My Novels

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Very long time, no post!

Why? The million dollar question. I'm still alive, and a lot has been happening. What isn't happening? Not much writing, and I sure do miss it. Almost like relearning how to write/type!

I was in a blue funk for much of last year, starting with having Covid the previous February. It was a mild case, and I thought my stuffy sinuses was allergy. Then sinus infection. However, after a couple weeks, I lost taste/smell. Got some antibiotics, and that cleared it up. Tested a few months later for antibodies, had none and got the two shot pfizer vaccine. That vaccine was almost a year ago now, and with BA.5 going around, will probably catch it again at some point. (One sister/brother-in-law had it recently, first time, and sick but better now.)

What else? I was in the dumps because I had so many projects around this house I had put off, and went through a period of indecision. Had a good offer on selling my house, but eventually, decided to just get the work done. Had the old back porch demolished, rebuilt; new garage doors, foundation painted, and the stone patio taken up, privacy fence repaired. It was, of course, an ordeal but a relief to get that over with! Covid lockdown had put everything on delay, and I hate being undecided. For now, with the final pressure washing of siding, the house is in good condition. 

I have plenty of ideas for stories, but beyond making notes from research, haven't started anything new in a long, long time. This blog post is the first writing I've done...in ages! Slacker, I know. 

Partly my indecision stemmed from wondering if I should just go ahead and enter assisted living. I did put my name on a list for two local establishments, but have not received any notices of vacancies. And starting to think I never will. In the meantime, I have the space to decide if that is what I want now. I'm not disabled, just have arthritis (back/knee/feet) issues. Plus it is always a good idea to know what places are costing and waiting lists. I visited two, and one is more affordable, as well as suitable -- if necessary. 

But I still have Muffin, and though she is ten now, according to her recent vet visit, is in fairly good health. She is scheduled to get her teeth cleaned on August 8, and I probably need to adjust her diet to prevent more weight gain, as well as keep her healthy. My other dogs, Rambo & Oscar, lived to be 13/14, so she should be with me a few more years at least. And she is such a temperamental little dog, had many problems from before I got her, that it might be difficult to find her a home if my sister couldn't/wouldn't take her. That would not be fair to her either; a pet is a lifetime commitment. Sigh.

An old saying: "The more things change, the more they stay the same." In other words, different year, same problems. That goes for politics, health, climate change, all the usual ups and downs of life. We are currently in a dry, very hot period; need rain! Of course, this would be the summer I'm trying to get grass growing where patio stones were removed. Occasional watering is best I can do, but hopefully the grass will be established before Fall.

Family is all well, even the ones who have had Covid and recovered. And that is good news.

My health...last checkup I was fine. Except the usual arthritis problems. I still use the stationary bike every other day, which helps with sleep...though I never sleep especially well. Never have. Sigh.

So that is the latest from here. I need to do more writing, but can't get motivated! At 70, maybe I'm retired! Do writers ever retire, or just go through spells of writer's block?

For now, signing off.