It's not that I don't want to answer questions about Iraq, really it's not. Actually I think it's an interesting story. The thing is though, inevitably I end up awake in the middle of the night, unable to sleep, and really, really tired.
Hamish, my last boyfriend, used to complain about the questions about his heritage. They'd hear his name, and then his brogue, and conversation would turn to Scotland and his decision to stay in the states after his divorce was finalized. Like a sore tooth, and a tongue that just keeps finding that tender spot, the issue was never really far from hand. And it was a painful issue for him because he was so homesick for his family, but his decision to stay was not made lightly. Every time someone would ask about his homeland, however, he would question his decision.
The subject of Iraq is almost unavoidable. I'm constantly meeting new people, and for them the subject is new and interesting. And, to get to know me, it's a part of who I am and why I've made the changes in my life that are so evident today. But it's a sore tooth. And I'm awake, once again.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Queen of Boxed Dinners
In case you've been waiting for a roundup of local dinners, it's not been like that around here lately.
Today's dinner was out with the minister. Heck, even lunch at the farm today included delivery pizza. I stooped so low as to make shake-n-bake stuffed pork chops with stovetop stuffing. I don't think I managed to really cook, by that I mean slow food cook, at all last week.
On a positive note I did add local cooked carrots to at least a couple of the meals. I used to hate cooked carrots until my German au pair mother taught me how to do them in a white sauce. Now I love them.
On another positive note, I finally finished off one batch of compost in our Nature Gate composter and figured out what the terrible smell was. Empty the drain cup, that's what I've learned. It only smells a little earthy when you open the lid now and the smell no longer lingers like a bad dog fart. I can live with it now, thank goodness.
And it was a good day at the farm. I learned how to start seeds today. That and pick a bunch of winter greens. We must have picked about 10 pounds of greens, although I admittedly was the slowest picker today. I would have rather continued seeding, but at least it wasn't hauling buckets of sap around.
But overall, life is kind of nuts right now. I've got the days scheduled into hour increments and my phone alerts just keep going of. I'm adding on my to do list, make homemade box dinners. Taco seasoning and flavored bread crumbs probably would have saved the day this week. I plan to make it up next week when I buy some rabbit and pork from the farm. That and we get another box of veggies soon so I'd better use up what I've still got in the fridge.
Any suggestions for meals involving carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and broccoli?
Today's dinner was out with the minister. Heck, even lunch at the farm today included delivery pizza. I stooped so low as to make shake-n-bake stuffed pork chops with stovetop stuffing. I don't think I managed to really cook, by that I mean slow food cook, at all last week.
On a positive note I did add local cooked carrots to at least a couple of the meals. I used to hate cooked carrots until my German au pair mother taught me how to do them in a white sauce. Now I love them.
On another positive note, I finally finished off one batch of compost in our Nature Gate composter and figured out what the terrible smell was. Empty the drain cup, that's what I've learned. It only smells a little earthy when you open the lid now and the smell no longer lingers like a bad dog fart. I can live with it now, thank goodness.
And it was a good day at the farm. I learned how to start seeds today. That and pick a bunch of winter greens. We must have picked about 10 pounds of greens, although I admittedly was the slowest picker today. I would have rather continued seeding, but at least it wasn't hauling buckets of sap around.
But overall, life is kind of nuts right now. I've got the days scheduled into hour increments and my phone alerts just keep going of. I'm adding on my to do list, make homemade box dinners. Taco seasoning and flavored bread crumbs probably would have saved the day this week. I plan to make it up next week when I buy some rabbit and pork from the farm. That and we get another box of veggies soon so I'd better use up what I've still got in the fridge.
Any suggestions for meals involving carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and broccoli?
NPR sparks ire again...
Should illegal immigrants be granted in-state tuition for state colleges?
To me, the key here is the word illegal.
How about instead of worrying about giving illegal immigrants any rights, we work to make illegal immigrants legal?
They brought up the sad case of a girl who was brought to the US at the age of 6. She didn't have a choice to come to the US or not, she was brought here. She has since gone through US schools for the past 12 years and has never been to her country of birth again. She is, culturally, US American. But when she gets to be 18 she's still not going to be able to vote, and because she came here illegally she won't be able to receive in-state tuition. Her dreams are on hold.
I don't really know the path someone like this girl would take to citizenship. Would she have to go back to her native country and apply for a visa? Instead of worrying about her tuition rate, how about we set up a program for kids around the age of 13, a five year residency program, so that they can be legal residents as kids and apply for citizenship by 18? Problem solved, the kid's no longer here illegally.
