Hassles, One After The Other

If anyone needs advice on dealing with fraudulent charges on their bank account, I offer myself up as extremely knowledgeable in this area.

The bad news was someone cleaned out my account of $2800 just before my son came. The good news is they sent it to Bruce, with instructions to send it on to someone at JP Morgan Chase, to which my son said, “Do they think I’m that stupid?” Apparently. They then tried to send the money to the same JP Morgan Chase account, along with money in his account for his mortgage. The bank was now involved, and when son got here, he and I went to the bank and spoke to a customer service rep, who did all he needed to do to stop that transfer and to get the now $3800 back into his account.

I had to get a new debit card, but this time I had to open a new account, transfer the money in my old one to my new one, because the bank felt someone had access to my old account, which obviously they did

Moving right along, now I am checking my account balance and found a recurring charge of $34.95. I spoke to someone at the bank just after son left, and they reversed that charge. But a couple days later I saw another one, same amount, same place listed on the charge. Of course, now I had to spend about 2 ½ hours on the phone, mostly on hold, with the bank so that I could make clear to them not to allow any more charges from that vendor. Once again they had to cancel my card and send me another new one. This makes about 5 or 6 new cards I’ve had to get this year.

They did rush this card and I had it 2 days later.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. But I am going to go to another bank within the next week, and move whatever is in my account, and close my Wells Fargo account. I am waiting, because the bank has filed a claim on behalf of my son, who also uses Wells, to get back the $1000 pilfered by the creeps who somehow accessed his account. They had told us 10 days, and as of yesterday he still did not have it. Sooooooo, he’s going to deal with it in person, or on the phone. The bank is responsible, so I’m not too worried, but don’t want to close my account until he gets the $1000 back.

Really sick of this.

In other news, my hockey team, Tampa Bay Lightning, is on a road trip and playing notoriously badly. They are losing games that should be easy wins. They are so talented, but they have no urgency to their game. I’m a little disgusted. They do have a bunch of new guys, and traded away 4 of their most popular and best players. So I guess they are in a rebuild state.

Next, you all know the terrible problem I had with rats which cost me about $5k to get rid of. I didn’t really have the money, but thought I had to find the money, cuz I couldn’t stand the rats. So no rats in the attic, but I now have mice or maybe just a single mouse. I was sure it was mice because they only eat about a silver dollar sized pice off the side of a banana, and an avocado. And besides, I had visual confirmation when I opened the drawer under my sink where my garbage is and a mouse jumped out of it. I rearranged the traps under the sink so they had to get by them to get out. I now have 3 or 4

traps set strategically in my kitchen. And the good news is I haven’t seen hide nor hair of the damn mice for 3 days. No traps sprung, or even pushed aside. I’m thinking I might have scared them off.

My sister was going to come over for Art in the Yard. She texted me yesterday that her husband, who is very fit, but 89 years old, is spending the night at the hospital due to wild fluctuations in his blood pressure. She said he will probably get a pacemaker installed today, but that will most likely affect her plans with me. Understandable, in fact I would expect that. I hope they can restore him because he’s very active (still golfing a couple of times a week). It’s just concerning when a man of his age is going to get a procedure I assume he will be knocked out for. Scary, in fact.

Oh, and I had my water shut off on me. I gor my bill in October, and it was about 3 times the amount of my normal bill. They show you, in a graph on the bill what your water usage was every day. My graph showed a week where it was up like 200%. Then it returned to normal usage. I called public works, who insisted I must have left the hose on, or had a toilet running. I told him I did not. I only have one toilet and I would have heard it running. Then he says, well it’s not a high enough bill to investigate. Well, it was high enough for me, I don’t have an extra $200 to give to the city. But there was no arguing it with this guy. I paid $100 of the bill, and would try to pay it down in a few months. I didn’t make the arrangements with the billing department. I called them and they said, oh now, you have to pay the whole bill to get the water turned back on. So I did, had water on a couple hours later, but was very unhappy that I couldn’t get anyone in Public Works to help me.

It took me 3 days to get the house back in shape when the kids left. Laundry (sheets, towels and clothes). I found blocks all over my house, or I should say under the furniture. My son’s girlfriend doesn’t even try to help, but at least my son does. I’m sure that’s the way she grew up but it still irritated me, that while my son was getting Lucian to bed, for naps or at night, since he’s the one Lu wants to put him to bed, and she just sat on the couch on her phone. Oh well. People tell you who they are. There were a few other issues, but for the most part I let them slide, not wanting to put my son in a difficult position. I talked to him privately after they got home. Oh well. It’s too bad…..

