this was the perfect

morning on our street. It was closed for work they're doing at the end of it. So much quiet and so few people. Why not stand in the middle of it and get a snap on the Camp Snap? Don't mind if I do.

 That was my entertainment for my walk this morning, the Camp Snap.

Yes, I got up and went out for a walk. I had a little bit of time before I needed to have Maggie at the vet's office. We had a follow up appointment.  

Look at her right eye. Poor thing.

I took her in a couple of weeks ago because something was not right. Her eyes wouldn't open and she wouldn't walk. She was treated for an eye infection, coming home with an antibiotic, steroid, and eye ointment. We were told then that her organs all looked good, but her blood work was a little eh. Her eye is looking better, a little demonic, but better. It opens. Her eyeball is visible. She can see to get around. Since it still looks a little glazed over and red, she has another round of steroid and ointment. The blood work still isn't great. She is 14 years old so instead of looking into it further with tests and scans and possible surgeries, we are letting it ride. After our talk and while the vet went to get the meds, I noticed blood on my pants. I inspected Maggie and what I thought was dirt on her side was actually blood. The vet took her back again to shave and clean the area. She said it could be hemangiosarcoma. Again, we're probably not going to go any further with figuring it out because of her age. And that, folks, is why this will be my last pet. The emotions that go along with being a pet owner are another thing, and I just don't want to do it anymore after Maggie. Never say never, I know. But... man.

While I'm going down that road, I might as well post this picture too. When we had to put Lucille down, this was the room. I like the other exam room better.

Anyway...

The afternoon fatigue has been hitting hard the last couple of days. In my best impression of Brad Majors, here it comes again.

the days have been

a degree or two cooler and it's awesome. We sat outside and took it all in yesterday. The neighbor's grandson kicked his soccer ball over the fence a couple of times... and busted up the fence in a few spots. Oh well, the sunset was a nice pinkish orange, even though the picture isn't the greatest.

I want to take in every minute of our privacy. I don't mean from all the workers that have been here, but I am thankful they're all gone. I mean all the trees in the back. They'll all lose their leaves soon and take our privacy right along with them.

Speaking of workers, this is one of my favorite things. First, the back story. I'd been wanting to replace our garage lights for a couple of years. Adding the pool house, I was going to need a third light and had to hurry and pick something. I finally decided. Here's a view out the side door of new lights.

I had plain post bulbs at first. While those are more practical if you're wanting to see, these fixtures really needed the flickering. Who am I kidding? I needed the flickering. I could sit there and watch those for hours. I need more. I want them all over the place.

While we're talking about sitting around and watching things. I didn't just buy tickets, I bought a whole VIP table for an event coming to town.

It won't be as large scale as the last guy... I don't think. How could it be? It's at The Dirty South. While we have seen bands there, I don't see how a whole Elvis ensemble could fit. I don't care. I'll take it.

Ordinary days, with a side of Elvis.

my grandmothers would

always do some housework in the mornings and then sit down with a cup of coffee. I never thought much of it as a kid. I didn't understand the point but knew it was just something that grandmothers did. I only started drinking coffee a few years ago, except for the occasional sip from their cups. I was at HomeGoods a couple of weeks ago and found a Strawberry Thief coffee cup. I knew I had to have it. Why? I mean I use a paper Starbucks cup every morning and it's fine. We all joke that I have become my grandmothers, but here I am, taking one more step in that direction.

I started to get it out a couple of days ago but then reconsidered because that paper Starbucks cup doesn't need to be washed. Today, screw it. I got the cup out and here I am, sitting on the back porch having my coffee. I haven't leveled up to doing chores first, but whatever.

Oh, there's also this - my first sip.

oops

And please ignore the fingernails. Actually, don't. Consider this a PSA for builder gel polish. I never get polish on my fingers. Well, if there's a special occasion, I might get a color. So the granddaughter and I went to the nail salon a couple of months ago. The lady asked if I wanted to do it so I tried. She said it would make my nails stronger. Thinking back to when I always had long, strong nails, I caved and got the gel manicure. It was awesome. My nails quit breaking and just kept getting longer. Eventually, it was getting harder to do simple tasks and I was even questioned about my fake nails. GASP. "I've never had fake nails! This is just thick polish!" I had a complex after that. I could've had them cut down, but I didn't care for the short, thick look. So, on my next trip to the salon, I had them remove the gel polish. I didn't think it through on day one. They sanded everything off, leaving me with flimsy, bendy, awful nails. Now, I'm here with Hard As Nails on what I have left. I cut everything down because they are that flimsy. Also, they're pretty tender. I couldn't do a lot of things the day I had it removed. If this blog doesn't accomplish anything else, let it at least be the heads up on the builder gel.

As I sit here now with my empty coffee cup, I'm imagining a nudge from my grandmothers. "Ahem... flimsy nails or not, you've still got chores..."

I had a birthday party

Saturday night. It was great. It was small. There was dancing. There was visiting. It was a wrong event party. I went as someone going to Craigh Na Dun (Outlander reference). I also finally got my own wedding cake… even though it was a birthday. 

This is 54.

Leading up to my birthday, I thought about (as always) starting the new year off right. Once again, let's do better. New year, better me. That was a good idea, until I woke up the morning after my party with sore legs and just needing more sleep. Did I mention the cake? I really need to finish it off. So, today, the first full day after my birthday, I am getting back on the better wagon. I will not let my cake go to waste, so it's doing better with a side of cake. Sounds perfect.

There's been so much going on over the last few months. SO MUCH. I've been stressed and overstimulated. We've had construction going on and my meltdowns have been frequent. The construction is finally done so I'm welcoming some calm. There are always projects, but I'm hoping for smooth sailing and it being regular, smaller projects. During the middle of it all, I heard someone talking about stress and anxiety and just needing an ordinary day. I understood that. I have been needing an ordinary day. I have a ton of ordinary chores and an ordinary to-do list that's pretty long, but I also have an ordinary day. I welcome it all. I hear trucks on another road doing work and I'm thankful that the work isn't here.

Now, let's TCB. Or, even better -  a little less conversation, a little more action please.