Good Start

Well, it was a good way to start 7-0. 

It's nice when you win your first game, but it's the next 161 games you have got to worry about, so it's really no big deal in the big scheme of things. 

But it was fun. 

I was in so much pain last night that I couldn't eat my Cracker Jacks. 

Just can't eat in pain. Oh, the big guy ate his and some of mine. He left me some. The prize was lame. A temp tattoo thingy to put on your body. 

I actually am so old that I remember toys in them, and they were in boxes, not bags. 

I have been putting off this surgery since "they" told me it would be a 6-month or longer period in a sling and not be able to do pretty much anything.

Shoulder replacement is not as easy as the knee, the docs told me.

Great. My knees are okay. (for now)

I can't do this. Rick can only drive a very, very short distance. He can't walk through a grocery store, and the stubborn shit will not ride one of those wheelchair carts. Nothing in our home will get done.  I don't know how this can be done. 

I have contacted Medicare, and they will pay for someone to come in and do certain things, most of which are unnecessary. I guess I will rely on delivery, which is the same cost as your groceries or more.  I dread that. I tried that once after my back surgery. When I got to the end and saw that my groceries were less than the delivery charge, I canceled the whole thing. And now with trump's war, our gas is through the roof, so it will cost far more now. (fuck trump, yes, random, but I feel it in my bones and need to express it all the time.)

Being alone here doesn't help.  I am going to get another opinion on Monday. Injections have not worked for me.

They do all this great stuff for knees. They put in gel, so the bone-on-bone action is no longer happening. No surgery. Just an injection, and they walk out with no pain. Come on! That is what I need. But they don't do that for shoulders. I have a bone-on-bone issue with my shoulder.

Someone sent me a stem cell bit of information. Go to Mexico and have it done. No surgery, just an injection, pain-free, go home. It sounds wonderful, but Mexico? Cost?  Don't think that is something I can do. No insurance, just cash. I mean, is Mexico a place you think, Ooh, great medical care?  

I know, I'm being judgmental. I'll go to Canada, but Mexico makes me a bit hesitant. Good tacos and tequila to recoup, I suppose. I can always go to tacos and tequila.

Doing anything at all causes me such pain that I can't even begin to articulate this pain. My back surgery was easy compared to this. 

Note to self:  If husband has a major stroke, do not age or injure yourself, you can only care for one person!

My sister asked me if they were giving me anything for pain. I laughed and said no they don't do that. It's addictive, remember? Fuck your pain; you could become addicted. At this point, a morphine drip would make me very happy. Reaching for the microwave, both arms suffer severely from this easy thing. Opening a jar of beans caused me to yelp. I'm useless.

(but the 3 bean salad was damn good once we got it opened😁)

Cannabis is not legal here, as it was when I lived up north. 

It relieves pain very well. I found this out when I had my rotator cuff sewn back together, along with my labrum. I know you'd think I was a pitcher in the major leagues.  I actually said something like that to Dr. Tall Tan and Gorgeous. 

What I actually said was, "I guess I can no longer pitch for the New York Yankees."  He howled.  He said good one, Margaret!  May I use that?  

Seriously, how had he not thought of that? It's what all pitchers go through.

Rick said maybe he was being nice, or he's dumb.

Rick LOVED the idea that he was dumb, which makes me giggle.

I said, " Don't tell me how dumb he is before my surgery.  He was a Top Doc in the DC Metro area, so he can't be dumb; let's say he was just being nice. 

Of course, Rick let me believe what I wanted to believe.

I can be delusional if I want to be. I mean, he's Dr Tall Tan and Gorgeous.

Anyhoo, I was given Percocets for the pain. I was hallucinating, along with hives from the top of my head to my toes. Then I swore there were people on our deck, and I hollered for Rick. He came running and tried to convince me that no one was there. After that, no more percocets for me. Yes, I was in pain, but these were not good for me. 

My friend, who was just finishing up chemo treatment for breast cancer, offered me a joint. I laughed and said I hadn't done that since I was in Jamaica as a young person. She said, "Trust me, this will help you."  I took it, but did not believe her.  I went a full 24 hrs without meds, and I couldn't do it. I was a big fat wuss. I was convinced I was just going to get high, and I didn't need that. I wanted the pain to go away!  (My eyelashes fall out when I'm in pain - weird and ugly, right?  They were dropping on my cheeks like crazy during this time)

Rick suggested I actually smoke the joint and see if it helps. You can't work, you're in your own home. Go for it. So I did. OMG, it was so much better than the percocets, and I was in very little pain. It softened it enough that I could function as well as I could with my arm 6 inches from my body in a sling. The pain was not 100% gone, but I could now function and not be in excruciating pain.

That got me back into cannabis. It's legal all around me, but these southern magas will never legalize it. They have dispensaries here that sell THCA, if you know what that is. We call it diet pot. But you know what, it helps, but I'm out. Next pay, I'm in. :-)  I hear they are trying to shut these down too. 

What will we boomers do? I don't do well with drugs. If there are 10 side effects, I usually have 9 or 10. It's always been like this. So I usually suffer and live with it until I can't. I am at the 'I can't' part right now.

I don't get all the hoopla about cannabis. In the 70s, they would always say it was a gateway drug. Maybe for some, but for everyone I know, it certainly was not the case.  

It doesn't cause crime. No one is getting high and running around outside doing bad things. They are lying on a sofa, eating and watching TV.

But you don't have to get super high for pain relief. I take a few hits, and I feel my body move, my shoulders go down, and the pain slowly fades. Why is that bad? No side effects, well, except sometimes munchies. Which for my friend with cancer, it was a godsend because she couldn't eat before she did this. 

I'm off my soapbox.

I just want pain relief. I can not do this surgery at this time. My sister offered to come down, but she has no time off, and she'd do this without pay. She is a struggling single person, and I will not ask her to do that. I'll figure it out somehow. 

I'm thinking a good answer is a long drive off a short pier.

Opening Day

It's that time of year. 

