And then the guidance counselor asked me very nicely and I did the iep on my lunch.

Good morning.

Apparently over break we had some type of water event in the boiler room. My kiln is damaged and currently unusable. I am trying to schedule a service call.

Yesterday I wrote "March 630, 2020" in the date space on my whiteboard. (I only have teenagers on tu/th.)

I also got emails that the guidance counselor needs feedback for an iep for one if my students by Friday, that my class proposals for next year are due the 14th, that I have a new student starting Friday, and that I need to schedule a gynecologist appointment. I will be ignoring the iep email. I seriously do not understand why we participate in those. We aren't legally required to honor them, they aren't provided to teachers (the email was my first notice that this kid has/qualifies for an iep) basically, the kid only needs this if they are leaving us.

Feedback I want to give "due to a horribly painful ongoing family situation student is reliant on older sibling for much care and assistance that should be provided by an adult. Student is often disorganized, missing materials or assignments, and on the verge of falling asleep in class. Student is aware of these things and apologizes, but is a child and doing the best they can. I recommend student remain with us in supportive and familiar environment. Financial assistance should be offered or increased as needed."

I still don't have an accurate contract for this school year, but IEPs are definitely not in it. I did reread the staff handbook (which has been edited since my illegal contract change but no notice was given) since my irrelevant contract does say I will comply with it. I'm supposed to be emailing all my families every week about what is happening in each class (I don't and don't plan to.) and labeling everything nonconsumable I buy for class with the school's name - with stickers "available in the office" (since most everything in my class gets wet regularly, I got a permanent marker instead and started working on that yesterday - not going to do the paintbrushes)

One of the things I have always loved about my job is that our legal status as "not a school" has allowed me to avoid all of the time wasting administrative b.s. that happens in schools and actually spend all of my classroom time teaching. I am an hourly employee. I am paid for the hours I actually have students in my room plus one hour of planning per week. I am paid at a much reduced rate for an hour and a half of lunch time each week - which I usually spend in my classroom doing clean up/prep/email, etc. I literally "don't get paid for this $#*+" and I am done volunteering for things I don't value.

Meanwhile I dropped off recycling yesterday and donated a plastic bowl from my studio to my classroom (permanent marker, things don't come back.)

SubC thank you for the suggestions! I will follow these and post on Instagram. I still don't know if I have any wrapping paper if I do, I will use it up.

Long day at work. Glad to be home. Craving sugar. I have raspberries and pineapple.

Cleaners come tomorrow. My house is really messy. Unusually messy.

Kitty is in her bed. It is definitely made for cats. It's a bit smaller than her old one. She's so old these days. I can't believe how long we've been together! Sixteen years. Just hanging out together.

Yay! You improved my day!

If the gift needs something "sturdier" than tissue you can always use plain white drawing paper or newsprint. But I think if the gifts will be set out together, your burlap bags would go great with plain brown paper grocery bag paper, string, and little bits of greenery or things like cinnamon sticks, fresh flowers (right before gifting), or dried fruits and plants.

Ate a healthy breakfast and working on my advent calendar idea.

SubC, thank you! I don't need to buy wrapping paper. I have so many beautiful Christmas cards, both used and unused and I am happy to use plain white tissue paper. I do love the look of white tissue paper over the red or green that are available this time of year. I am sold! Great idea and there's something about this idea that harkens back to my childhood. You just reminded me, I purchased burlap gift bags from a fabric store last year and will have those, too. I was going to get rid of them when my friend was cleaning my closet but she told me to keep them. So there's my homespun Christmas and I'm pretty excited! Thank you!

Good luck today! I hope the sore arm feels better!

Good morning!

Hi Tatoulia,

This is the part where I encourage you not to buy more Christmas wrapping paper if you are out. The dyes make it toxic to produce and difficult to recycle, and it usually comes wrapped in plastic.

There are tons of alternative wrappings if you ask google, or just plain white tissue paper decorated with an old card or magazine cut out, a stamped paper bag, even just a ribbon for people who are getting their package in the mail and already opening it.

I got my booster shot last night and my arm is very sore, but so far I feel fine. It is back to school for me today, so I have to focus on that this morning.

