A Skip and a Miss

 In the oldern days, one bought a typewriter and that was the end of it. Now, in the technological age, one buys a computer and ends up paying more and more for "fix its" every time the world goes 'round.

Yes, your girl missed a blog yesterday--her computer went south and she was too tired from house-hunting to do anything more than turn on the TV and run up and down the stations, but today, she enlisted the assistance of Neighbor Michael who waved his magic wand and got the modem--ergo, the computer-- working again. 

Afterwards, she had a nice long visit with Michael, about her life, his life, and changes in the neighborhood. She'll miss him and his wife, Kathy. 

Later in the afternoon, Fiorella called Friend Mickey, who lives down the street, to see what was happening because she and her husband had a FOR SALE out in front of their house too. As it turns out, their house attracted even more bids than Fio's did. Wow--Fio lives/lived in a hot part of town!

Your girl will be out house-hunting with Son L again tomorrow, and she has to decide on a place fast, fast, fast.  Otherwise, she'll have to pay for extra lodging in her own (former) house.

Overlaoded Again!

 Another busy day for your girl. Son L picked her up this morning and, after finding a pair of her old eyeglasses that she could still use, they set off to check out a couple of houses, picking up Son's Wife along the way. Their their first stop was at an overpriced house with gaudy furnishings and not much of a yard--a clear loser.

The second stop was pretty much a winner, although Fio is still holding out. Sure, it has the four bedrooms and the private bath your girl wants, sure, the furnishing were in better taste than the first house, and sure, the place was just two years old, but the neighborhood pool was right behind it, the yard was not as big as Fio would have liked, and.....it had no "presence," an item that Fiorella didn't realize was important to her until she recognized the lack of it.

Son and his wife were in love with the house and made many convincing arguments, but Fiorella, the stubborn debater, maintained her position and everything came to a standstill until Son had the good sense to contact our realtor, who explained that buyers would have five days in which to submit their bids, and  the highest bidder would be the winner...or something like that. It sound sort of barbaric, but, hey, that's how Fio's house sold!

Speaking of Fiorella's house, her bank is now asking for all kinds of information regarding its sale that your girl is going to have to contact her tax accountant for. And, as you will remember, Fio also has to iron out the problem with the Colorado ranch.

On the other hand, in between trips today, your girl had a wonderful time getting acquainted with her darling granddaughter, who sang songs to her and taught her how to use a play kitchen properly💛

 

This Is It for Today

 Today's the day, the day that Fiorella sells her beloved house, but there is no other choice. Three thousand square feet is too big for her to maintain, and five-plus acres is too lonely.  Besides, she wants to see her one and only grandchild more than a couple of times a year. 

It's been hard to undress the house Fio herself designed sixteen years ago, to roll up the oriental carpets, empty the plenteous bookshelves, take down her paintings, pack up her literary efforts, store or toss her memorabilia, and strip the place of more furniture, day by day. 

To strip the place bare of herself.

Will the new occupants value the rocks and the trees like Fiorella has? Will they respect the land and recognize the beauty of wilderness? Will they enjoy Fio's touches and even improve on them? Who knows?

Fiorella holds every one of the houses she has lived in close to her heart, starting with Stetler Avenue and followed by Proctor Avenue, two college dorm rooms, East Thirtieth, the house on the bend, North Oaks, Quail Creek, and Lost River. And now, she is moving on again. Pray for her.

A Very Busy Day

Fiorella got all four newspaper anagrams in the shortest time ever. Hoping that means all will go well with the prospective buyers' walk-through this afternoon. Have hired Raquel to help with a last clean-up.

Cannot believe that so much is falling on your girl's shoulders at the same time. Not only is she having to navigate the intricate ceremonies of the house-sale, but she's has to figure out what's going on with family land in Colorado.  HOW MANY DANG LAWYERS WILL SHE HAVE TO FEED THIS TIME?

