I used to commute over an hour and arrive home frazzled and rushed. I thought that eliminating the commute would ease that frazzled/rushed feeling....and it does. But, I still arrive home each and every evening to the same dreaded question asked by a starving teenager (or two) - Mom, what's for dinner?
As part of my 'simplify our lives' efforts, I have been doing some serious analysis on our monthly expenses. If you don't have some kind of household financial software - like MS Money (which is what we use), get one. It will revolutionize your finances - I promise. I have really started to 'drill down' to the details of how we're spending our money. And my most recent revelation is the amount we are spending to eat out. We will go out almost every weekend for one meal - and that's fine. And I have dinner over the hill with my college friends now and then- and there's no way I'm giving that up. Occasional lunches with work friends - I still take my weekly $40 'allowance' and end up rarely spending more than $10. I'm so close to home that if I need food and don't have any available, I just drive home - so I don't eat out much for 'work' lately. But I have realized that since I took this job - the job that's closer to home and should seemingly give me more time to cook each evening - we are actually eating out more than we did before when I was commuting.
I attribute this to a couple things: I'm weak. The kids ask, in their best 'sweet' 'please, oh please mom' and I give in. They have both had me wrapped around their little fingers since the day they were born, so that shouldn't come as any surprise. Taco Bell is quick and nearby. Subway, too. Baja Fresh, etc. not too much further. It's quick, easy and the issue of 'what's for dinner' is resolved and done - picked up, served and cleaned up - in record time. And, I just don't 'like' having to get dinner on the table - night after night, day after day. Cooking is the last thing I want to do when I get home. I need some 'unwind' time - time that I don't have with two hungry young men beckoning for dinner. And don't think 'oh, they just need a snack'. They snack. They eat full meals for snacks. 4+ corn dogs as a 'snack' is not uncommon. They eat sandwiches, corn dogs, snacks - chips, fruit, etc. - and they are still completely famished when I get home.
But, this past weekend, I planned menus again (something I used to do every week) and we are sticking to 'The Plan'. Tonight, we had leftovers. The cries of protest were probably heard across the world - but they ate it. And I felt good - we ate a perfectly acceptable meal that was made up of other perfectly good meals that we hadn't quite finished. And tomorrow, we will have sweet and sour chicken with rice. The next night, talapia, steamed veggies and salad.
I told the kids that while going out was easy and quick and enjoyable, it was expensive - and when I told them the average amount per month we've been spending - an amount so shockingly huge I cannot bring myself to type it into this blog entry - they understood. Completely. We will still grab Taco Bell occasionally on nights when there are school events that require synchronizing of watches to ensure we all get where we need to be. But we're going to eat at home more. Weekday meals will be quick - easy things I know they like and know I can get on the table in 20 minutes or less. And weekends, I'll cook Sunday dinner which will usually have enough leftovers to get us through Mondays.
I will enter the house each evening and head to the kitchen - dinner will be my first priority. Getting them fed and crossing that off the 'evening home to-do list' is a good start to the evening. They will happily head upstairs to do homework, etc. and then AND only then, I can relax for a bit.
For just a few minutes, before I start cleaning up the kitchen.
Monday, April 30, 2007
I spent my Monday morning as I have pretty much every Monday morning since starting the new job - attempting to appease the MS Outlook Czar(s) who require me to keep my email files to a certain limit.
Failure to adhere to their standards results in all of my 'sent' emails failing to 'send'. And all my incoming emails being bounced back to the sender with a note stating that the 'recipient has exceeded their mailbox limit'. A productive first hour spent sending various emails to followup or initiate actions remained in my 'Out' box for an hour - which I didn't realize until I noticed the 'count' in my 'out' file wasn't changing. Ever.
I move things to folders as quickly as I can. I archive things that are over 90 days old. But no matter how hard I try, I can't keep up. It's even worse on weekends because when I log in through the Internet access, I can't move things into my 'private' folders. So time on weekends that would easily be available to do some filing/sorting/culling isn't utilized because I can't get to my private folders. The only alternative (well, I could go into the office on the weekend - and it's certainly do-able since my office is 4 minutes away but no, I'm not going to do that) is to use a flash drive that has my folders on it and move the items from my mailbox onto the drive - and then back into the folders on my work PC when I get there. Seems as much work as what I'm doing which is spending a chunk of every Monday (at least) moving emails. Next step is to write our county office and plead for additional space. I hear they are pretty stingy about it - it's how they limit folks from eating up server/system space because they're too lazy to move their emails into folders.
