Thankful Thursday | I get to be a rainbow
This week, I am thankful:
for the chance to be a rainbow in someone else's cloud
The other day when I was at work, a patient said to me, "I feel better when you come in the room, because you are just so joyful."
And that made me so happy to hear. Of course, I always do my best to take care of my patients' physical needs, but I am delighted when I am also able to make a positive impact on how they feel mentally.
Everyone who comes to my hospital floor is experiencing some kind of cloudy day, which means every shift is full of opportunities to be a bit of sun or a rainbow for someone.
And that can look so many ways; sometimes it's holding someone's hand, sometimes it's putting energy into solving a problem, sometimes it's bringing a warm blanket, sometimes it's making a joke, sometimes it's hunting down the food item they really want, and sometimes it's just doing the regular work of vitals/phone answering/ambulating with a cheerful attitude.
I love my job. 🙂
for my Snoopy badge holder
The nice thing about Snoopy is that he looks good with every color of scrubs. 🙂
for my co-workers
I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but after a rather isolated life of being a stay-at-home, work-at-home, homeschooling mom, I am having so. much. fun. being with co-workers.
I love the people who work on my floor! We are such a diverse crew in many ways, and that is part of what I love about my unit.
Have I mentioned that I love my job? 🙂
that I can get started with PT now
You know how I have a little rotator cuff injury? Well, now that my hospital health insurance has kicked in, I can get started with the recommended physical therapy. Yay!
My old insurance had a very high deductible, so I was not about to get started on PT with that insurance because it would have been all out of pocket.
Another yay for my job. 😉
for a little break in the humidity
Humidity has had a chokehold on my part of the world for almost the last two months, but this week, we got a few days with some drier air. AMAZING.
I happened to be off work for one of those days, so I mowed my grass finally. It has been so rainy, I haven't managed to find a dry day to mow in ages, so my grass was crazy long.
I did get dirty (I don't know if you can see it very well in the photos but I had dirt and grass all over me!), but I was not unbearably sweaty and that is a mercy.
for a scholarship coffee gathering
The PEO organization that awarded me some scholarships had a coffee last week that I attended; it was fun to see the other recipients again and to get updated on where everyone is in their educational journeys.
And also, the host lives in a beautiful waterfront community. The view!!
I wore my clearance black dress, which is down to a very low cost per wear at this point. 😉
And of course when I was taking a picture, Chiquita joined me, as she always does.
for a sunset opportunity
It was finally nice for me to want to go to my sunset park; the weather has been so awful most of the summer, I haven't felt like doing that at all until now.
for Chiquita snuggles
I don't sit down on the couch a lot, but when I do, Chiquita is SO happy. She always gets on my lap.
And excuse my serious face, but this picture makes me laugh every time I look at it!
Good morning! This week I am thankful:
*that we have an opportunity this week to see friends from far away.
*for hard-working kids.
*that I only have to finish hand-sewing the binding on the quilt I should have had finished more than a year ago.
*that a daughter told me what was bothering her.
*for an enjoyable church picnic.
*that my father's back is showing some signs of improvement.
*for the goldfinches and hummingbirds enjoying the rather wild mess of sunflowers and zinnias in my front flowerbed.
*that the dehydrated beef liver capsule I took yesterday didn't make me sick. I don't eat liver at all. I gag. But I'm trying to up my iron, so my husband thought it was worth a try.
@Jody S., I take dehydrated liver capsules too, because I tolerate them better than iron pills, and they've upped my hematocrit etc. to appropriate levels (I only have to take 2 or 3 a week at this point). Hoping this works for you as well!
And Kristen - I can't have cats because of allergies so I am extremely thankful for all the cat pictures you post - Chiquita makes me laugh out loud; a great way to start the day!
Are these less constipating than iron pills? And do they leave a funky taste at all?
@Suz, I'm glad to hear they do work because I want to feel a little better.
@Kristen, yes (although I don't know if that has something to do with amts in individual pills - my bottle says to take 4 for a serving, but I only ever take one). I take them with food (& full glass water) and in those circumstances, I don't get a funky taste (unlike fish pills)!
Yes, yes, the fish pill aftertaste is what was coming to mind!
@Suz, I take "burpless" fish oil pills so I don't get that fish taste. They may cost a bit more but it is totally worth it. .
@Joyce, my OBGYN told me to keep the fish oil capsules in the freezer to avoid the fishy after taste- works like a charm.
My Naturopath has me take the Ancestral brand which calls for 6 capsules per day, but she has me take just 2. No aftertaste, no constipation. 🙂 https://a.co/d/5OpSdxO
Love the rainbow idea! And Chiquita, as always.
This week I am grateful for:
1. I got to go to an exclusive swimming club at a lake. It takes years on a waiting list (with no guarantee for membership) but I was able to go as a guest. It was raining when we arrived, but it was warm and also quieter than it is on hot days. It rained a little when we were swimming but that added to the peaceful atmosphere!
2. I went on a beautiful walk in the countryside with my mother.
3. I went to yoga again with my friend, and my yoga teacher also gave me some helpful advice on exercise.
4. I enjoyed a relaxed afternoon listening to ghost stories with my father.
5. Going to the pub with my sister.
@Sophie in Denmark, Just a question if you are also familiar with the documentary The Pond? It is on outdoor swimming and was filmed in London. The name of the pond escapes me, I think it was near the Serpentine. I saw it on Netflix and I wondered if you had ever been there-
@JNL, I haven't gone outdoor swimming in London, but I know there are pools you can swim in at Hampstead Heath. I looked up the documentary and it's referring to a lido in Hyde Park. Hopefully I can try one of those places for swimming someday!