Speaking of the house sale, Fio's realtor emailed her this morning to look under her door mat for a one-dollar bill from the prospective buyers' realtor. Your girl followed instructions and, lo and behold, there, under the mat wet from the overnight sprinkle, was an envelope containing a one-dollar bill. Fiorella is hoping an explanation will follow, but it better not have anything to do with the metal roof hoax that SafeCo stopped dead in it's tracks. 

WHAT A DAY! Fiorella was really glad she had hired Raquel because there was just too much for your girl to take care of herself. As it turned out, she and Fio finished up just as the buyers pulled into the driveway. Of course, there was a melee of Fio saying good-bye to Raquel, then luring Sonia Dog outside, then gathering everything she needed to entertain herself for an hour-and-a-half in her car. Her first stop, of course, was to raid Walgreen's for Valentine candy, but then she tracked down Liberty Title, where she is scheduled to sign all the papers tomorrow.

Husband would have handled everything so much better, just like he would have known how to deal with the insurance stuff and the investments. Fiorella, on the other hand, has to depend on her kids and the kindness of strangers.

 

 

 

 

 

i made the de

Continued from Yesterday

 As it turned out, yesterday's television drama wasn't Fiorella's fault after all, although its interpretation was. As she's explained before, it takes two remotes for her open up the den screen, a long black one and a fat white one. Somewhere along she line, Fio had discovered a second fatty, but after a few tries, tossed it aside, figuring it was for the small screen in the guest room. You can guess what happened next--your girl accidentally picked up the wrong remote and delivered herself unto television hell.

HELP! Fiorella wants her FB Decade Book before it closes down on me, but is too computer ignorant to claim it. Friends or relatives, please come to your girl's rescue! 

Congratulate Fio--she's finished packing all of her mother's Haviland china. All it took was two and a half days of working like a dog. Now to get the house ready for the last run-through by the potential buyers. Hoping nothing goes wrong because your girl really needs to get some rest.

Fiorella may have finished off the china, but she screwd up her computer again. Daughter saved the day by suggesting Mom check out the modem. BINGO!

What should your girl do during the prospective buyers' one-hour solo stroll around the house and grounds? Load up on chocolate in Walgreens? Drive around downtown Georgetown and try to locate the title company she has to report to the next day? Maybe both?

 

 

Better Late than Never

 Fiorella is running late today, and you probably won't be reading this post till tomorrow because she spent the morning preparing the house for its new occupents and the afternoon and evening preparing to  move out, to be capped in the evening when her TV abruptly clicked off before she could learn who the killer was in the Midsomer Mystery she was watching as she wrapped her mother's china for transport. 

Your girl played around with the TV controls a little herself, then contacted Son L, but the TV held its ground so Fio will enlist Neighbor Michael's help tomorrow--if he is available. Of course, it may be that the sixteen-year-old SamSung has run its course. 

Fiorella feels odd walking around without a DUMP TRUMP button attached to her shirt so she's trying to come up with a button more suitable to the new regime. Will keep you informed.

 

 

Fiorella and the Haviland

 Help! Fio is being held captive by her great-grandmother's Haviland china. Well, it's actually a gatheribg of Fiorella's great-grandmother's Haviland and Husband's grandmother's Haviland. Your girl has been packing it away for two days now and there are probably two more days to go. Whew!

Speaking of the Haviland, it looks like Fio is going to have to drop by Home Depot again to pick up more envelopes and boxes. Thank goodness there hasn't been a newspaper shortage in these parts because they are what your girl is using for wrapping and stuffing. Well, bubble-wrap has also played a vital role.

Whew...am just now taking a breath. China packing is both tense and tedious--tense because Fio is so afraid of dropping something, and tedious because one has to use so many layers of wraps. By the way, she's run out of those envelope things and is now using Scotch Tape. 

Fiorella is so angry with herself. Despite trying to be very, very careful about packing, she knocked a chip out of the one-of-a-kind piece she was trying to trying to fit into a box that apparently was too full already. 

Ah, well, tomorrow is another day, but it's also the day your girl must finish off the Haviland. Please pray for her.

