August 30, 2026 — Admin — Reading time: 2 minutes

At 3:40 this morning, I was helping Dad to the bathroom when I started feeling like I was going to black out. I had to leave him standing there so I could sit down on the sofa and wait for it to pass.

It did, and I got back up to help him continue to the bathroom when the feeling hit me again. We both ended up on the floor, though thankfully not hard. I had to call 911 to help me get him back up.

And oh yeah, our dog is gone.

Yesterday, I took Dad to Rowe's to get some low-sodium bacon. I loaded him into the car, and we went. When we got back a little while later, I realized I hadn't seen the dog. Now she's nowhere to be found.

I don't know whether she went with us to Rowe's or not. I don't remember seeing her or putting her in the car. The only doors I opened at Rowe's were my door and the back door when I put the groceries in. I would think that if she had tried to get out when I opened the door, I would have noticed because I opened and closed it quickly.

But, I didn't. So, my leading theory is that someone is stealing my pets. BTW, did I mention we also had a kitten named Toonces mysteriously disappear a few weeks ago?

Well, whatever this is, I hate to think I might have lost my animals because of my own exhaustion. It's certainly possible to be the result of mistakes, though.

UPDATE 9:37 PM

Our dog, Brandi, is back home with us. She was picked up and returned to us by animal lovers who were concerned for her.

Category: Everyday What‑Have‑You — Tag: general, caregiving,

August 28, 2026 — Admin — Reading time: ~1 minute

I keep seeing the same orange car around town. Either I'm being followed, or that person's routes in Jacksonville are surprisingly similar to my own.

Category: Everyday What‑Have‑You — Tag: general,

August 20, 2026 — Admin — Reading time: ~1 minute

I'm in the wrong state. Seriously, I was not built for this.

The only relief comes in the early mornings and with the afternoon storms. Any other time of day, you melt.

I shouldn't need to take a shower every time I have to be outside. I mean, how many times can I sweat through my clothes before I'm expected to change them?

The answer is one. And, that goes for everyone else. Whether anyone is actually doing that… well, I doubt it.

 

Category: Everyday What‑Have‑You — Tag: weather,

August 16, 2026 — Admin — Reading time: ~1 minute

Something a little strange happened to me last night. At around one in the morning, I felt what I thought was a wooden cane striking the middle of my head—one hard, hurtful blow. I sat up and looked at the other person in the room, and they were asleep.

I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, and my forehead was bleeding. I wiped it off until I was satisfied it wouldn’t bleed anymore, then went back to bed.

I had no idea what the event was about until I looked beside the bed this morning. There was a large lighthouse decoration that had fallen off the table in front of my bed.

I suspect that, in my sleep, I might’ve pulled the sheet that covers the table the lighthouse sits on. I don't recall exactly where the lighthouse was positioned beforehand, but looking at the table from here, it was likely positioned directly to the side of my head a few feet up.

Whatever the case, the lighthouse has now been moved, and should not be involved in any more such incidents.

Let's hope not, anyway.

Category: Everyday What‑Have‑You — Tag: health,