Countdown has Begun

Remember the fun customer Mohammed Mike? (June 4 2021 post)

Rick went to his home on Friday morning. Rick removed the caulking around his bathtub and the stones were barely on the wall. He called in the homeowner and said if you touch this...and Mike immediately touched them and a stone tile crumbled into the tub. Rick didn't want him to touch it but he did it before he finished his sentence.

Rick was about to share with him that the tiles were barely on the wall and the fact that it was soft behind it there may have been a leak at one time. Either way, Rick couldn't do the job he was there to do. He suggested a tile setter to come out and if removing the tile that is the time to just buy a new bathtub. 

Oh my goodness. Mike got up from kneeling and shook Rick's hand. (rick hasn't touched hands with anyone other than me since Covid) then the man leaned in to hug him. He kept saying, "Rick you a man of integrity, good man, you have a good heart. Please go to one of my restaurants for lunch or dinner and tell them Mike sent you and the meal is on me!  You a good man Rick"  Not "you're a good man" but 'you' a good man.

This man is so nice. We only have two weeks left and I like that he was in here for us to remember. Rick was dreading him standing over him all day but he likes the guy. So he told him it was a pleasure working for him and if he needed anything before the 30th to let us know. He repeated he was glad he kept his appointment with us (after knowing of the retirement) because no one would have given me these options he claimed. They would have done the tub and taken my money. 

He just repeated, "you a good man Rick" 

Rick called me at 9:30am to let me know he was going to his 2nd appointment and what had transpired at Mike's. Rick said each time he said, "you a good man Rick" I kept thinking of SNL Garrett Morris saying, "Baseball been very very good to me" It was a different accent but the same cadence and the rolled R in my name and it made me think of this and laugh.

At 10am Mike called me. He said, "I hear you have named me Mohammed Mike" OMG.  I froze. We said it as a term of endearment but what if he thought it was racist or something. Then he began to laugh like hell. I wasn't sure what the hell was going on, to be honest with you. Then he said, "That is so funny. Rick told me you say that because I told Rick my name wasn't really Mike. You are both fun and nice people and I understand you are closing from Rick."
I said, "yes I did send you an email about that Mike."  He laughed again and said, "You told me once I don't read my emails and you are right" and he laughed again at his admission.  My goodness, he is a happy man. 

He called just to say thank you for everything. For us being good people and he wished us good health and success in our retirement. Apparently, Rick admitted to him that I was his wife. 

The website to the business goes down on Monday. Maybe even Saturday I was told. It's a weird feeling.  Oh and I called the IRS this week. I have to close my federal ID #. I was on hold for 2 hrs then a woman answered and we were disconnected. I was livid. That's 2 hrs I won't get back. When things like that happen is when I don't get mind walking away.

We can't seem to sell some of our things. The snowblower. It's 90 degrees so no one is thinking about this. We tried though in winter. Rick said last night that since no one is biting maybe we will need it and it's a sign. I just laughed at him. Snowblower and we're moving south? But it was $750 brand new. We used it for only 1 season. It is still shiny like the day we bought it. Oh well, maybe Raleigh will get snow this coming winter and we'll be the only ones able to get out of our driveway. 

It's all becoming real. Next week Rick works for one family doing their 2 bathrooms and a full kitchen of refinishing cabinets. Basically, he's moving in with them for a week. Thankfully this guy has been very nice to work with as well. 

He refers to his wife as an invalid. I don't know what that means exactly. I have spoken to her on the phone. I know it's a term they used many years ago but I don't know what it means. Is she in a wheelchair? She seems on the ball mentally. Rick has never seen her so we just don't know. Rick finds the term her husband uses as a bit odd and in today's world, it could be offensive. But they are older so to him it just means she has a disability of some sort I guess. When was the last time you heard that term?

Friday I sent the man a $250 door dash card so that he can have food delivered while Rick has their kitchen down. Each night Rick makes sure they can use their kitchen after he leaves, but most don't want to. Besides their cabinets have been emptied and it is a pain. So we give them this for the inconvenience. This small gesture has gone a long way for us in many ways. It's a small thing that makes a big difference to most. And for me, I just realized it's the last one I ever have to buy. Yippee.

Adoption

 FLASHBACK FRIDAY

Click the link of flashback Friday to read this little ditty about Rick finding his birth mom and all the interesting things that brings.  He eventually found his father through ancestry.com when he did all that entails. He found he had 2 sisters and he found out his dad had passed 20 years earlier. This was written long before Rick found any other family members other than his birth mom.

Dating Shows

Have you seen all the hoopla regarding The Bachelor/Bachelorette host Chris Harrison? 

I do not watch the show. I refuse to watch this insipid backward-thinking show. When it first came on I had a hemorrhage. Why on earth would a woman go on this show? Have some pride, please! 

You are picked like a prize heifer. 

You are paraded around with other women making it a competition like a county fair.  

Whatever happened to playing a little hard to get? 

Making a man chase you because he likes you not because he knows by week's end he will bed you along with the other dozen women in that 'room' they talk about on talk shows? 

I said this to a friend who watches it and she told me one year a girl refused to have sex and she was let go by the Bachelor. What a surprise. 

She really thought she was in this to find a relationship.  

Really? I want to scoop up these young girls and give them some love and attention that they are craving and send them off to a school to learn self-esteem, pride, and that you can find a partner in life without having it be a contest prize winner.

This show seems to me to be all so he can sleep with a dozen women on the show and have some fun. I guess if you think boys will be boys this is not a big deal. Hell, who didn't sleep around in their 20s? I get it. 

But if it were your daughter would it be a big deal? Would you want her being treated like this? Would you encourage her to be on a show like this?

Very few end up in a real relationship and that isn't a surprise. 

It pits women against women for what? A loser who wants to just have some fun and use you? Or further his career? Look how many have dumped the women to be on TV for their "new" career. I read People magazine I've seen it a dozen times.

Gee let's get in the hot tub and make out with man #1 and then a few hours later swap spit with man #2. Save time let Man 1 and 2 swap spit and leave you out of it.  

Now there is all this "controversy" Sure the host was a clueless bastard and said some strange things about race relations. He has lost his job.

However, the show should be canceled for what the show is, not just getting rid of the neanderthal host.  Every young girl who watches this dribble then thinks this is normal behavior now. I will flirt, I will push aside another person's feelings, I will do whatever to get my man and the blue ribbon. 

But again, it's not the man, it's the contest and they want to win. 

It is such an archaic game and it makes me angry. And I am not just blaming the men. The women do it for notoriety as well because God knows the hero they look up to is Kim Khardasian. It will make me a reality "star" they think. I'll be famous. Why fame? I never wanted fame. Career, travel and love, but never fame. I don't think fame would be fun one bit.

