Happy Birthday To Me

Spent some time yesterday morning packing for my upcoming trip to TN and then on to Destin, Fla. to the beach. I can hardly wait to feel the sand between my toes.

Spent some time yesterday at phone service checking out possibilities for my Internet addiction. I Think I am buying a Broadband card and paying for a month of service so I have Internet in TN and Fla.  I know, I am hopeless. It Is just my connection to the world now----- so why do I want to be connected to the world? Because of you, of course!!!  It is a good question though. Here I am going on vacation and I am in the troughs of worrying about my Internet connection. Phone? Don't care really. Suzi or Scottye ( dear friends with which I will be playing ) will have  phones. I only like to have my cell phone for emergencies.  I leave on Sunday and will be gone for at least two weeks. Randy is doing home bound duty. No, you can't have him. He is mine, even though earlier this month I left his flowers in the sink! 

Spent some time yesterday at the airport. Oh my. Went to pick up father. How in the world he got by us, in a wheelchair, on and on, is beyond Randy and me. Randy is thinking the wheel chair driver must have taken him to baggage out by way of gate B instead of A where he was scheduled to come out. Could he hear his cell when we called over and over again. No--- Did the airline post correctly about the flight arrival---No. Bottom line, an hour later Randy found him, outside, wheel chair and luggage waiting for us to pick him up. We were all fine, We all survived. No one was that upset but Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-----

Took dad out to eat----- home to find out there was a slow leak in his hall bathroom---water everywhere----Neighbors took care of dog while he was gone and had not been inside house. Randy mopped and I did towel clean up. Water turned off to toilet for now.

Other neighbors had called police because they had not seen dad in awhile and were worried. Good for these neighbors! Took them our phone numbers.

And with that, we came home tired and ready for a good night's sleep. 

Awoke this morning waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy too early. Will be a busy day so by tonight I will be waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy tired.

So--here is the day planned.

Meet girlfriend Bonnie at our FAV breakfast place to gorge on Crack of Dawn and a pancake.

Off To Scrapbooks Etc to take a Carol Wingert class. She is absolutely a FAB teacher and if you live elsewhere you can purchase her kits on line here. The directions are impeccable with color pictures, etc. Have seen no other kits put together with directions as well as Carol does it. I was a teacher so take it from me---these are first class, A+ kits. 

Doctor's appointment--

Wait, what? Dr's appointment on my birthday???????? What is this about??????? It is about needing new prescriptions for my upcoming trip to TN. Doctor would not renew them, upon the pharmacy calling him, until seeing me. Does anybody remember getting prescriptions that were good for a year? Now it is six months and quite frankly feels like a Dr. speed trap. I am not sick. My meds are fine. Just wish I could give them a credit card over the phone to pay the charge for the piece of paper that gives me the refills---- 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh--- a little venting. I will not complain... I will not complain...I will not complain....I will not complain Maybe this teacher needs to give herself the assignment of writing I will not complain over and over again---Remember those days? I never was given this assignment but once I chose to do this on my own---Oh Boy, now this is telling and is not a pretty telling. I had a crush on a boy when I was in the seventh grade. I asked my teacher to let me grade his paper . The teacher told me I could if I wrote 1,163 times, I AM SILLY. The teacher never thought I would be ---should I say it?--no but I will anyway''' SILLY and STUPID enough to actually do it. I did though. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh---sad state of affairs!

Alright, off to put my face on, meaning make-up. Have you heard that expression before?

Speaking of expressions, has anyone heard the expression " in the pink of things"  It means a  perfect place to be. My husband tells me he has never heard it and another friend of mine did not know what it meant. Did I just make this up????? I make up words every now and again so I am just curious about this. Need to post another vocabulary word. Later--- have stuff to do right now---

Failed to mention this is a monumental birthday. I get to start drawing Social Security checks. I am now 62 years old. First check comes in September. I think it is budgeted for health insurance. There are those Doctors again---

Hush, CeCe, Hush--- I will not complain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Explanation

Kim, Sue, CeCe ( that would be me ) and Donna

No, you are not seeing Wednesday's post. Thought I would just post the picture again so the explaining would be easier. 

Yesterday, I met Kim, of Sweet Sage Vintage at our old stomping ground, Merchant Square, in Chandler. Both of us used to have antique booths there. I, at the end of my reign, had two booths -- one filled with linens and hand sewn treasures -  well, I thought they were treasures! Anyway, neither of us had been there in quite awhile. Actually I had not been there at all since all since leaving. Giving up my spaces was hard for me. My booths and the people at Merchant brought me much joy even though having a booth is a lot of work. Going back to visit was a good thing. Catching up with Kim was a good thing. There were other friends that I got to catch up with that are not in the picture. They were not all around when the picture was taken. As much as I enjoyed being there something struck me about the day other than friendship. 

