Today I weeded a flower bed and added better dirt. Now I'm exhausted and I'm sure by tomorrow I'll have many aches and pains. I wish I enjoyed playing in the dirt, but I really don't. It's hard work and even if I wear gloves, dirt seems to find my fingernails, which I hate.
I might enjoy it better if I had good dirt, but the dirt in my beds is clay. It's yucky. I decided I needed to add better dirt so I went to WalMart for dirt. There were way too many options, and no one to give me advice. Then I went to a local nursery near my home, where nobody seemed to speak English. I ended up at Enchanted Gardens, where I should have just gone in the first place as they are always knowledgeable and helpful. But who knew there would be so many additive dirt options? And I certainly didn't want to spend a bunch of money on dirt.
I'm only finished adding dirt in one bed. The other bed is twice as big. Once I add dirt I still need to mulch. I'm out of the mood. Guess I'll go drive around the neighborhood and see if I can find an interested yard crew - right after I drive to the nail salon for a manicure.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Unwanted Piles
I hate piles: piles of clothes, piles of discounted stuff at a store, piles of unwanted stuff, and especially piles of mail. It just gets overwhelming at times. Where do you put the piles? There's not a good place for piles.
When my kids were at home, clean folded laundry was piled on the dining room table, with the delusioned thought that they might take it upstairs to their rooms. The only one who enjoyed those piles was the cat. "Ahhh, a nice fresh pile of clothes in which to bask."
When I see piles of stuff on sale at a store, I can't even go there. If I do, I end up orgainizing the pile. "Okay, this is a small, it needs to be over here", etc. I even do it at card shops. "Oh, I just read that card. It doesn't belong here, it belongs - oh, where was that card?" And then I search until I find it. Am I alone in this obsession? One would certainly think so the way the cards get so out of whack.
Piles of unwanted stuff tend to go on a chair and/or floor of my bedroom, my logic being I may as well wait until I have a substantial pile to take to Goodwill. My mother always had a Goodwill bag in her basement. But I don't have a basement, darn it.
The mail piles are crazy. Who has time (or wants to take the time) to go through all the junk mail you get? Yet, I won't just throw it away, unless I'm on a rare cleaning frenzy. Fortunately, I'm not a grocery store coupon clipper or I'd really be nuts. However, I do tend to save discount coupons for restaurants and clothes. It's pretty pointless because most of the time if I'm at the store, the coupon is still in the pile at home (probably expired). But then there's the never expire coupons such as Bed, Bath & Beyond - how many of those does one need? Call me, I've got several :) What about the important piles, like bills, and now, end of the year taxes? Better have a special pile for them. I also tend to save small catalogues, as they're kind of fun to look through on a boring night of TV. Then I'll turn the page down on something I think about ordering, only to throw it away when the newer version of the same catalogue shows up. ERRRGH!
What makes me post about this is that my son & daughter-in-law are coming to visit this weekend. Ahhh - time to get rid of piles, right? And I don't think putting them in the dryer is an option. Better go, Piles are waiting.
When my kids were at home, clean folded laundry was piled on the dining room table, with the delusioned thought that they might take it upstairs to their rooms. The only one who enjoyed those piles was the cat. "Ahhh, a nice fresh pile of clothes in which to bask."
When I see piles of stuff on sale at a store, I can't even go there. If I do, I end up orgainizing the pile. "Okay, this is a small, it needs to be over here", etc. I even do it at card shops. "Oh, I just read that card. It doesn't belong here, it belongs - oh, where was that card?" And then I search until I find it. Am I alone in this obsession? One would certainly think so the way the cards get so out of whack.
Piles of unwanted stuff tend to go on a chair and/or floor of my bedroom, my logic being I may as well wait until I have a substantial pile to take to Goodwill. My mother always had a Goodwill bag in her basement. But I don't have a basement, darn it.
The mail piles are crazy. Who has time (or wants to take the time) to go through all the junk mail you get? Yet, I won't just throw it away, unless I'm on a rare cleaning frenzy. Fortunately, I'm not a grocery store coupon clipper or I'd really be nuts. However, I do tend to save discount coupons for restaurants and clothes. It's pretty pointless because most of the time if I'm at the store, the coupon is still in the pile at home (probably expired). But then there's the never expire coupons such as Bed, Bath & Beyond - how many of those does one need? Call me, I've got several :) What about the important piles, like bills, and now, end of the year taxes? Better have a special pile for them. I also tend to save small catalogues, as they're kind of fun to look through on a boring night of TV. Then I'll turn the page down on something I think about ordering, only to throw it away when the newer version of the same catalogue shows up. ERRRGH!
What makes me post about this is that my son & daughter-in-law are coming to visit this weekend. Ahhh - time to get rid of piles, right? And I don't think putting them in the dryer is an option. Better go, Piles are waiting.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Character Golf
I'm amazed at how a person's character reveals itself on the golf course. It's a game where you really need to remain cool, calm, and collected. So why I have I witnessed so many temper tantrums, cursing, husband/wife encounters, etc.? It's somewhat comical. I almost think it should be a requirement for establishing relationships. Who knows, it might bring down the divorce rate.
I've been on two couples golf outings within the past 3 months. The first one was to Palm Springs, CA where we had a totally positive experience. The latest one was to Ft.Lauderdale, where the experience was somewhat questionable.
