Sharing the Productive and Playful Moments of the Week

Sunday, Feb 1, 2026

So glad it is February! Here’s a little splash of pink for you. The spring decor, greenery, and flowers that I put out during the ice storm, really helped boost some morale. I mean we were happy to be all cozy inside and doing projects, but it’s really nice to see the change of decor and have it mean that spring will be here soon.

That said, I woke up to a beep on my phone that said we were getting snow at 4:15 this morning. I always keep The Weather Channel alert active during my Sleep Focus on my iPhone in the event of an emergency. Note: I have amber alerts off though at night b/c I’m asleep and not out on the roads to see anything. But the snow alert woke me up and also Dexter woke up and Maddie woke up and then we were all awake, lol. Finally went back to sleep and George had gotten up so Maddie wanted to get up. When one of us gets up, we all end up getting up usually. So we did and took the dogs out.

So it was snowing a good bit. And dusted the grass and roads. And it was 16 degrees. We did not go to church b/c TWC said the snow would continue off and on over the next several hours. I was afraid it would get worse so we stayed in this morning.

It cleared later on and I went and got Mom’s groceries, and a few things for us and got KFC for Mom and I and got her mail. I had her sign a couple of things as her vouchers came back approved for her property tax credits. So I will send those back. It’s a lot of work to do for those credits, lol. But we got it done for another year. George did not go with me today as he had soup on the stove simmering.

Mom is still having electrical issues. Her den lights are out now. I reset the fuse but all that did was knock her TV off and we had to get that back going again. It was recommended that she call an electrician to see if she has surges and then to get that fixed and then she can get a surge box from the power company supposedly for her house. She says she has called the power company but they will never answer. But I think she will need to have the current issues fixed before having the power company come out. She’s already had to have them fix her fridge, and a repairman to fix her dishwasher. So these things will just keep rotating and impacting things until it’s fixed. I can only give advice but I can’t make a homeowner do what I would do. I mean what do I know anyway. I just hate to see her throwing money up a wild hogs butt as they say.

My mind is a bit weary right now having been awake since 4 something except for cat naps. But I have been playing Farmville 2. It relaxes my mind. I play as much as I can play and then when I’m stuck I quit and go do something else for a while.

The week shows promise to be a little busy. George and I have a couple of days we’ll be doing things out in the community. One is a little date to see a movie and have dinner. And the other is a Costco trip. I have to move some doc appts/tests around for Mom as she is not ready to get out this week. She is still in hibernation mode which is probably a good thing. There’s still some ice about and it’s still pretty cold. I’ll be cooking one night this week, and I’m hoping to make biscuits and I’m working on some YouTube stuff for the channel. Everything is a slow crawl.

I’m shuffling my video titles around for the month. I needed a down week to just vlog. It will still have a theme but I need some just “come along with me for the ride” kind of a thing and not a planned “meeting of doing projects” etc. I just need some some flow here and less programmed things. Last week I had to cram in doing my hobbies as I just didn’t have time to do it but I did it for the vlogs. I enjoyed it but it stressed me some. It’s also hard on these cold winter days to put on make up and do the hair. When I’m going out anyway it’s easy to vlog, lol. And that is what I need, an easy week this week. We have a lunch/dinner party planned for Monday Feb 9th here at the house. Also we have life group coming over at some point. We have not set the new date because I’m kindof waiting for all this winter weather mess to be over with. I don’t want to schedule and then it be all chances of snow again. So I’m holding off because typically February is filled with possible snow events.

Seems like there’s just always so much stuff on my to do list. I get things off and then more roll on. It’s the first of the month, automatically have things to do. It’s the first of the week, so the new video needs to be edited. Mom has bills I need to pay and to send those vouchers in, and so I will be clawing through those things each day and ticking off the boxes of what I can. Ok I’ve pretty much just sat and typed myself and everyone else into oblivion, lol. So off I go and try to edit a video. That’s all I have got. I’m cold! I need a blankie! lol

Monday, February 2, 2026

Oh it has been a good day. I have scheduled Monday to be my most productive day. Some Monday’s I have struggled, but today I’ve mastered it. Not everything was accomplished but I did a lot.

