Settling In!

There aren't a lot of exciting things to report as we are still feeling our way around and getting settled. I'm no longer in our "curated bubble of perfection" that was Bluffton, but am now back in the real world!  I've seen more piercings and tattoos these last few weeks than in my entire life, but those wearing them have been friendly and helpful. Grass is allowed to thin out under trees, as Monther Nature intended, and pine cones can lie around indefinitely! The grass, rather than being rolled out by the truckload, is a combination of green growth with lots of things mixed in, including clover. You can see that the pinestraw is thin at my place, but everyone's will be replinished at the same time, anytime now. All of the planters around the neighborhood have been planted, and after lots of rain, are looking much better than the photos here. They really are pretty. There are also some lovely trees, not that I know what they are! 

One of the adjustments for me is eating in the dining room. I avoided it for a while, but am now getting into it. The tendency is for most people to show up at lunchtime, wiith fewer attending breakfast and dinner. Being vegetarian, there isn't much of a selection for me other than the vegetable side dishes, but I can bring home veggies to supplement whatever I make for myself. I lucked out to be sitting with a lovely group of 4 ladies and a male trumper, with whom I've had one minor skirmish. All of the ladies are like minded. I'm not sure they are all Democrats, but they are definitely anti-trump, which is good enough for me! So, I enjoy showing up for lunch to connect with the ladies. If there is anything for me on the dinner menu, I walk up and get it to go. We are given a quarterly allotment to use in the dining room. Anything beyond that, we pay extra. Since vegetable portions are $.89 each, and I rarely have an entree, which is usually meat, I don't ever expected to use my full allotment!

Thus far, Rosie and I have venture into Simpsonville several times, the edge of Greenville once, Laurens frequently, and Newberry once. It has been cool enough that Rosie can go with me, but I think that will end soon. Even so, I want to take one day a week to explore something new, even if it means leaving Rosie behind. While Clinton is a small town, it has some lovely brick building, especially around Presbyterian College. Across the street from that is Thornwell, which began as an orphanage after the Civil War. It's buildings are granite (I think), and they are quite impressive. Sometime soon I hope to take some photos. My closest grocery is a couple of miles away. It's a Food Lion, and is larger than the one in Bluffton. The WalMart is Laurens (6 miles away) is go large that I was total disorientated! We also have a small Ingles (comparable to Publix) here in Clinton, and a larger one in Laurens. Even so, what I have missed is Kroger's cheese counter!!

Overall, it is slower and quieter here. The first thing I noticed was the traffic, or lack thereof! There is a dual lane road from here to Laurens with light traffic - just a comfortable, easy drive. I was also happy to find that Hwy 385 goes into Greenville without having to get on I-26! What a relief! I'm sure it's busy at work times, but when I've gone into Simpsonville, it's been a comfortable drive. So, slowly but surely, we are finding our way around.

Another thing that is new to me are trains! I've never lived where you can hear the train whistles as they pass through. We're far enough away to faintly hear them in the background, and I really like hearing them.

I've also participated in a few activities offered, such as the Trivia group, which I've attended several times. There's a weekly QuickWitz activity, which I hope to attend this week. The physical therapist at the Wellness Center met with me to access my needs, which are minimal at this point. I hope to develop a workout routine using the machines there instead of trying to walk during the heat of summer. I've been meaning to do that for weeks now, but haven't actually done it yet. This past Friday I attended Happy Hour for the first time, and this week I may even try Bingo!!

True to their word, Tippy and Kieran stopped by on their way to Franklin. Unfortunately, they were delayed getting through Columbia, which made their visit shorter than I'd hoped. They planned to make it for lunch, but as the window was closing, I went up to the dining room and made three salads for us to have at home (We had a very nice salad bar that is available through the week). It worked out fine, but their visit was way too short. I'm looking forward to seeing Maria and Mark this coming weekend, and Melodee in July. I'm thrilled that friends are visiting.

Shortly after I took Rosie to the vet to get her on their radar, I had to take her again for back pain. The vet's practice is made up of three female vets, and is within walking distance of our community. Dr. James prescribed a round of steriods and recommended a monthly injection of Labrela. She is due her second injection tomorrow, and I'm hoping this will be an easy

solution. We've also had days of rain forecast, which makes her anxious. It hasn't rained all that much, but she senses the barometric changes whether or not it actually rains. Another thing I've noticed is that vet bills are much less expensive here, as are most things.

