Starry night on the prairie

This has felt like a Saturday to me. Not sure why. I finally got some sleep last night and slept in this morning. Have been a bit discombobulated all day.

I baked a double batch of Snickerdoodle cookies for the rally tomorrow. I will give the leftovers to my kids. They turned out good today. I learned I have to cook one batch at a time in my oven. If I tried to do two at a time the bottom batch would burn even if I only kept them in there for a few minutes.

Someone posted on Facebook they needed to borrow a knee scooter. I posted they were welcome to borrow mine and they came and picked it up this afternoon. I think that is the tenth person that has used this scooted. I’m grateful I held on to it and am able to loan it out to others. I didn’t get any details from the lady that borrowed it. If it is meant to be, she will return it in a couple of months.

Tomorrow I am going to meet a friend for lunch in Council Grove and then we are manning a water and cookie station for the political rally that is being held tomorrow afternoon in Council Grove. It will be fun to spend time with my friend and to participate in another Rally.

Sunday Kathy is going to Wichita to spend the night at our cousin’s house. She has a very early flight out of Wichita Monday morning for her Honor Flight to Washington, DC. I trust she will have a good time. DC is a beautiful city to visit in the spring time.

Next Wednesday I have a thing with Jason to go to in the afternoon. Saturday I am going to a party at a friend’s house. Other than that, I have a quiet week planned. I will have dog and cat duty Monday through Wednesday so will get more exercise those days walking the dogs.

We still haven’t gotten much rain. Lots of rain has fallen around us but hasn’t found us yet. Trusting that sometime this week it will be our turn.

Still having trouble making much important. Just can’t think of anything I need to do that is important. Makes me wonder what is important. What would feel important to me these days? Making connections with others and being there for my family is about all I can think of.

Grateful the cookies are made and turned out OK, grateful someone else can make use of the knee scooter, and grateful for friends and family.

I could not find sleep last night. I gave up around 6:30 and got up. I did lay down for a couple of hours late morning but not sure I slept for more than an hour. Man I hate when I go through spells like this. I feel very drained this afternoon. Hopefully tonight I will get lots of sleep and will wake up with some energy in the morning.

I went to Emporia late afternoon to attend a visitation. Halfway to Emporia I could tell it had recently rained lots. It was a pond-filler type of rain as all the ditches were full and the sides of the roads in Emporia were full of water. We only got a brief rain in Cottonwood Falls. About three minutes before I got to the funeral home it started pouring again but by the time I was parked and ready to go in the rain stopped and I got in dry.

The person that made their transition was a dear friend of my parents. Mom and Dad had a group of about six couples that they hung out with. This was the husband of one of the those couples. I think most of the “gang” as they used to call themselves have departed. I got to see his daughter this evening and her beautiful family. My, have we all grown up and gotten old!

Tomorrow I need to bake some cookies for the political rally on Saturday. I haven’t baked cookies for a long time – trusting I still remember how. I will allow myself some extra time just in case. This kitchen is not easy to bake in.

Saturday I am meeting a friend for lunch and then we are going to the rally. She is hosting the water/cookie break table for the rally so I may sit with her and join the rally when it gets to us. We shall see how the day unfolds.

I didn’t make it to the gym today. I didn’t have the energy due to little to no sleep. Hoping I can make it tomorrow. One day at a time – one step at a time – I got this. I need to allow myself some wiggle room and remember this is a journey and not a destination. Perfection is not required.

Feeling a bit empty tonight. I’m sure most of it is from lack of sleep. The weather has been a bit unsettling today too. It feels like I don’t have much solid ground beneath my feet. Maybe it is part of letting go and allowing and accepting there isn’t much solid in this world. Going with the flow and allowing means not leaning on anything solid and trusting in the Universe. I think I can, I think I can….

Grateful for what rain we did get, grateful for the memories of days long gone by, and grateful to be in the flow.

I drove to Council Grove to meet a dear friend for lunch. We visited for over 2 1/2 hours. My soul needed our conversation today. It was a beautiful drive through the hills today. The grass is so green that it hurts your eyes. I love spring in the Flint Hills.

I came home and took a chair nap. After I woke up I went and laid down on my bed and read for a bit. I needed some quiet time this afternoon.

We got a few sprinkles this afternoon. Areas around us got some good rain but we got the consolation prize of sprinkles and thunder. Bet there was a rainbow if I could have seen the horizon.

I have a visitation to go to tomorrow evening. I will stop and get a few groceries when I am done. Friday I have a free day. I am going to bake a batch of cookies to take to the rally on Saturday. I’ll do a double batch and take some to Tagen, Jason and Michelle. I haven’t baked cookies for a long time.

Saturday I am meeting a friend for lunch and then we are going to the rally in Council Grove. It will be another fun day.

Kathy leaves Saturday afternoon to go to Wichita. She is spending the night at our cousin’s house and then has an early flight on Sunday to DC. She is going on the Veterans Honor Flight. She will be home Wednesday. I will have dog duty while she is gone.

I am having trouble making anything important this evening. Sometimes I have to let go and allow. When I do that, nothing feels important. I stepped into watching my life as if it is a movie and I have no control over what is happening next. I am along for the ride. I have no idea what is going to happen next and for some reason that feels good.

Grateful for lunch and a deep conversation with a dear friend today, grateful to be able to let go, and grateful for whatever happens next in my life.

It has been a quiet day at home. Don’t think I did much today. A storm is starting to roll in. Hoping we get some rain out it.

I had a long talk with Jason today. He has a major life change happening and needed to vent. I’m grateful I can listen when he needs to do that.

Tagen called this afternoon. He had a situation going on and needed some advice and needed to vent. That seems to be my theme for the day.

I took Sophia for a mile walk this afternoon. Roxy declined my offer to take her. I didn’t go to the gym today so I did a mile walk instead.

Tomorrow I am meeting a friend in Council Grove for lunch. It will be nice to have a deep conversation with a like-minded friend. Thursday I am going to a visitation and Saturday I am going to Council Grove for a political rally.

Feeling a bit disconnected again tonight. My world feels small tonight. It will be good to get out tomorrow and have a long, deep conversation.

I had to take a break from the news today. There are so many distractions going on that it is hard to stay focused on what is important. It was frustrating me so I needed to step away. Right here – right now – all is well as long as I don’t read the news. I think I feel a bit guilty that what is happening hasn’t impacted me directly yet. So many people are hurting from what is happening and many more will hurt in the future. Some nights I can’t go there.

Some days are harder than others. I know love is the answer and that love will win. I need to duck inside and remember that completely.

Grateful for a quiet day at home, grateful for a mile walk today, and grateful I have the privilege to tuck inside when I get overwhelmed with all that is happening.

Phil was here at 8:30 to get the foundation repair job started. He moved the furniture in the bedroom and pulled up a corner of the carpet. He cut a hole in the floor so he could get to the part of the foundation that he needed to work on.

About midafternoon he put the bedroom back together and had to crawl under the house in the narrow crawl space to do some cement footings. I don’t envy him the job he had to do today. It is a bug filled narrow space to crawl around in.

When he was done today he told me the cement he poured today needs to set up for about a week so Phil won’t be working tomorrow. He will come next Monday and hopefully be able to get the job finished up.

I’m glad I decided not to go out of town for a few days to escape the construction mess. Turns out I didn’t need to.

I didn’t sleep at all last night. I finally gave up around 6:00 and got up. It sure makes a long night when that happens. I was able to take a chair nap mid morning and I got a couple hours of sleep.

I walked down to the gym this afternoon and did a bit of exercise while there. I added a couple minutes to the bike that I rode while there. I worked my legs and abs. I don’t want to get sore so I am going very slow. I walked back home afterwards. The gym is about 1/2 mile from my house so it is a good way to get a mile walk in.

It was warmer this afternoon than I expected. I wore a sweater to go to the gym and I definitely didn’t need it. I came home sweating as I also wore a long sleeve shirt. I will have to dress more appropriately next time.

No plans for tomorrow. It will be good to be able to sleep in if I can find sleep. I will go back to the gym if I am not sore. I happened across a YouTube last night and the person said the main reason people fail when they pick up new habits is because they don’t change how they see themselves. I need to start telling myself I am physically fit, active and strong. Fake it till you make it – right?

I was sad to hear that the Pope died. I respected his deep roots and ideas about charity. I think he encountered head winds in the structure of the church that limited what he was able to do. I didn’t always agree with his positions but I respected that he spoke out for the least of them and turned his back on the trappings of the Vatican. It will be interesting to see if the church uses this as an opportunity to continue his mission or go backwards.

It felt good to get out and walk and get a workout in. I had to push myself out the door but I did it. Not sure why I find it so hard to do things that I know are good for me. I always feel so much better afterwards. One day at a time – I got this. I need to remind myself if I can walk 500 miles in Spain I can make it to the gym most days.

Wednesday I am going to Council Grove to meet a friend for lunch. We always have long lunches with deep conversation. I look forward to getting out. Thursday I have a visitation to go to and then on Saturday I am going to the rally in Council Grove at 2:00. My empty week is filling in nicely.

I can’t say I was surprised but I was still disappointed about the lack of press coverage on the rally’s that happened Saturday. I am surprised even the left leaning media didn’t give them much coverage. Makes me realize how limited we are if we believe that the media is covering everything and giving us truth.

I get a weekly email from a guy named Jack Armstrong. He channeled a book and he picks sections out of it each week to email out. Sometimes they really seem to be what I need to hear that day. Today he suggested that you watch your life play out as it you were watching a movie. When you go to a movie you go with the flow of the movie and know there is nothing you can do to change the outcome of the movie. What if we trusted the Universe to give us what we need with no need to control the flow. With all that is going on in the world these days I needed the reminder that there is nothing I can control except my own reaction to what is happening.

Grateful the foundation repair project has begun, grateful I made it to the gym today and was able to walk there, and grateful for the Pope and the way he showed us how to minister to those that are the least of us.

Kathy and I both decided this was a perfect pajama day. Neither one of us did anything today. It was raining off and on all day and it was a great day to stay inside and take a rest day. I don’t think we got lots of rain but at least Kathy didn’t have to water the grass she planted recently and all the flowers got a drink.

I did walk the dogs this evening. They are both covered in mud and wet and smelly. I brought them in to give them their pills and then made them go right back outside. I had to mop the floors after they got sent to timeout in their pen. They may not be able to come in for several days until it dries up a bit.

Phil is going to be here at 8:30 in the morning to start the foundation work. He has to move my bed out of the way to get to where he needs to cut a hole in the floor. He told me he thinks he can do a temporary fix for tomorrow night so I can use my bed. We shall see how the day progresses.

I did laundry today and decided not to fold it and put it away. If my closets get blocked due to the foundation repair job I will have clothes for four days. That was easy.

I am so grateful this foundation project is getting taken care of. It has been on my list since I moved into this house almost a year ago. It is the last project for this house on my list.

I have absolutely nothing on my calendar all week. This is the first week in a long time that I have nothing scheduled for the whole week. I’m not sure how that feels. Freeing yet intimidating at the same time. I do better when I have a bit of structure in my life.

I am going to set up a lunch with a friend one day this week if we can work that out. I also have a Rally to go to in Council Grove on Saturday. I have a few things around here I would like to get done in my free time. The problem is motivating myself to get them done. I work better when I have deadlines.

Still thinking about the rally yesterday. The numbers that are coming in across the country tell me there were fewer people protesting yesterday than two weeks ago. It is a holiday weekend. I was very pleased that we had 30 people show up here. I wonder how many would have gone to Topeka or Wichita instead? I think most of them would not have.

Protesting feels good in the moment but it still feels like it is not enough. I continue to email my senators and representatives and let them know my thoughts and feelings. That doesn’t feel enough either. I have to keep reminding myself that keeping my energy above neutral is almost a full-time job these days.

The energy in the world shifted last week. Not sure how or why I know that but I felt it deep in my bones. Maybe we reached the tipping point. It will still be a long climb out of this mess we are all in but I felt the momentum shift. I also have to keep reminding myself that miracles happen everyday and it isn’t mine to know how or when or why.

I told the Rally group that I am an old hippy that believes in the power of love. I told them love is the answer. Now what was the question? I need to get out of my head and allow my heart to lead.

Grateful for the rain today, grateful for mops that clean up dirty floors, and grateful the foundation repair job starts tomorrow.

Oh what a day! The weather turned out perfect as the wind and rain held off for our walk. It was a bit chilly but the walk warmed us up.

We gathered around Kathy’s new fire pit where Kathy had started a fire to warm our bodies and souls today. A dear friend brought his guitar and another of the participants is a singer and the two of them sang peace and love songs to us.

We had a meditation and we all roared and threw our anger, frustration and overwhelm into the fire. We made space inside for peace, love and harmony.

We walked downtown to meet up with a group that provided cookies and water for us. There were several people that couldn’t walk the mile route and they joined us at the water break stop.

We walked down to the old bridge and had some more music. We then walked back to the cookie and water break stop for seconds on the delicious cookies. We came back to my house and called it a day.

We had 30 people total at our rally today. We only encountered one person who yelled at us while we walked by their house going downtown. They didn’t yell at us when we passed them on our way home. I didn’t see any law enforcement officers. A couple cars and pickups slowed down to see what we were doing as they passed. I was kinda expecting one or more to say or do something but they didn’t.

It was an interesting mix of men and women. We had a couple of youngsters – those below 40! I didn’t know about half of the participants but somehow, someway they had found out about it and showed up.

My goal was to reach the tipping point of the population of Cottonwood Falls. The census reports the population as 851. 30 at the rally put us a person or two above the tipping point!

It turned out better than I had hoped it would. It was very peaceful, full of love and harmony. There were interesting conversations going on most of the time as people mixed and made new friends.

I will be interested in hearing the totals of the number of people that demonstrated across the US today. I reported our total of 30 to the main group that organized the events today – 50501. I can’t rely on mainstream media to give me accurate numbers. 50501 is adding up the rally totals and are to have a count tomorrow.

