Lighter Side Cafe - May 20 - May 26

Good morning! The cafe curtains are open now, so you can move over to a new week. Grab a cup and chat awhile.

We have Miss Abby today, maybe for the last day as her other grandmother has come for a visit and will probably keep her. Anna graduates 6th grade tomorrow, so we will all be celebrating.

I am doing laundry and puttering around moving things out of Leah's reach and straightening up. I will probably leave the dusting and floors until closer to company's arrival on Saturday.

DD2 is moving to BTR. That will put her about 20 minutes closer to us, while also bringing her closer to her BFF who lives in a NOLA suburb. She says it will be her 7th move and she is really tired of moving. It has helped her cull her belongings down to essentials. I guess her boxes of stuff at my house will have to wait a bit longer.

I am tracking today and being mindful in eating. I am planning to go to yoga after my Alzheimer's Caregiver Support group meeting this afternoon. DH will bring Abby to her speech therapy appointment at 4:30 and then take her home. Her godmother is a speech therapist and gives her free therapy. She had lots of earaches early on and did not learn to speak distinctly. She has made great progress and is much easier to understand now.

Judy - Catholic Daughters is a faith-based service organization similar to Knights of Columbus. We support various charities as well as our local church family. Our main charity right now is Metanoia House (https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/communities/zachary/article_df1a73e6-6e33-5ada-b352-c2b9469c0106.html) which supports young girls rescued from human trafficking. We also help support a CDA Kid, a special needs child under 12 chosen by all the courts in our diocese. Our nominee was chosen this year and now receives money and supplies from all the CDA courts in the diocese. He is a little boy diagnosed with Gaucher's Disease Type 2, which to date has been 100% fatal.

What good pet mamas you are Judy and Ann, braving heat, rain and thunderstorms for your little ones!

Well, the dryer is calling me!

Hey all, Happy Tuesday.  Hot yesterday, cool today. Story of our lives here in New England, but I am stickin' to my summer wardrobe and that's that! I packed away my winter shoes over the weekend and it's open toes and sneakers/summer shoes for me. No more boots, no more black practical winter shoes. LOL 

I was out last night until 10:30 at the first night of our annual town meeting.  Some folks like to hear themselves talk...and talk...and talk. I fell asleep right away and slept until 6 so I feel good today.  I went to my WI and stayed the same which I view as a huge victory considering events.  I'm trying to be kinder to myself and I do some self talk.  Even if I haven't lost after considerable time, I am not quitting and I am not gaining either.  I have been getting good at maintenance. LOL  I go and I listen and that helps me. 

Pam, what a great cause for the Catholic daughters to be involved in human trafficking. Is there anything worse out there than that? Horrible. You must have such a great sense of reward for all you do for others and I know they appreciate your hard work. My dream is to get involved more and it's my retirement goal. I love the group Stand Up for Kids.  Do you know it?  I also like a local one here called All Kinds of Girls which focuses on younger girls - and their healthy development and sense of self worth. 

Ann, I know what you mean about our pups not liking heat.  D&D pant when it goes over 60!  They are really little English roses. :-) They don't tolerate heat at all especially as they get older. 

Oh, I started a new Alexander McCall Smith book last night.  The House of Unexpected Sisters.  A few chapters in, I realized I had already read it!  Senior moment. I need to keep a list. Do you ever do that?

I'll bbl.  J

Hello to all!

We were up and out early to attend Anna's 6th grade graduation and Mass. She got a Presidential Education Award, Beta Club, Principal's List (all A's all year) and top honors in Social Studies & Religion. She also got sports recognition for track & volleyball, but I was happy to see the new principal only allowed academic awards at the ceremony and the sports awards were given out at the reception afterwards. Anna is pretty modest and generally doesn't like a lot of attention, but I could tell she was pleased to have her parents and grandparents make over her. We gave her a card and some money to spend on her vacation with her other grandmother next week.

