The Sun Will Come Out Again, Right?

I'll try not to make this a colossal gripefest, but ... yesterday (Tuesday) I went out for the first time since Saturday due to a mega cold. And most days it has been overcast. So we're leading off with 'stock photos,' in other words, most photos were taken before the plague hit me.

Yes, the sun did warm the azalea enough for it to pop.

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I think it was last Friday, not sure when, but when I went for groceries, these neighbors were out ...

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When I got home from California, I had decided to use up any coffee k-pods I had to stop creating so much landfill waste. It turns out, there were no coffee pods left, just Irish Breakfast Tea. When my six reusable containers arrived, I was elated. That was until I found out what a pain in the rear it is to fill them. I even tried my trusty plastic funnel -- no, the neck was too small and promptly stopped flowing. So I use a teaspoon and lots of curses. Did I mention they leave a small bit of sludge in the bottom of the cup of coffee?

It occurred to me that if I filled them and left them out on the counter (in the pod rack), they might get stale. Luckily, I kept the box they came in so they fit neatly in the fridge.

While Phyllis (the Gardener) was here, I asked her if I could put coffee grounds in the garden. She enthusiastically said yes, and mentioned coffee grounds are particularly good for slugs. I immediately had a mental image of slugs at a coffee bar, but what she said is they will stay away from plants because their skin is sensitive and the coffee grounds irritate it.

I had to stop typing here for a coughing fit which reminded me to go to the bathroom ... 

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Last week before I got this cold, I was going to the gym around the corner.

This is the main entrance from the parking lot. The movie theaters are to the right.

The TVs below are impressive, but they don't have labels to indicate what network is showing (like the PF in Cathedral City) so it can be interesting trying to find which piece of equipment you want to be on. I do know I don't want to be in front of Fox network.

Below is my favorite ab piece of equipment. It's called a Cybex machine and I was not happy that it's out on the main floor where everybody can see me struggle. If you look to the back of the picture, that is the window facing the inside of the Hampshire Mall. Part of that window is frosted so people can't stare in at you, but it still is darker than I'm used to because it's artificial lighting as opposed to bright sunlight.

I have just watched Holzhauer win his 20th game of Jeopardy, putting his total winnings over $1.5 Million. He won over $100,000 tonight in one game -- usually about 20 grand was a lot. This guy is a phenom. He seems to have a perfect memory and has been widely read. Supposedly, his profession is 'sports betting.' I wonder if he was good at that ...

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Just to make me want to get out of the house more, I need calamine lotion. I have poison ivy on my wrist and hand. The only way I can think I got it is from a jacket I must have worn gardening last year. Or, it was the gloves I used to pull a few weeds last week. I wouldn't mind but there are 8 zillion more weeds I should have pulled. It doesn't seem like I did enough to warrant this rash!

I wonder if washing dishes by hand will help the rash go away. I haven't even thought about replacing the dishwasher. Even though I can order everything online, the thought of having a delivery and an installer come is too much for me right now. 

Luckily, before the cold hit, I had the hot water flow valve replaced so now I can have a hot shower. Of course, that was another nifty bill. ("They don't even make that valve any more!") Sheesh.

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I chortled the other day when I told my mother that  Aldis had eggs for 88 cents/dozen. Today she texted me and said her Aldis charged 89 cents/dozen. I think it's because they turned on the air conditioning for the hens. We're letting our hens here shiver or they can put on last year's sweaters.

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Last night I was up late coughing and I heard an owl outside hooting the night away. I have never heard an owl here before. Yes, I have heard the peepers (new frogs) when in the car but I haven't had the windows open to hear if the bull frogs are in song. 

On FaceBook, some state agency asked motorists to be wary of hard-to-see frogs and critters in the road. I'm so busy dodging potholes that I doubt I'd see a frog who's crossing the street to go on a date.  

We had more rain and more flooding so I think the golf course might be dried out by June 30th. We have two other golf courses in Town and I don't think they have the same flooding problem due to higher elevations.

A few years ago, we had a court ordered volunteer at the Library. His 'crime' was joy riding a golf cart around that golf course. I asked him if alcohol was involved and he said, "A lot." I think after he did his community service, they would wipe his record clean. I hope so. He was a nice kid.

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Speaking of education, I went to see a film about Klimt and Schiele. I knew very little about both artists, so I learned a lot. Next Saturday it's about Rembrandt. I asked the director of the Cinema if they would repeat some of the ones I missed during the winter and she was doubtful because only one company releases these films on a very limited basis. It seemed weird, but I'll just have to hope that I can see them sometime.

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I've been watching the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel. Apparently, they know it's me and all of my peers. I am now convinced by the barrage of ads that I need burial insurance to pay for a funeral, adult diapers, a life support scan (which appears to be an all over body ultrasound -- "Remember the first symptom of a stroke is a stroke!!"), and blood thinners for the a-fib I do not have. Sigh. 

I'll be putting up with these ads because I'm enjoying seeing the really old TV shows such as Perry Mason, Matlock, Psych, Monk, and others. If I watch the Inspiration channel, I get the Waltons and really old westerns. I don't remember what ads they are running, but they are all for old people too ...

Have a terrific week and take care of yourself. Life is too short to not enjoy it. Cheers!