New Years.

I have to admit the fact that no one commented on where Rick was hanging his wreath in his speedo means you were offended or I wasn't clear in my joke. Hmm...or both. But Mike I knew you'd neither be offended or let that line go. Thank you for not letting me down!😀

2021 was no damn better than 2020. 

So let's hope 2022 doesn't disappoint.

I don't like my world and am not thrilled with this phase of life. Can I get a do-over?  

We watched a man re-propose to his wife of 25 yrs. He said he wanted a do-over.  Apparently, he didn't give her a proper proposal. He surprised her in NY Central Park while she was there with her daughter. She had no idea he was in NYC, but it was all planned. He said wonderful things and got down on one knee. He is older now and Rick said as he watched this, "Oh he is gonna need help getting up."  We both laughed. I think Rick was projecting. 

What is a proper proposal? I wouldn't want a do-over in regard to that.

Rick did not get down on his knees if that is proper proposal stuff. 

But Rick put down his fork and stopped eating. 

That is monumental blog readers! Monumental. Those that know him when the story is told always begin to nod their head at that point because they too know him well.

Friday is Fun Day and our 28th wedding anniversary. Don't tell Rick I love to ask him how many years he's been married because he never gets it right. The other night he started with 24 yrs. Then remembered we met in '87 and then lived together so he said 34 years. Neither were correct. I didn't tell him either. I just laughed and left the room. Does it even matter? Not to me. 

But it's so fun to bust his balls a bit. (12/31/93) shh, don't tell him I gave you the wedding date. 

I am repeating this from long ago because I've got nothin' right now.

I'll see you all in the new year.

Happy New Year Everyone!

It has got to be our year, right? I feel like we've earned it.

May we all stay healthy and have a wonderful 2022.

Holiday Cards.

I wanted to post this so badly. But Good Peg wins over Bad Peg today. 

It just wouldn't be nice to do that. It's not nice to talk about either but I'm not that nice apparently. I drew the line at a picture of it here.

Last night after dinner was the typical dog walk. Rick picked up the mail on his way up to our driveway.  I was in the back bedroom and I heard him yell, "Margaret you have got to see this!" 

Well, when someone says that, ya gotta see it!

I get into the kitchen and he is waving the mail in the air. 

Look, mail is just awful to me. Nothing but a bill that is not coming to me online or junk.  So why is mail funny?  

He throws a Xmas card at me. It was forwarded from our old place. 

He, I see, has already opened it. There was no return address. 

I look at the card and I know when I looked up at Rick my mouth was agape.

This card came from what my husband used to call my work husband. 

He lives in PA. We were on the same northeast team. He was also my excel spreadsheet guy when I had issues. We exchanged Xmas cards for years. 

I enjoyed seeing the kids growing up and his new dog etc. 

But this year was sure different.

We began to laugh. Rick or I said all kinds of things that were wrong...but funny.  Oh my goodness why would someone send a Xmas card with Mom in a bikini on it?  Then I started with hey, next year let's put my 80-year-old mom in her bikini on our card. She can lean against her cane - like a Fosse accouterment. Oh, that made us howl.  We kept looking at this card and thinking, someone thought this was appropriate to send to family and friends. oh my goodness. And we'd laugh some more.

This Christmas card has 4 photos on the back. They say who and where they are.

2 kids, 1 mom, and a gorgeous black lab. My friend, the dad, is not even in a photo. Mom apparently began weight lifting. So she had that bodybuilder fake tan and wearing her medals over a teeny tiny bikini.  Now she looked very good. I said that to Rick but he wasn't as nice, he said her medals were bigger than her boobs. But she looked very good to me. Maybe if I had a 6 pack I'd do that but doubtful on a holiday card. I don't know but this is weird to me. Also funny. They could have said those things like Mom wears a thong these days and wins fitness medals. We didn't need to see this.  Maybe they are all proud of her. Which is nice and I'm a she-devil for laughing. 

The other side of this card had the family all properly clothed sitting on the porch for a nice family photo. I would have died if my mom did this on our Christmas card. As an 18 yr old boy wouldn't you have? People are funny. 

Rick said, "well on the bright side we didn't have to hear about their cat's eczema (oh that was a fun newsletter but not from them) and we didn't get a bunch of religious mumbo jumbo so I guess it's better to have something funny right?"

"Rick, the cat's eczema is funny to me. And the fact that she could wax poetic about it for a full typed page. C'mon! That's legendary."

I dislike cats but cats with eczema are funny, in her story anyway. (she didn't find it funny of course) 

He reminded me that we received an empty envelope from his sister and that too was a good one.

So we have decided that we get the best Xmas cards, newsletters ever. 

He suggested we should begin to save them to look back on to laugh.  

I'm too busy for that nonsense,  I'm thinking my pot-bellied stallion in a speedo next year on our card. Whatcha think? 

He can hang his wreath on 'you know.' So it's festive!

Garbage Cans

While you are reading this I am at a store picking up some hooks and wood trim to finish out the pantry "thingy" and get a new garbage can. Exciting isn't it? You know you are old when a new garbage can excites you. Have you seen the cost of some of these new Simply Human garbage cans? But it's not human and it costs over $100. For. a. garbage. can! The cheap one was $130. I saw one that I liked but it was $200. I'm sorry I am retired now and there is no way I am putting that kind of money in a garbage can that is hidden in the pantry. Nope. If you have one is it really that fabulous? 

If it took the garbage to the curb it may be worth it. But since we still have to remember that it's garbage day and to haul it to the curb,  then this isn't helpful for $200 now is it?

Our pantry photos are here. Don't judge me about unorganized or things my mom said. I've heard it all. But look around these were things I had nowhere to put away.

Yes that is a step stool in there for the short one who lives here.

