Dog

Saf's nails have been clicking and clacking on the floor for a super long time.  Attempts to get them trimmed for years has failed - she won't let the vet office or the kennel do more than 2 or 3 at a time.

I am happy to report that I spotted another mobile groomer coming into the community earlier this week. I called and left a message hoping they could squeeze Saf in.  She called me back and swung by.  I was able to get in the van to help keep Saf stable and well praised.  Praise God all nails are trimmed!  She has to be more comfortable.  It is crazy how much better this makes me feel.

Shoulder

I have been dealing with pain in my shoulder area for months now.  I continue to go to the chiropractor and for monthly massages.  I really thought it was a knot like I had years ago and we'd get it addressed.  I thought it was from carrying a 35#+ kid more often than I should, so I backed off on that.  Unfortunately, I'm still struggling.  They are pretty sure it is bicipital tendonitis so my options are to stop sitting with my arms up on a desk/keyboard all day or... not.  Well the first isn't really an option.  Heck I've been doing closer to 45-50 hours as a week trying to get everything done and often working part of the weekend, so if anything I'm forced to do the exact opposite.

The chiro suggested contacting my PCP yesterday to see if they would consider any other treatment, in specific perhaps steroid to reduce the swelling.  Their response was to continue physical therapy -- as in chiro.

All I know is I am about done with this.  There is always a discomfort there - and if I move the wrong way it feels like a muscle instantly knots up producing a fair amount of shooting pain.  It effects my sleep.  It hurts to put on deodorant, it hurts to shave my armpit, I'm trying to relearn how to wipe myself with my other arm to avoid the pain that happens there, I can't easily take a shirt off... and worst of all I can't scoop my kid up.

I am pretty sure I mentioned getting an Instant Pot for Mother's day (at my request).  This past weekend I pulled it out to cook a brisket.  I do love brisket from bbq joints, but I've never managed to make one that was tender despite long/slow cooking attempts.  Success!  It was delish.  It still takes quite some time to make -- and would have probably been better had I put it to sit with the dry rub the day before.

Trying to make something new inspired me.  I had to hunt down something different to make with it and found a recipe to make my own creamed corn.  It was a good way to use a bag of frozen corn cut from fresh ears and turned out pretty decent.  I also pulled a couple of bananas from the freezer and pulled together a batch of my choco-cream-cheese-banana bread.  It was a tasty Sunday.

It has been a week since the election.  In true 2020 style... it remains up in the air and not looking like there is an end in sight.

I don't think we'll ever know who legitimately won the election, but I am pretty confident there were lots of improprieties.  I still believe firmly that Donald Trump is who we need in office for another 4 years and I am fearful of what the Biden, wait, let's call it like it is, what the Harris presidency would entail.  All I can do right now is pray that the truth comes forward.  I am praying for our nation hard.

I know some of my friends disagree with me. I still call you friends, I hope you feel the same.

Holy moly what happened to October? Either way I am glad that we are almost to the point where the robo calls, text messages, and incessant political ads will come to a halt.  Let the news of cities on fire begin, right?

Halloween was nice - the weather was way better than last year and Avery had a blast.  Avery had her dinosaur costume for the school parade, which narrowly avoided the rain since it was outside this year.  For the neighborhood she rocked a Zero the dog costume we pulled together at the 11th hour - after my sister finished crocheting the most awesome zero hat for her.

My sister and niece were in for nearly two weeks, so I was running at about 50% for work.  During that timeframe our other sister also came out.  My house was full and busy!  I didn't get enough of a mental break though, so I am sitting here wiped out at the moment.  I prb doesn't help that I committed myself to a fast today.  The headache is real - despite allowing myself my allotment of caffeine this morning.

It's official.  Royal Caribbean has cancelled my cruise.  I knew it was coming.  I want it to -- so I didn't have to feel like I was missing it if we decided to not sail.

It has been a while since I commented on the shows I am trying to get through.  I am managing quite well without DirecTV.  Dare I say I don't even miss it?  I am still slowly making my way through all of the episodes of House and the Marvelous Mrs Maisel on Amazon Prime.  I periodically get to watch another episode of Dead Like Me on Amazon Prime too. I can't watch that one downstairs because the TV there isn't compatible with IMDB something something which allows it to interrupt the show to play commercials (lemme tell you how annoying that is).

I hadn't turned on Netflix in a while, but when I did I spotted Ratched, so I am slowly getting through those episodes too.  I have to say I'm losing interest in their content as a whole.  Not just due to some of their more recent bad decisions -- but lately it seems like there is a theme to everything I see there that feels a little to agenda-y.  I was surprised to find the opposite when I watched "Social Dilemma" on Netflix.  It was enough to push me over the edge; facebook messenger app is now gone from my phone.  Actually, I was just going to turn notifications off, but it wouldn't let me, so I deleted.  Mostly I have been watching Youtube videos, or at least listening to them whilest I work or start falling asleep.

It took nearly 2 months, but at last today a notary is coming to the house for me to sign the papers to finish my refinance on the mortgage.

Finance wise it is a very odd time.

