Saturday, December 31, 2016

Last Friday of the Year!

Today is the last Friday of the year!  We won't have another Friday until next year! 

I had another relatively quiet day, today.  Daughter and I were up till quite late, last night, discussing various things and plans for the future.  She still doesn't know if her job contract will be renewed, next year, and, if so, if there will be a raise.  What she does know is that she needs to let her apartment management know if she will renew her lease by February and the rent is going up by another $105 per month (making her rent $2,300 per month for a 430 square foot studio apartment!)  She has been looking at other apartments in the area, but rents are steep in Berkeley (and the Bay Area in general) and the apartments with lower rents mean a longer commute for her.  Her current apartment is a 10 minute bus ride from her office and within walking distance.  Last night, she was also searching on-line for jobs in her field closer to home and there were one or two possibilities.  So, we had a lot to talk about.  As a result, we went to bed very late and slept till late today.

It rained a little, last night and early this morning.  Then, it drizzled a little bit in the evening and the forecast calls for more rain, tomorrow.  Which means I don't have to water the garden!  But the afternoon was dry.  Cloudy and overcast, but dry.

Today, daughter helped me to replace some burnt out light bulbs in the ceiling light fixtures in the family room.  I took the opportunity to wash the glass globe in the center of the ceiling fan light.  It reminded me on an incident that took place several years ago, when I washed a similar globe and broke it.  I told my mother that I'll need to buy a new globe for that light, and my mother, who was at the very beginning stages of dementia, insisted that she had a replacement!  Then she went looking in her closet and drawers for it!  It didn't matter what I said to the contrary (I knew we didn't have a spare glass globe), she insisted that she had a replacement.  Eventually, she triumphantly produced a stapler and handed it to my daughter who was working on a school project with a friend, saying she knew she had it, she had been a teacher and knew what my daughter needed!  Daughter, then aged about 11, looked very confused (as she wasn't needing a stapler).  But I told her to just accept the stapler so she did.  My poor mother was very happy.  Most days, when I reminisce about this incident, it makes me smile; today, however, it made me cry.

I also spot cleaned the family room area rug where a certain kitty had thrown up partially digested food!  He tends to eat too quickly at times and then throws up!

I called my supervisor in the afternoon to tell her that I was planning to return to the office next week, on Wednesday.  She told me not to stress myself about returning to the office before I was ready and to take my time!  I am both grateful and a little confused!  I thought she was anxious that I should return to the office but maybe I am the only one pressuring myself to do so?  Anyway, I told her I will call her again, next week.  Maybe I'll work from home next week, too?  It will give me a little more time to put away the holiday decorations and tidy up the house before I return to the office.  

In the evening, daughter and I went to the Armenian grocery store to buy a few items, including the 1 lb. of semolina I needed for the love cake (a Sri Lankan specialty cake) we are planning to make tomorrow.   After we came home, I cooked rice and a fish curry with tomatoes and a type of yellow chilies for dinner and did the dishes.

I felt tired afterwards and lay down on the sofa and took a 2 hour nap!  My neighbor across the street called while I was napping and spoke with my daughter. She wanted to give my daughter some Armenian meatballs called kufteh that her mother had made, since she knows my daughter loves them.  So daughter went over and brought home some kufteh, which she will freeze and take back to Berkeley with her. 

Today, I am grateful for:

- Memories
- My daughter's hugs
- The rain we had last night and this morning
- Naps on the sofa
- Neighbor sending over food because she knows daughter likes it
- My supervisor being so flexible about my return to the office

On the To Do list for tomorrow is baking a cake. 

How was your last Friday of the year?  What have you planned for New Year's Eve? 

20 comments:

  1. I hope things work out for your daughter. Glad that you were able to be there for her to talk things through with. It's difficult when they have to make such decisions.

    It sounds like you have a very understanding boss. If it would be less stressful to work from home for a little longer I'd do it.

    Take care of yourself!

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    1. Thank you, Sharon. Yes, it's helpful to talk things over. We weighed the pros and cons of moving to another apartment or staying where she is, of continuing to stay up there or coming down here, etc., and decided that she'll have a chat with her supervisor to find out where things stand regarding her job and then, go from there.

      Yes, I think I might work from home a little longer. It would definitely be less stressful.

      When does your daughter leave? Next week? Wish her all the best as she starts her new job.

      Wish you and your family a very happy New Year.

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  2. Happy New Year, Bless! I wish you and your daughter good health, continued work success and fulfilling jobs close to wherever home is, and lots of happiness.

    As for me, I wish me that you lived closer so I could come eat yummy-sounding Sri Lankan food, ha ha. Enjoy your love cake!

    We have no plans for today. Greg and I took a walk yesterday so today we're resting. We might finally get started on our Lord of the Rings marathon, otherwise I'll try to tear myself away from my laptop to do some reading. It's quite cold here this morning (it dipped into the low 40s last night) and two of the kittens spent the night cuddling with me. For once, THEY didn't want to get up, hahaha. But it's supposed to be in the 70s later on today so it's going to be a lovely day to finish 2016.

