883.

Hello, hello, hello folks!

I know, I know!

I'm late. Please forgive me. Life has been busy as all get out. Seriously.

Before I divulge the details of what I've been doing these past two months, let me first offer prayers for comfort and healing for everyone in the Bahamas (and other locales) who have been affected by the devastation of Hurricane Dorian.

My prayers as well for those who are in Dorian's path. Ideally he will head back to sea and die there.

The destructive power of these weather events seems to be increasing with each episode. God only knows what's coming next. 😩

🌸 🌸 🌸

So what have you been up to?

I have been quite the socialite lately. 💄💅👠💃

In the past week, I've been to three birthday celebrations. 🎂 🎈🎁🍹

One was a dinner party for a neighbor's daughter. The other was a girls' night out/birthday celebration for the founder of a group I'm a member of. The third celebration was for my birthday.

🍴The dinner party was at a nearby restaurant. We were a boisterous group of (maybe) 10. Most folks ordered lobster. (Which I wanted also but decided not to order.) I choose three delicious sides for my meal: a baked sweet potato, mac and cheese, and steamed asparagus.

The birthday girl got a free sundae from the restaurant and her mom had a beautiful cake for her. The cake was good but not as good as it looked like it would be. (They said it was "homemade" but you couldn't tell by looking at it. It was as professionally ornate as any cake I've seen in a bakery showcase. And it was tasty. Just not as spectacular-tasting as I expected based on a similarly gorgeous cake I ate in a previous life. So I take nothing from the baker. It was just me reminiscing.)

👯 Our girls' night out birthday party was at the home of a group member. She was a fantastic hostess and the evening was so much fun that we were there for six hours eating, drinking, laughing, dancing, talking...

We're supposed to make it a regular thing for monthly birthdays, much like the other group I belonged to when I was friends with Miz A.

🍔 My birthday celebration was a belated one. My friend L told me a while ago that she wanted to treat me to a meal for my birthday. I'd forgotten but she remembered. 😊 We met for a long lunch last Friday. I love hanging out with her and we just don't do it often enough. We met through our children (my daughter and her granddaughter have been friends since grade school) and L and her family have become family over time.💗

🌸 🌸 🌸

Today a neighbor invited me to lunch. He's a nice gentleman. Older. Like, my dad's age. We have interesting visits when we run into each other in the neighborhood.

We usually sit out in the community rocking chairs and chat. Sometimes it's just us. Sometimes there are other neighbors too.

His lunch invite was impromptu but I suspect he's been holding it for a while. We ate at a restaurant in the area, one I'd been wanting to try after hearing so many good reviews. The food was so-so. Not what I expected based on the reviews. *shrug*

Perhaps a different menu item will be better on my next visit. Or a different chef or a different time of day. I'm willing to give it another shot. 😋

My neighbor mentioned several times how glad he was to be out and about today because home was boring. He once lived in one of the Biggest Big Cities on the east coast and he misses it. I think it got too expensive up there. He has family in this area and he was born and raised in a city about two hours away.

I felt a little sad when he began telling me how his family comes to visit sparingly, to take him to appointments and run errands, dropping him off and leaving right after. I really want his family to pay more attention because I noticed that he's showing signs of cognitive decline and his vision is off as well.

He asked me the same questions several times, he asked me to read the menu to him, and he had a time managing his food and drink. 😩

These kinds of situations give me anxiety. I don't know his family and I'm not sure how they might react to this kind of information coming from a stranger. 😕 My prayer is that my neighbor's situation is resolved with the best outcome for all involved. Amen.

🌸 🌸 🌸

In other news, Baby Bliss has enrolled in college. Physics. I'm awed. She is exceptionally bright, that one. Apparently to a degree I didn't understand.

Before she started class (and a new job), she took a cross-country trip 🚘 to the Rocky Mountains 🌄⛰with some friends. They had an amazing time, so said Baby Bliss. She kept in touch the whole way, texting photos and tidbits about everything fantastic on their journey.

Can I tell y'all how thankful I am for the wondrous technology that allows us to keep in (almost) constant contact with our babies even when they're on the other side of the country? 💕

🌸 🌸 🌸

Several weeks ago, the aunties and I converged upon grandma's house, to see to some electrical work that needed doing. We didn't do it, just watched and waited. The electrician was a family friend, and yes, a real electrician. He and his wife came to do the job. She was cool.

After the work was done, grandma and the aunties got into my car and I drove around the corner to Baby Auntie's community pool for the annual community yard sale/shindig. We grabbed vittles from a couple of food trucks and noshed at a picnic table under a shade tree.

🌸 🌸 🌸

On August 7, like folks nationwide, I attended National Night Out. Ours was at the park up the street. Seemed like the whole town turned out to meet and greet with our law enforcement and other first responders.

There was all kinds of food, drinks, treats, raffle prizes, and more. Many of my neighbors were there. We had a rip-roaring time of it. I even won a prize. 🎉🎉🎉

🌸 🌸 🌸

The first Saturday in August found a neighbor and I at a huge rummage sale at a church several exits north of us. We literally shopped until we dropped. And I only dropped because some of my things were heavy. (Books.)

I found some incredible deals, the most notable being a large soft-sided piece of luggage for $1. My favorite purchase was a laptop bag for $1. It's light blue and black, with short handles and a long strap, padded, and it has an outside pocket. It also looks brand new and is much nicer than a similar bag I bought at a store for $10 in June. 😭

Some things I bought were for grandma: a scarf that reminded me of a blouse she used to have; a white sleeveless cotton button-front blouse that reminded me of blouses she wore when I was young; a lace-covered ivory camisole in a nicely-weighted fabric that feels like butter.

I also bought a few purses ($1 each) and more (exquisite!) scarves for 50 cents each. There was a lovely set of burgundy pillowcases as well. (Along with a set of sheets, the pillowcases went to a neighbor who was settling into a new space with no time to do laundry.)

