From Computers to Lolly Redlander

Fiorella is still fighting the good fight with her Mac computer, and she'd like to think that, item by item, she is winning. She now knows how to forward information now, thanks to Best Buy's Geek Squad, but she is still having trouble writing on the Write site, which means she'll have to visit Home Depot's computer center today. (Think of how embarrassing it would be to show up at the same place two days in a row.)
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Sometimes computers can be so dumb--Fio's keeps posting a notification that updates are ready to install, which she steadfastly ignores. Why should she install updates when she still doesn't know how to "save?"
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This coronavirus thing has everyone scared, but Fiorella's Mac is so behind times that it underlined the word with red dots.
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Good news: Fio located the name of the guy who fixed her dripping ceiling a while back and has hired him on to fix her back-yard erosion problem. She doesn't want prospective buyers to break an ankle stepping off the back porch.
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Even better news: Fiorella has finally finished marking Lolly's story and knows what she needs to do to make it even stronger. Watch out, world--Lolly Redlander is about to burst upon the scene, and there's no stopping her!

Foreward, Fio, FORWARD!

Another harrowing day--after being out on errands for a couple of hours, Fiorella lost her computer for about twice that long before finding it in the house, and, no, she won't tell you the stupid place she finally found it.
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Did you know that Macs and PCs can't talk to each other the way they're supposed to? Looks like Fio is going to be taking a lot of cell phone pics of legal documents to send off to her Colorado probate lawyer. Hope that will be enough for him. (She's already done it for the cars she wants Elder Son to check out for her.)
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Fiorella had trouble sleeping last night so she's laying off la chocolate today. Wish her well!
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Where have all our values gone?
Long time passing....
Where have all our values gone?
Long time ago...
Gold lust has killed them, every one
When will we ever learn
When will we ever learn....

And What Did You Do on Ash Wednesday, Fiorella?

I drove to Gethsemane Lutheran in Austin for the laying on of the ashes, which, for some reason I don't understand, is very meaningful to me, and, as soon as I got out of the car, I started crying. The tears spilled over as I walked across the grass to the open door and walked up the aisle of the empty, darkened church.
     Was I all alone? Had I missed the ceremony?
     But no--a tall male figure emerged from the shadows, and as he drew nearer, I recognized him as my semi-retired pastor, Karl Gronberg.
     He recognized me at the same time, which brought on another bate of tears, although, again, I don't know why. Maybe nostalgia, maybe the solemnity of the occasion, maybe the relief, for a short time, of not having to deal with decisions about erosion, automobiles, tax preps, and the like, or maybe just because I was thrilled at finding someone I used to know who was still alive and still on the job.
     After Pastor inscribed the cross on my forehead--which triggered another crying jag--we talked about politics, our families, and our departed friends,  then blessed each other on our way.
   
 PS: I gave him a full bag of DUMP TRUMP buttons.
   

Time for Mourning

And Fio asks again--is time passing quicker than it used to? Why doesn't she get everything done that's on her daily lista amarilla anymore? It certainly is not that she's moving slower....uh, is it?
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One thing Fiorella did get done was turn in her beloved Miata to Richard at Mazda. Her plan is to add whatever proceeds the supposed sale of Baby Car generates to her profit from selling off Husband's Mercedes, then to buy a newish four-door Mazda. This will be a major change in Fio's life, or rather ANOTHER major change in her life.
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Your girl is in a quandary about Sonia Dog, who should be getting her yearly check-up and shots at Zoot right about now but can't because because she's figured out how to push her way into the front seat, even with a harness on, which means that Fio and everyone else on the road is in danger.
     Asking Zoot about traveling vets didn't pan out.
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Pray for Fio, that the Mercedes won't act up while she's driving to Austin today to get her forehead marked with ashes and visit with friend Kaye at Central Market.
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Jerusha Bolton?

Fiorella's day didn't begin well--she had a terrible hangover from first her Miata, then her Mercedes, going out on her, and her computer following suit. She was also depressed about current politics, which scare her to death-- what if Putin wangles Trump another term in office and the Orange One cuts into Fio's Social Security like he plans? What if the people that Fiorella values and depends on are thrown out of the country? What if the US turns into Hitler's Germany or Putin's Russia? To make things worse, there is nothing Fio can do about any of her worries but make snide remarks on Facebook, then snarf down a bag of chocolate.
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 It was the chocolate that turned the trick. After finishing the chocolate, she was energized enough to go outside and picked up the minor trash still left in the back yard, toss it over the fence into the front yard for future pick up, then go back inside and continue reading the almost-finished romance she was working on five years ago before her publisher killed it as "ahead of its time."
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WOW--what a story! It's still rough, of course, and Fio needs to curtail her tendency to cram too many people into one book, but the plot is so intense that even she couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.
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After a break for lunch, Fiorella was still so energized that she put the trash she'd thrown across the fence into her little red wagon and hauled it up to the road, where she also picked up her mail, then came back to the house to continue reading Lolly's story.
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One more thing. You won't see Fiorella's name on the book--she's decided to use a pseudonym --probably Jerusha Bolton.

From Planning to Politics

Bastrop Son was kind enough to drive up to Georgetown to help Fiorella with the moving preparation, packing, and hauling, mainly out of Husband's office. There's more to go, of course, but the major work is done--although not for Fio--it's her job to decide what to give away, what to donate, and what to put up for sale.
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Son also tried to help Fio with the Mercedes, which had put up a screen threatening her with dire consequences if she didn't get the car into the shop muy pronto. Strangely enough, though, the threat ceased when Fiorella gave the hand brake a hard shake while she was driving to Best Buy for help with her computer.
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Did I hear you say that you were having a problem with your computer again, Fio? 
     Yes--apparently Your Girl pushed a button she shouldn't have which caused her screen to go dark and emit a high-pitched eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep sound. Neither Minnesota Son nor Neighbor knew what was going on so Fiorella headed off to Best Buy and got in line for the Geek Squad.  The wait was fairly long, but when a cute red-headed guy took charge of Fiorella's computer, the sound ceased.
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To celebrate, Fio bought herself a chocolate rabbit and ate it on the way home.
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The POLITICS: returns are starting to come in, but Fiorella is keeping her distance. As she's said before, she will support whichever candidate opposes Trump.

Three Aspects of a Good Day

What a good day! Fiorella went through the first couple of chapters of Lolly's story, marking it all the way, and feels very good about her third book's prospects. It will take a while to get the story in shape, of course, but Your Girl's writing better than ever--probably because you've let her hone her skills on the blog (thank you).
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The second part of Fiorella's good day was that su donella found the gold watch Fiorella had lost a while back. It was buried deep in the couch cushions, and all Fio can figure out is that she must have put it on a couch arm, then knocked it down the crevice between the arm and the cushion. 
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The third part of her good day was that Bastrop son called and said he'll be coming over not only to help her with the house, but also with the Mercedes, which, as you remember, decided to bite the dust on the same day that Baby Car did.
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