It was an exhausting week, a lot of it due to the fraud stuff. Dan smoked a couple of pork shoulders and made a whole meal for them. That was really nice. We swam in the pool at his house too. Dottie told me I would be really glad to see them, and to see them go. She was, for the most part, right.

Son wants me to come out there next summer, because Dez is going to visit her sister in OK. I could get excited about that, if I didn’t hate to travel so much.

You are now up to date on the stuff I’ve been dealing with. It was still great to see the kids, especially Lucian, because he’s growing so fast. Life is good.

Why I Have Such A Headache

Oh it’s been a helluva week. Yikes. And I have the headache to match. I’ll just run it down for you lest you think I am exaggerating.

Wed of last week, March 1. I came home from Dan’s and the house was at 80°, though the thermostat was set for 78°’s. I know 78 is high, but I turn it up when I am not home. It’s been in the 80’s’s here, but still, the thermostat was obviously running high.

Thursday March 2. I was home, had the windows open overnight because it cools down at night into the 60’s. But even though my thermostat was set for 74°, it got up to almost 80°. It was sunny, about 80°by mid-afternoon.

So I called the people who have always serviced it and the service man came Friday, March 3. Turned out to be the coil, which in and off itself costs $1,000, plus at least $500 for frion, not including the cost of labor, new piping, cleaning the unit our, etc.. The total came to $4k. They suggested I just get a price on a new unit, which I did later in the day. The brand new unit was a new last year’s model which they offered for $7k. So it seemed like a no-brainer to by the new one.

The only issue was now getting the money together. They planned to come with it on Monday, but called me Friday afternoon and could come Saturday to install it. So I said yes, because by now my house was heating up to 84° or so. So I still had the problem of paying for it, but they came and installed it. I had to do some creative accounting, but managed to get the $$ together. However, the idea of spending $7,000 out of the blue hit me hard, made me shake, get a headache, etc. But at least my house is cool.

I realize that it’s still winter up north so these temps probably sound absurd for the first of March. But it’s when it starts warming up here. However, I digress.

I am a huge hockey fan, the Tampa Bay Lightning is my team. It’s getting close to playoff time and while they will definitely be in the play-offs because they have a very winning record, they have a LOT of games in the next 5 weeks. Usually hockey teams get at least a day between games, but for a lot of the week they have been playing 2 days in a row. Of course, Dan and I watch all their games on TV. Anyway, they have been losing the last week or 10 days, which gives me a headache. I don’t know what the slump is about. They have literally 3 of the leading goal scorers in the whole league and why they are laying back Idk, but it gives me a headache.

I realize this is not the most important thing going on, but damn. The Bolts (which is what we in Tampa Bay afectionately call the Lightning) have been to the Stanley Cup finals in each of the last 3 seasons, and won it twice. It’s a grueling playoff, 3 rounds of best of 7 games, and then the final, also best of 7. So I worry that though they’ve made the playoffs, they don’t seem to have the urgency they need to go all the way. Hope I’m wrong. Anyway, they had a game both Saturday and Sunday, both of which they lost.

Sunday Dan and I got into a really stupid argument. Really dumb but also really real. That gave me a monumental headache. We resolved the issue by today (the 6th), but it threw me, because we so rarely argue. Maybe it was stress? Maybe.

I’ve been stressed over all of the above. Dan is still dealing with the health issues associated with his 96 year old mother, and his brother. And he’s taking them all to their dr appt’s, and I have filled in for him with the driving when they conflicted. More pressure. I could write a whole separate blog on what he’s dealt with, but I won’t bother you. This coming week is the first he’s had in literally months where he hasn’t had to take either of them to the dr. He doesn’t even just have to take them to the appts, he has to go in with them to the appt and translate what the dr is saying to them because neither one of them can hear. They both have hearing aids but they don’t really do the job for completely deaf people. And then his mom in particular will listen and say, “No, I’m not going to do that.” Like go to a specialist dr for something. It’s exhausting. His whole life revolves around their medical appts. I feel bad for him, to have to deal with all that, so I often don’t tell him about things that I need to talk to him about, which is not a good thing for a relationship. Because, as most of us know, you have to communicate if you want to stay together.

