THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING

Monday, November 20, 2017
Oh, I had a terrible night's sleep! A tickle in my throat, leftover from the sinus infection of last month, kept me up and down all night. I got up this morning with a horrendous headache and feeling flat as a pancake...not good for my Live Class Seminary Monday! But I put on my bravest smile, and basked in the youthful spirit of my students. The love I feel for them makes it all worth while.

The let-down came soon after class was over and getting myself moving was a slow, painful proposition. I worked on assembling Christmas packages to go to California at first. I really can't dally when there's so much moving stuff to do.

Ken, Analiese and I went grocery shopping together today - hopefully the last trip before Thanksgiving. We saw - no kidding - SIX ward members there at Walmart. It's a wonder if you can even get out of the store in under an hour!

I made my pies tonight. I decided on a two-in-one maple pumpkin pecan pie. I made two of them because I'm giving away one as a thank-you to a sister in my ward who is generous, sweet, and adorable. The better-looking one of the two gets donated.

As long as they both taste good, my family can eat the uglier one.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017
I hate to admit it, but I'm not sleeping well. Last night it was pain in the left side of my neck and shoulder. About a quarter to three, I finally gave in, got up, and put on the blue gel gunk. Still, six a.m. didn't feel all that great.

I WISH TO ANNOUNCE... that I made my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal of 45 books for 2017. I could probably say I've read more, but I didn't always remember to count. Working at the library, I've lost track. Also, because of my job, I've branched out and read different things I might never have tried before. That's a positive change!

It was just me and FD1 this evening, though the LD was back in her office. FD2 has been sick since Monday, apparently. I hope she's better by Saturday because we're down another person (out of town) and it'll only be two of us for the whole day!

We had a group of rambunctious kids in the library this evening. School is out for the holiday today, so I figure that was part of it. They stayed out in the lobby for the most part, but they were rowdy. Eventually, catching them yelling out the front doors and trying to bring a bicycle inside, I gave them two choices: go home or have the police come and make sure you go home!

Wednesday, November 22, 2017
My tolerance level is dropping rapidly. I met with Analiese's teacher today...and the report was not good. Let's just say...she's busted. Another group of kids were messing around in the library when I got there for my shift. I hung around them until they uncomfortably got the hint and left. I am not putting up with ANYTHING today!

This is me today. I don't recommend giving me a stick.

I guess our troublemakers from last night reappeared this afternoon, but since no one brought me out to the front to take care of it, I remained blissfully unaware until long after they had gone. Maybe after the earlier display, the front decided I needed a little space. We did close early today, at 6:00 p.m., for the Thanksgiving holiday. No complaints here. I need it.

I went home and spent the evening working on mashed potatoes and stuffing. Both will be going into crockpots to reheat tomorrow. Plus, I worked on my extensive list of things to take to Chickasha. Even for a simplified dinner, it takes a bit of planning and hauling stuff back and forth!

Thursday, November 23, 2017

It's a beautiful sunny Thanksgiving Day. Not like our first one here, all cold and snowy. But that was find with me, because it's an hour and forty-five minute drive to Chickasha and dry beats wet any time!

Jonathan and I split up the driving. I drove up; he drove back. He needs the night driving experience anyway. Other than a little slowing for construction work (not like they were out working, just their cones and stuff were there), we made good time and were there before 11 a.m.

I turned on the oven, put in the turkey to reheat (a pre-hickory-smoked turkey), plugged in the two crockpots, and sat down to enjoy the company of rabbits and play games with the family.

Then, when the rest of them moved out doors to toss around a ball,

I went to the stove to saute the green beans and season the gravy.

Dinner was great...my mashed potatoes were awesome! And everyone really liked the smoked turkey.

Ken had to be at Taco Bell by 4 p.m., so he left, taking Analiese with him (to do school work). Jonathan and I remained behind to do dishes, pack up the van, say goodbye to the buns, and the head out in the near-dark to the park to see the huge Festival of Lights that Chickasha is famous for. It was very cool, as we drove through the park, and I took lots of pictures. I will display them on Facebook as an album, only including a couple of my favorites here. Next time, though, I'd walk through it instead. There's so much to see and I'm pretty sure we didn't get it all!

