Documentary

Did any of you see the new documentary on Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman?  It is on HBO Max. It was done by Ethan Hawke in the most strange way but I guess it is now normal for our time. Zoom.

It is called The Last Movie Stars.

Apparently, Paul was writing a memoir but later burned all the tapes For whatever reason though he left behind the transcript. 

Paul and Joanne's daughter went to Ethan and asked if he would be interested in doing a documentary on her parents. She gave him all the tools. But in the midst of covid, he could only talk with people via zoom so that is what you see. He also had current celebrities reading the transcripts. George Clooney read the part of Paul and Laura Linney read the parts of Joanna. While reading there were photographs or videos of what they were reading or regarding the story being told. 

While I really disliked how the doc was done, I found the story interesting even though it was dreadfully slow at the beginning and I almost gave up. The doc made me love Joanne even more as a human and woman. Their marriage was typical but not typical for Hollywood. They had the highs, the lows, and everything in between. The struggles the years of a down period it wasn't like it was rosy all the time as the public likes to only see. It was real and it was work and they both loved one another and fought through the hell to get to the other side. But most of all the things Joanne said out loud and honestly about how she felt could be a bit shocking in those times. Even more shocking for it's time was how he was her biggest cheerleader and how he supported her strength and her brain. I just understood the two of them and their union for some reason. I was watching and even knowing how it all played out was rooting for them to get over this or that hurdle.

He passed away as you know and she is living with Alzheimer's in a facility. 

Her having Alzheimers was something she feared to boot. 

It is most heartbreaking to see on film.

Anyway if you are so inclined it is worth trudging through the slow parts.

In other news...

We noticed in all these drug commercials another tidbit besides the horrific and funny side effects. All the music is old people's music. 

We saw a commercial for an inhaler. 

Or maybe I should say I heard a commercial first for an inhaler. 

I believe the drug was called Breztri.  

I heard it while in the kitchen and as I was walking into the living room I said, "Oh I loved that song"  It was the song All Right Now by Free (Paul Rodgers one of my faves, also the voice of Bad Company)  

Rick pointed out that all the ads for us old folks include music we grew up with. 

"Well, that's depressing." 

He said, "No, that is marketing"

"Okay, but it's still depressing. I'm also not going to buy this drug because I think Paul Rodgers has one of the best rock voices."  

Rick said. "No, but it made you pay attention to the drug commercial. You are their market so it worked." 

Shit.

😪

I got a text on Wednesday night from my dear friend in California. You may recall when we went out to visit Rick's family in Orange County we stopped and spent a day with our friends Rusty and Therese in Mission Viejo. 

We have been friends since 1995 when we met in Seattle. It's been a long crazy friendship. We would meet in Chicago when she attended an interior designer event each year. I would go into Chicago the weekend before the event so we could play over the weekend and then she would begin her conference on Monday for the full week and I'd head home.

She always had business in DC so I got to see her a lot from that as well. She did interior design and office modules etc for government offices around the country.

Anyway, my dear friend texted to tell me she was diagnosed with Dementia/AZL.

She told me that was why she hasn't responded, written, or called me. I am gob-smacked. This is all I've been able to think about for the last 24 hrs. This is too close to home as Rick said. She is 53. Only 53. 

I am afraid to ask too much. I don't know where they are emotionally and mentally. She did say in her text that she has been laying low and trying to come to terms with this. She is enrolled in something at UCI. Which I assume is University of California Irvine.  I did not speak with her on the phone. Last week when I called her she never responded so maybe when she text me back she did so because she can't talk about it yet. So I let everything go. I hope they tell me something when they know more. But my God this is heartbreaking.

Rusty and Rick both worked in the same office in Seattle. Rusty and Rick hit it off immediately. I met Rick one day for lunch and he introduced me to Rusty. I liked him right off the bat.  I saw why he and Rick hit it off.  One day Rick told me he met Rusty's wife. She was a firecracker. You will love her he kept saying. 

We were new in Seattle and the only people we knew at this point where those Rick worked with. We were invited to a party at one of the co-workers home. Rick came home and told me and said that Rusty is bringing his wife. I said, "good I can't wait to meet her"  He said, "I didn't tell you this but she's 22 yrs younger than Rusty. She is in college right now"   OMG Richard, is she a bimbo? Dating the older guy with money?

Margaret no, don't make assumptions. I'm telling you right now you'll eat your words and you two will end up the best of friends.

Okay, you're right. But c'mon 22 yrs younger? Rusty was all of 43/44. I admit I was a bit bummed. Because I needed a new friend here and Rick went on and on about he knew we would be friends but I'm thinking she's only 21/22 yrs old. I am 38 yrs old at the time.  Fast forward to the party. I met her and after talking to her I said to Rick, "Okay so she's the mature one!"  They all laughed.  She never once seemed like a kid to me. She was funny, smart, sassy and boy she had Rusty's number. When they met she was in school and waitressing. Then she took off a year to just work so she could get more money. She had a very meager upbringing with a single mom. This girl understood working. By the time she married Rusty she was in school full time and she finished shortly after we met.

When the owner of the company Rick and Rusty worked for was taken out in handcuffs for embezzling amongst a shitload of equally horrible things they were out of a job. But Therese knew what she wanted. She began working as a designer at a firm. But she knew she wanted her own firm. They decided to move to California after the job loss just as we moved. That is where with Rusty's help they built their business. Or as we tease her, Her empire.