Rick said these women are all sad to him. He thinks they all lack self-esteem. He would be so upset if his daughter stooped to this level to do this show. I understand that. And who knows she is divorced but I think she has maxed out on the age limit here. 

And have you ever seen previews? 

Everyone crying because they are in love,

Men crying because they loved her? That kills me. How are you in love when you are only going on staged dates and bedding her for just 2 weeks? I like a man who can cry, but when I see them weeping about a woman they just met after two whole dates, well, I'm sorry, you are either acting or you're a damn fool. 

This goes both ways again. Women here are just as bad as the men. This is not men bashing.

You don't have to watch this show to know what is going on if you watch the morning news, read magazines, or watch TV talk shows. 

Apparently, Jimmy Kimmel watches this stuff.  It is all that is on of late.

I will never ever watch. It goes against my core beliefs. 

I am old. I realize this fact every day lately.  

I am thankful I met my husband the old-fashioned way. 

A personal ad made from a bet with 3 girlfriends. 🤣🤣

Can You Read a Clock?

 

This anti-theft device above made me laugh.

I learned to drive on an automatic. It was a Pontiac LeMans of my fathers of course. My father would take me to the cemetery to learn to drive. The headstones were only on the ground, not above it, so again I couldn't hit anything. We would stop at my mom's grave and then get in the car and begin my lessons. 

He told me I couldn't hurt anyone there. He thought he was funny. I didn't. 

My God, he made me nervous. His foot hitting the brake drove me crazy. 

Practicing my 3 point turn for my test, I swear he thought he had a steering wheel. I'd see his hands out of the corner of my eye. He would slam on his pretend brake. He would grab the dashboard if I stopped too suddenly. But hey there were no stop signs in the cemetery, he would just say there is a stop sign here and yes I would stop suddenly. I finally said You can't just yell there is a stop sign and expect me to stop on a dime. 

Can we agree that all "streets" that intersect there is a stop sign? 

He laughed and agreed. I still took Drivers Ed in school and I was a bit ahead of the game thanks to Dad but for some reason, that whole experience was nerve-wracking to me.

I heard from my sisters that he had gotten pretty good at this teaching thing. Once again being the oldest kid he learned on me. He took me to get my license and I did not turn my signal on when entering the course. I flunked because of that. Oh my goodness was my father angry at me. I had to hear that for 30 minutes on the ride home. I felt stupid enough but boy after that ride home I actually thought I may not wish to ever drive. Then of course my younger sister teased me that I was so stupid to flunk. I told her if she ever wants a ride from me she better shut up. She's not dumb, she was then quiet about it. 

The first car I bought was a standard. I was 18 yrs old. I received $500 from my father as a graduation gift. That was the down payment and I paid the rest. At the time that was a helluva lot of money to be given. Because our father did not believe in paying us or just handing us money growing up this was a big deal. Oh sure we got an allowance, but it paid for our school lunches with perhaps $.50 left over. Big deal right? So I didn't think that was a real allowance. Big mistake telling him so because I didn't get it for 2 weeks after that. I had to pack a lunch. So I learned to eat from the a la carte menu at school. Sometimes only eating soft-serve ice cream from the machine and keeping the rest of the money. And they wondered why I came home from high school hungry. Okay, it may have been the pot but mostly because I would skip lunch so I had money!

I didn't even know how to drive a standard at the time. 

I wanted a VW bug in the worst way. 

At the time there were none that were automatic. I bought a big ole brand spanking new bright yellow 1974 Beetle. Brand new and costing me $2,800. Then I had to add that 8 track so my bottom line was now $3,100. I still have the paperwork in a scrapbook. I actually made payments and I remember the amount...$86.63 a month. 

That is funny to me. I received SS funds monthly from my mom's death and that helped me make my payments thankfully.  I still had insurance etc.

Can you imagine? A car for 3 grand. And only $3.50 to fill the car up with gas. Sound old don't I? 

But I never walked to school uphill both ways in the snow so there is that. 

The day I got the car my boyfriend drove it home for me and I followed in his car. He could drive a standard so I drove his automatic car home.

Each night after work he would come over and teach me to drive. There was one hill near me and that hill was my biggest fear. He insisted I learn how to not roll back or rock the car. Oh my, this was hard. I stalled the car. I panicked and it would roll. My God if there were people behind me I would break out in a sweat. Once I had my arm out and waved them on to go around me on that hill. At one point I actually put the emergency brake on and got out of the car crying. I was 18 years old and acting like a silly fool. There I was walking across Heidler Road and him in the car saying, "Get in the car Margaret, I'll drive you home"  I felt defeated. 

But I learned. And I'm damn glad I did. I found driving a car in snow in a standard gave me more control. Hey, don't laugh. So I always bought standards. (I lived in the tundra)  I recall when we moved to Seattle after one full day driving on those hills I traded in my Honda Accord stick shift for an automatic. Those hills were no joke and I realized sitting in traffic with my foot on the clutch and brake were not fun. I could now do the hills with the clutch, I just didn't want to!

I believe I told you that when I mentioned to my hairdresser that young people can't read a clock she insisted her kids could and that I was so off base. Her daughter works at the shop sometimes after school and she came in and she asked her to put down her phone. Then she asked her daughter to look at the clock and tell her the time. Her daughter said, "I don't know, you made me put down my phone"

She kept saying to her daughter as she pointed to the clock, what does this say. 

Her daughter said, "why do I need to know this?"

My hairdresser was shocked.

So the young can't write in cursive, so no signatures. How do they sign a contract?  They can't tell time by a clock and they can't drive a standard. They don't take shop, home ec or living skills. I haven't met many young people that have living skills because sadly their parents weren't given any.  What exactly are they teaching? More to life than math and science. History that is taught is a white-washed version and more often than not actually not very accurate. Hmmm...

Do you have young children? Are you going to teach them to read a clock?

Bad Doctors

18 more days.

________________

Did you all see the story about the woman who finally found a GI doctor and to share that she lost 35lbs because she can't eat. It hurts each time she eats. The doctor told her maybe it's a good thing.

So another male doctor saw a woman who could lose a few pounds and that is his answer. 

The woman left there in tears. She has stage 3 cancer. 

She is now in chemo and praying she can survive this. 

Now this story is not lost on me. I've been there. 

If you have some weight to lose a doctor will always tell you that you aren't sick, you just need to lose weight. It's happened to me too many times.

I had a thyroid issue I didn't know about. A doctor told me to stop crying and try exercising more and pushing myself away from the table.

