Month: February 2021

I got up at 4:30. Teddy was waiting at the door, but he let me get myself oriented before I had to take him out. We did a walk around the block after his breakfast, Trump accomplished. He’s been great today.

One website recommends feeding Chabradors 3-4 times a day. He does seem to be hungry all the time.

He did manage to climb his steps and grab a treat from the floor of the truck today.

I’ve been unable to book a local COVID shot appointment for Ron, so it looks like he’ll be heading to Foxboro tomorrow. Frustrating.

New term: “owning class”. “(Those) with enough income from assets that they don’t have to work to pay basic bills.” Does that include retirees?

Ordered a new clothesline dryer for pickup at Home Depot in Hyannis.

I took down the old clotheline dryer – easier than I thought, no tools needed – and Ron collapsed a pile of boxes and brought all of it to the transfer station.

Ron took Teddy for a walk at around 8:30 or 9 pm.

Teddy growled and bared his teeth at me this morning. Not his fault, I took him off his leash and grabbed him when he bolted off the back deck stairs. He did come in to the house right away, and I feel terrible about hurting him.

I was able to book a vaccine appointment for myself in East Falmouth for next Thursday, so I can stay with Teddy while Ron gets his shot. This morning convinced me that he is still not trained enough for a dog sitter, so I canceled with Em for Monday. Did deposit her birthday gelt to her bank account, as she suggested.

I am starting to hate our walks. Teddy is still pulling, and I resent the neighborhood, both the Habitat houses as well as the ones on the kettle ponds. Those people outsmarted me, and it makes me feel like a chump.

It’s been raining since this morning and aside from three long walks and a couple of short ones with Teddy, the only thing I’ve done is to pick up lunch at Le Bon Jour and watch the Irish Repertory’s production of “A Touch of the Poet”.

Ron has been more productive, attaching a device that’s been floating around for over a year to keep out cold blasts from the bottom of the closet door in my “den”.

I don’t begrudge hard-working people their success. I do regret not having more success myself.

After ten years of living with someone who is tolerant of my faults, I have a much better understanding of the reasons that I failed to have a “good” life.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t make the consequences any easier to accept, even grudgingly.

If someone has more than I do, it feels like I was outsmarted, and that’s a threat. I’ve sacrificed for others but instead of being happy about it, feel like a chump.

Teddy started barking and whining around 9:30 last night and didn’t settle down until after 11.

I took him out first, around the block. He’d broken his leash earlier and pulled pretty hard at the beginning of the walk, but seemed to have settled down by the time we got back.

Unfortunately, he started barking and fussing about an hour later. He’d bitten through a couple of the vanes in the sliding door blinds. Ron took him out again and told me this morning, the neighbor’s dogs were out, raising Cain when they spotted Teddy. This was around 11.

Ron got him calmed down, and we all slept until 6. Today, Teddy and I walked, both in the field and the street, and Ron took him for a long walk. Teddy and I sat for a short while in his “den” until it got too cold for me. Sunny but windy.

Between outings, Teddy showed that he’s mastered his steps, both up and down! He’s likely climbed the equivalent of a flight of stairs; quite a breakthrough!

Ron dropped out excise tax payments off at Town Hall and did a small grocery shop.

I left a message for Rep. Connolly (Virginia) thanking him for calling out his juvenile Republican colleagues at the USPS hearing.

Ron’s computer acquired a nasty piece of malware that took us two days and two anti-virus applications to delete.

We had ice cream for the first time in weeks.

Yesterday, Bennett and I did a productive shop at Target. Redeemed $35 worth of gift cards. Their grocery section is so refined that it seems to be curated.

Meanwhile, Ron and Teddy got to hang out.

Got a callback yesterday and booked a Covid inoculation appointment at Gillette for next Monday.

Up at 4:30 today. Made pudding and oatmeal. Later on, made heavy veg soup with frozen vegetables, leftovers and half an onion..

