One Week Later

Today is Labor Day and a holiday for us.  So, a long weekend and, for many, the unofficial end of summer as schools start (if they haven't already started), etc. 

A week ago, today, I had my last radiation treatment and was seen by the radiation oncologist.  Has it really been a week, already?

I have spent the week relaxing a bit (I had taken Tuesday and Wednesday off from work), working a bit (on Thursday and Friday), writing out my September goals for a balanced life, taking an inventory of my pantry and organizing those shelves a bit, doing a bit of cooking, socializing a bit, and trying to do some housework.

On Tuesday, I woke up with a headache that stayed with me for the better part of the day, so I mostly relaxed and rested.

On Wednesday, too, although the headache was gone, I relaxed and rested.  So, the Leisure segment of my balanced life goals have been plumped.

On Thursday, there was an email from the office, stating that new projects were coming in and asking for volunteers to work on the projects; if no one volunteered, the projects would be randomly assigned.  So I emailed my supervisor with a list of my currently assigned projects and their status and said I was available for any new projects as she saw fit.  At the time of my email, I was waiting for other people to send me additional information or revised documents on three of my projects so those projects were "on hold".  I must have jinxed myself by saying I was available to take on another project, because, by the end of the day on Thursday, the information/revised documents I was waiting for on two of those projects had come in!  LOL.  Fortunately, my supervisor was aware of the fact (she was copied on the emails accompanying the information and documents).  So, on Friday, she simply said I was to continue working on the projects I already had and she'll ask for my assistance, if needed, on one additional project.

I had also discussed the possible date of my return to the office, with my supervisor, telling her when my upcoming medical appointments were scheduled, etc., and when I thought I should be able to come back to the office (mid-September).  My supervisor assured me that there was no urgency to return to the office, to take my time and recover and continue to work from home for as long as I needed to.  Apparently, I am the only one who is pressuring myself to return to the office!  So now, I am thinking of returning to the office towards the end of September/beginning of October, maybe.

So that's the career segment of my balanced life goals, all taken care of for the week.

On Friday, I did more office work, did my pantry inventory, and made coconut flat bread.  My gardener friend tidied my garden for me.

On Saturday, I cleaned the living room and dining area (Environment segment of my balanced life goals, plumped up).  Saturday evening, one of my aunts phoned to say she and my cousin wanted to drop in for a visit and I said, yes, of course.  Aunt said not to worry about dinner, but I said it was no bother, I'll cook a little rice as I had curries in the freezer.  So, I put some rice to boil and warmed up a packet of chicken curry, a packet of cashew curry, and a packet of sauted spinach and we all enjoyed dinner.  I sent the leftovers home with them, to give my cousin a break from having to cook.  They brought me gifts of tea, some Sri Lankan sweets, some cheese, and a T-shirt for my daughter. With their visit, the family segment of my balanced life goals was plumped, nicely.   Plus, there were phone calls from another cousin and another aunt, during the week.

On Sunday (yesterday), I spoke on the phone with my neighbor who called, and later, attended the monthly prayer gathering.   I got a ride to the prayer gathering and back with one of my cousins and her daughter and we picked up one of our aunts as well, and I met members of the extended family and several close friends.  I enjoyed the lunch that had been prepared and said so to the aunt who was hosting the gathering.  She immediately insisted that I served myself a plate of food to bring home.  She knew me well enough (I am usually shy about serving myself food to bring home with me) to tell her daughter, too, who called me into the kitchen and gave me paper plates and foil.  So, I served myself a plate of food to bring home.  Often, someone else's cooking tastes better than your own. 

We left to go to the prayer gathering around 1 o'clock and got home around 7 o'clock.  The drive to the prayer gathering took almost two hours and the drive back took about an hour and a half.  Although I didn't do the driving (my cousin's daughter drove) and enjoyed the prayer gathering, I felt tired after I came home and took a 3-hour nap!  As a result, I didn't clean the family room as planned.  But the prayer gathering plumped my spiritual, family, and friends segments of my balanced life goals.

Oh, and I will be hosting the October prayer meeting, scheduled for mid-October.  My daughter will fly down to help me.  

Today has been a quiet, but productive day.  I did a load of laundry and started cleaning the kitchen.  I had intended to clean both the family room and the kitchen, today, but decided to start with the kitchen.  The family room isn't in too bad a state and I didn't want to be a day behind with my new cleaning schedule for the rest of the week!

Although I had intended to do a "quick clean" of clearing and wiping the counters and the stove top and hood, etc., once I got started, it became obvious to me that some deep cleaning was also needed.  The stove top gets wiped almost daily, but I don't know when was the last time someone lifted up the burner covers and cleaned underneath!  Or moved the microwave to wipe the counter under it, etc.  So, I did several sessions in the kitchen (had to rest and do other things in between) and cleared and wiped the counters, cleaned the stove hood and scrubbed under the burners, moved the microwave and toaster to clean the counter space under them, wiped the cabinet doors (upper and lower) and drawer fronts, the fridge/freezer doors, etc.  My cabinets and appliances are all white and show every splatter and drip!  Finally, I swept and mopped the floor.  The kitchen is DONE (for this week, at least) and the environment segment of my balanced life goals feels pretty good.

On the schedule for tomorrow is my bedroom - tidy, dust, change bed sheets, and vacuum.  I would also like to vacuum the family room, as well. 

I also took the trash cans out to the curb for trash collection, tomorrow.


Today, I am grateful for:
- getting my kitchen cleaned
- being physically able to do the cleaning
- the cooler weather (feel more like doing things like house cleaning when it is not as hot)
- a working washing machine
- video chatting with my daughter

Tuesday's to do list:
- Office work
- Put away the laundry
- Tidy, dust, vacuum my bedroom
- Change bed sheets
- Do another load of laundry
- Vacuum family room
- Water the garden, front and back
- Water indoor plants
- Grocery shop (fruits, vegetables, eggs, etc.)
- Pharmacy

Additional items to be done this week:
- Give Dancer his flea prevention meds
- Call library to see if they still accept batteries for recycling
- Take batteries to library if they still accept them
- Take used printer cartridges to Staples for recycling
- Continue with cleaning schedule
- Friday - medical appointments

How was your weekend?  Did you do anything special on this Labor Day weekend?