September Chit/Chat

[Virginia]

Agate, I am glad you are making your plans just in case. No, I am sure it is not something you would be looking forward to. At this point, I just want that neighbor to know you will need her, no ifs, just that you will should evacuation becomes necessary.

I don't like cliques either. Raleigh is one of the worst places I have ever lived in for cliques. This is true even in my neighborhood. It was true when I was in high school here and when I moved back it seemed a little better, but I am back in that situation in this neighborhood. In most other places that I lived it was not that way. I don't know why Raleigh is like that.

[Virginia]

Rose, when I lived in my house my husband and I had a bug zapper like Sunshine is talking about. It really helped on our deck.

My nephew called me this morning to see why I called him yesterday. He was out riding his bike. He rode 101 miles yesterday. He has been working up to it for a few months since he cannot work. He has done 75 or a little more, but yesterday was first time he has gone 100 in one day. He told me about all the wild life he sees. I've got to go on FB where he posted pictures of baby deer. He saw a copperhead yesterday, but he said it didn't bother him because the copperhead was in his own environment. He rides on a greenway which is very, very long. He is able to get on it about a mile from his house and it takes him through the little town where his parents live, but he doesn't usually stop to see them. That would break up his ride.

One day he rode up beside a man that was cycling fast and he had noticed that the man's legs were very strong, that you could see the veins in them. When he got close enough he thought that man is not young, he has some age on him. He turned out to be 78 and was meeting up with 3 other men, one was 82 and the other two were in their 60s. They are all retired, and Grandfathers. They ride together 4 days a week about 40 miles. He has met a lot of other people, but he likes to ride alone. He rode with a couple of other young men one day and he said he just prefers to leave when he wants to, go as far as he wants to and enjoy all the wild life. However, he does enjoy seeing and greeting all the people he has met. Reminds me of Sunshine's surfing. There is a whole other world out there.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

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

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RENEE!

agate ~

I'm glad that you spoke to your neighbor, so that she is on board to transport you. You are wise to prepare with the things you need/want to take. You might also want to pack a suitcase with a couple of changes of clothes, toiletries, masks, gloves (if you have them), etc. I would take my cell phone and charger, just in case you can use it, and you may need it. What about important documents?

Cliques are so high school to me! It's one thing to have close friends, with whom you have things in common and socialize, and another thing to shun others, excluding them as though they aren't worthy of your time. So much negative energy goes into behaving that way.

Unfortunately that is reflective of our society now. Hate and resentment are very detrimental to our health and well being. It's so much healthier for us to love and care for each other.

My prayers continue for you to be safe and to stay in your home.

Virginia ~

How often do you need exterminators to access your crawl space? Whenever they arrive, you could hand them the key, they could open the lock then give you the key. When they're done, they can put the lock back on the crawl space gate. For your safety, I think a key lock is the best way to go.

I can't even imagine being able to bike for 2 miles, let alone 100 miles! Wow! That's incredible! And 42 miles 4 days a week when you're in your 70s and 80s?! Zounds! My hat is off to these gentlemen!

Have you had any rain from "Sally," or wind? I don't know what direction the storm took.

Sunshine ~

Thank you for the suggestion about the mosquito zapper. I don't know why I didn't think of it. I texted John to ask him to find one for him and me at Home Depot, when he goes in to get the fitting for the backyard hose. He said he'd check Amazon to get it faster. I checked Amazon, and there are so many choices, all rated well.

My problem is that I don't have an available electrical outlet in the backyard, and none in the front yard.

I found some solar zappers, which might work.

Unable to make a choice, I turned the decision over to John.

For years, we have had West Nile Virus alerts in our neighborhoods. I know all about standing water, which we don't have. We have a fountain and a waterfall with moving water constantly. However, our neighbor waters every single day, front and back, which leaves everything soaking wet with standing water. Also, throughout our neighborhood, many of our greenbelt paths have puddles of standing water from over-spraying the vegetation. I have complained about this to our HOA for years, with no resolution.

We are told not to go out at dawn or dusk, which is when everyone in our neighborhood takes their walks. But we weren't that close to dusk when the mosquitoes began swarming around John and then bit me. I also see them on my patio door screen throughout the day.