To me, the key here is the word illegal.
How about instead of worrying about giving illegal immigrants any rights, we work to make illegal immigrants legal?
They brought up the sad case of a girl who was brought to the US at the age of 6. She didn't have a choice to come to the US or not, she was brought here. She has since gone through US schools for the past 12 years and has never been to her country of birth again. She is, culturally, US American. But when she gets to be 18 she's still not going to be able to vote, and because she came here illegally she won't be able to receive in-state tuition. Her dreams are on hold.
I don't really know the path someone like this girl would take to citizenship. Would she have to go back to her native country and apply for a visa? Instead of worrying about her tuition rate, how about we set up a program for kids around the age of 13, a five year residency program, so that they can be legal residents as kids and apply for citizenship by 18? Problem solved, the kid's no longer here illegally.
Monday, February 22, 2010
I tapped that
It's maple syruping time in Boston.
Global climate change critics please take note...it is February. Over the past 4-7 years the syruping dates have progressively inched earlier and earlier. Until this year the earliest date to begin tapping trees was February 19th, two years ago. This year tapping began on the 15th. The season has been earlier and shorter.
But it was a BEAUTIFUL day. I think I have a sunburn. Although to be honest, it could just be spending hours in the sugar shack. We were stacking wood all morning, making it easier for Lynda, the farm manager, to stroke the fire and add wood every 20 minutes. Maple syrup begins as sap, which is 97% water. It takes a lot of boiling (until it reaches a steady 219 degrees) before it's boiled down to syrup. In fact, it takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup.
And this afternoon I probably gathered enough sap to make a couple of gallons of syrup.
I came home exhausted and covered, no really, covered, in sap. I don't think my muscles are willing to move anymore. I'm obviously going to have to sleep on the couch tonight.
Big operations use hoses to collect sap, but they're not working on over 100 different sites like our farm does. Today we went to the Sherborne Cemetary and collected buckets from about 100 trees. Then we were off to the Peace Abbey, a Buddhist organization that happens to have a bunch of maple trees. After another hour of carrying buckets there we moved onto private residences.
Apparently it's all the rage in Sherborne. There's a street called, you guessed it, Maple Street, along which most of the yards exhibit maple trees with buckets. We only made it to two houses before the giant water container was full. It measured 325 something, I'm guessing gallons?
Sap, I should mention, looks just like water. It almost tastes like water too, although it's definitely got a sweet, yet somewhat mettalic aftertaste, almost like those flavored waters from Sam's club. They always ALMOST tasted like something.
I'm going back tomorrow, although I should be cutting salad greens in the greenhouse. I'm hoping that takes all day because I know they're looking for more physical labor. And tomorrow they're off to the local park, prison, and more front yards. Another 325 gallons of sap in the morning, and again in the afternoon.
That's a lot of syrup.
Global climate change critics please take note...it is February. Over the past 4-7 years the syruping dates have progressively inched earlier and earlier. Until this year the earliest date to begin tapping trees was February 19th, two years ago. This year tapping began on the 15th. The season has been earlier and shorter.
But it was a BEAUTIFUL day. I think I have a sunburn. Although to be honest, it could just be spending hours in the sugar shack. We were stacking wood all morning, making it easier for Lynda, the farm manager, to stroke the fire and add wood every 20 minutes. Maple syrup begins as sap, which is 97% water. It takes a lot of boiling (until it reaches a steady 219 degrees) before it's boiled down to syrup. In fact, it takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup.
And this afternoon I probably gathered enough sap to make a couple of gallons of syrup.
I came home exhausted and covered, no really, covered, in sap. I don't think my muscles are willing to move anymore. I'm obviously going to have to sleep on the couch tonight.
Big operations use hoses to collect sap, but they're not working on over 100 different sites like our farm does. Today we went to the Sherborne Cemetary and collected buckets from about 100 trees. Then we were off to the Peace Abbey, a Buddhist organization that happens to have a bunch of maple trees. After another hour of carrying buckets there we moved onto private residences.
Apparently it's all the rage in Sherborne. There's a street called, you guessed it, Maple Street, along which most of the yards exhibit maple trees with buckets. We only made it to two houses before the giant water container was full. It measured 325 something, I'm guessing gallons?
Sap, I should mention, looks just like water. It almost tastes like water too, although it's definitely got a sweet, yet somewhat mettalic aftertaste, almost like those flavored waters from Sam's club. They always ALMOST tasted like something.
