KateP's musings

  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 ex...

My Friend Debbie and Stan got married today.  It was at their synagogue in Meriden and it was a lovely yet small.  The reception was held in the hall next door.  The food was simple and delicious.  Poached Salmon, macaroni and cheese, and a dish I can best describe as couscous, and broccoli.  For Dessert there was fruit salad, cookie assortment and coffee and tea.  The reception was over by 3 or 4 and we took Stan's daughter to the Ferry in Bridgeport.  On the way home from there we stopped at Christmas Tree Shop.  It was nearly 5 when I got home. The weather was absolutely beautiful.  Sunny and in the mid to upper 40's.  It was a complete surprise considering the weather forecast called for rain and snow.  This entire weekend has been great weather wise. Since I have been home I took a nap, did some laundry, started the dishwasher and should be done in about 10 minutes.  I am really tired now and so I am getting on the CPA...

Today is Presidents Day.  Most schools and Federal offices are closed (yippee) and banks and I am thinking the banks are closed as well as the PO.  Which means not a lot of mail to do today at work.  I think my main focus will be the refund checks to mail out tomorrow. I received a lovely invitation to my friend Debbie and Stan’s wedding during the night.  It will be in April on a Sunday afternoon.  The invitation included instructions for attending a Synagogue.  I am looking at the dress I plan on wearing that depend.  Depending on the weather of course.  I don’t expect to have sub freezing temperatures like this month.  I sent an email to Mama Roberta Speaking of the weather according to the weather site its 7 degrees F outside.  We are supposed to get some messy weather this afternoon.  It is supposed to get warmer in the next day or two but not by much. gy67uuuuuuuuu <——Tiger saying hello!  She loves this laptop fo...

It has been a busy few days and by the time I get home I have been tired.    Usually by 7 I am upstairs and watching TV.   I get to cuddle with the kitties.   Work has been busy and getting more done.   I was told by a department not to fax stuff to them because it ties up the fax (I forget the exact words) but I had just called someone and they said I could.   I told Bob about it too.   This means I will go back to sending all the authorizations via campus mail.   There will be an in house retirement party for Joyce on Nov 20.   It will be a cake and present actually but I like to call it an in house retirement party. I met with Debra on Thursday and had a good session.   IT went by quick.   We talked about my week and activities that are coming up.   WE may have to do a phone session in a couple of weeks as I have some stuff to do right before the Thanksgiving break. Liz and I have received the wedding invitation...

Yesterday was an incredibly long day.I woke up early for no reason in particular.  It actually is becoming a blur but the day was pretty good and work was busy.  Some stuff different day. After work I headed to Roberta’s to pick up her contributions to the club party lat night (she had a prior commitment) and then I went to pick up the wings I ordered.  I got to Telka’s  a little while later.  I am trying to remember if there were girls already there or not.  ANyway we wrapped the gifts for the residents at the nursing home and then we ate before the meeting.  Jolyn came as well..  We had a lot of fun  Before we left it was starting to snow.  The girls were all excited and claiming there would be delays.  I am sure they were disappointed this morning. The snow was a dusting and covered the ground until midday today. It was still cold when I left.  It looks like we might get some flurries tonight.  The beginning of t...

Monday I worked, saw Mom and went shoe shopping with Liz.  I did pretty well.  I got three pairs of shoes all velcro type shoes and had the same woman wait on us from the last time.  Liz was impressed with her.   They are going to be comfortable.   Tuesday was a night of rest after my visit with Mom and a trip to IHOP for dinner.  I was really exhausted.  My sleep continues to be very erratic.  I have also been achy by the time I get home and sometimes can’t lift things. Today I met with Debra and told her of the past week’s events including the one where one of the staff members told Mom I was yelling and causing scenes over Mom not getting tea. She agreed that 1) it was very unprofessional of that person to even speak to Mom on the matter and 2) if that person had a problem with me to come to me. Tonight is the final MYWC meeting of the year.  We are having a farewell party for the seniors and the installation of the officers. ...

