Okay, so I've been wondering what to write about. Without a job to complain about, and with the house pretty much livable, and everything else manageable, I've been feeling topic-less. And like I've been neglectful. Yeah, whatever. Anyway, in my blog-hopping, I was at my friend Susan's space and she provided the perfect topic. Cell phone use. Stop over at her cafe for her take on cell phones in restaurants.

When I was in retail I always wanted to have the balls to tell people who were chatting away on their phones to step aside so I could help the next person in line. Or, if there was no one else in line, to just stand there and either completely ignore the boob or join in the conversation. Seriously, how rude! If you're in a store and you want someone to wait on you, make it apparent that that's what you want. If you're engaged in a phone conversation how is anyone supposed to know you want or need help? We've all been brought up to believe that if someone is on the phone, they're occupied and should be left alone. Or at least most of us were brought up that way.  So if you're ignored while talking on the phone, it's you're own fault. Don't bitch about poor retail service.

And I agree with Susan about phones in restaurants.  When I was growing up, phone calls weren't allowed at the table. If the phone rang during dinner, you answered it but explained you'd have to call back later. What happened to good old fashioned manners and consideration? If you're out to eat and you feel you absolutely must take the call, then excuse yourself from the table and go somewhere out of the way! Contrary to what you might want to believe, other diners really don't care about whatever it is you're talking about, and they certainly don't want to be subjected to it.

Speakerphones should be left for the office.  Unless you call a family and want to talk to all of them at the same time, there's very little need for it. Especially if other people are around. And moreso if the person who called isn't aware they're on speaker. Just incredibly inconsiderate. And rude.

All cell phones come with Caller ID. Unless you have one from the stone ages, in which case GET WITH THE TIMES AND UPGRADE! All cell phones come with a little thing called  "missed calls" and usually "voice mail". This means YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT EVERY TIME IT RINGS!!! If you're out and about, put the ringer to vibrate or just turn the ringer off. You can check it every now and again to see if you've missed a call, then call the person back. The number is right there, on the screen.  If you have a "minute phone"... you pay for all calls coming in and going out... then that should be for emergencies only and you shouldn't be one of the inconsiderate boobs out there, so this doesn't include YOU.

Phone conversations should only include the person calling and the person being called. Period.

What does your handwriting say about YOU?

The results of your analysis say: You plan ahead, and are interested in beauty, design, outward appearance, and symmetry. You are a social person who likes to talk and meet others. You are negative, fearful, resistant, doubtful, and/or selfish. You are a talkative person, maybe even a busybody! You enjoy life in your own way and do not depend on the opinions of others.

*not sure about the "negative, fearful, resistant, doubtful, and/or selfish*

 maybe doubtful, possibly resistant, sometimes selfish, but negative? fearful? hmmm anyway, try it out... it's FUN!

I have been fighting with a sinus/allergy thing for over a week now. Every time I'm sure I'm winning, I get knocked on my ass again. I'm stuffy and runny and just wore out. I have to force myself sometimes to get up and do stuff just so I don't spend the day in bed sleeping all day. I hate that.

Anyhow... as most of you know, I'm from Michigan and have only been here in Missouri since last September. As weird as it sounds, I sometimes have to remind myself of where I am. Mostly weather-wise. See, I was out looking at blogs and I stopped to see my friend Patty, who lives in northern Michigan. She has some beautiful pictures of her tulips and daffodils, but when I looked at them I thought: why are they only blooming now?? Then it dawned on me:  dah! This is when they're supposed to bloom in Michigan! It's like, mowing the grass in March?? Hell, back in Michigan I would mow in late October then not mow again usually until Mother's Day at the earliest. In Michigan I wouldn't even consider planting flowers until the second week of June to insure there would more than likely be no more frosts. I planted flowers here yesterday and was one of the last in our neighborhood. As for the tulips and daffodils, which I hope to plant this fall... they bloomed here in March, even survived the late season frosts we had everywhere. Oh! And I think I might actually have roses this year! I looked and there is new growth! Woo hoo!

