Caregiver

I awoke today with little nausea, no headache and aside from a sore back from a lousy bed I'm feeling better. Still not 100% but close.

I have to run a ton of errands today and will p/u a covid test for the future. 

I am going to wear my hazmat suit. Think they'll notice me?

Maybe I should still use the test I don't know, but I'm feeling better except for slight nausea.
Because so many of you know those with similar symptoms who had covid I have to get the test if no other reason to have in the house. 

No good comes from being around people these days.

Rick was sweet last nite waiting on me. 

He brought me some of his homemade soup and assured me that he'd sure miss his honey-do list if I died so don't even think about it, Margaret.  

I'm sick, not stupid, I knew full well that was dripping sarcasm. 

"Rick be careful, don't think for a minute I won't haunt the hell out of you and whisper in your ear, this still isn't done, Richard?"

That made him laugh. That's all a good caregiver needs, a good laugh.

After Holiday Hangover

Thanksgiving was perfectly quiet and how we like it. 

I had a lovely day with a former blogger who I made friends with several years ago. She moved back east because of love and living in North Carolina and hates it. 

So when I got down here and 90minutes to 120minutes away we were both excited (prior she lived on the other coast) 

She was kind enough to drive over in exactly 90 minutes and we spent the day chatting, laughing, shopping, drinking and eating. The typical. She wanted to go somewhere that I had never been so we went on an adventure. It was such a nice day!

That was Friday. Saturday I was feeling horrific. I had a headache, I was so tired I felt like I had been bit by one of the tsetse flies that give you sleeping sickness. 
I was in my pj's all day. Well, actually I took a shower mid-day and then put on pj's again. How bad is that? I didn't feel like eating, I just had a headache and was feeling off and very tired. Saturday was a blur. Both Rick and I were just so damn tired. 

Then Sunday I was feeling a bit better but something is off. 

I had a haircut appointment at a new place downtown. It was at 2pm. I was feeling off but had no temp so I could still get a haircut. Oh, I got it cut. I was chopped and it is so short I almost cried. Thankfully I don't have a job to go to while this grows out. This is what happens when you move. You can find doctors easily - it's hairdressers. This was the2nd one. It's a good cut, just waaaaay too short.

Anyhoo, now it's Monday, and the fatigue and "off" feeling is still here. Covid?   
It's crazy that is where our mind goes, isn't it? I went nowhere without a mask except at a restaurant to eat. Then it goes back on so I couldn't have covid, could I?

Nah.

Remember the young man who worked for us named Gary? He was a giant of a man at 6'6" and 300lbs and not fat! 

His body-building arms were the size of my thighs. 

It took Rick 2 years before he could speak with him after their parting of ways. Rick tends to hold anger and grudges. I get angry and blow up and then it's over for me. I feel strongly that holding a grudge is like you drinking poison and hoping the other person will hurt. No sense, let it go. 

You don't have to forget but let the anger and a grudge go. 

I would talk to Gary every once in a while but Rick never had. 

Recently he touched base with Rick and Rick was open to talking to him. 

Gary is around 43-45 years old. Gary has Leukemia. 

That is why he wanted to talk to Rick. Now I got it. Amends I suppose. 

They talked for a good long time and were laughing. Nothing about the job and how he left, but they laughed about the naked women and men who answered their doors and the crazies they encountered daily. Then he dropped this tidbit of having leukemia on Rick. Rick asked about his treatment and he said medication for the rest of his life however long that will be. He has a son in 2nd or 3rd grade. I hope it's a long life. This boy needs his daddy. He was smart and never married that baby's mother.  She was a bad human being. I don't say that lightly. I have only met 2 people like her in my life and it makes me shiver just thinking about her. 

That was my exciting couple of days. Oh yes, there was that holiday in there which was quiet for us. Just like the way we like our holidays. No drama.

The 80s

Had a flashback of my youth Sunday morning. 

Pat Benetar and Neil Giraldo were featured on CBS Sunday morning. 

For me, it was a twofer. 

I loved Benetar back in the day and she was now on my favorite program.

Benetar was a favorite in my 20s and 30s and this show has been my favorite show forever. To think I didn't discover this show until I was 22 years old.

Oh sure I saw it on TV before age 22, but at this time I was living in my apartment with a roommate who was always losing the remote. I was home lying on the sofa sick probably more like hungover and feeling like crap. Susan (roommate) had stayed at her dates the night before so I was home alone and with no way to change the channel except to get off the sofa to search. I was stuck with this channel on because I was too lazy to go search for the remote control for more than the room I was in. I watched the entire show and thought, why did I think this was old people's stuff? Pop Culture, a little history, current events, and always nature. A little bit of everything.

And don't you think for a minute that I don't take a lot of crap over the years about loving this show. It was a big joke with my group of friends.When I was around 37/38 a friend of mine had a husband who worked at a radio station. (fred) At that time Charles Osgood was the new host taking over for Charles Kuralt. 

Fred was one of the people who loved to tease me about that being a show I would buy blank VHS tapes to record the show should I not be home on a Sunday morning at 9am. So as you can put together yourself I got shit for being a tramp for staying at my boyfriend's house and I got shit for watching this Grandma's show as he called it.

At some point at the radio station where Fred worked, Charles Osgood was there for some reason. I do not recall the lie I was given.

Fred claims to have asked him to sign this 8x10 glossy of him to me.  

I don't believe for a minute the real C.Osgood wrote this. Fred had to have gotten a photo and he signed it himself. I also was given this letter holder for my desk called the Osgood Files (name of his radio show) with said photo.  For YEARS Fred insists Charles was doing a publicity tour and this was real. I will never believe that Fred isn't just messing with me. Fred signed this not Charles. Fred laughs like crazy each time he insists it is him and I laugh and say I know you're lying which makes him laugh more. He says he laughs because I don't believe him. I will never believe him. For many many years he teased me about him and then this just happens? Nope, Fred is lying to me.

Here is what "Charles" wrote on the photo. Thank you Peggy for being a loyal watcher of Sunday Morning. See you on the radio. Best, Charles.

Now "see you on the radio" was what he said at the end of the show (he had the above-mentioned Osgood files on the radio) I finally threw away the 8x10 photo in this move. It always made me laugh. 😁

So there ya have it. Some history on my love of CBS Sunday Morning.

