Strange Times We Live In!

Well, what can I say? Chris's family was here last week and after they departed for home, she and I got together for the F-word (falafel sandwich!!).  In the week that we were not in touch, we have been besieged by the coronavirus! People are going nuts and those in charge (government) are playing it by ear day after day! That pretty much sums up the last three years of the trump administration - you leave home for a two-hour meeting and return to something atrocious, dehumanizing to some group, or just plain immoral and unethical. And now we have a pandemic on top of it all and a government that refused testing kits when offered by the World Health Organization!! Don't get me started!

And there is the travel ban - I have just emailed Eileen, who was to arrive from the UK in early April, to find out what she is hearing there and how it affects her plans. As of a week or so, Melodee was still planning to come (driving) at the end of this month. Her plans might not be impacted as much as Eileen's but who knows?

This weekend was to be busy - Liberal Ladies Luncheon on Friday, Precinct Reorganization meeting on Saturday morning, and Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate art exhibit on both Saturday and Sunday from 4 - 6 PM. Everything was cancelled, so I went from too much to do to nothing to do, not that I'm really complaining. For a while, I've felt that I needed more home/downtime and I hope I use it to get some things done around the house. My plan is not to remain totally isolated but to continue to get together with friends at home or in uncrowded places. I do really feel for those who have no choice but to work, children who will go hungry or unattended because they aren't in school, etc. And this is happening here!! At the moment, I'm working on the Liberal Ladies newsletter but once that is complete, I hope to have more non-committed time than I've had in a long time.

I'm happy to report that Rosie has finished her 15 days of steroid treatment. So far, all is well. I emailed the neurologist and gave him a report. As it turns out, he is no longer at CVRC but a surgeon got back to me. He said everything I am doing is good but wants me to take her off Gabapentin in a week. I am concerned about how she will do without it, but we have to know. It also makes me sad to see her have days when she looks like she doesn't feel well, though she hasn't had a shivery, panting episode after going off the steroids. David came over to see her after Drinking Liberally last Wednesday and she was just beside herself...... because that's who she is and she just goes full-tilt (unlike me! Allan used to say that I peaked at 2:30 in the afternoon for 15 minutes and that was it! So true - and that was when I was younger!)!  Anyway, I'm still hoping for the best and doing all I can to keep her safe, healthy, and happy. She has done something I never thought possible. She's learned how to get on and off the bed using the ramp!! Keep in mind that I have chairs backed up to one side of the bed and I sleep on the other to keep her from jumping. Once the chairs are removed (not in the near future!!), all bets are off! She was so funny when I first tried to get her to use it. I put treats at various points on the ramp, thinking she would sneak up to get them. She would put her front paws on the ramp and stretch as far as she could to get the treat....but keeping her back feet on the floor!! Eventually, when she wanted to get on or off the bed, I would put her midway on the ramp so she could get used to walking up and down it. Eventually, it just happened. I credit it to her smarts, not mine!

Before the craziness began, I did have a fun thing happen. My neighbor invited me to see Emmet Cahill, an Irish tenor, who was appearing at the Arts Center. It was raining like crazy and it didn't seem like my thing, but I didn't have a good excuse not to go! Surprisingly, I thoroughly enjoyed it. He had a fantastic voice and made it look so effortless. He was accompanied by Shamus, a very impressive pianist, and a string quartet, which was perfect. I was amazed that the pianist's music was on a tablet! He would play and then touch the screen for the music to move forward!! For the second portion of the concert, he took requests. Most were traditional Irish songs, but someone asked for Brown Eyed Girl! He took the request but said he'd never sung that song in his life---don't know why! The same happened with New York, New York!  So, the pianist made a note (on his tablet) of the requests, arranged them on the spot, and off they went. When we get to Brown Eyed Girl and New York, New York, Emmet reaches for his phone, finds the lyrics, and sings from his phone!! I was amazed! The other thing that was quite impressive is that he gave a verbal tribute to the part immigrants have played in making America. From someone who is not a citizen, it was touching (and made me wonder why others find it so difficult to see the value of diversity). Then he sang Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears, which was beautiful. Another one I really liked was Raglan Road. In spite of the rain, it was a pleasant evening.

