Hobbit-ish Potpurri: Digging Out

Hey Humble Readers,

Long time, no talk.  I'm recovered from my stomach flu/day of pure hell last week, mostly.  My tummy is still rather sensitive, but I'm doing ok and thankfully no one else in the hobbit hole contracted the wretchedness.  The only positive to come out of this is that I have busted through my weightloss plateau in a big way.  Of course puking and dry heaving for a full day can do that...

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The Shire, and indeed the whole mid to northern part of the province got slammed today with a doozy of a snow storm.  About an hour north of the Shire there was a major pile up on the highway that resulted in 300 (yes, 300!) injuries.  The highway was closed for several hours, and the injured were sent to hospitals in 9 different surrounding communities.  So much for spring, right?

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We did actually manage to go out on Sunday for the afternoon and evening.  I was feeling well enough to be out and about so long as we took it easy and I was able to stop to rest and drink water several times throughout the afternoon.  My MIL came up, even though the roads weren't the greatest, and spent the night.  My Beloved and I had lunch, toured a show home (more on that later), did a little shopping (shoes for my Beloved, Easter baskets for the wee-lings), went for dinner, and then to a movie (Identity Thief - so funny!).  It was so nice to just be together, not thinking about which wee-ling needed to be fed or bathed or distracted or consoled.  It was wonderful to be able to browse through stores I could never take the wee-lings to (like Pier 1), and to be silly with my Beloved.  I was completely wiped out when we got home and spent all day Monday on the couch, but it was worth it. 

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So, this show home we toured... It was a town home in a new complex that I would love to live in.  And when I say love, I mean luuuuuuurrrrrrrrvvvvvvvve to live there.  Seriously, the house would be perfect for us.  Four bedrooms (we would have a spare bedroom!!!), three and a half baths, finished basement, with a postage stamp sized yard that is cared for through the homeowners association (whose fees are less than half of what we pay now for HOA fees).  There are new schools being built nearby, and it's close to a great little shopping center with groceries, banks, and a Starbucks (I'm pathetic, I know). 

Canada's favourite handyman - Mike Holmes
One of my celebrity crushes.  :)

The best thing is the builder of this complex has partnered with Mike Holmes as a part of his Holmes Homes program.  That means that all the building materials and procedures meet Mike's high standards.  The best insulation, the best high efficiency appliances, hot water tank, and furnace.  Even lumber and plywood that is mold and moisture resistant.  The only negatives about this townhouse complex is that we aren't in a place *right now* to put down a down payment (but we will be in about a year or so), that it's in a brand new area of town so there's not a lot of trees or parks yet (but there will be!), and it's over the dollar figure that we have been toying with (but not so far that it would be impossible for us).  They are currently building phase one, so POTENTIALLY we could get in on future developments through this builder.  (And if you're interested, I pinned the floor plan on my Dream House board on pinterest.)

Even if this isn't in the cards for us in the future, it's incredibly exciting for me to be thinking about what our next (forever) home is going to be.  Less than two years, Humble Readers.  Less than two years. 

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I can't recall off the top of my head if I told you all this, but both my Beloved and I are getting new glasses this year.  He's actually already got his and they are snazzy!  It's no secret that my rx is pretty ridiculous.  I'm blind as a bat without my glasses and have panic attacks if I can't find them.  When the girl at the eyewear shop gave me an estimate on how much my lenses are going to cost I almost had a heart attack.  I've always bought the cheapest lenses, without any bells and whistles, but we have agreed that I need better quality.  Anywho, with both of us getting glasses we knew it was going to get expensive.  The good news is, my Beloved just did our taxes and we will be getting back enough to cover about half of our new eyewear!  The other half will be able to be put through on my Beloved's health benefits with work.  Yay!

Hobbit-ish Potpurri: Questions, Questions, Questions

Hey Humble Readers...
 
How are you all today?  Is the sun shining where you are?  It's bright and sunny here in the Shire today, and the good weather is supposed to stick around for a few days.  Hooray! 
 
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So, you remember the post I wrote recently about my final wishes?  Well, my lovely friend Good Timing sent me a link to this...

 
It's a biodegradable urn that you can use to plant a tree!  How cool is that???  Your remains help a tree grow.  I absolutely love it.  (I'm weird, I know.)  The ultimate in recycling.  Would you consider using something like this?
 
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I've mentioned here before that I am a fan and regular follower of the website "My OB Said What?"  For those of you who aren't familiar, it's a site dedicated to the ridiculous, funny, shocking, offensive, nonsensical things that are said by medical personnel to female patients, particularly surrounding trying to conceive, pregnancy, labour & delivery, and breastfeeding.  This site has encouraged and emboldened me to speak up for myself, to ask questions, and to seek out clarity when dealing with the medical establishment.  I will admit that sometimes the comments on MOSW can get a little polarized, particularly around hot-button issues like vaccinations and breastfeeding, but it is always eye opening and entertaining. 
 
