Monday

It's Monday and as is the case of all Monday's I am buried with things from the weekend to deal with today. 

I find it fascinating that Home Improvement construction is skyrocketing as are the numbers for Home Depot and Lowes. So while no one is eating out, or going to the movies I do know what they are spending their money on while home.
I am most thankful for that. It keeps us in masks. HA HA 

Here are some interesting things I've seen of late.

I had such a great weekend. Rick worked on Saturday. Izzy went to daycare. I talked to a blogger on the phone and bothered her for way too long. I got to have a 2nd cup of coffee in the morning. That doesn't happen with the dog around. I would have been walking her then so that 2nd cup tasted even better!

I cleaned hardwood floors on the 3 levels including 3 bathrooms.  I got the floor cleaned on the entire first floor including powder room and no one was here to mess it up for a few hours!!  It was clean and perfect for a few hours and that to me is nirvana. 

You have no idea how nice that was. I got more things done in 3 hrs than I can get done with Rick and Izzy underfoot. Why is that? I think Izzy and Rick are like Pig Pen on The Peanuts Cartoon Strip - there is always a mess and smell that follows them. 😇

Monday mornings before work it is very quiet around here and it does drive me crazy.

Rick wakes up and instantly turns on the TV. Not my favorite thing. 

He watches a show called Yellowstone. In all honestly every time, I look at the screen someone is slaughtering someone like an animal and that too would make me ill or stabbing or kicking or shooting. 

So not my thing!  

He turns this western on and all must be quiet so he can watch it.

Oh he has never said to be quiet but I once said Good Morning and he paused the show and acted like this was a major intrusion.

It is barely 6am. I do not do this to him. 

I like shows that he finds awful and I never watch them and make him be quiet because he doesn't like them. So when he isn't around I watch them or sometimes I watch on another tv but most often when he isn't here.

I told him Sunday that it bugs the shit out of me that he turns it on instantly upon waking up and sits there glued. There is no talking - you ignore the dog. If I ask if you want coffee you only nod, there is nothing from you until it's over. Then you leave for work.

Why can't you watch this when I am not around like I do for you?

He looked at me and then began to laugh. Ooh, I felt my blood rising. 

Then he calmly says with a bit of a snicker, "you watch your shows when I leave for work right? Or before you start work or before I get home and you're done with work right? You work from home, you are always here when would I watch when you leave? Where are you going?"

OH MY GOD, HE'S RIGHT - NOooooo he's never right.

So it hit me and I realized that was obvious and yet it never occurred to me. What an utter dingbat!

Now I am laughing. He's right, he leaves, I don't so when would this time alone be for him? Damn it. I looked over at him in his big ugly chair with his shit-eating grin and said, "you are correct and damn that's funny. I was so pissed off that you do this every Monday morning. But you're right I'm always here but you know you could do it in the evening and go to another TV"  

The smart ass didn't miss a beat and immediately said, "But then I wouldn't be in the same room as you babe."

Oh yeah, we both had a hearty har-har at that comment. Please!

What Kind of Plant?

Rick did a job for a woman that was outside our service area.
We had done some historic work for her when Rick first started his company. In those days he took work anywhere. Thankfully he doesn't have to drive to these far away areas anymore but when a former customer asks we always say yes.

This woman is a delight to speak with. She is happy and she laughs.
The problem I had with her is she keeps asking me things and forgetting my answers and will call me back. But she is funny and laughing and so it doesn't bother me. But I did make mention of her forgetfulness when talking to Rick before he left for the job.

He remembered her and he never remembers anyone! 
Oh, sure the women who drop their drawers claiming they forgot he was there he remembers. I think those pictures are etched in his memory. 
But otherwise, if I tell him a street he will remember the job, but not the people. This lady he remembers because she was so lively he said and smiling all the time. A happy upbeat nice person. 
How can one forget one of those unicorns?

Well, she found another clawfoot tub that needed a lot of work. 
Rick had her get it sandblasted first because it was in pretty rough shape. Thursday he was then to refinish it for her in her chosen colors.
On a side note her home is rather cool. It was an original Sears home. But it was considered a mansion in those days. By today's standards, this is just a regular home but in those days this was a home owned and built by one of the top executives of the Sears home building arm of the company. The facts about this home are so cool. The home is so well built, it's amazing. Her home is beautiful. The walls are thick concrete so easy to keep cool and she claims easy to keep warm as well. The history on the house is so interesting to me. 

