Happy New Year.

Every year we do a little something for ourselves on NYEve. We have a nice meal either out or at home. We go somewhere fun that we enjoy. 

On our 15th we went back to the Caribbean to celebrate.

In the last few years, it's just been home, our favorite place until they wouldn't let us leave it. 😃

We get dressed up when dining out and sometimes a bit dressier than normal when eating at home. Nothing big just a little somethin' somethin' to acknowledge we made it another year with working together and not killing one another. 

One year Rick made the best meal. We had decided to stay home and he said he wanted to cook for me. I said, "have at it, big boy!"

He said he wanted to do it all. Okay, I'll let you. Happy Anniversary to me. 

He did these awesome thick ribeye steaks in a cast-iron skillet with butter and thyme (or was it rosemary I don't recall now)  and garlic and he basted those bad boys. Oh my were they ever good! Restaurant good!! He made himself a mushroom wine gravy to put over his steak (I hate mushrooms, like the flavor but biting them is gross to me) 

He also made twice baked potatoes with real bacon bits and a really bad salad. 

He can make all this stuff and never read a recipe but throwing together a salad is not for him. We laugh about it a lot because he is that bad. And for heaven's sake, it's a salad. It shouldn't be that difficult but apparently, it is for him.

He also made creme brulee for dessert.  My favorite gf dessert. 

I told him if he was doing all of this I'd do clean up. I didn't really have to say I'd do it because he doesn't clean up. I would do it any way but I made the gesture for points...tee hee.  We had wine and toasted our anniversary and wished we were on the island where we got married. We wish that daily to be honest with you.

This year we decided to make it covid style because what choice do we have?

I wasn't sure what we were doing for our dinner yet but I knew we were staying home because of all the cooties out there in the world.  At home wearing our covid wear. (consists of cuddle duds fleece pants and a sweatshirt....do I look pretty?)

He proclaimed a few days ago that he wasn't in the mood for anything heavy to eat. 

So I said, "why do we have to do anything at all? I mean, of course, I will celebrate our anniversary but why must we have a big meal? Hasn't Covid done enough to us in that arena? For heaven's sake, we can't always wear sweat pants." 

"Sure we can," was his response. 

"No, life will come back and we must wear real pants and skirts and I need to walk not waddle."

He literally made the sound, 'Pfft' to me after I said that.

Apparently, he thought about this meal for a day or two and announced last night that he loves nachos. I laughed and said, "Is this news?" 

"No, but I'm thinking I love nachos, chicken, or beef. Why not have nachos for our anniversary? I love your nachos" ("your" means you are cooking)

Pretending I was sad about this I asked, "What about replicating our wedding dinner? I know you could do that."  

Yes, I am a ball buster! I couldn't care less but I had to rag on him to think I did.  Knowing full well he would not remember what he ate (lobster) or what I had (jerk pork) I kept a serious face to watch him panic. 

I could see his wheels turning that Rolodex in his head....dear lord help me I don't remember what the hell we ate. 

Finally, I couldn't take it any longer, he was in a full-blown anxiety thing in front of me and I laughed and said, "Babe, I'm joking, you can exhale now!"

Whew. Then he hit my arm and said, "paybacks babe, paybacks." Oh oh!!

We are of course eating at home. Surprise!  We will not be dressing in our finery, but our fine covid comfy clothes. You know the sweatshirt with no stains, Rick.

We will not be having a fancy dinner. We decided to have chicken nacho's for dinner with our favorite beverage. Easy Peasy. We will dance in our kitchen as we tend to do and I am certain we will be fast asleep long before the ball drops. 

Side note, I asked Rick, "do you think we could stay awake to see the ball drop?"

He responded, "What is so great about the ball dropping anyway, mine have dropped I don't make a big production out of it." 

Now that in itself is not funny, but at that moment he made me laugh so hard that I snorted and that made us laugh all the more.

Who says you must celebrate fancy? Besides my nice clothes are a bit snug so there is that. I like to be able to wear my clothes and breath in and out. I know I'm such a picky wench aren't I? So nacho's it shall be. We had a weird covid Xmas, Dreadful year and why make it any different for New Years' right? Neither of us is sick with this dreadful virus so we have 2 things to celebrate. Make that 3 - the renter in the WH will be vacated in 3 weeks.

Happy New Year to you all !! 

I know it will take a few years to get out from under the mess that the last 4 years created but here is to a far brighter 2021! 🤞🤞🤞

I wish you all a healthy and happier New Year!

Limes, Cheesecake and Donuts.

When I was hired in 1987 to my career goal of a job I had to live 6 weeks in Houston. It was for training classes before I got dropped into my territory which was in Cleveland Ohio. 

I was living as far north in PA as one could be unless you swam across the lake to Canada so I was used to the cold. What I thought was hot and humid had nothing on Houston. I learned hot and humid before I ever lived here. Houston has it in spades! It was so thick and difficult for me at that time. I was not used to being unable to breathe in that heat and oppressive humidity when I hit the outdoors. Now I live in that same kind of weather and find it funny that I have somewhat adjusted. Somewhat.

I also never saw such huge insects. And they were everywhere it seemed.  

Houston also taught me great tex mex food. Where have you been all my life was my thought at the time? I ate tex mex as often as I could while living there. All I had ever had at that time was Chi-Chi's and that isn't real Mexican food. But what did I know, I was from a small northern city with no Mexican food except one chain restaurant at that time.

I got my job, packed my things...oh who am I kidding, the company packed my things and off to Ohio they went into storage. I went to Texas with a couple of suitcases of clothes for the next 6 weeks.

This part of the story was in a snippet of a post from 2012 so you may or may not recall it. 

I flew into Houston late. There was" weather" as they say in Cleveland causing this delay. Imagine that.

I arrived at the hotel and checked in. It was 8pm and I was just exhausted, it was a very long day. I was to arrive at 4pm. A table was set up in the lobby by check-in to pick up your week's itinerary, books, lanyard with your ID, etc. I was told my "roommate" was already there. They shared her name with me, Deb, From Syracuse NY. 

I absolutely hated that they made us adults share a room with a co-worker. I may have just turned 30 but I was an adult!  I just loathed it. I asked if I could pay for my own room but it was forbidden. Thankfully 2 years later that rule was tossed out the window! We all bitched a fit about it so much that HR made the change. We got our own rooms during all business travel with the company or training or conferences etc.

After the long check-in process, I grabbed my key, my books, and binders and headed to my room. I couldn't wait to get out of these clothes and wash my face.

Now we all flew for free because we were considered airline employees even though we worked for the airline-owned GDS (global distribution system) which is just a fancier word for computer systems. So having the perk to fly free meant I had to be in business clothes to fly, skirt, hosiery, heels, jacket or blouse or both etc. I just wanted out of these clothes that felt cumbersome after a long day of delays and airport "crap"! Yes, crap is the technical term.

I got to my room and there sat a cute blonde thing sitting on her bed in her pj's.

We shook hands and introduced ourselves. I told her I just had to wash my face and get out of these clothes.  I proceeded to do just that. She was talking the whole time I was in the bathroom getting changed and removing the travel grim from my face.

