Wholly crap the errors this morning!!! WTF!

Wow Mieke, you sure are a busy little bee! Cute outfit change! Thank you for pinging me to Elf's giveaway, too! <3

Always a busy little bee. :P But I DO say no to things, I swear!

Tonight is the marching band banquet, tomorrow is the elementary school concert, Lily is helping out, and E is selling FoM stuff.

Wednesday is play auditions, and a 4H business meeting and gift wrapping.

Thursday is arts and crafts and upcycling for 4h, and callbacks for the play. Saturday is the holiday tea at church, Lily is volunteering to help out, and Sunday Lily has to be at church to do the sound, and E has beekeeping for 4H in the afternoon.

But...it'll be fineeeee.

Then Tuesday is the chorus concert, Wednesday is Akiras band concert, Thursday is Lilys band concert, Friday is the foodshare, Saturday is storytime with Santa, and then Sunday is Tunkhannocks chorus concert. So. Looks like it's going to just be a busy month?!

Oh dear that is a lot going on. On one hand I miss it. On the other, I am happy to stay home and do my own nothing's.

oh wow. See if my brother didn't have a license I wouldn't let him near the car. So sorry buddy. No license, no way ... No Insurance, well as long as I have insurance it's ok but annoying if something happens. That's why I would let Shane use my car. He does have a license even if he isn't covered ony insurance. Annnddd, I agree he needs to be helping clean and cook too. Something else to speak up about, hard as it is..... I make Nathan help with dishes and clean his bathroom and bedroom. He is supposed to alternate dishes with cleaning the living room but that doesn't really get too dirty so if he doesn't I ignore it mostly. I shouldn't I know. But I just vacuum and clean on my week and call it done. If it does get bad when it's his week I do call him out to do something about it. He also takes the trash out and feeds the dogs nightly (well supposed to. Trash doesn't always go out nightly). Silly to compare an adult to my teen but maybe it will help you decide what type of chores you want your brother to help with while he is there.

Gingerbread themed things this week at school. Cute and fun. Sending home a template for the kids/families to decorate and then we will hang on the bulletin board. Can't wait to see them. I also put art stuff to make wreaths (paper plates and red/green squares of paper) and Santa/elf (squares, triangles, small circles, googly eyes etc) and some of the kids have made them, sooooo cute!

Kat, have you done the handprint wreaths with them? They're so cute!

I'm trying to find some cute (but cheap!) things for Santa to bring the kids at the library. Not having any luck on-line, but maybe in store?!

Annnnd... the other car is broken now, too :P All that's left is Alex's truck.. but! He thinks it's the wheel bearing, which isn't so bad. Only $100, and easy enough to change out. So.. hopefully! He'll look today when he gets home... even though it's raining.

But last night we took the truck, we went to go do the drive through Christmas lights. It's my favorite! This year they added a bunch of new things too.. it's just so neat.

Annnnd.. Lily got Outstanding Freshman at the marching band banquet!

We haven't. I might do that with my own classroom...but my lead teacher doesn't plan well (in my opinion) and that would need to be planned to have time to do with them. I am a much more artsy person than she is I think so i like more activities like that even tho they are messy and crazy. But to me, that makes more sense than rolling a die and coloring a picture with the number on it (I get it, it's number recognition but it's boring to me and a lot of the time, to the kids). I mean, like adapt! I could do the wreath and have them count their handprints and write the number or find the number on a card or something instead. Why just a boring color sheet? And this is from a person who loves to color.

Sooo in keeping with my crap theme I just got word from my daughter last night that the chances are high the hospital will be asking her to do another 3mth extension. I don't even want to mention that to my brother but how in the hell can you just keep on comfortably living on an uncomfortable couch?! (I hate my couch. B/c the 2 ends can recline, the sections are VERY prominent, not to mention the firmness has left a long time ago and I just purchased it from a rent a center 2yrs ago.)

Well hey, he purchased some t-bone porterhouse steaks and managed to cook the entire meal by himself last night - FOR ONCE! Must be nice to purchase expensive steaks when you're not paying for anything else.....

Man I'm so bummed. She IS going to fly up for a week in January for a few days. I know part of the reason she wants to be extended is b/c she found herself a good guy (finally), not to mention that people down there are MUCH nicer than our state (OH).

Anywho, here's a pic of how I decorated my faux window frame that I made last year.

The wreath was pretty plain and I just decorated it some more. Think I used the bow that's hanging down next to the big gold bell as a loop to hold it on the frame but I used a tie this time and I'm not sure what I want to do w/ that piece.

Bro wants to do some laundry tonight (I don't have a washer/dryer at my house) so I'm thinking I'll have a talk with him, then.
Meh... I'm still trying to process the thought that my daughter might chose to move in w/ this little doctor in training. At least she found a good guy for once. I just hate that the closest to my heart child might choose to live so far away.

