Date Night

Dinner was fabulous. Rick looked so nice. He kept telling me I did too and we laughed because we've been in paint-stained clothing as well as other assorted ugly attire while moving, unpacking, etc. Anything would look better. We went to trip advisor and google for the dress code. It said smart casual. What the hell is smart casual. 2 said country club casual. Rick and I both felt being overdressed is better than being underdressed. So we went that route. What we wore was perfect and comfy. It was a great date night.

Izzy was not happy as we assumed. She was sure trying to squeeze out the door with us. Rick pushed her back and she actually whimpered. 

God that breaks my heart.

I was on the porch and I heard him say to her, "Izzy you are going to be fine, we'll be back right after dinner and we'll have a nice walk when I get home. It won't be long" And he shut the door. I said, "so does she understand you?"  

Rick told me that she indeed does. She was sitting at the back door as we left by the back door. Upon coming home I looked in the backdoor window and saw her on the floor in front of the door so I opened it slowly. She hadn't moved since we left. My God you would have thought she hadn't seen us in years. Rick took her for the promised walk. She came home and laid at my feet and was snoring instantly. I think she was now calm because her pack was back. I sure hope the longer we're here that she will get back to normal.

Then again this could be our new normal for this ole gal.

We got to the restaurant early. We decided to belly up to the bar and wait for them.

The hostess greeted us and we told her we had reservations for 4 under Paul's name and we'd like to wait for them at the bar. She said, "Oh no, you can drink at your table. We have your table open. Follow me."   Okay.

We were seated and Rick and I got some wine. The waiter was very friendly and chatted us up a bit. Since he appeared to be slow I asked him a celiac question. He said, "Oh I love these because we've been in training so I'm prepared." Because of him, I was able to change my order to Beef bourguignon, and instead of the noodles they gave me mashed potatoes. It was to die for. I didn't even have to ask about a substitution, which I told you I would never do. He just offered and I took it. 

Paul and Becky arrived on time and our laughter commenced. We laughed and caught up, they had some great stories about their trip across the country in their Winnebago. It was so damn good to get caught up with old friends. 

This area was so nice and gives me hope. I may live in the boonies but the city is just 15 minutes away. Thank God. This was the northern most part of the city as well so the furthest. I am such a city girl, seeing this place invigorated me. This country stuff is so not me. I'm trying.

So if I compared my "playdate" with Joyce to this fun evening - no contest.

Again, Paul is 70, Becky is 58. They are not old. Playdate Joyce was old. 

I wish I could articulate the difference. It has nothing to do with the number, it's all in the attitude. Paul and Becky recommended to us about some concert venues. (they saw Bonnie Riatt and Keb Mo - I LOVE both) Joyce would go to Liberace. Anyhoo it was nice to be amongst people like us. We got some great tips on places to go for our next Friday Fun Day. Even some wineries, but we promised to do that with them. (although seriously, north Carolina wine? Mm....not so sure about that)

Sunday was a lazy day. Rick mowed the lawn and I trimmed and swept up a mess.

That was all we could muster. Can't bounce back after a few bottles of wine like we used to. Now, who's old?

Dinner

It's Saturday and we are going to dinner tonight with friends.
Now because I have celiac I must download the menu beforehand and if I have questions I call and ask the chef. Pain in the ass? Sure but better than doing it at the table and having the server have to take time to run back and ask a busy man/woman questions etc. I have had chefs thank me for this many, many times, which shocked me. 

There is nothing on this menu I can eat that I even like. So I called asked some questions. I would just prefer to do this salad instead of a side as an entre. They said I could do that and add chicken or steak. Problem solved. No one at the table has to feel like they picked the wrong restaurant or feel uncomfortable or piss off the wait staff. Paul and Becky probably don't even remember if I ever told them that I had celiac. When we did BBQ's together and wineries it never really came up. There was a pork tenderloin on this menu and a petite filet that cost as much as my car, but the pork dish came with all this shit I hate and why pay $28 for just a tiny piece of pork. The menu also said no substitutions which I understand the reason behind that. They take a lot of time and energy to get a recipe right with the correct flavor profiles they don't need me screwing up their food. So because I am having a salad, in girl math that means I can have creme brulee or any other dessert without flour or gluten. I saw a flourless chocolate torte that may be mine too. Yipee for me. After wine and dinner then I can have a cappuccino and dessert. 

Since leaving our home in Virginia our dog has been very clingy as I have mentioned. We pick up our keys and she runs to the door and out the door to the car. We've been taking her everywhere but she can't go with us tonight. And it's going to kill us when she gives us those sad eyes and we have to push her back in the door. This will be the first time left alone since leaving in late August. It must be done. If we were going to Paul and Becky's place we'd bring Izzy because Paul loves her. He dog sat for us a couple of times and kept telling us she may go missing some time. I know the minute Izzy sees him she will run to him with her tail going 100mph.

After doing and looking for all the things we wanted to "discover" and explore on Fun Day Friday, we drove to the restaurant. Paul asked us so he booked this place. We knew it was the same distance from his home and ours because he told us. So we're meeting in the middle I guess you'd say. But was it street parking, was it parking in a garage? It was also in an area we've not been to yet. So before we went home we decided to find this place while it is daylight. 

It is in an enormous upscale plaza. Parking galore. 

(I can't wait to come to shop here, even window shopping!)

Now tonight when Rick has to drive in the dark which of late is a bit of an issue with oncoming lights it won't be a strain looking for the place, how to get in, and where to park. When it was suggested I got the ole, "Oh please we don't need to do that Margaret." After we did it he said, "Good call."

He does make me laugh.

Compared to my glass of water on Joyce's deck, this will and should be fun for us.  We are excited to wear nice clothes and clothes without paint stains on them. 

'Playdate'

My "playdate" as my husband called it went well.
We went for a walk. She loves to hike. Mmmmm....
After our walk, we went back to her home for coffee. I ended up with just water. 

She is a very nice lady. Will we be buddies? I don't know. People are funny. I know if someone came to my house and they were afraid of Izzy I would put her somewhere. Perhaps the back bedroom and keep the door shut until this person leaves. But she wouldn't do that for me for her feline friends. So we had to sit on the patio. I suggested we go to the Ugly Mug as she said originally but she wanted to stay home I guess. So we sat on her patio and chatted. It began to get a bit chilly and rain was obviously about to begin so that was my out.  There were a lot of things. We shall see. It just cemented how immature I must be. Ah, self-realizations.

Her husband has a great garden and grapes growing in a mini vineyard. 

He makes wines. When I asked the grapes' varietal she didn't know. How do you grow grapes and not know this if making wine? Her husband she said may know. I laughed it off because it wasn't that important. I was just curious I told her.

Today is Friday Fun Day. Well, not quite for Rick. He is getting his flu and booster today. Then we head out to discover things. Anything other than unpacking, painting, building, moving etc.

We had a neighbor on Mink Meadows where we used to live that moved to a 'burb of Raleigh two years ago. He called last night to see if we'd want to go to dinner at this French Bistro in Raleigh. I told Paul that you can't just call a woman on Thursday night and expect her to say yes to an invitation for THIS Saturday. I then asked, "what kind of girl do you think I am?"  He said, "Easy"  I laughed and said you're right and we'd love to meet you there. I can put on real shoes!

