Maintainers Weekly Chat Dec. 13 - Dec. 19
 

hmmm . . . getting seriously close to Christmas.

Did some online Christmas shopping - at last. Thanks for Amazon for those of us who dawdle. I'm lucky enough to have grown kids who submit their Christmas want lists with Amazon links attached, LOL.

Good Morning all!
 

I pulled myself together and did all my Christmas present wrapping last night. Spent a nice couple of hours listening to Christmas music, crying, (choirs make me cry - weird :dizzy:) and wrapping.

Since the people we celebrate with are all adults the gift orgy has lessened considerably. We also pick a name (for the Christmas eve crew) and give one gift each that night.

The Estonians celebrate on Christmas eve so that's been handy for DH and myself - no arguments about whose family we'll be with. Three Christmas dinners though - tricky! Lots of protein and veggies for me and I'll have to go sit in the living room once the desserts are put on the table. I find I can stay away from them if they're not right in my face.

Bill I too provided links to all the gifts on my wish list. No confusion that way. And online shopping is still miraculous for me. I had to brave the mall :crazy: yesterday for some last minute items and found it very tiresome. Much nicer to shop in my bathrobe, with a cup of tea and a credit card :p

So we are getting the tree today and, after bringing it in and decorating it next Sunday, I'm all set.

I'm looking forward to taking my niece Katrin to make a gingerbread house next Sunday. She is the one child (she's 8) I'm spending any time with and I really like that I'm doing something with her, rather than just handing over a gift. I hope I can get my phone camera figured out before then :dizzy:.

Yoga time!

Have a great Monday all!

Dagmar :coolsnow:

Good morning everyone. Wow, it is cold here! It is 19 outside and currently 53 in my office...

Bill - my mother asks for wishlists these days, makes it easier for her to shop. :)

Dagmar - Christmas scheduling is tough for me, too.

Have a good day everyone!

Good morning all.

Dagmar, you've reminded me that I have some CDs of Russian choral music lying around that I ought to take out to the car to play during my morning commute. I like to listen to it around Christmas though particularly around Easter. I cry, too, and I know why: Because the voices are achingly lovely, because there is something transcendent about hearing them, so that I feel that I am witnessing souls leaving bodies for the afterlife. (Maybe movie soundtracks have conditioned me to believe this.)

For me, this is the week when Christmas parties again. My apartment building will have a big one Wednesday night, probably with 80 people or even more. I'm bringing a veggie platter & hummus. I'm nervous about the food, but more excited to be able to pull out a nice dress.

I'll be interested to see if one particular neighbor attends. I do not think she will. Three weeks ago, there was a sad accident in our village: A woman crossing the street was hit by a van, which then backed up over her, and sped off. Imagine my surprise upon reading the news online to find that the driver of the van is one of my neighbors, an 85-year-old woman with a Subaru Outback. What's interesting is my stereotypical outrage upon reading the article ("An 85 year old woman! They ought to re-test elderly drivers periodically! The streets aren't safe!") turned to sorrow. My neighbor is small, gentle & half-deaf. Her life, such that remains to her, will never be the same again.

Thankfully I have only one Christmas party this year. We've decided to scrap the office Christmas lunch as we usually have it on Christmas eve and we're taking that day off this year. We've been invited to a New Year's party but will not go to that (I really dislike going out on NYE because of all the craziness).

I've been formulating some New Year's resolutions and had a revelation--why wait for New Years? Why not give myself a Christmas present instead? Better yet, why not give myself an EARLY Christmas present? So as soon as I've gotten over this cold, I'll get right to it!

We went to Harry Potter and while I enjoyed the movie, having a cold didn't make the rest of it enjoyable. I sucked on cough drops the entire show and you can imagine how my mouth felt afterward. I still ended up stifling two coughing attacks during the movie that put me in tears. Oh, how I hate this kind of cold. During the night I got up a couple times with cough attacks again, but right after midnight I felt the tickle leave! I slept pretty well after that and haven't suffered another attack yet today. I hope the tickle has left for good!

Allison - sounds like a fairly miserable weekend. Sorry you aren't feeling well!

Saef - that is so sad about your neighbor. I'm sorry.

Bill, ah, technology! Online shopping is the best, especially when it comes with free shipping.

Dagmar, that sounds like it will be a fun time with your niece. Have you done the Build A Bear thing? Always wanted to do that with my DGD.

Shannon, brrr! Time for a space heater?

saef, that's so sad about your neighbor. Did the woman she hit survive? People have survived worse, so I hope so.

