What a horrible--uh--CHALLENGING day--
First, Fiorella discovered that she'd messed up on paying her property tax so she'd have to pay extra, then she spent a fair amount of time searching for the missing TV remote, then gazed around at how her lovely home has become a packing-box depot, then decided she needed a heavy transfusion of chocolate.
Sonia Dog looked wistful so Fio invited her along for the ride, but Doggie refused to leap into the back seat on the driver's side because she'd been trained to use the distaff side. Accordingly, Fio swung the Queen Mary out to give Sonia enough room to wiggle into her own seat--and knocked over a double stack of shelves that had been moved over to accommodate the double birthday party on Saturday.
After propping the shelves up as best she could, Fiorella moved Queenie into the middle of the garage so Sonia could get into the car on her rightful side, then swung out of the driveway and whacked into Baby Car, which had been moved out of the garage and into the driveway to accommodate the omnipresent packing boxes.
Nothing to do but speed out of the driveway and head down the road for Walgreen's. Fio arrived without incident except that when she brought her prizes up to the cashier, she realized she didn't have the usual credit card tucked in her bra.
A quick trip back to Queen Mary to raid her purse produced the credit card, but there was an even greater problem when Fiorella got back in the car to drive home--where were her glasses? She was pretty sure she'd had them on when she was driving into town, but now, they were nowhere to be--uh--seen.
Then, later in the afternoon, Fio'a printer refused to print out Lolly's story, even with an hour's coaching by Elder Son in Minnnesota.
What next?
Friday, July 31, 2020
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Back to the Angst Years
Fio found a couple of pages of poetry from her school days:
The Quest
The pond's o'er-froze, the corn is blight
The fields frost over, silver-white
The ice-bound branches of the trees
Are breaking in the winter freeze
The ground is hard, the sky is bare
The sobbing wind disturbs the air
As Ceres grieves, unreconciled
And searches for her missing child
*
(untitled)
I watched a laughing child in years gone by
Below my window gather bits of Spring--
Arbutus whiter than the moon would cry
the joyous news of life's awakening
The child would touch the vine aside my door
And, just as quick, it shed its coat of frost--
Her feet had scarcely trod the forest floor
Before the winter's harsh campaign was lost
The seasons roll themselves up into years
And springtime swiftly burns itself to fall--
An aged woman dressed in black appears
And walks the dying world within my wall
*
The Quest
The pond's o'er-froze, the corn is blight
The fields frost over, silver-white
The ice-bound branches of the trees
Are breaking in the winter freeze
The ground is hard, the sky is bare
The sobbing wind disturbs the air
As Ceres grieves, unreconciled
And searches for her missing child
*
(untitled)
I watched a laughing child in years gone by
Below my window gather bits of Spring--
Arbutus whiter than the moon would cry
the joyous news of life's awakening
The child would touch the vine aside my door
And, just as quick, it shed its coat of frost--
Her feet had scarcely trod the forest floor
Before the winter's harsh campaign was lost
The seasons roll themselves up into years
And springtime swiftly burns itself to fall--
An aged woman dressed in black appears
And walks the dying world within my wall
*
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
From TV to Music
Fiorella has given up searching for her TV remote. Crawling around on the floor and poking a broom under chair and the couch gets old quick. Besides, she knows that the moment she walks into the house with a brand-spanking new changer, the old one will immediately leap into view.
*
Sonia Dog enjoyed having Fio down on the floor checking out the underbelly of the couch with a flashlight and a broom handle. She even used Mommy's back as a stepping stone to get up on said couch.
*
Fio would like to tell you that she got a lot more packing done today, but apparently yesterday was her high point for the week--searching for the remote has taken all her time. Besides, she's having trouble getting boxes the right size.
*
One thing that sort of threw Fiorella off her gait for the day was the King Arthur Flour mag that showed up in her mailbox. The week after Husband died, Fiorella, who does not cook, had informed the King Arthur people of his demise and canceled the subscription. She does not appreciate them reviving it.
*
It's amazing how soothing Country-Western music can be, says the girl who grew up in a family that looked down their noses at it. Music soothes the savage breast.
*
Sonia Dog enjoyed having Fio down on the floor checking out the underbelly of the couch with a flashlight and a broom handle. She even used Mommy's back as a stepping stone to get up on said couch.
*
Fio would like to tell you that she got a lot more packing done today, but apparently yesterday was her high point for the week--searching for the remote has taken all her time. Besides, she's having trouble getting boxes the right size.
*
One thing that sort of threw Fiorella off her gait for the day was the King Arthur Flour mag that showed up in her mailbox. The week after Husband died, Fiorella, who does not cook, had informed the King Arthur people of his demise and canceled the subscription. She does not appreciate them reviving it.
*
It's amazing how soothing Country-Western music can be, says the girl who grew up in a family that looked down their noses at it. Music soothes the savage breast.
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Fio Reports In
The next time around, Fiorella hopes we're all recycled so that we become kinder and more loving to each other.
*
Fio was swinging from one desperation to another and back again for a couple of hours today until she finally found her precious list in the waste basket. Yeah, it was that kind of day.
*
The septic contract finally came in, but Fiorella is having trouble printing it out. She also went the weekend with Facebook refusing to post her photos. TECHNOLOGY STINKS!
*
Fio spent most of the day trying to fit paintings into moving boxes, then cutting up the boxes to fit the paintings, and she's not even half through yet. Yep, her house was an art museum and she didn't even know it.
*
For, lo, these many years, Fiorella's housewifely duty was to put everything back in its proper place, and now, her job is to haul everything out of its place and load it into cardboard boxes. It hurts, especially when she packs away her treasures.
*
Fio was swinging from one desperation to another and back again for a couple of hours today until she finally found her precious list in the waste basket. Yeah, it was that kind of day.
*
The septic contract finally came in, but Fiorella is having trouble printing it out. She also went the weekend with Facebook refusing to post her photos. TECHNOLOGY STINKS!
*
Fio spent most of the day trying to fit paintings into moving boxes, then cutting up the boxes to fit the paintings, and she's not even half through yet. Yep, her house was an art museum and she didn't even know it.
*
For, lo, these many years, Fiorella's housewifely duty was to put everything back in its proper place, and now, her job is to haul everything out of its place and load it into cardboard boxes. It hurts, especially when she packs away her treasures.
Monday, July 27, 2020
LIFE WITH FIORELLA
Hurray, hurray, God is good! A while back, Fio had stupidly left her computer half open and Sonia Dog had nestled down on its warmth, causing about five pages of a very important scene in Lolly's story to disappear, but thanks to your girl's habit of saving a copy of everything she's written, she was able to locate an earlier version of the chapter and patch up the missing pages. All is well. Whew!
*
Interesting--Fiorella's septic-tank person is trying to pull a Trump on her. He's supposed to have mailed conformation of her contract about a month ago, but the Gtown septic people are on Fio's back about it. It took a while for Fio to get through to her guy on the phone, but he promised he'd forward the contract immediately. The next day and the next day passed and your girl called again, and he got all huffy that she'd contacted him on Saturday while he was in the barber chair.
Sorry, bud, but Fiorella doesn't play the blame-shift game.
*
Fio and Doggie were carefully working their way through the treacherous back woods when suddenly they came upon a yearling deer whose coloration blended with the underbrush. There was a split second of Who the hell are you? and then the deer took off at the speed of light. Sonia crashed through the undergrowth to follow her new acquaintance, Fiorella belatedly bellowed NO, and the deer disappeared with no harm to anyone.
The only casualty was when Fio and Doggie made it back though the woods and up to the house where Fio tripped over the garden hose she'd thrown up on the porch earlier in the day. Your girl is going to have a bright red skinned spot on her lower right arm for a couple of days, but what the heck--it could have been worse.
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Too Much, Too Much!