This below is the thing we are picking up trim for as well as more hooks.  Since there are absolutely no coat closets in the entire home I was sick to death of Rick's jackets on the dining room table. We have 4 chairs around the table. We have 8 total. I said all chairs are full with your coats. Do I need to get more chairs out Rick? He'd laugh but I didn't find it as funny. This pantry is across from the back kitchen door that we use to go in and out of the house. So now he throws his jacket on a hook along with his hats on the top shelf with Izzy's things. Far better than our dining room table. Another one of the things Rick built without telling me. I walked into the garage one day and said, Hey you told me you weren't building that right now. He told me he had the time. Then I said, "plz don't get mad but I think it's too wide, just a smidge or an inch and at least that in depth. He of course said it was measured 3 x and I am wrong. Okay. I didn't need to say anything else.  A few days later he put it in the pantry and came out of the closet and yelled, "Damn you Margaret, it's too big. You were right"  

I know. (sigh) No, I did not agree I just laughed and took a photo.

He spends a lot of his day in his workshop. That is okay with me. I've been asked if that bothers me. No!  He is not underfoot. Retirement is always together. So it's fine it's like he goes to work each day and I am okay with that. We have sort of settled into an odd morning routine. It's coffee, 2nd cup, and then Izzy goes swimming and I get showered and start my day. Sometimes I have a brunch or breakfast for when they return. They leave at 9a. If they don't by 9:30 Izzy is prancing in circles around us to let us know she has somewhere to be. 

When he and Izzy return they go to the garage. So far that is the only constant in our life. Izzy lays in front of the open door. One eye on Rick and the other on squirrels, people walking by, and apparently an all-around nice place to nap. When she gets too hot, she moves to the shade. She has a tough life that spoiled girl.

I am still painting and figuring things out. Friday I got a bug up my butt to move a few things in the kitchen. Then I realized I better share this or Rick will never know where anything is. It seems we put things away in the kitchen but now that we've been here for October, November, and December I find I need to move a couple of drawers. Rick laughed when I shared what I moved and where. He said it made perfect sense but thanks for telling me because you know I'd think I was losing my mind. Maybe I shouldn't have told him it could have been funny. God knows he'd do that to me. You all know he'd do that to me. 😉

He got a bunch of free wood from a guy, most of the wood is nothing he'd want to make things with but to play and practice, etc. Here are two of his practices. He thinks they are terribly flawed but he said it taught him what not to do. And that would be the point of practice with the free wood. The one with the white Corian going through it I am going to use in the house. I love his practice pieces because I can keep them. 

Can you see all the mistakes? I could only see two areas. Once he pointed them all out to me I saw them all. But this bowl is his first use of Corian and he wanted to see how it would work with the wood when dried and turning it. Most of the mistakes are from using Corian. The epoxy that "glues" this to the wood was the issue he was fighting with. I'm sure that means nothing to you. Anyhoo -  He told me he learned a great deal from this one. He also is a member of this group that does this for a living and he gets tips and help from them all the time. Or he's watching wood porn on Youtube getting more tips. 

I went to the garage the other day and he was singing his little heart out to whatever it was he was listening to on his headphones. He was never this happy at his job so all is good. 

As he said, "boy if I was doing this for a living we'd be hungry" 

Well, I could use a diet.

His loving wife thinks, 'gee honey, just keep practicing because you are out of my hair.'

I hear she's going to hell in a handbasket.

Don'tcha Ya Hate When That Happens?

If you've been coming around here and reading for a while you know I am OCD about some things. Ok, a lot of things. I like things lined up neatly. 

I can't have towels that are hanging be askew. Oh, that makes me itchy.  

You all know what I'm talking about. You've even sent me memes (Mike)

I drew what I wanted around our fireplace on computer paper. Rick then attempts to make it happen. He is making our mantle. I saw the wood in his shop. It's walnut and I love it. Then he made a great suggestion of putting walnut on the top of the base before they are turned into a bookcase style unit. Good idea. 

Below you will see this piece we bought for the base. These will flank the fireplace. The walnut will be on top, then the rest will be the white "bookcase" and crown molding on top. 

Okay, so now you know what you need to know.

Rick was asked to wait until I got home and we'd put it together, together. He only did 1 while I was gone. He "thought" he'd be nice and have it all GLUED together and nailed and I wouldn't have to do anything.

BUT...one of these things is not like the other! 

Remember these cabinets will flank the fireplace - So do we do them both wrong or do one correctly and the other will be explained in Rick's obit?

Merry Christmas

 To All Who Celebrate Christmas. I hope it is all you wish it to be.
Merry Christmas!

..and

Rain and Fog

I drove to my accupuncturist in North Raleigh. Quick 20 minutes and no big deal until it began to pour. I do not like driving in the rain. I don't mind snow as much as rain.

 
I get to my appointment and when finished I see it is now raining sheets and it is so foggy when I reach my car to go home. Oh dear. I have not spent much time up here so I am unfamiliar with this neck of the woods. I get on the road I need to be on to leave but no one will allow me to get into the lane I need to move to the right exist. So when I was fed up with asking drivers if I could get in and them saying no with their mighty southern hospitality I decided to just turn right and go into the mall. I have wanted to go to this upscale mall to browse and now I know where it is and how big/enormous it is. I can't wait to come back.

Going into the mall allowed to me to exit to the lane i needed. I got on what they call the beltline and I still refer to as the beltway as we called it in DC. It is raining so damn hard I have my wipers on a faster speed than I have ever used. It is hard to see anything with this fog. Then my Google Maps tells me there is an accident do I wish to take a detour to save time. Sure, what the hell. 

