Updates

A couple of updates...
**Thanks to everyone's suggestions I did get a new can opener a few months ago and am thrilled to pieces. Finally, one that works! Thank you for all the suggestions on this one.
This is a sure sign of growing old to me.I am thrilled about can openers.
I went with the Kuhn-Rikon suggestion because honestly, it was the least expensive one. But it is awesome and everything you'd want it to be. You know, opening a can without me having a meltdown or my husband throwing the can.

**Well apparently Rick was correct and he did hear noises in the ceiling and not bats in his belfry.  Here is what I did after that evening of Rick telling me he thought we had squirrels or worse mice. Okay, squirrels are just rats with a furry tail but to me, they are still different. The idea of either in my home still makes me ill.

I called 3 exterminators. The first one did not call me back. The 2nd one did his darndest to sell me all kinds of things and could not answer my questions about my issue.He sounded like he was in his car. What he could do for me though would be to sign me up for a year and service ant problems etc. I told him I didn't have ants, he said you probably do and just don't know it. He gave me a cost of $162 to come out there and some crazy price to come monthly. No thank you. He was trying to sell too much instead of listening to my needs so no way to this guy.

I called the 1st one back. They went into their spiel of doing this monthly for ants and signing a year long contract etc. Damn it, I just wanna know if you can come see if I have a rodent in my attic or not. So I told them no thank you.

The 3rd had stellar reviews on Yelp. All 5 star. But it took me awhile to find them for some reason. I read two pages of reviews and thought I'd give them a call. They had someone answer the phone. Imagine that, a business with someone who answers the phone. I told her the issue and began asking a boat load of questions. She told me it would be best to speak to Morgan who could answer all my questions and concerns. 
He told me his thoughts. He suggested only a 2 visit situation. Come look in the attic and all around our house at openings etc. If they see evidence of mice then traps will be set everywhere, same with a squirrel, and then they will come back to hopefully empty these traps etc. He said this is normally a 2 visit situation. The cost was the same as the first guy's 1 visit and a tad bit more due to being 2 visits. That all seemed very fair to me.

I asked him if the name of the company, Veteran XYZ was from the owner being a veteran or you are veterans at doing pest control. He laughed and told me that they were all veterans of our armed forces. The woman who answered the phone had most recently done a couple of tours of Iraq. He told me he was retired Air Force and on and on. 

The man on the phone with me asked what we heard. I said I heard nothing, my husband heard scratching type noises in the ceiling. He felt they were going to eat their way through. The man said most likely this is a mouse. When did he hear this? I said at night. He said that made sense because that is when they are active.  I shuddered. You have no idea how this makes me ill. 
He laughed at my shudder and when I told him that my husband doesn't hear me and yet he hears this noise over the television. I don't get it. He said it was male selective hearing, he's heard about it but hasn't experienced it himself. That made me laugh. When he began talking about traps I must have groaned or something so he paused. I realized he may think I wouldn't want these nice critters killed.
I asked, "Morgan do you kill them or are they punished and you let them go?"  Well, then he really started to laugh. I wasn't trying to be funny I just wanted to know. He hemmed and hawed and I said, "look I'm not with Peta on this, it's okay if they are killed,"  He said, "Okay then that is what happens, we do not punish them and let them go."  (he's still laughing at me)
The appointment was set up and we confirmed price and time.  

Adam arrived early but he called to ask if it was okay to be early. Nice points there!  He came in and told me where he was going to look. He started with the attic. They were mice droppings. When he told me this I was grossed out and yet I kept thinking, 'Here is a man who's skill set is in critter droppings.  How odd'

He went into the closet that houses our water heater and all the bedrooms and closets. He did the same thing on every floor. 
Lastly, he went to the 1st floor.
I thought if he finds something in the pantry I am gonna die. 
Thankfully he did not.
So traps were set outside the house and inside the house. 
Then Adam took the time to tell me that in townhomes he sees this a lot. They can get from one attic to another person's attic. 

Now we have lived here for 17 years and have never had a mouse. 
Adam went on to tell us that this past winter being so warm has made a boat load of mice issues as well as high grass against your home etc. 
We have no grass anywhere but our one neighbor does and he never mows, in fact, he did this past weekend only because the landlord came by and had a hissy fit. (rick hinted by asking if he needed to use our lawnmower since we don't need it - he did not take the hint)

So with those 2 things of going from attic to attic and high grass we have determined that we need to share with our neighbors on either side.
We didn't say anything about the grass issue. But we did say they could go from attic to attic so you may wish to have this checked.
They can decide if they wish to do anything. But if they have this issue we'll get it back.

It justs all makes me feel dirty. When I said that to Adam he said that wouldn't attract the mice as much as clutter. When he said that Rick laughed. I am always bugging Rick about clutter. I hate clutter. I could have kissed Adam for that. 
Adam also asked if Izzy would notice these sounds. Nope, only eagle ear Rick who hears critters and not his wife or any other human well.