Today's episode did not disappoint. Here is some more of my youth below.

Oh and Look, Pat and I now have the same hair color just like we did in the 80s. 😂 

Happy Thanksgiving 2021

 I hope that you all have the holiday you wish to have!

Have an extra piece of pumpkin pie for me!

Tuesday, I think.

Everyone dreads Mondays mornings in the office.
But I still dread them in retirement.

In all seriousness. I do not know how I had time to work.

Yesterday I was busy all damn day. I was on the phone with technology issues for 3 hrs. I had the tv and sound bar man here and I had the cable man here. From 9am to 4pm someone was in my house and I was either on the phone troubleshooting or dealing with them. Then it was time for dinner. Where did Monday go?

I forgot as usual that people were coming. What day is it again?

I was in my pj's when Best Buy showed up. 

Best Buy came back to fix the incorrect hook-up of our soundbar/TV.

Boy, what a mouth breather this kid was. 

But he fixed it so I was happy about that. 

Normally I offer but he was here for only 3 minutes at this time I didn't even have a chance. When he asked for some pop I said we don't have pop sir but I can give you ice water, juice, coffee, tea, and milk, it's all I've got. 

He said, "figures!" Oooh, not a good start. 

All I can say is I'm glad Mr. No Filter wasn't in the house at that time to hear that.

At one point he got it working correctly, well for a minute and I said, "yeah! This is why you get paid the big bucks. Great job."

He got angry and said "well, I don't get paid minimum wage but hardly the big bucks. In fact, I don't get paid enough for the shit I deal with....and off he went.

Jeez, that is normally met with a laugh and we move on. But he was on a roll.

Then he went into having to wear this damn mask all day. 

I asked, "are you vaccinated?" He answered a loud NO WAY. 

"Well, then you could take it off just get vaccinated." 

I got a mean look with that. Too bad you're a mouth-breathing anti-vaxxer, just fix this and get out of my house.

Also, I realize there isn't a need for business casual clothing when a service person comes but honestly the way he was dressed was so awful. Be at least clean.  He wasn't clean, he had on pants/shorts - fabric that went to his lower calf - are those pants, shorts, high waters? He was leaving as Rick was coming in and the first thing Rick said was, "ooh he was gross!"  Yes, on all levels Rick. His hair was so greasy I guess he can't afford soap or shampoo. 

Hey, my tv/soundbar is now working and while it cost $0.00 having to deal with this guy was enough to have to deal with. I hope they don't send me a survey.

I also spent 3 hours on the phone with HP. Hooking up the printer is easy - yet nothing was working. I have 2 printers and one PC. 

One printer does everything, print, scan, fax, sends me sweet nothings. 

Ha, just seeing if you're paying attention.

The other printer is the workhorse that I needed in the office and not so much now but hooked her up too. 3 hours and 38 minutes to be exact and I'm finally done with that. HA HA HA - sure I am. Everything is on my dining room table right now. Nowhere to sit to eat.

Mike, over here, sent me some info on a group that meets that helps us folks who can sometimes be technically challenged. I was telling Rick about it and said it was a great idea. As soon as I said this a commercial came on for PC Matic. $100 a year for unlimited 24/7 customer support via, chat, online/zoom, email, or on the phone in person with all American English-speaking folks. I tried to find a fault with this. I googled them. In the UK too. I did the ole BBB. They have awesome reviews on the BBB and an A+ rating. I spent that evening looking into them and I can't see a flaw. They work on phones, laptops, desktops, printers, etc. (phones both android and apple) The commercial was about an older woman who couldn't do anything and was always calling her daughter for help with her phone, he pc, how to zoom, etc. Her daughter bought her this plan. It made me laugh, I am now a stereotypical older person. That sucks. 

When my computer was acting up as was windows I called Microsoft. For $39.00 they walked me through the issues and we fixed them. 30 minutes for $39. I can see already how $100 for a full year will pay itself off. 

We needed the printers yesterday for some personal shit that had to be copied and scanned to email. So I put all of this on my dining table. Last night I unhooked everything to put it back in the back bedroom that will be my office. So if there are issues that arise when I put this back together then I will have them to lean on. (I think I'll be fine though). Today I will buy the plan. 

So while I liked Mike's idea I like this one a bit better because I can get help asap when something fails. Like at 10pm when I'm doing something online. Sadly Rick barely knows how to turn on the computer. I feel as I age I am losing ground on technology (and they don't rent out kids) and I so don't wish to be like my stepmom and be so behind the curve I can't do anything with technology. She never learned email and didn't wish to learn.

BTW, one printer was at the bottom of a large box marked Xmas items. There were some Xmas items on top but those were on the 3rd floor, how did the printer from the 2nd floor get in there? No rhyme or reason people. One box-marked printer was a splendid find. What it said on the box was what was inside. I did fill out my survey and they called me to discuss. Boy, they were apologetic but it's over with. I just wanted them not to do this to another person it made moving so much harder than necessary. Rick said to ask for some money back for undue stress and making us drink. I said, "you think they will buy that?"  No, but worth a try he tells me laughing.

Rick left this morning to go to the lake to clean the boat and get ready to sell. Someone is interested so he is meeting him there today at 11am. Fingers and toes crossed. I want this baby sold as does Rick surprisingly.

🤞

I can't wait until the pantry is finished. It is now closed in, insulated, drywalled. The outside is covered with some type of weather protector. The siding that matches the house is back-ordered so that may be a bit. Probably on a cargo ship in the middle of the ocean trying to get to me.

I just want to show you all the stuff we're doing. Waiting on a countertop for the island, waiting on the things we're building on each side of the fireplace. As we know goods are hard to come by so each project is at a standstill to a point. Oh well. I have lots of time to do this now don't I?

Glasses on Fun Day

For all of your that have been reading me for a while you know about 'Betty' in/on my eye. I have that looked at 2x a year to be sure it isn't getting bigger.

I went to the eye dr just before leaving VA. 

Friday we went to Costco and I bought new glasses. The man in Costco was so nice and didn't follow me around the optical dept as they did the last store I was in. They were having a sale for the 2nd pair. Since I was bringing in 2 prescriptions I was happy about the 2nd pair being so much less money.

I got one pair that are progressive. The 2nd pair is just for close-up computer work. Now, Hip Optical and Warby Parker online were going to still cost me around $600. So going to Costco was my last hope for a reasonable cost or so I hoped.

