days_unfolding

Got up at 6:30 AM. It’s raining, ugh.

Day 2 of the All-Staff Meeting went well. The team that I’m on had a good discussion about creating training classes.

The only thing is that I’m really tired. (I had to resort to coffee part-way through because I was sleepy. To my surprise, I kind of liked it. I do have my mom’s coffee maker. I should pick up some light roast.) I have time to mow for a while, but I’m tired and the cats want to be fed. I ate some dinner; the local grocery store had some chicken tenders with honey-mustard sauce, and it was really good. Anyway, I’m not going to mow tonight. I think that I’ll do some washing and packing. And get to bed early.

Oh, I asked my boss if I could take Friday off so that I could drop the cats and dogs off on Friday instead, and she said yes. I need to call the boarding places tomorrow to make my arrangements.

Oh crap. Thunderstorms on Friday. So much for yard work. I need to get up a little early tomorrow so that I can leave work early to mow.

I’m too tired to get the recycling out. I’m going to put pills in my “pill planner” for the trip because that doesn’t require much energy (done). And I need to find the charger organizer (not found–ordered a new one) and the laptop (done). Oh, and submit a grocery order (done).

I keep getting catalogs for world cruises. Like I’d have the time and money for that, plus I have furry dependents.

Blue Cross Blue Shield sent me a letter telling me how to get information about Medicare. I turn 64 this year (hard to believe), so it’s time to start learning about it. I think that there is a “dummies” book about it too (ordered).

Everyone’s fed. I think that I should start wending my way to bed.

I have the dogs in because it’s supposed to storm. Gracie is snoozing upstairs. Here comes the storm.

Overslept my nap. Crazy tired.

Hmm, I wanted to work on setting up the raised bed, but it’s nonstop rain. I guess that I’ll work on packing tonight.

Napped. Fed the cats and dogs.

Facebook has been serving me clips of Jon Stewart. I almost sprayed a mouthful of soda when one of Trump’s minions said that the Strait of Hormuz is open “except for Iran shooting at shipping “. But it’s open. Right.

Charged the mower batteries for mowing tomorrow.

Got my stuff organized to grab tomorrow morning. I need to get to bed soon because I need to wake up early.

Overslept an hour but still have time before my physical therapy appointment. My stomach is really hurting, so I called in sick for the appointment. I’m going to go back to sleep. Slept. Overslept, so I’ll take my shower at lunchtime. My stomach still hurts.

Met a guy on an adult tricycle outside who apparently visits the dogs outside every day. He asked if he could give them a donut, and he gave them two. He said that they give him great joy.

Showered at lunchtime. I had a mad scramble at work after lunch. Now it’s getting dark, but the forecasters aren’t predicting rain?

Ordered some “leakproof” underwear for the flights and roaming around with Dad. I hope that the dogs don’t get into the package and scatter them all over the yard. I think that I want to start packing, although the jeans will need to be washed at the last minute. I just bought a couple more pairs of jeans. Should I take a pair of shorts? The weather is so weird right now.

Ow. Getting a headache. Need some Tylenol and some water.

Piano class went well. Fed the cats and dogs, and somehow it got late. I didn’t have time to gather the recycling. I need to gather it on the weekend so that I can just roll the cans out.

I canceled HBO Max because I watched everything that I wanted on it. I want to sign up for Starz to watch their version of Amadeus, but I might as well wait until after I get back from my dad’s house.

Dug out a leash to take Gracie to the vet tomorrow for a shot.

Major storm tonight. I’m glad that the dogs are inside.

Got up at 7:45 AM. I hadn’t fed Lily yet and I was putting on my makeup for my medical appointment. First, she was parading around on the sink. Then she got between me and the mirror. Then she climbed on my shoulder. Well played, Lily.

I’m at the hospital. The mammogram is done unless the radiologist wants more pictures. Then I’ll have an ultrasound.

Back home. I’m not clear on whether the “complex cysts or masses” are benign or not in the results. Okay, I guess that they are benign, but they don’t make it easy to understand. I got a message that said plainly that they were benign. It’s good to have the tests behind me. I had been worrying about them.

I didn’t realize that it was raining again. I let in two very wet dogs. Even Gracie had had enough.

I really want a nap after work. Rainy days knock me out. And it’s going to rain until 9 or 10. So no putting out the garbage.

I just realized that I have a luncheon tomorrow. Need clean clothes.

Had a nice nap but it wasn’t long enough. The doggies were wrestling before I fell asleep, and Gracie woke me up as soon as my alarm went off. The dogs want to go out, but it’s raining. I let them out in the rain. Gracie dashed out, but Bella hesitated but finally went out. I told them it was raining! They were waiting on the porch for me when I let them in. Soggy dogs.

Read an article about how New Orleans will be under water by the turn of the century, and that they should move the city now. That’s sad. I love New Orleans.

Submitted a grocery order, including the all-important cat food and lawn bags.

I need to head towards bed.

The dogs completely crashed out as soon as we got into bed. I finished reading my book.

Woke up at 7 AM. Let the dogs out. Went back to sleep and overslept.

It’s a stormy morning. Let the wet dogs in. Have lights on throughout the house.

I had to put the clothes in the dryer because they wouldn’t be quite dry when I take my shower at lunchtime. Now I know more about timing when I use the heated drying rack.

Lily is looking lovely in the cat bed on my desk. Wow, that cat is beautiful.

Tornado warning. I’m in the basement with Lily and Oliver. The dogs won’t come down. Zara is in her room. It’s over now.

Groan. Lunchtime and I had to tell Gracie to stop barking at Lily. Showered.

