Podiatrist on Monday

Today, when I woke up in the morning, I stayed in bed a few minutes, mentally reviewing my plans for the day; the appointment with the podiatrist was my most important activity of the day and I laughed at myself.  Back when I was working, I didn't have time to stay in bed, reviewing plans for the day, and an appointment like that would have been just one more thing to do during the course of the day, not the most important thing!  Life has certainly slowed down after retirement!

My appointment was for 1:30 p.m., which meant I needed to leave by 12:30 p.m. at the latest.  But, I left at 12:15 p.m. and I got to the podiatrist's office by 1:15 p.m.  I prefer to leave a little early, just in case the freeways are more congested than usual.  The appointment went well.  My feet were swollen  (happens all the time, especially in the summer) and the podiatrist told me to keep my feet elevated as much as possible.  I have a return appointment in two months' time.

Came home a little after 3:00 p.m. and had lunch - rice, chicken curry, green beans, and dhal.  Grapes for dessert.

Later, I put water to the garden, front and back; took the trash can and recycling bin to the curb, changed my bed sheets and did two loads of laundry.

Dinner was roast beef and bread.

Today's joyful activities were talking to family and friends on the phone.  Today must have been the day for phone calls!  First, there was a phone call from my sister.  Then, friend R called, and cousin P, and cousin R.  Later, of course, I video chatted with my daughter.

Today, I am grateful for:
- The medical care I am receiving
- The luxury of spending a few moments in bed to review plans for the day.
- Being retired
- A slower pace of life
- Phone calls from family and friends


Monday's To Do List:
- Podiatrist's appointment - DONE
- Change bed sheets - DONE
- Load of laundry - DONE (did two loads)
- Take trash cans to the curb for Tuesday trash pick up - DONE

- Water the garden, front and back - DONE

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Dust the house

- Grocery shopping

- Water the house plants

Tomorrow will be the second Tuesday in the month - the free day at the Autry Museum.  I am not sure if I will go or not.  I'll see how I feel, after I get the dusting and the grocery shopping done.

How was your Monday?  What are your plans for Tuesday?

Sunday

Sunday has been a restful, yet, quietly productive day.  I woke up feeling some gastric discomfort and nausea.  I had my morning cup of tea, took an antacid, and decided to take it easy.  Breakfast was a bowl of raspberries.  Neighbor T called in the morning and we had a chat. 

I changed the sofa dust covers and did a load of laundry.  Then, I sorted through the pile of papers and filed or recycled as needed. I put a couple of pieces of paper into my "For Action" file folder to work on during the week.

In the early afternoon, I took friend R to get the shipping boxes she needed.  I asked her if she needed to go anywhere else, but she said no.  We decided not to go out to lunch, today.  I invited her home for a cup of tea, but she declined.  So, I dropped her off at her home, came home, and had two pieces of dry toast and lemon lime soda for lunch.  Afterwards, I took a nap on the sofa.

Later, I had two more pieces of toast with a scrambled egg for dinner.  Then, did the dishes and scrubbed the kitchen sink.  I also tidied the computer desk in the family room.  I no longer have a working desk top computer, but the computer desk is still there, with the old computer and monitor!  I should probably go to the computer store and ask them if they can erase what might be on the old computer and recycle it for me.  There are three non-working laptops, too!  I am not sure what I should do with them!

Today's decluttering included:
2 magazines
4 glass jars

My joyful activity was helping friend R get her shipping boxes.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Being able to help friend R
- What I was able to accomplish today
- Lemon-lime soda!
- Afternoon naps
- The cooler than normal temperatures (today's high was only 86F, I believe; I didn't even put the fan on!)


Sunday's To Do List:
- Take friend R to pick up shipping boxes - DONE
- Sort through the last pile of paperwork - DONE
- Clear the computer table top (piled with stuff that should be recycled!) - DONE
- Change sofa dust sheets - DONE
- Load of laundry - DONE

Monday's To Do List:
- Podiatrist's appointment
- Change bed sheets
- Load of laundry
- Take trash cans to the curb for Tuesday trash pick up

- Water the garden, front and back

How was your weekend?  What are your plans for Monday?

