H and I have our own Gmail accounts, but have a “joint” Gmail account for banks, credit cards, Amazon, other online shopping sites, etc., etc. It works pretty well, except for the above mentioned attempts at surprises.
@arabrab - While I’m sure H WILL miss D not being with us until after Christmas, the more immediate concern is my stocking … I fully expect him to say the Sonos system covers my stocking, too.
I can see how to just have a personal credit card so that purchases can be a surprise.
We are actually woking that out now.
Also, we do have our own as well as a personal email.
But if we are using the same Amazon Prime account the emails land in our joint email–as well as our D’s
as she also uses that account. How to prevent this? Anyone?
I do have a personal credit card, but H checks the charges. I could do it ( he would like that), but I work in accounting and don’t feel like doing this at home:)
We have a joint email account, which we set up before gmail. We still have it, but it’s mainly for junk mail and for the various utilities that were set up when we bought our house and had that account. We both have our own gmail accounts and are each primary on a major credit card (though both of us are authorized users). We both check the credit cards online, so generally no surprises. I got a store credit card in the late 80s to buy work clothes and I didn’t tell DH (limit was $400, so it’s not like I was going to drive us into bankruptcy), and he absolutely flipped out. Whatever. I now have a Kohl’s card that he has no access to, and he doesn’t care. I only use it a couple times a year anyway.
DH, S2 and I are on the same Amazon Prime account. Am pretty sure he has a separate Amazon account for some things that are not in the order history, but the confirming email shows up in our joint email account sometimes.
^I think Amazon could fix this problem. Sometimes I do not order from them if I really need it to be a surprise.
Or I stalk the computer to erase the emails.
Our Amazon account goes to the joint email address, which shows up on both of our phones. Will have to see if Amazon offers an alternative notification system.
WOW and not so good–where is everyone?
I have such a small life but many of you have things going on. So? Let me live through you!
D arrives tomorrow and will stay until NYD early morning. Her BF arrives Christmas night late.
Hopefully DIL and S and G’Son will visit for a few night before the 25th.
If I am honest, while I love every single minute, 3 night is just a great number.
I do get tired of all of the (amazing) meals that I have taught them to expect.
I have frozen a bunch of things and H and I have had some fun finding local carry out places
that are new to us and quite yummy. H has become extremely respectful of my cooking since the last week,
when we were snowed in, he made a few dishes and baked. He basically did a good job but really found little
interesting it the act–except that we were iced in for 3 days and this did provide entertainment.
Also, in a few weeks when we serve the things he made and froze he will get some great compliment as his
reward.
My D would call in “humble bragging” but I am ok just saying my major gift in life is feeding people food that makes them seriously happy. An Art.
I do wish I had more talents. I am trying to find those as sometimes cooking gets old.
Love all of you and hope to hear from you.
Hi oregon! I am getting ready to head back to Ohio on Thursday morning where H will be the officiant in a wedding this weekend. It is his first and he is obsessing over it. I am also trying to finish shopping for a few last minute Christmas gifts since I won’t be able to shop this weekend. The girls and I made Christmas cookies together this past weekend. It is well below zero and about 7-8 inches of snow around here so it is looking like a white Christmas! 
Where is missy, arabrab, kmc, dte, shaw,cq, RM, CBB and the rest of the gang??? I worry that dte, shaw and cq and missy are being overworked??? Hope everyone checks in soon!
Good food/family sounds like fun but a fair bit of work,@Oregon101.
