Be Prepared

 I ordered puppy pads, batteries, and toilet paper yesterday.  Heading to the grocery tomorrow.  New Orleans is as close as I want the Hurricanes to get but BE PREPARED.  That's all I have to say. 

You Just Never Know, Do You?

 Yesterday I opened the front door to find a package. I had won a book.  

Just when you think life has kicked you in the teeth, it tells you not to give up.  

More later ...

Good News and a Funny Story

Last night after I posted my woe-is-me post I drove to the auto repair shop to drop off my car so they could be working on it while I was still sleeping.  I knew I had to bite the bullet because I didn't want to be locked in the house Labor Day weekend - unless I chose to, of course. 

The shop is not too far from the house so I popped over, dropped my keys in the door safety slot, and called Uber to take me home.  You hear it coming, don't you?  Yep, I had not taken the extra house key with me.  

So the Uber got almost to my house and I reached for the key and remembered it was hanging in the apartment. I explained the situation and the driver told me how to add a return trip to the shop and we headed back.  I got my hide-a-key from my car and logged in a return trip to my apartment.  

You'd think I would be even more depressed after my little pity-party over the loss of a trailer and truck contest, but no, this was such a little challenge.  Uber ended up costing me $30 in total, about $10 per leg of the trip.  

I'm a willow, I can bend.  Does anybody remember this line from Lily Tomlin in Working 9 to 5.  I've adopted it as one of my personality outlooks. 

The repairs to my car were $333 and I was prepared for $500 so total win. 

Then even better news. Kathleen reminded me that there is a UT 
Dental School near the medical center.  The funny thing was that the Dental School is located on the campus where I got my Covid shots.  For the first shot, I barely glanced at it walking in but the second shot was a much, much longer line and I stared at the sign for the Dental School for quite some time.  

This month's budget is blown but next month I'll be signing up.  I figure my diabetic mouth will be a great training ground for some young dentists.  I'm so relieved to have one chore accomplished and the other with a workable plan. 

More later ...

The Sad Part about Entering Contests

This post is going to sound sad and a little pathetic.  I've confessed before that I have this optimistic streak, which I guess is really a blessing, but it also means I fall harder when I don't find success.  

After watching the YouTube about repairing my radiator/AC fan I felt much more confident about handling the matter.  When you own a 2006 Honda Civic with only 85,000 original miles, you have to balance the age of the car verses the limited mileage. 

I have two financial problems at the moment - my teeth and my car. Either will probably cost more than I have left out of my SS check. Normally, I count myself very lucky to be able to live a comfortable life on SS.  But when you add on biggies like teeth and cars, it stretches the budget further than it will go.  

I have vacillated between which is more important and which I will be able to see to financial completion.   I just made the phone call to my long-time auto garage where I should have taken it in the first place.  'Yes, bring it in,' and I made an appointment for tomorrow.  

Then I flipped tabs to read my email and learned I did not win two of the big contests I had hoped for.  The one I really, really wanted was a big truck and a camping trailer. I really felt a pain in my heart.  I had wanted that so much.  Silly, I know.  I one in a zillion chance.  Then I read that I did not win the HGTV house giveaway.  

You are probably thinking that you know you wouldn't win so you wouldn't have even entered.   My sister always tells me that and I say but you've got to try.  'No, said she. I have no luck.' I do the same with my daughter.  'She says send me a link' but I know she never enters. My mother used to find my wins so amazing like I had written a best seller. 

Right this minute I am feeling really sad.  Feeling the loss.  This morning I was feeling great about the day.  Did it make the loss feel worse? I don't know.  I know that in an hour, or a day or a couple of days, it will be just another couple of contests I didn't win but today it feels sad. 

I don't have anyone that feels the way I do about contests. I am going to start a "Meet-Up" type of group when this covid finally gives us a break. I've found two places that have meeting rooms.  So, until then I'll just share the ups and downs of contesting with you if it doesn't bore you to death.  

More later ...    

Updates on this and that

Dexcom G6 update. Last week my sensor, the part that goes in my body, came loose during the night.  The adhesive on one side didn't hold and it was just hanging there when I woke up.  Luckily, I had one more sensor so I just put it on and called Dexcom and the distributor Dexcom assigned me to.  

