Laying on my couch and not feeling guilty about it 
5” of snow and now freezing rain. Did all the things yesterday and this morning (outdoor storm prep, laundry, ran dishwasher, vacuumed, cleaned, etc) to adequately prepare in case we lose power later. Dh made a roast yesterday and we have enough leftovers to make roast beef sandwiches if we can’t cook later.
Dh and my son are watching the Man U game and I just read 50 pages in my novel. About to eat lunch and then plan to read more!
We are having a nice buffet brunch with my older sister and her husband, her 3 daughters and their husbands and all 6 of her grandkids at the local country club. Our kids and hers are close so we are all looking forward to it.
I got protypes of small area rugs (about the size of bath mats), embedded with mosquito-resistant treatment stored in thick plastic resealable storage bags. They can repel for at least a year of continuous use and much longer if stored in the bag when not in use. My sister and two of her grand kids are especially attractive to mosquitoes.
(We will give the other 2 rugs to two other families expecting new babies—new babies tend to be mosquito magnets.)
I also bought some books for all the great nieces and great nephews because that’s my preferred gift for the next generation.
Up early because grandkids were up early, excited to go outside and play in the snow. Making them wait until it was actually daylight was a challenge.
Just finished making lunch–2 kinds of soup (chicken noodle for me, chickpea noodle for the everybody else) and mac & cheese (with green peas for protein) because that what’s the grandkids were clamoring for.
Have no idea what I’ll make for dinner. Maybe dinner will be reprise of the untouched soups from lunch plus grilled cheese sandwiches.
GS is napping (finally!). Twin A is playing quietly by herself in the playroom. Twin B just took herself outside to play in the snow.
Now I have a few moments of quiet to finally eat my own lunch and fantasize about taking a nap.
Snow has mostly stopped. We got maybe 5 inches total. The plow and salt trucks have been through more than once so the street in front of the house is pretty clear. Crossing fingers that the predicted ice doesn’t arrive.
We drove back from our friends’ house in Massachusetts - we were down there for a party. We left early enough to avoid the storm. We stopped at the grocery store on the way back - wow! It was like the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Mainers don’t usually go nuts like this, so you know it’s going to be a big storm. DH is making sure the generator works, and then we’ll watch the Patriots play. I had three appointments tomorrow, and they’ve all been canceled, so it will be a good work day. I love snow, have I said that before? 
Baked banana bread this morning and took it over to D and SIL’s house where I spent some time hanging out. Still very cold so not able to be outside much.
I’m working on a 1000 piece puzzle as a diversion. Going to dinner with some neighbors later.
I’m having an anti yesterday. I’ve done practically nothing but sit in my recliner! I just woke up from a nap. I did do some mobility work this morning and have read a ton in my book. But that’s it. Looking forward to watching some football.
To H’s credit he’s been very good today letting me be and hasn’t started to climb the walls yet. He’s done a lot of eBay stuff and is now starting a little painting project. We may go try to walk the neighborhood soon. We will see how far we get.
Exercised and did an abbreviated pup walk earlier when there was only 3 inches of snow.
I always make a big weekend breakfast, today biscuit, egg and cheese sandwiches from yesterday’s leftover biscuits, chicken sausage and blueberries. Did laundry and H and I went out after noon and I was the assist on shovel while we did our driveway and out older neighbors driveway and porch.
I’m doing a puzzle too, some furniture/bathroom reno research and will make baked chicken wings for dinner -sine one more round of snow removal before dark!
Snow day here.
Made vegetable soup and a big salad this morning. Worked out in my basement early afternoon. Will be watching football the rest of the day.
I just got back from my walk. It’s warmer today than the last couple days (16, with windchill of 3), but it’s been snowing all day. The plow won’t come through until the snow stops, so I had to walk in my boots. It was an extra workout, because the wind is blowing & making random piles in the street. I swear, the walk is fine … it’s the whole process of dressing properly & then getting it all off afterwards. I feel like the little brother in A Christmas Story* when he gets into his snowsuit!
