Stargazer

Ooof

Just when you think you have your mom's estate under control...

Swapping out the electrical panel is complicated and has required a long call to Puget Sound Energy about disconnecting the meter and how to reconnect, including the fact that it has to be inspected by the state prior to that. The schedule for the PSE employee doesn't match the electrician's but I'm going camping when the earlier time is available. And it all costs $$$$$. 

It's HOT and the day when it's going to cool down, we're anticipating wildfire smoke to hit the region. That's both an ooof and an ugh! What did I do with my air purifier? 

John's sister couldn't have her colonoscopy because she had too much fluid on her right side as well as breathing issues. So, she had dialysis instead and will possibly have the test today. I'm wondering what the plan is if she does have GI bleeding; I doubt that she would survive surgery. :( Speaking of John, I made the decision to address the "no gift for Anders" conundrum. Unlike a few people I know (late aunt, cousin Laura), I'm not a blunt truth teller at the expense of others' feelings. So, I tactfully texted him about a big birthday gift I was buying for Anders, inquiring whether he'd be interested in going in on it; then I could tell Younger Daughter that the present was from both of us. He was delighted with the idea! The issue is that Anders wouldn't notice or care about no gift from John, but YD probably remembers that John gave Sharky a couple of cool things for his birthday. Anyway, I feel relieved and happy with how I handled the potentially sticky situation. 

As many of you know, Anders had a rough start to life, arriving nearly two months early. He spent his first month in the NICU at Swedish in Seattle and then came home to a chaotic (up and down) relationship between his parents and no interaction with his other grandparents. For me, it was lots of stress and worry, as well as a deep and protective love for this innocent little guy. He deserved (and deserves) so much better! 

Now he's a busy and cheerful two-year-old who loves vehicles, bubbles, running around, his stuffed rabbit and bananas, among many other things! 

Although I didn't celebrate, I wore my Left Bank Pastry tee-shirt in honor of France's national holiday yesterday, also my sister-in-law's 46th birthday. Long ago, I was in France for le quatorze juillet--what a literal blast that was! 

Watching: I'm back to "The Last Detective," after finishing "Black Work," a 3-part detective series that was strictly OK. I did enjoy seeing many familiar faces from various British detective series. :)

Reading: "My Friends" and it's still a struggle. I wasn't as impressed with "A Man Called Ove" as other readers; something about Backman's writing bothers me. Too precious, if that's the right word? "Flowery or overly descriptive language, using too many adjectives, adverbs or elaborate metaphors." "Self-indulgent or affected style." Yep, it fits. I'm definitely in the minority though since most people LOVE Backman. Don't hate me, but I also find Kristin Hannah's writing tedious. For fun, I've started the latest Bruno mystery which is excellent so far. I'm hoping it stays a mystery and doesn't turn into a thriller with the French intelligence community involved and many terrorism and espionage elements. That's been the downfall of this series lately. Sigh. 

Onward to my oil change and possible brake replacement appointment. More $$$$$. 

Birthday Trials and Times

Believe it or not, Anders is two today although my family had his party yesterday. Except for Anders' dad, it was only my family and John which was my preference. Actually, if I'm being honest, NOT seeing Anders' dad would have been better for my peace of mind. Younger Daughter came over early to work on her cupcakes and I chased Anders' around my downstairs (so much giggling), took him to the mailbox where he proudly retrieved junkmail a letter and carried it all the way to my house, and did lots of bubbles and running in my backyard. 

He liked all his presents, but the biggest ones didn't interest him as much as the small train from his cousins. He wanted to push it around the family room instead of opening his other gifts. However, the adults had a lot of fun with Anders' plastic basketball hoop, making outrageous shots from various chairs and once almost knocking over people's drinks. Incidentally, I was two for two. ;)

At first, Anders wasn't sure about his cupcake; it was banana with strawberry frosting. Once his mother cut it up, he decided it was tasty and gobbled it down. He's changed so much since last year! (no longer a baby at all)

In case no one noticed, Older Daughter managed to cut Obro's hair over his vociferous protests. He's now rocking a hair style just like Sharky's and their resemblance to each other is uncanny. They have very different smiles but otherwise, they look exactly like, well, brothers. 

