days_unfolding

I watched a couple more episodes of The Golden Girls. The dog is fast asleep, so I’m going to get in my pajamas and join her.

Got up at 7. Bella defended the yard against a squirrel. She ate Lily’s food. Bad dog! She was trotting around with one of my bras that she found.

I was looking for pictures of Mimi because I think that I want the painted urn. Found some.

Oh shit! I just realized that a book that Bella destroyed was a library book! Guess that I need to go over and pay for it.

Tried to nap but couldn’t sleep.

I’m trying to decide what to do. I need to run over to Walmart to get Mrs. Meyers cleaner and Munchie Bones. I need to plant the new plants, which requires cleaning out the garden bed. And I need to clean the bedroom, kitchen, and upstairs.

It’s a little early for lunch, so I guess that I’ll get in the shower. Well, I needed to do laundry, so I guess that I’ll have lunch.

I’m looking for a new housekeeper because mine is moving out of town in June. I found someone who wants to support herself as a new grad student. I’ll contact her later in May.

My towels didn’t dry, so I threw on the clothes that I had on yesterday. I found my shovel and will go out and plant the ferns (done). Then the alarm on the Honda started going off. I shut it off twice, but apparently it had been going off since last night, but I didn’t hear it. I contacted an online Honda mechanic, and he said that the alarm system was built in. He said to bring it to a dealer to read the messages why the alarm was going off, but next week is problematic because of my off-site meetings. He told me how to disconnect the battery, but I didn’t have a small enough wrench. My neighbor came over and disconnected it.

I'm supposed to give someone a ride tomorrow, but that isn't going to work.

The pup is tired from being outside so long. Napped with her.

It’s a little late to go to Walmart. I’ll go tomorrow.

I started reading Judy Collins’ book. It’s interesting.

I don't feel up to starting anything new, so I'm going to crash.

Overslept until 8 AM. Oh well.

My Italian teacher was nice about skipping next week. (We have an in-person meeting, and I'll be driving to it during the Italian time.)

The travel Meetup people also have a Yosemite trip that I might do sometime. I never went there when I lived in California!

Oliver is playing with his beloved little plastic ball. He carries it around in his mouth!

Got my groceries.

I saved a link to a hydration pack for larger people. That might be good for wandering around Italy. (I haven't forgotten almost passing out in Florence.) And the Sardinia trip will be in August.

The car repair people called. They want me to bring the car by so that the painter can match the color of the car. I said tomorrow morning. No, I'm going to take my shower during lunch and come by in the late afternoon. Crud, on the way back, I discovered that the stereo isn't getting any power. I called the repair shop, and they'll look at it when they put the new lock on. Hell, is this ever going to get over with?

The next "official" protest being held by the group that I joined is on May 1st. Crud, that's a work day.

I'm having a tough time finding someone to let Bella out at lunchtime during my meetings next week. I'm looking into doggie day care as an alternative. Called a place and they're sending over a release form.

I'm thinking of shelling out for a Roam hardside suitcase. They're pricey, but are supposedly well made. My Hartmann case has gotten stained, which is the disadvantage of softside luggage.

Bella, Oliver, and Lily attended my shower. Lily walked around on the shower stall and then jumped in. I thought that she might want to leave, so I opened the door and Oliver walked in. Then Bella walked in. I got Bella to leave but had to remove Lily, protesting. Oliver decided to leave on his own steam. Partway through my shower, both Oliver and Lily were standing on the shower stall batting at each other. Those two are a laugh riot!

Flaming headache.

Apparently my cleaner was texting me to confirm for tomorrow and I missed the messages. I hope that we're still on. We are.

Received the ferns for my garden. They are bare roots plants, which Bella likes to dig up and play with. I'll need to plant them this weekend, rain or not, and dig deeper to hide them.

Hmm. I haven't gotten the itineraries from the Meetup travel people yet. I'm pondering going over to Paris an extra couple of days early to wander around and follow ChatGPT's tours.

I went on the BBC’s app, and they were streaming the debate in Canada, so I left it on while I was cleaning up the kitchen. It was interesting. They brought up some of the same issues being discussed in the US. They are taking Trump's wish to annex Canada seriously. The discussion about healthcare was interesting. They were saying that their system was getting more privatized, and I was wondering why. There also was a discussion about Canada's role in supporting the Ukraine now that the US is no longer doing so. The polite Canadians were talking over each other! Anyway, I learned something and also got stuff done on the house.