My go-to at the ball park was always Cracker Jacks and a beer. No longer can have beer, that damn gluten, so water it is. So in girl math, no calories from beer means more Cracker Jacks can be eaten. I like that logic.

Saw these as I ran in to buy milk. They were hanging from a corner of an aisle. I grabbed two and came home and showed Rick. He asked what he was going to have?  Ha ha funny boy. I'm sharing, you get one, and I get one. 

He wasn't buying it. I know, I know, I can eat more than this, but do I need to?  Nope. Let's see how Cracker Jacks and gin or wine go with it? 

GF Beer sucks big time, so no beer for me. Molson's, can you help a gal out??

Hey, as long as we win. It's on the west coast, and I fear I won't be able to stay awake. I have insomnia when nothing important is on TV, but if it's something I like, I can fall asleep like nobody's business. 

So, guess what I am doing at 8pm tonight? Netflix Opening Day. 

Huh?

Last night we had a laughing jag. 

Being hard of hearing makes for a lot of laughs. I'm certain my audiologist wouldn't agree.

I came in from outside and asked Rick if he had another spool.

I notice the one on the weed wacker was missing.

I had shown him the weed wacker and asked through the screen door, but I also repeated it when I got inside.

So I ask, do you have another spool?

Why is there no school?  Is it raining?  Is it the pollen?

Rick, what the hell are you talking about? I'm laughing but he keeps going.

Is it going to rain?

I do not know, I am not a meteorologist, Richard.

Where did you hear there was no school, then, Margaret?

I walk into the living room and say, For the love of God, what are you talking about? School?  I never said anything about school.

Yes, you did, you said there was no school.

Now I am laughing because I figured it out.

No, silly, I said, do you have another spool? I was referring to the weed wacker. Since I was holding it and you were looking at me. 

BUT I WAS IN THE LIVING ROOM.  I could see you through the screen door, but I apparently didn't hear you well. 

Apparently.

Rick thinks he is funny and says, "Are you sure there is no school today?"

No school, no rain, no snow, only pollen and an empty weed wacker.

Weirdo.

I've been here since October 2021. I may never get used to this pollen.

This is the cloud over the city. Lovely, isn't it?  I just washed my car. Leave it in the garage. Went to one place for 30 minutes. Came out to a yellow car and needed my windshield wiper to clear the window. 

Achoo!

 

Quick Update

 Alrighty, kids, here is what I did.

There is a customer complaint line at Walmart, but there is also a place to complain to their bigwigs. I did both. Then an email arrived asking me to rate my service at Walmart. 

First, I thought that was fine, then I wondered how they got my email address. Anyway, I filled this one out too. So, except for running to the manager, I think I did my due diligence.

I filled out the form with the terminal address on my receipt, the ID #, and a plethora of other numbers and letters that meant something to them. No wonder these receipts are so damn long. It claims someone will contact me. Doubtful, but I did it.

It is pollen season here. I do not like this season. I never had allergies until I moved here. Everything is lined with this thick layer of yellow. You can hose it off, but in less than 24 hrs it is all yellow again. 

I ran my car through the car wash. I was too lazy to do it myself. I knew my shoulder would just bark more, so I took the lazy route. My car looks so much better. I drove home and put it in the garage as fast as I could. 

I had to use my windshield wipers to see through the pollen. 

The car wash line was long. There are 18 manual bays, and all were full. 

This is car wash season.

Everything is covered on my patio. We planned on taking all the covers off the furniture this week, but we are thinking we may just leave it covered until my sister arrives. She thinks it will be nice weather. She has no idea that this is the yellow season. I've warned her, but until you live this, you never quite fully understand it.  I know I didn't. I figured, we have pollen in VA, what's the big deal? No, this is like in inches, like snowfall.  

I'm off to finish the mulch. Going to wear a mask today and take a DayQuil. 

😁

Pop (soda)

I am not proud of myself.

I acted like a Karen.

I just left the doctor's office after the annual Medicare checkup.

Rick asked me to pick up some Dr. Pepper for him. 

I stopped at Walmart since I was driving by.  

I picked up a few things, and the pop was so heavy.

Now, that sounds crazy, but with my 2 shoulders barking, it was difficult. 

Reaching, lifting, basically just using my arms, is painful in every way.

On a scale of 1 to 10, my right arm/shoulder, which is the one that they wish to replace, is a 12 on the pain scale. My left is a 6 or 7, just to give you an idea. 

I got the pop into the cart and moved it to an upright position so the barcode would be facing the cashier. 

I did this so I wouldn't have to pick it up again. 

Doing it this way, the cashier could just scan it as they normally do with bigger items.

I put all my things on the conveyor belt. 

I caught the cashier's eye, and I said, "Hello."  

She looked away and didn't say a word. 

I moved the cart so she could reach it easily, and I asked, "Can you scan it from here?"  Knowing full well, they do this for us all the time for big items.

She never smiled. She stared at me and asked me if my arms were broken.

Oh no, she didn't!

Now I am in a lot of pain, and I'm exhausted because I can't sleep with the pain.

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. 

I said, "No, they are not, but I have a medical issue. I'm sorry, I thought this was part of your job." 

She said Nope, emphatically.  

I picked it up for her, and she stood there with her hand on her hip, staring at me. 

She slowly scanned it and never said thx. 

I said, "You're welcome." 

She said, "I didn't say thank you."  I replied, "I know."

When I was about to leave, she threw the receipt at me.

I caught it and said, "Thank you for the great customer service today, ma'am, have yourself a great day!"  All while smiling, and I know it sounded sincere and not sarcastic. I was trying not to be a snot. She looked perplexed. 

I admit I giggled inside seeing that look on her face. 

She knew she did not deserve it, but by God, I was not going to stoop to her level.

I then just stood for a minute by the customer service desk, thinking I should walk over to the manager. But I didn't take my Karen behavior to that level; I just left.

When I told Rick, he asked who I was, then put his hand on my forehead as if I had a fever. He said, "About time you say something back to that kind of behavior, but you should have gone to the manager." 

Ah, it wouldn't have done anything anyway.

