Thankful Thursday | I had to clean my car
This week, I am thankful:
that car-pooling gave me a push to clean out my van
I mentioned on Tuesday that we are car-pooling to clinical this semester, to save money on the $25/day parking fee.
A bonus of this setup: knowing my classmates were going to get into my car was the perfect push to make me clean out my car and vacuum it, and I appreciate that.
for the joy of commiseration
We had to do about four hours worth of online training for Epic, the software my pediatric hospital uses for charting (also what my work hospital uses).
It was tedious, overwhelming, and also largely unnecessary for what we will do in clinical (tell me why they taught us how to do outpatient charting??)
But since my whole group was assigned this task, I had people willing to listen to me complain (and I also willingly listened to their complaints!)
It is nice to be able to vent with someone who really understands.
After I finished, I went to Safeway and bought some ice cream because I needed a little treat after suffering through all those modules.
for my queen bed
The other morning I was lying in my big bed, appreciating my pillows and my fluffy comforter and just all the space I have, and I felt so grateful I was sorta pushed into getting a queen bed (because my neighbor had a free queen-size bed frame for me!)
Reader, if you are a single pringle like me, I highly recommend getting a big bed anyway. 10/10. Very nice. 🙂
that my work schedule is getting fixed
When I saw the November work schedule, I was like OH NO. Because somehow, I was scheduled for 48 hours in a row at Thanksgiving.
I knew I was going to be required to work on Thanksgiving, but I couldn't imagine that 48 hours in a row was required (that's the kind of crap residents do. Not student nurse PCTs!)
I sent a prompt email and it is getting taken care of (I do have a sinking feeling what I will be left with is the two overnight shifts. But this is Thankful Thursday so let's not think about that. Ha.)
for lovely fall colors
I have been appreciating the beauty out there.
And I am also grateful that the weather is gonna cool down and feel a bit more like fall because yesterday it was over 80 degrees.
I like a little fall chill with my colored leaves. 😉
that my first peds exam went well
I had 50 questions and missed just two, so, yay!
that after today, there are only five weeks left in the semester
You know how you get to the point in a pregnancy where you are counting down the weeks until the end? That's me with this semester!
(Ok, well, to be honest, I started counting down to the end of my pregnancies as soon as I got pregnant because pregnancy was a miserable experience for me.)
I've done three weeks of peds; I can do five more.
that we had a fun little patient this week at clinical
My classmate and I had a spunky little preschooler assigned to us, and since we have less work as student nurses than regular nurses do, we had lots of time to play with her and go to her therapies with her.
I think we brightened her day (so much attention!), and she brightened ours too. "You guys are my best friends. Can you sleep here tonight? Right in this chair?" Aww.
And she liked my pumpkin earrings. 😉
What are you thankful for this week?
P.S. I meant to add some photos of a painting that Central California Artist Jana did for our friend JD in Florida, of the last tomato her husband grew. So, I'm adding them in here now and you can read more about that in JD's comment below!
Thankful that election is over. All voters/people very nice & understanding of having to wait. I had closing out/processing on election night. I/we knew it was going to be late into the night/early morning hours but did not think we would be working all nighter (I have not done all nighter in awhile). Bonus, we were told additional $3/hour for end of election/processors shift.
Thankful that after all nighter I safely made it home. We were all really tired (luckily I didn't have to go to work/stay at work for normal shift/hours after all nighter like some people did) & was not looking forward to driving at 6am.
Thankful I was able to tell friend/long time acquaintance that he had won the (local) elected position was running for. Numbers had just finalized after I left (last) election shift & I texted him Congratulations (with screen shot & link to final numbers).
Thankful that I was able to get some sleep during daytime hours (I was tired). Teen was thoughtful in letting me get some sleep.
Thankful my Aunt got some of her new furniture at her new apartment. The delivery guys set up furniture/bed & she was able to start sleeping at new apartment (not on the floor as she did the night before delivery). Although her neighbor (& my dad) have been kind & had her stay with them, she really needs her own space to decompress & process everything. It is an adjustment for her, but so grateful she is able to not only be safe, but have a place of her own again.
Thankful my dad is able to still drive down & help my Aunt move storage totes from garage at her (where) house (what's left) & take to new apartment. He has also continued to help her get larger new items at stores (with his truck instead of her new (smaller) car) & carry things to second floor of her building. Of course, his body is telling him later that he's over doing it, but his Marine brain knows there a job to be done/completed.
Thankful for rescue dogs. They have been loving spending more time with teen (since I'm not home as much) & teen allows rescue dogs to do/get away with things I don't. Spoiled dogs. 😉
Thankful that the weather has been (10-15 degrees) above normal & not at freezing every night. Though weather man shows at/below freezing over nights starting soon every night.
Thankful for Kristen & her site/blog where we can all share & learn from each other.
Have a great weekend! <3
@Regina, an all nighter at an election precinct? You are a patriot!!
@Regina, Thank you SO much for your hard work in working the polls on Election Day. I hope that you know how truly appreciated you are. God bless you!!!!!
@Regina,
Thank you for pulling that election day all-nighter! My DH worked as a poll observer that same day.....he was there from open at (I think) 6:30 a.m., and got home at around 9:30 p.m. I would guess there were other people there doing the final things that need to be done. He did have to work yesterday, so no way could he do an all-nighter, lol. I really appreciate all the efforts of all the poll workers!
