Toilet paper hack

My refrigerator smells.

It's not a rotting food smell, but more like a chemical odor, and apparently, my nose is the only one that detects it. The hubby thinks I’m nuts. Madison, not wanting to say that I’m crazy, can “sort of smell something off.”

It first started with the ice. I thought something was wrong with the new water bottle I’d purchased for the gym. The water tasted icky. I kept pouring it out and starting new, and it finally took Darcy using the ice in her water bottle to diagnosis the problem. From there, it went into the smell and now it’s seeping into dairy items.

Google warned me of a Freon leak. That set off the hubby, who treated me to a gas, solid, liquid lecture that rivaled any college science course. Of course, all I heard was science and you’re wrong. Good thing there will not be a test.

I removed everything from the refrigerator and cleaned it from top to bottom. Then, I put a carton of baking soda in it, and because I’d heard this hack on a radio show a month ago, a roll of toilet paper. It supposedly absorbs excess moisture, which is a breeding ground for bacteria. That is not my problem, hello, CHEMICAL scent, but I'm desperate.

The question is, how long do you think it will take before Tom or Maddy notices?

Venues, dresses, and invitations.

Today, we shopped for wedding dresses. It's a good thing this date was on the docket long before the change. After an outdoor brunch where we froze to death, the bridesmaids, the groom’s family, and I went to help Darcy find a dress.

Brides-to-be crowded the store. They were everywhere, as were flower girls, bridesmaids, and mothers. It was chaos, unlike what one sees on television, and Darcy found her dress within an hour. But I can't show that here.

In other wedding news, venue shopping is not for the faint at heart. I bet that by the time this is all done, Darcy will have shopped over fifty venues. How nuts is that? 

She asked me to meet her at a country club, and because she was late coming from work and the coordinator had another appointment, I went ahead and started the tour. It was a typical country club, and I am experienced in that; I grew up in one, worked for one, and now watch my brother run one. 

Darcy originally was not set on a club, but desperation has set in. This club was owned by the organization I once worked for, so we chatted while we walked from the inside wedding site to the two outside areas where they host weddings. 

There was already a visitor in the first area.

The coordinator was shocked. She'd never seen a gator this close and had never experienced one in the wedding area. 

Me: "This is Florida. Any body of water harbors alligators."

At this point, Darcy called me to find out where we were. She joined us, looked at the gator, and shook her head.

Darcy: "This is not a good selling point."

The second area was right in the middle of the golf course, under a shady tree and far from water. But we were told that they would stop the golfers during the ceremony. Meaning they would be sitting on their golf carts waiting and watching, most likely annoyed.

I'd rather have the alligator.

I toured another venue that I loved. I was ready to seal the deal and sign the papers. It was local and absolutely gorgeous, nestled off the beaten track on a horse farm. They'd redone the barn into a wedding venue and the horse stalls into hotel rooms! The venue also included using the four-bedroom house to get ready and had an option to rent. 

It was slightly out of the price range, but I didn't care. I loved it that much. Darcy, not so much. It took several days before she could tour it, and while she liked the reception venue, she didn't like the wedding areas. 

So, it's back to square one, but the invitations are being designed, and the bridal shower dates are confirmed!

We have three months

January started with a bang.

First, I got wired—for sleep.

I asked for it. Not because I think I have sleep apnea, but because I know my husband has it, and when I bring that up with him, his response is to tell me I snore. So, I figured if I did the test, maybe he would too?

I didn’t sleep.

It was one of those nights when I watched the clock, my mind roaring. Tom and the dog were restless. Our room was chilly. I finally succumbed at about 5:00, turning off my morning alarm.

Darcy woke me at 8:30 am.

Me: “What are you doing here?”

Darcy: “Why are you wearing oxygen? What happened? And why is it so cold in here? It’s FREEZING!”

Second came her news, delivered while we snuggled under the covers.

She and Oleg are getting married in April.

We have three months to plan a wedding.

That’s the last part.

We have three months to plan a wedding.

I’m already worn out.

There are color-coded spreadsheets. I’ve seen over a hundred websites, viewed the videos of their venue walk-throughs, and toured on my own in our county. I know so much about ceremonies and receptions that I’m contemplating turning our family farm into a wedding destination. It could be a family affair!