Has there ever been a day in Fio's life when she didn't wake up with a to-do list a mile long? Now, please excuse her--she has to go water the jasmines.
*
After an hour or so of digging up papers and calling around, Fiorella finally got the septic system contract thing settled. Turns out the Septic guy HADN'T sent in a copy of the contract, but he's going to send one to Fio now--supposedly. In the meantime, Fiorella will take a walk up the driveway to (1) re-glue her acknowledgments on the friendship plank, (2) pick up the mail, and (3) visit with her loving trees.
*
Last night, Fiorella had decided most of her day would be dedicated to writing, but it's late afternoon, and she hasn't even opened Lolly's pages. Instead, she's carried loads down from her upstairs office and packaged them for transport, gotten hold of Nephew to make sure he knows about his unclaimed inheritance, re-glued the friendship plank, checked out FB, done her washing, and talked to her trees. What your girl needs is an office all her own, one that doesn't have to be torn apart.
*
Fio's mother's maiden name, Fio's maiden name, and Husband's surname all began with the same letter. Hmm....
*
In the male line, Fiorella's mother's father, his father, and his father were all alcoholics. So were Husband, his uncle, and his maternal grandfather. In the female line, Fio's mother married a non-alcoholic, and neither Fio nor her brother are alcoholics, although Mother's brother and his son were.
Mother's liquid preferences were tea and water. Fiorella's are milk and water.
Probably too much personal info, but the kids need to know.
*
After an hour or so of digging up papers and calling around, Fiorella finally got the septic system contract thing settled. Turns out the Septic guy HADN'T sent in a copy of the contract, but he's going to send one to Fio now--supposedly. In the meantime, Fiorella will take a walk up the driveway to (1) re-glue her acknowledgments on the friendship plank, (2) pick up the mail, and (3) visit with her loving trees.
*
Last night, Fiorella had decided most of her day would be dedicated to writing, but it's late afternoon, and she hasn't even opened Lolly's pages. Instead, she's carried loads down from her upstairs office and packaged them for transport, gotten hold of Nephew to make sure he knows about his unclaimed inheritance, re-glued the friendship plank, checked out FB, done her washing, and talked to her trees. What your girl needs is an office all her own, one that doesn't have to be torn apart.
*
Fio's mother's maiden name, Fio's maiden name, and Husband's surname all began with the same letter. Hmm....
*
In the male line, Fiorella's mother's father, his father, and his father were all alcoholics. So were Husband, his uncle, and his maternal grandfather. In the female line, Fio's mother married a non-alcoholic, and neither Fio nor her brother are alcoholics, although Mother's brother and his son were.
Mother's liquid preferences were tea and water. Fiorella's are milk and water.
Probably too much personal info, but the kids need to know.
Saturday, July 25, 2020
Sabado
What's on Fio's table for today? Well first she has to walk the trash up to to the road for pick-up, then do her usual morning chores. then in the afternoon, continue packing up the house. Your girl didn't realize how many art supplies and finished or half-finished canvases she had tucked away in her office and is determined to go on a painting spree when she sets up shop in the new house. Whoopee!
*
For right now, Fiorella is determined to get to work on Lolly's story. Yes, she knows she's said that before and fate has intervened, but if she keeps on saying it, somewhere along the line, she'll get a break.
*
If computers were more limited in what they can do, Fio, who has slippery fingers, would have less mistakes to correct.
*
Still no news from the stalwart group that was setting up Fiorella's high school reunion for October--and probably still are. Needless to say, Fio will not be attending this year.
*
G-D-T! Fio received a notice in the mail that the city hasn't received a copy of her sewer contract, WHICH SHE SENT IN AFTER A BACK-AND-FORTH AT LEAST A MONTH AGO and checked out later to be sure everything was as it should be. To further irritate he as she replaced the phone, her "Help-I've-Fallen-and-Can't-Get-UP alarm fell out of her bra and, of course, the phone rang and Fiorella had to assure a faceless voice that she was still upright.
What next?😈😈😈
*
For right now, Fiorella is determined to get to work on Lolly's story. Yes, she knows she's said that before and fate has intervened, but if she keeps on saying it, somewhere along the line, she'll get a break.
*
If computers were more limited in what they can do, Fio, who has slippery fingers, would have less mistakes to correct.
*
Still no news from the stalwart group that was setting up Fiorella's high school reunion for October--and probably still are. Needless to say, Fio will not be attending this year.
*
G-D-T! Fio received a notice in the mail that the city hasn't received a copy of her sewer contract, WHICH SHE SENT IN AFTER A BACK-AND-FORTH AT LEAST A MONTH AGO and checked out later to be sure everything was as it should be. To further irritate he as she replaced the phone, her "Help-I've-Fallen-and-Can't-Get-UP alarm fell out of her bra and, of course, the phone rang and Fiorella had to assure a faceless voice that she was still upright.
What next?😈😈😈
Friday, July 24, 2020
Viernes
As Fiorella walked back down to the driveway after wheeling out her giant trash can, she remembered how, when they first moved in, she and Husband had hired a landscaping company to make a garden paradise around around the house--a garden that lasted three months until a drought hit Central Texas. No matter how much water Fio and Husband scooped out of the bath tub (water rationing) and carried down the stairs in milk bottles to assuage the garden's appetite, everything wilted--and took Fiorella's right hip with it. Yep, a joint can only take so much stress before having to be replaced.
Fio also remembered Husband planting various bushes and setting out sprinklers in the back and front yards, but most of the bushes died and the sprinklers just weren't enough. Fiorella got horticultural advice from friends, relatives, nurseries, and magazines, but nothing worked. There will never be a good grass cover and never be petunias in the flower beds. Oaks, elms, and cedars are the name of the game, punctuated by occasional rugged rock outcroppings attached to the center of the earth.
Somewhere along the line, Fiorella gave up on having a lawn like her father's and a garden like her mother's and started appreciating the landscape as it was. In return, the rocks and trees started talking to her. So when Fiorella packs her last bag and moves out, it will not be a carefully-tended landscape she will miss, but something far more beautiful--the whispered friendship of her lovely rocks and trees.🧡😢😢
Fio also remembered Husband planting various bushes and setting out sprinklers in the back and front yards, but most of the bushes died and the sprinklers just weren't enough. Fiorella got horticultural advice from friends, relatives, nurseries, and magazines, but nothing worked. There will never be a good grass cover and never be petunias in the flower beds. Oaks, elms, and cedars are the name of the game, punctuated by occasional rugged rock outcroppings attached to the center of the earth.
Somewhere along the line, Fiorella gave up on having a lawn like her father's and a garden like her mother's and started appreciating the landscape as it was. In return, the rocks and trees started talking to her. So when Fiorella packs her last bag and moves out, it will not be a carefully-tended landscape she will miss, but something far more beautiful--the whispered friendship of her lovely rocks and trees.🧡😢😢
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Jueves
Yes, Fiorella is trying to rescue what little Spanish she has learned, but time and circumstances are against her--no interesting Mexican movie she can watch on TV, no Spanish speaker visiting the house regularly, no time to study the language books--in fact, no time to do anything but keep up with her bills, take care of the house, clear out the dark corners, feed herself and the dog, blast Donald Trump, and, if she has time, work on Lolly's story.
*
It's past Fio's birthday, but Daughter has sent her a lovely bouquet along with the weekly groceries. 🧡🧡🧡
*
Your faithful correspondent moved stacks and stacks of canvases and small cardboards down the stairs today, as well as many, many old picture frames. She had no idea that she'd stored away so many art necessities. Hooray!
*
Fiorella has discovered another fairly large rock outcropping in the front meadow (el parke) and is gathering rocks from the back yard to encircle it for the enjoyment of the future owners. It must be turnover time because there are two for sale signs up in Fio's very stable neighborhood and your girl has received far too many solicitations from realtors.