A reason to dress nicely for public consumption. We have most of our clothes now. Outerwear is not all inside the house yet. (boxes in garage) 

But since we don't need a coat I think I now have everything I may need to go out. 

Paul asked how the unpacking was going. I told him it was like a wearing a size 40 waist and squeezing into 32's. (I tell women if you are a size 14 and you are trying to get into a size 2 - not gonna work and that's my unpacking status right now)

He said he remembers all this stress. 

His girlfriend sold her house, he sold his (like ours) and they moved into a smaller home. So too much of everything like us and had to sell.

He said it took 6 months to be fully unpacked and another 6 to get everything where it needed to be or sold etc. We figured a year but I sure didn't want to hear that. Shit. Reality isn't all it's cracked up to be. :-)

I don't know if you all would remember the nice young high school boy, Luke, that I chatted with at lunchtime when he was walking his dog and I was with Izzy sittin' on the stoop. Well, he graduated and sent us some pics. His party was around the time we left so we couldn't attend. He got a partial baseball scholarship to UVA, he graduated with awesome grades and he had just pitched a no-hitter. He was flying high and wanted us to see the pictures and the article about his game. I asked his dad why only partial scholarship. That is all that is given to baseball players. Football makes them the money so that is why that is the way it is. I remember after the horrific shooting at UVA their baseball team played the NYY. It was a fun game that thankfully was televised for us in DC Metro.

I hope this kid is going to be in the majors someday. He is already over 6' and has a great arm. If he can stay healthy he has a great chance.  We met this young man when he was 6 or 7. He was in his pj's walking his new puppy in the snow when we met him and his new puppy Shadow. Shadow and Izzy hit it off immediately and ever since then we've been friendly with his family. He has a sister who was a dorky-looking little kid who is now a drop-dead gorgeous young woman in college. There are leagues he plays in that have nothing to do with his high school so that he can be playing more throughout the year. He says they play down here sometimes so we are hoping to catch a game of his someday. Covid really stopped us from seeing him the last 2 years.

Carmax did not call me back so I called them - again. I told them I was going to bother them daily until I got this info. The young woman on the phone was so nice and she said I don't even see that this was submitted. I can only submit it again or you can ask to speak to a supervisor. I laughed and said I would like to speak to your supervisor. She said, "good choice"  

Jessica, her supervisor, took the info, apologized, and said it would be faxed to me in one business day. 

It would be a rush request for my inconvenience. Ah huh. 

We both felt it best to fax to me if the number we got from the VA DMV was incorrect or something at least I would have the release letters. Yeah. So let's see now if I have this by end of business day on Monday as promised.

I'm not holding my breath but c'mon we need a break here!

I'm off to wear outside clothes now. Fun Day Friday is about to commence.

Enjoy your weekend and Halloween!

DMV fun

Do you remember when Comcast changed its name? They had such negative reviews and stories they felt it best to change their name. 

So the dumb people who fell for this maneuver deserve Comcast in my book. Those that have no choice I feel badly for. Their new name is Xfinity. 

Gee, that helps me forget how much Comcast sucks.

Now Facebook is doing the same thing. Changing their name. 

Like that will change my opinion. 

I've been back on it of late but not its biggest fan. 

Do people think FB is going to clean up its act because it has a new name? Please Zuckerberg can't even change out of his gray T-shirt. He and our former lunatic leader have been in bed for some time now. I don't trust either of them. I think he and the donald should make a new social media of falsehoods together. And that's my opinion only.

We have an old vehicle, a 2007 Toyota Highlander. It runs like a charm. Would I like something newer? Sure. But there is nothing wrong with this car. So to go to the DMV here I have to bring in my title. Right now VA still thinks I live there. I have to change it when I go to the DMV here. In VA you must pay a personal property tax on your vehicles, boats, computers, etc. Yea, just like Monopoly. They are saying I owe these monies because it shows me living there. Even though they stopped my real estate taxes so makes no sense to me. But it's government why would it make sense? 

Off to the DMV we go. (online and via phone because it is DMV VA)

We went to get replacement titles so we can move forward with our lives. We were told 2 of the vehicles that were paid off many, many years ago have liens on them. WHAT? So we call CarMax where we got the vehicles and who sent us the titles. Apparently, they were never released. Whew. So now to get them to release these titles they have to fax a release of liens/titles whatever to VA DMV. 

I call Carmax and go through the typical, not my dept, and passes me on. 

I finally got someone who appeared to understand the situation.

After we went over the complete story I am told someone will get back to me in 1-2 days. Like this hasn't gone on long enough.

Does anyone wish to make a wager if they will actually call us back?

Exercise or Coffee?

I made Rick an appointment for his flu and booster shot at Walgreens. 

I booked it for this Friday. 
I told him I made the appointment for him and I did it on Friday should he get sick then he'd only be sick on the weekend. He gave me the strangest look. Then he asked, "Why would the weekend be better than Monday or Tuesday to be sick?"

OMG, I keep forgetting we're retired. Well, it's Friday just so you know.  I promise I'll get the hang of this I swear!

My first week here I was at the grocery store. I went to grab a couple of Poblanos and Green Peppers. I saw there were just a few left. As I got there they were now gone but a few people were standing there. I thought that was odd. Then a man said to me after he saw my puzzled look, "they went to get more for us." Ah, I see, then I too shall wait. 

As I stood there a woman said to me I swear I come to the grocery store to see what they are out of that I need. That made me chuckle. Apparently, she felt that was her "in" She began chatting up a storm. Moved here 2 yrs ago from Massachusetts. 

Ah, that explains the friendliness I thought. Very nice friendly woman.

She went on and on. I nodded but was thinking that my peppers better be here quickly. 

Then she said, "how about I get your number and we can have coffee or go exercise or something. It was tough when I first moved here "  

While this was extremely nice, I was thinking, boy this woman doesn't know me. Exercise that is your invite? How not appealing to me. I smiled and she repeated it. Damn. 

I gave her my number since I was standing there holding my cell. 

Why I gave her my real number is anyone's guess. I used to drop the last number and replace it with another when men wouldn't take no for an answer. But I gave her my number, my correct digits. Then as if I'm not just standing next to her she calls me. "Want to make sure I put the right thing in there"  Why do I think it's because everyone gives her the wrong number? 

I smile.  

I explain I've only been here for a week and this is in fact is my first day filling up my new place with food so I just don't have time right now. She said okay, I'll wait a few weeks. And she did.

I get a text Saturday to see if we can exercise or get coffee this week. 

I suggested coffee. She said Oh I just like to walk. I gave in. Fine. 

Thursday we are going for a walk and then fetching coffee at the Ugly Mug.

I lament this to Rick. 

He laughs knowing me well and how I am an introvert anti-social extrovert.  

He asked if something was wrong with her?

 

"She seemed nice enough to me Rick. But you know."

"No, explain it to me."

"You're just being a shit to make me say shit I know is wrong."

"Ah huh."

"Okay, she was old. "

"How old?"

"66-72ish."

"So our age give or take a few. So you wouldn't go get coffee if Bruce Springsteen asked because he's 72?"