 

 

On and On

 WHAT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YESTERDAY AND TODAY...so far, at least. Sonia Dog now has a vet, thanks to Fiorella's wonderful brother, who spotted Dr. Meissner's truck and wrote down her phone number, and, more personally, Daughter sent Fio a double bouquet of flowers. 💛

Your girl loves the pictures of Bernie huddling in a chair with a pair of cute mittens on. The means also soften his image, which doesn't hurt.

Fiorella is getting tired. It's mid-afternoon and she's still at work packing the plenteous family china in well-padded boxes. Completing the task will probably take two--maybe three--more days to finish, but it's the right thing to do.

Did Fiorella told you that Daughter and her compadre have just bought a house? Hmm...two big moves in the family at the same time. Is that good luck or bad? 

Oops, your girl forgot she had a pan of hot chocolate heating on the stove and it nearly boiled over. Thank goodness that Sonia Dog realized what was going on and started barking.

 

Fio in the Raw

 Hoping to have a good day today. So tired of packing--which reminds me: I'll have to get more boxes.

Said goodbye to my yardman for the last time yesterday. He was the one who not only mowed my plenteous yards, but also built the railing to the lower side of the property and helped me decorate the driveway for Christmas.

Never would have made it as a lawyer or a realtor. Apparently, Yours Truly misinterpreted how the house sale works (again) but, thank goodness, will have more time than she thought to find a new place.

Have overdosed on British TV murder mysteries. What's next? WHEN WILL THIS PLAGUE GO AWAY? WHY CAN'T I GET AN INOCULATION?

My recent appointment with Dr. George was a lot of fun and made me realize how very much I need to talk to people mask-to-mask. Yeah--as if that will happen anytime soon!

 

 

 

TANTRUM

 Is Fio jealous? YOU BET SHE IS! She wrote poetry--good stuff--from grade school on AND SHE GOT ZERO PUBLIC RECOGNITION! Of course, now she knows how all this works--you have to be in the right era. You have to have parents with connections. You have to have people who will bankroll and ballyhoo you. GRRRRR! (Remember how Fiorella's parents took down her campaign sign the moment she and Husband drove out of sight?)

And then there are Fio's paintings and musical compositions. And her DUMP TRUMP buttons, which should have been distributed all over the nation--if she had had the right contacts! 

Is your girl angry? Does she want recognition? Yep, she sure does.  She's spent her whole life trying to do the right thing, to put others' needs above her own, to sacrifice herself if necessary, and now she wants payback. 

Face it, Fiorella. People will read this post and come down hard on you, and then you'll slip back into your Nice Girl skin and apologize with your stomach burning fire. I can tell this from today's title.

P.S. The trees aren't talking to Fio any more. Thinking they know she's sold them down the river.

 

 

From Cash to Doggie

 Fiorella got her stimulus check, and it's going straight to the bank.

Fio had a medical check-up today, and her doctor gave her a clean bill of health except that your girl hadn't been getting her coumadin-laden blood checked out regularly. But now that Trump is out of office and Biden has set up a team to rescue THE CHILDREN, hopefully, Fiorella's work is done and she can tend more to some of her own needs.

What will you do next, Fio? Well, I'll be packing, packing, packing, and also intensify my search for a house that will appropriately accommodate me and Son L's family. I will also catch up with Email friends, and maybe, I'll even have time to dream up a good sory--if I can remember how.

As she writes, your girl is lifting her head every now and then to catch up with yet another Midsomer Murde, and she can tell you that, judging by the amount of blood spilled so far, the populace of Jolly Olde England is fast declining.

The time has come, the Walrus said, to tend to Sonia Dog and prepare her for the big move, a job that keeps Fio from sleeping at night. Pray that your girl will soon find a traveling vet who will not only bring Doggie's shots up to date, but devise a way to get her into the back seat of Fio's car.

 

 

 

Fiorella's Diary of the Day

 It's Tuesday, isn't it? Because of the virus, Fiorella's days are all the same now, so she's never sure of where she is on the calendar. Please forgive her if she's missed your birthday.