Dh made me very yummy and healthy dinner, but I "rewarded" myself for getting the shot with candy and then still ate dessert, so not good choices weight wise. Lila, how did you do? (Should we ask?)

Road, did you schedule your thing? And check the laundry!

Hello everyone!

Okay so I'm going to do my tapes nightly to help me to be mindful when I eat. There is no reason that I need to gorge on sweets right now. I'm not going to any parties so I really only have Christmas Eve and Christmas to worry about. For Christmas Eve dessert I'll either make an almond cake or I'll make my mother's sour cream cookies.

A lot of garbage out today. I just finished working. It's 10:40 PM.

I stayed up til 3 AM. I need to hop in the shower now and not delay my bedtime any longer.

I have to see if I have any Christmas wrapping paper. I cannot remember what happened when my friend was cleaning my closet.

My house is a mess. But, I got five more packages to the post office tonight. Just envelopes with Christmas napkins. I may have already told you about those.

Kitty is definitely snuggled in to her new bed. Good night.

Road don't be so hard on yourself. Your son was having a fun time and you were having bathroom issues.

Ok Road, it's after noon here and Bean is napping, so schedule the thing.

Can your ds go to things like the football game with friends, or does he need you to be there? Was he happy watching the game with you? Sometimes you only need to ge a good enough parent.

Bean and I gave beenndusting today. I am realizing how filthy my house is, and he loves to wipe things.

I am thinking about making myself an advent calendar with a job and a treat for each day.

P.s. I'm game for sharîng health goals/updates for whoever wants to participate. I have many health issues, one of which is weight. And I agree it's tied into accumulation of Excess "household padding."

Ok, I am not quite up for making those appointments but I am now going to get out all the necessary paperwork so that I am getting ready to get ready to make those calls... lol.

If I don't return by noon you have my permission to konk me on the head as a reminder...

"don't forget the radiologic imaging scheduling, Road!"

Hey all,

Lila, I'm enjoying following your progress. I appreciate the details because hearing how You evaluate things sounds very familiar. I got into a system of sorting over the years of using various dollar store divided trays for tiny things and Clear shoeboxes for Sorting larger things, etc. which resulted in 3 or 400 large clear plastic bins being stuffed with Whatever random things Needed to be cleared out for a given holiday and clear plastic shoe boxes and divided trays... lol.

Tatoulia, always intrigued to hear about your remote storage facility... your storage "annex" aka the goodwill. My ears also perked up at "limoges."

SubC, hope you are feeling less teary today. I am a big crybaby And most of the time I don't mind it but it's no fun when it gets away from you. Hope that bite is on the mend...

We were hosting this year. The H went out of town with his brother for a couple days so wasn't available to help much before hand. Actually he did help out a lot when he got home. With the exception of the table. I asked if he could find the leaf and then he found it and without asking for help put it in himself and proceeded to push the two sides together brute force style and broke the table. Then he spent 4 hours trying to fix it. I am the one In the family with the fixit brain. But since I never finish anything he ends up doing it and he will usually try 5 other complicated things that take forever and don't work before he relents and does my easy way that works. Laziness is the mother of invention! Anyway, there were chairs brought up and down, chairs were cleaned, there was piano key cleaning, and entertainment unit organizing, the fridge, the bathroom, the porch, and most of the things were cleaned and fixed. The entire time we were getting ready I remember thinking if this house wasn't such a disaster this would not be nearly this much work nor this stressful... but most of it came together as planned. I felt so rusty after all this time not really entertaining, I downloaded a little guide and that helped a lot. I made a few of the recipes in it but mostly used it to help break down timing of everything beforehand and on the day.

I took my son in to the neurologist and got orders for MRI and EEG which I was expecting. Need to make those appts today. Hoping to get them done before 12/8 appt with neurosurgeon so hopefully we don't waste any more time. The guy had pretty good bedside manner although you could tell he didn't seem to have any experience with Down syndrome. He kind of raised an eyebrow that we got referred to the surgeon also which made me feel relieved at first (like it was no big deal) and then I thought well, maybe he doesn't really get the physiological differences and why this condition is so dangerous. But in the end I decided this is why you should TRY not to panic til you really know something.