Don't you tell me all the time how you love your blogger friends of all ages? 

Yes. Different points of view and they are all interesting to me.

So why is this different then? 

I have no damn good reason. Just being a bitch and trying to get out of it I guess.

Then he reminds me of our older friends. Then he asked, "Is Bobby old to you?"  God No! 

How old is he? 

70. Okay, you are right. I am wrong. I am acting stupid. I get it. 

I just don't wanna go. 

He told me to get some cheese to go with that whine. HAHA funny boy.

All of my friends are younger than me. Except those from high school that are still my friends. But damn it, he's right. Just because she has white hair (like me) and a few wrinkles (like me) doesn't mean she's old. (like my parents) 

So this Thursday I am doing what my pain in the ass husband calls, "going to go see my new little friend" 

She will probably turn out to be a great friend. Then I can tell her how I hated that she moved me out of my comfort zone!

Hey Remember Me?

I'm that girl who used to write every day. 

Now I am just going crazy every day.

I imagine after a full 6 months I will be in a better place.

But right now - Wow.

Saturday we began priming the foyer, living room, and hallway.

I hate priming. Why is that? I don't mind painting but priming - yuk!

Thankfully only for this one color, we felt it was necessary. 

Because this color was a very dark gray we felt we'd have to. 

But what a pain in the ass.

So after priming everything, we did 2 coats of Sherwin Williams Pure White. I have never ever painted a wall white before. I always like color until I met this woman's house. So white it was. 

Rick and I work well together on these projects. We have a routine now and damn we should after 34 years. We don't even discuss we just begin.

I do all cut in as far as I can reach. So of course from the floor up to where my short arms reach. He does cut in above that. No taping is necessary for us. We've painted so much over the years that it is no longer required.

Since the living room is a cathedral ceiling even with a ladder I'd not be able to reach so thankfully Mister Tall did that part. Then I do all the painting from the floor to where I can reach. Rick again does all the rest. We started on Saturday at noon. We finished up at 5ish. We then began Sunday at 8:30a and finished at 3pm. 3 coats of everything. It looks so much better. It felt like the lights were on when they weren't it was so much brighter. I had gray in my home but much lighter. This was almost charcoal gray. And in pictures it looks lighter, but oh no. 

Then Sunday night we moaned and groaned about what hurt. Isn't getting old fun? I wore my Everything Hurts T-shirt while painting because well it did/does. I squat when I was doing cut in or painting around the baseboards and below my waist which I think made my ass cheeks sore. I find that funny and pathetic at the same time. We are taking a few days off of painting since there are 6 more rooms to go. My ass needs recovery time. 

😁

Rick has this habit of walking out to the front porch to sit with Izzy and he leaves the front door wide open. There is a storm door there. But it is all glass. I was walking down the hall putting on a shirt when I walked to the living room and see the door open as he is standing there with a Prime driver/man. Geez.

I jump behind the wall and put on my shirt before walking out. 

I say to him later, "must you leave the door open all the time? I didn't have my shirt on."

He said to me laughing, "Why not just get dressed or keep your clothes on?"  

"Did you just tell me to keep my clothes on? For real? Who are you?"
Now he's laughing. I knew what he meant but I have to bust his balls you know. 

This is another one of those situations we've had discussions on for 34 yrs.

God or whoever made me decided that making me chubby would be a good thing because I'd be naked all the damn time if I was skinny minny. 

No one wants that. So clothes it is.

I have never liked to wear clothes. If I could I'd just wear a T-shirt that covered my bits. That's all but one can't go through life like that sadly. 

I was ironing one day back in the late 70's. 1979 to be exact. I was 23 yrs old and had just married my first husband. (his name too was Rick but we'll call him Doc so to not confuse you) I was ironing and watching a baseball game at the same time. Doc was not home because he was playing ball.

My ironing board just collapsed as I was ironing a shirt. I went to grab the iron as the board went down and I leaned against the board and somehow during this, the iron went flat against my left breast. OUCH. I screamed just as Doc was getting out of his car. He ran into the house and saw me running down the hall to the bathroom while the ironing board was tipped over and the iron was on the floor but upright. Skin just came off me when I put a wet washcloth on me. OMG was I in pain. 

Guess who had to go to the hospital ER? Now telling the doctor in the ER why I was ironing with no shirt on was fun. He gave me a look like I should be ashamed of myself. Like slut-shaming only naked shaming. 

The iron left a mark a big ole burn mark just like you'd see on a shirt that was burned in the movies. You could see the shape of the iron and each and every steam hole right there on my boob as clear as day. 

My God did this hurt. Amazingly it left no scar. But it was a pretty bad burn for a very long time. Doc was making jokes like, "Gee, I know you've always wanted to be flat-chested but this is no way to go about it Margaret" HAHA. 

Yes, I tend to marry funny boys now don't I?  

The ER doctor was a bit pissy but the nurses were making jokes and making me laugh through my tears. It was not a fun thing or easy thing though. I never ironed again without clothes. But Doc being the smart ass he was, came home a day later with the chest protector that the catcher wears in a baseball game. (Doc played minor league ball and got it from his catcher) He told me to wear this while ironing. Even though I was wrapped in gauze with medication all over me and in pain I thought that was friggin' funny too. 

A damn good reason to wear clothes I suppose.

Then around age 33 I was living with Rick.

Again I was cleaning. I got warm and took off my shirt and jeans. 

I was wearing panties. 

All of a sudden I hear Rick coming up the steps but he's talking to someone.

When you got to the top of the steps you were right into our dining room. 

I made a mad dash to my bedroom. Rick thankfully was first coming in and caught a glimpse of me as I ran around the corner and down the hall. 

Rick came into the bedroom as I was dressing and he said, "cleaning again?"  He was laughing thank God. I said, "yes I was. Why didn't you tell me you were bringing him home with you?"  He said, "should I ring the bell when I have someone with me so you'll be dressed?" 

That might be a good idea, Rick! While we thought this was funny, we did do this from then on. 

So you see this isn't a new thing where he doesn't know I like to be without a lot of clothing so why would he leave the front door wide open when I am in my own home? 

While I have always hated that as an older woman I am invisible now to most humans. I guess in this case it may be a good thing.

Airports and Traffic

I began a post on Tuesday that never got published. Since moving everything is crazy busy. How did I ever have time to work before?

Rick flew up to our old home in Northern Virginia on Tuesday. 

It was a whopping $77 to fly up there and it costs more to drive there. 

Rick left his big truck up at the old house parked on a side street. We had a neighbor who was keeping an eye out for us. In fact last week he sent a photo of his dog with big sad puppy eyes sitting next to his truck with the caption, I miss you and Izzy. It made us laugh. 

I am not a morning person. I've shared that many times here before.

I need time, a slow wake-up and Copious amounts of coffee before I speak, do things or go places. But not Tuesday. 

That morning I had to up at 6a, you know now that my dog sleeps until 7-7:30. Having never been to the Raleigh Airport we wanted to give ourselves time. Also leaving at 8a we were concerned about traffic at that hour.

Well, we are obviously still on DC time and traffic. We made it there in 40 minutes and that was after I made Rick stop at a Sheetz to use the bathroom. He was very early. I made it home in 25 minutes. 

