Oh indeed, Tillie, we'll definitely be proactive and cautious. It's good that we have time to plan the logistics. One of my friends' daughter had Graves' disease and had to do the radioactive thing, but they had a big house with basement so it was easier.

It does make me wonder if my roommate might opt to travel to where her family lives and do it up there. They have bigger houses and probably more than one bath. I could take care of the pets here. Do you remember how many days it took to clear out of Steven? Wish I could lay my hands on a Geiger counter...

Well, mustn't worry. We'll brainstorm and figure it out.

CriticalMass
Just a quick heads up to CriticalMass

Steven had thyroid cancer, they removed most all the thyroid.
Then he had radioactive iodine.
Everybody said he was safe to be near when he was radioactive.

We asked the Veterinarians and they said exposure to Steven would kill the kittens.
Destroy their thyroids.

Please do NOT allow this to happen.
Call your Veterinarians and not just listen to human doctors and technicians, they don't acre about our Furbabies.

I also kept me away from him until the Giger counter I borrowed from the college readings went down.

Hi, finally getting a moment to post!

I have been keeping up but just wasn't on the laptop where I can type fast. Now I am.

Tillie, I wish you weren't in such a mess. And though I understand your realism and I'd be the same way myself, I hope and pray you will NOT catch Covid-19 or any other nasty thing. Does it help any to open windows and air out the house if Steven comes in? Keep doing what you're doing - it has protected you thus far. The man is mad to go to that house with all those people. Actually the law enforcement should've made the people step apart from one another, but even if they tried to, it was probably difficult to implement order in the middle of such chaos of people all wound up.

Tatoulia, I'm glad you're getting so much satisfaction out of your decluttering and doing a bangup job of it! Once again, hoping the good endorphins from accomplishment are helping your body and mind to relax.

SubC, way to go getting little kid's shoulder strengthened, the ceramics fired, and doing the best you possibly can in the middle of such trying times. I hope you didn't take the one nasty letter to heart. No teacher tries harder than you have been doing. And all the best to the family too.

Monday was my roommate's day of doctor appointments - but the news was quite good! The cancer was in her thyroid, they think they got most of it, and it's the most treatable type of thyroid cancer. Thyroid takes up iodine so the treatment is radioactive iodine usually just one dose. The doctor had even said it could be optional but since she lost her father to a different type of cancer she wants to be sure. That treatment will be in about 8 weeks.

Yesterday I thought I was supposed to resume going to my Holy Hour at church, but I must've misread the texts and memos somehow. The chapel was dark and without the monstrance. So I just prayed a little while in the main church.

I did make stops at Dollar Tree and Walmart and it looked as if 85% of people were wearing their masks and social distancing properly. I wipe off packaging of items and the counter where the sacks have been, and then the sacks get set aside for several days and used when I clean the cat boxes.

Went to my storage unit today to drop off my flat containers of seasonal fabric which I had so hoped to have made up into doll clothes by now. :( Sigh. But I needed to get them out "momentarily" so my van is not an embarrassment because - hopefully - it is going to get that valve cover gasket done tomorrow.

I can see why Tatoulia was worried about me paying for storage! Kansas prices aren't nearly as bad as Boston prices. Which doesn't mean I won't be glad to get to the point of never needing a storage unit again. Mine costs $165 a month for a 10 x 24 unit, non climate-controlled. If I could just move into a reasonable sized, safe apartment, discarding as I go, I would never need it again.

There's plenty to do to get to that point, and I'm going to do my best to get on it and power through. Tatoulia's mojo is an inspiration. I also need sufficient computer time to type the stuff on papers in - quite a bit of it really does pertain to projects like my novels and blog - little sparks of ideas I just grabbed whatever was handy to jot down before they flitted out of my head.

If I get the papers gone here, there are more awaiting in storage - journals and stuff. I think I can blow through them much faster having had some emotional decompression. I want to record just a few tidbits - good memories, or milestones. Let go of any bad. Because as an only child, no spouse, no kids, no living parents, I do need to have a bit of a record of my life or it gets too vague and I feel unmoored in time, almost unreal.

There are also books - I looked around today and I bet a lot of them I'm going to decide not to lug around anymore. So much is available online, and many of the books are outdated.

But even if I could afford to move to an apartment next week, I'd still want to help my roommate get back on her feet and all. She's my friend. Tomorrow is her birthday. After my van gets to the mechanic's, we're going to go down to the south end of town in her car to one of our favorite nurseries and I'll buy her some plants, and they have one kalanchoe rooted from a cutting that I had ordered.

My cousin is still progressing in rehab. Tonight's email from her husband did mention those three issues that had been discovered - brain bleed, blood around spinal cord, and tear in aorta - so I guess they weren't misdiagnosed. It gets confusing, and I'm sure him not being able to be at the hospital with her and the doctors makes communication harder, then to relay it to family, etc.