Prayer Gathering on Saturday

I slept in on Saturday morning and spent a leisurely rest of the morning, enjoying a cup of tea and watching some cooking shows on TV.  Later, I cooked a big pot of dhal (lentil) curry:

Dhal Curry

Brunch was bread and dhal curry, which is a favorite dish from childhood:

Brunch: Bread and Dhal Curry

After brunch, I tidied and cleaned the pass-through counter.  It is looking much better!

I did some knitting in the afternoon - I started on a new pair of socks!

Then, it was time to get ready to go to the prayer gathering.  Cousin P came over at 6:30 p.m. and I drove us to friend F's house.  We were about 13 people at today's prayer gathering, all family and friends.  Afterwards, we all enjoyed the pot luck dinner of yellow rice, Thai chicken fried rice, roast beef, pork curry, chicken curry, green bean curry, and dhal curry.  For dessert, there was a gelatin dessert and carrot cake.  We all took some of the leftovers home - I brought some chicken curry and roast beef, and a piece of cake!

Today's joyful activity was attending the prayer gathering and the potluck dinner that followed.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Being able to sleep in
- Saturday cooking shows on TV
- Being able to attend the prayer gathering
- Being able to give cousin a ride there and back
- Good company, conversation, and sharing dinner

Saturday's To Do List:
- Cook a dhal (lentil) curry to take to the prayer gathering/pot luck dinner - DONE
- Attend the prayer gathering/give cousin a ride there and back - DONE
- Clean/tidy pass through counter between the kitchen and family room (lots of dead plant cuttings that didn't root, after all) - DONE

Sunday's To Do List:
- Take friend R to pick up shipping boxes
- Sort through the last pile of paperwork
- Clear the computer table top (piled with stuff that should be recycled!)
- Change sofa dust sheets
- Load of laundry

How was your Saturday?  What are your plans for Sunday?

Doctor's Appointment and Groceries on Friday

8/9 Groceries

I had my appointment with the gynecologist, today.  For some reason, I felt very nervous about this appointment.  However, the appointment went very well and the doctor and his assistant were very nice.  The procedure, itself, which is almost always uncomfortable, was also, a bit painful, this time; the less said about that, the better!  The doctor also wants me to have an ultra sound because the medication I take as part of my breast cancer treatment can cause cancer in the uterine lining!  If the disease doesn't get you, then, the side effects of the drugs you take to treat the disease will!  His office will put in the request for a referral and I will be notified as soon as the referral is authorized.  In the meantime, the results of today's test will be available sometime next week.  I was told to call them, next Thursday or Friday. 

On the way back, I stopped at the smaller Armenian store.  I was intending to buy a loaf of bread, if they had any of the kind I like.  Not only did they have the bread, they also had some good prices on fresh fruit, so I bought some fruit as well as the bread.  I hadn't taken one of my reusable fabric shopping bags with me, as I was just going to buy the bread, so I had to pay $.10 for a reusable plastic bag!

2 lb. pack blueberries = $.99
9 oz. pack raspberries = $1.99
white champagne grapes @ $.99/lb = $1.37
1 loaf bread  $1.50
1 reusable plastic bag = $.10
Total = $5.95

I had also spent $1.99 for 2 lbs. strawberries last Saturday, when I bought the desserts to take to the temple.

My August grocery budget is $75.

Spent to date = $13.84 + $1.99 + $5.95 = $21.78
Balance left in the budget = $75 - $21.78 = $53.22


I ate a turkey cold cuts sandwich when I got home (my appointment had been for 1:00 p.m. and I hadn't eaten anything before I left the house at noon, only a cup of tea).  Then, I took a nap on the sofa.  After I woke up, I debated going to the temple for meditation, but, decided to stay home and rest.  Today's doctor's appointment wore me out!

Later in the evening, I called friend R to confirm plans for Sunday (she wants me to take her to get shipping boxes).  Then, I sorted through and tossed or filed the pile of papers I had in one basket.  It was mostly filing, but there was one magazine to be recycled.  I'll consider that as today's decluttering.

Cousin P called, still later in the evening, to confirm the time we'll leave to attend the monthly rosary prayer gathering (I'm giving her a ride there and back).