Thank God for the giant blue IKEA bag stashed in my trunk. It came in handy for dragging my haul inside.

🌸 🌸 🌸

Looks like this post has gotten long enough, yes? Well then, July shall have its own dispatch.

Please follow me... 🦶🏽

873.

Daddy, I still can't believe you're gone. I miss you much more than I thought I would. 💔

But I'm getting along. I only cry sometimes.

I'm hanging out with a friend today, a gentleman we used to attend church with. You and he would have gotten along well. He's a cool guy, very smart and down to earth with a wide variety of interests.

We're going to an afternoon meditation group then lunch. It should be a good afternoon. 😃

More later... 💋

865.

How-do y'all and Happy Happy Friday! 🎉🎉🎉

I hope everyone is content and safe.

It's alternately overcast and raining here. Not the type of weather I look forward to but it's a day that all is well so I'm thankful. 🙏🏽

Daddy and I started our day early.

A trip to the powder room for me at 5:30 a.m. was unavoidable. I tried to be quiet because I didn't want to wake daddy. He went to bed at 10 last night but was up at 12:30 a.m., saying he saw my light. (The telly and laptop.)

Which meant he couldn't have been sleeping. (I'm starting to believe he's not getting much sleep at night because when we're home during the day, he sleeps a lot. I realized the other night that one of his medications causes him to use the bathroom frequently during the night.)

I laid back down but couldn't get back to sleep right away.

Before I knew it, daddy was up. I checked the time. It was 7:10 a.m. Although I was tired, I got up to begin my day.

I set up the sofa for daddy and put his breakfast on. When he came into the living room, I checked his sugar while we talked. We watched the morning news while I waited for his oatmeal to finish warming.

Then it was breakfast, morning meds with water, and more telly and talking.

Daddy eventually began to doze then decided he should have a proper nap in his bed.

I'm almost done fixing lunch. We're having bean soup/stew: cannelloni beans, great northern beans, carrots, chicken, green beans, cauliflower. I'll be adding corn to mine. (Daddy doesn't eat corn.)

The corn muffins are baking for another 8-10 minutes. (He does eat corn muffins.)

Bon appetite y'all. 🍗 🍲 🍜 🍞

864.2

Good day y'all.

I hope everyone is somewhere safe and feeling content.

I'm trying to relax and wondering how long it will be before I nod off. Yesterday wore me out somehow. Daddy had a doc appointment and we ran a few errands but we weren't out all day. Maybe it was the heavy bags I dragged in and the number of times I was up and down the steps to do so.

Daddy has more appointments next week and I have a service appointment for the vehicle. I like to get our grocery shopping done when we're out but I'm not sure if that will work next week. We'll see.

So folks, there is the matter of finishing post 864.

It ended here:

In more personal news, Daddy and I went out for dinner. We found a new (to me) local spot that has huge bowls.

And we continue here:

Bowls are trending now. I'm not sure why because they've been around for a while. I remember the first time we went to Qdoba. (Mr. Bliss was still alive so it was more than six years ago.) We all got burritos but bowls were an option.*

Daddy and I created our bowls from the many delicious menu options. The photos:

 My bowl: grilled chicken, quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, lentils, roasted corn, kale slaw, some other stuff.

 My butternut squash soup.

Daddy's bowl: onions, pink onions, kale slaw, roasted sweet potatoes, sweet and spicy peppers, meatballs.

Did I say "delicious menu options"? I'll say it again: delicious menu options. The bowls were scrumptious.

I'd texted Baby Bliss before we left home, to tell her daddy and I were headed out for dinner. She had lots of questions, texting me up until daddy and I were actually eating.

In the middle of my gastronomic glee, someone came up behind me and put his/her hands over my eyes. (My glasses really.)

My first thought was, "Who the heck do I know that knows I'm here?"

It was my funny daughter with her beautiful baby hands. 💕

She and the fiancé were in town making the rounds. At night. 😐😑

My child stayed long enough to eat several mouthfuls from my bowl and talk to her grandpa while I ran out to the car to greet my son-in-law.

She, too, thought the food was delicious. So much so that she dropped a few dollars 💸 in the tip jar. (I love it when we people who have worked for tips in our previous lives show our appreciation for those who currently rely on tips to supplement their incomes by forking over some well-deserved 💰.)

My leftovers went with me. Daddy wasn't paying attention and he put his in the garbage. 😩

We made a pit stop on the way home but made it inside in time for evening meds and a couple of our evening tv shows before bed.

🌸🌸🌸

*Chipotle is our usual go-to for bowls in the real world. Although I will eat a burrito at a Mexican restaurant or similar, I switched to bowls a few years ago, when I began my carb-cutting "regimen". 😐 It's one of the fewer-carbs options I've been able to make work for me.

864.

Happy late-night y'all.

It's Tuesday evening here. For those of you interested in and familiar with American politics, mid-term elections results are almost in all over America. The House is projected to become majority blue (Democrat) and the Senate retains its red (Republican) hold.

I hope this brings some semblance of common sense back to our political process. As it stands, our country seems to have become a joke around the world.

🌸 🌸 🌸

In more personal news, Daddy and I went out for dinner. We found a new local spot that has huge bowls. 

863.

Hello and Happy Happy Sunday y'all!

Daddy and I have had an eventful weekend.

Friday night, we stayed up late to watch "Deja Vu". I had seen the movie several times but daddy saw it for the first time. It's one of my favorite thrillers and daddy liked it too.

I remember my first time seeing it. Not the date i saw it but my reaction to it. I'd been seeing previews and hearing about the movie but I resisted seeing it because I assumed I knew what it was about and I thought it would be boring. The same way I'd done with LOTR.