@Regina, Thank you so much for working the polls! I've done it before, and it's exhausting. I can't imagine having to do an all-nighter at the polls. Kudos to you!
My mom got my daughter a little handheld cordless vacuum for her birthday, and I have shamelessly taken advantage of that to suggest to her that she could vacuum out my car anytime. She has. 🙂
Thankfuls:
--For our woodstove and furnace. We're supposed to get a foot or so of snow in a big storm over the next couple of days, and it's very comforting to know that if the power goes out, we still have heat with the woodstove. It is also, however, convenient to have the furnace to kick on overnight so we don't have to get up to put wood in the fire, or wake up to a 40-degree house.
--That my husband was able to get home from his trip to Tucson in between the snow we had Monday and the snow that started last night. And that he could bring me groceries so I don't have to worry about going anywhere for awhile.
--For the older guy at church who met me at the parish hall last night to turn on the heat and water in preparation for a funeral reception Saturday. The heat wasn't working, but he's a mechanic and said he has the wiring or whatever he needs to fix it. He lives in the village, so he can get to the parish hall even with the snow.
--For a very positive experience so far for my older son in his church confirmation class (a Catholic sacrament usually for teenagers that they have to prepare for for about two years). There are three other boys in the class with him, and it's sort of a combination religious ed./boys club--so far they have played pool, chess, checkers, and got a juggling lesson from our priest :-)--with a lot of discussion on a range of topics. He really likes it, which is good, since it's at 6:30 in the morning.
--For our priest, who continues to lead my children through their faith formation in a very thoughtful way. I do not underestimate what a blessing it was that he came to our parish at this time.
@kristin @ going country, oh I’m so jealous of your sons positive experience. My parish combined communion and confirmation and I think my kids were too young to understand its meaning.
Also, snow already?! It’s been unusually warm here in Maine. I’m hoping it makes for a short winter.
@Lisa, I have kind of thought it might be nice to have the sacraments all together like that, but maybe not. Pluses and minuses both ways, I guess. And yes, this is an early big storm. I hope it's not indicative of the rest of the winter, although heaven knows we can always use the precipitation.
I am thankful for more warm fall days. They are weird but I am embracing them. They have made it easier to go for short after dinner walks since it is only dark and not cold.
I am thankful for DH. Yesterday I noticed that someone put three uncarved pumpkins on top of their trash barrel. They were still there when we walked last night so he drove over and picked them up. We may use them for fall decoration for a few weeks and then we will compost them. I'm happy they will not go in the landfill.
I am happy that I will walk with a friend this morning. She is busy and can be hard to schedule.
I am happy that we do this weekly exercise.
As Kristen is, I'm thankful for a good queen-size bed--and, as Kristen probably is, I'm thankful for a good cat to share it with. Every time I reach out to stroke Betty in the night, my BP drops perceptibly. Chiquita may provide a similar service for Kristen.
And I'm thankful for a good and productive herb, allium, and flower garden. (As I've often noted, I have to stick to things that deer won't eat.) I had to clear an armload of fall-sprouting dill out of one bed yesterday so I could plant garlic, and I shared the dill with three neighbors/friends.
@A. Marie, I spray my chrysanthemums and geraniums with Deer Out, a minty liquid diluted with water. Sometimes it has deterred those voracious creatures.
@A. Marie, my Dora Kitty is a sweet cuddle puddle of good vibes. She slept with her head on my leg most of last night, and it was immensely comforting.
I had a great round of parent-teacher conferences on Monday, so I’m more grateful than usual to have bright, happy, curious kids and grateful for the school and teachers that engage and support them.
I’m grateful to have kind, smart colleagues who help out, encourage, and commiserate as appropriate.
I think my refrigerator’s on its last legs, and while I’m not looking forward to replacing it, I’m grateful that it won’t be a financial hardship.
I’m grateful that I’m not scheduled to work over Thanksgiving and should be able to travel to spend the holiday with extended family.
- I’m thankful that the election is over. The residual effects of it will distract me while waiting for results from a skin biopsy and another recent test.
- I’m thankful I’m only teaching one class at the moment. I had two going during the first eight weeks of the semester and this feels like a vacation.
- I’m thankful for my emotional support cat. She’s been hanging out closer than usual, but maybe that’s due to the cooler weather!
- I’m thankful to have found (or rediscovered) some good series to stream. Among them are Lincoln Lawyer, Brooklyn 99, and London Kills. Also read some good books. I’m working on the Louise Penny series.
- Which reminds me, I’m thankful for A. Marie, who recommended Neither Here nor There by Bill Bryson. I don’t usually enjoy audio books, but that was all that was available and I have enjoyed other audio books read by him so I gave it a go. Very good! Thanks!
- I’m thankful for my job, house, and health, such as it is. I’m going to start a gratitude journal again.
@Dee in AZ, Bill Bryson is probably one of the few authors I'd enjoy in audiobook format. I don't usually like being read to, but I understand that he reads his own works, so I'd make an exception in his case.
@Dee in AZ, I love Louise Penny and the Inspector Gamache series. I have read these and listened to them. The narrator in the first books does an excellent job. I have to agree with you and A.Marie. Not all audiobooks are created equal.
