Snorlax

 

That sheet in the photo is filled with poly beans.  Of course, that is most of the beans.  There was a few/a bunch of beans strung around everywhere.  In the seams of my machine, in the carpet, on the walls of the bathtub.  I followed the suggestion of  Yamster and did stand in the tub to put most of the beans back inside Snorlax. 

There reached a point where the tub, which is an oversized one, could not hold me, Snorlax, and all the bags of beans.  I moved to the bedroom floor along with Snorlax.  It was a successful move.  After several attempts, the remaining two bags of beans were added to Snorlax.

Now it looks like the younger brother in A Christmas Story.  

Got it done but it was quite the fight as my arm showed.  Old person's skin is fragile.  As are all the little veins under the skin.  But Snorlax is Done!

There may be a few more beans I missed when I vacuumed out the tub and the floor.  The number of beans was so much less than what we have been dealing with over the last few days.  Robbie had maybe a dozen or so in his bin this morning.  Here are his two drawings from this morning.

Robbie's first drawing.  Maybe a duck drinking coffee?  That is a stretch.  The second is just a single line.  It could be a profile of a gorilla.  Life's fun looking for the little things to enjoy.

Y'all take care out there in the world.   

Janice

Putting It Back Together

Putting things back together can be challenging.  Snorlax is requiring more zigzagging.  Stitching toes and fingers on Snorlax is time-consuming.  Shoulders allow only so long sitting at the sewing machine before needing to rest.  Resting means sitting in my easy chair looking at the clutter in our main living/dining/kitchen area.  Taking note of the surroundings is when one realizes stuff is not in its assigned location.  Almost March 1 and the poinsettias are still in an arrangement.  Two more holiday decorations are noticed.   A little clutter goes a long way in a 14' by 29' room.

Last evening's visitors needed a place to sleep.  Sleeping requires beds and bedding.  Now there are two sets of sheets, blankets, and pillows to be prepped for storage in space saver bags.  There are two mattresses to be rolled up and tied in place.  The rolled mattresses will each be placed in two large bags.  The bagged mattresses are hoisted on top of a storage unit in the small storage closet, aka small barn.  Finally, the bed frame will be collapsed and placed in its storage container in the 'larger barn'/storage closet.

Once all that stuff is out of the way a couple of the Christmas storage bins will be retrieved.  Those bins are at the very top of the 7 foot, 2 feet deep shelving unit in the small barn.  Items from those bins will be pulled down to replace the poinsettias. That will make room for the remaining Christmas deco to be stored till December.  After all that is back together, it will be time to restuff Snorlax.

The refill of Snorlax will sure as shootin' mean more white bean bag beans from head to toe.  Top of furniture to the floor.  Still on the front of my sewing machine.  Bean bag bean mess.  We sprayed with water, swept, and vacuumed for an hour yesterday prepping for our guests.  We are still finding the beans everywhere imaginable.  Down on the sofa under the seat cushions.  In the closet, because the silly things were clinging to the legs of my clothing.  Stuck in the ridges of my shoes.  I swear, they are worse than glitter.

Seems as though between bean bag beans and the glitter from Christmas decorations I may never get everything put back together again.  Oh, well, all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty together again.  Which makes me ask, how in the world would horses ever hope to put an egg together again?

Stay safe and I offer prayers for those who have lost loved ones.

Janice

PS:  It is 37℉, 2.7℃ which makes it cold going back and forth to storage closets.  Unheated halls and closets.  So some of the projects will wait for a warmer day.

Snorlax Sprung a Leak

The beanbag that #4 Grandson wanted for Christmas sprung a leak.  It was a small leak that Son managed to stop with the perfect fix, duct tape.  However, G#4 wanted it to be repaired properly.  To do that meant emptying the beanbag.  Oh, my.  There are now little beans from here to there.  The static electricity has the things just jumping every time they are touched by the slightest air movement.  

Jumping beans.  That is what those beans are.  We dumped the beans out of Snorlax into a fitted sheet.  It was a two-person job.  We were both covered in beans as well as everything in the general vicinity. Snorlax still has some beans inside that refuse to exit.  Snorlax will need to be turned inside out to be able to reinforce all the seams.  By that time the walls will probably be covered with more of those beans.