I came out of the bathroom wearing a long T-shirt almost to my knees & my underwear. 

She looked at me, sighed heavily, and said, "I hate that I always get roommates with big fuckin' tits!"

Okay, that caught me off guard and I turned to look at her smiling on the bed as she points to her flat chest. I laughed like a nut. I knew right then we were going to be friends. I was shocked she just said it but I loved her for it. Then she says, let's go downstairs for a few beers. I had just washed all my makeup off and had my long hair on the top of my head like Pebbles from Flinstones. 

But I said, "Sure why not!"

I was living in this hotel I am sure they will see me like this a lot over 6 weeks. But first, let me put pants on. We laughed and went downstairs.

We went downstairs and bellied up to the bar and drank quite a few beers and ate some great spicy popcorn and got to know one another. We have been friends ever since. Two years later in 1989, she bought herself a big ole pair of boobies.  So now someone can say to her what she said to me. 

Our training was now complete and she was off to Liverpool NY and I was off to Cleveland Ohio. We were all part of the same eastern team so we saw one another a lot. And because we could fly free we could see each other a great deal.

She was working from her hometown. I was not. So my trip home was to a new apartment with none of my things. All my things were in storage on the moving van somewhere, hopefully, Ohio.

I arrive back in Cleveland with a new friend and the same damn clothes I've been wearing for 6 weeks. Once again my flight was delayed. I assume that happens because I just wanted to be home. It'd been a long 6 weeks. I just want to be alone in my apartment. No co-workers. No hotel food. Even though I know my apartment is empty it just was better than hotel living.

I get into my apartment and there is no furniture and it seems so big and empty. There is nothing but a phone. No cells at this time in 1987.  

I immediately decided to go to the store. I buy some quick type food that I don't have to cook since I have no pots and pans. Lean Cuisines I could put in the oven, 2 towels, and plastic utensils then head to the liquor store for my beloved Tanqueray Gin. I buy gin, tonic, and limes. 

BUT as I walked out of the liquor store a man bumped me and spun me around and I dropped my bottle of gin on the ground and it shattered of course broke. $34 everywhere. I was so pissed. The guy never even looked at me or apologized, just kept walking like he didn't just plow me over. I was still in the doorway. I turned around and the first thing the cashier said was, "You have to buy another, it is not replaceable. We will clean this up."

Great, so I bought another bottle. It was not a good day!  It didn't seem like it wanted to get any better either and it was only 6 or 7pm. 

I get home and unpack the few groceries I bought. I had a freezer so I bought a couple pints of Ben & Jerry's because a pint of ice cream is a great dinner. I put the 2 towels in the bathroom. I then made myself a gin and tonic. I go to cut the limes and I realize I only have plastic utensils. I knew it wouldn't work but dumb ole Margaret had to try cutting the lime with my plastic knife. It didn't do anything more than break my knife. Just then my phone rings. Who would be calling me was my first thought. I just got here. Must be my mom but she's rather cheap and it is long distance. (remember long distance?) Probably a wrong number.

It was Rick. How was your flight? Hows the apartment? When do your things arrive?  I gave him all his answers. Then I whined. I have no knives to cut my lime. I can't have gin without lime. Most times I just drink gin with a lime, no tonic or added anything but it needs it even more with tonic. Rick busted my chops about being such a brat about not having a lime and whining about it. He told me to knock on doors if I wanted it that badly. I couldn't do that I just moved here I tell him and don't know anyone. Hey, I need my fix of gin with lime can you cut my lime up for me or let me borrow a knife? I told him I'd rough it out until I at least see one of them in the lobby or meet them somehow. By age 35 that would not have bothered me one bit!

He said he had to run, he had things to do. I said, okay I understood, leave me here to sit on the floor eating alone and having a drink with no limes. See how you are?

90 minutes later there was a knock on my door? It had to be a neighbor was my thought because who else could come into the bldg without buzzing me. Ooh, maybe I can then ask for a knife.  I didn't care who it was I was in an empty apartment in a new city alone. I welcomed the company. I open the door and Rick was standing there with a knife and another lime. He said, "I heard you needed a knife." I was so thrilled to see someone. He also brought a tiny 8 inch tv for me to have until my things showed up. That 8 inch TV was a godsend for a couple of nights alone. He left me the knife too. 😏

That ended up being a better night than I thought it was going to be that is for certain. After cutting the lime and having another drink we sat and chatted about my training, my new title, and job, the new girl I just met, when my things will be arriving, etc. He said where are you sleeping until your things arrive? On the floor. But it's only for 2 nights. No blankets. Nope on a truck. I have my raincoat to throw over me.  He said, "c'mon we're going to buy you some pillows and blankets." I don't even recall the store but we went in and got pillows and blankets so I had something until the truck arrived with my things.  He grabbed two pillows and I said, "I only need one until my things arrive."  He said I am not driving back to PA tonight so I need one too. Okay then.

Remember we were just friends at this point so he stayed and we both slept on the floor with each of our own new blankets. Since I had no pans to make an egg or anything else in the morning he took me out to breakfast before he left. Then he headed back to Pennsylvania. 

Rick and I talked every day after work. If I made the mistake of saying, Man, I am craving cheesecake. He would show up with a cheesecake. 

He buzzed me to let him in the bldg and said, "Hey you busy?"  Instead of answering him, I recall saying, "what the hell are you doing here?" He told me to buzz him upstairs. I did but he didn't say he was coming.

He got to my door holding the cake with two forks and said, "I just hate to eat cheesecake alone." 

I quickly grabbed the cake from his hands and said, "I don't!" and ran into the kitchen with it laughing.

I imagine today he'd have it delivered but back in the 80s there wasn't much of that.  So him sending donuts to his sister is not out of line for this man's behavior. They just don't know that yet. I've known him for almost 34 years. 

They have only known him for less than 5.  They will learn.

Donuts or Diamonds

Rick text me the following:

'1st one done on my way to my second. I need to pick up some supplies on the way home and some liquor, would you like me to get you some gin?'

BUT he didn't really text any of that to me it went to his sister in Orange County California by accident.

She wrote back:

'No, just donuts.'

Well, Rick knew instantly it wasn't me then by the donuts since I can't eat them.

He thought that was pretty funny so he contacted a donut shop by her home that delivered via door dash. And in less than 30 minutes she had fresh donuts.

She called me and told me she came home and her husband was eating a donut. 

She asked where he got them. He said they were delivered here. 

By whom she asks?
"I don't know, the donut shop I guess". 

She screamed at him, "you are eating food that was brought here by someone you don't know what is wrong with you? "
He said, "have one, they're really good"  (okay I can hear him saying that and it makes me chuckle)

About 30 minutes later she realizes she said this to her brother in Virginia.

So she calls me since she knows he is working. I laughed and said, "yep they were from Rick. When we were out there last January there was a sign saying, grand opening at the bottom of the hill by your house when we were there"  

She asked, "Man, he's clever. But he does know I was just kidding right?"

I told her he sure does but he thought it'd be a hoot to send them to you.