The traps outside are closed traps. I like that I don't have to see anything dead so that made me happy. Also so Izzy doesn't get into it. 

So those are my exciting updates. Gee, my life is sure fun and envious isn't it?

Altoona Anyone?

We are heading to Altoona this weekend. Woo-hoo.
No one wants to go to Altoona, do they?
Rick has a cousin named Jim, they grew up like brothers.
When Rick left his small town of Patton (19 miles northwest of Altoona) they only saw each other when Rick went home to visit his parents.

As time went on and often does, they fell out of touch. The weddings, the funerals, the family picnics were the only times they got to touch base with one another.

I know it bothered Rick that each time he saw Jim, he was more and more of a recluse. He didn't talk much, certainly didn't care about his appearance and was having some trouble with his temper. I knew his wife was unhappy but not by what she said, it was more a feeling I got from her. She was so sweet and kind and most generous each time I saw her. She talks, Jim barely speaks anymore.

The last time we saw them was a family picnic he arrived alone after his family.
He was wearing a pair of overalls, a dirty t-shirt with long hair and a beard that would make ZZTop jealous and he was carrying a case of beer. He seemed to be half in the bag already and he had just driven there. That was scary.
He and Rick hugged and sat down over a beer and the conversation did not flow. It was uncomfortable. Jim would say one-word answers or just nod. Later that day Rick spoke to his wife to ask what was going on. She said she didn't know, he is withdrawing more and more. Since being hurt he has been on disability and his anger is worse. He needs to work she said.

His wife Terri was a hairdresser in this little town and owned her own shop.
Back when I was in the travel industry she would ask me questions about all my travels and it seemed as though she wanted to be doing what I did. Fast forward to a year after this picnic and she was working for a commuter airline under the United wing as a flight attendant. She living here in Northern VA as her base and only going home when she had several days off in a row. We had her to dinner and she is so guarded it was difficult to penetrate the wall. We knew that Jim was getting worse, his health made him angry, everything made him angry, he was drinking etc. But we knew all of that so we didn't learn anymore. We felt if they wanted to talk to us they would in their time.  In the meantime, we would enjoy Terri when she was here.

She left this area after a year. She moved to Texas I believe. Still doing the same job only now just further away. 2 weeks ago she and Jim called us. Jim's mom passed away and they called us AFTER the memorial. They didn't have a funeral per se. She died alone in Pittsburgh.  Rick was a bit upset that he hadn't been told so he could attend. So arrangements were made that we would go up there at the end of the month when Terri was back in town and see she and Jim.
She told us that Jim will not answer the phone so just call her. How odd isn't it?
She wanted to make me dinner. She is a great cook but when I told her I had celiac and it was just too difficult to ask someone to do that she laughed and said, Oh I forgot, thank you.
I said how about we take you to the pub for dinner? She agreed.
We still have not spoken to Jim. Hopefully, he has spoken to his wife and she has told him we're coming up to visit for the day. We don't need him angrier.

We are hoping this isn't the longest day of our lives. I will tend to talk too much to fill in the spaces. I told Rick to stop me from doing that.  Jim will grunt, nod and basically not say much. I know Rick really wants to see him but he too fears this trip. Last night Rick blurted out that he thinks this will be the last time he sees him. I asked him why he thought that. He said, just a feeling. If that is the case we need to make the most of this trip that is for sure.

Growing up they lived across the street from one another. They were like brothers. Both only children. Jim's mom had him when she was very young. He never knew his father and that is where the anger began. Then the 2nd thing was his mother left him with his grandmother while she moved to Pittsburgh to work. Jim's grandmother and Rick's mom were sisters. They spent the first 18 years of their lives together all the time. Friends and cousins, but like brothers. So when Rick went off into the world, Jim stayed behind. Each time Rick saw him it was more and more difficult to talk with him. They'd play pool or go fishing and do the things they did as kids but as Rick will tell you it was never the same and he was so distant. Rick felt that perhaps Jim felt left behind again as he has most of his life since his mom left him behind. Because of this, Rick went out of his way to pull him in. When he was single he would invite him to do things as well as coming up to visit him and doing some fishing on Lake Erie. None of which Jim would do. I feel as though he is a lost soul who doesn't feel comfortable anywhere let alone leaving this cocoon he's made for himself.
Whatever it is, it's damn sad.

We are heading up there on Saturday for our visit. Then Sunday morning we are meeting a good friend of Rick's who lives in Altoona for brunch before heading back to pick up Izzy.  Thankfully it's only a 3.5 hr drive.

The good thing is it will be a short trip. I just hope it isn't what I think it will be but better. I hope so for Rick's sake.

Iron

Do people iron anymore or is it just me?