Onward. My new AC fit in the closet where the old one was, but it also doubles as a broom closet, cleaning stuff closet, tools, etc. Like the closet version of a junk drawer. I took it all out so they could get the new one installed, and now I have to find new places for all that stuff to go because it doesn’t all fit in the closet with the new AC. I’d take my time but I’ve having my writers group on Sunday so it all needs to be put away by then, so that I can actually find it at a later date. Plus, I have to do a bunch of food prep for them because they’ve all been doing meal like stuff etc when we’ve met. Not a whole meal but more than just a few snacks. I guess I’ll see what I can do, and not stress myself out over it. There’s that word again. Stress.

Lastly, it’s WordPress and this Jetpack thing they are switching to tomorrow. TOMORROW. I’ve known for as long as they’ve been putting up notices but thought it was optional. I don’t even know what I need to do, if anything, so this may be my last post for awhile, as I try to navigate whatever they’ve done. But hell, I’ve had this page since 2014, 8 years. I hope I can still post to it as I’ve been doing.

I do have a bright spot, and that’s when my son calls me on Facetime with my grandson in his lap. He plays peekaboo with me as soon as he sees me on the phone. He also waves, and claps, high-fives, and almost walks. But he’s so DARN cute. Just melts my heart, and melts all that stress away, at least for a few minutes. I love that he recognizes me as the one who plays with him on the phone. When we play peekaboo, he covers one eye, not both. Sometimes he does his ears, or the top of his head, but then always realizes it and goes back to covering one eye. ADORABLE.

So there you have it. Why I have such a headache. Sure hope things smooth out from here. I need a few weeks of stress-free life. Or just more Lucian time, lol. Left untreated, I think that writing about it here has helped it to dissipate.

Baby, It’s Cold Out There

I love sleeping with the windows open, fresh air wafting through my small house. Sleep is better with the windows open. It’s much sounder, more dreaming, much deeper sleep.

If the overnight temps are going to be in the 60’s, then it’s good to leave the windows open all night. Even if it’s in the low 70’s. But if you go below 60°, into the 50’s, it’s too cold. I was reminded of that l them when I realized it was all a dream, no one but me was there. Talk about a deep sleep, and a very confused 5 minutes of wakefulness. And I was still freezing, awake or asleep.

I finally decided to brave the cold, and climbed out of bed. I walked to the thermostat and turned the heat on. The house was 68° when I did that. I climbed back in bed after changing into a pair of fleece pajamas (told you I was freezing) and pulled the comforter up to try to allay the shivering. I finally decided around 7:45 to get up and make some coffee. On the way to the kitchen I walked past the thermostat, and temp in the house was 72°. Still chilly but much warmer. I checked the outside temp, wondering why it got so cold in the house, and it was 54°! Way too cold for open windows! And a long way from 65° which my phone’s weather app predicted.

I put on a lightweight cardigan, which I keep near my couch in case I get chilly watching TV at night when the AC is on and it tends to blow right on me. I was still freezing though the shivers seemed to have subsided. Finally, I was awake enough to know none of my family was there (though my parents might have been, with their view from another realm. But not so I could see them.) I checked my blood glucose, which was borderline low, and ate some fresh fruit to try to bring it up a little. Between that and my 2 cups of fresh coffee I was by now well awake.

But still cold. I was cold to the bone, for sleeping with a thin summer nightshirt and just a sheet and light blanket. It took me at least another hour before I was no longer cold, except for my hands. And, I still had on my fleece jammies. Outside, at 10:15, it had only gone up from 54° at 6:30 AM to 58°.

When I think about it, back when I lived in New England, I would have been happy to find my house at 68° when I woke up. I had fuel oil heat, and couldn’t afford it in the winter so I generally kept the house below 65° when I wasn’t home, and at night (sometime aided by a small portable heater in my room.) But now that I live in FL, 68° is cold, lol. And 54° is pretty cold for the outside temp here, but fairly common in January and February. Forget about raising the temp to 72°, that would have never happened in the winter up north. Rarely in the summer either, when I tended to cool the house to maybe 78°. I was a pretty cheap old lady then. But I had 2800 sq ft to heat/cool back then. Now I have 900 sq ft and can afford to heat or cool it.

