More Random Stuff

I spent a lovely day with two gal pals doing nothing other than spending time with two gal pals. It was rather lovely. I haven't done that in awhile.

We met for coffee and lingered. A husband showed up and reality of life happened to one gal pal and she was off to do the necessary errands.

I lingered with the other gal pal and we ended up buying the main guy in her life coffee and taking it to him at work. Got to briefly meet him and then we did some errands together.

We ended up having a late lunch and just caught up on "Stuff." She is a recent new gal pal so catching up on "Stuff" is Huge.

After lunch she had a cigarette, with me in close proximity. Yeah me again. No urges, no... I NEED Ciggie stuff. No need for a "Hit of Nicorette" just OK with all of it.

I am really getting there.

So, I am looking forward to the Spousal Unit coming home tomorrow and have really enjoyed the me time I had this week.

Randomness

Gal Pal IM exchange.

Her:

BRB

7:23 PM

I think it's time to change my avitar. I don't have red hair anymore. LOL

7:24 PM

You smokin or poopin?????? LMAO

7:24 PM

Oh yeah you have 5 kids. Forgot. Still LMAO

7:25 PM

I really crack myself up talking to myself.

7:25 PM

At least I haven't started answering myself.

7:26 PM

Or do I?

7:26 PM

OK that is definately not a brb. It is a brb in FOREVER

7:27 PM

Spousal Unit made to to the States OK. He called me this morning to let me know that he arrived safely. He got to have Subway for dinner last night and had it again for breakfast. Poor baby. Footlongs for 5.00. I made chicken salad and had that for dinner last night and for breakfast this morning. Hmmm could we be on a similar wave length?

She never did get back to me.

And how was your day?

I Hit The Jackpot. Make That Flowerpot.

I just got back from doing a free cycle run. I put out a request for flower pots and planters. I have a gajizillion of them in storage but did not bring any with me. The prices in the local stores are rather steep, even if I do use a tax refund form.

Anyway, I have been chomping at the bit, since getting back from Southern California, to start planting my seeds for my garden this Spring. I didn't get to have a garden last summer and it really got to me not to have my fresh veggies throughout the Summer.

I have been hitting some of the stores and garden shops, which of course only feeds my early Spring fever. I have been looking at the larger flower pots for putting on my front step. Really pricey. So I haven't bought any yet. I am so glad now that I didn't.

The gal that answered my free cycle request told me to come on down, actually up since she lives in the mountains, to get her pots. She is leaving in a couple of days and needed them all gone.

When she started pulling out the pots I was a little disappointed. Really old cracked plastic planters for window sill. OK, beggars can't be choosers. No problem, I'll take them.

Then she started to pull out really large Italian clay pots. Then some more large clay pots. Some fertilizer, more fertilizer, soil, and to top it all off.... She gave me several of the large clay pots I have been eyeing in the garden shops.

She was really sweet and I hit the Jackpot. Make that Flowerpot.

"Mist" What???

Several posts ago I mentioned that I was going to Belgium for the flea market. Well, I went and had yet another adventure. For me, anymore, getting out of bed in the morning is an adventure.

The drive wasn't too bad. I even drove in the dark which is something I seldom do anymore. It was raining, but there wasn't too much traffic. It only took us 2 1/2 hours and my new found friend and I chatted all the way.

The market is in the town of Tongeren. Seems that they hold a market every Sunday in the square and around the town. There are two halls that have vendors with indoor tables.


A statue/fountain in the town square. Ladies, aren't you being a little risque?


My new found friend is leaving to go back to the States in the beginning of the year and was scared that she wouldn't get every treasure she wanted before leaving. She did.

The van was loaded. Here are a couple of her treasures. Two wooded well water buckets and a pair of old shoes someone painted with flowers.

This bucket she had been eyeing for some time. She thought that it was for the grape harvesters in the fields. The pickers wears the bucket on his/her back and put grape into it. Imagine her surprise when the sales gal said it was for the "mist." What??? "Mist" What is that?? The cow shit. For fertilizing the grape vines. Well, I must say that is going to be an interesting conversation piece hanging in her living room.

This is just a random tower sitting on the side of the road, as I got lost on the way back home. I hadn't printed out the direction in reverse and my new found friend had a hard time interpreting them backwards.

This is my treasure. I had been wanting a magnifying glass for some time now. It really has nothing to do with my age related eyesight. Honest. But it is an English antique with inlaid stones.

What To Wear On Halloween

Happy Halloween Everybody.

No, nothing will jump out at you or scare you......so you don't need to worry!!!

What To Wear On Halloween.

http://terrisfp.com/hallo1/ghost1.swf

They Walk Among Us

Spousal Unit emailed these to me yesterday after "singing Happy Birthday to me. Can you sing in an email"?

Scary stuff if true.

They Walk Among Us and Many Work Retail.