Now I am looking for the street sign that google is telling me to turn but there are no signs so I assume this right will do. It did not tell me to turn around so I followed what appeared to be all the cars asked if they want a detour. I am on a one lane roads in a heavy storm with fog. I can't see shit. Then I see standing water and I fear driving through this but I have no where to go. I crossed a bit of the yellow middle line to avoid the deepest water and whew I made it. Then I see headlights coming towards our lane and I'm worried it is going to hit the cars in front of me. Not moving fast though but coming right at our lane. Oh My God.  I pull off to the right side of the road and come to a stop I am freaking out. The van coming towards my lane hits a man 2 cars in front of me. Why didn't he move? I saw him coming at us.  I sat there for a second as others ran to the cars and made sure everyone was okay. I called 911. I got out and heard them being asked if everyone was okay and apparently they were. how? I went back to my car because now there are several men taking over and pushing me aside.  Because I was now drenched I got in my car and turned on the heat. Police came  as did an ambulance and we were guided out of this situation.

 
The fog was so much worse. I just prayed I'd make it home in one piece. After the 7 miles on this detour it brought us back to I-40. I was only 5 miles from my exit and it felt like an eternity. I was shivering even with the heat on.  I could barely see the car in front of me and it was white knuckle driving. I had planned to stop at the liquor store on my way home but decided it could wait until the next day, I just wanted to be home and dry. I still felt soaking wet since getting out of the car at the accident scene.

The 20 minute drive took me 1 hour and 50 minutes home. What a commute huh? Fog, heavy rain, detours and a strange accident. Detours without street signs. What does this area have against street signs? You know how at an intersection with street lights the street sign is not only on the corner but over the lights. Oh not here. It's a game of guess what street you're on? And if there is a sign it is bent and twisted and both signs head the same direction so your guess is just that, a big gamble and a guess. I know in 3 years I will find this very funny. Right now it just annoys the hell out of me.

When I met my new acupuncturist the first thing he asked me if I was from NY. I said no I'm from Erie PA. He then said, "you sure?" and he laughed. 
I asked why he thought I was from NY because I get that a lot. He said you were so open and you shook my hand and were just... and I'm waiting for him to slam me here? He said, "outgoing, friendly and straight up when I asked you a question"  Okay at least you didn't say rude to me. And his questions were about my health why wouldn't I be forthcoming if I need his help? Odd. 

He laughed and said, "I'm from Boston, when I moved here they gave me so much shit for being a Yankee and someone told me I was "too in his face" The acupuncturist told me he asked the man what that meant and he said, "you walked in talked to everyone and shook hands"  (the guy looks meek and he is so not in your face!!) So that is in your face? Boy these people are nuts. So if you appear confident and just walk into a room and do the socially accepted thing of shaking ones hands and introducing your self that is in your face to the man who said this to my meek little acupuncturist. Picture Wally Cox and that is what he looks. To you young 'ens, just think any skinny geek.

He then looked at me and said, "So I have learned if you are friendly, put out your hand, speak first and have a hint of sophistication and you are just what I call being nice in a social situation, they think you're a Yankee"  
I laughed and said I'd take it but why NY for me?  He said I don't know I just see it all around you, your aura. Now isn't that a weird thing to say, my aura? Now most say that meaning rude so I wanted to know if I did something rude that I sure was unaware of. So I asked, "so not rude then?"  He said, "oh I'm so sorry that is not at all what I meant. Remember I am you. And we had a chuckle."

He was so nice and he told me stories about when he got here after leaving Boston he had just lived a year in DC so he was thrilled to arrive here for a slower pace of life. It took him 2 years to make it feel like home. I told him each time I moved it has taken me 2 yrs so I know what is ahead of me. He said, "culture shock right?"  I told him it was an understatement. I told him road signs would be nice. He laughed so hard he had to stop putting needles in me for a minute. He said he and his wife still laugh about the lack of road signs. He asked if I noticed when I said that to a local that they looked puzzled. I said, "YES"  He laughed and said he told his neighbor this when he moved in and he couldn't believe him. Then one day in the summer his neighbor told him that he has really been paying attention to the road signs or lack of them now that he brought it to his attention. The neighbor said, "My God you are right there aren't many are there?" 

After my stressful drive home I walked in and Rick asked where the liquor was. I shot him a look.  He said, "you forgot didn't you?"  

I asked if he'd been outside past our driveway? Nope. Go look. He did. 

He said, "Oh wow, the fog, how bad was it?" 

"I didn't stop at the liquor store bad. I just wanted to come home." Then he came over to me and said, "My God you are drenched. Did you drive with the windows down?"  He's quick isn't he? My hair was wet and my clothes were stuck to me but he didn't even notice at first. I just wanted to take a warm shower and get into dry clothes. I told him I'd share over some hot cocoa after changing clothes and a very hot shower. 

When I walked back out to the kitchen Rick had made me some hot cocoa with a bit of peppermint schnapps. Sipping warm cocoa in my warm pj's was just what was needed after that experience. As always after acupuncture I slept like a baby. If only I could get these needles in me every day!! 

This and That

Rick and I watched a stand-up comedy special on Netflix.
Originally I watched this at 3am one morning. Rick heard me giggle. 

I didn't realize I had laughed out loud (wearing headphones) 

The next morning Rick asked what the hell was making me laugh at 3am. 

I apologized if I woke him. It was just his 100th time to get up to pee he said and that was the only reason he heard me, apparently, I wasn't that loud. 

I didn't even realize I laughed out loud.

 
Rick wanted to watch the show so I watched it again. I didn't even mind. Laughing isn't a bad thing to do on any given day.
The special is called Russell Howard, Lubricant. He is a Brit. 

After I looked into his bio I see he is huge in the UK. (and after watching the doc)

Now here is what was weird.
I watched it as one does on Netflix and hit the tile with Russell Howard, Lubricant. 

It began with the stand-up routine. When we hit the same tile for Russell Howard's stand-up routine it was an hour documentary and then it went into the stand-up routine. How weird is that?  So I don't know what you'll get but you are looking for his stand-up, not a doc. You may have to FF to get there if you wish to watch.  

He used a lot of words I am only familiar with because my favorite boss of all time was from the U.K. I learned a lot of words they use that we do not. Or they use it but in a different way as well. Like 'fanny' To us here in the USA, it is your butt. But there it's female's genitalia. So there are a few words in here where you'll be like, what the hell is that? But not enough to stop you from watching. I admit having CC on helps with the accent for me but not necessarily as much as I normally need. 

