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)