Silly me. 🤪

I thought it was just some kinda regular ole Denzel romantic thriller. To my surprise and delight, it was much more complex than that.

Just another lesson in not rushing to judgment. Which is totally different from following one's intuition. 😌

🌸 🌸 🌸

Although we were up late Friday night, when we got up Saturday morning, daddy and I decided to head to the mountains. Previously we'd said we would go this coming Friday but Saturday morning just felt like a day to head for the hills. ⛰

Daddy said he wanted to go but he was moving very slowly, lollygagging on his bed instead of getting it in gear. 😆 I had to remind him that the ride was two hours and we needed to hustle a bit so we could get to our destination before noon.

We actually made it to the car a half hour earlier than expected but I had to come back for a few things I'd forgotten. 🙃 (I really must create more lists and alarms. It's become the only way I can be sure I'll remember everything. Almost everything...)

The weather was beautiful. Cold but sunny. We were bundled up just enough but the wind was nippier than expected. I could have used a pair of gloves earlier in the day.

We didn't have a set schedule but I knew where I wanted us to go. We hit every spot and in just the right order too.

First I took daddy to see a beautiful college campus I visit when ever I'm up that way. It has a nice lake area and daddy loves water. Everyone was nice and helpful, telling us the best place to park and offering to help daddy up the short set of (steep-ish) stairs.

Next was lunch at my favorite BBQ joint. Wouldn't you know it, daddy had fish.  🐟🐠🐟 At the BBQ joint. I didn't even know they sold fish. 👀

We then went to one of my favorite thrift stores. Even though I don't always find things to buy there (I did in June) it's always an interesting place to browse. I thought it would be crowded because it was the weekend. Surprisingly, it wasn't.

Daddy liked the shop too. He found lots of interesting things to look at and he seemed very comfortable there.

The store only takes cash, which I had forgotten. I also forgot to get cash but thankfully I had about $40 in my wallet. We left with a pair of pants and a couple of shirts for daddy, a re-usable shopping bag for Baby Bliss, and a cone of some cool-looking yarn for me. (Which is now double-bagged in my freezer, in case there are any critters lurking in its darkest recesses.)

We headed for the next thrift store (Goodwill) but made a pit stop first at my favorite independent grocery store. They always have deep discounts on healthy (and sometimes international) goodies that are sky high everywhere else. Sometimes it's because the expiration dates have come and gone so one must pay close attention.

Daddy wandered around the store which was cool because I like him to feel that he doesn't have to be within my grasp at all times.

What I didn't know until later was that he was in search of junk food. He brought an iced pastry to me and asked if he could have it. I told him no but I would find him a healthy snack. He said a curt "okay" then tossed the pastry on the nearest shelf. 😯

Well okay Mr. Shade Thrower. 😑

I spent quite a bit of moola in that store, as I always do when I shop there. Some things were for Baby Bliss and her significant other, as we were stopping at their estate on the way home. (It's on the route.)

Goodwill was our last stop.

The store is new and it's big. Initially daddy seemed reluctant to venture off on his own. Possibly because the store was bustling with other shoppers and he was maneuvering with his walker. He tagged along behind me briefly then I lost sight of him.

Eventually we both ended up in the men's section.

We left with a whole lotta stuff. For me: two summer dresses, a bunch of books, a beautiful drinking glass that matches one I already have (and possibly got at that store), two small framed summery art pieces for my office. For Baby Bliss: a black purse, a set of cut crystal wine glasses, a beautiful book about cats, a set of mirrored Asian art pieces for her s.o.  For daddy: a pair of pants, a sweater, a couple of shirts, a piece of art for his bedroom wall.

An hour later we were crossing the moat at Baby Bliss's home.

(Seriously, there's a moat.)

As we drove up the hill to their driveway, I could hear the dogs barking. They were so excited to have company that we had to wait for their parents to reign them in so I could park safely.

As soon as I opened my door, their newest baby (a boy named Blue) put his head in my lap and looked up at me with puppy dog eyes. Such a sweetheart. You would never believe what I've heard about how he's torn up the house every day since he's been there. 😂😇😈

I got out and Blue jumped in to greet daddy.

A dog with his butt in my seat. 😩🙈

Our visit was short but pleasant. The house is huge. And cold. They have that youthful blood so I guess heat isn't a priority.

(Side note: As a mommy, I am a bit worried that they're not prepared for winter. It was already cold and that area gets real snow. I've been texting them daily, asking if they have shovels, salt, a generator, and other winter necessities. Better to get those things early and not get caught in a mad rush at the last minute.)

The kids are friendly with the long-term neighbors and on close terms with one of them so that's good. I need to tell Baby Bliss to give that neighbor my number and give her's to me.

We saw the neighbor's horses while we were there. 🐎

Gorgeous creatures. Social, intelligent, graceful.

One came over to the fence to seemingly converse with the dogs. I don't know what was conveyed but it must have been good.

The dogs began to run the length of the fence in the direction the horse came from. I was amazed to see the horse take off right behind them, on his/her side of the fence. The dogs came running back and about a minute later, three more horses 🐎🐎🐎 came to the same spot at the fence to talk about... us?

Maybe. 😉

The first horse hung back a ways, seeming to let the newly-arrived have their time with the dogs. A few minutes later, the three galloped over to the first horse and they all ran off to the part of the pasture that runs behind the house where we could no longer see them.

Fascinating and very moving. I'd only seen such on telly or in movies prior to last night.

It was close to dinner time when we were about 30 minutes from home. When we got closer to home, we stopped for dinner at Cracker Barrel.

Both daddy and I had a taste for fried chicken, which I've had at Cracker Barrel before and it was quite tasty. 🍗

Must have been a good cook that day.

