Gearin' Up

Brunch Sandwich

It took forever to get to sleep last night. I put on a story and listened to it until the end, which is rare. I got up when I heard some grass ass beginning with the cats, broke that up and got back into bed. I was wide awake so got on my phone, which probably wasn't a good idea because I was even more awake. It might have been 1AM before I finally dozed off. I woke around 7:30 and got dressed. I fed kitties, had a few sips of coffee while doing puzzles out from with Kev, and then went to water. I was done in an hour and cruised over to the chiropractor for a nice adjustment, all ready for our long road trip, starting tomorrow. The pet/house sitter is excited to see the boys and we are excited for a drive. I got back to the house close to 11 and made a turkey sandwich. I ate it with a pickle up at my desk, getting the work day going. 

Chicken and Veg

It was a bustling afternoon, juggling some projects and trying to get things wrapped up before I'm out. I had a potential new client call at 1, work, and another client call at 5PM. After the call ended at 6, I did a smidge more and took a break to go down and heat leftovers for dinner. Some grilled chicken, broccoli I cooked up the other night, corn from the other night. Kev went out to burn some weeds, edge and weed eat while I did some last work and then went out to blow the grass clippings and leaves away. I went on to wipe down outside furniture and tidy up the deck, getting things all pretty for the pet sitter. I had a shower when finished and started a load of clothes. I did a wee bit of work on the couch and was ready for bed by 10.

Scenes from Tuesday

10AM Lunch

It was 10PM when plans starting really shaping up for the CO visit next week. Every single day is now jam-packed and I am already feeling that Chicken Soup for the Soul vibe starting. I need this trip to refill my semi-depleted bucket. I woke at 3AM when Remi puked in the kitchen. He had eaten a lint roller sheet out of my garbage can in the office. 🙀 I got back to sleep until just after 7. I got up, dressed, and went out to water. I got the last painting estimate so we chose one and got us on the schedule for early October. It will nice to have a little cozy color on the walls. I do wish I'd thought to do this in combo with the carpet laying and stretching, while everything was already packed up, but it is what it is and will be another practice in patience as we move things again. I made a quick grocery run and at 10AM made a turkey sandwich, with pickles and mandarins for early lunch.

Mowin' and Late Dinner

I finished the Fall Hallmark movie I started yesterday and found Nashville on Pluto TV, which isn't optimal. There's a lot of commercials and plenty of missing episodes. And it shut me off after a period of time. I'll forget about it but dang it. I was nicely into Season 3 too. 😂 The afternoon will filled with work I'd been waiting on and I cranked until 6ish. I unplugged, changed and went out to mow. Oh it's been so dry the grass has brown splotches that look terrible. Rain is in the forecast for next week so I hope it can be saved. I finished mowing at 8PM, went in for a shower, got in jammies and heated a frozen dinner, Chicken Teriyaki with veggies. it was super yum. I was ready for bed by 10.

Twalet

Morning Grub

It was after 11 when I finally went to sleep last night. And sleep was good. I woke just before 5AM to pee, and the Kev had also woken up, about to get ready for early gym. I do NOT know how he does it. I got back into bed and back into another very solid sleep, not waking again until my alarm went off at 7. I got up and going, doing all the Monday morning things. I had a small crock of cereal with banana and made coffee. We sipped out front while I did puzzles. The plumber arrived to install the new toilet 🙌 and I went on upstairs for island time and to check email. At 11 I was ready for early lunch. I heated another Smart Ones General Tso's Chicken because it is so good! I ate out back listening to my book and went in for a 12:30 call.

Cube Steak Dinner

The call was quick and I am in an in-between space waiting for client feedback on a number if projects. I ended up starting Season 3 of Nashville, although it leaves today, but I needed to know what happened! 😂 I watched until 3:30 and then switched over to a Hallmark movie, Falling Into Place. I didn't get that far into it since I had a 4PM call. I was done by 5PM and went to the kitchen to start dinner. I made skillet cube steaks, instant mashed potatoes, and heated some of the green beans from last night. I swear those potatoes still surprise me they are so good. At 7PM, after kitchen was clean and dishes were put away, I put shoes on and went to walk at the Farm and Gardens, listening to my book. I got in two miles, went home for a shower, got in my PJs and into bed-as-couch where I did a little work and was ready for bed by 10.

