Bella peed outside!!!! Apparently she didn’t like being on the leash when I took her outside previously. I was doing that because I didn’t know how else to get her off of the bed. I had to lift her this time.

This morning, she told me that she wanted to go out, and she pooped. Good girl! She’s getting settled. She knew that she was a good girl too. That was a little before 7 AM. Now she’s going back to sleep.

The snow has started but it’s only a light dusting so far.

Because I’m up, I’ll feed the cats and eat breakfast. Fed the cats. Zara was sleeping in but got up to eat. Ate breakfast. Now I’m going back to sleep with Bella.

Bella is the perfect dog for us. I can see why the shelter person said that my application was the best for her. She’s very laid-back. And she’s good with cats. She lay down in the dog bed! Then she jumped back on the people bed.

I’ve been petting Bella. She likes having her stomach scratched. I’m learning her language. I already spoke cat, but not dog.

Napped. Woke up a little after 11. Bella is eating breakfast.

Hmm, I need to get heartworm meds for her. I need to get her to the vet for her first checkup.

It’s snowing larger flakes now.

I moved my Italian lesson to next week because I have the vet appointment for Oliver and Lily at the same time. Oops.

I’m getting a headache, so I think that I need to eat lunch. Lily smelled the food and wanted it. I told her that I get to eat too. Bella wanted to go out. She did some sniffing and running around (she likes the snow) but needed to do her business again.

My car key is missing. Crap. I think that my spare is in my purse.

I heard a funny noise and went to investigate. Bella was in the cold bathroom. She was crawling along because she wasn’t sure if she was allowed to be there. I told her that it’s her house and she can go wherever she wants. Oliver went nose to nose with her! Now she’s with me in the kitchen.

I’m trying to get my energy up to shower. I’m tired. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been taking my vitamin D in the mornings. Which reminds me that I need to take my meds.

Bella is finding all the scattered cat food and eating it. The canine vacuum cleaner. I told her that she had food in the bedroom! And she had a pee accident in the kitchen. That’s okay. At least it was in the kitchen. I need to wash the floor anyway. I took her outside but she wasn’t interested. She went back up to the door, and I didn’t need to speak dog to interpret that! Bella likes her “bone” chews. I’ll have to get more. I’ll put in a grocery order next week and get some more. I also want to get her some rawhide bones because she’s a chewer.

Bella needed to go out again, and this time I got her cue. I missed it last time. She whined, but I thought that was because she was in the bathroom. She also likes bounding through the snow.

Had my singing lesson. Oliver had been walking on the digital piano keys, so I shut it off. He also lay on the laptop and minimized all the windows. I shut Bella in the bedroom because Zara knows how to deal with Oliver, but I don’t know how she’d feel about having Bella in her room. We practiced sight singing again. Then she asked me to pick a song to practice, so I chose “The Carol Of the Bells”. I told her about Dial-A-Carol.

Took Bella out, but she turned around and went back up the stairs. It’s getting kind of miserable out.

Oy. Fed the cats, but Lily is a slow eater. Oliver kept on coming after her food, and I kept pushing him away. Then Bella swooped in and ate it.

Tried to nap with Bella but I was cold. I thought about bringing out my electric blanket, but Bella likes to chew. I have a weighted blanket that I could try. I also haven’t put up the thermal curtains yet also. I put the weighted blanket and a velour blanket on the bed. I have them resting on my knee and it seems warmer.

I’m trying to convince myself to cook. Okay, I made Sage Brown Butter Chicken Piccata, after corralling Oliver in the bathroom. He doesn’t have the sense to stay off a hot stove. It was good. Lily and Bella were highly interested in the chicken, but Lily tried to get it only while I was eating it. (I thwarted her.)

Now I think that I’ll finish cleaning up, take Bella out, post, feed the cats and the dog, and go to bed. I’ll get up early to work on the kitchen. Oh no, I need to get up early to use the snow blower.

Bella was eating the dry cat food. I said, “No” and gave her her food. She didn’t want HER food. Then she wanted to go out. Now she’s eating her food. Oliver, on the other hand, wants to eat her food. It’s a zoo around here. Like herding cats and a dog.

