant too.
Please apologize to girl kitty for thinking it was her since she is innocent and would never do anything like that. ;D

Hi Subclinical 🙂
I do not believe it is really lying when you misdirect peoples expectations to keep a happy fun secret.

On my personal list of people I dislike, liars come in right after people who hurt animals, children or nice people.
You can never really trust a liar.

Yeah, I just say "fine, and you?" any more except with people I have known for a while and am on more friendly terms with and then we have an honest exchange.

This morning Jack
(who's not my little black kitty living on my porch)
was standing patiently by the bowl as I poured his cereal.
I held out my hand to him and he did not flinch or show any signs of nervousness so I gave him a good head rubbing, first time I have attempted to touch him.
He enjoyed it.
When I stopped he looked at the bowl and I said "OK, go ahead and eat your breakfast", so he did, just like nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
It takes patience for these kitties to get to trust and now Jack trusts me.

Oh no CM, her manners are fine. She's a lovely woman, really. She is very caring and puts people at ease. But she knows me, and she has made an effort to do that.

I was talking to another person today and I told her "i'm Still pretty tired. I ran into L at the end of the day yesterday and she told me I looked like crap." And the person I was talking to gets it - her immediate reaction was "that's how you know somebody is a real friend."

I don't lie. Maybe about stuff like where I hid your birthday present or what we're going to do after dinner - for a fun trick or a surprise, but basically, I don't lie. And I have a really hard time with people who lie to me. And I understand that there are all kinds of socially acceptable reasons people lie to each other that make life easier and more pleasant. But they just make me confused and insecure. "Hi-how-are-you" is actually a huge social pitfall for me. I forget to say it all the time. And sometimes I actually forget and answer it. Which is very awkward. I have to remind myself it is not a question and answer, it is a social ritual in which "hi-how-are-you?" Means "I see you." And "fine-how-are-you?" Means "I see you too."

SubC, I would have a hard time biting my tongue and refraining from telling that woman her manners are crap!

Tillie good job on the trees. Sorry about the wood chipper. Your telling of Steven's road to hell paved with good intentions is making me do some more soul searching. Definitely rest that aching bod. Iced tea clinks!

Okay, this is one for the #YoureNotGonnaBelieveThis category: The AC was fixed this morning and the furnace readied for winter. But we were thinking girl kitty had been peeing on the bathroom rug. I later noticed it was sopping wet, and there was a musty smell in the bathroom.

Long story short, there has been a drip beneath the sink for an indeterminate period of time. There's black mold; we'll have to replace the vanity and maybe boards and whatnot beneath. Aaaand I gotta go, plumber is here.

Good Morning 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
So true, most people say "hi-how-are-you"
never really wanting or caring to know.
Hope you are soon feeling better. (((HUGS)))
Here, we truly do care how you are doing and are cutting you lots of slack on doing anything until you are well again. 😉

Have been suffering since cutting down those tree branches yesterday.
They were large and heavy.
Had asked Steven to do this several years ago for me and I waited too long before giving up on him and doing it myself.
Cancelling all my plans for today, except the usual daily cat related tasks.

Several years ago he paid over 200.00 for a used wood chipper at the thrift store.
He turned it on once to test it out.
Since then it has been sitting out in the yard hoard rusting away while the yard has filled higher and higher with branches I have trimmed or that have broken off and fallen down. 🙁

CM, thank you fir your nice long note!

I'm glad you seem to be feeling better. Enjoy the quilting and good luck on the sorting out!

Tillie, you got a lot done today.

I can't really think about what I want to do right now.

I'm really tired tonight. A coworker friend has been out really sick for over a week and was back today. I ran into her after school and she said "you look like crap. What's wrong with you?" And I said "i'm anemic, thanks for noticing." And she said " well, you look it. Your color is bad and you have big hollows under your eyes."

This is why she is my friend. Most people say "hi-how-are-you?" And don't actually look at you or want to know. Also, it kind of made me feel better to know that I actually look like crap. I feel like I am whining when I say I am too tired for things, but if I look like I feel, then that's ok.