I'm going back tomorrow, although I should be cutting salad greens in the greenhouse. I'm hoping that takes all day because I know they're looking for more physical labor. And tomorrow they're off to the local park, prison, and more front yards. Another 325 gallons of sap in the morning, and again in the afternoon.
That's a lot of syrup.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
This post is about chickens
This post is about chickens.
Specifically chickens in Cambridge, MA.
Up until yesterday no law restricted chickens in Cambridge.
More people are aware of our food supply issues, quality of life issues for our food suppliers, and the environmental impact of our diet. As a result, more people are starting to raise chickens in their backyards.
Chickens are allowed in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, and many, many other cities. But now, not in Cambridge. Zoning decided against them after a hearing in which one neighbor of a chicken raising household was concerned about the following:
a) Possible increase in rats or other pests
b) Possible disease (the neighbors were worried they'd get avian flu)
c) Smell
The chicken owners were easily able to effectively combat items a and b with a city rodent inspection reports and veterinarian's certificate of health. Item c, the only one I think would be a viable question, did not, apparently, come up within the zoning meeting.
Instead, the zoning board argued about what a pet is or is not. The questions, as I've read at least, revolved around whether or not it's okay to eat parts of your pet. For instance, you don't raise cats to eat their kittens whereas you raise chickens to eat their eggs. While I see the point, I don't see why it's relevant.
Why should we prohibit any animals based on what we get from them? Shouldn't we instead create realistic restrictions? If a person keeps their animals healthy, disease free, in a reasonable environment (not overcrowded like 20 cats in a house) and well cared for, we should allow people to have animals so long as they are not dangerous to the welfare of others. Restrictions already apply to pit bulls in the city or endangered species. Last year a chimp beat a woman nearly to death so I recognize the importance of animal restrictions. But restriction should not mean prohibition.
I would have expected a well educated zoning board to allow chickens with some restrictions.
Limit chickens based on space available, not because chickens can't live in confined spaces (see Food, Inc. if you want to see a modern chicken house) but because the smell of chickens is a realistic concern.
Require owners to vaccinate and care for their animal's medical needs. We require this of pets anyway, it's only common sense.
Just so you know what the zoning board based their decision on, here's the only city ordinance that directly includes information on foul:
"No owner or person having the care of any domestic fowl, or any goats, sheep, swine, horses, oxen, cows or other grazing animals, shall permit or suffer the same to go at large, or to graze on any street; and no person shall publicly exhibit any animal in the streets or public places of the City except in accordance with a permit from the Superintendent of Streets."
Instead the zoning board determined that chickens were not "accessory use" or permitted use of land within the city. They based this on the fact that chickens do not appear on the list of approved accessory use items (but of course neither do other animals, including pets). According to zoning regulations, a special permit can be applied for for non-accessory use. This, of course, would be an ideal time for the zoning board to create a permit for urban chickens. But, of course, they didn't do so.
So the household with the chickens will bring their case before the city council, and hopefully, eventually, a well defined permit will be permitted.
But for now, no chickens in Cambridge.
And you know why that's a shame? Because even though I have to believe that progress eventually wins, the wheels of law take time to mend things. In anticipation of this case (and the huge popularity of this issue...75 people came to speak on behalf of the chicken household) the zoning board could easily have created a permit for this household to apply to.
Neighbor happy, Chickens happy, Chicken owners happy, right?
Well, maybe someday, but obviously not today.
Specifically chickens in Cambridge, MA.
Up until yesterday no law restricted chickens in Cambridge.
More people are aware of our food supply issues, quality of life issues for our food suppliers, and the environmental impact of our diet. As a result, more people are starting to raise chickens in their backyards.
Chickens are allowed in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, and many, many other cities. But now, not in Cambridge. Zoning decided against them after a hearing in which one neighbor of a chicken raising household was concerned about the following:
a) Possible increase in rats or other pests
b) Possible disease (the neighbors were worried they'd get avian flu)
c) Smell
The chicken owners were easily able to effectively combat items a and b with a city rodent inspection reports and veterinarian's certificate of health. Item c, the only one I think would be a viable question, did not, apparently, come up within the zoning meeting.
Instead, the zoning board argued about what a pet is or is not. The questions, as I've read at least, revolved around whether or not it's okay to eat parts of your pet. For instance, you don't raise cats to eat their kittens whereas you raise chickens to eat their eggs. While I see the point, I don't see why it's relevant.