Its been a booger of a week, but I am reminded that my life is actually better now than it was 4 years ago...I am
*happy to be getting PT for my shoulder issue
*a mammo this week, which is 100% covered by insurance
*a free concert to attend tonight
*a teeth cleaning this week with no dental issues
*extra hours to work on Friday to pay for a washing machine repair
*and lastly, its a payday week!
All in all, a nice way to end July. (:
I realize you’ve posted photos on this very cute black dress multiple times, but this question just now occurred to me- do you have a strapless bra you love to accommodate those spaghetti straps? If this is too personal a question, please feel free to delete it, but I would love to hear about frugal bra options in general. I have spent many years mostly braless, but I’m now in a professional public facing job and this is no longer a viable option.
I usually just wear a regular black bra under this one, figuring that the plain black bra straps can just mix in with the black dress straps.
I do have a strapless one I pull out when necessary but I prefer a regular bra with straps! It’s more comfortable and stays in place better.
@Kristen, I thought your dress had a unique double strap design-LOL.
It does! There are lots of straps. It’s just that some of them are in the same line as a bra strap.
@Kristen, Maybe I'm just shameless but I do the same thing. I don't really care about my bra straps showing!
@Tarynkay, If anyone has some (comfortable) frugal bra suggestions, I'd like some too. I read where the best bra sales are in January and September so I'm impatiently waiting for September hoping for a good deal.
@Bobi, I've gotten a lot of bras secondhand for very cheap. Often our secondhand stores have brand-new, tags still on bras, but they will often have a big selection of lightly used ones as well. If you are squeamish about that, or if you have a very specific less common size that might not work, or need a very specific color etc, but I've gotten many nice bras for very cheap!
@Rachel and @Bobi, I'm increasingly shopping secondhand for bras, too. Since I'm probably the least squeamish person out there, and since I'm desperate for anything that will work for my zaftig self, I'm getting more willing to take chances. And I did actually find a 3XL sports bra NWT recently that does work for me.
I lost weight and my bras were too large. Over about a two year period, I acquired about 10 bras second hand: many with tags. I doubt I paid more than $5 for any of them and most are department store brands that retail for $50 + each !!!!
@J in NC, I’ve bought bras, worn them once or twice, and ended up donating them. Now I pretty much stick to same styles and shop sales.
Ross, Marshall’s, and TJ Maxx also have decent discounted prices.
@Tarynkay,
Some words to you as a new bra-wearer: I actually have three kinds of bras (due to my size no bra is not an option):
Office: sculpted bras will a full cup (is that what it translates too?) for wear to the office, as there are mostly male colleagues and it is always chilly there. You get what I want to say, I think
Home/informal: bralette with a more natural silhouette. However with tops with a wider cleavage, the bralette straps will show and I revert to type A
Any situation that screams comfort: comfy no wire all stretchy bra-tops. I developed exzema in several places of my body a few years ago. One such a place was my torso, sadly. I bought these bra-tops and I now wear them quite a lot, at home and at the gym too. Not as supportive as my other bra's though.
Many women wear bra's that are not really a good fit for them and it is worthwhile getting good advice at a shop with knowledgeable help - women have very different shapes, not just weight but also differences in torse length etc. Once you know what type and fit are good for you, you can shop for those brands/types online or in thriftshops. Women buying a bad fit for them is one of the reasons why so many bra's end up at the thrift shop in the first place!
A good fit will give support to your girls and your back and can visually take off several pounds too!
I live the bralette life almost exclusively. Ha.
But that is possible because I am not very busty at all and so I don't really need much in the way of support.
What a wonderful rainbow you will be. Having spent a good deal of time in hospitals with family members over the years I can tell you that having a kind and caring nurse makes all the difference in the world. Go shine!!
I am definitely thankful for three days of cooler and drier air. One of our next door neighbors had their fence replaced and a there have been a lot of vines in that area. The area is now clearer than it has been in a while and I was able to work to clear "junk" growing in our yard.
I am thankful for a healthy body and the ability take the actions that hopefully will continue to keep it healthy.
I am thankful I was able to help out a friend that was out of town. She called and asked if I could go to her house and provide her with information she had posted in her home office. I was able to respond within half an hour and she was able to move on with her day.
I am thankful for my grandkitties. When I visit DD they are happy to see me, one likes to sit in my lap and the other likes to play. At one time the second cat just hid when I was around.
Yes! The air has been such a relief. I know it’s gonna end tomorrow but it has been lovely while it’s been here!
Thursday Thankful, Mostly School Edition:
For the opportunity and the means to go back to school. I may be the oldest student in my class, but I am glad I waited until we were out of the trenches with very young kids. And I am enjoying my current class so much!
For a crazy-supportive family. I have heard a horror story or two about unsupportive husbands from my fellow students, and it is just sad. DH has been nothing but supportive and excited about my future. And the boys are cooking dinners and cleaning up afterwards, doing their chores pretty well, so no complaints on that front!
For my friendly fellow students. There's no competition, we're all in it together, and there's a small core of students that is starting to get together and chat in the downtimes. And some of us will be in the next A&P section in the fall, which will be fun.
For my professor. She really is a great teacher, and wants us to learn and do our best. I was flattered and flustered to be instructed to show a late-arriving student how to dissect a sheep's brain in lab, and to show them the structures inside. It was fun!