After the festivities, I went to see my mother-of-10 hospice patient. She had a serious fall from her wheelchair a few days ago. She was extremely lucky she didn't break anything or get burned (there was a cup of hot tea involved) but is pretty bruised up. She promised me she would just ask for help next time, but in the next breath said that when you call for help they don't always come. I think she just gets a little impatient and is used to doing for herself. As her Parkinson's advances, she is able to do less and less for herself and finds it frustrating. She is a pistol!

I returned some bathroom cleaner to Walmart that was incompatible with my faux-marble shower and did some grocery shopping. I was excited to see fresh cherries are here! I learned to love them back when my inlaws were living in western Colorado.

Speaking of my DMIL, she used to joke that once you reach a certain age, you only need about 10-15 books to read over and over, because after a while you forget how they end. I re-read a Jodi Picoult book (Leaving Time) a while back. By the time it dawned on me that I had already read it, I was pretty far in and couldn't remember the ending, so I went ahead and finished it.

Judy - I had to google Stand Up for Kids. It sounds like a very worthwhile organization!

Ann - I started strong on sticking to plan yesterday and then fizzled out late in the day. Oh well, today is another day, right? And we both know what will happen if we give up.

Time to get a little accomplished before time to head to yoga!

Good Morning, WW Friends ~

Happy Hump Day!! We have a dreary day, indeed, around here. Monday was downright cold, then Tuesday a bit better but still nippy on the playground. Today is promising upper 60’s by late afternoon. We woke this morning to the sound of the furnace running, and I {{sighed}} because I am so tired of it!

Sunday we went to the show to see “A Dog’s Journey” and both of us enjoyed it very much, though it was a bit of a tear-jerker. I had seen “A Dog’s Purpose” at school last Summer, but couldn’t find it to show it to DH. This one was more of the same, as well as a total stand-alone. Dennis Quaid starred, and we both like him very much, so it was a win-win.

Pam ~ Congrats to your dear Anna on all her awards. That is certainly impressive!! I had to LOL about her not liking a fuss made over her, as we have had to deal with that in our own family as well. But glad you went to honor her and also gave her a gift she can use on her next vacation. Hope you enjoyed your yoga class.

Ann ~ You are my inspiration with your sticking to getting your partial adjusted to fit just perfectly. When I got my first one, there was one side that was loose but once my dentist adjusted it, it was perfect. I wore it for about 10 years, then he made me a new one and it was also great. That is the dentist that retired, so I’ll have to see what the future brings.

Judy ~ I have to agree that maintaining is much better than gaining!! When there are lots of events, I have to make myself be happy with a maintain. I go for my WW WI today and am very close to goal, so keeping fingers crossed. I would hate to be at goal for 10+ years and then have to PAY! But we’ll see.

I can relate to the forgetting of books as I have also done that. I will start reading it and realize I don’t remember the ending. Since I download most of my books from BookBub and they are stored on my Amazon account if I try to download it a second time, it tells me I already have it. That’s a big help11

We’ve been short-handed at work, starting with my being totally alone on Monday – and since then there have been 2 of the 3 of us and just got a text that our 3rd is out for the rest of the week. It certainly makes for more work and more time, but we get the job done. Our cook is absolutely awesome in pitching in and helping us – and we reciprocate by bagging her leftovers whenever possible so it takes one job off her plate.

My DH has not been well and he got some notion it may be a cardiac issue – so yesterday I convinced him to call his cardiology office – which he did and got some answers. We talked, seriously, about his symptoms last night and I gave him some antacids and Tylenol after which he slept like a baby, and woke feeling much better this morning. I had visions of being the SJMH Cardiac Care Unit with him this morning, but instead he is off on his daily rounds in his truck. <whew> Life is never boring ……

We are looking forward to the upcoming holiday weekend. I am also looking forward to seeing my VBF this afternoon for WW WI and coffee . We have much to talk about. We both got new cars since we got together last, so we will have fun showing each other. Friday I have an appointment for a haircut and since my hair is really filling in, I am more than ready!!

BBL. Make a great day!

Good Morning!