My sons high school won the state championship in football for their class, so that was exciting. I managed to get him to the send off at the school which was fun, but then we bailed on going to the actual game which I later regretted. Then again I wet my pants three times when we got home which proves to me I am currently unfit for public events. It's ridiculous! We watched on tv and when he saw his fellow students cheering in the stands he tried to high five them through the tv screen. Ugh! I crumpled. Parenting FAIL! If his brain worked just a little better he's the type of kid who would be begging to go to the game but because he can't argue that for himself I have to do that for him - and when I don't he misses out. Oh my god that was the worst. WRACKED with maternal guilt today I'm afraid. I know you guys understand... I am an awesome mom in a lot of ways but when you screw up on something big it kills you. I know part of this is because I feel like I mishandled some of this medical stuff. I mean really the doctor mishandled it. But because I have so much medical trauma b.s. I have to sludge through for everything, if they drop the ball I may be able to scoop it up or I may not. I don't know if that makes sense. But I have to find a better way of handling this stuff.

Good morning!

I moved the slippers to his little bench for him to discover. He will also see the lights on the tree for the first time today. (I don't think he remembers last year)

Tatoulia, ok, I'm glad the cat bed worked - is there an animal shelter that might take the old one after you wash it? Here they take towels and blankets with holes in them even.

Doesn't everybody love mail?

Lila, I am sorry about your night. Lost sleep makes everything harder. We will certainly support you on your weight loss journey. I think sometimes the extra personal mass is connected to the mass of extrernal stuff - they can be a result if the same emotional struggles and difficulties making good decisions. Several of us post now and then about how we are doing with our weight, but we have never gotten super organized about it. If anybody at all would prefer to have that be a separate thread - just say and I will start one.

Meanwhile, what are you going to eat besides your green smoothie? I think planning what you WILL do works better than planning what you won't. Or are you starting with a green smoothie fast?

Knuckle still stiff, but I can bend it all the way if I force it. Minor swelling.

Wow, you guys came alive while I was gone today! All these great posts! And hi Road, glad to hear from you.

I am sooo tired. My autistic kiddo was up all night having a hard time. Which meant I slept 3 hours. I had to be up at 7 and had to speak in front of groups twice today. Then came home and spent all afternoon listening to kiddo vent. It was necessary but my brains hurt now. It is 9pm and I am going to bed shortly.

So you can guess I did very little on the house today. I did take my little 'tub' of paperwork that I am working on and sorted it all out. Threw out a few things, put some in a pile to go to that "file me" tub in my room, and put the action items back in. There is a lot of stuff I need to work on tomorrow in there.

I don't have to go anywhere tomorrow - doing tons of work from home - so I will try and get a bit of cleaning and decluttering done tomorrow.

ALSO, are any of you interested in a little weight loss support on here? Like, we could share how we are doing and cheer each other on? I am trying to start over my healthy eating/exercise tomorrow. Goal = 1 green smoothie, no junk, and get on the exercise machine even for just 5 minutes.

Good luck with the booster!

Well I ran my errand and came home and guess who is sound asleep in her new bed. There is plenty of room for her!

I don't know what to do with her old bed, which is several years old. I can wash it but I'm not sure that I can donate it. Our goodwill is overloaded with things they have to throw out (and their disposal fees are through the roof) and I'm pretty sure a well-used 4 to 5 year old cat bed won't be re-saleable. I may just wash it and put it in its own, clear trash bag in case anyone wants it while trash-picking.

I chose a dress and a sweatshirt to donate from my closet. I have four dishes ready too. Need to do more.

Did I mention I've packaged up the things to mail? A few gifts for kids (projects) and Christmas napkins for the elderly. Both kids and the elderly love mail.

I have to get my last load of laundry out of the dryer, start the dishwasher and head into bed.

The slippers by the fire sounds cozy!

Tatoulia, I think it's kind to let your mom believe in the rollator.

I'm not sure about those cat beds..

Dishwasher is running, Bean's books are wiped down and tucked in the Christmas chest, and his slippers are washed and nearly dried in the dryer! They came out great. I set them near the fire to get the last of the damp out of them.

Off to bed - Bean day tomorrow and my booster in the evening after I return him. I'm counting on not feeling too crummy to teach on Tuesday. Cross your fingers for me.

Glad the hand is on the mend, SubC. Yes! No shoes in the house!