Right now I am taking a break from sewing the fitted sheet closed.  I am doing it by hand.  Methinks I should have done most of the sheet closure using the machine before filling with the beans.  Hindsight is 100% perfect.  

Oh, the fitted sheet with the beans inside will be placed inside the repaired Snorlax.  That way should there be another seam split the beans will be contained in the liner.  Hopefully, we will not have to do the jumping bean mess again.  

Once I was able to remove the majority of the beans stuck to Snorlax I began the repair.  As I examined the entire bag several other weak areas were detected.  Some time was spent zigzagging the entire bag.  I did have to stop long enough to clean up the bean mess.  And, yes, there were beans up about one foot on the wall next to where I had debeaned Snorlax.  Cousin is dropping by on her way back home.  We'll have dinner out then come home and visit.  Snorlax completion will have to wait until tomorrow.  

Thursday Thoughts

Today is a tense day for folks I know and folks I'll never know.  Erica is in Las Vegas with her daughter.  Erica will be getting an up-to-date evaluation of her Alzheimers.  Erica has been turned down for Medicaid.  This is a person who has to have help dressing.  I am now sure how she could have been rejected but she was.  Hopefully, the new evaluation will aid in the approval process.  If approved there will be multiple services available for Erica.  Transportation, health care, and even adult daycare.

When my mother was in her final two years of life it became necessary to seek Medicaid for her.  She had used up all the funds from her savings.  While we sisters did what we could there was only so much three retired women could afford to do.  Youngest Sister #4 spent hours and hours working through all the paperwork, phone calls, and constant checking on the status of the approval process.   Those hours and hours lasted week after week, running into months.  Cierra does not have that kind of time to get the approval of her mom.

The other folks I am concerned for are the Ukraine citizens.  There is not a thing I can do for those folks other than pray.  That is one helpless feeling to not be able to help.  Have to rely on the resolve of national leaders throughout the world.  I know there have been times the US government has been the aggressor.  An example is the destruction of the buffalo herds as a way to defeat the Native Americans.  Slavery has been used from the beginning of time by most conquerors.  No nation can stand blameless.  That does not give any nation an out to look the other way while Putin attacks Ukraine.  I have neither control nor influence on the situation.

Took a lot of years to accept the fact I have zero control over anything except me.  And I do not even do a good job of that.  That is the human side of me.  Cause that is all I am.  A human willing to do what is helpful to those I can.  Guess this is sort of a rambling post.  That is the way thoughts are.  Thoughts that ride on the brain cells.  Unless the cells have turned to plaque.  In that case, someone may help me dress one morning.  A short time later the person looks up and sees me naked.  Will my response be like Erica's?

"Mom, what happened to your clothes?", inquired Cierra.

"They just fell off!" replied Erica.

"Guess we'll just go put them back on and hope they don't fall off again."  Cierra is one good daughter.

And to leave you with a bit of levity, here is Robbie's drawing of the day.  Looks like a Shetland pony with a weight problem.  If you use your imagination.

Y'all all have a safe day out there.  Ice on the trees is melting but I think I'll just stay in and enjoy the warmth of the apartment.

Janice

PS:  Keep an eye on your clothing.  It might just decide to fall off.

Granny Chandler and The Space Age

What would Granny think about a robot sweeper?  Today is my Granny Chandler's birthday.  In this photo, she is the same age as I am now.  Born in 1883 in the hills of Tennessee.  Helped make a living for her siblings after the death of her father.  The Tom Mantooth family eventually all migrated to Texas and Oklahoma.  That's where she met Marvin Chandler and the family tree took root.

Granny was really good at accepting change and improvements.   She willing went from kerosene to an electric stove.  While Granddaddy kept the buggy, Granny was always up for a car ride.  Indoor plumbing and automatic washers were fine by her.  So I am pretty sure she would have been fine with a machine sweeping the floor.

Robbie the Robot has been leaving some interesting patterns of late.  Today looked as if he may have not been inspired.  It appears he had a bit of trouble finding an exit from under the sofa.  Some days he has no problem, others he seems to just go in circles.

As I looked at Robbie's 'drawing' today I thought of how it sort of represents my 2021.  Some days and weeks there would be a straight line of routine.  Other times I seemed to go in circles.  Other times I lost my sense of direction completely.  There are actually times in my mind that 2021 never even happened.  