Today, I am grateful for:
- Medical insurance
- Diagnostic tests
- A safe drive to the doctor's appointment and back
- Good deals at the grocery store
- My favorite bread!

Today's joyful activities were taking a nap and eating my favorite bread!

I had kept today's to do list purposely short, as I knew I wouldn't feel like doing much after the doctor's appointment.  I'm glad I decided to do that, because I am not feeling very energetic!

Friday's To Do List:
- Doctor's appointment - DONE
- Paperwork/filing - DONE

Saturday's To Do List:
- Cook a dhal (lentil) curry to take to the prayer gathering/pot luck dinner
- Attend the prayer gathering/give cousin a ride there and back
- Clean/tidy pass through counter between the kitchen and family room (lots of dead plant cuttings that didn't root, after all)

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for the weekend?

Productive Thursday

Yesterday, I didn't want to do the vacuuming that was on my weekly cleaning/daily to do list.  I felt bad about not vacuuming, but, housework isn't really my favorite thing to do and I felt that housework was all I was doing, lately (especially after the flea infestation).  I grumbled to one of my friends that I didn't want to spend my retirement doing housework and cleaning!

Today, I woke up determined to get the vacuuming and other housework done.  First, I did a little more cleaning in the living room: I washed the inside of the front door, the white painted wooden shelves on either side of the fireplace, and cleaned the wrought iron candleholder on the hearth.  Then, I vacuumed the house.  While I vacuumed, I recited my prayers.  I wasn't trying to bless the house; it was my way of distracting myself while I vacuumed.  I used a new vacuum cleaner bag and tossed it afterwards, but, I think the flea situation is under control, now, and I might be able to vacuum more than once before I toss the next vacuum bag..

Later in the evening, I watered the garden, both front and back, baked another batch of strawberry-cashew muffins (although I left them in the oven a bit too long and they got a bit burnt!), did the dishes, and cleaned the kitchen (wiped the counters and mopped the floor).

I didn't do the paperwork and filing I had scheduled to do today.  Instead, I decided to do some crafting.  Since I had put away the patchwork quilt tops I was working on when the fleas were discovered, I decided to do some knitting.  I wanted something quick and easy and I was inspired by Stephenie at the Awakened Soul to knit a pair of socks, in anticipation of winter.  Knitting them was my joyful activity for the day.

New Socks

Today, I am grateful for:
- Having a home to clean
- Having the time to clean
- Working appliances (vacuum cleaner and dishwasher)
- The flea situation seems to be under control, finally
- A new pair of socks


Thursday's To Do List:
- Vacuum - DONE
- More paperwork/filing
- Clean the kitchen - DONE
- Do dishes/run the dishwasher - DONE
- Water the garden - DONE
- Look up directions to the gynecologist's office (appt. on Friday) - DONE

Friday's To Do List:
- Doctor's appointment
- Paperwork/filing

How was your Thursday?  Do you get to a point where you feel like all you are doing is housework (or work)?  If so, how do you overcome that feeling?  What are your plans for Friday?

Thunder on Wednesday

Horse Head Sculpture at the Autry Museum

Horse Head Sculpture from the side

I was finally able to get the pictures to load!  The horse head sculpture is at the side entrance of the museum.

Wednesday was a little cooler than normal, there were some clouds and some humidity!  Then, in the afternoon, just before 3:00 p.m., at 2:55 p.m., to be exact, there was a loud clap of thunder, followed by a few, large raindrops.  I could hear them on the fiberglass roof of the "patio" overhang, above my back door steps.  But, the ground was so dry that the raindrops just evaporated on contact!  The ground didn't get wet, at all!  I was so happy to get any rain that I went outside and stood in the "rain".  It lasted  all of 5 minutes and we probably got about 50 drops of rain!  LOL.

Today, I called my radiation oncologist's office to confirm my appointment, which, according to the date written on the appointment card, by the nurse, during my last visit, stated "Aug. 8".  But, when I called, the receptionist checked the computer and said the appointment was for next week, August 15!   Well, now!  I'm glad I called and confirmed the date!

Tomato Harvest!

