If I have been tagged, which way do I get folded?

I am behind two tags. How embarrassing. I plead travel time for an excuse for being late. Yeah, that is it.

OK, for the first one, I have to go dig up the 5th sentence in my 23rd entry. I am on dialup as my cable is down, so please be patient......

"When my daughter was about 3, she already showed signs of being clever and outgoing."

Not very clever or creative of me, was it?

Now I have to list five quirks. Yeah, like I can narrow it down to five. Jon, our Cowboy, says one of his is folding tags in when he does his laundry. I didn't even know that counts as a quirk.

1. I must walk on the right side of people. I think this maybe started when my child was little and I had to hold her back with my left hand and keep my right available to keep her from damaging anything. It has nothing to do with hearing, as mine is sadly better than normal.

2. I need to read every day. Usually an hour will keep me happy.

3. Is insomnia a quirk? Probably not. But if I don't take a sleeping pill, pretty much, I don't sleep. I put lippy on about every 5 minutes. That must be a quirk, right?

4. I talk in my sleep. I was reminded of this in Toronto. Is this a quirk? When my grown niece was younger she stayed here a lot, and slept with me. We used talk to each other in our sleep. It would wake us up. We would laugh, and go back to sleep. I guess sometimes I make perfect sense and sometimes none at all.

5. Surely my pre-travel freak dance mode is a quirk.

I am still afraid to close my eyes in the shower. Psycho is an old movie, but I was young when it was new and it scared the crap out of me. I actually love scary movies. But that one...well, I will always have that fear. I know I am not the only one, either!

Home again, home again

The weather was great in Toronto again today. I got up, went out, and hit Bloor Street. I had to rein myself in and not buy the purse I want. I decided to hold off a while until I am really sure. I also didn't want to carry a package for 3 more miles. My feet were not happy just carrying me.

So I packed up my toys and came home today. The train ride was uneventful and I didn't get lost any place. I did try to use the underground walkways to get from the Hilton to the train station, which is about a mile. I found it harder than following the streets. At least on ground level I can look for identifying buildings, so I went back up to street level and had no problem. I know my way around there pretty well now. Yes, I could have taken a taxi. But I like the walking, and it will soon enough be too cold for me to walk outside.

When I came home, it was 71 degrees. That is very impressive for 9 pm in Michigan for almost October. It didn't start raining until just as I pulled in the driveway.

I had two messages. One from the endocrinologist's office telling me I have an appointment tomorrow with the wrong doctor. That explains why they were unable to find my appointment I tried to change. They had booked me with the wrong doctor. The second one was from the pharmacy, telling me that my Synthroid was waiting to be picked up. The doctor was supposed to call me about that, but I guess she just called the pharmacy. My dogs were very much not happy to have me run back out after I had just come in, but they got over it. Treats do wonders for their short term memories.

Maybe it's a good thing that absinthe is illegal in the USA. Then again, I live really close to Canada.

Someone forgot to take her camera out of the suitcase. Sorry.

Beagle for dinner

I am on my own tonight. I decided that even though I wasn't hungry, I should go have dinner. I had a sugar drop a few weeks ago from not eating, and it was not a pretty sight. So I put on my big girl clothes and hit the streets of downtown Toronto with absolutely no idea of what I wanted to eat. I just knew I didn't want to drink anything stronger than a diet Coke.

I passed Jeremiah Bullfrog, because I ate there yesterday. I passed the Condom Shack. I hit John Street, which has a lot of excellent restaurants on it and turned left, figuring to return to the Fox and Whistle or whatever it was called where I ate once in April, because it had a second story outdoor patio.

Nope. Nothing caught my eye. The specials on the Fox and whatever it was didn't do anything for me. I continued on to the theatre street and checked several of those. I was definitely in the mood to eat outdoors, but nothing was doing it for me.

After a while I turned back, remembering not to overuse the poor footsies. On John Street on the other side of the street I saw a beagle. It was tied up to the little fence for the outdoor patio of an interesting, apparently gay, restaurant/bar. I of course asked permission to pet the little girl, since I miss my girls so much. The two very attractive young men said sure, and I scratched her head and throat and told her what a pretty girl she is. I decided that any place that allows beagles is good enough for me.

I went to the front and asked for a menu. I saw some things that looked good and got seated. I nestled myself against the rail, cocooned by some overgrown coleus. As I continued reading the menu, I saw what their signature drink is. I had to have one, even though I do not really like the taste of alcohol. I asked if the drink was real, and the waiter told me that it's as real as they are allowed, which is about 75% strength. Still, it's more than I ever had. This was new for me. Here is the recipe for a drink from the Brasserie called Van Gogh's Ear:

Absinthe poured over a flaming sugar cube, chilled and shaken with tart lime and lightly rimmed with sugar.

