The Hermit Club

markat

Yay Teka! I still have my impossible father in law to buy for and stocking stuffers.



Wow Skittle you used to make Divinity?!? That's some serious candy skills!!! Did you get any good Christmas gifts from the kids?



I haven't been sleeping very well (probably due to the couch laying). Took a huge nap today, oops!



LL, Camille, Whatevah, Jane, Fl, Stormy...and everyone else, hope you all are feeling well!

Teka

Today, we had rain and wind in the North Country.   Come on snow!!!

camillegal

Oh we had a dprinkle of snow--ice cold wind even the dog is hopping around outside.

Didn't get anything done today, but I don't have much to do anyway. But at least I didn't have diarrhea today oh just my infection hahaha, stayed pretty much to myself today felt a little icky but it'll go away.

BTW I don't know what Divinity is--a cookie--candy a what.?

Skittle

Divinity is pretty much an excuse to eat pure sugar.    It's a candy... picture a large white Hershey kiss, sort of.  I'd make a batch with a few crushed walnuts, and then a batch without.  It's super sensitive to temperature, humidity, and the expression on your face, or it won't set properly and you get a gooey mess for your efforts.  But it's worth it when it turns out well.  (gee, all this has me thinking about giving it a go this afternoon...  I love my mixer.  Is that unhealthy?)  :-)

hmm.  Gifts from kids have really changed over the years.  A few years ago it was all about candles and ornaments and lotion.  Now it's candy and dollar-store mugs.  Most of my sweethearts cannot afford socks, much less teacher gifts.  (My neediest little girl gave me a stuffed snowman that had seen better days... but when she was out of the room, I cleaned him up with some bleach wipes, and then he appeared by the assignment board all week, monitoring the pencil sharpener.  She was thrilled.)  And I really think the horror in the news put Christmas festivities at school on a different mindset.  They loved their party, but you could tell it was different.

Rest up, all.  Does anyone have any unique Christmas traditions?

Happy possible snow! 

Teka

Skittle,

You're her X-mas mouse!

camillegal

Skittle just pour sugar right down me--LOL--Oh they sound like they are more difficult to make due to timing.

It is a hard Christmas for the kids this year thru all the violence and with the economy--My GS ave his teacher a small ymmy smelling candle and 2 bars of soap that he made. He's so so proud of the soap but I used a bar and he really ot the fragrance riht and he made some bars with scrub stuff and u can tell.

Tomorrow is my hair day and bakin day for us.  Not to much bakin acually. My DD's MIL asked her to bake a pineapple upside down cake--my MMom gave her the reg. aking thing for it cuz my Mom taught her and she makes tht really moist and it's good. But the rest is mostly non-bake ones except for the tube cookies which we'll decorate like our own. Bwhaaahaha

So today I'll nurse my infection hoping it leaves soon so I could feel better and I'll be fine.

FLwarrior

I survived my first week at work!!!  It actually went very well. Yesterday was a very interesting and fun day. 

Background {The "office situation" is a bit different.  "D" owns the small office building and owns and runs several companies out of this building. 1 company is upstairs and another company is downstairs. 1 of the guys that works for D is J... in addition to working for D, J & partner started their own company (where i am working) and lease office space upstairs from D. So there is 3 small companies in this one small, nice/posh office building. Everyone knows everyone.  Share kitchen, restroom, copier, etc...}

We had a "secret Santa" gift exchange and holiday lunch yesterday. Whole building, all 3 companies together. (roughly 25 people) It was the most interesting set up.  The owner of the building D, who is probably about my age (late 40s early 50s) and a very good looking man, COOKED and SERVED us a gourmet meal!  This man cooked it himself (not catered or store bought) first an appetizer spread, then carved and served us: ham, turkey, rice/stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans/onions in a sauce, sweet potato casserole, and homemade turkey gravy. (If I'm not tired, I enjoy cooking and am a pretty good chef.)  Yesterday, I was very impressed by D! Everyone else provided drinks and deserts, which I was to full to try.

My secret Santa gave me a "Tevana" Mug and Sencha Green Tea.  Nice!  My boss gave me a $50.00 American Express gift card. Nice!

Christmas Day is a "holiday". I was expecting to work on Monday, x-mas eve.   As we were leaving last night they told us that they were giving us x-mas eve off, paid. Nice again!