As I learned so many things from my old boss, I have now created a file called 'email clean up' - I just move a mass transfer of emails into that folder and there they sit.
So if I look for an email I swear I've seen and can't find, I now have to look in yet another folder to try to find it. Makes me crazy. CRAZY.
Failure to adhere to their standards results in all of my 'sent' emails failing to 'send'. And all my incoming emails being bounced back to the sender with a note stating that the 'recipient has exceeded their mailbox limit'. A productive first hour spent sending various emails to followup or initiate actions remained in my 'Out' box for an hour - which I didn't realize until I noticed the 'count' in my 'out' file wasn't changing. Ever.
I move things to folders as quickly as I can. I archive things that are over 90 days old. But no matter how hard I try, I can't keep up. It's even worse on weekends because when I log in through the Internet access, I can't move things into my 'private' folders. So time on weekends that would easily be available to do some filing/sorting/culling isn't utilized because I can't get to my private folders. The only alternative (well, I could go into the office on the weekend - and it's certainly do-able since my office is 4 minutes away but no, I'm not going to do that) is to use a flash drive that has my folders on it and move the items from my mailbox onto the drive - and then back into the folders on my work PC when I get there. Seems as much work as what I'm doing which is spending a chunk of every Monday (at least) moving emails. Next step is to write our county office and plead for additional space. I hear they are pretty stingy about it - it's how they limit folks from eating up server/system space because they're too lazy to move their emails into folders.
As I learned so many things from my old boss, I have now created a file called 'email clean up' - I just move a mass transfer of emails into that folder and there they sit.
So if I look for an email I swear I've seen and can't find, I now have to look in yet another folder to try to find it. Makes me crazy. CRAZY.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Witness
In previous posts, I have talked about how I am 'quietly faithful'. My faith is something very personal and not something I share with the world on a regular basis.
There is a change happening in my soul that is a surprise to me. And before I write this post, I want to reassure all who read this and know me: don't worry. I'm not going to show up on my bike with pamphlets and my Bible and try to 'convert' you. That's not me. Never has been, never will.
But more and more, lately, the change in my heart is happening slowly. My faith is starting to show - and I'm letting it. I listen to KLOVE (Christian) music in my car and in my office. When I drove for a meeting at our county office of education and for lunch, I didn't change the station. When co-workers asked 'is this a Christian station?', I said 'yes it is'. I didn't offer to switch and I let the music play. I listen to KLOVE online in my office all the time and I don't turn it down or off when people come in my office.
It's a small change, admittedly. It's not going to change any one's life, but then again, I don't know that. Maybe seeing me acknowledging my belief in Jesus and God will prompt someone else to acknowledge theirs?
Pastor K. calls our church 'Mission Central'. He wants us to spread The Word. There was a time in my life - not too long ago, actually - when this 'request' would be the thing that drove me from a church. Proselytizing is not something I'm comfortable with. But I feel my faith more deeply than ever before. I am learning so much about my faith - about God and Jesus. Things that you'd think as a life long Christian I would have gotten before. But I didn't. And now, I am.
J. played bass in church this morning and had a great time. He signed up for another Sunday in May and then he and B. will play in June. It was fun to sit a bit closer to the front of the church (so J. could sit with us when he wasn't playing) and we enjoyed the visiting pastor. Pastor K. was in Tahoe with the 8th grade confirmation class - including H. They returned around 3 this afternoon. H. said they had a great time though he isn't all that talkative about the weekend and apparently didn't get a lot of sleep. He will head to bed early this evening and try to 'catch up' a bit before Monday AM. His Confirmation is only a few weeks away, followed by his 8th grade graduation a few weeks after that. May will be a busy month.
B. and his friend C. played golf today - got a bit sunburned. It's nice to have two really nice young men (I almost typed 'boys' but they aren't boys anymore, really) decide to spend the afternoon together playing golf. They had a great time and I'm glad there's a course nearby that is very inexpensive. It will be the perfect course for me to learn on someday - it's about 15 minutes away and less than $20/round, including a cart.
That's it for now. Stay faithful and thankful for the blessings God gives us everyday.
