I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

A few pages back, I was beginning to worry that this thread was sounding like an episode from the Lemony Snicket series ... you know, the "Series of Unfortunate Events."  Everybody was having a difficult time with something.... some much worse than others.

So, in keeping with another thread where the protocol is to offer sympathy ("What's happening to you really sux!"), I am sending hugs and good thoughts and virtual Spritz cookies and fudge.  I'm particularly sympathetic to those who are having "family problems," since this time of year is stressful enough even if your family is not dysfunctional.  Add a few characters from a Lemony Snicket story, and it goes downhill quickly.

This is my first Christmas without my mom.  It feels very odd, already.  We came here mostly to visit my dad, despite the fact that he no longer recognizes anyone or remembers anything about Christmas.  Mr. otter and I are residing comfortably in a winter-rates condo about half an hour's drive from the nursing home where my dad is.  The odd accomodations were necessary because the family home (which is half mine) is crammed with moving boxes that are still waiting to be unpacked. We've decided our short-term visit is less likely to result in eruption of WW III if we stay here, half an hour away, where we can come and go as we please, etc.  ... Never mind; I think I'll just leave it at that.

Anyway, ... Blue, I love the $7K dress.  If you can do it, I say go for it!  I've become much more sentimental about those one-day celebrations than I was, oh, 25 or 30 years ago.  They really do leave lasting memories; so it's important to do what makes you feel good, and happy.

I am so glad Mr. otter's family was from (nearly) the same socioeconomic status as my own.  Even their politics were similar.  His parents were school teachers, whereas my parents never went to college; but generally they were all hard-working, grew-up-during-the-Depression, fought in World War II/"greatest generation" sort of people.  They never met, however.  Our families live(d) a thousand miles apart, and each live(d) almost a thousand miles from us.  (Think of it sort of like a Bermuda Triangle.)  Our "romantic" elopement did not make a parental get-together convenient or affordable.  By the time everything had settled down, one or another of our parents was having medical problems, or couldn't travel, or had become antisocial, or whatever.  So, we've shared pictures; but that's about it.  I don't know if I regret that, or not.  (I do carry a pretty heavy burden of regrets about related things.)

Anyway, mostly I just wanted to drop in and say "hello".  I've been reading irregularly, since we've been on the road; and that's likely to continue.  I miss the warm weather we're having back home.  Here, it's cold but not snowy (a warm spell last week melted all the snow).  I can't wait to get home.  Last week I was already looking forward to being home and we hadn't even left yet.  Anyone else feel that way about traveling, or is it just me?

otter

scratching in the wall?  For no reason that I can figure, something seems to be scratching in the ceiling just above my computer room mostly in the evening. There is no access from the attic to the house so whatever it is won't be joining me. But I didn't invite it and would like to encourage it to leave. No cats anymore and they couldn't have got there anyway. Now what?!

Lassie................what about a squirrel...................although they are pretty heavy on their feet, you can usually hear them running........................mouse, maybe, but they don't normally scratch............only other 2 things could be a ...........bird........or a bat...........we had a squirrel once got into the attic, but we heard him running.......................it will either find its way back out , or die..............hope it find its way out.............they don't smell too good..................however in about 4 days if it does die............the smell will be gone.......................I'm sure this is exactly what you wanted to hear , but that could be your problem....................keep us posted.

Oh, Blue, that wonderful! LOL

Good morning girls!!!

I don't feel very well today - been having urinary tract issues. I'm drinking Ural in the hope it resolves itself. This happened a couple of weeks ago when I was visiting the bathroom very frequently one afternoon, now it's just a bit of pain, but coupled with feeling a wee bit sick. Not sure if our doc is there on Saturdays and have washing/shopping to do. If I'm still bad on Monday, I'll skip work and go.

One good thing happened. We thought my clothes dryer was on the blink as it was making a grinding noise. Well, last weekend it was raining and I had to use it. After a while the noise stopped and it's still fine. So that's some money saved.

Will try to buy the turkey and other stuff today - our supermarket has a voucher of $15 off if you spend 200, or 10 if you spend 150 - shouldn't have a problem doing that. They had one last weekend too and I forgot to take it with me.

Still feeling really sad, but I'll have to buck up if the cleaning is going to be done. Hopefully it won't be too hot today.

Sue

Blue - still laughing!!!!  I think you should suggest the "oncologist" buy the $7G dress!! gently of course, know you can do it - they are LUCKY to be joining your family!  Where else are they gonna get such good jokes.

Lassie  - I vote for MICE!  Scritch, scritch, scritch.....my cabin has a partial earth basement - and I gave up on those plastic triangle shaped mouse traps - 6 old fashioned wooden ones set up now. Everyone in town has them, so many farms have cats, I think they come to those of us who don't have animals.  When I 'catch" one, I bring it out to a big rock in the garden, in a few minutes there is an OWL, or a crow - and they have breakfast.  Usually the crows gets there first - poor Owl, I would wait til night to put it out, but there are mangy coyotes here too....also bears, who are supposed to hibernate, but, but.....so many neighbors have bird feedersall year, and bird seed is their FAVORITE food. 

Allergic to furry creatures, tho I love them, so no one here to EAT the little suckers!!!!  

Just finished hanging out the washing - the "smalls" are in the dryer. I've been dilly dallying as I need to go to the library and it doesn't open til 9. Now the washing is done I can have my shower and get on with it.

I just want to thank you all for being here - you ladies keep me sane and I adore you all.

(((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))

Sue

Did the shopping and the library. Had to laugh Lassie - yes 9 is late for me to go shopping. Got a cooked turkey breast and a quarter of a leg of ham - Steve wanted ham - oh well - I was pleased they had smaller portions, so we won't be eating ham sandwiches for weeks. The turkey I get is already roasted minus it's legs and is cryovacced so it stays fresh - perfect for a summer Xmas dinner. Also got shortbread, custard, pudding and crackers. Now I just have to sort out the salad recipes and make a list of what I'll need next weekend. Also got the $15 off, so I was very happy.

Lamb was on special so we're having lamb roast tomorrow night - yumm.

Didn't get the fruit and veg yet as I was so late getting back, so off to do that now - if anyone wonders, I don't buy fruit and veg in the supermarket, we have far superior produce at dedicated Fruit & Veg shops.

Sue

Crap - just lost all I wrote.

I got energetic and vacuumed upstairs and washed the kitchen and bathroom up there. Yes, our kitchen is upstairs - I'll explain later. I did that and then thought I should really wash the polished wooden floors up there - can't remember when I last did them. I use hot water and metho - makes them shiny. I was washing the stairs coming down and missed a step and nearly fell down the bottom flight. Grabbed the railing and wrenched my shoulder a bit - I seem to be accident prone today as I tripped going in to the bathroom upstairs to wash it earlier.

I'll do downstairs tomorrow. Going to sit and look through cook books for yummy salads for Xmas day now.

Our kitchen is upstairs because that was how "Queenslanders" were built. There was only one level and the house was built high up on stumps with wooden slats all around the bottom with stairs front and back. The toilet was under the house when we bought it - that was one thing we did quickly - put one inside upstairs. Many these days have been built in underneath like we did. It doubled the size of the house and it's lovely and cool downstairs most of the time. They used to use bricks but we used matching weatherboards which is the current fashion. It was built in 1937. We've been here for 32 years now.

susieq, beautiful house. Love the window detail.

Lovely house, Susie. And I feel the same about all the ladies here. HUGS!