Now you are learning more and more about your brother you didn't get to grow up with. She laughs and said, "he is so much like Dad it's scary. I wish they could have met"  Hmm....So does Rick.

She called him that night to thank him and for making them all laugh. She told Rick "had I known how you worked, I would have told you diamonds."

Ah, but Rick is the poor sibling in the family so no diamonds, just donuts.

Thoughtful just poor.

Movie Reviews

Well, that's over.

Our heat went out on Christmas Day. (around 9a) That was fun. We were so cold. We got under blankets on the sofa with the fireplace going. 

Hot Cocoa and mini marshmallows helped.😋

The fireplace was on so long it overheated our TV box above it so it shut itself off. Oops. 

So then we turned on the oven. No one of course would come on Christmas to repair and we certainly understood that. We were wearing a lot of clothes and we were thankful we didn't have a holiday house full of people. By 9pm the heat magically came on again. The next morning at 7am the repair folks showed up but it was working so there was nothing they could do. We have a service agreement so there was no cost thank God. It's been working fine ever since. Weird right? We could see our breath in the house and that is cold. We kept going up floors. But even on the 3rd floor, it was cold at 51 degrees with howling winds outside. We laughed and said well that is so very 2020 isn't it? What could we do other than laugh and wear a ton of clothing? Yes, we did that too.😜

I called Amazon Prime Firestick dept one more time on Wednesday. I figured I was already depressed why not throw all hope out the window. 

But lo and behold I was happy after this call.  I got an English speaking fella from Missouri named Jay. When we were done I thanked him so many times and then said, "Jay I would kiss you if you were here. He laughed and said his wife frowns on that" He was delightful. He was patient, helpful, and got the thing working. He did not ask me to do the same thing again for the 100th time. That alone made me a happy woman. Amazing that when you get someone who speaks your language it only takes 10 minutes as opposed to 2 weeks and nothing gets fixed. But there is an issue with my firestick so he is sending a new one. I gave him a 5-star review! He deserved it and I made sure I told them why!

Needless to say, I watched a lot of TV over my days off. 

New TV and lots of downtime.

Here are some reviews of what we watched. Most lousy.

Just like Roger Ebert would do. HA

I Am Your Woman - (prime) Wow was this odd to me. Rick didn't see this one he was in the garage tinkering as he does (made 2 gorgeous walnut cutting boards) I was intrigued to see it because of Rachel Bosnahan. She, being the star of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel which I LOVE. This story is of a woman who is forced to be on the run with her baby after her husband betrays his partners in crime.

The movie takes place in the 70s and she is a clueless wife. She has no idea what her husband does for a living. (how is that possible?) Unhappy and unfulfilled and has no real skills apparently. It is a crime drama and it was so far different from what I was expecting. I wouldn't say it was good or bad. I'm sure some would love it though. I found it just, eh. 

Rating: Better than Eh but not by much.

The Flight Attendant - (hbomax) Not a movie but a new series. 

Kaley Cuoco was the star and I know none of her work because I did not watch Big Bang Theory or any of her sitcoms. But I know she is quite popular. This one was wacky, scary, confusing, funny at times, and kept me on my toes because I couldn't figure out who the bad guy was at all times. When I say confusing I mean it jumped sometimes in time so I would say, was that the dead guy? or was that before he was dead? But that's just me. It is only 8 episodes. It was not at all what I expected it to be but we couldn't stop watching it. After the 1st episode Rick said it was like a car accident, he knows he shouldn't look but he is compelled to. So we went to watch the next 7 episodes and got into it. Rick said he would give it thumbs up. I would too but I don't think this is for everyone! 

On an off note - It made me see some things I did in my 20s that sure as hell can't be done today. In my 20s I was fearless. How stupid I was! 👍

The Midnight Sky - (Netflix) George Clooney movie. OMG was this a snooze fest. I found it dull, slow, confusing at times, and boring. I think confusing because I kept dozing off. Minor detail. George Clooney and Brad Pitt are nice enough to look at but the majority of their movies suck to me. Rick found it dull, slow, and boring as well. This would not even get an 'eh', it would get a "no". That is 1.5 hrs you can't get back. The actor who plays George's character, Augustine, as a young person is played by Ethan Peck. Grandson of Gregory Peck. Just a fun detail that means nothing to the story.

The story is of a lone scientist in the Artic who races to contact a crew of astronauts returning home to a mysterious global catastrophe. Sounds like a fun trip to you, does it? A cheerful romp after 2020 I say with sarcasm. If you liked it I would seriously like to know why. Seeing George 30lbs lighter or gaunt and old wasn't interesting either. I wanted to feed the damn old man. It's my Italian roots, I have a need to feed Rick says.👎

Let Them All Talk - (hbomax) This was by far the worst movie I have seen in years. OMG 3 great actresses and it was boring as hell. I know it was all improvised but my goodness it did not ring true. It meandered, it was not a straight line to what this one was bitching about or what that one was talking about. It was all we could do to figure that out and in all honesty, we just didn't give a damn. We kept saying to one another, this sucks. Visually it was off too. Could that be because it was really filmed on a cruise ship of regular people and they didn't have the lighting? Inside the ship, it was an orange cast then it would be fine. No, it's not my new tv, this was the only time it occurred and it was throughout the movie. But we watched it all and finished our popcorn. There is no doubt, this is a thumbs down. (Diane Wiest did have some funny lines) Don't waste your time.👎

American Pickle - (hbomax) We thought we may need something funny. But this wasn't it. It was labeled a comedy but I sure didn't find it funny. This story is about a Jewish man preserved in pickle brine for 100 years after falling into the barrel in an orthodox Jewish pickle factory. He wakes up in NYC 100 yrs later and tracks down a living relative. We kept at it but it's 'eh'. Seth Rogan plays the straight man well in this and that is all I can say about the movie that is positive. He actually plays both the man who came back after 100 yrs and he plays the lost relative. He is not the goofy Seth Rogan you may be used to. If you like this premise, a movie from 1992 called Forever Young with Jamie Lee Curtis and Mel Gibson along with a lot of great actors did this theme very very well. Watch that instead! That was a far better movie than most I watched this weekend.

Rating: eh to👎

Rick hates period pieces and everyone keeps telling me to watch Bridgerton. This will be something I will watch when alone. Although it sounds like a Hallmark movie (which I don't care for) set in the regency era, it is by Shonda Rhimes so I am certain there is a lot of hetero sex scenes and a lot of same sex scenes because everything she does is over the top like that. It gets old to me.  (just give me one episode of grays anatomy when someone isn't getting a bj in the janitor's closet! just one Rhonda I dare you!)

Uncle Frank - (prime) I only watched 1/2 so far. It was supposed to be the early 70s and this young girl goes off to college where her Uncle Frank is the literature professor. He has been in the closet so she finds out he is homosexual while attending a party that was at his house. (the girl's clothes reminded me of everything that I wore during that era. short skirt, white tights, tight ribbed striped sweater - oh dear)

The ugliness of the 60s- 70s rears its head here and not only in fashion. 

