Happy New Year.

Tomorrow is my 26th anniversary.
Going to be quiet again this year.

The actual conversation last night.

Rick: It's been like 32 years for us right?

Me: For us? Do you mean how long we've been married?

Rick: Yes. it's been 32 yrs, right?

Me: Nope. We've been in each other's lives for 32 yrs but we've only been married for 26 years. Lived together for several of those but only married babe for 26yrs.

Rick: Are you sure?

Me: (laughing) well my math is bad but I think so. We got married on 12/31/93. That should be 26yrs. We have been together since 1987, which is 32 yrs.

Rick: Are you sure?

Me: Why do you keep saying that?  Yes, I am sure. Do you think I may change my mind and confuse you with another husband?

Rick:  Hmm....mumble, mumble, mumble.  

Me: What is the issue here?

Rick:  It just doesn't sound right is all. 

Me: What doesn't?

Rick: All of it. Only 26 yrs.

Me: Don't you dare say ONLY 26 yrs like you've been in hell and it seemed longer.

Rick: HA! Didn't even occur to me, dear.

Me: Okay, now adding 'dear' at the end of that sentence makes me know for certain you are full of shit.

He walks away laughing. 

I still don't know why he asked this. 
Am I seeing the beginnings of old-timers? 

Either way, it's our anniversary tomorrow and we are leaving for the left coast right after.
I am so busy with work, getting ready for a trip and just ole life that I won't be posting for a bit. But you know there will be stories upon my return.

This should prove interesting, this old trip. Being at his new family for the first time. Hoping it all goes smoothly. I must tell you I am worried about the one brother in law who is a very wealthy old fart who loves the oompa loompa. I have told Rick over and over again to walk away when he starts, leave the room, go outside, excuse yourself and go stand in the bathroom. Whatever it takes to keep the peace. Just keep your mouth shut. For Mr. No Filter this may be difficult. If you are a praying person I'll take a few for him to keep himself buttoned up!

Have a wonderful New Year.
See you all in 2020.

Washer Part Deux

Okay back to my new washer.

Dear Lord that thing is big. I would never have purchased this because I can not reach inside it. It is a top loader which I prefer. But the drum is so deep and big that for me to reach the clothes I need a ladder.

As I mentioned I asked the young men if they would remove my old washer.
They said they weren't allowed to do so per the invoice.
I said I know, but we have no way of getting it to the first floor so we can put it on the curb to be picked up. Would $25 help?  He smiled and said nothing.
I walked away. I came back as they were unhooking the old one and I said, "I have $50 but that is all I have. Would you be willing to get it to the first floor for $50?"
The leader said, "We will haul it away for $50!" He actually got excited.
You have got a deal I said and shook his hand.

They got it down to the first floor and out the door. 
I gave him a $50 broken up in $25 because I knew I'd do $50 and I knew there would be more than one guy so I got 2/20s and 2/5s so they could split it easily.

Rick was coming in the back door with the dog when he saw them going out the front with our washer. He gave me a thumbs up and I nodded. We were on the same page and we were both thrilled that we got it done for only $50.

After they left I threw in a load of colors. My goodness, there are so many choices that I never had before and frankly not sure I need. Precise fill? Stain Remover? Extra Soak? Extra spin?  I have more reading to do with the manual I see.
I threw the clothes in and realized I forgot something. But the lid locks now so you can't throw something in after it starts. Damn. I look at the washer while holding this T-shirt of Rick's. I see a pause button.  Oh yea, I read about that. So I hit pause and the lid will unlock and allow me to throw the shirt in there. It worked but that will annoy me I believe. Oh well, I will try to remember that I am not at the laundromat and that this load did not cost me $20 to wash and dry.

When we heard a new bell sound we assumed it was the laundry being done.
I headed upstairs to throw the clothes in the dryer.
The problem of how big this was hit me. 
Remember that meme I posted a long time ago about being short and the issues with the wash? Well, now it's far worse than the meme..
This is the meme I posted a while back.
Sadly, I got myself a bit further "into" the washer.

