Responses to my post yesterday (A Quick Hello)

I am sorry for all my complaints in yesterday's post.  When I read about a working person having to live in his car because he couldn't afford housing, I was ashamed of myself for  whining about my situation.  I have a very nice and comfortable apartment, connected to my daughter's home but completely separate, and I sleep pretty comfortably every night.  I have no right to b*tch about my situation when so many others in the U.S. are living in desperate conditions.

I recall the stories my dad told about living through the Great Depression, and I guess our lives could get much worse.  They are worse for people who are deprived of the basics.  A couple of years ago, I gave my backpacking tent and other camping items to a homeless person, and I often wonder what became of him.

"There, but for the grace of God, go I."   I think that is such a humbling and impactful saying!

A Quick "Hello"

I'm getting ready for bed, but thought I'd write a quick note to say "Hello" to everyone.  

I'm kind of tired of where I live - don't know anyone and don't really meet anyone.  I walk Rocky twice a day on a short path through some woods, and the people I meet are friendly enough as passers-by, but I miss having friends that I can talk to.  I'd love to move back to my last neighborhood and the friends I made there, but it probably won't happen.  I thought my current neighborhood would be much more friendly, as there are a number of "next gen" homes - homes for families with an apartment for older (or younger) family members.  But I have as yet to meet another older person, and many of the people are definitely not interested in taking to an elder.  If they don't want to talk to me, then I don't want to talk to them, but I need to find a place where I fit in.  It's a helluva note -  and I don't have an answer.  I know Jeannie meant the best for me when she got this particular house, and my quarters are definitely perfect for me, but the situation grows worse by the week.   I'm approaching 82 so I guess I need to put up with it for a bit longer and then it won't matter!

The one thing I miss is a complete kitchen.  I have a stab at a kitchenette at one end of the room - it consists of a fridge, sink, and microwave.  (And of course, cabinetry).  Donald told me that the unit would be taxed differently if there was a complete kitchen, so I can understand why it is like it is, but I miss a stovetop - never did "cook" in a microwave.  It might have a "convection oven", but I have no idea how to use it, so to me it's just a microwave oven to heat something up in.  I got to the point where I didn't cook much, but I did like the option of a stovetop and oven.

Enough of complaining- I have what I need (except friends).  And Rocky instinctively knows there is tension between Jeannie and me, and he is placing his bets on Jeannie, so I've lost my last friend.  I keep asking myself, "How in the hell did I get here?" 

To make it worse, I've always been a "city girl", but now I'm far enough removed from the city that I can't walk to anything.  Since I don't drive any more, I can't look for something closer in and more convenient for me.

Suggestions?  Or may be condolences!

 

 

Hotel California!

 I am "living it up at the Hotel California" today.  In fact, if I don't quit having so much fun, who knows what trouble I might get into!   I can "check out any time I like, but I just can't ever leave".  (Thanks for the suggestion, Cactus Flower!)

It has been too hot lately to even go out on my covered patio, but one of the best things about Sacramento weather is that no matter how hot the days are, it gets cool in the evening and the cool hangs on until mid-morning at least!  I just closed my windows at 3pm and clicked on the a/c!

Kathy mentioned that there are little boots for dogs to protect their paws.  I bought some of these years ago for Smoky, my first black lab and dog who accompanied me on my Appalachian Trail hike.  We began the hike in early March and the weather was often cold and icy.  His reaction to the boots was absolutely priceless:  he would take a step and shake one of his paws trying to get rid of the bootie.  Then another step and shake of a paw.  It went on for a few steps and I took them off when I could finally quit laughing.  I came to the conclusion that God would have to protect his paws because booties were not the answer!  (He survived like the champ he was!).  I walk Rocky on a short trail that runs through the woods, and I steer him back and forth to whatever side has any shade at all.

I'll be happy when the days begin to cool down, although that might be another month, at least. 

 

The long, hot summer!

The long, hot summer has begun in earnest, and I can just say "Thank God for air conditioning".  I really feel sorry for those who don't have it.  At least in this part of California the nights are cool, and the coolness lasts into the middle of the morning.  I'm trying to take Rocky for his morning walk a bit earlier than  usual because I worry about his paws on the hot sidewalks and pavement.