Had my Italian lesson. She said that I'm getting better at speaking. Yay.

The dog that I liked got adopted. Oh well. I thought that she'd go fast.

I ordered a pharmacy ID card so that I can get my COVID and flu shots.

Apparently my lawn was aerated and seeded on Friday. I need to get the sprinkler out to water the new grass (done).

Now I think that I want a Mazda CX-5. I looked at used ones on CarMax, and they're within my price range.

Went to choir practice. It went well. I'm tired now though. I'm trying some things to get my Web programming project to post on the Web. But then I want to go to sleep.

Added: The TA wants me to come to office hours tomorrow to sort out my problems. At least, I've now got someone who will help me. It's hard to get the attention of someone because the class is so big.

I hadn’t thought of IKEA as a place to find storage bins, but I found a basket that would be great for my sweaters. I probably will just get one to see if it works the way that I want, and then get more.

On poliphilo's journal, someone commented that their father developed dementia from multiple myeloma treatment. Is that what happened to Mom?

I have a big bruise that's purple, green, and yellow on my left breast. I fell down the other day, so I think that's what caused it. It doesn't hurt, but it sure looks ugly. The joys of getting older. (I think that I bruise more easily.)

It just occurred to me that I’m doing the equivalent of flipping an old house on me! :)

Talked to the handyman for my mom’s house. He’s unfortunately busy when I’ll be there, but thought that he could meet with me Friday night or Saturday.

The weather forecasters are telling us that it’s hot in Central Illinois in August. In other news, water is wet. To be fair, it IS hot and muggy.

Brought the car to Midas, and the license plate is fixed! I no longer have to worry about getting stopped! They changed me only $10 for fixing it. And I got the oil changed.

Hmm. I was wondering if there is another plant that you can plant with tulips to keep a longer blooming season, and a Web site suggested daylilies. That's a good idea. I'm looking at this collection.

I've got my Italian Logitech keyboard! I can type accent marks: è, può, Mercoledì.....I had to mess around with the keyboard settings, but it's working! The key names are also in Italian, but I think that I have them figured out. And the keyboards on my iPhone switch back and forth so often that the only way that I notice is by the spellcheck suggestions. This is way cool.

Logged on and finished work. I need to get up a little early to get money for the movers (for the dresser).

Feeling hammered this morning. I couldn’t fall asleep until late because I couldn’t shut my mind off. Then I woke up at 7. Did my usual morning routine and went back to sleep until 11:30. Had lunch.

I got the refunds for my returned Amazon items, so I ordered the Italian keyboard.

Still feeling tired, so I’m going back to sleep for an hour.

Got batteries into my new lantern, and it works.

Dropped off the posters to be laminated. Dropped off a bag of old sheets at the thrift store. Bought a tie-down and bungee cords at Home Depot. Remembered to get a salad and apples at the grocery store. Had some salad, and it was really good. I’ll have to get more Greek salad. That went down well.

I’m trying to decide what to do. I should clean out my car, but I kind of want to lie down. Maybe I could do both? Cleaned out the car. I have Bags of Junk from the Car^TM, but I want to nap before dealing with them. Oh, and I found the other tie-down that I had.

Napped. Ate dinner. I'm feeling hammered. I'm going to study Italian while I wake up. It looks like I finished the 500 words, and it's just drilling me on the ones with which I have problems. Far out! I have another set to start on. Done with Italian. I think that I'll work on the exercise nook a little and do dishes.

I watched the Olympic swimming replay. It was exciting. It inspired me to look at the swimming lessons for the fall, but registration is not until late August.

I'm going back to bed now.

I really, really want the Kia EV9 (electric car). It has some really nice features. And I've been happy with my Kia.

I’m thinking about what to wear on the plane. I’m thinking of a black-and-white striped tunic top with long sleeves because planes can be cold, black jeans, my travel vest, and my Kizik hands-free shoes. And compression socks. We get dinner on the flight, yay! And one piece of free checked luggage! I have a window seat, so I should be able to put on my eye mask and curl up.