I ended up with 2 pairs of glasses with a few extras for the lens and it cost $289 total for everything. That was $200 less than 1 pair most places so I was happy. I will no longer have to wear my Walgreens readers. I lost my other glasses, okay not lost, sat on. I can't wear them so I haven't in 2 yrs. 

So yea to new glasses and a big yea to keeping Rick from spending any more money. The key, this Costco had optical in the front, not the back like our old one did. He didn't get a chance to walk through the store. 

He didn't dare...lol

I called my former mother-in-law yesterday for her 89th birthday.  

I just love this woman. I know I say it all the time. 

Since her stroke and fall, she is a very different woman. She repeats a lot and told me that Chris lived there. Chris is her son and I knew that he lived there of course. Chris's wife Gina and I talk all the time. 

But I went along like this as if it were news to me.

As always she ends with telling me I am her favorite daughter-in-law even though I am no longer her daughter-in-law. She generally will cry and tell me how much she loves me and how special I am to her. Vice Versa as well for me. I just adore this woman to pieces. I met her at 17. My mom died at age 13 almost 14. She was my savior. 

Betty was in my life because her son was my high school boyfriend and then my husband. She always wanted a daughter and I craved a mom. 

We were able to check it off the list with one another. I wish I could see her more. It's been 2 years I think since I was up there.  I know I probably won't get back to Vermont until she passes and isn't that a lousy time to go? Her son (my ex) died and his birthday would be today. So when speaking with her I wasn't terribly surprised when she said that since he passed her birthday sucks now. I guess if your birthday is the 19th and your son's is the 20th and he's not there to celebrate that makes his death pretty much in her face each year. But she said I always have your funny card and a phone call to look forward to. Ah, but this year no card I told her because of the move, retirement, and I suck. I just forgot and viola it's the 19th already. She thankfully just laughed. I told her I was having a difficult time remembering what day it is. She laughed and told me that she and Ron never could remember when to take out the garbage after retirement. So we had a good laugh that we both did that same thing.  All in all a nice talk but it made me a bit sad. I just know she's not long for this world and I will miss her in it.

Friday Fun Day was fun. I have decided that everyone should have a Friday Fun Day whether retired or not. Just do whatever it is you want - who cares what time it is, it's just a fun day. Or you can be like Rick and take an extra long nap and drive his wife crazy with the synchronized snoring of dog and man😀

Friday Fun Day

Fun Day Friday.

Rick is off today. LOL. Last night the poor fella collapsed in his ugly chair with the heating pad on his back and proclaimed he was taking tomorrow off. I laughed and told him I was going to dock his pay, but whatever mister. 

The soon-to-be pantry is all closed in and insulated now. He can drywall tomorrow or another day. We aren't going anywhere. 

He needs to rest his 66 yr old bones. 

Rick will be going up to the lake. How funny that sounds to me, "up" to the lake. For the 21 years we've gone there it has been "down" to the lake. 

He is going to get new tires for his trailer, clean up the boat and sell it. 

That I thought would make him cry. But he suggested it, not me.

Ever since I met Rick he was always fishing in his canoe. He had a big yellow canoe. He took out the seats and put in swiveling boat seats. He had a Minn Kota trolling motor in the back. He fished from that thing for years. He fished in Lake Erie, in Canada, in the bay of Lake Erie. He took that sucker everywhere. He fished Beaver Lake and Yellow lake in Washington State.  When we moved to VA he knew we were close to this big lake that was on TV on the Bassmasters (yes he watched fishing at times, the weirdo) So that was our vacation. My vacations with Rick have always been around fishing. Even in Florida.  He knows I love water so he can get me near the water, he just so happens to have his tackle box and a few rods and reels. 

I too fell in love with the lake but renting a shitty boat wasn't fun. That first year we rented a boat that kept breaking down and it was a nightmare. So for my very first bonus check, I bought Rick the boat he was dreaming of. 

I wrote about that here. It all happened so easily like it was meant to be.

But then Covid happened and we just haven't gone down there. 

Then we were moving so it just hasn't been in the cards.

Two years of not going to the lake yet paying a steep amount to moor it there. At least when we owned a home on the lake the boat was kept in our backyard and cost us nothing extra.  

I didn't think Rick would sell this boat. But he suggested it and I was happy to see he came to this decision. I was silently praying for this. 

It was not a decision I felt I should make. This was his baby. But since he does more with wood now than fishing he wants the money to buy himself a "better" lathe. So he will clean it up and take pictures (hopefully better than his normal picture taking - I gave him tips) and hopefully get this boat and trailer sold.  We can then buy his lathe and get some things going in the master bath with this money. I just want to be able to shower in there...eventually. Nothing like selling belongings to get the money to do things. 

I offered to go with him to the lake to help. But he said that all I'd be doing is watching Izzy and keeping Izzy away from boaters etc. He's right and then it slows him down. She'll want to get in the boat and you can't clean around her. She also loves to cry when the boat is sitting because she wants to go go go. So he will go alone and I will babysit a love sick dog until her boyfriend comes home. 

Fun Day is less exploring today and more about shopping. We have a new Costco in town. Yipee. In my town no less, so we are heading there for a couple of things. ONLY A COUPLE OF THINGS. You heard that here! Remember Rick goes for a box of pens and leaves with no pens and spends over $400. We do not allow Rick to enter Costco without supervision anymore.  I told him lights will flash and alarms will go off if he enters Costco alone. Police will nab him upon entering. He laughs at me. But by God I wish I could do it. I don't know what it is about Costco and Rick. Other wives worry about their hubby and strippers. I worry about him entering Costco. I guess it could be worse, but strippers are cheaper so there is that. 

Then we are heading to the ReStore. This ReStore has some very nice things. We are looking for a particular style door to use for the pantry. If Rick even has to cut out for glass that is fine too. We just know the style we are looking for. The ReStore we would frequent in our old city was nice, but this one gets far better quality and newer things. I'd like to get some bookcases for a project if I can. If not IKEA is the next best thing for this hack I plan to take on for the pantry. I have my trusty ole measuring tape on my key ring that everyone laughs at but at ReStore today, I will use it and no one will laugh at me! When I pulled out my keys one day a woman said to me, "Is that a tape measure on your key ring?"  I said it was. She laughed and turned away. Laugh all you want woman, you're in a furniture store, you may need this and I won't let you use it. So there! 😜

Hope you all have a fun Friday.

