Ane's Journal

The hurricane moved far enough west that things were pretty tame here. A few branches are down and I'm guessing not much more than a couple inches of rain. There were a few hard downpours, but they didn't last very long.

I did sandbag in front of the sliding door because I'm always paranoid about it since water ponds on the pavers next to it. Tonight I moved the small branches off the driveway and took a short walk. I'll take everything out of the garage tomorrow night and start piling the rest of the branches and dismantling the sandbag barrier. Since Monday is a holiday my yard debris won't be picked up next week so there's not a rush.

The electricity went out at the office so I had 5/8th of the day off since I couldn't remote into my desktop and the server. Unfortunately, power was restored around 1 and office manager went in and turned things on.

Last week I took Wed-Thurs off. Ran a bunch of errands and did some yard work.

I've committed to tiling the sunroom and utility room mid-October. I've picked the tile and baseboard and paid half. I'm hoping that mid-October will be cooler. The sunroom is where Sabine hangs out 90 percent of the time so she'll have to be re-located for the 3 days. I discovered recently that the sink drainpipe in the utility room has had a slow leak for who knows how long and the bottom of the cabinet has water damage. I don't like the sink so I'm getting that taken out and then I'll get a new stand alone sink put in after the tiling is done. The tiling company I picked is a bit more that the other quote but the second one didn't really have a tile I liked, just one that was ok. Plus they are willing to take the sink out, do the drywall patch on the wall behind the sink, and actually hook the washer and dryer back up when they put it back. It's worth a bit more money to not have to find someone else to deal with getting the sink removed.

My left knee has joined my right in having arthritic pain. Yay.

So, Iowa quarterly state estimated taxes check still hasn't cleared, so I put a stop payment on the check ($10 fee) and epaid. I hadn't really looked for the epayment option because I thought they charged a fee. There's a fee if I want to pay my land taxes electronically so I was thinking the quarterly taxes had a fee too. Maybe this fall I'll check to see if there's still a fee for the land taxes. Although land taxes are more complicated because I pay half of the taxes for two properties (co-own with my brother), so we'll see.

I think my neighbor may be dead. Yesterday when I went out to put the yard debris bin at the curb I noticed 2 cop cars and two cars with 2 people standing in the yard/driveway talking on phones. I noticed that the gate to the backyard which is never used was open. But there was no sign of actual neighbor. Eventually one of the cops and one of the cars left. Then just before dark a suv backed into the driveway. People were in the house for an hour or so and then everyone left and the house was dark. Tonight, there's no lights on inside but there's a porch light on at the front and a flood light at the back. The outdoor lights are never on. My nosy neighbor who lives behind me who used to work for the police is going to investigate. So I'll find out if I'm correct.

Still haven't heard back about the trial contacts (left a message on Thursday). I guess I need to call again.

I am changing pharmacies. I've been using Walgreens mostly because it's 4 blocks away and I could just walk over to pick things up. But it really is ridiculously expensive. The prescription that was $8.50 for 30 but $40 for 90, I just filled at Winn Dixie for $1.13 for 30. I drive by the Winn Dixie on Wednesday to swim and I go a couple times a month, so not really out of my way.

The trial soft contacts that I'm trying are not quite right. The close vision is off. The left contact also doesn't feel quite right. I have an appointment on Saturday to see what we have to do to refine them.

I bought a Sodastream. Soda is getting very expensive and I miss having flavored seltzer water occasionally. Their Diet Dr Pete is pretty good. The grapefruit is good but too strong at the recommended amount, so will need to experiment. I also bought Diet Root Beer and cran-raspberry which I haven't tried yet. I'm also still trying to figure out my preferred fizziness.

The concrete table and benches were picked up. The second woman who wanted it sent her husband and another guy to pick them up. Apparently, they were really heavy because even the two guys got tired carrying them to the vehicles.

Sabine has rediscovered her cat bed which means I get to sit in the sun room at lunch. She's also continuing to come sit in my lap at some point in the evening.

I was pulling weeds Monday evening and got bit by 10 ants. They aren't itchy anymore but ant bites take so long to heal.

Weekend was so short. I did a bunch of yard work, but haven't actually finished anything.

I blew the leaves off the pebbled areas and have started raking all the leaves to plant bed areas. I supposed the good thing about that area of the yard under the oak tree being mostly dirt and weeds this time of year is that I can just leave the piles part way to their destination and don't have to worry about them killing grass beneath.