Obro decided to do some shin standing which I was fine with until..."It didn't hurt until he jumped." Partying with kids is mostly a treat although I'm sore today after chasing, carrying, playing and being treated like a trampoline. 

Today I got sunburned in our 90-degree weather, chatting with a transplant from Michigan about her move to be closer to her daughter and family at Older Daughter's belated Bunny Birthday party. We celebrated in West Seattle (such a gorgeous place with beautiful homes) because Michigander's daughter is married to a close friend of Son-in-Law's; they went to high school and college together in Iowa. SIL's friend volunteered to host the get together which was extremely thoughtful of him. And yes, there were real bunnies! We enjoyed OD's delicious sandwiches and carrot cake cupcakes. The youngsters frolicked in a pool, including Sharky under my supervision. We sweated in the blazing sun, not normal for Washingtonians! John didn't attend since he's dealing with his younger sister's health issues and was headed back to Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle. As upbeat as his sister generally is, she called him crying this morning. On top of her laundry list of problems, her RBC count has been low (6 instead of 12-15) and even with blood transfusions, it goes back to 6. The professionals are thinking that it's internal bleeding, somewhere. I'm preparing for the worst. 

About John: how do I tactfully tell him that he shouldn't give any gifts to my grandsons, rather than doing so for Sharky and Obro but not for Anders? Although he does know the two older boys better and sees more of them, I wasn't thrilled that he got nothing for Anders. Frankly, John doesn't treat his own granddaughters equally. The Texas ones (who are foster adopted) get the short end of the stick; he's sometimes even forgotten their birthdays. Anyway, there are a few other frustrations with John that I won't blog about, thankfully no deal breakers. I did give him a "piece of my mind" over one criticism he made that I didn't feel was justified. I'm pretty sure I wasn't very tactful!

Reading: "My Friends" by Fredrik Backman--I'm not liking it much so far and am hoping that I'm able to adapt to Backman's unique voice and storytelling. It seems so depressing; I'm not in the mood for that right now. I'm also continuing with the Elly Griffiths time travel detective book. It's kind of a disappointment compared to her Dr. Ruth Galloway series. Sigh.

Watching: John and I binged " A Place of Execution," an older British show based on a Val McDermid book. I liked it whereas John fell asleep several times. He's more of a "Squid Games" fan whereas I have 0 interest in that show. I'm now starting down my list of possible series and hoping to find something absorbing for these sultry summer evenings! 

 

Meanwhile

The big 2nd birthday party for Anders is tomorrow and I'm pretty well set up for it. However, the blue and white cooler that I thought I had went walkabout, so I'm using an ancient Styrofoam one. Did you know that they're illegal these days in many states, including mine? 

I tried to clean it off the best I could but it's still hideous. And squeaky!

Yesterday afternoon I made it to Sharky's soccer practice where I first had to admire his adorable cleats. I don't understand soccer very well and have a lot of trouble following the ball. Suddenly it appears in a different location for no apparent purpose! My girls did indoor activities like gymnastics and dance, so I'm not sure how much I/we'll enjoy the cold and rain of outdoor soccer. Sharky does love the running around though! 

Considering how shy and sometimes anti-social he used to be, he's made a lot of progress adapting to unfamiliar situations with new people. Some children (and adults!) can never get past that fear which can be tricky. After all, life is full of changes and other transitions. 

Meanwhile, I've managed to kill the formerly lovely orchid that my neighbor brought by after Mom died. I'm NOT an indoor plant person and orchids aren't for beginners! Do they ever play possum or is this only fit for the yard waste bin?

This is a partial view of the $800 shrub/tree trimming cutting at my rental house. The rhody used to be nearly at the roof line and there was a gigantic holly tree next to my daughter's car. They're prickly! However, YD said that she wished I'd left it because, "Dad planted it." I wanted to reply that her dad liked holly, whereas I do not and that I now make the decisions for that house. But I wisely kept my mouth shut.

