Early morning in the casa. One day I sleep in, the next? Up really early after a restless night. Go figure.
Boy, is it hot out there! It may be September, but in these parts the temperatures are in the nineties. I won’t complain because school starts this week and I can’t imagine how miserable the students and teachers will be. Schools don’t have air conditioning here! At least I can stay in the air conditioned cottage.
Do you ever have a day when everything goes wrong and the simplest of tasks become difficult? That was my day yesterday. I got a late start, which threw me off (see yesterday’s post about routines) and then, after taking my shower, I decided to clean the hair out of the drain, which involves removing the cover by unscrewing it, getting all the hair out (yuck) and screwing it back in. While I was finishing up, the shower curtain and rod fell on my head.
Lest you think it’s a heavy metal rod, it isn’t. Whoever flipped this house neglected to put in a permanent rod, so we have one of those adjustable vinyl/plastic rods. I spent the next 20 minutes trying to get it back up, dragging a chair into the bathroom, cursing up a storm, until I finally realized the rod was shot – the spring tension was kaput. In the meantime, I had to sit down at my desk and write up all the deductions, scan them, and send them off to our accountant. That took longer than I had planned. In the middle of it all, I called Lowe’s to make sure they had the shower curtain rods in stock, drove there, came back, put up the rod, cleaned the bathtub, went back to the computer, finished everything up and then I collapsed in my chair.
Later, I heard a noise. The rod had fallen. Back up again, tightening it even more. When Don came home from taking photos, he said, “I’ve got to take a shower!” And I said “BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT ROD!!” He was. So far, so good.
I’m thrown off, I tell you. I have to get back into my routine!
Early morning Stella.
We have to sit down this week and figure out where we’re staying in London and Paris (and Edinburgh) and make our reservations. It’s just a little over a month away.
Rick and Doug are traveling this month (they’re going to London and Rome) and we’re traveling next month. This makes it sound as if Don and I travel all the time, but you know that’s not true. Rick and Doug, however, travel frequently. By the way, one of Doug’s daughters just had a baby! Doug and Rick are grandfathers. The baby is a girl and she’s absolutely beautiful! His daughter lives in Hong Kong so he’ll will be traveling there later this month to see his new (and first) grandchild.
Early morning plants.
If you’re not interested in the resistance, skip this next section and have a lovely day xo.
There is a new documentary out called Active Measures. It was just released to the public on August 31st. If you are trying to make sense of everything Trump/Russia, I urge you to see it. It’s extraordinary. It’s terrifying. But we have to know all of the facts and this lays it all out in a way that makes perfect sense, tracking the Russian Mob and Putin and Trump’s mob ties and suddenly you find yourself seeing how all the puzzle pieces fit together. It’s playing in select theaters and is also available on Hulu and iTunes. I don’t get Hulu, but there’s a month long free trial available right now. I do have iTunes. You can rent it on iTunes or buy it. I bought it because I want Don to see it as well.
All I can say is that I had to take several breaks while watching it on Sunday afternoon because the evidence was so overwhelming and alarming. The filmmaker interviews John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Clint Watts, Michael McFaul, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative Eric Swalwell and countless experts on Russia, as well as members of the Intelligence Community. It also touches on the same active measures being used in the Brexit campaign and in the Ukraine. No conspiracy theories here, just facts.
Just wanted to let you know about it.
Happy Tuesday.
Those adjustable spring rods! They are great, as you don’t need to fiddle with drilling holes, but when they decide to fall…good grief! Just glad you didn’t get hurt
I haven’t watched that program yet. I am going to do it sometime this week. How is it possible that he is still in office? It just boggles my mind.
When all else fails, just go and hug Stella! She’s a beauty! I’d probably sit and talk to her! 😍
Have a relaxed day!
Today has been a tough day with the Kavanaugh hearings. I’m depressed.
glad you weren’t hurt by the falling shower curtain rod and it didn’t cause you to fall. hope the new rod will stay in place for you.
glad, too, that your tax paperwork is done and where it needs to be. a relief, huh? may the numbers be in your favor!
know you’ll have fun figuring out more plans for your trip and feel better for having airline tickets in hand … soon! i am so happy for you and don to take such a big and wonderful trip!
and how nice for doug and rick to be able to travel, too (maybe they’ll have some “must do” suggestions to give you for london) … definitely a gift to be able to see more of this beautiful world! safe travels for them and for you two. best wishes to doug, his daughter and rest of their family on the new baby! our family will have a new addition (my oldest niece is having a boy) in two weeks … yay!
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thanks for the information about that “active measures” documentary. i don’t have hulu, etc., doubt it will show in a theater around here, but will try to find it somewhere. we are living in very scary times.
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keep cool and happy tuesday!
kathy in iowa
Very scary times, Kathy!
Hi Claudia!
Thanks for info regarding Active Measures! I definitely want to see it.
Enjoy planning your trip abroad:)
My sister won a trip to Paris and London a few years ago. We joined her. It was awesome. Our first trip across the Atlantic. In Paris we went to some of Ina Garten’s favorite places. She has a condo in Paris. The farmer markets right on the sidewalks were amazing!! Eat your way through!! Small little grocery stores will sell good wine very reasonably if you like wine. I loved Paris! We needed more time in London. It was a memorable trip!! Take the river cruises in each city and eat outside as much as you can. Lovely!!!
Now, I want to return!!
Happy Tuesday,
Deb
We will, Debbie. We’re going to be in Paris on our anniversary!
My daughter gave me a Tubshroom for my birthday (from Amazon) It catches the hair before it goes down the drain. I was a skeptic but it works!
Enjoy planning your trip; the two of you deserve an absolutely amazing vacation!
Thank you, Betsy!
