2014 has been a year of ups and downs, one helluva year. I am ready for it to end and looking forward to new beginnings.
I got quite a bit of writing done this year. Reverse Skate is 99% complete so I have started on the editing, which for a person with OCD is extremely stressful. It's hard to stop editing. I've pretty much decided on using Create Space to self-publish. I have also started the research for my next book "Day Trip", which I hope to write during the next NaNoWriMo in November of 2015.
2014 was the second year without my maternal grandmother; I miss her so much. I still can't erase her contact information from my phone. I finally took her photo off my phone screen. I created a FB place to honor her called "Grandma's Beautiful Smile." You can go there and post things about your own grandmothers.
My paternal grandmother turned 98 in November. I'm not sure if she's going to make it to 100, and I'm not sure I want her to. She is so miserable. We moved her into a different apartment at the beginning of the year but she was so isolated and started going downhill physically and emotionally. We moved her into assisted living a few months ago, but she's not really getting any help yet. She wants to do everything herself, which is commendable, but I'm afraid she's going to fall. As of last week, she's almost completely blind. Go to my around and around blog (link at top of this page) if you want to read about my thoughts on Christmas Day of considering driving the two of us off a bridge.
My youngest, K21, became engaged on Christmas Eve. Let's just say I'd like her to wait awhile to marry. I'm going to leave it at that.
My oldest, K24, started a relationship with her first boyfriend this year. No engagement plans as yet, but the relationship is thriving.
J and I are going to Galveston on Sunday to see Manhattan Transfer. One of their singers dies a while back, but the show must go on. We will spend the night. We went earlier this year to see Vicki Lawrence; she was hilarious. I cannot tell you how much we need to get out of this city! I took a two-week staycation from my job; I don't think I realized how tired I have been. It's been heaven to be able to sleep in. I have eight days left; I don't want to go back. :)
My dad has been very ill since August after having what was supposed to be a routine rotator cuff surgery. He developed an infection that had nothing to do with the surgery, but settled in the surgical spot. He had intravenous antibiotics twice a day for three weeks, but then he developed a bacterial infection in his gutt and a yeast infection in his esophagus because the meds they gave him didn't work. Now the infection is back and he and my mom are so tired of dealing with this.
We are not sure if we are staying here much longer. I'm actually the one who's pretty dissatisfied with the place now. I talked J into moving here. She went along with it as long as we put a Charlie bar on the balcony door, the bar that locked me out not long after we moved here.
Our current place:
On the plus side:
1. cheap for where we are
2. lots of square footage
3. quietest place I've ever lived
4. very secure on the inside of the complex
5. security guard SUPPOSEDLY on duty from 10 p.m. - 6 a.m.
6. one housekeeping appt per month included
7. washer/dryer inside unit (but they are the extra small ones)
On the minus side:
1. common areas outside looking old and dirty
2. flower beds near our building seem to get the least attention
3. we are in the back of the complex (not as many parking spaces, takes longer to go on dog walks and sometimes I think back of complexes are more unsafe.)
4. I DON'T FEEL SAFE WALKING MY DOGS! This is the most important thing of all to me. Men walking up and down the street at all hours. I have to walk basically in an alleyway part of the way. Cars constantly splash us going 15 + miles over the speed limit. I have actually seen cars jump the curb before.
5. closet space sucks
6. carpeting - to have hardwoods costs $100 extra per month
7. parking lot floods at the drop of a hat
We decided to sign a six-month lease while we decide what to do. I would like to live in a house or patio home where I could let the dogs out into some grass after dark to do their business. J is not thrilled with the idea; and truthfully, houses, patio homes, etc. with small yards are out of our price range in our area.
We have another plan and that is to get on a waiting list for an apartment exactly like ours with hardwoods instead of carpet in the building at the front of the complex. J could stand on the balcony and watch me walk the dogs after dark. Drawback to this is there would be more street noise for Callie to bark at. Plus side is there is more parking near the front and less flooded area, wouldn't take me long to get in and out with the dogs, and I would be in J's sight most of the time.
I'm not sure if anyone is even reading my blog anymore, but if you are, I wish you a wonderful 2015.
Namaste,
~b~
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