MERRY MEET & MERRY GREET the DAY!

Oh my God, (Goddess?) I thought I had a cycled tank for Satin but when I measured ammonia today it was really bad! I immediately put him in a pitcher while I changed his water entirely, 95 percent. He was very stressed out but having that much ammonia is worse than stressing him out with a water change. I will have to do water changes every day for a good while, if not twice a day if I can manage. I will keep him in the water from now on though, he was so stressed. I was sure I had done the cycling correctly but something must have gone wrong, I did feed the bacteria with some ammonia now and then but maybe not enough. Also small tanks are harder to cycle. So unfortunately Satin is going to be uncomfortable for a while :( He seems happy enough to be back in his tank. Now I feel like a really bad fish keeper :( But I tried my best.

Amanda: I'm glad there were more people today and not as many calls. It sounds like the easier kind of calls too. Missing the bus is never nice and worse in this dark weather. I saw on the Team Wall it's close to freezing at night with you as well! I hope the heaters I have for the fish will be enough, that was a lot of trouble figuring out how to keep them at one temperature.

Eva: I'm glad Mr Charlie is somewhat ok, and the idea of a memory pillow is very nice. And you're right, it should be easy to do. I hope Brenna will feel better soon! Tom has a very bad cold and his voice is raspy, and his asthma is really bad. I hope it will not be hard to find your mom a new clinic. That picture is amazing!!!!! I've never seen one that close, I'll admit I'm afraid of bugs.

Work went soso today at the office. I gave myself a hypo by taking too much insulin and had a huge binge, right there, though people can't really see. I was wanting to go home but I felt I had to stay because my pain was a 7.5 not an 8, and 8 is my cutoff. So I managed to stay until 5. Then went to the store to get a chicken for Tom because he wanted that more than pizza, and potato salad. Also got some high sugar icecream for myself, this darkness and winter type weather is triggering all my 'wanting to eat' buttons. Yesterday I got an appointment with a therapist at Kaiser to talk about binges, but there was no room until Dec 31. I was hoping they'd have an eating disorder specialist but it doesn't sound like it.

I changed Satin's tank water and now what's left is to drag two super old computer, two super old cellphones, a tablet without charger and a CRT TV out to the carport because tomorrow between 9 and 11 AM someone will come pick them up for recycling! That's pretty cool, I think. Otherwise I'm going to try again to go to bed early.

Alex, you have a beautiful Betta. Satin will be a happy fish!

I break down stuff and freeze it all the time. It makes feeding the family cheaper. Freezing your bacon is a great idea.

Amanda, I'm glad today was smoother.

I went and checked on Mr. Charlie. I've offered to do some sewing for him. He wants to give their granddaughters a memory pillow made from one of Jan's shirts for Christmas. I've offered to make them at cost. It's just 4 seams. That I can do with my ancient machine.

Brenna has a cough. no fever as of last night but I'm waiting to see how she is when the clock goes off. I think it's sinus. I'm having some asthma issues. Nothing too serious. When the leaves fall it's never a surprise one of us has something going on.

Mom goes to the doctor today. I found out his nurse didn't call in all her meds. One being her fluid pill. I have a feeling if she had asked me to go with her today I'd show my @$$. Which is probably why I'm not invited. I told her that I'll help her look for a new clinic before January.

It's spirit days at school. Miss Brenna said she wanted to be a photojournalist! You know that's totally in her artistic wheel house! So yesterday I made her a fake press pass to go with the camera that just doesn't work anymore to wear for school. Wouldn't it be cool if she ended up working for National Geographic one day?

She took this picture with cell phone not too long ago. Not bad for a cell phone picture.





Today will be quieter. I have some chores to do, but mostly I'm waiting for a call from Mom to see what her doctor has to say.





Edited by: MRS_EVA_K at: 11/20/2019 (06:43)

Yes today was better. Only 1 out and fewer calls. I only had 2 WIC calls today; luckily the second with 2 new immigrant families to register came when Mara (from WIC) was in our area to help. Also both families only had one child each of WIC age (under 5), and moms weren't pregnant or breastfeeding, so easier appts to schedule & a single participant (plus caregiver) for each family. The caseworker who called was an old hand who spelled out the African names letter-by-letter and knew right which clinic was closest to both, and what documents would be needed at the first appointments.

I missed the early bus coming home, so it was full dark, but no rain (unlike the morning commute), but not nearly as tired. I hope to finish the last Soulwood novel before bed tonight, so better Spark faster!

Eva: If it's like with the fish I can imagine taking care of those bacteria is a pain! Those new hooks sound very useful! I haven't been able to stop my cat from swiping at the balls, though mine, like yours, are just of plastic (though not always shatterproof). Wow for Jim cleaning out the garage, that is great! That's amazing, he got some good brownie points and kudos I bet! It sounds like the old chainsaw might serve a good purpose.

I was not going to buy a betta at Petco or something but I saw exactly the one I wanted. So I gave in, it's a delta tail so he won't chew his tail off because it's too heavy like with a halfmoon or rose tail. I put him in the tank, and I'll try to post a picture. His name is Satin, I thought of Velvet but that's also a fish disease so better not. He is a beautiful royal blue color with red contrasts in his fins.



For the rest I worked from home today, did pretty well with numbers. Got my depo shot after and then we went shopping, and I ended up with the Betta. I'm going to bed on time for once tonight, no later than 8.30 is the plan! I made omelets but the bacon was moldy so it was just spinach :( Next time I am going to freeze the bacon so if I'm not up for making the normal omelets three tuesdays in a row I still have bacon!

Amanda, what a day! I always hated when computer programs updated. I was never on a call center for it though, so I imagine that makes it many times harder. I hope today is smoother.

Alex, Congrats on the performance review!

I asked about the sewer because I'm on a septic system. I have to feed the bacteria monthly to keep the tank healthy. And if the bacteria die off I have to either have it pumped or do a big emergency treatment to rebuild it. It's not a lot different than your fish tank bacteria balance. Jim thinks I'm silly because I have calendar reminders to tell me it's the septic day so I don't forget.

Oh, that is one of my Christmas trees. Brenna was ready to decorate so I let her. I have 3 trees up this year. Brenna actually did the decorating, I just put hooks on ornaments. I bought nice new hooks that you have to use pliers to put on the ornaments. It keeps the cats from stealing the ornaments. They are shatterproof, but I get tired of chasing the balls all over the house! Now they can paw at shiny things with no worries.


Jim and I keep such different schedules that having 1 computer usually works out fine. But the odd day off messes with my morning routine a little. I can spark from my phone but I don't like it. Unless it's goody day I usually just leave him alone and let him piddle on here. He's off again Friday. Yesterday he cleaned out the garage! We can get his work van and my car both in there now.

I've been asking him to help me clean it for a year now. Some of the stuff is just too big for me to move by myself. And yesterday, while I did my normal stuff he just did it himself! I am so proud. He would come get me and ask me where to take a few things to recycle, dump or donate? I had already taken most of the donation stuff on Saturday, so most of it was trash that waste management won't pick up or stuff to be recycled. There's a guy he works with who's elderly dad likes to tinker with small motors. He's giving the old leaking chainsaw I had marked for recycling to him to see if he can fix it for the man to sell (it's how he supplements his social security) or use for parts for a different tool.

Eva: Heh I guess I'm always too nice to Tom, but we each have our own computer, or we'd get into lots of fights! We're on the city sewer, and they did come and check when I had that weirdness with the toilet bubbling but there was nothing. I have an appointment with the dermatologist on Dec 12 but that's so far away I've been trying to call every day to see if there are cancellations, but no luck so far. Good that shopping was so nice and that people were so friendly! I'm glad Brenna enjoyed her dance, they already had a Xmas tree there?

Amanda: Wow the whole update thing of several programs at once is not a good idea! And having so many people out not either. And it sounds like you have an awful lot of stuff you had to do today. I will also help with good energy for more help and fewer calls!

Had a good day in the office, able to stay on plan, Got my numbers, had a -really- good performance review, which was very nice, so all in all it was a good day. A friend who I've rideshared with in the mornings moved a bit further away and we agreed to have him come pick me up in the afternoons on Monday, so I got to chat with him a bit and find out how the move went. Then when we got home Tom wanted to have dinner first, so I cooked. Then I had to go shopping for a big step-on garbage can for in the bathroom now that we can't flush the paper, and also to put the cat grit in which I had the small one for before, and more antihistamine pills. We got home and I hauled the garbage bag with the cat grit in all around the house with a hole in it, which I wasn't aware of, so then I had to go sweep up all the cat grit! Argh! That's why I'm late (again) to bed today.

Alex, I'm glad you weren't really short that money--and I understand your panic at first! But glad it turned out OK.

Eva, glad you enjoyed shopping and Brenna enjoyed the dance!

What an exhausting day! I knew we'd be using Cascades--the new WIC application, but didn't realize they were overhauling Epic and giving the pages a new look over the weekend. For the first hour or more the insurance lookup was taking WAY too long, so had to look up by searching on a different website. Also, 3 people were out and a 4th started 2 hours late, so it was me and the lead, with Ian helping until 10. I don't remember if it was before or after lunch that I finally got 1 minute between one call and the next. Otherwise, they were back to back pretty much all day long.

