It’s been chilly for about a week. I’ve stayed in most of the time. A couple of mornings it was below freezing! But a warm-up is expected and by the weekend it should be up to the 80s. I’m ready! I’ve had the heat on and used a lap robe a lot of the time. I’ll enjoy going for golf cart rides and feeling the warmth surround me. Next Tuesday I’ll probably complain about the heat (high 80’s), but I’ll try to be content with whatever we experience.

I’ve been debating about New Years Eve. My friend Irene is hosting a gathering but I decided Sophie needs me and cuddling. Jay Ungar and Molly Mason have announced that they’ll have a live-feed from Ashokan with great music. Unfortunately it’ll be kinda late for me (probably 10:00-midnight) but I might tough it out. It’s my best option so far.

The last few months have been difficult. I’ve lost several music friends (Bob Hubbach, Nan Boody, Martha Kuch, Jeff Allen, Ida O’Dell) and my friend Connie’s health is so fragile that we fear for her.

I have “felt my age.” I guess repeated sad news will do that.

I am still “content” but life is definitely more difficult.

Goals for 2023:
Lose some weight
Hire someone to help clean out my garage and fix the cracked floor
Get out more
Exercise and eat better
When weather allows it, go to the pool for the sun and interaction

Pat and I had a pleasant Christmas meal because the company was good, but the meal was barely ok. If I had it to do again, I’d have gone for something else. The steak I ordered was tough.

After eating we visited Connie. She’s not doing well. Her blood pressure was so low that they were talking about transferring he to the hospital.

It was hard to converse with her. Seemed that she didn’t understand our questions. I certainly hope she improves because her deterioration from my last visit six days ago was noticeable. She seemed angry which is certainly understandable. She’s been through so much.

As it turns out, Pat’s Christmas plans fell through so the two of us will go to Denny’s for dinner. Afterward we’ll visit Connie. Sounds like a decent plan. None of the three of us will be alone.

Christmas is only a few days away and I don’t know what I’m doing for dinner. I have all the “makin’s” for a turkey feast but since it’s just me, I’m reluctant to go to all the trouble. (I have the turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, makings for cranberry salad, sweet potatoes for casserole, relishes and pie for dessert.)

The only restaurant I’ve found that’s open is Denny’s and somehow that doesn’t sound like a holiday meal.

Kelly suggested that I skip the turkey and have a simple meal like steak. I’m leaning that direction.

I might make the cranberry salad and maybe even the sweet potato casserole.

So many things went wrong last week.

Thought a box of items from the Christmas party had been stolen from my golf cart. It contained 13 CDs, 4 bottles of wine, a large quantity of plastic ware, and $150 in cash. As it turned out it was on the wrong golf cart. I got everything back the next day.

My main credit card was compromised and setting up the new one with all the businesses that keep that number o file for automatic payments took several days.

I also received a eBay CD that was broken but the refund is tied up because I’d used my “compromised” account to buy it. Thank heavens it was only $6.06 since I may not get it back.

Seventeen credit card accounts need to be switched to my new credit card in order for my accounts to continue to work. I’ve been trying but it takes time. Surprisingly some were automatically switched. The old account still shows. The old account ended with 1164. The new one 3936.

A couple, like my insurance, I’ll need to do by phone. Once that’s done I’ll be at the point where I’ll probably need to wait until the companies get back to me and tell me the old card was rejected.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve had to contact all my autopayments because the credit card I normally use has been compromised but it happed today. My card ending 1164 is no longer valid.

A new card will arrive tomorrow. Then I’ll spend a lot of time updating all the businesses that use that card number.