November 27., 2013 Dear Friends:     Had a pretty good morning despite not getting out of bed until 6:40.  I managed to get showered and dressed and out the door before 7:30.  The ride in was great for a third day in a row. It was surprisingly warm for what was predicted.   I talked with Mom early this morning.  She was reminding me about the bag of ice we need for tomorrow (thank goodness she did)..  She was also asking me for a bed roll.  I don’t have that in my room.  We didn’t stay on long as she hadn’t had her coffee yet. Work went well.  I managed to get my run to the mailroom with no problems. I ran into some old friends I haven’t seen in awhile.  IT was fairly quiet for the day as many took today off.  We also said our final goodbye to Mary C who starts her retirement today.  I finished opening the mail from yesterday as well as today The second leg of the mail was not too bad either.  As the thi...

November 22, 2013 Dear Friends:     Can you believe one week from tonight is Thanksgiving night?  The time has really flown.  It doesn’t help that most of the retail stores and advertisers have been pushing the season hard back in what was it? September?      As of this writing Jim, Emily, James, Liz, Nelson, Rich, Ethel, Diane, Rogier, and Ethel’s Boarder will be joining us Thanksgiving Day.  It certainly will be a tight squeeze in the dining room but we have done it before and will do it until we can’t.  Mom has been working on the menu for the last several weeks and always comes out great.     Today was quite hectic.  I got to the office a little late but I managed to get some extra stuff done.  Today was the day I have to pick up the paychecks and I also sotpped and got Mama Joanie’s new ID along with mine.  At lunch time I walked Joanie down to the Parking authority so she could sign up for a new p...

In about eleven hours we will be celebrating the marriage of Olga and Adam. We will be leaving around two to get to the hotel by check in and then relax for an hour or so before the event. I have no idea how far the hotel is from the reception. I have no idea what the hotel looks like and I am hoping it will be nice. I still have to get a wedding card for them for the gift. It will be a monetary gift. I just discovered I left my thumb drive at work. I hope it is still where I left it. I think it is on the second table where I had the tote bag. I can’t worry about it now. For now though until we leave it will be getting ready. I have for the most part packed an overnight bag and then do a few things. When we get home tomorrow I will finish any laundry not done. Okay got to have breakfast…see you later.

It came during Bingo I guess. The brightness of the day didn’t help either but it got worse as the day progressed and after church I came home and took some ibuprofen. Note to self: it’s not as good as Extra Strength Tylenol. I ate breakfast and then an hour later I lay across the bed and slept for an hour. It was 2 and then there it is. I got sick. When that happens it means I am starting to feel better. It helps also to take a bath. I did take some more Extra Strength to make sure it was gone and for the rest of the day I eased up on the food. We heard from Jim today he is doing very well. He likes his new job as hired driver. Mom and he talked about “the situation” with Liz. While I only heard from this side of the conversation I was worried that Mom was trying to control them to get them to talk or whatever. She did tell me that she pointed out the problems between them he is partly to blame. I did find myself realizing that I need to stay out of what ever Mom needs to do to m...

We woke up fairly early in the morning and headed out with Liz and Nelson for breakfast at a diner we found Friday night called Betsy’s Diner. It was near the end of Main Street in Falmouth. It was great. The food was excellent and the conversation part of it I could have done with out. It was about where Aunt Stella was recuperating from a health scare. Liz and I believed she was in Florida but Mom believed otherwise and as of Sunday was confirmed as being right. Anyway, I got a little annoyed because I believed I was right and of course Liz was trying to contain me and told me to calm down. Anyway, after we ate we had to run into Rite Aid for some “supplies”. We then went back up Main Street and decided to walk around and look in the stores that we saw Friday night (they were closed by 6 on Friday). We had only a few hours to do this before the wedding. Liz and Mom were insistent I get a hat that didn’t make me look eccentric. I liked the broad rim and they didn’t. I got ...

This week went by fast. I can’t believe it is pay day again and nearly the end of the week. Despite the aggravations earlier in the week that I spoke about I can understand now how my grandmother felt a few years before she died. It was unnerving the days seem to fly by. As I wrote yesterday the floors are going to be finished today including the gaping hole in front of my bedroom door. Mom and I have been careful but this is getting old. Mom has been feeling uneasy with all the clutter and mess around. As she said it’s been going on for a while. She wants to get back to normal. She wants to get started on the projects that come up this time of year. The Meet and Greet is some time in the next two or three months before the election. Well those projects will have to be put on hold for another day. Andy (not Adam as previously written) said it will be done without fail tomorrow. The hole is now gone and the entire upstairs floor will have to be varnished or stained over again. To settle...

