February chitchat

[agate]

I'm not sure how it got to be February already because I was just recovering from the holidays but here we are.

And the big news for anyone who has been a Marie Kondo fan is that she's kinda-sorta giving up on her own notions about tidying up. I'm not an avid fan but I think she has some good ideas--I just don't always agree with her. And now she's rethinking the whole idea, thanks to having three kids.

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How has everyone been doing? It was nice to hear from Snuggles, and I'm glad Virginia and Howie are checking in too as I often wonder what they're up to. Sunshine and Linda, hope you'll check in too. Then there's Ralph, who hasn't been heard from lately. And there are many others who may or may not be reading here. I wish all of you well but would love to have more news of you.

[Virginia]

Agate, thanks for getting our February chit/hat going. I was aware that Marie Kondo had backed off her original stance. This was after having 3 kids but also after making lots of money. I wonder if she is going to make a lot more off her change of mind.

I use to be somewhat obsessed about the neatness of my house, but I am not so much anymore. Maybe it is because I seldom have people in anymore.

It was again rainy and dreary here today. I talked on the phone for a long time to my cousin. I also drank 2 cups of coffee. I need to hold it down to one so I don't get in the habit.

Hope Howie, Sam, Ikoiko, Snuggles and everyone is doing well.

[Ikoiko]

I am fine.

[Snuggles]

I am doing well. Any day that i am not sick is a good day!

It is freezing here in western PA. It is going down into the single digits tonight. Tomorrow I am going to make a big pot of chili. It simmers for 3 hours so it should make my house smell good besides being a comfort food for me in the cold weather.

Hubby and I are going to meet my brother and his wife for an early dinner or late lunch on Sunday. I haven't been out to dinner in over a month. I am looking forward to catching up with my baby brother. I haven't seen him since August and he and his wife are heading for Florida next week. I am hoping that by going on a Sunday during off hours it will not be crowded and I won't have to worry too much about the dreaded Covid.

I also asked a former co-worker and his wife to dinner at my house on Tuesday. I am thinking about ordering family meals from a local restaurant that we have met at in the past. No crowds to worry about and I am much more comfortable in my house. I do have to clean some before they come but I am not going to go crazy with the cleaning. Hopefully between ordering out and light cleaning it will make my evening more enjoyable.

This will be the most socializing I have done in months. I hope I don't regret it!!

Stay warm everyone!

[Virginia]

Hi Ikoiko and Snuggles!

Snuggles, I think it sounds like fun to meet your brother and wife to eat. If you can take being out in the real cold weather it will be enjoyable. Going at that time of day you should be fine as far as COVID is concerned. I like the way you are planning on entertaining. To have most of it brought in for you is so much more relaxing than trying to do it all yourself. I know you will enjoy it. Just getting together with people can, by itself, be uplifting. I entertained kind of like that occasionally, back when I was doing some entertaining. I did quite a lot of cooking at one point, but then I would try to do it a little easier sometime. Now, unfortunately I don't do any entertaining.

[agate]

Glad you're doing fine, Ikoiko. And Snuggles, how nice that you're putting together some social arrangements. People aren't nearly as fussy nowadays about just how things are done, and that is really helpful for people who want to have more flexibility in their plans and arrangements.

My mother liked to entertain, and I remember her saying that if the hostess is all worn out from the effort of getting everything just right, nobody will have a good time--and that the most important thing was for the hostess to be relaxed and having a good time herself. She claimed it was a surefire recipe for a successful get-together. Sounds as if you're going along the same path. Hope it works out well.

Virginia, you mention being glad you don't get too obsessed about the neatness of your house any more. I don't do that any more either. About 99% of household jobs can be put off till another time!

[Snuggles]

Hi everyone!

I made the big pot of chili yesterday and hubby and I each had a bowl. There was enough to freeze 3 quarts of it to be used in the future. I like having easy meals I can just pull out of the freezer and heat on the days I don't feel like cooking. We had out chili over elbow macaroni. That is how hubby and I both had it growing up. It might of been a leftover depression habit when meat was scarce and families had to stretch their meals? I have also heard of having it over rice but i haven't tried it. Does anyone else eat chili over rice or noodles?

In anticipation of having company on Tuesday I cleaned my gas stovetop and wiped down all of my countertops today. My robotic vacuum is running in the livingroom and I will run in in the diningroom later today. Tomorrow I will run the vacuum in the familyroom/kitchen area and then do a light mopping in the kitchen. I will have my hubby clean the bathroom. I am trying to decide if I want to make a dessert or buy something from the local bakery. I think I will wait until Monday or Tuesday to make that decision.

I am killing time until I have to take my shower and get ready for my early dinner today.

How is everyone doing? Any plans for this week?

[Virginia]

Snuggles, I have heard of beans over rice, but had not heard of chiili. I love chili. When my SIL makes it she brings me one or two servings. I think she is going to make it this week. Sometime she cuts the servings short, so next time she does that I will put it over rice. Hope you enjoy your dinner with your brother today.

I haven't really done much today. I watched a little TV and did my hair when I showered. I have played a little on my iPad and that's about all, except for eating.

Howie, ask Sam to report on you. We are getting concerned.

Anyone see the balloon get shot down? I thought that was pretty neat when they did it with one shot.

