Synchronicity: Book and Hand

So the big news is I finished my book, i.e. the memoir! Well, I typed those magical words "The End". And of course, now I will have to tear it to shreds (Kill Your Darlings as they say) on a re-write.... It's too long, really needs some amputation...  But! This has been a long time coming with so many detours (grief, being kicked out of that writer's group, my sister's death, then my broken hand, the whole settling of the estate, 3 hand surgeries, other crappy stuff) so --- phew!

I was dreading writing that final chapter, which is set in the year 2015 -- a year that started so well and ended so horribly. I really couldn't bring myself to relive it again. Heck I spent more than five years in therapy dealing with it. I suffered PTSD from that damn year. Went through EMDR and EFT therapies to deal with anxiety issues caused by the events of 2015. I just could not relive it again. I couldn't write it on a blank page (or screen if you will).

Then, I thought, hey, just use my blog and my personal journal and pick out passages and copy from there.

Which is what I did. Printed off blog posts. Propped up my handwritten journal. Told myself, don't think, just type. 

And I did. Just type. Typing, copying words I already had written.

While typing I realised that I was actually typing. I mean not-looking-at-my-fingers-or-keyboard typing. My left hand NOT straying off the keyboard as usual since my hand surgeries.  And I was typing FAST! I was almost afraid to look at the computer screen -- imagining all sorts of garbage, gibberish, typos -- but when I looked, it was perfect. I was back at my 120 words per minute speed/error free mode. Typing!

I was amazed! I got my hand back! I can type again. I don't know how long it's been to see that darn left hand flying across the keyboard without a mistake and working like it should. Two years? Or so...   

Well, it's good to have my hand back. So damn good. 

Though I must admit, I still can't pick up small things with it. Like dropped pills, or spilled cat kibble or a nail on the floor. But hell, that's what the other hand is for and I'd rather be able to type than anything else.

You can't imagine how happy this makes me. And at the same time "finish" the book. A coincidence?

And a day or so after I wrote those magical two words "The End" -- my computer bombed! ha!! But I was able to save the manuscript, so all is well. 

Now the memoir is on back burner for a minute or more, while I get ready to edit it.... 

Back Online!

 Finally, after nearly four weeks, I am back up and running.  I'm talking about my desktop computer. Which crashed while I was trying access my online bank account. I mean, BAM, Poof! And Safari (my browser) was killed in action....

Hours on the phone with Tech Support, first at my bank (sorry, a 2 hour wait to speak to Tech Support.... hmmm, wonder why?) Then hours with Mac (Apple) Support, who tried their best but couldn't resuscitate Safari. Pronounced it DOA. Got me online with Chrome but that still didn't work some websites and still couldn't get on the bank's website. Got me Mojave (sp?) but that didn't work either. Firefox worked, sometimes. Told me that my computer was "antiquated" (WHAT?) I got this thing in 2015, Bob picked it out. Turns out Best Buy sold me a "brand new" 2012 model....  grrr. 

Ultimately, got a hold of Tech Support at my bank, talk about rude! That guy told me to "get a new computer!" While I wanted to know how to access my account with Firefox.... He kept repeating "get a new computer" and I guess sort of snapped (well, I didn't yell) but said, "So all your customers have to get a new computer because you upgraded your software? Do you think that's fair?" To which he responded "FUCK YOU!" And hung up on me. Whoa.

Long story short, sort of. I ended up back at Mac/Apple Support and purchased a new Mac mini. The tech support guy said it would configure with my keyboard and monitor so I just needed to buy a new hard drive and to get the latest version, buy it direct from Apple as Best Buy is "known" to sell old versions as new. And once I got the new Mac mini to call Apple Support and they would walk me through transferring my files, setting up everything, etc.

So got the new Mac mini, unfortunately the 2022 version is not available yet, but got the latest one. And when I called a different Tech guy told me I needed two monitors and keyboards in order to transfer my data. Or a hard drive backup. What? This is not what the other guy said....   

Ultimately was able to transfer everything via a thumb drive, which took more than 12 hours of first downloading and then uploading... two days spent doing all that.

Then the tasks of figuring out all my passwords and getting access to all my websites (including this blog) another couple of days spent working on that plus one whole afternoon trying to get Microsoft Office for Mac (my subscription) transferred so I can open my manuscripts... and I tell you, it's amazing I have a hair left on my head.

And another couple of days, cleaning up (boxes, manuals, cords etc.) rearranging my desk and putting everything back in order. Another day to just crash and relax....

Well, I'm back on line.  More later....  Thanks for your patience.

The Art of Walking the Dog

I recently purchased a book titled Enlightened Dog Training. Now, Kona does not need any dog training, believe me she's had plenty in her service dog training but I had heard a radio interview with the author who spoke about "the secret language of dogs" and how to interpret them, which interested me.

I'm reading this book, realizing I indeed have misinterpreted some of Kona's "language" from time to time. Such as when she stares at me, I used to make eye contact with her: wrong thing to do. One should actually look into her eyes briefly, then look away. This is a calming technique and a reminder that you are the "alpha" not vice versa. Also a dog blinking means they want you to calm down. Hmm... interesting. A yawning dog is trying to communicate the same thing: i.e. "calm down." And you can do these cues to calm a dog down. Blink.Yawn. Stare, then look away. (Worked perfectly at church today when Kona was getting antsy.)

