It's been busy around here today. I went to Home Depot's garden center and found every single one of the plants for my garden this year. They are now sitting in the ground feeling smug and happy about being so wanted. There are tomatoes (large, roma, and cherry), cucumbers, zucchini, jalapenos, bell peppers, broccoli, and brussel sprouts. They look sort of lonely at the moment because they are so teensy and spaced out in the garden. However, if they grow as they should, the garden will soon be lush and green and in a short time will begin producing.
I got a few flowers and will plant another hanging basket in the morning. I'm way too tired to do it at the moment. I still have to plant some more nasturtiums. A few came up, but not nearly enough to make a pot. The sweet peas, however, all sprouted despite being nearly drowned, and they are happy and plentiful. I have several other things planted and am hoping some of it comes up. I want flowers.
I also promised my daughter I would mop the kitchen and I got that done as well. I was supposed to go get gas for the mower and for my car plus make a small Costco run but my get up and go got up and went. I'm just too tired to do it right now. I just want to read a while and bask in the knowledge that I actually got a lot done today. I was slow and methodical, I admit, but it is done and done right too.
My daughter's dog is on my list. He is liable to be there for a long time after this morning. He wanted to go out and I let him into the back yard. Then I had to go to the bathroom myself, and in the time it took me to do that he moved the plywood and rocks blocking his way, all but tore the metal siding off the house and escaped under the house and out the front. When I tried to get him he ran back under the house and hid. He came out a second time, and would have gotten entirely away had he not been stupid enough to bark at something. As a result, until someone can make some very heavy duty repairs out back, he will be on a sliding run with a pinch collar every single time he goes outside for the next couple of months. It's the second time in as many days he's managed to get out and I was forced to chase him. Right how he's in the living room being careful not to annoy me any futher.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
A Soft Moment
I had one of those "awwww" moments yesterday afternoon. On of my daughter's friends came by to introduce us to her new puppy. It is a six week old British bulldog. He had cute down to a science and I got to hold him for a while. What a little sweetie. I realize he'll grow up to be this huge ugly dog, but at that moment when he was snuggled up on my chest he was cuteness personified.
Susan's girl dog isn't doing well on the anti-cancer drug she is on. I sincerely wonder if she'd going to make it much longer. Susan is talking about getting a new puppy in a couple of months. First of course we have to have her current male dog evaluated by a trainer. It's my humble opinion that he will never adapt to another dog in the house. The only reason he adapted to the two other dogs who lived here was because they were here first and all of them were puppies. He's older now and has no patience as well as being jealous. We will see, I guess.
But for a few minutes yesterday I couldn't stop smiling. It really doesn't take much to make me happy. A warm puppy does it every time.
Susan's girl dog isn't doing well on the anti-cancer drug she is on. I sincerely wonder if she'd going to make it much longer. Susan is talking about getting a new puppy in a couple of months. First of course we have to have her current male dog evaluated by a trainer. It's my humble opinion that he will never adapt to another dog in the house. The only reason he adapted to the two other dogs who lived here was because they were here first and all of them were puppies. He's older now and has no patience as well as being jealous. We will see, I guess.
But for a few minutes yesterday I couldn't stop smiling. It really doesn't take much to make me happy. A warm puppy does it every time.
Update
It has been a while since I posted here. I've been stressed and busy. Not a really good combination. I think that the hemorrhaging of money has finally abated. It's been a very expensive last two months. I have one more sort of close month then six before it gets dicey again. Maybe more; which gives me time to save and ease the burden next time.
The tension around here abated for a while, but is building again. My daughter is out of jail but is still on two months of home detention which allows her to go only to work and back. That means all the errands, grocery shopping, local bill paying, etc. falls to me. I don't mind I guess because it does get me out of the house from time to time.
Susan has broken up with her girlfriend......again. It's the fifth time I think. As with all the other times it probably won't last. At least this time the girlfriend is doing everything in her power to keep Susan mad and unhappy with her, so maybe it will work this time for good. The thing is that the girlfriend is a convicted felon and if she were living here, then Susan would not have been let out of jail until the cops had cleared her out. The past four or five days have been miserable with constant wrangling and arguing. Every time they break up the girlfriend instantly finds another person to date......not really but that's what she claims. There really aren't that many single lesbians working at the local Taco Time I don't think. She's also helped by making promises and breaking them, and lying and stealing.
