TheAwakenedSoul

Friday, February 24, 2023

A Blizzard in California

Last night it snowed for several hours. It is continuing today. I tried to shovel out my car, but I just got too wet with the continued snowfall. I was able to sweep the steps, so that they were clear enough this morning to take out the dogs. Now they are covered again.

We could receive up to five feet of snow in the mountains. We shall see. It's so important to have your groceries and pet food stockpiled. Our delivery from the co-op was canceled, but fortunately I had picked up some extra produce at our local grocery store. I also have some canned fruit in the cupboard that I store for emergencies. I cooked a pot roast and some pasta in preparation. The dogs are enthusiastically gnawing on their marrow beef bones from the broth that I simmered last week.

I am so glad that I purchased that alpaca hat and cape when I was in Alaska. They keep me warm, safe, and dry. Alpaca is so soft, and it dries by the fireplace very quickly. I picked up a pair of gloves at the same shop, and they are divine. They match the jacket. The older I get, the more I love neutrals.

Last week the weather was gorgeous down in LA. I took a day to go bicycling on the beach. It was sunny and clear. It was so much fun to look at all the boats and enjoy the warm weather.

How is it where you are? Are you shoveling snow like I am?

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Friday, February 17, 2023

Five of My Friends Have Covid

Last week I heard from five different people I know, they all got Covid the same week. It is really circulating again. I decided to immediately schedule my second booster shot, and had it this morning. I got mine for free at Vons. I went at 9:00 a.m., when they opened. They will be charging for them in May. I think it costs $130.00!

The woman who helped me was very nice. I told her that I experienced intense reactions to the previous vaccines. She advised me to drink lots of water, to flush it through, and said no alcohol for three days. She also encouraged me to use my arm if it was sore. The tiny needles they use now are much less painful than the first ones. It makes such a difference! The first experience was a bit traumatic, but this time it was easy and quick.

I came home and made a pan of chicken enchiladas, simmered a pot of beef bone broth, and tossed a large salad. I like knowing that I have plenty of healthy meals in the fridge, in case I get sick again. After the previous vaccine I felt poisoned. This is the new one, the bivalent version.

My friends who contracted Covid were sick for two weeks! They felt nauseous and tired, but have now fully recovered. They didn't get the vaccine. One has had Covid previously. It concerns me when people get it repeatedly. From what I have read, repeat cases can cause more severe health problems in the future. It's such an intense experience.

My other friend is eighty, and even though she tests every week at work, she still got it. She said it was kind of depressing, and she felt a malaise. She decided to take the treatment that her doctor recommended, since she is older.

My friend in Australia fell ill with it on his trip here, so did his wife. He is still coughing...it's weird how it lingers.

What is your status with Covid? I am still masking and taking precautions. It seems the Moderna vaccines have worked for me, so far. I have only had Covid one time that I know of, in 2019, before we knew what it was.

Monday, February 13, 2023

Getting a Refund For a Canceled Flight or Cruise

Last June, I planned a trip from Miami through the Panama Canal. It was a fifteen night cruise with NCL. I found an excellent deal, and booked a flight on Delta Airlines. I got an excellent price through Travelocity. Unfortunately, I started receiving emails from them saying that my flight number had been changed. This happened twice. Shortly after that, I was notified by email that my flight had been canceled.

I called the cruise line to see if I could rebook a flight through them. It would have cost me thousands of dollars at that point, because hotel prices in Miami were now astronomical, and they wanted a two-night minimum. My original flight got me to the port the morning of our departure. The only comparable flight was out of Ontario, which was a three-hour drive from my cottage.

Fortunately, I had purchased the premium travel insurance that NCL offers. I realized I needed to cancel the cruise. NCL gave me two thirds of my money back, and advised me to file a claim for the rest. Travelocity gave me a refund right away, which was a relief. (I had purchased flight insurance, as well.)

The insurance company asked for an uploaded copy of my itinerary, a receipt from NCL, and had me fill out a short form, giving the dates that I had booked the cruise and paid for the insurance.

Travel insurance is key! With all the airlines overbooking these days, it is worth the money. I have recently been doing more local travel, since that way I can drive myself.

Have you ever been in this situation?

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Checking Your Bank Balances Each Day

The other night, I was chatting with a friend of mine who is from Australia. We were discussing real estate, (which she sells,) and stocks. I am an avid fan of the stock market. She told me that her parents were bankers, and that they always checked their bank balances every morning and evening.

I found that to be excellent advice. With all of the hacking and fraud that is happening in society now, if you know exactly how much money you have, and keep a close eye on it, you can catch any discrepancies. I once had a person from the Midwest use my debit card at their Walmart. They charged over $600.! I caught it right away, at six o'clock the next morning. I went down to my credit union when they opened and closed out the card. They reimbursed me and issued a new card.

