Bah Humbug!

Things have improved a little since my last post! Not because the trump-musk chaos has lessened, but because I am looking for different coping methods. As is my habit, I tuned in to Morning Joe the morning after the election. They were bashing Dems and Kamala, and I only listened for about 10 minutes before turning it off. I haven't viewed them since! Those who know me know that I keep/kept MSNBC on 24/7, usually muted or on low. That, too, has changed. I've found CBS 24/7, which I'm enjoying. They cover the news, but not the same thing over and over. They have more human interest stories, and programs such as Uplift, The Dish (food, chefs, etc), and so on. In other words, a little more balanced. I do return to MSNBC around 4 PM for Nicole Wallace and a few of the evening shows. Even then, I'm usually multi-tasking with a crossword or other game or puzzle. Oh, I've also not renewed my NYT subscription, and I wrote to tell them why! I'm happy to subscribe to their games section only.

Even so, I can't do nothing! So, rather than being tied up in knots, I'm going to lead my life and devote part of one afternoon a week to doing what I feel necessary. While I don't like to make phone calls, I am going to email and fax....and request a reply! To do nothing is to allow them to do their will too easily. While I know Graham, Scott, and all of them are total lackeys, I refuse to make it easy on them! So, that's my plan.

As you might imagine, the holiday spirit is at a minimum for me, for several reasons. I'm not the least bit "down" about it, it's just not happening for me this year. The little tree shown here is the extent of it. I've put the ceramic tree my mother made years ago in the bedroom and a wreath on the front door - and that's it! My Christmas cacti have shown up at the right time, and Rosie provides entertainment with her Christmas duck! She's so funny! The duck is larger than her other squeaky toys and makes a different sound. It took her a little while to figure out how to carry it, but she's got it now! She can't squeak it with her mouth so she bonks it with her nose!

In keeping with my blah spirit, I haven't done Christmas cards either! I've heard from people to whom I want to respond, but I just wasn't motivated to do so until I received this card from Reyna's daughter Michelle. She lives with her dad and isn't in the neighborhood, so I don't see her very often. She is quieter than Reyna's other kids, somewhat shy and sensitive. I also think she struggles in school, which breaks my heart. Reyna said she was concerned about me because I lived alone! She used to walk over and visit after school. Anyway, once I received this, I wanted to get a note to her before Christmas, so I made a card with Rosie on the front. On the inside, I included several photos of her previous visits here, along with a little note. That project got me going and I thought this blog entry would be next so I might wish readers a happy holiday. I will get to everyone else, though it may be around New Year. At least I'm on the move!

In addition to hearing from Michelle, I had a second delightful "glimmer" recently. I have been "downsizing" as much as I can in anticipation of my move. Some things I've trashed, others I've donated, and some I've sold. One thing that I have an abundance of is crystal, which not many people are interested in nowadays. I had 60 pieces of Cumbria crystal which I offered for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Eventually, I was contacted by a lady who was interested in the crystal and a set of china! I just assumed it was someone local, but on the day it was to be picked up, she said her daughter and her fiance would be picking it up. They were driving all the way from Durham, NC!! They turned out to be a delightful, young Asian-American couple, who arrived with everything they needed to pack things up and transport them safely. I was surprised to learn that they had researched Cumbria Crystal and knew that it was in the Lake District and how beautiful the area was! As they packed, we chatted and I thoroughly enjoyed their visit. This was a wedding gift from her mother. As they left, she asked if she could give me a hug, which I gladly accepted. Needless to say, I texted her mom and told her what a delightful couple they were and wished them all the best. A little later, she replied that they enjoyed the visit and said I had "good energy'! Not only did that make my day, it made my week! 

You know my support group, my buddies! There have been the usual gatherings. Lunches out, as here with Chris and Tippy. Into SAV with Maria and Mark for Indian food. An evening out with three neighborhood ladies to see Christmas lights, ending with ice cream at the local nitrogen place, and more. This, more than anything else, is what I'm going to miss when I move! Social plans continue through the New Year.

As I write this, Tippy is at MUSC preparing for surgery tomorrow. The previous surgery was successful, but she was left anatomically unable to hold her head up! Now, they are going to go further down the spine to prove enough support for her to be able to do so. She is very positive and wanted to get it done sooner rather than later, but said she was tired of being a "tough old broad"! I can certainly understand how she feels. We are all sending positive, healing thoughts her way.

It is now the next day! As I was finishing up this entry, I received a text from my realtor saying that someone wanted to view the house at 4 PM. That means I have to get it looking as though we don't live here! Then, Rosie and I have to be out 15 minutes before their expected arrival and thru the visit. It's a pain, but I hustled and got it done - and then they didn't show!! That was NOT nice! Anyway, I'm back, in time to wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year! Much love to all.

That's Who We Are!

Well, I've put this off as long as I can, knowing that I don't have the words to adequately express how I feel and it's likely to become more of a rant! I don't even remember what happened before November 5, but everything pales in significance to the election results. Disappointment doesn't even come close, as the daily bombardment of chaos, divisiveness, and hate-spew has already started. It's also clear that he is surrounding himself with yes-men, men unqualified for the jobs and thoroughly capable of such heinous actions as separating children from their parents because they've already done it once! Men who are capable and desirous of "de-constructing" our government. My fear is that once they rig things for four years (as they have already done by gerrymandering), we will never be able to win an election again...or may never even be given the opportunity! It's probably going to be shock and aw right off the bat, so we may as well use the coming month to prepare ourselves.