Throw Back Thursday

Throw Back Thursday or also known as Garbage Day. And we remembered!

I'm painting and trying to get our printers hooked up and other miserable things. Rick builds things but he is honestly useless when it comes to technology, TVs, anything to do with a computer really. So that falls on me and I'm not good with this shit but someone has to at least try. 

Then I must teach him how to take photos to sell. My goodness, he is clueless. I said you gave the dimensions, that is enough. Your audience is women. She doesn't give a shit about your picture with a tape rule. I retook the photos and showed him some things that would be appealing to a woman buying these.  He is so funny. He then asked me what I'd want to know if I were looking for something like this to sell. I said, first I go aesthetics, then I check will it fit where I need it to fit. If it were just the lamps, do they look like what I like? Aesthetics Rick. 

Remember you are selling to women Rick, not a guy who sees a slide rule and thinks oh, it's the right size. It's about the aesthetics for the women and the size is secondary. Can she make it work? If not then they move along.

He took a picture of a light fixture (chandilier style) and it was half way out of the box with this tape measure showing it's height. BUT it was half in the box. You can't really view it like that. It was changed, new photos taken and it was sold.

He took the worst pics of the sofa we sold last week. I asked if he'd get upset if I took more and we replaced what he posted. We had no inquires. As soon as the new pics went up we got 5 inquiries. All women. 

Today he took some pics and showed me and I said perfect! He is so funny. Guys just don't think like we do. But he's got it now. They seem to think like this - It's a do-hickey and it's 3ft tall with a blurry pic and we're done. 

I love the guy but...

Susan left me a comment saying she didn't believe in poltergeists. I get it!  

I didn't either until I lived in a house that made me think differently.
Because I am buried with icky work to do I will leave you with a Throw Back Thursday story about that house.  Just hit the blue link and it will take you there.

I'll be back when I get some work done around these parts.

Hump Day.

I saw a trailer for The House of Gucci movie.  I do not know who the dialogue coach was for this movie but I suspect she was Russian. Gaga sounds Russian to me more than Italian. At least no one in my family sounds like her. It was weird. So weird it fascinated me and I had to watch it a few times. I even sent it to my friend who speaks a bit of Italian and just before lockdown spent time in Italy. She agreed with me. She said she felt she went in and out of an Italian accent and Russian. I had to laugh to know I wasn't the only one. I'm sure it's just us and everyone else will not only love the movie but nominate Lady Gaga again for an award. 

I am having some weird-ass shit happening in this home.  3 times now at around 3am the house shakes like a small earthquake. Like the ones we had in Seattle, 4/5 on the ole quake scale. I brought some ooey gooey butter bars to a neighbor to see if she feels it. I thought if I brought food she would talk. She laughed at me. Rick is always in bed and feels nothing. I am always sitting on the sofa and feel it completely. Okay, I asked 2 neighbors who are the closest to me and they both said nothing shook at their house or ever has.

Things flying off the shelves. My TV is going nuts too. My fire stick will only play in a FF speed no matter what. I have spent more time than I care to tell you on the phone with amazon. The last person this morning said as she has taken over my screen and then she says, 'holy shit this is so weird. ' Supposedly calling me back.

My soundbar is working sporadically. My TV speakers are doing the same.

I fear poltergeists so this morning when I got off the phone with Fire Stick people I looked for my sage to smudge. Fingers crossed this helps. 

I saw Rick put something down on the end table by his ugly chair yesterday afternoon. 1 hr later I went to get it for him when he asked for it and it wasn't there. He laughed and said, "Okay I'll get it"  As if I was handicapped. 

He walked into the house and went there and asked, "What did you do with it?"  Nothing I saw you put it there but it's not there now! Rick looked at me and said, "oh no again"  I knew what he meant. 

We lived in a home that was haunted a long time ago. 

I began to make dinner and he went on building my new pantry. When he came in he walked by his ugly chair and there on the table was his tape measure that he put down. How did it get there or why didn't we see it if it was there. It's huge and red. Can't miss it when nothing else is on the table.

Oh yes, fun things like this. 

I am going to smudge today before I begin to paint my office. 

Here are a few other things happening around this place besides being haunted. 

This is a door in our kitchen to our side porch. We have another door to the back porch and the front door is just a few steps away from the porch again so why the hell do we need 3 doors to this porch? We don't think it's necessary so we are using this space for a pantry and something else which I will show you when it's done rather than explaining now.

When you open this door this is what you'll see  - the side porch and Rick's hiney today. Steps go down to the driveway. 3 ft away are the steps to the back porch. See? Why do we need all those steps to enter this tiny house? 2 entrances are enough for us.

Here is the old guy in a very bad view. Thank God he doesn't read me. :-)

He is going to close this section off and remove these side steps.  

This below is the view of this area and 'the door' from the front porch. 

So the porch will stop where you see the floor going in.

This will become a pantry. Yesterday Rick built the floor and then insulated it. He is framing it in as I type this. That window you see there? That is going away anyway because we are putting shelving in on both sides of the fireplace and this window is in the way. I can't wait for this to be done. I will show you the finished product because if I try to explain all I'm doing with this space it will be confusing I think.

So you'll have to wait for the completion. It won't be quick. Rick takes days off in between. He makes me laugh. But his labor is cheap so I must go along right? 😁

Happy Hump Day! 

 

Sexiest Man Alive

The other evening Rick went to bed along with Izzy. 

I stayed up because I just wasn't tired...again.

I watched this and it made me laugh out loud a few times.

I do love Paul Rudd and how does he age backward?

Pour a beverage and enjoy how the men are vetted to become Sexiest Man Alive.

Part I and II are below.

Sold

Selling, selling, gone.

This past week it was a Festool Sander, A small college-size refrigerator, and a very nice small sofa with chaise/sectional style.

The woman who picked up the Sander was a hoot. She was so excited. 
I was on the patio when she pulled up. She said hello and I directed her to the garage. I heard her say, "Oh my goodness this is so clean and pristine."  (the case and sander) I am confident Rick was happy to hear that since he cleaned everything up so well. Then she said, "When I saw this ad I was so excited. These are the Mercedes of tools." 

