I get inspired, and then I get distracted. The idea here is to highlight something learned once a week.
1. The HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Education) program for prisoners and probationers lessens future crimes and drug use 2. The Matis people in Brazil pierce and tattoo their faces as they mature 3. The first home-use vibrator in 1902 was the fifth electrical appliance approved for domestic use 4. Scottsboro, Alabama, has an Unclaimed Baggage store that gets some unique items 5. Only armadillos and humans carry leprosy 6. Nukutavake canoes are stitched together with sennit, the inner husk of the coconut 7. Tonga is the only island nation in the Pacific to never have been ruled by outsiders 8. Ounces add up when you have to carry them on your back for long distances, such as the PCT, so choose wisely 9. French schools allow their students to go home for lunch with their families 10. A person’s tooth can be used to correct corneal blindness 11. The Army put lipstick on a helicopter in 1954 as a recruiting tactic and dressed the other as a cowboy. They square-danced in the sky to promote new technology. 12. Agent Orange was a defoliant herbicide that caused deforestation, poisoned people, and killed animals after millions of gallons were sprayed
Since I didn’t complete the above list, I will share part of another inspiration: to note 24 unique behaviors or interests that characterize me… that I also didn’t get around to finishing.
1. I love to make lists about everything 2. I enjoy books that teach me something new 3. Most of my decor is animal or map-related 4. I collect stickers, magnets, and snowglobes 5. I have a hard time saying no or disagreeing with someone 6. I look at the calorie count on the menu 7. I vary between skimpy and overly modest while in the sun 8. I rarely use creams/lotions even though I seem to have so many 9. I like being able to potty with the door open, whether home or not 10. I bring my own to-go dish and enjoy when others notice 11. I’ve shopped in a kids’ store as an adult. I, too, like unicorns 12. I like trying new foods and drinks, even if it means eating after a stranger 13. I prefer the laundry drying rack a certain way, and though it bothers me, I don’t say 14. Going outside always makes me feel better
1. Al gifting me a radio for the hike (that’s too big to bring) 2. Terry trying to print me a new phone case (three times) and another one that cracked 3. Karley gifting me matchy pants in a different color 4. Holding Jackie, the ball python, at the science center in Apollo Beach after seeing manatees 5. Caleb baking with egg whites vs yolks – angel food cupcakes and bread 6. Watching Macaroni not put away his toys and spending a weekend with him – vacuuming 7. A bird on the balcony screen and colorful, reusable baking cups stacked to dry by the sink 8. Getting a warming mattress topper so we can both be more comfy and get better sleep 9. Shaving my hair to one inch with Caleb’s help 10. A smoothie and stroll with Fallon at Anderson Park (her first time)
11. Coffee and conversation with Terry and Galli to Target and plaza (at least three times) 12. Watching a rabbit eat grass and three deer walk by the window as they eat too 13. Talking with Gordon at Starbucks about their menu changes that are more frequent now 14. Ran a 10k before sunrise 15. Watching Thai Cave Rescue by National Geographic 16. Talking with Simone while donating blood at OneBlood 17. Reading my parents’ texts from 2013; they both have good humor 18. Zeus holding my hand so he can sleep 19. Brodie, age 2, and Layla, age 4, laughing while she pulls her cheeks back into a wide grin 20. Hottub hangout on Thursday night with Terry, Karley, Al, and Caleb (at least six times)
21. “My Girl” sung to me by Corey at Capt’n Jack’s with Amy, Cheryl, Asta, Caleb… and Dave 22. Seeing Mike Marino live at Snappers with Mad Dog, aka Vini Lopez, in the audience with Al, Terry, Karley, and Caleb 23. Poolside Tichu with Karley, Terry, and Caleb before the big football game that we didn’t watch 24. Listening to the bats, before the bugs, while reading on the balcony 25. Working in the kitchen with Caleb while listening to an audiobook 26. Ron from Gainesville at Royal Orchid Thai Restaurant in Ocala, who was thrilled to return to eat here with his wife, and felt the need to share that with us 27. Play video games with Terry and Karley 28. Talking with Parker, a 17-year-old, about his flat tire, machete scars, and love of fishing 29. Talking with Jeff and Brandon at Whiskey Wings about bad knees, broken bones, and boats 30. Caleb getting free shoes, a $150 value