When Rick arrived he went to the side door and saw some gorgeous flowers and plants. He took a photo of one of them and sent it to me with the question -
Is this a pot plant? Could this be why she is so damn happy and forgetful?
It didn't look full like a pot plant would be full but... his text made me laugh.

Boy, it sure looks like it to me but would she do this in her yard?
Then I said to Rick aren't they more clustered and full? 
Yes, it's legal in the sense you won't be arrested but not that you can grow it yet here in VA. 

I text him back and said, Maybe that is why she can't remember shit.
I told him to ask her she's a hoot, she'd answer. 
But in all honesty, I never in a million years thought he would ask her.

He had some time in between appointments so when he was done he went to get her. She was sitting on her lovely flower-filled patio. He sat down and said he was done and would she like to view it. 
She said okay but sit a spell, Rick.
So Rick did just that. She asked if he wanted some lemonade. He took some. I have to say I was shocked when he told me this but this woman is so lovely I get it, and he had the time to do so. 

Rick describes her as a beautiful woman in her 70s. Or to quote my husband, "She is a beautiful woman today in her 70s and I bet in her day she had a line of suitors"
When he said that I had to laugh....suitors? Who are you, my grandfather?

They sat on the patio and talked for a bit about retirement and how she was so busy and how the pandemic has made her come to a stop. 
She was bored and Rick offered her a job which made her laugh.
Then at some point, he asked if she was trying to make some extra cash because that plant sure looks like marijuana. Well her big laugh bellowed now. 
"Oh my God, everyone asks me that! She told Rick that her grandson whispered when he came to visit "Gramma are you growing pot outside?" 
She said that was the first person who pointed this out to her. 
No to pot, it was a Texas Hibiscus.
Rick said, "Patty I've never heard of this, or is that the name you're given this to hid it from the sheriff?"  
Oh my goodness did she laugh it up with him? They bantered about it for a bit I heard. I know how my husband loves a woman who can banter with him so he was in heaven. I may have to watch out.

I had never seen or heard of that type of hibiscus before. 
Come to find out while it does look like pot it is indeed a Texas Hibiscus which I had to google.
When Rick told me a texas hibiscus I googled it to see if she was pulling his leg.  Sure enough, it does have a leaf-like this. Too funny.

Hell, if it's pot she can share because she is so bloody happy all the time.
I told Rick if she tips you ask for the pot. He laughed and said I should huh?
Well, she did try to tip him but as is the case he won't take tips. But he sat a spell had some lemonade and a nice chat with a beautiful woman. For Rick that was a winning day and a tip. 

Dog and Man Snoring

Last night I had the game on but I wasn't actually watching it closely. I was doing chores, cleaning up the kitchen. Izzy was snoring, Rick was barely awake in his chair.

I made myself a cup of Folgers Vanilla Biscotti to satisfy my sweet tooth. Fewer calories in black coffee. I got comfy to watch the game. I look at Rick and he is out like a light softly snoring. I chuckled. Yep, another fun nite alone.

Rick's work and this heat takes it out of him. Another day of condos, stairs outside, and 98% humidity just wipes him out.
Me, on the other hand, I am so cold that as I sit there on the sofa I am wearing leggings and a sweatshirt. But I'm comfortable all day so if he needs it so cold I have icicles hanging from my nose so be it. He deserves the break.

I am comfy with my legs curled under me and sipping my coffee.
We are playing ok, not great, the pitcher looks anemic.
I just think the Braves aren't very good. Then this awesome catch happened.

I jumped up and unbeknownst to me, I yelled something.
I woke the dog, Rick was startled. Geez, I didn't even realize you know, my excitement just made me jump and cheer.

Rick jumped, looked at the TV replay, and said, "ooh, damn. Good catch! But think you could keep the cheering down babe, they can't hear you."
And just like that, he was snoring again.

How does he do that?

Several rants and questions

Besides the fact that we have no federal pandemic plan in place - oh wait allow me to rephrase that - they have one but choose not to follow it.

So because of that, we have the highest deaths and cases in the world. This meme is New Zealand's Prime Minister vs the orange dictator. Wasn't it sad as hell when in his press conference he couldn't say Yosemite (Nat'l Park)?
He tried a few times but learning, reading, understanding are not his strong suits shall we say.