Exactly. Absinthe.  I had never had it before, since it's illegal in the USA. Like I said, I don't really like the taste of alcohol, but I had to try it. I can be adventurous at times.

Oh, yes, yes, more, more....my first alcoholic drink that I really loved! I had told the waiter that I am more into the effect than the taste normally, but wanted to try it. He said I would for sure get the effect. I found out he was right. The taste was incredible!

Oh, I had dinner too. Wild mushroom soup. It was excellent. So was the French bread. Or is that Freedom bread?

I had a second Van Gogh's Ear. I told him I wasn't driving. I didn't tell him that I had to walk about a mile back to the Hilton. Then he told me that he would not recommend more than two. I am a very cheap drunk, so that made me nervous. But the second drink made it all right.

On the way back, I passed a man peeing on the wall in the middle of a building at Queen and Dundas. Who cares? I stumbled once on uneven pavement and righted myself, no problem. I got in the "scenic view" elevator with a young gentleman and rode up 20 floors in a glass elevator, enjoying the view of downton Toronto. On my way out of the elevator, I said, "I wonder if this elevator ever breaks down?" and left him to ride to the 25th floor on his own.

Still, I am worried. Maybe I should have washed my hands after petting that sweet little beagle.

Must have it

Last night we went back out and had some more Stella Artois at our favorite Irish Pub on Front Street. Well, I had Stella, he had Honey Brown. We kept seeing Rolling Stones t-shirts on people in the area and found that there was a concert last night at Rogers Centre, which used to be called, I think, the Skydome. It's where the Toronto Blue Jays pretend to play baseball.

He had dinner on the way to the bar, and I wasn't hungry. After we left the bar and were stumbling back I decided I was finally a little hungry, so we stopped for a donut each. I can't say donuts and beer are the best things together, but it sure tasted good.

I finally got some sleep. I fell asleep about 11 pm and got up about 9:30 am. I started waking up at 5 am as usual, but as usual continued to go back to sleep for a while. I felt very rested. Usually it takes me a few days to recover from being that sleep deprived.

We walked up to Bloor Street, maybe 2-3 miles north of here, into the couture district. The weather today was unbeatable. It was clear, sunny, and around 70 degrees. We walked around the area and had a great lunch at a little outdoor bistro. We walked back through the grounds of the University of Toronto, which is very pretty.

Not long after we got back to the hotel my friend left for the airport to return home. On Sunday I had decided I have to have a fitted dark red blouse. So I went on a quest for one at the Eaton Centre, then over to the Bay Company. Bay is rather like Macy's, I guess. Eaton Centre is a 4-floor mall.

I went in every store that even might have what I want. It seems to be an odd color that I cannot find at home. Here, right away I noticed several women wearing the color I want. So I searched....and searched....for 6 miles. I wear petites, so most "normal" clothes do not fit me. I did find a few blouses I like in one store, and the dark red one I bought has a blue faint stripe in it. This means, of course, that I need to find another all one color. I will need to check back on Bloor Street tomorrow before I leave.

Maybe I will have to learn to use the subway system. Hopefully my feet won't ache by then. As it is, I am not looking forward to limping out for dinner. Right now I have my feet wrapped in a wet towel inside of a plastic bag.

One of my plans this evening was to walk (about a mile or a little more) to Lake Ontario when the sun sets. Luckily, I can see the lake from my hotel room. Oh, what a pretty sunset.....

I have arrived, in style

OK, so the title is a slight exaggeration. I arrived during pouring rain and walked a mile to the hotel because I was pleased it wasn't ice. I can be that way.

Did you know that a young child can scream for 4 out of 4.5 hours on a train? I didn't know either, but I do now. So still, no sleep other than 2 hours for 2 nights.

But I am here safe and sound, in my hotel after a walk in the mall (since it was raining big time) and a lunch including two Stella Artois. I must hit the backspace key a lot to type.

Remo would call me a front seat passenger. But actually, I am in my hotel room getting settled. I thought you guys might like to know I arrived safely. The train station in Windsor opens at 5:15 am. I was there at 5 am. It was raining. Steadily. For the drive, for the train ride, and until just a few minutes ago. It's now almost 3 pm. I am tired of rain.

I think the only thing I forgot was my sunglasses.

 

 

Good Stuff, finally

Things maybe do go full circle sometimes. However, I am in full pretravel freak dance mode, so if I make multiple unexplained typos, please forgive. I have too much ADHD before travel to be able to focus.