If today is Tuesday, then tomorrow must be Wednesday, the day when Fio has an appointment with her primary care physician. Hopefully, Dr. George can give her a lot of time because your girl has eleven items on her list.

Interestingly enough, Dr. George is from South India, a language area Fio specialized in when she was in college. It's also where our new VP's mother is from. Hmm...guess Fiorella should dust off her saris--and, by the way, the "r" of sari is pronounced with a hard "r" against the top of the mouth, like a "D."

Fio drove off to town this afternoon to mail an letter, consult with her bank, and pick up more boxes. By the way, the ones that your girl has been calling JEWELRY BOXES are actually BANKERS BOXES.

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work she goes/ To clean the kitchen and pack away her clothes/Then search for yet another home/ With tears in her eyes as she writes this poem 

 

 

Surveyors, Dogs, Bank, KIng, Drama

Two surveyors came to the house today and measured and plotted the land so your girl, of course, made herself known to them and came up with some clever remarks, even laughingly suggesting they might want to flip the fallen tree over the dog fence for her. AND THEY DID!

Marvel of marvel, they also liked dogs so it didn't bother them when Sonia joined in the fun. One of them stayed after, and he and Fiorella discussed politics and the state of the world, which resulted in her handing over her DUMP TRUMP button for him to give to his wife..

Later, Fio drove into town today to deposit a check, but the bank was locked up tight, which she thought was strange because, on her books, it was Monday. So, deciding that she had read her calendar wrong, she dropped by Walgreens to check up on her place in line for a Colvid shot. But, guess what? The vaccines won't he available till March, and then, they'll be first-come, first-served. Obviously, the only thing Fiorella could do was pick up a fair amount of chocolate and go through the Panera drive-through for a baguette (in memory of Nicole Domingue.)

Arriving home, she learned that it was Monday indeed, but it was also Martin Luther King Day, which means the bank deposits can be made tomorrow.

Fiorella wants this stretch of her life to be over quickly because she doesn't like drama--except in her books, of course.

Planning, Planning, Packing--Again.

 Woke up to a very cold day, adjusted both of the thermostats, and searched out where the cold air was coming from--the fireplace. Nothing to do but sling a serape around myself and venture into the cold, cold garage to grab a square of wood to put across the fireplace, then cook a cup of hot chocolate like Mom would do on cold mornings. 

Everything is moving along on the house sale. The missing irrigation system has been found and the crooked roofers have been routed by SafeCo. Also, as it it turned out, the missing receipts were not missing because of Fio's negligence, but because the ladies in the various offices were, like your girl, still in the dark ages when it came to technology.

The house hunting is not going as well. Fio and Son L drove around the outskirts of Austin to look at neighborhoods and Fio saw some nice places, but the floor plan is what she really needs to see. 

Whoopie! Friend Janece suggested a DUPLEX, which just might fill the bill, if we can find a nice one.

Fiorella is back on packing duty again. Luckily, she overbought on boxes last time around and even put them together because she knew there was more to come--like Fio's and Husband's grandmothers' full sets of Lemoge china.

 

 

Somewhat Better

 Yesterday was not a good day for your Fiorella. She was so upset that she daydreamed up a handsome older man who would fall in love with her, sweep her off her feet, and install her in a lovely house which was in such good shape that she could spend all her time writing, painting, studying languages, and maybe even dabbling in musical composition again.

Fio is determined that today will be better, Prince or no, and she dressed accordingly--a yellow-orange pullover sweater on top of a red-orange long-sleeved shirt, beige slacks and cinnomin color shoes. Yep, your girl is an artist to the bone--and knows how to strut her stuff.

Like probably everybody else in the nation, your girl is still a bit on edge about the attack on the Capitol. It was so unbelievable, so much like a third-rate movie--but the blood was real and Fio had never seen urine and feces being used in Hollywood productions. Pray God, we will never see it again. Pray God, we will never see Trump again.

Where is my stupid pen?/Where has it wandered again/ Just when I needed it most/ To write down a clever post?😁

Fiorella spent the afternoon riding around with Son L To look at possible future homes, but didn't find anything that would work, which scares her because she so is getting closer to her own move-out date. The problem is that she can't find any new houses that will fill the bill or any "used" houses that will provide their floor plan.