Mimi wanted food when I got up from my nap, so I fed them. Soaked dishes in the sink. Ordered more "dog pads" because Mimi insists on peeing on the floor (thankfully on the linoleum).

Did dishes. I had a headache this morning that has come back. Crud. I have a lot to do today. Okay, maybe I’ll eat something and lie down for a little while (done).

Dug out my makeup stain remover and put it with the stuff to pack because I’ve been known to get makeup on my clothes. Put clothes in the dryer. Packed washcloths in a plastic bag because hotels in Italy generally don’t have them.

Did more dishes and scooped litter boxes. I’m about to get in the shower (done).

I’ve mowed over half of the backyard. I’m taking a breather in the cool house. In a little while, I’ll go out and put together the compost bin. Mimi is hungry, so there is a delay.

I ran out of steam. I’m going to get up early to put together the compost bin.

Zara was asking for food even though she had a full bowl of food! Well, she ate some of it and walked away.

I'm going to go to bed crazy early (by 8 PM). The grocery store opens at 6 AM, and I need some dinners for the rest of the week, so I'll go early. Then I'll put together the compost bin.

Zara came over for snuggles when I lay down on the bed. Aww.

Woke up twice, but finally got up at 9 AM.

Ugh. It’s supposed to be a high of 88F today. And I need to mow. My plan for today is mowing and laundry and getting my clothes organized in the evening.

I got the hat, vest, and summer pajamas.

Ow. My back hurts.

Zara is snuggling again. I think that I was missed :) Couldn’t nap. Showered. Ate lunch. I have a headache, so I’m going to lie down for a little while. This time I napped. Started a load of laundry.

The mower keeps stalling because the grass is so long. I ordered a scythe to chop it down. I discovered through trial and error that the mower would work if I used it as a big, heavy push mower. I got some mowing done. One of neighbors stopped by to chat, and he said that he would help me, which was very nice. I’m covered in sweat and grass clippings:)

A fat little bee liked the spirea flowers. Yay. And the dahlias have gotten big!

Mimi wants something.

I’m tired but couldn’t sleep. I’m thinking of getting ready for bed and going to sleep early.

Oh! I got my new license plates! And Mom’s mail. And I found the Zylkene for the girls.

I was discussing cars with my dad, and I'm leaning towards getting a Suburu Forester when Mom's house sells, although I'll also test-drive a Honda CR-V. He was encouraging me to get a Forester. I looked at Consumer Reports' ratings of both cars too.

I’ve been surprisingly faithful to my Estée Lauder skin regimen. I’m running out of stuff now, and I’m dubious about the serums doing anything. One is supposed to decrease the appearance of wrinkles, but I doubt anything does that. I’m lucky that I don’t have a lot of wrinkles yet. The moisturizers yes, they leave my skin dewy-looking.

Talked to my boss about our business trip to Minneapolis on the week of the 12th. We agreed that I don't need to bring my work laptop; I can access my email from my personal laptop. It occurred to me that I won't have homework, so I can read on the train! I bought the "You Are a Badass" books, so I might bring them with me.

Oh great! Zara's blood work looked good; there was no progression on her kidney disease. She's a tough cookie! Now I need to schedule a dental cleaning for her, but I'll call tomorrow morning because they're hard to get ahold of in the afternoon.

I keep meaning to call about Mom's car, but I'm really swamped at work. Maybe tomorrow.

I have a crashing headache, so I'm wondering if I should skip mowing and lie down, but I really should mow. I don't know what to do. I think that it's because of the heat up here. I might need to look for an air conditioner sooner rather than later. Though I’m wondering how I’d get it upstairs.

I found a place with lots of wallflowers, but I think that I should wait to order them until after my business trip on the 12th. Which reminds me, I need to get in touch with the pet sitter.

Submitted a Walmart order.

