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.

🏡

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.

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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

Offloading Spectrum Internet and home phone

My Spectrum bill just jumped up another $20, edging close to $180 per month. Last week I decided to switch most of these services to Brightspeed. 

Their rep, John, kept me on the phone for over an hour. There was a problem charging my debit card because I had put a freeze on my credit. I fixed the problem, but did not hear back from Brightspeed.

Today a different Brightspeed rep had me fill out the required forms repeatedly (four times)! Déjà vu, right? 

I called Experian and requested that the credit freeze be lifted temporarily. Uh-oh; it already WAS, but their chatbot didn't hear me say, "Refreeze my account tomorrow."  The account was frozen once again today. So I went to Experian online to settle the freeze-thaw issue. 

Back to Brightspeed. All was fine from my end, but the Brightspeed rep still couldn't get the $50 down payment to work. That explains the repetitious form-filling that took over an hour and a half.

These two Saturday sessions with my future Internet carrier were frustrating. I feel like the monster in their print ads. (Oops; he's a troll). He may be smiling, but all I can say is,

"Grrrr!"

#Internetswitch

#Brightspeed

#Spectrum

#Customerservicefail

Breeze Litter Pellets

Tulip noshes on the unopened bags of Breeze litter pellets. I kept hearing the crisp sounds of teeth marks on plastic bags. There is no way I want the litter bags breached. Last night I draped a lap blanket over the four bags. 

I'm going to need to order more bags. Thanks to Tulip, I have recognized our Chewy.com needs.

🌼

On another note, Tulip acts like a snake about to swallow an ostrich egg as she tries to bite the edges of her food table. I'll add a picture later this week.

                                                                            🌼  

My sister asked why I don't feed Tulip on the floor. Well, I do, eventually, once she tosses here bowl down.

It hurts to bend down. Especially since my recent falls. I raised Tulip's Breeze box on top of the last upturned litter box.

#Tuliptrouble

#Tulipaddswoodtoherdiet