Good Afternoon Everyone 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
YEA! for weighing in today. LOL ;D
Sorry (((HUG))) I know how all that crazy stuff drives sane people insane.

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
Maybe boy kitty will learn a few manners in the family room where RABBITS RULE! ;D
So happy to read that girl kitty is playing with her toys again.
That is always a good sign.
I have discovered that once you get a cat to relax, settle down, chill out
they seem to continue being calm since they no longer feel like they are in danger and can now think more rationally, as rationally as a cat can think anyways.
WAY TO GO!!! working on the quilt! YEA! 😀
Wonderful the AC waited for much cooler weather before going on the fritz.
Thank you for the names of the cat psych books. 😉

Been doing stuff all day...
Watering my 6 trees.
Pruned branches off rogue trees that I do not like or want. Their branches were interfering with my ash trees and one grew to be right over my burn barrel, making it dangerous to burn anything.
Brewed some more herbal ice tea.
Did cat stuff.
When the trees are finished watering I will wash my hair.
Tomorrow I will do laundry since I can not run water outside and inside at the same time.
Later today or tomorrow I will water the lilac hedge.
So nice that everything is not demanding watering constantly day after day since it's cooled down nicely here.

Addendum - I meant to share the kitty books we've been reading, just in case anyone needs to know about them. Tatoulia especially in case you do have to introduce two cats at some point.

Cat vs. Cat: Keeping Peace When You Have More Than One Cat by Pam Johnson-Bennett

and

The Cat Whisperer: Why Cats Do What They Do - and How to Get Them to Do What You Want by Mieshelle Nagelschneider

A little update

After church on Sunday I went to the parish picnic - I wasn't crying anymore, thankfully! I ate a hamburger, chips, watermelon, probably too much dessert (LOL) but it was good. Didn't stay for the activities; sometimes as a single person I can find a family I know to sort of hang out with to watch the goings on, and not feel lonely. But after the drama in the middle of the night I realized the meal and the conversation with the people I sat with were enough.

So I came home and had a nice nap. 🙂

SubC having had anemia myself around the time of my hysterectomy 10 years ago, I can tell you it's normal to feel weak as a kitten, maybe a little depressed - and that you shouldn't feel guilty or hopeless about it because it's perfectly normal. Your strength will return. So spend the current strength wisely until it does.

Coconut bread - yum, I like coconut. Tillie I'm with you on the Mexican coconut candy, and other Mexican sweets! Good stuff! Where I used to live was really close to what's probably the best Mexican bakery in town. I still go there once in awhile.

Your linen closet sounds like it works great for you. Too bad Steven didn't want to take that medicine - and not because of side effects even. I know I don't like having to take any psych meds and I take the lowest dose I can, but that's because of the desire to avoid side effects. And a person shouldn't take anything that would make them feel high, since that'd possibly lead to addiction. So I guess that can happen, that a person feels no different and decides to quit.

Since this household can't seem to go more than two days without some drama, the latest is the air conditioner. Roommate said it was making a loud buzzing and overheating. But the repairman thinks it will be a fix and not a new AC unit, thankfully.

I had been at the church yesterday - got started on the last phase of hand sewing the binding on my quilt. So when I found out I'd need to be here to wait for the AC repair, I drove back and brought the quilt home from the church - realized there's a clean sheet on the sofa with no dog hair so I can sit here and stitch on it. I'm about 5 ft. along but it's a queen size so I've got a ways to go! Can't wait to be done!

Kitties are doing not too bad on their rehabilitation programme! Boy kitty has accepted being back in the family room and has stopped meowing. He has the rabbits to keep him company. My two are large rabbits (who aren't bonded yet - we're working on it). I let one of mine out in the morning, swap in late afternoon, and then roommate's two smaller rabbits have their playtimes in the evening. My big bunnies aren't intimidated by kitty's nonsense, and if he tries to stick a paw in through the pen wires to bat at them, they merely give him the stink eye and hop away like "Seriously, dude?"

