Same old here. I'm getting my winter itchies from sitting at the computer too much. I have things to work on, but they involve sifting through lots of old excel spreadsheets and no solid deadline for anything. Christmas presents aren't done, but are coming along. I'm disappointed that BF's present that I started the process on 2 weeks ago won't be here in time for Christmas. He insists on giving me my present before I leave so I feel bad.
My mom has been suffering from her first ever bout of sciatica over the last week. She spent 4 days in bed after my dad said she collapsed on the kitchen floor. She says she's doing a little better and went to work with a walker (they were able to borrow one) yesterday. She's 59 and I always think of her as what I will be when I get older. We look exactly the same, have similar personalities, and both walk our dogs 4 miles every day and have trouble sitting idle. I'm worried about her, but also selfishly hope she's feeling well enough to travel by Christmas.
I'm on my computer at work, so I'm NOT going to look up Krampus right now. Thank goodness I had the common sense to look up taint at home the last time this happened...
Krampus, how scary and how lucky you went into the snowbank and not the other way! Did you have your BF pick you up from work? Be safe out there!
Jessica, how is your mom feeling? What good suggestions about clothes that button in front, etc.
Saef, could you do a phone consult w your therapist if you can't make it there in person? Also does your promotion and new position come with an admin assistant? I think it should. Make it so. (jk, but it sounds like it would be nice).
Dagmar, sorry to hear about the snowstorm. It seems like this is already a snowier winter than average.
Shannon, waiting for anyone to come fix something during a business day is annoying. I'm glad it's fixed now.
Michele, you have definitely received some universal karma for wading through the fat table to that microwave. Stay strong.
Taryl, Mondays are hard. Sometimes Tuesdays, too. Hopefully Wednesdays isn't so bad.
Jen, I'm sorry to hear about your client. You're right, you never know how much time you will have with anyone.
Megan, I'm pretty sure that I have a few items that aren't going to make it by Christmas. I am planning a weekend run to Ann Arbor, which has lots of very cool spots downtown where I can find neat things to pad the list. Extending rapid-recovery wishes to your mom!
bargoo, thanks for checking in. I hope the chemo is doing exactly what it's supposed to do and you can move on from it soon.
Krampus - there's no adrenalin rush quite like being out of control of a car, is there? Bet you didn't need any coffee! Very glad your slide went the right direction, if there has to be one!
Taryl, whine away. Homeschooling that pack and getting them around in the winter has to make for some incredibly full days.
michele, I hope your soreness is better today. I like to give Panera gift cards to teachers, as they have a wide variety of things from the good to the bad. A couple of my kid's teachers deserve something more - like a Caribbean vacation ... but I do what I can.
Jen, sorry to read about your client's passing. I have two books that were loaned to me by people who died before I could return them; I've now made a point of telling people NEVER to loan me books! I see nothing odd or creepy about keeping the message as long as you need to. But thanks for the reminder about not always getting a tomorrow.
Dagmar, it is truly amazing what a good cry can let loose.
saef, I'm glad you had the option to work from home. Commuting is such a crap shoot in lousy weather, and there's no time wasted worse than sitting on the freeway, IMO. You are absolutely right about treasuring the (fleeting) moments where winter is beautiful. That being said, I think I'd prefer to look at them in photos while I'm on a beach somewhere,
Andrea, if your clients could meet my Grandma, who's 93 and teaches senior aerobics 4 days a week for an hour and a half (plus water aerobics in the summer), they would be convinced. I often tell her she needs to consider some public speaking about what's possible. She's totally sharp, probably in better shape than I am, and didn't start lifting weights til she was in her late 70's, though she was always on-her-feet active. She lives in Waterford; PM me if you think she might be able to help. She is ... a powerful personality.
Got a rockin' good night's sleep, and I'm looking forward to making it a good day.
