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Post by holly2007 on Dec 15, 2021 22:39:11 GMT
Hi All,
Joan, hopefully you look normal by now.
Exams ended last week so we’re all just doing year end wrap up stuff. I am taking a few days of vacation before we start our holiday break on the 23rd.
They are repainting and putting in new carpet on the top floor of the library where my office is. They’re also adding about 10 glassed in study rooms. This all started this week and should wrap up in January.
Have made about $35 so far for the local dog rescue. Hoping to make it to $50. I pick a different charity every few months.
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Post by nov21987 on Dec 15, 2021 23:33:49 GMT
Hi!
Time is flying by so fast. I survived all the dinners, went out 3x last week. Lost 11 lbs in 8 weeks, very happy with it. Down to my previous "high point" pre-pandemic. Now next goal is to down to my cruising weight after doing high protein/low carb diet, except this time I'm not following that diet but will keep doing what I'm doing now. Really don't want to fall back on gimmick diets. I'm not really cutting anything out, still have some bread/rice/pasta each day and my favorite pizza once a week, just less of it all and including more healthy stuff like nuts, avocadoes, etc.
I can't believe Christmas is in 10 days. SO and I decided not to give each other gifts this year. We are buying so much for the new house there's really been no time to research gifts for each other.
The architect still thinks the house will be ready in Jan, but we don't think so and are preparing for Feb at the earliest.
Joan, hope your eyes are fully recovered by now. Did you finish all your pottery? I bet everything looks amazing. Are you back to walking now? Surprised that having eyelid surgery affects your being able to walk for exercise. I'm pretty amazed by how much good walking does for losing weight, increasing my walking has really helped me. Your holiday yard decorations sound amazing!
Holly, have you finished classes for the semester? Just saw your post and see that you finished. Are you going anywhere on your few days of vacation or just resting?
We have packed a ton of stuff, well mostly SO did - the rest of his books and almost all of the paintings, still about a dozen paintings left that are still hanging on our walls, mostly for showing the house to buyers. Not too many showings these days due to holidays and is traditionally a very slow time for house buying. I'm ok with that. In fact, I'm ok with not selling the house. We've talked about buying an air mattress to keep in the condo, and some other odds and ends, and having a place to crash when we pop into town next year.
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Post by nov21987 on Dec 15, 2021 23:34:37 GMT
oh, I got the new galaxy 21plus, SO is waiting on the iphone13. I really like mine, been playing with it
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jmg44
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 17, 2021 0:25:42 GMT
Just back from a walk and prior to that getting my stitches out—oh, it feels so much better! The stitches were just irritating and itchy and scratchy. I am still bruised in a couple matching places on both cheeks and eyelids. But nothing like before. A bit of swelling still on the eyelid but she said that will leave quickly now that stitches are gone. I can see better tho. And my permanent eyeliner will show again on the left eye!
I am bisque firing Jordan’s Japanese tea bowls now—will glaze tomorrow and fire the next day. I have two cereal bowls to bisque fire tomorrow after I take Jordan’s out. That little kiln is working out! My pet pots for the grand kids turned out very cute—they are now about 10-11 in tall—I posted them on two FB. Pottery private groups—one for the company Amaco and another for handbuilders. OMG over 3500 potters have reacted to them—there have been about 500 comments—most of which I have answered or thanked—I have never seen a response like this to any thing—I think the pet thing is so appealing and I posted the real pets so they could see the comparison—they are just really appealing. The horse and cow look great as well. Today I took the six spice jars out and they look really good—hope they like them—no glaze—just red iron oxide rubbed into the burlap texture—the corks fit nice and snug. I think I’ll make myself some!
I delivered all the mugs I was to give and mailed three others that were received. Today I delivered my Ohm vase to my doctor with some sunflowers and greens in it—she was so surprised and loved that I put her business motto on the bottom. It’s just so fun to surprise people—the dining room table is finally clear of all pottery and the pieces for family are hanging out in the laundry room.
I finally cleaned out the office—desk is free and clear and DH got all his technology boxes stored. Sue We both got new iphone13’s as well—love the camera’s capability.
I made lemon bread for all my little bread pan pottery pieces for the neighbors and today wrote and printed a little greeting and the recipe—we will deliver tomorrow. There are six in all. Then I have one gift to take way out to Boulder City but my potter friend out there is having heart health issues—I may have to wait until after her surgery—am waiting to hear.
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday—it’s super cold for Vegas—high was in the 40’s today!