Some other non-weather differences that I don't always remember. Sales tax. In Michigan it was a straight 6% on all non-food items. No tax on unprepared foods. Here, the sales tax varies depending on which county you're in. And they have days when there is NO sales tax. However, everything is taxed here. I'm still not used to having to add tax to food stuff. Cigarettes are way cheaper. Way cheaper! A premium brand here (ie Marlboro) is between 2.75 and 3.15 plus tax, which is cheaper than the cheapy crappy cigarettes in Michigan. Beer is a little cheaper, too. Gas is sometimes cheaper, sometimes the same price. Right now it's a little cheaper here, but who knows for how long?

I've seen several Michigan Rednecks in my life, but they just don't compare to a Missouri Redneck. Which is another difference between the two states. Down here, they're almost cartoonish. At least most Michigan Rednecks are aware that that's what they are. Down here, they don't realize they're what other people make jokes about, and I think if you told them that they were you'd wind up with a bullet in your gut. Just like they'll deny til hell freezes over that they have a mullet hair cut - they'll call it a "shag" or a "dual length", because even they know that only rednecks have mullets.

To narrow it down to the cities, it gets even better,lol. Having lived in the Detroit metro area for six years, Road Rage was something I was very familiar with. It's almost non-existent here. There's traffic jams here, but nothing like in the Detroit area, where it was nothing for a jam from one freeway to be part of a jam on one or more other freeways, essentially turning the entire Detroit area into one parking lot. Lindbergh is the major road here on my side of the metro area of St Louis much the way Gratiot was when I was in Detroit. Both roads are very busy and not always easy to get onto, but despite the fact B will say differently, Lindbergh is A LOT easier to navigate (although there are a couple places that could use a "Michigan Left" lane, which I basically don't miss at all). Then there's Downtown. St Louis has a lot more to see and do than Detroit has to offer, but traffic downtown St Louis is a helluva lot worse... precisely because there's more to see and do. It's also much much safer (despite the stupid survey thing that listed St Louis as the most dangerous city in the states). Detroit's downtown area is mostly three blocks and to get to it you have to go through some pretty rough neighborhoods. Not so with St Louis, and the downtown area is pretty damn big. Not to mention there are some pretty nice, fun areas just outside of the downtown area as well. The Loop... way way cool.

Anyway, there's been some stuff to get used to. I'm acclimating pretty well though. I just wish it wasn't so damn far to go visit my friends and family.

Life is about letting go.

Moving on.

Bryan's sister sold their dad's Harley Trike today. It's gone. We stood at the end of the drive-way and watched as the new owner drove it away. She was crying, my eyes were misty, but we both felt the same way. Good to see the monstrosity out of the garage, out of our way, no longer having to "deal with it" in any way, shape or form. Yet... it's gone. No longer in the garage, in our way.

In the process of cleaning this house and making it livable, a home for us, I've thrown away many things, shredded many old papers, boxed up too many things to count. I've bitched, I've moaned, I've sighed in frustration. But I knew I was the best of the three of us to do most of it. I don't have the emotional attachment to any of it that Bryan and especially his sister have. I think she even had an emotional attachment to the dust, filth, and definitely the clutter. It's done, though. The house is clean, the clutter is gone and/or under control now. All that's left is painting and curtains.

Anyway, the house was no big deal. Yes, it was a big deal to clean it, but despite the fact that this is where I visited with his dad, it's always felt like his real presence has been in the garage. That's where his "toys" have always been. The tools, the old car, Uncle Joe's old car, the Harley. That's where you feel Bud's spirit.

When we first moved in and I needed a tool for something, I wasn't sure which of the tool boxes to look in. So I stood out there and asked his dad to show me. Sure enough, I would wind up going to the right tool box and I'd find exactly what I needed. Bud was like that.. he could tell you which box, which drawer, and which side of the drawer. He might not have been able to tell you where anything was in the house, but in the garage... that was his kingdom.