She is going to get to talk to the doctors tomorrow though. Maybe there will be surgery to fix her aorta. I sense it's good she's been regaining strength, and I'm sure they're closely monitoring her. So maybe tomorrow evening we'll know more.

My sleep continues to improve, and I think the crazy dreams have toned down a little. I wake feeling more rested. The weather turned really chilly for this time of year, more like March, and rainy. But tomorrow it goes back up to seasonal temps. Just have to hope that doesn't stir up tornadoes or hail. If my van got ruined by hail I might lose my mind. Sure miss having a garage.

I mentioned we've been watching Dark Shadows - well, last night I discovered on Tubi there was a separate section "Dark Shadows The Beginning" that I didn't see before! That was where it started with Victoria Winters coming to Collinsport from New York. We had started with the episodes right leading up to the arrival of Barnabas Collins. So now we're going back. The storylines will tie together better. Barnabas was just getting really creepy where we left off. But we'll get around to him again!

Anyway, this is a long enough post for now. More as soon as I can.

SubC , what a terrible disappointment. I am so sorry that happened with the kids. It's disappointing and embarrassing and not right. I'm so sorry.

Tillie you forced me into doing my dishes tonight. I was going to skip it.

Cleaners really did a nice job. And when I had to put things back in my closet there was a noticeable difference. Not a small difference. Noticeable vi couldn't believe it.

My big thing now is I want to keep up with the shredding but I'm a horrible slob when I empty the shredder. But I think if I put the shredder in the garbage bag before lifting the top off, I might have better luck. But then again, there may be static that will make some of the pieces stick to the outside of the shredder. Honestly I could just use a broom.

Mom and I are both getting tired of this life. I see it in BF's eyes too.

Tillie I had grilled cheese for dinner. It was so tasty. Provolone cheese with spicy honey for a condiment.

My mail is certainly spreading the love. People are so excited to get mail. I am loving it!

They tested everyone at mom's today. Hoping for a second negative.

Was resting, happy that the unpleasant kitchen cleaning was over & done with.

Then Scooter did a "Scarf & Barf".
So, I had to get up and clean that up. :(

Told him I was NEVER going to feed him again.
So he started peeking over the back of the couch hunting me.
Tossed toys for him to catch and we both had fun.

Got into shower and Steven was pacing around outside the door the whole while I was in there. :(
He monopolizes the bathroom and feels I have no right to lock him out, away from his favorite seat.

Been dark and windy all day with a 2% chance of rain.

Alright...

I have cleaned up the kitchen ;p

Didn't take too awfully long but I resented every second of doing it.

Sympathetic cyber ((((HUG)))) Subclinical

What a shame the kids all played hooky.

Glad Mr/Mrs Fox has not returned today and hoping it's gone on down the road now.

No more goodies makes it even harder to face this sunless day.
Make sure to add goodies to the grocery list, they are important.


Moving very slowly today...
Still determined to clean the kitchen, sometime today.
The pissant bait traps I have put out everywhere in the yard near the house are working well.
Only way I have found to keep them out of the house.

Today is not my day.

I got an angry note from a parent

And none, not one, of my little kids showed up for class after lunch.

And the sun went away. And I finished all my Mother's Day goodies.

But I have not seen the fix today.

Good Morning Everybody

HELLO CRITICALMASS

Hi Subclinical
That must have been fun for the students LOL ;D
We have Foxes here too and they are beautiful creatures.
Hope your Fox learned that you are watching and moves on.

Good luck getting the barrel fired projects ready for show&tell.
What a nice way to end the class.


Cold, cloudy and windy this morning.
Nothing needs watering especially since it is cold again.
Made a mess of the kitchen last evening, said "I don't care" and just left it.
Will clean that up today.
Need to quit falling into apathy because that just leads to even more apathy.
Mailed off my mail in ballot. Most of the people running for office I'd never heard of so I did not vote for them.

Coffee clinks!

Tatoulia, amazing work!

I think cleaning one's home for cleaners is silly. Unless you are trying to do the part you don't mind because you want them to be able to do specific things in a certain amount if time - picking up for vacuuming for example.

I am glad you are free of that storage unit!

I have had many things interrupt my classes, but yesterday was a new one. In the middle of language arts, I looked out the window and had to say "excuse me a minute. I'm sorry, but I need to go chase a fox out of my yard before it eats my chickens." Six minutes later the barn was closed up and the fox was run off. The kids were very amused.

The fox was young and beautiful, but I hope it moves on! I had a momma fox use my flock to teach her cubs to hunt one year, and it was not pretty. Too bad foxes don't prefer rats.

I barrel fired my student's work yesterday. It was fun. Hopefully I will be able to get the barrel unloaded this morning so I can wash them during class and show them to everybody. Then they will get packed up so that each kid can get their own back on Wednesday.