I went to another doctor. My thyroid issue was discovered and I lost the extra weight. I wrote a letter to the doctor who did this and I told him not to ever do this to another woman again. I included my blood work results to see how off the mark he was. It was a thyroid 101. He called and apologized to me. He promised me he wouldn't do that again. I want to believe he didn't but honestly, I find it doubtful.

My husband is 40lbs overweight. He has NEVER been told this shit before. Not once. Sure they encourage him to get to his fighting weight but they don't badger him, they listen to him, they even test for things. Not once has he been told to just lose weight.

I went to Johns Hopkins when I lived in Maryland. I was in severe pain in my lower back. Having had back surgery in Pennsylvania 12 years prior this felt very similar. So I found what I thought was a great back surgeon listed and made an appointment.

He told me I'd feel better if I exercised more and lost weight. That was the reason for my low back pain. No MRI, nothing, Just lose 20lbs and you'll be fine.

I was LIVID. I asked him to really listen to me, he actually put his friggin' hands over my mouth and slowly said, "lose. the. weight". 

I slapped his hand away and he walked out. Yes, I sat in my car and cried.

I went to another doctor in VA and viola a few ruptured discs found after an MRI. That doctor said, "my God you must have been in a lot of pain why did you wait?" That made me burst into tears.

A year later as I calmed down from the wonderful experience. I wrote a letter to the AMA, to this doctors boss at Johns Hopkins, to higher-ups at Johns Hopkins.

I even sent copies of my ruptured disc photos so they could see that the ass who told me to lose 20lbs and the pain would go away should not be a doctor dealing with humans. Cleaning the mouse cages in a research lab would be more fitting for him.

I made Rick read the letter because I did not wish to come off as an angry emotional woman like all men think we only are. I wanted it to be factual only.   He loved the letter.

I sent copies to all mentioned.

I received 2 letters from John Hopkins.  When I went back to see if that doctor was there his photo had been removed. Fired? Sent away? Who knows but I am glad they heard me or pretended to. Probably pretended to because nothing has changed in the medical field. This is why I only go to women now. I did receive a generic letter from the AMA. I didn't think they'd do much but I was hoping if he gets a few letters there may be an inquiry into this horses ass.

I've heard this shit all my life. "It's just stress, women worry too much." 

"It's all in your head, did you read that somewhere?" 

Look how long it took for them to find out I was celiac? Years of pain and issues. They said, then don't eat something if you find it bothers you. My favorite was, it won't hurt you to lose a few pounds so take it and run with

it. 

In medical school, all they learn is how things work on a male patient. His symptoms, not a female's body or symptoms. They need to change that - STAT.

I read this story and got angry all over again. This poor woman. 

I have had many times in my life where I will review things where I could have sued and easily won. I just never think of it until someone points it out. I am not normally a litigious person. But sometimes I think - especially in this case, she needs to sue that bastard. There is not a jury of her peers who wouldn't side with her. 

Cold, Flu, Covid?

I got a tickle in my throat last week and from time to time I'd cough. It felt very much like when I used to have seasonal allergies so because they were saying all this pollen was sky-high I just thought well, I'm having a reaction. No big deal and no further thoughts about it. 

Then Friday morning I was really coughing. Coughing like a heavy smoker.

But I felt okay. As the day progressed it was really burning in my chest and there was a rattle. Great. I was walking Izzy at lunchtime and just couldn't stop coughing while outside. So I came home and took a swig of cough medicine and it really did nothing at all. I took some dayquil. It too did nothing. As the day went on things went down hill fast. I had full on body aches. I had a severe headache and I was so tired I just wanted to close my eyes but I couldn't. 

Rick had a helluva day on Friday and I knew when he got home he would be exhausted. I attempted to make dinner. You know I stood in front of the pantry and fridge and nothing was jumping out at me so I sat on the sofa with Izzy at my feet. I put my head back and closed my eyes for a bit. I so wanted to just lay down but then the office phone rang. Oh God I just want to ignore that damn phone but I went upstairs and answered it and pretended I gave a shit about this persons issues.

By the time Rick got home I was freezing cold dressed like winter. Now mind you it is in the 90s right now. No reason to be wearing heavy socks, leggings and a t-shirt under a sweatshirt. He said I looked flushed. He took my temp and yessirree I had a temp of 101.6 I just felt awful and I was coughing and it hurt. ( my temp is never 98.6 - normally 97)

I don't remember a lot about Friday night or Saturday. 

Rick couldn't handle the coughing. It pained him he said. 

He does make me laugh, but I sort of understand him.

He said Robitussiun is not working will you take what my parents made for me?

Okay - what might that be I asked him. I was scared to death what his hillbilly parents might have given him.  He laughed and said I didn't die did I? Just hold on you'll see. He made it and had me take a teaspoon. OOOOHH ICK!

I got it down but oh my. I asked what the hell it was and he told me bourbon, honey and lemon.  He mixed this in a pudding size cup and had me take a teaspoon of it.  I HATE honey and bourbon and I couldn't taste the lemon which I actually like. But by God it worked! My cough went from coughing up a lung to barely coughing. Wow. Rick said to me, "See, those hillbillies know!"  So now I had more in this dish for later I suppose. 

By 7:15p I could not stay upright. I had to crawl into bed. Rick kissed my forehead and said good night. I crawled into bed and did not come out until Sunday morning at 5am. 

I awoke at some point in the night to use the bathroom but crawled back into bed. In the morning I heard Rick get up and he saw me move. He came over to my side of the bed and felt my forehead. I smiled because I wasn't up for talking. He told me he asked to take my temp again so I rolled over and sat up but I have no recollection of this.  I still had a temp and a cough. He had me take another teaspoon of Dr. Rick's cough syrup which was now on my bedside table. I did as told and I was again down for the count. I got up to the rest room around 10am. Oh my, I was very hungry. Good sign. I went downstairs apparently looking like death because those are the nice words my husband used to tell me what I looked like.

I said I was hungry and I got myself a GF Bagel. I toasted it and ate it dry and went to bed. I slept until he woke me at 7p to ask if I'd like something to eat. He made me a bunless hamburger patty with a side of dijon. I got up used the rest room and came back and stared at the burger on a plate he put on my night stand. I ate most of it but I just wanted to lie back down. 

So I did just that.

Rick tells me he came upstairs several times on Saturday to check on me. I was always out like a light.  He said at one point he rubbed my arm a few times and I said, "I love when you do that" and right back to sleep I went.

I don't recall any of that.

Sunday morning at 5am the dog came into our room wanting to go out. I realized I needed the bathroom again so I got up and told Rick I'd take the dog out. He jumped up and said, "No Way" but I was now up. And I felt better. I was dripping wet. The nightshirt I was wearing because I was cold was damp too.  My hair on the back of my neck was wet. 