Those are the major things to be concerned about. The morning after the election, I took Rosie to Lowcountry Presbyterian Church for our morning walk. I really did not want to run into my neighbors for fear of saying something I'd regret (which I still managed to do a few days later!) or burst into tears. Overnight, I felt like a stranger in a strange land, knowing that most of them voted for trump and therefore support his actions, past, present, and future. It was the unavoidable realization that our values are starkly opposed at the core of our being. I have never viewed people as I do now, and I can attribute that to one man and those who follow him. The first time he won, not even he expected to win. That could be considered a mistake. This time around, he was elected with full knowledge of his lack of moral character, his hate-filled, racist, and divisive language, his trying to instigate a coup, and his overall lack of qualifications. The fact that he defeated a well-qualified, experienced female clearly shows where women stand in our society - to say nothing of Black women! It was a real eye-opener, and not in a good way! It makes me extremely sad for the turn this country has taken, and an awareness that I may not live long enough to see it return to a more positive direction! I believe that living and traveling abroad has shown me how much we have to be thankful for, and that many people here don't realize what they are jeopardizing. I hope they wise up before it's too late. In the meantime, we may as well prepare ourselves for a 24/7 bombardment of chaos, corruption, and actions that we feel are morally abhorrent.  At least, by refusing to sign the ethics agreement, he's making no pretense of anything else! My Facebook statement follows:

God help us!

My only consolation is that I did not vote for evil.

• My new Facebook photo, which is likely to be there for 4 years, unless I find something better!
• My Rosie walking attire for the week following the election!
• Friendsgiving dinner with WD (at the end of the table) and Norma (across from me).
• Tippy and me at our favorite haunt.

I and most of my friends have not felt social unless it is to get together to commiserate. Neighbors Norma and WD invited me to join them for a Friendsgiving dinner at the clubhouse. It caught me off guard with no handy excuse, even though I did not feel the least bit like attending. It was a Thanksgiving meal and I don't even eat meat, but Rosie got a nice surprise!  It turned out to be okay and I appreciated them thinking of me. Tippy and I met up for a good natter and pep talk, which I always enjoy. We were being our usual selves and were told, "You ladies are so cute!"  Maria and Mark invited me for Thanksgiving before I had decided whether or not I was going to even celebrate it! I was caught off guard again!! I also joined three neighborhood ladies for Mexican food. We talked politics, but we must have broadened the conversation to include a few laughs. As we were getting up to leave, a lady approached us from another table and said, "I have a wonderful group over here that I love being with, but if anything happens to them, I want to join your group!" We all had a big laugh and assured her she would be welcome. It made my day - just a little "glimmer" of joy!

Now I just have to decide what I'm doing about Christmas. With the house on the market, I really don't feel like doing much, nor do I know whether or not I'll feel social by then. I may just put a few decorative items in the house so that if anyone does want to view it over the holidays (unlikely), it won't look like the Grinch lives here (though I have days of feeling like the Grinch!)!

As luck would have it, I spoke with both Pamela, the Sales Manager at Clinton Presbyterian Community, and Mary, my realtor, today. I was saddened to learn that Pamela has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and is unsure of her work schedule for the coming year. It sounds like a strenuous year of treatment, but she is positive and hopeful. She is connecting me with Mike from the main office with whom I've spoken before, as well as Tameka, who is the administrator of the community. I asked about the progress on my house, and she said it was basically the same as the photos she had sent weeks earlier.  She felt that with the holidays, they would not likely get back to it until after the new year, which is good news for me as it gives me more time to sell my house. They have been very understanding, for which I thanked her, but told her I was still worried about selling the house. She told me "not to stress" and that it would all work out! I am very appreciative of their understanding, and I hope the timing works out - sooner rather than later!

Well, folks, I hope this makes sense in this senseless time. I wish I had better news to report and more hope for the future, but I feel it will be various degrees of chaos and hatefulness. I would be happy to be proven wrong! Take care, my friends.💖

Not Much Happening!

I wanted to give you a quick update even though there isn't much to report. We made it through Helene with very little damage, for which I'm thankful. Thursday night was long and noisy with several tornado alerts, but despite the gusty winds, we didn't have to take shelter in the closet. By mid-day Friday, the wind had settled, the sun came out, and we were able to survey the debris. Some trees came down, but overall, we were very lucky. The devastation in the NC mountains is just inconceivable! I don't know how you ever recover from that, nor can I imagine how long it will take. Five years ago, Jan and I were there, and it's difficult to believe that much of it has been washed away! 

Helene also swept through the Clinton Presbyterian Community, where I hope to move. They were without electricity for days and a tree fell on a home in the community. And I thought I would be escaping the threat of hurricanes!! I think Mother Nature is telling us we need to do things differently, and we are choosing to remain clueless! 

Speaking of the move, it seems that the real estate market has dried up! I had one showing on Monday of this week, and that was the first since the weekend before the storm! I just lowered the price for the second time, with no response! Also, there were three houses for sale in the Crescent, all with the same floorplan!! One was priced very low and sold immediately. No sooner had it gone than another with the same floorplan popped up.....3 doors down from me!! How often would you expect something like that to happen? I'm not sure what I'll do if my place in Clinton is ready and I still haven't sold this house. I've spoken to the people there and they seem very understanding and helpful, but I'm sure they have their limits. Once the holidays hit, everything will come to a stop, so I hope and pray it will sell soon! 

I'm feeling a bit stuck right now. I can't pack much without having boxes everywhere. It's also hard to make plans with friends because I'm worried someone might want to see the house, which I definitely want them to do! It feels like there's a lot of rushing around followed by waiting. Some days I'm really productive, and on others, I get nothing done. It's really nerve-wracking!

So we have a major hurricane, a dried-up real estate market, and the usual negativity and stress of an election!! For the life of me, I can't understand how rational people can set aside their moral code, their ethics, their religion, and their common sense to vote for someone like trump! It is beyond my comprehension, yet here we are! Harris and Walz have presented an obvious contrast to the negativity, divisiveness, and hate of the trump campaign. I'm hoping most people are as happy to see that as I am! I have to believe that good will prevail, that people will put country over party, and that most of us value the Constitution and the democratic process. If not, we will be in deep trouble.

