Ldychef2k: Notes from a Wannabe - Ldychef2k fesses up.

Ldychef2k

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I am fed up with myself today. Don't know why, but I am feeling sensitive all of a sudden. That doesn't happen very often to me, so I am thinking about why. Best I can come up with is that I was spinning a bit out of control the past few days and kinda lost my "is this appropriate" filter for a bit. It's tough having ADD and being an old woman. You say and do things that other people attribute to dementia, but you know that you have been like this for your entire life, which somehow is faint encouragement.

So many things happening. Tomorrow the "help the low incomers" people come and blow insulation into the attic. I have a 40 year old house that was built to minimum standards, and I have all of three inches of attic insulation. They are going to add 13 inches. That will really help the heat and cooling bills ! Over the next few weeks lots more changes are afoot. I am really looking forward to it, but it does cause a disturbance in the force.

But I think the guy who inspected the attic last week may have disturbed the critters up there and that's why we are having all the rat drama.

I have been joking about the rats, but it's unsettling. I have this quiet little life (okay, not really) with a comfortable schedule (that's true) and all this fussing, and the fear that I am going to wake up with one in my bed, or step on a half dead rodent in the night, and the worry about my food storage...I am not handling it well. I actually had to ask my mom for half a Xanax, and it really didn't help all that much. I am not used to medications for nerves.

My girls started back to school today and they are very happy. I have had kids here every day this summer and today was quite s change.

The repairman from the Senior Repair program called and was all ready to come and work on my list of repairs, but I am supposed to pay for materials, so that's out for a while. He will be calling next week.

Called and got a decrease in my hardly ever used cell phone today. I have another year on the contract, pay $45 a month and use less than 30 minutes. I have almost 5000 rollover minutes. So, got it decreased by $15 if I promise not to go over 500 minutes a month. No problem.

While I was on a roll, I called ATT to see if I could decrease my phone bill by eliminating services. In the end, I switched from Comcast cable to ATT for the TV, and signed up for their new fiberoptic service in a bundle of TV,phone and internet -- Something called U-Verse. I wind up paying $20 less a month for better service, and will get about $200 in cash and gift cards as an incentive. In six weeks, but hey that's in time to start Christmas !

It's hard to concentrate on my work today, so I have been writing too much and reading too much and re organizing WAY too much.

Maybe tomorrow will be a calmer, less scattered day. Sure hope so !

Kris
 

Henrietta23

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Hugs, I do know how you feel. One guess would be with the kids back at school you feel a little off with that part of your routine changed, maybe even a little lonely. I've been joking about the rats with you, but I get that too. I was freaked out enough by having them in my yard.
Sounds like we may live in similar houses. Ours is a 3 bedroom ranch built in 1969. DH added insulation over the years and what a difference. We just discovered our attic fan hasn't been working which explains why the house is so much more unbearable hot this summer. No $ to replace it now! And a full fledge heat wave on the way next week. Blech.
Hope you settle in to new routines soon and things in general settle down.
Wish my old collie mix Koko was still around. She used to catch the rats in father's garden. Creepy to watch, but handy!
 

TanksHill

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Sorry to hear about the rats. We get them on a regular basis in our garage. The kids leave the door open and my chicken feed is down there etc.. That is where I keep my 5 gallon buckets. About two weeks ago I noticed a rat had chewed on a couple of my Gamma Seal lids. I was mad as heck. Those lids are not cheap. So we ended up melting them to re seal and make them air tight again.

Maybe while the people are blowing the additional insulation into your attic they can check around to see where they might me getting in. It may be a simple fix. That you can gilt them into doing. :D

My kids go back to school on the 24th. The older two at least. I am still struggling with sending my 3 yo back to pre school. The cost is crazy and with my dh job issues not sure if I will have the money.

I have ATT as well. I am supposed to be calling and getting a deal on that u verse tv. We have direct tv now and it cost a fortune. I have phone/ Internet with them already. I wonder how much I could save.

Don't wory if you sound a bit off when you have a stressful week. I think we all get that way sometimes.

