Saved Money

 May 1

steps 12,000

The lamp on Tommy's table was acting up, flashing on and off, getting brighter and then so dim it was barely visible. I was alarmed. Tommy said it was not hurting anything. Finally, I had him tighten the bulb. That worked for about thirty seconds. All this really worried me. 

Finally, we changed bulbs. His bulb still did not work correctly.

All the while, I was making plans. New lamp from WM or used somewhere? Then, I hit upon the solution--have Tommy rewire. Now, he has no idea what to do. So, I was going to buy one of those kits that required little electrical skills. Before we did that, I checked the bulb and found the solid white piece was cracked in three places. A new bulb from our stash solved the problem. So, it was not the lamp after all. Thinking saved the day and $$$. 

The mower from last year came to mow and weed eat. The experience was cheaper and less upsetting to my stomach. In an hour he was done. He pushed a fallen-over dogwood tree to curb. One day, it fell over in a very strong wind. I hated that ugly tree. After it fell, the leaves budded. So, we had a lying down tree in our yard. Now, there is no greenery in our front yard.

Our mower works for a landscape company. We talked with him about planting trees. That will be a fall job. So, we will be blasted by sun and heat all summer. I have decided to plant crepe myrtle. LOTS! Plus, I want other flowering trees. I do not want a tall tree to eventually fall on the house. I have seen too many pictures of tornadoes' aftermath. We did get our last year mower to mow this year--less stressful. 

I have done anywhere from 5000 steps to 15,000 steps each day I have not reported, depending on how I have felt.

Tommy upgraded his wardrobe all on his own. He shopped for knock-off Crocs and a belt. I told him to get a leather belt which he did. 

We had a forecast of three days of bad weather. Today has been just fine here. 

Tommy had to pay $180 for one Dexcom G7 to stick on his arm because of some mix-up with his prescription. Usually, he pays about $35. 

Absentee Ballots

 Last night, we sat and talked about what we were going to do today. We decided that getting an application for an absentee ballot was first on the list. Plus, we needed to get copies of our driver's license to send off with the ballot request. 

That sounds easy enough. Right? Not at all. We went to library and Tommy renewed his library card while I obtained one from his library. First, Tommy started off telling the woman our needs backwards. Then, while I was on computer, he was using the mouse to click on things. I don't know if it was the computer or his clicking around while I tried to work. But, we never found the site and information I found at home to make sure we could find the site easily. 

I sent him back to the front to ask a question and he never came back. It was so far to the front. I did not think I would make it. All the chairs were hard plastic molded kind. I told Tommy I was waiting in the car. Finally, he came out with all we needed. My back was surviving. My car seat is sooo comfortable. 

We picked up the grocery ads on the way there and some on the way back. I still have not looked at them. 

As we neared the house, Tommy exclaimed 'that was our mower.' Then, when we got home, the yard was mowed. So, I called mower and told him we were here if he wanted his money. He came back. He left and then we had something else to give him, so he came back again. Tommy usually writes a check but used cash today since he still has car money from when he sold it. 

Tommy was funny giving me a $50 bill to buy envelopes. He was cute being the bigshot, asking me if that was enough. 

I barely got into the house and went to sleep in my chair for about an hour. For dinner--chicken breast, two kinds of slaw, mushy tomato that I could not finish, and an apple. Tommy had chicken breast sandwich with bbq sauce, coleslaw, and mushy tomatoes. The insides of the tomatoes are the consistency of applesauce! He said I ate the last of one kind of slaw, the kind with kale. 

It is 8 pm, and I have to hang black clothes, use leg pumps, and fill out request for absentee ballot. It is not a lot, but it feels like it. We will mail it at PO tomorrow. We need to go to his credit union to deposit his cash. Also, take recycling to Publix. 

I think putting out our few Halloween decorations will be on the list for tomorrow. We also need to separate plants outdoors. Some are dead. Some are still alive. Tommy quits watering plants when they start to 'die' instead of reviving them with water. Maybe next year, I will just have bulbs. Maybe I will start packing tomorrow. The request for the absentee ballot is foremost. We do need to make reservations for hotel rooms! I keep forgetting.

