THE LIGHTER SIDE CAFE SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14

Judy so sorry to hear of Julie losing her younger sister. Keeping her and her family in my thoughts and prayers. Also praying for her safety during these horrid times.

Happy you have sunshine. It's cloudy and dismal here. I should walk but it's just not very inviting looking.

Instead, going for a second cup of coffee.

Good Morning, WW Friends ~

Happy Saturday! I slept very well last night – going to bed at 10 and sleeping until almost 7! I slept well, but then I was very tired (but it was a good tired).

I am a bit down in the dumps today as today was my monthly lunch with VBF. I texted her last night while I was watching the news asking her thoughts on eating in a restaurant with our rising numbers. We have been eating outdoors the past few months, which worked out well. But now it is too cold! I really miss sitting with her, and she had the same dilemma, but we both ‘slept on it’ and talked this morning and were of a like mind. We know we’re safe, but we don’t know about other people. Nonetheless, it is a terrible disappointment!! Being people who always look for that silver lining - I downloaded ZOOM onto my Kindle Fire tablet thinking I would need it for school; and I was going to have Taylor teach me how to use it next week. VBF and I decided we could still eat lunch ‘together’ via ZOOM at lunchtime! I am hoping I did it all right and it will work. If not, there’s always the old telephone.

Ann ~ It is good to see you back! I miss you! You are such a ray of sunshine and such an encouragement to me. Bet you’re glad the house cleaning is done for this week?? I am just getting started, but it is moving right alone. Glad you were able to find your sister and know she is safe and taken care of.

Judy ~ We have the same warnings here about Thanksgiving. Fortunately we had planned on dinner for two of us already. Don’t know if I told you gals, but we ordered the whole meal (chef prepared) from the Kroger Deli and DH has an appointment to pick it up at 3 p.m. that Wednesday. That was a great question mark out of my mind. We had a great ‘Friday the 13th’ dinner last night. DH chopped his famous salad and we dressed it with Bolthouse Bleu Cheese dressing; and I grilled 2 strip steaks that came out just perfect!! I am so sorry to hear about your ukulele teacher’s sister!!

Pam ~ Your DH did have good news! Sorry about the wound vac, but hopefully in the long run it will prove to have been the best choice. I am sure he enjoyed his ‘first shower’ – I know when my DH has been in the hospital, he has looked forward to that so much! I had to smile picturing looking up at your windows and wondering how you are going to clean them? Yes, my DH did lose another close friend (in only his mid-50’s) recently. It has been hard for him, though not nearly as touch as we are both finding it to adjust to live without Rick (his VBF). This HAS been quite a year!!

Well, seems we are all of a like mind. We are hunkering down here too. We cancelled our dinner out last night; then VBF and I cancelled our lunch today; and I had already told DH I wasn’t keen on continuing our Sunday lunches out. Originally he took me because I was homebound all week and that was my one trip out (except for grocery shopping) but now if I get to go into school at least a little bit, hopefully it will make up the difference without putting me at risk. The restaurants around here are getting more and more lax about COVID precautions. In one, we watched a gal take a cleaning rag out of a bucket and wipe a table and drop the cloth back in the bucket. I have been carrying disinfecting wipes in my purse so when we sit down, I wipe my side and then DH wipes his. In the beginning, our restaurants were advised to make paper copies of their menu but now they are re-using them (like over and over). The original idea was to throw them away. Otherwise they might as well use the laminated menus and wipe them after each use with a disinfecting wipe. But between those things and the ‘great unmasked’ (even among servers) I just don’t feel safe. Who ever thought I would turn into this person??

So, VBF and I are meeting for lunch via ZOOM with me at my table and her at hers. Not the same, but we can chat and catch up, and we can even SEE each other! I warned her I am not doing hair or make-up, and she said the same. I have a handful of more chores to do around here but I am mostly done – and I need to fix something for my lunch. We woke to temps in the 20’s and even now it is only low 30’s. At least the sun is shining, and I may take myself out for a walk later.

BBL. Make a great day!!

Good morning all!

It is a beautiful sunny day and was only 55 out when Debbie and I walked. We last walked together on Tuesday, so had lots to talk about and the time flew. I made scrambled egg with turkey sausage crumbles, onion and cheese with a slice of Dave's and a satsuma for a filling breakfast. Lunch will be chef salad and dinner will be grilled steak, baked potato and asparagus.

