Got a Garbage Can Nearby?

If only there was a garbage can close by for Rick to dispose of this.
WHY?

I guess I should be happy he changed the roll but c'mon.
I swear he does it on purpose to drive me nuts.  And if I don't put it in the garbage bin, it will remain on the tub deck forever!!

That was yesterday. 
Then this morning I couldn't find the rolls to make his lunch. 
We used the rolls last night for his burgers on the grill where could they be if not in the normal place?  

I asked, "Where did you put them when you put things away?"
Then I realized what I said. He did too and we both laughed.  
"Me? put things away? I thought that I didn't do that and it made you a bit peeved?"

Oh, the ass. I hated that I was laughing right now. I'm supposed to be angry at him, aren't I? But instead, I am laughing yet again. 
He is lucky he makes me laugh because honestly, I could just...

He's right I put things away last night and for some unknown reason, I put them away in the fridge!  Holy shit. They don't go in the fridge. 
I think I may be losing it.  
I'm going with - he is driving me crazy and it's all his fault. 
That is my story and I'm damn well sticking to it!

Next Door

Are you aware of the app NextDoor? Do you use it?
I find it highly amusing. 
We used it originally when we had our lake house.

The neighbors would tell one another about the lake levels, things that were blown into their yard or dock area, dogs that were found is it yours? they would tell about storm damage and all kind of neighborhood things, power outages, etc. We used it to get help with a contractor who could help. Not living there full-time everyone was so great about helping one another. We found it helpful most of all because we didn't live there full time. Once we saw an issue with the dam and the water levels getting very high and I could call my neighbor to do what I needed to have done at the dock. We paid this man to do things for us so having this info even before he was even aware a good many times was great for us. 

We also use it locally where we do live full time. 
Okay, I wouldn't say use it, we read it.
Oh my goodness do Rick and I get a kick of it. It truly is funny every day.
This one is all whining or complaining about the silliest of things.
Yesterday a woman was upset that someone was both stealing her tomatoes and eating them and leaving a mess there. How dare someone steal and then leave half-eaten items on the ground.

I read it twice because I thought she must be joking right?
Nope, she really believes some person was coming by and eating her unripened tomatoes and some not fully eaten and leaving them there to taunt her.

My first reaction was laughter. Then I suggest to Rick perhaps she needs a mental health professional. I mean c'mon it's an animal you nut job.
Everyone's response to her was funny too. One guy wrote, "it's charlie that damn squirrel" and silly things that made me laugh but did not help this poor woman.

I went back and looked at her name. A lot of consonants but barely any vowels.  
I thought well maybe she just isn't from America and she doesn't have squirrels or chipmunks in her country who eat your veggies. Someone told her that deer do this too so you should be putting something to protect your garden. 
Oh, that comment got her all fired up. Now she was really angry. She wrote back to everyone that this wasn't funny, a human is eating her garden and she showed pictures. I'm sorry but this was just too funny not to laugh. I felt bad for the poor woman. She really believes this was human. Yep, they climbed your fence and went to the center of your backyard to eat from your vegetable garden and then leave some laying around so there would be evidence beyond your veggies being gone.
Most humans don't wish to eat green tomatoes.  
Rick looked at the pictures and being critter boy he began to show me why it was an animal. I told him to not tell me, just tell this poor clueless woman. He did not. 

Then the next remark on NextDoor was from a woman complaining about people ringing her doorbell when she doesn't wish to answer. That alone is a hoot to me. Someone asked if this was a salesperson. She said how would I know I won't answer the door. But every day someone comes by with a big tablet/clipboard and they ring the bell a couple of times. Someone suggested she answer the damn door. 
I was drinking another cup of coffee while reading this and I almost lost my coffee I was laughing so hard. Honestly, these posts are all so silly. 
I bet these folks are the ones voting for the mensa in charge! HA!

The last one that was posted yesterday was from someone who went to one of the 3 grocery stores in our development and she felt the A/C was too high and she could barely do her shopping with it so cold. A man responded to wear a sweater if you know it's colder than you like there. I am telling you I was laughing through all of these. Yes, I agree. I find that store so damn cold but I know that going in so I dress accordingly. But to bitch about it here is so silly. Someone told her to tell the manager bitching here is not going to change anything. 
This is what people whine about in my neighborhood.

Oh and 2 weeks ago someone had her panties in a twist because a person parked their car too close to 'her' curb.  "Her Curb"   Oh the comments she got were hysterical. I don't comment. I don't need the grief.  I read it for laughter which I so sorely need right now.  

Another app that I so enjoy is Tanksgoodnews.
If you have Instagram follow him. It just things that make you smile, laugh, and uplift. All the good things that we all need in our new strange world. 