7 more days of online school, but this is the last wednesday I teach pottery. Next Wednesday will just be them picking up their stuff and then at the end of the day, my Dungeons and Dragons group.

The Pansies look so cheerful on the window ledge.

Your building has such amazing features, a real classic.

Your cleaners already know how much you need them.
If not for them you would not have a fresh clean house like you do now.
Remember, they helped so much helping you reclaim it after you decluttered enough to let them come in.

This sorting out of old papers is what The Gentle Art Of Swedish Cleaning is about.
Keeping what still has purpose or meaning, gifting others with some things you know they would appreciate.
Bringing down the amount to a well curated tidy little collection of what you want to bring into the future with you.


When Scooter first came to me he was so tiny and extremely ill, temporarily blinded by eye infection.
Not yet weened, undernourished and needing bottle feedings.
But he had such a life force!
He planned to conquer the world and destroy everything in it.
He quickly learned that I had what he wanted, food and understanding of his viciousness.

Going to bed now. Took an anti anxiety pill. Did a bit more shredding. Have the keepers put back. So much easier now. I still have quite a bit to get through or move before the cleaners. But they are used to me and they are good to me.

I was able to put my TP stash on the shelves in my closet!!

I wrote a number of cards tonight. I'm enjoying my mailings! Who distant like mail?

I shredded a giant packet of documents from when I closed on my mortgage in 2003. No need to keep. I have the discharge and it's been recorded so no need to keep.

Stuff from high school -cards, letters, poems- I shredded after barely skimming. Nothing to be done. I noticed I was loved and that felt terrific. I hated high school and was terribly depressed yet I was loved. Didn't find anything from any boyfriend, just stuff from girlfriends. I did have a boyfriend. I had trouble letting go when he dumped me. Then my family moved. He visited a few times but I don't know when or where our last conversation was. He was big into drugs and I had no interest. Today I'd walk away cleaner and with better clarity.

Okay off to bed. Thank you for your support. I'm so pleased with myself! Will have more to do but not now. Will take a break. Plus there are bits of shredded paper everywhere and once cleaners have cleaned, I'm going to want to keep everything tidy. I can work on donations and other things. Just not shredding. Or only enough to fill it once. It was the multiple transfers to the garbage bag.

I know other people clean for their cleaners. I like having my cleaners know that I need them.

Tilie I really appreciated having you here today. I didn't feel so isolated.

I love how your feral cat is so needy with you.

What sweet little memories you have been finding in Narnia. ;)

Hope those panic attacks leave you alone (((HUG)))
Meditation has helped me greatly, no more night terrors.

YEA! for all you bagged up there!
That donation bag can wait to be put in the car.

With all these places wanting to open back up I do believe donation centers will be taking in goods very soon.

It should be very safe to donate but I worry about too many people filling the shops.
People like Steven who have been suffering from not being able to buy at thrift shops to feed their addiction monkey.

I found it satisfying to window shop dresses online with no intention of buying anything.

That is so sweet the way you have been reaching out to people with your little saved mementos.
Keeps you connected in very special ways.
Especially precious during these trying days.

I went up to visit BF for a bit. A friend of ours sent him a card here. I took it up to him and hung out for a while. I started to panic and came home and called mom. I just had a delicious tuna sandwich on toast with pickles and if was very tasty.

Going to go back to shredding for a bit. It overheated earlier. I am amazed at how I feel.

I got a giant bag of recycling out. I have a donation bag but will hide it in the closet for now. It needs to go to the car but I was feeling overwhelmed and didn't want to drag it up there tonight. I wasn't feeling that great emotionally and felt I was accomplishing enough by getting the giant recycling bag out.

I found a letter from my grandparents on my father's side. What a treat. They loved me a lot.

My friend received that old fax I found and she said, what a hoot! See for the price of a stamp I'm having the best time. And then she can toss. I found some stuff from my second Japan trip so I may send that to the girlfriends I traveled with.

Did I mention I found the adoption papers from the cat my mom got me when I was 17? Fantastic cat. So I sent the paper to my mom and told her how much I appreciated that she got that cat for me. He was a good friend to all of us.

Yesterday the weather was nice until afternoon when the winds started raging through.
It got cold over night and is cool today.
Predicted lows this week are 40 degrees and highs of 70 degrees.

The winds are raging out there again today.

Hoarding is such a mind boggling disorder.
400 dollars a month just to keep things you did not use, need or even want but felt compelled to hold onto.
So very, very proud of how far you've come ((((HUG))))

And that's not just storage but your home, finances and lifestyle too.

It makes me so happy that you are enjoying the results even though the actual doing has been extremely hard.


Twinkles has one tooth LOL and he gets into relentless vomiting spells. He has very long fur and sheds even after I spend an hour brushing him.
Scooter is insanely wild and not at all domesticated.
He has always been a challenge and that's why I could not adopt him out.
People would not put up with a cat that hunts and attacks them, but we have come to an agreement.
He is very attached and dependent on me and would find it too hard to adapt to others.

