School was, in fact, cancelled on Friday.  Blizzard packet #3 is now complete.  The good news is it is a bit warmer and there was enough snow for Avery to go play w/ a few neighbor friends last night.  I knew her boots were an 11, but I was hoping they would still work this year.  That's a big no.  Can I just say that kid's snow boots are inordinately expensive for all the more often they get to be worn?  I online ordered a pair from our favorite consignment store, so we just have to run and snag them.  I'm buying big so they will last another winter.  We may need some thicker socks this year.

In other news, our fosters Pickle and Summer just left.  Pickle wailed a bit in the carrier.  Poor guy.  I'm so glad they're going together.

Wednesday ended up being a 2 hour delay.  I'm glad they went!  Other than it being cold the roads were clear.  I love having her home, but it's tiring when I have to get work time in and we are responsible for doing school work.  We have another storm that is coming in - snow expected overnight tonight.  This and the fact that it warmed up a bit (20s) means there should be some snow for Avery to play in this weekend.  It also means I'm wondering how things will play out for school on Friday.

It's funny, one day she's bummed when I tell her school is cancelled and excited to go back to school.  The next day she's bummed I woke her up because school isn't cancelled, only delayed.  I'm glad you love home/me as much as you do school/your friends kiddo.

Saffy had her yearly vet appointment yesterday.  I (and the vet) am pleased to announce that the vet indicated her heart still sounds good and strong.  She was due for her rabies and a few other things, but we have backed off on a few things that aren't necessary given her age.

Avery was off yesterday for MLK day.  Late last evening we got the call for a 2-hour delay.  It is pretty cold out there and there is a fresh layer of what looks like snow from a distance but is more pellet-like up close.  (As I type this I can hear the firetruck horn down on the main road.)  Fortunately yesterday she slept til 11am (she did the same on Saturday morning too - I hope this isn't a signal that she fighting something off).  After that she worked on some of her homework for the week and got to watch a bit of TV until I wrapped up my day early.  (Update:  Remote learning again today.)

Also, I made a leap.  I had a flooring company come a while back to look at my carpet (I was hoping they could re-stretch the living room to resolve that transition issue and perhaps fix the spot in my bedroom - unfortunately they felt the carpet would just rip).  I stopped into their store the other day to look at their flooring options.  It feels crazy to trust a company to do your whole house (and that is crazy expensive) so I am baby-stepping.

They are scheduled to come replace the flooring in the two bathrooms and laundry room upstairs.  I went with one of those pieced together floors that is water proof, but also has what looks like grout lines.  I forced myself out of the dingy beige toned one and went with one that has both gray and slight brown tone to it - but it's bright.  I think it's going to look great in the laundry and Avery's bathroom, I just get nervous because of the brown tile in my shower.  Hopefully it goes well and I am enthused.  If so I will have an easier time pulling together the bank to replace all of the other flooring (all the carpet upstairs, the carpet downstairs, and the fake wood downstairs).

Today was our first "snow day".  It was really some sleet and wind right at freezing temps this morning that did them in.  I have to say how impressed I am.  Long gone are the days of watching the news ticker for delays and cancellations.  I woke to a voicemail from the school district (they provide transportation) indicating they were on a 2 hour delay.  I also had an email from her school indicating a two hour delay.  While I was in the bathroom I got the phone call from the school reiterating the 2 hour delay.  I hadn't even looked out the window yet to get an inkling there could be weather issues.

After getting a bit of work in I woke her with plenty of time... but also just in time to get the call indicating that the school district was closed.  If they're closed we don't have their transportation to school so I went ahead and emailed her teacher to let her know she would do a remote learning day (I was not driving that way if the roads were gross).  About 40 minutes later the call came saying that her school was closed too; at this point I was driving to help my favorite egg drop his car at the dealership for something to get checked.  The roads were a bit sloppy but it had warmed up enough that it was fine.

It definitely took that hour first thing in the morning and a long rest of the day to get my hours in while also taking breaks to facilitate her remote learning.  I would give her the info she needed (since she can't read well enough just yet) and help her understand two sheets and return to work while she finished it and then got to watch some tv.  Loop this 5 times and we managed to finish her work around 2pm. 