Then Rick sat through Being The Ricardo's with me.  A week in the life of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. It's not a funny movie. It's sad, at least to me. 

I didn't love it and didn't learn anything I didn't already know. I thought all the actors did a very good job but it was just so-so to me. 

We are not seeing people for the holiday. Even when we didn't go north to visit family there were always people at our home. We took in a lot of friends and neighbors who lived in our area with no family and we got together annually for the holidays. 

But we know no one here except one couple and they will be out of town.  

It will be just we 2 humans and a dog. Trying to avoid covid. Can't afford to fly north because I have to go up in March and besides they are all anti-vaxxers except my mom.  

Monday we were on Letter F (we take weekends off)

F was Fabulous Thunderbirds. G was Grand Funk and today will be H for Jeff Healy. We are in the Way Back Machine this week. (Wasn't that the name of it on Mr. Peabody and Sherman on Bullwinkle?)yes, that reference makes me an old coot. Now get off my lawn.

I think the 24th and 25th we may play some rockin' holiday music instead to go with our eggnog. Yes I'll be making my annual eggnog. 

I am heading to the acupuncturist so I'm going to leave you with this holiday song by Pat Benatar.

500 Million Enough?

Did you all hear that Bruce Springsteen, aka, The Boss, sold his rights to his music for 500 million dollars?
I don't understand why someone would do this? 

He doesn't need the money. "They," say his net worth is around 81 million before he sold the rights.

So now are we going to hear Born To Run for a kleenex commercial? 

Born in the USA for some nasty right-wing nut for building a wall?

Why the hell would he do this?

I would think he'd wish to leave this to his family to control after he is long gone as others have in the past. I don't get the point of it all. 

I remember when Bob Seger sold his song Like a Rock to Chevy for a commercial. He got so much shit for it but he felt it was important to support American-made car companies and a guy from Detroit would say that and I understood it. He wasn't giving them his full catalog.

Paul McCartney said once in an interview that when he lost the rights to his music how it upset him. I don't recall now how he lost the rights but I do know he has tried since losing them to get them back. Several lawsuits to boot.  He even went to Michael Jackson asking him not to put this on commercials etc.  All with no luck of course because Michael Jackson was a shit.  I heard Billy Joel say each song was a child and he didn't wish to give any away. I hope he sticks to that.

Perhaps if I were an artist I would understand it better. I don't make art but I know that I would not want what I made in the wrong hands so if I did not need the money I would never do it. Or so I think.

I imagine half a billion is tempting. 

What is that after taxes? $250 million? 

Pff...chump change.😁

 

What did you call me?

Rick will normally make my coffee in the morning. I am still not vocal yet. 

I am in my fog as he hands me my black Folgers vanilla biscotti coffee. 

After I inhale it I will begin conversing. 

As I have shared he, on the other hand, is singing, talking to the dog, humming, and just being damn right annoying as shit to a not-so-morning person. He used to whistle. I had to put a stop to that in 1989. I really thought I could kill when that began. I have always thought I could never hurt anyone but that was the point where I knew if I believed in owning weapons I would have used them...on him! No whistling in the morning!

This morning he did not make my coffee. I was up first. I was vocal by the time he got up and stumbled into the kitchen. But as I heard his footsteps I made his coffee for him. I handed him said coffee and he was excited.

He sat down and enjoyed his coffee.

After his coffee and walk with the dog, he made himself his 2nd cup of coffee.  I was about to have my 2nd cup of coffee before I started my day but decided instead to give him a hard time. 

I, being a proper card-carrying ballbuster say to him in a serious tone, "Rick, I made your coffee this morning, and you didn't even offer to get a 2nd cup for me when you got yours. See how you are?"  

He laughed and said something about filling the coffee pod holder with my pods and I just leave my used ones willy nilly in the spoon holder. 

I laughed and said, "Yes, I am saving those for an art project" 

He said while laughing, "you say you are archiving them?"

I walked to the doorway and said, "what the hell are you talking about? Archiving?"

Rick is really laughing now and said, "The tv came on when you were talking and I didn't hear it well."

"I'll say. But what I said was I was making an art project."

Ok, why did you say that?

Now I am howling. Can't hear and forgetful is a fun combo this morning.

Because you fool you said I was stacking my pods on the spoon holder remember?

He is laughing too hard to answer me at this point.

Honestly, it wasn't all that funny unless you were here. 

I swear our lack of hearing is funny as hell. 

They just don't sell that enough on hearing aid commercials.

I think we should do one.

Don't get down on yourself because you can't afford 6K per ear.

If you can't hear - you will laugh all the time.

If you can hear - he will bug the shit out of you - so stay deaf. 

It will save not only your wallet but your marriage too. 

You're welcome.

 

I think we could make people save money on hearing aids knowing they would laugh as much as we do. What do ya think?

December?

Yesterday was 72 degrees.
Today it is 70 degrees.
Mother Nature needs to know it's winter and this is freaking me out.

DMV fun

Rick went to the DMV this morning and got his NC license. My appointment is on Feb 1st. I can't believe how long we have had to wait to get a license. I find everything here slower and a bit backward. I don't know why that surprises me. 

When you get a new license in VA, they took my picture, waited a couple of minutes, and it was handed to me. Here Rick got a piece of paper with a picture of his new license that will be made and snail-mailed to him in the next couple of weeks. Isn't that rather outdated? We found that odd. 

In other news...You know that pesky "betty" that is the big ole inflammation bubble sitting on my retina impeding my sight? Well, she was checked in early August right before I moved. All was the same. Now it's been painful. That is new. The pain in my eye is so bad I am living on 2 Tylenol every 4 hrs. To touch my eye causes pain. I am wearing my glasses and doing all I am supposed to do. I really want this seen sooner than later but I don't think that is possible. 

