Once in a while Don tunes into the Vermont local weather app. It actually startles me to hear the familiar weather reporter predicting snow or "warming temperatures" maybe reaching into the 40's (F)! It seems normal to have warm and sunny days, to be out biking and walking, to not have to put on socks. The hibiscus was slightly damaged in the hurricane, but it is looking good in recovery. I had given a good pruning last year. Don goes out to pick a blossom every day. He did a super job trimming the pineapple palm. It would cost $75 to have the tree service do the same thing. Waiting for the yard waste pick up. We also trimmed the orange scented jasmine away from the house. Branches had torn the screen in the hurricane so I took that to the hardware store to be rescreened. Since hurricane damage to my house was little lthings like a shredded screen, I consider myself most fortunate.
Don has wanted a puppy for a couple of years, but I always said "absolutely not!" Too much work, too much mess, too expensive. But so much love, so much fun . No, no, no. Well, okay but it will be entirely your responsibility. Then I learn the true meaning of puppy love.
Don has been complaining about pain in his heel for several months now. I thought maybe he had plantar fasciitis. I had that once and it was painful, but I recovered and gave up wearing high heelid shoes. Recently both Don's heels were very painful and he was finally moved to see a doctor. He does have mild fasciitis but the real source of his pain is bursitis. He has shoe inserts, he was given two corisone shots, he was told to take two Aleve twice a day, to stay off his feet as much as possible and ice them. I have not noticed that he is particularly good about staying off his feet or using the ice packs I made, but he is definitely using it for and excuse to skip the Valentine's Dance next week.
I heard water running one day in early January when I walked past the water meter in the side yard. That was unusual but I kind of forgot about almost immediately. However, the next day I got a letter from the water department letting me know that they had noticed a dramatic increase in my water usage. Don opened up the cover and saw that there was a leak. I called the water department and the woman who answered said, "Well call a plumber and get it fixed." So I said, "Here you talk to the plumber who lives here." Don thought it was not something he would be able to get a part for since the leak was in part of the meter itself. A guy came to check it and said that Don was right, the leak was the county water district responsibility to fox and he would put a work order in. Almost three weeks went by and we did not anything. Guess what -- the leak did not fix itself. In fact it got worse. When we had a small geyser in the yard and a stream of wasted water was steam...
I know we all think our children are above average in smarts and charm. Same goes for our pets. How smart is this guy? Levi even knows how to take himself for a walk on his leash. Favorite toys: knotted up rag tee shirt for playing fetch and a half gallon empty mile carton with sticks rattling inside. Cheap date!