November: Lists, Drugs, Cone-heads and Mickey Mouse

Has anyone seen the month of November? I know it was here, but somehow it got away from me and I’m looking over my shoulder, side to side... nope, gone. What happened?!

In related news: I’m not ready for Christmas yet!! I did, however, get an Advent calendar, about which I'm unreasonably excited. I got a paper one so I wouldn't have to come up with 25 days' worth of non-candy treats. Usin' the ol' noggin.

DH and I have done some shopping for the kidlets – he handles the action figures and I handle the pink stuff. I think they’re both going to have a nice Santa spread, but not extravagant. I still need to get a few small things to round it out, and stocking stuffers. The stressful part for me is shopping for family members and friends. Don’t you agree? My main issues are thus:

• Distance -- We don’t know from seeing them daily what kinds of things they like, or already have.


• Wish Lists – Agh. Have I whined about this before? We typically exchange “gift ideas” with each other, but I’m completely bored by it. It feels more like business and not like we give because we love the recipient and are thoughtful and creative. I struggle with this every year. Of course everyone wants to receive things they like, and sometimes coming up with ideas out of thin air is hard (see: Distance, above)... but some people in my family insist, “I need your lists!!” and there’s all this pressure, and I want to say, “Just go to Pier One and pick something pretty! Like a candle because it’s consumable and won’t stay in my house for the next 40 years. Or better yet, a tin of hot cocoa.” Why does it have to be so hard? I guess we don’t all want a pile of Hostess Gifts, but on the other hand... why not?? They’re lovely.

I don’t mean to complain. Mostly my sis-in-law was very persistent about wanting our lists this year. In AUGUST. I don’t think I ever sent her one so she’s going to have to figure it out. I’m anxious to get myself in gear for them, and for all our parents, friends and neighbors. My failsafe: I bought extra Cub Scout popcorn in yummy flavors so the neighbors might be taken care of. ;)

LISTS!

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November has been asthma awareness month. By the end of nearly every night I’m sighing REAL LOUD and my lungs kind-of ache. I got a doctor's appointment as soon as one was available (Nov 30) and then went to the Little Clinic for a new inhaler that is not expired.

And speaking of drugs. I’m one of three of us family members on antibiotics at the moment, for the vague issue of "sinus trouble" (HATE). Frankly, the humidifier seems to have helped more in the last 2 days than 7 days’ worth of horse-pills, but whatever. AJ had strep so he’s on teh juice, too, and Napoleon the dog is also medicated. I hadn’t told you about that but long story short, he had some surgery after a difficult decision about whether or not he could handle the anesthesia. Happy to report that he handled it just fine, and we’re glad to have him back, and have him available for cuddling and patting. He is no longer a smelly cone-head, and I am no longer wiping down his reverse lampshade collar every day with a Lysol wipe. Thank GOD. Blech.

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Let’s end this month with a flourish – we’re off to Disney World tomorrow. The Happiest Place on Earth, during The Busiest Week of The Year (a fact about which I was not aware). Could be our least favorite trip there, but somehow I think it’ll still be awesome. Happy Thanksgiving!

Seven Quick Verbs for the Weekend

1. Read: I can’t wait to do some reading this weekend. It is now 5 days before my next Book Club meeting, and I’m finally dialed into the book. (The Host, Stephanie Meyer.) And oh, man, do I want to read it A LOT this weekend. I’m going to have to carve out unique times for reading, though, because prime time is OUT. I fall asleep nearly immediately once my friend, A$$, meets my friend, Couch. Especially if their buddy, Afghan, comes over. Watch out. Yesterday I read for an hour and a half in the late afternoon, outdoors, while AJ played with our neighbor friend. It was heaven. (KT was still at school which, I’m sorry to say, makes a huge difference.) Maybe I’ll get up before the kids this weekend and make my coffee, and read for an hour. HA. I said maybe.