Otherwise, she is doing well. She has figured out that there are lots of people in the main building, and she takes the automatic doors as an open invitation! She will take me in the back door, prance down the main hall greeting everyone she sees, take a left and go down that wing, out that door and back in by the front door. She will then take two right turns and go down the other wing. We basically cover the whole independent living floor! So far, most people seem happy to see her, and of course, she loves the attention!

There was one major snafu that sent me reeling! About three weeks before I moved, I put in a change of address online, to be effective April 9. From that day on, I never received a piece of mail. With everything going on, I didn't think too much about it. I figured they may have sent it here, and it would be waiting for me, which wasn't the case. Anyway, my car insurance bill was sent during that time, which I did not receive. My car insurance lapsed!! I wasted no time in requesting a new license with my new address, registering my car, and also registering to vote. Then one day a few weeks ago, I received a letter from the DMV regarding the lapsed insurance! I was mortified!  I went straight online and renewed it before the end of the day. My insurance rep in Bluffton had to send the required information directly to the DMV, and I had to pay a fine. I showed up a the DMV and was taken within 5 minutes (that would not have happened in Bluffton!), and all was resolved. Had I known I was not insured, I would not have driven at all. The fact that I'd been driving without insurance made me trimble! I have no idea what happened to the mail. I had also ordered some checks for my new account which never arrived. I keep meaning to call the Bluffton Post Office to see if they can figure out what happened. I am just so thankful that nothing happened!

I hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying life. Take care and let me know what you've been doing.💖

Alive and Well in Clinton, SC!

Well, it has been a non-stop whirlwind! So much has happened that I don't know where to begin. After months of waiting for something to happen, I finally received a workable house offer. The buyers requested a relatively short closing date, which seemed workable then, but when the inspection bickering dragged on, it cut into my packing time. I had about 3 to 4 weeks to get it all together. I was packing, trying to sell some things, organizing an auction company to pick up some furniture, and ReStore (Habitat for Humanity) to pick up the rest, as well as a final crew to come in and take away anything that was left. My sincere gratitude to Maria and Mark, who did all of the heavy lifting for me. Maria came over for several hours every day until she had wrapped all of my wall art and fragile items - and I mean all of them! Mark came over on short notice to retrieve items for high places, help purchasers get items in their cars, and assist with any unexpected event. I could not have gotten it all done in time without them. They were amazing. In the rush of it all, I had to cancel several lunches with friends, which I really hated, but I just couldn't take an hour or so out of the middle of the day. I hope they understand. Chris was kind enough to bring lunch over one day, and that worked really well. It's something to keep in mind when friends are moving. On packing day, Ann kept Rosie, and when I went to pick her up, Ann fed me, too!! I really could not have done it without the care and assistance of friends. Thank you all!

Another thing Mark did was create a floor plan of my new place so I could have an idea of how furniture would fit, etc. I had contacted Liberty Auctions to pick up my bedroom furniture, dining room furniture, and a few individual items to be auctioned at a later date. Once he did it, we realized I would have room to use my bedroom furniture, so I called Liberty to let them know I would not be including it. They informed me that if it was not included, it would not be worth their time to take the dining room furniture (and I would be left with dealing with it all somehow!!). I was also surprised when they would not take any of my living room furniture, because the pristine sofa was white!! The leather recliner had cat pricks on the top pillow, etc!! I relate this story as a reminder to expect the unexpected. I was able to sell all of the living room furniture, but for pennies. You can imagine the difficulty of getting rid of things you've had for years, especially if they are still in good shape, but it gets easier as time goes on, and by the end, you just want it gone!! I was also reminded of how much money I had spent/wasted on frivolous items, things I never really used, and just things that took up space. In my next life, I'm going to know and do better!!

This was my last night with Drinking Liberally, a group for like-minded friends with whom I'd been affiliated for years. As you can imagine, leaving friends was the hardest part of it all. Even so, I was usually so brain-dead by the end of a day of packing, my energy waned and I felt like I was swimming in jello, mentally and physically! Even so, this was one group I really wanted to be with, and I know I'll be seeing them again.

