When the heat gets to ya!

 

A normal weekday at Black Mountain pool.

But on July 25, there were no kids enjoying the pool. It was already for a weekend of swim meets.

Last week or so, we went to Filo's Bakery.

Filo's bakery offers delicacies. I tried their very expensive carrot cake. (There are better ones much cheaper in Black Mountain, IMHO)

I should have tried to figure out who owned this car, since we noticed it (and photographed it) on our way into Filo bakery. It was gone when we left. Lots of young people were there with toddlers.

The Tennessee Mule stopped at the stop sign, after running the red light from Broadway onto Sutton to get to this spot.

And he proceeded to run the red light again turning from Doughtery onto State St. He was thus a half mile ahead of me going west on US 70 by the time I got home. Must wonder where he was in such a hurry to get to. Can't get home that way...well, maybe eventually.

Some of the residents and Peggy Brewer (seated landlady in turquoise) at Blue Ridge Apartments, waiting for a hot dog luncheon to start. Our maintenance man brings his grill over and cooks up the dogs, while everyone contributes sides and deserts. Lots of good food!

Most of my mornings start at dawn when I open up the apartment to the cooler morning air (which is also humid.) I water everything on the balcony and am so grateful for the huge maples which provide shade on my windows most of the day. The windows are closed sometime when the temperature outside hits mid 70s usually. Then I enjoy the drier air of the air conditioners until the next day...when I again admit I live in a rain-forest environment.

Today's quote:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

MARGARET MEAd

An old photo:

My mom at Epcot around 1982-3. She was blind in one eye  (undiagnosed cataracts). Later when she had been hospitalized with a stroke, the cataracts were removed. She was a devout Christian Scientist. Here she was about 65. She lived alone after dad died in 1985 and then in assisted living or nursing care after she had dementia until she died in 2003 at 86.

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Y'all know  I have various medical issues. I keep trying to convince myself (and maybe you too) that my brain isn't too bad off, considering all the stuff I'm dealing with.

So today, as I was on line and about to place an order, huge thunder strike within a mile of me. Rain too, though I couldn't see much of it since I've got the blinds lowered to keep more heat outside.

I had already picked up my lunch at the Lakeview Center, and eaten it watching old Endeavor episodes. When I got back from driving the 1/2 mile over and back, I put down some of the windows in the car so it wouldn't be so hot when I went out again. I'm not sure where I thought I'd be going, maybe groceries?

Anyway, I closed computer and even turned off the surge protector before the second big crash of thunder. Then later turned it all back on again and read blogs, emails etc. Placed that order too.

Watched another episode of Endeavor, since I'm now on season 5 of my binge watching.

Ate dinner. I've done some dishes and walked all over my apartment, looking at the wet sidewalks through the windows.

And finally at 8 pm I looked at the car through one of my windows. Oh oh. Barbara's done it again!

But somehow I must have known that lowered windows in the car might let in some rain - and it was forecast lower than 40% chance today. But I did do one thing right. I didn't lower the drivers window at all.

So I'm leaving it like this to perhaps dry out a bit before I need to go get my lunch tomorrow.

Turning 80 means yet another party!

 This one was a surprise. Three more friends joined in celebrating with me, as well as the two who I'd expected to have a regular lunch with.

Those two! They had it all together, I must say. First, when the original restaurant wasn't open (staffing issues) they switched to another one. They brought presents, a tiara, and lots of flowers as well as a carrot cake. I was a little kitten in heaven!

Teresa, one of the organizers...who toted lots of decorations and the cake!

and Helen, the other culprit who hid the flowers somewhere in her car so I didn't see them when she picked me up.

Linda, my goddess friend

Cathy, my Mud Buddy friend

and Suzanne, who went to the original restaurant looking for us, then went home, where she finally got the voice mail on her phone. She doesn't use her cell phone. So she arrived late, but joined in the fun!

My tiara...

My wonderful yummy carrot cake! The remains which went home with me are now in my freezer, to be enjoyed and bring a smile to my life in future days.

The food is always yummy...with variety for vegetarians too.

I had 3 serenades: first the regular birthday tune, then one with a waltzing rhythm, then the staff who had drums and rattles and gave a cha cha birthday song! They even put a sombrero over my tiara...somehow no photo from that remains (thank heavens!)

Today's quote:

Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation.

Healing is an act of communion.

—bell hooks

All About Love