As sad as it is, you will be doing the cats a favor. Believe me, no one would take my nearly 16 year old, nearly toothless, vomiting cat. And I don't want her going to a cat hoarder. So you are making the responsible and ethical choice

Tillie you won't believe how much I'm doing. It's all lifting off of me. I cannot believe it. What a gift.

Some of the checks stubs I was just shredding included the $ toward my storage space. Nearly 400 a month. Can you imagine? And I kept nothing. Nothing. And you all got me to that place.
And will you take a look at where we are going today?!? So much going on here!!!

Thank You Tatoulia (((((HUG)))))

I won't do anything with Twinkles and Scooter until I get fever and breathing difficulties.


WAY TO GO!
You are doing such a FANTASTIC job there!
I know all this decision making is hard
if it weren't you would have done it a long time ago.
So glad and relieved that the discomfort is lifted as soon as you make the decision.

It is very freeing, enjoy the feelings of freedom.

Tillie you are never a bother. And I love twinkles and scooter and I am glad you are planning for them, too. I know when I feel that I don't have long, all I worry about is my little one. Of course BF will take her but that's not the point. I either want her to be with him or not at all. She throws up and sleeps too much and the thought of her being abused or neglected makes me crazy.

I think you are planning. And I hope you aren't considering doing it right away but I will support you every bit of the way. You love them too much to leave them to suffer.

I love you too, Tillie.

I'm doing it. I'm getting rid of stuff. I'm not even reading all of the letters and cards. I'm just letting them go to the shredder. I have a donation bag, too. Stuff I don't want to get rid of but during fit into my life.

The discomfort during the decision making process is lifted the second the decision is made. This is fantastic.

I have way too much stuff.

Interesting: I have yet to find anything that I'm happy about finding. Nothing. Some of the things I'm a little worried where they will end up. But then I remember that's not the test for keeping something.

It's hard but I'm doing it

Good Morning?

WTG! Subclinical!
Wonderful work you did with that little one!
May she continue to grow straight and strong (((HUG)))

Enjoy your sunny rainless day.

Hi Tatoulia
How sweet the two of you talked about all the things you will do together when it's safe (((hug)))
Take care and don't over do. Chart your vitals and hopefully the doctor will be able to make a quick fix.

HELLO CriticalMass


Deep depression, overwhelming despair.
I may as well not even bother trying to not get sick since he is so hell bent on killing me.
As of yesterday the county has listed one more positive bringing the total up tp 6 positives.
Most all those people he was exposed to yesterday were from Reno where there are a lot more positive virus cases and they evidently aren't bothering to quarantine themselves.
Only bright spot in my life is that I did my Swedish cleaning and have made out my will and have it on file at the courthouse.
But what about Scooter and Twinkles?
Scooter is too feral and Twinkles has some medical issues, nobody would take them.
I will have to try to have them euthanized so they would not suffer.
I really should just keep this thinking all to myself and not bother any of you with any of it.
Sorry.

SubC thank you for forgiving my distracted self. Yay for the twins (goats, not people).

I have a 2:00 video conference today. I would like to see if I can get to the grocery store for mom today. It's bright and sunny and it would be good to get out. That said, thinking about walking these days makes me tired. I don't know if it's because I am wearing a mask or if I am having trouble with my heart or breathing. My oxygen level is good and right where it should be. But I'll continue monitoring today along with pulse and blood pressure so I have something concrete to discuss with dr.

Ok I have more papers to shred and I want everything out of here and away by the time the cleaners come tmr. I've done a lot and I'll focus on that instead of what remains.

Coffee clinks!

Good morning.

Tatoulia, that cake sounds delicious!

The kids I talked to yesterday were the ones I gave birth to. I only saw one if my students briefly.

Here is some happy news. I have been waiting because I was nervous, but one of my first freshers who is a great little goat gave birth to twin girls on Mother's Day! It was a difficult birth, late at night (which is part of why I was so exhausted.) I had to reach in around the shoulder of the firstborn and pull one of her legs forward so she could come out, and I think she had a minor injury to her other shoulder (mom pushed her out before I could reposition the other leg) so she wasn't able to get her head up at the right angle to nurse. I've been assisting her (another reason I've been short on sleep) but this morning she did it all by herself!

Finally sunny today. I'm trying to get a little work done before school.

Honestly Tillie. I don't even know what to say. I am so angry at him. I am really upset.

You seemed to bounce back. I too like looming at things and not buying them. Good idea to put a few cat things in your imaginary shopping cart!!!

Mom and I spend a lot of time talking about what we will do when we can finally spend time together. We know that first I'll get after her about the state of her place. Then I'll put it back together then I'll hold the kitty line she's a little potato bug and then we'll gossip.

She loved her tiny chocolate cake. It's covered in a very rich chocolate ganache so she hasn't eaten much of it.

