Week in W's-Nearing a Pause

     

hat's up with you all this dreary Friday morning? As I enjoyed challenging myself last year to post for a month on all things winter, holiday, and Christmas under a sort of Blogmas umbrella, I think I'll be pausing on wrapping up my week in W's. It might have run its course anyway, since I've been doing this for over a year now. As you read this, do you have any thoughts? Is it at all interesting to capture current events, even if just the current events in my life, in this manner? I'll keep thinking, Until then, I still have  a few more Fridays in November, so here is my week in W's. 

What's top of mind:  I sound like a broken record and it's still a long way off, but top of mind is DH's retirement. I keep thinking we might be able to knock a few more months off of it if I am frugal enough. Why is it top of mind again this week?  He took two days off, Monday and Tuesday, following his normal Sunday off. Having three days off in a row wasn't even like vacation time, but was spent just taking care of life stuff and trying to get a little down time. Monday morning though, he got called by a customer that had been in the previous Friday for a truck, and felt obligated on a couple fronts to go in. One, it was a long term guy who has purchased several vehicles, and second, had he not gone in, he would have had to split the commission with one of the two lazy sales staff, that show up  late virtually every day, and call in sick at least once per week. It was a lucrative deal so I don't blame him. 

Then on Tuesday, he intended to take care of something on the boat at the lake in the morning, but ended up stuck there all day due to a power company issue. A neighbor is building a garage and loft, and  they shut the power off on the entire side of the lake. Well, this caused several things to go offline, and because it was a power company direct action, not a tripped fuse or circuit, the alert DH would have normally received wasn't sent automatically as programmed. It was pure luck that he was there because the  furnace needed to be manually started. With no one planning on being there for a few weeks, what a mess that could have been if we got a stretch of cold weather and the pipes froze? Another mess if DH hadn't been there would have been the refrigerators, which both have meat in the freezers left from summer. This is normal life stuff that comes up, but it took his entire day as he wanted to make sure when they shut the power off again, our furnace would start. He let his siblings and mom know, made sure to say it was handled, but of course his mom was still upset so he had to deal with making sure she was calmed down. Even his  vacation days get sucked away. I have no doubt that when he retires, he will not be bored.

Where I've been: Besides  sisters day, I've popped into  the store for a chicken deal as they were sold out earlier when DH stopped, and I went to Trivia. We were a small group, but as I hadn't been there for many weeks, it was nice to play again. We kept our regular place as "participants" not "placers."

Where I'm going: In my post Tuesday, I made mention to say yes and plan and do the things that keep us connected.  My SIL, DH's brothers wife, the favorite DIL of his moms (I'm not kidding and it's quite apparent-even his sister has made comments that her own mom likes this DIL better than her), texted both DH's sister and I that she and our MIL were making lefse on Saturday and would we like to join. Now, my daughter has helped her grandma, and I think my niece might have once before as well, but I've never been invited. My first thought was a bit pissy, but then I thought about it and realized other times they've made it has been on weekdays, and I wouldn't have been able to join likely anyway. I seriously doubt there was any intended slight, and I chose to take it in the spirit of being part of continuing traditions. I know my MIL is slowly backing off things she used to do due to arthritis in hands, and trouble standing for more than a few minutes, and wants others to keep some traditions. Long way to get to where I am going, but the answer is to my SIL's to make lefse.

What I'm reading: I am backed up on reading the Real SImple magazines I got-both October and November were sitting this week. I finally sat down with a cup of tea and did a cover to cover read of both. Magazine reading, if you actually read the articles counts as reading, right?

What I'm listening to: Mostly in the background to cooking,cleaning, or blogging again is fall YouTube videos. I've been really listening to  those with Dollar Tree, Trader Joe's, Target, and Aldi hauls. Man, some people buy a lot of crap! 

What I've been watching:  I got caught up this week on past  episodes of Holby City and Casualty. What I don't understand is if they are the same hospital, how come there is never references to huge things that happen in one or the other shows? I get that in a huge hospital, the doctors, nurses, and other staff may not intersect at all, but we're talking  human trafficking scandals, bombs, and active shooters and nothing between the shows is mentioned on the other. I watch these on Brit Box, so if  you don't subscribe or are not a UK reader, I'm likely talking nonsense, just like the writing has become on these two shows.

What I'm eating: Soup! I couldn't hold off any longer and  after making the big batch of pasta fagiole, the cheap chicken deal and a bag of Trader Joe Tortellini called for me to make chicken tortellini soup. DH and I had for supper last night and was it ever good. 

I've also been munching on these mini-cucumbers with either hummus, or ranch dressing. I also bought some pears that were not ripe when I bought, but have ripened since. While they are OK, I'm disappointed that they weren't more flavorful and actually a bit woody. I try and do good with my snacking, but I just don't have these issues with potato chips. 

Who I'm paying attention to: My family is who I am paying attention to right now. There is a lot of issues with a couple extended family members and it is sad to hear of the same negative actions over and over, with the same and new negative consequences. 

Who needs to be (figuratively) slapped: No, I will not give to the RNC to support the legacy of the former ass in chief, so stop calling! How the heck do I keep getting on more and more lists when I keep requesting  to be on Do Not Call lists? And how would the RNC have our house on their list and specifically my name? This is to our home phone, which is a cell phone line connection and the bill is not even in my name. I'll slap them 10 times for harassment!  To be fair, I'm sure the DNC has crossed wires with  people on the opposite of their political spectrum as well. They can take a slap as well. 

What's Making Me Smile:  Its cold and chilly as I type this, and someone is right on my feet. He'll move to the bed in a bit I'm sure, if I stay in here much longer, but he'll be disappointed to be disrupted when I leave the room. He'll be happy to have me back on my regular work schedule. 

Only one rug-the other is my dog. 

     Speaking of getting back to a normal schedule, this is my last vacation day off other than weekends, for quite a while. I do have a flex day coming up on December 3rd, and a four day holiday weekend for Thanksgiving. With daylight savings, it will be dark long before I end my work day so I'll need to coordinate getting pup for a walk whenever possible while it is still light out. Mostly, this time of year will have me donning my head lamp again which is much easier than carrying a flashlight. If you want to play along, pop a comment on any of the W's of your week. I'm always curious who needs to be slapped.