Once, when I was living through a difficult time, I had an impromptu dinner at a co-worker's in-laws. The Mother answered the door and asked,what size slipper do you wear, dear? I felt so loved at that moment.

I went to mom's and did some straightening. I took all the clothes off of her rollator (wheeled walker with a seat) and I put it in a corner, out of the way. It is the old person's treadmill. Just gathering clothes since she's been in a wheelchair full time. She says she'll be using it again and I admire her optimism. She also thinks she'll be coming here again (13 steps on a tall brownstone stoop). Truth be told, she couldn't do these stairs even at age 75. She always did this weird thing where she'd lean over and have her hands on the stairs in front of her. I used to say, just stand up snd treat them like other stairs. Anyway, I've stopped dashing her dreams so I agreed she will need the rollator again soon.

I then went downtown and bought cat beds for my cat and mom's cat. They may be small. I took the tags off of one and I'll see if my cat will use it. So far, she doesn't like it so I put her old one back out. If not, I'll return the other one and see if mom's cat will use this one.

Pitch black here but I'm heading out. I haven't had juice or fruit in several days and I miss it.

Hello again.

Cat bite is much better - the knuckle is still very stiff and sore, but the swelling is mostly down and the other joints bend normally.

I took two big stretchy kitchen bags of stuff to the thrift store. Mostly curtains and decorative pillows that had been packed away in the basement. Also a few toys and fall or Christmas decorations.

I came home with three books for Bean and three books for me. And slippers for Bean. My mom is buying him new cute slippers for Christmas, but these will be for him to keep and wear here. The hardwood floors are cold on his little feet and his parents want him trained to not wear shoes inside. (I don't, Dh does - maybe Bean will train Dh?)

While I was gone Dh put up our outside lights. We disagree over the design and this year he did it the way I like. ❤️

Hello Road! Yes things are overwhelming! But we got a glimpse of you! Don't ever feel that you have to catch up in order to write. That's been the rule since I joined in 2013 (!) and it works for everyone. I've seen a lot of people cycle through and people are very supportive, so come as you are! I do enjoy going back and reading the posts, for the company they provide.

SubC we cross-posted last night. I'm glad you are keeping a watchful eye on your cat bite. SubC I am so sorry that you are crying so much. Let it out. When you talked about being on vacation and allowing yourself to feel, it reminded me of back when I was in college. I went to community college, university, and grad school at night. Went during the summers, too. Worked full time as a secretary by day. Whenever we would so much as have Columbus Day or other day off, I would get sick. Full blown headache, stuffed up, "my hair hurts" sick. It's like something in me would keep me together and the second I could let my guard down, I'd get sick. Hang in there.

Lila, you are doing great. I too would have nothing to wear if I had to attend an in-person meeting. 30 lbs would do me good too. So far my office reopens in January. Right now I have three things I can wear to work (I've been going in since June, but rarely is anyone else in on my floor other than my temp). I think in addition to listening to my tapes (actually digital and on line) , but you know what I mean) I'm going to have to look at my dresses each morning and night) including the three I bought for my March birthday in 2020 at a little boutique on Charles street in Boston. I have worn one once and now none would fit.

So let's do what we can. Let's keep taking care of each other.

I'm doing a quick load of laundry before I head to mom's.

Thanks for the support on the goodwill items, SubC. I will go through some stuff today and hopefully get to my car.

Good morning!

Road, it's a busy time of year. I totally understand about the bandwidth. It's part of why I've made no progress for months and also - I have been crying a lot this vacation. It's not that things haven't been lovely, it's just that I am finally relaxing and letting down my wall and then every little thing just shatters me.

I got an evite to the staff Christmas party - it starts about half an hour from school halfway through my last class. I am the only person teaching at that time. I cried. Dh and I had an argument about wether or not Bean could ride a particular riding toy in the house. Dh raised his voice. I cried. My daughter is considering taking Bean east to see my parents during part of my Christmas break. I cried. I cried over a load of laundry, and running out of the right kind of salt, and not being able to find my pie pan for 5 minutes. I cried over an old headboard with no sentimental value that Dh wanted to throw away (dsil salvaged it and took it home)

We do a lot of emotional labor. We get tired.

CM, how are things going for you? We miss you. And I worry about your plumbing.