 

Bad Times

 Up and down, up and down, and right now, Fio is in the pits. She's finishing up on packing, but there's a lot more to do than she remembered left to finish off. Also, something has happened to the sole of her right foot that makes it hard for her to walk, much less heft boxes stuffed to the gills with reams of paper, stories she's written, and ones that are half written.

Fio's roof has been judged to be in great shape, but now she has to call SafeCo to send her a receipt to show to the buyer. What next? Will Fiorella's life ever be "normal" again?

Neighbor Michael didn't answer her phone call for help today so she's guessing that, being National Guard, he's off in DC protecting the Capitol along with about a thousand other guys (and gals). Hope everyone will be safe, from Biden on down.

The anti-Biden forces are making a big fuss because he apparently pronounced Psalm as "palm" rather than "salm," a minor error in Fiorella's book compared to some of the lulus Trump came out with, but hate is hate and Biden's opponents will seize on anything they can to belittle him. Apparently, they prefer leaders who spread dissension, swindle the economy, and seek to be king.

Fiorella never imagined she'd say this, but her favorite TV personality now is Dr. Lee, the Pimple Popper.

 

 

 

 

 

My Life as an Indian plus Further Contemplation

 Fiorella's identity mis-identification probably started when she was a little girl in Ohio watching old movies on TV. Thus, when she and friend Barbara Tromer played cowboys and Indians on the empty lot next door, Fio, the leader, was the latter. Why? Maybe because she'd seen Indians on TV--tall, handsome, well-spoken, and noble. Or maybe she was drawn to their differentness the same way she has always been drawn to foreign languages and practices. Remember, your girl still has a couple of nice saris folded away in her closet.

Or maybe it's just that she's always been an actress and defined her own part, whether on stage or not, just as she does when she writes this post. One thing for certain--when digging deeper into her own self, she always has to ask "which self?" 

Why all the ruminating? Because moving out of her current house is a giant life change. Fio will leave her beloved forest home and share a house with her Son  and his family. While she'll be able to get to know her only grandchild, she'd also be accountable to her son and his wife which, with Fiorella's personality, could cause problems. It will be good to be through with packing and planning, which means your girl can write or paint again....if she remembers how. The fear of her life is that her paintings or her half-finished stories may have been damaged in storage.

 

 

Back to Semi-Normal?

 Fiorella is doing her best to roll with the punches, but she thinks she's on the losing side when it comes to her metal roof. Right now, the SafeCo guy is stomping around on it, looking for damage. The first inspector said the roof was in good shape, but would need to have studs replaced in four years. The second guy said it was a total loss and should be replaced by the latest $30,000 model. The third one said it needed about $3000 in repairs. Let's hope the fourth roof-rider gives Fio a more lenient report card because Fio will have to shell out about $90 for the irrigation people to come by tomorrow and either locate or install an anti-syphon in the front yard.  Then there are the ever persistent demands for minute information about the propane-fueled air conditioners, which also have been stretching Fiorella's wallet. 

Were moving days always this way, or did it seem easier because Husband did the dirty work? 

Hey, Fio,  you ask--what about your cold bathtubs and sinks, and your kitchen stove that won't light up? Well, your girl has contacted Neighbor Michael, and he thinks a propane shut-down did the deed. Lord knows, Fiorella has had enough people playing with that stuff around her house lately

Changing subjects, Fio glances out of the back windows every now and then and wonders how she's going to drag that tree, the one that fell down during the recent snow storm, out of the back yard. How about she  leave it inside the yard for the newcomers to deal with? 😀

Fiorella's parents went to DC on their honeymoon, as she remembers, but things were different then.💘

 

 

 

Snow Come, Snow Go

 Buying a new house, the Insurrection, the sudden shift in the weather, running out of milk and chocolate, having to search for two days to find her credit card and checkbook, not knowing what day it was because Fiorella hasn't made out her 2021 calendar yet--is it any wonder she didn't call British friend Suzy on the appointed day? Thank goodness Suzy was kind enough to call and remind her.

