It was one of those weeks. Y'know. . .the kind where things just don't go as planned.
Almost nothing I thought I was going to get done got done. Some of it was the weather. The PNW has had an incredibly mild winter, which means my garden needs working on now. The week started off all nice and sunny, but every time I went outside, it started raining. Not the light drizzle one can sort of ignore, but big big drops of rain. I promise you that at one point there weren't even any visible clouds in the sky and it was pouring. So. . .garden work has to wait for a while longer.
Some of the week's "blah" was contributed to by a difficult day with my father. He kept thinking he had plugged up his toilet (even though he hadn't) so he kept messing with it until something finally did plug it. Six times. I'm sick of plunging toilets. My arms are still soar. It was just kind of a bad memory day all the way around. After the whole bathroom experience, I'm pretty sure my dad has the beginnings of a UTI, which can really exacerbate dementia symptoms ( Yes - he's on his way to the doctor). I know that might be over sharing, but I'm really hoping to find someone else out there who can empathize. I don't need sympathy, and I wouldn't change my situation, but sometimes it just helps to let it go by getting off my chest. The whole situation really upset and worried my dad, and it took a lot of work to keep him calm. He can't judge a big deal from a small one anymore, even if I act super happy and silly about it. My poor father feels like he has to apologize for everything - which he doesn't - and it just makes me really sad sometimes.
This week my dog decided he wanted to give chasing cats a try. We have three cats. This idea didn't go over well with them. I think we've got it taken care of now, but ugh. I really think half the problem was the rainy weather. We couldn't go for our usual outdoor play/ walks. A giant, energized dog is a handful. My solution was to run up and down the hallway with him and his stuffed toys playing tag. This is how the game goes: I run down the hall with a stuffed toy (none of which are cat shaped) and he chases me. He grabs the toy after I toss it and runs the other way. I chase him and get it back once he drops it, then we start all over again. We're both ready for naps at the end, but at least the cats are spared. They like to watch.
My son, who usually has the dog sleep with him, is house sitting. That means the dog is sleeping with us (mastiffs don't do well alone - they get very, very sad when they get lonely). He snores. Loudly. And it shakes the bed. He's sleeping great. The rest of us - not so much.
I accidentally ripped a needle out of a lace project. What a hot mess of dropped stitches. Good news is that it got fixed.
The other good news is that the week has ended better than it started. The weather is still rainy, but I know I'll be grateful for that in August when it's hot here. The dog snored a little less last night than the night before and we did get him out for a good walk yesterday. I also got to step outside of my normal crafty ways and try something new: painting. A couple of my favorite people and I went out to a place called The Drunken Easel. The evening involved wine, a fun group of strangers, loud music, paint and canvas. It was awesome. I'm not going to be the next Picasso or Jean Michel Basquiat anytime soon, but it was sure fun.
Almost nothing I thought I was going to get done got done. Some of it was the weather. The PNW has had an incredibly mild winter, which means my garden needs working on now. The week started off all nice and sunny, but every time I went outside, it started raining. Not the light drizzle one can sort of ignore, but big big drops of rain. I promise you that at one point there weren't even any visible clouds in the sky and it was pouring. So. . .garden work has to wait for a while longer.
Some of the week's "blah" was contributed to by a difficult day with my father. He kept thinking he had plugged up his toilet (even though he hadn't) so he kept messing with it until something finally did plug it. Six times. I'm sick of plunging toilets. My arms are still soar. It was just kind of a bad memory day all the way around. After the whole bathroom experience, I'm pretty sure my dad has the beginnings of a UTI, which can really exacerbate dementia symptoms ( Yes - he's on his way to the doctor). I know that might be over sharing, but I'm really hoping to find someone else out there who can empathize. I don't need sympathy, and I wouldn't change my situation, but sometimes it just helps to let it go by getting off my chest. The whole situation really upset and worried my dad, and it took a lot of work to keep him calm. He can't judge a big deal from a small one anymore, even if I act super happy and silly about it. My poor father feels like he has to apologize for everything - which he doesn't - and it just makes me really sad sometimes.
This week my dog decided he wanted to give chasing cats a try. We have three cats. This idea didn't go over well with them. I think we've got it taken care of now, but ugh. I really think half the problem was the rainy weather. We couldn't go for our usual outdoor play/ walks. A giant, energized dog is a handful. My solution was to run up and down the hallway with him and his stuffed toys playing tag. This is how the game goes: I run down the hall with a stuffed toy (none of which are cat shaped) and he chases me. He grabs the toy after I toss it and runs the other way. I chase him and get it back once he drops it, then we start all over again. We're both ready for naps at the end, but at least the cats are spared. They like to watch.
My son, who usually has the dog sleep with him, is house sitting. That means the dog is sleeping with us (mastiffs don't do well alone - they get very, very sad when they get lonely). He snores. Loudly. And it shakes the bed. He's sleeping great. The rest of us - not so much.
I accidentally ripped a needle out of a lace project. What a hot mess of dropped stitches. Good news is that it got fixed.
The other good news is that the week has ended better than it started. The weather is still rainy, but I know I'll be grateful for that in August when it's hot here. The dog snored a little less last night than the night before and we did get him out for a good walk yesterday. I also got to step outside of my normal crafty ways and try something new: painting. A couple of my favorite people and I went out to a place called The Drunken Easel. The evening involved wine, a fun group of strangers, loud music, paint and canvas. It was awesome. I'm not going to be the next Picasso or Jean Michel Basquiat anytime soon, but it was sure fun.
My problems aren't as big as other people's, I know, but weeks like this are still a drag. I'm glad it's over.
Here's to next week.
----Kimberly
Here's to next week.
----Kimberly