Friday, November 24, 2017
We all slept in this morning. No Seminary. No work (for the moment). Thanksgiving Recovery Day. Sorta-kinda,

I avoided Black Friday completely...almost. I only went out once to take Jonathan to work at 3 p.m. He had to deal with it, poor boy, but I've done it before and know...that's retail! They had photo orders just waiting for him to get there and complete! To me, Black Friday sucks the soul out of the Christmas Spirit. I refuse to play that game!

I packed a little. Like, four small (though they read "medium") boxes. I worked on next week's Seminary, and even tried to straighten up a little. That's a futile effort, I think, because chaos just explodes again! I did spend my evening relaxing a bit, a rare commodity these days!

Saturday, November 25, 2017
I trudged off to work this morning wondering: Would it only be two of us there today? FD1 and I got things started out front when FD2 called saying she was coming in. Good! Two is just not enough to run the library for the whole day!

My boss still came in mid-day to help cover lunch hours. That was nice, because we got it done quicker and could overlap a little. My morning was busy running back and forth between the front and my desk, but in the afternoon I managed to get a bit done. I processed twenty launchpad tablets, my new record!

I had a nice surprise waiting for me when I got home in the evening. The sister in my ward I gave the pie to...her sister was in town for the holiday. And she's a massage therapist! I came home to a back room with a massage table, candles and soothing music! She worked on me for nearly 2 1/2 hours doing a deep tissue massage - hurts so good! Did I say it was a nice surprise? It was the awesome-est surprise ever!

Sunday, November 26, 2017
I awoke feeling muscles where I did not remember muscles being before! I am a little stiff and sore; trust me, my bra did not go on easily today. But...my range of motion is good. So worth it!

We had very good speakers today. A member of the bishopric spoke and relayed a phrase from a member of the 70 he'd heard: Blessings don't have feet." The meaning of that is that our blessings don't just come to us, we accept them as we walk by faith and keep the commandments. It gave me much to think about.

Yes, it's November. Yes, it's the end, we just had Thanksgiving. But...the weather is in the mid-to-low 70's. I was so warm in church, I pulled out my fan! Someone had the heater on in the chapel and the Relief Society room. Sorry, it's not winter yet. Even Analiese said the rooms were hot. We have not yet reached hunker down and cuddle weather, yet.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Monday, November 13, 2017
I was feeling a little stressed this morning. There's so much to do, so many decisions to be made, and so much chaos that I feel rather frazzled. Poor Ken had to do some wifey consulting because I wanted to cry and yell...simultaneously!

Still, he managed to get me out shopping and to lunch before a realtor came by at 1 p.m. That was the good news. The bad new is we can't sell our house right now. Not enough equity, not enough $ to cover everything. Too many problems and needs. But she did suggest renting it out. So that's on the table now, not that I wanted to go that way.

After Jonathan got back from work and we had some discussions about his needs, choices and decisions as well as general family stuff, Ken gave both of us blessings. Mine was quite surprising, in the middle of it he paused for quite a while and then said, "Hmmm." I guess I can put to rest my job-hunting anxiety (that's one thing, at least) because it's not in God's plan for us in Chickasha. He also said something about my blog - don't worry, it's not going to end - so you may see some changes coming. I can't begin to tell you how RELIEVED and FREED I was because I've been nerve-wracked, praying and fasting, trying to figure out the job angle. I felt lighter. In Chickasha (once I get there), I'll get to focus on the Lord and my family. Hooray!

Tuesday, November 14, 2017
After Devotional this morning, Jonathan and I went to Walgreen's on a Christmas gift errand (Sh! It's a secret!). When we got home, we found a healthy, clean-looking pit-bull with a pink collar (no tags) roaming the street and our yard. I tried to coax him to come to me so we could try and find his home, but he thought it was more fun to run away. Later, I heard that some unmentionable person is opening yard gates ON PURPOSE to let dogs loose. Not cool!

I spend most of work today finishing up 50 of the launchpad tablets

so we can finally shelf and display them. I also put up posters and signs and tags to point people to them. I set up a display at the front desk so that patrons could see and test them out. It kept me busy all evening; I don't think I even got a break!

