Friday-12:45pm

Good afternoon!

Been perfect weather up here--except we could probably use a break from the rain every other day.  Around 70-ish during the days--not too hot and not too cold--and a little chilly at night for sleeping.  Love it!

Caroline came Tuesday.  I told her she could skip most of the cleaning and asked if she'd help me with the purging.  I set up the other old folding table in the bedroom...  

...and she emptied out the craft bookcase for me and the wire cube shelves that were in the corner (where the stack of boxes is now).  She took the wire shelves apart for me, too. 

Those boxes stacked in the corner came from the hall closet above the washer and dryer.  Use to be double layer of the black wire cube shelves up there.  Caroline took those apart for me, too.  Notice all the green cleaning rags drying over the laundry basket--LOL! 

I had emptied out the shelves in the tall dresser already (plus some other stuff) on to my bed--and Caroline added some more. 

We also took down a little bit from the bedroom closet shelf, too.  This was such a HUGE help and saved me hours and hours--probably days (and we can't forget--extra pain, too).  Wow!!  That was awesome!

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After Caroline left Karma had to come to see what we had been doing in the bedroom...

...and smell everything... 

...with disapproving ears back. 

I collapsed on the porch chair for a while. 

Won't be long and no more balcony made over into a porch for us. 

I had been working all morning till Caroline came that day and kind of reached my pain wall on Tuesday.  I had been going slowly and taking breaks and all--and did better than I thought I would--but I had been going every day for 13 straight days.  Honestly--was also just plain too tired to move--LOL!  Fibro can be a cruel mistress.  ;)

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I collapsed in my chair--debating about taking one of my last two Percosets I have been hoarding like forever.  [Oh! The new pills I got don't seem to do much of anything so I haven't been taking them.  No point in taking something with little or no effect that I need to have regular blood work testing for, right?  Can't be good for me.]  But if I took a Percoset I knew I would be driven to keep cleaning and I'd end up feeling even worse than I already did when it wore off in 6 hours.  So, I was a good girl and listened to my snitty, ornery body. 

****

Meanwhile...

I hadn't seen Karma for hours.  So I finally managed to get out of my chair and hobble about looking for her.   

How she even found a spot to land up there is a mystery--LOL! 

But Karma had a good long snooze in the middle of all that stuff piled on my bed. 

I did manage to move everything off the bed so I could sleep there that night.  I had cleared off the other folding table in the living room before Caroline got here.  Dumb me--she would have moved all that for me if I had thought to ask her.  (Been over-tired and higher pain level--so you do get a might foggy-brained.)

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But I finally slept well these last two nights.  Or I should say longer.  I've been sleeping quite "well" on the new memory foam pad.  Usually sleeping 3-5 hour stretches without waking up despite all this purging activity!  Less pain today so I will probably get a little purging in this afternoon.  Nice!

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Wednesday was connecting day, I guess.  I had a video chat with McFamily.  Leah even carried me out to see the new deck and I carried her around to show her the mess over here--LOL!  

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The biggest news was I found out that Ian went to put his hand against the sliding glass door to stand--and it was open--just the screen there--so he fell forward and smacked his head against the door frame really hard.  Three hours later he started vomiting--so they had to bring him to emergency.  Probably concussion.  Ian got medication for nausea and they had to stay there a couple of hours for observation.  Poor kiddo!  He still had a big greenish bruise I could see on the video chat.

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I finally talked briefly with my mom, too, early that evening.  She was really too weak/tired to talk, but I did get to hear her voice and make her laugh.  She still has the infection, but it is apparently less than it was.  She has not regained any strength and is still sleeping a lot.  Very slow bits of progress.

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 McFamily signed a contract with Linda the moving lady.  The plan is that after I finish purging we will start packing.  Whatever we don't get done then Linda and her crew can finish packing.  They will move me and make sure I am okay that night for survival--LOL!  They'll put my bed together and make my bed--make sure I have everything for the bathroom, basics for kitchen, and can get to clothing.  The essentials.  But we will probably do the "resettling" (unpacking) ourselves...or I will, I should say.  Leah keeps saying that depending on the total after the move that they might be able to hire them to come and help me unpack some--but I am not worried about that.  These people will at least put the furniture where I want it so I only have to fill.  Once it is all over there the pressure is off, you know?  Can take my time unpacking.  :)

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The Karma plan.

