trick or treat

We had trick or treaters this year! 

    Usually we have 4 or 5 kids at the most.  But this year we had well over 20.

    One of the people down the street asked who would have lights on for her kids and a lot of people in the neighborhood said they would.  And they did.  I am not sure if the kids were all neighborhood folks, but I did recognize some of them.

    And I checked to be sure my zipper was up.

    I even bought several bags of candy and gave out 3 pieces.  I still have a bit left, which may not be good for me or Jackie.

    Emily and John came over today and moved all the furniture back into the right places.  

    I am working on getting rid of stuff.  For example, we get monthly summaries of oaur medications and health care visits.  I usually punch holes in them and put them in binders.

    After talking to several people, I now realize that is kind of a waste.  So I now put them in the shred pile after I get them and review them.

    Same with financial statements.  We get balance sheets monthly and I always check them, punch holes, file them.  I don't know why.  Now I just save the quarterly statements.

    I eliminated four notebooks from my shelf by doing that.

    When we had the blue room and the yellow room repainted, I took down all the pictures.  Now I am debating on what I am going to put back on the walls.  Then I have to decide what to do with the items I did not hang. 

    I tell you, life is full of decisions.

    I also found three different containers of pens and pencils.  Most of the pens are Bic type and I honestly don't know if they work.  Most of the pencils are lead, or graphite, and I don't ever use them.  

    I'll see if there are teachers who would be able to put them to use.

    I am not really decluttering.  I am just rearranging it.

Peace and Love

something odd

 Something strange happened tonight

    I did not see the Northern Lights.

    Now that is not strange in itself, but what was strange was the sky was clear, stars were out, I found a dark area and I remembered.

    Usually when there is a sky event it is cloudy, or rainy, or overcast, or I forget.  But tonight I drove out into the country to a high spot and looked north.  Lots of stars.  A dark night.  But no Northern Lights.

    Guess you had to be farther north.  Who knows, maybe later the lights will be out, but I doubt it.

    I did take a two hour nap today.  I may have had a reaction to my booster shot.  My muscles ached, I was tired, headachy and it hurt to walk or move.  I went to the outdoor market and walked around, but the more I walked the more achy I became.

    So, a nap took up my afternoon.  I feel better, and don't hurt as much but hopefully tomorrow will even be better

    I am still laughing over friend Bethy's flight to a Nascar race.  If you know her, make it a point to ask how the trip went.  It will be well worth your time.

    I also put out our pumpkin lanterns and lit the candles in them, but they are hardly noticable from the road.  Oh well.

    Another day older and deeper in debt.

Peace and Love

$%$#@!#$@!!!

 That's Pogo speak for swear words

    I am so pissed and irritated at myself, and it is only my fault.

    I had an eye doctor appointment in Sycamore today.  2:10.  I knew my eyes would be dilated, but it was an overcast day and dilated eyes should not have been an issue.

    I told Jackie I had to leave at about 1:10 because it was a 30 minute drive and I had to stop at one store before the appointment.

    I got Jackie settled.  I told her again, I am leaving at 1:10.  She would be alone for about 2 hours because we thought that would be ok.

    I had everything out I needed:  keys, phone, referral, medication list, sunglasses.

    As I picked it all up I made sure she was set for the next two hours.

    And to be sure, I checked the calendar.

    Yes, my appointment was 2:10.  Oct. 22.  Today is Oct. 29.

    I called.  Yes, my appointment was last Friday.  

    I have it on the calendar at 2:10 Oct. 22.

    How could I screw up like that?

    Jackie said it was strange they did not send me a reminder last week.

     I agreed.  Then I went back to my e-mail and discoverecd that not only had they sent a reminder, I preregistered for the appointment on Oct. 20!

    How in the hell that happens to me so many times is beyond me.  Written on the claendar, with an e mail reminder, and preregistration completed and I still screwed it up.

    On the bright side, Beth and Sheri came over tonight for pizza and great conversation.  It is always fun to be around them and chat, drink, and laugh like in normal times.

    Jackie and I also got our booster shots today.  The nice pharmacist was extra careful with her old man and I truly appreciate it.

    In the past week I have had a flu shot, two blood tests, and the booster.  I feel like a pin cushion.

Peace and Love

terrific Thursdays

 Good things seem to happen to me on Thursdays

    I went to Switzerland on a Thursday, came home on a Thursday, and today friends brought lunch and we had a great visit.

    Kathy and John came out from the big city and brought hot dogs, brats and salads for lunch.

    We had a wonderful time visiting and talking and the hours flew past.  I had not seen them in person since my surgery, just about 1 year ago.  And actually, it was only John that I saw then.

    So today was great.  Years ago we would venture into the city a couple of times a year, but the wheelchair is a deterrent to going many places.  We have also met at restaurants pre Covid, but we all know what Covid has wrought.

    I also checked my stats for this blog today.  As I sat to write this, if 49 people read this posting, I will go over 225,000!  That astounds me.

    At the same time, I am reading a book written by a woman who started writing books when her blog hit 1 million followers.  I have a way to go.