31. Getting free eggs from our neighbors, Galli and Howard 32. Bicycling 30 miles on the Pinellas Trail in a day 33. A day at Strawberry Fest with Aunt Lois 34. Hidden Anchor Saturday and Capt’n Jack’s and Johnny’s Sunday with Fallon and Marie 35. Grooming Zeus while he smiles at me 36. A day at Sponge Docks with Aunt Lois, and lovely dangly turtle earrings 37. A day in Tarpon Springs with Fallon, Marie, and Caleb 38. Complimenting a woman’s very green dinosaur neck tattoo 39. Layla painting my nails and applying eyeshadow on my cheeks 40. Caleb cleaning my feet
Jess, Caleb, Fallon, Marie
41. Dinner at Niko’s with Spiro and his wife, Tamara, and their two kids 42. Going through Mom’s funeral floral cards exactly ten years later, people and clubs I don’t know 43. Learning more about Mom through the little things she had – lists, pictures, diary pages 44. Listening to a short Sunday evening storm 45. Video calls with Uncle Ed (at least eleven times) 46. Watching Zeus for four days 47. Seeing a bald eagle twice before the rain 48. Seeing animals while paddleboarding: sharks – reef and baby bonnethead, rays, dolphins, Ridley turtle, and gutteral cormorants 49. Spending a Friday with Karley 50. Watching a lightning show across the canal
twenty years between
51. Getting the all-clear from the hygienist 52. Birthday dinner for Karley with Terry, Caleb, and Kristen, her friend from Idaho 53. Sailing on the Kraken Snack, Karley and Terry’s sailboat on Friday 54. An 88-key keyboard from Terry so I can learn (to play We Wish You a Merry Christmas) 55. Seeing a snake at War Veterans’ Memorial Park while Caleb has carpal tunnel release surgery 56. Getting told I have a beautiful smile 57. Karley putting clay on my swollen feet from a random bug at Al’s pool 58. Doc complimenting my haircut 59. Touching Caleb’s butt in a store and having a lady say that’s what she would do 60. Helping Karley and Terry move to Ruskin, say bye to Macaroni
Layla and Brodie
61. Meeting Caleb’s cousin Donald, one of Aunt Jamie’s boys, in Washington 62. Listening to Lyra’s last middle school band recital in Montana 63. Jessi buying me the best earrings for the trail 64. Hiking parts of the Pacific Crest Trail with Caleb’s help 65. Sharing meals and summits (San Jacinto and Baden-Powell) with Gert, Ravi, Rachel, and Trailer Park 66. Six Flags with Gert, Ravi, Trailer Park, Caleb, Nightcap, Seeker, Rachel, and Greg 67. Meeting hikers’ family (Lyric’s dad, Ravi’s mom, Gert’s wife) 68. Camping among Sequoia trees with Gert and Anouska 69. Celebrating birthdays (Ravi, Caleb) on the trail 70. Finding books in a dumpster and saving as many as I could carry
Asta, Cheryl, Jess
71. Staying at the Marcinek Cabin, even with the kids 72. Driving Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park 73. Playing with Puddle the guinea pig 74. Recreating Jake and Jessi’s wedding/honeymoon for their 20th anniversary 75. Seeing two parades in two cities in a week (Stevensville and Trout Creek) 76. Making tie-dye shirts for mini-golf on Jessi’s birthday 77. Visiting Missoula County Fair twice in a day 78. Jumping in the cold river (68°) at the cabin 79. Eating fresh-picked berries by the Columbia River in Oregon with Jessi 80. Singing “We Are the Dinosaurs” and other songs by Trout Fishing in America (thanks, Mom) with Caleb and Jessi
Macaroni Denis Zeus
81. Helping Umi win something at PCT Days by giving him raffle tickets 82. Interacting with two mantids in two weeks (at the cabin and a gas station) 83. Seeing Aunt Janet and Cousin Christina (after ten years) 84. Playing Uno No Mercy with Kris and his family for hours 85. Caleb helping a lady at Costco load groceries into her car 86. Watching walls and floors change colors 87. Following the trail family to the Canadian border via social media 88. Having friends over and making new ones 89. Watching a guy read a menu with a magnifying glass 90. Reading ‘kerfuffle’ in a book
handpainted fan blades from Roberto
91. A walk with Christine to her husband’s spot under a tree, and the house they shared 92. Drawing lessons and making cards with Sarah 93. A night on the Kraken Snack with Karley and Terry 94. Walking with the smallest school of the tiniest fish on Caladesi Island 95. Captain Dallas gifting us a fresh-caught and unalived fish 96. Making an inappropriate comment while Caleb was on the phone, “You came to look at my titties!” 97. Wearing matching chicken leg socks with Karley on Thanksgiving 98. Sharing homemade cookies with my neighbors 99. Being part of a progressive dinner, mostly of cider and pinwheels, in the neighborhood 100. Seeing a speckled burrowing cockroach (and thinking it was a dirty honeybee)