Boy what a good way to start a new job, my first week!!! 

curveball

I am taking time off from work all next week and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday the week after that. I've only been working part time and telecommuting at that, but even so it will be nice to get some time away from the emails and questions and such. My church choir is having a party tonight--I was planning to go but I think I'm going to bag it. With singing tomorrow and Monday night also, a party today would just be too much at my current fatigue level. So now for ten days of as close to being a hermit as I will get until my house is ready to move into. Once I've moved, I think I'm going to pull down the shades and leave the phone on voice mail for a month or two. I've been staying with my Mom during treatment, and it's the first time I've lived with anyone long term for almost 30 years. Even though it was great of Mom to let me descend on her on such short notice, I'm getting antsy to move into my own place again. I need some major alone time to recharge my battery.

whaevah

Just popping in to say a big MERRY CHRISTMAS *HUGS*

Busy with daily rads, work and the usual get ready for the season stuff. I broke down and now have a tree. The cats were missing the bells

Having some post chemo aches, in a big way, thought 30 days out I would feel better, delusional?!

Happy Holidays everyone

camillegal

Fl--I love u'r job--u hit it great. U really did have a good week and now u'r off a couple of days too. Nice going.

Curve---being with u'r Mom is great but I do understand u'r needing a recharge andto hermit a bit.

Whaevah I hope this ickiness leaves u very soon--usually rads is not that pleasant either so it might be adding to it. Try to rest when u can, this is tiring.

I'm being very quiet tonite--only a couple of days left and now I'm out of the mood--I did have it before--this is silly. I've got to start feeling Christmas again, oh I'm sure I will--probably tomorrow we'll be doing lots of stuff so --I haven't even wrapped yet--my DD has started so good for her. LOL 

Teka

Today, Jack Frost gave the kids some snow for X-mas. 

whaevah, fun to share the joy with pets.

curveball, Mom must be so pleased to have you home for the holidays.

FLwarrior, "D" is a dream come true in the workplace.

camillegal, I'll make an apple upside down cake for New Year's Eve.

markat, Were you able to figure out a gift for father in law and find a lot of stocking stuffers?

camillegal

Teka--u'r so cute.............

FLwarrior

Hi Pink.  I can relate to what you say about just wanting to stay home.  I am the same way.  I stayed in my pjs all day today.   I did bake Blueberry muffins, and cook a pot of soup.   I have the house to myself…whoo hoo!! My roommate is at his moms until the 3^rd of Jan.  Nice for me.

Camille sorry to hear you have another infection!  Hope it resolves quickly! Hope you are feeling better.

Next time you get one of “those” calls trying to get a donation for breast cancer…blah, blah, blah…Just tell them “No thanks, I have already donated…one/both of my breast/s due to cancer, and I think that is enough. And please remove me from your call list.”  Bet they won’t know WHAT to say then…

LL you cracked me up!  I laughed at the visual!!! “flying around the room like a balloon!!!” Trust me I’m laughing WITH you, not at you!  I find that since tx I am so intolerant to eating anything with sugar, it gives me such gas!  I could win a contest after drinking a Starbuck’s  Peppermint Mocha, which I love and do indulge in this time of year.  So, if you see me with a Starbuck’s in my hand…RUN!

Awwwwe skittle a baby kitty!  How sweet!   You have a very good heart to (secretly clean) & display the snowman and make the little girl proud and happy!  We need more teachers like you!

Teka, Camille…SNOW!  Burr…I am hunched over running from my car to the house.  No snow here.  I am such a cold wimp!  It got down in the mid 40’s last night and will again tonight, with 10-15 mph winds gusting to 20.  Give me my 70+ and sunny!!!

Whaevah hope you get to feeling better very soon.

Curveball, you will appreciate and enjoy your solitude very soon!

Hi everybody!  Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas!

bgirl

Hi to all, am recovering from my surgery pretty well.  Still get tired in the afternoon, if I do stuff.  I haven't been hiding from you all, it is just that with 2 children home and my husband on vacation it is hard to get the computer alone where I can curl up and catch up with my friends here.

Cami - hope you feel better soon and stay off the D train.  When you see your GS you will catch the Christmas spirit again.

