Powerless

Dang, life gets hard without electricity.  The worst is not having any water.  Try brushing your teeth without water, and you can't even wash your hands.  You don't know what quiet is until you live alone on the top of a hill in the middle of nowhere with a dog that doesn't bark and two cats who sleep all day.  Once again PG&E said the outage was due to predicted high winds...that never came.  In the 90s, even a puff of breeze would have been welcome.  Daylight comes late and dark comes early, but in between I did get a book read.  With the limited light, it took all three days, but it kept my mind occupied.  Michael and I were out for a walk yesterday; on the way back to the house I heard the TV!  Glory be!  We ran (slowly) back in and, yes, the TV was on and the fan was running!  The first thing always after such an event it to flush the toilet!  We get so used to 'modern' conveniences that we don't think twice about them until they're not there.

I was grateful that the power came back in time to watch the first presidential debate/debacle.  A good portion of my time is spent watching MSNBC news (I try to stay informed) and I would have hated to miss that event.

Usually, the first thing I do every day is write an entry here, but today I got caught up on FB first, especially to see how relatives in the Santa Rosa area were faring.  So far, so good.

Boy, did I ever miss the computer!  It's a lifeline to the outside world.  Glad to be back, for sure!

Stay safe.  Be well.

Cooks And Crooks

Ah, Saturday, my day for cooking shows.  I saw some good recipes and techniques yesterday, but admit to a tinge of sadness.  I have no one to cook for anymore.  I wonder what the holidays will be like this year.  Thanksgiving last year was reduced to KFC, but at least the family was here.  Christmas was the last time we were all together.  Boohoo.

The afternoon was spent in the company of Tom Selleck (hey, it could be worse!) and the Bluebloods family.  Too many of the new cops-and-robbers series are a little too gory for my taste.

PG&E has sent notice that they intend to cut our power this afternoon, may be out until Tuesday.  Aarrgh!  This time, as it was the last time, is due to projected high winds.  Last time, the strong winds were, as one local wag put it, enough to blow a leaf clear across his driveway.  Ah well, better safe than sorry.  I do appreciate the advance warning.  Time to fill the water bowls and trough, do the dishes, and take a shower.

It's been awhile since I've included a photo of a sunset.  The last hurrah last evening was spectacular.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Morning Song

There is such an advantage to getting up early, the early bird, as it were.  A rooster on property to the east sounds reveille to start the day.  There is a flock of pedestrian turkeys, maybe ten or so, that comes through just about daybreak.  They talk amongst themselves, quietly and constantly.  If it's still semi-dark, owls ask the eternal question, "Whoo?"  Quail tend to sleep in.  I haven't heard them calling for the missing Rod-RI-go yet.  The oak tree over the woodpile is filled with sparrows and the dinky birds, all up and talking at the same time.  They wake up the raucous woodpeckers who state their displeasure at length.  Pretty soon the crows will chime in.

While mornings are not quiet here, it was startling today just at first light when someone across the road fired four shots from a large-caliber handgun.  It leaves one to wonder at what and why...a mystery.

Well, all the birds seem to have gone about their business for the day and they're setting a good example for me.

Stay safe.  Be well.

One-Trick Pony

Actually, I have quite a few tricks up my sleeve, but of late I've only been pulling out one a day.  Inertia is hard to overcome, and I do inert very well.  I could/should dust.  Oh let it be, that dust isn't hurting anyone.  It's not nearly so satisfying to dust on a regular basis.  It's hard to tell you've done anything until you can write your name.  I'll put that on the list.

Benadryl doesn't put you to sleep, but it does cause a deep sleep and I've been waking up after daybreak...that's really late for me, especially since dawn comes later now.

There are times when I wish I hadn't made it my mission to write almost exclusively about farm life, my life.  Given the current political circus arena, I rant and rave, sometimes aloud, alone in the house.  I would love to give vent to my opinions and feelings, because as it is the only ones to hear me are the dog and cats, and they don't care and can't vote anyhow.  Ah well...just as well I keep these thoughts to myself.

Let's see.  Yesterday was 'clean the cat box' day.  I wonder what trick I'll pull out of the hat today.  I think I'll just let it be a surprise.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Slow Progress

The Benadryl is helping...slowly.  Most of the heat and some of the redness and swelling are gone from my arm.  I'm getting my wrinkles back!  At least I don't look like the bride of Frankenstein, made up out of extra parts, now.

