My beautiful black cat, Ole (O-lee), is afraid of everything except me. When it thunders, she's gone; if I roll up a piece of paper and throw it, she's gone; she hates everyone who visits and forces her to hide under the bed. Not unlike myself, she's happiest when there are no visitors and she's free to roam our apartment without fear of aliens, weather phenomena, getting swatted by Beanie for no apparent reason, and just sitting in my lap where's it's safe and she knows her ears or tummy will be scratched.
I was lying in bed awhile ago and having hot flashes as I so often do at night. She waited her usual five minutes or so and then jumped on the bed and made her way to my head. She usually collapses with the top of my head being the back wall to her sleep position, but tonight I was so warm that I thought I couldn't stand her hot body by my head. Then I thought about it and my responsibility as her favorite human -- she counts on me for safety and scratching, and it's the least I can do for her. She finally settled in next to my head and purred herself into oblivion. When she finally falls asleep, she wheezes and sometimes Steve thinks it's me! I feel terrible that she wheezes since it's probably from our smoking -- she's actually a victim of secondhand smoke from us! I owe her more than that for providing me with unconditional affection and her appointing me as her favorite human.
We're going through what is probably our sixth attempt to stop smoking -- it's much more difficult than stopping drinking, which wasn't so easy either. Friday we both finished what we termed our "last pack" and Steve applied a patch which my doctor supplied for nothing. That was at about 10:00 a.m. Friday. At about 11:30 p.m. that night, Steve was going nuts and asked if we could go to 7-11 to get a pack of smokes. I really didn't want to go, but he broke me down, and I became his enabler, really wanting a pack of my own as well.
So we got our respective packs, came home, and now it's Sunday, and he's vowed it's his last pack again, and says he'll apply another patch when he finishes he his last three smokes tomorrow. You have to know that stopping smoking is much more difficult when you live with another smoker. Steve's been smoking since he was 14; I stopped for 12 years until I moved to NYC and started again like an idiot. I was never a city mouse and never became one. NYC provided me with an unbelievable education, but I was never really a NEW YORKER, and it stressed me out enough to justify smoking since everyone I met there smoked.
Today I told him that I mostly want to quit smoking so he'll stop ranting and raving about how much he hates it. He said I have to want to stop for myself, and I DO, but I can't do it if he's still smoking. Many times I've had no cigarettes of my own (which are ultra-light menthol) and I've practically begged him for one of his Marlboros. Once or twice when he's been out of smokes, he's asked me for one of mine which he hates, and refers to them as "smoking Vicks". I wouldn't have gone out for smokes on Friday night unless he'd pushed it and he knows that. In a way I was relieved that I got one more pack out of the deal, but I still hate that I smoke. It's not so much that it's addicting, but the behavior and habits that accompany it made it even harder.
I'm used to getting up in the morning and not smoking. It actually makes me sick too soon after I get up. Steve often gets up in the middle of the night just for a smoke and then comes back to bed. Being a hyper person, he's done this for years because it relaxes him. He needs to find something else to do at 3 a.m. if he can't sleep anymore. He doesn't read much, he no longer drinks alcohol, he eats like a horse and never gains weight, so I've suggested he eat something that's heavy that'll make him feel full and tired.
Isn't it amazing how we always have answers for somebody else's habits? As for sleeping, we're about as opposite as two people can be -- he sleeps about three hours, gets up, makes coffee, smokes a couple of cigarettes, while I sleep through the night with my fairly frequent weird dreams that cause him to wake me.
Last night I had a very vivid dream about being in a house with Slug and Mike at a time when there was no longer electricity, gas, or jobs. Slug and I were glad that Mike was there since he knows so much more than we do about fixing stuff. I left the house to go to a local deli -- I grabbed a quart of orange juice that was marked $2.00 just as the price jumped to $5.00. I pointed out to the Middle Eastern store manager that I had grabbed my quart at $2.00 and wouldn't pay a cent more and he sold it to me at $2.00. He had very few items left it his store but didn't seem particularly excited about that. I took a swig of the juice and brought it home. There were a lot of little children in our home and Slug was having a ball playing with them. Mike was trying to reach Renee on his cell phone which had no reception. Someone was selling Crystal Lite outside our house and telling us we'd only have water for a short period of time. Everyone seemed very calm, and then Mike's stepson, Ben, showed up with his buddies who'd formed a band and wanted to provide entertainment for everyone. We were happy to have the distraction and delighted to find them amazingly good!
Last night I woke Steve up when I was yelling, "But I can't find the tickets" -- I have no clue what tickets I was talking about. Apparently I'm having more than the usual dreams lately, but at least they're about being chased by someone, which is the way it used to be. In my dreams, my ex-husband, Ron, chased me for years to get "even" for leaving him which was probably the smartest move I ever made.