Now on our way, we saw a 3 car pile up. We saw fire trucks, ambulances, and flashing lights on the other side of I-40 from the direction we were headed. Rick saw this and told me he was sorry I'd have to sit in that traffic that was not moving after dropping him off.  I saw the cars for miles and just dreaded this. I have not even had coffee yet. 

I dropped Rick off and Izzy was asleep in the backseat so she did not see him leave the car. Whew. I head home and traffic is no longer at a standstill and the accident was all cleaned up. 

Another positive of the move. No traffic to speak of really. I can dig this.

I immediately made myself some coffee as Izzy herded me to her morning spot where she sits with Rick. I'm cold so I'm wrapped up in a blanket. I do spoil this dog don't I? See her overseeing all the people and dogs who walk by? 

As we are sitting here the UPS truck pulls into our driveway. Oh, that gets Izzy excited. She walks down the steps in a hurry to say hello.

Our new UPS man says, 'Hello Izzy' and gives her treats just like her fave UPS man did in VA. The new UPS man had the treats in his pocket.  

It's obvious he's been at this for a while.

But when Izzy jumped onto his truck this morning while in the driveway he was startled. The man in VA would bring her up in the truck where he kept the treats. She would get in the truck, sit for her treat and then leave. I think this guy is okay with it too. We did ask him and we explained why she did that. Thankfully this new UPS man was a dog lover and has 2 labs of his own so he was okay with Izzy. That's great so at least one thing is the same for her. This move has aged her I swear.

Now my day was to keep her from pacing waiting for her man. I did not get much else done the whole day. We walked, sat in sun, walk. We even did her 2nd favorite thing after swimming and we took a drive. 

Rick was to be home around dinner time. I was counting down the hours.

I get a text from him that he had landed. Then one when he got to our old home. We discussed that the truck would probably be dead so he'd have to use his handy dandy HALO to jump it. Then he was going to the paint store to see if he could find paint for me and then heading home. He was only going to the Sherwin Williams in our development not driving around town. I told him if they didn't have it - so be it. We'll just wait on paint to arrive to America.

This was at 11am.  

I get a text at 11:06a - he has got the truck started but when he shut his door the locks automatically kicked in and now his truck is running and he can't get in. Only Richard could do this. I said to him you know better than to shut the door. Now for 34+years I NEVER shut the door as I have explained to him each time he says, shut the door, as he is jumping my car. I have told him my father told me to leave the door open or the window. He rolls his eys. Apparently, this happened to my father I guess so since a kid I never would close the door all the way. When I asked him how the hell he did that he responded with, "George was not my father" (my dad's name) So there the idiot sat on a curb with his vehicle running while waiting on a locksmith for an hour and a half. I wanted to kill him. So the money we saved on the flight he just spent. $150 for a locksmith and wasted a lot of gas.

As he sat on the curb neighbors walked by and chatted. One brought him a Dr. Pepper. The man who lived directly next door talked about the new people in our home. Weird was all he said then showed Rick the picture below. Rick howled. He asked if they have just put them there and are tossing them. The neighbor stated they have been there for 6 weeks. They go out there and sit on them and chat. I find this so humorous. And if the HOA could see into our backyards they would have a field day with this couple!  I wonder if it's a cultural thing. They barely spoke English. All the women said to me was that my house was so pretty. I told her it was her house now. She also was upset that the flowers were dying. I had to explain that those needed to come out and then I plant mums and fall items. I don't think she understood a lick of what I said. Anyhoo we are having a field day with these toilets on the patio. This was taken from my neighbor's 2nd-floor window so the screens are showing but I think you all can get the picture here.  I guess the 3rd chair is if they have guests? LOL

Rick got his truck opened up and off he went to the paint store. He found what I wanted. YIPEE. The manager of this Sherwin Williams knows Rick and when he saw him he said, "You came up here for paint?"  No, but while I'm here...

It took Rick an additional 2.5 hrs to get home because now it's heavy traffic time. Which in NoVA starts at 3pm and runs until 7pm. Needless to say, he was not home at 5ish as we thought. Izzy was a spaz. She spent the last 4 hrs of the day before he arrived laying in the driveway facing the street to see him come home. It was pitiful. I couldn't bring her in. It was 81 degrees and she was laying in the shade so she was fine. She only got up to pee and then she was back down. A vehicle pulled into our driveway to turn around and she got so excited. I was sitting on a milk crate in the driveway at the time with her. I jumped up and said, "No, that is not Rick." She kept walking towards the car. When it pulled out she gave me the damn saddest face ever and laid back down. 

When he got here it was dark. He was cranky. 

Oh, yeah fun for us left behind. 

He immediately changed and came into the living room to tell me about his trip.

He said while sitting in traffic he got that knot in his stomach and felt the stress and the pressure that he felt each and every day in this traffic. The pace and stress were a big fat reminder of what we left. He said, I just can't do that anymore. How did we do that? I laughed and said, "we have lived in our home since October 2nd or so, you are already acclimated here?" 

He said, "With the traffic yes!"

As for me, I'm hanging in there. I got lost one day and found a salon nearby my home.  I went in and asked questions and felt okay to make an appointment. I had my hair cut on the 20th and I did not cry. Finding doctors is easy peasy, finding a good stylist is not as easy. I don't do supercuts because they are right out of school. I want someone a bit more seasoned. 

I want someone who understands hair technique, razor cutting, texturizing, and all the things I need. I called one place and asked if anyone specialized in texturizing and razor cuts. She said, "You want a shave?" OMG. Okay, I knew this was not my place. One place was spot on but I wasn't thrilled about the $93 haircut charge or the fact that she couldn't get me in until after Xmas. 

This woman was lovely and when I asked her to wear a mask for me she did. She was not vaccinated or mandated to wear a mask. 2 miles away it is mandatory. My county is not and so they don't. Stores do, restaurants do but hairdressers don't for some reason. It's all kinds of wrong but that is another story for another time.

She did a good cut but she styled it like an old lady. I got home and Rick burst into laughter and said, "Hey Grandma!"  I laughed and said, "I know! I said something about what she was doing and she said, "oh let's try it" So what the hell. 

I went into the bathroom after Rick had his big laugh at my expense and I wet it down and blew it dry again. All better. Best of all it was only $50 for a haircut. That is $20 less than what I was paying so I was happy.

Now if I could just learn to love biscuits the way these people do. Thankfully I have an excuse not to eat those dry hockey pucks, I've got Celiac. That is the only time it's a good thing when I can get out of eating things I don't like. Always a silver lining somewhere.😁

Help.

OMG.

I JUST SAW A COMMERCIAL FOR SOME PLACE CALLED BISCUITVILLE.
I LIVE IN A PLACE WITH SOMETHING CALLED BISCUITVILLE.
WHO AM I?

Privacy? Never!

We hit the jackpot last night.

I opened a box titled hall closet. It was my bedroom things. We keep skipping this box because we don't have a place for more hall closet things since we don't have a hall closet. But boy was I thrilled to find my socks and warmer clothing. Just in time for a cool spell today of only 67 degrees. These items were a full floor away from the hall closet. See what I mean? I think that is why it was cheap to have them pack. They packed very well. But the surprise to find what's inside is the humorous and annoying part. 

