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Archive through December 20, 2010

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: September 2010 ~ December 2010: Home & Garden: TVCH's Home & Life Organization: Archive through December 20, 2010 users admin

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Biscottiii
Member

05-29-2004

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 - 10:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Biscottiii a private message Print Post    
Thanks folks for the 'buck up' responses and understanding. Spending 2-3 hrs on the phone each day has been wearing me out (it takes a wrestling match to get off the phone with him). I've started having to get firm "I have to hang up now" after 1/2 hr per call and that's helping. Also saying "I won't be answering the phone any more tonight". He seems to be slowly getting the message, instead of immediately calling to let the phone ring until he can chat with the answering machine a few times.

He's deciding about whether to pursue chemo, making the decision in 2 weeks. He will be 90yo in one month, so I think the side effects could be unimaginable. I won't be able to help him out with that, so his doctors will have to help figure out the logistics. I spent 6 long years as a caregiver for a coworker in the past, and am not up to doing it again, certainly for a non-relative.

Got my place all ready for company tomorrow. Didn't get the vacuuming done but Oh Well. Can do that after Sis & Bro are here, they're not coming to inspect. Jeepers I'm tired! All the stuff I hauled in to hide in my bedroom - it now looks like the bombshell it did during all the mold abatement.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 - 11:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Wednesday's Mission

Bisc, if he decides to do chemo, his doctor (or rather the office) can help get him set up with a visiting nurse, maybe even a caregiver to help with the non-nursing stuff too.

I went Christmas shopping with sis earlier. Actually didn't spend a lot of money, mostly stocking stuffers. I did get Dakota's Santa gift (both the kids still pretend to believe for my sake, lol,) a "grown up" art kit. She loves the art kits, but that was one thing she asked for this year was one that's not so little kiddie. Found one at Michaels that has acrylic paints, oil pastels, drawing pencils, water colors, plus several things I'm forgetting, all in a metal carry case. She's been doing a lot of drawing and painting since softball season ended and she's looking forward to when she gets to take an elective in school so she can take art classes, figured between that and her asking for it, she'll love it.

Not much else done today, she got home early, and Caleb not much later than her. Darren ended up working a 14 hour day, it was a pretty quiet evening for us.

Tomorrow, going back to the caregiver stuff, lol, I'll be at my aunts, cleaning and helping her with a shower. Caleb is on a finals schedule at school, 1/2 days the rest of the week. Thinking I won't get much done here today.

Biscottiii
Member

05-29-2004

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 12:22 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Biscottiii a private message Print Post    
Grateful to hear that War! Much needed info!

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 12:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
You're welcome. I've learned a lot taking care of my aunt and one is that if the doctors office has a lot of elderly or ill patients, they should be able to help get that sort of stuff set up with no problem.

You (or he) might check into if your state does the in home supportive services (they're run through the dept of social services.) They'll pay a caregiver to help with personal needs (bathing/bathroom/dressing,) cooking, cleaning, drs appts, meds, etc. Even if he could get someone to come in a couple hours a day that might help a lot. Unfortunately, I'm not quite sure what exactly is involved in getting that set up or how long it takes, so I don't have much more info to add.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 10:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Ran the dishwasher last night and got most of an 8 hour tape. I think I have 2 hours left to finish off tonight. Didn't get to the christmas cards, hopefully sometime today. Did manage to clear out my personal email, reviewed all the online statements so I could delete them,etc. That feels like a major accomplishment. I have been so busy at work, with condo board and trying to make sure I am ready for Christmas that finally it seems all the major stuff is done, management is gone until next year so now I can relax! It already feels less stressful.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 1:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Thursday's Mission

Cruddy, cruddy day. Woke up feeling rather crappy, stomach cramps, achy, cold. Think it was the same thing Kota had last week. Spent the better part of the morning just feeling crappy and then it really hit me. Me and a bowl and the couch, that was the rest of my day. I went to pick Kota up from school, at 3pm, still in my jammies! Darren told me when he got home I was running a fever, I hadn't bothered taking my temp but was pretty sure of that anyways cuz I'd been alternating between freezing and burning up all afternoon. By about 7, I was no longer clutching the bowl, but man, I'm still having severe stomach cramps.