But while the trouble is squarely on trump - the biggest trouble after him are the American's who think this is a fine time for a vacation or a spa day.  Or this is a fine time to go to a bar or restaurant. And of course not wearing masks - we don't need no stinkin' masks. Come on! 
Mildred, just wrote the saddest story about her family being near someone who had no regard for anyone but themselves and didn't wear a mask and gave it to her family. You know party's are mandatory don't you?

Look, I know common sense no longer exists or more people would have it, so not so common anymore. I get it, but seriously this is sad.
You want to go back to work - then sit your ass at home and do what is needed!  We will never have this go away with people swimming, golfing, mingling, eating out, and hanging at the beach. It just won't. So consider your self stuck at home for a lot longer now! Gee thanks. 

Just wait until the teachers and children start dropping like flies. 
Oh, then I bet an uproar will take place. But why? You thought it was fine to go to the public pool. You send your kid to school and if they give it to another kid's family and someone dies, is that murder because they sure as hell knew what they were doing and chose to do it anyway? 
Don't think for a minute if I thought of that others will and use it to sue the pants off you. It's just a matter of time, especially when little timmy is concerned.

I really don't understand the economy. Never have and I guess my grasp is not getting any better. I asked some people this and everyone looks at me like I have a 3rd eye. So if someone could explain to this dummy why in 2020 when our GDP is down 32% or more the stocks are flying high. Are the numbers being manipulated? During the depression, the GDP dropped to 30%.
So therein lies my confusion. It caused a depression last time and this time everything is just dandy they are saying. I don't understand how this works.
Yes, you are correct I didn't pay attention to this in high school. And the longer this goes on will it make us weaker? Hmm...if the answer is yes, then why the hell is everyone not doing what they should be? Aren't we concerned about the long haul? Or as Americans do we just want our microwave culture and damn it we want it NOW?
If the answer is no, then GDP has nothing to do with this. Whew. If you get this please explain - slowly for me. I'm as dumb as the president on this topic.

Not thrilled by Biden's pick but so be it. She's smart and strong and young. Better than the numbskull Pence and his mommy. Wonder if he'll be allowed to debate her since she is female and he is not allowed to be around females let alone all by himself on stage. But this pick will have trump spouting all kinds of lies and racist shit. Can't wait.

This one I just thought was so perfect for him. He reminds me of the kid that got locked in his locker all the time. Daddy gave him money so he abuses everyone in his path now. BTW, have there been any presidents in my lifetime ( from Kennedy on) that did not have a dog or cat? If so I can't think of one. I thought even Nixon had a cocker spaniel. But maybe I dreamt that. That's okay a dog would not be treated well by him and there is no money in it for the resting bitch face so she wouldn't care for it. I think a dog is better off not being there. 

Have you seen this ad?

Sorry, one more day of flashbacks to 2012

I promise I'll be back to the year 2020 but right now I am buried with work.

Tonight I have a phone call with my astrologer so that will be something to write to you about.  Go ahead Mike, get the jokes ready. 

Patti mentioned she likes the oldies because she wasn't around then. So to those of you who were - you don't have to do this again.

 It's from the way back machine and it's 2012.

This was the proposal that gave me a big ole goofball to write about.

We were friends, then we weren't, then we got married.

It was exactly like When Harry Met Sally.

But here is the proposal.

Very Busy

Monday's are just so tough for me. I am buried in work and calls.

Here is a flashback from July 2013. 

A few topics today

I had a man call our office that wanted to try to get me to leave my insurance company. All my policies are with Erie Insurance. 
Cars, Work vehicles, and company insurance. I told him we were very happy with Erie but he insisted I give him a chance.
He was with State Farm and I said, "Jake is that you?" He didn't get it. 
Never mind. (jake from state farm, doesn't everyone know Jake, what are you wearing Jake?)
He was professional so fine, tell me what you got.
He took some info and then he made a date to call me back to go over the policy he could help me with.

