No comments?

I've been publishing a variety of blog posts for more than two years. When I first started, one or two comments came from a fellow writer (fella - it's a SHE). Nothing since then.

Please give me feedback by posting a 'clean' comment. Let me know if you're sick of me and my jammed finger...

....or share how you feel about my roommate, Tulip. Only good things can happen... when she's asleep.

#commentplease

#Tulip'smom

Paw causes pause

Tulip likes to paw at things. That's no different than any cat.

Lately she's been playing with the litter scoop that's supposed to sit on one side of the Breeze litter box. Three times this past week, the scooper was on top of the pellets. And poop.

Was Tulip trying to tell me something? 

Maybe... clean it now?

#Tuliplitterscoop

#Tuliptales

#ThetroublewithTulip

Schedule Mixups

Last week I had misplaced my 2025/2026 date book. I always transfer items from there into a Google calendar. When I discovered it peeking out from beneath my recliner, I was thrilled. But that's not all, folks!

The last time I saw the eye surgeon in Dunn, he told me to make an appointment with Dr. Massengill. I assumed I would be seeing the surgeon's boss. "Never assume."

So, at 8:00am Monday, I got a phone call from Dr. Ashe's office to cancel the day's appointment. I totally forgot that Dr. Massengill's office is my regular eye doctor on Main Street in Benson.

👵  I blame CRS.

I know I had two appointments to CommWell Health for this month, but I only logged one date. When I saw a call phone come in yesterday during a writer's board meeting from CWH, I silenced it. I only listened to the message this evening. Dang!  The call was to confirm an appointment for tomorrow (in other words, the appointment was for today at 10:30am). 👵 Senioritis strikes again!

Looking through my datebook just now, I just noticed that I missed the State Senior Games on the 18th. I have to find out who-won-what. Darn; I already paid for dinner and a show. Turned out it was a no-meal, no-show event.

And so it goes...some days are just DUH days.

#senioritis

#CRS

Posts

POST op

Post graduate

Post game reports

Post-it-note

Saturday Evening Post

Post mortem

Post partum

American Legion Post 29 (Greenwich, CT)

Post Office (USPS)

POSTage rates continually rise . . .

-- This is a blog POST --

POSTed: Dead or Alive

Post to Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites

Post brand cereals . . . Post Toasties

4-POSTer beds

Going POSTal (with apologies to all postal workers)

is a sign often seen in NYC construction sites

Design POSTers on Canva

#posts

I Blame Tulip

Wherever I go, Tulip follows, often beating me to my intended destination. She likes to walk under my feet, but hadn't tripped me up (yet). Until this weekend.

As I was entering my bedroom just the other day, I was TRYING to shut the door quickly.

Why? Because once Tulip's IN my room, she's hard to convince her to leave.

Anyway...

Tulip bolted under my feet and disappeared under the bed. Maybe that's an assumption on my part, not a fact.

Why did I say that, you might ask?

In just nanoseconds, while holding onto my bureau, I fell on my backside. My butt and back landed so hard on the carpeted floor, I am sure to have at least one colorful bruise. I pulled down my CPAP cleaning machine (which was ON). It took a few minutes for me to assess my body and get upright. 

How can I not blame my furry roommate? She looks so innocent!

Still, I love her.

#Tuliptakesthefall

#Tulipcat

#thetroublewithTulip

Inventory Saturday Plans

                                                            I N V E N T O R Y

I had hoped to take a count of how many of my books are in the house, my car, and elsewhere. Last night I counted what's in the house. I didn't check my car because I'm still wearing my lavender cat nightshirt and it's almost 7 PM. (This means I did not check for mail either.)

I have to look at my Liberty spreadsheet because I left multiple copies of my first book (Liberty's Scrapbook) in two Four Oak stores years ago. Neither proprietor has contacted me. I may as well go back and retrieve them. But not today (the nightgown thing).

Y A R D   S A L E

Big plans tomorrow in Selma... check out the Yard Sale to benefit all the Johnston County Active Aging Centers which goes until 2 PM. 

O P E N  M I C   begins at 3 PM.

#Saturdayplans

#Liberty'sScrapbook

#Funnycatbook

Now, stop it, girl!

