Day 219

Yesterday started with a migraine and went down hill from there. Just couldn’t get started. Had an edge with the other volunteers at the museum and did the honorable thing and came home. My head was relentless and I gave in to it. Rested. Didn’t try to accomplish anything except chicken soup in the crock pot with a bunch of the farm box vegetables. Even that didn’t lift the gloomy mood. Oh well, all new day today.

Day 218

Took the dogs for a walk yesterday afternoon. We went to the cemetery and saw Harold’s flower covered grave. I was alone at the police department as everyone went to the funeral. It was like a military ceremony. The procession had every piece of fire equipment, all the sheriff’s units, the highway patrol, and the city police. The officers on had their formal uniforms, hats and gloves. It was a testament to the man’s life of service. 

Day 217

Friday, payday, PD day, farm box day, chiro day, foggy day, maybe senior news will come and I can distribute them too. I like days with variety. Yesterday was social both at the center and on the walk with the dogs. We stopped at the museum and also visited Chris and Jon. Eileen called to say sorry that I didn’t know she would be gone. I like the look of my new journal. It starts on Monday.

Day 216

Except Eileen wasn’t there. Then to Gene’s to pick apples only they weren’t ripe. Tired evening. Even the pleasure of Chris’ company to listen to Jon play at Enoteca didn’t get me out of the comfort zone, a restless night full of bizarre dreams and now coffee is attempting to clear the cobwebs. Onward to today leaving all that behind and embracing whatever comes next. I’m enjoying the color in my journal. The weekdays are the theme.

Day 215

What future does a day have that begins with setting off the alarm system? That noise is outrageous on ears that haven’t had any coffee yet. Today is the end of the museum season. I will miss Rick’s conversations. Time with him is precious. Then on the gallery. I have some doodling to do in my journal and sitting in the window is the perfect place for it. I’ll take a handful of pens and enjoy myself.

Day 214

Note to self: Take care of papers in a timely fashion. No more hours of shredding and picking clogs out of the machine. I found tax stuff from 1993! Egads. Safeway said I couldn’t have a shingles shot unless I paid $214. I called Express Scripts and connected with a great info guy. He said call Safeway. I had phones in both ears. It was straightened out and I am now safe from shingles. Insightful productive day.

Day 213

I’m missing messing around with color. I looked at an old journal yesterday and it’s full of color. This current journal looks bare. When did I stop decorating the pages? I’ll look for art journal prompts on the net. Had fun with one last year. The chores are on hold until KY has time to work on the back porch leaky windows. I like getting things finished. I’ll find some fun with paper today. Need to play.

Day 211 & 212

The area back of my left ear is still numb although Tracy has helped a lot with the neck pain. I’m looking forward to the MRI to find out what is going on. I want to buy a chair and have the old one delivered to daily bread thrift. I will get the grey paint shaken up so I can paint the new siding on the barn. The finished kitchen threshold and front door weatherization are installed.

212

Had a wonderful Saturday. I can have another one today. After church I will put another coat of paint on the barn. It looks good. I put the middle seat back in the car and toted out all the old paperwork that has stacked up since 1998. I stuffed the garbage can and then wondered about what happens to the stuff. I’m sure it isn’t available after compacting. I enjoy movement and activity. More progress to come. 

Day 210

After talking with Judy Hutchinson yesterday, I sage smudged my home. She has found puddles in her house too and the guy who lives in Kim’s place hears noises, thumps, and walking. Kim needs to go to the Light. He needs to know we love him always and will remember him. His face book page came up this morning. His son joined three months after his death. That person can live with his denial of his father.

Day 209

No brilliant insights today. I did tell Megan that her tough schedule will not last forever. I’m so proud of her progress and her intentions. She is my replacement unit so I want her to succeed in wherever her path takes her. Joan says she wishes her name was on my lab results. How is it possible to look so well on paper and not have any energy to work with? No comments on my age please.

Day 208

A poor health day yesterday. Today will be an improvement, I’m sure. It will begin with a trip to Joan, followed by the museum and the gallery. There are only two more museum Wednesdays. Then Hollie will be ready to schedule my time with her. I do enjoy the variety in my days. I would appreciate an upswing in vigor. The gloom has taken a toll and I don’t want to wait for the sun to shine.

Day 207

Focusing is still not fully functioning. I’m missing signals and have the feeling that there are messages that I’m not getting. Yesterday I paid attention as well as I’m able and still had the feeling that something is going on. First the mysterious puddles, three of them, and now the cuts on my chair. Is my sanctuary haunted now? What do I need to do or know?  I don’t believe that Kim’s spirit is messing with me.

Day 206

House day. While the dogs are having their monthly bath session, I can dig in and pay attention to dust and cobwebs. Few errands and another trip to the chiro and the day is mine. I have neglected my journal and it is calling me. Another place to pay attention. I’ve been following a Jewish website that calls attention to aging gracefully. It is full of wonderful advice and is poetically written. So today’s theme is attention.

Day 205

Susanne is coming to church with me today. She has missed ritual and wants to experience the little group of Episcopalians and see what it’s like. She was raised catholic and can’t follow the dictates any longer. I’m pleased to share with her. I promised to go regularly until I either find a fit or not. There have been changes and less formality since I dropped out a dozen years ago. Attending does add to my life.