Right now, Fio is contemplating walking up the driveway to the mailbox, a trip which which could be, depending on the remaining ice, a dangerous undertaking. Maybe she'd better have Husband's grandfather's cane in hand, just to be safe. 

Sonia Dog loves every aspect of the cold weather, but then, she's a Mastiff through and through while your Fiorella is nothing but a fur-less mongrel. Right now, Doggie is outside barking at the snow, while Fiorella is inside, clutching a heavy robe around herself and turning up the thermostat.

Fiorella had to exchange the sexy black planner that Friend Marion had sent her for the more work-a-day WALL model that had accompanied Marion's gift because....well....sigh....your Fio is more work-a-day than sexy.

When life is finally "normal" again, your girl wants to get her eyes checked. Her eyesight isn't what it used to be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minute by MInute

9:00 It's snowing! Real live white snow! And it won't stop! And Fiorella loves it! Memories of her Ohio childhood--dragging her sled up the hill beside her house and whizzing down to her sidewalk again, the Woodhall kids joining in. 

9:30 And now it's falling harder--wonder if could Fio could get a snowman out of it?

9:45 Snowdops falling in a pile/You make me laugh, you make me smile/Hope you stay around a while💛

10:00 How I wish that Granddaughter could see the snow, but she probably lives too far south.

*

11:00 OMG, the flakes are getting bigger, like the wings of birds! If only I could preserve them between glass or plastic somehow!

12: 00 Is the snow a sign to Fiorella that all will be well, that God loves her, that she doesn't have to worry about her choice of a new home, that all will work out well, that she will settle in and do what she WANTS to do rather than she HAS to do? 

*

1:00 But enough of Fio. She also wants her country to be healed, for Donald J. Trump to be removed from the face of the earth and recycled to become the sort of person he should have been in the first place. She also prays for the safety of Biden and Harris and all good people.

*

3:00 Oops, the snow is still falling, Fiorella's winter wonderland has turned off the TV, and a tree in the back yard has toppled silently to the ground.

4:15 It's stopped snowing and the trees are beginning to drip.

5:00 Brother Bill called 💖

6:00 Friend Paula called 💖

7:00 Life is good 💖

Fiorella Is in Shock

 Fiorella needs someone to talk to face-to-face about some very important decisions, but no one is available. Living in the deep woods, she rarely even sees her neighbors, and, with the virus in full blast, she can't drive into town and visit with long-time friends. And, if this isn't enough, she's jolted by having been banned by Facebook, her major method of communication with the outside world. 

And then there's the Insurrection which, orchestrated by Donald Trump, released a sewer of more horror than Fio, in her innocent ignorance, had ever guessed existed. Those MAGA rallies he was holding--they weren't just ego-builders, but enlistment advertisements. Worst of all, despite the horror Trump has formulated and set upon us and the world, there are still people who will follow him to the death.

Where is righteousness? You ask. Where is religion? Ah, yes, my child--Trump has taken over those domains too, aligning himself with fat wolves who slaughter their own sheep.  

As is evident, your girl is having a hard time writing this piece. The words aren't flowing like they usually do because her mind is clouded with self-doubt....and fear. What's next? Is this how her parents felt when Hawaii was bombed? But at least they were semi-safe on the mainland....sort of. Fio still remembers the fear hanging in the air when all of Akron turned off its night lights so it wouldn't be an easy target for Japanese bombers. 

Back to the beginning--Fio needs someone to talk to face-to-face about some very important personal decisions. But then, at this point in history, who doesn't?

Exhaustion

So sorry, but Fiorella and Son L have been out looking at houses-for-sale all day, and she's too tired to blog. See ya tomorrow.

 

 

FACEBOOK HAS BANNED FIORELLA'S OTHER SELF FOR THREE DAYS!!!