Luckily Mara from WIC was able to help with Cascades; we only had to register, not schedule appts, though I looked people up to pass on the client ID numbers when I emailed the clinics. I think 1 out of 7 clinic calls was answered. I had to copy and paste client data into emails for the others. I only had to register one family--a new mom, 1 week old baby, 2 toddlers, just arrived from Russia, with the English-speaking friend slowly spelling every name (Z as in zebra, I as in ice cream, R as in rabbit . . .). And while most days I average 0-3 new insurance policies to enter, today I had 8 brand new plus 2 changes, where I have to put end dates on the old ones and then enter the new one.

I have around 20 patients to check for Infolinx records tomorrow; I was just able to jot names and DOB (date of birth) for all the callers. And one new registration had insurance come back with a DOB mismatch message. Turned out I heard March 2nd, but it was March 7. So it turns out the patient already had a record, though that registration had never been completed, and there were no appts attached. So I had to report the duplication. All in all a mess of a day--and a rainy commute both ways on top of it all!

I read when I got home, for quite a while. Then did a cardio sculpt workout with Amy. Now I'll make a salad for dinner and read some more! And pray we have more help & fewer calls tomorrow!

Good morning!

I'm short and sweet today. Jim is home so I'm on my phone. I'm nice when he's here and let him piddle on the computer in the mornings.

Alex glad you got the toilet fixed. Are you on city sewer or a septic?

I'm glad you got some sleep. Any word on the dermatologist?

Amanda, I'm glad you had a good weekend and maybe going live today won't be so bad . I'm hopeful.

Shopping was normal. Well that's not true, everyone was REALLY friendly. I always talk to people working and greet them with a smile. They talk back but Friday was extra friendly when I walked I the door. One of my favorites called me from across the aisle just to say hi!

Brenna enjoyed her dance. She said it was far less crowded than the football homecoming dance but she liked it. More room to move.

Amanda: Yay for getting in another application! It sounds like that 'go live' might be more lively than hoped for, especially with so little hands on training and the timing out at 20 minutes, that sounds really frustrating! I really hope it's not that way. Based on your mentions of flavored coffee I started trying little bits of the ones at my Winco that have them in bulk, so I can get a few pots worth of coffee and not more. My favorite is also salted caramel. I must say that even if I use their grinder on the 'espresso' setting it still takes almost twice as much coffee made from those beans as my normal coffee from Yuban. But it's so nice to have something to flavor my coffee with that is not based on a whole lot of Torani syrup!

Woke up late because we went to bed late. We went shopping, I drove because Tom was not feeling good enough. We went to a few stores and had lunch with a burger (not the healthiest choice) and then back home. I did the laundry and put pills in boxes and then I ran a game of roleplaying, doing a story about a Faerie haunted forest. It's going to go on for several weeks. I also managed to clean up the kitchen table while running, waiting for players to post their actions. THen when it was done I looked at my budget quickly to make sure that it was all right after that shopping trip, and got a huge unpleasant surprise, I was 60 dollars short!! I was panicking and looking everywhere, in the car, in the bags we used, in between the shopping from yesterday, I completely emptied out my bag, and it was nowhere.

So I decided to see what I could cut, and then realized that what I was cutting was more than what was needed. I am still not sure how it worked but it seemed I had counted 60 that I thought I had in cash and that instead was in the bank. But it makes no sense, but I hardly had to cut anything, and I was already thinking I had to cut something. So, I guess it's ok, it all ended well. I am still full of adrenalin now though!! That 60 was our Thanksgiving dinner money, but we can manage now. I hope I still sleep ok!

to hear about your parents, Alex. It would be so nice if you could visit them. And I'm thrilled you got a good night's sleep!

I bit the bullet (now where does that phrase come from?) and powered through writing a cover letter. I've got the process down pretty well. I copy and paste from previous letters, from the job posting, and in this case, from Supplemental Question responses I had already written and put in a Word document in a file for this posting. Attached the cover letter and just submitted the application due tomorrow night.

I realized I might not have much time at work tomorrow, since we "go live" with the new WIC registration and scheduling system. I don't feel at all confident about being able to help callers. We trained and tested like 2 months ago, and then saw a demonstration at a meeting, without the hands on training we had been told we would get. Instead, we got a play version to practice in--which doesn't quite work like the real one, full of fake data and really open schedules. When I expressed my concerns, I was told Friday that we will start with just 5 clinics, not all 14, and someone from WIC will try to be available to help out. ONe of the biggest possible headaches is that our practice version timed out after 20 minutes of inactivity, requiring a code be sent to our email to log in again! Since WIC calls used to make up less than 25% of calls, that means a lot of timing out--unless the real version won't do that to us.

I should go make my dinner salad and prep a couple days of salad extras for lunch. I already prepped a new container of coffee for home--mixing a pound of flavored coffee (Salted Caramel for this batch) with a little less of ground espresso beans: heaven!

Yesterday night I did the two creams I use on my body where it itches so much (underlegs and complete arms and some on my side) and I do a cream with aspirin in it and hydrocortizone cream on top. The Benadryl cream peels my skin. Then I had an ice bag, this time the good one that really closes, and I had very little itch, so I had a really good 11-hour rest. That made me very happy!

Called my parents. My father had a contrast MRI but the contrast fluid never actually got to his brain, they must have not had the vein or something, so he has to do it all over again. And my mother fell again. She explained 'suddenly I was laying on the ground'. She wasn't hurt but I worry. They're both 80 or over, and I wish I had the money to go visit them :( But the money for a ticket is not an option and Tom wants to come too and then it definitely is not an option. I wonder if I should talk to them about buying me a ticket, I do have enough vacation leave saved up.

We went shopping in the morning, I did all my thanksgiving shopping at Winco and scored a free $25 turkey that they have for their special if you spent $100. We normally spend 80 but I added the thanksgiving stuff too. Unfortunately I realized I had left the purse with cash on my desk right after I had paid the plumber, but they put my cart to the side (actually put it in the freezer so my frozen stuff wouldn't melt, I was impressed!) and then I could get the money, come back and pay to get my groceries. Then a nice, long nap. The evening I cleaned up a lot, the stove is now usable, which is good because tomorrow I have to make chili meat for 3 weeks so I don't have to do anything on Fridays but put the ingredients in the crockpot. I hope I sleep as well again tonight!

What a calamity, Alex! Praying hard for you that things improve!

I had a lovely time catching up with Cheryl over lunch at Wally's. Got their shrimp and crab salad with a cup of Manhattan clam chowder (way less calories than the New England style), brought much of the salad home for dinner (with added veggies, of course!) I had planned to treat her, since she and partner Terri looked after Dora early this month. But it turns out they are spending Thanksgiving week with Cheryl's mom (who has had many health issues of late requiring hospital and rehab stays), so we will balance out.

I didn't get groceries as originally planned after lunch, but did run to Freddy's on the way home for a holiday gift and a 50 % off Xmas sweater--sparkly jam session with Santa & 2 reindeer--silly but cute! Also went by the library to return a few books, 2 due today & tomorrow, and pick up one I had requested. I think I'll stay up to finish my current book, since I can sleep in tomorrow!

Eva: I did have an online tutoring job for several years, with Brainfuse. They would require that we tutor several students at once but not tell the students that we were alt tabbing between them at a breakneck pace. I was asked directly if that was what was going on and I said that I was not allowed to divulge that information. That should have made it pretty clear. My full time job is enough work for me now to not be able to manage more work, but if I would ever lose this job that's where I would search. I think I'm right where I'm supposed to be, things are getting steps better all the time over the last years. I'm glad the jobs fit where you needed to be. I did make the choice for debt, there really was no other way to support us. But I agree the books for law school are crazy. I am glad Brenna has a better purse now, I agree that that expensive medication would not be good fallen out of the purse! I hope the shopping trip went okay, and that you manage to keep your anxiety down.

Amanda: Sorry to hear you were not feeling good yesterday, heavy perfume can be terrible. I hope with Eva that you don't get sick! I hope that new application goes far! A pity that the District Court has no more vacancies. I so hope that there will be career positions in your unit and that your applications for those will work out really well! And I hope the lunch at Wally's will be fun.

So I didn't sleep as well as I had hoped, I was itch free until 10 PM and when I finally was in bed the itching started. Tom was already asleep, so I did not want to wake him up by looking for my creams and ice bag. I got up to get ice in a zip loc quart size bag, but it was a new brand (a better brand at that!) and didn't close as well and in the middle of the night the melted cold water got on my bed. So I didn't sleep that well after all. I got up for work normal time and was saying I wasn't sure if I could last the day. At 11.50 the plumber came.

He tried to auger the toilet, I could have told him that wouldn't work, then went on the roof to see if there was a pipe to access the drain, but there wasn't. He then went to the front yard where there is a pipe sticking out of the ground on our side of the fence but the pipe is for the neighbor's drain.. Very weird. So he was putting a cable in there and she came out, hearing it under her house. I had tried to explain to him it was not our pipe but he ignored me. I'm glad she wasn't upset, she's the representative of our park owners and we pay the space rent to her every month, so being on her bad side would not be a good thing. But she understood. Finally he used a huuuuge electrically motored auger of I think 15 to 25 feet long through the toilet, I have no idea how he got it in there! I had the same width in 25 feet but not with an electrical motor and it was impossible to get it through the toilet! Same for the cable, but with the motor he managed it. He got it unplugged for $210, but did warn us that our toilet drain was not doing very well and advised us not to use paper in that toilet. My grandmother had issues in her old house that were going to be super expensive to fix with her drains, so I am familiar with having to put used toilet paper in the garbage, that was a pain in the ass!! Pardon my pun.