I was at the checkout of a K-Mart. The clerk rang up $46.64 charge. I gave her a fifty dollar bill. She gave me back $46.64. I gave the money back to her and told her that she had made a mistake in MY favor. She became indignant and informed me she was educated and knew what she was doing,and returned the money again. I gave her the money back. same scenario! I departed the store with the $46.64.

They Walk Among Us and Many Work Retail.

I walked into a Starbucks with a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for a Grande Latte. I handed it to the girl and she looked over at a little chalkboardthat said 'buy one-get one free.' They're already buy-one-get-one-free,' she said, 'so I guess they're both free.' She handed me my free Lattes and I walked out the door.

They Walk Among Us!

One day I was walking down the beach with some friends when one of them shouted, 'Look at that dead bird!' Someone looked up at the sky and said, 'Where'?

They Walk Among Us!

While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, 'Does the sun rise in the north?' When my brother explained that the sun rises in the East, and has for some time, she shook her head and said, 'Oh I don't keep up with all that stuff.'

They Walk Among Us!!

I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call center. One day I got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call center was open. I told him, 'The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.' He responded, 'Is that Eastern or Pacific time?' Wanting to end the call quickly, I said, 'Uh, Pacific.'

They Walk Among Us!

My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk.

They Walk Among Us!

My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount.

They Walk Among Us!

I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area, so I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. 'Now,' she asked me, 'has your plane arrived yet?'

They Walk Among Us!

While working at a pizza parlor I observed a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some time before responding. 'Just cut it into 4 pieces; I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat 6 pieces.

They Walk Among Us, and they reproduce, and Worst of all THEY VOTE.

I am Still Having Intermitant Internet Issues

If I don't post on a night it is because I am having issues. Yes, I have many issues. But, not posting is because I can't get on the Internet.

Normally the only night I take off is Saturday.

Thank you for reading, my 3.2 readers.

Love ya more.

She Who

Weak Mind Wandering

OMG, I go from not doing a thing, to do to working my A$$ off all day!

The new Gal is off to Paris tomorrow morning for two weeks and the stuff really hit the fan. The two of us were just buried under work. She needed to tie up loose ends and I hope she emails me to let me know what I need to finish.

I left her this evening with the advice... Don't get into an elevator at the Eiffel Tower with a Frenchman. Ya kinda have to have been there, to appreciate a Frenchman on a Summer day.

My nail appointment. My lovely nail appointment. I can let my nails grow out again. The houses are done and rented and OCCUPIED!!!!!!! It will take awhile but I can once again have my vanity back. YEAH.

The cats haven't puked yet. True, I really didn't go searching for any puke, would you? They have also decided that they love me. I am feeding them this week.... so what's not to love?

To show their love, they hauled A$$ through the bathroom this morning, up on the side of the tub, into the tub, and back out through the house. The two cats sounded like a herd of horses. Thank God I wasn't takin' a sip of coffee, I would have spewed, it was so funny.

Well that's all for now, it is just my weak mind wandering, for the moment.

She Lives So Far Out That ...

I am so boring right now. I have nothing to post. Well, maybe.

I got up 15 minutes late and fed the cats. My gal pal and Mr. Determined went to Florida out of the blue and I am still here. Though now, I am doing house sitting duty.

I am moving to a new gal pal's house this Friday. Hopefully, I can gain a new perspective and show you the country life. She lives in another country.

Inside joke. She lives so far out that few people visit, thinking they need to bring their passports to get in and out of the country.

I went to work. I came home from work. Work was OK, I had something to do today. With me leaving, giving so much heads up, the bosses were able to hire my repacement several months ago. I just monitor what she is doing now , so I really don't have too much to do, which drives me crazy. Very short trip.

Short trip, I know, but I really like being busy, to make the day flow quickly.

OMG, I Just Lost My Post

I love living in a rural setting. I can Blog and save the post, and the post just disappears. YUP, I love livin' in the country.

Later, I will try to reconstruct. Right now, I am going out into the glorious MidWest heat and Sweat.

Mr. Determination, Greenpeace, and Save the Turtles

Husband of Gal Pal, that I am staying with, called to me this morning. "Nell, are you decent?" (I was in the bathroom doing my morning ablutions, but was just about done and had the door open.)

"Will you come here, now?" He asked.

I answered, "What's wrong?"

"Just come here now."

Mr. Determination, Greenpeace, save the turtles. In his jammies no less.

We went outside to the pool and he pointed to the turtle in the pool. As we approached the turtle went into dive, dive, dive mode and attempted to avoid detection.

Mr. Determination went into the search and retrieve mode. Not a pretty sight. Funny, but not pretty.

That poor turtle just did not want to be freed from the pool. Finally success. We, and I use that term very loosely, "caught" the turtle.

We put him in the grass. He was all green and slimy. He must have been spending time in a nearby pond or runoff ditch.

