Daily Ooos: Friday, March 28

[faerywings]

Woo hooo! It is Friday!!


We made it (somehow, LOL) through another week. This week, thankfully, went by quickly for me. I see the light at the end of the tunnel, and the weather is supposed to cooperate with me for the next couple of days. Sunny and 60s today and in the 70s tomorrow. Yes!!
It's going to feel amazing today, considering how frigid it felt yesterday. The entire day was cold and windy, and when we went to lunch, my mom ate with her coat on. We went to a new-to-us diner and had the yummiest wrap. Grilled shrimp with avocado, arugula, and cilantro. I ate half and saved the other half for dinner so I didn't have to cook. Win-win!

What else did I do? Not much, at least not much that I can remember. I added some more details to my lesson plans and created a NJ-specific spring wildflower viewer. I found an NPS .gov version and then used that to create one that had NJ native plants. The kids can cut the center out and use it as a "viewer." I know I am not explaining it well-- the outer edges have photos of the plants like a frame and the center is what the kids look through to see if they can match. It makes them get down close to the plants and focus on the details. YKWIM?

What is up for today?
I don't know.
My house is a total disaster. I want to at least dust the LR, but I probably shouldn't. The dust isn't going anywhere. Right?

Do you have anything fun planned today? Make it a great one, whatever you do! ♥

 

[faerywings]

My hike yesterday was so great! We saw all kinds of sea lions, no seals or otters, but 5 Orcas showed up just as we were arriving at the Narrows, it was amazing to see!! The sea lions didn't think it was so great though as they all scrambled to get onto dry land. They were a part of Jpod the transient orcas who prey on seals and sealions and other marine mammals, where as our resident Orcas (approx. 300 of them) only eat fish, mostly salmon. We did not see them hunting the sea lions, but heard that they have been spotted at Dodds Narrows quite often and it is becoming one of the best places to see the orcas coming up the narrows. None of our group got any good shots, I think we were all stunned by the fact that they were actually there . Here is a wonderful little video (you have to scroll down a bit to see it) of them coming up the narrows though.

That sounds incredible! I watched the video and I wish I could live by you! I can only imagine how refreshing it felt to be in the woods and by the water. Even if you came home muddy, mud is good

Wow that is crazy for a test. Is the low D from the Lymes? Do you take vitamin D? Its crazy how much d is needed in a body and. winter really can deplete the levels.

$300 is nothing for Lyme blood work. Pfft... There is one lab, Igenix, that is the gold standard for accurate Lyme tests and they can run close to $700-800. I had to have both kids tested occasionally when they were sick through them.
But as for the Vit D, yes, Lyme does something to deplete the way the body metabolizes it. I take Calcium and D supplements but I am still deficient. The two Vit D tests show different "types" of D, which gives LLMD a better view of what the bacteria is doing.
Gary's D levels are way worse than mine are. She had him taking Rx Vit D and that didn't even budge his levels up.
Lyme is brutal.

I feel good. Thanks for checking on me. I did take two different times to sit down and just put my feet up for a moment. I found I cant walk fast which is annoying. I was trying to power through the grocery store and the hard steps were jarring my legs too much. so I had to slow down and I just wanted to scream.

That's fantastic! About feeling good and being able to walk. It is not good that you aren't up to normal speed which has to be very frustrating. I hope that each day it gets a little easier ♥
Wow, that must be amazing (and a little nerve-wracking) watching the mountain.
yay for the new sunglasses -- now you can see the sunset and not hurt your eyes too much

I hope you can get your health issues figured out.

Thank you! I'll be fine, eventually. I have been dealing with Late Stage Lyme for decades and I'll get back into remission soon. I already feel much better than I did a few months ago. Gary is pretty much a lost cause. Johns Hopkins has (had?) been doing a lot of research into late stage/chronic lyme but I don't know if their funding got cut along with a lot of the research hospitals and universities

Your trip sounds liek it was chock ful of great activities

In other news, my son and his fiancé adopted a cat named Pickles. My husband has given them grief in our family text because the name doesn't match her since she isn't green. He's the only one that thinks he's funny! LOL

Congrats to the new fur baby int he family! Pickles is a sweet name. LOL-ing at your DH, mine is the same way, he thinks he is very funny too.

saw the photos of your faery house, I just love it! It is so cute with the tiny little lights! I bet Scott loved that you got it all done and had the patience to do it!