I contacted Duke Ophthalmology. I really needed to be seen by a doctor with a specialty with retina etc. I read every bit of info I could get on this group. There were 4 retina specialists. 

All within that group had subspecialties. 
I had to have my previous doctor send my records to them before I could make an appointment. I found out my previous ophthalmologist will charge $25.00 for the first 10 pages, $.15 for every page after. I know it's thick as can be so I hate to think what I will have to pay for this shit. 

Once they fax this to the 2 departments required they will review it. 

One set of my records goes to the Retina dept. and the other goes to the scheduling department. The retina department will review and determine which retina specialist would be the right fit for this issue. Then they will call to schedule me. I may be in pain for a while longer from the sounds of this process. I don't think this will be completed in a week.

Last evening Rick came in the house with the mail and dropped it on the dining table. I went over to the mail and picked it up. 

I saw a card from his sister. I opened the envelope. Nothing in it. I laughed. 

I looked at the front of the envelope again. Then I handed it to Rick. He asked why the hell I gave him only the envelope. I told him there was nothing in it. I said I think she addressed the envelopes and just forgot the card inside. We got a kick out of this.

Oh, Rick had a field day calling her and teasing her about this. She is 9 years his junior. First, he said, the card and the gift of money must have fallen out. That made her really laugh. Then he began to bust her chops about getting old and forgetful.  There is a 3 hr difference in time for us. 

Rick went to bed and I stayed up to finish reading. His phone was blowing up. His sister was texting him. I brought him his phone. I could hear him laughing in the bedroom. I think he cracks himself up. This poor woman has only known him for 5 years. Wait until she sees how she will never live this down. 

This morning he suggested for her birthday to send her the same thing and tell her we liked it so much we bought her the same thing. Then he had another idea, and then another. He had me laughing I admit. Honestly, he won't let this go. I know him. This poor woman.  Her birthday is in 4 days.  

I know he will torment her. Welcome to my world sister in law.

Wanna Play?

In the Sex and The City premiere, Mr. Big and Carrie put on some vinyl each night when the pandemic began to listen to while making dinner and having cocktails.  I love the song that played on that episode. They were up to the R's. Todd Rundgren was on the turntable. Then in episode 2, Mr. Big dies, and this was played over a montage of photos at his funeral.

 

Rick and I liked that idea, not of dying but of playing the music this way while we are in the kitchen. So we began on Monday with A's. 

I was the music picker because he was cooking. I picked the Allman Brothers. I was trying to not pick the obvious, I knew Rick thought I'd go AC/DC since I like them so much or Adele. But nope. This is not a favorite Allman brothers CD and I was reminded of that as it played. I had forgotten.

Then Tuesday was B. 

I picked something we have not heard since the 90s. In the 90s rock n' roll was dying and I heard some country I liked and Big House was one of them. 

Tuesday night when Big House came on Rick said, "Oh I forgot how much I liked them."  We like country when it doesn't sound like new country or like a boy band like Aldean, Luke Bryan, etc. I love Blake Shelton but he can't sing a lick if you ask me so I don't get that kind of country. It all sounds the same to me. I am missing something when it comes to that sound. I wish I could like it more. 

This below is more my kind of country. I really like Chris Stapleton. Before music became segmented this would have been played on all top 40 stations and it would have been classified as country rock like Eagles, 38 Special etc. At least I think so.

  

So now to my Wednesday pick and the C's. But tonight I will choose a C.  I was going to pick my little jazz guy Cullum but decided since Rick said, "don't play Cullum" I better not. So I am thinking of The Commitments. We saw this movie back in 90 or 91. We loved the movie and we loved this kids voice. So maybe this band, it's obscure. Then again can't go wrong with CCR either. Ah, the fun.  

So Thursday and Friday will be D and E and I have no idea for D yet but E is picked. Hey, it's been fun for the two days so far. 

But what is there for Z besides ZZTop?

Wednesday

I saw the funniest meme about Hallmark Christmas movies and because I wanted to post it of course I can't find it. Figures. But like me, the meme was not kind to those cheesy hallmark movies.  A young woman is successful living in a big city and for some unknown reason ends up in a small town where everyone is up in her business and then bumps into via car or walking and spilling her coffee all over the hunky dog walker in town and they hate each other at first. He thinks she is a spoiled city girl and she thinks he walks dogs so he's beneath her. 

Then they fall in love. Then she gives up her career that she worked so hard for and she throws it all away to be barefoot and pregnant in this small town and lives with her dog walker in an $800,000 Victorian. She no longer cares about reading the paper because her little brain doesn't need all that info, I have a man now. A man, who by the way dresses very well for making $12 an hour, lives in a very nice house and has an $85 haircut in podunk USA. Yea right. What a crock of BS. Every woman on these damn shows is a damsel in distress. Or if successful she must be miserable and the only thing that can save her from all this torment is a man.  To think smart women fall for this crap never ceases to amaze me. I find it more offensive than porn or republicans. 

In other news....

I found out that Delta Dental does indeed cover us here in NC. I don't know why but I thought since I was calmer I would call to see what really happened. This time the woman said it was canceled for nonpayment and had nothing to do with coverage in NC. 

I asked how that could be since you deduct it from my account and there has always been enough money to cover it. In fact the month you didn't take it out my home sale was in the account for a couple of days. It was in the account the day you normally take it out. If that six figures had not been in there, there still was way more than enough to cover this. I think my $142 was clearly going to be covered. She apologized and said, I see that. I asked if when this happens do you just drop people. Let's say I didn't have enough money, would you not contact me to make it right? She said we always will call or email. I'm sorry that didn't happen. I can reinstate you if you'd like and I see being in NC it will lower your monthly cost by about $55. You can just pay all the back payments today and I can have you reinstated.  I thanked her but I was calling to see if you too would tell me the same thing as the last person. You did not. I saw when I was shopping for a new company that you came up and you did cover NC so I was calling to get clarification really. I think I'd prefer to move on and get a new provider because this just didn't sit well with me. If I didn't have the money in the account I would have almost understood even though I believe you should let the customer know. But the fact that you just canceled me and you didn't try to contact me about this error just doesn't seem right. And the error was your fault. I just don't wish to do business with people like that. She was so nice. She apologized many times and she actually said she saw the error and was shocked no one called. She said I certainly understand and I apologize for this happening to you.  I thanked her and got a new dental insurer. 

