An unventful travel day!

As I sit surrounded by junk in the office, I remind myself of the list I put together yesterday. I don't have time to deal with any of it today, but I'll keep plugging away at it. I just might have more incentive now. 

OH—there is one thing I need to add to that list, and this is NOT new. 

USE the good things NOW!!!! I don't care if this is your favorite china, crystal, or the FABRIC that is too good to cut. If you don't use it now, someone is going to take your precious china and dump it unceremoniously outside a thrift store drop box. That good fabric? It might go on the back of a community project quilt or be chopped into tiny pieces. If you don't use it now and enjoy what you bought, then someone else will do with it as they wish. 

It's like my china tea mugs. I bought them, put them in the cupboard for a special day. Then about ten years ago- no, make that eight years ago, as I bought them ten years ago- I started using them. EVERY DAY! I put them in the dishwasher even though it fades the paint. I DON'T CARE. I have two, and one day I use one and the next day it's the other. I am enjoying them - I get a wee thrill every time I pull them from the cupboard. When I'm gone - those mugs can go in the trash. I'm not kidding about the thrill - I LOVE those mugs, and using them makes me feel special - they have bicycles all over both of them, and they are fun! 

When I am gone, M might say, "I want one of those tea mugs because it was Mom's favorite." And they are my favorites because I USE them whenever I am at home. And only for tea and never in the microwave. Something doesn't become special when it's stored in a box in the back of the cupboard.  

Thankfully, I never got into the china-and-crystal thing. I have NOTHING exceptional in the dish department, EXCEPT for those two mugs. 

LOL --- I just checked my email, and I see that I've been upgraded in advance for my next flight in a couple of days, which is only an hour-long flight. It doesn't matter -- I'll take the upgrade when I can. But I never seem to get upgraded for the long flights. 

Yep—I'm back home, and I'm tired, but I'm off to work today. I'll be doing some demos of the PFAFF creative icon 3 at Sew Productive, in Acton. One session starts at 9 AM and the second one is at 2 PM. It's free, so if you are around and want to see what all the hype is about, come and check it out.

As far as travel days go, it was uneventful, which is just how I like it. I zipped over to my parents' in the morning, chatted for over an hour, and tried to tidy up some last-minute details. Only the bank is giving us grief, and I need to call them because there is one transaction we can't do online, and I'm not sure why. 

I know people drive through Saskatchewan and say it is so boring. People say the same about the Meseta part of the Camino in Spain. People ---- you get to see for miles, and the vistas do not disappoint. As many times as I have seen those wide-open spaces, I never tire of it. It's some of the most beautiful country in the world. The next time you want to drive across the country, please do NOT bypass Saskatchewan. It's beautiful in a different way than the mountains. 

Gassed up the car and dropped off the rental car. Since it was NOT at the airport location, they gave me a lift, so that was good. Then I filled up my water bottle at the refillable water station. And yes—that is my Booster Juice shake. I was running out of hands to hold everything. I didn't have to wait too long, and we were ready to board the plane. 

Refillable water station

I have no idea why I was so exhausted, but I was asleep before the plane even took off! The next thing I know, we have been in the air for almost an hour! I didn't do anything physical, but it was exhausting mentally. I went to bed early, and I could probably still be asleep if I had time. But that's OK. 

Thankfully, I had all my samples sitting on a table in Studio B, so all I needed to do was grab a small suitcase and throw them in. 

I LOVE these logic puzzle books. I'm speeding right along in this one, and I'm somewhere in the 30s. There are 50 in the book, so ONLY after I finish this one will I allow myself to start a new one. Some are quick; a couple of them have given me grief, but it all keeps the brain active. I will do whatever I can to keep my mental faculties working. Dementia seems to run in my family (sigh), so I have to try to prevent it from attacking my brain cells. At least it hits (if it's going to) in the 80s, so I still have time! 

Logic puzzles

Before bed, I tidied up a few things in Studio B. A small gift from someone at the retreat. Two crocheted dishcloths and a scrub pad. You can never have too many dishcloths.

New dishcloths and a scrubby

Those scrub pads are crocheted, and this is what they are made of. The one above isn't sparkly, but this ball that I purchased is. I had thrown it in my bag to work on at retreat. Alas, that wasn't to be this time. 

Yarn to make a scrubby

I also acquired a new puzzle from someone, so it is now added to the pile, and this one isn't going to be easy!!!! I won't have time for a couple of weeks to work on a puzzle, but I'll do what I can. Maybe I can get the next one sorted, and that would be great. It's a good activity for the evening when your brain is dead. 

A new jigsaw puzzle

And darn those new food labels. I wondered if anything would be classified with all three "bad" items, and yes—I spotted this on the kitchen counter this morning. DH bought half a pumpkin pie because you can't live for fall without one. 

