What are you doing today?

Ulenspiegel said:
Well, I almost forgot about Valentine's Day.

Though bought some gifts for my son as he is the only family now.
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Yeah, this isn't some "have to get something for the wife" sort of thing, it's just for fun, there are __zero__ expectations, we got the little G this LED plush kitty lamp, the pizza is really for her, we get nothing and we'd still have silly fun today.
 
Ulenspiegel said:
Well, I almost forgot about Valentine's Day.

Though bought some gifts for my son as he is the only family now.
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I almost forgot too but was reminded in time by the NYT's Spelling Bee game, which today featured a challenge to make words out of, yeah, a scrambled version of ' VALENTINE '. Thank goodness for that and for e-cards, I sent out a few to pals on my usual list for snailmail versions. I'm sure not doing many mailbox trips in this icy weather so I have no clue what may be out there in that roadside box at this point. I await the next thaw and a trip to the road in the (forecast) rain on a balmy Thursday before it all freezes up again. Gotta love these rollercoaster February temperatures, I never know what to put on in the morning... two layers of clothing, or maybe four?!
 
Clix Pix said:
My (late) husband died on February 1st 1989...... That particular year Valentine's Day felt as though it was a hideous rubbing of salt into raw, fresh wounds. Years later I still dislike and try to ignore Valentine's Day.
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I can relate. That’s Christmas, Mothers Day , Fathers Day, Easter, Miss AFB Birthday and the day we lost her in our house.

At least none of those are coming up for a while.
 
Well, I have Mother's Day and Father's Day coming up in the spring, where I honor each of my deceased parents, plus their birthdays -- my mother's is a week before my own, and my father's birthday has just gone past, as it was in January.

Yeah, holidays are rough sometimes; I just tend to ignore them for the most part, when I can.
 
Clix Pix said:
Well, I have Mother's Day and Father's Day coming up in the spring, where I honor each of my deceased parents, plus their birthdays -- my mother's is a week before my own, and my father's birthday has just gone past, as it was in January.

Yeah, holidays are rough sometimes; I just tend to ignore them for the most part, when I can.
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We just skip all Birthdays. Haven’t acknowledged one in years.
The worst thing about Mothers day is we get it twice. When we celebrate it and when you do these days.
 
Once again dealing with discomfort and pain in shoulder and arm. Have an appointment with a new family doctor tomorrow hoping this is a first step to finding a root cause.
 
Apple fanboy said:
We just skip all Birthdays. Haven’t acknowledged one in years.
The worst thing about Mothers day is we get it twice. When we celebrate it and when you do these days.
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I've always found that interesting, that you guys have "Mothering Sunday" in April and then we come along in May with our Mother's Day.
 
Clix Pix said:
I've always found that interesting, that you guys have "Mothering Sunday" in April and then we come along in May with our Mother's Day.
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To Mother, it was always "Mother's Day", and, for as long as she had her mind, memory and proverbial marbles, she liked us to acknowledge it, and celebrate her place in our lives (and liked for my father, to do so, too), and, so we did. All of us.

Mind you, he (my father) also liked it if we made a bit of a fuss of him on Father's Day.

And, in common with @Clix Pix, I honour each of them on their respective birthdays.
 
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There's nothing I can do now about what is done, or to resurrect a relationship in reality with those gone ahead of me off this planet or otherwise out of my life -- for whatever reason of theirs, mine or some dice roll of the cosmos.

So I have tried to do as my grandmother did, which was to honor all that she could of the lives of those people once close to her, and let rest in peace what may not have set right with her or the rest of the world close up or at large. Keep the good memories and let the others wash off during a walk in the rain... or sunshine.

I believe that with grief, it may never depart but it can become different and take on more remembrance of the good times. Doesn't mean certain days or dates aren't hard, and holidays can be a bittersweet mixture.

My youngest brother, a Vietnam Vet, took his own life more than ten years ago on a Midsummer's Eve. He lived not far from me and had done a lot of the carpentry and renovation detail on my place. I can still find Midsummer's Eve difficult, and his birthday in the fall, but I am mostly and daily reminded now by my mere surroundings of all the sweet, pseudo-tragic ("I regret to report that I've killed your coffeepot") or absolutely comical encounters which that bro and I had shared while he was still able to stay on the planet.

There's no way any of those funny or sweet tales can ever offset the horror of learning that he'd tied his young pup outside to a rail fence up by the road -- a tipoff later that something was definitely wrong-- and then set afire the house which he had built from scratch, and then shot himself to death on a deliciously balmy summer night.

But no one can take the treasured memories away from me except me, and I have refused to do that. They are my memories of a sweet brother I knew for his whole life, and our times together were no less real nor are made worthless just because there came a sudden and violent end to those times. The end was one thing. All the rest was a lifetime... and his lifetime with all its ups and downs has made my own life richer and more deeply lived than if I'd never known him. How could I not celebrate that in as many ways and as often as I can?!
 
lizkat said:
There's nothing I can do now about what is done, or to resurrect a relationship in reality with those gone ahead of me off this planet or otherwise out of my life -- for whatever reason of theirs, mine or some dice roll of the cosmos.