A few months ago I purchased a new faucet for my kitchen sink.  Note I said purchased, not installed.  Today my favorite egg said, let's install that... sigh.  It leaks right at the handle and into the cabinet below.  Not sure if it is a bad cartridge or what.  I ordered another (fortunately, the same one is still available both on Amazon and Home Depot), but it won't be here until Friday the 5th.

I quickly learned that if I don't have running water I would be quite challenged to do dishes in a manner I find acceptable - and that was with me bringing pitchers of water from the 1/2 bath.  At least I had the presence of mind to get things going for dinner before we started that task -- too bad I hadn't made and cleaned up from dinner first.

This right here is what I hate about home improvement.  Further, I have to admit, if I had tried to replace this myself I wouldn't have gotten very far as there were pieces of the old one that he had a hard time getting loosened - I would have been doomed.

Here we are again.  Another year has blurred by.

Let's take a look back at 2023:

- I got past my anxieties about traveling after so long without.  I also resolved the lack of cruising situation.  Win-win!  Avery and I took two absolutely delightful vacations, both of which included a cruise, but also a few days before relaxing in paradise. Our time in Galveston and Cocoa beach before each cruise was just as fun and therapeutic as the cruises themselves.  Sailing with a kid that heads off to Adventure Ocean definitely is different.  I didn't really know what to do with myself - but it was nice to have a chance to sit and read.

- We again had passes to the public pool this summer and Avery had a few more swimming lessons. There was a trip to Kennywood (and Avery rode the rides she was big enough for like a champ).  We didn't get out to other new adventures, but I think the vacations counted big time.

- Saffy had her moments this past year that really worried me.  It is to be expected, she's going to be 16 in a few days.  For now, she seems to be doing ok.  The poo accidents are just part of our daily routine now.  I don't love it, but it could be worse.  I'm glad she's still with us.  Zero is still crazy.  He just celebrated his 4th birthday, so I have a couple more years before I can expect him to chill out a bit.

- Church has done well this past year, although we did have a UTI late this year that scared me thinking he was blocked again.  He loves having a new brother.  Barnabas didn't stay little long.  He loves to plop on my chest in the middle of the night and purr his little heart out.  They keep each other entertained.

- We have had more foster cats come and go in 2023:  The three that were with us over last new year (Vader, Buddy, and Christian) all went to on to their forever families.  Then a few as singles that came and went (Viktor, Cupcake)... and one that came and never left (Barnabas)!  Presently we have three more from the trapping efforts this year (Summer, Pickle, and Jackson).

- Supporting the rescue I applied for a few grants.  I am proud to say that we secured a $2000 grant from one of the places I had identified.  The have more trapping to do in one location and of course the bills are constant, so it will definitely help out.  We also helped out at the mass trapping efforts with a few activities; it was an interesting learning experience.

- As noted last year, my mortgage has been stretched out and will be going well into 2024.  Honestly, if it stretches beyond this year I will be disappointed with myself -- but that does necessitate me _really_ stepping up my pace again.  This also means that I need to keep other spending in check (this statement does not apply to cruising, come at me).

- My health hasn't changed.  Take that for what it's worth.  It means I'm still way too fat.  It means I still ache here and there.  I'm not giving up on myself making a change, I just need to find that spark and it isn't something I can manufacture.  The days go by so quickly.

- The house remains neglected. The carpet desperately needs to be replaced, but it doesn't make sense with a 16 year old dog.  I wish there were things on my to do list that weren't major undertakings ($$$$) so I could make a bit of progress.  I did replace a few lights downstairs, so that's something.  I'm quite pleased with what we put in.

- The garden went well with a few exceptions. Carrots did way better than the year before.  Beets did great.  Lettuce did great, tomatoes always do pretty well.  Potatoes did decently.  We had a few peppers, but they were small and unlike last year the cubanelles were duds.  Broccoli was a huge fail.  The pumpkins were a tease.  The one notable win in that I got a lot going from seeds in the basement under a grow light - which is a first for me.

- We did spend quite a few evenings outside enjoying the nicer weather.  It's good to have the swingset, scooters, and the awesome neighbors.  Remember the years where I said I wanted to be a bit more open and friendly with neighbors?  It took some time (and the right people) but success!

