days_unfolding

Now I’m changing my mind and am thinking to take the Oceania cruise. It’s in March. I have some time to decide. It might come down to getting air miles for it.

I’m looking at personalized emergency cards to take with me on the Europe trip.

Overslept a little and got up at 9:15 AM.

Got my grocery order. Frozen yogurt!

It’s raining. It’s a good day for a nap.

I’m waiting impatiently for my antihistamine to get here because I’m one giant itch ball. Make it stop!

Overslept my nap.

I received Zara’s scale. I’ll set it up tonight and get a weight on her.

Worked late because I overslept my nap and made good progress on my task.

I’m trying to decide whether to nap or stay up. I am tired. Oh, it’s too late for a nap. Well, I could still take one and go out with the dogs a little later. Had a nice nap. Went out with the dogs.

Fed us all. The Marley Spoon meals are still pretty good.

Opened some packages. Got the cat scale set up. Oliver decided that he wanted to try it. He’s 11 pounds and some ounces. I’ll weigh Zara when I go in to feed her.

I’m looking at Factor meals again for the time being. They’re simple, nutritious, and tasty. I also looked at Tempo. The meals looked good (but I’m not a fan of pork, and they had two pork meals). Their prices are similar, but Tempo is more consistently low-cal.

Oliver is on top of the digital piano, watching Zara eating intensely. If I were Zara, I wouldn’t like that, but she is taking it in stride. Oliver fell off and scared Zara. She retreated to her spot, and I brought her food over there.

In bed. It’s dog wrestling time again. They could have played with each other all evening, but apparently it has to be now.

Gracie is chewing the blanket. I’m telling her “No,” and she’s barking at me. She is strong-willed and stubborn.

Woke up at 7:30 AM. There’s a heat warning, so I’ll go get the monitor tomorrow. Oliver and Bella attended my shower.

Brought the laptop downstairs because it’s supposed to be hot hot hot.

Rescheduled Gracie’s vet appointment. Called the CPAP people and left a message.

The Dollar General laundry baskets are smaller than the Dollar Tree baskets. Oh well.

Bella is bonking my hand to pet her. After all, I’m just sitting at the kitchen table, right? Uh, Bella, I’m working. I need money to pay for dog food. Now I have a cat in my face, but he hasn’t been fed yet, so it’s understandable.

Oliver was in the bedroom when I took a nap, and when I awoke, he was snuggled up next to Bella!

I am feeling very, very lucky that I’m not looking for a job and plan to retire from this one. And it’s a good job. 4 years, 5 months, and 4 days to retirement though barring unforeseen circumstances. (I have a retirement countdown on my phone.)

Speaking of work, I’m stopped on my slides until tomorrow. (I need to get my monitor and check how something processed.)

Bella is curled up next to me, and she’s groaning. These dogs emit so many sounds.

I get paid on Wednesday, so I think that I’ll order the Tempo meals then. (I have food, so I won’t starve.)

Here comes the thunder. And here comes the rain. Good–maybe it’ll decrease the humidity.

Hmm. Dollar General has cheap protein shakes. They’re even cheaper on Amazon.

I forgot to feed the dogs. They aren’t as persistent as the cats. I’ll feed them and Zara and then take a nap. Bella is eating her food, but Gracie is holding out for something better. Good luck with that, Gracie.

I’m thinking that I should board the dogs while I’m in Europe. I don’t want to get Brenda in a situation that she doesn’t know how to deal with, which could easily happen if Gracie gets out in the yard and refuses to come in. Plus my neighbor is on the warpath about Gracie’s barking.

Had a nice nap. Went outside with the dogs.

I’m thinking that I should get some apples to snack on.

Oliver lets me kiss him on the top of his head. He doesn’t seem to mind it. Lily, on the other hand, won’t let me do it. Oliver also doesn’t mind being picked up, but Lily hates it. And I wouldn’t try either with Zara.

I ordered two cat water fountains from Chewy. I previously had ones, but I like these better because they have a faucet in them. (They are cordless though.)

It might rain tomorrow, so it will be my indoor day.

Made a hair appointment for August 13th, I also need a pedicure, and there are appointments available tomorrow, but I think that I want next weekend.

I couldn’t find my Paris guidebook, so I ordered a new one. I have a guidebook to Vienna, Prague, and Budapest, and a “Top 10” book for Istanbul, so I might have to return books that I just ordered.

I was up way late and woke up at 11:30 AM. I’m trying to decide when to let the dogs out. It’s hot and humid but better than it has been. Bella is crashed out at my feet though.