TY!! Scott is one of my biggest cheerleaders. He was amazed that I finished it and loved how it came out. He never doubted me even when I did.

Yup sometimes my DH is the only one who thinks he is funny too .

Hahah!! Join the club, sister!

The faery house is so cute! Now that we have the car back, depending on what the final numbers are, I might be able to look at those little houses again! There are tons of different houses!
$300 a month?!! Yeah, I would have to agree.....wouldn't happen! I think that is a little overkill!
Your HS lessons sound so fun!

Thank you, too! If you decide to get one of the houses, read the reviews before you buy it. The reviews for one that I have had a lot of people mentioned that the directions were not clear. But once I got the hang of it, it was much easier.
The chicken recipe sounds sooo good! I can definitely adapt that for tofu too. And I wonder if I had that in mind when I ordered my lunch- cilantro shrimp wrap. Kind of similar!

Have a wonderful time with Abby!

Thank you all for your love, caring and condolences. I had passed them along to Leslie yesterday. This morning I made Max's Memorial LO and sent it to Leslie for her to use wherever she wishes. Have texted/chatted with the daughters and both sons today. Waiting to find out when the funeral plans are finalized.

Sending more love to you all.


xoxoxo

 

[vickyday]

Woo hooo! It is Friday!!


We made it (somehow, LOL) through another week. This week, thankfully, went by quickly for me. I see the light at the end of the tunnel, and the weather is supposed to cooperate with me for the next couple of days. Sunny and 60s today and in the 70s tomorrow. Yes!!
It's going to feel amazing today, considering how frigid it felt yesterday. The entire day was cold and windy, and when we went to lunch, my mom ate with her coat on. We went to a new-to-us diner and had the yummiest wrap. Grilled shrimp with avocado, arugula, and cilantro. I ate half and saved the other half for dinner so I didn't have to cook. Win-win!

What else did I do? Not much, at least not much that I can remember. I added some more details to my lesson plans and created a NJ-specific spring wildflower viewer. I found an NPS .gov version and then used that to create one that had NJ native plants. The kids can cut the center out and use it as a "viewer." I know I am not explaining it well-- the outer edges have photos of the plants like a frame and the center is what the kids look through to see if they can match. It makes them get down close to the plants and focus on the details. YKWIM?

What is up for today?
I don't know.
My house is a total disaster. I want to at least dust the LR, but I probably shouldn't. The dust isn't going anywhere. Right?

Do you have anything fun planned today? Make it a great one, whatever you do! ♥

HA! One of the ladies we pick up for church on Wednesday and I take her to the widows' meeting wanted to stop by yesterday. So I hopped up and started dusting and picking up because her house is IMMACULATE!!! Ruth brought 1/4 of a German chocolate cake to us that was still warm! How sweet was that?! She went no further than the kitchen because she had to get back to one of her ailing cats! But I felt good about getting rid of the dust bunnies, LOL!

I've seen those "viewers" before. They are pretty neat!

 

[vickyday]

That sounds incredible! I watched the video and I wish I could live by you! I can only imagine how refreshing it felt to be in the woods and by the water. Even if you came home muddy, mud is good


$300 is nothing for Lyme blood work. Pfft... There is one lab, Igenix, that is the gold standard for accurate Lyme tests and they can run close to $700-800. I had to have both kids tested occasionally when they were sick through them.
But as for the Vit D, yes, Lyme does something to deplete the way the body metabolizes it. I take Calcium and D supplements but I am still deficient. The two Vit D tests show different "types" of D, which gives LLMD a better view of what the bacteria is doing.
Gary's D levels are way worse than mine are. She had him taking Rx Vit D and that didn't even budge his levels up.
Lyme is brutal.