He said that we could have them remove the old toilet and install a new one for $875 and with that they would use a camera down the drain when they had the toilet removed, to see what was going on with the drain and to see if there was a pipe somewhere with access that we hadn't found. We'd also have to add the price for the new toilet. Once we had that they could tell us what needed to be done and give an estimate. But I don't think we can get $875 together any time soon, so for now we'll just have to deal with using that toilet only at night (it's our Master bathroom, there is another, good toilet in the front of the house, closer to the living room) and to garbage the paper, urgh.

All this took an hour, I had called my boss when the plumber called that there was a house emergency, Tom was supposed to deal with the plumber but he was getting lunch. And then I was doing plumber assistance duty and Tom didn't step in. But I wanted to know how it was going. And then when I had paid him I wanted to do the budget and work out how big of a loan we need to ask my parents for. And thankfully have enough left to do the food shopping tomorrow. I flexed the time, even though I was exhausted, I didn't want to use even more leave. So I worked until 5.45 PM instead of 4.45 PM. And though I worked hard the cases were so difficult I only got half of my required amount done :( I tried to fix a payment to divide it between two taxpayers and unapplied the complete payment instead and had to take an hour to find it back, or I would never find it again! And finding payments in our system is very difficult. So that was fun..

At 6 we went to nap, then got up at 8, made frozen meals, and I put the wooden board that was in the hallway under my mattress because I seem to have broken several of the lattices at my foot end.. And now it's time for bed and I'm definitely using the anti itch cream and have my good icebag filled instead of a ziploc!

Alex, thank you for sharing your history. You've had a lot of challenges. I'm so happy no itching! Hope you slept well too. on taking half your load to Goodwill, too!

Eva, good luck with the shopping. Hope your anxiety lessens. Best wishes to Brenna for fun at the dance!

I left work 1.25 hours early yesterday--I think it was a bad reaction to heavy perfume in the break room: nauseous & woozy, and hard to concentrate. I caught whiffs of lingering scent on my clothes on the bus home, even sitting on the floor playing with Dora. So I threw the clothes in the laundry basket & put on workout clothes, though I was too tired to exercise! Had soup, and was in bed well before 8, sleeping 9 hours, when my usual is ~ 7!

Felt much better today. Submitted an application for a career position with the Dept of Community and Health Services. I applied for an 18-month TLT with them a few weeks ago, then this posted 11/13, only open to county employees. I don't know if it's instead of or in addition to the other one. It's for the same job title & pay range as what I have, and in the same building, just different department and floor. I also got an email from the District Court, thanking me for getting my references in, and telling me I'm in active status for future vacancies, but that "At the moment, we do not have any more vacancies." That sounds like they already hired one or more people. Either they were for locations I wasn't interested in, or I wasn't their top pick for the locations I wanted. Sigh.

But more than one person has told me that either 2 or 3 career positions in my unit will be posted soon, so I'll be watching, and will jump on that as soon as they come open. Have plans to meet my cat sitter at Wally's for lunch tomorrow. I'm treating as payment for watching Dora more than once; it will be fun to catch up, since I haven't been to pickleball, and she's been out of town a lot looking after her mom in Northern California, who finally took a turn for the better--yay!

Amanda, I hope today is easier! You went to bed super early. You aren't getting sick, are you?

Alex, Wow. You do have a complicated back story. I wonder, with your teaching credentials, if you could get a job tutoring online. We have teachers here that teach English to children in different countries. Most notably China. They do it via a webcam.

I'm sorry you had such a rough road to reach Tom. I hope that you are right where you are supposed to be.

I wouldn't say my jobs didn't work out. I was at the jewelry store for 6 years. I left when they closed the doors. She passed and he had dementia. I waited tables for 4 years and was a video store clerk for a year. The jobs served their purpose. I'm a saver by nature so I tucked a lot of my paychecks back. I didn't have student loans, or I could have finished law school. But I was afraid of the debt. That's why I cut my losses and went to beauty school with the remainder of my savings for college textbooks. Yes, my books cost the same as a fast track through beauty school. It's nuts. No one could have known that my wrist issues would devolve as they did.

I have Brenna ready for tomorrow night's school dance. She needed a purse that would zip to carry her autoinjectors and her phone, in case of an emergency. The cute red one she carried last time pops open too much, and I don't want her leaving $800 worth of medication in the floor.

Today I go shopping. I have a long list of inexpensive things. I'm going to try to enjoy the trip. My anxiety has been up again, and I know why. It'll settle, but I have to resist buying out the place to bake. But then again I could get a jump on the gifts I make.

Amanda: I think job hunting is more important, once you have a steady job you can better focus on cleaning again. I'm sorry you had so few people again today. Good that the temperature was all right and no rain. I hope you have a good rest!

Eva: Yeah I use the low carb snacks already, they sell them in lots of places, but the frozen meals I thought were too expensive and I couldn't find them. The plumber will come tomorrow (Friday) between 11 and 2. What a pity that those jobs didn't work for you, and then not being able to do the law program. And not being able to do hair cutting, that must be difficult. I'm glad Ariel is ok. And I hope Brenna has a great time!

I went to teacher's school right out of high school, and have credentials in the Netherlands for teaching kids up to 16 mathematics and history (the two subjects I chose when you could still do two subjects, not anymore). But I couldn't keep order for the life of me, and I really thought I wanted to be a teacher but it was wayyy too stressful without being able to keep order. After getting my diploma I went on to University where I entered in the second year because the teaching school covered the first year. I was doing well for 1.5 years, and would only have needed another 1.5 to have a Master's in Medieval Studies, which I loved, but then I got ill with fibromyalgia. It was so bed that I had to be in bed most of the day. I spent a few years that way, during a breakup of my marriage with someone who started out marrying me as a guy and left our relationship as a girl. It was very stressful, but that change was not what killed the relationship, it was the complete personality change that came with it, which is unusual, it was like seeing my partner kill off all the parts that I loved.

I got trouble with the support system in the Netherlands because they did not believe in fibromyalgia (you can't prove it so it doesn't exist.. and as a support system they have to make sure that people who aren't really ill can't use it), so I had to find a job I could do from home without having to work 8 hours. It was terrible work but I became a sex phone operator. It was the only thing I could find. There are no laws in the Netherlands protecting people with disabilities from being fired or not hired, basically at that time you either were supported with disability or you were unemployed and required to look for work (and they said going on my crutches or in a wheelchair because I couldn't walk was 'gaming the system'). Thats' why I had to get work no matter what.

In 2003 I came to the US to marry someone, which didn't end up well. During that time I worked from home but this time as a tutor online, and after a while I found a temp job checking if people had paid their bills. We did not threaten people, it was a community therapy program, we often billed health insurance and things. Thats' where I found I like numbers and finance. The second marriage broke up badly, I got to stay in the US based on the Violence Against Women Act, and on the rebound I met Tom. We lived with his mother for a few years and I still worked as an online tutor and also as a transcriptionist.

In 2007 we moved to Oregon, we couldn't stay with his mom all the time and there was no way I could earn enough to live in California. In Oregon I worked still as a tutor, I worked as a transcriptionist and ended up with several part time gigs as a tutor at my local community college while going there to get my accounting Associate's and also as a transcriptionist doing court cases of DMV hearings, usually for DUIs. These jobs helped me get through college, as well as the student loans I could get, I was supporting both of us through the recession. I still have super high student loans, we're on income based repayment plans. And then after getting my diploma I got the job doing State taxes after about 8 months of job searching, which I could do for so long without problems because I still had the transcription and tutoring jobs until I got my full time job. And now I've been there for five years plus!

Wow that was a whole story. Worked from home today, it went very well, no itching, still no itching and it's 9.30 now! Really late! We went out to dinner because I was too tired to cook or clean the stove after cleaning the car port which is being inspected tomorrow. After dinner we went and dropped off half the boxes of clothing at Goodwill. Tomorrow the plumber comes, and for once I have good hopes for sleep tonight!

but too tired to post. Going to bed--at ~ 7:30!!

Alex, I think keeping a few Atkins options on hand is a great idea. They have some pretty good low card snacks in the pharmacy (a weird place I know) if you are keen to try them.

I hope the plumber gets you fixed up!

And congrats on recovering space. We all have a method of recovery of space. We just have to find what works best for us. I like that we share methods so if we get stuck we might can try something new.

Amanda, I hope you have a fuller crew today. I'd be exhausted.

When I was in college I had an 18 to 21-hour schedule and I balanced up to 3 jobs. I had 2 regular part-time jobs. One was a gift wrapper at a jewelry store where I ran the Fenton glass counter if I wasn't running the bow maker. That was on weekends. The other was a waitress. I worked at a rib place and left there for a seafood place that paid more and didn't make us split tips. My tips were usually 3 times my paycheck. Between all that and help take care of my grandmother. I ran out of steam. I was accepted into Ole Miss for the law program, but there wasn't enough money (even with my scholarships) or hours, so I dropped. That's when I took my savings and paid to become a hairdresser. And I loved being a hairdresser for the most part. I went to being an overqualified insurance claims denial reviewer when I moved to Tennessee. By that time I was having trouble with "twitches" in my right hand. It's from a wrist break I had as a teen. I have about 95% use of that hand. Probably less now. But it's all in the thumb. Basically I can't make a standard "4" with the right hand and the thumb twitches. Your thumb is you "cutting finger," the one you move to make the scissors work. I'm right-handed, so no one wants that next to their ear with shears. See Jack of all trades and a master of none! LOL

Ariel seems okay. She went out after it warmed up ysterday but cam in and was wiped down last night. She's going to have to take a "Saturday Bath" every week while she's in here, but she'll get over it. I can tell she's sleeping well being in the house. She doesn't like inside when it's above 35 degrees outside. She really loves having the run of the yard.