I've cut way back on watching the news.  That has caused some anxiety, but I'm coping.

One game of sudoku (okay, two) a day.  I'm failing miserably at cutting out solitaire, but nobody said this would be easy.

I've found a channel that plays old reruns of "Bluebloods."  That is, for me, a feel-good show.  It's a good way to stay away from the news.  Trying to cope with everything that is happening out in the world was getting to me.  As much as I can't understand the what and why of it all, even more I can't understand those who post such division on FB.  This truly is a time when we should all be pulling together.  We should be able to disagree without such rancor.  So says the sage on the hill.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Childproof

It is said that as one ages, one becomes more childlike.  I know for sure that, at least in one aspect, that is true.  I can't open a darned thing.  In an effort to protect the little ones, packaging has become so difficult that the contents are safe from me, too.  I did go to the doctor yesterday about my arm...nothing for it but to wait it out another week or so, but he did suggest Benadryl.  I did stop and pick up the medication.  Yeah, well.  The pills were packed in one of those blister-packs.  It took ten minutes and a really sharp knife to get one dose.  No wonder they help you sleep...you're exhausted by the time you get to bed.

I have the same problem with some plastic bottles.  The caps are designed with children in mind.  I could die in the Sahara by the time I get the cap off to take a drink.  It takes a screwdriver and pliers to accomplish the deed.  Even cardboard boxes are a challenge, and then the contents are wrapped in layers of plastic to work through.  A bag of chips is so well sealed that the bag explodes by the time you've pulled hard enough.

I throw a childish temper tantrum as the manufacturers save me from myself.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Addicted

I'll admit I'm hooked...addicted to the news, as well as computer solitaire and cellphone sudoku.  I blew this entire morning on solitaire, "By golly, I will beat this thing!"  Ordinarily I would start watching the news as soon as Michael and I come in from our walk, but not today.  They say the first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem.  When entire days go by and I've not moved, that's a problem.

I don't know if I can go cold turkey, so I'm going to try starting in small increments.  Three games only, regardless of the outcome.  The news is going to be harder.  I'll try to cut back to maybe just one hour.  The world is spinning out of control and I've felt the need to try to keep up.  It's not working.  I may need to add some time with this one as we get closer to election.

I'll try convince Michael to help me stay on the straight and narrow; he's been looking for a job and he is, after all, a support dog.

Wish me luck.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Reading Material

Whenever Michael isn't snoozing, he is watching me.  It was a little unnerving at first, until I realized he is watching for signs that I might need him.  I wish I had more for him to do as he is a dog who is meant to serve.

As time has passed, I've also learned how to read Michael.  Sometimes he lies by the front door, sometimes he sits there looking out.  That's okay.  If he sits by the door looking back at me, that's the first sign he'd like to go out.  If I'm slow on the uptake, he'll go over to sit by the door to the deck, more in my line of sight, and look at me.  If he could, he'd say, "Ahem, lady, a little more attention, please."  Should I still dawdle, he'll come over to sit in front of me and start tapping his right foot.  He reminds me of my impatient father who would jangle the keys in his pocket while waiting for my mother to finish getting ready to go.  "Want to go walkies, Michael?"  The ears go up and he heads for the door, waiting for the leash to go on.  Because he has such limited freedom, Michael gets to choose where we go on our outings and has his choice of watering spots (he does the watering).  The only place I will not go anymore is out in the west field lest we run into the wasps again.  It's been a week and my arm is still red, hot, and swollen.

Michael is not a demonstrative dog, so I am thrilled when he gives my hand a tiny kiss, and take it as a sign of affection.  We've both learned that if he stands in front of me in a certain way, he'd appreciate a butt scrub.  He asks for so little, I'm happy to comply.  After he's had a snack from his bowl, he comes looking for dessert.  I keep tiny milk-bones in my pocket.  He is so darned smart.  He understands sign language.  I will hold up from one to three fingers and he knows that's how many treats he will get.  After receiving the designated amount, he turns and goes away without being told, "That's all."

I could do worse for reading material.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Fortunate One

(Apologies to Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Fortunate Son," 1969 song.)

