Trying Out the New Format

I have been automatically switched over to the new format, as of this morning!  I still have the option of switching back to the old format for a few more weeks, but, I am going to try to get used to this format.  Might as well, right?

On Sunday, I opened the various packages that had been delivered over the past few days.  I had sprayed the boxes with sanitizer when I first brought them inside and then, left them to air for at least a day or two before I opened them.  These are all the items my daughter ordered for me to stock up my pantry and household supplies.  Everything from cans of food to spare batteries for the smoke detectors to sandwich bags.  It was just one order, but, it was shipped and delivered in several boxes, over the course of a few days.  I am assuming that the items were being sent from different warehouses.  I received a big box with several cans of food, packed without a lot of air filled bags to cushion them, resulting in every can being dented, and a small box containing one packet of three kitchen sponges, all by themselves, surrounded by the air filled bags!  LOL.  The items are now sitting out on the table, to be aired for another couple of days before I put them away.  

Then, I started writing a blog post about stocking up, which I didn't finish.  

Yesterday (Monday), I opened the two additional boxes which arrived on Sunday.  One contained the 12-pack of canning jars I had ordered.  I was hoping that the second box would contain the two cans of condensed milk (ordered and paid for 10 cans, received 8) and the can of corn (ordered and paid for 6, received 5) that were missing from the items I had received so far.   Instead, the second box contained a set of full sized bed sheets which I hadn't ordered!  I texted my daughter to ask if she had ordered a set of sheets for herself (she has a full sized bed in the apartment) which might have been shipped to me by mistake, but, she said she hadn't ordered any sheets!  She checked the receipt and there was no mention of any bed sheets!  So now I have a set of "free" sheets!   I suppose the correct thing to do would be to call the company and say they sent me a set of sheets by mistake, or, maybe it is meant to make up for the missing cans?  If so, they are out of pocket because the sheets cost way more than the cans of food!

Yesterday, I had my piano lesson, in the evening, instead of in the afternoon, because S had a prior engagement.  Not a problem, at all, because my days are pretty open and I am flexible with my time.

Less than five minutes into the lesson, I got a phone call from my nephew.  My half sister's son.  He never calls me!  Even so, I let the answering machine pick it up and he started to leave a message.  But, when he said, "calling about my mom" I excused myself to S and picked it up!  Apparently, my sister had a stroke and was in hospital!  Thank goodness it was a mild stroke and she is OK, but, they were keeping her for the night for observation.  Nephew, who lives and works in northern California was planning to drive down in the morning to be with my sister (and her husband, who is himself recovering from surgery) when she comes home from the hospital!  I thanked him for informing me and said I'll talk to him later.

After that I returned to my piano lesson, but, as you can imagine, my mind was all over the place, worrying about my sister, and I couldn't concentrate on the playing.  I made so many mistakes, but, S was very understanding.  She thought I had done really well to learn the new song to the extent that I did.  I need to practice a little more (of course) and really concentrate on my counting, fingering, and tempo; but, in the meantime, she is going to look for another song for me to learn!   

After the lesson, I called my sister's daughter who is in Utah with her husband and their two sons.  She gave me a few more details about my sister (I explained to her that I didn't talk with her brother as much as I had wanted to because I was in the middle of my piano lesson when he called).  This morning, I called my brother in law and he gave me an update on her status.  He thinks she will be released from the hospital, later, today.  Her speech is unaffected, he said, but, her sense of balance is.  I also called my nephew a few minutes ago; he has driven down and is waiting for the hospital to call.  He thinks sister will need some sort of rehab and physical therapy, but, is waiting to find out more.  I told him I will call back, tomorrow.  

Today has been a relatively quiet day.  I did a load of laundry and put in an order (with my daughter's help) for more groceries as she called to let me know that yeast and disinfectant spray are now available for delivery in my area!  Delivery would be free with a $35 order and I ordered the items I had been planning to order from the grocery store for curb side pick up - a loaf of bread, a half gallon of milk, more cold cuts, lettuce, a cucumber, bananas,  two boxes of frozen chicken wings (Buffalo and honey barbecue), smoked sausages, a package of bacon (at $4.98/1 lb., probably the highest I've paid for bacon), and flavored coffee creamer.

I also kept an eye out for the trash collection truck and went outside as soon as the trash was picked up and brought my newly emptied trash can in!  I also noticed that someone had removed the shopping cart that had been left in front of my house!  Let's hope it doesn't show up, again!  

Plans for the rest of the day include piano practice and watering the garden.

Today, I am grateful for:

- My sister's stroke was relatively mild

- My nephew calling to inform me

- Online shopping and deliveries

- Being able to stock up 

- My daughter's help

My joyful activity today will be spending time in the garden.