Friday Roundup

Boy, what a week it was!  Three special people had surgeries this week.  My daughter had her bariatric surgery and is doing well.  My friend, Jack, had surgery to remove the cancer from around his kidneys, and the doctor feels that he got it all.  And then on Wednesday night my granddaughter was taken to the hospital to have emergency surgery to remove her gallbladder. I'm so relieved that that surgery went well, too, so as I sit here writing this, all are on the mend.

On Tuesday Isaias hit us and hit us hard. Trees down all over the place.  Was sitting in my rocker and heard a loud crash.  Looked out the window and this is what I saw.

Well, nosey as I am, it gives me a good view of what is going on...

but, on the other hand it takes away all my privacy.  I don't feel comfortable in my own home. Remember, my bedroom window is right next to that makeshift wall they set up.

I've been trying to get a morning walk in every day.  It not only helps with my weight gain, but also helps to keep my legs moving.  Walking has become difficult, and I know it comes from too much sitting.  But, it's so hard.  I try, but I just can't get myself motivated.  I know I have to pull myself out of this rut, but it's so hard...and really my grief counselor is no help.  But, maybe that's because I don't tell her things.  I don't want to prolong this any longer than I have to.  I do much better in a group setting.  My Wednesday evening group has been so helpful to me.  In fact, taking care of ourselves was our topic this past Wednesday, and I got quite a few suggestions.   

The weather doesn't help either.  Perhaps if it was cooler and more brisk I would feel like it.  But it's been so darn hot and humid here....and I've never dealt well with that.  I am pretty sure when the cool down comes it will be much easier to get out of the house.  

Have a wonderful weekend.

Happy Thursday

Took a few pictures of the front of my building yesterday when I went for my morning walk. It's so pretty and green. Hope it stays like this.  Our old super walked out during the height of our Covid outbreak.  His mother used to take such good care of the plants.  Our new super doesn't seem that interested.  We will see.

 This bush flowered earlier in the season.  It was so pretty.

Had my 5th 'Grieving in a World of Loss' class last night. One more to go and then it is finished. I hope they come up with some kind of Part 2 because I sure will miss everyone there. We've not become close enough with each other to stay in contact when the class ends, but there is a kind of structure in seeing and talking to these 6 faces each week. And I do love the leader. He's brought me more comfort with his teachings than my grief counselor has. 

One thing I just have to mention. The class is a small group of women some from different parts of California where the class is located (that's why zoom class is not until 9 pm), one from the midwest, myself from the East coast, and one from Taiwan. I find it so interesting that for her it's actually Thursday morning while we are still on Wednesday evening. Why I chose to focus on that I'll never know.

A Few Updates

You may be wondering what's been happening with my niece.  The answer is nothing.  The saga continues.  My son's death certificate did not arrive until early July,  immediately did all the paperwork and sent it off to Surrogate Court, but now the problem is the courts have been closed here in NYC so everything is taking forever.  As I sit here typing this post, I still have no control over my son's estate, and by now we know my niece has totally stolen all his money from his accounts. She is sitting pretty smug right now thinking she got away with it, but little does she know what is in store for her.  What she has done, the things she has said, are unforgiveable, and I will prosecute her to the fullest.  She WILL NOT walk away from this unscathed.  

The other night in my grief class we were discussing forgiveness and handling our loved ones belongings.    I HAVE NONE OF MY loved ones belongings, and I probably never will. I cannot believe that, as a mother,  I have no rights and by the time I do become his administrator, his belongings will surely have been tossed. It makes me so angry.  

The storm is long gone but has left its mess behind. Trees down all over the place. And just wait until the guys next door come to work. Boy, are they in for a surprise. I'm glad we didn't lose power yesterday. A few times the lights flickered and I thought 'here we go' but fortunately we never lost power.

And the walls came tumbling down.  From yesterday's storm.

We have not yet had Christmas with the family.  I fear my great grands will be too old for the gifts I have for them by the time we get together.   First I got sick at Christmas (not with the virus), then my great grand got very sick, then my granddaughter had her stroke, my daughter got Covid, then my two grands who are nurses had to work extra hours, and finally Covid put us all on shelter in place.  On a positive side, it looks as if I am not going to have to spend  much on Christmas this year.

On another note, I have continued getting my little subscription boxes.  I got the following one from Inked Goddess Creations a month or so ago. 

Celtic Knot Aromatherapy Necklace.  
 

Celtic Tree Box.  Inside was a mini cedar bundle.
 

This was the entire box.  The candle is a blend of lavendar, oak moss, and black pepper.  I used it already.  Smelled wonderful.  May be ordering more if she has them.

Wooden tile.

Celtic Blessings Oil for use in necklace. 
 

I love this beautiful cloth. 

