At Last!

 We sent in our request for a mail-in ballot about two weeks ago. I have been afraid we would not get a ballot in time. Our mail-in ballots came today. I have been fretting over this situation. Usually, Tommy gets the mail at noon, as soon as it comes. Today, he did not get the mail from the box until after 6 pm. I was so relieved to receive the envelope. It is filled out, just waiting for two people to witness my signature. 

The large white envelope held Five (5) other items: instruction sheet, secrecy envelope, affidavit envelope, brown mailing envelope. Whew! And there were lots of instructions on the instruction sheet. Now, we either have to have it notarized or have two witness sign. We are going the witness route. We can witness for each other, then find one witness to use for both of us. 

At 8 pm and rushed off by 8:30 to find marked-down Halloween items. There was little to be had and certainly not pumpkins, fake ones. A furniture store did have Fall items and pumpkins, but none were marked down. All specifically Halloween items were packed away. So, that is that. I refuse to chase a bargain right now. 

I did find an orange container and a black and orange pick.

We needed a nap. We got up right when we were supposed to be elsewhere, snatched on clothes and left. The people asked why were so late, thinking we had forgotten. We sheepishly told them we were asleep. 

Last night, we did a bit of decluttering. I had saved boxes, large and small for a specific reason. Well, we overdid it. So, Tommy broke down boxes I brought out to him. They are in the garbage truck. 

Publix was next. I bought the wrong Cheerios for Tommy. So, one of us will return them. I like original Cheerios and cannot stand Honey Nut Cheerios, his favorite. They even stink when he eats them.  I did get two half gallons of a2milk that is 2/$9. 

I switched to Quaker Old-Fashioned Oats from Special K which is too expensive! I rarely find them bogo. Besides, I like oats. I would eat them all the time except for the fact they have to be prepared. I am not lazy, just in pain. Tommy would do all the dipping of oats, measuring of water, and heating, but he does so much for me. 

Something strange happened here just before Halloween. I had changed out all batteries in things around the living rooms, candles, Red Kiss with lights inside, pillar candles. Tommy was standing and trying to use the tv remote. Suddenly, the Red Kiss fairy lights came on. He had not noticed. I certainly had noticed and was a little dumbfounded. He could not get the tv remote to turn off the lights. I had to turn them off manually. What on earth? Has your tv remote ever turned off another device that had its own remote???

Today, as I got out of the car and tried to turn and walk up the ramp, I stumbled and almost fell, stumbling toward the ramp until I could grab it. Later, I asked Tommy if he saw me. He said, "No, but he did see me stumbling/staggering in Lowe's parking lot when I dropped my debit card. Then, he let go of his walker here in the living room and held out both arms and slightly wavered back and forth, knees slightly bent, saying, "You looked like you were hanging ten. He really did look like a surfer. We had a good laugh. 

I was feeling woozy when I got out at Lowe's and then saw my debit card flutter to the ground, I momentarily assured myself I could pick it up. No, I cannot. I looked up and a man was exiting his car. So, I called to him and asked him if he could help me. He approached me eagerly and asked me what he could do. I pointed to the card and asked him to get it for me so I would not fall. Nice guy. 

I love DST, but I hate the early evening. We had to be home by 5 pm tonight as it quickly became too dark to drive once we came home. Soon, the day will end an hour earlier. DST has never bothered my sleep. Now, how could my sleep habits get any worse? In the past DST never disrupted my sleep, school, work, or health.

Ooops, I stored away Skelli with two AA batteries in his head, so we have to buy the proper screwdriver, take them out tomorrow. It's the only thing in which we put batteries. 

Tomorrow, Auburn plays at 11:45 am. I want to go out to stores. So, he will willingly get up and take me in order to get back in time for the game. Fall is the only time he will go out in order to get back here for a game. Otherwise, he is sleepy or watching something else. Tomorrow, he will be encouraging me to go soon. Then, I can take a nap while he watches to game in peace. 

It's late; my nap has worn off. 

What's on your agenda for this weekend.

Tuesday: I Voted and Bocephus

After lunch I voted. I was able to get the closest handicapped parking spot next to the door. So, that was a win. I was going to vote before the Tuesday free lunch, but I would have to had to park the furthest from the door, almost in my own yard! 

