It’s almost 3 a.m. and I am awake because I lay down at 9:30 last night for a 15 minute nap and woke up at 12:30 a.m. I hate when that happens. Ed must have run the dishwasher. I know I didn’t because there were dishes lying around that hadn’t been added.

My shadows, Chewy and Toots, joined me in the computer room, kind of a library/den and didn’t snarl at each other, so that’s an improvement. I told Toots I was sorry that he lost Dottie, his late mom, but I couldn’t do anything about that and so he purred.

For some reason I am sad these days. It may be anniversary blues since in almost every month I have lost someone. And, yes, I hate when that happens.

Ed is asleep and I am trying not to wake him with my moving around. But if I took a walk, which I am often tempted to do when I am up in the middle of the night, then he would indeed wake up and wonder where I am and worry. So I don’t do it. Ed does not understand walking. He has a car.

I defrosted the rigatoni/chicken casserole last night and it was good but Ed thinks not as good as when it was freshly made. Lately, no matter what I offer, he says, “yeah, whatever” so I am going to stop asking and just plan the menu without his input.

Ed was stir crazy yesterday, so we took a ride in the late afternoon yesterday out to St. James City – it sounds like another planet but it’s only 15 – 20 minutes away and they call it a city but it’s just a bump in the road.. It’s on the south end of Pine Island and when you get to that end you can see Sanibel. I had suggested going to a gallery on the north end and he didn’t say he wouldn’t but when he got to the 4-way stop, he turned left, not right, so I just went with the flow.

We passed the Moose (or maybe it’s the Elks – I can’t keep them straight) lodge and they offer a roast beef dinner on Saturdays. I’ve wondered if we should try it sometimes because it isn’t as expensive as regular restaurants. We somehow don’t do it. I think it’s the lack of ambience that keeps us away. We went once to Mulletville for roast beef that they were offering weekly in the bar. The regular café was closed. The bar was full of tattooed biker types or shrimpers – little difference -- you couldn’t breathe because of the smoking. I said, gasp, let’s get out of here and we did. There was an elderly couple who were sticking it out because they were going to get their cheap roast beef if it killed them. In those days, Mulletville opened when the owner felt like cooking. They closed for lunch most days. But breakfast was always available (up to 11 a.m.) and the bar was always open. Now there is a different owner and for him it appears to be more than a hobby and that makes it easier on the customers.

My friend, John, who relocated to the East Coast with his little dog, Tyler, has been in touch by E mail. He is not feeling too good, and has been fighting a staph infection (that he got in a hospital) for years. His son, who has been staying with him, is relocating to Texas where he has a job offer. That’s too bad, because now John will be on his own again. He says Tyler hasn’t been feeling too good either, but he has a better doctor.

Being as it’s after 3 a.m. now, I am going back to bed.

xx, Teal