Tree is down

And I am not ready to tackle the kitchen quite yet.  In fact,  I'm pooped (well,  I have been sick,  after all).  So I'm going to rest for awhile and try in an hour or so.  Whew!

My poor neglected blog

Okay, folks, I'm really not trying to let this blog die. The holidays were insanely busy, and now I've been ill, and yesterday, when I was working on the game notes, was the first time I'd plugged the laptop into the monitor/rest of the system on the computer desk in probably six weeks. Really.

Friday I was able to go back to work at 1 pm, and I got caught up on my charge entry. One good thing about being sick with pinkeye, though, is I am temporarily being treated as a plague-bearer by friends, and so Friday night was all about listening to my audiobook and resting. Saturday I went in early to work (with permission to work on Saturday) and made up some hours and finished the policies I had to edit). I then took YKWIA to an appointment, but wasn't allowed to touch anything in his house. He rode in the back seat of the car, and when I picked him and another friend up, they remained in the back. I took the one to the Women's March here in Lexington, drove the other by the store and then home, and returned home. Again, there was plenty of 'reading', rest, and I did tackle the bathroom, including details like the shower and the hair catcher that sits in the drain that, while not bad on hair, had some soap scum on it that was preventing it from draining properly. It took an hour, but I got everything but the floor taken care of (I'll mop the kitchen and bath later, when everything else is taken care of).

Today we had planned to play the game, although the one wanted me to wear gloves, because he really did not trust the '24 hours of drop rule', so from 7:30 pm to 11 pm I did game notes. It included a lot of investigation, you see, so it took longer than normal. Then I picked up the one friend from work at 1 am (he sat in the front). This morning I was up at 7:30, although I'd planned to sleep a little later, since I didn't have to clean for the game, and went to Kroger and fortunately managed to the Stahist AD that Chinoe had not had, and some Mucinex, and that was about $30 altogether. But I feel much better than this morning. I thought I'd have to call the game off, but then my friend who is the game master called and he was not well either, and wanted to cancel, but wanted me to come over (with gloves) for a quick grocery run with my other friend who is strong and can lift big bags of dog food and large cat litter boxes. I called Brenda, left a message, and then at the appointed time went and got A and the card and we went to the grocery, brought in the stuff, and were getting ready to leave, when Brenda came driving up, having not gotten my message. After explaining to her what was going on, she turned back for home, I took A to work, and then went on home. I was kind of tired, so I ate something and laid down for what was going to be a half-hour nap that turned into two hours. I remember vaguely blessed sunshine coming in through the window (it's been grey and gloomy, with rain, for days). Now I'm up, I've fortified myself, and I have two goals tonight: to clean the kitchen thoroughly and take down the Yule tree.

Yes, it's still up, with the decorations on and everything. The wreath is still on the door, but actually two of my neighbours still have theirs up, too, so either we're all having a difficult winter, or it's more acceptable. I mean, my wreath doesn't have Santa Claus or anything like that--just greenery, fruit, and pinecones. So it's still 'wintery', I suppose. But it's all coming down tonight and getting packed away. I did manage to get around the tree and do some plant watering yesterday. Some look pretty peaked; I think I'm going to have to go through a cull. On the other hand, I've got two orchids at work getting ready to rebloom, and a whole slew of plants at work that are going to have to come home in two months, so there is that.

Okay, I'm going to go blow my nose and get some more caffeine. I think I'll start with the tree. I'll try to write later, and get in the habit of writing more. I need to pick A up at midnight, but otherwise need to get up early because I'm dropping the car off at the shop tomorrow and meeting a co-worker at 7:30 so she can be at work for an 8 am meeting. Those brakes need fixing, and it's definitely time.

PS I'm getting ready to start chapter 26 of The Cave and the Light. Only five more to go, and one is an afterword, I think, because it's only 2 or so minutes long. :)

Listening to Pentatonix and trying to get into some Yuletide cheer...