It has grown into a multi-million dollar company. Then after we moved here last fall she told me they were going to try to sell the business. I realize Rusty had stepped back due to his health and age but I was surprised to hear this. He was still working just not 60 hrs a week like she does. Now that makes even more sense to me now. She can't continue. I know they have great long-term employees but she can't work like she did anymore. So now I understood why she was selling her "baby" 

Therese and Rusty never had children. Rusty has a grown son who lives in Europe.

So it is just them and their cat. 

I want to fly out there and do something. But I know logically there is nothing I can do for them at this stage. I wrote to Rusty to ask him some things and to let him know Rick and I are both here even if as a caregiver he just wants to unload and vent.

 I can't even begin to understand what Rusty must be going through. My heart aches for them both.

Okay, these are the only pics of us together I could find that we weren't on a boat looking like wet rats, in bathing suits, or laughing so hard only the roof of our mouths was showing. This was in 2016 or 2017 in Chicago for a fun weekend. Since we look so serious I will assume it was right after arrival and our first cocktail.  This is why I don't let people take my photo! 

Randomness

My frustration continues on the blog commenting. 

I can never get a comment to Barbara at Welcome to Simple. 

I leave messages on every post and I never see them. Sometimes I get a rejection and most often nothing at all that is letting me know it was or wasn't posted. I have not seen a comment that I've sent her in months. 

So Barbara if you are reading this I am reading you but I will no longer attempt to leave comments because you aren't getting them anyway.

There are many of you that I read but can't leave comments. Just know I'm reading you. If only blogger could figure this out!

Speaking of bloggers. Another fun person I read was going on a trip and was frantic about her stuff getting there. She was flying on a small portion and then a long road trip to family. Her husband had shown her the issue right now with bags not getting to their destinations etc. 

You could feel her stress.

Here is a big helpful tip that I have used many times.

Pack those big things she was talking about, heavy hiking shoes, cooler climate clothing that isn't needed on the road trip etc. Pack it up well. Go to UPS and have it shipped to your family's home that you are going to. It will be there when you arrive. No hassle if your airline loses your baggage, no issue with your bag being too heavy to pay more or lug. It is worth the price. Yes, they will deliver your baggage to you if they lose it. But they bring it to you in the city in which you landed. She is not staying there. 

She is landing and someone is picking her up for a several-day road trip. 

So she can't hang around for her luggage to show up for a couple of days. 

She had two choices, not bring what she was going to need or risk it not being there. I'm guessing she didn't pack what she needed and she will regret it. She was leaning that way. God, I hope not! We will find out. Then the day before you leave pack up your stuff and go back to UPS and ship it home. It will probably be there upon your arrival at your home. No stress. 

I've also done this to hotels. I shipped a box to a hotel we were going to be staying at. I called the hotel first. I told them what I was planning to do and I asked if could it be done. The man said it is done every day!  So I put all the info on the box that the hotel told me to put on there other than the address. They held it and when I checked in they said, "there is a package here for you" We were going north where a coat, hat, scarves, boots, and heavy outer wear clothing for us both would be needed. It was the heavy winter coats and boots I didn't want to lug on the plane or through the airport or risk checking them and losing them.  

It has always worked for me and it takes so much stress off of you for the trip. She was sweating this so I hope her clothes made it and that all the things she wanted to take but couldn't she didn't need. 

That is my hope for her! The trip alone is stressful you don't need to add to it. 

And the best part of doing this is that the cost that I have spent to ship is not more than checking my bag! Nothing better than when my cousin text me to say, "your box arrived!"  try it next time you need something like this, you'll love it.

In my 30 years in the travel industry, I never lost bags but once. 

Good odds really.

But today is a different world. My bag went to Hawaii back in 83 and I went to Chicago. I wish it had been the other way around. I got a call from the airline letting me know they located my bag & it was in Oahu and would be back to Chicago in a few days. I was leaving Chicago in 1 day. So I had them send it back to DC where it all started. I hoped my bag had a nice trip. I was envious. 

And lastly, there is a phrase I don't much care for that the local TV news folks use a lot. "Past little while" 

What is that? 

"I saw that past little while"

Huh? Is this English?

"I saw Adele a past little while"

"It be rainin' past little while" (oh not a typo, she said  'it be')

HUH? 

She didn't just say "it be" on televison. 

Did they not go to journalism school and have speech classes and such?

I need a translation book. No shit.

These were said this week. Rick said, "it means a little while ago I think."

I figured that out Big Guy but I've never heard those words put together in that way. 

Well, we're in the south. English is not their strong suit.

But it's not mine either Rick as you know. And isn't that a stereotype? What in God's name will I sound like after 2 years here? 

He imitated how I'd sound.

I threw a sofa throw pillow at him.

We haven't heard many accents anywhere in Raleigh because no one is from there. True. I live in the sticks where all these fancy talkin' folks are moving to and they hate us. I'm telling you 8 miles away is a whole new world! Thank God!

I recall when I went to school in Pittsburgh I was given a book on Pittsburgheze. I laughed but then learned it was invaluable. 

The accent is strong and confusing as well. 'Yins' is one I really disliked and heard all the time. Same as ya'll or you guys. 

Their "o.w.n" sounds were odd to me. Rick had that accent when I met him. 

Down doesn't sound like the down we know. It is an accent I could never imitate as I could others. (very very similar to Baltimore) 

So that book came in handy many years later when I met Rick. Pittsburghers will tell you what it means if you ask, they are proud. 

I was never afraid to ask, "what did you say?" Or could you tell me what that means? They would generally laugh and ask where I was from and they were most happy to explain the meaning and how it came to be. I loved learning that. Sometimes it was funny or clever too.

