Survived the Nor'easter

 Well I would like to say the storm is over but we still have Gale force wind warnings and a wind advisory up until later this afternoon (I don’t know what the difference is but I am sure I will look it up later).  The rain started of course Monday night and kept going all day yesterday.  A few of my colleagues lost power during the day at their homes.  We didn't lose power at work (rats what a shame :)) and I don’t think we did in the condo complex either.  

There were a few places that flooded on and I managed to avoid them or go through it slowly.  ONe was in New Haven near the SMilow Cancer Center and the other one was closer to home.  I decided to take route 1 home all the way so I could stop at Panera bread for a salad.  

I was early for my Salad.  They seemed to not like the fact I was waiting after I said I may be early.  I don’t like that.  I almost left without it.  LUckily it didn’t happen.  I got the Green Goddess Cobb Salad.  It was delicious.

The rest of the night was a regular routine.  Fed the cats watched TV until maybe 7 or 8 and then decided to curl up under the covers. It was a bit cold despite turning the heat on. Before going to bed I checked in on Liz and Nel.  They both were fine.  No flooding, they had power, but neighbors down the street lost trees.   Both cats snuggled up on the bed with me for a while.  

Tiger barfed in the living room.  I am not sure what that was about.  She also has hopped up on the couch with me a few times and not sure what to make of that.  I also noticed she hasn’t been finishing her meals.  Not sure if she is getting bored with it or not but I will be getting some new stuff soon as the canned food is almost out.  I am thinking urging her to eat her own food instead of Sky’s is helping either.  I still don’t think this means she is weakening or losing energy.  It did my heart good to find them both on the couch when I left.

When I got to work I asked many how they did and all of them said good or okay.  So that was a relief.  I have been scanning and did a couple of the cd uploads.  AC and DG are currently putting together the procedure for Scanning Appeals into McKesson.  At first DG didn’t understand what we would be doing.  She kept saying how she scans them to the staff member but now we will be scanning them to the individual patients' accounts.   I am not sure she will grasp this very well.  I am not sure I will understand it either but the way AC explained it today makes sense for now.

I never did have the meeting with President Margaret and I haven’t worked on the membership list.  I am just going to have to sit down and use excel for it.  That way it can update it that way.  We have the auction right before thanksgiving.  Tickets are $25 and I am just not going to be able to go.  

The meetup tonight is at the Diner.  I am not sure how many are going to attend.  I am waffling back and forth about going.  I still haven't baked the bars yet for Saturday’s brunch and I am just not sure I want to wait until the last minute.  Gillion changed the venue to her house for the brunch because the weather isn’t supposed to be great.  There are supposed to be 27 in attendance..

I think I am also cancelling my DTC activities for tomorrow.  It was the phone banking and probably the meeting.  I want to concentrate on baking.   We will see.

My Friend Lisa is coming on November 13 for an afternoon visit.  She was supposed to come a couple of months back but something came up and so we postponed until now.  She wanted to come the 2nd weekend of November and we confirmed it today.  I will need to work hard to make sure the house is cleaned and I have something for us to snack on.

Well got to get back to work........be safe!

Weekend took a nose dive

 Everything was fine up to then.  First thing, as I was going grocery shopping I went to get my new sunglasses (the ones I bought on AMazon?) and one of the lenses falls out.  My first reaction was (insert whatever you want here).  Luckily it went back in and hasn’t fallen out since but it makes me so mad when things like this happen.  I guess I get what I paid for it.

As I was leaving for the store my neighbor Beverly (unit 12) whom I have been wanting to get to know, popped up at my window as I was pulling out of the parking space and about to take off.  I was scared out of my wits.  I also didn’t react kindly.  When I realized who it was I apologized and we chatted for about 20 minutes.  Mind you I was also blocking the road way.  A few cars had to go around me.  I hope my behavior didn’t put B off.  I don’t know if she even said anything to her roommate who I speak to often.  

Then while I was shopping this woman who was looking for something (while blocking the aisle) I said Okay...not necessarily to her but she got offended and said something to me and I said something snarky  and rude.  I continued my shopping but totally forgot the main reason I was there (other than fighting with other shoppers).  I continued shopping and paid for everything and headed to the car for home.  Realizing that I forgot the pumpkin puree.  I couldn’t get home fast enough.

I closed and locked the doors and emptied the bags and began to eat the extra things I got that I really could have done without (Flan and Oui’s cheesecake dessert).  I spent the rest of the day feeling sorry for myself and guilty.  I didn’t call anyone.  I slept and watched TV.  Later on in the day I went back out to Aldi’s and finally got the pumpkin puree.

