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.