I've been in the office for several hours, working to complete my AARP Safe Driver Test. Handing in the Certificate of Completion will (hopefully) make a difference on my car insurance bill. The test I took years ago has expired. Testers are warned that ihe online course takes four hours to complete. 

My butt sure feels like I've put in the time, but I'm only 60% done. 

Anyway . . . just in case I might doze off . . .

Tulip jumped up on the same rolling table - with intention - and crashed it to the floor two more times!

She also tried to dump my cup of pencils, but I caught it in time.

Jeepers, that girl!!!

#TulipTipsTable

#Tulipcat

#TheTroublewithTulip

#Tulipthecat

Two paper shredders

Always eager to be near me, Tulip jumped off the mobile tray table in the office to join me in the bathroom. The table fell over with a loud CRASH, scaring my cat away. 

The black towel shown below had been on top of miscellaneous paperwork. That's my usual go-to to prevent Tulip from eating papers. 

I already have an electric shredder under #1. Guess you could say that Tulip is my alternate shredder (#2).

It took a few minutes before Tulip relaxed enough to return to the scene of the incident.

                                                       #2                                                                            #1

 

#Tulipshreds

#Tulipthecat

#TroublewithTuliip

#Tulipintheoffice

Little Missy is Up to Mischief

I tried to be patient with Tulip, but she has these tendencies...

• to park her butt on the printer beside me

• to investigate papers I've laid around (fresh off the printer - yum!)
• to crinkle them, or possibly taste test them

• to upend my Crowley pencil holder, raining most of its contents behind the file cabinet
• No, I am not going to retrieve the bunch that fell to the floor. Not today.

#Tulipthecat

#TroublewithTulip

#TheTroubleWithTulip

#LifewithTulip

Another Month is Gone

Where did August go? 

It was such a scorchingly hot 31 days. This month started out by continuing with this icky-sticky weather pattern. 

The following songs come to mind:

• Summer in the City

• Heat Wave

• See You in September

• The Autumn Leaves

What seasonal songs do you associate with autumn?

#summersongs

#fallsongs

#autumnsongs

Why does Tulip dump her full food dish?

She did it again this morning, then looked at me as if to say, "Well, what are you going to do about it?" 

#Tulipfood

#Tulipmess

#Tulipisnotgoingtopickitup

#Tulipcatgames

It only takes a minute of inattention . . .

. . . for Tulip to surprise me.

I was minding my own business in the kitchen. It was a quiet morning, with nothing left behind on countertops that could be dropped onto the floor. I spent no more than two minutes doing whatever it was I was doing.

When I walked into the living room, I immediately saw Tulip's handiwork. I hadn't yet covered my DMV license application and a few handwritten notes. Each of these items had been chewed silently. 

TULIP!

Hurriedly, I gathered up the scraps of paper to throw in the trash (too small for the recycling bin), and put the Very Important Papers back on the table, but with a lap blanket tossed over it all. 

I will have to finish organizing my papers and marking down my doctor appointments for September. There will be quite a few of them. Dentist, flu shot from my GP, the 3rd appointment with the eye surgeon, a bone scan is needed too . . .

Sheesh! Where has the time gone?

Last Night

Last Wednesday, I had the exterminators spray the house and yard because I had seen a few HUGE roaches. Those critters I do not want to see here. Yuck! 

Last night I saw a roach in the living room who was so big, you could put a saddle on it. As I leapt out of my chair, I stepped on Tulip's Cat Dancer toy.

My foot slipped and I fell HARD on my knees and hands. That piece of wire had been a bane to my existence since I bought it. 

After I took a mental assessment on various parts of my body, I was nearly in tears. And the damned Medical Guardian didn't go off AGAIN. This is the fourth or fifth fall in the last year and it never goes off when I need it to. My back and neck were jarred by the fall too. At least all I'll get from this fall are bruised knees and hands. I tried to take a picture of the damages, but the angle of my hands didn't work in getting a photo to work. It was difficult to snap a picture of my right hand. No broken bones. No ambulance needed.

The roach didn't get too far away. Its inert body was found in the hallway. Don't know if Tulip played a part in its demise. At any rate, the bug is long gone.

Sitting in the house today, I had an ice pack over my knees and a heating pad on my neck and shoulder blades. Yeah, sometimes I go hot and cold.