Instead of calling Rick I jumped up and bent over and pushed myself a bit too far.
I went INTO the washer and while touching the bottom I couldn't lift myself out. Now I am laughing and pissed at the same time. 
I yelled for Rick. 
I needed better ab strength right then and there. 
I yelled for Rick again. He yells, what?  
Oh for the love of God, can't you just come when I call? 
Yes, that actual line went through my head and it made me laugh because it sounded like my mother when we were kids and we'd yell for her.  
I never got the chance to say anything because he was already up the steps and when he saw me he began to laugh. Really laugh. 
Thank God he didn't have his cell on him!!!!!!

Stuck are ya there Margaret?

Funny boy just help me, please!.

He pulled me out of the washer and onto solid ground.
I walked away and said, "That thing is too damn big. Could you please take the towels out of the washer for me?"

Rick began to grab towels and 6'1" Rick says, "wow this is really deep even for me."
No shit sherlock went through my mind but I kept it there inside my head. 
Can't look a gift horse in the mouth. He will now make fun of me with this for a long time.
I can't even fault him. Damn it I hate when I help him!
This will be years of abuse I just know it.

Later that day as Rick and I were running around individually I got home first.
I was in the kitchen when he walked in the back kitchen door with a box in hand.
He said to me proudly, "I got you something."
My first thought was we don't do Christmas gifts but oooh, maybe it is chocolate.
Yes, this is how my mind works, don't judge me.

He handed me a folding stool for the laundry room. 

"I don't wish for my laundry fairy to hurt herself doing my laundry"

"You're an ass"

"I know but I'm your ass. Merry Christmas" and he kisses me and hands me my gift.

So I have a folding stool to fetch my laundry from my new washer made for giants.
How's that for short girl problems?

If you recall I do all the laundry from a promise I made in 1990.
We lived in a haunted house. The basement was terrifying to me. 
Shit moved and no one was in the room but us. (ok for some reason it did that on the top floors too but it didn't bother me as much as that damn basement)
I refused to go down there ever again. Unfortunately, the washer and dryer were down there. So Rick did the laundry and I told him that I would do his laundry for the rest of his life if he would do it while living in this place.

I have stayed to my promise. He, of course, will say silly things after taking out a freshly washed shirt and smell it and say, "Oh my laundry fairy makes my clothes smell so good" or as he did the other day when he opened his drawer of underwear. "Oh, the laundry fairy filled up my drawer with clean clothes I love when that happens"  If I hadn't made that promise I'd probably hit him but he does it because he can.... the little prick.  😉

When I was sick he has done laundry but I meant it when I said it. 
For the rest of his life, he will never have to do laundry as long as I am able to. 
Besides, he cooks and that is far harder than laundry. 
Well, it was until I had to climb my washer!

Saturday

I had an exciting Saturday morning on Dec 21st.
I received my new washing machine that morning.
I was told they would be at my home between 8 - 12p.
At 9ish I got a call from them stating that they had a truck break down.
Someone was going to them to switch trucks and they would be heading my way.
They called to let me know about an hour later that they were indeed on their way now and they would be at my home shortly.
I certainly appreciated the updates because I really wanted to get on with my day.

In the meantime, Rick and I spoke about this the night before.
They told me on the phone that the company would not take my old washer.
I asked if I could pay and they said no.

We called our garbage service and they will take it away for $85.00
We called a junk place and they wanted to take it away for $125.00
Rick suggested I go to the ATM and get $50 and try to bribe the guys who come here. They may take it at least down the steps and I'll get it in the back for the garbage pick up. We just couldn't have Rick going down these stairs with this. No matter how much he insisted he could do it. I know better. He does too, but it's his ego that doesn't always remember he's 64.

So at 6am on Saturday morning I headed to the grocery store in our development which has my bank inside and my bank ATM.
While there I thought I would grab a couple of things and make Rick a very nice breakfast. As I got to one aisle I thought I heard someone singing. Trust me there were not a lot of people in the store at 6am.

Then I arrived in the aisle where this young man was singing as he was stocking shelves. He stopped when I came around the corner and said, "good morning, merry Christmas" In such a happy friendly way. I said it all back to him. I asked if the song was a holiday song. He said I think it's what you call a Carol. He told me what it was about. He was such a lovely young man!  
I said my goodbye and on my way down the aisle.
Once I got to the end of the aisle, you could barely hear him and if there were people in the store there is no way you'd hear him.