Yes, rain! We had two days on non-stop rain and this was my backyard! You can see that I get a lot of drainage from the golf course. This was right before Lynn picked me up for a Liberal Ladies' Steering Committee meeting. I had no idea what to expect when I got home. Thank goodness, it finally stopped and we've been having wonderful weather since. It feels and looks like spring with azaleas blooming and mild temperatures. I hope it lasts a while before summer arrives.

I'll wind this up and hope this finds everyone well. Please take the necessary precautions so we can get through this pandemic as quickly and painlessly as possible. Wishing everyone good health and happiness in these strange times.

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Time Marches On!

March is here already! Yikes, this year is going by at record speed. So far, we've been lucky to have a mild winter that is confusing everyone. Pollen has been out for weeks and azaleas and others are blooming. It still isn't too late for some cold weather. The best part about it is that it has been a sunny winter. Last year seemed so bleak, cloudy, and rainy that I just wanted to hibernate. The sun makes it all better.

Rosie and I have succumbed to a slothful morning routine. My watch goes off at 7 AM and I don't make a move. Then my phone is set to go off at 8 AM in case I'm not already up. When I awaken I feel so snug and content, and I've really enjoyed savoring it. Because some mornings have been cold, Rosie is in no rush to do anything (another reason she is my perfect soulmate!), so I have 2 cups of coffee while checking emails and FB. Eventually, we get out for a walk. I'm not feeling guilty about it because I know we will have to get up and out early when the hot, summer weather arrives.


Speaking of Rosie, I took her back to Charleston to see the neurologist (Dr. Shompers), whom I really liked. He examined her and concurred that there was a back issue, and he presented several options - one being steroids for 15 days to see if that might help any inflammation and hopefully present a manageable option. Dr. Seibert had also mentioned steroids but I understood it to be long term and was not wanting that. So, she will be weaned off them by Thursday and we will see what happens after that. I have also tried to restrict her jumping and was told to restrict walks to about 5 minutes.....all of which you know is impossible short of crating her! I have done my best! She is able to jump up on both sofas and there are pillows to cushion her jump down. She is such an all-out girl, I can't deprive her of everything. My house is in total disarray with chairs backed against the sofa so there is only one way up and one way down, cushions of the floor, etc. But, it is what it is, and she is my first concern. She has had only one major shivery episode and I think that was more anxiety than pain. I had my floors done and put her in the bedroom while it was being done, but the sound must have frightened her. I was in there with her but that was still unable to calm her.  At this point, I'm just hoping she will be okay once the steroids wear off. It may mean a calmer lifestyle, but I will do my best.

WE DID IT! We got the Black Voters Matter bus to Beaufort County! Campbell AME Church had a Get Out The Vote (GOTV) workshop ob Feb. 22, to which I was invited. Tamika and her team brought the bus and shared ways they might be able to help the GOTV effort. I was disappointed that her presentation was cut short due to time constraints (when a lot of time had been poorly used earlier!). In any case, my hope is that other Black-led groups will work with her to get them back often between now and November. 

I'm also pleased that my efforts in various groups have expanded and diversified my circle of friends. Between this, Lowcountry Immigration Coalition, and Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate, it's been wonderful to interact with more within the community.

Then on the 27th, Tippy and I did our Africa class for OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute). The room seated 104 and he almost had a full house. It was lots of fun and the audience was very interested and seemed to enjoy it. We were going to do both trips, but in the time we had (1-1/2 hours) we only got through Kenya and Tanzania. We're thinking we may offer a second one on Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Capetown. It was great having a captive audience for our adventures!!

Since the New Year, it has been great to hear from longtime Aramco friends around the globe - Alan & Mairead from Downunder, Paula & Neil from Spain, and a surprise out of the blue note from Dave and Rita (UK). In spite of the unexpected vicissitudes of life, everyone seems to be doing well healthwise and keeping active. I was surprised that two couples are into ballroom dancing! It must be trending around the world and dancing is certainly a good way to keep fit. This is a test (and a laugh) for those who know these Aramcons. Who said this be??

