Saturday, October 31, 2015

Clocks and smoke alarms!

Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour tonight, and to change the batteries in your smoke alarms.


Sue and Margaret came to the house this morning to get some things ready to be picked up next week. It's amazing how much stuff is still there, but most of the big things are moving out. I've had a lot of tendinitis in my right ankle/lower leg area for a couple of months. At the house, I managed to trip (didn't fall) and turned that ankle. It's been really painful since, so I was definitely not helpful for most of the time they were here. We ate lunch, and then they headed home - just a day trip for both of them (4 hours each way for Sue!). The plan is for all the girls to be here next weekend to finish cleaning up the house.


After I got home, I took a pain pill, and spent the afternoon in the recliner, feet up, with an ice pack on the ankle. I didn’t go to dinner. I decided to just stay home and eat the Chinese I brought home last night. It’s feeling better now at bedtime, but I’ll still take it easy tomorrow.

Friday, October 30, 2015

Miscellany

The old landline number is finally hooked up at the apartment. And today, I disconnected the phone/internet/cable bundle from the house. Don’t worry, folks, we have graciously been given the password to our neighbor’s strong wifi signal. But the epbfi.com e-mail address is no more.
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The potential buyer came to look through the house again today. But I haven’t heard back from him yet.
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Missy was in town unexpectedly. We got together with Renna and Judy S for dinner at our favorite Chinese place. Good food and good friends - always special!
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My new Epson printer came today, and I’ve taken it out of the box. I need to get a couple of things specified in the instructions, and then I’ll see if I can get it set up tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Thursday thirteen

Thursday thirteen

1. An offer was made on the house.
2. I made a counter-offer (thanks, Beth).
3. The counter-offer was accepted (I think.
4. Meeting with them again tomorrow for another look-through.
5. Went to Silver Sneakers exercise class here. Good one.
6. The buyer of the car called - needs a death certificate.
7. Will meet him at the house Saturday.
8. Meeting Sue (and maybe Margaret) at the house Saturday.
9. Basketball tickets arrived. Yea!
10. First String Theory concert tonight.
11. Judy S. going with me.
12. Finally got the old phone number transferred to the apartment. Now I can cancel the cable/internet/phone bundle at the house.
13. Beethoven was terrific!

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

It's beginning to look a lot like home

‘Twas the 28th of October,
And all through the apartment,
Vicki’s hammer was sounding,
As pictures were hung on the walls with care.

Not all of them, but lots of the family photos are up, and a few paintings. Curtains and rods are purchased and waiting for maintenance to put the rods up for me.

It’s beginning to look a lot like home.

Monday, October 26, 2015

My momentarily quiet life

It was a very quiet weekend - really nothing going on. The rain started last night, and it's been a light rain almost constantly since then. I don't think we've has more than about an inch, though.

Mondays are an all-day thing for me now. Swimming and coffee, of course. This morning, I had my 6-month dental cleaning. Unfortunately, another one of my 50+ year old gold inlays has started to "leak". I have another appointment in a couple of weeks so the dentist can try to just remove the old inlay and replace the filling, or whether I'll need a crown. Yuck. At least it's not too bad at this point.

The cards were so-so at bridge, but it's always good to play. I haven't had a chance to see about finding folks to play bridge with here. Surely there are some who would like to do so (and aren't too bad).

Friday, October 23, 2015

Friday 5

Consumables

What dehydrated foods (meant to be consumed that way) do you enjoy?
I like most dried fruits - especially cranberries
What’s your favorite dish made by stuffing one food with another?
Turkey and dressing - what else!
What’s your favorite dish made by rolling something up?
Burritos, wraps
What’s a meal you frequently consume primarily because the cleanup is quick?
Pimiento cheese and crackers, maybe an apple for lunch
What’s a food that’s made much better because of what you sprinkle on it?Definitely cinnamon toast

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Photos

Vicki came to the apartment this morning to talk about window treatments and stuff to put on the walls.  We went by the house to pick up a few more paintings, and then to Olive Garden for lunch. She'll see that it gets done.  What a gal!
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I downloaded the pictures from the memory card in John's camera.  They were from the beach this year and from our trip to Canada.  I posted one of the last ones on my Facebook page.  I couldn't make it post here.  It's of Takkakaw Falls, on the BC/Alberta border - our favorite waterfall of all the wonderful ones we've seen.  Check it out there.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Things keep moving