• 2 loads of laundry
• Vlogged some on my “Keeping the Winter Blues Away” vlog.
• World Bible School grading and adoption
• Checked on Mom’s grant status and it was approved for her to get eye shots in 2026.
• Got Mom’s signed approved tax vouchers back in the mail to the city and state. Also approved. We had to apply and I worked on that in Jan. So she will get $$ back as I wanted to pay it on time.
• Verified an appointment for her Echocardiogram. I thought it was Wed but it’s in March. This is why I need to input appointments first in my written calendar and not on my iPhone as I grabbed the wrong month. ::sigh::
• Paid one of Mom’s bills today.
• Looked at her 2025 tax documents, what we have vs what we need. A couple of things still need to come in.
• Did my weigh in and measurements which I have done faithfully since the beginning of January.
• Did my stats for the January month on YouTube spreadsheet. Just the things I track myself, as it makes it easy to look for trends.
• I had to move my Monday meeting with myself to Wednesday b/c I’m too focused on getting the video editing done and can’t focus on improving anything beyond that. So I will be more comfortable doing that later in the week lol. I wondered how that would pan out.
• I did my Final Cut Pro video editing allotment of footage for the day to keep the week on track
• I worked on the kitchen but found we had a leak (again) but this time it was the hose attachment base that had come loose. George worked on fixing that today and promised me a new faucet system set up. 😉 I didn’t get to pick the last one and it was a cheap one. He told me I could be in on the next one. I want one that looks fancy, lol.
• I cut my hair (just a little trim to bangs and back).
• Did my Bible devo of Genesis. I’m loving diving deep.
• Did Farmville 2. Of course, you know I did.
• Checked email.
• Rebooted dishwasher.

What I did not get done?

• Dusting in the bedrooms and my office.
• Watching sister wives
• Puzzling

Still will try to do:

• Call a friend
• Check on Mom
• Post my Blessings

Oh, I left, but I’m back….we had dinner and watched American Idol. We are rooting for our friend and financial analyst’s son, Lucas Leon. If you followed me back in the summer, maybe late summer, we went to see his performance at an American Legion in Nashville. Well he’s on American Idol so we are watching. It’s been a while since I saw American Idol. The stories behind the singers are so touching. We are excited to see how far he goes. So this is our Monday night thing now.

Mom Stories…

So I talked to Mom a few days ago. I asked if she wanted to go out and eat Sunday. She said she wasn’t ready to get out yet. Too cold. It ended up being too cold for us too and it snowed again so we didn’t get out either, except that I got her groceries and took her lunch. So I asked if she wanted to go to a show and out to eat Tuesday. No she said it was too cold and she didn’t like the movie we were going to see. I also talked about her appt this week (we originally thought it was this week, turned out not to be). She wanted me to move it to a warmer week so she didn’t have to get out this week. This was a joint decision b/c it was too cold and too much flu in our area. So I agreed as she wanted to stay in this week and go another week. Sounded like a plan. Turns out appointment was not til March anyway, so I didn’t have to cancel it on the calendar and at her request there’s nothing on the calendar for her to do this week as she said she wanted to be in another week. There’s also still ice in certain places, less of it but on sidewalks where the sun doesn’t shine.

