Today, my grandson turns eight years old. The time has flown by, and he has grown into an amazing young man.
I love him more than he will ever know. I one lucky Oma!
The Friday Five March First
1. The last few weeks I have been so stressed. Trying to get Heidi back on her feet.
Good news! She is almost completely well.- We started making plans to renovate my master bath. I think in the end it will be quite lovely.
- I need to take Lili outside and brush her. She is full of large clumps of her winter coat. Often these clumps fall off in one big piece.
- My sister is coming up this weekend. I need this. I need a hug. I need her calm, loving ways.
I am so lucky to have a big sister like Melodie. - I was trying to wait for my vision insurance to buy replacement glasses, but I have decided today that I have to go. I’ve been getting eye-strain headaches so it is time to go.
The Friday Five ~ Feb. 16th
It’s been another busy week, so I will run with it and give you five things happening.
- Well, Heidi isn’t doing all that well, and it is frustrating for me. Last night, she got up and wanted to go out. I struggled into my boots, and she had gone on the carpet. I still walked her, but the ammonia smell hit me when I came in. There was no easy way to clean it at 12:30 in the morning, so I put the rug in the tub, closed the door, and went back to bed.
- Waking this morning, I took her right out, and she hardly went. Honestly, I am at the end of my doggy leash. Currently, she is asleep in the sun.
- Yesterday, I was feeling the need to get out. I went for breakfast. It was great to see everyone!
- Then, I was off to the farmstand, which had just opened. Almost all my favorite things were there. It’s also nice to go where people know you!
- Then I went to my local furniture store. Here is the deal. It’s President’s Day Weekend, with a lot of sales. I did not have new furniture with my first husband. But heck, we were 17 years old and had very little cash. Yard sales and inheriting things were how we filled our apartments.
After that, I married Jack and moved into his house, where I inherited the furniture from his first marriage. There were promises of new furniture, but that never happened. I have lived with that furniture for over 35 years. Since I can no longer sleep in a regular bed, I tried an adjustable queen-size mattress yesterday. I have spine problems, so I decided to get a bed I could sleep in. After all, I’ve been sleeping in my recliner for two years. It has been the only comfortable place. Since I am giving away the two dressers that belonged to Jack and his first wife, I ordered a large ladies’ dresser, a mirror, a new bed frame, and a bedside table.
Friday Five ~ Feb. 9th
It’s an old shot of my view of the Lake, but it’s one of my favorites. It’s been a busy week, so here goes.
- Heidi had been acting strangely over the last weekend. And on Sunday night, when I took her out to wee-wee, I noticed that not much was coming out. Since I have been down this road before, I used my special pan to get a specimen. Almost nothing came out.
- The Vet was the first one I called on Monday, and I was instructed to keep catching samples in a Ziploc bag. We were scheduled for 2:30.
- X-rays were taken, and surgery was scheduled for first thing on Wednesday morning.
- I brought her out early and then drove back, stopping at a grocery shop and getting the mail. When I finished putting everything away, my Vet called to tell me Heidi was done and I should come around 2:30 to pick her up.
- All has gone as planned, and she is recovering well. We are working to find good food to avoid more problems with her Urinary Tract.
My Life Right Now
I usually post a Friday Five each week, but this darn COVID has taken control of me, and although I am not contagious, it has settled in my chest, and I have been running a fever and coughing.
Yesterday, I was forced to do a load of whites, as I was down to my last pair of underwear. Miraculously, I got that done.
However, being sick and trying to manage the stairs to the basement have been a challenge. I have decided to do a remodel. I have a huge master bath, and I plan to remove the jacuzzi tub and put a washer and dryer in that room, along with the sinks and walk-in shower.
So, slowly, I recover with wonderfully warm and peaceful naps with my girls.
The Friday Five ~ Jan 26th
I’ve spent the last week lying here in the recliner, cooking. Until today, I have had a fever and felt pretty rotten. Covid is not fun!
But I think the worst is over. I will test on Sunday; hopefully, the test will be negative.
- Due to the high fever, all I have done is sleep. I have gotten no laundry done, and I am behind on everything.
- Have I mentioned I am going on another trip in May? I am going to England and will spend time with my daughter (step). It’s been so long since I saw her, and I am so excited!