Moving day arrived, and it was all done. Even so, I wasn't convinced it would all fit into a 16' POD. These young men worked wonders! I called them the Miracle Workers because somehow they were creating space inside that box! It was amazing and impressive to watch. I was so doubtful that I left all of my Christmas items with Chris, which will give me an excuse to get back and visit friends before the end of November! At this point, the house was basically empty. Rosie and I had a few nights with just the basics, but we spent our remaining nights until the closing with Maria, Marie, Felix, and Henry. It was there that I got my first real night's sleep (7+ hours) since this whole process began. When I was trying to decide whether or not to do this, and if so, where, I wasn't sleeping. Then, once the decision was made, there was the waiting and waiting, an ongoing list of things to get done, etc. If I woke up for any reason during the night, my mind would start racing, and I couldn't go back to sleep. It was awful. I'm happy to be less anxious and sleeping much better.

The day after the POD was packed, I was given a wonderful going-away party by Chris, Tippy, Lynn, and Maria at the home of Maria and Mark. It really was a fun gathering, and I think my friends who didn't know each other enjoyed meeting new people. David summed it up when he said, "Boy, I loved your going-away party. The perfect mix of crazy!" That made me laugh!

On the 10th, Rosie and I departed mid-morning for Clinton. Maria and Mark had housed us for a few days, and I'm sure they were ready for a rest after devoting a month to helping me!! Since my POD would not arrive until the following Thursday ( I didn't know that they only

deliver and pick up in that area once a week!! Originally, the first week was already full and I would have had to wait 2 weeks! Yikes! I kept checking, and an opening occurred so I could move it up a week.) Rosie and I were offered the guest accommodations, but since it was on the second floor, with a very high bed that Rosie should not jump off, etc. I decided to rough it for a week in the house. I ordered a large chair that could be used as a chaise lounge or a small bed for future guests. By the time we arrived, it had been delivered and assembled. I wouldn't want to sleep on it for a month, but it was good for a week. Once we got in, I realized there was no hot water. They didn't get it repaired on Friday, so we went four days without. The next issue was that the house had not been wired for cable TV. So, that had to happen. Throughout it all, I was complimented on my patience and good spirits. What else can you do?? Anyway, it has all come together, or more accurately, is a work in progress. I still have lots of boxes to unpack, but that will take a while.

And we arrived at a lovely time of year! Azaleas, irises, and more were in bloom. It has since rained, and many of the blooms are gone. There are huge rosemary bushes, as well as a small vineyard right outside my front door. Rosie and I can walk the whole neighborhood on our morning walk. Everyone has been very friendly and welcoming. Miss Erna brought over blueberries and Tate's cookies. Catherine provided a strawberry loaf. Anna gave me a lovely plant, and the office sent a welcome mat, a lovely bouquet of flowers, and a huge welcome basket. I've also made some liberal connections. One neighbor has a "Resist" bumper sticker on his car, so I immediately struck up a conversation with him. There is a presence here, so I'll be on the lookout! That gives me hope that I'll find my people.

And, I've had company! I received a text from Rhonda saying they, who live in Missouri, would be in the area and would like to stop by. I hadn't seen them since 2018, so I was delighted, though I didn't even have a glass to offer them water!! The POD had just been unloaded the day before, so I was knee-deep in boxes. Even so, it was great to see them and to catch up. Brian managed the golf course at the Crescent, and Rhonda worked there. She would always stop for a chat and a play with Rosie. We have kept connected all these years via this blog, texts, emails, etc., and it was great to reconnect in person. I hope I can be more hospitable next time!

Just yesterday, Mark stopped by as he was on his way to a whitewater rafting trip with his brothers. I'm angry that I forgot to get a photo, but we were busy catching up AND putting up my decorative door. It doesn't have the display space here as it had in the other house, but I am so glad I can use it - it really is my treasure! During his visit, we made a trip to the hardware store and had lunch with four ladies, the oldest of whom was 101! We joined the table as they were finishing up, but not one person budged. There were lots of laughs, and I hope Mark enjoyed it. I'm sure the ladies did! It was a short visit, but both Rosie and I enjoyed it. I was instructed not to hang anything until they could come back up to help. I'm not sure what I've done to earn this generosity of spirit, but I am so thankful.

I've also been told that Tippy and Kieran will be passing by on their final trip up to her cabin, which she just recently sold. I'll be looking forward to seeing them.

It may be a while before you see photos of the house. I will take a while to get rid of all the boxes, pictures hung, etc....and I'm still going to have to get rid of a lot of stuff!  As soon as it's ready, I'll share.