That's fantastic! About feeling good and being able to walk. It is not good that you aren't up to normal speed which has to be very frustrating. I hope that each day it gets a little easier ♥
Wow, that must be amazing (and a little nerve-wracking) watching the mountain.
yay for the new sunglasses -- now you can see the sunset and not hurt your eyes too much


Thank you! I'll be fine, eventually. I have been dealing with Late Stage Lyme for decades and I'll get back into remission soon. I already feel much better than I did a few months ago. Gary is pretty much a lost cause. Johns Hopkins has (had?) been doing a lot of research into late stage/chronic lyme but I don't know if their funding got cut along with a lot of the research hospitals and universities

Your trip sounds liek it was chock ful of great activities

Congrats to the new fur baby int he family! Pickles is a sweet name. LOL-ing at your DH, mine is the same way, he thinks he is very funny too.


TY!! Scott is one of my biggest cheerleaders. He was amazed that I finished it and loved how it came out. He never doubted me even when I did.

Hahah!! Join the club, sister!

Thank you, too! If you decide to get one of the houses, read the reviews before you buy it. The reviews for one that I have had a lot of people mentioned that the directions were not clear. But once I got the hang of it, it was much easier.
The chicken recipe sounds sooo good! I can definitely adapt that for tofu too. And I wonder if I had that in mind when I ordered my lunch- cilantro shrimp wrap. Kind of similar!

Have a wonderful time with Abby!

Sending more love to you all.


xoxoxo

I'm not a shrimp person, but I'm sure the recipe gave you the idea!
Abby, her mom and I played Rummikub for a couple of hours before her mom went home. Then Abby and I played a few more games and then switched to UNO Stack-O....basically Jenga with an UNO twist. We are getting ready to go to breakfast! She has to leave around 1 for ball practice. She is a sweetheart! She calls me Grandma even though her siblings call me MaMaw.

 

[vickyday]

Quick in and out
Getting ready to take my granddaughter to breakfast. Teacher's in-service today so she spent the night with me. We played games all night. I was surprised how early she went to bed! And how late she slept in! Works for me! I remember those days as a young teen when it seemed you couldn't get enough sleep! She has ball practice this afternoon so she doesn't get to stay very long today.

Later a friend of Mark's is coming over to go to the woods. He's bringing his wife. I guess they want to meet Mark's "new wife" LOL! So I'll have to play Hostess with the Mostess!

Have a great day!

 

[taxed4ever]

Good Morning everyone and Happy You know what that means??? Only one more lunch to make .
Not sure why my DH chose a Monday for his last day of work, but oh well. That also means that Monday will be my last day with the house all to myself goodbye alone time! Just kidding, it will be fine and he knows that he needs to give me some space sometimes. I have so many projects to keep him busy, it won't be a problem. I have to be quick in and out of here this morning as I have lots of running around to do for SIL Linda's 70th birthday party tomorrow, so I most likely will not be here again until Sunday.
I can't believe its almost the end of the month and I will have to get month end things up to date here at the O. Anyway I just wanted to pop in and say Hi to all of you and wish you a pleasant day!

 

[AK_Tracy]

Good Morning Ladies!
Hope you all had a splendid nights sleep. Things here are calm and (thankfully) boring today. Grocery shopped yesterday and hubs went with, needed the help. We dropped the dogs at the groomers, got my sunglasses (not in love yet) and then had lunch before tackling the groceries. Then I sat on my porch and it was bliss. I love late March. It gets up to 80*F on my porch and the bugs aren't awake yet. The perfect time to sit and read a book.

I had my new sunglasses made bifocal so I could read the dashboard of my car. nope, wrong distance. I think the script might be a tad different too and it feels woozy. I am sure it will take a day or two of wearing them to get use to them, just like last time but oh it was disappointing after waiting and wanting them for so long.

@taxed4ever WOOT WOOT!!!!! One more lunch!!!!! Whos more excited??? I know when hubs retired, it was a toss up who was more excited. Monday is a strange day to retire. But at least the day will be here soon!!!

Off and running. Have a wonderful day!

 

[BrightEyes]

Morning, all. Still waiting to hear when Son-in-L's funeral is to be. Had some chats with other family and friends yesterday. Those helped us all. Not sure if DD#1 will make it here next weekend as they had planned due to when funeral might be. Her hubby will be here as he has continuing ed classes next Friday - Sunday held here in town and he must take them. I feel a bit of loss as to what to do to occupy my mind as we wait. I decided to upload 5 more Color Play LOs to the galleries and get caught up on comments on my March Tic Tac Toe challenge this morning. Have a couple more CP LOs to upload tomorrow.

