Did you accomplish anything today?

[Riki]

Update re mouse -  While getting a new ball of wool from my basket,  I noticed between the basket and my foot sat the sweetest, cutest little mouse.  Without even thinking I stomped on it.  Now I've got the shakes.  Poor little mouse.  I'm off for a stiff drink in it's honour.

 

I laughed.. I'm sorry

[cariad]

We finished the video presentation for Aidan's half-term project!

This has been causing so much stress! He wanted to do a video, so we decided to have an interview with his chosen artist, Salvador Dali. He played Dali, Dyl interviewed him - it took about 4 hours and Gwyn and I still have to edit it, but it's done. It was due last Friday, but I told the teacher we really only have time to do these things over the weekend and would need until Monday. At the end, we had Dyl ask Dali to comment on Aidan's work - a dadaist piece called Whistling Electric Tea Kettle. Then, we ended it with a scene in which Salvador Dali likes Aidan's work so much, he steals it. My kids have a lovely dramatic flair even if I do say so myself.

Also, we went to Dyl's first belt test. He is now officially a yellow belt in karate.

Next focus is Dyl's half-term project on the differences between the Arctic and Antarctica.

[conchman]

I took a nap after I got up, just real tired lately (creat's up, GFr down) Then got inspired, finished taxes, setup online 401k stuff (twice) doh!!, then changed the water in the saltwater tank...might end with a quick vacuum, nah, I think I maxed out...

M

[jbeany]

Got most of my shopping done.  The craft store closed before I got there - I always forget everything shuts down early on my end of town on Sundays.  Ah well, that just means I won't go until the coupons kick in on the 15th. 

I bought a weighted hula hoop today.  Wow, are the thousands of blogs that say the heavy ones are easier right.  I have a light kids' one the same size, and it's a pain to use.  (I need to see if I can pry that one apart and add some sand or something to weight it down.)  And boy oh boy is 10 minutes of twirling a weighted hoop a good way to get your heart rate up! 

[Poppylicious]

Update re mouse -  While getting a new ball of wool from my basket,  I noticed between the basket and my foot sat the sweetest, cutest little mouse.  Without even thinking I stomped on it.  Now I've got the shakes.  Poor little mouse.  I'm off for a stiff drink in it's honour.

 

I laughed.. I'm sorry

I gasped.  And now I feel a little squidgy in my tummy. Poor wee thing!

Not today, but yesterday: went shopping with mumsy.  We hit the charity shops and I came home with one gorgeous top, one photo album, two beautiful old plates (I'm starting a collection of mismatched old plates fit for afternoon tea), one fabulous decorative bag, one ball of deep pink wool, a Dianne Wynne Jones book ... I think that was it.  But it all came to less than £20. I am becoming the Queen of Bargain-tat.

I bought a weighted hula hoop today.  Wow, are the thousands of blogs that say the heavy ones are easier right.  I have a light kids' one the same size, and it's a pain to use.  (I need to see if I can pry that one apart and add some sand or something to weight it down.)  And boy oh boy is 10 minutes of twirling a weighted hoop a good way to get your heart rate up! 

Oh, is that where I'm going wrong?  I can only manage about five twirls with my new Avon one.  I must try making it a little heavier ... or just accept that I don't have the twirly-ness for hula-hooping.

 

[jbeany]

Yup, it needs to be at least belly button high or higher, and at least 2 pounds, if not more.   The size and weight make it spin slow enough to help you keep it up.  That's why they were so easy to do as a kid - in comparison to our size then, the hoops were much larger!  Check eHow and youtube - all kinds of vids and tips - plus tricks!  (I can almost spin the hoop and rotate myself in place at the same time now.)

[Riki]

I could never use a hula hoop, even when I was kid.  I get one, maybe two spins before it hit the floor.

[cariad]

I could hula hoop all day as a kid. Still can, to be honest. I also score very highly on the Wii Fit hula hoop section, which I think is harder than the real thing because you have to remember what the motion is without having the benefit of an actual hula hoop to help you get the rhythm down.

[jbeany]

The motion can change though.  You can rock hip to hip or front to back, as long as you are catching the front of the hoop and nudging it each time it goes by.  I'm very amused by mine, although I need to go back downstairs to my treadmill too.   The hooping stance does wonders for working my thighs, but I'd hate to lose the calf muscles I've built with all the power walking I've done so far this year.  So far, all I've accomplished is the hooping and some tax code research for a client.  At least for once, the exercise seemed more fun than what I was doing on the computer at home....

