whew!!!!

I finished, sort of, not sure how 

    I have one section to finish mulching tomorrow.

    Yes, I should have finished today, but things happen.

    I got up at 7:30.  Lay back down with the ice pack on my back for a while, but was up, showered, and sat down to eat breakfast and read the paper.

    I planned to be outside by 12:30.  Planned.

    At 12:30 I felt a little tired, so I set my I phone alarm for 45 minutes and sat in my chair with my eyes closed.

    At some point Jackie called me and asked me to bring her some lunch.

    I got up and the Cubs were scoreless.....in the sixth inning!!

    It was 2:30!!  I slept for 2 hours.  I never hit start on the alarm!!!

    I got her lunch, game moved into the seventh, got a sandwich for myself and sat down to watch the eighth inning....and then the ninth.  By the time I went out it was after 3:30.

    I did finish one side of the front.  The larger side.

    Tomorrow I have to mulch the smaller side and then start around the trees, but I hope to be done with it all tomorrow.

    Unless I take another nap, which is always possible.

    Renee and Wendy came over for pizza, so Julia, Emily, Jackie and I had a nice visit, good pizza and great dessert.

    And even though it is 10 p.m., I feel wide awake.  

    Wonder if I could do some mulching before I hit the hay?  

    Probably not...the noise of the mower would irritate my neighbors.

    I did hear some fireworks go off a short while ago.  Why anyone would want to shoot those off on a quiet June night is beyond me.

    That's another funny thing about our country.  You can buy assault rifles, mortar type fireworks but not Lawn Darts.   Those are too dangerous.

    Ponder. that.

Peace and Love

I saw this laying in the grass when I was mulching.....

=

I have no idea how I did it.  Seriously!

well, I tried

 I almost finished the bushes 

    But Beth had a groomer's appointment at 2, so I had to take her there.

    I did not want to rake and final trim before then.  because I would get dirty.

    So I took a nap at noon.

    I had some errands to run, including paying taxes on the house and our lot, going to the store, stopping for coffee at Cypress House, the usual.  I did those after dropping off Beth.

    When I got home it was almost 3:30, and the groomer said about 2 hours, so it did not make sense to go out and work for 30 minutes.  So I played solitaire.

    I went to get Beth at 4, but the grooming took longer than usual, so I read in the car and on the porch at Dachies until I finished the book.  By the way, she looks great.

    Digressions:  Beth sometimes has a rather large nervous poo when at the groomers.  Frequently they have to rewash her.  I did not ask.  And I finished a book by Donna Leon called Wandering Through Life.  Not what I expected, but a good read.  Need to get Backstage next.  I did not know she is over 80......and still writing.  I think.

    Got Beth home about 4:45 and decided to rest for a few minutes.

    At 5:30 (I define few as less than 200 of anything, minutes or Oreos. ) I finally went out to rake the bushes, pick up the clippings, and re-trim  parts I missed.

    At about 6:15 a raindrop hit me and I decided that was a sign to put all the stuff away.  I think it was a raindrop.  Do birds pee?

    Ordered from ElSol tonight.  I was impressed when the young man asked if I wanted plastic ware with my order.  Usually places just throw it in.  I hate plasticware.

    Since we were having Mexican, I enjoyed a margarita at home.  This was one of the little bottles passed out on the Jimmy  Buffet tour Emily and I took in Key West in January.  I kept calling it a daiquiri, which would make the song wasting away again in daiquirivile, which makes no sense.

    If I leave my house and go down Skare Road to Kyte Road, then Center Road to 38 I can make it downtown in 8 minutes, not excessively speeding.

    Coming home, through town, it takes me 11 minutes.  Again, not speeding.  

    That is not interesting  to anyone but me.

    So tomorrow, I have about 428 jobs to avoid.  I will start by avoiding the mulch.  I intend to do a rain dance early and often.

    After all, we need the rain.  And I need naps.

Peace and Love

a little off the top

 I would make a lousy barber

    "Trim the bushes," she said.

    We have a number of boxwoods in front of the house.  15, if my back is counting accurately.

    Over the past 2 days I have trimmed them.

    But, an d here is the big butt: I have a vision issue.

    Nothing appears in a straight line.

    Hang a  picture?  Crooked.  Draw a line with a ruler?  Actually, I can do that.

    The shrubs in front of the porch area were not a problem.  I think they look fine.

    The ones in front of the garage?  

    I thought the ones on the right were higher than the ones on the left.  So I trimmed them agin..

    But hen the ones on the left look higher.  So I trimmed them, again.

    The right didn't look level, so I trimmed them.

    I now have boxwoods about 6 inches. tall.  That is considerably down from the 2 feet they were.

    Just kidding.  

    In reality, they look pretty even but the ones on the right are a little taller than the ones on the left.  But as I used to say, "Close enough for government work."

    I mowed today, but I honestly don't know why.  The grass was not that tall.

    The field next to us has a drainage ditch on the west side.  It is my property.  When Mike and Deb lived there, Mike mowed it.  In fact, he mowed a lot of the field.  I never complained.

    My mower has a pop up roll bar and a seat belt.  I have never used it until this year.  When I do the ditch I just feel safer with the roll bar up and the seat belt on.  If the mower rolls, I won't be tossed off and cut to shreds by the blades.

    Unfortunately, I did not take the. roll bar down when I mowed my yard.

    I was mowing under my red oak and as I turned I noticed a huge branch was broken.  My roll bar had caught it and snapped it. I was angry at myself for not thinking about the roll bar being up and the branch low.

    I went out with a saw and finished the job.

    I just hope the tree wasn't traumatized and that it doesn't attempt to run away when I approach it again at warp speed.

    Tomorrow I will recheck the bushes and make sure my trimmer is charged.  Just in case.

