Craziness – The Dackel Princess

3 AM ~ Really?

There are some things you absolutely must do with both a light and your glasses on. And so it was at 3:00 this morning after I had been outside walking the dogs.

At 3 AM I am really still in sleepy land. However, my darling Lili, who has been very nervous this week, woke both Heidi and me. I pulled myself out of my cozy nest of blankets and got on my coat, hat and gloves, and off we went so both dogs could commune with nature.

I flipped on the lights and the three of us ventured out in the thirty-degree, snowy, windy, weather. The first thing I noticed was that my lighter winter coat simply was not cutting it and I was freezing. Even my hat and gloves were not keeping me very warm. So as I stood there waiting I was urging them to hurry up.

When we came in, I rushed to give them each a little cookie, and then I raced back to my blankets. I’d hoped to fall right back to sleep, but then I heard noises from the kitchen and knew I needed to check it all out.

In the pale glow of the night lite, I saw two forms that worried me. With no glasses on and no strong light, the blobs resembled dead mice. I live in the country and at this time of year, a field mouse or two will try to gain entry to escape the cold. But there was no way I was touching anything without bright lights and glasses and gloves.

As I returned to the scene of the crime in the kitchen wearing glasses, and gloves and turning on the lights, I noticed immediately that both blobs were clusters of dried leaves that had blown into the house when I went out and then came back in. I laughed, picked it all up, and returned to my blankets.

All I wanted at this point was to go back to sleep, but Heidi and Lili wanted to play and Heidi was racing back and forth playing with Lili. So, I turned on my laptop, the morning news and here I sit at 4:23 AM writing about the mice that weren’t!

Today I will need to go out and get the mail, and it is my hope to start writing my Christmas cards.

And let me just say that as I close this at 4:30 AM, both dogs have gone back to sleep and it is once again quiet. It’s my hope that I can get back to sleep too!

Not The Best Way To Start The Day

Wednesday started okay. Nothing remarkable. It is cloudy and rain is due soon.

I staggered to the kitchen, and turned on the coffee, only to remember that I had not set it up last night. So, I ground the beans, filled the tank with water, and turned it on.

The dogs were fed and then off we went for their morning walk.

I came in with them and went over to get some cereal. There was a new Cheerios flavor yesterday at the store, “Honey and Yogurt”, so I thought I would try that.

I poured some into a bowl and got my milk and sat down to eat it. I took one small spoonful into my mouth and ran to the sink to spit it out!

The milk was spoiled! Now the stamp on the jug said August 15th. Now how can a jug of milk spoil in two days?

Then thinking that perhaps it was also the cereal, I took a bite of the dry cereal. Ah, crap! It was simply disgusting.

Why does this stuff happen to me? Spoilt milk on the same day I try a new flavor of cereal. A double whammy!

My plans this morning are to go to the grocery store and get some milk and also buy a less offensive cereal!

When Disaster Comes to Call

On Saturday I decided to make a nice easy meal. Steak, baked potato, and green beans.

As we sat down to eat (on wooden tray tables), Jack said his green beans weren’t done enough and complained they were cold. So I put my tray table about three feet from my reclining chair and went to reheat Jack’s beans.

I had just gotten the beans into the microwave when I heard a crash-bang!

Somehow, my little Heidi with those short little dackel legs had leapt toward my tray table, knocking it over and tossing my nice hot, uneaten meal onto the rug! The rug that gathers dog fur faster than I can vacuum it up.

I picked up the plate and cutlery, and then my beautiful steak and potato and beans (which were cooked perfectly!).

I got out our smaller carpet cleaner and took care of the rug, and then did the dishes and started the dishwasher.

Since I cook small meals now, there were no leftovers to chow down on. I made some scrambled egg and toast and figured that would be fine.

But I am reminded once again, that those sneaky dackels will do just about anything to get food. Even flying through the air, in hopes of nailing a filet mignon!

And then they look at us with those big beautiful brown eyes, and all hope is lost. I simply couldn’t stay angry at her. I think from now on I will eat at the kitchen table. It happens that Jack almost always needs this or that when I am trying to eat my meals. Perhaps if I eat alone in the kitchen I might just get a hot meal for a change.

Almost Good-bye 2021

The end of the year is upon us. We have now gone through two years of this darn Covid Virus. Not only is the virus maddening, but I have found that in order to protect my family, I spend most of my time isolated from the world.