P.S. When my Medical Guardian subscription is ready to renew, I will downgrade the service to remove the fall sensor in my package. I am sick of all the false alarms - tonight MG called because I had the necklace in my right shorts pocket. Guess I was sitting on the button.

#seniorfall

#Tulip+cockroaches

Dumb Me

I left an open tub of cottage cheese before retreating to the recliner. When I turned around, Tulip was finding it lip-smacking good. I had to scrape off the top quarter inch.

Tulip tends to walk under my feet. Because of that, how I walk inside the house has changed. I start to take a step or two. When I hear the bell on Tulip's collar jingle, I stop in my tracks to let her run past me. Otherwise, she'd be sure to trip me. Then I can finish my journey, walking from Point A to Point B.

#TulipchangedhowIwalk

#Tulipthecat

Tulip's Eyes

Tulip’s eyes change according to

The degree of mischievousness

Or level of contentment,

Fighting gravity when overtaken by sleepiness.

Yellow irises (and no; they’re not jaundiced)!

Are split right down the middle by obsidian irises.

And when she feels naughty, her face narrows

Into a moue - a grimace.

Totally devoted to her owner -

Or - does SHE own me?

Tulip provides a divine serenity

Despite mutual bones of contention.

She’s made it well known

That she will jump up to land upon

Whatever, wherever she pleases;

All obstacles are permanently ignored.

Why do I put up with her misbehaving ways,

Excusing the worst kind of shenanigans?

She's an entertaining companion who

Loves ME, despite my humanity.

Some things just ARE

The way they are meant to be.

Tulip loves her owner. (Ahem). That’s me.

We’re both worth it. Don’t you agree?

Photo by Pexels

#Tulip_Eyes

#Trouble_Tulip

#CatMischief

Duh!

I had made copies of Linda's submission for Critique at the end of the month. For what must be the third time, I misplaced the paperwork and my yellow composition book.

Unfortunately, I hadn't looked under a black bath towel that I draped to keep nosey Miss Tulip from eating it. I don't know why I forgot to look for the items in the office.

I feel so STUPID!

I'll put everything in a tote bag so I'll be ready to go. The homework assignment ran to two pages. I felt sheepish about not having it today.

I feel like the classmate whose dog ate the homework assignment.

#innocenttulip

#tulipthecat

#thetroublewithtulip

Oh boy

Just the other day, I was thinking that my little girl was becoming more civilized with age; maturing even. Tulip usually sits with me while I'm working in the office. Here's my baby when she turns herself inside out.

Yesterday I found she had been busy in the kitchen (the usual scene of the crime). She quietly destroyed the paper towels. Of course, you can blame me for forgetting to stash them away in the microwave for safekeeping.

It's time to wrap up this blog post. Just now I heard something hit the kitchen or living room floor. I have to investigate (and I need to add paper towels to my grocery list).

#tulipcat

#tulippapertowels

#thetroublewithtulip

This month in Tulip news

It's been some time since I sat down and documented Tulip's latest escapades. Be prepared for a l-o-n-g list of her latest adventures.

• Tulip dumped my souvenir Hawaiian bamboo vase from atop of my tall blue cabinet. At least it wasn't made of glass.

• Tulip always finds new hidey holes, as pictured below.

When I sit in the living room with my back to the kitchen, I can usually tell where she is by the sounds she produces.

• As noted in an old post, Tulip delights in messing with two rubber-banded cabinet drawers. Clunk - clunk - clunk! She seems to be enthralled by the drumming sound of her thwarted curiosities. 
• At least I know her location...

• Another unique sound is the telltale rattling of dishes and silverware. Although I can't tell if the dishes are dirty or clean, I can hone in to the fact that she is on the kitchen counter.
• FYI, I donated the mesh fence to the local senior center.

• The battery on my Medical Guardian necklace was running low, so I plugged it and its charger on the kitchen counter. 
• Yes, I know that was stupid of me.
• I inverted a wire mesh stationery box over it, but she kept messing with it, doggedly separating the necklace from its charging base. 

