days_unfolding

I ran my errands. The local store didn’t have Mrs. Meyers, but had Bona, which is supposed to be a gentler cleaner with less chemicals. (I hate to say “organic” because what does that mean really?)

I’m having problems falling asleep. Hell. Overslept an hour. Scrambled to get ready to go. Dropped Bella off at doggie daycare. (They didn’t have a record of the reservation, but they said that they had space.) Bella looked excited. Made it to the meeting. I was stressing because I thought that it started at 8:30 AM, but it started at 9.

Back from my meeting. We went to an escape room afterwards, which was kind of fun. Then I went to pick up Bella. The day care people loved her and said that she loves people. A few members of the staff came over to say goodbye to her. I got things squared away to board Bella and Oliver there, although I need to send some paperwork for Oliver.

The team is going out for dinner, but I don’t have the money for it, so I’m home for the night. I’m going to take a nap soon. I’m wiped out from the limited sleep and all the peopling. I feel beaten up.

billschubert mentioned an adjustable bed. I want to live here as long as possible, so I’m looking into one. But I want a Marriott mattress so I don’t know. My bed is full size, which makes it tougher. I’m glad that there are people on my friends list ahead of me in the aging game. Food for thought.

I need to get the garbage out, but I’m too wiped out. I’ll gather it when I get up from my nap, and I’m getting up early and can take it out then.

I found a leather chair and ottoman that I like for the library, but I’m worried about the cats sharpening their claws on it. (Chaos trashed a leather loveseat that I had in California, so I speak from experience.)

Crashed out and so did the dog. Started laundry. I did something to my knee, so I'll gather garbage in the morning. I need to find shorts and a t-shirt to sleep in.

I forgot to mention that I asked my dad for a recommendation for a macroeconomics book. I want to understand what's going on with the economy better. I bought a couple cheaply from Thriftbooks.

Overslept a little and got up at 6:30 AM. I heard the recycling truck while I was out with Bella. Got my leaf bags out, which was the important part, but I won’t get the rest of the recycling out. I’m going back to sleep for a little while.

Got us all fed. I have to watch Oliver and Lily eat because a certain dog will snatch their food if I'm not watching. Zara is behind a door, so she's okay.

I was wondering why Oliver and Lily like to run around upstairs so much, but then it occurred to me that the dog isn't there to chase them.

A grant awarded to the organization for which I work from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was canceled. Trump's cuts have reached my work. Sigh. It won't impact our staffing though, just a program that we were going to lead.

My therapy session went well. My therapist said to wait a week or two to see if the tiredness wears off, and contact my psychiatrist if it doesn't. She also said that I don't need to work at coming up with as much stuff to talk about as I did this time (the cruise, Mimi, and the car)! I said that I hoped it would be totally boring with nothing to talk about!

I was feeling pretty good about myself, but then I made a dumb mistake at work. I don't handle that well.

I got a free issue of The Week, or rather my mom did, and I read it cover to cover. I think that I want to resubscribe to it. I’m also thinking of subscribing to The Economist. I’m sorry to say that US and world events are very interesting right now. Hmm, I might be able to get an academic discount for The Economist.

Bella wants me to follow her around the yard. She’ll stop and wait and stare at me if I’m slow (which is always because she’s a young dog and I’m an old human). I got out the collar and leash to take her for a walk tonight, and she got so excited and cooperated when I put the collar on. It’s a vast improvement from when I had to chase her through the house to get her harness on and when she’d freeze on a leash when I first got her. It was nice to walk in twilight. And most of the dog walkers were already gone. I’m not sure what she’d do if we met another dog. Hide behind me?

Had my quality time with Zara. Practiced piano. Zara was chirping at the piano for a couple of minutes and then sat and listened.

I’m going to go upstairs and practice Italian. My trip-to-be is motivating me. I studied Italian until my brain went into vaporlock. I'm tired.

I'm going to post, feed the critters, and crash.

I did get some snuggle time with Zara. Yay. She’s still my girl. And it fills me with oxytocin (the “love hormone“), so it helps me too. She's still eating well and seems to be in good shape. (She's 16, so I'm keeping a close eye on her.)

Overslept this morning, so I wouldn't have time to shower before Italian. But my Internet was down. I finally figured out that I missed a payment and they suspended my account. I paid it, and it came back up at 8 AM. Technically, I could have logged into Italian, but I wasn't in decent shape to be seen, so I told my teacher that I was still working on the problem. But the Internet was up in plenty of time for work, and I had time to take a shower.

