The current phrase is “No Worries.” Seems like I hear it in answer to a lot of questions.

I am watching the movie, “Contagion.” It came out in 2011.. long before Covid.

It could have been a documentary of the Covid pandemic which started in 2019.

Last week was the ODPC Funfest in Evart, Michigan. Of course I wasn’t there, but for many years John and I went to every ODPC festival starting in 1991. In 2015, I retired after being workshop chairman for 20 years.

It was always fun and the folks we met there became “family.” I do miss the music friends, but there was no way I was going to try to go. Sophie is my anchor. Didn’t make me yearn any less, but I’m better staying put. I know I couldn’t walk around like I used to and I certainly wouldn’t have a golf cart. So I looked at the photos vicariously and recalled good times.

Sadly several folks would have been missing: Bob Hubbach, Doc Adams, Dan Kirchner, Martha Kuch, Wayne Conklin, and of course, my John. All died since I last attended. Chuck & Nan Boody wouldn’t attend this year because Nan’s not doing well. Jim and Laura McKinney have covid. And many of the music folks have stopped traveling far because of the price of gas. Things have changed for so many of us!

But I did enjoy following the goings on at the fairgrounds. A lot of new faces, but quite a few familiar ones. Looks like it was a fun time.

Since turning 80 I have really slowed down. I find myself doing less and less. I get up later and have been skipping social events.

An example are my Mondays and Tuesdays. I used to enjoy going to euchre but have skipped most of the games. I haven’t attended the Sportsman’s Club meetings for several months. The senior dances just aren’t fun any more. I’ve thought about going to Karaoke (alone so I can leave when I want) but keep finding reasons not to go.

I’ve been mainly using the weather as an excuse. Seems that it’s either way too hot to go out, or it’s raining.

My plan is to go to the Sportsman’s Club today from 3:00-4:00 and then grocery shopping. Checking the forecast there’s over a 50% chance it’ll be raining (and temps over 90). If it is pouring, I won’t go. (The rains here are blinding.)

Maybe I’ll go grocery shopping around noon. That way I’ll beat the downpour.

I do make it to the Emergency Squad every eight days, but that’s all that’s guaranteed.

I did get a refund from Glory Tours for the July 4th bus trip/cruise/dinner that Pat and I didn’t get to go on. It took longer than I would have thought because I had to call them (they didn’t do it automatically), but today it came in the mail.

I have a “thing” about powerful rechargeable flashlights. I have three of them. The smallest one (Thrunite) (about 3″) has a power button on the side and a charging port opposite it. The next one bigger (Light Saver) cycles through the brightness phases with the power button. It also has a “side light” called a cob light. The biggest and most powerful one cycles through with the power button and also has a side (cob) light (which is turned on by flashing the power button quickly twice.) The big one (about 7″) also has a charging port which can be used to charge other things like a cellphone. It also can use three AAA batteries. (It’s in the black plastic box in the cubby – it’s at an angle because it doesn’t fit in the cubby very well. It’s labeled Jay-Park Super Bright and has the charging cables and extra batteries and battery holder in it.) Got it from Amazon 7/8/2022. The listing has a lot of details. I keep the medium one beside my bed, smallest one next to my seat in the great room, and the biggest one on the kitchen counter.

I also have a very good high intensity flashlight (very long and skinny) but it isn’t rechargeable. I have lots of batteries so that one will also work for me in case of a power failure. It’s beside my bed.

Yesterday I worked at the Squad. It was uneventful. I came home and made a good batch of tacos. Then I decided there was no time like the present to return the rug. The directions said I could take it to Walgreens (which is reported to be a pickup place for Fed Ex.) Problem was, Walgreens woudn’t take it. It was too large for their facility. I had to go to the strip mall near Home Depot. (Actually near the Pet Supermarket.)

It was so hot that I was miserably dehydrated by the time I dropped the rug off and got back home. I wished I’d driven my car. The golf cart was miserably hot.

I felt rotten when I got home. I poured a glass of wine and baked a small pot pie. (Much better!)

Sophie curled up beside me and we watched a TV movie. It was a quiet night. I was glad I stayed in. Between the early alarm I’d been awakened by, working at the Squad, the struggle with the rug, and the heat, I was worn out.

Today is a new day. Nothing on the calendar for today. It’s still HOT but I can take it easy and stay in.

Let’s see. In the past week Iost my tracker watch, Sophie’a not eating, TV box replacement didn’t work, new rug for great room a failure, car wouldn’t start, didn’t get to go on cruise/dinner to view fireworks, ladies bathroom here at the Squad not working.

But on the plus side, I’m well. My finances have approved. Sophie is lovin’ me more and more. I truly have no problems.

Since I need to start the car frequently, I’ll try to take it for a ride, but if I don’t do that, at least I can let it run for 10-15 minutes. Right now it’s running. (Setting a timer is vital.)

Although I hate to drive my car, I don’t mind going to Beef O’Brady’s, Sam’s Club, Walmart, and the business places near Publix (like China Chen, Marco’s and even Subway.) I will start going back to Euchre on Mondays at the Moose Club.

The price of gas is so high that letting the car run is going to cost me. But to be honest, going to the Moose on Mondays would be fun and I need more fun in my life.

Up at 6 a.m. so I could be ready when my cleaning lady arrived at 7 a.m.

After she left, I decided to take my car out for a drive to keep the battery charged. It wouldn’t start.

The road service guy came and in two or three minutes it was running. He suggested that I let it run for 30 minutes to be sure it was charged. After the half hour, I took it out for a drive. I must remember to start it every day for awhile and never go longer than five days without it being started!

As she ages she’s becoming more clingy. She is really anxious when I leave her and she wimpers and cries at my bedroom door more than she ever did.

She doesn’t like thunder and hides when there are rumbles.

I was feeding her a premium dog food (Farmers Dog) but she’s turning up her nose at it now. I am switching her to Ollie’s. Hopefully she will like it. The price is about the same. I have a lot of either brand.

Today was another difficult day.

When I got up, Sophie was on the couch. She can’t get up there which means she was there all night.

She was afraid to get down without the white fluffy rug to land on. I tried a couple possible solutions: a small throw rug (I used one that had been used in the bathroom). Sophie still wasn’t happy. Too many changes.

Shawn came over to install the bedroom TV box. Come to find out Spectrum gave him the wrong one so he worked for hours and had to put the old one back.

He has chihuahuas and understood that Sophie isn’t happy with change. The old white rug was scheduled to go to the dump but Shawn cut a 2 x 6 foot strip off the white fluffy rug. It’s now a throw rug in front of the couch. Sophie still isn’t jumping down so she’s just staying on the couch, but I think she’ll realize it’s the same rug just smaller.

So here it is nearly 6pm and I haven’t accomplished anything.