And girl kitty up front has been playing with some of her original toys (hunting play is part of the therapy for both kitties). It's like you can see the light go on in her mind, the memory of when she used to play those games with those toys. Her anti-anxiety meds will be prepared by a compounding pharmacy. She may not even need them that much.

We are fortunate that the weather is reasonably cool enough to be able to leave windows open and ceiling fans going, so being without AC hasn't been bad at all, really. I had slept on the living room sofa Saturday and Sunday evenings due to the crisis with kitty and not having had the chance to get items off my bed, but last night I cleared it off and slept there. Roommate may or may not need the sofa to sleep more propped up due to allergies. Though with the AC off she chose to sleep in her room. Either way, we're prepared.

So basically my goal is #1 to finish the quilt, and #2 to keep working on decluttering. When I can, I'll take things to the storage unit and begin sorting there. I also want to do some fun things and creative goal things, of course. I want to sew doll clothes, and at some point reassess where I left off with my writing (that has been SO neglected). And artwork - doodling for relaxation, and dare I hope, some more focused and serious efforts later on.

I love the thought of your shelves and the curtains, Tillie. So neat and tidy and pleasant! I can't believe that Steven at one point had a med that made life more tolerable! I can believe, and have seen it first-hand, that the simple act of taking a pill wasn't worth it to him.

My brother stopped all psych meds a few years ago which then created a whole new issue including extreme paranoia and belief that certain things were happening and that certain people were just actors and other crazy stuff. He's rarely been able to manage being pleasant for too long but his anger and psychosis were much more pronounced without the meds. Such is life. HIS life for I am out of it.

Well I'm super late for work.

Oh!! Got myself weighed!

Hello 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
I always think "some people are educated beyond their intelligence" LOL 😀
WAY TO GO! not bringing home more than you need or want to handle from the food bank.
Is there one little fun thing you want to get started on?
If so, please think about it, see if you have everything needed to do it, plot and plan how you would proceed with it.
Maybe just thinking through a little fun project would be a pleasant pastime plus you would be actively working through all the logistics.
(((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
I love coconut. There is this one candy in Mexico that is just coconut and a ton of sugar that is my absolute favorite.
"Heavy sigh" Mexico is so far away...

YEA! for a beautiful new duvet for your Mom! 😀
Thank you for helping the Aide (((hug)))

I have a shelf in the hallway where I store my bedding during the day.
I hang a pretty curtain from a tension rod on the shelf to cover it.
In my tiny room I have a shelf unit with 4 shelves.
Over the two bottom shelves I use a tension rod and curtain to cover the contents.
Makes things look pretty and tidy. 😉

The reason why I try to never advise prescription medications online is because I am not a qualified medical professional.
I'm always so happy when someone is prescribed a medication that helps them.
When I was working as a surgical assistant I used to write up a lot of prescriptions every day.
I was responsible for a drug cabinet containing a plethora of amazing things and a crash cart filled with life saving drugs.
But here online I will talk about all and any kind of alternative OTC remedies.
Steven was prescribed a med that made a huge difference in his moods and behavior, it was so wonderful, everybody noticed he was pleasant.
He took it for a short time then quit it because HE saw no change in his outlook/mood???
"Heavy sigh"...

SubC I misread your post?thanks for catching that. MIL needs a shop the family lesson, or not! Sorry about that! I hear you on trading out the PhDs! So cute! It's good to have something to draw upon and make you snicker!

I know that frustrating feeling, SubC. Self-loathing. It's so terrible. It will pass. I wish I could just let out a massive scream sometimes. I hope the iron starts building back in your blood. It is a terrible thing to fight fatigue. You'll feel more like yourself.

Tillie you are so good and so loving. Oh that roast beef sounds tasty! My cleaners brought me some nice Brazilian food today and my goodness it was tasty. I gave away the coconut bread because I don't like coconut. I'll tell them next time that I liked the chicken pie and the cheese bread. I don't want them spending their money on bringing me something I won't eat.

They are so dear.

