No Shaw that was me. We saw them around Thanksgiving time and she didn’t seem to be doing too well. Had lost a lot of weight and just seemed very confused. Saw them again right after Christmas and it was similar although I though then she seemed more in tune with what was going on but there were less of us around so that might have had something to so with it - easier to follow everything. She went last week to a specialist and received the diagnosis.
So sad, RM.
I think what bothers me the most about it is that they were always the type that “when we retire we will do xx”. Well now the amount they can do will be limited. They have grandkids that are 5 and 3. Her husband is starting to learn to do some things in the kitchen. That was always her domain and he never learned to cook. He has now realized that he has to pick that piece up and better to do it while she is still able to help him.
So sorry to hear this, RM. It is such a tough diagnosis and so painful to watch the disease progress in a loved one. Very sad.
That is so very sad, RM.
Amazing how little I got done over the course of a three day weekend. Some of the laziness was intentional. The downstairs is back to normal after the holidays. (Okay not really. H rearranged the living room furniture and I’ll have to live with it a few months before I change it back.)
We saw The Martian today. It was fine, not great. It could have been about a half hour shorter
On Saturday we saw The Big Short. Very enjoyable!
So sorry about your SIL, RM.
missypie, we went to see Star Wars in 3D IMAX yesterday. S had already seen it, but wanted to see it again. I guess it was fine - not really my kind of movie.
Our church and a neighboring Jewish Community Center had joint events Saturday and Sunday for MLK weekend. I spent much of Saturday at the Jewish service (they’re meeting at our church) and then at the rabbi’s home afterwards. It’s good to go outside your comfort zone on occasion, but thankfully our hosts were very good about explaining everything.
Last week with S home - it’s been a nice winter break. Can’t believe he’s starting his last semester of college. He’s applying to law school so it’s not the end of school, but still a milestone.
D started her new job last Monday. She had yesterday off for the holiday and I’m guessing she’s new enough that she didn’t have to work all weekend!
^Hugs, RM. Im with you on the wait for nothing plan!
Arabrab, kudos to your D!
Shaw, I’m sure any one of us would be delighted to fly over for a platonic dinner conversation any time you like 
the houseboat sounds like a blast, btw.
Ok, so grout disaster recovery plan is slow and painstaking. Spent the entire weekend on my knees acid washing this mess but managed to get a good deal of dried grout out of my very rough, cleft-faced slate now will hand paint the grout lines when product arrives to be the color of my test boards that I initially chose and tested extensively and then didn’t get!
Basically, our guy who normally does our work around here was in over his head. I should have hired a stone pro. I had debated same but this guy was free and we like to give him work when we can and so discussed the project at length with him. I’d warned him to not over wash this type of grout, bought him distilled water because we’re on well, left instructions about pre-sealing the slate, etc., and he still treated it like a ceramic job in the end…meaning he grouted it too fast then had to over wash to get the grout out of the cleft crevices, etc. and given the amount of efflorescence, I’m betting he did that over wash with straight well water out of the utility sink. People just don’t get that chemistry thing when it comes to stone.
I’m saying as little as possible about it all because mch did not want me to have the work done while I was on the cruise in case something like this happened So on several fronts, I’m just owning this one and fixing it myself, because I can read freaking instructions hi ho.
The mfg has sent the grout colorant free of charge after looking at pics of the efflorescence so I suspect they’ve had some batch issues. At any rate, I was aiming for rustic and I sure got it. My guy did a good job on the difficult installation…he just rushed it at the end with very unintended consequences. Story of my life
The cruise was quite a mixed bag but despite the floor job going south, I’m still glad I did it. Had a few days of rain, then mom got very sick (bronchitis) and spent a few days on 4x daily nebulizer in med center (meaning so did I, since the treatment mad her too dizzy to walk.) So it wasn’t quite the footloose-fancy-free cruise she’d envisioned.
The “meltdown” sister managed to have only one meltdown at dinner and we made it worse with uncontrollable laughter. The youngest birthday girl who claims she never gets drunk beat the unlimited beverage package fair and square one night in particular, and I have photographic evidence of her leading a conga line
Through sisterly intrigue, (one didn’t want to do the beach with the other so an elaborate ruse was enacted) the two most unlikely candidates ended up on the America cup sail boat race simulation with mom and I, which had been on mom’s bucket list.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, there was no wind that day…which didn’t stop mom from needing a bucket on her bucket list quest (I also have photographic evidence of this. Fortunately, mom’s a good sport
So, given the flavor of this trip, none were surprised that Detroit was virtually shut down Sunday with an ice storm…I ended up in Minneapolis where yet another plane was delayed…the rest of the fam eventually made it to Detroit…and yet another casino. I got home around 3 am to the badly drying floor crisis…and the rest is, shall we say history.
Fingers crossed for a good week!
Sounds like quite the adventure KMC! Good luck on the floor!
KMC, you manage to be so much more gracious about spending 4 days of the cruise in the med center with your mom than I did about spending Christmas in the hospital with my own mother. Puts me to shame!!!