While I was out in the garden, I picked four ripe tomatoes; a fifth one had baked too much from the sun and was starting to rot!  My tomato plants are not doing well, at all, in the heat.  The plate is a bread-and-butter plate; the tomatoes are about one inch in diameter!  Just a touch bigger than cherry tomatoes!

Today, I folded and put away a load of laundry (chair dust sheets), sorted through some paperwork, did some filing., and tidied/cleared the table in the family room.  I also decluttered 6 brochures/annual reports.  And, I cleaned the bathrooms (daughter's bathroom just needed a quick clean as no one has used it since it was last cleaned).  What I didn't do was vacuum; it will be on tomorrow's agenda.

Lunch was leftovers (rice, green beans, mackerel curry gravy, smoked sausage).  Grapes for dessert.

Strawberry-Cashew Muffins

At teatime, I decided to make some strawberry-cashew muffins.  It was cool enough to turn the oven on!  I should make a second batch to freeze as the milk I have in the fridge is starting to go off!

Dinner was a piece of toast with a scrambled egg.

Today's joyful activities included experiencing the rain and, later, eating muffins still warm from the oven!

Today, I am grateful for:
- The slightly cooler temperature
- The few drops of rain we had, even if it wasn't enough to wet the ground!
- My photos finally uploaded from the phone to the computer!
- Tomatoes from the garden
- Freshly baked muffins, warm from the oven!


Wednesday's To Do List:
- Vacuum
- Clean the bathrooms - DONE
- More tidying and decluttering - DONE
- Paperwork/filing - DONE

Thursday's To Do List:
- Vacuum
- More paperwork/filing
- Clean the kitchen
- Do dishes/run the dishwasher
- Water the garden
- Look up directions to the gynecologist's office (appt. on Friday)


How was your Wednesday?  What have you planned for Thursday?

Forgetful on Tuesday

When I was planning out my activities for August, I thought I might go on a return visit to the Autry Museum on the free Tuesday.  For some reason, I had it fixed in my head that the free Tuesday was on the first Tuesday of the month.  I even wrote it down on my calendar and mentioned my intention to go to the museum to a friend of mine, on Monday.  Tuesday morning, I woke up looking forward to going back to the museum.  I decided that I would get the housework done in the morning, before it got too hot, and go to the museum in the afternoon, when being in an air conditioned space would be nice. 

So, I dusted all the rooms in the morning, had a sandwich for brunch, got dressed, brought in the trash cans, collected the mail (this week's grocery ads), and drove to the museum.  I approached the front desk and asked if today was the free Tuesday, only to be told that the free Tuesday was the second Tuesday of the month!  Oops!  I was so convinced that it was on the first Tuesday of the month that I hadn't even thought of looking it up!  Oh, dear!  Well, I suppose I could have spent $10 for a senior (defined as 60+, per the website) admission ticket and gone in.  But, I'm a cheapskate and didn't want to spend any money to revisit the museum!  So, I looked around the gift shop for a little bit (everything was very expensive) and drove myself home, again!  That'll teach me to remember to check dates and times, etc., before I leave the house on my next visit to any place!  At least, I got out of the house for a bit and the car got driven!  I'll most probably go back, next Tuesday!

I was hungry by the time I came home, so I heated up the last of the frozen potstickers and had that with some cucumber salad and some strawberries.  I considered going to the library to attend the knitting club, but, instead, I took a nap on the sofa! 

Later in the evening, I watered the houseplants, watched some TV, went through the grocery ads, and video chatted with my daughter.  Dinner was leftover rice, green beans, and the last of the mackerel curry.

My joyful activity for the day was going for an afternoon drive!  LOL.

On Tuesday, I was grateful for:
- Getting the dusting done while it was still cool
- An afternoon drive!
- Air conditioning in the car!
- Chatting with my daughter
- Phone calls from aunt C and cousins P and V 


Tuesday's To Do List:
- Bring the trash cans in - DONE
- Dust - DONE
- Water the house plants - DONE
- Do more tidying and decluttering - DID SOME

Wednesday's To Do List:
- Vacuum
- Clean the bathrooms
- More tidying and decluttering

How was your Tuesday?  Have you ever got your days mixed up as I did, today?  What would you have done - paid the admission and visited the museum or gone home, as I did?  What are your plans for Wednesday?