101. Jamming out at my desk to new-to-me upbeat songs 102. Talking about Sparky and Piggy (and reading about them and looking at photos) 103. Caleb turning the heat on for my side of the bed 104. Paddleboarding with manatees and dolphins with Ryan, Fallon, Caleb, and Addison 105. Swinging when I find one, thanks Florida parks 106. Finishing 35 books, the same number as last year, mostly about science, history, and adventure 107. “garrotted carotid” and “penguin poontang”
I’ve always struggled with the question, “What do you do?” and it throws people off more now when they hear that neither Caleb nor I work, but I still wonder where my days go. The few pictures I do have show that I’m still actively participating in life, exploring new places, and meeting new people. What I don’t have photos of are the hours spent practicing on the piano, reading books, soaking in the hot tub, and doing chores (though maybe that’s where I get my next inspiration).
We spent a Saturday afternoon walking to Highlander Park because a few neighbors suggested we should go to an arts market there, but they don’t understand that we prefer discount pieces (or fancy gifts), not to purchase handmade works that would cut into our cheese and travel budget. We do make an exception for lemonade. We’ll stop in to browse the Dunedin Fine Art Center, since we’re walking by… and admission is free, and enjoy some pieces by Yhali Ilan and the multiple trees with ornaments for sale.
We’ll spend an hour and a half at Al’s on Sunday, me in his giant hot tub, while the men use the heated pool as well. We had planned on having dinner with him and were unaware that he’d already had lunch at Victory Tavern, but didn’t mind returning for another meal. I spoke with Frank, a regular patron, who is a 20-year chief who helped his mom in Massachusetts and then moved down here four years ago with Lisa, who did 15 years in the military, before being poached by Raytheon. We talk about local parks and animals, and I show him some of my photos, while Caleb and Al discuss military and family, again.
I go for a two-mile run and log a 1.5-mile walk before seeing Caleb, then jog to catch up with him so we can walk home together. He’s too hot to cook in the community soup pot just yet, so we’ll go before dinner of ice cream and asparagus; being an adult has its perks. So does wiping the dust off vinyl record covers before pulling the album out and noticing that Barry wrote half his last name on most of them – something one does in the military. I remember him listening to the kids’ music one day, taking turns between records and CDs. I don’t remember him being happy, though he smiled in photos.
Those thoughts are far from my mind while Caleb and I sit at Sarah’s house on Thursday, getting an introduction into one of her many art hobbies — making cards. Our theme is the fall season, and I enjoy using a machine to cut out stencils, coloring stamps, and layering the pieces to create a scene. Caleb’s cards seem to have lost all their leaves without a trace of people or animals to interrupt the afternoon. I could stay all day, but already Sarah has fed us snacks and entertained us, and now has something else on her ever-busy schedule that motivates me to live into my mid-seventies as well as she is.
Terry has to work on Friday, but has invited us to spend the rest of the weekend with him and Karley, and their dog Macaroni, on their boat. We leave early Saturday morning, as they’re about an hour and a half drive away, and get to the dock thirty minutes before they do. We’ll spend the day anchored off a small island, where we can paddleboard between and walk along the beach collecting shells, and noting the damage from last year’s hurricane. The Bulgarian/Italian/Greek owner of said island lets us know he’s in the process of repairing the tiki bar and other available activities by starting with burning the fallen trees.
Macaroni on the Kraken Snack
We are greeted with a beautiful morning, with a warning of a storm on the horizon, which will have us leaving earlier than planned. Caleb has taken in the full sunrise, and I will join him before the sun disappears into the thick clouds. Sipping coffee takes away the struggles of last night’s sleep, and though we had plans to ride bikes in Tarpon Springs in the afternoon, the storm arrived and dashed those plans, too. My rainbow friendship bracelet that I got at Ravi’s birthday celebration back in June exploded, so I collected it and put it in a dish, though the guys stopped wearing the children-sized jewelry months ago.
