The Lighter Side Cafe 2/18 2/24

Good morning all. We did wake up to snow. As to how much snow I haven't a clue. Our life insurance rep is supposed to come and drop off the new policy late morning. He has to drive up from Rhode Island. I would not be surprised if he called to set up another appointment.

I slept well last night...just not long enough. We went to bed late as I took a very long nap when we finally got home from all our activities yesterday.

Wishing all a wonderful Thursday. I doubt I'm going to make my weight watcher meeting. I need a day of just R&R.

Hi All,

TGIF! Ann, send along some of that well rested refreshment! Glad to hear it. I am dragging a bit today. I had a wonderful dinner with a friend last night but it went long because we were having such a great chat. Four hours at El Basha's - great lamb kebabs and hummus. I love that place. Do you know it, Ann?

Tonight the handyman is coming over at 7 PM to give us a quote on the new bathroom. We are anxious to get it done. Tomorrow we are headed to the Cape for the weekend. We may check out an estate sale for fun at Gloria Swanson's estate. Remember her? She's been gone a long, long time so I imagine her heirs were there. Should be interesting.

I did my own manicure yesterday, Ann, but it doesn't look near as nice as when I get it done. Passable for now, though! I just hate taking the time to spend any weekend hours at a nail salon but I love the results. Mostly I like getting my nails in shape there - cuticles and shaping, etc.

Have a great day all. I'll check in later. I hope Pam is having fun in San Antonio and Sue is doing well with all the storms in MI. Yikes!

Judy no I am not familiar with that restaurant. Never been but heard wonderful things about it. My problem is whenever I'm in Worcester I'm in a mad dash to exit the city!!!! Never thought I would feel that way, seeing as I was born and raised in the City LOL. Who said you can't teach an OLD DOG new tricks LOL.

I wish I were able to do my fingernails. I have just as much polish on my fingers as on the nails LOL...and don't 'go there' with me with cuticles. I swear I grow them along with the nails....Like you, I am not wild about traveling into Leominster to have them done, but I am not pleased with the 2 salons here in town. I am squeamish on places that just don't LOOK clean.......if you catch my drift!

Sue I also feel that this week went by quickly. Hope your DH feels better. I really do wish I were a fish lover. Unfortunately I only really enjoy fried fish, so I stay away. Once in a great while I will get baked haddock but not often enough

As we were on the road, I decided to pick up a rotisserie chicken while at BJ's......good ol' quick and easy and enough for a few days. I'm all for it.

Yes Pam....hope you are having a BLAST.

Time to relax again.

Take care

Hello my friends!

We are home safe and sound and our kitties were happy to see us. Our next door neighbor kept and eye on them while we were gone, but it was so rainy, I told her to leave them indoors.

We had a wonderful time in San Antonio visiting our DF who is like a sister to DH, having grown up in the house next door. She very generously and enthusiastically agreed to share her parents, who treated DH and his DB like sons during the difficult time after their parents died and were "paternal grandparents" to our kids. We talked and talked and talked some more, ate out, visited the Witte museum, a used book store and the San Antonio zoo. She is a wonderful, very loving person and we love her very much.

We scheduled this visit specifically because she has had some recent serious health issues: skin cancer which required some pretty invasive surgery and a diagnosis of diabetes. We wanted to make sure she was okay, as she has no close family. She and her twin brother were adopted in infancy, but he died at age 6 in an accident. Her parents have both died and she is not close to the dozen or so (NOT an exaggeration!) biological siblings she has found over the years. We also wanted to have a conversation with her about planning for her future, because she has no close family. Our family loves her dearly and will care for her, without question, but we need to know what her wishes and plans are. She has a will giving everything to our DDs, but has not made plans for a medical POA, aging in place, etc. We had the talk, telling her what we have done and I think it went well. We have given her a lot to think about and will revisit the subject at a later date.

