TheCapeBlog

We skipped an event at the Clark to attend a pro-Ukraine standout in Adams, and it was a mistake.

Two teeny-tinies were buzzing about, one of which caused me a lot of trouble in the Harper writing group. The rest were “We don’t know you so we’ll ignore you.”

It threw me for a loop and I acted poorly, admittedly.

It was bitter cold and I had some intestinal distress, which didn’t help.

Ron confessed afterwards that he should have backed me up. He never does so it hadn’t even occurred to me that he’d missed an opportunity to be a good husband.

I’m an idiot to think that any progressive clique would be a good social home anyway.

Ron gave me a tip, though, on breaking in to a new group: telling story, something he does all the time.

My problem is that I don’t have a story to tell, at least not an authentic one. I do inform people that both my parents were officers in the Navy, but that doesn’t provoke interest. I don’t have anecdotes to share or reminiscences. Just a blank.

I spent a lot of time yesterday working on the new pages for MRS.

Made blueberry muffins. Ron put together a pot of soup from a package.

We stopped at Walmart on the way home for meds and groceries and got gas at Cumby for the Corolla. The price of Peet’s is out of control. Stop and Shop is out of Major Dick’s, so I’m glad we got it at Walmart, for slightly less than at Big Y as a matter of fact.

I signed up for a subscription to Peet’s. We’ll get a pound of Major Dick’s once every two weeks. We’ll see how it goes.

I also signed up for level electric utility payments. Going to go up with Trump’s stupid war with Canada, which supplies gas and oil to the Northeast.

The dog adoption people chose another family for Sugar.

We are unhappy with, in fact, scared about, the moves the Trump Administration is making to undermine our national security as part of their recent Putin rapprochement.

Cardiology specialist called to go over my results: good, especially for someone my age. I had a question about one measurement; she said she’d follow up.

We did laundry; I changed sheets. Ron can’t stop babbling and it’s driving me nuts.

We cooperated with the February 28 Blackout, which is supposed to show disapproval with Trump’s anti-DEI policy and corporate greed.

We both had good visits at our dental office yesterday. I’d had a rough night but made the appointment on time. Ron followed at 10. I was in a fog for the rest of the day.

I pried myself out of bed this morning for a 9:30 carotid scan at BMC in Pittsfield. Got there on time, out before 10.

Ron hacked at the garage roof yesterday and is doing a great job clearing the deck today. There was at least two inches of ice. He used a sledgehammer to clear it.

Our solar panels are now clear of snow and ice. We let the sun do its job.

I was worried that our home insurance premiums weren’t getting deducted but turns out we are fine.

I may have found us a dog, Sugar, an 8 year old female poodle. I was in a quandary about references, but Alyssa and Butch agreed to vouch for us! I filled out the application, waiting for a response.

I’m still coughing and this morning having quite a siege with intestinal distress.

Yesterday we journeyed, twice, to Pownal for a free floor fan. After failing to make it up the driveway with the Corolla, had to go back with the truck. Ron’s fiddling with the truck controls drove me nuts.

I did some work on the new MRS pages.

Had a long conversation with Ron about my new understanding of his family’s traumas, including loss of a 4 year old child after a head injury.

Renewed My Heritage for four years, they gave me a nice offer, almost half off.

Waiting for an email from Chase about refunding my overpayment.

Did a couple of loads of laundry, including whites.

Today we had a pasta lunch followed by a lecture by the Brain Injury Association of Mass at the Harper (senior) Center. Afterwards we went to Stop & Shop. Reprised “The Big Short”.

We dropped by the Solomon Wright library for the first time. Ron got his own card. I took out a book. Nice chat with the director and with a fellow member of the Milne book group.

We shopped at Big Y and on the way home, visited the three art galleries at the old Holiday Inn in North Adams.

Today we brought home jams and cheese from the Williamstown indoor Farmer’s Market at the elementary school.

I did some more genealogical research on Ron’s family and discovered that his mother had a sister, Edna Belle Todd, who died at 4 1/2. Her death certificate is heartbreaking: she lived for 9 hours following a head injury.

I also discovered that Ron is 1/8 Irish on his mother’s side. Her grandmother was born in Ireland, possibly in Cork. That makes him an octo-something.

