days_unfolding

Woke up a little after 7 AM. Took the dogs out, and dropped Gracie’s leash. That went well; she and Bella had a great time chasing each other. Fed us all. Nap time.

Woke up around 10:30. I’m washing some black pants to wear for Thanksgiving dinner. I couldn’t find the sweater that I wanted, but found a blazer. I’m waiting to put the clothes in the dryer and take another nap. I found my sweater, so I don’t need the black pants. I’m wearing a black-and-white striped top, jeans, and a beige-and-black cardigan. I put both my bras in the wash though, so I need to wait to put them in the dryer.

There’s a warning of cold weather tonight.

Here's a picture of the new fence:


Shit. I slept until 4:19. I need to jump in the shower after I wake up a little. I’m wondering if I should skip Thanksgiving dinner. I have 10 minutes to decide. I’ve decided to stay home. I don’t want Thanksgiving dinner so much that I want to rush to get it.

Note to self: turn off outside water tonight! Get soda off of porch (done).

I let both Bella and Gracie out without a leash. Gracie seemed happy. I had to teach her to come in for a Munchie Bone. Bella took it away from her even though I had given her one. I gave Gracie another one. Ordered more Munchie Bones. Sheesh, they're expensive.

I booked a manicure and pedicure right before my second cruise. It’ll be cheaper than on the ship. Better colors too. I went to book a massage, but I no longer have the package that I paid for, and I’m having a massage on the ship. So no.

Ordered Zara's new heated bed.

I'm feeling like going to bed early. Must remember to shut off the outside water and set the faucets to dripping before bed.

I woke up at 5 AM. I lay there dozing to 5:45 and then got up.

Hmm. Someone local is offering a used set of dining chairs for $35. They're okay but not great. But they might do for a while.

The fence guys are here, and the dogs are going nuts. I had thought about going back to sleep after my shower, but not with all the barking. I talked to the guys, and apparently it'll take three days to put the fence up, which I didn't know.

Just remembered to tell them not to take my neighbor's fence down.

I looked at volunteering for a food bank, but most of them are during the week. I did find one on Sunday. Hmm. The food bank is sponsored by a mosque. It would be one way to get to know people of the Muslim faith, but would they want me there? The food bank is open to anyone.

The fence guys asked for an electrical outlet, but I don't have one next to the door. (I should have one put in.) They'd have to run an extension cord into my kitchen, but then the doors wouldn't close, and the dogs would get out. So no. They can figure it out. Actually, once I have the electrical work done on the garage, workmen could use an outlet there.

I bought some solar Christmas lights and solar spotlights. I'll do some decorating over the long weekend. I also ordered a wreath (battery-operated). I need to clean off the porch. I bought some bows to put on the new fence. Hmm. Maybe I want a wreath for the garage door? Bought more bows for the fence.

Tried to sleep but Bella kept barking and both dogs kept wrestling. Maybe I can grab a nap after work.

I’m craving bread. Maybe I’ll go out later and pick some up. No, I submitted a Schnucks' delivery order with some Amy’s frozen food and a half-pie as well as bread. They substituted something that I didn't want, so I contacted them.

I ordered a bird feeder and bird seed/suet for a Christmas present for the birds--and the cats. I'm going to get a cat hammock for the front window so that they can look out and watch the birds. I need to measure the window first. Ordered--I got a faux fur one because they like to lie on the faux fur rug.

I took the dogs out on leashes. They really, really wanted to go outside of the yard (only fence posts are up) and I had to haul hard on their leashes. I brought them in early because I’d rather they pee or poop inside than stay a long time hauling them on their leashes (plus I don’t know if they’ll do their business with both on a leash). Tomorrow they’ll put the chain-link up, which should help.

Someone recommended Princess Cruises as attracting an older crowd and less of a party ship. They certainly are cheap. I might take a Southern Caribbean cruise with them. I saw a Japan one that has the ports that I want and isn’t very expensive!

Fed us all. I want to go to bed early because the fence guys will be here early tomorrow morning (and the dogs will no doubt go nuts again).

Gracie was bugging Oliver. He jumped on the table and knocked down his food. Bella stole a can. A quiet morning at home.