Why should we prohibit any animals based on what we get from them? Shouldn't we instead create realistic restrictions? If a person keeps their animals healthy, disease free, in a reasonable environment (not overcrowded like 20 cats in a house) and well cared for, we should allow people to have animals so long as they are not dangerous to the welfare of others. Restrictions already apply to pit bulls in the city or endangered species. Last year a chimp beat a woman nearly to death so I recognize the importance of animal restrictions. But restriction should not mean prohibition.
I would have expected a well educated zoning board to allow chickens with some restrictions.
Limit chickens based on space available, not because chickens can't live in confined spaces (see Food, Inc. if you want to see a modern chicken house) but because the smell of chickens is a realistic concern.
Require owners to vaccinate and care for their animal's medical needs. We require this of pets anyway, it's only common sense.
Just so you know what the zoning board based their decision on, here's the only city ordinance that directly includes information on foul:
"No owner or person having the care of any domestic fowl, or any goats, sheep, swine, horses, oxen, cows or other grazing animals, shall permit or suffer the same to go at large, or to graze on any street; and no person shall publicly exhibit any animal in the streets or public places of the City except in accordance with a permit from the Superintendent of Streets."
Instead the zoning board determined that chickens were not "accessory use" or permitted use of land within the city. They based this on the fact that chickens do not appear on the list of approved accessory use items (but of course neither do other animals, including pets). According to zoning regulations, a special permit can be applied for for non-accessory use. This, of course, would be an ideal time for the zoning board to create a permit for urban chickens. But, of course, they didn't do so.
So the household with the chickens will bring their case before the city council, and hopefully, eventually, a well defined permit will be permitted.
But for now, no chickens in Cambridge.
And you know why that's a shame? Because even though I have to believe that progress eventually wins, the wheels of law take time to mend things. In anticipation of this case (and the huge popularity of this issue...75 people came to speak on behalf of the chicken household) the zoning board could easily have created a permit for this household to apply to.
Neighbor happy, Chickens happy, Chicken owners happy, right?
Well, maybe someday, but obviously not today.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Statistics are In
Despite the news that Grandpa passed away, my husband and I decided to keep our doctor's appointment with the fertility counselor yesterday. Despite one pregnancy that was cut short we've had no other plus symbols on sticks or anything like that. Since I'm a year away from when doctors claim pregnancy risks increase we decided to have fertility testing to ensure that everything is in working order. I didn't want to try for another year and THEN find out something was wrong.
And I guess something is wrong. He couldn't exactly say, we fit into "generalized fertility issues" which make up a large portion of people trying to get pregnant. We do have some specifics, but nothing on its own that should prevent childbearing. I think perhaps it's a combination of many different things. My thyroid, for instance, although it tested within average ranges, was at the lowest possible point for safe conception. We're supposed to be monitoring it...somehow? My eggs are fine, my tubes are fine, but somehow my eggs may not be making it through my tubes okay. My husband has mobile sperm but a low sperm count.
All in all the doctor said we would have a 20% chance of conceiving in a year if we tried on our own. I looked up normal rates, of course. A "normal" couple has a 20% chance of conceiving each month with a 90% chance of conceiving within a year.
So the doctor laid out possibilities.
Our first option is to stimulate hormones, producing multiple eggs that release, with the hope that at least one okay egg makes it to the right spot at the right time. We'd be "inseminated" (IUI) with Gerd's sperm, deep into the fertile crescent, hoping our two bits become one. This, we're told has a 25% chance per cycle of working. Risks include twins or triplets and raving hormones that make me more irritable than I already am. Oh, and the drug was actually designed to ward off breast cancer. Hot flashes, also a side effect, would be welcome this time of year.
Our second option is IVF. I'm sure you've heard of IVF so I won't bore you with the specifics of the process, just to mention that, while there is still a risk for "multiples" it is somewhat more manageable. We could opt to only place one or two embryos each cycle, no need to worry I'd end up like octomom. This procedure has a 40% chance of success each cycle with an 80% chance of success over three cycles (if using "live culture"). If we freeze some embryos on the first try instead of "harvesting" each time, the rate goes down to 70%.
And here is where the betting begins. While I'd like to try the *slightly* less intrusive model first, at least for 3 cycles, but it will be about $400 each month. Our insurance only covers a maximum of $5000 for fertility issues. We've probably already bitten into the budget with the tests conducted so far.
If IUI doesn't work IVF is much, much more expensive. $8000 for a live cycle and $3000 for a frozen cycle. That doesn't include the $3000 per month medications.
