(no subject)

[turps]

I can't believe it's Wednesday already, where the heck did the time go?

Corey went to cub camp on Saturday, once he'd gone there and James had gone to work I was looking around the living room and realised that there was less than four weeks to get the whole thing done. Tradition says the tree goes up on the 1st, James' bd, and our living room was nowhere near ready with walls half scraped and mess everywhere. So I fixed it. I filled holes and sanded walls. Painted and scraped paper, took all the couch covers off and washed them and generally did things that needed to be done. It took a while as I'm no decorator, but I'm kind of proud that it's all coming together nicely. I have one wall left to do but my fingers are protesting holding another brush *g*

Plus I've been helping Kayleigh decorate and move into her flat and the in laws were here all day yesterday, so online time was down to snatched minutes here and there. In the middle of that we had a visit from the council tax people. Apparently you can get a reduction if your house is adapted for someone with disabilities, which ours is, so a lady came out to check out the adaptations. Fingers crossed, we'll get the reduction, because man, we need it.

I think that's it. I celebrated Guy Fawkes alone and watched the fireworks from my bedroom window as both Corey and James were away, but really, that's an okay way to do it. You're warm and with us having the view we do I could see fireworks from multiple sites stretching into the distance, which was really cool. Corey came home from camp filthy, happy and tired, which is how it should be. I'm fine and James is too, except he's getting pains where his leg used to be which is frustrating as it's not like pain killers would work on something not there.

So yes, a quick overview of the last few days. Now I have House and Supernatural downloading. I have a cup of coffee at hand as I catch up with things online. nsync_10 have met their target! There's a load of cool people signed for SeSa! There's wish lists to be saved and thought about and a secret Santa survey I need to fill in. So. Much. Joy!

Comments

[rikes]

Your tree goes up on the 1st? NO WAY! Not before the 23rd!

[digital-diva.livejournal.com]

Definitely before the 23rd! But no, not the first. Somewhere around the 10th.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

We've always decorated the 1st. You have to, I mean, the advent calendars start then so you need to get the house ready for Santa! *g*

[digital-diva.livejournal.com]

We can't. We have Saint-Nicholas on the 6th who brings toys for kids and he'd get confused if the tree were up already ;-)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

You have two sets of gift giving!?

Can I come live with you? ;)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I can't reply to your other comment without unscreening! This is the most frustrating thing ever! *pouts*

[digital-diva.livejournal.com]

Doesn't matter if you do. There's nothing there! ahahahaha!

And you can, just screen it again right after replying. Ain't that hard, woman. Get with the program! :-p

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I know, but if I answer it'll look like I think you're special or something ;)

Also, you know I'm not good at this new fangled tech stuff *sniff*

Did I tell you I'm glad you're alive? *g*

[rikes]

Well, that makes no sense! ;)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

It does, lots of people decorate here around that date. Some do so even earlier, I'm expecting to see houses decorated in the next few weeks *g*

[rikes]

We do put some decorations up on the 1st, but not the tree! If you do that, most of the needles will fall before Christmas.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Only if it's a real tree ;)

[rikes]

Hee, I didn't even consider that. Which is weird, since not everyone has a real tree even in Finland.

[tara]

Someone actually let off a couple of fireworks here on Guy Fawkes (because they're obviously stupid *g*) and Tricky had an absolute heart attack, poor lad. I hate to think what he'll do if I still have him once I relocate to England o.O

And erk, sorry to hear about James's not-leg giving him trouble at the moment. I don't understand on a personal level, obviously, but I used to work with a couple of amputees in my old job, so I do know second-hand just how infuriating phantom pain can be :(

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Poor Tricky. Fireworks are the worst for animals. Tex was terrified, which was another reason I stayed home. He was lying frozen and shaking on the couch all night. It didn't help that people have been throwing fireworks for days before.

Phantom pain sounds horrible to me. I can't imagine feeling something that's not there. The body is such a weird thing at times.

