The Daily Positives

[Bajanne]

Returned from Puerto Rico.  Had a good time (except for something that doesn't suit this positive thread!), my daughter is doing well.
Christopher had a whale of a time for his birthday.  First we went to a Build-a-bear workshop where he 'built' his own furry friend (he chose a monkey), then bought a policeman's outfit for him.  A serendipitous buy, since this weekend he learnt to tie his laces by practising on the monkey's shoes.
Then it was off to the arcade for a couple of hours.'
Then Toys R Us where he got two big Lego boxes.

[looneytunes]

Sounds like a wonderful time Bajanne.

My positive for today is that I got a quilt top cut out and ready to piece. 

[cariad]

My positive comes from Sunday when I finally had the energy to go and see one of my son's soccer games. He is a phenomenal little player, and Gwyn and I just love shouting out encouragement to each kid on the team. Aidan only made the one goal this game, but what a stunner! He dribbled the ball down the right side of the field and shot all the way across the goal to the left corner. His team was, per usual, getting quite discouraged because of the score (2-several million, last I counted) but Aidan has mastered the mental aspect of this game. He is relentless.

Liot was there, and this field borders a small wooded area. He spent most of the game pulling up garlic mustard weed (an invasive species). He had only seen it once, but somehow recognized it. They'll love him down at the environmental center when they have their annual garlic mustard week pulling event.

[jbeany]

Positives from this weekend -good, better, and best.
 
 Making $200 at the flea market was good.  I needed graduation gift money, another deposit in my "Get the brakes fixed" fund, and a printer to replace the cantankerous one I've got, so the extra will go a long way to stretching my budget to cover those things.
 
Getting rid of the rest of the clutter, and selling a bunch of craft stuff was better.  (I love it when people will pay money for something I created.  It's such an ego boost.) 

Best was the stroke of genius about the remaining clutter at the end of the day.  The couple two booths over had also done a massive spring cleaning - two basements and a garage.  They had a pickup truck and a horse trailer full of yard sale junk to sell.  They sold huge amounts, but still had a lot to pack up at the end.  I had sold quite a bit of second hand stuff, but still had several big pieces, like a rocking chair, some old artwork, and two big boxes worth of knickknacks and stuffed animals.  The husband snuck over to my booth to buy a necklace that his wife loved, and we were talking about packing up all the junk and our plans to donate it to charity.  I was doing my third flea market with my stuff, and I'd had enough of it.  Neither one of us wanted to deal with it anymore. He went back to his clutter, and I was staring at mine, thinking how little I wanted to try to wedge it all back in the car.  It had taken me two hours to load it, fitting everything in carefully, like puzzle pieces, so it would all fit, and come out in the right order.  (Tent, then tools, then tables, then displays, then sale items...)  I didn't want to do it in reverse; I just wanted to go home quickly, put everything away, have dinner and rest.

Then the genius fairy sprinkled me with brain dust.  I grabbed tape and a piece of scrap paper, wrote a giant FREE on it, and taped it to the rocker.  Grabbed a big box and wrote the same on that, and hauled everything I was going to donate out in front of my booth.  I picked up the FREE sign and waved it at the couple next door.  He slapped his forehead with a great "Doh" Homer Simpson imitation, and they began to do the same thing.  20 minutes later, what they had left all fit in the back of the pickup.  I didn't even need a box for mine - it all fit in half a grocery bag.  After the sale ended, I packed up and was loaded and home in half an hour.  Ahhhhhhh.
I feel a bit guilty about the money the Salvation Army lost out on, but considering I've hauled several car loads of stuff to them already this spring, I won't feel it for very long!

I also sold a number of very recently finished UFO's.  For the non-crafter's on here, that's short for UnFinished Objects.  I've been making an effort to dig the abandoned craft projects out of storage and finish them so I can tag and sell them.  I've been piecing half-done quilts, stuffing hollow stuffed animals, and painting half-finished sculptures.  Those are even more fun to sell.  Hahaha - it's gone for good - hurray!

[kitkatz]

I am packing on Wednesday.  SHHHHHHhhhhh! Do not tell my doctor I am heading to Milwaukee for my daughter's graduation on Thursday. i will be there Thursday through Monday.   Travel Thursday and Monday by air.  Hubby left by car on Sunday night andis due to pick me up at the airport. I hope as slow as I have been I can keep up for the weekend. I warned Maria I was still in recovery stages and would be slow. 

My arm looks good and is dry and healing. 

The chest catheter does not hurt like hell much anymore.

