I can't believe its December

 The Thanksgiving Holiday has come and gone.  I had a great time.  I arrived in Allentown around 8:30 and we got to visit before going to sleep.  The next few days are almost a blur now but we did walk 1 mile a day in the park across the street.  We had dinner just the three of us because her kids were previously engaged but Lauren did come on Friday for Dinner.

We mostly hung out that weekend.  Saturday afternoon my sister in-law and I went to Bethlehem for the Christkindlmarkt festival while Jim stayed home.  When we got home we had dinner and Jim had a meeting to go to.  I bonded some more with their cats until it was time to go to bed.  I also packed that night.

That Sunday I came home.  The weather wasn’t the greatest.  Traffic wasn’t too bad until I got to NY and further into Connecticut when it started backing up.  I did call my sister who was coming home from family activities themselves.  ON the way home I stopped at Mama Theresa’s and got pizza and managed to run into cousins I haven’t seen in years.

When I came home the cats were still in bed.  I looked in on them and kissed them and went to eat my dinner.  Sky came out and was expecting to eat.  I didn’t do much the rest of that night nor did I do much the next day.

I had taken Monday off as part of my long weekend.  I had planned on doing cleaning and stuff.  Instead I slept most of it and got some stuff done.  

The rest of the week was filled with work, meetings, meetups, dinners with friends and a trip to NYC on Saturday.

The girls from the meetup (6 of us) met on the train early in the morning and got to NYC by 10 or 11.  We walked through GCS to see a holiday fair.  ABC Home Store used to be 4 floors but recently condensed.  There was an onsite restaurant for lunch.  We headed to Union Square farmers market and did some holiday shopping.  We also took a stroll through Nordstrom's and the ladies did some shopping.  I did look at boots but I wasn’t willing to spend $100.

This past week was pretty much the same thing.  I did get to see Liz and Nelson and was surprised at how much has gotten done with purging.  We had a nice visit.  I will be spending Christmas with them too.

Sadly, on December 5 there was a DV case near my old place and across the street from the church.  Her EX who had been targeting her came and killed her with an AX.  Her children were in the house.  The oldest was 18.

Labor Day Weekend

 Well Labor Day 2022 is over and I am still on vacation.  Friday was a quiet day for doing some cleaning around the house.  My tooth was starting to bother me that day too.  

Saturday was beautiful and I did walk with Mike Smith the candidate for representative of the 119.  We met at the headquarters and its a small headquarters and I will be surprise if many people could fit in that at once.  Anyway we waited for a few more people and and then Mike and I headed out to the Gulf Pond area of the city.  Beautiful homes and many pets.  We did this until 12 and then headed back to headquarters and then I went home.  

Saturday afternoon was relaxing and did some more cleaning and then went grocery shopping that night.  Still trying to get healthy foods.  I went to Aldi's but couldn't get a few things.  I would later on in the weekend get them or at least few of them.

Sunday was coffee with Sis day.  We spent about an hour together and we talked about the family, how she is doing, and of course the Boat situation.  It went well.  After the visit I headed to the nursing home for bingo.

There were only six players and one left early.  He was fairly obnoxious.  

Sunday night  I had to call the dentist because of my tooth.  It killed me.

Monday was a cloudy day I ran a few errands to the dollar tree store and Walmart to get a few things.  The rest of the day was quiet because the plans I made with Petsitter Stephanie fell through.  Her schedule kind of changed and she wouldn't be walking in Branford.  But she said we would do something sometime during the week.

 I also spoke to Dave and we have plans to get together on Friday at Silver sands State Park.  We also are making tentative spa plans for the 16th.  In the mean time he was spending time with Jim and getting ready for work.

 I also spoke to Cyn and we made plans to go to the Nike Outlet in Clinton for Saturday but need to confirm on Friday.  

LauraG from the group and I are getting together Wednesday afternoon for a visit and lunch.  I am really excited about this.  I really wanted to show her the condo.  

I heard from the dentist and I have an 11:30 appoint before I meetup with Laura.  It should take about an hour...x-rays and such.

Wednesday night I have a 5th District meeting at the HQ and hopefully it won't be long.  

This week is already going by fast.