I did some power washing. I took the upper layer of dirt and mold off of the concrete table and benches. While doing so I realized that I'm going to try to get rid of them. They get so dirty and I rarely use them. I'm hoping that if I offer them up for free for whoever can take them away that there may be someone interested. I guess I need to take a photo.

Did some weeding but still have more to do. I have a few carrots growing and I planted some more seeds in the spaces where nothing came up. I also planted some lettuce seeds. I have a few basil seedlings that sprouted and I noticed some pepper seedlings actually came up. Now I just need to remember to actually water things occasionally.

My avocado tree is flowering which always reminds me I should fertilize it. I'm so bad at fertilizing things. Since it's been so dry I also watered it the other day. I also noticed that I have two tiny pineapples.

At least now it will be easier to work in the yard for an hour or so in the evenings and I can start getting more things done. I need to start working the few small projects in so that I'll feel like I've actually accomplished something.

Sabine is back on cat prednisone. She had a couple areas on her lower belly that were really irritated and she was over licking. It's just been a couple days and it's looking so much better.

I finally made an appointment for my taxes for next Saturday which means I need to actually go through the pile and make sure I have everything.

I picked up Indian food on the way home from the office on Friday. It may be the last time I do that for quite awhile. The prices have gone up so much that an entree and an order of naan is almost $30. Admittedly it's 3 meals but they don't actually give you enough rice and I had to make rice for the last portion.

Sabine got her teeth cleaned this morning. So expensive, but I don't want her to get tooth problems. I picked her up at about 2:45 to take her home. It was the quietest trip home with her ever. Every once in a while I would hear an attempt at a meow but her throat wasn't cooperating. After getting home she stalked though the house for an hour. Apparently she had to make sure nothing happened while she was gone. Then after work I sat down in the recliner and almost immediately I had a very clingy cat who was making weird noises. It took me a minute but I realized that she had the hiccups. She wanted them gone, she was not happy about them. The first meal I was supposed to just give her about a third of what she usually would get to make sure she doesn't get sick. Her appetite was fine and she wanted more. Her throat was still sore though and her feed me now meows were subpar. She seems to be doing ok though.

She had a lot of tartar buildup on her molars and mild gingivitus. The after photo of her teeth are so white and shiny. I'll try again to get some cat toothpaste on her teeth at least one a week but she's really not a fan of fingers near her mouth. I should probably buy a new tube of cat toothpaste. Maybe there's something about the inexpensive one I bought that she really hates.

She also has an irritated area on her belly again. That showed up a few days ago and was really pink and irritated looking yesterday. The vet gave her a shot to try to get that cleared up.

Had my eye exam on Sunday. Prescription hasn't changed. I am going to try the soft contact brand that she suggested last year. Those should be here in about another week.

I was looking at my car and thought that I should get it its first car wash. Then realized that oak pollen is starting to fall, so I'll wait a couple weeks. My car insurance renews in a couple weeks and I really need to get some quotes.

Very relaxing swim tonight although I had to share a lane for the last 4 laps. That hasn't happened in a while.

I've started to look for my next swimsuit. Current one the straps are getting a bit stretched out and the color is very faded. Why can't there be a category of 'one-piece swimsuit for actual swimming' on websites?

I have my eye exam scheduled for Sunday. Some days it seems like my left eye is getting worse and then some days it seems normal.

I'm being meowed at, 10 minutes til food time.

I read 43 published books of fiction this year. My list ends in August because that is when I saw a rec for a Star Wars AU and I've been reading a lot of Star Wars fic since. This is possible since I hadn't read Star Wars fanfiction in many, many years. There are a couple book series that I read that I've noticed the next book is out so I'll probably start reading a few books someday soon.

January
A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder - Dianne Freeman
A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder - Dianne Freeman
A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder - Dianne Freeman
A Fiancee's Guide to First Wives and Murder - Dianne Freeman
Two Serpents Rise - Max Gladstone

February
The Poppy War - RF Kuang
Witchmark - CL Polk
Full Fathom Five - Max Gladstone

March
Stormsong - CL Polk
Soulstar - CL Polk
A Swift and Savage Tide - Chloe Neill
The House of Shattered Wings - Aliette de Bodard
A Master of Djinn - P Djeli Clark
A Dead Djinn in Cairo - P Djeli Clark
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 - P Djeli Clark

April
The Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott Lynch
Red Seas Under Red Skies - Scott Lynch
A Marvellous Light - Freya Marske
Amongst Our Weapons - Ben Aaronovich

May
A Republic of Thieves - Scott Lynch
She Who Became the Sun - Shelley Parker-Chan
Light from Uncommon Stars - Ryka Aoki
Winter's Orbit - Everina Maxwell
The Queer Principles of Kit Webb - Cat Sebastian