We hope to get the key a day or two before the move (July 28th) so we can take over some things--you know, the spillable, fragile stuff--and the fish bowl and Baby Phil (yes, he's still alive).  Plan to set up Karma's stuff in the storage area you saw in the video that's right inside the door to the right.  That's where her cat box and food dishes are going to go, anyways.  I'll bring over her cat beds, a chair & TV tray for me, the coffee pot, toilet paper, paper towels & trash bag (if Karma gets to barfing as she does when she's stressed)...things like that.  I have a list going.  Some of it will have to wait to be moved until early moving day--like her cat box.  Karma and I will go over to the empty new place and stay there while the movers pack the truck.  Karma will be confined to the storage room basically the whole day till they leave.  I'll have the chair and ottoman set up in the storage room, too, and will be in there with her most of the time.  We just won't put anything else in there when they move things in.  Leave the door shut.

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Karma is known to howl.  Loudly and with great vigor.  But she can also be scared silent.  (I'm praying for silent.)  If she doesn't get to howling when she's alone in there, then I can come out when the movers arrive.  They're going to bring my recliner in with the first stuff off the truck.  Ahhh!

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So, that's the moving plan.  The more we can do ourselves the less it will cost.  (Linda and crew charges by the hour.)  And that is why I am just purging and cleaning all my good hours I am able to every day...except for time needed for necessities like laundry and cooking--LOL!  But I also have to walk that fine fibro/arthritis line, too.  Kind of was hoping to have basically purged everything inside the apartment by the end of June so that when July arrives we can mostly just be packing.

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McFamily plans to come over on Sunday the 28th to work on my garage.  I need to get the garage all sorted and donations made so that we can store moving boxes out there once they are packed.  Dagan and Leah have moving boxes they saved and Caroline and her hubby just moved into their brand new house so she has boxes for me, too.  Whoohoo!!  So we can pack up quite a lot of stuff ourselves.  :)

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Things are crazy busy...but exciting!!

Well, not so much in a good way to Miss Karma.  But I swear she is adjusting somewhat to the chaos and my tearing her home apart.  At least there hasn't been as much barfing...knock on wood!  LOL!  She'll love it.  Once she gets over the shock.  She'll love it there.

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Well, I am off to sort in the bedroom some more...

A pleasant weekend to ya!  :):)

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"And suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings."

Meister Eckhart

Tuesday-9am

Good Morning!

I have often been up in the middle of the night and unable to get back to sleep...so have seen the birth of the sunrise a few times. 

But I slept well last night and it is T Stands For Tuesday already.  Being a born listmaker, my Bullet Journal and my little-handmade-red-leather fauxdori are being really put to the test with the move.  I am loving them both!!  Here on this two page spread in my Bullet is the detailed purging-everything-I-own list with which I have been keeping close company the past two weeks.  ;)  Didn't forget my red coffee thermos this time, either.  (Not that it was on purpose, mind you--just always there--LOL!)

On any sunny morning Karma is on the porch listening to the swallows chitter chattering... 

...and doesn't like to be disturbed. 

She's been unsettled by all the activity.  I have found her several times sleeping under the bed--her "safe place" when she's scared...or overly annoyed.  But some of the new items are still interesting to Miss Karma.  This new collapsible crate... 

...fits perfectly on the new folding cart--tada!! 

That cart is so cool!  And quiet!  (The old little green cart rattles to beat the band.)  And this one folds down flat--even the wheels fold up--all in one movement!  And the crate (bought separately) collapses down flat, too.  Saves room.  Love it!  Have been using this new cart to bring out bags to the dumpster several times already.

Got a new mattress pad with deeper sides to cover the taller new memory foam pad.  (Which I am SOOO glad I have because I may not be sleeping long but what sleep I am getting is deeper.)  That's it for packages this month.   