I've unfortunately had fraud on my account before. Someone wiped me out of $12,000 in my 2 accounts. I was working in Manhattan and I went to an n ATM at a convenience store. The store ATM had a reader on it unbeknownst to me at the time of course. I took my money out of the ATM, got a taxi to the airport to head home. By the time I got home they had wiped out my entire checking account the overdraft savings account attached to it. I was sick to death. They made a card with my number and their name and picture and had a ball at Tiffanys and Macys to name a few. I had to call so many vendors. My mortgage, my HOA, my car payment and insurance were all automatically taken out of me and I didn't want them to think I couldn't cover it. Well, I couldn't now. But you know what I mean. It was a friggin' nightmare. So if that had happened to me and I didn't see it right away my dental payment would have bounced. They would never have told me and I'd be none the wiser and I'd be dropped for things I had no control over. So no matter if I had the money as I did or if I didn't their handling of this situation was all kinds of wrong! 

We drove to Winston Salem yesterday. It was a quick one-hour and 30-minute drive. On the way home, we hit really bad traffic. So bad we thought we were in Northern VA. I had to pee so badly I even thought about getting out on the interstate since it was dark but I didn't. We were not moving at all and it felt like we were in a parking lot. At one point we were so close to home we were frustrated. We had 11 miles to go and the GPS said it would be another 45 minutes. I thought my bladder was going to burst. We were almost to an exit for a back way when I suggest to Rick to trust me if we take that exit I know how to get us home. He laughed and said, "what the hell we'll at least be moving" 
We got off this exit as did a few others who had the same idea. I impressed the hell out of Rick that I knew this way home. I said, "see getting lost has been useful"  I only knew this way because one day I got all turned around and tried this road and viola quick way home on the back roads and no highway. 
We made it home in time for me to get to the bathroom before any kind of accident. Whew, that was close. It took us 4 hours and 5 minutes to get home.

I'm going to leave you with some memes cuz I have work to do. 

This woman's husband is clearly related to my husband. 

Seriously what are they juicing with this?

Very accurate

Happy Hump Day!

Chocolate Little Girl?

I HATE grocery shopping. I HATE IT. Putting it all away is a close 2nd. Hell, I'd rather iron pleats!

But when I got in the car I saw this.

He knew I did not want to go. 
I think I was being bribed. 

Treats

I am a bit frustrated. Everything that had to be ordered for the work around the house is missing in action. My cheap flooring for the pantry has been a nightmare. They told me it'd be here today, now they tell me they can't find it. WHAT?
I really wanted to have a photo of the pantry done for you all today. I just want it finished. 

This is happening to all the things Rick is working on as well.

We both have gotten the run around about ETA on deliveries. 

Today the Big Guy is being massaged by some cute young thing for 90 minutes and no happy ending. Just seeing if you're paying attention. He is full of knots and sore and he needed this. He has been a very busy boy. 

We got a cold spell for a couple of days and we were anxious to see if it was insulated well and was not cold. Remember this was our side porch before so it was outside. I saw Rick build a floor above the concrete and insulate it as well as the walls but both of us were a bit concerned. Whew. It wasn't cold. So it shouldn't be hot in spring summer and fall then either. 

Tomorrow we are headed to Winston Salem to see my friend Tammie. I am giving her all of my Christmas decorations. Yep, purging it all. Don't need them. I will keep a couple of things but the rest is hers. Due to the religion she grew up in she never got to celebrate Xmas. So I understand her love of this new thing. We on the other hand have had enough of the commercialism that is Xmas. 

Before we moved here our ole dog Izzy woke us up at 5 - 5:30a every day of her life with us since she was 5 months old. We tried everything to break it. Nothing worked. Then we moved to this house. She sleeps until 7-7:30a. Do you know how nice that is? It took almost 13 years. 

Now the other strange thing she has begun. She goes to bed on her own. She has never done that. One night she got up and went to her bed in the master bedroom. We looked at each other and went, "well that's new" 

Then the next night she did the same, she headed to bed, and we of course stayed on the sofa watching TV. BUT then about 1-2 minutes later she came back to the living room and stood there and looked at us like, "did you not understand me? It is time for us to go to bed!" She stood there staring at us. We said NO. She continued to STARE A HOLE INTO US. Well, guess who went to bed? We finished watching what we were watching in bed. But the point being she has trained us for God's sake. We should get the treats!

Dumb Commercials.

The other evening Rick and I were watching something on TV and a commercial came on. I asked him what in the hell it meant. He laughed and said you know I have no idea. It ran again the next night. I said I think the woman has Alzheimer's and the only way she remembers her husband is when they play that song he tells Alexa to play. Rick asked what that had to do with Alexa? I said, well he yells at Alexa to play it. Hmmm..he says. 

Then he laughed and said what a weird-ass commercial. I do agree. But that kick she does between his legs is odd to me. He didn't notice but now he tells me that is all he sees each time it is on. That made me laugh. 

Then we saw a commercial for Hermes. For those that do not know, Hermes is a very very expensive brand. Think Prada, Gucci, and Hermes. 
Rick asked what all this meant? I said who the hell knows. 

I don't see what all this has to do with having this purse he keeps saying.

Then he made me really laugh when he said, I understood plop plop fizz fizz oh what a relief it is. I do not understand this purse commercial at all. Oh he makes me laugh, but I agreed, it was a very dumb commercial to me as well.

