Gospel Friday

My sister, Vicki and I went to see and hear "The Gaither's" gospel show at The Patriot Center last night. Another great show but they are really evolving from when I first became acquainted with their music. The older members of the group have died off and the new members, although great singers and performers, are more into the New Age Gospel.

I am amazed at all the young kids, especially boys, who are involved in religious activities, such as this show. Boy, are some of them cute......wish I was much, much younger. (lol)

Before the show, we decided to go to dinner close to the college so we wouldn't be late this year. Across the street is a shopping center and we found a small bar and restaurant in the back part of the strip mall, called Fat Tuesday's. Quaint little place but a typical college bar with bras hanging from the ceiling, lots of tv's, peanuts everywhere,(including hanging on the front of my sweater as we entered the concert later, lots of drinking and a very happy atmosphere. We thought we had hit the jackpot.

The concert was at 7 PM and we got to the restaurant at 5 PM and were still waiting for our food at 6:10 when we threatened to leave. Food appeared with apologies and was surprisingly good but Vicki's was too much to scarf down, so we got a to-go container. Then we decided, what the heck, we should ask for a discount since we waited so long. Surprise, surprise they gave us 50% off.

We jumped in the car to get to the concert across the street and, because of heavy traffic, this took about 20 minutes and we parked and got in the door with just enough time for a bathroom stop.

The show was over around 11:00 and we got back to my house at 11:45. Vicki came in and we talked and played with my computer until almost 2 AM. Needless to say, I did not make it out of bed to go yard-saleing this AM. Next week, here I come. And she had a 1 and 1/2 hour drive to her house. I know she slept in today.

I did make it to Target, Blockbuster and the car wash today and then right back to the sofa. I am just not used to late nights anymore. Now, in my "hayday" it seems I never slept. Could party all night and work all day but age has really taken it's toll.

Tomorrow is off to work again. Yes, on Sunday, for a small job but I'll be close to TJMaxx in Fairfax where I can check out their rug collection again.

On to Thursday.........

Was meeting a woman at 10:30 this morning to wallpaper a bathroom. I got there at 10:20 and there was a big cement truck in the driveway with about 8 workers and the woman was not home. She showed up about 11:10.

While I was waiting I started talking to the truck driver, who happened to be a large black 28 yr. old woman. She was filling the bobcats for the men toting the cement around to the back of the house. Such a happy person!!!! I asked her whether the dangling very fancy ring on her chin bothered her. (Shy person that I am) She said at first but no more. Then proceeded to explain the graduated 6 rings up each of her ears and the large stone stud in her tongue. Also tiny diamond studs in each cheek and she said she had a bellybutton ring but accidently ripped it out.
So, still being my shy old self, I asked if she had tattoos. She says "of course". One above her left breast of a dog that she had to have put to sleep, one on her right ankle of a rose and I forget what the one on her left ankle was. She couldn't show me because she had on heavy duty work boots. Quite a sight but she was very nice and bubbly.
Then I set up my pasting table on the patio and papered the bath in the basement. In 2 weeks I will be going back to the same house to paper 4 or 5 more baths. Very large house.

Dean called tonight to tell me that her friend Ed is in the hospital. He hasn't been well for a while, which can be expected at his age, but after going through 2 days of tests the doctors decided he needed to have a pacemaker immediately. So tomorrow morning he will have one implanted or whatever you call what they do. Sure hope he lives through this procedure.

Wednesday's Adventures

Cleaned for a while Wednesday morning and then decided to go shopping. Another gorgeous day so I decided to get my ferns and flowers for the back yard. Got the ferns at Lowe's and also stocked up on wallpapering supplies. Then went to World Market and got an umbrella for the patio table. Last winter, I left the umbrella up and the snow was so heavy that the table fell over and broke the umbrella. I got another 5 ft. one even though everyone told me that size looked "farty" last year. We only have a 36 inch table so it's good enough for me and it was only $39.99.
Then I bought petunias at the garden stand set up in the Trader Joe's parking lot.
All of this took my energy so I took a nap and never walked Barkley. Spring fever again??????

Project Day

Well, it was supposed to rain today so I planned on cleaning. It is now almost 6:00 PM and it has been sunny and gorgeous all day. This AM when it wasn't raining, I decided to mow the yard since I had the chance. That led into doing the front yards of 2 neighbors. I figure, "what the heck", I have the mower out. And we have townhouses with small yards and it'd hardly worth the effort for one.

Then I started cleaning. I set smaller daily goals for myself these days, so I didn't get the whole place done yet. Tomorrow is another day. Have to work Thursday so I need to get busy early tomorrow.

Tonight is "American Idol" night.......I am one of those very loyal "grandma" fans..Have not missed a show since it started 5 yrs. ago. It's something to look forward to each week and it is surprising how many people I run into that are the same. I don't know what the attraction is but it is one of the few things that I don't forget in my " dementia" years.

Dental Monday

Well, I made it to my dad's about an hour before my dental appt., so we got to visit a little bit. Appt. went well and they took impressions for a partial plate that I have to get to replace a bridge that "died". Haven't had back teeth on the lower right for months now and have adjusted quite well. But I'm afraid that my jaw will start shifting and cause my face to look weird. Oh that vanity thing!!!!!!

Another beautiful day and a pleasant drive to Pa. I'm listening to a book called "Shutter Island" about a penal institution for the criminally insane. Of course there is much abuse and experimentation there because "who cares?". Purely fictional...