I'm not proud of myself for doing any of this, but man, oh man, was this woman awful.

Rick asked if it felt good. No, no, it didn't, honestly. 

He'd better enjoy that damn pop. 😝

Survivor

 Do you watch the TV show Survivor?

Rick has loved this show since 2000.  I have always disliked it since 2000.

I recall when it first came out. I was at a conference for work. As is the case when you're all together in Vegas with your co-workers, you go to the bar after the day's events in your hotel and have a few cocktails with your peers.

Everyone was all hyped up about this show. It was new and apparently everyone loved it.

After hearing them talk, I said the following - "So to be clear this is a show where being manipulative, lying, and backstabbing is all considered good. Don't you get enough of this in corporate America?  Is that really entertainment? And why would you wish to watch these kinds of people?"

They all laughed at me and called me Pollyanna.  So be it.

But I dealt with people like this during my work hours, why in the hell do I wish to watch them at night?  

Last night it was on.  At 8pm, I took my book and went into the bedroom, got into my comfy chair, and read. I finished my book.

The clock on my nightstand said 9:07pm.  

Ooh, good that damn show is over. 

I walked to the living room and found it was still on.  

I asked Rick if this was a 2hr show? He said no, only 90 minutes. Dear Lord. I sat down and watched the end of this and watched the snakes do their thing.  

I just do not understand this for the life of me. How is this fun?

I have pointed out over the years the similarities to Rick when he had shit coming down the pike at work. He would laugh and say, "You're correct, it is the same. Then he'd usually give me a half-cocked smile and stick out his tongue at me. 

Okay, then why does it bother you so?  

You love this bad behavior and the traits of the people on Survivor. 

He just said Touche.  

The horrible people and games aside, it's not for me.

Sleep on the sand?

Nope. No showers? No toilets?  Nope. Nope. 

You all know me better than that. 

Camping to me is a hotel without room service!

Are you a Survivor fan? Why? What do you love about it?

I'd sure love to go to Fiji, but not on Survivor!

Tuesday

My husband's girlfriend was on TV this morning.

I normally have a 2nd cup of coffee and watch Jenna & Shenielle.

This morning, Ashley Graham replaced Jenna.

Rick walked into the living room and said, "My girlfriend is here. Why didn't you tell me?"

Because your wife shouldn't tell you when your girlfriend is here, you ass.

He found that funny. 

He watched the entire show with me. He doesn't normally do that.

His comments were the best. 

Yesterday in my neck of the woods, they called off school. 

As is the case with rain and the possibility of a storm, or even a tornado.

Now, don't get me wrong, tornadoes are nothing to take lightly.

But c'mon, you don't close schools just in case it may snow or rain.

It rained for an hour. That was it. We got a chuckle over this. 

Rick kept saying, " Can you imagine this flying up north?"  Nope.

Parents were not happy. No remote learning, just canceled school.

I wish I had grown up with this mentality because I'd never have gone to school buried under 120 inches of snow every winter.

Today is cold. As is the case around here, it was 76 yesterday and 43 today. Today is indoor work. Tomorrow, our power washer person is coming back to do the driveway. I did the deck and the walkways, etc. But the driveway I couldn't do. She gave us a huge break on the price, so we went for it. 

She did our home last year. 

I'm looking forward to not having a black driveway. It's so unsightly.

I hate being the house at the beginning of the development. 

Everyone sees your home. 

I've had strangers say to me on my walks, 

Oh, you live in the corner house. I like the window boxes. 

Or I see you painted the sign, thanks for doing that. 

Why did you cut down that tree? (it was dead) 

My favorite is, What the hell happened to your mailbox?

So being on the corner for all to see is not so great!

I leave you with these ditties

                                                Dad Joke

                                            My favorite - 

 

Sent this one to Rick, and I knew he read it when I heard him howling. I have said as much to him over the years. 

Rain and Tylenol

 Lots of tidbits today.

Have any of you seen Sebastian Maniscalco's stand-up routine? I have found you either love him or hate him. I love him. I relate to him. Then you add the over-exaggeration of his movements, which makes it funny to me.

Then on Saturday night, we were watching SNL. We saw that Harry Styles was hosting, and Rick and I said at the same time, oh crap.  We are not Harry Styles fans, but he proved us wrong, well, until he sang. Then we disliked him again.

I'll post it at the bottom if you know Sebastian, you'll know. 

** In other drama - we are not getting the new fridge now. It is working fine. 

How long will it last? We don't know yet, but after he fixed the fan/blower thingy, it seems to be working fine. Thingy is the proper term. 

This is the 2nd week, and it's been fine.

We have been using both the freezer and the fridge. This money was really a hardship for us, so we decided Sunday night to cancel it. This morning, Rick said that since we canceled it, it will die. I told him to shut his mouth. Don't put it out into the universe. Fingers crossed, this was all that was needed to help us out.

** I had planned to surprise my stepmom and sisters for my mom's birthday. I was going to take the train to DC and then drive the rest of the way north. I can drive 6 hrs but not 10. And honestly, I love the train.   

I was only going to arrive for the party and leave within 24-48 hrs.

But the fridge stopped me from going. Now, no fridge, so maybe I can make a trip up there. I saw all the pics, and it looks like a good time was had by all.

I never rode the train until I was given the territory for NYC.

I took Amtrak every week. Easy peasy. I'd get on the quiet car (no cell phones) and just sit and enjoy the ride, or open my laptop, plug it in at my seat, and work.

I got to NYC in 4 hrs. Penn Station was right under my office building, so it was convenient. I'd drop my bags off at the office, say hello to all, and then hit the streets to visit my clients. At the end of the day, I'd go back to the office, pick up my bag, and head to my hotel. Or join my boss for a cocktail. I loved my boss, Bruce, so I was always up for that.

No TSA, not standing in line forever, or taking off shoes/clothes to go through security. No crowding with 3 seats that only little people can fit into. Always on time. Just a more civilized way to travel if you ask me. Yes, I worked in the travel industry; my company was owned by an airline. But I stand by my train preference. I liked going to the dining car on my way home for a glass of wine or a T & T.  You'd meet the nicest people as well. Oh well, I'm going to get up north via train if it kills me.