The warning label on the pumpkin pie

The trick is to LIMIT, but not eliminate foods with those warnings! I tried—I really tried — to eat better on this past trip, but I wasn't always successful. It is what it is. 

I have to run because I need to walk the girls. They were so excited to see me last night, but I think all they wanted was a walk, and I was tired. So now I will have to walk them together this morning because of time, and they are going to be wild! Slow and steady. 

It will be a WONDERFUL day!!!!!!

Ciao!!!!

A checklist for aging!

If you get a chance, go back and read yesterday's comments. There is some very valuable information in there from people who have dealt with or are currently dealing with family downsizing, elder care, etc. 

This ongoing experience is teaching me a lot. See—even when we think we know it all and have nothing left to learn from our parents, they step right back into our lives and teach us more! 

While we mostly learn WHAT to do, we also learn valuable lessons about what NOT to do. Here are some of my insights:

Avoid hoarding: It's tough. My parents' generation lived in the depression (or were born during the depression) and had nothing, so having things around them - even unvaluable things is important. Can you imagine the kids of today living through a depression? Do they even know what that is? 

Let stuff go! If you no longer need something, get rid of it! Your house looks nicer; you have physical and mental room to enjoy life. 

Do NOT wish to die in your home! This was Mom's story all along—she was never going to move from the farm (by the way, she was born on the farm about two miles from where she spent her entire life). There is the issue of safety and, in her case, getting the proper medical attention needed - well, that is for both Mom and Dad. They were EXTREMELY reluctant to move, but once they did and they settled in - guess what? BEST decision THEY ever made. A little secret here—they did NOT decide; their health needs dictated that they move, but we'll let them think they had a choice! 

Don't wait until it's too late! If you wait until you are older to move from your house, you are that much frailer, less able to make decisions, and getting rid of stuff is that much harder. I have an age in mind for when to move, but you know what? I may have to reconsider that, and sometimes, I think it would be so nice to go on vacation, lock the front door, and not worry about a thing. Freedom! 

START DOWNSIZING NOW: I don't care if you are 15 or 65 or 95 -- you can't take it with you. Start getting rid of anything you never use. I must take that to heart with my stuff—there is so much in the house that we don't use, and we have been downsizing for 15 years! I'm thinking particularly with clothing, and I've already gotten rid of half of what I had. And I need to tackle those quilts --- they need to go! 

STOP BUYING STUFF: If you think you want it, don't buy it yet. If you really, really want it -- then go back and buy it. OK -- I need to have a wee chat with myself because I have had a buying spree or two and I need to stop that DEAD!

Get all your paperwork in ORDER NOW: That means wills, health directives, POA, and any other important papers. Birth certificates, bank and investment accounts, and whatever else you deem important. Oh yes—let's not forget our social insurance numbers. If you still live in your house, what utilities do you pay for, etc.? Dig out all the account numbers and type it up or put it in a folder or whatever works, but get it together. 

Don't be afraid to ask questions if there is something you don't know. Dad threw me for a loop yesterday when he asked, "Who do we call if someone dies?' Wow— I had never thought about that. I assumed it was 911, even though it is no longer an emergency if they are dead. We Googled it and chatted with friends, and yes—you call 911. 

Information should be available to those who need it. If you have a health directive with things like a DNR or other pertinent medical directions, make sure the person responsible knows about it and has the paper in hand so that, if needed, they can make the appropriate decisions. You might also want to put a copy on your fridge in case you have a medical crisis. If the person on the health directive isn't handy, emergency response teams can access the information and act accordingly. They will always try to resuscitate unless they have other directions. And the document for a DNR must be official - it cannot be a handwritten note! 

Do NOT be afraid of death. OK -- this one might be tough, but I was so reluctant to talk about death and funerals and the "what if," which I now just call "when" because, let's face it, they are going to pass, and it will be within the next decade. No one likes to think of their parents' or other loved ones' death. However, we have been to the funeral home (several times) and had other discussions, and guess what? I'm happy to talk about this stuff, and I don't need to cry. OK -- shedding a tear here! Have those tough conversations with them now - it will save you so much heartache in the future, and I think it will make our parents feel more comfortable. They have accepted fate; we need to, too. 

If you are struggling with any kind of thing in the house - DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Hire help, move, or whatever it takes, but don't just accept that as the only way. If stairs are a struggle, then move. If your house is too cluttered and you can't do anything about it, then hire someone to come in and get rid of stuff. If you can't get in the bathtub for a bath, install a shower or move to a place where you can safely bathe. 

