@missy - Once the pandemic is over and people can get out and about, I'm going to have the garage sale to end all garage sales. We have lots of nice things we don't use, that should be re-homed. And I agree with your dad - but also with you, in that - I just enjoy a lot of space! We also use substantial space for guests, since most of our guests come from either Australia or California and tend to stay a while. None of this 'long weekend' stuff for us! Our guests tend to come from weeks at a minimum, and often months. My goddaughter will come back for a few more months shortly, and it's nice to be able to give her a bedroom, sitting room and bathroom, all with plenty of storage. We also have an Alexa in every room, so she will often lay in bed while I'm upstairs in bed, and we'll chat.
And just by the way on a different note - WOO HOOOO!! - re Greg's biopsy results! One step at a time, granted, but I was very pleased to read this one! How is he feeling today? Has the redness subsided at all? And how are *you* holding up? Caring for a patient is hard on the body; pls take care, dear girl! oxo
@Austina - I totally hear you re wanting things that fit with entertaining. Tim and I made a guest list for his 60th birthday / our 40th wedding anniversary (within 2 weeks of each other), and we got to over 110 invites. It's not for 3 years yet (the things you do during a pandemic to pass the time!), but even now, we were grateful to know we can have the sort of celebration we want. We don't entertain as much as we did in Australia, but we still have parties and dinners, and it's nice to have the room to do it without exploding our house! But I also wanted to say...an orangery?? Oooohhhh - photos please! Tim and I lived in Portsmouth in the 1990's, then in Epsom for some years before we moved to the US, and I used to LOVE the British orangeries! I don't want to put you out, but would love to see some snaps, if it wasn't a bother. I'm loving your taste and your view of housing sounds like my own!
@Polabowla - I'm so sorry you're feeling worse. Are you comfortable sharing what diagnosis you've had so far? I really hope you have some family there who can look after YOU. And - can you elaborate a bit on what's happening for your husband, end Feb? I read 'oncologist' - that's almost never a good thing. I'm thinking of you these days - you sound like you're doing it tough, and I'm so sorry to hear it. Please know my thoughts are with you.
@bling_dream19 - pretty setting! It's going to be lovely! And - you donated your hair? Having seen your photo, I now can't imagine you without that gorgeous mane! Altho, having said that, I can also imagine you with a face-frame of curls! How short did you go? My hair is crap, so I live vicariously.
@canuk-gal - it's been relatively mild here in MA, too. But I don't like the sound of 'polar vortex' and the weather here is going to be rough for the next 3 weeks, apparently. I don't mind the 40's - I truly don't. But the 30's are miserable for walking, and the 20's...forget about it; I'm staying indoors! But even so, as you said, it's been mild this year, and we feel lucky. Six weeks from now things will look a lot better and we'll be shaping up for spring! Yay!
@MamaBee - an F VS is a great result! Congratulations! You must be thrilled. Will you miss Libby when she goes? I'm not really attached to my jewelry and often think of dumping everything except my hoops and pearl studs, my plain bangles, 3 meaningful necklaces and my wedding ring and a small anniversary ring my husband bought me years and years ago. If ever you see me do this, it won't be because we've fallen on hard times, it will be because I've just lost all interest. It could happen - it really could.
@Daisys and Diamonds - I spent a lot of yesterday watching the inauguration and am glad you enjoyed it.
I like Springsteen, tho one of my best friends has a passion for him, like you. He's an entertainer who seems to inspire devotion. But I'm with
@Scandinavian here, in that it was Lady Gaga who rocked my world yesterday. That woman is just all class. Love her!
Tim normally goes on a conf. in FL every Jan for work, but this year the whole thing is remote. There's normally a few activities during the conference, and they're still trying to keep that vibe going, so they offered a bunch of things for yesterday, early evening, and Tim signed up for a whiskey tasting. We thought "That sounds pleasant!" - then 3 large bottles of whiskey arrived via FedEx and we were kind of going "Ummm...what the heck...???" The tasting was last night and he was allowed to bring one guest, so I rolled up with him and we...er...drank a lot of nice whiskey. The whiskey was great and the whole thing was very informative - right up until the second bottle, at which point we were hammered. Bottle three was just a blur, but I vaguely remember ordering a home delivery of lots of different ice creams from our local ice creamery, then waking up after midnight feeling rather less than stellar. All I can say is - beware insurance companies bearing whiskey gifts!! It's now 1.52am and I'm sitting up in bed wondering how long it's going to take the lady with Crohn's to detox from *that* act of lunacy.
Murphy and I have been rendezvousing in our respective back yards and chatting over the fence. His owners let him out and he comes to the fence and barks. I hear him and come out with a treat. It's an excellent system.
I don't know what it is about that dog, but I just adore him.
My back is feeling much better - which is the way with Crohn's. One day you can't walk - 2 weeks later, it's like it never happened. I have an appt with the neurosurgeon next week to go over the results of the MRI, then an appt with the oncologist to get some new, growing lumps checked out and see what's going on there. Orthopedic surgeon at the beginning of Feb.
And so it rolls on....
Shout out to all you lovely NIRDIs!
We’re finding the houses that are around 3000 sq ft, still have 4 or 5 bedrooms, that we don’t need, but the ‘great’ room, is too small. I’m not bringing much, but I want my dining and living room furniture, not just because I love them, (and they’re relatively new) but I want some familiar things around me, when we’re picking up our whole life and moving across the ocean. Hopefully something suitable will turn up soon, the housing market in Austin is really hot at the moment, and everything is selling really quickly. 
XOXO.
Patience isn’t normally one of my virtues, but boy will I be glad for it to finally be done. 