There is a change happening in my soul that is a surprise to me. And before I write this post, I want to reassure all who read this and know me: don't worry. I'm not going to show up on my bike with pamphlets and my Bible and try to 'convert' you. That's not me. Never has been, never will.
But more and more, lately, the change in my heart is happening slowly. My faith is starting to show - and I'm letting it. I listen to KLOVE (Christian) music in my car and in my office. When I drove for a meeting at our county office of education and for lunch, I didn't change the station. When co-workers asked 'is this a Christian station?', I said 'yes it is'. I didn't offer to switch and I let the music play. I listen to KLOVE online in my office all the time and I don't turn it down or off when people come in my office.
It's a small change, admittedly. It's not going to change any one's life, but then again, I don't know that. Maybe seeing me acknowledging my belief in Jesus and God will prompt someone else to acknowledge theirs?
Pastor K. calls our church 'Mission Central'. He wants us to spread The Word. There was a time in my life - not too long ago, actually - when this 'request' would be the thing that drove me from a church. Proselytizing is not something I'm comfortable with. But I feel my faith more deeply than ever before. I am learning so much about my faith - about God and Jesus. Things that you'd think as a life long Christian I would have gotten before. But I didn't. And now, I am.
J. played bass in church this morning and had a great time. He signed up for another Sunday in May and then he and B. will play in June. It was fun to sit a bit closer to the front of the church (so J. could sit with us when he wasn't playing) and we enjoyed the visiting pastor. Pastor K. was in Tahoe with the 8th grade confirmation class - including H. They returned around 3 this afternoon. H. said they had a great time though he isn't all that talkative about the weekend and apparently didn't get a lot of sleep. He will head to bed early this evening and try to 'catch up' a bit before Monday AM. His Confirmation is only a few weeks away, followed by his 8th grade graduation a few weeks after that. May will be a busy month.
B. and his friend C. played golf today - got a bit sunburned. It's nice to have two really nice young men (I almost typed 'boys' but they aren't boys anymore, really) decide to spend the afternoon together playing golf. They had a great time and I'm glad there's a course nearby that is very inexpensive. It will be the perfect course for me to learn on someday - it's about 15 minutes away and less than $20/round, including a cart.
That's it for now. Stay faithful and thankful for the blessings God gives us everyday.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Popsicles
It's a beautiful Friday. It is HOT! YEAH. The pool cover that we put on three weeks ago to warm the pool up is doing it's job. It did it's job 3 weeks ago also, but then the weather turned freakishly cold again and we had to start 'over'. We never took the cover off - just let it sit. And now the pool is 78 degrees. The kids will definitely swim this weekend. I'll have to wait for it to hit 80 or 82 but if it stays this hot, I just might jump in.
I arrived home to see the ice cream man turning the corner towards our house. I just couldn't resist. I ran in and got H. - B. was at a drum line practice - and treated him and I (and J. and B.) to a treat from the van. Nothing like Popsicles from the ice cream man on the first really warm day in awhile - and it's a FRIDAY. Two glorious days of NO WORK. Except the tons of work I brought home - but hey, I'll do it at home!! Possibly by the pool, even. With a refreshing beverage and another Popsicle. So it won't even feel like work.
H. is on his Confirmation retreat in Tahoe until Sunday afternoon. He was less than thrilled about going but he went - it's not optional. So it's just me and B. and J. until Sunday afternoon.
I don't usually splurge on things from the IC man. I get after the kids for spending $ on a Popsicle when we could get an entire box for that amount. They always say 'it's our money' - which it is. But today, running into the house to get H. to come back out with me and help me flag the van down was just what I needed to start the weekend. We got a Bomb pop (for me and J.), a Snowy Peak (H.), and a banana fudge pop (B.). YUMMY.
We're off to a great start and I'm so looking forward to sleeping in, working around the house, time by the pool and hanging out with my family.
I hope it is as great of a weekend as it feels like this evening.
I arrived home to see the ice cream man turning the corner towards our house. I just couldn't resist. I ran in and got H. - B. was at a drum line practice - and treated him and I (and J. and B.) to a treat from the van. Nothing like Popsicles from the ice cream man on the first really warm day in awhile - and it's a FRIDAY. Two glorious days of NO WORK. Except the tons of work I brought home - but hey, I'll do it at home!! Possibly by the pool, even. With a refreshing beverage and another Popsicle. So it won't even feel like work.
