Feb. 14th

 Today, I went into Publix to get strawberries and blueberries that were not in stock on Monday. Still, none were there. I asked the produce guy who told me they were on the front of the produce aisles. What? It turns out there were blueberries and strawberries there two days ago, just in a different location. They are usually at the back of the produce aisle. Oh, well. 

Tommy went into Publix on the 13th and came out, saying there must be 500 balloons in the store, all full of air. I thought he was exaggerating, but when I went in on Valentine's Day, I decided he was mistaken because there could easily have been 1000 balloons. There were ballons on top of each counter of the store. The sight was amazing. 

After I went through the two sets of double doors, there was only a three- or four-foot space to get into the rest of the store. The crowd was worse than a Christmas crowd and it was only 2 pm. 

I bought a tiny pale pink azalea to put outside once I harden it off. Plus, I got one of the heart-shaped ballons that is now in the living room anchored (heavy disk) on the floor and soaring to the ceiling. I have never had one of this type of balloon. 

Balloons are apt to float away. I have seen ballons anchored with all sorts of heavy items. This balloon accessory has all bases covered. It is heavy. It is magnetic. It has a hook. It is a white disk. 

This past weekend, I decided to get a magic bullet smoothie maker. It has a small base and three cups. Someone gave me one like it and after cleaners had been here, I cannot find the base. It was only about four inches across and four inches high. I suppose it is here, but where? I have low-fat Greek yogurt, so I need to make smoothies.

Tommy asked me several months ago if I wanted Chinese. Well, yes but not inside, just carryout. I don't know if the place I ate 25 years ago is still here or even the name. I know Anne said which Chinese place was best, but I forgot. So, we never went. 

Today, he was talking about getting lunch at home before we went out. I have wanted a chili cheese footlong from Sonic. He keeps saying he does not know if we have hotdogs in the freezer. So, I wanted to go to Sonic. We carried out own diet drinks. This was not a Valentine meal, just something I have wanted for a month. So, we went. They brought my chili cheese coney without napkins or a fork. I refuse to eat the footlong hotdog with my hands since I would really need to wear a bib. Tommy called back and finally they brought me a fork and a wad of napkins. It was almost cold by then. But, it was delicious. 

Then, we went to Publix. 

We came home to put away fruit and for me to go to bathroom. We had another stop to make at a big box. While out, I found a fabric sale and stayed buying fabric--red velvet, red with sparkly design, white sheer with sparkles, pink fabric with sparkles, grey? tulle. I bought something else but forgot what. It must be in the car still. I did get Tommy a tiny heart box of candy, the king that has four pieces. It is still in the car, too. He only brought the fabric into the house, something I did not know. 

Surprisingly, it was still quite light out, but by the time we got home around 6 pm, it was the last of the light. When we got out of the car, I realized the strawberries and blueberries had been in the car for 4 hours! 

I have not had a blender since I moved here. I could get one, but there is no storage space on the counter or inside doors. I never used the old one for anything but smoothies, anyway, and I love the one someone gave me. So, I just bought a smoothie maker like I was gifted. 

Since Tommy chopped and cooked the ground beef with onions last night, I cooked spaghetti tonight. It was delicious. Plus, there is enough for at least two more meals for each of us. I should not have to cook for about five or six days with the cooked chicken and vegetables here. 

I brought home two large cuts of pork a few days ago, not sure what cut at the moment, and Tommy left both in the refrigerator. I wanted them in the freezer. When I discovered they were mostly thawed, I was not happy, but nothing to do except cook both now. Plus, I need to cook the last of three cabbages. I suppose I will be slicing and freezing ten pounds of pork. We need to have people over...lol. And, I want navy beans to eat. 

In the big box store, the shelves had mostly been stripped of Valentine's Day merchandise. Employees were busy putting out swim season stuff like floats and blowup kiddie pools. Then, it is on to St. Patrick's Day. Then Easter. 

I am up too late since I need to wash my hair before a doctor's appointment. Last night, I slept nine hours, so I suppose tonight I won't sleep at all tonight. 

Today was the first day since the middle of September that I have left the house without a scarf with a jacket or sweater. I was warm until we arrived home. The sun leaving the sky was chilling. 

What food do you start wanting that you just don't manage, somehow, to have to eat, either at home or out? 

 

Lost! Lost! Lost!