When our chicken arrived, there was so much breading on it, I was reminded of armor. 😰 It made the chicken appear almost twice its normal size. Whyyyyyyy? Just a waste of good chicken.

It's bad enough that Cracker Barrel has only been selling the fried chicken for a short time. Now I will never feel comfortable ordering it again. 😭

And the dinner is four pieces of chicken which is half a chicken, right? No way to order just two pieces. 😒 I guess we could have ordered one dinner and one of us ordered extra sides. But who would have gotten which pieces? 😩

Maybe God was telling me/us that if we want fried chicken, I need to learn to cook it at home. If I do, it will be the oven-fried chicken that Baby Bliss used to make. It was delicious and it was easier and safer to cook it in the oven.

I do not like grease popping in my kitchen. Doesn't matter who's cooking.

🌸 🌸 🌸

In the last bit of news for this entry, I talked to my friend Saturday morning.

We talked for 30 minutes, while I did my morning chores and waited for daddy to get up.

The first few words of our conversation were surprising in a pleasant way. Then it became pleasantly funny.

We rang off with each of us reminding the other to be safe in our travels.

A great start to a fantastic day. 😊

And now my good people, I bid y'all good night. Time for 🛌. I'm beat.

Sweet dreams folks. 😴

859.

Good evening and Happy Thursday y'all. 👋🏽 😘

It's been a busy day around these parts.

My morning started with making my bed, getting daddy's breakfast and morning meds ready, and a phone call that was a lesson in humility.

What had happened was...

A friend has been going through a period of distress and I've been trying to be as supportive as possible. 🤗

Our interaction has been good for me too. There are very few people I can confide in and this friend happens to be one of those people.

However, this morning I woke up feeling like maybe I'd been taking advantage of my friend because I felt I was getting so much from our conversations.

During the apology conversation I initiated this morning, I became emotionally overwhelmed and began to cry. But it was a silent cry because I didn't want my friend to know I was crying. I didn't want to cause any guilty feelings (and feel even worse myself, for doing so).

When the conversation ended, I felt better but I also felt awful because I felt like I might have alienated my friend somehow. We rang off and I went back to my morning busy-ness.

A few minutes later my phone rang. It was my friend calling back to say all was well: it was okay that we both benefited from our conversations, I shouldn't feel bad about it, it wasn't a secret that I had been crying, that I could call any time I needed or wanted, that we were okay.

My friend also thanked me for being available during this time of distress. I did the same.

When we rang off I cried a bit more, thankful to have such a person in my life and thankful that I could be that person for someone else. 😌

There is so much to be grateful for in life, despite the things that are less than positive. Every day I understand this to a greater degree.

🌸 🌸 🌸

Daddy had a mid-day appointment and after it was done, we hit the streets and ran wild. 🏃🏾🏃🏾‍♀️

We went to Home Goods in search of a healthy-er breakfast bar for daddy. His current diet is about 75 percent fresh foods, with a lot of that being organic when possible; about 20 percent is frozen and the rest is "other".

He's been missing his junk food so I'm attempting to be flexible with some healthy-er items that I hope will appease his appetite for the unhealthy stuff.

One of the good things about having daddy here is that watching his diet is also helping me watch how I'm eating as well. I've become much more conscious of how much salt I use daily because daddy is on a sodium-restricted diet.

And not that I'm eating salt on everything but I do like the taste of it and I'm realizing that I tend to overdo it.

Example: last week I had an issue with my right foot and ankle swelling. After a bit of research, lots of water and hibiscus tea were imbibed in addition to applications of topical potions. Thankfully it all worked.

Let's blame it on my weakness for roasted and salted macadamia nuts. 😜 Although I don't buy them often (maybe once every few months or so), they are one of my weaknesses. Last week a bag crept into my buggy at the supermarket. It took me the week to eat them but it was a manic week. It was like I'd been overcome by a spirit that caused me to return to the kitchen again and again for two or three nuts every hour or so. 😂😰

Cue the swelling. 😔

Also daddy loves some foods I either don't eat or I eat in moderation (meaning I probably don't buy them but I'll eat them when I'm out if I have a taste for them). When buying those items for him, I must read labels. (Specifically for sodium amounts but also for carb count.)

When cooking for us both, I have to watch the amount of salt I use which is also forcing me to get creative with other spices. 😟😰

Other spices... Yeah... We'll get there. 😋

After we didn't find what we needed at Home Goods, we headed to lunch at an Indian restaurant across the street. We also went to Wal-Mart and the post office before heading home.

We were gone from noon until six p.m.

Long day.

Daddy is currently napping. I'll wake him for his evening meds and a snack in another hour or so. When he returns to bed I'll unwind with my dinner and a few pages of "Babycakes". Then I'll watch telly and ramble around online until I nod off.

I've fallen into my old (bad) habit of staying up after midnight and it's taking a toll on me. Daddy usually makes a bathroom run in the wee hours. It disrupts my sleep and although I'm able to doze off again, there are only a few hours between being awakened and my wake-up call (usually eight a.m.)

It's not enough because I'm usually nodding towards afternoon. Since I can't add hours on the wake-up end, I need to get to sleep earlier.

Bed time tonight will be 11 p.m.

855.

Good day and happy happy Wednesday folks!

My apologies for not getting swiftly to my Mercury retrograde escapades but my acknowledgement of the death of our Queen Aretha took precedence.

She reminded me so much of my godmother...

My prayers for her family and friends, as they begin their journey of life without her. 😔

🌸 🌸 🌸

Et maintenant, let's get to it!

Mercury has gone direct, thank you gods!

The most recent Mercury retrograde (roughly July 25 - August 15, depending on who you ask) was a whirlwind of hot ass messiness for me.

Yes, yes, yes, I heard from the "exes": the Astronaut (a call and a few texts), the Man-in-Waiting (a call), a guy who has no nickname (texts), and the guy I had the date with on Sunday, August 12 (a few calls and several texts).

