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!

Farewell 2023. Welcome 2024!

This dark, rainy weekend is a perfect time for a final 2023 entry to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Holidays, whatever you may or may not be celebrating! Whichever it is, I hope you are more into it than I am! My best description is that I'm in a "wait it out" mode! This, too, shall pass!

I usually put the tree up and decorate the weekend of Thanksgiving, but this year I was well over a week late, not having much enthusiasm for it. I was really dreading dealing with the tree. It's heavy, time-consuming, and messy. As luck would have it, I ran into a neighbor who told me about her wrought-iron tree, which was the answer to my problem. I ordered one, and while it was time-consuming this year (taking plastic covers off all branches), it will be quick and easy from here on out......and I get to see and use my ornaments without all the hassle! I also made a few other changes - lights and bell collection on the mantel, Margaret Furlong white porcelain ornaments on the coffee table, etc. So overall, it feels a bit different, which is not a bad thing after all these years.

In addition to dreading the holidays, what have I been doing? I joined Liberal Ladies for the Holiday Cocktail Party, which was very pleasant and festive, and it's always great to run into ladies whom I don't see often. The program was even more enticing - it was about the DAYLO  program (Diversity Awareness Youth Literary Assoc.) which is a student book club that formed after the book bans here in the county by none other than Moms for Liberty! Once MFL challenged 97 books in the school district, I was pleasantly surprised to see a strong, positive response. Some volunteered to be on the review committees, others organized and informed everyone, like FABB (Families Against Book Bans), and more! People mobilized quickly and remained involved. At the end of the day, all books were returned to the shelves except for about 5 (one book was challenged that wasn't even in the system!). What I got the biggest kick out of was that one of the books (by Colleen Hoover) that was removed is going to be made into a movie!! You gotta laugh! 

What else has been happening? I got the leaking windows and damaged flooring repaired. That was a biggie! Chris and I celebrated her birthday at Olive and Fig, which is always good. I continue my daily walking routine except for Sundays and rainy days. Even on cold days, I manage to do it in the morning though I know it will be warmer in the afternoon. I also know I will talk myself out of it if I put it off until later in the day!

One evening (12/3), Maria, Mark, and I went onto the island to see the lights in Mitchelville. They had a drive-thru display with lights covering everything that wasn't nailed down. It was pretty and festive. We followed recommendations to arrive early and line up to drive through. We were probably the 5th or 6th car in line, with a short wait until opening time. When we drove out, cars were lined up as far as the eye could see with a second road trying to merge! We were thankful for our short wait. From there we went to Shelter Cove, which was quiet but well-decorated, including some of the boats in the marina. We walked all along the waterfront and wound up at Ela's for a light dinner. It was such a warm evening that we ate outside on their deck with a nice view of the marina. It really was a lovely, relaxing evening.

I mentioned last month that Lynn hosted the November birthday folks (Tom, Chris, and Tippy) for dinner, but that wasn't enough for Tippy! She decided she wanted a parade AND to be addressed as Her Majesty for the day. So, she put out the summons and the usual suspects showed up. We were instructed to wear crazy hats and bring a musical instrument. Somewhere among the photos, you can see my meager attempt to do so. Once the group was "organized", we paraded around the cul-de-sac making celebratory noises and singing (?) Happy Birthday! We then retired to the house for birthday cake. It was lots of fun as only Tippy and willing accomplices can generate and I hope it was a Happy Birthday for Her Majesty!

To update you on Tippy, she will be having surgery on cervical vertebrae 2-5, though that will not happen until after the holidays. Her doctors want to approach the surgery from the front of her throat, which is complicated by her previous throat cancer and radiation. Even so, she seems to have two wonderful surgeons on the case and feels confident in moving forward. Tippy did one thing that I thought was brilliant and I would not have thought of doing. She recorded her meeting with her doctors on her phone (then transcribed to text and shared with friends). Knowing that I always walk away from important meetings like that thinking that I didn't hear it all, didn't ask questions, etc. How nice to be able to go back and hear it all when in a less tense mode! I thought that was a very good move and I hope I remember it should I need it.

I must mention a few of my "glimmers" for the week. The photo on the left is a gift bag from a neighbor to Rosie. To be honest, I don't really know their names, but they have Floyd, whom I refer to as their time-share doggie. Floyd actually belongs to one of their children but spends months at a time with them. They conscientiously walk Floyd and take him for drives.....and our paths just cross in the process of that. One afternoon when the house was in total disarray (Xmas decorating), the doorbell rang. It was Floyd and his mistress with a little goodie bag for Rosie! I thought that was so sweet and a total surprise. It contained some treats for Rosie and a roll of poop bags (with a weenie dog on it) for her servant. It was such a delightful surprise.

On another day, I received a message in the evening that my Amazon orders had been delivered. I opened the door to get them and there were three packages rather than the two expected. My first thought was, "Oh, no, another thing to deal with, a wrongly directed package!" When I checked it out, it was addressed to me and was a lovely, delicious box of dried/candied fruit from Jim and Anthony! How thoughtful and what a perfect gift for a vegetarian! I never even thought of candied kiwi, which is delicious! I sent them a thank-you e-card but it hasn't been picked up yet, so I will thank them again here AND say that we need to get together in 2024! It has been far too long. It is so good to hear from them and it didn't have to be a gift.....it could be a visit! Thank you for thinking of me in such a nice way and I hope to see you soon.

I awakened this morning to the sound of a steady rain, which must have started hours earlier. This is how my yard looks at  9:30 AM and it's supposed to rain until 11 PM! Needless to say, it's dark and dreary, and the only thing to perk it up is to turn on the ornament tree and any other holiday features with lights.

I'll close by wishing you a very Happy Holiday season and peace, joy, prosperity, and good health in the coming year. May 2024 be kinder to us all.