Maria will be graduating from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, WI  on Saturday,  I am so proud of her.

[cariad]

Then the genius fairy sprinkled me with brain dust. 

Send her my way, Jbeany, and tell her to bring plenty of supply! I've got a deficit to make up.

Congrats on all the sales. I love getting rid of clutter. We donated probably around 50 children's books to my son's preschool yesterday, and today a Freecycler should be coming round to collect all of our old vhs movies. Empty space is a beautiful sight.

[marcy996]

My positive comes from Sunday when I finally had the energy to go and see one of my son's soccer games. He is a phenomenal little player, and Gwyn and I just love shouting out encouragement to each kid on the team. Aidan only made the one goal this game, but what a stunner! He dribbled the ball down the right side of the field and shot all the way across the goal to the left corner. His team was, per usual, getting quite discouraged because of the score (2-several million, last I counted) but Aidan has mastered the mental aspect of this game. He is relentless.

Liot was there, and this field borders a small wooded area. He spent most of the game pulling up garlic mustard weed (an invasive species). He had only seen it once, but somehow recognized it. They'll love him down at the environmental center when they have their annual garlic mustard week pulling event.

soccer and my 12 year old goalkeeper is the reason to keep taking care of myself the best way I can. As a single parent I have no one to fill in the gaps. No matter how I feel I push myself to make every practice and every game. He is considered to be the best goalie in his league. He is the positive in my life and I will jump any hurdle to be there to enjoy every minute.

[monrein]

Making food for my cousin's visit to the cottage on Friday...two little kids and 5 adults.   Quinoa salad, done.  Mango salad done.  Nuts for salads toasted.  Homemade burgers, made and wrapped.  Hunt for thin multigrain low fat buns, successful finally.  Strawberries to serve with frozen yogurt, found.

Now off to see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.   Ahhh.

[jbeany]

Hey, when are you having the rest of us over?  Sounds yummy!

[monrein]

I'd love to cook for all transplantees from IHD.  Everyone else welcome too and I'd work hard to not give you anything too "healthy" meaning non-renal diet.   

[cariad]

Preschool was furloughed today, so guess who spent the entire day with one willful little lad.

I am so proud of myself. I couldn't sleep last night until gone 1AM, then awoke at stupid o'clock, but not sleepy. I think I ran on the adrenaline (my saner sounding word for anxiety) of being left to perform like a real mom for the first time in months. Liot can be angel or nightmare, and one never knows in advance which way it's going to go. Today.... angel! Woo-hoo! (At least for my bit. Poor Gwyn.)

We went to the zoo. Liot knows so much about animals that he reminds me of some 20-year-veteran of a safari guide who has seen his fill of The Big Five and just wants to appreciate the little pleasures of nature. We were right in front of the giraffe enclosure when he starts shouting "Look! Mom! Look! A sparrow!!!" Then we were walking along and he found a tiny, fuzzy caterpillar and said "I think caterpillars like to crawl on my hand." So, I showed him how to place his hand, and the caterpillar was quite active up and down his arm, and he kept calling to bewildered tourists that he had a caterpillar on his arm. We left after two hours - no meltdowns.

Then Aidan came back from school and we took the boys to Brazilian soccer training. I don't know what that means either, except, yes, those were bona fide Brazilians running the session.

I am knackered, but it's great. A stranger at the zoo who happened to be traveling in our direction turned to me with that sympathy smile and said "Are you a survivor?" "Did you survive....?" (pause) "Cancer? No, I had chemo and radiation for something else."

The next person who asks me if I'm a survivor, I'm just going to say yes and leave it there.

[MooseMom]

As cariad says, it's "stupid o'clock" and I am still awake.

I received yesterday various courses I ordered from The Teaching Company.  I have viewed several courses in the past, mainly medieval history and  also linguistics.  The course that came yesterday is an "Understanding Great Music" course, and I've learned some fascinating things, like how only 40 examples of ancient music exist today, and how religious changes also brought about change in music.  Right now I'm learning about medieval masses and madrigals.  It's so cool!

[monrein]

As cariad says, it's "stupid o'clock" and I am still awake.

I received yesterday various courses I ordered from The Teaching Company.  I have viewed several courses in the past, mainly medieval history and  also linguistics.  The course that came yesterday is an "Understanding Great Music" course, and I've learned some fascinating things, like how only 40 examples of ancient music exist today, and how religious changes also brought about change in music.  Right now I'm learning about medieval masses and madrigals.  It's so cool!