But that is not the problem. The main character's father dies and he has to go home to his southern bigoted family where he was tormented and he brings his niece along. It is a meandering story thus far for me. I am probably only 1/4 to 1/2 of the way through this. It's not must-watch TV by any means. The way the character's partner treats him bothered the hell out of me and it was a good time to stop to finish doing the laundry and cleaning up. You know if I would rather clean than watch something it's not that wonderful.  I have not gone back to this one. I think this storyline could have been done better but then again I did not finish it. I will because I like to do that but it's not urgent. I am at the point where they are all in the car driving south for the funeral and he is not comfortable going home to the family who was not nice to him. rating: eh so far.

So there are my movie reviews. Tell me about some good ones. 

I hate action or comic books so there is that. 

No Wonder Woman 1984 for me. 

My favorite movie all weekend was from 1940.

My Favorite Wife.

Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. I saw that in the wee hours of the morning when I couldn't sleep. And I've seen it many times over the years.👍 

So watch anything good?

Holiday

Today is Friday in my office.

 
It is very very slow. Rick is slaying dragons out in the world today. But it's our last day until the 28th. Phones don't ring and emails don't show up.

We are then very busy for a couple of weeks. January and February are notoriously slow and we dread it and we stock up for it. 

At 3am I awoke to the sounds of Rick, Izzy, and our ceiling fan. We've had this fan for 21 years so I think it may be time for a new one. It has begun to make noise. Rick complained but it never bothered me or I didn't hear what he was hearing. At 3am I heard all 3 of them.  The fan is on remote control.  The control died on the 3rd floor so we brought this one up there. So I couldn't even turn it off but if I did that would most certainly wake Rick. We either have a fan or a window open, no matter the temp outside. We like to sleep with the polar bears. 

I laid there listening to all 3 until 3:30 and then grabbed my pillow and went to the 3rd floor.  I crawled into one of the guest room beds and laid there. Finally, I got up and read some until I got drowsy...around 5am. I didn't hear the dog or Rick so I crawled back into bed. They let me sleep and I awoke to the smell of coffee. All I could hear playing in my head was, "The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup"  😋

I went downstairs only to see it was already 7:30a. I never sleep that late and boy was that nice. Rick was getting ready to leave for work so I at least got a kiss and a goodbye and info about our dog before he was gone. 

Boy was that nice to sleep a bit longer. But that fan!  He promised he'd do something about it this weekend. HA. Wanna take bets on that?  It's the holiday I will not make him work for Pete's sake but it does make me laugh that he even says it. He knows he won't. Silly boy.

BTW, our TV and soundbar were installed without a hitch. In fact 2 of the things they made me buy I did not need so I got that money back. But we are having an issue with where they put the soundbar. I can't reach the box for dish and Rick really can't get his big ole man hands in that tiny opening. 

I have had to do a reset and I can't reach the button. So I had to turn the power off from the breaker box. They are coming back on Wednesday at no charge no less and they will fix this.

This picture is so damn good it flips us out. Last night Rick was watching Our Planet and to see the little hairs on a caterpillar - individual hairs - was astoundingly pretty and amazing. It was worth the wait. But while 65 inch may sound small to some it is huge in our little home. Everyone told us to go bigger - we'd have no place to put a 75inch so this is perfect.  

All in all, it worked out great. They were super good at what they do. They showed us how to work everything. They gave tips, they showed us tips, they were all around terrific and they were on time as well. They could not help with the firestick and they tried. They spoke a language I could understand and communicate and they were funny as well. 

We were making breakfast. Bacon in the oven and I was going to make scrambled eggs. But they called and said they were on their way. (it was between 8 - 12) They arrived at 8:30a Saturday so I had to feed them. You can't have bacon cooking and not want bacon, especially 2 big men. 

As soon as they walked into the house the one guy goes, "Oh my God bacon."

I laughed and said, "it's not ready yet, but soon, we will share" 

Of course, they said no, until I put out plates for them at the island and said it was really okay to have some as long as they were working I didn't care. 

I just put everything on the island like a buffet and let them grab what they wanted. We did as well. They had scrambled eggs, juice, coffee, bacon, and toast. Apparently, they aren't allowed. I told them it was a holiday, I won't tell. Besides Rick and I were damn hungry since we've been up since 5:30a. They did not sit, they grabbed some food and continued working while they ate. 

They thanked us so many times and when Rick tried to tip they refused to accept it. The lead tech kept saying, "you just feed us for Pete's sake we can't do that sir." 

So they ate their tip.

But come on, they are in my kitchen area and I am making food that just wouldn't have been nice not to at least offer. They didn't eat much for 2 big men and I think they were being polite. See how close the TV is to our kitchen. It's in the kitchen and to the left which you can not see is the sofa etc. 

We no longer need closed captions. On our old TV we would have the volume at 60 to hear it clearly. Now we have it at 16-20 to hear it clearly. It seems some channels are louder than others. But on average 16 is high enough. I guess we weren't as deaf as we thought since the sound is coming at us it is far easier to hear.

All in all, I couldn't have asked for an easier installation. And the total was just over $375. So again, they spoke English, they were prompt and considerate, they were a minimum of $400 less than everyone else and they are coming back for free to change the soundbar for us. I can't even yell at Rick anymore now damn it. :-)

Oh and mark your calendars, I agree with trump, give people $2,000. 

At least give them enough to do something like food and shelter! Now that's a twist huh? I don't get any monies either way but I felt that $600 was a friggin' insult. My niece pays 1200 for rent. Where can you get rent for $600? That I agree with the orange one is shocking, are you sitting down? But the other things he doesn't want in the bill concern me so we'll see. I just wish he'd go away. I'd give back my Xmas present of a nice TV if he would just go away, far, far, far away and be silent. Forever.

I believe this will be my last post for a short while. I plan on being out of this office for the next 4 days. I want to ignore my computer and live my life. It is 60 degrees today so lots of walks with Izzy until the cold returns in a day or two. Have I told you that Rick walks Izzy in a Santa hat? Boy, the kids get excited to see Izzy and Izzy's Santa as one boy called Rick. It's damn cute.

To all who celebrate Christmas, I wish you a warm Merry Christmas!

I hope you all are able to make it a wonderful holiday for you and your loved ones!

NYE is on it's way

I saw this from a person I follow on Instagram.

I just love this meme. I never understood why everyone gets their panties in a twist if I say Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas. 

If I know you celebrate Christmas I say Merry Christmas.

But to strangers in a grocery store who I know nothing about I think it's nice and respectful to just say Happy Holidays. 

I have a Jewish friend and I say Happy Hanukkah to her. I asked her once if she was offended if a store clerk said, "Merry Xmas" She laughed and said, "Oh hell no the majority are celebrating it and I understand but sometimes I wish they "got it".

I asked if saying Happy Holidays makes her feel better. She said yes and no. 

She told me it was far worse when they had an office Xmas party and didn't invite her because she was Jewish. Can you believe that? It's an office holiday celebration - you aren't really celebrating God in any way by downing liquor and eating too much stale office party food. She was upset and I can certainly see why.