Took a nap and slept until 11 PM. I need to get up early to get the recycling out. I got a bag of recycling ready to go out. Did dishes and scrubbed the sink. Fed the girls and Mimi inhaled her food. Mimi decided that because I sat down at the computer, I have to pet her. I told her that she was spoiled rotten, and she's like, "Rotten? Getting spoiled is wonderful!"

I forgot to mention that the "Please don't let the cats out" sign fell down when I used the Command Hook. So I ordered a wreath hanger for the door, which should be good and sturdy.

It just occurred to me that I should get one of those aquarium coffee tables (assuming the floor is stressed for it) for the upstairs. I don’t have room for a normal setup because of the slanted roof. But the aquarium project won't be for another year or two. I want the rest of the place to be put together first. I will measure the 60-gallon tank that I saw at PetSmart to leave a space for it downstairs though.

Mimi has decided that I need to pet her whenever I sit down :) Now she's in the window of the guest room in a sun beam. Kitty nirvana!

I’m thinking about changing my mind and putting the dining table in the kitchen. I don’t know what I’d do with the kitchen island though. I could give it away, but Mom gave it to me and that gives me a pang of sadness. Maybe I could put it in the basement until I'm ready to get rid of it. Maybe I could use it as a potting table? Hey, I could put it near the back door mudroom window and use it for the herb plants that I want to bring inside to winter over (rosemary, oregano, thyme....) Actually, there are perennial varieties of oregano and thyme in garden zone 5-6. So just the rosemary needs to come inside.

I did put the table in the kitchen and like it. I put the kitchen island in the mud room area. All's good. I just need to put a few things away and sweep to be ready for the pet sitter tomorrow.

I think that I will get the hostas and assume that I will put a dog run in the backyard when the time comes to get a dog. I won't be getting a dog any time soon. I want printed signs for each garden: Rose Garden, Iris Garden, Hosta Garden, Vegetable Garden. I think that I'd plant the blueberry bushes at the front end of the vegetable garden to hide the rest from view from the street. The herb garden part of the vegetable garden would also be near the front. Although it would be easier to bring cuttings into the kitchen from the back door.

sunshine_two suggested peonies, which are really pretty, I also like dahlias, which bloom in late summer, so maybe they could share a garden bed with something that blooms earlier. Or maybe I could put in a garden bed around the tree in the front yard. I think that I’ll grow roses in the back yard next to the garage that I want built. They’re safe for dogs!

I also got Gardening for Dummies to round out my gardening collection. There also are some garden design books that I want, but I’ll wait until I have the estate sale money.

Now I'm thinking of garden beds that flow up the front walk into the iris and peony beds. I think that I want to grow fountain grass in the back of the iris and peony beds.

I'm thinking of growing lilacs as "walls" for the front and back of the patio-to-be. But the patio isn't likely to be built this year. The money from the sale from my mom's house is likely to go into building the garage and buying a new-to-me car. (I want a slightly used Honda CR-V hybrid.)

Now I’m thinking that I can solve my cash-flow problem by going to Michigan a week later. I should have the estate sale check by then. And I could stay a week to travel on the weekend.

I got the space heater for upstairs. Wow it is small, but it just has to heat the area near my work and home computer desks. I'll try it out tomorrow. Oh, maybe not because it's supposed to be warm tomorrow.

I mentioned the organizer to my professor, and she asked for info, which I sent to her. I attached the before-and-after pictures, and she was impressed. She said that she would like help organizing her garage.

Huh. LJ is down. Now it's back up.

I got stumped on a homework problem for my math (algorithms) class so I went and swept the living room, and the answer to two of my questions popped into my head. Good.

Now I'm working on my program for my programming class. I got most of it to work except for one method that I want to ask the TA about. (It seems like a miracle to me when my code works!) I have more to code, so I'm going to go to sleep and get up early.

Fuckity fuckity fuck. I overslept until 5:45 AM.

By dint of superhuman effort, I’m ready. And it’s 7:30 AM.

The movers got here around 8 AM. Things went well except that they needed to run get some tools to get the bed and exercise equipment taken apart. I forgot to mark a table, but I should be able to get it in storage to take in my car later. The driver said that he probably will deliver late in the afternoon on Monday.