I had a very long talk with my sleep doctor on Thursday. The news from the last test wasn't all that good. It confirmed exactly what I told them: I generally fall asleep relatively quickly, then wake up repeatedly all night. He's pretty much at a loss as to what to do next since the sleeping pills the other doctor prescribed for me don't work. They do help me on those few nights a month when I have trouble falling asleep, but do nothing about me waking up repeatedly all night. I'm not sure where we're going next. I guess I'll just wait and see.
Today should be the most fun you can have standing up. The girlfriend is coming over to get the last of her things so there is no reason for her to come back to the house. We have to have the locks changed because she is lying and saying she has never had a key to the house. I know that to be untrue since I had the key made and handed it to her myself.
On the upside, I've got a lot of stuff done toward the garden. The pots of flowers I thought drowned out have decided to show their heads now that the weather is turning warmer, so I can now identify which is which. I may have to plant a few more nasturtiums as the number managing to survive seem too few for a good pot of flowers. On the other hand, the sweet peas are abundant and should be beautiful. I got one of the hanging planters replanted for this year, and planted columbine, pansies, and some lilies in one of the flower beds.
I am going to be going to Home Depot again soon to pick up tomato plants, which are all the veggies that the garden center has out yet. We're going to put two in huge pots on the porch with tomato cages, and two of the really big ones in the garden, also in cages. We learned our lesson last year with regard to not staking them up from day one.
The rest of the garden will go in across the month of May. We're keeping it simple this year as much of what I planted last year didn't grow. Susan and I have decided to re-establish the flower bed that used to be along the side of the house. We're not sure yet all that we're putting in it, but it will be a bit at a time thing. One thing is going to be dwarf lilacs. I can't wait on that one. We're also considering putting in a cute little bed around the mailbox just because it looks great. From there we'll just wing it.
So far things with the garden are going well. We'll see.
The tension around here abated for a while, but is building again. My daughter is out of jail but is still on two months of home detention which allows her to go only to work and back. That means all the errands, grocery shopping, local bill paying, etc. falls to me. I don't mind I guess because it does get me out of the house from time to time.
Susan has broken up with her girlfriend......again. It's the fifth time I think. As with all the other times it probably won't last. At least this time the girlfriend is doing everything in her power to keep Susan mad and unhappy with her, so maybe it will work this time for good. The thing is that the girlfriend is a convicted felon and if she were living here, then Susan would not have been let out of jail until the cops had cleared her out. The past four or five days have been miserable with constant wrangling and arguing. Every time they break up the girlfriend instantly finds another person to date......not really but that's what she claims. There really aren't that many single lesbians working at the local Taco Time I don't think. She's also helped by making promises and breaking them, and lying and stealing.
I had a very long talk with my sleep doctor on Thursday. The news from the last test wasn't all that good. It confirmed exactly what I told them: I generally fall asleep relatively quickly, then wake up repeatedly all night. He's pretty much at a loss as to what to do next since the sleeping pills the other doctor prescribed for me don't work. They do help me on those few nights a month when I have trouble falling asleep, but do nothing about me waking up repeatedly all night. I'm not sure where we're going next. I guess I'll just wait and see.
Today should be the most fun you can have standing up. The girlfriend is coming over to get the last of her things so there is no reason for her to come back to the house. We have to have the locks changed because she is lying and saying she has never had a key to the house. I know that to be untrue since I had the key made and handed it to her myself.
On the upside, I've got a lot of stuff done toward the garden. The pots of flowers I thought drowned out have decided to show their heads now that the weather is turning warmer, so I can now identify which is which. I may have to plant a few more nasturtiums as the number managing to survive seem too few for a good pot of flowers. On the other hand, the sweet peas are abundant and should be beautiful. I got one of the hanging planters replanted for this year, and planted columbine, pansies, and some lilies in one of the flower beds.
I am going to be going to Home Depot again soon to pick up tomato plants, which are all the veggies that the garden center has out yet. We're going to put two in huge pots on the porch with tomato cages, and two of the really big ones in the garden, also in cages. We learned our lesson last year with regard to not staking them up from day one.
The rest of the garden will go in across the month of May. We're keeping it simple this year as much of what I planted last year didn't grow. Susan and I have decided to re-establish the flower bed that used to be along the side of the house. We're not sure yet all that we're putting in it, but it will be a bit at a time thing. One thing is going to be dwarf lilacs. I can't wait on that one. We're also considering putting in a cute little bed around the mailbox just because it looks great. From there we'll just wing it.