Needless to say, I did not go to my aunts, don't need to share that with her. I don't want to go over tomorrow, but may not have much choice. We're trying to get an appointment scheduled with the social worker and right now it's looking to be one of those things where she squeezes us in whenever she has a few minutes. Since the appts been rescheduled once, and we need this done by the end of the year, I can't pass up having her out whenever she can get there.

Otherwise, I will be home for the day, trying not to get anyone else sick. Not sure where I picked it up from, doesn't seem likely it was from Kota, but I sure don't want to give it to anyone else.

Lumbele
Moderator

07-11-2002

Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 7:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Glad things are looking up for you, Dipo and sorry that War has been calling Beulah. Get well soon, War and let the family pamper *you* a little for a change.

Yesterday was a wash-out. Never had an MRI before, but saw the pix with ppl lying on the slabs. Well, on TV it looks a lot like there is actually some space between your head and the top of that tube. No such luck, for 20 minutes, it took all I had not to start screaming "Get me the hell out of here!!!" To top it off, they made me stretch out my legs and then strapped the feet in, pigeon-toe style. My back was screaming bloody murder. AND we had a snow storm that morning. Dh wouldn't let me go on my own. By the time he brought me back home, I was so "traumatised" that all I wanted was a cuppa and the couch. There I stayed for the rest of the day, didn't do squat. Never even had a chance to unpack the knitting needles at the hospital. Barely got there and they started me on the prep already.
But I reset my alarm clock (w/o my glasses) last night and must have changed the time one hour ahead as well. It took a while, but I suddenly realised that I had breakfast at 5:30. So I went back to the sewing machine and made a little pouch w/ scraps and did some ironing. Just having my second cup of tea and visiting the clubhouse. Then back to sewing. I left the more complicated gift bags for last; yeah, I know, I am a coward.LOL

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 10:02 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
LOL, Lumbele, about your early morning start. I have heard a lot of people who wouldn't normally be claustrophobic had difficulty with the MRI, hope it turns out well.

I didn't do a thing, realized this morning that I even forgot to unload the dishwasher, LOL. Guess I need to get busy tonight. I did manage to get the last of my Christmas cards done.

Wargod, hope you feel better, could you have eaten something bad?

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 2:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Lum, if you have a choice next time (if there is a next time) ask if they have the open mri. That's supposed to be better if the other makes you claustrophobic.

I don't think so Dipo, at least not with running the fever. I'm still feeling kinda...shakey and nothing at all sounds real appetizing, so sticking to soup.

Ended up having to go to my aunts, we were able to get the sw out today and get all her stuff taken care of. Ended up being there longer than I'd planned on but it had to be done.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Friday, December 17, 2010 - 12:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Friday's Mission

I got quite a bit accomplished today. Cleaned my aunts, got her in the shower, her appt. I'm doing a load of laundry for her right now.

Did a little Christmas shopping and a little neccessary shopping, took Kota to her dance. And then came home and wrapped presents. Actually came pretty close to finishing what I have (think there's 2 or 3 more boxes to go, I ran out of time.)

Tomorrow, I need to drop aunts laundry off at some point. Also need to pay some bills, grocery shop (seriously need to do that, especially with the kids on winter vacation,) clean the house, finish the Christmas shopping, and do laundry. Heh, not planning all of that tomorrow, but over the weekend I hope to get most of it finished.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Friday, December 17, 2010 - 9:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
You must be feeling better, up to your old tricks, LOL.

I forgot I had a birthday dinner last night with my girlfriend so no chores accomplished. I really have to do some laundry, I realized all my towels (except the two I am using) are sitting in the basket!

I am going to change the sheets tonight and go run towels and sheets through the laundry. I don't think it is supposed to rain hard until tomorrow and I won't melt, so walking down to the laundry room should be ok.