Brenna has asked to go to the winter dance, It's awfully early. It's this Saturday. It's not formal. So she's going dancing! I love that she's taking advantage of school events and getting social.

I enjoyed reading the detailed posts by both of you. I'm too tired to really respond to them though. I will say that it's great, Alex, that you and Tom have been making progress this year clearing some of your clutter. I was making progress in the first part of the year, but once I started ramping up the job hunt, my energy got diverted, and I've been losing ground. I applaud everything you are getting done!
(this emoticon makes me think of tidying up)
Eva, I didn't know you had waitressed also. I enjoyed being able to serve preferred drinks to several couples (both same-sex and different-sex) when they came in, and having them always want to sit in my section. I loved hearing about the why of Charlie wanting to carry out her legacy. That is so touching and honorable. What a wonderful man!

As I mentioned in my status, we have 6 people yesterday, since you have to work the day before and after a holiday to get your holiday pay. But then today, 3 called out, so it stayed busy all day, and breaks were a challenge. It wasn't too chilly when I walked down to Tat's, and no rain (yesterday and tomorrow yes). Carrie wasn't there, but another nice lady was; I'll want to learn her name too. Did a short low-impact HIIT with Amy after work--I am so glad you introduced me to her videos, Eva! I've also gotten back to using my Headspace membership for meditating the last couple days. I enjoy it. OK, kids, that's it from me. I'm going to read a little, then go to bed. Everyone have a great Thursday!

Amanda: Sorry I missed your post right before mine! I have had creams with aloe that help a bit. I need to do big pushes because there is just not the time or energy on a normal day to do a little, so I take a day off (I need the weekends for prepping) or I use a day off like Veteran's Day to do a biiiig push. But I way underestimated that with the clothes closet! Me and Tom have agreed I will work on making a 'path' through the mess room to the Christmas stuff the day after Thanksgiving and not try more. (I will be going through the stuff removed to make the path). I am not working on Thanksgiving and the weekend is for prepping. I use the 'coffee club' coffee in our break room but I agree, it's not very good. I drink two big mugs a day so can't really make my own coffee to take and I run out the door after showering, basically. Carrie remembering your salad if you go every 2 weeks is pretty amazing! We had a nice waitress at our favorite Chinese lunch place we visit every Saturday who knew exactly not to give me mustard in the red sauce and to give Tom a plastic fork because he eats his leftovers in the car while waiting for me to do the shopping. Unfortunately we now have a new waiter (no doubt cool too and he'll probably learn our habits too :) but we're still too new for him :)

Eva: I'll have to look at castor oil. That is affordable and if it helps, I'll try anything. As described above I need to do big pushes, and I cleaned the living room in one day, the area in the kitchen in a day, the pantry in a day, and now the clothes closet in a day and an evening. The mess room is going to take at least 3 days, I'm pretty sure, if not more. I do make piles of 'donate, keep, throw away' and put the donate stuff in boxes, the throw away in garbage bags, so I dont' get them mixed up (or I'll use a different color of garbage bag if I don't have enough boxes) and I try to find spots for things I want to keep right away or put them aside if they need to go back. I'm glad Brenna was ok with school. It's nice that you have contact with the son and daughter in law in case they need to know something that is serious and he's not sharing. And yes, him trying to do what she would have wanted and honoring her memory is good. I hope Ariel is going to be ok!

I worked the whole day today. THe itching was not much less (though a little maybe?) but I don't want to use any sick leave again. So I managed the whole day despite a very high itching level (me and Tom compare pain levels to see when I should call in, but the itching level lately has been a -lot- higher). So I was able to do my minutes for that committee. We went shopping on the way home, Tom wanted food from a drivethrough that was very close to our Walmart supercenter and I wanted to see if they are one of the few places here that have Atkins frozen meals. And they did! And also, because I was just going to get one or two because I remembered they were between 5 and 6 dollars when I was looking at them years ago, but they've come down a whole lot, to between 3.25 and 3.50. That's only a dollar more than Tom's normal meals. So I got six of them, I need frozen meals for when I can't handle cooking that won't up my sugars, especially with this prednisone. My sugars were 266 for the highest today so with prednisone, remembering 500 a few times last time, 266 is pretty good. I was very strict with myself, apart from buying the Atkins meals.

We're having the plumber come tomorrow, I got all our attempt hoses and augers and stuff out, and Tom is cleaning the toilet rim a bit, or he promised. To be honest, I'll have to see it to believe it, but he might surprise me! He sometimes does. He wants to do the right thing but he has ADHD and also depression so if he's not distracted he's too down, it makes things hard. I got a little plastic jar in the mail with dirt in it with small worms for my fish, I'm making what they call a 'culture' so I can feed them to my fish. I am getting the clown killifish really soon! They're on order and they're waiting until next week, so it's not almost weekend, to ship them overnight. They're coming from Seattle, so not too crazy a trip, and overnight. I'm excited about that!

Amanda, I always loved making people smile when I was a waitress because I remembered their usual. I bet Claire is the same way.

Coffee machine coffee is the pits. I'll drink water first.

Alex, I hope you get some relief. Amanda's suggestion of aloe is a good one. And I have a weird one. Castor Oil. You'll find it in the laxatives section but it has serious joint ache and itch relieving qualities. It's about $2.50 per bottle here. It's thick. But it does work. But most people give me weird looks when I mention putting what is primarily a laxative on their skin.

Amanda uses her timmer sessions. And they work well for her in conquering clutter. I use a list to keep track of what I want to clean up. I highlight it as I've accomplished a job. I label boxes and piles so I don't get them mixed up. I don't know if that helps you with your clutter taming. We all have a brand of clutter. You'd both be surprised at the books I have hoarded in this house.

Brenna had school. She was happy enough. It was a 4-H day. She's would have welcomed downtime, but all in all, it wasn't bad. It's still cold, but the roads were clear so I'm actually glad they didn't call waste an inclement weather day.

Mrs. Jan's son and daughter in law friended me on facebook. That way I can contact them if something is up with Mr. Charlie, but he's not sharing. Provided it's serious.

I understand Mr. Charlie's idea of cleaning out things now. There's a job fair coming up on the first of December. They help women from "distressed situations" apply. Many don't have clothes for an interview. She had some very nice business attire for conventions from when they owned toy stores and sports shops. He said she would want to help women find that job to better themselves. And he gave me a lot of backstories. So now I understand. He's just trying to honor her in any way he can.

So today I deserve a second down day. Or a bare minimum day. I sorted Jan's books yesterday for distribution. And made myself 2 more 2 read piles. Today I'm going to do laundry and watch a movie with the dog.

The dog, Ariel, has a cat allergy. But it's looking like rough winter nights. So I'm going to attempt to let her be outside during the day and inside at night when the temps drop. I may have to give her allergy meds, but I'm afraid this year, at her age, her little heater just isn't going to be enough. Jim agrees. So after homework, she'll come inside for the evening. If it doesn't work I guess I'll get her a second heater.

Eva: I had to giggle at the idea of Pandora making catnip tea with her catnip mices. I'll be donating clothes, several pairs of shoes, a motorbike helmet from when I still wanted to take a course (before we moved to rainy Oregon, riding a motorbike in the rain makes me nervous) and some bric a brac, but nothing big. Tom says he's fine with going twice, it's less than a mile from here. I haven't tried coloidal oatmeal paste, I've seen Aveeno, I'll have to try the equate version. I'm glad Mr. Charlie was ok, cleaning out some of her things really is very soon, but if it helps him, then that's what matters. I think advising him to go to the Grizzlies game is a good idea, some distraction. Did school get canceled? And good that your mom is now ready to learn more about her phone! I have postponed getting a smartphone forever, and now after I got an old model five years ago it's now -really- old and I should get another one, but I'm happy with this one.

Did not manage to work the whole 7 hours today, it was a little short of 6 :( The itching kept me awake again. When I couldn't manage anymore Tom took me to the pharmacy so I could get the prednisone. Tonight I had my last higher-carb meal in over a week, the prednisone will up me to over 500 even if I don't eat many carbs. So I'm going to work real hard on being on plan.

Tomorrow I take the first prednisone, but that means I haven't been able yet today and I will need to sleep the same amount, and tomorrow I work at the office and I have my committee minutes in the afternoon so I really can't cancel that. I hope I can manage.. The big job of emptying the walk in closet is done, I divided all clothes that we still have (about a third of what we had) in 'wash', 'fold', 'hang' so we can do that tomorrow or another time. I threw away a little less than a third and will be donating a little more than a third. Now we can actually reach the bathroom in the back but I need to do some cleanup (and Tom promised to do it too) before I feel ok about having a plumber come in. As (somewhat recovering) hoarders I'm pretty serious that it is bad, not just a way of saying it. I don't want the city to be notified.