*
Fio has lost her cell phone again, which means her dreams will be punctured with croaks of "low battery" all night...again.
*
It's past Fio's birthday, but Daughter has sent her a lovely bouquet along with the weekly groceries. 🧡🧡🧡
*
Your faithful correspondent moved stacks and stacks of canvases and small cardboards down the stairs today, as well as many, many old picture frames. She had no idea that she'd stored away so many art necessities. Hooray!
*
Fiorella has discovered another fairly large rock outcropping in the front meadow (el parke) and is gathering rocks from the back yard to encircle it for the enjoyment of the future owners. It must be turnover time because there are two for sale signs up in Fio's very stable neighborhood and your girl has received far too many solicitations from realtors.
*
Fio has lost her cell phone again, which means her dreams will be punctured with croaks of "low battery" all night...again.
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
MIERCOLES
Sonia Dog is all over Fiorella, trying to comfort her because your girl can't stop crying after finishing ordering flowers for friend Evelyn, whose mother died recently. Fio's had it with this dying stuff. Why do good people have to die? Why can't they live on forever, and the bad people be the ones who die off, and then--hopefully--get cleansed and come back as good people?
*
It's a hard day for your girl. It's a hard day for our nation. Putin has taken over the presidency and heavily armed masked men are attacking the populace. Where do these people come from? Who recruits them? Who arms them? Who pays them? Why do they do this?
*
Fio is thinking about the Suffragettes today, and how much they really did suffer. They were mocked, beaten up, raped, imprisoned, and tortured, and killed. Is history repeating itself, but with a broader dimension?
*
So much for all the things Fiorella had on her list for today. She hasn't even gotten the mail, given Sonia Dog her pills or put her wedge in the car, packed up anything more from upstairs or started on the upper cabinets in the kitchen. Oh well, maybe she can lose herself in Lolly's exploits this evening. That dang girl deserves a happy ending. (And so does Fio.)
*
No matter had bad Fiorella's day has been, the minute she steps outside, the rocks and trees envelope her with their love 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
*
It's a hard day for your girl. It's a hard day for our nation. Putin has taken over the presidency and heavily armed masked men are attacking the populace. Where do these people come from? Who recruits them? Who arms them? Who pays them? Why do they do this?
*
Fio is thinking about the Suffragettes today, and how much they really did suffer. They were mocked, beaten up, raped, imprisoned, and tortured, and killed. Is history repeating itself, but with a broader dimension?
*
So much for all the things Fiorella had on her list for today. She hasn't even gotten the mail, given Sonia Dog her pills or put her wedge in the car, packed up anything more from upstairs or started on the upper cabinets in the kitchen. Oh well, maybe she can lose herself in Lolly's exploits this evening. That dang girl deserves a happy ending. (And so does Fio.)
*
No matter had bad Fiorella's day has been, the minute she steps outside, the rocks and trees envelope her with their love 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Martes
Fiorella hardly slept for two days, then fell asleep on the couch yesterday and woke up feeling wonderfully refreshed. Couldn't help but think of Handel, who decried the lack of sleep in a beautiful song she used to sing.
Fiorella, do you still sing?.
No, thanks to essential tremor of the vocal cords, uvula, and larynx, sometimes I can barely talk, but I have lovely memories. God is good.
*
Fio has not only brought all her art stuff down the stairs, but now has tucked it all away in a moving box that she laid flat. The hardest part of the jop was flipping the box so she could tape the bottom closed with her beloved masking tape.
*
Mourning the murder of the son and attempted murder of the husband of the judge who is (was?) going to be presiding over a trial that would involve Trump's favorite German bank. This kind of stuff didn't happen when Obama was president.
*
Not happy about what went on in Oregon and that Trump has said will happen elsewhere. Nothing like turning the country against itself.
*
Looks like Fio's high school reunion scheduled for October is down the tubes. The last Fio heard, only sixteen people had signed up for it. Your faithful correspondent wasn't one of them.
Fiorella, do you still sing?.
No, thanks to essential tremor of the vocal cords, uvula, and larynx, sometimes I can barely talk, but I have lovely memories. God is good.
*
Fio has not only brought all her art stuff down the stairs, but now has tucked it all away in a moving box that she laid flat. The hardest part of the jop was flipping the box so she could tape the bottom closed with her beloved masking tape.
*
Mourning the murder of the son and attempted murder of the husband of the judge who is (was?) going to be presiding over a trial that would involve Trump's favorite German bank. This kind of stuff didn't happen when Obama was president.
*
Not happy about what went on in Oregon and that Trump has said will happen elsewhere. Nothing like turning the country against itself.
*
Looks like Fio's high school reunion scheduled for October is down the tubes. The last Fio heard, only sixteen people had signed up for it. Your faithful correspondent wasn't one of them.
Monday, July 20, 2020
Lunes
Interesting--whenever Fiorella thinks she's out of pens, all she has to do is check around for a few minutes and they appear like magic in desk drawers, hidden boxes, and between the cushions of the sofa.
*
Fio's hoping for a shower of yellow libretas at the birthday party she is sharing with Daughter this week. The green ones that Husband used just don't fill the bill--not vibrant enough.
*
Tomorrow's the day that Fiorella puts together Lolly's last three chapters. Then comes the reading and revising. Then comes getting a good cover and learning how books are sold these days. Then comes pulling one of her other un-pubbed romances out of her treasure-troves and whipping it into shape. In the meantime, Fio will entertain you with one of her earlier works, written when she still had a fairly good grasp of Russsian:
Mik woke up alone, his arms empty.
It was three in the morning--where was Sigrid? She'd spent the whole day stowing away her toiletries, then moving her wardrobe into the big double walk-in closet off his master bedroom, then becoming familiar with the layout of the brownstone. She should be exhausted, asleep in his bed,
But she was gone.
Throwing on a robe, he walked down the hall, checking each door as he went, then stopped at the top of the stairs.
She was on the bottom step, heading for the front door. Her voice floated like a ghost-child's in the darkness.
"Mommy, where are you?"
Shit, she was sleep-walking again, and with not a stitch on. No way he was gonna let her open that door.
Speeding down the stairs, he caught up with her as she was working the multiple locks. Damned if she didn't have one open already! He slipped an arm around her waist."Sigrid, dooshuh muhyah, come back to bed."
"Mommy?" She gave him an unseeing stare.
"Mommy's not here, Sigrid, but Mik is. Yah lyooblyoo tibyah, dooshuh muhyah."
She blinked in confusion. "Mik? Mik is here?"
He gave her a light kiss on her forehead." Hey, baby--I think you're beginning to wake up."
She snuggled closer to him as they reached the top step.
"I heard what you said, but how much do you love me?"
He swept her up in his arms and carried her down the hall.
"Babe, you're about to find out."
Yah lyooblyoo tibyah: I love you
Dooshuh muhyah: my darling
Sunday, July 19, 2020
From Morning to Eventide
Your girl woke up with a headache this morning, a common early symptom of the virus, but then Sonia Dog snuggled up beside her and emitted a staggeringly magnificent odor that made Fio gag, so it looks like your faithful correspondent is safe for the time being.
*
Thanks to wonderful Fernando and his crew (hijo y sobrino), the backyard walk-way project is one third finished. Fiorella is thrilled, relieved, and grateful. Tally ho, mi amigo!
*
And while Fernando labors outside, Fio stays inside, tending to Baby Dog, working on Lolly's story, trying to save the world via Facebook, and hurling cardboards of all sizes, shapes, colors down the stairs to be stored for the move-out.
*
Oops. Fio got too enthusiastic sliding her art supplies down the stairs and now her right hip--the fake one--is hurting. She's hoping it will heal overnight because there are a lot more things on the landing that need to be hurled down the stairs.
