Tales of Helpers

Our cleaning lady D. is here today - she wears earbuds and chats on the phone while she works.  She is the third cleaning 'person(s)' we've had and she's wonderful.  

We let the first cleaning crew go when the constant scheduling issues became something I just couldn't keep saying 'ok' to.  It is not OK to say your team will arrive at 10AM and when I message you to say it's 10:30 and they aren't here yet, you text back 'sorry, they went to the wrong house'.  No.  Just no.  Planning our day around an arrival time and then having it be moved/cancelled/messed up over and over - I just couldn't keep saying OK.  

Our second cleaner was a one woman team who brought a helper now and then. The helper pretty much ruined our stainless steel stove top - scratched it to bits - which breaks my heart over and over every time I use the stove.  We could have filed an insurance claim with our insurance but that would most likely result in our policy being cancelled.  We could have also filed a claim against the cleaning company - but we didn't.  Now we're looking for solutions - maybe replacing the stainless steel top at some point.  We'll see.  

D. is also a one woman show - she does a really great job and we do whatever we can to make her job easier.  We change our own beds - because we can - takes us a few minutes and saves her time.  When our old vacuum became hard (almost impossible) to use, we bought a new one for her and she was so excited! J. took apart the old one piece by piece and got to a place where he didn't have the tool he needed to do the one last thing all the You Tube videos suggested.  He phoned a vacuum repair shop here in town and the guy said 'sure, I can help with that - it will be $150 to look at the vac and then parts.  Yikes.  Hence we just bought a new one.  

This morning, I showed her we have dozens of microfiber cleaning towels in the drawer underneath our clothes washer - so she doesn't need to bring her own.  I told her 'just use them and leave them on the counter when you are done and we will clean them and put them back in the drawer for your next visit'.  She said 'thank you so much - makes it easier for me'.  I told her we are on board with doing anything that makes her job easier.  

We also do a Starbucks run for her when she's here.  Our treat.  It's a fun every two week treat for us, too. 

Muf has started tent camping - something she's never done before.  Her recent haircut has her seeking out more warmth and while I feel a little bad they are cold, they will thank me in the summer.  I didn't even see her come into my room but I turned to turn off the light and noticed the quilt on my bed was moving.  

Muf.....making a tent.  

Loved a live and 'in person' Messenger chat with my cousin S. .   We need to do that more often!

Cooked

Actually cooked something for dinner this evening - trying to do a better job of using what we have and planning meals.  It's a small thing but I'm trying.  I watch a lot of You Tube videos for ideas - sometimes things turn out perfectly and sometimes not.  I tried making something like 'smashed potatoes' that were supposed to be super crispy - mine weren't but they were edible.  I also chopped up a de-seeded cucumber and added some rice vinegar and soy sauce.  My taste test almost killed me because the vinegar glitched in my throat and I was choking a bit.  It's a 'common' thing lately - damn allergies - I am fine.

We took the cats to the groomer on Sunday morning - they spent the night in the 'spa'.  We decided paying for a night of boarding was a good idea - we went to Atlantis for our usual Sunday free play day after we dropped them off.  It was a not great day on the slots - I actually did OK early on - and I should have left the machines I was on and tried something else - but a really fun friend and her mom arrived so I stayed to have some time to play with them.  It ended up being a trouncing kind of day - those happen.  

The owner of the kitty spa told me she'd do her best to get them done early - their appointment on Monday was 1-3 - but she phoned just before 9:30AM and they were ready to come home.  I drove to Reno solo 'cuz J. was playing golf - another reason we decided to get them there on Sunday.  I don't mind driving with two crying cats - but I really struggle to get them in their carriers and I appreciate J. being available to help me with that.  

It's been a quiet week so far - beautiful blue skies which are welcome.  They mowed the golf course today for the first time this season so it's feeling more like Spring.  Considering we've had some unexpected snow in the past couple weeks, any less cold weather feels great.  

B. attended an air show in Lakeland, FL last week - he had a wonderful time.  Great week off work.  He was invited to fly with a United pilot who owns his own plane.  B. told J. he learned a ton from the guy.  Sounds like a super fun trip.

H. has been filling in for some workers on vacation or out sick for a landscape company.  It's hard work but he's enjoying it.  Grateful to be out and about vs. home alone all week.  He's living with amazing people but they both work.  

Days just blend together and time goes by so quickly.  It's really a wonderful time in life - slower pace, plenty of sleep.  We hang out or go where we want when we want.  It's lovely.

March

I'm starting to think maybe I will just do a monthly post and call it what it is - whatever month we're in.  Here we are winding down March, 2024 already.

Yesterday was our 34th wedding anniversary - J. had his monthly golf lunch and since he's the 'grand pooba' of the group at the moment (that's not the real title but close) he had to attend - so we planned to head to Atlantis the day after our anniversary for a couple nights of fun.  

I've been pretty darn sick - today is Day 5 and while I wish I felt 100%, I don't.  I am better but relatively speaking I still feel pretty crummy.  J. is playing golf this morning - so I'm going to tidy up the house, get the cats set up for a couple days on their own, pack my stuff and head to Reno later this morning.  I've decided I can hang out in the room when I need to - watching TV or sleeping. 

