luvteaching

My first name means "pure" and my second means "lake". In this day I don't always want to say my first name as it's gotten quite a negative connotation. 

Karen

What a difference a day makes! Today we're up to 40F with blue skies and lots of sunshine! Quite a change from yesterday's snow! I'll gladly snack on cheese doodles, cheese puffs, etc. Not sure about the other things. I have been out and about. I had PT today and my body was quite stiff especially with not going to the pool yesterday but the PT helped. I'll gladly be at the pool in the morning. 

As a caregiver for DD DH I join in the "could have, should have, would have" group and there are times I doubt myself even though I know I did everything I possibly could for him and I was his best advocate. It's funny how the doubts creep in. I'm having a bit of a teary day today - no idea why as there's nothing to trigger it today - but life goes on. 8 months later I'm still working on getting refunds from the last care facility and they are on my "call" list. I tried to reconcile the last two sets of explanations of benefits with the bills I paid and pretty much threw my hands up in the air! I'll give them a call shortly. 

Have a wonderful Tuesday! 

Karen

Weather update from my corner of the US. It's now blue skies, sunshine and up to 40F. The snow is melting so fast off the roof that the downspouts are having a hard time keeping up and the water is overflowing the eaves leaving me to think I've got waterfalls! 

I did get the cookies made, the dishwasher is running, and I'm going through old bills before shredding to find the ones from the last care facility DD DH was in. I'm still getting Explanations of Benefits from Primera saying that they are sending the care facility money and, since I had to pay out of pocket, I should be getting that money back. So far it hasn't happened but I'll keep bugging them! 

Have a good rest of the day. 

Karen

Good morning, 

We've got snow and the county has pretty much shut down with school closed, etc. It's only a few inches - nothing like @ger_77 has by any means. Oh well, I'll stay home today and no water aerobics and pool for me. Better to be safe. 

Other than that I'm not a sweet potato fan at all so will pass on the meal, etc. I'm really enjoying seeing everyone's travel photos. Thank you! 

Now finally time to get a move on today. Since I'm staying home I'll get lemon cookies made for the PT staff tomorrow and keep working around the house. The current forecast calls for warmer temps and sun by noon so we'll see. 

Karen

Checking in! 

Good morning, 

It's a cloudy cool day here (low 40's) and snow is in the forecast but nothing like @ger_77 and the frozen tundra!

Yesterday my plans to have a quiet day at home went out the window when my DD DH's sister called and wanted to meet up. So, I met her and her husband at the new Goodwill store in Sedro-Woolley and wandered and then we went out to lunch. On the way to the restaurant the heavens opened up and we had hail! Now, I'm not talking little hail. Think the size of blueberries, pearls, grapes, etc. It came down in torrents like the cloud had been unzipped! It was rather scary. The road was white and slushy and my car thermometer said 43F. 

I got to the restaurant and we had a very nice lunch. I brought home a lot of the fries and 1/2 a pulled pork sandwich so have at least one more meal. Coming home the roads were slushy and by the time I got home it was 34F and snowing. I didn't realize how tense I was driving until I went to text my sister-in-law and son that I was safely home and I was shaking. We had snow for at least another hour and the ground is covered so you can't see my moss which is my predominant green. More snow predicted tonight and tomorrow morning then a few good days and rain. 

Today the plan, such as it is, includes staying home, making lemon cookies, and watching the ships sail away. We'll see how that goes!

Karen

NA confirmed for 15:40. 

Good morning, 

It's an overcast cool and windy day here in my corner of Washington state. I'll gladly embrace The Sound of Music and would love banana cream pie (coconut cream even better). I'm working on the "old stuff" as I start to clear out DD DH's "stuff" but it's taking awhile. It's more motivation than anything else. I can find lots to do, including even dusting, rather than go through his clothes. 

The Music Man last night was wonderful! It was 3 hours of great music and good acting for an amateur production. Seated just behind my friend and I were two former students and we had a Dad of former students in the cast and got to see him afterwards. It made for a late night as I'm not a night owl. We were exiting the theater at 10:30 and it was 11:15 by the time I got home. I was too revved up, I guess, as I didn't sleep at all well but I can have a relaxing day today. Nothing much planned here except some laundry, watching the ships sail away, and maybe do some work on the upcoming Alaska cruises this summer. I may even work on my counted cross-stitch. @StLouisCruisers you are inspiring me. Lovely meticulous work! 

Karen

Rabbit, rabbit, White Rabbit! 

Good morning, 

Off to run errands in a few so checking in before I go. Happy Birthday @aliaschief!

Still have power and all the appliances survived so all is good. I don't want to experience those big booms again if I don't have to. Today is errand running this morning then off to see The Music Man this evening at McIntyre Hall which is at our local junior college. It's a great venue and I'm really looking forward to it. I love the music and who remembers Ron Howard lisping through "Gary Indiana" and "The Wells Fargo Wagon.." The show is sold out for this weekend (the last run of it) so am very glad my friend and I got our tickets early. DD DH bought the tickets on Valentines Day since I used his checking account! He continues to spoil me even if he's not here. It's been 8 months and I'm doing well. 

Have a great Friday! 

Karen

Good afternoon, 

What a day! It started off by waking up to snow on the ground. Enough to cover the grass and this time the road was covered. School was delayed by 2 hours because the roads/visibility/driving conditions were questionable and I was glad to be retired and home! I did get oatmeal peanut butter chocolate chip cookies baked so that was good.