So knowing she didn’t want to get out yet I planned my week accordingly and George and I made plans to do things we need to do this week together. I rearranged my YouTube around all of mine and George’s plans this week to fit everything in so I’d have a couple of days to get my stuff done. So I talked to Mom tonight after making sure her calendar was clear for the week and she says: “When are we going to go out and do something?” :-/ 🥴. She’s adamant about getting out after saying she wanted to be in for another week. But I’m not changing my plans this week as I checked with her before planning my week. I mean I tried b/c I know her well. I knew this would happen. And of course I was right and it did, but the thing is. It was her choice. She was asked. Answers matter. So……next week it is – I’ve not arranged next week yet so we’ll work it in next week. 🤪 Just another day in the life. Another life in the zone, another zone of this era. Don’t ask what all that means, it just is. lol

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Today, unlike yesterday, was not very productive. I did not sleep well last night. There were lights from porches, cars, and I don’t know what in the neighborhood last night. Sometime later in the year I want to buy my black out blinds. I am trying to wait. I’ve been —-don’t laugh—-putting a long thick bridgestone woolen sock over my eyes. But it falls off when I turn over and I cannot stand anything binding around my head like an elastic band. So around 3:30 something woke me up and I could not go back to sleep. Someone was in their car across the street and then I saw porch lights and it always shines right in my window. I turned over but it was too late. I was already awake after being concerned that something was going on. So I watched two YouTube videos back to back about a stealth camper (lol). And finally about 5:15 I went to sleep but the dogs woke us up at 5:55. I tried to sleep longer but there was no use. Maddie was stirring and ready to get up. So I got up.

I did not have energy and despite trying to do a “keeping the blues away vlog this week”, I was falling in the blues trap with the rain, grey skies, insufficient sleep, and remembering the little issue yesterday with my mother saying she didn’t want to get out and then saying “when are we getting out”? But I have to remember that I no longer allow guilt to enter the picture when I’ve done nothing wrong, but plan and ask and check and so I let it go. I did my part. And I did it well.

I don’t know sometimes I feel like a hamster you know? Just spinning the wheel trying but nobody cares, nobody listens. It makes you feel like you are going crazy. Like did we not just talk about this 3 times already this week about her wanting and needing to stay inside another week? I tried to just go play Farmville 2 and have a lazy morning. And I was able to put it out of my mind but it’s important to me to document my experiences. Maybe I will someday write a book on the last few years. It’s been a ride.

The sib has cut her off as far as helping her so it’s just me navigating these waters – getting groceries, paying bills, figuring out property tax discounts, filling out grant papers, taking care of whims. I’m not complaining, I vowed to help my mother and will try to honor her. And I’d want to do this for my father, because I believe he would want me to. I think he would be so disappointed as to how things have gone down since he’s been gone. This is not a woe is me entry, it’s just a “here’s the facts” kinda entry. And well, I get tired some days. And that is me today. But I’m so glad I’m retired at least to deal with all the administration of her care.

I did get my video edited – I just have to do one more run-through and put in some overlays and maybe cut some more out of it. Then I can upload it. So tomorrow I’ll try to have a productive day and make up for today. We will be gone Thursday. So tomorrow is my day to get stuff done. We were gone a chunk of today to see a movie (Melania) and eat out. George said Shoney’s had a taco bar on Tuesday nights. We were looking forward to it but it disappointed us. It was more like a fajita bar but the meat was not as good as a Mexican restaurant so we should have just gone to get Mexican. I like Shoney’s spaghetti. I wished I had ordered that.

Burgler Alarm at Mom’s

Anyway, church delivered a basket from the ladies Bible class to Mom. They let me know about it and I texted her so she would know to be looking for company. Otherwise she’d not have gone to the door more than likely out of fear. So about the time they were to arrive, I got a call from her security company that the burglar alarm had gone off and Mom wasn’t answering. I knew what happened. She forgot to unset the alarm when the church ladies came to her door. The security company called and she ignored it because she didn’t recognize the number. She gets a lot of spam calls I guess and ignores them if they are not in her contacts. So they called me. I didn’t see it until an hour or so later as I was taking a shower and editing a video and didn’t have my phone beside me. By the time I saw it, the police had already showed up to Mom’s. So…..how fun for all of them – Mom and the church ladies getting to talk with the officer that showed up. Not the first time, won’t be the last.