Allison, good idea about pre-new year's resolutions. Glad your cold is getting better. One year I was really ill at Christmas and New Year's--not fun at all.

So does anyone know how to hard boil eggs so that the yolk doesn't turn that grey-green color AND the shell peels easily? I've tried several different methods and still can't find that perfect balance.

We do a make it, bake it, read it or eat it Christmas so I've been busy sewing totes, making tile trivets, and I'll start baking soon. This year, I told my DH that he was going to sit in the kitchen while I bake. I just can't control my sweet tooth, but I'm not giving up baking. Plan to weigh-in at Weight Watchers on Thurs. and check out their new program. I'm a lifetime member, but I haven't weighed in for over a year. Still under goal, but really want to get off more and maybe their new plan will help.

Happy Monday, all!

No, Sheila, the woman died. Another car following close behind my neighbor's Subaru also ran over her. (That driver stopped & basically collapsed over what she thought she'd done.)

My poor neighbor kept driving. I wish she hadn't. (I got hit by a car myself this past April, in the same village but in a different location, so maybe that's why this story resonates with me.) But who knows what sorts of things people do when they panic?

I would hope I'd have the grace to stop & face what I'd done & all its consequences.

Anyway, that's going to be the elephant in the room at the building Christmas party on Wednesday night.

Good morning (or afternoon) everyone!

Crazy busy week for me (aren't they all?!)
Dh is in Brazil, I leave Friday for Texas (will miss dh as he comes back Friday) for my graduation and to see my inlaws and friends. I have so much to do before I leave--- I need to do Christmas cards, SHOP, mail said gifts that I buy-- it is never going to happen-- panic is setting in.... Oy!

Love Amazon too Bill! The UPS guy is at my house almost daily. It is an addiction.

Sorry you haven't been well Allison but hope the cold is on its way out.

That is sad about your neighbor Saef.

Shannon-- 53 in your office? I would die!! I am FREEZING and it is 70 in my office. I'm going to get some hot tea!

Dagmar-- I need to wrap! No time!!

Sheila-- I think you'll LOVE the new WW plan. It is great and all of the members (or at least most of them) are loving it and seeing great results. Let me know what you think after your meeting. I worked 4 meetings on Saturday (I don't usually work Saturday) and my regular 2 on Sunday which could explain why I didn't get much done this weekend!

Sheila: re hard-boiled eggs. The eggs should be at room temperature to start. I put them in cold water on the cooker, bring to the boil and reduce to a simmer for 7 mins. Remove from heat, tip away water and put the pan and eggs under a cold running tap until they're cold.

HTH.

Saef~I hadn't read that about your neighbor. That is so sad. That said, my Dad at age 88 is still driving and I wish he weren't. He's lost eyesight in one eye and his reflexes just aren't what they used to be. Thankfully the only thing he's hit so far is my Mom's car. Why they keep both cars is beyond me. Mom will never drive again and they both know it.

Sheila~to get your eggs to peel easier do not use fresh eggs. Use the dozen you've had in your fridge for a week or more. The fresher they are the more difficult they are to peel. As for cooking, I start with cold water, bring to a boil and turn off the water and let them cool to room temperature or about 20 minutes before running cold water on them.

So my cold is on the mend. I haven't had an attack all day, but I still have a bit of a cough. I'm glad the worst of it is over.

I got some of my Christmas wrapping done yesterday but am STILL waiting on some items to arrive. I did order a lot online, and yes, Amazon is a lifesaver! One order I got today was picked wrong. I ordered a t-shirt and matching pajama bottoms for DD and I got two t-shirts. I have doubts that the correct item will arrive in time for Christmas. Thankfully she'll be staying for 6 weeks, so she'll get them as soon as they arrive.

The grown up version of drawing circles around the wanted toys in the Toys R Us Big Book :)

My mother insists that she doesn't want anything. Which isn't true, she just can't give an answer to that question when suddenly put on the spot. What that means is that, knowing her as I do, I watch her carefully throughout the rest of the year & listen for the times she says she wants something or wishes she had something or looks with big eyes at something.

I've shopped almost exclusively online this year. It's hard to believe how many things I got through eBay. Well, no, actually, it's not hard to believe, if you know that my mother & I share a passion for antiques & vintage items.

So yes, I'm watching a bunch of sellers' tracking numbers anxiously to see whether items will be delivered on time.

Also I've got to figure out how to gift wrap a big heavy fragile oval antique mirror. Or rather, accept that some gifts are unwrappable. I think I'm going to hide it in a closet during her visit & just put it out late, with a red bow loosely tied around it.

