Quiet, "No Buy" Day

 Still sore here and keeping quiet. Please don't buy, share today. Mercy curled up in bed, I plan the same. Things are on the mend for me. Have a good day.

Ouch!

 Blogger Boud has Helen Hip and yours truly has Helene and her sister, Sandra Sacrum. Both aggravate easily and the too-high hotel bed and standard rather than ADA height toilet did this nicely. I've put up sans heating or ice until today. The heating pad located, the ice pack finally cold, I am steeped in self care. I also accidently hit my forehead against the corner of the bathroom sink after cleaning a small spill from the bathroom floor in my hotel room, so I brought home a bijou goose egg, and fortunately, no other symptoms. Both Mercy and I are tired. I've no interest in cooking so the grocery order contained several soups, crackers, cheese, cooked eggs and easily put together meals. 

I plan to participate in the no-buy action this Friday. Visit Joanne Noragon's blog for further information.

Cheers and have a good day!

Finally

 Mercy arrived home amid clouds and rain. Her pet sitter placed her in the stroller and latched it shut so Mercy  could not be underfoot during the unpacking and putting together of her kitty condo cubes. None too happy regarding this arrangement, Little Miss vocalized steadily for the next hour and a half. By then, all accoutrements unboxed, she seemed exhausted. Let free, she made for my lap and licked my hands repeatedly before falling asleep in her stroller. 

She has since explored every inch of me and our apartment, as if to reassure herself that she is indeed home.

Almost home...

 I arrived home yesterday. The apartment had had a good airing but needed a cleaning. The dear friend responsible for that and bed making and helping unpack is forever in my good books. Miss Mercy comes back later this afternoon. She has not enjoyed her adventure at the Cat Nap Inn and has needed an appetite stimulant to help her eat. Poor baby, she's missing her person and her house. Her vets are very caring, and I understand she got lots of attention and even asked for cuddles. I got daily reports and photos. I'm glad this is almost over and my thanks to both dear friend and pet sitter as I could never have done all the preparation or clean up post fumigation alone.

Gone today

 I hope to catch up sometime after my return. Do take care.

Cheers from Crackerland...

Almost ready...

  Most of Mercy's things are packed though she still has her house, three tier tunnel and a snake toy out. There are several items to be packed and I had to alter the hotel reservation and check in the night before the tenting occurs due to occupancy and check-in times. This means more rushing, more needed food, less time to double check things. All reservations confirmed. The front room is dotted by Nylofume bags, doubled, and containing all requested household items. This includes foods, vitamins, cleaning supplies and things opened or not in their original containers. Upon departure, I am to unplug electrics, raise blinds, strip beds and any coverings like mattress protectors, leave the air conditioner running and lock up. The fridge must also be emptied. Fun stuff. I am grateful to the dear friend helping me and to Mercy's pet sitter. I hope Mercy can enjoy the Cat Nap Inn.

Crazy times in Crackerland...

Happy Hearts Day

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you from me and my furry valentine.

Cheers from Crackerland 

Cranky feline and other sad tales...

 Mercy had a visit to get her monthly preventative this morning and less than delighted, decided a tantrum should ensue. This involved threatening vocalizations, hiding and attempted nipping. No treat, soft speaking or play mollified this girl. She had none of it, Fortunately, her pet sitter is patient and kind and loves Mercy. Despite these bouts of moodiness, she prevailed valiantly in placing the drops on Mercy's fur. 

I've been up since three and managed to cook some salmon, haul out three bags of trash and get the dishes done and laundry put up. Groceries are in and bleary-eyed though I may be, there is more to be done if the recalcitrant one and I are to make the pest control people happy.

Anything fun, inspiring or lovely in your day so far?

Still alive in Crackerland...

Keys picked up but no bags...

 So this previously seamless tenting situation has become stupid. The keys got picked up and instructions left at the door but, and this is the most important bit, no Nylofume bags, necessary to shield items from Vikane gas, have been left.