Rant Warning

Hey - warning. I am going to talk about the idiot in charge.
If you love this idiot you may wish to not read further.

The big fat orange baby who whines, No one likes me.
Have you seen these articles or video clips of the press briefing?
Apparently, Mango Mussolini had a press briefing and had a hissy fit about not being popular.
Nobody likes me he whined. He actually said it must be my personality, that's all.  I had to laugh. Ya think?

He was bemoaning the fact that Dr. Fauci is more popular than him.
He said, "Remember he is working for this administration. He 's working with us. We could've gotten other people. We could've gotten somebody else. It didn't have to be Dr. Fauci."

So what the hell is he saying? That this is a guy that is a nobody - he made him famous? WTH is wrong with him mentally?  Seriously he is an idiot.
Oh, he went on, "he got this high approval rating. So why don't I have a high approval rating and the administration with respect to this virus? "
Ah, cuz you're a liar liar pants on fire?

He really doesn't know? Oh my God. He and Kanye need to go to an island and fight it out together.
In all seriousness, you have only touted your friends who you have your hand in their deep pharmaceutical pockets, that a drug that has proven to do nothing for Covid except provide bad side effects. Because you have done nothing nationally to put a plan in place. You don't even know that the WH has a pandemic national plan. Has he read it? He does nothing!  Well, he obviously eats. My lord, he gets fatter by the day. Remember when your presidents got grayer?  You know from the stress of holding up a country? Yea, he isn't holding up anything but his pants.

Oh, this article goes on. You can read it for your self.
https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/07/28/trump-complains-that-americans-like-fauci-more-than-him/24575062

I was quite upset when I saw that he proclaimed he was throwing out the first pitch at the New York Yankee Home Opener. Now my first thought was NY hates him he should be very thankful there will not be a crowd. My second thought was NY hates him why would they do this?  I was not thrilled but it was what it was. Then come to find out he lied. SURPRISE!
I saw the Yankees make an announcement that while he is welcome (because what else can they say?) They did not ask him to throw out any pitch and they were as surprised as the rest of the world when they heard this.

All because Dr. Fauci is well respected and liked and threw out the first ball here in DC at the Nationals Game. He threw it so poorly that the memes were awesome. One of my favs was, Dr. Fauci threw the ball as if he was safe distancing the ball from the plate.
The poor guy did throw the ball worse than me! But Fauci laughed it off in a good-natured way.  But that bothered orange man. 
This guy was ridiculed and in a delightful way. 
He was still popular how can that be? 
Hmm...perhaps because he has never lied to the American People?

So now we know why there is no national plan for covid. So now we know why there is no national plan for the kids going to school. Now we know why we have more deaths than any other civilized country.
It's about popularity and being asked to play.  No one wants to play with him so he is taking his toys and going home and he'll show you. 

Mango and his Resting Bitch Face's kid is not going to school in the fall.
That private school is not opening due to the dangers to teachers and students they say.
So his child is not going to school and will be protected.
But he is sending your children, deal with it.

This is excellent. 

Dan

My doorbell rang while I was in my office.
I don't normally answer my door during working hours because in all honesty if I was in an office and you rang my doorbell no one would answer then either.
But they were so freakin' persistent. They just kept ringing the bell over and over again.  So when I hung up the phone I ran downstairs and opened the door. 
Oh boy, It was the goofy man named Gus from across the street. 
Gus is an odd duck and English is not his first language so I find him difficult to understand at times. I can't even discern the accent of his. 
Rick said one day he was born in Iowa but does the accent for effect.
I said it is almost like the guy on Taxi, Latka.  That is what he sounds like. (anyone old enough to remember Latka on Taxi?)

His first question was - "Is Dan home?"
Yes, he calls Rick Dan even though Rick and I have told him numerous times his name is Rick. Rick will even say to his face as he calls him Dan, "Gus my name is Rick" but he just keeps talking. 
It is now to the point that we find it funny and don't bother to correct him. 
I mean how many times can we tell him for heaven's sake?
Side note: One night to TRY to be funny we were lying in bed chatting and I called Rick Dan. He said, "I'll be whoever you want me to be babe" and we both laughed. 

Anyhoo I tell Gus that Rick isn't home and won't be until after 5pm.
I asked if I could help him. 
He said and I quote, "No this is for a man to help me"
I laughed and asked, " you have something heavy to lift do you?"
He said, "Oh no I need jumper cables, my car won't start.
I said, "well I can help you with that Gus, c'mon let's get my cables." 
He said, "Are you sure?"  I said, "Dan taught me everything I know."
He chuckled. I knew that was a lie but it would give him comfort because somehow a man was involved.