So, now I can't walk, because of the smoke in the air, the mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus, and, if I go out anywhere, I have to fear getting COVID. Surrounded by fires, deadly air, deadly viruses.

I'm just going to say it: 2020 SUCKS!

MY DAY

For the first time in 11 days, the sky is blue with hazy clouds. I have not seen a blue sky for 11 days. I know it's worse for you agate, and for everyone in California, Oregon, and Washington, where the fires are raging.

But, as I reminded John, last year, we had a fire next to our hospital and later that night one close to the open area, where John lives.

It was 100 degrees here today with very little humidity. I'm grateful selfishly, because humidity and heat just do me in now. I can function better without humidity. But we need RAIN!

And all we need is one lightening strike, one careless camper, one thoughtless couple revealing their baby's gender with a pyrotechnic, one downed power line, one teenager throwing a lit cigarette out of a car window, one stupid act, or one act of nature for a fire to start anywhere now.

Just because fire isn't lapping at our doorstep now, it doesn't mean that we're safe.

And if I hear "forest management" one more time ... I might explode like a downed tree in a federal forest.

So, I put some of my energy into deep cleaning the fireplace and furniture around it, as well as the downstairs floors. I moved a lot of heavy furniture, bent/stooped over to clean things on the hearth, rearrange everything.

Hidden behind the coffee table on the hearth were Jim's favorite sneakers, and the only ones he could tolerate with his peripheral neuropathy from chemo. And a pair of slippers, which he was unable to wear. We went through a few slipper styles.
They will be donated to a rehab home for people in need, along with all of Jim's clothes. Eventually.

I found some medical folders, which need to be shredded. I knew all of this was there, of course. It was just a matter of time, before I could tackle this project.

I did it for me, because I knew that sleeping next to all of that dust wasn't healthy for me. And that holding on to the past interferes with coping with the present. I knew that having this area clean and organized would make me feel better. And it does. My body may not be happy about the exertion, but my soul feels a little farther along the path.

I cling to HOPE.

My love and prayers are with you all ~ Thank you for supporting me ~

Love & Light,



Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!

[agate]

I had a message from renee only recently--I'm not sure why she doesn't turn up here any more but in the past when she's been absent, it's often been because of hospitalizations or surgery or something else going wrong medically. I hope that at least she can read here and know that people have been wishing her a happy birthday.

Rose, yes, I have a list of things to toss together in a hurry. I'm a bit fanatical about having "a place for everything, and everything in its place." This has its advantages. I can usually remember where just about anything is around here and put my hands on it in a hurry. I'd rather do that than pack a bag and have it all packed and ready to go.

I see some point in making sure I have at least one flashlight in that bag. You just never know when there might be a power outage with fires going on.

I can see what the future might look like. There might be long stretches of time each year when there is the "fire season," and everyone will get used to being in and out of evacuation sites, a sort of home away from home. Not a happy thought.

I have a nephew here in town--I hear from him and his wife (and their 3 grown children) every year or so, and just had a message from him today. They've been sheltering a couple of horses from the nearby county where the fires were bad enough for evacuation:



I'm keeping this nephew and his family in mind as another possible resource if needed.

[Sunshine 2]

Rose, your ability to adapt to extreme stress, loss and suffering is stunning.

Do you also spray yourselves with Mosquito repellant chemical?

DId you know that some people attract mosquitos more than others? Its very interesting. I learned this when I noticed that my eldest would also be covered in bites while the rest of us had one bite .

[Virginia]

Those are such pretty horses that Agate's nephew is keeping.

Rose, hope your skies are still blue and pretty today. My internet went out yesterday evening and even my iPhone was not working, so it must have been something to do with my wi-fi. I didn't want to stay on the phone all night with Spectrum so I couldn't get on to see how everything was going with Agate in case she had to evacuate. It was back up this morning, but no e-mail, so I will have to call them after all.

I was glad Agate had some contact with Renee. She didn't say, but it sounds as if she might be alright, so at least we know that much.

Hi Howie!

[agate]

Last night it rained at last, and today it is supposed to rain some more. I'm hoping that this will mean an improvement in the situation!

Virginia, renee's message to me just asked about people here--didn't say anything about herself. I sent her a message about the birthday wishes here and encouraged her to let us know what she's been up to.