I've felt that way since moving in. And I've known Bryan has felt that way, too, but it was driven home last night. His sister was downstairs in her 'haven', I was in the den, and B decided to go putter around out in the garage. A few minutes later he was inside again, visibly upset. At first I thought his sister had said or done something because I'd heard her go out there a minute or two before he came inside, and I was ready to rumble. Then he told me he just couldn't do it...be out there by himself at night like that. I understand.

So, the trike is gone now. It's no longer out in the garage. One of the toys is no longer in the kingdom. It's like it's finally hitting me. The man I wish I had known longer, better, is gone. And now his toys are going, too. I keep reminding myself that we have to let go to move on; that just because the material things are gone doesn't mean the memory is gone as well. But, what's going to happen when the cars are gone? When Uncle Joe comes to get his, when Bryan's brother comes to take their dad's? The garage will feel... empty. Literally, of course, but figuratively as well. Okay, it won't really feel echo-empty or anything because there's a lot of shit out there....

And... okay. I know what's going to happen to the garage. It's going to become Bryan's "man room". There's going to be a small bar, a work-out area, a place to work on cars, and a place to just "hang out, drink beer, and shoot the shit". Probably even a pool table. It will no longer be Bud's garage, it will be Bryan's....  but I somehow don't think Bud will mind.

Because life really is about letting go. And moving on.

I did pretty much nothing yesterday. That's right, kids....nothing. I sat around in my pj's all day! The most serious productive thing I did was to carry three boxes of books into the den and put them away in the bookcase! And you know what?? Today is going to be quite similar! Well, except that I have to get dressed because me and B are going out this evening for a little while.

Actually, I wasn't sure I could even get out of bed yesterday. And I had to pee! I was wondering how I was going to pull that off when I couldn't make my body move to get up... but then my phone rang and I had to force myself to get up to answer it. So, once I was up I was okay. And the good thing is, my arm feels incredibly much better today! What was wrong with it, you ask? Carpal tunnel and tendonitis.. and too much exertion.  But, much better today after taking a much needed rest.

As I've mentioned several times before, I have Weather Bug installed on my computer. I love it. However, it's been chirping at me every couple hours for the last three or four days... with NWS announcements. Flood statements. Today it's a flood warning for the Mississippi, Missouri, Meremac, and Illinois Rivers. We live between the Mississippi and Missouri... not real close to either, but enough that it could pose a problem getting some places. I'd be concerned about the people who live along those rivers, but they knew what they were getting into when they moved there, so ... deal. If you knowingly move into a place widely known as a flood plain... you can't bitch when it floods. That's life.

Watched Idol last night. The performances were so-so, nothing to jump and scream and get excited about, but none of them have been the entire season this year. Anyhow.. Barry Gibb was the guest helper-outer. Remember back in the day when he was just... HOT! Major sexy babe! Last night, if I hadn't known who he was, I never would have guessed it was him! He looks old. And he was talking funny, and singing funny... did he have a stroke or something? Or did he get false teeth and hasn't learned how to talk with them yet? Should be interesting to hear him sing tonight... I'll watch when we get home.

And speaking of Idol guest coaches... did y'all happen to read the little tid bit about Tony Bennett? What I read was that he was not happy with the show, that he thinks Simon is just too mean to the contestants, blah blah blah... that what Simon and the producers should do is set up clubs around the country for young performers to practice their wares. He took offense when Simon told him he didn't have the time for that. Hell, most of the time, especially this season, the best part of the show is hearing what Simon has to say. I have never thought he was "too mean"... all the contestants know what they're getting into when they audition, and it isn't a love fest.

Anyway, y'all have a good day. Today is my official "mid-life entry day", so I'm going to enjoy it as much as I can.

Peace out, hippies!

... I totally wore myself out today. I'm sitting here trying to let my body recover so I can muster up the energy and muscle movement to go shower. I decided to tackle the yard today. Yes, guilt made me run to the gas station this morning and get fuel for the lawnmower so I wouldn't be ashamed of our long grass. So, me and Mac went outside and while I mowed the lawn, he just lazed around, getting up to follow me now and then. When I got the front yard finished, I went to the back, which was even worse. Oy vey! And it had only been a week!