Yesterday we did a wine club pickup (WTH is going on with 522 & 405?), so today I get to add it all to Cellar Tracker. I’m also going to be the one to decide what stays here and what goes to our second home . The winery is going to get an email asking why they haven’t shipped one of their online specials to their tasting room here, so we could try before we buy (the tasting room is encouraging me to do this).
Watching the early hockey game as a prequel to the football game this afternoon. Hawks shirt is on and I am so ready for a big win.
Today - I have already navigated the icy tundra with the girls. Poor Sabadog loves the snow, but this is a miserable ice pack. I signed up for a zoom call to learn about a women’s only trip to Paris and ordered several Springsteen albums and CDs from the archives that just became available. I need to get to the grocery store today as the fresh provisions here are pretty dismal. Plus I’m going a little stir crazy!
We are doing H’s last pelvic PT, taking D to airport and then picking up H’s new electric lawnmower.
NOT shopping. Had to get out of the house though so after exercise and a long pup walk I packed up some stuff and am hanging out at our local library in a sunny room reading and researching. This is my idea of “relaxing” and spoiling myself!
Making unstuffed cabbage (so not cabbage rolls but wedges or chopped cabbage with ground beef, rice and tomatoes) for dinner in the Instant Pot.
I forgot about not shopping and ordered a long sleeve white t-shirt. It’s been so cold that it was hole in my wardrobe. That will be it for today.
I also got my haircut and colored. If I didn’t keep my appointment, I would have not gotten in for another 6 weeks. Can’t have that happen!
Fielded some calls, did not persuade my husband to call his doctor about his medication that either wasn’t written correctly by the doctor (doubtful since my husband asked to see the prescription) or entered incorrectly by the speciality pharmacy. And then denied because it’s not covered by the formulary.
I guess I will need to (nag) remind husband to call Monday. Since he’s out of medicine now!
Resting and recovering from my Wednesday surgery. It went well - the surgeon said she was pleased with the results, but I am too squeamish to look at anything with stitches.
This is my first surgery ever where I came out of it fairly quickly and without the BP drops. I was sitting in a bed eating a sandwich when my husband picked me up that evening.
No lifting more than 10 lbs and no real exercise, just easy walks for 4-8 weeks. I see a lot more reading in my future, haha.
It was such a lovely day that we decided to go out for lunch. Struck out at two Mission Bay resorts since the places weren’t seating outside. So we ended up at Mission Beach along the boardwalk. Beautiful and there was a sailing class to enjoy.
My boring life:
The guys came to clean out my dryer vent. [I told you I’m lots of fun.] There were here for an hour and 45 minutes. Very nice, but still, I don’t like having people in my house. I feel constrained.
DH tore something in his upper left arm. He went to the orthopedist and saw a very young doctor. Got an x-ray; nothing’s broken or dislocated, but he’s grumpy. And now I have to help him do all sorts of manual tasks.
Had a webex with our investment advisor from Schwab and we rebalanced the portfolio.
Took the dog to the woods, and the snow is finally packed down enough that it’s walkable. We did a short loop and then wound up at the gathering point for all the dogs and their owners. We only stayed there a few minutes, as it was 19 degrees.
Leftovers for dinner.
Boring day.
ETA: Also had a 45-minute conversation with the President of a group I belong to. I was smart enough to turn down an “opportunity” she wanted to offer me. I am way past the time I want to lead something, and I’m really proud that I recognize that and said No.
Went to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show with my bare finger and came home with three lovely rings, and DH found one he liked, too. Also bought three cowhide pillowcases to re-cover the large middle and end pillows of our sectional to add some subtle southwest to the room. The goal of the trip was to find a particular piece of banded onyx (which I collect), but that was a bust, unfortunately.
We’ll be going back next week to the big show at the convention center where the real bling is. Who knows…?
Packing. Again.
Loving on my handsome boy ( brown tabby 18+ YO part Maine Coon cat whom I adopted from a shelter in 2008). He’s been in early stage kidney failure for several years and just had a “no major changes” bill of health from the vet 2 weeks ago and was doing fine… but now suddenly he’s failing. I suspect he’s got fewer than a week or two left to live. So I will sit with him and love him until it’s time to let him go.