Here's an older photo; the rhody and holly were much bigger than this and very out of shape! 

In another small but sweet moment, the Evil Barista is waiting for her treat, a dollop of frothy milk. I may find her annoying and needy at times, but she's also great company and a loving start to my mornings. 

 

 

Firsts

Today I watched Stephen Colbert interviewing someone I'd never heard of, and I latched onto her philosophy, NOT to "live each day like it's your last" but to "live each day like it's your first." For some reason, that philosophy resonated with me much more than the pathos and sometimes desperation to make the most of our imminent mortality. Instead, I'll choose to focus on the wonder of new experiences, and the happiness of even waking up in the morning. On that note, I do have to admit that my day was pretty boring. The rain that I was excited for...a no show. My tedious list of "things to accomplish" was a partial success though. 

I was determined to get my free venti mocha at Starbucks (200 points!), in spite of the closest two being closed due to a construction crew hitting a water line. It started to feel like a jinx. My friend and I eventually ended up farther away in a sketchy part of town but were thrilled with our drinks. We'd been very patient, and the third time really is the charm! 

I finally made it on a walk to Mom's; I've been putting it off because there are so many ghosts memories in her house along with a lot of "stuff* that I don't know how to deal with. While on my route, I ran into some walker buddies, and we had a lovely chat. I enjoy these micro interactions; perhaps I'm more social than I think I am?

Since I was bringing home some jackets from Mom's, I decided that it was past time for me to go through my coat closet. And then why not get rid of a bunch of shoes? I'll never wear high heels again! The task wouldn't have been complete without hitting my actual closet and removing most of my teacher outfits which are outdated, dusty and sadly, too small these days. I used to wear a Size 2?? Anyway, all of this now has to be delivered to a donation place. I wonder if they would also like a very small, '80s wedding dress and veil. 

It's vintage, right?

In Grandson news, the sunny weather has meant car shows and lots of outside playing. The videos of Obro dancing wildly to Sly and the Family Stone's "Dance to the Music" is a classic, like many of the cars. He can really bust some moves! 

This boy grandma bought special paper for Anders' birthday presents. Books and cars, his favorites. :) I can't believe he'll be two! I'm starting to stress a LITTLE about his party. He's at the stage where he cries/is shy around people he doesn't know well. Hopefully, his two cousins will help with that, and the three of them will have fun running around in my big backyard. 

photo credit: Nancy Nelson

I'm appreciating the mountain (actually mountains) being beautifully out. Incidentally, this is the view I see coming down North Hill from John's house. It's spectacular! And yes, I do realize that she's a dangerous volcano. Sigh.

However, I'm not liking this forecast, especially the 90s part of it. :( Both daughters only have portable A/C units and fans although I'm always open for overnight guests if it gets too uncomfortable. 

While I'm getting Mari's nails clipped, doing some work at Mom's house, readying my house and yard for Anders' birthday party and watching Sharky's soccer practice (a first!), John is camping with his family on Hood Canal. I'm sad not to be with him, but it's a positive for him to spend the time alone with his daughter, son-in-law, three granddaughters and a niece. I know that I can be a distraction because frankly, I sometimes do have a large personality. Large Marge? LOL

Reading: "The Frozen People" by Elly Griffiths, a favorite author. This is the first in a new series about a time-traveling detective who works on cold (frozen) cases. I'm holding off judgement because I'm only a bit into it. I also have "My Friends" by Fredrik Backman waiting for me at the library; it's our Book Club read for December, so I'm wondering if I should pick it up now or try to get a hold of it closer to our BC date. How good is my memory? 

Watching: "The Last Detective" and I'm not too impressed with it so far. The poor police officer, Dangerous, is despised by everyone except his friend Mod, his ex-wife and his dog. In the first episode, he solved a cold case and got no appreciation for it whatsoever. I may switch to "Patience," a British remake of "Astrid." I've heard both positive and negative things about the series. Isn't that always the case? We have different tastes and opinions. That's why there's such an enormous variety of books, movies, shows, clothes, etc. 