As we get to the end of each year I dial back how much is going into my retirement as I near the yearly max; that leaves me some 'extra' cash, so the battle is do I put more towards the mortgage or use that to refill the coffers after laying out cash for the interior painting (which I continue to be very happy with by the way).

I may not have mentioned this before, but there was also an unprecedented situation with work which -- long story short -- resulted in them requesting our efforts which would earn some overtime.  It's a situation where I admit I feel obligated to help, I want to see it succeed, but it sure doesn't hurt to get a few extra bucks.  That of course means a bit of a challenge getting that extra time in, especially if we go back into a lockdown that closes schools/daycares.  I am not putting in much time yet on that, but hopefully that little bit extra can help make progress on something too.

Being an adult is weird. I am actually excited for tomorrow night's debate. I plan on making popcorn. This is going to be better than anything on my watch later lists on youtube or Netflix by far.

I think of things after I post... what can I say.  Perhaps exacerbated from moving so many things around for the painters, but present for the past month and a half -- I continue to have issues w/ my right arm/shoulder.  I went for another massage yesterday and we're not finding any knots that could loose me of the pain.  She however did indicate that my bursa is enflamed and swollen.  Even before this appointment I was to the point with this ongoing discomfort that I intend to get it further assessed after the new year.  In the meantime, suggestions welcome.

Time for an update!  On the first day the painters did get through everything upstairs (except two of the smaller closets, which I was using to get things out of the way while they worked there.  They also got started on several areas downstairs.  As they worked I emptied the pantry and readied the rest of their path forward.  From there they finished the rest of the house on Sunday while I worked upstairs going through my clothes and purged rather than putting everything back into my closet (5 bags are in the basement to go).

My current state is a little like a tornado went through.  I promised myself that I wouldn't just put everything away again without making some decisions, so the mess may remain for a little while.  I did get the office put back together quickly (as was necessary), and reconfigured it to an L shape rather than a U shape.  This also allowed me to pull the one table away from the windows so I can access them more readily.

The Halloween decorations that were previously up are back in place, but lots of other things on the wall need to be re-applied.

This past weekend Avery and I went to see my sister in Lock Haven!  We had a lovely long weekend.  I truly needed a bit of a break.  Unfortunately, that means I made no progress on clean up over the weekend.  But I guess w/ limited activities outside of the home and the high likelihood of additional lockdowns I suspect I'll have ample time in the next month or two to get it all in order.

This Saturday the painter comes!  He expects to get everything upstairs as well as the dining room and potentially the entry hall complete -- two coats -- on that single day.  This is awesome, but where on earth am I putting everything upstairs to "clear a path" for him?  I know things can move to the middle of the room, but eesh.  I am hoping to use this opportunity to tidy up the odds and ends that have accumulated in the spare bedroom and the workout room.  I already got the old queen size bedrails down to the basement (finally).

I also peeled the vinyl lettering off of the dining room wall and pulled down the family photos, which were all on command strips.  The double-sided sticky style command strips all brought some paint/wall down with them whereas the newer ones that have two pieces that velcro together came down beautifully without damage.

I did tell him the original color I selected.  It isn't going to be too dark, I'm going to love it.  All is well, right?

Crazy as it is even in my own mind ... after probably 27 years, I went to confession -- and for the first time ever, willingly. There has been a lot on my mind and heart. The fact is, if I keep getting reminded of it with a sense of urgency (particularly since it isn't something that I'd question the 'benefit' vs 'negative aspects' of), I know I had best obey. I have another item on my mind that I need to address and that is with regard to getting a few things blessed. Of course, it is an odd ask that I could see a Catholic church rejecting since I am not a member of their community and they do not know my intentions.

Regardless, I went, I am happy I did.

This is Halloween, this is Halloween!  It will NOT be cancelled.  If they try, we riot.  Oh wait... I guess it's too late for that to be shocking.

It is official.  It has begun.  Last night after I picked Avery up we went on a shopping run.  I needed some more bottled water, so I had a need to go to Big Lots, but I made the haul on a Thursday because I know they're getting their Halloween goodies in.  We hit Big Lots, and Target, and Hobby Lobby, and Home Depot!

I started following a YouTuber who posts all about her trips around shopping for Halloween decor.  She does some of the most beautiful setups and has a lovely gothy style.  I blame her for putting me in the mindset.  Avery on the other hand can totally blame me.  She didn't want to wear the shirt I had pulled out for her this morning and I told her to get something else out.  In response she grabbed her sequined ghostie shirt.

Since we're both geared up we pulled things out from the basement this evening and started planning/plotting.  I also discovered the bag of cut outs I made her last year (a pumpkin, a ghost, and a frankenstein moster head with various cut out eyes, mouths, etc to configure), so we spent some time this evening playing with those as well.

Aside and totally off topic:  When you get a notice that a package will be arriving soon and have no idea what it could be.  Then you click in to see who it is from and think "geez, I forgot I even ordered that" because it's been so long since you did so that you forgot about it.  I'm talking to you Tupperware.  You charged my card on July 25, it's September.  SHAMEFUL that you have the nerve to charge shipping.  You could have walked it here by now.