I was to have my cleaning lady come today. I have been low on energy because I am anemic, still waiting for next step there. So I haven’t done any laundry. Gisele was going to do it, but she texted me to cancel. She is taking care of a child and a chronically ill husband and, apparently, there was a problem. It is my humble opinion, since this happens very often, that her husband invents a crisis so that she won’t leave. She also works part time as a CNA in a local hospital. He hangs around home, takes care of their 2 year-old, and coddles a damaged heart. She is supposed to call me to make another date. When I do see her, I will discuss it with her. We are close and I will, anyway, tread carefully. What I will suggest is that the next time we have a date, she not mention it at all. The morning scene would go like this: they are having breakfast, he is fine. There is no crisis, and then she says, “Well, I’m off to do a cleaning job, seeya.” Then, you see, if he suddenly clutches at himself, it will be glaringly obvious that he is manipulating her. Anyway, that is what I will suggest.

And speaking of malingering, when Ed brings groceries, he phones me from the driveway to come out and help trundle them in. Recently, he phoned, and I was having a really bad day, back in spasm. I went out but nearly collapsed and he ventured to suggest that I was being dramatic. I let it go.

About Tyler – when it’s late and I want to seal off access to the pool deck, I go out to see if there are stray kitties hanging out. So here is Max, fine. He knows the drill – he trots in (“I am a good kitty, see?) and I look around for Tyler and don’t see him and hope I have covered all the nooks and crannies, and then I close the slider and seal off the pet door. Twice now, he’s been hiding on me. It’s a good thing I check before going to bed, because there he is at the door, pink nose pressed against the glass looking forlorn. I let the little mugger in because I am all heart.

xx, Teal