H. is on his Confirmation retreat in Tahoe until Sunday afternoon. He was less than thrilled about going but he went - it's not optional. So it's just me and B. and J. until Sunday afternoon.
I don't usually splurge on things from the IC man. I get after the kids for spending $ on a Popsicle when we could get an entire box for that amount. They always say 'it's our money' - which it is. But today, running into the house to get H. to come back out with me and help me flag the van down was just what I needed to start the weekend. We got a Bomb pop (for me and J.), a Snowy Peak (H.), and a banana fudge pop (B.). YUMMY.
We're off to a great start and I'm so looking forward to sleeping in, working around the house, time by the pool and hanging out with my family.
I hope it is as great of a weekend as it feels like this evening.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Shorts
We lived in Hayward for the first 10 years of our marriage. The penthouse condo we bought when B. was 9 months old was immediately worth far less than we paid for it - the builder filed bankruptcy within a month of our closing on the unit. It was 3 bedrooms, 2 baths - 2300 square feet. Had a beautiful 'bay' view. But we had two babies - boys. And living in that condo was like a long, slow torture session. It was OK - but it never felt like home to me. We painted it and bought new furniture. It was still just 'the condo'. Never home. I hated that place. Really hated it.
Finally, the market turned. And my mother died. And the inheritance I received from her was what made bailing out of the condo possible. We actually ended up not 'needing' the inheritance to get into the house - our condo sold in only 3 days for more than we were asking. It was a unique place and I had a feeling it would sell quickly. It did. We were lucky - and I always felt my mom had a hand in how it all just came together. The money I received from her - not a fortune but just enough - was the cushion we needed to just take a leap of faith and sell the condo for whatever we could get for it and move on.
We found this house on Labor Day Weekend of 2000. We had looked and looked and had decided Tracy was where we would end up - we were priced out of new homes anywhere further West, even with the help from my mom's money. And Tracy felt like home. From the very beginning. J. and I looked at the model and the salesperson said 'there's only 3 lots with that model available so don't wait too long'. There were lots of people looking that day - so I went to the car, got the checkbook out of the glove compartment and wrote a check for the deposit. Right then. J. said 'don't you think we should keep looking'? I said 'No. This is it. This is where we're supposed to be. They accept contingent offers (no other builder in Tracy was doing that and we hadn't even listed our condo yet) and I'm done looking. The kids and I are moving to Tracy and I hope you'll be joining us'. And I signed the check and gave it to the lady. J. was 'stunned' - pleasantly, I think. We could have kept looking - there was another new development right in the same area. But I honestly felt like we were led to this place - to this home. I love it so much.
In Hayward, we were close to the Bay. Most mornings were foggy and most days, thankfully, the fog would burn off and the sun would shine. But it was often pretty 'chilly' - especially on the balcony of a penthouse condo. I never wore shorts in Hayward - ever. There were very few hot days and those we had, we dealt with by heading to the pool or turning the A/C on. I had a pretty big 'patio' garden - wine barrel pots with lots of pretty colors. I love to garden - even there.
One of my first Spring purchases when we moved to Tracy was a pair of flowered bike shorts. They are like bike shorts in cut and style but they are 'loose' fitting. I found them at WalMart - a store that I honestly rarely ever shop in. But my quest for shorts that first Spring led me to WM where I found my favorite shorts. I loved how it was so warm (hot) here that shorts were the only thing to wear most summer weekends. Especially before we put the pool in.
This is their 7th Spring in this house. They are still my favorite shorts to wear - they're comfortable and pretty and perfect for bumming around the house or working in the garden. I love those shorts. Mainly because they remind me of that first incredibly happy Spring in this house. Which has been followed by so many other great seasons and memories.
We couldn't afford this house if we were buying it now. At today's interest rates and the market price for this size house, we couldn't afford it. And while I've been thinking and honestly 'looking' at simplifying our life, moving to a smaller home won't be in that equation for now. A smaller home doesn't reduce our mortgage payment - we'd be paying the same amount out each month for half the house. Not worth it. We'll stay put for now. When it's just me and J. someday, we'll move to a smaller home. Possibly in another state and/or country.