Adoption, by the way, isn't any less expensive. It's pretty horrible to worry about how much money we need to spend to get a child, but *getting* a child is just the beginning of expensive, we know.
So we're contemplating for a bit, but I'm sure we'll return to the issue soon. Meanwhile I'll go back to acupuncture and see if it will do any good. I'm hoping that now life is stabilizing again that perhaps I'll go back to having normal chances again, but not counting on it.
And I guess something is wrong. He couldn't exactly say, we fit into "generalized fertility issues" which make up a large portion of people trying to get pregnant. We do have some specifics, but nothing on its own that should prevent childbearing. I think perhaps it's a combination of many different things. My thyroid, for instance, although it tested within average ranges, was at the lowest possible point for safe conception. We're supposed to be monitoring it...somehow? My eggs are fine, my tubes are fine, but somehow my eggs may not be making it through my tubes okay. My husband has mobile sperm but a low sperm count.
All in all the doctor said we would have a 20% chance of conceiving in a year if we tried on our own. I looked up normal rates, of course. A "normal" couple has a 20% chance of conceiving each month with a 90% chance of conceiving within a year.
So the doctor laid out possibilities.
Our first option is to stimulate hormones, producing multiple eggs that release, with the hope that at least one okay egg makes it to the right spot at the right time. We'd be "inseminated" (IUI) with Gerd's sperm, deep into the fertile crescent, hoping our two bits become one. This, we're told has a 25% chance per cycle of working. Risks include twins or triplets and raving hormones that make me more irritable than I already am. Oh, and the drug was actually designed to ward off breast cancer. Hot flashes, also a side effect, would be welcome this time of year.
Our second option is IVF. I'm sure you've heard of IVF so I won't bore you with the specifics of the process, just to mention that, while there is still a risk for "multiples" it is somewhat more manageable. We could opt to only place one or two embryos each cycle, no need to worry I'd end up like octomom. This procedure has a 40% chance of success each cycle with an 80% chance of success over three cycles (if using "live culture"). If we freeze some embryos on the first try instead of "harvesting" each time, the rate goes down to 70%.
And here is where the betting begins. While I'd like to try the *slightly* less intrusive model first, at least for 3 cycles, but it will be about $400 each month. Our insurance only covers a maximum of $5000 for fertility issues. We've probably already bitten into the budget with the tests conducted so far.
If IUI doesn't work IVF is much, much more expensive. $8000 for a live cycle and $3000 for a frozen cycle. That doesn't include the $3000 per month medications.
Adoption, by the way, isn't any less expensive. It's pretty horrible to worry about how much money we need to spend to get a child, but *getting* a child is just the beginning of expensive, we know.
So we're contemplating for a bit, but I'm sure we'll return to the issue soon. Meanwhile I'll go back to acupuncture and see if it will do any good. I'm hoping that now life is stabilizing again that perhaps I'll go back to having normal chances again, but not counting on it.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Silver Lining
There must be something good. There always is.
When the hospice nurse turned to my grandmother and said, there are only hours to count now, all four of her daughters were nearby. The two oldest had been planning a trip home the following morning and quickly canceled their train reservations. The train itself has been a Godsend considering unpredictable winter weather and 60 some year old women who shouldn't be driving on anything resembling ice. The aunts always knew they could come and go regardless of the temperature outside, and the $18 tickets are transferable, rearrangable, and cheaper than gas and tolls. It was easy, and necessary for them to stay.
This had been the first time in a week or two that all four sisters were gathered. My mother had just retired from her stressful job and was spending the majority of her time with my grandparents, staying with Aunt Melanie who, despite being a full time workers, has been their primary care giver for the last umtienth year. Aunt Laurel also doesn't work, hasn't ever I think, but because her life is "jobless" she has created a life of other jobs like babysitting and spending time with her church, and cooking. Aunt Linda is her twin and she works from home. She's taken days off each week to make it out to Rochester even though she and her husband are in the middle of a house remodel. All of the sisters have felt the pull of their normal lives along with the need to be with their mother and father.
So when the nurse told my grandmother, Evelyn, that her husband was about to die, she wasn't alone. And when my grandfather passed, quietly, peacefully, without struggle, he had his family with him. His amazing family. A wife who has never been alone, whom he took care of for 64 years. Who, because of the slowness of his passing, has begun to learn that she can live on her own. Who, because of her children being near, has been able to take time to go home and cry alone. And who, because of the stubbornness inherent in all Zeas, is going to at least try to learn how to make it on her won.
