Wrapping Things Up

On Thursday we worked in the pool area.  The decking around the pool needs constant attention because water, humidity and dirt are a given here in Florida and mold and algae are right behind.  While Kristin did her volunteer work at Florida Hospital, the three of us worked on the decking, interspersed with some time in the pool.  

There was a beautiful butterfly in the screened pool area and we did all we could to get it out when it fell in the water and was just floating on its back.

When Ted tried to pick it up, it flew back up to the top.  Eventually Larry caught it in the pool net and when left outside, it flew way.

A little later a red hawk came to check us out.

We had "whatever you can find" for dinner so we all had something different from our previous meals.  Then it was on to more Downton Abbey.  I think we will not get through all six seasons!  

Since we missed WW on Thursday, we went Friday morning.  Larry and Ted were heading up the turnpike to a different sporting clay venue so we had lots of time to do our thing.  Kristin lost about 2.5 lbs. and I finally moved down to a new whole number after a month of "point this and that" going up and down.  These last 5 lbs. will take forever!  With the cruise coming up in 2.5 weeks, I will worry about reaching goal later.

We stopped in the salon next door and I availed myself of a little waxing.  By then it was lunchtime so we went home to eat and arrange for their mailbox to be painted and the house numbers reapplied.  It was time to head out again!  We returned a pair of shoes at Ross where Kristin bought shoes and slacks.  I got bath accessories at Bed, Bath and Beyond for our new bathroom and several travel toiletries for the trip.  Then on to Dillard's where I bought two bathing suits for both Greece and then later, Hawaii.  Kristin bought a few shirts,  eventually we made our way home where we found Ted in the pool and Larry sleeping.

Larry met friends for dinner at a Chinese buffet but we other three passed on that choice and went to 4 Rivers BBQ.  Great BBQ for not being in Texas!  Then it was more Downton Abbey.  I will have to renew my library card at home to get Season 6 and maybe even Season 5 if we don't get it finished.

Saturday I got my hair cut.  We all went to church then out to eat.  

We finished up Season 5 of Downton Abbey so I will have to borrow the final season from the library.  We were heading for home on Sunday.  

Shooting and Shopping

Larry and Ted went shooting but it was about 1.5 hours away.  So we knew they would be gone a good six hours.  

So we headed to the Orlando Premium Outlet Mall to the Easy Spirit store.  Talk about traffic and parking difficulties!  Thankfully I used the Waze app that got us around the standstill traffic and we found a spot to park behind the stores at the very edge of the whole mall.  There were many visitors dragging their newly purchased suitcases behind them filled with their other purchases.  Lots of other languages were being spoken too.  And then we learned Easy Spirit has moved out!! 

Kristin, who has lost 30 lbs. on WW, bought lots of new things for the cruise.  I bought a shirt and dress plus new bras.  I needed them!  We ate lunch at Panera Bread but there was no room in the restaurant to eat.  It emptied out to the food court but it was no better.  I waited for the food while Kristin scouted around and finally found us a table just as our food was ready.  She said weekends and Christmas are even worse.  It was after 5:00 when we got home.  Shortly thereafter we headed to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner.

We went to see Death of a Nation Saturday afternoon but I don't think my companions liked it all that much.  But I am a history nut and found it interesting and informative.  We had a bit of time before Mass so Larry rode us through his childhood neighborhood and showed us his house and schools.  It was his old church that we attended.  

Then we went to Outback for dinner and finally home to continue our Downton Abbey marathon.  We are up to the second season, the fourth episode.  It reminded me that the Outlander season is to start up in September!  

Sunday we stayed home and invited Larry's sister for dinner.  Ted and I went swimming and I noticed the screen door looked as if someone had spray painted yellow paint on it.  Kristin said whoever cleaned their screen enclosure last time sprayed a solution that caused it.  When she and Ted went out I told him to buy a can of flat black rustoleum and a piece of poster board.  I fixed the door appearance!  

Monday we returned to the mall (ugh!) to return some things and then headed to Disney Springs to see what had been added to Downtown Disney to create this new area.  We walked a good distance taking in the sights then rode a boat across the bay to minimize our time in the sun.  We ducked into a store to cool off and purchase a gift for Nancy who is keeping the home fires burning while we are gone.

We rode the boat all the way back instead of just half way as we headed for home.  We had to stop at The House of Blues to get cooled off.  They gave me a cold rag to help me cool down and Kristin brought me a cold drink.  In a bit I was fine to continue on.  

Tuesday we drove to our old hometown of DeBary to meet with our financial guy who is retiring soon and to meet the new guy.  After a good conversation with Charles, we met Syd and we all went to lunch.  When we returned, Syd showed us some new software and after asking several questions and using the info he has, he created a graph with three different scenarios.  Total meltdown of the market, average returns, and the market soaring.  He showed how adding and subtracting discretionary or non-discretionary amounts makes the graphs shift.  The green banner "On Track" never moved even when taking Ted to age 96 in a major market turndown. 

