Analysis Paralysis

We just had a 2 hour debate about doing something. Anything.

It's raining. So our initial plans of going to the top of Mt. Washington so Chrissie can look at the city, or down to the Mr. Rogers statue that Chrissie has always wanted to go visit were dashed. Pouring. 

So what to do, what to do.

Doug noted that his mom has not put out her patio benches, patio tables, has NO plants/flowers outside. Compared to all the other units around, it looks like no one lives here. Everyone has gardens, or at least some sort of perennials in cycle along their walkways and pots of annuals, and rose bushes. So many rose bushes! The HOA here is very good, and she can put what she wants out there, but this year she's blamed the weather, Doug's sister and husband have been very busy with the kids (considering they come over every single Sunday you'd think that might be a day of action for them, not 5 hours of sitting here deciding what pizza to order), the weather, and now it is too late! Too late to put out the patio furniture and plants. 

This time last year we got her front and side looking nice, and bought a wire shelf for the garage. Everything was put into the garage (I think that Doug's sister and her husband did that all). But nothing has been brought back out. 

Last year, we told her to think about setting up an entire wall of shelving, so boxes would not be on the ground/floor of the garage. 

She still only has the one shelf, and has not yet decided if she wants more shelves. "I don't know," says she. Oh, dear father in heaven, if I had this garage - the shelves would like both walls and 2 cars would still fit inside and there would be NO boxes on the floor. This garage is my dream.

Mind you, this statement has been said by the woman who has not taken the time to finish reorganizing the boxes in the basement and solidifying/organizing them. So shut up. I know. I know. 

But we're here, it's July. We offered to come up in April or May to help with this and were shooed away. And now, it is "too late" to get things because "you have to plant them from seeds." And even if you put things out before you know it, you have to put everything away for the winter. 

No you don't in fact right now is the BEST time to go to home depot and buy discounted pots of plants and get your scene set! 

While she went into the bedroom to get ready, Doug went into the garage and got the bench and chair out onto the patio just to get it done. I thought he was going to catch hell for it, but she allowed it. We opened the awning, discovered the hornets' nest. Dealt with the hornets' nest, and sat out. The heat of the sun was cut down by the awning, just like the commercials on TV say. We agreed, we had to go get things. 

We ended up at home depot and bought a bajillion plants for the front and the patio. She needs some perennials, I suggested these great big daisies and black eyed susans and small tea roses. She meh'ed at every suggestion and "perennials are a commitment." Yes. they're a sign that you live somewhere. Live there for the love of God and all his angels. 

We got home and positioned the things around the front and on the patio and it still looks like a meager effort. Some of her neighbors have GARDENS out front. This is their hobby. And I know she isn't physically sturdy enough to really dig knees in deep here, but, let us help. 

It's better than it was. It is much better than it was. And now I want to go buy some midsommer plants for our patio and enhance it. 

I met a lady while we were browsing, and she says she has a sign in her front garden that says "Plants just make everyone smile." Hell yeah, they do. 

So I'm going to make more for smiling in our yard. 

Farmer Chris at her best. 

When we get home to Maryland I have shit to do myself. I have morning glories that need to be laced through the fence, I have weeding to do in the veggie garden, the sunflowers are coming up.  I have plant envy from some of the things Doug helped her pick out, so I want to go buy a thing or two. 

Summer has just gotten started, she is not over. Put plants out. They make everyone smile. 

I don't really understand all the excuses, why she doesn't want to do things. I told him we ought to have come up Friday or stayed through Wednesday heading home Thursday because there is always at least a full day of analysis paralysis, something a friend of mine told me about at work, where her department head cannot make a decision. Cannot. Ever. Make. A. Decision. So how did you get to be in your position if you are not a person of action, but are in your own way. 

Enjoy some plants, everyone!

Pictures below of some of our fun today. 

Bonnie has orchids, which she is doing an amazing job with. I can't keep them alive. They croak almost immediately. But she said she can't keep a jade plant alive and I can. So. I guess we are even. 

I wanted to get a snap of the plant we got for the patio, so I can find it later. 

This is one cart of our selections. We had another whole basket.

After dinner we went to Rochester to the park to walk along the river and see the sunset. Not much of a sunset, the rain came in as we were driving home. But it was a pretty walk tonight. Just right temperature, relaxing.

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours of 250 steps.  Dedicated 10 and then some

blood glucose:

9:15am: 178
4:30pm: 204
9:45pm: 205

food:

coffee, water
11:15am: 2 slices of wheat nut oat toast w/ butter, peanut butter and small schmear of bonnie maman's orange fruit spread.
12pm: Metformin
1:15: protein shake; 2 baby bell cheeses
4:45: 2 baby bell cheeses; 2 beers for reward for planting. ugh.
6pm: large plate of greens w/chicken salad (pulled shredded chicken from Aldi, mixed with mayo. I eschewed the BBQ sauce offering and it was a better choice, methinks