 

[Terri M]

I got back Wednesday night from a week in Florida with my mom. Closing on the condo went smoothly, lots of trips to banks and worrying about how to set up the money so it will last her, at least as well as we can figure what with the chaos in the economy these days. Everyone we worked with was very helpful, and congratulated us on the sale. They all believe that sales in Florida are only going to get worse. I should be over the worrying and obsessing about it now, but I'm not. I think I need a few good long bike rides.

I was so tired when I got home, but I had two important meetings Thursday, one of which I lead, so I couldn't rest. Today I have nothing on the calendar, so other than making a quick trip to the supermarket, I'm lazing around at my own speed.

I was away from home just a week but Virginia sure has blossomed in those days! We have tulips and wood poppies blooming, all the cherry and peach trees in the neighborhood have burst out, and the phlox is making a pink and purple blanket next to the driveway. It's the height of spring, for sure.

@faerywings Your little faery house is so cute. I love that you can turn on lights.

Johns Hopkins has (had?) been doing a lot of research into late stage/chronic lyme but I don't know if their funding got cut along with a lot of the research hospitals and universities

I am truly scared at the abrupt cessation of scientific work, especially in health care and climate science. Even when funding is restored, we will have lost many of our scientists to other countries.

She went no further than the kitchen because she had to get back to one of her ailing cats! But I felt good about getting rid of the dust bunnies, LOL!

I sometimes invite people over just to give myself the oomph I need to clean up the house. Not so bad now as it used to be when I had a kid and her junk everywhere, but still those dust bunnies and spider webs just seem to get ahead of me.

I had my new sunglasses made bifocal so I could read the dashboard of my car. nope, wrong distance.

I can't decide whether bifocal sunglasses are better or not. Like you, I had hoped they'd be better for seeing the dashboard, but that doesn't work at all. They do enable me to read on the beach or on the deck, so I guess that's a plus. I have had them made both with and without bifocals and haven't decided which is less bad.

 

[AK_Tracy]

I can't decide whether bifocal sunglasses are better or not. Like you, I had hoped they'd be better for seeing the dashboard, but that doesn't work at all. They do enable me to read on the beach or on the deck, so I guess that's a plus. I have had them made both with and without bifocals and haven't decided which is less bad.

Welcome back! Sounds like you had success in FL with everything and its all done now. I am leaning (day 2) toward not bifocal next time. And I will do brown lenses instead of grey. They dont block as much light as I was expecting. I wanted to read the dash, didn't work. Thought okay well I can just read texts without taking them off, nope, I'm finding that I am looking under the lenses. So next time I am able to get them replaced, I will do just distance. I read outside without sunglasses and I always leave the glasses in the car where I need them most. When indoors I wear my reading glasses that have a large section of bifocal. If it wasn't so expensive I would send them back and have them redone. Oh well, its only a year away and I can get new lenses if my script changes. At least I have sunglasses.

 

[JeanneMN]

