Festive Friday

ei34

My kids' school had #festivefriday all month, today is their last one.  They're all rocking holiday sweaters...UO but I love those dress-up or themed days, as a student and now as a parent.  School is open again for me too but kinda wished it had been remote, the roads were crazy icy.  
Wishing everyone a healthy and safe day and a weekend filled with happy moments!

charlotte989875

Happy Friday friends! The baby slept from 12-4 last night and I feel like a new person. 

Im waiting for a ton of packages to arrive and TBH I’m pretty sure most won’t get here by Christmas. I’m bummed but going to just blame 2020 and everyone will get New Years presents. 

STARMOON44

Can’t believe I only have 3 more real work days this year and thank goodness because I have lost the will to continue doing my job! 

kerbohl

Hooray for Friday!  How did everyone do digging out from the big storm?  It always seems weird to me when the States gets a huge snowstorm and here in Ontario we have almost no snow on the ground.  
I'm hunkering down this weekend.  Gonna vacuum and maybe make some cookies.  We might go for a walk in the park to see Christmas lights, but it depends how busy it is.  If there are too many people we'll take the dog somewhere else for a walk.  
Last full week of the year is over!!

MyNameIsNot

I'm so happy that this week is coming to an end! It's the last full work week of the year, plus it's been a rough week at work with all these organizational announcements. I'm looking forward to a lazy and relaxing weekend.

Tonight we're going to order delivery and shoot pool in the basement. Tomorrow we'll wrap all the gifts and try to come up with something for my dad (it's about to be booze). Maybe a hike if the sun is out. Then Sunday my mom and sister will come over for our big baking day. I'm off Monday, so planning to clean up from baking and finally get serious about The Crown. 

@Jen4948, Saw about the job on the other post, congrats!!

VarunaTT

Well, K's mother came over last night and dropped off the few things that had gotten mixed up in the packing, the garage door opener, and the key.  After she left, I sat for a long time and then sent a long text message to her about K's mental illness, how R needed to stop enabling it, stop enabling K's over attachment to their patient, some of things K did to me over the years, some of the actions K has been taking recently that is causing those who were trying to be both of our friends to abandon K (3 so far), resources to help both R and K, and said goodbye.  I didn't screenshot any of it, I just deleted the message from my phone and then R's phone number.  It is now totally over and a finished chapter of my life.  Honestly, I've truly found peace in my life right now.  It's lonely, sure.  I'm still me, I'm still making my way through this world, and I have an incredible support system around me.  I was laughing to myself last night b/c I was like...Imma be an Annalise with my relationships through the years.  Also, there have been some physical changes and depression related changes that is making me realize I have a far more strong body-mind-emotion connection that I've ever realized to myself.

This weekend, I really want to get my apartment started cleaning and organizing.  I don't want to go into the new year with it all still sort of scattered about from packing up all of K's crap.  I'm kind of looking forward to it; I'm not super anal about being clean, but I've always been a neat and tidy kind of person and K was a cluttered messy person.  I'm looking forward to just having stuff where I want it and organized.  I'm going to try and watch the new Mulan and I really Really REALLY want to watch the new "Freaky" movie.

CharmedPam

Good for you, @VarunaTT! Sounds like the perfect disclosure.

wfh for 2.5 days next week and the kitchen reno starts! Bleh. 

MNNEBride

Today is my last day of "work" until the new year.  We are moving 12/28 and I've taken the week before and after off to make that happen.  Pretty overwhelmed right now, but once I can focus on just the move and not juggle that with my day job, it should be better.  DH surprised me this morning by telling me he hired someone to come and do our move-out cleaning at the apartment.  That will help a lot.  

The painter is almost finished with the inside of the new house.  I love the color!  He is also staining, sealing and installing some additional cabinets and I think those will be great.  We are adding two 18" full height pantry cabinets in the kitchen.  We took out this weird desk type thing they had next to the fridge and added these.  The other cabinet will go above the washer and dryer to store laundry stuff.  It was just this big open space and there was no other storage.  Thank you bonus money from work!

Work has been crazy and it'll be nice to put that aside for a bit. I met with my new supervisor yesterday via Zoom.  She told me they have submitted my promotion package to HR.  Fingers crossed that it is approved.  I'm a little short on the required years of experience.  If it's not approved, the job requirements are changing some time in 2021 and then I'll more than qualify.  