I love nice pressed clothing. When I pull out the iron to iron my husband's shirt he will say, it looks fine. Once I didn't get his summer shorts out of the dryer quickly enough and they were very wrinkled. 
A Khaki wrinkled mess. We were going to a BBQ at someone's home. 
I didn't want him looking like he slept in his clothes. I pulled out the iron and he went crazy. They will flatten out and they will be fine he kept saying. No, no, they won't.  
But the thing that makes me laugh most is that every single time we are out, he will point out a wrinkly looking person and will say, "that guy doesn't own an iron" And my response is always, "or he told his wife it looked fine"  He always laughs. It bothers him but of late, not enough to iron anything anymore.  He used to iron all the time, why suddenly does he just not care? (I do the laundry only because as I have said, I promised him I'd do it for the rest of his life if he did it while we lived in that haunted house where I refused to go to the scary basement. He did it for all those years, so I kept my promise!)

When I went to Rick's apartment the first time in April 1987 he had an ironing board up in his spare bedroom with a laundry basket of clothes. My first thought was, "cool a guy who irons AND cooks" When I asked him about it, he told me, "Well I have my dress shirts done at the cleaners but everything else I do myself. I can't look disheveled."  He said it like he was appalled that I had to ask. Why else would you have an iron up in your spare room? But today, he would no more iron than I would try to go fishing. 

When we travel we seem to have the same routine which we found funny.
You see we both traveled several days a week in our careers. I had a system. 
I did the same thing each time I got into my hotel room. 
Apparently, he had the same one.  Years later on a trip together we began doing the same things without even speaking. It made us laugh. We unpack. We iron things and hang everything up and/or put away. Then we can begin to have fun or go to dinner or whatever. I asked him why he did it that way. That too was the same as me, when traveling for work you don't want to pull something out and realize it needs to be ironed and you sure don't want to go to a meeting looking like your slept in your clothes. You also don't want to be ironing in the morning while you are rushing to get to an appointment. So he figured, get it all done now and the rest of the time you have for yourself and you can hop out of bed, throw on your clothes and go. 
I always thought it was so funny that we did the same exact thing. Now he is no longer traveling and it appears he no longer feels the need to iron either. I realize he isn't wearing suits and dress clothes but come on, you still don't want to look like you sleep in your clothes. Apparently, I am wrong and he doesn't care about any wrinkles in his clothes most days.
Just because you don't have meetings? I don't get it.

He asked me out on a date a couple weeks ago.  Friday night no less. 
He never wants to go out on Friday night. That is his night to come home from work and just relax. I kept saying, "for real?"  Nothing fancy he said, just some margaritas at our favorite Mexican restaurant and dinner. He came out looking all pressed and crisp and nice. I hadn't seen this shirt in a long time. I asked him if he ironed it? He did. I laughed and kissed him. I told him he looked great. Nice shoes and big boy pants. (That's my joke when he's not in shorts or sweats.) 

It's difficult not to look frumpy all the time for me when you work from home. I get lazy. You get up, you shower, you have coffee, you walk the dog, you go home to work. You are home all day except for a walk. You see no one except dog walkers during the day. You find you don't really need makeup, I spend all my time with a dog and people on the phone, they don't care. Damn, if it weren't for the dog I wouldn't have to put on a bra either. But I have to walk the dog and when it's not parka weather I must have on a bra. I throw on one of my 100 pairs of black leggings & a top and I'm at work. Rick works in painter pants and company T-shirt and he comes home and instantly takes what we refer to as a Silkwood Shower (referring to the movie) So during the week we look pretty bad. Especially me.

On our date night, he kept telling me how nice I looked. Loved my dress. My hair looked great. I asked if he was just looking to get lucky. He said, "Always, but you do look really nice Margaret."  He was being sweet. 
I realized I didn't really look that nice it's just that I have been frumpy lately and I have to stop that. So I have begun my effort to stop this frumpy shit that is so easy to slide into. Okay, I am not wearing a full face of makeup every day or fancy clothes. But I will do my hair and make an effort with some mascara etc. (okay on a very rainy day a baseball cap will have to suffice like today)

I will never wear pearls or heels while I vacuum but I don't need to look like Herman Munster either I suppose. Then again if I wear nothing at my desk when he gets home he won't notice my hair or if I'm wearing makeup. That may just be my ticket. 😛

Can you hear it?

Allow me to set the stage for you.

We are watching television on the first floor.
My husband mutes the TV and I ask, "what are you doing?"
He asks me, "Don't you hear that?"
I don't hear a thing was my response.

I really thought he was playing with me.
But apparently not.

A few minutes later he does it again.
I hear nothing.
He said, "We may have a squirrel or a mouse between the walls."

