Yep, forgot to mention the nuts and bolts that I found today. Two nuts, one of which was partnered with it's appropriate bolt. And, three pennies, all head's up. Yippee! And there's more....just to be in the Halloween spirit (pun intended), I found one LARGE ORANGE velvet bow. It was just waiting for me on the sidewalk, across from the entrance to the dump aka transfer station. It was in perfect condition. My first thought was of attaching it to someone's fence or something as a surprise "gift". Then I decided to take it home for our porch railing.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Monday, October 30, 2006
A Seasonal Tale
BOO
A Halloween story from last year! Preface...this year I've been totally too busy to think much about it. Although since I'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off, maybe things *are* a bit ghoulish.
Last year, this time, A and I decided to do up Halloween with the Castle of the Damned tour at Hammond Castle, in Gloucester. I'm not big on the "made up to scare" stuff. I prefer things about real ghosts, haunted houses, and such. A likes anything that's horror. We both were scared with this night event. You have to know that it was pouring rain by the bucket fulls. Just like the summer downpours in Florida, but add to it cold temps, driving wind, and having to wait in a dark parking lot on a hilltop next to the ocean with several hundred others....waiting for the school bus that would transport us all to the castle. For this event you can not park on the grounds as there are too many cars for the lot.
In a timely manner...everyone had time to be soaked by the rain...the bus arrived. We had been waiting about 45 minutes and I was determined that we would be on the first bus. Since we had been among the first dozen or so to arrive in the parking lot, I was not going to wait for the next bus in a half an hour. Maybe we should have!
A and I got on board and sat in the first seats, opposite the driver and just behind the doors. The rest of the bus fills up with soggy and cold people and the driver shuts the doors. Off we go, yay, finally! As we make the turn on to the main road and pick up speed, I looked ahead. Nothing. Really.....nothing!
The driver had the heater blasting and combined with the door being open for boarding and all the wet people, ALL the windows were steamed up. The windshield, too! It was still pouring outside, pitch black, and totally fogged inside. The windshield wipers were slamming back and forth for the rain outside, but nothing was clearing the steam inside. We are speeding along a winding road and I can't see a thing. How can the driver? I could see this as footage in a Hollywood horror movie. What would jump out in front of this careening bus? When we crashed to a stop on rock walls and against trees, what would be waiting to board the bus? Oh my gosh, just let us get to the castle.....please.
Just as my nerves had had enough, we slowed down and pull into the Hammond Castle parking lot. I felt soooooo much better just knowing that nothing was going to terrify me in the tour as much as the ride getting there! The tour was very well done, but, after that ride, and due to the fact that we had some really funny preteen boys just in front of us, we actually thought it was hilarious. Met up with the curator of the castle/museum outside. He was trying really hard to be scary. Nope. Hard to believe, yeeeeaaaaars ago we dated. Got back on a bus - no steamy ride this time, and made it back to the safety of our own truck.
A Halloween story from last year! Preface...this year I've been totally too busy to think much about it. Although since I'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off, maybe things *are* a bit ghoulish.
Last year, this time, A and I decided to do up Halloween with the Castle of the Damned tour at Hammond Castle, in Gloucester. I'm not big on the "made up to scare" stuff. I prefer things about real ghosts, haunted houses, and such. A likes anything that's horror. We both were scared with this night event. You have to know that it was pouring rain by the bucket fulls. Just like the summer downpours in Florida, but add to it cold temps, driving wind, and having to wait in a dark parking lot on a hilltop next to the ocean with several hundred others....waiting for the school bus that would transport us all to the castle. For this event you can not park on the grounds as there are too many cars for the lot.
In a timely manner...everyone had time to be soaked by the rain...the bus arrived. We had been waiting about 45 minutes and I was determined that we would be on the first bus. Since we had been among the first dozen or so to arrive in the parking lot, I was not going to wait for the next bus in a half an hour. Maybe we should have!
A and I got on board and sat in the first seats, opposite the driver and just behind the doors. The rest of the bus fills up with soggy and cold people and the driver shuts the doors. Off we go, yay, finally! As we make the turn on to the main road and pick up speed, I looked ahead. Nothing. Really.....nothing!
The driver had the heater blasting and combined with the door being open for boarding and all the wet people, ALL the windows were steamed up. The windshield, too! It was still pouring outside, pitch black, and totally fogged inside. The windshield wipers were slamming back and forth for the rain outside, but nothing was clearing the steam inside. We are speeding along a winding road and I can't see a thing. How can the driver? I could see this as footage in a Hollywood horror movie. What would jump out in front of this careening bus? When we crashed to a stop on rock walls and against trees, what would be waiting to board the bus? Oh my gosh, just let us get to the castle.....please.
Just as my nerves had had enough, we slowed down and pull into the Hammond Castle parking lot. I felt soooooo much better just knowing that nothing was going to terrify me in the tour as much as the ride getting there! The tour was very well done, but, after that ride, and due to the fact that we had some really funny preteen boys just in front of us, we actually thought it was hilarious. Met up with the curator of the castle/museum outside. He was trying really hard to be scary. Nope. Hard to believe, yeeeeaaaaars ago we dated. Got back on a bus - no steamy ride this time, and made it back to the safety of our own truck.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Phew........
.......and some new readers?
Well, I have survived! My first presentation on Online Safety.
My thoughts and criticisms (of me)....
My presentation should have been *more* topic specific. We tried to appeal to a broad range of the congregation, and in doing so, there really was insufficient time. It definitely needs to be only ONE topic. We tried for two with a "my story" intro and it was too much. I'm glad that I had prepared a comprehensive hand-out (each in a cadet blue pocket folder)! So...I ran out of time to sum things up and to do a little PR for Jayne's book. It is recommended in the handout as are the resources available through WHOA and WHOA-KTD. It would have helped to have published not only a start time but also an end time. For a first try at it, not too bad. *I* learned alot about what to say or not, how to time it, and most importantly...I can do it better if there should be a next time!
One last critique...it was hard to talk about what could not be shown as an example. In other words, no way to show visuals to the group.
Anyway, what a test run! My thanks to everyone who came and participated (and tolerated my inexperience). My biggest surprise was grandparent interest in the social networking segment. It's super to see grandparents concerned. More parents should be like these folks!
Oh yeah, welcome to any new readers to my blog....feel free to comment any time. Click on "comments" (below) and write your comment. You may submit it by choosing "anonymous", "other"(you use your name - first only, initials, or something creative), or if you have a blogger account- "blogger".
Well, I have survived! My first presentation on Online Safety.
My thoughts and criticisms (of me)....