June
Bonds of Brass - Emily Skrutskie
Oaths of Legacy - Emily Skrutskie
Empire of Sand - Tasha Suri
The Lawrence Browne Affair - Cat Sebastian
The Soldier's Scoundrel - Cat Sebastian
The Ruin of a Rake - Cat Sebastian
It Takes Two to Tumble - Cat Sebastian
A Gentleman Never Keeps Score - Cat Sebastian
Two Rogues Make a Right - Cat Sebastian
Hither, Page - Cat Sebastian

July
The Grief of Stones - Katherine Addison
A Free Man of Color - Barbara Hambly
Fever Season - Barbara Hambly
Graveyard Dust - Barbara Hambly
The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes - Cat Sebastian

August
Rosemary and Rue - Seanan McGuire
Sold Down the River - Barbara Hambly
Die Upon a Kiss - Barbara Hambly
Wet Grave - Barbara Hambly

My days off on Monday and Tuesday were very busy with errands. Doing many errands in the same day you realize how many places you go to you have to do annoying u-turns or little detours to leave the place going in the right direction. As usual these days I was the only person wearing a mask.

I believe I have made my car decision. I finally had the chance to test drive a Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. I like it. I've had a regular Elantra for about 15 yrs, so not much difference. Since Toyota and Honda never seem to have hybrids in stock to test drive, I've decided to give up on those. A couple years ago I did test drive a Prius, which I didn't like, and a couple vehicles that the model is no longer made. So I have tried others. This afternoon I went to the dealer closer to my house and got an estimate for the Elantra hybrid that's less than where I did the test drive. They do have one in stock now and have 3 coming in December. The one they have now is silver which is second only to white in color of vehicle I don't like. So I'm trying to decide whether to call tomorrow to see if the silver one is still available or wait a couple days when it will probably be sold to get on the list for the red, black, or gray one that they're supposed to get in Dec. Can I live with a silver car for 10 or more years? Although maybe it won't even be an issue.

I am up to 20 laps during my Saturday swim (first time yesterday). Back in June when I started I would sometimes have to share a lane. Recently, there is rarely anyone else swimming laps when I go. Yesterday, there was me swimming laps and two kids at their swimming lesson at the other side of the pool. It was in the lower 60s when I went yesterday morning but the pool water is in the 80s so swimming is fine, it's getting out that is chilly. But apparently all those other lap swimmers are wimps. I may not be able to do a mid-week swim this week since there's a chance of rain Tuesday. I haven't checked to see if the pool is open Wed eve. I know it's closed Thurs and Friday.

I have finished The Book of Boba Fett in my Disney+ show watching. I don't like the character but they make him acceptable in the series. I was happy that the character that dies in the 7th episode is dead. The first few episodes are flashback heavy which I'm not really a fan of. I think before I watch the other two Star Wars series (I think it's just the two), I'm going to watch some of the Marvel ones from this year.

About mid-day I realized that I should put trash cans, chairs, etc in the garage. For some reason when hurricanes are coming from across the state I kind of forget at first that I need to prepare. The storm is really large so most of Florida will get something.

My journal article reading project is not doing so well. I only read articles for 1/2 hr two nights this last week.

Sabine is still unhappy with the time change.

No weeknight swimming this week. I was going to go last night but there was rain in the vicinity of the pool.

I've been slacking off on my journal reading this year and since I just received another new journal in the mail I realized that I need to fix that. So I'm going to try to read journal articles for at least 1/2 hr every evening (except the evening I swim laps) until I catch up.

I swam my evening laps last night because the forecast said it was supposed to rain this afternoon/evening but it hasn't. I realized that next week my evening swim will be in the dark.

Back in the spring/early summer I did eventually undelete my twitter account because I wanted to be able to see the local accounts that I follow, especially for hurricane season. I hadn't been looking at it as much though and I haven't looked at all since last week. I just hear the rumors about how bad it is getting. I've been using counter.social since early summer. I mostly post cat pics and some yard/garden things. Currently, it's mostly been a way to waste some time occasionally. I don't actually know anyone on there, that I know of.

I've had very annoying sinus pressure recently. Had a sinus headache to go along with the pressure for most of the day today.

Work has been slowing down recently although actually it's probably more that we aren't as ridiculously busy as we have been the last few years. We have a few transmission lines projects coming up soon so things are probably going to pick up again.

I've put in for the rest of my vacation time for the year. I'm taking a couple days off in a couple weeks, one day in early December, and then the 4 days between Xmas and New Years.