Last night it rained. Lightening, thunderstorms, winds. Then this morning, humidity lays heavy on. the landscape here in southern coastal Delaware.
This is to be expected since I live on a peninsula surrounded by water, much like Florida.
On days like this I stay inside my house. It's too dangerous for me to go outside in this heat and humidity. Literally, too dangerous. A few times I almost didn't make it back inside before I passed out. This is the main reason I pay Jose to mow my lawn weekly, which he does every Wednesday (today).
I could stay all day at my computer here in the house but after a while my lower legs swell up. I have poor blood flow. If I take a daily walk it helps to keep my legs from swelling up. I wish I had one of those suburban malls close by that I could take one of those daily old people walks around the mall.
Last night I was up until after two AM. Usually I don't stay up that late but some nights I'm just not sleepy. I did get a good sleep in though and got up later (about 7:30 AM) that I usually do. Lately I've been waking up at 4:30 or 5 AM and can't get back to sleep. I sense "something" is going on. My appetite has changed too. I'm just not that hungry anymore. I've lost weight but not that much so far. About eight to ten pounds. Maybe this all is just an "old age" thing. But I do feel I'm transitioning to a different phase.
Today I will take a lot of time correcting and updating my family tree on Ancestry.com. Something I've been meaning to do for years but life caught up with me the last four or five years. Three years full-time caregiver for Bill and then over two years grieving for his loss. I'll always grieve over not having Bill in my life to love and take care off but I feel it is time to move on now and get ready for my grand exit. But before that happens, some loose ends to clean up. Of course I'll never have all of them cleaned up but I'll do what I can. I don't want to leave too much of a mess for Pat.
Yesterday we finally got a break from the brutal, oppressive heat wave that has kept me inside most of the days this summer.
I took advantage of this normal weather and edged the flower patch I have around the transformer I share with my neighbor Bob.
In a previous post, I wrote (and showed) how Comcast command that Bill's white picket fence had to be removed from around the transformer. Bill thought that transformer looked ugly (it is ugly) and wanted to camouflage it with something more pleasant to the eyes. That's when he installed a white PVC picket fence. We've had that picket fence
The white PVC picket fence Bill put in 2010
around the transformer for about fifteen years until last month when Asplundh, a local tree removal company, hired by Comcast, came by and ripped everything out.
I understand that Comcast wants access to their equipment. I'm not totally unreasonable and in fact, I wasn't even in favor of the fence but Bill wanted it. So we had it.
What an ugly scar Asplundh left after their workers ripped the fence and vegetation out,
leaving a sad pile
in my driveway of what was once a beautiful fence and flowers. Even my neighbor said something about it. So I planted a few flowers.
Better.
Then I planted a few more flowers. My clematis, which I assumed were dead since they were ruthlessly ripped out, came back from the dead. So then I resurrected my rusted out trellises that I had stored behind my shed, that were destined to Got Junk, and put them over the new clematis growth.
Even better.
Then I had an idea. Rather than let the years long mulch buildup around the transformer return to wire grass hell, why not keep pulling the weeds out and keep that as a garden? Viola! I have turned a lemon, an eyesore, a scar into lemonade. No longer would my neighbors have to look at that transformer, which resembles Russian architecture at it most brutal.
I even added a garden gnome!
However, it has been difficult to maintain this new garden because of this stifling heat and humidity we're having this summer. I try to some garden maintenance at the end of the day when the sun goes down but the humidity is still here. I'm soaked in only five or ten minutes of work. I do manage to water and fertilize, despite the humidity that just drains all the energy out of me.
Then yesterday we got a reprieve, however temporary, from this brutal heat and humidity.
Know what I did? I edged the garden! Yes I did! I even took three wheelbarrows full of wire grass infested dirt out to my compost pile at the far edge of my property, where I put all my garden waste. Yes, I keep all my garden waste in a compost pile at the edge of my property. That's why I chose this lot that bordered a road and a cornfield. I specifically didn't want a property that bordered on my neighbor's property because surely they would complain about the compost pile. Nobody complains about my compost (where I also put my kitchen waste) pile now.