My presentation should have been *more* topic specific. We tried to appeal to a broad range of the congregation, and in doing so, there really was insufficient time. It definitely needs to be only ONE topic. We tried for two with a "my story" intro and it was too much. I'm glad that I had prepared a comprehensive hand-out (each in a cadet blue pocket folder)! So...I ran out of time to sum things up and to do a little PR for Jayne's book. It is recommended in the handout as are the resources available through WHOA and WHOA-KTD. It would have helped to have published not only a start time but also an end time. For a first try at it, not too bad. *I* learned alot about what to say or not, how to time it, and most importantly...I can do it better if there should be a next time!
One last critique...it was hard to talk about what could not be shown as an example. In other words, no way to show visuals to the group.
Anyway, what a test run! My thanks to everyone who came and participated (and tolerated my inexperience). My biggest surprise was grandparent interest in the social networking segment. It's super to see grandparents concerned. More parents should be like these folks!
Oh yeah, welcome to any new readers to my blog....feel free to comment any time. Click on "comments" (below) and write your comment. You may submit it by choosing "anonymous", "other"(you use your name - first only, initials, or something creative), or if you have a blogger account- "blogger".
Thursday, October 26, 2006
A Little Here and There
It seems I've been running in all directions this week. I've been trying to get a lot of work done around the house ready for winter. I got the screen door at the bottom of the bulkhead insulated against the cold. It helps alot for keeping my workshop warm. I still haven't gotten the storm windows down, maybe tomorrow. I think I need to start a list to check off. I keep forgetting things and other things come up that also eventually get forgotten! Of course, all that stuff is done at my parent's. Their house is neat and clean, too. I still need to get vacuuming and dusting done at home.
My mom wanted one of the sewing machines stored in the cellar, so I did get that done. Then she needed to have her cell phone changed. She still had one from six years ago - AT&T - and the analog service is being phased out. So I took her to the mall (did a bit of clothes shopping) to get a new phone. I ended up adding her to my plan as that will be less expensive for her each month. I never use all my minutes, they rollover, and I accumulate even more that I don't use! Tomorrow I have to cancel her old account. I tried to do it while waiting at the mall kiosk for the new hookup, but I didn't have the info that was needed....so.....it had to wait until at home. The next step will be teaching her how to use her new phone. Oh, boy......
Yesterday, my dad managed to disconnect a light bulb from it's own screw-in base when he tried to turn on the lamp next to his chair. I had already bought a new socket for the lamp as they were complaining that the old one was getting too hot. The new one has a pull chain so he won't be reaching up from the bottom, past the hot bulb, to switch the light on and off. I took the floor lamp down to the workshop to "operate" on it. Managed to get everything apart only to find out that the insulation on the wiring was pretty brittle. Okay, one more thing to do. Headed out to Ace for new wire and a new plug. Got back home and finished that project. Shipped out some keys and had others picked up at the shop. Then carried the deck furniture down to the cellar for mom.
There has been an increase in calls for tunings and service this week. I've tried to schedule them out over a few weeks so I don't get too swamped in any particular day. A set of keys arrived from Michigan. Thank goodness the guy's name was included on the MBE return address. He didn't put any contact info or return shipping info (or check :-( ) in the box. I got his contact info from the PTG Membership Directory and I've emailed him. No response yet. I'll call over the weekend if I hear nothing in the meantime.
Mom decided, out of the blue, that she thought I could have a player piano in their house. My house doesn't have a spot large enough to fit a normal size piano (really, I'm not kidding). Now this is great news. I would love to have a player piano of my own once again. I wish she had considered it when I owned one! I'm on the look-out for something that needs rebuilding but has a decent cabinet as I have no facility to do refinishing. This would have been so much easier had I been able to move one from FL when I moved up here. I guess better late than never.
My friend's dad-in-law is not doing well. She will be spending some time with him tomorrow and I hope that, just maybe, he is a bit improved. I know it is a very difficult time for her family and my heart hurts for them.
My dad is still hanging in after his eye surgery. The gas bubble "clamp" in his eye has started to "sink", which it is supposed to do. Dad says that he can now see a some things that are above shoulder height. As the bubble descends the vision returns from top to bottom. This happens over a period of 6-8 weeks. As my mom said today, with limited time left to live because of the cancer, it just wouldn't be right for him not to be able to read...the only thing that he *really* has enjoyed since his emphysema and cancer has limited him physically.
Well, a tuning tomorrow, phone calls too. Saturday will be a shopwork day and I've also got one more handout to write and print out for Sunday.
My mom wanted one of the sewing machines stored in the cellar, so I did get that done. Then she needed to have her cell phone changed. She still had one from six years ago - AT&T - and the analog service is being phased out. So I took her to the mall (did a bit of clothes shopping) to get a new phone. I ended up adding her to my plan as that will be less expensive for her each month. I never use all my minutes, they rollover, and I accumulate even more that I don't use! Tomorrow I have to cancel her old account. I tried to do it while waiting at the mall kiosk for the new hookup, but I didn't have the info that was needed....so.....it had to wait until at home. The next step will be teaching her how to use her new phone. Oh, boy......
Yesterday, my dad managed to disconnect a light bulb from it's own screw-in base when he tried to turn on the lamp next to his chair. I had already bought a new socket for the lamp as they were complaining that the old one was getting too hot. The new one has a pull chain so he won't be reaching up from the bottom, past the hot bulb, to switch the light on and off. I took the floor lamp down to the workshop to "operate" on it. Managed to get everything apart only to find out that the insulation on the wiring was pretty brittle. Okay, one more thing to do. Headed out to Ace for new wire and a new plug. Got back home and finished that project. Shipped out some keys and had others picked up at the shop. Then carried the deck furniture down to the cellar for mom.
There has been an increase in calls for tunings and service this week. I've tried to schedule them out over a few weeks so I don't get too swamped in any particular day. A set of keys arrived from Michigan. Thank goodness the guy's name was included on the MBE return address. He didn't put any contact info or return shipping info (or check :-( ) in the box. I got his contact info from the PTG Membership Directory and I've emailed him. No response yet. I'll call over the weekend if I hear nothing in the meantime.
Mom decided, out of the blue, that she thought I could have a player piano in their house. My house doesn't have a spot large enough to fit a normal size piano (really, I'm not kidding). Now this is great news. I would love to have a player piano of my own once again. I wish she had considered it when I owned one! I'm on the look-out for something that needs rebuilding but has a decent cabinet as I have no facility to do refinishing. This would have been so much easier had I been able to move one from FL when I moved up here. I guess better late than never.
My friend's dad-in-law is not doing well. She will be spending some time with him tomorrow and I hope that, just maybe, he is a bit improved. I know it is a very difficult time for her family and my heart hurts for them.
My dad is still hanging in after his eye surgery. The gas bubble "clamp" in his eye has started to "sink", which it is supposed to do. Dad says that he can now see a some things that are above shoulder height. As the bubble descends the vision returns from top to bottom. This happens over a period of 6-8 weeks. As my mom said today, with limited time left to live because of the cancer, it just wouldn't be right for him not to be able to read...the only thing that he *really* has enjoyed since his emphysema and cancer has limited him physically.
