Last Day Of Vacation

And I haven't done anything. . .accept have FUN. Oh well, I think I'm just expecting to much of myself. I am human after all. It's nice to have more then one whole day off a week.I have gone to Carpentria twice, and seen The Time Traveler's Wife. Carpentria is great. So beautiful. We walked around and looked at houses, and took a tour of the salt marsh, at least part of it. I learned so many new things about plants! There were two plants that specialized in living with salt. The first, oak something separated the salt out, and deposited it on the leafs. The other , the pickle bush shoved the salt upwards into fat twig things and when there was enough, the red tip filled with salt just snaps off. Also there was a plant, I can not remember these names, that a wasp used for reproduction. It would lay a single egg on the underside of the leaf, and the leaf would form a ruby red "gall" around it , like a clam forming a pearl around a bit of grit, that if I hadn't been informed would have thought was some kind of weird berry.

There was one house,a two story job, that was just like an English thatched cottage, accept of course, no thatching. It was wider at the base then at the top, and had the deep set windows. If I ever won the lottery, I would build something like that. Carpentria must be a very safe place to live. There is no sign of tagging that I could see. A lot of house had stuff out that was very stealable, but apparently it's all a good neighborhood. One house, right on the beach, had stained glass lawn lights. BF's right, if we won the lottery, we would live in this area.

The flea market was fun, although it seemed to have mostly commercial dealers. But not all, I bought a cobalt vase for a dollar from a guy who was selling his own stuff. He said the vase had come from Ecuador.I talked BF into buying a antique portable typewriter. It came in a case. The typewriter was around a foot wide, and it was 1940's or before.She has always had an interest in this, and I though she should start getting on with that collection.

I spent more money on food than on buying stuff. Less then 12 dollars on stuff. I spent at least 30 dollars on food there. Strange, would have thought the reverse. But, the food was very good, and I discovered bagels with cream cheese with cucumbers and tomatoes and lemon salt on them! I have duplicated this at home and have eaten nothing else since then.

Went to Carpentria

This is at the conservatory. The rocks in the background are where seals are suppose to hang out, but there weren't any there. I did see two little lizards and a wood pecker! I had a great time and I will expand on this tomorrow because I have to go to bed now because i have to be at BF's apartment at 6:30 AM, because we are going back!!! There's a flea market!

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OK, I'm back. Yesterday was wonderful,(and so was today)! We went to the Carpenteria Buffs. It's right on the beach, between a baseball diamond and some wharf for the oil industry. On the way in, I saw the lizards. The trail ran next to the railroad tracks for a while, lined with widow-maker trees (I can't spell it, they make cough drops out of it and Koala bears live on their leaves). The trail, strangely enough was littered with acorn shells. The tops had been eaten out in a pattern that made them look like buttons, ready to be sewn on a coat. Where was the oaks that all the shells came from?
The trail went down aways, then we crossed over the railroad tracks to the coastal trail. Oh it was fad! I could get right up to the edge and see the rocks below. We walked down aways to where I took the picture. Right beyond it was the wharf, which had a forklift noisily running back and forth, yet there was a sign telling us not to make loud noises for the seals' sake. We looked for a while but we had a time limitation, and we had to leave.

And then we went to Linden street. We went into an antique store, and I spotted some cobalt glass. They were labeled cordial glasses, but they were quite clearly eggcups, and I collect them and cobalt glass so I bought them. They were on sale, 25% off. I got four for $9.79. I'm quite pleased about that.

Then we went and had lunch at a place that had the best food. They baked their own bread and made their pies from scratch. I had a sub, really great and banana cream pie. But, when we left, we saw a poster about a flea market the next day. We made plans to come back. We then did one of BF and I's favorite activities. We walked around and looked at houses. We found a duplex that was selling for $750,000. The rent was guaranteed to be $3,100.00 a month. BF would like to live around there if she won the lottery. I think I would join her. Then we had to leave in order to miss the rush hour traffic.

Finally Starting to clean

I have started on the west end of the living room. This is where BS' boxes are, as well as a big wheeled container full of appliances I don't use, and shall have to take a look at, in order for me to donate to the Salvation Army. Also a captains chair (look, something else to sit on beside the computer chair!). I think at this point I can put them all on the futon frame to make more room and enable me to sweep and mop there. Tomorrow I will load all of BS' stuff into the car and take it over to her apartment. I will force her to sort it all out by the dumpster and then I will help her cart the remaining stuff up her stairs.

The next big sticking point is this computer desk. There is stuff piled all around the monitor. It will take hours to sort through the paper crap and get it cleared.. After that, the third sticking point is the TV stand. It is the lesser of the third in terms of mess. Will be easy.