Okay, I had my goodies in my cart and I went to the ATM. Behind me is the only cashier working at this hour. Behind her is the row where the man is singing.
A customer asks the woman cashier, is that man an employee of Giant Grocery Store or an employee who works for the food going on the shelves?  The cashier tells him that he is an employee. She smiles when she says this. Because like me she assumes everyone loves this young man and how happy he is at 6am.
But NO...we are living in an asshole universe.

This man asked the cashier if she knew what decorum means. 
She says, Yes sir.
He said, "his singing is not proper decorum"
That did it, bitchy Margaret came out. 

I turned to him and said, "Ah, c'mon it's Christmas. You don't throw tomatoes at carolers who come to your home do you?"  The cashier and I laughed.
He yelled, DECORUM.
I said, are you sure you mean decorum?
He repeated it. I knew this guy. I knew too many of these guys.

I said, "oh, like if a man grabs a woman's genitalia and brags about it over public television that is decorum?  Or if this young man who works at Giant went to Safeway and told all Giant's secrets so they went out of business that is good decorum? Is that what you mean sir?"
I said that above in the friendliest voice with a smile and I acted like I was sincerely dumb. The cashier winked at me. She caught on. All those in the room did with a brain.

He kept staring at me and saying nothing. I smiled and stared back like I was waiting for an answer.  He just stood there with his mouth open. 
He moved his cart and huffed past me and mumbled, "blue state"
"Whatever does that mean sir?"  
He then gave me the finger as he went through the doors. 
The finger I assume to mean good decorum for the holidays. 
I said as did the cashier, "Ok, Well, have yourself a very Merry Christmas Sir"   
I think that made him angrier that I was nice and he was so fired up.

When he got out the door the cashier asked if she could hug me.
My goodness, first the laundromat and now the grocery store.
Sure I tell her. 
She asked,"you know why he was picking on that man, don't you?"
I said, "Yes he is from another country and his song was not in English and heaven forbid his skin was very dark."
She laughed and said, "you are a nice woman, thank you."
She too is from somewhere else with the best lilt in her voice.

But you see, bottom line, I'm not nice. 
This is what I was taught in Catechism and School.
This is called respect. Kindness. And for the love of God, it's Christmas.
I don't like to see anyone being trampled on in any way, be it their pride or anything else.
Kindness is not something we should expect something in return. 
But as Nike says, Just Do It.

I would guess this young singing man was from Ghana or somewhere like that from his accent. He was happy to have a job and he sang while he did it. And probably only making minimum wage. Yet, he was happy at 6am to have a job.
Geez, what a horrible thing to have to witness right? 

I know sure as I'm typing this that if this kid had been white and singing jingle bells nothing would have been said. No decorum would have been mentioned.
I knew it, the cashier knew it and deep inside the cold black heart, that man knew it too. 

I will never understand or accept racism.

Holidays 2019.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

May you all have the holiday you wished for.

My favorite eggnog recipe is below if you are so inclined.

Trust me it's awesome. 

Every Xmas eve we make this.

Every year someone stops by & turns up their nose and will say they don't care for egg nog.

Then everyone has some, moans and says how good this is. Silly people. 
There is never any left over & those who said they hated eggnog have had several glasses.

Peg doesn't make wussy or bad drinks. 
 

EGGNOG

6 eggs separated

3/4 cup sugar

1 pint heavy cream

4 pints milk

½ pint Bourbon 

1 tablespoon vanilla

In a bowl beat the egg yolks with the ½ cup of sugar until thick.

In another bowl beat the eggs whites with ¼ cup of sugar until thick.

In a 3^rd bowl beat the cream until thick.

Add the cream to the yolks, fold in the egg whites and add the milk, bourbon and vanilla and a pinch of nutmeg if desired.

Chill in the freezer before serving. (I have never done this – only refrigerated because once made, we suck it down 😊)

Serve in a large punchbowl and grate fresh nutmeg over top.

Enjoy!

I am normal Rick is not.

Everyone says that Rick and I are so alike.
We have a friend, Rusty, who Rick worked with while living in Seattle.
Upon meeting me we all sat down to dinner. 
He then made the proclamation, "My God you are the female version of Rick and vice versa"  
We laughed at him. Couldn't be further from the truth.

For example...
Friday morning they showed Elmo (who I love) and some Sesame Street items on Get Up DC. (4:30a -7a) 
They showed a bit of this clip. This clip is so dumb to me. 
But it will make my grown old man laugh his ass off just as he did Friday morning. I do not understand this.