After I finished mowing the back, I got the weed eater out and decided to trim around the buildings, edge the little walk going to the shed, around the fence. I let the stupid ugly little dog out with us while I played around back there. When I had to stop to re-fill the little thingy-thing that holds the line, I noticed the little ugly dog was missing. My first thought was: Good! I can't stand that little piece of shit dog. Then I realized it wouldn't be a good thing if she came up missing on MY watch. I'd somehow be blamed. So I had to go looking for her, found her five or six houses down and had to go fetch her and carry her home. Little bitch!

Took another short break, looked around the back yard and... ya see, there's this little square of yard smack dab in the middle of the backyard that Bryan's dad used as a veggie garden years ago. Or so it would seem... the years ago thing. Anyhow, it's all enclosed by old rotting railroad ties or something quite similar. Last week I had put some plastic fencing around the corners so it didn't look quite as bad. The thing is, it was filled with old car ramps, some incredibly heavy steel things, some other odds and ends junk, all covered by a rotting blue plastic tarp. Major eye-sore. And no matter what else I did to the yard, that always made it look bad.

I sat there for a few minutes, looking at that mess and decided I couldn't take it anymore. It wasn't too hot yet, I still had some ambition... what the hell. What the hell indeed. Stupid woman! Cheese and rice potato soup! What was I thinking???? You know, once you start a project like that you pretty much have to finish it or it just nags at you and you can't rest. Or so it is with me. So once I got started, that was it. I was in it.

Anyway, it looks loads better now. As you will see. It is nowhere  near being a finished project completely, but the cleaning part is DONE! And that was the goal for today.

This is the patch after I had begun.

This is a pile of the things I had already taken out of it. Not the cement blocks, those are on the other side of the fence in the neighbor's yard. There's three sets of ramps, what I think is a hitch for a car or truck, and some smaller things.

This is Mac, being a good dog, resting in the shade while I worked my ass off. The tree is in the neighbor's yard. The same neighbor who started this whole "I have to cut the grass now" thing that led to all the other things I did. Damn neighbor!

And this is what it looks like now.  A few flowers and some mulch and it will look pretty damn good! Yes?? Oh, and maybe some more fencing to keep the ugly little bitch dog out of it. And the rabbits.

* It was, according to my WeatherBug, 81 when I came inside at around 1pm. It is now, at 3:30, 90 degrees out there. But at least it's not raining!*

First thing: I went to the "add" area of my blog to write one there, but this stupid advertisement was in the space where I was supposed to write! WTF? It wouldn't go away. Pisses me off, it does!

Okay, that's out of my system now. On to other things. We, as in me and Bryan, started to clean the kitchen today. First we went to the storage place and got a truckload of stuff to bring back here,  mostly stuff going into the kitchen and some books. Then we dug in. What we've done is nothing you would notice when you walk in (except for taking a couple things off the counter and tossing them aside). It's all behind doors. However, it's a huge change.

His sister decided to join us around 3pm, when she crawled out of bed for the day. She proceeded to plop herself down at the table, light a cigarette and tell us what she wanted to keep, where she wanted things, blah blah blah. Y'all know that pissed me off! I had been sitting down taking a short break. I got up, took some stuff down to the laundry room, came back up and dug in again. She was still sitting there, giving her opinion on everything but doing nothing to help. So I asked her if she was going to help or if she was just going to sit there. Her reply was "You need to quit being a rag to me!" So I explained to her "I've been busting my ass working around here while you've been sitting around doing nothing except telling us what you want." She got up and left the room.

Me and B finished with the cupboards on top, cleaned the counter, he cleaned out some drawers. I packed up a lot of things, he threw out almost as much. Then he started unloading the truck, I helped out, we brought some of the boxes in, left some in the garage. Then we decided to take a break and sat outside for close to an hour, making fun of the dog, talking, and I bitched about the neighbor mowing his lawn (because now I have to cut ours so it doesn't look shitty, dammit! what the hell was that man thinking?!? Just because today was the first day since Tuesday it hasn't rained, what the hell?). Anyhow, it was close to being a bit past dinner time and we'd already decided to make a real home cooked meal, so I needed to get it started.