All calls went directly to voicemail. Y'all know why.

The messy part concerned the two "exes" with no nicknames. One I had a date with and one I never did meet but we'd e-mailed, texted, and talked for a week or so.

They both tried to gaslight me, unaware that I have zero tolerance for b.s. of that nature.

One of them (the one I did not meet and had told buh-bye a month prior) tried to out-reason, out-talk, out-rationalize me. Via text.

*blank stare*

He was blissfully unaware of a Gemini's dexterity with the written word.

I enlightened him and he took it badly. I offered to introduce him to a family member who is a member of law enforcement.

Seriously.

How (and why) the hell does a self-proclaimed business owner, who is all over social media claiming to be living his best life, get his panties in a bunch because I caught him lying and subsequently denied him further access to my time?

God knows I don't bother folk because I'm trying to live my best life.

Guys like him are why I have had to ghost folk and get a gun permit. My time and safety are of the utmost importance.

The second guy with no nickname was slow enough 🐢 with his lies to make it to a first date. See details here: Post 853.

To continue, he called and texted after a couple of days of going missing. I was polite in my two-word responses to his texts and told him I'd call him when I got home. 🏡 🏘

A bit petty and passive-aggressive, yes. But I got feeling a bit snippish every time I saw a text from him.

I'm pretty sure he wasn't sitting around waiting for my call those three days. 😐🙉

🌸 🌸 🌸

I also heard from a family member I no longer engage with.

😶

On to more pleasant topics. 😃

🌸 🌸 🌸

I had two dates last weekend, one on Saturday afternoon and one Sunday evening.

The men were nothing alike.

They both seemed like cool guys "on paper" (the online dating site).

One was 11 years younger than me. The other is seven years older.

Saturday's lunch (with the older guy) lasted three hours. Prior to meeting, we exchanged e-mail on the dating site, had two or three phone conversations, then decided to meet.

We live an hour apart so we agreed to meet roughly half way, at a little Mexican spot. We were both a few minutes late but he arrived first. He brought me gifts. 💕 Very thoughtful and totally unexpected.

He's maybe an inch taller than me, blond, pale skin. Self-employed in a very interesting career and an artist as well.

The food was yummy, our conversation was superb. Overall, a dynamite vibe. We've e-mailed, talked, and texted since then. The plan is to see each other this weekend. Twice. (More on that later.)

🍗 🍗 🍗

Sunday's dinner (with the younger guy) was interesting.

We were both late and actually arrived simultaneously. He parked right next to me. Didn't even open my car door. (Strike one.) He did open the restaurant door and held out my chair at the table. (Half a gold star.)

He was a few inches taller than me, dark hair, brown skin. Employed with the same corporation for over a decade and transferred to this area close to a year ago.

Casual sports bar environment. Food was good. Conversation was cool. It was also bi-lingual. (More so him than me. I'm always "practicing" my French. Shouldn't have stopped with high school.)

Things seemed to be going well but about halfway through, I began to feel like he'd lied about something(s) that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

No big deal. I made a mental note to figure it out later.

An hour and a half later, we said our good byes with a hug and a cheek peck at my car.

I got home and logged into the dating site, to refer back to his profile and our old messages for something to refresh my memory.

And there it was: His profile said he was childless. During dinner I brought up children and he said he had two, a teenager and a preteen.

We had also messaged about the area of town he lived in because of a suggestion he made for an outing. It came up during dinner that he lives in a totally different county and not at all near where he said he lived.

Dude. 😒

He wanted to meet for a movie the next day. I bowed out gracefully.

Honestly, I have no problem with the occasional smudging of a few details here and there with strangers regarding things we think are private.

But telling me you don't have children and outright lying about the whole county you live in? Naw.

I don't date men with minor children. Specifically because I'm done raising mine. Also, I believe men should spend as much time with (and money on) their minor children as possible and necessary.

I don't want to take away from that money or that time. Nor do I want the children's time and/or money to be a reason for why we can't do xyz in our relationship or used to lie about where he was last weekend.

Been there, done that so I'll have to pass the baton to a sista who's willing.

We'll see what the future holds for the other dudes.

Ciao folks!

849.

I checked the line up for my neighborhood theater.

Nothing I want to see today.

But "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" is coming soon. I think I'll wait for that one.

Time for lunch y'all! 🍉🍔🍗🍝

842.

Happy Friday the 13th folks!

I hope everyone is somewhere safe. And lucky. 😉

Any readers superstitious?

Yes? No? Maybe?

I am and I'm not. Most things "superstitious" are funny and interesting to me. I don't believe in them per se, but the history and people who do believe in them fascinate me.

Friday the 13th is thought of as an unlucky day in some quaint villages. Every Friday the 13th, which happens at least once a year. Some years have two. Some even have three. 😱

Click on the link for more info: When is Friday the 13th?

Do we know why Friday the 13th is considered unlucky?  😐

Let's check it out...

I like this one: Why is Friday the 13th unlucky?

And this one: Why is Friday 13th considered unlucky?

Superstitions, old wives tales, myths... They all started somewhere.

Here are a couple of websites to check out when you have time: Timeless Myths and 55 Weird Superstitions from Around the World.

🌸 🌸 🌸

In other news, it's a chill day for me.

I had planned to do a whole To-Do List full of things today and I woke up in the mood to go out. But I began doing Other Things and before I knew it, I lost the impetus to put on "outside" clothes.

Which is fine. There is nothing urgent that I need to attend to beyond my front porch.

I'm thankful. 🙏🏽

So far, today has been dedicated to: tidying up inside and out, listening to the telly, online crossword puzzles, texting with my neighbor, talking with a potential new suitor, visiting with Baby Bliss and her fiancé, eating, and watching the sky go from sunny and blue to white cloud cover.