 

Rick do you know that purse is $14,000?!

He asked how I knew that. So he googled it and saw it was $14,000.  

He began his rant of how stupid to pay that for a small leather purse.

If I bought that bag I'd have no money to put in the purse. 

Or the fact that I would have to live under a bridge. 

I mean 14K for a purse? 

Rick then asked me if money was no issue would I pay that? 

I don't think I would. I have never had that lifestyle so I just can't fathom spending that kind of money on something so foolish. 

I mean, it's like a Rolex, why? I like my watch, it tells accurate time, it's nice looking and it was under $1,000. 

I don't need my watch to be the cost of my car. So no, I don't think I have it in me to spend like that because I never have been able to. 

Sure I've lived when I didn't have a real budget but by that I mean I could go to Target and throw things in my cart without worrying what this was adding up to, but for the love of cheap people, it was Target not Neiman Marcus. I've never had that kind of money.  And honestly, I just don't think I could pay that for a purse no matter the zeros in my bank account. How much money must you have before spending 14K on a purse,10K for a watch, or $2,500 for your Louboutin red bottom shoes is just no big deal? I'd like to find out though.

I had my eye on a bag by Coach many decades ago. 

I loved this bag but it was more money than I thought one should spend on a purse. My friend tried to tell me it would never go out of style (she was correct!) Then I got a $500 American Express Gift Card from a client after the downsizing at my company as a goodbye gift. 

Incredibly generous, wasn't it?

 

Rick told me to be frivolous and spend it on something I wouldn't normally buy for myself. I went to the Coach store at the mall and stared at the bag I have loved for well over a decade at that time. (it was first made in the late 60s)

I went inside. I touched it, smelled the leather. I put this purse over my shoulder. Oh, I fondled it. I put it back and I walked out. 

I just couldn't spend $495 on this purse. God how I wished I could! 

It pissed me off that I just couldn't do it. 

So if you ever wish to buy me a gift I still love that damn bag. 

My birthday is in March. 😁

Rick needed new shoes for work and I needed a new pair of sneakers so I went to DSW and bought us a couple pairs of shoes. But I still had a lot left.  I went home with an American Express card with hundreds left on it and I'd wait until I really needed something. I ended up buying us each a new good parka which we both really needed now that we had a new puppy to walk her in warmth. I know, I know, it was all practical things we needed. But I felt better buying shoes, coats, etc.

I still love that Duffle Sac by Coach so it doesn't go out of style. 

But those Parkas sure came in handy! 

Tooth Fairy

Okay, HBOMax ran two episodes of Sex And The City. Then HBOMax will drop them weekly. Rick and I watched them both last night. It made us both cry. I won't give it away in case there is someone out there who watches.  I was thrilled they matured, moms, gray hair, real life. Highs and lows and a kick in the gut.

In my real life I've had an issue with a tooth. So Thursday I called a new dentist. Gave them my insurance info and made an appointment. They called me back to tell me I wasn't covered by Delta Dental. What? That is news to me. I tell her I'll check this out and give them a call back.

I call Delta Dental. I've had them for 12 years. They automatically deduct it out of my account. I'll be honest since moving I have not been on top of this stuff as I normally was before. But I know I saw a debit in October. I call them and am put on hold immediately. In the meantime, while on hold I check my bank account online. I see the October debit but I don't see one for November. Hmm...
A woman came on the phone and told me that it was for non-payment. 

I explained that this was an ACH debit from my account monthly I don't make payments per se. It was set up like this from day one. 

She asks if I can hold. Sure. That hold went on forever. 

Then she comes back and says you went into your account online in late October and changed your address. We do not service North Carolina. 

You saw I changed my address so you just stopped covering me and didn't tell me? 

You could have sent an email, snail mail, or a text or phone call. 

I don't understand did you attempt to reach me? 

Delta Dental: No.

Me: No? I laughed. Just no? 

Delta: well what do you want me to say? You moved we don't cover your new state end of story okay?

Me: Okay then.

We hung up and I thought, well okay I do not wish to go to the dentist and pay full price, and besides we need insurance. I will just have to wait a bit for this tooth until I have new insurance, it's not that big a deal. 

You do realize if I had missed a payment they would have sent an email, snail mail, or a text or phone call, don't you? 

Thursday.

I had a hiccup and this is the reason no pics on the pantry that all have been asking me for. 

I wanted a cheap floor in this pantry. 

In the past on a flip or two, I used peel and stick vinyl flooring for a pantry floor, and once I used it in a basement game room bathroom. It looked great, had fake grout lines, and had texture and not flat vinyl. I saw this being done on two HGTV shows in the last week. I knew then for certain this was what I was going to do, it made sense on a financial and aesthetic level for a pantry.

I looked online and saw a lot of styles. I wanted to touch, feel and see the colors outside of my computer monitor. I headed to Lowes first. I was told those were outdated and I should forget about it. From a man child wearing a mullet, he is telling me this is out of style. Okay then. 

He actually said, "I think this went out of style before I was born."  

Now my inside my head response was, "well then you better tell HGTV who shows this as a way to cut costs in certain areas but I am sure you know more than the rich designers because they aren't wearing a blue pinney and rocking a hairstyle that was in fashion before you were born."

Instead, I politely said thanks and walked away. But all the while saying to myself that when I'm 80 I am going to say all the shit I want to say out loud!

I headed to home depot where the choices were from 1990. So ugly!

The man wearing an orange pinney insisted they were in aisle 34 or wait he says, 35,36,37, 38 and in 39. I said, "all of them?"  He said, "Yes I'll walk back there with you"  I was already back there and told him they weren't there as the website claims. We walked back there and went to aisles 30 to 39. Nope. Only ones that look like gray fake wood. YUK. 

