Right now, I am...
short on time, so I'm pulling out this old-style blog post I used to do back in the day!
getting ready to go to the hospital for the second half of my CPR renewal. The first half was an online class, and now I have to go in-person to exhibit my skills on a Manikin (our fake patients 😉 ).
wearing scrubs even though they're not required for the class. I put them on because I have to go into the hospital again later for a work shift. So I figured I might as well save some laundry and just wear my scrubs right away.
glad that I'm well-practiced at healthcare test-taking because it is saving me time. The online portion of the CPR had pre-tests for each section, and if you do well enough, you get to skip some sections. The same is true of some required online educational courses that come due every now and again at my job.
When I manage to test out of a section, I feel delighted, because these things are fairly tedious to get through.
happy that I got a gym workout in early enough to still make it to my CPR renewal.
kind of amazed at how much I've learned since the first time I got my CPR certificate two years ago (before the start of nursing school). It is wild to think how much knowledge I've picked up since then. My brain is packed full of nursing information now!
displeased with the current weather. Super hot, super humid, super miserable. The summer life is not my destiny.
feeling perplexed that people prefer this to cold weather. At least in the cold, I can put more clothes on! To those of you that love this weather: I do not begrudge you your joy. I am just confused by it.
And I know you feel the same confusion over my delight in a snowstorm. 😉
thankful that I have working air conditioning. My house is comfortable even though the outdoors is not.
glad that I work indoors. I do get sweaty at work, but nothing like I would if I had an outdoor job.
a little tired of doing NCLEX practice questions. I can't wait for it to be over so I can stop preparing. 😉 Two weeks from tomorrow is my test date. Yay!
feeling confident about my chances of passing. My NCLEX prep course says I'm ready, and lots of my classmates have passed their NCLEX already (including my friend who has grades almost identical to mine on every test.)
Ok, it's time to stop typing and head to the hospital. 🙂
Right now, I am...
...busy doing a bunch of things I've been postponing (and shouldn't have) before I leave for NYC tomorrow morning.
...hoping to goodness that neither JASNA BFF nor I crumple in tomorrow's predicted NYC heat (high of 102, heat index not included)!
...and signing off on comments for the rest of this week. I'll be back on Monday, heat wave permitting, with tales of my Big Apple adventures.
@A. Marie, Have a great trip!
@A. Marie,
Looking forward to hearing of your great adventure, and hope you remain cool, calm and collected. (Remember that?) Have fun!
Have the most fabulous time with JASNA BFF! Stay hydrated with your bestie.
@A. Marie, I'm looking forward to your Big Apple adventure tales and hope the heat is more bearable than you're expecting.
@A. Marie, ant wait to live vicariously through your tales of the city! Take care and enjoy!!!
@A. Marie, if burning hot and need a quirky reprieve go walk around DYLANS CANDY BAR. it is a huge candy store near Central Park. Owned by Ralph Lauren’s daughter Dylan. Like huge. Air conditioned. Inside. HAVE FUN
@A. Marie, I can’t wait to hear about your adventures this week! I love NYC visits and both boys' colleges were there too but I don’t get there as often now. I’ll be thinking of you. Hydrate and have all the fun 🙂
@A. Marie, Have a blast, A. Marie!
@A. Marie, take breaks when needed! that heats no joke! enjoy your time!
@A. Marie,
Have a great time with your JASNA BFF! I ❤️ NY. I'm looking forward to reading about all of your adventures!
@A. Marie, Have a marvelous time!!!
Thankful that I can work from home today and have no kid activities tonight. Our new normal is too hectic for me and I've been struggling to find better balance.
Enjoying the quiet of my house.
Looking forward to eating farmers market tomatoes for lunch.
Right now …
Overwhelmed by many many things, both personal and otherwise.
Scared about my son’s increasing high blood test numbers and CT scan this week, but also ready to get it he scan over with.
Done with this heat …
BUT happy my daughter and I went to the pool Saturday.
Satisfied to see my garden growing.
Dreading going out in this heat to water the plants.
Joyful for my silly dog that makes us all laugh.
Thankful for the extra family time we get on summer break.
@JenRR, wishing you and your son the best at this challenging time.
@JenRR, prayers for the scans and your son.
It is SO anxiety-provoding to have to wait for tests and results. Sending you a hug!
@JenRR, wait to water your plants closer to dark with this heat. With it 75*+ overnight the plants have better absorption of water. Otherwise water will further damage your plants, especially during peak sun & heat.
Thanks, all. I really need some good news this summer.
@Regina, Unfortunately, I forgot to water last night, but am hoping my plants aren’t too pitiful today so I can wait until late in the evening to water. It’ll still be hot overnight tonight 🙁
@JenRR, sending good thoughts to you & your family for your son's scan results.
@JenRR, Sending all my wishes your way for your son's scan results, and to you for your fortitude. Moms rule!
Right now I am...
Sleepy from the humidity
Glad to live near the ocean (I would be so unhappy living somewhere landlocked!)
Thankful that there was rain earlier
...But also thankful that the rain will have stopped in time for the Midsummer bonfire tonight!
I am one of those weirdos who loves hot weather, but only if I can cool off in the water. And only if my hayfever isn't going crazy!
@Sophie in Denmark, nothing weird about that>>>>I think it's normal!
@Sophie in Denmark, Sankt Hans Aften! What fun.
@JDinNM, Det var dejligt!
@Sophie in Denmark,
I live in a landlocked part of the US (Ohio) after having lived as a kid, and then a teenager, with the ocean a short drive from home! I miss it. I will always miss it. Until I can do something about it (retirement), I'll keep enjoying my beach vacations! 🙂
@Liz B., Funnily enough, I was thinking about Ohio earlier because I'm rereading a YA novel which is partly set there. I always associate Ohio with that book, although I've never been there! It's Walk Two Moons, if you're interested - I associate Kentucky with that book as well.
@Sophie in Denmark,
Oh, thank you! I'll have to look for that book on Libby.
@Sophie in Denmark, Great book. Great author.
@Liz B., I hope you enjoy it if you find it!
@Lisa K, One of my favourites. I've loved it since I was thirteen.
Right now, I am . . .
. . . so very, very HOT. And sweaty. I am not made for the heat either.