But I still like the windows open when I sleep. I also have some affection for the dream I had. I have quite a few times thought my sis was staying here. (She lives a half hour away,) But I have never dreamed my parents were here. All of which is a story for another post sometime. But for now I am still luxuriating in my fleece pajamas, with my thermostat set to 75°.

Love and light, and HEAT to all!

Baby, It Was COLD Outside

I love sleeping with the windows open, fresh air wafting through my small house. Sleep is better with the windows open. It’s much sounder, more dreaming, much deeper sleep.

If the overnight temps are going to be in the 60’s, then it’s good to leave the windows open all night. Even if it’s in the low 70’s. But if you go below 60°, into the 50’s, it’s too cold. I was reminded of that l them when I realized it was all a dream, no one but me was there. Talk about a deep sleep, and a very confused 5 minutes of wakefulness. And I was still freezing, awake or asleep.

I finally decided to brave the cold, and climbed out of bed. I walked to the thermostat and turned the heat on. The house was 68° when I did that. I climbed back in bed after changing into a pair of fleece pajamas (told you I was freezing) and pulled the comforter up to try to allay the shivering. I finally decided around 7:45 to get up and make some coffee. On the way to the kitchen I walked past the thermostat, and temp in the house was 72°. Still chilly but much warmer. I checked the outside temp, wondering why it got so cold in the house, and it was 54°! Way too cold for open windows! And a long way from 65° which my phone’s weather app predicted.

I put on a lightweight cardigan, which I keep near my couch in case I get chilly watching TV at night when the AC is on and it tends to blow right on me. I was still freezing though the shivers seemed to have subsided. Finally, I was awake enough to know none of my family was there (though my parents might have been, with their view from another realm. But not so I could see them.) I checked my blood glucose, which was borderline low, and ate some fresh fruit to try to bring it up a little. Between that and my 2 cups of fresh coffee I was by now well awake.

But still cold. I was cold to the bone, for sleeping with a thin summer nightshirt and just a sheet and light blanket. It took me at least another hour before I was no longer cold, except for my hands. And, I still had on my fleece jammies. Outside, at 10:15, it had only gone up from 54° at 6:30 AM to 58°.

When I think about it, back when I lived in New England, I would have been happy to find my house at 68° when I woke up. I had fuel oil heat, and couldn’t afford it in the winter so I generally kept the house below 65° when I wasn’t home, and at night (sometime aided by a small portable heater in my room.) But now that I live in FL, 68° is cold, lol. And 54° is pretty cold for the outside temp here, but fairly common in January and February. Forget about raising the temp to 72°, that would have never happened in the winter up north. Rarely in the summer either, when I tended to cool the house to maybe 78°. I was a pretty cheap old lady then. But I had 2800 sq ft to heat/cool back then. Now I have 900 sq ft and can afford to heat or cool it.

But I still like the windows open when I sleep if it’s not too cold. I also have some affection for the dream I had. I have quite a few times thought my sis was staying here. (She lives a half hour away,) But I have never dreamed my parents were here. All of which is a story for another post sometime. For now I am still luxuriating in my fleece pajamas, with my thermostat set to 75°.

Love and light, and heat! for all.

A Day in The Life

It’s chilly in Florida today. In fact, it’s been chilly since I came back from Colorado. Not chilly like it was there, but chilly for Florida. Like into the low 50’s or even the 40’s, God forbid. Cold enough to wear socks to bed. Because, I cannot get warm when my feet are ice cold, and if they don’t warm up within a half hour of shutting my light out, I have to wear socks. Like an old lady.

But then, I guess I am old, somewhat. 71, almost 72. So I don’t really give a shit if someone thinks I am an old lady for wearing socks to bed, and truth be told, who the fuck would know? Unless I told them, and the only person I told, I think, is Daniel. Who also wears socks to bed. So there.

Last night I was at his house. We watched hockey, The Tampa Bay Lightning, from 4 to about 7. Then I made a pbj for dinner and we put on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football game, which is otherwise known in these parts as The Brady Show. Only last night did not go their way, they lost by a mile, and are out of the playoffs. Tom Brady did not put on a good show. (31-14 against the Dallas Cowboys.) Oh well. No 8^th ring for Tom Brady. Most of us think he should have stayed retired last February, because he definitely is not up to the kind of performance we are used to from him. I watched it til the 4^th quarter, and then it was painfully obvious that it was a losing proposition, and I went to bed.