My son came over and filled the seed feeders out front and the one small hummingbird feeder in the back and we had a visit. He left at 1:30 or so and a few minutes later there were some loud booms,  the house shook and the lights went off, then on, then powered down, then more booms and then off for good. I'm guessing a transformer blew. For me not having power also means no heat or water - lovely. 

I had PT at 3:20 and left a dark house but came home to one all lit up and the furnace going so back to normal. Now I can relax a bit. 

Have a good rest of the day!
 

Karen

Snow! Yes, our area of the Pacific Northwest got snow yesterday. Not enough to do much with but enough to cover the grass and it's not on the road so that's good. Currently the temps are 28F but it's supposed to get up to the mid-40's and rain/snow mix later today and overnight. Tomorrow is very wet and windy. 

Yesterday was busy with two water aerobics classes, lunch with the widows support group (had mine to-go as I got there late) then a haircut. Haven't checked the scale but I feel lighter and it probably won't show on the scale! 

Today is a stay-at-home day and I have shredding to do, a house to take care of, and hopefully a neighbor coming for tea. 

Karen

IF you want a change of scenery go check out the Juneau webcam. It's a lovely sunny day there with snow capped mountains. 

Thanks Leanne and everyone for the thread and a nice way to escape on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Much appreciated. My computer didn't have a buffering problem today so that was an added bonus. 

Karen

Checking in

Good morning everyone, 

It's a very rainy start to the day here in the Pacific Northwest! I'll gladly say yes to chocolate covered nuts - especially almonds - and to clam chowder (the white kind). The egg muffins might be good to make and I could take them out as needed to help with the healthy eating. 

Nothing too exciting going on here. I plan to stay in, watch the ships sail away, and do fun stuff like sweeping the floors, organizing my desk, and even working on a jigsaw puzzle. It's a 1000-piece one from White Mountain Puzzles called Television Families. So far it's going together quite nicely. 

Tomorrow is water aerobics, the Widows Support group lunch and I get a haircut! Isn't there a law, somewhere, that if you get a haircut you lose 5 pounds? I know I sure feel lighter and have a bit more spring in my step after it's all cut off. 

Happy Sunday!

Karen

I'm now done and off to fold laundry, sweep floors and other exciting things. 

I'm still here. I did a quick 10 laps of my "in the house loop" so now have my 4000 steps in - my daily goal. 

Checking in from an overcast gloomy Pacific Northwest. Much better weather today in Fort Lauderdale! 

Good morning, 

it's a foggy start to the day here. It's supposed to clear off and be sunny and in the low 50's so not bad at all. Of course it's the precursor to a rainy stretch coming up along with some snow in the mix but the snow isn't forecast to stick around. 

Not much going on here. I got the income taxes done and in, have been going to water aerobics, had PT for my stuck hip muscle, paid off an Alaska cruise (Westerdam at the beginning of July) and other fun stuff. Off today to do some errands including Costco and the Hallmark store. 

Have a good day!

Karen

Hi Jacqui, 

I have 2 HAL cruises up this summer. 

July 7 - 14: Westerdam to Alaska. Taking a friend with me and it will be her first trip to Alaska and first cruise. She's soooo excited! We'll be sharing a cabin so it could be interesting. I do have a Signature Suite for this one so the extra space will be nice. 
 

September 7 - 14: Eurodam; Alaska again. This time a friend and her husband are joining me (in their own cabin) and it's also their first cruise and they are very excited. It will be interesting to see Alaska through the eyes of first timers when I've gone so many times. 

I also have Princess booked for June and August so all 4 cruises to Alaska and out of Seattle.

Thanks for posting the two HAL ones! 

Karen

Thanks everyone. Checking out and on to more fun stuff like shredding old paperwork, cleaning the bathroom, and doing dishes. The fun never ends. 

Checking in and it's sure not a nice weather day in PE. 

Good morning, 

It's a rather overcast gloomy start to the day in this area but no snow or rain so that's good. I'll go with the wine and will toast DD DH today. He'd love battery day. For Christmas 2022 I got him the "Battery Daddy" to hold all his batteries and he was in heaven. He came home at the end of December and one of the first things he wanted to do was fill that case. It turned out to be a great manual dexterity exercise for him and he did it twice as he spilled it. That box is heavy with all the batteries in it! 

Today is the fun stuff - clean the bathroom, etc. I did get the income tax done and had to do a bit of research to see how to file since DH had passed away. I sent it all in snail mail as it was just easier for me. Now to do some research on "surviving spouse" as it seems I can file that way for a year or two. There's always something! 

Have a nice Sunday!

Karen

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope everyone is having a good day. I've had texts from DS, DDIL and DGD and just got off the phone with my Mom so all is good. This is the first Valentine's Day without DH and I was a bit melancholy this morning but fine now. I am wearing the earrings he bought for me last year and I'll have a glass of wine and toast him when I have some dinner. He was a keeper and I miss him. 

Today was the pool for two water aerobics classes. I also stopped by the local junior college and got tickets for their production of The Music Man on March 1st. A friend and I are going and I used DD DH's account to pay for it so he's treating! Next up this afternoon is getting the income tax looked at again and ready to file and then relaxing. 

Have a lovely day. 

Karen

Since it's right around noon I usually have something light for lunch with me as I watch along with my mug of tea. Today's tea is Murchie's Paris Afternoon.