As I sit in my comfortable home in my comfortable chair a special report has just come on the air.  Russia has begun bombing two cities in Ukraine.  Why must Putin want to constantly stir the pot?  Not just Putin but does anyone need to be aggressive?  It is as if some people just need some sort of drama all the time.  As my dear friend, Donna, once observed, "Not everything has to be a drama."   Putin is way out of line, again.

Well, this post took a direction I did not expect.  Granny watched her two sons go off to war against another bully over 80 years ago.  Here are communications from those uncles.

 

Be safe,

Janice

Robbie's on a Roll

Yesterday Robbie pulled one of his old tricks.  And it was a level two trick.  The hutch is next to Robbie's charging station. The opening under the hutch is high enough for Robbie to fit in for 90% of the opening.  The 5% on each side is about 3/8 inch too low for Robbie to exit.   Like anything, Robbie always tried to exit in the 5% areas.  He would get caught as you can see here.  Eventually, we developed a cover that fit across the entire front of the opening.  The solution has worked for almost two years.

After manually starting the cleaning cycle, DJ and I left to take Erica to her sister's for the day.  Upon returning home I saw no sign of Robbie or the charging station.  That is when I noticed Robbie had somehow pulled the cover away from the hutch. . . and was stuck trying to get out in the 5% area.  I began pulling him out and realized he had entangled the power cord of the charger in the middle roller.  Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!  

After disentangling the cord I made sure to capture Robbie's drawing up to the point of getting stuck. Note that the top of the photo has a failure notice.  That was a result of the entangled power cord.  

What do you see as you look at the drawing?  Me, it brought to mind a soldier kneeling with a rifle laying nearby.  A bit too relevant with all the military actions in Ukraine.  Does Robbie listen to the news, too?  He is connected to our Google Home network.  

It was obvious that Robbie had not completed his cleaning task, so he was restarted.  He functioned for a shorter length of time.  Here is the drawing for that portion of the cleaning.

I see Kokopelli, the fertility diety.  I guess Robbie is taking advantage of the Google Home connection.  Gathering ideas for the drawings?  Anything is possible in these digital days.

Today Robbie's drawing is almost two in one in my mind.  The upper part reminds me of a cityscape with a few tall buildings.  The bottom when turned 90° to the right gives the effect of a person leaning against their hand.  What do you think?

Robbie is having some fun.  Or maybe it is just me and my imagination.  Maybe that is what being closed in for over two years has done to my mind.  I am good with it.  After all it is the small things that make life good and worth living.

One last photo of our sweet weekend visitor, DJ.  She likes to stay close to us at all times.  Here she is waiting for her favorite human, Grandpa, to finish his shower.  Looks like she may take a nap as Grandpa moves a bit slowly.  

You folks take care wherever you are.

Janice

Robbie's Day Off

DJ the dog is staying with us this weekend.  Almost two years ago a situation arose between the dog and the robot vacuum.  That event is covered in this post.  Needless to say, Robbie does not ever run when DJ visits.  Turned off, unplugged, and locked in the closet.  Not ever gonna have to clean up that mess again.  As a result, no Robbie drawing for today.  Fortunately, I married a man who always gives me plenty of material for writing.  Today is no exception.

Hubby has decided he wants to make jerky for our son.  Hubby knows Son always enjoys a good jerky treat.  Hubby will do anything for that man.  Hubby's commitment to Son's happiness has been long-lived.  I was working a swing shift and Hubby was responsible for dinner.  As a child Son loved the mashed potatoes and gravy from Col. Sanders.  No matter what the main course was from another take-out restaurant, Hubby would get Son an order of gravy and potatoes from Col. Sanders.  And now he makes jerky for Son.

The meat for the jerky has been in the fridge soaking in a special marinade for a day or so.  The last batch of jerky was only dried in the oven.  This batch needed to be smoked for an hour or so in the smoker.  Hubby's smoker is one of those Green Egg knockoffs.  That means there is an entire 30-gallon tub packed with stuff he needs to make the smoker smoke.  The tub is too heavy to carry, therefore Hubby comes outside with the tub on the cart we use to haul groceries from the car into the apartment.   