Wednesday, November 15, 2017
The geese are flying! Analiese and I love it when the Canadian geese start coming in and out of town and fly over our heads. We'll hear their distinctive honk and run out of the house to watch the formation. They rest at night at the reservoir and eat grass on the fields surrounding the Air Force base during the day. They'll hang out in their flocks for a few days to rest and recuperate, then go on their way to the next destination. It never gets old for us!

I can NOT believe the stupid drama going on at work right now. It was enough to put me into an anxiety attack, accompanied by a major headache. Finally, I took a break and went outside to get away and walk. I stopped into a real estate office nearby to see if they could help me with property management for house rental, and they gave me a couple of names. I walked back to the library feeling a bit better. Tomorrow, I'll go check those names out. I'm done...time to move.

Last evening and tonight we've had a teen in the building who wants to sit back with the books against a wall charging his phone. Yesterday, he had Gatorade - no food or drink in the library. Today, he was putting his feet up on the shelves. I had to go root him out and re-seat him in a proper chair, near a socket. Really?

Thursday, November 16, 2017
Before heading to work today, I ran a couple of errands. One was a prescription pick-up at Walmart. The other was stopping by a realtor's office (remaining nameless) to talk to their property manager. She's coming over to take a look at the house tomorrow. She says the market is slow right now; I'm hoping and praying she's wrong!

The library staff were much more "chill" today. Good, I don't want any repeats of yesterday. I worked on some audiobooks for our Young Adult section (not very popular) and then spent the remainder of my time working on the launchpads.

I was advised to give some of the manual labor of it over to the Front Desk gals when they're up there with nothing to do. I guess they figure it's a misuse of my cataloging skills to copy papers and put them in boxes. I didn't mind. The old VCR boxes we're using to put on the floor are very dusty and make me cough, sneeze, and choke. Glad to pass the buck!

Friday, November 17, 2017
I was up at 5:30 this morning. I PROMISE this was my last time substituting for the Altus Ward Seminary. I've told the regular teacher that. I've got to get busy pack up my house. No time for studying extra lesson.

At ten o'clock the property manager from the unnamed realtor's came to check out the house. Because of the impending holiday, we won't be listing until December 1st. She said people can come and look at the house with us still in it, but I'd better be prepared to get out fast!

I made chocolate chip cookies for my Seminary students in the Lawton stake. At stake conference, they are supposed to come find me (not vice versa) and I will give them cookies. This way I get to actually see them face-to-face. When Norman has their stake conference in two more weeks, I'll go do the same.

I made a pork roast for the first time in a long time. I did it in the crockpot, which made the house so aromatic all day and made the kids very happy. It was a big roast, so there'll be enough for pulled pork sandwiches next week.

Saturday, November 18, 2017
It's very windy this morning. Since yesterday reached the high 80s (c'mon November!), it means the temperatures have dropped again. Leaves are piling up thickly now.

For all it's chilly outside, it's very warm inside the library. One compressor was off, but even after restarting it, the temperatures stayed the same. I had two fans running on me in the back and some running up front. This place is falling apart. The staff bathroom toilet is having issues and the public women's restroom light won't come on. A lot of our fluorescent lights won't work, and no, it's not the bulbs!

I started on launchpad tablets again until my boss called and said a cart of books near her desk was ready to work. They have priority, so I switched gears.

Sunday, November 19, 2017
It was a clear, beautiful morning for a drive up to Lawton for Stake Conference. For some reason, we saw lots of hawks sitting up in trees that lines the highway.

Maybe they always do and we only notice it because the leaves have fallen, revealing their perches.

Stake Conference was very good. I admire these brethren in the Stake Presidency who have been called to lead us. They are so earnest in their desires to help us and try valiantly to be in touch with the spirit and will of the Lord. The mission president also spoke today, telling about some of the recent convert baptisms in our stake. Talk about miracles! I really loved hearing that! Bro. Sturges was down from Norman to speak, too. His talk on forgiveness was very touching. He always speaks with such energy (good for the youth he teaches), but today he was quite tender. I always appreciate his loving concern.

The rest of the day seems like a let-down after all that goodness! But Ken came home for the rest of the weekend and we'll have some family time. I look forward to that.

BE-LEAF IT OR NOT

Monday, November 6, 2017
Happy birthday, Analiese! My baby is 15 years old! I am ancient!

