How Attractive Can You Get?

Well trust me, it's NOT that I have not had my share of rants and raves to post in the last few months, but it would take too long to go into so instead, I just happened to find this around while surfing the web. I'm not even sure what the heck I was looking for now, but this just struck me as funny in an unattractive sort of way.

I mean, would you REALLY feel confident in this product coming from this toilet paper dispenser?

Oh well.....

IT IS WHAT IT IS

Road Rage Can Kill You

Now here is a case of how you can become suddenly one of those wreck less drivers getting caught up in "Road Rage" with another driver.

It's Thursday 4-30-09 and I am driving myself home for to have my lunch hour like I do almost everyday. I don't live far from where I work so I am able to have that luxury from work. Not a lot of traffic out at that hour and people are usually driving pretty calm and normal. But alas, there is always that one idiot that just thinks he is the most important person on the planet.

About 10 blocks from my home I am driving in the slow lane of a 4 lane major street, two lanes going each direction. The car in front of me is going to turn right and has pulled off to the right side to do so. There is no one in my left lane so I have to pull slightly into the left lane just barley crossing the line to pass the car that is turning. From behind me in my lane, comes a black Mercedes driving at least 10 miles over the speed limit and sees the car turning right and doesn't want to wait so changes into the left lane like I am. That's fine, he is apparently in a big hurry and my car poses no threat to him as I am barely touching the line that separates us. Instead, of just passing by, he decides I need to have the horn blasted at me. So I put up my hands and said "What?" and he flips me off, so okay being the adult that I am, I flip him off too. His culture does not permit me, a woman, to be so aggressive towards him so he pulls up next to my car and rolls down the window exposing his female passenger and tells me to "F*CK MYSELF!" So I tell him to "F*CK himself" and he tries to side swipe my car making me now swerve to avoid him. Then he pulls in front of me and slams on his brakes to try to make me rear end him. I WAS LIVID at this point and rolled down my window and yelled out "Do you feel like a man now in front of your woman?" He again told me to "F*CK YOU" and again slammed on his brakes. I was barely missing him each time he did this and you know if I hit him, it would be all my fault.


Well most normal people probably would have backed down and said it's not worth it but once my Adrenalin is pumping, I sometimes am not thinking clearly and now I want to get a piece of paper out and write down his license plate to report him. When he sees I have a paper and pen, he takes his super Fast Mercedes just about as fast as it can go turning right and driving WAY TOO FAST down the street. My 4 cylinder car is no match for his Mercedes but what does my dumb ass do? I punch my little car just as fast I can to catch him to take down his plate. We are driving 60 miles and hour in a 35 mile zone and for what? My leg was shaking so bad while I was chasing him I could barely keep it on the pedal. And for what????

If I call the police on his license, what can/will they do? There is a culture of men, aged 25-35, who constantly drive this way and have no respect for anyone but themselves. I am sure they would just as soon shoot you as give two cents about you after. I am not a prejudice person but I swear I can become one with this male minority. Being the tough ass independent woman that I am, I don't like feeling I am being pushed out of the neighbor I have lived for 26 years in. I wonder what his woman thought of his behavior? I have little problems with the women of this culture or the young or elderly. But this is how prejudice starts so, I'm doing the next best thing by not reporting him to the police and have him retaliate on me. I'm just reporting him to...

IT IS WHAT IT IS

I am grateful that neither of us caused an accident killing or injuring anyone due to our stupid pride in proving a point and I guess I will try and learn that it's certainly not worth it to loose your temper over something so trivial and stupid. What if someone got hurt during our madness, I could have never lived with myself for that. Please allow me the strength to not allow this sort of stuff to wind me up.

But, black Mercedes license number 5XGC292, you should think twice as well about the people that could have gotten hurt that day. Dude seriously, slow the F*CK down!!!

How NOT To Start Your Morning

The alarm goes off at 6:45 am and as I stumbled from bed, BLAM, right into my cedar chest and ooooo the pain. But work won't wait so I hoped it off and off to work I went. I work on the 2nd floor and need to run to downstairs to the main hospital often so after a few trips up and down, I realized the pain was getting worse. For lunch I decided to stop by good old Kaiser and have them take a look at it. And they were great about getting me in to see a nurse and access whether or not a doctor was needed. Beings that it was purple and swollen, the nurse set up an appointment for me this afternoon to have it x-rayed which I just got home from.