 Fio has been in a daze ever since Trump's horde rioted The Capitol. No, no, it can't be happening! This is the United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. We don't destroy our history. We don't trample our fellow citizens. We don't try to force our political beliefs on others.  BUT TRUMP DOES!

In case you follow Fiorella on FaceBook under one of her other names, she's been banned for three days because she said that Daddy Putin is smiling this morning; that if the Rosenbergs were electrocuted, Trump should be too; and something else clever and well-worded that she doesn't remember. JUST THINK! ME, SWEET FIORELLA, BANNED for not adhering to community standards! It's ridiculous!

Being banned by FB also means that your girl cannot post anything to remind people about THE CAPTIVE CHILDREN, so would you please do so (on an orange background) for the next three days? Meanwhile, your Fio will scheme and simmer. Maybe her next post will be about free speech!

Fiorella finds it interesting that FaceBook is censoring her for telling the truth about Trump and his crew, but a couple of years back, it totally ignored the verbal attacks that a former schoolmate launched on her!

Ah hah! Fio, who's of the experimental mode, has discovered that she can still open up house advertisements and still use Messenger to communicate with distant friends!

P.S: FINALLY FOUND OUT MY FACEBOOK SINS. On January 8, I had said that if the Rosenbergs were electrocuted for treason, Trump should be electrocuted twice over, and that on May 2 and August 21, I had sarcastically said "Heil Hitler."

 

 

 

 

From Hope to Horror and Back Again

Yesterday started out so beautifully--Georgia had elected one, maybe two, representatives "out of the blue" so Fiorella called friend Ellen in California and congratulated her on all the good work she had put in over long-distance. Your girl was floating on air--maybe there was hope for our country after all.  Then the news came out that a rowdy group of Trumpites was invading the Capitol grounds. Then came the news that shots had been fired, barriers had been jumped, fences torn down, and the ever-increasing mob had become a riot. Windows were smashed, offices were raided, and the police were helpless. 

You've seen the pictures. Armed troops were called in, and Donald was finally convinced to speak to his minions. Like a sweet-voiced mother, he emphasized how much he loved them, then asked them to go home--for now--which makes one wonder what else he is planning because, make no mistake, this was a bought-and-paid-for performance.

However, interestingly enough, the invasion, rather than reinforcing Trump's attempt to stay in office, knocked him totally out of the running, even with die-hards of his own party. Apparently,  they could put up with sly, under-the-table dealings, but not with out-and-out thugishness--or with the Capitol being invaded. 

The good part of it all is that everyone on The Hill was in such shock that their brains cleared and they accepted it that Georgia's election was legitimate,  that Trump and McConnell were on their way out. WELCOME TO THE BRAVE NEW WONDERFUL WORLD!

QUICKIES

 Several decades ago, Fiorella was diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis--until four years later, when it was decided that she didn't. This experience is one of the reasons why your girl keeps on moving, no matter what, because everything can change, good or bad, in a second.

AHA! After two years, Fio accidentally stumbled on the way to enlarge the font of of her computer screen. Farewell, squint-eye!

Your girl has again lost the treasure trove of brushes she'd gathered from various nooks and crannies for emergency painting. So, so much for the white paint she'd bought to brighten up some of the dark corners of the house and also for the brown paint with which she was planning to repaint Sonia Dog's "I'm ready to come back inside now, Mommy," scratches at the door.

Wednesday--miercoles--and Fio will take all the miracles she can get. By the way, she's picking up a little more espanol denuevo....and remembering a bit of her deutsch too. Verstehen zee?

Donde esta mi birthday book? Have I lost it?

 

C'mon, Now--Give Me a Break!

 Fio is so tired of this house business. She's stripped the house in stages and it's now down to nearly nothing, which means that she can't find anything, either because it's been packed away or moved to another cupboard. At the same time, she is trying to keep the place looking cute and attractive so she can get a good price. She's also foot the bills for any repairs, etc., and been assured that all is well.....except it's not, according to "experts" called in by the prospective buyers. OF COURSE, THEY TELL YOU THERE IS ROOF TROUBLE--BECAUSE THEN YOU'LL HIRE THEM TO "FIX" IT!