He first saw this clip live at my mom and dad's house with my nieces back in the 90s. 
After seeing this he would walk around saying, yip, yip, yip. 
I just shake my head of course.
Then after seeing it yesterday morning he watched the video above and laughed like a little kid - again. 
He thinks I'm laughing because it is funny. NO!
I am laughing at him that HE THINKS THIS IS SO FUNNY.  

My boyfriend in high school would come to my house after school.
My little sisters would be watching Sesame Street.
Now, this was 1972-3. My boyfriend would sit with my little sisters who were 2 and 3 and watch Sesame street with them. He loved it. But you also need to know that he smoked pot on his way to my house and he found this show so damn funny. My mom thought it was great that he "played" with the little ones and kept them entertained. He was the little one but I did not tell her that.

I missed the era of Sesame Street. I was of the Captain Kangaroo years.
I never watched Sesame Street other than stone-cold sober. It is a cute, informative and educational show. But funny? I think I am missing that gene that these two boys have. These Martians just aren't hysterical to me. 

Gee, I wonder if it is the same gene as The Three Stooges? 
I never understood why the Stooges were considered so funny.  
But boy oh boy men & boys sure do. 

So we are not completely alike contrary to what our friend Rusty thinks.
I am normal.  Rick is weird. End of story.

Friday

My goodness, it was cold yesterday.
After my 3rd walk with Miss Izzy in 11 degrees, I came back to my office and had a warm cup of my favorite coffee. 
Then I saw this come over my FB feed as a memory.
Ah, how I wish I was feeling this warm August weather and watching Izzy left ear blow in the wind.

We looked at the weather for the next 14 days in Mission Viejo, where we are going in a few weeks. It is in the '60s which to me is perfection. I'm sure they are chilly but I can't wait.

I am going to leave you with some memes. 
I have a busy contractor day ahead of me.

One of my favorite stand up comedians here....damn good question don'tcha think?

 This math meme made me laugh out loud. Those silly math story problems

Pass It On

I had to go to the laundromat yesterday.
Honestly, I told Rick to start wearing his clothes more than once.
Go Commando. Whatever it takes.
I came home and told him I just can't do the laundromat again.

3 loads=$21.00 to wash
3 load =$18.00 to dry.
$39 to do laundry is unacceptable to me.

Now my dryer works just fine at home. But once I put all these heavy wet clothes in the basket to bring home I could barely lift it. So I dragged it over to the dryer and spent the damn money. Besides at 11 degrees I just wanted them dried so I spent the money.

I got a call this morning that my new washer will be here on Saturday.
I am so thankful. I'd rather hit my clothes against a rock than go back to the laundromat.

Back in the day when I was very young and starting out in my first apartment, I had to use the laundromat or go to my mom's. It was the laundromat because I was trying to prove my independence and that I didn't need my parents. But every once in a while I'd ask if I could bring laundry and my stepmom would tell me to come and have dinner too. So I got a good meal and got to do my laundry for free.  I recall being like all those people in the laundromat. Either I was renting with no options for laundry or I couldn't afford a machine.

But after my two visits to the Coin Laundry as it is called, I realized 2 things.
These people who think they can't afford it would be able to take the money they used on laundromats and pay for a washer. Or they could rent a washer. I know those rent-a-centers are highway robbery in fees but it would still be cheaper than going to this laundromat. 

The woman next to me last night had 6 loads of wash.
So she spent $42 to wash them.
Then she had to dry them. She was washing and drying some heavy winter kids coats. She had to dry them a 2nd time. I notice my last load was dry and I stopped the dryer and told her she could use my last 10 minutes.
She acted like she won the lottery and in a way she did in this laundromat world. She took out the smallest of jackets and a big one.
She put those in my dryer and continued to dry the other 2 in hers.
She thought having less in there would help them dry faster. 
She thanked me so many times. It was only $.50 worth of drying time but I know how much she must be spending so every little bit helps.

As I was packing up my things she asked if she could help carry things to my car for being so nice to her. I thanked her but told her I had it.
She thanked me AGAIN and wished me a Merry Christmas.
As I was walking in and out of to load my car I saw her grab some clothes from one of her dryers and I heard her mumble damn it.
I saw her touching the clothes inside her dryer so I asked if they were still wet. She replied, " Oh they are and I may just bring them home that way." 
I had $1.00 left in quarters in my pocket and handed them to her to finish her drying time. She said she couldn't accept it. I told her that I should be getting a new washer soon and I won't need these quarters, please take them.
I told her to, "Think of them like a Merry Christmas pay it forward kind of thing. Dry the rest of your children's clothes and when you are able, do it for someone else.  She asked me if she could hug me. So we hugged.

