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!  

A Good Day

My day off, usually it's spent doing chores and running errands. Today wasn't much different.  Maybe it's in the attitude.  I woke up and just chose - decided -- it was going to be a day for getting things done. My TO DO list went something like this:  Get groceries, take out garbage, clean up kitchen, get gas in the car and drive through the car wash, dash to mom's and take *her* grocery shopping.  She always likes to stop and get a hamburger!  (Thanks, Jack!) Then we relax and watch ""her show"" (The Bold and the Beautiful - Evil Sheila fell off a balcony, jumped in a car and escaped!! *gasp*)  

Then it was home to put my chicken in a pan and bake it, throw my sheets in the washer and dryer and re-make the bed.  Then Mom called and said her perm was delivered (Walmart.com order!) but it was damaged.  Nope, not ordering another one.  I checked online, said there was one over at Walgreen's, so I hopped in the car and dashed over and got one for her.  I'll drop it off tomorrow after work :)

I didn't think I'd have a very good day because I didn't sleep well, or very much.  For some reason, I had dreams of airports and airplanes often.  That being said, I checked Google:  "The airplane, as a transportation symbol, signifies motivation and direction  Its association with flying can represent aspirations or your ability to soar.  You usually dream of trying to catch a plane when you are making changes to your aspirations."  That being said, I'm not sure what my current aspirations are.  Work is just very busy in the days of preparation for inventory.  When I was shopping today, some of my coworkers were whispering to me that there are changes coming, that one of the gals on my team was going to transfer.  Frankly, I have been expecting it for some time.  She's over the usual retirement age ..... so we shall see what comes of it this time :)

And now, nearly 4pm, and I'm ready for a shower and to crawl into those clean sheets.  

I like having good days!  I bet you do too !!

Brain-fuzzed

And now it's Wednesday again.  Seems like the only time I have moments to myself are my days off, but they become filled with chores ....

Today was the MVD trip to get my Travel ID.  Actually, it was an awesome experience!  I went in, bypassed the line of folks who were waiting (about 30 of them!) and walked over, scanned my appointment ticket for 8"40am, and looked around to find a seat where I could see the call board.  There wasn't even time to find the board before I heard the woman call my name, and I was "in".  I showed her my documents, she took my picture and $25, and I was all done and out the door at 8:50am!!  After that it was getting groceries, and I was home by 9:40.  Talk about an easy chores day!

But then I flounder with the rest of my day .... to do something physical? to rest? I ended up cooking a meatloaf and eggs for the next few mornings.  Another attempt at creating a healthier lifestyle.  Soon it will be cooler and I can resume walking after work; that should help too.

I started on my photo albums, going to scan the really great pix or the ones with a story behind them, but as I got them out, I realized that I'm missing an entire photo album - the one that covers 1978-1981.  But then again, I have so many that sorting them out isn't easy!  At first, they were all chronological, but then you add in a second marriage and step kids.  When the divorce happens, you start to pull all the photos that ... well, frankly, all those extra photos weren't necessary.  I shipped them off to the oldest sibling of that family to enjoy. 

But I'm still confuzzled about the missing photos! 

I'm hoping they turn up.

Little Tasks, Ordinary Day

Dear Brian,

I haven't written in a few days, it's been busy.  Well, I guess not more busy than normal, but it seems that way when I'm not sleeping well.   The doc prescribed Ambien ... YICK!  So I tried a couple different brands of melatonin and found one that I think is going to work.  I actually slept last night, so today was a good day.   But then again, any day not working is a good day, right?!  lol

Had a filling replaced this morning, then went for groceries.  I think getting groceries is one of the harder things I do right now.  Even when you weren't living with me, since you popped in to get your mail every now and then, when I made a trip to the grocery store, I always bought a treat or two to slip into your "mail bag" hanging in the hallway.  Now ... there's no one to buy treats for except me.  And I sure don't need them!

Today, I saw two things I would have bought you:  Bison Jerky and Perky Jerky.  The bison is explanatory, but the Perky Jerky I think was pork jerky with some caffeine added in, hence the perky part!  No idea if you would have liked them, but experiments are always fun!  And I liked surprising you with .... oddities!  Or old standbys, like Skittles (taste the rainbow!)

I'm boiling chicken in Dr Pepper and Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce (again) so I can have that with brown rice and broccoli for suppers this week.  Food has lost it's ... I'm not sure how to put it.  When I eat something, it's just food for survival.  Sometimes I hardly remember eating at all.  But I'm eating, and drinking water, so it's all OK.

The AC company was out for there annual inspection today.  There's a couple motors up there that will need replacing soon ..... with my luck, it'll happen in the hottest part of the year next summer!

The butterfly and dragonfly wind charms were looking a little rusty, so I took out the crystals, washed them up good and spray painted the wires so they look spiffy again.  And I finally finished taking out the rest of that "bush" that had turned into some kind of tree!  It was too big for the space; now if only you were here to help me dig up the root ball .... *sigh*

I've been trying to find some kind of bracelet, or necklace, created in your honor, but haven't found the right stuff. Yet.

I miss you always,
Love, Mom

Mine's a Pug-ly World!

It's Saturday, in the real world.  In my world, tomorrow is my "Monday".  I had Friday and Saturday off from my BigBox Store.  I took Sadie back to the vet on Friday to have her ears re-checked and they did another application of the "ear stuff" just to be sure it doesn't come back so soon.

I was a very anxious "pug momma" on the drive over and back again.  Even though Sadie is over 6 years old now, she has never gotten over the excitement and anxiety she gets when riding in the car.  I used to take her everywhere, then knocked it back to once a week ..... she just never outgrew that puppy excitement of car travel.  When I'm driving to Tucson - a 2 hour drive - for more than the first hour, she never settles in and just chills for the drive.  I think she probably might if she got to sit on my lap!  But at 32 lbs, she's just too big to fit there so that I can drive!! 

It all went pretty well, and I arrived back home safe with her, with no reaction to heat this time.  I made sure the appointment was first thing in the morning just for that reason!  But as I get older, it's just not safe for me to be driving and trying to control her in the car at the same time.  If I want to travel with her more often, I need to train her to a car kennel.

She's of a mind where she wants to be in the same room with me, at every waking moment, and yet she's used to being asleep much of the day when I'm at work, so every time we sit down, she's snoring again.  hehehe  So far today she's "helped me" hang wallpaper, spray paint a picture frame, fill a cement crack in the backyard patio .... yeah, you get the picture.  It's like having a two year old follow you around to "help" !!! 

It's a crazy pug-ly world I live in!