The Verdict!!!! (no this is not my X-ray)

I have a small hairline on the back of the bone where it reaches the joint but a radiologist has to evaluate it further. Not much you can do except wrap it to the other baby toes and stay off of it.
Soooooooo......

IT IS WHAT IT IS

And I am grateful I didn't take out my whole foot. It's not my driver foot and soon I'll be good as new!!!

Is Camping All That Relaxing?

I'm a camper, it's in my blood. Almost everyone I used to camp with has either moved away or died, sad but true. But none the less, I spent 8 days in the woods alone last September and will be doing it again this year. I had reservations to go last Saturday night, and stay up the coast.

It seems more people are going camping these days and I am having a harder time getting reservations when I would like them. So six months in advance, you need to make your reservations. I have 5 reservations this year, 4 for 1 nighters and 1 for 8 days seven nights. My sister and nephew went with me last weekend for just Saturday night, up the coast. The weekend before was in the 95-100 degree range and this weekend about 65-70 degrees. That part is okay, I expected that but what I didn't expect was my family showing up 5 hours late for our departure and in my mood swing, waiting so long, I neglected to bring vital tools to the site. We did succeed in getting the tent pitched and my family left me in charge of setting the rest up as they made a list of supplies we needed.



First, there was the gale wind forces that made holding the tent in place a challenge. But I managed and was just working on the inside as my family went off to buy our food for dinner and more wood. There is a store about 10 miles away. Meanwhile even after I had a full double air mattress, sleeping bags and our bags of clothes, the tent was taking off for three campsites down. I quickly grab my handy box that contains everything needed for camping. What's this.. No tent stakes? You got to be kidding me. Okay, I remember I just bought a huge gigantic bungee cord and put it in my car just for emergencies. Well, this qualified so I let go of the tent and head off to my car. Waaaalaaa, a 1,000,000 foot bungee cord. The tree was huge I had to attach it to so I felt sort of silly hold one of the bungee with my arms out spread reaching for the tent pole, that's moving with the wind. Once I had the pole in one hand and the bungee in another, the challenge to make two ends meet. In the process, the already stressed and bent pole stick came out of the hole and smacked me hard vertically up my leg, not just once but TWICE!! But after a few choice words, I was able to WIN THE BATTLE.


That will work now time to relax and make a nice dinner. My sis and nephew return with some wonderful looking thick juicy steaks to grill up. The steaks are pretty thick so we better cut them in half so they will cook thoroughly. Now, where did I put that knife? It must be in hear somewhere with the camping silverware. If I could only find the camping silverware. You have to be kidding, no bag of silverware, no knife? Can this get any better? And we have mashed potatoes for a side dish, pre-made just heat them up. Hey we're camping right? I do have that spatula I just bought at the 99 Cent Store to add to my box of supplies.

I am grateful that I bought a spatula and bungee cord at the 99 Cent Store and the tent pole whacking didn't draw red (blood) only black and blue. So, we were good sports, all thought it would be part of the primitive experience as we muttered....

IT IS WHAT IT IS

I have to say I have never eaten mashed potatoes with two fingers before and never filleted a steak with an exacto knife, but the meal was a success. Yes those are mashed potatoes.


Not a bad job done for an exacto knife!


The men in a nice warm trailer next door felt sorry for us when we asked him to open our can of beans we had for our Mexican breakfast and he even gave us plastic place settings for 3 so the GOOD NEWS IS, breakfast was also a success.

Stop By To Celebrate

Hold it Right There!!!

Can you believe it, Zola's Movie Pics turned one year on 3-21 and I forgot to toot my horn? (The OTHER BLOG)

Wow has the time flown by, but I am happy to report that I have just started my review of my 636 movie. That's almost averaging two a day. My hope is that you have enjoyed my reviews and have found movies to enjoyed because of them. I feel my reviews have gotten better over the year. When reading some of my earlier reviews, I think you'll agree, they've come a long way. Pages still await me of text I have written but yet to convert to computer. I fear this could take a life time and never catch up as I continue to enjoy great movies. Okay some not all that great, but in the long run, it's been quite the adventure. Movies do entertain and at least for me, they're better than our selection on T.V.. So yes I'm tooting my horn, having a shot and thanks for reading along with me. Here's to many more years of great movies!

April 15th is an Evil Day

Not only is it tax day, but you can really make your day worse when you schedule doctor visits the same day.