OOOOOOHHHH ICK!
He claims 'it' is either between the ceiling and the 2nd floor or the walls.
He claims he has heard both.
OH, MY GOD, THIS CREEPS ME OUT.
I immediately think how did they get in? I can't handle shit like this.
I am a big wuss.

But what I really want to know is how the hell Rick hears this.
He can't hear me when I am 6 ft from him speaking to him but he can hear this?

Selective hearing at its finest.

I called an exterminator....they will be here on Tuesday afternoon.
Not soon enough for me.

End of a Long Week.

This made me laugh out loud. 

Hubby says it is only funny to book nerds like me.

Sadly this has become too true in this strange world of ours.

 Being math illiterate I found this a hoot and could only dream of having the coglioni to do this at a real interview.

 Seriously

Sadly I have experience.

Paranoia

This one was just too bizarre not to share.

I spoke to this woman who will call Mary.
She was nutso on the phone. All over the place, not making sense and rambling. But what else is new.

She sent a photo of what her tenant had done to the bathtub and she asked, "What could it possibly be?"
I asked, "didn't you ask? "
"Oh no, I can't ask him."
Alrighty, that is odd being that you are the landlord but I went with it.

I told her it looked like Bondo.
She asked what Bondo was. I explained. 
I also mentioned this was car Bondo not to be used on your bathtub.
She said what would he use it for?
Again, why is she asking me why not her tenant?
I said, perhaps there was a rust hole, or some damage occurred and he is trying to repair it.
She asked if we could come out and give her an estimate to repair.
Of course.
She said, "when your 'man' gets here I don't want him to talk inside the house. We will discuss outside. Be sure you tell him that ....do you have that? Be sure you tell him this." I confirm it is on the work order and I also will tell him this.

Rick went there this morning.
He came back to the office a bit ago and shared with me the full episode as he is referring to it. 

She arrived at the home at the same time as Rick.
She RAN up to him and grabbed his arms. 
She whispered, "have you been told that we are not to speak inside?  I don't even feel comfortable talking out here. I know he has listening devices and possible cameras everywhere."
Rick said nothing except, "Yes I've been told and I understand."

They both went inside and checked out both bathrooms that were her concern.
Rick forgetting he is not to speak while in the room with the tub with the Bondo, "This is car Bondo...."
Before he could finish she put her finger to her lips and said Shh...... and looked around nervously. 
The guy has Bondo on this tub he knows it, he knows you are entering his home today, why can't it be said? The rest of the examination of the 2 bathrooms tubs and tile were done in silence.

As they walked back outside Rick began to talk. She again shushed him. 
She got in her car and Rick wondered what the hell was she doing?
Then his phone rang and she whispered, "Get in your truck so we can talk."

He told me it was hard not to laugh. She was so paranoid. Listening devices outside in his driveway? Really? But he listened and she sat in her car and he sat in his van in this driveway and they talked. 

She told Rick that there are cameras everywhere as well as listening devices. 
Are you certain your phone is safe? 
Rick just went with this and said:"Yes, absolutely." 
Because if it weren't would he know if he was being spied on?

Rick told her what could and couldn't be done in each room.
Then she said, "what about your men? Who is coming to fix this?"
Rick said I don't know the schedule, it's either me, Gary or William (part timer)
She said, "do you do background checks? Do you know if they have ever been spies?"  Rick said at this point he really wanted to laugh but stifled it. 
He told her it was highly doubtful they had been spies and yes, he does background checks.

Then she asked, "did you see the home depot kit to put on the tub?" 
Rick replied he did indeed because it was sitting in the tub next to the Bondo. She said, "what if he puts that on the tub?" 
Rick told her to tell her tenant not to. 
She said, "oh I can't tell him not to do that"   HUH? 
This conversation went in circles and Rick was getting pretty frustrated.  
It's her home, she is the landlord, why is she afraid of this 20 something who bought a house and is moving out of hers at the end of the month? It will cost her more money if he does do this to have it removed and done professionally. 
Rick explains all this to her and she says, "Oooh I can't tell him what to do you know." 
She is so odd and so paranoid. 

She has asked me to keep an appointment for her on the 1st of May. 
That is the only day of that week that I have an opening. 
I asked if she was going to commit to this date? She said I don't know yet. 
I reminded her that I can't hold this for days. I am turning away others. 
So she must tell me by tomorrow morning no later than 10 am. 
She kept saying, "what if this man paints it?" 
I again say, "you could tell him not to, but if he does I believe Rick discuss the difference in price." 
I also explained that I need to know if he has or not so I know how much time needs to be allotted on the calendar for this job. There is a 2 hr difference if your tenant paints the tub.

Now one (who is normal) would think if your tenant is going to paint it and you have to pay $200 more that you would not allow it to be done. 
But this woman thinks he is a spy and for some reason, she is afraid to speak with him. She told me she would discuss this with her husband and let me know tomorrow.  I bet she won't know what she is going to do by then. She doesn't appear to be able to make decisions.