I completed the edging last night. Today, at daylight (I was up at 3:15 AM again this morning, I can't figure this out but will go into this recent phenomenon in a future blog post) I will finally clean up that small remaining pile of mulch that has been in my driveway since spring. I had hoped to have that mulch gone by July 4th but the heat and humidity prevented me from doing so. I'm sure my neighbor Bob will be glad to see that mulch pile disappear. Personally, I will miss it. I have grown fond of it. Every time I went outside and saw it, I felt like an old friend was waiting for me to finally give it a home. Today is the day mulch pile!
Now here's the best part folks. After I finish the job, I am getting a plaque from Amazon and renaming that flower garden as "The Bill Kelly Memorial Garden."
Bill has always loved colors. The multi colors of Christmas lights and especially a the festival of colors of an flower garden. Yes, he would approve. And now ever time I drive out of my garage and I see that colorful flower garden, I will be reminded of my undying and eternal love for Bill.
Me and Bill July 2010 - he was my life and I his. One day we will be reunited once I get out of the Dystopian nightmare this country has become under The Felon and his cowardly enablers.
Good morning folks from a very hot and humid southern Delaware!
With this kind of continuous heat and humidity one would think I'm living in southern Florida. Well, here on the Delmarva peninsula we do have that geographical feature in common with Florida. Our peninsula is surrounded by water. The Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Chesapeak Bay on the other side. Most summers here in southern Delaware we have our fair share of hot and humid days but the past few years have been brutal.
I can't stay out in this heat and humidity too long. Only minutes in fact or else I'm going to pass out. That almost happened a few years ago when I was trying to push myself on my yard work, I felt myself getting dizzy and about to pass out from heat exhaustion. I barely made it back to our garage. I learned my lesson then, don't push myself or else I'll end up dead. Thus our yard is looking a little shaggy because I haven't been able to trim or pull weeds. Au natural, that's my new landscaping style. Deal with it my dear neighbors. At least I have a green, lush lawn. Not like last year when the army worms turned my backyard into a Martian landscape.
Thank God our air conditioning is working. Unlike my good friend Pat F. who has problems with the air conditioning in his penthouse condo in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I feel for Pat, it's so frustrating for him to have his central air conditioner unit running continuously and can't seem to get below 78 degrees. Here, at Casa Tipton-Kelly, with our multiply rooms and floors, our central air works fine. Now I still have a problem with my wall oven. It's not working right even after I had the repair guy in here several times. They were supposed to show up for an appointment last week but they didn't show. And I can't get in touch with them. I've called several times and left a message. Now I can't even leave a message. No one answers the phone. I'm really disappointed in this repair company. I did my due diligence before I called them and they had all great reviews. I don't know what they problem is with them but they just haven't fixed my oven. I can use my oven but I have to push the "ROAST" button to "BAKE." The "BAKE" button doesn't reheat even though the last time the repairman was here he said it did work. He must be a Trumper, just outright lie and expect me to believe him. "Who are you going to believe? Me or your lying eyes?" I'll say it again, thank God our air conditioner system is working!
How's the weather where you are? We're sweltering here. Right now, at 4:45 PM the temperature outside if 98 degrees. The humidity I don't know but it feels like 100%. I can only stay outside a few minutes before my body starts to overheat. Then I dash back inside for relief. I can't take this kind of weather folks. I believe it when warnings go out during hot weather like this about it being dangerous for seniors. It is folks! I'm here to tell you. Hard to believe when I was young, I sailed through summertime without air conditioners and even fans. Not now, I literally fear for my life if I stay out too long. I think I can take Palm Springs heat, which is low humidity but not this heavy, oppressive humidity. A familiar refrain eh? "The heat not so bad but I can't take the humidity." By the way, got some good news this morning. Home Depot gave me a credit ($248) on my rug pad that I didn't need. I love Home Depot (even though one of its founders funds Trump's campaign). Good customer service Home Depot. An update on my brother who I mentioned was seriously ill. I haven't heard anything for several weeks now which isn't good. My Mother often said "When it's quiet that not good." John isn't one to complain about misfortune, unlike me. I tend to shout my misfortune from the rooftops. I texted him asking him how he was doing. I'll let you know if I hear anything. Hopefully I'm back to my regular schedule (two nights a week) at the hotel. It seems for months now I've been working three nights or more a week at the hotel to fill in for my co-workers for various emergencies, sicknesses, resignations, and vacations. Last Monday on my workday I woke up and was dizzy, very dizzy. I had to stay in bed all morning until I got a semblance of my balance back. I think I have an inner ear infection. I had this problem a few months back. It's scary when I have that condition because I can't get my balance. It's like I'm drunk. I am totally immobilized. I don't know what we would do here if this was a permanent condition with me. I couldn't drive and Bill doesn't drive. I don't want to even think about it. I only have one more thing to do this summer, getting my car inspected and registered then I'm looking forward to coasting out the rest of the summer. That is until the next unexpected emergency crops up.