One of my concerns was that I might be caught between locations during the move and not able to vote in either place. With the market being so slow, I'm assured of being able to vote here. Early voting begins on Oct. 21, and I'll be among the first!

As mentioned last time, a neighbor has been making the bracelets shown here and kept me in a steady supply. I've shared them with friends and worn it every day since receiving it, thinking it might spur conversation. As we've taken our daily walks, no one has mentioned it! Recently, I've taken to wearing two so I might give them to democrat neighbors I run into!

My little girl is on Valium! I tried lots of calming potions and treats, but nothing seemed to work, so I took her back to the vet to see if there was something that just might level her out. He suggested trying the Valium, and it seems to be working. This morning there was a gentle rain and she didn't react to it at all. Also, during Helene, I only had to use the gel twice. I'm considering this a win and hoping it lasts.

Yippee! I just received a notification of a viewing request for 3:15 this afternoon, so I'd better hustle and make it look like I don't live here! Send good thoughts my way!

Just a Quick Note

As you might guess, I've been busy! I've packed up the spare bedrooms, and most boxes are in the closets. I can't pack up much more without having boxes sitting around, so I've been going through everything and leaving behind only what I will take with me. Packing isn't time-consuming; it's the sorting through, disposing of, selling, etc. that takes time. I also feel in limbo, waiting for something to happen and knowing it will be chaotic when it does! In the end, I know I will still likely take too much with me, but as time goes by it is easier to get rid of things one way or the other!

You can't begin to imagine the "stuff" I've discovered. Stuff I didn't know I had! Look at those little sandals. Those had to be mine 75 years ago. I did the needlepoint cover for our family bible, probably while in high school. Then, there was the surprise gift, still in the box. I have no idea who gave it to me or why I never used it....or even re-gifted it! The boxes contain a lifetime of photographs! And that's not all of them! This is what happens when you have too much, and this just scratches the surface.

The house hasn't sold, which is the key to it all. Things went great guns in the beginning, sometimes with two showings a day, but it has lessened to a trickle. My realtor stopped by yesterday and things seem to have dried up since Labor Day. She stressed the importance of getting it under contract before mid-November when things basically stop for the holidays. The next step will be to lower the price. I'll be talking to Pamela in Clinton tomorrow and will have a better idea of when my place there with be complete and what my options are if my house hasn't sold by that time. Send good vibes my way!

You can see the house on Zillow - HERE

I have been receiving a lot of love from my neighbors as they find out about my departure. Their kindness is really touching. People have been stopping me during our walks, visiting the house, and inviting me over. I've always appreciated their kindness, and now even more so. It will be tough to leave, and I hope I am lucky enough to find such a welcoming community at my new location.

One of my neighbors invited me over and sent me home with food and a Kamala bracelet she had made. Yesterday, she came over with cheese wafers and more bracelets to distribute to friends! I've been wearing mine daily and plan to do so until Kamala wins the election! 

I've still managed to get together with friends - Tippy, Sharon, Chris, Lynn, and Tom, Maria and Mark, Deborah, and Amy. With a new Indian restaurant in town, I've managed to visit it three times! I will miss having such tempting cuisine so close, but will have to discover new temptations in the Greenville area.

I had to include the photo to the right. The little orange thing on the grass is Henry's stuffed toy. Henry is Maria and Mark's doggie (Felix's brother) who likes to take his stuffed toy on his walk. Frequently, he will leave it by my mailbox or on the edge of the yard and pick it up on his way home. It always warms my heart and makes me smile when I look out and see it! I'll miss little things like this.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something as I've been preoccupied with the sale of the house, packing, etc. It's a dark, rainy day (the third in a row) and this is the only thing I felt motivated to do. 

While there has been no thunder or storming, only rain, Rosie reacted to it even before the rain started! She spent much of one day looking like she was frightened of something. I really hate seeing her go through this, even when it just rains. I hate to medicate her, but shivering and panting for hours can't be good for her either. It may be a pipe dream, but I hope she doesn't react this way when we get to our new home.

Sending love and good wishes to all.💖😊

Storm Debby Sweeps Through!

This is an impromptu entry as I am at a standstill. The realtor had arranged to photograph the house today but, of course, tropical storm Debby had other ideas. So, I've spent days "putting away" things in order to present the appearance of a sterile house (in my humble opinion!). While I have the time to get lots done, anything I need to do creates a big mess in the process! So, I'm forced to use this time as rest time in preparation for what lies ahead.

Debby has not been all that bad. We've had days of gentle, slow (but constant) rain. Those who have followed the blog for a while have seen photos of my backyard during heavy rains. That has not happened, thank goodness! There also has not been much wind, which is always scary to me. At this point, it only seems a matter of waiting it out. 

Hiding from the storm.

You can imagine how the storm has affected Rosie. The first day and a half, I had to medicate her 3 times, which also necessitated going to the vet for more medication. Yesterday, I didn't have to do it but once at bedtime, and today seems to be going the same way. My hope is that she is becoming a little more acclimated to bad weather. The other issue is getting her outside to pee and poo. We've gotten drenched twice, and still no poo! Nor has she pooed in the house. I don't know how she's holding it! I put her outside in between showers, but it's like she's got to get her 10,000 steps before she can consider a poo! I'm hoping we can get a good walk in soon!!