[Virginia]

So glad you finally got rain Agate. We got very heavy rain here. Knocked out my internet, even on my iPhone. So must have been my wi-fi. I just waited until this morning and it had fixed itself. Thankfully.

I hope you get lots more rain. I know everyone was glad to see it. The firefighters are worn out and thankful for any help they can get I am sure.

[Howie]

Hi back at you Virginia. Slow but sure, that's me!

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

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

agate ~

Wonderful news that you have rain!!! I hope it continues and helps quell the fires.

How kind of your nephew to care for the horses. I'm glad that you also have him as an option if you have to evacuate. If it keeps raining, you probably won't have to leave.

Sunshine ~

My strength comes from Jonathan and Michael, who taught me how to cope through any crisis by their example of courage and determination. What they endured throughout every day of their lives, always with a smile and love in their hearts, inspired me.

Then, Jim appeared at the perfect time, and I was no longer alone. Our boys had a loving Dad, who would move mountains for them. And I had a partner in every crisis, who lifted me up. When Jim became ill, and I saw that same courage and determination in him, he made me stronger.

Many times, people have said to me, "God doesn't give us anything that we can't handle," I just smile.

Then, I say, "I think God has a higher opinion of what I can handle, so he always gives me the tools to manage."

A perfect example of this is John. I don't know what I might have become without John.

Also, I'm blessed with incredible, supportive, loving friends, and without all of you, I wouldn't be functioning as well as I am now.

I'm not keen on using insect repellent on my skin. So, I have not considered it.

I do know that some people attract mosquitoes more than others, and I am one of those people. We used to battle them during Spring and Summer in the Midwest, and Jonathan and I always swelled up with welts, where Michael and my former spouse didn't.

My mosquito bite from the other day did not welt, and it wasn't really itchy, compared to the spider bites. It looks like I have another spider bite on my right wrist, which I've washed with alcohol and now have wrapped in Witch Hazel. I just looked up and shouted, "Oh, come on!" I have no idea how I got it, because I wasn't near a place where I'd expect a spider.

Virginia ~

This morning, I had to take the trash bins out to the street, and the sky was blue with wispy white clouds (probably smoke), and I had a mask on, so I walked. Initially, I only intended to walk around the block, but I journeyed on for 2/3 mile.

I encountered two younger women, and a woman closer to my age, who was walking her giant black lab.

I stepped aside for her, as we greeted each other, and I laughed, "Are you taking your dog for a walk, or is your dog taking you for a walk?"

"He's taking me," she laughed. "He's a giant puppy, who just loves to go on walks."

"Don't they all! It's those smells. They need to be out in nature to get those smells!"

If dogs could speak, we'd probably hear them say, "Oh, rabbit!" "Squirrel!" "Cat!" "Possum!" "Raccoon!" "Bear? No ..." and "I'd better pee here."

I hope you don't get too much rain, Virginia. Unlike us on the West Coast, who desperately need rain, I know you don't.

Howie ~

Hi! Where have you been? How are you feeling? How is Sam?

Keeping you all in my prayers that you are safe, well and protected ~

Love & Light,



Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!

[stillstANNding]

rip rbg

ann

[agate]

A great loss.

As of sundown today it's Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. She was motivated partly by having experienced the anti-Semitic prejudice that is still present in our world.

[Ikoiko]

rip rbg

ann

Oh, no! I really wanted her to hang in there until next year for obvious reasons. She was a great woman who did a lot for this country.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

RBG: An Icon

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

Thank you, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, for your tireless commitment to justice and our constitution. You always fought the good fight, including against cancer. You always defied the odds, with courage and conviction. Our nation, and the world, is grateful for your service on our behalf.

The justice dictated a statement to her granddaughter in the days before her death, NPR reported. Ginsburg said: “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”

I pray that your final wish is granted. May you rest peacefully in God's Arms.

Love & Light,



Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!

[Howie]

Rose, thank you for thinking of Sam and myself. We are both doing just fine. That girl has my undivided attention all day, but she has her "quiet times" when I don't know where she is. That gives me a break.

I am stocked up on groceries until next week, so I am in until then. I like going to the store, because it gives me a chance to get out of the house, but I dread having to wear a mask, but I do.

It's almost bedtime. Everyone have a pleasant evening!