Well folks, we're here sweltering in the dog days of summer. I can barely stay outside more than ten minutes with this heat and humidity. A few years ago, for the first time in my life I hired a local landscaper to help with my yard work. Man oh man was I appreciative yesterday when Miguel showed up with three of his employees and trimmed back my twenty-one, eight to ten feet tall holly trees. Miguel and his crew were trimming the holly trees as I rolled down the road out of my development to my job at the hotel. I remember my brother telling me a few years ago that he hired one of his fellow church members to replace the shingles on his ranch house roof in the heat and humidity of mid summer (he lives in Greenville, South Carolina). He said "Ronnie, it was a pleasure to go to work seeing those old shingles, then coming home and seeing them all replaced and I didn't have to crawl up on that roof once in all that heat."
Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks in a small town in southeastern Pennsylvania, summertime to me was FREEDOM. Each day was play and adventure with my friends. We were OUT OF SCHOOL. Sure, the days were hot and humid but it never bothered me. We (my brothers and I) busted out of that cheap ($22 a month) apartment where our family of five lived and stayed out all day until dark. I don't remember once being bothered by the heat. If the temperatures really got high, Pop would take us down to the local swimming hole. Ah, relief.
Me (center) and my brothers at the Old Swimming Hole with our dog Sam - 1954
These days? I can barely stand the minute of two I move from this house to the car then to the hotel where I work or the supermarket where I shop. Working outside in this heat and humidity? If I do, it has to be very early in the morning or early evening. Even then, like tonight when I mowed a bit I grass, I was soaked in sweat the fifteen minutes I spent behind the lawn mower. High temperatures are forecast for the next ten days. Guess where I'm going to be? Right here in this house, in this chair in front of my 27 inch iMac computer catching up on my blog reading, playing online Scrabble and maybe even catching up on my e-mails. One thing is for sure, I won't be breaking a sweat. Stay cool!
Emergency gas delivery this morning - thank goodness!
This morning I awoke to discover I was out of gas. No, not THAT kind of gas but propane gas to heat the house.
Bill (who gets up earlier than I do) informed me "the heater's not working." I noticed that there was a chill in the house. So here we go, more drama. Already today I have scheduled to have the Safelite Autoglass repairman come and replace my damaged window shield. What else can happen?
First things first, heat. I call my propane gas company with is appropriately named "Poore's Propane" (what you are after you pay the gas bill). I get a women on the phone who I can hardly understand. She talking low and has that "girl" accent (squeaky) and a southern Delaware accent. The Perfect Storm.
She advises me to check the meter on the buried tank outside. The cold outside. Meter? Where is that? Another learning curve for Ron.
I go outside (haven't eaten breakfast yet, I love these emergencies while I'm still half asleep in the cold), with my portable phone and look to open the lid to the propane gas tank. Still trying to decipher Miss Valley Girl, I see a meter. I twist my head and see that that the arrow is pointing to 5%. Ummmmmm, she says it should be at least 50%. Well, la de da, what do you know? I'm out of gas.
She tells me she will put in an emergency call and the service man will be out this morning. I HOPE SO. The service man from Safelite Autoglass repair is coming out this afternoon to replace my cracked window shield. Thank goodness I screwed that appointment up yesterday because I had originally schedule for that guy to come out this morning. I have a nice sized driveway but it's not big enough for both a propane gas truck and the Safelite van. Mr. Needs a Lot of Service guys here.
I go back into the house and have breakfast and try to stay warm. Thank goodness it wasn't really cold outside or there was snow. The temperature this morning was 36 degrees. Inside the house it was about 60 degrees but dropping. Definitely chilly.
Another "thank goodness": I'm glad this didn't happen when I was out in Los Angeles which is where I will be next week. Bill doesn't know what to do or who to call in situations like this. I keep things running around here. My default position in life, Mr. Operations Guy. Some people are rock musicians, some others con artists insurance salesmen. Me, I keep the clocks running.