Argh! Some men seriously like Gus irrate the shit out of me. 
He just assumed I couldn't because I don't have the correct plumbing. The man is younger than me he should know better but he is from another country and perhaps women can't even drive there, who knows. Perhaps I should ask him if he's a man and this is man's work he should hand in his Male Card. That thought went through my head and it made me happy.  

I took out my HALO that I have told you all about from my glove box.
I walked over to his car, turned it on, (the halo)  connected the cables, and told him to start the car. It started. 
I told him to let it run it for a bit, he was anxious to disconnect. 
Then I said it was okay and he turned his car off. 
I unplugged my stuff and went home. 
I heard him start the car again as I walked across the street so I knew it was working.  He yelled out the car window a thank you. I waved and off he went. 

I'm telling you I have used this HALO many times now and I could do a commercial for them. I love this thing. It is everything it says it is and that doesn't happen often. And it still doesn't need to be recharged. I've charged me car 2x, this guys car and Rick used it on something. 

I bought one for my stepmom when they went on sale. I thought this would be good should she be alone at night and need a jump. She can do it herself and not be worried about who this guy is that stops to help or if no one stops to help.
She can do this quickly and be on her way. She has never done anything in her life. She always had a dad or a husband that did all that stuff so I thought this would be good for her so she wasn't stressed out. 

Speaking of my stepmom. She is 78. She works in a school cafeteria. She was the head of the dept and she deals with the gov't paperwork as well as working in the kitchen etc. Last year she asked to step down and only work in the kitchen because Dad was really not doing well etc. After Dad died she said she probably was not going back to work this year. But she is bored. She has no friends or hobbies. We have all tried to encourage her to do things but she won't. When asked to go to the theatre or some such thing as she has been asked over the spring before Covid, she always says no. She is comfortable being schleppy in the house and seeing no one. She doesn't even know how to use email or the computer and refuses to learn. So instead she is going back to school to work. 

Now, this is stupid on so many levels. One she has a heart issue. 
She had open-heart surgery a few years ago but just because they fixed it she is still monitored every 6 months for ongoing issues. She is never out of the woods.  Getting Covid will probably kill her. I spoke to her last week and asked if she was going back to school and she said yes. And before I could say a thing she said, "don't say a thing if you think it's bad what the hell else am I going to do sit all day?  I am tired of doing nothing. I can't go up and down the stairs so I am not even cleaning upstairs anymore. I figure if I get this I'm ready to die."  
Oh my God, you didn't just say that! But what a horrific way to die!. 

I just listened to her go on about this as she was defending herself without me even saying a single word. When she was done I said when is your first day?
I wasn't going to tell her this was a dumb move because there was no point to it. She had her mind made up. I know her. 
There is no way anyone can talk her out of it. Not even her blood daughters. 
It is what it is. I am preparing myself for the worse.

I think schools will make this baseball shit look like a walk in the park.
I think football should take a look at what baseball is going through because they will have the same issues and it ain't pretty.
I know it sucks to not have sports but to not have your health is by far worse. I read where a pitcher who got this and while he is now negative he will have a heart issue for the rest of his life.

A pitcher with no underlying condition and in tip-top shape. So imagine a 78 yr old with a bad heart. Everyone has the right to die when they want I suppose. It is still very sad to me that she is doing this.

I did mention to another blogger about teachers. My neighbor is a teacher and when I asked if she was going to school she began to cry.
Her daughter is 8. Has had pneumonia 2x this year. She fears she could hurt her daughter. Her husband is a teacher and neither think this is safe but they also don't want to lose their home so if they have to go to work what do they do? 
She sent me this list of questions that was on FB. She said this is a start but I can add 100 more questions that are just as important.

Yes, I am going to share and probably get shit for...so be it. 
Here are the questions she got from FB.

• If a teacher tests positive for COVID-19 are they required to quarantine for 2-3 weeks? Is their sick leave covered, paid?

• If that teacher has 5 classes a day with 30 students each, do all 150 of those students need to then stay home and quarantine for 14 days?

• Do all 150 of those students now have to get tested? Who pays for those tests? Are they happening at school? How are the parents being notified? Does everyone in each of those kids' families need to get tested? Who pays for that?

• What if someone who lives in the same house as a teacher tests positive? Does that teacher now need to take 14 days off of work to quarantine? Is that time off covered? Paid?

• Where is the district going to find a substitute teacher who will work in a classroom full of exposed, possibly infected students for substitute pay?

• Substitutes teach in multiple schools. What if they are diagnosed with COVID-19? Do all the kids in each school now have to quarantine and get tested? Who is going to pay for that?

• What if a student in your kid's class tests positive? What if your kid tests positive? Does every other student and teacher they have been around quarantine? Do we all get notified who is infected and when? Or because of HIPAA regulations are parents and teachers just going to get mysterious “may have been in contact” emails all year long?