I figured my fever broke. 

When Rick came back in with Izzy I was downstairs and told him I was feeling better. The cough was breaking up. I could feel the difference. He took my temp and the fever was gone.  At one point when coughing he said I still hear the rattle but your cough is breaking up. Rick was a cross between your mom and a nervous nurse. Rick has a need to "fix" everything. He couldn't fix me and that makes him feel helpless. He does not like that feeling. I told him, you made me cough medicine that works but that wasn't enough. 

He didn't have to tell me how he was feeling. I could see it in his face and after 34 yrs I kind of know him.

I showered and honestly felt better just not great.

As the day progressed I got better and the coughing is less. 

Not gone but better.

Rick was convinced I caught covid. I just laughed at him. I am vaccinated and while it could certainly be covid, I am doubtful. But I also have a compromised immune system so maybe. I have not gotten tested. But then I did see family members who are anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists so who knows. This is the only place I did not wear a mask in the past 18 months - at my family home. Otherwise a mask at all times. 

Today I have a cough and do not feel great but far better than on Friday.

I do not know what hit me. But it came out of nowhere and had me down for the count. We were to have 2 neighbors over and do brunch on Sunday and that didn't happen obviously. 

So all those nights of insomnia were vanished after sleeping from Friday night to Sunday morning. And before you say it was the bourbon honey "crap" it was only a teaspoon so I don't think that was the reason. It did help because the coughing stopped enough to allow me to sleep. 

My neighbor gave me a thank you gift of Peppermint Patties (my favorite) for "letting" Rick came to her aid. Like I have any control over Rick. "letting" is not a word we use around here. But it was nice and I was so sick there were PPatties in my freezer yelling, Peg I'm here, eat me. And I never had one for days. Now that tells you how sick I was. Today I think I'll have one at some point. 

Because instead of an apple, I think a peppermint patty a day will keep the doctor away. 

Sunday Memes

 

 

 

 

Will Crying Work?

Last Sunday morning a woman down the street text me because she doesn't have Rick's number. First, she asked where the water shut off was so I told her. Then she asked if he knew about a divertor in her shower head. A plumber had told her on Saturday that it would be $1,000 to repair.  

I told her Rick would be down. She kept saying NO, but I knew she didn't mean it. So I ask Rick if he would go down there and see what is going on. It is 9am on Sunday. He was not thrilled.  He comes back and tells me how she is crying and all upset etc. He sent her to home depot and wrote down what to buy and to call us when she's back home and he will fix it for her. 

He went on and on about how she was ugly crying and borderline hysterical about this. He felt so bad for her and the plumber was ripping her off etc. The woman is in her early 50s and is divorced. She lives alone. So Rick of course sees a damsel in distress and helps her out. 

She called to say she was back from Home Depot and he went back. 

She got the wrong part. He text me and said they were both going back to the store. Fine.  He fixes her shower head for a $31 part and that was that. 

Rick was horrified that a plumber would tell her this was $1000 to fix. He also taught her where the water shut off was and how to do that, changed the water temp for her shower as she asked, and then fixed the showerhead. For 31 dollars! His service was free so that was a bit better than $1,000.

Now the day before I was cleaning our master bathroom. I noticed that water was going into the bottom drawer on rick's side if I used the hot water. I went downstairs and told him there was a leak and could he please fix it. 

He said and I quote, "Oh Margaret can you just not use the hot water then?"

Really? 

So when he came back from fixing this woman's shower head I asked, "If I cry and get hysterical will you feel bad enough to fix our master bathroom leak?" 

He just looked at me for a moment and realized what he had said to me and how that sounded. It was like he just realized it. He burst into laughter, came over to me and hugged me, and said, "No you don't need to cry, I was just being lazy, I will fix it now." And he did. 😂

"Mike"

Yesterday we had an appointment with a man who told me his name was Mike.  I chuckled to myself because I knew that was not his real name from his accent.

Rick was there yesterday and he goes back next week for another room.
This guy drove me nuts on the phone. He called me every 3 days or so to remind me we were coming to his home. Yes, I know that Mike. At one point he told me he was 77 and I don't know why. So on Rick's paperwork, I wrote that this man is 77, very nice but either confused, forgetful, or just needs control. Heads up. 

Rick laughed when he read that he needs control.

He said to me, "well it takes one to know one."

Ok, funny boy.   But then he got there. 

This man is very nice but he is overbearing. "Mike's" name is really Mohammed. So Rick refers to him as Mohammed Mike. He told Rick he came to the name of Mike in the '70s when he moved here. The man at the gas station where he was hired told him he couldn't be a Mohammed so he would call him Mike. So, Mike, it was. It stuck and he began to like it and feel more American. I find that sad but I always understand it. In 1970 things were different, not much sadly, but enough to understand why they told him to change his name. 

Mike came to this country and worked his butt off with 3 jobs to get his American Dream. Gas station and 2 restaurants. One restaurant was across the street from the gas station so he could just go from job to job.  

He then worked for Delta Airlines for just over 20 years. As with all travel industry jobs he was downsized and lost his pension (gee Peg knows something about that!) 

He went back to waiting tables and he loved this one place he'd go to eat wings. He asked for a job there. He worked his butt off and became a manager and then bought a franchise. He now has 4 franchises. But still too cheap to turn on the A/C yesterday in his house. His poor wife Rick said was standing in front of a fan and when he came downstairs she moved it to the kitchen while she stood at the sink. My goodness, yesterday was hot if you have A/C and you can afford it, turn it on!   He didn't think they needed the A/C he told Rick who was standing next to him in a dripping wet T-shirt. Stuck to him in fact from water. I guess coming from a desert setting this may not have been hot to him. Who knows. 

Mohammed Mike stood over Rick all day. Kept telling him stories and watching him work. When Rick went outside to mix chemicals at his truck he followed him. When Rick was done he had him come in to see the work that was done and to approve it. He then took out an outdoor type light and a magnifying glass to review Rick's work. Rick said to him, "Mike if you're that attentive to detail you might want to come work for me."   

Of course, he just laughed. Rick passed the inspection and he shook Rick's hand. Rick said it was weird because he has not shook hands with anyone in over a year. 

He told Rick how he just loves America and how he has achieved the American Dream and he was so patriotic until he spoke of our last poor leader in charge.  He did not like him! So he and Rick bonded over that too.

Rick just loves when he hears these stories about how someone comes here to our country with $100 in their pocket and makes something of themselves with no handouts, just damn hard work. We tend to be surrounded by entitled people who just won't work for their money. They just want the money. Sad that an immigrant gets that and we as American's don't always get it. 