I realize this past year that I really do love Steve. We're about as different as salt and pepper, and that seems to be a good thing. Sometimes he hits me with a reality statement that puts me in my place, and maybe I always needed that. I have book smarts, and he has street smarts, and both have their own value. I've never had so much fun with anyone, and I'm totally free to be who I am with him, and he respects and appreciates that. I guess I've never had that before. He now refuses to compete when "Jeopardy" comes on, but challenges our neighbors to take me on. They always lose.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Putting some Zing in my Blog
JJ stopped by yesterday morning for coffee. About a week ago he'd stopped by with Maria and they were all lovey dovey and things seemed to be going well with them. This week he called and said they were through and were going to remain "friends with benefits" -- I hate that term.
Maria was apparently smothering him and making plans for their wedding when they've never even exchanged any I love you's! She also mentioned to him that she had to have children within the next three years due to some problem with her ovaries. He told her she was moving way too fast.
Meanwhile, at 2 a.m. one day this past week, Tish (the stripper he had the thing with) called him on her cell phone while very drunk and asked if she could crash on his couch so she wouldn't have to drive home. He said she could, but made it clear that she'd have to sleep on the couch. He said that a few hours later she became nude and crawled into bed with him, and they parted two days later! He also told HER they'd only be friends even though he said she provides the best sex he's ever had. She's certainly had the most experience!!!
So that's the latest JJ gossip -- on to my somewhat dull life which, by the way, I thoroughly enjoy.
Steve made me a ring box since I have my many rings in so many different jewelry boxes. I am embarrassed to say that all my rings don't fit in this box!
Maria was apparently smothering him and making plans for their wedding when they've never even exchanged any I love you's! She also mentioned to him that she had to have children within the next three years due to some problem with her ovaries. He told her she was moving way too fast.
Meanwhile, at 2 a.m. one day this past week, Tish (the stripper he had the thing with) called him on her cell phone while very drunk and asked if she could crash on his couch so she wouldn't have to drive home. He said she could, but made it clear that she'd have to sleep on the couch. He said that a few hours later she became nude and crawled into bed with him, and they parted two days later! He also told HER they'd only be friends even though he said she provides the best sex he's ever had. She's certainly had the most experience!!!
So that's the latest JJ gossip -- on to my somewhat dull life which, by the way, I thoroughly enjoy.
Steve made me a ring box since I have my many rings in so many different jewelry boxes. I am embarrassed to say that all my rings don't fit in this box!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Camera Addiction
The digital camera so generously given to us by my niece, Jules, stopped working last weekend. The lens would no longer retract, and the screen would appear and then go black with any attempt we tried. A couple of our neighbors thought it could be the battery so we went to Radio Shack and got a new battery, but it still doesn't want to work.
I checked with a camera repair place nearby and their estimate to fix it was $124!!! We decided it made as much sense to just get a new camera and that's what we did. We got a Kodak Red at Sam's Club and we both love it! It's so small that I just don't know how it can do so much stuff! Jules started this photo addiction that will never end for us, and I'm so glad she did!
The first picture I took was Beanie in her new Oval Office (a term we stole from Slug and Dick for a cat bed). Doesn't she look stressed?
I checked with a camera repair place nearby and their estimate to fix it was $124!!! We decided it made as much sense to just get a new camera and that's what we did. We got a Kodak Red at Sam's Club and we both love it! It's so small that I just don't know how it can do so much stuff! Jules started this photo addiction that will never end for us, and I'm so glad she did!
The first picture I took was Beanie in her new Oval Office (a term we stole from Slug and Dick for a cat bed). Doesn't she look stressed?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
On Walking
Walking can add minutes to your life.
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
The only reason I would take up walking is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.
I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I'm doing..
I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there.
Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise', I wash my mouth out with chocolate.
I do have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.
The advantage of exercising every day is so when you die, they'll say, 'Well, she looks good doesn't she?'
If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.
I know I got a lot of exercise the last few years...... just getting over the hill.
We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
AND
every time I start thinking too much about how I look, I just find a Happy Hour and by the time I leave, I look just fine.
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
The only reason I would take up walking is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.
I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I'm doing..
I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there.
Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise', I wash my mouth out with chocolate.
I do have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.
The advantage of exercising every day is so when you die, they'll say, 'Well, she looks good doesn't she?'
If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.
I know I got a lot of exercise the last few years...... just getting over the hill.
We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
AND
every time I start thinking too much about how I look, I just find a Happy Hour and by the time I leave, I look just fine.
On Grocery Shopping
As a rule, I do the grocery shopping by myself whenever possible. This morning we went to Publix Supermarket unplanned which is a huge mistake. If I'm prepared in advance I'll have a list, some idea of what's on sale, and maybe even have a couple of coupons. When Steve's with me, he pays no attention to cost -- just how good stuff looks. Italians are mega-carnivores and you must endeavor to keep them away from the deli section of the store. I failed.