With the house off limits, I had thought to take my porch guest up to Bones, a local watering hole, for lunch.  They have outdoor seating and it was a nice day (again).  When Lorraine started unloading the trunk of her car in the morning, I realized there would be a change of plans.  Ohmigosh, prosciutto, fancy salami, umpteen different cheeses, crackers, chocolate-dipped figs...a veritable feast!  She even brought fancy treats for Michael, and potted flowers for me.  Needless to say, we lunched al fresco, sharing her largess, taking our time and talking for hours.  I hadn't seen Lorraine for years and we had a lot of catching up to do.

Michael did what Michael does.  He politely accepted a treat, made sure our guest was welcome, and excused himself to go back in the house.  I think he finds people talk boring.

When the sun moved overhead and started heating the porch, it was time for Lorraine to leave and for me to take a well-fed nap.

It was a good day and I was, indeed, a fortunate one.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Surreal

Just this past week the skies were filled with smoke and we were sweltering.  Yesterday it rained just a tad, but real rain, and later there was pure blue overhead with a few white clouds.  This morning I needed a long-unused robe, it's that chilly.  Go figure.

In the afternoon I switched on the news only to catch the first announcement that Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died.  She was a force of nature in a tiny body, and has long been a hero of mine.  She accomplished more for the rights of women than anyone thought possible.  She brought me out of the 'Father Knows Best' and June Cleaver era.  Even her last dictated words were for the good of the United States of America.  At least in this house, the Notorious RBG will be missed.  She left a grand legacy.

With the change in weather, the goats were playful and running in their pen.  It's been quite a while since that happened.  Michael stood and sniffed the clean air, probably checking on those smells he hadn't enjoyed in some time.  FYI, there will be a 'blue moon' on October 31.  Let's hope the skies stay clear enough to see it.

'Porch company' is coming today.  It's pretty bad when you have to warn a guest that you will not even be able to offer bathroom privileges.

Stay safe.  Be well.

It's Raining!

No kidding, it's really raining!  Morning skies have been grey for so long, it never occurred to me that those could be rain clouds.  Wow!  It's not going to last long, just long enough to turn the dust on Truck's windshield to mud, but it sure is welcome, all the same.

Sitting outside with Michael yesterday, listening to the woodpeckers storing up for winter in the trees got me to thinking about those groaner knock-knock jokes.  They weren't so popular back in my day, but they were all the rage when my Kids were growing up and I suffered through years of them.  If they didn't know any, they made them up.  Groan.

I self-indulged a bit yesterday, succumbing to an urge for Beef Chow Fun from the little Chinese restaurant in Pleasant Valley; I was up there to go grocery shopping.  They are take-out only now, so that worked out fine for me.  Ohmigosh, it was so good!  I don't eat a lot of protein anymore, but the beef sure hit the spot.

I can't be the only one inundated with scam phone calls.  I got seventeen in three days from the same "company," and at least one a day every day from others.  It is terrible that so many are willing to take advantage of a terrible time in our lives, and sad that so many will believe the threats, etc., and lose money.

That little dab of rain didn't amount to much, but maybe it settled the dust.  I'll take it!

Stay safe.  Be well.

Slo Mo

Aside from the fact that it's been really painful, as an interested observer, watching my arm move backward and forward through time in slow motion has been pretty interesting.  It started out as a skinny, wrinkledy 80-year-old arm and then, as the swelling progressed, all the crinkles ironed out and the arm became that of a plump 20-year-old.  Who knew?  As the swelling slowly recedes (not gone yet), the time machine switched to forward and the arm is starting to match its mate once again.  Michael's walks have been curtailed because I'm just not willing to go out into the west field where the wasp attack occurred.  Since I also move in slo mo, I couldn't get away in time and I sure don't want a recurrence.

I'm seeing more and more vultures these days.  They're probably getting ready for migration.  They line up on the power line, big, awkward birds trying to walk the tightrope.  Vultures are silent, crows are not.  Crows will also join on the line, yelling their heads off as if to say, "See what I can do and you can't!"  Crows definitely have an attitude.

I don't know where they're staying, but every day now a train of quail goes back and forth on the front drive, still calling for the missing Rod-RI-go.  They definitely entertain the cats.

My daughter tells me that the air quality has improved in the valley.  Unfortunately, the breeze that cleared smoke in their area is slow in moving to the hills.  We're still in the thick of it and I'm definitely feeling its effects, as are we all.