There’s an air quality alert until tomorrow at lunchtime. Another reason to stay inside.

Nap time. Oliver is in the bedroom with the two dogs though, so there might be drama. He slept on the cat tree. Gracie woke me up a little before my alarm.

Fuck, it’s hot out (92F). I’ll wait a little longer to let the dogs outside.

Had lunch, even though it’s dinner time.

Showered and let the dogs out. The cats want food “right meow!” Fed them.

I hear thunder. AccuWeather says heavy rain in five minutes. I went to let the dogs in, and they were waiting on the porch by the door.

Fed us all. I’m feeling very tired, so I think that I’ll go to bed early. I finished my Laura Ingalls Wilder bio and need to figure out what to read next.

I bought a portable ventless air conditioner for upstairs. We’ll see how well it works. I’d like to get out of the kitchen for work.

My former condo in San Jose last sold for $655,000. Holy cow. I spent $140,000 on it.

I’ve got one bag of clothes to donate so far. I’m getting rid of most of my Dry Clean Only clothes because I don’t want to deal with getting them dry cleaned. I did save one dry clean only blazer that I really like. I’m not consciously doing a “spark joy” cull, but that is kind of what I’m doing.

Got up at 8:30 AM. Bella is at my feet fast asleep. She feels that she has to stay up with me at night, although I tell her to go to sleep.

Things are acting a little wiggy at work. Strange problems. I’m feeling a little like crying for no good reason.

Okay. An article about the smoke says that it won’t get down here. Accuweather says that the air quality is “fair”. But it’s hot, so I’ll wait to let the dogs out, who are asleep anyway.

Gracie is finally eating her breakfast. She keeps hoping for canned food, but that gives her diarrhea, so she gets dry food.

When I pet Gracie, Bella frequently pushes her way in for pets. Jealousy….

Now, air quality says “Unhealthy”.

I fed Zara. I was sorting clothes while she was eating, and that little snot Oliver took advantage of my distraction to try and eat Zara’s food. So I stopped sorting. Sigh.

Let the dogs out. Napped after work.

Got my groceries. Fed us all.

I found a plant watering reminder on etsy for the roses. I found another one that is better for daily watering.

Overslept until 9:40 AM. Crud, money that I transferred didn’t post, so I needed to reschedule Gracie’s vet appointment. At least then I can nap over lunch.

Hmm. It’s kind of hot out, so maybe I should wait to let the dogs out.

Had a nice nap.

The dogs are not happy that I’m not letting them out, but when I see a heat index of over 100F/38C, I start to worry. I’ll let them out in the late afternoon.

My stomach is kind of upset again. I’ll lie down for a little while after work. Or maybe I’ll go lie down now. Let the dogs out. Had a nice nap. Threw some clothes on and watered the plants. Filled the garbage can, but I need to roll it to the curb when the dogs aren’t out.

I was Googling former colleagues. It's interesting what happened to them.

Ate dinner. Bella is a napkin thief. Fed the dogs and cats except for Zara. (I need to go get her dish and soak it.)

Rolled the garbage to the street. Damn, it’s humid. I had thought about going for walks at night, but it isn’t looking appealing. Finally got my act together to send Brenda some info about the house.

My stomach is still a little upset, so I should go to bed sooner rather than later. (Hear that, self?)

Woke up at 8:40 AM. I put clothes on the heated drying rack. I found my “I listen to dead people” classical music t-shirt the other day, so I’m going to wear it this weekend with my new black jeans. I ordered more black socks because mine disappear. (Bella? She got into a package of new navy socks the other day.)

Hmm. Now the forecasters are saying storms tomorrow, but not on Sunday, so I’ll do inside tasks tomorrow.

Lily is snoozing in the bathroom. It seems to be her room along with the upstairs. But it’s cooler down here.

Made a vet appointment for Gracie for shots. And left a message for the garage guy asking when he’s going to do my driveway.

I’m running a monster script on my laptop for work. It’s probably going to take longer than the end of the work day, so I’ll have to leave my computer on. I’ve been watching it long enough to determine that it’s working.

It’s pouring out. Bella came in. I was trying to get Gracie in, but she didn’t want to come in yet. I might try again. A very wet Gracie came in.

I got my trellis, and it is small. Sigh. I need another one. Okay, I ordered another one. I got it from Home Depot rather than Lowe’s because of free delivery. Lowe’s wanted $79 to deliver one! (I’ve been trying to shop at Lowe’s for political reasons, but money.)