That we have only two exams left, one for lab, one for lecture. Then I get a three week break before the fall term! And so far my grades are pretty good, I just have to keep them up.
That we had a nice little break from the heat and humidity--though it's coming back, at least we had a respite. Also thankful that DH was able to replace the condenser pump on the AC so it's working just fine now and we'll get through the next bit of summer in style.
That the old, half-dead tree is getting trimmed down tomorrow! We so rarely have workmen on our property (DH does most of it himself) that it should be kind of exciting. And then we'll have no worries during a windy storm about it falling over on the power line.
For cats, and animals in general. On my bike ride the other day I had a lovely encounter with two does, who crossed the bike path while I waited and then stopped and stared at me, not moving, until I finally pedaled very cautiously by them, while they just observed me. I had expected them to bolt into the nearby forest, but they just stood there and I was closer to deer than I'd ever been! They were so pretty and calm. I see more wildlife while biking than one does in a car; I've seen monarchs and dragonflies and rabbits galore.
On that note, I'm thankful that we have had seemingly no mosquitoes for whatever reason this summer. Usually I get bitten like I'm their personal salad bar, but not this year!
@Karen A., Yay! for no mosquitos. Because we've been so wet and humid, we have all sorts of biting bugs this summer. Boo!
Yup. Our drought resolution has been very mosquito friendly!
@Jody S., I am surprised, honestly, because we have had a lot of rain (more than we usually get in June/July), and our backyard is, to put it bluntly, a swamp. It holds water like a basin. The landlords' father used to live here and apparently he would fill the backyard with water in the winter and make it into a skating rink for his grandkids. The mind boggles. Anyway, our backyard is usually buggy this time of year, and just going out to hang the laundry gets me three or four mosquito bites. Not this year! DH says the winter we had was warm, then freezing cold, rinse and repeat, and that may have confused the lain insect eggs; they hatched prematurely and then all died. Huzzah.
The PEO must be very happy to have contributed to your education. It is very rewarding to help someone in need of help any way - and twice so if the investment yields so remarkably.
Many thankfuls this week, but I will only mention business trip related ones this week. Although the train was delayed for over an hour due to a malfunctioning train set:
-I had no small children in need of being picked up from the nursery at my destination
-the weather was good enought for waiting outside
-I had a seat
-I had brought an appropriate book from home (The Canterbury Tales, very tongue in cheek)
-I could get a coffee at half price, and had an apple with me
-I did not give in to the temptation to buy clothing or apparel at the station's shops, just to compensate
-I did find a free novel in a free library at the station
-the person who made use of the station's grand piano was really gifted, and the improvisation resounded beautifully in the station hall and down the platform stairs
So all in all I came home quite relaxed.
@JNL, Oh, I love your last one. It must be so great to be a talented-enough musician to just sit down and make music wherever you happen to be. I suspect Kristen-with-an-e would do this, too. 🙂
Whenever I see a piano in public, I ALWAYS want to sit down and play it. But sometimes I am unclear of whether or not this is allowed in certain places, so I only do it when I'm sure it's ok. 🙂
@kristen, it's probably welcomed more often than you fear.
@kristin @ going country, while touring the capital in Washington state we entered a room with a piano and the guide said does anyone play the piano and would like to play for us now.
This is the people's house and anyone can play here whenever they want. I have been to all 50 capitals and this was the only one where I heard this.
@kristin @ going country,
The bigger railways stations and many public buildings have them. Sometimes there is an invitation to play them but only between so and so hours (which makes sense in for instance a nursing home).
You hear the most wonderful music. And I have heard pianists with singers too on occasion. They often choose calming and meditative music, I've noticed.
I saw a Snoopy sticker on a car on the highway yesterday and of course thought of you. 🙂
Thankfuls:
--That I can make a trip to Walmart to buy what felt like all the things--boring things like school supplies, towels, office supplies for my husband--plus groceries and not have to worry (too much) about the total. Which was a lot.
--For the lady I saw who dashed across a busy four-lane road in town to rescue a puppy that was just sitting in the middle of the road. It must have been injured, because its head was up, but it was just lying there. I went by that same place later and saw the lady with some other people examining the dog, so I don't even think it was hers. I hope they find its owner.
--For my very sweet younger children. They set up the one boy's bed for me with a pillow and a dim light and invited me in to rest because they thought I seemed tired and stressed out (I was). They then offered me a plate of cherries--to eat in the bed :-)--and ate most of them themselves. Ha.
--For some improvement in my messy house. Much of the tiredness and stress was coming from my house being utter chaos thanks to the bathroom renovation and rearranging the younger boys' room so they have two twin beds instead of a bunk bed. Stuff evvvvverywhere. This effects me badly. I very much dislike that sort of mess, and I'm thankful I'm starting to get it under control. (Particularly because we're having guests on Saturday. And not people I have ever met before. Eek.)
--For all the furniture, etc. that has come our way from family over the years. The bunk bed that we turned into twin beds was made by my grandfather for my cousin about 30 years ago. The rug in that room is a nice Oriental rug my sister gave us. (I have a hallway runner that came from my sister, too.) The huge walnut desk in there was made by my dad for my middle son. The light I put on the desk is actually a Tiffany-style glass chandelier made by my grandfather many years ago. My daughter's bunk bed was made by my brother for his daughters a decade ago. Our oak dining room table with eight chairs was made by my grandfather. I can go on and on. These things are high-quality, beautiful, practical, and remind me of my family every day.