My positive for the day is reading this post MM.

BTW, you might find this site interesting   http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/in-our-time/   It's Melvyn Bragg of the BBC who discusses a wide variety of fascinating topics with knowledgeable guests.  There's an archive of the podcasts and I usually listen while I cook. 

[Jean]

Okay, so I am a few days late, but I went to see my tall dark and handsome Neph on Wed and my GFR is now up to 25. It was 18 six months ago. I am happy!!!

[monrein]

Just got back from a weekend away with good friends who have a beautiful house in the country.  Hanging out with a nine and a four year old was amazing fun.

[Sunny]

Went to the Santa Cruz Blues Festival. Beautiful day, good music, lots of fun.

[cariad]

Okay, so I am a few days late, but I went to see my tall dark and handsome Neph on Wed and my GFR is now up to 25. It was 18 six months ago. I am happy!!!

How completely fantastic for you, Jean. This is such amazing news - I'm happy for you!

I have been out and active the past few days and almost feel like a normal person again. Yesterday we walked about 3 miles going to and from the kite festival that was in town. The way the festival was set up, we were able to bypass the commercial area where Liot had a meltdown last year when we wouldn't buy him some cheap crap or other. This year, we brought our own drinks, and the kids got to play with a giant Nemo (the fish) kite/balloon thing. Nemo was tethered to the ground, so when the wind was up he would float, and then when the wind subsided, he would gently float to the ground and about half a dozen kids would jump under him and start squealing. It was so fun to watch, and kept the boys amused for about an hour. We also got to see the launch of two gigantic octopus kites, and we watched a few of the professional kite fliers. After we got home, the kids wanted to play on the playground , so Gwyn took them to the little park across the way.

Today we had a late start, but the kids wanted to go to the park to play laser tag. Gwyn and I plotted to leave the laser guns at home and instead bring our super soakers, with a few gallons of extra water for refills. After getting over the disappointment that the lasers had been left home, the kids were walking into the park when Gwyn crept up behind them and sprayed them. An hour later, we were out of water and sporting the drowned rat look. A dog then came running up to us and started barking earnestly, obviously trying to communicate something. His owner, a really friendly, older man, started shouting "throw the stick!" The dog had a plastic stick on a rope and was demanding that we play with him. Aidan grabbed the rope and chucked it, and the dog ran to get it, brought it back, dropped it in front of Aidan and barked purposefully again. This went on dozens of times, with the kids taking turns. After the park, it was Brazilian soccer training for Aidan, while I played with Liot at home, blowing bubbles outside.

Right now I am thoroughly and exquisitely exhausted. It is divine!

[jbeany]

Finished reupholstering my adorable $5 chair from the thrift store.  Minus the ugly, stained print, it looks fabulous.  I used a scrap chunk of fabric, so the only extra cost was a few staples.  I've been on a project kick now that my decluttering war is at a cease fire.  (I've sorted so much there isn't much of anything left to go through.)  I also used scrap wood and built a proper stretcher for an oil painting that's been wedged in a poster frame for years, getting more wrinkled all the time.  It looks much better, and far more substantial, given the 2 inch width of the scrap wood.  I have 3 weeks until the next craft show, so now I've got the decks cleared of house projects so I can sew, bead, and sculpt to bulk out my existing craft stock for the next sale.  Ahhhh, visible progress around the house is like a refreshing breeze.

[Jean]

Cariad and jbeany, where do you get all that energy?

[MooseMom]

you might find this site interesting   http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/in-our-time/   It's Melvyn Bragg of the BBC who discusses a wide variety of fascinating topics with knowledgeable guests.  There's an archive of the podcasts and I usually listen while I cook.

What a great idea!!  While I was still in England, Melvyn Bragg did a BBC TV series called "The Adventure of English", the first part of which was aired before the Christmas/New Year holidays; I kept waiting for the second part, but I'm not sure they ever aired it.  But I have the book.  When the Normans occupied England, French was the language of the royal court, and English was the language of the farmers.  That's why we have two words to describe beef...it was "cow" while it was still alive and at the farm, but once it was butchered and brought into the royal homes, it became "boeuf".  Same with "sheep/mutton."  I think that's so cool.  Language can be a mirror of history. 

My positive for today is that, for the first time in at least a year, I got outside and played catch with my DH, glove and all.  My dad and I would play catch for hours all those years ago, and I am proud to say that I do not throw like a girl.  The glove felt heavy to my left arm, my fistula arm, as I repeatedly caught the ball, and I think this provided good exercise !