I did manage to get the house cleaned when I had enough of the guilty conscience.  The rest of the night.  I watched TV, fed the cats and then eventually went to bed.  I never even touched the baking project.  

Unfortunately, the guilty conscience turned to embarrassment and never let me go to sleep until it was time to get upSunday.  NO matter how many times Sky came to sleep with me, or laid his head on my shoulder.  

Sunday was slightly better.  I finally got some more sleep even though I got up early and did the normal routine.  That day was more of a Pajama day.  I called Jim and we discussed THanksgiving.  Long story short I am going to be staying with them for the holiday.  Janis invited me to stay via text later in the day.  I let Sis know and she reiterated they were going to have a quiet holiday for themselves.

I finished the laundry and did a few odds and ends including trying to update the membership list and it didn’t work.  I am not going to any meeting where she doesn’t reply to an email I sent.

After watching TV I closed up the condo and went to bed.  I was listening to the Echoes radio program until I fell asleep.   Sky was once again at my side.  Tiger was sleeping in the living room.  She surprised me when she came to sit with me on the couch throughout the day.  

The weather this weekend and for the start of the week is changing.  The temperatures were in the 60’s and 70’s but cloudy, we did have rain last night and we might be getting more later today.  The weather forecast calls for the first Nor Easter of the season. That includes some powerful winds and flooding.  I am glad I am not going out tonight. 

Early Morning Start

 

I have been up since 5:30 and I am trying to finish the laundry.   At the moment the mattress cover is in the wash and subsequently the sheets will follow.  The cats are around here somewhere (its still dark) and have been fed and watered. 

In a short while I will take my early morning walk and then go grocery shopping since I didn’t do that yesterday.  It’s a small list at the moment but I also have to pick up a couple of prescriptions as well.  After that the house cleaning will commence.

I had a visit from Liz yesterday.  She brought me another pair of jeans but this time they were a little too baggy.   She saw that I had the other pair she bought me on Wednesday.  She asked if I am supposed to be wearing them to work.  I said yes.  I didn’t get antsy about it.  We had coffee until about 6 and chatted for an hour. 

I was planning on doing cleaning but I got as far as the counters in the kitchen and the dishwasher emptied and almost filled again.  I did pullout one of the drip pans from the stuff and have been soaking it all night.  I pulled out the burner and I hope I will be able to put it back in again.

I will finish the rest of the house when I get back from my walk.  My hope is to take another one later today.

I got an email from the LG’s president (on the wrong email account) wanting to talk about membership.  I have a feeling I am going to get in trouble because I haven’t done anything with the membership.  So we have a meeting on Monday.   I really am annoyed that she is totally ignoring my request about using the yahoo account. I can’t access it on the computer but I can on the phone.

There seems to be something wrong with the informed delivery from the USPS.  It will not load up.  For the last few days it has been informing earlier than usual the stuff that’s coming in.   I am only expecting one thing today maybe two but either way I will find out after ten.

 

I need to get over

 I really need to get over the fact that it's been cold first thing in the morning.  It's Mid to late October for goodness sake.  The days of hot weather first thing in the morning are gone until next spring or summer.  I probably will be complaining about that when it happens too.  Anyway, by the time I left the  office it was in the 60’s & 70’s.  I quickly took off  the fleece jacket I have been wearing of late.  I was quite surprised to find it warmer this morning.

I am looking forward to the arrival of those sunglasses that are worn over regular glasses.  I ordered them Tuesday night after complaining for the umpteenth time that I needed these glasses. It's supposed to be here today.    Let’s hope it wasn’t a waste of money.

Earlier this week I  was feeling like a pin cushion and that lasted until yesterday afternoon.  Arms were sore but by the time I got home last night they were slightly better but in danger of hurting again because I had Popeye’s chicken sandwich.    I still do have bruises where they tried to get a vein.  

I managed to do the phone banking longer than the week before and that was good but by 7 I was getting tired and I wanted to feed the cats.  I watched TV until about 8 and then went to bed early.  There is one more before the election.  

There are two lit drop activities tomorrow but the more I think about it the more I just don’t want to do it.  First I need to clean the house, clean out the car-again.  I feel like I put off stuff all week.

I woke up in good spirits and did our normal routine.  How can I not with the dynamic duo serenading me?  I also managed to do more laundry but did nothing with the kitchen (dishes in the sink and clean dishes in the dishwasher).  That will be later today.  I hope so.

