The Way it Happens

 You know how my life goes. After a good night of sleep, I only slept two hours Thursday night. So, we did not go to Cullman. Bummer.

My friend who had a concussion finally lost her job. She is supposed to work 20 hours per week. However, Monday night, the owner of the daycare sent a text saying she was being put on call for the rest of the week and to please call the next day. The owner said she did NOT say to call. Friend was distressed. I told her to just enjoy the day off and do as she said she might do--get a job at Walmart as a greeter. 

When I saw her, she looked stronger and sounder, more perky instead of an old woman who is on her last leg and has lost her will. She laughed and said she felt better. 

Today, I asked Lynda if she would use her little saw and cut the mop head off Tommy's mop that he wants to throw away. The mop handle was not wood, but metal. While I was there, I gave her a box of books I have read. Remember, a couple of years ago I got box from a free shelf? Well, now Lynda, who loves to read, has a box of books, about a dozen books gone from this house. Score a big one for decluttering. 

Tommy sat and cut down two identical boxes to fit under the coffee table where the tv lives. He used Contac paper, marble pattern, and covered the boxes. This way, the living room looks less like a warehouse. I will take the sweet potatoes from their boxes, all 64 pounds of them and transfer to paper bags, fold the top down and put them in the boxes. This room is the only room that does not get too cold or too hot over the winter and summer. It is dark enough under the table and in paper bags. So, we have food under the tv. These will last until June of 2023 if we don't eat them first.

I slept from about 4 pm until 6:30 pm and had a strange awakening. I very slowly became awake. Usually, I am asleep and then awake. 

My request for an absentee ballot was mailed. I think it is a lost cause. Tommy was so sweet and told me I could just fill out his ballot. Still, that is only one vote for two people. He said he will use mine if it gets here in time. I heavily advise him, so he can do it himself. I get more upset at the thought of not voting than he does, so he was trying to console me. I called three places today and heard from no one.

Three books are out to read--Moby Dick, book by Obama, and another. I dug them out since I finished a book two weeks ago and never took another one to bed. 

I found out another friend died in Cullman. A guy who is an antique dealer and friend here in Birmingham is recovering from cancer, almost died! 

Tonight, we had meatloaf, sweet potato, and cole slaw. I heated a loaf of bread and was eating from my portion when I noticed a huge green area on the bottom about 2'x2'. I spit out the bite I had just taken and chewed. Most of it was green. Gross! I warned Tommy not to eat his piece either. I hope we don't get sick.

We have leftover meatloaf for tomorrow night. It took me forever, it seemed, to get it mixed and in the oven! I forgot to put in onion and there was not enough salt, but neither of us salted it more. There was so much diced bell pepper that we were both happy with the taste. I used Hunt's tomato sauce in the meatloaf and on top instead of catsup. That should make it healthier. Oats were the filler and two eggs bound it. If it only had onions....

Beside me is a delicious, icy-cold glass of unsweetened tea. I certainly don't drink much else now that I have ice for tea! Thanks, Janet! This will make 32 ounces of tea this evening.

Friday, I will cook the pound of frozen, raw cranberries from last year to freeze for Thanksgiving. Preparations have begun. I know they were on sale somewhere last year. Maybe I can find more to freeze.  Tommy will wash the kitchen linens on Friday. The folding of clothes never seems to end! Tomorrow, I will plant tulips! I promise. 

Have you planted any bulbs for next year? I am so far south that these can be planted in December or January and they will bloom. I did that one year. But, I will plant part of my bulbs tomorrow, even if not many.

Ball and Bulbs

Once in a while, I decide to check on canning supplies when in stores. I got lucky last weekend and found a box of Ball canning jar lids and rings. There was only one box. However, there were two boxes of lids for large mouth jars, so I got two of those. 

With the short life of the new lids, I am loathe to buy any more for fear they will go bad before I can use them. That's okay because I am using jars for dry storage, cannisters, leftovers. There were jars but I barely noticed how many or what kind as I have plenty. Of course, those here have rings and lids. 