Hey all I am going to be leaving very soon for Jessica and Chris’s wedding but I wanted check in. I will be wearing the two tone (blue and white) print dress and white low shoes. A pearl necklace and of course my hat to finish out the ensemble. The weather is cool and windy and overcast with reports of rain through out the afternoon. I have to say I am a little apprehensive as I have a feeling a certain sister of mine is going to pull some crap with Mom. She was annoyed (pissed off) at Mom when Mom was trying to see if I could still go to work come Tuesday. For the last 45 minutes I have been projecting what to say if hse tries something. Mom is out getting some cards for us for the wedding. I have no idea where the hell she went to get them but my main worry should be getting dressed. Well I better get to it….see ya all later.

In about 12 hours Nelson and Lisa will begin their life as Mr. & Mrs. Rivera. The wedding is at 5 pm and presided over by his sister Cheryl who is a justice of the peace. The reception will follow. Before all that happens I need to go to the bank and get some money out for all the contributions I will have to make to various collections for parties, surgeries for fellow co workers, and of course collections for those who are not working right now. I am doing some laundry right now. I did something really stupid. No that’s no a surprise I realize this but my arm got caught on a rack and spilled the detergent all over me and the floor. I was so pissed I was yelling and swearing so loud that Mom could hear me from upstairs in the sun room. Needless to say that was all swept up and I felt like crap. Chris is picking us up around 3 and driving us to the wedding and will be taking us home at the end of the night. We chose not to stay over because we felt it would be an expense we ...

It’s Friday and I am almost done with the work. At least I hope I am. I just have to finish Lockbox mail and the return mail. I have to deliver some mail as well. This week went by fast. Monday and Tuesday is basically a blur. I worked Monday and saw Debra. I can’t remember if I had any annoyances. Tuesday I worked until 6 and then went to the store to pick up the grab bag for the Party on Wednesday. I stopped by Roberta’s to pick up stuff for the meeting. She had called me while I was Wednesday I worked, went to pick up the veggie platter for the party and then went home and had dinner and relaxed for a bit. The party was a lot of fun. There were lots of food and lots of lovely presents to boot. I received a cake platter and beautiful bowls from Telka that I left there. I watched TV for the rest of the night. Oh and the snow storm that came that day sucked. Thursday I worked, had the annual compliance training and man it was boring. I worked until 6:30 and then went hom...

I have been thinking that this May will be pretty busy: May 1st, is the DTC Cocktail Party at Stonebridge that will cost me $50. They always have great food no matter what. May 5th, is Lorraine M’s Retirement Party at Brazi’s Restaurant over on Long Wharf. Long to be excellent next to the theater. It is easy on easy off the I-95 Highway. May 10th, is Telka’s Graduation. I don’t know if I can attend the graduation at the Harbor Yard Arena but I believe she is having a party when she is finished. May 14th, is the Woman’s Club General Meeting. May 18th, is Adam’s Graduation and I believe a party for him at Liz and Nelson’s. That’s the vibe I am getting from Mom. May 20th is the Creative Writing Contest Reception at the library. May 23rd-May 26th is the weekend for Miriam and Ben’s wedding. May 30th is the Living Treasure award Ceremony for Mom. There are my sessions with Debra and the two DTC meetings. My Chore list for tonight: Laundry Write letters Resend the budget to Beverly (tri...

I really do love weddings. However, as a guest preparing for it is a totally different story. My dearest friend Roberta’s daughter, Miriam is getting married in May. One of two showers is nine days. I got the invitation about three weeks ago. I responded on Saturday to the Boston shower. Mom and I had a few moments to talk about it this morning. She has told me in the past that she usually gets a crystal vase or bowl of the same material (for a lack of a better word). She brought it up this morning when I told her I want to go shopping this weekend. She says she was having trouble with any suggestions from the Macys Registry list on the bookshelf. I mentioned that I believed or read that a guest shouldn’t go off the Registry list that was provided. She was surprised and never heard that. I decided to check it out first I asked a couple of people and they told me ‘oh no’ you must go with the list it’s what the “bride wants.” Then I went this place but can’t find the article...