Well, the tree is up and the lights are on, and after a short break, so are the ornaments. I have given my yearly accidental blood offering--it never fails, I pinch my hand putting on the branches at some point. I suspect it's because I'm a pagan celebrating Yule with an artificial tree. I prefer a live one, but this was given to me, works nicely, and I can't afford a live tree that will just die quickly, and seems a shame to cut a live tree. :) Happy Yuletide, or Solstice, or Christmas, or Hanukkah, or whatever holiday you may celebrate, if any. May the light shine in you, and in your life, as the long darkness gives way to the slow return of the sun.

That was an ordeal

But the tree is down and put away,  the ornaments and other decorations are packed up,  and the plants are watered.  I've moved a little fountain over by the plants.  My back is hurting;  I'm going to put up my feet for awhile and give it a rest before vacuuming or any of the other things I'd like to get done tonight (mainly the dishes). It was nice while it lasted,  but I'm glad to have some square footage back in the living room,  which is pretty small and has a loveseat, hourglass table, round end table, computer desk with printer stand,  TV table,  seven bookshelves, and an antique steamer trunk in it,  plus the blocks and boards the plants are on. Really. Plus six works of art by YKWIA, a bulletin board,  two college diplomas, a small curio shelf,  and my family coat of arms on the walls. I really do have a lot of stuff crammed in a small space.  That's just the living room.

Oh,  well, it looks roomier now, although in actuality there's barely enough room to do yoga. :)

Getting ready to (finally) take down the tree and ornaments

I've been pretty busy of late, so the tree has had to wait, even though it's almost Imbolc in a little over a week. I helped A take his down yesterday (we would have done it last week, but the shed lock was frozen). I don't have that disadvantage; my tree goes into a tub in my walk-in closet, so it's not exposed to cold, but I just hadn't gotten around to doing mine. I need to get behind it, to the window, though, as my plants desperately need water, and it's hard to get around the tree to them. So I'm going to take some medicine since I just ate, and then it's time to take everything off the tree and put it away. Hope you're having a good weekend. I may write later. Good night (in case I don't).

Yawn...

I had a great time with my friends today. But, my lack of sleep is catching up with me. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

PS Here's a close-up of my tree. I think the little penguin ornaments I got last year are adorable. :)

I went and visited my friends for awhile

I took A to the grocery, as I needed to go, too, and then YKWIA and I watched 'Grimm' together. Now I'm home. The Yule tree is lit, along with the strands of light I put up in the windows today and the one above the hall doorway and along the divider between the dining and living areas, which stay up all year. The lights make everything look rather cheerful. The tree is a six foot tree, fairly broad, and takes up much of the room near my living room window, so I have to be a little careful when sitting down at the computer, as I might accidentally knock off an ornament, and most of them are breakable (the one nice thing about not having cats anymore). :)

I got a lot done today. I'm still in a little pain after the workout as far as my feet go, but otherwise, it was good to do. I still have some things to move back into the closets, I need to put water in the fish tanks, do the few plastic dishes that couldn't go in the dishwasher, and tackle some things in the bedroom, but otherwise I think things are much better than they were. I'll go over tomorrow and help my friends with their house, but I can go over later than normal and then get some things done here afterwards.

I think I'm going to listen to a little music, go get a few things off the bed, and then curl up with a good book. Good night.

I'm slowly getting things straightened up here

I've washed the dishes, put up the holiday decorations, vacuumed, and put some of the things back in the closet. I'm very sweaty now, and I think I'm going to wait till the radio countdown is over (in about 30 minutes--we're up to #5), take a shower, then do laundry and work out at the same time. Yes, I'll get sweaty again, but I can't go anywhere like this. Then I'll work on the other closets, do general straightening up, and go from there. At this point I don't know if I'll go over to my friends' house or not--it's almost noon, after all. This has taken awhile. But I'll let them know sometime this afternoon if I don't. A wasn't going to be available till about 6:30 or 7 pm anyway, so it may still work out that we can go to the store, and I can get everything else finished, or watch 'Grimm' with YKWIA. But we may be able to do that Sunday since there won't likely be a game.