Do you vote by absentee ballot? 

What are your plans?

Just Tuesday

 This day did not happen as I planned. I only slept 2 hours. However, I needed a nap if cleaner was coming. She could not tell me if or when until she got off work. Okay, I can work with that. I had two things to do, but I cancelled those to nap before she came. As I went to bed, I handed Tommy my phone so he could answer. I did not tell him explicitly, but I wanted to do as he always does, answer and say okay and then tell me when she gets here. She rarely shows up right when she says, so I wanted ever bit of sleep I could get. 

I asked him to make two calls. The first would be to mower who wants to buy car. Well, Tommy starts leaving some off-the-wall message; I had to stop him and redirect. Then, he calls cleaner for me to leave her a message and gets it wrong, too. I was so angry and called her myself. Called mower, too. I was exhausted and getting drowsy, so did not want to rouse myself talking or even dialing. 

When she called back while I was in bed, what did he do? He told her I needed sleep and was in bed!!! I was up at 4 when I could have slept. So, I missed the whole day of opportunities of having cleaner.  I wanted her for specific things and before my birthday. I was furious at him! 

Then, there were specific things I wanted to do before debate. He just drifts off to sleep. I refused to wake him since I would not like that. He kept putting things off all day. I wanted to color my hair and need his help to make sure I don't fall. I wanted to get boneless chicken thighs and bscb cooked before the debate. Nope, did not get that done either. There were other things. 

I wanted to go to Farmer's Market. Finally, at 6:15 we arrived. They were packing up! She said no one was there, so they packed up. When I pointed out vendors should stay until time was up, she said, "But, we have an hour drive home." I wanted to tell her not to take the job! I wanted to tell her a lot of things but did not. She just was right and that was it. 

Maybe I can find another market that assures the sellers grew their own produce. I have coupons for those. 

Tommy went into Publix for bread and bananas, and milk for him. That was the day! Nothing I wanted to do before my birthday and nothing happening then. I do not want to be out in rainy weather, so got hopefully enough bananas until weekend. This time, I will wrap the stems so they will not ripen too soon. I hear that works. 

For dinner we had baked chicken, slaw, and green beans. The breast was particularly flavorful since it was cooked with the thighs. Brown meat cooked with the breast makes breast taste so much better. I did make the slaw while waiting on the debate. 

Now, we will see what he does on my birthday tomorrow. My hair is not only filthy but needs color. He knows I wanted to have hair colored by birthday. 

Now, it is almost midnight, once again, I am beyond exhausted. 

I lost another pound...yay!

We will see how the night goes. Most of today, my heart has been beating too hard and fast. 

I think I am finally over this sinus problem. A nurse confirmed that Fall allergies were worse than Spring allergies. Of course, doctor said I had year-round allergies. 

Have you ever wrapped banana stems in plastic wrap to keep bananas from ripening soon? Does it work? 

Busy Thursday

 Today was a hard day for me. Staying out for five hours destroys me.  When we finally got home and settled, I took a nap. I turn on music, get into bed and on left side, put something over my eyes, arrange my hands so they don't hurt, and usually go to sleep, aware I am drowsy. Today, I don't remember covering my eyes. I was that sleepy. My hands must have arranged themselves. 

Tommy took with us a frozen bottle of water, and I took the bottle carrier. We gave it to the woman. She was loaded down with purse, larger bottle holder, then the one we gave her. But, she was deliriously happy with frozen water and the carrier.

We got the food and wanted little of what was there, so went to a store and gave it to a young woman who teared up and said this came at the right time as she was struggling. I teared up, too. I think we may buy for her for Christmas instead of donating coats. 

I went to Publix and shopped the bogo things. I bought zinc since Tewshooz said she needed it for thyroid problems. 

The mower came, mowed, and put in the dusk to dawn bulb. Since I wanted to talk with him, I had told Tommy to call me if/when he came. He did not have time to do what I wanted, so I was up for nothing. He did take pictures of my car to sell it. 