Michele, for as long as I've had school-age children, our Christmas gifts to teachers have always been gift cards (and, ideally, also hand-made cards from the child though I admit that many years that doesn't happen). Do you get mostly food gifts? Or do you just mention the gifts that are food on this thread, because those are the ones that cause frustration?
Since I'm not a classroom teacher (I'm the librarian), I don't get too many gifts. I do think the classroom teachers mostly get gift cards but if I get remembered (out of 1100 students I probably get something from 10-15), it's usually with something small. I just love getting thought of!
I'm not having a good morning. Slept fine. Work is fine. Everything is fine. Except Chico is really going downhill. He's still happy, wagging his tail, following me around, but he's hardly eating. I can give him something for a meal or two and then he refuses it. He did enjoy the chocolate covered JoJo's from Trader Joe's that we had for dessert last night. I thought them to be a bit too sweet, so I'd take a small bite and he'd get the rest. DH did the same. I've instructed DS to give him a little of everything he's eating himself this morning. I think I'll stop by the deli tonight and see what looks a bit tempting for him. Meatloaf might be good. He did enjoy half a can of cat food last night and he'll still eat a little deli turkey, but it's clearly not enough to sustain him.
Sorry if I'm a little down. It's kind of hard to contribute to the conversation when I feel so bad.
Wow Becky! Your grandma sounds amazing! My bikram teacher was talking yesterday about her mom who is aging. Her mom is 85 and lives independently, drives, etc. I was quite impressed by her but your grandma may have her beat!
Megan-- sorry to hear about your mom. The chiropractor has really helped with my sciatica but it doesn't sound nearly as severe as your mom's. Is she seeing a doctor I assume?
And I agree Saef-- you could probably do a phone meeting with your therapist. My girls have done that. In fact, my younger dd called me last night with some confessions-- she is having a great time in college but her grades are not stellar to say the least. She said she will be contacting her therapist to start back up-- my dd is extremely gifted (genius IQ) but the balance between her intelligence and trying to fit in has been a challenge. She puts zero effort into her schoolwork and it is catching up with her. Her (our) therapist specialty is with gifted children. We didn't know that when we found him but it's been a lucky happening.
Allison to you and Chico. If it is Chico's time to go try to remember that you had a lot of good years and some extension of his time with you with the surgery and chemo. It's very hard to lose a loved pet but we can remember the good times we had with them after the grief passes.
Allison, looking in briefly at the office, thinking of Chico.
Of course, remembering my mother's loss of Fritz earlier this year. She could tell that he wasn't enjoying life and had withdrawn deeply, that he was exhausted and just eking out an existence. The blood tests confirmed what she already knew from his mien and behavior. That was what made the decision a little clearer, though it wasn't any easier.
I just heard back from the vet. I'm to give him Immodium to combat the bit of diarrhea he is having and I'll stop by their office on my way home to pick up an appetite stimulant. Then I'll stop at the grocery store for a bunch of items that I hope he'll eat (rotisserie chicken, meatloaf from the deli, sardines, ice cream, cookies and yogurt--all things he likes and hopefully will be excited for).
Speaking of excited, you should have seen him this morning as I was getting ready to leave for work. I think he thought this was Thursday (the day I usually bring him to the office). He wouldn't eat his treat but he was ready to hop in the car. Let's hope he'll eat tonight so he'll be happy at the office tomorrow.
After saying, here, that I was doing better with my to do lists...two days in a row, I've written completely untenable ones. I'm going to take the next hour to regroup and see if I can come up with a better plan for tomorrow.
I'm happy to report that Chico ate a nice dinner! A huge slice of meatloaf from the deli and the meat from the leg and thigh of a rotisserie chicken. I guess his new appetite stimulant is working.
Christmas presents aren't done, but are coming along. I'm disappointed that BF's present that I started the process on 2 weeks ago won't be here in time for Christmas. He insists on giving me my present before I leave so I feel bad. 
I'm glad it's fixed now. 
to you and Chico Allison.