Lila, that is great about the bookshelf! Don't feel bad about the tv. Sometimes you just have to rest. Can you do things like fold laundry or sort out a bin while you watch? Then you are getting something done and moving a little more.

I don't know why, but I just remembered a day when I was much younger when our schedule was so tightly packed that I threw all the kitchen items I needed into a box and a cooler in the car in the morning, and I took my kids to all of their things, and during Dd1's scout meeting, I chopped up and combined all the ingredients for dinner on a park table while Dd2 did schoolwork so that I could toss them directly into the pans I had left on the stove when we got home and the guys could eat and get to their activity on time. That was insane and I begin to see how everything got out of hand! (Normal parents would have picked up fast food)

Tatoulia, I think your shopping is ok. You use the thrift stores as a "kitchen library" the way I use the reuse store as "offsite craft storage". (That has become more complicated with the pandemic - you can only shop for 15 minutes and you have to make an appointment to donate on a day they are not open for shopping, so my donations have been piling up.)

Ok, last free day, must get busy!

Oh my goodness - I don't know how I didn't post for so long. I feel like I was constantly thinking about you guys.

I am reading through right now. Occupied with post iep stuff and then medical stuff for my son and then thanksgiving...I seem to only be able to handle a certain volume of emotional baggage at a time. It's not what I would call an adequate volume... back later,

I eat out of avoidance, myself. And yes I love the sweets and the breads. I am trying to learn new habits. I know all about nutrition, but I just want to eat.

Again I watched TV for hours and hours today, wasting what I intended to be a working day. I watch tv to spend time with my teen who doesn't want to do anything else with me. I just need to limit it a bit or take more breaks. I feel bad because I didnt get enough done.

I did get the one bookshelf completely done. Everything is dusted and clean and it does feel good. It certainly looks WAY WAY better than its twin bookshelf that did not get cleaned. It is a motivator to get the other one done (in a couple of days... I need a break from books).

I also got a mostly clear path to my clothes closet and to my dressers. I did a load of laundry and donated one shirt and one stray sock (they repurpose fabrics). Then I was desperately looking for clothes to wear tomorrow for an interview in front of a lot of people. I went through all my drawers and put all the sweaters that are too tight to look nice into one dresser. Then the other dresser has 2 empty drawers now for ones that fit. I have about 6 things laid out on my bed right now to try on before I go to bed to see what fits and try to decide what to wear tomorrow. I am a nervous wreck about it. Gaining weight has been terrible for my self esteem. Nothing looks great on me. I have got to get 30 pounds off ASAP. I actually need to lose about 60, but if I lost 30, a lot more clothes will look nice on me.

I also got the kitchen bar about 75% cleaned off again. Man this is just so annoying having so much junk to keep finding homes for. I am getting more and more motivated to just let things go!!

Lila, I kept thinking about what a big job it is to clean a bookshelf., you are doing a great job!

No need to try to eliminate from the bookshelves. Those things hold a value to you. You'll find more than enough stuff in your house to relocate! Leave those things for now! You will gain much more pleasure from them once they are no longer dusty.

Well I bought a lot at goodwill today. A lot. Five are gifts for BF. Limoges serving pieces. I also got kitty five new cat plates. And a few pieces of Corning ware for myself. I actually put some stuff back that I had.

Now I will take away five of the cats dishes and donate them (she eats off of vintage ceramics, mainly Johnson Bros transfer ware). I decided to switch up what she uses so I'll just take five or six pieces of stuff and donate it. I also have some kitchen stuff I can donate. I don't follow the one out/one in rule but I do need to look at what I have with fresh eyes. I think I mentioned I purchased some ceramic platters that aren't working out. So those will be donated. I know that I have room for my things now so I'll have to "clean house" to keep that balance. I can't add stuff just to add it. I have to go in and cull the herd.

Lila I have a terrible sweet tooth. It's awful. I had gone to a nutritionist and lost a great deal of weight. Once pandemic hit, I started baking brownies every Friday. I love nothing more than a brownie ala mode. The pandemic was only supposed to last for two weeks. Remember that? We had to not touch our faces for two weeks. Well by summertime I was still baking and eating brownies. And it undid all the hard psychological work I'd done with my nutritionist. Since that time, she has gone on to be a life coach. I still have the cds she made me. I have different things I listen to now. Trying to stop the binge eating sweets. Not easy! So I'm fat and have a closet full of very beautiful clothes. Not a lot of clothes but very nice clothes. So I'm back to listening to tapes to help curb my anxiety and overeating.