I've also been playing on Glidden's website, picking out cool paint shades and virtually painting my (new) bedroom.

Which brings me to my latest challenge.

I have officially moved into Baby Bliss' old bedroom. She's taken bunches of her stuff already but much more remains in the closet and dresser drawers.

Some stuff (curtains, throw rug, art work) has been removed and replaced. The curtains are now white with purple flowers (and green stems). The current dressers (two) are a match for the curtains.

There are still things to be removed from the walls but I'm stalling because those walls need painting. But summer isn't the best time to paint where I live because of high humidity.

Sooooo looks like the painting will commence around... October.

Can I wait that long? 😟🤔🙄😬😶

Did I ever mention that I've only painted twice in my life? The first time was eight or nine years ago, helping a friend who had just moved to a new apartment. It was fun.

The second time I painted was here, February or March of 2017. Just a small panel, maybe 40 inches wide by seven or eight feet high. It's the wall as you walk into my (new) bedroom. After several years of Baby Bliss walking in and out of that room, the wall had gotten a bit dingy.

 What I didn't know when I went to buy the paint is that every shade of white isn't the same. Some are "white-ish". 😄 It didn't matter to me because I was only painting that small stand-alone section.

Surprised by how much fun I had painting in my own place (and the amount of paint leftover), I began looking for other areas to cover. One of them was the small section of wall next to my front door.

After that it was baseboards and other (small) areas that needed covering. Eventually I used most of the quart and began thinking about perhaps adding color to one of the walls in my (old) bedroom. Then I realized I didn't want to move furniture 😐 and the fantasy faded.  😝

Well folks, I should find outside clothes to put on. The sun has reappeared and I have a lunch invitation from my favorite neighbor. She's gonna make me a burger any way I want it. 🍔😋

Nothing like good neighbors to help make life special. 😁

More later y'all.

In the mean time, don't walk under any ladders today!  😆

841.

Happy, happy Tuesday y'all!

I hope everyone is somewhere safe...

Well folks, I vacuumed yesterday. And yes, the itching ceased.

Oh Happy Day!  😄

Yesterday was quiet.

I cooked: ribs, sweet potato, baked beans. I also "made" a cucumber thingie, my version of a recipe I saw online.

It was simple: apple cider vinegar, olive oil, a bit of my pink salt, a few sprinkles of an Italian blend of spices. I mixed the ingredients into a small bowl then sliced three mini cucumbers into the bowl. Next I put the bowl into the fridge to chill until I fixed my plate.

It was all really tasty.  Looking for a photo now...

Found it. 😋

Just finished warming up the leftovers and I'm enjoying them now.

838.

Baby Bliss is taking me to lunch today. 🍔🍚🍤🍰🍱🍣🍮🍜

Gotta get ready!  😊

By the way, did I mention that Baby Bliss is engaged? 💍

And they're buying a home this week.  🏰

God is good.  🙏🏽

Amen. 😊

837.

How-do folks!

I hope everyone is enjoying their day in the best way possible.

Saturday at my house:

It started out early. I woke up before 7:30 a.m. and I do believe I was laughing.

Great start to a dreary day. (Heavy cloud, no rain...)

There is a widow's event scheduled for today, at a venue a few hours away. Initially I declined attending. But Baby Bliss suggested I go, to get out of the house, because today is Mr. Bliss' birthday.

So I said "maybe".

Mr. Skittish lives in the vicinity of the venue. He called me Thursday and I asked if I could sleep over at his place Friday evening. He said he was out of town, scheduled to return Saturday evening but to call him Saturday morning.

Well, I forgot to call him this morning but he called me a few minutes ago to ask my plans for today.

He's still out of town but no big deal. We've had a lot of rain near me and in his town as well. There has also been a lot of flooding in both areas.

Also, I didn't want to get out of bed this morning. So I snuggled under my soft blanket and cried a little about Mr. Bliss.

Then my momma called and a discussion ensued about my most recent dating dilemma. After we rang off, I felt like rising and shining.

So here I am, watching telly, reading, blogging, and thinking about crocheting. I've been eating as well. Chips and cheese. Junk.

Nothing delicious and healthy in here. Scratch that. There's fruit. Frozen fruit. It will need to go in the blender with fresh water.

That I don't have.

I do have a Brita pitcher. Fresh water will be mine after I change the filter.

But not right now. I feel a nod coming.

I think I'll succumb to a mid-day snooze.

Happy birthday Mr. Bliss! 🎂🎂  🎉🎉🎉 🎂🎂 I'm thankful for the years we had together. Until we meet again, I'll see you in my dreams. 🍹

Later folks.

829.

On another note, I had my first watermelon of the season last week. It was yummy.

Sadly, I left home before I finished it and didn't think to chop it up to bring on the road with me. I asked Baby Bliss to eat the rest.

She's not a huge watermelon fan so I hope and pray it's not rotting in my fridge as I type this.

Sandia.  😋😋😋

825.

How-do folks?

It's early Thursday morning in my spot on the globe. Lately I've been up until the WEE wee hours, nodding off around 4 a.m. and sometimes 5 a.m. (Is that news to anyone? Probably not.)

I'm usually up by 10 or 10:30 a.m., which gives me five to six hours of sleep per 24-hour cycle. I find myself getting sleepy around 5 or 6 p.m. but I fight it because taking naps is a habit I try to avoid. Occasionally -- rarely -- I give in.

Later today might be one of those days but I can't say for sure as I'm currently tired but not truly sleepy.

Wednesday was a busy day spent with one of my neighbors.

We started with me taking her to a doctor's appointment. (Lucky me, I scored a free blood glucose meter in the pharmacy. 👍 I've been wanting one for a while, so I can test periodically. Go here 548. for why.)