Moody Blues

Sunday First Half

Sleep was solid. I woke around 7:30 this morning and Kev was getting ready to head out. He was going to do the W Road cleanup from 8-11. I had every intention on going when I put it on my calendar a couple weeks ago, but boy I was in a mood this weekend and just wanted to stew it out. Kev left at 7:45 and I was just getting into the kitchen. I made my wee cuppa, sipping a quarter of the cup while doing puzzles in the reading room. I was in such a mood that I didn't even want to sit outside. I had a bowl of cereal with a small banana for breakfast at 8AM and made my way upstairs for island time, which is always a lovely escape, and then got to work on a client project. At noon I made a turkey sandwich with baby dills and ate at my desk, with Nashville on in the background. Today would be the last day to watch before it leaves Netflix, dangit. I did go out back for a bit with Remi and Kev. I have a cluster of plants that are still looking great, while others continue to be chewed up by grasshoppers, or caterpillars. 

Dinner and a Walk

I worked until 2:30ish and then went downstairs where I decided to just crawl into bed and nap the rest of the day away. And it was the best thing I could have done. I woke in a little better mood and listened to my book out back for a while. We got dinner started around 5. Green beans, corn on the cob, and grilled burgers with sharp cheddar melted on. For appetizer, Kev grilled what may be the last okra of the season. We each had a half and it was the best yet.This was a perfect meal. After dishes were cleaned up and dishwasher started, we flossed the corn strings out of our teeth, brushed, put on our shoes and went to the small track for an after-dinner walk. We got in just over a mile and went home, where I took a shower, got in my PJs and settled on the couch. My new business credit card came in, which took a week, and I began switching numbers in all my monthly work subscriptions.

Slow Saturday

Walk Snack and Lunch Sandwich

After good sleep I woke just after 7:30 but didn't get out of bed until just after 8AM. This, I think, was the first day I knew I didn't want to DO anything. I had planned on working  some today but that got tossed. I was ready to have a few sips of coffee out on the front porch. I was ready to do my now, four puzzles since Jenni introduced me to a new one I love. It's called Strands and is a NY Times game. It has been added to the line up which, in order, is usually 1. Wordle, 2. Mini Crossword, 3. Quartiles and 4. Strands. Strands sometimes gets done in the evening after work but not today. It was a slightly foggy morning. We got a little bit of rain last night and the chance was good for more today. At 9:45 I left to go for a walk at the small track. I got in three miles, nibbling one of the blueberry fig squares I carried with me. After an hour I got home around 11, still listening to my book, settling in the reading room for a while. At noon I had turkey on my Dave's bread. I just love these small slices. They make a perfect size sandwich. Pickles and Kettle chips went with it as I ate out back with fur baby Remi. 

Soup and Squash

I took a nap on the couch around 1:30. I woke at 2:30 when Kev made it home from the climbing gym. I was still very unmotivated, which is unlike me, and I wonder if it's a sign that I'm entering a new life phase. A good downpour made its way through at 3PM as Kev watched his football game. Of course the sun popped out immediately after. I had island time, made the guest bed and then went out back to listen to my book. I don't know how it turned 7PM so quickly, I think from getting lost in the story, but at 7:10 I took a shower and got in my PJs. I heated the last of the tomato soup and squash for dinner, grating some sharp cheddar om the squash. After dinner we watched SILO, which is getting scary weird. Meanwhile, Teddy fur baby has developed quite a limp on his back left leg. I feel a vet visit coming. Poor guy.

Cereal and Sandwiches

8:30AM and 1PM

Sleep was better last night. I didn't wake and I didn't hear Kev leave for early gym. I woke just after 7 and answered an email before getting out of bed around 7:30. I did the estrogen patch, got dressed, fed the cats, made the bed, scooped the litter and made the coffee. We sipped out front and I did puzzles. I had a crock of cereal with about half a banana for breakfast and at 9AM had a video catch up call with a friend. I finished my puzzles in the reading room before leaving the house around 10:15 for a 10:45 massage. I've never had a morning massage but I like the idea. When done I got some grocery shopping done, made it home, put groceries away and it was 12:30 or so when I made a turkey sandwich for lunch. I cut one slice of sourdough in half and toasted the pieces. I added on mayo, yellow mustard, a slice of Swiss and two slices of turkey. Some cold mandarins and Dots pretzels went with as I listened to my book. 