Ron was inspired by yesterday’s shop to go to Target himself today. I went to Walmart to pick up two prescriptions and gas up the truck at the Stop & Shop station in Falmouth.

Tony has a new fence, and it looks fantastic. Sean saw us, said “Where’s my tarp?”

Out with Teddy several times, in the field and around the block.

Gave Teddy his monthly heartworm and flea/tick prevention meds yesterday.

Spent a good part of the day in the kitchen. Made a big salad, baked zucchini slices (supper) and spaghetti squash.

We all slept in until 6 am today. Gorgeous sunrise. Teddy and I did a short walk in the field, then the circuit. Solar panels are clear of snow.

1. Van Kaas Gouda Cheese Wedge – 7ozVan Kaas$5.49
2. Galbani Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Snack – 7ozGalbani$4.29
3. Goat Cheese Log – 8oz – Good & Gather™Good & Gatheronly at target¬$4.99
4. Dalmatia Imports Fig Spread Nut – 8.5ozDalmatia Imports$6.99
5. Organic Clover Honey – 12oz – Good & Gather™Good & Gatheronly at target¬$3.79
6. Raw Whole Almonds – 32oz – Good & Gather™Good & Gatheronly at target¬$16.79
7. Kerry Gold Reserve Cheddar Cheese – 7ozKerry Gold$4.99
8. Take And Bake Baguettes Bread – 2ct – Arch…Archer Farmsonly at target¬$3.99
9. Sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms – 8oz – Good &…Good & Gatheronly at target¬$2.39
10. Greek Pitted Kalamata Olives – 6.5oz – Goo…Good & Gatheronly at target¬$2.99

Slipped on the front “deck” this morning heading out for the paper.

Ron is doing rondry. I took Teddy out at 5:30 for a quick 19 degree trot, then a regular 37 degree walk around 9.

Poor Teddy didn’t do well with steps today. I wasn’t paying attention and he fell when trying to get off the steps and couch.

Ron walked Teddy a couple of times. The three of us did the last short one after dark. I sat out with him in his “area”.

I am tired of the cold.

We got another couple of inches of snow last night, so more shoveling this morning.

I took Teddy around the block twice before 8 am. Ron did another circuit. Teddy’s doing great with walking on leash. Still barks when we put him in his private den unless he has company, though.

Teddy’s stairs arrived yesterday, and it’s like pulling teeth to get him to climb on them. One website recommends putting his food dish on progressively higher steps.

Ron and I loaded the truck for the transfer station, and he made the trip while I stayed with Teddy and worked on a minor website edit for NEPS.

We lucked out. Snow started yesterday at little after noon, but it was mostly done by nightfall. I/we were able to shovel easily this morning.

Teddy let me sleep until 5:30, at which time we did a quick trot to his “play area”. We did the “circuit” at 7, a respectable hour.

Ron has been working on straightening up his den/office. The drapes I ordered came in yesterday, so now he has proper curtains for both windows.

We also received a treat bag. Teddy’s stairs should be arriving today.

We had a package of good frozen vegetables – white and sweet potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli seasoned with garlic, s&p – and it made a fine frittata with four eggs, a little smoked paprika and the remains of some old Feta.

Teddy and I were out once before and once during sunrise today. It’s mid-twenties with no wind.

I shot and sent photos of the panels to Sunnova in response to their observation that our production is down. The panels were snow-covered until yesterday and it slipped my mind to take the photos then.

Ron made a ramp for Teddy yesterday to help him get into the van. I brought it in today for him to get used to it. He’s not interested in climbing on it, at least not yet.

Today is Betsy and David’s 59th anniversary. What a life, what an accomplishment!

Impressive customer service from our Assessor’s office yesterday. I’ve been curious about a vacant lot on County Road. Turns out, it’s the end of a parcel that starts at 500 Nathan Ellis that the Town took (presumably for nonpayment of taxes) in 1999. A staff member called me minutes after I submitted a question through the Town website.

Not sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the lot includes the little pond.