When I do the shopping myself it usually comes to around $120. Today we spent $194!!! We passed the ice cream toppings and Steve said I should treat myself, so at his insistence, I did. He grabbed a bag of shrimp because it was "such a good deal". Since when is a whole chicken eight dollars??? Poor people used to live on chicken and turkey! Not anymore -- wonder what they live on these days...
I challenged Steve not to swear while we put the groceries away -- this is generally a very stressful thing for him as he throws things out of the fridge to put in new stuff. He was good for about five minutes today and then he completely lost it once again. That five minutes of non-cursing was a record however.
If you can recall the opening theme to The Mary Tyler Moore Show, she's behind a grocery cart looking at the price of a package of meat; she shows disgust and throws it in the cart anyway. That's how I feel too.
When I do the shopping myself it usually comes to around $120. Today we spent $194!!! We passed the ice cream toppings and Steve said I should treat myself, so at his insistence, I did. He grabbed a bag of shrimp because it was "such a good deal". Since when is a whole chicken eight dollars??? Poor people used to live on chicken and turkey! Not anymore -- wonder what they live on these days...
I challenged Steve not to swear while we put the groceries away -- this is generally a very stressful thing for him as he throws things out of the fridge to put in new stuff. He was good for about five minutes today and then he completely lost it once again. That five minutes of non-cursing was a record however.
If you can recall the opening theme to The Mary Tyler Moore Show, she's behind a grocery cart looking at the price of a package of meat; she shows disgust and throws it in the cart anyway. That's how I feel too.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Labor Day BBQ
JJ invited us over on Labor Day weekend so he could try out the huge barbecue grill he bought on Craig's List. He also wanted us to meet his new girlfriend, Maria, who's NOT a stripper!!!
He fixed filet mignon for the three of them, and chicken for me (I'm not much of a steak eater and he didn't have any lobster -- darn). Here was this huge grill with four little pieces of meat on it, but he was having a ball showing it off. We had a great time and we both really like Maria -- she's a normal person! She's Greek, grew up in Tarpon Springs, and she's a teacher, although she's now going to school to become an ultrasound technician. She became pretty disillusioned with teaching and says kids are getting scary at a much younger age now. Sad to hear. JJ seems really happy in her company and they're in that "honey" and "baby" stage.
On Getting Older and Liking It
We were invited to join our neighbor, Wayne, and his girlfriend, Sharon, for dinner last Sunday. It was Wayne's 47th birthday and we had a great time! Wayne is the guy who was with my good friend, Karen, for several years and didn't exactly handle their breakup very well. But that, as they say, is history.
The boys, including Sharon's son, Hunter, had steak, and the girls had chicken. This was followed by a birthday cake with baseball players on it since Wayne's the biggest baseball fan you could ever meet. He was playing semi-pro in Tennessee many years ago when he was diagnosed with lymphoma and had to quit to receive treatment. He now plays on a league in Clearwater and does pretty well for himself.
Hunter at nine years of age is frighteningly smart. He talked to me at length about Barack Obama, space flights, etc., and he often comes up to our apartment to see Steve's "toys" and fossils. Hunter attends a school in Clearwater for gifted kids and I can see why!
They have a cat, Stella, who loves everyone, and the sweetest dog in the building, Daisy, who's a huge baby.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Across the Too Many Miles
Sometimes it's hard to believe that I was visiting Mom just a little over a month ago. Whenever I see Slug it's like I just saw her yesterday. Mom loves it when Slug and I visit her at the same time 'cause she knows we're so goofy and make her laugh when we're together.
And when you add Mike and his family to the mix, we always have a great time.
It was an extra treat that Jules and Tomkin were able to be there too. They're so obviously in love that it's next to nauseating, but terrific at the same time.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
I Wanna Know!
Who's the person who names these hurricanes and/or storms anyway? Do they assign a name when the storm begins to form, or do they give names at the beginning of the year and, if so, how do they know how far to go with the alphabet? If they go too far in the alphabet and there's no storm for a particular letter, is that name saved for another year? Does someone at the National Weather Service get paid to name the weather, or does he or she have other duties too? How much money does a person who names storms make in a year? Is there a margin of error worked into the salary? Do you have to get some sort of special schooling to be the storm namer? What kind of major would one pursue as an undergraduate if one wanted to become the next storm namer?
At this time of year in Florida you can't turn on the TV without hearing about the next storm that's probably on its' way. After the first two or three storms of the season (August and September in Florida), most of us just ignore the warnings anyway.