I am tired of waiting to paint. I know most certainly that most don't ever wish to paint.  But these colors make even Rick want to paint. Since each and every room needs painted it would certainly make sense to do that first before putting up window treatments and all the bedding etc. But I may never get paint from the looks of things. So I just began doing things just to not be having my head in a box. Rick was working in the garage and came in and used the hall bathroom. He walked out and said it looks worse in there now. I just said, Thanks.  No, that blinding turquoise looks even worse with our shower curtain etc. I know but I'm sick of things in a box Rick. He laughed and said okay. 

Tuesday he flies up to Dulles airport to pick up his big truck/work van. That van houses all his work painting things. He will be stopping at a couple of stores and then home. (maybe we can get some paint up there) The cost to fly up there was $77 and honestly, we couldn't drive any cheaper. He will uber to our house. A neighbor has been keeping an eye on Rick's van for us. He sends us the funniest photos. The other day he text Rick a pic of their dog who loved Izzy, with this sad face sitting next to Rick's van with the caption - we miss you guys!  It was cute.

Every since this move Izzy had been a velcro dog. She doesn't like either of us out of eye sight. She wants us to all be together. Her pack must be in the same room so she is happy. If not all together she will be antsy.  And we all know that we can't always be together. 

The other night Rick was exhausted and I was wide awake so he kissed me and went to bed. I was going to then catch up on the shows I watch that he doesn't. Izzy wouldn't have it. She came out of the bedroom to get me. She was herding me into the bedroom. When I said no, I was watching TV, go to bed. She stood there and stared at me. I had to laugh at the look on her face. I sat back down and she came over to me and hit my knee with her nose. She then faced the hall, as if to say, c'mon let's go to bed. I finally walked back to the bedroom as she got in bed. Rick said, "decided to come to bed?" I said, "No, Izzy is herding me again"  He laughed.

I went back to the sofa and back she came. Finally, I just got in bed, turned on the TV, put on my Bluetooth headset so I wouldn't bother Rick and then, and only then when her pack was all in the room could she relax in her bed and go to sleep. 

Last night she did it again to me. I said I am not moving, I am the human, go to bed or don't but I'm not going Izzy. Then I laugh at myself for having a "discussion" with my dog. She was not happy so she got in her bed in the living room and I know she thought I'll just wait for her. Fine with me. So I finished up The Morning Show on Apple TV and she laid in her bed in the living room staring a hole through me. When I was ready for bed and turned off the TV she immediately jumped up and walked with me down the hall. She is one goofy dog. 

She is also coming into the bathroom ever chance she can. The hall bathroom door doesn't always click shut easily. If you don't get it just right this is what you will see aside from blinding turquoise. Rick brought in his phone which, I find gross. But, he got this great shot of her being our new velcro dog. Is it her age? Is it the moves? Both? She will be 13 in 4 months. 

If I get my keys she runs to the car because that means a ride. If Rick goes to the garage she has to go too. If I'm still in the house she will always choose Rick. She adores him and looks at him in a way that if she were human I'd have to make her leave our home!😮 Crazy dog. But she has gotten noticeably worse with all the little moves. I hope she will settle down but I fear at her age this is her thing now. Which will mean a new latch for the hall bathroom.

Booster Fun

Wow, what a week I've had.

Tuesday I had an appointment at Walgreens very early to get an appointment for my flu and booster shots.

By the time I got home my left arm, the booster, was so sore I couldn't believe it. I did not get a sore arm with the flu shot. I never got a sore arm with my covid vaccines before. 

After this appointment I had errands to run and a quite a few stops to make.

I had planned on stopping at this eye glass place for new glasses but was getting tired and thought I'd do it another day. My last stop before home was at Walmart picking up a couple of things for Izzy (green beans for her diet) I thought I would peruse the glasses at Walmart since it is on my way to the exit door.

First thing I noticed is they aren't cheaper and why did I think they would be?  But that didn't stop me from browsing.  I figured if I found something I won't even have to go to the other place.

The two employees or optometrists in Walmart were not busy. I was the only one who was in the store and the two employees pestered the shit out of me. They asked to see my Rx's. I have two - one is just computer and reading. They other is for distance, the computer and reading. Now my distance is 20/20 but I get it that sometimes at the end of my day I need a little help. But normally I just need them while I'm doing this, typing, and if I wish to read anything at all or sometimes to even cook and chop.

Okay, so that brings the bald guy over to tell me I should pick the plastic frames for my Rx. He kept talking up progressive lens and explaining them to me. I said that I had them, I sat on them, hence why I'm here. I understand how they work. But he kept at it. Followed me from rack to rack. Then Bald Man asked, "Do you want wire frames? Do you have a style in mind?" 

Yes, I tell him but I would like to be allowed to just browse and try them on if that's okay and then I'll let you know if I need anything. Oh but that didn't stop him from hovering, talking until I finally said, "Sir, you are making me a bit uncomfortable can you allow me to browse styles on my own please?"

Oh sure he says. He leaves and the woman with the big fat fake eyelashes swoops in. She sees me pick up a red pair of glasses and she says, so you want red? No, I explain, just wanted to see if this style worked. Here she says,try these. She hands me a pair of cat eye leopard glasses. I laughed out loud. I said to her that these were so not me. But they remind me of a woman long in the tooth in a bowling alley puffing on cigarettes with a bit too much red lipstick and makeup on. 

I cracked myself up again when I tried them on. She did not laugh.

I grabbed another pair and she said, "Oh, so you want blue glasses."

No I explain it is not the color. I need to try them on. Who knows I may like the blue but I am not looking for blue. Then she hands me a pair of bright pink. I wouldn't even grab them, I just said, No. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, leave me the hell alone. I'm a big girl I can find glasses on my own. Were they hovering because they thought I would steal? Then she hands me a tortoise pair that I liked but they had fake diamonds and sparkly teen shit on the sides. I asked, "Do you have anything like this without the glitter stuff?"  She said, "Oh you want the glitter, you have a sassy hair cut go for it." I repeated I did not like it, did she have them without the glitter? She just laughed. No answer. I was not feeling well at this point and I don't know why. But feeling like I was and them being so agressive, it took all my inner strength not to slap those big fake eyelashes off her face. I am not the most patient person in the world but I know when I am sick I can get cranky, not like Rick for heaven's sake, but cranky. I really felt I could have slapped her I was so annoyed and my head was pounding. And I have never slapped or hit anyone in my life. (not true, I have slapped a couple of men - different scenario)

This is now the end of my day, it's 5:30p and I've been running around since 8:30a when I got a couple vaccines. I am not feeling great for some reason and they are pissing me off. I put all the glass back into the covid bowl and I asked for my Rx back. They asked what I was doing, I hadn't picked a pair yet. 

I told them I was not feeling great, you guys seem nice, but you are very aggressive and you hover. I think I will come back on another day when I am feeling better and can handle all of that.  I smiled and thanked them and left. They stood there just staring at the crazy white woman in a humorous pot T-shirt who they think is certifiable. 

By the time I got home I was feeling even worse. This came on me so quickly. I came home and took 2 tylenol and told Rick I was feeling off.