Been busy shopping for my kids ... daughter put up tree and it looked a little bare with no presents.  Need to do a few groceries today, but trying to keep it fairly simple.  Forget how much work it is to have a houseful and no alone time as there is always someone here (probably making a mess, lol).

Skittle ... self restraint and only 1 baby kitty.

FLwarrior - glad you are liking new job ... you deserve a break.

Markat - sleep is good ... it is unfortuate that we can't get it when we want it.  Take what you can .. hopefully it will give you the patience to stay out of jail for the rest of the year.

Curveball, whaevah, LL, hope you all feel like yourselves again soon.

Teka, we made pineapple upside down cake for my brother's bon voyage party ... they are going to Australia on Christmas day.

Happy holidays to all

Skittle

Teka, FL--thanks for sweet words. 

bgirl--hope you heal quickly.  Sounds like you have a lot going on.  And Australia?  wow.  Quite a trip.

Cami--feeling better?  Worst of infection over with?  Hope you can rest up to enjoy Christmas.

whaevah--we all hit delusional now and then, I think.  Seems a survival mode.  Hang onto that last shred of sanity a little while longer.  Hope the post chemo woes leave you alone so you can energize a little.

curve--alone time is good for all hermits, but glad you had your mom during rough spots.  It was most likely enriching for her, as well, to care for her baby girl.  Regardless of age, we all need to be needed.

FL--job sounds amazing, to welcome you into the gang so fully, so quickly.  You are adding something special to the group.

dd2's kitten is happily ever aftering.  He has captured all hearts and has only climbed the curtains once!    He hasn't met my two (a three year old and a one year old... both rescue kitties, themselves.)  We may save that adventure for Christmas morning when we gather... 

If it's snowy or ice-covered, be safe when you're out!  Rest up to enjoy... 

markat

Hi all! Everyone's either busy or enjoying rest- which is awesome! I got DH a google TV player for christmas so he use the internet on tv and watch netflix. Netflix! Where have you been my whole life!! Instead of doing anything productive yesterday when I had a sitter, I watched 12 hours of American Horror Story- holy moly scary show. Now I'm scrambling like an idiot, haha!



Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

camillegal

Hi everyone--this is a busy time and markat I like the way u spent the day/

I actually did stuff today, Joey helped me with my ppresents--as little bare this year tho---we made stain lass cookies, and tin-a-lings--Tom. morning we'll make some sugar cookies and that's it. It's cold here but no snow so zI hope it stays that way.

Bgirl it sounds like u on the mend, still slow down as much as u can.

I' back in my room ALONE to much doing for me today LOL I still haven't decided what I'm doing tom. night yet--I'll just play it by ear cuz I for sure am going Christmas and I want to feel good so I might just stay home--I don't know at all--such decisions--damn cancer makes u have to decide things--well my SE do. LOL

But it is a fun and happy time--oh maybe tonite I'll do my nails--they really need some attention big time.

curveball

@skittle, I don't know about enriching for my mom. I think she has probably had enough of nursing people through cancer by this time. I am the third of four siblings to get one sort of cancer or another, starting about 15 years ago when my sister had leukemia, then my younger brother 9 years ago with colon cancer, then my dad also got colon cancer four years ago and now me.

But I think I have been some help. My dad died just over a year ago, and my mom said she felt like she was rattling around living alone in the house. I've stayed here by myself a few days, and she's right, this is too big a house for one person, even if that person is a confirmed hermit! And my mom isn't a hermit at all, she's more sociable on an off day than I am at any time. Plus the yard is way too big for her to cope with. It would be too big for me--all rockeries on the side of a hill. The house I bought is on a slightly smaller lot than this, but much more important, it's almost completely flat. With a small house and manageable yard, I hope to be able to live there the rest of my life.

Teka

bgirl, slow and easy X-mas mouse.

Everyone,

Have a   ***safe and merry***   X-mas Eve and Day!!

camillegal

cirveball--u'r whole family has been thru nitemares with this disease---and I'm sure u'r mom is happy to have u there and probably will eventuall downsize her home. U's sounds great on one level--I like that too I hope u'r healing well/

And Bgirl u too feel well.

U'r all busy I know but it's a fun busy this time of year.

