Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Those Darn Stars

I'm back!
The fam's stars haven't quite aligned yet. I may have mentioned that the bro had to have caregivers lined up before they'd do the transplant so my sister and I signed up. The transplant went fine and my sister went down to care give once he was home.  While she was there, his wife--my sis-in-law--was rushing to catch the bus, tripped and rolled both ankles, winding up in the street waiting for an ambulance. She was admitted, diagnosed with two sprains and sent home.
We headed down for our stint, were there a week when the HH landed in the hospital with kidney stones. After, he had surgery and was released, we packed it in and headed home.
Currently: Everyone is on their feet and mobile, after a fashion. Heh.
AND...
My sweet Belle has moved on to her next cycle of life. RIP.
AND...
More Longwood shots:
AND...Our Christmas Roses are still blooming so I guess it's time to start calling them Lenten Roses:)

AND...
The first tulip of the season.

AND...Toilet paper, napkins, tissues and sanitizers have flown off the shelf. Toilet paper was even unavailable at Amazon. I should add an addendum I didn't try to find out if the RV or commercial TPs were available. The HH finally found toilet paper at Big Lots, Big Lots brand. 😑

Kudos to Amazon and E Bay for shutting down the men who bought up ALL the hand sanitizer they could find (over 17,000 bottles) to resell at exorbitant  prices online. They have since donated them and are under investigation for price gouging. I find it difficult to have much sympathy for folks who profits off the hardship of others.  Story here..

What's happening in your corner of the world? Got daffodils? Tulips? Lenten Roses? Hyacinths? Crocuses? Toilet paper?

38 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

I hope someone yanks those stars into line quickly. And permanently.
No toilet paper, tissues, sanitiser, sanitary products, potatoes, frozen vegies, flour, pasta here... And as quickly as they come in they are gone again.
All my sympathies/empathies re Belle. And thank you for the support you gave her.

Valerie-Jael said...

Sorry to hear about your family having so many problems, get well, stay well, please! Thanks for sharing the lovely photos. Everything is in bloom here now. Sorry about your Belle. Same catastrophes here, empty shelves and some people trying to make money from the crisis. Big hugs, Valerie

Hot guys said...

Hi Sandra, I'm sad to hear about Belle. I adore cats and, I know you do, too. When a loved ones' life is over, we should be happy we had shared the time together that we did.

CJ Kennedy said...

Awww, Belle 😿Your flowers are beautiful! Even though we are 2 months ahead of where we usually are at this time of year, no flowers yet. I did my grocery shopping on line through the store's service. I didn't get a message that TP wasn't available. Instead of getting the order in their advertised 2 hour window, the order will be arriving on 3/18. Still a couple of rolls of TP available in the linen closet. I just hope the store doesn't substitute aluminum foil for TP if there was none in the warehouse. 😺 I hope everyone in your family is doing better. Take care and stay safe.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Very sorry about Belle and all the medical crisis in your family. Glad the transplant went well.
There is still toilet paper on Amazon! Some odd-name brand. (I was just curious, so I looked.)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

My heart goes out to you.

Sandra, that was a whole lot of hospital for you in a short amount of time. Happy to hear everyone is on the mend.

Christine said...

Your flowers really help to lighten the mood, welcome back! Glad your family is surviving all the health issues, best we all slow down and relax.

Jeanie said...

I'm so sorry about Ms. Belle. Or HH, for that matter. Or your SIL. What a lot of challenges you have had in the past months. That's a huge load to carry. I hope things ease up soon. Stay in.

No daffs or tulips, just sprouts. Toilet paper and all products are more or less off the shelves. I don't get it. This isn't a gastro-intestinal virus and diaharrea shouldn't be a problem. Unless someone has a family of eight, their normal number of rolls per shop (or maybe double to be safe) should be fine. These folks with cartloads baffle me. I did my final shop for the confinement. I'm not leaving the house or yard (maybe a walk) till this is done except to go to the doc. And keeping social distance from everyone.

RO said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your baby Belle, but I'm sure she's in Catarau now with lots and lots of other furry friends, and feeling happy. So sorry that things were off kilter for a while, but glad everything seems to be going a little better. Of course, I adore all your lovely flowers which bring a smile to my face. I don't understand how people can sleep peacefully at night knowing that they are trying to benefit from the misfortunes of others. I have a friend who works at a supermarket, so I got a package of TP from him early on. These days it seems not a package is around to be found from what I've been hearing. I live right around the corner from the elementary school in Fuquay Varina where a teacher tested positive, and hoping she's going to be okay. Sending lots of hugs your way. RO

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Sandra - I do hope things settle down a la Cox's ... and sorry about baby Belle.

I can't believe they were selling things on ebay and Amazon ... glad they were caught and I hope will be prosecuted. It's crazy - there's plenty for everyone - we don't need to hoard.

Thank goodness the flowers are coming out ... and then the leaves with the varying shades of green - take care and all the best - Hilary

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, EC. Appreciated.
Hope you're well stocked and stay safe.

Sandra Cox said...