Well, it's difficult to describe the positive change that has happened in our political life! I was returning home from donating books to the library, stopped at a stop light, when I received a text from Lynn asking if the pan pals needed to get together to commiserate. I didn't know what she was talking about until I got home and turned on the TV. Pres. Biden had withdrawn from the election. My concern all along was who would step forward. Each day, more people were asking him to step aside but no one was stepping forward or even being suggested to replace him - and it's too close to election time for big changes. It goes without saying that Biden and Harris were way ahead of me! I'm convinced that those three anxious weeks were spent putting everything together for a seamless rollout! The enthusiasm has been contagious and joyful - a real contrast to the doom and gloom, hate, fear, and divide side! It has been a real delight to watch, coming away feeling uplifted and hopeful. While I didn't know much about Gov. Walz, he's hard not to like! He seems like a down-to-earth, feet-on-the-ground, neighborly kind of guy, unlike the two weird ones. My view is Kamala has to be happy with him, not me!  I hope he gives her the support that Biden gave Obama and she gave Biden. I hope they are a dynamic team that moves us forward and lifts us upward!

TMI: Just had a short, wet walk with Rosie. Success......twice! We can both relax.

Just a morning visitor.

Since my last entry, I've talked with four realtors before deciding on the one to go with. I've continued to clear out junk - donating, dumping, and thinning out whatever is kept. It is a huge task after being here for over 20 years! I also managed to get my taxes completed. I changed CPAs because my last one took forever. Turns out this one did, too! Hopefully, it will be easier next year. Also had my physical (all is well!) and let the PA know that I would be moving and records would need to be transferred. She will need to complete a form for the Clinton community and I'll have to get a TB test. 

I have worked in wonderful breaks of lunches and dinners with friends. As I think of moving, I know I will miss this - both my close friends, my neighbors, and my strong, liberal support groups. I've been so fortunate to work with diverse groups and have friends in a variety of places - Liberal Ladies, the synagogue, Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate, Drinking Liberally, Indivisible, and others. I know I am going to miss those connections, but I hope we can keep in touch.....and that I'm fortunate enough to make close connections in my new home.

That's it for now, friends. I'm not sure what the next few months will hold, but I'll pop on when I can. Thank you for your good wishes and love to all.💓

Big Decision! Big Changes!

Yes, big news, for me anyway! I'm moving! I'll be selling my house and moving to the Clinton (SC) Presbyterian Community, a continuing care community. I've been thinking about and pursuing this since Chris and I went to a presentation about another continuing-care retirement community (CCRC). It didn't take me long to realize this is perfect for me since I have no siblings, spouse, or children to look after my healthcare needs as I age. It will be a major change, but I think it's the right move at the right time. I wanted to get ahead of things and have time to meet people and develop a support group while I was still healthy and mobile.

Main building & patio home.

After visiting several facilities, Clinton seemed the best value for the money, due primarily to its location just outside of the small town of Clinton (a couple of miles off I-26 west of Columbia). It also doesn't have a pool or pickleball courts as most others do, but neither of those is of interest to me. It does have a miniature golf course, which I could see using. It will definitely be an adjustment to not having everything at my fingertips right outside our front gate. Even so, it's only 8 minutes to Laurens, 20 minutes to Greenwood (a reasonable-sized town), and 40 minutes to Greenville and Spartanburg. It will be a whole new area to explore! I'm also aware that I'm leaving our "curated bubble of perfection" (as I've termed our cookie-cutter neighborhood after our last inspection!) and moving back to the real world. I expect the upstate to be even more politically conservative than here for I know it is a handful of legislators from that area that prevents SC from passing a hate crimes bill. 

The pluses are that the people there (both residents and staff) were very welcoming and friendly. The patio home will be completely renovated from the floor up, including new stainless appliances. It was a 2-bedroom home that was turned into a clubhouse and is now being turned into a spacious 1-bedroom patio home with an attached carport and a screened-in back porch. I feel like it was a stroke of luck that I visited when I did and that it was available!  It includes yard and home maintenance, weekly house cleaning, some meals, cable TV, etc. I certainly will not miss house maintenance, homeowner's insurance, property taxes, HOA fees.....and hurricanes!

I just decided yesterday so it doesn't yet seem real. Rhonda came over for dinner and she is the first person I talked with about it. I'll talk with Pamela at CPC on Monday and we'll move forward from there. I know the next few months will be chaotic (as if our political situation isn't stressful enough!), but I expect to be relocated before the end of the year. Needless to say, this has been bittersweet and anxiety-producing, with loads of emotions and sleepless nights. Even now I feel like I need a good cry to de-stress myself! I will certainly miss my dear friends and my liberal support groups here, but I hope we can stay in touch via Zoom, visits, and so on! 

Speaking of our political situation, my patriotic 4th of July task was to wear my spangly shirt when I walked Rosie. If anyone commented on it, my response was, "Well, I dragged it out and thought I'd better wear it this year. Next year it might not be appropriate!"

Since I left off here yesterday, things have changed yet again with an assassination attempt on trump. Sadly, violence is our main means of expression, and I hate to see things like this happen. My hope is that people will begin to see the broad range of death and destruction that the proliferation of guns produces. There is only one side preventing us from passing legislation to curb it, and it isn't Democrats! Thoughts and prayers.

It's getting wild out there! A couple of weeks ago, Rosie was in the sunroom barking, which I didn't think much of - must be a squirrel or bunny. When I went out to check, it was an alligator! The first time that has happened. We both just watched until it ambled on. Golfers were passing by but they missed him. 

Then, a few days later, we're having our morning walk and a big bird dive-bombs Rosie. She squealed and bolted, bringing a neighbor out of his garage. It happened so quickly that I couldn't tell what kind of bird it was. I just saw it fly off to my right. Yikes!

