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 |  Yet another blog. Been here so long I thought I ought to blog again. Besides, it is fun! |
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I've decided to blog again. I can only hope it will last longer than the last one. (Hah) The main difference is I am beginning in the middle of July, in a severe drought, and we had a little rain today. Of course not enough, but anything is welcome. The smell of rain is so rare, and nice. I didn't realize how much I have missed it. I also cannot believe how chilly it is. Yet, I should believe it, as I was recently in what was supposedly summer in New Zealand (where I had to buy hats, sweaters and sheepskin booties), Australia and a bunch of other countries, which all were experiencing strange weather. A big shout out to my friends (you know who you are). I am fortunate enough to still be in touch with some of them. This brings up some other strange topics. I mean how some so-called friends just go dark on you...nothing, crickets so to speak, not a sound. It can be family too. Strange phenomena this is. Life is full of them. Today is my eleventh WDC anniversary. Gulp. There have been so many changes here I barely know where to begin. So I just began. And so I shall end for today. Time to go drink a cup of tea now. |
| Today I am in California, alone. WOW!! I have had some surgery as recently as last Wednesday. I am not in my new house in Idaho. They don’t have very good medical facilities where I am. So here I am! I had an artery in my neck cleaned out. Oh yuck. My son and his daughter have visited me while in CA. She is really cute and nearly 4 now. The whole reason I am here is because....well, I am a paid member, and I heard from the story master. Otherwise it would be awhile longer than 3 months |
| Just took a photo of rain and hail....sheesh! Hope my husband shoots well in Twin Falls! Been walking the dog in the mornings, except for about 4 days when I was sick. Say what? Really, I have been not feeling 100%. Oh well, what do I expect? I expect NOT to be sick, yet it is cold here....apparently to some of us. I did get a flu shot....not bad at all. In 15 minutes it will be time to feed the dog....he is very lucky he gets 3 meals....(I hope I can get 3 squares)...HECK I hope I can prepare 3 meals a day for us! I barely answer emails. (If I do.) Speaking of emails...(and I was), since when is that the accepted way to communicate with people? Not feeing too well now....think I will go fix something to eat! |
Time to blog again! The sun is shining, Hank wants to play.....don't all puppies? Instead he chews on a bone....of course he does! I wish ......there is a non-starter!. Ahem---let me try again..I am thrilled to be in Idaho! At least I am not alone. There are many CA imports here. Why we are invited to a Superbowl party this weekend! I remember making signs and throwing parties for Superbowl Sunday!.(Gawd, yet again memories get in the way). Many people do not have sunshine today. We are fortunate to have sun. I am fortunate. Let me count the ways: 1. I am fortunate to have my husband. 2. I am fortunate to have a house. 3. I am fortunate to have a car. 4. I am fortunate. Need I say more? Okay...I am fortunate to have this blog. |
| Just write! Yeah, it sounds soooo easy, yet it really is. Just begin somewhere and the words of your life will flow! Hank is growing up...hard to believe, but he has let the razor sharp teeth and now has a beautiful new set (which are so white and perfect they look FAKE.) Yet we know they are not. I've taken to calling him HOLLYWOOD for the teeth alone. Even went so far as to buy him a Bow-Tie of the .Australian Flag.....I can admit that I haven't put it on him yet....so afraid he will chew it up. And he will. How I know.... is he chews everything up. My life is well....cold. Yesterday was very windy ALL day. Sheesh, I am fatigued by the wind, and I had a decent night of sleep. I awoke to FROST. So it is cold! |
| Today is a HUGE day for several reasons; first HANK gets his cone off and his stitches removed, and secondly, my husband can paddle! Yep. The weather is good enough, and he found a paddling buddy!! I am so happy for this! So is he, understandably. I have showered and cleaned up as best I can. I have a load of wash in the washer from which I retrieved 50 cents already.. Life is very good. I woke up this morning, in the best mood I have been in...say... for a long time. It feels great! I am getting used to Idaho now....this didn't take too long now...HAH! Now I am blogging for the second time this week...will wonders ever cease? |
| Really...WDC is 18? That makes me....hmmmmm-- more than 18 dang it! Oh well, I am still here. Happy Birthday to WDC...seems like yesterday I celebrated, okay lots of things seem like yesterday....in fact was talking about this very thing while having my glass of wine and munchies around 5 pm yesterday. That is all I remember except something about congratulating my husband on saving a bunch of money by NOT buying a new motorcycle. Yet that was yesterday and yesterday is gone. For all practical purposes. Hank is doing well considering he hasn't made it a week yet with a "cone" on his head to keep him from licking stitches. GROAN. Still have another week from tomorrow w/the CONE....it is not easy on any of us, plus he is growing like a weed! He is still sweet when he is asleep most of the time... can say this because I am mostly healed.. I say mostly because yesterday I caught a tooth in my hand. Need I say more? Okay, he has the CONE because he had his dewclaws remove, a microchip inserted, and he was neutered. The view is still spectacular....and the groceries are......not California anymore. 'Nuff said. For now. |