**I watched a Billy Joel documentary on HBO Max. 

 I love me some Billy Joel. He is the soundtrack of my life. I had to laugh when everyone just kept saying he was so NY. 

Jackson Browne and other artists all said this.

Then, when they'd say why they felt this, I finally understood why everyone thinks I'm from NY. I get it now. But what people don't seem to realize is that people like Billy and me are everywhere, not just in NY.  

His first wife made him what he became, if you ask me, and you didn't. 

He had the talent, but she did it all. I found her to be a classy, straight-up, no-chaser kind of woman. She was on screen a great deal in Part I. She was just a classy older woman now. Which Rick said out loud, and I agreed 100%. 

She was smart, and she really looked after Billy and Billy's well being.

But don't be fooled, she didn't suffer fools nor the misogynistic shit thrown at her when she became his manager. Remember, this was the mid 70s.

Of all his 4 wives, I found her to be the most interesting. 

All very beautiful, and the last 3 are all decades younger than Billy.

While his life was interesting, the songs, oh, the songs. 

How they came to be, and so many were played here. I was in Billy Joel heaven! 

** We are having what I call a Southern Snow Day. It's rain. It's wind. It's a possibility of a tornado. Schools are closed. Thankfully, so far only rain.

I worked cleaning our 4-car garage and moving things around. It's a hot mess. But some things I left outside the garage door, I had to run out to fetch this morning, so they didn't blow away.

Rick is not working on his lathe, so all the dust and wood shavings are everywhere. While Rick napped, I went out there for 3 hrs and moved things, cleaned, and collapsed. 

I decided after taking copious amounts of Tylenol all night that I would finish the rest in small increments. This was a bit rough on my old back.

My mind says you've got this, Margaret, no big deal. 

My body says, "You're nuts, old woman, you can't do this all in one day!" 

I really thought I could too. But my shoulder was barking, and I found myself having to stop more than I wanted, so I just stopped altogether at the 3 hr mark.

Having 4 back surgeries makes things a bit difficult for me, but I did it. 

If I am being honest, my shoulder hurts far more. But I refuse a shoulder replacement. 

I wish I could get stem cells for this. But I'd have to go to Mexico, and that is out of the realm of possibility for this ole gal. 

It's all I've got, kids.

Raised by Guilt, Lasagna, and Mild Violence below -  (that will be on my headstone)

We Survived!

 It was black as night when we left our home, and it was only 4:30 p.m. 

The rain was now just a drizzle with very high winds. My car was blowing all over the place. Then the downpour came as I entered the ramp to the interstate. 

It was difficult to see, Rick said he saw my shoulders and body stiffen.  Nah, you didn't see anything, mister, I'm fine, remember?

We arrived at our destination and had a nice time. At 9p.m., we headed home. By this time, the rain was done. The ride home was far better. Rick was not white-knuckling it. When I mentioned this to him, he said he wasn't any more concerned than any other time I am driving - and he laughs. Oh, you little shit.

This whole driving Miss Daisy, as he calls it, bothers him so much. Most of the stroke-related deficiencies that bother him are ego-related.  After his last fall, I got him to finally use that nice cane with the movable foot I  bought.  When we got in the car last night, he said, "Don't say a word, but this cane really does help."

I didn't say I told you so, but I did laugh and say, "Good. Imagine that!"

He called me a smart ass. He's right. It's my only talent. I can't hold 'em in, or my head will explode.

So all in all, a very good night. We got home, and off came the heels and the nice clothes, and on went the sweatpants and sweatshirt. 

We hunkered down to watch The Pitt.

I do love that series. We stayed up way too late again watching TV.

This morning at 745am, my phone is ringing off the hook. It's in the living room. Rick shakes me and says, Margaret, your phone is ringing.  I mutter I'll call them back. Then I remember that my satellite company is coming to replace a cable today.  

I hopped out of bed, brushed my teeth, put on clothing, and threw on a baseball cap because I had serious bed head.  No sooner had I gotten to the living room than he was at my front door. Whew. Just made it.

He was so helpful. As I was signing something, he asked where I was from.

He went on before I could answer and said, "You are the best customer I have ever had. You offered me coffee, you are kind, and you weren't mean to me."

Now, why would someone be mean to their Dish Network repairman for heaven's sake?

I thanked him and said, "I am not from here, I have only been here since Oct 2021."

He moved here in 1999. He said all the transplants are so much nicer than the locals, and I can always tell.  

Yep, I know that, but I didn't say that to him.  I just thanked him for his kind words.

Then he said, "And no one has ever offered me bagels and coffee before." 

Now, I did not tell him that my husband thinks I have a 'need to feed'

I say it's common hospitality if someone comes to your home, you offer them something. Rick says it's my Italian background. Maybe, maybe not. I'm not so sure it has anything to do with my nationality as much as just how I was raised. 

My parents (especially my father) taught us when meeting new people to always smile, look people in the eye, and shake their hands. I was taught that if someone comes to your home, make them feel welcome and offer them food and drink. 

And God forbid, do not go to someone's home without bringing something!

So maybe it is how I was raised that I have a 'need to feed.'  

I find it funny that Rick has always told me that. 

But is it really my parents being Italian that I do this or feel this way? 

I don't think so.

But when my friend Frannie told me she loved it when she came to my house because it was so warm and welcoming, and I always fed her, it made me howl. 

Oh dear, everyone sees this, not just Rick. But at least she liked it.

But I can't stop, so that is my flaw, or as I told Rick, I have so few flaws, babe, you're gonna have to accept this one."  

Which of course makes him laugh his ass off. 

Oh well, all is good. It's a sunny day, the TV was repaired, and I survived driving in a wicked rainstorm. Things are lookin' up. Now I need a 2nd cup of coffee.

Friday Eve

I was talking with a friend who was wishing Friday were here. 

That is truly a favorite thing about retirement, I never know what the hell day it is anyway. 

