A Curious Cat

Tulip is curious about all the boxes of stuff in the house I gathered for the yard sale. I had brought inside two long outdoor extension cords from the shed. Tulip had to check them out. She got busy chewing the paper UL (Underwriters Laboratories) tags from each.

Naturally, I had to spoil her fun by draping one of her cat blankets over it.

I'm not that artistic, but I took a glass mosaic class last month at the Senior Center. It turned out well. The instructor suggested I not use large pieces of glass as planned for the body parts -- the body of a cat, of course. Cutting the glass down did make the design, complete with a red tulip, more interesting.

#tulipmosaic

#tulipyardsale

#catmosaic

#cat_art

I should've, but I didn't

To Do

I should've done many things on my To Do list, including people to call. Most tasks were usurped by creative writing. The hours just disappear once I get started.

I wrote a blog post which may or may not be put on NRW's blog. Nobody asked me to write it, but I guess last night's meeting inspired me. The title is "Toot Your Horn." 

Guess it's not so bad... only three things I have left to do. That number may change when I unearth more paperwork in the office.

Spent a bit of time refueling Tulip's not-quite-empty food bowl. She insisted. Minutes later, she took a nap in her living room sun spot. Nap time invariably follows Nibbles Hour.

Tried saving Tulip's picture in two or three places...none of them could be found. I still don't know how to work certain features on my Samsung phone. I guess I need to do a deep dive to find where in the heck I should look for pictures. So many options, yet none of them work.

This pic was a download found on Pexels. Credit to Mathias Reding. No relation to Tulip. 

 

TASK	DATE	STATUS	WHAT TO DO	WHO TO CALL	WHY #1	WHY #2
2	6/11/26		Call	LASERS	unpaid $$
3	6/11/26		Call	Housing Lady		find flier
7	6/11/26		Link car to phone		need VIN #
1	6/11/26	completed 6/12	Call	Town of Benson	utilities	request animal trap
4	6/11/26	completed 6/12	mark calendar	Dec 12th	Xmas party
5	6/11/26	completed 6/12	mark calendar	Nov 7	Next book fair
6	6/11/26	completed 6/12	mark calendar	4th Sat meeting	NRW schedule
8	6/11/26	completed 6/12	email Zekariah	character sheet

BLINK or you'll miss it

This blog post will cover the GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY truth.

**************************************************************************

1.  A Spectrum technician came to the house today to do whatever I tried to do Sunday, installing the Internet by myself. I was correct in the assumption that there WERE too many wires. Naturally, I had done more than one thing wrong. But I am happy to report that I can access the Internet once again. YIPPEE! And the printer is back online too!

2.  Tulip missed the tech because Spectrum insists its customers keep all pets out of their staff's way. (Sorry, Tulip).

3. My Alexa DOT has an orange light circling when it should be blue. I unplugged and replugged it in, but it turns orange right away. This is proving to be a pain that I will tackle some other day.

4. Also, the tech could not help me with my two Amazon Blink cameras. They used to connect through my printer ID, but I don't know if that choice is still available. Color me stumped. The controller shows a solid blue light and a blinking green light. It's supposed to be just the opposite.

5. This proves that modern technology will likely be my downfall. (Death by unintelligible instructions).

6.  Even so, it is a RED LETTER DAY. Watch me while I celebrate!

#printerwoes

#technologywoes

#Printerisback

#tulipmissedavisitor

Artwork: https://openclipart.org/detail/211836/printer

Post-Shower

While I was in the shower, I heard something drop to the floor. This was my view of the bathroom when I stepped out of the shower.

Oh, Tulip!

First, notice the bottle which had been on the sink. Obviously, I didn't put it high enough on the shelves (my bad). 

What is not shown are the two small pads that fell behind the toilet.

I am starting to believe my cat is bored.

#boredcat

#boredkitty

#boredTulip

#destructivekitty

#destructivecat

 

Brightspeed...NOT!

Monday

I THOUGHT I disconnected my home phone with Brightspeed today at 10am. I took down the 3 phones which will go in a yard sale. After my conversation to do that, I got a text message from Brightspeed that they're coming on Friday. 

I'm on the phone now with BS (2nd time today) and the rep told me the date on HIS end was tomorrow. They don't know their shit from Shinola. Then he said they'll get me up and running with a totally reliable service. I couldn't let that go unanswered (like you have so far, right). I don't want phone service; the lack of service between 5/18 and now proves I can live without it.

Still on hold with BS; they'll charge me $10 for support.