• What is this stress going to do to our teachers? How does it affect their health and well-being? How does it affect their ability to teach? How does it affect the quality of education they are able to provide? What is it going to do to our kids? What are the long-term effects of consistently being stressed out?

• How will it affect students and faculty when the first teacher in their school dies from this? The first parent of a student who brought it home? The first kid?

• How many more people are going to die, that otherwise would not have if we had stayed home longer?

30% of the teachers in the US are over 50. About 16% of the total deaths in the US are people between the ages of 45-65.

We are choosing to put our teachers in danger.

We're not paying them more.

We aren't spending anywhere near the right amount to protect them. And in turn, we are putting ourselves and our kids in danger.

Dreadful Monday

Fourteen Marlin players and coaches infected. And the Yankees are about to inherit the locker rooms that Miami just used. What could go wrong?

This is why it is too soon to be playing baseball or football.
This is just stupid. When will they stop chasing the $$$ when a player dies or sues them?

In other news...

Mondays suck.  That's a straight-up news breaking bulletin, isn't it?

We have not been on our boat all season long. 
And that is a 1st world problem, isn't it? Boohoo for me. 
But the point is that I was walking the dog at lunch and a neighbor saw me pointed at my legs and said my legs were the same color as my shorts.  I had to laugh because I am the palest Italian American you have ever seen.  And my legs do match my shorts sadly. (white shorts)
I miss being on the water and getting sun but it is what it is and I can't dwell. She told me she has a tanning bed in her home and I could use it if I like. I said thank you but no thank you. I am not going to my neighbors and getting in her tanning bed. Gross. But apparently, my legs really bothered her, even more than they bother me being this blindingly white. Oh well, worse problems in the world you know? My legs work. So they will be just fine pale and pasty.

Rick decided he was missing fishing so heaven forbid he be idle.
Rick loves to tinker in the garage. 
I don't enter our garage because it has more tools than Home Depot.
It's hard to walk in there - I leave it to his domain.

He tinkers around and builds things and stains and paints etc.
Since the pandemic, he goes out there more. I think it is a stress reliever.
When he began playing with epoxy's he saw this table and said I could make that.  I believe I posted this.

I said where will we use that? No, he tells me I am going to sell them.
I said. "What the hell do you mean to sell them?"
He said the man who made this sent me the how-to for the table sold his for over $700.  I chuckle and say something supportive but seriously...
(bad wife again doubting him)

So, we had these old trays that are various sizes in the storage closet in the garage that were going to be thrown away. 
He decided to begin practicing this on something small before the table.
He came to me and asked me to come out to the garage to view his practices.
He said, " I am getting close. I need a darker color and more practice but I can do this and it's fun and creative for me."  Great.

Here is what his 1st-time practice looks like.

Sure they need LOTS of work but this is his first try. He needs more colors, 2 to be exact but he's just practicing right now and I think he'll get there.
He needs his bubbles and white to be better for sure. 
I wish I could be like him though.  He says I am going to build a cabinet for you and he shows me the picture in the magazine and viola it looks just like that.
He then gets a wild hair up his arse and says I think I wanna try to make a table like this to sell. And his first practice is pretty darn good considering it's his first time. If I did that it would more like tie-dye.  
I don't need to tell you for the thousandth time that I have no talent or skills so I am always surprised that he just says I want to do this and he does it.  Makes me want to hate him. :-)  

Once he told me he wanted to build a greenhouse out of PVC and make it self watering. I made the mistake of laughing. That only makes him more determined to prove me wrong. He had no blueprint except what he drew on paper. So he fooled around until he got what he wanted and it was amazing.  My girlfriend wanted it when we moved west and offered to buy it but he gave it to her. She uses it to this day and LOVES it. 
I wish he could do that with money. 
Make me some money in that garage and then let's flee baby!

The guy is so busy you would think that this would be the last thing he'd want to do in his downtime. But it's Zen-like for him, just like fishing is for him. He can be a cranky old cuss and I will say, why don't you go fishing. 
He thinks I'm being a nice wife. Nope. I just want Mr. Cranky Pants to leave because I know when he comes home he is back to normal. 
It's all about me you see.😀  
He goes fishing cranky and comes back himself. 
It truly is Zen-like for him just like putzing around in the garage. I figure we all need something that lowers the blood pressure and makes one calmer. 

Since I don't have any damn talent at anything I will just have to find my zen in wine...tee hee

Oh My!

Now my long time readers all know how I love a big guy.
Over 6 ft, broad, etc.
But...

I just watched Lenny Kravitz being interviewed by Willie Geist.
Lenny is a very short man.
He is slight in build.
BUT, MY GOD IS THIS MAN EFFORTLESSLY COOL AND SEXY.
He is sensual and oh so good looking. And I happen to like his talent.
Songs like Are You Gonna Go My Way or It Ain't Over Til It's Over.
Mmmm...