     "And so to our cruise to Alaska in June. The weather could have been kinder, dull but no rain. I had booked a whale watch cruise on a catamaran as a surprise for (spouse) at a cost of $130 each. We did see whales but not an impressive display. After a couple of days cruising we put into Icy Point and walked along the coast road into the local town. Low and behold, whales frolicking in the bay near the beach and a free better display than I had paid for. I had to rush back to the ship and lie down in the cabin with the curtains closed!" 

That made me laugh out loud. I could almost hear his voice saying it. So funny! It was great hearing from everyone.....and now I owe more emails!

I'll also be seeing more friends soon. Melodee is visiting from St. Louis and the end of the month. Then in early April, Eileen is visiting from the UK. These visits may be my opportunity to check out the thrift shops. I asked Eileen what she wanted to do while here and she suggested retail therapy and thrift shops, which we did successfully last time. I'm thinking Melodee and I might cover those in Beaufort (and Herban Market!) and Eileen and I can focus on Bluffton/HHI. I NEVER go shopping but am trying to purge my closet between now and then. If successful, I will do some shopping for clothing that will more deceptively cover my full-size body!

Before closing, I wanted to include this clip of Reyna's son: https://vimeo.com/392735088
Alex is so smart and dedicated....and poised for his age. I asked if I could post it for those who know her to see.

I hope this finds everyone healthy, happy and enjoying life.

February Here Already!

January flew by in record time and February is doing the same. At the end of January, I continued to celebrate my birthday in delightful fashion when Chris treated me to a play and dinner.....and we were joined by our friend Sally. The play was The Christians by Lucas Hnath, and boy was it apropos for the times. It was followed by a discussion session with a member of the clergy (a difference on at each performance) and it was very thought-provoking, It was followed by a delicious dinner and stimulating conversation. It really was a nice thing for Chris to do and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and one of the things I love about my friends is that we can always find something to laugh about, to lighten and brighten the day, That is such a joy!

I am saddened to tell you that Rosie's back is no better. I took her to Charleston Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC) on January 31st at the recommendation of Jennifer Smith, President of Noah's Ark Rescue from which I got Rosie. This is the same veterinary that did her surgery for her broken back legs and pelvis. My vet just sent me away with meds and no mention of a followup. I also wanted someone who knows her history and would look at the whole picture. I felt confident after their exam and their plan of action was to put her on Gabapentin for a month, restrict her movement - even down to limiting her walking time to 5 minutes (impossible!). That has not been easy. Anyone who has met her knows that she is an all-out girl! If I even say, "Let's go walkie" she sprints to the door. The medication does sedate her a bit, but that is sad for me to see. I have done my best and my house looks like a furniture warehouse. Sofa cushions are removed and put upright in front of the sofa to keep her from jumping on....and then off! She is a fearless jumper and if the doorbell goes, she's off, no matter where she is. So, I've done my best. I bought and constructed a ramp for her to get on and off the bed, neither of which has really worked. The only way that booger will use it is if I put her half-way up the ramp. Then she will run the rest of the way.....and the only way she knows how to get off of anything is doing a Michael Jordan type jump!!! The good thing is that she doesn't often get off the bed once we settle. I'm doing everything I can to NOT have to crate her as a restraint.

I have set up her crate again and put her longtime bed in it. Sometimes, when she isn't feeling well, she heads for the bedroom closet, which is where I first discovered her shivering in pain. I keep my bedroom door closed and put her crate outside. If she isn't feeling well, she will go to her crate. I now, after the fact, see the importance of keeping them crate trained!! So, I got her a new bed to use outside the crate. This is called a calming bed and she took to it straight away!  It is so soft and squishy. It was vacuum packed and arrived in my mailbox.....literally. I opened it, shook it out, put in the dryer to fluff it up, and it was ready to go. It's washable and I use it on the floor, on the sofa, or on the bed. 

