days_unfolding

My name is Adrienne. I'm 57 years old. I'm a Technical Services Librarian (that is, I work in the back processing books and maintaining the computer system) at a small college in Illinois. I have two cats, Zara and Mimi, who don't get along very well, leading to "Kitty Drama" LJ posts :)

I'm from the Chicago area originally (Evanston for those who know the area).

I previously was a technical writer in Silicon Valley. That could be a long essay in and of itself. I liked the work, but there was way too much of it and a lot of pressure. When I became sick with schizoaffective disorder, I was no longer able to do my job, so I left and got a Master's Degree in Library Science.

I have no siblings or cousins. My mom lives in the Detroit area and my dad moved to Nevada. I'm single (divorced). I'm bi, but it's a moot point right now living in a small town.

I wrote the above before the pandemic. Now I'm spending a lot of time armchair traveling. I'm about 13 years out from retirement, so I have a list of places to check out, but, of course, can't travel right now. I'm looking at camping as a COVID-friendly way to travel. The first major trip on my list when I can travel is Eastern Tennessee, and I want to do some hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains. I'm hoping to squeeze in some hiking and camping trips in Illinois this fall, COVID permitting.

I've been lucky during the pandemic because I still have a job, working from home. Our college is planning on-site classes this fall. We'll see how that goes.

My journal is about half friends-only and half not. I lock down posts in which I talk about work, which is frequently lately.

I ordered some peonies also. I should be done with buying stuff for the garden. Wait, no, I want to buy blueberry and raspberry bushes. And I’d like strawberries, but the birds eat them. Hmm. Okay, I bought the blueberries and raspberries with bird netting. I’m not sure how many strawberries to get. I have a big strawberry pot, but don’t remember how many pockets it has. Ordered a new lilac bush, and I’ll put chicken wire around it.

Gracie was biting me because I was trying to disentangle the blanket. Then she rolled over to have her belly scratched. Dog logic. Young dog logic. Bella wanted her belly rubbed too, but at least she wasn’t biting me to begin with.

Got up a little after 7 AM. I’m charging my cordless drill. Showered, and it feels good to be clean. I really want a nap.

The Japanese Maple should arrive today. Arrived. I have lots of planting to do. Oh, and the chicken wire top for the raised bed for the tomatoes arrived yesterday.

Got the registration renewed for the Honda. Yay. And I hope that they will email me a reminder in the future.

Napped. I’m feeling groggy. My work computer crashed but came back up. Someone was running around here and unplugged two devices.

Received the cane with a seat and the small stepper.

Hmm. Someone in a Facebook group online starts extra plants and sells the seedings. I was looking into that for next year (I want to get a setup for starting seeds next year), but apparently I’d need a couple of licenses to do that. Might not be worth it. My other plan for next year is to get a third planter with legs for herbs (I’m growing herbs in pots this year) and to clean out the area behind the garage and put down mulch. Eventually, I’ll want to take down the trees there and plant redbuds, some pink grass with a name that I’ve forgotten, and lavender. Maybe have stepping stones that lead to the back.

Had my therapy session. She told me that there are straw “blankets” for grass seed, so what I’m going to do is get the “dog-safe” seed and buy those blankets. Excellent. I need to remember to bring the measuring tape out when I go outside after work. Ordered the “dog-safe” grass seed.

Garage guy called me back. He’s coming over on Sunday (note to self–3ish) to rake up the gravel and talk to me about what I want for the driveway. Things are taking shape.

I planted the three roses and four ferns. Watered the side garden, roses, and crabapple tree. The Japanese Maple is soaking in a bucket. (This sounds so simple, but it was a lot of work.) My small Craftsman shovel worked better than my big shovel, so I’m wondering if I should order a big Craftsman shovel. And I need a rake to loosen the dirt for the grass seed.

Oh, I also got my Astilbe in, so I’ll need to plant it on Sunday.

I’m beat. Bella came in but Gracie did not. I need to sit for a minute and then I’ll feed the cats. Fed the cats and dogs. Ate dinner while watching the latest episode of The Pitt.

Ordered the grass blanket, stakes, and a rake.

Woke up at 8 AM. The catlings want FOOD! NOW!

Hmm, I really want to nap at lunch, but I need to take a shower. Can I shower after work? I have choir. Oh! I have physical therapy today, so I need to shower at lunch.

The dogs came in early. Because it’s cold?

I forgot to mention yesterday that because of the sun pattern, I’m going to move the raised beds over against the fence in my yard. I plan to assemble them next weekend. Oh, I have the book sale next weekend. It’s going to be hectic.

Physical therapy went okay. The physical therapist worked me really hard. I’m looking at some tools that she had me use on Amazon. She gave me an exercise band.

I think that I want to learn how to can. I should have extra tomatoes.

Choir went well. I should get a solo part. The question is which one?

Went to the local grocery store and picked up a few things. Lily really wanted my chicken sandwich and took a bite out of it. Somehow she makes that charming. I’m putty in her paws :) I also submitted a Walmart order.