*
On thing Fiorella has learned about herself is that she doesn't throw away anything she thinks might be useful for her or anyone else in the future. Thus her granddaughter, poor thing, will inherit not only paints, canvases, frames, cardboard, reams of paper, and copies of everything Fio has ever written or composed, but a full library of language books.
*
Thanks to wonderful Fernando and his crew (hijo y sobrino), the backyard walk-way project is one third finished. Fiorella is thrilled, relieved, and grateful. Tally ho, mi amigo!
*
And while Fernando labors outside, Fio stays inside, tending to Baby Dog, working on Lolly's story, trying to save the world via Facebook, and hurling cardboards of all sizes, shapes, colors down the stairs to be stored for the move-out.
*
Oops. Fio got too enthusiastic sliding her art supplies down the stairs and now her right hip--the fake one--is hurting. She's hoping it will heal overnight because there are a lot more things on the landing that need to be hurled down the stairs.
*
On thing Fiorella has learned about herself is that she doesn't throw away anything she thinks might be useful for her or anyone else in the future. Thus her granddaughter, poor thing, will inherit not only paints, canvases, frames, cardboard, reams of paper, and copies of everything Fio has ever written or composed, but a full library of language books.
Saturday, July 18, 2020
Sabado
Your girl found a boatload of art treasures when she was cleaning out her upstairs office--frames, canvases, cut-outs, drawings--you name it--and she's bundling every single piece up to use when she's moved into her new home. Tomorrow, she'll empty the top shelf, which looks like it holds even more wonders.
Sonia Dog, of course, trailed after Fiorella and watched everything Mommy did, but was smart enough to stay out of harm's way when yours truly sent load after load of heavy frames and boards hurtling down the stairs. Hmmm... wonder if Doggie would pose for a portrait.
*
Fiorella is heavily into politics these days, which she really isn't that enthusiastic about. She'd rather be writing or composing or painting or learning foreign languages, but she also wants to make the world a better place, which means she has to combat Trump in whatever way she can. DUMP TRUMP!
*
You won't believe this, but friends on Facebook gave Fio information about wedges that go between the front seats of cars to keep doggies like Sonia in the back seat. Fio is ecstatic--maybe she can get Baby Girl vaccinated after all.
*
Sonia woke Fio up at about 2:30 a.m. because she needed to go outside, and then yours Mommy wasn't able to fall asleep again. Instead, her mind took her back to her run for the Austin school board which, through the years, she has realized was hers to lose, and that's exactly what she did--lose it--partially because of some dumb stuff she did and said, but mostly because her opponent pulled every dirty trick in the book. Liz, I finally have your number.
*
Sonia Dog, of course, trailed after Fiorella and watched everything Mommy did, but was smart enough to stay out of harm's way when yours truly sent load after load of heavy frames and boards hurtling down the stairs. Hmmm... wonder if Doggie would pose for a portrait.
*
Fiorella is heavily into politics these days, which she really isn't that enthusiastic about. She'd rather be writing or composing or painting or learning foreign languages, but she also wants to make the world a better place, which means she has to combat Trump in whatever way she can. DUMP TRUMP!
*
You won't believe this, but friends on Facebook gave Fio information about wedges that go between the front seats of cars to keep doggies like Sonia in the back seat. Fio is ecstatic--maybe she can get Baby Girl vaccinated after all.
*
Sonia woke Fio up at about 2:30 a.m. because she needed to go outside, and then yours Mommy wasn't able to fall asleep again. Instead, her mind took her back to her run for the Austin school board which, through the years, she has realized was hers to lose, and that's exactly what she did--lose it--partially because of some dumb stuff she did and said, but mostly because her opponent pulled every dirty trick in the book. Liz, I finally have your number.
*
Friday, July 17, 2020
From Technology to Technology
Technology is screwing with Fio again. For some reason, although she can post on FB, she can't put any of her pictures up. Husband would have fixed your girl up with a wave and a whistle, but Sonia Dog doesn't seem to be able to perform the same magic.
*
Your girl has finally figured out how to un-garble the mess she made of Lolly's last three chapters--she's going to cut and paste the offending pages so they make sense. It will take a while, but seems to be the only way she can finish off the story.
*
Fiorella's job for the day is to clean out the closet of her upstairs office, and she can tell you this--Fio has enough paper and art supplies to last her through the next century. At the same time, as every artist knows, there can never be enough.
*
From time to time, Fiorella ponders what her life would have been like if she'd been a male. For sure, she would gotten more respect for herself, her art, her music, her talents, and her intellect, but those things didn't matter in the Twentieth Century. Of course, money talks in any century.
*
Back to technology again, Fio can be taught how to do whatever, but if she doesn't immediately make use of her newfound wisdom again and again, she'll be back at stage zero in no time. What she needs is a full-time technology nanny. Any takers?
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Birthday Evening
Happy birthday to Fiorella. Her brother and his wife drove all the way out to Georgetown to bring her flowers, and Fio truly appreciated the gift, the visit, and the compliments on her outdoor work. Of course, everyone but Sonya was wearing a mask and carefully keeping a proper distance, but the love carried Fio through the rest of the evening and Fiorella went to sleep happy--until she woke up when the phone rang in the middle of the night with some weird message, then cut off.
The Nancy Drew in her knew something was wrong, but she was in the dark as to exactly what--literally IN THE DARK. Luckily, she knew where a small flashlight was and found it by feel, then tried to call 911, but that phone was out too. And so were selective parts of her cell phone. Yep, your girl--and her dog--were all alone in the dark of the night.
She considered driving down to the police station, then realized that, with the electricity out, she wouldn't be able to open the garage door, so she felt her way into the kitchen and located a larger flashlight and a glass bottle she could defend herself with if she came under attack.
Finally, she decided that her best chance of survival was to sit tight. After all, although her alarm system was kaput, her house was locked up, she had two flashlights and a heavy bottle to defend herself with, plus a large dog who followed her around like...well...a dog.
But there was no way she could just lie down and go back to sleep. For one thing, the air had gone stale. For another, it was just possible that some horrible person had turned off her electricity so he would ram one of her doors and attack her. So, like when she was a kid and read under the covers, she grabbed an old Linda Howard book and lost herself in romance.
Suddenly, the electricity came back on, maybe because Fiorella had reached a hot-hot-hot episode in the book, maybe because the whole neighborhood had been affected and someone had somehow been able to notify the appropriate office.
Whatever, Fio is going to try to get whatever shut-eye she can before morning. Sweet dreams!
The Nancy Drew in her knew something was wrong, but she was in the dark as to exactly what--literally IN THE DARK. Luckily, she knew where a small flashlight was and found it by feel, then tried to call 911, but that phone was out too. And so were selective parts of her cell phone. Yep, your girl--and her dog--were all alone in the dark of the night.
She considered driving down to the police station, then realized that, with the electricity out, she wouldn't be able to open the garage door, so she felt her way into the kitchen and located a larger flashlight and a glass bottle she could defend herself with if she came under attack.
Finally, she decided that her best chance of survival was to sit tight. After all, although her alarm system was kaput, her house was locked up, she had two flashlights and a heavy bottle to defend herself with, plus a large dog who followed her around like...well...a dog.
But there was no way she could just lie down and go back to sleep. For one thing, the air had gone stale. For another, it was just possible that some horrible person had turned off her electricity so he would ram one of her doors and attack her. So, like when she was a kid and read under the covers, she grabbed an old Linda Howard book and lost herself in romance.
Suddenly, the electricity came back on, maybe because Fiorella had reached a hot-hot-hot episode in the book, maybe because the whole neighborhood had been affected and someone had somehow been able to notify the appropriate office.
Whatever, Fio is going to try to get whatever shut-eye she can before morning. Sweet dreams!