Does anyone else get like this? I have to run around the house aimlessly for hours, trying to pack, do laundry, clean the house, find books, try on clothes, go buy things, write emails, write entries, write 5 page instruction booklets to my sitters, and I do this while going without sleep literally for roughly 40 hours. I tried to sleep about 6 hours last night, but managed less than two. I have been unable to nap today even though I walked for 8 miles this morning.

Oh yeah, come on, focus here....good stuff....a nice new man has walked into my life. Literally. He has two beagles also and we walk dogs together. He also has a rottie mix who is very sweet. It's all very new days, so we will see.

Last night he told me that he travels so much for work that he gets a ton of free flights. He gave me a voucher for a free flight - just before I plan to go to Las Vegas (mid-October). Today my walking friend offered me use of her time share in Las Vegas, if her husband hasn't done something else with it that he didn't tell her about. I would have a two bedroom suite to myself, just off the strip. Wooo!

The patio table parts haven't come and the bench/container is still sitting outside in the rain while I decide what to do with it, but it looks like some good things are coming my way finally.

So, if I will just be able to find the tunnel to Canada from Detroit, and then the train station in Windsor, Ontario, without incident, I will be happy. I am sure the thunderstorms will stop.

Another dog tale

Molly, my 6-year-old beagle, sometimes astounds me. When Baby was a puppy and I would call Baby and she didn't come, Molly would grab a little toy, and wave it in front of Baby to get her to come for me. If I called Baby in from outside and she didn't come quick enough, Molly would bite her in the head (not hurting her, just reprimanding her for me). If only she had been able to teach Baby to be as perfectly house trained...but Molly keeps coming up with new things for me.

I have an 18-year-old cat, Wiz. Wiz was best buds with my last dog, but beagles are hunters and sometimes chase her. She has not bonded with these two. She doesn't groom them, walk next to them and hold them up after surgery, or sleep curled up against them. She keeps them in line most of the time, and they only chase her off and on.

A few days ago, Baby chased Wiz off my lap and really got in her face. I was shocked. I yelled at Baby and told her we don't act like that. Wiz hid under the dining room table and rearranged her ego. Molly walked over to Wiz, I swear to see if she was OK.

I asked Molly why they do things like that. This old soul of a dog went and got a small stuffed toy and stuck it on my lap. She smiled at me, like she does if she wants me to throw it.

I thought about it. I asked Molly if she was showing me that they have instincts, and Baby had just been acting on one. (Baby had since curled up and gone to sleep, having lost all interest in the topic.)

Molly smiled at me again, curled up in my lap, and went to sleep.

Let's go for three?

I read on CNN that two trains just hit head on a few days ago. Let's hope that we won't have three train wrecks in one week, then. Last time I went to Toronto on the train we spent about half an hour dead in the "water" (prairie, I guess) with a broken train until they fixed it. We were out in the middle of nothing at all.

Let's see, what else has gone wrong. Child forgot when she was supposed to dog sit and made plans to go to Cedar Point, then made me feel really guilty when she had to rearrange her plans. I broke a sandwich plate to my dishes. It's just Mikasa, but it's also not replaceable any more. I rarely use full sized plates. They look like platters to me. Go compare your current dishes with your grandma's dishes and you will see what I mean. The older dishes look "tiny" compared to the more modern ones. I prefer the smaller ones. I am a small person. I don't need to eat off a trough.

It rained all day the day after I walked away from the half-constructed outdoor container/bench, and the cardboard box is ruined, so I think I am going to patch it with duct tape and hope it doesn't crack any farther. It needs to be waterproof to hold the patio cushions. So far, the replacement parts are not here. I picture them coming today or while I am gone, so the child can have company over who will smoke and burn holes in the fabric cushions before I even use them. She won't do that really, but I am a Class A Worrier.

I needed a new pair of basic black slacks for Toronto so I went where they always have them in my size that fit me. I wear petites, so I have to search for clothes sometimes (sorry, Anne!).  They didn't have any.

I am all set to buy a new purse. Then I saw another style by the same company, and I can't decide. The one has a shorter handle and a leather interior. The second one has a longer handle, which I think would be better for longevity as far as style goes, but the interior is canvas. They are both horridly expensive. I don't know what to do now. This is not a huge issue, but I was all ready to buy the one with the shorter handle, now I am unsure.

Without a B12 shot I figured I would be dead in the water in Toronto, since I am still tired all the time. I ran up to my doctor's office, and they had a power failure and were closed. They aren't open today.

Oh, and the endocrinologist who is supposed to call me? She never did. Her office won't be open again until I am in Toronto either. Someone is going to be throwing cold water on me to keep me upright in Toronto.