On another note, I wish you the best as you wait for your biopsy results.
My favorite audio book performer is George Guidall.
I don't love all audio books (by a long shot) but for a long time after listening to some Tony Hillerman read by Guidall, upon reading a new one in print, I "heard" all the words in his voice.
@Dee in AZ,
I cannot say enough how much I LOVE Brooklyn 99. Soooo hilarious. My favorite one is the criminal line up with the boy band song. Andre Braugher was brilliant in his role.
I also love Bill Bryson's books, though I've never listened to his audiobooks. In a Sunburned Country made me want to go to Australia, which is still on my bucket list.
@Liz B., i loved in a sunburned country!!
@Suellen,
It's such a good book! The way he weaves some historical facts in with his own experiences, and makes it hysterically funny - what a gift!
Thankful for the rain that we had overnight. We really needed it.
Thankful that our bathroom remodel should be finished today. Old house equals surprises uncovered equals taking longer than anticipated. Will have a walk-in shower in time for my second knee replacement.
Thankful for our neighbors who hosted a small get-together Sunday evening to get to know our immediate neighbors bettter. Everyone had a good time and we found lots of common interests.
I am thankful that my micro-manager of a lead is on vacation for 3 weeks and I won't have to hear anything from her until after Thanksgiving!!!!
And I am thankful that I told my manager (above my lead) that I am looking for another position. I will not spend the next 16 months before retirement being treated like I am in first grade and someone who cannot do simple tasks.
I am thankful that my husband has some empathy for me because he knows how much I want to retire. He knows I have to work (for the insurance and Obamacare is not logical in our books). He is making sure I am comfortable and keeping me smiling telling jokes, etc. He is not the type to be empathetic or sympathetic so this is a welcome edition of him.
Thankful for basic necessities in our house: food, electric, water and heat. There are quite a few people out there that don't have these basic necessities. And Western NC is still struggling.
Thankful for this community. It's nice to see everyone interacting nicely out in the computer world when it is so easy to be so nasty behind a keyboard. Thank you everyone for your careful thoughts and wonderful interactions. Really makes coming here everyday kinda special.
@Maureen, I agree wholeheartedly with your last paragraph. Kudos to Kristen for setting the tone to keep things civil.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I am again in awe at Kristen’s ability to keep her composure in the face of direct lobs thrown. More than just staying calm, she empathizes and forgives. It’s a rare talent and this friendly community is the result.
How refreshing for us amid general online culture.
Did you encourage her to take an even longer vacation? Out of the goodness of your heart, and concern for her level of rest? 😉 Perhaps a vacation for the next 16 months. Ha.
@Kristen, oh how I wish. She's one of those that has an extremely hard time of letting go of everything little thing. She insists that all of our projects are styled the same way - from 7 different people! She keeps wanting me to change my signature in email to match others. I will not do it and my manager says my signature is OK.
Thank goodness the end is in sight for your time with her!
@Maureen, although I am certain that the goal of the Affordable Care Act was to get more people health insurance, the effect for my family was that we were pushed completely out of the market and out of the marketplace and into Medicaid. Before ACA, we could indeed afford a genuinely good high-deductible health insurance policy through an agent. For a while after ACA, I was able to use a broker to go around the marketplace and still afford a policy. Now, either of those routes would cost more per month than we even earn. The consequences of ACA were unintended but pretty dire nonetheless. I think the only possible end result is going to be single-payer (read: the government handles all of it) and not only is it going to continue to get more expensive on an all-the-taxpayers level, I'm pretty sure we're not going to like the unwieldiness of the result. Sigh.
@Karen., and to be clear, since I really wasn't except inside my head, lol, this is just to commiserate that I'm sorry health insurance has to be the reason you can't retire yet. It's a thing, that health insurance.
@Maureen,
Do we have the same lead/manager? Please know I feel your pain.
@Liz B., @Karen, lead and manager are different people. And my manager knows exactly how I feel. I guess others feel the same way, but they are afraid to say anything for fear of being fired which is against the law here in the states, but not off shore.
As for the insurance, the crap my company offers is better than ACA surprisingly. And the reason why ACA is so bad is because the companies don’t want to cover the chronically ill; they want those people to go back to receiving Medicaid. If I was younger and very healthy, I would consider one of the high deductible plans.
And I work from home which is the biggest plus. It has enable my husband and I to do some moving to find the place where we have wanted to retire.
@Maureen,
I should have clarified that my direct manager is like your lead.....a total micro-manager who refuses to concede control over anything. She assigns projects to some of her pet employees, then disagrees with what information they report back to her (this is science-based based information, not people's opinions, etc). It's exhausting.
@Maureen, i had the worst manager for 40 years. same job in same company. i tired to transfer but couldn't. i moonlighted as a travel agent. hello fam trips. she passed a month before i retired 10 years ago, and so it goes.... to quote linda ellerbe
Nearly halfway through your semester Kristen!
Thankful my Auntie has agreed to move to an apartment without stairs. It has taken the encouragement and coordination of seven carers and the insistence of her geriatric specialist that she put a bed in her living room.
Thankful that two other medical urgencies in our family that turned out to be non lifethreatening.
Thankful weekend is round the corner, it is wearying to be chipper throughout the day when there is such emotional upheaval.
