I am so close to resolving my window shade problem.
For several months, I battled Hunter Douglas and Home Depot for replacement of defective shades.
Four of the five shades fell apart and could not be repaired.
I paid a workman to take them down and bought temporary paper shades to cover my windows and protect my furniture and hardwood floors from the blazing sun.
So, instead of custom shades from Hunter Douglas in my living room, I had paper shades. Really sad!
Today is the first day of a three-day weekend for most Americans.
On Monday, July 4th we celebrate Independence Day.
The day will begin with a neighborhood parade. It is sweet in the way that hometown parades often are. There are no flashy floats or celebrities, just local groups. You always see someone you know.
I walked in it one year along with members from my church. It was fun. The parade route was not very long but long enough that my feet started to hurt, thanks to my fashionable shoes. Ah vanity!
At the end of the parade, folks gather with kids in tow for ice cream, music, face painting, and best of all, a pie eating contest!
In the evening, we gather at the park for a concert and a laser light show.
But today is Saturday.
Chores and my little dog Riley are calling.
She needs a walk.
My house needs dusting, my garden needs watering and weeding.
I need to cook some vegetables and a pot of black-eyed peas.
I will sign off now and get busy so that I will have time to enjoy my weekend.
She is not a friend, a neighbor, not even an acquaintance.
Her number is not in my phone.
I don’t know what she looks like, who her children are, if any.
She is a random person in my life from years ago.
I had one encounter with her.
I don’t remember where it was.
I remember the day.*
I remember her talking to me.
I did not answer. I may have nodded. I’m not sure.
My head hurt.
I felt weightless. There was nothing tying me to earth.
Her words came from a distance.
You have tough times ahead. You must take care of yourself.
Over the years I have often remembered her words.
Unsolicited, barely acknowledged,
Granting permission to rest a bit,
To give up being in charge, in control, always needing a plan.
She reached out to a stranger in pain, in shock.
I am grateful.
~Lori
*The day I learned my Husband had a year left to live. In writing this post I wondered what made me think of Linda. Then I realized, tomorrow is his birthday.
I love seeing all of the trees, plants and flowers starting to bloom.
However, this is why I generally stay indoors with my windows closed.
This is why I take an antihistamine daily. It helps but I still feel terrible at times.
New carpet
Adding more pain this year is my new carpet.
After the installation almost a month ago, I still find tiny bits of fabric everywhere.
There also is a fine layer of dust everywhere.
I am cleaning everyday and know that “this too shall pass” but feel really drained.
Argh!
Adding more insults, I washed two Helly Hansen jackets so that I could put them away for the summer. The upshot was that there is now a fine scattering of lint (?) all over the jackets and, worse, all over my washing machine. I believe that the lining on one of the jackets may have disintegrated.
I have run the rinse cycle several times, wiped out the drum with paper towels and a sheet from a lint remover.
Thinking that the problem was resolved I washed some clothes only to have them covered in this fine lint.
Short of buying a new wardrobe and a new washing machine, I shall have to keep a lint remover with me at all times.
Important Update Regarding Trading Russian Securities:
Due to liquidity issues stemming from restrictions placed on all Russian securities (and not just those impacted by recent sanctions) by Schwab’s clearing agents, buy orders on Russian securities will not be accepted and sell orders will be attempted on a best efforts basis only. This is a rapidly evolving situation and we will continue to provide updates…. Charles Schwab
Auf wiedersehen, Dilbar!
The Germans seized the super luxury yacht of sanctioned Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. At 512 feet in length, the Dilbar is one of the world’s largest yachts, complete with a swimming pool, a 30,000kw diesel-electric power plant, two helicopter pads, a sauna, a beauty salon, and a gym.