 

But what I won't do here is ask. I don't dare ask here because they would be offended or I'd hear a nasty Yankee comment. I've had enough of that word this year for my lifetime. It would be one thing if said as a fact. But it's said maliciously and full of piss and vinegar. They don't mean it in any shape or form to be a nice word. So they showed me their colors and I just try to stay away from them.

But I think a book on local speech should be given in your welcome wagon packet. How helpful that would be!

I'd have been prepared for "a past little while"

Have you ever heard that? If so are you in the south? 

Side Effects on TV

I know I've mentioned before that the local news is a crap shot of interesting folks. One channel has a nice-looking woman who looks very mean and stern all the time. She is young and boy she looks pissed off. Rick calls her resting bitch face but it's meaner than that. She is scary, yet pretty. If she ever smiled I fear it would just be a sinister smile.

The men dress well enough. But they have a lot of very overweight weather and newscasters. One guy insists on buttoning his jacket and I want to tell him it's not hiding his belly because the buttons are pulling and your eyes go right to this so no hiding is taking place mister TV reporter. They would never allow a fat woman on the air. Go think about it - ever seen one? See a shit ton of fat guys though, don't you? These guys down here are B-I-G.

The women are all young and dress like they are out clubbing. 

The other morning once again Rick says, did you get a load of what so and so was wearing this morning?  Yes, I did indeed. Wasn't it a bit slutty for morning news? I laughed and said it was a bit slutty for any occasion unless you wish to look slutty. So maybe that's her thing and her boss doesn't mind. I find it off-putting. I don't hear anything because I am wondering if she has panties on under that dress. Rick says, "Hey that's what I'm thinking"  

I laughed, as usual, knowing full well he was thinking that but in a far different context than I was. 

Speaking of childish.

We were watching a TV show last night and a commercial came on. 

The commercial was for diabetes but for some reason, Rick thought it was for psoriasis.

One of the symptoms was said quickly. 

Said so quickly we both went, "what did he say" and we began laughing. 

So we rewound it and put on closed captions. That's what he said.

Then we paused it to read the side effects of small print on the screen. 

Sure enough, you could get an infection in your "taint" (perineum) 

OMG.

We laughed so hard. Although If I had one I wouldn't find it funny at all.

Then my crazy hubby says, "well isn't that the medicine our friend is on? Did she mention to you if she had an infected taint?"

Now I am laughing so hard I can't respond. NO Richard she did not mention this to me because this is not what she takes.

Once he heard the word "taint" he was off and running.

Finally, I remind him that our friend has psoriasis and this medication is for diabetes. Then like Emily Latella's character on SNL, he says, "Oh never mind"

In the meantime, I was still howling with laughter. 

The man is a sick puppy but I love that I got my dose of belly laughs in last night.

Sunday

When you aren't living you really have nothing to write about.

That's how I see my life since March. The drugs and illness are not yet in my rearview mirror but it's getting oh so much closer. Yee-haw! More movement in my life and that feels great!

Days are the same in the thick of this, I don't recall thinking let alone trying to remember what I could have been thinking. Did that even make sense? I recall the illness from it all, I recall the pain but I do not recall say, watching something on TV,(and I know I watched something yet have no recall of what it was about)  reading something, or for that matter being interested in anything I would normally be very interested in. Weird right? Lots of napping and lots of restless fatigue. 

I'm happy to report that right now I feel like the fog is thinning, I am seeing the end. Hey, no pun intended. I have a couple of days where things aren't good but it gets better as the week progresses. Then we do it all over again but the point is I am having more days where I can function than before and that is great. I am so tired of not living. Rick and I had begun referring to those days as vertical days (good) or horizontal days (bad) The Vertical now are out numbering the Horizontals and it hasn't been that way since this began. Either the combo of the drugs made things far worse or I'm a tough ole broad. I believe it to be the first one. Because this old broad was not tough, this brought me to my knees.

The steroids really kicked my ass I think most of all. What a horrible drug yet it does good for so many. I had another week of only 1 day that there was a nap. Progress! Then finally, my hair has begun to grow. I will need a trim here soon and I like that in one way, not the financial way. My hair has gotten a lot darker on top. Weird right? It's not so white anymore. It's still a color I have never had in my life naturally but hey, it's on my head I'll take it and ride this wave. Of course, Rick said he'd like to see it come in as a red hed. He's never had a redhead before. Yes, that is my woke man, making everything about sex...again. I only encourage his foolishness because I laugh. Two with 12-year-old senses of humor together is not good.

We currently have give or take 161 days until 2023. I'm not good at math so it may be off a bit but we can agree it is more than half over. Close enough, please let me have it, I need that hope.

I want 2022 over. It's been a most difficult stressful year for us. 

I will not be sad to see it go - so just go now will ya! 

The Well is Dry

I'm okay. I just have nothin'

And honestly, this has been one of the least sick weeks of my last 5.5 months ordeal.

Happy Saturday - if that's what day it is. 

Hell, I never know anymore. It's not as great as everyone makes it sound though.

Wednesday

Yes, it's been a while hasn't it?

I'm doing well. In fact last week I was vertical all damn day long. :-)

Not having the steroids daily is fantastic. 

It's too damn hot right now to do anything. Always living in the north when I see the sun and do not need a parka then I feel one must be outside. But my life is upside down now. I know it logically but I have to tell you there is still guilt about being indoors in the summer. But I think I wanna stay here inside until it's at least 80 degrees out....I'm thinking that will be in late Sept/early October.  I think I need a swimming pool. 

Rick sent me this today from the garage.

I went out to the garage to see him for a mere minute, and water dripped down my back. Okay wanted to see the purple thing he was working on but don't want to stay out here. Nope - going inside Big Guy. I can love you from inside with air conditioning.  You're on your own out here. 

