Mental Meanderings

My schedule has been juggled, thank goodness, working 52 hours last week nearly kilt me. Dead. We negotiated and I'm now working a much more reasonable 2-3 days a week; more than plenty after a decade of not working, in my opinion. More may be possible after I've had the opportunity to build up my stamina... in the meantime, it's very lucky my employer is understanding and willing to keep to our original agreement. This also frees up energy and time for writing (and for visiting your blogs). 

We're living in a small retirement community; most of the residents are currently 'up north' and won't be returning for a month or two. It's quiet here and not a lot of demand for community gatherings, etc... just yet. This I find quite agreeable, Cranky as I am. About 50 ft. beyond our place is an unmarked wall with no entrance; something about it intrigues me. Perhaps it's the brief glimpses of a roofline through the trees, maybe of a set of flats, or it could be the occasional sounds of people talking and children laughing. It could even be the occasional soft cock's crow which piques my interest.

I keep picturing a late-middle age woman in shorts and hiking boots, carrying a backpack, perched on the wall with a smile on her face... leaping suddenly to other side, laughter trailing behind.

Dunno for sure but methinks there might be a story in there somewhere; what do you think?

It's been a while so here's some food porn.

Above: Chicken salad with pecans, tart apple and sharp cheddar. Below: Liquid pizza aka tomato soup with sausage, pepperoni, minced green pepper, mushrooms, onions, and black olives with slices of fresh mozzarella. 

The Staggers

Don't ask me how I managed it, but I did...

After a long first week at work and managing to pinch a nerve so a large section of my right thigh was numb, (but still functional, thank heavens!) I had staggered out to the front porch and was chatting on the phone... These two were keeping a close eye on me, even though they were indulging in, erm, recreational activities:

Suddenly, the leg that was numb started burning like an overcooked lamb roast in a much too hot oven. Flying off, like a self-satisfied dive bomber, was this guy; an American hornet:

image source

No, it's not my own photo; I was rather busy not screaming as bursting the eardrum of the person with whom I was speaking seemed a trifle, well, rude. It also happens that I'm quite allergic to stings, so I spent my night off hopped up on Benadryl and with my formerly numb leg feeling like it was on fire.

Now, I kid you not, after I finally fell asleep early this morning, a sheriff's deputy knocked on the door and wanted to speak to my mother and I about a break-in which had occurred in a nearby home a few days ago. Really? It had to be now?? Still, after the deputy left, Mom looked at me and said " You cover it up pretty well, but you're really a tough old broad". 

Made me feel rather good, that.

It's been a rather rough week; so much for part time, but I'm ready to do it all over again... starting Wednesday I'll be cross-trained in another department and if nothing changes they're planning on having me train in a couple more departments over the next few weeks. Now if I can just remember everything... It's quite nice, though, this feeling of getting back to the woman I remember; someone who could get things done, someone who wasn't sick all the time.

Spotted in a nearby town:

Don't ask, I haven't any idea, lol.

Tomatoes

As you may (or may not) recall; other than a bit of basil and rosemary, I only had room and time to plant one food plant this year, a cherry tomato called Black Cherry. I am happy to report that this lone plant has worked it's little organic roots and leaves off to keep us in tomatoes:

I have to pick them before they are fully ripe and let them finish ripening inside, where a hungry little rabbit can't reach them. Mayhap I should change my name to Beatrix, dress the bunny in a wee jacket and plant some carrots?

Off to the doctor in the morning, keep your fingers crossed for me.

No Photos

Yet, no photos yet! Please don't strangle me! I'll put just one up tonight, of the kidling, but I'm also sharing a link of a video she did today of some of the dolphins playing in the boat's wake.

Watch the video and you'll see why she's looking a bit, well, smug; great job using just her cellphone!

Oh okay, just one more photo! (Obviously, I'm not as good as the kidling.)

You can see Jenn's video here ---> Dolphins!

Going for Baroque

After nearly a month of non-functioning laptops for my mother and I, (hers stopped working and mine mostly died three days later-ala The Princess Bride, I thought it was completely dead) my laptop is up and running again! Yes, I can once again whine, pout and be silly in your general direction. Both my phone and Kindle were working but were quite recalcitrant regarding the blog... occasionally I would see a link on Facebook and be able to reach a blog from there, but that was it. Anyway, that's all over, thank goodness! I do have a few photos to share, along with a couple of lovely bits of good news.

