Christmas Countdown - 2019

[Holiday]

Good Morning, Let's-Do-It-Again Friends!

Yep. Back to the daily grind.
But a nice kind of grind. The kind we all enjoy!

So, here goes:
Days to the Season: 315
Days to Christmas Day: 357

Oh, my. Look at how big those numbers are.
Depressing, isn't it?
<< sigh >>
But wait! What's this?
Our first Milestone of the 2019 Count. Can it really be just FIFTEEN days away? TWO WEEKS from tomorrow?
Yes it can!!
And the Milestone in question is the 300-day Season Window, after which we will already be down into the 200's!
How is this possible, you might ask?
Simple.
The Season count has been silently running since last November 13.
(And that's another beauty of our Season count!)

Well, it has been quite warm indeed to start the new year. We got up to 71 degrees yesterday! It was quite damp but no rain fell.
Today will top out about 15 degrees cooler but it will still be nice for January.
The current temperature reading is 50 degrees here in our state capital.

Say, now. It's alreay time for the first 'Pines open house of the new year and Carl welcomes all visitors to yet another year of Shispering Pines hospitality, which naturally includes those ever-popular fired twinkies and Carl's world- famous sweet iced tea.
Hope to see you all there to kick off the new 'Pines year right!

Have a really Wonderful Wednesday, Folks!

Thanks crown!! See you tonight!!!

 

[Holiday]

Good morning MMC ~
Another busy day ahead for me, I’m sorry I haven’t been able to respond too much lately. Things should slow down after the wedding and I will be able to spend more time here. I’m always keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. Oh and the wedding is in two days! I’ll pop back in when I can, wishing everyone a wonderful day!
xx

Enjoy the wedding!! Can't wait to see some pics! (I hope you'll post some!)

 

[Martine]

It seems the general consensus for my cousin was a clotting issue and that they were 99% certain it was a blood clot in his lungs. The doctor treating my cousin strongly suggests that my other cousins get tested

A few years ago I suffered from a pulmonary embolism and it took me a long time to realize how lucky I was that the blood clot just shot through my lungs and did not cause more damage than it did. I did not know it's something that could run in families (mine was caused by being sedentary after a surgery). I hope your cousins will go in for tests so that they can prevent this from happening to someone else in your family (((hugs))).

 

[Meceka]

Thank you!
We had a great Christmas despite the illness. I hope yours was great too.

You're welcome! I'm so glad you had a great Christmas!

Thank you! I did have a great Christmas!

 

[Meceka]

Yesterday was a difficult one as I had to go to work and then took off an hour early to greet the delivery guy with the chair on wheels for my husband. Found him on the kitchen floor; he had fallen after calling me to let me know he was going to have a nap so I wouldn't call to check on him. The cat was hiding; not sure what to make of the situation. Took half an hour to get him to his feet and to bed.

I took off and went and picked up a rollator that I had considered for two weeks, but finally had no choice.

Nearly started to cry in the car on the drive home because the reality of the situation is hard to accept for him. I drove a bit further so the music could comfort me - toughen me - so I can be strong for him.

If he doesn't want home care, then he has to accept that his legs aren't working well and he needs to use the rollator or his cane to get around to avoid a broken hip.

O'Malley isn't sure what to make of all the wheels around here; he's a bit nervous about the cane to begin with and now just watches and wonders. He rests beside my chair most of the time now. Guess I'm the "Big Cat" now.

I have to go back to work tomorrow, sure hope I kick this migraine that the fireworks caused.

Stay Jolly!

Keeping you and your husband in my thoughts and prayers, Auntie! {{{HUGS}}}

 

[Meceka]

Thanks so much, Meceka!

You're welcome, sugar! xx

View attachment 54292 Good evening MMC family and Happy New Year to you all! I caught up on the last couple of pages of the old Countdown. I'm obviously unable to respond, but know that I am praying for anyone that needs prays, thinking of anyone who needs it, and happy happy to anyone that deserves it!

We had a great time last night! DH and I always hold all the holidays at our house, in exception for New Years Eve - my brother likes to do that. We spent all evening until about 1 am at his house, eating a ton of food, listening to music, playing games, and watching the countdown with my family. We had a splendid time and always do.

As for the rest of the weekend, I woke up this past Friday, with what I thought was starting with an upper respiratory infection, swollen glands, and neck pain. By Saturday morning. my glands were severely swollen, and Sunday morning, if I even slightly turned my neck, I thought I would cry. I was very tired, so I took a nap and awoke and had a rash to my left upper arm, which was very itchy. My eyes were burning and my face felt very taunt. I remembered reading the side effects of the medication (well, because let's be honest, it's good to know and with being a nurse, I always want to know!), anyway, I remembered something about a rash. I looked up the side effects again of my new seizure medication and all the symptoms I was experiencing were all severe. I started myself on some Benadryl and called the on call neurologist. He told me I had to stop he medication immediately and go to the nearest ER if it became to bad. He re-started me on my old seizure medication, which seems to be helping, but --- my rash and hives are only spreading and are making me pretty miserable. I head to work tomorrow evening at 7, so if I am still this way, I am going to get a steroid shot and then get a dose pack. Included up top is a picture of where the rash started.