We did a Covid test but it was negative.  Took us 3 tests to get enough of the 'testing fluid' - guess over time it evaporates even though it's in a twist off plastic 'tube' - so not Covid.  I will survive.  And we will have fun at Atlantis to celebrate our special day no matter what.  J. will join me later this afternoon.  

We had some snow on Sunday - thankfully, the ground was warmed up so the snow didn't stick to the ground much.  Crazy Nevada weather.  

Guess that's it for now.  I am going to give the kitchen a quick mop.  I cancelled our leaning lady on Friday when I realized I was sick.  I felt bad cancelling on her but as sick as I've been, it was the right call.  She lives with her daughter and her 18 month old grandson and I didn't want her to be exposed to something. 

Holy Cow! SO MUCH SNOW!

J. gently kept reminding me the weather forecast was looking not great in terms of getting to Reno.  My freeplay days at Atlantis are one-time Sunday, Monday or Tuesday.  

Snow has been falling since night time - it hasn't stopped.  Not once.  The flakes were small at the start but still enough to cover the ground and pretty much everything.  After an all day snow fall, it's unbelievable how much snow we have on the ground.  It's wet - so even though there's a bit of wind, the snow is sticking where it falls. Flakes are much bigger now and are falling at a brisk pace.  The storm is exactly as forecasted - BIG.  We are following recommended guidance and just staying home.  May be the first time in years I've missed out on Atlantis weekly free play but oh well. 

Our neighbor T. used his snow blower to clear our driveway this morning - bless his heart it was for nothing because so much has fallen, there's no evidence of the driveway ever being clear today.  But it was.  He's a really kind human and we are blessed with such wonderful neighbors.  

Super glad we did a good stock up shopping trip because we are well stocked.  Have plenty of food and while I'm craving tacos (when am I not craving tacos lately - and I have what we need to make tacos if wanted to) - we're going to do bake potatoes with cheese and bacon on them - and likely some leftovers to round out the meal.  

I turned on the heatilator because the cats looked so miserable I just had to do something to get some warmth their way.  I have a small space heater in the study - central heat works great but the office 'zone' heats J.'s master suite, the guest bedroom and bathroom and the office - and that's a lot of space to heat when no one is in those rooms.  Can't wait until I'm feeling toasty - my feet feel like ice blocks at the end of my legs - but it will warm eventually. 

Still Winter

Punxsutawney Phil has predicted an early Spring!  Excitement is in the air!  Will we be able to start working in the garden again soon? 

It's blustery cold today with some light snow flurries now and then.  We've been busy today - J. trekked to Costco to pick up prescriptions and a few grocery items and then went to Walmart to pick up a super large grocery stock-up order.  The local Carson casino I play out gave me my twice a year 'player perks' so we had $200 in a gift card to use - paid for a big stock up which we needed.  I'll need to commit some time to a pantry tidy this coming week and that's perfectly fine.  I'm starting to enjoy piddling around the house.  Then we trekked to the local casino for a wee bit of play and stopped at Smith's to get the few things we either forgot in our pickup order or items they were out of.  We (of course) added 4 items to our cart that weren't even remotely on our list - but that's what happens when you shop.  You see things that are a good deal and think 'well, let's get them'.  Diet Cherry Cream Dr. Pepper and three bottles of salad dressing.  We'll use the dressings no problem - and the Diet DP's were a splurge (because neither of us should really drink them) but it will be a nice treat once in a while.

A friend in Modesto, CA posted her daughter was selling Girl Scout cookies so I purchased 8 boxes - 4 Thin Mints, 2 Lemon and 2 Caramel Delights.  We checked the delivery status online and they were confirmed delivered on 1/29.  We did not have them, however.  Waited another day.  Still no cookies.  The record said they were delivered to a 'locker' on the 29th - but no key was in our locker to unlock any package locker on our mailbox tower down the street.  Wednesday, J. trekked to the post office and filed a report of a missing package.  The postal worker said they would check with the carrier.  Viola!  Key in our box yesterday so WE HAVE COOKIES!!   Woot woot!  Appreciated being able to order and have them delivered - even with the glitch.  We missed Thin Mints last year - we pretty much missed the GS Cookie event entirely last year and I didn't want to miss out this year, too.  I love how Facebook provides and reaffirms connection with people near and far.  

Tomorrow and Sunday will be Reno days - Tamarack Casino on Saturday and Atlantis on Sunday.  It's our weekly fun and we both look forward to it.  Next weekend we are attending the annual Big Bowl Bash event - we don't plan to play that day - no freeplay that day - so we'll enjoy the amazing 'tailgate party' food and then head home to watch the rest of the game.  Then back Monday or Tuesday for our weekly freeplay - yes, it's sort of cheap for Atlantis to not allow weekly free play on Game Day but oh well.  

J.'s been able to play some golf this Winter which is nice for him and his friends.  Weather has been fairly mild.  California is having a huge 'atmospheric river' this weekend and we are having a fair amount of rain and wind this weekend as well.