It does feel good to have done something to get our voices and concerns heard. Trusting it created some conversation in Cottonwood Falls and others get curious as to why we were on the streets.

Next Saturday there are more rally’s planned. I want to go to the one in Council Grove. We had two from Council Grove at our Rally today.

Tomorrow is a rest day for me. I have some laundry to do and there is always cleaning that could be done if the mood hits.

Monday Phil is beginning the work to repair my foundation. He will be pulling up the carpet in my bedroom and cutting a hole in the floor so he can get to the foundation. I may go away for a few days or just find a bed to sleep in somewhere Monday night. I can always sleep on the couch or in my recliner. He thinks he will need two and possibly three days to complete the job. I haven’t decided yet what to do. If I do stay home, I will need to pack a bag so I can have clothes easily available in case my closet gets blocked.

Other than the construction work, my calendar is completely free for next week. I do want to get to the gym a couple of times but nothing else is planned. It is going to take me a bit to adjust to all this empty space.

It feels like lots of space opened up for me today. That is both delightful and scary at the same time. I do better when I have a bit of structure in my life and it feels like I don’t have that right now. Time for me to get into some Good Trouble and find a project.

Feeling very satisfied about today. I saw a report of 20 people in Ottawa, KS and 70 in Salina. 30 in Cottonwood Falls is great! What I appreciated most was the people that came that I didn’t know and those that came from towns around us. They were willing to take a risk and show up. We live in red country and it took courage from all that showed up today to do so.

Grateful for the support of those that showed up today, grateful the weather cooperated, and grateful for the fire pit today.

This has been a quiet day at home. I did absolutely nothing. My body was sore and it hurt to move today. The temperature dropped overnight and it has been much cooler today. We are getting a bit of rain this evening. I think my body was telling me about the weather change.

Tomorrow is the rally in Cottonwood Falls. It is going to be cold today with temperatures in the 50’s. Hopefully the rain will book end the rally and we won’t have rain during our walk.

A friend is having her husband bring his guitar and he is going to play while we gather. We will start the rally with some music and then a short meditation to get us all in the same energy. I hope our walk starts around 2:15. It will only take us about 20 minutes to do the walk and back. Another friend is hosting a water/cookie break halfway. Nothing like a small town rally having special treats that the big city rally can’t offer.

Tomorrow I will do a bit of housecleaning in the morning before the rally. I’m grateful the rally is tomorrow. I trust it will be peaceful and the people that attend will feel rejuvenated for coming. I also trust that the local community will feel our actions and it will have an impact on all.

Grateful for the rain this evening, grateful the rally is tomorrow, and grateful for the privilege of taking a do nothing day.

I needed to go to Emporia today and thought I had a visitation to go to at 6:00. I didn’t want to make two trips so I waited until late to go. I double checked the obituary to make sure I had the time correct and realized the visitation isn’t until next week.

Dang, I could have gone to town earlier but when I discovered my error I went to town. Man is it windy out today. It was a Job to keep the car on the road. I felt bad for the semi drivers today. We used to call that White Knuckles when the customers would come in at McDonald’s on the Turnpike. They looked completely wiped out when they would come in to take a break from the wind.

It reached over 90 degrees today. That is too hot for April. It is to be in the 50’s Saturday. We are on a weather roller coaster.

I hadn’t shopped for a bit and had a long list of things to pick up. It is good to be restocked. After I was done at Walmart I went to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for Kathy and then went through the car wash and came home.

Kathy went to coffee this morning and invited the group that was there to the rally on Saturday. Most of them didn’t know what she was talking about and didn’t know that people have taken to the streets to protest.

We certainly are living in two different realities right now. Each reality seems to have a different set of opinions they are living from. Not sure either side can claim truth as that is hard to find these days.

I am growing increasingly concerned about due process. If due process doesn’t apply to one then it may not apply to any. Our democracy is based on applying law to one and all equally. I am not naive and I understand the rich have better attorneys than the poor can afford and therefore justice is not equal. There is also a lot of racism built into the system and POC are very disadvantaged upon entering our judicial system. However, the one thing we have all been entitled to is due process. That no longer seems something we can take for granted.

I am grateful that I organized the rally. All people need to be aware of both realities so they can choose the one they want to live in. We will never all agree on all points politically but I want to stand on the side that respects all humans and gives all humans due process. When more than 3 1/2% of the country starts participating in the rallies, the word will get out and give people more information to make more informed choices.

I need to continue to work on keeping myself above neutral and to visualize a better world for all. We won’t get out of this mess using the same energy we used to get into it. I need to rise above it and believe in the power of love.

I trust the weather will hold and we won’t have rain the day of the rally. Cold I can handle but I really dislike cold and wet. The number of people that are indicating they are coming and/or are interested in the rally keeps increasing. I know there are several coming that aren’t included in the numbers on Facebook.

No plans for tomorrow except to do some final prepping for the Rally on Saturday. I will want to have the house clean as I will invite participants in to use the bathroom if needed before the walk begins.

Grateful my list of things got gathered and home today, grateful for a stay-at-home day tomorrow, and grateful it is going to be cooler tomorrow.

This has been a quiet day. Did two loads of laundry but not much else. I did manage to make it to the gym today. I didn’t stay long but I was proud of myself for going. I had trouble figuring out how to use some of the equipment so I will have to schedule a session with the trainer to learn how to use it.

I will gradually increase the time that I stay each week and work my way up to fitness. I will drop out if I get so sore I can’t sit down without pain so will take it slow and easy. Probably too slow but I am not in a rush and something is better than nothing.

Had a guy call me today to ask if he can come to the rally on Saturday. He had been at the City Commission meeting when the permit was approved. He told me that one or more of the Commissioners didn’t know what a “Hands Off Rally” was. I guess he explained it to them.

He said they had quite the discussion before the meeting began. Wished I had been there. When the Commissioners talked about the Courthouse and said they would not allow the rally on the grounds, the guy had asked them about it. The Commissioners said the Sheriff had made that decision. Uhm???? Wonder what is up with that.

I will let this one go and we will honor their request to not go on the grounds or sidewalks of the Courthouse but if I do another one I might check into it more and push the issue.

Tomorrow is another quiet day at home. I do need to go to Emporia in the evening for a visitation. A friend of my parents died and I would like to see his daughter. We spent lots of time together when I was growing up. She now has grandchildren – how did that happen? I freeze people in time and forget they grow old with me.

While I am in town tomorrow I will stop and get some groceries. I am making a list and do need a few things.

I spent some time today reading my blog from the time when Covid caused our lives to turn upside down. It is interesting to read it from a distance from that time. I passed the initial months of Covid making face masks and working the Crisis Hotline as well as writing letters to friends and family. What a time that was. I still wonder how history will treat that time 50 years from now. I bet it had the same major impact on all of us that the Great Depression years did.

I think we lost the knowledge of how to connect to others during the Covid lockdown down times. Trust in others eroded as well as trust in our government and life in general and I’m not sure it has come back. Long term planning has a new meaning since Covid and it still feels a bit tenuous to plan too far in advance.

I also wonder what the history books will say about the times we are living in now. Reality is hard to find these days as it feels like everyone is living in their own little reality bubble. Truth is hard to find and it is hard to know who to trust. Complication from the Covid years? Makes me wonder.

Grateful I had my first gym day today, grateful for my blog and the recording of my life it creates for me, and grateful the rally will be here soon.

This has been a pajama day for me. I woke up at 3:00 and had to go to the bathroom. I have gone about 20 times today. I am worn out! Decided not to go to the gym as I couldn’t be very far from the bathroom. I am slowing down this evening so I think it was just a flare of my IBS. It usually only lasts for one day or so.

I did order some of the expensive probiotics that my gastroenterologist had recommended. I haven’t taken them for a long time but something tells me it is time to get back on them. I haven’t been eating my yogurt everyday and I need to get back doing that too. When i do both of those things it greatly reduces the number of flares I have.

I got back to sleep around 6:00 this morning and was back up at 8:00 and then back to sleep for a bit. I am exhausted this evening and hope that I can sleep all night long and wake up feeling better tomorrow.

We have a good chance to see the Northern Lights again tonight. The best time is to be between 11:00 and 4:00 am. I might go out if I am still awake and feeling OK. The air is full of smoke so not sure we will get a good view tonight. It is amazing how often they have showed up lately. Makes me wonder what is changing to make that happen.

No plans for tomorrow except to go to the gym. I will need to go to Emporia one of these days for some groceries but not sure I need anything tomorrow. I’ll see how my energy is tomorrow and will decide then.

Been giving some thought to the rally Saturday. We might have around 30 people show up. It is hard to know as people can just show up. So far 12 people have indicated they are coming via the Facebook event post and another 30 are interested. I also know about 10 others that have told me they are coming but they aren’t on Facebook.

I would like to start the rally with a short medication and help us all get above neutral to start the walk. I want this to be a walk in love and peace and not one of anger and overwhelm. Our rational part of our brain shuts off when we are in anger and overwhelm and it puts us below neutral. If the crowd is too big it will be hard to do that though. I will make a couple of plans and decide the day of which one feels right.

This has been a weird day. I don’t like days when I don’t have any energy and have to run to the bathroom so much. Trusting it is a short lived flare and tomorrow will be a better day.

Grateful for indoor plumbing, grateful for an empty space day, and grateful tomorrow is a new day.

I went to the gym at noon today and got my key to the building. I paid for a three month membership. I went with three months as maybe it will provide some motivation to me to go. If I only did one month I might not! We shall see if I can make this happen. I didn’t have time to stay and do anything else today.

Went to Emporia to be at Jason’s house for a delivery. It came around 1:30. I then went to the bank and took care of two banking issues. Stopped at Sutherland’s and picked up some chemical ant repellent. My peppermint mix is not working.

I didn’t stop for groceries as I thought I was going to go to town tomorrow. The thing I was going to tomorrow with Jason got canceled I found out after I got home. I really didn’t need many groceries so I will wait and go in one day later this week and get what I need.

I did a tax return for some friends using one of the free sites recommended from the IRS website. I had several text exchanges with my friends so I could get all the information I needed. Hope I did them correctly. Feels good to know they got their taxes filed on time. Not sure they have the money to pay what they owe but that is not my problem. At least they got filed.

Tomorrow has become a free day for me as I don’t need to go with Jason to his court thing. I will go to the gym tomorrow instead and see if I remember how to use the equipment. I will probably schedule a training session with the owner of the gym in the coming weeks so I can maximize my training time correctly. I will play with the equipment for a bit and see what I remember and go from there.

Saw a very interesting video today where the lady was comparing the biblical understanding of republicans vs democrats. It helped me understand the differences. If you pick and choose what version of the Bible and verses you want to follow, the Bible will help you justify most positions. It did help me understand the differences and that both sides have valid points. I tend to live in the gray zone and not the black and white zones. I see both sides but do tend to follow the democratic side of my understanding of the Bible.

I still need to get out and take my walk for the day. It was cold and windy earlier. Hoping the wind slows down a bit so it isn’t cold when I walk.

Have felt tired all day. I must have used up more energy than I thought yesterday. It was so worth it though. Grateful I have a quiet week ahead and can rest up and get ready for the rally on Saturday. Just checked the forecast and the chance for rain Saturday has been moved to evening time. It is to be low 60’s during rally time. We need the rain so can’t complain if it comes early but it will be nice if it waits till after the rally.

Having so much empty space on my calendar feels both freeing and scary. I really do better with a bit of structure on my calendar. I will have to put working out on my calendar so it looks like I have something to do. Oh the games I play with myself sometimes.

Grateful for empty space on my calendar, grateful to have been able to help some friends out today, and grateful for a gym within walking distance of my house.

We had our family day today. Nicole and Geoff came down from Shawnee, Jason, Michelle, Tagen and Ellexia came from Emporia. It was a beautiful day of food, laughs and lots of love.

I fixed some Easter Eggs for the kids. I put money and candy inside them. The money ranged from $0.25, $1.00, $20 and even a few $100. They each got four eggs and opened them.

I had one more egg for each of them. The two that had raked in the least got a golden egg that had $100 inside. The other four got a random egg that had various amounts. One of those also had $100 inside it. It was fun to watch and fun to see how much each of them took home. One got over $200 and I think the least anyone took was around $60.

I fixed a ham, cheesy potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole and a broccoli salad. After the mishap with the cheesecake last night I was hoping I wouldn’t have another mishap. I almost had one as the cord to the crock pot that I was cooking the cheesy potatoes in got disconnected. Luckily I noticed it in time to dump the potatoes in a casserole pan and put them in the oven. They were a bit runny but hot!

The cheesecake that spilled in the oven when I was taking it out yesterday was edible but it wasn’t one of my better ones. It was too dense. I like a lighter cheesecake.

Nicole and I booked a trip to India and Nepal in November. I got the cancel for any reason insurance in case things are dicey in November. I will get to see the Taj Mahal on the trip! It is a ten night trip. It will take over 24 hours to get there. We will have to fly into New York the day before and stay over as there are no flights from KC that get to New York in time to leave the morning we fly out. Coming home we should be able to get to KC without an extra night. I’m sure the flights will change between now and then. We are going to wait to book the KC to New York flights until it gets a bit closer so we can adjust to whatever our flights change to.

Still not 100% sure I want to leave the country but this feels far enough out that maybe things will have settled down a bit by then. If not, I will cancel.

The trip itinerary tells me that we will be walking 3 – 4 hours a day and there will be lots of uneven surfaces. This will give me the incentive I need to get in better shape.

I had left a message at the gym in Cottonwood Falls Friday and they called me back today. I am going to the gym at noon tomorrow to get my membership. I will schedule a training session so I can learn how to use the equipment. I am loosing leg and arm strength since I quit doing my KU Fitness program and need to get it back.