I like football ok, but am not an avid fan, like I am of the Lightning. I would have watched the hockey game til the end, but the Bolts won it handily in 3 periods, 4-1 against the Seattle Kraken. So the Bolts started their 5 game road trip with two wins. They have 3 more games until they are home, I think.

I woke at about 6:15 this morning, absolutely starving. I had a few pieces of cut up fruit and then went back to bed. I curled up next to Daniel, and we both went back to sleep. Me until about 8:30, Dan til about 10:15 or so. So, as is our custom, we sit at the table in the kitchen and rehash the overnight news from our phones. Until this morning about 11:00 he realized it was Tuesday and he had to take his brother to the doctor, which is a weekly occurrence. This week it’s worse, he has to take him to another dr onThursday, and maybe on Friday, though Friday could be an appointment for Dan. Then he has to take his mother to an appointment on Monday.

He goes on all the dr appointments because neither his 96 year old mother or his 71 year old brother can hear, even if their hearing aids are on. So he listens to the drs, and then fills his brother/mother in on what the dr. said. His mother was told to get herself to a kidney dr, and she refuses to go. The dr told her it wasn’t optional, that she NEEDS to see the kidney dr. So, since she refuses, I’m taking a guess that kidney failure may be what does her in. Not that I’m hoping for it, but it seems like she was told vehemently to go, so I’m taking a guess her kidneys are not in good shape. I just hope she doesn’t

put herself in any pain from not going.

I left Dan’s around noon. I went to the grocery store, since I didn’t feel like I had any decent options for dinner at my house. I came home, put the stuff away, and decided to go sit on my back deck and read. I love reading out there, especially as the day winds down and I don’t have to deal with the sounds of construction from across the street, where they are building a 2-story home with a garage, filling almost the entire property with this house. A yard is non-existent here. The lot is about 3900 sq. ft, and the house takes most of it. The lot was sold for $101,000. Ridiculous for such a teeny, tiny lot. But the values here in Gulfport are crazy anyway.

As it was, it was too cool outside to sit out there long, so I came in and read. Fell asleep a couple times while doing so. Boring day, really. But it was nice to be home.

Tomorrow I am going to do reiki on a friend who has sciatica, something new to her. She is walking with a cane, so I know she is in some pain. Maybe reiki will help her. I hope so. It’s been a long while since I did it on anyone, because I was gone for so long to Colorado.

My grandson is so funny, speaking of Colorado. He learned so many things while I was there, like clapping, crawling up the stairs which gives every adult in the room a heart attack as we all leap up and try to bring him back down the stairs. He can’t walk, just crawl, but he is FAST. He also learned to play Peek-A-Boo, and it’s so funny. He covers one eye so he can still see you and where you are. He did it on Facetime with me, and put his hand up on his forehead, not covering his eyes. He also does a high-five. He’s so adorable, I love that baby so much.

Needless to say, I am looking quite forward to Florida weather returning here. But it will be awhile. Usually warms up in February. And many people, I know, would say “Count your blessings when it’s above 65° in January.” So with that in mind, I will be grateful I’m not in Colorado and that Florida is bound to warm up soon.

Love and light to all.

About to Head Home

I’m still in cold and snowy Colorado. I’m certainly enjoying the time with the grands, and my son and his girlfriend, but honestly, I am ready to go home. I miss my life, I miss Dan, and my good friends in Gulfport. But it’s another week away, so I have been working to manifest good weather on January 10. I’m flying Southwest, and I’m hoping that they have all their problems resolved.

I’ve been staying in the basement, where there’s a spare bathroom, and a spare bedroom, laundry, etc. I’m sleeping on an airbed, because it’s much firmer than the extra bed and much easier on my back. Early this morning I heard my son running up and down the stairs. He made a lot of noise doing this, because he’s a big man. So I finally decided I might as well get up and go see what was going on.

Turns out my grandson had been vomiting for a couple hours, all over his mom, and his mom and dad’s bed. And he was not a happy guy. I’m just glad he didn’t throw up after I got up. My son, who had to go to work, was so nauseous from cleaning up that mess. They were both (Mom and Dad) exhausted. And I feel a little useless in this circumstance, because grandson isn’t comforted by me holding and rocking him. He just doesn’t know me well enough. Anyway, he was fine a couple hours later, though very tired.