This to me was all kinds of wrong. 

Not everyone celebrates Xmas. Do you know not everyone celebrates birthdays?

I remember finding that out as a kid and I was blown away. That family across the street didn't do Halloween either and as a kid, I always felt sorry for them. But it appears it did not bother them one bit because that was their religion. (Religion, the #1 cause of war)

I will admit I felt so sorry for these kids that as a kid I tried to give her some of my Halloween candy on the school bus. She reached for it and then pulled away and said she couldn't. I assumed as a child she thought she'd get in trouble but it was very confusing to me at the time in 2nd grade. 

My favorite holiday is my birthday so if I had to grow up in that religion I am certain I would have rebelled. Then again I would never have known it was my favorite holiday if it was never celebrated.

I have never enjoyed Christmas or New Years Holidays. Sure as a kid I liked getting the gifts but by my teens I found the holiday stifling and filled with pressure just as I do now. It's funny how I remember my worst Christmas but not my favorite. Odd isn't it? Well ya'll know I'm odd 

(my mom died just a few weeks before my worst Christmas)

In fact, Rick and I dislike NYEve so much we decided to get married on NYEve so we'd like it. And by God, it worked. 

As a 20 something or even in my early 30s I was always invited to New Year's Eve parties. I dreaded them. I can sincerely tell you that there was never one that stood out as fun to me. It was always the same old. Oh, there were fancy ones, fancy ones held in an enormous ballroom, small intimate ones at a family or friends, or even the really small ones with just a couple of people in a bar environment. All of them are awful to us. Everyone getting stupid drunk and I don't find that fun apparently.

There is this expectation and it always falls short. As I got older I stopped going because I just didn't want to go. I found having some wine or champagne at home alone was better than these parties. Oh, how my girlfriends bugged me about this.
"You want to stay home alone?" "You don't want to get dressed up and party with us?"   Yes, that is right, I'd rather stay home, not necessarily alone but I am alone so yes that is fine. I can have some champagne in my pj's and have more fun than a party. I'll rent a movie (remember renting movies?) 

I got a lot of grief over the years and then peer pressured to go. And when I was younger I could be peer pressured into stupid parties but by the time I hit 30 I had had enough already! I'm an adult I can do what I want when I want to within the laws of the land. I am allowed to stay home if I wish. 

Then I met Rick, he felt the same. NYE to him was just a letdown. The first one we watched a movie and had some champagne and in our pj's no less. I made dinner he was on dessert and he made homemade creme brulee ladies. And it was to die for.

We danced in the kitchen while cooking dinner. We had a nice evening.

It was one of the best NYE we had ever had.  But each year the invites would come, the whining, "oh c'mon come with us, it'll be fun, don't be party poopers"  Oh we heard it all. We even had people call us from a noisy bar or wherever to try to convince us to meet them. Nope. 

After 4 years of friendship and 2 years of dating/living together we made it official. On Dec 31, 1993, we got married in a flower-filled gazebo overlooking the sun setting over Caribbean waters in Montego Bay Jamaica. It was fabulous. 

Best NYE ever! We made it a day we will like now forever.  

And you know what is best?  When you get those pesky invites, all you have to say is, Oh it's our anniversary we've got plans. 

EVERYONE  backs off instantly. Not one whiner or begging fool. No questions asked, they just let it go.  It's been great!

So look at us, we made it a day we like. We also made it a day we don't have to share with anyone else or be given grief if we want to be alone.

If I didn't know better I'd think those damn kids were pretty smart!

Cranky Peg

What I have learned during this pandemic.

**People, for the most part, are selfish and entitled and only care about themselves.Telling ourselves that isn't true to make ourselves feel better isn't working

The above makes me sad.

**that trump supporters if not the very rich who he helps, but the others who are his majority are the incredibly dumb and uneducated. They believe him when he says fake news because he wants to deflect. You've seen them on TV. Mostly blue-collar. Mostly hillbillys. Mostly just love him for the hate he spews because they hate the same people. Not because he's helped them in any single way. Because they can't name one thing he's done for them expect to share the hate. How friggin' sad are these people? Sadly they breed.

This above makes me sad.

**That some companies are using this pandemic to make themselves rich and hurting others yet again. That rich white idiot who tells you how to live your life while he sits in his mansions and counts his money, Joel Olsten, or something like that. He received PPP monies of 4.4. million. Why? He has that in his checkbook. Just like the football player Tom Brady. He received 1 million. Or my hairdresser who owns her own shop and has no employees got PPP monies to pay her employees. Gee that seems right doesn't it?

The above makes me sad.

**That so many people are hurting. I deliver food to the local food pantry every 2 weeks. Drop off times are between 10-11:30 on 2 days a week. It is always empty but for me and sometimes 1 other person. They tell me we live in the richest county in the USA with somewhere in CA is 2nd. How pitiful that these people neither give of their time, money or food. Pitiful.

The above makes me very sad because for the grace of God that could be me and Rick at any time.

**There is a new strain of covid? Will the vaccine help that strain?

This above makes me sad and scared.This could be the end of us all.

That our leaders are giving a whooping $600 a person. Yeah, it's something, let's see those Potomac idiots live on that. That is less than rent anywhere even in the little small hometown of mine! That is groceries for a family of 4+ What is wrong with the right that thinks that is enough? For whom? Have they tried buying groceries lately? I heard one jerk say that will pay peoples mortgage. I live in a small townhouse - that is literally a 1/4 of my mortgage.  Gee thanks. I'll tell my mortgage company I only got $600 - hold on. Yeah that will work.

Here is a little ditty on the above. These are what other countries I read get during their pandemic. 

**That our orange leader allowed hundreds of thousands of Americans to die from a devasting virus and thinking the solution is extreme liability protection for corporations. This is why you don't want a reality tv show persona to be your leader. You got him in spades.

This above makes me very sad and angry.

**That our orange leader can allow Russia to have the most massive cyberattack on our country and he says, no it's probably China. When we know and have evidence it is not. This man should be held for treason! If I were dying I would take one for the team and nix the guy! I fear what this ahole will do with the security info he has. He is a national security risk with his temper tantrums and petty childish behavior. He is a real threat to our country - WAKE UP AMERICA! 

This above makes me fearful as all get out.

I don't think I've learned anything good from this pandemic.  I keep wracking my brain to think of something positive. 

Fill me in on the positives. I am Susie glass half full today.

Friday.

Allow me to set the picture for you.  

After dinner, I was making myself a vanilla biscotti coffee. (folgers and it's yummy)

I am standing at the kitchen island stirring in my stevia.

Rick is already in his ugly chair awaiting Jeopardy to begin. But it's only 7 ft away from me.

A commercial comes on for this expensive exercise equipment & inversion table. 

The man in the commercials says, "We can fit your lifestyle and your budget"

Rick quickly replies, "Sedentary and Broke?"

Well for some reason that cracked me up. Thankfully the coffee got just to my lips and I didn't take any or it'd have been sprayed across the room.

Tomorrow the men arrive to install my new TV. 

It's funny how I spent so much time researching for a new TV. 