I looked at Rick and asked, "can you as a hetero man see how damn sexy he is?"
Rick laughed and said, "I can, I see it. He has a cool vibe too"

Doesn't matter, I see the heat and it just made my Sunday morning!

Speaking of always being effortlessly cool  - 
This made me giggle when my friend sent it to me

I think I have to go watch a Lenny music video now.
Enjoy your Sunday.

Headsets

I wear a headset in the office. I always have.
I can walk around the house and still answer the phones. 
I love that I can get to my files or walk around the room, and type while talking on the phone. 
And yes, once I forgot I was on the toilet peeing and I answered the phone. I about died. I could feel my face turn red as if the poor guy could see me. 

It was lunchtime so I was away from the desk.
I ate some lunch, walked the dog all the while wearing my headset.
Honestly, I must look like a damn fool outside with this thing on.  
I came inside and thought I'd go to the bathroom before heading back upstairs to my office.
The phone rings as I am sitting there and my instinct kicked in and I answered the phone. I stopped mid-pee. Hey, I can still do that!

Thankfully it was a salesperson and not one I had an appointment with so I got him off the phone quickly. Whew. 
I couldn't hold it in that much longer so that worked. 
I have never done that again!  
Rick asked, "did you hang up before you flushed, or do you think he heard that?"  
"My goodness of course I waited until he was off the phone to flush!" 
Yes, wouldn't that be professional, using the bathroom, hearing the flush as you're on the phone? If tables were turned I'd be thinking, hey did that guy wash his hands I didn't hear water. Yes, I washed mine but he never heard me. 

I wear this stupid thing on my head from 8:30 - 5p. 
I honestly forget it's on me.
It leaves a ridge on my hair when I take it off. But I still love not being tied to the receiver while at my desk.
I can go to the copier and I don't need to worry about the phone cord. I type information while talking to customers and I couldn't do that if I had to use the receiver so all in all this was a great investment.

They aren't cheap. I believe this was just under $400 about 10 years ago. So $40 a year is good but I didn't want to have to get a new one right now.  It seems as though it's time for a new one though.  

I love the customer service at this place, headsets.com.
They are all so friendly and helpful and when they send you your order you get those small tootsie rolls that fill up the box instead of those styrofoam peanuts. How can that ever be bad?
I happen to LOVE those little buggers so send 'em my way.

Yesterday I called customer service and said I needed to order a new battery one last time before I have to fork out the big bucks for a new headset. The battery dies too quickly.  We have tried some things to troubleshoot but nothing seems to work. I got a new battery just over 6 months ago. They should last 2 yrs. 
So it seems to be slowly dying like me I suppose. 

Matt, the customer service rep, and I went over the newest ones. 
Much slicker than mine. Smaller footprint on the desk, newer technology, and tools to use as well and I could certainly see how great it would be but not right now.  Matt also told me he is using the Leitner that I liked. 
Because of that, I asked if I could throw a few questions at him.
I asked all my questions and he even told me the one thing he did prefer on the one I currently use vs. this one I'm looking at purchasing down the road.  Overall he told me the one I'm looking it is superior just because the technology keeps improving. 
I appreciated that. I looked at this model online as he spoke. 
It is far less money than what I have but newer with better range and newer technology. 
But I still didn't wish to fork out the $250-300 right now.  

We are finding in a pandemic we need to be a bit more frugal so the new battery will have to do for now.  Just don't make me have to use the receiver.
How did people in an office setting years ago do this without a headset?
Boy we are spoiled with 21st-century technology, aren't we?

And speaking of old? We were, weren't we? I saw a kid on TV that was shocked to find out that there were no computers in school when his parents went to school. Oh, the questions. It was making me laugh but at the same time, I felt like this kid thought his father in his 40s was using an abacus and writing on cave walls the way he questioned him.  No, I did not use an abacus,  but he sure made me feel that way.
Oh well, nothing like a shipping box full of tootsie rolls on their way to my home to make me get over it. 

Sad Loss

I have seen the blogger world diminish.
So many are frustrated with the comments just as I have been at times in the past so I understand that.
So many are tired of the negativity. I get that.
People have said to me, it's so dire, it's all political or pandemic posts.
Sadly that is 100% of our lives right now so I understand their comments too.
I understand it all and that is why this saddens me so, I see the writing on the wall.

The latest blog that left was a fun blog. I can't fathom why people don't understand humor and let things be funny and light. No, some have to tell you it's wrong or try to "fix" the situation instead of just reading it and moving along.
If it offends or isn't your cup of tea, move along. No need to comment. Bye Bye.
Do those people write to an author after reading the book to bitch that it wasn't realistic or it really didn't happen that way? No, because it is the author's world. If you don't buy the concept or his imagination then by all means put the book down. Don't write to him/her about your comments he/she does not care! Stephen King has a fun time ripping a new one for folks who do that to him. 

