What Did You Do Today?

[gja1000]

I had class this evening and my students were doing presentations. They did such a good job, I'm so proud of them. It also meant that I didn't have to prepare and teach a lesson. WHEW!

I have really enjoyed teaching this class - it is a theory course, and it is hard, abstract material, but they have all done so well. And they seem pleased with themselves. I had one student tell me tonight that she recommended to a friend that they take the class from me next year. Now, I know this student told someone else at the beginning of the semester that she was going to drop the course because she didn't like the class, it was too hard and she didn't understand it. Tonight she was just beaming while telling me about her theory development paper and about recommending me to her friend. Teachers don't often get such positive feedback, so it was a feel-good evening!

[Janet]

Yesterday afternoon I layed out all the ingredients to everything that will be prepared for Thanksgiving dinner. Looks like I haven't forgotten anything. In a few minutes...I'll head to the kitchen and get started so I won't have as much to do on Thursday.

[Lindsey]

That must feel so rewarding Gayle!

I am stressed a lot at work again. I have already told them I'm not working late in the winter unless I get a copy of the program for home and I'll work there because I don't feel safe on the highways in the middle of the night. Well, they can't do that for me right now. I have so much work and no time to do it. Sooooo... tonight I am updating my resume.

Scott and I have pretty much decided on the trip we're taking to Europe next year! The tour takes us to London, Amsterdam, Rhine Valley, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Venice, Rome, Florence, French Riviera (including Monaco!), one night in a real castle called Chateau du Fontager, Paris, and back to London! Then hopefully we'll have another 10 days to travel a bit through Scotland and Ireland on our own. I am so excited! There are a few places we won't be able to see that I'd really like to see, but I guess we'll just have to go back someday

[gja1000]

I'm going to the Texas Women's basketball game. But hey, I have my iPad so I'll be connected. Thankfully the game is at 4:00 PM, because I still need to make a salad and a pecan pie when I get home!!!

[Janet]

I was able to get so much accomplished in the kitchen today. Ricky was a big help until he had to go to work. I've got the 2 pecan pies and a chocolate pie is done, cheese cake is done, deviled eggs are made, noodles are done, got the dry ingredients together for the stuffed mushrooms and crockpot dressing, so all I have to do tomorrow is add the rest and start the turkey. I'll peel the potatos tomorrow too. It's been a pretty easy day, but Ricky really made if fun and not seem like work. Whatever girl gets him is going to be one lucky girl.

[Shada]

Made two pumpkin pies, one chocolate creme pie, deviled eggs, and meatballs for tomorrow. Early start for me.. usually I get up very early and do it all.
Oh and lets not forget the three loads of laundry!
Now I am on my way to kitchen to do dishes... I made a mess tonight!!

[gja1000]

Well, I went to school this morning and one of my students who has been in the PhD program for SEVEN years, successfully defended her dissertation and she is FINISHED! She's from Thailand and got sick twice and had to return to Thailand for a year each time. I'm so glad that she is finally finished.

Then I went to the Texas women's basketball game - we won!

Next, I took my mom home and ate a tostada at my daughter's. Mmmmmmm! It was good. Oh and I had a piece of pumpkin pie (she made two).

After that, I came home and made a pink salad (cherry pie filling, pineapple, mandarin oranges, coconut, marshmallows and cool whip), pecan pie (only ONE), and got everything ready to go into the crockpot dressing tomorrow.

We are being lazy this year and ordered a fully cooked meal from our local organic grocery store. We are getting a turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetable medely, cranberry/orange relish, dinner rolls, and pumpkin bread pudding. It serves 6-8 and only cost $49.00. We are just filling in some blanks, like the pies and a couple of salads. Oh, and I have to make crockpot dressing because Gary like LOTS of sage in his dressing and NO ONE puts as much sage in it as I do for him. In fact, I always have to make two batches, one super sagey and the other regular. This year though, I only have to make the sagey batch!

[Lindsey]

I think maybe I should have a second Thanksgiving this year and go visit you guys to eat tonight.

Today I asked for time off for Europe and got turned down. So now we have to make other plans Other than that I've been busy at work and still stressed out as usual!

[gja1000]

Aw Lindsay, that's too bad that they won't let you off for your trip to Europe. I can't imagine why - isn't it in the summer? Seems like all the extra time you've put in for them, they could at least let you take your vacation when you wanted. Geesh!

[Janet]

Ordering dinner sounds like a great idea Gayle. I would also have to make the crockpot dressing because we love it so much. I may have to think about that next year.

Lindsey...that is awful, with all the time you put in for them to turn you down. Did they just turn you down for the time frame you're wanting or turned you down for any time off?