I took my mile walk this evening. I need to start adding a bit of distance as it felt easy tonight. I want to work my way up to 5 miles a day plus do strength training three days a week. I think I can! I think I can!

It is always a five star rated day for me to have all my kids and grandkids come home. I was surprised and pleased that Tagen was able to come today. It does a momma’s heart good to have all her kids together at once.

Tomorrow I go to the gym to get signed up at noon. I then am going to Emporia to go to Jason’s house to wait on a delivery he has coming. When that is done I need to get some ant spray and take care of a banking issue. I need to get some groceries but we shall see if I can do that or not. Some days I can shop and other days not so much.

I have to go back to Emporia Tuesday morning to go to a thing with Jason. I can stop and get groceries after that if I don’t get them Monday.

The rest of the week is free until Saturday. I have some work I need to do to get ready for the rally Saturday so am grateful I have some free time on my calendar. So far 12 people have indicated they are coming and another 30 are interested. I also know of several that are not on Facebook that have told me they will come.

The weather forecast for next Saturday has improved. There is a storm coming in over next weekend but now they are predicting the rain won’t come until Saturday evening. It is to be in the mid 60’s on Saturday which is perfect rally weather. We shall see what happens that day. Sometimes KS weather is hard to predict.

Looking at lots of empty space time in the coming weeks. I hope to use part of that time working out and walking. I have a list of friends I want to get hold up and meet up with. One of the most important things to me is deepening my connection to my friends and family. I so enjoy one-on-one time where we can have deep conversations. Time for me to get some things scheduled so I can make that happen.

Sitting with a glow tonight after our family day. It is so fun to spend time with my kids and grandkids. We had such a fun day. Wish we could do it more often but maybe because we only do it every three or four months makes it all that much more special.

Grateful my kids and grandkids came home today, grateful for a beautiful spring day, and grateful for a trip to India and Nepal.

This has been a quiet day at home. I have prepared some of the food for family day tomorrow. When I was taking the cheesecake out of the oven the hook didn’t stay latched and I spilled cheesecake all over. I scooped up what I could and put it back in the pan. It isn’t a very pretty cheesecake but hoping it will taste OK. I ordered a new cheesecake pan.

The latch had come loose when I was putting the crumb crust in the pan but I had hoped that when the cheesecake was cooked it would be solid enough to hold together. Oops. I miscalculated gravity!

I have the crust made for another dessert I am making. It won’t take me long to finish that one up. Decided I better make a second dessert in case the cheesecake isn’t edible.

Tomorrow I will bake the ham. When it is done I will put the macaroni and cheese and cheesy potatoes in the oven. I will make the green bean casserole in the crock pot. I made a broccoli salad this morning. Trusting I can pull everything together and not have another oops!

I took a mile walk again tonight. I needed to work off some frustration over the cheesecake. I do feel better after I take a walk.

I need to stuff the plastic Easter eggs yet tonight. Even though the kids are grown we still enjoy an Easter Egg hunt. I remembered to get some candy to put in them yesterday. I will put a bit of money in them too. Maybe growing up is optional!

Still need to make my bed – I washed my sheets today. I also have a load of clothes that need folded. I have a bit more housecleaning I want to get done tonight but if I don’t I’m not sure anyone will notice.

So looking forward to having the kids come tomorrow. Tagen won’t be able to come as he has to work but I will take him some leftovers when I go to Emporia Monday. Jason needs me to do something for him around 1:00 so I will go to town Monday and then again Tuesday. Hoping the rest of the week I can stay home.

When I mailed the check to pay off Tagen’s truck I got a tracking number for it. The first two days it said the information wasn’t available. Today it finally showed the letter is on its way. It was to have been delivered yesterday but isn’t there yet. Our postal service isn’t what it used to be! I saw that the price of stamps is going up again in July. Yikes! More money for less service!

Have been thinking of some chants that I want to use during our walk on the 19th. Thinking about “This is what democracy looks like”, “Power to the People” and “ Peace begins with me”. Any one have other ideas? Please send them to me. I want to keep the energy positive and chant things we are in favor of instead of what we don’t want.

Having a battle with ants in my kitchen. My peppermint water spray is not working. Kathy got some ant bait traps today. If those aren’t working by Monday I will call the exterminator. I have a strong dislike of ants. They give me the creeps.

It was nice to have a stay at home day today. My soul cherishes those days. I get to stay home tomorrow too and all the kids will be here – that is an extra special soul filling day.

Grateful for a beautiful spring day, grateful for all the blooming flowers I see on my walk, and grateful for the smell of the lilac bushes – one of my favorite spring flowers.

I went to a brunch this morning. It was a pleasant gathering with delicious food and great conversation.

Came home and took a nap. I had actually slept last night but as is normal for me when my body gets more sleep than it is used to it wants even more.

Late afternoon I went out for dinner. When I got home I took a mile walk. I walked down to the river bridge which is where the rally crowd is going on the 19th. We have been instructed to walk back the same way we go but tonight I walked home a different way. Felt good to get out and walk a bit.

Tomorrow I will make some of the food I will be serving for family day Sunday. Not sure how many are coming but will plan for all and if some can’t make it I will take them food Monday. I also have a bit of housecleaning to do. Kathy cleaned house yesterday so it is in pretty good shape.

Next week is a quiet week for me. The kids will all be here Sunday. I have a thing to go to with Jason Tuesday morning and the rally on Saturday. Feels good to have three empty space days.

I still need to decide where I am going on April 21 – 23. I won’t be able to use by bedroom those days as I am having some foundation work done. Haven’t settled on where I want to go yet.

Feeling a bit out of sorts tonight. I keep jumping timelines and my mind is scattered. There is a full moon tomorrow night and I am feeling the effects of it. The outside energy is so chaotic and dark. It is hard to keep my feet on the ground and under me. Doing taxes gave me a purpose and I need to find a new one in the coming days.

Grateful for a mile walk today, grateful to meet with like-minded friends today, and grateful I get to see my kids Sunday.

I had a busy start to my last day of doing taxes. I took a return with me that needed reviewed and I had two people waiting for me when I got there so we could finish up their returns. Things finally slowed down and we had a cancellation or two. I was out of there by 11:15 which is early. It was a good year doing taxes for me. I finally feel competent doing them.

After doing taxes I stopped and had lunch at Radius. After lunch I went to Price Chopper for my Easter groceries. They don’t stock ham on the bone except at Christmas and Thanksgiving time so I had to go to a different store to get that. I stopped at Good’s and they had one.

I am avoiding Walmart this week as this is the week to boycott Walmart. I know I paid more for the groceries I got today and I had to go to two stores to get everything but I managed to get what I needed without Walmart.

When I got to Cottonwood Falls I stopped at a friend’s house and dropped off the return I had started yesterday. We have a two-step process before they can be e-filed and I had someone review it for me this morning. The return got filed and I gave the tax payer their copy of the return.

Spent some time this afternoon trying to get the word out about the rally on April 19. I hope others will post and share about it so a wider range of people will see it and know to come. So far 8 have responded that they are coming and 13 more are interested. Still a long way from having the 80 that is my goal. I will be happy though if we have at least 25.

Tomorrow I have a brunch to go to at 10:00. After that is over I will have a couple of stay at home days. The kids are coming Sunday for family day. So far other than the rally on Saturday the 19th, I only have a thing with Jason on my calendar next Wednesday. I am way overdue for a long stretch of stay at home days. I need to get hold of some friends and get a lunch or two scheduled. I’m sure by mid week next week I will be wanting to meet up and have a deep conversation with a friend or two.

I do want to get hold of the owner of the gym and get a gym membership Monday. I want to use the time I had been doing taxes to go to the gym. I don’t have anything much on my calendar for a bit so this is a good time to find a new routine going to the gym. I am loosing strength in my legs and my balance is not as good as it was when I was exercising several days a week. I don’t want to feel and act older than I am so I need to get my butt in gear and get to working out again.

Looking forward to slowing things down a bit. I function best when I have lots of down time and the last couple of weeks I haven’t gotten as much down time as I need. I have managed to stay above neutral for the most part which amazes me. The time thing though has really amped up for me. I had to check my iPad about three times this morning before I could fully understand that today is Thursday. Time doesn’t make sense to me right now. That is usually my indication that I need to completely step out of time for a bit until things settle down.

I couldn’t sleep last night and I was cleaning up my phone. I had saved a bunch of emails from one of my mentors from back in the day. I reread what I had sent and the responses I got back. As I read what I wrote I realized how far I have come. The things that bothered me then no longer do. Unfortunately new things have come up that bother me now but I will take this as a sign of progress on my spiritual journey.

Grateful for progress on my journey, grateful this tax season has come to a close, and grateful for free space on my calendar for the coming weeks.

This has been a weird day for me. Time is doing its crazy thing again. Sometimes five minutes feels like five hours and other times five minutes feels like five seconds. Has me upside down today.

I went over to a friend’s house to do their taxes this morning. It only took a short bit to get them done. I will get them reviewed tomorrow and they will be filed tomorrow night. That was easy!

I called the city to follow up on my request for a special event on April 19 so a group of us can walk the streets and rally. It was approved at the city Commission meeting. They did give me a designated route. I had wanted to walk around the court house but that is not allowed unless I go before the county commission. We will walk from my house to Pearl St. Up Pearl Street to Broadway St. North on Broadway to the river bridge and then we will reverse the route and come back to my house. We have to stay on the sidewalks and cannot walk around the courthouse. I will take what I can get.

We will be meeting at my house at 421 Plum St at 1:00 on Saturday, April 19. We will have a short gathering meeting and then will walk the designated route and back again. Afterwards I thought we could stay and visit and brainstorm other steps we can take both collectively and individually. That part will be optional. Spread the word and bring a friend or two with you. The bathroom in my house is available if needed!

This afternoon I am going to a friend’s house for happy hour. I haven’t seen some of my friends for a bit so it will be a good chance to get caught up with them. It is a beautiful day to sit outside and enjoy the company of like-minded friends.

I have felt a bit lost today as I have had more free time than I have had for a bit. My mind says get up and do something but my body says sit a bit. I do need to start thinking about cleaning the house and getting things ready for family day Sunday. For some reason Sunday feels like a long way off.

I happened to notice the woodwork in the living room, where the dogs lay at night, is very dirty. I have tall baseboards and the dogs lean up against it when they sleep at night. I will have to get that washed up although I am betting it will be dirty again soon.

Tomorrow I am going to Emporia to do taxes in the morning for the last time this season. I need to stop afterwards and get the supplies for our family day dinner. I want to double check my list so I don’t have to go to town Friday or Saturday and get something I forgot.

Phil came over yesterday and crawled under the house to check what needs to be done about the foundation. He is going to have to cut a hole in the bedroom floor so he can get to where he needs to add some support material to the foundation. He isn’t going to try to level the floor as that will create issues on the back side of the wall and impact the kitchen cabinets and the furnace. He said he would need at least two days and maybe three. I will have to vacate my bedroom while he does that. This will give me a good excuse to take a short trip somewhere. Now the hard part is to decide where to go. Nothing is coming to me yet. He is to let me know a couple days ahead of when he can fit it into his schedule.

Kathy got notified yesterday that she has been selected to go on an Honor Flight to Washington, DC the end of April. Our cousin is on the committee that does fundraising for these trips and he is going to get to go on this trip with her. I’m so proud of her and her service as an Army nurse to our country. She is very excited.

Next week is a much quieter week for me. I will want to do some things to get ready for the rally on the 19th. I also want to get a gym membership and start going to the gym several days a week. I am loosing what I gained from the fitness program I was in. I didn’t think it was doing any good but the longer I am away from it, the more I can tell I am loosing muscle strength, especially in my legs.

I have a weird relationship with time these days. It doesn’t serve me well and I don’t have to pay attention to it most of the time. The last couple weeks have been busier than normal for me and I have had places I had to be at a certain time. I think my body is telling me it is time to step back out of time. I function better when I do that.

Grateful the request for the rally was approved, grateful for this beautiful spring day, and grateful for a restful afternoon.

This has felt like a productive day. I managed to wake up about 10 minutes before my alarm went off. That makes for a better start to my day.

I was in Emporia at 9:00 to do taxes. We weren’t too busy today and it felt longer than normal today as a result.

After I was done with taxes I had lunch with Tagen and his girlfriend. We took care of a financial matter while we were eating.

After lunch I went to a bank and got a cashiers check and then I went to the post office to mail it. Felt good to get that matter started.

Went to the Friends of the Library book sale and found a sack of books that wanted to come home with me. I only paid $5 for the whole sack full. I am going to try some new to me authors. If I don’t like them I am not out much.

Came home and took care of something I had been asked to do. I was able to cross some things off my pending list today which always makes it a good day.

I am going to be selling Tagen’s truck. I tried to enter it at CarFax but they ask way too many questions that I have no idea how to answer. I will have to try again when Tagen is with me so I know the details of his truck. I thought having the VIN would be enough but silly me. I am not detailed thinking when it comes to vehicles. I’m lucky to find my own car in a parking lot!

Tomorrow morning I am helping a friend do their taxes and have a happy hour to go to in the afternoon. Thursday I go back to Emporia for the last tax day of this season. I need to stop and get groceries afterwards and get the things I need for family day Sunday. Friday I have a brunch to go to. Saturday is a stay at home day that I will use to get ready for family day on Sunday.

I told Tagen today I am fixing a ham, Mac and cheese, cheesy potatoes, green bean casserole, etc for lunch on Sunday. He said that sounds like family food! I don’t get too original when the kids come home – they seem to like their favorites.

It is a beautiful spring day. I noticed it is to be in the upper 80’s on Sunday. Way too early for that warm of a day. It was in the upper 30’s when I left the house this morning but got up to the high 60’s this afternoon. I love temperatures like this.

Felt good to get the process of selling Tagen’s truck started. It will take a few weeks as I need to wait to get the title back before we can sell it. Time goes by quickly these days so it won’t be long before it is gone. This will give Tagen time to find something more affordable for him. I trust he won’t come out upside down on this learning adventure he is on.

