Tag Archives: chocolate

October 6, 2025 · 1:47 am

Happy Monday 10-6-2025

Tina Ann

This is our reminder to make time for fun every day, making ourselves part of our priority list.

I’ve had a good day. I had my workout at the gym. Brian complimented me, saying I’m steadier on my feet, more agile, and he worries about me less. A SHOWER of compliments from my son!

I just got back from getting a mani/pedi. I’m having this done every two months. It gives me something to look forward to, and having professionals take care of my hands and feet is a healthy addition to my taking care of myself. The ‘polish’ is my FUN part. Brian has been goading me to paint my toenails and fingernails ‘cyan.’ I actually had to look it up, but it’s a range of shades of aqua.

Scheme Color

I’ve ignored his request up until today. Since he has introduced me to the whole idea of mani/pedis, found a place to get the service, and actually sits there and waits while I get it done, I figured today was the day.

When he saw my fingernails, his grin filled his whole face. He said, “All RIGHT!!! I’m not sure I actually LIKE this color, but his reaction is certainly worth spending two months with it. 😄. We followed this with a stop for chocolate – icing on the cake of the nice morning.

When I was coming back from breakfast with Brian, I met the cleaning lady who has been so, so nice to me. She was by herself, so I motioned for her to follow me out to sit on the bench in the foyer type area that is on each floor. (Happily, I remembered to turn my hand down and make a clawing motion, rather than the normal, “Come here” gesture, so I didn’t insult her suggesting she was an animal.)

She put down all her stuff and I got out the earrings I’ve been carrying around. I showed her, pointed to her ears. She looked really surprised, but I made as sure as I could that the earrings were for her. Her face split with a grin and she put them in her ears as we sat there. She stood up, did a little dance, and I helped her put her mask on again. I don’t think she got the idea that I painted the earrings, but the delight in her eyes showed she liked them.

I got home from our morning and quickly moved to the balcony to get my laundry in. Everything was completely dry with the exception of my socks, which were ALMOST dry. I brought everything in and was closing the balcony door when the rain started. WHEW!

It was a hard rain, so it wasn’t long before I needed to roll up towels to put on the window sills to contain the leakage. I have my bucket there to wring out the towels when needed.

Here’s my latest painted sketch. I love Halloween, and will see what I can find regarding creative costumes for kids plus wonderful jack-o-lanterns to share with you.

Have a fun day!

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Tagged as chocolate, cyan, earrings for the building cleaning lady, latest painted sketch, laundry on the balcony, leaking windows, mani-pedi, my son's color request, rain

August 8, 2025 · 1:39 am

A Bit of Disappointment

Pixabay

Yesterday Brian and I found a craft shop where I wasn’t excited until I turned around and saw an embroidered piece on the wall that looked like stained glass. It was really stunning. Colorful, with silky type material used. Just wonderful.

I thought about it the rest of the afternoon. I told Brian I wanted to see how much it cost. We went back today. I was afraid it would be gone, but it was still up on the wall. When I asked her how much she wanted for it, she said it was not for sale.

To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I could “SEE” the piece on the wall above my computer, making me smile each time I saw it.

We went for a chocolate – our go-to place when we’re needing a pick-me-up, so the trip wasn’t completely wasted. Brian said he will look for other similar shops that we can visit. (Sigh)

On the good side, I had a wonderful massage this morning. We will vacate my place in about an hour to let Khun Nong perform her miracle while I’m gone.

Susy suggested that I install some apps on my phone that will help in my efforts to eventually become more independent here. I already had Google Maps, but Brian also installed “Friends and Family” so he can see where I am if I take a walk. We also talked about the fact we have a chat program on which we communicate all day long if I need him, plus I have his phone number. He basically said that the Google Translate app is not as good as one would hope. He is always available, and he pointed out that people have stopped and helped us when I had a problem before and probably would again, if needed.

He again talked about crossing streets, and I assured him I wasn’t planning to throw myself under a bus or get creamed by the 4 lanes of traffic plus motorcycles all moving like bats out of Hell in the busy street. I promised him that if I fell, I would arrange to fall INTO the buildings, NOT into the street…

I don’t feel pressured to go out by myself. I just don’t want to let my natural cautiousness curb my ability to enjoy going a few places on my own.

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Tagged as chocolate, clean house, Friday thoughts, friends & family, Google Map, independence, massage, stained glass embroidery piece not for sale

August 7, 2025 · 1:59 am

Happy Thursday!

This is a gazing ball that I refurbished when the metallic surface had deteriorated from years of sitting in the sun and weather in our birdbath. I just tried for a free-form autumn theme. When I finished and put it out in the birdbath, the birds made me smile, flocking around it as if they were giving me their approval. 😊

We didn’t have any have-to errands today, but Brian texted me awhile ago, asking if I wanted to go for cash and chocolate. I get cash each week so I can pay for my massage and my housekeeper on Fridays. We enjoyed our chocolate ‘fix’ and then stopped in at a craft store I saw out of the corner of my eye a few days ago. The lady was really talented. I particularly liked one piece that looked like stained glass. There was another craft store right next door to this one, but it was closed. We’ll check that one out another time.

I’m flirting with the idea of taking some time one afternoon when we don’t have anything scheduled and going out by myself and taking a walk. This is a bit daunting since 1) this is still a very foreign country where I don’t speak the language, 2) my hearing is impaired and I have to be especially careful about traffic, and 3) I am geographically challenged, able to get lost in a box in the middle of my living room if you turn me around three times fast. (That’s a BIT of an exaggeration, but not much. I’m pathetic.

I don’t want to be afraid to go out by myself, particularly if I don’t go far from home and don’t have to cross busy streets. I talked to Brian about the idea today while we were out. I can see that the idea makes him really nervous, so I’ll move into this slowly. I’ll keep my outings at first where I don’t have to cross any streets (streets here are a challenge because there are at LEAST 4 lanes of cars plus more motorcycles than you can imagine darting in and out of the lanes. People go to the hospital all the time because they make mistakes trying to cross, or actually lose their lives.) I have promised Brian I’ll text him when I leave, tell him where I’m going, and text him when I get back to my condo. Baby steps.

I hope that you are having a happy day, too!