But if the day wasn't stressfull enough, I have to sneak to Kaiser at 8:00 and do quick blood work before my boss notices I am missing. (Supoose to be at work by 8:00). And even though I am the first one to get the needle today, I'm feeling confident when I ask her if she is good at this in the morning. But she's extremely nice and I feel confident until she sticks me and, not in the vein I am normally used to, and nothing comes out. So she stick it farther in. Well heck anyone can bleed after that. So I feel up 5 tubes and on my way. I'm pretty close to work and make it by 8:17 just as my boss is calling for me. PHEW!!!!!!! So other than the huge black and blue mark, life is good. But what other hospital could you possibly go to and be to work in 17 mins.?

Now, get my tax forms printed out so I can get them in the mail at lunch. For the first time since I've done the "short form" with my taxes, I was faced with the challenge of doing them solo. So I got my copy of Turbo Tax and away I go. I can figure out any program so I'll get through this too. But, schedule "C" and depreciations and work pages and make sure you put line 42 from last years taxes here, and I paniced. How can you do them 4 times and come up with a different figure each time? I keep good records and easily import my Quicken file to Turbo Tax but thtis can't be right? Now the 5th try gives me results very similar to my last two years of taxes. I've got it printed out, the envelopes are made, I'm feeling pretty comfortable even though I feel rushed..... so what the heck, I download the extension form and take it to the mail today instead. That gives me 3-6 months to figure it out. I won't take that long as I need my refund NOW, before we go and "bail out" another failing company. Once again it will be my weekend project. UGH.

Okay now that is done, I have to get back to the hospital for the Mamogram I have schedule at 12:00. Ofcourse there is havic at work and I don't get out of there till 11:56 make it back to Kaiser by 12:08, and since I prepaid this morning, I did not have to wait in line to sign in again. Walk in put my paper in slot and within 4 mins. I am called. Now just once I would like to see a man have his testicles clamped down in a vice and hydrollically flatten to preform a better image. But.....

IT IS WHAT IT IS

and before you know it it's done and just one of those things us women have to do to stay safe. I'm out the door at 12:22. Again, WTG Kaiser / Glendale. Off to the post office to make the deadline and run the errands for my job and that leaves me 30 min for lunch still. Great. Back to work on time until I realize hey tomorrow is pay day and no one is at work to sign checks tomorrow so I have to do it NOW.......... Quick make sure that everyone gives me a time sheet in the next nano second, and off go to rush through that. Needless to say things don't go as planned and I am working late but that's okay, what you do comes back to you and I did use 21 mins of the bosses time today for my appointments. Call it even and go home to releve the poor aching knot in my neck. I'm looking on the bright side, payroll is one less thing I have to do tomorrow.

April Fools - The Jokes On You

Who invented the April Fools Joke?

Here's how Wikipedia encyclopedia defines it.

"April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day, although not a holiday, is a day celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbors, or sending them on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. Traditionally, in some countries, the jokes only last until noon: like the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa, someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool". Elsewhere, such as in Ireland, France, and America, the jokes last all day."

So as I woke up this morning, my neighbor told me I had a flat tire and of course this is as I am already running late for work. I panicked and then he remarked, "April Fool's." I remember my mother calling me every year when I was a teen and telling me that the boy I happened to be in love and waiting to hear from, she would say "he called, and I just missed him." Seems I just keep missing him to this day! haha

At work, 5 people told me they were all going on vacation and needed their vacation paychecks today and another two told me they quit. My boss doesn't have that sense of humor for me to have walked in and said, "I Quit" so really I didn't get to play a trick on anyone, but....

IT IS WHAT IT IS

and I am grateful that my tire was good, I still have a job and my mother can still call me and provoke an April's Fool joke out of me.

A Tribute To A Friend

I can hardly believe that a year ago today, I was holding the best hand of my best friend, Barb, as she passed away. At first, everyone from her family was saying, "stay home and lets see, it's just a matter of time and we will call you." But then my sister called and said, "You know, the hearing is the last thing to go. She can probably hear you." Well that's all I needed and got dressed and drove to Covina to the hospital. When I got there, Barb was actually semi conscious and did recognize me, though she had tubes stuck down her throat and looked at me begging to get them out. And of course all I could do is tell her to try and ignore them and relax. It really gave me a bit of positive hope that seeing my face was helping. But then she quickly slipped back into grogginess but I know she could hear what I was saying. What do you say to someone you see slipping away in front of your eyes. You fight to be stronger and share good memeories but no matter what you do and I am very gratful that I had Barb in my life for as long as I did but alas....