@VarunaTT - I'm glad this chapter is over for you.  Be kind to yourself as you move on and grow from the experience.  ::hugs:: 

@Jen4948 - Congratulations on the new job!  T&Ps for your mom.

Hope those who were buried in snow have been able to dig out.  We haven't had any since October and would love if it would hold off until we are moved!

MissKittyDanger

@ei34 I loved the themed days for school and I'm weirdly excited for BK to be in school and have them.
In spring, my mum is gonna be taking BK once a week. I told her if she decides to do themes that she needs to let me know so I can dress her appropriately lol
Also since she'll be almost 3, my mum {and we've mentioned to daycare} they could start doing pre-school- ish things.

@charlotte989875 M told me last night that my gift is coming Dec 31st lmao so ... .yeh lol

MissKittyDanger

@VarunaTT I missed it, who is R? But that's a good text to send. K's mother may not realize how bad some of their situation is

MissKittyDanger

M & BK have a dinner date because I have my in-office christmas party
I'm weirdly excited for them lol M is basically doing everything solo tonight - we did do a bath last night so he wouldn't have to chase naked toddler around much.
I did take out a special snack that BK doesn't have often {gerber cheese puffs lol} so that way they can have a fun snack.

Tomorrow BK is going to my mum's place for the day so M & I can get some Christmas stuff done and errands done. Plus we haven't had a date in awhile so we're doing lunch. Normally my mum would keep her over night, but my mum picked up a shift on Sunday morning at like 6am.
It's fine. We'll be able to get enough done anyways.

Sunday I think we're going to decorate some gingerbread cookies and M is gonna try to finish the gate build.

VarunaTT

MissKittyDanger said:

@VarunaTT I missed it, who is R? But that's a good text to send. K's mother may not realize how bad some of their situation is

R is K's mother.  She is the one who made all of K's moving arrangements, has dealt with me, etc.

MissKittyDanger

Andplusalso I have less laundry than expected!!

I stretched and hurt my back/neck last night. I tend to stretch before bed because I think I get restless legs, stretching helps? Anyways I stretched and now I have this pain down my g.d spine from my neck. I can move except my right arm.

33 IS GREAT GUYS

charlotte989875

@VarunaTT you seem to be in a really good place now, and given everything that youve shared (+ Covid + 2020) that’s pretty remarkable. I’m so glad you can start the new year with an apartment the way you want it and having given R the information and resources to help K so you can finally be out of that equation. 

MissKittyDanger

VarunaTT said:

MissKittyDanger said:

@VarunaTT I missed it, who is R? But that's a good text to send. K's mother may not realize how bad some of their situation is

R is K's mother.  She is the one who made all of K's moving arrangements, has dealt with me, etc.

Ahh ok! I thought so but wasn't 100% sure

levioosa

I am so happy it’s Friday so these two weeks from hell are over. I hope it’s not too much of a shut show today. Will I walk into three more staff positives? Will there be call offs? Who knows. 

I hiked with both FSIL last night. Older FSIL broke up with her BF. I don’t know if that will last but it was frustrating to hear her talk about it with the lack of self-awareness. Not that I cared much for the guy and he did suck, but still. I am sorry for her sake that it was right before Christmas and New Years. That’s always a rough time anyways. 

Otherwise SSDD. I’m feeling very sad and overwhelmed with COVID and how so many people are alone. Our hospitals are at 100% max ICU capacity. I had to send the parents of two of my staff members to the hospital yesterday and tbh I’m not sure if one of them will make it. I’m trying to maintain a good attitude but damn, it’s hard. 

OliveOilsMom

Varuna - I know I only know you from what you post here, but you seem to be a very strong person and just don't always give yourself enough credit for that strength!  I'm glad that you have closed this chapter with K and said your peace to R about everything.

DD was good at school yesterday.  So we went out to look at lights and then to a drive thru light show.  It was a lot of fun!  We had a quick dinner of grilled cheese and I brought sugar cookies and hot cocoa for the car.  My niece came too, so DD was extra excited!

I'm here early today as my office's network has been down since 6AM today.  I'm still waiting for the word that its back up and running.  I've tried to log in a few times, since our IT likes to send out emails to say everything is ok again, but those only go to people who have email on their phone, i.e. not me!  So far I've got the dishes done and I'm going to move onto wrapping more presents.