Memorial day Weekend

 

Happy Memorial Day everyone (and for those who are offended by me saying Happy Memorial Day bite me) It’s a rainy and cold weekend here and at this moment a quiet one.  Yesterday I was at a friend’s home for a combo cookout/birthday party in Old Saybrook.  These were friends from the Women finding friends Meetup and I got to see Jackie B for the first time since the restrictions have been lifted in the state.  I also got to me another member who has been involved for a while but hadn’t been able to come regularly. 

Actually Gillion said she had to cull a lot of people from the group because they never come to the group’s activities.  She says it was down to four hundred members but now back up to 500. As usual the conversation got around to having people who complain about having to travel to activities in the other part of the state they don’t want to travel to.  I think the consensus is if you want to be a member of this group or don’t like the activities either makes your own groups or activities.   We are planning a few things for the summer.

I will be having lunch tomorrow with my sister and her family.  It’s the first time I have seen Nelson JR and his family since my Birthday Last year.  I can’t wait to hug them.  I have been keeping up with them via FB.  I know my sister had them over for a weekend late this spring.

Milford scheduled small activities to honor those who gave their lives in battle but not a parade.  That got a few people annoyed because the city is planning for the annual Oyster festival this year.  I am not getting into that discussion on FB.  I understand the logic behind it.

I chatted via Text with my brother this weekend as usual and still don’t know what his plans are for the holiday for him and Janis. 

I have no idea what angel Brother’s family is doing for the weekend.  I have seen the posts from John but it’s been about past activities of the week.  I called him earlier this month but never heard back from them.  His sister has been busy with performing arts (she did some podcasts about the performance arts projects.

  Earlier this month was the cousin chat and there were four of us.  I got there early because I was unsure the time.  After I arrive Judy came and then my cousin Elise who has been busy learning Spanish.  Her daughter was doing virtual SAT studying.  Elise’s Sister Maura joined us and eventually Elise’s and Maura’s Mom joined.  That was it just the four of us.  We chatted for about an hour as we all had something to do.  None of the other cousins came this time. 

I knew my sister wasn’t attending because there was a death in the family.  Nelson’s Brother died the previous Friday from heart failure while visiting their sister.   I didn’t go over at all during that weekend because they wanted it low keyed.  However, their children all stopped by.

In the weeks that passed since the family chat we were informed that a service would be held in June in Austin for My Aunt.  There is plans to have her and husband my Uncle Pete interned at Arlington national cemetery.  Liz and I won’t be attending the services in Austin but hope to attend the Arlington Cemetery service.

Everyone on the Coulombe side of the family seems to be doing okay.  Everyone is dealing their own reentering the world since the vaccines.  I haven’t heard much on the progress of the planned Family reunion this year. 

Work is going well.  We are making progress on the backlog scanning we have developed.  The patient CD uploading continues be an interesting task for me.  Some days better than others, I was a little nervous when I didn’t get many for the end of the week but AC said not to worry about. 

The contract negotiations continue as of right now and seem to be on a positive note this week.  Who knows what next week will bring?  The ultimate goal is to have it settled by the time student’s return to campus by September.

The University is requiring all staff, faculty, students who will be on campus to be vaccinated by August 1.  They will have to be tested on a daily basis until they are. 

Our IT guy that’s been assigned to our department left last week and the person who replaced him is a returning old friend Randy.  I am so glad I hadn’t seen him in a couple of years but did contact him when I learned he lost his father last year.

Commencement 2021 was last week and only the graduates could attend and it went well.  Hopefully next year will be back to the way it was.  I don’t even know if the Annual reunions were held. 

We said goodbye to JoelB the Cashiering Dept. Admin that has been in our department for the last 10 years.  Until we moved to Science Park they had to migrate to Finance and something (but still under University).  Anyway, back to Joel She is officially retired as of tomorrow.  She proved to be a good friend to me over the years.  I sort of met her replacement on Zoom for the party but didn’t get a chance to speak to him.

Life at the condo is going okay.  I finally managed to get the income taxes done in plenty of time and even managed a refund.  Now I just have to wait for the city taxes to be sent out to pay for them.  That discussion was proving to be stressful with Sis.  She was sure that the 2020 city taxes (property etc.) came out last year because she paid hers.  She thought I wasn’t doing my part on them.  I knew that they didn’t come out yet. 

I finally got the mattress for the sofa bed.  I think it’s been a week now since I got it.  I was highly disappointed in the delivery people.  Stupid people!  The actual sofa bed will now be here in July again.  It was moved to mid-June a few weeks back.