When I saw Liz earlier this week she was encouraging me to ask Jim if we are doing anything for Thanksgiving.  She has made it very clear that she isn’t doing the family reunion gig and when I did my first research of it for restaurants I just can’t afford it (don’t think Big Brother would be helping to pay for it either). When she said that I don’t think she wants me with her family either but that was first reaction...still not sure really.

Happy to report that the contract has been ratified.  The whole event was good.  Caught up with people that were in my building at one time.  However, what I didn’t like is the fact that people were leaving before the vote!!!! Hello? The vote was taken around 6:30 and there were a large number of nays.  I guess this was to be expected.  I know I should expect people not to like it but it has been explained in the powerpoint presentations throughout the campus just how important and how hard it was to get some of these items.    I have been told that the turnout was low but it was enough to vote on the contract.  The contract will be signed on November 1.

 

I received my 30 year plaque in the mail the other day.  I wasn’t expecting it actually but I got it now I have to choose the gift from their online catalog.

Well I have a few more hours before I go home...

Been having a hard time finishing

 

Writing that is.  Every time I get on the computer I think about things I want to write or try to remember and then I go from that to any website that will keep me interested (other blogs, fan sites, FB).

 

So here is a bullet style:

 

*Condo living-going well.  Spent a good part of Saturday house cleaning.  It’s Just the normal weekly stuff.  Some of that was put off for a myriad of reasons.  Too tired, achy, you name it.  It’s time for the patio furniture to be brought in.

 

*I met up with some of my neighbors and they seem to be doing well.  I am still expecting Unit 10 to be returning home sometime soon from her latest round of hospital/Rehab stays.  Her SIL installed a new patio outback.  I think it met with approval from President Frank. 

 

*Been focusing on saving for the Condo taxes that I nearly forgot the condo insurance.  That came about three days ago but it is not due until December I believe.  All the other bills are getting paid. 

 

*The monthly newsletter should be coming out in the next couple of weeks.  I do know that both Trash huts now have solar lighting and go on and off automatically.  So now there is no fumbling around for the light switch inside the door.

 

* I learned we may not have a lot of trick or treaters in the complex (unless it is the family members of residents).  Not sure about political signs but it may not matter much longer as Election Day is under two weeks away.

 

*Will be attempting to bake a new dessert for brunch in two weeks.  I bought the ingredients last week but sent two back because I was informed it wasn’t what I was looking for.  So now I will buy some at ShopRite tonight.  Oh: Pumpkin Cheesecake squares.  Supposedly simple but I don’t know.  It will take over night making too.

 

As far as cooking...usually simple stuff mixed already frozen.  I have gotten take out a few times since my return from Allentown but this week I may not be able to do it.

 

 

*Family.  Jim and Janis have now been married eighteen days.  :) They have been working, and taking care of their health.  Janis wrote in a text she took a ten mile bike ride yesterday.   I don’t know if I told you that my nephew James suggested that the family get together for thanksgiving.  I mean the entire family.  I can’t organize it myself yet.

 

Anyway, he is working in DC and seems very happy.  Emily is living at home with their Mom (until she sells the house) then has plans to move to Bethlehem to share an apartment with a friend for a while.  Then she has plans to go to San Diego.  Kris is in Denver.   Janis’s Daughter is working as a nurse I think.  Woody works for the Company that owns stop and shop and giant.

 

*Angel Brother’s family is keeping busy, not sure where SIL Ethel is this week but last month she was in The Philippines.  Diane is still in Haddam at the Good Speed Opera House in the show Good Night for singing.  Her brother John has met some challenges with success.  Like I said last entries Rob occasionally talks with his cousins via text.

 

*My Sister and her husband are currently celebrating their 22^nd Anniversary (for some reason I thought it was 15 last year).  She had gotten her booster shots for the Covid shots and she got the flu shot and has been feeling miserable. 

 

The last time I actually saw her was the week after I got home.  We had our weekly coffee visit and we talked about the wedding, my accommodations, and how much success she had with the twins.  I had to ask her what her reason for throwing out the bin I use to store the kitty litter in and she really didn’t have one.

 

She did tell me that my nephew Mike (Cheryl’s husband) has some health challenges they are going through right now.  They are just learning about this particular issue but haven’t really shared it with the world.  So Prayers are requested.

 

Everyone else seems to be doing well.

 

*The Titans, Well they are currently sleeping across from me either on the floor or on the recliner.  They were rather a challenge for Liz during my trip to Allentown a couple of weeks ago.  They would not come out of hiding, they ate each other’s food, and one or the other pooped in the shower.

 

Since I have been home from Allentown they continued with the pooping outside the box.  They must have been hanging their butt outside the box because on more than one occasion I have found a pool.  I probably should clarify its not a daily thing but maybe every other day.

