Thursday Odds and Ends

Today's post is based on the series of books, "Seasons of Our Lives".  I highly recommend these books.  Great reads.  Especially now that the cooler weather is setting in.  Here is what is written about the books:

'The award-winning stories in the four volumes of Seasons of Our Lives will charm, intrigue, captivate, and inspire you because they speak of our lives almost as much as they do the authors'. The details of childhood, coming of age, adulthood, and aging—of passion, friendship, love, sacrifice, betrayal, disappointment, survival, and unexpected joy—of lives intersecting with history—of ordinary yet extraordinary experiences are unique to these award-winning authors and yet at their core these stories tell of all our lives.'

Mom's High School diploma

Mom's high school picture. 

My first birthday.

 Mom and me in happier times.

 My 8th grade diploma.

 High school club. Don't even remember it.

 My senior picture. 

 Mom.  She was such a beautiful woman.

My retirement party.  I look at this as the beginning of the Autumn of my life. (Look how heavy I was)

Mom and my grandson, Scott.

As I enter the winter of my life.

Wordless Wednesday: From the 'Magdelene Oracle' by Toni Carmine Salerno

Drew this card this morning. Today I am definitely grateful.  The holes have been filled in. 

Tuesday Ramble

Good morning.  Had a quiet day yesterday.  Not sure when the guy is going to come to plug my holes so I'm hanging about.  Was cool and wet yesterday.  Not the kind of day I like to be out there, and my body let me know.  My hamstring is pretty much healed, but my lower back aches, and I've been getting sharp pains on the side of my right knee and outer thigh if I press it.  Doctor said it sounds like bursitis.  Have to make an appointment, but have to get these holes sealed as well.  Right now my life is in limbo. Was very happy when they called to tell me arts and crafts was canceled for the day.  Didn't have to worry about missing anything.  

On top of everything else, hubby is pretty sick right now.  Looks like another COPD exacerbation, but I can't get him to go to ER. He can be so stubborn.   It hurts so much watching him like this, but I can't carry him there.  Sometimes I just feel so helpless.  I finally got him to use his Z pack.  Doctor had given him two extra prescriptions several months ago for exactly this kind of thing.  The first one helped almost immediately.  Saying prayers it does the same thing this time.

Hoping that they fill the holes in my apartment this week as promised.  But seriously, after seeing what they did to the apartment next door, my few leftover holes don't seem so bad.  No 87 year old woman should have to live like that. They also did the apartment next door and left a huge hole in the wall between the apartments. She has absolutely no privacy...and to make matters worse, he is a hoarder who smokes incessantly. His apartment STINKS. My problems don't seem so big after seeing that.  Her refrigerator and stove are not plugged in.  Her son does pick her up about 12 and take her to his house for a meal, but then she insists on coming back to her home.  I worry about her being hungry so I take her snacks of fruit, yogurt, and crackers

Made myself a very healthy dinner last night.  My eating habits have been quite messed up with all that going on around me.   I  could eat salad every night.  This one was loaded with goodies:  red and green cabbage, spring mix, grape tomatoes, Romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, and sunflower seeds.  I used my favorite dressing:  Bragg's Sesame Ginger.  Delicious.  For dessert I had a fruit salad and some grapes.  

They are now destroying the apartment across the hall from me.  That's the last one in my vicinity.  Once finished we can really get started cleaning.  I dust and mop every day, but the construction dust in the lobby always finds its way in.  I'm just waiting now for them to plaster my holes and move on.  Maybe we will be able to have Thanksgiving here after all. 

Wow, can you believe it's mid-October already?  Time surely has gotten away from me.Never even had a chance to post my last Wild Medicine Box.  Most of the stuff is scattered now, but here is a couple of items they sent.

Allergy Season Herbal Steam. A blend of herbs and essential oils for treating allergies, colds, and the flu.  Peppermint Leaf, Eucalyptus Leaf, Nettle Leaf, Wintergreen Essential Oil

These stones look so much better in person, very shiny, and I am just loving this black velvet bag.  Pyrite is said to cleanse the oxygen in the circulatory system and aid in detoxifying the body. It is also believed to stabilize ones energy level and provide calm. 

 Hand-made with gratitude and sacred intention in the high desert of Taos, NM.  Smudging has been used for centuries to purify and cleanse the aura, home and sacred spaces. Believed to ward off negative energy and spirits, the ritualistic act of smudging is used to bless, cleanse and heal the person or object being smudged.

Monday This and That

Good Monday morning.  It's been a cool weekend here.  Fall has finally arrived.  Hubby has another nasty cold so he's been pretty miserable this weekend.  Not only is his immune system weakened by his COPD, but his colds are always much worse than someone with clear lungs.  I worry so about him.

My issue has been pain.  Lately, it's really had its grip on me, and I've been forced to give up some of the things I really enjoy like dance and qigong.  It's been pretty hard on me, but I have spent some time looking for other activities I might enjoy that aren't so physical.  Long bus rides also cause a great deal of discomfort, but I refuse to give up arts and crafts.  Not going today though.  Rain is coming, and I'm just not feeling up to par.  I really did a number on myself with all that lifting and moving things.

So I've been doing my best to get out for a walk every day.  Even just going around the block helps.  I am taking a couple of online classes to keep me busy when I am home...which has been more often than usual.  I also plan on making an extra WW meeting each week...maybe two...just to have the opportunity to socialize.  Right about now I wish there were some good courses being offered at Brooklyn College , but the same old crap that drove me away is being offered. 