One of the major problems I face is, where to store the stuff I am keeping. This stuff is like reams of note paper, storage disks, and yes, sewing notions. Some of this problem is a mental defect on my part. Even although I live here alone, I still think of this house as my parent's. I'm not allowed to mess with their stuff, I'm not suppose to use their storage places, even although they are long gone. I need to over come this. Really fast. Plus, this house was built IN the 1950's. It doesn't have that much storage space, the way it doesn't have very many plugs in the wall. There is the linen closet at the end of the hall way. Five shelves. The two shelf closet over the closet space meant for a ironing board. The bedroom closets (I don't even use mine! That's where the bad ghost is located) . The kitchen cabinets. The coat closet. That's it. The linen closet has been cleared for some time. I am going to use the bottom shelf's to store this stuff, for a while.

*****
I keep checking out Jilly's face. It's a little bit bigger then yesterday. I'm afraid it must be an abscess. I will go back to putting a hot wash cloth on it. I can't go to the vet. I only have $70 left in the bank. I have looked at the web for instruction. It says to (after it has burst) to wash it out and keep the wound open and keep on do that until the puss stops forming. Man, I sure hope Jilly lets me do this.

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Ah, Crap! The captain's chair is spit, just like every other wooden chair in this house.

Presenting The Ultra Cool CP35!

It's absolutely fad! I went to Home Depot and got the last cooler that was under $200.00.It wasn't even in the box! But it was $149.00. And the last one, and heck, I could always return it if it didn't work.It's a little smaller then a two drawer filing cabinet and weights around 25 pounds empty. It takes a little less then two buckets of water to fill it. I am STILL WAITING for those two buckets to run out! It's been over eight hours now. I feel very confident in filling it with water and setting the timer for eight hours and walking out the door. Of course I'm going to stick it on an end table at that point because I don't want Mr. Madison spraying it .Evil cat.

I looked at the manual on line and it says that when it runs out of water, the pump shuts down and an alarm sounds.It's also apparently suppose to come with some add on devices to drain the water out, but I didn't get them. Besides, it will be a while before I'm done with it for the year.I'll just let it run dry and then gently lift it and try to drain any water that is left out the fill door.

It's for cooling one room. It's doing that. I have it two foot away from me. I'm cool.Last night I took it into the bedroom with me. I forgot to turn on the pump, but remembered after a while. I got "cool" enough to use a blanket. So, it's really good. The only bad thing I can say about it, is that it is LOUD. I'm had to ram the volume on the TV up.

I also find it ironic that it uses one of the cardboard pads. I looked those up on the web. $13 to replace. I can handle that.

****

When I took it out to the car to bring home, there was a homeless person. I gave her a dollar. She grabbed me and kissed me on the neck. A wet one. Eewe.

On Vacation Again

The florist made me take my second week, since it's obvious that I'm never going to get into the county this year and have my gallbladder out. I still have to work the second job, so I only have three days off all together. The other four, I work 3 to 4 hour shifts at the pizza place.

I suppose to be cleaning the house, notice how I'm not doing that?

****

Little Miss Jilly, got bit by something, probably a dog. Puncture marks on the top of her head and inside her ear. I have been putting hot washcloths inside her ear. I keep getting stuff that looks like reddish-brown cardboard out. Then I put neo-sporin on the wounds. It has a pain reliever in it. She seems to be doing a lot better today, so I let her back out today, since she keeps begging. I going to go to the health food store for pets, (yes we have one!), and ask if they have anything for pain and for her stiffness.

****

The swamp cooler is broken.I noticed that (like how could I not?), that the cooler was putting out very little air and it was very humid in the house and it smelled bad. I went outside and looked at the pads. They were covered in black mold! Now I realized that this meant that I had the wrong sized belt on it and it was too loose to work right,and that's why mold was growing. Also, the mineral deposits on the pads weren't helping. Also, it's awfully late in the summer to get a new belt.

It all became moot after I put beach in the water and tried to turn the cooler back on. SIZZLE, SIZZLE, POP! The switch is broken. It's not the dial kind. It's like a light switch with rocker switches. I can't even find it on line. I'm screwed. Besides, even if I did get the belt and switch replaced, the pads still would be sour and moldy. I can't replace them. They are too expensive.

I have looked at Lowe's to see if they have the mobile swamp coolers left, but no. Will tried at Home Depot today. Otherwise, I and the cats will just have to suffer.

I Used The Chainsaw And Lived!

I sawed down the dead peach tree and the other peach tree which was 90% dead. I also sawed down the cherry tree which only had one living branch. It's truck was be speckled with curly spaghetti gout's of sap. It was clearly diseased. I took it out in the hopes that the other cherry tree wouldn't get whatever the diseased one had. I will plant rose bushes in the fall. Pink ones, coral ones. Not red ones, don't care for them.

Did experience some problems. The chainsaw popped apart and the chain came off ! I called up the brother-in-law for advice. What I wanted was for him to tell how they were put together, so I could get it going again. Instead, and impatiently he made plans to come over and finish the job. Surprised, I agreed. But I still wanted to do it my self. I went on line and found a online article on putting the chain on, and adjusting the chain. I realized I didn't have all the parts. I fished around in the saw dust and found the nut. Put the chain back on. Pulled the blade out and screwed it together. I am missing what every is between the tension screw and the nipple hole/ screw top looking thing. But it worked long enough to get the trees down and chopped up in long lenghts. Now the chain seems stretched and I can't get it to stay on. I tossed the wood over the side wall into the back yard.