I went to swimming and coffee this morning. Wayne, grandson Andy, and his fiancée Erica drove down this morning to pick up some of the things they wanted from the house. I went there first and emptied John's tall chest-of-drawers (one of the things they were taking). It was mostly socks, underwear, cargo shorts, bathing suits, sleep pants, etc. I bagged all that up to take to the homeless shelter. There was one drawer of "stuff" - most of which went straight into the trash. I did find a few trinkets to keep, though.
The guys also loaded up some of the art work from the house that I wanted over here, and carried that into the apartment for me. Before they headed home, I took them to lunch at a yummy local burger place near here. We ate so late with a full burger and onion rings, I skipped dinner tonight. Sweet Andy also hooked up my DVD player and Roku box - and posted a picture of us on Facebook.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Ten for Tuesday

This week's topic is 10 Things You Take In A Travel Tote Bag.

1. Passport
2. Wallet and Money
3. Cellphone
4. IPad
5. Charging cords
6. ATM and credit cards
7. Crostic book
8. Erasable pen
9. Knitting
10. Medications

Monday, October 19, 2015

Mondays are tough!

Mondays have gotten really tough.  Leaving home at 6:45 a.m. and not getting home until 5 p.m. makes for a VERY long day.  I'm glad I don't have to get up early tomorrow.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Sweet!

A do-nothing day!
I haven’t had one of these
In many months! Sweet.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Feeding

Last weekend when Sue and Jean were here, they put a couple of birdfeeders out on the deck. I had just noticed some birds were starting to find them. Then one morning I looked out, and both feeders were completely empty. Oh, well - I figured some critter (maybe a possum or a raccoon) had found them and cleaned them out. So I filled them again.

Yesterday morning, not only was the birdseed gone, both feeders were gone. Completely gone! I looked around, but didn’t see anything. I thought maybe I wasn’t supposed to have feeders and the maintenance people had picked them up, but… I put some seed out on a plate, but then took it inside last night. I put the plate back out today, and the birds slowly started coming to that.

This evening Carol and Stephen came by and took me out to dinner (Yummy stuff at Red Ginger Bistro!). I gave them the guided tour of the apartment. When we got to the deck, I told them about the feeders. Carol looked over the railing and noticed the flat black feeder hidden under a rose bush. Stephen went down the steps and picked that one up. While looking around, he found the yellow one hidden under the deck.

I don’t know how that raccoon thinks I can refill the feeders for him if he doesn’t leave them out for me to find. What a hoot!
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Matt stopped by on his way back to Atlanta. Margaret had gotten me some shelves to put beside the refrigerator. Matt brought them in, assembled them, and got them situated for me. They work great! Thanks.

Friday, October 16, 2015

Approaching "routine"?

Today may have approached a more "normal" Friday. I went to swimming and to coffee.  Then I got a few "Hixson" errands done - the post office, the bank, etc. Missy was back in town, so I had lunch with Renna and her.


I came back home, got a short nap, wrote some thank-you notes, and made a few phone calls.  I had supper in the dining room and came back to take off my shoes and get into soft clothes.


Boring I know - but what a refreshing change.  I'm finally settling down enough to pay some attention to the apartment and get an idea of what else I need to do with it.


Life goes on.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

John's car

Well, John’s car is gone. I wound up selling it for less than had been offered. When I got to the house, I got in the car to start it and check the odometer reading. I was astounded to see that there was a "bullet-hole" type break in the center of the windshield, and another crack in the lower right side. I knew it hadn't been that way last weekend. A large nut must have fallen and hit just right on it.

When the buyer got there, I told him about it, and said he might want to revise his offer. I was thinking $200 less, and when he came back he said he had checked and it was going to cost about that to replace/repair the windshield. That sounded fair to both of us, so we had a deal. Now he has the car, and I have cash in my pocket!

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

A slower day

Things sort of slowed down today.  After swimming and coffee, I went by the house and picked up the laundry I had done yesterday. I got the car washed (not that it needed it) and got a few things at Walmart. Today was maybe the second time I've eating lunch in the dining room here. And I ate with the folks who live next door to me.  She's a painter, too, and I hope will inspire me to start painting again.
But then Vicki called and invited me to have dinner with them tonight (lamb!), so off I went for another meal out.
Tomorrow will be another slower day.  I plan to get some thank-you notes written and then will go to the house to meet the folks who are going to buy John's car.
Hopefully a routine is starting up.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Gradually getting it done.

I guess I haven’t written in a couple of days. It’s been lots more of the same.

Jean left early Sunday morning. Sue came through that afternoon with a small desk she brought from Margaret’s. It fits very well in the intended space, and will do fine for my papers, etc.

