Wayfair Not Such Great Service

Now that I have touted Wayfair, I am pretty mad at them.  I decided that the table that had a small divot out of it, I would request a replacement piece when I requested the drawer bottoms (they were left out) for the coffee table.  Of course by this time, DH has worked hours putting these two pieces together.

Today I tested him to see whether the replacement parts have arrived yet.  It is not possible to track their delivery like it was for the original pieces of furniture.  So, I send an instant message to their website...nothing...email...nothing...then after an hour, they respond to a message I put on their Facebook messenger...they will send replacements, but they won't get there till mid September?!  I was so angry - over a month after I order...plus, we have to take the ones apart and put new pieces in. 
Geez.

Anyway, I am in just a horrible mood.  My tummy has been killing me.  I am going on about a month not enough rest, I will get my friends funeral over this weekend, then hopefully begin to get some relief in a busy, yet stable routine.  And even better, I think I will only work like this in the city for another 6 weeks.  I feel more than ever the need to be home.

Have a great weekend!

My heart goes out to those affected by the hurricane.  So sad. 

Down Day

Wednesday evening DH took our large SUV back to the city to sell.  His brother owns business in busy area.  It is parked out in front.  Plus, research shows a decent 4wd SUV no rust, gets higher price up there. 

Wed night I baked.  Thursday I drove with girlfriend to see our 2 good friends with cancer,  we had lunch and chatted.  Fun.  Stressful.  Plus it rained all day.   I was tired of driving,  esp in rain at night.

I got home 11pm to get my Christmas stuff ready to go up to city, see my aunts, granny, former coworker friend B and drive DH back home.  He golfed with his brother Thursday.  

I took pup with me both days.  It is heartbreaking seeing our 2 friends going thru this.   And their families.  Part of the sadness getting to point in life when you start losing contemporaries is seeing the sadness of your group of buddies suffering along besides us.

I had wonderful visit back hometown, then city Friday.  DH and I fell asleep front of TV early last night!

Today, yoga and TV.  Along with hot tea and few cookies.  Life is good. 

Coincidentally, wellness challenge day 13 is send encouraging text to 5 people.  Done.  Encouraged my aunt in her support of her sister and have texted more than 5 of my childhood friends in this cancer experience.   And just now texted my city neighbors and told them I was thinking of them...today one year ago the buried their daughter.

Hug your loves tight.  And if that's not possible,  let your memories comfort you.

Day 14, wake up early to pray.   Done.  Day 15...plan a smoothie or tea date with a friend.  We are going to eat with parents in law tomorrow.

P.S.  we got a text from BIL...SUV sold in 1 day!  Thank you Lord!

Being Scared, Days 26 & 27

We slept in late Monday after a windy cold 4 hour golf game on Sunday, followed by an evening Dexter binge session on NF.  Monday we just puttered around the house and checked in with family that had to drive back to blizzard Sunday in the city.  Temps in the 20's and about 6 inches of snow.  Stayed in the 30's here yesterday.

Today when I got up 27 but sunny.  I slept really good thanks to my 90 min power yoga last night, but as soon as I woke up my mind started...

Tomorrow we have to drive to the city.  DH has an appointment with an oncologist.  He told his mother the doctor was a hematologist.  Well, he is...but his specialty is oncology.

It is weird to have a worry like this and no work to escape to, distract me.  I do well to focus on a goal (getting through an 8-10 hour workday).  But just sitting here with it...well that is new to me.  Ironic that tomorrow we drive 4 hours to oncologist appt and it marks the exact 60th day of our retirement.  The 2 months have been amazing.  We have finished some projects, tweaked our house and set it up to serve our day to day life, continued to organize and purge, get ready for winter, enjoyed settling in to a daily routine, done some nice hikes and walks.  But we have relaxed a lot and we like it.  Perfect time to retire...fall.  Get our house situated, streamline and get ready to enjoy a long, slow, calm and quiet winter.  Now this.

