GreatLakesGirl

Thank you so much for sharing your roller coaster ride of the last several years. I know firsthand how medical issues can flip your life 180 degrees. It’s kind of shocking, isn’t it. (I have been dealing with cancer since July 2019.). The coronavirus and Covid-19 has given all of us who are older and/or have underlying health issues anxiety about our vulnerability if we become infected. So please know that you are not alone. And having a supportive partner makes everything more bearable. As you regain more stability in your personal and work lives, what goals will you be setting for yourself that this group can help you achieve—either with advice or accountability? Wishing you all the best, and also your mother.

This is very similar to being home during my stint of chemotherapy. I am a pro at this.

I am so sorry, Miranova.

That is great news.

For those of us who are seniors and have cancer or heart disease (me and DH) or other health issues, this virus is a life and death matter. We won’t even get into the $200k we’ve lost in our retirement accounts the past two weeks. Lots of people are worrying about their small businesses failing or losing their jobs and health benefits. This is about a lot more than a paid staycation.

I meant to write that the pest company heated my in-laws house to 400 degrees to get rid of the bugs. Ick all around!

My brother-in-law did an overnight sleep study and brought home bedbugs. His wife is DH’s sister and she told me she was ready to burn down their house. They had to evacuate and take oil paintings and candles with them (so they didn’t melt) and stay in a hotel, because the pest people heated the interior of the house to 104 degrees or so to kill all the bugs. Makes my skin crawl to think about it.

Who are you asking?

Phew, glad Murphy moved on since he was camped at our house in March. But I'm sorry he's taken up residence with you.

p.s. last week we received a new, clear title to DH’s car from the DMV—just a couple weeks after paying off the balance 19 months early!

Exactly! It wasn’t until I created a budget on an Excel spreadsheet with columns for budget & actual for each month that we made real headway. I could enter our expenditures every day and play with debt payments to see how quickly I could pay them off. (I put the debt totals at the bottom and linked them to the payments in the budget.)

Congratulations!

How's your progress on the painting and decluttering going?

I'm sure it is events like this that make you happy you have an emergency fund for your rental properties.

Mom, thanks for the great update. I'm very happy for both of you.

Congratulations!

That's why I update our budget every single day. It's easy to go astray.

A part-time job in retirement would be great for your husband. Does he have a hobby that he could make money at? Golfer--work at a golf store in a golf course's pro shop is one example.

DH and I have never done a road trip unless you count us driving from Portland to the Oregon coast and then up to Seattle. But after he retires--when we're not bound by work vacations--this is just the kind of trip I'd like to take. I loved reading about your adventures. Thanks for sharing.

My mom was a stay-at-home mom and we didn't go to school under kindergarten (granted this was in the '50s and '60s). She always said being home with us when we were young was the happiest time of her life. It is wonderful to hear how you moms still love that life.

My brother and former sister-in-law ran a graphics arts business from home. When my niece was born they continued to do so without any problems. It was only when she became a toddler and was running around and into everything that the woman across the street babysat for my niece during business hours. I have no doubt that your plans will work for you. You have a flexible job and a motivated spirit. That is all you need. Your baby is very lucky to have mama who can be home. Enjoy every minute. I'm so happy for you.

Congratulations. All sounds wonderful.

Oh no! Mother Nature can be a beast sometimes.

Fall is a great time to plant trees. So is spring.

You summed it up nicely: Husbands are predictable but weird. LOL