- I did take a solid pass on the whole garage clearing some things out (not as much as I probably should have), reorganizing, etc.  Let's not talk about the basement.

- Work is what it is.  A bit like Groundhog's Day with numerous cycles of stress and repeating activities (weekly and monthly statuses) that highlight how quickly time is flying by.

- Let's talk about ick.  Early this year Avery got really sick - vomiting and all - for the first time since she was little.  At least now she knows what her stomach is telling her and she is able to grab the garbage can in time.  Late this year (right after Thanksgiving) I went down with chills and all (flu?) and a cough that continues to plague me.  She's been coughing even longer.  I'm ready for that to all go away.  I will say that I count myself fortunate that we did NOT get sick while on vacation.  Perhaps I need to maintain the crazy amount of preventative vitamins year round for both of us.

- Then there's the kiddo!  She graduated from Pre-K and started Kindergarten at Central Christian Academy (which was indeed my first choice) -- which she gets to ride a bus to (much to her pleasure).  We dance, spin, and laugh in the mornings out front while we wait for the bus.  She even had her first field trip (to the Children's Museum, which I never got around to doing this year, so that's a win).  She's doing well at school learning to read, doing basic math, learning more about God -- all the good things.  She doesn't fight me on doing her homework and likes to read books together.  She also enjoys catechism class, making that necessity a whole lot less painful than I expected.  She remains helpful and kind - the best thing I've ever been a part of.

- This year Avery was Wolverine for Halloween.  She still likes her superheros and cars, but has added transformers to her likes.

Here is the wish list for 2024:

- More cruises!  We do have two booked for this year, one in June and one in July.  We really need to get back to my sister's place too, but I said that last year as well.  The travel window now that we're in school is definitely narrow.

- I said it last year and I'll say it again - I need more local activities.  We didn't get to the Zoo last year or the Pittsburgh Botanical Gardens.  As she gets taller and can do more we need to get back to Kennywood again too. I really need to do what I did a few years ago - and just block a day off for each summer month that we can go do something.

- I will keep going on the mortgage - as noted before, I need to step it back up and get it gone.  Fact is next year I can start contributing to retirement with "catch up" amounts - how horrifying is that?  I'll need those extra funds there.

- We didn't start karate this year, but I'm hoping she'll have interest when she turns 7, which is the age the one school will allow her to start the one style of interest.  I am pretty sure we'll do more with swimming lessons, I want her swimming actual freestyle this year and able to swim in deep water.

- I will continue with my garden.  Spacing out lettuce worked out well this past year.  Give us all of the tomatoes - the kid will gobble them all up.  I need to get things started earlier this year - relatively soon.  We will keep going with potatoes and carrots.  I will try again with my peppers - I do wish cubanelles grew from seed.

- I hate writing this because I get disappointed in myself every year, but I have to say it and I have to feel bad about it if I miss the mark... I want to lose weight.  I also want to stretch more both to reduce the aches and pains but also to regain some of my lost range of motion.

- I also want to learn how to do something new.  Have I made my own pasta yet?  No. Have I figure out how to make a good chinese brown sauce?  No.  This might warrant a separate list.

- Another big goal is to clear things out that I don't need.  Sell it, donate it, trash it - whatever the case may be.  I need to get some things cleared out.

- We will continue to foster cats.  I want to do more to help them identify the resources they need to keep doing the work they're doing.

I hope everyone who stuck it through and read to this point had an amazing 2023.  I pray that your 2024 is blessed.

I went for a massage this morning - definitely needed to work out the knots in my shoulder/back from compensating for my ribs.  The ribs are good - but if I press directly, I can still feel the tenderness.  My cough is 99% gone too.  That means Avery's cough has been going on longer than mine - and mine was around for a month.  Soooo... I called her doctor yesterday and they got her in.  There was no concern about her cough and honestly they felt that it could have an allergy component, so claritin it is.  At least I was able to get her the flu mist while we were there.  She dodged getting the flu when I caught it, but there is still a few months of flu season left.

