During my in-laws visit we had the chance to play games, watch the Packers lose a football game, visit the Desert Botanical Garden and have some good food together. This visit both good for us, but also stressful.
The one thing that I really had to was play mediator between my spouse and her parents or most specifically her father. Her father even used her dead name this time which generally never happens. Pronouns he has always messed up on for my spouse, but overall still respectful regardless. I firmly believe this visit wasn't the place to take a stand about those things and it wasn't. My father-in-law has a lot on his plate.
Before, I had mentioned his health and everything he has a been through which has resulted in some changes to my father-in-law. Facial hair, which I have never seen on him before and actually looks good on him. He also, like myself, had to pace himself. He clearly doesn't have the energy and needs more downtime than in the past. I suppose how busy they used to make things is where my spouse got into doing the same. The pacing of things is important even when I'm not willing to admit it.
The first day my mother-in-law took me to my infusion at a location that I hadn't been to before. Needless to say I'm used to the location I go to in Scottsdale which is much nicer, but no slots were open that day which was why I scheduled it for a different location. This was done to free up Saturday. This allowed us the chance to visit the Desert Botanical Garden which really was the highlight of their visit.
I have always enjoyed the botanical garden, but much less was blooming that many trips we have made to the garden although not surprising. After all, it is a Desert Botanical Garden. Sunday we went to our church with my mother-in-law and then that afternoon went over to a cousins house to watch the Packers game. Close game for a long while, but they lost which we were all not surprised by considering they were facing the Eagles. We also played clue with them Monday night. I won the game, but just barely since my spouse was going to get it right on her next turn right after me. I had hid the Lounge from her just long enough to allow me to win. Monday night we played some 20 questions after dinner. Then they left Tuesday, but of course our work week started on Monday.
I always dread Mondays because every Monday has OT. I would prefer to not have to do OT, but I also know that it is part of what is expected of us. Wednesday being a 9 and half hour work day plus our half our lunch. The couple of days I was thankful for largely a break from the inbound calls to work the outbound delinquent mortgage accounts. By now most know how this works and either they pick up or do everything in there power to avoid taking the call.
It's true though accounts hurt my metrics, but just the breathing room sometimes from the other calls is nice. It really gives you a chance to decompress from those inbound calls. It's only 46 here after 9:30an in the morning which is cold for here.
Today is more relaxed day, but we still have to go to my mammogram and shop for groceries. Not sure I will get to working on the budget today because tonight we are playing Mariokart with some friends in Virginia, but before all that I have to dilate this morning. It is not something I do very often these days at all. We regularly do these games online now that we both have the game. Anyway time to get started for the day. It's been a stressful week, but glad to be able to have a slower pace this 3 day weekend. Hugs
Mariah