I hobbled as fast as I could back to the house. Wow.

I was in the house for a full 2 minutes at best when he sent this damn meme to me. It did make me laugh. I don't understand how he can still be in the garage at 101 degrees and still be working. It was actually a pleasure to be indoors washing dishes and doing laundry. 

After 2.5 hrs he decided he couldn't take anymore either. 

He came inside and showered. He immediately proceeded to take a nap. So the heat wiped him out apparently. 😁

I don't see him getting much work done until fall at this rate. 

Yesterday I got a text from a cousin in Tampa. It was such a nice surprise and a fun conversation. I no sooner put down my phone than I hear it ding again. It's a cousin that lives in Washington state. 

What is this cousin's day? 

Then later in the evening, I get a text from my cousin Steve with 3 other people in the picture attached. He is in my hometown. I know the other couple but the woman on the right looked to me to be my Uncle's first wife Phyllis. This uncle I am referring to is on my stepmom's side of the family, not Steve/my dad's side. Got that?  I have not seen her in 42+ years. 

So I write back to my cousin and ask who that is. Sure enough, it's her. 

That is when you know the city is too small. If I dated up there I'd be hitting on a relative or a person someone connected to my family. Not safe to date up there I'll tell ya. That was a flash from the past. What I want to know is why the hell she looks exactly the same and I look 40+ years older?

My foot/ankle is not getting better. It's been a few weeks since the ortho told me it was broken and well it is what it is. Apparently, that was all there was to this. When I told him where it hurt he told me, "It shouldn't" 

He told me this twice. I gave up talking to him. 

What the hell kind of healing is that? So I am doing nothing. I am in such pain at times. The burning is up my heel to mid-calf. Excruciating burning.

I did not wear a boot on Monday and that night I was in such pain. So the boot is back on no matter how hot it is. 

I was to follow up with this ortho but why? To tell me it shouldn't hurt anymore? I swear it is tendons and Achilles pain and no one wants to listen to me because they are seeing a break. Aargh!  I canceled my follow-up with the ortho/Wally Cox.  He was an idiot if you ask me and I don't see the need to pay him to tell me it shouldn't hurt on the outside of my foot or my heel.  I then made an appt with the podiatrist. I think that is what I need. We shall see. God I'm sick of doctors. I LOVED my podiatrist up north. I told Rick if I can't get answers I'd rather drive up there at this point. Any excuse to go to the land of book-smart folks.

I expressed my need for a pedicure to Rick. I said I'd love one before I see the podiatrist. He laughed at that. I said, "I don't wish to be like those gross people you watch on that show, 'My Feet Are Killing Me.'  Those people are so gross. He laughed and said, "I don't think anyone would say that to you even without a freshly done pedicure"  I would hope not!

Have you seen that gross show? No? Then good for you!  

I walk into the room and see things and immediately leave. 

One night he said, "Oh you got to see this woman's feet"  Oh no I don't!  

I heard enough to make me vomit why would I wish to look? So I never did look. I just left the room. How he can watch this is anyone's guess. The story of this woman was she never took off her boot. Yes, a full knee-high boot! TWO YEARS!  She never took it off once it was put on after a surgery. She bathed with it and never took it off !!!! Never dried it, never washed it, just took a shower with it on and left it there for 2 friggin' years but now there is a stench coming from that general vicinity she says. 

After 2 years there was a stench. Gee, ya think? Just imagine that will ya!

The doctor's office wore masks to hid them from the smell. They had to close the office and burn incense and candles it was so bad. The skin was coming off her feet from infections. She may lose her foot. Who would not clean themselves in 2 years? And then to bathe with the boot and never dry? Oh my goodness, I had heard enough! The female doctor in this is so kind and she puts people at ease but how she doesn't yell at them is beyond me! Although Rick said she did one day to a man whose wife told her that he doesn't dry his feet after he showers. She gave him hell and that was the reason for the issue he was having.  She's pretty isn't she? I give her mad props, couldn't do what she does!

So I imagine even without getting a fresh pedicure my normal nails and feet will look like heaven to my podiatrist in comparison to that sick and twisted shit Rick watches. Do you watch this stuff too?  

Housecleaner

I have been seeing this woman who is a house cleaner tell you her tips/hacks on Instagram.  Some of them I've tried and she's always correct.

I showed Rick her picture/video. She is drop-dead gorgeous. 

I said to him, "Gee wouldn't you like her to be our house cleaner?"

Ole Rick perks up and says, "Yes absolutely, and on Naked Wednesday!"

The idiot does make me laugh.

The Beach

I have a friend who moved to the eastern Cleveland 'burbs about 8 years ago. Cleveland is close to his family in Dunkirk NY and very close to my hometown. (only 70 minutes from their house)

She always tells me she brings the kids to the water park in my hometown (really nice water park) But they have never gone to the beach. WHAT?

Now if you go to my hometown the beach is THE thing to do in summer. I've told her for years to go to the beach, her girls will love it. Then in March when we stayed at their house we discussed this again. They drive 70 minutes to go to Wegmans grocery store in my hometown because they don't have one. Yet they don't go to the beach. That baffles me.

I spoke to her last Thursday and she told me her sister in law in Dunkirk is meeting her with her children at the beach. It's in the middle for both. 

She said, "I know you will like that I'm finally doing it." 

She made a few quips about the beach and I said, "You will think you're anywhere but PA. Trust me the girls will love this and so will you. You will not be disappointed.  She was ever so doubtful. I text my friend Katie and asked what she thought the best beach was for the family. Since I no longer live there I wanted to give her the right one. Each beach has it's own personality.  