Love that comment from your young patient. Clearly is speaks volumes about the level and type of care you provided.
About 5 years ago my husband and I moved from a queen to a king and when we were in the store looking at mattresses another customer asked us if this was going to be our first king bed. When we said Yes, she said: This is going to change your life.
Honestly, I do not think there can possibly be too much space in a bed! We have two other queen beds in our house (guest + our teens; she inherited our old queen when we upgraded) and my son has a single - but when we travel and have to sleep in a double I find it nearly impossible to get comfortable.
@Elisabeth, We also moved to a king-sized bed early in our marriage and it’s as wonderful as you say. My DS is over six-feet tall and the space is especially comfy for him.
When we still had our pup, there was plenty of room for Shadow, too.
Like yours, our sons' beds/guest beds now that they are out of the house are a king and a queen-sized bed.
1. I'm thankful that we got some rain for the first time in a month. With new sprouts in the raised beds, I've had to water every single day, and I'm tired of it. It's been very warm and incredibly sunny - these fall plantings don't like that so well so I've had to water faithfully.
2. I'm thankful that my daughter is taking a well-deserved mini-vacation with her best forever-friend, with whom she's literally been friends since they were both in diapers. I dropped her at the airport this morning for her flight to Tennessee to see said friend. As much flying as she does for work, she can fly for free on vacations.
3. I'm thankful that we have some cooler weather coming, oh, sometime soon, they keep saying. I know it will come eventually, but it's late getting here.
4. I'm thankful that all three of the young granddaughters decided to walk in the processional with the teen granddaughter who carried the banner for DH at the All Saints' service at church on Sunday, and that little grandson decided to be a big boy and stay in church to watch instead of going to nursery. (p.s. to A. Marie - they processed to "For All the Saints" and the gradual hymn was "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God")
5. And finally, I'm glad that I "met" Central Calif. Artist Jana through her Meet a Reader post, because one thing led to another after I checked out her art site so that I ordered and just received from her a simply lovely little painting of a tomato. I know, a tomato might sound a little odd, but it was from a photo I took of the last good tomato DH, who loved growing them, grew on his vines, and it was a beauty, well worth a painting. That painting is going to remind us of him for a long, long time.
@JD, I love that Jana painted this particular tomato for you. This is truly a wonderful little story for many reasons.
@JD, Aw shucks, thank you! It was an amazing tomato (almost 2 lbs., I think you said!) and it was a pleasure to get to know you a bit. We would be hanging out together in real life if there wasn't that 3000 mile obstacle.
@Bee, you should see that tomato! It was a beast.
@JD, your #4 and #5 are both wonderful. Re: #4, "I Sing a Song..." was one of my mother's favorite hymns, and when my sibs and I were surprised not to find it included on the list of hymns she wanted sung at her funeral, we sang it at her graveside. Re: #5, I see nothing whatever odd about the request for the tomato painting, and I'm so glad that you and CC Artist Jana were able to make this work.
@JD and @Jana,
Aww, this is one of the loveliest stories! As a person who believes that art can lift us up, I’m especially drawn to this perfect example of it.
@JD,
Bee, you are always so sweet!
Central Calif. Artist Jana, it was a lot of fun! I agree, though, 3000 miles are a bit much for hanging out.
A. Marie, I love that song, too; how nice that you sang it at her graveside! I went back and forth on deciding to have the tomato committed to canvas, but I'm glad I did.
ErikaJS, Thank you! I am always lifted up by beautiful art.
I had told Central Calif. Artist Jana the other story behind the desire for a tomato painting. DH, whose name was Thomas but always was called Tom, became so well-known amongst family and friends for his love of growing tomatoes, our son-in-law nicknamed him Tom-ato, and the name stuck.
Oh my goodness, I completely forgot to add the photos to today's post! I will go back and edit it now. I got out of lecture early so I have a sec.
@JD, and @ Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I love that tomato painting, and the story behind it! Well done, Jana!
@JD, That tomato is prize-winningly awesome!
@Artist Jana, As is the painting!
I, too, feel that there would be friendships among many of us but for the distances between us.
@JD, and we titled the painting "Tom-ato's Last Mater"!
@ErikaJS, thank you. I wanted it to be perfect for JD.
@A. Marie, Last week our choir sang both those hymns, and 3 movements of the Rutter Requiem for All Saints day. They also read the names of those who had died with a chime rung for each. Was very beautiful and moving. I felt blessed to be able to be part of the service. I Sing a Song is one of my favorite hymns too!
I'm thankful DD and grandson stopped yesterday after work. Seeing them definitely helped lift my mood a little.
I'm thankful our extremely energetic rescue dog did well with the baby yesterday.
I'm thankful for my always supportive DH.
I'm thankful we got some rain yesterday.
I'm thankful DH and I are both off for Veterans Day. A three-day weekend sounds lovely.
It is amazing how motivating it is to have a car pool, a house guest, or a party. It is my turn to host a Christmas party for one of the groups I belong to. I have a long list of things to do that I have put off like painting the back of the front door. Following in Kristen footsteps, I can turn this obligation around and say that I am thankful for this motivation.
I am thankful that Kristen and the commentariat have kept this blog a political free zone. It’s such a relief!
I am thankful that my husband is helping me prepare my winter flower beds. My issues with my back have slowed down my gardening.