Well, a tuning tomorrow, phone calls too. Saturday will be a shopwork day and I've also got one more handout to write and print out for Sunday.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
And the Buck Stops............
By the side of the road, thank goodness!
This was a first for me and quite a shock. At about 7:45 p.m. I left the house to go and pick up my daughter at work. I was looking forward to the drive now that I have a new "feature" in my truck. While I was sorting out some cabinets in the workshop, I found an adapter that allows playing of a portable CD through the auto speakers. Don't ask me how my dad ended up with one of these....but there it was. No more recording my CDs on to cassette tapes! Unfortunately the power adapter doesn't work with my CD player, so I have to use the batteries.
So....anyway....I had decided to listen to The 5 Brown's playing Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue". ".....Blue" is a favorite of mine and one of those pieces that I like to feel as well as hear! I get everything set and going at a decent ;-) volume as I head out of town. Up Great Hill past the police station and then down the other side to Nugent Stretch.
Wait a second. What's that? Is someone walking along side the road in the brush? Oh noooooo. A deer! Actually a rather large buck. BIG antlers. Now what??? I don't have time to stop. I'm going about 40 mph as I'm just approaching the 45 mph sign. "Rhapsody in Blue" is blaring and I hold my breath. I think my heart has stopped for a second, too. Phew, a smart buck! He's standing just on the edge of the road looking straight across in front of me. He looks like he's waiting for a "walk" signal. Yes, I know about the headlights blinding and stopping them. And then I'm past him.
I managed not running over anyone during tourist season and now I've got deer season. No rest.
This was a first for me and quite a shock. At about 7:45 p.m. I left the house to go and pick up my daughter at work. I was looking forward to the drive now that I have a new "feature" in my truck. While I was sorting out some cabinets in the workshop, I found an adapter that allows playing of a portable CD through the auto speakers. Don't ask me how my dad ended up with one of these....but there it was. No more recording my CDs on to cassette tapes! Unfortunately the power adapter doesn't work with my CD player, so I have to use the batteries.
So....anyway....I had decided to listen to The 5 Brown's playing Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue". ".....Blue" is a favorite of mine and one of those pieces that I like to feel as well as hear! I get everything set and going at a decent ;-) volume as I head out of town. Up Great Hill past the police station and then down the other side to Nugent Stretch.
Wait a second. What's that? Is someone walking along side the road in the brush? Oh noooooo. A deer! Actually a rather large buck. BIG antlers. Now what??? I don't have time to stop. I'm going about 40 mph as I'm just approaching the 45 mph sign. "Rhapsody in Blue" is blaring and I hold my breath. I think my heart has stopped for a second, too. Phew, a smart buck! He's standing just on the edge of the road looking straight across in front of me. He looks like he's waiting for a "walk" signal. Yes, I know about the headlights blinding and stopping them. And then I'm past him.
I managed not running over anyone during tourist season and now I've got deer season. No rest.
Friday, October 20, 2006
A Problem to Fix
This is just a post to see if it will fix a viewing problem. Help! I hate it when things go wrong for no apparent reason.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Deb, Bath, and Beyond...
Yeah, yeah, really lousy play on words. I'm tired. Anyway, here's weird pictures to post on a blog. Tah, dah! An almost finished bathroom. I still have a bit of border to hang in the area of the sink. You can't see that part here. If you look in the second photo it would be to your left. This wasn't an easy spot to take a photo. Small area to work in! The beadboard and trim work is actually ALOT lighter than it appears in the photos. The color is more like the darkest brown in the border. I'll call it dark caramel.
*****Flu blue!*****
Tuesday was flu shot day. We have gotten flu shots every year, except one, since Doc and I divorced. Being the only support for the two of us, I couldn't afford to get that sick. If my daughter got sick, I couldn't afford to take the time off work! So....some preventative medicine. We did get through the one "shortage" year with what were just nasty colds. Close to flu but not as bad! Shot time was 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and they were given at a local pharmacy. We arrived at 9:30 knowing that there are senior apartments just across the road and, well, they tend to be early. Even with our early arrival I was about twentieth in line. There were two nurses giving the shots. It was just about my turn and an older lady a couple places ahead of me felt like she was going to faint. Now we were down to one nurse. All in all it took about 45 minutes total time. Not too bad. They called the ambulance for the older lady. We managed to be leaving the parking lot just as the ambulance was arriving.
****************************************
Keys in and keys out this week. So far I have completed and shipped two sets. I'm working on a third for a local tech.
****************************************
Dad is doing a little better at last. He isn't nearly as confused. He does have moments every once in awhile that he forgets that he had his eye operated on. He totally forgets and starts doing stuff he's not supposed to do. Then when my mom gets after him about it he argues with her. Eventually things get settled and all is okay for a couple days.
****************************************
Tomorrow I head back to the police station. Officer L. got in touch and asked that I document the phone calls and get back to him. I've made a tape recording of the message that was from R on my parent's answering machine, and listed all the other suspicious calls. I also copied a tape from my answering machine from February 2005 that has calls resulting from some of R's online activities where he posted information about me.
****************************************
Just noticed some things in the bath photos that some of you might recognize (if the photos were better!). On top of the wall cabinet is a wooden basket from "Ernie's Market"! In the basket is a piece of "monkey puzzle" (it's real name is Bunga-Bunga) tree from our property in Florida along with a nice box that Joan sent (her note is still in the box). Joan sent the monkey puzzle "branch", also. In the "palm tree" box there is a pod from a flamboyant tree in St. Thomas, USVI. Yes, customs *did* think we were a bit odd. And, yes, we had been to the Agriculture Office on the island to get permission to take some flamboyant tree pods home! Also, in the close-up photo you will see a print of a white heron. I have four prints by the same artist. I purchased them when Trinity College had a big yard sale. The prints were from the 1920's and had been in the building since it had been the "Fenway Hotel". I paid $5 each. When we were moving back here from Florida, I considered selling them at the HUGE moving sale that I had. I think that I had them priced at around $20 each, believing I would make a good profit. Now, I'm not totally dumb. A couple days before the sale I decided that I better check out what, if anything, they were really worth. Online I went, to find a gallery in California selling a similar print by the same artist for $650. They came with me!
******AND FINALLY******
Saw Mary walking in town. Wave, Mary, Wave!
Sunday, October 15, 2006
What a Week(end)
So, it's been a full seven days of weirdness. It's time for it to quit.
Good news, the owners LOVED the Kawai organ. Mrs. L sat down and played it for a long time. I didn't think I would be able to get her to leave. She played and played then looked it all over carefully and played some more! Mr. L said that, years ago, when Y had sent him a tape of her playing and singing he just knew that he would marry her. I guess that they had corresponded for some time between the states (him) and Japan (her). She had the organ shipped from Japan when she moved here.