I have spent a dollar in far worse ways. She was so damn appreciative it made me feel good. It was only $1.00.
Pass it on.

Creepy People

Yesterday I mentioned in my post that the insurance adjuster gave me the names of two companies to call who do this type of work.

Now as a contractor ourselves we are often called by these types of companies. One, in particular, is a company who's first name I will leave out, XYZ Restoration. They come in and access the needs and they call in subcontractors. We are always last in the remodel so we see the work of the other contractors and we vowed we would never use this company.
Thankfully they were not given to us.

The man who did call from S.Enterprises late yesterday asked me how much my estimate was for. I asked why that mattered. Doesn't he have to come out and see the job? He said whatever they gave you is what it will cost.
I said how do you know this? What if I pick flooring that is less? 
Then I'll paint a room for you, you know what I mean?

I said I think so, 'You just want the full check and what I get is insignificant to you. I am not sure that is fair to me or the insurance company."

He began to stutter that if they are offering me 5K and it only comes to 4K then he will do other work for me. 

I said I don't have other work for you. I wanted you to come and see the damage and give me an estimate. I also don't see how I will know if you are not sharing prices/estimate with me if there is any money left or I owe. I am very uncomfortable with this sir.
I am going to discuss this with my husband and I'll get back to you.

Okay am I crazy or is that friggin' sleazy?
He said he would do it for the price of my insurance claim check.
How do I even know what I am getting? How do I even know if that is enough or not enough if I don't have an estimate?
This all seems wrong to me.

Friday I have 2 flooring companies coming to give us an estimate on the 1st and 2nd floor. If they are in the amount I am being given they are going to get the work. Then the only thing left will be the ceiling and we have a ceiling guy. And my new washer (that can come any day now please!)

Is this normal or sleazy or both?

Tid Bits

About 18 years ago Rick and I returned from a weekend at our lake house to find water all over the 1st floor. We had something leak - I know that isn't the professional term, "something" but in Pegspeak that is what we are going to call it.  

The insurance adjuster came out and they gave me an estimate. I called flooring contractors/companies and chose one. I never saw any money pass hands it was all done without me. I just picked out my flooring and went through the disruptive process of my entire first floor under construction.

This time it is far different. I got an estimate. I will receive a check made out to me and my mortgage company. We both sign, then I have all this money to get the house fixed. What? I don't like it this way at all. I prefer to not have any of this money.

I should have the check tomorrow, I send it to the Mortgage company. (why didn't insurance send it to the mortgage company first then on to me if they require this?)
Once the mortgage company signs it then they send it to me to sign and cash. I then get my home fixed. I have to call all the companies to find someone to fix all these issues. 

This is the same insurance company but my mortgage was sold to a different company and this is how they expect it over a certain amount. 
The last time was only $5K. I guess they figure they have skin in the game. But it is so convoluted and time-consuming. 

I expect this mess will be here until spring. I got just shy of $19K. 
Can I do all this for that amount?  Who knows. I can tell you that the companies to call that insurance gave me don't respond to email or phone calls after 3 days so I will not choose them just for that fact. There is no excuse for not returning a call within 24 hrs. Even if just to say you can't help them. 

So that is where I'm at with the mess in the house. Sound like fun to you?

Other tidbits from around these parts -

**Yesterday there was a snow day for the DMV. No snow on the actual ground but a snow day. Honestly, southerners can't handle any kind of precipitation from the sky. It was in the 40's yesterday, snow fell onto the warm pavement and melted. So no school. Crazy right?  

**Rick saw a photo of his ex-wife and it was an awful picture of her. 
She looks like she has speed aged since we saw her. 
Rick showed me the photo on facebook. It was on his daughter's feed. 
I said, "Okay" 
He said, "I'm such a bad person I love that she looks like shit. Karma for how mean she is to her family and basically anyone. But then I realized that is not nice and I too will have bad karma. Damn it I wanted to enjoy that for a while."
Sometimes this man's logic escapes me.
I met Rick after they were divorced for 10 years. She still won't speak to me. I swear when you stand by her you actually feel the cold air she radiates. She is creepy to me.