News:
The night before last, we had a party for ShawWife’s 60th birthday. We had it a ShawWife’s close friend’s house. They have done very well. Years ago they bought a private school and converted it into a house. When they bought it, it was an ugly, boxy cinderblock sculpture. With the combination of a gifted architect and a huge budget, it is a spectacular place. The first year ShawWife and I lived together (34 years ago), I was in my first year of teaching and was exhausted by mid-December and, instead of having anything planned for the night of her birthday, I asked if we could do it on the weekend. I heard a sound of a tiger who has just found prey and changed course and quickly made a reservation for dinner, but ShawWife had called this friend to complain about her stupid BF and the friend invited us to come to their home (not the fancy one of years gone by) after dinner. In the 1+ hours while we were having dinner, they made a nut cake and wrapped a cookbook as a present. From that year on, we have celebrated every birthday of each member of our collective families (and then added ShawWife’s art school roommate’s family as well). The art school roommate also volunteered to help, along with ShawD and the D of the host. I mostly did major league shopping (well I also made a huge amount very strong vinaigrette for the salad).
It was a lot of work because of the invite list. ShawWife is so warm, generous, gracious and interesting that we could have invited 150 people. I tried to keep it to the people we see socially on a semi-regular basis and that kept the invited list to 60. Only 50 could come, but then the host said, “We ought to invite X and Y who would feel hurt if we didn’t invite them.” So, we were in the mid-50s but somehow about 80 people came. We are not sure exactly who the overflow was (there were some adult kids of invitees whom we have known growing up plus ShawD invited her new roommate and a few people had significant others we didn’t actually know about).
The school had a gym on the top floor (with skylights and high ceilings). When renovating the house, the hosts kept the gym and we used it at the party for contra dancing, which is something ShawWife loved from her hippie days before I knew her. The two friends thought this was a dumb idea and tried to discourage it, but ShawWife was undeterred. Well, it turned out to be a highlight. Everyone had fun, had different partners and so made contact before the great mingling that would take place two floors below.
I gave a toast that I tried to go beyond myself in making a toast to not only be funny (I’ve become very comfortable with public speaking over the last few years) but to be really loving, complimentary and gracious in a way that would have been hard for me in the past. I think I succeeded, as several people specifically came to me and said things like what one woman said “Every woman in here is wishing her husband would say that about them and I bet a lot of the husbands are feeling a little bad or jealous at this point.”
Interestingly, we have four friends who lost husbands in the last two years, all of whom were invited. ShawD has been the most amazingly supportive of each. ShawWife connected two of them at the party. One was the architect who designed the house in which we had the party, who has always been warm and lovely. The other is an artist who is the widow of a very well-known artist who died in a year of ALS and kept painting almost to the end, using his left hand then then having a brush strapped to his body, etc. (Someone actually made a film about this). She is a lot less well-known than her husband. I have always liked this woman. She just glows from within with positivity (very similar, in fact, to ShawWife). She’s pretty but her inner glow makes her extremely attractive. I think the other women in this group may have trouble finding mates/partners for the next phase in life. She won’t. It was nice to see them both connect.
And, ShawD accepted the job in Northampton and found an apartment. She will live in it alone for 6 months and then a friend from HS (who has gotten to be a closer friend post-HS) will move in when her lease ends. She says she is going to live on what she would have made had she been a nurse (like many of her friends) and save the increment between that and her nurse practitioner’s salary. There appears to be a roughly $30K increment, so I’m connecting her with our financial planner to make a plan for both the mechanics of saving and what to invest in.
Finally, ShawSon thought he had one and possibly two more courses to obtain his Masters in Data Science. He met with the administrator yesterday, who told him he was already done. This is very helpful because he is only going to take one course next quarter as he is going to have a couple of surgeries (one minor, one major) for sleep apnea. So, he probably can take a course that preps teams for starting companies. You have to apply with your team. Venture capitalists teach the course. The idea is his. He has assembled the team. They got accepted, so he will ask if he can double his effort in the first two 2.5 months of the quarter and miss the last part of the quarter. He called last night to tell me this news, while he is writing final papers and studying for his one final.
Popping in to say hello. Yes, overworked, over-everything. Things should slow down at work in about a week. Lots of balls in the air and just hoping they don’t all come crashing down.
Sick for/about our country. Scores of civilians shot on site in Aleppo (many sent out “this is my last message” tweets) and the US is paying attention to Kanye’s visit to Trump tower. [I really don’t consider this a political post - more of a “what is happening to us?” post, irrespective of party.]