Oh, and I am now learning about The Baroque and the prelude to opera.

[jbeany]

Cariad and jbeany, where do you get all that energy?

I'm running on spare parts, Jean!  It's the first time I've had energy in a decade - I'm not wasting a minute of it, just in case it doesn't last.

[cariad]

Cariad and jbeany, where do you get all that energy?

I'm running on spare parts, Jean!  It's the first time I've had energy in a decade - I'm not wasting a minute of it, just in case it doesn't last.

Amen to this, jbeany! My energy was significantly decreased today, but I'm not the only one who feels run down, for a change. Progress!

We went to the environmental centre today for a walk on the bike trail that runs past it. The centre was shut (thankfully, because we can never drag Elliot out of there) but they had loads of tomato plants out front with a sign that said they were free. Then we had a long walk and saw a baby raccoon. The raccoon was crying - we think it had fallen from the two-story ledge that it was sitting under. It wasn't hurt, but it was against this stone wall surrounded by water. A woman walked over to us and asked what we were looking at, and she called wildlife rescue, but the last we heard there was not much they could do. I hope the little guy survives. It was certainly a special sight for the kids getting to see this raccoon, smaller than a house cat, crawling around on logs and fallen branches. We took four organic tomato plants on our way back to the car.

[cariad]

Lovely, lovely weekend! Yesterday was Aidan's soccer combined with a celebratory picnic for all the teams. It is held at a huge field and the kids all play their games wedged in together like a real tourney. Then there were games for the kids - a bouncy house, this strange giant octopus balloon tunnel maze, and some skill challenges in soccer. As Aidan played his match, I took Liot to the bouncy house. We queued for at least 20 minutes, then he jumped around for about 5 minutes. We were halfway through the hundred yard march to get back to Aidan's match when "Mom, I have to go to the bathroom." (Sigh) Turn around, find a bathroom, walk back to the match, catch the last 2 minutes. Gwyn says they lost, Aidan insists it was a tie. Brilliant match either way, our side played some of their best of the season. Then we get the kids the hot dog lunch that was on offer. Then they get in to the octopus maze and refuse to come out. The slightly dim young man standing guard outside keeps telling me I can go in and get them. (No.) Aidan eventually emerges, Gwyn has to crawl in and retrieve the other one. Then Liot discovers there are zips at strategic points all over this balloon and tries to dive into the octopus a half dozen times or so. Alarmingly, my full weight tugging against his arm is not enough to pull him out of there and I have to shout for Gwyn. (Liot only weighs 43 pounds - this seems to defy the laws of physics.)

Then I drop Gwyn off at a beer tasting, race home, the babysitter arrives, switch cars so I don't have to drive Gwyn's, meet Gwyn at the beer tasting, spend 2 hours watching grown men and very few women make raucous merry. I am one of a select group of 'designated drivers'. Drive Gwyn home, talk to the babysitter for a few minutes, then she tries to refuse to be paid saying "I don't want it." Are you kidding me, honey, this is work. She tells me that watching my children is not work. I want to adopt this woman, but settle for sending her home with the money we insisted on paying her. Then I slide into the jetted bath for a good, long soak.

This morning we had a quick breakfast of croissants with butter and lemon curd, with French breakfast melon on the side. This is dining week in town, so many restaurants are offering prix fixe menus that would normally cost at least double. It turned out the art museum cafe was participating, and it happened that the single-work exhibition of a famous painting was on its last day today. We went to the museum, the boys sat quietly through a 12 minute video on the piece (except for when the film showed Da Vinci's Woman with Ermine and Liot 'whispered' in the loudest manner possible "What animal is that?!") We saw the piece, the kids were angelic, the work was poorly lit though which was baffling. I kept catching the glare when I walked too close. Shame. I did really enjoy it though - like seeing a famous person, although far less disappointing. Then we went to the cafe and had a marvelous little brunch.

We did a quick shop at the local co-op and came home to cook food for the week to come. Such a productive and fun weekend, and very little pain for me.

[Jean]

Our IHD mini meet was a success. I am so grateful to Kit, Marc and Patty for all the information they shared with the girls who live here and all of the encouragement they gave us. What a great bunch of people. My husband Bob worked his little butt off, carrying things and cooking the dogs and then carrying more things. Our13th wedding anniversary is tomorrow, ( Monday ) . We wont celebrate it for another couple of weeks, but I am thinking I just might keep this one.

[Sunny]

My husband and son are rebuilding our back deck. It's going to be barbecue time soon!