When I got in the room, there was a holdup because of a guy. He was the only person in front of me. I had to lean on the table for so long that I finally just went behind the table and sat in the worker's chair, telling her I could not stand any longer. She was very pleasant and assured me it was okay.

The front page of the ballot was easy since I was only voting for one party. The back was easy since the referendums were easily understood and things on which I had a strong opinion. I was out in just a few minutes. I suppose I was out and in the car in fifteen minutes. 

Lunch at the pretty church was also on Tuesday. Lunch: soup, sandwich, brownie. The soup was in a huge container, maybe about three cups. It had cheese, bacon, hash browns and was delicious, but I left some in the bottom. The sandwich was a grilled cheese and ham. I ate three bites, brought it home, and had it for my dinner. The brownie I did eat at the lunch. The meal was very substantial. It was not fancy  but very delicious. It is all homemade. I went to a free dinner for a long time that was boxed potatoes, canned green beans, and dreary patty of some sort of meat that was not even warm. 

Two women sang two songs. A woman from Christmas Child boxes spoke less than five minutes. THEN, came the fun. 

The group of five women is called raps and taps or something like that. They were all in overalls, some short, all decorated with red, white, and blue bandanas and patches. All instruments were home made--plunger, washboard played with thimbles, toys with bells, Bundt cake pan and other things.

There was lots of booty shaking, dancing, marching through the audience, wrapping the red feather boa around the necks of guys. And, one woman specialized in the knees movement of the Charleston. Only, she used no hands. Yep, all in church. So funny.

For "Cawliga" one woman was the Wooden Indian and  another the Wooden Indian maid he fell in love with. It was a hilarious skit. Another skit danced to "I want to be a cowboys' sweetheart" had another woman who actually knew how to swing a lasso, going about the audience threatening to lasso men. Another skit was with a woman with a red feather boa wrapping it around the necks of all the guys and cuddling up to their faces. I cannot remember any other songs or skits, but it was all fun. Then, the women started a conga line with everyone in the building.

Kawliga is the name of the wooden Indian at Lake Martin in AL. The song was released by Hank Williams in 1953. Hank Williams sings the song. Hank Jr. (Bocephus) lived in Cullman for a time.

That was Tuesday. I missed a doctor's appointment because I fell asleep and also slept through a meeting that night.

Are you a fan of Hank Sr. and Jr.?

I voted; I lunched; I shopped.

We had a runoff in AL. I did not vote in the primary, therefore I could vote in the other party's runoff. This was a case of voting against the worst candidate by voting for the lesser of two evils. I was the only person there besides the four poll workers. As I sat down to vote, another person came in. Voting was just a matter of bubbling in one bubble and shoving it into the machine. I am done until November. After collecting my "I Voted" sticker, I left. The whole business from the time I left the car until I returned was less than ten minutes. And, I even talked with the poll workers.

This was a Tuesday free lunch--chicken patty, mashed potatoes, carrots and peas, slice of bread, tea, and choice of cake slices. I did not even take the peas and carrots. And, I left most of the cake. Of course, people brought me leftovers that I turned down. Everyone thought my chicken died.

Then, exhausted from no sleep, I went shopping for water heaters.  After I wrote down the options, I talked to a TVA guy who gave me his opinion and choice of water heaters and specs for them. So, now I know what I will get....when I can afford it. I don't feel like typing my choices right now when I feel more like napping. Tomorrow....

Yes, I hate using "lunch" as a verb when it is not. At least I did not "do lunch." The chance for parallelism was too strong for me to overcome.  The title is almost the literary equivalent of "Veni, vidi, vici"/"I came, I saw, I conquered." Oh, not equivalent to that? You don't say?  Whatever.

Today, the weather was perfect with blue skies and good company at lunch.

Not Wasting Okra

As you may remember, I entered dehydrated okra and tomato in the fair last year. Since there is no way I will eat okra in any form, it sits, still. I have asked around and it appears no one wants it. Several months ago, I thought I would ask exbf if he wanted it to eat as a snack.

Second Man from Two Men and a Little Farm wrote about baking halved okra and First Man's liking it. So, I remembered to mention it to exbf. Mine was sliced for frying.

Supposing it might be hard as a rock and not something anyone would want to crunch, I tried it first. Don't think for a moment I ate it. One piece crunched between my teeth once and I gagged it out into a napkin I had at the ready. The okra readily crunched into pieces.