Grateful the truck issue is being addressed, grateful for a bag of books for $5, and grateful for family day on Sunday.

I sure didn’t want to get up when my alarm went off this morning. Had trouble finding sleep last night and I was deep in sleep when the alarm went off.

I did taxes this morning. Only two more days of doing taxes this season. We stayed fairly steady today but had a bit of down time. Most of the returns today were simple ones which makes the day feel easy.

After I was done doing taxes I stopped for lunch and came home. I was going to go to the library book sale and get a bag of books for $10. Decided I would do it tomorrow instead. I needed to come home and take a nap.

I got my passport back today. I am grateful it came. They had told me to allow 8 weeks for it to come but it came in four or five weeks. I didn’t get my old passport returned yet but that should arrive within a week. No worries on that one coming. I feel a bit safer having my updated passport now. Don’t have any plans to need it but with all that is going on I feel safer having it.

I stopped by the Sheriff’s office to ask what I needed for authorization to do a rally April 19. He happened to be in the office so I was able to talk to him. I have to fill out a permit application to hold an “event” with the city council. The city council will have a conversation with the Sheriff and decide if the Sheriff needs to provide services during the event.

After I left the Sheriff’s office I went to the city office and got the application for the “event” permit. The lady was just leaving the office but turned around and gave me the form I needed. I came home and filled it out and then returned it to the city office. The city officials are meeting tonight and will let me know tomorrow if they approve.

Not sure I needed to go through all of this but if the size of the event grows I will feel less stress knowing that I have the permit. I can’t imagine needing one if 15 of my friends gather and walk down sidewalks together. But since we will be carrying political signs and we are in red country I decided to play it safe and request a permit. Not sure what I will do if they deny it but I will cross that bridge if I have to.

I did change the event listing on my Facebook page to show that we will be meeting at my house and not the courthouse. The Sheriff said he was rather sure the County would not give me permission to gather at the Courthouse grounds. I guess I can see that point of view but……. Wonder if they would let me if I leaned right? We will walk from my house to the Courthouse and down Main Street on the sidewalks to the bridge and then back again.

Sounds like the timing of this event may be good as April 20 is the date that Martial Law may be declared. Gosh that feels extreme and impossible but right now even impossible feels possible. Our rights are slowly being taken away from us in plain view. Surely some in political power will grow a pair and stop this insanity. I trust that if they know there are millions in the streets protesting and calling for courage they will step up and do the correct thing.

Phil came over to discuss what needs to be done to my foundation. I have a weak spot in the foundation at the corner where the dining room and my bedroom meet. The foundation has crumbled away and there is a big slope. He is going to go under the house tomorrow and see what needs to be done to fix it. He may have to take up the carpet in my bedroom and cut a hole in the floor so he can repair the foundation. He is a tall skinny man and he might be able to do it using the crawl space. Grateful for however he decides to fix it. I have worried about that spot since I have moved in. I don’t want damage done to the house due to a fixable foundation issue. That project has been on my pending list for months and I will be very grateful when it gets crossed off and taken care of.

Tomorrow I am going to Emporia to do taxes again. Afterwards I am having lunch with Tagen and then I will go to the book sale and get a bag of books for $5. I should hear tomorrow if the permit has been approved for the rally.

Wednesday I am meeting with a friend to do her taxes in the morning and I may be going to meet another friend to help them with their taxes in the afternoon. Thursday I do taxes in the morning again. Friday I have a brunch to attend. Saturday I will get groceries and get ready for family day on Sunday.

Next week will feel empty with no tax days on my calendar. I will have somethings to do to get ready for the rally on the 19th. It will be good to have some empty space back on my calendar.

It warmed up to the mid 60’s today. I had a bit of frost on my windows this morning when I left to go to Emporia. Sunday it is to be 87! KS has trouble moderating its temperature during April.

Feeling a bit empty this evening. I don’t feel my best and sleep is becoming a big issue for me again. When I was on the medication I was taking for a bit I was sleeping too much. But the side effects were becoming too big to ignore. Now that I am off of it I can’t find sleep again. Guess I am having trouble moderating myself these days.

Grateful for the timing of the permit as otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to get one, grateful the foundation is going to get fixed, and grateful my passport is here.

Spent a quiet morning at home. The sun was out and it looked warm outside but it was nippy. It is to warm back up tomorrow. We have a freeze warning for overnight. Maybe this is winter’s last kiss goodbye for this season.

I went to the friends of the library book sale today to volunteer between 3:00 and 5:00. I had to sit and work the square payment thing so didn’t get a chance to look for books. I plan on stopping by tomorrow when I get done with taxes and get a bag full for $10.

I got to visit with a lady today that was working the cash booth with me. We had a nice visit and the time went by quickly. She volunteers with the tax program too. She is the one that answers the phone and makes appointments for our clients. It was fun to get to know her.

Tomorrow I have to be back in Emporia at 9:00 to do taxes. We are getting down to the wire as this is our last week of doing them. I am doing them Monday, Tuesday and Thursday this week.

I am doing a friend’s taxes Wednesday morning. If anyone doesn’t have theirs done yet and needs some help let me know. Wednesday is the last day I can do them as they have to be reviewed by another preparer and Thursday is the last time that can happen. Give me a call and let’s find a time to get together and get them done. No charge! I could do them Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon or evening.

There is another protest rally planned for April 19. I am wondering about the feasibility of putting one together for Cottonwood Falls. I know many can’t make the trip to Topeka and can’t walk/stand for a couple of hours like you have to do if you go to Topeka. Anyone interested? We need 3 1/2% of the population to show up in order to turn the tide and help make things happen. We would need 88 people to show up to reach 3 1/2% of the population in Chase County to make that happen here. What do you all think? I can register it on the national tracking site and we would be counted in the global count.

I was reading the news about the protests across the USA Saturday and saw a photo of a lady in a very small town in the Midwest that did a one person protest. More power to the people! I have to shake my head as I read news articles stating that thousands of people attended the rallies. The official site counted 5.2 million! That feels like a hell of a lot more than thousands.

There was a lot of smoke in the air when I was driving home from Emporia this evening. Lots of ranchers must have burned today. It wasn’t so windy today and was a good day to burn. Usually the end of the burning season is around the middle of April so we are almost there. Sure looks like there are lots more pastures to burn. I bet a lot more happens this week.

The Walmart boycott starts tomorrow and goes for a week. I need some groceries for family day next Sunday so will have to find an alternative place to shop. The second total economic blackout day is April 18. I have it on my calendar so I won’t forget.

Busy week ahead. I am going to feel a bit lost after this week as I won’t have taxes to do several days a week. I hope to start going to the gym and working out with all my free time. I have been feeling really stiff the last couple of days and like I am loosing strength in my legs. Time to get working out again.

Felt good to be in service today. It was an easy volunteer job and I got to make a new friend today. How cool is that! I do feel better about myself when I can find worthwhile things to volunteer for.

Grateful to make a new friend today, grateful for ways to use my presence and voice to change the political winds in this country, and grateful for blue skies today with warmer temperatures coming this week.

Just got home from the protest in Topeka. Kathy and I went with four other friends from Cottonwood Falls. I want to capture my thoughts about the day. Hoping someday 20 years from now my grandkids will read this and know that their grandmother was among the millions across the USA that showed up today.

It was a brisk, windy day today but luckily no rain. The sun even broke through the clouds just before we were leaving. We got there around 11:20 and were able to find a close parking spot. People kept coming in after we got there. Crowd estimates range from 2,000 – 5,000. We were pretty spread out and people came and went so not sure how they do a count.

I was impressed with the creativity and variety of protest signs. I didn’t take my phone out and take pictures. Some of the others in the group did though so I will get copies of what they captured. People were complementing others on their signs. One of my favorites said “What Cory Said” and another was “Tariffs hurt Kansas farms and the Penguins”.

Age of attendees varied from Senior Citizens down to infants. I would guesstimate 60% to 70% were over 50 years of age. Whenever I saw a teen or 20 something I would thank them for being there and tell them they give me hope for the future. Some of them thanked me for doing the work for many years.

I didn’t see many minorities. 98% or more of the crowd were white. I would guess 80% women and 20% men.

Saw several people with disabilities and struggling to walk but they showed up anyways. Spoke to one woman who said she just had to come even though walking was a challenge for her.

The crowd was well behaved and it was a very peaceful day. Several mentioned how they felt great comfort in being with like-minded people in such big numbers. If there was any confrontations going on, I didn’t witness it.

The only downside I felt during the time I was there is when the crowd would react when the pickup with Trump flags on it drove around the big block the capitol sits. I wish the crowd would have ignored them as they gave energy to the truck and it brought down the group energy.

I struggled to do the negative chants. I could feel the energy of the group drop when they did that. I liked chanting Democracy for All and Peace for All better as well as Power to the People. The energy rose when positive chants were said.

Counts of the number of people attending around the US and even in Europe are still coming in but last I heard we are over 3.8 million people just in the US. We need to reach 3% of the population to reach a tipping point. Not sure we did that today but this was only the first of the protests that will happen. I have a feeling they will continue to grow in size as more and more people start to feel the impact of the decisions that are being made.

I will go to the next protest and the next and the next. It feels important to me that I show up. There is power in the people when we come together in a peaceful way to say Hands Off! I can’t sit this out. Still feels like it is a lesson in trust to think that my presence can help tip the scales but what else can a person do?

I ran into some people I knew while I was there. It was fun to see them. Some other friends of mine were going to go but I didn’t see them. In that big of a crowd it was easy to miss them.

We stopped at the Blind Tiger for lunch afterwards but it was going to be a two hour wait for a table. We went to some dive bar that was close by and had lunch. The waitress was fun and the food was good. I could tell it was a red neck bar but we encountered no issues.

I am sitting in my chair in front of my space heater warming my bones up. The energy of the day helped keep me mostly warm during the event. I kept walking around which helped too but now my bones are complaining about being out in the cold for a couple of hours. It was in the low 40’s today with a brisk wind.

Tomorrow I have to be in Emporia at 3:00 to work at the friends of the library book sale. I only have a two hour shift so that will be a quick event for me. I will go back to the sale after my tax shift Monday to buy books as I can get a bag full for only $10 Monday. Tomorrow the books are full price which is still a bargain compared to the price of a new book.

Monday and Tuesday I have tax shifts. Looking forward to Wednesday which is a stay at home day after six busy days. I think I can make it until then without having a melt down – we shall see.

It felt good to have a day of action and be with like-minded people. I had a fun drive to and from with my friends. The whole day makes me feel positive for the future of the country. I will be participating in the Walmart boycott from April 7 -14. That means I will have to buy my family day groceries somewhere else – I can do that.

I will continue to find ways to quietly boycott businesses that support the right. There is power to be gained in how I spend my money and I do my best to find places that support the values I cherish. Money seems to be one of the few things that get their attention. Not sure I spend enough to be noticed but I notice it and that helps keep my energy elevated.

Grateful for the right to peacefully protest, grateful for like minded friends that joined me today, and grateful the rain went around us today.

I slept in for a bit this morning. I had trouble falling asleep again last night but finally got more than two hours of sleep in one stretch. Not sure it was enough as I am still tired this evening but I will take what ever sleep I can find.

I went through my tax packet a bit closer today. I had written a note to my accountant and wanted to make sure she had seen it. It was in the package but it took me some time to find it. In the process I found a 1099NEC that belongs to someone else. Oops. I returned it to the accountant when I went to town today.

I went to Emporia to meet Jason for lunch and then we had to go to a court thing for him. We ate at Radius and then went to the court house. Unfortunately the court thing got postponed again. Not sure I understand the ruling behind what happened today. Rules appear to be rules until they are not. He is rescheduled for either mid April or the end of April. At least he doesn’t have to wait four months like the last time the other side postponed things. It will happen and it will get settled – just not sure when.

While I was at the court house I was going to pay the second half of property taxes on my two rental houses. I forgot the coupons so will do that the next time I go to court with Jason. Last year I forgot to pay the taxes on one of my properties and I don’t want to make that mistake again.

Came home and took a chair nap. It is a cold, rainy day and a nap felt good. Not sure how much rain we have gotten but there are puddles in the yard. It only reached the mid 40’s today and is to drop to 32 overnight the next few nights. We will be back in the 60’s and 70’s early next week.

Tomorrow I am going to Topeka to a protest with a group of friends. The high tomorrow is only going to be 46. One of my weather apps is calling for rain and the other one is saying only clouds. We shall see what happens. Maybe both are wrong and it will be sunny. I think it is important that many show up. Our voices don’t seem to be heard in the more traditional contact your elected officials route. Trusting the energy of the day will help keep me warm.

Sunday I volunteer at the friends of the library book sale from 3:00 – 5:00. Bag day starts Monday so when I get through with my tax shift Monday morning I will go back to the sale and get a bag of books for $10. My reading inventory is getting low.

Once I get through next week, I have some friends and family I haven’t seen for a bit that I need to schedule lunches with. It does my soul good to reconnect to those I love and my soul needs some love. I have isolated myself too much lately and I need to reach out and get out more.

I’ve been reading the news and watching the stock market today. One of the comments from a Trump supporter has stuck with me today. In this person’s opinion they are willing to suck it up and take the hit the tariffs are going to cause themselves and the loss of value to their retirement accounts. They are proud of a president that is sticking it to the world.

If one is to look at America as a stand alone community, I guess that reasoning makes sense. However, are we not all one big global community? Not sure I understand how this helps our neighbors abroad or even those within our boarders that can’t take this financial hit.

I see the tariffs as hurting the poor in a huge way – both the poor at home and abroad. I don’t remember the Bible telling me to only love the neighbors like myself. Oh my, what a mess we are in.

Grateful for what rain we did get today, grateful Jason’s case will eventually get settled, and grateful for all my neighbors – here and abroad.

