Summer Evenings

Feel the cool breeze? Turn up your speakers...

I hope everyone is enjoying the lovely summer evening! I've got dinner simmering on the stove...

Tuesday evening, we visited the lake after dinner to enjoy the cooler evening air. The atmosphere was serene, with no one else around, creating an environment that felt almost private. We drove back to town and decided to stop at the local Dairy Queen for a soft-serve ice cream cone. Unfortunately, the chocolate dispenser was not functioning, a recurring issue. In the 17 years we’ve lived here, I’ve only had two chocolate soft serve cones due to this ongoing problem. My cone was enjoyable, but the portion size seemed inadequate. Considering the price, it might have been a better value to purchase two containers of ice cream instead.

While there, a little dry lightning storm accompanied by a temperature drop and wind came through. We watched as lightning struck from cloud to cloud, sometimes making a direct ground landing.  They recorded 11,965 lightning strikes!  It was not surprising that by Wednesday daybreak, we heard the familiar sounds of planes and helicopters flying above our homes, on their way to surveying the Shasta and Trinity mountains and making their early morning water drops due to several spot fires that had developed overnight. 

There was always something about those summer rainstorms when we would travel back to Tennessee, Indiana, or Ohio as children, with that tantalizing blend of earthy aromas and the sound of thunder. Since we don't have summer rains here (except the mountains). We miss out, but I figure God knows what He is doing when He created our varying climates.  

Yesterday, I visited the new grocery store nearby and purchased some watermelon. After that, I went to Costco to buy beef dinner franks and sesame seed rolls for my dogs.  They're doing chicken wings. We plan to arrive around 3 PM to enjoy some games, which are a favorite activity for Sara. This morning, she texted me to say that they had a stove fire last night and now a new electric stove is in her future.  Yet she still wishes to host the gathering on the 4th. 

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Tomorrow marks a full week since I’ve been tethered to this EKG monitor, and let me tell you, it’s been quite the journey! The first couple of days were a breeze, but then I encountered an unexpected challenge: a raw spot developing under one of the monitor modules in a rather sensitive area. Ouch! To make matters worse, the clip that attaches to my waist has become my nemesis. With this heat, I've developed a rash from the metal rubbing against my skin. Just what I need. 

Oh, and let’s not forget about the charging - this thing needs to be juiced up twice a day! At first, it felt like a major inconvenience, but I’ve come to appreciate the break it gives my skin. It’s a win in disguise!

I’ve become obsessed with monitoring my blood pressure, taking readings at all hours of the day per the doctor's instructions.  I can’t help but notice the fluctuations that start to drive me a little nuts, even though I feel perfectly fine. A side effect of my new routine? A bruise on my upper left arm from the BP cuff. 

Honestly, am I just dealing with sensitive skin, or is this a common issue that occurs as we age? Either way, I’ve made some interesting observations. My BP seems to run low in the morning, but after my beloved coffee, it spikes up to 135/79. The rest of the day, it generally stabilizes. I can’t shake the feeling that my anxiety is contributing to those higher numbers.

Thanks for letting me vent a bit and get it off my chest 👈 a little pun there. My husband insists I’m just being obsessive, which I admit I can be. Ugh! I guess I’ll embrace my quirks - I have a week more to go. 

That's all I have for you. My dinner is ready, and I'm hungry. 

Until next time,

Debby