Not sure what is up for the weekend here.  We do have a Santa toy to put together, so we will probably tackle that.  It shouldn't take long.  We do have my nephew's birthday tomorrow, so we will go over for that and wear our masks.

mrsconn23

DH and I were both lamenting the alarm this morning.  Looking forward to alarm-less weekend.   We'll still probably wake up early because now I've said it.  LOL 

There's already a bunch of people off today through next week.  I only have next Wednesday off as a vacation day.  

Cookie baking day tomorrow.  Football on Sunday. Hopefully finishing all the wrapping. I have some projects to work on and hopefully finish at least one this weekend. 

We have to do some clean up around the house for Christmas, but I'm not even sure if DH's uncles are coming.  So it may only be DH and me, the kids, and FIL for Christmas Eve.  I'm down for a no effs given holiday.  

mrsconn23

Continued *hugs* @VarunaTT

I love that meme @charlotte989875.  My sister sent it to me this week.  I refuse to even check my tracking on the stuff I sent out this week.  Just crossing crossables it gets there in one piece. 

short+sassy

kerbohl said:

Hooray for Friday!  How did everyone do digging out from the big storm?  It always seems weird to me when the States gets a huge snowstorm and here in Ontario we have almost no snow on the ground.  
I'm hunkering down this weekend.  Gonna vacuum and maybe make some cookies.  We might go for a walk in the park to see Christmas lights, but it depends how busy it is.  If there are too many people we'll take the dog somewhere else for a walk.  
Last full week of the year is over!!

((Said jjokingly)), "It was terrible!  The convertible cover for my MINI Cooper had a light dusting of ice on it this morning."

@VarunaTT, I know I only have your posts to go by.  But you seem to be getting stronger and to a more even keel every day.  I'm glad you see and can appreciate all the positive things you have in your life, even while you are sad that things ended and how they ended.

@MissKittyDanger, I'm glad you have battled down Laundry Mountain and it seems more attainable now, lol.  I know you were excited about the "new for you" clothes, but that the laundry part was stressing you out a bit.

@levioosa, I'm sorry your work has been so overwhelming.  Especially now with spikes in COVID.  I can't even imagine what it must be like to work in the medical industry.  Now that vaccines have started rolling out, I hope you and your staff get them soon!

@MNNEBride, It's exciting your move is coming up!  I'm glad you love the new color you all had the house painted.  I am jealous of the pantry storage you are adding to the kitchen.  It sounds divine!  I don't care as much about cabinet storage for a kitchen, but I love a lot of pantry storage.

Unfortunately, my own kitchen is on the small side and doesn't have much of any kind of storage, lol.  There is a weird, small room off our kitchen that is technically a bedroom.  It has openings, but no doors, and nor could you really put doors in either.  But we use one wall as an extension of our kitchen.  We have an upright freezer and more pantry storage on it, and the rest of the room is where we keep most of our clothes and other stuff.

I need to go to the bank and the grocery store today.  Other than that, we are lying pretty low this weekend.  I only work 3 days next week and the week after that.  Late December is always so wonderful for the "bonus" time off.  

MissKittyDanger

@short+sassy  pro tip, never get hand-me-downs unless you have a dryer. I know this now lol

short+sassy

A weird thing about my new cube spot.  There is a church across the street from our office building and it is now directly across the street from the section of the floor I'm on now.

It rings one bell on the hour and half hour.  And just one ring, no matter what the hour is.  All of that is great and fine.  But at noon, it plays a "bell song" that is 7 minutes long and has multiple bells ringing at the same time.  It is so long!  The first day I was here for lunch, I initially wasn't listening and then all of a sudden it hits me, "Wait.  Are those bells STILL ringing.  What, what is happening?  How long do they ring?  That's a lot."

Nothing that is a big deal in the grand scheme of things and, no offense to the church, but I am not a fan of their really long and loud bell song, lol.

Casadena

I am OFF for the rest of the year!!!!  I hadn't used any vacation until Thanksgiving week and am so excited to not think about work for awhile.  Took the babe to his 1 year appointment today and he did well with all FOUR shots and two pricks in his toe.  

I'm officially not bringing any food to IL's bc I decided i'm not stressing about it when it won't get eaten anyway.  I'm bringing the baby, that will have to be good enough.  

My acne is out of control lately.  I'm sure it's mostly hormonal but OUCH.  My whole face just feels sore.  

@VarunaTT I'm so happy for your that you're finally getting some closure. Go easy on yourself and enjoy your neat and tidy apartment

@Jen4948 congrats on the new job!  So happy for you!.