Peace and Love

common cents

 Sometimes I am irrational

    I know that is no surprise to most of you.

    Usually it is odd that I am rational!

    Jackie ordered some tops.  They came in. the mal and did not fit.

    We can return them, but I know it will cost a few dollars to do that.

    There are free returns at the store.  There is a store in the St.Charles/Geneva area.  

    She had a doc appointment in Sycamore, followed by pedicures in Sycamore and I figured the store would only be about a 20 mile drive and we could just go there and return them.

    That's the irrational part of me.

    I got to thinking:  We get 20 mpg on the van.  It will take 2 gallons of gas for us to get there and back.  Gas is about $3 a gallon here, sosit would cost us $6 or so.

    And the time would be maybe an extra hour to our errand running.

    The rational me said, "Let's just mail the tops back."

    It may cost a few bucks more, but it may also  balance out.

    Plus, Emil or Julia may  be headed in that direction in. the next week or two and they can return them without going out of their way.  I hope.

    So there.

    Rational.

    But, here us something irrational.

    When we are in DeKalb/Sycamore I often stop at the Starbucks by Target.

    I did so today.

    I went in and placed my order:  half caf vanilla blond iced latte.

    As soon as I said its, the pretty young thing looked at me and said, "Are you Terry?"

    I had NOT scanned my card.  If I had been quick thinking I would have asked how she knew, but I didn't.

    So...did she know me?  If so, how?  Do I order that drink enough that by ordering it, they know who I am?

    Is there a facial recognition ap on the register?

    Inquiring minds want to know, but evidently not enough to ask.

Peace and Love

mulch madness

 I feel like I will be mulching forever

    I don't work veery fast.  Or for very long.

    Being the age I am I find it refreshing to work slowly and take breaks to rest.

    Which means I am on week 2 of spreading mulch.  And not close to being finished.

    I have done the sides and back of the house, now the front gets attention. 

    But before I mulch, I have to trim the bushes.  That takes a while.  Then I have to clean up the trimmings.  After that, I can spread mulch.

    After the front I do the trees.

    Not sure how much I will get done the rest of this week.  Jackie has a doctor appointment in DeKalb, then we are getting our nails done and running errands tomorrow.  I think rain is in the forecast for Thursday, but the weather changes so quickly it's hard to be sure.

    All I know is there are enough jobs to keep me busy for a long time.  Big jobs, little jobs, odd jobs. 

    What gets done, gets done, I guess.

Peace and Love

My alium is done

Coral bells pop with the mulch

Dianthus are blooming

The mulch just makes it neater looking..and yes, I finished the side.

I have 3 butterfly bushes.....but none of them show signs of life

a quiet day

 Not much to say about today

    Julia and Emily came over, so did Camryn and Sherie.

    I made ribs for the first time ever.  I'm not sure if I liked them.  

    We had other meats and salads too, so no one went hungry.

    For the most part it was a beautiful day.  

    I guess that is it for today.

Peace and Love

wake up time

 We slept until almost 10:30 today

    I guess I should have set the alarm.

    Beth never barked, in fact she was till on Julia's bed when I went in to get her.  (Julia doesn't live here anymore, but it will always be Julia's bed.  Emily's bed is downstairs.)

    My entire day was based on me getting out to finish planting the garden by 1.  That would give me time to get Jackie up and going, feed the dog, have some breakfast and go to the store to buy more tent stakes so I could  finish the garden.

    That plan went by the wayside.

    By the time I actually went out it was around 3.

    I looked everywhere for the tent stakes I lost before buying more.  When I got back from the store, I decided to look one more time.

    The back seat in the van was  folded down, so I put it upright and Voila!!!  The missing stakes.

    Luckily I kept the receipt from today so I can return them Tuesday.

    I did finish planting the garden.  I had more space than usual, because I only planted 2 sections of peas instead of 3 and 3 rows of beans instead of 4.  

    I also got my sprinklers set up so they will water automatically.  

    I am watering every 3 days for 30 minutes.  But I wonder if I should water 10 minutes a day.  That would provide consistent moisture, right?

    Maybe Google can tell me.

    I also got some mulching done but by 7 I called it quits because I was tired and hungry.

    Hopefully Tuesday and Wednesday I can finish mulching and do my amazing project, which almost no-one knows about.

    Have a happy Memorial Day.  

    When I was young, it seemed we paused at sometime in the afternoon and kept a moment of silence for the honored dead.  Guess that is passe.

Peace and Love

geez

 Things can certainly go south unexpectedly

    I made a list of things to do, in order of how I wanted to get them done.

        Finish mowing the yard

        Trimming

        Finish edging around the flower beds

        Take things to Julia's

        Finish planting the garden

        Mulch

    Everything went like clockwork, until it didn't.

    Before I left the house, Julia texted me and asked me to bring the fan from downstairs and my drill kit.

    I got to her house and when we unloaded the van, she asked where the fan Was.

    Crap.  It was at home with the drill kit.

    How could I have forgotten that?  I read the text just before I got in the car!

    Emily is going over tomorrow, and I think she is t taking the fan and drill kit.

    Stopped at a friend's house on the way home.  Learned she was attacked by a robin several times that morning.  Seems the bird has built a next above the light at heir back door.  There are at least 2 babies in the nest, so they don't want to knock it down.

    Went on my merry way and told Jackie I was going out to finish plating the garden.

    I could not finish Wednesday because I ran out of twine and stakes.  So I went to the store to buy twine and tent stakes to hold the twine in place so I can create rows of beans.

    I could not find the tent stakes.  I have the twine, but no stakes.

    By now it was 5:30 and I think Ace closes at 5.

    What is frustrating is not being able to find something.  Again.  