**A contractor took down a shower rod in this family's shower. They had a stone tile wall. The contractor made a mess and called us to repair it to make him look good to his client. The man was in a panic when he called us.  There were 4 holes like this. Here is the before and after.

The contractor was so happy with the above wall and the 4 holes Rick fixed he called a week later when a former customer of his called upset because she had a crack in her marble countertop and she couldn't use it.  Rick did that repair too. Then sealed the marble with a UV lamp and it was good to go immediately. Rick was unhappy with this one because he felt you could see it. 
But he had a difficult time getting it any closer. The customer was so thrilled because she could use this now without fear of it getting larger. 
She gave Rick a bottle of wine, $20 tip along with paying him.
That is how happy she was so I kept telling him if she was thrilled you should be damn happy too. 
Guess who gets to share that bottle? 
So here are the two repairs this week that I think he should be proud of.

Me? I don't do squat here, just run the business. It's all him!

To-Do Lists.

Another throwback. 
Hopefully, you can't remember anything from 9 yrs ago or you weren't reading me 9 years ago and this will be brand new.
😀
I'm sorry but I have a ton of things to cross off my to-do list for work and personal today. I also have an MRI at 2:30p on my torn Achilles. 
Ah, that end of the year rush for tests because you have met your deductible!

Today's throwback is from 2010 & the dreaded Holiday/Christmas Party.
I seriously don't know when it happened to me. I used to LOVE a party.
I am going to assume somewhere around age 50 my love of parties began to die. Not certain but it came on me quickly and unexpectedly.
I couldn't wait to get dressed up and go to a party and mingle.
Now, I'd rather have a root canal without anesthesia.
So here I am trying to get out of a holiday party.
___________________________

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010

The Christmas Party

But I don't want to go!

Yes, I said this like a whiny child on Saturday.
I gave him a ton of hints and he just was ignoring them.
Then I said it outright and he continued to ignore me.

Since having a dog I have met an abundance of people with dogs in the neighborhood.
My husband is the social butterfly of this relationship and he will talk to anyone and everyone. I will smile and say hello and on I go.  Oh no, this man will pet their dogs, chat with them, make them laugh and next thing you know they are pals.  I see them later when walking the dog and they know me now from my dog and they tell me, "Oh your husband is so nice and my goodness he is funny."  It generally will make me have to smile and chat.  This is not what a misanthropic person wants to do.  But seriously I should have been an actress because I fool 'em every time.  Now my husband comes home and tells me how people tell him how "charming" and "friendly" I am.
"I want to accept this award on behalf of all you little people haters out there"  will be my academy award acceptance speech.

My husband comes home one evening and tells me that we are going to get an invitation to a Christmas party.  (Oh great, can I get seriously ill by then?) 

Who Rick is inviting us to a Christmas party?

Dave and Krista

Who the hell are they?

Their dog is Hope.

Well, our dog is lucky...that doesn't tell me squat.

Margaret, you know who they are.

No, Rick, I don't know all these people you bond with.

The guy who lives on blankity blank Square. (street omitted to protect the innocent)

Honestly, I don't know who the hell this is.

His wife is drop-dead gorgeous with black hair and ice-blue eyes and carries a gun.

She carries a gun?  Like a purse that looks like a gun?
He is laughing at me now.

Margaret, they have the black lab, they are cops.  He is an undercover cop  & he now has long hair remember?

Ah kinda.  I think I remember you pointing him out to me.  I don't think I have ever met his drop-dead gorgeous gun-toting wife though.  And why the hell did she have a gun you could see?

I saw her when she was coming home as I walked by her house and she was in uniform, she is not undercover.

Did you walk by her home with our dog Izzy or were you stalking drop-dead gorgeous woman with a gun?

Funny woman.

I knew I did not want to go but I honestly thought, "he may be full of shit and we'll never get this invitation and I won't have to think about it."

But lo and behold we got an invitation on our door. Yipee.
Rick saw it first.  DAMN IT.
Oh, he couldn't wait to go.  He heard it was a fun affair, 80+ people and Dave just finished his man cave. (oh yipee)

I whined I moaned, I promised sexual favors.
It didn't work. He said the sexual favors would be great but I was going and I wasn't going to be anti-social.  He promised we didn't have to stay long.
I began licking doorknobs, going outside with wet hair, not washing my hands, really doing anything I could to get sick.
Great.  Fine time for my immune system to start working well.