We had the best dinner...I really did good this year...not to brag...but from someone who doesn't like to cook, I do enjoy making Thanksgiving dinner except it's so exhausting.

Rick has been having some pain in his lower back on the left side. He was up and down and couldn't get comfortable. The more he ate at Thanksgiving the more it hurt and he's had to sleep on the floor, (what sleep he could get) for the last two nights. Well, it hurt so bad around 4 PM yesterday that I told him he really should go to the ER. Turns out he does not have a kidney stone, they did a cat scan, but he does have a really bad kidney infection. The gave him meds for pain, inflamation and an antibiotic. After about 4 hours...we were able to come home.

He's feeling better this morning and went to work.

Not sure what I'm going to do today...but I'm not going to fight the crowds at the stores...

[Lindsey]

They turned down the time frame. We wanted to go in September, so it's still warm but we don't fight the summer crowds. Apparently we're SUPPOSED to be getting a project for final design of a mine site in June and it would last the rest of the year, and they don't want me gone for that. So they'd like me to go before June if possible. But the other reason we had chosen September is we'll have enough savings by then and Scott will have enough holiday time from work. We're trying to work it out though, we might be able to take some funds from elsewhere to go early, and if Scott works a LOT of overtime before that, he could get more time off. Otherwise we'll have to put our plans on hold for another year, and who knows what work projects we'll have then

I'm glad you had a good Thanksgiving Janet, other than the ER trip! I've had lots of kidney issues and they're not fun

[lynne b]

Janet, I'm sorry to hear about Rick, glad it was nothing more serious though and is feeling better.

Lindsey, I hope you are able to work things out and make your trip to Europe as planned. Sounds like you have a very demanding job.

Well I am not fighting the crowds either, I tend to do my best shopping at the last minute.

I also thought i was going to end up in the ER yesterday, dinner went well with mom here, but just after i had returned home from taking my mom home it hit me just so quick, i had such pain between my breast and through my back, i was breathing so hard and couldn't get any relif from it, it was not a sick feeling but pain. Yes i am a smoker and the thoughts of a heart attack did enter my mind, I know the symptoms of a heart attack varies for a woman than a man.

Awful thing is after i did throw up a couple of times i did feel a little better, guess i can only blame it on my cooking, but i checked with mom and she was fine and we ate the exact same things and hubby was fine.

Looks like i may take your lead Gayle and order our dinner next year LOL.

I am still feeling a little under today so just hanging out at home, trying one leftover at a time and seeing what happens.

[judy]

I hope you feel better Lynne! I wonder what you had...maybe a virus?

I hope Rick feels better too Janet! Must be interesting to see who is in the ER Thanksgiving! Any food poisoning?

Gayle, you are a woman after my own heart! I think ordering a dinner for the holidays is the way to go! $49.00 for organic is such a great price too!

Linds...I went to Europe in September, and it is a wonderful time to go. Still warm, no crowds. Your bosses sound nuts! Don't they understand that if you left, they would be in really bad shape! I'm sure you'll work it out though, and the trip will be wonderful!

I went to Jessie's for Thanksgiving. She makes a delicious holiday dinner, and unlike her Mom, loves to cook. She has the girls into it too. I think that's such a nice family feeling. My mother ordered in, so that's what I learned. Jessie and I always had a big fuss about the holidays though, so I guess she brought the cooking in by herself.

Two of her dogs were about to deliver yesterday. Just as most of us were finished eating, Molly, the malamute, delivered her first pup! Ginger, the Japanese Chin, still hasn't delivered, but her temp is down and she is in her whelping box. I stayed late while Kassidy had a fever of 103 (it went down after her medicine) and Brandon had a breakout of hives, which he has been getting a lot recently. So...1 pregnant dog, 1 dog having pups, 2 sick kids. I have to say though, that it was not a rough day. You know how it is, you have to just do one thing after another.

I'm going back there soon. Molly has had 5 pups so far, but they are taking her to the vet because it has been so many hours. Ginger hasn't had an yet. I think she will deliver on her own. She is a strong little one.

[Janet]

Lynne...that is what I use to have...that pain from the chest to the back and the vomiting. I take meds for GERD and it hasn't happened since. Talk about pain....I thought I was having a heart attack too...same as you...and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

I was told it's when that "flap" in there closes and doesn't give...it causes a build up of stomach gases. I'm glad you're feeling better.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by lynne b

Awful thing is after i did throw up a couple of times i did feel a little better, guess i can only blame it on my cooking, but i checked with mom and she was fine and we ate the exact same things and hubby was fine.

Lynne,
Heart pain can make you throw up - it's called the vagal response - PLEASE go see the doctor on Monday and if you have the pain again - PLEASE go to the ER. Hopefully, it was just something you ate, but it might be your heart!