Day 204

Tracy helped my neck. It’s not 100% and it is bearable. Kelle did a remote healing too. I will be gentle today and keep it healing. A pain in the neck is a pain in the neck. I will walk to the farmer’s market and buy peaches again. The season is nearly over. May be the last of them. And an extra duty at the museum. I do like to keep busy with volunteering and being out.

Day 203

I could use an energy boost to get started this morning. Maybe a bacon and avocado sandwich will do the trick. I want a long walk on the way to the police department and back home. Need to get back to daily exercise. Been unable to with my neck hurting. Thrilled to hear from Sharon K. Friends with history are the best kinds. Don’t have to explain who we are or what we’re about. We already know.

Day 202

After the senior center duty, I’m going to Ace hardware to get the blue paint matched and a quart mixed to touch up the front porch and door. I want it to look maintained. That’s the biggest issue with old houses, keeping them repaired and attractive. I did let the house get briny and cob webbed. Can’t have it looking neglected. My neck is revisiting the injury from April. Tracy will have another go at it tomorrow.

Day 201

Sun, again! After the many days of damp gloom, it is refreshing even if the wind blows a bit. Gene would like the ocean to lay flat so he can fish. He brought me fresh and smoked salmon. I have a few fish meals in the freezer to look forward to after the season. I’m enjoying watching Minnie root around in her rock filled bowl to chase every kibble. I actually heard her chew! Onward, new day.

Day 200

Ah the joys of taking out the garbage on one of the few clear warm calm pre-dawn excursions to the curb, hearing the sea lions barking, and enjoying the brilliant sky! Yesterday Minnie had two teeth pulled. She should feel better. The vet suggested putting two rocks on top of her food so she can’t hoover in 20 seconds. It worked. She was the last one finished. Now how do I transfer that to my food habits? 

Day 199

Monday again. I enjoyed a couple of BLT’s with the tomato and lettuce from the farm box and the apple smoked bacon from safeway. Hard to beat that combination. The girls are going to the vet this morning. After that I have a list for Freddy’s. Haven’t been shopping for fun in a long while. I’m looking for a couple of new tops. First, the PT exercises. I’m back into my routine. I want to be healthy.

Day 198

Finishing the column was all I accomplished yesterday. Needed a day off. Today, after church, I want a walk on this sunny day. Have to make the most of nice weather. I’ve already had the heater on for the wet gloom that has been here for days. The water washed the new paint off the porch railings. There are other weatherization projects due soon. There was a cold late spring and now feels like an early winter.

Day 197

The theme for October’s column is health. Editor Barbara's themes are the same each month annually. I like to find a different slant on them. She gives me 500 words and creative use of them. My column will be on the health-giving qualities of smiling. It’s already half written in my head. I want research too. I have sources and can make it sound scientific. I can use September to try it and see if it works. 

Day 196

Kim’s death caught up with me again yesterday. I get sudden tears and a tearing feeling. It started with Jaimie Yarbrough bringing in his dad’s books. He said he couldn’t look at them or he would keep every one. When we were cleaning out Kim’s house I avoided keeping his things except for his Stetson and the folding table. It was better to distribute all the useable items and know they were appreciated. Megan kept some books.

Day 195

The little tiny repaint the porch railings job turned into a big project. Sean found rot and so the whole north railing needs to be replaced. I don’t have enough left over paint for it. I just wanted the top sanded and painted. Oh well, it will be solid and last a long time. I don’t like having unfinished business and I’m surrounded by it. I want to have progress and the enjoyment of the finished work. 

Day 194

O2 is gone. Papers are all out. No electrician yet. Progress and motion, that’s all good. A people day coming up, the museum and the gallery. I have such variety in my week and I love it. Soon I can add second grade to my calendar and that is a pleasure. Not many parents get to see their child at work and Hollie does an exemplary job under difficult circumstances. Teaching gets harder and harder every year.

Day 193

Looking for a spark this morning. Not a rocket, not a bonfire, I’ll settle for a spark. I have loose ends to tie up, distributing the rest of the Senior News to the downtown area after senior center duty, calling the electrician again, and calling Joan Butler again. It’s been almost month since the O2 test and I want to know the result. The oxygen concentrator costs Medicare $581.58 a month rent and I don’t need it.

Day 192

Had another down day. I’m thinking of early last days of vacation. The pull between the excitement of a new school year and the sadness that summer is over. The best one was Hydesville: getting prepared in the brand new school in a community that had never had a Kindergarten with all new furniture and toys, a store room full of art materials, and a positive attitude. I had a full teaching experience and a fun staff.

Day 191

It has been a weak week, lots of down time for no obvious reason. I’m fine except for no go-power. Tried to push myself yesterday but simply didn’t have anything to work with. I missed out on a beach walk with good friends and an early dinner. The comfort zone begins to feel like a trap. And resting doesn’t seem to refresh at all. Today is another opportunity to get moving. Errands and shopping first, then recreation.

Day 190

Dark mornings already. New month to use wisely. My column says I will call people by name all month. Started yesterday in Safeway. I was called by name yesterday at the police department thanks to my name badge. It does make a difference. I hadn’t thought about people using my name, just me calling their names. Interesting insight. Today is the Democrat’s Union breakfast. I won’t work for the election and I did give them a donation.