What's Up?

Tulip has been busy, but I just got the Internet back late this afternoon. I never knew I'd become so dependent on it!

First off, while I was showering last week, Tulip got into my maxi pads. She chewed on the top corner of it.

Even though Tulip never met Liberty, she is starting to behave like him when it comes to loving Q-tips. Liberty tried to intercept the swabs as they were headed from my ears, to the bathroom trash can. Tulip likes going through the bathroom trash in search of used cotton swabs. And she found the plastic cup where I keep my unused stash. Just one more thing to keep away from Tulip. I regularly move the toilet paper out of reach, and now the Q-tips are on a higher shelf.

#Tuliptales

#Cat_stories

#CrazyCat

Why do I constantly misplace things?

Okay, I'll say it for you. I am old and becoming more forgetful. Sometimes it's Tulip's fault.

Cases in point: 

• On Monday, I needed to find my heating pad. I found the empty box it came in. Looked everywhere, but no clues were found. This reminded me of another time when I searched for the heating pad. Not surprisingly, I ended up owning two. A few years ago, I gave the surplus to a friend. 
• In a repeat performance of events, I ended up buying yet another heating pad at Walgreens.
• Totally my fault.
• I should reassign one of my living room bins exclusively for storing spare DME (Durable Medical Equipment). Blood pressure cuff, various braces for my heels, my back, etc.
• Disorganized me!

• I bought a fancy insulated bottle from Coffee on Raiford. When I was looking for it, I asked myself, "Did I put it on the car roof?" and "Did I leave it at the last place I was in?"
• The bottle was spotted in a cat bed amongst a variety of cat toys.

• Totally blame this one on Tulip. 
• She had to knock it off a table first, then nudge it over to her kitty bed. 
• Bad Kitty!

#losingstuff

#Tuliptales

#Cattales

I don't live alone

While my relatives might think that I live alone, they keep discounting the fact that Tulip rules the roost.

It's depressing when I think about how much power she has over me.

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I will start touring adult assisted living places. First off, in Durham. The places sponsored by A Place for Mom sound expensive, but that's probably because they are high-end facilities. They probably get kickbacks for being sponsored places. I will look into local places in Smithfield and Selma.

🏡

Speaking of my housing situation, I copied an AP image of the White House. It has nothing to do with this blog entry. It's like the weather outside today.

🏡

I don't know what kind of living situation I'll find myself in. Could be a one-bedroom apartment or a studio. Between now and the June Endless Yard Sale, I'll need to get rid of all my doo-dads, books, etc. The bottom line is, I have a few months to get rid of a ton of crap.

#downsizing

#assistedliving

Am I That Bad?

Now I am faced with finding an assisted living place, selling my car, stop going to writing conventions ("It's a hobby, Mom") and giving up my freedom in general. 

WHY

BECAUSE and ALTHOUGH:

• I've fallen three times since last June.

       Hey, I'm 72. It happens to seniors everywhere.

• It costs so much to keep paying insurance and a car payment.

       In rural towns, I need my car/freedom. 

       My car accident occurred three years ago; that didn't  necessarily make me a bad driver.

       Come November 2026, my car insurance costs will be halved.                     
       

       Upkeep is negligible for a 2024 Nissan model.    

                                                            

                               

• In the last three months, my bank balance has been in the red.

      I realize this is concerning. That's why I brought it up. I agree that I need help to                             manage my finances.   
          

        This month, I will take my first required withdrawal from my 401K, gaining over $7K.
      
        Publishing costs were higher than I expected.     
                                               
        Medical bills keep racking up.

• What I've done about it:

        Netflix will be canceled as of April 7  

        Changing Internet providers April 15

        Adobe canceled as of April 16

         BeFunky canceled as of April 18

         Canva canceled as of May 4

• What is next:

       Talk to my doctors

         Ask questions at senior centers and/or Social Services

         Start touring facilities

         Think of stuff to sell

#agingsucks

#aging

New "Old" Cat Food Bowl

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Since the fast-feeder bowls always end up getting tossed to the floor, spraying kibble everywhere, I figured that Tulip would prefer a normal plastic bowl. So I started putting her food in it last week. Of course, that solved absolutely nothing.

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This is a new game that Tulip made up. She drags the bowl to the end of the table and pushes it off the table immediately. I think she just wants to eat the kibble off the floor. She then drags the empty bowl across the living room floor. If any food lands near the heating vent, she likes to bat the crumbs into it. 

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A future redo of the table will probably involve a stainless steel top and a surrounding nailed on "wall" that will stymie her escapades. 

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You know, Tulip has provided many puzzles for me to figure out. Why can't she learn from  my food treatments?  Tulip is much too smart for me.

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#Tuliptricks

#Tulipfood

#Mycatrules