Every single person with which I spoke had her own story to tell. 

Every single person with which I spoke was dealing with the story of their lives.

 Every single person with which I spoke, at some point of the conversation, smiled.

The only person I saw cry was me. When I was talking to Donna, alone, at the end of the day, I was trying to tell her about Amber. Out of nowhere, the lump in my throat came, the tears I tried to control came and the sorrow in my heart came. But, you know what, immediately afterwards, because of the compassion shown to me from loving kindness of one friend listening and caring, a smile could be seen on my face. Donna said she could not say anything to help me but that was not true. Donna did not even need to say a word in order to help me. She listened and she understood my pain and by doing so she brought me joy. Thank you Donna. Thank you, to each of you that listens, whether it is by reading my words or hearing my words. By doing so you bring me joy. Loving thoughts for each other are released in the atmosphere and one only has to be still and listen to hear them. I hope you hear mine today and all the other people that care for you. We are all in this world together.

Sideline Update:

Amber told Maria she is now staying with a friend named Misty. Amber told her it was her a friend that is NOT an alcoholic.

Amber also asked Maria to let her borrow her car.

 Maria said NO.

Chandler went to the lake again with Amber. I do not know how they got there. All the above information was relayed to me via Randy talking to Maria.

Wordless Wednesday Tomorrow I Will Explain

Tuesday Thoughts

Yesterday was my mom's birthday. This is the first year she spent a birthday in her new heavenly body. I am sure she had the best of birthdays!

A shabby panel I completed yesterday.

I was going to show you a green panel but the paint color is not showing up. What you can also see in this picture is the tile. See the difference in the grout on the bottom and the grout on the back splash---not pretty.  BUT yesterday we got a bid on having someone remove all the old grout and replacing it and the three cracked tiles. $550. complete. I think this is what we will do since I love tile. I think later we will spend the money we save by not replacing the counters on updating the ovens and cook top with stainless steel to match the new refrigerator.

Also, my husband starting sanding the island butcher block today. Is looking good. Smile.

Alright, back to the cabinets. Here is what I am thinking. I think I am going to do all the upper cabinets and the island cabinets like the above sample. I am going to paint the lower cabinets under the tile green and paint the walls to match the lower green cabinets. At least that is my current thought.

Isn't showing up well because of the shine but thought I might as well post my new refrigerator which we are very grateful to have.

Later I will post a larger view of the kitchen so you can get a better feel for what I am describing. At the moment there is stuff everywhere!

I went shopping today for Chandler school clothes and just happened to find a couple of items for myself. Got a new set of 1000 count white sheets ---  YUM ---- I love J. C. Penny outlet store. 

Tomorrow I get to play with Kim, of Sweet Sage Vintage. If you would like to visit her, click here. She is the most delightful person to visit!

Chandler has an appointment with his primary care physician in about a week. This is to see about having his arm operated on which has the extra bone growth. I will be out of town but Grandy will take him and let us all know what is said. I am so very grateful Maria got the Power of Attorney for his medical. I need to ask her if she contacted Karen about emergency custody since Amber now has no vehicle ( again ) and cannot possible take care of him. Nothing new to our knowledge regarding her. Have not a clue what is happening with her. I thought about her today in J. C. Penny as I was looking in the shoe section. I passed the size 10 shoes, her size and my heart ached. I used to always buy her shoes if I saw some I thought she would like. 

Alright, will close and wish you all a happy evening. Thanks for visiting with me today.

Remember all those boxes I packed?

Remember all those boxes Randy hauled to the storage shed?

Remember we took the house off the market after over two years of having a For Sale sign in our front yard?

Well, they are back. We finished hauling all of them back on Friday. It took eleven trips with our truck named Toby -- ( Chandler named the truck years ago when we first bought it )

Not exactly the time of year in the desert of the sun to be hauling but it can be done. We must have drank gallons and gallons of water over the course of the day. The good news is, while we had some aches and pains yesterday, they were not as bad as we anticipated. Randy even won $50.00 in the golf tournament he played in. So, what that translate to is he got to play for free!

Today we just have to go sweep out the space and fill out a vacate form.

NOW

comes the decision making part over the next few months. 

 Read on----

Since we are keeping the house for a few more years-

Will it be two?

Will it be three?

Will it be four?

You get the picture---

I am not one to live for a long time someplace that is not decorated--

We are slowly, and I mean slowly updating some items and making some changes.

I have two major concerns going on in my head.

Number One- I never got on the granite bandwagon. 

Don't like the way it looks, have tried and tried to like the way it looks.

Keep reading about counter tops--

Don't like what I read about it or many of the other products-

concrete, siltstone-  finding they all have their drawbacks - which of course is natural- but why put something in because everyone else is doing it?  Well, to make it more marketable, of course-- but--- how long are we staying? Will granite be out? I mean it is a little late in the cycle to be changing now. 