So I’m going to bed now. But I must say I loved the Melania movie. Just loved the behind the scenes look at 19 days before the inauguration. She was the producer of the movie. It showed her life and all that she did during those days and took it through the Inauguration Day. It was so interesting. I love seeing how the elite live. The most interesting take away was that the moving company has 5 hours to get the old president’s stuff out and the new president’s stuff into the White House. lol. The new can’t go in until 12:01 and only if the president has been sworn in. We got some behind the scenes look at their residences but I wish we’d have had a tour of all of it, lol. I recommend the movie. It was really neat. George liked it too.

Ok over and out.

Wednesday, February 5

I didn’t get to blog yesterday. It was Wednesday and Dexter’s day for doggie daycare which meant it was the day that I would do the floors. So I vacuumed and mopped. I had a good mix of working in the house and also playing Farmville 2. I finally leveled up where I could help the Co-Op group that I am in the boat races. Also was able to help out this morning with Marie’s orders to be picked up from the farm. We collectively as a group (Co-op) helped each other with orders by selling each other supplies and so forth to meet the orders. I will say that this has been so much fun and one of the most ridiculous things at the same time. lol. These ladies spend hours on there and I have become one of them. I am enjoying it and my brain gets a work out because I’m thinking ahead and planning and strategizing! But at times the Farmville 2 itself gets boring too. I get stuck b/c I don’t have the right materials, etc and get to a point where I can only do so much.

So…..last night I found this game to do while waiting on my dock guys to go fishing, and mining crew to bring back quartz and tin, so I did this hospital game, called Hospital Mania – Zoo Story on the iPad. I can play it with the Apple Pencil. It made me laugh so hard b/c you have to be a nurse and get what the doctors need. It took me a minute to get the hang of it because it wasn’t the best at explaining it. But then as you level up, there’s more beds, more doctors, more patients, more equipment, more meds, shots, water, etc and I get so tangled up in it all and sometimes I get stuck on a level but I keep trying. I think it’s giving my memory a workout and keeping my tasks straight. I actually found that I am enjoying it a lot. Instead of being frustrated when I fail, I’m laughing through it and calmly try to begin again and see if I get it the next time.

This game playing is getting serious ya’ll and it’s putting a cramp in my productivity, but I’ve giving myself some grace. Because I deserve a little play time and I just roll over the undone things to the next day.

All that said, we have been pretty busy though. We went to Costco this morning and did a bigger haul than I thought we would. But we are having friends over Monday and also we needed a few things. And you get better prices b/c you buy in bulk. So we stocked up on some things. It will be in an upcoming vlog.

I also got the thumbnail done today and we previewed the video for Saturday and that is up and scheduled for Saturday at 7:00 a.m. I also paid one of Mom’s bills, I transferred money over to pay us back for my YouTube expenses for the month. But I still feel a little lazy, lol. As there is so many things on the list undone and that is going to make tomorrow and Saturday very busy so I can get my weekly things done.

However, it’s just been a wonky cold, dreary, week, so any joy is a good thing.

That’s the subject of this week’s vlog – Keeping the Winter Blues away. Next week will be busy. I’m busy Sunday, Monday, and Mom wants to go out so maybe we’ll go out mid week. I will really be pushed to get the video out next week but we’ll get it done. I will push everything to later in the week. I may have to give up gaming. lol Which will be fine. I’ve always known that it is for a season.

I’m disappointed that I am behind on some of my goals. I started the year strong, but then set up into my comfort zone during these cozy icy winter days and just tried to find joy in them. So I’m divided. But it’s ok. The year is flying by.

Friday, February 6

Oh it is sunny today and that really lifts my spirits. It’s funny how that really impacts your mood. I mean don’t get me wrong, I love a gray day all cozied up inside, but we have had way too many of them.