Don't compromise your safety because you are too proud. If someone says you need a cane or a walker or whatever for stability -- get a cane or a walker. Who the heck cares if you need a cane? Have you looked around your neighborhood? If I need a cane - give me one! 

Maintain your mobility and strength for as long as you can! This means exercising to the best of your ability. And if you dislike the word exercise, then think of it as just being active. Don't use the remote - get out of the chair and change the channel. Walk to the kitchen to get something, instead of asking someone else. Chair squats, lifting cans of soup to maintain upper body strength -- whatever it takes, but do NOT NOT NOT take your mobility for granted! 

And I'm sure other things can go on that list. If you have something to add, let me know, and I will type it up pretty when I get home. I need to refine this list and put it on my fridge because I do NOT want to be caught in any of those situations, and I see a few I can improve. It's not that I need to make my life perfect, but I need to ensure that the people in my house are safe and that we are not creating issues for our children. 

OK -- I got that off my chest! I bet Mom and Dad will be so happy when I leave this morning. It's been an exhausting mental and physical couple of days, and while we covered a lot of ground, they still have a couple of things to consider. I'll be making some lists. 

We now have a book in place - well, it was before, but I've added to the book, and I have a list of all the documents in the book with the date of issue so we know that is the most recent copy. A copy of that will go in the book as well, but they don't have a working printer at the moment. That must kill them because Dad used to print everything, and the printer hasn't worked for a couple of years. That saved a LOT of trees!

Here is the wooden puzzle I bought the other day. Trust me—I have a rule with puzzles, and I am following it: I make them and give them away. This one is pricey—only a very worthy person will get it, and I have someone in mind. 

My wooden puzzle

This will be me one day. This is the stack of puzzles in the common room at my parents' apartment. They trade puzzles with other groups, or people like me drop them off, and it keeps them going. It's a great social thing, although I would have to STOP wanting to only do the puzzle myself! I can do that! 

The puzzle stash at my parents' apartment

OK -- seriously though - puzzles are everywhere here. We stopped at the drugstore, and there was a rack of puzzles, including a couple of wooden puzzles. 

Puzzles at the drugstore

And look - there was a quilt puzzle. I did NOT buy it. 

Quilt puzzle

This was one of our many stops - the cemetery. And this is Dad in front of his infant son's grave. 

Dad in front of infant son's grave

It's funny how not so long ago all trips to my parents were strictly for "pleasure." And within the last eleven years since they moved off the farm, all the trips have involved some form of getting all the crap dealt with! It's all fun and games, and while we are far from perfect and I'm sure we've prepared as much as we can, something will still rear its ugly head when the time comes. But we are far ahead of the game. That's all I care about. And I have the contacts and information if I need anything. Since I have reviewed it all many times, if any questions arise, I can answer them on the phone without reviewing the documents. 

Next time, I sure hope I can start clearing out a few things. How to convince my Mom? Mom has always considered me to be "too chatty (she uses a different word) for my own good." And let's just say that her definition isn't kind. But you know what? If someone doesn't take the bull by the horns, we are all going to get run over! She isn't a take-charge kind of person, and she can't handle seeing me do that. Who cares - I don't care. But it makes it darn difficult to get anything done.

We managed to get almost everything done, except one thing, which we'll keep working on. And I'm happy to say that my estranged brother and I had a wonderful two-hour chat in the coffee shop. It was just like old times - almost! And he is doing a great job at dealing with day-to-day stuff. I feel content going home, knowing that. I couldn't ask for more, and I'll keep doing what I can from a distance. 

I don't think I've ever talked to my brothers as much as I did this week! But everyone is on the same page; everyone knows the situation and the critical triggers for the next step. They don't know the details of some stuff - they don't need to know until the time comes. That works for all of us. 

Well, that was a very "wordy" post, and my Mom would say that I am too vocal, but who cares - get over it! 

What you do in your home, with your stuff, and with your accumulation of stuff is your business, just as what I do with mine is mine. PLEASE do not let it become a safety issue in your home, and for heaven's sake DO NOT SAY that you'll leave it for the kids. Your kids did NOT create that mess—it is YOUR responsibility to get rid of your footprint in life. Some of the houses I've been in this week make me cringe. I want to get the garbage bags and start clearing the kitchen table, the counter, and so much more. 

Thank goodness I brought all my digital data with me, as I needed something yesterday, and I was able to accommodate the request, and it is done! I love my new office setup - I can work from anywhere with ALL my digital data! Yes -- I know - it needs to be cleaned with a backup. I KNOW!!!! 

It is going to be a WONDERFUL day!!!!


Ciao!!!!

Happy People!

Remember I said I was feeling overwhelmed the other day? Why? A lot is happening in the next few months, and I ignored my schedule and work-related tasks during the holidays. As soon as I started putting things on paper in the form of a plan, the overwhelming thoughts were gone! 