The movers arrived on time on Saturday. Of course they stopped at the wrong house first. The usual problem....stopped at number 5. We are number 5, but west. Same street but three houses apart. They were told "it's the second number 5", but as always no one listens. I had to do a bit of on-the-spot repair when they set the organ down near their truck. They caught an edge of veneer on clothing or something and chipped a piece off. I hate show off-y, know it all movers. Thankfully, I found the piece and repaired the damage with some instant glue.
**********************************
Oh yeah, more about being one of two number fives! A preface....I know "the other" number fives. They are a wonderful family and are one of the reasons for me attending the church that I do. (More about that later).
I was at the church a couple weeks ago (gee, has it been that long?) tuning the pianos. I was just finishing up when Jim (one of the other number 5s) arrived to set up for the bell quartet rehearsal. I stayed a few minutes to give him a hand. Jim told me that earlier in the week he was driving his daughter to school, and being a tad late, was driving a little faster than he should. Being a volunteer fireman, Jim had his "radio" with him and heard a policeman calling in his license plate number. Then he saw blue flashing lights so he pulled over. The officer walked up to the car and said, "Mr. Legg, don't you think you are going a little fast?" Jim never corrected the officer! GEE, THANKS JIM!
So Jim wonders how that could happen..........
Two number fives!!!! Too little reading!!!! Two too many assumptions!!!!
I'm quite sure that the officer in charge of my harassment case was the officer at the desk when the plates were being run. He sees the address, 5 XXXXX XXXX show up on the computer. He knows that I live at number 5, but has forgotten about the West. He doesn't bother to read the name figuring he knows who lives there....and.....voila'.....officer sees man in car rather than woman and just assumes......
*********************************
Out to dinner, again! This time it was just mom and me. Ellen's of course. Just as we were finishing and getting ready to head out the door, Dan came in. Yippee! I have missed Dan so much. Usually I see him alot, particularly in the summer. We quickly caught up on the major news. I got a BIG bear-hug from Dan. Boy, did I need that. Dan is good with hugs. You know that he means it - cuz sometimes it's hard to breathe! I always feel much better after seeing Dan.
*********************************
Today, at church, there was some surprising (yet not) news. Our pastor, Bob, will be retiring this summer. I say "yet not", because it has been in the back of my mind that it would be coming up soon. I remember exactly how I first met Bob.
Doc and I had decided to get married. My mom had always wanted to see me "walk down a big staircase" for the wedding. We decided to have a small ceremony and reception at the Rocky Shores Inn, just down the road from my parent's house. Neither Doc nor I had been recently attending any church and we commented on this to the owner of the inn, Mrs. G. She told us of a new, young minister at her church, claiming that we would really like him. So...as of Bob's upcoming retirement in summer of 2007, it will be 30 years since he married us. And now, since moving back here, I have, in a way, come full circle. I'm happy for Bob and Roberta and I'm sure they will thoroughly enjoy retirement. I'm not sure whether they will stay in this area and, if they should leave, I will miss the comfort of knowing that they are nearby. Some things there is never a best time for so you just have to keep moving forward.
Good news, the owners LOVED the Kawai organ. Mrs. L sat down and played it for a long time. I didn't think I would be able to get her to leave. She played and played then looked it all over carefully and played some more! Mr. L said that, years ago, when Y had sent him a tape of her playing and singing he just knew that he would marry her. I guess that they had corresponded for some time between the states (him) and Japan (her). She had the organ shipped from Japan when she moved here.
The movers arrived on time on Saturday. Of course they stopped at the wrong house first. The usual problem....stopped at number 5. We are number 5, but west. Same street but three houses apart. They were told "it's the second number 5", but as always no one listens. I had to do a bit of on-the-spot repair when they set the organ down near their truck. They caught an edge of veneer on clothing or something and chipped a piece off. I hate show off-y, know it all movers. Thankfully, I found the piece and repaired the damage with some instant glue.
**********************************
Oh yeah, more about being one of two number fives! A preface....I know "the other" number fives. They are a wonderful family and are one of the reasons for me attending the church that I do. (More about that later).
I was at the church a couple weeks ago (gee, has it been that long?) tuning the pianos. I was just finishing up when Jim (one of the other number 5s) arrived to set up for the bell quartet rehearsal. I stayed a few minutes to give him a hand. Jim told me that earlier in the week he was driving his daughter to school, and being a tad late, was driving a little faster than he should. Being a volunteer fireman, Jim had his "radio" with him and heard a policeman calling in his license plate number. Then he saw blue flashing lights so he pulled over. The officer walked up to the car and said, "Mr. Legg, don't you think you are going a little fast?" Jim never corrected the officer! GEE, THANKS JIM!
So Jim wonders how that could happen..........
Two number fives!!!! Too little reading!!!! Two too many assumptions!!!!
I'm quite sure that the officer in charge of my harassment case was the officer at the desk when the plates were being run. He sees the address, 5 XXXXX XXXX show up on the computer. He knows that I live at number 5, but has forgotten about the West. He doesn't bother to read the name figuring he knows who lives there....and.....voila'.....officer sees man in car rather than woman and just assumes......
*********************************
Out to dinner, again! This time it was just mom and me. Ellen's of course. Just as we were finishing and getting ready to head out the door, Dan came in. Yippee! I have missed Dan so much. Usually I see him alot, particularly in the summer. We quickly caught up on the major news. I got a BIG bear-hug from Dan. Boy, did I need that. Dan is good with hugs. You know that he means it - cuz sometimes it's hard to breathe! I always feel much better after seeing Dan.
*********************************
Today, at church, there was some surprising (yet not) news. Our pastor, Bob, will be retiring this summer. I say "yet not", because it has been in the back of my mind that it would be coming up soon. I remember exactly how I first met Bob.
Doc and I had decided to get married. My mom had always wanted to see me "walk down a big staircase" for the wedding. We decided to have a small ceremony and reception at the Rocky Shores Inn, just down the road from my parent's house. Neither Doc nor I had been recently attending any church and we commented on this to the owner of the inn, Mrs. G. She told us of a new, young minister at her church, claiming that we would really like him. So...as of Bob's upcoming retirement in summer of 2007, it will be 30 years since he married us. And now, since moving back here, I have, in a way, come full circle. I'm happy for Bob and Roberta and I'm sure they will thoroughly enjoy retirement. I'm not sure whether they will stay in this area and, if they should leave, I will miss the comfort of knowing that they are nearby. Some things there is never a best time for so you just have to keep moving forward.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Not Complaining
But the full moon hasn't given up, yet!
So, did I say that incoming work was picking up a bit? Very shortly the Kawai owners will be at the door to see (and hear) the finished organ and pay the balance due. This is great as I can now get the next organ in the works.