    I hope you and the rest of your readers have a lovely day as well and Happy New Year to Everyone. Lots of hugs!

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    1. Happy New Year to you, too, Nathalie and all your family. May 2017 be a very good year for you.

      Thank you for the well-wishes. We will have to see how we can get some Sri Lankan food to you. :)

      All the best in 2017!

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  3. Hi Bless, Happy Almost New Year! I was off yesterday, but a lot of little errands and tasks kept me busy. Your story about your mother touched my heart; dementia and Alzheimer's is very prevalent in both sides of my family, so I can relate to that story and it made me think of several of my own similar memories. There are so many challenges to being human, although sometimes even in those challenges we can find great blessings. I try to remember this when I get scared about my future or my husband's health. I appreciate you sharing your story so honestly here. <3

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    1. Thank you, Laura. Wish you a happy New Year, too, and may it be filled with good health and every blessing. We just have to take things one day at a time and hope and pray that all will be well. (((HUGS)))

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  4. Bless, I will add your daughter to my prayer list, Job and housing decisions are so difficult. Pray she finds a job closer and the housing will be more affordable.
    The cake sounds wonderful.
    I am very happy to hear your supervisor is being flexible about your returning to work.. Maybe the part time in the office and part time work at home, will be better for awhile. At least you have the ok , to try it at a slow pace.. Thinking about you..
    Hugs, Judy

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    1. Thank you, Judy. You know your prayers are much appreciated. :) I know whatever happens will be for the best. Yes, I will take it easy, when returning to the office. Another week or two at home will be good, I think.

      Wish you and your family a very happy New Year, Judy.

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  5. ps.. The dementia is so very sad to watch, isn't it? My mom has it now. She lives with my sister now.. But , she is getting in the latter stages.. She tells all kinds of things that never happened.ha
    We have discovered [like the stapler], that if we just go along with what ever notion, it works the best.. It just breaks my heart to see her like this..She was always so independent.. she would never have wanted to be taken care of..

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    1. Oh, Judy, I am so sorry to hear that your mother is having dementia. Yes, it is very sad to watch. There were times when my mother didn't recognize me; the first time that happened, I cried. (((HUGS))) to you and your sister.

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    2. Oh BLess, it is so hard.. Mama is beginning to not remember us some times.. The last time I went to see her, she thought our son was my husband.. My sister told her, ' no mama, that is Kenny , Judy's husband". She replied ,very sternly,ha --" I know who he is [talking about my son], I raised those 2 boys.. I had to whip them, they were really mean boys." Ha We all had a laugh over that.
      But there are lots of days, that she won't even talk.She is getting where she doesn't want to eat.. All the things she use to be, is gone. Breaks my heart. My heart goes out to my sister, she really has it rough. They live 5 hours from me, so I cant go every day.. Wish I could.

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    3. (((HUGS))) Judy. You, your sister, and your Mom are in my prayers.

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    1. Thank you, Anne. Wish you and your family the same. :)

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  7. Your story about your mother reminds me so much of my MIL who has Alzheimers. At our last visit she was convinced I was her choldhood friend. Hubby and I found that so amusing as I don't yet have grey hair and MIL's is white. As Judy mentioned, we too go along with her and it serms to be the best approach. Such a devastating disease.

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    1. Carolyn, I'm sorry your MIL is also having Alzheimers. It seems so prevalent these days.

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  8. Ir was wonderful that you could be a "sounding board" for your daughter. It isn't so much about making a decision as much as weighing the pros and cons and looking at every side and available option. I trust everything will work out for the best.

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    1. Thank you, Susan. Yes, we try to weigh the pros and cons and then make what we hope will be the best decision. Only hind sight will tell if it was the right decision or not! :)

      Hope you are feeling better and wish you and your family a Happy New Year.

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  9. I hope your daughter will either find a good affordable apartment or a job much nearer the present one, to alleviate the financial concerns.

    I am very familiar with the odd things that come with dementia as my mother and mother-in-law both suffered. Sometimes a sense of humour and going along with things really help, but I can understand your sadness, too, at the memory. So I sympathize with Judy and Carolyn as they deal with this sad situation in their own families.

    I'm glad you got a little rain. I was thinking about you as I surveyed the small mountains of snow that we have already, and months of winter to go yet! I'm sure we could spare some moisture for you but it doesn't work that way, does it?

    Bushlady

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    1. Bushlady, right now, we are thinking that, if her present job contract is renewed for 1 more year, she will accept it and either stay where she is or find another apartment that is cheaper. If the job comes with a raise, then, she will probably stay where she is, as it is so much more convenient. Most jobs in her field in the Los Angeles area seem to require 2 years of paid experience, so another year up at Berkeley will be good. If the contract is not renewed, however, then, she will definitely come down here and look for something closer to home.

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