Good to read about the next generation’s successes.
Oregon, wish I had the gift of serious cooking!!!
Hi! I don’t think I’m being overworked, I’m just boring and don’t have much to say! Last week I was in Philadelphia and this week I’m in Syracuse for work. The last two years I had trips to warm weather destinations during December.
Took Amtrak to Syracuse yesterday, and did some Xmas shopping online during the trip. It’s coming too quick! I did get the tree up this past weekend so at least that’s done.
H is looking for his next job and I’m getting concerned he might not find one in time before we need to leave our current situation (probably sometime in February). We’ll need to figure that out pretty soon!
Waving hello to all. I too am leading a fairly “boring” life at the moment. We drove up to Stowe, VT this morning; staying 1 night. The rest of my family jointly owns a condo here, although my father uses it the most. He decided to have the kitchen redone – cabinets and countertops. He wanted help putting the kitchen back together and I’m the only one who offered to help. We also helped him scope out window treatments.
Sunday night we went to a performance of Irish music and dancing – A Christmas Celtic Sojourn. We’ve been a number of times; as always, there’s nothing like watching really good Irish dancing to make me feel like a klutz.
S closed on a townhouse near his base in FL, so is now a homeowner. His Christmas wish list includes Home Depot gift cards and a Roomba…
hello, checking in. I read sometimes but don’t post because I just work and study. I had a final today and one more paper by Friday and am done this semester. I am pretty much doing something everyday except cook or clean my house. I do laundry form time to time. I though I would try for my doctorate but the wind is out of my sails so this is enough.
The girls will be home for Christmas both want money. But I have a few other things. D1 is enjoying law school and D2 will graduate in the spring
The election has divided my family. My mother and my sister are conjoined twins and supported Trump. Now that he is elected anything you post on FB gets commented and argued about. My D1 boyfriend posted some pictures he had taken at swearing in ceremony for citizenship and my mother had to comment. Then there was some FB blowout that I was not privy too and now my H and I are defriended and we didn’t do anything except give birth to the offending party. I am too tired to really care, I just see my mom going into reverse and not in a good way. She is obsessed in a really abnormal way.
I also think that this all too stupid with much more serious things going on.
Shaw congrats to Shaw D . It s pretty out there is it primary care? I am kind of liking urgent care.
NM how does your husband like his new job?
CQ no possibility to stay?
CBB we are going to the pops this weekend. I wonder if I will cry as it was the last year I was out with my friend who died . but I look forward to it. I did go to the Celtic Sojorn and that was fun.
When are all the weddings?
Kmc how are the tendons?
Shaw, envious of the contra dancing! My S1 does it all the time and loves it. I’ve tried, but fall over from all the spinning. Instead, I listen to the music.
Am working PT at my synagogue, which is good in some ways, not good in others (mainly not getting to exercise nearly enough). Went to NYC a couple weekends ago and had lunch with some 2014 parents. Had a great time and the weather was lovely!
DH and I are going away for our anniversary this weekend. It’s supposed to snow Saturday morning, which is when we were planning to head out. I’m sure it will be lovely in any event. We’ve been to this B&B previously and enjoyed it a lot.
For me - just swamped both at work and at home. Trying to do too many things on both ends. Work we have reorged again and I now work for a different director but my old director still gives me tasks so - 2 bosses. I’m sure that will change but the reorg just happened and it’s all still being worked out.
Home we just had our holiday party with friends and then the left over party with other friends. Still getting the house back in order.
Going Christmas shopping tonight if I get out of work at a decent time. Christmas Carol this weekend with the family. Still need to finish up the Christmas cards. I have done no wrapping. Working on a sweater for DIL. Need to finish up a cowl for her as well. Also need to quickly put together a couple of story books for GD. I need a couple more weeks in Dec. Last night I was thinking about it and what I would really like is the gift of time.