Oh crap. A funnel cloud was sighted near Normal, which is NW of us for a fairly long distance, but still, I’ll keep an eye out for tornado warnings.

I read an interesting article in the Washington Post about people who smoke a lot of marijuana suddenly vomiting and having abdominal pain. They think that it’s like an allergy developing. Well, I threw up more often than not the few times that I smoked marijuana, so maybe I had a sort of allergy to it? (I smoked it only a few times because getting ill was not fun.) My reactions were not as extreme as the ones in the article though. Some of those people were throwing up for weeks.

Singing went well, though I felt wrung out after I sang the Habenera (Carmen). It’s a long piece. I felt “done,” but my teacher then had me sing “When I am laid in earth” (Purcell) after, and I made it through. She thinks that I know the Purcell piece pretty well, so we should start a new one. I said that it was up to her, and she asked me if I liked Italian (yes!) or Baroque music (yes! I told her that Bach was my favorite composer), so she’s going to send me some pieces from which to pick.

Oh, and Bella burst into the room while I was singing. I asked her what she was doing in there because it’s the cats’ room (Zara particularly), and I escorted her out. (My digital piano and laptop are in there for singing lessons and piano class.)

It’s kind of cozy in here. It’s raining out, and the dogs are curled up at my feet.

Had to charge my phone. I don’t know why it’s running out of juice so early. Oh, it’s because I didn’t nap at lunchtime and charge my phone while I sleep. Must remember to bring a charging brick with me to Europe. It’s in my travel case for chargers.

It’s tricky to figure out clothes for my trip. Paris averages between 71F/22C and 51F/11C in September. Venice will be warmer, Vienna about the same as Paris, Istanbul warmer, Prague cooler, and Budapest about the same as Paris. I guess that I’ll bring some short-sleeved and some long-sleeved shirts. And I’m bringing blazers and a trench coat. I found a travel adapter that will work for the countries on my list, but I need to wait to get paid again to order it.

The script for work timed out, so I copied the last items that went through, and I’ll modify the input file and start it again on Monday.

Hmm. I was going to go to bed, but I’m getting my second wind at 10 PM as per usual. I still think that I should go to sleep and sleep in though.

Woke up at 8 AM. Oliver scratched up my leg because he was on my lap and I tried to get him off, and he slipped. Sigh.

There was a flurry of activity when I started work because of a problem with some Web pages that I posted. I fixed them.

I went out to lunch with the AARP-affliated women’s group. It was nice, but I had to leave early to get back to work, so I felt a little like I had just got there. I told them that I’ll try to get to more of their lunches. My stomach is upset now though (I don’t think that it was the food, but my IBS), but I can’t leave work to lie down when I just got back from lunch.

Oh! I discovered that there is a Le Peep restaurant in Champaign. It’s a really good breakfast chain that I thought was only in the Chicago area. I’ll have to go there soon. It’ll be a little sad though because I used to go to Le Peep with my mom.

My stomach is still kind of wacky. I thought about going to piano class, but I think that I’ll lie down instead. I tried eating something to see if it helps. Couldn’t sleep; my brain was whirring about the things that I needed to do. Oliver was snuggling with me though.

I checked to see if the dryer was plugged in because it isn’t turning on. It seems to be, but it’s hard to tell because the dryer vent is in the way. I’ll have to get someone in to look at it, but I need to check the circuit breaker box first. Meanwhile, I have the heated drying rack.

Got the recycling out. Two full bins and some boxes. The forecasters are predicting rain late in the morning, but I’m hoping that the recycling people will get the boxes before then.

Fed us all. My stomach is still upset despite the food. I need to get to bed soon to settle my stomach, and I need to shower before work because of a dentist’s appointment.

Hmm. I don’t have the trellis yet, and I was going to plant my roses tomorrow. I guess that I’ll plant the bush roses and wait to plant my climbing one.

I read an article about Roanoke, VA, and checked out condos there. It would be nice to live near the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Everyone is fed. I’m going to sleep in a few minutes.

Well, heck. Now the forecasters are saying thunderstorms tomorrow.

I’m waiting for the dogs to stop wrestling to go to sleep. Gracie is a maniac.

Woke up at 7 AM. I’m feeling tired. The forecasters are saying rain at 11:00 and 12:00. Suckage.

I’ve got synchronized petting going (Bella and Lily).

Napped and woke up after an hour. Fed us all. I have stomach cramps, so I’m going to lie back down for a little while.