[Cynna66]

So much accomplished today. Saw my family doc AND my rheumatologist. I got a new prescription to take and we are backing off the prednisone slowly (FINALLY!!!). I am excited but exhausted. I am also moving so there is no rest until late tonight.... suitcases, boxes, erg. Moving is the worst. This is my first apartment EVER though and the first time I'll be living on my own in 10 years. Yikes! That is going to be quite an adjustment. So yes. Very busy, very productive, very exhausting. I am far too old for this nonsense (34... ha ha ha).

[Poppylicious]

Today I tidied the office and the spare bedroom (I say tidy, but I actually mean I hid everything in drawers and under throws).  Then I made Blokey's Valentine present.  (Yes, we 'do' Valentine's Day ... go Bah, humbug! someone else ...!) It's a tad girly and is probably more for me than for him but it's a semi-throwback to our wedding as I printed out and framed the reading my FiL did (an excerpt of The Velveteen Rabbit) at our ceremony. Then I added a bunch of mini white paper roses which I still had lying around from when I made my own invitations. I hope he likes it.  I'm going to bake some heart-shaped cookies for him tomorrow as well.  I imagine he'll love those lots.

I could hula hoop all day as a kid. Still can, to be honest. I also score very highly on the Wii Fit hula hoop section, which I think is harder than the real thing because you have to remember what the motion is without having the benefit of an actual hula hoop to help you get the rhythm down.

I can actually achieve high scores on the Wii hula-hoop game.  Real life seems to confound me though!  Maybe I should try actual hula-hooping whilst doing it virtually on the Wii.  Hmmm ...

 

[billybags]

Ah, Poppy that sounds dead romantic.  Hope you both have a lovely valentines.

[cariad]

Dyl's project was handed in this morning. Whew! Last night was a mess, lots of shouting and crying, I am so relieved to see the back of that thing. When a 6-year-old cries "I'm under so much stress" you know there's a problem. His teacher has already said that his project is, and I quote, FAB. We had two giant shoeboxes that we filled with animals and features from the arctic and antarctic. Did you know that the Arctic is an ocean surrounded by continents and the Antarctic is a continent surrounded by oceans? Why, that's just a sampling of the useless facts I now have in my head!

I emailed the council with our amended tenancy agreement, got the keys from the letting agent, and had our initial consult with a mortgage consultant. There is the ideal property on the market now and I am so frantic that it will sell before we can buy it, but trying to remain calm. It's half-term!!! Time to catch up on sleep.

[cariad]

Yesterday I photographed my dining suite and a massive oriental carpet that we have and sent the pics and everything I knew about the pieces (not much) off to ValueMyStuff.com which I guess is run by people involved with Antiques Roadshow or similar. Anyhow, I figured it was an inexpensive way to get a start on finding out if this carpet is worth anything. I knew the dining suite probably is, but we don't have any intention of selling that as we love it. I received the dining table and chair valuation first thing this morning - guess it was an easy one! It's an Edward Wormley ca. 1955. Still waiting on any info on the carpet but they guarantee a response within 48 hours.

It's actually quite fun, this site. I bought a set of 3 valuations, so we can still get info on one more item. I think we'll use it for Gwyn's antique motorbike, assuming he ever restores the silly thing.

[conchman]

Woke up (always grateful), cup of coffee, since it was my off day we went to Nissan dealer looked at a Rogue, then home to change the water in the saltwater aquarium.  After my wife came home, off to Chevy dealer, test drove Chevy Equinox.  Played new car game with dealer, we lost, but we bought the Equinox anyway. (paid a q

[Poppylicious]

I got told off in a lesson ... *gasp* ... I'm such a naughty Support Assistant.

 

[jbeany]

A movie monster doctor's appointment.  (Someone has to get close enough to poke it with a sharp object to see if it's still alive.)
Made an appointment for a bone density test.
Got the name of a dermatologist.
Have blood work to do later.  Wheeha fun.

Had a phone interview with a local court magistrate.  It was a scary 13 minutes, but I think I sounded okay for most of it.

Remembered I needed to send out thank yous for the interview - even if only one person talked on the speaker phone.  Dug out the note cards and am getting ready to start those.

Finished a book I want to sell this weekend.
Put away my beading supplies.

Nothing else yet!

[Riki]

I was so disgusted with my appointment this afternoon that I just came home and went to bed.  I'm still angry, and emotionally exhausted over the whole thing.  Tomorrow, I begin the work to lose the weight, to spite the b@stards

[Poppylicious]

I was so disgusted with my appointment this afternoon that I just came home and went to bed.  I'm still angry, and emotionally exhausted over the whole thing.  Tomorrow, I begin the work to lose the weight, to spite the b@stards

I've been following your adventures on Fb! I will be dancing with you (but in a different time zone and possibly to different tracks.)

*huggles*

I went to the supermarket.  And the cinema. Then scrubbed the house from top-to-bottom ready for entertaining tomorrow. I need to turn the heating on because it's a tad frosty outside, but the heating system made the weirdest noise this morning and I panicked and turned it off. Now I'm scared to turn it back on and would rather be cold whilst burying my head in the sand.

