Things that make me happy

Rich came to our home last week. He insisted on a tour of the yard before it got dark and was duly impressed. He'd also met Ivan, who actually walked up and introduced himself (and got petted.) Ivan usually stays a few feet away from new people, except for persons he likes right away (like Ms. Stasa, my primary rival). Rich brought the best housewarming gifts: Trader Joe's Low-Fat Cats (original flavor) Trader Joe's One-Pound-Plus dark chocolate bar, and kitty snacks for Ivan.
We went to Royal Jade where we ate great Chinese food and had a wonderful time catching up!

Last Saturday I had my appointment with the wonderful Dr. S, whose treatments have been improving Ken's health over the past six months. Good news--he's just about certain I don't have Lyme! I do have a systemic yeast infection, though, so I'm taking meds for that. No major side effects so far, except for some digestive stuff that isn't as bad as an IBS attack, so I'm cutting back to 1/2 dose as he suggested in such a case. Between that medicine and adrenal supplements (evidently my adrenal glands sorta shut down because of all the stress I've had for so many years (my first marriage, corporate b.s., job losses, etc.) I have more energy and am happier already.

I was off today because I'm working Saturday and got some errands done. Finished all the paperwork to roll over my retirement from my old library job, did some enjoyable grocery shopping at (all together now:) Trader Joe's, and bought some beautiful pansy plants on sale at Home Depot. Then I unpacked the groceries and planted the pansies in pots all over the lawn. Some are purple, some purple-and-yellow, some white-and purple. Lovely--and I discovered that no less than 6 of my narcissus bulbs came up! Two have buds already. I did plant about 18 bulbs, but the local vermin dug them up and spirited them away for nefarious purposes. I bought narcissus specifically because rodents (mice, squirrels, voles, etc.) don't eat them. Apparently they play some obscure kind of ballgame with them and I've supplied the Final Four of the Greenbelt Rodentia Conference. Or maybe they poison their enemies with them, I don't know. Maybe little CSI or NCIS rodents will show up soon to investigate. I'd like to see a vole in black pigtails and Goth-wear...