I was sitting on the patio chuckling listening to this. 

I knew my husband had met his match as they chatted tools.

The man that bought the fridge was going to use this in his man cave. 
He asked Rick if that was what he used it for. Rick told him it was used on the 3rd floor of our home in a family room so while watching movies you didn't have to go down to the first floor for a beverage or food. He laughed and said I'd put a microwave on top for popcorn. Rick said we did that until the microwave died. Rick goes out there to give the people our stuff and collect money but he chats them up. I just shake my head. 

The woman who was coming for the sofa called and stated that she would give Rick $50 if he would hold it until the next day. She said she had an issue arise and she wouldn't be driving over there today. 

So Rick took money to hold it. 

She said, "if I don't show up you can keep the money."  
So that means she will be here come hell or high water. 

She really wants this sofa. I don't blame her. For only $200 I'd be thrilled for a 2 yr old sectional sofa barely sat on. With a slipcover that is washable no less. (I washed it once. putting it back on was the difficult part but I got it done with swearing) She called and said her husband and son were coming and she was sorry she wasn't going to meet us. (how odd but nice) She said there was no room in the cab for the 3 of them and since she was just pretty and couldn't lift anything they were making her stay home. I found this woman funny as hell.

Then she asked about the rug in the photo the sofa was sitting on. 

That morning Rick and I folded it and decided to store it since it didn't match anything here. We used it for the photo.

The rug is a Ruggable. If you know what they are then you know those are like Rick's festools in that lane of carpets today. (Not as $$ as my wool rugs but you know) 

Anyhoo, she asked if that was for sale. I said well I hadn't planned on it. She asked if it was a Ruggable. I said yes. She said I knew it I've been eyeing this one. She said Can I add $150 to the total and buy that too? (the rug was $199 + $60 I think for the pad specially made for this rug) The rug was also 2 yrs old so I said, "Okay what the hell" So this woman got a sofa and 8x10 area rug. It hurts to sell and I hate it but it is what it is which apparently is my new motto.

We have 4 lamps, 2 new twin bed frames/headboard, etc with mattresses, leather island stools, and rugs. That is for next week. Twin beds slept on twice. One bed only once. 

With the money from the things we sold, we are closing in a portion of our wrap-around porch to give us a pantry.  The other day Rick asked me where the woman put her food or her pots and pans? I know! You're singing to the choir buddy. Then of course there is the situation that I had to put the wok, crockpot, roaster pans, big stone, Cuisinart, etc in the garage. I am using one of Rick's work cabinets for kitchen storage.  I go to the garage to fetch stuff now and while it's not like it's a long walk it's not as fun as if it is in my kitchen. Especially when it's raining as it was the day I went to fetch the crockpot.

Rick will be buying what is needed to close in the porch and what needs to be done to finish our island from our sold items. We can't use these things I love here so might as well use the money to fix up this place. 

The other day I posted a photo of a glass bowl on my buffet in the dining room.

Rick and I bought this around 2006. We loved this art gallery at Smith Mountain Lake. We had purchased a few things we were drawn to from there by a couple of artists that were local. We loved the metals and colors of the glass and we had some other works from this artist. We had just had the best week in late September after all the tourists left we decided that year to stay for a week. This artist had an event one evening at the gallery so we headed over there to view more of her work. It was one of the best evenings and week there. No work being done at the house just played on the lake. Shopped at the Gallery and enjoyed dinners on the water. When it came to moving we sure were worried that this bowl would not survive. But it did. We were thrilled when we finally found it.

Yesterday I was putting wine away inside the buffet door. (no longer have a wine cellar, heavy sigh) I opened the door of the buffet to put a bottle of wine inside. 

I saw Rick's hat in there. Why is that in here? The weirdo. 

I flipped his hat on the top of the buffet as I finished putting wine inside the buffet door. As I closed the door I just put my arm back and grabbed his hat. I wasn't even turning my head. Hence the problem. 

The hat had attached to the iron scroll so when I grabbed the brim of his hat it pulled the whole thing down to the floor into pretty colored pieces of glass everywhere! I wanted to cry. Rick just walked in the door at that time and just stared at me. Neither of us said anything. 

He broke the silence when he made me laugh with, "Somehow this is going to be my fault isn't it?"  

Laughing at this point helped me. 

"Actually Rick it is, why did you put your baseball hat inside the buffet door?  Seriously I'm the one who didn't look so it's not really your fault babe. But I'd be happy to blame it on you if you'd like. It's my fault, an accident, but it feels awful."

So much for that.

I also wanted to share how the woman behind us scared the @#$% out of me. Again I'm awake at 2:30AM and I go into the living room and grab a book. I get cozy in the corner of the sofa and begin to read. We have outside lights on all corners of our home and garage that are light sensors. Someone walks by they light up. 

Around 3am as I sit in a pitch-black house except for the one hanging lamp over my shoulder the porch lights up. What the hell is that? Even if it was an animal it has to be huge. Then the lights go on the backside of the house. I admit with no shame that I was friggin' scared.  Then the lights went out. Nothing happened.  

In the morning I told Rick about this he was insisting that it was just an animal. I wasn't buying it but I allowed him to mansplain because it wasn't hurting me any at that moment in time. 

Then it happened again Saturday night. Geez Louise this is not an animal. When the porch lights again lit up like the tarmac on a night landing I jumped up and ran to the back of the house. I saw no one or anything. What the hell is going on here. As soon as I sat down they went off again only this time it was the back to the front of the house. A raccoon who's confused?

Sunday morning I share this again with Rick. We have no idea.

As we were showing the couple some tips on the sofa covers when the blonde neighbor behind us walked through our driveway holding her purse size dog. Think southern Paris Hilton, that whole look to a T.  

We said hello, and then it hit me. She told us she cuts through our driveway to get home when she's at her brother's house around the bend. 

But at 2am? So I just asked. "Hey, did you by chance walk back from your brothers in the wee hours the other night?" 

She giggled and said, "busted! yes were you awake?" 

I told her what happened and she laughed and apologized for scaring me. She asked if I wanted her to stop cutting through. No, I feel better knowing it's you and your little dog. Apparently family was in town and they were staying with her brother. Saturday night they played cards after dinner and drank and laughed all night. Then her brother walked her home, which explained why the lights went on the front to back and then the back to the front.  The first night she walked home alone. 

