Heat Wave!

It's not the heat, it's the humidity! Just saying is all....

Tuesday I braved the heat and mowed the lawn. Did all right, after I figured out that you are supposed to engage the self-propelled feature! I was wondering why it was so hard to push it up the hill! I was sweating like crazy. Then I noticed the handle was up....it got a bit easier after that.

I finished the lawn and put everything away, just in time for the rain to hit and did it hit! Not as bad as in the western part of the state, but does it EVER get as bad weather-wise in this part of the state as it gets in Litchfield County? We can never compete with those guys...for anything!

The flowers appreciated the rain and the humidity...our hydrangeas popped into bloom...all four of them, for the first time since we moved in. Now I know that we have three blue hydrangeas and one white one. They are so beautiful. All my life I have longed to have blue hydrangea...and now I have two out front and one big one out back. I am going to have to transplant one of the front bushes though, they are way too close to each other out there. I heard that other folks had their bushes blooming for the first time in awhile this year, maybe it's because we got so much snow and rain? I dunno, but I hope that they keep on blooming every year.

Tuesday night I had a bit of anxiety when both Carol and Charmine said they couldn't come to New Haven with me on Wednesday. Carol had seen the doctor, who was keeping her on crutches for awhile longer. She is getting sick of this and almost can't wait to get back to work! Charmine's stomach was upset and she had to beg off.

I called around and even posted on Facebook, to see if anyone could come with me. A number of folks had told me they wanted to go to Ikea....well, none of them could come. Charmine saw my pathetic post on Facebook, called and said she was feeling better and could go. Whew!

Not that I needed anyone to drive me or anything. I just wanted to be able to do the things I wanted to do...doctor, pizza at Pepe's and Ikea, and have someone with me in case I needed a driver. I am so selfish, I want things my way!

We headed out to Dr. Valin's and I got to see the new doctor, Dr. McMillan, who examined me. Charmine came in the exam room with me and we were both impressed with Dr. McMillan. When she actually helped pull me up to a sitting position on the exam table, I was compelled to ask her where she went to school. We weren't surprised when she said, "I did my undergraduate work at UConn and then UConn School of Medicine." We know UConn med students when we see them! We had just been talking about the marked difference in quality that UConn has over Yale students. You might think Yale students, going to YALE, would be better....they are NOT! I'll take a UConn MD any day!

My hernia repair will wait until the fall as I want. She gave me some suggestions for what to do about the diarrhea problem..take Metamucil--which seems counter intuitive, but it's working! I'm increasing my "bulk" in my food and it's helping alot. I know all of you readers are SO INTERESTED in my bowels and are so happy for me!

We got in line at Frank Pepe's at 11:20...doors opened at 11:30 and we got a seat...and a summer special they have: fresh tomato pie with mozzarella, garlic and basil. We split a small one, yum!

Then we wandered around a bit on the sideroads in New Haven....they have changed things around and I got a little lost...but then we found Ikea. I got everything I wanted there...picked up two nice duvet covers for the new down comforter; my usual articles: lingonberries, swedish mustard, rye crisp; wooden hangers (best price on wooden hangers anywhere--8 for $3!) and other stuff. I was happy with my purchases and I am all set on lingonberries, coffee, etc. for awhile now.

As we were leaving Ikea I looked at my iPhone, there were three text messages from Sandy that I hadn't heard as I had shut the phone off in the doctor's office and forgot to put it back on. The gist of the messages: she had a shot at getting us two tickets to see the Sox on Sunday...and she was the first to respond and GOT THEM! We are going to see the Sox!!!

That news really completed the day for me...what a wonderful time I had with Charmine and then the frosting on the cake...Sox tickets!

I was able to drive the whole way and make it home and still have energy to spare, to wash the new duvet covers, dry them, iron them and put one on the summer comforter, all before Sandy came back from agility class!

I have to admit that after all that, I didn't want to do anything yesterday. I sat around, did a few chores, easy stuff like laundry and dishes and I read on the Kindle...I'm reading "Operation Mincemeat" about the deception created by the English regarding the invasion of Sicily in WW2.

I'm also reading a book Charmine loaned me: "Every Patient Tells a Story" about puzzling cases in medicine, written by Lisa Sanders, whose column I read in the NY Times. She is a Yale Med School grad, but we won't hold that against her. It's interesting to read this based on my experiences as a Patient Instructor at UConn and what I tell the students; and on my experiences as a patient in clinics and in the hospital. Doctors don't listen to patients and patients don't work hard enough to tell their story. Bottom line.

This Lisa Sanders is now a technical consultant on "House"...a show I watched only twice, briefly each time. I suppose I should watch it...but I dislike the Hugh Laurie character...a lot.

Today I'll clean, tomorrow I'll run around and get some more shorts for Sweden--I dragged mine out yesterday and have to admit that I have too many denim shorts, two pairs of shorts that I can only match with one shirt each; and too many shorts that are too big or too small for me. I end up with only three shorts I can bring to Sweden...not enough. I need at least two more--that go with more tops!

I also have to pick up a gift for Sandra and a gift for Birgitta and Mats; electrical converters for my phone, etc. and some other odds and ends.

Ocean State has a good sale on bird seed; EZ ups and a personal health (ditty bag) kit by American Tourister...think I'll hit all those sales.

Oh, we watched "The Blind Side" the other night...finally. Great movie. I think tomorrow we are going to catch "Despicable Me" in the matinee at Lisbon Landing. I want to see Steve Carrel's new movie "Dinner for Schmucks" and his "Date Night." Of course I want to see "Girl with the Dragon Tatoo," having read the story.