Kleenex at the ready, it's time to slowly ease into the day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Red Hot Mama

With absolutely no reference to Sophie Tucker, billed as 'The Last Of The Red Hot Mamas,' a woman of many talents, active on stage and screen from 1903-1965, I was, in fact, a red-hot mama yesterday.  It was almost fascinating to watch the swelling, heat, and redness grow in the wasp-stung arm yesterday.  Aside from the fact that it hurt like blue blazes (my, all these colorful descriptions), the swelling continued from nearly the shoulder to the wrist until I could hardly bend the arm, and the skin was so taut it was stretched to the max and itched.  The right arm was twice the size of the left.  Not a pretty sight.  Needless to say, nothing got done and I didn't care.

It's some better this morning...at least I have an elbow again.  Still red, still hot and painful, with squooshy edema, but better!  I have not one good word to say about wasps, believe me.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Ouch!

Another humdrum day.  Oh well.  On our last walk of the day, Michael and I made our usual rounds.  Out by what used to be the garden, I did hear the buzzing of insects in the dusk, but didn't think much about it until I felt what seemed to be a red-hot needle in the back of my arm.  Thankfully, Michael was done with his business and we could head back to the house.  Oh crum.  I'd been hit by a wasp.  I am particularly susceptible to insect bites/stings and in no time at all my arm started swelling.  Well, that's one way to smooth out the wrinkles.  Hot and painful, there's nothing for it but to wait it out.  I'm thinking it was a nest of ground wasps, but the next time we go out, I'll be armed with a can of wasp spray.  I'm grateful it was just me and not Michael who got hit.

That was enough excitement for one day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

A Loss For Words

Another do-nothing day leaves one at a loss for words; there's just nothing much to say.  I preface every complaint about the debilitating smoke by saying I'm grateful there are no nearby fires, but even Michael has trouble breathing when the air is this thick.  Our walks are much shorter these days.  We sit at the picnic table under the oaks and hope for a puff of breeze.  It is cooler and we're grateful for that.

I've mentioned Lucy Worley, who, it turns out, is an historian and curator of the historic royal palaces, including the Tower of London.  She is also darned funny, and has a great time dressing up in period costumes and acting the part.  I watched another of her specials yesterday.  Due to the virus, all of the palaces are empty of tourists and we got an up-close-and-personal look at areas that would have been crowded under other circumstances.  For an avowed Anglophile, it was fascinating.

Years ago, when people still wrote letters, I had a pen pal in England.  He was the owner of a pub then, but fell on hard times and rather than go on the dole, he returned to factory work.  We corresponded for several years and I learned of his wife and two children.  I had the opportunity to go to England and had hoped to meet Brian and his family, but his work schedule didn't correspond and we lost the chance.  Over time, we also lost touch.  It had been fun.

The sun is up and I still can't see the hills across the way, so I guess we're in for a repeat of the many days before.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Off To The Races

After the obligatory cooking shows, NASCAR threw me a surprise with a Saturday race, as if my calendar wasn't confused enough as it is.  There went what feeble plans I might have had for the day.  That's okay, the smoke is still so thick it isn't healthy to be up and moving all that much.

It really is much cooler...not cool, mind you, but certainly better.  Even without any other indicators, I can tell the nights have become chill...the cats are back on the bed.  They disappeared during the hottest spell, and that was just as well.  Celeste has resumed her usual spot, but Ralph has a new routine.  He waits until I'm just drifting off to join the group and comes up to pat my face.  What?!  "I just wanted to let you know I'm here."  "Okay, now lie down and go to sleep."  "I can't.  I want you to make a cat cave."  Pat, pat, pat.  Okay, so I make a cat cave.  "That's a good one, but I'm not sleepy yet," and he goes to check on Celeste and Michael.  Pat, pat, pat.  "I'm ready now.  Please make a cave."  I tent the sheet and he crawls in.  By the time he starts snoring, I'm wide awake.  I love him, but sometimes he's a pain in the patoot.

The virus sure has changed horse racing.  The Big Three are completely out of order, and the Preakness won't run until October third.  If he runs again, my nickel will be on Authentic.  He did well by me in the Derby.

Since NASCAR ran yesterday, I have no excuses for today.  Might as well get to it.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Along For The Ride

It is a toss-up as to who is accompanying whom when Michael and I go to town.  Sometimes I feel I am just the chauffeur and spokesperson for the principal character.  "Oh, what a beautiful dog!  What kind is he?"  "How old is he?"  "May I pet him?"  "I had a dog just like him...best dog I ever had."  "I just love his name" (well, he picked it).  It's like that wherever we go.  Michael takes it in stride, like royalty.