Then finding something we could live with that wasn't as much as a car. Then I tuck away money for months and months. Fingers crossed we hoped to have the money for black Friday. Then I get the TV and soundbar and it's all in my dining room for a month. 

Fingers and toes crossed that this goes off without a hiccup. 

But 2020 has shown me that the universe can just keep piling more and more shit on us so we'll see.

TGIF.

We're Throwing BackThursday

First I would like to tell you what I found funny on Tuesday evening.

The county I live in is all virtual learning. Because of the nor'easter, they said on Tuesday night we MAY get 3-5 inches of snow on Wednesday so they were going to have a snow day.  

Think about that for a moment - A.Snow.Day.  

A snow day for those already at home?  Rick and I looked at one another and laughed. Do they not know what a snow day actually is? 

Did the south lose because they were cold? I will never understand their issues with weather of any sort other than hot and humid.  But it does make us laugh. These folks would melt if they lived up north where there are 4 seasons and seldom or never a snow day.

Patti was discussing having wrist pain and having to use your non-dominant arm or hand.  Boy, it's difficult so I could relate to all of her struggles.

Because I am lazy this week I am giving you something from 2007/2008. I talk about not being able to use my dominant arm/hand for 4 weeks. I found it dreadfully difficult and my husband didn't make it easier all the time either.

I am right-handed and knowing what was coming up he kept reminding me to do things with my left hand. But I just couldn't and would go back to my right hand. Each time I walked into the bathroom he would yell - use your left hand, practice! It would make me laugh. But he was right on that one.

Here ya go....enjoy my pain.

Commando 450

I had my title as Shower Head but then realized that anything that can be misconstrued as dirty or an innuendo then I get all the filthy comments. 
So I changed it in hopes that those idiots stay away.

We bought a big rain shower head a couple years ago when we remodeled our master bath. It does not come from the ceiling however, it is in the standard spot on the wall. The power this thing has makes Rick very happy.

I would just like not to have to jump up reach it enough to lower it each time I get in the shower!  I love that he's tall but sometimes it's a pain in the ass for me. Reaching the vase on the top shelf is when I love it.

  

Suddenly we both noticed it wasn't as powerful. 

I suggested we clean it with CLR.  

Rick came home the other day with a small bucket and 2 big jars of CLR. 

He took the showerhead off and soaked it in the CLR and then he cleaned a screen inside the contraption. Who knew that was there? What would I do without this weirdo? 

Rick took a shower first and said, "Yes this is like it used to be"  

I just laughed at him. The following morning I showered and whoa!
I felt like Kramer on Seinfeld when he got the commando 450. 

That episode made me laugh. The super for the apartment bldg they lived in was installing low flow/energy-efficient showerheads. They all have flat hair because the flow was so low they can't get the shampoo out of their hair. They feel like they can't get the soap off of them due to these new low flow showerheads as well. Then one of them finds on the black market a commando 450 from Bulgaria. 

At the end of the episode, they do all get a commando 450 and it knocks Kramer out of the shower. That is how my cleaned showerhead feels now.

Just like this. It's perfect!

Christmas for Izzy

Rick was on the stoop Saturday with Izzy because it was 63 degrees and lovely. Izzy's 2nd favorite thing after swimming daily is to sit on the stoop to see all her adoring fans. I say she likes to look over her kingdom. 

Don't laugh it's not far off. Kids ride by and yell, "Hi Izzy" Some stop to pet her and love on her. She loves being adored. 

They say hi like they think Izzy understands. 

One little girl makes her mother stop daily and if we aren't on the stoop her mom says she wants to ring our bell to let Izzy out. Her mom whispered, "please tell her if she is not out she is napping because that is what I tell her" So I do just that. It's cute though, isn't it? The little girl is 4 or 5 and she is so dang cute. She asked me how long Izzy's naps are. I told her it depends sometimes for 2 hrs. Sometimes only 30-45 minutes. She thought about it and said I think that is how long I nap too. I told her that dogs take a lot more naps than people do. She kept nodding as if she really was taking all this information in. I wanted to take a bite out of this little girl she was so adorable. But since that is frowned upon by strangers I did not do that.

A woman who has lived across the street from us and a few doors down since 2002 we barely know. We wave to her. She stops by to love on Izzy and then goes away. She lived in Europe for several of the years I've lived here and rented out her home.

But since being home she manages to stop by when we are out on the stoop during my lunch and she always spends all her time with my dog and not much talking to me. That's okay with me. At first, it was odd but I'd just keep reading and she and Izzy would bond for 20 minutes or more. Not much interested in me at all I would tell Rick but she would get on the ground and just be with Izzy and talk to her and play with her or hold her nylabone. Odd but yet it felt comforting.

So imagine our surprise when she came over Saturday while Rick and Izzy were on the stoop with dog treats, a holiday card for Izzy (and us but mainly Izzy) and a bottle of wine. She thanked us for sharing our dog with her and how she just adores Izzy. She said Izzy makes me forget the world and she calms me. Wow. Wanna take her for a night and babysit was my thought but since I barely know her I did not say that.  We just said we were glad and she can come over anytime! Of course, we also thanked her.

Later that day we heard the doorbell. Rick went and no one was there but a gift on the porch. Rick brought it inside and I asked is that for us? He said, "No, it's for Izzy" It was a new nylabone from a neighbor who really likes our dog. (they don't have a dog either)  Oh my Godness. The card read, her nylabone was left on the sidewalk one day and it looks like she needed a new one (and she did) But c'mon how nice is that? The couple left their name and address. We do not know them but apparently, they walk by a lot. 

So that is 3 gifts she has received. The first being a dog Advent calendar which I find funny. 

This from a neighbor we know and their dog plays with Izzy.

Each day we play this little game with Iz on the floor and she knows a treat is coming out that door. If I'm slow she will move my hand along with her paw. She is going to be very sad when the last day's treat is gone!  

Then on Sunday afternoon, we 3 took a walk. We saw a man and his son who always talks to Rick. The little boy had to tell Mr. Rick that he no longer has training wheels, "See Mr. Rick?"  Rick made a fuss over him riding his big boy bike and his dad went inside and he came out with a bow around antler/ bone for Izzy. (another family with no dog) He said we were going to wait but I'd like to give it to you now Rick said, "you don't have to do this guys!"  The dad said, "oh yes we do. You let my son play with her in your driveway for hours. My wife is allergic so we can't have a dog. This stops his complaining. You always let the dog stop for my son to touch her, pet her and it means the world to me. You even let him pull her around in his wagon this summer. He really loved that. Again Wow. We thanked them and went on our way.

Look we all know how Izzy is popular but this was blowing us away.

I have a feeling there maybe more. We get a kick out of this. As I said we noticed no one gave us diddly squat. Izzy is far more popular than the 2 of us.

I think when Izzy is gone the whole neighborhood is going to mourn. 

She has made her mark on this development. 