    I sat in the garage and looked around and felt overwhelmed by the cardboard, the tools, the clutter.  the chaos that is my life.  

    I really felt down in the dumps.

    It's not just the missing stakes. It's the constant misplacing of things, of putting them in the wrong place, of not finishing what I start.

    It is very frustrating for me.

    In an attempt to perk myself up, Jackie and I watched The Nonnas on Netflix.  I really enjoyed it. 

    And yesterday I had a huge mug of tea in the morning, a Starbucks in the afternoon, and a Pepsi at supper.

    Loaded on caffeine.

    Slept like a rock.

    Go figure.

Peace ad Love

memories

 Not all memories are good ones

    One year ago we lost Johanna Whitaker.  It was an unexpected death and left many of us asking why.

    Johanna's  favorite food place was Buffalo Wild Wings.  So tonight Emily, Camryn, us, and 14 or so friends  enjoyed a meal together in Johanna's memory.  Emily and Camryn appreciated the time with all those people.

    I think the people who sent Emily and Camryn messages today helped ease the pain of the death.  I know it still hurts them both deeply, and will hurt for many years.  I also know Emily and Camryn appreciated the messages of support and love.

    Although it has been one year, at times it feels like ten years and at other times if feels like yesterday.

Peace and Love

   

call me slim

 Whatever happened to nicknames?

    I don't mean the ones common today, like Tiny or Slim.

    But the old mobsters....like The Tuna, The Big Tuna, Scarface. Joey Sausage,e Joey Banana, Whack Whack.  Now, those were nicknames!

    There may have even been The Fish, but with all the tunas maybe that was just redundant.

    I remember a bank robber who was captured like 100 times... Named Willie Sutton. But Slick Willie and Willie the Actor were 2 of his nicknames.  And sure, he spent half his life in prison, but hey, he was Slick Willie!

    Sports nicknames seem a little tame too.  Kyle Tucker is King Tuck. 

    That doesn't compare to Joltin' Joe, Shoeless Joe, King Kong, The Lip, The Yankee Clipper, The Babe.....real nicknames that put a little spice into the game.

    Take the 1919 White Sox.  In addition to Shoeless Joe that had  Knuckles, Swede, Lefty, Sleepy Bill....names that had some oomph to them.  The even conspired with a gambler nicknamed Sport to throw the World Series.  

    The Galloping Ghost, Kansas Comet.  Mongo was a great nickname for Steve McMichael, but generally there are not a lot of outstanding nicknames in football today.

    I always wonder if I had a nickname, what would it be?

    Terrible Terry?  The Jokester?  

    Unless I become a sports star, or a mobster, I guess we will net know.

    I mean, Fats is taken.  

Peace and Love

    

blah

This was a pretty blah day

    Not only was the weather blah, I was blah!

    Before I went to  bed last night I ate a huge cookie Julia brought home from one of the markets on Saturday.

    Yes, I finished it along with a cup of decaf tea.

    But when I went to bed, it seemed there were 2 factions fighting for control of my stomach.  Neither were good guys.

    Tums did not help.  I took 4 of them 2 hours apart.

    I did not get much sleep.

    So today, when our help came, I snuggled into why chair and slept of a couple of hours.

    But I have no appetite.  I had tea for breakfast, 6 crackers and cheese for lunch, and finally plain spaghetti with cheese for supper.  Not exactly a solid nutrition day.

    I spent most of the day sitting.  I did go downstairs and play with Beth for a while, but not as long as she would have liked.

    Jen and Sam stopped and visited for a few minutes and got to watch the Beth experience as she raced into the house, around the coffee table and then out and around the yard.  Beth  does this 2 or 3 times and then stops to drop a load. 

    Luckily the rain made it impossible for me to work outside, although I could have used the time to organize my recycles out in the garage.  

    There's always tomorrow.  

Peace and Love

missed it

Today was recycling day for us

    The guy usually comes between 10:30 and 11.  

    Usually I take out the recycling when I pick up the empty trash can.

    Usually I go back out about 11and bring back the. recycling cans.

    Usually.  I used that a lot.

    It did not apply to today.

    Because:  Usually we don't sleep until 10:30!!!

    I got Jackie into the bathroom, Beth out the door, and hauled the recline out to the street.  By then it was 10:40 or so, but I had not seen nor heard the truck.

    As soon as I turned my back, the wind blew over a can and debris spread out all over the driveway.

    I picked it up and decided I will take it all back into the garage and watch for the truck.

    So I did.  Huge box of paper.  2 tubs of plastic and paper.  All ready to recycle.

    I sat at the kitchen table and worked a crossword puzzle and watched.  And waited.  And watched.

    We had dentist appointments at 1:30 today and it was now almost 11:30.  

    I assumed I missed him and jumped in the shower.

    When I got out of the shower, there he went.  Nothing I could do about it at that point.

    Honestly, I don't know any time Jackie has slept that late.  

    I also know the next time the recycles get picked up we will have a ton of stuff.  We have been eating a lot of fruit and the raspberries, blue berries, and strawberries all come in plastic containers.  There has to be a better packaging system.

    Our church had a fellowship dinner in Rochelle tonight, and I went.  Jackie did not because it was raining when it was time to go.  I think she would have been fine, because it had slowed by the time I got to the restaurant.

    It was a nice outing.  I just wish we could get to a service someday.

Peace and Love

odds and ends

Just not a lot of specifics for today 

    I put Beth's wet food in a separate dish and she eats it.  Then she eats the dry food.  Tonight she would not eat the dry food until I put the bowl in the middle of the floor, then she ate.

    Turned in my I Pass transformer for the new stickers.  The man next to me was doing the same thing and the person serving him went on this whole explanation of how it works and where to put the sticker.  My person said "Stick it in the window."  That was it.