The last six weeks have been rough on Rosie, and I'm sure she misses her neighborhood buds. During the packing process, I was much more active than usual, and every day, something went missing from the house! Since being here, we've run into one other dog in the neighborhood. It was in an abusive situation and is very withdrawn. Just yesterday, another lady moved in with an adorable Jack Russell. We've run into them three times since then. Rosie snarled at her on their first meeting, but I hope they will warm up to each other. I'm also happy that there is a veterinarian practice with three female vets within a mile of us. We're already checked in with them and set! This is a cute presentation that Lynn did for Rosie's going away. How sweet! Thank you, Lynn.

Saudi friends were saddened to hear of the passing of our dear friend Lyn Thomas. He was a major player in many fond memories of my time in Saudi, and, oh, the stories we could tell! On my last trip to the UK (too many years ago), I was fortunate to touch base with many friends from those days, including Lyn and Jacqui. I'm thankful for that, and my thoughts are with Jacqui and the entire Thomas family.

I'm sorry this is so long, but there was a lot to cover. Even so, as soon as I publish it, I'm sure to think of something I forgot. I'm glad we are this far along in the process, and things are settling down each and every day. I hope this finds you healthy, happy, and enjoying life. Love to all.

It's All Happening Very Fast!

No, I haven't faded from the scene. Things are just happening very fast! As of last Wednesday (2/26/25) around 9 PM, my house went under contract! While that's good news (I hope) things have been happening fast and furiously since then. On Saturday, I had someone come by to power wash the house. While he was here, Mr. Nasser Shaheen came to give me an estimate

for a floor repair in the kitchen. With a Middle Eastern background and knowledge of carpets, we had a lovely conversation about that and other things. These are two carpets that I won't have room for and will have to unload. He took photos and asked me not to do anything with them before talking with him. He correctly identified two of my carpets, so I feel like he knows what he's talking about. His stopping by turned out to be a gift in several ways.

That took up much of Saturday, so I was happy when Maria and Mark invited Rosie and me over for wine in the afternoon. We had a lovely visit, as always. When I left their house, I saw a service van in my driveway! Mr. Shaheen had sent his guys over to repair the kitchen flooring! So, by the end of the day, I was pooped!!  It's been something like that almost every day!

Tuesday was the house inspection, which was really nerve-wracking as it feels like impending doom! My realtor said it would last a couple of hours, but it took three! I had some errands to run and then thought I'd take Rosie to the park. Just as we were about to head out, it started to mist and then quickly turned into a steady drizzle. I managed to get the errands done, but since we couldn’t go for a walk, we ended up sitting in the car for a long time listening to my audiobook, which put Rosie to sleep! We were happy to get home and settled in for the night!

I haven't heard from the inspection, but should hear from them today (Thursday) or tomorrow. I know they found some moisture coming in a window, one which I've had issues with before. I'm hoping the findings will be minimal otherwise. The buyers attended the inspection, along with a brother. They also included a flooring contractor. Since the inspection, they have sent over someone to check the roof (which is only a couple of years old and still under warranty), and someone else to check the windows again! Keep your fingers crossed that I survive this without major concessions! So, that's where we are. If all goes well, we will close on April 10, and I'll be at my new location! Yikes!

The other thing I've done is sell some gold jewelry. Ladies, now's the time. I was stunned and amazed at what I got for it, and I still have the stuff I really wear! While these are all lovely pieces, I just never wore them. I read a book recently titled something like A Year With Less, and she said that often we buy things for our Idea Selves. Things that fit into the vision of our perfect life but really aren't practical for our real life. That's where this jewelry fell (along with a lot of other stuff I'm finding as I downsize!). My relaxed, casual lifestyle just doesn't lend itself to wearing it. The necklace and bracelet at the top were my gift to myself before leaving Saudi. In all these years, I can count on one hand how often I've worn them! It's just something I had to do without looking back!!

Before all of this started to happen, I did manage to get together with Sharon for our monthly catch up. Chris and I went to one of our favorite haunts (Olive & Fig), as well as trying a new Thai restaurant (Thai Two), which we enjoyed. I also visited Tippy several times, though it's been a few weeks since we've seen each other with all that is happening for both of us. One day I got a text from her saying she wanted to talk by phone or get together to discuss miracles, angels, and the purpose of life!! That sounded too deep for a phone conversation, so I went over on the weekend. We had a wonderful conversation about all of those, as well as some peripheral topics! It was wonderful and gave me food for thought for days after. 

