I can't get my act together and I don't know why

GramE

check this out if you want some helpful hints:

http://www.flylady.net/pages/begin_babysteps.asp

 Basic idea is set a timer for 15 minutes - you can do most anything for only 15 minutes.  It helped me a lot when I was widowed and when I was getting ready to move.  BUT,  I have not kept at it since dx.   It is more for a regular family, with kids and jobs, not for retired widows.   I just kick stuff aside - as long as there is a small path to walk thru... lol...   No one is gonna comment or complain as I have no visitors.   

althea

lefty, the flylady helped me tremendously years ago when I was separated from my now ex.  All this time later, I still use my timer for 15minute zones and 5minute hot spots.  With visitors arriving tomorrow, I finally got started on my 'ambitious' housecleaning project yesterday (the plan was to start 3 weeks early).  I decided to use the timer to get me started on the guestroom.  Even that plan got foiled.  Dead battery!  Even so, I'm happy to report that I vacuumed the guestroom and even went around the edges with the crevice tool.  Now I hope I can get sheets on the bed before I crash and burn again. 

mumito

I told every one in my family that I am not doing xmas this year.  I don't have the energy, or patience for any of it decorating, shopping,baking I guess I am being selfish but i just don't have any xmas spirit this year.

GramE

I wore myself out today, just woke a bit ago from a nap in the recliner.   9 a.m. was ultrasound which confirmed no tumor visible and chemo zapped it; lymph nodes show clear also.  Then EKG was normal, pre surgery blood work and port flush and I then went and played bridge.   On the way home I got a flu shot and did groceries.   I am going to my son's inlaws for Thanksgiving and do not have to bring anything except myself.   

Christmas will get here soon enough.  After lump and sentinel node biopsy on Dec 5, I will see how it goes and what kind of "spirit" I have.   Ecards will be a given and gifts...   we will see how I feel then - one step at a time.    Hugs and Happy Thanksgiving.   Nancy 

Daffodil

Late news says I can rent my house for 10K during inaugural week!

Something tells me that's not a good idea!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

boobytrapped

Ha ha ha loved the turkey picture daffodil.  Dang, wish I looked that good in a bikini.  LOL

Happy Thanksgiving all !

gsg

LOL...love the turkey!   I cleaned a bathroom today and can barely walk.   I won't do that again.  Happy Thanksgiving, girls.  Hope everybody has a wonderful holiday.

kes

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Glad that mine is done, just a TON of work. But I must tell you all that I DID clean out my underwear drawer because I could not get it closed. My girlfriend asked me how many pairs of underwear I have. Didn't know, so I counted them. Even I was SHOCKED!!!  I counted 49 pairs of underwear. That is CRAZY!!! But looking back I think that was because I could not buy any new bras when I was in the expander mode, so I would look at bras and then end up buying the panties instead. I must have looked at a LOT of bras.

Kes

Jane_M

We have a mouse in our house!  He has been leaving evidence of his existence and tormenting the cats.  My husband has decided to pull out the bottom drawer of the stove and take everything off the counters to make it easier for the cats to get him.  They are taking turns guarding the underneath of the storm.  They must have gotten close last night because I heard squeaks.  My husband doesn't want to put down decon or traps because he wants the cats to get the practice.  I'm glad I'm not cooking today since my kitchen is torn apart.  Goodness knows, there's enough crumbs and such to keep that little mouse fat all winter.

wishiwere

Oh my!  I am certain my one cat would play with it, and the other? SHe's probably jump on the nearest and highest piece of furniture!  Good for nothing cats!   Too spoiled!  I can picture my cats eating at their bowl or mind you, waiting for a mouse to finshe before eating at their bowl!

Occasionally in the last 25 years, we've had to put out traps in the basement for them.  Maybe 3 times in that time.  They seem to come in from the fields in the fall and we thought through the dryer vent.  Make sure you have those screens or covers that close working on the vents to the house!

GramE

Mouses are not welcome in my house.   Thank goodness I am now in an apartment and hope will not have them.    Never had cats, so traps were the way for me to go.I have to get it together for food on hand for after my surgery next Friday - maybe make some cabbage soup and freeze it and some short ribs in the crock pot.   Short ribs with bar b q sauce, onions (I love onions), crushed pineapple, and a can of beer.   Sweet/sour taste and the beer evaporates.  Since my taste is back, I can once again enjoy food and not feel like it is either cardboard or sawdust !!    Daffodil, you must be somewhat near me - I am in Alexandria.   Instead of renting out your place, set up a coffee stand on the front lawn...   Give Starbucks some competition.   Kes, I dare not count all MY undies -  got plenty of them also.  Hugs and have a good weekend.   Nancy 

Harley44

hmmm...  I thought that if you had cats, the mice would just stay away!  At least, that is how it's been for us.  Once we got a cat, and now we have two cats, the mice have stayed away.  I have read that the mice can smell that there are cats there, and maybe they can even smell the litter box, but I am not sure about that, they just stay away. 

We used to get field mice in our house in Maryland in the Fall, and after we got our first cat, Axel, the mice just stayed away.  I'm glad, 'cause I hate meeces to pieces!!!

Harley

kes

When I was in college my girlfriend that I was living with had mice in her house. We did not have much money so on Friday night we would set the traps and drink wine and wait for the traps to go "CRACK".  We had a whole family because the traps went off one after the other.

One day a while later she decided to clean out the crumbs in the toaster and turned it over and opened it up and screamed. A dead very toasted mouse fell out of the toaster. Who knows how long he was in there or how many times he got toased with out toast. Oh to be young again, what fun we had.

kes

Daffodil

I am ignoring the mice conversations, in hopes they will ignore me. The 185+ restaurants in my town attracted....rats.

