Monday, January 18, 2016

Productive Monday

It was another grey, overcast day, today, with a bit of drizzle in the afternoon.  But, I've had a good day overall.  
Daughter left today, to go back to university.  My neighbor's daughter picked her up and took her to the airport as neighbor didn't want me to drive.  When I called neighbor to thank her, she said to let her know anytime daughter needed a ride to or from the airport (not very far from where we live - a 10 minute drive).   Daughter made it back to Berkeley safely, although her flight was delayed a bit.  She says she is already missing not having a car!  LOL.  She got used to being able to drive herself places when she was here, this winter break.
Neighbor had sent me some rice for my dinner, last night, and, since I liked it, she sent me more today - it was rice pilaf, cooked with ground beef, bell peppers, onions, carrots, etc.  I added some corn to it, as well, because I love corn and had that for my lunch.  There's enough rice for at least one, if not two, more meals!  

Later, in the afternoon, I went to the lab for my blood test.  Came home and played online a bit.  Then, I vacuumed - did the living/dining area, kitchen and hallway.  Decided that was enough for today - will do the family room tomorrow and bedrooms another day.  Also emptied all the waste baskets and took the trash and recycling out.  Trash cans were taken to the curb for pick up tomorrow.  I polished two pieces of brass wall decor (using my favorite homemade brass cleaner - lemon juice and salt) and even dealt with a small pile of papers!  Later in the evening, I did the dishes and a load of laundry!
I feel very virtuous and productive! :D  I can get quite a bit done when I am up to it.  It's those days when I'm lacking energy that leaves me feeling unproductive and wasting the day away.  I just need to learn to take things in stride and realize that there will be more such days, but they will be followed by productive days a bit further on.

Now that daughter is back in Berkeley, we are spending our evenings video chatting with each other.  It's almost like being in the same room, together.

I've been blessed to reconnect with a couple of long-time friends in the past two days!  Yesterday, I had an email from a friend from my childhood - we had been friends since elementary school days and were best friends as teenagers.  We kept up a steady correspondence for several years after I left the country of my birth, but over the years, it has become more sporadic.  It's been a few years since I last heard from this friend, but yesterday, there it was - an email from her and it felt good to reconnect again.  Then, today, I had another email from another long-time friend (although not as long-time as the other friend).  Again, it felt so nice to reconnect and catch up with each others news.    Maintaining long distance friendships take a real commitment to keeping in regular contact, and sometimes that is difficult, but it has its rewards.    

Today, I am grateful for:

- A productive day
- Daughter having a safe flight back
- Neighbor's daughter giving her a ride to the airport
- Neighbor sending over more rice
- Reconnecting with long-time friends

Tomorrow, I have a hydration appointment.  It is scheduled for 9:00 a.m.  My cousin and her daughter will take me; we'll leave at 7:30 a.m. and hopefully, I'll be done by noon so we can get home by 1:00 p.m. or so.

While I don't want to overdo things and tire myself out, I feel motivated enough to make a To Do list for tomorrow:

- Hydration in the a.m.
- Vacuum the family room in the p.m.
- Put the family room furniture back in place (after rearranging to accommodate Christmas tree)
- Bring trash cans in
- Put away dried laundry
- Do another load (I'm washing the quilts and blankets daughter used on winter break)
- Maybe deal with another small pile of papers?


How was your Monday?  Did you have a productive day?  Do you have a to do list for tomorrow?

10 comments:

  1. Sounds like you had a good, productive day. Glad daughter arrived safely.

    Monday was good. Today involves cleaning as much as possible. There is supposed to be a lady coming by tomorrow to sign all the paperwork for the closing/refinancing. My house is not ready for company! The living room just needs a little tidying up, I got most of the dining room done, still need to get the kitchen and bathroom presentable. I kind of doubt she'll show tomorrow as they are giving up to 3 inches of snow with ice on top of that, but I want it ready in case.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's great that you are signing the paperwork on the refinancing. I'm sure you'll have the place tidied up before the lady arrives. If not, well, she knows you have a little boy, doesn't she? There are better things than cleaning to do when you have an active little one to tend to.

      Delete
  2. I'm sorry your daughter had to go back- I know how much you enjoy having her home. It's really nice that you can video chat with her. Sometimes techno can be a real blessing. :)
    That was nice of your neighbor to give you the rice. It's wonderful to have neighbors like that.
    I'm glad you are feeling well and able to feel good about all you have gotten done. I'm also glad that you seem to know when to take it easy and get some rest in. You are a wise woman. :)
    My Monday was productive. Today I have an easy day of routine household chores and taking my daughter to the library. My husband dud not have to work today so he decided to do some "hunting and gathering" by going ice fishing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he catches something.
    Hope you have a nice day today, Bless! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Dawn. Ooh, ice fishing! I remember seeing people do that when I was in Wisconsin! Hope he gets a good catch!

      Apparently, neighbor had sent a piece of chicken, too, with the rice she sent yesterday! I didn't realize until I opened up the container, today! So, I called her again, to thank her and now, she's going to send me soup, tonight! My daughter had told her that I have a poor appetite these days and neighbor is determined to feed me up! I am truly blessed.

      Hope you have a fun time at the library with your daughter. Tell her I am proud of her for being such a good reader. I miss the weekly library trips I used to do with my daughter - she had her own card by the time she was 5 years old. :)

      Delete
  3. I'm really glad you feel positive. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sybil. On my good days, I know I can take on the world! It's on the down days, after chemo, that I feel like a wet mop.

      Delete
  4. Bless, so happy you are having a good day.. And accomplished so much..
    Know you are missing daughter,So hard when Our children go off to college/get married,etc. But video chatting was a wonderful invention..
    I am really happy that your cousin is taking you for the hydration.. Lovely to have such good helping family. A blessing for sure.
    The rice dish sounds so good, I think you have made me to decide to do a rice casserole tonight.ha
    Have a blessed day. and know I am praying for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Judy. I am truly blessed when it comes to family and friends. Everyone is being so kind and helpful. Yes, the dish neighbor sent is a lot like a rice casserole. I make one with cream of mushroom or celery soup, ground beef, bell peppers, etc. Today, she said she's sending me soup for dinner!

      Hope you are having a lovely day, too.

      Delete
  5. What a great day you're having and good that you're doing things in baby steps. Please be careful with furniture moving ... Maybe get your neighbor to help you. Am sure that when you're feeling well, it has to be difficult not to overdo. :). Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My pleasure, Carolyn; I love all your creative ideas! I'm being careful not to overdo, I promise!

      Delete

Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting. Your comments are much appreciated. Please comment in English. Thank you.