I got that call on Thursday. Wow was he a weirdo. I got TMI.
Look he is not writing a blog, I didn't care that he has 5 cats and 2 dogs and a kid with ADD and a stepdaughter. I shouldn't need to know that information. I would say nothing hoping he would get the "hint" to shut the hell up about you personally and let's talk business. I said as much to him. Then he said, "don't you find president trump funny?"
I said, "funny how? as in haha or laughing at him funny because he is so incredibly incompetent and stupid?"  Silence. 
Then he said, "oh you don't like trump"  
"Well, I don't much care for dictators, people with no empathy, people in bed with our enemies, stupid people, liars, and those that think treason is not a big deal." SILENCE.
Then as if he never asked me the question he stated the cost of the insurance with State Farm vs. Erie Insurance. 
For a savings of $150 I told him it was not worth me switching companies at this time. They have been great with us on all levels. I apologized and he said he doesn't blame me when he saw it wasn't that different and they are a good company.  
He thanked me for being so kind when he called and by giving him a chance.
Then he said, "But I'm sorry to tell you but trump will be here another 4 yrs"
I said, "Oh is he playing with Putin again to rig the election? Man, that's too bad because the US won't be here after another 4 yrs. But hey, Have yourself a great day"

I mean what did I have to lose. I don't talk politics at work but he brought it up. Interesting call. What a twit.  You never mix business with your opinions idiot. That could be why you are cold calling I suppose instead of working your book of business.
I never had to cold call I was in customer relationship sales. Far better suited for me than cold calling. That is a numbers game I don't wish to play. But I also would never give my political view if I wanted their money.

I worked in Manhattan primarily. These were my people. Straight up no chaser. No messing around. Lay your cards on the table. 
Being a contract negotiator I appreciated that. I had to go to Iowa because they were having issues with a client. So they sent me to fix it. 
I worked with an imbecile in a horrible little town in Iowa and she would always tell me everything was fine yet she couldn't or wouldn't sign the damn contract. Finally, I said, "what are you looking for or waiting for that I haven't given you? 
"Oh nothing really" 
" I don't think that sounded sincere Sherry. If you don't tell me I can't help you achieve it. So help me help you. Tell me what you are thinking."

She hemmed and hawed and drove me crazy. Finally, she said that it wasn't enough money upfront and her face got red.
But we were getting somewhere. Finally.
Come to find out after pulling teeth - she thought it was rude to tell me why she didn't like the contract. 
OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! This is business lady.
I have had to fly to this godforsaken shit hole of a town several times now and you can't be a grown up who owns her own business and say, I need at least 10K more upfront and another $.30 per segment to even consider signing. Sabre is giving me XYZ.
I asked all the right questions but she felt it rude to tell me.
I gave her what she asked for easily because it was waaay under my budget and I could give her that amount and still make a killing for my company and my purse as well. Gee is that so hard lady? That was all the people I ever had to deal with in the real midwest. 
Frustrated me to no end.

Then in NYC. Gary tells me as he throws his contract on the table that this is not making him happy.
Then Gary how can I make you happy?
I need A, B and Z. Can you do that?
I can do A and Z. B we may have to compromise B. How about this?
I lay it out - a real compromise. We go back and forth for a little bit.
Gary says, fine, where do I sign.
I'm out of there in less than an hour.
I'm in Iowa for days pulling teeth. 

I was given Manhattan because the person before me (Phil, a man with an ego as big a manhattan) couldn't cut the market. He lived in Florida and why they asked him to go to NYC is beyond me. I think he looked the part and my new boss who was female fell for his charm. But there was no substance and he was not too bright. But boy he was a charmer and a looker and the ladies loved him as much as he loved himself.  Oh have I got stories on this dude. But I digress...After I got the territory he actually said to me they would eat me up. He said it with such pleasure. I said, maybe I will get eaten up but in the meantime, I get some time in the city my husband hates so I'll be fine either way.
I knew damn well they would not eat me up but I wasn't so foolish not to have some real concerns. The world thinks everyone there is mean. I never found that to be even remotely true. 

I was given the city and its boroughs and Long Island. If I could turn it around I could keep the territory. It was the most money-making so I was thrilled to get this offer to prove I could do this and honestly it was about me being able to make a few hundred thousand.
I thrived in NYC.
I used to tell Rick all the time, "these are my people" 
Too bad he hated it there as much as I loved it. 

It just felt comfortable and I loved working with these people.
They were nice, kind, always offering my their summer house in the Hamptons or their place in Puerto Rico, etc. They took me to lunches, gave me theatre tickets, and they would ask about my family and honest to God I loved all my clients except those in Chinatown. (they burped in my face at a conference table and that about gagged me) I know, it's not considered rude in their culture. But they were rude in other ways. Did not like working with them except when I left I could walk a couple blocks and stop at my favorite Italian bakery in Little Italy to bring something back to the hotel with me. 