Since I am trying to use up as much of the stuff in the pantry and frig as I can before the move, I am spending bare minimum on food, too.  But I still want my reimbursement for that broken file tote from Office Max because they already charged me for the replacement and I never got a response to my email.  So, when UPS delivered the collapsible crate and mattress pad yesterday...well, I had an idea.  I just had the box ready for him, quickly even got it outside my door before he made it up here, and greeted him with a smile.  Printed in big letters on the top (with their new jumbo marker--lol!): 

"Arrived open on one end--product damaged--return to sender". 

**** 

This was a different UPS guy.  I was totally breaking the rules.  (I prefer to think of it as bending them.)  He seemed very skeptical, but he finally took it.  Said he didn't know if it might not just come back to me...but he carried it off with a resigned smile.  :)  Let's hope I never lay eyes on that box again, it goes directly to Office Max/Depot, they gladly reimburse me, and the problem is solved. 

****

  Meanwhile...all I have been doing is slowly cleaning and purging. 

Haven't seen McFamily...not even on a video chat.  We're all busy.   

Haven't been able to connect with my mom, but I am on the contact list now.  I did hear that, because of the bed sores, they have to move her around and then sometimes she can't reach the phone.  The infection is slowly lessening, but it is still there.  She has not regained any of her strength yet and is sleeping a lot.  Blaine and Renee seem to be connecting with her here and there.  I have just had atrocious timing, I guess, because I have talked with her only once in over a week.  But I can get information from the sibs or the nurse's station.  Told Blaine and Renee to tell Mom I love her and explain why she hasn't heard from me.  I know we'll talk more when she's feeling better.  :)

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I am pretty exhausted myself.  Sometimes all that work and all the trips to the dumpster are not obvious to the naked eye.

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Before.

After. 

ROFL!  

But I know full well how much less is actually in all those drawers.  :):) 

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The lady who was coming to pick up the cassettes and decks of cards...kind of disappeared on me.  Never heard back from her.  I did email her last night.  She may have just vanished--changed her mind.  That happens sometimes on freecycle, I know.  But, in all the years I have been giving things away, this would be the first time for me if she never comes for them.  Here's hoping she is just busy, too.

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I have to ask.  Has anyone else seen any of this new Netflix Original series called Sense8?  I have watched four episodes now and still don't know the basic premise of how or why or what is actually happening.  (Ironically the fourth episode is titled "Whats Going On?"--ROFL!!)  I can be very patient with things unfolding slowly in stories and I do like science fiction, but good lord!!  I got bored waiting, to be honest.  Moved on to Orange Is The New Black--where I know what's going on.  ;)

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Caroline comes to clean this afternoon.  I'm hoping she'd rather help me purge, baby, purge.  ;)

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Not sure if I will get around to the ladies at Elizabeth's T-Day party today or not, but I shall try--on one of my numerous achey-body-breaks...if I can still move.  My home may be in chaos, but it feels sooooo good to be downsizing and cleaning and seeing stuff go out the door!!  I am visualizing us at the new place--thinking about where everything will go.  Now, if I could just talk to my mom and see McFamily (even if it's on my laptop screen) life would be perfect.  ;) ;)  And I am off to sort and clean and toss!!

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Have a scintillating, productive week.  :):)

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"A few fly bites cannot stop a spirited horse."

Mark Twain

Saturday-1:15pm

Well, hi!

I was thinking I would blog all week to at least give you an update about my mom, but information was changing daily and I wasn't able to connect with her on the phone until yesterday afternoon. 

As you may recall, Blaine brought Mom in for lab work on Wednesday morning.  Well, they admitted her into the hospital.  She has a terrible urinary tract infection, was too weak to walk, and they expected her to be in the hospital for maybe a couple of weeks.  Blaine and Kathy could not switch their tickets and decided to fly back to Minnesota Wednesday since Mom was at least safe in the hospital for now and getting care.  You can only miss so much work, either.  Good grief!  Blaine is lucky he has been able to get as much time as he has already...and he'll be going back to Florida.