 

I have been noticing that Tiger has had some issues walking.  Sometimes she will walk and plop down where she is ever standing.  If she is lying on her paws she has struggles to stand up.  Sometimes when she is walking her body swings.  She surprised me the other day when she came to sleep with us for a short time.   She hasn’t been vocalizing her pain.  She lets me know when she is hungry but that’s it.  I don’t think this means she is dying or needs to be put down yet.

 

*My Health.  Well that’s kind of funny.   The doctors’ visits I had lately were not happy with the weight gain.  The pulmonary Doctor scheduled a CT and is concerned that one of my lungs isn’t filling up the way it should. 

 

For the past week or so I have been having aches and some pain in my shoulders and upper chest.  I had some problems lifting the arms.  I noticed especially if I had foods with salt and I am thinking the atmospheric conditions.  In the last couple of days the aches and pain have diminished (been making sure I take meds for it). 

 

I have been starting up walking in the last few days.  This morning I did a half mile in 15 minutes.  As always the food is a major factor.

 

I do have my infusion this week and other appointments (Dentist, pulmonary etc.) in the next couple of months.

 

*Work has been busy.  I am not sure that I mentioned this yet but there have been changes in the Administration level.  We have an interim CEO for now (unless he chooses to stay on).  Our last one left on October 8.  There has been mixed reactions to this news from many people with in YM.  I have met the newest one and he is from Neurology.

 

We are ratifying the newest contract this coming Wednesday.  Both sides came to agreement late last month.  As usual there seems to be some people not happy with this contract.  I am finding at least in this suite.

 

Oh, speaking of this suite.  We learned about two weeks ago that those of us in the office will be moving to the third floor of the building sometime in the near future.  I am guessing it will be during the Christmas recess. The supervisor doesn’t know when.  So I will begin getting rid of stuff on my desks and in it over the next several weeks.  There have been mixed reactions to this news as well.  I am getting mostly positive this time.  This floor has been rented out.  We were not told to whom but speculation is another department for the University or even another company again.

 

*I mentioned earlier that I was doing some baking for a brunch in two weeks it’s for the Finding friends group.  The Women who like to brunch and it’s a fall/Halloween theme on Clinton Beach.  I chose pumpkin cheesecake bars.  I want test bake them to see how they come out.

 

It looks like we are going be meeting at the diner in Guilford for the Wednesday meetup now that the time change is happening.  It has been getting darker around 6 most nights this week.

 

They have also been getting together for dinners on Friday nights.  After working all day it’s a bit much. 

 

The hiking club has had a few Saturday hikes recently but I couldn’t make it.  They don’t seem to have anything planned next month.  That makes sense since its thanksgiving and the holiday season.

 

My Friend Joan who has a meetup of her own called Walks with Buddy/Dash.  Had some activities that I didn’t get a chance to participate in.  A food Drive for the Purple Pantry Box.  Another non-profit organization founded by another friend of mine named Susan Brown.  Joan has a couple of other activities food/coat drive in the next couple of weeks.  My hope is she will have another walk again soon

 

Finally the weather has been awesome. There were beautiful temperatures, sunshine, and very little rain until the last couple of days.  However, the last two days were quite different.  It’s been in the 40’s in the morning and 60’s by the time I get home from work.  The fall foliage has been slow to change around here but its starting to look pretty.

 

Well its getting time for me to get to bed…Sorry it got a little long winded.

Road Trip and Wedding weekend 10-02-21

 

Special activities:  Since Jim invited me to go to the firing range with the both of them I have been trying to find out where the local gun ranges are (without asking them).  There are at least three or four in Lehigh County.  Two are in a town called Coplay and the other is in Emmaus.  The other one is in Easton and I couldn’t imagine us going all the way back there.  All though during my research most of them have about the same amount of drive time for each of them.  

 

It turned out that activity got put aside.  Janis and her sister Sharon made plans with a dear friend of theirs to meet up for Coffee this morning and ended up shopping.  This allowed me to sleep in a little bit longer and hang out in the room until my “breakfast” with Jim.

 

Jim had to work in the local campaign office for a couple of hours that morning so we met at the Panera bread restaurant near his house.  We each got something different.  I ended up getting chili and coffee.  I was kinda hungry by then.

 

Among the topics we discussed is our collective health.  I learned that several years ago he had two strokes. (it would explain a lot of things) and he will be going for some tests in a few months to further investigate whether or not he  has Parkinson's disease.  That scared me.  When he shared with me the moments he had lost his balance or how he had been walking or his movements.  It was definitely unsettling.  He will get his results after the tests. 

