10 Days until Xmas Eve

 It's  been a busy Monday (sorta). As usual, my hip is hurting to high heaven and I can't decide if I should just get it over with and call to get a bursitis shot or is this ongoing irritation because I'm  old and a big fat cow?!  I remember this new doctor told me on my first visit to see him that I don't need to hesitate to call if I think I need a shot. But yet....here I am...suffering away and reluctant to find out if a shot will help. I don't know why I do that. Especially since I pay $254 a month for my supplement medical insurance and it's going up next month to $267!  I'll give myself another day and decide in the morning.

My poor sister. She discovered $40 was stolen out of her desk and she knows darn well it was one of the caregivers she's had recently. No one else goes in there. She cancelled the service but she really needs someone to help her out with housework and cooking. She also was pleased with the last girl that came and hoped she would return.  She's extra discouraged now because it's the birthday week of her daughter and granddaughter and what with the holidays upon us, she's feeling very lonely and isolated.  I'm really disgusted with both of them. I sent her daughter a birthday card and wrote in it PLEASE call your mom! But she won't. Even though her mother sent her a card and money.  Having been deserted by my own mother at a young age, I don't have any patience with those people who turn their back on family. I don't care how annoying family is...you don't do that.  It's common, though. I'm very aware of that. Haven't seen or heard from my own son in eight years. Haven't a clue why but no matter what I did, his decision to separate himself from his sisters and me is an indication of his lack of character. I think that bothers me more than anything. But I've moved on. I'm able to because I have good daughters and nice friends.

Stopped by Sharon Sofie's place after my Safeway trip. She gave me this wonderful plate of cookies and I'm happier just knowing they're here in the house waiting for me to eat!  haha  I especially loved the plain ole sugar cut outs she made. She told me it was from the Betty Crocker cookbook and I have two of those so I'm going to search it out again and rethink making cookies with the cookie cutters I still have onhand.  I'm going to make a pan of fudge next weekend and some cranberry bread too.

Everytime I go to Safeway, I drive very carefully in that parking lot as it's a real challenge to get in and out of parking spaces.  Today I almost this guy who was blending in with the trees. He could see I was pulling into that spot so I don't understand why he insisted on walking in front of my car. See?  Already I've decided NOT MY FAULT!  haha  I always look around to see if I can spot anybody I know. Today is was Mike McConaghy stocking breads and Kay Hermann who was heading into the store.

I continue to think about ways to utilize my limited space here. It's often what I think about as I drop off to sleep. Four days ago I took this foam pad off my mattress to see if I would sleep better on a firm surface.  Much to my surprise, this time it worked!  I've folded the foam up and found a spot for it in my bedroom until I decide I need it back again.

That blue bin holds all my sweatpants, other pants, and pjs. The stacked bins hold my material and one is wrapping paper, bubble wrap, and ribbon.  That red table is my sewing table. Had that ole thing since the early 60s when I picked it up at a yard sale in Bellingham for $5.  Finding a spot for my ironing board has been a problem. I even bouught a small table ironing board at Goodwill to see if I could get by without a regular standup one. (I couldn't) Today I removed it from the bedroom and found a slot in the kitchen next to the fridge.  Just fits and it suits me fine.  The iron now sits on the floor in a corner of the bedroom 'cause I couldn't find a spot that suited me.

Since I'm planning to opt out of the way too expensive "service package" here come March 1st, I'm thinking I might want to invest in a toaster oven. The oven here is a challenge because it's a piece of shit! 

And can I say how much I hate working with super glue?  It's a struggle to get the cap off every time and then you have to be very careful you don't glue your fingers together. I had two Xmas ornaments that needed string attached and I got it done but it wasn't my favorite thing to do today.

Have you ever wished you could take your ears off and give them a good cleaning?  I have.  I suspect it's psoriasis flaring up in there from time to time. Damn nuisance too! Would be so convenient if I could take an ear off and examine it closely and apply whatever cream I needed to.

Dinner today is Pea salad on greens, tuna melts, sliced oranges, iced lemon poppy seed cake.

Don't have any pictures to share so guess I'll go look at some oldies in my computer files and see what I can find.

Here's one I found online that shows my manager here (she's in front)

Here's some neighbor ladies of when I lived at Green Acres in Sequim. We went to Arby's.

Here's an old picture of army guys marching on Cook Avenue out near Hastings.

Here's one taken several years ago of my kids and granddaughter, Catie. Mary made them all dress in blue.