Our next stop was Target, to return an item I bought earlier this week and do a bit of shopping.

My neighbor and I got separated in the store and after I walked the aisles for maybe a half hour searching for her, I purchased my sweet potatoes then went over to sit in the cafe to wait for her.

After I'd sat there longer than I was comfortable with, I went to customer service to have her paged. Another five minutes and I see her making her way to the closest self-checkout.

(Where I was happily chatting with M, a fella who works one of the registers in customer service and who I see occasionally at the store. It's hard to say how old he is -- my guess is late 50s to mid 60s. M  has the manners of a courtly gentleman. He's always polite and gives me nice compliments but never crosses the line into "flirty". He is the only person I consistently recognize at the store and I'm there several times a month. No wondering why, right?)

By the time we left Target it was after three and I was getting hangry. 😠🍐🍗🍚🍤🍹 My neighbor said she'd treat me to lunch (for taking her to her appointment) and I needed that food.

Originally we were gonna have lunch at a new place we found the last time we hung out. But it was rush hour and I didn't want to fight the horrible traffic that would be waiting when we finished eating.

Finally we decided on a restaurant halfway between where we'd left and where we were headed.

Lunch was relaxed, leisurely. We shared good conversation and laughter. It's so nice to be able to take one's time when eating a meal with friends, family.

With lunch under our belts, we made a bee line for the nearest dollar store where I grossly overspent. I literally went in for two or three items and came out with several bags. 👀

News flash:

I'm going to a party Saturday! Guests were asked to bring food, drinks, or give a small donation upon arrival. I bought fixings for tuna salad then realized shortly after I got home that tuna is probably not a good snack for a party.

Certainly I don't want anyone breathing fish breath in my face, a thought that eluded me while I was filling my shopping cart (known in these parts as a "buggy").

My neighbor will need to make a drugstore run later today to get her prescription and though there is rain in the forecast (I don't like driving in the rain), I told her I'd give her a ride. It won't do to have her walking in the rain even if it's only a drizzle.

I'll make a grocery store run while I'm out with her because I've decided to make a simple pasta salad for the party. I need a few ingredients absent from my cupboards: black olives, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

My preferred pasta salad has no tomatoes which and does taste better if there is tuna in the mix but (for reasons mentioned above) there will be no tuna in this salad. The tomatoes go in to benefit the others which is okay with me. I'll be sure not to put any on my plate. Hopefully the black olives will be a good substitute for the missing tuna.

It's likely I'll buy juice too because I don't drink alcohol and although there might be lots of non-alcoholic beverages on hand, it's not nice to count on others to have my favorite drink(s) lolling about.

Small price to pay for the hosts agreeing to host. All the preparation that goes into making one's home hospitable then in addition to the fun guests you get uninvited guests, messy guests, guests who don't know when to leave, guests who get pissy drunk... 👿

We hosted many events at our home up north. Baby Bliss's birthday parties, a birthday party for my grandma, folks over for dinner or just to hang out... Some events were family, some were friends,  some were both.

No matter how much fun was had, the best thing for my nerves was having the party elsewhere.  😌

Seems like it's been ages since I've been to a house party and I'm looking forward to this one. It's possible I'll spend the night because the shindig is an hour from me. An hour's drive isn't awful but by the time the event ends, I might be exhausted. 😩

As I am now.

Time for snoring.

Je m'en vais y'all! 💋

822.

O' happy Sunday everyone!

I hope you all brought in the new year safely and in good spirits.

I was home alone, a bit maudlin but tis the season and all.

Cooking has never been my forte but I did quite a bit of it this past week. A pot of bean soup (cannellini beans, carrots, kale, chicken, cumin, Himalayan salt) and a pan of cornbread that fed me for several days. 

For my New Year's Eve dinner, I ate barbecue ribs, kale, and a slab of the cornbread. I also made a cake and topped it with a simple homemade icing.

Martha Stewart won't be asking me to pop by but it was all tasty enough for me. 😋

Now let's get to today's business, shall we?

This is the "What's New for 2018?" edition.  🎊 🎊 🎊

It has come to my attention that I will need to take a few steps back in order to move forward. Also that I'll have to give up something or someone from my past.

Well alrighty then.

Although I am a firm believer in omens and portends like rainbows and falling stars (both of which I saw during my drive home from visiting daddy), I don't believe in signs in what I think of as a willy-nilly fashion. 

In other words, I need to see what I think of as Real Proof. 

Does that sound crazy, expecting the tangible from things that seem to have no basis in fact?

Maybe, but as I've heard a time or two (and I like to quote it when it's appropriate): I'm from Missouri.  (For those of you who don't know what that means, go here: Missouri.)

As for this back-and-forth-to-the-future forecast, it has seemed to be a theme in the past week.

Not only has it been the theme of more than a few tv shows/movies I've seen in the past week, I also did a few of those silly Facebook quizzes that promised to tell me what my 2018 would look like based on my responses to the questions.

I actually did a few of them on New Year's Eve. I find the options and outcomes fun and funny enough to distract me when I need it so I made them part of my festive evening. 

One of those outcomes predicted romance in the new year with someone from my past. 😐

Now y'all know how I feel about the exes.  😐 (An "ex" being anyone I've ever talked to on one of the dating sites, had at least one date with, or been married to.)

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say I've been on hundreds of dates and talked to hundreds more online. 

From that humongous group, there exists a minuscule percentage who can expect a response to a phone call or text. One of those is an ex-husband. At this moment, I can't think of anyone else who belongs on that list of one. 😄

(Ooops, wait! There is another guy. We never dated but there was once a very subtle flirtation. By "once" I mean it was an isolated incident that went absolutely nowhere and many many years later, we're still friends.)

While I'm not gonna attempt to bribe my crystal ball for a name, I do wonder who this someone might be.