It's freaking cold out. The plants that I covered look okay, and so do the daffodils, tulips, daylilies, and chives. (I figured that they are used to a cold snap, so I didn't cover them.) I think that it's too cold to rake today, so I'll just give the recycling people what I have. I'll hire someone to rake once I get the money from the trust.

Urgh. My neck is getting really stiff.

I’m mulling over getting a wood stove for the living room. It would be very cozy. It would have to have glass doors to keep curious creatures out.

I need to spend some time cleaning up the upstairs this weekend because I want to get the carpet cleaned as soon as I get the trust money.

Got the garbage out. Took Bella for a walk. She was really happy. I need to spend more time making Bella and Zara happy. Oliver and Lily are more independent.

I forgot to soak the cat dishes, so I came up to post. Then I'll feed the critters and spend some time with Zara, practice piano, do dishes, put laundry in the dryer, and go to bed.

Here is a picture of Lily and Oliver in the window that I took yesterday:

Oh, I forgot to mention that I discussed the timing of the Sardinia trip with my boss, and she said to do what works for me. She's also planning a trip to Italy, so we talked about it. I'm glad that I have a cool boss.

Woke up around 6:30 AM. It’s looking completely uninviting for raking thus far—gloomy and cold. Fed us all.

It’s predicted to rain today. So much for raking. Maybe in the late afternoon. Napped. It’s seeming dryish out, but I might wait a few hours before raking. I wound up cleaning dog debris from part of the kitchen because I dropped an acetaminophen pill and couldn’t find it. I have a headache, so I’m going to take another nap.

I received my Sardinia book and flipped through part of it. Now I’m thinking of spending the first couple of days at the beginning at the Costa Smeralda (the resort area) and then go to Cagliari. I found a hotel that isn’t ridiculously expensive. I have to figure out how to get from there to Cagliari. Okay, there’s a train. I looked at an airplane, but I’d have to fly through Rome! Going there first will add a pile of money to the airfare though. I think that I still want to go there though. Hmm, luggage on the train may be a problem. I'm trying to find out if I can check luggage, but I'm not getting an answer from Trenitalia's (the train line's) Web site. They just said that I have to be able to handle my luggage and store it on the train. That rules out my big suitcase.

All the sleep seems to have helped.

Oliver is trying to stay away from Bella, who is being bitey. Play-bitey, but still, he doesn’t like it. She doesn’t mess with Lily for some reason, just Oliver.

Showered and put my makeup on, but the cats were hungry and so am I. Oliver has gone inside a tipped-over garbage can, and Bella can’t figure out how to get to him. She’s barking and whining. Okay, fed us all.

Raked the front yard. It’s a start. I’m going to continue to work on it Monday and Tuesday night.

Watched a couple of episodes of The Big Bang Theory for a break. Now I’m yawning. Should I go to sleep early? Oliver is fast asleep on the cat tree. Right, I need to get up early to run over to the car repair place. So, yes, bed.

I was trying to fall asleep when I heard someone outside. Bella heard the person too and made some sounds like a mix between a bark and a yip. I went to the door, turned the porch light on, and looked, but didn’t see anyone. I left the porch light on.

I was having problems sleeping, so I got up again and made some oatmeal.

Got up with my alarm at 7 AM. I stepped into cat vomit on the stairs when I went up to work, sigh.

I took Psychology Today's depression screener and it came back as "Some signs of clinical depression".

The Bermuda cruise isn't quite as cheap as I thought because I forgot the single supplement fee. Still not really expensive though. I need to make a decision about going to Italy instead. (Italy won't be a relaxing trip, but go-go-go. I need to decide if I'm up for it.)

The cats are being subdued today. I wonder what's wrong :)

Son of a bitch! Someone smashed my car window last night. Bella and I heard some people outside late last night, and I bet they had something to do with it. I didn’t have anything valuable in the car at least. I was going to take Bella to dog training class when I discovered it, but I need to call the insurance company. At least, I can get most of the money for the class if I drop right now. And it’s supposed to rain. I have a plastic drop cloth that I could tape onto the window. Did I say son of a bitch? Called in the claim. They said that if I drive the car over to the glass place tomorrow, they can vacuum up the glass and put some sort of shield over the window. The appointment to replace the glass is next Tuesday.

I want to get my garage built sooner rather than later.

Oh, and there was another tornado warning while I was dealing with the car.

Gathered my recycling, but I'm waiting for the rain to stop before taking it out. So I'm posting :) I want to get to bed early and get up early to call the glass place and go over there.

I got up at 7:30 AM with my alarm. I’ve been secretly hoping that it would rain so that I could go back to sleep for a little while. One forecast has rain all day (it’s raining very lightly) and another has rain at 9 AM. So I think that I can go back to sleep after I feed the critters and get my yoga clothes together (done).