Rosie on her bed as I write!

All who know her knows how much I love her and what a joy she is in my life. I will do everything I can to make her comfortable and maintain her quality of life. I'm taking her back to CVRC on Monday to see a neurologist. It may involve an MRI to see exactly what is going on and determine a treatment program. Please keep her in your thoughts and send healing vibes her way.

All of this has kept me sidelined for a while. I missed a Liberal Ladies luncheon and other meetings due to Rosie having an episode of shivering, panting, and teeth grinding. Even so, I am happy to announce that our (Liberal Ladies') movie debut (The Glorias) happened at Sundance to very good reviews. We are anxiously waiting to see if any of us actually escaped the cutting room floor!!  After seeing how it was filmed, it will be interesting and fun to see the finished product. Will keep you posted if/when more information is available.

One achievement I'm very proud of is that I was instrumental in getting the Black Voters Matter bus to come to Beaufort County!! I've been following them on Facebook since they were instrumental in getting Doug Jones elected in Alabama. One day they announced they were coming to SC. I immediately commented and asked them to come to Beaufort County. Mika Gadsden messaged me and asked if I could put her in touch with any Black-led organizations in the county. Our Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) organizer and our Democrat Club leaders are both Black and I put her in touch with them. Neither of them was aware of this group and was probably surprised that this old, white lady was! In any case, shortly after that, Mika met with the Dem. Club Steering Committee (and me). Their first visit will be on the 22nd of this month to Campbell AME Church to which I've been invited. This BVM bus is based in Charleston and will come down for various events through the November election. We are hoping they will encourage POC in our community to vote. The League of Women Voters will be focusing on the Latino community,,,,.and we will all have to do everything we can to dump trump.

There is an interesting aside to the story above. When Mika contacted me, I knew everything would be passed on to someone else, though I would have liked/expected to be kept in the loop. So, I did tell my buds what I was working on. She (Mika) mentioned something else on FB and I commented, "Don't forget Beaufort County"! She then said she was coming down on Thursday, only a few days away!! I texted one of the contacts and, sure enough, there were plans for her to come down and meet with them...and I was out of the loop. At that point, I was invited to join the meeting. I don't know if it was all happening too fast or if the whole process was taken over by male-dominated committees. Just saying.....

Tippy and I are also preparing to teach an OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) class on our trips to Africa at our Hilton Head Campus at the end of the month. As of last week 91 people had signed up for it - YIKES! It's been a long time since I taught anyone or anything and I'm not a comfortable public speaker, but I know I can rely on Tippy to save me! It is great to see so many people interested in it and to be able to share our unforgettable experiences. I hope we can do it justice.

That's a quick rundown of my doings, most of which have centered around my sidekick and sweet girl, Rosie. Please send good, healing vibes her way and we will keep you posted.

Belatedly...

Birthday Time

Now that Christmas is packed away in the garage, life resumes its normal - too busy - pace! I had hoped to slow things down a bit but don't seem to be very successful at it. I've pretty much decided it will be this way until November and who knows what it will be after that?

In my last post, I mentioned that Rosie was behaving anxiously and I didn't know why. Several times I found her cowering and shivering in my closet. Once I picked her up and put her on the bed and she began panting, which she has only done while riding in the car, so I knew she was anxious. Then one day she saw someone come into the yard looking for a golf ball and she jumped up, tail and ears up, and barked at the invader. I praised her, but when I walked through the living room a few minutes later, she wasn't there. I found her in bad, under the cover, shivering. It was at that time I called the vet and made an appointment. It turns out it was a back issue, which is often an issue for long-bodied dogs. The vet felt down Rosie's spine and when she got about 3/4 down, Rosie yelped. So, she was put on 3 meds for a week, which was lots of fun trying to get into her. She is like a cat in that she can eat everything and spit out the pill. Her keen sense of smell also doesn't help. I did the best I could and it seemed to help. I am now trying her on CBD oil and it seems to be helping. I'm hoping it was only inflammation and nothing more and that the CBD oil will help control it. It is such a helpless feeling when something is wrong and they can't tell you what, and I never want to see her in pain. Please keep your fingers crossed that all goes well.