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
From Tribulation to Birthday
Just when Fio is still on edge about what she had to go through to get Sonia Dog's meds, she finds a big box on her front porch that says something about music on it. Thinking one of her kids had sent her a birthday gift, she cuts open the several boxes within boxes and discovers the parts to a plastic chair she is supposed to put together so she can sit down in the shower. FURY! Fiorella doesn't shower--standing or sitting!
Looks like this contraption is going to end up at The Caring Place, just like Husband's plastic chair did.
*
Please excuse Fiorella, but she's a little ragged today. One of her telephones has hidden itself somewhere so the chief phone keeps croaking at Fio about low batteries. Ma Bell was never this rude.
*
Wondering if the plumber will show up today, especially since he can't reach Fio by phone. Yep. it's a one-thing-piled-on-top-of-another day.
*
Hey, something GOOD just happened--a County Commissioner called and said the dam would be dismantled--or at least the fencing would be removed.
*
Technically, this is Fiorella's birthday, but she's decided not to acknowledge it until the 25th, when she and Daughter (also a July baby) will have a joint celebration in the driveway, six feet apart and masked, as will anyone else be who drops by.
Looks like this contraption is going to end up at The Caring Place, just like Husband's plastic chair did.
*
Please excuse Fiorella, but she's a little ragged today. One of her telephones has hidden itself somewhere so the chief phone keeps croaking at Fio about low batteries. Ma Bell was never this rude.
*
Wondering if the plumber will show up today, especially since he can't reach Fio by phone. Yep. it's a one-thing-piled-on-top-of-another day.
*
Hey, something GOOD just happened--a County Commissioner called and said the dam would be dismantled--or at least the fencing would be removed.
*
Technically, this is Fiorella's birthday, but she's decided not to acknowledge it until the 25th, when she and Daughter (also a July baby) will have a joint celebration in the driveway, six feet apart and masked, as will anyone else be who drops by.
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Counting Down to Fiorella's Birthday
Fio called the plumber yesterday morning and he's supposed to report in today. We'll see what happens...or doesn't. Meanwhile, Fiorella has decided to wait out the week for Fernando, and if he doesn't show, she'll try to scare up someone else to finish off the walkway.
*
This may seem weird to you, but Fio dresses up cute every day, even though Sonia Dog is usually the only one around. Yep, your girl goes for weeks without talking to, or even seeing, a real live human being. She doesn't have many phone calls either, although she does keep up a good number of email relationships.
*
Right now, Fiorella is revving herself up to try to print a letter again--that one to the County Commissioners. She thought she had the technique down pat, but apparently she didn't because when she tried to print the page the other day, nothing happened. No two ways about it--technology has it in for your girl.
*
Be proud of Fiorella! She suddenly realized that the reason cops get jumpy and end up killing people before they even know whtat's going on is because they themselves are so often targets. The simple and obvious solution is GUN CONTROL. If the populace has less guns, the police will need less arms and armory and, therefore, less innocent people will get killed. Hello, Australia, Briton, and Canada!
*
Fio finally got hold of a traveling vet, but apparently regular veterinarians can't enter homes during the virus. When your girl explained her circumstances, the vet suggested contacting a veterinarian who specializes in large animals. Again, pray for Sonia, and pray for Fiorella.
*
This may seem weird to you, but Fio dresses up cute every day, even though Sonia Dog is usually the only one around. Yep, your girl goes for weeks without talking to, or even seeing, a real live human being. She doesn't have many phone calls either, although she does keep up a good number of email relationships.
*
Right now, Fiorella is revving herself up to try to print a letter again--that one to the County Commissioners. She thought she had the technique down pat, but apparently she didn't because when she tried to print the page the other day, nothing happened. No two ways about it--technology has it in for your girl.
*
Be proud of Fiorella! She suddenly realized that the reason cops get jumpy and end up killing people before they even know whtat's going on is because they themselves are so often targets. The simple and obvious solution is GUN CONTROL. If the populace has less guns, the police will need less arms and armory and, therefore, less innocent people will get killed. Hello, Australia, Briton, and Canada!
*
Fio finally got hold of a traveling vet, but apparently regular veterinarians can't enter homes during the virus. When your girl explained her circumstances, the vet suggested contacting a veterinarian who specializes in large animals. Again, pray for Sonia, and pray for Fiorella.
Monday, July 13, 2020
Catch Ups
Fernando still isn't here, and Fiorella is worried about him. He's never cancelled before without notice. She's also worried about herself--that walkway is vital to selling her house.
*
What is Fio doing today, you ask? The same old thing--packing moving boxes--but now she's a whole lot less discriminating about how she groups their contents. No more separating items into "sell" and "keep." The virus has killed the market anyway.
*
When Fiorella was a child, the television had two knobs--one to turn the machine on and off, and one to control the volume. Now your girl has to use one remote to turn the TV on and another one to turn on the speaker, and different switches to get to various stations and programs. How is that progress?
*
Fio's not holding her breath, but she's hoping the plumber will come by today to pick up the two booming fans he left here a couple of weeks ago to dry the wet ceiling. If not, she may disconnect them herself.
*
Fiorella used to look around the house with her mother's eyes and think what a horrible mess it was. Now that she has moving boxes, piles of paper, and kitchen utensils spread all over the place, she knows what mess really is.
*
What is Fio doing today, you ask? The same old thing--packing moving boxes--but now she's a whole lot less discriminating about how she groups their contents. No more separating items into "sell" and "keep." The virus has killed the market anyway.
*
When Fiorella was a child, the television had two knobs--one to turn the machine on and off, and one to control the volume. Now your girl has to use one remote to turn the TV on and another one to turn on the speaker, and different switches to get to various stations and programs. How is that progress?
*
Fio's not holding her breath, but she's hoping the plumber will come by today to pick up the two booming fans he left here a couple of weeks ago to dry the wet ceiling. If not, she may disconnect them herself.
*
Fiorella used to look around the house with her mother's eyes and think what a horrible mess it was. Now that she has moving boxes, piles of paper, and kitchen utensils spread all over the place, she knows what mess really is.
Sunday, July 12, 2020
Hour by Hour
Happy almost birthday to Fiorella, but things aren't going too well for her right now, and all she can do is sit at home and fester. Those kitchen fans are still going full blast, Fernando didn't show up to work on the backyard walkway, and she discovered she'd left toothpaste and yellow tablets off her grocery list. Nothing to do but drop by Walgreen's and buy herself a couple of bags of Chocolate Nuggets.
*
Oops, it looks like your girl will go meatless for the next couple of days. Don't know why HEB won't give her two slabs of salmon like she asks for.
*
She's also just discovered that she didn't tape up the bottom of the box she's just spent an hour packing a very heavy punch bowl and all its accouterments into. Actually, she'd wanted to sell the set, but how can you sell anything with the pandemic going full blast?
*
Fio bought chocolate, toothpaste, and a steno tablet at Walgreens, then stopped by Panera for a French baguette, which she ended up sharing with Sonia Dog. Walgreen's, of course, was almost empty, and all but one of the few customers were wearing masks. The lone bare face was a tall, boisterous guy who was buying what looked like a keg of beer. Hope he enjoys it before the virus gets him.
*
Fiorella threw her anger into working on the kitchen per se today--which means everything but the DUMP TRUMP button area, which will probably be cleared out tomorrow. but she is again going to try to find a button manufacturer who can run off the buttons en masse.
*
Oops, it looks like your girl will go meatless for the next couple of days. Don't know why HEB won't give her two slabs of salmon like she asks for.
*
She's also just discovered that she didn't tape up the bottom of the box she's just spent an hour packing a very heavy punch bowl and all its accouterments into. Actually, she'd wanted to sell the set, but how can you sell anything with the pandemic going full blast?
*
Fio bought chocolate, toothpaste, and a steno tablet at Walgreens, then stopped by Panera for a French baguette, which she ended up sharing with Sonia Dog. Walgreen's, of course, was almost empty, and all but one of the few customers were wearing masks. The lone bare face was a tall, boisterous guy who was buying what looked like a keg of beer. Hope he enjoys it before the virus gets him.