    When I checked in all the stations were full, so they gave me a number.....11.  I looked at the 2 pretty young things staffing the counter and said, "Would you believe this is my age?"  They laughed at the old man in front of them.  Then I added, "Of course, some people say this is my IQ."  They laughed at that too.

    Jackie made me put the heat back on.  Said she was cold.  I am sweating bullets.  Although it might be the wine.

    Thank you Dan and Linda for telling me it was ok to open a bottle and drink it over 3 or 4 days.  I am on day 2.

    If it is not raining, Jackie and I are going out to dinner tomorrow.  If it is raining, I am going out to dinner and bringing her home food.

    I mulched the slope next to the driveway today.  That was not easy. I used my edger to create a clean edge, then loaded my yard cart twice with mulch.  Actually 3 times, but the last load I just put in the garage.  I guess it looks nice, but my shoulder and thumbs hurt. I think that is the largest area I have to edge and mulch.

    Hopefully tomorrow I will do a little more, but it may be raining.

    Tough loss for the Cubs tonight.  

    I did not know what 8647 meant until I looked it up.  I agree.

Peace and Love

dog issues

We are having a dog issue at our house 

    Maybe it was just today.  I don't know.

    I made Beth her usual breakfast..... half a cup of kibble and 2 tsps of wet food, in this case chicken and salmon.

    Which actually sounds pretty good.  I love chicken and salmon.  But I digress.

    I put water in it, set it on the floor and wished her a good breakfast.

    She went over, sniffed it, and walked away. She did this several times over the next hour.

    I finally dumped the food and put dry kibble in her bowl.

     Sh immediately ate the food!

    Huh, said myself.

    So tonight for supper, I put kibble in her bowl and put the wet food in a smaller dish. She ate the wet food.

    Here comes the strange part.

    I sat on the floor and held the kibble bowl up to her face.  She would not eat.

    I got her spoon (and yes, only she uses t.  It is not a people spoon.) and put a little on the spoon and held it out to her.

    She ate it.

    Then she ate all of her kibble one spoonful at a time, with me feeding her!

    Now I love my dog, but I am not going to spoon feed her every day!  And I hate having to toss dog food away because it has been sitting out untouched for a couple of hours.

    Grrr.

    I did get part of my garden planted.  Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, Italian beans and peas are in.  I replanted the peas because the package says I should see sprouts in 7-14 days and it has been over 2 weeks. 

    Tomorrow I hope. to get green beans and carrots in, but I don't have any kore string or stakes to mark rows.

    I also hope to get edging done tomorrow and maybe some mulch spread.  Maybe.

    Hopefully all the stuff is done this week.

    But if I take anymore 90 minute naps like I did today, it won't .  Evidently last night's show wore me out more than I thought!

Peace and Love

    

whew!!!!

This was a pretty awesome day 

    No, I did not get the garden planted.

    No, I did not get the yard trimmed.

    Yes, I put the cold air return vent back in place.

    Yes, I got gas for the mower.

    Yes ,I did one load of laundry and ran the dishwasher.

    Yes, I took a long nap.

    Yes, we had an Exit 99 show tonight and it was a blast!!

    I am pretty tired from the show, but also pretty wired.  We had a great audience and I thought we were pretty in sync considering it has been nearly 2 years since we did a show!  2 years!!  I was only 75 when we last performed.

    It was great to see some familiar faces and sone new faces.  There were a few people who had never been too one of our shows and I hope they left laughing.

    I know I laughed a lot.  And I know I am pretty dang tired, but probably won't get to sleep for a while.

    Tomorrow the garden.  And maybe my secret project....who knows.

    Hopefully the wind will die down.

    Julia ordered pillows for her house and they were delivered here.  The boxes did not stay put!

Peace and Love

try it

 Sometimes change is good

    Sometimes trying something new is good.

    I never liked broccoli.  Then one day I actually tried it and now I like it.

    If I had never tried it, I would not have known it was good.

    Maybe it was the name that put me off.  Maybe because it was so funny looking.  I don't know why I never ate it before.

    But now I like it.

    I get tired of people telling me they discovered something new and they liked it.  Especially when I told those same people for years that they should try the broccoli.   They never did.

    Then one day I was invited. to their house for dinner and they served.....broccoli!  They pronounced it differently, but it was still broccoli!  And they raved about it!!

    And the frustrating thing was the broccoli I offered them was just as good, if not better.  But they were never willing to try.

    Humph.

    I went to put the hoses on my new hose reel today and 2 of the wheels fell off.  I don't know what I did wrong.  I followed the instructions to a tee.

    The issue seems to be connecting the wheels.  They are held on by a push pin.  Push the pin in, slide the wheel on, the pin releases and the wheel stays on.

    Except when it doesn't.  I id not have one wheel on all the way, so it fell off.  But the other wheel...well the push pin does not stay in place.  It keeps popping back inside the tube, if that makes any sense.

    Frustrating, to be sure.

    There has to be an easy solution.

    By the way, it was windy today!!

Peace and Love

something new

 I listened to my first podcast today

    Let's be clear, I did not make it.  I listened.

    Years ago, when I was a young would be journalist, I envied a man named Studs Terkel.  He was a radio personality in Chicago, but in 1963 produced a book called Division Street .

    He wrote the book based on interviews he conducted with regular Chicagoans, if I remember correctly.  It amazed me.  He followed it up with several other books on a similar vein, but Division Street was the kind of writing I had never experienced before.

    Well, 60 years later there is a podcast called Division Street Revisted.  Mary Schmich , who used to be a columnist for the Tribune, has gone back and talked about some of the people in the book.  I just listened to the first of 7 episodes and was blown away by how informative it was.

    Now I have to look for my copy of Division Street and do a little rereading.....60 years later.  And yes, I am sure I still have it.