So far things with the garden are going well. We'll see.
Friday, April 13, 2007
This Whole Diet Thing
Since I went to the doctor earlier this week, I have been thinking a lot about this whole diet thing. I suppose I should start off by stating I no longer diet. Not for any reason. I pretty much ruined my metabolism when I was young with one extended starvation diet after another. I have literally lost entire people, but they always seem to find their way back and they always bring friends.
Some time a few years ago, I made the decision to never diet again. I have lived with that since and am happy with the decision. The funny thing is that over the past two years or so I've lost 40 pounds. No; you may not look at my butt and tell me: "I think I found it."
What I did was change my entire philosophy regarding eating. Now this is a very long process and it involves a lot of trial and error. I started as I do with everything I do, with extensive research and reading. I considered and rejected a number of eating plans, popular and totally insane.
So what did I finally settle on? Gradual changes. One at a time. Nothing dramatic. The principles were simple. First and foremost, I can and will eat anything I want when I want it in any amount I wish. Just knowing that is so freeing. It allows me to eat smaller amounts of rich or fattening food and be totally satisfied. After all, it's not as if I can't have all I want any time I want; so for some reason that means I am satisfied with less.
I started making some logical substitutes in my diet. I bought hard wheat pasta because it contains more fiber, is digested much more slowly, and I eat less of it and stay fuller over time. I started eating more vegetables and fruits. I have a decided advantage over most people in that I rarely eat pastries, garbage such as chips and sodas, or fast food in the first place. I don't care for most processed food and I avoid eating things with preservatives and additives if I possibly can without being fanatical about it. I eat low fat salad dressings because I personally cannot tell the difference between them and the full fat varieties so I save calories. I won't touch low or non fat milk, cream cheese, or sour cream. I have made the decision to eat less of the real thing than a lot of something that tastes roughly like library paste. Old library paste at that. And yes, as a kid I did eat it so I do know what it tastes like.
I began reducing my portions. Not because I thought I was being virtuous, but rather because I was satisfied with less. The result has been a steadily increasing weight loss with no feeling of deprivation. Sewmouse has been nagging me. Ok to be fair so has my doctor. What about? Exercise. I am fond of saying that any time I get an urge to exercise, I just lay down for a while and it goes away. But they are both right. Given my limited mobility (I have sciatica, exercise-induced asthma, and very bad knees) I have to find things I can do. Both the doctor and Sewmouse have recommended doing five minutes of exercise at a time. That would still grow into 30 minutes 4 times a week over time as I do more of the five minute segments. *sigh*
So where am I going with this? Nowhere really. I'm not really trying to lose weight though the changes I am making apparently are doing that anyway. I already have low blood pressure and low cholesterol, so that's not a problem either. I'm disgustingly healthy for the most part. I think for once I am doing this for all the right reasons. I no longer think I can starve myself into being acceptable to men and frankly I don't give a rat's ass about that any more anyway. I put that behind me quite a few years ago. I simply want to be healthier and make my life that much easier. I like the way I eat. I don't eat stuff I don't like. I refuse. Life (no matter how long) is too short to waste by eating garbage and pretending it's caviar.
So this week I start exercising a bit at a time as weather and my own pig-headedness allows. I begin a program of meditation. I am currently in another sleep study thing, and I have a bottle of sleeping pills that I've waited since half past forever to get my hands on. Ironically I cannot take them right now because of the sleep study. But that will be over next Wednesday. I am doing some research into acupuncture for insomnia. We have an acupuncturist within half a mile of the house I could go to if it's affordable and if I find any evidence it works.
Time marches on. I found a new produce market yesterday. Great buys on great stuff. I am making barbecue sauce at the moment for the chicken tonight. We'll have it with salad and grilled asperagus. Oh yes, did I forget to mention the fresh lemon meringue pie?
Some time a few years ago, I made the decision to never diet again. I have lived with that since and am happy with the decision. The funny thing is that over the past two years or so I've lost 40 pounds. No; you may not look at my butt and tell me: "I think I found it."
What I did was change my entire philosophy regarding eating. Now this is a very long process and it involves a lot of trial and error. I started as I do with everything I do, with extensive research and reading. I considered and rejected a number of eating plans, popular and totally insane.