*
Fiorella threw her anger into working on the kitchen per se today--which means everything but the DUMP TRUMP button area, which will probably be cleared out tomorrow. but she is again going to try to find a button manufacturer who can run off the buttons en masse.
Saturday, July 11, 2020
True Short Story
EVERYONE BUT ME
I turn right at Joe Bob's pool hall, left at God's Lighthouse, right again at Della's Quality Wigs, then proceed down the bumpy country road, navigate the low-water crossing, and turn in at the end of the asphalt, putting me in the faculty parking lot of Little Whitetail High School, where I'll be teaching a dual-credit college class this fall.
The weather is nasty, but I'm in luck--there's an empty space near the back door of the school. I ease into it carefully, half open my door, then turn to gather my umbrella, purse, satchel of books, and first-day hand-outs.
The voice of God booms over my door.
"Ma'am."
Startled, I jerk around, only to have my vision blocked by a large male torso, the head and shoulders of which are above my view.
"Ma'am, you're parked in my secretary's space." The man waves at the parking area. "These two places are for the principle and the secretary. Everyone knows.
My head bobbles like it's on a string as I look back and forth to see what I missed.
"There aren't any signs," I say as I glance out of my back window to see where else I can park, but I must not be moving fast enough because the voice addresses me again.
"Everyone knows."
"Oh."
I glance around for another open spot.
The voice is getting irritated. "May I help you , ma'am?"
"I'm just trying to figure out what spots are open."
"They're all open, ma'am."
"Oh."
If they're all open, then why can't I stay where I am? runs through my head, but I accept my fate, say Oh in acknowledgment, close my door, back out of the secretary's space, and park in the back row in God-only-knows whose-else's space. A gray-haired woman pulls in beside me, glares, and dings my door as she gets out of her car.
When I return to the parking lot at the end of the day, there are now two new, bright and shiny, metal posts from which are hanging two new, bright and shiny, laminated paper signs identifying the parking spots of the principal and his secretary.
The laminated paper signs flip-flap through several perfunctory autumn storms, then blow away in a truly magnificent Thanksgiving gale. The next week, they are replaced by new, bright and shiny, metal signs.
"These signs are totally unnecessary," I tell another teacher. "I was the only one who didn't know where not to to park, and now I do. Besides, I'm not even in the lot today. I couldn't get through the low-water crossing so I took one of those yellow-striped places out front."
"Out front? " she gasps. " Those spaces are reserved for the coaches!"
I stand my ground. "There aren't any signs."
She gives me an astonished stare.
"Everyone knows."
"Those signs really aren't necessary anymore," I remarked to one of the high school teachers. "I'm the only one who didn't know where I was supposed to park, and now I do. Besides, I'm not even using the lot out back today. I couldn't get through the low-water crossing so I took one of those yellow-striped places out front."
Her eyes widened with horror.
"Out front? Those spaces are reserved for the coaches!"
I gazed at her in confusion.
"But there aren't any signs."
"Everyone knows!"
Friday, July 10, 2020
From Luann to Life
Okay, Fiorella will admit it: she's addicted to the comic strip Luann, and right now, she's on tenterhooks about Tiffany showing her father a copy of Les's ultrasound and expecting him (her father, not Les) to accept it. Afraid something will happen and Ann Eiffel will again get the upper hand. Maybe Tiff will be thrown out of the house and have to live in Luann's family's rental room. Hmmm...wonder if Mr. Gray, Les's uncle, will help.
*
Finally figured out why Younger Son thinks Fio is slow in clearing out her house--because he's looking at everything remaining on the walls and shelves while your girl is more of an excavator.
*
Fiorella's beginning to think that she needs to hire somebody who knows something about gardening to pretty up her front yard. Fernando is great for mowing lawns, constructing pathways, and trimming trees, but he' seems to be as ignorant as Fiorella is when it comes to gardening.
*
Hey, hey, hey--brother Bill called for his weekly chat, and when Fiorella told him about the problems she had trying to get Sonia Dog her vaccinations, he recommended the traveling vet he uses. Just hoping she'll come to Georgetown, which apparently is unaware of the species.
*
Fiorella loves being alive because being dead must be soooooo boring.
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Maunderings
It's hard to tear up the house, yet keep it looking nice at the same time, especially when you're supervising a backyard pathway, writing a book, tending to a very needy dog, and dealing with fans directed at the kitchen ceiling are so loud that you can't sleep.
*
Have been reading bits and pieces of Donald Trump's niece's book. Only wish it had come out four years ago.
*
What's on Fiorella's list for today, you ask. Well, she's planning to pay bills, shoot off a letter to the County Commissioners about that that dam dam across her dry creek, dig out a dirt area around her dying jasmines so they can get more water, get the name of a good fencer from her neighbors to the north, work through a screwed up chapter in Lolly's story, and maybe even do some vacuuming. What are you doing?
*
Did Fiorella tell you that she's ringed the three biggest rock outcroppings in the front yard (el parke) with stones so whoever buys her property will recognize their majesty?
*
The world makes a lot more sense after a good night's sleep.
*
Have been reading bits and pieces of Donald Trump's niece's book. Only wish it had come out four years ago.
*
What's on Fiorella's list for today, you ask. Well, she's planning to pay bills, shoot off a letter to the County Commissioners about that that dam dam across her dry creek, dig out a dirt area around her dying jasmines so they can get more water, get the name of a good fencer from her neighbors to the north, work through a screwed up chapter in Lolly's story, and maybe even do some vacuuming. What are you doing?
*
Did Fiorella tell you that she's ringed the three biggest rock outcroppings in the front yard (el parke) with stones so whoever buys her property will recognize their majesty?
*
The world makes a lot more sense after a good night's sleep.
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Cleaning Out the Memories
Fiorella was greeted with a joyful bob-white, bob-white, bob-white this morning when she went outside to pick up the newspaper. Hoping that means she'll have a joyful day😁
*
When Fio decided to give up Hershey Nuggets yesterday afternoon, she didn't know the only way she could get up her energy this morning was by whipping up a package of chocolate pudding Daughter had thoughtfully added to her food order last week. CHOCOLATE RULES!
*
Fiorella, enraged by the deer using her front yard as a no-pay cafeteria, is considering chicken wire fencing. Apparently, she can get it delivered by Home Depot, but who can she hire to install it for her? Her wonderful yard man has a Monday-Friday job now, and his Saturdays are dedicated to Fio's extensive backyard project.
*
Your girl is still depressed. She needs someone to talk to, someone to bounce ideas off of. Solitary confinement is driving her crazy. How about you?
*
The chocolate must has taken hold about 2:30, because that's when Fiorella went out to pick up the mail, then realized she couldn't go up to the road because it was starting to rain, then noticed there were three big, heavy, square boxes sitting on her porch bench, unmarked except for a Home Depot sticker. Aha! This must be the granito for the backyard pathway.
*
Fio went inside again, looked around, and decided to pull all her wrapping material out from under the double lower cupboard beneath the breakfast island. Her heart sang at the sight of the shining ribbons, the multi-colored twisties, and the beautiful wrappings that she'd saved from year to year. Now it is time to take her pretties away to a new house, where Granddaughter can also enjoy them.
*
When Fio decided to give up Hershey Nuggets yesterday afternoon, she didn't know the only way she could get up her energy this morning was by whipping up a package of chocolate pudding Daughter had thoughtfully added to her food order last week. CHOCOLATE RULES!
*
Fiorella, enraged by the deer using her front yard as a no-pay cafeteria, is considering chicken wire fencing. Apparently, she can get it delivered by Home Depot, but who can she hire to install it for her? Her wonderful yard man has a Monday-Friday job now, and his Saturdays are dedicated to Fio's extensive backyard project.
