January Generosity Week 4

[Lavande]

January Generosity Week 4

May I just mention that 3 hours with my grandsons is enough to make me crazy anymore? :H
Holy crap! These boys used to be fun but now they are just NUTZ!!!!

Sooty, my vegan friend -
I've been baking all sorts of yummy things from 'The Joy of Vegan Baking: The Compassionate Cook's Traditional Treats and Sinful Sweets' by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
Now you have me wanting to bake a carrot cake

TDN, big cupcakes are awesome ~ especially when they are vegan.
I hope you stay focused on yyour gratitude

Dill, my only experience with the VA system was when I worked in managed care for Blue Cross insurance. I had to call VA hospitals to get informatioin on patients to certify their hospital stays. Let's just say I often felt like banging my head on my desk because no one ever knew what was going on & there was no such thing as an attending physician.....
I hope your son gets better service privately.

cyn, I'm glad that your are reaching out to us. Haven't we all had bizarre, unexplained moments in our lives/ I know I sure have :l

LBH, it is incredibly cold here. I have to keep going out to the chicken house & breaking the ice forming in their water can. The warming plate isn't keeping up!!!
Glad you got a shot of warmth today

Well, I have an early babysitting call tomorrow - yay me!

Papmom, I hope you check in soon to tell us about the new job. Of course your head is probably spinning right about now

Good night all.
Lav

[papmom3]

January Generosity Week 4

will check in when i have a proper amount of time!!

:h

[Stargazerlily]

January Generosity Week 4

Good morning to all...

Rusty, I always have a hard time this time of year. The cold, dark, lack of funds ( for some reason always money issues) snow, dangerous driving, chapped skin, sicknesses...it just gets to me. Cabin fever, maybe. I love spring, but that is not right around the corner around here. However, it is not usually in my nature to stay down for long. I always think about the good, find things to be happy about, and love to laugh. I hear you about the amount of money spent on alcohol...ridiculous. Also, the related going out, and stupid expenditures. It is so satisfying to manage money responsibly, be healthy, and focus on good decisions.

TDN, it is normal to think others focus on us, but as Rusty stated, most people are focused on themselves. Still, it is hard to work your way out of a DUI, I admire your courage and persistence!!!! We are here to support you and help get you through.

Lav, vegan cooking is soooo good. I have not tried the baking, yet. Did you get the book at the library or buy it? Any more good websites, let me know. I love fatfree vegan. Have fun babysitting. I can only take little ones for a short time too, but love their ability to be in the moment!

Sooty, so good to hear from you again, baking, housebound due to snow. What else is going on in your world?

Dill, sorry to hear the VA is so bureaucratic, insurance companies too. Many people who should know do not understand addiction, the secrecy, and think if you function at all, there is no problem. The same with domestic violence, in my experience. No abuse if the abused is able to work, looks normal, no visible bruises, etc. You expect people to understand if they work in a healthcare facility. Private sector is probably the way to go. The counselor sounds terrible, probably overworked, but still, no excuse.

More snow here, more to come, I will wear bright colors today to get through. Have a great day.

[Lavande]

January Generosity Week 4

Good morning kids!

Freakin frezing again this morning! Snow arriving tomorrow I hear even though I didn't order any :H

Papmom, we wai with baited breath

Star, I don't buy too many actual books anymore. Most of my books are purchased thru Amazon, Kindle versions that I download to my iPad.

I only spent one year of my life working in managed care. I actually found it to be more stressful than working at the hospital
I looked forwrad to working a more normal schedule (9-5 M-F) having weekends & holidays off, etc BUT having to spend my day focused solely on $$ - saving money for the insurance company. not the patient made me feel sick

Well, I'm off to go watch my crazy grandsons for a few hours until my son gets home from work.
Think of me :H

Lav

[ThreeDogNight]

January Generosity Week 4

Good morning, all!