Whew, that felt better knowing all of this.

A Ring is next now I suppose. 

Level

My husband can build anything but he always uses a level. Thank God.

I can't build anything but I have one talent in my arsenal. 

Yes, I only have 1 talent and this is it.  

I can see if something is straight, level, etc. without the use of a level.

It drives me crazy because I see so many things "off" I stared at a picture on a wall in an ole Italian restaurant and I so wanted to get up and straighten it. So it's also a curse. And no I didn't but I must admit it was not easy. Once in a doctor's office, their draperies were crooked because the rod was crooked. How is that not seen and fixed when the guy installed them? 

I have issues.

As I say daily, this new house is so damn small. We have nowhere to put anything. We've been trying to figure out where to put our Izzy things. We used to have a foyer that had a piece of furniture that held her nighttime light-up collar or more poo bags, her leash etc. Now we are throwing it in a basket on the floor by the backdoor. 

Yes, you are correct this does not work for me. 

The other evening while sitting on the patio I suggested we leave it outside somewhere and asked his thoughts. We went back and forth on whether it would work and that was the end of that. Didn't think a thing of it again until tonight.  While we were grilling dinner we sat on the patio shootin' the shit as my mom used to say.  I saw that Rick had screwed in this small hook to hold her leash and nite time collar. 

I thought that was a great place. Right as you open the door it's there to grab and take off. I mentioned to Rick that I saw he put that up there and I thanked him. 

 
But it was crooked. I laughed and thought to myself, how does he not see this? But if I say anything he'll think I am not appreciative so I say nothing.

Yes, that is what 34 yrs of knowing him has taught me. 

I wonder if I can take it off myself and fix it when he takes Izzy swimming in the morning. He would never know and then I wouldn't hurt his feelings.

BUT no sooner I think this he asks why I was looking at it. 

I was honest and said, "are those leftover hooks from the 3rd-floor bathroom behind the door that we used" 

He said, "yes they were the extras I had in the garage." 

Nothing else needed to be said.

Later he went into the garage and I got up to see how tight the screws were in and what kind of screws.  He saw me. 

He laughed and yells to me, "Hey Margaret, it's crooked to you isn't it?"
"No Rick, it's crooked to all people."
He is now laughing. "But it bothers you, you little weirdo."
"Yes, it does."

"I really don't see it but I'm getting my little level to prove to you it's fine."

Before he puts his level to this he asks if I want to tell him which way I think it needs to go.

I do that. It was just a "smidge" to the right.

He uses his level.

He says, "DAMN IT!!"  He said nothing else.

I said nothing. I laughed as did he. But I knew I was right all along. 

Now you would think after knowing me for 34 yrs he'd have learned this by now, wouldn't you?

Definition

"Their" definition of retirement.

re·tire·ment

      /rəˈtī(ə)rmənt/

Learn to pronounce

      noun

1. 1.

   the action or fact of leaving one's job and ceasing to work.

   
   

My definition of retirement-

Never knowing what day it is and you've forgotten it was garbage day yet again!! 

A Day of Giggles

Yesterday was a goofy day in all aspects.

We've had a cool spell and our dog is like a puppy when it's cooler.

I think fall has finally arrived. It's cold at night and 70-75 during the day.

Yesterday it was only 70 so the dog was so happy. She swam for 1.5 hrs and came home with energy. Amazing for this old gal. Then she lays in the driveway in the sun to warm up and nap.  I want her life on most days. But all day and evening she was funny and full of life. Unlike her normal almost 13 yr old self. I remember this dog and we both enjoyed our 'puppy' Izzy. 

Rick was busy in the garage most of the day. 

He is selling a lot of his extra tools. 

Honestly, Ace Hardware and Home Depot have nothing on Rick. 

He was selling a Festool Sander in a real nice box/carrying case. He has 3 of them. The man and his tools. I don't get it.  One woman was coming to Raleigh from the shore/outer banks, this weekend she wanted some of Rick's tools he was selling. She paid him last night and won't be here until Saturday.  She was very excited and understood their value which made Rick happy. 

While he was doing this I was going through the last 3 boxes marked master.

We unpacked all boxes labeled things we needed. Boxes marked office or documents or office paper (reams of paper for the printer) we put aside in one room because we didn't need those to live. But now a month has gone by and we realize that this box marked office is not the office and I am finding things I was looking for. For example, see this blue-ish bowl on the buffet below? 

That was in a box marked bathroom. I keep this in my bathroom, don't you? It was originally on the 3rd floor on a shelf above the TV. So why this gal marked it master bath I will never know. Also, all our photo albums and pictures were all in a box marked office.  I got a survey request from the moving company. I was honest about how great they were, neat, respectful, etc. But the packing and labeling left much to be desired and was something that has caused us to struggle to find things. 

We seem to be relaxing a bit more and being lazy a bit more and I am frightened how this type A personality is leaning into this so easily of late. I knew Rick would but I sure didn't see this coming for me. We are relaxing more, laughing way more, and just enjoying being together much more. So much better than working together. 

Last night I said to Rick after he made me really have a belly laugh that I like retired Rick better than cranky work Rick. He said, he did too due to no traffic, no dim-witted customers, and that damn woman in the office isn't sending me to the wrong address.  LOL. Yes, I did that way too often. 

What's a little number dyslexia? He got there - eventually.

But I understood. This went both ways. Most of our day yesterday was moving things from where we put them away to where we changed our minds and then laughing about will we remember when looking for it? Hell no, that's the adventure he tells me. 

Last night I asked Rick to put this cream on my back. 

You see I am dealing with my skin changing into its winter dryness phase. 

I am lathering myself in body creams.

After he was done I regrettably said, "do you want me to rub this on anything of yours?"  

Dear Lord, as soon as it came out of my mouth I knew he was going to go there.

We both had a good laugh as he is telling me he had to because I served it up to him. 

After we were done laughing we were talking about my lingering arm pain from my booster shot. There is a big bump where the shot was given as well. He touches my arm and then it felt like he was pounding on it for heaven's sake. 

I turned around and said, "Hey babe, softly, don't pound me."

Again as soon as it left my mouth my brain registered how that sounded and yes, I knew he'd go there even if I tried to ignore what I said. 