Also included was three expansion card about Celtic Knots, the Celtic Tree of Life, Cedar, Celtic Goddesses, and Celtic Gods. 

There have been a few other boxes that I will share with you.  They bring me a little joy each month.

Tuesday News

Good morning.  It's humid and hot here...and pretty calm...for now.  Tropical Storm Isiais is heading here later this afternoon.  Lots of rain and heavy winds are on the way. Also just heard there is a tornado watch until 4 pm. Going to be a rough day for sure. The poor restaurants that are already cash strapped have to bring in all the tables, chairs, and umbrellas set up for outdoor dining.  I'm hoping they have buckled things down next door.  Last time we had a big storm there was quite a mess. I always worry that something might blow right into our bedroom window since it is so close, but hubby says that can't happen.  I always tell him, "Don't be so sure about that."

So yesterday there were two surgeries I was concerned about.   My daughter had her bariatric surgery and all went well.  And my friend, Jack, from the center had cancer removed, and according to his wife, the doctor feels he got it all. Such good news.  Turned out to be a good day after all.

Had to do our monthly banking yesterday. What a fiasco that was. I thought we were going have to stand outdoors in the hot sun waiting for the outside window, but now they allow you in the lobby.  I was so happy to see that, but first you have to send them a text with your name and then wait in the outer lobby or your car until they call your name. Well, as I'm waiting I happened to notice that people came in after Ralph and were being taken in first. Seems he did it wrong. Some kind lady who heard her name sent the manager out to help us. She had no idea where he had  texted his name to. Grrr!!! What could have been one, two, three had turned into almost a half hour.

One of the meals I received had just plain brown rice.  I took the rice and some of the veggies that weren't to soggy, peppers, and onions and stir fried in a pan with a little low sodium soy sauce.  Tasted just like Chinese fried rice...aside from having no egg in it.

My 7th great granddaughter.  How big she is getting!

My three other female great grands. All had a birthday in June so it was celebrated together. I have to get a good updated photo of the three boys.

Monday Ramble

Living here in New York is quite expensive, but I'd be lost living anywhere else. I don't drive and hate having to depend on others. Always been independent.  I love being able to hop on the bus that stops right in front of my building and go wherever I want, and as you may remember, I was on the go every day.  I haven't been on a bus since shelter in place started in mid-March and have to depend on hubby to take me wherever I want to go.  Imagine that.  Buses are free now, and I can't ride them.  

While on my morning walks, I've seen the buses go past, and they are packed like sardines.  Not for me.  Not with Covid.   Besides, right now there is no place to go, so all we do is our monthly banking together, our weekly shopping, and our Sunday afternoons by the water.   If I had to say something positive about Covid, I will say that one thing it has done was bring us closer together. It seems we were both living separate lives before.

Before Covid hit, things were pretty good here financially.  I had my Social Security and small pension.  He had his Social Security and small pension and was driving a cab at night.  Each week he would give me a hundred or more towards food shopping and spending for me...that along with the $800 he gave me out of his monthly benefits to help pay for the bills.  Then, abruptly that all stopped with Covid.  Oh, he could have driven, yes, but with his health condition it was not worth taking the chance so we made do with less money each month.  Fortunately for me, the center always made sure I had food and for that I will be forever grateful.

Some of the frozen dinners.  They aren't the best and leave a lot to be desired, but I'm not going to complain.  In fact, they bring me so many that I take some next door to the young couple who haven't really been working since Covid.  They do deliveries here and there, and I know they could sure use the food. And what they can't use, they deliver to the homeless.  So nothing goes to waste.

I mostly get chicken and pasta dishes, and they are all so bland.  I've been taking the chicken and re-cooking, adding my own seasonings.  Last week I made the chicken with piri piri spices.  It was nice and spicy and tasteful. Yesterday I took a couple thighs and cooked them  with barbecue sauce.  I use soy sauce with the rice to give it a flavor.  

The pasta I haven't quite figured out yet.  They serve everything with mixed veggies.  I understand they have to give us veggies, but in baked ziti?  Somehow that doesn't seem right.  Oh well, it's not real baked ziti to begin with. But as I said, I am so, so grateful to have this food. They have been so good to us seniors.

The other day I had the urge for hot dogs and saurkraut.  I can't remember the last time I had one.  They are so high in sodium I try to avoid them, but every so oven I crave one.  So, what to do with the extra saurkraut?  I took s the chicken strips from one of the dinners, cut them up, stir fried with carrots and onions, and then added the saurkraut.  Delicious.

Sunday's dinner.  I took 3 of the chicken thigh dinners and re-cooked, this time with barbecue sauce.  Took the rice and mixed veggies and stir fried them together as a side dish.  Turned out awesome.