 

We took a slow walk around Trexler Park near his home afterwards.  WHen I asked if we could walk he was confused as to why I would want to do that after just telling him I have been having breathing issues.  We both did it and it wasn’t so bad.  The scenery and weather helped to say the least.

 

After the walk we headed back to his place. I needed to use the bathroom and he had some stuff to do.  I got to meet Ruby, one of Janis’s kittens (senior cats actually).  I headed back to the house and relaxed and took a nap until about 4.  I had to be back over Jim and Janis’s by 5:30 for evening activities.

 

When it was time to go back I had no problem getting there.  We chatted for a bit and then left for my new Nephew’s apartment in Downtown Allentown.  It was in a fairly new and lovely complex called the Center Square Lofts.  He gave us a tour (it was a nice size for him).

We stayed for a couple of hours and had coffee and donuts.

 

WE then drove to DeSales University to the Lubuda Center where the Performing arts department was putting on Pride and Prejudice.  It was 34 minute ride to this place and even in the dark it was pretty big.  The play started by 8 and was done by 10 and we were home by 11.  We had carrot cake and chatted. After we finished the cake I headed back to Elena’s.

 

When I got there, there was cat near the door.  It looked like Elena’s but smaller.  So I opened the door and let it in.  it walked into the house towards the kitchen.  As he did that I looked at the sofa and there was house cat.  I went to catch the other one and shooed him out the door.  The house cat just watched the whole thing.

After that fun moment I went to my room.  I packed my things for the trip home the next morning.  The cat came upstairs and come to the bed.  It actually came and went throughout the night. 

 

All in all it was a great day….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Road Trip & Wedding Day 10-1-21

 On the road by 9:30.  

The cats are fed and watered and medicated.  Liz will handle tonight, tomorrow and Sunday morning.  This will be the first weekend away in two years (not counting Easter 2020).

For the last week I have been mulling over when was the best time to leave by using the google maps and scheduling and it gave a pretty good indication when I arrive if I leave before ten. My hope is to take the normal route I usually take to visit PA.  That includes the Merritt to 278 over the Cuomo Bridge (formerly Tappan Zee).  Then 78 to where my hostess is.  I took a brief stop there to see what it looked like then headed to Jim’s.  I was really early.  

Admittedly I was concerned that Google was going to insist that I go to GW Bridge but it didn’t and took me over the route I remember over the years and once I was on on 287 I was fine.  I was surprised to find an additional electronic toll booth had been built and wasn’t expecting to be paying anymore  on the way down.  I do expect a couple of Toll by mail invoices arriving over the next few weeks.

I headed to Jim’s and was greeted by my soon SIL.  Who I didn’t recognize!  Really???  I was really embarrassed.  We hugged, chatted and from there got ready for the wedding.  I showered after Jim got my stuff out of the car.  The others got ready and visited with Jim.  I also got to see at least one of the kitties.

We left for the courthouse around 3.  We parked down the street in one of the many parking garages in the city.  I already regretted the shoes and stockings I chose for the outfit.  I learned that was also the location of Janis’s new Job.   She didn't’ give us a tour of the place but it's on the first floor.

We had to wait outside the courtroom and many more of their friends and family came out.  I got to see James R (my nephew).    We were brought inside and waited for a bit.  My niece emily arrived a little later and was standing in for her father while Janis’s daughter (who could have been Emily’s twin) stood for her.  It was a short ceremony and I only took a few pictures and asked the kids to send me some.

The weather: Beautiful and sunny.  Chilly at first and maintained it for most of the day. It was mostly in the sixties and sunshine.  It got a bit chillier as the sun dropped though.

After the ceremony we headed over to their friend Shawn’s home for the reception.  It was a beautiful home on W Tilghman and it was an oasis from the busy street out front.   It was light fare.  Sushi, pinwheel sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, shrimp tortellini, fruit and a home made cake.

We were there until 8 when I had received word it was time for me to check in.  My hostess was to go to a meeting (I realized later it was work) by 9:30.  I felt so much pressure and a little resentment for pushing it but looking back it was my own fault.  When I arrived the keys were outside where she said they would be.  It turned out she waited for me.  She helped me take my stuff to the room where I would be spending the next three days.  IT was quite simple.  A dresser, a wardrobe made of cloth.  A bed (the bed frame was exactly the same one I have in my bedroom.)

Once I got my stuff in and moved the car towards the front of the house Elan left for a meeting/work.  I got unpacked and got ready for bed. Elena’s kitty cat came and slept with me for the night.  It felt like I was home.