Lumbele
Moderator

07-11-2002

Friday, December 17, 2010 - 10:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Still brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring in the basement.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Friday, December 17, 2010 - 12:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Today, feeling a lot better, back to normal. Yesterday I was queasy most of the day, but it was a big improvement over Wednesday.

I've got a lot of stuff to get done today, but taking my time on it. Right now, I need to balance my check book and pay some bills and then get some cleaning done. Darren may have thrown some of my plans out the window, told me he's going to come home and start working on the marshmellow shooters and he knows I'm all kinds of excited about that, lol.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Friday, December 17, 2010 - 11:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
I accomplished more than I thoght I would today! Balanced the checkbook and took care of the bills. Cleaned the kitchen.

And did major, major grocery shopping. I had a couple packs of meat in the freezer, a bag of cereal, beans, and half a gallon of milk. Major grocery shopping, lol. It was also worse since today was the last day of school for the kids and Darren only has three more days of work left. Normally I can get away with minimal amounts of lunch food cuz it's just me here, can't do that with all of them home. So that is done.

We also made the marshmellow shooter (if you're confused about that, check the holiday thread.) Still need to paint them but the glue had to dry so we'll do that tomorrow.

Tomorrow is actually looking to work out quite well for us. Dakota is invited to a birthday party in Palmdale. Darren and I need to do some Christmas shopping for each other and a couple gifts (one for his parents, one for my bil.) Timing should work out really well since Palmdale has a lot of stores and the mall (which I plan to avoid, lol.) We can drop her off at the restaurant for her party, go do our shopping for his parents and bil together, then seperate to do our own shopping for each other since most of the stores either of us wants to go to are in the same shopping center, and finish up in time to pick Dakota up. All in the same 3 or 4 block area and no driving back and forth from Lancaster to Palmdale several times.

I've alreay told the kids no plans Sunday. That is big cleaning day. They have to clean their rooms, get rid of stuff that doesn't fit, they don't need or use, broken stuff, whatever. I want sheets washed, laundry done, and floors vacuumed. Told them if their rooms aren't done Sunday, they won't be able to make any other plans this week until they are done. Heh, it's an annual holiday tradition both of them hate. But, Darren and I are right there with them, I'm doing the rest of the house and he's cleaning the garage and rearranging it.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend!

Oh, Dipo, are you getting soaked too? Started raining about 3am here last night, rained hard til close to 7am. It has drizzled all day long, very lightly but enough to keep the ground wet all day. Started pouring about half an hour ago again. Guess it's supposed to be like this for several more days.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Saturday, December 18, 2010 - 1:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Yep, it was drizzly and really cold Friday, but I think that was because it was so clear on Wednesday and Thursday. My bird bath froze Thursday morning but it was sunny and bright, it felt a lot colder on Friday, even though it really wasn't. Today it is just gray, but bright, very light rain, and lots warmer, something about the cloud cover makes it warmer, LOL.

I didn't do laundry last night because it started to rain harder once I got home from work. But this morning it hardly looked like it was raining and I could barely tell until I headed for the laundry room. Wasn't enough for a coat and it didn't make marks on my clothes but you could sort of feel it hitting you.

Anyway I got my sheets and towels done, sheets are folded away, kitties are laying on the hot fitted sheets and towels, LOL. They love the warmth and how the laundry smells.

So funny about the kids cleaning their rooms, one of the things I want to do today, is list/detail and bag my stuff for Goodwill. I have a bag going and was thinking I have a bunch of stuff that has been in this house for 3 years and I haven't pulled it out so I will do a little purging of that.

I need to call my sister and nail down some Christmas plans, I kind of don't want to cook and have been thinking about going to a resturant then coming home for desert and presents. So I keep going back and forth about going for lunch or dinner, or maybe brunch. We don't really worry about what day we do it, LOL, so I just need to call her and see what she thinks.

Lumbele
Moderator

07-11-2002

Saturday, December 18, 2010 - 2:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Paper from here on in!!!!!!!!! Ran out of material and am not buying any more. Well, not this year anyway.
The bags were fun to make, but I did utter a deeeeeeeep sigh of relief when I realised it was all gone. A little more paper wrapping and we'll be done. Yeeeeeeehaw!