The basil and rosemary are coming along, the rosemary is soon to be transplanted to a permanent spot. The tomatoes are thriving; the branches are nearly 4 foot high and are covered with baby cherry tomatoes!

We've already gotten a half-dozen fresh tomatoes and more are busily ripening; they have a lovely tanginess.

The various tropical storms have made sky-watching even more fascinating than usual, although there have been interesting sights on land as well; think I'll close the photo section with a lovely lobster bisque...

It was a sample of the restaurant's new recipe and was deliciously creamy with a surprising little 'kick', yum!

As for the good news: The kidling will be here soon to spend her birthday with us, it will be SO good to see her. (Oh, and she recently got a significant raise!)

Also, next Tuesday I go for an interview and facility tour with a potential employer. This is for a desk job, full-time, with a company which provides decent remuneration and benefits. Considering how long it's been since I worked, I couldn't ask for a better way to get back on the work force... I decided it was time to go for baroque, lol.

Last, but never least, I live a bit over an hour from Orlando, Florida now... please keep everyone who has been affected by the tragedy in your thoughts.

More Than Words Can Say

At the bottom of this post, where I usually share a music video, is a short video of the 'tremor stage' I'm in... it can, and usually will, get much worse before it gets better. My voice is getting softer and huskier so you may need to raise the volume to hear me clearly.You can describe, apologise and try to explain until you're blue in the face, but actually seeing something beats all that, hands down. 

Yes, that's our now two years old Geraldo with me. Happy Birthday Geraldo! (2 April.)

I'd said, a wee while back, that my tremors were getting worse and they are. If it follows the usual pattern, then they'll get much worse and I could lose my ability to speak... again. It's a temporary thing but I still hate it really quite a lot. It's anyone's guess how long this spell will last. As a consequence, I won't be posting much but will try to visit your blogs as I'm able. Facebook is where I can be found right now, it's a way to keep in touch and it's just... easier. Easier is good. 

This is also an apology to those whose emails I haven't returned, etc . . . Emails aren't easy right now. Annnd, this post is getting too long, watch the video and mayhap you'll see why easy is better for me just now. Many thanks to the kidling for making this video.

A Reason to Celebrate

I have a confession to make. Despite what I wrote on my last blog post:  'Right now, I'm taking it as very positive that Jim has made it to this stage in the 'vetting process for the transplant, many don't.'  I have been worried sick. For those who didn't follow my old blog... Six family members died in a 6 month period last year, including siblings and my Pop. How could I not worry? Whilst there is still room for worrying, (worrywart being my middle name) we've been given good news and a reason to celebrate. After, as he put it, "three days of poking and prodding" at the Indiana University Medical Center he's made the list! That doesn't, however, mean that he will have the lung transplant immediately. He goes back in July for a series of injections to help prepare his body for the surgery and to find out where he is on the waiting list. He'll have a single lung transplant, which will give him a few more good years; certainly more than he would have otherwise. You can find information about lung transplants >Here<.

Speaking of Jim, the nephew who shared the second magnolia photo on the last post is his son Dana. This is Dana and his partner, Stefanie.

I find it mildly irritating that this is the 'heaviest' he's been in his life... like my father and Jim, (and my own true love) he's a lean, mean, eatin' machine. Harrumph! 

Surprise bonus: His two daughters, Kyleigh and Charlie.

 Who knows, I may be able to concentrate on writing now.

A little something from Jim's musical era:

Mud Season

It has been an extraordinarily mild winter in Crankyville, something for which I'm inordinately grateful. Even so, the return of spring-like weather brings a definite uptick in moods; even the irascible neighbour who calls out the gas company in the middle of the night for entirely ludicrous reasons stepped out of his front door with a smile on his face. Who says miracles no longer exist?

Along with warmer temperatures, we get plenty of this:

Which leads to rain and these beauties, yellow morel mushrooms (my favourites)!

image source

Eventually, it will lead to more of this:

That's right, gardening season is just around the corner... which means (hide your eyes Mitchell) fresh from the garden cookery will commence! Oddly enough, I don't seem to be living up to my blog name very well just now, despite the political situation in the States. Ah well!

Florid, but appropriate: