Ragweed Stew.

 We need rain. But if it were to rain at the moment, we would have ragweed stew most likely.

So our electricity went out. Had to go down to check on Patty Anderson. She is on oxygen 24/7, but she has eleven bottles to keep her in an emergency. Most of the time she is on that machine that helps her get what she needs to breathe. It has a name, but for the life of me, it is not rattling around in my head. No biggie. If you ever had someone on one, you know what it is. If not, pray nothing like that is necessary for anyone you love.

Oncor did not exactly have my address and account in their system since Energy Ogre takes care of my contracts, and the credit card takes care of the bill. So who knows what the name of the company is currently. Again, no biggie.

Have my phone plugged in to keep it at optimum strength. Think Jennifer's has been down to 1% lately. She stays busy. But she said she posted for me tonight because we had no idea if the service would resume tonight or not. Yay for Oncor!

Have eight light bulbs that have batteries in them. Turned on the little bathroom light and voila, there was light. Also have a couple of solar backup lanterns, but have put one somewhere. Honestly! Forgetfulness is such fun. Somewhat like an Easter egg hunt at the Alzheimer's unit. Eh, now what were we looking for?

No, it is not funny to deal with dementia from either direction. Mom had it and, so did her mother. Not looking good genetically. But no sense in being concerned about it.

Patty's dogs went berserk when she opened the door to me earlier. She was just infuriated with her little dogs. Just told her mine do the same thing, only they tend to knock folks around a bit because of their size. Try apologizing for that one!

Still feeling rotten, but got hungry today. Wanted mashed potatoes, gravy, and steak medium well. Made some steak pieces and whipped up some instant potatoes. No gravy. Didn't eat much anyway and just put the rest in the fridge. Funny how thinking about food is a lot easier than eating it when you are having trouble breathing. Be glad when this goes away.

Just got off the phone with my brother. He said his wife Jacqui is having to take two shots a day in her belly--some kind of blood thinner that keeps her from having blood clots in her lungs. Told him she might as well go ahead and just get rabies since they have to take belly shots for that, too. That way she could at least bite someone with good intentions. ahem Enjoy talking to Sterling. We think about all the old things and folks we knew and the many funny things we did as kids. It is hard to think that my grands will never remember Paw Paw Leland much. Grayson liked him, but the others never really knew him. 

Sterling was telling me about a pair of "bones" that Daddy used to play when they had music up at the house. They were made from a bois d'arc corner post that was in the lot where he built his house there in Petrolia. The house he grew up in was on that lot and was moved out to the farm when he was just a boy. So it is funny that we grew up on the same lot where that house came from. And the "bones" he played would be over a hundred years old. Like Sterling said, no tellin' how many years that corner post had been there before the old house was moved out. But then, Bois d'arc does not rot. Probably the "wood of the ark" for a reason.

Hoping that Sterling can get all the old stuff together so that we can hand it down to some of my grands. Thinking Grayson is the one that used to really love history. Sterling found the old wooden box that Daddy had engraved with crossed pirate pistols. That is where he kept the old family letters and stuff he brought home from the Army--plus his "bones."

At least talking to Sterling got me out of the grouchy mood that has hung over me today. He can nearly always make me laugh. Has always been like that even when he was being ornery. 

Just to be sure you understand, ragweed causes allergy reactions in some folks. This is not the Chinese congestion. We just need to pray for President Trump, his wife, and anyone who has been around him for a bit. This stupid flu stuff is not a joking matter. May God bless those who have been affected by it.

May you all rest well and find joy in awakening. You are loved.