Power and Plants

 I was on the phone with our daughter in New Jersey who, after an onslaught of wind and plunging temps, is without power and therefore heat. Kindness made me avoid revealing that I was sitting on our porch in my jammies.

Retail Robbery

       My Guy was off sitting behind an easel at an art workshop, so I took myself out for some retail therapy. There was little on the agenda other than a poke around in the stores at a neighboring town but I ended up at the same discount store I shop in by our condo.

Looking over my shoulder

 I faced the unfaceable and stuffed my Temple of Carbs into a bathing suit for the first time this year. I was off to the small pool in our complex to read and maybe catch some conversation.

          Unlike everyone else, I dodged the sun and planted myself safely under the shade of an umbrella and opened my book, but after a while, the chatter in the pool drew me in.

          While we stood in the water, swishing with our hands, one woman there mentioned that when she returned North, she’d be going back to her job in an assisted living facility. I knew one of my friends there at the pool had sold their house in Georgia and moved with her husband to such a place. Both facilities were the ‘staged’ sort, where you might begin in the independent living portion but when the need arose, you would then move on to the next level of care.

          My friend spoke about the changes she’d likely see there when they returned to Georgia from Florida – people needing more help in the common dining room than before, others who they might not see again at all.

          One thing I like about being here is that most of the people I see are in my age range and out and about, which means that paradoxically, with few opportunities for comparison, I tend to forget how old I am.   

          I don’t think I’d like living in a place where the ongoing frailties of others would serve as a graphic reminder to me of what’s ahead.

Changing the Bed

 

         When I was teaching, Sundays meant fitting in those last weekend events while still trying to finish up those papers I needed to grade to hand back on Monday.

Once more into the breach

 

 

         They’re at it again. A month ago, after our credit card was compromised, we spent hours and days running the unforgiving obstacle course of contacting all the entities that are paid by it.

Hunting and Gathering

With My Guy off at an art workshop, I decided to go to downtown Venice, aka “the island” for a little shopping.

 Ever since 1960, when the West Coast Inland Waterway was created, the original city center has been an island, accessible only by crossing one of three bridges.

How to Entertain 101

 

          My Guy and I had a great evening of dinner and Mahjong at some friends’ house the other night, but I have to say that another set friends have truly found the true key to effortless entertaining.

Heights, Lights, and Turtles

 The entertainment value of my walk around the complex – usually limited to an audio book on my phone – went up the other day as I spotted first, giant finials on the ground, and second, the men who were installing them.

Compos Mentis

 I knew I’d just had it in my hand.

Someone else's shoes