I am thankful for my home and my neighborhood. I have the loveliest neighbors. Rescue Pup loves to walk in the evening this time of year, because everyone is out and about. (The weather is perfect here.) Many stop what they are doing to give her treats and to chat.
I am thankful that I was able to celebrate Halloween with the grands and my family!
Wishing you all peace, good health and prosperity.
Also thankful for a political -free zone to enjoy reading about people's lives,weather,pets.
A couple of sites that I frequented for years got so overboard with drama & hateful language yesterday that I was done.
Everyone have an enjoyable Thursday,this fall weather in NYS is nothing short of bizarre.
@Bee, amen to the "political free zone" thankful comment. This is an oasis of peace, help, encouragement, fun, and learning.
@Bee,
Hear hear on the politics free zone!
@Pat, yes! I spent quite a bit of time yesterday taking care of things FB-wise.
Thankful for
1. Electricity. It's gone out 3 times in the past week and is scheduled to be out from 9-5 today and again in a week. Sure makes me appreciate it while it is on.
2. The heat is finished.
3. My broccoli is growing (maybe —it appears to be in a coma) in spite of all the lettuce getting eaten (invisible bugs? Sneaky night-vision bugs?)
4. The lettuce seeds I planted are showing as green dots (in a safe place, away from the invisible bugs).
5. The internet. It went out for a day last week, a few hours this week, and won't be working when the power is out. Sure makes me appreciate it, but also fret a bit by my dependence on it.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I don't know what types of bugs eat lettuce, but here in Ohio, cabbage moths can wreak havoc on cabbage, broccoli, anything in the Brassica family. (Maybe they do the same in your area). I tried using a BST spray to ward them off, but that was a challenge....trying to remember to re-do it every two weeks or after it rained, etc etc. I finally gave up trying to grow them. I do love broccoli, though!
@Liz B., invisible bugs! It would have been prudent of me to go bug hunting by flashlight. I suspect it was sow bugs, AKA roly-polies.
I am digging deep for gratitude today. My friends of 40 plus years lost their only child to a drug overdose two days ago. They found him in his bedroom. He was 18 years old. The noise of the outside world is silenced when something like this happens. For our group the world stops turning right now.
With that as a given:
1. I am grateful that our group, who raised our children together, will forever be the memory keepers of that beautiful boy.
2. I called my only child deep into the night and he reminded me saying, "Mom I am here and not going anywhere."
3. Now that I am retired, I can easily sign up to be greeter at the viewing, bring food to the house, and order the flowers spray from all of us.
4. Also, I realize that I retired as a high school teacher mostly because I could not lose one more of my "kids." I have a history of suicidal behavior and it comes roaring back at these times. The only solution is to go very easy on myself for awhile and then start working with others. I am 37 years sober and am uniquely positioned to work with those struggling with addiction.
@Mary Ann, I'm so sorry about your friends' son. That kind of tragedy makes the "noise of the outside world" seem small indeed.
@Mary Ann, So sorry for your loss. That age is difficult at times for them. I find myself remembering a classmate who committed suicide at that age (just after graduation) when you write about your friends son. It's so sad & difficult to sometimes understand. And remind myself about how difficult this is age is for my own teen.
May you find your memories of him comforting during your time of loss.
@Mary Ann,
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I lost my nephew to an OD 4 years ago. Please take care of yourself.
@Mary Ann, heavy sad sigh. Those situations make it feel as if life's sadness volume has been cranked to high, it makes colors look duller and nothing look appealing. I'm so sorry for your loss and thankful you are there to help your friends and that you are all there to support one another.
@Mary Ann,
My heart goes out to you, your family and your dear friends. Few things are as difficult as the loss of a child.
@Mary Ann, I am so sorry about your friend's son. And congratulations on all your sober years.
@Mary Ann, I am so sorry to hear the news about your friend's son. We lost a niece to a drug overdose, and it was devastating to the entire family. Her death came after she struggled with her brother committing suicide. I can imagine no greater pain that losing a child, no matter their age.
Our son struggles with depression and self-harm thoughts so when he doesn't respond to texts or calls, I am beyond worried for him.
Thankful for you, @Mary Ann, and your obvious care for your people.
@Mary Ann, I grieve for that family and for you, and send you love. I can think of nothing harder than the loss of one’s dear child.
@Mary Ann, so sorry for their loss. may his memory be for a blessing.
Ohhh, Mary Ann. I am so very sorry to hear about this loss.
Sending you love as you navigate this and work to comfort yourself as well as your friends.
@Mary Ann,
I am so very sorry for the loss of your friends' son. I cannot even fathom what they, and all of you, are going through. As you mention, be gentle with yourself, feel what you feel, and keep that beautiful boys memory alive in your heart.
@Liz B.,
Also, my family lost our niece's significant other 7 years ago to a heroin OD. He left behind his two handsome sons, who have grown up into fine young men.
I firmly believe anyone over 5’6 needs a Queen bed. (Sure, a Twin XL is the same length, but we can do better than that as adults LOL).
I’m glad we got our chest freezer plugged fully operational again after the move. I can start squirreling away baked goods and sales again! (Ps: how does everyone defrost the butter they freeze? In the fridge? How long does it take to use?)