One of the movers thought that it was great that I was a librarian. And another one said that the back yard was "sick," which I gather is current slang for "cool".

I lay down for a minute but decided that I was too wired to sleep right now. I'll lie down after class.

I have my work cut out for me. The place looks like a tornado hit it. And I have homework to do also.

Okay, the classes are over. Now I'm going to take a nap. Can’t sleep. I’m hungry. I need to make a pizza and submit a grocery order. I think that I’ll go to bed early because I need to take my car to Midas tomorrow morning to get the lightbulb by my license plate fixed.

Started laundry. Started heating the oven for pizza. Submitted a grocery order. Put the pizza in the oven. Made a to-do list for the next few days.

I found a vest that I think that I want to get for my Italy trip. Probably in red. Maybe with this shirt? I also would like this outfit. And why are men's shirts (and sweaters) always cooler than women's shirts? I like this shirt. It would look cute with jeans.

Now I'm really tired, but I need to wait for my groceries. I hope that they'll come soon.

I forgot to mention that I got another heart-attack inducing letter from the IRS. It said that I owe...$27.86. I can actually afford that :) Just paid.

Okay, I cleaned out the car and flipped the back seats down. I didn’t brush snow off of the car because it’s still snowing.

I had to really think about what day of the week it is. I’m totally confused.

The power snow shovel was in limbo somewhere in transit, so I ordered the really expensive one, which is available now, and canceled the first one. All I can say is that it better work well! I'll pick it up tonight.

...And now they're saying ONE inch of snow tomorrow night and rain during the day. I'll be ready for anything, I think. It'll be good to have the shovel down there.

Hmm. Maybe I should try to get back on Saturday because it'll be a high of 5F on Sunday. But I'd get a late start because of the Internet guy. Oh, I don't know. And will the rain freeze? I'll play it by ear on Saturday.

I attended a webinar on goal setting. During it, I realized that what I want and need to do is start walking to get in shape for my Italy trip. Losing weight is secondary (although the weight that I have lost is helping me walk and I get less backaches).

I forgot to order oatmeal, but I don't really want to park at Meijer or Kroger with the power snow shovel in the car, so I placed a delivery order for tomorrow morning before I leave.

I don't know why I'm so cranky tonight. I drove to Lowe's and got a non-power shovel and the keys cut. I was going out to the car and a car cut right in front of me. I called him an asshole and said that "I always let people cross" in a totally smug tone. Then I went to curbside pickup and got the power snow shovel, which they brought. Then I went home. The postal delivery person stuck a book in the mailbox that I was having problems getting out. I finally had to take everything else out of the box and rotate it vertically to get it out. There was something else that annoyed me, but I don't remember what it was, which says something about how trivial it was.

But things are working out. I have the power snow shovel, although I spent more money on it than I intended but I've got one. I have DVDs to bring; apparently one of the packages was the Smothers Brothers DVDs. I think that I need a slice of cake (I'm canning my diet until I move) and some snuggles with Mimi. Oh, and I didn't start laundry today (got busy at work), so I need to start it before cake and Mimi.

The strawberry shortcake is heaven on a fork. Snuggled with Mimi.

The new down jacket is very nice. It’s Ralph Lauren, not that I’m into designers, but I like it.

I got Martha Stewart’s Organizing. She’s a little TOO organized, but I got some ideas just flipping through it. And the Pottery Barn’s organizing book was the one that got stuck in the mailbox.

DVDs that I’m bringing: The Smothers Brothers, a Great Courses course on photography, and two dog-related DVDs (The Dog Whisperer and People Training). And I didn’t need the portable DVD/CD sleeves that I ordered to come tomorrow morning.

I’m going to have to play Tetris with the car. I put food-related stuff in a bin. I have the power snow blower. My suitcase, backpack, and work bag (in case I get snowed in, but that doesn’t look likely). My basket with the DVDs and odds and ends. The organizer that goes above the toilet. (I’ll leave that if space requires it.) And the paint.

I think that I’ll post this and then my clothes should be dry.