CM my first thought, when you said you had some anti-anxiety meds for the cat: save any extras for me! I understand that there are pros and cons to taking medications and I respect views that differ from my own. Personally, being able to take a pill sometimes is the best thing for me. I'm glad you are helping the kitties to get their acts together.

Well I'm going to finish up a few things then get ready for bed. I have a meeting tomorrow night for one of my volunteer positions and I'm the leader. So there's that. Tillie did I tell you that the town had enough volunteers for the gas/Fire/explosion claims so I had Saturday to myself.

Saw mom tonight. She wanted to swap out her bedspread for her comforter. I ended it bringing over one of her birthday presents, a Marimekko duvet. Boy it lights up her room! Then One of the aides asked me if I was going to the store and eventually I pulled it out if her that she forgot her dinner. So I came home, got my wallet, then picked up a sandwich and some chips for her. So I got a little walk in. I also went to the hardware store and bought a tension rod. I used it to hang a tea towel over my kitchen cabinet that lost its door. It looks really cute. The tea towel is from Naples and is the most beautiful fabric. It was a gift from a friend.

Ok time to settle down. Goodnight dear friends.

Hi all!

Warm ginger water with a wedge of orange clink.

Dh always shops the family. It's my mil who forgets what amazing and talented kids and husband I have. She is all about the prestige of titles and paychecks, and I am more like, yeah, yeah, but look at this thing he made for me with his hands!

Once when dh and a friend were working on a dead car (they fixed it) I told the other wife "they'll figure it out, right? They've got two phds." And she said "i'd trade both of them for a good garbage man. You can solve a lot of society's problems just by taking out the trash regularly." (Literally and figuratively)

There have been a lot of times since then that i've looked at some "brilliant" overpaid idiot facing an actual problem and remembered that moment.

CM, I just keep thinking about you and the cats and hoping that miss kitty will feel well again. I wish you had fewer challenges!

Tatoulia, I love hearing about your cleaners.

And Tillie, i'm Glad you're having a nice fall day with your veggies.

I had a hot pretzel with mustard from the food bank for lunch - which was yummy, and two chocolate donuts. (We had 27 boxes of donuts left at the end of the day, so I took ONE.) not very healthy food choices, but I worked hard there this morning moving boxes and it is dark and rainy, so I went with comfort food.

I also brought home one medium sized and one small box of bread (which included the hot pretzel) I refused to even go in the produce shed and look at the veggies they were throwing out. (The pouring rain helped me keep my resolve)

I am having a really hard time making myself of the things I need to be doing. Things I want to have done and things I know will make me happy if I can just get started on them. I don't know if it is the weather, or the anemia, or some kind of mental block I can't get past. I feel frustrated, but not enough to actually do anything about it except be mad at myself.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi Subclinical 🙂
How wonderful that you have such a talented and skilled family. 😀
Happy you will soon be debt/mortgage free too!
And the money has been well spent making these home improvements to make your home more what you both want and like.
Wishing you a pleasant and uncomplicated week.

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
Happy you are studying cat psychology.
I'm relieved that girl kitty will be using some anxiety medicine.
I try never to advise prescription remedies online even though I sometimes believe they would help.
Thank you (((HUGS)))
Yes, I get so much from each and every one of you here.
You all give me hope and the courage to go on.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Very sweet of you to gift the cleaners with some lovely things. (((hug)))
It is always satisfying when we can directly give our things to the people who want and appreciate them.
I'm pretty sure tomorrow morning you will weigh, naked and caffeine free, the same as you did this morning. LOL

Very slow day.
I could be doing so much more but just don't have any energy.
That's OK, I won't push myself. Maybe I really need to rest.
Got to sleep in till 8:30am.
Had warmed up roast beef, potatoes & carrots for lunch.
I just love having tasty leftovers. So easy and convenient.

Good morning! Thanks for all of the encouragement!

My cleaners woke me up today. So I made us all coffee. Wow so clean in here. They really make my life so easy. I had a really pretty dress that I thought would look nice on one of them and she put it on immediately and looked so pretty in it. So then I pulled out a jacket from when I was tiny and I gave it to the other woman and she looked terrific in it. They were so sweet. I also had a bag of gently worn clothes that won't fit either of them but they said they have plenty of people to share with. I curated them so they'd be nice and useful and only very gently worn. That was great fun.

