Whine, whine, whine

 

Our redbud tree
with a youpon getting in the way.

This has not been a good day. In fact, it’s been the kind of day when I feel I ought to make a list of everything that went wrong. Little of it had a silver lining.

Sophie has been under the weather—perhaps literally because of last night’s storms. She did not eat at all yesterday, although she did take her two treats. Even turned down a bit of Velveeta—okay I had wrapped a Benadryl in it, and maybe she sensed that. What she did eat was grass—always a bad sign in a dog. If it made her throw up, she fortunately did it outside, because I never saw it. Of course last night’s thunder terrified her, and she wandered about the cottage in the night. She slept most of the morning, perhaps recovering, but did eat this afternoon.

Electronic woes beset me. It took me at least forty-five minutes to make a payment, due no later than tomorrow, on my new dental insurance. Since I have a dental appointment next week, I wanted to make sure it was paid. The site would not take my credit card and I finally had to give my bank information, which I do not like to do. Then I once again attacked the Credit Karma site that my Colin recommends. I couldn’t do it, gave up, and emailed him. Colin ended hosting a Teams meeting so I could watch what he did. After almost an hour, he decided the problem was that a freeze was on my credit records with the three main bureaus. My assignment was to lift the freeze. One bureau had no record of me, my birthdate, my social security number, my address, etc. According to them, I don't exist. A second one immediately flashed a screen that said it couldn’t process my request and to call them. At the third I went through the process of opening a new account, required because I hadn’t used the site in too long. I got all the way to verifying my identity and was stymied. Decided I failed the test. The ball is in Colin's court, though he doesn't know it yet.

I’ve been having hearing aid problems. Thought I had them solved, but today my aids would not let me hear on my phone. Resulted in some funny calls, like me singing, “Colin, can you hear me? Colin, can  you hear me?” Finally in exasperation he texted, “I can hear you, Ma.” I couldn’t hear him at all. I have an appointment with my audiologist Monday, but that’s a long time to go without talking on the phone. I already had a difficult time trying to talk to a doctor’s office today.

To top the day off I had a stomach problem—will spare you the details, but I won’t be eating dairy for a while. So much for the pecorino I will put on baked chicken pesto tonight for the others in my family. I love cheese and live on it, probably the problem.

So I’m looking for silver linings: Sophie is back “at herself,” I got to see Colin and talk with him today (no, I don’t invent computer problems just so I can call him, but it works well), and it’s a beautiful spring day. The trees that two days ago had little tiny bits of green now have that light green fluff of two or three inches that indicates leaves are on their way. I see a bit of green in the zoysia grass, which is always late to green up, and the redbud tree is in glorious bloom. And the sun is shining brightly—surely tomorrow will be a better day!

And here’s a day brightener for all of us. Gabe Fleisher of Wake Up to Politics reports that people became kinder in 2021, according to research from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. The World Happiness Report released earlier this month found that “global rates of helping strangers, volunteering, and giving to charity are nearly twenty-five percent above pre-pandemic levels.” So much for William Barr’s belief that mankind is inherently evil! If you don’t know Fleisher’s daily column, check it out at Wake Up To Politics It’s fair, accurate reporting from a college sophomore with a national news reputation. Good stuff.

 

 

 

A new world of sound

Ring the bells! Bang the drums! Clash the cymbals! Let the music begin. I have new hearing aids! They’re half the size and half the weight of the ones I’ve had forever—and the tone is so much better. I spent most of the morning in the audiologist’s office learning how to use them. One huge benefit--I can now talk on the phone while my cell phone is lying on my desk. I don’t have to hold it up to my ear.

One thing I’ve learned with my medical troubles of late is that assistants in medical offices tend to chatter way too fast and talk way too softly. I’m hoping the new ears will mean I don’t have to keep saying, “Whoa! Slow down!” I’m so tired of saying, “Pardon me. Would you repeat that—slowly.”

I also expect these new aids to allow me to enjoy music more, especially church music. Hope to try it out on Sunday.

Other than that lengthy appointment, today was a work day, and I made good progress on the Alamo book. But last night I had one of the best dinners I’ve had in a long time. Betty, Jean, and I went to Paris Seventh, a spin-off of Saint Emilion, the fanciest French restaurant in town (maybe the only upscale French one). At Paris Seventh they offer a bistro menu on Tuesday and Wednesday nights if you have a reservation and get there before 6:45. The cost for three courses is $30 including tip but not wine.

I try to remember to watch the menu, because it changes every week. This week, the three courses were cream of mushroom soup, salmon en croute, and crème brulee. There’s a lot of cream and richness in those dishes. I ate all the soup but could only manage half the salmon, which was in a rich cream sauce with a bit of spinach. Absolutely delicious, but so filling. I brought half the salmon home but enjoyed the crème brulee which was lighter than many versions.

Had the leftover salmon tonight. Still good, but not as good as when it was fresh, hot, and finished with that good sauce.

Service was courtly if a bit slow—everyone seems to hit the restaurant at the same time to take advantage of the bistro menu. But I will continue to watch for the weekly menu and go back for the bistro dinner. Great experience.

But there was restaurant chatter. I need to go back with my super-sensitive aids which constantly check and adjust for the environment. So excited to hear the world again.