Sun Dog

Here in the Valley of the Sun, we don't often see a sun dog.  Tonight, as I sat on the patio watching the sun set lower in the sky, I looked up and boom. There it was!!

Nice to have an extra boost as I have been caring for mom, who caught the norovirus making its way around.  She was quite ill, and we called in a nurse who gave her an IV with a boost of vitamins.  Definitely helped her!  I would do that again!!!   Beats hauling her off to an ER to get it done.  Cuz you can't do much with gastroenteritis except manage things. 

Dashed home today as I needed some clean clothes.  I keep stuff here, just in case, but those were used up last week when I was ill.  Guess I need to be sorting things out and stashing stuff here again.

Where You Spray!

In my quest to get better, get over this gastroenteritis, I ran around yesterday spraying Lysol on whatever I thought I had touched the two days before I caught this.  However, I made one error.  I sprayed the doorknob on the front door.

I left to pick up my groceries and when I came home, I noticed a weird pattern all over my front door.  I grabbed a wet towel and tried to wash it, but no change. *sigh*  maybe yesterday's sun caused the splatter.

Looks like I need to locate some paint! Ugh. Be careful where you spray!!!

Holiday: Over!!

And just like that, the holidays are over.  Its a relief for me; has been for many years.  Putting all of it away for another year lifts a burden, and I'm happy to put things back to rights in the house.  I'm sure my plant is happy to have the sunshine back!!

Mom called and she caught my flu. A news flash says the norovirus is causing virulent stomach flu and ... it caught up with us.  

To combat this, I ordered my groceries for pickup today so I don't need to wander the store and expose myself, since I'm certain my immune system is not up to par.  But a little more rest and maybe I will have this all in the past.

I hope none of you catch this thing, its awful!

Flu Season

Flu, or influenza, is an infection of the lungs, throat, nose. And yet I've often called it flu when its a stomach bug.  And I got me a humdinger of a bug on Christmas day.  I don't think ham and baked po will be on the menu in the upcoming month or two! 

It took me two days of recovery at mom's,  all I did was lay in bed.  I was cold, then hot, turn on heating pad, turn it off and toss the covers, only to shover and grab the heating pad again.  I could only tolerate a mouthful of water every 30 mins or so.  I forced myself to dress and drive home on Friday because I needed to be in my own bed.  And while I was happy to be home, it dawned on me at 2am that if my gastrointestinal bug was still here, I'd have to do some major cleaning.  Where's the can of Lysol???

I fear this could be a longer recovery than I expect, as this morning I woke up extremely queasy again. *sigh*

But are you like me? You catch something and you start backtracking in your mind where you could have picked something up?  I got groceries early Sunday morning, had family dinner Sunday evening, then was home alone for the next two days. Went to Christmas Eve services Tuesday evening.  In all that... who knows. I still suspect food poisoning.  

In the meantime, more rest, plenty of fluids, and deep cleaning in-between naps and more naps.  *grabs the Lysol*  Thank God I'm retired and don't have to consider going to work, too!  

Be well!  Don't catch a bug this season!!

Merry Christmas!

May your Christmas be joyous!

Last night, I took my mother to church for Christmas Eve service.  And it brought me way back.  I grew up going to church, we always went to services.  The sweetest thing was holding a lit candle and singing Silent Night. 

As an adult, I changed church and started singing in the choir at Bethel.  Our choir was about 100 strong, the church could hold about 3000 people.  Standing in the choir, we were able to see the light spread as the flame was passed from person to person. It was beautiful!

And tonight, we did the same thing, and sang.  Its better when its your home church, but it was still good.

May the blessings of the Lord be upon 

you and your family this Holiday season.

Christmas Season

I got up this morning and so wanted to take all the Christmas stuff down.  Where does the feeling of "this is too much" come from?

All the Christmas trappings, the expectations, are too much. We live in a world where if you want or need something, you just buy it.  So trying to think about a gift for a person becomes a burden because you know that if they wanted it, needed it, they already had it. And the little other gifts .... I call them knick knacks .... is there really any meaning behind them?

Maybe thats what gift giving should be more about, the meaning.  When there's love, the gift has more meaning.  

I get all churned up with holidays.  I have continually blamed it on working retail. While that definitely impacted me (and still does), the worst impact was the death of my son.  There is nothing I have found to combat against it.  And holidays makes it worse. 