    Last night I did not sleep well, hopefully tonight will bring some needed zzzzzs.  And more followers.

Peace and Love

no zzzz for me

The old can't sleep ghost is haunting me 

    Three of the last four nights I have been awake until way past 2  The fourth night I took a pill to relax me and it sure did.

    But I hate to do that every night.

    Today I had a blood test in Sycamore.  Usually I would hit the Starbucks and head home, but today I skipped the coffee.  Maybe my afternoon teas and coffees are the reason I can't sleep, but I wonder.

    I seem to sleep better with the window open.  But Jackie doesn't like the air because it causes her allergies to flare up.

    I also like to sleep in my chair, but that sometimes causes my back to ache.

    I hate to make the bed in the spare bedroom and sleep in theere, because it is just more laundry I eventually have to do.

    When visiting Julia, I don't seen to remember having a problem.  I would open the window, climb into bed, and sleep.  Or maybe I did and I don't remember.

    It's almost 11 and I am tired.  

    So....here I go.  Off to bed, or the chair,  and hopefully sleep.

Peace and Love

hedge apples and other pictures

 Sharing some pictures today

    Jackie had two doctor appointments in the suburbs today, and that took up all the afternoon.

    She met with her MS neurolgist for a 9 month check up, and with the Botox Queen for some injections.

    Both doctors are really nice.  They sit and talk, answer questions, explain treatments, and listen to us.  Plus, we talk about travel, Tesla cars, and life in general.

    Jackie gets Botox injections to decrease the spasticity in her legs.  This is the second set of injections.  The first set was a base level, the second set is a little stronger.  Normally we go back in 6 weeks for an assessment, but we are going to do that by phone if needed.

    This is not a cure.  It is not a miracle drug.  It is one tool to help her have some "normality" in her legs.  But it will not mean she can walk, hopefully it will allow her to stand for longer than 5 seconds.

    I had wanted to go to Panera's for lunch, but due to staffing issues the restuarant was only open to 2 and we were not done until a little after 3.

    So we went to Portillo's.  We met sister Judy there and had a picnic in the car because Jackie did not feel srtrong enough to get out of the car.  I think I am going to buy stock in the chain because the restaurants are always busy.  Of course, I also hit the local  Starbucks.

    Enough of that.

    I had gone hunting for hedge apples a week ago but only found a few.  Emily found a ton today.....I guess the wind knocked htem out of the trees.

    Hedge apples are also called osage oranges.  The trees are hardy, and before barbed wire were often planted for fencing to keep cows in, or out, of fields.  But there are less and less of them around, I think because of the messy fruits.  I once read the apples keep spiders out of the house or garage, but I have not found that true.  I think deer may eat them, but I am not sure what else does.

    I used to take them to school and tell kids they were monkey brains.  No one ever believed me.

Peace and Love

Where's Casper the friendly ghost pumpkin?

I bought this one because it reminded me of my teen years

Everybody see the rapper?

Hard to tell, but these are geese flying into the sunset

Holy hedge apples, Batman!  Thanks, Emily for the haul.  I use them for decorations in the fall.

huh??

I had a strange conversation today 

    I was walking Corki.  A neighbor yelled out, "I like your moms!"  I stopped and stared.  How does he know my mom?  She's been dead for 20 years.  And do I have 2 because he said moms.

    I did not say anything.  I just stared at him.

    Then he yelled, "Your mums.  I like your mums."

    Well, that made sense!  I had just potted the mums we bought the other day. 

    Yes, I should have had my hearing aids in, but when I work outside I often don't wear them for fear of losing them.

    It was a relief that he liked the mums.

    I potted 2 large and 2 small ones, plus did a little weeding in the front garden.  I only have a little weeding left to do, and truthfully, I am not in any hurry to get it done.

    Somehow I lost my 5 gallon composting bucket yesterday.  I did not realize it until last night.  This is the bucket I keep in the garage.  Once my kitchen bucket fills, I dump it into the 5 gallon bucket.  Once that is full, I carry it out to the composting bin.

    I went out today, wondering how far it had blown in the winds.  Instead, it was next to my compost bin with about 2 inches of water in it.  Thank heavens it was not lost.

    I tried making rostï tonight.  That is a Swiss dish that has hash browns, bacon, ham, cheese and onions mixed together.  Like an omelette without the egg.  Julia made it when I was there and it was delicious.

    I made it and it was.....eh.  Ok. Not bad.  Not great.  Not the same as in Switzerland.  Maybe it was the setting, maybe it was the ingredients, or the lack of wine, but it just did not taste as good as over there.

    I brought some Skittles back for son in law John.  But, I have bad news.  One of the bags fell into the sink tonight.  The bags are not waterproof.  So, one bag of Skittles is a soggy mess.  There is one bag left, as of now.

    I have noticed that I drop a lot of things lately.  I broke 2 garden ornaments while cleaning them at  Julia's, I dropped and broke a salad bowl at home, and I seem to drop a lot of things without breaking them.  It concerns me.

    But hell, I am 7f3 years old....so I guess it is ok to drop stuff once in a while.  As long as it isn't a baby or a puppy I guess I am ok.

Peace and Love