Some of you who have visited may recognize the guy on the cover of our local magazine. He's the chef at one of our favorite restaurants, Olive & Fig. We were pleased to see the magazine do a positive piece on 6 immigrants who have made prominent contributions to our community. I belong to Lowcountry Immigration Coalition, joining after the El Paso shooting. It was heartening to see 4 new people show up in response to the shooting. We wanted to know what was happening in our local community and how we could help. There are 3200 Latinos registered to vote here, but they are hesitant to do so. The local League of Women Voters is going to work on getting them represented in the census, which they are also reticent to do, and out to vote. The Bluffton Drinking Liberally meets at a restaurant owned by an immigrant and he has hosted several Democrat candidates to speak there. He has also received threats and promises of people who will no longer frequent his establishment. That is why positive articles like this mean a lot in a place like this.

Well, another birthday has rolled around - #73!!  How did I get so old so fast? Luckily, I have nothing to complain about except for putting on weight - and I blame that on the chaos of trump!! Reyna was kind enough to have our merry band over for chili rellenos, red rice, salad, and pistachio cake. It was all delicious and everyone was in fine form.

We celebrated on Friday because Tippy and Kieran would be out of town on the 20th, so I felt like I celebrated the whole, long MLK weekend. Saturday and Sunday were quiet but on Monday I participated in two MLK marches - one in HHI, the other in Bluffton. We have been having fantastically beautiful weather, but overnight the temperature dropped to 36 degrees at the start of the HHI march. Thank goodness it was clear, bright and not breezy. I was walking with Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate, but there were many groups I could have walked with. It was great to see so many kids participating, and there was a 9 member band who showed up on their own, in the cold! They really were a great addition. There was a good turnout and it is one of the few things that attract a diverse gathering. It's a shame we don't interact more. Anyway, at 2 PM Risa ad I took the banner to Bluffton, arriving at what we thought was well in advance of departure...but there was no one around. A guy came up who was operating with the same information we had and suggested we go to the other side of the building. When we did, we ran into 4 adults and lots of kids who were also trying to find the parade. Someone received a text saying they had begun early and were already at the destination. So, they unrolled their banner and we had our own little march to the park!! So, it was a full day, though chilly. Yesterday and today have also been cold though today will get into the 50s. I'm hoping this will go away and our mild winter will return.




Thanks to one and all for the many birthday wishes whether by mail, email, Facebook, Messenger, phone, or in person! It is always great to hear from friends, especially on a birthday! You made it a very special day!

I'll leave you with another wedding video. This is one that was professionally done for Warisa and Jeffrey's wedding that I shared last time. This is so beautifully done, I thought you might like it, too.

Surviving the Holidays

It's been a busy time in some ways but a much-needed change of pace in others. There have been lots of holiday celebrations but a break from the usual meetings, groups, etc. It has made me see the need for a lighter schedule in the New Year. 

Along with the holiday celebrations, the Three Amigos (not Giuliani, Sondland & Perry!) participated in a nationwide action on the eve of the impeachment vote (12/17). About 150 people showed up at Joe Cunningham's office to thank him for voting for the impeachment. That's a very good turnout in a red state AND on a cool, rainy afternoon. One of the cutest things was a young man/kid who called the chants. His mom was close by and offered suggestions...he was adorable!



Two nights later, I had the gang over for Christmas cheer. I'm not a natural entertainer, but I think everyone enjoyed it and had a good time. It may become a tradition as it motivates me to put up the decorations. That's something that my mother and I used to do together. We took our time and enjoyed the process. It seems a lot to do just for me, so it seemed like a good idea to have friends over to enjoy them with me. Things started slowly as we sat in a circle to eat the munchies, but by the time desserts were out, everyone was up, mingling, and chatting. It was a good evening for me and I hope they enjoyed it, too.