We decided to add some chicken breasts and cod fillets to the smoker.  Since he has gone to all the trouble to get the smoker to smoke, why not.  The chicken is placed in the bag of leftover marinade.  A plank is soaked to hold the cod while smoking it.  Once these items are ready I place them on the side table on the patio.  And DJ makes a beeline for the food.  Fortunately, I see this in time to grab the tray to avoid DJ eating frozen cod fillets.

Remember that 30-gallon bin with all that equipment?  That is spread all over the table, patio floor, and chair.  The tabletop has to be rearranged to make room for the food to keep it out of DJ's reach.  I do mention that things seem to be spread about.  Hubby huffs and begins packing away some of the items no longer needed.  I go back to the kitchen to begin the prep of vegetables for the rest of dinner.  A short time later I notice people talking outside our patio.  That is when I discover what all the talk and laughter is about.

Grandpa is giving DJ a ride in the cart.  He says she needed a ride.  Some of the other apartment dwellers were enjoying Grandpa and the dog.  She sat like a queen in the bins we use to transport our groceries.  There is one thing missing from the cart.  The 30-gallon bin with all the smoke-producing equipment.  It is midnight and that is still on the patio.  Just like Son gets his own specially made jerky, DJ gets cart rides.  That bin can wait until tomorrow.  Gotta love that sweet Grandpa/Dad/Hubby.

Take care out there.

Janice

Robbie and The Olympics

Like so many in the world, our TV has been tuned into the matches of the Olympics in Beijing.  The completions, the complications, the crashes, all the beauty, and amazing talent.  Nights I have stayed up till the wee hours of the morning, 3 AM.  The ice skating events are so beautiful!!!!  This year so many raw emotions for winners as well as those who did not win. 

It appears Robbie has become caught up in all the excitement.  When I checked the pattern of cleaning for this morning this is what I found.

There is a resemblance to a skater reaching back to grab the skate at the beginning of a twirl.  It could also be a snowboarder reaching for the board during a big jump.  We have been watching a lot of those competitions, also.  How cool that Robbie has become so excited about the Olympics.  Makes me wonder if Robbie wants to compete in some Robot Olympics.

There are robot competitions.  Many are about inspiring school-aged youth to become involved in the robotics industry.  This type of competition encourages increasing or gaining knowledge in design, programming, actual build, and other skill sets.  The general abilities of the actual robots that are built are covered in this article.

Intelligence.  ...  Robbie is programmed to move back and forth in a way to cover the space assigned.  According to the included manual, Robbie would eventually develop a pattern followed each day.  Not sure if we have detected that.

Sense Perception. ... Where the robot is in relation to its surroundings.  Robbie has three sensors.  He will slow down as he approaches an object.  The sensors require cleaning about once a month.  If The cleaning is not performed a fault of  'collision plate malfunction' displays on the app.  Basically, Robbie knocked himself out running into the dresser as an example.

Dexterity. ... This is for robots with appendages for use similar to hands.  Robbie only has brushes.  The side brushes do reach under things and along edges.  He occasionally throws his side brushes off the spindles.

Power. ... How does the robot get its power?  Robbie has a rechargeable battery that will last about 1.7 hours.  About the only thing that can be a challenge is returning to the source.

Independence.  The article explains this as a culmination of the above four skills.  Robbie does the sweeping or mopping.  We must clean the dust bin and other maintenance requirements.  In addition, when in mopping mode, we must block carpet areas to keep Robbie from mopping those!

Robbie might now medal in competition against some robots, but he does a good job when compared to other robot sweepers.  I still need a flying robot for dusting.

Thanks for stopping by for a Little of Nothin',

Janice

Robbie Drawing, Day 3

Okay, it is really simple to write every day when there is something so exciting to report!  Robbie has a new drawing.  Looks to be an elephant to me.  What do you think?

As you can see Robbie cleaned less area today.  A few of the doors were closed.  That was more an accident than intentional.  The other thing that was accidental was the dust bin.  As with every day, I had walked over to pull the bin from Robbie.  That is when I noticed I had failed to put the bin back in its proper place.  That means Robbie spent 1 3/4 hours sweeping the apartment.  And promptly blowing everything right back out into the rooms.

Robbie does his job in a timely manner.  Seems this lady of the house only does my job halfway about 50% of the time.  It would be useful to have some sort of computer in my brain to remind me to finish tasks.  

Hope all you folks take care of yourselves.  It can be a challenge some days.  We will be attending a birthday party for Erica this evening.  Those attending have all had Covid within the last 2 months.  Hope that means we will all be safe.  