I couldn’t get the door to the basement stairs open from the outside, so I stashed the roses under the porch. That should keep frost off of them. Speaking of garden plants, Breck’s has a great catalog for fall. Sale prices are until early May though. I need to figure out what I want.

The dogs came in on the first try. They’re easier to get in at night.

No TV tonight. I need to get to bed.

Woke up a little after 9 AM. It’s raining. Bella was lingering in the doorway like “Make it stop!” Oliver tried to eat Lily’s food, and Lily bit him. Good girl, Lily. The wet dogs came in early. Bella is grooming Gracie. That’s nice.

Nap time. Woke up way before my alarm. It’s still raining. Had lunch. Napped again.

I’ve started opening up packages and putting packing material in the recycling bin. I’m feeling exhausted and not sure what to do now. I’m charging the batteries for my cordless tiller.

I decided that I wanted to create a semicircular bed of wildflowers on either side of the front sidewalk. I ordered twine and bamboo poles to mark out the space.

Fed the cats. Got the dogs in and fed them. Watched Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The dogs are barking at who-knows-what.

I’m going to feed the critters their late-night snack and go to bed.

The cherry trees at the U of I Arboretum are in bloom. I should stop by to see them.

Woke up at 7:30 AM. Got myself together in plenty of time for my appointment. It’s raining.

My physical therapy appointment went well. They’re good; they identified weakness in my hips and glutes as contributing to my knee problems. We did some exercises, and my muscles are twinging. They scheduled me for weekly appointments for six weeks. I need to subscribe to the exercise videos (Lifelong Mobility) that I found as well. Use it or lose it.

Damn, I’m tired. My 1:00 meeting was canceled, so I’ll have time for a nap! Excellent! But the dogs are wrestling, sigh. I’m calling Bella Miss Pushy Dog because she wants pets All The Time. Gracie scratched my face and drew blood 🙁

I received my planters with legs for the vegetable garden. I got the confusion about my login for free mulch straightened out (apparently I signed up twice with different email addresses), but I need to buy a wheelbarrow first. The one that I wanted already sold, so I’ll need to spend more. I need to go get cash to buy one from Facebook Marketplace. But will I be able to lift it? Maybe I’ll have to have one delivered from Home Depot. Ace Hardware had a cheaper one but with a larger delivery fee, so I ordered one from Home Depot plus a “transfer shovel”.

Bella came inside at 3:30 PM. Gracie is still out there. (I let them out late due to my appointment and the delivery of the planters.) Gracie came in at 4:30.

I ordered a (used) book of neck, shoulders, and back stretches/exercises.

I forgot that I need to straighten out some financial stuff with Lessonface before I can take my piano class. But I’m going to take a nap first if the dogs will let me. I have a headache. No, my piano teacher said that I was on the roster, so I attended piano class. I guess they resubmitted the charge.

Ate dinner while watching The Pitt. Looked at some AI instructions for developing hand independence for piano.

The dogs came in on the first try and I fed them. I need to give the cats their crunchies. I’m really tired, so I want to go to bed soon.

Things that you say only if you have dogs: “Gracie, don’t chew the stairs!” I quickly grabbed munchie bones for her and for Bella.

Woke up a little after 7 AM. Went back to sleep, and overslept work by a half-hour. Oops.

The radiology department at the local hospital called me for a CT appointment. Among other things, my phone is working.

Fed the catlings. The dogs don’t want to come in (no surprises there). I’m pondering how I can reseed the front yard when the dogs have trampled the lawn. Maybe I should just put mulch there? Hmm, I saw a grass-and-clover mix intended for lawns with dogs. Maybe I’ll try it and put down mulch if it doesn’t take.

Bella came in at 12 PM. Gracie came in at 1 PM. I put her food bowl under her nose, and she decided that she wanted to eat. Now both dogs are crashed out.

I’m having an IBS flare-up, but I’m hoping that I’ll make it to choir. I really need to be there. I think that I’ll skip dinner to settle my insides.

I picked up Lily and carried her downstairs for food. She clearly said “NO!” when I picked her up, but she ate the food. (It amazes me how creatures without a common vocabulary can communicate so well.) Fed the cats and dogs.

Choir went okay. My choir director wants me to come in with the book sale flyer tomorrow and leave it in the choir room. We’re trying out of solos next week, and there’s a song that I really want. I’ll send it to my singing teacher.

Ate while watching The Pitt. (Luckily, nothing gross happened while I was eating.) Got the dogs back inside and fed them.

Need to get to bed soon. Tomorrow will be a long day.

Woke up at 8 AM. Let the dogs out. Fed myself and the cats. I think that I might have fixed my phone, but I need to log onto my work phone and test it. Yep, it’s working. Yay!

Napped and overslept until a little after 1 PM. Rescued my Costco box (dog food). The delivery person put it on the sidewalk because the dogs were out, but it was still there. Oliver is climbing all over me. I told him that he had breakfast and doesn’t get lunch, but he’s still hopeful. Ate lunch. I’m trying to decide what to do. Usually, I take a nap after lunch, but my first nap ran long. I should work on the bathroom. Maybe I should start on the bathroom and take a nap when I need a break.