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jmg44
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 18, 2021 4:19:59 GMT
We have been dealing with some issues regarding our new trailer—which, by the way, is finally ready to use fully after DH had some changes made to the way batteries were working, the solar, etc. along the way DH discovered that he had miscalculated (not his fault) the weight that was on the tongue of the trailer—our car is designed to “manage” 500#. The trailer was supposed to be like 470 on the tongue—the weight at the point where the trailer hooks onto the car hitch. However, this company measures the weight before the batteries and the propane tanks are loaded—all of which cause the weight to go over 500#. So our car, in a difficult situation could possibly not be heavy enough to be stable, the trailer then causing it to tip over. Ugh! So DH has been researching cars (I do not want a truck). At the car show the goal was to sit in every car that could tow well over the weight of our trailer tongue.
Sadly, there were only two mid sized SUV’s that I can see over the hood of the car—the Subaru Ascent, which we have, and a Lincoln Aviator (which he had not even considered because of it’s cost). I sat in the Aviator just because it was there and was shocked when the seat went way up and I could see to drive.
So, he and I came home and went down and ordered an Aviator after test driving twice—it’s beautiful—and seat goes higher than the Subaru. However, DH feels so guilty he has been continuing to research alternative cars—today he made me go sit in a Nissan Pathfinder—new car that is set up for towing and has a great engine and is way cheaper—OMG, I couldn’t raise the seat to see over the dash. Then he still couldn’t handle that so he went to another lot and I sat in another one—same car—finally I had him walk backwards until I could see his shoes—at which point I can see the road in front of the car—he was shocked—was about 30 yards out. The car was beautiful—so I said I’d go to one more lot—back to the aviator—and do the same experiment—it was 2/3’s closer—about 10 yards out—I think he finally has accepted the fact that he’s stuck with an expensive short person! So the order will stay in place. The car will work super well and is beautiful and yes, costs a darn fortune but we’ll get really good money for ours as it’s in perfect condition and used cars are at very high prices now. I told DH to look at it this way—if we ever lose the house and end up homeless, it will be a hell of a nice car to live in! LOL
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jmg44
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 18, 2021 4:21:51 GMT
One salesman told me I was an anomaly—that there weren’t many customers like me—his answer when I asked why so many cars do not make driving an SUV accessible to short people! I am short but am also short waisted so being married to a tall, very long waisted man is a bit of an issue when buying a car.
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jmg44
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 20, 2021 4:14:37 GMT
Busy day getting pottery for family boxed so DH can wrap and I can write cards. I did not want to wrap the pet pots but decided a good wine gift bag would allow them to sit out on the island in the kitchen and not be revealed—we went to Total Wine and got the cutest wine bags—really nice—each looks like a Santa suit and in Target probably would have been $10 or more each—they were only 3 something! So that will work perfect.
Yesterday I cleaned out the fridge and freezer—oh my gosh—am ashamed I had not done the freezer for so long. It looks so good now. Also cleaned out my junk drawer. And I made bread and a triple batch of banana bread to freeze. So all the frozen overripe bananas are used up again. Tomorrow will make a large batch of chili for Wed night’s dinner and then clean out the pantry. Then Tuesday I will make a veggie lasagna for christmas dinner (DGD17 is vegetarian) so that all I have to do is bake it along with doing the baby back ribs as well. Hopefully all will be done by Tuesday evening when DD from Sacramento and family arrive.
DS from SLC is concerned about covid—and we all are—told DGD21 she’d have to test after getting here—she is tested now and will isolate till getting on the plane on Wednesday—but the plane will be packed. Cannot believe we are back to this again!
Sue DH and I aren’t getting each other anything—we often don’t—a car is enough—yikes!
It’s cold here—getting down to low thirties every night. In fact, I need to go out and cover my garden and geraniums right now! Almost forgot that I had uncovered them for some sun today. It’s already 39º out. Yuk—hate going out now!
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Post by holly2007 on Dec 23, 2021 15:47:33 GMT
Wow, 23rd already!
I didn’t have to do much shopping this year because I went in with others on gifts for my parents and siblings. So it has been weird not having to scramble to find stuff this week. The BF has a list on Amazon that I usually pull from. He has so many books and DVDs.
I’m planning to make some peanut butter/chocolate candies and a n eggnog pie. I found it on Pinterest and thought it sounded interesting.
I took a few vacation days, then we have the 23rd-Jan 2 off, so a total of two weeks. Nice to get a chance to catch up on reading, knitting, etc. I just finished the 2nd in the original Star Wars trilogy.
I think Omicron is kind of the transition to endemic stage. It appears to be milder. It is amazing how far we have come with vaccines and treatment since this whole thing started.
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jmg44
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 24, 2021 16:48:44 GMT
Hi Holly—my friend who fires my work and her DH went to NYC to be with family—now he has covid and she is testing today. It’s rampant! We will test DGD21 today—she said the flight was full of coughing people! So who knows we may all be at risk here. Will see. So far my friend’ s DH has symptoms of a slight cold—and he is 81 with some health issues so the vaccines must be helping.