Napped. It was raining when I woke up. Sigh. Bella did not want to come in even though it was raining. I really want to go back to sleep (it’s a sleepy kind of day) but I’d miss yoga. Found out where the yoga place is. Hmm, I’m really thinking of skipping yoga. It’s pouring rain and I don’t know where my yoga bag is. Probably in the pile of stuff in the back of the car. And I have the concert tonight. I’m going back to bed. Oops, Oliver is in here. I hate to take vacation time, but I might take Tuesday off to rake. No rain predicted then thus far.

I did one thing that was constructive and changed the battery on my smoke alarm. Now it’s nap time. Had a nice nap. It’s still raining.

Oliver is looking for trouble. He tried to chew my phone’s case and the straw for my cup.

I’m feeling not like going to the concert. I don’t know. I’ll eat dinner, take a shower, and see. Honestly, what I feel like doing is watching A Real Pain. Okay, I dug out clothes to wear if I don’t go to the concert.

I’m telling Bella that she’s a goofball dog. She has no sense of dignity whatsoever. Everyone is fed and is quiet.

Got my TV in the bedroom set up finally. Hulu was sending me in circles asking me to change my password, but I finally got it to give me a code to enter. I watched A Real Pain. It was good, but I expected to be devastated by it and I wasn't. While Kieran Culkin was good, I think that Jesse Eisenberg had the tougher role.

I'm going to go to bed early, I think. I don't feel like starting anything new.

I napped again for an hour and a half. Then I took Bella out and fed the beasts. Now I'm at work. Oliver and Lily have been chasing each other and unplugged the docking station for my work computer. Sigh. They love my mom's wingback chair, so I'm looking for a new one for the library. I found a new one, but I would like to get a used one but have found nothing so far. I found a new one that I like with a footstool, but it's $500. Yikes.

Getting both Oliver and Lily was a great idea though. They keep each other entertained.

It might rain both Saturday AND Sunday. Terrific (NOT!)

I never mentioned that the door to the basement and back door is not shutting, I guess because the wood has swelled. It occurred to me to get a hook and eye for each side to close it to keep the cats out. I ordered them from Lowe's and also ordered a cordless drill because the one that I have doesn't have all the pieces. I received the hook and eye packages, but the drill will get here on Saturday. Now the door is working. I only live here.

My glasses fell off of the table, and I stepped on them. Sigh. I need to order another pair of glasses for around the house that are tight for bending over. My other glasses are more fragile and slip. I tried Glasses USA, thinking that they would be cheaper than Zenni, but not really.

Oliver and Lily have finally settled down.

I attended a Webinar about the relationship between physical activity and the immune system. It's inspiring me to get more exercise. I registered for a yoga class this Saturday and will take Bella for a walk.

Bella, Oliver, and Lily were attending my shower. Lily was trying to take a nap with all the chaos swirling around her. She's tough.

I'm feeling like crying for no good reason. I'm feeling overwhelmed. I think that I'm having a delayed reaction over how the trip worked out. Plus I have a dental appointment this afternoon, and I almost forgot about it.

I'm using my new Holland America glass for soda. Now I can wash the other one!

Note to self: check supply of 9-volt batteries

The dental appointment went well. I got two fillings and a CT scan of my mouth. They were very efficient. I'm hungry but I'm waiting for the numbness to wear off. I’m taking advantage of the wait by making pizza.

I have been bringing out recycling when I take Bella out, so all I have to do is roll the bin and flatten cardboard boxes and take the boxes out (done).

The pizza is knocking me out, so I'm going to go to bed and get up early to walk Bella.

I’ve decided to go run errands on Sunday because I have to get myself together for my singing lesson at 11AM. I can pop out afterwards.

Overslept a couple of hours. It’s colder this morning. Started laundry. Bella grabbed a pair of my underwear, and I had a tough time getting it away from her.

I probably shouldn’t take a nap but I’m going to anyway.

Okay, the boycott is over. Ordered cat food and protein bars from Amazon, although I’m not thrilled with giving Bezos more money. I need to think about it when I get back.

Overslept my nap. I think that I needed the sleep though.

I’m going through Amazon boxes, most of which will be going on the trip. I’m getting a headache though, so I need to eat something.

Now I think that I need to take a shower to try some clothes on. Oops, I need to put clothes in the dryer first.

Bella is whining because Oliver went out of reach. Now she got some Amazon packing paper and is trailing it behind her.

I decided that I wanted one more box of cat food, so I submitted a Walmart order. (I’ll figure out the ethics of my spending when I get back.)