November 11th brings a cold front, and I wake to the heat on because it’s still 39° outside, and inside was in the 50s when Caleb woke. Al is going to a Veteran’s Day ceremony, walking distance from our place, so we showed up late, and Caleb went directly into the Big Red Bus, which just happened to have an apheresis machine on board. I watched the a cappella group before joining Caleb. Usually, we worry about my iron levels, but this time the woman asked if I had eaten (never before asked, but also never answered no) so snacks and drinks were quickly given.
Sri Lankan weevil
We join Al for lunch at Applebee’s, the restaurant that started the growing tradition of offering a select menu for veterans and active-duty to get a free meal, and then stop by Starbucks on the way home for a free coffee. Back in our car, we drove to Buffalo Wild Wings, where we saw Ryan and Fallon, so we joined them for lunch at Olive Garden, then stopped for a dessert (that would last me three days) at Dairy Queen after they went about their day. Last year, restaurants allowed take-out, and most changed to dine-in-only this year. I appreciate the switch, as returning to Applebee’s for dinner gave us the opportunity to eat with Todd and Cynthia.
We met them at the door, and having all traveled, knew about table-sharing overseas, so they offered once they were seated. The waitress was a bit confused at first, but we were all smiles by the end of the night. Todd was one of the unappreciated Vietnam veterans who returned to a divided country (as we should all ask if war is worth dying for). I was unaware that those vets were given their own day of remembrance, March 29, in 2017, to commemorate the day the last troops left Vietnam in 1973. Cynthia worked for Mercy Ships for over seven years, and they’ve been together for twenty, just as long as Caleb and I. It’s important for humanity that strangers connect over a shared common interest or history.
I finished a 1000-piece puzzle on Wednesday that’s missing two pieces, while Caleb patched the hole he punched in his paddleboard while on the boat the other day. I walk Sarah’s Havanese, Snicker and Doodle, and spend some time at Sarah’s after visiting with Jan. She invites me to walk with her in the morning, but I’m done and back from our agreed-upon time before she’s out of bed. I’ll talk with Susie while she gets her mail key replaced by a locksmith and Caleb finishes his six-mile run.
Last weekend on the boat, Caleb mentioned making potato salad, so we invited Terry and Karley, who brought green salad, drinks, and a basil plant, and Al, who brought green beans, chicken wings, and a lily bouquet to our place. Caleb also made a more homemade version of my mom’s favorite chicken recipe (salsa and cream of mushroom) and a white chocolate cheesecake. We’ll get in the hot tub after dinner, and somehow they all have room for dessert after changing into dry clothes or putting them on over wet swim shorts. I’ll wait and have a slice for breakfast.
We’ve started running, and for the first time, Caleb is putting in more miles than I am. It’s not a race or a competition, but we do our cardio in opposite directions or on different loops — because Caleb doesn’t want to have to run the same lap twice if he doesn’t have to. This is unlike many of our neighbors, who get their steps in by doing circles in the community, which reminds me of my familiar route with two blind dogs, as it seemed easier to walk a repetitive path, so they would bump into less. Perhaps I shorted them of new smells and other adventures we could’ve otherwise had, but this keeps the elderly in the shade, on smooth pavement, and close to home in case there’s a bathroom or friend in need.
It’s neat to see the switch in my friends’ group ages. As a child, I was in the same grade or friends with their older and younger siblings. Perhaps I enjoyed the company of my parents’ friends, but I never confided in them the same as I did my generation. In my twenties, I gave up hanging out with teenagers for those in their third decade of life, as we changed between jobs and locations. My thirties have been spent with a more international array of companions, and the ages are ever growing upward as I continue to mature. These days, a majority of my conversations are with people over 60. I appreciate their time with me and their dedication to themselves.
I finished reading The Last Campaign: Sherman, Geronimo and the War for America by H.W. Brands for the October book club, where we will discuss the bloodshed of this book and of our combined knowledge of the history of this country. Many of the women chose not to finish the book, as it just reminded them of their school days, but I would read another book or visit a museum, or a park of history, because I appreciate the message. I suppose this is also why I don’t watch the news, and why, when I’m their age, I might feel the same way. The November book is The Briar Club by Kate Quinn. It’s about a bunch of women and their stories (some merging of historical characters and some interesting truths).