Last week I was running errands. My crazy dog loves nothing more than to ride in a car. That is #3 of fun things for her after swimming and stoop sitting. She doesn't like to put her head out the window - oh no, she likes to lay down and sleep. She's like a baby in that way. The car soothes her and if I run errands I just bring her when it's not hot out. So last week we went to the grocery store I was making something and I realized I was missing one ingredient. So she hopped in the car and off we went. I left her in the car because it was nice out (55) and I opened the sunroof a little bit. I, being the silly human, always tell her I'll be right back and rub her head. She is practically snoring by this time. 

I returned to the car and as I got in the woman next to me opened her door so I waited by my car.  In the meantime, I was looking in the window at Izzy. 

That made her sit up.

The woman said do you have a dog in there? Her daughter who was with her was about 13ish. I put the backseat window down and said, "See a dog" 

The daughter said, "That's Izzy isn't it?"  

Oh my God, there are 40K people who live in my development how the hell do you know Izzy was my thought. I asked how she knew my dog and she said my dad and I always watch you guys go by our house. (they live 12 blocks away) Mom this is the dog who is never on a leash and Dad says we can get a dog if the dog is like Izzy.

Oh dear. (second time I've heard this type of story. I think I wrote one here about this topic) 

The mom looks in at Izzy and now Izzy is being petted by them both and she being the love whore she is, she is soaking it up. The mom asked if she went to training somewhere nearby. I said no. I told her we got a non-hyper lab, it's a real thing, gave her the link.  Then told her we worked with her from day 1. She doesn't want to disappoint us so she never does anything wrong. Not in almost 12 yrs anyway. She's getting old and stubborn now and we think she doesn't hear as well so sometimes we have her on a leash. We always have it with us though. The woman took the paper I wrote all the info on and said, "If my husband wants to discuss can we call you or your husband" I told her certainly. Then the young girl says, "Does this mean you are going to think about it please mom?"  The mom kept saying she sure is pretty. Does she bark? I've had her for almost 12 yrs and I can count on my hands how many times she has barked. It took 2 years before we ever heard her bark.  I told the 13 yr old if she wants to walk the dog on a leash to come by some time or if she sees us outside she can go for a walk with us and see if she is ready for a dog because it is a lot of work, a lot of exercise and a whole lot of money. 

"I know, I hear that all the time," she whined. I chuckled because I understood that. 

I do not know what my dog has done any differently than any others but she has a friggin' fan club. It's cute as hell but a bit confusing to us. 

She's not perfect by any means. Monday I could have killed her. 

The dog who loves water won't go out in the rain.

At 5:50am she ran to the front door, I opened it and she stuck her head out and then backed up. The only thing missing was the beep, beep of the back up. She didn't go to the bathroom until 2pm when the rain stopped for a few minutes. This dog is crazy. They don't see that stuff. Or how she will fight us for a bath or how she will be so stubborn she won't get out of the car because she wants to ride some more.

She has me so well trained after coaxing her out of the car and her turning her head the other way I went to grab her collar to pull her out....she moved to the other side of the car so I couldn't reach her.  The little shit. 

So I went to the other side of the car and she moved to the opposite again. I began to laugh. I got into the car, sat on the seat next to her and had a little talk and then bribery. She got out of the car. I swear this dog is human. I bribed her and she got in the house - stood at the pantry door waiting on her treat.

I put things away, put my coat away and she just stared at me while sitting by the pantry door where she knows there are treats. I imagine her saying, "Hey you promised me!"  It never ceases to amaze me or make me laugh out loud at her.

In my next life, I really think I want to come back as Izzy. Everyone loves me, everyone feeds me, I get what I want because I will have trained my humans well and I am pretty. Yep, that is what I want for my next life.

In the meantime, I need her to write some thank you cards so people don't think we raised a brat!

Covid Pretty

 I am going to talk about some fluff today, big girly woman fluff. 

So, men, you've been warned. 

This pandemic, misadventures of the idiot in charge, fear, loss of work and health issues are a very heavy blanket to wear. It's all so very exhausting. 

So let's talk about things that really don't matter in the big scheme of things but I want to go there to not think about all the other shit that is swirling around us.

Yesterday I was trying like hell to get my mind off all the heavy stuff. I went into my closet and had a good laugh. Nothing, I repeat, nothing that I used to wear now works with this new hair color. So there I was in my closet trying on different things and realizing dark hair looks fine against beige, with salt and pepper and white around one's face you look sick.

All salt around my face but the rest is S&P except the back which is just pepper. Weird right?  But it does work with the hairstyle/cut.

So as I was looking for a warmer sweater I grabbed a gold/beige one. Oooh, that wipes me out now. I was trying things on in my closet when Rick walked in and asked, "What the hell are you doing?"  

I explained how everything that is not a jewel tone or black looks horrible on me now.  Rick understandingly says, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Oh, have a seat and I'll show you, Rick."

So I put on my cashmere sweater that I covet and waited a long time to buy and finally got it at the end of the season last year for an Old Navy price but not from Old Navy. I wanted it for our trip to Calif. to visit his sisters. 

I throw the sweater on and turned around and he actually turned up his nose and with the funniest face shook his head and said, "Ooh no that washes you out."

Yes, Rick, that is what I am talking about. 

So we played this little game as he sat on the floor in my closet as I opened drawers and tried things on. (I like when he plays girlfriend with me and yes I am very lucky to have a big walk-in closet - rick got the smaller one of course) 

I found that 1/2 of my clothes look awful on me now. Having dark hair really made a difference. Wearing off white makes me look sick. Bright white is good. 

Black, red, navy, burgundy, and dark green seem to work on me now.  Jewel tones, deep tones, not beige! Oh great. Saving $200 every 5 weeks because I am not coloring my hair but I have nothing to wear. I am not spending money on new clothes we will just maybe sell some clothes. There are consignment shops here and if not the market place. 

The other day I had on my red and black pajama bottoms but wore an old red turtle neck because with short hair my neck gets cold. Rick was talking to me and just stopped and said, "you look really nice today Margaret, very pretty" 

"I  bathed."

Rick laughed and said, "no, i didn't say you smelled nice I said you looked nice!"

"Well after I showered I did my hair and thought what the hell put on some make-up since I'm rather tired of being Covid Ugly."

 

"Well you look good, your hair, the color of that sweater just makes your face pop"

"My face pop?  That sounds like a big zit."

"No, Margaret I'm trying to be nice here give me a break."

"Well, that's no fun I laughed and said, Thank you I appreciate you noticing the effort even though I'm still wearing my pj's."

Then he said to me, "Hey, I'm wearing a day old sweatshirt with stains, dirty jeans, bed head and unshaven, don't you want to tell me I look nice?"

"You look ah, Covid hot babe."

"I'll take it! That's better" he tells me laughing.

It has come to this. I am so awful looking most days that I did my hair and makeup and he makes a fuss. I think that means I've let myself go. Covid clothing and covid no make up with a mask and covid hair let's just throw on a scarf or baseball cap. I think it's time to clean myself up.  

In the meantime ladies, I am finding that my old makeup has to change with this hair color too.  Oh boy. But while figuring that out it keeps my mind off the other shit. Sometimes I need to wallow in the shallow end of life.