I think she needs a padded room.

Random

Random Item number 1.
Have you seen the show First Dates?
My husband loves this stuff.
He laughs and each time at the end he thanks me for marrying him.
I guess that is a nice thing.
But if you watch this, the pickin's are slim so perhaps it isn't so nice.

I don't understand the pleasure in watching what I feel is uncomfortable and painful. But as I have said here before Rick watches a lot of things I just don't understand. This one he really seems to enjoy by the sound of his laughter and his commentary through it all.  This past episode I watched it with him and his commentary makes me laugh. The things he may notice about an individual also makes me laugh because honestly I never realized her saw those things that I see. One thing was obvious, this woman's underwear showing through her dress as she continues to pull them out of her ass crack. Who does that in public? Go to the restroom woman. But my husband comments are damn funny so that is what made the show enjoyable for me. It reminds me of the 80's pop up video on MTV where the comments were funny about whatever was happening in the video.
Rick does just that only his comments may sometimes be a bit risque, but always damn funny.

Some of these people on the date are so pathetic it makes me sad.
Some are darn right scary and some well, you know they will be living in their parent's basements for a long long time.

Random #2.
There are two commercials I am seeing right now that I enjoy.
I mean who enjoys commercials? Apparently me of late.
One is a commercial for Aldi grocery stores. The mom makes the young son a ham sandwich and she moves the plate towards him. He throws up his hands exasperated and says, "Mom you know I like my sandwiches cut diagonally"
Mom then takes the plate and turns it so the sandwich looks like it's been cut diagonally. For some reason that cracks me up.

The 2nd makes me smile.
The red ones are gooder.  
Each time I watch this I see something else. 
I don't even like this type of candy, I mean there is no chocolate. 
But now I want a red one, 'cause they are gooder. 😀

Shh, I'm taking over

Hi folks....I'm taking over for Peggy today.
She's busy and I really am not doing much, lying around, swimming, napping. The regular.

I heard her talking to my big strong man, Rick. Oooh, how I love him. 
Every time I am with him my mom sings some old song from the '60's.
I love him, I love him and where he goes I'll follow, I'll follow. 
I will follow him where ever he may go.....
She can't sing a lick either but she sings that damn song and she amuses the hell out of herself. 

I know my mom gets upset that I favor him so much but what's a girl to do?  I am just so smitten with him. 
Oh, sure she spoils me with love, giving me cooked carrot treats and worries about me, takes me to the vet and all that. But Rick is well, the love of my life.
I told him I could have all his babies at once so he should dump her but I guess he likes her. So I've had to adapt.

I admit it. I do actually like her. When she's not here I wait at the window for her to come home. But it's not the same as with him. But I throw her a bone every now and then. See? I'm waiting for her here and when she got home I gave her lots of lovin' but then I went and sat next to Rick. Have you seen him? He's cute and he plays rough with me and I'm a girl who likes it rough. Peg won't do that. But when I'm sick I want her. But don't tell her that, she'll get a big head or sing some dumb song as she is inclined to do.

I heard her telling him that I sure am changing in my old age. 
A bit more stubborn she said. He said, "Oh don't I know it."  
How dare he!
She went on and on about how vocal I've become. 
Well, if they would just do what I want I wouldn't have to be so vocal.

I was on the boat with Rick and he was fishing. 
He wasn't catching anything and I became frustrated so I had to say something. 
I talked and talked  - then he caught a fish. See?  
I'm not getting stubborn, just smarter. 
I was motivating him to catch those damn fish. 

He took this video of me this past winter. It was at my local swimming hole a few blocks away in the neighborhood. 
When we are done swimming I like him to throw my toy on land a few times before we go home. 
But then he wants ME to bring it back to him. 
So the love of my life apparently is lazy!! 
He wants me to retrieve it, bring it to him - like right up to him for Pete's sake. He should walk and get it, he too needs to lose a few pounds. 
I was trying to help him with that. I thought if he ran and got it or even walked and got it from me it would be good exercise. 
But no, he wasn't listening so I had to talk back.

I was just talking back to him to help him but did he appreciate it? 
No, he was having none of it. Boy, these humans are damn hard to train. 
But I won't give up.  I'm tenacious like that - not stubborn.  Here that? There's a difference you know.

I'll keep you posted. I hope the next time I won't have to do that but if I have to I will keep talking back to him to get my point across. 
You know maybe he's cute but just slow or somethin'.  

Hickies

No, not what you are thinking.

I mentioned them a few months back. I love these things.
Rick is always complaining about his sneakers at work.
Some people don't allow him to wear booties over his shoes, they want his shoes completely off.
That is fine with him, he understands. Sometimes it's a culture thing, sometimes just an anal retentive thing. Either way, he understands but he goes in and out a great many times to mix chemicals at his truck. So tying and untying his shoes bothers him. So I suggested hickies.
He laughed at me and poo-poo'd the whole idea.