The other books I’ve finished this month are Doctors and Distillers: The remarkable medicinal history of beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails by Camper English, How the World Eats: A global food philosophy by Julian Baggini, The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli, and A Crack in Creation: Gene editing and the unthinkable power to control evolution by Doudna and Sternberg (on loan from Roberto) who has many more books on his shelf that I might eventually read including Educated by Tara Westover. He likes to take notes in the margins and writes definitions too, so I get a peek at his perspective.
I’ve tried scrubbing the glass shower doors, and so has Caleb. We have removed the soap scum, but the years of limescale remain until we use more elbow grease and a better cleaning agent. I’m glad replacing the air filter was easier, but the amount of gunk on there reminds me of someone’s house that was covered in mold (even in the freezer!) People worry about saving enough for retirement, and silly me, I thought that was only for food, rent, and medical bills, but we will need to keep the modern currency (cash, card, Venmo, Bitcoin) handy when we’re ancient and need help cleaning around the house.
I have a gardening friend, Russ, and I’m not sure what his plan was, but he wanted pictures of my yard so he could send me something. I called him when I didn’t hear back, and he laughed, thinking I was joking about the few bushes I claimed. He knew me better when I had a large backyard, but I’m also great at container gardening and love having plants inside — so why don’t I yet — oh ya, because retirement is cheap when you’re sleeping in the woods or on a spare bed at a relative’s house, but the bills show up and all those plans of shopping and flying around the world have to be done as the budget allows.
Ryan and Fallon entering Universal Studios
I got some mail for a guy named Keith. Turns out he never lived here, but whoever he’s hiding from is still looking. We got a knock on the door, and I was unusually excited that the man was here to serve Keith papers; something I’ve only seen in the movies. People are more susceptible to having their mailboxes be used this way if it doesn’t lock, so I don’t know what his plans were, as junk mail follows us everywhere. I bought us tickets for an evening at Snappers Comedy Club to see Flip Schultz, and he wasn’t the only one providing entertainment. We got to listen to the woman behind us complain about her meal (repeatedly), and there was a heckler in the crowd with his magnifying glass (even though he was half-dressed to wear a monocle).
Sarah, our friendliest neighbor, invites me to the pool to meet Susie, and I’m not sure if we will swim, read, or just chat, so I put on sunscreen and bring a hat and drink. Caleb joins us, and we sit for an hour, then Caleb and I get in to cool off as Susie goes to check on Christine’s cat, Dar (which means gift in Russian). We return home to bake cookies for a road trip the next day. We will meet at Fallon’s and ride with her and Ryan to Orlando for a delayed birthday excursion because Halloween Horror Nights doesn’t run in September. Brandi will join us at Saltgrass Steak House for dinner and too much chocolate cake before we go to the park.
Jess, Caleb, Brandi, Fallon, Ryan at Universal
For guys, or the squeamish, maybe don’t read this paragraph. I debated sharing this, but I want to look back in twenty years and still laugh at its absurdity. I went to the bathroom and proceeded to make a mess all over my legs, the toilet, and the floor. I cleaned the public property but failed to do as good a job on myself, which Caleb pointed out to me once I was back in line. There was dried splatter all over the back of my legs, so I spit-cleaned them and told our friends it was mosquitoes causing the fuss because I didn’t want to admit what had happened with all my years of experience, but it would have been hilarious.
What wasn’t funny was having a guy cough on the back of my neck while we yet again stood in another line — yay, theme park! I wanted to turn around and punch him in the throat, but I calmly told him how his behavior was unkind. With wait times of over an hour, portable fans and drink carts were set up to provide relief from the heat and humidity. Brandi tried to scare me in one of the haunted houses, but I bumped into her and thought she was an employee. I overheard, “There should be a Terminator House, but the likeness of ‘Arnold’ is too expensive.” I definitely showered when we got home after 3am.
We watched Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy documentary. There is a drama series of the same name. We also watched (years ago) Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, and these two have so much in common, except for when the police ask questions (if they bother at all). Murder is usually portrayed in films as comedy, drama, and action — explosions and hero suits, even though there’s a wide audience who watch true crime shows and write to inmates to learn more about their rituals and reasons. There is a gruesome reality to the dangers we expose ourselves to, especially when getting in a stranger’s car or going to their house, something I still see kindness in.