I prefer to call my own tastes eclectic and not weird. ;)

 

Watery Wonderland

The 4th wasn't too awfully crazy after all; no one celebrated in my cul-de-sac, HURRAY! John and I enjoyed "October Sky" (about Homer Hickam and his rockets) then went out in the driveway to watch ten minutes of the fireworks around us. That was plenty! I look forward to the calmness of the 5th of July and so does Mari. Poor kitty. 

Although summer isn't my favorite season, Washington ones are nearly impossible to beat! On a 70-degree day, John and I, along with his family, headed down to Chambers Bay to do some walking and geocaching. John's Texas granddaughter is visiting for a month; she's in Scouting and trying to earn a Merit Badge in several things. John used to love geocaching with his own daughters, so he was delighted to introduce this 11-year-old granddaughter to it. (not that she was very interested, LOL) I did notice and mention to her lots of improvement in figuring out coordinates and which way to go; perhaps that'll be motivating for her? Unfortunately, I also saw how tricky it was to take 7-year-old autistic granddaughter anywhere; sadly, she has 0 social skills, no sense of risk and has to be constantly supervised. When I snooped at the parents' calendar I didn't spot a single therapy appointment; her mother says (about homeschooling) that they just do the fun stuff. I think it's more like unschooling and to be honest, she's a feral child. :( On the other hand, she does appear to love me: telling me so many times, wanting hugs, kisses and for me to carry her--when she's in the mood. I always wait for her to make the first move because she's easily overwhelmed. I noticed that many years ago whereas John is still oblivious at times. Sigh.

Have you ever seen a purple BMW? Chambers Bay is a fancy golf course, so there were some expensive cars in the lot. John's blue Subaru Outback looked quite pedestrian! This weekend we also drove to Seattle to spend time with John's sister, a patient at Virginia Mason Hospital. The traffic was decent, and it was yet another sunny day. Sister is mostly blind, on dialysis, has congestive heart failure and many problems due to diabetes, but is such a cheerful and upbeat person. However, I think she was a bit high on pain meds because she thought Rachel Maddow on the TV set was me (!)and told John that I used to be a social worker. John quickly replied, "No, that was a prior wife." (His late wife Christine)

On our way out of the hospital, I stopped by the meditation room and admired this tree. People have left messages for loved ones on its leaves. 

This one was very poignant.

You know by now that John would suggest making a day of it in Seattle, enjoying the glorious weather and the water views. And that I would gladly accept! He has such excellent ideas, doesn't he? If you're local, you probably recognize that we're at Alki, watching the multitude of aquatic "vehicles": speedboats, yachts, kayaks, sailboats, ferries, paddleboats and three cruise ships. There was even this...

It's a water taxi, named for Doc Maynard, one of the founders of Seattle. Of course, I wanted to get on it for a ride, but we had other plans--a dinner at Circa in West Seattle. Our meal was incredible, and I loved their eclectic menu. 

Dessert meant buying two ice creams at a 7-11 and taking them up to a look out where John used to make out with his high school girlfriend hang out when he lived in this area. Hopefully, I never find this again because I could eat one of them EVERY DAY. Great quality cookies and ice cream!

Mountains, water, sunshine, boats, the Space Needle...what a view! 

Bumping back to Earth: Brother and his family cleaned out Mom's house of what they wanted; however, they've still left a lot and filled up her garbage can for me to haul to the curb. I'm feeling overwhelmed about going through the drawers, cabinets and clothing. I need to reach out for help, eh?

Camping: John is going camping Wednesday through Friday with his family; I'm staying here to get ready for Anders' 2nd birthday party at my house Saturday. It would have been too stressful for me to be away, especially considering what mischief (and messes) Mari might make in my absence. Now to figure out what we're eating/doing for the party! 