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All I know so far is that they haven't found anything else, but the infection is so bad that it could explain her decline.  She's been on intravenous antibiotics (and they have been switching them so you know they are having trouble finding something that works better), but she still has the infection, is very weak, sleeping a lot, still can't walk or get out of bed or even reach the phone.  But at least she's getting treatment for the infection and they say there is some improvement.  It is so hard for my brother to deal with all of this from 1600 miles away.

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If you have anyone you love in a hospital, nursing home, rehab center, or any similar facility and you can get over there...please, please visit them regularly.  Doesn't matter what age they are.  They need someone to be there for them...to watch out for them...to advocate for them, you know?  Our mother was basically confined to her bed..."housed"...for over a month at that rehab center...they never even washed her hair...she has bed sores...a raging infection...and it has eroded her natural positive nature and left her listless, weak as a kitten, sick as a dog, and on anti-depression medication.  It breaks my heart!  It breaks all of our hearts!

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Ever since the accident she has never been healed enough to get home in Florida (which was what she wanted to do and we expected when she went to rehab) or to make the trip to Minnesota she needs now.  We just keep praying for her to heal enough to be able to make that trip back up here to where family can be there for her.

Any prayers and good thoughts are greatly appreciated.

****

Seems like things have just been off this last week.  Even a simple order of four plastic hanging file storage totes from OfficeMax/Office Depot went awry. 

But Miss Karma had to check them out immediately, of course. 

She rubbed... 

...and rolled.. 

...and rubbed.  Must be that new plastic smell.  Did anyone else love that smell of a new doll like I did?  I still remember rapturously sniffing my brand new Tiny Tears doll one Christmas at my grandparents in Denver.  I thought it was the best smell ever--LOL! 

But...one of the totes was broken...cracked all along the one end (which is the built-in handle)... 

...partway up one side... 

...and the other, too. 

I have been dealing with this issue for three days.  It is still not resolved, even though I have already gotten the replacement tote.  Things just haven't been going smoothly recently.  (Is there really something to that Mercury retrograde business or whatever they are talking about--not sure I got that right, either.)  

****

Office Max/Depot told me UPS would do an exchange when they came with the new tote, but they didn't.  UPS wouldn't take the package without a damage request from OfficeMax/Depot or a new package label.  I thought OM/D had already done that because they told me everything was taken care of.  I tried to call OM/D's 800 number five times over two days and it would go beep-beep-beep and disconnect me.  I've tried emailing them--no response.  

****

So I figured I try it from the UPS side and have talked with them a couple of times...to no avail.  At one point on the second call to UPS (and the third person I had told the whole story to) the lady said they wouldn't pick it up from my place because they didn't deal with packages of so little worth (the tote is only $15.99), but they would come and pick it up if I paid the $10.95 pick up fee.  Ah, no.  They keep telling me I need to have OM/D do the proper paperwork or send me a shipping label.  I'm still waiting for an answer to my last email to OM/D.  I will try and call again...but maybe Monday.  I am telephone fried.

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My last resort will be to bring this damaged tote over to the Office Max in Fargo and drop it on their service counter.

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Do you remember how they left my new desk down in the entryway?  Ever since they have combined companies--service has been awful.  I guess I am done with ordering anything from them online.  Done.  I am not waiting for three times you're out.  Twice in a row is enough for me.  (And they were the ones who sent the lone marker in the humungous box, too--LOL!)

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But...Karma's new heart tag from Doctors Foster & Smith came quickly and was perfect.   

I wanted her name and my number on Karma's person in case she ever does get out the sliding glass door after we move.  :)

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Speaking of the move.  Sheree did send me the new form for my bank and says she already took care of the paperwork for my landlord.  I mailed the bank form back immediately.  But she neglected to tell me that I need paperwork to show Karma's vaccinations are current.  So, Miss Karma will have to go in for shots before we move.  (You may recall that Karma has been known to go feral at the vets, so they won't be too happy to see her, either--LOL!)  And I also need to provide a picture of Karma for their files.  Now THAT is one thing that I do not think is going to be a problem.  ROFL!

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Oh, and we did get the "ROUGH" estimate (Linda did the capital letters) for moving me...I almost fell over!!  (I have way too much stuff, I guess--which is why I am purging.)  Okay--don't fall over but her ROUGH estimate was $5,400-6,300.00!  And if they don't unpack or "resettle" we'd save around $1,575-1,800.00 as a ROUGH estimate.  Whew!