Politically correct

This has been happening to me a great deal of late. 

I can't communicate with those I need to communicate with. 

The first was the doctor during my hospital stay. I got 1/4 of what he told me and the rest of the time I nodded. I don't know the accent so I have no idea where he was from. But not Chinese, Mexican, Spanish or middle eastern. So I just gave up.

Then I called Mr. TV Mount. The guy shouted a lot in an Asian dialect but I had no idea of what he was saying. I asked him to slow down, he didn't listen either. I understood, no no no no, when I asked why I had to get a new mount if this one was for all TVs over 55".

He then asked me to hold. I was rude and hung up. I did not wish to go down that rabbit hole. Then I feel bad that I have to ask him to repeat things. I know it was not nice of me to hang up but I thought it was my easy out.  I was chicken shit.

I called a 2nd company about mounting my TV and his English was worse than the 1st two together. I asked if there was someone else I could speak with there and he hung up on me. I think he may get that a great deal and it was rude of me. I don't like it when men want to only speak to a man here. He did tell me the base price and it was outrageous so I would not have used them anyway.

I believe all these people have the right to be here in the USA. 

I believe they should be afforded all the things I myself can. They too should be afforded a chance to grab the American dream (if it even exists)

However, it is nearly impossible to give them my business when I just don't know what they are telling me. When I asked questions to the 2nd company he too yelled at me saying I didn't need any of that, however his price was over $700. I then told him that was a bit more than I wished to spend right now so I think I am going to wait. He hung up and not softly.

Now I understand why my father said they were never allowed to speak Italian in the home, only English. Although his parents did not do the same the kids had to. I think that made his English better and truth be told my father ended up with a Bronx accent. I think his Italian one was far better. Just sayin'....

So there I was back to Best Buys Geek Squad who I could have done for $300 less than they are now charging me. The man asked me a ton of questions in English and I understood him. He had me show him via a link on my phone how my TV was currently mounted. He saw everything. Asked where the sound bar was going etc. Okay that helped him see what they need. So an appointment is set for Saturday, Dec 18th. To save $100 I got a year of their service so maybe they can help me with the firestick? Who knows. If I got their annual service it was less $150 just for the tv and then another $150 for the soundbar and if I didn't then I'd really have to kill Rick for doing this.

I must admit I should have just gone to The Geek Squad first. They understood my questions, they answered my questions without shouting at me and their cost was less than the other 2. Whew.  I sure didn't wish to make an appointment for the cheapest but after talking to the top 3 in my area this one worked out that I could understand him, he could understand me and it was a bit cheaper. 

So maybe by this dreadful Xmas, we will have our new TV and soundbar and also be able to use the firestick on HBO Max. Hey, a gal can dream, right? 

Technology Help

I subscribed to HBO. So with their new HBO Max I receive that as well. 

I also have a firestick. Because HBO and Dish had a falling out Dish my provider, no longer has HBO in the line up. But since I have prime I can access it through them. Now to my dilemna.

I am not tech savvy enough to figure this out. HBO Max worked for one day. Rick watched Super Intelligence with Melissa McCarthey as I laid on the sofa in the middle of my 10 days of misery. Then when I came out of the fog this week I tried. Can't get it to work.

It will ask me for a sign in and when I sign in it says I don't have hbo max.

But I do. So calling the firestick folks for some help is basically useless but I did it anyway. No one is in America. No one understands me and they say the same thing, I am sorry for your inconvenience, you can't get hbo max to work right? 

They had me uninstall it, reinstall it and of course that did nothing.

I have called 5x, hoping to get someone who could actually help me.

Uninstalling it 5 times is the definition of stupidity. Doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. 

I got an email overnight that told me to do something to the IU. 

IUD? I know that isn't it, just kidding or I'll scream.

I have no idea what the hell that is or where it is or what I'd do with it. 

They also wanted me to verify ghz.  Where do i do that? And wouldn't that be on my computer, not my TV. (my refresh rate is 59hz on my computer but that is not the same thing right?) Then it says to change the channel? Why would I do that? Where are these things and how the hell do I do this? So helpful.

Yesterday on my own I tried some things. I got to the sign in and it said I needed to update. But there was nowhere to update. I googled it of course and followed their instructions but at number 3 I did not have that on my screen even though they said it would be under XYZ, I was there and it wasn't. 

This is so damn frustrating. I don't wish to buy another service where I can get HBO so I am paying for something I can't get. I really wanted to watch Dianne Weist, Meryl Streep's new movie. (which I heard them all say it was all an improvised script. They only got an outline and then just spoke from the hip, like Curb Your Enthusiasm) 

I wish there was a place to call for this kind of help that was not in the Philippines. 

Any ideas? Do I need to hire a 14 yr old kid? I'm not opposed to doing that if I knew one. I'm so frustrated.

In other news...

A woman yesterday asked me if my boss was married. Gee, you didn't see the big gold ring on his finger? I told her he was indeed married.

She said, "Oh well I had to ask. He is so nice and good looking too."

I laughed. She said, "well I'm sure as your boss you don't see him that way"

I just said, "no I don't."

Oh my goodness! When Rick got home I looked at him in his painter pants and company T-shirt with paint all over and wearing a ball cap with the company logo.  I know he's cute, but would I see this guy and thing, Oooh gotta have him. Sorry babe, but probably now. Take off that hat and those funny glasses you wear at work and I'd see the twinkling bad boy baby blues and then possibly.  But I know him, he is a charmer, and he flirts so this old gal was probably thrilled to have him flirting with her. And it's not so much as flirting as being personable and talking to them most of the time. MOST.

I mentioned to him that Loretta called and what she asked me. 

He laughed his big hearty laugh. I said, "flirting were ya?"  

He laughed and said, "not really. She was such a cute older woman. But Margaret I think she was a good decade older at the very least than me. She gave me some cookies and as she left them on the table for me to grab so we weren't close I told her I'd hug her because I was very hungry but the pandemic won't let me". 

Oh, brother!  He said she asked him some questions about himself and they chatted about both being from Pennsylvania and that was that. 

I said," well you made an impression you old coot."

He said, "remember when the women who called were the 30s - 40s? Ah, the good old days."   

"You could  help push her walker Rick and she could push your rocker."

He threw a wadded up paper towel at me. I'm sorry but I found it all funny.

I get it, I was always flirted with back in the day. I had an Ohio cop stop me for speeding through my shortcut to my apartment and instead he had me take off my sunglasses, supposedly to see the color of my eyes, and told me I had pretty eyes and then asked me out. I did not get a ticket. :-) 

I went into a record store and the man told me if I smiled he'd give me the album for free. Don't have to tell me twice, I smiled. Sadly he wasn't looking at my face but I got a free record album while in Toronto Ontario of Robert Palmers Secrets LP.  When I got to the car and told my then-boyfriend what happened he said did you really not have to pay anything? I said I did not pay a thing! Yes, this happened a great many times in my life. I've gotten out of more tickets than you could imagine. Until around 50 things changed. Now I am invisible. Rick's shelf life apparently is far longer than mine. Figures.