I’m glad my food panel last week showed I can eat gluten and dairy!!! Weirdly the only thing I’m severely sensitive to is lime??
Thankful to have friends over for Halloween last week to play games while the Trick or Treaters came by, and so so so thankful my bestie came over the weekend to see Taylor Swift with me. We made memories for a life time :’) I’m so glad we are in a financial position to drop a large lump of money on something like that spontaneously. Sure, being frugal and intentional with money helps, but there’s inherent privilege in having access to the money to begin with.
Things are looking up health wise for me, I think. I got a referral for Sports Med for my pulled back, and after 3 months of waiting my endocrinology appointment is almost here!
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea, I just pull my frozen butter tub out of freezer & put straight into fridge when need new one. If I need to use immediately I just skim off top layers to use or chunks that will be melting into hot food.
As far as butter quarters, I do similar as tub, except if I need to use same say I just leave out in dish drainer (no dishwasher) or on top of grates on (gas) stove for hour or two before use. Or melt on stovetop is need to add for baking (if can't wait). I often have considered going to leaving butter quarters out in ceramic/glass covered dish (like my grandparentsdid), but finding ICBINB in quarters has proven very difficult last year or two.
I hope this helped.
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea,
I put frozen butter on the counter if I will use it with in a few hours. Or I pop a stick in the microwave on the "soften" program. Doing twice makes it it soft enough to get the knife through and spread.
Love that you can bring tiny joy to a peds patient, both with your positive attitude, but also those fun earrings. So cute.
1) That I have really, really good friends. My BFF offered to help another of my friends out (they don't know each other) with a tricky problem that my BFF can provide guidance on. I introduced them, and am so happy my BFF is willing to help & that my other friend will get some assistance.
2) That DS17 won a large scholarship to one of the schools he applied to! I'm not sure if that's where he'll end up going, but he will be thrilled with the recognition.
3) That I've made a new friend. I find this to be so awkward as an adult. We go to the same workout class, and are meeting up for pickleball today.
4) That I have the time to find a new job without stress. Job hunting these days is miserable (at least in tech), and I can't imagine feeling like I'm under the gun. It's hard enough as is.
5) For stunning fall weather. Cool in the mornings, sunny in the afternoon & lots of gorgeous leaves
@Hawaii Planner, pickleball is a great basis for friendship. I've witnessed this in my small town over the last year. Good for you for following up with a new friend!
1. All of you must have gotten wind that I care for an elderly person with cognitive decline, a husband going through cancer treatment, and 8 year old and the normal tasks of a working mom. This said my number one this week is that I have a wonderful trainer/friend that still solidly reminds me to fit in time for myself to workout and feed myself whole foods consistently. I am good at taking care of others but struggle with self-care, and it is a gift to have someone to remind me that if I don't put the mask on myself first, I cannot take care of the others.
2. ALL the leaves. They are so beautiful and wispy and blowing around across roads and in the air and it just fills my soul with a deep happiness for the beauty of the world around me.
3. For a husband that goes along when I told him we are decorating the house for Christmas next weekend. After the stress of the election, This lady needs twinkle lights, garland and Bing Crosby.
4. For my Pastors. They truly bless my family in real and tangible ways and I am so grateful that the Lord brought us to our church.
5. My niece had her first baby in August and I get to help care for her now and again as Mom is struggling with PPD. Rocking her to sleep and seeing her sweet little smiles, hearing her coo is just pure joy. Even in the midst of struggle there are always good things. Sometimes you just have to look really hard to see them.
Love to you all friends.
@Angie, good for your trainer/friend in your #1. To bring out another often-used metaphor, caregiving is a marathon rather than a sprint, and you need to pace yourself and take care of yourself accordingly. (That said, I also know how hard it can be to carve out time and opportunities. As I used to say to a friend in the same boat when DH was in decline, "Everyone tells you to take care of yourself, but no one tells you how to do it.")
@A. Marie, YES!!! that is exactly it! I find lots willing to give advice but who understand when the response is 'I have tried that and it did not go over well.'
Thank you for this support - it is invaluable to me.
@A. Marie,
I found this to be very true when I was helping to care for my mother innlaw, who had multi-infarct dementia. Everyone would tell me to "make time for yourself", but no one had a clue as to how to do that. I was working full time (at my job which showed zero compassion for what I was going through), taking care of our young son, AND helping take care if her, in her home, a 30 minute drive away. There was no "me" time.
I needed this in my life today! So here goes...
I'm thankful that we have running water. Thankful that we have local plumbers to call to help us. And thankful that my family members were quick to say, "Please don't worry about us for Christmas this year," when I asked if we could shift our focus to the kids only after getting news of a $8,000-$20,000 potential bill (we do not yet know if a repair sleeve--the cheaper end--will be available to us. But the replacement costs for our main line out to the street would be closer to $20,000).
I'm thankful that instead of having to drop health insurance entirely, we have found an option we can afford (my husband's health insurance would have jumped to $1,200/mo for the three of us because I neglected to track my health in a wellness program app this past year).
I'm thankful that I know how to budget, and will be setting us on a very strict one for the next year.
I'm thankful that my car is going to be paid off in March ($730/mo payment. Never. Again), and I can divert those funds to pay for our new plumbing repairs (anticipated $715/mo payment).