OH - I'm not sure I mentioned - we had a HUGE winds mid-January - our neighbors across the street lost shingles on their roof.  We thought we were fine - but later that week, our neighbor T. texted J. to say 'hey, meet me outside' - and sure enough, there was a section of the roof above my room with missing shingles.  We phoned our builder and he recommended a roofing company - they were pretty booked up during the M-F week but he offered to work on Saturday.  We weren't home - but the repair was done while we were gone - and thankfully, you can't tell at all where the replacement shingles were.  Beautiful job.  $300 which included a 2 hour labor minimum.  We were grateful to have it taken care of.  The shingles have a guarantee to not come loose up even with winds up to 100MPH - so we could file a warranty claim for the cost of the replacement shingles.  It seems like a waste of time given the repair bill was mostly labor.  

I'm off to get a flat bread pizza in the oven for dinner - J. doesn't like to eat this early so he'll cook his later.  It's nice to have plenty of food that sounds good to me - it's so hard for me to eat lately - I only want what I'm craving and my cravings change constantly. 

 

 

Refrigerator Jenga

So far this month, we're doing a good job of consuming the food we bring home from our casino treks.  One place is giving me $75 (one time a week) and J. gets $5-15 (also one time a week).  We often 'eat-in' for lunch on Saturday and then bring takeout home for dinner and breakfast the next day - but sometimes, we just want to get home so we order even more takeout.  Our refrigerator(s) are a complex maze of styrofoam, water-proofed cardboard and assorted other boxes.  This week we even ended up having a ceramic ramekin to hold some creme brulee we ordered on Sunday.  We have it in the dishwasher and will return it to the restaurant on Sunday.  

I just did a quick clean out of the fridge - mostly leftovers of things we cooked and then forgot about.  My appetite is a bit off at times - I want what I'm craving and very often, what one of us cooks for dinner is not what I'm hungry for.  I'm working on it.  Food is such a huge expense in anyone's budget - it's worth working hard on eating what we have and not wasting food.  

It's been snowing pretty much the entire day - flakes falling with wind making them have all sorts of weird angles - sideways snow is a real thing.  The temps today are higher - low 40's - so the ground isn't cold enough for the flakes to stick.  The school district has cancelled all after school programs today and has a two hour delayed start tomorrow - smart because it will be in the 10 degree range in the night and the wet roads are going to be icy.  We haven't left the house today so it's possible the city streets are brined in preparation - but we won't know that until tomorrow.  We will venture out briefly for a free play trip to the casino we visit here in Carson along with a grocery stop for a few things.  

I dug around my closet and found a couple pairs of boots - and wearing them is helping to keep my feet a wee bit warmer.  Once I get cold feet, I'm pretty much freezing so attempting to keep them warm has become a priority.  

My drifting off to sleep mode lately is to think of all the things I plan to accomplish the next day - but the actual day is full of procrastination.  Big time.  I rationalize it's OK - no pressure of timelines in a retired life.  But...I hope to do better.   

H. and I had a frank conversation this morning - I've felt troubled about things lately and the more we don't talk about it, the harder it gets.  There are all sorts of 'issues' at any given moment but his situation is what it is.  He's doing fine.  The talk helped us both so yay for that.  

I'm going to start a project in the study which will consume my time for a good long while.  I doubt I'll get it 'done' but often for me, starting is the hardest part.  Once I take the step to get going on something, I will usually find more momentum than I know what to do with - and that's not a bad thing. 

Finally Weather!

Our regular Saturday trek to Reno for time at a casino we started visiting a few months ago turned into a whirlwind drive home.  When we left, there were big winds and snow - but the snow was lightly falling and so dry it just blew across the streets.  We figured we'd head to Reno and head home reasonably early and we'd be fine.

The play was fun and we ordered our free food to take home - at least 5-7 meals worth of food.  Love comps.  I sat down next to a lady playing and her boyfriend kept coming over to say 'we need to go.  Weather isn't looking great'.  I cashed out and found J. and said 'sounds like we should head home'.  

Not a minute too soon.  It was a white knuckle drive the entire way - J. was driving (I drive to Reno and he drives home).  We decided to avoid the freeway which had us on a back road with a fair amount of other traffic.  Took it slow (very) and steady in what was fast becoming a major storm.  There were a couple brief white-out moments but it would quickly return to just heavy snow.  

We got home at just the right time because about 10 minutes later, we were getting updates from a Carson City website reporting multiple car accidents on the stretch of freeway nearest to our exit for home into Carson. Lots of ice.

Today would be our regular day of brunch and a little play at Atlantis but there are chains required on the freeway between us and Carson - the low valley by Washoe lake which is notorious for being incredibly icy incredibly fast - so we're staying put.  

I just had to pull on a down jacket as I sit in the office 'cuz it's cold.  Almost noon and 35 degrees.  

The snow is very beautiful - about 4 inches and with these super low temps (it was 10 degrees when I got up) it will take a long time for it to melt.  It's super glittery with the sun being out today and it's really beautiful, as it always is.  

We love living here.