It's my job to drive him to the best piddle places, just as it's his job to give equal attention to all growing things:  flowers, bushes, trees, and twigs.  Michael is an equal-opportunity piddler.  He never met a post he didn't like.  I stand by like the loyal servant or lady-in-waiting while he takes care of the serious business.

Michael had to do some waiting of his own yesterday.  Some years (yes, years) back, all the Kids had given me a huge gift certificate for massage, generally unused.  Not that I don't love and appreciate a massage, it's much like why I don't stop for lunch in town.  All I want to do is tend to business and go home.  I've always been prone to tension knots in my back and recently had developed a couple of nearly crippling doozies, and I had the solution right there in my wallet.  I called, not sure such a one-on-one business would be open due to the virus.  She answered, so I asked about her preventive measures, and also if she would allow a dog to come in.  All answers were satisfactory, so that was our main stop yesterday.  It was Michael's turn to wait.  As could be expected, he found a spot under the table and napped while I was in back-rub heaven.  I'm not going to wait so long for a return trip to nirvana.  Michael can come along for the ride.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Rambling Rose

Once upon a time, long, long ago, I was assistant to the administrator of a hospital in Southern California.  As such, I was in contact with all the employees, many of whom became friends.  One such worked in housekeeping.  Sydney was a large woman and, she would tell you, not particularly feminine, but she was up for just about anything.  I must have read an ad or something, but I asked Syd, "Hey, let's take these belly-dancing classes!"  "Okay."  And we did, acquiring zills (finger cymbals) and the floating, low-slung skirt costumes.  We were something!  Syd wasn't married.  My husband thought I'd gone bonkers.  It was fun.  On our day off, I'd call Syd.  Sometimes she couldn't come over because she was changing the tranny (transmission) on her van, but other times she would.  My boys loved Syd.  She always had time to arm wrestle with them, and usually she won.  My thoughts rambled to Sydney the other day when it was too hot to do much but think, and I remembered a beautiful amethyst ring she'd given me.  It was special to her because her mother had given it, inscribed to Sydney, on her graduation day.  It, and Syd's memory, are special to me.

Another perhaps unlikely friend was Don, the chief engineer of the hospital.  I had bought a motorcycle.  It wasn't a big bike, a 360 cc Honda, and when I bought it, I didn't know how to ride.  With intestinal fortitude (guts) and a lot of practice, I learned.  This was back in the early '70s and there weren't a lot of female bikers.  Eventually I would ride the bike to work, carrying my skirt and heels in a sack.  My boss, the administrator, and I had an agreement.  We would not speak until I'd gone into a closet, took off my helmet, changed from jeans and boots to 'lady clothes,' and came out to say good morning.  When Don found out I rode a motorcycle, he asked me to ride with him and his second-in-command.  These guys rode big-boy bikes, Harleys and 1,000 cc Gold Wings, but they put up with my putt-putt.  Riding a motorcycle was a freedom I'd never known, and I treasured my friendship with these men.  When I left that job, Don gave me a plain turquoise necklace he'd worn for years.  Another treasure in my memory bank.

Enough rambling.  It's actually cool this morning and I've got things to do and places to go.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Random Thoughts

I know, I know...PG&E is being 'cautious,' but it does seem cruel to cut the power during a heat wave so they can check the lines and equipment in fire season.  Couldn't they keep up with all that during the rest of the year?  George nailed it when he said we spent two days in a sauna.  The heat on Tuesday was the worst, absolutely stifling, too hot to move, let alone do anything.  Yesterday was cooler, but the smoke was thick, so thick that I waited for daylight to start a new book, then waited for the sun to get higher because there was no light.  It was like that all day, thick dark smoke that made it hard to breathe and I felt like my myopic sister as I held the book close to my face to see the words.  The relief when the electricity came back on a little after 5 last night was tremendous.  The ceiling fan felt like honest-to-goodness A/C.  Twenty minutes later PG&E called to tell me power had been restored.  Gee, thanks.

The cats sat at the screen door and watched the passing parade of turkeys and quail.  With so few people out and about, the birds became emboldened.

What did I miss?  Not cooking, because I wasn't hungry.  George's peaches kept me alive.  I missed flushing the toilet (hey, we're down to basics here).  I missed watching the news:  what was happening out in the world, were there fires close by, what screwball thing had the politicians got up to...the things inquiring minds want to know.  I missed taking a shower, wearing clothes stiff with sweat.