So I struggle through these days with a lesser joy than I used to have. With mom here, I don't have the luxury of doing what I want, when I want it, so I muddle and struggle through the days.  Through her expectations.  And wish it was January already.

Without Guilt

One of the nicest parts of being retired is the joy of being able to lounge around.  Without guilt.  I think that's the best part!!

When you're busy scrambling through your day with work, chores, errands and home, finding time for yourself is difficult, and usually only nets you a few moments.

Today, I immersed myself in a book about an island and magic and got caught up.  Before I knew it, I looked at the clock and it was after 10!  

The nicest part is it was without guilt that I indulged myself today.  Being able to do that is the nicest gift I could give myself!

Travels

So its Saturday and almost Christmas. I decided last minute to give my daughter the rocking chair I used to rock her in when she was a baby.  (Yes, 42 years ago!) Now she can rock her granddaughter in it! 

But I couldn't get it in my little Cruze. So I opted to rent an SUV for the trip. When I arrived this morning, they didn't have one. The guy offered to upgrade me no charge if I would take the Tacoma. 

Looking at it from across the parking lot and I said Sure! But when we stepped out and walked toward it, I was like whoa.  Mom's never gonna be able to step into it!  It must have had some kind of upgrade to handle huge knobby tires and such.

I loaded it up, drove over to get mom and I was right. She couldn't get in! We had to get a folding chair to take with us to help her get in and out.  lol. It was hilarious!

Glad to have the chore done!  ✔ Another commitment to family to remember.

PS: it was a good ride, smoother than I expected, pretty easy to handle!

Chores

I raised my two kids and four stepkids with the concept of chores - every one needs to do chores.  Kids need to learn to do things on their own to make them successful adults. They need to pitch in and know the value of teamwork.  Families stay close when you balance chores and fun.  And IMO, people of all ages need to feel needed. 

That being said, we watched Mr Z and it was a gorgeous day in the Valley of the Sun, so we decided to wash my car.  He'd never helped wash a car before, so we hauled out the hose, filled a bucket with soap and water to make some suds and got to work. Personally, I think he liked playing with the hose more than anything.  What 7 year old doesn't?

But what made me chuckle is when I picked him up from school.  We walked to my car, and he looked it over and said, "Man, we just washed the car and now the birds have pooped all over it. Again."  Hehehe he has a way about him!  

Frosty, et al

Christmas TV shows ..... as a kid I can remember checking the TV Guide and planning the week of TV shows so we could watch Frosty the Snowman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Peanuts special, and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  

Today, Mr Z informed me he knows the Frosty song,  but had never seen the TV show.  So I pulled up HULU and we watched.  He chuckled over the rabbit named Hocus-Pocus !!

The Frosty show was created in 1969, 55 years ago.  Where does the time go??  Its the little memories like these that make me smile!

Christmas Programs

Tonight is Mr Z's Christmas program at school.  And it brings back so many memories!  

My first program was in first grade.  I had an adorable new outfit.  It was a white pleated skirt and baby blue sweater set.  I was practicing with my classmates and mom had to come back and get me. I couldn't go on stage .... I had terrible stage fright!  

I can remember going to see my brother's first kindergarten program.  He was the only kid on stage who left his beanie on!

Them my own kids each did this kind of thing ... they attended the same elementary school i had attended. I remember feeling odd being a parent in the same cafeteria!!!  My son Brian's first program, after it was done, we looked everywhere for him.  He had climbed up on stage and was entertaining folks! 

I had many more memories from my step kids.  Dougie even had a solo in 7th grade. J was so proud!

Family memories are best!!

New Job

Today is the first day, but not my first time, picking up Mr Z from school.  This is my new job.  The pay is $0 but the reward is better.  Seeing his smile when the bell rings is priceless!

My nephew starts his academy training today, and sent me a text with his new badge.  My sister would be so proud!

I made arrangements to see my daughter and family on Saturday.  I'm renting an SUV to drive, just because I can.  

And I cooked all morning, prepping meals for myself for this week.  Pasta, veggies, chicken and beef.  I may have to pick up some fruit, I wasn't concentrating when I shopped for groceries!  Maybe I should start making a list!

Another commitment checked off ✔ Happy Monday!

An Early Start

Once deciding "commitment" was going to be my word for this next year, I got an early start.  I decided to tackle my kitchen cupboard ... the one I use several times a day.  