. . . thankful I discovered wool blend clothing. Game changer. Wool sounds like it would be hot, but the material is actually cooling, naturally odor resistant, and offers UV protection. It's kind of saving my life right now. See also: wool blend underwear. 🙂
. . . reading and typing this with my dog sprawled on my lap, which is sweet, but not very cooling.
. . . working on fixing up & cleaning up a vehicle we want to sell. We've tackled some repairs and upgrades ourselves hoping it will result in more money for the car with less outlay for us than if we'd had the work done at a shop. It's been a good reminder that learning practical skills is one of the most beneficial things we can do for independence and for our wallets.
@Beth,
Historical tidbit: IIRC, the Civil War soldiers' uniforms were made of wool, for that very reason. At least the Yankee uniforms were.
@Beth, my family thinks my wool-blend underwear is bizarre, but it's great!
@Fru-gal Lisa, Fascinating!
Tell us more about the wool clothing! Pants? Shorts? Shirts? What else are you wearing that's wooly besides underwear? Ha.
@Kristen,
Ha! Mostly shirts and underwear for now. Wool clothing is expensive but my thought is that if I buy just a few pieces and take care of them they could last for many years. Popular brands are Wool&, Wooly, Unbound Merino, and also Ibex and Smartwool. But for basic t-shirts, I've had great luck with Merino.tech (available on Amazon and direct), which is considerably less expensive.
I've just recently tried wool underwear and went with this less expensive brand on Amazon to see if I'd like them: https://shorturl.at/5kEgK. And I LOVE them! I can't describe the difference between regular underwear and these in the crazy heat without getting too graphic, but trust me, they're amazing. 🙂 Now that I know I like them, I have my eye on these from Branwyn, which are supposed to be really comfortable: https://branwyn.com/products/essential-hipster. I've also heard the bralettes at Branwyn are excellent, but unfortunately, I need more support than a bralette offers.
And finally, I have a trip to NYC coming up in August and will need some clothing that looks a little better than basic t-shirts & shorts, so I'm eyeing one of the dresses and a scoop neck top from Wool& (https://wooland.com/). These would be an investment, but I'm trying to shift my clothing purchases to fewer but better quality pieces.
@Beth, Amen to the wool! I'm wearing my wool& Maggie Swing Dress, which is my go-to hot weather dress. I wore it around in Phoenix when I visited there, and I wear it when I take my students to camp in August. I will probably be wearing it the next 2-3 days. I have a maxi length dress from them as well, and I could probably get through the summer with just those two dresses.
wool& dresses are pricey but IMO 100% worth it. They hold up amazing, you can wear them many times in a row without washing them, they can be dressed up or down, and they are comfortable in all weather.
@Lori S.,
Oh, I'm glad to hear you like your dresses. Have you seen their 100 day challenge? I will most likely get a dress from there soon.
@Beth, if I did not teach high school students, I'd totally do the 100 Day Challenge! But I can't bring myself to deal with the comments I'd get from my students if I wore the same dress every day for 3-1/2 months!
@Lori S.,
Ha! As a former high school teacher, I absolutely get it!
@Beth, for the wool, it depends on how it's prepped and spun, and how it's woven.
@Beth,
I would totally try that wool-blend clothing! It sounds great. After all, sheep wear wool and they're out grazing in all kinds of weather! 😉
@Beth,
How does wool hold up with heat AND humidity? I've read things about it being cool to wear (meaning, good to wear when its hot out, ha ha) but it's so sticky outside where I live, and just the idea of wearing wool right now makes me sweat.
@Liz B.,
Also, wool is itchy to me. SmartWool brand socks are the only wool clothing product I can wear that isn't itchy/scratchy to me.
@Liz B.,
Yes! It's so humid here. For some reason the fabric doesn't wilt and get bogged down in the humidity like cotton and even some synthetics do.
Right now I am eating a late breakfast of cottage cheese and fresh pineapple. The pineapple is sweet, juicy, and delicious.
I am getting ready to load my car with several bags and boxes of household clutter. I will drop these at the donation center when I am out later today. My never-ending declutter continues...
I am wearing my pajamas -- still. Yes, I am planning to get dressed today.
I am also generally displeased with summer weather. Florida summers require great fortitude. I prefer 72 and sunny all the time. Is that too much to ask?
I am thankful that my daughter is coming for a long visit. I haven't seen her for 6 months.
I am worried about my eldest son who seems a bit frazzled by the demands of work, marriage, and fatherhood.
I am behind schedule today and need to get moving!
@Bee,
If you find a place to move that's 72 degrees all the time, and mostly sunny (I figure we'd need some rain some of the time), pls. let me know. I'll move there with you!
San Diego is probably the closest thing. Which is why it is so expensive to live there!
@Fru-gal Lisa, San Diego for sure. DH came home from every work trip there wishing we could relocate. As Kristen said, way too expensive. But our DS2 and his wife rented an Airbnb there for a couple weeks, last year when Texas became unbearable. They both can work from home.
@Fru-gal Lisa, US West Coast for sure.
@Fru-gal Lisa, Did you every see the movie Pleasantville? Every morning as people woke up the weatherman announced "It's 72 degrees and sunny. Not a cloud in the sky!" Every. Single. Day.
@ErikaJS @William B, @Kristen @ Fru-gal Lisa, I have to agree San Diego has near-perfect weather as does most of coastal Southern and Central California. However, even California has weather issues from time to time -- June Gloom or the Santa Ana winds. Regardless, California is a beautiful state!
@JDinNM,
I haven't thought about that movie in years. It was wonderful! A reminder that being real is much better than being perfect.
@JDinNM, that sounds boring. I like the change of seasons. We're hot and humid (pretty windy). Due to climate change, we're getting it now. Used to be more July or August weather.
Will be even more humid if we get the rain they are predicting. I weeded for about 1.5 hours Saturday morning - took a break and stayed hydrated. Nothing better than a good sweat.
@Fru-gal Lisa, Hawaii is the only place l know. You can wear anything you like long sleeve short sleeves pants shorts dresses whatever and you're always comfortable because there's always a breeze and it never gets that hot really I love it!