Nancy, we could set up crock-pots of your short ribs! I do have a 100-cup coffee urn that I bought at a sale benefitting the Studio Theatre. I have never gotten to use it, so this would be great! I use Melitta coffee, better than Starbuck's! Wonder if we need a license?

GramE

Daffodil, my ribs are quite tasty and fall off the bone, like that TV ad for the Starter Wife.  I like Folgers Colombian coffee.   We could put up a sign for benefit of BC survivors (us...!!!)...    I do think we need a permit or license, but if we asked for a donation, not sure.

Egad, it is almost Dec 1 and I am so not ready for it all.   My son's inlaws had me over for Thanksgiving and gave me my Christmas presents since they go to their condo in Florida in a week or so.   I was taken by surprise with the thoughtfulness of a donation to the Am Cancer Society and a gorgeous pale blue fuzzy wrap.   My shopping is going to be online or IF I see something when I am out and about.   Let my fingers do the walking (shopping), as the old Yellow Pages ad used to say !!

Have a super duper weekend and enjoy.   HUGS,  Nancy 

wishiwere

Okay Nancy!  You need to Pm me with that recipe!  DH and dd LOVE ribs and I am NOT a cook by any stretch of the means, but would love to wow them with those! Could you, pretty please, with a bit of bbsauce on top, send me a recipe of sort?  Need specifics, b/c honey...we are talking NO nothing beyond following directions!   Thanks dear!

GramE

I will put the short rib recipe here for all to see:   The exact amount of meat (ribs) to use is up to you and the size of your crock pot.

Need:   Crock pot or maybe can do in the oven, but I never did in the oven.

Short ribs

Can of Crushed pineapple with juice

Bottle of Bar B Q sauce

Can of beer

Chopped onions - I like LOTS, so use 3

********

Braise the ribs under the broiler to draw off some of the fat - or fast cook in frying pan on top of the stove.   The idea is to get some of the fat off before you put in the crock pot.

Line bottom of the crock pot with chopped onions.

Put ribs on top of onions. Then pineapple, bar b q sauce and beer.

Put lid on and slow simmer for 6-8 hours or until tender.

*************

If all the sauce and beer do not fit, put equal amounts of each - like half a bottle and half a can.

ENJOY 

wishiwere

I've got a HUGE crock, much bigger than we ever need, but use it often anyway.  THANK YOU so much for this recipe.  I will be doing it next time he's home   They'll love it I'm sure and I will it, just be/c they do   THanks again Nancy!  Hope your day is magnificent as Monday should be!

GramE

You are very welcome.   I have half an act together today - desk is clear of any papers, bills or junk.  But I am still in robe at 11:30...     

wishiwere

HAhahah!  I went back to bed after packing dh up again this morning and didn't WAKE till 11:oo when dsis called on her way north!  Lazy days are great when its frightful outside!

KAK

MMMMM, Nancy!  Thanks for that recipe.  The simple ones are the best ones.

I only got out of bed yesterday to get more coffee & a few snacks & to pee.  Layed around reading & dozing all day.  My dog & the cats LOVE it when I do this -- like, "Mom, you're acting like us!!"

wishiwere

Animal buddies are the best huh?   Especially when I'm being so 'scroogie' with the heat.  I sit down, and they climb on, just to share the warmth!

KAK

Hey, the one good thing about hot flashes is how much money I'm saving on heating oil!!  Especially now that I drained my savings account having to buy a new car (details on the Moan & Groan thread).  LOL

wishiwere

Yes, I signed up for the first ride as my christmas pressie from you   Dh hates the temps in the house when he comes home.  At night it's at 60, and during the day about 62-64.  He says he can't wait to get back to his box for some heat!   He drives truck.  Poor guy...could be worse....I suppose.  Could be hot in here and me a B*tch!

Daffodil

Wish, buy that nice man a space heater for Christmas! He needs somewhere warm in that house~~~besides bed, of course!

I can't wait to try the short ribs, Nancy!!

ISunday, I made 2 fresh wreaths for local arts center with 3 fellow Garden club members. The greens cost $70!! Coulda bought them ready-made, or found better greens in my yard~~~they were too stiff and dry, despite being gathered in the rain.

Oh yeah, the lovely front-door garland that lit when put away??? Hah!!!

wishiwere

Daff, he wears T-shirt around here, so I guess if he was really cold, he puts on a sweatshirt, or grabs an aghan

Harley44

Wish,

Funny, but since I have started with Tamoxifen, and I'm HOT, then COLD, then HOT again, my dh has started having the same problem!!   One minute, he'll be HOT, the next, he'll go get a sweatshirt, cause he's COLD!  

A strange thing.... yesterday, he turned our heat down, and I thought that was odd.  Maybe more like he USED to be, but heck, even in Maryland, where it gets COLD in the winter, he always used to say that even if we had to pay a little more for heat, we should be comfortable.  Maybe he was having a HOT flash, so he turned the heat down?  I dunno.  

Harley

wishiwere

It has changed over the years.  Used to be even in the summer I slept under layers of blankets b/c he kept it so cold. In the winter it was not unusual for him to open a window a crack.  Now it's ME! ROFL  I wonder if we make to old age, if we'll ever get in sync

KAK

Vis a vis sleeping with pets, plus staying warm, I saw a cartoon somewhere of this guy checking the snow outside his bedroom window & saying to his wife, "Gonna be a cold one tonight, honey.  Better throw on another cat."  

wishiwere

EHehehehhehehe! I love that!  Have to remember for dh when he's home next time and complaining about sleeping in the freezer!