Tuesday, March 25

I am back at home and very tired.  Got back from Costa Rica at 10PM on Thursday night and got up Friday morning and drove to Dallas to close on the house.  Stayed over the weekend because my daughter was in town and we had to work out some things on furniture placement, improvements, etc.

Yesterday I came home and stopped to see Cowboy.  I had talked to him twice on the telephone and when I spoke with him on Saturday he was a little agitated.  Wanted me to come to see him.  I spent a lot of time there yesterday.  He was fine, not upset, didn't question where I had been or anything.  It was a very nice day and we went outside for a good long while.  He went on and on about the "redbirds" he sees in the trees. Not sure if he is talking about cardinals, robins or something his mind only is seeing.  He was very happy about it.

The staff tells me he spends a lot of time outside and he is spending more time in the day room as well.  This is good.  He is interacting a lot more with the other residents.

It has been two weeks since I was there and came back to find that three of the men had passed away and been replaced with new people.  Wow, that really hit me.  In just two weeks.  One of them didn't surprise me but there was nothing to indicate the others were close to death.

The trip to Costa Rica was wonderful.  I had a great time.  There were several single ladies, two traveling together from Canada, a mother and daughter from California that were rather annoying, two young ladies from Chicago that were very nice and fun and one other single lady traveling alone.  She was from Arizona. There were 40 people in all but I was the only one from Texas.  I actually became good friends with a couple from Florida.  She just kind of adopted me and we got on  great.  I could go on and on about what we did and where we went but not at the moment.  I have so much to do to get ready to move.  Maybe later.

Tuesday, March 11

It is all set up to close on the new house on the 21st.  As far as I know everything is done.

I went to see Cowboy yesterday.  There are still a number of residents that are ill but the memory unit is about past it so we were able to have lunch and visit.  He had a touch of the bug but was not really sick just some stomach upset.  That is a relief.  I explained to him about moving again and he just looks at me.  Not sure is registering. I told him I was packing and he asked me "what are you packing?"  I explained again and he asks me again "what are you packing?"

I also told him I was going on a trip to Costa Rica.  He just said "OK".  It is interesting how much his not caring about anything affects you.  I noticed it first when one of the grandsons said "he just doesn't seem to care about me !".   That was some time ago but it is more and more true.   I try to explain it is the disease but it seems hard for them to accept.

I have quit packing for the moment.  Must concentrate on getting ready for my trip.  A different kind of packing.  I have not thought much about what I am going to take but I think I have bought everything I need.  Sun screen - check, insect repellent - check, bathing suit - check, shorts - whoops, better try them on.  Anyway I will get that done today and then will leave really early in the AM.

I am not sure if I will have a chance to post while I am away.  I understand there is internet access at the hotels but don't know the cost, etc.  Will return on the 20th, but have to leave early on the 21st to go to Dallas to close the house and start there.

I am off to get the car filled up and washed and then have to pick up a prescription, then home to get things ready to go.

Saturday, March 8

The band practiced on Monday afternoon.  The new lady that plays violin was there and she is good.  I feel much better about leaving them without a fiddle.  I will miss these guys.  We have become good friends and I will miss them (and the music).

On Tuesday some friends from the Emergency Management Committee took me to lunch.  I got a sweet card and we got to visit a bit.

I went over to see Cowboy on Wednesday and found that things were shut down due to an bad stomach virus running rampant in the home.  They recommended I not visit so I left.

I had been to a social committee meeting earlier on Wednesday.  The ladies had a little party for me, gave ma a framed picture, card and a wine stopper.  It was so nice.  While I was there I managed to tangle my leg up in a chair and fell.  No  harm done except for my pride.  Don't know how I managed to do that.  Have a bruised knee and ankle but I am fine.

We closed on the house on Thursday and it went well.  I think the new owner is a sweetheart.  He has been very easy to work with.

On the Arlington end, things continue to be less than smooth.   The bank called and needed another letter explaining the monthly deduction from the checking account for HOA dues.  They have been very nit picky.  I am thinking it might be because they had to pay billions of dollars in fines for being sloppy back during the mortgage debacle.  Anyway, the title company also said since the owner had the property for less than a year that another federal law that went in effect in January meant there had to be a "desk review" of the appraisal and then it had to be sent to me US MAIL for my approval.  This entire process has been handled by email, fax and such and they actually passed a law this year that requires the use of the US MAIL !!

Anyway, couldn't close on Friday.  It will get done after I return from my trip on the 21st.

I called the home yesterday and was told not to come.  They still have a lot of folks sick.  I feel sorry for the staff having to deal with vomit and diarrea all day.

This morning I went to Home Depot and looked at flooring and counter tops.  Am hoping to make some changes in the house.  Found out there is no way it will happen in less than a month or two so can't get it done  before move in.

I have been packing the rest of the day.  Slowly it is getting done.

Sunday, March 2

I just realized this morning I had not thought about the blog in days.  I have been very busy and thinking about all kinds of things.

I am not sure I can even recount the week.  Mostly packing, running here and there and then went to Dallas on Friday for a walk thru of the new house.

At this point we are hoping the house here will close on the 6th and the new house on the 7th but still waiting on a couple of things on that end.

