Very little sleep last night. I ended up fixing some scrambled eggs around 6:00. I don’t usually eat that late and remembered why when I had acid reflux when I went to bed. I was reminded why I started fasting. My body seems to like it much better. I got back up and sat up until 3:00. It finally settled down and I tried to sleep but sleep was very hard to find last night. Gave up around 7:30 and got up. Laid down to take a nap early afternoon but still couldn’t find sleep. Evidently I am not to be sleeping much right now.
Got the jello salad made and the bread broken for the dressing tomorrow. Still need to bake pies but that is my reward for getting my cleaning done. I am almost done cleaning. Just need to do a couple more floors and I will be done.
The furnace guy came today to do the annual fall check on the system. The draft motor (what ever that is) is going out. He can hear a whirling sound that shouldn’t be happening. He said the bearings are going out. They called with the estimate – it is almost $800 to replace and install. Merry Christmas to myself. Not sure that is what I wanted for Christmas. Yikes! I told them to get it ordered as I am afraid if I don’t I will get cold this winter when it finally breaks. I also don’t want a furnace fire from hot bearings.
While he was here he noticed the water booster pump is leaking again. I need to figure out a different solution. We keep replacing the same pump and it only lasts for about six months and then starts leaking. Who is a water booster pump expert that could advise me? My plumber just keeps replacing it with the same thing. Luckily it has been covered by warranty but I need a more permanent solution. I have to pay for the installation each time and it costs me over $100 each time for that. Things like this are beyond my skill set and I find them very frustrating to solve.
The window guy let me know the windows are loaded on a trailer and they will be here bright and early Monday morning to start the install. He estimates it will take all week to get them in. Not sure how big of a crew he is sending but I am guessing it will take longer. They are the experts though so we shall see. Trusting the weather stays dry and they can get this job done next week. This project has dragged on long enough. Still need to get the EFIS repaired when the windows get done and then the new guttering goes up after the EFIS is done. Next spring insurance will pay for the deck to get repainted.
Days like this make me want to sell this house and find some where else to live. This house drains my bank account regularly. Guess any house has that potential but I am on a roll lately and not a good one. Tired of making these decisions and forking out money left and right. I would much rather take that $800 and do something fun with it.
Trying to figure out timing on cooking the turkey. I need it done by 11:00 so I have oven space to fix the rest of the meal. The turkey has not thawed much in the refrigerator and will need a bit longer to cook than normal. May have to set an alarm for the middle of the night and get up around 4:00 to put it in the oven. I want to make sure it is well done. Raw turkey is not good!
As I started a load of dishes this morning I wondered how many loads I will do today and tomorrow. I bet I will do at least four more and maybe five. Grateful for a dishwasher. I have the ability to dirty more dishes than most cooks do. Not sure why but that is how I do things, I guess.
Sitting with a bit of frustration over the house issues this afternoon. Wish I knew more about this type of thing. I don’t know what questions to ask and can only depend on my expert’s opinions. I get really tired of keeping this house going though. It is only 20 years old – how do people do this with old houses? This one has been a huge challenge for me. I don’t remember this happening in the other houses I lived in.
Then I sit in my chair and look out over the prairie at the beautiful view and remember why I keep at it and stay here. I absolutely love the views this house offers and know that if I moved to town it would be a very hard adjustment for me. Guess I will keep at it here until I can’t anymore.
Three people that were coming tomorrow just cancelled. If you need a place to eat dinner, I have table space for you. We are eating at 1:00. Come as you are – no need to bring anything.
So excited about tomorrow. I can’t think of anything I love better than having a full house of people to feed. I think there will be 21 people here now. Love that so many are coming. It will be fun in the morning fixing all the trimmings to go with the ham and turkey. The conversation around the tables will be rich and fun. I love the sound of laughter ringing through the house.
Nicole and I may book the walking tour to the Himalayas Friday. The booking company has a Black Friday sale going on. We were waiting to book it until it was on sale. Man! That means next week I have to start at the gym and the game is on! I will have almost a year to get this couch potato body into top shape. I think I can! I think I can!
I realized last night getting my body into shape is the easy part. The hard part is convincing my brain that I can do this. Fear rears its ugly head and tries to tell me I can’t do this. I didn’t listen when I went to Spain to walk the 500 mile Camino. I need to keep reminding myself not to listen this time either. I will be 71 when I go and I keep telling myself 71 is not too old to walk in the Himalayan mountains.
Maybe this trip means I will go to Colorado next summer and get some mountain training in. Anyone want to ride along on a trip to Colorado with me to hike in the mountains? I would love the company. I won’t be going to the Himalayans until late fall so can go to Colorado anytime during the summer – preferably later than earlier. Maybe I could talk Tagen into going with me. He likes to hike and would challenge me. His legs are a lot longer than mine are and he walks faster than I do.
Still staying above the neutral level on the consciousness scale. I felt myself dipping for a bit today – primarily from lack of sleep. Maybe I will get a good night’s sleep tonight and be really good to go tomorrow. Have felt a bit more motivated to do things than yesterday so that is good. Don’t have a lot more I have to get done today so may go to bed early and get a fresh start in the morning. Can’t wait till the smell of turkey fills the house.
Grateful Thanksgiving is tomorrow, grateful for this beautiful fall day, and grateful I have the money in the bank to pay for house repairs.