Hell, I've even been accused of making things up when talking about my life. That blew me away. Really? 
I don't need to make things up. 
My life at times is a sitcom, other times a horror show. 
I don't have the imagination to make any of this up.
I just wish people would leave their snarky comments to share with their friends. I think everyone thinks it's like Twitter or Instagram, you must make a snide remark. No, you really don't. I love comments but if you can't write it to be social, as a friend/pal, kind, or funny then move along. 
I love that of late all comments are all great! Whew. I think that big meanie finally got the hint and left me. Time will tell I suppose. I have been more fortunate than most because I don't get a lot of those types, but I've had my share.

It also can be tone. I know in email you can't hear the tone and sometimes things can be taken the wrong way. I imagine that is the same here on the blogs. You may read something that was meant as sarcastic and funny but you read it as sarcastic and mean. I also understand that. But overall it's gotten nastier. trumper, for a new word that fits.

I know readership is down with everyone I've spoken to about this.
You'd think with a pandemic readership would be up, but instead, it is the opposite.
I find that interesting and I have some theories but who really knows.

Then when I saw that Joe walked away I began rethinking about doing the same all over again.
His blog was funny, it's tongue in cheek, it's called humor.
His last post made me chuckle because I too am a genius on all those Facebook tests. But someone had to be a jerk and that apparently just happened to be his last straw.
I've had many here. I understand. 
It may have seemed like nothing but when you constantly get things thrown at you that are not what you are saying or not the topic etc it wears you down. So I very much understand why he did what he did. I'm just sad to see him go.

I have a filthy mouth, I love a good sexual innuendo in a lot of situations and find them funny, I am not always PC enough for today's world, I love animals and tolerate people. I adore my spouse and I am just as smitten with my dog.
I share my life, generally too much of it.
I don't need anyone to tell me how to live my life their way in a mean comment.
I don't need anyone to be snarky unless it's funny and I certainly don't need to be called names. (those got deleted quickly!)
If you don't care for me, that's okay. You're allowed to like whomever you wish to like and dislike whomever you wish. But you don't have the right to be mean, intolerant, name-calling, or a mean snarky bitch/bastard.

In the meantime, I am sad about losing another fun blog to read and enjoy.
I need humor in this world right now. I think we all do.
The world is heavy and dark these days. We need to find the light in every way we can.

Where did he go?

Yesterday at Rick's 2nd job he had to only do a standard tub. A very quick in and out kind of job. The man Mr. C. was home and let him in.  The man disappeared and was never to be heard from again. 

Rick called the office and told me he couldn't find him. He had walked all over his house yelling his name. He told me he knocked on all the doors and called his name and then opened ever so slowly to be sure he wasn't intruding I guess. He thought he may have gone into a bedroom and fell asleep.  Rick said he feared he'd find him dead or collapsed.
Rick waited as long as he could but he had to leave to get to the next job.  
When he called me, Rick let me know where the care sheet instructions were left, etc. to tell Mrs. C. 

The job was paid for by the contractor and we were hired by their contractor so we had payment and Rick left to get to his 3rd job.
He wanted me to follow up with Rudy the contractor and/or Mrs. C.

I left a VM for Mrs. C, but she was not picking up. 
I also sent her an email. 
I called Rudy to let him know. I asked if he thought this man had dementia. 
I explained to Rudy that Mr. C called me yesterday and asked, "Why aren't you here? You were so supposed to be here at 11am on the 22nd?"
I said, "you are correct sir about 11am and the 22nd but that is tomorrow" 
He said, "no, it is Tuesday because my wife told me."
I said, "Sir the 22nd is Wednesday and that is tomorrow. We will be at your home on Wednesday, July 22nd at 11:00 AM.  I believe an email was sent to you confirming this. 
"Oh" is all he said. 
So after that conversation, I thought perhaps he had dementia and was confused or walked out of the house and got lost. Who knows?  He even said to Rick that Peggy told me to turn off the air conditioning. 
Now Rick knew I would never do that!! I never even mentioned air conditioning, why would I? So that was very odd.

When I couldn't reach the wife I called the contractor and he thanked me for letting him know. He said he could go back there in about an hour if we don't find him.
He too was a bit concerned. He has been working in this family's home for 3 weeks now so he knows them. I told him if he does find him let us know because Rick said he could go back after he finished the last job.

It may seem silly to most that the contractors like us and Rudy would be worried about an older man not being home but it was a big red flag to us all. As well as people don't just leave when you are in their home without telling you.