Oh ugh? He doesn't even have a bed there and he still chooses to sleep at your place? Does he have a bed at his place? Shane tried sleeping on the couch (mine is like yours inexpensive, recliners on both ends but still in really nice condition cushion wise, from farmers furniture), and I told him I prefer him to sleep in the bedroom and I'm sorry if the twin bed is not comfortable. He can buy himself a better mattress or mattress pad if he wants but I just can't do the sleeping on the couch because I am up at 5-6 am and want to be able to turn on lights, let the dog outside, etc w/o worrying I'll wake him.

I feel you on that daughter pain. I miss mine too and she's only a few hours away. She claims she wants to move somewhere up north, in the cold. So she can have a husky 🙄 I would miss her even more if she did that. The wreath/faux window is very pretty!!

And congrats to Lily !! ☺️ Ugh for the cars tho. Hope you get it fixed soon.

Seems like I'm absolute shit at reading stuff b/c I wasn't sure what you were referring to, Kat, about Mieke and Lil. I tend to skim.............. don't hate me. I admit. Hell, I wouldn't blame anyone for skimming over my shit b/c it's been the same drama for MONTHS... all b/c I can't have a conversation.

Well, let me expand on that. Conversation or not, the issue is that he doesn't have a car and his millenial friend that was picking him up and dropping him off basically tried to make his own schedule, to which he was fired for. So he became reliant on my car for transportation and has gotten caught up on his bills but what is he gonna do if I say, hey you need to get the F out by the end of the month, regardless of whether or not you have transportation? Everything that he just achieved will be for naught. That's the biggest stop sign in my face that keeps me from having these conversations - other than the bills. It's been my "hope" that he's been saving up for a car, but that is definitely s/thing I can ask about without complaint.

Hummm derrrrr my shit reads like a saga, lol. As much as I would like to just "have a conversation" with him about getting a life outside my house, the obvious dilemmas remain. I was in a similar situation not so long ago when I didn't have a car for a year and due to the lack of public transportation around here, I don't know what I would've done if I was required to go into the office as much as I did prior to the scamdemic outside of using my bike to do a 30 mile round trip everyday or spending more than I pay for my car on Uber/Lyft.

So yeah.. initial thoughts of "tell him this or that" aren't very conducive to "teaching him how to fish" if he doesn't haven a fishing pole.

[edit] Forgot to add - And yes Kat, I have spare bedrooms but not a spare bed. Used to have a futon to use but the base of it broke and I don't have the extra money for even that. Buying beds, mattresses aside, is too expensive outside of what you need for your kids so that's all I ever bought and I had to do it once when I was divorced and only bought myself a cheap foam mattress once in those years so that my youngest had her own bed. (When I got divorced 15yrs ago they had bunk beds, which I got them twin beds after we moved, got another mattress for my oldest and when she moved out, got the new foam for my bed and gave my youngest my old bed.)

Yea...not having a car of his own can be a huge deterrent on getting to work :( Even to simply having a job. Hopefully he HAS been saving to fix a car or get one. If not, he NEEDS to start NOW because he cannot stay reliant on other people forever. (Just like I tell Shane, and yet. sigh. His situation is a little different as he drives for a living and doesn't have another home to go to except mine, and no real place to even park a car if he does get one except my house or a work location which isn't very close to home either).

I hear yah. Beds aren't cheap. Thats why I told Shane if he wanted a different mattress other than the old twin, he had to get it himself. I am not paying for another bed in this house at this moment in time. Eventually I WOULD like to have a "spare" bed for when Katie/Wesley come visit, and a proper bed for Shane as well, but its NOT in my budget ATM! :P I don't even have an actual bed - just the metal leg frames and mattresses - for anyone but me. I have a bed - a sleigh bed. Have had it for yeeeeaaaars tho. I really like it however :)

Skimming is all we sometimes have time for ;) I over looked it myself at first which is why i went back and added the comment lol Plus I had seen it on facebook and "thumbsup" it already there, so I guess I glossed over, but figured I ought to say something too :P

How close is his place to where he works (Does he still have another place besides your place?) It almost seems as if you are having to be "mama" to this grown man and teach him how to deal with life. To be fair, it is a hard lesson to learn and then re-learn as things change in your life. I feel I am relearning a lot of things right now in my situation. Its great that he's caught up on his bills. (Something Shane is still struggling with, stupid him got a credit card even tho we've warned him NOT to unless he pays it off in full every time he uses it, but noooo) and it doesn't help he's an idiot who somehow let his now EX girlfriend have access to his payroll card, so (we think) she has been spending his $ the past two weeks which screws him on paying his bills/buying groceries. He ordered a new payroll card and hopefully won't let any NEW girlfriends access to his card. (AGAIN, all I can say is IDIOT... you think he would have learned this lesson long ago, do not let ANYONE have access to YOUR money especially not just a girl friend. be different he was married/living together and the one time he lived together with a girl that didn't end well anyway).