I try to avoid the family beaches most times so I wanted to be sure my idea of beach 8 or 10 would be correct.  My friend said, Beach 8, with concessions, bathrooms and lifeguards.  Apparently there is a life guard shortage so she knew this one was going to have all that was needed. 

I also suggest they go to Sara's at the entrance to the beach and have lunch or an orange sherbert twist. She again laughed. I told her the best hot dog she will ever have east of Chicago. She told me I should work for their Chamber of Commerce.

Well I got a call from my friend who thought the beach would be awful and guess what? She was floored. She couldn't believe this was here all along she said. WHY? I've only been telling you for 8 or 9 years. She thought it was like florida with bad sand. That made me laugh but it's spot on true!

She went on and on from the lunch and ice cream to the beach itself. I told her to drive the entire peninsula first before going to the beach so they could see historical things as well as the trails and all beaches. Guess who's going back next week? She wants the girls to do the historical things as well as the beach.

She made me laugh when she apologized to me. I told her to apologize to her daughters because they were never taken there. She laughed. She just went on and on and waxed poetic about The Peninsula as the locals call it, but it's Presque Isle State Park. And yes, it's free to go there which is rare for a state park.

Here is a photo of how it jets out from the city of Erie PA

This is beach 10 where the wind is perfect for kites (they have major kite tournaments here) and wind surfing.

There is boating, fishing, nature trails and an environmental programs at the Nature Center, there are bike paths and walking paths, you can rent bikes, you can rent boats if you don't have one. All kinds of events take place here. There are beaches that allow those in wheelchairs access to the beach and water. (how cool is that) There are picnic tables and grills throughout the park. There is so much to do here for all levels of activities that if you are bored here you are boring. I took my nieces when they were little to a lecture of sorts on all the critters at the environmental bldg. A ranger came out and told the kids all kinds of things which made my nieces excited to see some of the animals found in the park. 

My nieces were 5 and 6 at the time. They heard the man speak of foxes. 

They had also just seen the Disney animated movie The Fox and The Hound. When we left we took a ride around the peninsula. We saw foxes in this small area we pulled into and they wanted to get out and pet the baby foxes. The 5-year-old wanted to get out of the car and opened the door. I grabbed her arm and said no, these are not friendly like in the movie. These are wild animals, remember what the ranger said? I put on the child locks just in case. We sat in this area and watched them. I kept telling the girls that they are so small I bet the mommy is around somewhere. They wanted to wait until the mommy showed up. They were worried they were lost. They were cracking me up. We waited and sure enough, mom comes along and they all go back into the woods. 

I love beaches but I also love this place in all 4 seasons. They do a great winter festival. Rick made a snow sculpture of sorts of a Porsche. I must find that photo. He came in honorable mention. He and I spent all seasons there. I liked to cross country ski there. The trails bring you through such wonderful scenes. Once I about peed my pants because a bunch of deer was standing on the trail. I stopped and hoped they would just move along. They were huge and I was alone. We stared at each other for what seemed like a long time. Then one of them made a snort and I still stood there frozen. Then slowly one by one they just crossed over the trail and went into the woods. whew. I didn't want to piss off the deer.

Rick loved to fish on the bay. Oh, how many 5am mornings he would insist I go with him.  I love being on the water but I am happier at 10am. But I went many times. Rick also took me to the lagoons. You can only go there by tour boat or a boat without a motorized engine. So Rick would fish from his canoe. You could see all kinds of animals that way. I just napped or read and enjoyed the sun. 

Of course there is a lot of historical monuments and history there. The Battle Of Lake Erie is taught in Civics class so I went several times as a kid but if I am being honest the beach was more my thing. 

I was thrilled that my friend finally made that trip. You can't run into a person there and have them not be from Pittsburgh. It's a huge tourist area. Those who live there do not enjoy this enough. But Pittsburghers make the annual 2 hr trek. I met a Pittsburgh family once who was having a family reunion there. I had dropped my chair attempting to make only one trip from the car to the water and boy my arms were full.  I heard the accent when this man said, "Hey I got that for you"

I asked if they were enjoying themselves. He asked if I was local. He said I only meet people here from the 'burgh. I laughed and said it's crazy to me too!  He said if this was my back yard I'd be here every day. I told him I was. He told me they came up for the winter festival and enjoyed it more than they thought. I told him with the amount of snow we get we must have things to do. He laughed and then we went on with our days. I find it sad that a lot of the locals don't appreciate what they have. I know my friend Katie enjoys it as much as me. 

As a young girl, we would ride our bikes to the peninsula. My parents wouldn't allow that. Too far they'd say. So when I rode my bike to Cathy's house we'd ride to the beach. While I was old enough to drive I never got the car. So one summer day at age 16 I headed to Cathy's wearing my suit under my clothes. Cathy, Kim, and I rode to the beach. We would meet boys there you know. Because at 16 what else is on your mind.

I recall a year or so earlier meeting a man who sang in a band who had a song on the local radio. I really think they were more regional than national but I could be wrong. 

One of the guys invited us to their show but my father would not allow me to go. 

I was 15 at the time.  I believe Donnie Iris and The Cruisers was his 2nd band and these guys were part of a band called Jageerz with a hit called the Rapper but I could have that all wrong with the dates and bands. Nonetheless it was Donnie Iris and when they were hitting on us we thought we were so cool which is pretty damn funny now. They followed us like puppies. A young girl in a bikini, remember those days?

We were told we could pick up tickets at will call. Oh, how I wanted to go. 