I think she had a good day, despite the fact she had to do school work. After she was done with that, we went together to get our annual birthday pedicures. She chose silver for her toes and metallic blue for mine.

After Jonathan got off of work at three, we all headed to Lawton. Analiese and I were in the van, while Ken had Jonathan drive him in the Honda. There were hawks roosting everywhere as we drove through the countryside! We stopped in TJ Maxx to get Analiese some new jeans she needed and requested. Then we did a Hobby Lobby run (which they ALL whined about), got some Sam's Club gas (cheaper than Altus by 10 cents!) and then went to Panda Express for dinner - Analiese's choice. By then I was running out of steam. Ken headed alone to Chickasha and Jonathan drove the rest of us back to Altus.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Temperatures are dropping again. It's been such a see-saw up-and-down that I can't even mention the future, much less speculate on it. There's supposed to be rain later tonight or early tomorrow, but there are no guarantees. Ever.

My boss wasn't here yesterday, isn't today, and won't be tomorrow. So I worked alone most of the day. I dealt with unboxing yesterday's book orders first. Then I worked on some book corrections (mislabels, mainly), then cataloged some donations and large prints for the LD. The big decision of the day was do I catalog the new books or resume with the launchpads? The rule of thumb is this: new books first. Especially since we still don't have a place up front cleared out for the launchpads yet.

Analiese is getting a little distracted lately when it comes to following recipes. She was eager to make homemade chicken taquitos, but didn't use the small tortillas I'd purchased, didn't cut up the chicken into smaller pieces (yes, huge slabs of chicken in a small rolled tortilla - does not work), and didn't bother to search or ask me where to find the green onions or cilantro. It was not easy to eat and not as good as when I made it before. I think we need to work on focusing.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017
The trees are slowing making their transition to fall colors. They're not as flashy and bright as New England foliage, but they are an obvious harbinger of cooler weather. To be sure, you don't see this in So. Cal!

It was so very quiet today back in my cubicle. Everyone was doing their own thing and I had no boss to keep me company. I got a good bit of work done, but I was very lonely.

I did work a bit on a Thanksgiving craft for our child patrons. Using the turkey body from last year's display, we cut a bunch of white paper turkey feathers. The kids will color them and we'll put them on the turkey, which is now taped to the glass doors. An interactive holiday decoration!

I gave one of the front gals a Thanksgiving picture to color. I even brought my planner markers from home! She stressed a little..."What colors do I use?" I said it was for fun, not just work to do, so color it however you like. Sometimes they sit up at the desk with nothing to do. We try to think of things, but it's nice to have something other than cleaning for them!

Thursday, November 9, 2017
There was frost on the fields next to the church this morning. Jonathan tried to hoe weeds through a frosty garden planter in the front of the house and ended up breaking a hoe! Luckily - and for some unknown reason - I have (or had, I guess I should say) two hoes.

My boss was back today, but she spent most of her afternoon in Hollis at the other library dealing with a connectivity problem there. Maybe I saw her for a total of ten minutes today. I'm feeling rather...secluded.

The main front desk gal had the children in the storytime group today color the paper turkey feathers we'd made yesterday. They started filling up the back of the turkey. It looks good!

Well, my work week is over! The library will be closed on Saturday for Veteran's Day. I've already got a to-do list assembled.

Friday, November 10, 2017
I got to sleep in today until seven-thirty. Which was great, except...I woke up with a horrendous headache. It was sincerely awful; when I coughed, it felt like tiny needles were piercing my skull. I laid in bed a good while, willing it to subside. Nope. I tried a nice, warm shower. Still no. Breakfast? Uh-uh. I was very tempted to go back to bed, but I had so much to do!

I "adulted" up and started laundry, made rice to go into tonight's dinner, and got out butter to make cookies to go along with dinner (the missionaries are coming). I worked on two Seminary lessons for next week (I'm subbing Friday in Altus) as well as set up the calendar schedule for the independent study.

After lunch I made oatmeal cookies with vanilla chips, Craisins, and walnuts. I always put some fresh-ground nutmeg in my oatmeal cookies, too. Yum! I made mock tacos for dinner, which did not disappoint. My kids were delighted to have a "Grandma" favorite! They also made Mom's mild red taco sauce to go with it. Jonathan practically drank it; weird kid. I was so full after dinner!