By 8p I knew I had a fever. But who the hell knows where our thermometers are. I opened a box yesterday that said 3rd floor bathroom and it was one of the 3rd floor walk in closets. So I went to bed early.

I was restless all night. I got up at 3am and was so cold I couldn't stand it. 

I went to the bathroom, I got some orange juice because that sounded good (I don't drink oj normally either) and I went to the sofa. I sat there wrapped up in a blanket and turned on the TV. Then I'd be too hot and throw off the blanket and then I'd be cold. I was a mess.

By the time Rick woke up I was burning up. He was going through boxes looking for a thermometer. He finally went to Walgreens just down the street and bought one. My temp was 102 degrees. Every bone in my body hurt. I felt like I had been hit by a truck. My teeth hurt. My head was pounding. I had a sore throat and it just hurt to breath. But I couldn't sleep deeply or for long. I laid on the sofa or in bed and just prayed this was nothing serious. Wednesday I don't recall much. I was in and out of sleep and when I was awake I was so miserable.

I remember getting up late in the day and walking into the kitchen for some ice water. Rick gave me a hug and said this is just from the booster shot. They said on the news this morning that the booster packs a wallop. Great. 

Good to know my immune system is fighting like hell. I sat at the table with him for a bit and we talked. I asked him, "Do you know what the best thing about all of this right now?"  He said, "I sure don't."  I smiled and told him last time I had a vaccine side effect it was two weeks after my shot and I had to work and I was so sick and I'd have to put my head down on my desk etc. Now I can go to sleep and not feel badly or worry that I am scewing up things in the office. It helps you know?  No working, just taking care of me. I may end up liking this retirement thing. He laughed, gave me a hug and sent me off to bed. 

Thursday the fever was gone. It broke around 4am. I took a shower in the morning and felt better but not great. It was still here. Another day of a lot of naps when I could and just feeling like crap and laying on the sofa. Wednesday my eyes hurt so much TV wasn't appealing to me. Thursday I could lay on the sofa and binge a show.  Truth be told, I couldn't binge shit because that means I'd have watched the whole thing. I'd fall asleep no matter what I was watching.

Friday I woke up feeling great. Almost normal. Sadly though I awoke at 2am because I slept a lot the day before. But I had no fever, no headache, body aches almost gone. My left arm where I got my booster is still so sore. T, W and Thursday I could barely lift it. Wild. Today I can lift it and do everything but it reminds me that it still hurts when I do that. 

So you have been warned. 

If you get the booster schedule a day to get it so if you do get sick for a day or two or three it will work within your schedule. Someone my mom works with told her the same thing that the booster knocked her on her ass for 3 days. My mom only works part time but at a school so she said she was going to wait until her holiday time off so in case she had a reaction. 

I asked why would you want to be sick on your days off? 

That's all kinds of wrong. Call in sick to work.  

You still have sick days you told me. 

Baby boomers and their great work ethic.😆

Wait my step mom isn't a boomer because boomers are 1946 - 1964.  She was born in '42.  Oh well she's not a slacker!

(yes I know she's only 14 yrs older than me. my dad remarried after my moms death to a younger woman. She is older inside - she will even agree to that statement. So don't start doing the math or asking me in an email.) 

Angry

This just makes me so damn angry on so many levels.

First there is white privilege. If this punk was black, he'd have been expelled and charged and sitting in prison. Not going to classes and parties.

Then there is the fact that women hear from the time they are very small, don’t dress a certain way, don’t smile, don’t take that drink, don’t go there alone and on and on. Yet boys aren’t taught to not Rape, Hit, Abuse or inflict harm on others cause boys will be boys. If you are raging mad, WALK AWAY! Sickening!!

Got guilt? Here have some of mine.

Rick and I were sitting on the front porch with our morning coffee when we saw these two older people walking down the street in their fluorescent pinnies. It was daylight so I thought it odd to be wearing them. But then as he got to the corner, he extended his arm in front of what I assumed was his wife, you know so she'd stop. I thought that was funny. I asked Rick if his mother ever did that when she was driving. He laughed and said she didn't drive. Oops. Well, my mom did throw her arm across me when there was a sudden stop. It was her "seatbelt" before we had seat belts in the car. That gesture he just used reminded me of that event as a child.

When they came back around we saw them again at the corner. He did it again. We got to wondering if perhaps she has dementia or Alzheimer's and forgets she must stop at the corner for the traffic. She did not appear to be blind. It was sweet and sad all at the same time. Then again maybe nothing was wrong with her and he was nuts. Either way, they are a cute old couple who walk by us every morning at 7:30am and wave. 

I made the mistake of asking Rick if I was in that condition would he help me across the street. Oh no he says, what fun is that. I would rather see you try to avoid the cars, running to and fro. Like a carnival game. He is now laughing. Honest to God some days he's an ass. Sadly I laughed too so that only eggs him on.

Then on Fun Day Friday, we decided after Wegmans, Trader Joe

s, and Costco that we should try that very cheap wine we got at Wegman's. So we unpacked our goodies and began to put things away because that is all we fucking do anymore, put things away. We grabbed glasses and began to have wine. Ooh, then we thought, how about we finish the season finale of Ted Lasso? Oh my. It made us both get teary. The storyline, not because it was the last show of the season. God the writing is so damn good.

It felt so decadent to just watch a movie in the middle of the day with all the shit around us. Then we made dinner together and opened the 2nd bottle of wine. oh yes, it was a nice day. I guess this guilty feeling will pass eventually. We both felt guilty with so much to do and just blowing it all off. That will leave me, right? This retirement thing is not for the Type A's is it?

😀

I so love the show, Ted Lasso! Anyone else watching it? The character of Roy just makes me laugh. I love him. I love each character for what they are. Roy is just a tough guy but a squishy center. In season 2 when he softens a bit it pisses him off and he does and says things that just make me happy. I love this show so much I wish I could see it every day. Are you watching it? If not and you have apple tv, give it a go. It isn't about soccer, it's about people. My favorite kind of show.

Costco and Opinions

I'm going to Costco today! It's been 2 months since my last visit. I know Costco misses me almost as much as I miss her. Yes,  I have determined Costco is a female. Who else can multi task like that? I'm baking, I've made a chicken, look at this French rosé, hey don't forget my cleaning supplies and just so your hubby is quiet we will send him to electronics or to get new tires. That's how I know. 🤔 

We are getting a Costco November 17th here in my burb. But in the meantime my closest one is 20 miles away. 

I went to a grocery store here with a bar inside like they have at Wegman's. It was packed full of men. I'd love to see the women bellied up to the bar while the hubby pushes the cart with screaming toddlers who need to touch everything in reach, while mom has a dry martini!! Now that would be picture worthy.

__________

I started the above last week before I went to Costco. My life is not in sync with me yet. We used to have a rhythm, we had a routine. We don't now and we are flailing. Weird. I never really thought of us as having a routine but now I realize we did indeed. We need to get it together. Aside from Izzy's early morning swim we are off our balance a bit. We will find our rhythm again I am certain.