Since Covid and the first trump term, when I couldn't sit and focus on anything, I got into audiobooks, and I love them! Well, I've just discovered Donna Leon and her Commissario Brunetti series! I love them and am on about my 6th book. Leon is such a descriptive writer, with great characters you grow to love. There often appears to be some social commentary, the family and work relationships are delightful, descriptions of scrumptious Italian meals, and it is set in Venice! What's not to like? All of this is brought together by the fantastic reader! I keep one lined up to listen to while I wait for books that are on hold to arrive. It's an enjoyable interlude. Folks were talking about Liane Moriarty's Here One Minute, which I found tedious, except for the ending....but a lot to wade through to get there. Then came The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves. Well, I was into Part 2 of the book before realizing it was a Vera Stanhope mystery! So, I've discovered another prolific mystery writer that I like. If you've got favorites, let me know.

I recently discovered something that age will prevent me from doing again. A friend asked me to pick her up at the Savannah airport last week. She was to arrive at 6 PM. Well, six turned into 8 PM on a dark, rainy night. With the heavy traffic, lights, rain, glare, large blinding signs, poorly marked lanes, etc, I scared myself and I'm sure I scared her!! We got home safely, but I won't be doing that again!

Recently, Pamela from the Clinton Presbyterian Community, where I am moving, sent a video of my new place to let me see the progress. It's almost done, so if all goes well and we close on April 10, the timing should be perfect. You can take a look at it HERE. it's my new "tiny home", but once I'm pared down, moved, and settled in, I think it will be perfect for this stage of life. The video was made right after the snow, so the exterior will look better as spring arrives. This week we are beginning to see signs of it, and it's great to see the color arrive.

Update: Days have passed since I began this, and we just yesterday, late in the day, got the inspection and requests. In the meantime, I've heard everyone's horrible inspection stories. One referred to his inspection as the "colonoscopy of inspections". Another said to just rest assured they will piss you off! I can identify with all of that! It looks like they are nit-picking, as I expected once they started sending people out to check various things after the inspection was done. My realtor came over last night at 5:30 and we went over everything. I now have a list of people to contact tomorrow morning to follow up with some of the issues. I had no idea the inspection process would take this long and it's eating into time I will need for packing! Yikes! This, too, shall pass! Please keep me in your thoughts.

Birthday and Snow Day!

Yes, we have snow! And, it's cold! Yesterday, when we woke up to snow-covered ground, I decided to stay in my PJs and robe all day long...and loved it. I can't remember the last time I did that, but I knew no one would come to my door. When it was time for Rosie's walk, I put her harness on (no jacket) and walked her to the snow at the edge of the porch. She took a few steps on the snow and turned right around, as I knew she would! The next time, I suited her up and she was ready to venture forth, with only partial success (a long pee!). I stood on the porch and let her go as far as the extendable leash would allow! It was on the third try around 4 PM that we finally had success! 

I got dressed this morning to take her for a real walk, but the snow had turned to ice and I didn't want to risk a fall. So, we just diddled around a little in the yard. I think we are both over it!! I'm not sure how long it will take for things to get back to normal as we still have three nights down in the 20s.

I'm not sure what I did wrong to have a birthday coinciding with trump's inauguration, but I promise, I will never do it again! Actually, thanks to wonderful friends, it was a fun day as we were all happy to have a diversion. Lynn and Chris were kind enough to provide lunch for some of my favorite people - Rhonda, Sally, Maria, and Mark. Tippy and Kieran were missed, and I hope Tippy will be her sassy self at my next one! There seemed to be a theme to gifts, which provided lots of laughs and comments, especially the trump toilet paper and poop bags. I just hate that anyone spent a penny on anything pertaining to him, but I appreciate their thoughtfulness. We had a delicious lunch followed by a beautiful and tasty chocolate birthday cake. Lynn was gracious enough to only put one candle on it! We all took some of it home with us to enjoy later. It really was a fun afternoon and a great birthday. When I move, these are the people I will miss. Wherever you are, it's the people who make life liveable and enjoyable, and I've been blessed with the best! Thank you, my friends!