I'm just thankful that, despite everything, I am employed, we can afford this, and we can live life without fancy vacations, clothes, etc. I may not be taking a vacation for the next two years, but we spent the last five working on our backyard and renovating our home. And we'll be getting to enjoy that tenfold in the next year as we bare-bones budget. <3
@Reese, Oh how I sympathize with your water problems! It's been about 15 years since we had to have a new waterline put in and our is over 400'. Not cheap even then. And this was after 4 breaks in 3 months including one when my husband was in the shower, the water stopped, he had to jump out, covered in soap, get dry, get dressed and run outside to see water shooting four feet into the air before he managed to get to the meter out by the street. Oh the nightmarish memories! ;-\ We had a water bill for over $300. No one realizes how lucky they are to have running water and functional plumbing until they don't. I wish you well and hope the least expensive option works for you.
I am thankful the election is over.
Thankfully looking forward to two weeks vacation after working the weekend. It's a stay-cation with two goals. 1) Clean the house and 2) Make and bake treats for the holidays. I also need to make an apple pie, chicken and noodles, and rolls for our Thanksgiving family get together the 16th.
So thankful that it is being hosted by my brother and his girlfriend.
Thankful that Molly went to the groomer today. The owner gave us a sweet wood laser cut "paw" with Molly's name cutout for Christmas. I very nearly cried.
Thankful that the new internet company got the underground wire laid to the house without too much disruption. At first, I wasn't happy at them moving the six bags of dirt and not putting it back where it was (I only want one area of dead grass, thank you very much) but I was able to move them back and it was probably a nuisance for them to get past the brick and rock flower garden border, and avoid the two fairly new planted lanceleaf coreopsis and the termite bait station. The other company will not be happy at the cancellation of services next week, but their service has not been the best. I do hope the new company has better service.
WE GOT A PUPPY! We’ve been waiting for the little guy to join us for quite a while and it was a real treat to go pick him up on Friday. He’s “very puppy” but a smart little guy that is already catching on to commands (sit, lay down), ringing a bell to go outside, potty training (we’re mostly there), and going into his kennel. He hasn’t stayed in his kennel to sleep yet, but we are so close.
Our older dog is tolerating the new addition. He’s not the biggest fan, but they have played together a few times and he will allow the puppy to sleep on him if he’s already asleep.
We have same-day voter registration in our state. I didn’t realize that our three mile move this spring would put me in a new precinct. My new polling place is across the street from my old one, and the poll workers were very kind when I registered.
@Geneva, hooray for a new puppy. enjoy enjoy enjoy.
What a lovely idea with the tomato painting!
I am thankful
That this post reminded me to do this list
That I have a bathtub at my disposal in this cold season
That my preschooler enjoys helping around the house so much
For my aunts
For the social security I get to enjoy in Europe
For a good newspaper that is such an inspiring read
the fg email didn't come in my email today but i'm glad i got here. the tomatoes are so beautiful. thanks for sharing. i am reading kelly bishop's memoir from the library. it is such a fun read. i finished gilmour girls a short time ago. did not watch the very last one. have never watched the last this is us either. not sure why. ssomeone here recommended gilmour girls. i think a few people did and i am so grateful.
Our daughter once made nurses happy. As a toddler who didn't yet have any language skills, she developed inflamed joints. The doctors had not seen anything like it before so they admitted her. It turned out to be an allergic reaction to a virus and several other kids showed up with the same condition. But, since she was the first they kept her. Once the put her on an antihistamine she was fine but still in the isolation ward. Unlike the other kids in that ward, she now felt fine so she kept the nurses entertained. I am thankful it didn't turn into something more serious. And that she doesn't have other allergies like your girls do.
I drove for a field trip last week and that definitely motivated me to clean out my car!! I didn’t vacuum it… but there was a lot of trash I pulled out!
Thankful for:
-a functional phone. My previous phone broke last Friday after serving me well for about five years. For various reasons it took til today to get another one functioning. It was inconvenient but I survived 😉
-friends and long-term friendships. Laughing and talking with friends is good medicine
- this Saturday is a ladies retreat at our church and I am looking forward to going
- a warm house on cold nights
- my bed
@JP, there are few things as wonderful as sleeping in my own bed!
It's so funny how Thankful Thursday comes around just when I need a reminder to be grateful! It keeps happening every week. LOL
This week I am thankful . . .
-That we have options to increase our household income. My husband and I have both taken an income hit over the last couple years for various reasons. We're not hurting, but we could be doing so much better. It will take a little getting out of our comfort zone, but we both have everything we need to make it happen.
-For my health (other than cancer). I'm so grateful for a body that bounces back quickly from treatments, sleeps like a queen, and mostly doesn't hurt. My rock solid digestive system didn't even flinch at the oral chemo that my doctor assured me would make me sick.
-For a quiet day today to just sit and work. It has been a tumultuous week and month. Today I had a whole day without some big, scary problem to solve or doctors appointments or even errands to run. I got a lot of writing done, none of it good, but that is part of the process.
-For air conditioning. That's something I didn't think I would say in November. But here we are.
-That our kids go to great schools. We had a hard meeting with our daughter's teacher yesterday. We have a lot of work to do, but at least we can trust that the teachers and other support staff are amazingly talented.
