TheCapeBlog

One of my favorite moments: Helene walking on the beach in Amanda’s ice cream commercial: https://www.pbs.org/video/episode-3-0p5r5f/

I absolutely adored this series, although toward the end chose to skip chunks of dialog that had gotten too predictable and too mundane.

The aesthetic, from the setting to the classic outfits to the exquisite buffet platings, was just the balm needed during my recuperation.

I particularly loved Alice Frigh’s feminine but no-nonsense executive looks, Bertha and Amanda’s smart tailored blouses, slacks and shirtwaist dresses and Georg’s gorgeous summer suits, shirts and ties.

CVS is overpriced and understocked, but yesterday the East Falmouth store manager and cashier came through for me.

I did 3 errands in Falmouth Center: Rx at Walmart, shop at Shaw’s and dropped off used printer cartridge at Staples.

I was tired and forgot to pick up aspirin at cheap Walmart, thought I had a coupon for 40% off at CVS. I hadn’t but made the purchase at CVS anyway. The self-service machine wasn’t printing receipts.

I had instant buyer’s regret, and the cashier and manager figured out a way to refund my money without a receipt.

Before the lapse in awareness at CVS, I replaced the snacks that I’d devoured earlier in the week: peanuts, saltines, Snickers. Also picked up salads and grapes.

After gagging on the SCOTUS nomination hearings, Ron selected a horrible film that wore us both out. I fell asleep early; Lizzie woke me up around 5:45 this morning. Shortly thereafter, I heard a series of loud, dull thumps, as if someone or something had hit a wall. Checked everything out but couldn’t see anything out of place, either inside or out.

Cathy’s sister’s surgery went well, so the three of us made plans to together this Saturday for lunch.

Had another good conversation with Seagate Tech Support. I decided to give up on data retrieval but happily was able to format the drive through disk management.

After Ron left for the dentist, I picked up aspirin for both of us and a few groceries, including black bean and corn burgers that made a fine lunch grilled and topped with tomato slices, greens, guacamole and condiments.

Watched some of the SCOTUS hearing today: more campaigning, not a lot of the type of questions that we would have liked to have heard:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/03/22/senate-confirmation-questions-ketanji-brown-jackson-00018982

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/03/22/ketanji-brown-jackson-confirmation-hearing-questions/

Ron treated us (unexpected) to vegetarian afternoon tea yesterday to celebrate the End of the Drains. The restaurant served us chicken salad by mistake and brought two brie and cranberry croissant sandwiches as compensation.

The tea, which we were told is designed for one person, offers enough food for two, although they suggested adding a scone, which we did: four petite sandwiches, four pastries, two scones, one pot. More than sufficient.

Ron, meanwhile, was semi-comatose through the meal, like he’d gone tharn. Weird and a little scary. The waitpersons were great, though.

I had to give up on the Seagate drive, even after corresponding with their tech support and trying their proprietary restoration software. The poor thing really was toast. I was able to copy off the one directory from the old PC that meant the most, the legitimate family info.

Yesterday I got in touch with different devs on the NEPS bugs, and one responded this morning. Gave him access to the code. Fortunately, I’d neglected to send the FTP creds to the Creep from Kenya who ripped me off (he got his money from PayPal today) so no harm to Jim’s server.

Ron cackled wildly when I told him about being ripped off, something about how $100 ain’t worth what it used to be. How he can be so nice and so f*g stupidly mean in the same 12 hour period is something I will never understand.

My friends’ families are having serious health issues. Julia is still not better and Cathy’s sister had emergency surgery yesterday. With their worries, I don’t feel much like asking about our planned get together.

In a few hours, I’ll be rid of the last drain. They have done the job: over 2.3 pounds of blood and fluid removed over the last 3 weeks.

We had the second $3.14 Speedway pizza for supper last night. I made reservations at Dunbar Tea Room for today to celebrate the end of the drains and the return to almost-normal. Dunbar has a vegetarian high tea and I’m looking forward to it!

The open-faced sandwiches on “Seaside Hotel” are artful, but unfortunately, very few are veg. The Danes have a sandwich ritual that starts with herring, proceeds to other varieties of fish, like salmon, continues with ham or roast beef and ends with cheese, all beautifully festooned with red onion rings, radishes and herbs.

Lizzie was restless and barked off and on last night. Ron took care of her, as he always does.

Meanwhile life goes on. Hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation to the Supreme Court begin today. YouTube soon will be loaded with Trump bootlicker senatorial grandstanding.

Discussion and debate here in Mashpee continues around sewage treatment plans, and according to some sources, none of the phases will benefit Santuit Pond, which needs more help than any other body of water, fresh or salt. I for one am confused.