- I hope I can at least start some laundry. I returned from my vacation, dropped my bags, sat down, and nothing got done.
- I’m still enjoying the Christmas decorations, but I have no desire. Soon.
- Both of the puppy girls are taking great care of me. I am a lucky Mama!
The Bermuda Triangle ~ AKA My Life
I must tell you that I had a good time on the cruise: sunny skies and temperatures near 80. I felt good, and although I had three excursions canceled, there was always something to do. When in Port, I spent most days walking on the shore.
My health was good, and I felt strong. Then, the 14th arrived, and I was told I should be ready to ‘disembark’ by 8 AM.
I grabbed an English muffin, and I headed to grab a taxi. Miami has changed. I recalled all the time I spent there. Jack and all our Pan Am pilot group.
Eventually, our plane was ready to load. The announcement offered a preboard for those who are disabled and might need extra time.
I got up and went to the gate, and the Agent looked me over and said: I said for people who are disabled. I need that extra time. And she said the magic words that anger everyone, “I can’t see anything wrong with you.”
I stopped myself before reaching out and bitting the hand, trying to push me away. I turned and showed her the scar. I hoped that would be enough as I didn’t want to play the “How Disabled Are You?” game.
I settled in my seat and got settled.
Our plane to Boston was packed, and right after take off, I swear, everyone began to cough. Not quiet coughs, but loud, full hacking coughs. I prayed I would be okay.
Since I found that my life is one Bermuda triangle after another, I felt very wiped out three days after I returned. Sleeping, coughing, and then chills. But by Wednesday, I felt so ill I sat down with my Covid tests and took them. Both tests were very positive.
So, here I sit under several blankets, sipping ginger ale. My fever is down. My cough is almost under control.
But now, it is time for me to take another nap. Here in my personal Bermuda Triangle!
The Friday Five January Ninetieth
- I flew from Boston the night before I was to leave on the cruise. I did this because I didn’t want to take the chance of missing my cruise. I had a reservation at the Yotel Motel near the Miami Cruise Port. The room was lovely, and it had a movable bed. It was then I decided that a full-motion bed was for me.
- I had a simple breakfast in the morning and then took a cab to the ship. At noon, I was escorted onto the boat and shown my cabin.
3. I flew from Boston the night before I was to leave on the cruise. I did this because I didn’t want to take the chance of missing my cruise. I had a reservation at the Yotel Motel near the Miami Cruise Port. The room was lovely, and it had a movable bed. It was then I decided that a full-motion bed was for me.
4. I was apprehensive that a lower cabin would provide too much motion, and I might feel sick. I used an over-the-counter medication called Meclizine, which I sometimes use for dizziness. I used that, and I was fine.
That evening, I went to the formal dining room and asked if there was a space for a singleton like me. A group was quickly found at that table for the remainder of the cruise when I was in the formal dining room.
Traveling
I arrived home close to 10:00 last night. It was a very long day. I was told to be off the ship by 8:00, so I was up, showered at 4:00, had breakfast, and said my goodbyes to the lovely people caring for me during the trip. My cabin Steward and one woman who helped to ensure I had everything I needed were the ones I said goodbye to, which included hugs.
I also saw the young couple with whom I had taken the full tour of St. Maarten.
The flight home was lumpy and bumpy as there were the tail bits of a weather front that we flew through.
Boston was freezing, but I had a warm coat, hat, and gloves. I boarded the bus, and in no time, I reached Concord, NH, where the Highlander was parked. All I did not have was an ice scraper and a snowbrush.
I dug the car out, and today, one of the first items I bought was a snowbrush and ice scraper. They are now in the Highlander!
I went out and bought some groceries on Monday, came home, and took a long winter’s nap with Heidi. Now, I need to work on getting into a schedule to get all my work caught up.
That’s all for today. I will look back in the coming days and tell you more about my time at sea.
Just Floating Around
Dear Ones,
In the event you think I have dropped off the face of the world, I can assure you that no, I am still here, just in the middle of the ocean.
Life has slowed down dramatically, and finally I can sleep normally again.
I have met nice people, and strange people and some who you just wonder how the heck they ever got together in the first place.
I watch and study, feeling rather removed from it all. Continue reading “Just Floating Around”