That is so amazing the chemo hasn't made you sick! I'm impressed!
I'm on vacation, actually staycation. Was going to the beach (a 6 hour drive one way with iffy weather) but between weather and exhaustion, staycation it is!! Cleaning house, decluttering, and found out today that my hours at work are changing (I've been working 10 to 12 hours per day, 5 days a week and it should change to 8 to 10 hours a day 5 days a week).
Thankful I could celebrate my daughter's birthday (a day early) by taking her out for brunch, and that we could have her friend from church (who goes to a different university, but it's located just down the road from where my daughter attends college) join us. Such a happy time!
I need to start writing things down when I notice them, because when something like a big emotional upset happens, I forget to be grateful.
So let's see:
1. I'm grateful the weather has been unseasonably warm for a little while. When I have trouble sleeping, I can take a fleece throw and sit in the glider on my sun porch with a couple of windows open and listen to night noises and pray without freezing my butt off. I have a feeling that won't last much longer.
2. I'm thankful that our cars are still running, and we've had no major repairs or tune-ups for months. One is a 1998 pickup (mine) and the other is a 2003 SUV (his). I do not foresee ever being able to afford a car payment again, so I appreciate the good mechanics we have found.
3. I'm grateful to be able to buy extra non-perishable foods to have on hand when various groups have food drives. I remember when we were in such a need, and how much it blessed us.
4. That I had 2 negative in-home covid tests. Though a garden-variety head cold is no fun, and my throat feels as if I flunked beginning sword-swallowing, it'll be over in 7 days, max.
5. And not for the first time, nor the 447th time, I am so grateful to be retired. When I don't feel up to par, I can just go take a nap.
6. Oh, and I'm thankful that whatever had my senior canine pooping liquid all over my kitchen floor is over. I'm also grateful she has the sense to go to the linoleum and not the laminate (I think) wood-look floors with the seams. We took her back to basics, giving only dry kibbles for several days, and now, every time I apprehensively turn on the light first thing in the morning, I am relieved to see a clear floor. I can enjoy the scent of my coffee, and not, you know. Although if it were still happening, I would have to be grateful for a stuffy nose.
@StephanieLD, "feels as if I flunked beginning sword-swallowing" —excellent description of a sore throat!
Very late to "Thanks Giving" today, because after a surprise snow that was very wet and heavy, my internet connection has been down since before midnight until about 4:30 (mountain time) this afternoon. So:
Thankful I didn't lose power, just the internet.
Thankful for an internet-free day that forced me to tackle some other projects.
Thankful that the 39 emails that were sent to me starting at 3:39 a.m. did not require much in the way of responses when my internet connection finally came back at 4:30 p.m.
Thankful (sorta) for the snow which provides some much needed moisture.
Thankful the dog was happy to take herself outside and play in the snow so I didn't have to.
@JDinNM, And thankful to learn that for the first time, women make up the majority of the New Mexico State Legislature, a historic shift in this bright blue state with a woman governor and 2 congresswomen.
@JDinNM, And especially thankful I was finally able to log in here and read today's many lovely/poignant/supportive posts from all of you. Such a wonderful, lovely, loving and supportive community.
As someone who uses Epic in her job everyday, and who also had to learn way more than she needed-3 days plus of training-I give you lots of credit for only buying 2 containers of ice cream!
Haha, thank you for the validation!
Today I'm thankful for getting to work with a couple of ladies that I love, but haven't worked with in a while. We're hosting a big conference right now and putting in 12-hour days (today, tomorrow, and Saturday) and it felt so good to "have the team back together" again. I also really love this group that we're hosting - they come twice a year and are so fun. They're a joy to serve.
This is a little weird but since the two US hurricanes last month I’ve had a moment of gratitude every morning for warm water! I love a warm washcloth on my face first thing in the am, I wash my dishes so easily in warm water, our clothes can be washed in warm water whenever I choose, my shower is always comforting at the end of the day. And when I think of the war torn countries in today’s world I know warm water is a luxury and I’m grateful!
I love the lovely fall weather too! I also had training in Epic as a receptionist for a clinic so I understand the frustration.
This week, I’m thankful for/that …
1) A God who never leaves or forsake you. He’s always there.
2) Books! There’s so much info we can learn from them and they’re good entertainment.
3) Fleece blankets. I love how warm and cozy they are when I’m asleep and while I’m awake cuddling with my kids.
4) Games. Family time together playing board and card games.
5) My kids are close to one another and loves playing with each other.
Kristin, just curious about something. I left a comment yesterday about my thankfulness for warm water. I can’t find it now. Did I say or do something wrong? Don’t often comment so I’m learning. Thanks.
Is the tomato a mortgage lifter or some other heirloom. Nice painting of whatever variety.
EPIC software - hopefully they've fixed this but I doubt it. For 3 years in a row, better half's PCP asked about his advanced directive. I knew I'd sent it but sent it again the first two years. Third year sent it directly to his PCP. Got a phone call from the office, asking me why I sent it, told her. She said "it is there, from 1991, you just have to PAGE BACK to find it". I'm was dumbstruck - something as important as an advance directive should be on the main page/dashboard. I immediately thought of my friend who is allergic to some medications. And the time it was administered to her after surgery. Had she not made idle chit chat with the nurse, a whole IV bag of it would have went into her body.