I am getting the hang of the AC unit.  It’s been working pretty well.  I have never had central ac before so trying to figure out how this works (it’s combined with the Heat) was a bit of challenge.

There hasn’t been any progress on getting rid of Lawyer BB.  He continues to ignore the requests New Lawyer has sent.  I know when I first mentioned we went to the new lawyer and how pleased I was with him but now not so much.  I have had to contact him regarding the status of the audit at least twice.  He hasn’t contacted me on his own.  He had promised to keep me updated.  I don’t feel I should have to contact him.  I have told Liz my feelings via text when she asked me if I heard from him and we discussed it further when we had coffee a couple of weeks ago.  She feels I should be kept in the loop and I have a right to ask.

I can’t help wonder if he has been in contact with LawyerBB and has decided to side with him?  I will be pissed.  If there really isn’t anything that can be done then please say so and let’s move.  Liz feels that this may just be the case.

The kitties are doing well. They are healthy.  They have been going after the chair but everything else they are behaving.  As I write this they are both sleeping on said chair. 

I am spending time this afternoon writing some of my pen pals.  I have a couple of new ones one from the UK and Australia.  They are both email pals.  I also have Sharmila from India she is from my journaling group. 

Of course I still get the guys requesting and I checked my ad on the penpals now website and it’s clearly written no men.  One day earlier this month I actually wrote back and told him he needs to learn to read better. It only fuels them to return the emails so I have gone back to deleting.

I am hoping to get an email to my friend DR. T.  I heard from her last month.  She was letting us know about a candidate she thinks will do well in the GA congressional race. 

I have also spoken to Mama Roberta a few times this past month.  She is planning on a trip to the east coast in a few days.  It will be for five weeks.

 

Christmas Recess has begun

 

                                                                                                                                      December 23, 2020

 

 

Dear Debra:

                Well the Christmas Recess has begun and I have been looking forward to it for a while.  I usually do every year as it is the break from work.  As you may remember over the years I am usually pet sitting for friends and usually splitting my time between two homes (and my own kitties).  It was tough.  When all I wanted to do is relax and be lazy or get ready for the holidays. 

Well as you know I have already said I am not doing much for the holidays because of the recent changes and of the finances.  The most decorating is the door hanger from Kristy I received and the tree from Dave and his gift and the Christmas cards I received so far.    My hope today is to get out Christmas cards to as many as I can.  I may have to find the New Year’s Eve cards I got last year and send them next week.

                You had asked me in our abridged session this week what I would be doing for the holiday and I asked Liz and she said dinner.  So like Thanksgiving it will be the four of us for a quiet dinner.  Liz and Nelson haven’t been in the Christmas spirit because of the Pandemic and quarantines.  They did get some creative ideas for gifts for the grandkids in state and shared them with them last week and it was a huge success.  I think it may have lifted their spirits a little.  We agreed that we would not be exchanging gifts this year.   Of course every time we say that either of us does give the other something. 

                The weather forecast for the Christmas holiday has called for a bad storm (mostly rain and high winds).  I have been getting weather alert updates from the cable company for the last couple of days now assuring customers they will be on top of things if something goes wrong.   I think I will need to go grocery shopping again this afternoon.  It’s going to be crazy there I am sure.

                I can’t believe it’s been over a week since we officially moved in.  It has become quite comfortable that we feel we have been here forever.   The cats are currently next to me sleeping.  Sky is under the blankets and Tiger is curled up on one side of the bed.  I have not had the urge to drive to the old place even once.   My plan is to do the office while on the recess.  I am already tired of having the door closed. 

I have to make some calls to Condo President today.  I have questions about the monthly fees like where do I send the check,  and do I pay for December?   If I miss more than three months in a row it will be messy and a Lien can be put on the condo.  I also want to check with him about having contractors submit their licenses prior to work.  When and where?

Once I get those questions answered I need to call a plumber to fix the water connection to the washing machine.  It is leaking and rusty.  I don’t want to spend $200 plus for this to be done.  I don’t know what a reasonable price is for it. 

Well I better get my day started.  Have a great one and I will check in with you again soon.