Keywork has also picked up. But here's the full moon bit...the work is not from tech's. I have been sent the customers directly by their piano technicians. Now, keywork is keywork, and it *is* the majority of my income, but I have never done sooooo much "direct" work and I really prefer to deal with the tech. It should be the piano techs sending their customer's stuff. I can't figure out why this is happening all of a sudden. Weird. I've got four "non trade" jobs in less than one week. I can't remember ever having one in the previous ten years! Just strange.
So, did I say that incoming work was picking up a bit? Very shortly the Kawai owners will be at the door to see (and hear) the finished organ and pay the balance due. This is great as I can now get the next organ in the works.
Keywork has also picked up. But here's the full moon bit...the work is not from tech's. I have been sent the customers directly by their piano technicians. Now, keywork is keywork, and it *is* the majority of my income, but I have never done sooooo much "direct" work and I really prefer to deal with the tech. It should be the piano techs sending their customer's stuff. I can't figure out why this is happening all of a sudden. Weird. I've got four "non trade" jobs in less than one week. I can't remember ever having one in the previous ten years! Just strange.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Sometimes......
Well, just sometimes things are soooo messed up and out of wack. Sometimes coincidence seems to work in all the wrong ways. And sometimes everything seems to get thrown together all at once so that the world is spinning.
It has been that way this week.
My dad's eye surgery went very well and his doctor is very pleased so far. However, things are just messed up for my Dad. He hasn't been "right" since Monday evening. He has fallen twice, but we understand that risk because of what the "bubble clamp" inside his eye can do to depth perception and balance. But, also, he has been getting very edgy and jittery in the evenings. Then he starts making comments and talking about stuff that doesn't make any sense to the situation. Last night he wanted to know if I had returned the nickel that I borrowed to go shopping. He was looking high and low for a pen he didn't drop. The night before, he woke my mother up about every half hour with some strange comment or request. One time he wanted sugar for his cereal and insisted he had a bowl of cereal next to him in bed. This was in the wee hours of the morning. His eye surgeon changed one of the drops he has to use, hoping that was what was causing the problem. Not yet.
It is very difficult to watch his condition deteriorate so rapidly. My mom gets desperate and turns to me. She woke me up at 5 a.m. the other morning because of how he was behaving. I wish that there was a way I *could* fix it, as she wants. I made some suggestions including calling his doctor, if they could wait the few hours, or if not, calling the ambulance. I just got told I was of no help. So then I was awake and upset.
And to top it off......Monday night there was a message on my parents machine that I am 99% sure was "the" problem person. Those of you who don't know who I mean will have to email me privately as I won't mention that name here. I have traced the number that the call was made from. It is a "spoofed" number. It is a number that is no longer in service, and at one time belonged to a global software corp that has since met it's demise due to massive, multi-million dollars of fraud. Some other phone calls have been happening, too.
Sooo...on top of everything else. On top of being awakened at 5 a.m., of spending the next few hours upset and in tears off and on. On top of all that, I had to truck on up to the police station once again. I was really on edge emotionally, so took a lot of deep breaths and got myself calm enough to go in. I kept my fingers crossed that the officer handling my harassment case would be there and I could get it all done with quickly.
No such luck. He was out on patrol according to the officer at the desk.
Well, how about the court officer? He knows the case and I've talked to him many times before.
No, he's working on an investigation.
Sooooo, my guy is supposed to call or find me while I'm delivering papers. I head out to my truck. After I got in and ready to leave, I started crying again. Why couldn't *anything* go right? Well, I didn't want to be sitting in my truck in front of the station and "in view", in case anyone inside started wondering why I hadn't left yet. So, calming myself again, I wiped off my wet face and I saw "my guy" walking out of the station towards my truck.
I managed to keep calm and we went in to the interview room while I described the phone call and gave him a copy of the tracing and research that I had done. I know that there probably isn't much that can be done. But telling me that at least the phone calls weren't as bad as the emails I had gotten in the past stunned me. Haven't they learned anything?! Don't they understand how it feels to have an unstable person repeatedly harassing and threatening?
Sooo....back to my truck and a few more very brief tears. A big inhale and I have to get on with the day. I am so thankful for Jayne and her friendship, assistance, and support. She is truly the "good" that has come from this mess.
Another totally different upside. The owners of the Kawai organ are coming to pay the balance on Thursday evening and the movers will be here Saturday to take it. Some keywork has started up again and the "questionable" customer from FL has turned out to be legit. Phewww.
It has been that way this week.
My dad's eye surgery went very well and his doctor is very pleased so far. However, things are just messed up for my Dad. He hasn't been "right" since Monday evening. He has fallen twice, but we understand that risk because of what the "bubble clamp" inside his eye can do to depth perception and balance. But, also, he has been getting very edgy and jittery in the evenings. Then he starts making comments and talking about stuff that doesn't make any sense to the situation. Last night he wanted to know if I had returned the nickel that I borrowed to go shopping. He was looking high and low for a pen he didn't drop. The night before, he woke my mother up about every half hour with some strange comment or request. One time he wanted sugar for his cereal and insisted he had a bowl of cereal next to him in bed. This was in the wee hours of the morning. His eye surgeon changed one of the drops he has to use, hoping that was what was causing the problem. Not yet.
It is very difficult to watch his condition deteriorate so rapidly. My mom gets desperate and turns to me. She woke me up at 5 a.m. the other morning because of how he was behaving. I wish that there was a way I *could* fix it, as she wants. I made some suggestions including calling his doctor, if they could wait the few hours, or if not, calling the ambulance. I just got told I was of no help. So then I was awake and upset.
And to top it off......Monday night there was a message on my parents machine that I am 99% sure was "the" problem person. Those of you who don't know who I mean will have to email me privately as I won't mention that name here. I have traced the number that the call was made from. It is a "spoofed" number. It is a number that is no longer in service, and at one time belonged to a global software corp that has since met it's demise due to massive, multi-million dollars of fraud. Some other phone calls have been happening, too.
Sooo...on top of everything else. On top of being awakened at 5 a.m., of spending the next few hours upset and in tears off and on. On top of all that, I had to truck on up to the police station once again. I was really on edge emotionally, so took a lot of deep breaths and got myself calm enough to go in. I kept my fingers crossed that the officer handling my harassment case would be there and I could get it all done with quickly.
No such luck. He was out on patrol according to the officer at the desk.
Well, how about the court officer? He knows the case and I've talked to him many times before.
No, he's working on an investigation.
Sooooo, my guy is supposed to call or find me while I'm delivering papers. I head out to my truck. After I got in and ready to leave, I started crying again. Why couldn't *anything* go right? Well, I didn't want to be sitting in my truck in front of the station and "in view", in case anyone inside started wondering why I hadn't left yet. So, calming myself again, I wiped off my wet face and I saw "my guy" walking out of the station towards my truck.
I managed to keep calm and we went in to the interview room while I described the phone call and gave him a copy of the tracing and research that I had done. I know that there probably isn't much that can be done. But telling me that at least the phone calls weren't as bad as the emails I had gotten in the past stunned me. Haven't they learned anything?! Don't they understand how it feels to have an unstable person repeatedly harassing and threatening?