Since my sweet Rosie has started having anxiety with storms, our weekly forecast has looked like this - for weeks! So, I'm left trying to figure out whether and/or when it will thunder and rain. Most days it doesn't materialize, but I'm on edge and on the lookout. Thankfully, the transdermal gel does seem to work, even if the anxiety cycle has begun. It takes her about 15 minutes to settle down, and basically, it sedates her. She just lies there with her eyes open, which makes me sad for her. This is all new and I hate to see her go through it. 

That's all, folks - but I feel like that's enough! Now that the decision is made, I hope things will settle down for me a bit, but I know that isn't likely for a while. I hope you'll keep me in your thoughts and send good vibes my way. Love to all.

The Month That Was!

Rosie and the Bunny!

I just realized how long it's been since I've posted! The time has totally gotten away from me. It's been a busy month, much of which I'd just as soon forget. It began when we had severe storms pass through with loud and close thunder and lightning. It really frightened Rosie and she started shivering and panting violently, which went on for hours even after the storm passed. She also hid in the closet and wouldn't come out, staying there all night. That stressed me out since I could do nothing to soothe her. Once she's in that state, she won't eat anything, so medication is useless. It was very stressful for us both.

After the first storm passed, she also did the shivering and panting after two of our morning walks.  I figured that was from pain, not stress, so I took her to the vet. He increased her Gabapentin and added another medication. Then, I spent the remainder of the week chasing her around trying to get the new medication in her! Once she became suspicious, she stopped eating! Eventually, we arrived at a workable routine, and she is doing much better.

The storm didn't stop there - it fried my internet box (I heard the pop and smelled the electrical smell) and my sprinkler system control box. I was without internet (no TV, no computer hook up, etc.) for about 5 days. The internet was a quick fix once they got around to it, but the sprinkler problem was not so easy. Once the control box was replaced, the front sprinklers were still not working. After a lot of digging around, they are going to have to relocate some water controller (or whatever) to the tune of $800! They are hoping to get to it on Tuesday. In the meantime, I've been watering with a hose and sprinkler.

The good news is that Tippy had her surgery and came through with flying colors. I've visited on several Sunday mornings and have been amazed at how well she is doing. She says her swallowing is better than it was beforehand (she was eating solid food on her first day home), and she's regaining feeling in her fingers - some very positive residual side effects! I expect her to be back to her ornery self in no time flat!

I'm also happy to report that I'm back to my walking routine at long last. I'm okay as long as the routine isn't broken. Once broken, it takes a lot to get it going again. I pretty much walk every day except Sundays and rainy days. Now that summer is kicking in, it's nice to have a shady area to do it.

I've discovered Facebook Marketplace and it's been a real boost to my decluttering. I gathered all of the plant pots and stands and sold them all. I had three shepherd hook plant hangers - they're gone. I had 2 Asian dinner sets and a porcelain teapot with cups and saucers (all in their original boxes, never used!) - sold! Not sold yet - a fireproof, waterproof security box and a doggie car seat. I'm now in the process of gathering my next offerings!

Chris, Sally, and Moi.

As you know to expect, there were the usual lunches out with friends. Chris, Sally, and I had a delicious vegan meal at The Studio, which was new to me though it has been around for a while. The food was very tasty and I took home as much as I ate there. Being on a streak of trying new restaurants, Chris and I also had lunch at Wine Time in old-town Bluffton. It, too, was nice. We celebrated Lynn's birthday at Jane's, a favorite. Sharon, my friend from my synagogue days, and I have resumed our monthly get-togethers, kicking it off with lunch at Dockside.  I'm probably leaving something out, but you get the picture! 

Then there was 5 o'clock Friday  (yesterday) morning when Rosie awakened me. She was right by my pillow, shivering and panting violently. Throughout the night I heard several strong gusts of wind and light rain, but nothing threatening. I have no idea how long she had been doing that, but she finally settled around 6:30 AM. That can't be good for her. So this morning, we went back to the vet. I explained the situation AND that I was unable to get the anti-anxiety med in her. It must be very bitter because the minute she detects it, she makes a bad face, spits it out, never to touch food again!! So, he has given me a transdermal gel to place on her gums about 30 minutes before a storm. I think the problem might be that she can detect a storm long before I can! As if all of that isn't enough, it looks like all of next week is to be stormy!

Speaking of Stormy - guilty on all 34 counts! Celebratory texts were flying back and forth, and Maria and Mark had me over for delicious munchies and a toast! It's nice to finally have something to celebrate. I'm hoping Karma with a capital K is finally on to him.

Well, that's been my month, and I'm hoping yours was better. Take care!

Spring is Here 2024

Well, I can't start another blog by saying, "Where has the time gone," but, where has the time gone!?! It's been over a month since my last post, and in that time Spring has arrived. We're in the 70s and 80s, with everything abloom. This is my favorite time of year, without question. One of the things blooming is the bush to the left, which I think is ligustrum. They are everywhere in my neighborhood and they smell heavenly!  Last year, a friend gave me enough amaryllis bulbs for both my front and back yard, and they were beautiful, too. It's really a wonderful time of year, and I hope it lasts a while before we jump into the 90s with humidity.

Our Covid group (Chris, Lynn, Tom, and I), enjoyed Easter lunch at Chris's. It was the first time we'd been together in a while, and it was fun to catch up. Each place setting was decorated with a Pysanki egg from Poland, which we got to keep. No two were alike and all were intricately decorated and beautiful. I had heard of them but had never seen one, so it was a special touch.

There have also been several interesting programs that I attended. Building Bridges Across Time and Race was presented by Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate and Campbell AME Church. The speakers included Mia McLeod, a descendant of enslaved ancestors and one of the 5 female state senators (from both parties) who received the Profiles in Courage Award for standing up against the anti-abortion bill eventually passed by the SC Legislature. Another was Margret Seidler, who, when exploring her family genealogy, discovered they were slave traders in Charleston. Unfortunately, Polly Sheppard, a survivor of the Mother Emanual massacre, was unable to attend due to family illness. Needless to say, the topic was heavy but very thought-provoking and informative.