[agate]

I haven't seen the balloon getting shot down but I was following some of the news about it before it was shot down.

Still getting used to the new wheelchair. Probably because its back support is quite different, my sitting situation (my SITuation, LOL) has been different enough to create some pain problems in my right hip. I'm working on fine-tuning the chair cushion and popping aspirin.

Any new wheelchair is going to be an adjustment for someone who sits as much as I do.

I'm still watching "Star Trek," the first season. There are about 30 episodes in all, I think.

I've often had chili with corn bread and there was something served in a school cafeteria called chili mac --I believe it was chili on top of macaroni?

Snuggles, it sounds as if you're happy with the robotic vacuum. I'm sure it's easier than wrestling with an ordinary vacuum with its *&*#@% cord and attachments.

[Ikoiko]

Snuggles, I also ate chili over macaroni growing up and my parents are also from western Pennsylvania.

[Virginia]

I was reading an article in "Multiple Sclerosis News Today". A very small study showed that there was an increased in gait and speed and better balance after 4 months by taking 30ML twice a day of coconut oil and 400mg twice a day of EGCG (green tea extract). For this to work both have to be taken. Therefore I am going to pass on this. Coconut oil has too many calories for me.

I hope all.of you who enjoy going to or even hosting a Superbowl party had a good day yesterday and that you were satisfied with the ending.

I was invited to my Niece's and her husband's. I declined the invitation due to the fact that my brother would have to come and get me and take me, then bring me back and go back home himself. It was a rainy, cloudy, cold day so I stayed home. My brother called me today to tell me it was probably a good thing because I could not have kept up with their little boy last night. He said his latest thing is to come and get him by the hand and take him in a room with the light off and start giggling, then he would take him in a dark closet and just gigggle. My brother said he would come and get him about every 30 seconds. We discussed all the toys he has, but this is what he finds fun. We can't figure out what goes on in the mind of a 18 month old. So precious.

[agate]

You don't sound too broken up about missing the Superbowl party, Virginia--and I know what you mean about small children. They're such powerhouses of energy that they wear grownups down to a frazzle very easily. My grandson has been like that too--wanting to play hide-and-seek games, with quite a lot of running around and squealing.

He has some toys here but every time he's here, he's far more interested in the pots and pans in the kitchen and in whatever little boxes and knickknacks I have around here than in those toys. He knows exactly what things I have and he knows where they're kept.

I'm thinking of giving my futon away as it's really not so very comfortable and is just taking up space but my grandson loves to curl up on it and slide down it and whisk the afghan off it and wrap himself in that. However, he's getting so old now that he probably won't do that much longer, and I found an organization that just might take it away.

[Virginia]

I made potato soup in the crockpot today. First time I have made if in a very long time. I think since sometime last winter maybe. It was very good. I had some bacon bits that I had had for my salads so I sprinkled some on top. Actually, today was probably not a good day to make it because we are in a hot spell. It was either 77 or 78 degrees here today. I know that might sound nice to some of you, but I don't like it being that warm this time of year. I don't feel very good when the weather goes up and down so much. It takes a steady barometer for me.

Ikoiko and Snuggles where are you? Has anyone heard from Jingle lately? Hope she is alright.

[Snuggles]

Hi Virginia and everyone, I am here dealing with an injury from a fall earlier this week.

On Monday I had the genius ide that since the weather was unusually warm we should take a walk in the evening after dinner (we had already taken a walk in the late morning). It was dark but we walked on a lighted outdoor path in our local park. When we were almost finished with the walk I was looking ahead to a traffic light and tripped on an area of uneven walkway. I lost control and went down on the concrete walkway. I almost took out hubby when I hit him from behind. I must of tried to break my fall with my hands because I injured my left arm. Fortunately I did not fall into traffic and we were not too far from our car. I took a few minutes to compose myself before getting up. Several of the cars that were passing stopped to ask if we needed assistance but we assured them we were OK and I just needed a few minutes.

I was able to get up and walk to the car but my left arm hurt. It was very painful to rotate my palm from up to down. When I got home I iced it but decided I should get it looked at so off to the emergency room we went. Thankfully it was not crowded at 9:00 at night and after x-rays it was determined I have a small fracture in a bone near my elbow. My arm was put in a sling and I was referred to an orthopedic doctor.

I called the doctor on Tuesday morning and they told me they would have to call me back. They didn't call back until Wednesday morning and the first opening they had was Monday morning! I asked what I should do (sling, ice, rest arm, use arm) in the meantime but the receptionist told me she didn't know and to call my pcp. I was sooo frustrated. I hadn't seen my pcp so she probably wouldn't be able to tell me without seeing me and I didn't want another doctor appointment. So I consulted Doctor Google and made my own plan until Monday.

It is feeling a little better each day and although I still cannot rotate it without pain I can rotate it further and use it more. I am still using my sling and icing it but making sure I can extend my arm so my elbow doesn't lock up and rotating my shoulder so it doesn't stiffen.

It doesn't hurt if I don't try to rotate it or lift anything moderately heavy. I can also sleep with it without pain. So I am just biding my time until Monday.

How is everyone else doing?

[Ikoiko]

Snuggles, oh dear!