Had trouble sleeping again last night. I finally got up around 5:00 and cracked the window open, turned on the fan and the heating blanket. I managed about two hours of sleep after that.

Went to Emporia to do taxes. We had a fairly easy day and I was out of there before noon today. I stopped and had lunch and then came home.

I took my car for service at 2:00. While they were working on my car I went to the Court House to pay my property tax. The young man that works there knew me by name when I went in. I was impressed. He is very efficient and makes things easy.

I then walked down to pay my water bill. The lady there looked stressed to the max. Her boss had been let go and she was trying to hold down the fort until they can get someone else hired. I gave her a hug and told her I was giving her some good ju ju. She seemed appreciative.

Walked back to the service station and waited for my car. I love that they wash it and vacuum it after they service it. All was well and I came home.

I took a nap this afternoon. Had trouble falling asleep again but I think I got another hour of sleep or so. Still feel tired. Since I quit taking the medication that I was having issues with, sleep has become a problem again.

Tomorrow I am going to Emporia in the afternoon to attend a thing with Jason. Saturday I am going to the protest in Topeka, Sunday I will be at the friends of the library book sale working a 3:00 – 5:00 shift and then both Monday and Tuesday I have tax shifts. Wednesday will be a stay at home day that I will much appreciate.

Next week is the last week of tax season. This has been a good tax year for me as I finally feel competent doing them. We had a good group of volunteers this year and I feel like I made a few new friends.

One day next week I need to get with Tagen and fix a financial issue with him. Not sure yet what the solution is but I’m sure we will figure something out. I was going to meet with him today but that didn’t work out.

It is to drop into the low 50’s and maybe even high 40’s for the high for the day for the next couple of days. My bones have been cold all day. I got spoiled with the high 60’s and 70’s. It is to warm back up next week. Gotta love KS in the spring time and the roller coaster temperatures.

I kept an eye on the Dow Jones today. I wasn’t surprised to see it drop lots after the announcement last night. I don’t have the stomach or courage to have funds in the stock market. I know I could have made more money if I would do that but it feels like dirty money to me somehow. I wonder where this is all going and who the real victims in all of this will be. Somehow I don’t think it will be the millionaires and the billionaires. I struggle to know what my role in all of this is. I will continue to work on myself and keep myself above neutral. Sure doesn’t feel like enough some days though.

I’m anxious to see how many people will show up Saturday at the protest. I trust it will remain peaceful and non violent. I will be there with my sign and heart. My elected officials don’t seem to be hearing me with my emails and calls. Maybe if enough people show up they will take more notice.

Grateful to be in service today doing taxes, grateful for afternoon naps on days when I am tired, and grateful for my space heater that warms my bones on cooler days.

Went to Emporia late morning and picked up my taxes. I stopped and had lunch and while I was eating went through the tax package. I came out about halfway between the worse case scenario and the best case. Since I had prepared myself for the worse case I felt OK with them.

Came home and got the accountant paid and money transferred for what I owe on the 15th. Made some other financial decisions and will get those taken care of over the next week or so. Feels like I tied up several loose ends today.

Stopped and filled my car up at the gas station downtown Cottonwood Falls. I needed to make an appointment to get my oil changed so did that while the gas was pumping. I take my car in tomorrow afternoon to get it serviced.

Tomorrow I have to be in Emporia at 9:00 to do taxes. I don’t have any errands to run afterwards so will probably grab lunch and then come home. I have to have my car at the service shop at 2:00. While my car is being serviced I need to walk down and pay my water bill and then go to the Courthouse to pay the last half of my property taxes.

Nothing on my calendar for Friday. Saturday I am going to the protest in Topeka, Sunday I am working a shift at the book sale, and Monday and Tuesday I will be doing taxes. I will enjoy Friday as it will be my last free day until next Wednesday.

I made my protest sign for Saturday. I wrote “Hands Off! All People Matter”. I will put a paint stick on it so I can easily lift it up if needed. The forecast is for rain but I think our group is going rain or shine. It is only going to be 50 Saturday but maybe the energy of the event will keep me warm. I will wear my raincoat and I plan on taking a backpack with water and supplies.

We didn’t get much rain from the storm last night. Most of the storm was north of us. We sure do need the rain so if it rains during the protest on Saturday I can’t complain. Maybe we won’t get any during the protest. The forecasts don’t seem to be accurate these days. There are parts of Ohio and Arkansas that are predicted to get record rainfall amounts this weekend. We don’t need that!

Feels good to have my taxes done and money in the bank to cover my liabilities. I am looking forward to the day when I only own the house I live in so my taxes will be more predictable for me. Looking forward to doing my last AARP tax sessions for the year next week. It will free up several days of the week for me. I enjoy doing volunteering though so need to find another opportunity to be in service to others.

Feeling a bit better today. My energy roller coaster seems to have leveled out for today at least. Trusting I will have a smoother ride for a bit so I can catch my breath and stay above neutral easily. The chaos in the world can overwhelm me if I don’t block it out somehow. All is well in this moment and that is all I have to know.

Grateful my taxes are done for the year, grateful I have money in the bank to pay my liabilities, and grateful for what rain we did get. Every drop helps.

I had trouble sleeping last night. Don’t think I got more than an hour of sleep all night. Time kept doing weird things to me. Five minutes on the clock felt like five hours. I saw 1:11, 2:22, 3:33, 4:44 and 5:55. Felt surrounded and crowded in the bedroom last night.

Since I wasn’t sleeping I got up early and got dressed. I headed to Emporia early to have breakfast at Commercial Street Diner. I forgot they are closed on Monday and Tuesday now. I went to Hardee’s instead – not near as good as Commercial Street.

After I ate I went to the bank to deposit the insurance check. I don’t have deposit slips so went inside. I pulled up my account on my phone and they were able to take care of the deposit.

I went to the Senior Center and did taxes. There were four of us today and it felt like a slow day. No big complicated cases. Everyone showed up with fairly simple returns. At one point there were three clients and I knew each one of them. Love when that happens.

After I was done with taxes I went to Walmart to get letters to make my protest sign for Saturday. I picked up a bag of ice along with the letters and came home. When I got home I put the ice into more usable sized bags and then attempted to take a nap.

Time did the weird thing again while I was attempting to nap. Five minutes felt like five hours. Don’t think I got much sleep.

A phone call woke me up. My own taxes are done and ready to be picked up. I will probably go to town tomorrow to get them as I am anxious to see how I came out. Had lots of taxable events last year and am hoping that the accountant estimated fairly closely.

Thursday I am doing taxes again. Friday will be my last stay at home day for a bit. Saturday I am going to the protest in Topeka, Sunday I am working at the library book sale, Monday and Tuesday I am doing taxes. I look forward to my first stay at home day next week on Wednesday.

I have felt achy all day. Kathy said she was feeling that way too. We have a weather system coming through tonight with the possibility of some severe weather. We must both have weather indicators inside us and they are alerting us to the coming storm.

Funny how some days feel easy and others not so much. Although taxes went easy something feels hard today. I don’t feel like I am sleep deprived so not sure what it is. I decided to not attempt to do anything this evening and allow whatever this is space to be heard, felt and hopefully disappear.

Have been mourning the loss of one of my teachers from my Core Star days. Now that her death has been announced I can write more freely about her. She had a stroke and died Thursday last week. She was only 62 so was way too young to die. She had a huge impact on my life while I was going to energy healing school. She is also the one that introduced me to Chriss Lemmon. Chriss was the teacher of the four year program I went through after I completed Core Star Energy School that helped me learn more about myself. Both were big mentors for me and I cherish them.

Barb was a force of Nature. She was a very complicated person and had many sides. She believed in fairy dust and pixies. She tended not to be a rule follower and lived life with much joy and intuition. She was a mother and grandmother and was larger than life. I will hold on to my memories of her and cherish them. I am grateful for all the ways she helped me grow and the ways she supported my healing journey.

Grateful for the people that have taught and mentored me over the years, grateful my tax return is ready to be picked up, and grateful for the sleep I will get tonight.

It has been a quiet day at home. I did go to Strong City for lunch but otherwise have been tucked in at home. I managed to take my mile walk this afternoon. I do feel better afterwards.

I got the bedroom ceiling fan cleaned and the room dusted. I have one more piece to dust in the living room and that job will be done.

I got the refund check from the house insurance on Michelle’s house. Still don’t understand why they told me I needed to send in a bunch of paperwork the first time I called and accepted the cancellation the second time that resulted in the refund check. Grateful that got crossed off my pending list. I will drop the check off at the bank while I am in town tomorrow. My account doesn’t qualify for on-line deposits.

Haven’t heard from the accountant yet so unless they call in the morning it will be Thursday before I can pick up my taxes. Trusting they will be ready then.

Got an email from a couple I met when I went on my 70th birthday trip to England, Ireland and Scotland. It is always a good day when I hear from them. I will send a reply later tonight. Funny how some people you randomly meet stick and others don’t. This couple and I spent several meals together and our core values match. They were the couple that walked to the top of the tower where the Blarney Stone is with me.

Tagen let me know he crashed his four wheeler last week and got a bad concussion. He gets to go back to work this week. He had to get a CT as he had vomiting along with dizziness and a bad headache. Glad to know he is recovering. He had two concussions before. That kid and his hard head!

Nicole is still down with some sort of virus. She has had a bad ear ache, congestion and now a cough. She must have that stuff that lasts for a couple of weeks. I offered to make her some chicken noodle soup and bring up to her. That stuff is miserable and it feels like it will never go away.

Tomorrow I will be in town by 9:00 to do taxes. I have four more sessions to go after this one. It has been a good season for me. I got to see lots of people I haven’t seen for a bit. The regular clients feel like meeting old friends and I enjoy visiting with the other volunteers.

I have a few things to pick up at the grocery store before I come home. I will go by the bank and deposit the insurance refund check. I go back to Emporia Thursday for another tax shift.

Saturday I am going with some friends to the protest at the Capital. With all that is going on these days I trust lots of people will show up to voice their concerns. Other than showing up at protests, calling my elected representatives and senators and choosing wisely where I spend my money, I’m not sure what else I can do. Action feels important but yet limited. I am privileged enough that the cuts that are being made probably won’t change my life, but they certainly have the potential to change the life’s of people I care about.

Sunday I am working a shift at the Emporia Library book sale. Bag day starts Monday. Grateful I have to go back to Emporia Monday for a tax shift so I can go to the sale and get a bag of books. I have a bag full I need to return from the last bag sale.

I will enjoy Wednesday and Friday as they are my only stay at home days for the next little bit. Looking forward to April 13 and our family day. Feels like it has been a long time since I saw all my kids at the same time. Family days are my best days of the year!

Felt good to get the dusting and cleaning done. Those projects never take long but for some reason I put them off for too long. It was nice to get the insurance check today and cross that off my list too. Makes a day feel productive when things get done. The walks are helping me walk out of the pit I had fallen in. Going to the protest feels helpful to my soul too. I do better when I take some sort of action, even when it feels like it isn’t enough.

Grateful the insurance check came, grateful to hear from the friends I met on my trip, and grateful Tagen and Nicole are doing better.

Another quiet day at home. We didn’t get the rain we had hoped for last night. We got some sprinkles but barely. Trusting April will bring some showers. It was cooler today and is to be even colder tomorrow. I had to keep the windows closed today as the wind was too brisk and cold coming in.

I worked on deep cleaning the dining room today. Found lots of dirt. I will need to do my bedroom tomorrow and then can put the ladder away.

I took Roxy with me when I did my mile walk this afternoon. She behaved well on our walk and would have gone farther if I would have. The spring flowers are in bloom all over the neighborhood and it is a joy to look for them right now.

Tomorrow I will get to stay home again and finish up the cleaning project. I am hoping the accountant will call and let me know I can pick up my taxes Tuesday.

Tuesday and Thursday I go to Emporia to do taxes. Only one more week after this week. The tax season went by quickly.

Kathy and I have both said that March feels like it has lasted a year. We had Kathy’s birthday lunch just a little over a week ago and it feels like it was two months ago. Time is doing its wonky thing again. The days seem to pass quickly but somehow the month felt like it lasted a long time.

I am going to the protest march at the Capital Saturday. I need to figure out what to put on my protest sign. I want to march for something instead of against something. Thinking about Love Your Neighbor – even the …… ones. My other thought is All are welcome here – even the ….. ones.

Today didn’t feel as heavy as it has been for a couple days. I welcome the reprieve for the day. Sure wish I could figure out how to level out my ride. For too long in my life I numbed myself out and didn’t allow myself to feel the ride. I’m still learning how to hang on and go with the ride and remind myself that this too shall pass when it gets hard.

Grateful the dining room is deep cleaned, grateful for the spring flowers that add beauty to the neighborhood, and grateful for the privilege of being able to attend a protest.

The director from Pioneer Bluffs came and picked up the Newsletter material. It was good to get that out of my house. This little house fills up quick when I do a project like that.

Have been working on cleaning off and on all day – more off than on. I had the ladder out so cleaned the ceiling fan in the living room and cleaned the tops of the tall furniture and the top woodwork. Still have more to do but at least I have started.

I managed to take a mile walk this afternoon. It is my intention to get out and walk at least a mile a day for a bit and then I will slowly increase the distance. I have not been moving my body enough lately and not eating on plan. I do feel better when I move and eat right.

I will continue working on deep cleaning the house through Monday. I am so grateful I now have a small house and can do this in a short time compared to how long it took me in the big country house. I do like a really clean house.

Sure feels like we are in for a big spring storm. It is muggy out today. We have a 40% chance of rain overnight tonight. We sure need the rain so am trusting it will find us. We will have another chance for rain next weekend.

I’m doing taxes Tuesday and Thursday next week. I need to stop by the Vet and get meds for the cats and dogs on Tuesday. Saturday I am going to the protest at the Capitol with some friends.