Come Saturday I tried on outfit after outfit.
I had just gotten a pair of black slacks taken in and settled on them.
It said casual but you never know what the hell that means.
I had a major meltdown while trying to style my hair. (still growing out)
I screamed out of frustration and Rick came running into the bathroom and took one look at me and went, "eeww" and left.
I ran after him and said, "please don't make me go I would so rather stay home and drink wine and watch a movie"
"I knew you'd say that he laughed, but we're going even if you have to wear a hat on this"....as he circled his finger around my head.
I stuck my head under the faucet and started over again.  It was better but bad hair should be an out to not have to go to any damn party!

The party was lovely as party's go.  I knew NO ONE.
I am great at acting like I am loving this and I am super friendly and outgoing.
I went to the bar and poured myself a Tanqueray - straight up no chaser of course.
Everyone was young. Most were in jeans and/or clothes too tight and trying too hard.
Ample bosoms falling out everywhere.
Oh to be young and stupid.

Rick was right - the hostess was drop-dead gorgeous and nice as could be.
She was warm, gracious and a great hostess getting everyone to talk, etc.
Her hubby had made his garage into a man cave complete with heat and huge screen TV.
All the beer was out there along with all the sports memorabilia and the TV with sports playing. (the bar was set up inside with the food)
The majority of the men found their way out there pretty quickly.
These men came in from time to time to get food (which looked fabulous) and or liquor.

I made my rounds and knew as soon as I saw my hubby I wanted to go home.
Everyone was nice but this was not my thing and the majority were so damn young.
(did i say that already?)
Rick came up behind me and put his arm around me and whispered in my ear, "ready to go home?"
"I was ready before we got here."
So we found our host and hostess and thanked them for a lovely evening and walked home.

I was just about to say, "See how awful that was, why do you make me do this Rick?"
When he says, "See Margaret that wasn't so bad now was it?"

Throw Back Thursday

I'm dealing with work and contractors today.
Please give a read to something from 2008.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2008

I Don't Think So

Before GPS's...

My hubby and I don’t often fight. There has always been 1 exception to this.....being in the car together. Oh, he can make me so mad when he is driving.
He tells me to be his co-pilot and he hands me the map and then will say, “you’ve got to tell me where to go okay?” 

I tell him to turn right. He says, “I don’t think so” and continues on his merry way.

I am holding the map and I have the address who do you think is correct? 

After driving aimlessly in circles for 25 minutes he turns around and goes back to where we should have turned right and says, “We should have turned here” as though I never mentioned it. He thinks he's funny. I do not.
Oh God, how he frustrates me in a car!
Now having told you this you should also know that he is hopelessly directionally impaired. Oh, that is so not an exaggeration. 

When he used to travel for work I always wondered how the hell he got off a plane in a strange city and ended up where he needed to be on time knowing that he is so bad at directions.  He is a freak about being prompt so I know he was on time but how the hell he got there is anyone's guess including his. I now believe when he did arrive at his destination at all it should be considered another wonder of the world.

Now hubby is delusional about a lot of things. (for instance, he thinks I’m cute and he thinks he has way more hair than he actually does) 

But it’s important to note that he isn’t delusional about the fact that he is so directionally impaired. When I suggested he get a GPS he too thought that was a great idea.

Imagine my surprise when one day I get into the car and the woman's voice on the GPS tells him to turn left and he says to her, “I don’t think so”  

He is talking back to this automated woman for heaven's sake! 

For most of that trip all I keep hearing is the GPS woman say, “recalculating” because he won’t listen to her either. Imagine that!
Then a couple of weeks later I get in his car and the GPS woman is now speaking with an Australian accent. I asked him why.
He answers me with a laugh, "because the other bitch was pissing me off".
I ask him if her lovely accent helps him to listen to her directions he responded with, “You’d think so wouldn’t you?”  Meaning – NO.  Now that made me laugh out loud.

So now it’s a little less stressful for me when driving with him with much less arguing.
I always know that we will get wherever we are going in a very unusual way and I no longer take his not listening to my directions so personal. I mean if he talks back to an inanimate object and argues with her......