I put it on the sofa next to the chair he sits in and left it for two weeks, forgetting to ask him. Finally, I asked him over the phone. He said, "Oh, in the pint jar on the sofa?" I wonder he did not ask me why it was there. Oh well.

When he came last Friday, I reminded him to try it. He popped one piece into his mouth and commented immediately that it was good and yes he would eat it. He said, "It tastes just like fried okra without the coating." I asked him if it needed a sprinkle of spices or anything on it. He said it was fine like it was.

Bonus: It is not fried. I scored twice with his acceptance: 1) Food is not wasted. 2) This is a good snack for him since I always find something snack-y for him.

Well, if feeding it to him failed, I was going to toss a piece to Dominique and see if she would consume it.

Sunday, I awoke more ill than ever, but this time it was my throat, chest, and head. But, I am still taking meds for uti. Voting will be a struggle, but I will vote.

Remember to vote on Tuesday!

UPDATE: I voted and was in the car by 7:06. I was second in line.

Your turn
Have you ever had dehydrated okra? Seasoned or plain? Did you like it? Do you have someone who, like exbf, will just try any food you present? Well, I never would try to get him to eat banana or eggs!

Tuesday Lunch

Tuesday, I went to the Tuesday lunch. I didn't get enough sleep but got ready and went there without having had my usual glass of milk and banana. I may be out of bananas, but I thought I had two.

Usually, I go early so I can get a close parking place. That leaves me sitting at a table full of desserts, one at each place. Everyone who comes there goes around and swaps out desserts to get their favorite. My motto: "Life is short; eat dessert first." I usually do! The chocolate cake was calling my name, but today I ignored it. Through the wait, I also ignored the headache and had a glass of water.

When I heard what was for lunch, I was happy, but I should not have eaten one bite. The chicken nuggets were breaded; the green beans had ham in them; squash casserole had cheese; roll looked delicious. I ate the chicken nuggets and tried to scrape off the breading. I left the ham on the plate. There was no cheese on my portion of the squash casserole! I mindlessly ate the miniscule roll. There was one bite left when I realized I was eating it. There was one thick, glorious slice of tomato... yum.

A guy asked me how many hens I had now and how many eggs I got. Dominique is not laying again. I told him she was going to freezer camp. The whole table roared and repeated it to each other.

Dominique was so happy with the leftovers from several plates.

I finally picked several grape leaves, one for the pickles I made. I think I will make pickles for the Fair. I need to look to see if there are any grapes on the vines sprawled all over. A handful of scuppernongs would be great.

A young man with brain damage finally talked to me today after I frightened him several months ago. I had pie at my place and was standing, talking. He had the saucer and was removing it to take to his table. I did not realize he had brain damage and said, "EH, EH, EH. Put it down! It's mine." I was only kidding by sounding so harsh, so my faux pas embarrassed me when he turned white and I realized he had a problem. Since then, I have made it a point to say, "Hello." Today, he approached me and made small talk. I guess he observed me for a few months and decided I was not too scary. We all protect our chosen dessert and tell people we chose that dessert, so go get their own.

I voted for mayor and city council today. When I went to the place where I always vote, half a block from my house, I was not on their roll. When I got to the courthouse where I am now assigned to vote, it was difficult for me to walk so far again. Usually, voting is joining the lines with a marker. Today, I had to bubble in with a pen. Done! And, I proudly wear the "I Voted" sticker.

Even though I went to two polling locations and to lunch, I was never more than four blocks from my house.

Even though I can vote by absentee ballot, there is something about going to the polls that I would miss. Granted, I have never had more than ten people in front of me. If I had to wait in the lines I sometimes see on TV, I would be voting by absentee ballot.

I am going to call my gastroenterologist because my intestines are not right yet. I spent a long time in the bathroom after lunch, the kind of session that leaves a person weak. A nap was in order even though I had plans to go back out and get chores done in town. Needless to say, I was hungry once again before I lay down.

Tomorrow, I have so many things to do that I need to make a list. Most of the chores are here at home and some are phone calls.

Since I ate lunch, my ear hurts a bit, and I am itching. So, I ate something I should not...sigh.

Your turn
Did anyone else vote today? Do you vote by absentee ballot? Do you like the experience of going to vote?