Sooo....back to my truck and a few more very brief tears. A big inhale and I have to get on with the day. I am so thankful for Jayne and her friendship, assistance, and support. She is truly the "good" that has come from this mess.
Another totally different upside. The owners of the Kawai organ are coming to pay the balance on Thursday evening and the movers will be here Saturday to take it. Some keywork has started up again and the "questionable" customer from FL has turned out to be legit. Phewww.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Too Much, Today
And I thought today might be a good one. Hah.
First, and the easiest, my daughter was in a snit. I haven't a clue why. She has been super lazy lately and that's one thing that has been driving me crazy. She hasn't been lifting a finger to help out around the house. This is particularly needed now as I try to help with my folks more than normal. I'll be blunt - she's pissing me off. Yes, I know that's not a nice thing to say but, there it is. She isn't even doing her "normal" share of things and I'm really mad about it. Then she wants me to fix her earring for her. Tough, not happening. I don't have the time because I'm having to do everything else while she sits. So now she's mad at me.
My dad evidently had a bad night. First thing out of my mom's mouth this morning. He became confused and disoriented during the night (and a bit just before bedtime when she was putting his eyedrops in for him). Now he is having an even harder time walking. His legs just seem too weak. They had friends visit for the afternoon and everyone wanted to go to "Ellen's" for lunch.
My mom didn't want to have to get my dad into the restaurant and then leave and find a parking spot, so I had the duty of chauffeur. My dad could hardly manage getting into Ellen's with a walker. He had been doing somewhat well with just a cane.....up until the eye surgery. I thought maybe it was his limited vision through his bad eye, but it's more than that.
After company left, my mom and dad had a bout with impatience with each other. Neither listen very well. Dad's a bit deaf and Mom makes assumptions without really listening. Next thing I know, my mom is at my door yelling at me that she can't "handle" him anymore. She gives up. She can't be helping him up and down all the time, etc. Then she leaves my house. Now she's mad at me. I know what she wants me to say. I won't say it.
Yes, this is hard on all of us. *Everyone* needs to help out instead of dumping it all on me.
Soooooooo, always the optimist...........maybe tomorrow will be piles better.
First, and the easiest, my daughter was in a snit. I haven't a clue why. She has been super lazy lately and that's one thing that has been driving me crazy. She hasn't been lifting a finger to help out around the house. This is particularly needed now as I try to help with my folks more than normal. I'll be blunt - she's pissing me off. Yes, I know that's not a nice thing to say but, there it is. She isn't even doing her "normal" share of things and I'm really mad about it. Then she wants me to fix her earring for her. Tough, not happening. I don't have the time because I'm having to do everything else while she sits. So now she's mad at me.
My dad evidently had a bad night. First thing out of my mom's mouth this morning. He became confused and disoriented during the night (and a bit just before bedtime when she was putting his eyedrops in for him). Now he is having an even harder time walking. His legs just seem too weak. They had friends visit for the afternoon and everyone wanted to go to "Ellen's" for lunch.
My mom didn't want to have to get my dad into the restaurant and then leave and find a parking spot, so I had the duty of chauffeur. My dad could hardly manage getting into Ellen's with a walker. He had been doing somewhat well with just a cane.....up until the eye surgery. I thought maybe it was his limited vision through his bad eye, but it's more than that.
After company left, my mom and dad had a bout with impatience with each other. Neither listen very well. Dad's a bit deaf and Mom makes assumptions without really listening. Next thing I know, my mom is at my door yelling at me that she can't "handle" him anymore. She gives up. She can't be helping him up and down all the time, etc. Then she leaves my house. Now she's mad at me. I know what she wants me to say. I won't say it.
Yes, this is hard on all of us. *Everyone* needs to help out instead of dumping it all on me.
Soooooooo, always the optimist...........maybe tomorrow will be piles better.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
He, He, He, Happy
It just made me grin and chuckle.
I'm a member of a mailing list for piano technicians. Without getting into the depths of piano repair related detail, a nifty idea was posted about an trick for a repair on spinet pianos. For those of you who aren't familiar with these, they are a pain to have to do repairs on.
Anyway, I replied with a big "Fantastic idea!" and that believe it or not, I was looking forward to the opportunity to try it out.
And I get the response, "You must be one of those RTT's ;-) Really Twisted Tuner. "
(RTT used to stand for Registered Tuner - Technician)
Yep, that's me!
I'm a member of a mailing list for piano technicians. Without getting into the depths of piano repair related detail, a nifty idea was posted about an trick for a repair on spinet pianos. For those of you who aren't familiar with these, they are a pain to have to do repairs on.
Anyway, I replied with a big "Fantastic idea!" and that believe it or not, I was looking forward to the opportunity to try it out.
And I get the response, "You must be one of those RTT's ;-) Really Twisted Tuner. "
(RTT used to stand for Registered Tuner - Technician)
Yep, that's me!
Friday, October 06, 2006
Friday Again - Already!
Lately it seems like every time I turn aound it's a Friday. Time flies when you're going nuts!
What a week! And to top it all off, my dad had emergency eye surgery this morning.
On Monday evening he complained that his vision was blurry. Tuesday, he had a headache and still had blurry vision. My mom called the eye doctor and got my dad an appointment for Wednesday morning. She called me from the doctor's office to let me know that an emergency appointment had been made with a specialist and they were off to that doctor. The doctor had discovered a tear and partial detachment of the retina in Dad's left eye. His left eye had been his only "good" eye. He has macular degeneration in the right eye and very little vision with it. So the specialist did a thorough exam and explained the surgery. They create a gas bubble inside the eye (in the vitreous) that acts like a clamp and holds the detached part of the retina in place until it reattaches. The surgery would be just "day surgery" but recovery takes about 6 weeks. It has an 85% success rate. My fingers and toes are crossed as decent vision is soooo important for my dad. Especially since emphysema and lung cancer have severely limited his physical activity. He normally reads six books each week!
The surgery was scheduled for Monday morning. Dad was scheduled for the mandatory EKG on Friday afternoon. Thursday noontime comes around and brings a call from the specialist's office. Oops, the doctor forgot Monday is a holiday, so the surgery would be the next morning at 7 a.m. get the EKG rescheduled!
No easy feat! And guess what? After all the racing around, the medical center never got the EKG results to the hospital. They ended up having to do another one right before the operation! The head nurse was a bit more than furious with the medical center.
The eye specialist is a super guy. Before my folks left the hospital today, he told them he would call later in the day to check up on Dad. My mom thought he probably meant someone from the office would call. 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., came and went. No call. At 7:38 the phone rang. Yep, it's the doctor! He talked to my mom for just a minute and she told him everything was okay, that my dad was sitting right there listening to music with his headphones. The doctor asked to talk to him and chatted for a few minutes and answered a couple questions from my dad. I am amazed! They have to be at his office for a post surgery check tomorrow morning. The doctor actually works on a Saturday morning if he's needed!!!!!
