Well Into the New Year!

It's hard to believe we are already at the end of January. After the holidays, I was hoping to find time to just lie in a darkened room and regroup, but that didn't happen - am not sure why things haven't slowed. In the meantime, I was dealing with a niggling cough. It seemed that I had a lot of sinus drainage during the night, all of which collected in my throat. I didn't feel particularly bad, except for a horrendous-sounding cough that didn't seem to produce very much. All was going well until January 18th when I hit the wall. I simply couldn't stay upright! I went to bed about 1:30 in the afternoon, not really sleeping but just resting. I also rubbed everything - nose, sinus area, throat, chest - with Tiger Balm!! When I was a kid my mother would do that with Vick's, and I thought Tiger Balm would be Vick's on steroids! Well, the next morning everything was clearer and looser. So, I'm feeling better but would still like a few days in a darkened room!

January began with a "dog sitting' exchange that I got snookered into. I was sitting by an acquaintance at a social gathering and we were talking pets, showing photos, etc. She suggested it might be a good idea if we exchange pet sitting gigs. And, without thinking, I agreed - never expecting it to turn into anything. The next week she invited Rosie and me over to meet Cabo, only to also learn that she was leaving on a cruise the first week of January!!  Cabo, a Coton de Tulear, is absolutely adorable but definitely in a one pet situation. He is demanding of all the attention in the room. If I threw a squeaky toy, he would barrel past Rosie and she would back off, finally not even bothering to chase it. I knew I was in trouble when she brought one of those sticks used to toss the ball. She said, "I don't use it to throw the ball, I use it to try to get the ball away from him"!! In addition, I had to sequester Mama Mia to the sunroom AND make a visual barrier so Cabo couldn't see her.  That was great until the temperature dropped, then I had to barricade the bedroom area so MM could sleep in the den. I was mad with myself for even entertaining the idea and have chalked it up as a "once in a lifetime, never to be repeated experience." I now know that it is too disruptive for Rosie, Mama Mia and me to ever do it again, especially long term. Live and learn!!

My cough episode did put the kibosh on our plans to go to the 3rd annual Women's March in Charleston on the 19th. Due to issues at the national level, it was not highly publicized this year, but Tippy, I and friends had planned to go and I hated to miss it. It felt like I was breaking a tradition. I'm hoping next year it won't be needed!!

The 20th was my birthday and we had quite a celebration. Reyna had Chris, Lynn, Tippy and Kieran, and myself over for homemade Chili Rellenos and Red Rice. I really hated for her to do it because it is a very labor intensive dish, but the finished product is delicious. We had a lovely afternoon of friendship, good conversation, and delicious food. Everyone seemed to enjoy it - I certainly did. It was a great way to spend a day and it made my birthday very special.

With as busy as things have been, I have freed up my schedule a bit. I'm taking a respite from my hospice visits at least until after our Africa trip. Even so, I continue doing the Liberal Ladies newsletter and have just taken over the administration of the Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate's Facebook page. This is just my kind of thing as the work can be done at home, but there are also a lot of meetings involved.

We are also happy to announce that we now have 2 chapters of Drinking Liberally - one in Bluffton and a new one on Hilton Head started by Tippy. They are on alternate weeks so we can now go to DL every week if one so desires. At our last meetings, there were about 25 at the Bluffton meeting and 30+ at Hilton Head. 

You Aramco folks will enjoy this. At our last Liberal Ladies Steering Committee meeting, Lynn (the Chairperson) mentioned Jean Vahey. I wasn't sure I understood her correctly but was going to ask on our way home, then promptly forgot. So, I'm standing in line to get in at our next meet, and there behind me is Jean!  As it turns out, Jean was on her way back from visiting one of her boys and seated beside her on the plan was the producer (I think) of a movie being made in Savannah. The movie is The Glorias and is about Gloria Steinem (played by Julianne Moore, with Bette Midler playing Bella Abzug). The producer was saying that they needed lots of women to reenact a convention in Houston in the 70s. Jean connected her with Liberal Ladies, as you can imagine Jean networking. She attended our meeting and invited us to submit our information, which several of us did. To this point, we haven't heard anything, but it was scheduled to happen on Feb. 13, so there is still time. Another aside is that the producer also invited a liberal ladies group from Skidaway Island and told them about us. We have made connection with them and hope to get together (Steering Committees) sometime soon. It was all just a weird and unexpected set of circumstances. Jean and I traded cell phone info but I haven't heard from her nor contacted her at this point. She is working full time at the Bargain Box Food Bank, which is one reason she hasn't attended more Liberal Ladies meetings. I will get in touch as soon as I can. She looks well and it was good to see her.

That pretty much catches you up on my comings and goings. Tippy and I are just about 6 weeks away from our trip and, at the rate this first month has gone by, it will be here before you know it. We are fortunate that our injections from last year are still valid and we have all of the gear.....and will be taking much less! Needless to say, we are looking forward to it.

Finally, a thank you to all who thought of me on my birthday - by phone, card, ecard, email, text, etc. It was great to hear from everyone and I appreciate your good wishes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019!

Wishing friends and family a year filled with good health, good friends, happiness, joy, and adventure! I send love to you all.









Rosie didn't seem at all ready for 2019. I had to roust her out for bed for her morning walk and, as soon as we got home, she went back to bed - literally! We all have our down days and I hope that is all it is. For NY Eve, I went over to Reyna's for Chili Rellenos and Red Rice. I took her my Southern food for NY Day - Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas with Greens, in this case, kale. I think this is a keeper. I've tried several things over the years and this is my favorite. Being vegetarian, I didn't use the bacon, ham hock, nor did I add the Balsamic. Even so, it was very tasty. This developed from a recipe for Black-eyed Peas over Smoky Grits. The peas seemed bland so I looked for a better recipe. Then, for New Years we need cornbread, so I'm serving the peas over polenta rather than grits. Add a salad and it's ready. Tradition includes pork, but that won't happen here. Everything else is covered.

