If I can’t upload pictures, I feel like someone cut off my arms.

I want things to remain “the same.”  I haven’t learned the features of a “smartphone.” I don’t want a fancier computer or fancier software. I’m depressed and discouraged with my a trailer home for sale (way across town, with terrible Waco traffic). Discouraged because so many things are yet undone as I endeavor to get settled in my new apartment. I’m so tired because I’m not getting a good night’s sleep.

That’s my blog update for Friday, August 25th.

I braved the heat; I spent a lot of money—(almost $1200.00). I planned to display all the pictures but for some strange reason the programs won’t allow me to upload additional pictures. ~~ After the plumbers departed. I loaded several more “garden” items into the trunk of the KIA. I shifted the “for sale” sign to a location near the highway. Then I went to the shop on “that side of town” for a much-needed haircut. Then I filled the gas tank… and went to Discount Tire for air in my tires. Then to the nearby Home Depot  for  Command  hooks to hang things in the apartment—and another “for sale by owner” sign. ~~~ FYI: Haircut, $25.00. gas. $38.00, Home Depot $37.00, plumbers, $322.00, and $750.00 for September rent and “excess” water usage.

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(1) There is a minor plumbing problem at the trailer and I have been waiting for a call from a plumber indicating when he will be available. “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…” and no confirmation. Meanwhile, the water meter keeps spinning and I will have an enormous water bill. ~~ (2) A woman expressed interest in buying the trailer but does not have the money.  “Will you finance…?”  and I said “no.” ~~ (3) I’m not getting a good night’s sleep so I am extremely tired. I ache all over (is that a symptom of Covid?) Right now (11:00 AM) I haven’t the energy to hike down and up the two flights of steps.

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Yesterday, two residents approached me asking for my assistance with (1) the library, and (2) a yard sale. Hey, I’m an expert at “yard sales” but whatever we do here will be a unique experience. Furthermore, we must wait for cooler weather. I’m thrilled with the idea because I visualize offering all those empty crates.

Depressed, discouraged, “do mask.”

I’m respecting the isolation due to Covid in our retirement community. Things are slowly returning to “so-called normal” but I’m cautious about mingling. I’m spending too much time “climbing the family tree.” Two more projects found me and I spent many hours documenting the individuals. (Lorraine is “just a janitor cleaning up messes.”) On a positive note: I’m delighted that I have the detective skills to provide information for fellow Ancestry researchers.

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POSTSCRIPT @ 9:40 PM: Today, I went from hibernation to lunch in the dining room with five of us at a table designed for four people. A shock to the system?! Disconcerting.

…things are going in separate directions.

Bedroom/storeroom is getting organized, too. I’m partially motivated because I’ve begun to have visitors. I’ve been embarrassed. My apartment will always look like a garage sale compared to the beautiful furniture in other resident’s apartments. C’est la vie?

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The Activity Director gives “funny money” as a reward… but I don’t know the details because I haven’t attended any activities. With their “funny money,” the residents can buy things on display in her office. I think some of my donations will be appreciated by another resident. ~~ Gratefully, a few more things are out of my apartment!

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Despite the heat, I wanted to remove a few more items from my apartment. I had two bags of trash (styrofoam containers) because we are receiving all our meals in our room. The black suitcase went into the back of the KIA and will eventually be a donation to Goodwill (along with other stuff). ~~ A few necessities were shifted from the trailer to my new residence. Recently, I needed a “plumber’s friend” and was forced to contact our maintenance man. ~~ Obviously, it has been a period of time since I checked my mail. ~~ A day well spent?

I thought I’d take a load of things to my KIA—items for a donation to Goodwill. But when I looked at the temperature, I changed my mind. I don’t want to leave this air-conditioned building. I’ve made some progress, today, in the bedroom/storeroom. It’s rather pathetic (isn’t it?), that it takes Covid isolation to motivate me to work on “getting settled” projects. As I prepare to publish this message, at 2:30, the temperature is registering 110 degrees. Then, we need to add another seven to ten degrees for “feels like” temperature. ~~ I can’t decide what to do next. I can take a nap or I can climb trees.

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POSTSCRIPT: I didn’t take a nap and I didn’t climb the family tree. I washed the cobalt blue bottles that I removed from the “bottle tree” in my yard at the RV Park. I did a load of laundry.

Now, why did she do that? White paper inside a beautiful clear decanter?

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The “Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer” instructions are dated 3 Nov 2015. I have a new instrument so these old instructions are going in the waste basket. ~~ The plastic crates were an “inspiration”  this morning. I’ve been searching my brain for an answer to a perceived problem. The Shepherd’s Hook that supports the red, white, and blue bottles was leaning and (obviously) I do not want it to topple over and scatter broken glass on the ground two stories below. I had considered bringing heavy cement blocks from my yard at my trailer home. OMG, what a task to load… and unload… and hand truck to the balcony. These crates were available and are sturdy. Granted, they “take away” from the appearance of the display but I’m the only one who is looking at it. ~~ I plan to do some laundry and approach other “getting organized” projects.

I couldn’t sleep… so I checked my email for messages. A man sent an inquiry and I was quick to climb his family tree. He isn’t a Frantz cousin but the branches of our trees overlap. So-o-o, at two and three in the morning, I was engrossed in my hobby.

A neighbor/resident used his super strength to remove the base from the planter. In its earlier life, the small planter was above a larger similar planter. It was a very attractive display of flowers. Now the planter was needed for a more attractive base for the deteriorating planter. In my new residence, I won’t be “gardening.” In my new residence, I want my bottles in a patriotic display.

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P.S. She “wonders” how she did it.