Thanks for the TV series suggestions! I have added a few new ones to my list. No one guessed New Baby's name correctly though. A couple people were very close. At least that means I don't have to try to come up with a prize. :)

 

 

Independent Thoughts

As I was unwillingly lying awake just after midnight on the 4th (barely), listening to gigantic explosions, I mused again at how performative this holiday is. It seems like the people who celebrate it the most rabidly, festooning their yards and vehicles with flags, are the least patriotic, if my understanding of that term and our Constitution are correct. Because you've got to walk the talk too...

My dad was a Marine and proud of it. He was a history teacher who lived and breathed that subject; he read long non-fiction tomes FOR FUN. Yet he wasn't a "my country, right or wrong" type. He'd been through McCarthyism, the Civil rights movement and the pain of too many political assassinations. He always believed that our country could be and should be better: more just, more equitable, more humane. 

My late husband was also a veteran, Coast Guard. I sometimes feel odd putting a flag at the cemetery because we never flew one; according to him, following the flag code correctly would be a lot of work and he didn't want to put in the effort. Was he patriotic? If that meant that he loved war movies and heroic deeds, yes. If it called for putting an American flag on his truck or saying that the U.S. was the best and most perfect country, definitely no. 

My younger brothers didn't serve, but they got some of Mom's prolific hydrangeas anyway, just because. 

Sharky and Obro loved their new Tacoma Dome shirts, although they are too big. (the sizing was weird) Now that they have two shirts a piece, I can quit buying them, right? ;)

My newest grandson is due in early December and in spite of my negative opinions of Younger Daughter having this second child, I'm trying to be excited. I can welcome him and love him while still worrying a lot about his future. Most of you know that I don't like the spelling of Anders' first name because it'll often be misspelled and mispronounced. The plan for this baby is a more standard name (starting with an M) and I like it OK although the nicknames are not my favorite. Any guesses? I'll inform you privately if you're correct, maybe even give the first person a prize! 

Reading: I just finished "Three Days in June" and for me, it was a disappointment, especially for an Anne Tyler book. However, I did love the ending, so I'll give it a B-. 

Shocker: I recognized the name of this NYC mayoral candidate but didn't connect him to one of Older Daughter's Columbia professors. He's the son! OD says that she's noticed many similarities in gestures and speech between the two of them. Incidentally, she couldn't stand that professor. 

Watching: The two seasons of "Black Snow" are over and I'm now looking around for a new series to binge as long as it's on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV or Paramount. I tend to prefer detective series/police procedurals/Nordic Noir because for some odd reason, I find them relaxing and distracting. Your suggestions would be appreciated! 

 

In a Past Life

There's a major holiday coming up and I'm definitely meh. My late husband loved the 4th; he planned out a BBQ, bought fireworks (I've never spent a cent on them), got out the bocce set and the croquet and pulled out the board games/cards that we would play later while drinking adult beverages. Since he's been gone, I've been very low-key (as in no celebration) except sometimes having John over to watch the drunk neighbors light off explosives from the driveway. In a past life...

...we had a dog named Kiwi who LOVED fireworks, seen here jumping to capture a "bee." He would often bite them or even catch them. His "brother" Teddy is in the background, trying to figure out this craziness. Teddy sometimes pulled Kiwi away by his tail; it was a funny dynamic. By the way, Kiwi never got hurt and was the star of our 4th of July barbeques. 

I finally swapped out my late husband's construction switch plate for my own violin one. Although he's been dead for over 12 years, it took me a while to get to the place where I felt ready.

I brought home one of my mom's Turkish silk rugs; I think it looks nice here, although odd at the moment. I'm so used to seeing it in my parents' entryway, ever since they brought it back from Turkey decades ago. 

My den needs lots of work: removal of computer equipment, clean up, and organizing. I hung some of mom's art in there, temporarily until I can decide what I'm doing with it. Note: Older Daughter did the John Denver pencil sketch for her dad, a devoted JD fan!