I also solved my telephone kicking me offline issue. I bought a 900 MHz phone. I am afraid to plug it in. I am sure it doesn't work or is missing a piece or something. I grabbed it the other night when I did all those errands.

I am due for a long string of good luck! It has to start soon, right? I figure it can start as soon as I have to drive all the way through Detroit in the middle of the night alone, then take the tunnel under the Detroit River to Canada, deal with customs, and find the train station in Windsor in the dark. I have absolutely no idea where it is. Last time I went over the Bluewater Bridge with someone else driving. The two times before that I drove myself over it and almost went catatonic. The tunnel is scary enough, but I can't fall off it, so I figure I am good to go. It really doesn't leak all that much. Honest. It's only a little over a mile, so I figure I can run out if I must. Right? I do have claustrophobia issues, but they have more to do with not being able to get out of something than actually being closed in. I don't know if that makes any sense or not. I will do the tunnel. It will get me where I want to go, so I have no choice.

 

It doesn't even surprise me any more

Yesterday afternoon was Errand Day for me. I went all over the place. I went to my endocrinologist to drop off results from recent a blood test and change my next appointment, because I will be out of town. They couldn't find the appointment anyway, so I made a new one. What would have happened if I had shown up for the originally scheduled one? I normally sit in her office for an hour. I also had forgotten where the office was, and drove around for half an hour to find it.

Next, go to the hardware store for a few items. I wanted a bar for the doorwall so I don't have to be nervous any more when it's open. I bought the white trim paint I need, a paint roller extender as child didn't return all the pieces to mine after I told her I didn't want to loan it out since I have had it for almost 40 years, two light fixtures for outdoors that someone was going to replace for me and obviously I will have to do it...and I forgot the bar. So I came home and used the extender. It fits fine.

After that, I stopped at Target for the 99 gallon outdoor plastic storage container bench they had on sale. I ran into my nephew who works there, and he helped me find the very last one in the store, and he even put it in my car for me. They had finally stocked the mixer I wanted, too. It has a little plastic container attached to the mixer to hold the cord and the blades. My current mixer is from 1971 and is starting to act like it. I think I had better take the mixer out and make sure there is nothing wrong with it.

From there, I went to the grocery store and stocked up on pet stuff, since I will be going away. I also got my basic needs, including diet soda.

After that, I went to the library and dropped off four books and picked up five new ones.

Today I walked the dogs, as usual, then decided to put together the outdoor container for the patio furniture cushions, since they are cotton and can't be left outside exposed. The box is huge and unwieldy for a small person, but I dragged it out, stuck it on the dolly, dragged it to the back yard. I managed to open the box, drag out the pieces, and begin assembly. With only two pieces left to go, I find the second to last one damaged. Why was Inot surprised? I remember telling my nephew that I sure hoped that crushed-in corner was just the box and not the container.

Deal with another annoying issue or get duct tape? Sigh.

Does it matter? I still don't have the correct parts to be able to use the patio table. They are "in the mail." This will be the third set. I bought the patio set in July, and still can't use it.

What do you figure the chances are for two train wrecks in one week?

 

No DMV

Michigan does not have a Department of Motor Vehicles like the other 49 states. Ours is called Secretary of State. I cannot tell you why. I just know I hate going there. A barrel of monkeys would be more efficient, and a lot more fun.

So, even though I sent my check and paperwork to the Secretary of State almost 6 weeks before I needed to for my driver's license renewal, it never came to me in the mail.

I called today. Now, that is somewhat of a misnomer. I looked online for a way to contact the office. I finally found a number and called it. After 5 minutes of voice mail and pushing 1 - 2 - 4 - 2, then 0 for an operator, I was told there was no operator available and to try calling again. So I did, after about 15 minutes, which I figured was long enough for anyone to pee and comb his/her hair. I dialed the number, pushed 1 - 2 - 4 - 2, and then 0 for the operator. There is no way to shorten that. Pushing 0 sooner does nothing at all. Same message.

Then I went to Yahoo Yellow Pages and looked for a number in a branch office. I found one with a Pontiac number (think Pistons, playing at the Palace, although that is technically in Auburn Hills), and got a human without too much work. I explained my situation. She looked it up on the computer and told me it was renewed and mailed on 8/10. I told her it obviously wasn't coming. She told me I had to go to a Secretary of State office.

If it's possible to see blood pressure go from 90/60 to double that, you could have seen it happen right here. I had visions of the gremlin scene when they party. Some hanging from the light fixtures, whatever. I told her that just wasn't right for me to have to wait like that when I had already sent my paperwork in to avoid that visit.