****

  Now, Dagan and Leah haven't had any time to sit and discuss this yet because they are busy building their deck and some raised garden boxes and have been very busy...but Leah told me that she had expected it to be around $5,000.  Which it probably would be if we unpack everything ourselves.  Or we could pack everything and hire a regular moving company to move me.  They haven't decided which way to go yet--Linda or a regular moving company.  And I haven't seen McFamily because I have been so busy, too.  We haven't even done a video chat!  So you know how crazy things have been.

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I keep on cleaning and purging during all the good time I have each day.  I have a long detailed purging list and I keep checking things off little by little.  I have finished the bathroom, completed the linen closet, scrubbed down the wall shelves over the art table, filled two of the four file totes...have emptied whole drawers and a banker box...and made a couple trips to the dumpster.  

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I have also found a lady on freecycle who is old school enough to want all my cassettes--both the new blank ones and the box of my new-agey instrumentals and nature tapes.  Plus she said she'd take my card decks (angel cards, soul cards, positive affirmation cards) which I hadn't even posted on freecycle yet.  So, I hope she shows up.  She lives an hour out of Fargo, said she is having surgery on Wednesday, will find out the exact time of her surgery on Tuesday and will call me to arrange a pick-up time after she talks to them.  I am certainly not the only one who's life is complicated lately.

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  And it's like fate is against me talking to Mom since her decline.  ??  Her cell phone was not even ringing or letting you make a voice mail (which neither Mom or I know how to listen to, anyways--lol!).  I thought maybe it needed to be charged, but the next day it was the same thing.  Had to get ahold of Renee to get the number to the hospital and Mom's room number.  Then--her roommate's people told me was sleeping when I called.  Blaine told me last night that he asked a nurse to check to see Mom's cell phone was on and the nurse turned it on yesterday.  

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So I try the cell phone today.  No answer.  I'm not even sure she can reach the cell phone any more than the hospital phone.  I hate to keep calling, either, when she can't get to the phone or might be sleeping.  She is sleeping a lot.  I called the hospital later and her room phone was busy (but you don't know if it is Mom or her roommate on the phone).  Called through the hospital again later and it disconnected after two rings.  Been so weird.  

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Mom was complaining about her ankle last night and I wanted to know if a doctor had looked at it.  So I tried to talk to the nurse's station...but I am not listed as a contact so they wouldn't tell me anything but that she was stable.  So I have to get ahold of Blaine or Renee and get me on the contact list.  (I had been getting my spotty information from them.)  Everything has been just off kilter, you know?

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So, enough babbling.  I've tried to call Mom three times today and will make another attempt later...but, in the meantime, I am off to work some more in the bedroom.  I have dressers and bookcases to clean and purge.  Hope you are having a really good weekend.  And I hope things tip back to being on kilter soon--LOL!  

See you Tuesday.  :):)

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"The main thing in one's own private world is to try to laugh as much as you cry."

Maya Angelou

Tuesday-4am

Things have been up and down lately...

...kind of like the weather.

Dark and light. 

Rain and sun. 

My mom had been trying to get out of rehab for over a week.  They'd tell her maybe...then no.  She really deflated. 

My brother flew down.

We weren't happy with the rehab facility she was in.  Mom said they didn't give her a walker and yet it was against the rules for her to walk without one down the hallway.  The only time she really got any walking in was at physical therapy five times a week.  Other than that she mostly sat in her room.  Blaine said all that was true.  

****

When Blaine got there he had a long list of things they had to check off...social security, insurance, etc.  He took her out for a few hours every day and she was doing okay.  Quite tired, but then she hasn't been doing much of anything but sit.  She couldn't just leave the rehab facility because they told them that then her bill wouldn't be covered by insurance if she left against doctor's orders.  (Doctors she never seemed to actually see much.)  They were finally supposed to agree to let her out yesterday because Blaine had tickets to take her back to Minnesota for the rest of her recovery.  She was going to live with Blaine and Kathy until she was well enough to go back to Florida and live on her own again.  The lack of exercise had her pretty weak.  Too weak to leave her alone in Florida.

