Weekday Randoms 1/15-19

catlady2015

What's new, ladies? 

eleven_

The house next door for us is for sale and my brother really wants to buy it. I just went and toured it with him and dear god, I've never seen anything like it. It was like those hoarding shows x 10. THE SMELL There are definitely animals living inside there too. We heard movement in the piles of crap and it was a little scary. The realtor said the owner did not have any pets! I booked it outta there pretty fast. 

catlady2015

@eleven_ - UGH!! I would want to run out of there so fast!! 

kimberbeep

@eleven_ - That's awful and disgusting!! You'd think a realtor wouldn't want to list a house like that!! I once toured a house that had twin mattresses EVERYWHERE!! We counted over 10 "beds" in a 3 bedroom house. Nowhere near as bad as your hoarder situation, but it's surprising people don't think about how their home appears to others when trying to sell!! My husband and I are gearing up to start looking for a new hours within the next month or two, I sure hope we don't come across anything that bad! 

eleven_

@kimberbeep The realtor is just standing outside and refuses to go in lol. That's so weird about all the twin mattresses in the house you looked at. The house is selling for way under market value and there are people lined up down my street to come look at it. The owners probably just want to be done with it because there really is no making it better at this point. All the floors and walls need to be ripped out so they are probably just like F*ck it. Awesome that you guys are going to start house hunting! So exciting! It's going to be really fun moving your fish tanks haha. 

coco2787

Gross @eleven_ I can't imagine how gross those houses must smell.  That's hilarious the realtor won't even go in.

coco2787

I'm watching my neighbor use a leaf blower to clear snow off the sidewalk, it's working surprisingly well.   #lifehack

offtoneverland

@eleven_ That's so horrible! That's too funny about the realtor standing outside the house. I'm surprised that anyone would sign up to sell a house like that. Assuming your brother probably doesn't want to buy it now? 

nitnat007

@eleven_ oh that sounds nasty! I wouldn’t want to go in either lol. Hope the price is listed to reflect its state? 

AFM Less than 24 hours before I say goodbye to my DH for his six month deployment. Gawd I hate this part so bad. April can’t come soon enough. 

emmasemm

@eleven_ when we were house hunting two years ago almost we were so shocked at the state of some of the houses. I can understand disrepair and not being modern, but some smelt so foul I had to make excuses to get out ASAP.

***TW death
Many if the houses were being sold by children after parents were put in nursing homes or died. I felt sorry that the parents had been left alone and not helped before things got out of control. Some of the grown up children were not at all interested and just wanted max inheritance.
End TW***

It did make me give a fresh look to my parents house the next time we went to the UK. We decided to pay for a cleaner for them once a month to do a thorough clean so things don’t get out of control. I can’t be there to help in person, but at least it’s something. And the house looked great at Xmas when we were there.

flyingmombula

@nitnat007 I’m sorry that’s so hard! I hope you guys are able to spend the next 24 hrs getting some good quality time. Fx the time goes by quickly!

offtoneverland

@nitnat007 Oh no! I hope you both have some wonderful quality time together today. I'm so sorry that you'll be without him for such a long time. Does he get to come home in April for a short stay? I'll be thinking of you as you say goodbye to him. 

emmasemm

@nitnat007 oh no!!!!!!!!! I don’t know what I would do to be honest. You’re stronger than me. Big hugs

meggyme

@nitnat007 I hope the deployment goes quickly for both of you and that YH stays safe. I’m a (US) Navy wife myself, so I know the feeling.

@coco2787 leaf rakes work surprisingly well for clearing heavy snow drifts too. #askmehowiknow I really need to invest in a snow shovel, but we get it maybe once a year so by the time we need it they’re out and after that, I forget I need it.

galactickates

@nitnat007 - I'm sorry about your H. I hope he stays safe. We're always here for a distraction.  that has to be so hard.  ((Hugs))

eleven_

@nitnat007 I'm so sorry! That sounds so rough. I hope you guys have an amazing day together and that he stays safe while he is gone. Big hugs 

darkstar42

@nitnat007 My thoughts are with you and YH! Enjoy your last day.

AFM, I got travel booked for myself and a student for a big academic conference in March. Looking forward to catching up with friends and having a good time! If anyone has suggestions for restaurants or fun things to do in Atlanta, let me know!

spartan4life

@nitnat007 sorry to hear YH is leaving for so long! Thinking of you, I hope you both enjoy your night together!

@eleven_ MH and I toured a ton of houses when looking for our current home and nothing comes close to that or the mattresses @kimberbeep found! I don’t understand how people can live like that!

wishiwaspreggo

I’m so sorry @nitnat007 I couldn’t imagine  

@eleven_ yuck!!! I toured a house once where the realtor told us to “keep an open mind.” We were greeted by a big, smelly dog that was a very ambitious crotch sniffer. Like push its nose between the folds trying to get through your clothes ambitious. I was icked out by that and the entire house was trashed, stank of animals, and it was dark and filthy. We didn’t make it to the bedrooms before I flat out said no way. It’s incredible how some people live. We do our best to keep a tidy house, especially when showing!!