Beyond this evening   We are on DJ, Lyla, and Norman care this weekend.  Bonus Grandson and DIL are heading to Arizona to look at another college.  Son is in Arkansas attending Father/Daughter weekend with Bonus Grandaughter.  Grandson #4 has asked to hang with us this weekend.  That felt good to have him ask to do that.  We will see how that works out as it is his weekend at his Mom's place.

Take care,

Janice

Robbie Drawing, Day Two

Robbie the Robot awoke exactly on time, 6:38 AM.  Working to sweep up all the bits and pieces that fall on the floor of the apartment.  The apartment is 30' by 30' minus the walls.  That is about 880 square feet.  Of course, there is furniture that is too low to get under.  In addition, there are appliances and cabinets in both the kitchen and bathroom.  A coat closet, pantry, and linen closet all reduce the exposed square footage.  

As noted yesterday, the internet connection to my phone has a diagram of all the areas Robbie cleans.  A small green dot depicts Robbie's location.  Robbie had already returned to the charger before I did the screenshot.  Today's screenshot represents all Robbie's movements.  Looks like a teddy bear to me.  Maybe standing on its head?

And the photo says the bear is hibernating.  TeeeHeeeeHeeee.

It is surely fun to have a phone that can track Robbie.  When he hides, it is easy to find him.  The controls even include programming special functions.  Spot cleaning for just a small area.  Edge cleaning to just clean the baseboard areas.  Change the bin to a moping unit and Robbie will map the hard floors.  Yes, smartphones, the internet, and good apps have changed life.  How have they changed yours?

Take care,

Janice

Does Robbie Draw?

If you visit this little bit of nothing blog very often you will have become familiar with our robot vacuum, Robbie.  The robot will usually run around our apartment for almost 2 hours.  Some days the dust bin is pretty full.  That is usually when the door is left open for the bathroom and closet.  Seems there is a lot of my grey hair and our sluffed skin in the bin those days.  A dust bin full of DNA if someone wants it.  Not....

Many days Robbie will come to the time when the battery tells the robot it is time to get recharged.  Robbie then takes a fairly straight route to the charging station.  Other days he wanders all over the apartment looking for the charger.  There is neither rhyme nor reason as to why there is a difference. 

Today Robbie had become stuck in the spokes of Hubby's office chair.  That calamity caused the memory to clear the image of where all Robbie had cleaned.  I was able to use my cell phone and restart Robbie.  He backed out of the spoke turned and began sweeping.  Immediately Robbie said in his feminine voice, "The battery is low.  Please, recharge this robot."  Such a polite Robbie.  As is usual Robbie began searching for the charging station.  

He started less than 15 feet diagonally from the station.  Only a couple of turns would have been required.   Look at the pattern he made while searching for the base.

Once I looked at the image of Robbie trying to find the base, I have decided he is just having fun drawing different shapes.  Think I will stop him when he signals the need for a recharge.  Restarting will allow me to capture his drawings to see if he is sending a message .. or something.

Take care,

Janice

Did I Write?

Nope, I missed writing on February 14.  I did post a Blue Monday Too photo.  That is not a writing post as one sentence saying where the photo was taken is insufficient.  My time was spent visiting my new friend, Erica.  We do not talk much as Erica has great difficulty saying/remembering the words.  Erica selected a random show to watch.  It may have just been a matter of pushing some buttons.  We spent the next two and a half hours watching Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.  

When the tv streaming system asked if we wanted to continue watching, Erica shook her head no.  At this point, I asked if she liked the Olympics.  Yes was her answer.  A bit of searching found the replays of the figure skating competitions.  When asked which of the competitions were her favorites.  By now the skaters were showing on tv.  Erica struggled to say the words 'ice skaters'.  Giving up, she pointed at the tv and shook her head yes.  I said skaters, agreement confirmed by a head shake.

As I become more involved with Erica I find myself having difficulty.  Emotionally draining.  I cannot even imagine how the family members deal with it.  Having a sister so courageously battling cancer tugs at me constantly.  Add to this spending anywhere from 1 to 7 hours with Erica 4 days a week is hard.  I am ashamed to admit this.  