Turns out everyone is coming”home” for tonight and tomorrow—OMG, sometimes you get what you wish for and then panic that you may not handle it! Will be 18 of us here tonight for dinner—ordered out from a Greek Grill—than all back for breakfast and gifts in the morning. We may actually get a picture!! Dinner tomorrow night might be a little smaller—maybe 13.
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Post by nov21987 on Dec 25, 2021 0:28:20 GMT
Hi!
Happy Christmas Eve!
Joan, wow that is a lot of people coming over tonight. Will Jordan and his gf be there too? Seems like he's your grandson as well. Your pottery gifts are so thoughtful! SO is pushing for me to get a SUV when we move (the "practical" car), while he is getting a sportscar. I absolutely refuse! I never would feel comfortable driving a bigger car than what I currently have. I don't really like to drive in general.
Holly, enjoy those 2 weeks off! Omicron does seem more mild, but I worry about how much it will continue to mutate with its high rate of transmission. I read that they are amazed by how many different mutations are in omicron from the original and they are trying to trace the lineage and figure how it happened.
We are probably going to order out Chinese tomorrow. My oldest nephew is coming home on Sunday so my sister is doing Christmas on Sunday instead. SO had a recent medical procedure and nobody wants him exposed to anything so I might just drop off some stuff on Sunday at my sister's house.
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jmg44
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 30, 2021 0:48:39 GMT
So, so tired—everyone is now gone—put DGD21 on flight home this morning—now she has been delayed in Dallas three times—and I rerouted her there because Chicago was snowing yesterday and figured she’d perhaps get rerouted or stuck—now that flight has been on time and she is sitting in Dallas—cannot win!
Jordan was not here for Christmas Eve or breakfast, Sue. He got his booster and really reacted. He did come over for Christmas night but we didn’t have DD from here or her boys or DS Park Ranger as storms were coming in and they left in the morning after breakfast.
We had a lovely week but are exhausted. Lots of eating and lots of people! The house is really quiet and right now that feels good. BUT we got the best family picture—first one—DS from SLC did a great job setting it all up.
Greek food was a big hit Christmas EVe . The DGD’s loved their pet pots—oh my gosh the video of them opening them was so fun—I’ve watched it a ton of times.
After DGD left today we had to attend a birthday luncheon for a friend turning 80–wow, she’s so gorgeous at 80 it’s unreal—and totally unaffected. There were about 24 of us==really nice dinner in a nice restaurant here. Hoping no covid comes of it—we all were vaccinated.
What do you drive now, Sue? Do you have a move date yet? What has happened with your condo? Still selling?
Holly, I saw your memory post of Charlotte today—made me a little sad.
The kids went in together and got us a really cool propane burning campfire ring for camping trailer events. Have not fired it up yet. DH is chomping at the bit to get his new car so he can go out with the trailer. The cats are tolerating some time together—Sidney still limping and bit and he seems to no longer desire to be aggressive. Tanzi still apprehensive but not terrified like before.
Finn the pup of DD’s in SACramento was really a good dog almost all the time—he loved out back yard—did not dig holes and didn’t jump all over furniture and I think may have barked one bark the whole week! I love that. He likes me and I enjoyed having him here. Tanzi did not really come out—we had two dogs one day and that scared her as the other one was a bit agressive.
We the family pic turned out so good==am so happy about that. Will order a large one for over our entry way table. Happy New Year everyone.
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Post by holly2007 on Dec 31, 2021 1:13:43 GMT
Happy New Year!
Joan, I know you were thrilled to have everyone home. Great picture! I just put in an application for a dog at the local rescue and they are doing a home visit tomorrow.
Sue, hope SO’s procedure went well.
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jmg44
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 31, 2021 20:50:50 GMT
Yay for a dog, Holly! Hope you find a good match!
Happy New Year all—hope everyone is healthy, managing to dodge the “arrows” again! So far our group is altho’ DGD17 took a test yesterday as she’s been so tired and sniffly—keeping fingers crossed!
We are staying home alone—went to our friend’s 80 birthday luncheon so feel we must isolate until there’s been enough time to know.
I am doing clay today—making a ton of little test dishes—cute enough to take as a little tiny gift or use as a party favor but detailed enough to see how a few new glazes work before committing higher level work to them. It’s been gloomy here and chilly—supposed to get down to freezing tonight. We did get a walk in this morning before the breeze came up—had rained in the night.
DGD21 got home safely—now waiting as well after plane rides. Life is so different from before.
Thanks, Holly—I’m super happy with the family picture.
Making homemade pizza tonight for dinner. Probably won’t stay up!! Last night I couldn’t stay awake and finally crawled into bed at 9! Really slept well and late—7 am. So I feel rested today.
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