I carefully look over my stock portfolio online each morning. I like to see if I am reaching my goals with my dividends and observe how the market is doing. I also need to keep an eye on my income, since in California, what we pay for health insurance depends on how much we earn.

I recently opened a CD at my bank, and that shows up on the screen, as well. Interest rates have gone up, and it is encouraging to be able to make some money off of savings once again.

Thank you for your comments; they add so much talent and energy to the blog. Please reply in English. I'm sorry, but those with links will not be published. If you enjoy the posts here, please share them. Comments may take a few days to appear; they are moderated.

Friday, February 3, 2023

Shockingly High Gas and Electricity Bills in California

I just received my electric bill for last month's usage. It was $264.00! Yikes! I have been heating the cabin with wood, but leave two electric radiator style heaters at 55 degrees to keep the pipes from freezing. It gets so cold in the winter. Some of our evenings we have dropped down into the teens. I guess it's better than having a pipe burst. I make sure to drain the water from the pipes and shut the water off when I am out of town.

It used to be cheaper to bake from scratch, but now I am thinking it might be less expensive to buy cookies on sale. I love the Scottish stem ginger biscuits that they sell at Stater Brothers. I may still make a batch of lemon bars and bake several potatoes while the oven is in use. The natural gas prices are causing me to rethink everything.

This is why it is so important to have an emergency fund and to account for inflation during retirement. Things really go up, and it only increases as we age. My health insurance now costs nearly $700.00 per month. It will continue to rise until I am eligible for Medicare at age 65. When I first bought the cottage, it was $35.00 per month. I was 33. At that time I just had a catastrophic policy.

How were your utility bills this month? Have you made any changes? I am doing laundry in cold water, and have been drying everything out on the clothesline. With all of the rain and flooding we experienced, I had to use the gas dryer several times. It really adds up; the more we can save and conserve, the lower our bills will be.

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Bob Fosse & Carol Haney "I Love A Piano" on The Ed Sullivan Show

Friday, January 27, 2023

Lunch With an Old Friend

Yesterday I met up with a woman I used to dance with when we were younger. We went into "Hello Hollywood, Hello!" at the same time. After that we did three separate companies of "Sugar Babies" together: one at Harrah's in Atlantic City, one at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe, and a third in Las Vegas, at The Desert Inn.

I suggested we have lunch at El Torito in Marina del Rey. I had been kayaking there that morning, and knew it was close to LAX, where they had landed. After taking a shuttle bus and an Uber to El Torito in Fisherman's Village, they arrived before I did. This is a convenient restaurant for layovers, away from the hustle and bustle of the airport and traffic.

The weather was gorgeous! The water was so still for kayaking, and there were very few people at the beach this time of year. What a change we've had in the weather since all of that rain and flooding we experienced earlier in January. I checked to make sure the riptide warning had passed, and that the wind was calm. This lifestyle is why I live in California, in spite of the challenges.

The chips, salsa, burritos and mud pie were delicious! It was heartwarming to catch up with Mandy and her husband, Bob. I always enjoy talking with them.

Friday, January 20, 2023

Snug and Warm Noro Socks

I finally finished knitting these brightly colored socks with Noro Silk Garden sock yarn. They don't match because of the way Mr. Noro dyes the wool. It was so much fun to knit with; I loved watching the vibrant shades unfold on my tiny knitting needles.

We received a welcome break from the rain and snow, and it has been wonderful. The dogs and I have enjoyed riding the bike in the sunshine. California looks beautiful and vibrant again. The hills are so green, after all that rain.

Today I did laundry and had my roots touched up with henna. In order to cover grey hair with the paste, you need to leave it on for at least four hours. I leave mine on for eight. It's amazing how well the color lasts. I love that there are no chemicals or dyes.

I picked up the white rabbit shawlette and fox fur that I bought at our local mountain vintage shop. I had taken them to a furrier in Beverly Hills for mending, conditioning and cleaning. They now look brand new. I wouldn't kill an animal for a fur coat, but I hated to see these sitting on a hanger, unused. What a waste. They are so warm and soft. I will keep them forever and take excellent care of them.

Thank you for your comments. They add so much talent and energy to the blog. Please reply in English. Those with links will not be published. If you enjoy the posts here, please share them. Comments may take a few days to appear; they are moderated.

Monday, January 16, 2023

A Frightened Squirrel

This little squirrel came up to me after last week's first atmospheric river. She looked right into my eyes, stood up on her hind legs, and chattered away, obviously very upset. It was as if she was explaining to me that her burrow had become flooded, her stored acorns had washed away, and she wanted to convey how dangerous it had been. She used her paws a lot, and seemed traumatized.