A cousin is caring for her mother.  The mother lives a few hours from Cousin's home.  That leaves Cousin alone, hours from the support of her husband.  Cierra, a 33-year-old, has basically put her life goals on the back burner to care for Erica.  My niece has chosen to not return to work to care for my sister.  In Cierra's words today, "I want to do it for her while I can".  Sacrifice for others, for mothers that gave them life.  

Given their example, I will push through.  Continue to give what time I can.  To give support . . and prayers to the caregivers as well as those affected.

photo credit:  American Senior Communities

May you each stay well and at peace,

Janice

Sunday Shadows

For several years the blogger Magical Mystical Teacher has been hosting three photo blogs.  Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Blue Monday, and Ruby Tuesday Too give amateur photographers something to look for when out enjoying the hobby.  MMT's commitment to hosting 3 memes is an inspiration in itself.  In addition to the photo memes, MMT writes poetry.

While I usually use one of my WordPress blogs for photo memes, today I will use this one.  Earlier this week we enjoyed some time on South Padre Island.  The weather was cold for a Gulf of Mexico beach. In addition, it was windy and rainy.  Those conditions do not give many opportunities for shadow shots.  On Tuesday, the day we were leaving, the day broke with the clouds receding into the Gulf.  Time for a walk.

 Y'all take care.  And visit MMT's blog to see more shadow shots.  Or maybe you will have a shadow shot you might like to share.

Janice

Saturday Sleuth

The morning started cloudy and pleasant.  It did not take long for the cold wind to arrive and send the temperatures down about 15 degrees.  So it was not a day for walking outside.  Too chilly and windy for being outside long enough to get the needed exercise.  Off to the apartment's exercise room.  All new and updated.  Even a new recumbent exercise bike.  Such a much easier ride than the old stationary bike seat.  After a bit of sleet, the clouds eventually begin to break up and a little sunshine comes through.  

After a bit of house straightening, there is not much left to do.  Unless one wants to sew.  The decision becomes, let's watch a movie.  A mystery sounds good.   "The Silencing" is chosen and it is intense.  I'll see if I can watch it all the way through.  It is about a reformed hunter that is working with the local sheriff to trap a serial killer.  The killer hunts people.  I am rooting for the ex-hunter and the sheriff.  Definitely more intense than my favorite Hercule Poirot. 

No, Hercule Poirot  is not a reformed hunter.  His child has not been kidnapped and gone for 5 years.  There are no men running around in ghillie suits with spear launchers in the Poirot mysteries.  The mysteries are gentle and easy to follow.  This movie is an edge of seat, almost a horror movie.  Of course to find out the ending.

This blog is being written as I am watching.  The plot has taken a turn I did not even begin to expect.  There is still an awful lot of mystery left.  Not a lot of time to the end of the show.  It will certainly be interesting to see the very end.

Do take care,

Janice

Friday with New Friends

As previously noted, a new organization, PEO, has been joined by this Old Woman.  A few days ago a text came through inviting me to meet at a nearby restaurant for breakfast.  The request came from Tricia who is the president of the chapter to which I belong.  She had a packet of information for me.  Another of the members, Jo, would be joining us.

With the pandemic keeping so many people confined, there has not been an opportunity to become acquainted with much of anyone in PEO.  This organization seemed a way to have a built-in opportunity to meet some new folks.  The membership committee had asked me about myself which I shared freely.  There had not been time to learn about these ladies' backgrounds.  

One lady, Jo, had lived in numerous states.  She grew up in Pennsylvania.  Was a dental tech for a while then stopped to be a stay-at-home mom.  Eventually, once the kids had left the nest, she started working as a sales clerk for a small store.  That led to being a personal shopper.  "That was so much fun," she said.  What can be better than to be in a job that is fun?  

Tricia was a stay-at-home mom with an at-home business.  She became a portfolio manager for her MIL as the children moved into adulthood.  Her husband took early retirement.  He started an auto repair and restoration business.  Tricia became the financial officer of the business.  Again, she is working from home.

I shared a bit more of things from my life.  The fact that Hubby's uncles passed about 20 minutes apart left Tricia agast.  She said she had never heard of such a thing happening.  Yes, it was very unusual.  Uncle Trecil not feeling well and needing to go to the doctor.  Carl, my FIL, left to go to the homeplace to take Trecil to the doctor.  While he was en route, Uncle Willis called my MIL to say it did not look like Trecil was breathing.  There was a gasp and MIL could not get Uncle Willis to answer.  MIL used FIL's ham radio to get ahold of another ham operator.  That operator contacted FIL to warn him there was a problem.  Carl found his older brothers had both passed.  Uncle Willis still had the phone receiver clasped in his hand.