When my friends gave me the tree last year, they also gave me a bunch of ornaments that I used last year that had been one of their mothers'. This year I put my stuff on the tree first, and a few things that came with the tree, like the red, white, green, and blue tree skirt, a garland, and a snowman ornament. But really, once I got my stuff on there, it looked fine. I did get a strand of LED lights, so I have some that are cylindrical and the older ones I had that are globes on there. Add some 'holographic' snowflakes and plastic and glass icicles, and I don't think I need much else. :) Most of the other ornaments are red and white, and while I don't have a colour theme, really, I think I'll overload the tree if I put too much on it. So I think I'll stop. A does have a colour theme on their tree, courtesy of YKWIA, who is an artist, in purple and gold, so the red and green ornaments don't work with them. That's one reason I wound up with them. If I decide not to use them, I may go ahead and donate them to Goodwill or something. But for now I'll just keep them in their boxes.

Sorry I didn't post yesterday

I've been crazyily busy of late.  Thanksgiving exhausted me,  YKWIA had some issues and needed extra help, and we have seven appointments (mostly in the evening, thankfully) between us this week to go to.  My family member is back in the hospital,  this time at her local one,  although they are talking about sending her up here to Lexington at the University of Kentucky.

Things I'd like to get done this week between ail that include putting the Yule tree up,  watering all the plants in the apartment,  doing my laundry (I got it into the cart Sunday,  but left it at home accidentally).  I'd also like to go use the gym some more at the apartment complex. Oh,  and I need to put the stiff I pulled out of the closets back in. Just little things,  really,  but things I've been too tired to accomplish of late.  Oh,  and I need to schedule a CT scan because of something that cropped up on an x-ray.  I was going to go to a Web conference at UK tomorrow,  but something more urgent came up.  My head is just about spinning.  But hey,  I'll figure it all out,  and get what needs to be done finished.

In the meantime,  I applied for a job for which I am well-qualified.  Keep your fingers crossed for me. It's even another hospital librarian position,  similar to what I do now but at a larger institution,  administered by a university,  so it's a faculty position renewable yearly.  I would really love to get it. We'll see.  Wish me luck.

Also,  they posted the position of the woman I'm filling in for in scheduling.  I don't want to give up my librarian job,  which pays more than most of the clerical jobs in the hospital, (although the data entry job pays much less,  so it rounds down, and the result could be about the same as her position) just to have a position that would go to the new building. But I don't love scheduling.  I love being a librarian.  I'm not saying I wouldn't take a position outside of librarianship to make ends meet if we get down to the wire in terms of the elimination of my position,  but I'm not ready to give up on my library career yet.  :)

Okay,  I'm blogging on my phone,  and this is a long post for that.  Let me see how much damage autocorrect has done and wrap this up.  Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving!

We started working on our belated Thanksgiving dinner tonight

Making an excellent pumpkin soup and a chickpea/cucumber salad with cumin. Earlier today, YKWIA and I watched Inside Out, which was quite excellent. I definitely would be Sadness--she was so like me, and YKWIA kept pointing it out. He is most like Disgust. The story was wonderful. There is a part of the movie where a character makes a great sacrifice, and I bawled like a little kid. So I definitely got into it.

I went looking for my back brace today and in the midst of emptying closets and pulling stuff out, found the holiday ornaments. I seriously thought I might put the tree up tonight, but I got home at 11 pm, so I'm not going to do it now--maybe sometime during the weekend, but not right now.

Tomorrow I'm going to go over to my friends' around 10 am and work on the Quorn fake turkey goodness, the vegetable dishes, and dessert. We plan on eating about 3 pm. :)

Okay, I think I'll go on to bed. Good night.

I have re-potted the little pine tree

This time I didn't put lights or garland on it,  and I added another stake.  I put the lights around the window instead,  and found a bulb for that funky light strand so it won't blink. The larger ornaments were put on the larger tree.  I put on little bells,  some snowflakes,  and tiny ornaments made for an even smaller tree.  It seems much happier.

