Absentee Voting, Building a Fire, and Other Things

 I did mail my request for an absentee ballot on Friday, unsure if it would be received in time for me to get an absentee ballot in the mail. Well, I got it today, filled it out and mailed it back. Noon on Tuesday is the deadline for it to arrive at the polls. I wonder if I will ever know if it is received. 

The ballot and three envelopes and an instruction sheet came in an envelope. The top of the ballot was folded down and needed to be refolded to go into the inner envelope called "inner secrecy envelope." That envelope had to go into the "affidavit envelope."

I had to sign the back of that one and have it signed by two witnesses or have it notarized. That was a pain. One person never answered the voice mail, the other person was ill and could not come out, the next person's voice mail was full or something. Finally, we got the first person, and it is done! Whew!

While we were at the PO, I bought more "Forever Stamps." I got two sheets of very pretty flowers for me and a sheet of elephants for Tommy. We both still have stamps from before the last time the price went up. So, we are set. We mail few letters, but I hate to need a stamp and have to go in to buy one or more at a higher price. I did not care for the Christmas stamps, so I will check later for those. Last year, some of the stamps were only winter scenes.  I like those. 

I have finished A Dog's Purpose except for 10 pages. My eyes were bothering me, so I just quit. I would still highly recommend this book. So, this was two reading sessions, basically. It is not a short book, 325 pages. Okay, I finished the book. This book is a real tear-jerker. Well, my eyes were wet a lot. 

Here is a story for you: To Build a Fire. Click on the link to read the complete text of the short story by Jack London. It has a dog in it, but it is about building a fire. And, it is only ten pages.

Slaughter House Five by Kurt Vonnegut will be my next book to read. Have you guessed I love literature? My son is also an English teacher and both daughters are readers, the youngest teaching reading.  

Right now, 5:30 pm, I am sort of depressed. I have nothing cooked or planned for dinner. I do have sweet potatoes baked and salad fixings. He said the ground beef was some he just took from the freezer, so at least he won't be eating iffy meat. If I had chicken breast, I would be happier right now! 

Okay, I expressed my desire for chicken breast from Publix, saying it was just too dark for us to go out. Well, within three minutes Tommy had convinced me to go. Ha! I did not expect that at all. It was delicious and so was the sweet potato.

An eclipse is happening tonight. So, I suppose I will stay up for that. 

When we went to the PO, we got the pink bag with ads and coupons back in the neighborhood. We will go through those tonight, maybe before I post this. 

When I mentioned my friend having rats, that was six months or more ago, not now. The purpose of mentioning it now was to say I think Extra-Strength Tylenol killed rats. So, no problem with rats at the moment. People gave me advice as to who to call for help. 

We had a record high of 88F today. Right now it is 78 and very pleasant. The temperature can stay right where it is today. By next Monday, the temperature will have dropped 50F degrees. 

Tonight, I had Tommy go into the hall to help me get out some food and other items from the back bedroom. It was a disaster. He can be so helpful or an a$$. Tonight was his a$$ night.  I did all I could, knowing it will wait for me and be here tomorrow. Why does work never abandon me?

He hates me to tell him something he says he knows. Tonight, I muttered words someone on TV had said. I repeated the phrase in astonishment and was not talking to anyone. He asked what I said. I repeated the words. He went into a rage, saying, "I heard that! You don't have to tell me!" It took a lot of arguing for him to know what went on because he just kept yelling at me. Now, my stomach is very upset. 

I think we are both staying up or getting up for the eclipse. How about you?

Did you go to the polls on Tuesday or vote by absentee ballot or another way? Do you buy Forever Stamps?  

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.

Busy Day

Things planned today happened with only one snafu. The weather was beautiful--80F, calm, pretty skies. The whole day would have been better if I had started earlier. 

First stop was the courthouse to turn in request for an absentee ballot. Tommy had to go down a steep ramp and then up, something I cannot do. I cannot do steep, up or down. So. they refused to give him a ballot for me. I have to go in by myself. Even in a wheelchair, that ramp is too steep. So, now I fight for my right to vote. 

We took the shoes I ordered to SAS. I just got another pair of sandals, a very bright pink. Shoes for my swollen feet will be bought somewhere else. I love pink, but if these are too bright, I still need something to wear at home.

Then, I went to King Cotton, a store that sells only upholstery and drapery fabric. They helped me with a place to sit. They brought five samples--I immediately said Tommy would like the huge buffalo check. But, I wanted him to have a choice, so we took the three best choices to Tommy. He took like three seconds to say he wanted the buffalo check. It is blue and a tan/gray color, not really greige. 

I ordered it with his cc and left--2 yards at $37/yd. So far, that is the only expense so since we got these from the trash in front of a house being renovated to rent. I expect to spend money on foam to go underneath and a layer of polyester over the foam. This is still cheaper than buying new chairs. And, these are old and sturdy and wood ladderbacks. Someday, I will find a free table to replace the smoky glass table of his that I just hate. Of course, he will have to agree. 

Lastly, we stopped at The Pig to get milk for Tommy and to get Lynda some guaifenesin for her congestion. This for lung congestion. She really needs it. I found a really fresh bag of cole slaw mix for $/97. We will have that for dinner.

At Lynda's house, she gave us her pumpkin and a bag of fresh green beans. Tommy has added it to our two pumpkins and butternut squash on the porch. I may cook the green beans to go with the coleslaw I will have with the ground beef from the freezer. 

So, we are home and watching a wonderful woodpecker documentary. Amazingly, all our plans have gone well, except for me not being able to vote! 

The week ahead looks good with highs near 80 and little rain except for the weekend. This makes me very happy! We may break record highs. I won't complain about that. 

Once again, I am looking for someone to help here. I have a call in to a friend. I gave Lynda the number for the missionaries to help her with a few things at her house. 

We have a hard day tomorrow, and I have phone calls to make tomorrow, also. 

I love to pick out fabric, especially upholstery fabric! Do you? Maybe this will expand in this house, to maybe some painting. Or something! I need to get some of my lamps rewired. What projects do you need to do or wish you could do to improve your home? We can all fantasize.