 However, I am quite sure we will find it again. When Tommy and I want to give something to each other, we often toss whatever it is. He tossed me the remote and it bounced high on the arm of my chair, going to the back. We searched for two hours. How far can it go? 

Tommy had to army crawl behind a table and my chair, chancing unplugging lamps and computer and power to chair. He never systematically searches. He cannot see under the other chair in corner so just crawled on top of everything, randomly picking up things. Yes, it is a mess. Of course, we sorted as he went about. 

I called a friend who lives in Cullman who is going to come and clean next Monday. However, we do not want to wait until then to find the remote. She already comes to clean two houses down here. I knew she came down here, so was hoping she could find the remote and asked her about cleaning. She called a friend who was on her way back to Birmingham.

Okay, three females came by on their way from a baby shower in Cullman back to Birmingham, friends of woman who I am friends with in Cullman.

The mother and two teen girls were so nice. The mother has back problems but wanted to look on table where it could not be. She also looked around on the floor. The older teen crawled around behind me, searching everywhere as I told her and how I told her. Then, they wanted to look under the quilt I keep on my chair. So, I let her. 

I have a tall nylon clothes hamper that I keep throw, jacket, little pillow and other stuff corralled. Tommy had looked in their twice last night. I saw him looking once again today as he had it on his walker by the door.  I was baffled as to why the remote disappeared. After we all said our goodbyes, he asked them to look in there one more time. The older teen did. And...

SHE FOUND IT.

The mother had her hand on the door, ready to push it open. I already knew Tommy was not thorough. He knew it must be there, he said. So, this was over 12 hour ordeal--two hours last night and thirty minutes of searching today. 

They refused money. She said, "Don't take our blessing away." 

I am so stressed about all of this. 

AND

Harry spent thirty minutes with King Charles! 

People talk about Biden being too old. 

Orange Idiot is still at it, denigrating everyone. 

However, my friend from Cullman will come here Monday to at least do two hours of work, like changing my bed, maybe emptying the freezer and helping to sort and replace. The living room needs dusting desperately.  She is bringing someone back to Birmingham that has been visiting a relative in Birmingham, so she is bringing her to help clean. So, 2 people for 2 hours for $75. 

AACK! When I finished the last sentence, I was desperate to go to bathroom. I had finished that paragraph, so time to go.

But, it was not to be. The chair would not work. The teen obviously had unplugged the battery pack. Tommy called firemen to get me out of the chair. As they got me up, they were turning the chair to front and tipping chair over. I thought I would be on the floor. Well, they heaved me up from floor and I rushed off to bathroom. Tommy said I was screeching and so were they, warning each other to not let me fall. I would have been so disgusted if I pooped in my pants. I was that close. 

When I came back frm the bathroom, I easily plugged the power pack back in and they left. If my feet are down, I have the power pack where I can plug or unplug it myself. With the footrest up like it was, I cannot bend to get to the powerpack nor can Tommy. I doubt I ever could have bent to floor sitting like that. 

This is so stressful. Of course, I have not bought more 9 volt batteries. We need a powerpack that plugs to wall for power but will switch to powerpack when electricity is off. Or, something like that. 

Before the news comes on, I will get bscb in bag to cook. Tommy has plenty of meat for dinner. I don't. 

Before anyone tells me not to watch the news to relieve stressors, that won't work. I need to know what is happening. I need to make up my mind about the facts. 

I will need to shop for colonoscopy prep. I was given specific foods to eat and not to eat. The paper says, "NO Substitutions." Okay, I will follow it to the letter. It is several weeks away, but I don't want to wait until the last minute or even the last week. 

Somehow, I thought we would get more rain today. We have had none, so I suppose it will come in later than expected. At 5 pm, it is 63F and bone dry here. By 6 pm, the temperature is now 64F. 

As Friday ended, I thought things were going fine and the weekend would be quiet. Maybe the last half of the weekend will be more peaceful here. Keep your fingers crossed. 

Okay, dinner of bscb, carrots, and red potatoes will be done at 6:30. I will open green beans and next week will buy more coleslaw mix. 

Two weeks ago, I was looking at pork loins that are factory sealed in heavy plastic. They were 2 for $9. As I was looking at different spices on them. All of a sudden there were turkey tenders, huge ones. So, I bought two of those. I will bake them and slice to use for sandwiches on the go. 

What are your plans this weekend? 

Next week?

Any Valentine's Day celebrations? 

Do you or anyone you know have a lift chair? Ever get stuck in one?