The second was Antisemitism Today presented by an organization out of Charleston - another timely topic. Lowcountry Presbyterian Church was packed, which was good, but when they asked who identified as Jewish, the majority of people raised their hands! The people who already knew antisemitism firsthand filled the room, and people who might benefit from learning more were virtually absent! That was disappointing (especially since antisemitic incidents in SC increased 93% in 2023), but the program was informative.

Chris and I enjoyed a wonderful evening at Okan, a newish restaurant in Bluffton (I've mentioned before). The name means heart or soul, and the cuisine is West African, Caribbean, and Lowcountry/Gullah. It was advertised as a Garden Party and the food was all vegan. It was to be held outside but, sadly, was rained out. Even so, it was beautifully set up inside. It consisted of four courses with wine pairings, all of which were delicious! We were not disappointed! There is also a funny story. Chris and I arrived early and were sitting at a table outside. Two other single ladies wandered up and we invited them to join us. We're chatting away and I look up to see Sally, another friend, arriving. I jump up to greet her and, as it turns out, the two ladies are the friends Sally was meeting.....and we discovered that we're all Liberal Ladies of the Lowcountry! That added to the joviality of the evening. 

Since my last entry, I've also reconnected with longtime friends. Carolyn, in France, and I did a WhatsApp video call that was lots of fun. She had figured it had been 20 years since we had seen each other. Needless to say, we couldn't catch up on 20 years in an hour, but we gave it our best! I hope we can do it again soon. I also heard from Sharon, a friend from my synagogue days. When I worked there, she would bring her lunch and eat with me once a month. We continued that after I left until Covid, so it has been years since we dined together. In the meantime. they sold their home and moved into a continuing care community. They invited me over for lunch, as well as to see their new digs, all of which were very nice! We had a good catchup and have scheduled another lunch for May.

I keep mentioning my sweet neighbors. Well, on our Friday morning walk, Kurt opens their front door and invites us in. Turns out, they have just gotten back from two weeks out of town during which both were sick and not feeling their best. They had tickets for Cabaret at the May River Theater for THAT night and wondered if I'd like them! It's been years since I've been to May River Theater and thought it a bit bold that they would attempt Cabaret. It was surprisingly good! The first audience row had Kit Kat Club tables in front (as well as two audience couples sitting at tables on stage). The costumes were impressive and the club regulars mingled with the audience as we arrived, as you can see from the bare-backed cast member in the photo. I was also surprised at how risque it was for little, ole Bluffton! Even though I didn't have time to rustle up a partner, I was glad I went and will put MRT back on my radar. I sent the photos above to Kurt and Norma along with my thanks. I was in the second row with a perfect view of it all.

Lastly, but certainly not least, my sweet Rosie had another vet visit. She was having something like acid reflux that wouldn't go away. The vet did a blood panel and everything was okay there, so he gave her two meds - one for nausea and another to resolve the upset. The second med upset her bowels big time! I contacted the vet, who recommended giving it to her every other day. Before doing that, I left it off for a few days until her bowels were back to normal. The first day I gave it to her again, her stomach was upset again, so I stopped! I'm putting a probiotic on her food, which seems to be working, thank goodness. She's around ten or eleven now, and you can tell by the photo that she wasn't her usual perky self. It breaks my heart to see things like this cropping up. 

Where Has the Time Gone?

While life often seems dull and boring, time still flies by at a record pace....whether you're having fun or not! I just returned from a few days away with a raging cold. I've awakened the last two mornings feeling sweaty and clammy, with chest congestion and no energy. Yesterday, I did nothing! It was dark and rainy most of the day, so I showered and kept my house robe on all day. Between rain showers, I put Rosie out in the backyard, with no attempt to walk her. I made up for that this morning! I feel a little bit better today and my only goal is to finish this, finish unpacking, and walk Rosie again!

Sadly, part of my time last month was spent helping this lovely couple, my neighbors Dave and Debby. On February 12, I received a call from Dave who was in the local hospital Emergency Room, expecting to be admitted to the hospital with pneumonia, blood in his lungs, and heart problems. He asked if I'd check on Debby and bring her to visit him. Debby suffers from dementia, and I had difficulty thinking of her even being home alone. Anyway, I took her to visit Dave daily, helped with grocery shopping, and things like that. It was a big learning curve for me! She had her shopping list but had no idea where to find items in the store. When we got to the checkout, she grabbed her items and said she'd check out with such authority that I thought nothing of it. So, I took my few items to the next kiosk. I looked over, and she was trying to put her credit card in the machine without having scanned anything!! Anyway, that made me more concerned about her being home alone! That Thursday, I received a call from Dave saying he was going to be released, and would I pick him up. I found it difficult to believe that he was able to go home, but I picked up Debby and his oxygen tank, and we headed to the hospital. He asked if we could stop at Walgreens on the way home to pick up his meds, which was no problem, but we got there and Walgreens could not fill the prescriptions due to insurance issues. So Dave, on oxygen and hardly able to stand up, had to go home, make phone calls, and straighten it out. Around 4 PM, he called and said the scripts should be ready, so I picked them up. I wasn't available on Friday and didn't touch base with them until Saturday when I learned that Dave had called 911 and was on his way back to the hospital. His son and Debby's daughter arrived that weekend. This past Wednesday, I received a call from Dave's son saying that Dave had passed away! He did not want a memorial service, and Debby went home with her daughter. They expect to be back down within the next few months and hope to get together with neighbors. They were such a lovely couple with such a sudden and sad ending. I will miss them both.