• Yesterday, Tuip was busy at the kitchen sink. In turn, she slowly emptied the small bin I keep on the countertop. Revealed were a sink strainer, a bottle brush and (the piece de resistance) a postcard from the vet for her annual visit. Tulip might have recognized her name.

When I work in the office, Tulip is always nearby.

__________________________________________>

#tulipcat

#tulipmischief

Big Change at the Benson Senior Center

Today, all seniors signing into BCAA saw a note about Adrienne Delph's dismissal from the Benson Center for Active Aging. I took a photo of it, but can't find where Google filed it. Anyway, I came up with this petition which I'll bring to the center tomorrow.

Community and Senior Services

1363 West Market Street

Smithfield, NC 2757

Attention: Josh Jenkins, Sarah Williams, Sandy Godwin, Josh Jenson

Subject: Petition on behalf of Adrienne Delph

To all concerned:

We, the undersigned, are active senior citizens who attend the Benson Center for Active Aging. It was shocking to learn that our beloved director, Adrienne Delph, was forced to resign from her position. We are outraged by this turn of events.

Adrienne has done so much for us and asked you for so little: unpaid leave for two weeks. While none of us were ”flies on the wall,” we don’t know who said what. However, all of us are united in our defense of Mrs. Delph. How could her reasonable request be denied? 

The decision to force Adrienne’s resignation was not only short-sighted, it was punitive in nature. It is devastating to all of us BCAA seniors. Please understand that the ramifications of your hasty action affects more than the one employee you mistreated so badly.

Adrienne has been the best senior center director at BCAA, as well as at HCAA. It seems that you are unaware of Adrienne’s value to us and to the Town of Benson. She is hard-working and always has a sunny disposition. As director, she continually adds interesting programs and leads many of the classes herself. Adrienne has even undertaken landscaping changes at our center, which was above and beyond her job description.

We love Adrienne Delph and hope you will reconsider your decision to force her out of her job. 

Sincerely yours,

____________________________      ____________________________ 

#BCAAinjustice

#seniorcenterleadership

#johnstoncountysocialservicesfail

#bringAdrienneback

She did it again!

Lately, Tulip's been cramming her body into tiny spaces, which may be a response to the sounds of thunder and/or fireworks. It could also mean that she doesn't need to have a reason. After all, it's Tulip.

Unfortunately, Tulip's been cozying up to the cable box, the router and the modem. I thought I could be a step or two ahead of her: I jury-rigged a not-deep-or-wide enough metal box that would house at least two pieces of equipment. It was a nice idea, if I do say so myself.

No one should be surprised to learn that this did not stop Tulip's explorations. She disconnected SOMEthing, so I haven't watched TV for nearly a week. That's more of a "my bad" because I didn't want to bend down and readjust everything.

I fixed it today. So I was able to catch up on shows that I missed. This was a huge success in that I didn't seek assistance from anyone. TA-DA!

So, "she did it again!" could be said for either of us. You decide.

~ ~ ~

This picture is totally unrelated to the story above. It's a snapshot of the writing group in Benson. Write On!

#TulipTV

#TulipcatsetsTV

#catTV

#Bensonwriters

Most Independent Cat

It's Independence Day today for Americans.

It's Independence Day every day for Tulip.

She's still acting like a baby, throwing down my water bottles that I had the nerve to leave on a countertop.

Guess she's playing "fetch" with me, just like my son did from his high chair many years ago. It's not amusing . . . especially when the contents spill out.

It is one way to spot-clean the floor. 

But it appears to make her happy.

===================================================================

Preparing to sell a bunch of stuff at the Highway 301 Endless Yard Sale, I started to empty out cardboard boxes onto the sales tables. Tulip was in cat heaven! She could gnaw those now-empty boxes until the cows came home (except none of my neighbors have cows (in the literal sense). 

After the 2-day sale left me sunburned and a little bit richer, it was time to separate the wheat (what I'll keep) from the chaff (to be given to a thrift shop).

After the sale, I filled plastic bins with the "good stuff" I'll be keeping. 

Miss Nosy checks out the contents of semi-filled bins. I took a photo of her, but Chrome is sending the pic who-knows-where. 

She's tuckered out after a stressful day, watching me work in the office. (Me too.) 

One of us needs a cat nap.

#tulipnews

#independentcat

#indepedenttulip

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).