But back to walking. A whole chapter is dedicated to "Mindful Leash Walking". Kona is really good on a leash, but "mindful dog walking" is a whole different thing. It's sort of a meditation while walking, instead of the usual sort of "let's get this over with and on with our day" kind of dog walk. This is a peaceful way to start the day. 

I do walk Kona in the mornings. It's pretty much the first thing I do after feeding Kona and Ripley and washing down a few cups of coffee watching the morning news. These past few weeks, I've been practicing "mindful" walking. Part of which involves holding the leash very lightly, keeping a "u" shape hanging between Kona and me, and deep breathing: 1-2-3-4-5 inhale, 1-2-3-4-5 hold, 1-2-3-4-5 exhale.

And being "mindful" i.e. walking without thinking of all the things I need to do that day. Walking without thinking of anything except this very moment, this tree we are passing, this flower, this flock of birds, these steps. Pushing away any other fleeting thought that doesn't involve this very moment. Walking slowly, imagining the vibration of all the nature surrounding us, flowing from the ground, through my feet, through my body, up the chakras enveloping Kona and I in a bubble of white vibration and being totally in the moment. This street. This rock. This squirrel. This sky. This moment in time which can never be repeated again and will be lost forever.

You can't believe the calming effect this has had on me -- and Kona too. I find we are suddenly synchronized in our steps as if we have become one (dog and woman). I find that squirrels and birds instead of fleeing our paths, stop and regard us calmly. I can't believe the flash of joy a breeze brings. And how beautiful this planet really is. We walk about 2.5 miles every morning. It takes a little longer (mindful walking) than "regular walking" used to, but it's much more relaxing and I feel a tremendous peace when we return home.

I never imagined I could love Kona any more than I always have, but find myself more bonded to her than ever before.... It is truly amazing.

The other day I found this painted rock on our walk and couldn't help but think it was meant for me.

 

What a Difference a Mile Makes

Back in the old neighborhood, if there were sirens, street blockages and people gathering on the street it meant a crime had been committed or a SWAT drug raid was taking place.

It's a different world here, not even a mile away. The activity and sirens and street blockage today was caused by the filming of a television commercial on our block. 

Of course, I had to investigate, taking Kona on a nonchalant espionage stroll...

My co-conspirator (being nonchalant)

The street line with cars and limos

At the corner....

Setting up...

Unfortunately the commercial is for the local gas company. Was hoping to see some movie stars.... oh well.

Certainly isn't our old neighborhood!

Been A Buzzy New Year

And that's not a typo. This post is long over due. Sorry!

The year started out with a broken pool heater. As the pool tech was working on the heater, he leaned over and had the classic "plumbers crack". X-rated. And of course, I didn't want to stare... so I stood far away and as he was working I noticed some insects flying around the roof. On closer inspection (well, as close as I could from the ground) they looked like wasps or bees. I later asked my lawn guy what he thought they were, as he's much taller than me and he said they looked like honey bees to him.

So after the heater was repaired, I called a bee man. Someone who could remove the hive and relocate the bees (if they were honey bees). This was week one of the new year (that I called the bee man) and he showed up in full regalia bee-gear the next week.

Bee Man looking for hive.

After drilling holes and putting a camera on a scope into the roof eave he found the location. It was indeed honey bees and they had quite a comb established. He had to saw off part of roof eave to get to it. All the while I'm a nervous wreck, i.e. can he save the bees? will they swarm? (he warned me to stand back) How am going to fix the roof eave? 

This is what he found!

Bee Hive (Honey Comb)

He then brought a large rubber container and scooped the comb and bees out:

Catching bees!

Once he got the majority of them including the Queen Bee, he had to scoop out any remaining comb and spray a preventative chemical to keep the "straggler" bees from returning. My house was dripping with honey....

Home Sweet Home
Literally, that's honey dripping down the house.

The bees were relocated to "the Green Swamp" a place where the bee man and his father keep their bee hives.... So the honey bees were saved, except for a few stragglers who stung the heck out of the poor guy when he was tidying up! He also was able to replace the boards he sawed off and even repainted them, so alls well that ends well...

Then when I went to download the photos for this post, my camera died. Couldn't retrieve a thing! All 3000 pictures gone! Pictures going back to Bob and Boomer etc. I was heartbroken, though as you can see, I finally retrieved them. Took days... Still working on retrieving the others.

Meanwhile, the ice maker broke down and while waiting for a new ice maker, I went into the guest house to find ice cube trays and opened a cupboard and found A SNAKE!  EEK! I tell you, I was outta there fast!

Thus started the "snake man" saga... an "animal eviction service". So this past week, while retrieving photos and dealing with The Snake Man and The Ice Man... I've barely had time to work on anything....

So today, the ice maker is back in service. The guest house is set with traps and all holes that could allow critters in have been sealed. Pool heater working. Bees gone to a new home. And I will be retrieving more photos today (and probably tomorrow and the next day etc...) 

That's all, folks!

Happy Birthday, Bob!

January 16, 1959 - May 28, 2015

                                       Loved so much
                                       Gone too soon