Oliver really scratched me up today. First, he was on my lap rolling around, and he lost his balance and scratched a bleeding gash in my leg. Then, when I had just gotten out of the shower, he jumped on my back but couldn't get his footing because I had no clothes on, and he slid down my back with claws outstretched. I yelled bloody (and it was) murder and told him to leave the bathroom. Surprisingly, he did.

I have a lot of freaking stuff to do at work today (she said as she distracts herself by adding to the rolling post). And I'm coughing up a storm.

I couldn't sleep over lunch. It didn't help that Gracie was licking my face.

The fence guy came to check the site out and do some measurements. They'll be here to replace the fence on Monday morning.

I just canceled my singing lesson because I can't stop coughing. It'll be nice to lie down.

I'm going to need more cold medicine. I think that I'll throw myself together tomorrow and go get some though because I'll need to show an ID. I'll wear a mask because I'm coughing.

Okay, I signed up for three Dial-A-Carol slots.

Lay down after work. Slept until almost 10 PM. TMI: had to change my clothes due to an accident. Put on pajamas. Took the dogs out and slipped and fell on the mud.

Fed the cats. That little shit Oliver will abandon his food to eat Lily’s. I’ll feed the dogs in a minute (done, and fed myself). I need to feed the cats and Gracie again before going to sleep. I'll do so and go to bed.

I'm scrambling to get my ear wax softened with chemicals so that I can have my left ear flushed out. I'd like to order hearing aids at Costco but need to get the damn wax out first. Apparently, I need to call Costco to make an appointment.

I'm trying to decide whether to join an online women's "over 50" book club. It looks like interesting topics, but I can't read the book by next Tuesday. They're out of Indianapolis, and they meet in person sometimes, so that doesn't look practical. I bought the book that they're discussing though.

Woke up at 6:30 AM, but I want to go back to sleep for an hour and shower at lunchtime. Couldn’t sleep, so I’ll take my shower now. And I can nap at lunchtime. Yay.

Almost $700 in my travel account. Acorns is working well for me.

I bought an automatic feeder that reads microchips for Lily. I might get some for all of them but want to spread it out because they’re expensive.

Couldn't sleep during lunch.

I signed a contract for the fence. They want a 50% deposit, so they'll send me an ACH link.

Went to choir rehearsal, and it went well except for a missing piece of music that I had. I’m home now, and I’m surprised that the cats aren’t in my face. They are now. I'm going to feed the beasts, start laundry, and go to bed.

Zara is picking at her food. I’ll need to give her one of the appetite-enhancing meds, which usually work well. I wonder, though, if she’s just wearing out. But her labs were good, and the vet said that she was spry for a 16-year-old cat.

She did eat her food last night. I’ll keep an eye on her.

I forgot that I had to look presentable to pick up my work laptop, and I was wearing my grungy jeans. I dumped clothes into the dryer to have something to change into.

My performance review at work went well. I was focusing too much on the negatives, but my boss said that she thought things were going well.

Then I went and got the new work laptop. I had a slightly wrong address, but was able to connect with the IT person, and the laptop works. And they gave me a new docking station, so that should fix any problems that I’m having. (It did.) I was hungry when I got home, so I had some cereal. I told work that I should be back by 3, so I need to go up and log on.

Freaking tired again. I didn't get to bed early after all. I have a voice lesson tonight, but I might just crash out afterward. Though I need to figure out what to wear to the concert tomorrow.

Yay. I got my system at work up and running.

Ack. Oliver ran into Zara’s room when I went in for the lesson. I finally got him out, but the dogs were picking on him, so I opened the door and he ran back in. Then I brought his carrier in and he ran into it, and I put the carrier outside, and unlatched the door. It seemed to work; I didn’t hear any mayhem.

The voice lesson was good, but I was tired and it showed.

I forgot to mention that the box in which my recycled paper toilet paper came in fell apart, and toilet paper rolls went every which way. The dogs are in heaven. There are some rolls in the bedroom that they are "killing". And shredded toilet paper on the bed.

Got some of my groceries in. I’ll get the rest in the morning.