You see I have a couple pair of Sketchers that have bungee cord where laces would be. I love just slipping into my sneakers with no ties. It's quick and easy.
I knew he loved them but he kept saying no, yet he continues to whine about tying his shoes. I showed him the pair I got for my older sneakers and he barely looked and dismissed me.

One day I wanted to strangle him but instead, I just ordered a pair.
When they arrived I put them in his work sneakers. He went for his shoes the next morning and said, "What did you do Margaret?"
"I made my life better by putting those in your sneakers, just slip 'em on now."
He slipped them on and said, "Hey that was easy"

He was going out the door when he realized what I said.
He turned around and said, "how is this making your life better?"
I said you won't bitch about having to take your sneakers off anymore.
He laughed and shook his head.

Later in the day he text me to tell me how much he loved these. It is so much better than tying and untying my shoes all day long.

When he got home he took off his shoes and said, "This is one helluva invention. Okay, you were right, I was wrong. Nothing out of the ordinary there I guess.
I LOVE THESE THINGS.

Oh, how this stubborn old coot makes me laugh.

All I've Got Today

Eeewww

Gary called me this morning at 11:30a to let me know he was going to run HIMSELF through a car wash with brushes. He said this home was so gross as well as smelly that it really needed to be condemned not have their bathtub refinished. He made me laugh.

To show me what he was referring to he then texts me a photo of the before of this tub, then the one after he spent 1 hr cleaning it, then the finished product.
It didn't look bad at all after 1 hour of cleaning along with removing years of soap film off of it with a razor scraper. The after was amazing. However, the rest of the room was so gross. There was garbage on the floor, dirty q-tips (okay they clean their ears just nothing else around them) There was so much mold on the walls and floor he said he kept his respirator on the whole time he was there. He told me if this were a public place it would be closed for certain.

I so couldn't do what these guys do. I just couldn't. I would be too grossed out.
They use this black light to go over the tub to be sure all areas have been coated and not a single area missed with this molecular bonding agent before they spray the bathtub. Gary said I didn't dare put it on any other surfaces in the room or I would have vomited I'm sure. While that makes me laugh a bit, it also grosses me out.

I have seen Rick's small portable little black light thingy. When he first got the technology of the newest molecular bonding agent I thought it was a gimmick. But honestly, it has taken care of all callbacks and any issues at all. So it's been a perfect agent to use. However seeing some of the things he tells me about I wouldn't want to see that stuff.  I am always so fascinated that people who live in squalor see their bathtub as needing to be cleaned and refreshed yet the rest of their home is a pig stye. Must be psychological. I can't fathom what else it could be, because logic, it ain't.

Last Saturday he came by the bathroom as I was on my hands and knees cleaning around the toilet as well as the toilet. He walked by and said, "Hey, do I need my black light in there?"  I told him to fuck off. He had a hearty laugh as he walked away. But it may not be a bad idea. But then he can clean up my vomit.😇

You Knew I'd have to Say Something

Back in ancient times when I was a young gal working at an airline and people were generally civilized there was something called Rule 240.

Allow me to explain. I was working at a time when deregulation occurred. 
One of the worst ideas in my humble opinion to happen to aviation. 
(2nd is Reagan breaking up the air traffic controllers union and getting an airport named after him!)
But most of the rules still applied for a long time after. 
One of those rules was Rule 240.
It was well known in the industry. Customers didn't know it but we working in the trenches sure did.

I recall while working for Piedmont Commuter that we had a full flight. 
We had to get a couple of the crew to Detroit. The first thing that was done was announce/ask if anyone wanted to give up their seat and explained all they would get for doing so. No one came forward for a financial voucher and the next flight later in the day.
So I checked another carrier that could take this crew to Detroit. Viola, we could get them there around the same time on another carrier. We wrote the tickets (which ticket agents don't even know how to do anymore) and the 2 lines went across it diagonally showing this was a Rule 240. That meant Piedmont Commuter was going to pay Republic (now owned by Delta) airlines a fee for flying their crew to their destinations.

Imagine how awful it was that we never were able to beat anyone senseless, drag their bodies off the plane, we couldn't humiliate them or basically tell them the beating was their fault. How bad of us to accommodate a paying passenger. 

Back in the day when the airlines had this in their contracts, it was all done nicely, politely and calmly. Not something that is ever done with the word airline anymore.  Also at that time it only applied for use due to a delay (mechanical perhaps) or canceled flight not weather or an act of God. So you just couldn't whip this out willy-nilly. 