The "authorities" in Florida take evacuation warnings very seriously, but we're in a no-evac zone so we can afford to ignore the warnings. Being a stay-at-home-and-fart-around-all-day type of person, weather forecasts only impact my life insofar as when I'll run my errands for the day, whether I'll go a produce stand for fresh fruit, a thrift shop for more books, the Drive-Thru at Dunkin' Donuts for something sinful, or CVS for smokes, sunflower seeds, cat treats (yes, I once went out to CVS for just cat treats -- the girls drive me nuts when I'm on the PC and I'm out of treats which I usually throw over my head for them to fight over), and other things I probably don't need.
I'm really good at not being employed anymore. It took me a good week to adjust to the concept that I no longer had to get up to the sound of an annoying alarm clock to go to work for a boss I had long ceased respecting. I have a lot of what I call "filler" to keep me busy -- "filler" includes reading the paper, computering, reading a book, baking, cooking, etc. Since Steve's a clean freak, there's never any cleaning to do (thankfully), so there's really no excuse for me to be disorganized, which I am anyway. I have dresser drawers and a closet which could use an overhaul, but that's just so boring when there are books in the world!
Steve gets bored much faster than I do -- his only filler is fishing and he can't do that all the time. He's just not a reader, but he's a mega-putzer-arounder. He'll spend time fixing something, changing pictures that are in frames, organizing a photo album which I almost never do, etc. When I'm not on the PC, he can be found on Ebay looking up dinosaur fossils, scrimshaw we can't afford, western decor, etc.
At this time of year in Florida you can't turn on the TV without hearing about the next storm that's probably on its' way. After the first two or three storms of the season (August and September in Florida), most of us just ignore the warnings anyway.
The "authorities" in Florida take evacuation warnings very seriously, but we're in a no-evac zone so we can afford to ignore the warnings. Being a stay-at-home-and-fart-around-all-day type of person, weather forecasts only impact my life insofar as when I'll run my errands for the day, whether I'll go a produce stand for fresh fruit, a thrift shop for more books, the Drive-Thru at Dunkin' Donuts for something sinful, or CVS for smokes, sunflower seeds, cat treats (yes, I once went out to CVS for just cat treats -- the girls drive me nuts when I'm on the PC and I'm out of treats which I usually throw over my head for them to fight over), and other things I probably don't need.
I'm really good at not being employed anymore. It took me a good week to adjust to the concept that I no longer had to get up to the sound of an annoying alarm clock to go to work for a boss I had long ceased respecting. I have a lot of what I call "filler" to keep me busy -- "filler" includes reading the paper, computering, reading a book, baking, cooking, etc. Since Steve's a clean freak, there's never any cleaning to do (thankfully), so there's really no excuse for me to be disorganized, which I am anyway. I have dresser drawers and a closet which could use an overhaul, but that's just so boring when there are books in the world!
Steve gets bored much faster than I do -- his only filler is fishing and he can't do that all the time. He's just not a reader, but he's a mega-putzer-arounder. He'll spend time fixing something, changing pictures that are in frames, organizing a photo album which I almost never do, etc. When I'm not on the PC, he can be found on Ebay looking up dinosaur fossils, scrimshaw we can't afford, western decor, etc.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
For Sale
Real Classified Ads
FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER.
8 years old. Hateful little bastard. Bites!
FREE PUPPIES:
1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbor's dog.
FREE PUPPIES.
Mother, AK C German Shepherd Father, Super Dog, able to leap tall fences in a single bound.
FOUND DIRTY WHITE DOG.
Looks like a rat. Been out a while. Better be a big reward.
COWS, CALVES: NEVER BRED.
Also one gay bull for sale.
NORDIC TRACK
$300 - Hardly used, call Chubby.
GEORGIA PEACHES
California grown - 89 cents lb.
JOINING NUDIST COLONY!
Must sell washer and dryer $300.
WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE
Worn once by mistake. Call Stephanie.
FOR SALE BY OWNER:
Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica, 45 volumes. Excellent condition. $1,000 or best offer. No longer needed, Got married last month. Wife knows everything.
FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER.
8 years old. Hateful little bastard. Bites!
FREE PUPPIES:
1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbor's dog.
FREE PUPPIES.
Mother, AK C German Shepherd Father, Super Dog, able to leap tall fences in a single bound.
FOUND DIRTY WHITE DOG.
Looks like a rat. Been out a while. Better be a big reward.
COWS, CALVES: NEVER BRED.
Also one gay bull for sale.
NORDIC TRACK
$300 - Hardly used, call Chubby.
GEORGIA PEACHES
California grown - 89 cents lb.
JOINING NUDIST COLONY!
Must sell washer and dryer $300.
WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE
Worn once by mistake. Call Stephanie.
FOR SALE BY OWNER:
Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica, 45 volumes. Excellent condition. $1,000 or best offer. No longer needed, Got married last month. Wife knows everything.
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