*
Your girl is still depressed. She needs someone to talk to, someone to bounce ideas off of. Solitary confinement is driving her crazy. How about you?
*
The chocolate must has taken hold about 2:30, because that's when Fiorella went out to pick up the mail, then realized she couldn't go up to the road because it was starting to rain, then noticed there were three big, heavy, square boxes sitting on her porch bench, unmarked except for a Home Depot sticker. Aha! This must be the granito for the backyard pathway.
*
Fio went inside again, looked around, and decided to pull all her wrapping material out from under the double lower cupboard beneath the breakfast island. Her heart sang at the sight of the shining ribbons, the multi-colored twisties, and the beautiful wrappings that she'd saved from year to year. Now it is time to take her pretties away to a new house, where Granddaughter can also enjoy them.
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
From Gardening to Wordage
Give Fiorella a break! She's the only person in the world whose asian jasmines are dying on the stem. Not only that, but, the resident deer consider her iron plants to be quite tasty. Fio isn't sure what to do with the withering jasmine, but she's building a network of metal staves and rounds held together with silver twisties to protect the iron plants--as if that will work.
*
Your girl had to contact elder son when her screen suddenly lost its upper and lower information strips, meaning that Fio couldn't back anything up. Son didn't understand the situation at first and put her through several exercises before finally solving the problem. It's hard to work on computers from a distance. Wish someone would come out with a nice, simple machine that doesn't require Fio making so many SOS calls to Minnesota,
*
Guess what! There are still debutantes in the world! Fiorella researched the world of debut four years ago, when she started writing Lolly's story, then rechecked the phenomenon just today to be sure it still exists. Ah, the fairy-tale lives of the upper crust. Wonder if their divorces are just as glamorous.
*
Yes, the packing is still going on, although Fio is running out of small boxes to stuff inside the big ones, which probably calls for another trip to the Post Office to see what it has in stock. Hey, are any of you out there old enough to remember when we would get our boxes from the hoard that the grocery stores tossed out as trash?
*
How is Lolly going, you ask. Well, excepting for total panic when Fiorella lost the lines at the top and bottom of her computer screen, the story is moving along just as Fio planned. Looks like the book will end up at 70,000 words or so.
*
Your girl had to contact elder son when her screen suddenly lost its upper and lower information strips, meaning that Fio couldn't back anything up. Son didn't understand the situation at first and put her through several exercises before finally solving the problem. It's hard to work on computers from a distance. Wish someone would come out with a nice, simple machine that doesn't require Fio making so many SOS calls to Minnesota,
*
Guess what! There are still debutantes in the world! Fiorella researched the world of debut four years ago, when she started writing Lolly's story, then rechecked the phenomenon just today to be sure it still exists. Ah, the fairy-tale lives of the upper crust. Wonder if their divorces are just as glamorous.
*
Yes, the packing is still going on, although Fio is running out of small boxes to stuff inside the big ones, which probably calls for another trip to the Post Office to see what it has in stock. Hey, are any of you out there old enough to remember when we would get our boxes from the hoard that the grocery stores tossed out as trash?
*
How is Lolly going, you ask. Well, excepting for total panic when Fiorella lost the lines at the top and bottom of her computer screen, the story is moving along just as Fio planned. Looks like the book will end up at 70,000 words or so.
Monday, July 6, 2020
Writing, Writing, Writing, Writing, Writing
This blog almost didn't get written because Sunday is Fiorella's hair-wash and clean-up day. Also, she has a lot on her hands right now. Today was dedicated to clearing out more drawers in her office, a Zoom get-together, and Lolly. Yes, at last, Fio is working on the book she started four years ago, when she was told that it was ahead of its time. Now she's on the last three chapters--about sixty pages to go.
Fio's has told you quite a bit about Lolly so far--that she's petite, blonde, sexy, and willful, but nothing about Cotton, the male lead. Actually, he's the very man Lolly shouldn't be attracted to--a serious paleontologist several years older than she is. But fate has a way of bringing like and unlike together. Especially when a baby is involved.
Fiorella wants to get this book finished and published as soon as she can because she's already blocked out Sarah's story, which will probably be a novella (40,000 words).
And what will come after that, you ask. Well, Fio has at least three more completed books that she needs to spiff up before they are published, and there are many more stories rolling around in her head. Then there are the short stories that crowd two of her file drawers. And did she mention the poetry?
Before she leaves, Fiorella will give you a little peak at her heroine:
With her hair tumbling over her shoulders like a shower of gold, so soft and smelling of springtime, she'd never looked more enticing, but he'd settled her down on his couch, not his bed...hadn't he?
Fio's has told you quite a bit about Lolly so far--that she's petite, blonde, sexy, and willful, but nothing about Cotton, the male lead. Actually, he's the very man Lolly shouldn't be attracted to--a serious paleontologist several years older than she is. But fate has a way of bringing like and unlike together. Especially when a baby is involved.
Fiorella wants to get this book finished and published as soon as she can because she's already blocked out Sarah's story, which will probably be a novella (40,000 words).
And what will come after that, you ask. Well, Fio has at least three more completed books that she needs to spiff up before they are published, and there are many more stories rolling around in her head. Then there are the short stories that crowd two of her file drawers. And did she mention the poetry?
Before she leaves, Fiorella will give you a little peak at her heroine:
With her hair tumbling over her shoulders like a shower of gold, so soft and smelling of springtime, she'd never looked more enticing, but he'd settled her down on his couch, not his bed...hadn't he?
Sunday, July 5, 2020
From Clever to Not So Clever
Heh, heh....clever Fiorella has used Scotch tape to hold the cord of her Mac into the socket of the machine so Carbonate can back her up. From what she understands, she has to do that for two days, with the screen open, to be sure none of her golden words are lost.
*
Lolly is coming along now. Fio girded her loins, went through all her old copies of chapters eleven and twelve, and found enough of the pages that Sonia Dog had sat on that she--Fiorella, not Sonia-- could put them in place again, but it will take a while.
*
Good grief--your girl had been saving all kinds of boxes, but she's run out of all but the shoes boxes now, and she needs larger boxes to pack things like her Russian/Rusyn stuff.
*
It's sweet the way Sonia Dog always rushes to Fio's side if she hears so much as a whimper from her mommy--which she often does, but sometimes it gets overwhelming--like when Fiorella discovered several of her pages were lost so Doggie dashed to Fio's side, plopped herself down in the middle of another mound of papers, and started pawing and licking her.
*
Well, it turns out that Fiorella wasn't that clever after all. Fio kept absent-mindedly closing the lid, and not even Scotch tape could prevent the cord of the Mac from disengaging from the machine.
*
Lolly is coming along now. Fio girded her loins, went through all her old copies of chapters eleven and twelve, and found enough of the pages that Sonia Dog had sat on that she--Fiorella, not Sonia-- could put them in place again, but it will take a while.
*
Good grief--your girl had been saving all kinds of boxes, but she's run out of all but the shoes boxes now, and she needs larger boxes to pack things like her Russian/Rusyn stuff.
*
It's sweet the way Sonia Dog always rushes to Fio's side if she hears so much as a whimper from her mommy--which she often does, but sometimes it gets overwhelming--like when Fiorella discovered several of her pages were lost so Doggie dashed to Fio's side, plopped herself down in the middle of another mound of papers, and started pawing and licking her.
*
Well, it turns out that Fiorella wasn't that clever after all. Fio kept absent-mindedly closing the lid, and not even Scotch tape could prevent the cord of the Mac from disengaging from the machine.
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Too Much at Once
Between the roaring of the fans drying off the ceiling to the crash of her computer to realizing she hadn't bought enough bags of sand for the walkway, Fio's life has not been too great lately, and, on top of all that, she's soothed herself with far too many frozen Chocolate Nuggets. But at least the kitchen ceiling isn't dripping anymore, her computer has been restored (after a l-o-o-o-n-g episode with Apple Care), and her wonderful yard man, realizing the walkway needed more sand, went out and bought four more bags on his own, which Fio of course, reimbursed him for. So, now that everything is semi-right with the world, what's next?
