AVR Weekly News ~ 626th Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by 
Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. 
~ Recap the past week ~ 
~ Show what's upcoming ~ 
~ Share news ~ 
~ Display book hauls ~

• Sunday ~ Meme ~ AVR Weekly News ~ 625th Edition

 

• Saturday ~ Meme ~ 2024 BBNYA Book Tour Round Up
• Sunday ~ Meme ~ AVR Weekly News ~ 627th Edition

Hello and Happy Sunday!

It's the week of Christmas 

and all through the house, 

people are panicking,

what about presents, baking, and cleaning,

stockings, wrapping, and movies?

Did you get the ham?

Who used all the tape?!

What do you mean you're not watching Die Hard?!

Oh, my! 

Wait, is that just my house then?

Just kidding.

Kind of.

We're mostly ready.

On the Home Front

Sunday ~ Since last week's post was so late, I'll just copy and paste this day.

Up at 8:30. So tired! Fed the furries, walked the dogs, grabbed Anna and headed out to Five Below. Stopped at Dollar General first looking for 2 small trashcans for Trip's computer station and his nearly finished room. Hard to get stocking stuff for Anna when she was with me, but I can pick up a few things (snacky snacks) at Food Lion this week. I already had a few things anyway and while she was looking for a magnetic popsocket I stashed a few things for her in my cart. Picked up Biscuitville for us all for brunch on the way home. After eating, Anna and I filled all the feeders for the critters and I hooked up the hose so she could wash out all the bird baths. I had her fill just one of the concrete ones and leave the others empty. Supposed to get down to 13º tonight! I showered then snacked on some cookies with our Caffeinated Advent tea and finished a BBNYA2025 book. Now I'm working on this post at 4:30pm and it's so late! I like having the post done on Saturday and scheduled for Sunday. Oh, well.

Monday ~ The boys gamed nearly all day then put together a cabinet to go near their desks that will hold our hand weights and, on top, their extra monitors. They had been using my tea cart, but that needs to go in the livingroom. Besides, it's not really big enough for what they need. I spent most of the day in the kitchen clearing off the table, tidying in the bench seat storage, and making chili. I browned meat then put everything in a pot to simmer. Then I browned another batch of meat for a pot tomorrow. I put that in the fridge and browned more meat for the boys to have Hamburger Helper for dinner. Jess came over because I gave her most of the pot of chili I had made, plus I shredded 2 blocks of cheddar for her. I finished book 2 of my BBNYA judging and submitted my scores.

Tuesday ~ Kyle put Trip's bed together while Trip was still sleeping. I asked why he didn't wake Trip's ass up to help and he pointed out there's only so much room to work in his room, so it made sense to do it himself until he needed Trip's help. At noon, Kyle was nearly done, so I woke Trip up and told him to get moving to help. After the bed was together and in place I dug the entertainment center out of my room and we moved that to his room. We also moved the mini-fridge out of the office and back to his room then put my grandma's dresser (formerly used in the old kitchen as a snack center and was sitting empty in front of the livingroom patio door) to the office. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to put misc. pet stuff in it or use it for hats, gloves, scarves, etc. That's a decision for another day. Moved the tea cart to where the dresser was. While Trip was showering, Kyle and I pulled all the tubs of toys out from under their bunkbed. I sent Trip under the house searching for any tub lids because none of the tubs had them. I didn't think I had thrown them away because that would be dumb. He found a bunch of lids the wasband had tied together. And one empty tub. Score! I rearranged the toys and tidied up the tubs a bit so we could get lids on and then we stacked them in my room where the entertainment center had been. I had to move around and find room for all the boxes and misc crap still in my room so I could go to bed. Why do we have so much stuff?! I'm thoroughly tired of moving shit around all the time. It's so overwhelming even though I know I'll sort through it all eventually. In fact, I was thinking my New Year's Resolution should be to do a box a week. I would say a box a day, but that's just setting myself up for failure. I moved all of the grandkiddos presents (mine, Trip's and Anna's) out to the kitchen table so we can wrap this week. Several of the boxes in my room are presents for the kids. They prefer I put their presents out on Christmas Eve after they go to bed so Santa can come. Same goes for stocking stuff. lol Anyway, some of that clutter, at least, will be gone next week. I really need to get George's stuff wrapped, boxed, and sent to Ohio soon. While Kyle was putting the bed together I made another pot of chili, did some laundry, had chili for a late lunch, and did a few other things. Not sure I want another bowl of chili for dinner or eat something else. Working on book 3 for BBNYA2025 even though I'm running late.