It's funny if I had gotten to finish out my career in travel, retirement would look different, of course, due to the money, but that is not what I was thinking. 

I had to be in heels every day, dressed up, and with makeup.  

Retirement allows me to wear sneakers, leggings, and no makeup.  

It is to me the most glorious part of not having my career. 

Other than that, there is nothing I'd rather be doing even today but my old career.

Does that sound pathetic? Yes, everyone says it is. It is what it is.

A storm is brewing as I type this. Heavy rains and wind. It just got very dark. 

I love these, but I have to go out today, so I hope the high winds and rain stop by 4 p.m. They thought 5ish, but I have to drive, and I have had 1 accident in my life, and it was raining and nighttime. So now I'm a bit paranoid. 

Wasn't even my fault, which surprises Rick, who hates my driving. 

It's okay, I feel the same about his driving. 

The night of the accident, I was leaving my hair appointment. It was raining heavily, and I just made a left-hand turn on Route 7 when the car at the head of the line slammed on his/her brakes, and everyone crashed into one another. I couldn't stop, and the guy behind me hit me so hard that the airbag exploded.  

(I must have written about this. But I can't find it.)

I am short, so I don't always wear my seatbelt because it chokes me due to having the seat so far forward. 

That day I did not wear it. So when the vehicle behind me slammed into me as he was being slammed into, I jerked forward. Due to being so far forward in my seat, my face was on top of the steering wheel when the airbag came out. I instantly got 2 black eyes that were swelling so quickly that I could no longer see. It also hit my breast, but at that moment, all I wanted was my eyesight. I was feeling around on the floor for my bag and cell.

The man behind me came up to my window and helped me out of the car. Sirens were blaring, and I had to feel around the front of the car since I couldn't see. All the crash victims were walking off to the side of the road. 

I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The driver of this ambulance was either new to driving in this area or new to this area. She is yammering about how to get to the hospital she was routed to. I heard the announcement come over in the ambulance that Fairfax was full take her to Reston.

She had no idea. So from my gurney, I gave her directions. I couldn't see if she did it correctly, but we got there. She thanked me. 

How weird is that? Your ambulance driver has no idea how to get you to a hospital. I'd have been very upset if I had been seriously injured.

At the hospital, they brought me back into a room immediately. 

I had some cuts on me, but nothing crazy. 

I tell you this to explain the blood all over the room.

They gave me a phone and held it to my ear so I could call Rick.

I started by saying, "Rick, I am okay, but I had an accident. I am okay. 

I am at Reston Hospital..."  I hear the phone click.  He hung up?  What the hell? was my first thought.  

In the meantime, they take me in the back for X-rays. When Rick arrived, in record time, I might add, they told him which room I was in.  He just saw blood and gauze all over the floor, and he freaked out. They just told him they were working on me in the back. That sounded so bad, and of course, now Rick is pacing and worried.

When they wheeled me back into the room, I heard Rick say, "Hey, are you okay?"

He is touching me, and he sees me now and knows I can't see a thing. 

My eyes are black and blue and were swollen shut. 

The doctor came back to tell us about the X-rays. 

I was fine just as I thought, except as he said, "You got sucker punched.  Your breast and your eyes will be fine in a week or so. Looks like you went a round with Mike Tyson, sorry you lost."  Oh, a funny doctor, eh?

After the doctor left, a nurse came in with instructions. Handed it all to Rick.

I felt her arm on mine as she removed some items that they had placed all over me.

Then she leaned in to my ear and said, "Too bad you can't see Margaret, Dr. X is really good looking."  I had to laugh. 

Apparently, he was new to this hospital. All the nurses were chatting about Doctor Good Looking.  I already had an orthopedic doctor who Rick insisted I was hurting myself on purpose to see him. Well...

Dr. Tall Tan and Gorgeous was enough for me; I didn't need to see this doctor. 

This was not a week off work that I would have wanted, let me tell you.

My boob was black and blue, and truth be told, more black. Oh, it hurt like hell.

Rick kept asking me how only one breast got so badly hurt. Hell if I know.

Of course, he insisted on a photo that no, I will not post here.

Rick, knowing that I was not hurt, used this blindness to mess with me like only he can. 

I would be sitting at the kitchen island waiting for whatever it was he made for me.

He would say, "It's ready and right in front of you."  

I'd feel around, and he'd say to the left. But I find he moved it right, the prick.

More often than not I only knew because he was laughing so I had the good sense to know he was messing with me.

Oh, he was having fun. We laughed a lot during this, which most would find odd but it was all good. I needed help one day with this shirt. He told me, when he saw it, that I had buttoned it wrong.  I missed one button, so the hem was not even. So he began to unbutton it for me and then takes my bra off. I shoo'd him away. 

For the love of God I can dress myself. He kept saying are you sure? 

Oh, he did all kinds of things when I couldn't see. 

He'd laugh, and I'd swing my arms, hoping to swat him. 

Thankfully, this only lasted a couple of days. Then the swelling went down enough to have these small slits that allowed me to see. The morning I woke up and realized I could see, I looked over at him and punched him in the arm. 
Touche buttercup!  Didn't even ask me what that was about. He knew. He laughed.

So tonight in the rain, I will wear my seatbelt. We will make it to where we are going, and it will all be fine. Yes, I'm doing positive thinking because I am already sweating this. 

I will be fine. I will be fine. Today's mantra

PS  I would be better if someone could explain the ending to the movie/series I just watched on Netflix called Vladimir. I may have to read the book.

Well, That Didn't Happen.

 Ordered the new fridge and was told it would be here on Friday. They called back to say it's been changed to April 1st.  Oh no. We can't keep this up, running to the garage all damn day and night.  But maybe it was a blessing. 

In the meantime, Rick and I have been devouring Consumer Reports on Fridges as well as YouTube sites that went through all makes and models.  After we watched all of those, Rick said maybe we could continue to try searching, and it doesn't have to be LG. Not counting Bosch, the top were LG, then Frigidaire.  GE came in at the bottom. 