DH is not letting on at all that he is worried.  He is actually like a little boy when he is hurting or sick usually, but he is very quiet on this.  He says he is not worried since it has been going on several years (red blood cell anemia).  That does not worry me by itself, but he is also having some kidney function tests that are abnormal (hyponatremia and creatinine) and that combined with the anemia scares me.

More later.  Please send positive energy if you don't pray, prayers if you do.  I am grateful for other's prayers and I am grateful for our 60 days.

Front Trim Paint Finished

Now we just have sides and rear.  But I am happy to report  we lived another day after doing some steep ladder and roof work.

I dread the south side.  Will post photos soon.

DH did 2 parts and I was so nervous.  At one point he shut me up, just told me to stop and he went on up the ladder, on to the roof.

I insisted after we got all the front finished, we rest and eat.  It was taxing for me and I know for him.  He has a bad back.

Fixed a yummy pasta dish with roasted eggplant I saw on Rachel Ray.  Just lounged and watched an old Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones movie called Blown Away.

Wed and Thurs rain...more pain Friday.

Happy Halloween to all of you out there!  We don't have Trick or Treeters...impossible when you have chihuahuas.

Our Last Monday

Before the Israelites arrived in the Promised Land, they spent decades wandering the desert. That’s where God cared for His people so much He provided manna in the morning and quail at night. (Exodus 16:12) But God only provided food six days of the week. Moses said, “Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none” (Exodus 16:26, ESV). And, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD … ’” (Exodus 16:23a).

Yesterday was a day of blissful rest.  We went to a friends to watch football.   We took a pizza.  My friend sent us home with enough pulled pork for 3 sandwiches!

Even last night I slept great.   But I sure am grouchy today.  Still fighting this site throat going on 3 weeks now.

But my thoughts this morning are on two things.  How God has always provided for me and how quickly time marches on, making me want to relish in gratitude this morning.  Even as we are counting down the days, we are still aware just how much grace in our lives we have received. 

So, even when I am grouchy.  I have to laugh because I know I need to reign in my inner 5 year old, when things don't go my way.  After all, I did not get bronchitis or even a sinus infection. 

When I read this post I paste above, I had to knock on wood mentally, because while I assume we will have good health the next 3 months (with more rest, relaxation, less stress, less eating out) I certainly could be wrong.  So it is with God's will, we have good health.  And my wish is for any of you who read this to also have good health.

We drove by our old neighborhood yesterday, our favorite neighbors had some mail for us that had not been forwarded.  We got to catch up with them real quick.  We just love these people to bits.  Then we lounged at home and talked about our plans this week.  We decided after dinner wed night we will do the bulk of our room pack up.  Which leaves me time to sleep in Friday, since Thursday is my last day at work. 

What are your plans for this week?

Update

I called 877 number set up by bankruptcy trustee and actually got a live person who was able to find my inlaws policies and update me on status!  After this going on for 9 years we have learned that both prepaid policies were acquired by a 3rd party insurance carrier and considered "paid in full".  Isn't that great news?  I could not wait to call my mother in law and let her know.  She was very happy. 

 

"Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake."
~Victor Hugo

 

I am staying in bed at hotel today.   Summer cold.  DH had it last week.   Oh well, our bodies tells us when to slow down.   Today is it.  At least we finally got a larger room!  We spent 2 hours moving down from 4th floor to 2nd, larger room.  We were very satisfied as we ate stir fry veggies last night.  The stove in this room works!

 

Have you ever stayed in extended stay?  What healthy meals can you make in small area?  Any ideas?

Put My Finger on Something

So I am reading a book about rituals (Getting Back to Happy by Marc and Angel Chernof) and realized that often when I dont want to do something I do it after work so I am more likely to do it, rather than do it on days I am home (weekends, holidays).  I will just have to schedule workouts and coffee with friends to get me out if the house.

I also realized I do few of these things...keep visual calendar,  chart money/savings,  and have photos of my house on my work computer).  I got off career track 12 years ago.  Now my job is a means to an end.  When it gets to me I look at photos of my husband,  my dogs, our bikes/trips and our house we have been working on 4 years.