IT IS WHAT IT IS

And I felt so helpless that my voice alone couldn't pull her through. Within a couple of hours she finally passed quietly with her hand in mine. I felt her squeeze it a few times and I KNOW she knew I was there. I am so happy I went to the hospital to be with her as she knows I was there with her while going through that. That means the world to me and I would have been really regretful if I would have just stayed home. So if you ever have the opportunity to be by the side of someone passing, DO IT!!! Especially if they are your true friends. At least she went into the next life knowing I was there with her in this one. We invented Camp Nachos together.

Barb, I miss you constantly, I miss our little camping outings and camping by myself last year was so sad without you. But I know you are with all of our other camping friends and have just set up your tents in a new area that someday I will join you at. I Love you and miss you!!

My House Has A Small Reprise

Well today is my six year anniversary at work. So I stood outside the bosses door where I know he can hear me and, stating to one of the girls in front, "Hey Sara, do you know what today is?" "It's my sixth year here." Boss never broke his stride or what he was doing, didn't acknowledge my presence and it's just another day.



At lunch I met with the broker of the sale of my house and the new buyers. They came inside to inspect the conditions of our units and I was able to ask the new buyer her intentions. She actually owns the apartment building next door so this would be a perfect piece of land to add to her existing, giving her almost an acre. She wants to fix up the buildings and do improvements, also raise our rents and I guess be a landlord who cares for a change. That will be nice!! However, she already has a gardener so I will loose my part time gig to supplement my income.



So for the moment....

IT IS WHAT IT IS

And I am grateful I still have a roof over my head and my day time job.

Somewhere To Go When You're Feeling Poopy

As I know advertisers and marketing are always looking for something new and unique to drag the buyer in, this one I don't get. I can't imagine enjoying a night of dinning out and thinking about quality type food. I sure hope it tastes better than it looks.

IT IS WHAT IT IS

While it would be a fun place to serve ice cream or yogurts, having a hearty soup or a serious meal would not be my cup of tea. But I'm grateful that people exist out there that constantly swerve outside the lines and challenge the "box."

This Old House

Well after 25 years at living at my house a letter came today saying the owners are selling the property. Normally this may not be a problem, however it's a proven fact that the land on my street is being gobbled up by developers eager to tear the old down and erect the new. Could this be the next direction my life?

I've helped manage the property for the last 25 years, showing the apartments when a vacancy happens, taking care of the tenants complaints, alerting the management to any problems on the property, and I even have the side job of the gardener for both properties. I've gotten pretty comfortable living here these last 25 years and even installed a pond in my front yard as well as have a secret garden in the back.

I've been pretty much settled here and now at the age of 52, I'm not real eager to go on the home hunt. But I have learned that the universe makes a lot of choices for you and this one I have to let go of and allow whatever is to be, to happen. Most of the tenants - 9 units - are panicking and not sure what to do as we await our fate. My city is privately operated, no rent control and the landlord or new owner can give us a 30 day notice to leave at any time. I guess that is the uncertainty that has us all on edge. I've just painted my kitchen and bought new curtains, had a new floor put in as well as a new refrigerator. And even though I know change is good and necessary in life, I would prefer to leave things status quo for now. I also have taken care of a feral community of cats in our yard. It would be next to impossible to relocate them and I worry about how they would survive without my feeding them.

So here is my message to the universe...

I know I've gotten comfortable in my surroundings and my job. I'm ten minutes from work, come home for lunch and get home very soon after my work is completed. Am I in my comfort zone, yes! Do I want to make a change in my life right now, NO! But if you feel that this is the new direction my life should be going, I'll accept it gladly as I know you have a way of jolting me from my comfort zone, when I've not had the ability to do it myself. So, I put myself in your hands and will accept whatever change you make for me. Cause after all....

IT IS WHAT IT IS

I'm grateful for being able to have lived here for so long with great neighbors, monthly parties in our yard and being able to pay for a roof over my head. And if your choice is to have the new buyers continue to leave the houses as they are and not bulldoze a new apartment complex, well that will be even better news. None of us living here want to leave each other and it's rare to find a group like ours that balances each other out so well.