The more of the story I recounted, the wider Tricia's eyes opened.  When I told her the funeral home was concerned about who would dig the graves for the brothers.  Seems they dug most of the graves for the community.  The area of the country where they lived was known as the Adcock hills.  The farm they had lived on had been in the family for more than a century.  Tricia told me she thought I should write all these stories into some sort of book.  How many times have I heard that suggestion over the years?

Old friends know the stories.  Many of them lived the stories alongside me.  Now the new friends will be amazed by all the various stories that have happened around my life.  They will giggle, they may even cry at some of the stories.  Probably a few will not believe they actually happened.  Some days it is hard for me to believe myself.  

Gosh, it was pleasant to just sit, visit, and get to know some ladies down here.  I look forward to more opportunities.

Take care,

Janice

Thursday With Jacob

The friend was not able to stay with her sister.  The sister and other members of that household had tested positive for COVID-19.  Or one of the variants of the initial virus.  That meant the friend would be alone for too long.  That could likewise mean poor little Jacob might sit with crossed legs.  Time to spend the afternoon with the friend and Jacob the dachshund.

Most time spent with the friend is simply a bit of one sided conversations.  The friend has advanced dementia.  We do watch TV streaming what the friend might enjoy.  Today's picks were Georgina and Despicable Me.  We watched four episodes of the first choice.  When asked if the friend wanted to watch another episode she was quick to answer no.  That's when we moved to the second choice.

The friend ate her lunch while we watched Despicable Me.  By now it was a good guess Jacob could use a walk.  We all decided a stroll sounded great.  The sun was brith and temperature was just right.  With puppy waste bags in hand we headed for a short walk around the apartment complex.  

Jacob was pretty quick to begin taking care of his business.  That business includes over marking previous dogs and their business.  Noting a fire hydrant near Jacob made a beeline for it.  We humans laughed as Jacob lived the doggie dream of squirting a hydrant.  That's what Thursday was like with Jacob.

Take care,

Janice

Wednesday's Fun

Good coffee smells fill the room.  Eyes open to what will be a sunny day.  Just a bit of a headache will pass soon.  Hot coffee seems to chase the headache away almost every time.  There is a zoom book club meeting.  If hair is combed then I can stay in my t-shirt and position my tablet just so.  No one will know I am still in my PJs.

The days by the sea were a nice change of scenery.  We considered thinking the sound of all the nearby traffic could maybe be thought of like the sound of the surf.  If we close our eyes will it work?

Nope, not the same at all.  Guess a person just needs to live in the moment where ever they find themselves.  

Take care,

Janice

 

Tuesday Travels

 

Monday Moods

Hubby awoke with a bee in his bonnet about the cost of his medication his month. It is time for he yearly deductible.  It makes one say ouch to hear the full amount.  The result of Hubby's bee is I just spent an hour researching part D plans. Pretty much as long as it is broad.  Some plans have lower monthly rates but higher copays.  Others have higher monthly payments but low copays.  Boils down to when do you want to pay out the $$$.

Today is rainy and Monday.  No walking the beach with intermittent rain showers and howling winds.  The flags are red, the surf is high, and the temperature is unpleasant.  With the mood being a bit less than happy, I began thinking about that song, Rainy days and Mondays.  The rest of the line goes ... always get me down.  Not going to happen to me today.

With that thought on my mind I notice the sun is trying hard to break through the rain clouds.  It is my choice to enjoy this last day near the beach.  After all the rain, wind blown churning surf are all part of the glorious Creation.  The shorebirds are still diving for food and that's entertainment enough for this 75 years old woman.

Take care and enjoy the little things.

Janice

The song

Sunday Shopping 🛒

 

Sunday found the skies full of clouds, warmer, and less windy.  Checking the horizon we saw a ship.  It never came any closer than in this photo.  My friend in Scotland might find it on some map by not me.  This photo is for her.

After a few cups of wake up water and breakfast we headed for a bit of exploration.  There was a Farmer s market up the street.  We pursued it and left with no purchases.  A ride to the end of the paved road didn't take long.  