Maybe Fiorella can finally go upstairs to her office and continue with the organizing she was in the middle of when Husband died. Maybe she can finally work on Lolly's story. Maybe she can get information on Chromebook, which she's been told doesn't worship passwords like Mac does. Maybe she can dig into that list of things she needs to do that she wrote about a couple of days ago. Maybe she can cuddle up on the couch and catch some shut eye. We'll see.
She'll admit it--the couch won.
Maybe Fiorella can finally go upstairs to her office and continue with the organizing she was in the middle of when Husband died. Maybe she can finally work on Lolly's story. Maybe she can get information on Chromebook, which she's been told doesn't worship passwords like Mac does. Maybe she can dig into that list of things she needs to do that she wrote about a couple of days ago. Maybe she can cuddle up on the couch and catch some shut eye. We'll see.
She'll admit it--the couch won.
Friday, July 3, 2020
From Cheerios to County Commissioners
Welcome to Fiorella's world! She took forever to fall asleep, then had bad dreams and didn't wake up till nine the next morning. And as she was preparing her breakfast, the bottom of her Cheerios box gave way, dropping the newly-opened protective bag onto the concrete floor and causing about half of the little ringlets to leap into the air like a geyser, then land on said concrete floor.
And Sonia Dog wouldn't even clean them up for Mommy.
*
As if hosting big, loud fans in the kitchen for the next two weeks isn't enough, Sonya Dog's feeding station has had to be moved because she'd afraid of their noise. Also, FaceBook has changed its face and Fio's having trouble getting around. Also, Fiorella's house is in shambles because she's trying to pack everything up, and she doesn't have enough of the right-sized boxes.
Nothing to do but rip open another bag of Hershey's Chocolate Nuggets.
*
Fio is still pulling things out of drawers and closets, and Bastrop Son left a couple of loads of stuff to be packed away, but what can she do with the all those boxes she lugs to the garage? The space is filling up fast, especially since almost a third of it is occupied by garden equipment, car stuff, and other kinds of guy things.
*
AHA! Fiorella has "classic" FB back again. All it took was shrieking like a banshee all over the internet until friend Mary Beth Gradziel took pity on her and gave her step by step instructions.
*
Your girl is bearding the lions in their den again. Yep, she gutted up her and called the County Commissioners, Precinct 3, and asked them to remove the dam across her dry creek that they'd said they would come back and do this year. Fiorella's not expecting a reply.Time for another letter to the editor?
And Sonia Dog wouldn't even clean them up for Mommy.
*
As if hosting big, loud fans in the kitchen for the next two weeks isn't enough, Sonya Dog's feeding station has had to be moved because she'd afraid of their noise. Also, FaceBook has changed its face and Fio's having trouble getting around. Also, Fiorella's house is in shambles because she's trying to pack everything up, and she doesn't have enough of the right-sized boxes.
Nothing to do but rip open another bag of Hershey's Chocolate Nuggets.
*
Fio is still pulling things out of drawers and closets, and Bastrop Son left a couple of loads of stuff to be packed away, but what can she do with the all those boxes she lugs to the garage? The space is filling up fast, especially since almost a third of it is occupied by garden equipment, car stuff, and other kinds of guy things.
*
AHA! Fiorella has "classic" FB back again. All it took was shrieking like a banshee all over the internet until friend Mary Beth Gradziel took pity on her and gave her step by step instructions.
*
Your girl is bearding the lions in their den again. Yep, she gutted up her and called the County Commissioners, Precinct 3, and asked them to remove the dam across her dry creek that they'd said they would come back and do this year. Fiorella's not expecting a reply.Time for another letter to the editor?
Thursday, July 2, 2020
From Potatoes to Canine Medical Practice
One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes more--
Where's the dang computer if it's not on the floor?
Maybe under Doggie, maybe on the bed
Maybe in another room, dead, dead, dead
*
Fiorella heard the Hindi in the voice of the young man helping her at the gas station, but refrained from saying. Namaste, jee. Ap kah say heh. It's amazing how language memory can be triggered. Maybe Fio's languages are not lost after all. 😀
*
Now that the ceiling is drying, Fio has finally won her battle to have her pacemaker tested, and Biden is leading in the polls, she must rip into her upstairs office, which is a total mess because she had just begun tearing it apart the month before Husband died. Pray for her.
*
Interesting. The more layers your girl uncovers in her preparation for moving, the more items she finds that she'd thought she'd lost forever. Hello, red scissors. Where have you been all this time?
*
Fiorella finally had to put a bandaid over a small scab on her arm because Sonia Dog kept licking it in a canine attempt to make Mommy well again. 🧡🧡🧡
Where's the dang computer if it's not on the floor?
Maybe under Doggie, maybe on the bed
Maybe in another room, dead, dead, dead
*
Fiorella heard the Hindi in the voice of the young man helping her at the gas station, but refrained from saying. Namaste, jee. Ap kah say heh. It's amazing how language memory can be triggered. Maybe Fio's languages are not lost after all. 😀
*
Now that the ceiling is drying, Fio has finally won her battle to have her pacemaker tested, and Biden is leading in the polls, she must rip into her upstairs office, which is a total mess because she had just begun tearing it apart the month before Husband died. Pray for her.
*
Interesting. The more layers your girl uncovers in her preparation for moving, the more items she finds that she'd thought she'd lost forever. Hello, red scissors. Where have you been all this time?
*
Fiorella finally had to put a bandaid over a small scab on her arm because Sonia Dog kept licking it in a canine attempt to make Mommy well again. 🧡🧡🧡
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
SOUTH PACIFIC
Skimming through FaceBook this morning, Fiorella noticed a post of a mean-looking woman in a car yelling at a stringed-instrument group marching down the street, minding its own business, but mourning the loss of a violinist. In the back seat were two young children, a boy and a girl, who, following the lead of their mother, were distorting their faces and yelling just like she was.
Fio was shocked, and immediately, Bali Ha'i floated into her mind, but it took a few minutes for her to figure out why. Then she realized that, under the covers, the Rodgers and Hammerstein play/movie SOUTH PACIFIC was all about racism. The hero has two mixed-race children that the heroine first rejects, then grows to love, but they live on Bali Ha'i, an enchanted pacific island, while the second lead knows he cannot take the native girl he's fallen in love with home because he has to return to the US, where she would not be accepted. He explains how racism works in a heart-breaking solo that makes Fio cry with every verse she types:
You've got to be taught and fear
You've got to be taught from year to year
It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught
You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made
And people whose skin is a different shade
You've got to be carefully taught
You've got to be taught before it's too late
Before you are six or seven or eight
To hate all the people your relatives hate
You've got to be carefully taught
How about reviving the SOUTH PACIFIC again? It's time.
Fio was shocked, and immediately, Bali Ha'i floated into her mind, but it took a few minutes for her to figure out why. Then she realized that, under the covers, the Rodgers and Hammerstein play/movie SOUTH PACIFIC was all about racism. The hero has two mixed-race children that the heroine first rejects, then grows to love, but they live on Bali Ha'i, an enchanted pacific island, while the second lead knows he cannot take the native girl he's fallen in love with home because he has to return to the US, where she would not be accepted. He explains how racism works in a heart-breaking solo that makes Fio cry with every verse she types:
You've got to be taught and fear
You've got to be taught from year to year
It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught
You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made
And people whose skin is a different shade
You've got to be carefully taught
You've got to be taught before it's too late
Before you are six or seven or eight
To hate all the people your relatives hate
You've got to be carefully taught
How about reviving the SOUTH PACIFIC again? It's time.
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