It's been a rough month for my little girl, too. By the middle of the month, she'd had four episodes with her back. She was prescribed a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory, which did the trick. She has a degenerative spine disease, which is common in dogs with longer spines. She's done so well for so long, and I hate to see this happening on a more regular basis.

On March 2nd, I attended the Beaufort County Democratic Convention. I hadn't really intended to do so, but I received a text from Deborah saying that she and Amy were going. Before COVID, we got together monthly and it had been such a long time since I'd seen them both; so, I signed up to go. No sooner had I done so than I received an email from Kathleen, our county chairperson, asking if I'd serve on the Executive Committee for the new precinct Belfair 2! No good deed goes unpunished! So now I have a monthly meeting, with every other one being held in some far-flung part of the county. While I have backed away from many groups, feeling that we were preaching to the choir, I hope this will be more productive. Anyway, Deborah, Amy, and I got together for lunch and a good catchup at Ruan Thai.

Robin and Me. Terry and Melodie

Needless to say, food is a constant theme. I'm going to ask Persis Indian Grill if I can get a commission on the friends I bring to their restaurant!! It's so good to have a great Indian restaurant within driving distance! Anyway, here I am with Sun City friends, but have also introduced Tippy and Chris to Persis, and Maria, Mark, and I are on a regular schedule! These ladies are a lot of fun. Two of them were Navy nurses, have moved around a lot, and have interesting stories. Have also had brunch with Tippy at First Watch and lunch at the new Benny's Coastal Kitchen with neighborhood ladies......all good food and good company!

The only other thing different I did recently was to have a day at the Oglethorpe Mall (Macy's primarily) in Savannah. I'm sure I had not been there since before COVID! When I first arrived around 10:15 AM, there were so few people around, it was almost eerie. By the time I left, it had picked up a lot, but it makes me wonder if ours will be one of the Macy's closing soon!

I feel like it's been old-home week! I had a few days in the upstate (Greenville area) with my friend Sue, whom I hadn't seen since pre-COVID. We had a lovely visit and it was nice to get away. Rosie had the time with Miss Ann, and she seemed to do well. That's a major relief to me and may mean I can get away a little more often. The drive up was rainy and miserable. The full day we had together was sunny and glorious, allowing us to get out and about comfortably. The drive home was overcast, but easy driving. After reconnecting with Sue, as well as Deborah and Amy, it seems like there is something in the air to bring us together again as I was also scheduled to get together on Tuesday with Sharon and Steve from my Congregation Beth Yam days. When I worked there, Sharon would bring her lunch and dine with me once a month. When I left CBY, we continued our monthly lunch until COVID hit. Due to my cold, we have rescheduled, but it will be good to see them again. They sold their home and moved to the Cypress, so they have a completely new lifestyle since I last saw them! 

I do have a funny story that happened while I was away. We ate at a restaurant with a limited vegetarian menu. I ordered the Buddah Bowl and was asked how I'd like it, mild, medium, hot, etc, I ordered medium spicy. Shortly thereafter, the waitress came out and said the chef wanted to know if I wanted "to taste the spices or feel the spices"!! I got a kick out of that. I said I wanted to feel the spices a little! The chef actually served my dish, and I commented on his question. He did a great job - my nose and eyes were watering, but my mouth was not burning and numb. I had never had it put that way (taste or feel the spices), but it makes a lot of sense when you think about it.

A Busy Birthday Month!

Well, I hobbled through Christmas and New Year with no enthusiasm whatsoever, actually the worst feeling I've ever had through those holidays! Needless to say, I was happy to see January roll around and would have felt so even if my birthday wasn't involved. Little did I know how busy and fun the month would be!

January started off slowly with mundane things like mammograms and finding a new CPA to do my taxes, two tasks I am happy to have behind me. There were also the usual lunches out and gatherings with friends. Things began to pick up around my birthday, several of which just happened spontaneously.

On the 18th, I had dinner with a longtime friend from our early Drinking Liberally days. We hadn't gotten together in years, but Cher mentioned on Facebook that she and Eddy were so excited because they had just booked a vacation in San Diego. Having lived there for 15+ years, I commented that they would love it! We chatted back and forth and decided we should get together for a good catchup, which is what we did. It was a fun time and I hope we'll do it again. She also expressed interest in DL again, so when the weather improves to the point of our meeting outside again, I'll invite her to join us. I'll also want to hear all about the San Diego vacation.

Chris and Lynn invited me to join them for lunch at Lulu's on the 19th as a treat for my birthday. When I got there, they had assembled the whole gang! It was a wonderful surprise (for the second year in a row! I'll be very suspicious next year!) and great to see everyone at once. The food was also very good and the first time for most of us to have the occasion to try it since the restaurant recently reopened at Rose Hill. It was a very nice way to celebrate my birthday. Many thanks to Chris and Lynn.

Then, on my birthday (20th), I got together at Okan, a new restaurant with a noted chef) for brunch with friends from Sun City - Melodie, Robin, and Terry. We had originally planned to get together in December only to discover the day before that it was the same day as the Christmas parade, and the weather was to be iffy! Thankfully, Melodie followed up and got us together on the 20th without knowing it was by b'day. Even so, they discovered it on FB and came with celebratory spirits. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. Thank you, ladies, for a fun morning!

Then, Rayna stopped by with a lovely bouquet of roses and a very sweet card to top off the celebrations. I keep thinking that the big 7-7 has to be my lucky year if the remainder of the year lives up to its beginning! Keeping my fingers crossed! Many thanks to everyone who made it such a special birthday!