[tara]

Aw, poor boy. I hope you gave him lots of cuddles, and made a fuss of him *G*

I try not to think too much about the complexities of the brain. It's just too hard to comprehend.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

He got loads of cuddles, don't worry about that *g*

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Busy past few days it seems - and without anything bad happening, so er, just ignore my last mail to you, right? I just can't help be paranoid when you don't update more often lol

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Does that mean I have to scrap the mail I'm in the middle of typing to you? ;)

You're the best *smooch*

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Does that mean I have to scrap the mail I'm in the middle of typing to you? ;)

Don't you dare omg! *dies*

Also, I know you'll come aroundt to read your flist - though I wonder how long it'll take you to catch up - but I can't wait, I'm too excited so Terri! Yesterday I saw Daniel Radcliffe and Clémence Poésy - and I got their autographs! Harry Potter was - literally - within reach! *dies again*

[turps33.livejournal.com]

OMG!

That's so awesome! I'm so happy for you. So happy I can't even type straight because man. That's just squeeeeeeee!

I can't believe you were so close! Forget about reading the flist in order, I'm going to yours now!

[ceci2176.livejournal.com]

I can't believe it's Wednesday already, where the heck did the time go?
I know! Scary, huh?

Tradition says the tree goes up on the 1st, James' bd, and our living room was nowhere near ready with walls half scraped and mess everywhere. So I fixed it.
Yay! Good on you. :-)

I'm fine and James is too, except he's getting pains where his leg used to be which is frustrating as it's not like pain killers would work on something not there.
Extremely frustrating, no doubt. I found some advise on how to deal with phantom pain here (http://www.amputee-online.com/amputee/phantom.html). Of course, he should talk to his doctor about it.

There's a load of cool people signed for SeSa!
Indeed. Like me. ;-þ And once again I had to revise my request. *shakes head*

There's wish lists to be saved and thought about
Yay! Christmas is coming! :-)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Extremely frustrating, no doubt. I found some advise on how to deal with phantom pain here. Of course, he should talk to his doctor about it.

That's a helpful link, thank you! Problem is with James he'll only go to the doctors if he's dying. Silly man.

Indeed. Like me. ;-þ And once again I had to revise my request. *shakes head*

You joined?! YAY! I hope you received a good assignment!

[ceci2176.livejournal.com]

That's a helpful link, thank you!
:-)

Problem is with James he'll only go to the doctors if he's dying. Silly man.
*shakes head* Sounds like my father.

You joined?!
Of course. :-)

YAY! I hope you received a good assignment!
I can choose a pairing i'm not completely unfamiliar with, which is of the good. But the request is so OPEN...I'm having a hard time coming up with anything!

I also have NaNo, two SA themefics and the TS SeSa to work on...but I guess it's not all bad to be busy.

[ihearthings-ii.livejournal.com]

wow! I'm so impressed!

[ihearthings-ii.livejournal.com]

also, I forgot to say.

My grandma ( maternal ) had really bad phantom pains in her left legs towards the end of her life. pains and also, itches, which annoyed her more. she used to scratch the air, and she said it actually helped!

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Yeah, James does that sometimes too. It's really weird to see.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

So was I ;)

[turloughishere.livejournal.com]

You have sure been busy and productive! Yay!

But I'm with rikes, no tree until the afternoon of the 23rd! Advent 1st you put up the advent lights in the windows and light the 1st advent candle. After that it's different in different families, I gradually decorate the house all through December but many doesn't put up any Christmas decorations at all until the evening of the 23. But of course our Christmas lasts for 20 days, until the 13th of January, so we'll have time to grow tired of it anyway :-)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I was! Now I just wish it was all done.

Our Christmas is supposed to last until the 13th too, but in practice I tend to take stuff down after new year. Seeing all these traditions is fascinating!