Jazzygirl

Hello fellow hermits:

Hoping you are all doing well this weekend before Xmas. There is so much expectation this time of the year, and yet I feel comfortable engaging in what fits and staying in my hermitage when that works best. I went out for the only social gatherings in group settings I will do this holiday period, breakfast yesterday with some friends I have not seen in awhile, an intimate party with a few other friends last night.

Now I am in for the next few days and have a simple few days planned to take care of me. I am preparing to go out of state for internal radiation treatment in AZ soon and getting ready for that on all fronts. The whole rad thing begins right after the new year.

Blessings to all of you fighting the good fight, or otherwise just working through the holiday scene in all the ways that feel right to you. Wishing you blessings this coming week.

camillegal

Jazzy I like to hear u'r doing what is right for u--u have to--whether it's keeping busy--(not me) or just takng care of me---cuz I don't mind being alone-it's u choice. I might o out tomorrow--but I wait and see I don't want anyone counting on me and they are used to it by now so I feel better knowing that.

U'r not te first one I heard about going out of state for rads, why do women do thst--I mean can't u get them where u got chemo? I just went to a different part of the ospital with another Dr. But so many go our of their area. I don't understand. If anyone has please fill me in as usual u know I don't know things.

Skittle

curve--I am so sorry to speak out of turn...  I had no idea your family history was soaked in cancer woes...  (My father died over 30 years ago with mets/liver/lung; my mother almost 5 years ago with bone mets/breast.)  She was excited to take care of everything she could do for me years ago when I had to have major back surgery, since I've always been fiercely independent... and I guess I pictured the same for your mom and you.  Again, sorry.  I hope cancer can manage to disappear from your family as you heal and get better. 

jazzy--good luck with rads.  Hugs and energy sent your way.  ((( )))

All--feel better.  Be good to yourselves.  Happy Christmas lights, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, and healing.

camillegal

Skittle u'r so sweet I can't imagine anyone taking what u said out of turn---Wow u've ot cancer going too. What a group we are LOL

I'm wishing everyone healthy feeling for the holiday and New Year too. May everyone heal quickly and enjoy all u'r family and friends. And if I said this vefore it's cuz I really mean it.

curveball

@skittle, no offense taken

My mom has been just great. She was & is eager to help me get through this. I just don't think she sees it as enriching. I don't have any children myself, but I have to wonder what will happen to my seven nieces. There was only one other person with cancer I know of in my whole family tree, and that wasn't a direct ancestor but the sister of a female ancestor three or four generations back. Then, in this generation, there are the three of us siblings, and I think also the granddaughter of my dad's half-sister, who have had cancer before age 60, and two of those were before age 50. Of the four, my sister has been cancer-free since she finished treatment, It's still too early to know what my outcome will be, my brother just had a recurrence, and my cousin is dead.

@camilegal, yes, my mother is planning to downsize by moving to a retirement community which also has assisted living available if she needs that in the future. But so far she hasn't decided which one. Another reason for my wanting to move ASAP is so she can put the house up for sale next spring if she does decide soon enough to do that. There are all sorts of flowers in the yard that are really beautiful from about March to May (the most beautiful time of the year here in western WA, IMO), so if she can have it on the market at that time I think it could be advantageous as far as selling quickly and at the best price.

camillegal

markat

My DH is hiding from me. My kids went to Mass, and my ham is still frozen chinese anyone?

Love, hugs, cheer and wine to all!

camillegal

OK markat right back at ya---especially the wine----

Skittle

DD2 just returned from her Christmas Eve choiring... said the church was packed.  DH has pretended a sudden chore, visiting dd2. It's his annual would-you-wrap-this-for-me run.  Lights are glowing on the tree.  Fire is crackling in the fireplace.  Cat1 is snuggling close to the hearth, cat2 is on my lap purring.  The pumpkin, pecan and chocolate pies are ready.  Lots of cooking to be done tomorrow morning. Snow is in tomorrow night's forecast.  And I feel blessed to be among hermits who understand. 

Love to you and yours.  Will include you each in prayers for peace and health and freedom from pain. 

camillegal

Oh Skittle sounds wonderful--My kids are out--I didn't feel like going. but my dog is laying in the hallway and my Katie-Kat is laying right next to me--all the light in and out are lit (which I so enjoy) and bunches of cookies and fudge made today so we have it good Skittle. LOL