Sue - How we worry about those men! I'm so glad your DH is doing better this morning and hope it continues. DD3 has complained about the MI weather being so cool still. Madison is very much looking forward to her trip to La-Weezie-Ana on Saturday. She has been told there will be outside play and water play, which reminds me I need to pick up a kiddie pool for them at Walmart.

Ann - Hopefully, your dentist will get everything with your partial straightened out soon. It's hard to be patient, but you will be so glad you stuck with the "renovations". Hugs for you as you remember your DSIS today.

Judy - DH has the same complaint about some of the Cultural District members monopolizing the conversation and making the meetings much to long. He is supposed to be the parliamentarian and keep discussions short and on point, but gets frustrated because they ignore him and the gavel. Anyway, it is important to have intelligent, interested participants, so I am glad you agreed to serve your community.

Today will be a challenging eating day. I am attending a local Alzheimer's Lunch & Learn and then have a credit union board meeting in late afternoon, with dinner afterwards. I have no idea what is being served for lunch or what restaurant we'll choose for tonight, so I can't plan meals ahead. I will eat a healthy breakfast of yogurt and fruit a little later, so I won't be starving for lunch and can make good decisions regarding food and portion size. I can usually find something healthy at a restaurant or only eat 1/2 portion to make it doable. That's the best I can do.

Our weather is headed to the 90's for the next few days, with no rain predicted. At least there is a nice breeze today. Time to get crackin'!

Hi all,

Lots of news from all of you today.

Sue, sorry about your DH and his heartburn and heart related issues.  Like Pam said, we worry so much about these fellas.  My DH had similar issues this week!  He was complaining of heartburn, and I worried it might be his heart, too. He talked to the cardiologist who assured him that unless he had heartburn PLUS other symptoms that it most likely is just heartburn. DH attributed it to the falafels he ate on Sunday and the Indian food earlier.  We like the spices and now that we are aging, we pay for it with indigestion.  I'm sorry you are having to work shorthanded. That is rough, but at least you are at the end of the tunnel for the season soon.  

Pam, I am clapping away for your DGD and her accomplishments.  That is terrific and so great that you are nearby to share in her awards!  She sounds like a wonderful kid - modest and confident, too. I think those traits go hand in hand. Hope she has fun with her other grandma.  Is she visiting from far away?  I hate to say it but I think I pronounce Louisiana like your DGD!  La-Weezie-Ana!  Do you say LOO-SI-ANA? :-)  Educate me!  I live near Worcester, MA.  You should hear how that is butchered, right, Ann?  It is pronounced Woo-ster.  But people say Wor-chest-er or Wor-cez-ter, etc.  

Ann, I hope the partial fitting goes well today.  I am with you on seeing the sun.  Even if it is chilly, at least the sun is out.  I fear we shall have Sue's weather soon. I am still wearing sandals no matter what! :-)  I started reading Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone books beginning with A is for Alibi again.  I loved those books and it has been decades since I started them. My mom and I both read them together. It makes me feel closer to her re-reading them. Like you all said, we forget the endings of the books so we may as well re-read them again.  I am even getting that way with my podcasts if I interrupt them on a drive home and continue the next day. I listen to so many that it's easy to confuse them.  I finished up my Crime Junkie podcast and listen to just weekly updates. Now I am going back to the Happiness Project and Gretchen Rubin. I love her podcasts.  The one I heard today on the way to work talked about giving something up for just one month. It could be something like shopping or that glass of wine at night, etc.  I like the concept and will think about what I may give up.  Not necessarily food or diet related.  

Ann, I am thinking of your dear sister Marie today and I'm glad you are having some fond memories of her in your quiet contemplation.

Have a great day. I am off to my STARS meeting- the old TOPS group.  Standing Together and Receiving Support. (At least I think that is the acronym meaning).  

Tonight is another town meeting. I hope we wrap it up and I am tempted to bring the duct tape to the talkers! I guess it is the same everywhere!  

Ann, I love those cheat chickens!  They are the best.  Hope all goes well at the dentist and sorry you are feeling down.  I understand. My brother who was the same age as your sister will be gone four years on June 3rd. :-(  Never dreamed we'd lose him - it was so sudden.