That Was the Week that Was

by

I’m sitting here waiting for my shuttle to the airport and looking at news coverage of Hurricane Michael approaching Florida.  It’s not the best time to be heading for the east coast.  I’m on my way to do a library event in Newport News, VA, on Thursday evening.  Newport News is a long way north of Florida, but it’s in the projected path of the storm. My flight back is scheduled for Friday morning, about the time the remnants of Michael show up there.  By then it should be little more than lots of rain, but I’m heartsick for the people who will be directly affected. Take care people.  Please take care!

I’m happy and amazed to report that my shoulder seems to have improved remarkably.  I’ve gone for a whole week now with zero pain other than a twinge now and then.  That means I can fasten my bra without gasping in pain.  I can brush my hair; brush my teeth; hold a can of hairspray; close my own car door; get dishes out of the cabinets; pour a half gallon of milk.  After three months of being on the blink, it’s such a relief.

I’ll be gone for two and a half days.  Bill was supposed to go with me.  Obviously THAT isn’t happening. He will not be left to his own devices.  He will have our property manager, Marthinus Becker, here to look after him, and the kids will be able to look in on occasion.  He will also be properly supervised by our two dogs, Mary and Jojo who are relentless about requiring attention.

Speaking of dogs.  I remember telling my daughter that if she fed her dogs late it wouldn’t be that big a deal because DOGS CAN’T TELL TIME.  Let’s just say, when you’re wrong you’re wrong.  Jojo can tell time.  She loves squeaker toys, the most obnoxious of which is a very noisy lobster.  At a quarter to eight and at a quarter to three, she grabs the lobster and squeaks like mad until somebody feeds her.  Why am I writing this?  It’s a quarter to eight, and the noise is driving me nuts.

An update on Mary.  When she came to us two years ago, let’s just say she had issues.  Those are mostly much improved.  One that lingered longest was her reluctance to go for rides.  It’s only in the last month or so when we’ve said “Do you want to go?” that she makes a break for the back door rather than having to be carried, dragged, or tricked.  And we’ve now discovered a viable Dachshund loading system.  We have a lovely little decorative stool that was once upstairs.  Now it lives in the garage.  The dogs have learned to wait until I push the stool up to the back door of the car and have time to open it.  Then in they go.  What I like best, however, is the two-dog race to get to the back door.

It’s not been a good few weeks for writing.  I’m down to the end of The A-list and will probably finish today or tomorrow.  I’ll have today on the plane and most of tomorrow on my own in a hotel.  I’m calling it a variation on a theme of going to a writer’s workshop.

I regard this blog as a window on my world, and that’s my world this week:  Part Nurse Nora; part Grandma; part Dog Whisperer; part Agatha Christie.

16 thoughts on “That Was the Week that Was”

  3. Congratulations on dodging the proverbial bullet with your shoulder! Happy for you! I injured mine about 5 years ago being impatient about pulling on capris over a wet body and swimsuit and haven’t had a day without pain since. Did therapy, injections and scheduled replacement surgery 3 tines. Cancelled because of husband health issues. Can’t be a Nurse Nora with one arm slinged to body after surgery. Hair looks lousy most of the time and a lot of other things don’t get done..but life goes on and better days will come? At least that’s what my Gram used to say.
    Take care…keep doing exercises with that arm…get it and keep it strong!
    Best of healing thoughts for Bill’s back surgery also.

  4. So glad your shoulder is better..I hope it stays that way…My best wishes to you and your husband for good health..That’s the most important thing at this stage in our lives…As I mentioned before, I read the latest J. P. Beaumont book…A treasure! Thank you so much for giving me such pleasure over the years…Of all your characters, he is my favorite…Stay well, stay happy and please continue to write…Hope your writing arm wasn’t the injured one!!! A fan of yours for years and years!!

  5. Looking forward to your author talk tonight in Newport News! Hopefully, the rain will let up during the event.

  6. Prayers for safe travel. Also praying you will not have issues with your return flight.
    Great news about your shoulder.
    I know Bill will be in good hands while you are away.
    Michael blew through South Carolina and we had 45-50 mph winds and rain. We lost power for a few hours and about the time I started to crank the generator up, the power came back on.
    These back to back storms have not been nice to the eastern coast of SC and NC. Certainly do not need more rain.

  7. Enjoyed your bit here today. And I am so glad to hear that your shoulder is doing better. I’ve enjoyed your writings for years now and thank you for such entertainment.

  8. I’m new to J.A.Jance books but, believe me, Joanna Brady will be on my list from now on.
    I have a bad shoulder from falling on it too many times, so I can empathize with your pain.
    Love your Brady series and am collecting all of them as fast as I can!!!!! I’ve visited that area a couple of times and have relatives in Phoenix, Casa Grande and Prescott. Greta places!!!!!!!

  9. I’m new to J.A.Jance books but, believe me, Joanna Brady will be on my list from now on.
    I have a bad shoulder from falling on it too many times, so I can empathize with your pain.
    Love your Brady series and am collecting all of them as fast as I can!!!!! I’ve visited that area a couple of times and have relatives in Phoenix, Casa Grande and Prescott. Great places!!!!!!!

  10. New to the blog but not new to the author. Have always loved the author – but the blog is such a bonus! Thank you! Now I love the blog AND the author!?

  11. Love your blog. Helps me realize what a wonderful person you are. We all know you are a fantastic writer!!

  12. Love reading your blogs because it keeps us current with you. I am so happy to hear about our shoulder……..it gives me hope. My right shoulder has been painful for a year and I can’t do all the things you mentioned you can now do for yourself. I would love to be able to fix my hair more than anything. Thanks for the hope. Here is hoping and praying your flight makes it out Friday morning and you are back home with Bill. Oh, and cats can tell time, too. 5 pm is treat time for our cat. If she hasn’t seen me coming, at 5:02 on she is at my feet meowing.

  13. Good grief. Have you never seen Jojo roll up her furry sleeve and look at her watch? Please be very careful. Looking at the news reports makes even thinking of traveling in that area very scarey.

  14. Have a good trip travel safe stay dry…. THAT’S about all the good advice I have at the moment. YES dog tell time, ours know when to eat and gets upset when its not dished up. I really tried NOT to feed him at the same time everyday but he just plain outsmarted me. He gets his Dad to feed him. Lol what a gift this little guy has been in our lives, his love for us is unconstitutional. He loves Az now that we have put fake grass in the backyard.. Please have a Wonderful Trip and be safe… Jan

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