***ANOTHER UPDATE***
News from the bathroom project. Most of the painting is finished. I have a couple patches to touch up. I decided that I really hated the plain old (recycled from downstairs) mirror that was on the wall over the sink. It was just a big square of mirrored glass held up with four of those clear plastic brackets. Yuck. So I bought a nicer looking, if smaller, mirror with a white frame around it. It looks great with the white vanity, wall cabinet, and fixtures. Of course that left the four holes to be patched. I prefitted/precut all the beadboard. Today, I got a coat of stain on it. Next it will get a few coats of satin poly. Then installed. I hope to be at that stage by next Friday!
THE 13th
What a week! And to top it all off, my dad had emergency eye surgery this morning.
On Monday evening he complained that his vision was blurry. Tuesday, he had a headache and still had blurry vision. My mom called the eye doctor and got my dad an appointment for Wednesday morning. She called me from the doctor's office to let me know that an emergency appointment had been made with a specialist and they were off to that doctor. The doctor had discovered a tear and partial detachment of the retina in Dad's left eye. His left eye had been his only "good" eye. He has macular degeneration in the right eye and very little vision with it. So the specialist did a thorough exam and explained the surgery. They create a gas bubble inside the eye (in the vitreous) that acts like a clamp and holds the detached part of the retina in place until it reattaches. The surgery would be just "day surgery" but recovery takes about 6 weeks. It has an 85% success rate. My fingers and toes are crossed as decent vision is soooo important for my dad. Especially since emphysema and lung cancer have severely limited his physical activity. He normally reads six books each week!
The surgery was scheduled for Monday morning. Dad was scheduled for the mandatory EKG on Friday afternoon. Thursday noontime comes around and brings a call from the specialist's office. Oops, the doctor forgot Monday is a holiday, so the surgery would be the next morning at 7 a.m. get the EKG rescheduled!
No easy feat! And guess what? After all the racing around, the medical center never got the EKG results to the hospital. They ended up having to do another one right before the operation! The head nurse was a bit more than furious with the medical center.
The eye specialist is a super guy. Before my folks left the hospital today, he told them he would call later in the day to check up on Dad. My mom thought he probably meant someone from the office would call. 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., came and went. No call. At 7:38 the phone rang. Yep, it's the doctor! He talked to my mom for just a minute and she told him everything was okay, that my dad was sitting right there listening to music with his headphones. The doctor asked to talk to him and chatted for a few minutes and answered a couple questions from my dad. I am amazed! They have to be at his office for a post surgery check tomorrow morning. The doctor actually works on a Saturday morning if he's needed!!!!!
***ANOTHER UPDATE***
News from the bathroom project. Most of the painting is finished. I have a couple patches to touch up. I decided that I really hated the plain old (recycled from downstairs) mirror that was on the wall over the sink. It was just a big square of mirrored glass held up with four of those clear plastic brackets. Yuck. So I bought a nicer looking, if smaller, mirror with a white frame around it. It looks great with the white vanity, wall cabinet, and fixtures. Of course that left the four holes to be patched. I prefitted/precut all the beadboard. Today, I got a coat of stain on it. Next it will get a few coats of satin poly. Then installed. I hope to be at that stage by next Friday!
THE 13th
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
And the Moon Isn't Full Yet!
My goodness, the last twenty four hours have been totally weird. First an update on work stuff. Nothing from the music director, nothing from the Kawai organ people. Are you really surprised?
However, I did get a big maybe from a tech in Illinois about a key job....if he gets the piano to work on.
I got a call from a non-tech in Florida (tech referred) about a special key job. I'm really wondering about this one. I'm pretty sure it's legit. But this guy called my folks phone number and then dropped a name very out of context. "The" name. Well, time will tell on that, I guess. I hate it when a tech gives my name to the customer to deal direct (on shopwork). One reason I can keep my price reasonable for the job is because I don't have to spend a lot of talk time with techs. Generally they call, say they are sending keys, what needs to be done, and verify price. Don't panic, there *are* a few of you techs out there that I really enjoy talking to beyond the key info! Anyway, 45 minutes of drivvle with this guy.
And now on to some trouble making....
I would like to preface this by saying that I love animals. Cats, dogs, whatever. I have had both cats and dogs growing up (and turtles and fish). It's the irresponsible owners that I have severe problems with, at least today!
We have far too many dogs living on our street. It is directly proportionate to having far too many children on the street (he, he, he, I really do like kids, too). Rockport has a leash "law". Dogs must be on a leash or under voice control. I do not consider two dogs, allowed to roam with a couple kids under ten years old, who generally ignore the dogs and let them do and go where ever, not pay any attention, as being under voice control. We are tired of the dogs running through the flower gardens and using our front lawn for toilet facilities. A few days ago, one was again "caught in the act" while the dear children masters were hanging out down the street. My mom yelled at the dog to "go home" and to the children to keep the dog out of our yard and put it on a leash. The dogs were leashed for the next couple of days.
UNTIL TODAY.............................
same song and dance. Mom gets after neighbor's child to keep the dog out of the yard. That there is a leash law and next time it happens the dog officer will be called. And guess what? Neighbor mom comes storming down the road yelling at my mom that the dogs are under control of the 8 year old (oh, come on, really) and that my mother had no business yelling at her about the dog. Excuse me? I'd had it at that point. I told neighbor mom that we were tired of having to clean up after *her* dogs, especially when trying to mow the yard and get a lot of work done. That the dogs were not kept under control by her young daughter otherwise they would not be in our yard when it had been made obvious to keep them out. Grrr. She has the nerve to say "Well, if you find any mess in the yard just call me and I'll come down and clean it up".
Sooooooooo, let me get this straight. I'm hurrying to get the lawn mowed and I have a lot of other things that need to be done, too. I see, or worse yet, step in dog poop that probably came from her dog. I should stop the mower, walk in to the house (possibly removing shoes that now need to be thoroughly cleaned), look up her phone number and give her a call. What if she isn't home? Should I then patiently wait until she is???? Geez.
I'm sorry, I was really frustrated and angry. I turned to her and said, "I have too much to do to be calling you every time to clean it up. Keep the dogs on a leash or in your own yard, whatever. Keep them out of my yard. I'm not calling you. Next time I'll just bring it down to *your* house." My feeling is pet ownership is a responsibility. If you are not going to be a responsible owner, you shouldn't have the pet.
I have lots of pet owner friends and I have piles of pet "friends". The owners are caring and committed to taking good care of their pets.
What will happen when the moon *is* full?
However, I did get a big maybe from a tech in Illinois about a key job....if he gets the piano to work on.