Along with frozen dinners, they also send these boxes on occasion.  These are basically breakfast and lunch items--waffles, yogurt, chicken sandwiches, apples, breakfast bars, etc.  I look forward to these packages.  I am so blessed. 

Hubby has started back to work, but not like it was before so money is still tight here...and food prices are rising so much.  He put one of those plastic separators in his car and is only doing vouchers for a dialysis program, meaning he takes the clients home after dialysis.  Much safer than regular cab work as  these patients are well taken care of.  He was starting to get very depressed before this so I am glad he has something to do....although I do worry all the time.  He manages to give me about $40 a week to help with the food, but even he is shocked when they ring up our items each week.  Like last week, no meats, no frozen veggies--only corn flakes, half a pound of ham, bread, some watermelon, salad,  3 avocados, yogurt, chocolate milk, a chocolate cake for him, some canned beans, dish detergent,  and a few other items.  $62.  Unbelievable. How much higher can they go?

Wanted some strawberries yesterday, but they were $5.99 a small basket.  What's up with that?  Thought it was their season, but maybe I am wrong.  So I settled on a small box of raspberries and a box of blueberries.  I munch on blueberries every night before bed as they are good for the blood pressure.  

Coloring and Classics

One day I found an ad on my FB page, and it looked pretty interesting.  Since 'shelter in place' I only get out to my once a week Sunday afternoon by the water or to run necessary errands.  Even without the loss of my son, this self-imposed staying in has been hard on me.  I'm one who was out the door and on the bus heading some place every day, and now I haven't been on a bus since March 16th.  I'm fortunate that I'm fairly tech savvy so I have been able to see some of my peers from the center in the Zoom classes I take, but I still feel that loss of human companionship and comfort.  

Keeping myself busy has helped, but the problem is, I have been wanting to do the things that I used to enjoy--jewelry making, reading, painting.  So, when I found an ad for Coloring and Classics that day I decided why not try it.  It's only $19.99.  No great expense, and if I didn't like it I could always cancel, so I went ahead an ordered. 

Good move on my part. I cannot begin to tell you how much it has helped me. It's opened me up to adult coloring which I am thoroughly enjoying.  I even sent for a couple of books from Amazon, some colorful gel pens, and have been coloring pictures for my great grands which I plan to frame and wrap for Christmas.  Will show you sometime this week what I have done so far.  

But even better is what the puzzle books have been doing for my mind.  So far I have received crossword puzzles and  word search and am actually feeling a difference in my thought process.  I'm not forgetting words as much as I used to and my spelling is getting better.  It was worrying me that I was once the best speller at my job and now simple words were beyond my reach.  I wasn't exercising my mind when I was retired. 

This is the package I received yesterday.

Each month I receive a puzzle book, a coloring book, a novel, and a lollipop.  They have several different genre of novels you can chose, and my choice was fantasy. 

'Sisters of the Wood' looks like a great choice, and I may even get into reading again.  Actually read a couple of chapters yesterday.

Interesting choice of coloring book this month.  It actually opens up into a long fold out to color.  It was far to long to get the entire thing, but the photo below gives you an idea.

 

Lammas Greetings

I can't believe it is August 1st already. Lammas.  Lughnasadh.   The first harvest.  Super Fresh has blueberries on sale for $1.99. and I can't wait for tomorrow to get some.  This hasn't been a summer I care to remember, and to be honest, coming into the cooler weather kind of scares me.  We've been doing pretty good here with Covid despite all the protestors and young adults who insist on partying in the street without masks and with no social distancing.  I fear as the cooler weather sets in we might have a revival of the virus and that scares the heck out of me.  

I'm tired.  So tired of this new norm.  I want to be able to get up in the mornings and no I have a place to go.  I forgot what it's like to ride a bus.  Don't even know how much I have on my fare card.  It's been so long.  March 16th to be exact.  That's when they closed the center and everything else.  Shelter at home took effect and hubby and I took it seriously.  

These months have been a nightmare in so many ways.  The loss of my son in April, the problems with my niece, social isolation, depression.  We still haven't had the memorial for my son. The cemetery said that late August early September would be the best time for the service.  So I still haven't had that closure.  I still cry every day and miss him so much.  Just knowing he won't be with us for the holidays breaks my heart.  I loved him so and still do.  I talk to him all the time and set up this memorial for him.  I know he is with me.

He is surrounded by family, Mother Mary, and the Angels.  

I've said it many times.  I am so indebted to the center for getting me through this.  Food, online classes with peers, a grief counselor, all their phone calls making sure I am okay.  They were just what I needed.  

So, at this time of the first harvest, Lammas, a wondrous time of gratitude, I find myself overwhelmed with all the blessings that have been bestowed on me.  On April 7th, 2020 my world felt like it was ending, but through the loving kindness of others, of family, of online friends, my husband, I do have things to be grateful for.  My life has been blessed.