We are getting lots of rest in this small hotel room, but we need it!  Today,  slept in then we are going to friends house to see their renovation work.  Have a wonderful Sunday!

Finally a Down Day

Have written this post 3 times, each time it did not save.  UGGGGHHH.  So this will be short.  DH hand surgery yesterday.  I got some errands done while he rested.  I went to bed early.  My better eating has really helped my tummy.  I feel great today.  Is already Thursday!  Have a great day everyone. 

Keep

Keep on Keeping on
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/?m=1
I am in awe of people who blog for more than a few months.  This is hard!  I am trying to do the A to Z challenge for April, and it sounded like a good idea at the time.  But I am a little stymied.  So, I will talk about something positive.  My theme is Righsizing (I prefer the term for my  own purposes than downsizing).  Rightsizing is moving  toward the type of home and lifestyle that allows me to pursue some peace and quiet and let's me get to know myself and my needs on a basic level.  I also want to experience some down time.  I have never been one to sit still.  I have never been good at being alone either.  I have been lucky enough to be happily married for several years now and love spending most of my time with my husband.  Although I am with him most of the time and want to be with him most of the time, i crave some solitude.  I also feel comfortable working on projects and being busy, but I am also tired.  I  crave some time where I do not have projects looming.  I guess I am looking for what most people seek - balance.    I had coffee with some friends after work (after I bought doggy pee pads and had flyers made for the house).  Then I went home, heated up some leftovers for DH, had some left over salmon that I baked the other day and I put my favorite soothing music on and washed my face and brushed my teeth and promptly went to bed at 8:30.  I only woke up briefly to take my ear buds out and then fell back asleep until time to get up to get ready for work.  I feel great today.  So, while I talk a lot of all the stuff I am doing to get ready to sell and move, purging, selling, giving, throwing away...one of the things I will keep are friends with coffee and thanks to texting, email, social media, blogging and podcasts...I can feel plugged in to real and virtual friends. 
How do you keep plugged in? 

Health

11/6/17
Health

Yesterday was my colonoscopy.  i have had about 12 in tge past 10 years.  I am having them about once per year.  But, at least I now have a good specialist that does not tell me there is nothing wrong or that I need to take Prozac.  Nothing against Prozac, but I am not depressed and an SSRI will not help my stomach stop hurting.  I did have a doctor (a specialist, mind you) tell me all these things.  The one who could not find anything wrong with me, found something wrong, but denied that it was a condition.  He told me I needed a food allergy work up.  So I did that and then no one could help me, except for the person he referred me to, for $800 out of pocket.  I never did pay the $800.  I do not disagree with the concept of an elimination diet, but I believe my issues need a holistic approach.  Good luck finding a specialist that signs off on that concept.  So, when I have had specialists who tell me nothing is wrong, or I need to take Prozac...I just stop going to them, keep going back to my primary for her referrals, and I keep trying elimination diets, supplements, getting rest, reducing stress, yoga and mediation, prayer and anything else I can think of!

Well, my latest specialist does seem to make me take a lot of tests, but she at least explains her reasoning and discusses strategy with me and listens to me.  And for that I am truly grateful.  However, this latest exam seems to have really set me off into a flare, unlike any other recents ones I can remember.  I just eat less, get more rest and try to stay positive.  I think this will pass too, the flares usu do.  Sometimes in a few days, sometimes in a few months.  Fortunately, I have been doing well enough that I have gained weight, so if I lose even quite a bunch of weight, it won't be a big deal. 

So, yesterday after my test it felt decadent to be off work on a Monday.  I had lunch with my maternal aunt's and we did a tiny bit of shopping...some of it in my house (do you want this?  do you want this?  do you want this?  hahahaha).  I am so lucky to have them.  I skipped yoga and went to bed early, today I am at work but feeling like I have been punched in the stomach by a prize fighter, but I am hanging in there.  Only 1 more hour to go.  Then I can go home early and my husband can have the leftovers from the food I fixed Sat downhome at RH. 

I hope everyone has a great week!
stomach, Prozac, specialists, exam, allergies, diet, rest, stress, holistic