To add more excitement to the month, I was able to see Gov Gavin Newsom, who was in Sun City campaigning for President Biden in our First in the Nation Democratic Primary. Once I learned that it was happening, I wasted no time in contacting Pamela, who works tirelessly for Sun City Indivisible and who provided me with a gate pass. Once I arrived and found her, she had also secured front-row seats for us - me, herself, and her friend Jody (Pamela is the one in the middle in the photos of all three of us!). There were about 300 people there and it was a rousing event. Governor Newsom was a great surrogate for President Biden and will no doubt be running for President in 2028, so it was good to see him in person. As with more of these events, I ran into lots of other liberal/progressive friends, which is always exhilarating. As an aside, Gov. Newsom was introduced by SC State Senator Margie Bright Matthews, who was one of the five SC state female senators (of both parties) who were awarded the Profiles in Courage Award for defending a woman's right to abortion without government interference. Keep in mind that a body of mostly men totally disregarded the advice of their female counterparts who actually have experience in female health issues! Nor would they allow the women to exhibit their awards in the state house! How's that for male fragility!

To end the month on a very positive and happy note, Melodee visited. She arrived late afternoon on the 29th and we had a chatty evening, bouncing from topic to topic until the wee hours. The following day, we joined Tippy and Chris for lunch at Olive and Fig. Again, it was non-stop chatter, so much so that I forgot to take a photo, which I fully intended to do! From there Melodee and I went to another First in the Nation event, this time with former governor Mitch Landrieu, who is currently a Senior Advisor to the President for Infrastructure Coordination. It was very obvious that he was well-informed with facts and figures at instant recall. It was also obvious that he is a people person! He was informative, entertaining, and motivational. I'm glad we were able to go.

The following day we did a leisurely walking tour of old town Bluffton, which has changed a lot over the years. It was relaxing and gave us a chance to check out some of the newer shops. Just as the weather was changing, we headed to Chow Daddy's for a late lunch. Melodee insisted on treating for my birthday, which was unnecessary but thoughtful and delicious. We had a delightful waitress and lingered a while to enjoy it. Each day around 3 PM we returned home to give Rosie a good walk. You can imagine how she enjoyed having a captive audience!

It was great to see Melodee and I'm so glad she visited. The next morning as I was going for my coffee, I noticed a big box by my door! She had sent a goodie basket as a thank you, which was very thoughtful but not necessary, especially after treating me to lunch the day before! I'm trying to pace myself with all of the goodies, but everything looks so tasty! Melodee, thank you so much, and I hope to see you again soon.

It has truly been a busy and memorable month, and I'm so appreciative of it all. It reminds me of how fortunate I am on so many levels.

Just Another Day in the States!

It's 10 AM and I'm sitting here in the near-dark awaiting a stormy afternoon. If that isn't bleak enough, I'm listening to trump's immunity appeal to determine whether or not he will stand trial for attempting a coup on January 6, 2020! I hope to live long enough to see him get his just rewards (or die!) but I'm afraid that by that time, my body will be worn to shreds and my mind soup! Just another day in the States!

Well, they're over! I made it through Christmas and New Year's with little enthusiasm. My blah-ness was broken by two enjoyable events. Chris had Lynn, Tom, and myself over for a tasty brunch on Christmas Eve. Maria and Mark invited me for lunch on Christmas Day. Both were totally delightful and relaxed. I finally got in the mood and decided to have folks over after New Year's (Jan. 2). I made it as easy as possible, ordering a sandwich ring, as well as veggie and fruit trays from Publix. To that, I added two salads, spanatopika, and stuffed mini-peppers. It was all stuff I could make ahead and not have to rush around as guests were arriving. I was glad I did it and I think everyone enjoyed it. After that, all of the decorations came down and went back into the garage!

Kudos to my neighbors again! This lovely bundle contains a delicious rum cake, which my neighbor has given me for several years in a row! I shared it at all three holiday gatherings, but only those at the first one got to see the lovely presentation! 

Every day, I thank my lucky stars for the great neighbors I have, not just on holidays, but every day!

The holidays also marked Tippy's decision to venture out. I picked her up one day for lunch at Jane Bistro, and she was kind enough to treat me to a lovely lunch! She's still using a walker, but I helped her out at the curb and all went well. Since then, she has also started driving again, once obtaining Kieran's OK. On her first outing, we planned to meet up at - you guessed it - Olive and Fig, only to find that they are closed until January 22. So, we moved on to Ruan! It seemed like old times, and we really enjoyed it.

Yes, my baby had a good Christmas, too! If truth be known, every day is Christmas for Rosie, but she really lucked out over this holiday. Lynn and Tom give her one of her favorite types of squeaky toys. Melodee sent a lovely ornament with her name, and Maria and Mark gave her a lovely animal print sweater - in her colors, no less! Thank you, one and all, for thinking of her. Rosie loves it and you know it makes me happy, too!

I managed to do my Christmas shopping without entering a shop! I found these cute holiday wine glasses on Etsy, and they struck my fancy. I used the first initial of the name, which worked well until I got to Maria and Mark. Luckily, one M sported a red Santa hat, and the other a green one! Everyone has everything they want or need, but this is just a little something they can enjoy at Christmastime. 

Between the holidays and the cold weather, I've neglected my walking over the last two weeks. I started again yesterday when I waited until it warmed up to 54 degrees in the afternoon! We have had more nights in the mid-to-low 30s than I can remember, and our houses are not built for that.....and today certainly is not conducive to being outside! I keep trying and I think I actually miss it!

As I close, it is almost 1 PM. It has lightened up a bit, but the wind has also picked up, and we've received a tornado warning! Between showers, I've gotten Rosie out in the backyard, and I've stowed my outside furniture, so now we wait. I've heard from a friend in the Columbia area that their transformer blew and the storm hasn't even moved through yet! Needless to say, I'll be glad when it's over and I hope it's all hype!