@Bee, I think the bay area has the best weather - it may get "hot" for a few days a year, but we don't get humidity. Winters are also mild. The no humidity and no extreme heat or cold make it pretty great. That said, it's also very high cost of living.
@JDinNM, I was just thinking about how I need to rewatch Pleasantville! I haven't seen it in years! It reminds me of The Truman Show (which terrified me as a kid!)
Right now I am....
--nervously keeping a watch on the news, wondering how the bombing of Iran is going to play out. Will the U.S. be pulled in an all-out war? Will we not have enough oil and gas to live normal lives? And how will this affect my life? Is there anything I can do to prep for whatever comes?
I'm antsy about the electric power bc in this heat (nothing new, our summers are always hellish hot), if I don't have at least minimal AC, I will get sick. I've had heat exhaustion before, so I'm not exaggerating. Wondering if I should get one of those Generac machines, that use natural gas (which I have) to power up your house during a storm or electrical outage. I wouldn't have to put everything on a generator, just the AC, fridge and freezer. (Or at least a room air conditioner, which I could buy along with the Generac, since all I'd need would be one room. Just enough to keep me from dying of heat exhaustion.) I can live OK with flashlights and cold food. I have a natural gas "fireplace" (really, just a fancy space heater) so I can heat the den in a winter power outage and sleep there, and a gas water heater.
--Glad I went to check out the private sale at Ollie's Outlet yesterday. Found out that they did, indeed, have enough vinyl plank for my ex-roommate's old bedroom; they restocked the right color since I last visited. It's within a shade or two of the front room's LVP flooring color. (Since you can't see the one room from the other, that's good enough.) So I bought it at 15% off, thus saving me between 80 and 90 dollars for the materials. And my neighbor's grown son is back in town, wanting some work, and says he can install this stuff. Maybe, just maybe, I'll have a house full of "wood" flooring real soon.
-- Going to the oncologist for my annual post-surgery exam tomorrow. Hopefully, I'm still cancer-free. What I went through is just a bad, vague memory now. The doctors say the kind I had has a very tiny chance of recurring. But, of course, we want to make sure.
@Fru-gal Lisa, I hope all goes well tomorrow!
@Fru-gal Lisa,
Sending good vibes for your appointment tomorrow!
Sending you a hug regarding your appointment tomorrow. The "what-ifs" tend to plague us even when it's a tiny chance!
@Fru-gal Lisa, here's to cancer free!
As far as Generac generator it is a great investment & having natural gas already in your house is great! BUT, if you plan on using your A/C during power outage you will need a bigger output generator. I just had mine serviced (yearly oil change & filters) & asked tech some questions (I did not know) that included A/C ability & extended power outage use. Online says do not run for more than 24 hours without break/downtime (not sure why). We had no power 4 days & generator ran whole time with only few surges (but needed serviced & I did run extension cord to neighbor for refrigerator).
This Generac was already here when we moved into 1200 square foot multi level house. At my old house (2200 square feet) I purchased biggest home stand by Generac to run whole house uninterrupted. This smaller Generac (at current house) will not run central A/C (outside on ground) tech said because of pull from A/C but will run furnace & lights/normal use except maybe no washer/dryer (which I never tried). I have lost power in summer & successfully cooled house with fans & closed curtains at 80* but not at 100*.
If serious about Generac, contact local dealer/contractor for free consultation where they will be specific to your house & abilities.
@Fru-gal Lisa, Thinking good thoughts for you for tomorrow—and beyond!
@Fru-gal Lisa,
Wishing you continued good health.
@Fru-gal Lisa, sending good thoughts to you for your exam tomorrow.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
Great score on the flooring! And, of course, wishing you well for tomorrow. Glad you're getting that annual exam.
Right now I am.....
*looking forward to tea and toast for breakfast.
*enjoying and thankful for air conditioning.
*both dismayed and encouraged after re-reading what I've written so far for my novel. Dismayed because the first couple of chapters were so bad and sounded like a Harlequin novel. Encouraged because my writing improved in subsequent ones. Encouraged because there are about 16. Dismayed because I've written on backs of envelopes, budget sheets, notebooks and both the computer laptop, and now I need to collate everything and start editing.
*determined to de-clutter at least one area today.
*grateful for second chances and that Jesus loves me.
@Carla in Texas,
I am impressed that you have 16 chapters written! Nice job! It must be great to see your writing improve as you go along.
@Carla in Texas,
Wow! A novel is a big endeavor! Keep going.
@Sandra in So Cal, Thank you! I was so discouraged after reading those first 2 chapters I almost threw in the towel. The rest of it still needs a lot of work, but I'm getting a fresh start.
@Bee, Thanks for the encouragement!
Right now I am...
Tired because I didn't sleep well last night.
Grateful it's a little bit cooler this morning for our walk.
Ready to check some things off my to-do list.
I am not a hot weather girl at all. I too love a good snow storm. Now that I am a school nurse I can watch the snow fall in the comfort of my home.
Right now I am...
Sitting on my kitchen floor because I'm too sweaty and dirty to sit anywhere else. After watering a baby tree and then bringing in our trash can at 9 I was dripping in sweat, then I went to the basement to work on ripping up the carpet for an hour. Water got in a few weeks ago and dehumidifiers are running non-stop down there, so it's rather toasty. Now I'm deciding how much more dirty work to do before my walk on the treadmill, after which all work today will be as sedentary as possible! Oh, and I cut up an old piece of foam board to wedge into the transom window above our front door to keep out the tiniest bit more heat in the next few days. All blinds are down and curtains are drawn!
I am more fond of summer than winter, but not when it is 100 degrees and humid, which it is supposed to be today. I am also fighting hives, and the heat does not help that situation. Hives are new to me this year. I keep breaking out randomly. I started a log, but there is nothing popping up that seem to be a source. They happen outside, inside, when I haven't eaten, when I have, changed to hypoallergenic everything for soap/cleaners/wash/etc. Hoping my doctor can help figure it out, but I'm beginning to think it is more an immuno kind of thing than an allergy.
I need to be cleaning house as my husbands Aunt and Uncle from Arkansas are coming to visit us for a few days and should be here in just a couple hours.
@Marlena, Hives are miserable, I'm sorry you are suffering with them. I had them for over a year and no doctor was ever able to determine the root cause. I hope your medical team can figure out your cause.