It is -12F here this a.m.!!!! UGH!! I am going to the exercise class at 10:30, hoping there is no problem with the car or "device." Hae taken both mouthpieces inside, as I know they could freeze, and condensation is already an issue:upset:

Cyn, I can relate to that feeling so well. Think I am going to take 2 Amoryn a day for a bit. If I need the Seredyn, still hae a few left, and will order another bottle. At least you are out of the deep freeze Think we are supposed to get snow tomorrow night, too. NOT looking forward to that at all. Supposed to meet a good friend and her mother for lunch on Saturday, and it's about an hour drive, so hoping the snow stays away.

Star, staying in and baking sounds good to me!!

Dill, hope your son stays away from AL. In his condition, it has to be very dangerous. And he at least isn't dealing totally with the VA, right?

Pap, can't wait to hear about the first week on the job! Hope it's going great for you.

Sooty-still snowing?

Rusty, go your email and replied last night. Hope your Internet doesn't go down again.

How are you this a.m. LBH?

Chill, how are you doing? Thinking of you.

After exercise, I'm back to work on the project, then have to leave around 3:30 to meet the sales guy. Am not looking forward to going out again in the cold, having to load stuff in my car, but am trying to stay focused on gratitude! And I know that Mr TDN at least feels more comfortable with the Intoxalock on. It's really sad how he tried to trust me so many times before and I let him down:upset: I am looking at this from his point of view and understanding where he is coming from.

Wherever you are, hoping you have a great AF day!

[Lavande]

January Generosity Week 4

TDN - yikes!
It was a balmy 14 degrees here this moring! You need to move south :H

This half Polish girl can die happy now - I just found a vegan gwumpki recipe
Take a look at this Star:
http://veganmiam.com/guest-blogger/g...an-yack-attack

[ladybirdheart]

January Generosity Week 4

Hi everybody. I certainly am admiring the lot of you today. TDN, I can SO relate to the frustrations of being dependent upon a technology that is hard to master, delicate, or not reliable. The hot tears flow until I learn the drill or replace what is broken and sometimes it is hard to tell which is which. And Lav, making a vegan version of a food I have never heard of and can barely pronounce is way cool. I also could never take care of one kid let alone a pack of two or three, there is no off button. There is a good reason I early on made peace with being unable to raise anything other than flora and fauna. I lack the hardwiring for people. You each have such interesting relationships with your adult children as well, Dill, Star, Rustop, Sooty. I really feel for you when they are suffering, it is a remarkable bond and I am so glad that you have found some strength and health to spare. Pap, I am in line with being unable to wait to hear about your new job! Like our Rusty, you can create a new career path that ends up suiting you far better than you anticipated. Stay as warm as possible everybody?i am still in a reprieve and i wish I could teleport you to my front yard where the sun is blasting and it is supposed to be near sixty. Sometimes one just gets lucky. At other times a big, snot slinging weep is proper order, is that not so, Miss Cyn:l. Hi Kas, are you around? Love, Ladybird.

[cyntree]

January Generosity Week 4

Goodness LBH, that is exactly right, and I have just howled at the description 'big-snot-slinging-weep'. I must be getting much much better, as I've had some laughs over the last few days, and my mental ceiling is drifting higher, thank goodness. Also thank goodness for the permission to not take anything too seriously, to just notice that there was a bad patch. So, I am starting to see that I am not horrible, not fundamentally and inescapably flawed, not incapable of social contact. Just had a bad couple of weeks...

PMom, I am thinking of you all the time not only because of your new job, but also because this change of living situations has re-introduced the need for me to do training with my boy dog...I thought his reactivity would be my undoing, but even in the last week I have seen some baby steps of improvement...I take you as my guide...

Star, so sorry you have to deal with the darkness and cold (and now snow); I lived for 25 years in Minnesota, so I've seen it all, and know how wearing it can be...how is your stock of candles, and do you have fresh flowers and good bath stuff? If only we could take vacations just in our minds...