LG is notorious for having its ice makers break down. According to the repairman who did a very thorough explanation of refrigerators on YouTube, he states all the reasons why this occurs. Something about the freon in Europe that they use and not the freon in the US.  I was so damn confused when he was done explaining it.

I asked Rick if he understood, and he laughed and said, "I'm the one with cognitive issues, Margaret, remember? Yes, I understood it. Are you having a stroke?"

HA HA funny boy.

Anyhoo, that made me do more research.  Found one, went to Lowe's to look at it. It was far cheaper online, and I got free installation online as well as free haul away, which Lowe's did not offer. The man at Lowe's remembered me and said, "So back for another round?"  Yep, this time I brought my tape measure, and he laughed. I did not wish to get counter depth; I wanted standard depth.  I had measured ours, so I wanted to be sure I was going down the right path. This one on the floor did not say counter depth, but when I measured it, I found it was. I asked, and sure enough, they did not have what I needed on the floor. So, back to the website.

So we got a new fridge that will not be here until March 21st between 8 - 12p.

So we will continue to limp through this process.

We did get our old fridge to work enough right now. The fan is blowing, keeping the fridge cold. But, for how long?  As the repairman stated when he was here, it will work, but not for long. He thought for a week, maybe 2 if we were lucky. I hope we are lucky! 

We have things in the fridge, but all freezer things are in the garage. We also put things from the fridge that would have a horrible fate should it die in the night.  But some things I left in the fridge since it is cold. I miss having water and ice from the dispenser, which was also leaking and the flap not working, etc.

You know what I miss the most?  The ice and water. I drink a shit ton of water. A shit ton is about 2 liters or more a day. Usually far more. Now I have to drink tap water and no ice. I am buying a bag of ice today at the grocery store. I know, I know, wanting ice water is such an American thing. But hell, I'm American, and I want my ice.😝

During all of this domestic bliss, I have been ensconced in WBC. World Baseball Championship.  Last night's game was Italy vs USA, and it was so damn good. 

We lost. I kept telling Rick that Italy was a great team. He poo-poo'd me and said the US has got this. Then the game started, and he said, "Oh, you  may be right.."

I'm always right, what is wrong with him?😂

Italy has an espresso machine in its dugout. At one point, I said to Rick that our team looked tired and weak. He said maybe the US should put an espresso machine in the dugout, too.  That made me laugh. Rick found the names a hoot. 

Their coach is one of my favorite past players, Francisco Cervelli.  When he was a Yankee, I thought he was a cutie.  Good catcher too. 

It's pollen season here. I never had allergies until I moved here. My God, I am all stuffed up, sneezing, wheezing, having a headache, and it's just darn right icky. 

Yes, that is a professional term, icky.  I am downing DayQuil capsules like M&M's.

It's going to be 89 today. What the hell?  Then back to 62 tomorrow. We, cheap old people, have not turned on the air. We are just miserable. But last month's heat bill was just over $300. And we don't keep it high. 68, but when it got really cold, we did do 70.  I need at least a few weeks of not turning anything on. We are all electric, and it's so high in cost compared to our gas bills up north. So for this week, there have been fans on, open doors (sneeze sneeze), and windows. 

Rick said, " Let's pretend it's 1970."

I asked, "What the hell does that mean?"  

He told me that we didn't have A/C in 1970.

I told him my father did plumbing, heating, and air conditioning for a living, and we had A/C.  

Then he snorted and called me a spoiled brat. 

I reminded him that my father never would turn the damn thing on. He'd say, open the front door and the back door, and 'we'll have cross ventilation.'

WHAT?  Dad was nuts. But I have heard of cross-ventilation for most of my life.

Once, when we were all back home visiting my parents, someone said something.

His daughters said in unison, " Open the back door, you'll get cross ventilation."

That made us all howl with laughter, Dad too.

To be fair, in August, he turned it on.  Looking back, it wasn't as hot then or up north on Lake Erie as it is down here in North Carolina. Climate change and being in the south is a double whammy. 

I'm off to go to my favorite grocery store. It will be air-conditioned, and I will linger. After all my errands all over town, I just know I will come home and turn on the air and say, fuck it.  Classy, aren't I?

Refridgerator

 It just keeps piling on. 

I walked into the kitchen and walked by the fridge, and there was a big puddle.

Now, sometimes when Rick gets ice, some fall onto the floor, and since the stroke, he doesn't even notice. So I thought it was just that.

But ice on the floor would be too easy. It just died. 5-year-old fridge.

Now, when we moved in here, I believe I shared that they just bought all new appliances, but they were all dirt-cheap GE models. I am not a fan of anything GE. Never had luck with that brand.  I still don't have luck with this brand.

So when the dishwasher died at year 3 of its life, we bought the same one we had up north. We couldn't afford it, so I put it on a Best Buy credit card - 18 months same as cash. Whew. No interest.  We love this dishwasher.

Now the fridge. This fridge was purchased by the former owner in August of 2020.

No warranty left. The former owner left us the manual and the receipt from the appliance store. She bought all 4 appliances for the price of our fridge.

They are cheap. When Rick and I were flipping homes, we never ever did the cheapest appliance package. We didn't do the highest either, depending on the property, of course. We were somewhere in the middle. 

I called for service today. A very nice young man came to our home. He spoke softly, and with an accent I could not discern. It seemed Dutch to me, but what do I know? The man probably thought I was the biggest idiot because I did ask him to repeat things. He spoke so softly it was difficult for me to hear him. I finally said that I couldn't hear him well. He laughed and said, "I get that a lot. Please forgive me."  And he did speak louder for me, thank goodness.

The control board or motherboard is shot. 2 other items need to be replaced as well.  The total was over $2,500.  Rick said that for that price or close to it, we can get a new one.  So we put everything in the garage fridge that is 26 yrs old, mind you, and not a GE. 

Why do appliances no longer last? My mom is 84 she has a fridge that she's had since the late 70s.  It is still functioning - ugly harvest gold, but it's functioning well and lives in her garage. 