Finally, several hours later Mrs. C wrote back via email. She said they found him under the deck and he was fine. I didn't say, 'UNDER the deck?"  I just said I was glad he was okay and I would let Rudy know. 
She thanked me a few times and told me to thank Rudy as well.

I immediately called Rudy to let him know he didn't have to go back to their home. I told him he was under the deck. Rudy's response was UNDER? 
Yes, I didn't ask Rudy. I really think he may be a bit confused.  
Rick's guess was late 50s. But he could be in the beginning of dementia. My Dad did crazy things like this when it started.

At the end of my day, Mrs. C called me. She didn't give me a lot of info and I just felt from her that I shouldn't ask too much. She called to thank me, she had only been emailing me and wanted to talk to me she said.  She repeated he was UNDER the deck and she had a minute before she left work to thank us again for our concern it was very much appreciated. That was that.

Weird isn't it?
Going into people's homes you sure see and get a lot, don't you?
Some scary, some funny and most weird.
I've written about the women who get naked while the guys are there, fat hairy men who answer the door naked, the gay group of guys who asked Rick if they wanted to "join" him, the man that had a rifle pointed at his head and wouldn't let Rick in the house and the list goes on. 
Do you remember the house with all the life-size dolls? 
No, not blow-up dolls, real dolls. Those creeped Rick out so bad it made me laugh. He swore their eyes were following him each time he had to walk by them.  There were many and all over the house, sitting around tables, sitting in chairs, even just standing in the hall. He got so excited telling me how in the dining room there were dolls sitting at the table like they were eating dinner with place settings in front of them. Their heads turned to another as if talking. Those really bothered him. He is normally so cool and collected so seeing him this way really made me giggle. (does that make me a bad wife?) 

He asked the homeowner to remove the one in the bathroom because he told them he may get overspray on it. He wouldn't, but it creeped him out so he just wanted it out of there. He said working in that haunted house was better than this dollhouse. It was making me laugh so hard after that job. He had the heebie-jeebies. I would have too but listening to Rick tell this story still makes me laugh.

Women who call me to ask if Rick is married is one of my favorites. Especially when they go further and say, Is he happily married?  
After telling someone they are married there should be no more questions. End of story. But those are my favorites I must admit. Using my maiden name at work and saying I am the office manager gives me so much more information than if they knew I was part owner. Hence why we do it. And the fact that the very first day of business a woman said in such a tone, "You aren't his wife are you?" I knew I just had to say no with her tone. When I did say no she said, 'Good!"  So it's been my maiden name ever since and I say he is my boss. That is funny in and of itself. He does the jobs. I do everything else. He couldn't tell you about anything in our business. 
Job security for me if I wanted it. But damn it, I'd prefer to be fired!!
Perhaps I could sue for sexual harrassment. 

Your Health

Each day this week I have thought it was a day forward.
I swore today was Thursday. I was so disappointed that it was Wednesday. This is my karma for thinking I could handle lockdown with no issues. Apparently, after 4 months that is my limit. A bit antsy and confused. 

I told you I have been having an issue with my health.
Yea for only 35 or 40 years.
I have chronic inflammation. I have had this for years. Looking back it started in my late 20s. It got horrendous in my 30s and 40s.
While it causes me a lot of issues, the one that bothers me is the vain one. Weight.
I hate that I can't control it. I like to control everything. Type A and a control freak. Not pretty but it's me. 
I hate that I can eat nothing for a week, literally only drink water and bouillon and gain a pound or two. It is the worst side effect for any woman if you ask me.  I starve myself and get to a weight I can live with and boom - it goes up without me doing a damn thing! If I were fat because I ate too much, so be it. But to get fatter and you are doing everything right, well it's darn right mean and it messes with my head big time. It angers me, saddens me, and for a control freak this is so out of my control so it gives me anxiety to boot. Fun times right?

Right now my doctor was so alarmed by my numbers she sent me to a specialist in this field. He insists that my C4a numbers were so high I must be living with mold and have been for some time. (I was tested for lupus and Lyme etc. all that effect C4a as well.)

Now I doubted this but I am following the protocol to a T until this morning. I needed a mental and physical break of the detox symptoms.
I figured one day wouldn't hurt because I am tired of being so sick every day.

He has me take 5 different pills, some of them I only take 1 some 3 pills and all of them 2 times a day.
One powder that I must mix in juice or water. I do water, either way, it sucks and it gags me but I do it faithfully every morning.  Of course when I told Rick that it makes me gag but I power through he was a pig and told me I could power through and do that for other things too. Honestly, that man is a pig and nuts. I don't help the matter because I laugh at him. I must learn to not laugh.  It only encourages him. 