I got an email from our energy company about installing EnergyWise products on our water heater and A/C (as the old ones were outdated and not currently enrolled), which can get us rebates on our bill. The wiring in this place is hectic, and when Colin went to adjust some wires, he tripped the main breaker. He also left the light on in the attic all night because I didn’t notice it until morning. The changes are designed to be unnoticeable and maintain comfort. They also provide a surge-protection plan, but that comes with a monthly fee, and I’m sure they’ll get plenty of those while we live here.
posted for sale
I got us tickets to a local farm, thinking it would be a fun way to spend the day, but I was sadly mistaken. They had so many activities listed on their website, but most of them weren’t available while we were there. It’s a good thing Fallon was busy making brownies for a kid’s Halloween party and feeding us the edges so she could use the gooey centers to make hearts, pumpkins, and brains. It was quite a process to paint the veins with chocolate and then peel them from the molds. Caleb ordered me a keyboard stand so that I could sit and play comfortably instead of kneeling in front of it while it was set on our shoe bench (that we got rid of).
I’m using an app that can listen to me play and teach me how to use my left hand — and then both at the same time! I knew the process wouldn’t be easy, so I look forward to the struggle of my daily lessons as I can hear myself improving, especially as I learn to read more notes. The app also slows down play, which feels more difficult, though I usually practice slower than that because it has a wait mode, even though I’m excited to get to a point where I can play the songs at their intended speeds. The day is not over as Sarah invites us to dinner and a show at Dunedin Brewery. We met a couple with matching hops tattoos that they got on their fifth anniversary after being wed in a different brewery.
Jess between some Witches of Dunedin
We moved to the other side of the venue and met a Canadian programmer and her computer geek husband with their daughter, who was reading a book before she kindly got up to get me a stool (that I didn’t ask for) after her dad gave his up for Sarah. We watch the Witches of Dunedin arrive on their decorated golf carts, and perform one dance before a fifteen-minute photo opportunity with the crowd, before they ride their electric brooms to the next stage of the evening. They do this every weekend in October and change their charity of choice every year. We finish the evening with a sweet treat, one that I need to walk off a bit after Sarah drops us home.
Caleb patched my paddleboard and we were going to take them out at Sunset Beach, even if the temperature was 68°, but it was smelly tow tide when we arrived, so we walked the sand instead. We get into the hottub upon return and the bubbles are furious as they attempt their escape from the chlorine soup. While visiting with Sarah later, a neighbor, Jan, comes over and she gifts me one of the scones she brought. We exchange numbers and I get back to the house so Caleb and I can dog sit Macaroni for a few hours and then join Terry, Karley, and Al for dinner at Shaker & Peel.
gift from Jessi to Caleb
The next day we meet Agim, our new maintenance guy, after the hottub and then get invited poolside by Jan so we can meet her husband Adrian. They’ve been together 18 years and he’s got some musical background so he offers to come over and teach me the thumb-under-finger transition on the keyboard. We’ll spend a couple hours at our place, and Adrian will play us a few songs before we walk to theirs so Jan can cook the stir-fry she had planned for their evening meal. The next day, Jan and Adrian bring by sourdough starter for Caleb.
Caleb’s desk arrives first so he’ll spend the afternoon putting it together and arranging scissors, yarns, needles, and other accoutrements for his crafts while I help Sarah rehang some of her art after she had some work done at her place. This book club meeting, being my second, gives a chance for us to go more in-depth about our histories in the mansions and fields of Chicago, the horses and guns in North Carolina, the siblings in Long Island, and the simplicity of riding around in Ohio (which reminded me of my mom’s high school years in Kansas).
My desk arrives three days later and I’m excited to put my pens, papers, and decorations in their place. It’s been years since I’ve had a designated writing spot that wasn’t Caleb’s kitchen stool at the couch or on my cellphone in a quiet corner or cafe. I’ll spend six and a half hours at Fallon’s with her floofer Zeus letting him outside to chase squirrels and lizards, then back inside to catch his breath and cool down before he returns to the chase and heat. Caleb has gone with Fallon to fix her son’s car, but who wants to replace a transmission when they can get a new ride. They agree to tow it home in the morning while I find glow-in-the-dark sea animals to adorn my creative corner.