Last night on the street behind us, something bad was going on. I never figured out what it was. Chet suggested it was a downed live wire, but that could have been reported a while back in the ice storm. It was about the time we were headed to bed, just after 10:00. I could not go to sleep for an hour because I wanted to make sure our neighborhood was safe. But one by one the emergency vehicles left except for a couple of vehicles with red lights and I couldn’t tell what it was – fire or ambulance, but blue police lights were not present so I went ahead and went to bed finally. Lately some nights my brain has just been wide awake with thoughts and I have had to ask God to calm my thinking and He does. I’m usually thinking about how much didn’t get done today or that tomorrow will be better and I won’t goof off any. Or thinking about YouTube, video ideas, or this or that. And then this…..

Today however, I have washed George’s sheets and put them on the bed, and put a limit as to how long I’m playing Farmville 2 and didn’t even play the hospital game. I mean, when I dive into something I put my heart into it, so there’s no half doing something. And so I just didn’t get into gaming this morning because I keep saying, just this one more thing, and then it leads to something else. lol

I cancelled my ear appt followup as I’m not having hearing loss anymore. That’s done.

The tax department called and said that I could not pay Mom’s taxes on line anymore – that those that get discounts cannot do that. I did what I did last year. She said “you did it right last year, as you have to pay on line the first year but the 2nd year you cannot.” Well, does anyone see the issue here? lol. I don’t know why everything on earth has to be so confusing. Do it like this one year and like this the next? Has anyone thought to list out some instructional memos to go along with the forms? Anyway I paid on line, and it was the wrong amount because the on line amount was a discounted amount but not HER DISCOUNTED AMOUNT. So I was supposed to pay the full amount which was more than the online account and then they would give me the $300 discount. Now I’ve messed them up and have to pay the rest of the full amount so they can still send the $300. Seems like they would just send the difference and not make me overpay it when she’s already overpaid, but they must not have smart systems enough to handle that so they will only issues the $300 checks I guess, not less? OMGosh. I wasn’t mad, but just kept thinking how silly and of course wondering how on earth our earthly existence is so screwed up when our internets are so smart? WEIRD. But ok. So I thought I was through with the tax stuff but NO, I will write a check tomorrow at her house and have her sign it and then try to explain all this to her when it doesn’t make any sense really.

I have gathered my stuff for dinner tonight. I’m cooking hamburger steaks, mashed potatoes (or I might just make roasted potatoes) and green peas. Honestly we need more green veggies in our freezer. I’ll put that on our grocery list for Sunday. Also Sunday I’m making chili and we are having hot dogs to go with it. It’s Super Bowl Sunday and George will watch football and while he does that, I’ll be doing some editing on the next video to get ahead for my busy week next week.

I have also dusted my office, cleaned up the bathroom, emptied the little trash cans across the house. I’ve done my devo, World Bible School. And my stretching exercises on the yoga mat. I also ordered the Amazon order for our dog food and I think it just delivered. Gotta check the front porch. I also have made our grocery list for tomorrow.

Left to do today:

• Swish the toilet, lol
• Finish this blog and get it posted
• Finish filming my VLOG today for this week.
• Windex all the mirrors
• Dust my bedroom
• Dust George’s bedroom (this has been on the list for days, lol)
• Software updates and reboot computer
• Transfer video vlog files
• Check email
• Do a World Bible School download for Jan activity
• Have my Weekly YouTube meeting with myself
• Set up my Media Kit for YouTube sponsorships (been on my list for 2 weeks)
• Shop for Mom’s supplies this quarter on line through the government site
• Do Mom’s financial recap of January expenses in the new excel system
• Order more grandson photos for the grandson board (been on my list for months)
• Work on writing projects
• Friday YouTube training
• Work a puzzle
• Take vitamin supplements
• Cooking tonight
• Check on my sister
• Check the weather
• Check on Mom
• Post my Blessings on my gratitude app
• and Watch Bridgerton

Whew. But right now I’m going to eat lunch, put on some makeup and finish my vlog! And I’ll see how many things I can check off the list! Will post again next Friday, Lord Willing.