I did have two bags I took to goodwill yesterday. Stuff I couldn't see giving to the cleaners such as pajamas, pots and pans from the no longer dreaded cabinet, some blouses that were less than perfect but definitely wearable, etc. I am so pleased with clearing out.

I didn't get to weigh myself this AM as I couldn't just take off all my clothes and weigh myself before coffee with the cleaners here.

SubC great plan regarding retirement and debt! And I am absolutely sure you have lots of talent to draw from right there! DH needs to learn to "shop the family" with that type of talent available!

Tillie, oh for a roast beef with carrots! So delicious!

I think I had forgotten you'd given feliway a chance. That's interesting about cat behavior, CM. I sure hope I never have to integrate mom's little bully with the world's most angelic cat. (I do love mom's cat. I just believe in rooting for the home team.). If I ever do, I'll know who to ask!

Well I can hear the work emails so I'll go back to work now.

Have a great day!!!!

I'm feeling better. It has been a decent September day, on the warm side but not bad.

We are reading cat behavior books and have determined that our situation seems to warrant a complete reintroduction of the cats. Boy is not happy because as the instigator he has to be in the back room at least the first few days - the book said give the picked-on cat the prime territory to reestablish confidence. Girl is already acting more like her old self.

It will be a challenge to do this because as I've probably mentioned, this house doesn't have the most convenient layout and we have between us a lot of stuff! (Surprise!)

Tat we had bought the Feliway diffuser starter kit, only to discover we didn't have a grounded outlet that wasn't too close to furniture to plug it in. So we got some Feliway spray instead. Girl kitty is also going to be starting a Rx anxiety medicine, hopefully that won't have to be for long.

I went to church today, unburdened my soul to Father in the confessional and to God in prayer. By the way, you all are my earth angels, just so you know. This clutter and stress battle is not easily fought without allies. So thanks and bless you.

SubC I agree you came up with a brilliant strategy, one I may borrow if in a similar situation! It's kind of like these cats, you don't let the fight have time to start! Good for you. And may the decompression proceed peacefully and enjoyably.

Tillie I just appreciate your experience with cats and the hoarding issues you never wanted to have to deal with and yet here you are like a rockstar for all of us. I hope you get back even more than you give. Be sure and rest and pace yourself as needed.

Wonder how some of the others are - Joan, Anony, Tess, Mar, et al. Be nice to hear from Porter once in awhile too, though he may be busy enjoying the new path he is on.

All shall be well. For all of us. ***HUGS***

Tatoulia, that is wonderful that you have your mortgage paid off!

We had ours paid off, but then we took out a construction loan for part of the addition, so I feel like we have a mortgage again. It will probably take us 7 or 8 years to pay off, although we may try to do it faster because Dh wants to retire in six, and he won't retire with outstanding debt. - we managed to save the money to buy the flooring, trim, and beam covers while making the payments, so early payoff is definitely doable.

We don't spend a lot and are pretty careful about debt. This weekend we splurged and bought over $50 in groceries and drinks to cook dinner for us, dh parents, and the three kids plus serve a brownie sundae bar for dessert. (We have leftover ice cream and beer)

I'm glad you have your gentle artist friend to help you make your home beautiful!

Dh and I were talking about what we want to do with trim around the beams, and mil said "you should hire an artist to sketch it for you. You should call a professional carpenter. They might know someone. You might even be able to find someone who could make you something." Among my 6 kids, there are two art degrees and an architecture degree. Jobs include a construction project engineer and a graphic designer. I do tile work. One kid with only unskilled experience in the construction trades built the built in shelving unit in the bathroom that she "just loves" while we were out of town one weekend. He was bored. Dh does technical drawings as part of his job.

Tillie, roast veggies and a clean kitchen sound good. Enjoy your videos!

I am getting back to my regularly scheduled life tomorrow.