Busy in some ways, and enjoying lazy summer days to balance it out. I love this time of year, hot days and sunshine are absolutely delightful. In the next twenty four hours there will be thunderstorms rolling through. Thunder and rain falling on on the roof are a combination which makes me smile.
I have a houseguest. My friend who has been living in Tanzania is staying for awhile. We're having a marvelous time together. On Monday, we went to lunch with my sister-in-law, who is one of her favorite authors. The three of us laughed and chatted for a long time and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.
My gentleman friend is going through some serious health problems. I worry, but refuse to nag. He has to decide to take care of himself, no one can do that for him. In the meantime, I simply love him.
Still making backgammon boards, and my skills are improving. I hope to begin selling them soon. Trying many different mediums, and having much success with them all. I'd love to support myself by making and selling them. Each one takes at least a couple of weeks due to the arthritis which has spread to my hands and wrists over the past year. I'm at the point where I'll only make about five or ten dollars on each after materials. So, considering all of the labor involved, I'll be making about fifty cents an hour, less when I'm in a lot of pain.
Braille lessons are coming along nicely. I'm still slow, and wonder if I'll ever master punctuation, math symbols, or anything which is not a letter of the alphabet. Still, I can read simple things. I'm getting good at using the brailler. I practice by typing out my thoughts and ideas as I sit in front of it.
I've not posted lately. It seems that housekeeping, Braille lessons, and working on backgammon boards takes up most of my time. Mowing the yard puts me in bed for a couple of days after. It's simply more than I'm capable of. However, I cannot afford the fines that the city will impose for unmoved yards, so I'm stuck doing it every couple of weeks. After the beastie passes from old age, (she's eight years old and I hope she lives forever) I'll move to an apartment. I'm also doing some reorganizing around the house, tackling one drawer or corner at a time. It's progress.
Enough for now.
Monday, August 22, 2016
Monday, June 6, 2016
Reclusive lifestyle
It's occurred to me recently that I've become a recluse. Had to look up that term to see if it applied to me, and it fits. I'm not sure if I'm bothered by that or not.
I see my gentleman friend on the weekends. Take vacation a couple of times a year. Once or twice a month I run errands at the post office, bank, and grocery store. In other words, I don't get out much.
Health is the main reason that I'm home so much. I keep up with the housework, and the pets. But I also spend a lot of time in bed. It's easy to overdo things, and can take days or weeks to recover. I'm careful to exercise daily. The treadmill for at least a mile daily, even if it's slow and has to be done in small increments. Hand weights for upper body strength, moving gently but still moving.
Braille lessons, making backgammon boards, and listening to books or online classes keeps me busy. I play a lot of music, or listen to movies as I'm keeping busy.
I'm having family from out of state visiting in two weeks, and just found out that a friend who lives in Africa will be flying here for a visit next week. Last weekend, there was a cookout with friends from around the country. So, I do see people from time to time. Just not many.
I never thought that I'd be a recluse, living alone with a cat, dog, and a couple of fish as housemates. I'm not complaining. It's actually relaxing and freeing to not have other people around all of the time. The quiet is peaceful. I find that I'm not lonely by myself.
This will all change when my gentleman friend and I move in together. I'm somewhat apprehensive about moving to the city, although there are many benefits, such as available transportation. It will be us, a trio of huge dogs, a pair of cats, and a couple of fish. Much more crowded than any home of mine has been in more than a decade. It will take much getting used to.
Enough for now...
I see my gentleman friend on the weekends. Take vacation a couple of times a year. Once or twice a month I run errands at the post office, bank, and grocery store. In other words, I don't get out much.
Health is the main reason that I'm home so much. I keep up with the housework, and the pets. But I also spend a lot of time in bed. It's easy to overdo things, and can take days or weeks to recover. I'm careful to exercise daily. The treadmill for at least a mile daily, even if it's slow and has to be done in small increments. Hand weights for upper body strength, moving gently but still moving.
Braille lessons, making backgammon boards, and listening to books or online classes keeps me busy. I play a lot of music, or listen to movies as I'm keeping busy.
I'm having family from out of state visiting in two weeks, and just found out that a friend who lives in Africa will be flying here for a visit next week. Last weekend, there was a cookout with friends from around the country. So, I do see people from time to time. Just not many.
I never thought that I'd be a recluse, living alone with a cat, dog, and a couple of fish as housemates. I'm not complaining. It's actually relaxing and freeing to not have other people around all of the time. The quiet is peaceful. I find that I'm not lonely by myself.
This will all change when my gentleman friend and I move in together. I'm somewhat apprehensive about moving to the city, although there are many benefits, such as available transportation. It will be us, a trio of huge dogs, a pair of cats, and a couple of fish. Much more crowded than any home of mine has been in more than a decade. It will take much getting used to.