A Project is Consuming Me

I collect Olympic pins and have since the Los Angeles games of 1984. Been to most of the trading session in my area but I've not been that active in it lately. Back in the days BEFORE the Internet we known to the public, we used Telenet to connect ourselves together via our home 1200 baud modems and local BBS's (Bulletin Board Services). I ran on of these BBS's "Zola's Pleasure Palace", and used it to trade pins with people all over the world.

Since then, I have gotten many duplicate pins for my collection and have an Olympic pin page section on my web site "Visual Candy", where people can look at the pins I have extras of to either buy or trade with me. Problem with it is, the long list of text to scroll through and then click a hyperlink to view the pin, email me to see availability, and MAINLY me find the pin in the numerous extras I have, well I have not been doing a good job of staying organized and updated.

In the last few weeks, I have gotten a few emails to buy pins and I decided to make my life easier but organizing my extras in the same order I have my text list and also make sure it is current and up to date. After three weeks of working on it, I am proud to say - what you see is what I have. But..... then as I was putting my extra pins in order, I was looking through my 40 cases of pins in my collection and finding a few pins that were duped in my collection too. So I decided that was silly to keep two of the same pins so I set out to look more closely at my collection, making sure there were no more dupes.

Problem is, when I put the pin cases together year after year, I mixed up the years of the games making it really insane to look through 4,000 plus pins to see if something is duplicated. Sort of like playing that card game of memory. But the closer I looked, the more and more I realised just how many pins I had duplicated in my collection that I could put on line for sale or trade. I started to think back to all the times I trade pins with someone only to come home and find I already had it. An example of my collection cases, these are all NOC National Olymipic Committee pins from countries around the world.


The only thing to do is... to take every pin out of the boxes and sort them by the years of the games so I could narrow my search down. I have 10 cases to finish and that task is complete, (two weeks later - hey what else to do on the last few weekends of pouring rain and predictions of this weekend too). Okay and if that is not bad enough, the photos I have had on line - really suck at showing the pin well. Now that I have been blogging for a almost a year, I've learned the benefit of easily searching a "web site" for something.... Blog It..

Before (My old page)

After (Soon to be my new page)

So, here I am now, starting a blog after everything I have been through with my pins and my fingers poked stabbed and scratched by the sharp clasps on the backs, and MAN this is going to be my next major challenge. I've just started it and trying to keep up on three blogs now while working and watching my movies for my movie blog, well let's just say.... HELP!!!! I HAVE NO LIFE and that my folks...

IS WHAT IT IS

But, I'm grateful to have so many pins (which BTW - call me crazy but I really get off on the way they look) and I'm grateful I even know how to put them on line and EXTRA grateful when someone helps support my pin habit by buying some from my list. Hopefully my pins enhance their collections as well.

What a Differance a Year Makes

To think one year ago, I was on my way to Chicago to be with my childhood sweetheart that we rekindled a flame and I feel in love with. The man swept me off my feet, told half the world he loved me and we would be together soon. I swear we had our phones glued to our heads and could talk for way too many hours. He sent me romantic e-cards and even dedicated a song to me, "I can be your hero baby" which I even changed my ring tone to so he could awake me in the morning romantically. Long distance relationships SUCK and I swore I would not be in another one, but we had so much history (like 36 years). He even flew here a couple times so we could make sure our passion was for real and not just a fantasy. But alas, it was, as I found out when I decided to brave the cold weather and fly to Chicago.

I absolutely LOVE visiting Chicago but in the middle of January - well, that's just insane cold. But, the flame was still there in our voices as I boarded the plane. I met his adorable children and a lot of his best friends yet I felt I spent more time with them than I did with him. He acted as if I wasn't there... said he was pre-occupied with his ex and his move to Los Angeles. It would seem that most every other word was about his ex-wife until I felt I was there only to have the children return home to tell her they met me. I fear his only goal, to piss her off and hurt her as I don't think he is over the hurt with her.


But as I said, I LOVE Chicago and still has a great time in the snow, for the next few days. Though, returning to L.A. I felt extremely humiliated around anyone who asked how "my man" is and "when is the wedding." We went from gag me cute-romantically insane to absolutely nothing where he can't even speak to me again. My friends wonder what *I* did to ruin it in Chicago. For the life of me, I think I was on my best behavior and had a really good time. What's so frustrating about it is, I wish he would have never asked me to come to Chicago and meet his family and friends. I don't understand that but,

IT IS WHAT IT IS

But for my gratitude journal entry.... I AM VERY grateful to him for giving me those wonderful tingly feelings you get when you're in love. It had me acting like I was 16 again, my head in a cloud, giggling, saying things like "no, you hang up first", and just that wonderfully delightful feeling of being in love like a teen again. And I made a pretty cool art piece from some of my photos.