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

I went up to the office to begin the remainder of the day. I had a few things to juggle, continuing Nashville in the background. I am almost done with season two and will stop there until I know where I can pick it back up once it leaves Netflix on Sunday. I unplugged my computer just after 7PM and went out to water all the porch plants. When done Kev made us a grilled cheese to go with some of my tomato basil soup. This was my first bit of this batch, as I mainly made it for Jenni's visit, and it was perfect and easy since I really wasn't in the mood to cook. We watched Ted Lasso and shared some dark chocolate with almonds for dessert. I got in my jammies, washed my face and brushed my teeth, ready to close out this Friday.

Catching Up

Tues Food and Holy Plants

Tuesday Sept 8

What a whirlwind few days. Had a wonderful Tuesday, spending the entire morning and half the afternoon doing the last bit of chatting with Jenni. We sat out back with fan and fountain on, among the plants that are being eaten like crazy. This hasn't happened before and it may be a small grasshopper, as Kev found on on the plant and tossed him into a spider web nearby. He's all about the circle of life. 😂 For breakfast she chose my famous tomato basil soup, which she had for dinner and lunch the previous day 😊, and I chose leftover spaghetti. The second painter arrived a day and hour early, at 10:30, to give an estimate. We headed towards the airport around 1:30, stopping in at REI for her a travel neck pillow. I got home and didn't do much. I laid on the couch and might have dozed for a small moment. Dinner was a turkey sandwich with leftover tots, which weren't good. I do not know how there were actually leftover tots in the first place. Around 7 I got into bed-as-couch and began going through every single email that I had with the CPA. I created a file that paired invoices with proof of payments. I laid my head down around 11 but there was not much sleep.

Medal Hangers and the Grub

Wednesday Sept 9

I woke at 7 and got going. I was tired but went out to do the watering since there's been no rain in a while. I did puzzles before it was time for my chiropractor visit, which didn't take long. I sent the document I created for the ex CPA and then got to work, having many things to catch up on after being out Monday and Tuesday. I was on work cruise control all day, taking a very short break at 1PM to heat a Smart Ones General Tso's Chicken frozen meal for lunch. It was very tasty and I would buy this one again. The afternoon slipped by quickly and it was soon around 7PM. Kev made some amazing Parm chicken with boiled corn on the cob and we watched Ted Lasso while we ate. I went back up to work and it was 9PM when the progesterone kicked in, which meant I needed to get into bed asap. I got in PJs, washed face and brushed teeth and fell asleep quickly.

Laid Out, Lunch, Veggie Dinner

Thursday Sept 10 

I woke at 1AM, and wide awake, and was up until 3 something. I did go pee, still no toilet in our bathroom, and then cruised Instagram on my phone. The empty spaces in my mind have all been occupied with the ex CPA nonsense. I am weary from it worrying me. I know it can all be figured out but I always have fear of the unknown. The waiting for her response is brutal. I had a few sips of coffee while doing puzzles on the front porch this morning and went up for island time (always a sweet escape) and then got to work. At noon I made a turkey sandwich on the last sourdough English muffin. Two slices of turkey, one slice Swiss. It was a solid day of projects, playing season two of Nashville in the background. I had a call at 4PM, worked until 5:30 or so and went downstairs to get squash cooking on the stove. I decided that I only wanted the squash, with a little sharp cheddar on top, and half a corn cob from last night, splitting it with Kev. At 7PM the response came in from the ex CPA. I made Kev read it. There was a single paragraph of incoherent ranting. No punctuation, drastically misspelled my name, scattered in all caps for yelling and titled the email "FORGET IT." It's sad because I do think she is either drunk or on drugs. It was that off. I hope she gets help but glad it's done, for now. I took a shower, got in PJs and it was around 10PM that I got into bed to wind down.

Sunday and Monday

Happy Labor Day! 

Birthday Grubbing

Sunday I turned 54. It was a lovely, relaxing day. We woke and sipped leisurely coffee out back. Kev whipped up bacon, eggs and sourdough toast. I made Mom K's famous chocolate pies (yes two since there were two pie crusts in the package) and got them in the fridge. Time flew by. We eventually left the house around 1PM where Kev dropped me and Jenni off for a foot massage. We then wandered in Walmart, since Jenni doesn't have the same kinds of stuff in San Fran that we have (tons of pickled and canned okra for example. 😂) At 5:30 we got dinner going. Burgers on The Chug, tots, pie. My new CPA acquaintance was invited and she arrived at 6:30. We ate outside. I had half a burger, the first time I haven't been able to finish a burger, like, ever. And the pie was amazing.