I am vaccinated. I also got the booster shot. I wear a mask to protect myself, and Jack, as well as other people around me. Hearing these dire warning messages from Dr. Faucci this weekend angered me.

He was all gloom and doom and says we will all have to wear a mask for the rest of our lives. Well Dr. Faucci, I sure hope that you are wrong. Since you are rather advanced in years, (81) perhaps we will have to wear them until the end of your life. (OMG! I know. That is so mean!)

The terrible flu in 1918 was like wildfire. And it had no vaccine. People washed, they were careful, and eventually, the virus died out. I chose to believe that this will happen.

As I sit here this morning looking at my plans to travel on Friday and Sunday, I am really hoping and praying for the health of all the airline flight crews! Get me to Nashville!

Meanwhile, I am slightly stressed. You will all laugh, but here is my dilemma.

I am driving myself to Boston’s, Logan Airport. I am planning to park the car myself and make my way to my terminal. Now this sounds easy, right?

Well, in my 63 years, although I have traveled extensively, I have not done the parking in large cities. We had Crew Parking when Jack was flying, and back when we lived in Florida, the local airport was so small and parking was easy.

I look at the drive to Boston as a challenge and then actually finding my way to the parking area I want simply freaks me out! I have actually been watching Youtube Videos and how and where to park.

So, between the flight cancellations and the parking and all the driving, I was up at 3:45 AM this morning. Yes. Stress and worry. Always the things that bug me the most.

Today I will work on packing and finishing up the laundry. I also need to run to the grocery store for a few things.

I sure hope your Christmas was nice. For those who did not have snow, we made up for it. With the beauty that is felt when one stands outside in the falling snow and hears nothing but silence.

Perfection!

My Rant on a Monday

I wonder at times when people stopped being nice? I know many warm and wonderful and gracious people, and then I know many who are just plain bullies.

Recently an old friend of my husband’s wrote to me and basically bullying me. This person is an anti-vaxer and they wanted to come to my home here in New Hampshire to visit with their old friend. I replied in what I hope was a nice way that we do not allow anyone in our home who is not vaccinated.

I tried to explain that in the last two years I have had my hands full with an aging husband, sick dogs, (the loss of one, Anneliese) and that I fear that if they came, and brought Covid to my home it might cause a fatal illness for Jack.

Jack is their dear friend, yet after I presented this to them, I received a letter telling me I should be more selfish and do things for myself. It’s a nice thought, but when you are the head of your household the things you do for your family are important, you cannot afford to be sick. They also said that they believe that the vaccine alters your DNA and ruins your health. And lastly, they presented their facts that the Covid Deaths are simply people dying from other illnesses and that it is all called Covid to scare the masses.

Back in November of 2019, I became very ill. My symptoms were such that my Primary Care Doctor and I believe I had an early case of Covid. I was so ill with high fevers, a cough that was so strong I would throw up, and an inability to breathe. I was using an inhaler every 2 hours and little pearl-type pills for the cough that ravaged my body.

I shut myself away from Jack. He did not come into the bedroom for anything and would leave me bottles of ginger ale.

I do not want that for Jack. I also do not want to get the new variant virus either. It is a terrible illness.

And then this person, who is telling me that I don’t do enough for myself tells me they have hired a new housekeeper/cook/and gardener. Well people, it must be nice. I would love to sit and read and simply direct the things that go on in my life. But that is not real. That is not the life for 99.99% of those of us that are alive.

I cook every single meal. I do every single load of washing. I shop for our groceries and I have been the sole caregiver to our animals.

I occasionally escape for a few hours to my daughter’s home to see my grandchildren, but then race home to take care of everything here.

Sometimes I get tired. The kind of tiredness that no amount of sleep will cure. No, no one is taking care of me, except me.

Meanwhile, there are other people in life who have allowed the Covid Virus and the Vaccine to come between them and me.

And they do it with an in-your-face type of anger, that shows no concern that my ideas and beliefs may be different.

When did we become a group of intolerant bullies? When did people stop being nice?

I was partially raised by my Grandmother. She is the one who called me on my unacceptable behavior.

For instance, when I came down the stairs in cut-off jeans and a t-shirt to go to church. She admonished me and sent me back upstairs saying, “Do you really want to meet God looking like that?”.

I would rather have died than bully my grandmother or even say a curse word around her. She taught me manners. She taught me to be nice and above all, she taught me to be kind.

I am now taking a big deep breath!

Be Nice! Be Kind! You never know when you might be in a situation where you will need the kindness and love and compassion of others.

It’s Craziness, I Tell You! Craziness!

Monday found me questioning why I had even bothered to get up!

Arnie was still no better, so I got up, and in the rain went outside to do a clean catch of his urine. Folks, if you have a boy dog that needs to have his urine caught and put in a Ziploc for the Vet to examine, I’m your girl!

I turned on our oven to preheat it before making my WW Banana Breakfast bread. After half an hour it wasn’t even warm. So I used my air fryer oven to cook the bread, and all was well there. However I had to call our repairman, Barry to get him to come and take a look.

Meanwhile, I called our Veterinarian and made an appointment for Arnie to be seen.

The traffic around town was terrible. Just like summer on Cape Cod. Bumper to bumper and no one getting anywhere very fast.

Arnie is actually doing better than he has been. He does have a UTI, but it is not as bad as the last one. He is also holding his weight, and his health overall is pretty good for an old man!

Eventually, Arnie and I got home, just in time for Barry to arrive. He took the oven apart and it is the igniter! How weird that both the dryer and the oven igniters went within a week or so of each other. We called the supply house and the part will be delivered on Friday and Barry will come and do the installation.

So right now, if I can’t cook things on the stovetop, air fryer, or microwave we won’t be eating it. Thankfully we do have plenty of, what I call, quickie meals.

Jack is really hard on his bathrobes. He goes through the sleeves all the time. I’ve ordered a new one, but it is on backorder until August. So, today I took the pockets off an old one and proceeded to use that as a patch. I was able to fix two old robes. They may not be pretty, but at least his elbow isn’t poking out. It’s not perfect, but so much better.

Ah, well, tomorrow is another day, and hopefully, it will be a lot less crazy.

Happy 4th of July

Today is Independence Day for my country. Many will celebrate with cook-outs, parties, and fireworks. I always enjoyed the 4th growing up because we would sit at the beach in Falmouth, Massachusetts, and watch the fireworks between us and Martha’s Vineyard.

One year when I was a young mother I was showing the girls how to hold a sparkler so that they didn’t get burnt. Well, guess what? Yup, I ended up with a burnt hand and a visit to the Emergency Room.

So, I have always had a healthy respect for fireworks, and quite honestly, I leave it to the pros.

Flash forward to last night. In years past our neighbors have shot off a few fireworks and although it shook up Lili, it wasn’t too bad. But last night was horrible.

Our neighbors were shooting off high-quality explosive fireworks. You know, the ones that shoot far into the sky and then blossom out in various colors.

Explosion after explosion found Lili near panic as she raced around the house, trying to find a safe place. I sat with her, but each explosion found her jumping away. After about 45 minutes Jack got up to see where the fireworks were coming from and unfortunately, they were coming from a house one street over and one house up. And worst than it being so close and upsetting Lili, the sparks were coming down in our yard. Thank God for rain, as we had had moderate rain all day long and the grass was still wet.

Jack opened the siders to see how far into our yard the sparks were landing. That’s when the unthinkable happened!

A panic-stricken Lili slipped by Jack and ran out the door! I pushed Jack aside and began hollering for Lili. I yelled for two reasons. I desperately wanted her to come back inside for her own safety, and I wanted my neighbor to understand that things had reached a dangerous level.

So, there I was running up the driveway in my nightgown and slippers. I was calling for my girl, and just as I was going into my garage to get the car, I saw my beautiful girl running down the driveway toward me. I quickly got her in the garage and closed the door.

Jack was on the phone with the Police. In this one instance when Jack was saying to me that this had to stop, a voice from the other yard say “F-off”! Not what anyone should say to deescalate a bad situation. In fact, I react badly when someone says that to me.

The Police arrived and we explained that the sparks from the fireworks were coming into our yard, which made us quite nervous, (Think propane tank close to where the fireworks were landing!) as well as poor Lili.

The Police Officer said that he did not believe that our neighbor had a permit for these high explosive fireworks and that he would go over and talk to them.

I sat up with both Jack and Lili (and by this time Arnie was freaking out) until I felt sure that the fireworks were over for the night, then went off to bed.

I am sure I will be looked upon as being the bad neighbor, but honestly, this time I feel completely justified for my actions.

Please remember that not only do some dogs fear the noise and sounds of fireworks, but combat Veterans with PTSD find them horrific, as they bring the war right back to them.

In most cases, it is best to leave fireworks to the professionals. They have them in places away from people’s homes and animals.