So I’m sick as a dog. Chills, fever, sore throat... praying it’s not influenza. I don’t feel THAT bad I don’t think but we’ll see how I feel tomorrow.

offtoneverland

@wishiwaspreggo Oh no! Are you able to take off work tomorrow? Hope you feel better soon, and double hope it's not influenza! 

offtoneverland

Sorry for the double post; I forgot to answer @darkstar42 's question. I've never actually been to Atlanta, so hopefully some other people with more experience chime in. But I've always heard great things about the aquarium in Atlanta, if that's something you might be interested in. They have whale sharks!!!! Your trip sounds great. I hope you enjoy the conference and find some fun things to do!

wishiwaspreggo

@offtoneverland luckily my workplace encourages us to stay home when we’re sick. My colleagues don’t want to catch whatever bug I have so yes, I’m at home today. Feels like death warmed over. TW child mentioned - My MIL watches DS at home and she’s not the best about keeping him entertained and away from me a while I’m sick she sits and plays slots on her phone while he climbs all over me while I’m in bed and whines in my ear. Days like this I wish we sent him to full-time daycare.

kimberbeep

@wishiwaspreggo - sorry you're feeling so under the weather! That's got to be frustrating about your MIL when I'm sure all you want to do is rest while home from work! 
@nitnat007 - I hope you enjoyed your time with your husband before he leaves!

AFM - My "wiper fluid low" light went on in my car on my way to work. I don't want to go out during lunch to buy more wiper fluid, but I gotta. 

lurvleybunchococonuts

@nitnat007 I hope YH's deployment goes quickly and safely.  T&P to you both!  *hugs*  If you ever need to vent, get bored, or anything feel free to PM me   

PensiveCrayon

@nitnat007 All the hugs from this board n00b. My H is in the Air Force and had a 5ish month deployment summer before last. No fun. Here's hoping the time goes quick for you guys.

@darkstar42 I don't have much experience in Atlanta, but we were stuck there in the beginning of December during the freak snowstorm that grounded all the flights. We went to the Civil Rights museum and then tooled around Ponce City Market, which is a SUPER cool hipstery place with fun shopping and food places. We'll be going back at the end of February to hang with H's parents before they fly out for a cruise, and I fully intend to go back there and get some craft beer and good eats.

sliztee

@darkstar42 I lived in Atlanta most of my adult life! It's a fantastic city. It might even be warm enough in March to do some things outdoors such as: walking through the Botanical Gardens, visiting the MLK Jr. Center, of course as you said - the aquarium, but also The World of Coca Cola!
Some of my favorite restaurants: Carroll St. Cafe (so cute and in my old neighborhood, Cabbagetown), Daddy D's BBQ (might not be the prettiest spot, but damn their food is spot on), Antico pizza has authentic Italian pies that are divine and I have yet to find a comparison in America), and of course...The Vortex. Everyone will tell you that if you're looking for the best (not to be confused with healthy) burger around.

Let me know if you want other suggestions and have a great time!

acciocoffee

Oh since you are all giving travel suggestions, who knows about fun things to do in Colorado Springs? DH and I are going in July. We need to figure out a hotel too if anyone has had good experiences. 

nitnat007

@flyingmombula @offtoneverland @emmasemm @meggyme @galactickates @eleven_ @darkstar42 @spartan4life @wishiwaspreggo @kimberbeep @lurvleybunchococonuts @PensiveCrayon and anyone that I missed. Thank you all for the thoughts and support. You all are amazingly wonderful and kind.
We had a lovely last evening together. Went and had a quiet dinner and then did an escape room. It was a very emotional goodbye with heavy hearts. I am grateful to have some wonderful ladies going through this with me to lean on for support and all I need to do is keep myself busy. One day at a time and April will be here in no time and then I fly over to Italy to see him for a week or so. 

josie12367

@nitnat007 Oh hun...I'm so sorry. The "see you laters" are never easy. Here's what I did to fill time....I usually try to break my weeks up. So on Wednesdays I allow myself something yummy like pizza, hot wings, mac n cheese....whatever. Then I plan one outing every weekend. Lunch with a friend, shopping,....just get it of the house! That typically helps my weeks go a little quicker. As I have something to look forward to mid week, and on the weekend.

Do you like to read or craft? Maybe you could get some books or projects lined up to fill some time...Care packages that are super crafty kept me busy as well, and dh appreciated them too. There's lots of ideas on Pinterest.

Other things I've done is to spray his pillow with his cologne, and even wear his deodorant. Studies have shown that smelling your significant other lowers stress. I know it sounds weird, but the deodorant thing really helped when my DH was gone to Korea for a year. 