Lav, I hope that you can soon babysit just when YOU want to. This being 'on call' sounds pretty trying. Thanks for the recipes, have fun with your gwumpki (sounds like 2 of the dwarve's names morphed) Tonight I'll be making the roasted pear/sweet potato dish I made during the holidays...I just can't get enough...

TDN - hang in there, I bet that you'll get the hang of this device, and time will fly and you'll be through with it...that't the hope anyway!

Take care all, and stay warm -
Hello to all -

[Lavande]

January Generosity Week 4

Are we getting close to a full moon cyn?
Hmm, sometimes that's a good thing for me, somtimes not. I may have to drag out the sage sticks again, just in case

Gwumpki (spelled many different ways = stuffed cabbage). I've grown up eating them stuffed with pork & white rice & a bit of bacon. Running across a vegan recipe is awesome & I will make some when someone brave enough to try them is here

Glad you are feeling brighter cyn!

I hope everyone has a cozy night!
Lav

[sooty]

January Generosity Week 4

Morning all, it's not snowing .

Lav I looked at the gwumpki recipe and will definitely give it a go, but I won't use tvp cos I really can't stand the texture so i'll probably try it with rice, as soon as i get a cabbage i'll give it a go. I had a Hungarian version on holiday last year and it was delicious.

Life has been out of kilter with the weather and being imprisoned, so healthy eating seems to have gone off the agenda. Back to looking after myself now, starting with a trip to the gym this afternoon with number 2 daughter.

I know that some of you are enjoying Downton, have any of you seen Cranford? It's quite delightful. I'm really enjoying Mr Selfridge at the moment - for those of you who don't know Selfridge's is a huge and very posh department store in London. The programme is sent in 1909 when the store opened.

I must away and do some chores, with the pets and people traipsing in the snow and mud the kitchen floor leaves a lot to be desired.

Have a good day folks :l

[Stargazerlily]

January Generosity Week 4

Good morning, good morning...

Lav, the stuffed cabbage recipe is exciting!!! I have eastern European descent, and grew up with delicious, mouthwatering recipes, kolaches, stewed chicken, pierogis, etc. They really knew how to stretch a dollar and make food last, as well as beng delicious. Is TVP close to Morning Star crumbles? Babysitting your wild west grandsons ( boys always being rowdy) sounds fun to me.

LBH, happy for you that the weather in your neck of the woods is sweeter than in the Midwest...snow, snow, and more snow. Cold, cold and more cold. I have three days off and feel so much better knowing I can focus on whatever I want. Reading, cooking, relaxing. What have you been up to and is the ankle all better?

Cyn, my darker mood is lifting a bit, and it is a relief. I read a lovely article that talked about gratitude, setting boundaries, and some other things that were helpful to me. Yes, I have candles, sweet smelling plug ins and all the luxurious necessities to get me through this last part of January.

Chill, hope you are doing well. Miss you.

Pap, excited to hear about your first week on the new job.

Sooty, hope your weather and day improves. Exercise will help.

Kaslo, where are you? Hope you are doing well.

TDN, was thinking about the trust issue. It does take time and is very humbling. I really admire your perserverence in getting your life back on track.

To all, have a great day.

[dill]

January Generosity Week 4

Hello all, Your posts are most appreciated here. I've been struggling with the darkness the last day or two. It's my turn on the dark side of the moon. Thanks for the reminder, Cyn, that this too shall pass.

Lav, Tomorrow is the full moon but with all the snow and clouds there is no moon light to be seen here! I love stuffed cabbage, BTW. It is one of my favorite dishes this time of year. There's no use in me trying your vegan version though, Mr. D will only eat it stuffed with gr. beef.

Star, I have noticed that it is still very dark in the morning, but the evening light is getting longer. It is no longer pitch black at 6 pm here. It is more like 6:30 pm. There is hope! in the meantime I have been enjoying watching my amaryllis grow, giving me a glimpse of the renewal of spring which is seemingly so far off at the moment.