Don't worry- Dh is very thorough.

It's gotten a little better as the day went on today, but will probably stiffen back up and swell more again overnight.

Lila, that bookshelf was a challenge! I usually put dusty ceramics in the sink, or even dishwasher.

As far as my weight, I mostly keep trying to move more and eat less. Like tonight - we have vegetables in sauce over rice. Dh took his serving, and usually I would have just taken the rest of the rice, but I left about 1/3 of a cup - which meant I used less sauce because there wasn't extra rice soaking it up.

Water, black coffee and unadulterated tea are drinks - everything else is food because it has calories. I try to remind myself that a glass of wine = dessert.

Take one more trip up or down the stairs to put something away, do xyz before my snack, ask myself why I'm eating (am I hungry, or something else?).

Not that it's working.

I found some things to part with today. I will probably take them to the thrift store tomorrow.

omg, the shelves are hard!! It is kicking my butt. There are two tall bookshelves, each with 5 shelves plus the top has stuff on it. There are 2 wall shelves too but I havent touched those yet. I am amending my goal to be, get ONE of the bookshelves cleaned. Because even though I did a little on this shelf yesterday, today I have worked on it twice already and about half done. Of the five shelves, I took every book off three of them. I used compressed air to blow the dust off the top of each book through an open window, then wiped each book with a dustcloth, stacked them all, then wiped and polished those empty shelves, then put the books back. The fourth one I did was full of ceramics and little teeny boats ad shells and stuff. I took each item off, blew off the dust with compressed air, wiped it down. Then cleaned the shelf and put things back. omg I am exhausted. The very bottom is about half full of books, and the very top is covered in dusty ceramics my kids made. I will do those next... needed to sit for more coffee. Hurts my back and feet doing all that. I'm going to take naproxen, and work on my closet path and dining room bar counter before going back to that shelf.

I would love to get rid of some of these things but I just don't think I can. They're all special. Maybe rotating them in a box would be better... once I have room for a small box somewhere.

I will reconsider donating at least something before I call it done.

Tatoulia and SubC, I also need to lose weight, for health reasons. Would you feel like sharing what you are doing to lose weight? I am struggling.

ohhh SubC, cat bites worry me. Especially to a joint. Do take some extra vitamin C and zinc to try and get your body to fight off anything. And if it isn't better quickly you might need antibiotics.

Have fun on your errand run, Tatoulia. I am hoping I don't need to go anywhere today.

So far I have eaten a plate of leftovers for breakfast, and made a loaf of candied yam bread (in the oven now) out of leftover sweet potatoes. I swirled a little homemade cranberry sauce into one half. When it's done I will sit down and have a slice with some caffeinated coffee to get me going again after the break.

Well, I better get my laundry in now and start working on my list I posted yesterday.

Do watch the cat bite carefully, SubC. My mother, a few years back, had a cat bite and was hospitalized with it. Her hand was like a lobster claw. It was si swollen the fibers were barely visible. So keep letting your husband clean it out!

I am going to get out now. I want to go to goodwill. Drop off, look around.

I have more things to package for the post office. Our main post office is open on sundays so I may just package everything tonight and get mailed tomorrow. I buy paper napkins and send them around. People seem to like getting them as gifts, the postage is frequently more than the packet of napkins but it brings a great deal of cheer for little money. And I'm still saving because if I bought a more expensive gift, the postage would still be high. So I save money on the gift, lose money on the postage.

Hello again.

I set myself the following challenge this morning:
Part one - do not create another dirty dish until all the dishes that can go in the dishwasher are in the dishwasher
Part two - keep my new washer and dryer going while I worked.

So, the second load is in the wash, first load in the dryer - in the dryer! Not hung out in 34* weather!

The dishwasher has been emptied and everything that would go in it is in it but it isn't full yet.

I am eating oatmeal for brunch.

After the oatmeal I am going to clear off Bean's toy shelf, wipe it down, and replace some of the toys. Some of them are ready to come out of rotation and I have new ones I want to put out. While I am doing that, I will hardboil some eggs for egg salad later.

