Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Last full day in Sedona. It has been wonderful here as always. Yesterday was a very full day. We had a phenomenal breakfast at the Inn which ended up being our only real "meal" of the day. We hiked EIGHT miles! My feet, knees, hips and back were aching when we were done. But what a beautiful and diverse hike! Caves, sunny/sandy paths, dark/cool areas through the woods, and red rock climbing. The day was topped off by meeting CC at the Plein Art Festival hosted by a winery nearby. Beautiful venue, great art, good appetizers, and tremendous people. I loved seeing CC and really enjoyed meeting her friends. She has made a great life here!

Today we are likely not hiking though we may do a short one tomorrow morning before we head down to Phoenix. DH and I agreed that maybe we should use 5 miles as the maximum for hiking from now on. Not sure what we will do but there are plenty of choices in the area. First we will have another great breakfast here and I have requested that we have at least one other real meal today. Appetizer type foods for 2 meals just doesn't work well though I didn't overdo on it (probably actually ate less than normal).

We just saw a balloon though it was lower in the sky than yesterday. I think it might be a bit windier?

Have a total Tuesday!

205.9? I think so.... But it was 205.something....

Decent work out yesterday.

Quick visit with Pops. I like to go before his dinner so I can visit and then walk him down to his dinner and leave him with friends, but yesterday they were serving dinner at 4 pm!!!! He was already in the dining room sitting at a table with two other inmates. One of the residents (her name is Jackie) is still obsessed with my dad's apartment. They were pulling her out of his apartment when I arrived. Oh, and I was told that my dad has a new trick: He whips it out and pees when the urge hits him with no regard to location! When the director was telling me this in her "poor us" tone of voice, I couldn't help but think to myself, "Yes, and this is why we pay you 10K every month to keep him clean and safe in an environment that specializes in dementia care." Anyhow, I think my dad might be nearing the rapid decline. The changes to his personality and behaviors seem to be happening quickly. I am noticing more and more preschool age thinking and behavior.

New bank card finally came, so I need to get that activated and my automatic payment accounts switched over to the new card. I'm wondering now if I should just move all those to my credit card and simply pay the credit card bill each month. Probably "safer". Now that my bank card has been compromised, I'm feeling like I need to be more careful with how I use it.

In classroom dynamics there is often one child (sometimes two) whose mere presence triggers undesirable behavior in the group or can whip the classroom energy so it's buzzing. When that child is absent it's really noticeable. I have been noticing how much calmer the house is without Bug's presence. The dogs all seem calmer and more relaxed - especially Molly. Funny...

I shall add to Liz's total Tuesday and wish you all a Totally Tantalizing Tuesday!

I'm sorry but I had to chuckle at your Dad whipping it out and peeing. Not really unusual in Memory Care so you are right - they just need to deal with it. A woman I knew was so embarrassed when she heard that her Dad kept walking around naked. But the worst was that not only did he ask the women there for sex but he asked his daughter as well. After she processed that for a few days it became a funny story. Sometimes you just have to chuckle.

Interesting point about Buzz. My DS was an active kid so if there was a disruptive kid in his room he entered into the fray whole hog. He had one year when I had once a week updates from the principal of his school. They had chosen to put all the difficult (and active) kids in the same classroom with a teacher known for keeping control. But her mother was dying that year and she was just overwhelmed. A really difficult year for all (including the teacher). The following years in calm classrooms DS was quite well behaved.

Hi all!

I have spent the last several hours helping my neighbor's son prep cook for the plein air painting event that is at her house tomorrow. I was saved by the bell when the roofers called to ask if they could come by to see the roof stuff they will fix. So I was able to skedaddle...

It's a week-long festival and I was so glad Liz and Mike had fun at the first event! It was really wonderful to see them both. I bought a painting and the painter was a great old curmudgeon grousing over having to hold his phone up to illuminate his painting because he didn't bring a light. Ha! Lots of talented painters there.

Paula, sounds like you guys are doing a great hob on the packing front. It's not easy packing up a lifetime, but the volume and price to move everything makes deciding what to pitch/sell easier!

Peps, while I'm so sorry you have to watch your dad decline, I think it's really great to keep a sense of humor as you have. And you're right, for 10k a month, he can pee wherever he wants! Or they can figure out a way to get him to go in appropriate places.

I should probably go tackle one or two things from my list o' tasks. It has shrunk a little, but they aren't going to do themselves!

Good thing you were "saved" by the roofers. Should be really cool to see paintings depicting your neighborhood views tomorrow night though!

Greetings all

More sun here and I think it might be 70 degrees! Warm in my studio which has south windows. Scrabble canceled so I could not rationalize skipping the gym. So I went and walked. Funny how if I set the speed higher I finish sooner. After that I did a little studio work. We are supposed to have a board meeting tomorrow but it is cancelled. Yay.

Liz what a fun event you guys did for the pleine air festival. How cool. Bet there is some super good stuff there. I am amazed by your hiking distance! Way to go.

CC glad the roofers rescued you from cooking prep. Fine for awhile but hours? Hope the repairs all work out. Great pic of you guys on FB. Balloon rides! Bet I would get air sick.

Peps sounds like your dad is indeed declining. Sorry to hear it. But yeah on the whiney director - have they not ever had an elderly person pee inapproriately?

Well Paula nothing like a long distance move to declutter. GL with the rest of it.

Not much else.

Diane S

Beautiful weather for you! I am really enjoying the Arizona weather though 50 degrees in the morning is a *****illy for me.