Hi, I am Jeanne, and I used to live here. I've been trying to get back into the swing of things and getting duties done for March - I finally found my scrapping mojo back and chickens of all things woke me up, just like in Key West where where they have their cock a doodle doos going all hours of the day and night. Key West was spectacular, weather was gorgeous, the 4 trouble making siblings in Wendell's family stole his Key West spirit for a day and a half and I wrote a long message to the one sis I'm close to and she shut them down. We walked 262 miles while we were there, just walked, soaked in the beauty, the weather, the beverages , the people, and the food. Had a blast with my cousins, his brother was down there for 2 weeks with them this year. It was 80° and humid when we left Key West at 7pm on Feb. 13 and -2 when we landed at MSP at 1:30am on Valentines day. When I got up that morning my Keurig started steaming/smoking quit before I got my first cup of coffee...... seriously where does it say in the rule book, coffee machine has to go to Key West. Started in on laundry. That humidity that felt wonderful there, came home in the suitcases and the clothes just sort of slid out. I did Wendell's clothes first,Mr Neat needs everything bask to normal right now, I kind of ease into it. We got 4 " of snow that afternoon. 3 days later I'm on the last load of my stuff, I air dry a lot so it takes longer, and the dryer starts making a horrendous noise . I call the repair place, $119 just to come to the house. The roller drum. Came a couple days later, roller drum needed new wheels, the gerbils had worn them out, another $300 later and the dryer is quieter than when it was new which in about 10 years ago so I hope we get $400- of use out of it yet. The following week we had sub-zero temps all week, -15 and -13 two mornings when I got up and didn't get above 0 for several days. 3 weeks ago the dishwasher that has a little red light that shines on the floor so you can tell it running because it's so quiet, yells, " HEY I'M RUNNING! " Brilliant deductive mind that I am,. I say, "Wendell, there is something wrong." Him with his ever logical mind says, "Don't call the repairman yet, it's running, see what it does."Short version, ran for 4 hours, dishes were wet, soap dispenser was still closed, poker chips, beer bottles & chip bags in the bottom and we seemed to be missing a dish and a spoon. Call, $119, wait a week, 10 minute service call, would cost more to fix than it's worth so we get in the car & drive 15 miles buy a new dishwasher that was not in the budget. The gasping wheezing you hear is our checkbook. Needless to say I think I was being punished for all the times people said "how you doin" in Key West & I'd say " well, I'm NOT in Minnesota" and then we'd all laugh. afternoon.The weather is giving me whiplash, we've had 3 blizzards in March, it was 83 yesterday, 40 this morning and they were predicting snow for the weekend. I feel like I'm in the Oz movie and went from technicolor to b & w. I told myself I was going to ride the bike this morning so that's what I WILL do and I have one more layout I need to get done for the month. I need a new siggy too.

 

[vickyday]

I got back Wednesday night from a week in Florida with my mom. Closing on the condo went smoothly, lots of trips to banks and worrying about how to set up the money so it will last her, at least as well as we can figure what with the chaos in the economy these days. Everyone we worked with was very helpful, and congratulated us on the sale. They all believe that sales in Florida are only going to get worse. I should be over the worrying and obsessing about it now, but I'm not. I think I need a few good long bike rides.

I was so tired when I got home, but I had two important meetings Thursday, one of which I lead, so I couldn't rest. Today I have nothing on the calendar, so other than making a quick trip to the supermarket, I'm lazing around at my own speed.

I was away from home just a week but Virginia sure has blossomed in those days! We have tulips and wood poppies blooming, all the cherry and peach trees in the neighborhood have burst out, and the phlox is making a pink and purple blanket next to the driveway. It's the height of spring, for sure.

@faerywings Your little faery house is so cute. I love that you can turn on lights.


I am truly scared at the abrupt cessation of scientific work, especially in health care and climate science. Even when funding is restored, we will have lost many of our scientists to other countries.


I sometimes invite people over just to give myself the oomph I need to clean up the house. Not so bad now as it used to be when I had a kid and her junk everywhere, but still those dust bunnies and spider webs just seem to get ahead of me.


I can't decide whether bifocal sunglasses are better or not. Like you, I had hoped they'd be better for seeing the dashboard, but that doesn't work at all. They do enable me to read on the beach or on the deck, so I guess that's a plus. I have had them made both with and without bifocals and haven't decided which is less bad.

Welcome back! Sounds like you had a productive trip!

And it doesn't help that this house seems to be the dustiest house I've EVER lived in!

 

[BoatLady]

@BrightEyes - good you are staying busy at a time like this. I'm so sorry for your family but it sounds like they will comfort each other. I need to go look at the galleries...I even made a color play page so I need to see what everyone else did.

Those tests are expensive but everything medical is...I once paid $7,000 for a scan because it wasn't covered on my insurance that I had right after retiring but before I was on medicare. That was a bad year!

@taxed4ever That sounds like a wonderful hike...so jealous, I miss hiking but needing 2 new knees makes it too painful. What you need to make a lunch for hubby-- the guys should be taking him out for his last lunch. It's amazing how quick you will get used to having your hubby in the house. Mine traveled allot but when he retired he was there all the time plus when we traveled it was in a 40' boat so it was cozy when it was bad weather. From alone to all the time together took some getting used to.

@AK_Tracy I'm glad you enjoy it outside. Best sunshine, warm, no bugs and a good book. We have 80's now which I love but the wind is annoying. I'm sure it's a matter of getting used to your sunglasses.