Speaking of Rocky, he had a grooming session yesterday and looks absolutely gorgeous!  He usually comes back from grooming smelling so good, but evidently they didn't use any nice-smelling stuff on him yesterday.  I'm going to ask for it the next time.

I need a change!

I think I need something in my life that will give me a reason for going on.  What I have is so boring and predictable, as well as lonely.  I might be better off in a senior living community, and I have given it some thought.  My daughter went to great lengths to find a builder of new homes that included a senior living apartment that is totally independent from the main section.  I have every appliance except a dishwasher, and you will never know how wonderful a dishwasher is until you don't have one!  I miss it terribly, as a single person doesn't accrue many dirty dishes each day,  I don't like leaving them stack up in the sink. 

I walk my dog every day but rarely meet other people on the walk, and those I do see don't say much more than "hello" or just wave as I go by.  It is me, because when I'm outside with my daughter she has people clamoring around her to talk.  I don't get so much as a wave or a smile.  Can someone tell me if it might be my age, or if it could be another reason.  I try to smile at everyone I meet, so I hope I look friendly.

 I know my daughter searched for a home that would accommodate me in a private and completely equipped apartment, but I might have been better where I was and on my own.  I hope I don't sound ungrateful, but I feel like I'm facing a slow death here.  Another problem, or maybe it's just an inconvenience to me, is the fact that no commercial establishment is within walking distance.  I wish I could walk to a store, a deli, or any kind of place where I would have a destination and would interact with others.

I know there is no answer for me, so I just have to suck it up and try to keep the peace.

 

Snake Plants and Snakes!

I am looking at a large flowerpot that contains a beautiful snake plant.  I've had it for several years and need to repot it soon.  There are quite a few smaller leaves that would love extra room so they could grow and bring up their own little shoots.  It is such a hardy plant and thrives no matter what you do, or what you don't do, to it.

As for snakes, I can't help but worry about meeting one when I walk Rocky twice a day.  We usually take a road that runs through some woods (not dense woods, though) to another building site where more new homes are springing up.  I hope they leave the woods alone, and I think there are some trees that are on the "protected list" in these woods.  A determined builder could probably find a way around any kind of building codes, but I hope they don't try it in this case. 

I am tired of living here, and while my personal space is awesome, I'm totally separated from everything and everyone.  I can't even see the street from the windows on my side of the house.  As with all California houses, they are separated from the neighboring properties by a tall wooden fence. 

Today started out hot, and will probably end up hanging around the 100 degree mark.  If it's this hot in June, I hate to think of what July and August will be!

Jeannie and I went to a store yesterday evening called 'Total Wine".  I was in "wine heaven", and have never seen such a collection of every type of wine, in every price range.  One of the store employees must have noticed the bottles already in my cart and brought me a coupon for 20% off my total order.  This was a good move on his part because I bought even more than I intended.  I even bought myself a bottle of Johnny Walker scotch, as it was actually lower than Costco's price!  So the long, lonely evenings won't be so bad as I will have my friends, Johnny W. and Mr. Moscato to keep me company for a while! 

While it may sound like a lot, I can assure you that I have always adhered to the rule  that I stop drinking whatever it is BEFORE I start to feel the effects!  That seems to work for me.

I didn't intend to get so "wordy" so I will quit now and wish you all a great day/evening, wherever you are. 

Is Everything Shrinking?

It seems to me that nearly everything except my waistline is shrinking!  

 I have two loaves of bread on my table - one is Sun-Maid raisin bread.  It is so much smaller than I remember it being, so then I checked the white bread - a loaf of Artesano bread - and that, too, is much smaller than it was a short time ago.  Both loaves are smaller in width as well as height - I can't recall what I paid for either of them, but I'm almost certain they haven't gone down in price to match the new size!

 Has anyone noticed other items that you've purchased lately that seem to be less than what they recently were?   I think this is a bad sign for what we can expect from now on, and all across the board of the goods and services we rely on.