Better Days Ahead?

I will just have to sit and wait until I have an idea of where I will be moving, how much space I will have, etc.  There is really no action I can take to speed things up, and I am not in "action mode" right now anyway.  I start my cancer treatments, which they call "Antibody Infusion", on May 7.  I wish I didn't have to wait that long; as things are right now I just don't have an ounce of energy to spare.  This is a time when I need all the energy I can muster to pack my belongings and decide what and how to dispose of things I can't take with me.  I think I just don't care anymore, and I hate that feeling.

The weather has certainly turned "summer", and literally it happened overnight.  We still have our wonderful chilly nights and the days are warm.  I have about 20 tomato plants which I'm nurturing, and I understand tomatoes can be easily transplanted.  I don't know about that, but will find out eventually.  I can actually see them growing a little each day.

I am going to try to muster up enough energy to clean a couple of floors.  The living room looks absolute horrible - I haven't don't anything other than sweep it now and then.  The hardwood was in bad shape when I moved in and it looks worse now.  Whatever I do will soon have doggie tracks so I should just conserve my energy.

Nothing Stays the Same!

I just had blood work done that shows the cancer is back.  From my non-medical view of the results, it doesn't look as bad as it could be - I think it was worse when I started treatment about 3 years back.  I'm pretty hopeful, and if I get another break for 3 years, then I'm fine with that and will do it all over again.  I don't want anything that is invasive or that will make my hair fall out!

Ara is leaving this evening to fly back home and it has been a wonderful visit for all of us.  She stayed here with me for several of the nights and also at her parents' house for the remaining time.  I think she is missing her partner, Steve, as well as missing their dog, an Australian Blue Heeler. 

I think Sacramento is about to enter the summer season.  Spring has been so beautiful with cool nights and warm days.  The nights will remain cool, but the days will soon become hot.

Jeannie & Donald have sold their house, so the hunt is on for a new one.  It is difficult for me to sit still, not say much, and just wait.  That isn't normally my nature, but I'm trying.  I have a total mess to clean out here and so much to dispose of, and I don't know where to start.  I'm hoping the cancer treatments will start soon and I can get some energy back.  I can't get much done the way it is right now.  When Jeannie finds a suitable house and property, then at least I will know how much space I will have, as well as how much I need to dispose of to fit into that space.

My sister, Amy, was finally laid to rest.  I guess covid has gotten in the way of death as well as life.  It seemed to take a long time to arrange the services, although as I had nothing to do with it I don't really know much about it.  I miss Amy very much but I know it hasn't entirely sunk in that I won't see her again or hear her cheerful voice.  That girl could find something funny in every situation, no matter how desperate it was.

 

Ready to Move On!

Jeannie & Donald just received word this morning that their house sold after being on the market for about a week.  After doing a thorough cleaning, she and Arianna stayed with me for the past week, and Donald and Autumn stayed with his Mom.  I believe it sold to the first viewer, but Jeannie & Donald had it in perfect condition - even the two girls helped immensely with little "fix-its" that needed attention.

I'm looking forward to viewing houses in the area where they want to move, and hope we can find something with a nice in-law suite! 

Meanwhile I am planting my garden, and have quite a few tomato plants that I've grown from seed - I gave about half of them to Steve & Meg, and I just planted the rest of them this morning.  I read recently that tomatoes can be transplanted several times with no harm to the plants or the fruit, so I wanted to get them into the ground as soon as possible where their roots can spread.

I have a monumental task before me - getting rid of things I can't or shouldn't take with me when I move.  I have always been a "saver" (more like a pack-rat!) and it's difficult to let go of sentimental things.  These days, most things are sentimental to me, but I am trying to steel myself from the inevitable loss of some of my belongings.  It will probably be a relief.

The funeral mass for Amy is scheduled for this coming Thursday.  Amy's daughters wanted the old retired priest to officiate - he was in charge at the church and school when Amy's kids were little.  Jeannie's daughter (Ara also went to the same school and is about the same age as Amy's girls.)   

I haven't been posting a lot lately, and I don't think I mentioned that I believe my cancer is back.  The oncologist told me it would probably return, but that the treatment worked well and that is probably what I will get again this time.  I'm anxious to get started on it.  The treatment itself was a breeze, but the biopsy was the worst part of it all.  I am not going to agree to another biopsy, as I think the test results are quite clear and the biopsy was horribly painful.  For some reason, a patient in the past was given a shot for pain meds for the biopsy and subsequently died, so they won't do it anymore.  I'm not having it, and will insist on something for pain.  The pain actually lasted a couple of weeks and was worse than anything I have suffered in years!  I normally don't take anything for mild pain, but will bend a little this time (if I have to undergo a biopsy.)   I have felt so drained of energy the past few months and should have realized what was wrong, but the pandemic has kept me at home for the past year for the most part.  I look forward to feeling alive and well again, and anticipating a move to a new place is just icing on the cake!

I think Sacramento has reached summer weather, which seems early to me  although it is probably normal.  I don't mind anything up to 90 degrees, but after that it's awful!  There has been a beautiful breeze blowing, so I'm happy with the weather right now and the warmth is good for my tomato plants!

Rest in Peace, Dear Amy

I lost a dear sister.  Of my parents' eight children we were all alive until the youngest of us passed away last night.  She has had multiple health problems for the past several years and I guess she just couldn't go on any longer.  Evidently she just passed peacefully in her sleep.  She had a zany personality and an incredible sense of humor, and will be missed by all those who knew her.

Wait a Littlle Longer!

 I believe Donald & Jeannie will begin to show their house next week, and hopefully will get a buyer soon after.  I'm so tired of waiting and not knowing, and I refuse to start packing until I'm sure when I will be moving.  I hate to think of living out of boxes.

The weather here has been beautiful, reaching the 70's, although I'd like it  better if the wind would slow down.  I took Rocky out for an early walk and wish I had worn a hat!  I wore my fleece jacket but most other walkers I saw were just in short sleeves.  I think I wouldn't get so chilled if we didn't have to stop and sniff everything along the way.  Most of the time I let him stop - what's the point of taking him for a walk if he can't enjoy it, but I get very tired of all the stops and starts.

Jeannie stopped by last night and brought me up to date on their current house.  They have been busy taking care of all the little things that normally we let slide, but you can't let them slide when you are preparing to show your house for sale.  I just want to be settled.  I think they are going to put it on the market by the middle of next week.  Fingers crossed!

I should be packing up my own belongings but haven't done much so far.  With the change of seasons I figured I'd wait until I could get the summer clothes out, and I think it would be very uncomfortable trying to pack dishes and such, and then having to maneuver around boxes all over the house.  So I will just wait until we have a move date and then I'll do what I have to do.

My tomato plants are growing beautifully, and I sort of wish they'd slow down a bit.  I don't want to transplant them twice - in fact, I don't know how well they would take to being transplanted twice.  They will be ready to go into the ground in another week or two at the most, and I will no doubt have to plant them.  I'd grow them in pots  but don't have enough pots for all of them - approx. two dozen tomato plants of four varieties.  I bring them inside on trays every single night because of the chilly temps, and take them all back out on the deck in the morning sun.

That's my update on where I am so far in this upcoming move.  Absolutely nowhere!