Lunch: Tommy has lived here for forty years and has eaten at a hotdog place about a half mile from here on a main road. For almost five years, I have mentioned eating there. Today, with my pushing, we did. These were long, skinny hotdogs. I had mine plain and brought it home and put my mustard on it. Tommy had everything on his. We split an order of fries with him getting the lion's share. The cost was less that $9. I was shocked it cost so little. So, now I have been there. He eats better now that I am here, so need to get another hotdog from there. 

I called a2milk company and asked why the price leap. The woman looked it up and they still sell the milk for the same price to distributor. 

Today, I started planning my birthday week. So far, I have Chicken Salad Chick, KFC, and Bright Star. Maybe Jim n Nicks.

Dinner: Tommy had a huge salad with hamburger meat, cheese, tomato, catsup, and mustard on top. I had the same size salad with olive oil, tomato, and Parmesan/Romano cheese. 

I picked up the medicine insert and read that this antibiotic suppresses appetite. I was so surprised. Now, I know why I have no appetite, never hungry. 

One doctor sent the answer to a question I left on message machine. The endocrinologist nurse has not returned my call from Tuesday!

Tonight, I went into back bedroom to get things out for shelf in kitchen, tuna, especially. I stepped on something sharp. It was a sewing needle! I have not had a needle in there. The room has been vacuumed several times. Plus, it is not the kind of needle I use. I am afraid of the puncture wound. As excruciating as the pain was, I cannot remember which foot it punctured. I won't go barefoot in there again. 

The weather has been so mild that I don't feel suffocated when I get into the car. But, as it does, the weather will heat up to almost suffocating temps and humidity before long. 

Thursday was a day of little things, nothing earthshaking, all positive, but it exhausted me. I will edit nothing.

Do you ever have a day of little things that seems overwhelming and exhausting? 

Friday Fatigue

There was lots of rain here. And,100 mph winds somewhere in Alabama. 

Thursday night, I did not sleep until 7 am, so will try to reverse that Friday night. I slept 3 hours then another two in the evening. We had to go out today, so I am exhausted. With fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, it is not surprising I am exhausted, but a little sleep lifts my mood somewhat, actually lots. Despite the fatigue, I did manage to accomplish a few things.

The day was beautiful, and the wind rose as the day passed. Birds were rapturous, singing and swooping here and there. We saw a large group of small birds seemingly fall from the sky and begin to peck around, then they all took off. Tommy said they were starlings, but they must have been very young since they were not large enough or black enough. Okay, he just told me they were starlings and full-grown. 

Dinner--chicken, squash casserole, slaw, green beans. I think Tommy had same thing plus carrots and potatoes, the last of those. I had strawberries.

Tonight, I trimmed and froze 3 pints of strawberries. They were going fast, so I needed to preserve them in freezer. Now, I need to put up the rest of the squash or cook it to eat. Tomorrow. 

The mower showed up today instead of Saturday. The heavy rains came as he left the porch with his check. The cleaner cancelled because she had to go to the doctor since her surgery on her thumb has become infected. However, she will come Sunday. 

Thus, we have no plans for tomorrow, but it appears it will rain. My plans are to find my car keys! I cannot take it for a wash without the keys. 

What are your plans for Saturday? The weekend? 

Rain Caught Us

 It's cloudy and gloomy today. About 4 am, the sky dropped out and we got lots of rain. Then, this afternoon, we went to get my Arby potato cake, to Walgreen, and Publix. All was well until we left Publix. Another gully washer let loose. We sat in the car for thirty minutes waiting for it let up. Finally, I tied a cloth around my head to go in. Suddenly, it was all a sprinkle.

Tommy leaves his walker in the yard. It was drenched and still on the porch. He brought it to my window where I quickly put all bags out the window to keep him from standing in the sprinkles left falling on him. I got in without a bit of rain. So we transferred all groceries to my walker inside the front door. He is using it now to replace the roach baits. I am still not convinced the roaches are all gone.