@kristin @ going country, I am also thankful to that lady! Poor puppy!
@kristin @ going country, I was at the vet yesterday with Betty cat (more on this below) when a man came in with a kitten that had been run over and killed, to make sure that the poor thing was properly disposed of. I praised his kindness, and he sighed and said, "My kids saw it happen. What else could I do?"
I knew you were going to end up with a cat sitting on that black dress. Cats can't let a good black outfit get by without some cat hair. Chiquita is so cute, though.
1. I'm thankful my traveler daughter made it to New Jersey safe and sound and that she, at least, is getting to enjoy some cooler air while attending some meetings. It was 67 there according to my phone on the morning she got there.
2. I'm thankful that we finally got some rain to break the heat the last couple of afternoons. The humidity has been and remains oppressive, but I'll take the rain relief from some of the high heat even though it doesn't help the humidity situation.
3. I'm thankful that a stressful work situation for my other daughter, who's been made a supervisor in her office, has been eased this week after some calm discussions. She likes the people who report to her, but she has that one employee...
4. I'm thankful that my replacement at work who I am training is willing, intelligent and friendly.
5. I am of course thankful that I am super-duper close to only having seven months until retirement!
@JD, #4. I don't know why this one struck me as really important. I completely have no experience in this, but I imagine being able to leave your job to somebody competent and kind helps one's mental state when beginning retirement. (At least if the job wasn't a horrible one--- then I can see somebody not caring at all.)
Along with Jody S., I'm thankful this week for all the goldfinches and hummingbirds in my gardens. The hummingbirds in particular are showtiming with aerial battles in my monarda (red beebalm, which they love and fight over). Hummers are feisty little devils in general; it's a wonder they get friendly with each other long enough to mate. 😉
And I'm thankful as always for Betty cat. In particular this week, I'm grateful that she's a good pill taker, because she's now on antibiotics for what both the vet and I are hoping is just an upper respiratory infection-- as opposed to the more complicated possibility raised by the vet (since Betty's snots seem to be confined to her left nostril) of her having a polyp up her nose! I can imagine that getting at that would be both messy and expensive, so I'm definitely rooting for a URI.
@A. Marie, I love it when our hummingbirds fly up to our dining room door to peek in. I know they are probably just checking out the reflections, but I like to imagine they enjoy watching us as much as we enjoy watching them. We had a bunny on our back patio last week who came right up to that glass door and peeked in. Twenty-one years, and we've never seen a bunny come right up to that door!
When Shelly has had to be on pills, those little pill pockets the vet sells have been AMAZING. But it sounds like Betty doesn't even need them!
@A. Marie, Oh, poor Betty! Clark sends commiserating head bumps and hopes she feels better soon and that yes, it is "just" an URI!
@Kristen, my dog had figured out that the tasty pill pockets means nasty pills, and now manages to eat the pocket and spit out the pill. It takes two of us to hold his mouth open and carefully place a pill down his throat.
Then he gets a special treat, reserved only for the three worst things: pills, showers, and being crated with the door closed.
@A. Marie, good luck with betty. buddy had kennel cough and i was able to sneak his pill into peanut butter which he scarfed up in 2 min. when i had cats i used tuna.
when you write "after a rather isolated life..." I had to think of an old "a day in the life of..." post of you which I just read recently. While reading it, I thought "She sounds kind of lonely".
I'm very thankful our weather in N Ca has cooled way down. We're in the low 80s so quite nice.
I'm thankful I've almost finished what needed to be done concerning my husbands death. It's more than you think even though we had done quite a bit leading up to his passing.
I'm thankful for swimming and the pool I go to well maintained.
I'm thnakful to feel ok enough to start some painting in the living room. This was always my husbands job so it's bittersweet.
I'm thankful my daughter can take time off work to come with over to the coast to scatter some of my husbands ashes. We wont do a lot just some as a memory of how much he loved that part of the coast.
I am decidely NOT thankful that the jerk who parked next to my car( too close) filed a claim that my car door hit his passenger door and they went ahead with it. This is after him yelling profanities at me when my door barely bumped his door. But the insurance comapnay said it didnt matter as there was contact. so what's that about? Dont they listen? If there was it would have been a scratch. I wonder if this was some kind of scam on his part. Do insurance companies pay the person or only the shop that fixes the damage?
@christina, that does sound like a scam. I'm sorry this happened to you.
@christina,
There is always somethings to be done after a death, even when you planned ahead, you are right. I pray you find peace and calm as much as possible. I was so appreciative to my family for coming to scatter some of DH's ashes at his parents' graves in his home town. I'm so glad you are going to get to do this with your daughter.
And a pox on the guy filing the car claim. It does sound scammy.
Sending you a hug as you take on the painting. <3
We also had a couple not completely miserable days (definitely not cool, but like 90 with less humidity instead of 98 with 85% humidity).
Thankful that the HOA insurance is going to mostly cover some major damage to the fences/patios of where my sons live after a retaining wall behind them fell during a recent storm. It will be a long process and what is left of their patios will be destroyed by the machinery needed to clean up the wall and replace that. Then we will basically have to start from scratch on their back areas.
Thankful for the toaster oven and the instantpot which are making about 95% of our meals this summer to help keep the house cooler. Today we are having carne asada in the instant pot.
Thankful that my little pumpkins I planted back at the end of May are doing well so far. I have never grown them before. I planted these from seed so even though only a handful came up, I'll take it!