Poor little guy. Just glad no one else caught it.

I’m flying home Tuesday, and it’s making me anxious. Denver airport is SO busy, the TSA lines are legendary. But I’m going to ask for wheelchair assistance because it’s way too far for me to walk. And I have TSA pre-check so hopefully the lines won’t be as long, and with a wheelchair I should get moved right along. Then fly for 4 hours, read and sleep. And I’ll be home. I am anxious to get home. I think I overstayed my visit. It would have been better to stay only 2 weeks, but that’s hard to do over Christmas. I wanted to beat the real holiday traffic so came here on the 15^th of December, and am returning Jan 10 (Tuesday), and I’m hoping all the people going home after the holiday have already gone.

I hate traveling by air. Hoping the plane leaves on time, not 6 hours late like when I came. I can deal with an hour, even two, but not6 hours. So wish me luck.

Since I’ve been here, Lucian, my grandson has learned to climb stairs, clap, play peek-a-boo interactively (meaning in return for us hiding our faces/eyes, he will then cover his eyes, well, one of them, and try to surprise us back. It’s so cute. It’s amazing to spend time with him, and watch him develop right in front of my eyes. Such a blessing.

While I love spending the time here and being with everyone, I am doubtful I would do it again, especially not in the winter. It’s just too cold and dry for me. My lips are ridiculously chapped, and my fingertips are cracked on the corners. I’m always cold here. I would feel better about the traveling if Dan were with me. It is what it is. Soon I’ll be home, and I can’t wait.

I’m trying to manifest a trip home that’s safe, and easy. If anyone wants to send some energy my way toward that end, I’d be so grateful. Love and light to all.

The Holidays in Colorado, With Son and His family

Happy holidays to everyone.

I am in Colorado, at my sons house. I came here on the 15^th of December, and I’m staying til January 10. Since I’m flying Southwest, I am hopeful that 2 more weeks is enough time for them to straighten out the mess that was created by the huge storm, and Southwest’s weird way of scheduling, etc. Whatever. I guess if I can’t get out by the 10^th I’ll just stay at my son’s another day or three.

My grandson has been the highlight of this trip. He’s a little over 11 months old. He can crawl with speed, is working on getting up the stairs, says Da-da, (yells it, actually) and says Ba-ba, which is apparently what he’s calling anyone who isn’t Da-da. Including me, his mother, his sister… He has also learned to clap his hands, which is adorable to watch. He laughs a lot, especiallyif someone plays peek-a-boo with him

Damn, is he cute! His cousin who is 13 months old is here a lot, a beautiful little girl. They have such a good time together (though Lucian is still prone to grab stuff out of her hands at times.) It’s just been so much fun to have kids around at Christmas. The amount of presents under the tree was staggering, mostly because of the kids, but also because there were about 10 adults from the Lucian’s mother’s family here, all with presents for each other. It was, to understate it, quite chaotic. Especially for me because I am getting close to 72, and live alone, in a nice warm place. So the babies, Lucian’s big sister, and all these adults, and the resident dog and cat….I was slightly overwhelmed.

It has been cold here. (Like everywhere else.) The Thurs and Fri before Christmas it was -12 when we got up. And the highs for those 2 days was like +2, or +7….BRRRRRRR. It snowed a bit those 2 days, white powdery snow, that turned very icy very quick. But then the weekend was good, in the 40’s or maybe 50. Tues it was 68! Last night we were supposed to get 3” to 6” of snow, we got over a foot. Now its back down to temperate for this time of year. Crazy weather here.

Christmas night I had a long awesome conversation with Ellena, my 10 yr old granddaughter. She is wise beyond her years. She was showing her mom, dad and me the wooden box I gave her full of art supplies. It is her passion and she is SO talented. As we were talking about all kinds of stuff, she said to me, “Look at this! We started with something fairly small, (the box of art supplies) and it expanded into this big conversation.” Wow. Gotta love that girl. Since Gulfport (where I live in FL) is so full of artists, I told her next time she comes to see me, I want my artist friends to meet her, and her to meet them. They would love her.