She said I didn't need to wait, I just had to go to the Customer Return window. I said I never heard of that, did they have one in my local branch (giving her the name of it)? She said yes, that they have them in every branch office. She also assured me I would get a sticker from them, and not have to get a new license or have a picture taken. This is the big advantage of a renewal by mail - they just send a sticker.

So I trudged off to the Customer Return window. Oops. No such thing! I had to wait for 21 people ahead of me, then find out that I also had to get a new license with a new picture.

I had walked the dogs for 3 miles earlier, didn't recomb my long hair, and had on no makeup whatsoever, assuming a trip to the gym was next.

First I said, No, not doing it. Then I realized I had no choice. I am not going to be driving to Canada without a license. I will never get over the border to the train station. Plus, I didn't want to return to the Secretary of State office again for 8 years. (new license, plus one renewal, assuming I stay out of trouble with tickets)

It will be interesting to see what response I get to the email I am going to write. If the person who said there is a Customer Return window was being funny, she isn't going to be happy. Normally I take names of whomever I talk to, but that time I didn't. However, being a former children's protective services worker, I did, out of habit, write down both the number and the exact time I called.

When I worked for the state, I helped people through red tape and bureaucratic crap to the best of my ability. You never know when you will be on the other side of it.

(Yes, I was nice to the lady who took care of me and she sympathized with my situation. It wasn't her fault.)

Birthdays are fattening

For my last birthday, the child did my hair and makeup, then took me shopping and to dinner at her former boyfriend's seafood restaurant. After that, we went to a local restaurant/bar for drinks. It started out well, with my daughter's friend and her mother, who is my friend, having drinks with us. After that, we moved indoors from the roof patio and things went downhill. Feel free to read back a year ago - I almost punched a slimy little guy in the face while we were in the bar.

This year we went to a very nice steak house. You know, the kind that has little lockers for personal wine bottles? It was wonderful. I have been there before for drinks and once for lunch, but never for dinner. My only complaint is their pride and joy - the beef is aged (no age comments here on the Birthday Girl, OK?) But the food was incredible. I had a nice rare sliced prime rib. The restaurant gave me two free desserts. Sadly, one was an expresso chocolate torte and the other a cheesecake, so the child was delightedly eating those (I don't touch coffee or cheese things, ick). We ordered a separate piece coconut cream pie for me. I don't like pie, but I like the coconut cream filling.

This restaurant is well known for their drink called Stoli Doli. If I remember right, they cut up something like 22 cases of pineapple and put it in a huge jar, maybe 10 gallon size? They then fill it with vodka. The pineapple ferments and the taste is incredible. A touch of cranberry juice is good, too. I had a few, sans cranberry juice.

After that we searched the mall for a new purse for me. The restaurant is in the mall, and it's a nice upscale mall, so we had a lot of fun. We hit all the good stuff, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Michael Kors, and many designers I don't remember and some I never heard of. I didn't end up buying one, but I had a good time. Child had worked all day so she had sore feet and we were kind of sleepy after the alcohol, so it was not a late night and no one got punched out.

The next night I had dinner with my forever friend Gary, and his friend who is a circuit court judge. I had not met the friend before, but had chatted on the phone with him and had heard about him for years. I was a little nervous, as I often am with new people, but he was great and we all got along fine. Child waited on us. She saw the new 'victim' and went for it. He said he couldn't read the menu because he forgot his glasses. She looked at him, and carefully mentioned that they were on top of his head. He laughed, said those were his sunglasses. So she started going over the menu and she felt he was wandering, so she told him to focus.

She looked at me, and I mouthed, he is a judge, he can't focus. She looked at him again, then said, OK, we will go really slow.....

However, later they had a staring contest and he actually beat her. I have never seen anyone do that to her before.

Gary spent most of the time looking down my shirt. It was OK, since his birthday was two days before and I told him I wore that shirt just for him. So a good time was had by all.

My driver's license expired this year. I sent in the paperwork to renew by mail on August 7, and my birthday was September 16. It seems enough time, doesn't it? I called today to ask why it wasn't received yet, since my license tab came over a month ago. I was told that it was mailed on August 10, and so I would have to go into the office. OK, there goes 4 hours and explains why I mailed it instead of going in originally. We won't discuss how long it took to get a human on the phone to answer the question in the first place.

The whole weekend wasn't perfect, though. I came home from my usual long Sunday Morning Hobble (8 miles this week) and let the dogs out. I looked out the door and realized they were running free in the yard, heading for the schools behind me and not in their dog run. I charged out the gate that the lawn service had left open (!!) and yelled "come!" with absolutely no response from them. Then I tried, "eat!" which slowed them a little, but not much, since they were already on a scent. These are hunters, beagles, trackers, scent dogs. So I ran back in the house for milk bones, fearful that by the time I got back outside they would be out of sight, but figuring it for my only chance, as a main road is way too close.

