day.....fini.....457

 I have finished the prairie garden

    Everything is planted, cardboard is down, mulch is down, and my left hip hurts like hell.  Related?  I don't know.

    I can tell one of the new plants is having a tough go.  I was hoping a good rain would revive it, but we did not get a good rain.  I did run the sprinkler on the plot last night, but a good rain shower is always better.

    I have a box of pictures I don't know what to do with.  When I taught I took a lot of photos of kids doing projects, at Halloween, and at a lot of other times during the year.  Most of the pictures ended up in albums.  Most of the albums have been "harvested" for former students I can still find.

    But it has been 12 years.  I need to get rid of the pictures.  I actually put one album in the trash  for about 15 seconds, then took it out again.  I don't know why it is so hard to part with them.

    Also in the closet and in a desk drawer were several cell phones, including a Samsung flip phone, 2 I phones, 6 camera disks, two rechargable batteries for a camera I no longer have, and one thumb drive.  I found a website for selling some of the items....so we shall see!  I will have to find a card reader to check the photo disks. I may be surprised.

    And now, a TMI section.  Jackie has to wear compression socks.  My brother gave me a device that helps, but normal people putting on compression socks have an easier time than someone who can't move their legs very well, or at all. 

    So every morning I spend about 15 minutes swearing and moaning because my thumbs don't work, the socks are hard to grasp, I can't find the heel...among other problems.  

    Certainly gets my day off to a rocky start.

    And speaking of rocky starts......a few weeks ago I mentioned the out of date margarine I tossed.  Tonight I went to get some butter.  We are out.  No butter.  No margarine.  Hardly any milk.   And I went to the store today.

    A list is only helpful if you write things down on it.

    Stay safe.  Stay healthy.

Peace and Love

day....RIP.....456

 I imitated a famous character from literature today

    I guess I was tired.  Maybe from the heat, working around the house, whtever.  I slept until 10:15 today!

    I went to bed before midnight, which is usually about the time I go to bed when I get up at 8 a.m.  Today I Rip Van Winkled it, as I say.

    And the weird thing is,  I don't remember any dreams, or getting up in the middle of the night although I think I did.  Either that or the closet will really smell in a few days.

    Of course by the time I got up, got Jackie up and showered and dressed, it was just past noon.  My sister in law called and we talked for 40 minutes. At 1:15 we Skyped with Julia......and at about 2:30 we finally ate for the first time!

    Needless to say, I did not do anything today except water the garden,  And I am really tired tonight.

    My list of projects keeps growing, while my willingness to do them keeps shrinking.

    But tomorrow is a new day.....and if I get up early enough, I might even get some tasks checked off my list.

    Stay safe.  Get plenty of rest.

Peace and Love

day....takes a village....355

 Sometimes I do need a little help

    Emily helped take care of Jackie today so I could be at the market in Creston. 

    Friend Linda and I had a booth, selling vintage items and memorabilia.  I took over about 25 items and sold 10 or 11.  

    The market ran from 9 to 2, so I got Jackie up and dressed, we ate breakfast, and I told Emily I was leaving.  Emily checked on her, got Jackie lunch, and was on call for anything Jackie needed.

    Meanwhile, Linda, Dan and I sat outside in the 90 degree heat.  We did ok on sales, not great, but not terrible considering the heat, graduations, graduation parties, the heat, and the heat.

    Funny thing.  I mentioned the other day that I put sunscreen on and it burned my face.  Well, I read an article that said some sun screens  contained benzene, a cancer causing agent.  And yes, the stuff I was using had benzene.  I tried another product, and that was also on the has benzene list.  Now I wonder if it's the benzene that causes my burning!

    Dan bought brisket sandwiches for us for lunch.  I took one bite and then dropped it on the ground.  Being hungry and not proud, I scooped up the meat, put it back on the bread, and carefully ate it.  If benzene hasn't killed me, a little road tar won't.

    I did not eat the bun however.....just seemed that may have hidden gravel in it.  At least I could inspect the meat.

    Had a good dinner tonight.  I was ordering on the house phone when my cell phone rang.  Not recgnizing the number, I hit the don't answer button....or at least I thought I did.  One voice is talking to me on my cell phone, another on the house phone, Jackie is saying something and I was really getting too much noise.  I hung up the cell phone again and continued to place the order.  Cell phone rang again, same number, and I again did not answer.

    When I was done I noticed a voice mail.  It was my nephew Jason calling from Lititz PA!  So I called him and we had a nice talk.  He got the pictures I sent and told me some of them he did not remember happening.  He also asked what I ordered besides tacos and enchilladas.

    Good sale, good supper, good conversation....only negative on the day was the Cubs falling to San Francisco.  Again.

    Stay safe.  

Peace and Love

day...wheh!!....454

 I almost bit off more than I could chew today

    I decided to ride around the neighborhood.  I have a route that goes around our subdivision two times, then south through four more subdivisions.  The total mileage is about 10.

    Today it seemed 110.  I was fine until mile 8, but the heat, wind and sun just got to me.  When I got home I learned it was 91 outside, way to hot for an old fart to be pedaling his ass around rural subdivisions.

    I drove into town, got some cool drinks for Jackie and me, then just sat and rested.