 

                                                                                                                                      Kate and the kitties

 

 

I don't know what I am going to do

 

While I was catching up with my blogging and watching TV last night there was a discussion with the amigos.  It started with our dinner next week.  Ann seems to think we should cancel it because the corvid 19 spike is up 6.1 percent.  Truthfully I don’t know what that means.  This is the data tracker and maybe you guys will understand it better than I can. 

I was spoke to Jim last night and seems to think I should be able to come down because well I am not sure why.  However if I read the instructions I have to fill out papers about my travel plans.  I can’t be bothered.  He says I can come down by 12 that day.  He says I could stay with him but did suggest that I could stay at a hotel.  I mentioned that I was trying to fiscally responsible. I told him I would look into it and that I was considering bNB’s but some of them would still be an hour away and apparently the BNBs don’t give out addresses until you book it.  I think that’s stupid.  The other reason I don’t want to have to self-quarantine when I get back is I would have to miss work.  I will be taking more time later that month for moving.

We had our first snow of the season.  Everyone on FB that is on my F-list is mentioning it in some capacity.  It started sometime after 8:30 that I am aware of and was done by 1.  The sun was out by the time I left the office but it was still pretty chilly.

It’s been hectic.  We have been getting emails left and right about mail and packages for people that are either not here (at home) or somewhere else and come in every other day.  Trying to logistically put it places where they could pick it up.  It annoyed AC but I do realize its part of the responsibilities of the mail department (that would be DG and I).

I got the mail done by 2 and spent the last hour or so working on a pen pal letter to Pam in OK.  It’s currently sitting in my mailbox to be picked up tomorrow.

 

 

 Liz came over tonight to show me the new car.  It isn’t a Honda Fit (the company doesn’t make them anymore.  This one is a HR-V and its beautiful.  She brought andrea with her too.  They took a look-see at the condo.

I told her I just received the insurance statement bill for th house and car and I asked her if I should tell the insurance company/agent about the changes.  She said not yet but she did suggest I make a list of all the things that need to be changed with new info.  I won’t bore you all with what they are but I am sure you have all had to do it.  We don’t know when the closing is and for all we know I could be in the condo by thanksgiving.

I also told her of the conversation I had with brother dear.  I don’t know if I explained it right that despite the rise in the numbers here he still wants me to come.  I did say he suggested a hotel.  She wasn’t all that thrilled.  He should have offered his bed and he take the couch but that’s what we as the womenfolk would do.  IF he doesn’t go for that idea then I probably shouldn’t go down. 

I also told Liz that I am not doing any extracurricular activities until after Thanksgiving. I want to come to her house for dinner that week.  I also reassured again that I wear the mask and get my temp and stand the 6 ft apart.  Liz explained to Andrea why I was telling her all this.  Andrea agreed but also said it’s hard for people like me.

I got a call from Chairman Phil this morning.  We talked about the news I left him on VM.  He was at the Zoom meeting for the DTC. The conversation was choppy to start with (the normal cellphone crap) I am a little annoyed that I didn’t get a link for the meeting and I looked for it.  If I don’t get on the first district and not attached to the DTC then may be it is time for me to go.

Tonight I sent a message to the Registrar letting her know I would be moving in the next several weeks and wondered what district I would be in.  I also tried to set up a new file for the new district and will keep my own notes and stuff so that I could be able to write them up for me (since I won’t be the secretary of that district).  I probably will keep the 4^th district past minutes.

OMG, I looked out the window and the moon is absolutely beautiful.  I also was watching the Duluth Harbor Cam tonight and that video was beautiful.  The moon itself was out of camera range but it lit up the sky beautifully and was the reflection off the harbor and water was equally beautiful.

Well it is almost 11 and I am starting to fall asleep.  There is so much I want and need to do before I go to sleep.

 

Still not quite the summer feeling

It is a beautiful morning.  The sun is shining and will probably play hide and seek with the beautiful clouds out.   It isn’t supposed to get any warmer than the low to mid 60’s.  I will be wearing a sweat shirt today.  I was still wearing flannel pajamas and a fluffy warm bathrobe this morning.   Tomorrow will be the same way it sounds.  All next week is not supposed to be so good. Shit

I heard some crows and almost a cheap noise and I looked up in the air and noticed the crows chasing a red tail hawk.  It’s been a while since I saw them do that usually they leave each other alone.  I was feeling bad for the hawk.  A short time later I notice Sky looking outside the window in the back room and he looked as though he was hiding from the bird that was in a bush.  As the bird flew away Sky Jumped up on the ledge and then jumped back down but still trying to keep an eye on the bush.  I would have taken a picture but there are still many boxes in the chair and it looked messy.