But I'll bring the shorts with me. I plan to wear them until I'm too old to garden or putter around my house anymore. They are my 'happy shorts'. More memories in those faded, floral shorts than anything else I own. When Spring arrives each year and I can pull those shorts on again to start another season of planting and working in the yard and spending time outside with the kids and the dogs and J., it's the start of another Spring in this amazing home. With everything and everyone I love.
Finally, the market turned. And my mother died. And the inheritance I received from her was what made bailing out of the condo possible. We actually ended up not 'needing' the inheritance to get into the house - our condo sold in only 3 days for more than we were asking. It was a unique place and I had a feeling it would sell quickly. It did. We were lucky - and I always felt my mom had a hand in how it all just came together. The money I received from her - not a fortune but just enough - was the cushion we needed to just take a leap of faith and sell the condo for whatever we could get for it and move on.
We found this house on Labor Day Weekend of 2000. We had looked and looked and had decided Tracy was where we would end up - we were priced out of new homes anywhere further West, even with the help from my mom's money. And Tracy felt like home. From the very beginning. J. and I looked at the model and the salesperson said 'there's only 3 lots with that model available so don't wait too long'. There were lots of people looking that day - so I went to the car, got the checkbook out of the glove compartment and wrote a check for the deposit. Right then. J. said 'don't you think we should keep looking'? I said 'No. This is it. This is where we're supposed to be. They accept contingent offers (no other builder in Tracy was doing that and we hadn't even listed our condo yet) and I'm done looking. The kids and I are moving to Tracy and I hope you'll be joining us'. And I signed the check and gave it to the lady. J. was 'stunned' - pleasantly, I think. We could have kept looking - there was another new development right in the same area. But I honestly felt like we were led to this place - to this home. I love it so much.
In Hayward, we were close to the Bay. Most mornings were foggy and most days, thankfully, the fog would burn off and the sun would shine. But it was often pretty 'chilly' - especially on the balcony of a penthouse condo. I never wore shorts in Hayward - ever. There were very few hot days and those we had, we dealt with by heading to the pool or turning the A/C on. I had a pretty big 'patio' garden - wine barrel pots with lots of pretty colors. I love to garden - even there.
One of my first Spring purchases when we moved to Tracy was a pair of flowered bike shorts. They are like bike shorts in cut and style but they are 'loose' fitting. I found them at WalMart - a store that I honestly rarely ever shop in. But my quest for shorts that first Spring led me to WM where I found my favorite shorts. I loved how it was so warm (hot) here that shorts were the only thing to wear most summer weekends. Especially before we put the pool in.
This is their 7th Spring in this house. They are still my favorite shorts to wear - they're comfortable and pretty and perfect for bumming around the house or working in the garden. I love those shorts. Mainly because they remind me of that first incredibly happy Spring in this house. Which has been followed by so many other great seasons and memories.
We couldn't afford this house if we were buying it now. At today's interest rates and the market price for this size house, we couldn't afford it. And while I've been thinking and honestly 'looking' at simplifying our life, moving to a smaller home won't be in that equation for now. A smaller home doesn't reduce our mortgage payment - we'd be paying the same amount out each month for half the house. Not worth it. We'll stay put for now. When it's just me and J. someday, we'll move to a smaller home. Possibly in another state and/or country.
But I'll bring the shorts with me. I plan to wear them until I'm too old to garden or putter around my house anymore. They are my 'happy shorts'. More memories in those faded, floral shorts than anything else I own. When Spring arrives each year and I can pull those shorts on again to start another season of planting and working in the yard and spending time outside with the kids and the dogs and J., it's the start of another Spring in this amazing home. With everything and everyone I love.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Media
So, I am THRILLED to hear that Rosie is leaving The View. Which I never watched much before she joined the show and would NEVER watch since. She's a wacko, plain and simple. I couldn't believe ABC hired her to be on that show and I can't believe she lasted as long as she did. To hear that the 'issue' was ABC wanted to sign her for THREE years and she only wanted one - oh my gosh. I can't believe that. Is ABC insane? She's a nut job. I used to love her talk show but she has just deteriorated into a ranting, raving shell of a person. Glad she's moving on and hope her 'career' is over.