The service ticket is marked as PENDING so my printer can't be connected. 

Current rep (I think it's the 6th rep so far - I'm losing count) Eric is checking, but he's not tech support (that department transferred me to customer care). I'm so tired of every rep asking me for my name/address/phone number associated with the account/cell phone/zip code...

I could just scream! 

The notes that tech support wrote can't be seen by customer service.

Eric transferred me to (Tech Support) who's the 2nd person making me check the modem (living room) and the printer (in the office). I'm certainly getting my steps in. Tulip is confused by all these trips. She's probably napping. I envy my cat..

In theory, the Internet has connected, but the printer still is not.

To be continued. The second phone call lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes.

AAUUHH!

Since I have to have lunch and go to the senior center for a 1:00 class, I agreed to take a phone call from John after 3. He had not called me, and I was past dealing with the company's incompetence.

The joy will continue. Happy happy joy joy....

If Brightspeed comes to your area, RUN!

Tuesday

I copied the above screed to my family. My sister asked if I checked with anyone about how they liked Brightspeed (I did). Did I check for complaints online, particularly with the Better Business Bureau?

When I saw the BBB up-to-the-minute comments, I realized that was what I should have done first. Everyone complained about their service, and quoted the meaningless corporate mantra, "It will be done within 24-48 hours." 

I should add, "No worries." And the first rep I spoke with used my name in every single sentence as he tried to upsell me. I was tired of hearing my name and had to talk over him to say, "Stop! I'm not interested in that option."

I added my experience to the BBB page which includes the fact that three individual teams came out to dig a trench in my landlord's lot, Each team had their own ideas about where to dig. Also, the fact my home telephone has not worked since 5/18...the date of installation.

* * *

Then I called Spectrum to restore their services (except for home phone). They will send me a new router and cable box. On Friday, I'll put the new kit in. Then I'll head to the Spectrum store, pick out a free replacement phone and return Spectrum's old equipment. On the way to Garner, I'll drop Brightspeed's equipment with the RMA# I was given for the extender BS had sent me (for the low, low charge of $10 per month). 

Also on Friday, I need to call Brightspeed to stop the $10 monthly Customer Service charge. That was another thing: their Billing Department seems to cause major headaches. I noticed that they charged me for Voice service (non-working phone aside).

Anti-MAGA Fears

My level of anxiety is shrink-worthy. But I didn't share my fears with the doctor yesterday.

• What if Trump sics his MAGA militias on everyone?

• What if the rest of the world bombs the USA? Trump has been goading everyone with his insanity. HE would deserve it, not the whole country.

Yes, I know I sound like a conspiracy theorist. I sent in an essay for the 250th Year celebration, but the judge asked me to tone it down. I did not. Sometime in the near future, I can compare my fears stated in that essay with the awful future reality*. We'll see how close my catastrophizing came to reality.

         Trump may be waiting for Memorial Day or Independence Day to unleash his demons. 

People who know me well are aware that I have a border personality disorder. While it's usually subtle . . . need I say more?

My opening statement is in black and white.

My fears are expressed in blue.

Red: more not unreasonable fears.

Justification in gray.

*Everything has been awful so far. Trump is sure to do much worse.

#Trumpianaxiety

#whentheothershoedrops

Tulip's Shenanigans

Tulip remains curious about the world about her.

In the office, she regularly separates the AT&T telephone from its base. Lately, I've wondered if I should keep the home phone. Cell service has gotten so much better than when I first moved to rural North Carolina. I'll come back to that issue in a month or two.

I should have taken an earlier photo of Tulip when she was sleeping on and in my HP printer. Her back feet were inside the paper tray. I worried that she would find herself stuck when she awoke. I worried for nothing.

The office is where I've accumulated piles of The Stuff I want to sell in the Endless Yard Sale in June. I won't be ready. I've sold the toaster oven and the cedar chest. What else would be safe to get rid of?

I'm worried about two things: 

• What if I don't find alternate housing in the near future? 
• Am I selling The Stuff too soon that I'll regret it?

#Tuplip+telephone

#Tulipphonehome

My plate is full...

And Tulip's is full as well. 

I've been spending more time at the Benson Center for Active Aging (BCAA) these past few weeks. It's left me with less time for writing.

Two or three classes follow the writing classes I lead. On Tuesdays, there is Cardio Drumming. I've been going on Wednesdays to learn about stained glass making. After that class, there are games to play, so that's another two hours... Repeat on the third Friday of the month.