I got a bad case of the shakes and did something to my knee. I'm going to go to sleep and get up very early to finish tidying. I'll set a wakeup call to make sure that I'll get up.

Everything is falling into place. My house cleaner asked me if I wanted her to come on Friday. I said that I was going out of town, but asked if she could come first thing in the morning. She said yes, which takes a lot of pressure off of me to clean. Yay. And my check processed, so I can go to dinner with the team tonight.

The Annual Meeting with the libraries went well.

Came home briefly, and bought swimsuits and (used) evening gowns for my cruise. I'll book my flight and hotel tonight.

Had dinner with the team. I was tired and didn't talk much. Got gas.

Got documents together to renew my driver's license. I already have a REAL ID, but I'm not sure if I need the identification documents to renew it, but I have the documents that I might need. Paid some bills. Didn't get a chance to book my flight and hotel. I'll do that tomorrow.

I need to crash because I need to get up early.

Overslept this morning. I was a little late for work.

Well, hell. The mower guy hasn't showed up so far. Apparently he sent a message asking to mow on Sunday, but I missed it. Now the cleaner hasn't shown up.

Oh crap. I had an Italian lesson this morning and completely forgot about it. I sent a message to the teacher apologizing.

The cleaner showed up and she said that I need a "deep cleaning," which costs a lot extra but I said okay. The lawn mower guy said that he was coming, but now he wants to reschedule for tomorrow.

Hmm, it just occurred to me that we're coming up on my favorite season of the year! Autumn is a good time for long walks, crunching leaves under my feet. Champaign-Urbana looks especially lovely in Autumn.

I was thinking about the war in Gaza and the protests in Israel, and wanting to learn more, when a word popped up in my mind, Haaretz. So I googled Haaretz and found that it was an Israeli newspaper, and they have an edition in English. I have no idea how it popped up in my mind and where it came from. I poked around Haaretz's site enough to get the idea that it's a left-wing paper and they are not fans of Netanyahu. I balked at the price, but subscribed month-to-month so that I can cancel it when the war is over or when I get too horribly depressed, whichever comes first. Well, you think we have been scathing about Netanyahu, but it's nothing that compares to what they're saying. I can't find the exact quote, but it was something like calling him "the Messiah of lies" and something else derogatory. All right then.

All of this is distracting me from our elections. I really need to volunteer for Harris' campaign. I can only imagine the combo of Trump and Netanyahu. They'd probably drop an atomic bomb on Gaza except for the fact that the fallout would impact Israel. I need to figure out how to volunteer. I like creating content, but I need to find out what that entails. Okay, I signed up for a couple of events. I really would like to attend one that is about how to talk to people who disagree with you or don't care, but it conflicts with my voice lesson. Oh wait a minute. it's right before my lesson. I'm so there.

My Web programming class is moving fast. I need to bring a CSS book with me to Michigan and work on it in my hotel room.

The cleaners have spent hours cleaning! They're doing a better job than I had planned. The cats are decidedly unhappy and are hanging out with me upstairs. Zara wants to eat.

Apparently the house cleaners left without saying that they were leaving. I was still hiding out upstairs with the cats, but decided to check on them, and the floors were dry, so they had been gone for a while. They did a fantastic job. They even made my bed! (I kind of like how they made the bed, so I'll try it.) The rooms that they did look like a hotel! I just need to get the rest of the place unpacked and organized.

I was starving because I didn't eat lunch because they were cleaning. And the cats wanted to be fed. I fed us all, but I had forgotten that I had yoga tonight and couldn't find my yoga pants and it was late to be going, so I decided to skip tonight.

Oh. I forgot to mention that I will need to check luggage on my flight to Detroit because I want to bring pruning shears with me to take cuttings from the plants in the yard. I'll take the cuttings right before I leave so that they'll stay fresh. Actually, it would be cheaper to buy shears when I get there. I’ll do that and give them away on Buy Nothing when I get back.

I took a nap and slept for four hours. Zara was with me and made a fuss over me when I woke up.

Oh crud. Today is Tuesday, and I need to get the garbage out (done). At least most of it is out already. I’ve been thinking that today is Monday all day.

Put some Buy Nothing stuff out. Studied Italian. My flash card app knew that I skipped yesterday and was reminding me to study! Packaged up my eBay sale. I'll mail it at the post office that's open late tomorrow.