So we did our normal routine.   I watched TV for a short time and then came back upstairs and got under the blankets and did some surfing the net and did a little bit of the pen pal stuff.  I also fell back to sleep for a little bit. I slept very well last night and now want to get going on the rest of my day.

I had a great chat with Liz today she apologized for coming down hard on me for not taking the meds I am supposed to the way I am supposed.  Hence the reason I was having the spasms and the breathing.  I guess I don’t have to mention I am still feeling much better. 

After the conversation I went to look for twine for the boxes and I don’t  have any but I have a lot of shit that is probably too old and useless (glue, equipment).  I probably will need to put in some of the boxes and haul to the transfer station. Now if I can actually find it.

I went on my walk and was huge success. I Ran into some acquaintances of some friends of mine.   I went on another one just after 5 but it was a little shorter.  The battery on my phone was dying so I wanted to be home in time to get charged.  On both of the walks I stopped to rest and there were some moments that I had those spasms.  Some hurt more than others.  I still made the walks.

In between the walks I had a chat with Trainer Alex.  He was checking in with me and I was just heading to chipotle for lunch.  I got a salad (should have gotten more veggies in it).  I told him I just did a walk and the chipotle run and told him some of the stuff I had this past week.  Anyway he is interested in doing personal training sessions in video chat and there is an app on Facebook called Venmo.  I need to learn about it.  What I am finding out I don’t like.

I am going to go to bed now.   I didn’t think there was anything really good and there was a whole bunch of movies that I have seen 1000 times and so I needed to pull away from that right now.   Besides the Echoes radio program is on and almost over for the night.

The cats split their time between sleeping upstairs and ambling around the house.  I am not sure what happened but while I was still down in the cellar Sky yakked and it certainly didn’t look like a hairball.  Either he ate to fast today or I was picking him up too much.  He is fine now sleeping beside me on the bed.  Tiger is back on the cedar chest piles.

I will see you in the morning….

 

 

Cinco De Mayo day

Today is the day (originally) to celebrate the Mexican army winning the battle of Puebla?  Now its more about the culture of Mexico.  That includes the different foods of Mexico.    I plan on ordering Tacos for lunch later on today.  I love Mexican cuisine.

Today is also my Great Niece Sophie Elizabeth’s second birthday.  We will have a zoom meeting at 6 pm tonight to sing Happy Birthday.  I even suggested the country needs to have a holiday and call it Sophie Elizabeth Birthday.

This morning I have been finishing up blog entries that seem to be taking a lot of time to write (I worry that it doesn’t make sense) and watching TV.  I continued after the meeting and while I was cooking the stew meat.

I am still scratching my head at someone who contacted me about the sewing machine ad I placed on FB’s Market place a while back.  First he asks if it is available.  Then he had the nerve to ask me if I was on crack for asking $250 for it and he could get a new one for less.  I told him that since he was insulting it’s not for sale to him and to get lost.  You don’t like the price?  Then make a counter offer.  First off it’s not a regular sewing machine its one that makes arts and crafts specifically.  Don’t insult someone before you do business with them.

I had the committee meeting we are doing surveys to see how everyone coping with everything.  We talked about the future of the university and everything.  I am sure the membership will be getting one.

The mallard ducks have been making their daily trek to next doors yard.   There were there this morning but I haven’t seen them yet this evening.  For the first time in a very long time I saw not one but two rabbits yesterday in my yard. One sitting in the driveway he ran as it sensed me and the other one was in the front yard late last night as I closed up for the night.  The woodchuck has made several appearances this week.  Mostly in the back yard and close to the back door but think I caught the back end of one going under the front porch.

Its time for dinner and the birthday zoom…so I will say goodnight!

Had a very interesting Weekend

I was very sick on Friday.  I believe I had a stomach virus.  I was vomiting most of Friday and by Saturday I was sleeping the entire day away and getting up occasion for the required feeding and trips to the bathroom.  I was having a hard time walking but not realizing it until Sunday that it was swollen.