Your girl is pressing for a hurry-up in the search for a new house. She doesn't like living alone, she's uncomfortable lingering in limbo, and is concerned about the welfare of the jungle of precious boxes inhabiting her three-car garage. Also, she also wants to be writing or painting or composing music or studying a new language instead of caretaking the remains of her once-beloved home, but instead, all she's doing is getting older.

Even the computer has turned against her, freezing up when she wants to explode on-line about TV being so dumb (shows) or repetitive (politics) that she finds herself watching stupid country music ads all the way through. Oh, and by the way, Fio DOES NOT LIKE the bum-bum BUM-bum background music which is so popular right now. It makes her nervous, which is the last thing she needs in her life.

And then there's the political scene, in which Trump, tutored by Daddy Putin, is playing every dirty card in the deck to stay in power.

 And dealing with all of this is why Fiorella keeps running to the refrigerator for chocolate bars.

 

You Can Make It, Fiorella!

 Fio suddenly realized that today is the day she can run off Fiorella 2020 and stack it with the rest of her blog books. She's thinking that makes thirteen editions, but it may be fourteen. 

Your girl's gotta remember to scoot into town and pick up some miniature lights for the candelabra on the stairway landing. That plastic geegaw has always represented hope to her, and she's gonna need a lot of it during this move,

Fiorella found Sonya Dog's birth certificate, and Baby Dog still has about three years to go. Large dogs don't last as long as little ones, sadly.

Guess who fell asleep on the couch this morning, then leapt up like a jack-in-the-box and grabbed a mask when Sonia went into a conniption fit, barking like we were being attacked? Who panicked because she was pretty sure it was the AC guy come to take care of the upstairs unit, but she suddenly couldn't remember where her realtor's to-do list was? Who looked down at the coffee table and realized the list was right in front of her? Who ushered the AC guy in, then decided to make herself some hot chocolate because the house was cold inside, then nearly burned the pan because she still had one ear open to what the AC guy was doing?

Guess who got a sweet note from Son K and his wife 💗?

 

 

 

 

Digging One's Way Out of the Mess

Somehow, Fio got erased for yesterday and lost not only her mental meanderings, but an entry about Husband's death, which was two-years ago on January 2.  

Why was Fiorella asked what she wanted in a new house when it seems like none of her few requests--an outside door, two rooms, a soaker tub and bathroom, a nice yard--are available? 

Wonder of wonders--your girl accidentally stepped on her only remaining pair of distance glasses and....hold your breath....shoved one of the lenses back into place again! The other lens is still a little whopper-jawed, of course, and both of them are secured with Scotch tape, but it's a start.

Remind Fio tomorrow morning that it's better to drink her hot chocolate (NesQuick) in the morning, when she needs warming up, and to leave the frozen chocolate bars, broken into milk for the evening, when she pretends it's a cocktail.

Realtor Mallary, an angel of patience, will be stopping over this afternoon to go through all the papers that Fiorella has dug out of the old-fashioned overloaded desk that has guarded the living-room entryway for, lo, these sixteen years (plus a hundred or so before that.)

 

One Liners

 Every day/ Dear God, I pray/ To make me a better person than I am

EEK! Fiorella forgot to date and copyright her Christmas cards this year!

Aah--a calendar, at last. Friend Marion is mailing one to me 💖

I am in love/ With my Soaker Tub/ So don't try to grab/ It from me, Bub!

Hurrah! Your girl's missing credit card turned up all on its own--now to figure out which card is still active.

There's a guy tramping around on Fio's roof today--again. One roofer said she needs a $30,000 roof re-do and another one said that was balderdash, that the roof's okay. Hoping the current tramper will agree with #2.

Fiorella is going round and round with Capital One because she'd rather make her car payments by mail instead of credit card.

One of Fio's cousins, who has four offspring and several grandchildren, sent out a family picture for Christmas, and your girl is green with jealousy.

This has not been a good day, and Fiorella's eyebrow--the one with the hematoma--is aching.

What will Saturday be like?