It's been a good week off.  I managed to get 2 naps in!  They say you can't "catch up" on sleep, but I beg to differ.  I feel so much better.  Yes, I still slept all night both nights w/o issue.

Leading up to Christmas I managed to get all of the cleaning done, which at least means I didn't have a ton of that type of stuff to do this week  I also got that batch of chocolate chip cookies made - we needed it for Santa's plate.  I made a cranberry, pineapple, apple, mandarin orange dish for Christmas eve.  Christmas day was a chicken fajita bake, rice, and salad.  We have one more obligation tomorrow that I need to make something for.  I'm going with another fruit-salad type thing.  I'm so over the big to dos.

Avery seems to be happy with her gifts this year.  We even took a nice long walk yesterday.  Well, I walked, she rode her electric scooter.  I am feeling compelled to take the decorations down.  It would be nice to not need to use a weekend after I'm back to the grind to do all of this.  Maybe with what remains of my time off I will take most everything down and strip the tree to just lights.

4 days left... I stayed up last night and wrapped more gifts including a few for the critters and some that came from aunts for Avery.  I ran out yesterday at lunch to get a gift card for the bus driver.

Still to do:  finish cleaning, figure out what we're making and taking to Christmas eve, figure out what we're making to eat on Christmas, buying the necessary supplies for those meals, and maybe make a batch of chocolate chip cookies.  I mean, I don't need more cookies, especially since I've received a few desserty gifts from neighbors and family, but it doesn't feel like Christmas if I don't have them and it's a nice way to spend a little time with Avery that I know she will remember fondly, as I do.

Avery has a half day on Friday.  I could and probably should keep working, but I might embrace it and use that as a bit of catch up time.

On the health front:  I am still coughing.  My ribs feel about 95% better, but I can still feel it and need to "get into position" to cough w/o hurting myself.  At least I feel well enough to move around more freely and can get in and out of bed easier.

I hate snow to begin with, but having my kid on the bus on the way home yesterday when weather physically slapped my house and dropped a pretty heavy dusting in 10 minutes was unnerving.  This morning we got a call from the bus driver asking us to walk down to the first intersection on the main entry road in the plan because of the roads being pretty rough.

It was a pretty slick walk.  Avery started to tumble once, but I had a hold of her and some pretty clunky boots on that held me in place.  Thank God my lungs aren't where they were 2 weeks ago or I would have died trying to walk home.  After passing the cars sliding about.  We got there in time to find the exit on the main road backed up and people turning around.  Fortunately, the salt trucks were also coming through by this point.  On the walk back I got to relay to a few high schoolers that their bus got stuck, but was on its way.

Regardless, putting your kid on that bus and telling her to sit and stay firmly in her seat w/o conveying your anxiety to her is quite the challenge.

It is only a half an hour later and the roads are clear enough now that the later buses are rolling by out front w/o an issue - thank God.

6 in one hand and half dozen in the other?

Saturday I got up and we headed out with a few things on our to do list.  After leaving the post office (I'm very late getting Christmas cards out) I decided I needed to add a stop to our list.  As I always do in the fall, I have needed to add air to the tires, but the rear passenger has consistently dropped faster and more each time.  On this day when the car dinged to tell me this tire had low pressure I knew I needed to get it looked at.  I took a leap of faith after searching local tire places and headed to one on our main street (Pike).  Just a little shop, several people there waiting - all of which said they trusted this place and come there when they need something with tires.  I also learned they own the repair shop across the road, so that's a good tip.  It was a bit of a wait due to first come first served, but I left having only spent $27.  Tiny screw in that tire, but in a repairable spot, so win.

From there we went and snagged more apples from the local orchard, but I scrapped the other few stops I wanted to make since I was already well into the afternoon.

Today on the other hand I had to call the vet for Church.  We noticed him in the liter box a few times just standing there.  If you recall, he's had urinary blockage before, so I am not playing around.  Fortunately, he's not blocked, but he does have a UTI, so it's medicine time in my house for the next two weeks.  We will also be shifting Barnabas to the Urinary Care food as to avoid Church sneaking kitten chow, which probably doesn't help matters.  This bill was definitely more, but still way cheaper than a blockage and emergency care.  Merry Christmas Church.