When I got back out, they had backtracked a little, so I waved the bones and called TREAT! This got Baby's attention, and I corraled her back into the dog run, heaving one big sigh of relief. But Molly is more wily than that. I think she was trying to hold out for the leftover prime rib. She finally stopped to smell something and didn't run off when I got close to her. I picked her up as carefully as I could, but she still screamed due to her neck problem. I got her in the gate without Baby getting back out. It's impossible for me to chase and carry two dogs, so I was lucky that Baby is such a food shark.

It's very hard not to take it personally that they would run off when they love me and know they are loved here. They are happy spoiled dogs, but are still beagles, so I have to be so careful. Molly and I had another long talk about her not going on any more walkabouts or some hunter is going to steal her and make her sleep outside in a cage on a cement ground, since hunters think that letting a dog sleep in the house ruins their nose. Yet beagles are very much people dogs, they love everyone and are social, good with kids, so loveable. Locking them up alone outside seems extreme cruelty to me, so some pendejo hunter can kill a few rabbits over a few weeks a year.

Anyway, I called a friend this morning who does fencing, and asked him if he can install a new hinge on my gate that will automatically swing shut no matter what. The lawn service people have left the gate open before, and always I have caught it before the dogs can get out. I have to lean out the open door to see the gate, so sometimes they can push their way out before I can see. I cannot see the gate when I pull into the garage. I have to walk around the side of the house to see it, and who would assume a lawn service would come on Sunday, when they never have before?

So today I have to go get my expired license renewed, even though I tried to do it over a month early. Luckily my license tabs came early, so at least my car is legal. I have to try to get the gate upgraded before I go to Toronto. I have to go to the gym to try to upgrade my body. I have a lot to do today!

Oh, remember I sent in papers end of April or early May to possibly return to my former protective services job? They lost the papers. I have a return receipt from the post office, but it doesn't put the papers in anyone's hand, does it? I don't have a fax, but the clerk wants me to fax them to her asap. What is the rush now, after all these months? Am I supposed to assume she might do something with them?

I hope everyone had a good weekend :)

Aren't there laws against that?

Yesterday I had to do one of my favorite things. Make reservations to travel. Usually I do this myself online, with the comfort of my own computer and in my jammies. This time, the best deal seemed to be with a local travel agency that required me to use the *gasp* phone!

So I picked up the phone, learned how to use it again, and called. I got a nice young man on the phone named Ron, who seemed a little unsure when I asked some reasonable questions. Such as, does the hotel charge for internet service? Is there transportation to the train station (in Canada) from our area? How late is the Duty Free Shop open? I mean, come on. Trips to Toronto are one of their major things. One question he did know the answer to was if they are hiring or not. He said they are actually hiring now, and he would transfer me to his boss when we finished the transaction.

True to his word, Ron transferred me to Russ. Russ sounded to be a man about my age, and agreed that they are taking applications now and hiring for agents. I expressed my interest. He said, and I am dead serious, "I only hire students."

OK, I had to think about that for a while. So I asked him why he does that - are they taking some class specifically needed for the job? He said no, they can keep up with the pace of the job. Plus, working part time fits in nicely with their school schedules.

I got it. He hires people between the ages of 18-22, who will work part time, get no benefits, and will work cheap. I casually mentioned, for his benefit, actually, that to say he hires only students is illegal. How was he to know I have a master's degree in admin, and that I specialized in human resources?

He asked if that meant he can't hire whoever he wants. I said of course he can, he just can't say he hires only students, even if he does. He asked if I am in school now, and I said no, I already have a couple of degrees, and since I am not a student at this time, does this mean I can't get hired?

He told me that he hires only students also because they know computers. My guess is, he can't run them. I didn't even tell him that I teach computer classes. I did tell him that in my previous job in social work I dealt with police, clients, courts, schools, and everyone else at the same time, so I figured the pace would not be an issue for me.

He then stated that if we treated people the way he was treated in court recently, then well...humpf.

I wonder if it was a discrimination lawsuit that got him in court? Because without a doubt, what he did was discriminate against me due to my age.

I proceeded to very sweetly tell him that I was certainly interested in a part time job in the travel field, that I am available any of the hours he mentioned, and that I am used to dealing with the public on a daily basis.

He told me I certainly could go in and fill out an application, but it was clear from his tone of voice that he would not hire me. I am too old. You know, close to his age.