*grin*

[cariad]

My little guy has a bad cold. Yesterday was American sport day at a local school, so for the second time this week I got behind the wheel of a car. It was far too cold and the boys were too under-the-weather to mess about with public transport. An easy journey on streets I know very well with roundabouts that for whatever reason do not stress me out.

We also went to a second meeting with a mortgage advisor. They offered to lend us a ridiculous amount of money. We had to face the unpleasant fact that we spend something like £250 a month on kids' clubs and classes, not including holiday camps which run a minimum of £125 per week, plus equipment and uniforms. We are always so wrung out and overscheduled, so we have discussed with the boys what they are willing to drop and hope to drop that down by at least £75/month. Street dance and karate are the two big expenses, but we are keeping both of those.

Today we skipped football practice for Dyl because he has been so worn down from this cold. Instead, we went to the open morning for the house that I was convinced I wanted to buy. I am so glad I went - I don't want to buy it anymore. It needed so much work and was already above what I am comfortable paying. We want a fixer, but that requires that we don't max out our resources before we even move in. There is a place only a half mile away on a quieter street that's about half the price of this place, and we want to see it and then if it has potential, we could theoretically afford to realise that potential. Theoretically.

In the afternoon Gwyn and Aidan went to a karate seminar and I stayed home with Dyl. We worked on a puzzle and then he chilled out in front of LoveFilm. We are skipping rugby training tomorrow, too. Dyl needs to rest some more and Aidan has his first football game.

[jbeany]

Cleaned house - tidied away paperwork, scrubbed the bathroom, vacuumed, dusted, swept, and mopped. 
Did laundry.
Did dishes.
Straightened up the craft room and put away all but the current project supplies.
 
Can you tell I have company coming to stay?

Still have a ton of things to do, like make something ahead for breakfasts when they are here, more job apps, and a lot of info to read for an interview on Tuesday.

[Riki]

anyone who, like Poppy, has me on FB, knows what I did today. *G*

I pulled out the Just Dance Kids Wii game and built myself a 5 song workout.  It took me about an hour to do, as I was testing songs on how hard they were to do and how fast they were.  At one point, Cleo decided that my dancing sucked and attacked my foot. *L*  My playlist consists of 5 songs and the workout itself is 12 minutes long.  I think that's a good start.

After I did that, I played ski ball for a while, also on the Wii, then bowled, then played 2 games of Wheel of Fortune. 

So my body and my brain got a workout this afternoon.. *G*

[chook]

Our youngest daughter has a Wii - they are great fun. My fav is a game where you pedal a BMX. And playing it with my Mum watching is a hoot. Mum calls instructions out to me - pedal faster! look out for the tree! It is a good work out too.
I am at the start of two weeks work at my sister's toy shop. This is the only work I do all year. I stay with my Mum and love the job and the time I spend with Mum. It is just customer service but lots of interaction with the children and I enjoy that.
I take my hat off to everyone that works full time. I've been blessed to have virtually 'retired' at 20, and apart from raising a family and running our own grazing business, my time has been my own.

[Riki]

hehe.. Mom pointed out to me that the curtain in the living room was open all day yesterday.. so the neighbors could probably see me dancing in the living room.. *LOL*

[cariad]

Glucose tolerance test and a 3-mile walk, then quickly made lunch for Gwyn who popped home on a 30 minute break between meetings.

Tuesdays are our crazy days - pick the boys up from school, grab them afternoon tea at the adorable tea room, walk down to their choral rehearsal, race out to grab the bus home, Gwyn picks me up at 5:45, we race to the rehearsal site, I grab Dyl and dash to the same bus stop to get him home, Gwyn waits 15 minutes for the older kids to finish their rehearsal, takes Aidan to football practice. We only have to do this 2 more times and then they have their big show down in London and then we take a break from chorus until September.

I am trying to plan the most logistically nightmarish trip back to America *ever*. There is one week when we need to be in Chicago, various appointments we must keep in Milwaukee and Chicago, 4 kids that we MUST visit but one of them lives in Colorado and can only visit the same week. Plus, we are trying to use frequent flyer miles through my father who wants rid of them, so that limits our itinerary choice. Dad is a legendary control freak. He has criticism for every plan I've come up with to date. He seems to believe that a morning flight out of LA will somehow traumatise all of us because we will have to leave their house at 6AM. I'll leave at 6AM to save $2000. It's just not that big of a deal. It matters little to him that Gwyn and I lived in LA for a few years and are actually somewhat familiar with LA traffic. Dad also told us what to expect moving to England. You can see how much easier those tips have made our lives!