It's winter for real here :brr:. I got home from work yesterday afternoon and felt totally drained. We had 70K winds at the beach and the high for the day was around minus 11C. I have learned to physically deal with days like that but this is going to go on all week. Psychologically :faint: it's hard to go out there day after day.

The dogs help. They (most of them anyway) are all cheerful :D and energetic :dance: and happy to be out in the world.

The cats are hibernating. Mishi tried to go out this morning but the wind blew him sideways :eek: off the steps. He's still painfully thin but he's started eating :hungry: with a vengeance. Right now he's polishing off Mudpie's wet food while she looks on in disgust.

I'd better get to the weights and then start psyching myself to go out there and roll out our garbage bins. Those will no doubt be blown all over the neighbourhood so I'll have to get in and out of the car today to clear them off the roads as I work.

I'm really, really looking forward to retirement (only 17 years to go) in a place where it never snows.

Dagmar :shocksn:

Dagmar - Ouch for some rough working conditions, but with enthusiastic companions. However bad it was, I'm still pondering what you intended to type for "We had 70K winds at the beach" LOL.

Saef, you might check a toy store. I've seen huge bags (not "gift bags" but more like colorful sacks) that are designed to wrap children's bikes. Would the mirror fit in something like that? The bow sounds lovely, though!

Thanks for the tip, Midwife. There's a ToysRUs store less than three miles from me, so I'll stop in that place & check.

Dagmar, I woke up to find snow-covered ground for the first time this season & dragged out my rubber boots for my trek to the gym. I felt mostly annoyed at the imposition. This slight amount is nowhere near what I experienced while growing up in Upstate NY (where, at my mother's house, they've already had 47 inches of snow), but since I'm from a place that routinely experienced awe-inspiring snowfalls each winter, I can commiserate with you sincerely.

I have always envied those who ski and snowboard, because they see snow as an opportunity rather than a nuisance to be lived through, or one more task to complete.

I'm a former skier. In fact at one time I was a ski instructor. I grew up in SLC, Utah and have seen my share of winters. While I'm not retired, I do enjoy living in a fairer climate! I think we were at 81 yesterday! Yes, it is unseasonably warm, but a nice diversion. This weekend it'll cool off to the mid 60's. I remember my DD's second Christmas--she was just 13 months old. DH was out washing the car and DD was toddling around in shorts. I also remember DH and my first Christmas together. We had gotten 2 feet of snow overnight and had to drive to my sister's house Christmas morning. The usual 30 minute drive took hours.

I'm really procrastinating this year. No Christmas decorations are up inside (yet) and I'm not sure when they'll get done. I really should put up the tree, but I'm a little afraid of what Ringo might do while we're at work. Most of the presents are purchased (and wrapped) but some have not arrived yet.

Today I'm working on getting our year-end bonuses complete for our employees. We're fortunate to have had a good year and the future looks as promising, so we'll be happy to reward our employees.

To everyone--have a happy Tuesday!

hello, all. We are suffering from our own cold snap here. We were initially forecast for 6-8 inches of snow overnight, then the forecast was revised to 4-6 inches, and we wound up with 4-6 millimeters. Seems like the lake effect snow never quite gets us, much to the skiers' (and 8-year old boys') chagrin.

I stepped on the scale for the first time in a month. A measly pound down. I was all set to beat myself up about it, and then thought, "hey, that's better than a pound up, and much better than a sharp stick in the eye." So, there you go, positive thinking. Sort of.

b. strong,
KAW

Winds gusting up to 70 kilometers per hour. Today it was up to 60K per hour and the snow, mixed with sand, was blowing parallel to the ground.

This IS Canada remember - the frozen north?

Dagmar :brr:

Allison Re Ringo - we tied our tree to a door for years and never put any ornaments below 3 ft. off the ground. Also no tinsel (dogs eat that too with dire results) or garlands.

Kinda spoils the whole idea of a tree somewhat but we persevered and can now have the full tree in all it's glory. Mishi still eats needles and then sicks them up on our bed (I imagine it's some kind of special treat in his little mind) and he drinks from the tree stand if he can wedge his paw in there to scoop the water out.

Ringo might be terrified of the tree and not even go near it. Pretty doubtful though - most cats love new stuff.

Dagmar :coolsnow:

I wondered about the 70K , too, here in the USA 70K would mean 70 thousand. Wow ! That would be some wind !