So what did I finally settle on? Gradual changes. One at a time. Nothing dramatic. The principles were simple. First and foremost, I can and will eat anything I want when I want it in any amount I wish. Just knowing that is so freeing. It allows me to eat smaller amounts of rich or fattening food and be totally satisfied. After all, it's not as if I can't have all I want any time I want; so for some reason that means I am satisfied with less.
I started making some logical substitutes in my diet. I bought hard wheat pasta because it contains more fiber, is digested much more slowly, and I eat less of it and stay fuller over time. I started eating more vegetables and fruits. I have a decided advantage over most people in that I rarely eat pastries, garbage such as chips and sodas, or fast food in the first place. I don't care for most processed food and I avoid eating things with preservatives and additives if I possibly can without being fanatical about it. I eat low fat salad dressings because I personally cannot tell the difference between them and the full fat varieties so I save calories. I won't touch low or non fat milk, cream cheese, or sour cream. I have made the decision to eat less of the real thing than a lot of something that tastes roughly like library paste. Old library paste at that. And yes, as a kid I did eat it so I do know what it tastes like.
I began reducing my portions. Not because I thought I was being virtuous, but rather because I was satisfied with less. The result has been a steadily increasing weight loss with no feeling of deprivation. Sewmouse has been nagging me. Ok to be fair so has my doctor. What about? Exercise. I am fond of saying that any time I get an urge to exercise, I just lay down for a while and it goes away. But they are both right. Given my limited mobility (I have sciatica, exercise-induced asthma, and very bad knees) I have to find things I can do. Both the doctor and Sewmouse have recommended doing five minutes of exercise at a time. That would still grow into 30 minutes 4 times a week over time as I do more of the five minute segments. *sigh*
So where am I going with this? Nowhere really. I'm not really trying to lose weight though the changes I am making apparently are doing that anyway. I already have low blood pressure and low cholesterol, so that's not a problem either. I'm disgustingly healthy for the most part. I think for once I am doing this for all the right reasons. I no longer think I can starve myself into being acceptable to men and frankly I don't give a rat's ass about that any more anyway. I put that behind me quite a few years ago. I simply want to be healthier and make my life that much easier. I like the way I eat. I don't eat stuff I don't like. I refuse. Life (no matter how long) is too short to waste by eating garbage and pretending it's caviar.
So this week I start exercising a bit at a time as weather and my own pig-headedness allows. I begin a program of meditation. I am currently in another sleep study thing, and I have a bottle of sleeping pills that I've waited since half past forever to get my hands on. Ironically I cannot take them right now because of the sleep study. But that will be over next Wednesday. I am doing some research into acupuncture for insomnia. We have an acupuncturist within half a mile of the house I could go to if it's affordable and if I find any evidence it works.
Time marches on. I found a new produce market yesterday. Great buys on great stuff. I am making barbecue sauce at the moment for the chicken tonight. We'll have it with salad and grilled asperagus. Oh yes, did I forget to mention the fresh lemon meringue pie?
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
A Day at the Doctor
Today I went to see my doctor again. It's about this sleep problem. We talked. I'm doing a lot of stuff right, including continuing to lose weight. Another four pounds this time. That's like 8 pounds in a month or so.
He suggested that I read a book that includes 5 minute exercise programs. I know I am going to have to get into that. I just don't like the pain and the wheezing and choking. Maybe breaking it down in five minute segments will help that some. He also suggested I begin my meditation. I have finished reading the book but had not actually started. I will do that tonight before going to bed. He also said that on those nights I wake up for more than 20 minutes, I have to get up and go out into the living room. I have to do something I find boring, like folding clothes, doing dishes, or something else of that nature.
He also gave me sleeping pills. We went for the mildest and those least likely to ever be addicting. He will watch it closely since I am worried about the addiction bit no matter how well they might work otherwise.
Seems lady luck was smiling. Just an hour or so before I was due to leave the house for the Dr. appointment, I got a call from the optometrist (which is in the same building) and my glasses were ready, so I made two trips in one. Saved gas.
Tomorrow I have to burn more gas though. I have to drive down to Redmond to the Group Health hospital there and pick up this bracelet thingie for another sleep test. I may have to put off taking my sleeping pills for a time if I'm doing a sleep test as it could throw off the results. On the way back I have to stop and pay the mortgage payment. Again I will be combining two stops in one and if I time it right I will be able to stop at a place I love for some Thai for lunch. That will make the entire day worth while.