We're getting there though, With having gotten the living room cleaned I have to keep that up but that's usually happening, same with the kitchen table, the pantry has been usable, and all of that was in the last 3 months. Now the walk in closet will have room for actual clothes, and some big items I don't want to just put in the shed like the living room airco. The day after thanksgiving I'm planning to look at what I call the 'mess room', like a storage room but then with a mess in it.. The totes for Christmas are all the way in the back.. And I want to go through stuff again and donate/throw away so it will surely take more than a day. Especially since it's basically checked chest high from the door in. We'll find out. If I can get that room organized we are so much further than a year ago! (we already are).

Let's hope I can sleep well tonight and tomorrow goes smoothly!

Alex, I know it takes me a long time to sort and organize, so I always break things up into little pieces. I had tossed a bunch of mail into a box, and worked on some of it Monday. I set a timer and worked for 10 minutes this evening. It's going to take a lot of sessions to get all the way through, but I get less effective if I try to push myself to keep making decisions after my energy and concentration are shot. I *really* hope the dermatologist can help you! Does aloe help?

Eva, so was school cancelled? You know it took me a long time to get a smartphone, and I mostly use mine for calling and texting. I haven't had good luck trying to figure out apps, myself. I should try and find a teacher like you! It does seem soon for Charlie to be cleaning out her things, though if it helps him, that's the main thing. I hope he goes to the game. with your loving response.

I discovered when I got to work that I left several things behind--the exercise towel I drape around my neck to dry sweat while biking, the placemat (actually a small hand towel) and napkin, all of which I took home and washed, as well as the jar of coffee I mixed up yesterday! I decided to try the "coffee club" coffee, made on a machine in the break room, but it wasn't very good. If I forget again, I'll take the time and spend the money to run to the coffee shop in the lobby!
(That's me grimacing at the bitter taste, even after doctoring with honey and half-and-half!)
To be sure I remembered, I sent myself an email at home on what I need to bring. The linens are by the rolling bag, and the jar of coffee is waiting on the kitchen counter where I put my lunch together, although I'm going out tomorrow to Tat's for their chopped salad, since it's not supposed to rain tomorrow for the trek down to the deli. I hope Carrie will be there tomorrow to take my order; I just asked her name last time & she tested herself to see if she could remember what I get on my salad. She has a pretty good memory, since I only go every 2 weeks or so.

Good Morning!

Amanda, I do keep my toilet lids closed, but never thought about a metaphysical significance. I do it to keep Pandora from dropping catnip mice in there. I think she makes tea. She dips them in all the water bowls and in the toilets if the lids are up.

Congrats on reclaiming an OO! That's a big deal. It sounds like you made good use of your extra day.

Alex, Do you have any large items, other than clothes you'll be donating? If you do you can call Goodwill and schedule a pick-up. I don't know that they do it for just clothes. They might. But I know they do it for furniture items and such.

I hope the dermatologist gives you answers and soon. In the meantime have you tried a colloidal oatmeal paste? It won't cure it but it might soothe it. Take the bath stuff (I use equate but the name brand is Aveeno)and make a paste of it. put it on the leg and loosely cover for a half hour or so. I use a gauze pad and sensitive skin tape since it's just a short use cover. It helps most rashes, but I'm not sure about your particular rash. You can use pain oatmeal from the cabinet.

I went up and visited with Mr. Charlie yesterday. He's okay. I was there for 2 hours listening. I'll go back up again later in the week. I took him some pecan cobbler. I bake when my nerves are frayed. Anyway, he's started cleaning out some of her things. It's really soon, but he explained to me, he's not really ready, but if he plans to live without her then he has to let her go and this is the only way to let her go. So I came home with 4 boxes of her books that I agreed to sort and donate as was appropriate. He asked me about what to do with clothes. I suggested RIFA (runs the soup kitchen in Jackson and gives the clothing to those in need) or taking them to the nursing home for people who have no family to bring them clothes. He liked both suggestions. I told him if he wanted help just to ask.

He had been invited to a ball game on Sunday. The plan was originally for Jan to come here while he went. He asked if I thought he should still go. I told him I think she would have wanted him to enjoy the Grizzlies game no matter what.

I'm hoping I get an all call in the next 20 minutes that school is canceled. I'm not looking forward to getting out in this 4-degree wind chill.

I got a nice surprise this morning when my mom *FINALLY* asked me to help her learn to text on her phone and to use the contacts to save seldom used phone numbers. We changed service providers. My old cell phone would work with her current provider so I just swapped the sim cards out to a phone with a better processor. I bought the same exact phone with the new provider, I like it so much. So this weekend I get to sit with her and show her step by step of how to make her phone work for her so her life is a little easier. I'm 100% sure that it's about to become a glorified Rolodex for the landline, but I don't care. I'm just glad she's agreeing to learn the features that will help her out in her daily life. She only agreed to get a smartphone in the first place because of the app she uses at work to request time off and verify timesheets.

Eva: It sounds like the shopping trip was a success, and good that Brenna enjoyed herself! I can imagine it's hard to have to say a forever goodbye to a good friend, and then have even her family checking up on you. I understand about choosing family, though right now the people we thought we'd chosen like that have been hard to visit. I think it's a good idea to keep checking on Mr. Charlie. And a good idea to let him know Ariel is inside!

Amanda: I know about Feng Shui but I did not know about keeping the toilet lids down. We keep them open. So maybe something to do though I don't think I'll be able to convince Tom it could help, he's not so much a metaphysical person. I do try to set intentions before sleep, I've done some EFT tapping but it never seemed to quite take off for me. It sounds you've had a busy day, and exercise too! I wish I knew where you get that energy :)

I didn't sleep until 1.30 AM, again. I slept until 10, but then some itching woke me up. Got up and made breakfast, then I started on the big project I had planned for the day, emptying and reorganizing our walk-in closet. I -completely- underestimated how long or how much energy it would take. During a break we went to get some banking done, and then some more sorting, and then a nap from 3 to 5.30. Was going to cook dinner but we ate taquitos instead.

At 8 I had to admit failure of doing the thing in one day. There is a HUUUGE stack of clothes now that I want to keep in the corner blocking the entry to the clogged bathroom and my bed. I will have to climb over Tom's side to get to mine. Luckily I almost never have to go to the bathroom at night. There still are about 6 boxes left on the bottom, a few washing baskets full of clothes, and a few boxes on the little shelf above where the hangers go. We have more donation clothes for Goodwill than we will be able to take in one trip in our normal compact car. I also have about 4 garbage bags full of torn or catpissed clothes. Emily used to do it everywhere, I think she was insecure, and we got into trouble over it several times with the landlord, though they never kept our security deposit for it. I found a tub full of clothes where the scent had been in them for years and just threw them all away, without looking very closely at them.

I'm exhausted now, and tomorrow I have my short day of work, hopefully I can manage. I take Emily to the vet tomorrow at 4 PM. After that I can finish the job.

Also got messages from my doctor (who is working on Veteran's day?) that she is putting me on a short course of prednisone and putting in a referral to the dermatologist. I hope they can see me soon! It really looks like my legs are granuloma annulare, there has been no improvement, though I've taken the pills for only a week. Maybe the dermatologist can tell more. It looked for a moment that the red edges were fading but there fully back, it comes and goes. I really hope the dermatologist can do something for the itching too!

Alex, I wish I had great practical suggestions, like Eva, but all I seem to do is hope and pray your situation improves. I just had one thought on a possible metaphysical intervention. Are you familiar with feng shui? Do you keep your toilet lids down? I think the practice is to keep good fortune from draining away. Just a thought. Also, do you set intentions before sleep? I don't always, but often go through a tapping routine as I affirm that I will sleep deeply, that my cells will renew, repair and rejuvenate as I sleep, that my dreams will be pleasant, they will guide and inform me, that I will awake in the morning feeling well-rested and refreshed. Wishing you a good night and a calm week.

Eva, glad the shopping trip went well. I'm glad friends have been checking on you. I'm glad you'll be checking on Charlie. : Family we choose are precious and dear.

I had done 2 loads of clothes on Saturday, and today did 1 load of linens that barely got dry, as I kept pulling out a few lighter weight items to fold, leaving fewer to soak up the heat. Did another of Amy's cardio HIIT workouts, this for lower body with no weights. They always make me sweat! Had a nice big late breakfast of leftover Shanghai Vermicelli (curried w/ shrimp, egg, and chicken) and Szechuan Style Prawns (spicy w/ veggies) plus red peppers, kale, garlic, shredded carrots, mushrooms, green onion, spinach. Yum!

Napped, hennaed my hair. Dishes and kitchen cleaning, recovered a small OO. Started in sorting a big honking box of mail. {*Sigh*} I wish I did a better job of keeping up. At least all my bills are paid automatically. I'm sure getting lots of Medicare mail, since I turn 65 in March. I'm also totally enjoying the most recent Jane Yellowrock novel--I had forgotten a lot of details. Back to work tomorrow, but only for 4 days!

Alex, any word on the plumber? Do you have an appointment yet?

I hope you have a better time with sleep. Can you add a cinnamon capsule to your meds? It helps offset the prednisone when it comes to blood sugar. If you are on a blood thinner, you can't take the cinnamon caps.

Amanda, it sounds like you had a nice weekend. I'm so glad you and Mary are so close.

We did take Brenna shopping with MIL and SIL (Donna). We had a nice lunch and a good time. Kay (MIL) commented on how laid back Brenna is shopping. She said, "she's easy to keep up with." Her cousin is not LOL. Donna took her on to Old Navy while we were in line at Kohls. Brenna didn't need much in the way of pants, but she did need winter sweaters and shirts. Everyone was tired, but she enjoyed herself. I personally needed the distraction.