:)

As I mentioned last night, my little Charlie Brown tree toppled last night while I was helping a friend put up his tree. He had given me his old one plus some ornaments his mom had given him, which tend to be folksy and I chose ones that weren't as overt as Mary and Jesus. Santa is there, but Santa is partially pagan in origin, and there are angels, which are not limited to Judaeo-Christian belief. But mostly it's snowmen, bears, winter things, and gift-giving in theme. And I finally have a tree that will support my Hallmark mistle-toad, which grins when you pull the tassel. :) That one I've had for years. There's also a few that were given to me, one when I was 8 by a teacher. So it's very homey. This is still a little too Christmas-y for my taste, but it'll work as a Yule tree for this year. Next year the plan is to find ornaments exhalting nature, perhaps birds or a solar theme. (And yes, I do recognise the incongruence of that and an artificial tree, but I am too poor to buy live trees big enough, and I don't like the idea of cutting down the tree, even if it is sustainably grown. I think the gods will understand.) In the meantime, I'm going to try to salvage the live tree and get it set back up, this time in the bedroom. I've moved the flamingo and spider plants out here to the living room to give it some space. I'm hoping when I re-pot it, the leaning will cease. But having just spent an hour and a half putting the tree up, I think I'll take a break. :)

So

I just got home,it's just now noon, and I've accomplished everything on my list except tree decorating (although I did manage to get the tree and ornaments out of the car and inside the house) and of course 'Grimm', which doesn't come on till 9 pm. I did not actually find a belt that was acceptable. The only ones in my size were a dull lime green. I don't care for that colour, and they barely fit, as in, the first hole might have worked. I'll try to get one a size up online when I have some money. Most of the Gabriel Brothers belts were about $3.99, though, so I was a bit bummed on that front. But I got some holiday cards that were nice for 99 cents a box (I got two, so that's enough for all the departments at work and maybe for friends (I do have a few old cards that would probably be better for friends). I found my co-worker's gift, something that would normally sell for about $40 that was only $10. I also found a totally unmarked phone case that fits my phone, is purple, and is in the shape of a book. How can anyone resist such a thing? Well, I had them do a price check and it was $4.99, so I did take it. But I got out of there with very little money spent, then headed over to the gas station, where gas was $2.38, but with my Kroger points I got it for $2.18. :) I understand why our little Speedway that used to be in front of that Kroger was eventually torn down and a Tire Discounters is there now. Business really suffered, although we had great and loyal customers, too. But our 3 cents off a gallon with a card couldn't compete with one that gives you up to $1 a gallon when you use your fuel points.

When I got the tree and ornaments out of the car, I found a bag of canned goods I'd forgotten to bring in last night. I'm having canned peas right now. :)

When I went to the pharmacy, the owner gave me a tote bag with their logo on it for each of us who use them.

It's pretty cold outside, but sunny, so that's nice. I did consider going to the cinema today and using those free tickets. But I think I'll stick around the house for the afternoon, work on it, and put the tree up. But first, I'm going to take a midday nap, because I haven't been able to do that since I was off after getting hit by the car. Oh, and I almost got hit today in my parking lot when I was coming back from putting the fan out, and I stopped as soon as I realised it was about to hit me, and the guy was quite surprised to see me, so I don't know what on earth he'd been doing up to that point, but obviously hadn't seen me. In his defence, the sun may have been in his eyes. But it was a inauspicious was to start the day. And just now a truck tried to turn right while I was still clearing the intersection at Alumni and Man O'War, and almost went into me. Is it any wonder I get nervous while driving?

'Oh, no! I've killed it!'

So I came home from helping a friend put up his Christmas tree only to find my little Yule tree lying on the floor, with most of its dirt spilled out of the pot, looking like a sad little Charlie Brown tree indeed. I righted it, and decided that I will deal with it in good time, but not right at this moment. Poor thing. I'm not entirely sure I can save it. It lost a lot of soil, although it didn't break or anything when it fell. But man, it's messy. I really must take care of that as soon as possible, though, as it is on carpet. Thankfully it's not damp soil.