When Rick got home he said he felt he now knew the man's entire life story. Rick said he was a bit of a pain but he was a very, very nice man as I told him. He also told me he understood my notes on the work order after spending 5 minutes with the guy. That made me laugh.

So Rick will go back to see Mohammed Mike next week. I am certain his story will continue. Rick doesn't mind the stories, standing over him drives him nuts though.

Only 21 more days. 

Parade of Realtors

Tuesday - Realtor #1 was terrific!!  She was running late and called to let us know. 

She was super professional, with no boobs hanging out like the last one. 

Gorgeous woman and on the ball. 

She gave great suggestions. She laid out our fees and even went so far as to show us what we'd get at 600K and 630k.
She seems to think 630 will be the magic number. Can't wait to hear from the others regarding that. 

Look this above shows you why we have to leave. A townhome at this price is crazy stupid.  Granted I have a nice townhome but it's not worth this price to me. But we have a new Amazon headquarters and Google and let us not forget government so there is a lot of money and people here. Good for me to sell but not to live. We can't find anything here under 750k that isn't a real hot mess so we have to leave. 750k would still be a fixer-upper with no money left to fixer up! 

Retirement should not be house rich and cash poor. And we can't stay in this 3 level home because Rick is not dealing well with stairs and it's not fun for me either.

Honestly, we just keep repeating, we did everything we were told to do, we did 'everything right' but everything went wrong...and here we are in this mess and we must plow through. If there is a lesson to learn here I haven't learned it.

Wednesday - Realtor #2 -  I wrote to confirm he was coming because he wasn't returning calls. He wrote back that he forgot his nephew's graduation. We had the appointment for a month and he just now sees this on his calendar? Hmmm.....I rescheduled because it may be true. I don't feel like it is though. Because I want Rick to be here to talk to them and more importantly to hear them it's always difficult to schedule. They all want to be here at 1pm. Not sure if we will have him come back or just move forward. I'm not at all surprised by this. But I want to give him the benefit of our doubts. If I hadn't reached out would he have told me he wasn't coming? So his first strike is unprofessional. I know you are thinking, boy I'm tough. Maybe. But damn it, you have a job. Your job is to control the flow of your appointments and to attend them for one thing. If you can't do that how will you handle the tough work that is going to transpire moving forward?  I did this type of work. You know who you are seeing and when. You follow up and reconfirm. If I ever did this type of thing in my previous life/career I can tell you I'd have been eaten alive in Manhattan. Although I still say the customers I had in Manhattan and the boroughs were far superior to people around here. Straight up no chaser people - my kind of people. Never rude, just to the point. No lying to me, just telling me like it is. Their time was as important as mine and they treated me that way. It's a whole new world down here now. 

But then I had a relapse and spending all my time in the bathroom. I got an email late last nite from my doctor. My C4a is off the charts. This is inflammation in your body. This inflammation is causing all my issues. ALL. 

The range is 0-2,830 for a normal range. Mine is over 62,000.  And boy am I feeling awful. It makes one look awful too. Just plain sucks. And yet no doctor can fix this. I'll do anything, not eat anything, eat whatever they want, take whatever pill, I just want this fixed! Anyhoo....

Thursday - Realtor #2 I responded to his email about his nephew's graduation. I honestly felt after our conversation back and forth he just didn't want to come out this far. That was fine. I let him off the hook. He said thank you and that was that.

Realtor #3 is the realtor who left the package on my porch with chocolate and his marketing materials. He was so smooth but aggressive in a non-aggressive way if that makes sense to you. I really wanted to see him. But I had a relapse.  I am in a lot of pain and other things so Rick asked if we could cancel him and just go with Ms. Redfin because he really liked her commission structure and he liked her.  Okay, are you sitting down? While normally Rick loves everybody when it comes to a professional he isn't easy to please. Ya think I'm picky! HA.  Rick was an HR person. He is a stickler. The woman blew him away. I was glad because I thought she was everything we've been looking for in all our home searches over the years. (Mike, we are calling her a "Claudia" and that is a compliment!)

So I had to tell Matthew or realtor #3 that we were not meeting. As a good salesperson, he left the door open in case things didn't work out. No, that isn't what he said but I did relationship sales for over 25 yrs I can spot a good one - he was doing exactly as I would have done. You never know. I told him to find a great buyer for us both so he didn't lose all the commission since we didn't choose him. 

He laughed and asked if I was in sales before.  Yep, we knew one another. 

So we put the house on the market on July 8th. You can not see our garage.

I do not know how Rick will finish it. He works until June 30th. (and 2 weekends) We have told customers should they wish to not do the job. One man told us he'd rather have a great job done than another job half-ass done that he has to call back over and over again. So we gave them an out. I mean what does a 5 yr warranty say if we aren't here. We gave them options. All residential wanted to move forward. Our commercial work and cabinet work is just moving forward. 

So that was a positive.  

Apparently, they will have this open house frenzy for the 8th - 11th 

Then we will review offers and go with the one we want of course. 

🤞

Reason Number One Million and 2.

Why will I not be sad to not answer another @#!$* phone ever again?

I call all appointments as a reminder. I try to make sure they have everything done that they need to do etc. This usually leads to a lot of questions to address. It helps immensely to do this. 

I called a guy and said I was calling to remind you of your appointment and also to remind you that you only gave me ½ the address and you said you’d call back. 
(note: I have called him for weeks and he never calls back – I’ve emailed him as well so I was thrilled he actually answered)

He said, “Oh, we are canceling that because my son sold his house two weeks ago without needing that crack repaired in his granite.” 
 
I said, “ Hey, that’s great, congratulations. Steve as you know there is a cancellation fee for less than 24 hrs but I will waive it for you for this time. Next time if you could please give us a courtesy call to cancel of at least 24 hrs we sure would appreciate it.” (mind you his paperwork states this cancellation fee) 

He said, “well I would have referred you but since that last snarky remark you can go fuck yourself “ and he hung up.

Wow. Where did that come from? I couldn’t have said it nicer. What was wrong with what I said to him? That was neither snarky or mean. 

Oh, I can do snarky and mean mister, this was neither. 

I'd charge him the fee now if I hadn't already said I'd waive it. 

Just another prick out in the universe.

Movin' on Down

My weekend was busy washing windows inside and out. Painting, cleaning, purging, and feeling the stress. The first realtor comes at 5pm tonight. I have reached out to her to reconfirm via email and voicemail but did not speak with her. If she doesn't show up then I know she is not the one for us.

Wednesday and Thursday we have realtors coming by too so a decision should be made by Friday. 