Dinner last night.  I made some rice and veggies yesterday.  Added some low sodium chicken broth, and it tasted great.  Was going to have it with broccoli and chicken, but when I made hubby's mashed potatoes with garlic, I couldn't resist having some of them, too.

I seasoned the chicken thighs with some of the Greek seasoning and roasted them in the oven. (I eat all meals from a bowl).

Got another food delivery on Saturday.  This one wasn't free, but I did save a ton of money going through the company, Instacart.  I chose what store, made my shopping list, a paid shopper picked up my items, then my purchase was delivered to my home.  And it turned out to be less money than it would had been had I shopped for it myself.  In all it came to $62 but by the time all the discounts came off, it cost me $41 and tip for the driver. Actually the tip is included in the bill, but it's only about $2, and I think they deserve more.  I LOVE shopping, but I just can't do it anymore.  It's too difficult carrying those heavy bags home.   Just can't do it anymore. 

The kitchen, foyer, living room and hall floors are paint free and we are making some progress on the bedroom floors. 

Before and after.  Still a way to go, but getting there.  Have to get to the sides of the bed and along the borders, but it is looking much better.

Ordered my new rugs, and some of them arrived yesterday, much quicker than I thought.  Gotta love Amazon.  Hope these holes are closed this week so we can get the floors done once and for all.  It is 31 days today that we have had open holes in our walls. This is what happens when they try to save money.  They end up double spending in the end when someone has to come in and clean up the mess.

Have a wonderful day.

Sunday Selections

Not all of my subscription boxes consist of trinkets and candles, and such.  I love to cook, and I love to eat, so I also subscribe to a couple food oriented boxes.  One of my favorites is 'Spice Madam'.  Each month we explore  and experience a new destination.  There are 10 to 15 items included in each box. This includes  spices, seeds, culinary mixes, recipe cards, and music playlist!  

This month we traveled to Greece.  I cook lots of cultural foods from a lot of different countries, but Greece is one I have yet to try. 

Spices included in this box followed by all the recipes for the month.

I'm anxious to see what comes next.  It's on its way.

Saturday Thought

Look for something positive in every day, even if some days you have to look a little harder.  

Author unknown

Friday Roundup

Another Friday.  Another roller coaster week behind me.  On Monday I stepped outdoors to quite a chill and misty rain.  Was about to go back in for a jacket, but then I spotted the bus at the next stop.  Seeing that the next bus after this one would be in 26 minutes and would make me late, I sprinted across the street to catch it and hoped the weather would warm up by the time I got off to go to my classes.  It didn't.  In fact, it was still the same weather when I left class at 3 pm.  It was great seeing all my friends again, but meditation was quite a disappointment.  We always had a warmup before class, but it was something I could still do with my hamstring.  But, our new instructor does a half hour of stretchy yoga, something my body can't tolerate under normal conditions, so I basically just did a few arm raises for a half hour.  And I didn't care for the meditation itself.  But that doesn't mean I plan on giving up.  I'm not a fan of change, but I do manage to adapt given time.

I have so many Autumn decorations that I chose not to buy anymore this year....that is, until I saw the above on Etsy.  Couldn't resist this witch box.  She is so adorable and the price was so reasonable.

On Tuesday I awoke to find my internet was out.  Thought it was something that would work itself out, but after re-booting it several times, I called cable and they tried from their end.  The modem wasn't getting any signal.  I initially thought it may have something to do with the electrical work being done, perhaps a power surge, as my neighbor's modem went a little over a week ago.  They sent a technician out on Wednesday.  Turns out the problem stems from the main box.  Not enough signal power.  Same goes for the television.  He showed me the negative numbers and seemed genuinely surprised it was playing so well.  He also said that others in the building are probably affected as well, but just don't notice it.  Workers are set to come out an make repairs.

I'd planning on going to my loom knitting class on Wednesday, but to be honest, I just didn't have it in me.  All this scraping floors and cleaning is wearing me down.  I'm not the young chicken I once was, and this is a lot of work for hubby and me.  I had felt so good while I was doing all the lifting and moving of stuff, but I guess I was just doing further damage.  Along with the hamstring ache, my back has also been killing me.  I hate when it cracks when I move a certain way. (Osteoarthritis).

On Wednesday I called management and blew up.  So much for being nice.  Didn't get me anywhere.  I'm sick and tired of this. My apartment remains unfinished with holes and now they are talking about cooler weather....and the first thing I think of is mice. I am so petrified of them.  Took me forever to stop thinking I was hearing them.  When I had called in the morning I was told they would send the contractor in to look at it, so when I stepped out  for the mail  see them headed in my direction I feel relieved that someone is finally listening to me, but what happened? They walked right past me and started working in the apartment next door. THE ELECTRICIANS AREN'T EVEN FINISHED IN THERE!!!!! 

This was about all I could take. Apartments finished AFTER mine are being completed and mine sits unfinished.  I can't wax my floors and lay my new rugs because furniture has to be moved again  so I sit in limbo. I didn't bring this idiot in to do my apartment. THEY DID. Trying to save a buck, and it's obvious to everyone that he had no idea what he was doing. So why should I have to sit with open holes? It's not my fault.So I called a second time and got some action. The contractor came in and promised that he will fix up the work next week. I'd like it tomorrow, but....we shall see. 

Have a wonderful weekend.