    I woke up this morning with He's a Rebel spinning through my head!  I think the group performing it was called The Toys, but I am not positive.  I don't remember all the words, but I do have the retrain stuck in my head.

    Speaking of stuck in my head,  we had someone in doing a little work at our house.

    After he left, he texted me and said he forgot his mug and could I drop it off at a business in town.

    I told him yes, and that he had a couple of tools and I would drop them off too.

    I went into town and dropped off the mug and realized I did not have the tools.

    I texted him and said I forgot and could do it today.

    He said he would use swing by and to put the tools one the porch.

    About 2 I headed to the chiropractor and texted him before I left.  He said he forgot to stop this morning, and if I could drop them off in town that would be great.

    I said sure!  

    Got in the car and drove to town, but did not bring the tools.

    I texted him again and apologized for forgetting again   I also told him I was 70 f'in7 and was expected to forget stuff but he was younger and should not be forgetting.

    he did pick up everything on his way home....except for a couple of things in the garage.

    As for my secret project, I have most of the stuff.  Hopefully tomorrow I can finish.  But today is just too warm and windy,  And warm is maybe the wrong word.  Hot is better.

    But we had a hell of a storm around 6.  Strong winds, heavy rain. Julia was here and it took her 45 minutes to get home, a 11 minute drive.  A couple of roads were blocked by downed trees and power lines, so she had to go backroads.  Luckily no tornadoes.

Peace and Love

progress???

 I made some progress today

    Lawn got fertilizer and weed killer, finished painting the hallway,  rehung some pictures, and worked on my secret project.

    I also started the process of washing the windows.

    Ok, my only part in 3 of those was making sure a check got written.

    But I worked on my secret project!

    I went around town and checked out prices of various items I will need to buy. I bought 1 item today, but will get the rest tomorrow.  Maybe.

    I needed a drill to drill some holes.

    I spent 15 minutes looking in the basement, garage, kitchen, basement, garage and then remembered I took it to Julia's house when she moved in.

    She is bringing it tomorrow.

    In the meantime, I used my old electric drill.  But by then I had forgotten where I put the drill bit.  Had to look in the basement, kitchen, garage and found it on the nook table, in plain sight.

    Jackie suggested I cover the mulch pile with a tarp in case it does rain tomorrow.  I looked all over the garage for that and remembered I took it to Julia's.

    She will bring it with the drill.

    I have 2 furniture dollies but could only find one.

    Julia is bringing the other over tomorrow with the drill and tarp.

    Meanwhile I feel like I am slipping further and further down the rabbit hole of which unfinished project do I start next.  

    When I feel my life starting to spin, I have a tendency to shut down.  I am on the verge of that tonight.

    Just so frustrating not being organized.

    I have 3 things to do tomorrow...... and my money is on only 2 of them getting done.

    Or at least started.

Peace and Love

Spring?

This is some week 

    The temperature was in the 80s today and should be in the 90s by Thursday.  And it's only May!!

    Good Grief!!

    I think I can put away the hats, gloves and scarves; but I am not positive we won't need them in the next couple of weeks.

    And we have a shortage of rain.  There is none in. the near future, but possibly next Tuesday.  Possibly.

    It is dry.

    How dry is it?

    When I watered plants, the water evaporated before it hit the pots!

    It was so dry, all the signs said STO because the P evaporated!

    My oak tree knocked on the door and asked for a glass of water.  It's a nutty oak tree.

    Enough.  Those were not even funny.  Except the stop one.  That was funny.

    Also not funny was when I knocked over Jackie's I pad holder and it shattered into 3 pieces.  Then I went into the kitchen and knocked over the paper towel holder.  Then I dropped food on the floor.  I am a clutz with a capital K.

    I have a new project.  I can't tell you what it is, because it is top secret.  Shh!!!!

    Hopefully I can get most, or some, of it done tomorrow.

    I assembled my new hose reel.  It looks like it will work. 

    That took me a while.  Luckily I could work in the shade in the garage.

    For the first tine this spring/summer, I sat on the front porch for a while.  Granted, it was only 15 minutes, but it was delightful.  Gentle breeze, shade and most unusual: no one was mowing! Well, actually one person was but I could barely hear it.

    No ATVs, 4 wheelers, dirt bikes or anything with loud mufflers.

    Wish all afternoons were that quiet.

    I am  keeping the porch lights off. tonight.  Last night I went out with the garbage and there were hundreds of brown beetles at the front and back doors.  Kind of icky.  And crunchy.

    Peace an Love

Jackie's bridal wreath Sunday

the bridal wreath today

They were by my 2 garage door lights

And the front door lights.  I think they wanted in!

retrospect

Sometimes looking backward is good 

    Today I looked at Facebook and saw all the birthday messages from folks.  I did not look yesterday, just got too busy I guess.

    It was nice to see all the good wishes.  Thanks to everyone.

    I had another nothing day.

    Well, not totally noting.

    Filled the bird feeders and picked up dog poo.  Not terribly exciting.

    We had an Exit 99 meeting tonight.  That is our improv comedy group and we are performing Saturday night.  If you have not bought a ticket or 10, act now.

    I love Carrie, Human Beth and Terry.  Just being with them lifts my mental state.  But I realized today that none of them have cracked 60!

    Carrie was told that I needed to have more focus because I get confused so easily and it is funny when that happens.  I don't know if that is a complement or observation of my doddering old age.

    And realize the comment was based on our last show when I was a younger 75.  Holy crap!  I hope I don't get lost on stage.

    And yes, I get the directions for the games mixed up.  And I sometimes can't hear or understand the audience suggestions.  And I know nothing about contemporary culture.  In fact, any people in music or movies after 1990 may be unknown to me.  