Aaaaaaaaah ... Can You Feel It?

Today I have no complaints. Instead, I am overly proud to be an American. It was like a breath of fresh air watching the faces of hope, in our nation's eyes, embracing the man who will take our country to the next level.

It's been a long time since I've seen the entire country rally around it's president. I really didn't think we as a nation, would get to that point again since the 60's and John F. Kennedy. But today, with the swearing in of our new 44th President, Barack Obama, it's a day of celebration as well as one to go down in the history books. The fact that this is the first ever African-American man to hold such a prestigious title, I felt enriched, looking out at our highly diverse country, knowing that at least for today, our country has put aside it's racial tension, and instead is celebrating our nation of color.



The crowds were gi-normous and what a rush that must be to stand before an ocean of people whom all adore you. Oh, to be a fly on the suit, traveling along to feel exactly how awesome that must feel. I can't imagine you can get much higher than that.



It showed in their eyes and their smiles. So here's to America and here's to the much needed CHANGE we all hope, he will bring to the United States.

Help - The "But First" Syndrome's Got Me

It was nice that the landlord arranged the floor dudes to come to my house on a Saturday to install my new flooring in the kitchen. I set my alarm to make sure I didn't oversleep, as to not upset progress. Here's my chance to also paint behind the stove and refrigerator. But first, what will I find back there? My goal is to paint behind the stove and refrigerator so it looks as nice as the floor. But first, the workers need to put everything in my front room. Now that my front room is filled with major kitchen appliances, it's nice to finally evict the nasty dust buddies that have been making this area of my house, their home. But before they can install the floor, I need to wash the walls and paint. But first, I must first go to the store and buy the paint. But first, I have to figure out what color it is I used before. Being a graphic designer at heart, I pull out my handy color swatch samples and quickly held up every shade of green till I could find something close. But first, before I can go buy it, I need to talk the guys into waiting for me to go get it. They agree but first, they must patch the floor. So I'm off to the store and pull in the parking lot, but first I need to explain to the day labors that my job is "muy chico" and I can do the job "solo - gracias." It's been almost an hour since the men arrived, As I carefully inspect color swatches for the closest match, waah laah, "Morning Oasis," yep I am sure that is the name of it. Off to the counter I go to get my paint. But first, I have to take a number to order my selection. Okay, so it couldn't have gotten much busier in the store, while I looked at swatches, and I am now proudly the holder of number 25 - they're on 18.

Once at the counter, I order my paint by name and I'm ready to pay until he says, "Will that be Glossy or Flat? Also, do you need any brushes?"And while I should know the answer to these question, it's just something I wasn't prepared for and as I just washed the walls, for the life of me don't remember seeing my face in their glossy surface. "Can you give me a minute and let me phone home?" But first, I have to find my cell phone and the number. Good someone answered and of course, it's semi gloss which always goes in a kitchen so you CAN wash it. I find my brushes and my drop cloth and back to the counter and I'm ready to pay. While he is ringing me up, I remember I get a discount as an Auto Club member. But first, I must find the card in my wallet before I request my savings. Victory, here it is, but now he must redo my invoice to reflect the discount. Heck, I've waited this long. So I'm anxiously ready to get back to my house for painting, but first, I have to wait for the paint to be created. Well remember those other 8 people in line before me, I'm waiting for them but finally, the paint is ready.

On the ride back to my house, I'm pumping myself up as to how nice it's going to look and how lucky I am the men were willing to cooperate with me and allow me to paint. But first, I must make a stop at the McDonald's and get myself some coffee as my stove is in my living room. But first, I need to call the men waiting at home to see if I can bribe them with an Egg McMuffin for my taking so long. They decline and I am finally home.


The workers have finished patching the floor and are now going to leave alone to paint. I've got about an hour before they return. But first, I have to wait for the floor to change from wet to dry. That gives me a chance to relax for a minute.