Garbage out. Didn't get the recycling out because it started to pour. But I can get that out anytime.

Glad you spoke with your students, SubC. I bet that's fun looking at baby things!!!

Oh Tillie. I have no words. So much horribleness.

I like your shopping day. I have fun checking out my dd's registry. So many cute baby things! I am already thinking about what I will get for Christmas if she doesn't get it at her shower.

It was cold and windy and sleeted a little on my pick up today. Only one student, otherwise just parents. Didn't get All the things done I planned to do while I waited because I was so cold, but some of them.

I was so exhausted when I got home I took a nap.

Talked to all three of my kids today. Now I'm going to bed. Still really tired in spite of my nap.

Did something fun today.
Went online and window shopped dresses.
Saw so many pretty ones I would like to wear.
Did not buy anything, just looked.

Also made up a wish list/shopping list of all sorts of nice things.
I keep adding to the list as I think of things.
Totally frivolous things.

Scooter added a cat perch/scratch post to the list that he'd like to have.

Lovely, just lovely...

He went over to his dead friend's house and spent many hours there.
No reason on earth for him to go there.

Anyways...
The dead man's wife was fighting with the man's adult son who is the rightful legal heir and his wife and the 6 adult grand sons and the adult grand daughters and the 10 year old grand daughter.
The Sheriff was called by the dead man's wife who wants to have a yard sale and sell everything including all the dead man's family heirlooms.
She has no right to dispose of his items, they belong to the son.

So Steven was inside a house with ALL these people who were yelling at each other.
Three deputies I think brought the total number of people there up to 20.

Then after spending 7 hours there
Steven came home.
Came inside where I live and started ranting about everything that was going on there, touching things and touched Scooter.

He had NO reason to go there.

So now I consider myself "unclean" "Contaminated".

Thank you very much Steven. >:(

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Wishing you a pleasant and productive day at the school today.


Hi Tatoulia
Very sorry you are still feeling "off".
Happy you will be contacting your doctor.

WTG! and good luck with all your plans for today!


Since I have absolutely no faith in that hospital, I too am concerned about the accuracy of that covid19 test.
Steven gets black out drunk EVERY night out in his hoarded garage, has been doing that for well over a decade now.
He goes out there because I do not allow alcohol in the house or allow him to smoke in here either.
Out there he makes the rules.

I don't waste my time talking to or listening to drunks so he knows better than to try talking to me when he's been drinking.
So he must sit out there and cry all alone.

Really hoping that now without his main source of misinformation Steven might get a clue as to the reality of the situation.
This virus attacks the body in different deadly ways that science is just now learning about.
Without his friend, maybe Steven will not leave home as often as he has been and putting MY life at risk.
Statistics show that men over 60 with diabetes like his friend was are at higher risk of death.
Steven is over 60 with a whole laundry list of some very serious health problems.
His alcoholism is the main contributing factor for his prediabetes.
Time before last when he was released from hospital the nurse informed me that he had a diagnosis of heart failure with a life expectancy of 3 to 5 years.
He never follows doctors orders about anything, not even how to properly take his medications.
If it had not been for my medical background knowledge he would have died at home already many times over.
I am so tired, weary to my very soul.


Never mind...
Very cool morning here but expected to warm up as the day goes on.
But much cooler overall temps expected all the rest of the week.

Cats and I will go out and water the garden & grass when it is warmer out.
Lots of cloud cover today, couldn't see the sunrise.

Jack came by last evening and said he needed lots of pettings so I petted him lots.
Cowgirl came by later and asked for a snack so I gave her a cat snack.
Scooter has been extra affectionate and Twinkles has been excessively napping, says he's bored.

I do worry when people get drunk, Tillie. I get a bit scared for you.

SubC I know these are trying times for you. I do hope the drop off goes well for you.

Cm just checking in on you!

Bright and sunny here today. I still don't feel like myself so I am keeping track of my vitals and will get in touch with dr on Wednesday once I have some data for him. I'm not dizzy but I'm not quite myself either.

Well today is do or die on my paper project. The parts I e pulled out of the closet need to be reckoned with today. It is trash night. And I want to put my house back together before the cleaners get here on Wednesday. So I'll put some music on and get this done.

I'm have a pretty good day at work. Lots to be done. I am going to have blueberries on my whole grain waffle now. So tasty!

Tillie,

I am sorry. What an awful thing to happen. I am hoping that his test was not a false negative! I know Steven's coping behavior us unhealthy, but I understand it.

Tatoulia, I hope you are feeling all better now.

I go to school fir parents to drop stuff off today. Only three are supposed to pick anything up and they have been reliable, so hopefully they will come.

Hello Tatoulia

Please feel all better.
Hoping that water is the best medicine (((HUG)))

Maybe eat some bananas for the potassium.
I've been eating 2 a day since I went grocery shopping and still have 2 left for tomorrow.