    Except Chapell Roan.  I know who they are.  May not know how to spell their name right, but I know them.

    And we celebrated Dog Beth's birthday today.  She is 5.  Or 6.  I don't remember.  Jackie can correct me tomorrow.

    Doggie and I played in the basement, she had a special cupcake that Julia bought, and she got lots of attention from the 99ers. 

    I think she had a good birthday as well.

Peace and Love

77????

My first day of 77 was not too bad 

    I grilled steaks for the Mothers' Day and my birthday, the girls brought lots of salads,  an ice cream cake,  and we sat, visited, and ate

    I got my free birthday coffee from Starbucks.  I still have a free piece of cake from Portillo's, but I don't know when I will get over to claim it.

    Kevin and Jen came over and Sam sang happy birthday to me in 2 languages.

    Jackie enjoyed Mothers' Day an I enjoyed my birthday.

    The weather was perfect. 

    If all the days of year 77 are like this, I will be happy.

    Actually, when I think of it....aren't I already 78?  The birthday marks the end of your year.  I just finished year 77, so aren't I on 78?  Like an old record, I keep going around on that.

    I capped off the night with a secret mission.  Dressed all in black, and driving with my lights off, I snuck down a street in town and quietly parked my car.

    Then I silently opened the back and took out 6 bags of lawn clippings and noiselessly set them in a driveway for pickup tomorrow.

    I made sure to tape over why license plate and wear a mask so I could not be recognized.

    If you don't hear from me for a while, check some place in South America.

Peace and Love

ding dang it

 Once again, technology stumped me

    I have a fancy timer to use on my hoses.  I hook up 2 hoses to 2 sprinklers and hook the hoses to a dual outlet timer.  Then I use my phone to set the on and off times and frequency of watering.

    Last year it was great.  I could set it and forget it.

    This year?  I can't seem to connect it to my bluetooth.  It keeps telling me it is connecting, but it never does.  I am sure it is something simple.

    I wanted to edge along my gardens with my battery powered edger.  Unfortunately, I had not had the charger plugged in for a few days and the batteries all seem to be dead.  

    On the upside, my new battery powered mower did very well between the raised beds.  I have to attach a side discharge kit or the bagger because I had a huge bunch on grass in the mower bed when I was done.

    My ister in law called and I almost hung up because when I answered, there was silence then a voice saying." Terry?"  Being suspicious of scam calls, I gruffly said "Who is this?"    She told me and I was a bit embarrassed.  I just did not recognize her number.

    I had a chance to tour the new Creseton Library today.  It was very nice.  Lots of light, lots of space. The folks in Creston did well.

    Tonight is my last night of being  76.  I am saying it the polite way.

    If my mother were alive, I would stand before her and tell her I was the best present she ever got.

    Hope all of you enjoy the day tomorrow.

Peace and Love

TGIF

 As I said before, every day is a Friday for me

    Guy came to check the AC for the summer.  He changed the furnace filter and cleaned off the igniter and said the system looks good.

    I  told Jackie we have been in the house for almost 13 years and maybe we should plan on either the AC or the furnace to die.  If one goes, we will replace both.  I think.  The optimist in me says we will not have a problem.

    The last 2 people who came for plumbing and heating tasks looked like they were still in high school!  They were so young....or maybe I am just so old.  It is nice to see young people in the trades.  Without them houses and businesses won't be built.

    I ordered pizza on line tonight.  I thought I did it right, but hey called to ask just exactly did I want, because my order was confusing.  I ordered extra cheese on the first half.  When options came up for the second half I ordered extra cheese.  They thought I wanted extra extra cheese. That might have been good too.

    I put together my Christmas present today.  Jackie got me a battery powered mower to get between the raised gardens.  I have it put together and am charging the batteries, so tomorrow I can finish mowing.

    When I was going to get the pizza, I saw a little dark car that had some kind of form strapped to the top.  

    The car was buzzing along, and this form was sticking up at a 45 degree angle.  I thought either it was going to blow off or flip the car.  I did not follow to see which, if any, happened.

    And I wish every day would be like this weather wise. I think it was perfect.

Peace and Love

Who'a  good doggie?????

Alium......just wish it would stick around longer than it does.

I love y redbud!  When the setting sun hits it it seems to change colors.

working

 I actually did something today

    Now understand.  That was a major accomplishment, considering.

    We didn't get up until 10.  

    Jackie and I had lunch instead of breakfast.

    Beth stayed on the bed until I woke her.

    I have 2 routines I follow during the day.

    In the morning, I read the paper on line and then do Wordle.

    At night I do this blog, check FB,  play a game or 2 of spider solitaire and then I read for about half an hour.

    Usually that puts my bedtime at about 11:30.  Sometimes I get lost in the book, which means I go to bed later.

    At 2 today I had finished lunch, the paper, Wordle and wondered what else I could do to avoid going outside to work in the garden.

    When nothing came to mind, I went out and used my battery powered tiller until the battery gave out.  Then I raked, weeded raked, weeded and by 4:15 I had had enough.  So I went in and spent 30 minutes playing with Beth in the basement.

    Funny thing. I was so tired when I went out, but now I am really alert and energetic and I did not have an afternoon coffee.

    But I did have a Pepsi for lunch.  That may have been a mistake.

    It's currently in the lower 50s, but we have a frost warning for tonight.

    I am plant sitting some newly potted plants and just put them in the garage to keep them safe.  Not sure what I will do with the planters on the patio because they are too heavy to carry in.  Hopefully the frost will not hurt them.

    That's all I know.

    Thanks for reading this.  I do appreciate it.  I used to be funnier.

Peace and Love

criminey Pete

 I sometimes am just, I can't describe it

    First.  I had a plan to go out and do some yardwork.