Christmas turned out to be much busier than expected. On some days, like the one shown here, I had two events happening, which is way too much for me! In this case, Chris and I went to Democrat SOB (South of the Broad [river]) holiday luncheon. Our newly elected Congressman, Joe Cunningham, was there and I got my obligatory photo. Somehow I always look better with a handsome, young man!! It was a fun way to celebrate his victory and we hold many good wishes for him. Later in the day, I joined the Liberal Ladies Steering Committee for our end of year luncheon. Both were nice in different ways and I enjoyed them both.

The holidays are also a time to touch bases with friends individually - through food, movies (The Green Book), special holiday activities, etc...and I was never at a loss. All of which makes me very appreciative for the friends I have here, who support me day in and day out. As much as I am NOT a phone person, it was wonderful to catch up with distant friends as well and learn of exciting happenings (grandbabies), future plans (moves to France), health challenges faced boldly, and stepping out of comfort zones!  It made me aware that, even at our age (and I speak only for myself, at my advanced age), we are engaged, active, interested, hopeful, and "happening"!! We are a lucky bunch......and I love you all!

Chris came over on Christmas day for a collaborative lunch, which was delicious and comfortable. We tried to arrange a Chickpea Loaf from a newly opened vegan place, but plans went awry. I was taking a Lentil Loaf over to Reyna's on Christmas Eve, which I knew would only be eaten by Reyna and myself, so I offered left-overs as an entree. Chris brought "crack" mac and cheese and I made a sweet potato casserole from a newly snatched recipe from a friend. We added a salad and desserts (Chris) and had a filling, delicious meal. My intentions were to include a photo of us at the table, but I completely forgot even though I left my camera on the coffee table as a reminder. A mind is a terrible thing to lose!

Sometime in the midst of it all, Tippy and I "Thai-ed one on" at our local Thai restaurant in celebration of our upcoming trip to Africa!! We will be going to Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia in mid-March 2019. Needless to say, we are very excited and have acknowledged that we need to curb our enthusiasm. Our first trip was so incredible that this, or any other, will do well to live up to it. If this one can maintain the standard of the first, we will be happy campers. We are going to Johannesburg a day early, mostly to recover from the 16-hour flight from Dulles. We have also added a post-trip package of 3 days in Cape Town and the Cape of Good Hope. This may be our last time there and we hope to cover as much as we can. We are both really looking forward to it and March will be here before you know it. 

Rosie, Jim, Magenta, and Anthony. We intended to take
a photo at the restaurant but, like Christmas day, we forgot!!

The day after Christmas I received a call from Jim and Anthony (thank you, Anthony!), who were on their way from points north to FL. They asked if they could stop in for a short visit. It has literally been years since I've seen them and a few hours would not do! Even though they only stayed one night (not enough time!), it was great to see them and catch up. I really would have visited them and other friends in FL if Rosie traveled well. She doesn't and I hate to sedate her for hours, but I would love to be able to take road trips to visit friends.....and just to get away from time to time, and I'd love to take my girl with me. This was spur of the moment but definitely icing on the holiday cake. Since Jim's retirement, they have been traveling and enjoying life, so it's difficult to keep up with them. I hope it won't be so long before seeing them again.

Since I've taken a break from politics, as much as one can when exposed to trump 24/7, I've been catching up on TV viewing. The three regular channels all seem drivel since watching news channels full time, but I have gotten into Netflix, etc. After Christmas lunch, Chris and I checked out HULU, hopefully as a means for dropping our local cable. What Hargray has done here is to make agreements with communities at the onset to lay the cable, etc. for the promise that they will not allow another company in! So, it is like a monopoly and we are at their mercy. Most of us have done as much as we can to resist, in my case even writing the FCC, but to no avail. Now we are looking for other alternatives. So, I signed up for a free month of HULU to check it out....and have become totally immersed in The Handmaid's Tail! WOW!!  I have tried reading Margaret Atwood and found it hard going; but boy, does it make for spellbinding TV, especially in these times. I've also discovered that they have Killing Eve with Sandra Oh, which will be my next viewing selection. If I can find something that streams either CNN or MSNBC happening news, I can drop cable and be fine with other options.

Thanks to one and all who thought of me during the season, in whatever form.  These are two of my favorites for diverse, but funny, reasons. Whose Boat is This? is a takeoff of trumps visit to FL after a hurricane and saying to a family that had a boat deposited on their property, after losing everything else, " well at least you got a boat"! The book was put together by Steven Colbert, with appropriate sarcasm, as a fundraiser. The kicker is the last page that says, "there is no moral", which sadly depicts our current times. The black shawl is a feel good, luxurious, sparkly Laura f-n Ashley (inside joke) upgrade to my Loft scarf experience!! I can tie it and wear it as a billowy cover.....of a multitude of sins, but I think I will have to upgrade my leggings to match! I also received lots of candy, which I took to mean that either I am not sweet enough or heavy enough!  Sadly, I know the conclusion to draw!! Thank you and I will enjoy it all!!

I've rambled on enough and there are things I've forgotten/neglected to include, but it has been a good holiday here, and I hope it has been the same for you. I'm holding you all close to my heart and wishing you only the best in 2019!


via GIPHY