Anyway, enough of all that! I hope you've all had a great day! Today was football - Penn State lost - I mean, they really blew it. So until next year, football is over in our house. I've been catching up on Christmas specials & movies on the tivo

Again, Happy New Year!

Oh my goodness, that is horrible! Praying for healing for you! xx

 

[Meceka]

Thank you so much for the prayers. He unfortunately passed away before my aunt got here. We are all at the hospital now

Oh, I am so very sorry your cousin passed away. Keeping all of your family in my prayers! {{{HUGS}}}

 

[Meceka]

Good morning MMC ~
Another busy day ahead for me, I’m sorry I haven’t been able to respond too much lately. Things should slow down after the wedding and I will be able to spend more time here. I’m always keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. Oh and the wedding is in two days! I’ll pop back in when I can, wishing everyone a wonderful day!
xx

Wow, it's hard to believe the wedding is so close ~ so exciting! xx

 

[Meceka]

I usually get all Christmas decor & trees down January 1. However, I've had a sinus headache for three days, so I'm moving slow. All decor is on the dining room table and the trees are still decorated. I hope to get some of the decor packed away tonight.

DH is better, but still feels bad if he overeats. Everything else is back to normal except DD doesn't go back to school until the 8th. It'll be good to get the house back in normal order.

The beginning of a new year has never bothered me before, but this year I'm feeling my own mortality for some reason. I'll be 46 in six months and a birthday has never bothered me before. I always say a birthday is better than the alternative, so I hope I get over this funk!

Prayers for all of those who are sick or have lost a loved one. Good to see those of you who have been away for a while.

{{{HUGS}}}

 

[Meceka]

Good evening MMC!!! I wanted to log on yesterday to wish you all a Happy New Year & to check out the new countdown thread, but the day got away from me.... soooo...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Today was my 1st full day at the new job. It was ok. 1st thing this morning we didn't have any heat - out of propane!! They aren't sure how that happened, but by this afternoon we had heat again....but then my co-worker never turned the radio back on (she's in charge...) & it was much too quiet in the office, but I survived!

Now I'm home, furnace cranked up, Northern Pine candle going, HMM Christmas on tv...and so glad it's not Monday!!!

Everyone, have a great evening!!!!

That sounds like a lovely evening you are having ~ enjoy!
xx

 

[Iteachpercussion]

Well, Nathan just went to spend the night at his friends and his back off to the Army tomorrow morning. It was nice to have him home for a bit. It was interesting to discuss the his Army experience compared to mine or my dad's. The Army has changed a bit!

The wife is grocery shopping and I am taking a quick break from school related work. Henry is relishing the last bit of time before back to early bed times.

I hope everyone has a great evening!

 

[made582]

Things are getting wild at the Pines.

 

[Crown 84]

Oh, yeah. Things are hoppin' at the 'Pines tonight.
Better get there before all the twinkies are gone!

 

[Crown 84]

All our inside decorations are down. Will work on the outside tomorrow but might leave the door wreaths up for the week.

 

[Meceka]

Merry Pines Day!

 

[xmas365]

@xmas365 - It's so good to see you back! I hope 2019 is kind and generous to you. And we're all here for you.

Thank you, MC

 

[xmas365]

Hi all
Last day of my vacation was today, dreading going back to work tomorrow. Sitting here with my lights and tree on, enjoying them while I can. It hit me hard last night, that we only have a handful of Christmases before my oldest becomes an adult, he is 13 now, when I joined here he was only 4. Where has the time gone? I need to figure out a way to spend more time with him, whether it be changing jobs or something.
I hope you all have a good night.

 

[nmc42088]

tell this dear lady she does not have to be strong, she needs to grieve her loss. Sit with her and cry with her so you can both acknowledge your loss.

I'm so sorry to read this! Extra thoughts & prayers heading your way!

A few years ago I suffered from a pulmonary embolism and it took me a long time to realize how lucky I was that the blood clot just shot through my lungs and did not cause more damage than it did. I did not know it's something that could run in families (mine was caused by being sedentary after a surgery). I hope your cousins will go in for tests so that they can prevent this from happening to someone else in your family (((hugs))).

Oh, I am so very sorry your cousin passed away. Keeping all of your family in my prayers! {{{HUGS}}}

Thank you everyone! My dad is helping my aunt who is my moms sister with figuring out a lot of things. My uncle passed in 2009 and my dad helped her then too

 

[Nor'easter]

Hi, Just wanted to say a late Merry Christmas to everyone here and Happy New Year as well! Another long adventure has begun back to Christmas time, but it will have many great stops along the way which makes it go by all the faster. I look forward to enjoying the adventure back to Christmas 2019 with you all. It's a new year and should be a great ride, 2 days down, only 356 to go!

 

[sugar142286]

Gosh you are having a time. I’ll keep you in prayer that all goes well at the job tomorrow and someone can get you feeling normal again. Be strong and be safe.

Thank you, HIB!