2. Sing: We sang the first of our Christmas music last night at choir. I’m supremely excited because 1.) I haven’t sung at a Midnight Mass in YEARS because we were either traveling or I was on a choir-break. This year, I’m IN choir, we’re staying HOME for Christmas. Win win! AND 2.) we have an excellent director who’s chosen some of my very favorites (Still, Still, Still – in English, not German, but …still (heh), it’s a great piece, and In the Bleak Mid-Winter, with a soprano solo that I WANT I WANT I WANT).

3. Hike: Did I mention I hiked yesterday? Am So Proud Of Self! The best news is the Cub Scouts have a “Go See It” planned for Sunday, at “my” mountain! Avec hike! I’m excited to share this family activity. Built-in exercise for the win!

4. Wash: Laundry, of course. I shamefully let a load sit in my dryer for 3 days this week. Just folded ‘em last night. I am a terrible laundress.

5. Choose: We’ve been saying we’re going to repaint the walls of our kitchen/living area. It’s been on the goal list forever. “This year,” I’ve said. “THIS YEAR we’re going to do it.” I had October in mind. ...Whoops. Anyway, tomorrow’s only got one planned activity at lunchtime – maybe we could at least go to the paint store and choose the colors. Bring home a test pint, or something. It’d be nice to have it done for Christmas.

6. Sleep. OBVS.

7. Charge: my iPod nano. I have to go down to the basement to plug it into my now old G3 iMac (or, wait, is it even an “i” Mac? Or just a plain ol’ Mac? I can’t keep up) because this iPod is synced there, instead of our family-room laptop. But I have some great music on there for the kids, and I can’t continue to listen to the Disney Halloween CD in the car every time they shout, “Halloween music!” October is PASSED. I’m ready for some new Tunes.

What’re you doing this weekend?

More Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

Monday, Accompli

Hiked today: 20 minutes. Yesssssssss. *fist pump*

Not Hiking, and Camping

I guess it’s sinuses. I woke up yesterday with a ridiculous headache, right behind my left eye. All morning I was worried it would devolve into a migraine. I don’t really know how migraines work, but I have had them thrice in my life, and it felt like yesterday was on a migraine trajectory -- even AFTER taking an Extra-Strength Tylenol Rapid Release Gelcap, which was recommended to me by my nurse friend. Four hours and several snotty Kleenexes later, I took a generic brand ibuprofen, and finally got some relief.

I’ve been having these “allergies” now for 3 weeks. I think they may not be allergies? Ahem. Sadly, they are also involving a good bit more asthma than I would like. Once, in my 20s, I was diagnosed with a very mild case of it. After it passed, I really haven’t had any “episodes” in a long time. Until lately. Nearly every night, when my 24-hour Claritin wears off, I’m having to medicate with the leftover Albuterol inhaler that was prescribed to AJ in 2005 (I know – I feel shame about using a probably expired, not prescribed to me, inhaler. But it helps).

Yesterday I made telephone calls. First to the insurance company to initiate the process of changing my primary care doc. Next to the new doc to see if they have any appointments this week. (They don’t.) Next up: Find a minute-clinic and see if I can get a proper Albuterol Rx.

It’s all very sad and tragic over here, isn’t it?!

So I didn’t hike. OBVS. Why would I have posted about it, without the express knowledge that some minor roadblock would certainly derail my plans?? That’s what ALWAYS seems to happen. It's like the universe Reads Blogs. However, my coworker and I did our 15-minute walking video, which helped clear my head, and then after putting the kids to bed I did my slated-for-Tuesday yoga. It also helped a bit. I will have to hike Thursday and Friday this week, but dangit, I am HIKING.

P.S. Camping went well. AJ is one of only 2 kids in his Den who braved the cold and received a Polar Bear patch – for those who camp overnight in less than 27-degree weather. (!!!) They were tired and smelled of campfire when they got home, but full of memories.