Got the clothes in the dryer with “help” from Oliver. Now I’m going to lie down for a while to get rid of the headache. Bella takes any opportunity for a nap. I read somewhere that dogs sleep more than humans, but she feels obligated to stay up when I’m up.

Overslept my nap slightly. Showered. Had my meeting with the life coach, which was just a quick check-in.

Huh. I need to eat dinner and feed the beasties. But I'm tired. Maybe I'll do some packing and crash early. Oh! I have a cleaner for Tuesday, which takes some work off of me. Awesome.

I need to scan some music for my lesson tomorrow and go to bed.

I got one full recycling bin and some boxes out.

Lily snuck upstairs when I went up to post, and there is major kitty drama going on with Mimi. I'll see if Lily will leave with me. I had to pick her up, protesting.

Got clothes in the dryer.

I forgot to mention that I bought two of Judy Collins’ bios to read on the trip.

The trust said that they were in contact with the bank about having the safety deposit box drilled and that I should have the tax document when I come back.

Bella was chewing the leg of the over-toilet shelves. This is why we can't have nice things :) I escorted her out.

Got my groceries in. I think that I bought too much cat litter. That at least is self-correcting.

Got my hair cut. She layered it, but blow-dried it straight, but I hope that the waves will pop up when I wash it. Got money for the pet sitter.

Oliver snuck up here too (bad day for Mimi), but eventually I got him out.

Hmm. I'm going to need to put in some extra time at work to finish a Web page so that it can get reviewed on Monday. Do I do that tonight or tomorrow night? Tomorrow, I was going to pull a all-nighter cleaning because I don't seem to be getting a cleaner. So I guess that means I need to work late tonight. Actually, I finished my Web page except for an outstanding question, so I can do other things tonight. I'm in the mood for packing.

The vet called. Oliver's fecal results were fine, but Bella tested positive for hookworms. I'm going to go by later to get meds for her. They said that boarding her would be okay if I give her the meds. Maybe I should pick up some hot dogs to put the meds in.

Picked up Bella’s meds. Now the desk clerk said that he would have to double check with the practice manager tomorrow morning if they could take Bella without a retest in a month. This is turning into a cliffhanger. A kennel did contact me today saying that they could take them.

I keep having freaking stomach cramps. Sigh.

Gave Bella her meds in her food and promptly washed out her dish because I don't know what the meds would do to the cats.

Trump has taken down the Income Based Repayment form for my student loans that I need to fill out to re-register for it. Trump’s chaos has arrived at my house. I have no idea what to do.

Took Bella for a walk. She did well, except for freaking out a little when we saw another dog. It was a half-hour, not an hour, but it's a start. She's starting to realize that the harness and leash can mean good things. I think that she thought that we were going to see her friend the vet!

Now I think that I'll feed the critters and go to bed. I'll work on packing when I get up. Oh, and I need to soak a litter box before I go to bed.

Had my Italian lesson. She's excited about my trip, and told me to be ready to tell her about it in Italian.

The Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana are having a concert on Sunday. I'd like to go but might need the time to get organized for my trip. You can buy tickets at the door, so I guess that I'll decide at the last minute.

I have to say that it's weird but freeing, knowing that I don't ever want another job (I'm planning to retire from this one) or need new skills. I do want to study in retirement though to keep my mind sharp. The uni also has short lecture series for retirees.

Ordered my prescriptions to be sent to me. One less errand....

Took Mimi to the vet. Her weight is staying stable, so we’re just going to keep an eye on her. I asked if there was a way to weigh her at home, and the vet suggested that I use my scale and weigh myself with and without her. I also want to use the carrier because she doesn’t like being held. But my scale needs batteries.

Dropped off my ballot. Ran to the post office. Picked up some odds and ends at Walgreens, including some trial-sized stuff for my trip and batteries.

Now I went out with Bella and am feeding the beasts.

Had my piano lesson, which was a fiasco. First my teacher was in the wrong lesson. She was calling me, but I wasn’t answering because I didn’t know who it was. I finally answered a text. Then she chewed me out (justifiably) because I didn’t practice everything on her list. And I’m so tired that I’m almost shaking.

I need to gather garbage to take out (done). I want to start the food process and post, but Lily is stretched out very relaxed on my lap. Now she dug her claws in my leg and started biting, which is less charming.

For some reason, the song "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" was playing in my head, so I listened to it. Actually, my internal radio started with "Southern Cross" and changed to "Suite..." Why songs pop into my head, I don't know.

Now I'm upstairs to post. Mimi almost came downstairs earlier, but saw Lily, and beat a hasty retreat. I was surprised that she did that.