I really, really want to go to Hawaii (Oahu). Maybe next year? Ack, flights have gotten expensive! I’m thinking May or June. Though I want to take a cruise to Bermuda, and that would be the same time frame. Well, there is a cruise in March. Maybe I could do that and go to Hawaii in September? Actually, there is a cruise on April 6th that looks good. I need to save up the money for it. It’ll be on Norwegian, which doesn’t thrill me, but they have nice solo cabins. And the cruise is out of New York City, so I could spend a day in the city.

Oh what a night. It was storming and pouring when I left for choir-–and Gracie ran out in the yard. Fuck. I had to go because it was dress rehearsal for our concert next week. I told Gracie to go under the porch, and she did go under there and checked it out, but she decided that she didn’t like it. So I drove off, worrying. The drive was scary. I got drenched running into the building. So we gathered for the rehearsal. And then there was a tornado warning (for those who are counting, that makes two). We went down in the basement of the church. Now I was really worried about Gracie, but the tornado was up north of us, so I figured that she would be okay. We sang a song a capella in the basement and then the warning was over and we went upstairs. Many of us, including me, were making mistakes on the songs. On our hardest song, she stopped us partway and asked why we were falling apart when we did a good job last week. But we got through it.

The rain had stopped when I left. I had planned to stop at the grocery store, but I thought that I shouldn’t because of Gracie, but I decided to run in and grab a few things. Then I went home. Gracie ran over to the fence near me when I drove up. When I got to the gate, she barked at me. I think that I was told off. I went inside and expected Bella to run out, but Gracie pushed her way in and Bella followed her. Gracie was soaked to the skin.

I ate the food that I picked up. Bella was being obnoxious and tried to take a bite of my chicken sandwich. I fed them after I finished, and Bella ignored the food. Right. Gracie was nowhere to be found; I think that she’s crashed out in the bedroom.

Well, crap. Home Depot has donated money to anti-LGBTQ+ politicians. I was going to go there after my massage tomorrow. Okay, Lowe’s it is. I also need to order a lot of dirt. I joined Lowe’s Rewards to get free delivery.

Gracie let me sleep until 8 AM. Yay.

Google says that I can’t till muddy ground. Hmm.

Fed us all. Zara isn’t eating much, and I’m worried. But she has an appointment at the vet on Monday.

It’s looking very uninviting out. Very dark and gloomy.

Hmm. I’m thinking of going to Lowe’s tomorrow or Tuesday. Or I could have stuff delivered. I’ll come straight home after my massage appointment and plant stuff.

I looked on Burnalong for some stretch routines and found some possibilities.

Napped. My massage therapist texted me and said that they were having HVAC issues at the spa. We’re trying to set something up for next Saturday. In this case, I’ll have lunch, shower, and get outside.

Well, here’s an interesting wrinkle—there’s a freeze watch tomorrow night. Maybe I should just clear beds but not plant? But I need to get stuff in the ground. I do have plastic drop cloths that I can throw over the plants.

I did something to my back in the shower (!), so I’m going to lie down for a little while. Napped. Got up and let the dogs out. I’m sitting for a moment.

Bella killed the Japanese Maple in front of me. I think that I need a taller plant because she leaves the crabapple alone. And I need to put chicken wire around it.

Planted the raspberries. Got most of the blueberry bed cleaned out when my back said, “Enough “.

Fed us all. I’m tired. Ordered wire cutters, hook and eye latches, and soil from Lowe’s. I thought that I was going to get free delivery, but they charged me. I think that I’ll watch an episode of Heated Rivalry and go to bed early,

Gracie woke me up at 6:30 AM. Sigh. Let the dogs out. The cats were interested in what I was doing in the bathroom. Went back to sleep.

I’ve wanted to see Joshua Bell and Larisa Martinez for a long time. I logged onto Krannert’s Web site to find that the concert is this Friday! Got a ticket. Canceled my voice lesson, which takes place then, and my teacher said that it was for a “wonderful reason”.

Bella came in but Gracie did not. Talked to a guy walking his dogs, and someone is throwing pieces of salmon and chicken onto the sidewalk?!?

Gracie came in at 11:30 AM. Early for her. I’m always nervous when I let her out on Mondays that she won’t come in in time for me to leave for choir.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I got the solo part that I wanted, but the choir director is dividing it between me and someone else.

Lily is sleeping in a box on my desk.

Damn, I’m tired. Dozed off for a moment. Turned the fan on (it’s 80F/27C) up here, and it helps.

Got my sleep study instructions for tomorrow. I think that I need to bring my backpack. I can have decaf soda, so I need to pick up a bottle of root beer tonight.

Choir went okay. I scored some root beer and a pineapple upside down cake at the store afterwards.

It’s still hot.

I probably won’t post tomorrow because I have my sleep study. Not looking forward to it.

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.

Overslept until 8:15 AM. I’m feeling groggy. I forgot to scan my music for my lesson, so I’ll need to sneak it in (done). I really need to nap at lunchtime, so I’ll need to jump into the shower right after work.

And now it’s back to cold (34F/1C). Mother Nature is having whiplash.

I think that I want to get a Japanese Maple for the front yard. I found one that I like. And planting trees is a Good Thing. Oh, I forgot to mention that I got two ferns for the side yard. It will be tricky to figure out the right spot without the other ferns though. I’ll work it out. I need to check on the little crabapple tree after the storm. It’s okay.

I’ve perked up a bit, so I’m going to shower at lunchtime. No, I changed my mind again and want a nap (done).

The crazy dogs don’t want to come in even though it’s cold. They finally came in at a quarter to 3. Gracie was busy bugging the cats upstairs, but she seems to have settled down. Right now, she’s lying on her back with her front paws in the air.

Showered after work. My singing lesson went well. We made it through a long song. My teacher said that we should be proud of ourselves.

Fed us all. Ran an errand. Watched Harry Potter. Now I need to give the beasties their crunchies and head for bed.