I found my NYC customers genuine and never once did I ever have to drag out what they needed or wanted. Nope, they told me. I find working like that far easier. I could hear their point of view and do what I needed and if I was giving them what they asked for but not always in money but in product that usually was good enough even though they were going to ask for everything. Why wouldn't you ask for everything? We just played a different kind of poker shall I say but as long as all sides felt they won that was all that mattered. When both sides are straight up it is so damn easy.

But the midwest thought telling me no was rude. 
Please! So they would string me along.
Telling me no was foolish but never rude. 
I did not enjoy working in the midwest.
I think I was fortunate to have been given NYC.
I used to get Yankee tickets to give to customers. 
I hated that I couldn't use them for myself.

One afternoon I was visiting a very high profile Japanese businessman.
I loved this guy. He called to tell me he'd be in NY on this particular date and could I come to NY to see him then? Absolutely. 
He is the president of this company in the US and Japan. We had been going back and forth on a couple final issues to the new 5 yr contract.
This was a huge account for me, my largest. My companies largest. (and my company was global)

This man was a bit intimidating at first. He was stern-faced and was so serious. After the meeting, he asked me to go for drinks. I normally would never do that but I thought what the hell. We both just made a lot of money, he was getting 550K up front and a great back end deal and I was going to make about 18K in commission. 
I met him where he said he'd be at the end of the day and bought the first round and thanked him for his business.
We had drinks and he was so funny, smiled all the time.
I asked him why he never smiles like that in the office.
He says It's better if they fear me.
I told him I would never be afraid of him again.
He acted shocked, "oh you, you were never afraid of me"
I laughed and let him think that. I was though, but that would be showing my hand so I went along with him. 
There will be future negotiations you know, can't show my hand. :-)

Then I got my Yankee tickets out of my bag and held them in my lap.
He was talking about his love of baseball and the NY Yankees.
I asked if he would be able to see any games while he was in town.
He said, "I don't know yet. I love the Yankees, Hideki Matsui my man."
I said, "I'm glad you said that here are two great seats for you to enjoy while you're in town"
He was so excited. Seriously excited. I asked if he could go. 
Nothing will stop me he says.
He thanked me again and again. Then he noticed the seats.
"OH MY, the seats are down front."
I told him of course we are not going to give away seats in the nose bleed sections. He laughed.
Then he said, "Do you wish to come with me?"
Oh no, those are for you Mr. Otani and your guest.
No, no I want you to be my guest.
I was actually shocked. Should I go? 
He asked if I would be in town tomorrow for the game.
I told him that I'd still be here for another day and a half.
Then the matter is settled he proclaims. Besides you like the Yanks as much as me, it will be fun for us both.  I have a new contract with you and you have to go to the game with me. We will celebrate. I will tell my wife.
"Your wife is here with you? You should take her Mr. Otani not me!"
He laughed and said, "Oh no she's in Japan but I tell her so in case she sees me on the TV sitting next to a pretty girl."  
Now we both know she probably couldn't see the game in Toyko but whatever.

He was so funny. We went to the game after I checked with my boss to be sure it was okay. They were always so adamant about me not getting tickets only for me to give away. Bruce asked me, "Did he sign the contract?"  I said he indeed did and agreed to all financial points and we left money on the table so we're good"  Bruce then said, "go have fun then! You earned it"

So I went to a baseball game with a small Japanese man in his limo who told the filthiest of jokes and yet was a gentleman and a fun date.
I've lived a fun life and I'm damn lucky.

As I was going back to school at age 26/7 this exact job/career was my goal. This is the job my family told me was too far fetched for me to ever achieve. This was the goal that everyone in my family told me I'd fail at. But I reached for it, I dreamt it, I got it, I did it & I did it well and it gave me my life.
So here's to my head in the clouds doing what I loved. I'm damn blessed.

My Dog

Rick comes home every day and it doesn't matter how tired he is Izzy expects to go swimming as soon as he walks in the door. But before you feel sorry for him, he started this daily ritual. The first time he did this I told him you know she'll expect this. Oh no problem, it's fun for me too. Okay then. Now oh so many years later he is not finding it as fun as he did 11 yrs ago.

The other day when it was 99 degrees and humidity was as high I knew he would be so exhausted when he got home. The heat also makes him more tired after a long day. I knew he would be ready to collapse and not spend an hour or 2 at the pond with the dog. 