Massive hugs to you...PM me any time!

nitnat007

@josie12367 Thanks so much friend! I have a few things that I am going to try to pass the time. I have already started a Pinterest board for care package ideas and have been gathering the boxes and crafting supplies.
They will be making over 15 stops. DH is requesting a package at every one lol. He may just start getting postcards half way through. 
Going to pick up the crotchet hooks again, start doing more reading and then I have the lovely ladies to make plans with as well. 
DH and I have also started a 12 week fitness challenge so trying to eat healthier etc is thrown in too. Hopefully all combined will make it seem like the time is flying!

You are one strong lady! An entire year? I don’t know how I would manage that one. It is a good thing we love them so. Thanks for the support, it means a great deal to me. 

meggyme

@nitnat007 sounds like you’ve got a great list of things to keep you busy. I hope the other spouses are a great group. Good friends that can commiserate were always my saving grace during deployments. Cheap DVD’s, gum, and Gatorade mix are always a hit on ships.

jrm_14

@nitnat007 (((((((((Hugs))))))))). Don’t be a stranger here while he is away!!!!! I hope that those 3 months fly by, you see him (and have FW then!), and then the last 3 fly by, too!  You’ll have to share what your care packages contain!!  Are you doing a specific fitness challenge?  I joined the Biggest Loser competition at work this year. Week 1: letrozole allergy and clomid. I’ll let you guess how it is going  

@josie12367 So Glad That touvhd a safe trip. ((Hugs)). We are here for you, friend. 

It’s been a while.  I must post a cat picture right meow. It’s called “She sleeps (and I do not).”

Eta: more Randoms. 
I am going to a Blues hockey game this weekend!  I’m excited yet not excited about going out of town by myself. I need the time away, with a friend, doing other things than, well, being home. However, I'm a homebody. The struggle is real.

My heated blanket seems to be failing. This makes me sad

jrm_14

@cdepperschmidt YGPM

cdepperschmidt

@jrm_14 Thanks for letting me know! I’m a 100% mobile user so I never get notifications on anything. 

offtoneverland

@jrm_14 Friend! I've missed you. I hope you're feeling back to normal after your allergic reaction. I'm a homebody too, so I understand the struggle of having to make myself get out of the house and not back out of plans.  Hope you enjoy the hockey game and you get to watch a decent fight or two! You must go out and buy a new heated blanket immediately. I can't live without my heated blanket! I've been enjoying the break from temping this month so I don't have to worry about keeping my blanket too warm and screwing with my chart.

jrm_14

@offtoneverland YES!!!!  Electric blanket lovers unite. I’m slightly nervous it’s lack of heat means a misfunction somewhere. Which could mean I wake up in flames. 
Other than this evening, I’ve been in bed between 6:30om-8pm the last several days. I dread staying up late for the hockey game lol.  Sleep wins a lot of life. #NoRegrets

offtoneverland

@jrm_14 Can you lug your fancy, new, non-malfunctioning electric blanket to the hockey game with you and sleep on the stands? At least you'll stay warm! 

nitnat007

@meggyme Thanks for the tips! I did buy a few memory sticks so that I can download some shows for him and have started making lists of things that he would want. He is trying to be healthy which puts a damper on the treats side lol. Protein bars and beef jerky it is!

@jrm_14 Thanks friend! Oh man, how are you doing after the reaction? I need to catch up on the IF thread to see how you are doing. I would miss you ladies too much, so I will still be lurking and will post here and there so I wont disappear. I promise! 
MH signed us up for the Beach Body 250K challenge. You can choose any program you want though. I choose the Jamie Eason one, but I have only managed one day so far. And my diet has been bad lol. There is no way we would win, but it is good to be held accountable to some extent. What are you tips on diet? I have such a sweet tooth, so I struggle with that one. 

jrm_14

@nitnat007 Pretty Good now that the rash is clear!  The cycle was not cancelled after all! 
Honestly, I don’t try to cut out food. Anything & everything, in moderation, can be a part of a healthful diet. I struggle with portion control on empty-calorie foods and eating more nutrition-packed foods. Also, I know exercise is my downfall. Even getting on the treadmill for 5 minutes a day, 4 days a week, helps me keep up healthful choices. 

nitnat007

@jrm_14 Oh so happy to hear that still cycle is still a go! Everything crossed for you!
For me, exercise if the easy part. I got into a solid routine of going every morning a few years ago, plus teaching a couple times a week. But the food kicks my butt! Portion control and not binge on the sweets. I actually picked up some chocolate flavored agave syrup that I am going to try adding to plain greek yogurt or potentially "really healthy" vanilla ice cream. Here goes nothing lol
Definitely working towards being a top shape by April though. 

flyingmombula

@jrm_14 let’s go blues!!! My family has season tickets but we sold them for this weekend’s game (birthday party). Have fun!!