@Marlena, I used to have heat related hives as a child (in 70s with no A/C, fans in summer only.
stress?
Hoping you find comfort.
Right now, I am
•Watching the Today show while waiting for my first client to show up (I’m a dog groomer with a home salon)
•Looking forward to our anniversary party given by our four kids this Saturday night ( it’s our 50th! How is this even possible?)
•Thinking ahead to dinner tonight. Have a recipe for a casserole, but really craving Chinese!
•Listening to my husband on the phone, confirming delivery of our new refrigerator tomorrow.
• Echoing Kristen: I am SO happy to have air conditioning. I am a native Houstonian, and I can’t remember ever not having it. You just can’t live here (honestly)without it. And I am also NOT made for heat!
We typically have really great summer weather (bay area) & rarely humidity, so I do love the summer. We have great weather almost year round, which is why it's an expensive place to live, I'd guess.
Today, I'm:
-Very tired after an incredible, but whirlwind, trip to my parents. We met up with dS18 & his senior road trip friends, my sister & her family, my BFF & her family, & the rest of my extended family & we celebrated the graduates. I have an absolutely phenomenal family, but rarely sleep well when we are all together
-Happy that DS19 got up for work without any intervention on my part, as he's also probably pretty tired after the trip
-Wearing athleisure "cozy" clothes, before I go put on my more practical (and, less comfortable) workout clothes. Think, very supportive sports bra, etc.
-Drinking a latte I made myself. Steamed oat milk + espresso
-Thinking through everything I need to do this week before I go back to work!
I am hiding as much as possible from the heat and humidity, but I have a number of things I must do outside, like tend the garden and feed the birds and fish. The heat simply enervates me these days, which isn't ideal when living in Florida. I hear you, Bee!
Still fighting off the onslaught of spam/scam phone calls and texts. Apparently my cell phone number got released in a security breach, and the calls and texts are endless. They've slowed, and I have filters that alert me to suspicious calls, but I still block and report them as they come in. Problem is, there are approximately 81 gazillion numbers they could be calling from. The only thing funny about this is that all the texts, regardless of who they claim to be from, call me Charlene. That is not my first, middle or last name.
I came home this past Friday to find my well pump running full tilt but I had no water, The pump had nearly overheated, causing its fittings to loosen, which caused the pump to lose suction. Fire ants had got into the electrical points again, which stuck the points in the "run" position. A very helpful plumber came and worked on it in that horrible heat on Saturday. This is an example of the kind of things DH used to do, so that we only paid the cost of parts. Another thing DH did was build a concrete-floored, insulated pump house, so that those ant-related issues are rare now, thankfully. The plumber told me powdered cleanser like Ajax or Comet will make an ant barrier around my pump. I'm going to try that.
@JD, I have a “bad” habit of immediately thinking of song lyrics. Your “Charlene” had me morphing from “Jolene.” Charlene, Charlene, Charrrleeene, please don’t take those scam calls.” Not to make fun of the hassle of all these or the security breach. Sometimes, though, I just can’t help myself.
@JD, they want you to call back and say no Charlene at this number. They'll then press for your name. Goal #1 of spam/scam calls, texts, voice message is to determine if a live number. If nothing else, they'll sell your number.
@PNW Casey,
I share the same “bad” habit… it can be prompted by nearly anything… a comment, the letters on a license plate, a billboard… you name it!
Needless to say, I am singing “Charlene” alone in the living room in my jammies!”
To JD, I hope the effects of the security breach are minimal.
M.
… and nothing is more fun than going on a road trip with someone sharing this “bad” habit!!!
doesn't matter what template you use as long as you are able to post. thanks so much. you are AMAZING. despite not having air conditioning, i am ok. ceiling fans, regular fans are ok by me not so much by hubby Noah and Zoe.
so i want to divorce my in-laws. tomorrow is my son' s graduation from middle school. none of his brother's will go. meanwhile, i was expected to take care of grandma when her son was on vacay so she wouldn't worry about hm and also on a different occasion i had to babysit same son while she was on vacation.
my family are all pushing daisy's so obviously they can't go. plus, my father's sister did not attend any of my school graduuations. i guess history repeats itself.
So sorry you are facing these frustrations! I hope you can go to your son's graduation!
@Kristen, Hubby and I and his sister will be there. now that school is almost over noah will b able to help me with meet a reader.
@Anita Isaac, should have said uncles. the hubby's brothers. i have no siblings. or cousins.
Right now...
I'm happy we got up early enough to get our weekly 18 mi bike ride in before it gets any hotter.
Getting ready to go upstairs and paint some more of the beadboard in the master bath.
Thinking while I'm up there I should sort clothes and start laundry.
Hoping I can finish painting in time to run to the library before they close (small town, short hours) and then hit the grocery store.
Pleased that someone answered the email I sent over the weekend as soon as they got it this morning and immediately corrected erroneous information on their website.
Right now, I am. . .
--sweaty, because I do not (by choice) have air conditioning. But it's only a few days, so I know I can and will survive.
--heading outside to pick cherries. My tart cherry tree caught me off guard ripening over a week early, so I need to go harvest what I can before the cherries are gone! There's a whole bunch on the ground all ready.
--cycling between outdoor chores and indoor chores: outside for an hour, indoors for 30 minutes, outdoors for 30-60 (depending on if it's a shady or sheltered chore or a full sun task), indoors for 30 minutes, repeat. . .
--glad that my three eldest grandkids went home this morning; they had been with me 48 hours while their new baby sister was born.
--looking forward to meeting my new granddaughter later today.
Right now I am finishing up some at home exercise to help get me out the funk mood. I’ll say it’s partially working!
I too hate this weather. I’m in Maryland and it’s the same here. Currently 96 degrees and 60% humidity and sunny. I want to go out, but it will wipe me out for the rest of the day, so in I stay.
Have a great day everyone.
Yes yes to the exercise for the mood!
Right now, I am . . .
... happy that my 6-month recheck after surgery with the orthopedic surgeon went well and I do not require further appointments
... thankful for air conditioning as the forecast is for extremely hot weather this week
... a little nervous about asking to go part time at work. I know they will approve it but I'm worried about the reduction in our income but excited I will have more time to spend with family
Right now I am on the elliptical making up some steps I didn’t get on my beach walk this morning. June Gloom (yay!) in So Cal this morning with 70s this afternoon.