The Chiquita pictures made me laugh. Cats are awesome.
I'm not trying to start a "what color is this dress" debate, but your black dress has burgundy/purple tones, at least to my eyes, in the photographs.
I have a chicken badge holder at work. It makes an excellent visual target when I'm assessing visual tracking. And it makes my patients smile (or they think I'm insane, which is possibly true).
On to thankfulness. Thankful I got in a bike ride this morning before the heat and humidity became overwhelming. Thankful for a fun day Tuesday--my daughter and I went to the beach (we got our Tuesday latte special to bring with us, and stopped for ice cream afterwards) and laughed uproariously every time we got smacked by a wave. We went with my husband to the local county fair and petted goats (and llamas and horses and bunnies) in the evening. Simple summer fun is the best. Grateful that our summer vacation plans are shaping up. Thankful that thus far, my son's road trip with friends has been fun and they have stayed safe. Thankful that I can be a listening ear for my friends who are in the midst of dealing with end-of-life care for their parents--having gone through it, myself, I can listen judgment-free to all of their struggles. NOT thankful that I have to have a root canal re-treated (and I still might end up losing a tooth), but I am grateful for the excellent care that the endodontist provided.
Hahaha, well, I can confirm that it is actually black. But black is notoriously hard to photograph, especially with a smartphone, so I'm not surprised it reads as something other than black.
Glad you are enjoying some beautiful weather. We had 2 days of it, but it's back now and with a vengence!
I am thankful for being able to make the gym 4 days this week already. I have a plan to make it 4 days/week, but last week there was a power outage which limited my days. Feeling some muscle pain, but I know it's working then! I am so glad I found this gym and the great people that go there. It is the exact thing I need to keep my older body moving and helpful to the weight that is coming off.
Thankful that husband went and mowed the lawn 2 nights ago. I don't do lawn mowing, so I'm glad he did it before the heat and humidity comes back today.
Thankful that my sister found a website for "unclaimed funds". She got back $2500.00!!! Which is great for her because now she can pay for the work that needs to be done on her A/C unit. She works for the government and has been on a ledge since Feb about her job, so needless to say, I am the older sister that worries about her and her job.
Thankful I went scrapbooking last weekend to work on my niece's wedding album. I got a lot done, but came home and found more pictures. So re-arranging has to be done and more pictures printed. I am glad tho, because I didn't think she had enough pictures. And I had a great time yapping with my fellow scrapbookers!
For great nurses. I have had a lot of trouble with my knee and back this last year. I’ve had several shots in my knee and physical therapy without lasting relief. I thought a second opinion was not a bad idea, so I made a trip to the orthopedic urgent care and got the same nurse from a couple months prior regarding my back and hip. She took one look at my chart and previous X-rays and had the tech come get me for weight bearing X-rays. Turns out that my knee hurts due to being bone on bone. I will get a total knee replacement next month. It sucks, but better than hobbling along thinking I’m crazy. So, I appreciate all medical staff:)
@Jackie,
I had my total knee replacement back in 2009 and yes, the recovery was painful, and I needed serious pain medication for a time, but I started the physical therapy and gradually was able to go out for walks that got longer and longer and I have been fine since. The doctor told me they want me to be physically active. I try to walk a lot and swim.
It was just as well that I had no idea what to expect when I had the surgery. It was about 6 weeks of bad pain but it subsides. I got into the swimming pool after about 4 weeks. It helped a lot.
Best wishes.
I love that phrase being a "rainbow in someone else's cloud." It made me smile!
You've certainly found your calling in health care.
My thankfuls:
1. I finally got to sleep and woke up without my arm hurting me. (Saturday, I'd picked up a fan that was way too heavy while I was cleaning out the garage and OUCH!) I found some cream that helps the hurt, and although the pain comes and goes, the OTC remedy helps. After I got up, the pain started again but I reapplied the cream and am OK now.
2. The roofers worked all day yesterday and came back this morning and the metal panels are being installed. These fellows are very nice and polite and they worked from sunup to sundown yesterday, such hard workers! The company owner came by to make sure all was well. (It was!) Later today, I will have my new roof completed!
3. For my coworker from another dept. who helped me with a difficult customer. The elderly lady had sacked up a whole lot of merch, enough to fill an entire shopping cart overflowing, and we had to take the stuff out of her filled bags (that she'd brought from home), and place them in other bags that she'd brought. She bought several hundred dollars worth of items and was micromanaging the way I was re-sacking them, which gets on my nerves. Luckily, my coworker was in line behind the customer and said "let me help," and did. She also chatted with the customer so I could concentrate and work without distraction (we don't have scanners at this Mom and Pop store so cashiers have to manually enter every price in the register I can't both punch in the prices and keep up a conversation answering the woman's constant questions at the same time.) It took almost forever to finish with her. But the customer went away happy, which was a good thing, bc I learned she is the mother-in-law of my next door neighbor. OMG!
4. Poor doggy! Snuggles was quite disappointed he was not allowed to go outside and play, since the roofers had to keep the gates open. I certainly didn't need Snug bothering them or running loose. But, thankfully, he was happy enough inside to chew a bone I'd gotten for him. He chews so many bones, both real and rawhide, that I should've named him Chomp! (After the workers left last night, he got a nice long play session in the backyard.)
5. For my new little off-brand individual coffeemaker. Unlike the Keurigs I've had, it works perfectly. Since getting it, I've enjoyed a perfect cup of coffee every morning!