Evening Stroll

Went to bed around 10:30 last night. Woke at 7 something. I've been very anxious as my ex CPA has started harassing me about not being paid. She has very much been paid and I even sent proof of deposited check, which she ignores. She has now claimed I didn't pay her for 2024 services, which I did, and have proof, but she is not letting up. It is looking like I may see small claims court in my future since I refuse to give her another dime. But anyway...that's going on, creating a hiccup in my leisurely birthday long weekend. I started the day with cereal with banana. Me and Jenni then went to the Farm and Gardens to walk. We then drove around the mountain, stopping at my little gym track to walk a bit more, getting 3.25 miles in before heading home. I made a pot of tomato basil soup for later and nibbled here and there on random things. Two bites of cold spaghetti, a little watermelon. I then made a quick tribute to Dolly, which Jenni had recently learned about, called a "Cuppa Cuppa Cake" from Steel Magnolias. A cup of flour, a cup of sugar, and a can of fruit cocktail, with juice. We opted for a can of peaches instead, and I chopped the peaches into chunks. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. I had a couple bites, and it is delicious, although I think it would be better with a bit of vanilla ice cream. Very peach cobbler-y. We all had a nice nap, around 2:30, I woke at 3:30. At 5:30 we had some dinner. I cut a slice of sourdough in half and Kev toasted it in a little butter on the stove. He and Jenni were having grilled cheeses with tomato soup, where I went on to make a turkey sandwich with mine. Dots pretzel sticks on the side. When the kitchen was cleaned up we headed out to Rock City for the evening. It was SO nice with hardly any people there. We strolled and took pics and just enjoyed a really nice evening. Bed was by 10:30. 

Ready for Sleep

Late Lunch

I was WIDE AWAKE at 2:30 this morning. The wifi extender plugged in the bedroom wall started flashing white and blue and I had to get up and unplug it. It was creepy that it just started doing it in the wee hours, with Kev gone. I just didn't trust it. 😂 I got up to pee, got back into bed and grabbed my phone. I did puzzles and howled at random weirdness on Instagram. It was around 5AM that I dozed back off, not getting up until around 8:45. This has been a very weird week of sporadic sleep and it was catching up. I felt loopy and tired. I dressed, fed kitties, ate a blueberry cereal bar, and hit the road to go get some grocery shopping done early. I made it home and started cleaning. It was 1PM when I ate cereal with banana for lunch. There is nothing better that a partially green nanner in the Aldi cereal. Oh my gosh I have missed cereal for so many years!

Delicious Skettis

I went out and snipped some of the last of the season zinnias, getting them into the fun vase. the rest of the garden has pretty much peetered out, especially with this recent heat wave and no rain. It's almost time to pack it in until next Spring. I left the house at 2:30, getting to the airport at about 3:10. I got into a seat in the terminal when my friend Jenni texted, at 3:13, that she has landed. She had the long flight from San Francisco, via Dallas/Ft. Worth, landing a little early. Directly after her text was a text from Kev that he has also just landed, at 3:17, coming from Houston. Never would I have imagined that two planes, two different airlines, would both be early, and arrive at the same time. Kev made it out maybe 3 minutes before Jenni and we were on our way home. it had actually cooled down a little on the mountain, after a brief shower, so we went out back to sit on the swings and catch up. I made spaghetti for dinner, which was so darn good, and we had watermelon for dessert. Jenni had been up since 2AM so I let her hit the sack around 8:45. I brushed teeth and got into bed as couch, and didn't last long. I was starved for decent sleep and with Kev now home it would happen. I turned on a story and laid my head down around 9:30.

 

There's Hope

Friday Start

It was1-1:30 when I went to bed last night/this morning. I got up around 7:15, did estrogen patch, got dressed, fed kitties, made the bed and went out to water. We are in the beginning of a hot, dry spell and already the grass is showing the distress. I was very glad I finished the mowing yesterday because I had a busy day ahead. I did morning chores, including some laundry, had cereal for breakfast and went up to get started, foregoing island time. 

Lunch and Leftover Dinner

At 11:15 I left to meet my new CPA for lunch at my local Mexican restaurant. We chatted for two hours before I realized the time had flown and I really needed to get back to work. I have a good feeling about her and have hope. I didn't eat all that much due to all the talking so I brought my leftovers home and ate them around 4:45, when I got hungry. Chicken with onions, rice, beans, a tortilla. It was delicious. I then worked solidly until around 9:30PM, watching Nashville in the background. I went downstairs, got in my PJs, brushed teeth and washed face before crawling into bed-as-couch to end the day listening to Chet Baker.