So the heat is on now folks and feeling mighty good. I await my Safelite auto repairman while I try to get caught up on my e-mails and bill paying and blog entries.
"Hotsie Totsie" - no, that's not me nor is it some eye candy that I happen to see during my comings and goings during the day. "Hotsie Totsie" is how Bill refer to the weather when it is unbearably hot as it was and still is today.
I'm telling you folks, I can't take this heat and humidity. Our thermometer reached triple digits (100 degrees) today. Temperatures like this just drain me. If I'm out in it for more than 15 minutes I get dizzy. I'm soaked with sweat. By the way, if any of you are wondering "What in the world is that banner Ron put on his blog?" Well folks, look closer. Look to the far right and you will see a young man sitting in a chair with a Sousaphone (no, it's not a tuba) wrapped around him. That is yours truly in 1957 during a Downingtown High School concert band concert. I was 15 years old at that time. Hotsie Totsie.
Me - 1958
Yes, I was also in the marching band. In fact, the three years I was in marching band were the some of the best three years of my life. Not only did I get to go to all the football games (back when I was a big fan of football) but I formed a close friendship with Bill B., who was the bass drum player; a friend that I have until this day.
Me, far left on the back and my friend Bill B. far right with the bass drum - 1958
Not only did I make a good friend with Bill B., being a member of the marching band (and concert band) was wonderful for me because I was included. Unlike many others who I hear don't go to their class reunions because they say they hated high school, that wasn't my experience. I loved high school. I was included. How ironic that today I feel excluded from much of the local gay community. But I won't go there again today. I've done that in previous posts and I feel I'm belaboring a situation that will never change. Too bad but that's the way it is.
That's me in the plaid shirt - 1956 - yes, the girls liked me. My friend Ruth Hall (the blonde to my left) thoughtfully placed this collage in her yearbook partly to kid me because I didn't have any girlfriends - do you think she knew?
It's not that I don't reach out. I do. Just recently Bill and I met another couple at the Georgetown courthouse on July 1st when we applied for our marriage license. I feel with hit it off right away with this other couple. They were a bit younger than us but not kids. After that day I sent Facebook friend requests. One was accepted. I sent messages invited them for dinner. Heard nothing. Silence. Same thing I heard from the local gay organization when Bill and I got married. My local state representative stopped by our house personally to wish us well. And yet I didn't even receive one "like" from the folks at the local gay organization. I heard later from one of the board members, he said they were "busy." Uh...okay. But here I am going of on another tangent. Yes, it's hurtful. I try not to let it bother me but their silence does. So rude, so selfish, so insular, so uncaring. As regular readers of this blog know, I don't always know where I'm going when I start a blog posting. This one really veered off the Heat Wave course didn't it? Well, the "Hotsie Totsie" metaphor should tie it all together don't you think? I don't mean to say I haven't made friends since we've moved to the Rehoboth Beach area seven years ago. We have and I appreciate those friendships, I do. All fine folks and they know who they are. Thank you friends. And this brings me back to why I blog. I like to write and I like to make friends. I like people. That's one reason I choose a job as a hotel front desk agent. I get to meet a lot of people, nice people and get paid at the same time. But as I said before, I found since moving to Delaware, I didn't make many friends in the local gay community for whatever reason. Maybe it was me but hey, I am what I am. I don't change myself to suit someone else. That's not me. So I thought to myself, "How about all those folks outside my little bubble here in Gayberry, DE?" So I've been blogging since 2007 and I have made a LOT of friends in the blogosphere. THANKS! A LOT of really nice folks who accept me just as I am just as I accept them just as they are.
Top photo, last row, 6th from left - tallest guy with the mop of hair - oh did I ever have a lot of hair back in 1957
So what was I talking about? Oh, "Hotsie Totsie". Is it hot where you are?
Downingtown High School Class of 1959 - 1957
By the way, how bad is this? I still remember the names of everyone in this photo of our sophomore class.
Downingtown High School Class of 1959 - Reunion 2012 (I'm in the back again fifth from left with the tree growing out of my head) - no crinoline skirts in this photo - the woman in the blue sitting second from the right is the same girl in the 1957 picture sixth from the right) - the woman in the black vest standing in the middle is the same as the girl in the 1957 photo fifth from the left front row with the VEST! Mary Jane, you haven't changed your style!
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