Speaking of moving, before the storm, things had just begun to move. On the previous Thursday, as I was going to an appointment, my realtor texted to ask if someone could view the house in an hour and a half. I knew I could not make my appointment and get the house ready in time, so after nothing had happened since the first week of the month, I had to decline! The next day, I had two showings. The next two days, there was a showing each day, with one of them being a return visit. They wanted to put an offer contingent on their selling a home in Florida, which won't work with my plans. Even so, I'm glad things are moving and hope I can get it sold before trump tanks the economy. Send good juju my way! 👍

The surprise party came when I received a text from my cousin Dennis and his wife Carol. They would be on Daufeskie Island and asked if I'd be able to join them for lunch on Friday when they came to Hilton Head. It had been such a long time since I'd seen them, and I was delighted to get together. They were traveling with their daughter Amanda and two grandchildren, so it was a lively gathering. We met up at Java Burrito Company for a hearty lunch, but little did I know that they had a birthday hat, a muffin with a candle, a birthday card, and a lovely necklace made by Carol. They sang Happy Birthday, joined by folks in the restaurant. Cued by the hat, everyone along the way kept wishing me a happy birthday! It was fun! And it was good to see them after such a long time. I still have no idea how they knew it was my birthday, and I was certainly taken by surprise. I'm happy that they make the effort to get together whenever in the area.

I was also pleased to hear from family and friends far and wide - by cards, text, phone, and on Facebook. It was great to hear from everyone. Thank you so much!

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.” —G. Randolf

I'm pleased to announce that Paula, a friend from Saudi days whom many of you know, has a book out! Being a longtime dog lover and having volunteered at an animal rescue in Spain, she decided to write a book about rescue doggies.....and Rosie's story is in it! I was finally about to get a copy through Amazon and, naturally the first thing I did was look for Rosie's story!  Second-Hand Dogs is a compilation of short stories of people and the doggies they adopted from a shelter. It is quite impressive! There are more stories than I expected and it must have been a chore to request and gather them all, as well as editing, permissions, etc. Anyway, interspersed with the stories are "Words of Wisdom", or well-known quotes about dogs. Then at the end, she has practical and helpful advice for anyone interested in adopting a shelter dog. I was very impressed by it all and I hope Paula is pleased with the finished product. It was quite an undertaking, but I for one and so glad she met the challenge. It's a lovely book for any dog lover.

There have been the usual - well, with the holidays, more than usual gatherings with friends. Chris had us over for Christmas lunch. Then Maria & Mark included me when they hosted their trivia group, most of whom are democrats who I also know. On my walk home, I found this surprise at my door! A nice selection of nuts and dried fruit from Jim in Sarasota! Totally unexpected, but such a nice treat! I miss seeing him and Anthony as they traveled between DC and FL, and I do hope we can catch up soon. Jim, thank you so much!

Maria and Mark also had a gathering for democrats in the neighborhood. They were pleased to have a great turnout. Rhonda and I have gotten together here for a good natter, as well as Melodie and her friends Josie and Kristen for Indian food. There are also three ladies in the neighborhood with whom I get together, and one just had a big party to celebrate her 80th. Makes me feel good to know I'm not the oldest one around!! All in all, it's been busy but lots of fun.

With the colder weather, Rosie's wardrobe has expanded. I'm impressed with her new jacket, which is fleece-lined and better made than mine! I have finally found a thunder shirt that fits her and I think it is going to help. I've only used it once when she began to shiver and it seemed to keep her calm. Her indoor animal print sweater was a gift from Maria and Mark. She has needed something heavier through much of the winter, but it has been perfect for inside the house on these snowy days.

When the house is being shown, Rosie and I have to be out. One day we went to Jarvis Creek Park, where we discovered a feral cat colony, and the lady was there feeding them. I loved the photo of the walkway with the leaves. Unfortunately, since it is a raised walkway, Rosie wouldn't walk it, so that's as much as we saw! That's your Rosie update! She sends her love!

I'm sure you've seen the news and know the hateful chaos that is happening as we descend into Fascism. I'm not sure how the democratic process failed the republican party and those in it, but they sure seem to hate this country and most people in it. It has gone so far that I truly fear for our future. I don't know what else to say. It's sad. Keep the faith!

Bah Humbug!

Things have improved a little since my last post! Not because the trump-musk chaos has lessened, but because I am looking for different coping methods. As is my habit, I tuned in to Morning Joe the morning after the election. They were bashing Dems and Kamala, and I only listened for about 10 minutes before turning it off. I haven't viewed them since! Those who know me know that I keep/kept MSNBC on 24/7, usually muted or on low. That, too, has changed. I've found CBS 24/7, which I'm enjoying. They cover the news, but not the same thing over and over. They have more human interest stories, and programs such as Uplift, The Dish (food, chefs, etc), and so on. In other words, a little more balanced. I do return to MSNBC around 4 PM for Nicole Wallace and a few of the evening shows. Even then, I'm usually multi-tasking with a crossword or other game or puzzle. Oh, I've also not renewed my NYT subscription, and I wrote to tell them why! I'm happy to subscribe to their games section only.