1) That I have three days off at my new company next week. (It's a company closure.) This is amazing, before I have any vacation built up. Onboarding (especially as I'm remote), particularly when I'm in a different time zone, separated by 8 hours, has been pretty exhausting, so I'll enjoy the break.
2) That my sister is my BFF, and I'm blessed with another friend who is also like a sister. We prioritize spending time with each other, and it's always so special, no matter if it's a big trip (we went to France a few years ago), or all working remotely at my house, and then hiking in the mornings. We are an easy bunch.
3) That my kids are comfortable having their friends over. We host A LOT, and I never know who will be home for dinner. I've almost given up on planning, but I know this is a season, and am trying to embrace each haphazard meal I scramble to put together.
4) That both of my teens have such good people in their lives. While I don't think either of them will marry their high school GF, they are good people, and are enjoyable to get the know just the same. They also both have good friends.
5) For the weather in the bay area. yes, I'd like a little more sun, but mid 70s is absolute bliss. This is the coldest summer on record in my area, and I will continue to enjoy it. I think it means our fall will be hot.
This week I am thankful….
• My husband and I had the best time hosting our friends to a Ted Lasso themed dinner party this last weekend. The party itself was fun, but I really enjoyed the planning process with my husband. Having a project to work on together over the last few weeks was wonderful.
• My son was offered a spot on his club’s top team. He’s played on this team the past few years so this means another year with his friends!
• I really enjoy my coworkers as well, or as I like to call them ‘my work friends.” I laugh a lot at work and always feel supported.
• I am able to be my dad’s safe space to vent. He’s taking on a really big task with moving my grandparents and working on their estate, especially when we can see that both of my grandparent’s memories are not what they used to be. I’m not able to help with everything but I can be a listening ear when he gets overwhelmed.
• My son has been a big help to my dad this week – he’s helped pack boxes, declutter, move items, and entertained grandma while my dad does paperwork with grandpa. My dad slips him a little pocket money but the hours together have been the real highlight.
• I was able to get our older dog into the vet same day! The vet thinks he may have kennel cough (which both dogs are vaccinated for but the puppy may still have brought it home from daycare). His meds seem to be making things better.
• My husband, son, and I have been having fun playing Pop Culture Jeopardy together each night.
I laugh at your kitty too! Thanks for the entertainment.
*Thankful for a new oncologist for my husband who thus far is much more proactive than the last one he had.
*Thankful for provision. We have had SO many expenses as of late and all the regular things are going nowhere but up. We make good money and even that is stretched thin. I'm thankful for the stretch.
*Thankful that Fall is around the corner.
*Thankful that after Friday I am officially 12 weeks pregnant and most of the dreadful symptoms have vanished. I can drink coffee again, nausea is mostly gone, fatigue remains but that isn't too dreadful.
*Thankful that my family likes to be home. We all enjoy rest, playing cards and board games, watching movies, doing projects, etc. We aren't ones to spend weekends booked with activities and I am grateful that we have this in common.
1. That my husband is able to be 600 miles away with his parents this week after his father had a stroke, and that his father is doing so much better.
2. For the lady at an antique mall yesterday - a woman came in with a huge cart of stuff and I overheard her ask the owner to just take it and sell it, not asking any money for it and just to pay it forward. When I got to the register with my $15 item she repeated the interaction, ripped the tag off and gave it to me for free, asking that I pay it forward again. I love this kind of quest!
3. That I managed to weed all around my house and flower beds before another heat wave strikes.
4. That my daughter and her new husband made it back to the west coast after their east coast honeymoon and multiple cancelled flights and delays.
5. That I'm going on a little outing with my son this afternoon, particularly since the sound of our neighborhood today is constant chainsaws, a sound that sets my teeth on edge.
I dunno.I am just generall ,really THANKFUL” in a really big way,today. I had a very deep and satisfying meditation this morning. I have friends who are ill, one who passed away, (very old, and a full and happy life) and the state of the world and my country..all at times can feel overwhelming.Today I am just THANKFUL for all that is good.There is so much.Sunsets, strong coffee, good husband, comfortable shoes. I am just overwhelmed by gtatitude on this day that I woke up and I am “ok.” (MORE THAN ok.)
@Madeline, I hear you. How nice in the midst of all this to have an opportunity to savor gratefulness. I had an exceptional day on Monday when everything was unusually and unexpectedly going well….like I had to pinch myself good. It felt weird to have everything coming up roses for a change and I too was grateful for a brief window of positivity. Particularly so as I too have experienced the loss of friends/acquaintances (who lived long and wonderful lives and who will be missed) and know others who are struggling with caregiving and illness.
I’m a high school reading teacher, and my students tend to be those with poor attendance and those who don’t get involved in clubs or school events. They worry about having enough food, their poor living conditions (they live in old, bug-infested, single-wide trailers), and their loved ones being deported. They have worries that make going to school not very important in their opinion. I try to make class a light-hearted, judgment-free place, with candy and snack rewards because, “Hey, you stayed awake for all of class today!” or “I appreciate your not interrupting me during class today. You made my day better!” I tell jokes, invite students to sing karaoke on my class microphone, but only if they “earned” it. We still do a lot of work, and I hold them accountable, but I don’t want to be the class that they dread.
Aww, what a blessing you are to your students!
@Susan_SFl, I teared up at this. Thank you for being the best kind of teacher!
@Susan_SFl, I also was a secondary remedial reading teacher. All of the struggles and worries are worth it because the students know someone (you) cares. After over 30 years, I retired and look back with satisfaction that just maybe I have changed a few lives for the better. Keep up the good work!