We laid my friend Jan to rest yesterday morning. It's all been a bit overwhelming. I've had more people check on me to see how I am doing. Even her youngest son. I appreciate it, but I'm just not used to it. Once the family has gone home (one flew in on a redeye from California), I'll go up and see her husband, Mr. Charlie. These people are adopted family for me. Family is often who you choose and not who you share DNA with. I'll keep checking on him, just like I always have. He's a sweet man, and one I love to talk politics with. We see eye to eye on most of it.

It's getting record-breaking cold here, so our pup Ariel (she's 7 years old so not really a pup) is an inside dog for a few days. She's part beagle and actually prefers to run the fenced-in yard. But 12-degree low temp is too cold for my girl even with her heater. I'll have to let Mr. Charlie know she's inside so he won't worry. He keeps an eye out on her from his deck. He calls her "the grand dog."

Amanda: Your lunch sounds delicious! It is already time to make plans for Christmas, it all goes so very fast! Sounds like you have your books all planned out too!

I did not sleep until 1 AM last night, but after that I went to get some food because I felt hungry and then it was a bit easier to sleep, but I still have not found a solution to all the itching. I have several creams I need to use at once (hydrocortisone, aspirin cream and lidocaine cream) that lower the itch by about 40% but it's still very much there. I used the Benadryl cream but it peels my skin and even if the benadryl makes the itching less, the peeling makes it worse. I take the benadryl (a generic for me) as pills at night. I wrote to my doctor and she is going to prescribe prednisone for a few days, but that will mess up my diabetes a lot, I remember getting 500+ sugars when being perfectly on plan. So I'll have to be really careful with that.

We did some shopping today but otherwise I didn't get a lot done. I didn't even have a nap, but then I slept until noon, so there was no time left. I bought a lot of clothes hangers because tomorrow I was planning to look at our way too full clothes closet and go through everything. But I also have not gotten to making the chili meat I was planning or all the laundry. So I might not get as much done. We'll have to see tomorrow.

Hope you got a good night's sleep, Alex!

We had a wonderful lunch--once I helped Mary find the place! She had gotten a bit lost, but I was luckily sitting where I could see the street sign for the numbered cross street on the main drag. Excellent food, and she's eager to come again with me, and wants to introduce DH to it also. We talked books and made plans for Shafer Ladies in early December.

After lunch, I just toodled down Marine View Drive in Des Moines, which turns into 1st Ave in Burien, where both my Safeway and Trader Joe's are situated, so picked up groceries, then dropped the book I got back from Mary (we traded library books last weekend) at my library and picked up a couple waiting titles, including the 14th Jane Yellowrock novel which I just began, which will bring me up-to-date for this year's #15, which I'm waiting to make it's way down the reservation list to me. (Just checked, and I'm now #26 on 14 copies, down from my starting point of #34).

Quick message, I slept until 10, then called my parents, they'll help with a loan for the plumber, my dad has another MRI with contrast fluid this time on Thursday, and then we went for our Chinese lunch and food shopping. After that I napped from 2 to 6, before the itch got too bad. Now it's 10.30 almost and time to go to bed again but the itching is pretty bad, so we'll have to see how well I sleep. Luckily I can sleep in again tomorrow.

Eva, I'm so for the sudden loss of your friend, and will for her husband.

Did 2 loads of laundry this morning, had planned to run to Costco before it got too busy, but realized I could skip this week. Fixed a big breakfast with Chinese leftovers from yesterday plus extra veggies. Scrubbed out the litter pan, the mat underneath, the walls and floor of the coat closet where the litter supplies are. I recently purchased a 2nd full sized pan, so the just cleaned one can air dry fully. That's a big job, kind of awkward on my knees at the closet and by the tub for scrubbing everything.

Took a nap & I've been reading. Figured finances from last weekend, and how much I owe my sister. We're meeting tomorrow to exchange library books. While we often hit fast food (Ivar's or Panda Express) in Federal Way in the middle, I suggested we go to Wally's Chowder House where I'll pay for both & knock some off what I owe her. Looked over the menu, but not sure what I'll get.

I'm so sorry Eva, that is so sad. I agree that it is a good idea to keep an eye on him, just imagining how it would feel if I lost Tom is terrifying.

Oh Mrs Eva I am so sorry about your neighbour what a shock for her husband to find she had died and for you as well.
Something similar happened to my Mother in 1986 (27th December) with her it was her heart, she died in her sleep and my brother found her, so I know what a shock something like this is for all concerned.
Keeping an eye on your neighbour when it is all over is a good idea as he will need help even if thinks he won't need it.

I found out at 8:15 yesterday morning my friend, the neighbor I've been helping take care of since she broke her shoulder, passed away suddenly in her sleep. A chest aneurysm burst sometime after 3 am. That was the last time her husband heard her up and about.
I'll keep a check on her husband. He's a good man and I love him almost as much as I loved her. He's planning her memorial. He's asked to do it alone. I'm respecting that, but when it's all over I'll keep an eye on him. She would want that.

I'll catch up on posts Monday. Be safe my friends.

Amanda: I'm not surprised they check hires working for the jail extra thoroughly, but it's still a pain. Wow what a lot of translaters needed! I hope your Chinese takeout was good!! And I would have forgotten about the three-day weekend if you hadn't reminded me!

Eva: Unfortunately I tried the cable with the pressure washer yesterday so it's not unopened. We've decided to keep it and ask help with the plumber for a loan with my parents. You had a good 'me' time yesterday it sounds like. Also an interesting development that your MIL wanted to come. It sounds like Brenna could use some oversized sweaters of her own!

Paula: What a pity that you can't walk outside anymore. Is there more crime around you than before or is it because it's dark earlier? I would go crazy walking back and forth in the house, but yes listening to audio books is a very good idea. I agree, my cat would be swiping at my feet and running around also! I hope the chair gets fixed!!

Before bed I tried to fix the bathroom with the pressure hose that was supposed to be able to get through the toilet according to the video they had and it didn't work at all. I couldn't get the hose more than a foot in, and I read information from other sewer jetters that said that it was not possible to get them through the toilet. There are different types of toilets in other parts of the world where they might have worked but we have traps and a lot of bends in our toilets to keep sewer gasses out and they stop the hose from going in. Because I've used it I feel uncomfortable bringing back the pressure washer. I'm sure we'll find another use, and the hose could be used with another drain outlet but I have no idea where ours is. We're going to have to ask my parents for -another- loan for the plumber. The plastic wrap idea won't work because there is not enough room to flush.

After that I slept 2 hours yesterday and scratched myself raw :( I called in sick, then slept until 2 PM, when the itch became too bad to keep sleeping. I wrote my doctor that I can't do this very much longer and that I'm running out of sick leave. We went and got something to eat, splurging because after the pressure washer we're very low on money, and then I had another nap until 6. Did a water change on the tank with the embers, who are doing just great. The Betta tank I have set re-cycling again, so new beneficial bacteria can grow with a piece of filter from the ember tank. Made my shopping list for tomorrow after my weekly call to my parents, when I have to ask about the loan. I managed not to scratch today so hopefully I can keep from scratching tonight, and I'll be able to sleep in until 10.30, that will help. I'm considering telling people at work I need an adjusted schedule of working part time from later in the morning, until this gets solved, maybe from starting at 11 to 6 PM or something. That way I can get some sleep. It's been 2 and a half weeks now and I'm going crazy!! The anti fungal medication is not doing anything so it's likely Granuloma Annularis and those spots itch more than the rest (though the rest itches too) and there's nothing they can do..

Eva, interesting about MIL wanting to shop with y'all. Hope everyone enjoys the day, and the hunt for clothes is successful.

Paula, hope DH's chair gets fixed! 10 weeks is a long time to be without a recliner! I would sure miss mine.

I was feeling pretty tired around 7:30, and thought about heading to bed early, but then I perked up over my dinner salad, especially reading my Jane Yellowrock book, which is building up with crazy excitement toward the end. I've only read this one once, and can't remember how it turns out, so it's pretty thrilling! Not sure if I'll finish it tonight or tomorrow.

Calls were thankfully light, so had plenty of time to work on other things today, including the DAJD app. Also deleted bunches of emails, as described in the Success thread. And I learned a member of the team (who isn't on phones a lot, because she's working on different projects) has been offered an AS3 position for a lady who will be retiring. She doesn't begin until January, and will do some job shadowing in December. That means there will be another position in the unit to be filled--if I don't get something else soon!

I have been doing my walking and some chair exercise and need to up the exercise so will be listening to more books as I walk. Sadly I can't go for a walk in parks etc as it is no longer safe to do so. Instead I walk from the living room to the kitchen and back again roughly 21 feet in length. Listening to books means the time passes quickly and I can vary the pace. I try to do this before DH gets up. My cat Jessie decides it is her play time when I do my walking and runs around and plays with her toys.

Fingers crossed the engineer for DH's chair turns up tomorrow as planned, we have had to keep phoning to get an appointment and finally got one. His rise and recline chair has been out of action for 10 weeks now. I hope they fix it properly and nothing else goes wrong with it.

Alex, I'm sorry that the toilet situation isn't resolved yet. Hopefully, a plumber won't cost as much as you anticipate.

If the pressure washer is unopened I'd return it. No point in keeping it if you doubt you'll use it.