****

  Overnight Sunday night Mom really deteriorated.  Could barely walk.  Blaine did get her out of that place and over to see her doctor.  Apparently she has had anemia in the past to where she was actually fainting and weak...so this weakness could be because of that.  ??  Blaine is taking her in this morning for lab work.  

****

So now things are up in the air as far as Mom going back to Minnesota any time soon...unless she does a miraculous turn around.  Blaine's wife was flying down to help him bring Mom back on the flight Wednesday, but now the doctor didn't recommend Mom going anywhere...for possibly a month...of rehab.  

****

Obviously, someplace else. 

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 Sounds like Blaine will try and see if he can stay a little longer...maybe through the weekend.  He's had a lot of time off work lately.  I'm glad Kathy is going down to be there, too.

If Mom has to be in rehab for a month...she'll be alone down there in Florida again until she is well enough to make the trip to Minnesota.  And we have to pray it is a decent place that will take care of her, you know?  Hopefully her own doctor will be visiting her wherever she goes this time.

****

My poor brother has been shouldering all the details since the accident.  Just been a stressful time all around.  We're praying it is anemia that's causing the extreme weakness so they can do something to fix it, you know?  Know more as time goes by.  Thank goodness for cell phones.

Meanwhile, I have just been puttering with the cleaning and purging.  Been working on the bathroom and linen closet.  I had recorded Jurassic Park last week and last night I watched that while I scrubbed down everything on the wall shelves by the art table.  Still not feeling great.  Lots better, but not well-well.  Still have the cold and occasional coughing...and not sleeping the best (as you can see by when I am writing this), but that may be due to just stress, of course. 

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Karma knows something is up.   

There has been occasional barfing.

And extra cuddling.

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Oh, I have to show you this!  Look at the size of this box from Office Max.  Guess what was inside? 

 This one marker.  LOL!

I also have some plastic hanging file storage tubs coming that I had planned to buy ever since I gave away the mammoth desk and file cabinet.  Have stuff stuck in boxes that I can't get to easily.

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Leah and her BIL, Chuck (who used to be a carpenter), have been building the McFamily deck.  They put in posts in cement last Wednesday and started this past weekend on the building.  So I keep hoping it doesn't rain.

Last night UPS delivered my new memory foam bed topper and I had it airing out in the living room overnight. 

The one on my bed is about ten years old--quite flat now and turned yellow years ago.  I am hoping a new, thicker one will be easier on my hips since I can only sleep on my sides.  Should help keep me going with all the purging and cleaning...I hope so, anyways.  ;)

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I also ordered a new folding cart and a folding crate.  I can use the crate on top of the new cart or wherever it's needed.  Be nice to have in the trunk, I think.  Now I can keep my old little green cart (not collapsible) in the garage and this new one won't take up so much room in the apartment.  (Things that help me with carrying are a necessity in my life.)  Will be so much more convenient to have carts both in the apartment and in the garage.  And, while it is new and clean, I can use the new folding one inside here to wheel boxes about for purging.  May be rolling out some boxes to the garage, too.

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We're supposed to get an estimate on the moving costs this week from that Linda.  We really liked her.  I'll fill you in more as the move progresses.  Forgot to call Sheree yesterday with everything happening with Mom...so I will call her today to see if she's done anything with the paperwork.  

Nudge!  Nudge!

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With all this going on I haven't been taking many pictures and never even got a pic with one of my trusty red thermal coffee mugs.  :(  I hope I shall be forgiven by the ladies over at T Stands For Tuesday.   I can promise you it was on the other end of the table when I was photographing the box and marker--LOL!  Am sipping from the black and red one right now.  Sumatra!  Yummmm!  And I've been writing for so long the sun just burst over the horizon.  Time to get moving or take a nap.  :):)

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I'm hoping for good news today on Mom.  

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Shall be cleaning and tossing...and maybe posting a couple things on freecycle.  Have a positive, productive week.  :):)

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"Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever."

Isak Dinesen