It was 6:00am. How do you start your days?

I Am Looking Forward To Driving Blacky In Europe

Blacky is fun to drive. Spousal Unit's father gave us this car. He can't drive anymore and the Spousal Unit and Son #2 flew out to get the car. They had an awesome road trip on the way back.

We name all our vehicles. Even the lawn mowers. This vehicle was called Blacky.

I will not drive Blacky in the States. I have a lead foot and the last time I drove Blacky I looked down and saw that I was going 90 in a 50 speed limit zone. No more Blacky for me.

On the Autobahn. That's another story.

I can go ZOOM. As long as it is not in the construction zones.

The German Politzei (Police) have cameras installed in the constructions zones that take really great pictures that are sent with the ticket informing you to pay a "bazillion Euros" for the ticket.

Euros at this point in time are expensive.

I am looking forward to driving Blacky in Europe.

Friday Dribs and Drabs - Lots of Dribble

I spoke to Spousal Unit this morning. Yeah!

The van was finally released from the customs hedoublehockysticks void. Blacky the sportster car is also in-country and Spousal Unit plans to drive up to the port, next week, to pick it up.

Spousal Unit finally got to have a sit down with his boss and do an intake interview. He came away feeling really great about where he is and where the job is going to take him.

I had my first really great day today in a long time. I have the weight of MY world off my shoulders. The house is rented. I had Boys help me clean out the dredges, and I only have a few things that need to be done.

My Girl Pal wants me to give up the ghost, saying that the house is rented and to stop doing STUFF. I say that I am getting a good rent and I want to provide value for that rent.

Son Number One is at the friends cabin this weekend. Pray for him. Last year, he in his infinate 21 year old wisdom, decided to jump the cabin in a 4 wheeler. Permanent scars and a cracked rib later he decided that 4 wheelers are not to his taste. I sent him off with a hope that he has a good and safe time.

Have a great weekend I'll be back online Sunday night, hopefully.

Two Down - None To Go

I leased my house yesterday.

Felt really tired the the day before. Son Number One called my cell phone at two in the morning. He was locked out of the house and needed in. I got out of bed to answer the phone and let him in the house.

The problem was I couldn't get back to sleep, so I gave up the ghost, and stayed up. I decided to call in sick again. I am so naughty recently. I determined that there were lots of errands and chores that could be accomplished in my sleep deprived state that needed to be done and work was not one of them.

I went to the property management company to deliver the photos of the house because my connection to the Internet has been shaky at best recently. I also got another sign for the end of the lane. The company put a sign on the property near the house but unless someone knew to look for the house, drivers wouldn't see the that the house was for rent.

Late in the afternoon I was outside the house taking a break with the boys when a car pulled up the lane. A lady got out and said that they were doing a drive by so that they could view the house the next day.

I asked her if she wanted to take a quick peek now. When she realized I was the owner and not the cleaning lady she agreed to take a look.

An hour and a half later the whole family was drooling and asked what they needed to do to sign the lease. I called the property management company and put them on the phone. They went to the management office and filled out the rental application. I got a call later that night and was told they qualified. They signed the lease the yesterday.

I passed the reinspection for the occupancy permit today. They move in next Thursday. My cleaning and painting saga are coming to an end. The house looks really good and I can get a life again.

I Will Be A Happy Woman

Things are starting to wind down. Here it is the 4th of July and the only fireworks I am seeing right now are the blinding whiteness of the doors. Did I mention that I have 45 doors???????? All needing at least two coats of paint. Many needing three.

I am getting white blindness from checking the doors to make sure that I didn't miss any spots. The doors are all rehung and and I only have 1 1/2 doors to go and then I am done painting.

If I never see another can of paint in my life, I will be a happy woman. I taste and smell paint. I dream of paint.

If I never see painters tape again, I will be a happy woman.

Son Number One mixed up a couple of doors and put them back in the wrong rooms. My Gal Pal's husband and I were trying to rehang a couple of doors that just weren't fitting in the hinges. I got the bright idea to check some of the other doors and found some that fit the hinges. Yeah!!! One less hassle to deal with.

If I never have to rehang another door, I will be a happy woman.

Never, never ever rehang doors again.

She Threw All The Balls At Once

I put this together yesterday afternoon. This is a game that I had never seen before, ladder ball. It looks evil and it is. Those spongy round things are weighted bolos.


My gal pal is trying her hand at throwing the bolos. The object of the game is to wrap the bolo around one of the lateral bars. The orange bar is the desired bar for 3 points.
Gal pal's sister-in-law, looking gorgeous as always, holding skirt down in the breeze, has her turn.

Gal pal's father-in-law throws and scores. He's like that. He is a retired Principal.
Notice my "Feisty Cuss." She threw all the balls at once. She's like that.