Sounds like quite the shower adventure you had yesterday…one I doubt you want to repeat. We put in glass shower doors about 20 years ago…but, they have their own pitfalls. I don’t think either choice is the answer. Except a huge walk-in shower…no curtains or doors necessary. Maybe in my next life?
I’ll try and see Active Measures…sounds like a must see documentary. Have fun making your reservations….your trip is gonna be fantastic! ;)
We had glass shower doors at one point and they were a pain in the tush. Not here, but in our San Diego house. Huge walk-in shower would be great, but we don’t have the space!
Neither do we! ;)
xo
I have Hulu right now so I will watch that before I get rid of Hulu. So much has happened to stir me up again!
5 years ago today I left on my Paris adventure. What a trip. I stayed in a small apt I rented and LOVED it. Had a small kitchen so I didn’t have to eat every meal out. I could buy quiche and heat up for a meal. We would eat out once a day and saved money that way. There were shops near the apt so I would get fresh food daily. It cost about the same as a hotel but with a kitchen so in the end it was cheaper. Just a thought. It had a view of the Eiffel Tower also! Hugs!
Here is the rental agency I used. Notice it’s name is the same as my blog! Kismet!
http://www.alacarte-paris-apartments.com/en/
oxoxo
Just went to the site where you rented the apartment and we’re waiting to hear back from them. I think we messaged them after they had closed for the day. Thank you!
Hi, Claudia, Not sure what your plans are when you are in Edinburgh, but when my husband and I visited, we stayed a short distance outside the town in Burntisland. We would take the train across the gorgeous Firth of Forth bridge – stunning views! The b&B we stayed in was wonderful – The Gruinard Guest House https://www.gruinardguesthouse.co.uk/index.html
Jean and Gus were wonderful hosts – Gus picked us up at the airport in Edinburgh, and Jean arranged for a rental car that came right to the front door, so that we could take a day trip around Fife and visit all the charming fishing villages along the coast. Their breakfasts were amazing, and we were treated to sherry and homebaked shortbread when we would arrive back “home” after a day of exploring. At night it was fun to walk around Burntisland – charming inns for a dram of whiskey and walking along the beach and seeing the high/low tides was fascinating. Just thought I’d throw this suggestion out there, in case that sounds inviting. We also took a weekend trip with a small group tour to the Highlands, I believe we used Rabbie’s Tours out of Edinburgh. I’m so excited for your trip!
Thank you Martha. We’re only going to be there for about a day and a half, so we’ll most likely stay in the city for easy access to everything. I’ve been there before (for 2 weeks) but Don hasn’t. We’ll tour Old Town and see the castle and that kind of thing.
I will find the documentary- thanks for telling us about it- I don’t think there is any possible way for sane people to ‘understand’ anything the cretin in the White House does though … thank goodness for all the lovely people who were evident during the McCain ceremonies … they remind us that not everyone is a tweeting egomaniac-
your trip sounds delightful- I’ll look forward to pictures-
beware the shower rod … I have always felt that anything I ever installed was out to get me-
I’d so much rather have a permanent one, Barb! So far, so good with it today!
I’ve never used a spring rod as long as a shower rod. Even the shorter ones can be unreliable. I bought a real cheapie at Joann Fabrics. It was on clearance and I got an additional percentage off. I haven’t tried it yet, as I have to make the curtains first. It’s for a bathroom window so I don’t intend to fiddle with it once it’s up.
Every morning, I open the door to my office to greet my boy, and I get a different surprise. Today, I discover a tipped over litter box. As we lined the floor with puppy pads, it was just a matter of picking up the pad and readjusting the litter box. Most of the litter fell back in, but there are small piles I have to clean up. At least it’s easier than yesterday’s mess, as he had tried to climb the bookcase overnight. I know he’s bored and anxious, so I’m being really patient with him, and I never yell at him. One more week….then he can rejoin his sisters and get back to his ROUTINE!
to wendy t …
everyone needs a routine, huh?! glad your cat is on the mend!
kathy in iowa
Thanks, Kathy! Only one more week stuck in my office and then we’ll keep the door open for him to wander out in his own time. I love my routine, sprinkled with some surprises! And I’m sure he misses his, which includes lots of sleep and observation time from the top perch of the cat tree.
He’s acting out! I don’t blame the poor thing! Even kitty cats need their routines!
Those springy shower rods have not proved as easy as one would expect for me either.
However, you seem to have made it through and that is worth something.
Thanks for the information as it is hard to feel one has a clue as what is going in the USA.
The arrival of a new baby is ever the miracle and may all be well to enjoy the moments.
And, congratulations Claudia & Don on your romantic sounding celebratory journey!
Have fun figuring it all out as you plan and imagine your way into this adventure!
All the best!
We made some reservations today and that’s good but I find it all quite exhausting! We never spend much money and we’re spending quite a bit at the moment. Makes me uneasy and anxious.
You had me laughing out loud with the shower rod story (glad you didn’t hurt yourself – – all I could think about was what ‘they say’ of accidents in the home!).
I know. All that because I wanted to clean the drain!
Just watched the trailer–so disturbing! Thanks for the heads up on this, Claudia. How exciting for you, planning your trip! Enjoy every moment:)
Very disturbing, Karen. It’s truly excellent, I hope you watch it.
Thanks so much!
Love getting your daily musings !
Hair : I always brush my hair before the shower so there is none to go down the drain. I have to change the liner before company on Thurs. – dread it !
Have a nice evening, Connie in CT
So glad you enjoy the blog, Connie! Thank you.
I hate those rods although sometimes they are necessary….Many congratulations to Doug and Rick…I’m sure they will be excellent grandpa’s and thoroughly spoil her..even from a distance!…I would really like to see that documentary Claudia…May be worth signing up for Hulu for a month!!
Yes – and it’s free, you just have to make sure you cancel at the end of 30 days!