| Hey....I am back! My arms are red marked (read; drawn blood) from a puppy named “Hank”! But hey, at least he sleeps all night. Speaking of the devil, he just got up! We are having a heat wave, I suppose the West is too. Driving us all nuts I tell you...but then I am already. Trying to come up with something for dinner is a challenge. I made eggs for breakfast, had cookies for lunch, and now..... Love living on the River...water, water everywhere. Speaking of water I was pleasantly surprised at our water bill...especially after CA’s. Time to go...just wanted you to know I am still blogging. |
Wow! Time sure does fly by. (Especially when you are having FUN!) Not only have I moved, but last week got Hank, the Cow-dog. What a trip having a puppy! Not only am I trying to furnish a new place from scratch, but having a puppy AND a TOOTHACHE, made this place home-like. I can't believe it is already the 4th of July....so Happy Fourth of July (to those who celebrate). Saturday my husband will be 70....and next month I will be too. We have been invited to go to one of his sons' home for the festivities, yet we do not drive on holidays if at all possible, too many weird people on the roads...drunk and rare drivers. Probably will try over the weekend, as he has a granddaughter, the first girl in his family. Internet is very spotty here, even with a connection...so I may not get to blog or check my mail often. Oh well. My tooth got better, even though I found a new dentist and I like him. Things are less expensive here. Except Federal taxes...but hey, tis the price you pay. Best I go before I am forced by my internet connection. Just wanted you to know I am okay, just busy.   |
| I have really been too busy to blog.You see, we have moved and did you ever think you would be starting over at....ahem, nearly 70? No, neither did I, yet here I am doing just that. I mean to say starting from nothing is difficult. I had my housekeeper (ok, she was) pick me up and take me to the places my husband hates...Bed, Bath and Beyond and Target. I needed so much...and I like to look to see what is new. I will admit that having spent over two months in close quarters was....difficult. Now, having so much space is weird. And then there is TV. The Olympics. Whereas before I would have loved them, now not so much. Last night we watched a "free" movie....because we could. DUMB! Now I have a kitchen and am loathe to buy anything to cook. I am sure I will get over it....in time. Did I mention I am having eye surgery this month? I am having a cataract surgery. Well why not? I mean I am having trouble seeing and have not driven because of it. Besides it only took 3 eye doctors to finally schedule it. Lots to do now, so think I will go now! |
| When things go bad, they get really bad. I would say at least nobody died, at least in our household. (That we know of!.) I wish for so many things, like being able to write, draw, go HOME, and so on. Of course I know none of it is valid yet I refuse to give up hope. Sure, I do get emotional (read break into tears) occasionally, yet I am aware enough to know it will not last long, it can’t. Just found out no phone calls, tv or anything connected to an outlet. It is particularly rough when you get a phone call sayin, “wish I could do something. “ what, like invite us to use your guest room? Noooooo. Invite us to call you when we want to go out to eat? Sure thing, we never eat out. Or ask about whether our dogs died in the fire? “Oh I must have forgotten the died years ago.” This morning we found out the part we need for coffee, plugging in....anything will not be shipped until tomorrow’s was gone. Honestly such weird things have occurred. Like for instance: We went back to the house site today….(it already seems weird calling the house by the new name) I was walking back with a very heavy frog sundial, and a broken tile in my hands. It stuck me funny and sad that this was all that was left. The odd part to me was the amount of cleaning it would take to even make them useful…if ever, you see, I had not used the sundial or the tile since I had acquired them the first time, so why would I now? It made no sense to me to save them because they didn’t burn. I mean I could glue the tile back together, but why? Today is going to be another warm one. Oh W-A-A-A! Thankfully no rain…or snow in sight. U-h-h-h….And the drought here goes on.... Just got a note from our “new” landlord it seems he won’t be letting us in early. (We were talking a couple of days.) Talk about heartless, Oh well, I suppose we are used to it. Time to go and do something. Anything!!! |
| WOW…streamlining your life boils down to a few things: 1. Things you use. 2. Things you have because……(I’ll leave you to fill in the blanks). Nothing makes this clearer than losing everything you own. At least the stuff you believe you own. Nobody really owns anything. You may think you do, but in reality you don’t. Just remember anything you think you own can be taken away….for instance the hairdryer I was using to make me feel somewhat normal just quit. Poof it was gone leaving me with a wet head. Never mind my husband prefers I don’t…I do it not for him, but for ME. Happy wife, happy life and all of that. Just had a call from a lady trying to pass along a message from my ex-father-in-law’s former nurse. Gawd. Other case of “streamlining”…again! We were laughing this morning; I know. About what? “Everything is up in smoke.” I suggested we make a list, however everything is gone. Got our replacement passports…GAWD, we look terrible in the pictures, but they are accurate reflections of how we felt on that day. A little reminder of the costs…ahem. Well, we rented a furnished place…yes, in Ojai. However we can’t move in for another month. The story of our lives, yet it gives us a reason to look ahead. (Like we needed one.). So….Murphy’s law reigns over our place, right now. Both of us have a bum knee…well, they are getting better now. Yet not before we discovered our microwave was filling our space with smoke. (Oh no…not another fire.). Now this was just too funny, first we both have bum knees, then we need to evacuate because of smoke? OK, enough of the action for now…suffice it to say this is not everything. |