I’ve been trying to help clean the house up, just because it needs it. It is not a priority for anyone who lives here, I seem to be the only person bothered by the mess. So I decided to kind of try to turn a blind eye, and let them live the way they want. I’ll pick up the toys and try to keep the kitchen cleaned up, but I tend to wear myself out doing stuff that no one really cares about. Example of the chaos: I brought my laptop here. My son plugged it in to charge it and I didn’t know it, and thought I’d lost it. Yesterday my daughter-in-law found it, 10 days or so after I got here, and luckily just before I actually bought another laptop. Thank God, I didn’t have to spend that money. That’s also why I’ve not written in a while.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate. And hoping everyone has a great New Year’s. Love and light to all.

November 8: Elections, Full Moon, and Total Eclipse. Wow! Lots of Energy!

I missed the eclipse. Dang it. For some reason (probably my own inability to understand what I read about it) I thought it was tomorrow morning. Although, I do know that the date changes at midnight so tomorrow morning would be Nov. 9^th. Not 8^th. Talk about stupidity.

I am pretty confident that whatever energy I would have gotten from it, had I been awake at 5 AM today, would still seep into me. Like reiki, you can fall asleep during a session, the benefit to you doesn’t change (unless you are the practitioner! Obviously the practitioner can’t go to sleep!).

I admit to waking up feeling a little strange. Like in some kind of nervous anticipation. I attributed it to the election. With so many close races, among candidates who are diametrically opposed, and are very close in the polls. It’s just scary to think about the direction this country may take. But it may have been the full moon and the total eclipse sending those vibes. I hope so……

I don’t think I want to watch the news today or tonight. I don’t believe they will be able to call these close and oppositional races by the time I am in bed tonight because of all the mail-in ballots (mine one of them). I am grateful that the Tampa Bay Lightning has a game tonight which will preclude me from watching all the pundits make their predictions, because that’s what I believe is all we will see tonight. And hell, we’ve been watching them and reading them for months now.

I just want them to tell me who won, when they know.

I’m so sick of election ads, and texts, and emails. I voted weeks ago. Don’t need a reminder 10 times a day. I wish we were like the European countries, (I think it’s the UK but not sure) that only allow campaigning for 3 weeks. Lord, ours goes on for months and months, and by the time of the election I am so sick of it.

And you know, as soon as this election is over they will start on the 2024 election, 2 years away.

In other news, I am going to my son’s in Colorado for Christmas. He really wants me to come, and it’s my grandson’s first Christmas, so I’m going. But honestly, I told him next time I’m coming when it’s nice there. Like July or August when the weather is close to intolerable here in Florida.

My adorable grandson is now 9 ½ months old, and has his 3^rd and 4^th teeth coming in, so he’s earning the nickname “drooly boy.” He has learned to say “Da Da Da Da Da” ad infinitum and it’s SO cute. When son or daughter-in-law Facetime me with him, as soon as I say “Hi Lu! It’s gramma!” He breaks into this huge smile, as if he recognizes my voice. Which maybe he does because we Facetime a couple times a week.

This Sunday Dan bought us tickets to see “The Last Waltz”, the story of the group The Band’s last concert. It’s a theatrical presentation, at a theater in St. Pete. I’m looking very forward to it. (It’s also a movie you can catch on Amazon Prime.) It’s a great venue, in a great location. We’re going to dinner beforehand. It promises to be a great night out!

I’m very grateful to have these wonderful things to look forward to. Kind of tempers whatever happens at the polls today.

Love and light to all.

Tampa Dodged a Bullet. I Wish All of Florida Did.

What a difference a day (or two) makes. A week ago we thought, from all the reports then, that Tampa was in the bull’s eye from Ian. Over the weekend they postponed it until Tuesday. Tuesday came and went, as we all were busy prepping. Then Wednesday came and it finally began to look and feel stormy.

Tuesday I went to Dan’s and collected his mother against her wishes, to bring her to my house. My house is not in a flood zone, I have a gas stove, gas hot water heater, and a gas grill. With a generator thrown in for good measure. However, she’s a couple months shy of 96 and didn’t want to leave her home. She really never goes out unless it’s to a doctor appt. So, she is only comfortable in her own home. However, her and Dan’s house are only 6’ above sea level (mine is 22’) and both homes are in Flood Zone A, the most likely to flood zone. Had the storm surge come in as was predicted,at 5’-10’ above sea level the water would have been in the house. So we told her that it’s not an option for her to stay home alone.