I’m out the door one morning after an evening rain and a plant waters my ear and releases its weight so it can return to being out of my way. I do my short run even though my program suggests I run five miles at a 7:50/m pace. I don’t think so. When I get home I realize it’s been five weeks since we moved in and I still don’t have an electric bill. The guy who answers tells me to call back next week to ensure they’re doing their job. I don’t think so. Turns out, it takes six weeks for them to read the meter even though I could see my daily use.
thanks to Phil Watson at shaaark.com for the animal inspiration
We set off on a late morning walk and instead, Caleb helps solder a woman’s chewed wire in her car after finding out the dealership would want over $1,000. The squirrel had left his partially-chewed nut behind and Caleb was able to get that out, too. Then I go to Sarah’s to help her offload some of her art supplies onto me. I thought I had color pencils already, but hers are specifically for faces, landscapes, and shading among the other sets she gifted me. I’m looking forward to exploring a new hobby! Caleb’s sister has found she enjoys cross-stitching and will gift Caleb a framed piece for his desk.
Jan and Sarah invite us to dinner to meet more neighbors, Deb and Bill, and the David’s who don’t eat cucumbers. We were able to get more talking done after we were fed and especially once we moved outside to a quieter atmosphere. We sang Siobhán, a passing stranger, “Happy Birthday” and then took pictures with the statues in front of the Dunedin History Museum which we agree we should come back and visit. The next day, Mary Jo is driving me to Largo so we can explore her friend’s estate sale. I return with the wrong size frame for the intended piece, but found a map that fit perfectly.
As we continue to unpack, taking our sweet time, Caleb is able to get the cuckoo clock up and running. After being in a box for so long, one of the chains was tangled. It’s still off on telling the accurate time, but I love listening to the chimes, so I’m not concerned about adjusting the pendulum. I’m just so glad to have it out, even if it has to be above eye level for the weights to have room to move. I do prefer it silenced while I practice on the keyboard though. A few songs I’m working on — Bella Ciao, Italian Traditional; Rondo Alla Turca, Mozart; Fields of Gold, Sting; and Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky.
No month would be complete without a visit to Mellow Mushroom, except all the other excellent months that have passed without a trip to our favorite pizzeria. This dinner would be unlike any other and this restaurant is a great place for making memories. We got a medium pie on a small tray and when I went to grab a slice, I dumped half the pizza on the floor. Caleb was devastated thinking he would have to eat floor pizza, but the waitress was kind enough to get the kitchen to make us another.
This brings us to the end of our fifty-one days in Missoula. I gave away a box of snacks and coffee that wouldn’t fit in the car – and will somehow be surprised by how many little bags of these items I continue to find – as we did plan for twenty-mile days for five months, so this supply should now last twice as long. I return the bear cans in the mail, donate our hiking clothes that I hoped would survive the trail and put our sheets in the wash and said our goodbyes.
packing up the garden
August isn’t over yet and there is more family to see on the way to our new home in Florida. We get to Terri’s, Caleb’s mom, in the afternoon and though we had thought about camping there, the guard midgets, Bean and Millie, were unhappy about us being there. The neighbor’s dog seemed pleased to join in the constant barking that would accompany our time moving boxes and taping them shut for their upcoming trip over a thousand miles east and thirty-one miles north.
Kris, Jessi, Caleb and Caleb, Kris, Robert
After catching up with a childhood friend and the best man at Caleb’s brother Kris’s wedding, Caleb Voldberg, we met the family and then went to dinner at The Legion with him and his wife. We see him again, along with Kevin Edwards, another childhood friend at the gas station in the morning. Caleb has to drive to a town an hour away to pick up the U-haul, so we don’t have to wait for one to arrive, and Terri has a friend come out and help Caleb push her large wood-burning oven up the trailer ramp because her daughter-in-law just isn’t strong enough.