Monday was supposed to be rainy. But, it was not, and I had cancelled a doctor's appointment. Rats! 

Sunday, I sort of straightened and cleaned the front porch. There were pots to toss, the black nursery kind.  It looks so much better for two minutes attention. I have Purple Prince tulips and daffodils to plant in pots soon. I have pots to plant other bulbs, too. 

Dinner on Sunday night--Chicken Cordon Bleu (given to me) for both of us. He had the rest of the quinoa with vegetables and the zucchini. I had a portion of a salad that was not good to me.  I ate it for the nutrition. 

Dinner Monday night--baked chicken breasts, two small red potatoes (one for each of us), green beans. 

Do you ever plants two kinds of bulbs together so they will bloom together? The purple tulips and bright yellow daffodils are gorgeous. 

Eyes and UV Light

 I have been telling Tommy for as long as I have been here that this bare curly bulb was not good for my eyes. I already have a wrinkled macula. But, he was yelling and adamant that the bulb would not be replaced and he liked the bare bulb and no shade for his lamp beside him. 

When I told Tommy that the eye doctor said to avoid fluorescent bulbs and wear sunglasses outdoors, he did not say anything.  That was Thursday. I placed an led bulb on his table. 

Friday, when I went shopping, I bought a shade and did not take it out of the bag. I asked him when he was going to change the bulb. He said "later" and finally did. Late Friday night, I brought the shade in, put it on the lamp. He said nothing. Much later, I asked him how he like the shade. He said it looked really nice. 

When he makes such a fuss and takes a stand, he does not know how to change his mind. He just hangs in there with his mean attitude, willing to die on every hill. 

By the way, uv light even from bulbs contributes to cancer risk. 

I wait until after dinner to expose him to new ideas or items. 

So, why all the caution with ultraviolet light? It can damage retina, cause cataracts, macular degeneration, alter DNA and cause cancer. Besides protecting our skin, we need to protect our eyesight. I worry about school children studying under fluorescent lights. Some people cannot learn under school fluorescent lighting. Yes, the last bit is true. I have read the research. 

Speaking of lights, I bought another cheap floor lamp to move about the dining room so I can see food and can sort the junk in there. He did not say a word when I put it near him and asked him to put it together, but no hurry.  Well, he did say, "Okay." 

I am writing this early Saturday morning, 5:30 am. Friday night, I went to bed at 10 pm. I even willingly missed the news. Then, I was awake at 4 am. I was too hot to sleep, so I got my laptop. We have to get up at 7 am, so I do need to sleep. 

Yes, this did not get published when written.

Do you avoid fluorescent light?

Round Trip--150 Miles

Tommy drove me 150 miles round trip to go to a doctor, and she was sick and the joint was closed! We waited for an hour and a half before reaching someone who told me i was notified she was ill and not there today. ??? So, we drove home having done nothing at all.

I did not remember it was the pick up lunch day. Tommy did, so we drove there before the appointment and got lunch--hamburger, hotdog, generous portion of lettuce and tomatoes, teeny bag of chips, cookies, condiments. Tommy wants none of the lettuce and tomato, so i will make a salad for me tomorrow.

We arrived here at 4 pm, I napped from 5:50 until 7 and heated chicken thigh, carrots, potatoes for Tommy. I had carrots. Since I forgot to take my banana with me this morning, I will eat it later.

So. that is my life and I am exhausted. One of my very necessary medications makes me hurt all over.  I hurt too much to walk into Belk's or a grocery store. I did find out one fact that will make my life a lot less stressful for the next two weeks.

And, some of my bulbs are blooming in my yard. That made me happy. Now, I hope no one gets them before I can dig them next week.

Do you carry some of your bulbs with you when you move? (I am not moving, just trying to rescue them. Remember, people steal things from my yard.) What plants/bulbs have you taken with you?