Happy holidays to everyone else and good luck with wrapping and getting deliveries

banana468

Oh it's FRIDAY! 

We are going to the Trans Siberian Orchestra concert on our couch tonight.  I bought that "ticket" and can't wait to see the kids rock out to Christmas music. 

Tomorrow I plan to to make cookies with the kids and then enter Buddy The Elf mode

MissKittyDanger

@Casadena BK didn't get toe pricks, what was that for?

MissKittyDanger

@banana468 This is what I now picture as you:

short+sassy

MissKittyDanger said:

@short+sassy  pro tip, never get hand-me-downs unless you have a dryer. I know this now lol

Yes!  You had mentioned you all don't have a dryer.  Out of curiosity, why not?  Do you have the hook up for one?  Is it the cost?  If you look around, you can buy used ones pretty cheap.  Down where I live, a decent basic used dryer runs $100-$200.  And they  are fairly simple appliances that don't have much go wrong and, when they do, can usually be fixed DIY and cheap.

My H is very handy, but by no means experienced with appliances.  Across our rentals and own house, we own 10 dryers.  About half of them for 5+ years.  Two were bought new, the rest were bought used.  We've never had to replace one.  There has only been twice a repair was needed.  One of those times, the tenant figured out how to fix it and bought the $4 part he needed from Amazon, lol.  The other time, my H figured it out and fixed it with a $27 part.

Now washing machines?  Those are a totally different story.  They are very easy to break with negligent use, ie filling them too much.  For washer longevity, don't fill them more than about half full.  Otherwise, you wear down the bearings and that is a couple hundred bucks to replace.  Not worth it most of the time for a used washing machine. 

I stopped buying them used.  Quite frankly, I stopped buying them at all for my rentals.  I even include in my leases now, if there is a washer in the unit, that the washer is only for the tenant's use while it works.  But it will not be maintained or replaced, if it breaks. 

short+sassy

Rare astrological happening:

I just heard that on Dec. 21st, a rare "Christmas Star" will form.  It's caused by Jupiter and Saturn paring up at dusk on that day.  The last time it happened was 1226 AD.

VarunaTT

short+sassy said:

MissKittyDanger said:

@short+sassy  pro tip, never get hand-me-downs unless you have a dryer. I know this now lol

Now washing machines?  Those are a totally different story.  They are very easy to break with negligent use, ie filling them too much.  For washer longevity, don't fill them more than about half full.  Otherwise, you wear down the bearings and that is a couple hundred bucks to replace.  Not worth it most of the time for a used washing machine. 

I stopped buying them used.  Quite frankly, I stopped buying them at all for my rentals.  I even include in my leases now, if there is a washer in the unit, that the washer is only for the tenant's use while it works.  But it will not be maintained or replaced, if it breaks. 

I keep looking at apartment rentals around town, b/c really I shouldn't live in a place that costs so much according to how I like to handle my budget.  BUT...

1650 square feet
Enclosed parking garage spot (keeps my car insurance lower too)
Huge bathtub
Internet included (if I had to pay for this by myself, it'd quickly soak up that $200)
Washer/Dryer included and maintained, as well as excellent maintenance and management company (they've had to give me a new washer before b/c it just stopped spinning one day)
$950

So, lots of reasons to stay that are really good reasons.  

I just keep telling myself that I would probably end up not saving money by moving.  I'm just trying to figure out how to keep my danged utilities bill a bit lower.  With 12 foot ceilings and a remodeled parking garage with lots of cement and hardwood, it's kind of hard.  I do have my one large window covered with insulated plastic and that makes a good difference, but the apartment just runs cold.  That's useful in the summer though, so I'm considering just doing a level pay for the year.  I'll examine it more at the end of this year.

GBCK

It is "crazy hair day today...pipecleaners FTW.

Otherwise SSDD. I've got 1 more type of cookie to make (I cut back to...6? Baked good gifts are my love language, damnit) and wrapping to do but, we're ok.

The mr's entire family in this state (2 households, 1 of which already lives down south 2/3 of the year) has said (vocallt) they're moving down south because its draconian and liberal here. I....I'm just not. Nope. Not touching it.
And ill inform the kid IF they put their home here on the market.

kvruns

@VarunaTT that does seem like a good deal. Are there any smaller units in the complex that would have the same amenities but cost less per month?