So I'm continuing to take care of my health and getting all the things fixed that I have had to let go for so long because I had no insurance. I suppose sometime after everything is better for Susan I will go in and see about having this hernia repaired. More fun.
I've been talking to Susan today about the garden. It's fun to begin making plans for flowers, shrubs, and bulbs and things. We will have a pretty yard and lots of flowers one of these days. I am taking it one step at a time. That seems wisest. A bit here and a bit there and things get done. This week I've already dug up and dumped 5 small buckets full of dandelions. Of course you cannot tell that by looking, but It's true nonetheless. Sometime after the 21st I will start acquiring plants for the vegetable garden for this year. I'm thinking of putting Marigolds in it to keep the slugs and cutworms out or at least down to a few. They hate them for some reason.
He suggested that I read a book that includes 5 minute exercise programs. I know I am going to have to get into that. I just don't like the pain and the wheezing and choking. Maybe breaking it down in five minute segments will help that some. He also suggested I begin my meditation. I have finished reading the book but had not actually started. I will do that tonight before going to bed. He also said that on those nights I wake up for more than 20 minutes, I have to get up and go out into the living room. I have to do something I find boring, like folding clothes, doing dishes, or something else of that nature.
He also gave me sleeping pills. We went for the mildest and those least likely to ever be addicting. He will watch it closely since I am worried about the addiction bit no matter how well they might work otherwise.
Seems lady luck was smiling. Just an hour or so before I was due to leave the house for the Dr. appointment, I got a call from the optometrist (which is in the same building) and my glasses were ready, so I made two trips in one. Saved gas.
Tomorrow I have to burn more gas though. I have to drive down to Redmond to the Group Health hospital there and pick up this bracelet thingie for another sleep test. I may have to put off taking my sleeping pills for a time if I'm doing a sleep test as it could throw off the results. On the way back I have to stop and pay the mortgage payment. Again I will be combining two stops in one and if I time it right I will be able to stop at a place I love for some Thai for lunch. That will make the entire day worth while.
So I'm continuing to take care of my health and getting all the things fixed that I have had to let go for so long because I had no insurance. I suppose sometime after everything is better for Susan I will go in and see about having this hernia repaired. More fun.
I've been talking to Susan today about the garden. It's fun to begin making plans for flowers, shrubs, and bulbs and things. We will have a pretty yard and lots of flowers one of these days. I am taking it one step at a time. That seems wisest. A bit here and a bit there and things get done. This week I've already dug up and dumped 5 small buckets full of dandelions. Of course you cannot tell that by looking, but It's true nonetheless. Sometime after the 21st I will start acquiring plants for the vegetable garden for this year. I'm thinking of putting Marigolds in it to keep the slugs and cutworms out or at least down to a few. They hate them for some reason.
Monday, April 09, 2007
A New Push for Immigration Reform
Mr. Bush and congress have apparently begun a new push for what they call real immigration reform. While their positions still are far apart, they are much closer than they were originally. The plans I’ve seen have many major flaws as yet, but parts of them might be workable with some tweaking.
The article on CNN today explains the changes congress is proposing:
“The plan would grant work visas to undocumented immigrants but require them to return home and pay hefty fines to become legal U.S. residents. They could apply for three-year work visas, dubbed "Z" visas, which would be renewable indefinitely but cost $3,500 each time.
The undocumented workers would have legal status with the visas, but to become legal permanent residents with a green card, they'd have to return to their home country, apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate to re-enter legally and pay a $10,000 fine.
That's far more restrictive than the bipartisan bill the Senate approved last year.
So far, Bush has only gotten part of what he wants -- border legislation. He signed a bill last October authorizing 700 additional miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.”
While this is better than the Senate bill from last year, it’s still far from ideal and does not take into account many factors that will steeply escalate the cost to the American taxpayer. The one thing I see in it that I do like is that the so-called “touchback” provision that was being floated recently is modified. Before all an illegal immigrant would have to do is step across the border and back across to fulfill the requirement that they leave the country. Now they have to go home and apply and pay a fine.
The White House has also suggests that we “redirect as many as 50,000 visas that take into account factors such as an immigrant's education, training, and language skills as well as the employment needs of the country.” This is a small step in the right direction, but it needs to be many more than the proposed 50,000. Currently most visas are granted because the applicant has a family member who is already here legally. It does not take education, language skills, or employability into account.
