What's New Wednesday..

 Oh WOW  when I get to start the post ya know it's late... or early?   Wide awake with so much reeling going on in my mind.

Today there is so much to do before Mom, my sister and I leave for central WA to visit my oldest sister who is going from a hospital to a long term care facility.  It has been a long year since my sister feel ill and has been in and out of the hospital.  I've had a hard time sharing the information with everyone and am not sure why.  The stress has kept me immobile and quiet on the board.  

I've been enjoying the fall weather lately.  I'm looking forward to the changing colors and leaves falling.  Not looking forward to being cold though.. lol  can't we have warm weather during fall and winter?  Where is this global warming?  Missed my area... lol

I'll have my grandson part of the day today.  I sure love having him around.  We are going to the car wash, he gets afraid of it but loves it at the same time.  We watched one car wash from the outside windows.  He is fascinated with it but very cautious of "big" machines.  We plan to go to the "farm" to get pumpkin decorations too.  He loves feeding the goats, and seeing the other animals.  Love the innocence of this age; he's soon to be 4.

Have a great day and make it a fun one.

Millie

good morning, millie and all!wonderful surprise to see you start the thread-sorry you are stressed.....gosh; i am sending you extra hugs and prayers today in your journey with your family...this situation with your sister HAS taken it's toll on you- i have noticed a differnce in you thru the year....we each tend to work thru things differently....i have a big issue on my plate right now that i actually discussed with only two of my dearest friends( probly didn't tell them i shared with the other but they would understand!) ...there are some others whom i could have consulted but i chose these two for their perspectives.....i had already made up my mind, i think, but needed some confirmation that i am not looney in the decision.....i pretty much know what the others would have said, and while i take much comfort in their words and caring, didn't want to cloud my issue right now.....ouch-sorry-didn't mean to make your  family's journey about me!

in the same breath- i am envious you with the grand and the punkin farm and the car wash --my eldest was curious about things like the car washes and we had some interesting experiences when he was a wee one--my only grandson just turned 4 so i can relate there! he was a blast to be with a few weeks ago at the family gathering----enjoy your day---all of it....even the stressful part will be rewarding when you look back.....

today is work --i was able to move more freely in our office without my cane but i used it when i ventured out into the other parts of the building -bathroom etc and steps--today i think i will take it just in case but doubt i will use it.....ankle is sore-most of the swelling is gone- some discoloration on the top of my foot--i musta landed on the outer edge of the foot as well as compacting the ankle!one of those times i wish we had a security camera in the yard!!! i'd like to review the tape!

my biggest news is that michael cleaned the garage sufficiently that our car is inside safe and dry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! now-at our house- that is  a big whoooooooooooooooooooooo hooooooooooooooooo---it's been living outside since right after Christmas when we started emptying my son's house! i am NOT saying that i can find anything in the garage now but the car is in there!!!!!!!

foodwise i am finding that eggs are filling me up much more quickly lately than they used to...hmmm.....i know many have problems with egggs- i never did -and this isn't a problem...just an observation....

i am watching jeanb's infant massage with interest...sounds so wonderful...safe trip!!!!

it's 48* this morning-not sure what we are expecting but i hope to get sox on today!!!! need to get my day started- it may be a life changing one for me....

nothing on the real estate front.....

hugs and prayers to all......

Good Morning Millie and Friends,

Will you be anywhere close to Kennewick? Sounds like the trip will be emotionally draining so don't expect you'll have "visiting" time but if you do and want my phone number I'll send it. Also we're in the local phone book too.

I'm finally starting to feel better. Man oh man am I glad thi**** as early as it did. If I had gotten sick like tomorrow I don't know how I would have been able to get on the plane to Italy on Sunday. As it is I'm still coughing a lot, but so much better than I was a few days ago.

I'll be on an antibiotic for another week and am taking all kinds of cough drops, cough medicine, decongestants, etc. Hope I don't get arrested for "drug smuggling"!

I have a hard time when life overwhelms me. Just normal life leaves me anxious enough, but when it doubles up on me I have a hard time sleeping, get an upset stomach, can't concentrate or turn my mind off.

I know it's hard but remember that to help others you have to help yourself first. Sometimes just talking through things with a friend helps me to see a bit more clearly. Usually when I do get through the difficult time I find that I'm stronger than I thought I was.