And oh how mad I was at my father for not allowing me to go to their show. 

Of course, looking back I realize these boys had no idea how young we were. 

We were rockin' our bikini's and we acted older than our years.  

I know we looked far older than we were. (1970?) 

But we were so thrilled they asked little ole us. 

My friends were not allowed to go either. 

That was my short time of being a groupie. HA HA

On the way home from the beach one day we girls were riding back to Cathy's house wearing bathing suits (still wet) with our clothes in our beach bag. 

We could dry off was our lame thinking this way and then put on our street clothes at Cathy's before we two headed home. 

A car full of boys hung from their car windows and smacked our asses while we were on our bikes as they slowly drove by. I fell off my bike as did Cathy. 

I remember vividly that my front tire went off the side of the road onto the gravel and I tried to get back on the road and got smacked again. 

The entire right side of me went across pavement and stones. I had a brush burn from my arms to my ankles. OUCH. All I could think of was how do I tell my parents about this? If I had on shorts it wouldn't be all over me like it is. 

What if they saw me in my bathing suit in our little pool in the back yard?  

Well I never went in our pool until that was gone so my parents could not see this except on my legs and arms. I told them I fell on my way back from Cathy's. 

Good thing I wasn't pinocchio!

I am a beach person but even if you don't like the beach, there are so many other things to do and a sunset on the penisula is gorgeous. On a clear day you can see Canada and I sound like Sarah Palin. LOL

So if you are ever in that neck of the wood you must go. Don't wait like my friend did and then realize you missed out on so much beauty and fun.

Meme Day

I have a lot of appointments today so I am being lazy and putting up some meme's I enjoyed.  

Jimmy Carter is a better man than he was a president. But he is a good man. He has done more good works since leaving office than any president I can think of in my lifetime. DeRegulation of the airlines I think was his worst gift to us. 

I don't know why this hair color one just makes me laugh!

Ladies we all live with this guy or have lived with this guy. 😁

Shirtless Neighbor

I went to a senior center here in my burb just 8 miles away from downtown Raleigh. This senior center made me realize I am not a true senior here, only in the number. 

Rick and I wondered, "At what age do we become that type of senior?"   

I don't know the answer to that. 

This place I moved to was a choice only because we could not afford to stay where we were and retire. As I have told you all too many times we did not wish to move, we had to move. Rick and I lost our jobs at age 50 and 51. My pension was taken, you've seen it all on TV so I won't repeat. So there we were at age 50 and 51 with no jobs and highly skilled which means absolutely nothing. Thankfully we had very healthy savings, if we hadn't we'd have been homeless.

Rick's last interview he made the mistake of saying something that the young girl said, "oh my dad and grandpa say that all the time" 

He knew right then he was not getting hired. It was terrible. We were going through money like water.  We had 2 homes and no income. We sold cars, possessions and homes. We did all we could to stay afloat. Sadly no one during a recession was buying vacation homes. Tried to rent it out like an air bnb and that was costly in numerous ways. Paying for millions in real estate and having no job was a whole lot of fun. We were going through our big savings quickly.

It came to a point where we had to do something. The house was for sale for a year! I cashed in my 401K as did Rick to keep us from having things taken from us. We never missed a payment and there were days I would have rather eaten than pay another 5K in mortgages. However, Rick was so adamant about not ruining our credit.

Rick's 401K started our business and that kept us going. We saved and saved and saved but knew we'd never have what we would need to retire. We knew our only option when the time came was to move. That is how we ended up here. No snow and homes were far cheaper. A blue governor and great healthcare. No traffic ( we still love that part of this area!) 

Cities we loved far more we just couldn't afford or we'd stay where we were. Or it was a very cold snowy place most of the year. Not what we wanted either. So here we are. We picked the best we could for what we could do.

We are stuck and we are trying to find our way here and make it home. 

Last night he told me this was what he ran away from when he was a kid. 

Oh, I get it. 

We both don't care for it now after 10 months. We think it should get better but we aren't banking on it. Thankfully it's not just me. (we do love the weather) 

I asked someone about a local library and was met with, "it's summer why would you want to go to a library?"  Really?  I asked someone else and was told the same thing. Pitiful but it explains a lot about the rednecks we encounter if you ask me. The only thing worse than these rednecks are northern rednecks. Yikes.

I went to our suburb's senior center. We were greeted by a nice woman who was 110 if she was a day. She was a lovely woman but not helpful. 

We asked LOUDLY about classes and lectures etc. 

Before moving here I had a neighbor (you may remember me telling you about her Alzheimers and driving) who was a lot older than me. We used to do fun things and one day she said, "I know you're not a senior but would you wish to go with me to this lecture? You'll have to pay more"  I thought it sounded fun but it was in the middle of the day. I played hooky for a few hours and went anyway.  I loved it! 

This National Geographic female photographer was interesting, funny and her photos were fabulous. I thought it was great. I went to a couple of them with her. The authors were my favorite. This type of thing I was looking for here. Granted there are not 17 Smithsonian museums and galleries here for such things but it is the state capital I thought there'd be something like this. Apparently, there are no such things at this senior center or in Raleigh. There was square dancing but we didn't think we'd hear any AC/DC there so it wasn't our cup of tea. (LOL) But she did tell us about the puppet show to bring the kids or the PreSchool theatre camp. Rick's daughter is 42 think she'll like the theatre camp?

Then Rick and I ventured over to the local Y. 

We wanted to see if there were any events there or exercise classes. 

Can we use the pool at any time or only during classes?

I need to move now that I am not on steroids and only chemo. 