After several messages back and forth to neighbor Kim I decided to call my PCP and the on call doc returned and after listening to me explain he told me to go to the ER and get test for the Corvid19 virus.  I got dressed in my sweats and top and headed to YNHH.  I parked the car and the Valet parking took it and I waited for my turn.  I was taken in quickly and given basic triage.  Then   I was taken to the rest of ER and put in a room and this Doc told me I didn’t need the virus test.

However he did say I needed an ultra sound to see what the problem was with my leg.  So they eventually took me to DI.  I don’t know how long it took but after that they brought me back to ER.  It had to be 9 because NCIS:LA was on the TV.    Some time passed and they informed me I would be admitted to take care of the cellulitis and the noninclusive blood clot.  They had done some lab work earlier and put some kind of IV to start the antibiotic. 

I was in the ER until about 1:30 with an occasional visit from a variety of doctors.  One was thrilled I didn’t have the Virus and I would be going to the 7^th FL which was normally the Pediatric wing.   I am here to tell you it was brightly painted and brightly lit.   Once I got to the floor I was put in my room.  I was able to have a sandwich and something to drink. 

They took vitals, and I think they started giving some meds then and then again around 5 in the morning.  Not long after that my roommate started waking up.  She was quite a challenge.  I suspect she was autistic because she was loud or crying and elderly.   I couldn’t tell if she was speaking out loud or on the phone.  She would be going home later that night.  I was surprised that she left so late.  The next roommate came in the room at 5 Tuesday morning.  The area was cleaned and prepped two hours prior.

Tuesday I had breakfast and watched TV and got cleaned up.  Since I didn’t have a change of clothes I didn’t want to take a shower.  They did move me from the room to a “Parent’s room” to wait for my discharge papers.  There was some hold up that was making me anxious (printer not working).  So once that was taken care of she walked me to the elevators and I headed to ER to get my car and head home to my kitties and to the bed.

Since then I made a trip to pharmacy, made appointments for follow up , ordered a couple of meals, and got back to some sort of normal living. 

Valentines Day 2020

Today is a beautiful sunny but going to be very cold Valentine’s Day. Everyone whom I gave cards to received them and thanked me (well two out of three isn’t bad).  My two furry valentines were very lovable.  More than once during the night Sky slept on my shoulder. Sigh.  Somewhat different to yesterday and the last few days where it’s been rainy or cloudy.

I want to say that yesterday is becoming a blur for me but there were a couple of things that stuck out to me.  The fact I discovered I shortchanged a car payment and missed a couple of bills.  I was mortified.  I made sure the bills I were paying had the right amount.  The insurance payments went out yesterday and hopefully will be there in a couple of days.  The balance of the car payment should be there by Tuesday.  I have to say I am more relieved to have gotten the car insurance done but at the same time more bills are coming in (water, UI, the cable which is one I missed).

Found something very odd when I arrived.  I found poop all over the sidewalk.  I realized that the neighborhood/street must have had a visit from the Canadian geese that fly through the area daily.  I should probably take a hose and wash them down or let mother nature take care of it.

The folded cot is now in its new home.  The woman came around 5:30 and we with Neighbor Ben’s help got it in to the car.  Now all that I need to do is get the Christmas stuff to my friend Sharon’s.  I also need to move along with the cleaning out.

An argument erupted between Chairman Phil and MVB.  I decided that I would finally block MVB and his bitch wife because they are the most obnoxious bullies in the DTC.  An article was sent out by chairman for awareness purposes and MVB just went bonkers.  He is a detriment to The DTC and to the public.  I also know that if his wife ever reads this she better not come at me and demand I take it down.

Around 7 I called my Friend Karen in Florida.  We spent the next hour talking about her new place, my plans to downsize, and various classmates we have known over the years.  We are making plans to get together sometime in the summer.  I would go down and spend a few days there.

So, the rest of last night I ordered dinner watched TV until 9 and then went to bed.  Today I will go home make dinner and hopefully get to the gym and get an early sleep.  I have to be at the gym early tomorrow AM.

Labor Day weekend

Well its Labor Day weekend the unofficial end of summer (the last day of summer is in three weeks).  Friday I spent it working and clearing up before I took my two week vacation.  It was a last minute decision to take it.  I hope to get stuff done while home.

I did have my phone session with Deborah. While doing it I was also trying to order food from instacart. It was not fun to do not very easy I was so frustrated I end up being frustrated by other things.