Terri and her things
We stop in Glendive, MT before dark and take the wrong road leaving Fargo the next day which costs us half an hour. It’s a good thing they gave us five days. I ask Rob if he’s from FL University because I can see his laptop login from where I’m sitting in the hotel lobby and I notice that he has one of Caleb’s family names. He says he’s not and asks if I work there. Caleb and I will part ways — him to his brother’s house in Michigan and me to my aunt’s house in Wisconsin.
my cousin’s house
I get to Aunt Janet’s house and meet my cousin’s husband Josh, their three dogs, and Janet’s granddaughter Natalie. Christina brings us cold brew coffees after work. Josh takes the dogs home, a half hour drive, while the girls go out to dinner. I’ll stay at Christina’s and stay in her son Carter’s bed while he takes the couch for the night. I only see her other son Douglas in passing. Someone got into my leftovers so I leave them in the fridge. I’ll struggle with the detour around the downed bridge near Laona but lucky me that all roads don’t lead to gas stations and private gates.
the river
We spend the week at Kris’s playing cards for hours, eating fresh-baked biscuits, ziplining over the river, finding frogs and snakes in the woods, grilling meats and veggies, getting the baby ducks water time, doing yardwork and rewarding ourselves with fresh-picked crab apples, and watching the boys collect worms for the chickens and pet turtle. We washed the car, walked the driveway, went out for Thai food, stayed in their travel trailer in the yard and Caleb and Kris spent half a day running errands. I’ll get half a donut for our last breakfast there as one of the dogs ate the other half when I was distracted.
Michigan creatures
We spend three days driving south stopping in Lafayette, IN (with a large cookie, dill pretzels, and cheese stick for dinner), Acworth, GA, and then enjoy a delicious dinner at Mellow Mushroom after dropping off the trailer. We spend the weekend in Ruskin with Terry and Karley — a day in the pool and a day to recover while sleeping on their boat (with a similar mattress situation as the Navy). We visit with Fallon and stop at the store for anti-itch cream (something I have not missed) to tackle the no-see-ums as they make you want to tear your skin off — mosquito bites just swell.
Jordan on the riding mower
Finally move-in day is upon us. I will bring boxes upstairs (while waiting on a new fridge to arrive that doesn’t leak brown goo even though the water line was cut) while Caleb takes trips back and forth from our storage unit. The delivery guys take off the doors and Caleb takes off the hand railings and the fridge barely squeezes through. It’s a good thing these appliances have long shelf lives. I’ll take a break between deep cleaning (textured tile) and unpacking to let my heat rash cool. Caleb will fix the sink leaks that were supposedly already done, especially if you turn off the main water valve.
“On the road again” 🎵
Our first visitor will be our friend Al, who hasn’t seen us since April, so feels the need to take us to dinner. Caleb builds us a couch and a new bed frame, Fallon loans us her tile cleaning machine, as does our new neighbor Sarah, and Karley brings her dog Macaroni with her to help us paint, so we take her out to dinner. It’s been awhile since we’ve been in a place with a touch of color and our art on the walls. It feels good to be moved in and know that we’ll be here for a few years. It will be our decision or unforseen circumstances that choose our next destination and when.
When in Florida…
Our neighbors are friendly and I’m quickly invited to join the local book club. I don’t have time to read the September pick. Still, I already think the educational, historical, and empowering themes are an improvement on the murder manias that were chosen from the last group. We find a two-mile walking loop and will soon expand it to four. We make the guest bed and I remember that we got rid of the twin mattress when we got a queen for free, so the sheets I bought for it are useless.
turtlely awesome tower
They won’t be the only thing we’re donating, especially since I’ve been warned by my hoarder friend (didn’t realize there was a clinical scale) about amassing too many things. Moving every few years is convenient for clearing clutter, but moving every year keeps items hidden in boxes that you may no longer want or need, but don’t know you have. Our first house guest arrives with part of his family — the older two children stayed in San Diego in high school while the six and nine-year-old (who we’ve met before) came with their mom and new dog Shaggy. The name is fitting.
We hadn’t seen them in over three years so I appreciate McKay taking the detour down half of Florida to come visit us, even if for less than 24 hours. We enjoy the pool (and patiently wait for the hottub to be fixed and reapproved for use), Caleb bakes a variety of bread loaves (a spicy garlic and an herb), Sarah loans me some puzzles, and I hang the windchime I got from Rickee (a Montana family friend). We don’t have everything done (a keyboard stand or new writing desk, and with the way I keep to-do lists, we never will.
I forgot to mention that we have replaced our windshield three times this year. The first time due to a growing crack before we left in May (so that it would be ok and look new after being stored for months, which turned out to be way less). Anyway, we had to replace it again when we got to Washington for a stress fracture (not a road hazard so covered by the company’s replacement plan). Only months later are we met with the same instance — wake up to a crack over six inches long that has sprouted over night –and then driving over 1,500 miles.
TheJessicaness 