I no longer have dizziness since I've stopped the steroids so I think I'm safe now.  They kept trying to get us to do a class on chair exercising. 

Oh please, if I didn't have a broken ankle I can do jumping jacks, pilates, cardio, biking etc. What the hell do they think we are? I'm not my mom yet. No such classes so we did not join. Although the pool appealed to Rick the woman made such a big friggin' deal about his age and using the pool. 

The man doesn't even have gray hair really? He can swim, slower I suppose, no longer the big high school swimmer who broke records, but he can swim for God's sake. Rick even said to her, "it's good exercise for all ages and is good and gentle on your joints." She laughed at us, the hillbilly wearing camouflage with double negative grammar laughing at us.  

We have friends coming and Rick and I wondered what we can do with them since everything is bar-related or kid related. We are stumped. How many bars must we visit? We've gone on websites, we've asked people, and I've even signed up for things hoping to get something good. All I've received are concerts, bar events and everything to bring your kids to. 

Rick and I think the only reason the big-name concerts come is that this is a big college town. Otherwise, there would be no concerts. So we thought let's see if they have something like Wolf Trap.  They do have an outdoor amphitheater but no inside the theatre seating which is still outside or a restaurant. It's more college-like than Wolf Trap. Standing or sitting on the grass. So that was out for the 4 of us.

When we first moved to DC Metro everyone wanted to come to visit. 

We didn't know anything about the places to see or the museums etc. 

We didn't even know there were 17 Smithsonian's. 

I contacted the Chamber of Commerce. They sent me a packet of goodies. They told me to check the website for coupons and events. 

In the packet were coupons for tourist attractions. There was a 2-for-one water taxi tour of the city. We used that for when our guests came. 

That was a great one. 

We were also given coupons for kid events etc. It was so helpful, it even included a walking map and a metro map (subway) I realize that is a big historic city but the packet had things for the surrounding areas too like Middleburg, Leesburg, Vienna/McLean, etc. 

I called the chamber here in my suburb and in Raleigh. 

They told me about gov't meetings etc. 

They have nothing about the city. 

They have no event or newcomer packages. 

But if interested we can go to a meeting about transportation. 

Gee no thanks, we have a car and a GPS, there is no mass transit here.

Rick and I are going to go to a nursery that has a bar later this week. 

I was happy to stroll a nursery and the whole 'make your own bouquet" is what appealed to me. I don't care about the bar. They have a ton of distilleries and breweries BBQ or biscuit places here. Not much else. 

Raleigh, unlike the burbs here, seems to be progressive in the LGBTQ community. There are a lot of those types of things to do.  We don't quite fit in but it's nice it's there. It makes sense since that generation is all about being out and proud and pronouns. It is a college town lest we forget.

Up north we went to a brunch that was so fabulous and our servers were all in drag and there was a bit of a show while dining. I wondered if they had a venue like that since the person coming loves RuPaul's Drag Race I thought it may be fun to go to a place like that for them. No such thing but the man I spoke to thought that was a wonderful idea. He was going to DC in August could I tell him the name of this place. I did. 

But I was left at a dead end...again.

They won't be here until late August so I have some time and will continue to ask everywhere we go and to everyone we meet. I've even been on reddit. But that was a rabbit hole of people who were saying the same thing as me. I saw a website of a couple from Australia who moved here and what they liked. BARS. They liked that the ocean was just 2 hrs away. Then sky bars. Geez. They did mention hiking trails and biking trails which in a boot I can't do. But I also know this is not a thing one of the people in the couple would ever wish to do. So back to square one.

I will continue searching and I pray we hit pay dirt. 

In the meantime I suggested to Rick we go visit them, it's maybe easier. 

He laughed, but I was serious.

In the meantime, we are on shirtless neighbor watch. 

We are bad people. Rick and I have made it a game. 

I have a medicine calendar on the fridge to keep track of what day is what pills etc. We put an X on the days he is without a shirt.  Granted this is his yard, but we've seen him leave in his truck without a shirt too. Where does he go shirtless other than the beach?

We are on day 62. 

No, he does not look like this.

This is more like our neighbor but without the hair on his body or head.

I know it's mean. But we get a kick out of the fact that he is always without a shirt. When we saw him shirtless in his truck we both wondered if he carries a shirt so he can go inside a store thinking, no shoes, no shirt, no service. But then we thought, maybe around here they let him in but oooh, cover it up mister, please.

Rick offered him some tomatoes and he told Rick he doesn't eat fruit and vegetables. Okay, we are not growing Doritos or pizza darn it, sorry!

He has a trailer he told us at the shore. He said he was going there for the summer since he works from home. That was on May 1st.  But we've seen him around here a bit too so when he was talking to Rick about the tomatoes Rick asked if he was no longer at the shore? He told Rick he doesn't have a washer and dryer because it's not allowed (WHAT?) so he comes back to do laundry. Are there no laundromats on the shore?   

I mean you only wear shorts and hopefully underwear so how much laundry do you have?

We wondered if he even had on underwear under his shorts. I say we wondered, it was actually Rick who brought that up and I just said, "c'mon I didn't want to picture that!"

For some reason, this amuses us. He has been shirtless since May. 

We wondered when the shirtless season ends. October? But it's still in the 70s so maybe November? Yesterday after seeing him in the rain without his shirt on we decided to pick a date. When do we think he will wear a shirt again? The winner gets whatever they want within our means of course. We have to have the date by tomorrow. I'm thinking November but early or late? I have until this evening to make my guess and put it on the calendar. Can you tell we are bored?