| Happy New Year, finally!! We became grandparents again, to a girl! That makes 2 boys and 2 girls...wahoo! This is not to say it has been a Rose Parade for us, but hey, we have to look ahead! Perhaps this is why I haven't been blogging, but sometimes it is good not to speak...if you know what I mean! This is the first time I am looking forward to my dentist appointment tomorrow...see, not all is bad! We got the least important papers back in the mail. I say this because NOT ONE PERSON has asked for this item from us. Oh well, at least something has happened! Thanks to everyone who has been here for us! |
| There are amazing gifts this time of year, and not all of them are under a tree. My greatest gift is my husband, That he would bring to me his love is quite evident. He shows it in more ways each day. For instance he dug through the rubble of OUR home to bring me (triumphantly) my mother's diamond. Truthfully I had forgotten it...so overwhelmed by the losses. But the moment I recognized it I knew...(heck, even before then), as I watched him sift through the ashes and puffs of ash were blown to the side of his digging, I knew then, as if I hadn't before. He suffered much loss also, and this I need to recognize. Again. I watched as he saw our lives sifted through...and I realized our love would not be stuffed out as easily as our home. We have memories, good ones as well as bad ones, Yet, memories they are, more vivid than any photos. I took photos, yet I now know they aren't nearly as good as the memories, Happy Holidays!  |
| What a few days! I can't explain it all, but suffice it to say "what a trip" wasn't ordered. I am blown away by all that has happened, and yet none of it. I know this sounds weird, but so be it. It is weird. |
| Oh it is not fun to buy a car while under the proverbial "gun", but we have one now, and insurance paid for. Sigh... if only life were that easy. We have discovered we miss the things we had, but most of all we miss the space. Yeah, I know, WHAT! I mean the space to move in, little things really, like flushing a toilet...nothing really to most people, but to us it is a luxury. Eating off of plastic silverware is fun and exciting, but nothing like eating off of regular silverware...or for that matter plates. The list is endless, but finding my mother's ring in my purse yesterday was a real find. Paul lost many things, but not his sense of humor...that is really important! I find that I am beginning to grieve...not just for the house, but for the memories held inside. Those are not gone as long as I have my mind to extract memories. With age comes wisdom...and acceptance I am loathe to go there, but I/we are forced. I am reminded that others still have a holiday season...just a reminder that it is not about the "stuff", it is more about the feelings of hope. |
| How hard can it be to buy a car during the so called holiday season? Damned hard! Excuse my language.... but after spending all day trying to buy a new car, I am sorry to inform you, I still don't have a car! GAWD! We went to dealers we have a relationship with, walked out when we could not get a price. The we went for a late lunch and to a dealer we had ...oh heck, not going to repeat this story again. Will check back tomorrow. |
| We are still here. Wherever here is. I picked up a new computer so I feel like I have some control now. Thank goodness for something! I was able to check my bank account, and spoke by phone to a few Ojai friends. We are car shopping, yet the smoke is unbelievable...especially for my health problems. We are thinking of leaving town for awhile. If you don't have your health, you have nothing. Boy has that been driven home!! Thank you all who have left supportive messages etc. I will answer them soon. Hard to believe it has been a week since we found out. And yet, not really. We are not used to the confined space...yet we feel lucky but smoked. I think you understand. |
| It is amazing what is important after you lose everything but your life! Friendships become important, as do little things; finding out you have a check in your purse, finding out I don’t have except 1Ipad (I cannot get into because my passwords all burned up). Deliveries can’t be made, and the list has gotten so long. Nothing to do about some of it on a Sunday before Christmas anyway. Careful discussions to ensue. Went to the rubble pile yesterday....nothing salvageable. Oddly, no crying. Still surreal. The mailbox is intact, though no mail service. Time to thank people for their thoughts and prayers! Thanks to all. |
| Besides losing the house now we find out my dad is in the hospital, and I missed a call from my son! G-r-r. It is very smoky out. I would post a picture but I don’t know how. |
| Our home burned down sometime Tuesday night, after 9:30 pm. I have yet to have the full ramifications sink in, doubt they will as time goes by. Gotta go now, just wanted to tell you. |
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