Floor is dry and I'm eager to start. But first, I have to find something to get the lid off the paint can. If I can find my screwdriver, I think that will work. But first, Blackie, my cat, is howling savagely to be fed. But first, I have to get to the cabinet where his food is stored. But first, I have to move the equipment the workers left to dry the floor. Problem solved, the cat is happy and I still have about 30 minutes to get paint on walls where stove and refrigerator will be replaced. Should be enough time but first, I need to remember where I put the screw driver down. The paint is open and I'm ready to go. But first, I have to paint next to the trim with the small brush. Opps, but first, I need to clean up the drop of paint I just got on the patched floor. Or do I? With less than 15 minutes to go before the men return, I'm rushing away to get the job finished. Who's going to see behind the appliances anyway? I grab some thick paint on the brush and stroke away. Okay done behind the stove but hey it's a lot brighter and cleaner looking, I think I have time to go all the way to the ceiling while the stove is out. But first, I have to go find a ladder. Grab the ladder and up I climb to paint. But first, I need to wash the walls so it will be a good job. Brush, brush, brush, brush, brush, brush, brush, I'm done. Just as the men are driving up. What have I started now? The entire room will need to be painted in order to match and not see what I've just done.

As I take a breather, the men finish installing the floor. But first, I must get the side of the stove and back clean before they can put it back. The new floor looks great and so does the wall behind the stove. Now all to do is put the appliances back. Everything looks so nice and clean and I thank the workers as they leave. I guess I've got my work cut out for me now. The ladder is once again returned to the kitchen so I can begin washing the rest of the walls. But first, I need to find throw rugs to put on the floor so the ladder feet won't scratch it. I find enough to work but first, I better put a drop cloth over the floor so I don't ruin the rugs with paint. But first, I have to remember that it's sitting in my car still, find my keys and retrieve it. With the floor covered up and and the walls and ceiling washed and painted, it's really coming out nice and really brightens up the room.

Time to put everything back. But first, all the spices have to be cleaned before putting them back in their rack. But first, the stove needs to be cleaned so it stands out nicely against the new walls and floor. Now onto the windows, ugh the window sills are not my favorite part, but first gotta take down the curtains and wash them. Okay dusted the windows out cleaned the sills and hung the new clean curtains. Now time to clean everything on the counter tops. But first, look at the grout on the tiles. Could be cleaner and brighter now to match everything else. Time to clean the grout. Perfect, now time to put things back on counter top. But first, have to wash and shine everything. Wow, that looks so much better but before it's complete, I have to do the wash the rugs now too. But first, it's 3:00 am and I need some rest.

Woke up finish everything and sit back and say, man that looks great. So even though the tiny job of painting behind the appliances before new floor installed, was completely over blown, I am grateful to have two new 100% clean rooms and a roof over my head for that matter. Hmmmm, think the rest of the house needs it now too. Next weekend, the bathroom!

Grid Lock At Register Three

Okay so you have a cat who you have just promised you will NOT return home without getting him some tasty snack treats from the grocery store. You've worked all day 8 hours, you make it to the store, you carefully select the tasty treats from isle 8 that you know are going to bring a smile to your cat's face and prove to your cat that YOU the owner are not full of shit, and you pick up a few things for yourself and head to check out. WOWSER, there are only 3 check stands open and the lines is each one are longer than the day before Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years combined.

OH HELL NO.. I refuse to wait in a line of 20 plus people for something that is not even on sale. So I did the next best thing. Left my cart and walked out letting the box boy know that I'm sorry he has to put 30 plus cans away. Okay so I'm grateful, I have a few spare cans reserve at home to tide him over and the money to be able to afford to buy him, and myself, more.

Happy New Year

Why does it always seems like the days you have to work, your health is okay and the days you get to yourself, you're sick? That's my story to start out the new year. Been trying to fight back a cold since right before Christmas and waaaaaa laaaaaaa.... Sick for both holidays.

Yes, I made it through the Christmas party at work mostly sober and not standing out in my bosses eyes for another year. Trust me that's a hard one I've been living down for the last 6 parties. Doubled up on my vitamin C and felt pretty good all in the way to Chirstmas Eve. Then, the sniffles... OH no... I can't get sick..... break out the Euchanasia and extra Energy "C". Okay I feel good enough to go to brunch with my friends Christmas day. Back at work, everyone is sniffling and though you try as you may to not touch anything, you have to and before you know it, you are sniffling too.


Here's to a prosperous 2009. We have a something to look forward to. A new president and yet another year to make all those resolution we start out convinced we will obtain. My resolution... to not make one. Happy New Year Everyone!!!