Hiking and Camping

Last week I made a Health Kick decision adjustment goal wish. It was based on the fact that my husband has been so successful this year, working out FAITHFULLY at least 3 days a week at his gym. He has, in 11 months, shaped up and done good things for his heart and his muscles, and I’m really, really proud of him. I want that kind of consistency for myself, SO BADLY. So I decided that I need to do things that I ENJOY, otherwise I won’t stick to them.

You know what I enjoy? Hiking. I mean, I haven’t ever done a LOT of hiking, but I’ve always preferred to take my walks on some sort of nature trail, rather than on the streets of my boring ol’ subdivision. And there’s a mountain right near here. I mean, RIGHT near – less than 7 minutes’ drive from work and home. So Monday, at my lunch break, I went to the mountain. I was wearing work clothes (not fancy ones, just khakis and a long-sleeved t-shirt) but I put on my walking shoes in the parking lot and began my trek. And it. Was. Awesome. Just adding an incline to my 20-minute walk boosted my energy and my heart so much! I was somehow surprised by that. I went very slowly, but the blood was pumping. And the view was lovely, of course, and it was a beautiful day.

So I put in my calendar to do this on Mondays and Fridays, at lunch. I don’t want to jinx it by declaring all the working out I’m going! To! Do! But… I’m planning for Tuesdays and Wednesdays to be yoga days after dinner, because the other thing I enjoy? Yoga. And it's not so strenuous. I should, in fact, think of it as RELAXING time. Thursdays = choir practice, which is a workout in itself. And one day of the weekend, I want to get up early and do a kickboxing video, because I liked kickboxing, too, back in the day. (I think my only video is a VHS, however. Hm. Might have to remedy that first.)

Anyway, hiking! Today!

The boys’ camping trip looms. Yesterday DH and I became Lifetime Members of REI during our lunch break. Ha! We are definitely not REI-types. But we needed to rent some Varsity-level sleeping bags for them, and that was the cheaper way to do it. Temps are predicted to be in the 20s where they’re going. It may snow. Ay-yi-yi. I’m praying for them to have fun and not be miserably chattering their teeth. I made sure to also buy thermal underwear and new gloves for AJ. They leave at 8 am tomorrow morning, and return on Sunday at noon.

Menu-Plan.. Tuesday

My darling husband did the shopping Sunday for me, based on this list. I love him so. Getting a break from my weekly Publix, as much as I do love Publix, was a very welcome gift.


Monday: Brinner! Breakfast for Dinner, for those of you who didn't watch Scrubs when it was funny. Pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs. *hallelujah chorus*


Tuesday: chicken nuggets (over salad for me). Corn or green beans on the side.


Wednesday: pizza and salad


Thursday: Chili, mmm. Served with saltines.


Friday: Crock-pot Buffalo Lasagna, courtesy of the Fabulous Stephanie O'Dea. Tried this recipe out a year ago (or more), and it was a hit.


Saturday: Who knows, because KT and I are having Girls' Night! Daddy and AJ will be on their 1st Cub Scout camping trip if all goes as planned, and I predict Beauty and the Beast will be on our TV while they're gone! Perhaps some nail polishing activities will take place. :)

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Anyone keep an Advent calendar? I like the idea of the pretty ones from Pottery Barn and C&B, with the little drawers, but what in the world do you put in the drawers, if not candy? I also want a way to make it Advent and not Christimas, i.e., relative to the Church season. I suppose I need to go online but thought I'd ask you smart people first.

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I volunteered to sing today at the noon Mass for All Souls' Day. Why did I do that? I don't have time to do that. I mean, I'm perfectly happy to tkae a 1.5-hour lunch, but ...sigh. Department of "Can't Say No."

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Another project on my list is to take a whole bunch of clothes to this kids' consignment place nearby. I SO want to do that, but it will involve a full day's worth of organizing and laundering first, I think. Argh. However: They pay cash and I have some CUTE stuff worth selling. These Difficult Economic Times... anyone else do consignment sales?