All of my moves have been through a company. 

The company I worked for sent someone to pack up my house. 

Then they moved everything to my new dwelling. 

This time I am doing it. 

Having never done this I can honestly say this sucks big time! 

I went from PA to OH to WA to MD to VA. 

I don't know what my company paid them but I sure wish I could do it now.

And boxes ain't cheap people. Oh sure you can get crap boxes from the liquor store or grocery store but they aren't made for glassware etc. So off to the box store to buy boxes and garment boxes. Who said moving was cheap? 

I assume from now until we are in our new place I will be stress girl.

First I don't want to move but I HAVE to move.

Nothing is good when you HAVE to. But I hope that in the end Rick and I will have a new adventure and a good last chapter at our new place.

It has always been Rick and Me. We don't have children. So moving to somewhere we know no one is okay with us. We will make new friends. 

But we do know someone who lives in the 'burbs of Raleigh so if need be we have someone there. Besides, there is a blogger I've been dying to meet that lives in the city we think we'll end up in so I may have to bug her for coffee one day!

Anyone up for helping me do all this work - stop on by. I'll feed ya!  You know the ole work for food ploy. It worked as a young girl when I would move to a new apartment. I'd feed the boys and give 'em beers and they helped me. No such luck now. Oh to be young and get nice young men to do things for you. 

Accents

I have mentioned here before that I have issues with accents. 

When watching The Crown I needed closed captions because sometimes I swear the Queen has marbles in her mouth. 

Yesterday a woman called and I only understood 1/2 of what she said.

I felt so bad that I kept asking her to repeat.

When we got to the point of her giving me her email (so that we can send confirmation and attach a doc to tell her what to do before we get there) I was stumped.

She said it a 2nd time. 

I now have the giggles inside...I was not at all laughing at her. 

I was laughing at myself because I am thinking, I can't ask this poor woman again to repeat this. I am an idiot. How do I get this without offending her?

I can generally tell the difference between say, a Georgia accent (pretty and soft) and an Alabama accent, especially if they say the word important, then I know it's an Alabama accent. (I don't find it as pretty as Georgia's) 

But this was not anything I have ever heard before.

This is what I heard: Hoe Gray dot caan.  (like James Caan)

So I assumed there was a yahoo or gmail or some such thing missing too.

I again ask her and she says ever so slowly Hoe Gray dot caan

So there is silence. I so do not wish to offend her. 

She was a very nice lady I just couldn't understand her.  It's me. 

I then tell her that I have trouble sometimes with accents and while hers sure is pretty (ok a fib) I was having trouble. 

Thankfully she laughed and spelled out Hoe for me  - W-H-O-L-E.  

Oh, whole I said. She replied, Yes that is what I said. 

Shit that was stupid of me to say.

Gray - G-R-A-I-N.  okay, now we're getting somewhere Whole Grain.

Caan- C-O-R-N. So it was wholegrain.corn@xxx.com

Oh my goodness I didn't hear anything close to this. 

Where did that R go in corn? My speech class teacher would flip his lid.

What will I do? I am moving south. This Yankee doesn't understand southern speech. Are there courses for such things? 

I am more familiar with "Forget about it"  

I apologized to this woman and I was very thankful she didn't get angry.

However, I do believe she may think I am 'special' & I need to wear a helmet in the house.

Flashback Thursday

Since we were talking about the dingy realtors I deal with daily I thought I'd do a flashback. As you can see nothing has changed. Enjoy.

TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2014

Speaking of Realtors

When we lived in Seattle we were given a name of a realtor from someone Rick worked with.
Rick made an appointment over the phone to meet at the first property to view the home. Supposedly this woman excelled in helping those relocating to the area.

We got there a bit early. 
We were parked in front of the home next door to the house we were to look at. Rick looked up in his rearview mirror and said, "This must be her. OMG. hurry! put down your visor and check her out."

She was fluffing her white straw-like hair with black roots. It was high, big hair. She was putting on her bright pink shimmery lipstick. Her makeup courtesy of the late great Tammy Faye.  

Then she got out of the car - Rolled up her skirt so high that if she had pubic hair we'd have seen it. Then she pulled down the zipper to her top. She unzipped this so far down to show ample fake bosoms as well as her bra. 

My husband is laughing hysterically. 

I say, "the house must be bad if she feels the need to distract us that much from seeing the house" 
That made Rick laugh more.  

I ask, "you did tell her I was coming didn't you?"
He said he told her, "my wife and I would like to meet you at this house."

We let her go inside since she didn't seem to notice us. 
We walked in after she was inside the home a bit so we were right on time.
She was a hoot. She was not at all knowledgeable of the property as we asked questions. I couldn't take my eyes off her but not for nice reasons.
She couldn't answer any of our questions about the area. 
She couldn't answer anything about the home she was selling. 
When asked about the park across the street she was clueless. 

When she didn't have answers it would make her use her hands in grand gestures and laugh. She even spun around once. Then laughed. We never understood that. Was she trying to make us think it didn't matter? Did she really think flapping her arms like a big bird was fooling anyone? Perhaps she was just a walking advertisement for the plastic surgeon who did those enormous boobs. (which Rick never took his eyes off of - there's a park? what park?)

We thanked her for her time and got a new agent.  

Phones

When I used to go to the page here in blogger to post, it would automatically show my reading list. Now I get some dumb blogger list. I have to manually change it just as I did when I started this post to Normal instead of paragraph. I wish there was a way I could save it the way I want it. Do you all have the same issues? Or is it crazy Peg?

We have a busy weekend. Realtors begin showing up at our home on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd. I have to finish my office painting and clearing it out. 
Then we will make a choice.  I'm leaning towards one of them already but am hesitant.

I have such disdain for realtors. Example. The man next door.

His house went on the market on a Friday for previews. They held all contracts until Sunday night and by Monday a decision was to be chosen. 

It was busy as hell next door. People coming all day every day and sometimes pounding on the door after hours. It was crazy. 

They got over 18 bids. All over asking. 

His asking price was $524 900 and he got 618,000.   

His house is shit. So I was very happy. 

But 6% of $618 is $37,080. (but my math sucks)

So each realtor (buyer and seller) gets $18,540.  

The realtor was there on all 3 days for the open house hours. 

She sat in the kitchen I was told by the current tenant.  

The realtor paid for photographs and no video. That was it. 

Was that worth $18,540?  

Great gig if you can get it and I don't think it takes much to get it.

We considered since we need all the money we can get being in our bad situation that we'd try to do this ourselves and then get a real estate attorney but we chickened out. 

You can now list yourself on the MLS for only like $500. 