Today I went to my family practice and saw both the doctor and the physicians assistant, and despite the fact that the Sharpie ink came right off in the shower, I did explain the anxiety situation, and was prescribed a low dose of Buspar and referred to a behavioural health practice which is across town but in my insurance network. So that should help.

Tomorrow will be very busy. I need to:

1. Straighten up the house early in the morning, as they're coming to inspect the appliances and it's a wreck
2. Pick up the Buspar from the pharmacy
3. Run by the library before they open and give in some books
4. Go to the bank
5. Pay my rent
6. Buy a small Secret Santa gift
7. Find some holiday cards
8. Look fora belt (I've had one for almost three decades, where the loop has come off. the belt has stretched beyond its original dimensions to the point where I'm putting the tongue through the braid and not the holes of the strap, and tucking the tip under the strap instead)
9. Get lights and go through some ornaments for the larger, artificial tree A gave me
10. Put up the tree and decorate it
11. Watch 'Grimm' with YKWIA

Oh, and we're not playing the game Sunday as Brenda has another commitment. I'm not sure what I'm doing Saturday. I still haven't seen Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part I, and I have a free movie ticket and a voucher for a small drink and popcorn for free. Hmmm....

Here's my little Norfolk Virginia pine doing an excellent job as a Charlie Brown Christmas tree

although technically it's a Yule tree.

Nearly time for Yule

It's only a little over a foot tall, but this live Norfolk Virginia pine has personality, don't you think?

In the holiday spirit

Nearly every year for the past fifteen or more, I have gotten a Norfolk Virginia pine tree in a pot for Yule. For about six of those years, I had a single tree that lived for quite some time and then eventually died. Unfortunately, lately they've been spraying glitter on the trees, which make them sparkle, but they're dead by January.

So I wanted something different this year, and today I got a small rosemary bush that has been trimmed in pine-tree shape and decorated it with these little tiny decorations I had, a small string of lights, and some icicle garland. What do you think?

I took the bigger ornaments that have some sentimental value and placed them in among the other plants. I have a pair of flickering battery-operated candles in the living room window, and another in the bedroom one. The moose is one of a pair in skating outfits that I got a book fair years ago. (The male has a sign that says Chris-Moose, which I found hilarious at the time even though it's not quite Yule-oriented as much as a certain Other Winter Holiday). But, hey...

I strung some bells in the entryway as well. Wish I had a wreath for the door like we got last year at work. That was lovely, and the whole hallway smelled so nice.

Okay, I have some stuff to do that isn't holiday related before I head to bed, but I wanted to post about that. Have a good night, if I don't write more.

Success!

I left about 2 pm to go take a CD to the library that's due Monday and pick up a hold, Running the Books (yeah, it finally came back to me again, quicker than I thought it would). At 2:40 I took the bus to Lowe's, taking the granny cart with me. I found this lovely tree and it was only a little over $6 since it's a week till Christmas (and than goodness I got it, as it's only three days till solstice). I also got some small LED lights to go on it. I think they're bright and happy. Then began the trek home in the cold and ice. Mind you, I hope the tree survives; they're not hardy at all, and it was out in the cold for a good long time, although I covered it as best as I could with my scarf. I stopped by Subway, which was about halfway home and got a free footlong tuna sandwich with my points. Then I went across the street near Kroger and waited for the bus. There were quite a few people waiting and we chatted. I carried the tree onto the bus with the cart folded up so it wouldn't be in the way. I think people were amused in a good way and maybe got into the holiday spirit watching me go by or sitting on the bus with a giant evergreen. (Okay, it's maybe three feet tall, but that's fairly big when you're carrying it.) I got off at the library bus stop, put the tree back in the cart and headed across the street since the hospital had shoveled their walk and it's easier to cross on that side of the street anyway (There's no one turning right to run you down.) I walked very carefully down a very icy walk and once I reached the car lot one of the ladies came out and offered to take me the rest of the way home. Mind you, I was almost home by that point, but it still would have taken about 15 or 20 minutes with the ice and it had gotten much colder. So I accepted, she brought me the rest of the way, and I got into the house sometime after five, so it took about 3 hours to hunt down and bring back a tree, even with help there at the end. Then I decorated the tree and this is the result. I'm going to rest a bit and then wrap presents.