Mom and Dad brought this scroll back from Belgium; it doesn't fit in my house at all, but I've always loved it, so who cares? 

Mom's hydrangeas are blooming; perhaps I'll take some of them to the cemetery. She often said to me, "Flowers are for the living and not for the dead. They don't care." Although that's very true, it's still meaningful to me to beautify their niches periodically, so I will. 

Just for a laugh, I pulled up some of the "Dream Dates" that went with our pink telephone. Wow, some of the guys look thirty (Bob and Dale) and others have interesting hairstyles (John and Dan), even for the '90s. Who were my "Dream Dates" when I was a teenager? Well, I intended to be Mrs. George Harrison! That didn't work out though. :) 

Watching: I'm in Season Two of "Black Snow" and the main detective really needs to wash and comb his hair. And get it cut! It's distracting me from the story. 

Waiting for news: John's sister M. is back in the hospital, after just getting out of rehab and a different hospital. M is now in Seattle, poor John! She has an infection in her foot (gangrene, very icky) needs surgery/amputation and requires oxygen. I have a bad feeling about this. When someone becomes a Frequent Flier at the hospital, it's never a positive sign. 

 

 

Silly Stuff

While down at my folks' house with Younger daughter, looking over items she might want, I discovered this treasure:

I always called it a Barbie phone but it's actually a 1990s era DREAM DATE phone, part of a game belonging to my older daughter that she claims was "exciting." Insert eye roll. John found the directions which explained that it's a mystery in which you try to discover your secret admirer by calling various friends. Although I could have (should have?) chucked it in the trash, I brought it home for the grandsons' enjoyment. :)

Here is the list of friends which caused great merriment between Older Daughter and me. Her point: WHY would they include Wayne, Bruce and Gary when they were extremely uncommon for that age group? She knew no one by those names and wondered why she would be calling her friends' fathers or grandfathers! I think Alan and George are also a stretch...

Apparently, I don't have nail fungus so the dermatology PA made up gave me a generic diagnosis and some suggestions for how to improve my nails. This Urea cream came from China and some of the directions were a little off. Anyway, I'm doing the best I can to use the two items I bought although I'm not seeing much difference so far. Sigh. 

Remember when Anders was bald? Now he has curls in the back and a definite reddish tinge to his hair. In this photo, he's beep-beeping my horn, turning on my emergency flashers and pressing or twisting every button he can get his fingers on. Yesterday in the midst of the heat wave (OK, 88), I went over to YD's house/my rental to do some weed whacking. I tangled with many blackberry vines and came out the loser. You'll have to imagine my bloody scratches. Does every area have nuisance plants? We love blackberries but the vines are SO invasive! 

Watering in my fertilizer has flooded some of my plants like the bunny tails. I hope they come back up. Also you can expect to be inundated with Stargazer lily photos in a few weeks. There are so many blooms on both my plants! My porch will be very fragrant. 

A gripe: I finished all 8 seasons of "Castle" (got silly and jumped the shark in the middle of its run--still enjoyed it) and powered through "Department Q" (improved over time, excellent acting, gory though). As I looked around for a new series, I landed on "Black Snow," an Australian detective show which was SUPPOSEDLY on Amazon Prime. The problem is that only one episode was on Prime and then to continue, I had to sign up for an AMC free trial or pay per episode. This has become more and more common. I was excited when I saw that "The Brokenwood Mysteries" was also on Amazon except that it turned out to be Season 1 out of 11. You guessed it, to view the whole run of the show required a subscription to Acorn. Or was it Britbox? Grumble, grumble. :(

Sharky and Obro's second set of Tacoma Dome tee-shirts have arrived; I hope they fit! They look bigger in the picture than they actually are. Now I'm off to make something productive of my day. I have 0 plans. Not much motivation. But getting out of the recliner is a good first step. 

Let Me Say This About That

First and foremost, I'm not the least bit interested in the Bezos' wedding. Not one iota. I cringe (and avoid) every time I see an article about it on the news. And WHAT is wrong with her face? 