I just had to remove my "spouse" from my electric. I had no idea he was actually ON the application, I swear it was all in just my name with him authorized to talk to people/make payments etc. But apparently his name was on the application too? So I removed him, they said they will send a new application for me to fill out so it is in MY name only, and hopefully (haha this is what prompted this) future capital gains return checks will come only to my name. (Not that I care or he cares, our checks usually are less than $50 when we get them, this one is only $8. lol) But its a pain to have to get together to cash a check like that. (Supposedly sent the email already but I didn't get one yet? she verified my email, so I dunno...) I also changed the pest control over to my debit card instead of his because I was tired of him bitching that he paid it and I allowed Nathan to have food/drink in the game room/bed room and he shouldnt. Ok well dude I have decided that is a battle I'm not fighting anymore, Nathan can have snacks and drinks and he has a trash can. And if he doesn't USE the trash can then we will revisit that battle. So now he can't say anything because 1. You don't live here anymore, and 2. I am now paying the pest control. Go away dude.

OK phew. On a better brighter note (I suppose anyway) its almost time for me to go to "Christmas Dinner" with the faculty at school. Yay? I get to drive 30mins to a nice little restaurant and have a free meal. Then drive home.

Ooo I hate that. I made that mistake ONCE by putting an ex boyfriends name on my bank account. Thankfully, he was "nice" enough to give the $100 he took back to me. I closed the account immediately b/c they wouldn't let me take his name off of it unless he was there.

Yeah, he's got his own house that was given to him when our dad passed. He's done jackshit to take care of it which has really left a dark, angry, festering wound on my heart thinking how dad would feel if he could see what a failure his son has been. Right now, nothing is turned on as he let the electric and water go without paying for a looong time so I know he's caught up on the electric but I am only mostly sure that the water is paid off. He said he's looking for a car so that gives me indication that he's saving up for one.

Man I'm tired... and hungry... this morning. lol Free food sounds awesome and hopefully it was complimented by good company.

Agree on what you said - you don't live here anymore so stfu. :P

I've got all the holiday price changes to do (work) so that's going to keep me busy for awhile, even after I'm done so I can check, recheck and check again since this is a manual process and it affects over 2600 stores across the country. This honestly shouldn't be a manual process just b/c of how easy it is to make a mistake.
Think I'll make some food first.

How was your dinner, Kat?

morning guys!

I'm buying lumi gifts this morning. I started last night, but I'd like to finish, so I know I got everyone.

... I HOPE I got everyone, anyway!

It's hard, because so many of my friends haven't logged in in years or many many months.

Dinner was nice. I did have some good company at my table. A Kindergarten teacher, her husband, and the behavior specialist and her husband. The food was good. I got the meatloaf because I haven't had that in forever. I burped up some food and almost choked due to that but was ok after. The drive was horrible. It has been horribly foggy in the mornings and nights this week. Very hard to see and I already hate driving in the dark.

I feel you on the who to gift on here . Never know which friends are around and some are here but never talk so then you aren't sure if they really are here...and I don't want to "waste" gifts on those who aren't active, if you know what I mean?! (It's those who have the hidden status that are hardest!)

well so he has a house (I thought so but wasn't sure) but no power or water. That's not so good in the winter either. But I guess you guys will figure out what you feel comfortable with him doing, at least while your daughter is up. Hopefully soon he will be able to get a car, and power/water back at his house and won't be so reliant on you. Especially if he isn't spending his $ and is saving. Shane is horrible at saving. (Ooooh Shiny! me want!!!! Buy buy buy). And the ex girl is claiming she isn't the one spending on his payroll card. But who else could it be? It's not him and it's not the type of purchases you'd expect from a "hacked" or stolen card.

Home life has now some what calmed down. We had a carpet layer come and have a chat as we want new carpet on the stairs and hall. This is booked in fir the new year together with loads of other stuff.

Tree is up, as are the Christmas hanging baskets and Christmas wreath are up. Finally made a £500 Amazon order yesterday. Most of which has just arrived. Ian’s main present is an Optimus Prime Lego.

Working from home tomorrow and then I have Friday off work as annual leave. I’m doing lunch with my friend Amanda then Ian and I are away for a long weekend, going to a haunted museum, an art gallery, Christmas market, good food, some festive alcoholic drinks. And maybe a couple of cocktails.Then hopefully I can finish Christmas shopping. I need to get more for dad as at present he only has some metal puzzles and a deodorant set, he’s so hard to buy for.