I also wish H and/or I had more of your can do attitude toward home repairs. We tend to settle, with unfortunate results.
I still don’t know what I want this chapter of my life to be. I can think of plenty of vacation-y things I want to do, but it’s the enjoying every day part that’s the problem.
MP - I have more than enough of the things I want to do day to day. I would still go to the gym but not constantly look at the clock because I need to get ready for work, I would do more gardening, I would see my grand kids more often because I could, I would enjoy cooking and not be rushed, I would spend more time knitting, sewing, maybe I could finally take up spinning (yarn that is but maybe also the exercise class - who knows). My house would be somewhat clean and organized 
Yeah - who am I kidding - I would knit or sew and my house would still be the same! Vacations would still be on but I would spend time enjoying planning to my hearts content. I would stay up pass 9 PM and be an adult. I just have things that I do now but with out work I would hope that I would have time to do them more! H and I take dance class - maybe now we can go out and practice other than at weddings and class!
We have started discussing this. We are in the < 5 year plan now. H is looking at 2017 and I’m thinking more like 2018 but we can see it! Wedding in 2017 is why I think it will be a few more months after that. Plus not sure that I want to go out in the winter - more like Apr/May!
RM, I have plenty of things at this stage of my life that I want to do. But I don’t have the energy to work all day, add in the commute, and then actually get around to doing anything on the “enjoyable” list.
Totally understand MP. I just try to keep moving so that I still do the things I want. I find I’m happier if I actually get to do the things that I WANT to do and not just what I HAVE to do. Last night I colored. I find it relaxing and really enjoy it.
MP, its a lot easier to spend time in a med center on a cruise ship when the sick person is being a good sport and treated all her girls to said cruise…AND when you can then put her to bed and sit by a pool in 80 degree weather drinking bottomless margaritas So don’t saint me just yet …I’m betting you’d be plenty gracious in the same circumstance
On the floor front, believe me, we’re actually not very particular at all…the energy is by attrition because I guarantee this will be the floor I have to live with for the rest of my days.
But on that front, it appears my relentless weekend paid some dividend…the entire kitchen grout is now, finally, the correct color from the acid washing. The bathroom and hall grout will still have to be colored and there is still some efflorescence coming through, but all agree its a major improvement. I’ve cleared next weekend to finish up and seal it.
Unasked, my contractor knocked two and a half days off his invoice…I appreciated the gesture…I suppose this is why I keep using him despite the occasional snafu
Bottomless margaritas at the hospital certainly would have helped!
Back from a week in Palm Dessert. Managed to get a cold while there but was not a bad one, at least.
It was a nice break from the solid grey we have here. But too much $$ spent. We did get a little bored as
we do not golf or play tennis. Hiked in Joshua Tree. Read for hours. Sadly, we had a lot of cloudy and windy days. (complain, complain 
)
I enjoy the “will I like retirement” conversations. I have liked glass fusion for the past few years and jumped in and bought a very large kiln two weeks ago. It has been fired only one time and the owner decided to move to Palm Springs! so I got a very good price. I have never fired a kiln in my life! So this is going to interesting. I am buying a smaller one to work with first. Setting up my exercise room as a studio and G’son will have to sleep in the room with the elliptical.
I plan on starting simple with dessert dishes. Not interested in jewelry.
Still need H to figure something out.
I have declared 2016 my year and so this is my first attempt to mix things up.
I also need to be more consistent with communicating with friends–I am terrible at getting back with people.
Have fun with the glass melting, oregon! That sounds cool.
Went down to the library today to receive a bequest on behalf of the library foundation. The gentleman’s elderly brother is staying here in town to deal with younger brother’s estate – including a truly massive, massive collection of books acquired over many, many years. A big house, and apparently filled to the brim with books. And cases of wine. Many, many cases of very good wine. All he needs is some good cheese and I’d be set for the winter. Probably several winters. As the library director (who used to be a book antiquarian) said, the man was a completer. If he was interested in something, it had to be a complete set. And when you’re single, and no kids, and well paid, you can only imagine the collections you can create, especially after many years living in England in the 60’s and 70’s.
How cool, Arabrab!
I neglected to mention earlier, c_q, that it blows me away that your son is almost finished with undergrad.
Yes, @missypie it’s gone by quickly. S had a return flight scheduled for Saturday, but was able to change it for no cost yesterday to Friday, due to the weather forecast. Originally the dorms re-opened Saturday, but they received an email earlier this week the college was opening dorms a day early due to the forecast.
We’ll be doing laundry today! Who am I kidding - I’ll be doing laundry today.
@arabrab - very cool about the book (and wine) collection!
@oregon101 - good luck with the kiln!
Working from home today with the blizzard heading our way. My cleaning ladies just arrived and I’ll be going for a quick dental appointment this AM, eerie feeling of the calm before the storm.
We have lots of food, wine, books, flashlights, a generator, so we should be good.