So many things to do...so little time! I still want to go kayaking one more time before I go to Sweden, maybe two more times. Sandy and I may have Ryan next weekend and may go golfing with him...that would be fun.

Well...now I have to play around on the computer for awhile, read some more and then get my butt in gear, cleaning this house. It's almost the weekend!

Later,

I can't believe I didn't write up my trip to Denise's house on Beach Pond last Friday!

Of course I can't believe that I can't remember names of people I'm talking to, names of common household items, etc.

I had the best time last Friday at Denise Lambert's house on Beach Pond!

I went up in the afternoon, sweating from the heat heat heat....I found her place very easily and she was right there to greet me.

Her grandchildren were napping, so she took me on a wonderful tour of the pond in her motorboat. We checked out lots of houses and she brought me up to speed on the renovations done.

Sandy and I had been thinking about renting a house on Beach Pond...it would be so convenient for us, as the pond is not that far from our house. Denise doesn't know of any rentals in the summer and she told me the prices that they are getting for waterfront houses...suffice it to say we can't afford it at this time! There are some BEAUTIFUL places there.

It was nice riding around in the boat, something I don't do all that often. I think the last time I was in a motor boat was when Dennis Waters took Bob Miller and me around that lake (I can't remember the name of it) just over the RI CT line....where Dennis and Kathy have a house. See? I can't remember shit! Is is Lake Washington? No, that's the name of the state park nearby....what the hell is the name of that lake? Anyway, Dennis took us around on his "party boat" for a special Father's Day treat for my Dad. That was when my Dad was 80 I believe...he's 89 now...you do the math.

After we came back from the boat ride, the kids got up and Denise and I took them in swimming. It was SO REFRESHING! I don't know what it is about the water and me this year, but whenever I go for a dip I am so refreshed and rejuvenated. Makes me want to stay in the water.

I stayed in the water for a bit and swam around a little. The next day I felt it in my knees...guess I need to swim more....get in shape.

Denise is so nice and I like chatting with her. Her grandkids are cute, and are nice boys. She invited me to come over any time and I'm going to take her up on that. She has kayaks there, so I could go kayaking by myself, without having to load/unload my kayak on the car. So very convenient!

Sandy and I went in the pool Sunday with dogs, another day when it was hot and the water felt so darned good! I don't know who liked it more, the dogs or me! The dogs sure did enjoy it. Bubbles and Rocky are so cute jumping in the water. Rocky has learned so fast and we think he may even make a good "dock dog" competitor. He instinctively knows how to gather himself to leap off the tucker tote docks we have made for them in the pool.

I told Sandy I would love an above-ground pool out back for us and the dogs. We would put in the 'doggie stairs" for the dogs to get down into the pool. Sandy likes the idea too...she loves maintaining the pool...which is strangely unusual...I won't argue with it. She said we could put a nice deck around as another little party area. That would be nice. I think we'll do it.

Okay, enough...I have to get changed and out to mow the lawn before it rains. If I get too hot, I think I'll take the pups in the pool for a refreshing dip!

Tomorrow I hit New Haven...Dr. Valin, Ikea and Frank Pepe's! YAY!!

Later!

Monday Monday

Well, I had big plans to go to the public access studio today, to talk with Ellen about maybe doing "Hometown Pets" again.

I was all set to get up early, get going and have a busy day. Nope! I woke up at 11am, which shocked me as I had gone to bed at a reasonable hour and had been able to get through the night with only two or three trips to the bathroom. My bowels are getting back to normal.

So, I changed the bed, came downstairs and had my protein shake and set up the deck with the umbrellas and the seat cushions. Then I came back inside and got on the computer.

So much for being busy. I'm not going to kick myself about it, I am listening to Howard, who has been gone for two weeks (I missed him)...and I think maybe it's good for me to take a break for awhile. Later I may go out and pull weeds in the front and do some trimming of bushes out back.

I do have to get the house power washed soon and I do have to pull weeds and trim; and I do have to do other jobs....but somehow I am making them wait. It feels good.

Saturday we went to see the WNBA All-Stars play the USA National team. It was a great game...loads of great plays, mostly on the National Team side....I got to see some of my most favorite players...Big Syl (Fowles), DT, Suzy Q Bird, and Tamika Catchings. Oh, and MAYA! How can I forget her? All of them looked great. Our seats were pretty far up and we forgot the binocs, but we had a great view and were also able to spot folks in the stands and on the sidelines--like Rebecca and Geno and others.

I want to see "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and the new "The Girl Who Played with Fire"...the movies made of the first two of the Millenium trilogy that I just finished reading. The books were so good....and the movies have gotten great reviews. If I get to see them before we leave for Sweden, it will get me "more in the mood" as they take place in Stockholm and the area.

Speaking of the trip to Sweden...I asked Birgitta if we could go into Copenhagen while we are there and she said sure. We will go to Tivoli Gardens and around the city. A new country for me to add to my list of countries I have been too.

We are just about set for the trip...I got some more stuff this weekend--a new eye mask to wear at night (it hardly gets dark there in the summertime) and a really small, flat umbrella that will practically fit in my purse! Last time I was there it did rain, so I want to be prepared...even though I'm sure Birgitta and Mats have umbrellas!

I'm not going nuts this time packing all kinds of clothes. I'm going to bring a weeks worth and do laundry mid-trip. I happen to know Birgitta and Mats are the proud owners of a washer and dryer!

Lynne reminded me to pack warm clothes--she just came back from Banff and it was cold up there. She didn't have too much warm clothing packed and had to wear the same pants a few days in a row! So, I will pack some warm stuff.

I suppose I should start making some lists of stuff to bring...so I don't end up crying that I forgot the camera or my underwear....


See you!