Random 5 for November 23, 2025 – Birthdays, medical coverage, decorations, new stuff, friends

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Happy birthday Dan!

Happy birthday Betty!

Happy birthdays! – To the beloved husband and my sister-in-law Betty! He’s a rip roaring 83 and she is 96 and I don’t know how it happened! Just yesterday they were much younger. It’s a lot like July. Every year July seems to be the shortest month and sometimes non-existent. Some years are like that too.

Dang, dang, dang – We had to change our medical health plan coverage because there is a kerfuffle with our local hospital and metaphorically, everyone is taking their ball and going home (no progress on dispute). We went through the pain of selecting something else. Yesterday we received a ton of mail from the new carrier – new card, new process and new website. I hate learning new websites. No matter what anyone says, they are not intuitive!

Whoa Nellie! – We are officially in the holiday season. I looked at my fireplace mantel, and I still have my summer stuff out. I bypassed pumpkin and mum season and will go directly to Christmas. I had a chrysanthemum on the porch with a metal pumpkin and nothing inside. I’m blaming it on the distracting medical testing that took me through September and October (everything’s good!).

Busy week – We are getting a new mattress delivered. My side of the old one isn’t too bad, but the beloved husband is getting backaches from poor support. The old one lasted 17 years so we can’t complain and we’re glad for the quick delivery. I celebrated by buying new sheets. When you get older, a new mattress and sheets are exciting! Can you imagine how exciting it would be to win the lottery? That’s a lot of sheets!

Courtesy of bestclipartblog

Seasonal gatherings – We’ve started to get together with friends for the holiday season. It seems an important time to connect. Most of our friends don’t like driving in the dark so “get togethers” are at lunchtime. People don’t like to do it on weekends, which makes for a very tight schedule. The actual holiday will see us kicking up our feet and taking it easy.

So how was your week?

51 thoughts on “Random 5 for November 23, 2025 – Birthdays, medical coverage, decorations, new stuff, friends”

  1. Well, I certainly hope that I look as youthful as your husband and sister-in-law as I “hopefully” enter by 80s and 90s. What blessings. And as the Hollidays are upon us, I’m just trying to be cheerful and not a drag on others. You’d think that with bereavement and grief this year would have been slow, but NO! It was January “just yesterday” and I’m not sure I’m ready. I think I’ll try to pull some hospitality off of your reminder that it is important to connect. I really do believe that, too! ❤️

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    • If you met them you would never guess their age. Not only looks but their synapses are snapping! It is important to stay connected. You never know what grief does to time. Maybe it depends on you journey.

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  2. happy happy birthday… for a good year for your husband and your SIL. our hospital closed… it was not even 20 years old.. and all people have to go to the giant health mill they built in the middle of nowhere… everything is digital there… maybe even the docs ;O)

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  3. Happy birthday to your husband and sister-in-law.

    I think I’ll buy a pumpkin tomorrow for the front porch. Yesterday I put up my little Thanksgiving wreath. The day before, I ordered my Christmas cards from UNICEF. Soon I’ll start cooking for Thanksgiving. The festive season has begun.

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  4. Happy Birthday to your husband and his sister! Glad your medical tests were good. I have a hard time driving at night too, but I got some special glasses from Amazon that help.

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  5. Happy birthday to these youngsters who are looking very good for their respective ages – what is their secret as they should bottle it!?!? I swapped my Fall orange winterberry wreath for my Christmas red winterberry wreath earlier today before the cold sets in on Wednesday and the front storm door gets frosty and the wreath sticks. I planned to decorate for Christmas this year, but I think now, I’ll table that until next year. I put up the bear tree last year, so that festive spirit will have to linger over. 🙂

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      • This is a small house, but I used to decorate a lot, but it took a day to put everything out and tuck everything away (the regular knickknacks etc.) My mom used to say “don’t put everything out – it’s too much work and a day to put it up, another day to take it all down” but it did look festive. We used to go to some country craft shows as the house was country/Early American, so it’s best when you don’t have a lot of room, not to buy more Christmas decor but we did. We didn’t entertain at all and I don’t either … maybe next year, I’ll put up a tree. I have my tabletop tree I used to put up at work and we had a Hallmark tree with the miniature ornaments. And my bear tree – I’m not even taking it out this year. And friend had a kiln and made us a ceramic tree which hasn’t seen the light of day in about 20 years … and you wonder why I say it is cluttered in here.

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  8. Our mattress is 8 years old and lack of support could be an issue with my back issues and Hubby’s additional leg pain. I bought a topper today, been looking for one for a while, and this was less than half price as it’s a discontinued line. It has ‘copper’ in it, so I am hoping this may be a rheumatism aid. We shall see how we sleep tonight.
    Happy birthday to your husband and SIL. Both are looking great!

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  10. All best wishes to your handsome husband who could easily pass for 10 years younger as well as the ever amazing SIL. Wow, she looks totally amazing. Good for her, especially given that bad accident a few years ago.

    It’s funny how things seemed like it was dragging when the temps were rotissering us but now that cooler temps are here, suddenly time seems to go into overdrive. With a move set for early December, I’m going to gift gift cards and call it good cuz I just can’t do any more without keeling over from exhaustion. Wishing you and yours a yummy and wonderful Thanksgiving week.

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  13. What a great picture of you and your Dan I always think is so handsome. Happiest of Birthdays to him and to Betty. Will Sasha be baking a cake? I heard a rumor that she is. A man with the initial G I know told me. You know how men can’t keep a secret. I think you might know him too since he lives in your house.

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  15. We had to change our health coverage for next year as well. Our previous (well, current until 1/1) raised the rates and lowered the benefits rather substantially, so our broker found us a better option. At least we hope it will be a better option…time will tell.

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  17. Glad to hear you found a good healthcare switch……that’s quite a process isn’t it. I’m with you on “intuitive” websites – – – not sure who they are aiming that process towards but it isn’t people my age that’s for sure. Happy BD to your hubby and your SIL. Birthdays in the Holiday season are extra fun…..both of my parents had birthdays in December around Christmas so when I was a kid (and they were still alive) we always had PARTY month in December with lots of good food! These days we have the good food but no parties – suitable for oldies like us. LOL

    Happy Sunday!

    Pam

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