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Post by RobinS811 on Dec 19, 2016 14:53:18 GMT
This is a thread we had on the WW 50 Year Olds board, so even though most of us have moved beyond our 50's, I am keeping it here. Some prefer to post on Facebook, but for those who may also like to post on something that resembles our old format, I decided to start this. Although we were brought together by our love of books, and we love to share our ideas about books and authors, our friendship has grown, and we know a lot about each others lives. We are spread across the country, and that adds a bit of interest as well, learning about other people's way of life through the "book" they write on the thread.
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Post by RobinS811 on Dec 19, 2016 15:02:35 GMT
Starting us off again while I am waiting for DH to decide whether he wants me to drive him over to his office. He has a 2 pm doctor's appointment so I will just do whatever I have to do from home. Not much going on for work right now other than playing the waiting game with everything. I am going to try to get to Toys R Us, I know it's stupid, but I always get my cleaning woman's grandchildren Christmas gifts. When they were really young, I could pick up inexpensive things at Wallgreens and get them a lot of stuff. Now they are a little older, and I stupidly didn't order 2 Lego items earlier, then last week they were a lot more expensive, so I bought smaller sets.
Jill, we are getting that colder weather now. You know how it is, it usually moves west to east when it is cold or rainy weather. Have you been still staying at your dad's? How are things with him? Any changes?
What are everyone's Christmas plans? We were not invited this year for Christmas Eve, which is really OK with me although we enjoy these cousins. I am making some things for Christmas meals for a few homeless veteran families and families where the mother is undergoing treatment for breast cancer and they are in need. I have offered to help if the organizer needs it to pack and distribute everything. Then of course there are football games to watch, but I will possibly go with my mother to the movies.
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Post by mikendanni on Dec 19, 2016 17:43:02 GMT
Cold here - and I skipped the Y again. -20 windchill this morning, no thank you I will wait for the sun to come up before going anywhere! It is supposed to get near 30 later in the week.
I started Snow Falling On Cedars. it is good but slow going and requires focus. It's going to take a while.
Robin - dd and I fly to AZ on Christmas Eve so I will wave at Santa out the window of the plane when I see him fly by. I am dreading it a little bit because it is a terrible time to travel. We don't get to AZ until 10:30 so I hope we are on time.
Marsha
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Post by Carol2 on Dec 19, 2016 20:35:24 GMT
Finally, I am feeling better. I stayed in all day Friday and Saturday. I made it to church yesterday morning and then took a 2 1/2 hour nap in the afternoon. Today I went and did the shopping I was planning to do on Friday. I think I am done.
DH is making a quick trip to (hopefully) close out his parent's estate. I think he was surprised at how much work is was. Thankfully, we had already sold the house so we didn't have that to deal with.
We are having two Christmases, both at our house. On Christmas day, DD and DSIL will come here. On Thursday, DH and I will have Christmas with DS and DDIL. DDIL works for Adult Protective Services and someone has to be on call on holidays and she ended up with Christmas. DSIL just changed jobs so he doesn't have any vacation days so he and DD won't be able to come when the others are here. DH works for a local university so he is off for the 2 week break so he doesn't have to take vacation days to be off when DS and DDIL are here.
It is finally above freezing and the sun is shining brightly. Texans don't do cold well.
I finished The Orphan Train. There a couple of things I could quibble with, but overall I liked it. I haven't decided what to read next. I will go to the library tomorrow.
Carol2
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Post by RobinS811 on Dec 19, 2016 21:55:24 GMT
Marsha, enjoy your time in AZ, glad you are getting to see your mom again. At least you are going to have warmer weather than home! We are in the 20's now, but it seemed much colder while I was just out walking the dog. I guess the wind did it. By Wednesday we are supposed to have a stretch where the high's will be in the mid-40's, so I guess no white Christmas in NY.