Speaking of which, my gift to myself this year is quite small and inexpensive.  Many many moons ago a friend bought me KitchenAid brand kitchen towels.  I've literally had them for 20 years and they remain quite usable.  Well, I ordered myself another set of KitchenAid towels.

On Sunday we went to see Wonka, courtesy of Grandpa Joe's Candy shop - they had hidden passes around town a few weeks ago.  It was a good time and they even had a table full of free candy at the front.

With part of my Saturday hijacked and our activities on Sunday I once again didn't get cookies made.  I did get a bit of cleaning done on Friday/Saturday, although not as much as is necessary by Christmas.  My ribs still feel like I've been beaten and I still have some coughs (although less).  My upper right back has been tightening up due to compensating for my side, so I'm still pretty gimpy.  Time to pull out the massager.

I stopped taking meds on Sunday because it had been two weeks and I wanted to give my liver a break.  By dinner time, I took a bite of food and felt pain on the left side of my mouth -- whee!  Sinus infection.  Good to know the meds did nothing to help my lingering issues but they masked a legit problem.

Monday I scheduled the earliest available appointment at my PCP (Wed at 11:45am) and then called leaving them a message asking for any slot if someone cancels.  Fortunately, they called back and got me in yesterday at 11.  I left there w/ two prescriptions, one for an antibiotic for my sinuses and one for a cough suppressant.  I don't think the cough suppressant is doing much - it is a "take as needed" thing but the mouth pain is gone already after 3 doses of the antibiotic.

My ribs are the biggest source of my pain at the moment.  Pretty sure the coughing did this to me, but I feel like someone took a baseball bat to my right side.  It's hard to get in and out of bed and most movements are giving me a sharp pain.  I had to get help to lift the 30lb bag of dog food last night.  This all needs to go away -- now.  It's time to start cleaning in prep for Christmas since I'm obliged to have people here.  I was supposed to get the house cleaned tomorrow, but my cleaning person is afraid of getting sick, so I'm on my own.

Of course, while I'm gimping around and struggling everyone in my house has lost their mind.  The cold snap has Zero running circles.  Church and Barnabas needed a play session last night before bed and the foster kittens are running amok.  

I neglected to mention the one very odd thing that happened last night!  My favorite egg arrived and when he opened the door to walk in a finch flew in with him.  It was flying around - the dogs and cats immediately took interest.  After getting everyone locked up we chased it around for a while trying to convince it to go out the back door.  Failing miserably in that attempt I got lucky and he flew into the downstairs bathroom.

I slipped on some gloves and we found Avery's butterfly net.  Between the two I was able to catch a very tired finch and put him out back.  He sat out there at the top of a post for a while but eventually flew off.  How crazy - and it was after dark, so what were you doing out there little buddy?

I'm still coughing.  For the most part it is completely non-productive.  The sinuses slamming shut thing came back with vengeance the night before last.  Around 3am my head completely closed and my only option to sleep was w/ my mouth hanging open, hence drying out my throat further.  I hate that everything gets caught in my chest for a month.  What to do about it?

Cough syrup doesn't do anything.  Tylenol helps my head, but not the cough.  Allergy meds didn't clear my head.  My inhaler didn't help my cough.  Warm tea did nada.  The neti pot was futile, I couldn't get it to flow through and salt water got trapped so I then had pockets of it draining out overnight (yum).  The steam of a hot shower didn't change much.  I never had any fever with any of it... but could I have a sinus infection?  Between the two issues I want to call the doctor, but I'd be pretty pissed if I spend $100+ to go and they tell me it is what it is that I just need to wait it out.  I'm almost at the 2 week mark of taking various medicines, that can't be a good thing to keep doing.

Update on the fosters - Pickle and Summer get a shot and a chip today (I guess the mobile clinic ran out of chips).  All 3 had their second dose of dewormer.  That means they will all technically be ready to go.  Pickle and Summer are doing well and will play and cuddle a bit, they are both still apprehensive, but will accept pets and both purr.  Jackson on the other hand definitely needs more time.  If Pickle and Summer go quickly I'll be able to give him more focus.  In the mean time I may need to put him back into a smaller containment area.