@Susan_SFl, you are a fabulous teacher. i was blessed with some wonderful teachers when i was a kids. and some real duds.
So much to be thankful for this week!
* My daughter found a job!
* My health.
* My handy husband. He saves us so much by being a great diy-er
* My fur babies. They bring so much joy and laughter into our home.
* My home, job, car, ability to pay my bills, the sunshine, good insurance and more!
I am thankful for the phrase "be a rainbow in someone else's cloud". Thank you, Kristen!
I was so ready to be thankful for dh being discharged from the rehab hospital tomorrow after walking 110' unassisted on a quad cane!!!! I got there this am and he was not right. Soooo, I am sending this from the ER where his infection is back, his heart rate is very elevated and BP is very low, even though he hasn't had hid BP meds in almost a week. That being said...
I'm thankful the rehab Drs "jumped the gun" and called 911 rather than trying to handle it themselves. I'm thankful for the CNA who sat with him because I was running late and she knew he was acting different. I'm glad his RN took his BP as a precautionary measure, then did his heart rate the old fashioned way, even though finding a pulse was difficult. I have never as thankful for the fact that parents were EMTs and ran a volunteer rescue squad in rural SC in the 70s and 80s and exposed me to so much medical info. I would have been terrified the last few years otherwise.
Please remember him in your prayers. I'm so hopeful that antibiotics will fix this because I fear another surgery will be too much after what this one has put him through.
Ohh my goodness, I am so sorry to hear of this setback! I hope it is easily resolved.
@Jennifer, I'm sorry for this roller coaster for you and your husband - hoping he gets more good care from noticing doctors/nurses and this gets taken care of quickly
@Jennifer, I am very sorry to read this and hope that your husband recovers quickly.
I’m thankful for more tolerable summer temps. I’m not enthusiastic about extreme weather , be it super-hot/humid summer or frigid winter days. I do love the longer days of light during summer though.
So thankful for our few days away with our son, our daughter-in-law and our grandson. The heat last week was almost unbearable but our family time together was delightful and we all hope to do a vacation together again next year.
Thankful for an outing today with one of my sisters and my daughter. We all had so much fun.
Thankful for my dear husband, for good friends and neighbors. The longer I live, the more I’m appreciative of relationships.
And of course, our pup Wally brings us joy daily. So glad.
This week I am thankful:
* for air conditioning. With the construction going on at our new house (to add a bedroom for my family and build an apartment for my in-laws), our A/C unit was out of commission for a smidge. Thankfully, that was on a cool day and now it's back on.
* that I got to grocery shop with one of my best friends last night. We just happened to arrive at Aldi at the same time! It was an unexpected gift.
* for a friend that spent all morning helping me unpack and organize my kitchen and bathroom storage. I have way more bathroom storage and way more kitchen cupboards than before and I got so far, then got stuck with what to do next. She helped me talk it through and find homes for things.
* for the way the Lord has been moving construction forward. We hadn't expected them to be able to start for over a month, but the house our construction guy was supposed to start building got held up and he needed a job our size to fit in the gap, then the concrete guy had a cancellation and was free this week. We went from getting our building permit to pouring concrete in just a week. Amazing!
* that things seem to be going smoothly with selling our house. We listed it Friday, got a bunch of showings over the weekend, and had three offers by Monday morning. Inspections were this morning and went really well! I know there's still time for something to go wrong, but knowing that inspections went really well feels great. Also, our house has a sand volleyball court and the people that are buying it are sand volleyball players! It's a small thing, but I'm SO thankful that it can go to someone who will use and enjoy it!!
It makes me so happy that you love your job so much! It's so good to see you thrive. I am so excited for what life has in store for you.
This week I am thankful . . .
-That our daughter loved the new school and they loved her. Our daughter has a range of behavioral and developmental disabilities, and it has been a long, hard road understanding what is going on with her and matching her to the right educational experience. I am a public school person, and our other three kids have done very well in public school, but our daughter has really struggled, even with an IEP since she was three and teachers and staff who have worked hard to serve her. Then we stumbled upon a local nonprofit school that serves students with her challenges. When we toured I cried like a baby the whole time because I could tell it was the right place for her. The application process involved a two-day school visit where our daughter could get to know the teachers and they could meet her. I need to follow up with the enrollment coordinator, but it sounds like the visit went really well. It feels like the answer to a prayer.
-For a respite from the heat. I have spent so much time working on the front porch and talking walks with the kids this week. And all of it without being a sweaty, miserable mess. The air feels soft. I know it is getting murderously hot again tomorrow, but I sure am thankful for the last few days.
-For the resources to spend willy nilly at Goodwill. Or at least it feels like willy nilly to me. My usual spending orientation is to buy nothing that I haven't thought about and planned and strategized. Sometimes I go to Goodwill and walk out with nothing at all. Today felt like it was full of lots of treasures. I am thankful for the resources to just buy $3 clothing items for the kids when I find them.
-For helpful feedback from the scholarly reviewers who read my manuscript. I am not excited about spending the next year revising and rewriting, but I am committed to making my first book the absolute best it can be. Following the advice of generous scholars is the way the get there. And I am blessed to have another year on my postdoc to focus on this book.
@Amanda in VA, "The air feels soft." I love this sentence. It was a gift to me today.
Kristen,
I'm not one bit surprised that you light up your patient's day just by being there. You make (and will continue to make) such a difference in your patient's lives!
