I read my son's blog a few moments ago and it literally made me burst out laughing. OUT LOUD. Even now as I think about it, I chuckle. What was it all about? About people being 'afraid' of him - reading - or without his reader! Cracked me up. My son is an avid reader and often takes his reader with him to the bar to sit quietly and read. I guess word has gotten out, don't mess with him if he's reading or you'll get 'hurt'. I doubt physically, but possibly verbally. LOL Anyway, he didn't have his reader that night and three people literally changed their friendly expression and left when he spoke to them. He finally asked the third one what was up - and she told him. It is hilarious! Good one, son, good one! Too, too funny!
Yesterday the busy, craziness, of the work life finally calmed down. Finally was able to go through emails to see what I had missed, and there were a couple emails that had not been responded back to and I had to contact again to schedule meetings. Got my favorite boss' meetings for 2025 taken care of and now need to focus on the other three. Especially my male boss as he has about 20 1:1s (no, I don't think that is an exaggeration) that I need to get extended into 2025, and numerous meetings and two board meetings I have to get on the calendar fairly soon for 2025. The other two I support aren't quite as bad, but I also need to get theirs done. That is my 'busy work' for today. Unless he decides to do a meeting dump on me again today. He is going to crash and burn at some point - I tell him that all the time. He is daily back to back meetings, one right after the other, and I have no clue how he keeps it straight. He does take time off for his family, which is a good thing, and is on panels for conferences so does travel occasionally as well. Way too busy in my opinion and I'm on the brunt end of getting airlines, hotels, rental cars, and meetings all scheduled. It's not fun to support him. But he is a nice 30-ish guy and very smart.
I volunteered to make the 'smash cake' for the great-grandson's birthday on Saturday. He needs to have dairy free so of course I went to Amazon. They had two cake mixes that I ordered (we're talking they ask nearly $15 each for these cakes!! And you got to put them together!!) and received yesterday. Non-gluten, yes. Non-dairy? Well, yes.... until you have to add the ingredients to actually make the cake. Add butter. In one it said to add milk, but can use coconut milk. Hello? So I went online and found a website that truly had an eggless, milkless, butterless cake. I watched the video and wrote down the ingredients. It's also called a 'depression cake' because during the depression milk, eggs, and butter were scarce. Someone made this cake and supposedly it is very good. Ingredients simple and things you would have on hand as a rule. And it's chocolate. Even the frosting is very simple to make.
After my workout last night we stopped at Panera to eat, then we stopped at Michaels. I wanted to buy small cake pans to make the cake. Afterall, he is only going to be one and a small cake is perfect for him. I also found some dinosaur candles. Not sure if my son has bought '1' candles for him yet. If he does, I'll keep these for another time. Anyway - I plan to make this 'no eggs, no milk, no butter' cake today and see what it tastes like. I don't want to give him a cake that is tasteless. I'm excited about trying this cake out. It may be a recipe we need to keep handy for in the future if he doesn't outgrow his allergy to it. Oh, his allergy? Explosive diarrhea for two days. Yeah, I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
Today is Friday and I'm grateful. It's been a busy week and I'm glad it is nearly over. The EA for the president of our division didn't get a good mid-year review so she is now going overboard on being 'out there' and involved. She's actually starting to annoy me. I liked it better when she was quiet. She's already starting a team to organize a Christmas pot-luck for all the admins and executive assistants in the downtown office (which I avoid like the plague) and asked for volunteers yesterday. No, I did not volunteer. I like things plain and simple and enjoyable - she goes all out and way above. And that's her thing. It's not mine. I enjoy parties, and I love throwing my own pot-lucks, as you know. But being in a conference room with 20 other women that I may only know 3-4 of them just isn't my thing. I see she has about 7 on her 'team' of volunteers. I'm staying quiet. Then she has decided we need to have this Christmas party mid-end of November!! I don't want to go!! Especially because it is downtown and I may find an excuse NOT to. She sent out a survey with about 6 different dates - starting with November 7 and 8!! I picked 6 of the 8 dates she offered up. I think I'm going to go into the program and remove my check mark for the date that is getting the most marks (Nov 14). I really do not want to go. I don't want to drive downtown. I will drive to Mesa before I drive downtown if I can help it!! But I may not be able to get out of it. Maybe if I just remain quiet..... ??? I don't know all these people and they pretty much know each other. I worked in Mesa - I think all but two or three others - who I have never met - all worked downtown before Covid and before we were sent home to work. I don't even know my way around there, nor do I have a parking permit. UGH. Stress. I only work with maybe 4-5 of these admins on a daily basis - I'd rather meet at a restaurant for lunch with those I work with.
I went in to change my 'vote' for the biggest day and decided to not do that. That's overreacting, right? I'm a big girl. I can drive downtown. I did it for years. I just don't want to. Well, will see what November brings. I may change my mind and get excited about it. Right? I can put on my 'big girl panties' and go and enjoy it. Right?
Hubby's alarm clock died the other day - remember my sharing about it? I went to Amazon (of course) and bought him a new one, with a projection light like mine. He often fusses at me if my projection light isn't right where he wants it. Now he has his own. I've noticed it before all around the house, but noticed it again this morning as I got up. Do you realize how much electricity is used for all these things that emit a 'blue light' when they are 'on'? I turn my printer off most days because it can light up this entire room. Then there is the clock in here. Well, I do 'need' it to keep myself on track in the mornings. The cord on my work computer - it lights up even when it's turned off - and if I have the computer on all night - the simple touch of the mouse can light up the entire room as well. The two projection clocks (although I have hubby's facing the wall on his side) really lit up our bedroom. I think I'm going to find the dimmer switch on his and turn it down. Maybe he won't notice. I have already turned mine down. But even in walking through the house, you can see cords and other electronic devices working away with little blue lights. How much electricity are we using that we aren't using? Have you ever thought about that? Then there is my herb garden. It emits a bright light 16 hours and then shuts off for 8 hours every day. I used to turn it off at night and often forgot to turn it on in the mornings. I finally told hubby just let it alone. But the light is so bright that you think you left the kitchen light on! Maybe that will keep strangers away, thinking we are still up in the middle of the night? I need to walk around and see what I can turn off or unplug. Of course I don't dare touch anything in hubby's 'office'. I breathe in there and can get in trouble. I want so badly to separate out all the books in to alphabetical order - but he just will not allow it! It is HIS office ("and it's the only room in this house that is MINE!!"). Oh the things that we put value on.
Rejoice in the Lord, for He is always near. As I was praying this morning for each of my children and their families, I am reminded how often I run to God and ask Him to help them (whether they think they need it or not), and not pause to thank Him for them. So today I did that. I thanked God for each of my children, and their families. They bring heartache at times because I can grasp what they are capable of - but I also must keep my hands off and let them find their way. I need to keep praying they find the way of the Lord and allow Him to direct their path and keep them straight. Hell can get awfully hot, and painful, I hear. I don't want any of my family to suffer through that torment for the rest of their lives. Eternally. I'd rather they be in heaven and free.
What do you wish for your children? Pause on that one and think about it. Are you sharing Jesus with them? For some, even though they may have been raised in the church, they only have a head knowledge of Jesus. Teach them to have a heart knowledge as well. Only then will they seek His face and come to know the One who can lead them wherever they go. Jesus is our one sure thing in life. He is always there, will never leave us. All we need to do is call out to Him. So I cry out to Him for each of my children, my grandchildren, and my great grandchildren - and for generations to come. His will for their lives; His blessings showered upon them. Take a pause and do that for your own family. You are the matriarch or the patriarch of your family. What legacy will you leave them?
Blessings!