Well, Bella came in around 2:30. Gracie is still refusing to come in. Bella wants company, so I guess that I’ll take a nap. Yeah, it’s a real sacrifice :) Bella is one tired pup. Napped. Got Gracie in at 5 PM. I told Bella that she doesn’t need to stay up with me, but she thinks that it’s her duty as The Dog. Fed us all. I had to carry Lily down from upstairs because the dogs are in. She nestled in but also was saying “No” clearly. (She doesn’t like being picked up. Oliver doesn’t mind it as much.)

I think that I’m procrastinating working on the bathroom because I’ll need to stand up. I did start on the bathroom with frequent breaks. Bella came over and yawned at me, and I told her to take a nap. But she thinks that she needs to fulfill watchdog duties.

Watched Season 2, Episode 1 of The Pitt. Fed the dogs and cats their nighttime crunchies. Bed time soon.

Overslept and got up at 8:30 AM. I’m having stomach cramps.

Overslept my nap at lunchtime. Amazon keeps pushing back a delivery of some stuff (dog food and hose), and I want to let the dogs out but am waiting for the delivery of the package. Sigh.

I screwed up at work and want to retire.

Holy cow. It’s currently 85F/29C. It’s jumped from spring to summer. I have my fan on upstairs.

Oliver walked on both my laptop keyboard and my keyboard plugged into the docking station for extra added bonus points :) Gracie is lying on her back with her belly and front paws in the air.

What the heck. I’m not getting incoming calls on my cell phone. I’ll try to get it fixed this weekend.

Got the dog food and hose. Let the dogs out. It’s starting to rain, so I don’t know how long they’ll stay out. Installed an emergency broadcast app on my phone in case of tornadoes.

Got the Urbana Park District summer catalog. No golf, but they have pickleball, so I need to look for a partner. Maybe I’ll try the AARP group that I belong to first.

Convinced the Dynamic Duo (Bella and Gracie) to come in and eat dinner. Rain helped.

It keeps raining and I’m tired. I was going to run some errands, but I think that I’ll go to bed early and get up early to run them instead. Watched The Pitt. Finished Season 1.

I woke up at 7 AM. Let the dogs out, and went back to sleep for a while. Overslept until 9:20. Oops. Received my grocery order. Oliver and Lily were thumping around in the closet and chasing each other. Manic cats are manic.

Lily is attending my nap. Oliver is unhappy that he’s left out, but Lily is more restful. The dogs are still outside. Lily did pounce on the lump that was my feet, but then she settled down.

I discovered why the raised bed soil is so cheap at Target; they are tiny bags. No free lunch. I’m wondering when I’ll get the raised beds with feet that I ordered. I’d like to plant lettuce, spinach, carrots, and peas now.

There is a book about GLP-1s that I want to get when I get paid again. I also need to scrape together the money for a massage because my neck is really stiff. And I think that I need a longer hose to reach the little tree and the lilac bush (and the roses when I get them and plant them).

Gracie finally came in at 4 PM. She was hungry and thirsty (no surprises there). She had been outside for almost nine hours! Oh, and someone chewed up my lilac bush. Sigh. At first, I thought that Bella chewed it, but all the leaves are stripped off, so maybe the groundhog? The little tree is fine though. I’m going to water it after work. I might get another lilac bush and put chicken wire around it.

Gracie is completely crashed out. All that running around wiped her out.

The dogs are back out, and I fed the cats and myself. Got the garbage out. Now I’m doing laundry. I’m going to watch The Pitt (I might do two episodes) and go to sleep.

The dogs finally came in. Yay. Fed them. Now I’ll get ready for bed.

Oliver is sending mixed messages. His tail is lashing, but he’s rubbing against me.

The dogs are tired, not surprisingly.

Got up at 8 AM. I went to put Gracie on a leash, and she ran away. Drat. I’ve been chasing her through the house with the leash, but she is wily. Fed us all. I need to take a quick nap because I have my volunteer work in the afternoon. I’m boiling hot.

Had lunch. I’m having an IBS flare-up, so I’m going to call in sick for volunteer work. And I’ll let the dogs outside. That reminds me that I want a stash of Imodium, but that wouldn’t help me now because I just ate. I need to put water out for the dogs, and then I’ll lie down for a while.

Napped. It’s windy out now, and the boxes from the live plants went flying, so I put them on the porch. I’m trying to wake up. Well, hmm, it’s in the 50sF/10+C out, so I need to wear different clothes. Showered.

Oliver and Lily are running all over the house.

Went outside. Damn, it’s cold out. Planted the lilac bush, although the root ball is sticking up a little. Told the dogs that they can stay out if they want to, but I’m going inside. Heard thunder and went to get the dogs. They came in. Fed them.

I’m feeling like I want to go to bed early. Watched The Pitt. I’m going to go get ready for bed.