It was kind of funny because I wasn't quite with it, as is the case many mornings.  When I called I had to explain what happened and was transferred several times.  Long story short, I got free replacements from Dexcom with a package of overlays, which are adhesive circles you put over your sensor to give it extra staying power.  It was really my fault.  I forget I have it and then when I pull my pants down (TMI) my long nails often hit it.  Live and learn.  

I talked to my sister Sunday night.  She was telling me about moving her youngest son into an apartment for college. Her youngest son and my first grandchild were six months apart.  Hahaha.  I started young, she started late. 

Anyway bittersweet story.  Then the next day I get a text from her and her husband's son and wife are expecting the first grandbaby.  Her good vibes rubbed off on me. I was so happy for the next few days.  Then I told my daughter and she felt the same way.  Family can bring so much happiness.  

I haven't done anything about my car yet.  We have been having lots of rain lately, not sure if a blow-through from tropical storms or just rain.  It did remind me that it is time to start Hurricane preparedness.  September is when I like to start stocking up on bottled water, toilet paper, and puppy pads.  Just one extra purchase each time I go to the store should do it.  

If you'll remember, I thought I killed my little washing machine when I overfilled it.  I'm glad to report it is working again.  I had a big washday scheduled with all the sheeting, towels, and blankets which I lugged to the laundry room.  That was all it took to remind me how glad I am to get my little washing machine going again. 

I've been working on some craft projects for my daughter's Halloween mantle. I went to Joann's for the glitter card stock I needed.  So.much.fun.  I wanted to buy so many decorations but I don't really decorate anymore except for changing the pillows on my couch. I really have too many pillows now, not counting the holiday-themed cushion covers.  That's about the extent of my holiday decorating aside from a few knick-knacks to entertain the Grand Girls.  

More later. 

Just call me the Internet Mechanic

 

I watched this really great YouTube video on my car fan problem. No, I don't know how to fix it but if I had $50,000 worth of tools that he had, I think I could have followed the video and tried.  

At least I understand what the problem is now and it is no longer as intimidating.  I feel much better.  There is still the problem of how much this bad boy will cost me but that is another demon to face. 

I researched auto electrical shops and found one I want to try. I'll drive over there and talk to them soon. 

In other news, the Grand Girls started school last Wednesday.  Third and Sixth grade. I called my Son to have them come over for one last fling but I missed the cutoff date.  I told him to sign me up for the first school holiday.  

I ordered a new book on watercolor. While I may do a lot of crafts, drawing, painting and watercolor don't come easy for me.  I watch the Little Artist Grand Girl draw and it is amazing to me who has to copy someone else and that might not even be good.  Talent is talent. It is a gift that I didn't get but it is ok, I'm a heck of a dog walker. Hahaha.

More later ...

Some Car Curiosities to Share

My car air conditioner has been blowing warmish air for a while.  I remember when I had a different car with AC problems, the repair shops kept trying to get me to run diagnostics and other costly tests so I was hesitant about trying to get freon without all the upselling.  

This month I also had to renew my car tags.  First, you have to get an inspection.  Not a big deal except I have a short in the backlight on the driver's side.  The light will stay on constantly and run my battery down, so I have unplugged it.  However, there is a small light under it that does flash so I'm not completely without a turn signal.  

I'm not sure why I went to the inspection knowing this, but I lucked out and the guy only looked at the front lights.  (Good Luck #1)

I ask the inspection man if they do freon and he said no but go over here to Joe Blow.  I was out a couple of days later and decided to run by Joe Blow and see what the cost would be.  And, I was totally ready to turn down any extra offers to check my system.  

Joe Blow looks at it and says you are only a little bit low and that adding freon probably wouldn't make much of a difference - but it did. Hallelujah. (Good Luck #2) Then he did come back and told me the passenger side fan in my radiator wasn't working.  I didn't even know it had to fans.  And how did he even know that? (Grumble, Mumble)

In order to tell me what it would cost to fix the fan, he would have to run a diagnostic.  (So they still got me.)  I thought a little bit and I said to go ahead.  I knew I didn't want to burn up my radiator.  

The test comes back and there is a short is some harness and it's tricky to diagnose.  He said they would be glad to try and fix it but honestly, it was one of those try this and then try that and could really add up. 