    Help comes in today and I had a rough night sleeping.  Instead of going out in a daze, I slept in my chair until 11,

    Ok....still have several hours to get in yard work.

    Showered, went to the store, stopped for a coffee.  I know!  I can't sleep so why the hell did I get a coffee?

    When I mentioned I had trouble sleeping because of the caffeine but was getting a coffee anyway, friend Amy said they had decaf cold  brew!!!  Who knew?  Next time I will get half and half.

    Of course I had to finish my coffee and unpack the groceries.

    Then I had a call concerning my bill at NW Medicine.

    So I called them.  

    Except, the area code was 855 and I automatically hit 815,  I started to leave a message when a very nice lady came on the line and said...."Stop.  Don't say anymore.  You are not calling NW Medicine."  I said I was terribly sorry and she was very nice, telling me she did not want me to leave any personal information.

    I thanked her again and redialed, using 855.

    I got a message that the number was discontinued.

    I went on line, looked up the number again and discovered I transposed the last 2 numbers.  (I know!!  How many times have I done that!  I don't do numbers well!)

    On the third attempt I finally got the right number, only to be put on hold for about 10 minutes.  I then talked to an agent who checked my account and said everything was paid up and possibly the payments and reminders just crossed in space.

    While waiting, I looked through my pad of notes and found this.....7 cold slippers, 6 ND burning, 5 cold, 3 snow.

    I was puzzled by my own notes.  After pondering and pontificating and delaying doing anything constructive outside, I realized the notes referred to F B memories.  7 years ago on whatever date I made the notes it was cold and slippery, 6 years ago Notre Dame burned in Paris, 5 years ago it was cold and 3 years ago we had snow.

    By. then it was  4:30.  I had nothing left to cause me to delay going outside.

    Oh...wait!  I can play with Beth in the basement!!!!!

    Which I did.  

    I finally went outside at 5 a d sorted through debris I had in the car, potted 3 plants and then went in to make supper.    But Jackie wasn't hungry, so I put off food for 45 minutes.

    I swept the garage, filled the bird feeders, filled the bird seed containers, carried the newly potted plants to the patio and then went to make  supper.

    After supper I  sort of tilled one raised garden, cut back the roses in planters.....one of which looks very much alive and the other looks very much dead, and put everything away.

    None of that was on my list of things to do today except tilling the raised garden.  

    But at least I did something today. 

    Now maybe tomorrow I will get today's tasks done.

Peace and Love

    

home again, home again

I picked up Julia from the airport today 

    Somehow I missed the sign for the international terminal and had to make a little detour.

    She was only out on the curb for about 15 minutes, which isn't too bad.  When I drive, it helps to have someone aboard to read the signs!

    I saw the sign that said arrivals/departures but that was for terminals 1,2 and 3.  I needed 5. I missed that one.

    But all is well that ends well.

    At least I didn't get back on the tollway without her.  That is good.

    She flew business, using her miles.  In business you get 2 checked bags at 70 pounds each.  She filled both to the limit.  And her carry on weighed at least 30 pounds.

    Want was in it?

    Chocolate for me, wine for me, tissues, more chocolate, chocolate for Jackie, chocolate for Emily.....a lot of chocolate and several bottles of wine.

    And no export taxes on any of it!

    Beth was glad to see her.  Of course, Beth got a toy too!  

    But I am tired.  And for some reason, for the second day in a row we did not have supper, although I have to cook the hamburger I thawed for supper tomorrow.  

    It was a pretty nice day.  Great weather and  safe travels,  Can't ask for more than that.

    Well, you can....but I am not going to  press it.

    Big thanks to Kimberley for staying with Jackie.We appreciate that.

Peace and Love

work ahead

 I think I will be busy soon

    This arrived today.

    I was in the back of the yard emptying my compost bin , then drove around the house and spotted it as I cam in from the front yard.

    Our van was parked in the driveway.

    Jim, who delivered it, was next door and I told him I would have moved the van.  He said he just wiggled around it.

    Now the fun begins.

    I love the smell of oak mulch.  So earthy and, well, oaky!  This is what 3 yards looks like.  

    It will be a few days before I start work on it.  

    Tomorrow I head to O'Hare to get Julia.  

    I know I won't take 88 because there is work on the road by DeKalb and it is one lane each direction.  With all the truck traffic that could mean a huge delay. Plus I'm not crazy about driving in a construction zone.  Call me weird, I just don't like it.

    I have a compost bin in the back of the yard.  I throw most of my food waste in it, except cheese and meat products.  In the spring I harvest the compost and put it in my raised gardens.

    Two years ago as I was sifting the compost to weed out large debris, I had the idea of building a little frame, maybe 18 inches by 2 feet.  I would spread screen wire over it and make it easier to sift.

    I remembered that last year, thinking I had all summer and winter to build a frame.

    Well, no frame.  I end up holding the screen wire by the edges and getting stuck by loose screen wire.

    But this year.....I will again plan on building a screen sifter!

    Maybe I will use my power miter box one more time before I sell it.

    Time will tell.

Peace and Love

fini!!

 I finished mowing today

    I wasn't as cold as yesterday, but I did make a hot cup of herbal tea when I came in after mowing.

    Tomorrow I need to put my new push mower together.  Jackie got me a battery powered mower because I can't get the rider between my raised gardens.  In hindsight, I should have moved the planters farther apart when I built them.   But hindsight solves every problem.

    I grilled for supper.  Unfortunately. I did not cover the grill when I was done and it is now raining. Both the grill and the cover are wet.

    Last night when I went to bed I had a gnawing feeling that I did not shut the garage door at Julia's house.  I know I did.  But that part of my brain that sometimes malfunctions kept telling me I did not.