Carol, glad you are feeling better. Once we get the in-laws, we have to juggle, but I am glad you found things that worked out relatively well. Enjoy, and I am sure they will enjoy having you entertain them, which I presume means cooking. Do they live relatively close to you?
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Post by Anngie on Dec 19, 2016 22:41:12 GMT
Right now it's 12 degrees. Glad I can stay home tonight. Marsha, enjoy AZ and your mom! This time with your mom is precious. I sure wish my mom was still with us! (Dad too) Carol2, my DH and I have experience with the closing of three estates - and you're right, it's not easy and can take many, many months (years?) to complete. Can be stressful too, depending on who else is involved (or who else is in the will). Robin, I thinks it's very thoughtful of you to remember her grandchildren. I'm sure not everyone would even think to do it! I, too, have procrastinated and ended up spending more money because of it. Then I want to kick myself for it!
Christmas Eve it will just be the three of us. I plan on making lasagna, etc. My youngest DS will be with us. The sad news here, though, is he and his girlfriend broke up about three weeks ago. I feel so sorry for him. But he seems to be taking it well. Christmas Day is spent at my DBIL & DSIL. I'll be bringing two dishes and she does the rest -- which will be a turkey dinner.
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Post by Carol2 on Dec 19, 2016 23:14:21 GMT
I meant to say, Robin, I think it's lovely you get gifts for your cleaning lady's grandkids. That is so nice and thoughtful.
DD and DSIl live only 1 hour away. They will come up on Christmas eve and leave the day after. They live so close they really don't have to spend the night, but they like to and it's no big deal. DS and DDIL are 4 hours away. Our problem this year was everyone's different work hours. DSIL's parents live far away so going there takes planning and vacation days. DDIL comes from a dysfunctional family and holidays with them are super stressful for her so yeah, everyone comes to us. We provide the food, but everyone is helpful. No one sits around and expects to be waited on. Next year we are going to have to plan better and try to come up with a day we can all be together if we can't on Christmas. One year DD and DSIL did go to his parents. They were apologizing because they weren't going to be with us. DH and I told them we understood. We weren't upset or mad that they wanted to be with his family. Like I said before, I wan't going to be "that mother-in-law."
Anngie, sorry about your DS and his girlfriend. Good he is coping well.
Carol2
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jill
Epic Member
Posts: 234
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Post by jill on Dec 19, 2016 23:47:28 GMT
Hi Robin, Marsha, Carol and Anngie. Marsha enjoy your holiday in AZ. I hope all goes well and you land on time. Marsha I am glad you are feeling better. I can't seem to shake this cold and now dh has it. Robin so sweet of you to buy presents for your cleaning woman's grandchildren. I admire what you do for some of the homeless families. Anngie sorry about your ds and girlfriend breaking up. It is good he is handling it well. Carol having two Christmas dinners is alot but it is sounds like everyone helps. My Dad starts chemo next Thursday. He is upset about it. He was hoping it wasn't cancer. My nephew who us 17 came in from Virginia so I don't spend the night's there. He came in on Saturday. I was there most of today paying some bills and took him to a doctor's appointment. I hope everyone has a good evening. Take care.
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Post by RobinS811 on Dec 20, 2016 3:03:56 GMT
Jill, glad you got that break with your nephew being there. So nice of him to do that, at that age they often wouldn't.
My DH is a trust and estate attorney, and I think the biggest complaint he gets from people is that this takes longer than they ever want it to, or certainly expect it to.
Anngie, sorry about your DS's break-up. I don't remember if you have told us how old he is. My older DS (31) had dated, but never had a real girlfriend until the one he is now engaged to, and I knew right away that this was it. My younger DS (28) has had numerous girlfriends. There was one that he dated in college who I know he was serious about, but she was still an undergrad, and didn't want to be held back after she graduated knowing that he would always be in NY, so they broke up. It took him a little while to get over, but not that long. I hope that your DS meets someone else soon, because that is often all it takes to feel better.
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