Unfortunately today was not the day to do it. This morning I had the gym. Happily though we did not have to do 57 reps of all of the exercises. The gym was having end-of-summer bash and so we did our exercises outside. Everybody wished me a happy birthday since today is my birthday ;-)

I did pretty well even outside and I got a free birthday shake. I'll be coming back later for my 12:30 session with Alex. We did pretty well. He knows I wasn't there for 3 days but I will make it up to him this week.

In between the sessions at the gym I managed to answer some of my wonderful and many birthday wishes on Facebook. I will have to do more later or tomorrow.

I had lunch from Boston Market for Sesame Sweet Chicken and vegetables. Came home and add it unfortunately I ended up with a headache at some point this afternoon because I was sleeping on pillows that I should have been. After taking some aspirin I fell asleep on the couch it went away.

I actually had a really lazy afternoon spending it on the couch watching movies between Star Wars, The Hobbit, and all the PBS shows.

With the intention of I'm going into the bedroom to do some work I let the cats in and they stayed  afternoon until dinner time. I will probably get in there sometime tomorrow.

Well I'm going to go to bed now. Get up early and go to the gym and do some stuff and get ready for the rest of the weekend. Have a great one.

Happy Birthday AMerica!

Today America is Two Hundred and Forty Three years old.  Some how old i thought it was much older but obviously I am wrong.  There many posts on FB sending out holiday wishes. Sharing of pictures of different fireworks displays all around the country and state.    I Didn’t go to West Haven ones but those are getting rave reviews. I couldn’t see them from here. Usually at some point you could in the past.  I could barely hear them as well.

Since I had lots of coffee at the Meetup last night I ended up staying awake until 3 this morning.  At first I was upstairs in bed with Sky next to me and then I came downstairs and found Tiger on the couch cushion where Sky usually sits.  Sky came down eventually but I don’t remember where finally slept. I did fall asleep after I spent some time on the computer and until the alarm went off.  

I also heard the cats hissing at each other. I scolded them and then I rolled over on the couch and fell back to sleep until about 7.  It's been awhile since i did that. 

The cats have been fed and now I am having coffee and multitasking sort of.  The tV was on but nothing (not even Twister) is holding my interest right now.  I have to get ready for my exercise class soon.  

Father's Day 2019

To all of you have a blessed Father’s Day.  It will be a fairly quiet one here.  My Father has been gone over 30 years.  My brother B has been gone nearly seven years now.  My Brother J is in Allentown.  I spoke to him via text.  He has some plans but not alot.  Not sure what BIL is doing probably quiet as well.

Yesterday nearly killed me.  I had two exercise classes and did pretty well.  I like the renovations.  I also like our exercise classes are now in a separate area (as well as the personal training sessions) because you can’t be distracted except by myself.  It made me tired for the rest of the day. 

Not tired enough to stop me from a walk.  It was just over two miles and maybe over an hour.  I went around 4 after chatting with a few of the neighbors.  It was about 75 degrees at one point.  When I got home from it I was really tired by then.  Nearly fell asleep on the couch.

I did some laundry and fed the cats and then went upstairs and did some crossword puzzles before going to sleep.

After a several year absence mr.Woodchuck has made an appearance last night and headed under the back room. I am sure he or his family have been before and I missed it.   Lovely.  On my trip to the grocery store today I bought a couple of boxes and threw them in.  Now i have to wait.

I had bingo this afternoon and did some grocery shopping.  Therapist Kathy was there and didn’t realize I would be there.  Um? Really.  I had to think when the last time i was there and it was on the 2nd.   I discovered my one of my residents “Ann” passed away on Thursday.  She was always a fun lady.  She was my sidekick in bingo.  She hasn’t been well for several months.  There wasn’t a lot of residents today.  My male patient kept falling asleep during bingo.  He has been doing this a lot.  The next time I am there is in two weeks.

After bingo I went to Shop rite.  I got everything on my list and it took me about an hour.  I managed to save $10.  Yet I spent under $200.  While I was thereI ordered the biales for Mama.  They don’t ship for this so I have to have it shipped and I hope it won’t be a lot of trouble.  I will pick it up tomorrow.  I think i can ship it out on Tuesday.  I called Mama and left a message.

I was going to cook a lot of shrimp today (it's defrosting now) but decided to go with a small pork roast.  I was going to do some more cooking but I got tired out and my leg wasn’t cooperating.