Then Rick suggested that when our friends are here visiting, we can show our friends how the locals live, hand them binoculars and have them look over our fence -  'there they are in their natural habitat. do not feed the locals' 😉

Good thing we amuse ourselves isn't it? 

Negative!

Rick no longer has a fever and is feeling pretty good. We have taken the test twice and apparently, he has a normal cold or something. Odd.

I only have a killer headache. The fatigue is no different than any other day. How would I know? LOL 

We dodged that bullet I suppose. It's the worst headache I've ever had in my life that wasn't a migraine. But today it is mild and I can take Tylenol and live with it just fine.

This area I now live in has had an enormous uptick in covid. 

When I am done with these damn medicines I don't think I'll have the same fear. My eye doctor's constant fear-inducing conversations with me about what bad things could happen to me have gotten to me - Obviously!

It is Sunday. We got a cool spell and it feels like fall. A wonderful reprieve from 90s and high humidity. I love the 70s, in weather that is. 

It has been stormy for days. I admit I do enjoy the rain and the clouds for a bit. My weeds are growing so rapidly. 😉 

I have been extremely homesick this past month. I so miss N.VA. I know it will get easier but right now I am longing to be up north for many reasons. 

The people, the activities, the mentality, the food options, friends and very nice neighbors, etc.  I don't even meet people I'd want to see again. 

I have one nice older neighbor but that's it. I keep telling myself, 2 years and this will feel like home. But if being honest, I don't see it ...yet. 

It feels how Seattle felt to me, just not quite right. 

I hope it works itself out.

Goldilocks,' just right', is what I wanted, more than just 'not quite right.' LOL

Rick is feeling it too. Oh well. At least there is no damn traffic here. 

And we are in the same boat. He is my home so where ever he is I'll be fine. Just missing my tribe so to speak.

We had satellite TV for 25 yrs up north. We loved it. Everyone always talked about rain causing issues. We never had that. Snow would build up and we'd have to take the broom outside our 2nd-floor bedroom window and brush it off the satellite dish. But that was once a year. No biggie.

Since living here we've had a lot of issues with the TV. Last night during a baseball game we kept getting "rained out" by our satellite dish. 

We wonder why this never happened to us before. We are thinking perhaps where the dish is located here vs where it was located up north. Hmm....

If that isn't it, we sure don't know why the difference.

Then there is the internet. We had Verizon FiOS. Fast as lightning. 

Never went down and we loved it. Can't get fiber optics here. We are barely above dial-up. The only option was Spectrum. We bought the highest speed we could get. It does not compare to FIOS. They are horrific in service and product. It goes out a lot and when we call they tell us we aren't out. We asked them to send someone to see that we are out. Last call Rick took a pic of our equipment while on the phone with the guy to show him we were out. "Oh" was all he said.  Makes for streaming movies and shows a lot of fun.  Rick is cussing at the tv and to anyone who wishes to listen, apparently, he thinks this will help. Not a great strategy.

As soon as something else becomes available, which they threaten us will happen due to all the growth, we are stuck with Spectrum. It was our only option. But Spectrum sucks. They are always trying to get me to use their Cable TV too. Gee as much as your internet is down I don't think I wish to try your TV services, I'll stay with satellite thank you.

We are also having issues with our TV signal that once again in 25 yrs we've never dealt with. Dish has sent someone out here 3 times now. 

We even got a new hopper (box) Helped some, but weird shit is still going on. The guy actually said, "do you have poltergeists?"  

Now we have both said that to one another and laughed it off. 

Being asked this by the Dish Man was odd. 

We laughed and said, "frankly it's happened to us at another house and we thought maybe, but we're hoping that is not the case."

Then he proceeds to show us how all things are working. 

"Yep, we know but you also saw how it doesn't work sometimes." 

"Yes, he said, that is why I asked my question, it should be just fine." 

But it's not fine and off he goes to someone else's home without odd issues and we have had nothing changed or fixed.  We are learning to live with it. 

I wish I could see these damn ghosts like on the TV Show Ghosts. That would at least be fun. I'd beg 'em to stop messing with my electronics, that's for sure!

And lastly this week. Rick can now get into my office. No need to step over this or that. There are still a couple of piles in the corner I need to find a place for but overall it's done, things have been tossed from up north. 

Yes, I closed down a business but a lot of it came with us. I had files of things needing to be shredded and some things to go through and determine if we must keep or we can toss. Most thankfully got tossed. 

He came into what I have made into an office Sunday morning and sat in my favorite leather chair. 

He said, "you've made this a nice lady cave for yourself."

Oh yes, a lady cave where the bills are paid and blog posts are written.

He said, "Oh c'mon when your eye is better don't tell me you aren't going to be in this leather chair with your coffee, or wine and devouring a book"

Okay, you're right mister.😁 And I can't wait for that day!

He asked me about the blog. I said it is what it is. 

I told him I'd like to change the header since we no longer have that big house on the lake, the dog, brown hair or even the boat we used to have (not like in the photo) 

He laughed and said, "Yep it may be time." 

Then he asked some questions. 

I suggested, "Maybe you should read the blog and find out."  

He laughs and repeats to me, "I just feel like it's your space and I'd be eavesdropping"  

I asked when that ever bothered him. 

Oh how he laughed at that and just said, "point taken smart ass"

I told him that I did write about him not reading me once. 

That made him feel better. 

"You write about me being a jerk more often though, don't you?"

"No, never, when are you a jerk Rick?"

"Maybe I should read you and have rebuttals." 

"Oh my God, that'd be so funny. Like you do to me on Facebook? I hate it but they are funny."

He won't. But it'd sure be funny if he did.