To add to the angst, she is a hoarder. She realizes, to some extent, but seems incapable of dealing with the situation. She lives in a rural area on a ranch with a small house, a garage and a barn. All are crammed to the ceiling with stuff, rundown and rat-infested. She also has approximately 35 dogs (I tried to count and am sure it is 33-35), 5 cats and 5 horses. People know she won't turn an animal away and leave boxes of puppies and cats at her gate. Her property looks much the same as the last time we visited in 2012, with waist-high weeds, untrimmed trees and shrubs and about 5 old vehicles, in addition to the numerous dog kennels. She didn't get the nerve to take us to her house until last night. I wanted to sit down and cry. Her parents were meticulous about their house and property and were appalled at how she chose to live. It has only gotten worse since they died. She knows it is a psychological reaction to losing both parents and a long-time boyfriend within a short time period and tries, from time to time, to fight it and clean things up, but quickly becomes discouraged. We were encouraged to find she is at least doing better inside the house since we last visited, but that's not saying much. And most of what was cleaned was probably done within the last month, since she knew we were coming. I know this is something over which we have no control, but it is very hard. We were encouraged to meet a few of her closest friends and left our number with her favorite, telling him to let us know if there are any problems that we can help with. Since she will sometimes go 3-4 days without talking to anyone, we encouraged her to establish a daily texting routine with one of her friends, so if something happens--such as one of the dogs knocking her down and her breaking a hip---she will get help sooner than later.

I started out great with my eating plan--a salad when we stopped for lunch and a small steak and half a baked potato (NOT stuffed!) and salad, dressing on the side, for dinner. By last night, that had devolved to pizza, beer and chicharones (fried pork rinds) for dinner. Well, I am home now and getting back on track. At least we walked lots and lots. I'll see what the scale says in the morning, but it's not likely to be pretty.

Ann - I am like you doing a self-manicure. I paint my nails, my cuticles, the tips of my fingers and sometimes the counter top, lol. But I will do all that before I go to a nail salon that is not sparkling clean.

Sue - Once you access your Amazon Prime account, click on Prime in the heading, then Prime Video. You will see Movies and TV in the header and can scroll through. Anything that has the little white "Prime" banner on the top left corner is FREE with your subscription. I also learned that once you watch something, there will be suggestions of other similar programs at the bottom of the show you choose. You can also do a search to find movies or shows you have heard about. Some will be free with Prime. DH and I really enjoy it. I watched all the Downtown Abbey series this way. It will keep track of where you are in a series, too.

Judy - I hope the handyman's quote was reasonable. Can't wait to hear if you bought anything of Gloria Swanson's!

I'm off to shower and get jammified. It will be SO good to sleep in my own bed tonight!!!

Hi all,


Welcome back Pam!  There’s really nothing like sleeping in your own bed.  glad you had fun in San Antonio.  Your friend sounds like a lovely, warm hearted person. Hoarding is such a tough situation to help and I hope she’ll be able to overcome it. I have a friend who I suspect is a hoarder but she hasn’t allowed anyone into her house so we aren’t sure.  She also adores her dogs! 

Today is a rainy dismal day but we have plenty to do so that’s fine.  Yesterday we spent a long time at Home Depot choosing bathroom wall tiles, flooring, paint,etc. for the world’s smallest bathroom...lol. It’ll be beautiful when done. It amazes me how long it takes to shop for and find what you want even for a small space.  But we are set now for when the handyman returns in a couple weeks. 

I have been sticking to the plan pretty well this week.  My exercise is lacking but I am going to do kettle bells
in a bit on my DVD.  Not sure what’s on the menu today but I need to duck out to get some fruits and veggies. 

Have a a great day all and I’ll bbl!

Good Morning, WW Friends ~

We have a high wind warning today and tonight. They have been talking about it for several days.

Though I had a good time with VBF yesterday, by the time I got home and sat for a bit, I felt my condition worsening steadily. By evening, DH and I took ourselves to the Urgent Care where he got a shot and a Rx and I got a Z-Pak Rx.  Unfortunately our pharmacy was closed, so we are waiting for them today.  He feels better but I am still waiting to feel better.  I am toying with the idea of calling in sick tomorrow. I haven't done that since I went to work there (no, not once!) but it is looking better and better.  That way I will have two days on the antibiotic before returning to work.

I read all your posts but too tired to write back right now.

BBL.  Make a great day!!