Was about to take a shower, but I was feeling weak and shaky, so I’m eating something.

Showered. I’m wearing my “nice” top and jeans due to goop on my other pair of jeans. I thought about skipping mowing, but I think that I need to do it. I just want to put my face on. I think that I’ll submit a grocery order tonight.

Lily is fussing over me because she thinks that it’s feeding time.

I’ve been mowing. I went inside to use the washroom, and now they’re saying rain in 16 minutes. I should go back outside and empty grass from the mower at the very least. It rained a very little. I stopped mowing though.

I’m trying to decide whether I want to eat. The cats do! Fed everyone except Zara, whom I’ll feed after I eat. My stomach is upset. My knee is killing me. I’m falling apart….

I did stay up for a while opening packages.

When I talk to any of the other fur kids, Bella comes rushing over for attention. We’ve got a little sibling rivalry going.

Today is a holiday for me. Woke up at 8:30 AM. I’m feeling groggy.

Nap time. Had a nice nap. I think that Bella is snoozing. Had lunch. I think that I want one more short nap. Gracie came over for pets and flopped down at the end of the bed.

Showered and am waiting for my singing lesson. I should go out to get body wash later, but I have a bad case of the “don’t wannas”. I’m wondering if I could submit a grocery order, but I don’t need much. Walmart is delivering tomorrow though.

Had a great singing lesson. She said that my voice sounded very clear, and we got through the two songs on which we’ve been working. She said that I could sing soprano, and I said that there were more sopranos than altos in the choir, so I’m stuck as an alto :)

Let the dogs outside and watered the plants. I took pictures of some of my new roses.




Someone was shooting off fireworks, but the dogs didn’t flinch. Good to know.

Ordered body wash and some odds and ends.

I hear rumbling, but there are no storms near us on the radar.

I couldn’t find Lily anywhere and wanted to feed her. Finally, she showed up in the living room. I fed her there, but Gracie started barking at her, and Lily got upset. (I told Gracie to be quiet, but she doesn’t necessarily listen.) This is a three-ring circus, complete with clowns.

I’m going to do some cleaning and then go to bed. Hmm, I’m getting a headache though (from Gracie’s barking??)

Hmm. I looked at condos in New Orleans and found some that would be doable. Need to think about that. The summers are beastly, but they’re beastly here too. We have corn sweat. I could probably grow a bougainvillea. I found a couple of retirement homes there that might work.

I overslept until 9:40 AM. I remembered my meeting at 10:00, which went well.

I looked at the weather, and it’s not predicted to rain this week, so I need to get out and water plants.

Oliver lost his balance and scratched up my leg 🙁

I’m trying to decide whether to go see my dad next year, take a cruise, or both. The cruise would be during the summer, I think (Bermuda). That reminds me to get the days off in the fall on my calendar (done). I sent an email to my dad asking if I could visit on Labor Day weekend next year. He said “too soon to tell” because health issues keep cropping up. I’ll book the cruise but leave a visit open.

The dogs are restless because I won’t let them out. But I don’t want hot dogs (ha ha). I’ll let them out later in the afternoon.

Hmm. There’s a rumor going around that the English function of LJ is going down, but I’ve been able to access it. At least I have my entries backed up on DW. Just in case—I’m also days_unfolding on Dreamwidth.

I’m being watched intently by two dogs who want to go O-U-T-S-I-D-E. I told them at 4 PM because that’s when the temperature will start to go down (and there will be shade too).

It just occurred to me that I should get a New Orleans t-shirt because the ones that I bought there are falling apart. I found one that I really like, but forgot that I have no money until I get paid. Saved it.

I’m wondering if I should get a pair of Orthofeet sneakers for the trip. They’re supposed to be good for feet, and I’ll be walking a lot. (My dad says that he walks in “just plain Nikes”.) I’m also wondering if I should get some Levi’s black jeans because Gloria Vanderbilt is selling dark navy blue as black. I want black jeans!

I need to pick up more tennis balls for the dogs tomorrow. They have one that’s gross and falling apart.

I need to get a trellis because I think that the lilac rose is a climbing one. I saw one on Walmart’s site on clearance that I like.

Hmm, do I want a patch of daylilies in the patch of grass by the street? I could plant them in a semicircle around the tree.

I was worried about the dogs, but I convinced them to come inside. Yay.

I’m working on the kitchen. I need to get to bed early because I have physical therapy at 7:15 AM. (Yikes!)