Speaking of dad he suggested going to the pub Christmas Eve like we did last year. He had a great time, however he made me feel uncomfortable as I felt as though I couldnt be myself, I had to watch what I said as he’s a judgmental father and I had a crap time. So I told him that we have no plans Christmas Eve as none of our friends are out. Which is kinda true. Most of them aren’t out. However Ian and I will be out with the friends who are around?

Am I being a bitch about lying to my dad? I just can’t have another Christmas Eve like last year.

First off Luce.. I'm totes jealous of that double income no kids life you're living!

I can't wait to see pictures of your house after everything is done, it sounds like it's going to be amazing!

Second of all.. no, I don't think that's too bitchy. Especially if you're spending Christmas day with him. You guys ARE adults, and deserve to have traditions and fun on your own, too.

yeah we’re loving life at the moment. However love everything you’ve all been doing as a family.

Pictures will be Up on Facebook when it’s done. I think most of next year we have a lot going on in the house.

I know dads side of the family will see it that way. He’s one of 13 and how many have seen him since the op? None of them. I said he can spend time with them and then come to us Christmas Day. Guess we will see what happens.

Finally some of the expensive items that I’ve been trying to sell since the start of year are slowly selling.

Sounds like you've got a lot of good things going on, Luce. I think you're totally in the right for not wanting to be around a judgy person, blood related or not. Absolutely no reason to have a miserable time when it's not necessary (like it ever is).

Mieke I'm sorry, I totally forgot to say that I loved the pic you posted and YAY for Lil! I think I missed that post entirely for some reason. I know what you and Kat mean about throwing stuff under trees when you don't even know if they're around. I don't have a big list but there's a few that I wasn't sure on but since they're from a cult I was previously in, I can just ask the group lead, as she's still one of my friends, if she's seen or heard from them lately.

I hate when that happens, Kat. (the cough/choking on food) I hate when people ask you if you're ok and expect an answer when all you're trying to do is cough up whatever fell into your lung, lol.

- no hun! You should be able to have a good time too. Its just too bad that you weren't able to have a good time with your dad. It did sound like he had a good time with you though :( To me, the main thing is spending some time with him if you can. It doesn't have to be out somewhere in public and if you'd rather do that with your friends, thats ok! and I agree w/ for being jealous of all the activities you get to do with your double income/no kids lol Not that I would give up my kids or my job, I love them, but it would be so nice to be able to go and do more things I want to do (aaah one day maybe if I can ever afford it). - even if it is as basic as new carpet!! I TOTALLY need that too! Oh well.

Hahah yea, the kinder teacher was asking if I was ok and all I could do was nod. I was ok, I just had to swallow back down the food or spit it out all gross so I was trying to swallow it back down. So much fun. Not.

I've only done part of my gifting on here....will do some more this weekend.

Just finished my Bio Lab exam 2. SO thats that class done now. I feel I did pretty good on it, probably not a 100, but I should get a 90-something I think. Some of the questions were "write your own response" and I totally hate that, but I feel I did ok explaining what I was supposed to. (Now if I only I was explaining the RIGHT processes?? LOL I think I did.) Now to decide if I want to do Exam 4 in Bio on chapter 11/12 or skip it since I do not HAVE to do it. I have to get a 90 or above to improve my grade tho. If I get lower than a 90 my grade lowers. My current grade is a 94 in class. (and, I'm leery as my exam scores have gone DOWN each exam...but they were over more chapters, not just 2 chapters - the first exam which was only 2 chapters I got a 92 on). I still have to do the final exam in there, it doesn't open until the 11th. I have until the 10th to do exam 4.

When's your next school break, Kat?

I'm being a snail this year when it comes to gifting. Over the last few months I tend to snag things along the way and stuff them in my vault but then I have to go back and look at each item to see who wanted it and if it's still on their WL, lol. Ehh, I've got time.
I'm going for more practical gifts for my grandkids and daughters, too. Usable stuff like blankets, slippers and cool room lights for the young ones. That also takes time to think on and decide if it's the right option/choice so I've only got half done right now. I always was a last minute type. :P

El was home the last two days, today is Lily. But I don't think she's sick.. just heartsick. She and her boyfriend broke up yesterday (thank GOD), and then he showed up at auditions last night.

IDK, she's just a mess. Sometimes, a mental health day is needed... though I just told the school that she was sick too, because.. com'n.

Kat, that's awesome, congrats!

Ugh Taarna, I have some more IRL presents to wrap too.. but my children are never going to be all back at school, I feel like!

Wish we had mental health days as an adult. As sometimes my bipolar makes certain days hard.

Out of office is on. I know it’s only a three day weekend. But no work. YAY!!