So a new fridge it is. We can't afford the one we want, even if we charge it. It's too damn expensive, and we no longer have high flalutin' jobs anymore. So, we got a nice one, I hope, but it wasn't as expensive as the one we wanted. All of them are expensive except GE. There is a reason for that, I suppose.

Until it is delivered, we will drink water from the tap with no ice, like peasants we are. Yes, I am spoiled and poor. Great combo, huh?

Yard Work

I deactivated my facebook account a couple of years ago.

My birthday was the 4th, and a friend called to say she saw a lot of birthday wishes on FB for me.  How can that be if I'm deactivated?  I can't open it, and I don't want to, but it kind of confuses me how someone can write on my FB page if I deactivated it. You should not be able to find me.  I may just have to delete it completely. I do enjoy using messenger though. Oh well. I am not activating FB again, that is for certain. 

So if you left me a birthday wish there. I'm sorry I did not respond. Thank you for the wishes, but 70 is not a celebratory birthday to me. It was more a cry-in-your-drink kind of birthday.😂

I did more yard work today. I didn't do as much since I was a bit sore. I thought I'd do a bit less and just add a day. I will be working out there all week while it is in the 80s.The ole power washing is up next. And y'all know how much I love to powerwash. 

I will get everything back in place on the patio and under the gazebo, and then the heavy-duty pollen will arrive to cover it all in yellow. We have everything under covers, and last night we wanted to sit out there so much so we took the cover off one end and sat there. 

It was just such a beautiful night. No humidity yet so these temps are great. Come June I'll hate it but in the mean time I am spending as much time as I can outdoors.

I have an area by a fence that the woman who lived here before us never planted anything. It's just dirt, and it has a decorative border with nothing there.  I would like to do some creeping thyme so it isn't something I have to weed and bother a lot with. Seeds or plants? Have you done either of these?  I'm leaning towards plants, but seeds sure would be cheaper for a 12 ft long area.  (it's actually longer than 12 ft but 12 ft of seeds would be enough)

Rick can no longer remove our mailbox that was cemented into a Home Depot bucket.  Our mailbox has been hit so many damn times and knocked completely over that it has become a joke.

I looked at Lowe's for a new mailbox. I can put that together. But digging up the old one is my issue. I tried. It was a joke. First, I'm not that strong. Second, my right shoulder has just had a steroid shot to avoid the shoulder replacement they have been telling me I have needed for the last 2 yrs. So pain digging was an issue. I did it for awhile and decided I needed a big strong man and I admit that makes me mad. I should be able to do this simple task.

I don't want to hire someone for this. It is something I should be able to do.

So tomorrow I will try again.I am also putting a light on the post on the top of the new mailbox so drivers can see it. Also, putting some reflectors on the long post. Will it help? God only knows.

I've seen the UPS driver hit it. I did not see the Amazon driver who came in the wee hours of the morning. But my box was at my front door, and my mailbox was on the ground, so who else could have done it? We got that back upright and 2 days later the mailman hit it. 

I asked the mailman if our mailbox was too close to the street since he and his partner had knocked it over 2 x.  He said, Oh no it wasn't and he didn't think moving it further away from the street would help the mail people get my mail easily to me. Okay fine. THEN QUIT DRIVING INTO MY MAILBOX.

I took a survey and asked the Amazon and UPS drivers. They both said it was the long driveway that was the issue for them. When backing out, they can see why someone would hit it. Of course, they both said they never have.  I said I get that, but we have a driveway with a turnaround area, so you don't have to back out. If you are pulling up to our front door area, it's right there for you to turn around. Could you please try to use that next time?  They both just said, "oh"

Like that never occurred to them for some reason. I know they won't use it, and they will continue to back out. 

So that is the spring clean-up review for today. My hydrangeas have big ole buds on them and I can't wait for them to burst. Same with the trees in the yard. Edging, weed wacking, mulching, and pulling weeds yet again today. More tomorrow. Don't buy an acre of land unless you can afford people to care for it. See why I wanted a condo for this phase of my life?

Survey

 I don't like it when women are body shamed. But what are we doing to these women that they think this looks good, healthy, or normal? Is it the pressure they feel from men, other women, fashion, their industry, or all of the above?

Yes, I guess this is a bit of shaming too isn't it?

I want to hug them and then feed them mashed potatoes.  They obviously never had a mother who, when you said you weren't hungry, told you to just have a sandwich then. :-)

You will never see a photo of me looking like Kelly or Demi.. If I were this thin, I could gain 20 in a snap of your fingers or a weekend. Ice cream, pasta, grilled veggies, wine, cheese, salami's. All my favorites. Oh yes, I could never be these women even if I tried.

Thankfully, my husband likes thick/soft women, as he calls them. Selma Hayek is his fave. When Ashley Graham made the cover of Sports Illustrated, all the men were saying, "she's too fat."  Rick said, "Oh no , that's just sexy."  

Whew.

Rick's other favorite is Hannah Waddington from Ted Lasso Fame. She is one tall drink of water. But as he says, she has curves, and she is soft, and if you hug her, it's not a bag of bones.  Okay Rick.  

While I may not get it, I am happy he isn't one of those who find anorexia sexy.  

These are pictures from this weekend's Hollywood event. 

Kelly looks like a corpse. She said she is going through a tough time because her father died.  I hope someone gets her help STAT.

I couldn't get a full photo to show you her bones that have skin on them, which are her arms.  I feel bad for her. She is obviously in need of some help.I fear these women are killing themselves and for what? To be super skinny?

Demi Moore was fine the way she was, in fact, beautiful. 

Now, if you were to put her in a desert, remove her makeup and fancy clothes, people would send money for food.  

But it made me look at my shoulders in the mirror to see if I could find all these pointy bones she has sticking out. I felt them. See, they are in there somewhere, I told Rick.  Mine are just covered in ice cream. 

I am always going on about my bat wings, and I won't wear sleeveless anymore. But I don't want these arms either. Again, why did she do this? A role? What is missing in her life that she would do this to herself? Is this pressure from managers or peers? She looked so good before.