I came home and went back online. They are all over Houzz, Wayfair, home depot, and lowes as well. I found one I loved. Gave Rick a choice of 3 and he picked the one I loved. Perfect. In doing research this was the right price but the reviews were horrific. There were over 100 of them and while everyone thought it would be beautiful nothing matched/lined up. Everyone talked about the patterns not matching. Okay even if in the pantry you all know that would be an issue for me if it is cattywampus. Rick read a few and said, "Oh no, please don't get this because it will drive you nuts and you will see it every time you open the door. I do not recommend this one no matter how pretty."  I laughed and said I agreed. He knows me so well. Besides the other negative in every review was the stick factor. That's a big deal so no matter how pretty I had to go with something else.

So now I won't even have the flooring until Monday so won't be able to finish until then. I just want it finished. We still won't have a pantry door but this outside door works until we find what we are looking for. 

Today the show Sex and The City is now streaming on HBO.

I watched all of SATC in the 90s. I recall watching it and Rick was upstairs. He never saw it but insisted it wasn't for him. He came down the stairs one evening while I was watching it and he saw naked women in a sauna chatting. He sat down immediately upon seeing all the breasts and said, "maybe I do want to watch this"  That made me laugh of course. He did watch this with me every Sunday after that.

I am one of those who will devour the show to see Mr. Big and Carrie. Personally Mr. Big was a shit more than he wasn't and aside from being good-looking and rich, I did not get his appeal for this character. But when we watched it she was young and now she's not so I shall see. 

Perhaps she's made better choices over the years. 

I am looking forward to the fashion, how the characters have aged and what they are doing today. Did you watch SATC in its heyday?

Rick and I are finding that we both prefer a schedule like when we worked. If not we just get too damn lazy. I was at my desk every morning by 7:45a and I had the time to read everyone's posts and perhaps write my own. Being at a computer all day gave me the time to do that. Now I am never near my computer. I will be soon once I do my office. But so many other things have to be done first. 

Rick took Izzy to go pick up some pecan wood. 

Last week we saw a tree that had fallen and Rick just wants to go get the wood to make a bowl or a cutting board or a vase or whatever the hell he is making. But you can't just pull over and take someone's tree. A man he met who cuts down trees said he'd call him when he had something for him. So off he and the dog went on this wood adventure. Izzy has been a bit more limpy than normal so we gave her a couple days off from swimming. She was not happy but we tried to keep her busy anyway. But nothing does the trick for her other than swimming.

Because she was home she got to see the new UPS driver pull in the driveway as she and I sat on the porch having my 2nd cup of coffee. The driver stood at the vehicle and said, "Izzy I have something for you!"  

She ran to him with her toy in her mouth and tail waggin'. He gave her a treat and she rubbed her face on his leg as her thank you. He said, "every since you told me about this it has made my job easier.  

He went on to tell me that when he first came to my house it was his 2nd week.  He had a dog really scare him at one house and he got back in his vehicle. I believe I shared with you guys that I had to grab Izzy and slowly approach him. He asked if Izzy would bite or attack. I said she has never done that in her 12.5 years and she has her stuffed toy in her mouth and her tail is wagging so that means she is a happy puppy. I told him that day that she ran to you was because our old UPS driver had treats on his vehicle. So she assumes you do too. This chubbo will do anything for food. 

I told him I'd make sure she isn't outside or I bring her in when you come. He said, "Oh no I have to learn to deal with dogs."  I suggested he get some cheap treats like milk bones. You can always throw one at a dog in the direction you want him/her to go and you can go the opposite. I felt like he was a bit afraid of dogs that 1st time and he tells me on this day he was. 

Well,  he told me he bought milk bones, has the big box on his truck and he does do that now to the 2 house where the dogs scare the shit out of him. He thanked me for that tip. 

Now the whole time we are chatting Izzy is laying in the grass. He said, "if dogs were like yours I'd love dogs" I said most are but you have to be careful. He thanked me again and pet Izzy as he walked back to his truck. 

We did this with the Prime Driver too so now she is happy to see Izzy and isn't afraid to get out of her car anymore. 

Izzy sits on the porch alone a good many times a day. Rick or I am not always out there. She doesn't move but she watches them and they don't see her until they are on our porch and then we hear a squeal and Izzy still doesn't move. I saw that one day. I chuckled and I know that was wrong but it was funny to see her not move one inch and this poor person running off my porch like their pants were on fire.

Izzy also likes to lay in front of the garage while Rick is working unless the garage doors are shut then she's inside with him. So when a car drives up she still lays in the driveway but will lift her head to see if you are friend or foe. It's only the UPS driver/Prime driver she runs to see with her toy. Thankfully now this young man isn't afraid of Izzy. I do believe I will give him a gift of treats for his truck as a Christmas thank you for his patience.

Rick put a small cooler on our porch because we have had so many deliveries since moving here. We put some bottled water, Gatorade and snacks. We got an assortment of treats at Costco. Individual bags of goldfish, cheez its, etc. We also put a few granola bars in there too.

I made a sign that says for our delivery drivers, we thank you for the heavy lifting. Please take what you need. Happy Holidays. 

So far it's been a success. Yesterday as I opened the front door, a new delivery person was carrying this huge heavy lathe stand towards our steps to the porch. He grunted as I opened the door. I startled him and he jumped. I told him that looked heavy he didn't need to carry it up the steps because we had to take it back down to get it to the garage. He said, "Oh then I'll carry it to the garage." 

I told him he didn't have to. But then I thought to myself, hell, okay, take it you're 30 years younger than Rick.  

He came back to the porch and asked if he could take a water bottle from our cooler. I said, "my goodness take whatever you like, that is why we have all this here, it's for all our delivery people"  

He thanked me a million times as he took a granola/energy bar too. 

I was just thrilled Rick didn't have to carry this thing. 

Rick's mind thinks he's 30 but his body knows his mind is in denial. 

 

When Rick got home I told him this story and he said, "for an energy bar and water he took it to the garage for me? We may wish to leave that cooler of goodies out there all year long."

I think we may be on to something.