Hi Sooty, I googled Selfridge and found that it will play here on Masterpiece theatre starting March 31. Thanks for the heads up, I'll be tuning in!

LBH, you say you lack the hard wiring for people. I'm sure you know yourself well enough to be the judge of that. But I must say that perhaps what you lack in the day-to-day-ness of human relations you make up for in bursts of absolute brilliance. You are a gem here.

TDN, I admire your honesty with yourself and us regarding your trust issues with your husband. It must be very difficult to acknowledge and face. I have been in denial in that area in my own relationship and should try to emulate you in this.

Papmom, waiting....

Chill, thinking of you and hoping you'll find a way to re-join us here. We miss you. Can you somehow update us?

Have a good AF Friday, One and All.

[ThreeDogNight]

January Generosity Week 4

Good morning to everyone.

-3 here this a.m.--better than yesterday a.m. Actually supposed to go to 20 or so tomorro and I see that next eek we may get to high 30's on Tuesday. We'll see!

I will be back later to write more. Made it through yesterday ith the hour drive to meet my sales guy. Worried about him seeing the Intoxalock and though his car as still next to mine--I was watching from the coffee place--and turned out it as somebody else's car:H
Still having issues with the device and condensation in the mouthpiece and get the odd messages, then the message that I am blowing too soft. I plan to call again this afternoon.

Going to the flower shop, but have to leave at 2:30 to be back for a training on a product I'll be selling. My good friend is doing this by phone conference.

I do sometimes think that my efforts with Me TDN are useless, as he has already been in a fit this a.m. and hen I questioned him, he replied "Because I am a crazy person, that's why." It was said in a nasty tone. He refuses medication and claims that things will get better because I am better I am leaving early and will stop to get a coffee to go, as I don't want to be around this craziness.

Have a great AF day, all, and so glad to have you

TDN

[Lavande]

January Generosity Week 4

Good morning friends,

Still very cold here, a bit of snow arriving this afternoon. Yeah, I'm holding my breath waiting for the end of winter, don't enjoy it much anymore.

Sooty, our PBS stations pick up your shows eventually & I always love them
I'm not a fan of TVP either & am thinking a mixture of brown rice & lentils should make a good filling for the cabbage

Star, if you like the Morning Star crumbles, try them in the recipe.
I have a problem digesting too much soy (like dairy) so I really limit my intake. Eating has become such a challenge for me at this stage of life

LBH, you don't give yourself enough credit! You seem to understand each & everyone of us & we appreciate your thoughts
If you woud like to experience dealing with kids - I think I can arrange that for you :H

TDN, the best thing we can do is stay focused on ourselves!
Living with a grumpy old man is draining, sucks the soul right out of you. I have been there & done that! YB hasn't been a happy person for the past 20 years & I know for sure that it had nothing to do with me. I've said this before - he wasn't happy long before I started drinking, he wasn't happy while I drank & wasn't happy when I quit. He wakes up everyday & decides to be miserable. They have to change their thinking themselves. All we can do is show them a good example!

Dill, the nursery where I buy all of my plants posted pictures on Facebook last night. They have little baby plants just emerging in their greenhouses - signs of life

Hello to evryone else & wishes a for wonderful AF Friday for all!
Lav

[Kaslo]

January Generosity Week 4

Hi Star, I am as fine as frogs hair. Ive been busy with work, but also just really enjoying the snow and had a great day today in Nelson... which is a lovely small city on the steep north facing shore of Kootenay Lake, kind of funky, lots of Victorian era buildings, very steep streets, tons of artists, old hippies, mixed with very straight laced types, bit left wing. Good restaurants. Interesting shops, lots of artisan jewelery and crafts. Kind of touristy in summer, full of skiers and snowboarders in winter. Snow capped peaks in the distance. The lake is a stunner, very pretty. Big granite cliffs on the other shore. I have a bunch of favorite places I love to go to. I took the day off to just enjoy it today before going back to my own little town.

When you get to where we are, life can be wonderful.

Peace and Love,

kas