Load of laundry in the wash!
Canceled a vet appointment!
A lot accomplished so far today! So thanks for summer vacation—the decompression from the school year is working.
Kristen, I think we all have faith in you and you shall pass this test❤️
@Sandra in So Cal,
After reading comments, I’d like to add that we get our hot hot heat here generally end of July through mid-October. That said, it is supposed to warm up here later this week. I’m sorry for the heat dome you are experiencing—ugh.
Right now, I am....
- Checking out the cost of student health insurance from the college. With the age of 26 approaching, our student cannot stay on our policy anymore.
- Looking at my paystub online and wondering why it was less than it should be. Then I remembered that I had food poisoning and called out.
- Trying to figure out my errands for the next few days and prioritize them. Or see how much I can squeeze into a day......
- Checking emails to see if anyone responded to my job applications. Then wondering (hoping) when that will happen.
Right Now, I am . . .
... working through my first week of intermittent fasting.So far so good. I am always amazed how little food I really need to eat.
... getting up to speed using technology ( Jamzone, Guitar Tuna, Singscope) to teach some summer music lessons. So glad I committed to the gig in that it is enriching my own musical life.
... enjoying the crazy cool California weather. It snowed up at Lake Tahoe when I was there this weekend.
@Mary Ann, I have been doing intermittent fasting for about 2 years. At first at late night I was hungry but your body gets used to it. Interestingly I went on vacation to Hawaii, a 6 hours time change and got all messed up with the time. When I came back it was like I was starting over. I was hungry at late night but pushed through. Now my body is back to not being hungry at night.
@karen,
Thanks, Karen this is helpful. I have found it relatively easy. I have adopted the rule under 100 total carb and over 100 grams of protein for every meal and I have honestly not been hungry. The biggest difficulty I have faced is letting go the the sugar addiction "high."
"Annie, Annie, are you alright? SOMEONE CALL 911!" CPR can be so physically taxing for the one helping with it, even with the adrenaline rush. In my field, we still have several souls with FULL CODE status vs DNR, so our goal is to get them out of the house if there's a decline so CPR does not have to be initiated. The ambulance service we have is 20 minutes away on a good day. The community DOES have a stellar first responder group including the wonderful volunteer fire department.
I was visiting with my fave soul this morning about how spoiled we've gotten. It is hot and humid here, too and I'm one of those that adores summer. We were talking about feeding hay hands a full meal, no AC, fried chicken we caught and dressed that morning, mashed potatoes, gravy, hot rolls, corn on the cob, fruit pie and sweet tea. Pickin' up small hay bales and loading them on the wagon, and then into the barn loft, scratchy hay sticking to sweaty skin. Sleeping outside in the cool of the night. I am no longer acclimated to summer heat without AC or even going barefoot in the house much less outside!
Last night after I got ready for work. I took Molly out for her evening "constitutional," and was watching the hundreds of lightening bugs rising up from my yard and comparing to the yard across the street which had none. To the untrained eye, my yard is a mess, but oh what joy it brings with the wealth of singing birds, buzzing bees and magical bugs that signal love notes by blinking at one another!
Right now I am...
Hot. We have an old house and window units. They can keep our house in the low-to-mid 80s during a heat wave like this, which is bearable, unless you plan to move around much.
Glad I have an excuse to not move around much! 🙂 I plan to read a lot the next couple of days.
Enjoying the first real day of my summer vacation. I went straight from last day of school to outservice to teaching convention, which was all great, but didn't feel like summer break.
A little sad because I just dropped by oldest daughter off at a week-long camp at a local university, and it made me think about how in a couple of years, I might be dropping her off at college.
I'm with you about the weather. Anything over 75 is pretty unbearable for me. I much prefer snow and frozen ground!
Right now I am....
Taking my lunch at my desk at work and enjoying your post! Now I will (hopefully) chat with my sister who lives across the country on Instagram at lunch. It's a nice little routine. 🙂
I did not know that CPR class was offered online. As former educator I took.CPR/First Aid regularly, so much that Red Cross asked me to teach class (which I didn't). It's been quite a few years, but getting recertified might be good to do. I'll check into that.
Right now I'm ok with super hot (to a point). In Michigan it has been feels like 100*+ for 4 days & possibly tomorrow. Overnight lows have still been 80*s. It's not bad as long as there's a breeze &/or shade and not over doing it outside. Teen doesn't quite grasp that too hot for rescue dogs to walk (on pavement) & long distance because teen fine in this weather. Of course, not outside longer than hour of physical activity at a time.
So grateful for air conditioner & tower fans that are keeping house cool with dark curtains to keep sunlight out. I am able to get by without air conditioning but only if teen stops going in & out of house frequently.
Put out water dish in shade for strays that pass through the yard. Black cat been frequent visitor lately, even sleeping overnight by garage under tree & sitting on deck watching in yard. I'm kind of surprised because rescue dogs chase neighbor cat & squirrels out of our yard/up a tree when rescue dogs outside.
Saw one of those bad pure black wasps outside last 2 days, but unable to kill it with fly swatter. Buzzing around by doors & outside furniture. Just what I don't need.
Trying to figure out why 2/3 of my ever berring strawberries did not come back (yet). Had over flowing raised bed last year of strawberries but this year same bed not many came back like previous year. And ones that did come back are on outside edges of raised bed only.
Trying to figure out where to send letter to our (Michigan) governor (Whitmar) that will be looked at before election primary begins. Teen college financial aid explained the Free Community College (Michigan high school graduate) program (which is great idea & grateful for it) but not all high school graduates will be able to use (due to how program funding set up). How it works is all Michigan high school graduates can get free college tuition only at most (community, state & some private) colleges but needs to be claimed within 1 year of graduation & can only be used for up to Associate degree & used within 3 years for full time students. GREAT! But apparently the program states that ALL Scholarships, grants & Free college money & federal funding must be used towards college tuition first before free college tuition money (from state Michigan) can be used. The problem here (for me) is that students will not have money for textbooks, labs & equipment needed for the college classes unless out of pocket money because it was used towards tuition first (which is normal) instead of the state free college tuition program money. I think the (Michigan) state should honor the free college tuition promised to high school graduates first, not last. Students can not charge text books against free tuition (which I agree is as it should be) but instead will have to find alternate solutions, which may have to include student loans when (in teen case) should have been free.