I've been drinking a lot because I have been hot and it's so dry here.
But with the cooler working now I no longer have to be hot. :)

I think I drink almost a gallon every day.

Bet your Mom was tickled to receive her gifts. :D

Steven is crying and getting drunk out in his hoarded garage.

I did not expect that ending. Oh how terrible. That is absolutely terrible. I'm so sorry. What a very said story.

I woke up today and the room was spinning. I'm wondering if I didn't drink enough water yesterday. I also felt very dizzy this afternoon and slept after I streamed the broadway Mother's Day concert. Then I had a good hour-long talk with a friend.

I dropped off mom's new nighties and her chocolate cake and a few other goodies today. Sunny and cool.

I'm forcing the liquids tonight. My oxygen is good and my blood pressure is also good. I generally drink an ungodly amount of water each day and I'm just not doing it. I'm hoping that is all it was. We shall see what tomorrow brings.

Happy Mother's Day to all. SubC I am glad you had some visits and some goodies. I keep wondering if I truly quarantine for two weeks If they'd let me visit my mom. I know the answer has to be no. I just want a few hours to putter in her place and play with the kitty and watch tv.

Well one more glass of water and I'm off to bed. Back to work tomorrow for me.

Well...
Last week Steven's friend had a fever and general aches.
His wife does not drive so she called an ambulance to take him to the deadly little hospital here.
He was there only one day, diagnosis pneumonia.
Was given meds and released to home.
His covid19 test was negative.
He and Steven talked daily and saw each other often.
Yesterday he was feeling well enough to do a little weed eating and made plans with Steven to get together today and BBQ some steaks.
This morning he was feeling feverish again and took an ambulance into the hospital here at his wife's insistence.
She is known to local authorities for being overly hysterical and delusional.
He forgot his phone and arranged for Steven to bring it to him so Steven did.
Steven spoke with him on the phone, he sounded good.
Nothing more than being irritated at being in there again.
A 70 year old man with diabetes well under control, no heart issues or other known disorders.
Well...

He is dead now.

I told you all that that hospital kills people.
People young and old.

Steven is really broken up and lost, he's just lost his best friend.
So suddenly and it does not make any sense.

Was doing a few little tasks, going in & out the back door then the front door.
After I took the trash out I came back in through the front door and there was a very HUGE Bumble Bee wanting out of the house NOW!!!

Almost knocked me down as it rushed past me.

Have no idea when or what door it came in through.

Scooter was hiding but peeking and keeping an eye on the Bumble Bee.
He looked scared but fascinated by it. :D

And that's the highlight of my day...

Subclinical
I am so very proud of your Mother for doing the Swedish cleaning.

Doing mine has made a huge difference in my life, not really physically but mentally emotionally.

We all have things and the longer we have lived the more we seem to have.
Seasons change and so do we.
Letting go of the things we once wanted, needed and used but have no use for any longer frees us from the obligation to care for/store the things and allows us to pass them along to others who could use them now rather than getting them later.

The Swedish cleaning is a joyful process and leaves us free to go into the future with a glad heart.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
Your flower boxes sound lovely :D
When I grew Pansies before I found the more I picked the blooms the more they would develop more blooms.
Had little Pansy bouquets all around the house and still a flower bed full of blooms.

The gifts you gave are so much more special than anything you could have store bought to send.

Keep playing the music and dancing the clutter away (((HUG)))


Hi Subclinical
Yes, the weather has been crazy in a lot of places.
Sorry for any lost plants.

Happy you had a distance visit! D:
Enjoy all your nice yummies.

Two weeks of not golfing would be such a small price to pay for admittance to hold the baby.
Rain, rain, rain please rain!

What a wonderful sight you had of the Deer :D
I noticed while Deer hunting that the Deer would just stand on one little hill unafraid as I stood on a hill right next to them.
But again, I never shot Deer and they seem to know. No need for me to get one since my father and brothers got us enough meat.


Stayed up late last night watching "Dark Shadows".
Slept in this morning.
Last night I washed 2 loads of laundry and hung them on the line.
This morning I brought it all in nicely dry, folded it and put it away.
Had also washed a load of my clothes and hung them in my room. Put them all away this morning too.

Been so nice today turning on the cooler when it gets too warm in here and then turning it off once the temp gets down, keeping it at around 74 degrees.

I would love to go shopping/browsing just to get away from his insane conspiracy rantings when he's here.
But I will stay home and behave.
Won't even internet shop/browse.

Hi Tatoulia,

It sounds like things are going really well for you. It makes me smile. And you are not only lifting people's spirits, you are helping the post office. The post office is very important to me.

CM, I hope that you get your van fixed. It is ok if you don't work on the storage unit for a while. You have made progress in the house, and if you just keep focusing on the house, the storage unit will be easier when you do get to it because you will have space to put things.

Tillie, I am so glad you have your cooler set up now. And your roses to enjoy.