Wednesday ~ Trip and I moved some of his stuff out of their room to his room. I spent nearly all day reading. I finished book 3 and 4 for BBNYA2025 and got my scores in. Whew! Kyle's mattress was delivered. Lasagna for dinner.

Thursday ~ The boys and I stripped their beds so I could wash everything up. Then we took Kyle's mattress and bunkie board and put it on Trip's new bed. They dragged Trip's really old original mattress (from 2010 - it's one of those cheap ass combo box spring mattress things) and his old futon mattress that was on top of the original mattress out to the front porch. I'll have to haul them to the furniture place to dispose of. They boys took apart the bunkbed and we put the pieces out on the front porch. I think I can get them in the Pilot to take to the Hospice Thrift store. We'll try after it's done raining. Trip continued to move his stuff into his new room and I scrubbed the carpet with the carpet shampooer. Not all the Pepsi stains came up. Oh, well. Put 3 fans on to help dry. After having breakfast for dinner the boys started on Kyle's bed. Oh, my. There are a lot of pieces to it. While they were doing that, I was doing laundry when we started smelling hot electrical (if you know you know) and a strong fish smell. Kyle said that's not good as a fish smell indicates an electrical fire. He learned that at work since he does wiring for ABB. So, we all stopped what we were doing and checked all the switches and outlets in the vicinity of the smell (hallway, bedrooms, bathroom, laundry room) and when everything checked out fine the last place was to pull the dryer out and check that outlet. Bingo. It was burning. Well, not an active fire, but definitely smoking and blackening the wall. So we clicked off the breakers to it (why didn't they trip?!) and called 911. They sent 3 trucks out. Eek. Anyway, their cool infrared thingie showed no fire in the floor or wall, so it was just the plug. That was good news. I sent off a text to the contractor and he replied that he'd get someone out to look at it and do repairs. When I went to bed the boys were still working on Kyle's bed. lol

Friday ~ Got up around 8:00. Kyle's mattress was gone from the computer area so I figured his bed was finished. lol He came out later and said they were up until midnight finishing it. Wow. Then he didn't know where his new sheets or comforter were (oops, in Trip's room) so he slept on the bare mattress with only the shawl he uses at his desk when it's chilly. I said, there's all these blankets around and he said yeah, but they all have dog fur (he's allergic). Fair enough. So, I made his bed. Then I got to wrapping presents since the grandkiddos were coming to spend the night. Except I got a message that Kyleigh had a fever. So I suggested they come on the 26th instead. The rush to wrap averted, I still managed to get all of Kyleigh, Boone, and Oliver's done. Just need to do Lori and Noah's. I also got George's stuff wrapped, boxed up, and dropped off at Goin' Postal to send off to him in Ohio. I got all my Christmas cards signed and addressed. I just need the kids to sign some of them then I can put them in the mail. Contractor said he managed to snag an electrician for Monday. That's pretty good considering how slammed they are. So no dryer this weekend. We can wash some stuff up and then go to the laundromat. At least the dryers are only a quarter. And they're large, so a big load should only be about a buck. We ate the chicken tenders and potato crowns for dinner I had bought for the grandkiddos. lol Stayed up until midnight watching Bones and some of Anna's YT subscriptions.

