What a week

Not sure if you remember the series Saved by the Bell. One of the characters on the show was Screech who was played by Dustin Diamond. Unfortunately, he contracted Cancer and it was fast moving, it took him out in 3 weeks and he passed away on Monday at the ripe young age of 44. While I knew he had cancer I didn’t realize how advanced it was and that this was a battle he wouldn’t win. Hearing of his passing was shocking and upsetting. I wasn’t attracted to him just his age and how fast this went is what bothered me the most.  I hope he is resting in peace. 

I did something different this week and created a small post recapping parts of the day. I did this with the hope that this would be a little bit more interesting of a post. I’m summarizing it rather than listing the notes I made each day. Hope you enjoy!

Just look at all of the accomplishments I made this week …

I received the results of my DNA at first, I was disappointed because I only got the health reports [which said there was nothing to worry about, based on DNA] but a few days later is when things came to life. I found the origin of my ancestors and that I had multiple DNA matches. The closest being a 2^nd cousin with my father’s last name. I wanted to reach out but opted not to. I think if it would have been a closer match like a ½ brother or ½ sister then I may have done so. I know that my father tried to disown me and even ran to join the US Army in the hopes he could escape a Paternity law suit, but it didn’t work. The court declared him my father and the US Army helped ensure he was in court. While it sounds like a far-fetched tale this DNA test proved that what I was told was the truth and nothing but the truth. I had no reason to doubt it but this just seals it for sure for my own eyes. In the event if I should get closer matches in the future, I am willing to reach out to them. I know I have at least a ½ brother and a ½ sister. Perhaps our paths will cross someday, it would sure be interesting if we all managed to get along.

I figured out how to merge my Amazon Prime Account with my Twitch account and subscribe to one of my favorite streamers. It doesn’t cost me anything and gives my favorite streamer $4.99 per month. I’m not into video games but I do like watching the streams as this particular guy is gay and loves to take his shirt off. Things do get interesting from time to time but there is nothing X rated and no nudity besides looking at his fine chest!

I finished watching the TV Series Everwood that I was streaming on HBOMax. I’ve still got a mad crush on Gregory Smith; even though I know he is straight and married. I can dream and there is no charge for that!

I picked up a couple prescriptions at the local pharmacy, which reminds me I need to set out my meds. I always despise that task.

I am supposed to be getting some additional responsibilities at work, it’s an administrative task that I have been told more than once I will be inheriting but thus far it’s all talk. I will be kind of surprised if it actually comes to fruition.

The biggest news of all of my accomplishments is that I filed my income taxes. Whoopie! My reason for doing so was 3-fold. First, there was a sale on the rates of the software. Second, my credit card has an offer that will get me 10% of my purchase price back. Third, I have to be concerned with identity theft and the earlier I file the less the risk. It’s something that I have to do and it’s not going away so might as well get with the program.

In the news of Ms. Gator …

She has this lovely new habit that I do not like. She has to wake me up twice during the night so she can get food. This causes me to lose sleep not to mention my patience with her. I try to put it off but that only works to my detriment as she is persistent and knows that if she yaps long enough that I will give in. She sure has a great set of lungs! She is also having more regular bowel movements, which I know sounds disgusting but they have increased to at least once per day. Once and a while she will skip a day. Before she was doing every other day or maybe once every 3 days. I attributed it to her kidney disease and am wondering if maybe her kidneys woke up. Lord knows her stomach doesn’t sleep much. She has also managed to not interrupt me as much this week when I am down stairs, which I see as a positive sign. I enjoy being able to concentrate on what I am working on or looking at, rather than worrying about her. Several times I don’t realize it until I am ready to go upstairs and then I race up because I am worried since she has been so quiet. She is always happy to see me.

On the house front …

I have noticed when I work in the living room next to Gator my allergies are really on high. There has been a slight funny smell in the air and by Friday this week it got massively worse. I don’t know what death smells like exactly but I know it’s not Cinnamon, Spice and everything nice. First, I thought maybe since we have had a large abundance of rain and the snow fall that maybe my water problem returned, but I checked on that and nope, bone dry. All looks good, considering I did self-remediation. I looked outside at the only side that isn’t visible through a window. I thought maybe something happened over there. In deed it did, a large tree branch fell and hit my house. No apparent damage but I do have to get the branch removed. The odor in question can also be found in the basement, primarily in my office and above is my bedroom. So, it shifted to a different side of the house. I was coming home from grocery shopping today and it was a balmy 9 degrees outside. I took an extra close look and I saw a black cat. If it was dead surely that would account for the odor, but I had looked there before and didn’t see anything. I walked over and there it was I said hello and the damn thing ran away from me. Thank God it wasn’t dead. I don’t know who let it out or dumped it but they should be shot. It’s dangerously cold out and not meant for a cat to be outside, but I think back to the days of Taz (aka Little Bear) and he survived somehow. He also had sense enough to know when to come in out of the cold.