We had another hard frost Friday night - so crazy!

Yesterday Dd1 and dsil came out to walk in the woods with the dog again. They left me "Mother's Day" cookies on the porch. :) ds and ddil mailed me brownies, So I have many goodies to eat today! I also have a package to open from dd2, but she said not to open it until today, so I will do that soon.

I did not send my mother anything because there is nothing that she needs and she has been Swedish cleaning the house during quarantine. My brother sends her flowers, but my father is a gardener, and In spring and summer, her house is always full of beautiful flowers.

I will call her later and ask her if my brother remembered to put my name on the flowers this year. It is a running joke.

When Dd was here yesterday we had a nice long "standing far apart in the yard conversation" she says that if I will ACTUALLY quarantine for two weeks after the baby is born, then I can come over and come in the house and hold him. But I can't go into the school building or pick up pizza and Dh has to work from home and not play golf. Dh says that he has to play golf because He signed up for golf league and they play every Tuesday and if he skips his team will lose. This is going to be a fight. I complain about the rain, but right now I hope it will pour every Tuesday in July and August.

There is a small ravine in my yard. Right now I am looking out the window and two deer are standing on the far side staring back at me.(The ravine is too big for deer to jump, so I think they feel safe even though it is close to the house.)

8 more days of video school.

Ps bought two window boxes already planted with purple and yellow pansies. They look really cheerful.

In a few weeks I'll swap out and plant geraniums or petunias. Or both.

Thanks, Tillie! I am a great deal happier when accomplishing things! The things sent to friends and family were basically pieces of paper or pictures, so nothing that will burden them. The gift to a coworker was a pair of gloves. A little late in the season but maybe not? It's been pretty cold here!

A cookbook to someone who wanted a good recipe for falafel, an article for someone who wants to buy a cheap piece of used furniture and upgrade it, etc. that sort of stuff. Great fun to pass it along.

I am going to climb into bed now. Laundry folded and put away, dishwasher is humming along.

I have more to take care of tmr. Tillie if I just put the music in, it is magically motivating for me.

Hi Tatoulia
You sound like you are doing really good :D

Happy, content and doing fun things like gifting people with lovely gifts.

WAY TO GO! keeping on with those papers!!!
There will be an end to them someday. ;)

Your dinner sounds delicious and very healthy too.

Your Mom will be so pleased with the cake and new nightgowns.

Please stay happy (((hug)))
YEA! for doing dishes and laundry!

Hello everyone!


Cm it must be so frustrating to wait on the mechanic. I'm thrilled about the good news for your roommate (meaning getting her treatments and appts) and for your cousin. I hope you'll be able to get back to the storage place. I understand the terrible sleep. I've been better lately, thankfully.

I had an honest to goodness decent dinner tonight. Bf and I went to my favorite grocery store downtown and I got salmon and squash and green beans. What a satisfying meal I just had. We picked up a little cake for Mother's Day for mom. Also two of her nightgowns came in and I'll have those for her tomorrow.

Yay for the cooler!!!! Yay!!!

Bright, sunny, very windy today. I worked on papers and got together multiple envelopes and packages to send. We went to the big post office at South Station. We waved to my office building as we drove past.

I may have mentioned that I found something from a European trip I took in 1990. I was in grad school and I always took summer classes. So I took my exam and boarded a flight to Paris to meet up with my girlfriend and her mother. Well I mailed the souvenir to my friend and she said 30 years just melted away and that it took her breath away. I told her I have two so today I sent her mother the other one. I had settings me clippings for other friends and a gift I'd gotten for a co-worker to celebrate her birthday. I also found some things about my grandparents which I sent to my sister. I found the world's funniest fax, which a co-worked once stole off the fax machine (circa 1999) and which had provided us endless amusement. She's retired now so I sent it to her in Florida. So I was getting rid of stuff and shredding and writing cards and notes. All in all, I mailed about 17 things today. One of the envelopes that I reused had a 1980 postmark on it.

I am getting through my papers!!! Look at me!! And I'm brightening people's days!

I'm running the dishwasher and I'm doing some laundry. I should do more paperwork but not sure I will. I'm very happy about all of this.

Turned the cooler on.
It works.

Had left the plastic coverings I put over the vents last Autumn on to help keep the dust contained while I ran the cooler this first time.
Then I turned it off, removed all the plastic coverings.
Then I removed and washed the vent covers, they were quite dirty.

He evidently went grocery shopping today because he just returned with some grocery bags full.
He never asks me if he could pick anything up for me or even says goodbye, whatever.
So when I was at the store last week and saw somethings he had been complaining he could not find, I did not buy him any.
The fresh corn on the cob was one item. (evil grin :)
He always insists on shopping at the safeway that is dirty and dark and stinks of old seafood and dead mice.
Most all the items on the shelves are outdated too.
Many here believe safeway sends all their unwanted rejects & expired things to this store.
I go to the clean well lit WallyWorld that doesn't stink and has lots of fresh produce and items in date.