I got a call from a non-tech in Florida (tech referred) about a special key job. I'm really wondering about this one. I'm pretty sure it's legit. But this guy called my folks phone number and then dropped a name very out of context. "The" name. Well, time will tell on that, I guess. I hate it when a tech gives my name to the customer to deal direct (on shopwork). One reason I can keep my price reasonable for the job is because I don't have to spend a lot of talk time with techs. Generally they call, say they are sending keys, what needs to be done, and verify price. Don't panic, there *are* a few of you techs out there that I really enjoy talking to beyond the key info! Anyway, 45 minutes of drivvle with this guy.
And now on to some trouble making....
I would like to preface this by saying that I love animals. Cats, dogs, whatever. I have had both cats and dogs growing up (and turtles and fish). It's the irresponsible owners that I have severe problems with, at least today!
We have far too many dogs living on our street. It is directly proportionate to having far too many children on the street (he, he, he, I really do like kids, too). Rockport has a leash "law". Dogs must be on a leash or under voice control. I do not consider two dogs, allowed to roam with a couple kids under ten years old, who generally ignore the dogs and let them do and go where ever, not pay any attention, as being under voice control. We are tired of the dogs running through the flower gardens and using our front lawn for toilet facilities. A few days ago, one was again "caught in the act" while the dear children masters were hanging out down the street. My mom yelled at the dog to "go home" and to the children to keep the dog out of our yard and put it on a leash. The dogs were leashed for the next couple of days.
UNTIL TODAY.............................
same song and dance. Mom gets after neighbor's child to keep the dog out of the yard. That there is a leash law and next time it happens the dog officer will be called. And guess what? Neighbor mom comes storming down the road yelling at my mom that the dogs are under control of the 8 year old (oh, come on, really) and that my mother had no business yelling at her about the dog. Excuse me? I'd had it at that point. I told neighbor mom that we were tired of having to clean up after *her* dogs, especially when trying to mow the yard and get a lot of work done. That the dogs were not kept under control by her young daughter otherwise they would not be in our yard when it had been made obvious to keep them out. Grrr. She has the nerve to say "Well, if you find any mess in the yard just call me and I'll come down and clean it up".
Sooooooooo, let me get this straight. I'm hurrying to get the lawn mowed and I have a lot of other things that need to be done, too. I see, or worse yet, step in dog poop that probably came from her dog. I should stop the mower, walk in to the house (possibly removing shoes that now need to be thoroughly cleaned), look up her phone number and give her a call. What if she isn't home? Should I then patiently wait until she is???? Geez.
I'm sorry, I was really frustrated and angry. I turned to her and said, "I have too much to do to be calling you every time to clean it up. Keep the dogs on a leash or in your own yard, whatever. Keep them out of my yard. I'm not calling you. Next time I'll just bring it down to *your* house." My feeling is pet ownership is a responsibility. If you are not going to be a responsible owner, you shouldn't have the pet.
I have lots of pet owner friends and I have piles of pet "friends". The owners are caring and committed to taking good care of their pets.
What will happen when the moon *is* full?
Monday, October 02, 2006
Are You Ever Invisible?
I've decided that I must be. At least for the past few days...make that almost one week!
I get an email saying that all is set with the schools as far as me taking care of the pianos. The head of the music department is anxious to get together about scheduling things. Sooooo, as requested, I email, it bounces - bad address. I call and leave a message at his home phone, nada. I get a new email address and resend, nada. Tomorrow I'll leave a message at the school and see if that works. I'm not going to SCREAM at them (or beg).
I sent an email to the owners of the Kawai organ. I tell them that everything is finished, and to get in touch about payment and pick-up. Nothing there either, hmmmpppphhh.
So, do I exist or what? I participate in quite a few online mailing lists. In the last few days I have made a couple posts. Absolutely nothing. Oh, the posts show up, but it's like nobody can hear me!
Not to mention the lack of work. I got really concerned that "you know who" might be up to some "you know what" but everything appears to be okay. I checked my books from last year, this past month, and things were slow then, too. That makes me feel a bit better. Last October keywork was very good, so...fingers crossed.
I'm here, folks!
So, I've started feeling a little weird about being invisible. Today, I decided to take steps to battle it. My mother has been nagging for me to mow the lawn. She says, "Short, please, this time. I want to get the acorns raked out of it." My parents were out for lunch when I decided to attack the lawn. I was finished before they got back. Did anyone notice? NOPE. Darn, still invisible.
In desperation I decided to work on the bathroom. It is my next house project. Paint, beadboard, baseboard, and trim. Today I painted. It is the only room that I allowed to be "themed". My daughter wanted palm trees. So, palm trees on the shower curtain and I have some matching wallpaper border that will be just above the beadboard. Then paint to the ceiling. I went to our local Ace Hardware to pick out the paint and get some supplies. I love the paint color. It is a soft moss green. The best thing is the name...quite in keeping with the theme...Treasure Island (not the book, Treasure Island was just south of where we lived in FL).
So.....I am no longer invisible! Paint fumes! I've been around here working! Yuck, now I've got to try to get to sleep smelling it.
I get an email saying that all is set with the schools as far as me taking care of the pianos. The head of the music department is anxious to get together about scheduling things. Sooooo, as requested, I email, it bounces - bad address. I call and leave a message at his home phone, nada. I get a new email address and resend, nada. Tomorrow I'll leave a message at the school and see if that works. I'm not going to SCREAM at them (or beg).
I sent an email to the owners of the Kawai organ. I tell them that everything is finished, and to get in touch about payment and pick-up. Nothing there either, hmmmpppphhh.
So, do I exist or what? I participate in quite a few online mailing lists. In the last few days I have made a couple posts. Absolutely nothing. Oh, the posts show up, but it's like nobody can hear me!
Not to mention the lack of work. I got really concerned that "you know who" might be up to some "you know what" but everything appears to be okay. I checked my books from last year, this past month, and things were slow then, too. That makes me feel a bit better. Last October keywork was very good, so...fingers crossed.
I'm here, folks!
So, I've started feeling a little weird about being invisible. Today, I decided to take steps to battle it. My mother has been nagging for me to mow the lawn. She says, "Short, please, this time. I want to get the acorns raked out of it." My parents were out for lunch when I decided to attack the lawn. I was finished before they got back. Did anyone notice? NOPE. Darn, still invisible.
In desperation I decided to work on the bathroom. It is my next house project. Paint, beadboard, baseboard, and trim. Today I painted. It is the only room that I allowed to be "themed". My daughter wanted palm trees. So, palm trees on the shower curtain and I have some matching wallpaper border that will be just above the beadboard. Then paint to the ceiling. I went to our local Ace Hardware to pick out the paint and get some supplies. I love the paint color. It is a soft moss green. The best thing is the name...quite in keeping with the theme...Treasure Island (not the book, Treasure Island was just south of where we lived in FL).
So.....I am no longer invisible! Paint fumes! I've been around here working! Yuck, now I've got to try to get to sleep smelling it.
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