    It's now about 7, early for me to write....but I am going out to the prairie plot to lay down some cardboard and mulch.   I am watering for 30 minutes first so the plants have some moisture before I spread mulch.

    At least it is a little cooler now....only 84.  And the sun isn't quite as strong.

    Here's what it all looks like today.

I guess this isn't today... pretty  sunny today!

That is a big rock!

There's big money to be found in a garbage can!

Suprised Frosty didn't melt today.....but they were backing up the truck for him.

    By the way...you should be impressed I did not bring my garbage finds home!  Of course, it is still early.

    Stay healty.  Laugh a lot, or a little, just laugh.

Peace and Love

day......when it rains......453

 Ever notice how everything happens at once?

    It was that kind of day for me.

    I had just gotten out of the shower when I looked out the back window and saw my rock on the back of a truck.

    Not wanting to go out au natural, I hurridly put on clothes and went out back.  (Truth be told I would love to go out au natural...I am not the problem).

    Landscape guy is about my height but weighs 85 pounds.  By the time I got out there he had wrestled this big ass rock out of the back of the truck.  In an understated voice he said, "That's a big rock."

    I asked him why he didn't bring some of his younger guys to help and he said they were pretty busy shoveling dirt, which was also hard work.

    The rock landed in the general area of where I wanted it, which is fine for me.  There is no way it will ever be moved unless someone gets a backhoe.

    I helped Jackie get ready for the day, w ate breakfast  and by then it was almost noon.  I had to make lunch, fill my pills, do the dishes and change to go ride my bike.  We have help from 1 to 4 on Thursdays and Fridays, so I like to get out at 1 to maximize my me time.

    But an insurance man called at 12, I called him back, he called me back at .... you guessed it, 1 on the dot.  15 minutes later I had my helmet and gloves on and my brother called.  We had a nice conversation but by the time we finished I had forgotten where I put my sunglasses.

    I did get in a ride.  Pedaled through my neighborhood then some subdivisions to the east and ended up with 10.3 miles for the day.

    After supper I went out and planted the rest of my prairie garden, which went rather quickly since  it is all done randomly.  I hope it looks great that way.

    I discovered Sheri K was right in I had too many coneflowers and black eyed susans.  I was blinded by my love for the plants.  But they are in the ground now, so nature will take it's course.

    All in all it was a pretty busy day.  I am tired, but not sore...that will come tomorrow.

    Stay healthy.  Stop and smell the flowers.

Peace and Love

day....open wide.....452

 I sometimes wonder about me and dentists

    Fear.  that is the best way I can describe it.

    I broke a tooth a few weeks ago eating frozen custard.  Don't ask how that happened.  I got a temporary filling until I could be fitted with a crown.  It was either that or some other procedure that left me silently retching.

    So today I went for the fitting.  There was a young woman working there, must have just started, and she was shadowing the hygenist and dentist.

    I told the girl that if she had never seen a grown man cry or bolt during the middle of a procedure, today was her chance to see both.

    She thought I was kidding.

    I did get numbed.  But as he was working, it became apparent I needed more numbing.

    Once they got me off the ceiling and back into the chair, more numbing was done.

    At one point I said, "I am sharting sho schweat." and little bubbles of moisture appeared on my forehead, but it turns out it was just spray from rinsing my mouth.

    Two hours later I had a temporary crown and impressions for a permanent one taken.

    So tonight I am a temporary king.  Love live the King!!

    And my mouth is very uncomfortable...guess I just got used to having part of a tooth missing.

    I did go to a store and wore a mask because my face was a little droopy.  I did not want people to think I was having a stroke.  Plus, the mask caught the drool.

    Live long and Prosper

Peace and Love

day......seems like forever.....451

 I started this blog in 2014

    I know!  I have continued to do something regularly for the past 6 plus years!  For me, that is amazing.  I can't even do something regular for 24 hours.

    Lately it's becoming harder and harder to be funny.  Maybe it is our world, but holy crap it is crazy out there!

    We've got one guy who lost an election who is telling people he will be installed in his former office by August.

    We got another guy saying maybe the regime in Myanmar is on the right track by having a coop.  Or is it coup?  It should be coup, but anyone suggesting one belongs in with the hens aned pigeons.

    People calling 911 because of cicadas.  Really?  The noise scares you?

    Some politicians are saying the rioters on Jan. 6 were just normal tourists.  I went to the Capitol once and took a tour and did not break any windows or assault police officers while threatening to hang the vice president.  Little did I know.

    Some idiot in Nashville is selling yellow six pointed stars, the same design Nazis forced Jews to wear in Germany during WW II, as a protest against masks.

    Like I said, it's a crazy world out there.

    We had pizza tonight, which is not normal for a Tuesday.  But Emily is on the road and we invited John over for supper, and pizza seemed the best choice.  Especially since I worked my copious butt off today.

    Jackie ordered.  I picked up.  Standing in the restaruant I see a sign that says, "BOGO Tuesday.  Buy one pizza, get one of the same size free."  I ask the waitress/bartender/phone answerer/and who knows what if we got a free one with our order.  She said no, we had to ask for it.

    How the hell do we ask for an offer that is on a board in the pizza place?  

    I wish I had asked before I tipped her.

    Stay healthy.  Stay happy.  Ask for discounts.

Peace and Love