So my 2006 Honda Civic with less than 85,000 miles needs a repair that isn't easy to fix.  The car is at the age that you wouldn't normally put a whole lot of money into it but with that mileage, I'm expecting another 100,000 miles out of it.  I was fully expecting it to outlive me.

Have no fear, though.  There are sites on the internet where people post questions and comments about a certain age/make/model of car. I'm sure mine is not the only one to have had this problem.  So stay tuned for my internet diagnosis.  Just pray I don't try to fix it myself. 

More later ....

Another Life Lesson Learned

Today I went to Great Clips to get a trim because I thought they would soon get busy with school starting this month.  There were only two stylists on duty and one was a man.  I don't have a problem with a man stylist.  I had just never seen a man stylist in this salon even though they cut men and women's hair.  

So the guy, let's call him Sam, comes up to get me.  He has a nice haircut so I think I'll be ok.  As I sit down I see his diploma.  He has a Texas Barber diploma.  Is that different than a beauty school diploma I wonder?  

My hair only needs a small trim so he could pretty much follow its shape.  After I'm wrapped up in my cape, he pulls out the trimmers.  Before I can say Whoa, he is mowing my hair in the back. 

I think ok, the back can be shortish (I usually have whispies with a fuller bowl above).  I let out a sigh of relief when he puts that trimmer down but he reaches for an even smaller trimmer  (is there a difference between human and dog trimmers I now wonder?) 

By this point, there is no saving my hair so I just relax.  The stylist next to us did two hair cuts in the same amount of time it took him to do mine.  I decided to be a good sport and not let him know how totally freaked out I was.  Hahahaha,

I now know what I would look like as a man - Not Attractive.  My hair is so short that I'm thinking it might stand up straight next time I get out of the shower.  Oh well, I always wanted to try one of those spikey haircuts.  

I'm pretty sure I am going to find a real stylist to use when this grows out.  Oh, Lordy. 

Dexcom Update

I have now changed to my third monitor (they last 10 days).  Whoot. Whoot.  I thought I was so cool.  I took the directions into the bathroom with me but didn't use them because I felt confident I could do it by myself. Hahahaha.  You guessed it.  I did great except for the first all-important step.  You have to disconnect yourself from the receiver you are replacing by simply pushing some buttons on the receiver (which looks like a small ipod). 

I skipped that step so I installed the new monitor, inserted the transmitter, logged on to the receiver, and gave the receiver the new monitor number and it should have been Bob's Your Uncle.  (I love that phrase, it is so totally useless.) 

Nope.  I got all kinds of bells and whistles.  You can't log into a new monitor until you've disconnected.  Lesson learned I think.  It took me some finagling to get everything reading correctly again.  

Oh, Lordy.  Old age, diabetes, and Covid - a triple threat to my lifestyle. 

On the home front, my daughter comes over every other weekend so I get a little company from her.  Buddy is delighted to see my daughter since the grandgirls are not coming so much. He has taken to greeting the neighbors with so much gusto that they usually step back from all the barking.  Barking is his love language.  I've tried telling him that it does not endear him but he doesn't care.  

I haven't been doing any crafts.  I haven't been reading any books (still listening to audiobooks though).  Have been taking shorter walks as poor Buddy's tongue is dragging the ground from the heat and humidity.  He won't drink out of a plastic carry-along bowl but will try to drink dirty water on the street.  Go figure.  It might be because I have a glass bowl at home for his water.  Not sure. 

I did get a new bookcase and put it under the kitchen bar and it is working well for right now.  

Most of my plants are dying from the sun.  I water them but I think the amount of sunlight and heat are killing them.  More money down the drain.  Hahaha.  

I almost ran out of gas the other day.  Since I have been getting my groceries delivered, I haven't stopped at the station near the grocery where I get my points off.  So I stopped at a random station and put $5 in until I could get to my normal station.  I can't remember the last time I put gas in the car and I'm sure it was not as expensive.  I have been trying to make myself get out a little by just mall walking if nothing else and then came the Covid warnings again.  I'm blaming all my weight issues on Covid and no one can prove me wrong,  Hahaha.  

That is the some total of what I have been doing except living through you guys and the trauma of house selling/moving. 

More later ....