While we were outside, the sister was inside doing some actual work. OMG. Did Hell freeze over?? She was putting liners in the drawers, something they needed. Then while I washed a multitude of dirty glasses (that yes, had been in the cupboards) she went and cleaned the bathroom. She kept herself busy while I made dinner, but she cleaned the kitchen up after! I'm amazed.

Okay, that's out of my system, too. At least for now. Stay tuned, I'm sure there will be a near-repeat coming soon to a blog near you.

I'll post pictures of the hideously ugly kitchen after it's not so ugly anymore. That won't be for a few more weeks, I'm sure.  In the meantime, y'all enjoy yourselves.

This first part is for Rita. Just a picture of our unnamed Beta in his bowl.  These pictures aren't as clear as hers are of George, but you can still see him. We got him from the Anniversary/Recognition Party B's bank threw for the employees last month.  That's a Peace Lilly in the bowl with him, clear marbles on the bottom.

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I also would like any information anyone can give me about selling stuff on E-Bay. B has a friend who has an original James Dean print, straight from the photographer (even signed by the photographer to B's friend) that he would like us to sell for him. We also have a few things we're thinking of putting up for auction. Anyhow, I don't know the first thing about it. Just want to know if it's difficult, what the costs are involved, the kind of effort we're looking at, etc... We're E-Bay ignorant, lol.

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Can you believe it's May already? My birthday is just a few short days away, which means that the year is nearly half over. Me and B's first anniversary of the day we met is fast approaching as well. Can you believe that?? Wow. I've been blogging here for nearly two years... damn!

I am going to be 46 in 6 days. That's how old I still think of my parents and my aunts. How can I be that age? Four years from 50! And if I live to be as old as I plan on getting, this birthday is the exact half-way point. Looking at it that way, the uphill climb is soon over and it should be smooth sailing the rest of the way, huh? As long as you dodge the rocks in the way, going downhill is always easier. We'll see, lol. 

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Okay, ready to show you some pictures of what I've been doing. The living room - although this isn't what it looked like when we moved in. There was a cabinet in one corner with a chair in front of it and a trash barrel beside the chair. So... here goes:

where the plants are is where the cabinet was. the trash bags are part of what I took out of the spare bedroom. It's still crowded, cramped, and cluttered. Yuck. Coffee tables... ick! Only useful if you're single, live alone and eat at it; otherwise just another place for clutter and junk... case in point- that's a stereo on it, one that had been there for a week.

   the ugly fake fireplace and the equally ugly dog. And that's a stereo cabinet between the fireplace and TV, but if you look you'll notice there's no stereo in it, just more junk.

this is the view that you saw standing in the hallway. That's a side view of a glass bookcase that is holding no books. It's now in the den, waiting to be filled with ... yep, you guessed it! Books!

Okay, now the "after" pictures, just please ignore the dirty furniture, it needs to be cleaned, but I can only do so much at one time, lol.

standing in the hall, looking at the room

  standing near the front door looking in

  The window in the door actually has a decorative etching on it, so it doesn't need a curtain. And that picture over the loveseat is supposedly an old Johnson&Johnson ad from way back when, but it looks like B's mom and aunt so even though the frame is boorishly ugly, we're keeping it up. We'll re-frame it if we can do it without sending his sister into a nervous breakdown (she's of the impression it actually holds monetary value).

It needs to be painted and have the carpet pulled, put up some new curtains and voilla! All done! Oh, okay, I'll clean the furniture too. Geesh, you people just want me to work myself to the bone, don't ya? OKAY! Maybe I'll recover it or something... I know it's ugly! But it's comfy and you don't sink into it.

And this, my friends, is just a small portion of what I've been doing in the last month.