I thought if I had the time I'd surprise him and take Izzy swimming. 

I took Izzy and took a video to send to Rick to let him know I was doing this so he didn't have to. 

You can tell I'm so happy to be there. He texts back an all caps thank you. 

This damn dog was bugging me all day and she kept coming to my office to get me to go outside. I just can't leave the office other than lunchtime really.

Izzy was staring at the back door looking for him to walk in or she was bugging me. She wasn't having any of this.

So I give in and I take her to go swimming. It was after 4p where the hell was Rick was her thought! I just wanted to not go outside but... I decided to leave the office early and get her some exercise.
But I had to remember this is how he feels every day when he gets home and she brings him her bumper for swimming. 

You can hear how thrilled I am. ( I also sound out of breath - did I take this after running after her for the bumper? ...sorry 'bout that)

We did this for an hour.  I throw the bumper a minimum of 8 times in the water- she swims to get it. Rick does far more and much further. I throw like a girl. Then we throw it on the ground 2x and then she'll get in the car to go home. She will spend time in between looking for fish. She loves to look for fish. But what she doesn't seem to realize is I don't need to be shown where they are, I am not fishing! That is your human father who cares about the fish Izzy.

But heaven forbid we don't throw it twice on the ground because she is not getting in the car otherwise! 
She also is a lousy retriever. She has trained us to retrieve. Yep there is a trend.

Here is Rick telling her to bring it to him. She gets ornery when she doesn't want to. I posted this once before - her talking back to Rick just as she does me.
This dog very seldom barks, only talks.

This dog has ME well trained.

Hump Day

Just a couple of things that have happened this week so far.

The lady across the street is a big fan of the baseball team Washington Nationals.
She sees me outside with my dog so she walks over with her dog.
Her dog annoys the shit out of my dog and while I found it funny at first, she doesn't get why my dog won't "play" with her little yapper.  He's a little yapper is what I want to scream but instead, I say, Izzy is old and small dogs and puppies she no longer has time for.  She bought it.

Our conversation went like this -
Karen: Your favorite baseball team sure is getting a lot of media attention.
Me: really? I hadn't noticed. Hmm.. well they are healthy and it's been a long time that the team has all been healthy. Years in fact.
Karen: Well it is all I'm seeing (she says with disgust) 
Me: Oh gee sorry. But Karen so far no covid and that alone is news
Karen: No, it's not about that. It's all this winning bullshit!
Now I just laughed and said Okay.

One more baseball tidbit -
We cleaned our rivals sox off. Get it? Yea the Boston Red Sox were swept by us and while I will always love it, it wasn't the same since they suck. Too easy. I never in my life would have thought I'd say that but it's here in print.

So now I think I'll have a t-shirt made that says, "All that winning bullshit"
I know everyone loves to hate on my team and the way they show it always makes me laugh. This one was a first and it made me really laugh.
_______________
Last night my notification sound went off on my phone. This weather radar app lets me know storms are coming, rain is coming in 15 minutes etc.  We had some real storms due to the hurricane. Some tornados - you know the general fun stuff with the tail end of a hurricane. So I expected to see a warning of sorts.  I open my phone and see this.

I burst out laughing. I say to Rick what I am reading and he asks if I hit the black bar to read the rest of it. I said I indeed did and that is all it says.
He and I had a damn good laugh over this one. 
"Light rain starting, likely stopping"
I am so glad I got that info or I'd have thought it was going to rain forever and ever.
___________
As I have mentioned my husband watches The Price Is Right in the evening before Jeopardy. Yes, he is a creature of habit.
What makes me laugh is how he knows all the women and men who wave their hands about over a car or can opener.  
Oh, he loves the blonde Rachel.
He tells me, "her husband is a former baseball player" as if that matters to me.

The other night our friend Joe, who also records and watches TPIR in the evening like the weirdo Rick. Joe texts my husband to tell him that both Tiffany and Rachel were on today. He watched it live on this particular day. 
Joe just can't wait to share this important news with Rick. Apparently, they don't often appear together or some crazy thing. Who knows.

I heard Rick's text and after he reads it he says to me all excited, "Hey Rachel and Tiffany are both on tonight"  
Who are Rachel and Tiffany?
The girls on TPIR.
You mean the women.
The female gender types who wave their arms in front of a car.
Yes, I got you, Rick.
Joe actually text this important information to you?
Well, it is important. He watched it today live and he thought I'd be excited to know.
Well God knows I'm all a twitter Richard.