Still no word from the creep who ripped me off. I don’t understand those who steal from other people. The worst I’ve ever done is cop a few manuscript pages from the store room at the BU School of journalism. Taking office supplies home from work was considered a perk that didn’t hurt anyone, but come to think of it, that doesn’t make sense, any more than stealing towels from a hotel does.

I uploaded some new code to NEPS yesterday and this morning it seemed to work, partially at least. Clearing the checkboxes is still a puzzle.

Recently I’ve had more than my poor brain can deal with: too many decisions, too much information.

Sweet Lizzie was shaking a few minutes ago so I covered her with a lap robe, which she doesn’t seem to mind. I chose to bring her to a new groomer who shaved her more than we wanted. Was this the right outcome?

We’ve been keeping up with the events overseas and domestic politics. We can’t do a thing to stop this war. It’s up to the Russians themselves to dethrone Herr Putin, and it’s up to the Red States to dethrone Trump and his minions in Congress and state governments.

I can feed Lizzy but can’t force her to eat.

I can try to get my money back from the PayPal scammer but how likely is that to happen?

Yesterday the Seagate failed. Which file repair software to buy and install? There was a lot on the drive that I don’t need, but I was able to retrieve a number of files that I want to keep.

Decision about the truck: fight with the old repair shop about work errors made a year ago or pay another shop to fix it.

I see the surgeon tomorrow but the drain incision has been sore and oozing. Do I remove the drain myself or wait?

Do I have peanut butter with breakfast or with lunch?

I dreamt last night of losing track of the tall adopto-raptor in a crowd and feeling no regret at all.

Then the Ron surrogate, a dashing young blade, announced “I have plans: for all five of us” and ran off with three girls. The dream ended before I could get up to follow. I felt no regret at that, either.

In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.

Am I J. Alfred Prufrock?

I’ve spent most of the last two days asleep or resting. Last evening we binged on “Seaside Hotel”.

Lizzie woke me up at 4:30 this morning. She wasn’t hungry and didn’t need to go outside; seems she just wanted company.

Good Ron emptied the dishwasher and made coffee last night.

The Seagate failed and I’m looking for the least expensive recovery software.

The drain port has been troublesome, but I’m expecting to be done with it at my next visit.

I had a yen for blueberry coffee cake, but had no motivation to bathe or dress. So, I made cranberry bread instead.

Lizzie’s groomer removed her fuzz yesterday; not what we wanted. She was there for four hours. Ron weighed her at Caring Hearts afterwards: 38 pounds. In spite of two meals a day, she’s hardly gained at all.

I found a bag of her homemade food in the freezer, a nice treat after her long day.

He dropped me off at Falmouth Motorcar to retrieve my truck – $400 to correct mistakes made by another shop last March. No permanent damage, fortunately.

He loaded up the truck and did a transfer station run.

He also cooked ravioli for supper.

Finally, he took care of barking and wandering Lizzie last night.

I hired a consultant to work on NEPS and billed the MRS for work done since January.

Today Ron did a meticulous vacuuming of the kitchen floor.

I went to bed early last night and didn’t get up until 5:30 or so this morning.

Ron did laundry and we changed the sheets. Liz and I went for a little walk in the field.

I cooked three meals yesterday: eggs and cheese for breakfast; stir fry from a package for lunch; veg balls and store-bought mashed with homemade gravy and salad for supper. Ron as usual did cleanup and made coffee.

I made poor Ron do a round trip to and from Falmouth Motor yesterday morning so I could drop off my truck, which has been running loud for a while. Turns out, some exhaust parts were improperly installed. They hope to have it finished today.

Paypal’d James’s birthday money yesterday. I’ve been keeping up with the household bills.

We had a conversation with a chatty but extremely pleasant gentleman at Medicare about a rejected claim for lab work for Ron. Hoping he gets this squared away with his doctor’s office.

Found and fixed a vexing problem with MRS. Turned out to be SQL.

Posted Craigslist ad for help with NEPS. Received several responses, some look promising. I hope.

We had a fine four-course dinner last evening at a local church hall. The menu was all-veg, all delicious and the servings were generous.

I had a good checkup today.

Lizzie was restless last night. Ron was able to quiet her down. She was up again early this morning. Maybe stomach trouble, not sure, but she did have multiple Trumps today.

Had a pleasant chat with Kathy C., our “spiritual” neighbor, in the Stop & Shop parking lot. I’d just come out of the packie with a bottle of Orvietto.

Did a 0.6 mile walk yesterday before dinner with Ron and Lizzie. Renewed with AAA.

Ordered meds from Walmart online for Lizzy this morning. We’ll see how well this works (fingers crossed).

Helped Ron with a medical claims issue.

We walked around the block with Lizzie. Gorgeous day.