The students have to attach bank information for payment in order to apply for classes so any balance will be charged/taken out of bank account.
Unfortunately financial aid at many colleges are going to be trying to explain this to many families who believed that their student who earned extra free money that should have covered normal college expenses now have to figure out how to pay. Honestly if parents knew this beforehand I think many would have not taken the time to apply for & work to get scholarships (for in state Michigan colleges).
@Regina, I live in MI, and my oldest is in college on a combination of the Michigan Achievement Scholarship ($6000/year for an in-state public university), a merit scholarship from the university ($6000/year as well), and a Pell Grant. If he needed it, he would also qualify for a program that allows all Detroit residents to go to the university tuition-free, and that money only kicks in after all of the available federal and state grants and scholarships are used.
I don't know exactly how they work it out, but so far every semester, he has gotten a refund check, and he's used that for books. Also, more and more courses now give students access to the online textbook as part of the course, and that is included in the course fees (labs and equipment is usually also included in course fees) and covered by scholarships/grants. I would say that more than half of his classes have done that.
It might be helpful to reach out to the financial aid office at the school your child plans to attend, to see what they say. I think we had to pay maybe $250 his first semester for something (I can't remember what), but since then he's gotten money back each term (something quite a bit, like $1200).
Right now I am getting ready for conferences on the first project with my summer academic writing class. I need to look at their revision memos (reflection and goal setting after going through previous writing process) and get ready to talk with them later today by zoom. I have a load of whites in the laundry for both me and my mom (I do eldercare). I also am thinking about what I want to make for my mom and me for lunch. I think salad, smoked turkey from the freezer, and a bag of cheesy farro. I might put some tomatoes and avocado in the salad as we need to use those up!
SO with you on disliking this weather. Bleah.
I pretty terrible at testing out of knowledge sections with my BLS skills. I'm envious of your ability to get through it quickly.
Right now I am...
Nursing my sweet baby as she sleeps on my lap
Preparing to get up and tidy the house before a showing (we are hoping to move soon)
Grateful for a cooler day with a high of only about 70 after four days of blistering heat.
Right now I'm glad my husband is home safe from his work trip!
Right now….
I need to do some cleaning.
I am glad I got called off of jury duty! Although it would have been a good time to knock it out.
I am grateful for kitty and doggy snuggles.
I am grateful for artist friends who included me In their Artists Way bookclub. I am not really an artist, A crafter maybe? It’s a lovely book for regaining your creative self!
I’m grateful for the handyman coming to fix our dryer, hopefully he can!
I need to go to the YMCA and to walk the dog!
I am so glad our weather cooled down.
Thanks for this!
... I am waiting at an airport without working AC, pushing friend whose mobility scooter broke.
And you know what? We're quite lucky. There are so many ways it could have been not only worse but ruining the trip. All we have to do is get on the airplane, which we can do even with a broken scooter.
... grateful that I understand that being nice and being patient are superpowers under conditions like this. Not only does it make things better for the people around me it also helped me get what we needed.
I can only imagine how many unhappy customers are at that airport. People are often not at their best when traveling, and when you add in the heat, it's probably 10x worse.
Good on you for being a pleasant customer. Not only is it the right thing to do, it does also increase your odds of getting what you want and need!
I like this kind of post! Its fun to see little snippets of the daily routines of others! I hope your exam goes well, Kristen!
Right now I am...
...Taking a little break at work. Processing the fact that my job will be ending in 90 days. One day I'm discouraged (like today...it's Monday!) and the next day I'm excited about the change ahead!
...glad there's A/C in my office! My weather is like yours, Kristen! Ugh is all I can say!
...tired after a very fun but busy weekend away with our Church friends!
It's a kind of anticipatory grief/anxiety when you get so much notice about a job ending. Sending you a hug!
Cousins are coming today to pick our cherries; tarts, bings & sweethearts.
Fixing a huge garden salad, deviled eggs and sponge cake with berries and cream. Set up the two larger solar ovens and am baking sourdough loaves for them to take home.
Today in my little PNW valley we are in the low 80's. We are hosting 3 families from Illinois, camping at the ponds.
Right now I am . . .
finishing a cup of tea and then I'll do something creative. My car is in the shop for an oil change and tire rotation so I'm kind of forced to stay home today which is good. It's hot here in Arkansas, too, like in many parts of the country. We will have a heat index of maybe 105 degrees today. I'm not crazy about hot weather either. My logic is you can always put more clothes on in the winter but you can't take too many clothes off in the summer before you're arrested or laughed at. I prefer fall weather. I grew up in the Chicago area so cold weather doesn't really bother me. The hot humid weather we have here is a challenge. But since I'm retired I can just stay in the house and avoid it. I thank heaven for air conditioning everyday!
I've counted about a half a dozen sewing projects I need to get to. I have some things I have to do like replacing elastic in a couple pairs of crop pants and some things I want to do so I've kind of divided them up. I've decided I will do some things I have to do and then I'll do some fun things that way I'll get them all done.
Today I'm going to cut down a t-shirt. I saw a cute shirt on a woman in Hobby Lobby about a year ago. She had a t-shirt on that was fringed at the bottom and fringed on the sleeves. It was just made by cutting off the hems on the bottom and sleeves, then cutting vertical strips about an inch wide and 2-3 inches long on the bottom and the sleeves. Then you just tug on those strips a bit so they curl. Her shirt was adorable and I have the perfect pink shirt for it. I have decided that pink looks good on just about everyone! So I'm off to be creative!
Right now I am:
-puttering around the house before working
-running into all the mental blocks for dinners this week. Family's suggestions have been "shoulder shrug" and "I don't know". Haven't found a recipe for those so here I am:)
-drinking some lovely Cafe Bustelo coffee. It's intense so I alternate between it and Starbucks whole bean Holiday blend. I'm not sure why but I LOVE that coffee and stockpile in December so I have bags to get me through the year
-going through emails and STILL not coming up with dinner ideas!