We went to Costco Friday and were so disappointed. Not as nice as the one we're used to. For example no candy aisles. For 21 years I have purchased boxes of full size candy bars from one of the 3 aisles of full size candy. But they had no such aisles. They had one box of full size bars and they were Hershey bars. Argh. 

I asked someone to be sure I just didn't know the layout of the store well. Nope, they don't have them. So I guess our new neighbors will get awful small candy and we'll be those neighbors. Bummer for us both.  

This Costco also had a shit ton of self checkouts which I do not care for.

If I am doing the check out and bagging, I think the pay and benefits for the person you just let go should go into lowering food costs etc. If I wanted to be a check out person I'd apply for a job. I do not like this trend at all ! It started with grocery stores and Walmart and is trickling down everywhere and I am not a fan. Yes, I am an old boomer. 

We did see 2 ribeye steaks for $105.00 and I showed Rick after he said he was hankering for a steak. He said it would be cheaper to buy the cow.  So no steak for Rick or me. Food prices, especially meat, is through the roof. I keep telling Rick we need to eat less meat so this helps my cause. Have any of you had vegetable lasagna? I've had it twice. Once homemade to die for! Once by Stouffers which was not bad at all. It's a white sauce, not a red sauce. I am going to try to make this. Rick really like the one by Stouffers but he kept saying, "This is really good but some meat in it would make this even better." The ass. I may try some portabella mushrooms because he tells me they are like meat. I don't eat mushrooms so I don't know this but it was a good tip. I have grilled them for him with seasonings to make a portabella burger. He does like those I reminded him so we shall see. 

We sort of checked out for a week. We just couldn't keep up the pace we were going. It has been non stop since putting our house on the market. 

So we took some time off. We explored the area, we had Fun Day Friday, and we have decided that Fun Day Fridays are going to be a thing. We had a great Friday. 

In other news....while unpacking items found in a box that came off a bookcase on the 3rd floor I saw a framed photo my cousin took years ago. She sent it to me as a thank you for her stay at our home. I love it because she took the photo and she gave it to me. It's been on my shelf for years. As I unpacked it I was wondering how she was doing in Boston. I knew she took in her mom who has early onset Alzheimer's. It's been a bit since I've seen her. So I decided to call her right then. It was such a great conversation and she said she had forgotten about that picture and it meant a lot that I saved it all this time. Why wouldn't I, it was a beautiful piece of art?  That happened two times now while unpacking.  I see it, it reminds me of them, so I reached out and each time has been great!

Everything on my walls and every so called "knick knack" (I hate knick knacks) is something from our travels or something that means a big deal to us. So this stuff is hard to part with. I don't have enough walls anymore for a lot of the art pieces. When I told a neighbor in my old home that each thing was not just purchased to look good in that spot but was a memento from a trip, or a gift, or something that means something to us. So then she pointed to things and I'd tell the story. It made me laugh. One thing she pointed to and I said, "Oh that means nothing I just liked it at Home Goods so I got it and thought it'd look nice there." She laughed and said only 1 thing in the house was just bought because? Yep. The fish sculpture was from a weekend stay in Annapolis from an fun art gallery we visited. That metal scultpure of a man and woman hitting a rock in a canoe - oh that made us both laugh because we did this on a lazy river trip down the allegheny river. We had to buy it. It was at an art fair. Most of the pottery is from my step daughter. The hand carved wooded fish on the bathroom shelf - from Jamaica on our wedding/honeymoon.  I watched the artist carve this I explained. It started as a block of wood and he did it so quickly it was fascinating to watch. She said was this on the resort with all the free booze?  Yes, okay then again, all the alcohol consumed while on the island may have played a part in it's fascinating properties. :-) But you must admit it's pretty damn gorgeous.  She did this again and again and I had a story or a city/country it was from and why I brought it home. She turned to me and said I thought you just went shopping a lot and bought things for your home to decorate. Oh please who has time and money for that. These were from Rick and my travels, together and separately and mostly work travels.  I have a sterling silver fork and spoon made into a cookbook holder. I saw this in a store in Portland ME while there on a business trip. The artist was showing all her works here in one corner of the store. This wasn't a big item, I knew I could get it on a plane, but I loved it and thought this would be great for showcases my favorite cookbook on the shelf. I think it cost me less than $15 at the time.I get more compliments on this thing - especially after I polish it. Sterling silver is a pain in the ass to keep looking good so I don't keep it looking as good as I should. So all my chachki's tell a story, doesn't everyone's though?

And lastly I want to discuss labor shortage. I don't believe many can be so choosy to not take anything even if the pay sucks until something better comes along. Or is that just me and Rick?

In 1990 the minimum wage was $3.80 where I lived. We hired a woman for $8.00 an hour to be delivery person for us as well as jump in other areas as we needed. That didn't happen often. Then after 2 yrs it was bumped to $10.00. When the minimum wage was now something like $4.80 an hour. 

Everyone told us we were nuts. Everyone told us that would hurt our bottom line. Everyone told us we'd be sorry. "We were just a tiny start up company"

1. We never had turn over.

2. That makes for loyal employees who are willing to help you grow your business and do things with you and for you.

So help me to understand how in 2021 you can't pay a living wage? 

Do you need to restructure your business to accommodate getting good employees who stay with you?  Where do your priorities fall? 

I saw on CBS Sunday Morning the story of needed truck drivers. 

That is a damn difficult job. They run the world for us. Do they not pay enough? Why are there no truck drivers? There are a lot of men and women who say they need a job. It is a tough one at that, but does the pay go along with the difficulty of this job? Is that the reason?

Have we become too soft and lazy? Or is there something else at play here?

Wait staff shortages? I think waitress and waiters are just sick to death of mean people and shitty customers who don't have manners or behave well in public. If the sign says wear a mask, then put it on or go somewhere else. No big deal. Then add in covid and I am not sure I'd apply for fear of being around this many people, even though waitressing was one of my favorite jobs. (I know I'm weird but I loved it) 

For $2.00 an hour and no tips from shitty customers I am not certain I'd stay either. I've waitressed for years, it's not easy but I did well. I looked at it as short term shit. That ass is leaving after dessert so I don't have to see them again. I never stuck my fingers in their foods or any of the awful things others did because I believe they will get their karma. Besides if I did that to someone I'd get it back two fold with my luck. No, I'll be nice. They will go home. If you wish to have combat pay, work at an airport ticket counter or lost luggage counter. I've done both. I'd rather have a sharp stick in the eye!

Do you think if more kids in high school knew they could pull down a six figure income with no school loans to pay off by being a plumber, electrician, carpenter, linesman or a tradesman of any sort would that change their minds? Or are their parents the one who insist it must be college? Do kids even get a chance to learn other things anymore in school? There is no art, music, home ec or living skills or drafting or wood shop.  I remember all the boys in school who took mechanical drafting or other types of drafting. My boyfriend was one of them. How do they know if they have a skill at it when their father doesn't know a wrench from a phillips head. Remember the man who was home due to covid and Rick was working on their kitchen?  His kid was not doing homework and the father was screaming at him, asking, "did he wish to end up being a grunt like this guy?" pointing to Rick. 

A grunt you are paying $6K to redo your kitchen in 4 days? I think we know the loser in this scenario now don't we?