Wednesday the storm started ramping up, as was predicted. But the landfall prediction moved south, to Ft. Myers. By Thursday morning, we found that the storm wasn’t coming here, the wind was down to probably about 50 mph. Instead of us having a direct hit, we dodged a bullet. There were a lot of branches and palm fronds down, a few trees fallen over, but nothing terrible. Meanwhile, the poor folks south of us will take months if not years to recuperate. My heart breaks for them.

Tampa Bay and our bay in Gulfport, Boca Ciega Bay, never had a storm surge. The wind must have made a pact with the tide god, because, as it did with Irma 5 years ago, the storm sucked the water out of the bays, and it came back in slowly, with no problem at all. No one in my small town on the water was flooded, the commercial district was dry, it was wonderful

Dan’s mother kept trying to get him to bring her home. But she had no electricity, so no AC, no ability to cook, no TV, no computer. We ordered dinner out, at the Italian restaurant in town which is our favorite, picked it up, and as we finished the power company texted Dan that his power was back on. So we packed up his mother, which is a chore with a 96 year old woman, but got her home, and she was happy to be there.

Thank God, because she was miserable when she was here and he and I both knew it. It’s hard enough caring for someone that can’t get around, and is so easily confused, so argumentative, and just downright mean at times. Not to mention she’s basically deaf, and everything has to be repeated to her, and what doesn’t, only doesn’t because what she hears is half the story and you don’t know she didn’t hear you until she tries to repeat things back and nothing makes sense. I have been trying to find more compassion in my heart all week, but forgive me, I was so glad to see her go. I wouldn’t have done it any different, I mean, I could never have made her go to a shelter, or try on her own to figure out how to get herself to dry ground. I have no problem cooking for everyone, or any of it. It’s just her temperament. It’s frustrating to be trying to deal with her, especially under a stressful situation like a hurricane.

But anyway, we got through it, and I am enjoying having my house to myself again, and Dan is enjoying peace and quiet at his house.

But the people who live south of here….. I feel so sorry for them, I mean the towns down there were flattened with 150 mph winds and 12’-18’ storm surge. That’s 12’ to 18’ above the ground. I don’t even know how many lives were lost. They had so little time to prepare, because until Tuesday, late, everyone thought it was coming to Tampa.

I hope everyone is safe and well. It’s been a stressful few days, but today we were all saying the storm blew summer away, which is a good thing here. Today is was 75°, and fairly dry, not a cloud in the sky. Just heavenly.

Love and light, and many prayers of thanks, and concern going out tonight.

End of Summer Wrap Up

As summer winds down, I find myself looking forward to the cooling down of Florida. Maybe not so many thunderstorms, which occur daily. (Tampa Bay has the most lightning strikes in the country, and it gets wild here in July and August.)

I started a project at home last week. Complete and total. Down to the plaster walls. I took out the ancient bathtub and am having a walk-in shower installed. All new tile, new vanity, lights, fan, toilet. The bathroom needed the attention bad. I’ve been staying at Dan’s because obviously, the house is without a working bathroom for probably another week. I’m so excited about this makeover. My house is 100 years old, well almost. 96 years to be exact. When the contractor took down some of the walls, he found newspapers from 1945 and another from 1938. I assume it’s been done over since then, but a complete teardown.

I started up with physical therapy again for my back/leg/hip issues. The first couple visits were torturous, but now, my third week in, I am feeling better and stronger. The insurance gave me 3 weeks, and I’m hoping I can get 3 more after this. I finally feel like I’m making progress getting the pain down, and feeling stronger every day. I am tentatively going to my son’s house in CO for the holidays, so would like it stronger by then.

My little grandson continues to be the light of my life. He’s the happiest baby I’ve ever known, his face always lights up when son FaceTimes me with Lucian next to him and I say, “Hi Lu!! It’s Gramma!) He has recovered so well from his open heart surgery. He’s experimenting with standing up now, and may be thinking about crawling. I talked with him and his big sister today before sister went to school.

Anyway, life is rolling along here. It’s hot, around 90 every day, humid, around 65% to 75% daily. You can’t sit outside basically. But soon all this hot stuff will blow away, and we’ll have our beautiful FL weather back.

Love and light to all.