It can be dangerous for cats to eat pine needles--they could puncture the digestive tract. Also, pine resin can be toxic. Check with your vet or you can read some information here:

http://www.catchannel.com/experts/ma...mas-trees.aspx

Jay

Morning all, :coffee2:

What day it today? Wednesday? Oy, vey. I can't wait until the weekend. Yesterday I had on 3 layers on bottom and 4 on top (including waterproof pants, boots, and coat) to go out on the boat for 7 hours. I almost fell asleep at the gym while I was lying on a mat doing hamstring curls on the yoga ball, b/c I realized it was the warmest I'd been all day. (It was actually a good workout while I was upright ;)). In a few days it's supposed to warm to normal NoFlo winter temps.

I went to visit BF over the weekend, 6 hour drive each way, and returned Monday AM. I feel like I've been going from one trip to the next - Keys in October, Thanksgiving, central Florida... central Florida again for Christmas in two weeks. On the one hand I wish I could get a bit more sleep but on the other hand, as I said last week, it's nice to be busy to distract myself from BF's absence. I've started Netflix-ing the True Blood series and plan to watch it this weekend while I decorate jams and jellies and write holiday cards. Michele, how do you deal so well w/ your DH's frequent absences? I get lonely!

I realized I never followed up with the dog bite questions - yes, the owner has reported the case (in our county they told him do a sheriff's report that will be turned over the animal control). I haven't been contacted by the sheriff or animal control yet. I'm not sure what will happen... Daisy's owner took her to the vet and he gave her antibiotics and showed the owner how to keep cleaning it, and she will be ok.

Does anyone have any good collard or turnip greens recipes? They do not stop coming from my CSA!

Dagmar, brrrr! It's been very windy here (33-39K, I believe) but the air behind it certainly isn't as cold. It will get warmer, I know it's hard to believe. Drink lots of hot tea and soups to keep your insides warm!

Kim, I'm also victim of the "sort of" positive thinking sometimes, but you know what, that's what we've got to do! (As opposed to negative thinking.) A pound down IS better than a pound up! So great job! :carrot:

Allison, would it be possible to block off the room the tree goes in? Does it have a door that shuts, or could you use a baby gate? (Obviously not a cat person here - I do know cats can be quite acrobatic, maybe they can get over a baby gate). If you've got most of your presents bought and even some wrapped I think you're ahead of 90% of the country.

Saef, so sad about your neighbor. It is a very difficult situation.

I suppose I should go do some work... :dizzy: Have a good day all!

Hi everyone! I've been way busy at work lately, sorry for my absence.

Megan, I've been using collards just like I would use spinach. I chop up the leaves and throw them into pasta sauce, soup, stir fries, whatever.

Hey Megan, have you tried Kalyn's Kitchen for collard greens recipes?

http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partner...logspot.com%2F

I can vouch for the Hopping John soup recipe, which I make every year on Dec. 31st, to bring good luck & prosperity in the coming year.

Megan-- my dh has traveled so much in our marriage that I really am used to it. It was much harder in the earlier years especially when we had smaller children. Now that our kids are older, I look forward to time when I can decide what to eat, when to exercise, what to watch on TV, etc. Dh and I always look forward to the time we have together and I think it makes it more special. I do always miss him.

I have been weepy off and on since yesterday which is unusual for me. I don't know if it is because I am overwhelmed and overtired (very likely) or due to other factors. Yesterday I got a graduation card in the mail from my uncle (he is my only living relative and was my mom's brother). He told me how proud he is of me and that he knows my parents (both deceased) are also proud of me. Then, this morning I came into work and found a note in my box where the staff members had written positive affirmations on it about me (they must have had an exercise at the staff meeting I didn't go to yesterday). I started crying when I saw all the nice things that were written.

Dd is flying to Texas today. She hasn't seen my inlaws in a year. I fly there Friday to meet up with her and go to my graduation. I hope her travels go smoothly-- she always stresses a great deal about everything.

I better get to work! Happy Hump Day!

Michele~that was so nice of your co-workers to send such positive messages! You should be proud of yourself as well.

Megan~that sounds miserable! I hate being cold, and the possibility of being wet and cold is just so much worse.

As for the cat and tree issue: no, I can't block the room that the tree would be in, but it is an artificial tree so no worries about the cat eating or drinking what he shouldn't. I don't use tinsel because I know what it can do to a dog. I'm more afraid of what the kitty will do to my ornaments as they're all glass and part of the floor is tile, so if he knocks one off, it will most certainly break. So far I still have no time to get the tree up, though.

I took DS to the oral surgeon yesterday for his wisdom tooth extraction consultation. He gets them out next Tuesday morning. He was so funny--he said to the doctor to not drink too much coffee that morning as he didn't want anyone with shaky hands in his mouth. We all got a laugh out of that! Today I take him to the dentist to get his last two cavities filled. Before that, I have my hair appointment, but before I can leave to do that, I have to process our bonus payroll run for our employees. So, I'd better run!