After nearly killing one of my coleuses by dragging the hose over it, I finished the job yesterday somehow. This may be a sign for me to replant one of the mismatched petunias from my flowerpot into that space. Will I then also destroy the new plant with my hose? 

Summer is supposed to be a healthy time of year so why are my son-in-law and younger daughter sick? Yesterday I spent several hours with Sharky and Obro to help out their dad. (Older Daughter was at a linocut workshop) and later I hung out with Anders to give his mom a break. I'm happy that both daughters live close now! 

Our weather forecast calls for warmth and sun, but my lawn was just fertilized so I have to drag the sprinkler around to water it in. Sprinklers and I have a fraught relationship, and I nearly always get wet, sometimes a full face "shower."

Now for some adorable grandsons:

The Tacoma landmarks shirts (first set of them) arrived; the boys couldn't wait to put them on. They are crazy about the Tacoma Dome! 

They fit perfectly and are SO soft. Obro approves! 

The boys wanted to make sure I had enough to eat, after preparing a pretend mocha for me in their little kitchen. They are very sweet. 

Darling Anders wanted to "go outside" to watch cars (especially trucks) go by. Sitting on the gravel is no picnic, let me tell you!

In fact, he's a motor vehicle guy all around, although this car has no horn. He loves (TOO MUCH) to press on mine then say delightedly, "Beep! Beep!" I was nonplussed to realize that he's now a green-eyed child instead of a blue eyed one. I wanted him to keep his mom's blue eyes, but like so much about life, I had no control over that. Stuff changes, eh? 

No Drama

For those of you who have been curious about my Cousin Situation, I responded to her in a kind but firm text and haven't heard a word back. If my mother were alive, she would remind me that Cousin LL has been, throughout her life, just as she described my grandpa "self-righteous, self-serving and a backbiter." A self-own? In spite of her high level of educational and financial success, LL has always been an unhappy person. Whenever I was around her, I could expect a sarcastic or mean comment, sometimes a subtle dig. I could feel the knife going into my back but didn't have a quick enough comeback. Don't you hate that? And LL knows everything, just ask her! :) I'm a person who is constantly searching and have more questions than answers; I avoid people like LL who think (erroneously) that they have everything and everyone figured out. But anyway, it's OVER...on my end anyway. 

On Facebook I joined a Dull Women's group and my day fit that description perfectly. I prefer dull to drama! First, I did a major renovation of Mari's Cat Condo/Jail: a new tarp, a new litter box and litter, and some cleaning. It smells better! Even changing out the litter doesn't have an effect when my old girl isn't always keeping it all in the box, ya know? Then I picked up a Book Club hold at the library; unfortunately, it's our October read. I won't remember much about it by then! Since Younger Daughter is miserably sick (Covid tests negative) and my nephew hasn't been around to mow the lawn, I went over to the rental/my old house to do a good deed. I should have taken before and after pictures. The front and back were fields of dandelions and weeds. There is still more to do, but it looks WAY better! Decades ago I used to mow this lawn when we lived here; I'd forgotten how big it is. The apple trees in the front are a pain to go around and the blackberry vines in the back attacked me several times. Ouch! 

Since I mostly show the internet my flower successes, here's a failure. The petunias weren't blooming, so I planted them together, thinking that they would surely match. They don't! Do I care enough to replant them? (No)

I thought this was a geranium and would get flowers, but it's just leaves. They're pretty, although also disappointing. 

Reading: "Three Days in June" by Anne Tyler. I like her writing style which has an easy flow to it. Her books aren't action-packed which is fine with me since I'm dull and proud of it. 

Watching: "Department Q." I've read all the books except the most recent. I can't get into it, even though I enjoyed the prior ones. As for the television series, I hadn't remembered what a total jerk Carl is. (hard to stomach) It seems strange to move a Danish mystery to Scotland in spite of my joy in seeing many faces I recognize from my many other British series. I'm interspersing episodes of the heavy-duty Department Q with the fun and frivolous new season of "Somebody Feed Phil." :)