I am hoping my taxes will be ready to be picked up Tuesday. I got an email from my accountant today as she had some questions so I know she is working on my taxes. I have some financial decisions to make once I know how I come out on taxes and how much estimated taxes I need to make for this year. I will be grateful when I can simplify my taxes and know where I stand.

Feeling a bit restless and ungrounded tonight. The walk helped a bit. I seem to be back in my pit which feels like a slip backwards. Trusting it won’t be a free fall again and I can find my footing and climb back out. Life is sure a roller coaster for me these days. It feels like I take two steps forward and slide three steps back.

Grateful the cleaning has begun, grateful the accountant is working on my taxes, and grateful for the rain that is headed our way.

I was able to sleep in for a bit this morning. I got a text asking me to help with the Pioneer Bluffs Newsletter today. The Director brought the supplies early afternoon. She had stuffed half of them so all I had to do was stuff the other half and then seal all of them up.

Kathy helped me seal one box. A dear friend came over and helped me with the rest of them. We had a good conversation while keeping our hands busy. It was good to get them finished up this evening. I had one final box to seal and then I sorted them and label the boxes. It is good to see results from something I did today.

I decided to cancel the MMR vaccine for tomorrow. I read some more and they are not recommending them for those born before 1957. They are assuming immunity in my age group as measles was almost a childhood rite of passage in my day. I don’t remember having them but I don’t have good memory recall of most of my childhood. It is time for me to get another Covid booster as they recommend one every six months for people of a certain age. I will need a couple days after the vaccine to recover so will look at my schedule and see when I can make it work.

No plans for the weekend and Monday. I have some housecleaning that I need to take care of that I have been putting off too long. It has reached the point where I have to take care of it. This will be a good weekend to get it done.

Next week I am doing taxes Tuesday and Thursday. I need to stop by the Vet’s office while I am in town next week to get the dogs and cats their quarterly flea and tic medication.

Found out that one of my instructors from Core Star Energy Healing School made her transition this week. She was a very unique individual that made a big impact on my life during my training years. She was only 62 so went much too soon. I will remember her with gratitude for all she gave to me.

The kids are all coming home April 13 for a family day. I need to figure out what to feed them. I asked them for suggestions but haven’t gotten any yet. I will probably fix a ham, green beans and macaroni and cheese. I’ll see what other requests I get and will go from there. It will be nice to have them all home for a day.

Feeling a bit flat this evening. I didn’t get out and take a walk today as I was busy doing the newsletter and then I took a chair nap. I got tired after my help left and had to take a rest. Not sure why I get so tired sometimes. Trusting that this weekend I will find some energy and get this house detailed clean.

Grateful for the lessons by teacher gave me many years ago, grateful the newsletter got finished, and grateful for family days to look forward to.

Woke up to the sound of high wind and rain this morning. I didn’t know we were going to get rain so was a bit surprised. We need rain badly and it was a welcome surprise. North of here got hit with a bad hail storm that broke lots of car windshields. Grateful that didn’t happen here.

Not sure we got much rain at all. There was a lot of lightning and thunder. It sprinkled on me most of the way to Emporia and while I was doing taxes another brief thunderstorm came through. Trusting we will get more rain soon.

Went to Emporia at 9:00 to do taxes. It was a slow day as a few didn’t show and most of the returns were simple. We only had three workers today so it was a good day for it to be slow. I did the taxes for a lady that used to work for me years ago. It is fun to run into people like that while doing taxes.

Stopped for lunch afterwards and came home. I took a long chair nap this afternoon. I feel like I have never found my go button today. I am still tired and dragging. Not my favorite type of day!

I picked up one more tax day next week. One of the volunteers has been coming in three days a week for the last several weeks and I offered to take one of her days next week to give her a break. I was only scheduled for one day and it seems more fair for both of us to do two each. We only have two more weeks of sessions.

Nothing on my calendar for tomorrow unless the Pioneer Bluffs Newsletter didn’t get done today. I haven’t heard yet if they will still be working on it tomorrow or not. Saturday I have to go to Emporia at 10:00 for my MMR vaccine shot. No plans for Sunday or Monday.

Trusting I will have some get up and go power tomorrow. I have a few things around the house that I would like to take care of. Don’t have it in me to do them today. They will all patiently wait for me to get to them. Grateful I have nothing urgent that needs taken care of as I’m not sure I could do it.

I think I will go outside and take a walk and see if that helps. I have a bit of a headache this afternoon – thinking it is from the pollen in the air. Maybe the wind will clear out the cobwebs that are in my head.

Grateful for an easy tax day, grateful for the bit of rain we got, and grateful for afternoon chair naps.

I got the shed cleaned out today. We have more than enough room now for all our stuff. Kathy helped me and we got it done! Got rid of several totes full of stuff. Some of it needed thrown away and some of it needed brought into the house. I got all the totes labeled with their contents so I know where to look for what I need.

I found the dough hook for my mixer that I hadn’t been able to find since we moved. Kathy found the extra set of car keys to her leased car. I also found some winter scarves that I knew I had but had no idea where they were. Hope I can remember where I put them so I will have them next winter. Gave several things to my neighbor that I don’t need anymore. Have one tote full of things that I need to find a new home for the stuff in it. I will put it on Chase County Care and Share site and someone will come get it and make it go away.

Kathy and I both tried to start the new mower but neither one of us was successful. The manual was worthless as it was pictures and no words. I watched a YouTube video but that didn’t help. I sent a note to Phil and asked him to help us out again. I. Got a rack thingy so we can hang tools in the shed and I also asked Phil to hang it up for me.

I need to take my bike to the bike shop and get it cleaned and the tires fixed. I may take it tomorrow when I go in to do taxes.

I have a MMR booster shot scheduled for Saturday. I decided not to go through the process of having my levels checked and just go ahead and get the shot. From what I read I will only need one. Measles seem to be spreading lots of places and I would rather be safe than sorry. Way too many don’t take them seriously and don’t keep in if they have them.

Tomorrow I am doing taxes in the morning. I don’t think I have any errands to run afterwards unless I take my bike to the shop. The Pioneer Bluffs newsletter is ready to be put together to be mailed. They are going to work on it tomorrow. If they don’t get it done I will help on Friday. I can’t do two big things in one day anymore.

No plans for the weekend except for the vaccine on Saturday. I only am doing taxes once next week unless I pick up an extra shift on Monday or Tuesday. It will be a quiet week.

I’ve been binge watching Grey’s Anatomy and the season I am watching now was during the Covid lockdown. It has brought up lots of memories for me. What a time that was! So much uncertainty and the show reminded me how very difficult it was for the medical community. I wonder what the pandemic did to the collective physic that we still don’t know. Trust, connections to others, and faith all seemed to have been tested and many haven’t been able to go back to “normal”.

It has been a beautiful spring day. Felt so good to get the shed cleaned out and organized. Phil just came over and got the mower running. Kathy went out to find out how to work it as she is the one that mows the most. I love being able to mark things off my to-do list and be better organized.

Grateful the shed project is done, grateful the mower is working, and grateful for vaccines.

Another busy day in Emporia. I was at the tax site by 9:00. We were a bit shorthanded today as one had to leave early to go to a funeral and another had a lunch to go to. We still got out by 12:15 though.

After taxes were done I went to the post office to mail my great grandfather’s diary to one of my mother’s cousins. There was no line and it was quick. I did purchase a different mailing envelope as the one I had was paper and I was afraid it would get torn and the diary would fall out. It is not replaceable so didn’t want to take a chance.

I then went through the car wash and then to Bluestem to get a new mower. The guy that waited on me was knowledgeable and helped me pick out the right one. I didn’t want a leaf bagger but they don’t sell them without one. Hoping I can use it without the bagger. Phil is going to pick it up tomorrow and bring it home to me.

I then stopped for lunch and then I went to Walmart to get some groceries. I needed some peppermint extract so I can get rid of some ants that like to come inside through my kitchen window. I picked up a few other things I needed. Stopped at Braums and got some ice cream and then came home. I didn’t get back home until around 2:30 so it felt like a long day in town again.

This afternoon I walked up to the old school that has been converted into apartments. I didn’t go through all of them but the ones I went through were nice. I heard they have all but one or two of them rented already. Housing is in short supply in Cottonwood Falls so am grateful for all that made this project a reality. It is a nice use for an old building. Reminds me of the project Craig and I did to convert the old St. Mary’s hospital into apartments. Not an easy process but worth it in the end.

Nicole called this afternoon and told me about her trip to the DR. They had a great time but she picked up a bug of some sort and didn’t sound great. Hoping it passes through her quickly and she recovers quickly.

Tomorrow is a free day for me. I welcome it and will enjoy it. I don’t have much I need to do but I would like to get the shed completely cleaned out and reorganized. Now that the riding mower is out of there I will have more room to store things. I dislike not being able to put my hands on what I want immediately and right now I can’t remember what I have in it. I want to label all the totes so I know what is in each of them easily. It is to be in the low 70’s tomorrow so that will be a perfect day to work outside and get this project done.

Thursday I go back to do taxes again. We only have two more weeks to go after this week. I will have to find something to do with myself when this project ends. I promised myself I would join the gym and use the time I was doing taxes to workout. We shall see if I can make that happen.

Next week I am only going to do taxes on Thursday unless something changes between now and then. I don’t have anything else on my calendar so will have a fairly quiet week. I am looking forward to that.

I took some of the medication last night for the first time in three days. The doctor recommended a brief taper. I had diarrhea this morning and I didn’t have it on the days I didn’t take the medication. My hand tremor was back again too. I will be grateful when I am totally off of it.

Sitting in a good place this afternoon. It is a beautiful day and I felt productive again today. I am working on becoming more active and forcing myself to get out and take a walk each day and move more during the day. I do feel better when I do those things but some days I can’t do it.

Grateful the mower will be coming home tomorrow, grateful my errands got taken care of today, and grateful for a beautiful spring day.

It has felt like a busy day. I was in Emporia doing taxes at 9:00. We stayed busy all morning so the time went by quickly. I did the taxes for a high school classmate. I don’t think I had seen him since high school graduation. I kinda know his wife but I didn’t know that was his wife until today. That is the fun part of doing taxes – seeing old friends.

Had lunch with Jason after my tax shift. It is always a good day when I get to spend time with one of my kids.

Had a request for some business records from back in the day when I did McDonald’s. I had to go out to my shed and clear out a path so I could find the box that has the records in it. I thought I had thrown out anything to do with McDonald’s when I moved but I wasn’t sure if I had kept tax records or not. I didn’t find any so thinking I threw them out. I still need to reorganize the shed so will look a bit deeper whenever I get out there to clean and reorganize it.

While clearing out the shed I pushed the riding mower out of the shed. I am going to ask Phil to take it to my son in Emporia. I couldn’t get it started but am not sure if I forgot how it works or if something is wrong. I’ll have Phil look at it and see if he can get it running and then have him make it go away. I never did like that thing and struggled to run it. It will give me lots more room in the shed to have it gone.

I also needed to find my great grandfather’s diary. One of my mother’s cousins requested it as they are doing a family history thing. I managed to find it so will get it packaged up and mail it to them. The diary is from 1965 and 1966. It is mostly weather reports but it does cover the time when my great grandmother died. He reported over 800 people attended her funeral. That was back in the day when people went to funerals to pay their respects.

I am on hold with the insurance company attempting to cancel the insurance on Michelle’s house. I am number 25 in line. This may take a bit. Edited to add they finally answered after a 20 minute wait. I pushed the wrong button and hung up on them. I called back and waited 30 minutes. The person that answered the phone was efficient and didn’t make me send anything in and was able to cancel the insurance. Grateful but not sure I understand. Trust it will hold and I will get a refund in the next month or so.

I did manage to get my new local account hooked up with my on-line bank so I can transfer funds between the two. The process of depositing the proceeds check and getting the new account linked took over two weeks. Man, that wasn’t easy.

Tomorrow I go back to Emporia for another tax shift. I have Wednesday off but work another shift on Thursday. Next week I only have one shift and then the last week I have three. We are almost to the finish line of this tax season. There is some concern if AARP will be able to offer this service next year. We shall see what happens.

Got permission from my doctor to go off the new medication. I have to taper for a week or two and then can discontinue using it. Trusting my side effect symptoms will disappear when I am able to go off it completely. The side effects were worse than what I was taking the medication for.

Feel like I climbed a bit higher out of the pit I had fallen into. Today has felt somewhat easy and productive. If I can get the insurance thing resolved today it will be a really good day. I tried to cancel it the day after I closed on the sale and didn’t have the patience to do what they wanted me to do. I have to prove that I have the authority to cancel a policy that is in my business name. The things that make me go WTF!

Grateful I found the diary, grateful to see a classmate from years gone by, and grateful the shed is closer to being more useable.

It has been a quiet day at home. Felt more like myself today than I have for a bit. I even managed to go outside and take a mile walk. I got some laundry done and managed to take care of an internet thing that had me stumped for a bit.

I haven’t taken the medication that has been bothering me for two nights. I will contact my doctor tomorrow and let him know I need to go off of it. When I read the information about it I learned I am not to go off of it cold turkey so will need to get instructions on how to get off of it.

I have been a bit teary all day. Not sure where that is coming from but it has been a bit since I have been able to allow myself to cry. Know it was long overdue and I am grateful my feelings and emotions are being released.

Tomorrow I have to be in Emporia to do taxes at 9:00. I will need to stop afterwards and pick up some groceries. I didn’t stop and get any last week and don’t need much so it won’t take long.

I get to go back to Emporia on Tuesday and Thursday too this week. Tax season is almost over for the year so grateful I get some extra time to be in service.

I feel like I am slowly climbing out of a dark hole I had fallen in. Not sure how I have been able to both stay above neutral and allow myself to drop down into my own personal hole to dig space out for my emotions to be heard and felt. You can hold both sides in your hands at the same time.

Grateful some things got done today, grateful I feel like I am climbing out of this pit, and grateful for new beginnings tomorrow.

