Safe space, bingo & I need fresh air! {Weekly Check In}

 Little snippets of the week: 

HIDING PLACE
Harvey Dent used to love his kennel. It was his safe space. So when he passed away, I had thoughts of taking it down - but Ernie was grieving so much & laying next to it - something he never did when Harvey was around (my heart hurts) .... so we left it up longer.  

I'm so glad its up still because it has a new resident. Ozzie has taken to it since Rusty has come along. I think he has found it a safe space for him too. He sleeps in it at night - I'll catch him in it during the day for a break of playing - I love seeing it get use again..... & it makes me do a double take every now & then to see a black & white dog laying in the same spot our Harvey Boy used to be in.... but glad it still offers the same calm space for any of our boys.

PREORDER
I have to really love an author - or be excited about a book to do a preorder.... but when my bloggy friend Dara posted this as a book she was excited for this summer, I nearly jumped out of my chair. I have no idea about this author - but the concept of this book.... Its about Auntie Em & her story. Yes - THAT Auntie Em! Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz's Auntie Em! .... I just think this is a cool concept. And as someone who was force fed Wizard of Oz my whole life from my mom, I'm going to have to get her a copy too.

Comes out June 17th - click HERE for book info

BINGO
Mom wasn't aware of the events going on in her Rehab center & they had Bingo one night when I was there. I said, lets go. I wanted to get her moving & get her familiar with the facility and meeting & talking with people. We got in & I pulled a chair up to a table that had 5 women & sat mom down & chatting they started.  The women ended up talking to me & having me come over & told me to stay for Bingo & I'm not one to miss playing a game. .... I had such a sweet time with these ladies.

I ended up passing out bingo cards & chips to people - just a regular ole worker there. At the end, some of the ladies had me take them back to their rooms. Happy to help. They were so grateful that they got a free ride.  I used to take my youth girls to volunteer at this facility - makes me want to go back to volunteering. Some of these people dont have visitors & they so appreciate just talking to someone.

There was one little lady that was all dressed up - had on a beautiful necklace & a big butterfly broach. I told her how beautiful her jewelry was & she just grabbed my hand & was so thankful for the compliment. Made me teary eyed. I just wanted to hug her so hard.  

PLAYING
Tell me how fast I FINALLY knew one on Connections last week! .... made me happy to see this one.  I didnt get the last two though - got the guitar one but blank after that  - I suck at this game. My brain really struggles on it for some reason.  Granted, some of the categories are just so DUMB. Like, who thinks of some of these?  

SWEET SERENADE
In the rehab center where my mom is - they have some "apartments" for assisted living.  There is one that when I walked through to visit mom, she has visitors.  (I actually met the woman who stays in this room at the Bingo)  You can see one wheelchair in the room of a lady who was visiting - but this sweet man, in the hallway - was singing - SINGING his heart out.  American Idol style.  In this area, it is like a domed round area- so his voice just echoed off the ceiling.  It was just so sweet.  I actually video taped it so I could let mom listen.... Look at this little stud charming the ladies

1000 HOURS

Still trucking along for 2025 - all the fresh air I can get! 

51 & a half hours this month & for 2025, 160 hours.  

Man... I thought I would be further along.  840 more to go... that means I need to average 140 hours a MONTH to reach 1000 hours. HOLY COW - this aint looking good.

Who knew how little time I actually get to be outside.  That depresses me so much. ....I think when you actually TRACK your outdoor time, you'd be surprised how little of it you actually get. 

I use the app called 1000 hours - made specifically for this.  It has a free feature - you can buy premium but I've never needed it. You can hit a timer when you go out & turn it off when you come in - if you forget, you can type in your time (estimate it) - you can change your time. You can go back on days & enter. Its really a nice app if you want to track it.

BOOK OF WEEK
I did this book on Audio - its on Hoopla if you're interested.  I think McFadden books are so .... dumb? LOL - they used to be really good to me - but I think she pumps them out so fast, they just are predictable & you can really sort of figure out the twists coming. & now, some of the things that happen - big, scary, gross things that happen in the book - I just laugh anymore because they're so expected & just ... dumb? That word again. So why do I always go back to her books? Because they're fast - they're easy reads - I do want a good twist & I will say - a few, she HAS gotten me on - mostly in the epilogues.  But these are like "mindless" reading - the sort of books that clear the brain for a GOOD book - OMG - that sounds so mean. But it really is a palate cleanser for me if you will. & with them being free to check out most of the times on Kindle Unlimited or Hoopla - why not?

BEREAL OF THE WEEK

Me waiting on an elevator to jet out of work at the end of the day - BYEEEEEEEE!!!

Does your dog use a kennel?

How are you doing on your outdoor time?

Have you ever played BINGO with a group?

Do you like McFadden books?