A tally

I am sorry to report that this summer I have been unable to adhere to my plan of catch and release for anything found living in my house that was not invited. Spiders I ignore, flies I try to shoo out, but bee-things are just too scary for me. I don't stop to ask them if they are bees, wasps, hornets, or what branch of the family. They are immediately dispatched out of my ignorant fear of being stung. Relatives are a whole different story.

Last summer a katydid was on my window ledge and I was able to see it breathe. It's little sides were going in and out and I was so mesmerized. It even sat still while I took some pictures. Nature is beautiful, but not when it has stingers.

So far this summer:

Suz: 6

Bees: 0

There is also the issue of the outdoor nests. I find it very hard to work on my own yard when the sentries and dive bombing stingers are after me. They really are living in the wood siding of my house. Remember when I finally got up the bravery to go out and spray them, and the can went, pffft?

I went to the handy local hardware store and got new cans. This stuff sprays a foam. I sprayed the front of the section of my house where it's the worst. It's also right where my bedroom is, and those nests are just inches from my head at night. The foam is awesome. It came out all at once, very fast, and the whole front of my house was covered in foam. Very impressive.

It doesn't seem to be manufactured for indoor use. Don't ask.

The other summer issue for me is poison ivy. As a child, and until a few years ago, I never had it. I could roll in it. Well, once I did just that and it was not a pretty sight. Since then, I have been getting more and more sensitive to it. Now I just need to be near it. The plant sprays some oil into the air. It aims for me, I know it does.

This summer, I thought I was going to escape the dreaded rash.

Poison Ivy: 1

Even though it's well in the 90s today, 20 degrees above normal, it will drop to the 70s on Thursday. Of course it will. My birthday is Friday. Summer will be over by then.

 

7 things, a little late

Call me lazy, but I am finally getting around to doing this after being tagged for this, lol. I do better when I pick the topic, I guess!

Seven Things I Want To Do Before I Die:

1. Run out of new places to travel to.

    1a. Stop ending sentences with prepositions.

2. See my daughter finish college and become financially secure. Married, if she wants to be, and have children, if they make her happy. I don't want to put her into a mold that doesn't fit her.

3. Housebreak my younger beagle, Baby. She is already 4 years old, so I think my chances are slim. Molly, same breed, is a perfect lady. So is the cat. Me too, now that I think about it. Just Baby has issues.

4. Learn the concept of "gasket" totally. Whenever someone tries to explain it to me, I start asking questions. Eventually they seem unsure of what a gasket is also.

5. Lose my fear of bridges and bee-things. Also lose my growing fear of flying, as it is starting to interfere with my traveling jones.

6. Get back to a size 2 or 4, with muscle, in a healthy way, not by getting sick.

7. Find something else I want to do, since I am happy with my life as it is.

Seven Things I Can Do:

1. I can cook, sew, knit, crochet, iron, and type. My mother figured that covered everything, so she did her part. Well, I learned knitting on my own. She never did learn that one.

2. I can drive a manual transmission. No big deal, unless you are stuck some place in one and can't. I learned on one because my brother had an Austin Healy and I wanted to drive it. He sold it the day before I got my license. I had to wait until I could afford a Fiat 124 Spyder of my own to drive a sports car, but I have owned many vehicles with manual transmissions.

3. I can do shorthand. Thank my mom for that one, too.160 words a minute.

4. I can sit down with a child and he/she will tell me all kinds of things that he/she has never told anyone before. I think it's because I am very non-threatening, and nothing shocks me. No one with my childhood could shock easily, so I put children at ease.

5. I remain very calm during a crisis. I see no value in going whacko when someone is in danger.

6. I can love unconditionally.

7. I can get poison ivy by walking past it. In fact, I can prove that right now.

Things I Can't Do:

1. I can't stand to see a friend hurt, or about to do something that will make him/her hurt more.

   1a. Sometimes I can't keep my mouth shut when I should.

2. I cannot sing. Not one note.

3. I can't do martial arts any more. I miss it very much. 

4. I can't spend money I don't have.

5. I can't sleep more than an hour at a time without waking up.

6. I can't go more than 24 hours without reading. I always have at least 5 books ready to be read at any given time.

7. I can't think in terms of "I can't" - I am more of an "I can" person.

Things That Attract Me To The Opposite Sex:

1. Confidence that is genuine.

2. Muscle tone.

3. Sense of humor.

4. Kindness, consideration, manners, gentleness.

5. Intelligence, common sense, education.

6. Respect.

7. Package.

Seven Things I Say Most Often:

1. Who did that?

    1a. I am not cleaning that up.