Enough for now...
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Playing catch up
Been pretty busy of late, mostly learning Braille, but other things also.
My Perkins Brailler arrived over the weekend. Simple to use, and I'm enjoying it. Getting used to keys which are more stiff than an old manual typewriter is hard. The Brailler lessons on the iPad were barely a touch on the screen. It took me a full day to figure out how to load paper into it. Still, I see decades of use coming from that little workhorse. I love being able to read what I write.
The Braille letters on all of my keyboards are a huge help. I get a lot of practice using them, and it gets easier by the day.
My tactile drawing board arrived today. All I've done so far is unpack it. Looking forward to being able to touch what I've drawn.
Mowed today, and planted flowers in pots outdoors. Tomorrow, I'll use the rake to pull the piles of leaves away from the fence, and mow them into oblivion. I need more flowers for the three gigantic pots next to the fence, and have solar lights ready to put in them as well. The giant sycamore tree has finally leafed out, so I can get out and work in the yard.
My beastie, Demeter, had another seizure today. We spent a long time snuggling after, I think we both need to when they occur. She's no longer a puppy, she turned eight on her last birthday. Slowing down as she gets older, but always up for a walk or a treat. Her allergies are finally under control. I've changed her diet a couple of times, and added raw meat daily. Changed her allergy medicine, too, and have one that works for her. She's happy and sassy, and enjoys herself.
The new little beastie has settled in. I named her Moriarty. She is truly a psychopath, alternating between cute and cuddly or demonic and evil. She is clever. I've taught her to stand on her hind legs and raise her front paws when she wants to be picked up. She torments the betta fish.
After a long time without any, I recently got a couple more betta fish. Since Moriarty loves to torment them, I named them Sherlock and Watson. One red, and the other blue so I can tell them apart.
I went on vacation a couple of weeks ago. Galveston is one of my favorite places, and I had a lovely time. Spent a lot of time walking the beach and poking around in little shops. Best of all, I got to eat at Tookies in Seabrook. The pelican eggs and a squealer are my favorite things there. We got to explore a WWII submarine and a Naval Destroyer at a park in Galveston. Amazing to think that so many people lived in such tight quarters, the designers were absolute geniuses when it came to creative ways to store things.
We also visited one of the places that I love most, Space Center Houston. The new space shuttle exhibit it mounted on top of one of the 747s which used to carry the shuttles. We visited mission control, and I picked a nasa Christmas ornament to add to my collection. Lovely time, but I was ready to return home to my cozy cottage.
Life has been quiet, other than travel, and it needs to be that way for awhile. I've got a dislocated rib which is healing slowly. Moving wrong makes it grind. Being careful will ensure it heals well.
Enough for now...
My Perkins Brailler arrived over the weekend. Simple to use, and I'm enjoying it. Getting used to keys which are more stiff than an old manual typewriter is hard. The Brailler lessons on the iPad were barely a touch on the screen. It took me a full day to figure out how to load paper into it. Still, I see decades of use coming from that little workhorse. I love being able to read what I write.
The Braille letters on all of my keyboards are a huge help. I get a lot of practice using them, and it gets easier by the day.
My tactile drawing board arrived today. All I've done so far is unpack it. Looking forward to being able to touch what I've drawn.
Mowed today, and planted flowers in pots outdoors. Tomorrow, I'll use the rake to pull the piles of leaves away from the fence, and mow them into oblivion. I need more flowers for the three gigantic pots next to the fence, and have solar lights ready to put in them as well. The giant sycamore tree has finally leafed out, so I can get out and work in the yard.
My beastie, Demeter, had another seizure today. We spent a long time snuggling after, I think we both need to when they occur. She's no longer a puppy, she turned eight on her last birthday. Slowing down as she gets older, but always up for a walk or a treat. Her allergies are finally under control. I've changed her diet a couple of times, and added raw meat daily. Changed her allergy medicine, too, and have one that works for her. She's happy and sassy, and enjoys herself.
The new little beastie has settled in. I named her Moriarty. She is truly a psychopath, alternating between cute and cuddly or demonic and evil. She is clever. I've taught her to stand on her hind legs and raise her front paws when she wants to be picked up. She torments the betta fish.
After a long time without any, I recently got a couple more betta fish. Since Moriarty loves to torment them, I named them Sherlock and Watson. One red, and the other blue so I can tell them apart.
I went on vacation a couple of weeks ago. Galveston is one of my favorite places, and I had a lovely time. Spent a lot of time walking the beach and poking around in little shops. Best of all, I got to eat at Tookies in Seabrook. The pelican eggs and a squealer are my favorite things there. We got to explore a WWII submarine and a Naval Destroyer at a park in Galveston. Amazing to think that so many people lived in such tight quarters, the designers were absolute geniuses when it came to creative ways to store things.