They freeze their faces and/or change their faces and starve their bodies. I am glad I am not in Hollywood. Who can keep up with this?

To the Men & Women who read me and who are attracted to women, do you find this skin and bones look attractive to you? Ooh, gotta have it? 

I get why Ashley Graham may not be your thing, but are Demi and Kelly?

Tuesday

Happy Tuesday.

I am out voting while you read this. Will it help?  WhoTF knows. 

Musk helped them rig the last election, but I will continue to do my civic duty.  

I have been cleaning out the pictures in my phone.

I'm going to show you a few that I found entertaining. Hope I don't bore you too badly.  In any case, you can laugh at me and my ugly mug.

Yes, I was a bald kid. I remember my mom telling me she was so worried I'd never have hair, and she took me to the doctors, who told her she was just a worrywart.

Thankfully, it came in.  If a doctor told me I was a worrywart that would be the last time I saw that doctor. But my parents are of the school that doctors are God and never got 2nd opinions or doubted anything they said. 

Hence why my mom died at 44. She was told she was fine until she wasn't.

So here I am with my dad. I am assuming I am 1 yr old or 1.5 yrs old. Everyone who would know has passed. I asked my niece, and she thought 1-1.5 yrs, so I'm going with it. She has children, so I will go with her guess.

Bald as a cue ball.  If I am the above age then Dad is only 28/29 years old. My goodness, they looked old back in the day.  I love this with his French cuffs and cuff links. Dapper Dad. :-) This is how I remember my father, too.  😍

This one below made me howl. If this doesn't look like a scene from the Soprano's, I don't know what does.  

Dad on the left, Uncle Fo (real name Aquino), and Uncle Steamboat, whose real name was Guido.

The wine, the pasta bowl to the left. I recognize that big hand-painted pasta bowl. I'd die for one of those today. Too expensive.  We had Rick's moms and it cracked. It was over 60 yrs old when it finally collapsed.

This one I actually remember. Mom didn't want her picture taken because she had her hair in pincurls. It was Saturday night, hair being done for church don't you know. It was card night at my parents' friend's house. I went in my pj's.  They gave me an ice cream cone and as I stood there with the cone, their dog ate it out of my hand and nipped me. I remember crying that the dog got my ice cream. Don't ask me where my keys are or where I left my phone on any given day. But damn it, I remember this from over 65 years ago. I remember them taking this picture and his stinky cigar. But you know what? Every time I smell someone with a cigar, it reminds me of dad, and I don't hate it anymore. Funny how that works, isn't it?

This next one was in my Uncle Angelo's kitchen. I think it was a holiday perhaps Easter by the date. I look miserable. I wonder why I wasn't smiling? I was probably 10 here. Mom was sick by this time. The photo says April 1965. Is that when taken or when developed? My little sister in this picture was always doing something like this. Even today she is somethin'. 😛

Cute as a button, though. I always wanted her blonde hair. She always wanted to be the oldest. I would like to go back and slap my parents for dressing me like this and that hair. No wonder I wasn't smiling. I had very strong opinions about my clothes and hair, but no one listened to me.

I need to get a photo printer so that all these pictures on my phone and computer can be made and put into my photo boxes. Does anyone have a great recommendation for a photo printer?  It stinks to have them all on a computer or phone. I want them in my hand. When my niece was here, we went through a lot of albums and laughed our asses off. She even said, "It's nice to have these pictures instead of handing you my phone."  No kidding. She's 29 so she has no idea of how it was done back in my day.

I realize at this ripe old age that I am probably the last generation that played outside, that took pictures, and couldn't wait for the film to be developed. Well, that is, until I got a Polaroid for my birthday.  Ooh, I thought that was so cool. Remember waving them to dry?  

The freedom of your bicycle.  Before you could drive, that was everything.  Not only were our parents not helicopter parents, but we left in the morning and came back at lunch sometimes, but always by dinner time. My parents had no idea what I was up to. Usually playing in a creek, sitting on the fence, eating a popsicle, watching the cow crossing, and moo'ing at them. We played softball, swam in a pool, and played tetherball.  Remember tetherball? My sister and I climbed a neighbor's tree and ate all these small green apples one afternoon. Oh boy, did we get stomach aches.  To this day, she won't eat apples. 

I had a good childhood, if you don't count my mom dying. Minor detail. 

But overall, I wish today's kids could put down the pads, the phones, and just play.  I think it would do them a world of good. Using your imagination has gone by the way side. 

I read a lot, and my mother would tell me to go outside. So I'd put the ole book in my bike basket and ride to what we called "the woods" an area of the development not yet developed. A big ole log was down, and I'd lean against it and read for hours. I can still smell it, you know? 

It was 78 yesterday. Rick and I were on the patio having coffee and watching the kids playing in their backyard across the way. At the same time, we each said, "It's so nice to see kids outside and playing."  (ICE has left)

We laughed, but honestly, it's sad.

By the way, today was 45 . (Yes, it's spring here and it's crazy.)

And lastly, I will leave you with a case of Karma biting me in the ass.

When Rick installed the toilet seat, he was struggling something awful. I went into the bathroom and asked if I could help.  (I heard the swearing)  He did allow me to help him.  We got it on, and that was that.  Until the next day.

Rick was squatting while in the bathroom, working on this difficult toilet seat.

This made his ass so sore the next day.  He said squatting to get on the toilet would hurt. Of course, being the nice, supportive wife I am, I laughed at this.  Every time he did something or sat down and had to get up, he would moan.  

Monday, when he came home from the gym, I asked if his ass got a good workout. He laughed and told me that one machine hurt too much, so he didn't finish his reps. His old trainer saw this and said, "Don't stop, mister."  I asked if he told her his ass hurt.  He laughed and said hell no, she'd make me do more.

Pulling those weeds, I was basically doing squats.  So my butt and inner thighs are a bit sore. I think it's called Karma. I yelped when I woke up and sat on the commode.  I heard him say, "See?  Now who's laughing missy?"

Yep, not me. Karma's a bitch.