A stop at the only grocery store on the island yielded some snacking goodies.  Of course we are responsible thin and purchased needed supplies.  After that we did a loop to the other end of the island.  That did not take long at all.

Back to the condo and we broke out the lunch fixings.  There were left overs from last night, pizza and antipasto. Paired those with the bean dip and chips picked up at the only grocery store on the island.  All together these items filled our hunger needs.

Hubby shopped for some TV entertainment.  Settled on a 2019 movie filmed in the Canadian Rockies.  The Daughter of Wolves was intense and full of violence.  The Ricardos was our next selection.  No guns but still dramatic as it told about a week in the life of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.  

Dinner time and Cousin was ready for Mexican food.  Senor Donkey was the choice tonight.  Each of us ordered a different plate.  Pretty good food.  My choice was too much so we probably have lunch for Monday now.  We almost didn't as I had to walk back into the restaurant to pickup my to go box.  He to go box I asked for, filled, and promptly left on the table.

All and all it's been a good day.  Hoping tomorrow has a bit more sunshine.  If it does not, we will still enjoy.

Stay safe,

Janice

Saturday Surfside

What a change from Thursday's icy snowflurries to this view on Saturday morning.  While the sun did come out as the clouds receded into the Gulf skies, it was still chilly.  Like 36 F or 2 C.  With a 15 mph wind.  Too chilly for me to play in the surf. 

Hubby and Cousin each ventured out but I wasn't interested in getting chilled.  Cousin is very conscious of her health.  She is a health professional and has been for 43 years.  She walked the beach for her morning exercises.  She commented that she should have walked into the wind first as the last proved taxing.

Hubby did some walking.  He found a man working in a sandcastle.  The man is Andy Hancock.  He has a business on the beach teaching how to build sand castles.  Hubby did not bother Me. Hancock.  

Hubby was curious about high tide.  At 6:15 PM Hubby went back down to the  waters edge to see how the high tide looked.   He said he saw little difference.  Nothing like the 4 to 5 foot rise we saw in South Carolina.  I have searched for some answers for him.

As long as Hubby was on the shore, he snapped a photo of Mr. Hancock's creation today.  Facebook was full of folks building snow figures.  Here's what was built on the beach.

H

I did finally get out but not on the shore.  I picked up a call in order of pizza, antipasto board, and margaritas.  With good food, the new Reacher series on Prime, it was a good end to a Surfside day.

Peace,

Janice

Frazzled Friday

After two days of freezing rain, sleet, and snow the two crazy old folks pack the '99 Jeep.  They head to the beach of the Gulf.  Hopefully there will be warm sea breezes and a walk on the beach.   Instead of interstate highways, they head for the byways, also known as Blue highways.  

After a month in 800 square feet, he is ready for adventure.  There is still ice on the streets.  As soon as he tops off the gas tank, he pulls onto the street.  There is a slight skid and he smiles.  Then he does additional sideways movements for just a bit of fun.  Old Woman notes that if he is going to drive like that on the trip down, he needs to just take her back home.  She is such a killjoy.

A couple of hundred miles into the trip a sign notes there are no services for the next 60 miles.  No gas, no restrooms, no MickeyD fries.  They are in the country.  It is about this time Old Woman notices the homes along the way have satellite dishes mounted on poles that are several yards long.  High in the air similar to the height of antenna back in the day.  

As Old Man at one point in his life installed TV antenna, Old Woman points out the raised satellite dishes.  OM says that is the only way folks this far out in the countryside can have internet connectivity.  OW is suddenly returned to her childhood.  Electricity was new to the farming community.  Everyone still had kerosene lamps for when the electricity would fail.

In OW's mind she sees the bare light bulb hanging from the ceiling.  There is an additional socket with places to plug extension cords into.  The wire hanging from the ceiling is covered in a type of cloth.  It is actually two wires wound together.  Strange how one can be transported to another time and see your past.  Wires, internet, and bare light bulbs because she saw the raised satellite dishes.  

It occured to OW how internet connection will be as normal for children of this generation as electricity.  The sources of power glide past the windows of the Jeep.  Oil pumps and wind farms sharing the landscape.

graceful ballerinas 

their arms move to the will 

of the wind

Take care,

Janice