Here it is, April 2022, we survived the pandemic

My last post was in October of 2017, after Hurricane Harvey and all of its destruction. We got thru it, having to buy me a new vehicle, a 2017 Buick Encore, and although it isn't my Cadillac but I do like it. In December of 2017 I was granted SS Disability and have not worked since June 2016. I guess I am officially retired now. After a year on Disability, I was entered and started receiving Medicare benefits. My first visit to my new doctor I informed him of my depression and that I had considered self harm several times in the 14 yrs I have been suffering from it. I was disappointed in myself, my marriage, the guilt from my nephews death, the death of my mother, the general feeling of disappointment in my life choices and just generally mad at the fucking world. In December 2018, he sent me to group therapy; He also sent me to my neurologist who said he was glad to see me again but that until I was in better physical shape he couldn't do anything for my spine. Therapy was THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE FOR MYSELF. Within 3 months, several friends remarked at how my attitude had changed, how my voice seemed cheerier (?). I continued therapy until January 2020 so I was in it for a year. And I have a way to get out of my "black hole", a skill to put things in perspective, a ladder to get out. I can be sad without it overwhelming me and making me think things that shouldn't be thought. In February I was supposed to start getting my teeth fixed, after 40yrs of smoking, it wasn't going to be easy or cheap. Then the pandemic hit in February 2020. So for the rest of 2020 we stayed home, if we went anywhere we wore masks. It got to where Chris wouldn't even go to the grocery store with me and at the beginning he had me strip out of those close and shower before coming inside. Neither of us have caught it but we have had several friends and relatives succumb to that horrible disease. We are vaxed, 1st boost and will be getting the 2nd booster this week. So, during us being cooped up, we decided to move to ------ Las Vegas in 2021, at least temporarily, for hurricane season. So late summer 2020, we did a little fiddling with finances and presto, we had a 6mth lease at Gramercy Parc Apts, on E. Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV. The apt was 3.2 miles from MGM at the corner of Tropicana and LV Blvd. I had a good time, but Chris didn't want to do anything. I met some very nice I got up one morning and drove out to Valley of Fire NP, and although I didn't have the right shoes or enough water to really explore, me and the dog had a good time. Another morning, I left and went to Barstow, CA. When we crossed the state line, I told the dog, "We're in Californy". lol Another morning, I drove about 1/2 way to Ely. We were supposed to drive up to Tahoe, but the forest fires and smoke were very bad up there and we didn't need to add to the chaos of an emergency or evacuation. I would lay at the pool 2hr a day, and got tanned as F%^K. The dog enjoyed it,and although we lived upstairs, she didn't mind them. I would carry her to the cool spot when we would go for her 3pm walk because by then the concrete was HOT HOT HOT. I miss the weather, but I don't miss the 20% added to everything in the prices because of just getting to Las Vegas. We paid our October rent but we left on the 18th to come home. I had flown back during the summer and the outside AC unit was kaput. So, when we got back, $2200 for a new AC outside unit. Oh, and we now have a family of crackheads living in the neighborhood. Working with local LE to get these idiots out. The holidays came and went without barely being noticed. I am now on the real road to getting my teeth fixed; right now I am missing several "smile adjacent" teeth and look bad so I try to wear a mask. My next appt is May 3 and that should be the beginning of getting a partial bridge for my top teeth, but i should be able to get 2 implants for the bottom back missing ones. So we are staying in Texas this year due to inflation, apartment rental increase and we need to be here because of the dopeheads stealing anything not tied down. We had our annul meeting with our financial lady and we are doing very good for having started saving VERY LATE in our life. But if we live until 90, we will leave our descendants over $500,000. I told her if I live that long, I'm spending that $$$$. We did celebrate our 25th anniversary last year. I wanted to go on a cruise to Alaska, but due to COVID and being in a closed environment he didn't want to do that, so the move to Vegas. I am thinking we might go somewhere this summer, drive up to Montana, but he doesn't seem interested. I am going to another JES reunion in September. Otherwise, Life is Good. Vote Democrat.