On Christmas Eve, Chris and I went to one of our favorite places - Olive and Fig - for dinner. They had a set menu with several options for a starter, entree, and then dessert. We started with Lentil Soup (regular portion!) and selected the vegetarian entree.  If you look at the servings on the table, you can see that we could have easily shared one meal! Each of us had 3 Falafels, 1 Spinach Pie, Hummus, Baba Ghanoush, Muhammara, Tabbouleh, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree!! All of that was followed by dessert! It was delicious and a pleasant evening, with a doggie bag for the next day. We were surprised that after three solid days and nights of rain, around noon on Christmas Eve, the sun came out and by our early dinner, it was almost 70 degrees. That weather still holds and it adds to whatever is happening.

Christmas day was quiet but sunny and bright. I did some cooking while watching Animal Planet. Their morning was just Christmas music with dogs, cats, goats, and bunnies doing their thing in rooms decorated for Christmas. It was perfect for me! After that, it was the Bronx Zoo, which is quite interesting and reminds me of behind the scenes at the San Diego Zoo. The golf course was closed so Rosie and I did our afternoon walk on the course....and the weather was perfect - a very good day!

Michelle, Valeria, and Joann.

Yesterday, Tippy and I did some Christmas shopping for Reyna's girls. It started when a friend of Tippy ordered one toy and six were delivered. The company wasn't interested in taking them back so she was giving them away. Tippy thought of Reyna's baby, but you can't give one child something without having something for the others. So we two old, childless broads go shopping for gifts for a 13, 11, 8-year-olds and Richard's twin 3-year-olds!!  Needless to say, we didn't have a clue - but we would ask the other questions as though we actually expected a knowledgeable answer! Finally, we saw some girls of similar ages of Reyna's and asked what they would like. We got an in-depth seminar on Slime! Slime seems to be the thing. It was all worth it because the girls were totally surprised and seemed to really like the gifts we'd chosen, especially the Slime!

SOMETHING SPECIAL: I received my Christmas update from the Smith family in Thailand and it was so lovely I asked if I could share it with you. This year was a year of weddings for Aeaw and Bob as both of their sons were married. I knew these young men when they were babies/kids in Saudi and it's wonderful to see them happy, healthy and doing well. Both Bob and I commented on the "global" life of all those kids we knew at that time. They have the confidence, curiosity, and freedom to move about in the world with ease - and at such a young age. I marvel at them and admit to being a bit jealous that it took me so long!  In any case, enjoy! Link: https://sites.google.com/view/smiths-through-2019/home



I also had to share the photos above. I've already told you about these girls who love Rosie so much. When the grandparents wanted to take the photo on the left, I asked if they would take one with the girls and their signs. Our routine is that we go to the door (when signs are posted) and I unhook Rosie's leash. She stands there and whines until someone answers the door. Then she shoots in and makes several laps of the kitchen, dining room, and den - just as fast as she can. Of course, the girls are then trying to follow her, squealing, etc. Once she settles down, they bring toys for her to play with and give her lots of loving. This last time they had decided (talking about it the night before!) that Rosie might like a bowl of water at the end of our walk. Being the perfect guest, Rosie lapped it up on cue and I thanked them for thinking of her. So Sweet!

It was after returning for our trip to Africa (and experiences such as the one above) that I fully realized what a nice neighborhood I live in. We never know how long our walks will take. It all depends on how many people we run into, with some passing by in cars even stopping to chat a bit. I'm not fooled to think it's me....it's mostly Miss Personality! In any case, it is nice. Just this week, I've been given oranges, lemons, and chocolates from neighbors as we were passing by. 

Not everything has been roses - my computer died, Rosie has been a little anxious and I don't know why, trump is still president, I'm too fat - but life is good and I have no complaints. I hope we all go into the New Year in good health and with hopes for a peaceful, prosperous, compassionate year ahead. Best wishes and much love to all. 