Focus on the positive. Your house is going to be so warm this winter. :thumbsup

G
 

Ldychef2k

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Well, they came to blow the insulation into the attic today. And left five minutes later. My roof is too old and has a small leak, and they can't spray cellulose insulation because if it gets wet it will break through the celing. My attic is R2. They want to take it to R30. After I get a new roof.

This is a low income program. A roof costs $12,000. How is a new roof ever going to happen? Only God knows.

My parents went over to the beach (2 1/2 hours away) this past week. My dad is terminally ill and he wanted to see the old places one last time. It's getting pretty hard....

BUT ---- !!!! I received a gift of $5 today ! Yesterday I had a handful of pennies and today I have $5 and a handfull of pennies ! I am SO grateful for that small reminder that He loves me and knows what is going on.

My loving and wonderful niece has four kids. Spent some time talking with her today. #1 is 13 and isintellectually gifted. #2 is 10 and has multiple emotional/brain chemistry issues such as Asperger's syndrome, ADD, oppositional defiant disorder, and so on. (About three times a week, he decides to leave class and so he starts roaring, pacing, throwing desks, and then leaves and goes home, as an example.) #3 is 7 and is pretty sweet, but has an unusual demeanor. Hard to explain. And #4 is 5 and is perhaps the worst behaved child I have ever seen. He is a holy terror. Hits adults. Breaks things on purpose. Refuses to even look at you, except with a menacing expression.

#4 started Kindergarten yesterday. Today, he was asked to leave. He had no concept of authority or obedience. He just said "No, I don't want to do that." and then got up and wandered about the room, playing with what he wanted to play with. The teacher had #2 and #3. She seemed to want to avoid a reprise.

Niece loves her kids, but she does not discipline them. She was severly disciplined and emotionally abused by her mom, my mentally ill sister, as a child. She is trying NOT to hurt her kids, but doesn't know she is doing it in a different way. Hard to encourage her without hurting her with the truth, but somehow I have to find a way to help her see the real picture. She just thinks he needs another year to grow up.

Been an interesting day !!!!!!
 

Beekissed

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Sounds like a nightmarish child story. Severely disturbed youngsters....wonder where all the rage comes from?

Love your upbeat attitude in the face of strain, kris! Better than ranting and raving over all the obstacles that seem to happen whether we get mad or not.

So sorry about your ongoing rodent problem. :( Not funny anymore..... Is it time for me to send the One-Bite? It sounds like you could use a case of it! :barnie
 

Henrietta23

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Oh man! Sorry the insulation didn't work out for you! We had to do a new roof a few years ago. It took a year of saving plus the luck of a tax refund AND a friend of a friend who was a roofer and let DH do some of the work for a discount.
Wow, those kids sound like they need a lot of help! Your niece sure has her hands full!
 

Dace

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I am sorry that you did not end up with the insulation your were hoping to get! Are there any programs to help you get the new roof?
If only a few roofing companies could donate a small amount of time and or goods you would be set!

Out of control kids are tough, parents so often dismiss their children's behavior with whatever excuse is handy, he's tired, he's hungry, he is having a bad day :smack You are in a tough position with your niece, but it sounds like she needs some direction. I hope you are able to have an open chat without hurting her.
 

Farmfresh

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Ldychef2k said:
Also hope to get enough RoundUp to kill the first layer of bermuda in my future garden area.
I just this minute started reading your journal! So glad you are finally writing it.

I wanted to tell you a BETTER way to kill that grass. Try laying down several layers of newspaper right over the weeds and grass. Overlap the layers. Then top the paper with lawn clippings, straw, shavings or other topper to hold the paper down.

AND I need that Harlequin pear recipe!
 

Dace

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Mornin' Kris :)

I was wondering if you could share some of your canning ideas with me? I would like some meal type things....soups, stews, beans, whatever...and I know you have done some of these. I understand that them dense things should not be canned, and I can research recipes, just wondering if you could share with me what you have canned?
 

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