Monday and getting things done

Today I get to be the church secretary for the day. Monday is usually a slow job, so I'm trying to catch up on things after two trips and a work camp trip for Teen C and another trip next week.

The thing I really need to do but seem to be avoiding is an essay for applying for Principal Degree for education, so I'm going to stop and go do that now.

Foodie Friday for an empty fridge

We are so close to using up the food in the fridge before our trip! I probably need to make a grocery list of things we will pick up on the road, like yogurt, a loaf of bread, and maybe a small jug of milk (for coffee).

What do you like to eat when you travel? We really try to eat local food, even if it's local chain food. At the same time, since we usually eat at home, if we aren't careful we get overfull of grease and then don't feel good, so we try to also find delis and bakeries to stretch out our tummies and our budgets.

For tomorrow we found a coffee shop and a lunch place, but we are going to pack sandwiches to eat in the badlands of South Dakota.

Thursday and Death

As we approach the upcoming deaths of a good family friend and my grandpa (not imminent but maybe before Christmas for both of them), I am reflecting on how important it is to live the kind of life that makes this part, the end stage, easier.

Decisions to move far away or to distance oneself from family make dying so much harder on oneself and on one's family. Decisions to love and support and stay close to family make it easy to chip in and share the duties and burdens of this time of life.

Decisions to accept death as a part of life, one's own life, enables one to face the death of others as well. An acceptance that the end comes to all of us makes it possible to make the necessary decisions with clear eyes. None of us should have to make those decisions alone! We always need someone a little farther away from the grief to help us. Family and friends are so essential.

We are made to be in community with one another, in life and in death. Let us love one another.

Wednesday and Water

I love water, and I just don't understand people who want to be ON the water (like in a boat) and not IN the water. In is much better. The magic of floating is amazing.

Tuesday Random 5: Inventory

1. Reading: I'm working on several books, but the two I am making most progress on are Biographical Vignettes by TH Baughman, a professor of mine at Benedictine, and The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. The Vignettes has chapters that give tidbits of stories based on what someone did at that age (Chapter 29 includes that Stephen Crane died at 29). The book by Fadiman is about a medical crisis caused by the clashing of Hmong and American culture at a hospital in California. Both are excellent reads, but the Vignettes needs an editor to catch the typos.

2. Planning: We leave for Montana soon, and right now we are working each night on lists for packing, doing, eating, and sleeping. So much to do, so little time. Today we decided to visit Devil's Tower on our way to Billings, and I want to try Stella's Bakery in Billings (they have humongous cinnamon rolls).

3. Praying: My grandpa, 95, entered the hospital last night and will need to transition from living in his own trailer to assisted living when he is dismissed. This will be really hard for this independent man, so I hope he is quickly reconciled to his new reality. My friend Therese has her next court date in 3 weeks and I pray for an appropriate outcome.

4. Eating: It's another week of using up food, so Sunday was sauteed coins of bratwurst, Monday was some chicken cutlets with a lemon-caper pan sauce, and tonight is Spaghetti with meat sauce. Having Teen C home for lunches makes using up food pretty easy. Tomorrow I'm trying a Korean Beef recipe, and then Thursday will be leftovers.

5. Exercising: I used to religiously do 30 minutes (at least) on the WiiU every day: yoga, strength training, aerobics, dancing, and balance exercises. Then I had surgery and I realized that I was probably addicted to the WiiU, so I've switched to trying to reach 10,000 steps a day (now I'm probably addicted to the pedometer) with just 10-15 minutes on the WiiU. I would like to get in a better stretching routine, but I think this might be healthier and more sustainable for me in the long run--plus less screen time. Now to break the Facebook habit...

Monday and a rare week of work

I do work, every day, but usually it's mostly housework, computer work, etc. I throw in there some piano lessons, some teaching various places, and sometimes consulting work on curriculum or religion questions.

This week I get to fill in for the parish secretary. It's something I really enjoy doing, and for the most part it's really easy but also really helpful to the community (answering the door and the phone, mostly).

The hard part nowadays is that I am really tied to the desk, and I have been trying to get 10,000 steps a day. That's easiest to do if it's broken up over several short walks, but this week I'm going to do short exercise in the morning and then a long walk in the evening...if everything else gets done.

As always, I'm grateful to the circumstances of my life and my husband's dedication to work that enables me to be able to pick and choose where and when I work. Most people are not that fortunate.

Thursday: Grateful for Mom

It's pretty amazing to have a mom that can go swimsuit shopping with you, and you BOTH find great swimsuits. Just ponder that.