It has been my goal to stop using plastics and stick with glass.  I've slowly transitioned over, and took the final step to ditch those plastics.  I did keep 6 squares with lids in case I'm sharing meals.  That way if I don't get them back,  no biggie.

Why is it so hard to part with things that we no longer need?  I grew up with a mom who always saved everything because it might be useful at some point.  Guess that rubbed off on me as I tend to do the same, but with less guilt about tossing things.

I was going to post a before then after photo, but my pride wouldn't let me.  Haha

Just as an added note, I cleaned out two closets and took two garbage bags and a box to Goodwill.  Sometimes its nice to lighten the load!

Souvenir Spoons

Way back in the 80s, I collected souvenir spoons.  Why?  I think I wanted something small that would be an indicator of where I'd been.  Most of them are from states, some are more specific to a place (ie Disneyland).

I thought I had gotten rid of them in the moves I made between then and now,  from San Jose to Santa Clara to Hamilton to Trotwood to Gilbert to Mesa.  I just found them today while deep cleaning the kitchen.  It brought back memories, but I boxed them up and stuck them in the cedar chest of memories.

I stopped buying spoons in the late 90s and switched to refrigerator magnets!

Commitment

In 2022 my focus word for the year was accountability.

In 2023 my focus word for the year was purpose.

In 2024 my focus word for the year was intentional.

Now I need to choose this year's word. 

And I'm choosing commitment. 

I sometimes struggle with making a commitment, even to myself, because I often fall short of following through. In order to make this choice a success, I plan to start with smaller commitments. The first one being to myself in going to the gym.  Because its needed. And because I feel better when I go. I will struggle, and won't beat myself up for it, I will just renew my commitment.  

For me, choosing a word, rather than a new years resolution, works better.  

Bah Humbug

Its been a few days, and I haven't written because I got lost in a funk.  I was certain that this being the first year I didn't work holiday in retail, that I would be able to enjoy them.  Not.  

So the problem wasn't just the holiday crap at work, a part of it is me.  There's not much I enjoy about the holidays any longer, and can probably pinpoint it to the first Christmas I was alone for the holidays. 

 I had separated from my husband in August (97) and my kids were going to AZ to be with their dad.  So it was my first holiday alone.  Growing up we had standing traditions that never changed.  So on Christmas Eve I loaded packages in the car and headed over to Mom's to drop them off and head to church with them. Only I was informed that they weren't going to church, they were invited to my sister's.  Ok, I said, and left.

I spent Christmas Day at the local pool hall, sipping beers and shooting pool with other folks who were alone for the holiday.  I was grateful there was work the next day. 

Life can become so complicated at times.  My mother has no clue.  So I blame it on working retail and let it go.

Bah Humbug.

Christmas Decor Blues

For 23 years, I worked retail, and that means the holidays sucked.  Looking at decor all day long, being extremely busy each day, made for a mindset of not decorating my own home.  I thought this year would be different.

I dragged down my tree and set it up. Then I pulled out my ornaments.  A few got onto the tree, but my living room is scattered  with the rest of the mess because I have two different kinds of ornaments.  The larger ones from when my kids were growing up, as we had a full size tree.  And now a small tree means smaller sized ornaments.  *sigh*

Then there are presents to wrap.  

Not to mention 24/7 Christmas tunes in radio stations.  When you work retail, they play those things all day long. 9 hours or more every day is what we heard in store.  Now that radio stations are doing it, I loaded my mp3s in the car.   I just can't take it.

I had high hopes for this holiday season, but I had too much retail....  yuck.  

I'm ready for January.

Nephew Pride!

My nephew is an awesome guy. He was a body builder and competed 10 years ago. Since then, he has been a trainer and recruiter at the gym.  When someone walks in, they all want to look like him! He's 6'3" , built and handsome.   But the gym life isn't the career for him. 

He wants to be a policeman like his dad.  And after what seemed like a hundred interviews and such, he made it today!

I remember driving in Santa Clara.  I was heading home from work, heading up over the railroad tracks on San Tomas Expressway, in the commuter lane.  My kids were in the back seat.  And the next thing I knew, those telltale flashing blue and red lights were lit up behind me.  With no place to pull over, I continued down the hill, turned right and pulled into the church parking lot.  My kids were MORTIFIED!  "What did you do wrong, Mom?" Nothing, it's your uncle! They couldn't believe it, and wouldn't get out of the car to greet him!   I stood there laughing, shaking my head!

What a memory!  And now, sending prayers to cover my nephew in his new career! Congrats!!