Hi CriticalMass
Glad you got some sleep and wish you many more hours without bad dreams.

With Roommate's unknown schedule and restrictions it is impossible for you to make any big plans right now.
She may need you right there often until this is all over with. (((HUG)))

Please tell that mechanic why you need to have your van fixed NOW.
That you NEED it to take care of her and do everything for the both of you NOW.
Maybe he will have some compassion for the two of you.

You stay safe and please be easy on yourself (((HUGS)))

Hi

Hope the cooler works well for you, Tillie.

I got extremely sleep deprived, frazzled, moody, and cranky this week. Cumulative stress no doubt. Last night I finally got a longer stretch of sleep, though some of it was marred by the usual icky dreams. But it's a start. If I can get some more solid sleep like that, I may transform back into a human being from a she bear.

Did I tell you that my cousin got into rehab and is doing PT, OT, and speech therapy? Hopefully this means the scariest parts of her experience are behind her.

We still have several rainy days ahead. Not an uncommon pattern for May here. My roommate can't lift over 10 pounds for 5 weeks, so that puts a dent in her yard work. Her sister and I the other day had started clearing out overgrown weeds and volunteer trees in the garden beds. I'm going to finish that up.

Also I go along evenings to hold the leash of the dog when he needs walked. He has been good about not jumping and lunging; we'll manage. Seems like it's been easier now to avoid run ins with other dogs. I think that one time we had trouble, "everybody and their dog" was out - spring fever maybe.

I honestly don't know if I'll lose this entire spring for putting the storage unit to rights or not. It is sad even to think about it. But there may be time to do some, so I won't try to come to a premature conclusion. I may be willing to endure the summer heat if that's what it takes. I could get one of those big camping jugs and fill it with ice water.

Next week we should know more what roommate's timeline with treatments looks like. And dare I hope I can get my mechanic going on that gasket! I haven't wanted to call him until Monday or Tuesday because the doctor appts and my holy hour resuming are those days.

I get so stressed and irritated when he promises to have work completed by like an hour before I have to be somewhere, like my holy hour! I hate being on pins and needles. If this pandemic has taught me anything, it's that we don't need to let people and situations put us in a bind like that if there's a strategy available to circumvent it.

I would like to have it done, and paid for so I know the cost. And so the oil leak is fixed before it worsens. But a few days is not going to make or break.

Everybody stay safe and I pray we'll have calm and peace of mind.

Good Morning

Another cool morning and will get into the 80s by this afternoon.
Nothing pressing or time sensitive needs doing today.
Once it warms up a little I will turn on the cooler and see if it really works.
Then wash the vent covers.
My allergies are in full force now with the dust and blooming pollinating things.
The evaporative cooler tends to filter the incoming air and will help.

Cats and I went out and watered this morning.
Scooter behaved and stayed in the yard.
Collected more yellow Rose petals to add to the pretty bowl.

I made my 3 bean salad but used 6 different kinds of beans.
Cleaned the kitchen.
Finishing up watering the grass right now.

Tomorrow I will check to see if he really did get the cooler all set up.
If so I will wash the vents after I let the cooler run a little to blow the dust out of the mechanism.

Good Morning Everyone
"Clink!"

50 degrees in here this morning but should get up to about 80 later today.

The cats and I plan to go out and water a few things when it's not so cold.

Looking forward to feasting on fresh produce throughout the day. :D

Need to wash some dishes and run the vacuum.

Since this whole pandemic started
my county has only done those 248 tests.
And only on people who had a fever, cough or the sniffles.

It will be so interesting to see the results now that they will test 42 people Tuesdays and Thursdays.
People who just want to be tested even without any symptoms.

Seems negligent that this county has not had more tests available before now.

Hi Subclinical
Thank You

Great tentative plans for getting and delivering the crib. :D

I am relieved that your administration has communicated with you.
Not knowing anything is stressful.

I would like every place to keep the safeguards in place even if they do reopen the counties/towns/cities.

Distance from other people, fewer people in any place at any one time, curbside pick up and most of all wearing face masks.
I want to continue doing this.
But I hold out no hope people won't gather together in crowds or violate our personal space when we have to go out.
Like what happened to Tatoulia with that creepy pervert.

I could not do curbside pick up because I had no idea what the store had and some produce was not very appetizing so if I ordered it I may not want to eat it.
Last time I had shopped I just bought whatever they had on the shelves, making substitutions and trying things/brands I never ate before and I was able to last a month on it.

Soon, very soon the farmer's markets should be up & running with all their fresh fruit and vegetables.

This is today's entry on the county's public health website...

May 7: 248 tests, 212 negatives, 31 pending. The 5 previous positives are broken down as: 2 positives, 1 death and, happily, 2 recoveries. No new positives as of this date.