I Am Whole Again

Today I had a vacation day and I did absolutely nothing on the houses.

I woke up at my normal 5:00am and got on with the day. I had a list of errands that needed to be done and I have been putting them off forever because of work constraints and/or working on the houses.

I finally applied for my passport. Paid for and the processing has begun. The lead time is said to be 1-4 weeks with the normal being 2 weeks. I did not have another picture taken. The passport photo shows me with long curly hair. Not the "Bozo the clown" effect I have now. I also have a racing stripe where the hair has grown out with my silvery halo in all its glory.

Next up was a race to Wally World for foam painting rollers, Orange Glo, and all sorts of other stuff that just happened to fall into my basket. New jammies, Summer weight, a new pair of shorts, three new blouses at 1/2 off. I bought the same blouse two weeks ago in a different color for full price.

I then raced to the mall and ran into Dillards. I have two pairs of shoes right now. Work shoes, Clark mules that are falling apart and a pair of flip flops. Both pairs have seen much better days and I used today to get new shoes. I bought two pair. Both on sale. Both really cute. It took a little longer than anticipated because I didn't have my charge card and none of the info I gave seemed to match what the store had on record. The sales associate called the info in and the guy on the other side of the line started off by thanking me for being a loyal customer since 1993. Yeah, yeah, cut to the chase and let me get off and running. I finished the purchase and also changed the mailing address so the wonderful and talented Spousal Unit can pay the bill. Isn't he great?

Next off was Kohl's. I have been losing a lot of weight and my pants are literally falling off me. I am down two sizes and needed a couple of pairs that are acceptable for work.

After that I went to the insurance office and paid for the new policy for the houses. We were dropped by our former insurance for the pool and the fact that we do not now have a primary residence. I set up an automatic payment and off I went.........

To my nail appointment. My lovely nail appointment.

I had to cancel it this past Tuesday because I got heat sickness. I will spare you the gory details but it wasn't pretty.

My one vanity. My nails. They are back to being gorgeous.

I am whole again.

The House Flunked

I am starting to slide into the home stretch. I had my occupancy inspection this afternoon.

The house flunked. I knew it would, but I wanted to get a heads up on what I needed to fix sooner rather than later.

The guy was really nice, almost apologetic, about needing to write up some of the stuff. Some of the required remedies I knew about.

Reinstall stove and dishwasher.

DUH. I had them pulled them so the new flooring can be installed.

But, no mention of the live wire sticking out of the kitchen floor where the island was pulled also for the new flooring.

I need to put up some sheet rock on the unfinished walls in the basement to hide exposed wires.

We have a big scary enclosed wire thingee that used to power a hot tub/jacuzzi the former owners installed. The hot tub/jacuzzi was not there when we moved in, but now I need to figure out how to box up the ends.

While having the house painted, I told the painters that the downstairs, the former boy's lair, was being totally re-carpeted and not to worry about drop clothes. They did me one better and cut the carpet about four inches away from the walls. Easier to paint the baseboards.

The inspection mentions replacing carpet. Does that mean re-installing the four inches that was cut away or new carpet?

The biggest issue was to install gates on the deck and at ground level to the pool. I anticipated this requirement and already contracted out to have this work done.

I was worried that I would need to expand the deck all the way around the pool. But, because the pool is so tall the open end is considered a self deterrent.

Last and what I consider least, I need to install 3" numbers on my mail box with the house number. The gal I am staying with is the Postmistress. She says that's her job to tell me if this is a problem.

NOT the county inspectors.

Storage Move with Boxes

Storage moving van.
Big storage moving van.



Most of our belongings are going into storage









A few of our belongings.















More stuff in boxes.















A couple of boxes going to Germany.














More storage.

This Marriage Can Be Saved

We are down to the last few days of being in this house.

Spousal Unit took a week's vacation and is doing all the stuff that I am not able/unwilling to do. Manly things. Sure am glad that he is a manly man.

He does look good in sweat. Hmmm. Stop thinking of those things, don't have time.

We might need to address this issue later. Don't bother me now, I am still drooling over his manly, manliness. And, I need to continue in the house.

We rented a roll-off dumpster to get rid of the stuff that the garbage company wouldn't take.

Why is it, that if I spend money, the garbage/stuff can be hauled away, but the normal garbage people, that I pay for will not take? Same stuff, same dump, just different conveyance?

Also, why did I work so hard to take out the garbage, for them not to take it, when Spousal Unit was not at home?????

We have a lot of the construction debris to get rid of and just "CRAP" that should have been gone long ago.

We are also doing a lot of the outside, Spring cleanup stuff. Of course, the mower/lawn tractor gave out. We are having a record setting wet Spring, so the grass is getting out of control.

Like we need anything else to go wrong at this point?

We both keep going Hmmm. Hmmm. I really, really love you.

We will get through this. This marriage can be saved.

Think of the end goal.