Happy Monday!
Right now … I am taking a break after several days of reviewing and deleting just a little shy of 100,000 emails that were somehow resurrected and suddenly showed up in my inbox the middle of last week with no warning and for no apparent reason at all.
It seems my email service has been “saving” in an undisclosed location in the ether every. single. email I wrote or received to or from anyone or anything over the past 15 years, many if not all of which I’m pretty darn sure I deleted at the time but which were suddenly resurrected from wherever everything “trashed” or “deleted” was sent. Some sort of email purgatory, I guess. Forgive me for thinking that when I “deleted” something it was actually … deleted.
I cannot begin to describe how tedious this was, but it had the “benefit?” of a trip down memory lane in some respects. And now an inbox that only has a dozen or so of current communications. And a “saved” category of purposely/intentionally saved and labeled emails.
Geesh.
@JDinNM, In happier news, our 100+ degree weather is somewhat abating and it should "only" hit 93 today, with much needed rain tomorrow and Wednesday with temps dropping to about 80. Then right back up to the mid-90s! But we don't have the humidity the rest of you may be experiencing. Today's (pre-rain) humidity is 14%.
Right now I am setting up four new paintings, three of which are giant sequoia trees because they continue to sell. Also trying to get through to AAA to learn how to replace the personalized license plates in order to sell my old car, and learn what it takes to register my “new” car WITHOUT going to the DMV. The AAA phone is ALWAYS busy, and I don’t want to leave a message because I need to be painting, not waiting for a phone call. (Poor cell service in the building where I paint, IF the phone even registers receiving a call.)
Right now I am:
coming off a 3-day work weekend. We were well-staffed, which always makes things go smoothly.
Taking the day to prep for my daughter's temporary return for some of the summer by flipping my kids' rooms!
Getting an early walk in with the dog so we don't melt under the heat dome (currently 34, feels like 44... not sure what that is in Fahrenheit?)
hydrating!! 🙂
...about to update my June spending tracking and figure out how to maximize all resources to June 30.
Right now I am:
So grateful that our AC is in top condition. When we had our furnace serviced, they found lots of cracks (more than three, and some were huge!) in the heat exchanger. Not only was this causing carbon monoxide to possibly leach into the house--which explained why DS#4 was complaining of headaches--but it was making the AC much, much less efficient.* Explains why last summer it just wasn't keeping up on very hot days! We had it replaced and now the difference is amazing. So grateful for it.
Ruminating over this morning's lecture and lab on muscles. I thought muscles would be less interesting than bones, but our professor does such a good job explaining them and describing what they do, that I'm finding them interesting. Plus I like the names and creating mnemonic tricks for remembering them.
Regretting taking my glass mason jar of coffee with me to class--when I finished it, I rinsed it out and put some fresh water from the fountain in it and tucked it in the side pocket of my backpack..and put my backpack down on the floor of the bio lab just a _bit_ too hard and it cracked. Luckily it only got water on the floor, the glass was contained so nobody got hurt, and after class DS#2 and I scuttled over to the chem lab where the glass disposal containers are and cleaned it out. And the bright side of the heat is that my backpack should dry out very quickly in the sun! Lesson learned; either get a sleeve for my mason jars or leave them at home! Or be more careful...
Ooooh yes muscle anatomy is so interesting!!
*Meant to add as a postscript that we did have a carbon monoxide detector in the hallway, but DH realized that the CO would have been going through the vents, and there are no vents in the hallway, so it didn't detect any CO there, obviously! But it was probably going into the rooms. Yikes. Now our CO monitor is out near a vent, so should detect anything amiss.
Right now I'm putting a bunch of two year old down for naps. Whew!
Right now I am...
...about to spend the afternoon canning plum jelly and jam from our loaded tree and peach jam from a BOGO deal from a local farm market.
...thankful that I will be able to get in my new, above-ground pool when I am done and get some relaxation and exercise that is easy on my knees. While the pool isn't especially frugal, even though it was a good deal when I bought it, it is an investment in my health. Swimming is my favorite form of exercise and the best for summertime in Georgia!
Right now I am doing a lot of paperwork required by my college, meeting with students who are anxious about their upcoming exams, and drinking decaf coffee as an afternoon treat. I bring my own Keurig pods to work because we have a shared Keurig machine in our break room. Some colleagues have their own Keurig machines in their offices, but I'm frugal! I'm perfectly happy to use the shared one.
Of course it's more frugal to use coffee grounds, but I choose the ease of the Keurig over doing a pour over on a mug. So I guess I'm not Uber Frugal
Happy I took an extra day of PTO to get life sorted after our weekend away.
Avoiding being outside. I spent plenty of time outside this weekend in sweltering temps so I feel no guilt in avoiding the great outdoors today.
Missing the puppy who is away for his final week of bootcamp.
Wondering how long I can put off grocery shopping – since we are having leftovers tonight I may be able to wait until I drop the kiddo off at practice.
Really happy for my son – even though his team didn’t win a single game at their tournament this weekend, they had a great time bonding and enjoying time together in Chicago. The teams that they were up against were much higher level teams, but they never gave up and held their own.
Juggling some mixed feelings. My grandpa is giving his record collection to my ex-husband now that my grandparents have moved into assisted living. My ex and my grandparents had/have a good relationship so I am happy to see them go to a good home where they will be loved and appreciated. I asked my son if he wanted to go through them before we gave them to his dad and he very diplomatically said “no, great grandpa wants them to go to dad so he can look through them first.” I realized a moment too late that when the records are with his dad, they are with him too so I apologized for not thinking that through.
Right now..sitting on my behind scrolling Facebook and reading this blog post.
Considering cleaning house.
Enjoying the cool breezes as we don't get them very often in summer.
Right now:
I am HOT! it is 36 Celsius, feeling like 43 Celsius. I know in the grand scheme of things, this is not as hot as some of the Southern States, but for us in Southern Ontario it is HOT. I am a cold weather lover. I do have air conditioning in my house, so for that I am thankful.
I washed a load of whites and hung them on the line outside. (hot and very windy, they should dry in next to no time).