People who support unrestricted legal immigration are fond of pointing out that the United States is a nation of immigrants and that many people’s parents and grandparents came to this country as immigrants. This argument simply is not valid today. Fifty or a hundred years ago education was not as critical a success factor as it is today. It was entirely possible to own a home and raise a family on the salary of a janitor or some other low-skilled laborer with only one adult in the family working. This is not possible today. Also, those coming here from other countries then generally had learning the language as a top priority, which is also different from many of today’s illegal immigrants who expect those here to learn their languages as opposed to them learning ours.
A recent report on immigration says that each illegal immigrant family costs the country $2700/year above and beyond what it contributes back in taxes. In 2002 cost was $10.4 billion a year. Two-thirds of illegal immigrants today lack a high school education. If granted amnesty, the report estimates that the cost of providing social services, would increase to $7,700 per year per family for a cost of $29 billion because while tax payments would rise by 77% the drain on social programs would rise by 118%. It is important to consider too that these costs are predicated on 2002 costs.
Another important factor to consider when addressing the drain on social programs is that legal immigrants sign up their children at a much greater rate to programs such as Medicaid than do illegals (even if their children are legal) out of fear of being caught and deported. These will rise dramatically when the illegals can legally apply to these programs.
You can read the entire report here:
http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscal.html
Some other factors to consider in regard to this new push for “comprehensive” immigration reform is that it’s been tried before and the government is amazingly adept at conveniently “forgetting” clauses in the law that require strict enforcement of laws against hiring illegals, stringent border security, a non-forgeable identification card for legal immigrants, and other such tightening of the laws. Just as with the H-1B visa program which is approving visas at a rate four times that authorized by congress, this new amnesty measure is sure to be abused as there is no will to enforce the other more stringent clauses in the law. Mr. Reagan’s famous amnesty program proves this clearly. There were many parts of that law that were simply ignored, such as enforcing the rules against hiring illegals, once the amnesty was granted.
Without a real commitment to stringent enforcement, this bill will do nothing but flood the country with millions of illegal immigrants who are under-educated and who cannot or will not assimilate as did the other waves of immigrants to this country. Remember too that gang members, crooks, drug runners, and other criminals will not register. Given the costs and the requirements that the illegal return to their own country to apply for the new Z visa, it’s not hard to predict that the majority of illegals here at the moment will not register to become legal either. Thus we will simply be beginning another cycle leading to another big amnesty bill, with no real progress being made toward really securing our borders.
The key to solving this problem, no matter where we come down on the amnesty portion, is stringent enforcement of our existing immigration laws. It is only when we dry up the jobs for illegals and inpose severe penalties for those who break the laws (illegals and employers alike) that we stand any chance at all of actually solving this problems. Mr. Reagan proved that just granting blanket amnesty and turning a blind eye to the other provisions just perpetuates the problem.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Spring
It is spring. Normally that doesn't mean a lot to me as one season is pretty much like another other than for what I might choose to wear.
This past month, however, has been extremely stressful an expensive for me, and expensive is also stressful. My daughter is currently serving jail time for drunk driving. She has allowed her sometimes violent girlfriend to remain in the house, and while said girlfriend has been good it's one of those shoes to drop situations. Her ex is getting remarried and that caused stress. Since she and the girlfriend cannot drive, I've been doing a lot more of that as well, though they have been reimbursing me for gas.
The money thing is just ridiculous this month. It started out with my car needing $750 worth of repairs and an oil change. Then my hard drive went out and my printer put its little electronic legs into the air and expired. I had to buy a new security suite for the computer.
In the mail came my yearly renewals for my car insurance and also for my Costco membership, both at the same time.
Next I had to get new glasses. Another $250+ down the drain since I need special lenses and stuff. That is cheap by the way compared to what I usually pay, but the insurance took care of a pile of it.
Yesterday my sister tells me she's been in an accident and needs $1800 to get the car fixed so she and two of her kids can continue going to work. Today the medical place calls and tells me replacing my CPAP machine is going to cost me $146. I'm just monied out. My stress levels started hitting critical range.