He was going to die. We all will. And when he found out he had a terminal illness he new it would be sooner than later. We had many scares along the way. Times when we found out his air was turned off and he struggled to breathe, times when he couldn't swallow or woke up without any air. He couldn't hold onto things anymore, so little was his oxygen supply, and he fought to retain his mental acuity. So I think he chose when to die.
He chose to die with his wife and daughters by his side. He left them safe and sound with each other. And he knew, because they're such amazing people, that they would be okay without him. Four deep breathes for each daughter and he was gone.
When the hospice nurse turned to my grandmother and said, there are only hours to count now, all four of her daughters were nearby. The two oldest had been planning a trip home the following morning and quickly canceled their train reservations. The train itself has been a Godsend considering unpredictable winter weather and 60 some year old women who shouldn't be driving on anything resembling ice. The aunts always knew they could come and go regardless of the temperature outside, and the $18 tickets are transferable, rearrangable, and cheaper than gas and tolls. It was easy, and necessary for them to stay.
This had been the first time in a week or two that all four sisters were gathered. My mother had just retired from her stressful job and was spending the majority of her time with my grandparents, staying with Aunt Melanie who, despite being a full time workers, has been their primary care giver for the last umtienth year. Aunt Laurel also doesn't work, hasn't ever I think, but because her life is "jobless" she has created a life of other jobs like babysitting and spending time with her church, and cooking. Aunt Linda is her twin and she works from home. She's taken days off each week to make it out to Rochester even though she and her husband are in the middle of a house remodel. All of the sisters have felt the pull of their normal lives along with the need to be with their mother and father.
So when the nurse told my grandmother, Evelyn, that her husband was about to die, she wasn't alone. And when my grandfather passed, quietly, peacefully, without struggle, he had his family with him. His amazing family. A wife who has never been alone, whom he took care of for 64 years. Who, because of the slowness of his passing, has begun to learn that she can live on her own. Who, because of her children being near, has been able to take time to go home and cry alone. And who, because of the stubbornness inherent in all Zeas, is going to at least try to learn how to make it on her won.
He was going to die. We all will. And when he found out he had a terminal illness he new it would be sooner than later. We had many scares along the way. Times when we found out his air was turned off and he struggled to breathe, times when he couldn't swallow or woke up without any air. He couldn't hold onto things anymore, so little was his oxygen supply, and he fought to retain his mental acuity. So I think he chose when to die.
He chose to die with his wife and daughters by his side. He left them safe and sound with each other. And he knew, because they're such amazing people, that they would be okay without him. Four deep breathes for each daughter and he was gone.
Friday, February 5, 2010
No Wonder
I'm completely exhausted.
Things like cooking and cleaning don't exist in my world right now. Well, that's not true, but really, I'm down to basic foods and survival meals.
Within the past few weeks my grandfather has continued to decline at a terrible rate, we DID get the house, I've had a house guest for almost two weeks (although I've been here on and off) and Gerd found out bad news about the longevity of his job (to be fair, he knew the company was going downhill for a while).
So while I've had a little help around both houses (in the form of our house guest) I've got packing and moving and painting and plumbing to worry about. I still haven't managed to get the soil tested either.
Everyone says you should take one day at a time, which I've been trying to do, but everything just seems to add up. This morning I had great plans, but shy of buying some curtain rods, not much came of them. Instead around 11:00 I realized I needed a nap. I woke up around 2:00. Even now I'm groggy.
So I haven't been writing, or really doing anything else that would be healthy for me. Maybe that will end soon. I just need to figure out the first step.
Things like cooking and cleaning don't exist in my world right now. Well, that's not true, but really, I'm down to basic foods and survival meals.
Within the past few weeks my grandfather has continued to decline at a terrible rate, we DID get the house, I've had a house guest for almost two weeks (although I've been here on and off) and Gerd found out bad news about the longevity of his job (to be fair, he knew the company was going downhill for a while).
So while I've had a little help around both houses (in the form of our house guest) I've got packing and moving and painting and plumbing to worry about. I still haven't managed to get the soil tested either.
Everyone says you should take one day at a time, which I've been trying to do, but everything just seems to add up. This morning I had great plans, but shy of buying some curtain rods, not much came of them. Instead around 11:00 I realized I needed a nap. I woke up around 2:00. Even now I'm groggy.
So I haven't been writing, or really doing anything else that would be healthy for me. Maybe that will end soon. I just need to figure out the first step.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)