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?