I like tile. I love tile. I can put hot things down on it with absolutely no worries. Fabulous. I just wish it was white. Sooooo ---- that brings me to the next thought process. I am also now into painted wood. I am thinking seriously about painting all of my oak cabinets. I am also thinking seriously about painting all of my baseboards and interior doors. Want them all white. Thinking about matching the tile color and either painting the cabinets the cream color to match OR painting the cabinets a color. Uh Oh----here we go again--doing it for me or doing it for resale?

So, anyway, those are the LITTLE things on my mind.

Will let you in on this thought---today I am taking a tile, getting it paint color matched and painting the removable oak panel on the garbage compactor. This will allow me to see how it looks while being able to remove the panel so my playing will not show. Going to paint half the panel the matching tile color and half a color which I think will be a green. Hopefully pictures will come later for you to take a look.

My island is butcher block. Plan to sand it down to refurbish it's looks. 

Love the look of butcher block. I am just an old fashioned girl at heart. 

Proof of our labor !

This has become our nightly routine, thank goodness for the pool in the desert heat.

Each night we watch to see how many birds we have visiting in the branches which need to be trimmed. The most we have counted so far is ten. 

Later on there were none. They come and they go. Sometimes I wonder if there are any of the same ones visiting or if it is a new visitor each time. I am guessing it is a few of both ---  sort of like life's challenges --- they come and they go.

Extreme

Now You See It

Now You Don't

Like our new patio furniture?

These are old, and I mean old, auditorium seats. I got them in Tyler Texas on my last antiquing trip. I bought several sets and was going to sell them in my booth at Merchant Square. I still plan to sell some someday. I also want to paint some and girly them up. Chandler has these in his room at our house and at his house. The kids sit in them to play video games. As he says, these are REALLY comfortable to be wooden seats.

We are spreading things out around the house and filling up the garage. 

Am about to get my stinky work clothes on and off to the storage shed we will go.

Instead of going with me, I suggest you click and visit here today. You will find the most wonderful party going on and I know you will enjoy seeing the spaces of many super bloggers! It will take me hours to visit them all. I will be having an extremely good time! Can't wait!

Oh Yes---This JUST in--

Amber was arrested for DUI--Extreme DUI---That is Amber---everything she does is to the extreme.

Truthful Thursday

Why do people double deal?

  What is the purpose?

Randy talked to Bud, the Pinetop detective , yesterday. Randy asked him to check on the arrest reports to see if it showed Amber had been arrested. Bud called him back to let Randy know he had checked the Pinetop, Showlow, and County reports. There was no record of Amber being arrested for a DUI.  

When Randy told Maria this, Maria suggested to Randy the justice department is so slow maybe it had not been posted yet. Huuuuummmmm----well, maybe but Randy thinks this is unlikely.

I repeat ----  Why do people double deal?  More specifically, why would Amber say she had been arrested for a DUI, her car impounded, etc. if it had not happened? I just do not understand the duplicity of her actions.

Maria called Randy to ask him to check with Gordon, our counselor, for a referral for a counselor that works with children. I guess Chandler had exhibited more behavior which was indicative of not taking responsibility for his actions. We all greatly worry about Chandler following in his birth mother's foot steps. I am sure this is a normal worry. Now that Maria got power of attorney for medical and school we should be able to get him some counseling. Gordon suggested we find someone in Pinetop so I guess it will be on the list of things to accomplish after vacation is over.

Yesterday, for most of the day, I worked on reorganizing the garage. I moved much of my business stuff into the emptied garage storage cabinets.  We made a trip to the storage shed to start moving things back to the house. I took three showers yesterday due to the sweat dripping off my body.  My lower back is hurting today. We laughed in the pool last night --- we had always said after fifty we would not move ourselves again. We moved ourselves to Pinetop and here we are moving ourselves in and out of the same house in the valley!!!! Smile. We also joked about the lovely home we had purchased and the great deal we got, etc.  Randy called our real estate lady and told her we were taking the house off the market.

We have Emil, Maria's cousin, coming today to look at all our plumbing needs. Changing out sinks, hardware, etc. He is going to move our sink buffet out of the powder room so we can paint in there. Getting rid of the last wall papered rooms is on list of things to do. Trying to figure out what color to paint it since I don't want to make a mistake due to it being such a pain in the b_ _ _ to prep for painting. One of my major problems is when we built this home I favored cream over white. All my tile is cream. Now I favor white. Ahhhhh ---  what's a girl to do? I'll figure it out.

I need to remember there is time. The major thing right now is to get out of that storage shed by the end of the month. A girl can buy a lot of buttons and treasures for $250.  Oh yes, the goal is to save money, not spend it. My mind was full of duplicity there for a second.