August 2020 Chat & Musings

[Virginia]

Sorry about above post, I found it. I am on my phone instead of my computer and it is harder for me to read, and see things. I apologize Sunshine.

[stillstANNding]

Good that you are thinking of her, Virginia. I hope your weather doesn’t get too bad tonight and tomorrow.

ANN

[Virginia]

Ann, as it goes up the East Coast I hope yours doesn't get bad. It has already been raining since about 3:30 or 4 this afternoon. Of course the storm is not here yet or even near. I am a bit anxious tonight. Our ground is so saturated already because we have already had more rain than we should have in the past few weeks. They are predicting very heavy rains later tonight and tomorrow. I worry about trees coming down with the ground being so saturated.

[stillstANNding]

Check in when you can, Virginia. I am thinking you might be able to use your cell phone even if you lose power.

Howie, I am hoping you don’t lose power either. Hate to think of Sam’s deli meat going bad. I hope you got your coffee (with your creamer) this morning.

This system is going to be much closer to Linda than to us. Alas, she will get rain she’s needed but too much, too late. Ours will be very little but we could have high winds. I’ve spent this humid morning moving trays of seedlings (for Fall garden), small and medium potted herbs and flowers and all the empty pots and saucers to more secure places. I don’t want a flying flower pot to come through a skylight!

Our Cassie Cat did not come to breakfast. And we couldn’t find her. I worried that she went out past me on one of my trips to the garden. We eventually found her flattened behind a toilet. We seemed scared and did not want her breakfast at first. She has since come out and has eaten but she is staying low.

I’m wondering if she senses the barometric pressure. She was in hurricane Andrew in Florida. She was trapped as a kitten at a feeding station. In fact, Jack’s original name was “Andrew”. Chris, Jingle, Howie, Agate and other cat-parents please comment.

Be safe,
ANN

[Howie]

I watch a lot of ghosts and haunting type of videos, and many times, the cat of the house is transfixed, looking at a certain spot on a wall, or a door, or the ceiling. But to our eyes, there is nothing there. Who knows.

[agate]

Maybe Cassie was frightened by something--that's my guess. It's when they stay in hiding or in some very unusual spot that I get concerned.

[stillstANNding]

She could have seen a hawk through the skylights or windows. The cats do spend time just gazing up or out and the Aboretum is nearby. It has lots of habitat.

ANN

[jingle]

Most storms don't bother Badcat or Peaches but when there's a lot of wind and thunder they get concerned and watch me. If I say, "It's OK...it's OK", they are calm and relaxed. But when a storm gets really loud Peaches disappears and Badcat wants to be held.

Ann, I keep bird feeders just 18 - 24 inches from the front window and both of mine stretch out on the back of the couch and watch. And I have feeders on the deck railing in the back - they love that too.

[Howie]

I've had cats that do what I call "chirping" where they will be watching birds from the inside of the house through the window, and their mouth moves real fast like they are chirping, but no sound comes out.

Cats are so entertaining.

[agate]

I've noticed cats doing that too. I think they're going through the motions that they'd be going through if they were chomping down on the bird or whatever it is that they're watching, as if they're imagining what it would be like to sink their teeth into it.

[stillstANNding]

I see you, Jeanie. Good morning.

ANN

[stillstANNding]

Good afternoon,

I’m concerned about Sunshine, Laz and Virginia. Ikiko and Jendie, maybe you could let us know how you are doing?

ANN

[Virginia]

I am here, all is well.

I found out yesterday evening that I lost a friend Sunday. We went to High School together and he was one of the kindest men I have ever known. I don't think I have ever seen so many tributes on Facebook. He served in the Peace Corp in Romania. I can't remember how many years he served. It was two or three. Just a very fine man. Since I stopped trying to go to any school functions a few years ago, he always let me know who was there and who had died. Now it is him. I don't know why he died, but his daughters said he died peacefully, and they were with him so it was not COVID related. I will miss him.

Hope all of you are doing well. There was a tornado that touched down in a trailer court community down toward the coast. I know two people were killed, but I have not found out any other details. There were power outages, but mine did not go out. I got up at 3:40, and things did not look bad, so I went back to bed. It is my understanding that there is still much water damage in other parts of the State.

I was drying a load of bed linens late yesterday. Finally, I realized that it must be time for me to get them out of the dryer. Well, the dryer had died during drying and I had parts of the linens that had dried and parts of them that had not. I couldn't get it restarted so I came and got the invoice and specs out. I bought them 10 years ago. The dryer probably could have been fixed (maybe) but I just said the heck with it. They are 10 years old so I went on line and found new ones that were comparable to what I had and today I finally got them ordered on line through Lowe's. They will not be delivered until the 14th, but I have other sheets and towels. I put the ones I had just washed over backs of chairs and they dried last night and spread them out. They had finished drying late last night so I made my bed between 11 and 11:30PM last night. I have had washers and dryers that lasted much longer, but I did not want to fool with them. They are not the very expensive kind. I like the old fashioned kind of washer that has an agitator. So I got Maytags.

I am concerned about Sunshine because she normally doesn't go this long without checking in.

Hope Jeanie is better.

[Howie]

Well I'm here as usual. I didn't get up until 4. I went to bed at 1, so you do the math. I really struggle to wake up lately. I plan a store trip tomorrow, and I really want to go early.

I brewed up the last of my coffee, and made a bowl of coleslaw while that was brewing, but have had only one mug so far. I may wait until I usually go to bed (1:00) and see if I can just stay awake all night, so I can hit the store early. We'll see.

I hope all the missing folks will check in. Old folks like us worry, that's what we do!

Everyone have a pleasant evening.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

I'm so very sorry that your dear friend has passed. Serving in the Peace Corps requires sacrifices and a heart filled with good will. May his beautiful soul rest peacefully.

My dear friend of 50 years, her two adult children and her grandchildren live in North Carolina. I haven't heard from her yet, and I'm concerned. I don't want to call her and use up her phone battery. I'm anxious for her to check in and update me. I'm so grateful that you are okay and didn't have any damage to your property or neighborhood.

Bummer that your dryer conked out, but having a new set will give you confidence that you will be able to do your laundry without worries. Mine have endured so many loads through the years. I just cross my fingers hoping that they will last a few more years.

Howie ~

Have you tried establishing an earlier bedtime, shutting off TV and computer, and snuggling with Sam in the dark? Research says that going to bed and getting up at the same time every day is important to sleeping properly. A dark room, as well as not using an electronic device an hour before you retire are also recommended.

Did you know that driving when sleep deprived is more dangerous than driving drunk? Years ago, we watched a program where drivers were split into two categories: sleep deprived and drunk. Each driver drove on the same obstacle course, after X number of hours without sleep or after consuming X amount of alcohol. It built up as the test went on. At their sleepiest and drunkest, the sleep deprived drivers had more accidents and mishaps on the course than the drunk drivers.

Also, sleep deprivation can trigger seizures. It is a fairly common phenomenon.

Your medications may be interfering with your sleep or causing you to have trouble waking up.

Please be safe.

Prayers for all ~

Love & Light,



Rose

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