Interestingly, I had a "you made my day" type of patient interaction this morning. I revisited a patient who has been on my floor for at least a week, maybe a bit longer. I popped in to see him, and we were chatting about non-diet-related things, like how we both remember song lyrics from songs that are 50 years old, but can barely remember what we ate for dinner last night. 🙂 Ha. He said something along the lines of "thank you for talking to me - everyone else seems like they come in, do what they need to do, and then they turn and leave". While I can't spend hours in a patient's room, it made me feel good that I made a tiny difference in his day.
I can't remember whether I've mentioned that I got a PEO scholarship while in nursing school, too. I was able to purchase a very nice lab jacket, a Tabor's Medical Dictionary, and a Lippincott's (which contains basic medical procedures and other guideline information, Google has taken over the need for same, now). That was in 1989. My apartment neighbor was a 90+year old member and friend to those lovely ladies. I am thankful, still for the gift and for the memories of my dear neighbor, Anna.
I am thankful that my young friend braved the heat yesterday to mow the yard. Things, mostly weeds/invasive plants have been very prolific with all of the rain and heat. He also secured a big bird house to the peak of the garage that had come down twice.
I am thankful for today's break in the heat.
I am thankful for my Smartphone. My computer is in the geek hospital and it's absence has been driving me nuts. It's a little tedious to finger type, but better than going cold turkey.
I'm thankful for the new printer and the ability to purchase it. After Shaque's AND Kristen's recommendation to purchase the one that takes ink cartridges that you fill yourself, I bit the bullet.
SOOO Thankful for the great news my dad is Cancer free (found out Monday & posted Tuesday frugal things post). Thank you to everyone for their kind words. It really does mean a lot. 🙂
Thankful for Air Conditioner!!! Heat dome is back & currently 94* (feels like 104*) here in Michigan. Yesterday was about 5* cooler & tomorrow will be same as today & Sunday 90* even with the storms expected to come through.
Thankful for teen & ability to help with lifting & carrying items I struggle with now. My double hernia was hurting badly last night after more than usual physical activity & lifting.
Thankful for rescue dogs who are always happy to see us. Though they are not happy they can't go outside for ling as heat is too much for them (even in shade).
Thankful my dad is headed to Michigan from Florida today. He should be here by end of weekend. Praying for a safe srive/trip.
Thankful that sold few items (& teen also). It's nice to recover a little money from items we no longer need.
Thankful for Kristen & her blog where we can learn & share from each other.
Have a great weekend. 🙂
That last picture of Chiquita is so precious.
My thankfuls this week:
- I took at walk in the morning 2 days in a row and got to see the evening primrose in full bloom
- The gym in our neighborhood that is well used but functional and clean
- A particularly helpful and kind project manager...I think I've been thankful on here for this person before...it's just so amazing how much impact a good PM can have
- My husband won a pack of little prizes through the library. One of them was a water bottle bag, which I was very excited about. He was very excited about the mini speaker. We are both having fun writing on the little renewable tablet that was included.
- Never thought I'd be grateful for this, but the days are getting perceptibly shorter. It's hard not to feel frantic when my workday starts at 5am and the sun is already blazing. I also feel less FOMO having to go to bed at 6pm if it actually looks like the sun will set soon.
am thankful for you. glad you love your job. my co-workers were pretty awful. so glad i am retired. got botox injected into my right hand and my tremor is much improved. so grateful for that. finally got the mri the nerologist wanted. as i am waitng to go in to change the tv announces a man was sucked into the machine on long island. he was not even supposed to be in the room. i have a piece in my neck and i was not sure if it was metal so i was a bit worried. but thank g-d all went well, and the neurologist said my brain is normal. hubby had a belly laugh at that news. luckily i have a good sense of humor.
1. My biggie this week is that I am thankful for doctors who continue to try and figure out why my hemoglobin is 5.7 despite 15 iron infusions and 4 blood transfusions. Nothing seems to be working and I am getting weaker and weaker, literally by the day.
2. Insurance that has not made a peep about all the tests, infusions, transfusions, constant blood tests to track things. They have paid with no fight, including multiple CT and MRI scans.
3. Hospital ER staff who were so kind when they learned I would be there for at least 7 hours for transfusions, found a recliner for me to sit in rather than the rock hard ER bed. When I asked the doctor why the hell the ER beds are so hard, he said, "We need them to be stiff so if we do CPR the mattress stays very firm. If it were softer, the CPR efforts might not work." Well, shut my mouth. Never again will I complain about something that turns out might be lifesaving for someone else. What else don't I know???
4. For my little neighbor, who checks in every day now to see if I am well enough to take my wheelchair out to the garden. If I am not, she takes care of making sure things are watered.
5. For the husband, always the husband. Never a word of complaint how many more chores he has to pick up to compensate for me. His chemo is over but he is still tired yet he musters up the energy someplace.
Thankful for this blog. I start my day with Kristen's post and it puts a smile firmly on my face.
For my favorite young man about the farm. We are a good team. We are getting huge projects checked off the list!
Delicious berries to pick & share.
A crisp cabbage harvested and 10 min later was our lunch as Asian cabbage salad. Young man wants to take one to his weekend warrior stint next week (so proud).
Harvested some Walla Walla onions and made air fried onion rings and called the neighbors to dinner of onion rings, zucchini noodles, green salad, green salad & watermelon.
Cooler weather to help with the Oregon & Washington wildfires.