Happy Holidays 2019

December 1: After posting the last entry, I sent the next two days decorating for Christmas. As I said, it seems like a lot for just me and Rosie, but I do love seeing the ornaments that I've collected over the years. I must have the most eclectic/tacky tree around - it has everything from Washington state salmon to Chinamen and every color of the rainbow!! In most cases, I can tell you where I got them and there may be a story attached! While decorating the tree, I thought I'd look for some music on my phone to add to the decorating, so I tried Spotify. So, I'm listening on my phone, which doesn't have much range..... when all of a sudden it begins playing on my TV!!  When I opened an account on Spotify, it asked me to choose 3 or more artists, which were artists like Queen, EJ, Van Morrison, and a little bit of Bruno Mars, Celine Dion, etc. Then it came up with a Day 1 Playlist. So I decorated the tree while listening to some of my favorite oldie goldies (from Saudi days) - they threw in some artists I didn't know, which was great. If I liked them, I listened. If I didn't, I deleted it.  It was a full day of great music and they also showed a playlist for the next few days. I'm liking this more and more.....

I'm not going to bore you with Christmas decorations as I have re-cycled the same ole thing for years. If you want to see the basics, you may go HERE and check out the video in the middle of the entry......same thing only different by a smidgen! Going to that page only reminds me of how long we have been resisting. No wonder I'm tired!!

Our glorious weather has continued, though we have rain this afternoon. Even so, it was 66 when I got up and I was definitely overdressed when I walked Rosie - or she walked me if the truth is told.

December 15: Where has the time gone? After my last post about Spotify, I got inspired. I started looking at speakers like Alexa and found that Home Depot had a doorbuster of Google Home Minis for $19 each. So, I headed down and picked up two, one for the bedroom and one for the den. Now I can say, "Hey, Google, play Freddie Mercury" and it does. I can have music playing while I fall asleep (rather than MSNBC - a great step forward in self-care and sanity). I can ask Google questions or to remind me of things. I then got online and ordered 2 wifi-outlet plugs, one for each Christmas tree. Now I can tell it when to turn on the trees or, better yet, I have scheduled it to turn on and off at specified times. I'm loving this stuff!! After Christmas, I will use the plugs to turn lamps on and off in the evening.

Life has also been busy otherwise. We had a fun Liberal Ladies holiday party. This time it was without a speaker but we had a trivia game about liberal ladies. It was lots of fun and out table (Rachel Maddow) came in second. We were beaten by one point by Nancy Pelosi's table!!

The usual suspects:
Carol, Chris, Me, Tippy, Diane, and Diane's friend.

This photo is from the Democrat Club Christmas Brunch. It was a wonderful spread and we were lucky enough to sit at the table with our local club leader and the speaker for the event, Trav Robertson, who is head of the state Democrat party. The table conversation was fun and Trav was a great speaker.

In the meantime, my computer died, which panicked me as I do the Liberal Ladies newsletter and the Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate's Facebook page!!!! I immediately got online in search of a Geek but could not see one for two days! So, yesterday I went to Best Buy to see a Geek with all fingers crossed. I was helped by a delightful young lady who informed me that if the laptop would not come on, which mine no longer would, there probably wasn't much they could do.😰 Then, she proceeded to use her electrical/charger on my laptop, and - voila - my computer comes to life! My charger had died. So, I feel like I was spared a big expense and it's always a treat to have a positive encounter. Even so, BB didn't have the connection I needed and to order one would not solve the issue until Dec. 24! The young girl told me to check Staples and Target in case they might have one on hand. So, I was able to find one sooner and am able to complete this before Christmas.

After the brunch, while I had on my holiday, red sweater, I thought I'd take a photo of Rosie and me for an ecard to friends. Silly me!!  It was a comedy of errors and I was never able to get Rosie to put her ears up. We looked so silly that I decided to make a gif of it. It is looking doubtful that I will get cards out (protesting Tuesday and having friends over on Thursday), but I hope this will bring cheer (laughter) to your holidays. Please know that I am thinking of you, dear friends, and wishing you all the best at Christmas/Hannukah and the New Year.
Love and

Merry Christmas

And

Happy Holidays

To All

via GIPHY