 After calling the pest control representative again this morning, he called back to say a board member picked up the keys and left the instructions and he has the bags. The name and number are on a piece of paper that Mr. Pest Control did not have in front of him, but glasses and origami are details that stuck. I then fired off a polite email request for bags to be left at my door, again...

Never before has this been so difficult.

Someone asked about my use of Crackerland...

There are several meanings for cracker, apart from its history as a snack or cocktail food, as in

Georgia or Florida Cracker

Gone Crackers

Making Crackers

All three or none may apply depending upon the humor of the reader.

Personally, I think "gone crackers" describes this land aptly.

Have a good day!

Booked and Tired...

 I'm booked at the same place I stayed not quite six years ago during termite tenting here. My oh my but the prices are high during this season...still, I had a pleasant experience last time and privacy as needed. I'll be doing self catering since breakfast is the only meal provided. That should not be too hard as both pantry and freezer are full and I can cook ahead. Meantime,  I think some extra shut eye is in order.

Happy day from Crackerland...

Etc...

 I contacted the pest control company about the scheduled fumigation/tenting and the gentleman in charge of that for my building advised me to call property management as he believed the date had been changed. I called, voicemail full. I sent an email. He is to leave instructions and bags at my door Monday and pick up a key. Hopefully, all is sorted  by then.

Mercy's arrangements have been made and are easily adjusted as needed, mine have not and are not. The better part of the day involved my check hitting the bank early. I am likely to need it all for boarding and my accommodation. The time out is generally at least 48 hours or a bit longer and the cost is on me.

 A friend has agreed to help prep, pack and drop me off at a hotel.

That's it from Crackerland this evening.

Cheers!

Brain Fog or something...

 So, this morning, a persistent knock brought me to the peephole only to discover our friendly pet sitter for her monthly visit. Mercy bolted beneath a chair, a deep guttural sound revealing displeasure. The pet sitter gently spoke and picked Mercy up, cradling Little Miss and quickly trimmed toes sans protest. Mercy got extra pets, a treat and no medicine as her flea and tick failed to appear on time.

I'd forgotten this appointment, the payment and the preparation of my girl. Not like me at all.  My next project is finding a place to go during an upcoming tenting/fumigation of this building. Mercy can board at her vet for the duration. I need a safe and affordable hotel and an accessible bathroom. Since COVID. and as a complete homebody, I avoid strangers and groups, so this task is more of a challenge than it appears. I am also curious to see if my monthly social security check is going to make its scheduled appearance.

Good Evening from Crackerland

Forty-three years ago today...

 I completed my last class of the day and upon entering my college dorm, found a cryptic note from my maternal grandparents:" Stay in, Coming to get you." At their arrival an hour or so later, I discovered my stepfather had died during a lengthy trip back to Panama to visit friends, He died in the hospital that he served in and retired from just four years earlier. At not quite fifty-nine, a second heart attack had killed him and left my mother, then in her very early forties, distraught, and traveling back to the US accompanied by a friend and her husband's coffin.

He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Though a demanding and conservative man, his love could be found in our home, travels and the respect garnered from his job, community involvement and  friends, He and I clashed politically and socially but I believed then and still do, that he loved us.

Goodnight from Crackerland

If it is Tuesday...

 It must be trash day, and luckily, I got mine in, courtesy of an anonymous younger neighbor.  Though quite pleasant, she did not introduce herself.  Have you noticed that neighbors don't do that anymore? I might have simply avoided her had she not offered to take my bag. She did, and got my thanks and hopes for a good day.

Have any of you been listening to Heather Cox Richardson? If not, Google her and lend an ear. Plaudits to her for cutting through confusion and explaining some of the current goings on in government, Did any of you elect a South African-born computer hacker and six of his cronies? Are any of your legislators attempting to stop this? Try calling and asking...

Mercy is fine and has been very active today.  She is sixteen months old as of today and still plays like a kitten. She has developed a disdain for photos so hides or runs if the phone comes out, so the picture here is not commemorative.

Meals have been largely a simple combination of ready ingredients and vegetables. My splurge has been cheese and crackers. It has become Spring-like but my favorite meteorologist assures me that another cold snap is in the offing...

Cheers from Crackerland...