On Wednesday when I visited Cowboy he was OK.  He was rather "staying within himself" and didn't have anything to say.  At one point he didn't know me but then later I asked him and he said I was his wife but couldn't tell me my name.    He ate a good lunch and then napped.  I have told him about the move and a couple of times he has asked me about it but not this week.

I actually drove back Friday night and was really wiped out.  Yesterday I slept in and had a "pajama day" but then last night I had a ticket to attend the Menuhin Competition.  It is a competition of young violinists under 22 from all over the globe, first time ever held in US.  There were four finalists.  I don't believe I have ever been so enthralled.   It is absolutely truly amazing the talent that is coming up.  I liked this 18 year old Korean lad the best.    Wow, dreamt about it all night.

I am on my way out the door to go see Cowboy.  

Sunday, February 23

I made very good progress on my to do list the last couple of days.  There is now the right "color" of light bulb in the socket, the electrical plates that I wanted to keep have been removed and replaced (those darn things aren't cheap !)  I discovered I had only one screwdriver and it was too big for the tiny screws.  Where on earth did they go?  I got some information together for a couple of friends and did some emails to let people know about the move.  The HVAC got checked out by the company that services it.  All is good.

My favorite handyman came by and got some boxes out of the attic, cleaned everything out.  I have this humongous suitcase I had forgotten about, the mirror from my dresser, some more Christmas stuff.  The faulty smoke detector has been replaced.  He also, took the rest of the stuff off the walls and patched and painted the remainder of those.  Why do we hang so much stuff on the walls?  The stuff that wasn't too big is now packed.

I went to get more boxes at the liquor store.  He said to come back on Tuesday or Wednesday but not this week.

I had an appointment with the pain doctor.  My prescription had no refills.  Also, got an injection in my hand.  It was killing me.  Also got a lecture about not overdoing it.  Right, like that is going to happen in the middle of a move.

The good news is I will be taking a short vacation right in the middle of all this so will have a nice rest.  I have never been to Costa Rica before and am looking forward to a bit of adventure.

I was reading our local community paper yesterday and there was an ad from a lady wanting to meet some musicians to do chamber music.  (now someone shows up that wants to do that, just when I am leaving).  I called her and suggested she might enjoy our little band since we do all kinds of stuff.  She is interested and is going to come to our next practice.  If it works out well I will feel a lot better about leaving them without a fiddle player.

I drove over to see Cowboy today.  It was pretty nice out and we went out and walked around for quite a while.  He was telling me about this little bird that he sees sometimes.  He loves birds but couldn't tell me what kind it was.  Apparently it had intrigued him.

There were some visitors there with two little "imperial shitzus"  I was not familiar with the breed but they were only about 4 or 5 pounds and really cute.  Cowboy wanted to hold one and they were nice enough to let him do that.  Then, for the first time in months and months, he asked about our dog.

We  had lunch and watched some TV and then I headed home.

Wednesday, February 19

Not a day goes by that some issue with one of the houses has to be addressed.  I had forgotten how crazy it can all be, but things are moving along.

Yesterday I slept in, fixed a good breakfast, read the whole paper, took a long walk and just generally rested.  It felt good.

I have a lovely friend that I saw Monday (you know who you are) who seems to think I need to slow down and rest more.  I am sure she is right but I don't think it is in my DNA.  Right now my mind is overflowing with things that I feel I need to remember to do.  I have a list and it just keeps getting longer.

I went to see Cowboy today.  He had his dental appointment and it ended up being for 1 and 1/2 hours.  That's a long time to lean back in a portable chair with your mouth open.  He did really well considering.  They deep cleaned the other half of his mouth and filled the remaining two cavities.  Hopefully that will be it for a while.  I just am going to have to make sure I get him scheduled again in 6 months for a cleaning.

Our lunch was cold by the time we got back to his unit but he did eat some of it.  He was very tired and we went back to his room and he rested.  Not much conversation today.  When I left I said I will see you and his response was "yeah".  Sometimes I leave feeling down.  Today was one of those.

It is almost 3 so probably won't get much of anything done today.  Am getting a haircut in the AM and then I have several days that I can just dig into the stuff around here at my own pace.

Sunday, February 16

I took my Grandson home Friday and stayed overnight and visited with family.  Came home yesterday.

We got quite a bit done while he was here but have a long way to go.  We carried another load to storage, filled the garage with boxes that are packed, some of them quite heavy.  The house is a bit topsy turvy and I suspect it will stay that way from here on out.

I have to replace a smoke detector that keeps doing strange things and am trying to figure out if should replace blinds on the patio doors.  It seems to be stripped but works for awhile and then not so much.  Realized I need to get everything out of the attic.  not much up there but still have to clean it out.  I know there is a big mirror up there that goes on my bedroom dresser.

I went to see Cowboy today.  He was sitting at the dining table asleep.  Looked like he had eaten some of his food and then fallen asleep.  I woke him up and encouraged him to finish.  He fell asleep a couple more times but did finish.

The nurse said his blood sugar was only 83 this morning and she waited until after lunch and took it again and it was only 106.  He also seemed sweaty and lethargic.  They didn't give him any insulin and said will check it this evening.  He didn't want to go outside although it was pleasant out and fell asleep again after we went back to his room.

Got word this morning that the contract addendum that spells out the work to be done was signed and accepted by the seller.  We are looking good at this point.