    So after I went to Emily's today to test my vacuum, I went to Julia's and found that yes, I had closed the door.  And it seems the battery on the vac is dead as it won't recharge.

    That has always been a problem with me.  I leave someplace and then am never sure the door is closed.  Tonight when I got meat out of the freezer I made sure the door was closed, but double checked it when I went to get tea towels for Jackie.

    When I was getting meat, I found a package of frozen raspberries.  I had gone to the store yesterday to buy some fresh, but the packs they had did not look good.  

    I brought the frozen one up and looked at the use by  date:   July 23.  The package had been opened.  

    So I tossed them.  Well, actually put them in my compost bucket. 

    The problem is I buy food and  put it in the freezer and then forget it is there.  

    Most of the time I date the items I stick in the freezer.  But that doesn't mean I remember they are in there. I guess I just need to be more aware of what I buy and then be sure to use it.  

    I hate wasting food.  It's bad for the environment and bad for my wallet!

    That's all I have.

Peace and Love

chill, baby, chill

 I almost mowed the yard today

    I was about 3/4 done but got incredibly cold.

    It was 55 degrees, but there was no sun and a little wind so it felt more like -76.  

    Hopefully I will finish tomorrow.  But I do get distracted with other things, so nothing is for sure.

    For the first time in I don't know how long, we did not have takeout food on a Saturday night.   I made scrambled eggs and bacon.  Actually, we may have not had take out last weekend either.

    Yes, I splurged on eggs!  And bacon!  I am not a great cook, but it turned out ok.  At least we have not gotten sick yet, but the night is still young.

    I got off the mower 3 hours ago and I am still chilled.  I just took towels out of the dryer and wrapped a couple of warm ones around me.  That felt good.

    Another first.... Jackie said she was warm while I was freezing!  That almost never happens.

    Nice way to end the day....putting out the W!  Always love a Cub win.

Peace and Love

I think it is time to give up on this one.  I have never med a Jade plant that I couldn't kill.

I got a little too close to the mailbox.

I just love our redbud!

Found some gold bars in the yard today

TGIF

When you are retired, everyday is a Friday 

    Or a Monday.  Or Saturday.  You pick.

    When Julia moved she told us to make sure Beth gets fed and let out early.

    Well, we woke up at 9:15 today!  Beth was still asleep!

    But I got all the morning things done, getting Jackie up, getting Beth breakfast, reading the paper, getting ready for the day and doing a load of laundry.

    Jackie packed up the rest of Easter and read the directions for lemon cookies, which I made.

    After laundry, dishes, picking up we headed for DeKalb, where we used the Portillo's Perk app to score a free roast beef sandwich.  We also needed to go to Target for a couple of things because the local WM does not carry them , for some reason.

    I stopped for a Starbucks and we got Beth a puppy chino.  But she was bashful and would not show her face to the people in the drive up window.  So when she was done, I took her out of the car and showed her to the folks in Sycamore.

    I went to use my vacuum and it does not work.  I don't know why, obviously.  It was in the charger,  the filter is clean, but I suspect the battery is dead.  So, can I order a new battery?  Or is it the charging unit??  Should I just buy a new vac?  I really like this one, but it's a Dyson and fairly expensive.  On the other hand, I need a vacuum.

    We have a corded one which I will have to use for now.  But it is heavy and awkward.  My ancient body prefers the lighter one without a cord I can (and have) trip over.

    Not sure my neighbor will be talking to me.  He is a Brewers fan and I think he went to the game tonight.  After the grand slam and a solo homer gave the Cubs a 9-0 lead I texted him and asked if he was enjoying the game.

    I have not heard back.

    And Julia sent me some pictures of the group at Charlie's in Vevey.  It looks like a beautiful night, with beautiful people, in a beautiful place.

    Sigh....... I miss the mountains and the lake.  And the people.

    Someday, maybe again.

Peace and Love

whoops

 Funny how my train falls off the tracks

    I have been doing really well.  Counter was rid of clutter, laundry caught up.....it was all under control.

    keep getting a "change oil" message on the van whenever I start it.  So this afternoon I drove to the dealer and got the oil changed.

    The bad news came before the good news. 

    They would not rotate the tires because the front ones were worse than the back ones, and. the better tires should be on the back.  It was recommended to consider new tires.

    The van has a little over 27,000 miles on it.  And it needs new tires.  

    Car makers put the cheapest tires on new cars to hold down the cost.  But the consumer pays for it in the long run.

    The plus was the oil change was less than I thought.

    Anyway, got home, fed the dog, made supper, watched a couple of tv shows and at 8:30 got set to do this little epistle.

    But I realized I needed to do dishes first.  In the middle of doing dishes I had to take a whizz. I noticed the toilet seat was loose, so I tightened that.  At some point I remembered I had jeans to take out of the drier.  Jackie likes hers hung.  Which is fine with me.

    Noticed one of the pant hangers had "Dickow" written on it, which made me laugh.  When I went to college I wrote my name on all my stuff.....records, notebooks, pant hangers.  I have been using this pant hanger since 1966.  I have been with it longer than I have been married to Jackie.

    I still had not done the dishes.

    Then I had to take Jackie her night meds.

    And let th dog out.

    And then do the dishes.

    Which means it was 9:30 before I actually sat down to do this.  I have an icepack on my back because it is a little sore and I am sipping a decaf tea, which now is cold.

    At 9:36 Jackie was ready to go to prepare for bed.  I noticed I had not taken. the bed down and that I need to do a load of laundry.

    I decided nix on the laundry.

    It is now a little after 10 and I think I am back on track.  

    Which is doing this, that I started at 8:30.

    Next stop?  Who knows.

    But the things I said I would do tomorrow seem to be growing in number.  What is the word?  Mañana?

    Manana, baby

Peace and Love