It's crazy isn't it?
Thanks for the well wishes. Glad your flowers are blooming. It helps doesn't it?
Hugs

Sandra Cox said...

Thank you.
That's a great attitude.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I do have TP. I always buy in bulk with the 4 boys, so I had a closet full before it was even cool. You guys take care and stay in as much as you can. Hopefully all of your bad luck medical stuff is behind you!

Sandra Cox said...

We do have aluminum foil. Ha ha.
2 hrs to 2 days (or so) is a bit of a lag time.
Back at ya on the care and staying safe.
Me too on Belle.

Sandra Cox said...

Thank you, Alex. Your words are much appreciated.
Good job on finding the TP! I didn't check the ones that looked too commercial. Stopped when Amazon's brand was sold out. Heh. I've left messages with 3 or 4 companies to be notified when its back in.

da tabbies o trout towne said...

what is the saying, when it rains it pours; here's hoping all the "3's" have stopped and happy healthy times are ahead

Godspeed your journey to heaven Belle; you were a gorgeous girl ...we are truly sorry ♥♥♥♥♥

Sandra Cox said...

Thank you, Di. She had cancer. She wasn't the sweetest girl.

Sandra Cox said...

Thank you, Christine:)
I'm all for slow and relaxed:)

Sandra Cox said...

Thank you, Jeanie. I miss her.
Those sprouts will soon be flowers:)
It's crazy. People should pick up what they need, but hoarding certainly puts everyone else in a crunch.

Sandra Cox said...

I'm so sorry to hear there's been a positive diagnosis in your area. I've been told there's one here also.
What lovely wishes for Belle. She was such a sweet girl. My little snuggle, sleep buddy.
Glad you are situated on TP.
Take special care.

Sandra Cox said...

Hi Hil,
Thanks. She was a special kitty.
As far as prosecution, me too. They've earned it.
Yes, the flowers are a blessing.
Take care.

Sandra Cox said...

You are ahead of the curve, Elizabeth!
Hopefully, bad health is in the rearview mirror.
You take care too.
Hugs

Adam said...

I'm glad those guys got caught. Greedy vultures

Anonymous said...

You have had a rough time, and so sorry about Belle.

RO said...

So I read the NY Times article and was horrified that the guilty party was a USAF veteran who believed he's doing a public service. I get that it can be expensive to send products like sanitizer through the mail, and that it's important to make a profit, but those fees were over the top! He says he's trying to find a way to donate them. I say, go ahead and drive all around the country the way he did to get the merchandise and donate to all those people. Churches, homeless shelters, retail stores, restaurants - the list is endless! I'm stepping down off my soapbox now.(lol) Happy Wednesday! RO

Sandra Cox said...

Thank you for Belle's well wishes. They're sincerely appreciated.

Sandra Cox said...

Greedy vultures is an apt description.

Sandra Cox said...

Thank you, Andrew. I appreciate that. She was such a sweetheart.

Magic Love Crow said...

Hey Sandra! I am so sorry about everything that has happened within your family! I am just happy, everyone is doing better! Sending you all healing hugs!
I am so sorry about Belle!!! Sending love!
Your garden is gorgeous!! We still have a little of snow!
The grocery stores are crazy around here too!! Might have to start using the leaves on the trees! LOL!
Big Hugs!

Pat Hatt said...

Ugg. Hits sure kept on coming. Glad everyone is upright. Sorry to hear about Belle. Never easy.

Those dbags that buy and screw people over deserve all they get.

Sandra Cox said...

I agree with you completely! And with Adam. Greedy vultures.
Hugs,

Sandra Cox said...

Just don't use pine. Ha.
Still have snow?!? Wow.
Thanks for the healing hugs. Definitely helped.

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Pat. You're right about it never being easy.
And I completely agree on the dbags.

Birgit said...

Oh my you have been through the ringer! Your brother and his wife have gone through hell and back never mind you and your hubby. I’ve had a kidney stone and that is painful. You also lost your furbabe and that’s so hard. She looks so pretty and I know she is purring. As for those numbnuts who bought up all the tp, etc...and the hand sanitizer only trying to make a huge profit...disgusting but not surprised. I think of the black market during the world wars which the show MASH often talked about.

Sandra Cox said...

I'm happy to say I've never had a kidney stone, but they are nasty indeed.
Thanks for the kind words about Belle. She was pretty and I trust she is purring.
And the numbnuts are disgusting.
Hope you are well.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

My heart goes out to you over your loss of Belle. I know how hard that is to lose a family member, even a four legged one. I hope you will find a bit of comfort in the fact so many of us can empathize, as well as sympathize.

Gorgeous plants and flowers. I was shopping today (Thursday) and the store was out of TP, napkins, and diapers. They were limiting the number of cans of soup, milk, and eggs you could buy, too. Looks like we're in for this for the long haul.

Sandra Cox said...

Thank you, Elizabeth. I do draw comfort from the caring of this blog community.
I hear you on the shopping. It's crazy isn't it?
Stay safe. Stay healthy.