Our first picnic in the park....

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Today started as most other days do.  I woke up, read a bit, then got up.  WhooHoo!
As I was laying there reading, I got a text from my daughter-in-law.  "Do we want to have supper and walk in Chilo Park tonight?"  Oh, that sounds good!  That will be the first time this year, and we all need to start doing this again!  I am looking so forward to this now!  It will probably be windy (and a little chilly) down there by the river, but it'll still be nice.

When I get up, one of the things I do is go out and take the sheet of the long box and water those seeds I planted.  It ended up taking FIVE gallons of water before I was satisfied that it was soaked enough.  I thought it was going to rain more than it did, and I wouldn't have to lug water out there, but I didn't that help.  I lugged, instead.

I packed stuff for our supper, and got other stuff ready to make at the last minute.  I did other piddly stuff here around the house, then got on the pute to catch up my games and all.  At 4, I went and got dressed for walking, all but my shoes (those go on last!), because I wanted to be ready to skedaddle out the door.

At 5, the disability lawyer called, as scheduled (thank God, he wasn't sick again today) and we got this little interview/application over with.  I was thinking this was supposed to be something like a conference call with SS, but it ended up just being him putting everything into the computer.  I could hear him punching the buttons, so I know something was happening this time, but it certainly makes me wonder -- what the hell has been happening in this meantime?  I've given them this information twice, now I've filled out this paperwork, now I have to give it to him on the phone again, and NOW he's putting it in the computer? -- But, to be fair, I suppose they have heard so many stories, I guess they've got to make sure stories don't change, but, damn.  What have I been waiting almost three months for?
He did say the next step would be a letter from SS, asking me what kind of things I can do and how long they take me, things like that, then after that, it would probably be 4 to 5 months before they make a decision.  So, at least now I know something is happening/moving.

As soon as the phone call was over, I zap the Ramen Noodles I was taking as my donation to supper, put my shoes on, and out the door I go.  Ron called as I was getting ready, and he decided he's not going to join us today, he's just too tired.  
I meet them at Chilo Park.  I brought yogurts and Pop Cakes, and the boys (Corgan and his friend Justin) munched on them while we waited for Josh and Chelle to come back from walking while they waited for me to get there.  We have our supper.  Chelle made ham salad from leftover ham, egg salad from eggs from Easter, and some potato salad - three different containers of it!  Regular for them, special 'unsalted' for Ron, and made with Miracle Whip for me - are we spoiled or what?  Corgan was thrilled when he saw the Ramen Noodles, and even more thrilled when he saw that I remembered to bring his chopsticks!  Chelle also made some devilled eggs, and had some marinated chicken breasts that she had cooked up.  It was a very good picnic supper, and when we were done, we packed up and walked the Nature Preserve Trail.  Remember, it's a mile-long walk, or just over, and it's very pretty this time of year, and the boys kept us on our toes.  My hips didn't hurt me until we were about 3/4 of the way through, and I was glad about that.  I didn't have to stop in any of the blinds, either, and I used to have to stop at each of them!  I'm really pleased about that!  Maybe, by the end of summer, I'll be able to walk it twice....maybe.

I got back home, and it was a normal evening here at the O'Toole house.  I played on the pute (and munched Easter candy), and Ron 'watched' one of his Spaghetti Western movies until time for Criminal Minds.  I usually play on the pute while watching TV, but a couple shows I have to really concentrate on, or I miss something - Criminal Minds is one, Bones is another.  Sometimes I am on the pute during NCIS and NCIS:LA and sometimes, I'm not - depends on my frame of mind when they're on.  Oh, well, that's a whole 'nother story...

Putting my food and exercise into MFP today, I was only 11 calories short for the day.  I'll be glad when the Easter candy is gone.  I didn't think I gave myself all that much, but there sure seems to be an awful lot in my bowl!

Walking the Walk Path with Lois tomorrow, so I'll be getting more exercise (yay!) and that can only be a good thing!