We also visited one of the places that I love most, Space Center Houston. The new space shuttle exhibit it mounted on top of one of the 747s which used to carry the shuttles. We visited mission control, and I picked a nasa Christmas ornament to add to my collection. Lovely time, but I was ready to return home to my cozy cottage.
Life has been quiet, other than travel, and it needs to be that way for awhile. I've got a dislocated rib which is healing slowly. Moving wrong makes it grind. Being careful will ensure it heals well.
Enough for now...
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Braille stickers
Saturday in Oklahoma, and I'm trying out the Braille stickers on the keyboard. The large yellow and black stickers weren't working as well as they used to. Using the Braille stickers on the keys is making a big difference in the way that I'm able to read, Practice and learn Braille. I just ordered two more sets, so I can use them on the desktop and laptop computers as well.
I'm still not proficient. At times I feel like a child in kindergarten trying to learn letters and numbers. I'm nowhere near learning punctuation and things like mathematic symbols or sheet music. I stick with simple things like children's books for now. The first one I purchased is "Love you forever", a book that I purchase for newborns in my family.
I'd like to get to the point where I can read novels and textbooks in Braille. I miss that so much. the price of books puts them out of reach. If I borrow them, it would take months to read them at my proficiency level.
For now, I just keep trying. It is getting easier to use Braille. Between the keyboard stickers, apps, and the Braille labeler, I'm making massive progress.
I miss being able to just curl up with a good book and reading.
I'm still not proficient. At times I feel like a child in kindergarten trying to learn letters and numbers. I'm nowhere near learning punctuation and things like mathematic symbols or sheet music. I stick with simple things like children's books for now. The first one I purchased is "Love you forever", a book that I purchase for newborns in my family.
I'd like to get to the point where I can read novels and textbooks in Braille. I miss that so much. the price of books puts them out of reach. If I borrow them, it would take months to read them at my proficiency level.
For now, I just keep trying. It is getting easier to use Braille. Between the keyboard stickers, apps, and the Braille labeler, I'm making massive progress.
I miss being able to just curl up with a good book and reading.
Monday, January 25, 2016
A January Monday
It's late January, overcast, and bleak outside. About what you expect when you think of the dead of winter. Warmer weather is coming, and I'm dreaming of springtime. I've been holed up in the house for weeks, only going outdoors on days warmer than fifty degrees.
Arthritis has been pure hell this winter. Most days are spent doing the basics, then keeping my various achy bones wrapped in heating pads. Warmer weather will ease the pain, so I can get back to being productive.
Speaking of productive... I bought a Braille labeler. So far, I've labeled the CDs, DVDs, books on tape, and am getting ready to do my vinyl albums. Now it's easier to find what I'm looking for.
Also I made semi order from the chaos which is what I call my craft supplies. I need to label those boxes. Still, the room looks better with things put away.
I have a kitten now, the younger sibling of the one my gentleman friend has. She's cute and cuddly for hours, and then turns into a complete psychopath. She answers to Moriarty. I absolutely adore her. The Beastie is ambivalent towards her, and that's alright.
Speaking of the Beastie... She turned eight years old last week. We celebrated by having pizza delivered. She was over the moon getting a whole slice at once for herself. There's some in the freezer, awaiting an evening when I'm only in the mood to nuke dinner. At the moment, there are chicken and noodles in the crockpot making the entire house smell lovely.
Hoping to get out and grocery shop tomorrow. I'm feeling cooped up, and would love to take the trike out for a short ride. It's only five blocks to the grocery store.
Enough for now.
Arthritis has been pure hell this winter. Most days are spent doing the basics, then keeping my various achy bones wrapped in heating pads. Warmer weather will ease the pain, so I can get back to being productive.
Speaking of productive... I bought a Braille labeler. So far, I've labeled the CDs, DVDs, books on tape, and am getting ready to do my vinyl albums. Now it's easier to find what I'm looking for.
Also I made semi order from the chaos which is what I call my craft supplies. I need to label those boxes. Still, the room looks better with things put away.
I have a kitten now, the younger sibling of the one my gentleman friend has. She's cute and cuddly for hours, and then turns into a complete psychopath. She answers to Moriarty. I absolutely adore her. The Beastie is ambivalent towards her, and that's alright.
Speaking of the Beastie... She turned eight years old last week. We celebrated by having pizza delivered. She was over the moon getting a whole slice at once for herself. There's some in the freezer, awaiting an evening when I'm only in the mood to nuke dinner. At the moment, there are chicken and noodles in the crockpot making the entire house smell lovely.
Hoping to get out and grocery shop tomorrow. I'm feeling cooped up, and would love to take the trike out for a short ride. It's only five blocks to the grocery store.
Enough for now.
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