2. I would like to make a reservation.....

3. Can we do that again?

4. Charge, please.

5. Title bar, menu bar, standard toolbar, formatting toolbar...(in the classes I teach)

6. I want.....

7. How do I get there from here? I am lost. Where am I? Can you give me very specific directions? What is the name of the street? What direction are we going? What city is that? How far away is it? (I have no natural sense of direction, but always find my way.)

Seven Celebrity Crushes:

None. I don't watch television and have only seen two movies in the last year.

 

 

Psycho or psychic?

I have lived alone for almost 20 years, not counting the girl child. I am used to being alone, I like being alone, and I am not afraid to be alone.I live in a nice, safe neighborhood. 

Every night when it's warm enough I open my doorwall from my dining and living rooms and enjoy the fresh air. The cat likes to sit by the screen and smell whatever it is cats like to smell. The dogs will wander over and bark outside now and then on some unknown dog schedule. It's normal routine here, and has been for the last six months.

Last night I was afraid to open the door. It made me laugh, but I decided to go with it and jammed the slider so it couldn't be forced open enough to allow even a child in. The evening went without incident, and every time I looked at the door I sort of chucked to myself softly, but felt a low current of unease until I closed the door and went to bed.

I just read the local news. A man cut a screen last night and entered a woman's home and attacked her. It was not particularly far from here.

Volunteering

I may have given the wrong idea about my plans to volunteer to go to the ravaged areas to help. I am not stupid enough to jump in my car and just head on down. I will have to hook up with an agency or I am just going to be in the way and cause more delays. I would waste time, money, natural resources, and the valuable time of people who are trying to organize things to get assistance to those who need help.

I am working on it. I was given the wrong impression regarding state employees. They have been asked to handle a hotline - and I might volunteer to help with that, even though it's almost a 2-hour drive each way for me to get to Lansing to do it.

People who just want to help and just show up do not generally help out. They get in the way and I do not intend to do that.

Still, I am trying to get hooked up to go. I want to do it.

More Family Party and Travel Time

Remember my plans to go to New Orleans? I would guess they will be canceled. I sincerely regret never having seen that beautiful city before it was devastated. Hopefully I can take some tourist dollars down there another time to help with rebuilding costs.

The hurricane damage overwhelmed me when I read about it. I don't want to just write a missive about how bad I feel. Tomorrow I am making calls to see if I can volunteer to go south to help out. They will have a need for social workers to help get things back together. I am willing to give my skills and my time if I can.

So I had to tell the child that she will possibly be dog sitting for an extended period of time. I won't be going south for 3 days, I might be going for a few weeks - or more. I hadn't seen her in a while, so I called to wish her a happy holiday. She was at work, as I figured.

I told her I was not in the mood to make my much loved macaroni salad this morning, and she suggested I go to see her at work and get a carryout, since I didn't have time to have lunch with her. I decided that would work fine, since she works at a nice upscale restaurant, and I could get some stuff my extended family would love.

She saw my spider bite on my throat immediately, and somehow pulled makeup out of her apron and tried to cover it up for me. It is not easy to stand still when someone has fingers on my throat, but I managed to make her happy, and I didn't gag. She talked me into sitting at a table while I decided what to get and to wait for the order, and immediately brought me a diet Coke without ice, a standard for me.

Want a beer, Mom?

No, child, (yes, I do often call her that, lol) I can't have beer, I have to    drive 45 minutes to my brother's house and spend the day with my family.

We looked at each other....

Tsing Tao?

Yes.

I ordered two appetizers and an entree, which would run about $30. We had chatting to do, because we hadn't talked much all summer. She told me she has a job interview tomorrow. She told me she has been seeing a new guy. I said yes, a firefighter.

Pause in her talk. A long quiet minute. She said Oh, Mrs P told you! I agreed to that, but admitted I knew nothing else about him. She told me a little. I am not a meddling mother, lol. We made tentative plans to meet tomorrow when she isn't interviewing, although she didn't know the time yet.

My bill? One soda, one beer, two appetizers, and an entree. $4.51. I gave her a $10, and left.

I drove the 45 minutes to my brother's house in the thumb of Michigan. It's a beautiful drive, or is when they don't have half the road torn up to add a left turn lane, leaving the road just dirt for now. Michigan has two seasons - Winter and Road Repair. Both are a pain to drive in. I passed several lakes, hills, farms, forest areas, roadkill, and joggers.

Things went well with my family today. I just never know how it will be. I might go home happy and I might leave and cry all the way home.

We were going to have the party here, but once again I was sent the wrong parts for my patio table. This is getting out of the range of acceptable business for me.

I hope everyone had a good holiday today and took a moment to keep all the people who aren't sure where their families are right now in their thoughts.