😺

Tulip is up to her old tricks. Yesterday she pawed my plastic bin of medicines off the counter. She is a PRO at grabbing my attention. At least none of the pill bottles fell out.

Her latest thing is dumping full bowls of food onto the floor, almost simultaneously with my bestowing her food onto her table. She immediately demands more food.

When I talk on the telephone, Tulip sprints to the kitchen to paw at the clean dishes; then she inspects the dirty ones. In between, she'll overturn whatever is neglected on tabletops.

#fullplates

#toddlercat

#alexanderpopadinphoto

AAUUGGH!!!

I thought I was fiscally wise to switch my home phone and Internet service from Spectrum to Brightspeed.

Have had nothing but aggravation for the past month. Brightspeed sent three two-man crews to dig and bury their cables. Three rows of disturbed grass resulted. The last installer said he could not close the work ticket because there was an issue with the IP address.

Many phone calls later - after I called Spectrum to cancel the phone and Internet - I learned that Brightspeed couldn't port my home phone because the phone number was still under Spectrum's purview. They said I needed to call Spectrum to reactivate the home phone so that Brightspeed could port the number. 

Today - after nearly a month without my home phone - I saw an online bill from BS;  they charged me for the voice service. Also, that service costs $30, which is $10 more than a discussion I had with their rep a few weeks ago said.

I'm seriously considering getting rid of the home phone altogether. So, as of today, I'll be saving $31.43 a month. Big whoop. Brightspeed's pricing will last 24 months. When I add it all up, the overall savings is significant. 

Spectrum			Brightspeed + Spectrum
TV	$103.00		TV	Not available	$103.00
Internet	$35.00		Internet	$29.99
Voice	$30.00		Phone	$30.00
Taxes	$7.17		Taxes	$2.10
Total	$175.17		Total	$40.74	$103.00
New combined total	$143.74			/	/
	$31.43		Combined:	$40.74
31.43 X 24 =	754.32			$103.00
				$143.74

But, if I remove home phone service entirely, that would save me $720 over the coming two years. The last rep I talked to disagreed with me about the price reduction. "It's $30; it's always been $30; you're (meaning me) not entitled to a rate cut." 

To say the least, my experience with Brightspeed reps has been underwhelming.

Decisions, decisions. I'll give it a few months and reconsider.

#internetproviderpain

#notsobrightspeed

#internet_switch

Feral Cats

My neighborhood has had a feral cat problem for years. Ages ago, I was asked by my landlord if I would contact Animal Control. So I did. I captured a possum and about eight kitties, as I recall.

This year I lost a landscaper company's business because his men kept walking in kitty poo on my lot. Well, imagine me weeding through tons of monkey grass and coming across several piles of poo in them. Yuck! I had had enough.

Over the past week, I trapped six cats and the Benson Police took them away. I don't know if they were set free down Hwy 301 in Dunn or if they were brought to the shelter in Smithfield. 

Now if only I could get the dog owners to control their animals from running free.

Maybe THIS chapter should be entitled Vilify Me.

#feralcats

#catchingcats

Vilify Me

OK. I am old. I've lived in this mobile home community for 15 years as one of the most tenured residents in our twenty mobile homes.

My new nextdoor neighbors seem pleasant enough.

But their dog, Maya, is allowed to behave in ways which drive me nuts.

1. They let her poop in our shared garden bed. They never pick up the dog poop. 
2. I told them that it is a health hazard (which is OK as long as it's in their yard). 
3. Then I put a cheap plastic fence in-between our yards.
4. Then Maya would get in between our lots further up. Yes, I complained to their daughter who speaks fluent English.
5. I was pleasantly surprised to see a screen in that section a few days later.
6. Maya is allowed to bark for extended lengths of time.
7. They crate their puppy at the side of the house, where she dumps her water dish over immediately. (Did Tulip teach her that trick?)
8. When I saw Maya running loose through several yards last week, I called over to the dad that dogs are not allowed to run loose here. Maya was quickly brought inside her house.
9. When I got home this afternoon, Maya was running with her leash still on; no owners in sight. Then she plunked her little behind in my flower bed, as if it (and she) belonged there.

THAT DID IT.

I walked next door to complain. I told the family, "This time, I'm telling our landlord."

It's not all gripes. The good stuff is in a blue font.

(My sister can confirm that I was always a tattle tale.)

Now, if what I have related makes me The Trailer Park B-Witch (choose either first letter), so be it.

But it's not all gripes. The good stuff is in a blue font.