A screenshot of the predictive pronouncement:

So will this person from my past be He-Who-I-Must-Disgard? Or will it be someone (or something) else?

Along those lines, there is a friend who I've been feeling ambivalent about for over a year. She has a few habits that are lately wearing my patience thinner by the day. Sadly, it's gotten to the point of me not wanting to respond to her calls or texts.

It dawned on me that she's one of the few people I currently think of as a close friend, which is kind of suck-y because she is no longer the type of person I want to be friends with.

*sigh*

Probably it is her that needs to be let go because it would certainly create space in my life for a sunnier disposition to come along.

The decision isn't a difficult one but I've been dragging my feet about it because of the length of our friendship. Really, the hesitation lies in how to sever the ties.

With other people I've felt okay with what some might call ghosting, which for me it comes down to not wanting the drama of trying to explain to people how they have crossed the line with me (for the last time).

(Because I know humans make mistakes so I'll give a few chances but truly, if they understood my boundaries they wouldn't have continued to cross the line. Unless they understood and just didn't care. Either way, I've learned there's no need to waste my energy with an explanation.)

A few examples:

After Mr. Bliss and I were married, I had one friend who kept calling me in the wee hours. Granted I've always been a night owl, which my friends know. However, I told homegirl it wasn't cool to continue the late-night calls because my husband had to get up early for work every day. But she thought it was okay and kept at it.  *snip, snip, snip*

Another friend decided about a year after Mr. Bliss died that it was okay to ask me how much money I got when he died. Très gauche honey! There is only one friend I discuss my finances with and that chick was not the one. In almost two decades of friendship she and I had never discussed money. At least not my money. She talked freely about hers and why she never had any. When she inquired about my "inheritance" (as she called it), I was inclined to think that at some point in the future she would be angling for a loan. That and the fact that I thought she was incredibly rude for asking me the question: *snip, snip, snip*

My friends are important to me and are usually considered family. Some of them I do miss talking with but having boundaries is a good practice and for me, letting people cross them indiscriminately is the same as having none.

Moving on...

Today's Lotus Tarot, titled "Tough Decisions, featured the Hanged Man. It's is a continuation of the "Back to the Future" plot that began with the quizzes. Looks like I'm gonna need more lavender essential oil, lots of pens and paper, and lots of Epsom salt.

See screenshot below:

(The screenshot is the last part of the Lotus Tarot e-mail, which in its entirety was too long and I believe the last bit is most pertinent for this post.)

There is also a wedding in the forecast featuring me as the blushing bride. 💕💍💏 😜 (Definitely not marrying the guy in the graphic!)

There will also be money! (Shhhh! Y'all aren't supposed to see this because I do not discuss money with friends so don't tell anyone. 😄)

Finally, there should be travel! Specifically, to Argentina. (If anyone cares to join me, please drop me a line. 😀)

It looks like my 2018 will be super busy and exciting folks. My passport is ready but I might need new shoes! 💃

803.

Happy Tuesday folks.

I hope everyone is feeling swell today.

I'm good emotionally and psychologically. Physically I'm feeling a bit sluggish. But I'm trying to get it in gear so I can be ready for my early evening date.

Which will now be a late afternoon date, as I was given the option by my potential suitor.

We're also switching to Tex-Mex. Partly because I've had two dates at the Cajun spot in the past two years (one of them was my first date with the Hunk) but mostly because I'm just not that a big fan of that restaurant or Cajun food.

For folks who like gumbo and such, it's probably somewhere to frequent. But I don't eat gumbo so once a year at that place is good enough for me.

Any way folks, Google maps is saying I need to leave home by 3:20 to arrive at my location on time. It's almost 2 p.m. and y'all know I'm a tidsoptimist of the best kind. Not because I like being late but because the clock is not my friend. 😁

Also because my life of leisure just lends itself more to a sashay than a trot. 😜

If anyone is interested in learning how others like me get along in the world, check this out: The Tidsoptimist: 10 Confessions Of The Chronically Late.  😛

Of course we're not all the same but I can say numbers one (1) and two (2) definitely apply to me. Number four (4) describes me occasionally but not in an extreme way. (I don't have the apps on my phone and I don't sit at the laptop all day.)

Number eight (8) has been an occasional problem as well. Number nine (9) too...

Number 10 is an excuse I've used but on the occasions that it's been true. Seriously.

I see that something really really really important has been left off the list. Maybe it only applies to me (or a small-ish percentage of us Tids): blogging.  😂

Aaaaaannnnnnnd I'm outta here!  👋🏾

802.

Update on upcoming dates:

- Tuesday evening: dinner at a local Cajun restaurant. 🍤 🍥 🍖🍴

- Thursday tea and... at a coffee shop many miles away.  🍰 🍵 🍪 🍩


That is all.

801.

Happy Monday folks.

It's a warm sunny day in my neck of the woods.

There is lots to do today but I've been relaxing. Again.

For the past several hours I've been craving a succulent pork chop with mashed potatoes and a huge green salad.  😋

It's not likely I'll get that meal so I'm thinking about dinner at my favorite local Mexican restaurant.

Something I forgot to share with y'all the other day:

I dreamed I was in a shop trying on wedding dresses. I found one I liked and was allowed to take it home to try it on for my mom.

When I tried it on for my mom, I looked in the mirror and the dress had become a different dress. It was a shade of aqua green, covered in sequins of the same color, form-fitting, knee-length, with cap sleeves that stopped a few inches below the shoulders.

Hmmmm...

Green is on my list of least favorite colors however I don't mind a particular shade with more of a blue hue.

But it was supposed to be my wedding dress and it was white (off-white?) when I left the store with it and a totally different style.

Who wants to get married in green?  😕

799.

Dinner was... uninspiring.  😐

Chemistry either is or isn't. 😑

That is all. 😴😴😴