Today I plan to mop the living room and hall and our bedroom, which also needs a good dusting. I have already cleaned the back double glass door both inside and out. The bathrooms also need cleaning, so that will be another task. When I went out to pick a bucket of satsumas for DH to run through the juicer, I noticed the mustard greens need to be picked, so that will be something else. I think that will be enough for one day, lol.

I don't remember if I mentioned my blood work showed I was out of whack on several measures including my thyroid levels. My doctor has lowered my dosage back to where it was last year and said we will repeat in 2 months. He thinks most of the tests with abnormal readings are a result of the thyroid levels being wrong. We will see. Now I will have to be extra careful with my eating or I will surely gain a lb. or two as my metabolism will slow with the lower thyroid dosage. Sigh! On the bright side, this may help my thinning hair and hot flashes, so that is something to be happy about.

We got a face time call from Madison last evening. DD3 had to work some overtime this week and M was feeling the lack of mommy time, so DD offered her a "sleepover" after little sister was tucked in for the night. DSIL was banished to the guest room (which, after a full week of trying to WFH with 2 kids underfoot, was undoubtedly a blessing, lol)and Madison got to sleep with mom. M had made a written list of activities for them to do which included a scavenger hunt, crafting, Monopoly Jr. and another game, popcorn and a movie. She was SO happy with something so simple for DD to do.

Judy - Sorry to hear about your teacher's sister. 2020 just keeps on giving.. I also like Maeve Binchey's novels. I definitely would only be doing the absolutely necessary cleaning at the Cape house.

Ann - I didn't recognize Terri DuLong's name until I googled and found she wrote the Cedar Key series. I think I have read at least one of those, if not more. Glad your sunshine arrived. A little extra Vitamin D can't hurt. It's good that your sister is with loved ones and I'm sure she appreciated your call. I'm sure Dottie appreciated her parade.

Sue - Too bad about lunch with your VBF, but I think you figured out a safe alternative that will still allow you to visit. I tend to use face time way more than Zoom, but either works well for being face-to-face when you can't actually be face-to-face.

Pam it amazes me all the 'stuff' you cram into a day LOL....you GO girlfriend. I cleaned yesterday while Carl was out so feel justified in taking today as a goof off day

sorry about your blood work. I agree with you, at least you won't have the flashing. I could use some hair thinning LOL. Just sayin' That's the downside of Rx...some put it on and others take it off for a time...only to have it return in the end.

That is wonderful that DD offered to spend time with Madison. Yes there are a few series that she has written. I've read all of them and they were all very enjoyable.

Sue yes I did get my phone back on Monday. I may have mentioned it, but I really don't remember. The hardest part was getting proboards to 'recognize me' when I typed in my user name...I kept getting it was already taken...then I handed my phone to Carl and not sure what he did but it worked.

Re: Zoom...that is why I don't bother with that. I have an android phone and it keeps shutting me out. More than likely it's the 'USER' (me) than a problem with the phone or the zoom. But I have no intentions of wracking my poor brain to try to figure it out. I'm good with not zooming........

Our sun is going in and out. At least the wind has died down somewhat. It's hard walking with the wind in your face or even blowing on your back!

Back to the sectional and my kindle....

Oh, in digging through book treasures, I found another really interesting little book from 1901 called Pocket Medical Dictionary because every "nurse and doctor needs a handy reference for diagnosis."  How far we have come!  It's signed by one of my mother's great aunts. I am going to give it to a good friend whose two brothers are doctors.  It's a relic for sure! 

I didn't get all I planned accomplished, but did get other tasks done. Instead of cleaning the bathrooms, I picked more satsumas for DH to can some juice for the DD's (it makes awesome mimosas!), picked mustard greens (I will have enough to freeze some), picked the seed okra (pods that are left until they turn brown and dry up so that we can save the seeds for next year) and enough okra for another meal and disposed of all the pods that were too big and hard to eat. I looked at my poor little green bean plants and discovered....green beans!!! Even the puniest of them had at least one. I picked a colander full which will be at least a couple of meals for us. I also found 4 or 5 little bell peppers on our scraggly, neglected plants. I feel like an accomplished gardener, lol! Dee promised to come and help me get a handle on all the weeds next week. We have a cool front coming through tomorrow, so next week should be perfect gardening weather.