They are currently seeking out new submissions for their site.  If you have a story about an insane or inane comment that a medical professional has made to you, please consider sharing with them.  They also accept submissions for Thoughtful Thursdays, one day each week dedicated to the great, wonderful, encouraging and understanding comments that doctors, nurses, and midwives give to their patients. 

Here's one of my submissions that they published just the other day.

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I'm working out my spring cleaning schedule that officially kicks in tomorrow.  My goal is to have it all done by Easter, tackling one or two things a day.  Tomorrow is the outsides and tops of my kitchen cabinets.  If you had one tip or trick for spring cleaning to share, what would it be?

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Our whole family is going for optometrist appointments this weekend.  My Beloved hasn't been since quite a while before I met him.  The glasses he wears now were originally prescribed to wear for driving and reading, but he's worn them pretty much all the time since we were married.  It's been a few years for me, seeing as most eye doctors won't treat you while you're pregnant (due to the changes in ligaments and the temporary effects of things like pregnancy induced hypertension and gestational diabetes).  The wee-lings are also getting their first eye exams.  Have any of you ever taken an infant or a toddler for an eye exam?  What should I expect?

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And since I've asked you all a ton of questions, what questions do you have for me?  Ask away, and I will answer in an upcoming post!

Hobbit-ish Thoughts on Death

Hey Humble Readers...

I know, I know.  That title doesn't really inspire happy thoughts, does it?  But since GG (my grandma) passed earlier this month, there have been a lot of conversations in my immediate connection about death, and more specifically on final wishes. 

So, here are my thoughts...

When I go, I want to be cremated.  I think caskets are just odd.  Why would I want to look at someone's body when they've died?  The only way I can picture my great-grandparents is how they looked in their coffins.  (And don't even get me started on people who take pictures of the dearly departed!)  And of course, the cost is obscene. 

I don't want a fancy urn, put me in a coffee can.  I don't want to be on the mantle or in a columbarium somewhere.  I don't want a headstone, or any other sort of place that my family will feel guilty for not visiting.  I want to be dumped somewhere meaningful to my Beloved or the wee-lings, or heck, dump me on a rose bush somewhere.  I would rather my loved ones remember me as I was in life, not as my remains will be in death.  And because of my beliefs, my remains will be just that... all that remains.  So what happens to them after the fact really doesn't matter to me. 

At my memorial service, just because I'm contrary, I want to have all the hymns and worship songs that I can't stand, and I want it noted in the bulletin that I really can't stand them.  Earth and All Stars, Shine Jesus Shine, and Sent Forth By God's Blessing.  All are songs that have either been sung all too often in my worship-life or I just really don't like the lyrics. 

Memorial services and funerals aren't for the dead, but for the living.  I want there to be a sense of fun, possibly even goofiness apparent in my service.  I want it to be a celebration rather than a mournful solemn occasion. 

Have you ever given any thought to what you want for your 'final wishes'?

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I'm a tad bit behind on my ICLW (and regular) blog reading and commenting.  I will get caught up when we are back home again in a couple of days.  I will be checking in with all of you soon!

Hobbit-ish Potpurri: Not Much Going On

Howdy Humble Readers...

I hope you've all had a good week.  Things around the hobbit-hole have been pretty quiet.  Honestly not much going on worth talking about, and my brain is mushy with tiredness and pregnancy-brain.

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I've been fixated on those really yummy Mil.ano cookies (the mint ones of course) and I've been trying not to think too much about them.  I used to buy them for special occassions when I was in college, but I haven't had any in years and years.  The kicker is, I can't get them around here.  I don't know for sure if you can even get them at all above the 49th parallel.  I know I shouldn't have them anyway (wretched GD), but dammit, I can't stop thinking about them.  If you are in Canada, and know where I can get some, PLEASE tell me... I promise I'll be good.  I won't get any until the middle of May.  I promise!

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I haven't heard from Dell at all since the initial calls on Tuesday morning.  I still haven't loaded anything on this computer since Monday night.  It's really annoying.  There is a little part of me that's hoping that they'll just let me keep this computer, but I doubt that will happen.  I'm just frustrated that I still haven't heard a damn thing.