Did you sleep? And how is the beta tank?

Amanda, it sounds like an interesting application to say the least.

Enjoy your extra day and some New Star Chinese!

I got in my yoga yesterday. I took a power nap. I spoke with my MIL. She had a good check-up at the heart doctor (no mention of that pacemaker which means he probably said no and she's just not talking about it.) I told her I was taking Brenna clothes shopping tomorrow afternoon. I'm going to one of MIL's favorite stores. I about fell off my chair when she asked if she could come. She never wants to go with us. Of course, I said yes. So we are meeting her for a late lunch and then some shopping for Christmas clothes. Miss Brenna has to try stuff on. We're not sure on all the sizes. She's stealing my "oversized" (medium) sweaters! Well for me they fit at the waistline of my jeans. On her, they come below her bottom. I knew this day would come. LOL

Well, I drafted responses to 2 of the 4 essay questions on the current app. Then there are 10 yes/no questions, many dealing with illegal behaviors. They do extra thorough security investigating of potential hires working for the jail, which makes sense.

I often have 0 to 2 calls requiring translators, but out of my first 8 calls, 4 needed translators! I think I ended with 6 for the day. We had a small crew again, and I ended up alone for the last half hour. Calls had been kind of light, but naturally soon after the others left, I got a new patient to register, which always takes longer. I think I managed 3 calls after that, including one that needed insurance updated, but I stopped the calls a few minutes early so I could finish up & close down and leave on time.

Looking forward to my Friday treat of Chinese takeout from New Star. And looking forward to a 3 day weekend! Have an fabulous Friday, y'all!

Eva: Sorry that Butters woke you up at night. I'm glad the neighbor's apparatus is good for her to shower and that the shirt worked so well. I agree with you that it makes no sense already starting to scare students about a test in April. It sounds like a good idea to take a bit of time for yourself.

Amanda: Sounds like it really is getting ready for winter. Sorry that you were with so few most of the morning.

Had my crown prep today after work, 2 hour appointment getting my root-canaled tooth all ready for the crown. It's halfway back in my mouth so I chose a gold crown, they can keep more of the tooth and it's less sensitive to hot and cold and no worries about the porcelain cracking.

After that we went to get the part to turn the shower into a garden hose outlet. Unfortunately though the cable I got shows that it can go through a toilet, it actually can't go through a -US- toilet. you'd have to snake the cable through and it kinks too easily. So that was a fail and I am really uncomfortable sending the pressure washer back now. We will still have to get a plumber :( I haven't tried the thing with the saran wrap yet, it will need more flushing room in the toilet. So far there is very little.

I am soaking wet now from trying to still get the hose in the toilet and having it run over from the water. Time for bed.. Yesterday I could sleep a bit by layering hydrocortizone, benadryl and lidocaine cream over each other, the lidocaine cream alone didn't work.

Amanda, unless it's a trustee you'll probably never have contact with an inmate. Often times non-violent offenders that are qualified for office work are placed as a trustee to help with stuff like filing. My dad was a trustee that worked in the medical ward in patient records.

Alex, how are you feeling?

Homework went better. I figured out that the teacher is zipping through some stuff, so I'll be giving Brenna a little extra practice, just to make sure she understands. She says this is stuff they went over last week. She wasn't feeling great most of the week so I'm 99% sure it's just something that the headache she had didn't let her retain. Often times it's just a bit of re-explaining a concept. But I need "a clean start" to see where she's getting frustrated, so I'll hunt down a worksheet on the internet. Her grades are good. No doubt. But if she feels like she needs help, then I think I should give her that support.

I saw the neighbor's new apparatus yesterday. Thank heavens it's hard plastic and velcro! I helped her manage a shower here at the house. But I have to be honest I was excited to see I only had 4 velcro straps to undo aside from taking off the sling. And the straps are color-coded! I can't screw that up!

Today is rainy and the temps will drop all day. I'm going to take a little Eva time. I've gone non-stop since the first of October. My fibro has been in a flare. And the best thing I can do for me today is just to be quiet, try some EASY yoga (my nerve is much better but I won't be holding long squats) to calm my nervous system, and maybe watch a cooking show. The holidays are coming. I need to take care of me so I can take care of everyone else.

Alex, I really hope you get relief from that new cream. And I'm curious if Eva's plumbing fix will do the trick.

Very cool that you gave the nurses a new idea for patients, Eva! I hated the stress on standardized test scores as a teacher--and how some teachers totally broke the rules by guiding kids' answers, which made them look good, but penalized students with honest teachers.

Not enjoying arriving home in the dark, but that will be the drill for the winter. I'll want to start putting the reflective vest on while standing at the bus stop after work. And wearing my boots not just for the wet, but the cold! Toes, nose & ears were chilled by my little 2-block walk home this evening!

Just 3 of us for most of the morning. Ian and a 4th person showed up after 11, so that helped. If I haven't found a new position yet when the 2 slots open in our unit around year's end, I'm hoping my excellent attendance will help my chances, since I might be going up against career employees who get extra consideration. I started working on the new app for an AS3 (I'm an AS2) for the DAJD--Dept of Adult and Juvenile Detention, aka the jail. It's an admin job, and I don't think it would interact with inmates, but I don't have those details. It's about 2 blocks from my current location, so not much difference there. I just realized I haven't heard from Vital Statistics yet on my app there, for which I took a typing test recently.

Amanda, being overqualified is ridiculous. It explains why we have so many that are stuck in a profession they dislike, or come out of college and can't use a degree. What difference does it make if you are "overqualified" as long as you meet the qualifications?

That rent hike is steep, but I know how it goes. Mine jumped like that before I moved in with Jim. Just one of the reasons he thought 2 sets of rent was nuts.

Alex, did the lidocaine help?

You wrap the toilet really tightly. It's several layers thick. Then you push on the plastic wrap a few times and then flush. It creates a vacuum in there and then when you flush it's suppose to push the clog on out. If your toilet is already too full I wouldn't recommend it. But if you have flush room it might be worth a shot.

I am tired. Butters decided at 11 pm to have a romp through the house.

The neighbor got a new apparatus! She's cleared to shower. So she's coming down today to step into mine and get a real shower. The doctor and the radiology techs were pleased with how we managed to get her into her clothes so they didn't have to wrestle with a shirt sleeve. The idea when into the nurse's pocket to share with the caregivers of other shoulder replacement patients. That made me happy. Yesterday's shirt was pinned on because I hadn't gotten the snaps set by the time they had to leave. I use the pins for making jewelry because they are flat and have a safety catch. It worked but I wasn't really sure about it. Apparently it wasn't a bad idea at all. So if you ever need to pin a person into their clothes, $2 from the craft department will go a long way.

Miss Brenna has been in an excellent mood all week, so far. Last night during math homework was touchy but ended well. It was a T-Cap prep sheet. Seriously? The teachers have already started in about T-Cap, the standardized testing in April! I told her, "As long as you make good grades, by the end of the year you will be ready for T-Cap. It's just another test. It might be long but it is just another test. And you ace those. So don't let them stress you out about it." I realize that the tests are important to gauge a kid's academic success from one spring to the next, and the teachers' performance hangs on a composite of the students' scores. But do they really think upsetting elementary and middle school kids in November is going to help the scores in April? Nope. We are a Level 5 school. Three years in a row now we have been a level 5 school. The district needs to get off the teachers about maintaining that status and let them teach.

Eva: If I strap plastic wrap to the seat do I flush after and let it go down slowly? I need to try that ice pack idea. The inability to get a doctor in any decent amount of time actually turned out to be a new policy by Kaiser, the nurse at my appointment told me they had changed things and that the doctors were very unhappy. It's good to hear Brenna was excited. And I'm glad you were able to help your neighbor and still are helping her! I can imagine you were tired with everything going on!

Amanda: That pay cut is huge and for a temp job, not worth it. I can surely imagine. And rent is raised a $100 a month? That is a really big amount!!! I'm so lucky my park has a program for long term space rent that you can sign up for that limits the raises to 5 percent a year, and even that is $30 for us, which seems a lot. But I guess it's not that much after all. I'm glad you found a job listing that you can try for and have plenty of time. Being denied because of being 'overqualified' is not cool, so many people are overqualified these days.

I did not manage the whole work day today, I had maybe slept 5 hours and I need 9 to 10 to function. After lunch I was itching sooo bad I gave up and called in sick. All of this has cost me more sick leave than anything else, just due to an itch.. But it's an itch from hell... After a nap which after 2 hours was cut short because I could not sleep anymore due to the itching, we went to Walgreens where I got a 4% lidocaine cream. I had not thought about it before but I think it might actually help me sleep! We'll have to see. Tomorrow I work from the office so it would be nice if I could actually manage the day.

Alex, I really hope you can get some relief from all this discomfort, and also hope you can get a helpful doc at Kaiser.

Eva, I'm sure your neighbor will appreciate the cleanser. Hope you get some good rest!

I hadn't found my pay details yesterday, so checked today at work and discovered I would be earning more than $500/month less than I am now. With rent being raised $100/month, I'm just not willing to take that big a cut! When I called the HR lady with Metro, she admitted she would have made the same decision in my place! She asked, and I told her she could keep me on a list for a career position. But I'm really hoping I'll hear from District Court!