Yesterday was an all-day event. I left before 7 to go to swimming, then coffee. I went by the house to put my swim stuff in the dryer, then went for an appointment with the optometrist, and then to play bridge. I managed to sneak some lunch in there somewhere. But it surely felt good to get home, have someone else cook supper, then get my shoes off and into my jammies!

Today was with appointments, too, but not as many. And the mani/pedi was definitely a pampering experience (and long overdue). The meeting with the attorney was to get all the papers filled out, notarized, and sent in to get an official Alberta death certificate.

I also did a lot of telephone work - changing addresses, user names, passwords, etc., on my credit cards. This sees like so much busy-work - and I guess it is. But it is necessary. And things are gradually getting done.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Sunday Stealing

That Alphabet Thing Meme


Stolen from: Songs of innocence and of experience

A: Accent -- Southern

B: Breakfast --
Eggs, toast, hash browns, tomato juice, coffee
C: Chore you hate --
Housekeeping (don’t have to do that anymore)
D: Dad's name --
Paul
E: Essential everyday item --
Coffee
F: Flavor ice cream --
Vanilla, butter brickle
G: Gold or silver --
Silver
H: Hometown --
Chattanooga
I: Insomnia --
Not really - usually a pretty good sleeper
J: Job title --
Retired
K: Kids --
Four

M: Mother's birthplace -- Bonham, TX
N: Number of significant others --
Just my family
O: Overnight hospital stays --
Too many to count
P: Phobia --
None
Q: Quick at --
Not much of anything any more.
R: Religious affiliation --
None
S: Siblings --
One (deceased)
T: Time you wake up --
Depends on the day of the week - 6-8 am
U: Unnatural hair colors --
None
V: Vegetable you refuse to eat --
Can’t think of one, although some not favorites
W: Worst habit --
Overeating, laziness
X: X-rays --
Too many to count
Y: Yummy --
Unfortunately I love most foods
Z: Zodiac sign --
Pisces

Friday, October 09, 2015

Another day

Today was another productive day - if not exactly what we had in mind. Cars always have other ideas

I got to swimming and met up with Jean at Panera. Jean headed to WalMart and other stores. As I left, the “check engine” light came on in my car again, so I headed right over to Firestone. They took it in for diagnostics, and I went around the corner for a haircut. When Jean finished with the stores, she picked me up and we went to the apartment. We got some work done, had lunch, and were here when the maintenance guys came to hang the heavy mirrors and reverse the doors on the refrigerator.

Then we headed for the house to wait for my car and for Sue. The car was ready about 5 - about $550 in various engine and tire problems. Sue came shortly. We went and picked up some barbecue and took it to the apartment to eat. I gave Sue a tour of the building and we talked for a while. We called it a night about 9.

Thursday, October 08, 2015

More moving stuff

Smaller things are slowly getting moved from the house to the apartment.  Jean has been here, sleeping at the house, but going back and forth with "stuff" and helping get it organized once it gets here.  She's done some shopping and just generally done what needs doing.
Our old friend, Beth and her daughter Lisa, were in town for a couple of days.  Beth is a realtor and she's helping me with advice on what needs to be done to the house to help it sell and helping me find a realtor here.  I know I'll really depend on her opinions dealing with that. She's definitely a special lady!  Plus they took us out to dinner two nights!
I haven't had a chance to do any of the activities here at the Terrace or to meet too many of the other residents, but that will come as I get more settled in.  I did get to swimming yesterday and am planning to go tomorrow - so that feels good, too.
And then the battery died in my car this afternoon and I had to call AAA to come get the car started and install a new battery.  @#$$%%$###

Tuesday, October 06, 2015

Gradually coming together

I went to breakfast in the dining room this morning, but think I'll probably be eating breakfast "at home" most of the time. I'd rather eat breakfast in my pjs than have to get dressed to go to the dining room. And I should be having my paper delivered to my door - it was supposed to be today, but wasn't. I hope it will be there tomorrow.

I had a good night. The only problem was the a/c leaked, and one corner of the living room and adjoining bedroom have wet carpet. The maintenance guys came this morning and have worked on it, plus they‘ve been back twice to check on it. They have fans blowing on the areas to help them dry quicker. From what they said, this is not uncommon when an apartment that's been vacant for a month or so is newly occupied.

I like the way we decided to arrange the rooms. And my enormous shower worked beautifully this morning. I've met a few folks, and I know I'll be meeting more. I haven't had a chance yet to go to any of the activities - just meals.