Head In The Clouds

I had a mom who let me dream and let me soar. 
She never laughed when at 8 I told her I was going to be doing 'that' as I pointed to a comedian on Ed Sullivan. 
I could never do that! 
I could have said I was going to be president in 1968 and she would have told me I could with hard work. 
Her knowing full well it was highly unlikely being female.

Then she died. I got a new mom who was terrific in almost every way. 
But she always clipped my wings. No dreaming for you! 

I recall a time when I said I wanted to work in the travel industry. 
I was told that was far fetched and to keep my feet on the ground because my head was always in the clouds. 
I had "grandiose" ideas and I was a 'dreamer.'
So when I saw this over the past weekend it brought all that back to me.

I can't fathom clipping a kid's wings. 
I am certain Bill Gates parents didn't tell him to stop fooling around in the garage and get his head out of the clouds.

Thankfully while they slowed me down a great deal they didn't stop me. 
Something in me wouldn't let them completely clip me, which frustrated them. I vividly recall being in the car with my mother, father, and Rick in Ohio, and another comment was made. I responded with, "well if I'm shooting for the moon what is the worse that could happen? I land on a star?"
(That was considered mouthy off to my parents.) 

I can say that around the 32-year mark of hearing it said as a big fat negative every day I decided to embrace my head in the clouds and enjoy the view from up there!😉 

Whew!

Friday around 12am I awoke to a pool of sweat. 
Ok, I have never had night sweats like most women my age and I thought well this might be it. The back of my hair was dripping wet.  

I got up and put on some clothes and walked into the bathroom. 
The floor was even warm. Hmm.....

I knew I would never get back to sleep so I walked up to the 3rd floor TV room and thought I'd watch the rest of the game. 
I recorded Friday night's game because Rick wanted to watch something on Netflix and I'd watch it later.
As I got up to the 3rd floor it was so bloody hot I thought I'd pass out. WTH?

Normally as you descend each floor gets cooler and cooler.
As I rounded down to the 2nd I didn't feel a difference
By the time I got to the 1st floor, it wasn't the coldest as normal. Nope, it was a hot mess. The air was running. I checked the thermostat and it was hotter than it's setting but it was running and I figured it would cool down - this was all just me.
It's steamy summer weather, this must be me.

I poured myself some ice water and sat in Rick's ugly chair. I turned on the TV to watch some mindless television. In the meantime, the dog is panting like no tomorrow. She moves around a lot she is so miserable. She is a cold-weather dog so I know how miserable she is. She has a few moments where she gets comfortable under the fan which I have turned on to warp speed. But it never lasts long.

Rick came down about  30 minutes after me. The first thing he said is,"the A/C isn't working it's hotter than Haiti in here." Brilliant Richard.
The outside unit had ice around the tubing into the house. Rick said I think I'm going to turn the A/C off because it is doing nothing. By 1:00am Izzy was so miserable we took her outside and hosed her down. Getting wet ourselves actually felt good. We were like kids walking through the sprinkler and laughing.  I didn't care if the neighbors heard us we were loopy from lack of sleep and hot and acting like kids. 
Izzy came inside and laid under the ceiling fan and fell asleep for a little while. 
We, humans, were not as easy to appease apparently.

When the sun was up I called JC Flood and thought this was a good time to use our service agreement. But first, let's try the home warranty and maybe we can get a new unit altogether, doubtful they try to repair far more than replace.
I called the home warranty company's referral, they thought they could get me in by Wednesday. I said thank you but no thank you. I called JC Flood and figured we'd pay out the arse for this but we'll get cool faster.

This is the same company that sent a plumber to fix the last thing.
My God my house is 20 years old now and everything is happening.
They would have a guy here the same day, Saturday. Great.

As is the case with this company they are awesome. A text was sent when he was close by, along with a picture of himself. He called us when he was outside our home to let us know he was outside our door.  Everyone masked up and we answered the door. He put on booties which I so appreciated!  Rick took him to the 3rd floor where our HVAC unit is along with the water tank etc. 
It was frozen there too. 

He came downstairs and said to turn off the fan and let the frozen thaw. 
He checked the unit and said it just needed coolant. Yea! But he had none. 
How does he not have any?  He said he would let Leo know the amount, what you have and he will bring it by tomorrow. I asked, On Sunday? Is that extra?  He says no, you have a service agreement. Okay, something good is happening for a change.