Last night a big outdoor roach walked out from under my chair scaring the living daylight out of me. Tommy used a reacher to catch and squash it. Then, he washed and sterilized the reacher that touched the roach. I know it came in the back door. Gross! I can see daylight under the doors. No, he is unconcerned. 

Obviously, rain and roaches is all I've got. How sad...lol. 

Shockingly, the mower came about 2 pm and mowed. He was supposed to come on Thursday. It rained last night, and i thought it was too wet. The yard once again looks lush and even. The yard next door is back to three feet high. 

I called about the dogs and no one returns my calls. I saw one of the women drive up, open back door and less than a minute later came out again. Since I was on my way into the house, I saw nothing else. Tommy said she sat in her car and talked on the phone for a few more minutes. She did not have time to even pet the dog. 

About the Arby's potato cakes--I love them. About 45 years ago, I would eat them at least once a week. And, I never gained an ounce and heart was fine years after that. I only ate them during a one-year period. Then, they discontinued them. They are back for a limited time. I had to have one. That is all I went to buy. But, they were two for $2.19. And, Tommy does not like them. So, it was potato cakes and me. They were full of grease/fat, salt, and carbs. Now, I have to mitigate the damage.

When I got into the car, the purslane was blooming dramatically, lots of blooms. When we returned as it rained hard, all the flowers were closed, looking very unhappy with the rain. The petunias were all beaten down, too. 

At 9:15 tonight we drove to house with patriotic inflatables. They were flat, so I suppose they are not going to inflate them again. Too bad.

Do you like Arby's potato cakes?

Has there been rain at your house?

When it rains so hard, do you sit in the car or run in? Or, maybe you can pull into a garage?

Need more reading? Now that people are learning about Project 2025, he is trying to deny it or change it. 

prpject 2025 trump rethinks - Search (bing.com)

Thursday and Elkhorn

 Today, we're focused. There was no browsing at all. We knew what we wanted and got it or left. Sometimes, I wander around looking for what is on a list in my head. Tommy's phone had no minutes, so I could not have done that if I wanted to do so. We talk back and forth to decide what was on the list. 

He wanted a card with minutes for his phone. But, he left one store to buy it at Dollar General. We needed plastic cups/tumblers for the house. He got cheap Crocs, 3 24-packs of Dasani that were b2g1. Then we were home and I took a nap. 

The mower did not come. I think it was dry enough, but he may live in a part of the county that got much more rain last night. He is supposed to come on Thursday every two weeks. But, that seldom happens. But, he will come eventually. 

We will eat leftovers for dinner and watch Elkhorn. I had baked chicken and green beans and a tiny chocolate cupcake. He had a highly seasoned piece of chicken, broccoli, and green beans and a jalapeno biscuit. That's as far as we have planned. Well, I will have 3 strawberries and about 8 grapes. 

After weeks of watching Elkhorn, I finally decided to look up Mason Beals, Theodore Roosevelt on the series. He has practically NO history. He is an amazing actor who looks like Roosevelt. Have you been watching this series?

Today has been lots of coughing and chest congestion. Not fun and tiring. 

June is the best month of the year in my opinion. The days are green, not too much heat, just enough rain, and overall pleasant. It is a happy month?

How do you feel about June? 

Have you been watching Elkhorn? 

Companies Not Helping

 Like I said in the post I wrote this morning, I had lots of good sleep on Thursday night. That is where the good things ended. 

Tommy opened the door and found something hanging of the doorknob. As it turns out, the pest control came by eradicated fire ants, and put a sign in the yard. He was so angry. I spend until five o'clock dealing with them. We called the police who came out. The guy on the phone said we had to retain any trespasser until an officer could arrive. ??? Well, the cop who showed up said that was not true. But, we had to have proof they were here...a sign in the yard and bag on the door stating someone had been here was not enough. I finally talked to someone in home office who said no one should have come here since the contract was cancelled in March. So, that ended that.