Strange Things Happening!

Usually, my days begin easily. I put out the bird feeders, walk the hounds, and make the coffee. Currently, I sit down and while sipping my coffee, I am watching “Wimbledon” tennis feeds on the satellite. I just love to watch tennis. It is such a beautiful sport!

Jack got up, I made him breakfast, and then dashed out to buy bird food, groceries and get the mail. I mean this is pretty usual stuff.

Upon arriving back home, I made lunch and then decided to cut up the chicken thighs to put in my fajita marinade, as we plan on having fajitas for dinner.

I opened my cabinet and went to bring out my large glass dish and cover, as this is perfect for the job. As I lifted the glass dish it suddenly snapped and I thought I saw a shard of glass fly upwards. Then I felt like my nose was running. I touched my nose with my hand, and when I looked at my hand, it was covered in blood!

I grabbed a paper towel and raced into the bathroom! Sure enough, I had a cut just under my nose, that wasn’t too big, but was rather deep. It took me over half an hour to get the bleeding stopped. And after a bit, I realized that my cut actually hurt!

It was such a freak thing. When was the last time that something flew upwards to your face and cut it? I swear I am the only person I know who does weird stuff like this!

It’s craziness I tell you…craziness!

Once I got the bleeding under control, I went back to cutting up the chicken and marinating it in another container. Fajitas will be served at 7 PM for dinner!

Electronics & Me

I missed posting the weekend wrap due to network problems and cell phone problems. Both made me want to curl up in a ball in the corner and weep, but then I recalled what my friend Brad always said, “Give it a try! What’s the worst that could happen?”

So, I plunged in, not to be deterred by the fear of the unknown. The first thing I needed to do was get the Wifi system up and running. After going through an unplug, wait, and then reboot the entire system. It worked. And my 40 minutes of troubleshooting got the internet going.

Next on my list was to do a complete reboot of my cell phone. I like the phone, but it has acted wonky since I got it. The salesperson was so insistent that he speed load the cell phone, that many of the Apps didn’t work well.

So I read and reread how to perform this task and I sat down and wiped and reloaded my cell phone. I have it pretty much set up now but only the next few days will tell me for sure.

Today was hot and humid, much as it was when I lived in Florida. I really had trouble with that. The heat would simply exhaust me. I spent most of the time in the house with the air conditioning going. Such has been the case today!

All else is well, and it is my hope that all the electronics in this house will give me a break for a while. I am grateful, however, for all that I learned today.

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up…

On Friday I was out quite a bit in the morning. This is the last weekend of Motorcycle Week and my little bit of Heaven is jam-packed with people, mostly Bikers.

Since I had to drive Lili out to the Veterinarian and then go back to pick her up after her teeth cleaning, trust me, I saw way more driving than I wanted to be doing.

On my way out and back in the early morning, the Bikers were just up. Restaurant parking lots were packed with isle after isle of motorcycles. Most of these people were middle-aged and were riding their HOGS (Harley Davidson). Some were riding the newer fad for us Senior Citizens, a three-wheel trike so as not to fall over.

The disturbing vision I saw was a younger Biker with no helmet, who had a 5 or 6-year-old boy on the back of his bike. The child did have a helmet on but was wearing shorts and sneakers and a short sleeve shirt. He also did not fit in, tucked next to his Dad, but was positioned so he almost looked like he was flying behind the bike. I just felt like this was a tragedy waiting to happen.

The next bike passenger made me both laugh and shake my head. She was a young woman, with neat French braids. She wore no helmet, but here is a list of her clothing.

One pair of cut-off jeans shorts, that are the shortest I’ve ever seen. She was very thin, so she could get away with them at say, a cookout, but…

Next, she was wearing a tube top. This skinny little top left nothing to the imagination and I think this item might be banned in several states! I would bet one large bump would find her girls displayed for all to see! But here was the ultimate of unsafe bike-wear. On her feet, she was wearing flip-flops! Now there is a girl who would suffer severe road-rash and injury should her boyfriend have an accident driving his bike.

Honest to goodness, you can’t make this stuff up!

Meanwhile, the constant hum of motorcycles continues and tonight there will be live music less than a mile from our home. It is what it is. Once a year, loud, a boatload of cash coming into our area. After a smaller Bike Week last year due to Covid, people are really enjoying this year! And it’s good for our businesses!

PS: Lili made out very well with her dental. Her teeth were all perfect and now her teeth are clean!