So Izzy, Rick, and I did all we could to stay cool. I closed up the house like a prison. Awnings down over the wall of windows, all blinds/drapes closed and fans blasting. Rick brought in a fan we use on the patio it mists you. We did not use the mist but the fan is great so we brought that in too. It was a very uncomfortably hot day inside and hot. Wasn't a lot of difference from outside to inside except we had no sun inside. Thank goodness.

We 3 slept on the 1st floor Saturday night. We considered a hotel but I have to admit we were chicken due to Covid. We actually have a Hilton in our development so it would be close but we thought we'd sweat it out. 

We found that the sofa and ugly chair get the ceiling fan and we weren't leaving that area just as Izzy had decided. 
Rick is in his ugly chair. Izzy in front of the coffee table under the fan and I was on the sofa.
We sort of slept off and on. 

We continued to hose down the dog and we took showers which Rick insisted I not make mine cold. He said I'd feel worse. I couldn't feel worse, I was going to use cold, but ended up with tepid. The cold was a bit too cold. He said I'd feel worse later but I don't think I did really. 

The man on Sunday, Leo, sent his photo and I showed Rick. 
I said, he looks like a scary criminal. When he got here he looked nothing like that. The photo was scary and he was so cute and pleasant. I told him he needs a new photo because he is much cuter in person.
He laughed and said, "Would you repeat that to my wife?"  😂

He and Rick went upstairs and he came down and did what was needed outside to the unit and then came in and asked for $210. Done. 
It took a long damn time to cool this house down.
At one point it was 85 degrees on the 1st floor so I know it had to be 90 on the 3rd and if not, close enough because it felt like 90 upstairs.

We need a new unit. Got an extra 8K you can give me. 
Notice I didn't say lend. 😇

Both men from JC Flood and the oven man were given bottles of water and I offered them some cookies I made and they all took the water and cookies. 
The last man, Leo, who looked like a criminal in his photo, asked Rick what he did.  Rick told him he was a contractor. 
The man looked at me and said, "That's why you're so nice" 
I said, "I'm nice because HE is a contractor?"  
He explained that I offered him water when I saw he was dripping in sweat and I was considerate enough to offer him something...so you know how awful most people are"  I laughed and said, "yes I am awful except to contractors,"  
He said, "That's okay with me" We all just laughed. He was correct wasn't he?!

So we are cool today inside and the hurricane will be causing us rain, winds and who knows what. We just get the remnants of this storm. I think it is hitting SC around Myrtle Beach. But the biggest info I gleaned from the weather forecast is it will bring the temperatures down to 88. I will appreciate anything at this point under 95.

But here is what I left out - Saturday after the AC man leaves the man to fix my oven arrives. I got two ignitors, one for each oven. He had the oven on and we had no A/C. After he turned off the bottom oven I asked if he had to turn on the top. He said yes, it was heating but it hadn't reached 350 yet. Rick asked him if he could just turn it off, we see it's working.  He was squatting on his heels and he stood up and he was dripping in sweat this poor man. He asked if we were sure, we said yes. He said okay very quickly and turned it off. 

So there we were Saturday night, no air, but we had our oven. But I was not putting anything in there unless you gave me lots and lots of money.
Thankfully that cost was only my deductible for my home warranty service. 

Bottom line Rick and Peg had a lousy weekend. 
But we did see a couple stand up comics on Netflix who amused us.
These are all 1st world problems I realize. 
But I hate being hot as I've mentioned a million times here. Thankfully we could afford to get it fixed and appreciate these 2 nice guys who showed up on a weekend to save the day.

Now if we could just get through this week with nothing breaking down.

Air, I need air!!

I made note. 
96 degrees 94% humidity at the time of death.
The air conditioner died.
Service came on Saturday as a dog, a husband and wife were zapped of all energy from the very hot house. He could not help. Sending someone on Sunday with parts needed.

They did not sleep. 2nd floor was brutal but nighttime temps were 80s so can't open windows. All fans going. Not much sleep was had. Hubby in his chair on the 1st floor. Wife on the sofa with fans blowing hot air on them. The poor dog just panted. The husband turned in Mr. Cranky Pants. Lovely evening.

HVAC men are to arrive sometime on Sunday between 10 - 12p. 
Or will they die from heatstroke first? Stay tuned