No one else went there did they when they read that? 

Oh but my husband lives there so I knew.

He fell to the bench at the end of the bed howling. 

I make it too easy for him don't I? Not a good trait of mine.

Sort of Close?

The last few nights I get up at 2:32 am on the nose.

I lay in bed listening to Rick's rhythmic breathing. 

His breathing was in beat with Izzy.

I try all kinds of things to fall back to sleep that I have been reading about.

After a while I'm so focused on all this shit I really am wide awake. When I get up I see the time is 2:32am. The same time as the last two nights and it was flipping me out.  

My thought at that moment was why not watch a movie since all the "expert's" tricks were not working for me. 

It's the same thing night after night.

I wake around 2am I assume and try to make myself fall back asleep. 

After a while, I get frustrated and just get up. It is always at 2:32am. 

Then I go to the living room to read or watch tv and I get sleepy around 6ish and then fall asleep until Izzy wakes me at 7ish. I do not have a clock by my bed or a phone. If I did I would stare at it. I don't know the time until I get up and can see the clock on Rick's nightstand. So this exact time I get out of bed each morning is almost creepy.

I saw a movie that had already started that is one of my top 10 movies. 

So I clicked that channel to see Return to Me and settle in. 

Since I've done this for the last 3 nights in a row with the exact 2:32am wake-up time, Rick suggested I play the pick 3 lottery with those numbers.

It worked for him once. He won $500 in 1990. 

Now that's a great story for another day.

Today I want to point out how our poor hearing makes us laugh a lot and thank God for that right? Are we the only ones?

Last night we had some good laughs at my expense again but it was funny to us both.

I was sitting in Rick's ugly chair around 8:30pm and I'm reading a local magazine to see what is happening around town.

Rick was watching tv and now I hear all this rustling around in the kitchen and I turn my head and realize Rick is not watching tv any longer. 

I yell, "whatcha doin' Rick?"

I heard, "sucking on black socks." 

I ask, "would you please say that again?" as I mute the TV.

He is laughing. He knows. Then he says, "Oh God, what did you hear?"

I heard you were sucking on black socks big fella.

Oh boy, he is cracking up now but I too find it funny because that is what I heard but I knew he didn't say that so that is why I asked if he would repeat.

No, he says, I said, "I'm sucking down the stew broth"

"Oh well, that was really close though huh?" I giggled because not even a little bit close.

"Yes, real close Margaret." 

Fish out of Water Tale of a Rant

Fish out of water, that's me.

You know a rant is coming now don't you?

It is damn fascinating here on a few levels.

One is the difference that 3 miles can make.

Here is a pillow of the map of the area.

I live in Garner. See how close of a 'burb to Raleigh? Aah, but the nice Garner where I was hoping for is not where I live. I live in the Garner that is down below the green/purple line.  At that line that goes south between Clayton and Fuquay. Not good. It is a different county. Different laws. Hillbilly Heaven. OMG Hillbilly Redneck.  Once I get over that purple/green line and am in Wake County then and only then does it feel like earth as I've known it my whole life.

So I live here and immediately get in my car and leave here to go shopping or to do anything anywhere. I do grocery shop locally though.

Wild isn't it? Just a measly couple of miles and it's like you're in another state. Oh hell, more like another planet.

Sunday my husband comes in the house to tell me that he saw Sean, a neighbor he met while walking the dog of course. Sean said on their cul-de-sac they have a big Halloween party with pizza, liquor, and a ton of candy for the kids, stop by and bring your candy. Rick asked if I wanted to get dressed to go. I said no. He thought I was joking. I said it again, No. I don't care to go, I don't want to get dressed and I'm whooped. Finally, I gave in. FINE, but I am not changing my clothes. I was wearing a black pair of leggings, black sneakers, a red SML hooded sweatshirt. I figured if they are like everyone else around these parts this will be fine. We leashed Izzy and walked over.

I took a deep breath and tried, I really tried. I smiled. I asked questions. I was trying to engage. 

There was a man there in camo from head to toe. He had a rifle and knife that looked like he was in the jungle cutting bush. Like a small machete. WTF was that about? He latched on to Rick big time. 

I figured he felt he was one of them. He is in a lot of ways.

I see fat men with no shirts playing cornhole. One wearing a WWF belt. Nice.

One guy had a t-shirt on that was an ugly message about people like me who get vaccinated. You know for sure I'm around the dumb now.

I see a woman with vampire teeth (costume) and I ask upon arrival if I can put my candy bowl on this table. 

It was an awesome array of candy!

She said Sure and I said, "Hi I'm Peggy, the new owners on the corner." 

Then she got real friendly fast and welcomed me. She hugged me and I cringed. I was trying to keep a safe distance and she grabbed my hood and pulled me in. It was strange but I went with it because what else could I do at that point?

These are anti-vaxxers and I just didn't want to be this close. I smiled and said how nice all this was, thank you for having us.  She left me at the table to put down my stuff and I went to look for Rick. I did not see her the rest of the night until leaving. He was still chatting or listening to the Camo Man.

I saw an empty chair amongst some women and 1 man. I asked if I could sit there. They said yes and turned their back to me. Wow.

When one got up and I thought maybe I could talk to them. I asked if they both lived around here on this street. They both said yes and got up but not before having a look between them and walked away.

Ok so much for the friendly south. I find it a myth.

Then I got some wine from Rick and sat back down. A woman with a big ole cowboy hat sat down next to me. Apparently, at 9pm it's so sunny she needed a hat. Then I noticed she moved funny. Her left arm just hung at her side. When she lifted her tumbler and said, "damn it's empty" I offered to get her a refill seeing as how she only has use of one arm. She thanked me and even smiled. A first that night.

I got her a refill. I came back and she let someone sit in my seat. So I just handed her the drink and she thanked me again and then she turned to chat with the other woman and left me out. Okay then. I walked away looking for a chair or someone to engage or look for a way out. 

I went to a chair and sat alone most of the time. I really tried. Everyone who came over I would say hi! if with a kid, I'd make a fuss about the costume, etc. Then I asked a couple who were sitting next to me who told me they lived nearby if they know who owned, or what house owned, a husky. They all pointed to a house behind us. They asked why. I said it has jumped the fence a few times to hump Izzy and he is very aggressive. Boy, do I regret saying this!!