So I have tried to do as my grandmother did, which was to honor all that she could of the lives of those people once close to her, and let rest in peace what may not have set right with her or the rest of the world close up or at large. Keep the good memories and let the others wash off during a walk in the rain... or sunshine.

I believe that with grief, it may never depart but it can become different and take on more remembrance of the good times. Doesn't mean certain days or dates aren't hard, and holidays can be a bittersweet mixture.

My youngest brother, a Vietnam Vet, took his own life more than ten years ago on a Midsummer's Eve. He lived not far from me and had done a lot of the carpentry and renovation detail on my place. I can still find Midsummer's Eve difficult, and his birthday in the fall, but I am mostly and daily reminded now by my mere surroundings of all the sweet, pseudo-tragic ("I regret to report that I've killed your coffeepot") or absolutely comical encounters which that bro and I had shared while he was still able to stay on the planet.

There's no way any of those funny or sweet tales can ever offset the horror of learning that he'd tied his young pup outside to a rail fence up by the road -- a tipoff later that something was definitely wrong-- and then set afire the house which he had built from scratch, and then shot himself to death on a deliciously balmy summer night.

But no one can take the treasured memories away from me except me, and I have refused to do that. They are my memories of a sweet brother I knew for his whole life, and our times together were no less real nor are made worthless just because there came a sudden and violent end to those times. The end was one thing. All the rest was a lifetime... and his lifetime with all its ups and downs has made my own life richer and more deeply lived than if I'd never known him. How could I not celebrate that in as many ways and as often as I can?!
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Sorry to hear about your brother. Its good to hold onto those memories of happier times.
I'm seeing my Dad for the first time in over a year next month. I also need to sort out a visit to my Mother who I've not seen in years. They are both in their 70's. But like always seems to get in the way when I try and arrange a visit. Mostly theirs!
 
ericwn said:
Once again dealing with discomfort and pain in shoulder and arm. Have an appointment with a new family doctor tomorrow hoping this is a first step to finding a root cause.
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eric,

It might well be the post-effect of vaccination (I had pain in the arms, now in hips - was vaccinated 2x 7 months ago) or post-COVID effects.

Nevertheless, the best solution evidently is to see your new doctor. She might turn out to be pretty. You will forget the discomfort and pain in a second. :p

P.S.: Get well soon, mate!
 
One of the few nice things about growing older is that you become even more comfortable with each other.

Although my wife loves getting flowers, she's over the idea of my buying her some on Valentine's Day. She's practical, and dislikes the idea of my spending 50-100% more on roses just because it's February 14th. So I'll either get her flowers another time (you don't need a special day to say "I love you"), or I'll get her something else I know she likes.

She loves Coffee Crisp, which is hard to find in the US. So this year I ordered a dozen bars on Amazon and the order arrived Feb. 13. She told me I got a package and I told her, "Open it." She was so cute and appreciative when she saw that it was really for her. Such a little thing, but you'd think I'd gotten her jewelry or something. I'm a lucky man.
 
Thomas Veil said:
She loves Coffee Crisp, which is hard to find in the US. So this year I ordered a dozen bars on Amazon and the order arrived Feb. 13. She told me I got a package and I told her, "Open it." She was so cute and appreciative when she saw that it was really for her. Such a little thing, but you'd think I'd gotten her jewelry or something. I'm a lucky man.
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My favorite candy bar in the world! Fortunately, we can get them at Publix.
 
Thomas Veil said:
One of the few nice things about growing older is that you become even more comfortable with each other.

Although my wife loves getting flowers, she's over the idea of my buying her some on Valentine's Day. She's practical, and dislikes the idea of my spending 50-100% more on roses just because it's February 14th. So I'll either get her flowers another time (you don't need a special day to say "I love you"), or I'll get her something else I know she likes.

She loves Coffee Crisp, which is hard to find in the US. So this year I ordered a dozen bars on Amazon and the order arrived Feb. 13. She told me I got a package and I told her, "Open it." She was so cute and appreciative when she saw that it was really for her. Such a little thing, but you'd think I'd gotten her jewelry or something. I'm a lucky man.
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I’ve never bought Mrs AFB flowers. She doesn’t like them. Only ones growing in the garden. She thinks cut flowers are a waste.
I’ve had toffee crisp bars, but not coffee crisp bars.
 
Ulenspiegel said:
eric,

It might well be the post-effect of vaccination (I had pain in the arms, now in hips - was vaccinated 2x 7 months ago) or post-COVID effects.

Nevertheless, the best solution evidently is to see your new doctor. She might turn out to be pretty. You will forget the discomfort and pain in a second. :p

P.S.: Get well soon, mate!
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Thanks for the kind words! Planning next steps today, booking appointments for physio, blood work, new ecg etc

What I believed was a single issue might be a combination of elements that need further investigation.
 
Actually stopping for a bit today at lunch. My old routine used to be a walk and a telephone call with Mrs AFB everyday. Now it’s eat a pot noodle whilst answering emails. One day I’ll have less to do. Probably if I ever get to retire. Not likely!
 
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