Even so, I can't do nothing! So, rather than being tied up in knots, I'm going to lead my life and devote part of one afternoon a week to doing what I feel necessary. While I don't like to make phone calls, I am going to email and fax....and request a reply! To do nothing is to allow them to do their will too easily. While I know Graham, Scott, and all of them are total lackeys, I refuse to make it easy on them! So, that's my plan.

As you might imagine, the holiday spirit is at a minimum for me, for several reasons. I'm not the least bit "down" about it, it's just not happening for me this year. The little tree shown here is the extent of it. I've put the ceramic tree my mother made years ago in the bedroom and a wreath on the front door - and that's it! My Christmas cacti have shown up at the right time, and Rosie provides entertainment with her Christmas duck! She's so funny! The duck is larger than her other squeaky toys and makes a different sound. It took her a little while to figure out how to carry it, but she's got it now! She can't squeak it with her mouth so she bonks it with her nose!

In keeping with my blah spirit, I haven't done Christmas cards either! I've heard from people to whom I want to respond, but I just wasn't motivated to do so until I received this card from Reyna's daughter Michelle. She lives with her dad and isn't in the neighborhood, so I don't see her very often. She is quieter than Reyna's other kids, somewhat shy and sensitive. I also think she struggles in school, which breaks my heart. Reyna said she was concerned about me because I lived alone! She used to walk over and visit after school. Anyway, once I received this, I wanted to get a note to her before Christmas, so I made a card with Rosie on the front. On the inside, I included several photos of her previous visits here, along with a little note. That project got me going and I thought this blog entry would be next so I might wish readers a happy holiday. I will get to everyone else, though it may be around New Year. At least I'm on the move!

In addition to hearing from Michelle, I had a second delightful "glimmer" recently. I have been "downsizing" as much as I can in anticipation of my move. Some things I've trashed, others I've donated, and some I've sold. One thing that I have an abundance of is crystal, which not many people are interested in nowadays. I had 60 pieces of Cumbria crystal which I offered for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Eventually, I was contacted by a lady who was interested in the crystal and a set of china! I just assumed it was someone local, but on the day it was to be picked up, she said her daughter and her fiance would be picking it up. They were driving all the way from Durham, NC!! They turned out to be a delightful, young Asian-American couple, who arrived with everything they needed to pack things up and transport them safely. I was surprised to learn that they had researched Cumbria Crystal and knew that it was in the Lake District and how beautiful the area was! As they packed, we chatted and I thoroughly enjoyed their visit. This was a wedding gift from her mother. As they left, she asked if she could give me a hug, which I gladly accepted. Needless to say, I texted her mom and told her what a delightful couple they were and wished them all the best. A little later, she replied that they enjoyed the visit and said I had "good energy'! Not only did that make my day, it made my week! 

You know my support group, my buddies! There have been the usual gatherings. Lunches out, as here with Chris and Tippy. Into SAV with Maria and Mark for Indian food. An evening out with three neighborhood ladies to see Christmas lights, ending with ice cream at the local nitrogen place, and more. This, more than anything else, is what I'm going to miss when I move! Social plans continue through the New Year.

As I write this, Tippy is at MUSC preparing for surgery tomorrow. The previous surgery was successful, but she was left anatomically unable to hold her head up! Now, they are going to go further down the spine to prove enough support for her to be able to do so. She is very positive and wanted to get it done sooner rather than later, but said she was tired of being a "tough old broad"! I can certainly understand how she feels. We are all sending positive, healing thoughts her way.

It is now the next day! As I was finishing up this entry, I received a text from my realtor saying that someone wanted to view the house at 4 PM. That means I have to get it looking as though we don't live here! Then, Rosie and I have to be out 15 minutes before their expected arrival and thru the visit. It's a pain, but I hustled and got it done - and then they didn't show!! That was NOT nice! Anyway, I'm back, in time to wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year! Much love to all.

That's Who We Are!