Normally if it's a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) then realtors will keep away their clients because they aren't making money. But in this market, all buyers are going on Zillow and Realtor.com and finding places themselves. So there is that. But losing 37K doesn't appeal to us when we are in this quagmire.

There is a new company called Houwser. 

They charge you a flat $5,000 fee for showing your home, doing the contract, all marketing, and taking the photos and videos - just all the things a realtor would do but for a normal price, unlike a traditional realtor. 

We will still have to pay the $3% to the buyer's agent. So instead of 37K we'd pay only the 18K.  I'd like that.  I am leaning towards that but Rick is hesitant.  We shall see. What would you choose?

When he sees the number he may change his tune. And if the guy who is coming is a dolt, then I know Rick will have something to say about his sales skills. So not only do I deal with all this shit but I need to handle Rick too.  I know that sounds mean. But sometimes he can be so stubborn that he can't see the trees through the forest. He knows that and he also knows my job is to make him see all sides when he does not wish to. Ah, just add the job to my list these days. 

I should have been a realtor. You can make a very nice 6 figure salary around these parts for not a lot of effort. In my previous career, I worked around the clock. I was in different time zones. I would work late into the night and start real early. I was on a plane, train, or by automobile. It was fast-paced and contracts that were done were millions of dollars on the line. I felt I worked my ass off for my high pay and all the money I generated for the company. I am certain most realtors would say the same. 

However, I have just never met one who does a lot of that work. I've hired several and all were worth nothing. The last one I did my own negotiating because she didn't think I should go that low. Guess what we got it for what I countered with and the dumb realtor thought was an insult. I think she just didn't want to get less money. She wasn't taking care of us only her pocket. Around here they are fat and happy because it's always been so easy in this market where we live. 

Maybe this area just makes it awful for the rest of the world's realtors who do work hard.  That could very well be the case.

The woman who was my neighbor when I moved in (2000) became a realtor. She told me she couldn't cut it. She in fact hated it. She worked for 6 months and made 100K. But she hated it so much she walked away. She told me it was easy, don't listen to them whine about all the work. They must never have worked in another corporate field. That made me laugh. She said she was bored and the people got to her, they whined a lot, co-workers and customers. That made me laugh. But she agreed with me she did make obscene money for the little work she had to do. Now when I deal with realtors here in the office you all know that I have said they are dumb. 

Most, not all. The things they say to me blow me away. "Do you need lights in the bathroom to do your job?" 

Yes, I was asked this. I wanted to say, "oh heck no we don't need no stinkin' lights we can do this in the dark" but of course, I did not. 

I was asked this one on Monday - No bathroom window, inside bath, just dark with no electricity or lights. She couldn't understand for the life of her why we couldn't do it. She was in a hurry she told me 3 times. I explained that 1. we need power for the equipment, 2. I would think you'd want us to be able to see what we are fixing and we too would like to see what we are fixing. (would you trust a hairstylist to do their precision in the dark?)

What a moron and I get realtors like this daily. 

My favorite recently was this doozy, 'why did we expect to be paid after we finished the job?'  

What? I wasn't sure I heard her correctly. But she said it again. 

I asked if she got her commission after she sold a house. Why of course she says with attitude. Do you pay your plumber before he leaves? She says of course. 

I said, "We expect paid when we are completed with our job too. 

But if for some reason you can't do that we certainly understand and we can reschedule your appointment for another time that works better for you." 

Do you all see how ready I am to retire? 

I never in a million years would have said that previously. 

But she finally understood. She actually said, "Oh I see now" 

How didn't she see that before? Get your haircut and walk out without paying and see what happens to you sister. 

Someone will be chasing you with scissors.

 

So my mantra of 'I dislike people immensely' is still intact. 

Will it change after I no longer have to answer the phones? 

God, I hope so. 

Ya'll know when this is over I will not be answering my phone for at least a month!

Nothing Much

I need to find someone to talk baseball. The no-hitters, the lack of hitting, and only hitting for the fences. I have some strong feelings on this stuff and Rick barely knows what I am talking about most days. Oh well. It is what it is to paraphrase Popeye.  Do you know I said something about Popeye when I said? 'I yam what I yam. My niece only knows of Popeye's chicken so she didn't get it. Dear Lord, I'm old.

Could you do that split?  I most certainly could!  HA. 

When I was 17 maybe but that is a long time ago. 

When I saw the replay of this I was blown away by how he kept his right foot on the base. I suppose it doesn't hurt to have long legs and be 6'3" either now does it? This kid has had a helluva year.  His arrogance is sickening but that's how all the young players are these days.  Sadly he doesn't play on my anemic team. And his attitude makes me happy about that. But boy he is fun to watch when he isn't showboating or flipping a bat.

Did you know that Starbucks has a pupocino? We stopped to get gas while on the road this weekend and I went into the Starbucks and used the restroom and bought 2 small coffees for us. The woman was chatty Cathy and asked me so many questions. She was super friendly so I went along. She asked if we had a dog with us and I said yes we do. But thinking why does she care about this? Then she said would you like a pupocino for the dog? I asked what that was. It is a teeny tiny cup (like shot glass size) of whipped cream and a very small dog biscuit shaped like a dog bone on top. Yes, Izzy is on a diet but she had a 6 hr drive in the car and was behaving so I let her have a cheat. What the hell she is over 80 years old in people years. And truth be told 6 hrs in the car is 2 hours too long for me. So imagine this poor thing who doesn't understand why she is trapped in the back seat. I'm glad I got it. We had gotten her out to pee and walk around a bit and then we got her back in the car. She was finally settled in the backseat resting on her "elbows" as we got on the turnpike. That's when I gave her this treat. She downed that whipped cream and dog biscuit in record time. But then she slept some more. That sure helps when stuck in a car with a dog. Thankfully she loves car rides.

They changed Rick's medication and his legs are so swollen. He lumbers now when he walks. He said he feels as if he has weights on his legs. They are having a difficult time getting this medication balanced and correct. You may have noticed in the video. This morning they were better. I'd like to get this wrapped up before we leave. Getting a new doctor will take forever you know. Honestly, people worry about a vaccine when all these drugs do all these horrible things to you. He is struggling right now. But he is moving forward because what the hell choice do we have right? When I said something to him about feeling bad that he was suffering like this. His response? "I'm not in the bathroom all day like you so it isn't so bad." 

While true I don't think either are fun.

This is from last weekend when Izzy was quite frustrated looking at the water and not being in the water. Her talking (or bitching) to Rick cracks me up. 