The Native Americans teach that squirrels warn others of impending danger. They are admired for their stockpiling skills. Many of these creatures are swept away during floods. How frightening it must have been for her with those huge gusts of wind. The force would have been terrifying. I panicked, just taking the dogs out to go potty. She acted like she knew me, as if I were part of her family.

Her snowy white stomach is so beautiful, and her tail is warm and bushy. I'm sure it brings her comfort when she's sleeping. The past couple of days she has been religiously gathering more acorns. I am glad that I have been focusing on taking care of the oaks and pines. Squirrels eat the pine nuts inside pinecones for protein.

Saturday, January 14, 2023

Fox and the Child

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Frightening Floods in California

As many of you probably know, we have been experiencing severe flooding in California. The rain has been constant. Fortunately, I had contacted our county flood control a few weeks before the first intense storm. I let them know that the water had seeped under my front door, and that my carpet was soaking wet.

They sent out five bulldozers and removed an enormous amount of dirt, and then paved it over and built up the area in front of my cottage. It took several days of work. Thankfully, after their efforts, the water flowed down to the waterway that leads it into the wash behind our homes.

The winds have been extreme; in some places over 100 miles per hour. Never before have I been so thankful for my stockpile. It is not safe to drive in this weather. The last thing you want to have to do is head out to the store for a loaf of bread or carton of milk. The most common way people die in floods is being trapped in their cars. The water can rise so quickly.

This morning I made a batch of chicken and vegetable enchiladas, broiled three marinated Tri-Tip steaks, and baked six russet potatoes. If the power goes out, tasty and nutritious meals are ready. Some of the residents here have said that their gas bills have quadrupled. Switching to the fireplace insert and having the electric radiator heaters as an option has definitely saved me money. I keep my gas water heater on low.

The challenge now is to keep the firewood dry. My wood pile is soaked. (Even though I covered it carefully with a tarp.) But, I had spent hours stacking wood near the door, and bringing it in early to dry by the fire. That wood was sheltered from the rain and snow. So far so good...

How are you faring in this wet weather? I hope you are safe and dry.

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Back Home From Santa Barbara

On Tuesday, I drove up the 126 to Santa Barbara, California. I had purchased a ticket to see the Aretha Franklin Broadway show, RESPECT. It was playing for two nights at The Granada Theater, on State Street.

I felt a bit nervous about driving there. The weather had been stormy, and we were expecting more rain on Wednesday. Tuesday ended up being lovely. I rode a rented bike from Wheel Fun Rentals along the scenic beach bike path for half of the day. The views of the ocean, clouds, and mountains were spectacular!

I stayed at The Santa Barbara Inn, right on the water. It was very clean and spacious, and they make a terrific pot of coffee, (which is free in the lobby each morning.) I had lunch out on the patio, and my waitress, Renee, was very sweet and kind.

I ordered the baby back ribs, and they were fantastic. So was the bread, which was homemade, with olive oil and pesto. I took the leftovers with me to my room. For dinner, I enjoyed the Mercato salad and the flavorful lemon tart. Both were divine. My waitress that evening was a tall blonde, who helped me figure out directions to get to the theater. She was surprised I didn't have a Smartphone with GPS. Thanks to her, I got there easily and quickly. She was so warm and helpful.

The show was a smash; I danced in the back row of the balcony for the entire second act. It was like a concert. I was so impressed with the cast, the choreography, and the music. What a difficult and painful life Aretha Franklin had. No wonder her voice and spirit reflected so much depth.

I drove home early Wednesday morning. Fortunately, I picked up the canines before the rain began to pound down from the sky. It poured last night, but the dogs and I were safe at home, snug and warm. I am so glad that the roof was replaced before it gave me any problems.

Monday, January 2, 2023

Tangerine Harvest

This afternoon I stripped the Algerian Tangerine tree of all of its fruit. I wanted to leave the beautiful citrus on the tree; they looked so pretty! (Everyone was commenting on them.) But, my neighbor let me know that she saw a squirrel with one in his mouth while she was on her walk. She recognized the orange color. Once the animals start helping themselves to your fruit, it can disappear very quickly.

The recent rain helped them to swell with water. We've been in a drought here in California, so the storms we've had have really helped those of us who are fruit growers. I am hopeful for a plentiful harvest of rhubarb and apricots in the spring.

Growing your own food is an incredibly rewarding experience. It takes time to build up the soil, but once you have worms, they do the work for you. My soil used to be red clay. I plan to feed the fruit trees some homemade compost before the next storm.

How is your garden doing? What have you been harvesting?