Will post a pic when they are all under the tree next week.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Saturday, December 18, 2010 - 9:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Wait, I missed it, Lum, what bags are you making? Gift bags??

I know between the kids they have at least one bag of clothes and stuff they've outgrown and just got a postcard from Goodwill that they'll be in the neighborhood this week.

I've finished two loads of laundry so far today, have one more in the dryer now. We got almost all the shopping finished (he still has to take the kids to get me something and he wants to get me a couple stocking stuffers) but other than that, we're done with shopping. We came home and wrapped everything up too. Only things left to wrap are the marshmellow shooters which aren't finished yet. So, very productive day.

Tomorrow is cleaning day and I hope to have that done by mid-afternoon. Need to run by my aunts and drop off her clean laundry and chat with sis for a bit about our plans for this week.

Heh, Dipo, I just made a similar suggestion to Darren about his family. Usually we get together with them the week before Christmas for a big family dinner and all, but I haven't heard a thing about either of his sisters coming to town (which means they aren't) and my mil hasn't called to set anything up with us yet. We're not even sure mil and fil are going to be in town! Told Darren when he calls her tomorrow, if they'll be home, he should suggest we get together for dessert.

Lumbele
Moderator

07-11-2002

Saturday, December 18, 2010 - 9:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Yep, gift bags, War. Today I finished the 22nd.
Dh found some more material that maybe could pass as Christmas. Well, they are green anyways. He picked up a pack of quilters material - so smaller pieces - but would probably work for small stuff, like chocolates, etc, but I do believe I will be on strike for a while.
Just knit the cowl for dil and am on my way to bed. "Bushed" is an understatement.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Saturday, December 18, 2010 - 10:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
That is totally cool! I think making gift bags are a great idea. Besides being unique and handmade, they can be reused either for gifts next year or even as decorations.

I decided to get a jump start on the cleaning, had to wash dinner dishes anyways, so I went ahead and wiped down the counters and cabinets, wiped down the appliances and the wall around the light switches, and swept. Also took one load of laundry out of the dryer, threw the other in and another in the washer. Didn't mop yet, I'll do that tomorrow after I pick up and sweep the den and bathroom. Though with the rain and the dogs going in and out of the back door, mopping the den is kinda pointless right now.

I may pick up and sweep the den tonight and do another load of laundry. Can't do much else with everyone sleeping though, they probably wouldn't be too happy if I woke them up with the vacuum, lol.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Sunday, December 19, 2010 - 12:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
I hear you on the mopping, while my kitties have little paws it seems if they even look at the balcony their little paws make marks on the hardwood floors, LOL.

I had the umbrella up (trying to divert all the leaves off the deck) and forgot to take it down last night. Woke up to it turned inside out, LMAO, never even knew patio umbrellas could do that. Anyway thank goodness it wasn't raining to hard, got it flipped back out, and shoved the umbrella back up into the hardware (I think I may need a new one this summer) and got it down. Then a couple a minutes ago I noticed it had billowed out again and detached from the upper piece, so I shoved it back up and then had to tie it together with some curling ribbon, LOL. I couldn't find anything else to tie the thing together. I really must buy some rope or twine to keep in the house.

No other chores today, I still need to do the goodwill listing, read the Sunday paper and track some info from my 401k.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Sunday, December 19, 2010 - 1:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
I guess the upside for me about the dogs is that the den is tiled. Might end up muddy and wet, but at least by the time they get to the living room carpet, they've left all the mud on the den floor, lol. I'd much rather have to mop then pull out the carpet cleaner. Was reading yesterday that the rain is supposed to go til Mon or Tues and then we may end up with another storm over the holiday weekend. I'll mop for Christmas, don't want pics with the muddy floor, lol, but might be better to just leave it until the rains are gone.

My plans are kinda stalled.