Home

Friday we got into my hometown around 5ish. It's a 6 hr drive when things go well.  We got ourselves settled into our hotel and then ran out to the liquor store. You can't buy wine or beer in a grocery store there so off to the State-run liquor store. It's about 20% higher for wine there but hey I'll pay it, it's wine 😁 Besides I needed to bring wine to our friend's home.

We then went across the street to the grocery store and bought a wine opener. 

I was driving because sometimes Rick gets confused around this town so it's just easier since I was raised there to drive. 

I am sitting in the car as Rick is getting out to go inside the store. 

I see at the same time as he says, "What is that lady pointing at?"

I can't see inside her car because of the way the sun was hitting her windshield. But I can see her point to me but I can't see her face.

She gets out to walk toward my car and I see it's my niece Madison. 

I jump out of the car faster than normal and we meet at the front of our cars and hug. She asks, what are you doing here? I said getting a wine opener. No, she says why are you in town.  To see Grandma I tell her but Grandma (my mom) is in Pittsburgh right now so we are going to visit friends. We chatted and then Rick came out of the grocery store and they hugged and chatted a minute and off we went.

We were invited over to our friend's home. 

We were SO EXCITED to see them.

The whole family has been vaccinated and we were so thrilled about hugging them and spending time with them. It was WONDERFUL. I wish they lived closer because I'd bug the hell out of them all the time. 

The following morning we hit the beach in the early morning with Izzy. 

It was overcast but warm. It's always overcast in Erie - even on days they call sunny, it's sunny but overcast. That is something I never realized until I moved. Funny huh? I mean they have clear blue sky sunny days but not as many as you'd hope for. So any type of sun when I lived there was just fine by me!  Anyway, we got Izzy in Lake Erie. There were waves and Rick was throwing it so that she was swimming against the current. That dog was so tired when done that everywhere she went she just fell asleep. That was our intent while at my mom's house so she wasn't antsy.  

Towards the end around the 14th or 15th time, he began to throw it closer to shore because we knew she was tiring out. I mean she does have a heart issue.  So even a short swim was fun for her. At times the waves were small white caps and she would lose sight of her white bumper. But she'd find it eventually and do her thing.  It looked like when she did get her bumper she just rode the waves into shore like she was surfing.  I sat at a picnic table for a while and just watched her. She and Rick would return to the table and sit a spell to let her rest for a bit. So of course she rolled in the sand. 

Why do they do that? But she was so happy. 

This is one of my favorite beaches below - Beach 11. This part is unguarded so as a young person I lived at this beach because we could float on rafts and not be harrassed by lifeguards. As a teen and 20 something that was a big deal. Silly now.

Because no one is there as far as life guards there were dogs at this part of beach 11.

At one point while Rick was at the edge of the shoreline waiting for Izzy I saw him grab the tie that holds up his shorts and the way he was standing it looked like he was peeing out there. A couple walked by and pointed to him and said, "Is that guy peeing on the beach?"  I laughed and turned and said he is tying the front of his pants. I told them I thought so too then when he turned to the side I could see what he was doing. 

They thought that was funny. 

Her tail never stopped wagging and we swore she was smiling. When we got to my mom's home Izzy sat behind a kitchen island chair that Rick sat in and fell asleep immediately!  It was perfect. She was exhausted and we could visit everyone without her begging us to leave as she is prone to do. Besides my mom has a house full of cats (ICK) and since I am petrified of those awful critters she had them upstairs so they weren't near me. Izzy would have chased them so it works best this way if Izzy is tired. It was bad enough she smelled them. 

My dog is like an old man. Doesn't want her routine disrupted. Wants to be home and not go anywhere but swimming. She can be an old curmudgeon as she has aged. Just like her human Dad.

My niece and I burned off fingerprints from the damn hot glue gun as we made these crazy centerpieces. 

2 of my sisters stopped by and we all had some laughs.

It was good to see everyone. 

Saturday night we get back to the hotel around 9:30p. Izzy hated the hotel. 

She wanted to go home. She kept going to the door and giving us sad eyes. 

We got her settled and I sat on the bed while Rick was in the bathroom. 

He came out to me sitting upright asleep again.  

He woke me to get into bed. 

It was only 10pm. But I did and slept wonderfully. The bed and pillow were both perfect. I have a newer bed (2 yrs old) and we both hate it. I wake up with lower back pain. It's just too damn soft for me. Rick on the other hand was so tired and couldn't sleep. He was up all night. He was dragging on Sunday morning.

Sunday we woke and just began to pack. The hotel coffee was bitter so we decided to wait for coffee until we got to mom's. We stopped at Wegmann's (grocery store) and I got some fresh bagels and schmear. I got some other breakfast items and some GF bread for me to make sandwiches for the ride home. Since I can't eat at any of the rest stop food places it's nice to have a little something for me to eat. 

We get to my mom's with breakfast goodies. 2 of my nieces were thrilled with the bagels. My mom had a 1/2 of one. She barely eats anymore. We all had some good coffee that wasn't bitter and had more laughs. I had 2 gf pizzelles and coffee. I couldn't have my gf bagels because I would have to toast them and their toaster is all gluten. GF bagels can not be eaten raw - oh trust me on this!  I have gotten sick from cross-contamination before so I wasn't trying her toaster. So I won't make that mistake again. Traveling is hard to eat so I normally bring my own food all the time. Better than being hungry and watching others eat. 

My niece Azzi is so damn pretty and a heart of gold. She is always told she looks like me. She doesn't. I would like to look like her. I get that we have similarities but I would be so lucky to look like her. I adore her as I do most of my nieces. She is 24/25 and she is having those 24/25 yr old struggles. I was talking with her about her future and she is so confused and torn about what to do next. God how I remember those days. I wouldn't want my 20's for anything other than my face and body. One's 20s are difficult. I'm glad I survived mine.

I drove home because Rick really wanted to close his eyes, claiming he was so tired.  Sirius had the Yankee game on so that made me a happy camper.

I enjoy listening to a game like the old days if I can't see it.

I admit I HATE driving with him in the car. He uses his brake on the passenger side, is constantly yelling, Margaret you're doing this or that. 

I told him at one rest stop if he didn't close his eyes and keep his thoughts to himself I'd leave him at the rest stop. He began laughing.

I asked, "You think I'm kidding?"  He said, "No that is what is so funny"

So the rest of the trip he shut the hell up!  I did not kill us. I got home safely he closed his eyes and slept for a bit and I didn't need a GPS - so there Mr. smart ass!

I know I seem to be off my rocker, and I am, but I was not drinking at 8:30am I'm just goofy and ya'll know that part already if you've been coming around here. Do you know how cold that water must be? Our guess was low 50s. Brrr.....but she loves cold and she'd break the ice to do this so it just doesn't matter to her.