Rick said nothing and the fact that Rick said nothing is a friggin' miracle!! Rick was livid. But now this kid thinks labor is grunt work. His father has planted a seed that this type of work is beneath him. No job so you can eat is beneath you. There is a whole lot wrong with that thinking to me.  

I understand the concept it may not be for you (like me!) but just because you don't wish to do it doesn't mean that those who do are idiots. That's why I so enjoy the show Tough as Nails. These people aren't dumb because they get dirty. And because you sit behind a desk all day doesn't mean you are smarter either. We just need to respect each others choices. And I for one will admit I'm a princess and hate to be dirty. But I admit I can do the work when I need to or have to within my limits. My father who gave me tools as a gift when I moved out at age 19. Then a fire ladder from my father when I moved to a 2nd floor apartment. Oh he made me laugh. Each apartment he would buy me something that glamorous. But you know what I used the tools. Girl tools as my husband calls them. Yes, they are lighter to lift than his. But they work for me and that's the point my father was trying to get across. I didn't need him to come save me, he wanted me to take care of myself. Now don't for a minute think that was my father being "woke" or evolved. Oh hell no! He still was holding out for me to find a man to fix things for me because a girl shouldn't have to. My fathers dream for me was to be married,barefoot and pregnant. Or be a nun. 

I didn't much listen to my Dad now did I? 

Got Donuts?

Life is settling down a little bit. Emphasis on 'little' bit.
Once I got everything put away in the kitchen and the living room is almost there. We have a place to eat, cook and sit. Then I found all the things for the master bedroom. Still, a lot of boxes but the bed could be made and our pillows could be laid on. That felt better. 

I no longer feel the stress of having to have this all done. 

The rest will be done as we can.

Having someone who has English as their 2nd language pack you really makes a difference. One box that said the office had bathroom things in it. 

A box that said toiletries and master we brought that box into the master bath and viola it was not toiletries, but toilet paper and it was not from the master but the linen closet. So we've had some laughs about what we find where. Surprise!  A box marked his closet was some of my clothes. (we each had our own walk-in closet - ah what I'd do for that now!)

The biggest thing that makes this go so slowly is that we have no place to put the things we've unpacked. I'm praying by Xmas we will have the garage and home completely unpacked. My goal is January 1 - done!

Then for those who follow me on FB you know that paint is a scarce commodity. I did not know this. When I walked into Sherwin Williams and gave the man at the counter my list of things I was buying he said he didn't have any paint. Now I have spent weeks with the SW color deck painstakingly choosing colors. He has to be kidding. I seriously thought he was joking and I laughed. I looked behind me, then right and then left. Was there a camera and I'm being punked? He actually said I'll show you the back. Like a fool, I went into the back of the store with a strange man and it was indeed empty with the exception of supplies like brushes, cans, etc. After we were walking out I realized that was stupid of me. He could have been a really creepy guy. But thankfully he wasn't and he also had no paint.  I guess my head has been in boxes as was our TV so I wasn't hearing about this. Or my head was up my arse. Either way, I was shocked to find out I can't get paint. The colors in this house are dreadful to us. 

I did buy a lot of white paint at another Sherwin Williams location so if nothing else we can paint it all white for now. Seriously these colors are annoying me and now even Rick.

We've had to laugh at neighbors coming by with store-bought baked goods. My mom asked if this was southern hospitality and we both had a good laugh. It's our little joke. Everyone does this in the midwest and east too but not store-bought, at least I've never seen that. Sure a Wegman's cake from the bakery but not an Entenmann's box of whatever they gave us. Still very nice and thoughtful but because they make such a big deal about it being southern we find it humorous. 

Anyway, I get a kick that southerners think they invented this idea of bringing food to the new neighbors. Seattle was antisocial so it did not happen there. But have they not heard of the midwest? I moved to Cleveland and got tickets to a ball game, food, etc.  Have they never had ethnic neighbors? A Greek family brought me some baklava in Ohio. Mmmm..

When we left Seattle we moved to Maryland. The neighbor came out with a small cooler of beers, water, and pop on a hot July day and shook hands by our moving van and introduced himself, and then said, "I'm not nice enough to help you move all these boxes. We'll be over after you unpack! Stay hydrated"  

We thought that was funny and great. The point being it happens everywhere it's not something only done in the south. 

We have found so far that our neighbors don't so much come over to be hospitable but to be nosey and we sure love to mess with them. Or I should say, Rick loves to mess with them. One of the women asked what Rick did for a living. He said quickly and with the straightest of faces that he was a gigolo. AND HE WINKED! OMG I about killed him.

The look on this old bird's face was priceless. I, of course, interject quickly with, Oh he's just kidding and I hit Rick's arm. He then smiled and said he was retired. He about gave this lady a heart attack. She wanted to come into the house to see what we were doing. I said we have arranged boxes nicely. But they push forward.

Then the next one came over with again a box of Krispy creme donuts. 

She asked rapid-fire questions never allowing us time to answer. 

Does your dog bark? Do you have kids or grandkids? Why did you choose to move? Won't you miss your family? Are you baptist? I mean it just went on. Rick said he used to be VP of HR and those questions could never be asked at an interview or in a meeting so I think I am going to choose the same route here too. I turned my head away so I did not laugh. He is terrible!  The look on the woman's face was just dumbstruck. Poor thing didn't understand what the hell Rick was talking about so I said, "We don't have children, do you?" And off she went! 

Rick refinished our hall bathtub/wall unit yesterday. It's a cheap fiberglass tub/wall one piece and we can't afford to rip it out right now. Bigger fish to fry. So because it was almond we thought if white it would look better. Hey, Rick even brought it up! It also had some damage on the floor which he repaired first. Oh did we have fun teasing one another about the work. 

I behaved like a rotten customer, "Rick how long will this smell be in my home? Is my dog going to live? OMG, this is just awful!"

Because of where this bath was located I couldn't do the rooms I was working in and Izzy was antsy so I told him we were going for a ride. Where he asks? I replied, "for my contractor, you sure are nosey mister. We are going to go get lost and see what we discover."

I go to leave and he has moved his work vehicle in such a way that I can't get out. I know he did it so he was close to the front door because he goes in and out so much but I had to bust his balls.  I text him that I wasn't going to pay if he couldn't park correctly in my driveway. He told me to bite him and I'll pay and he'll see to it. I laugh and Izzy and I head out to get lost. (I had to drive onto the lawn to leave though)

I come back and he's done. I go in and see the items I removed from the shelf have some white haze on them. I wipe it off with my hands but this is a great time to bitch to Rick like his old customers would.

"Hey, Refinisher Boy, you left a mess in my bathroom"

"Well, my office manager told you to clear out the room, and you were sent an email with all this information. It's your damn fault lady"

"How dare you speak to me like this. I refuse to pay you!"

Now he walks to me and grabs my shoulders and tells me, "Oh you'll pay me, missy." 

OMG, that made us both laugh so hard. Ah, we don't miss those customers!

But who is laughing today? Not Rick. His body is sore. He said his ass cheeks are sore. I asked why?  Is it from squatting over tub and doing knee bends? He said who knows but my body sure as hell forgot that muscle memory from only a few months ago. How fast retirement agrees with him!

Oh Oh.