Allison-- when my dd had her wisdom teeth out this summer, I videoed her on the ride home (with a flip camera). We thought she would be funny because she was hilarious after she had her adenoids out. It was hysterical!

There are also a ton of funny videos on youtube from others after having wisdom teeth out. Just search wisdom teeth. There is a hilarious one about unicorns!

:wave: Hi everyone! Crazy for me for a few days here but thought I'd peep in and skim the board =)

I had my wisdom teeth extracted in high school and my mom says I was absolutely hilarious on the drive home. :)

Michele - so sweet of everyone to send you those cards!

Megan - it is oddly cold here as well. I've been cold for days now.

Allison - I've known people who wired the ornaments to the tree. I also don't put any breakable ones closer than about 3 feet to the floor.

Dagmar - I questioned the '70k winds' for a minute myself! :)

Busy busy week for me here. And cold.

Sorry, adding a "K" to any number makes me think of the stuff I read & write on my job all day long, which is cost- and profit-fixated.

My cursory interpretation: Where Dagmar lives, a wind gust can cost as much as $70,000. (That's in Canadian dollars, of course.)

Funny about the wisdom teeth. I had mine out a couple years ago and I wasn't really goofy at all. They used IV sedation on me; maybe that makes a difference? When I woke up all I tried to say was "The cotton in my mouth is poking me" which was hard enough for DH and the nurse to figure out! I just fell asleep on the drive home and didn't try to talk at all.

I totally screwed up today. They had a holiday dessert bar at work. I figured I'd check it out and maybe try one or two items. Well, I didn't take that many items which was fine, but one of them which I thought was going to be a white chocolate-covered marshmallow turned out to be solid white chocolate. I ate about half of it before I realized that eating a big chunk of white chocolate is pretty gross. I still feel kind of gross.

Funny that use of "K". I guess I'm so used to using the context (we use it for kilometers and 1000's) to interpret it that I just automatically see it.

Even funnier is that I didn't grow up with the metric measurement system. I've adapted to certain things really well but I still weigh myself in lbs. (although my scale has kilos I can't interpret it in my mind) and I use cups and tbsp. and tsp to cook. Back when I was jogging I measured in K and still do when I drive. :dizzy:

No wonder Canadians are thought to be so polite. What with bilingualism and bimeasurism (?) we're so busy figuring things out we are lost in thought most of the time :p

Dagmar :dizzy:

Dagmar - Can you tone that weather down a bit?
I am headed over there at the end of January and I'm a sissy west coaster.
I can't handle 70k cold winds :(....brrrrrrrr.
S

Oh boy am I going to have some food challenges the next few days-- weeks in fact.

I leave tomorrow for Texas for my graduation. I am flying to Houston to meet up with my daughter (she flew there from college yesterday). My inlaws are going to pick me up and we are going to my FAVE restaurant-- steak place. It is deadly. I actually don't usually get steak but they have a to die for salad bar with amazing breads, cheeses, etc. Then I get a loaded baked potato and I'm stuffed. The desserts are also amazing and I won't get one but I will share. A million calories, I am sure.

Then, Saturday is my graduation. My dd has told me that we are going out nice afterward and I need to dress up. She won't tell me where we are going.

Those will probably be the biggest challenges but whenever I'm in Texas, I face my biggest food challenges. The restaurants are amazing, the portions huge, and I want to hit my faves.

We'll fly back to CA next Tuesday and I will have more challenges as dd will want to go to her fave restaurants here and our extended family will be coming with many more challenges. Sigh... I better not miss the gym!

Icy start to the day in Atlanta! Schools in our county opened two hours late, surrounding counties were closed...

Michele - enjoy your travels and be careful!

Jessica - that does sound icky... Too much white chocolate is just, well, too much. :)

Dagmar - I just did the conversion finally - 70 kilometer winds are still pretty high, even if not 70,000!

Saef - how goes the search for wrapping supplies for the mirror? I saw a bike bag at WalMart yesterday.

Good day everyone! Stay warm!

let the chocolate begin
 

Two boxes of chocolates from clients today. Oy vey! Belgian too - double oy vey!

:devil: OK I'll admit that I would not be thrilled if one of my clients gave me a big bunch of vegetables for Christmas.

The holidays are for excess! What would we do in Jan. if we didn't pig out in December? :p

That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!

Dagmar

Or, even better, it's gift so the calories don't count :lol3:

Oh if that were true... :)