I kinda lost yesterday. I woke up late but didn’t feel rested. I kinda laid around and next thing I knew I fell asleep in my chair. I slept for another eight hours! Guess I was making up for sleep I didn’t get earlier in the week.

Woke up and of course when it was bedtime I couldn’t sleep. I finally fell asleep around 7:00 this morning and got a couple hours of sleep. Trusting tonight I will get back on schedule.

I did manage to eat better today – at least so far. It has been a bit since I ate on plan. I even took both dogs for a walk this afternoon and walked a mile. It has been a bit since I managed to do that too.

No plans for tomorrow although I am going to try to get up fairly early and not sleep all day. I need to get back on track. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday I have to be in town by 9:00 each morning to do taxes so won’t be able to sleep in.

Sure hoping the accountant calls next week to let me know she has my taxes ready. I had to pay lots of estimated taxes for 2024 and am curious as to how close she estimated by taxes. Expecting the worse but hoping for the best.

Beginning to think the new medication I started about six weeks is causing more problems than it is solving. I am going to send a note to my doctor and let him know that I need to stop taking it. We reduced the dosage after the first 30 days but the side effects don’t seem to be going away and in fact seem to be increasing. My body didn’t read the rule book and doesn’t seem to like medication.

Still feeling a bit isolated. I have had to quit reading the news again. My little world feels small but safe right now. It is taking all my energy to keep myself above neutral. I peek my head out once in a while and it feels like someone is playing the game whack a mole and they find me each time.

Grateful for the extra sleep, grateful I think I figured out what is causing my symptoms, and grateful I was able to eat on plan and take a walk today.

It has been a busy day. The weather is much nicer than yesterday with bright blue skies and temperatures in the mid 50’s.

Five of us gathered for lunch to celebrate Kathy’s birthday. It was a delightful meal and even better conversation.

After lunch I went to pick up the birthday cake I had ordered for Kathy. I was supposed to have it for lunch but the baker wasn’t available for me to pick it up today until after lunch. Kathy and I will enjoy it later.

Then I went to the bank to finally get the proceeds from the sale of Michelle’s house deposited. The lady I needed to see was at lunch so I had to come back later.

I went to Jason’s office to drop off a check for him but he wasn’t there. I went to his house and found him there and gave him a check so he could pay the deposit for the guy that is going to clean out his drains.

Went back to the bank and was finally able to sign the papers to open two accounts and get the proceeds in the bank. It didn’t take long and I was finally done – or so I thought.

I left and headed to Sutherlands. Part way there I got a call from the bank that they had forgotten to scan my identification card and I had to go back so they could take care of that. Depositing this check took eight trips to various banks before I could complete what I thought would be a simple task. Not sure why this turned out so complicated but grateful it is finally done.

Went to Sutherland’s and got Kathy her birthday present and then I came home. Four hours in town today was too much! Grateful all the errands got taken care of and now I get to stay home for a couple of days.

I still need to figure out a way to cancel the house insurance on Michelle’s house. When I called last week they told me I needed to send them documents to prove that I have the authority to cancel the insurance. I wasn’t in the mood to deal so I need to call back and figure out what in the world they need and then figure out a way to get it to them. I will have to be in the right mood to make that happen. Some days I just can’t do that type of thing.

Today is Spring Equinox. A day that nature is in balance. I found some balance during lunch today while enjoying the company of my dear friends. Trusting I can hold on to it or at least remember how to come back to it. The greater world feels very off balance these days and it is easy to get pulled off balance.

Next week will be another fairly busy week as I am doing taxes three times next week. At least those trips to town will feel somewhat productive. I enjoy being in service to others. Most of our clients are very appreciative of our services. It is like greeting old friends as I work with repeat clients.

Hoping I will hear from my own tax accountant soon. At least now I have the funds if the news is not good. I know I will have to pay estimated taxes again this year due to the sell of Michelle’s house. Grateful I have the funds to pay them.

I’m a bit tired this afternoon. I wasn’t able to fall asleep until almost 5:00 this morning and I was up a little after 8:30. Since I don’t have anything on my calendar tomorrow I trust I will be able to sleep in tomorrow and make up on some lost sleep. This hasn’t been a good week for sleep.

Letting Mother Nature teach me balance today. I realized I have not been staying present to what is and have been in resistance to life lately. That is draining and nonproductive for me. Something feels like it shifted inside today and I let go of some things I had been holding on to. I will sit with this moment of balance and get this feeling locked in so I can return to it.

Grateful for my dear friends and Kathy and the wonderful lunch we had today, grateful all my errands got taken care of today, and grateful after eight tries the banking issue is complete.

Today is Kathy’s birthday. A group of our friends were going to meet for lunch to celebrate. I chickened out due to the weather forecast and reports of snow coming. I shouldn’t have postponed the lunch as the snow didn’t come until around 4:00 and it only lasted minutes. We are going to try again tomorrow.

I haven’t done anything today. It was too cold and windy to go out. It is to be in the 50’s tomorrow so this cold won’t last long.

Tomorrow I will go to Emporia for the lunch with Kathy and to take care of my banking stuff. Once I get home from Emporia tomorrow I will get to stay home until Monday. Maybe I will make a to-do list and get some things done around here. Then again, maybe not.

I’m grateful we are on the back end of winter and this may be our last taste of winter for the year. It is not unheard of for it to snow in April so we may get yet another blast but at least it won’t last long if it does come back for a final farewell.

Tomorrow is Spring Equinox. I am not holding a ceremony this time for the first time in a long time. I needed to take a break and figure out what I need. I will take some time tomorrow and do my own personal ceremony.

Grateful we dodged the snow bullet today, grateful we can celebrate Kathy’s birthday tomorrow, and grateful it is to warm up tomorrow.

Just got home from Wichita. It has been a long day for me. I left home at 8:25 this morning and got home at 4:30.

I did taxes this morning. We had a busy day and not much down time today. Most of the clients needed Homestead tax forms and that takes a bit to figure. I finally feel comfortable doing them this year.

After I was done with taxes I went by CVS to pick up a prescription for Kathy. I then headed to Wichita. I stopped at the Matfield Green rest area for lunch and then continued to Wichita.

I got to the dealership about 15 minutes before my scheduled time. A 10 minute job took almost two hours. They tried to up sale me some maintenance things that aren’t even due to be done. I politely declined them.

After my car was done I went to Costco and picked up a few things. I didn’t need much so it was a quick trip in and out. Came home after that.

A couple times both ways a semi would attempt to pass another semi and traffic would back up. I was slowed down to 50 MPH at one point. The semis were struggling to get up the hills in the wind. The wind was blowing hard both ways. I especially noticed it on the way down. I got six miles more per gallon coming home than going down. Should have set a sail on my car coming home and I would have gotten home real quick. I passed a semi with three trailers that were weaving and bobbing all over the road. Grateful I wasn’t driving a semi today.

Tomorrow I need to be in Emporia at 11:00 to pick something up and then I have a thing I am going to after that. I may stop at the bank and make a sixth attempt to get a check cashed and the proceeds invested. Not sure if I can do it tomorrow. It may wait till Thursday.

It will be good to have a couple stay at home days after that task is done. Next week I am doing taxes three days so it will be another busy week. We only have three more weeks of doing taxes after this week so getting close to the finish line.

We are to get some snow tomorrow after it was almost 80 today. Gotta love Kansas weather. If you don’t like it, hang around cause it might change the next day. The cold isn’t to last long and by the weekend we will be back up in the 70’s. I like that type of snow!

Jason let me know the drain guys are coming to his house tomorrow to give him an estimate of adding clean out things to his drain. I need to drop a check off so he can give them their required deposit. His drains have been backed up for almost a month now and it will be nice to get them back open.

Felt good to get the recall thing taken care of today. Turned out it didn’t impact my car but it is good it got checked out. I got my list of things I needed at Costco taken care of too so it was a productive day. I need one of those occasionally.

Feeling a bit empty this afternoon. I don’t do well being gone all day anymore. I’m grateful I have several days ahead of me to refill again. My body is telling me the weather is going to change. My allergies are really bad this spring. I feel drained and like my body is fighting off an infection of some sort. Guess time will tell.

Grateful the recall is taken care of, grateful for a safe trip to and from Wichita in the wind, and grateful my butt is in my comfortable chair for the rest of the day.

Not much sleep last night but I kinda expected that. I had to be in Emporia at 9:00 so had to get up and get going this morning.

We had a slow day at taxes today. One person didn’t show up and two returns became one so we had a lot of down time today. I was out of there a little after 11:00 this morning which is about an hour or more earlier than normal.

I stopped by the bank to do the banking thing. Unfortunately the papers were not ready and the lady that I was working with was off. I will have to go back later this week. This thing is taking way too much time and energy to get resolved.

I took a chair nap when I got home after stopping for lunch. Sure wish I could get this sleep thing fixed.

I did manage to take a walk this afternoon. I need to start moving my body and I was able to make myself get up and go outside to walk.

A dog in the neighborhood got out of a fenced yard this afternoon. There was another dog on a leash with its owner walking by. It got loud and ugly for a bit. The owner of the dog that got out came to get the dog. It was painful to watch how he treated the dog. I considered calling and reporting him. Not sure I understand why people like that have animals.

Tomorrow I am doing taxes again at 9:00 and then am driving to Wichita to get the car recall issue resolved. I plan on stopping at Costco afterwards. Hope I can get out of taxes around noon. I don’t have to be at the dealership until 1:45 so will have plenty of time to get there. Sometimes we don’t get out till 1:00 so I told them I had to leave at noon tomorrow. They can dock my pay if needed – not that I get paid!

Wednesday or Thursday I will go back to the bank and attempt to finally get the check deposited and invested. Not sure why it is taking me over a week to get that done.

I picked up four more tax shifts for the last three weeks of the program. One of the other preparers has a daughter that is going to have a baby any day now and needs to take some time off to go stay with her. I enjoy doing taxes so it will be good for me to do a couple extra shifts. This tax season has gone by quickly and has been one of the easiest ones I have participated in so far. I finally feel like I know what I am doing this year.

I haven’t heard from my tax accountant yet. Trusting I will soon. I am not sure it will be good news this year. Hoping she calculated fairly close and I won’t have to pay lots extra. I know I will have to do estimated payments again this year due to selling Michelle her house. Sure wish I could designate how I want the government to spend the money I send them.

Feeling a bit more in my body tonight. The walk was helpful and I am grateful I was able to make myself do it. Wonder why I am in resistance to doing the things I know will help me feel better long-term. Guess that is everyone’s million dollar question.

Grateful for a walk on a beautiful spring day, grateful for the extra tax shifts, and grateful my car recall problem is getting fixed tomorrow.

I didn’t fall asleep until about 6:00 this morning. I was able to sleep all morning and then laid in bed reading for a couple of hours. I decided not to get dressed today as I would be in clothes only about six hours.

Have been doing some laundry today but that is all I am doing. The last load is drying and then I will make the bed with fresh sheets and fold and put away the clothes.

My chest feels a bit heavy today. I have had some allergy stuff and I keep feeling like it is something more. About the time I think I am going down for the count I start feeling better. It has been a roller coaster ride for the last couple weeks. I have been taking some allergy medication and that seems to help but then it comes back.

Tomorrow I have to be in Emporia at 9:00 to do taxes and then will go to a bank and finish the paperwork to get the funds from the sell of Michelle’s house deposited and invested. It will be good to get those funds taken care of. It has turned into a time consuming process.

I am doing taxes again on Tuesday and then going to Wichita to take my car in for a recall fix. I need some things from Costco so will stop afterwards and pick up what I need,

It has been nice to take a quiet weekend and not do anything. It will also be nice tomorrow and Tuesday to have something to do. I do feel better with myself when I do something productive during the day.

Having trouble finding much motivation to get my body moving and doing the things I need to do. Not sure what is behind that. Offering myself some grace to allow the energy to work through me. Trusting that this will be resolved soon and I will be on my way to a healthier lifestyle.

Grateful for lots of sleep last night, grateful for two quiet days at home, and grateful I have something that I have to do tomorrow.

After I blogged yesterday I took an eight hour nap! Needless to say I didn’t sleep much overnight. I think I was finally able to fall asleep around 5:30 this morning and only slept for a couple of hours. Maybe tonight I will get back on schedule.

I took a day and did nothing today. I am still watching all the seasons of Grey’s Anatomy and just finished season 11. I don’t remember how many seasons there are but I think I am about halfway done.

It was much colder today than the last couple of days. At least the wind isn’t blowing as hard. It is to be back in the low 80’s by Tuesday and then dip back into the low 50’s on Wednesday. Wish we had more chances for rain in the forecast but the spring showers haven’t shown up yet.

Tomorrow will be another rest day. I have to go to Emporia Monday and Tuesday to do taxes. Monday after taxes I need to get the banking thing taken care of. Tuesday after taxes I am taking my car to the dealer in Wichita to get a recall taken care of. I will need to feel full going into Monday to handle two busy days.

Feeling a bit isolated again today. I am struggling to find the balance between giving myself lots of quiet time and being “in” the world. Things are changing around me and it is taking lots of energy to hold my ground.

Grateful for a warm house on a cooler spring day, grateful for extra sleep yesterday, and grateful for the sleep I will get tonight.

It was a beautiful night to stand outside and watch the lunar eclipse. I started going out around 1:00 and went out about every 15 minutes until 3:00. The moon turned blood red and slowly the white appeared. Mother Nature is the best!

I went to Emporia around noon to open a new business banking account and to open a CD. The first bank I stopped at didn’t know how to open a business account and the lady that does them was at lunch and no one really knew when she would be back.

I went to a different bank and they require I have a personal account before they could open a business account. I didn’t need a personal account so I left.

Went to a third bank and because I use my social security number as my business account number they couldn’t open a business account.

Went to a fourth bank and found a very competent person. We were in the process of getting the two accounts open and the power went off. I have to go back Monday to sign papers and finally deposit the proceeds check from the close on the sell of the house yesterday.

