THE LIGHTER SIDE CAFE MONDAY NOVEMBER 16

Hi Ann and friends,

Ann, thanks for getting the ball rolling here!  I am glad little Lula's paws are getting better.  Glad  you have a low key day ahead, too.  Nothing like it!  I look forward to many low key days once we have this new house and are retired.  Lots to do in the meantime, but we'll get there little by little and bit by bit.  

I had a bit of a busy morning and am now getting ready to walk D&D.  Doug is the errant bad boy and he was so wiped out after his jaunt.  The little dope was clueless about the danger he put himself in.  Daisy is a bit smarter (after all, she is a girl - LOL).  She just stayed in her bed and I am sure she was thinking "I'm not going to follow that monkey out the door again - I learned where that takes me!) 

I have a hair appointment at 3:00 PM.  I am a bit nervous with the COVID spike and also there was a shooting last week near the location of the beauty shop. Our university just closed fully again today due to increasing numbers.  I guess this really reinforces our need to be alone for Thanksgiving.  I am getting sick of this, but aren't we all?

The builder just called.  Between the builder, the CA Bar Association, work and other things, I am up to my eyeballs in things we need to do.  Keeps my mind busy, that's for sure. 

I am about to put an oven stuffer into the instant pot for dinner.  I want dinner to be set by the time I get back from the hair dresser. Not sure how it'll come out, but it's hard to ruin a chicken as long as it does not dry out and that's not likely in the instant pot!  

Enjoy the day friends. Sue, hope your first day back is going well and I'll be eager to hear all about it! Waving to Pam, too!  

Good morning all!

Yesterday, I was lector at Mass. Debbie and I were supposed to walk afterwards, but we had a rain delay and had to wait until 10:30. A front came through and we walked in a 17 mph wind that kept us cool but very winded. We still managed to average 16:35 minutes per mile. I picked another bucket of satsumas and DH canned more juice for the DD's to have. We had a grocery pickup scheduled for noon and shortly before then, Abby called to ask if we were picking her up or if her mom should drop "them" off. We had totally forgotten that DD1 & Anna were traveling to the State Cross Country meet. DD1 decided she couldn't trust that her ADHD DH would get Jude up in time for school, so both he and Abby came to spend the night. We picked them up after getting the groceries, which meant I had help bringing everything in.

Jude and Pop settled in to watch sports and war movies and, after getting a pot of chicken and sausage gumbo started to simmer, Abby and I started a game of Mexican train dominoes. It amazes me how quickly she picked up on the game and strategies. At one point she said, "You're losing, Grammie. To a 6 year old!" She cracks me up. It took us all afternoon and evening to finish and entire game, with a break for me to teach a baptism class at church, a supper break and a popcorn break. I finally managed to squeak out a win, lol. Then, she got a bath and jammies and we read a book in bed. By the time I got the kitchen cleaned and a shower, I was exhausted. The guys finished their war movie and everyone headed to bed. I slept surprisingly well as, for a change, Abby stayed on her own side of the bed.

This morning, DH fixed sausage biscuits and we got the kids fed and I dropped them at school (temps taken before they are allowed to get out of the car and masks required). I went to Super 1, which is nearly empty at that time of day, and picked up the things missing from our Walmart order. I scored a container of sanitizing wipes! I still had a full one at home, but who knows what the future will bring, so I got another one.

I did a few chores and straightening up before the HH nurse came. She was again pleased with the progress and feels like the wound vac will be off very soon. DH will be thrilled and I don't really mind doing daily wound care. HH will probably cut back to once per week for wound assessment. Not sure yet if he will be sent back to the wound care doctor or not.

I had pineapple, yogurt and seeds for breakfast. Lunch will be leftover gumbo (and I put 4 pints in the freezer for future lunches) and dinner will be beef and gravy over brown rice with fresh mustard greens, green beans and smothered okra & tomatoes for sides. Debbie is working today, so not sure if I will take a solo stroll or take a DOR. I have lots of needed chores to do and the bathroom still needs cleaning, since I didn't get it done yesterday as planned.

Judy - I know that desperate feeling as the sun sinks lower and that precious pet can't be found. So glad the little rascal finally was located! Sounds like you had a really busy weekend and got a lot accomplished. We grandparents are so blessed to have facetime to visit with our far-away DGKs. Your lack of heat at the Cape reminded me of the book I am reading which is set during the American Revolution. It is unbelievable what the troops endured in the New England winter to gain freedom from Britain. I guess that is pretty much true of all wars fought during winter months. Both my hairdresser and I wear masks and they limit the number of people in the shop so I have felt comfortable in going.

Ann - I am happy to hear LuLa's paw seems to be better. I have another online WW friend who has been fighting this on her dog with 2 paws. Loved the 5 P's!!! So true! Congrats on the scale being down! Thanks for the reminder about making a gyn appt. Mine is past due now. Sounds like Sue's storm traveled east to you.

Sue - I heard it was quite a storm yesterday. I face-timed my MI kids and the noise of the storm and electricity flickering had the littles kind of nervous. I had never heard of the hot cocoa bombs, but they sound like a good stocking stuffer. I see some at Target and on Etsy that aren't too outrageously priced. It sounds like your work day will be just enough and not too much, at least for the time being.

Time to get tonight's beef and gravy going and put into the crockpot to simmer. Laundry is going and I need to pick satsumas for the neighbors. BBL