Saturday, November 11, 2017
It's Fall today.  Seriously. I saw leaves falling. Hence...Fall. I could enjoy it, too, because the library is closed today.

So I slept in a little, but again, I have plans for the day. After Jonathan got back from helping to clean the church, we had Devotional. Then, I attacked the shower in the back bathroom.

I've never got the kids completely on board with cleaning it (not well, if at all), so it was in dire need of a scrub. I pulled out the gloves, Dawn, baking soda, and white vinegar. First, the soap and soda were smeared all over - top, floor, sides and doors. Then the vinegar was sprayed on. Bubbly! I let it sit for a while, then began the gargantuan task of scrubbing it all down. My knees, back, feet and eyes (vinegar & soap sting) hurt after it was over. I issued an edict: Wipe it down EVERY week ALL over so it doesn't get bad again. I stressed the necessity of it in trying to sell the house. Let's hope that sinks in!

The rest of the day was a little Seminary work, some weekly planning, and setting up next year's planner and journal. Scary, it's come to that already!

Sunday, November 12, 2017
It's gray and cold today. Analiese worried that it would rain, but I felt fairly certain it wouldn't. "If it does, it'll be your fault if I get wet!" I'll take that risk. And it didn't rain. No worries.

We had fast and testimony meeting at church today because of the regional conference last week. Lots of testimonies were given about prophets and the Book of Mormon. Awesome!

In Relief Society, we're practicing a Christmas hymn to sing all together in a sacrament meeting in December. As we broke into parts, I helped to lead one side. I'm very familiar with the hymn and the arrangement isn't much different!

Ken came home a little later today. He had tithing settlement with the Chickasha Branch President today. Ken pays all of our tithing there, but I'll probably still meet with our bishop here. There were at least two months of paychecks that were tithed to the Altus Ward.

HALLOWEEN'S OVER, MOVE ON.

Monday, October 30, 2017
I'm sure by now you're thinking: she's still sick; she's still tired. You're right. The wind's blowing fiercely, too. But I have to keep going; I've been down long enough and things are starting to pile up. After video class and family devotional, though, I snuck in a leetle nap. After that, up and at 'em!

Normal stuff had to get done: laundry, shopping, Seminary study...you know. Ken was outside finishing the trim and painting the railing. It's coming together so nicely! He put up the shutters this afternoon and the black just makes everything else pop!

It's a clean, fresh look. I hope home buyers appreciate it!

Since the wind dropped the temperatures again, I made a loaded hashbrown soup for dinner. It was really good! When the kids like a new recipe, they call it "repeatable." Tonight was repeatable!

Tuesday, October 31, 2017
The CES Director over Seminary for our area came down from Norman today to visit the Altus Seminary class. Afterwards, he spent some time chatting with me about my online adventures. The students all love him; he's really great with the youth. Actually, he's really great with adults, too, because he always says the nicest, most supportive things. You feel re-energized and ready to go back to work after a talk with him!

I thought my Halloween outfit today was fairly low-key, but compared to everyone else at the library, I was really dressed up! It was just black leggings, a cute top with owls all in different costumes on it, pumpkin earrings and a black sequin hairband.

Halloween toes!

I guess I win the most spirited employee today!

When I got home for dinner, the kids were in the middle of carving the large pumpkin Ken had purchased at Sam's Club for them.

Don't ask me what Jonathan did. It's some Marvel thing he & Analiese like. A dragon? I don't get the Namaste thing, either.

Analiese did her own face paint!

Analiese wanted to know if I had recipes for pumpkin seeds. I do, but I told her to look things up online and choose one for herself. She likes to cook and be creative, so it shouldn't be hard for her.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017
It was a kind of lackadaisical day at the library. Yes, we worked, but we were in no rush. We did a little chatting, and I spent a few minutes admiring a Literacy baby shower that was set up in the conference room. The mother-to-be is from the Ukraine and some of the leftovers sent to the break room were ethnically delicious! I tried this Croatian pastry with meat in it; it was good, but would have been better warm. I took some of the baklava home to Analiese because she really likes it. Both she and Jonathan said it was the best baklava they'd ever eaten.