 Also, grandchildren are about the best therapy there is! Looking at life through their eyes is such a great perspective. I certainly understand the car wash fear. My little dog runs around inside the care chasing the water, brush etc! I hang on to her and talk to her the whole time. I think she thinks she is protecting me from a monster! Can't wait til my grandbabies are big enough for the pumpkin patch!

How long will you be gone? Is your mom going with you? Sending positive thoughts your way.

Hi Karen,

When I said Central WA I forget the locals refer to your area as Central.... lol ....  I'm actually going to be in the Coulee Dam area.  My sister and I will take mom over and leave her for about a month.  We will come back on Sunday;  no time for visiting.  My oldest sister has not been transported to Nesplem from Davenport.  We may do that Friday as the cost for them to transport her is prohibitive.

AND  Italy ! !   We were stationed in N Italy for 3 years.  Of course that was in a former life. lol  You will love it there;  I did.  Where are you going?  A tour of all the major cities or off to just one place?  Whatever you do, have a cappucino for me.....  sigh

Millie

Millie,

We're about 3 hours from Grand Coulee Dam. Darn, one of these days we will get together!

Here's my Italy itinerary; any off the beaten path ideas welcome!! You can just type in the hotel names and see them. They are all beautiful. A once in a lifetime experience for me for sure.

We'll be 3 days in each place:

1. Baverno/Milan/ Lake Como area -Grand Hotel Baveno

2. Venice- Grand Albergo Ausonia and Hungaria Hotel

3. Florence- Grand Hotel Cavour

4. Rome- Massimo D'Azeglio Hotel

We're going with Insight Vacations which is supposed to more of an easy pace tour company with more room on the busses etc. The tour is called "Easy Pace Italy." We'll have 2 organized days each place and then 1 day on our own to do whatever we want or nothing! For instance our last day in Rome I will take the optional tour to Pompeii. My friend has been before and will do something else that day. I've always been fascinated with the story of Pompeii.

I'm finally feeling better so getting excited!

When you travel from Lake Como area to Venice you will pass by a Lake Garda, Bussolengo then Verona.  This is the area we lived.  Verona is the home of Romeo & Juliet, they also have a coloseum there.  That is where we were station....  Also, on the way you will pass Vicenza.  That is where we would travel to the Dr & commisary. 

I must say I have many many fond memories of Italy.  Florence is a wonderful city, between Florence & Rome is a small town, Lucaa.  Fascinating little place.  I loved wandering around the countryside of Italy.  Only tours we took were in Rome.  Quite an overwhelming city.....

You will love it....  good food, good people and good times.

Millie

Aloha friend........Wow...you are such an adventurer. Italy sounds devine, but so different that I would be afraid I would get lost, or not be able to understand what anyone said. Ha!

A couple of years ago my nephew married his love near a villa out in the wine country in Italy. I saw the pictures and it was beyond beautiful. I know you will come back with great stories....I can't wait.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

I studied French for 8 years, Spanish for one. Just enough to really mix the two up. Can only imagine trying to add Italian to the mix. The romance languages sound similar but when you start adding French artlicles to the beginnings of Spanish words you know you have a problem! I did copy some "tourist" phrases to study on the plane. We are on a Insights tour so all guides etc speak English. I'm sure most shopping areas with have fluent English speakers also. It's never difficult to spend! They make sure of that. . .

I'm with you about the romance languages.  I started taking French in grade 7 and finished in university where I took my first Spanish course.  (I also took Latin for several years!)  I, personally, wouldn't try to speak Italian, but I bet that you will be able to understand much more than others will when you hear Italian being spoken!  The romance languages sound so much alike that you'll do really well.
I took Parisian French in school, and never heard it spoken until I was in France.  It was so clear that it almost sounded like English to me.  Aren't you glad that you studied languages?  Me too.
Have a blast.
Margaret

Good morning Millie and all,

I made a big pot of chili. It smelled good as it simmered, but after three bites and it tasted yucky to me. Tom ate four bowls. Guess it was me.

Plans for today - try to keep warm. My client gets very hot and is uncomfortable with the heater going in the car. She doesn't complain but the windows fog up and sweat pours down her face. By the time work is done, I am cold to the bone. It's going to be a long, cold Winter.

Kisses
Annette