I kept Michael's head damp with the spray bottle, unable to hose him down.  He drained his water dish, so I made do with ice cubes that melted almost as soon as I filled the bowl.

My cellphone was down to its last cell, so I took Michael with me to sit in the truck and run the engine, the air conditioner, and the gizmo that would recharge the phone.  Michael must have wondered why we weren't going somewhere; it wasn't worth explaining.

I really appreciated the friends who called to check in.  Unlike my wireless phones that store names and numbers, the landline is a basic telephone like the old days with none of the frills.  All of the necessary info was on the powerless wireless.  Remember how many phone numbers we used to keep stored in our heads?  I saved the cellphone for emergencies.

What a pleasure it is to have light at the flip of a switch, to be able to turn on the TV and hear human voices, to have the computer back again!

Stay safe.  Be well.

Fair Warning

Between multiple robocalls and texts, PG&E is doing their best to let us know they may cut power Tuesday through Wednesday...subject to change, of course.  While I am certainly not looking forward to being without electricity, I do appreciate the warnings.  It's given me time to take care of what I can, making sure the water trough and bowls are topped off, laundry is done, and I'm working my way through the kitchen.  There is a flashlight by the bed, and all electrical gizmos are charged to the max.  Nothing can prepare a person, though, for the oppressive heat of summer without even a ceiling fan or the unearthly quiet of a house without even a ticking clock.  Yesterday I took poor, panting Michael out on the deck and hosed him off, soaking him to the skin.  By now he knows what's coming and seems grateful for the relief, giving just one or two shakes (that's how I get my shower) before we head back into the house.  His breathing was ever so much better and he dropped into a deep sleep.

We didn't go for the proposed drive because I needed to watch other riders (horse racing) and drivers (NASCAR).  This long weekend has thrown my calendar, such as it is, out of whack.  I also watched a fascinating three-part series on the royal Windsor family of England.  I'm a person of eclectic tastes.

Speaking of tastes, George had brought a packet of his homemade ratatouille, a perfect light, healthy summer dinner.  I was going to stretch it to two meals, but, well, I gorged and ate it all.  And I'm not sorry.

I was speaking with Tinka in the morning when the smoke was so thick the sun couldn't make a dent and there were no shadows even at noon.  We commiserated about our teary eyes and drippy noses, a constant, irritating condition during smoky days.  She caught the first hint of a patch of blue overhead and said, "I think it's coming your way!"  She was right, and before we finished our conversation the sky was clear here, too, but, boy, did the heat drop down on us like an anvil.  Oh well.

If the power company wasn't fibbing, I've got today to finish preparing for the outage and descent into hell.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Road To Nowhere

Michael and I may just go for a ride today, no destination in mind.  Nature has cranked up the heat to just below unbearable, and Truck has A/C!  It was close to 90 degrees in the house at midnight last night, just to paint the picture.  George wasn't being cruel when he texted to say they were in an air-conditioned heaven over there...because I was offered sanctuary and a cold beer.  Those are true friends.  However, it was Kentucky Derby Day and I was gripping the remote in sweaty hands to see if 'my' horse would win and couldn't leave.  (I came out a five-cent winner!)

The thick smoke is back and it's heating up again.  Wait, did it ever cool off?  I guarantee not much will get done today.  We're in an endless cycle on a road to nowhere.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Just For Laughs

Yesterday was such a good day.  George is not only the bringer of goodies (always including cookies for Michael), he is a raconteur and I was oh-so-ready for a laugh.  Sitting on the porch at the obligatory distance, he told stories about his three eccentric uncles that made my relatives seem positively dull.  We delved a bit into our histories and got to know each other better.  Michael, like any kid, got bored with the grownups' talk and asked to go into the house.

Before he left, I asked George to look under the hood while I started Truck to see if there were any sparks because I can't do both at once.  There were none!  George took a thorough look at all the wiring, cables, and other guy-things kept there (I wouldn't know a solenoid if it fell on my foot) and proclaimed Truck safe and ready to roll.  What a relief.  Evidently Truck had just had a cranky morning.  He sure had pushed my panic button and had me jumping through hoops.  I was jumping for joy after George's checkup.