Well, I've put this off as long as I can, knowing that I don't have the words to adequately express how I feel and it's likely to become more of a rant! I don't even remember what happened before November 5, but everything pales in significance to the election results. Disappointment doesn't even come close, as the daily bombardment of chaos, divisiveness, and hate-spew has already started. It's also clear that he is surrounding himself with yes-men, men unqualified for the jobs and thoroughly capable of such heinous actions as separating children from their parents because they've already done it once! Men who are capable and desirous of "de-constructing" our government. My fear is that once they rig things for four years (as they have already done by gerrymandering), we will never be able to win an election again...or may never even be given the opportunity! It's probably going to be shock and aw right off the bat, so we may as well use the coming month to prepare ourselves.

Those are the major things to be concerned about. The morning after the election, I took Rosie to Lowcountry Presbyterian Church for our morning walk. I really did not want to run into my neighbors for fear of saying something I'd regret (which I still managed to do a few days later!) or burst into tears. Overnight, I felt like a stranger in a strange land, knowing that most of them voted for trump and therefore support his actions, past, present, and future. It was the unavoidable realization that our values are starkly opposed at the core of our being. I have never viewed people as I do now, and I can attribute that to one man and those who follow him. The first time he won, not even he expected to win. That could be considered a mistake. This time around, he was elected with full knowledge of his lack of moral character, his hate-filled, racist, and divisive language, his trying to instigate a coup, and his overall lack of qualifications. The fact that he defeated a well-qualified, experienced female clearly shows where women stand in our society - to say nothing of Black women! It was a real eye-opener, and not in a good way! It makes me extremely sad for the turn this country has taken, and an awareness that I may not live long enough to see it return to a more positive direction! I believe that living and traveling abroad has shown me how much we have to be thankful for, and that many people here don't realize what they are jeopardizing. I hope they wise up before it's too late. In the meantime, we may as well prepare ourselves for a 24/7 bombardment of chaos, corruption, and actions that we feel are morally abhorrent.  At least, by refusing to sign the ethics agreement, he's making no pretense of anything else! My Facebook statement follows:

God help us!

My only consolation is that I did not vote for evil.

• My new Facebook photo, which is likely to be there for 4 years, unless I find something better!
• My Rosie walking attire for the week following the election!
• Friendsgiving dinner with WD (at the end of the table) and Norma (across from me).
• Tippy and me at our favorite haunt.

I and most of my friends have not felt social unless it is to get together to commiserate. Neighbors Norma and WD invited me to join them for a Friendsgiving dinner at the clubhouse. It caught me off guard with no handy excuse, even though I did not feel the least bit like attending. It was a Thanksgiving meal and I don't even eat meat, but Rosie got a nice surprise!  It turned out to be okay and I appreciated them thinking of me. Tippy and I met up for a good natter and pep talk, which I always enjoy. We were being our usual selves and were told, "You ladies are so cute!"  Maria and Mark invited me for Thanksgiving before I had decided whether or not I was going to even celebrate it! I was caught off guard again!! I also joined three neighborhood ladies for Mexican food. We talked politics, but we must have broadened the conversation to include a few laughs. As we were getting up to leave, a lady approached us from another table and said, "I have a wonderful group over here that I love being with, but if anything happens to them, I want to join your group!" We all had a big laugh and assured her she would be welcome. It made my day - just a little "glimmer" of joy!

Now I just have to decide what I'm doing about Christmas. With the house on the market, I really don't feel like doing much, nor do I know whether or not I'll feel social by then. I may just put a few decorative items in the house so that if anyone does want to view it over the holidays (unlikely), it won't look like the Grinch lives here (though I have days of feeling like the Grinch!)!

As luck would have it, I spoke with both Pamela, the Sales Manager at Clinton Presbyterian Community, and Mary, my realtor, today. I was saddened to learn that Pamela has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and is unsure of her work schedule for the coming year. It sounds like a strenuous year of treatment, but she is positive and hopeful. She is connecting me with Mike from the main office with whom I've spoken before, as well as Tameka, who is the administrator of the community. I asked about the progress on my house, and she said it was basically the same as the photos she had sent weeks earlier.  She felt that with the holidays, they would not likely get back to it until after the new year, which is good news for me as it gives me more time to sell my house. They have been very understanding, for which I thanked her, but told her I was still worried about selling the house. She told me "not to stress" and that it would all work out! I am very appreciative of their understanding, and I hope the timing works out - sooner rather than later!

Well, folks, I hope this makes sense in this senseless time. I wish I had better news to report and more hope for the future, but I feel it will be various degrees of chaos and hatefulness. I would be happy to be proven wrong! Take care, my friends.💖