I'm so bummed because my Used Book store where I buy, sell and trade the books I listen to, has closed the local store. I still have a $37.00 credit and will have to drive to a different branch to use it. It is a great way to pass the time commuting and long boring days hanging paper. I get a lot of reading in this way.

Peaceful Sunday

Today started out to be a rainy, dreary day but ended being sunny and 70+.

Went on my estimate at 1:00 for what I thought was 1 or 2 baths and it turned out to be 6 baths. So this will be a very good job. A totalof 48-50 rolls of paper. Customer already has paper for one bath and I am going to hang it this Thursday. The others she has to order so it will be a week or 2 till the paper is here.

Just as I suspected.........lots of work all at once. I already scheduled May 1-2 for another job. And now I will probably start getting calls from the people that I contacted to try and drum up business. It never fails. I should just sit tight and wait.

I stopped at Dollar General and Trader Joe's on my way home and got some supplies and food. Glad to get that out of the way.

Tomorrow I have to go to the dentist which is only a big deal because I use a dentist in Pennsylvania. It's a bit of a drive but much, much cheaper. And I get to visit family while there.

Rainy Saturday

Yesterday I finished that job and it turned out much better than I expected. Got a pay check finally!!!!!!

Planned to meet Susie for late lunch today at 3:00 and she wanted to stop at TJ Maxx to check out some rugs. She found one and then she decided to go to another TJ Maxx to make sure they didn't have a better one.......We ended up eating at California Pizza Kitchen at Fairfax Commons at 5:30.

I rented some movies and watched "Walk The Line" tonight and thought it was good but not as great as another friend had said it was. She watched it 3 times and then bought it and watched it 2 more times. I'm sorry but I wouldn't watch it again. Maybe I missed something.....

And now to bed to listen to the rain pounding down. Was hoping to work in the yard tomorrow but don't know if it will be dry enough. At least I can buy some flowers and be prepared.

Also have another estimate in Woodbridge at 1:00 tomorrow.

This blog is starting to show me that I lead a VERY BORING life. Maybe I should start fibbing a bit!!!!!

Be Careful What You Wish For

This was one of those days at work where you could just scream. The old paper was not scraping off (because of the primer over it) and I ended up starting to spackle the rough edges and sanding. Then I ran out of spackle. So tomorrow on my way back to same job, I have to go to Home Depot. This is one no one would wish for BUT it is work.

Tonight I have been frantically making 2 pillows for Michael's beach condo. Mike is leaving to go there in the morning and I had procrastinated again. I have had the fabric for 3 weeks and just got around to it tonight.

Barkley and I will be on our own for 2-3 weeks. Whohooo!!!!

Just Another Day!!!

Well, I finally got out yesterday to give an estimate on stripping paper from a bedroom and painting everything including the ceiling and woodwork. I called back with the cost and the customer called this morning to say I could begin the work on May 8th. It will probably take 4-5 days.
Looks like I'll be paying some bills next month.........
Today I went on another "advice and estimate" for stripping a kitchen. The customer has started stripping the paper and is not making much headway with the paper-backing soooooo, tomorrow I'm going to go back and finish the job for her.
I knew things would start looking up. I have been going stir-crazy with no work and, consequently, no money.
After the estimate, I went to Susie's house and helped with some straightening up and hung some rods and curtains in her basement. Also brought some boxes of leftover yard sale items back home that I had stored there for the winter. We are hoping to have a yard sale here on May 13--- weather permitting.
Shawn sent pics of Kristi's twins tonight and "BOY" are they small. Each was around 2 lbs. at birth on the 10th of April. Sure hope they make it with no problems!!! Hang in there Skylar and Alexus.
Just finished watching "American Idol" and now I need to get to bed so I have enough energy to work tomorrow.

Tax Day Finally!!!

After much agonizing, cursing, pacing, screaming, cursing some more, I got my Federal taxes in the mail today (Monday). Thank god for the extra days this year. I despise paper work more than anything else in the world. And to have a deadline makes it doubly hateful.

Now I can relax until it's time for state taxes the 1st of May.

I also got a call for an estimate for a few days work. I will find out tomorrow how much work and when it will be happening. Now I will probably get other calls and everyone will want their work done at the same time. That's how it is with my line of work. Feast or famine..........

Day 3 cont'd

Have I figured out how to change title??????

seniorfleas

Day 3

Well, here I am organising papers to get started on my "taxes". What a day!!! I still hate this........If I am not pushed into a corner, I never get things done. Terrible phobia !!!! (or habit)
Would like to know how to edit things in my previous blogs but I guess by just using I will pick up pointers.

seniorfleas

Day 2

Another beautiful spring day to be bored. Still no calls for work but I'm optimistic.
Went to grocery store, talked to friends, organised junk, etc. Definitely "boring".
All of this free time and I still have not done my taxes. I'm the biggest procrastinator when it comes to paperwork. I hate it. Guess tomorrow is the Big Day. Sounds like something to look forward to.

First Day of the Rest of My Life

This is another new adventure for me. I have been reading blogs for some time now and finally decided to create my own.
Work is nonexistent this week and I can't seem to stay focused on a single project at home. I'm hoping it is just spring-fever and not laziness.
I'm not in the mood to ramble on now so will make this my first posting and continue later.