Saturday ~ Up at 8:00-ish. When will I learn that I just cannot stay up so late? I feel like shit the next day. Anyway...after the regular morning routine of furry feeding and dog walking, I finished wrapping Lori and Noah's presents. I spent some time on Facebook looking for funny memes to schedule for an author friend's FB page, did the Wordle, and worked a bit on this post. Thankfully, I had been updating it during the week. And look below! I managed to add my Chirp purchases for this week. Yay! Got the kids to sign the Christmas cards then sealed them up ready for the mailbox. I mostly puttered the rest of the day. Anna went to visit a friend and the boys gamed all day. I went through a ton of emails, made French Toast Bake for dinner, and melted a bunch of Domino's icing packs we had in the fridge to go on top. lol A bit too sweet for my liking, so on Christmas morning we'll go back to the traditional topping of powdered sugar. Watched some Bones, finished this post, then went to bed. Because I stayed up way too late last night.

Today Anna needs some laundry done so we'll wash a load here then hit the laundromat. When her stuff is dry we'll hit BJ's for some food items, BJ's gas station, and Michael's for some stuff Anna needs for co-workers' stockings. We'll probably also stop at the pet store for food so I don't have to go later in the week. When we get home I'll help her tidy up her room. She still has a lot of stuff that needs unpacked, but we had to dump more stuff in there from Trip's room, so we need to tidy. I'll need to shower at some point and I have no idea what I'm going to make for dinner.

December Special

Tea Advent from Plum Deluxe ~

This is my first time trying the Plum Deluxe Advent boxes even though I've been buying tea from them for years now. I bought two, one caffeinated for me and Trip and one decaffeinated so Anna could be included. Kyle prefers hot chocolate. Trip and I have ours about midday and when Anna gets home after work or after dinner we have the decaf.

Grading will be: 

1 Loved!

2 It's ok

3 No!                         

Day 14 ~ Caffeinated ~ Fog Cutter ~ 3 (though it's better with a bunch of honey)

               Decaffeinated ~ Decaf Delightful Morning ~ 2

Day 15 ~ Caffeinated ~ Missing Summer Black ~ 2

               Decaffeinated ~ Apple Cinnamon Pecan ~ 3

Day 16 ~ Caffeinated ~ Sweet Spot Black  ~ 3 

               Decaffeinated ~ Coconut Ginger Soother ~ 1

Day 17 ~ Caffeinated ~ Celebration Green ~ 2

               Decaffeinated ~ Sparkling Solstice ~ 1

Day 18 ~ Caffeinated ~ Lavender Daydream White ~ 2 

               Decaffeinated ~ Night Cap ~ 2 

Day 19 ~ Caffeinated ~ Pistachio Turkish Delight Puerh ~ 3

               Decaffeinated ~ White Chocolate Strawberry ~ 2

Day 20 ~ Caffeinated ~ Forest Berry Puerh ~ 1

               Decaffeinated ~  Blueberry Ginger ~ 1

Touching Nature:  It was cold and rainy. Now it's just weird. We're getting down to below freezing or just above at night and warming to about 60º during the day. And this coming week shows the same.

Book News:  I finished my BBNYA2025 books and got my scores in. I haven't done anything else.

Don't Touch That Dial!: Bones and Anna's YT subscriptions. Future Canoe is funny and so is Leafy Street. We also watch Doctor Mike, Girl With The Dogs (shorter vids), and Girl With The Dogs 2 (longer vids). She watches a bunch of other stuff that I'm not as interested in, but there is one where a guy tries to break video games (companies have him test their games) and he's usually pretty funny. I can't remember the name though.

At the Flicks: Nope.

Cyberspace Playground: Wordle, Word Lots, Crossword Jam, Solitaire, the Finch app - if anyone wants to be friends just let me know.

Randomness:   

Carol's Nuggets of Wisdom: Never leave your dryer running when you leave the house. I always figured lint could be an issue (even though I regularly clean my trap and outside vent), but this week the plug was the problem. Also, make sure everyone knows where the fire extinguishers are. I can't seem to find the one that was in the laundry room before the renovations, so we had to grab the one in the kitchen. Also, I need more fire extinguishers. I do have 4 of those Hero blankets by the wood burning stove (now that the kitchen is done I need to move one in there), but we should have a couple small extinguishers, too. Don't forget to keep one in your car!

That's it for me. AVR News Update signing off. May all your books enthrall you.

Chirp

Living

The Missing Husband

Bitter Roots 

Bitter Truth 

Bitter End