Trying to decide how to prepare for Saturday, it is the Celebration of life of my beloved SIL (HB's much loved sister), she passed away recently 3 days before her 70th birthday. She had terminal cancer which I will tell you about when I have more details, as this was such a rare form of cancer that there is next to no information about it, I would be interested to hear what the medical people would say about it.
We just had a second brownout (blip) and the power stayed on.
Trying to make sure the cat is cool enough, she is a massive fur ball, and a senior, and mostly blind and deaf. I am caregiver yet again. Making sure she is comfortable and drinking water.
Trying to wrap my head around the admin work I have to do: Pay bills: apply for the new Canadian dental plan: renew my HB's driver's license and health card. My headspace is not there yet. Sigh, but it has to be done.
Hope everyone is able to keep cool.
Right now I am feeling so overwhelmed. I am trying to juggle so many things for so many people that I am running on empty.
Right now I am . . .
happy to be working quietly in my cool house instead of outside.
enjoying the process of writing this journal article and the new syllabus I am writing. But also
disappointed that I keep getting passed over for jobs. I am really good at my job. I'm ready for the next level. I keep getting interviews and then no offers. It makes me want to scream.
actually looking forward to going to a funeral tomorrow. One of the members of my dissertation committee passed away in the spring. I didn't have a personal relationship with him, and I would have have left it at writing a kind sympathy card to his widow. But no one that I asked had a mailing address for the family. So I have decided to attend the funeral. In the headspace I am in a solemn celebration of a beautiful life in a gorgeous old building (the funeral is on campus in a 400 year old building) should hit just about right.
thrilled my son enjoyed his camp. He has hated every camp experience, which I took as a challenge to find a camp he did like. Low and behold a fancy restaurant a block away from us is doing a cooking camp run by the highly acclaimed chefs that own the restaurant. My son had a ball, ate food he wouldn't usually be interested in, and can't wait to go back. He brought home a sample today, and it was really amazing.
thinking of hosting my own history-themed camp next summer. I am going to pick my neighbors' brains about what they had to do to get their camp up and running.
Right now I am sitting in the air conditioning trying to decide what to do about dinner while the laundry does its thing - LOL! I'm also looking out the front window at our two new trees. I put watering bags on them last evening, so I'm feeling accomplished!
Right now I am …
distracted!
finished with lunch, my daily crossword, and almost reading blogs.
catching up on personal paperwork and church work.
appreciating the cool spell we’re having the PNW. Haven’t had to run the AC or heat.
Just finished reading everyone’s- that was fun. Just now, I am relaxing after a day of reordering chaos s/p a week at the beach
…we love making apps & meals at the beach house & I brought home homemade fries from a fish fry & 1 piece of leftover grilled mahi. Just now, I sautéed some bok choy, edamame, added the fries to crisp them up & drizzled with hoisin. It was delicious
…. I came home to an ant infestation in my kitchen, a clogged toilet, a mouse that is eating the peanut butter out of the trap & running away scot free, & a 6mos old Bernie mutt who started vomiting at 4am. Just now, I think I’ve finished addressed all of those issues
…. Decided at the beach that I was going to consciously stop complaining. So, I will keep to myself how I feel about this absolutely ridiculous NE TN weather. lol
I'm appalled that Israel bombed Iran and Lebanon (while murdering people on the line waiting for food and bombing their tents), then the U.S joined them.
I am working on a project for my MSN. My cats are not impressed.
I am thrilled the days are finally getting shorter, even though we won't have darkness until mid July and even then not as much as I would like.
I am thrilled the next door little girl wants to learn to garden. I pay her $5 per hour to do little things like weed or tie up cucumber and tomato plants. She only works for me about 3 hours a week but I like passing on the knowledge and she tells me each day how much she now has saved to get a bean bag chair for her bedroom. She also is not allowed to have a cell phone and I love hearing that she hides in the bathroom with a book to get away from her toddler twin siblings. I feel like congratulating her very young parents on the gift they are giving her by encouraging her reading and forbidding social media. She also goes to a magnet school where no kids are allowed cell phones, so she really has not developed a phone attachment disorder.
Awww, I love this situation with your neighbor girl. So sweet.
You got this, Kristen! I know you will pass both cpr and NCLEX:)
Right now I am perspiring like crazy in the same weather and no air conditioning since Thursday (it's Monday!). Totally agree about winter - not designed for this heat.
Right now...
I am thankful the my learning reports are all written and submitted.
Enjoying having eaten supper at a reasonable hour. This year I have been home late nearly every night.
Thinking I should transplant some flowers.
Thinking I might have time for some fun reading this evening. What a treat!
Made it clear at work this morning (more than once) that I will not be part of wasting my time and company resources to attempt to cover someone else's *stupid* move.
It doesn't take long to cool our house. We re-did all the duct work before we moved in and have ceiling fans in all bedrooms, living room, and office. Shut off/tape selective vents/registers to push more air upstairs and prevent the basement from becoming too cold. Our A/C is *never* set higher than 74 - the computers/other electronics, frig, and freezer working harder costs more than the electricity to run the A/C.
...sitting on the porch eating dinner after a VERY long workday. I prefer sitting on a towel on my side porch vs the table out front. I suppose it's not the classiest thing I do.
...embracing the humidity. In my third year here I've learned something about how to dress for what seems like the tropics.
....surprisingly accepting of the impossible workload and the other uncertainty in my life at the moment. Goodness knows that could change anytime.
...hoping my basil plants thrive in what is sure to be roughly a month of rain.
.....getting ready in extreme heat for our condo association's annual garage sale always the weekend before the 4th of July. So so hot out there.
.....planning my menu for next week as it will continue to be very warm
.....contemplating a trip to the local pool to cool off
.....realizing that I am not a summer heat person but love the fall
Right now I am.....
.... late to the party!
* Tired and want the week to be over
* Stressed out about travelling to Toronto for couple days (scared to get lost, not sure what to do there for fun with the kids (teens), Airbnb far from everything, etc)
* Very happy to be working indoor with AC and also have AC at home. I like summer, but not the crazy hot days (47 degres/116 Fahrenheit yesterday)
* Happy to be living in a peaceful country (Canada)
* Happy to meet with a good friend for diner tonight
* In a good place with my 15 yo daughter after 4 challenging years