In the afternoon I had a call from one of my sons who has been having some health issues.  I got the lowdown on that, and then we had time to play catch-up and do some reminiscing and had us laughing at shared memories.

Yep, it was a good day.

Stay safe.  Be well.

As The World Turns

"As The World Turns," TV soap opera that ran from 1956 to 2010, 54 years!  (And I never saw a single episode.)

What with everything that's going on, or, more to the point, what's not going on in the world these days, it sometimes feels like we're stuck in time and nothing will ever change, that the world has stopped turning.  Just this morning, however, I got a hint that it has not.  Daybreak was almost an hour later than it has been.  It's September and we're heading into Fall.  I'll admit I can't really remember Spring.  The virus took over and we headed into what seemed like endless Summer.  Just the fact that the seasons are changing gives me hope that things might get better.  If nothing else, cold weather will make staying indoors a comfort and not a punishment.

The shop can't take Truck until the middle of next week, so we're still in No-Go mode.  Sigh.

Hold the good thought.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Stop And Go

Well, today will be a crapshoot.  AAA Guy came yesterday morning, asked Truck's symptoms, and I told my tale of woe with the squirrels.  "Well, let's just take a look under the hood."  "Looks pretty good to me," he said.  He took the keys, got in, and wouldn't you know the truck started right up.  Aarrgh!  He laughed, I apologized, and he left.

That is not the end of the story.  In my ignorance, I had said battery wires...again.  Anyone who has followed this saga knows that this is exactly how the whole foofah started.  It was not until much later that it dawned on me that of course the battery cables were fine, it undoubtedly was the aptly named spark plug wires.  Remember I'd nearly set the truck on fire with their sparks...three times!  I couldn't bring myself to go look yesterday.  I will have to today because I don't know if the critters have used the wires for appetizers or if yesterday was a one-time fluke.  I don't know if I can drive Truck down to the shop or if, say it isn't so, I will have to call AAA Guy back again.

I know I said that I wasn't going to move for a week.  I just didn't know how true that was.

Stay safe.  Be well.

Ready, Set...Stop!

Oh good grief, either I am or Truck is cursed...cursed by the accursed squirrels.  No, I did not get the trash down to the big road yesterday.  I fell asleep in the chair and stayed there all night.  No big deal.  I woke up at 4:30 this morning and had plenty of time to beat the Trash Man.  Uh huh.  Loaded Michael in front and the trash bags (yes, plural) in back, started the engine (no problem) and backed up, ready to go.  Not.  Put it in drive and a warning sound blared and a light came on, telling me that once again there was a battery problem and Truck just quit, right there in the driveway.  It's a really good thing I have no close neighbors, even if they'd been awake, because being married to a sailor and with two sons in the Navy have given me a vocabulary that would make an admiral blush, and it seemed appropriate to roar every word I've learned.  Not again!  This will make four times the battery wires have had to be replaced.  I should just buy stock in that company.

Okay, on the bright side...(hey, I'm tryin' here) Truck quit in my driveway and not down on our narrow dirt road.  Wouldn't that have been a mess?  Given that this is the FOURTH time, Scott won't have to spend time diagnosing the problem.  Because there is a big trash bin down in Mt. Aukum, maybe they will let me put my stuff in there, which would be a good thing because I'd just thrown out a lot of stinky out-of-date stuff from the refrigerator.  Fingers crossed.

Things to do.  No place to go.

Stay safe.  Be well.

On The Move

If I were asked, I'd say Ralph has a mild case of ADHD.  The boy absolutely cannot be still.  He races up and down the hall, continually on the move.  If nothing else is going on, he torments his sister.  I hear him prowling in the kitchen, knocking things over or off.  He gets up on my lap, but cannot decide which way he wants to lie.  "Ralph!  Just sit down!"  Even when he does lie down, finally, his tail flaps back and forth, whapping me in the face.  It doesn't stop even in bed at night.  Pat pat pat on my face in the dark.  "Hey, nobody's paying any attention to me!"  Sigh.

Celeste, on the other hand, is a total couch potato.  She lies here, she lies there, she can lie for hours and not move...until Ralph gets bored.  Then she will jump up and give him what-for!

Michael and I had to go to town again yesterday to return the extra TV.  I took advantage of Helper Dude to get the danged thing into the truck and didn't want to leave it in there.  Today is trash day.  Once we make that trek down the road, I don't plan on moving again for a week.

Stay safe.  Be well.