Anyway, back on point. I have no idea what the odor is. It turns my stomach and makes me nauseated. It’s not mold. I ran my o3 generating machine that will kill odors, smells and most anything in its path and the basement smelled really good yesterday. I also ran it in my room, keeping Gator out. I had to open the windows and let the smell of the o3 out and all was well for a while. Then came time for bed and the damn odor was back. I am mad, puzzled and frustrated. I am wondering if it’s not all in my head and I am imaging this. Still, I watched an endless amount of YouTube videos for how to rid your house of odors and picked up a couple tips. I got some scented baking soda that was labeled as carpet cleaner and that got the living room/kitchen smelling really good. I came up a little short when it was time to do my room but it did help some. I also opened up several windows, turned on both bathroom fans and forced air to circulate. As the air was circulating, I could smell the odor a little bit. It’s got to be something outside or something in the walls. I just want it to go away and never return as it’s making my life miserable.

Oddly enough I did get a text message this week from someone with a random company that claimed to want to buy my house. They knew my name, address and cell phone number. Granted nothing is impossible to find on the internet these days if you know where to look and what or should I say who you’re looking for. I’ve also noticed a large number of ads appearing in social media about local loft apartments that are for rent. This is no doubt due to the fact that I clicked on one of them a few weeks ago out of curiosity. I looked at another one last night and it was super small and from the floor plan it didn’t look like there was space allocated for a bed but they were nice enough to make room for a couch. The rent was sky high for this area. Yeah, moving would cure the smell and probably do wonders for my outlook on life and depression. However, I have a large amount of crap that I was left with and I have to have a place to put a good portion of it. There are somethings that are just not worth it and I would leave behind.

I know that I live in an average neighborhood where house prices are what I consider to be outrageous, considering what you’re getting. It’s a sellers’ market right now and maybe I should take that as a sign but instead I am hanging on to what I have at the moment.

I wish that I had a true friend that I could call that would come over and could not only help me sort through all of this crap but perhaps work on making this place as great if not greater than it was some 20 + years ago when I moved in. Right now, I want to keep what I have. I just want this smell gone and don’t want to loose my mind trying to make that happen. The house gets sprayed a couple times a year outside by skunks and even that odor is gone with in a couple days. It’s not pleasant but at least I know it’s temporary. What I am dealing with now makes me question if it’s going to go away or if I will have to figure out someone to call and pay $ to make it go away. I hope that I don’t have to make a call as that will likely be painful to the wallet not to mention what will be done to my home.

The big game …

Today is a special day for football fans. I am not one of those fans. I don’t mind looking at the players in their uniforms but outside of that there is no appeal. I also don’t understand football, meaning the rules of the game. I get that a touchdown or field goal gains points but that’s about the extent of my knowledge. Sports are generally not my cup of tea. However, looking at male players in various uniforms, regardless of the sport is appealing to me. I have no idea what I will be watching but I know there will be something that will capture my interest.

Speaking of games, I will be on-call next week and so not looking forward to that. Chained to a phone is not my idea of fun, but I do it for the $. We had a staff meeting this week and the meeting started out by informing everyone that there was no plan to return to the office anytime soon. Someone apparently wasn’t paying attention because at question-and-answer time they asked when are we going back. The answer was repeated. While I do look some what forward to going back, I rather enjoy working from home. I get to sleep in an extra hour, there is no traffic to fight and I have freedom to switch from work to personal and back again. I think it’s going to be a difficult thing for all of us when we get to that point but I also think that it will be much later this year, if not next year.

I hope you had a good week and I hope the week ahead is even better. Enjoy your Sunday regardless of how you’re spending it. If you’re a football fan, I hope your team wins the big game. I’ll talk with you peeps again soon. Be well!