Kids got up and started cleaning their rooms. Caleb was only in his about 20 minutes when he came out and grabbed the vacuum. He finished with that, grabbed his pillow and blanket and has been sleeping since. He has another cold, been feeling bad since last night. His room isn't nearly as clean as I want it for Christmas (he didn't get rid of any of his outgrown stuff) but it's clean enough for now considering how he feels.

Dakota is about half way done with hers, but Darren wanted to go shopping and she needed to go with him, so she'll finish later.

I've been doing a little picking up but can't get much done with Caleb sound asleep in the middle of the living room floor. I'm going to hop in the shower in a while and then head over to my aunts when Darren and Kota get back. Figure by then Caleb will be awake (I gave him nyquil so he should be out a few hours) and I can send him to my room to watch a movie and nap while I clean.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Sunday, December 19, 2010 - 10:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Monday's Mission

Tomorrow is going to be my cleaning day. By the time I got done with my shower and back from my aunts, I came home to find Caleb on the couch watching a movie with Darren. I said pfft to cleaning and "scoot over" to Caleb. Kota whipped up a quick dinner (canned chili) and we watched A Charlie Brown Christmas, Prep and Landing, and the Charlie Brown Christmas special where Rerun wants a dog.

Told sis she could drop the girls off tomorrow afternon. That'll give me the morning to clean. I did finish four more loads of laundry and Kota fnished her bedroom.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Monday, December 20, 2010 - 9:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
LOL, that sounds fun. I spent most of the day watching Christmas movies as well, I did run the dishwasher and got all the stuff out of the closet that I want to bag up for goodwill. That made me do a little re-org of the closet and I found a present that I got to give my sister last year, LOL. I will wrap it up tonight.

We are supposed to only have light rain today, it is so funny, there will be cold rain north of me, and warm rain south of me and I am in the strip that is probably not going to get any rain, looks funny on the weather map. Our guy did say that southern CA was going to get about 10 inches of rain in the next few days!

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Monday, December 20, 2010 - 1:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
It's ridiculous, hasn't stopped raining at all since sometime Friday and that was only for a little while.

Two of my nieces (oldest and youngest) are here today. Middle niece has been toying with being sick for a few days and then last night spiked a high fever. Sounds like strep to me, her throat hurts too bad to swallow and she sounds like it's coated in crap when she talks. So they dropped the other two girls off and rushed her to urgent care, when sis called this morning they told her it was a long wait, expecting to have the girls for quite a while. Oldest niece will probably spend the night.

I've been cleaning off and on. Have a pot of beans going, couple loads of laundry already finished, and cleaned up the living room and vacuumed. Need to get working on the den, but think I'm going to eat some lunch first.

LOL on the present for sis! My mom had a holiday tradition when we were kids, unintentional, but every single year she would lose one gift. Every Christmas, she would sit there and look around and then say, "Hmmm, I didn't see (whoever it was) open something I bought!" Then 3-4 months later she'd find it in some place she'd hid it, lol. It was never anything big, maybe bubble bath or a book.

Lumbele
Moderator

07-11-2002

Monday, December 20, 2010 - 4:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
War, my grandmother would usually show up between Christmas Eve and New Year's w/ something or other that she forgot about giving. I guess if she found it after New Year's, we got it either for Easter or b'days.LOL
Hope your niece gets well fast, so she can fully enjoy the holidays.

We've been cleaning up a storm today, and I have also been ironing and mending since the sewing machine was still out anyway. The poor dogs are confused because the furniture was moved to accommodate the tree.
Funny thing, this is the first year dh decided to get a small tree for on the table. I'll have to help him decorate, because he is so embarrassed at how puny it looks. It's also listing a (large ;)) touch, but the stand is made for a big tree and he can't get it to grab the trunk in the upright position. Poor guy, he is so frustrated.LOL I say, "let 'er lean!"
Sounds like you Californians are getting wet feet while it is nasty here. Strong winds and drifting snow, ick. Hopefully it will be done by the morning, because we have to get some last minute stuff and groceries.
Too-da-loo! Catch ya when I can.