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I had an appointment this morning with Dr. W.  It was exceptionally short.  Pee in a cup, check the bp (was totally fine, no change in my meds... doc said not to worry about swelling unless it's accompanied by other pre-e symptoms), check the weight (got a finger wagging), quick glance at him/her on Dr. W's ultrasound... enough to find out that the Halfling is breech.  That's right, what I've been thinking was the Halfling's hiney under my ribs is actually his/her little head.  It doesn't really matter, as we are going c-section for sure anyway. 

The one thing that she mentioned during the appointment, that I didn't really think much of at the time, but now I'm wondering... she mentioned that she's going to send me for a consult with the anesthesiologist.  The last time I had to do that was when I went under general anesthetic for my hysteroscopy (polypecotomy and D&C).  I'm wondering if this is just precautionary, or if she's planning on me being completely out for the c-section.  I hope it's just the former.  I WILL be asking at my next appointment.

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My Beloved lost an aunt this week.  She was 85, I think.  We've been so focussed on my Grandma (she appears to be doing better... and I'm very thankful for that, for so many reasons, not the least of which is that my parents are scheduled to leave for their 25th anniversary cruise in 5 days), that we totally didn't see this coming.  He wasn't particularly close with her, but still, it's jarring to say the least.  We're still debating if he will go to the funeral or not on Monday.  

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I'm trying to come up with some really groovy, unifying theme for my posts for the A to Z challenge.  Food?  Fictional characters I relate to?  Pet peeves?  Books I want to read?  Places I want to travel?  Any thoughts or suggestions?

Astonished At My Own Selfishness

Hey Humble Readers...

Have you ever had an eye opening experience that reveals some part of you that you are ashamed of?  I learned tonight that I am a very selfish hobbit.

I found out tonight that my grandmother (Ginny's GG) is not doing well.  Some background... she's the grandmother who had a series of strokes three years ago.  We thought we were going to lose her then.  My Beloved and I flew home to K-town, anticipating a funeral. 

But in true Grandma-stubbornness, she hung on.  She improved.  She would be in a nursing home, but she would survive. 

The past few years have been a series of ups and downs, and GG has surprised us many times, bouncing back from the brink.  The whole family acknowledges that it would be a blessing if she could just go... living partially paralyzed, in constant pain, and confused most days is no quality of life. 

So, tonight when I found out that she's having problems breathing and that she may be having more serious heart problems, what was my first thought?

She can't die right now.  I probably can't fly, and I don't want to be 32 weeks pregnant and doing a 12 hour road trip to go to a funeral.

How awful is that?  

I don't want to lose my grandma, but I know that it might be for the best.  I hope and pray that she holds on, honestly, because I want her to be able to meet this Halfling this summer.   Again, selfish.

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Also, please pray/send good thoughts for a long time family friend, R, (he worked for my parents for many years).  He recently lost his step-father (who also worked for my parents), and now he has just been hospitalized with liver failure.  He is too young, around mid-50s like my mom, and his youngest daughter is getting married this summer.  

March ICLW - If I Had A Gazillion Dollars

Good Morning Humble Readers... and ICLW Visitors...

The last day or so has been a bit stressful around the hobbit-hole.  First, we got a bill in the mail from the taxman yesterday.  After some colourful language and some digging, we discovered that one dollar amount got put in on the wrong line on my tax return from last year... **sigh** Presto, we owe the government $300.

Second, when I woke up this morning, I went to fire up my trusty little netbook, and sadly it had decided to give up the ghost sometime during the night.  It's old (for a netbook) and tired, and it's not really worth repairing again (thankfully nothing too tragic will be lost).  So, before breakfast, we had spent another chunk of money that we hadn't planned on to order me a new laptop.  It's just a basic Dell, but it will serve my purposes.  And keep us both sane as we DO NOT share a computer well.

Combine all that with the fact that it's been a while since I've done a fun little intro for ICLW (and if you are wondering what those letters mean, click on the groovy little green box in the column to the right.  Mel explains it best) and, I thought I would play one of my Mom's favourite games... "If I won the lottery" 

If I won a gazillion dollars in the lottery, I would...

• set up an endowment/trust for our church
• pay off our debts
• buy us a new house (nothing too big... A 3-bedroom townhouse or half duplex with a finished basement and a big beautiful kitchen.  If money were really no object, I might go bigger, so long as we could hire a maid.)
• set up college funds for both Ginny and the Halfling
• buy us a second car
• Take my parents and my MIL on a nice trip.  New Zealand, maybe?
• Take this trip with my Beloved.
• Take the children to Disney World (when they're bigger)
• Hire a genealogist to help me track down my family tree
• Possibly get bariatric and lasik surgery... maybe
• Get my Beloved and I brand new groovy computers, cameras, and cell phones

What would you do if you won the lottery?