12 Oakdale

Knackered, the Word of the Day at my EarlyBird Toastmaster’s meeting Thursday was eerily appropriate since that was exactly what I was. In a moment of insanity, I had said, yes, I do want the huge sectional sofa that Jamey had offered us. It is furniture that won’t go to their new townhouse. He’d sent pictures of the dimensions which I’d taped out on the living room floor. It would fit, and we would have a big enough sofa to actually lie down on. I often read on one of our two loveseats that Mary and I bought at Macy’s Furniture maybe 10 years ago. I don’t mind leaning against one arm with my legs hanging off the other. That’s are way too short for Grant. The only catch in the plan is that the sofa is in DC. They hope to move to the new place by the end of February. However, we’re birding in Belize February 2-13, Mary and kids are visiting after that for a couple of weeks, Jamey and April are off on vacation January 28th. I had Windermere Tree Giveaway Saturday. Bottom line: we rented ...

I have been wild and exhausted with anxiety. Grant’s passport was stuck in limbo at the US passport agency, and there didn’t seem to be any way to break it loose. We had applied for renewal of our passports back in October, using a new online process: create an account at MyTravel.gov, fill in the form, upload a headshot from our iPhone, and pay $130 by credit card. Easy peasy. I finished mine October 15th, and got an email notification the next day my application had been received. Grant could not create an account at MyTravel.gov. I’m still not clear why, but after several days of his being very frustrated by numerous attempts to use his normal email address, he just couldn’t seem to make it work. I suggested a different email address. I ended up creating it for him using my address at Yahoo. Not really a big deal, except I don’t use that one much, and I can’t remember the password. Fortunately, I have it open on my cellphone, so I could check for any emails that came in.  On Oct...

I have been deemed healthy by my doctor after having my first Medicare Wellness Assessment. Not quite an annual physical, because there wasn’t much laying of hands, only weight, blood pressure, and his listening to a few deep breaths. Mostly Q&A about how I feel and whether I drink too much or exercise too little. No and no. The bottom line is that my core continues to be healthy and my extremities are fraying. I’m pleased that I am so healthy, even without adding, for a person my age. I’m disappointed/annoyed/sad there don’t seem to be any remedies for my aching hands and sore shoulders. The pain is enough to make it hard to sleep sometimes, but not enough to do much more than take the occasional ibuprofen. Nothing on the horizon for more help for osteoarthritis, nor for tinnitus, my two major complaints. I agreed to a bone density test, nixed a mammogram, and settled for a noninvasive colon cancer screening. I’m concerned about osteoporosis. Living long makes that a certainty. Ca...

2023 has started with deep fog and temperatures in the mid-60s. A lazy morning to begin our new year. Grant remains abed, recovering from his cold, which produced a copiously runny nose and not much fever. I’m debating whether I’ll get it. Everyone is so twitchy about even the slightest cough. We are supposed to go to Fort Lauderdale tomorrow for a brunch with our covenant group, so we both need to be well. We will decide whether to go or not when Grant gets up and assesses his health. I want to see our friends, some for the first time in 2+ years; I don’t want to do the drive down and back. I stayed up last night to watch the Sugar Bowl, which Georgia won at 12:01 AM, 42-41, when Ohio State’s kicker missed a short field goal. The earlier Fiesta Bowl was a slow game, with TCU rolling over Michigan 51-45. For dinner in front of the TV, Grant broiled scallops and shrimp which he served with rice and a cucumber-radish salad. I put out a plate of all of the remaining Christmas cookies we’d...

 

It wasn’t a white Christmas like in most of the rest of the country, but it was dang cold. Three nights in the 30s this weekend. Something seemed odd when I brought in my orchids, then I realized there were no lizards jumping around inside like always happened in South Florida. I’m still not quite used to living here. Per tradition, we started the day with oyster stew. Annie and Grace each got a tablespoon of broth, which they lapped right up, or would that be right down? Afterwards, both took long baths, then withdrew to their respective sleeping areas. Neither are interested in going to their kitty litter boxes on the porch. Several times we pitched them out our bedroom door, and each time, they raced over to their cat door and come right back in. One time, Annie stopped for a peek into the little cave I made William by hanging a towel to cover the doorway of his shelter. She’s too big to get all the way in, so she hustled on. I am pleased that the heating pad in the roof of his area...

Spaulding and Molly have come to Orlando, combining a work trip for him with a visit with us. They are staying in Melbourne, but Sunday night we got together for dinner after walking to the end of our block to watch the Windermere golf cart Christmas parade. Grant served his vegetarian bean and corn chili with my fougasse herb bread and green salad. I made a chocolate pound cake and bought Santa’s White Christmas ice cream at Publix. I resisted serving the SWC coffee I have.  Patten and Ryann brought their dogs, which sent both our cats to ground: Annie into her preferred closet,  Gracie under the down comforter on our bed. For a few minutes, Mimi wandered around, looking for, but not finding them. Since pit Bobby would eat them without out pause, we closed the bedroom doors. Bobby is a sweet dog, but genes are genes. Of course, one of the boys had to rearrange my “Merry Christmas “ blocks.  I am so delighted that my children enjoy each other’s company and our’s. If I cou...