It also explains a lot.

Ron cleared the driveway yesterday. The worst was the pile of ice and snow at the bottom, courtesy of the town. I cleared a path to the front door.

The bottom of the back door and the “far” garage door were frozen. I was able to free the garage door. Ron plans to work on the back door today.

I skipped the Winter Tea. Thought about dropping by but it was 2:30 by the time we were done with shoveling, etc.

Picked up paczki at the Big Y. Turns out Peter has s Big Y in Kingston and rates their paczkis superior to Stop & Shop’s.

We got my meds and our supplements at Walmart. Big shop at Job Lot, including badly needed Dockers slippers for me.

Pretty day today but bitter cold: 7 degrees.

I picked up groceries at the Food Pantry, filled the Corolla’s tank, went to the bank and mailed Ella’s birthday card and gift. The oil company delivered 100 gallons while I was gone; hoping this takes us through the season.

Ron is off to the transfer station and other errands.

We attended a friend’s poetry and essay reading at an art gallery in North Adams.

Windy for most of today, some light snowfall. We had about an inch from last night.

Ron insisted on clearing the driveway before I could take out either of the vehicles but didn’t get to it, and I’m just as glad. It was bitterly cold and he’s just starting to feel better.

I have a pretty full day planned for tomorrow. Want to get to Big Y and Walmart, then the Harper Winter Tea at 1.

Received my cardio records from Cape Cod Hospital, sent them to the Berkshire cardiology office.

We did laundry today and changed the sheets.

I’ve been working on the new pages for MRS.

Communiques to Ed Markey and Richard Neal objecting to the layoffs. Horrified by the cruelty.

Ron spent a good part of yesterday afternoon snow blowing the driveway and couldn’t open the back door.

Got a call from the neighbors that he was stuck.

Turns out the door wasn’t locked, just hard to open. He managed to force it, finally. Said he rang the doorbell multiple times. I was working upstairs and didn’t hear it.

Read and/or worked on the MRS additions on Sunday.

Today is President’s Day and high winds are expected.

I’ve been out of it this week, no desire to work on computer projects.

The two medical appointments pretty much took up all of Thursday. Plus, I’m still coughing. Put off showering and even changing clothes.

Friday I spent the day in front of the computer, figuring out finances and ordering medical records.

I saw the boys and their Dad briefly yesterday. Delivered their Valentine’s Day treats, and they were pleased: “giant candy”, Hershey’s milk chocolate and KitKats.

Today I felt better, enough to shower, wash my hair and get to the North Adams Hospital for the twice a year fasting blood test. I wasn’t hungry, happy with black coffee.

The roads were good and I only had to wait for one other patient. The intake person and phlebotomist were extremely pleasant; I got there around 8:30 or so, guess it had been busy.

Stopped off at Big Y but turns out, I left off some things that Ron wanted, so he went out himself. Then he forgot two items so is out yet again. It’s 3 PM and the snow just started, right on time.

I found a love note from Benny to “Buff”. It’s flowery and sentimental, girlish. In contrast, I’m embarrassed to be such a jocular, sarcastic and focused on practicality and finances partner.

Meanwhile, I think I’ve got the MRS changes figured out, even the style sheets.

Ron got home safely, said the roads were becoming slippery.

Ron drove us to my Cardio appointment this morning. We’d feared the worst for driving, but the roads were fine. Appointment went well and we stopped for donut holes at Dunkin’ and the Senior Center so I could cancel lunch reservations for Ron and me. I kept my res for Karyn’s tea next week.

Greylock paid off my four loans with them. This morning I got an email from HFCU; the check from Greylock was honored and I have less than $50 in interest charges left to clear the account. Hoping my credit card account will close this week, fingers crossed.

I had some updating to do for YouTube premium and MyHeritage. Unpleasant surprise, MyHeritage renewed for the year from Rockland Personal. Moved funds to cover it.

Picked up a couple of books and tax return forms at the library.

Good appointment with my primary. Able to pay with the Additional Benefits Card? Researching, need to call them for clarification.

Received check and a nice note from Nicole for the 2025 MRS work.