Whoever came up with this wedding nonsense never accompanied a bride-to-be from place to place, tasting food, and spending hours looking at chairs, tables, linens, and colored napkins. And we haven’t even gone dress shopping!

Funny enough, I did the same thing. We got engaged in December and were married in April.

I think. Maybe we waited a year, I don’t remember anymore. I barely remember the event itself! And we never glance at our photos except those on my living room wall. Those are great for a good laugh—the hairdos!

Still, it’s exciting. We’re having a wedding!

In three months!

Send well wishes and good vibes, and if any reader has ideas of venues, please forward them.

Hallmark Christmas movie tradition 2023

Years ago, my friend SueG, her daughter, and I started a Hallmark Christmas movie marathon tradition. The first few times we spent a weekend watching Hallmark movies and eating delicious and unhealthy foods. Eventually, we whittled it down to a day and then to a few hours. Some years we missed it altogether.

This year, we were determined to pick it back up again. We started after lunch and went until midnight. We wore our Hallmark Movies T-shirts, although the college kid refused to dig through boxes to find hers. The snacks were a mixture of healthy and unhealthy. Dinner was too.

But we saw some great movies. Hallmark has stepped up its game. We also watched non-Hallmark movies and agreed they’re off the list for next year.

It felt right to be back. Who knows. Maybe next year we'll make it a weekend.

Resolutions 2024

My family has kept resolutions since the 1980s. Each year, we mark them down, work on them, and then discuss whether we've kept them or not. I do a check-in on how I'm doing every two months. My math sucks, and last year's new scoring was wonky, so here's the deal for this year. 

Each two-month check-in receives a score between 0 (meaning nothing was worked on) - 2 (meaning both months were worked on) for a completion total at the end of the year of 

Here are the things I resolve to complete:

• Get our will done - I know, I know. This should have been done years ago. My reasoning was superstitious, and now I know I'm an idiot. My brother got his done last year. It's our turn now. Seriously!

• Create my author website - This is my year of getting a book finished and ready for publication. No more excuses. No more perfection. To get that off the ground, the website needs to be completed.

• Record 7500 steps five times a week and drink more water - I have to get into shape for a wedding. My body shames me. It's up to me.

• Stay in touch with my nieces and nephews - I enjoy these "kids." I want to have a better relationship with them whether they want it or not. They did give me their addresses though, so maybe I'm not so far off in left field.

• Once a month, I will work on an old resolution I never completed. - Because I have things that need to be completed and maybe this will help me?

• To face fears - I have many. This year I'm knocking them down.

• Visit Maya and Jay in Boston - enjoy fabulous dinners and amazing evenings plus day trips to the North Shore…these resolutions are on a Google Doc for the entire family to use. Most of us had someone add this last resolution to our list. Most of us are keeping it. Look out Maya, Jay, and Boston!

Happy New Year - Welcome 2024

 

Oleg's family knows how to put on a New Year's celebration. We had friends, food, games, fireworks, a visit from Santa Claus, and another Christmas unwrapping of gifts!

Happy New Year! I appreciate all of you hanging in with this crazy year of blog catch-up. I'll work harder at being more timely in 2024.

And no, that isn't a resolution.

May 2024 be a year of good friends, great health, and much laughter!

Resolution 2023 check

I came. I conquered. I lapsed. I failed. Same old, same old. Let's check in.

• Paint my home space - My ceilings haven't been painted since we first moved in. My living room and my hallway need an overhaul. My bedroom could use it too, but that isn't as important as the first two. -  COMPLETED 

• Entice Tom to build my shelves to display my playing card collection - I collect playing cards. I need somewhere to display them, and Tom drew out plans for what I found on Etsy. He claims he can knock it out, "don't waste your money." Once I get the paint done, this comes next. - He got it hung several days before the end of the year -  COMPLETED  

• Travel - Can't let those Wyndham points go to waste. - COMPLETED  

• Lower my cholesterol - I did lower it. Then it went back up. But technically...COMPLETED  

• Exercise/Healthy eating habits - I don't think I can say this was a yearly completed goal.

Total - 4 completions out of 5! I think that's one of the best years yet!

Anyone else do this well? Drop me a comment and let me know!