I got the estimate for the fence. Now I’m pondering a five-foot fence rather than a six-foot fence. It still will be a foot taller than what I have.

Fed us all and took the dogs out. I'm just waiting for my pajamas to dry. (The joys of getting older. I've been leaking urine when I first wake up with a full bladder. I just ordered some of those pads, sigh.) They're done, so I'll wend my way to bed.

I shut Gracie out of the bedroom because she was barking at Oliver. Bella and Oliver promptly crashed out. I’m boiling hot. Oliver started biting my feet after I turned out the light, so that earned him a trip out of the bedroom.

The garage guys came and put in the concrete but left the back gate open. Gracie managed to get her footprints in the concrete while I was talking to the neighbor. (He gave me some water to wash her paws off.) The city said that he needs an agreement with me to dig up his sewer. He said that he wanted to make sure that I know that the side fence is his fence.

It’s a zoo around here. I brought the dogs in and went back out, but the neighbor is gone.

Sigh. I put my glasses down on the table by mistake, and Gracie tried to grab them. Gracie, you're a menace.

I checked my pension account, and right now, I have a year’s salary saved up.

Busy day at work. Now I’ve started the feeding process (cats, me, dogs) and to take the dogs out. The electrician texted me at lunchtime to see if I was there, but I told him that I work and don’t always see my texts. Tomorrow I have the fence guy coming at 11, so I suggested coming by afterwards.

I moved my massage appointment forward because I think that it was too close to the time for the concert. I want to get there early to park and walk over.

Wrestling dogs at my feet. They’re crazy critters. Oliver wants me to feed him more, but I told him that I remembered feeding him even if he didn’t remember eating. Plus, he’s chunky because he eats part of Lily’s food.

I took the dogs out and ran into another neighbor. She had her daughter in a stroller, and Gracie barks at strollers. Sigh. We tried to talk but her daughter said that she wanted to leave. So they did. Gracie really, really wanted to go over to the concrete, but I wouldn’t let her near there.

Got the recycling out. Gracie pooped in the bedroom and then walked through it and got it on the sheet and mattress, so I need to go scrub after I cool off. You'd think that she'd be smart enough not to walk through it. Sigh.

I had my dental cleaning this morning. They did only one side, and the other will be in a couple of weeks. They also recommended that I get a mouth guard for sleeping. (Yeah, I'll be sexy with the mouth guard and a future CPAP :))

The garage guy is here fixing the gate that he broke. He did a good job and even put the gates on their hinges. I've more or less talked myself into getting a new chain-link fence after the garage is built. It would be a lot cheaper, and the dogs could see out. I'd like it to be powder-coated green though to add a little pizzazz. They probably could use the same posts for part of it, but I want the gap closed up. Maybe they could put an extra post in.

They're going to start the work on the garage on Monday. They say. I called the electrician for the garage because it looks like they are really going to build the garage.

I was right about not seeding the lawn this fall. They're making a mess of the back yard. I'd like to do it next year, but I'll be in Europe at the right time. Maybe I could hire someone to water the lawn while I'm gone?

I think that I want raised beds that sit on the ground because it'll look neater. But I want the dirt elevated to keep critters out of the vegetable and herb gardens. I'll have to see what I can find. I can buy a bunch of dirt from the landscaping recycling place. I'll get a wheelbarrow and fill them myself. Actually, Home Depot has raised beds with feet that aren't really expensive and look nice. I'm wondering about the grass underneath it though.

The "overnight glasses" are done and are about to be shipped. Way to go.

Got my recycling out, including breaking down boxes. Got my perishable groceries in. I’m going to sit and cool off, and then I’ll get the rest of the groceries.

Thinking about susandennis’ comment about how she’s a large woman with small boobs. I’m a large woman with large boobs (DD), so that’s why my back hurts when I bend over a lot. I thought about breast reduction, but mine aren’t large enough for insurance to pay for it (and I feel for those who are eligible for it). So I really need to get on the diet and exercise wagon again, even though I have a bad case of “don’t wanna”.

Got some of the groceries in. I'll get the rest in the morning. Now I need to feed the critters and then go to bed because I'm really tired.