My boss had given my an assignment to decorate the inner doors to the entrance to the library. She said, "You're creative. Have fun." So I took about 2 1/2 hours in the evening making fake paper trees (I get the irony) and falling leaves. It turned out pretty nice. We'll see what everyone thinks tomorrow.

Thursday, November 2, 2017
Temperatures have ranged from 58 degrees yesterday to 83 today. It's supposed to be 69 degrees tomorrow. All this up and down is crazy. Saturday is supposed to reach 90! But it was beautiful outside. Comfortable and bright, it made me feel at ease and happy.

I went over how we're going to catalog those orange tablet launchpads with my boss this afternoon. Saturday, finally, I will start processing them, a little at a time, so we can put them out for public use. Everything is not completely set; there are a couple of bugs in the connection to the public access catalog (PACs) computers and we have to clean up the AV room to make sure there's a spot for them.

They all liked my tree decorations. One gal gushed over them saying I should be a party decorator. Another said she really liked it but wasn't surprised. She knew it was me who did it. I guess I have a reputation now.

Friday, November 3, 2017
I had plans for today. Many plans. No napping - there's work to do!

Even though it was barely 60 degrees outside, I took a ladder, a bucket of warm, soapy water, a scraper and razors (that was an additional trip to the hardware store) and my nerve and started scraping paint and excess caulking off of the exterior windows. This was not a job for the faint-of-heart - I perched at one point high above two rose bushes. Potential ouch!

The scariest point, though, was the east side of the house, where uneven flagstones and a gravel driveway lie. Setting up the ladder I realized - it leaned a little too far away from the house to make me comfortable, I didn't need a level to tell me that. I had to have Analiese hold it for me so I could reach the high blue-bathroom window. It was the only way to do it without broken bones!

That was it for accomplishing plans for the day, because Analiese wanted to go to Walmart after I picked up Jonathan from Walgreen's so she could use the gift card she had received from her grandparents today (burning a hole in her pocket). Then Jonathan needed to pick up some pants someone in the ward was giving him. Then he had to go back to work for a staff meeting at 5:00. So we ended up with frozen pizza for dinner, putting away laundry, and an evening of Seminary catch-up work. Best laid plans...

Saturday, November 4, 2017
Jonathan biked to Walgreen's this morning. On the way, he was stopped by a police office. Apparently someone matching his description (at least in the half-dark, early morning hours) on a bicycle has been robbing places. Jonathan talked to the officer, told him where he was heading, opened his bag for him...very polite and cooperative. Then he was allowed to go on his way. No he wasn't late to work, which would have upset him. He wasn't rattled, it was just a first-time experience!

Work, shall we say, is rather hairy right now. The HL has quit, and the full-time front desk gal is actively looking for another job (I guess she called out "sick" yesterday). My boss is upset, understandably. The LD is sick from all the stress and juggling everything. She called me this morning to make sure lunches were covered (that was the first thing I worked out when all three of us were there!). My boss was in-and-out four times (okay, the last time was for her phone, but still). But me and the FD staff had it all taken care of. I went up to the front occasionally to check on things and help out where needed, but we're just doing what we have to during a difficult time. Other than my lunch break (where I had to go home to give Analiese dinner instructions), I was go-go-go all day. I really need to move to Chickasha. I'm done with the drama.

Ken came tonight, after stopping in Lawton for a Sam's Club run. We all went to see the new Thor movie as an early birthday gift for Analiese. She didn't mind a bit (wink). We enjoyed it, and the down time we so desperately need.

Sunday, November 5, 2017
Daylight Savings - Yay! One extra hour of sleep! Plus, since we have Regional Conference broadcast at the church building at eleven instead of our usual ten, we were all able to relax a bit this morning. Actually, I did more Seminary stuff, but that's okay, too.

The conference was excellent and the speakers superb. I think Sister Marriott is a sweetheart and enjoy hearing her whenever she speaks. Several times the Book of Mormon was spoken of and Mosiah 3 was referenced: that's my Seminary lesson tomorrow! It all gave me a lot to think about personally and you can bet I'll be talking about some of their points in my lessons in the morning!

Jonathan had to work this afternoon. Bummer. But Ken got some extra relaxing time. Tomorrow afternoon and eventing we'll be out in Lawton celebrating Analiese's birthday. After all the work we've put in the last few months, I'm glad for this happy break!