Wowsers. Four tries to complete what I thought would be a simple banking issue and it still isn’t finished. Wonder what my lesson in all of this is?

The drive home was a bit scary. The wind was blowing so hard I couldn’t see homes that were off the road a bit. I held my breath when I passed a semi as it was blowing all over the road. I was going to stop for lunch in Strong City but we had a sudden downpour and I decided to go home. Days like this make me grateful I no longer own the house on top of a hill. I can tell it is windy in town but not near like it is out on the hill.

It is still weird looking outside. The sky is a funny color and there is a lot of dust and debris in the air. Feels like there is a lot of unsettled weather happening somewhere close. Not sure we will get any rain out of it but we shall see.

I still need to find the courage to call the insurance company and make a second attempt to cancel the insurance. Not sure why this sale has turned into a never ending saga of issues.

I don’t have any plans for the weekend. Next week I have something everyday Monday through Thursday. I’ll take it slow this weekend and make sure I have enough energy to get through the busy week I have scheduled.

Feeling a bit disconnected this afternoon. Wondering why investing these funds is so hard. I will take some time and step back and see if I can see a different perspective on this. When things aren’t easy it is usually because there is a lesson in it for me and I have learned to let go and pause for a bit. Maybe something will become clearer to me this weekend.

Grateful for a safe trip home in the high wind, grateful I found a bank that will be able to take care of the business need, and grateful for a safe house to be in out of the wind.

I was in Emporia by 9:00 this morning to do taxes. We stayed fairly busy all morning. I got out of there by 12:15 though. I stopped for lunch and then went to the close of Michelle’s house. That all went smoothly and easily. Came home afterwards.

I called to cancel the insurance and the company won’t let me without sending in some forms. The insurance is in the name of my LLC and they said I am not listed on the policy. Things that make me say WTF! I got too frustrated to finish the phone call after speaking with the supervisor. Still don’t know what forms I have to send in. I had been on the phone for over 30 minutes and didn’t reach a resolution. When I find some patience I will have to call back and figure this out.

Then I went to deposit the check from the closing. It is in the name of the LLC and banks won’t let me put it in my personal accountant. I had closed the LLC account as I wasn’t using it anymore. Now I will have to go to a bank tomorrow and open a new LLC account to deposit the check in. Once it is open I can transfer the funds to my personal account. Oh the games one plays to follow rules.

Guess what mood I am in now? That’s right! I am cranky. I must be getting old as these things don’t feel easy any more. Remember the days when banks and insurance companies knew you an would bend over to help a person out. Sorry to say those days are gone!

So guess I will go to town tomorrow and figure out this banking thing. Trusting that process will go smoothly. I need to open a CD with part of the funds too. Maybe I can make that happen tomorrow too.

On the bright side of life it was another beautiful spring day. I took Sophia for a walk this afternoon and was dressed too warmly. These are the types of days where one could change clothes three or four times a day to be comfortable. I needed a sweater when I left for Emporia this morning and a T-shirt this afternoon. Later this evening I will need a sweater again.

Tonight is the full moon and lunar eclipse. I think the best part of the eclipse is around 1:35 tomorrow morning. I usually am still up then so will set an alarm and step outside and see what I can see.

I was planning on staying home tomorrow but will have to go to town and take care of the banking things. Not sure I have anything else I need to do while I am in town. Wish I had thought about the problem cashing the check today so I could have taken care of it today.

It is to be extremely windy tomorrow with a chance of some storms later in the day. Grateful I have the Forester and not the old Prius. The old car was so light I wouldn’t drive it on a windy day.

No plans for the weekend. Next week is filling up. I am doing taxes Monday and Tuesday. I had scheduled my car recall thing on Tuesday but think I will change it to Thursday so I don’t have to do two things in one day. I better rest up this weekend as I won’t have another stay at home day until next Friday.

Ellexia is on spring break next week so will check to see if she wants to go to Wichita with me. We could do lunch and then the recall thing on the car and then do some shopping. She is usually up for shopping. She likes it lots better than I do.

Feeling a bit frustrated with myself this afternoon. I got so angry at the insurance company when I was on the phone with them. I had to take a pause and will have to call them later and figure out how to resolve this. If I didn’t want a refund check I would let the policy run out but it is over $700 so that is too much to leave on the table. I also figured out the account I used to pay the insurance with has been closed so will have to give them new banking information. Dang, things are hard sometimes.

Grateful the sale of Michelle’s house went smoothly, grateful for the wonders of Mother Nature, and grateful there are always solutions to problems if I am willing to play along.

I did’t fall asleep until almost 5:00 this morning. One of those nights. I have been tired all day but managed not to take a nap. I have to be in Emporia at 9:00 in the morning so will be going to bed early. Trusting I can sleep tonight.

It has been a quiet day at home. I didn’t do much today. It has been a beautiful day outside and I walked around outside a bit. Kathy did a lot of yard work again this morning.

After taxes tomorrow I am going to the closing on Michelle’s house. That will be fun. I’m not sure I am excited about the amount of taxes I will have to pay but I will set that aside and worry about that part another day. Tomorrow we will celebrate Michelle’s come back.

No plans for the weekend. If it is clear Friday night I want to watch the lunar eclipse. It is to get cloudy and we have a chance for rain on Friday so we shall see if I can see the blood moon during the eclipse. It is to cool down for Saturday but then warm back up and possibly hit low 80’s on Tuesday. That is too warm for mid March!

I wonder if the government will shut down this weekend. I just sent my passport in and if they shut down that will delay getting it back to me. I sure wish there were some bipartisan leadership in charge and they could find some middle ground.

It was weird this week only doing taxes once. I have been doing them two or three times a week until now. Next week I am doing them twice again but then only once until we close in April. The days of the week this week have felt mixed up for me all week.

I meant to call today to get an appointment in Wichita to service my car. There is a recall of some sort that needs attention. If I remember I will call tomorrow and take it next week. I need a few things from Costco and that is close to the car dealership.

Feeling a bit disconnected again tonight. I feel like I never got completely woke up and going today. Trusting I will get a good night’s sleep tonight and will have a great day tomorrow.

Grateful for what sleep I did get last night, grateful I had the privilege of getting to stay home all day today, and grateful for this beautiful spring day.

I had a busy afternoon in Emporia. I went to the Court House and did the paperwork needed to renew my passport. They took my picture and I filled out the required paperwork. They put the paperwork and my old passport along with my check in an envelope and then I took that to the post office to mail. In total I spent $155 to get my passport renewed for ten years. It is due back to me by May 1. Wonder if it will make it by then? I don’t have any trips scheduled but I like knowing I have my passport in case something comes up.

After I mailed the required paperwork for my passport I went to Bluestem and got four bags of dog food. It is cheaper at Walmart but I am trying to shop local and Bluestem will load it in my car. The dogs go through about a bag a week so I am stocked for a month or so.

I then went to Walmart and got some Claritin. Kathy said that is what she takes and it helps her. I have a sore throat that comes and goes along with thick drainage. It hasn’t developed into anything else so am thinking it is allergies. Read a report that with the storm that is coming in this weekend, allergies will be at record high levels. Crossing my fingers this stuff will help.

I stopped and had lunch and then went through the car wash. Ended up at my hairdresser for a long overdue haircut. I hadn’t had my hair cut for three months. I usually get one after six weeks or so.

Stopped at Braum’s on my way home to get some ice cream as it was on sale. Came home exhausted. I don’t do town well and I spent several hours in town today. Felt good to get the errands run and the passport taken care of as well as a haircut. I had put both tasks off for too long.

After I rest up a bit I will need to get the wheelbarrow and unload the dog food and get it inside. Each sack is 44 pounds so I will get a good workout in moving it.

No plans for tomorrow. Thursday I am doing taxes and then going to the closing on the sale of Michelle’s house. I think I will have some stay at home days after that.

It was an absolutely beautiful day today. Kathy has worked hard in the yard leveling out the piles of dirt that were made when the water line was replaced. We are both anxiously awaiting the spring flowers to grow and bloom. This is our first spring in this house and we have no idea what will be coming up.

Hard to believe we have been in this house for almost a year now. We moved in April 30. A year ago I was busy getting rid of lots of stuff and getting ready to transition from a house that had almost 5,000 square feet to one that has less than 1,000. It is hard for me to remember what I got rid of. I think I have only missed one thing and I can’t remember now what that was.

I might tackle cleaning out the shed tomorrow. It is too full and needs rearranging. I am getting rid of the riding mower so I will have more room in there. I don’t like not being able to put my hands on what I need right away and right now I have no idea where things are in the shed. I have something I need to find for a cousin of mine and I told them this spring I would find it. If it isn’t windy tomorrow it might be a good day to do that long overdue project.

It did feel good to get some things crossed off my to do list. I find myself isolating myself too much and getting out was good for me. I am also grateful I don’t have to tomorrow. I am working hard at simplifying my lifestyle and preparing to tuck in for a bit. Changes are coming in the world and I want to be ready on all levels for them – physically, mentally, spiritually and financially.

Grateful for this absolutely beautiful spring day, grateful my passport renewal is in process, and grateful dog food is stocked.

I have spent a third quiet day at home. I did manage to call and schedule a haircut for tomorrow. One thing taken off my to-do list. Didn’t get the other three calls made but one is better than none.

I am going to Emporia tomorrow afternoon. I have a haircut at 4:15 and have a couple of errands to run before and after it. Hoping to get a couple of things off my to-do list tomorrow.

It will be good to go to Emporia tomorrow afternoon. I haven’t taken time to go when I didn’t have taxes or a visit to the gym. It will also be good to get some things crossed off my to-do list.

I did manage to do two loads of laundry. I was even able to wash, dry, fold and put it away. Some days I can’t manage that.

It was a beautiful day. I have the windows open and fresh spring air coming in. It reached the mid 70’s today. It is to stay this way through Friday.

Thursday I have taxes in the morning and then I am going to the close on Michelle’s house afterwards. It will be an exciting day to see Michelle take over ownership of her house.

No plans for the weekend again. Roxy, my mama dog, will turn 9 on Saturday. Maybe I need to plan a birthday party for her.

Feeling a bit more grounded today and like the clouds that have been hanging around in my head have started to clear a bit. It still feels like I have a big hill to climb to get back to my normal but it finally feels like the journey has begun.

Grateful for this beautiful spring day, grateful I get a haircut tomorrow, and grateful for inner movement.

Not sure how time goes by so quickly when I do nothing during the day. One third of March is almost gone already and it feels like March 1 was yesterday. My relationship to time is hard to wrap my head around and comprehend. It doesn’t make sense.

I have had another quiet day at home. I didn’t do much again. I did get outside for a short time and picked up the markers the utility companies had put down when I had a water leak. It will be mowing season soon and I need to pick up the yard and get ready for it. I also remembered to get the scooter out of the back of my car so I can buy dog food one day this week.

I have several phone calls I need to make tomorrow. I have been putting some of them off for way too long. I am going to have to make myself make those calls tomorrow and get them off my list.

It is to be 74 tomorrow. WOW! Spring time has arrived. I hope it hangs around for a bit. Makes me wonder though if we are in for a very hot summer. It is a bit early for it to be this warm.

I need to dig deep and find some motivation to get the things that have been on my to do list taken care of. The last couple of weeks have been hard on me and I have had no motivation at all. I have to figure out how to cross that bridge and get something done. I can do this!

Grateful for a beautiful spring day, grateful for all the spring flowers that are coming up, and grateful I can do this.

It has been a quiet day at home. I decided to gift myself a lazy day and not attempt to do anything on my to-do list. It has been a few days since I had a quiet day at home and I have taken full advantage of it.

I don’t have anything on my calendar until Thursday. I have lots of things I need to take care of during this down time. I will give myself tomorrow to do nothing and then I will have to get some things done starting Monday.

I got started on a new prescription about a month ago. I have been having tummy issues almost every morning since and I have also developed a slight tremor in my hands. I notice the tremor the most when I use the mouse on my computer. It doesn’t last long but is a bit unnerving. I got curious and looked up the side effects of the new medication and sure enough both of those side effects are listed. I contacted my doctor and he is going to decrease the dosage and see if that helps. He said both problems should go away as my body adjusts to the new medication. My body and medications don’t get do well.

It is to be in the 70’s next week. I have a bad case of spring fever and that will help heal me. I’m grateful I have free time so I can enjoy it.

Feeling a bit more in my body tonight but still ungrounded. Not sure what pulled me out but it is taking a bit to get back. I am allowing it to be what it is and am grateful I am coming back.

Grateful for a quiet day at home, grateful for four more quiet days ahead, and grateful I figured out what was causing some issues.

Kathy and I joined a dear group of friends at one of our friend’s house and celebrated the birthday of three women in the group. It was a wonderful gathering with delicious food and delightful conversation.

When I got home I took a nap. The dogs let me sleep last night but last night I was restless and didn’t sleep well.

One of our friends delivered a picnic table to my house. Kathy loves to sit outside and will especially enjoy using it this summer. We are so blessed to have such dear friends.

It sure was windy. The house we went to today is out in the country close to where I lived in the country. Living in town I had almost forgotten how windy it can be out in the open.

I doubt that I go to the memorial service tomorrow. I don’t do well in big crowds. I knew the family but I wasn’t close.

I don’t have any plans on my calendar until I do taxes next Thursday. It will be a delight to have several days in a row without any plans.

Michelle and I are closing on her buying her house next Thursday afternoon. I am so proud of Michelle for being able to take this step. It will be good for her to be a house owner again. And I will like only owning three houses instead of four.

Feeling a bit disconnected tonight. I feel like I an having trouble staying in my body somehow. It is to warm up by Sunday. Trusting I will be able to get outside and take some long walks and get grounded better.

Grateful I get to slow things down for the next week, grateful for my dear friends that celebrate all things together, and grateful for afternoon naps.