I checked new job listings and found one position I'll go for; I have nearly 2 weeks to get that submitted. Oh, I can't remember if I shared that I had asked for feedback from my interview for the animal shelter job, and was told they liked me, but thought I was overqualified for the position, and I should look for a supervisory position! That was a pleasant surprise, but with my retail management stint over 12 years ago, I believe I need something else to start, and possibly work up. So keep those fingers and toes crossed!

Amanda, it sounds like you had a fantastic time on your trip. I'm so glad you had this opportunity to make new memories with your family. I hope you all don't have to wait so long to see each other again.

I doubt I'd take a short term position with a pay cut either, but it's a good sign that the wheels are turning, just kinda slowly. I hope you hear from the other applications soon!

Alex, I'm sorry that the remedy didn't work. I have one more. Strap plastic wrap to the seat and let the pressure build a vacuum seal. Sometimes it'll suck the clog down. It's like a giant plunger. Baring that working, you'll have to go with a high-pressure wash or a plumber.

I looked up your Granuloma annulare. That can be stressed induced. But it says light therapy helps and so does freezing. Maybe an ice pack would bring relief? I'm grasping at straws on that one. You've tried just about everything else suggested.

i hope Kiazer can help you find that doctor you need. I know you've been trying to get a grip on binge eating for a while and you seem to do well a lot of the time.

I hope they figure out what's going on with your parents. It sounds scary.

Thank you both about Brenna. It was a delight yesterday for her to get in the car all excited, instead of feeling really bad. She earned herself a pair of shoes she's been after, so this past weekend I took her shopping for them. She had to tell me about showing off her new kicks to her cousin. Checkerboard Vans. It's a tween thing.

And thank you both about my odd skill sets.

Yesterday I got the housework finished, then went up and helped my neighbor get cleaned up for her doctor's appointment today. It took a while and she was tired when we were done, but she was not hurting and that's what mattered. I did find out that she has a new affection for my face cleanser, so this weekend I'll buy her a bottle. It's just a generic Cetaphil, but it doesn't require water and doesn't dry out the skin, but if she likes it and thinks she could manage that product on her own (she doesn't like feeling helpless) then I'll make sure she has some.

I admit I didn't walk yesterday, but I never slowed down until pick up line either. I was a tired puppy.

Eva: The tooth is doing all right, just a weird sweet taste, the leg is driving me crazy with itching! My mother has been falling a lot and she is going to her cardiologist (she had a heart attack in February) to see if there is an arrhythmia responsible for the falling, in which case she'll need a pacemaker. My father had an MRI to see why he has no feeling left in his lower legs (he says it is like walking on stilts), the MRI didn't show anything, he's now going to the University Hospital in the larger city an hour's drive away to see if they can find something. He is not diabetic so it's not that type of neuropathy.

I tried your remedy with dish soap and hot water, unfortunately it didn't work. Tomorrow we will be getting our pressure washer and Wednesday the sewer hose to go with it and the converter from shower thread to garden hose so we can have a water source in the bathroom. Hopefully that will work and Tom will not be upset with me for throwing away money!

I am so glad Brenna is feeling better, awesome that she has that creative eye! It would be nice if she could find work in it, I have to let all mine out outside of work, though my boss still talks about all the ornaments I painted for the 45 person unit for each person one, twice in a row. I kind of have to do it againt his year to keep it up but I am not sure I can find the $23 to pay for the ornaments (packages of 2 from the dollar store). But it would be such a pity to let $23 keep me from doing it!

It sounds like you are really helping your neighbor, and altering some tshirts to add snaps sounds like a great idea!

Amanda: you're making me blush, thank you! I like the applause emoticon :) I am so glad that you had a good time!! First class is nice but the time you had with Paul and Shahla and Linda sound even better. And to see that many old friends! What a downer that that offer was only for 6 months and a cut in pay.. Not good.

Worked from the office today after my doctor's appointment. She looked at my legs and gave me antifungal medication, it's two weeks and if it is not clearing up in that time it is not fungal but 'Granuloma Annulare', and there is not much that they can do about that. So for once I'm hoping it's fungal.... She promised me the meds won't make the itch worse. She couldn't help me with the allergy itch, the normal solution is to give prednisone and being a diabetic it raises my sugars to over 500 and is not a good idea. She said to keep using Benadryl (for me a generic) and I can use both pills and salve at the same time, though it said on the package not to she said it was fine in my case. And seeing some pictures of Granuloma annulare it really looks exactly the same...

THe other issues we also talked about, I'm to start using the flonase I still had from when my eustachian tubes were blocked to see if the post nasal drip is going away. She had my B12 checked because my limbs fall asleep whenever I sit longer than 10 mins, both feet, legs and hands, but it's not the B12 (did the test, came back fine) so she's going to talk to neurology. And she put in a referral to short term therapy to get a refresher on how to use my discomfort handling skills. I am hoping they have someone at Kaiser who is specialized in eating disorders, that might really help. I've never had a chance to work with a specialist in that and it is my big big issue.

Then at work, which was ok but I was itching so terribly terribly badly I hardly got anything done. It was so frustrating! I managed the whole day though. We had fast food because I really didn't feel I could manage cooking. I took care of the fish, actually plugged in the heater I had gotten for the (still empty) betta tank when I was wondering why it wasn't working! And found out that though the tank had beneficial bacteria before and was, as they call it 'cycled', it is not anymore. So it is probably good there is no betta yet, I have to redo it, though with a piece of filter foam from the running tank (which has working beneficial bacteria) it should go a whole lot faster!

Alex, I'm so for all the health (and doctor) and plumbing issues! I'm glad Eva has more practical advice; I wish I could offer more than support and sympathy. I do want to say that I'm totally impressed with your ability and desire to fix many things--you possess skills I don't have and admire greatly! (that's usually a praying emoticon, but I use it for applause, also) You are

Eva, glad Miss Brenna is doing better, and with Alex that it's nice she is satisfied w/ little treats being spaced out over time--an attitude and habit that will serve her well throughout her life. I also admire your many abilities that you share as a gift with people in your life. I know your assistance and support--and unique talents--are appreciated by many. And on scoring a bunch of decorations from mom's donations!

We had such a good time! Thoroughly enjoyed flying first class on Delta--more room, free full meals, sister got free wine, free checked bags & dedicated carry on compartments, and priority security line, which probably saved us a hour in SeaTac!

And so good to have lots of sharing time with brother Paul & SIL Shahla, and w/ ex-stepmom Linda. She and her hubs were wonderful hosts for an weekend with good food . Saturday's gathering had ~15 old friends who had known Dale and us from 20-50 years back, whom I hadn't seen for 13-25 years. Ate Mexican food catered by a local restaurant, wandered indoors and outdoors, in shifting groups, catching up & reminiscing or talking about areas of interest. (Got a reading recommendation from the wife of a fellow I met in music summer school over 50 years ago. ) Yesterday was just family time, and Linda, Paul & I took a nice walk in a nearby park for an hour or more--I ended up with over 12K steps yesterday! While we were gone, Mary & Shahla did some nice sharing & grew closer, which she told me about. It was all very emotionally satisfying, and I will cherish the memories.

I happened to check my email on Michael's computer (neither he nor Linda knew the password to their WiFi, which is why I couldn't Spark as usual on my laptop) yesterday morning, and saw a message from the HR contact for King County Metro Transit saying they have an offer for me. This was the first county app I submitted back in June, for their call center which works 6 am - 8 pm--and maybe weekends, too! Not sure about the last; also could be career or TLT. I'm waiting to hear more about it, and still waiting to hear from District Court!

Alex, It sounds like you had a long rough weekend. How's the tooth and leg?

What's going on with your parents? You said both are not feeling well at the moment.

Did you get the toilet unclogged? It's a weird remedy, but here's how to clean one with dish soap and hot water. It works if it's an issue with build up inside the pipes. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLLF6-5kxqY

Fair warning the guy is a bit of a redneck.

Amanda, how was your trip?

Miss Brenna is feeling better. So we put up the holiday decor this weekend. We put up 3 Christmas trees this year. Bless it that kid's artistic eye took over and I just handed her ornaments and let her go. She did such a good job! She has a talent for it. I really hope she chooses a path in life that allows her to use that eye.

My mom was cleaning out her no longer used indoor and outdoor decorations, so I admit I robbed her donation pile to replace some of my stuff that had bit the dust and I was planning to replace. Some of that stuff went up 1 season, she didn't like it so decided to replace it. I figure I saved $300 or more just by shopping her donation bin pile.

I'll have to get some pictures when I'm done to share.

Today I'm off to the neighbor's to help her get ready for a doctor's appointment tomorrow. Bless her husband, he's good as gold but doesn't have a clue where to start looking for grooming items that do not require a bathtub. I'm also going to alter some old t-shirts for her and add snaps so that we can snap her into her clothes and make it easier getting her dressed. I'm just glad my odd skill sets is being put to use.

Had a good call with my parents, though they both are dealing with pretty serious health issues right now. Then we went shopping, and after that I had a lot to clean up and get ready for the week.

Our bedroom toilet is clogged and our 6 foot auger isn't touching it, I tried twice. Tom and me disagreed on whether to get the next step, which is a high pressure washer and a sewer drain hose, or get a plumber involved. I want to try the high pressure washer. I am tired of paying the plumber when I want to be able to fix that stuff myself. So I put my foot down and used the money we had left to order one, and if that doesn't work we'll have to ask help from my parents to pay a plumber. I really hope I'm right but I'm tired of paying 150 every time for a clogged toilet.. And if the clog is further than 6 feet away now it will happen more.