So yesterday I went out and spent $60 I really cannot afford. Why would I do that, you ask? Well, I need some relief from the stress. For me, that means gardening. So I bought some plants (8 I think), some dirt, a weeder for dandelions, and a few packages of easy to grow seeds. The weather here is bright and sunny and in the 70s. So this morning I went out and with help got the herb garden tub moved where it belongs. Then I murdered an entire bucket of dandelions. I dug up everything in the herb garden, tossing what was dead, being nice to what survived. Then I added nice new dirt and replanted the good ones along with the three extra ones I bought yesterday. I also realized I needed gloves about the fourth or fifth time I had to dig dirt out from under my nails. I also need grass seed to compete with the murdered remains of the dandelions. Then I emptied out one of the porch planters so I could plant pansies. I have this pretty new planter full of blue and white pansies.
Today's gardening is over and I feel much more relaxed as a result. So what's next? Well, tomorrow I will make a run to get the gloves and the grass seed. I'll also fill up the pots I bought (really cheap on sale) and will plant nasturtium, sweetpeas, and a wildlife blend of seeds. I have a leftover big pot from last year. That gets some columbines. After that I am almost done for this time. I'll plant two bulbs I have in the house, and see if they grow as well.
In a couple of weeks the main garden goes in. We're being a bit more circumspect this year and will mainly grow stuff we do does well in our climate. Next year, and yes I'm already planning, we will have spring bulbs (planted this fall), and then late summer and fall bulbs (planted later in the year). And my daughter has promised I get my lilac bush before the end of the year.
Gardening relaxes me. It is exercise with a purpose. It doesn't make demands and doesn't talk back. It just does what you want sometimes. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment like nothing else I know of. Best of all it forces me to go outside into the sunshine.
I have to go now. I am taking the dogs to visit my daughter. The garden has begun.
This past month, however, has been extremely stressful an expensive for me, and expensive is also stressful. My daughter is currently serving jail time for drunk driving. She has allowed her sometimes violent girlfriend to remain in the house, and while said girlfriend has been good it's one of those shoes to drop situations. Her ex is getting remarried and that caused stress. Since she and the girlfriend cannot drive, I've been doing a lot more of that as well, though they have been reimbursing me for gas.
The money thing is just ridiculous this month. It started out with my car needing $750 worth of repairs and an oil change. Then my hard drive went out and my printer put its little electronic legs into the air and expired. I had to buy a new security suite for the computer.
In the mail came my yearly renewals for my car insurance and also for my Costco membership, both at the same time.
Next I had to get new glasses. Another $250+ down the drain since I need special lenses and stuff. That is cheap by the way compared to what I usually pay, but the insurance took care of a pile of it.
Yesterday my sister tells me she's been in an accident and needs $1800 to get the car fixed so she and two of her kids can continue going to work. Today the medical place calls and tells me replacing my CPAP machine is going to cost me $146. I'm just monied out. My stress levels started hitting critical range.
So yesterday I went out and spent $60 I really cannot afford. Why would I do that, you ask? Well, I need some relief from the stress. For me, that means gardening. So I bought some plants (8 I think), some dirt, a weeder for dandelions, and a few packages of easy to grow seeds. The weather here is bright and sunny and in the 70s. So this morning I went out and with help got the herb garden tub moved where it belongs. Then I murdered an entire bucket of dandelions. I dug up everything in the herb garden, tossing what was dead, being nice to what survived. Then I added nice new dirt and replanted the good ones along with the three extra ones I bought yesterday. I also realized I needed gloves about the fourth or fifth time I had to dig dirt out from under my nails. I also need grass seed to compete with the murdered remains of the dandelions. Then I emptied out one of the porch planters so I could plant pansies. I have this pretty new planter full of blue and white pansies.
Today's gardening is over and I feel much more relaxed as a result. So what's next? Well, tomorrow I will make a run to get the gloves and the grass seed. I'll also fill up the pots I bought (really cheap on sale) and will plant nasturtium, sweetpeas, and a wildlife blend of seeds. I have a leftover big pot from last year. That gets some columbines. After that I am almost done for this time. I'll plant two bulbs I have in the house, and see if they grow as well.
In a couple of weeks the main garden goes in. We're being a bit more circumspect this year and will mainly grow stuff we do does well in our climate. Next year, and yes I'm already planning, we will have spring bulbs (planted this fall), and then late summer and fall bulbs (planted later in the year). And my daughter has promised I get my lilac bush before the end of the year.
Gardening relaxes me. It is exercise with a purpose. It doesn't make demands and doesn't talk back. It just does what you want sometimes. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment like nothing else I know of. Best of all it forces me to go outside into the sunshine.
I have to go now. I am taking the dogs to visit my daughter. The garden has begun.
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