12 Oakdale

My Women’s Suffrage Necklace It is the 100-year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment to the US Constitution, recognizing women's suffrage. I refuse to say we were “given” the right to vote. That’s one of our inalienable rights, and just because some tin-horn dictator or group of male landed gentry prevented us from voting didn’t mean our right didn’t exist.  To add insult to injury, President Trump issued a pardon to Susan B. Anthony, who was convicted of illegal voting. As if, to quote a great sage. It is also the day of our Florida primary, and I believe a first for Grant and me: we conferred and discussed who we should vote for. Usually this is a don’t ask, don’t tell situation. At the top of the ticket, we are agreed; down-ballot, we often diverge. He pulled up the Orlando Sentinel’s recommendations on his iPad, and although it doesn’t seem to be as flaming liberal as our Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, still leaned pretty far left. My natural inclination is t...

Bee Balm Bill Frederick Park    We have developed/fallen into a routine that brings us pleasure. I am usually the first up, around 6:00 AM, so I do my RPM*, make coffee, and feed the cat. Annie would prefer the order reversed. Meanwhile, Grant often has arisen, but maybe not. When he does, he dresses in bike kit and goes off for his bike ride. I work in the yard with my phone nearby, just in case he needs a pick up. So far only once, when he got a flat tire. When he returns, we swim, eat breakfast, and decide on our day’s project. Sometimes house maintenance for him, paperwork for me. Other times working in the garden for us both. Maybe a nap if we feel the need. Annie always votes for that.  Thursday’s, after my EarlyBird Toastmasters meeting ends at 8:30 AM, we rush to Costco to make old people’s hour which begins at 9:00. We’ve also supported Total Wine’s over-60 time from 8:00-9:00 when we can’t get something in an online/pick up order, like margarita salt. So far the...

Hurricane Isaias’ Projected Path   Hurricane Isaias (ees-ah-EE-ahs) blew over Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, then calmed to a tropical storm and skirted the Florida coast. Our big preparation was to move Magic, the giant inflatable unicorn toy I bought Clara for her birthday, from the pool deck to the living room, just in case we got a little bit of wind. (Yes, that was easier than deflating, then re-inflating Magic.) Magic, the Unicorn   I considered putting the straps around our porch umbrellas, but decided to wait for the wind, which never came. Grant put William in a box in the garage. He was concerned we might get lots of rain, and William’s pen would flood. The rain was almost a no-show too, certainly less than some of the downpours we’ve had last month. This certainly beats all the worry and work we did for hurricanes in Fort Lauderdale. I do not miss putting up shutters. But when it rains, it pours, or at least drips a leak in our garage. I’ve had three roofers out ...