#nodoubtnopoop

#neighbor_dog_rant

#imabeotch

#vilifyme

#TheTrailerParkBWitch 

Hole in Mat

Since the old tabletop was icky from peeling paint, Tulip had been using her water dish as a finger bowl. I thought of ways to waterproof the table. A friend suggested putting a rubber mat designed for using under sinks. I thought,"Great idea!" 

The mat's been in place for a few days.

Tonight I noticed Tulip paying a lot of attention to the right side of the mat where it overhangs a little. Upon close examination, my cat has already taken out a chunk of the mat. The hole is shaped exactly like the little leaf design in the rubber. 

TULIP!    ⮟

The dot at the far right is her first hole. Hope she doesn't become too comfortable doing this. The mat cost me about $36. 

Tulip is still eating paper. Guess now she's onto harder stuff.

I have an addicted cat on my hands!

#cataddict

#tulipeatsrubber

#tuliptales

Cleaning House

I am trying to unload furniture items before June's Endless Hwy 301 Yard Sale. It's the first time I've used Facebook Marketplace. Sold my cedar hope chest first for the bargain price of $60. Tonight a lucky couple in Dunn picked up my Galanz toaster oven. I marked the price at $10. So many people responded to that: I clearly could have asked for more. 

I still have my kitchen set and cigar-shaped coffee table to go. Absolutely no interest has been shown in the latter. Next, I need to take pictures of the spare bedroom furniture, one of my two lateral file cabinets, etc.

• And I have yet to view the senior public housing in Johnston County. 
• To secure an independent living place for Tulip and me.

• And call Animal Control to get a Hav-A-Heart trap for all the feral cats who add more than mulberry juice to my shoes' soles.
• If you catch my drift.

#cleaninghouse

#Unloadingstuff

It's Been A Week From Hell, Part II

My cable bill (cable, Internet and home phone) jacked up their monthly rate to $178+. I decided to save money by finding an alternate Internet company, thinking I'd save time and money.

HA!

Getting hooked up with this new company was - and still is - PAINFUL. They sent three different crews out, each team choosing a different path where to bury the cable. And this took mere weeks to accomplish. Last Thursday, I finally thought I'd seen the last of them. 

Well . . . 

Not so fast. Turns out that not even the tech knew that they wouldn't be able to finish the work ticket. Seems there's been a hold-up on all new installations due to "illegal" or "non-regulated IP addresses."  Now my phone works only if I call out on it. Incoming calls can't come through. The only bright spot is that now all my spam calls come to my cell phone. It's much quieter without the home phone blowing up.

BUT . . . I haven't gotten to the main part. The problem is ME (😟).   I disconnected everything left by the original provider. That was my mistake. Or, as the Dixie Chicks put it, "There's your trouble."

Now:

• I don't have access to the TV unless I watch shows on my laptop. 
• Alexa doesn't even talk to me anymore.
• My printer doesn't work either.

Two people did me a kindness and tried to get all my wires sorted, to no avail. So I called the first provider to help me out. They are due here between 8 and 10 am tomorrow.

Tulip is anxiously awaiting the return to normalcy.

I've been kicking myself (mentally) for messing with things I should not have.

#NoTechiesHere

#TulipDeservesTV

It's Been A Week From Hell, Part I

...and it had almost nothing to do with Tulip.

• This past week my mulberry tree started producing. I have stains on the bottom of my shoes which I keep on the back porch. My house has many, many new stains each day clean up. The berries attract flies and birds. It tends to smell funky as they ferment.
• Unfortunately, every other pair of shoes I wear have the same stained bottoms, but I keep those pairs inside the house.

• Recently, I've been spilling things around here a lot. One day (and I could foresee this happening), Tulip was angling to jump on my lap so she could sample my hot cocoa. I shifted in my recliner to intercept Tulip mid-flight. 
• That was my intention anyway. Cocoa landed on and beneath my recliners. I was surprised how far however-many-ounces could go.

• I had poured coffee grounds in a Melita© single cup filter. I suspected it would be a problem when the mug I selected was too wide-mouthed. Sure enough, the coffee mug tilted. There was coffee "mud" and many, many grounds that fell all down the kitchen counter, refrigerator and . . . you get the picture.
• Tulip had no part in this even worse disaster.

#TulipTales

#CatTales

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.

🏡

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

🧩     🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩

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.

🧩     🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩

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. 

🧩     🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩

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

🧩     🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩

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.

🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩    🧩

#Tuliptricks

#Tulipfood

#Mycatrules