Does it have to be an elaborate plan? No! You can type it out or write it on the back of a napkin, but if writing it out gets you back in control, that's all that counts. I have not completed the task, but I'm well on my way. 

Filing my email and attachments more logically and promptly is helping a lot because it's easy to find what I need. All is good! 

I had to laugh at Pamela's comment about Murphy. Yes - she is a beautiful dog. She's demanding, though, and constantly wants attention. Last night, I sat in a chair in the living room to read for a bit. Of course, she's right there asking for attention. And, well, I wanted a few quiet moments to read. So this happened. 

Yes, Murphy, you are the Queen, and I am your servant

Seriously?? I'm now sitting on the ottoman while she laps up the luxury of the chair, with her head on my knees. And she was quite content to lay there for a long time - quiet as a mouse! Sigh...... And I thought Lexi was the Princess!

We completed the 16th puzzle in the EXIT Games Advent Calendar last night. It took us two days to do it. I never said we were fast, and I think the overwhelming feeling of the previous week carried over to other parts of my day, preventing me from focusing like I usually do with the puzzles. The puzzle was tricky, as it involved going through all the "rooms" of the box we had opened - MULTIPLE times to get all the information. Then, we had to use logic to decipher the information, but we solved it without help. But it took both brains to get there! 

DH spotted this in The Globe and Mail on Jan 4. It's all about happiness. The article is called Pursuing Happiness and discusses twelve tips for cultivating happiness. Here are the tips: 

1. Stay curious about the people you love
2. Say hello to strangers
3. Take pleasure in achieving small goals
4. Forgive others - and yourself
5. Spend time with your own thoughts
6. Build up your happiness with practice
7. Find your happy place
8. Don't be afraid to knock on a new door
9. Share your happiness
10. When life is painful, maintain perspective. Today is not tomorrow
11. Pay attention to the view
12. Be shamelessly silly. Dance. Sing. Blow bubbles

What do you think? I love them all. Do I practice them all? I probably have difficulty with number four! And I absolutely love number twelve! 

I love this sentence from Number 12: If you don't have time for fun, "life just squeezes the opportunity out of you," Ms Foss says. "No one else is going to prioritize play for you because it's not productive in a capitalist economy, you know?"

Oh, how true. However, do capitalists not realize that happy people are more productive? Sadly, many people frown on happiness or are incapable of experiencing it, which is their loss. 

This next jigsaw puzzle is going to be tough. I accomplished only this much in 30 minutes—all the time I could devote yesterday. It's also a 500-piece puzzle that might take a "few" days to finish. Another US city—you can't tell which one from those few pieces. 

Slow progress on the jigsaw puzzle

I love my air threading serger (Husqvarna Viking Amber Air S600). I was serging the edge of a quilt this morning, and I knew the upper looper thread would run out. But I wasn't paying attention, and the next thing I knew, the serger wasn't sewing correctly. I think it took more time to walk to the cabinet to get another spool than it did to rethread the upper looper. No need to unthread the lower looper or the needles. Just insert the end of the thread into the air tube opening and push the button! 

Ran out of thread!

I was preparing to come upstairs when I realized I only had one sandal. Good grief—where's the other one?

Where's my sandal?

I checked under the table where the sewing machine is. It's not there. Oh yes - I was also serging this morning, and it was on the floor under the serger table. I take the sandal off my right foot whenever I'm sewing and don't even realize it.  

It's not under the sewing machine table

I saw this quote the other day and thought it was so true. It's all the more reason we must do whatever we can to preserve our abilities for as long as possible. That includes walking! It sounds silly to say this out loud, but we do not want to lose the ability to go to the washroom independently, especially if we are somewhere and they don't have support to assist us. So don't forget your Stand-up/Sit-down routine!! 

We can't turn the clock back and stop aging, but we can slow the process by caring for our bodies. I know that won't work for everyone, and some of us have limitations that can't be reversed. But we sure don't want to reach "that age" and realize we should have been doing more to stay mobile. The trouble with most of this is that it creeps up on you. One day, you can; the next, you struggle, and then poof - you can't! 

No decluttering thoughts today, but that doesn't mean you should be letting it slide! Grab a drawer - I promised pictures of my drawers in the kitchen. I'll do that later today so I can share them with you. 

Think about your happiness? Are you happy? What makes you happy? Lots of things make me happy, and since I know what they are, it's MY responsibility to keep doing them so I don't fall into the shadows of darkness. Thankfully, my brain is wired for happiness! 

On that happy note, I'm out of here! I have a lot of work to accomplish today, but good progress is being made. I have my list of three priorities, and I'm ready, set, go! 

Have a super day!

Ciao!!!