Other than being overly busy things are going. No wedding planning being done right now. I’ll pick it back up in Jan. Wedding is Sept. 16th so I have time (I think).
So good to catch up with some of you!
dte…H LOVES his new job! Less stress, fun business and very nice people. This is the perfect job for him as he nears retirement. It is amazing to see the physical and mental difference in him.
RM…I think of you when I see the difference in H as he works less hours and enjoys the people around him. Hoping your reorg is good for you. What fun projects you are completing! As always your Christmas party sounds like fun! I am planning a wine and cheese/reception party in January to celebrate D1’s recent destination wedding. Wish me luck!
dte…so sorry re FB battles. The political climate is so contentious and it is making me physically sick.
cq…sending good thoughts and prayers for your H finding a new position. Your stay in NYC certainly looked wonderful! Hoping your next journey is as fun and rewarding.
CD…Have a wonderful time at the B&B celebrating your anniversary! That sounds fun and relaxing!
missy… are all of your trees up? They always make me smile when I see the photos. I think of you and all the work it takes when I do my lttle bit of decorating! I am horrified watching news re Aleppo. 
CBB…I so admire your stamina! Seems like you are always on the go! Love, love, love your photography! Do you display your photos at home? They are beautiful!
shaw…Happy Birthday to shaw wife! What a fun party! Congratulations on the new job for shaw D! Sending good thoughts and prayers for shawson on upcoming surgeries.
FallGirl…thanks for being a consistent poster! You keep me motivated to check in here and also exercise! 
It is freezing here! Was hoping Ohio would have better weather but it looks like they will also have a drop in temps this weekend.
A Roomba would be a great gift. I would desperately have wanted one in the years before a cleaning person.
DTE. ShawD’s job is primary care in a group of clinics where they mentor her for a year. She gets her own set of patients but they do a lot of interacting as a team. She is very comfortable with how they do things. Definitely sorry to hear about the FB silliness. At this point, I think I’d minimize interaction with people who are so angry that they can’t be good human beings. I mean honestly, does your M think that no one in her family was ever an immigrant?
CQ, I hope you and your H work out a new place reasonably promptly. You can do what you do from wherever, I think. In my experience, I loved living in Manhattan but was also quite happy to leave. But for a few years, especially kidless years, it is a great experience. I’m glad you’ve been able to enjoy it.
NM - well the good news is is that my “new” boss knows me. He was my old bosses boss. Very low key for the most part and easy to deal with although I will say that he doesn’t have a habit for standing up for his people in what I’ve seen in the past - at least he is nothing like my old boss and doesn’t yell. Culture here is changing slowly and the yelling of the past is considered a no no which is nice. Project that I’m on is very high profile which you can equate to stressful. I do like the people that I work with and seem to be making a difference. I’ve only been on this since Sept. so still doing some learning.
Currently trying (unsuccessfully) to finish up a sweater for DIL, I want to make a couple of books for GD - I have the fabric just need to get in there and do it. I have material to make both kids an outfit but that looks like it will be after the holidays now. Just too many other things to do first. I have a cowl that I’m also making for DIL. Finishing up the Christmas cards I’m making - seems more difficult than I thought they would be.
Party was fun. This year’s theme was Traditional Christmas with a twist. I made lobster nachos, spicy meatballs and then just cheese and crackers for the appetizers. Cocktail of the night was a apple cider mimosa. Then it was butternut squash soup, spinach salad with warm bacon dressing, spiced apple cider sorbet as a pallet cleanser. The entree was turkey done 2 ways - dark meat was braised in a soy sauce mixture and the white meat was marinated in a maple syrup brine and served with a mushroom gravy. Sides were dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans with shallots, dried cranberries and hazelnuts. Dessert was carrot cake, cookie assortment or what I have made so far (5 types I think) and homemade peppermint stick ice cream with homemade chocolate sauce. Lots of work but everyone had a great time and seemed to enjoy it.
Oh…yummy! Sounds delicious!