I went out to look. One fireant mound was no longer used. There were three other mounds not sprayed that had fireants in them. I poked each with a stick to be sure I was correct. Worst pest control ever!

My car battery was dead, so I called my insurance company. My policy does not cover putting in a new battery that I buy. But, the person said she would just put in a battery charge and if they accepted it, it would be covered. The person came while I was gone after me saying to let me know before she came. She was angry and said she did not have the tools to do that. I wanted to replace the battery before mower looked at it. So, that did not happen. 

Auto Zone said I did not buy a battery there. Then, found I had purchased one in 2018, so it was not under a three-year warranty. I finally got the area manager who said he could check into it tomorrow. 

Now, along the way there were obstacles. One guy barely opened his mouth, so I could not hear him. He finally said he was yelling. Liar, liar, pants on fire.

One said I had to explain problem to her before she could submit a ticket. The problems happened at the three companies. 

Hopefully, we are rid of pest control company. At one place, my patience was worn thin and I asked the person if they were recording what she told me. She said in a petulant voice, "And, they can hear you yelling at me." I told her I could handle it but wondered if she was okay with them hearing her lie.

I have only told about  1/10th of the problems with these three companies. 

Oh, a tow truck charges $123 to take out battery and install the new one. Finally, I was emotionally and physically drained. We sat and rested while we waited on mower. He mowed and we talked about what a handyman could do for us. I mentioned that we needed someone to put a new battery in the car, a battery that was in the Rogue for the Impala. He said, "Oh, now that is something I can do." So, he did, and Tommy wrote him a check for $25. 

After he put the battery in and started the car, he stood and listened to it, saying it sounded good. But, he needed some money to come in. Tax return? I wonder but did not ask.

He left a bit before five, I think. I had left the key in the car, so went back out to get the keys about 7 pm, I found the motor was still running! It was so quiet that neither mower, nor Tommy, nor I heard the motor running.

I did survive the day, barely. I made spaghetti using the beef Tommy cooked. I had toast with butter and a huge salad. I feel much more relaxed and less stressed now. Spaghetti will do that to me. Facing off with three companies was too much for one day. 

So, the car did not sell today. Tomorrow, we will run it through the carwash and do a bit of spiffing it up. I looked inside with a critical eye. It is immaculate. I have not cleaned it since I bought it in 2018. 

The woman who wanted it is ill and trying to recover for her job next week. Like I said, if these two do not buy the car, the price goes up. 

The carwash is so scary! The car is covered with pollen, so I wonder if it will come clean. 

The wind was stirring my hair today like it did yesterday. As I got up from a chair in the yard, I was shocked to see the shadow of my hair, all standing up and whipping wildly. 

Two days ago, I bought eclipse glasses. Last night, a company in Bartlett, TN was on the news. My eclipse glasses were made there, so I suppose I got authentic glasses. 

When will CS actually give service?

Hornet and Pizza

I talked to the mother of the young man who mowed. She has been very ill, and I had not seen her at her work. Before I was going to hang up, I asked her what the son had said. "Nothing. He said nothing." At that point, I asked her to ask her older son, the one I know, to mow. We will see. I guess the one who mowed knew we were friends and did not want to say anything to get him in trouble.

As I tried to descend the steps from the porch, a hornet was in my way. I backed up. He backed off until I started down the steps again. Then, he came back. We played this game for a while. I think I have hornets under my porch. This is scary.

About 2 am, I cooked the pizza for exbf. It was huge! Instructions said to put it on the oven rack sans pan. No way. I will not cook directly on the oven rack. Instead I put it on the paper with foil on the back. When I tried to take it out by holding two sides of the paper, it folded almost into itself. At any rate, it is cut into crazy pieces and into freezer bags with slices kept apart from each other by waxed paper.

Since it had black olives and he hates them, I picked them off and ate them. I was hurting to much to stand any longer, so I left a few.

I was still awake at 3:30 when the royal wedding coverage came on TV, and I am still awake 10:30 am.

When I take a nap, I will tell you exactly how I feel about Meghan.

Do you ever cook directly on the oven rack?