Good morning.

Lila, it will be easier this time because you didn't bring any new things in. And last time you got rid of stuff. So worst case, that stuff on the bar just goes back where it came from.

I also have tons of stuff my kids made. I'm sure there is a gentle way to pare down to the things you really want and then offer the rest to them and if they don't think it's worth them keeping then logically, why is it worth you keeping? But emotions make everything more complicated.

Yesterday I made Dd1 take home her sister's thrifted build a bear sloth which said sister left here in August "for Bean." I am quite sure the sloth is leaving quickly, because Bean is getting tired of it as Dd2 won't take it back. I also made her take her American girl horse. Bean loves horses, and while he is too little to really play with it, he likes to say "Pat" and pet it, and make horse sounds at it, so I think it should go on a shelf in his room. It is hard to store. I think sil was annoyed with me.

Tatoulia, my weight has stalled also. This is a hard time of year to lose weight. We just have to keep moving and keep trying to make good choices.

I am feeling a little sorry for myself this morning. I was planning to either finish off the apples or throw pots today. But the kids brought their dog for the visit. Mr. kitty and the dog do not do well together, and yesterday morning, the dog was barking at the front door because mr. kitty wanted to come in. I told dsil, "I am going to go get the cat" (which I thought implied "hang on to the dog" but dsil was still half asleep and just heard me explaining why I was leaving the room.) I went out the garage door - dog still barking at front - picked up the kitty, came back around to the garage door (which has no glass) opened it, and there was the dog. Dsil did come running to get the dog, but not before Mr. kitty bit me badly. Right in the central knuckle of my left index finger. Dh has been doing a nice job cleaning and bandaging it, and I do not think it is an infection concern, but the finger is swollen from fingertip down into the hand from the trauma, extremely sore and tender, and will not bend. So I will not be doing either of those things.

I did do my first load of laundry in the new machines yesterday. Dh is displeased because the new washer is much louder than the old washer, but it works well and actually spins the water out of the towels! And I like it. The new dryer is lovely - quiet, with a reasonable amount of heat.

Anyway, I am going to try to find a way to make good use of my day.

It is easy to lose ground, isn't it? But you are right, it will be easier this time. I try to learn the habit of putting things where thy belong. Certainly an easier prospect now that I have some open space.

Sorry about the weird punctuation in my last post. I was using dashes and they translated into question marks!

None of us can afford to get sick right now. What a weird time in our lives, to be sure.

Yes! You found some things on the shelf to dispose of and things to send to your son! Pretty good work!

I have to go get my laundry. Have to hang the unmentionables so they can dry overnight.

Goodnight all.

Tatoulia, what a good suggestion, thank you. I started to vacuum one shelf today but quit because I could not fit the vacuum end above many of the books. So I do think taking each one off and dusting it, then cleaning the shelf and deciding about putting it back, will help me. I hope to do the shelves tomorrow.

Today I mainly took time to relax, put a few things away, make a fruit salad and then reheated all the many Thanksgiving dishes for a 5:00 dinner with my kids and grandd who did not come yesterday. I was a little unhappy that grandd was still coughing a lot. I told them I cannot afford to get sick again (last time I caught her cold I was sick for over a month and had to go to the ER). I am taking vitamin C, zinc, D etc to try and stave it off. I washed my hands a lot and am disinfecting everything. Sigh.

Anyway we had a nice dinner and time together after.

Oh, I did do one thing with the shelves today. I pulled down a few paper 'phone books' from church, saved the essential ones and threw the rest away. I pulled down all the grade school yearbooks I saved for my kids, took 3 of them out and put them in the box I am mailing to my son who lives back east. And I took 3 borrowed books off the shelf so I can return them to the person who owns them next week.

I have found that as I clean and declutter if I do not stay on top of the other rooms, they clutter right back up. The dining room/bar is at least half covered with things and I don't even know how that happened. And my bedroom once again it is impossible to get to my closet... the floor is covered. I did not bring in any new things. They just relocated. So my goals tomorrow, in addition to the shelves, is to once again clear the bar (which will be much easier this time) and make a path to my closet. I also need to do laundry and choose something to wear to church on Sunday.