All in all, it was fun, though it took some determination. Now I'm going to check my e-mail and call the game master to see if we're gaming tomorrow, as it was his house that was so icy the other day, and Brenda may have called if she's stuck out in the country. But the notes were finished early this afternoon. I went ahead and put in on my USB drive rather than the Kindle this time since I'm leaving the Kindle home during the ice issue. Monday and Tuesday it's supposed to be warmer; I may take it with me then, since I am working on several books right now and I'm at the climax of White Night by Jim Butcher. My shoes performed admirably. I think I slipped a tiny bit maybe twice, and never to the point where I was in danger of falling. Go, purple shoes! (I also got asked by one person I met along the way where I got them, and I've gotten compliments on them by several people at work, so all around I think they're a success.)

I just got a friend from work

and came across an area that had no power earlier today, then power, and now it's out again. On the plus side, the Buckhorn area seems up again. Mine seems to be holding for now. Tomorrow there's a chance for more snow but on the plus side Sunday it is supposed to warm up to 49 degrees (followed by more possible snow Monday and Tuesday).

I've gotten a little rest, although not as much as I'd like, so I'm going back to bed. But I thought I'd check in.

By the way, I must say RIP Yuletide tree. After a valiant attempt at resuscitation (thank goodness for spell check--I can never get that one. If I were in a spelling bee, it would disqualify me), the tree has dried up and died. I've only managed to keep one alive for 3 years, but this went quicker than normal. It had a little glitter on it; that may be part of it. Or maybe I just didn't water it enough. I don't know, Norfolk Virginia pines just seem tricky.

I guess that's all for tonight. I'll try to write something not weather-related tomorrow. Good night.

Good morning

Once again I woke up early, about 6 am, then went to bed until I woke up again a little after 8. I actually got out of bed at 8:45. So much for sleeping in on a rare Saturday off.

I went straight to taking down the decorations from the tree and trimming any dry branches off (that's a downside to Norfolk Virginia pines--they dry out and shed easily). It took about 45 minutes. I know, Christmas isn't really over until the 6th, but mine isn't a Christmas tree but rather one for Yule, so it was time. I didn't want the tree to dry out too badly, because I'd like to keep it for awhile. I kept one alive for about four years. It's now sitting on an end table near the window but not central to it, and I've watered it thoroughly. I did keep up the window lights, because I like them and I've done so in the past, but my old lights stopped working. These new ones are multi-coloured and cheery. I left the star at the top, too, the one that's really the tree topper that wouldn't fit on the small tree.

I moved the clock back to its position and decided to put a black multi-photo frame on the other side to balance the black of the CD player. Since I was doing that, I took out a couple of pictures of D, since we're really not friends anymore, mere acquaintances, and replaced them with one of Cerys and another of my grandparents at my graduation from college. There's also one of a couple of friends with their pets and one of Tracy and her husband Ted (whom I've never met).

I checked the fish tank earlier and everything's fine for livebearers except there's a little too much ammonia. I'm going to stop by the pet store and get some liquid for that and maybe some plants to start the nitrite cycle going and maybe introduce some good bacteria (although plants often bring in snails, but I don't mind so long as they don't take over). I'll ask Brenda and Margaret if they have extra fish. Each has several tanks, so there's a good chance. If not, I'll get some in about a week or so.

I ate an unconventional breakfast of vegetarian chili with cheese, then made the bed, swept the kitchen and bath, and took my medicine, adding Claritin for my allergies, which have been bad the last few days. Since I called the leasing office about my faucet yesterday, I got everything accomplished on my to-do list and more. Yay!

At noon I'm going over to a friend's to help him with a couple of projects. I've got some things to do before that, so I should get ready. Have a great day.