[kirsten-lynch.livejournal.com]

Wow! Go you with the redecorating! I really need to redo my bathrooms, but just haven't found the energy to do it. I really don't like to paint, probably because I used to have to do it as a job when I was younger. You should post pictures when it is all done!

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I had to get it done as the job's been half finished for ages ago. Of course it's still not done but it's a heck of a lot closer than it was.

I don't mind painting that much, it's just the high bits I hate. I always wish I was a foot taller when I'm stretching for the ceiling *g*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_unashamed/]

You've been busy!!!! Like wow. And, we only decorate our tree on the 23rd. Sometimes on the 24th, in the morning. And we celebrate Christmas an the 24, in the evening.

If you don't mind me asking, who in your family is disabled? It'd be great if you got those reductions. Though those council tax people are so slow when it comes to giving money for those things. At least here in Germany.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I had no choice but to be busy, at least not if I didn't want to be decorating a half finished room for Christmas *g*

I love hearing about other countries customs. I can't imagine waiting that long to decorate the tree, though I imagine it makes it very special when you do so.

I don't mind at all. James is disabled, he has an extreme form of arthritis that affects all his limbs and back, basically all his tendons are tight, so if you imagine how a kangaroo holds their arms, well his look like that too. He had to have his lower leg amputated when he was a kid because his foot turned over on itself and his other foot is pretty shot too. Not that it stops him doing stuff, just he needs a little help sometimes.

Man, they're slow about stuff like that here too. I suspect we'll be turned down but you have to try, I mean, all they can say is no.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_unashamed/]

The thing is, even when you're turned down, you have to try again and again and again, and be persistent. Here in Germany it's like standard to be turned down on the first try. Like, they want to see if you really need/want the aid (money). But really, let them say no, and try again, and again. It worked for us most of the times.

Aw, man. You don't have an easy life, eh? But it sounds like James is able to do stuff mostly on his own, and that's great. To be dependent on someone isn't always fun. people don't always handle handicaps like that easily.

We decorate the whole house quite early, like, starting in a week or so. But Christmas tree is a no-no until at least the 23rd. It has always been that way. When my sisters and me were younger, my parents "shut down" the living room on the morning of the 24th, and then started decorating the tree and putting all the presents under it and stuff. We didn't get to see it all until it was really time for the presents. *wistful* Though it's still all nice and christmas-y now that we're adults;).

[ninjetti75.livejournal.com]

SQUEEE!!

YAY for Terri!

*grabs Terri and twirls*

Don't mind me; I'm just even crazier than usual at the moment. *g*

Yes, time goes far too fast, except when it crawls, like the last hour of work, etc. Go Team Terri with your home repair self! Wow! I'm sure Christmas and hubby's b-day are a perfect motivator, but MAN, I'd probably just sit in a corner and cry if I were up against that much, with a SO and a holiday looming, lol... ..But seriously, good on you, and give those poor fingers a break before tackling more. But the sense of accomplishment when you get done is going to be wonderful, and I'm so glad you're getting that. (And helping Kayleigh, too? Jeebus, woman! Go You!!! And yeah, hoping you get the break, but at least the worst that happens is nothing. :D)

And yay for enjoying Guy Fawkes, and camp being as it should. :) And just my $.02, but James might try using painkiller, if he needs it. It's hard to say what's causing phantom pain, but if you're feeling pain, you're feeling pain. Painkillers block or at least reduce your ability to do so, thus they may still be effective. And it's not as if the pain is necessarily "imaginary" or something, it could be more along the lines of an "input error" from the nervous system, sending signals to the brain from a "connection" that no longer exists. The signals are still real, so they may respond just like they would if everything was "normal". Also, (and don't tell him this part, heh) simply taking an aspirin could very well quiet the pain as a placebo, if it is "imaginary". We can convince ourselves of some very strange things, and as long as he's taking recommended dosages of over-the-counter products, it can't HURT anything, right?

Yay for SeSa! YAY for Christmas! YAAAAAAAAAY!!! I'm almost using a santahat icon, here...