Once when Rick was traveling for work they pulled this on him. He called me and told me what was going on and that he wouldn't be home that night. I told him to ask to speak to the counter manager and ask for a Rule 240. I told him to act like he knew about this and that they had to do it. I explained it and he said he'd try and let me know. This was 2000. 
It was my understanding that some airlines still held this verbiage in their contract and if forced they would do it. But most often they acted like it didn't exist or 'gasp' they would have to accommodate their passengers and even worse, pay for the ticket for said customer.
It worked, Rick got home that night. UA still had that option in their contract at the time and did the right thing, but only when forced to by someone with the knowledge. They even asked him how he knew this. OOH they were not happy.
He told them he was a frequent flier who just knew his rights. 😛

Does UA still have this in their contract? Who knows but I think it's doubtful. But either way, they did the wrong thing. Bumping paying customers who did not take their offer of the next day's flight and money just to get your crew on board is wrong. Did they not see the flight was full and try to make arrangements otherwise for this crew? Could some sit in a jump seat (I've done that before) Did they even try? I wonder.

Aside from this man being dragged off the plan and humiliated the CEO's remarks and lack of apology is what really makes me angry. Once again the trump affect. I can do whatever the hell I want and screw you. Doesn't matter if it is wrong on a human level, moral level, a business level or any level except mine.

Yep, I think it's safer to drive these days.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

It all started when we were looking for either land to build to suit us or find a smaller home on some land. We were hoping for an acre but we weren't sure what was out there and costs.

We had been looking at new homes as well and none were just right or the price was ridiculous or it wasn't where we wanted to live. 
We do wish to have a 1 story/ranch style open floor plan now. (mid-century modern would be awesome but hard to come by in this neck of the woods)

We have a 3 story home now and the stairs have gotten to all three of us, that's Izzy too. The poor dog won't go up the stairs now unless she really has to. Not even to go to bed anymore. She sleeps on the 1st floor. Her arthritis hates the stairs and so do we.

We came upon this tiny house and it made us laugh. Rick said he would be claustrophobic in that house and heaven knows with no real kitchen I couldn't live there let alone 1 bathroom.  We were a bit shocked at the price but realized it was just for the land and we can tear down the house. But we found it funny because it was listed as a home for sale, not as land for sale which we found odd and as I said very funny.

We also found that we may need to wait to move until retirement and move somewhere that is far cheaper than around here. To be close to where everything is as we prefer, we will spend a minimum of $650 and still have to do work on it. And keep in mind that $650 is for a small home, not a family size home with kids. Thank heaven's I don't need that.

We don't want to be in another situation as we are here, a private cookie cutter community. I don't want a damn HOA again telling me what color my front door must be and that my garage door must match my neighbors etc. The closer to the city we go the higher the price. My townhome closer to the city would be so much more than what we paid...like $300k-350k more if in Alexandria/Arlington.
I don't need bigger, just 1 story. I could even go smaller in square feet too if there is a basement. 

We thought about moving to older areas south of here but all the homes need serious updates and lots of work and that all costs too. So a hunting we will go.

I will also show you this one below. This was a real house, not a tiny house, making this 1.73 acre so very out of our price range. The tiny house is nowhere near this price. This house must be so fuggly inside because they only show photos of the outside. I learned that trick when flipping homes from realtors. Big Red Flag. I don't want to buy a 1.4m house and then have to spend a bucket more money to fix. But all that is a mute point isn't it? $1.495,000 is out of my price range. This makes the tiny house's land very very affordable in comparison. I would imagine if we built a house on that tiny house 2 acres it would cost about as much as fixing this old one below or damn close to it. No pictures scare me.

$1,495,000

1.73-acre lot

•  

So April, see why that house on 3 acres last year with pool, work building for Rick in the low 400's we were ready to jump on?  Unheard of price here even for a townhouse.

The tiny house on 2 acres with one room was $365,00

So Mike was the closest at $364,999.

So Mike email me your address and your goodies will be sent to you right away!!

Can you guess? Win a Prize!

Can you guess what price this "house" (shed) costs? 

It is located on 2 acres.

It's listed as a one room house. 

I did not see a kitchen in the photos only these. 

The description does not say a kitchen or bath. 

Perhaps behind a door in the photo? It states it is perc for 1 bedroom which leads me to believe there is no bathroom. But it is so small I have a feeling the bathroom is just the 2 acres or there is an outhouse I don't see and they don't list. They do not give the square footage. 

Built in 2007 and it is one story.

We found this house while looking online for a new home. 

This is THE room

This is the other side of the same room.

I feel this would be good for someone who has no friends because not a lot of people can be in this room at one time. 

All right now,  give me your best guess.😛

C'mon, play with me.

Clarification

Because you all keep telling me to make my info private I thought I would explain.  I did. I don't know why they continue to contact me.
So I called Ancestry.com and got answers last night. I had everything correct except they could see my tree. But I did have it set to DO NOT CONTACT. The person on the phone didn't understand how I was getting these emails, which I might add she could see.  So she had me delete everything and begin again. So we reset it all. Now it should be done right? But.....