I figure by the time we reach our 50's, we probably ought to realize that we're not going to get paid for any sport in which we participate - in other words, NONE of us are really good at this. So why not just try to enjoy the outing? Yes, it sucks that you just knocked 2-3 balls in the water, but you know what... It beats being home cleaning a toilet, changing a diaper, paying bills, etc ... don't you think?
I've been on two couples golf outings within the past 3 months. The first one was to Palm Springs, CA where we had a totally positive experience. The latest one was to Ft.Lauderdale, where the experience was somewhat questionable.
I figure by the time we reach our 50's, we probably ought to realize that we're not going to get paid for any sport in which we participate - in other words, NONE of us are really good at this. So why not just try to enjoy the outing? Yes, it sucks that you just knocked 2-3 balls in the water, but you know what... It beats being home cleaning a toilet, changing a diaper, paying bills, etc ... don't you think?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
On the Road Again
Tomorrow I'm off to Ft.Lauderdale, FL. I wouldn't have been able to tell you where that is a week ago, but I now know it's north of Miami. I'm looking forward to it. I enjoy traveling (when I know the dog is okay :-) I'm joining my husband, who has been there since Sat. on business. We're planning to play golf - oh joy, more golf stories :-) Stay tuned...
Doggie Guilt
One good thing about my age right now is that I don't have to work. That means I can travel - provided I can find a dog sitter. I've heard it said that life begins when the kids leave home, and the dog dies. Currently my kids are gone, but the dog is alive and kickin'. I love my dog. But finding a dog sitter can be a pain in the rear. My dog is 9 years old and has never been kenneled. Therefore, that's not an option I care to take. Dog sitters where I live charge at least $10.00 a visit. Yes, you heard me right--per visit! I think that's extreme. So anytime I go somewhere, the dog becomes an issue. It's frustrating.
It would help if my dog loved everyone, but he doesn't. I can't trust him to just anyone. He's not good with new people. So when friends come for a first time visit, he's not overly thrilled, especially if they try to chum up to him right away. Once he knows you, he's fine. But I don't have the same people over enough for him to be fine. Therefore, who would want him at their house? That would be no one.
He LOVES to walk and he LOVES treats. So I've hired neighborhood kids who want the money badly enough to say they'll do it. I've told them not to try and pet him, or be nice in any way - just mention the words "walk" and "cookie", and he'll be fine. It's worked, but part of me would love to have a "doggie cam" just to see how it all plays out.
It would help if my dog loved everyone, but he doesn't. I can't trust him to just anyone. He's not good with new people. So when friends come for a first time visit, he's not overly thrilled, especially if they try to chum up to him right away. Once he knows you, he's fine. But I don't have the same people over enough for him to be fine. Therefore, who would want him at their house? That would be no one.
He LOVES to walk and he LOVES treats. So I've hired neighborhood kids who want the money badly enough to say they'll do it. I've told them not to try and pet him, or be nice in any way - just mention the words "walk" and "cookie", and he'll be fine. It's worked, but part of me would love to have a "doggie cam" just to see how it all plays out.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Ya Might Wanna Check the Label
This past weekend I stayed at a Hilton in NY City. In the morning, I showered and washed my hair. It's a task I don't enjoy because I have LOTS of hair. I MUST use conditioner or I can't comb through the tangled mess. Usually I can get by with 1/2 a trial size bottle offered at most hotels. But when I applied that amount at the Hilton, it just didn't feel right. So I applied the other 1/2. That worked a little better, but I still didn't get that silky smooth feeling, so I held the bottle up to the shower nozzle, added water, shook the remaining remnants, poured it over my hair, and moved on.
Later, my sister asked to borrow my hand lotion because she couldn't find any in the bathroom. I was surprised, because there's almost always lotion in the bathrooms. But I'd already had to call room service because there wasn't any coffee, so maybe we had a rookie maid and she was negligent with the lotion also. My sister went back into the bathroom and came out holding an empty bottle, asking if I'd used it on my hair. When I said, "yes" she burst out laughing because(you guessed it)I had emptied the bottle of lotion on my hair!
No wonder it didn't work so well!
Later, my sister asked to borrow my hand lotion because she couldn't find any in the bathroom. I was surprised, because there's almost always lotion in the bathrooms. But I'd already had to call room service because there wasn't any coffee, so maybe we had a rookie maid and she was negligent with the lotion also. My sister went back into the bathroom and came out holding an empty bottle, asking if I'd used it on my hair. When I said, "yes" she burst out laughing because(you guessed it)I had emptied the bottle of lotion on my hair!
No wonder it didn't work so well!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Whirlwind Weekend
Wow! What a weekend! My trip to Washington, D.C. was wonderful! My brother picked my sisters and me up at the Baltimore airport and we drove to his home in the heart of D.C. That evening we went out for cocktails, and then dinner at a Mexican restaurant where our food was outstanding. When we returned to his home, we did the traditional cake/Happy Birthday thing and my sister opened some gifts we'd brought with us. Well, inside my brother's birthday card were tickets. And boy howdy, do I mean tickets: tickets to "Wicked" in NY City AND roundtrip train tickets to get there. And they weren't just for my sister, but for ALL of us!! Plus, he'd arranged for us to stay overnight at the Hilton. Needless to say, we were overwhelmed. And needless to say, we had a REALLY GOOD time!
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