I'm planning on ordering a fire pit from Walmark and burning it all in the autumn. The wood will have to chopped into way smaller lenghts to fit in the pit. But, I suspect, that Goosie and Jilly will enjoy the process as we all sit around the pit and enjoy the warmth.

*******

Applied for a job with Westcliff Labs as a courier. I even wrote a cover letter.We will see what will happen. It's full time. I most likely would have to use my own car. But it says salary depends on experience, so it would be more then minimum wage.

I'm Not Happy With Verizon Right Now

I can't remember if I blogged about this, so I will condense. My modem started blinking and I couldn't connected up to the Internet. A Verizon tech came out and told me my modem was going bad. I called the number he gave me and a nice girl in India sent one out free. Too bad it took a signature and I wasn't here to sign for it. So FedEx took it back. I called again and got a different person, who told me there was no record, I was entitled to nothing, and I could paid $79.00 for another one. I hung up on him.

Well the blinking is starting again, and I need a new modem. I went to Walmart, but theirs was too advanced for my system. I went to the Verizon store and they only do wireless for laptops. So, I am back to calling Verizon again.

I will call them later tonight. The Internet is working right now, and I need to start on making the enchiladas

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My gums are swollen, and PEELING. My sister says aspirin, brushing, salt water rinses and flossing. Then wait and if it doesn't go away, then I get to go in to the dentist.

Busy, busy Day

I had 15 deliveries, including wedding flowers to the town beyond the next town, just outside of this valley. 30 minutes by freeway one way. It didn't help that my brain was taking a dump. ADD is waxing, and I have no meds left. I had one delivery that had a non-existent address. It was 6028. The street started at 6030. The sender then gave us some "possible" other addresses on the same street. They were all lower then 6030. Hummm, not going to work, guys. The recipient's phone number is disconnected too!

*******

Goosie has been sick again. First, she sneezed on my face, two wet ones (and I'm sick now with pretty much the same symptoms), and the next day was running a fever. She got very lovie-dovie at that point, purring and kneading me. She also had problems swallowing. I could see her throat working every couple of seconds. Now that's all gone, but her meow sounds plastic. But she has been eating her head off and has been full of energy. So, I'm waiting for Monday to see how she is.

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The sewer line is clogging up. The cleanout is filling up when I use a large amount of water. I'll try the blue stuff again, but frankly, I feel that at this point I'll be wasting my ten bucks. If it doesn't work, I will arrange for the rooter guy Monday. I'm running out of money here.

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Got another letter from the collection agency. It's a one time offer, good for twenty days, to only pay half and be done with it. I don't have it! My brakes are going . I need to replace them.

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I miss Mr. Traffic

I think about him a lot. I feel extremely guilty about my choice not to see him again. I never even said anything to him. Either he knows why, which would explain why he isn't calling me anymore, or he's completely clueless. I differ on which one it is, from day to day. He's not a stupid man. Yes, he is a little senile. But, does that equal not being able to control yourself? Considering everything he does certain resembles the list of what child molesters do to their victims to break down the natural social barriers against being touched sexually. . .

I keep seeing the expression on his face as he touched my breast.

I'm not going back there.

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Sunday I was eating some banana cookies and shattered the outer half of my temporary crown. Yesterday I went to the dentist, and lucky me, the permanent one had come in. It is now on and my gum feels better. The new crown is a high nobel, i.g. gold based. My gum tisue really doesn't like the steel based ones. The gum turns the same color as the steel and drawns away from it. I wish I could get the others redone as well.

*******

My sister is very depressed about the death of one of her cats, King Bob. Bob got ate by something. Jackie just found tuffs of his fur. In many ways Bob was her baby. She heard a noise one night and found him still in side his baggie, abandoned by his mother. She got him out and started him breathing. She faithfully came home every lunch time and fed him and washed his butt with a warn wash cloth so he would poop. Bob was the largest cat I have ever since outside of a Maine coon cat. But, Bob was a short hair, the Maine coon, long haired.
He wasn't so smart and he was a little twitchy, the tail never stopped. He like to sleep on Jackie's car. He never figured out that when the car went on, the cat should get OFF. He took several rides. Jackie learned to realize that when people drove beside her honking and pointing, that meant Bob was on the roof. Mostly, thought, he would roll off and Jackie would heard the thump as he hit the ground.

King Bob was so imperial. You stopped petting him when he wanted you to. I got slapped by him once when I tried before he was ready. And feeding time, sheehs, FEED ME NOW!!!

When I drove up to Jackie's house to sit, I saw the shadow of the vine on the front door and thought it was him, even although I knew he was dead. Man, I'm going to miss him.

Testing the date

Blab, blab, went out with the girls last night. Called up second job to see if I could get off. Annoyed them, I know. Yes, was stupid of me, but must better relationship with co-workers from day job. We ate at the Olive Garden, then went to movies. Saw Funny People. Sucks.