I had a nice phone session with Debra this evening.  We will be doing phone sessions for the next few weeks as she is on vacation.  We talked about the highlights and accomplishments of my week.

It’s raining right now it's been raining for a couple of hours despite the fact the weather report said no rain tonight.  

Purim Party

It is early in the morning I haven’t gone walking yet.  Decided to sleep in longer after going to bed so late yesterday.  Today we went to a Purim Party in Summerlin.  It was held at Community Center and with People that Mama met and apparently knew through other associations it was so funny.  There was some refreshments and (and I ate the fresh fruit and had coffee).

Afterwards we we went to a Bagel cafe.  I had ordered tossed Salad and huge bowl of chili.  The chili filled me up so I couldn’t eat the salad but saved it for a dinner tonight.  It was delicious and the restaurant was great and locate in one of the many Shopping centers all around the city and area.  

Afterwards we headed to the Summerlin Cottonwood Canyon trail which is located near a senior Center near another shopping center.  There are plenty of shopping centers every 1000 feet or so. We only did a half mile walk on it but it is supposedly much longer. Very good for bikers, dog walkers,  and slow people like myself. We made a quick pit stop at the said Senior Center and then headed home.

We took the highway 215 as it was getting late and close to the end of the work day.  Happily the sun had been out for a couple of hours by then and made the scenery vibrant and beautiful.  If I had been tired prior I wasn’t. THe walk and the scenery was rejuvenating.

We took a tour of the rest of the development before coming back to the house.  We had dinner at home and then R and I took an hour long walk in the outer rim of the development.  We checked the internet while M watched a show from Netflix.

I did call my nephew in CO but he hasn’t returned my call.  I would imagine he was working. I hope he will call me so we can chat.  I did send a message to Jim to let him know because I only heard from him earlier this morning.

Sent text to K back home and to Sis...

Then did some laundry.

I spent about 30 minutes on the treadmill and made my 12000.  I had already sent an email to AW for the food logs and an hour earlier so I wanted to make sure I had done the 12000.  By the time I got to bed i had done 200 more.

Today is my grandmother's Birthday

Today is not only St Patrick Day but my maternal Grandmother’s 123 Birthday.  She was born in Ireland and came to the US with her siblings at a young age in New Haven.  I don’t recall very well exactly how she got here or why her parents weren’t with her but she became fiercely independent that made her the person she was.  

There are so many different stories on what her life was like here.  She met and married my grandfather and they moved to Milford and raised their family until my grandfather died young.  She ended up working in jobs that women didn’t usually get.  THey had a large family as well.  Some of my older cousins are well into their 80’s as well.

Unfortunately the stories and my memories of her are tainted because of what she was like and how she treated people over the years before she had dementia and whatever.  She was always divisive and thought nothing of criticizing and cutting people down in front of others. 

I do remember the parties we would have for her and they were huge and we got to see family we hadn’t seen during the year.  Those were nice but I suspect even those times were divisify.

Don’t get me wrong I loved my family despite the dysfunctional crap that went on but these are  the memories I carry with them.  I would learn later that things were not always perfect in each of the branches of the family tree.  I never realized until all of our parents were dead that many had difficult times with my grandmother as well as their own parents.  Now I guess some of them laugh it off.  I can’t but I realize there is nothing I can do about it but recognize it.

So today i didn’t get up until 6:30!!  I was awake before that and trying to sleep but you know who was trying to wake me up.  I got up fed them and got on the couch for an hour.  It felt great to sleep in that late but it still makes me nervous about Tuesday’s alarm.

It is a lot cooler than yesterday but there is sunshine.  For how long is not clear.  There doesn’t seem to be any rain in the forecast.  If that’s the case then this will be a good day to clean out my car and and another walk.

I did check the weather forecast for LV.  it's going to be in the 70’s but cloudy (probably sunny and cloudy) for the first few days.  It looks like it will be mixture of sun and clouds for the entire time I am there.  The weather here looks almost the same except for the second half its supposed to rain the entire week.

I am trying to get anything done that won’t be in Livia’s way tomorrow.  I actually sent her a message to see if she is coming this week.  I got a reply 20 minutes later.  She is coming.  So I will do my errands so she can work.

I made more shrimp and had that for lunch.  I also burned my finger..and it yes it hurts.  Note to self?  If something hot drops on the stove wait.