AND, while I'm carrying on about Rosie, I'll also add that Alec Baldwin is an incredible jerk. Have I lost my temper with my kids? Absolutely. Have I said things to them in anger that I regret? Of course. Do my 'moments' with them last for minutes and get more and more vile as time goes by? No. THIS is why Kim left him. THIS is WHO HE IS. A bullying, cruel buffoon who fathered a child. Biology made him a dad. But there isn't anything about him that is a decent parent. I hope his career self-implodes and we never hear from him again. And if Kim's 'side' did leak the tape - good job. Time for America to hear what you have been dealing with for YEARS. The man is in serious need of counseling and anger management. And he should be kept away from having any contact with his daughter - ever. I doubt she wants to be anywhere near him and it serves him right. She is old enough to decide who she does and doesn't want to talk to. Leave her alone. You big jerk.
AND, while I'm carrying on about Rosie, I'll also add that Alec Baldwin is an incredible jerk. Have I lost my temper with my kids? Absolutely. Have I said things to them in anger that I regret? Of course. Do my 'moments' with them last for minutes and get more and more vile as time goes by? No. THIS is why Kim left him. THIS is WHO HE IS. A bullying, cruel buffoon who fathered a child. Biology made him a dad. But there isn't anything about him that is a decent parent. I hope his career self-implodes and we never hear from him again. And if Kim's 'side' did leak the tape - good job. Time for America to hear what you have been dealing with for YEARS. The man is in serious need of counseling and anger management. And he should be kept away from having any contact with his daughter - ever. I doubt she wants to be anywhere near him and it serves him right. She is old enough to decide who she does and doesn't want to talk to. Leave her alone. You big jerk.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Mugs
No secret to anyone reading this blog that I enjoy Starbucks. I have 'changed' my preferences from the frothy, fat & sugar filled frappucinos or lattes to the more 'lean', less expensive black iced teas.
I do, however, own and love a selection of mugs that are from Starbucks - and particularly gravitate towards their 'Spring' selection - just in time for Mother's Day, they always have pretty, large floral pastel mugs that I just love. I get one or two every year and little by little, Starbucks mugs are replacing the variety assortment we have owned before. Souvenir items or mugs from former (or current) employers are being replaced with pretty Starbucks mugs. They make weekday mornings a treat - open the cupboard, select today's pretty mug and start the day with happy thoughts and lots of coffee and vanilla soy milk. Pretty mugs make me happy - a small thing but it makes my day 'better'.
Today, we had to take Chloe back to the groomer - we took both dogs yesterday where they spent the afternoon - but the 'new' groomer forgot to trim Chloe, so we had to take her back. It was an excuse for J. and I to spend some time - just the two of us. We went to Linens and Things to get a new bath mat and a new shower 'storage shelf'. We went to Starbucks and had some iced tea. I picked out a new pretty mug - SIXTEEN ounces!!! It's GREAT. We also went to the outlet mall and each got a couple new 'short sleeved' shirts. We hardly EVER get to shop alone. And sitting in Starbucks people watching for a bit was fun.
The return trip to the groomer was already paid for the day before. The return trip accouterments cost a bit more. But it was a nice afternoon with my best friend. Those don't happen too often lately. But they will in retirement and we're only eight years away!!
I do, however, own and love a selection of mugs that are from Starbucks - and particularly gravitate towards their 'Spring' selection - just in time for Mother's Day, they always have pretty, large floral pastel mugs that I just love. I get one or two every year and little by little, Starbucks mugs are replacing the variety assortment we have owned before. Souvenir items or mugs from former (or current) employers are being replaced with pretty Starbucks mugs. They make weekday mornings a treat - open the cupboard, select today's pretty mug and start the day with happy thoughts and lots of coffee and vanilla soy milk. Pretty mugs make me happy - a small thing but it makes my day 'better'.
Today, we had to take Chloe back to the groomer - we took both dogs yesterday where they spent the afternoon - but the 'new' groomer forgot to trim Chloe, so we had to take her back. It was an excuse for J. and I to spend some time - just the two of us. We went to Linens and Things to get a new bath mat and a new shower 'storage shelf'. We went to Starbucks and had some iced tea. I picked out a new pretty mug - SIXTEEN ounces!!! It's GREAT. We also went to the outlet mall and each got a couple new 'short sleeved' shirts. We hardly EVER get to shop alone. And sitting in Starbucks people watching for a bit was fun.
The return trip to the groomer was already paid for the day before. The return trip accouterments cost a bit more. But it was a nice afternoon with my best friend. Those don't happen too often lately. But they will in retirement and we're only eight years away!!
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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)...