In the meantime, I did some work on my family tree to see who the hell these people are who wish to get together. (not gonna happen)
My evil Grandmother, Thomasina DeSanti, had a mom named Palma Donatucci.
They are related to my Great Grandmother. Their grandfather's sister is Palma Donatucci. (evil grandmother is my mom's mom.) Before you think I am even more awful, everyone thought she was pure evil, even her children. Remember my story here about how she would smack me upside the head when I wasn't looking at her and she would mumble that I look like my father so she didn't like me. She was mean to everyone like this. And when my mom was dying of cancer and asked her for help I saw what she did to my mom. I may have been only 12 but I remembered. She is the only person in my life that I have held a bit of a grudge against. Normally I think grudges are a waste of my energy. But this woman I didn't ever talk to after my mom died. She didn't care anyway. I did not forgive or forget. I just ignored her and let her leave my life. She lived longer than almost all of her children. I always assumed it was because no one in heaven or hell wanted her.

Now that I have confused you all...let's delve into the hot mess of the emails.
After speaking to Ancestry.com last night they wrote to me this morning. They went back into my account to make sure the preferences did not go back since I have had a problem. They indeed did revert to allowing people to contact me via ancestry.com. So she has escalated the issue above her pay grade to be fixed. So I am not crazy. I did do this correctly, but for some reason, it reverts back. At least I know that part of it isn't my doing and I'm not going crazy. Well, at least not due to this topic.

I was also correct when I told them who was my aunt and who wasn't so not only are they annoying they were wrong. So take that, you tenacious people! 😃In the meantime, I just ignore everyone because that is the kind of mean awful person I am. 

I cry Uncle

I'm behind in reading and writing blogs.
Work is very busy and I'm thankful.
It's always feast or famine and I just wish it was just a nice easy pace.
I am now going 100mph but that is spring so we must hoard the nuts while we can.

I had another person write to me from ancestry.com. 
Oiy Vay. It continues. Now it is almost funny....for everyone around me that is. I am almost there - to the funny. Normally I always see the funny first but I find this annoying so I am slowly getting there. This crazy lady made me laugh so I'm on the right track I suppose.

Her name was Rosemary.
I ignored her. I ignored her again. I ignored her a 3rd, 4th and 5th time.
So I finally responded with my, nice to meet you but I don't know the answer to what you are asking me. I'm sorry I can't help. I only wished to learn my ethnic background and not for tracking distant family. yada yada yada. All polite but tried to make my point. As I have said I don't wish to hurt anyone's feelings, this is just not my thing.
She asked me how we were related. I looked at her info and I have no friggin' clue and frankly, don't care as you all know.

She writes back and tells me her cousin is related to my Aunt Gilda. Okay, that's nice but she is my aunt through marriage I explain. She says, "no, I don't think so"
Oh, you don't do ya? 

Gilda is married to my father's brother.
Then Rosemary's friggin' cousin writes to me and says his name, Donatucci, and tells me that Gilda (Iacobucci) is his cousin. 
He says, "I will call her to verify you."
WTF? You are bothering me and then you are going to call my Aunt in Washington state to verify me? I wanted to say get bent but I just said it was nice to meet you, do whatever you wish but I only had an interest in seeing my ethnicity and not in meeting people. Do what you need to do but please exclude me from your emails and contact with Aunt Gilda. Thank you.  (Besides I just spoke to my Aunt a few months ago when she was ill.) 

I am turning into a real shrew with this stuff. When this woman said No, I don't think that is how Gilda and you are related I about died. I think I would know how the hell she is related to me, then again maybe not. 
I am perhaps crazy. Perhaps there is a scandal to uncover.

Rosemary insisted that Gilda was a blood relative even though Gilda was married to my dad's brother.  I realize these crazy dagos like to spread their seed but now it's a bit sick and twisted. Rick just laughs and laughs. He thinks this is a hoot. When I told Rick that this woman said, "No I don't think so" when I told her how Gilda was my aunt. He about lost it. He was drinking some juice and he began to choke because he began to laugh. He has a page or two. I have 43 pages of people I am not finding this nearly as funny.  I think I may have to cancel my subscription so they can't contact me. It may be the only way.  Hey, I may find some incest, scandal or something else too. I think there would have been murmur's the way my family is though. Nothing is a secret and I would be very surprised to find one. 
Rick said last night, Hey maybe you had a kid you didn't know about. Now that's funny. 

Damn, they're persistent. You have got to give them that.  
We should get these people on the issues with ISIS and Russia since they are so hard headed about finding people - they may be just what America needs. 
Who needs spies, we can just send those on these 43 pages to dig up everything you need. Just tell 'em they are related and watch 'em go! 
They will badger them until they cry Uncle and surrender. 😀