Anyhoo...I also have drops that go into any beverage. Every morning, every evening. Must be taken with food. I don't always do that I admit. I can't eat 3 meals a day or I will gain even more weight so I have to do this in a way that I am helping myself and not making myself gain more weight. It's a fine line here.

Once I saw the specialist I was given an eye exam. This exam apparently tells you whether you have this or not. I flunked. He is convinced I am living in mold.  Now that would make sense to me if I didn't have this issue for over 40 years. I moved into this house brand new. I had that water damage a few months ago with my washer but within 45 minutes they were here to cut out all drywall that COULD turn to mold and my floors were removed. Besides this would be new and I have had this issue since forever.

Since I have had this issue for so many years why does he think I am living in mold now only? He poo-poos everything I say.  I am dismissed and it begins by angering me but now I am enraged that he isn't listening or giving me answers.

I had to do a test (over $500 no less) I was sent 3 'Swiffer' type pads. I also got rubber gloves to wear to gather this dust. I had to get each one dirty with dust. I had to go in one direction. I did the top of the fridge, ceiling fan blades, air vents, tabletops, tv tops, etc. 
2 of them were fine and the reports if I am reading them correctly show nothing.
The 3rd one was not enough dust and I am doing that one over again.

I asked the specialist if there was a plan B. He got angry. He said it is mold and can only be mold. Hmm....NIH lists this online as a multitude of things. Most of which I have tested normal but still he is not even open to anything else.

I started on all these pills and the first week was so bad, I could have crawled into bed for the first 3 days but I couldn't so I pressed on. I was so nauseous, flu-like symptoms, I ached all over, headaches that were so bad, severe stomach pains, and honestly a plethora of symptoms even worse. I've been doing this for 30 days and nothing has changed. I have to do this another month. 

Here are some of the symptoms of having this.

• Cognitive difficulties such as brain fog and trouble concentrating
• Fatigue and weakness or chronic fatigue syndrome
• Unexplained weight gain
• Frequent urination, excessive thirst, dehydration
• Fibromyalgia
• Visual insensitivity
• Post nasal drip and sore throat
• Numbness and tingling
• Digestive issues
• Mood swings
• Tinnitus
• Static shocks
• Vertigo
• Metallic taste in mouth

I have most of these and more and have for years. 

I deal with it. But the weight gain is killing me. 

Sure the swelling of my body isn't fun, it's painful, my joints etc. But it's how it makes me look that bothers me. I am that shallow.

I don't feel comfortable and I don't want to eat for fear how much worse this is going to get. I am at my wit's end.

I am excited and not so excited to be meeting a blog buddy in October. 

She no longer blogs but we have kept in touch over the years and she and her family are coming my way in October. 

I hate that I won't be feeling like myself or for that matter look like myself. I make jokes like it's pandemic weight or whatever but it's not and I am glad I can hide right now. I am not comfortable being in a size 12/14 jeans. That is not who I am. I know it could be worse. That is not lost on me but seriously if you gained weight every day and you were eating no gluten, no grains, only protein and a shit ton of veggies and salads with lemon juice and a light EVOO you'd be upset too no matter what you think. I am not even drinking wine. I do have some straight gin on Friday's, but not every Friday. But only a glass. I may just start again if this doesn't do it's job. I'm so frustrated. I am trying hard to let it go but I don't know that I will ever be that enlightened. I know it shouldn't matter. I know, but it does.

Right now I want to whine because it friggin' sucks.

What's funny is if you told me you were heavy I wouldn't care. I don't care about that on others. Everyone can be whatever they wish if they are comfortable. But for me it bugs me. I am only 5'1"  5 lbs on me looks like 15 etc. I'd look great at this weight if I were 5'8", hell even 5'4" 

My wonderful doctor who sent me to this specialist asked if I got any reports back. I sent them this morning via her web portal. I then asked if I could get 10 minutes of her time, no matter the cost, to discuss the results of this test. I want to understand them. I even told her that Dr. H. dismisses me. So I hope in the next week to have an appointment on the phone with her to discuss the report. I am a control freak who wants a plan B should this not pan out. I like to ask a lot of questions which I find annoys some doctors. I want to have the knowledge to help myself and to understand it all. I mean, it is my body right? I shouldn't have to beg to be spoken to about all this shit.

When I told Dr H I did not believe it was mold and what is plan B if you find it's not. He said there is no plan b because with my C4a numbers it is mold. I don't like that he doesn't think outside the box. What if this doesn't fit in this box then what?  I am not happy with him or his manner or his treatment. I suppose if I get well for the first time in 40 years with this then I will hail him, but right now I think he is an A1 Jerk.  I hope to eat my words sooner than later. Words don't have calories so I would prefer to eat them and get well and this weight comes off me.  

Yeah, 2020 is not a great year, is it?

I found a couple of memes this week that I thought I'd share.