They made a rude comment that the homeowner was Hispanic as if that was the issue. Then another man shot up from his chair to say to all loudly that "if that MF'g dog gets near him he'll shoot it." (here we go more guns) Rick was walking back over to me when he heard this and said, "it's not the dog's fault Sean."  

The Redneck said, "Well if it got hold of my cat I'd just kill it." Everyone was nodding while Rick and I were sick to our stomachs.

Rick shot me a look. I wanted to say something, even just some common sense about keeping your cat in the house and don't let him roam the neighborhood as you do then, but I kept telling myself that I can't match wits with those unarmed. 

Just be quiet and go home. 

Rick was now being accosted by the Camo Guy again. I got up and went to Rick and tapped his shoulder. I said, Hey, I'm walking home. He said okay and I went to thank the owner of this but did not find her but met her husband. I thanked him and he said he'd tell her. Odd.  But then I thought, it's was my cue, I was free, run!

When he got back he went on about how Camo Man wouldn't let him go. Once Rick told him what he was working on the guy just wanted to talk about wood species. 

I told Rick that I saw that & I figured he felt you were his people. I mean you are a hillbilly as you told me on our first date. He laughed. Rick said that Camo Man was married to the cowboy hat lady and she had a stroke 3yrs ago. 

Ah, that explained the arm.

Rick also said that the camo man asked what Rick did for a living and Rick told him he was retired. But Rick said he was hoping to do more woodworking etc.  Rick stated that once they began talking about woods that was it.  Camo Man got some black walnut and how it was sourced (yawn) That lit up Rick too. 

Poor Rick didn't get much time away from the Camo Man. He spoke to one other man and thought he was a moron so he excused himself to fill up his glass as an excuse to walk away. Then the camo man got him again. So at least Rick was lucky and didn't have to mingle.

I told Rick that I will never ever do that again so don't even ask me. I was tired and I didn't want to go in the first place and you made me feel bad. I sort of agreed that it felt like it would be rude not to so I did go. I figured that from now on I can be polite in society, smile and wave. But from now on that will be all.  I will not ever be around those assholes again and if you wish to - go alone! The women were downright rude. The men were friendlier but yuck. I am talking to a guy in camo wielding a rifle at a friggin' Halloween party and he wasn't wearing a costume!!

Then what happens? Yesterday Rick comes home from his evening walk with Izzy and runs into 2 of the women at this event. The one who hugged me said to Rick, Oh my God your wife is a sweetheart. Did you see her talking to my son? (autistic) She was so good with him. And the other one said, "She was telling Dan a story and Dan was laughing like crazy. He talked bout it all the way home. She's a hoot"  (she was sitting there stone-faced, rolled her eyes, and got up and left. She was one who wouldn't talk to me earlier as well)

As Rick is telling me this I am perplexed. I said I don't want to think this but what the hell other explanation is there? This is just two-faced or since you are nicer than me what do you think?  

They wouldn't chat with me but I was nice huh? How the hell do they know? Was this like a soritity hazing then? New people in the neighborhood. No HOA but you must pass muster with us. See if you can pass the test. We are bitches hear us roar.

And funny? How the hell do they know that? Blondie was sitting 2 chairs down and she heard me talking to Dan and she didn't laugh so how funny was I? C'mon. Does any of this ring true to you Richard? 

No, it doesn't I just want to believe them so we will survive here. 

We will. We just have to get in our car and go to where a book has been read and not Dr. Seuss or Conspiracy Theories for Dummies. It's only 3 miles away!

So far here are the difference I see thus far in my life. 

Are these stereotypes? Absolutely. Sadly also what I have found to be true. Is everyone like this? Hell no. I can go just a few miles away and civilization reappears. 

• BBQ'ing is a religion here that I can get behind.

• Where I come From - if they don't like you they walk away. They won't blow smoke up your ass or say what they don't mean. They won't be mean or say anything either. Just walk away. It will be their choice to associate with you and will do all possible to keep that promise. Neither wasting time nor energy on someone that is toxic to you. If they ran into someone who knows you they would say nothing at all. Remember your mom told you if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

• Here - they will be all sweet but it's all fake. Gee, look at me I'm being southern and sweet, told you we're all nice. They never say what they mean. They think being truthful is rude. Being honest does not look good to them. For some reason, it can't just NOT be talked about so they must talk talk talk behind your back and then say something foolish like, "that woman isn't Christian" It's a toxic environment. This is exactly how I would try to teach my children to never behave.

Okay rant over. Back to funny tomorrow.

Back in Paint Stained Clothing

Well I'm back in paint clothes. 

I got 3/4 of the kitchen/dining area completed yesterday

It looks far better already. Do I love it? Not so much but it's so much better than it was so I like it. I am attempting to use window treatments from my last home which sort of dictates color. But far cheaper than buying all new drapes etc. Yesterday a friend asked me via phone if Rick was doing the  painting. I laughed and said Rick does not paint. 

She asked, "didn't he do that for a living?" 

"Not walls", I replied. She laughed and said okay I sort of get it. 

Rick HATES to paint. When he was a kid his father did house painting on the side for extra  money. His weekends were helping his dad paint houses inside and sometimes outside. He always brought Rick along with him and let me tell you he has a real aversion to painting. Oh he will do the high parts that are too high for me to reach even on the top of the ladder. Other than that - no painting for him and he is thankful I am a great painter. I could do this for a living if I wasn't so old. But I did not squat while doing the floor area. I sat on the floor. Having a sore hiney wasn't fun.

Yesterday while he was working in the garage and I was in the house I called him at a point where I only had the high part of one area that I could not reach.  I went to the porch and yelled out, "hey you want a break?"  

He yelled back, "Oh hell yes!'

The poor fella came inside thinking he was getting a lunch or a coffee break. I handed him the brush and told him what I needed him to do. 

He looked at me and said, "this is my break? from bringing things to the attic, my break is painting? I thought you had lunch or beverage for me."

Oh Ricky, that was your first wife.
We both laughed like hell. 

His first wife apparently was never ever nice to him or anyone else so I thought that was funny. 

He painted the area in need for me and said he was going back to work since his mean wife made him nothing.

I suggested he make something for his mean wife since she is slaving in here.

Laughter could be heard all the way out to the garage.

Okay now, I must go finish this room now and then only 5 more to go.