December chitchat

[agate]

How did it get to be December? I was just adjusting to summertime.

What's new in your life? I wonder if those who grow vegetables are still harvesting them.

I'll be getting the latest COVID booster on December 13. The word is that from now on people who aren't at high risk will need to have a COVID booster only once a year, but I'm not sure just who is at high risk and how many boosters those people need to have every year.

----> Howie, my Social Security Webpage is saying that a payment will come in tomorrow, and for some strange and wonderful reason, it looks as if they're paying the new (2023) amount as of December 1. In the past the COLA has always come through with the January payment but maybe this time they were feeling generous.

If you've been to any doctors recently, why not post about that? If you've read any good books (or even bad books) lately, you can talk about them. Or maybe you're watching TV or movies, or listening to music?

Just what is everyone doing?

[Virginia]

Thanks for starting the December chit/chat Agate. I am just trying to eat a little healthier in order to get my blood work and cholesterol a little more in line with where they should be.

Saturday my older brother's children along with spouses and grandchildren are all coming from various other parts of N.C. This is the family of my brother who passed away recently. All total we are hoping to have about 22 to 25 people. We have got a restaurant to let us use a room they have. They will have to call in extra wait staff. The 3 of us who live here are going to just split the bill and take them out to lunch. I am looking forward to seeing them, but have reservations about being in a gathering of that size. Thankfully I have had the latest booster, so maybe that will help.

I am doing some reading. Right now I am reading a mystery. I watch very little TV. I have found that I enjoy reading the paper and periodicals on my IPad over the TV. Maybe later I will change back.

I am due to have a new kitchen floor installed beginning Dec 12rh. I chose the tile some time ago, and have now found someone to do it. I have been working on that kitchen for about a year now. I started out with painting, new overhead lighting, and new counter tops. So now if I get new flooring I will hopefully be getting close to the end. I will still have a few more things to do.

I wish Linda would pop in and let us know how she and John are doing.

Everyone have a good December.

[agate]

-->Howie, looks as if Social Security changed its mind. The Webpage is now saying that the payment will be on December 2. Sorry to have misled you! I was wondering where the money was today and went looking for it.

-->Virginia, your kitchen sounds as if it's very nearly done. I hope that the floor project will go well, and by then you'll have recovered from the family get-together. On Saturday when the family is assembling, maybe someone can make sure the room is well ventilated by opening a window? And apparently if you're in personal contact with someone for less than 15 minutes, you're not so likely to pick up a nasty bug--and maybe this gathering will be set up so that you can keep some social distance.

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[Howie]

I was just coming here to ask you what day we were going to get paid. I ate the last of my food today, but still have some oatmeal. That's my emergency food, and fortunately, I like it. Well, I'll stay up all night...again...and get to the store early.

Oh, and don't tell Sam, but she got the last of the turkey and her cheese today. She does have her dry food which she eats, but never so I can see her.

[agate]

Howie, have you thought about setting up a rainy day fund? If you set aside a certain amount of cash and put it in a special place, maybe with a lock on it so you're not tempted to use it when you don't really need it, it would be there for you at the end of the month or whenever you're finding there isn't any money left. You can forget about it most of the time, and it would probably be a good idea to forget about it except when you need to remember it.

I've tried this trick and one problem was that sometimes I'd get tempted to use it for other purposes. Then I'd have to be sure to replace the funds I'd borrowed from it.

[Howie]

When was it, last month, I saw the place to fix my Bose headphones, and I just do it. Then I do without and always seem to make it. I may not have $5 at the end of the month, but I always make it. That's how I live my life.

[agate]

Everyone is in charge of his/her life but people do get concerned if a person and his cat don't seem to be staying very well nourished since "they" say it's important to eat enough of the foods that are known to help preserve bones, muscles, etc.

I'm going to have trouble believing that Social Security Website from now on. They paid today but the usual amount, not the new amount scheduled for 2023. Their Website got that wrong too, as well as the payment date. Shame on them.

[Virginia]

Agate, I am not familiar with Social Security website, however I wonder if they had already released the funds for December and are now showing what January will be. Yesterday I went into my military survivor benefit plan and that is what they are doing. I get the same cost of living increase there that I get from Social Security.

Well, we have already had cancellations for Saturday. My middle brother's son was coming from Charlotte but now has pneumonia. My oldest nephew who lives on the other side of Winston Salem can't come because his wife fell and broke her shoulder. This also knocks their son out who was coming with them and possibly their daughter and her boyfriend. That is five people. If we don't have enough we have decided we will just pay the restaurant the extra because they are having to call in extra help, and it is hard to get any help around here.

Just got word on messenger that nephew's wife broke her knee and dislocated her shoulder. She had been so excited about coming here. I really feel bad for her.

[agate]

That's really too bad about the people who can't come to the event, Virginia. It's tomorrow, isn't it?

Maybe someone will take photos or even a movie of the occasion but those who can't make it will still miss out on the food. What a shame that these things happen.

[Howie]

I stayed up all night as I usually do every Saturday. They have all the weird old shows I used to watch as a kid come on. Then I went to the store again to get everything I forgot to get on payday. I forgot coffee of all things. My heart would probably stop beating without coffee.

[agate]

What weird shows might those be?

[Virginia]

Yes, Howie what are we missing by not staying up all night on Saturday night?

Well, yesterday went very well. I think everyone really had a good time. We had 18 people and one 3 month old baby. I must say it was great to see 3 of my nieces and two of my nephews all in one place at the same time. I also enjoyed the spouses of everyone and the Grandchildren. We stayed about 3 1/2 hours. We did FaceTime with one Nephew who couldn't be there. After that I went to pharmacy and then grocery store. I was so tired and today I have just been kind of out of it. Eric came over and we set and talked for awhile. I made a big salad and that has been it.

Tomorrow I have to go get my hair done and Wednesday I go for my eye appointment.

I wonder if Ikoiko and Snuggles are safely home from their travels.

[agate]

Wow, 18 people! And then you did some errands afterwards! That's great, Virginia! I know it's been a long hard climb for you after your illness, and it's so nice to know you were able to go to this event and enjoy it. MS so often gets in the way of things but it looks as if it didn't put too many obstacles in your path this time.

It snowed here yesterday but didn't stay on the ground long.

I managed to ruin dinner the other day when my hand slipped and a slice of pizza fell onto the carpet.. I've had fun treating the spot and hoping it won't show by the time the inspectors come around on the 30th. (I redid the dinner.)

But I have been slowly clearing off the patio. I don't have any plants that will get through the winter out there except for some perennials that will come up again in the spring, I trust. The others have all been killed off by the frost and I've been gradually removing their pots.

I have an appointment to get the latest COVID booster (the one that everyone is being urged to get) on the 13th but had a call to let me know that the at-home shots are being given, after all, and I'm waiting to find out when I can get that instead. I also have to go back to the audiologist for a hearing test and to get a modification for one of the aids. It keeps falling out and it's being reconfigured.

Not much exciting news here but no news is good news sometimes. My neighbor who has a dachshund keeps bringing the dog out for her walks in different outfits, and lately the dog has been dressed up for the holidays--little jackets to keep her warm. The dog probably needs her own closet because she seems to have quite a few outfits.

[Howie]

What shows am I watching? The original Star Trek, Batman, Lost in Space, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Land of the Giants, The Time Tunnel, and The Invaders. What a lineup!

[agate]

Sounds very adventurous. Thrills! Chills! Spills! Giants, invaders, batpeople....

There is a little odd-shaped green creature right outside on my patio. It is beeping in a funny way. Should I be worried?