Voldemort Skies

The skies around us look like the skies in Harry Potter when Voldemort and the Death Eaters are around.  Huge super dark low looming clouds combined with wind.  There are weather advisories firing off on our phones and our computers predicting some intense weather in the next couple/few days.  The approaching weekend is looking really not great and I feel sad about that because our host at Atlantis (the awesome Mary) is retiring and her last day is this Sunday.  We plan to get there for our usual Saturday and are praying the weather cooperates because I want to give her a big hug and huge thanks for everything she's done for us over the years.  Having a great host enhances the venue experiences so much - we've done Balloon Races, Air Races, lots of Grand Ballroom holiday buffets, winery dinners, sip and paint events.  The list goes on and on - and our host is who arranges everything for us and often is along for whatever the event is.  She has become a true friend and she and I might actually get together for some slot play (not at Atlantis) once in a while.  She said 'but I don't play like you do'....and I said 'I will enjoy playing whatever you want to play for however long you want to play'.  She is a wonderful human and we are blessed to know her. 

We also got to request our new host(ess) and Mary confirmed the request was approved.  We met her briefly at the Christmas Grand Ballroom dinner and we asked Mary about her in early January - Mary approved our choice and knows we will love her.  Mary said 'oh, I LOVE HER'....and that's high praise!  So yay.  

It's a different winter this year when we've had to carefully plan our jaunts to Reno around storms.  I truly don't mind the snow - but will admit that upon realizing snow would be starting today and continue this week into the weekend, I had a moment of 'alright, seriously - enough already'.  Very ready for Spring and picture sunny days spending hours outside.  

Also strange to be battening down the hatches (again) when for the past couple days, I haven't needed a coat outside.  Granted, I'm not walking long distances or outside for too long - just between the car and wherever we're entering - but it sure was nice to not have to bundle up.  It was in the 40's which felt truly warm.  Must be adapting to Nevada cold.  

There is a food truck event - fish and chips which we've had before and it was so good - so J. is doing his treadmill walk and will head to the truck to procure lunch.  He will go for lunch instead of dinner to avoid driving in snow (we hope).  

Tomorrow the cleaning crew will be here in the morning.  I will be doing some pre-cleaning tidying and giving the floors a good sweep.  The cats will be having haircuts in early March and they need them - cat litter is ending up everywhere and I realized they both need 'sanitary trims' around their hind quarters.  They're going to both get baths and trims as we head into Spring. Greatly cuts down on the litter tracking and the shedding. We're not exactly looking forward to the drive to/from with upset cats in carriers in the car but they will thank us when the weather is hot this summer.  We'll schedule another trim for September and will do every six months.  We really should do every four months but navigating weather to North Reno (way further away than our weekly treks to Atlantis) in Winter adds challenges. Hopefully next Winter won't be as bad as this one has been - they are saying it's like a 'every 50 years' winter.

Also alerts that many areas in California will be getting snow this week as well - weird.  Remembering the time it snowed in Hayward and will likely look through old pics to find pictures of the boys all bundled up on the balcony of our condo.  They were little and so excited to see snow.  

I take walks down (many) memory lanes a lot lately.   

Our brokerage account tax info is (finally) available to upload into Turbo Tax so I hope to finalize our taxes in a week or so.  We are getting back a huge refund - most of which is the withholding from my Grand jackpot wins in 2022.   Will be glad to get the taxes 'done' and off the list.  

H. will leave (be released) from his rehab on March 28th.  We are talking through where he will land.  It's a difficult situation but we will get through it.