Jean is here to help. She’s staying at the house, but spending most of the day with me. We brought a load back from the house today, including a lot of stuff from the refrigerator. So now I do have food for breakfasts. We finished the day with a trip to Walmart for a new phone (with two handsets), an inflatable mattress (for the house for a while, and then here for a guest), a toaster, paper towel holder, and other small stuff like that.

It’s gradually coming together.

Monday, October 05, 2015

Well, I'm in....

Well, I'm here! Thanks to Margaret, the staff here, the movers (the Good Guys), and Comcast. Everybody came a little earlier than scheduled, and finished without incident. There are still a couple of boxes to unpack and stuff at the house to pack up and bring. But I'm in and will be sleeping here tonight!

I got an early dinner and hurried to the apartment to get my shoes off and into soft clothes. And now I’m in my chair, watching TV, and shoeless. FJ&D sent sent me some lovely flowers. And I’ve been on the phone a lot, talking to Sue, Robin, and Beth.

Tomorrow, Jean is coming, and she'll help me get more smaller, loose things moved from the house. And she'll help me decide what to put on the walls. Beth is coming later in the week to give me advice about what to do with the house.

Sunday, October 04, 2015

Tomorrow

Yesterday, Margaret (mostly) with a little help from me got things almost completely ready for the movers. I'm pretty much with my "must-have" stuff in three rooms, and almost everything to be moved has been gathered into clumps. The smaller stuff that I wind up taking will go in bits and pieces. Someone came to look at John's car, and is supposed to get back to me in a day or two. Then we took a load over to the apartment. I'll get my last few necessaries ready tomorrow, so they can go over with me on Monday. I got a few more things ready today. And tomorrow it happens.

Saturday, October 03, 2015

Sunday Stealing

Q & A Meme

Stolen from: My Random Randomness

1. What would you pick as a major, if you could go back to college and do it again?

Probably art - like I did when I did go back to college.

2. Who is the one celebrity with whom you would most like to have an indepth conversation?
President Obama

3. If you could make a living doing ANYthing, what would that be?
Being kept by a very rich, generous benefactor.
4. What’s your all-time very favorite dessert?
I really do like vanilla ice cream, or vanilla with caramel and sea salt.
5. How many pairs of jeans do you own?
Three, I think
6. What is your favorite flower, and why?
I don’t know that I have a favorite - they’re all lovely
7. What book has most changed your life?

I can’t think of one right now
8. What is your least favorite vegetable? Is there any way you can be persuaded to eat it?
I like almost all vegetables, some better than others.
9. If you could take a nonstop first class flight to any destination, where would you pick to land?
How about an around-the-world trip, with stops in many places along the way.10. If your 15 minutes of fame included a stint on
American Idol, what song would be your trademark solo?
It would be humming something - definitely not singing.11. If you could pick one former friend (who has remained elusive in this wild Facebook world) to reunite with, who would you unearth?
Margaret R.
12. You have been awarded the time off from work and an all-expenses paid week anywhere in the United States. The catch is that it must be somewhere you have not been before. Where do you choose to visit?
There are not many places in the US that I haven’t seen - lucky me! Maybe the south rim of the Grand Canyon.
13. Name three of your guilty pleasures.
I never feel guilty. If I enjoy it, I don’t feel guilty about it.
14. The best kind of cookie is:
I love Scotch shortbread and chocolate chip cookies.
15. What do you value most in other people?
Honesty, sense of humor, and a willingness to accept all people at face value.
16. Have you ever looked back at your life and realized that something you thought was a bad thing was actually a blessing in disguise?
Maybe once or twice.
17. What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever visited?
Oh, there are SO many. The most moving is Canyon de Chelly.
18. Are you more of a thinker or a feeler?
Some of each.
19. Name three things you are thankful for right now.
My family, my friends, 60 years with John.
20. Have you ever participated in a three-legged race?
I don’t think so
21. When you are at an event that plays the National Anthem, do you place your hand over your heart?
Of course, and I sing along, too.

Friday, October 02, 2015

So many changes!


So many changes!

I took another load of stuff to the apartment this morning.

On the way, I went by Tina’s. She spent the last two nights here, after her belongings had been loaded on the moving truck. She’s moving to a small town in upstate New York. This morning was my last time to hug her before she left. This was a relatively short interlude in her life, and she’s moving on. Damn! As much as I understand, I hate to have her gone.

Missy texted this afternoon. Her mother passed away today, surrounded by her loving family. And I do understand how that happens - at least, now I do.

So any changes!