My major concern is electricity. If it’s out for a lengthy period, it’ll be hot and uncomfortable. Hopefully my freezers will stay frozen. If I stay out of them, it should help.

I also worry about water coming under my front door. I have stuff to put under the door if it starts coming in but maybe it won’t come to that.

The grocery store was out of my preferred chips and water but I got enough stuff for prolonged isolation.

I was advised that doing the laundry and starting the dishwasher were important prior to the storm so I’ll make sure both are run today.

I am a little concerned that in a power failure, I don’t know how to open my garage door, but I think I just pull the red release.

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I learned one thing too late. If I do this again I’ll make sure my grill is near the front door, not on the other side of the stored lounge chairs so I have to climb over everything. Maybe I can make a more open path, but it sure isn’t easy now.

I remember being in Michigan especially in 2017 when Irma impacted Tampa. I stayed up all night watching the on-line information to see if our condo would be hit.

At that time, I said, “As Irma approaches, I’m glad we are safe in Michigan but I can’t help but feel that we’re missing something memorable. I pray all of our friends and every Kings Point resident is safe, but I feel almost neglectful and traitorous because I’m not there in my favorite community to keep my home safe and protected.”

If I’d been honest, I wanted to be in Kings Point. Well, this time I am. Ian is supposed to be a big one and I’ll be watching abd reporting first hand.

It’s still not certain when the impact will be the greatest. At this time, it looks like overnight Tuesday/Wednesday is the most likely but it’s still not firm.

I will probably stay up all night watching.

For the past few days I’ve felt yucky. I had my flu shot and covid booster Monday and felt fine. Tuesday still ok until late evening. Then it started. I just don’t feel good. Wednesday I was out of commission all day. Did nothing. I even took a Covid test to see if maybe that was my problem but the test was negative. I think it was the shots I got.

Today I am better, but wish I could just stay home and rest. Instead I am committed to go to an appreciation luncheon at 11:00. I’ve already paid for it and hope I can rally enough to go but afterward I’ll take it easy. Then tomorrow I work at the Squad and Saturday I’m driving the girls to Big Bend Road to celebrate Pat’s birthday.

This is one week I wish I could be totally idle. I don’t want to move.

Sophie needs a bath, I need to get ready for my house cleaner on Saturday, and I want to practice on my newly re-discovered dulcimer, but I have no energy.

I want to be prepared for the QuarTUNE music lessons I’m taking in a couple weeks. Yesterday I hauled out my hammered dulcimer.

It took a while to find all the stuff I will need: hammers, stand, music, tuner, batteries, etc. (The stand was lost and at first I couldn’t locate a tuner.) With everything assembled, I started.

I put the dulcimer in front of the sliders in the great room. I can still glance at the TV and I can work a little at a time.

Tuning was much more difficult than in the past. Normally with your wrench on the peg, you tweak a string to the exact tone but generally it’s almost there. It’s always been easy to figure which note I was aiming for. Not this time! The strings were so far off I had no idea where I should tune them so I needed a layout. I finally found a diagram for my instrument but it’s slow going. There are two bridges (bass and treble) so I started with the treble bridge. I’m about 2/3’s of the way through the 17 sets of strings (two each or a total string count of 66). After I finish it’ll take a while for the tuning to settle in. It’ll be easier as time goes by. Right now each string has no memory of what it should be. I will re-teach it.

Actually finding the layout wasn’t easy. I knew I had a copy posted on my old website but I’ve forgotten how to get to the files. The whole process has changed and I had to re-learn so much. But I finally was successful getting the layout printed out and I went to work. I figure I can tune little by little. When I finish, I’ll try picking out a couple simple tunes. I’m sure I’ll remember as I try it. I can’t do too much at a time because I get an ache at the base of my neck. But I’ll forge on.

My penny whistling sounds awful. I know it’s just my technique. I don’t know how to get the good tones out of the fingering. My instructor will have a hard time getting me to play anything.

Yesterday I had several detours as I tried to remember how to print out a PDF file, how to get to the files I needed, and more.

I’ve forgotten so much! I remember when internet stuff was in my wheel-house, but no more. The rules have changed. I was lost.

Why didn’t I keep up on the stuff I was good at? It would make this process so much easier. Maybe I should try to re-lean the autoharp instead, but I really prefer the hammered dulcimer.

A friend said she couldn’t wait to hear my harp. That’s not going to happen — maybe someday, but the dulcimer seems like it’s an easier path to a pleasant pass time.

Music was a life I shared with John. It was so much fun and provided me with lovely memories. I don’t expect to ever get “good” but I’m going to aim for a few nicely played tunes for the holidays. Wouldn’t it be something if I could have a little concert for friends.

I want to relearn “Ashokan Farewell.” That was one I played nicely. I can’t bring back the past, but I can find something pleasant to fill my free time.

Nothing exciting. Nothing to write about. Life goes on. Most folks would be bored.

Sophie’s my companion (thank heavens I have her). Very few guests.

Yes, I have more than enough meetings in my role as President of Nantucket V, and every eight days I’m at the SCC Emergency Squad, but that’s about it. The rest of the time, I watch TV or NetFlix. I fix decent meals for myself and occasionally I grocery shop. That’s about it.

I need to get myself going and not waste my life. I like dances, euchre and even bingo. Why am I missing those thing?

Just wish I had a gentleman to do stuff with. I’ve crossed Ken off my list. He’s ignored me for too long. No one else in my field of vision, but I know they’re not going to find me when I’m in my condo for days on end.

I vow that I’ll go to dances, I’ll go to the Sportsman’s Club next Wednesday. Naybe I’ll even go to the pool.

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Recently I signed up for a couple music classes at the QuaranTUNE Dulcimer Festival. On Friday, October 7th, I’ll take one from Guy George on basic penny whistle and on Saturday, the 8th, I’ll take one from Katie Mortz to start me on the hammered dulcimer. I know I have forgotten everything I ever knew.

Before the classes, I need to tune up the hammered dulcimer. I finally found my dulcimer stand in the back of the guestroom closet, I’ve located a tuner, and I’ve put in new batteries).

I have hammers and I found a music stand. Little by little I’m pulling together what I’ll need.

I’ve ordered a starter book for the whistle which should arrive today.

I’m trying to decide if I should set up in the guest room (which isn’t used at all) or the great room or the dining room? I’m leaning toward the corner of the great room (at least to start with) since I won’t feel “isolated” and I’ll probably practice more. It’s a cooler temperature, there’s a suitable chair in the corner I’ll use and there’s abundant light.

It’s taking more prep than I realized. I like the looks of the dulcimer in the living room. It inspires me.

I’ve been having problems sleeping without getting up three or four times. I saw a commercial for ZzzQuil ULTRA Nighttime Sleep Aid. I’ve taken it two times and it seems to be helping but I’m finding I’m sleepy in the early afternoon. I’ve never been a “napper” but today I actually spent about 45 minutes on my bed. I didn’t sleep soundly but I think I dozed and I still feel a little foggy. I don’t know which is worse. I may try again tonight. Hopefully I won’t be loggy tomorrow.

Couple days later:
I have continued using ZzzQuil and I think I’m sleeping a little better.