We talked about our big travel expenditures slowing down but medical costs and possible long term care having a big effect on finances.  We discussed our housing situation - one floor, accessible bathroom facilities, small yard being cared for by a service, cleaning lady when I feel the need for one, probably a new roof in the near future.  Even my Expedition and replacing it for an easier access vehicle was talked about.  He was very thorough.  We left feeling very good about where we are right now and optimistic for the future.

Instead of jumping right on I-4, we drove south to DeBary to see our old house.  It looks as nice as when we built it in 1996!

We attended a NAMI group meeting for families dealing with mental illness, mostly their children.  Larry's sister has paranoid schizophrenia and they facilitate these weekly meetings while she attends one for those suffering from a mental illness.  My heart went out to these people and what they go through each and every day.  Maureen has her own home and a paid companion in the same neighborhood as Kristin.  Larry administers her medications and except for some quirks, she gets along well.  On Sunday her dinner roll fell off her plate onto the table.  You or I would just pick it up and put it back or eat it.  She looked at me and said it fell.  I just took it away and gave her a new one.  You do what is necessary for them to feel safe no matter how silly it sounds.  I learned a lot that night.

Wednesday we drove to Tavares to visit a high school friend and her husband.  We met at their son's restaurant for lunch.  It is a beautiful venue on a lake with float planes going in and out and the food was delicious!  We had a great time visiting for over 3 hours!  

It Happened Again

I just added what we have done since arriving in Florida and posted a few photos.  When I posted what I wrote since our arrival, it all was just gone! 

We haven't done anything too exciting - nails, shopping, WW, swimming, etc.  Kristin volunteers at Florida hospital so Ted and I fill our time.  Larry has been getting new roof estimates and keeping some doctor appointments.  It is just family time.

So here are the photos Larry, our photographer, has added to the house.  I have never seen a collection of so many photos of myself anywhere else!  

Larry took the Rogers Family Reunion photo last summer.  Here it is blown up to 18 X 24.  These are all of Ted's siblings, Rogers grandchildren and great grandchildren.  About 125 people with a family or two missing.

A 40 X 30 collage of their portraits hanging over our bed!

An artwork rendition on several plates creating several layers.  I really like this one.

Now to see if this will post since it was just created and not added to.

Closing In

Sunday we tried to see Death of a Nation but it was sold out.  We will try to see it in Florida if we have time.  So we watched the Astros instead.

Monday the fellows showed up and put the plumbing together under the sinks and put my faucets in but not Ted's.  The toilet paper holder is missing a set screw so we have to get one of those.  The grab bar is up in the shower.  They touched up the nicks and bangs on the dark cabinets.  They were minor and they left the stain for me in case I need it.  Their only remaining job will be Ted's faucets once his granite is replaced.  

Ted went to the fabricators and brought home a piece of granite he thought was a remnant of our slab to compare it to what is installed.  It matches so we went back to check a bigger piece that will work.  In all this hullabaloo over granite, we still ended up with the wrong one.  I was worried about our first selection because of yellowish undertones.  When we rejected the brown one they sent and went to pick out our own slab, I saw another one called Dallas White.  It had a whiter back ground but upon closer inspection the dark brown spots were purplish.  We chose the Ornamental Light.  When all was said and done, they sent Dallas White.  That's what I get for sending a one eyed colorblind fellow who just had cataract surgery to check to be sure it was our selection.  It came to light because in looking for a scrap, some were looking for Ornamental Light and others Dallas White!  It is in, we like it but we will never know which one was the better choice.  I have learned this is quite common and people swear they didn't get what the picked out.  When we did Kristin's kitchen the same thing happened.  She had to rework her backsplash to tie the cabinets and granite together because the granite was too brownish for her cherry cabinets.  It was shades off of the sample.  

As soon as the contractors left we loaded up the car and headed to Florida.  We didn't leave until 1:30 but made it almost to the LA/MS line before stopping at a Hilton Garden Inn for the night,  After dinner at Cracker Barrel, we were ready to turn in.  

I Spoke Too Soon!

I started a new blog, commented on adding that installation photo to my last post, and it worked.  So I wrote another new blog with photos, posted it and all that posted was my bragging paragraph!  No photos!  So here goes again.

Shower is finished except for oiled bronze grab bar to be installed Monday.

Where the new toilet door is.  The tub was under this window.  Once the painting is done I can hang my "flowers" above the window.

New drywall where the old toilet door had been.  It is waiting for paint and then I can hang my two pictures above the towel rack. 

The faucets will be installed Monday.

We will get on Greg's paint schedule for when we return.  Once he is finished I can have the carpet in our bedroom stretched and all the carpets cleaned.  And we will be done with 2018 projects.  

Well I really spoke too soon!  Ted found two cracks in the granite in the strip between the edge and the sink where he will stand.  Now the search is on to find the remnants of our slab to match it up and hope there is a big enough piece to replace that piece around his sink.  Ted will deal with the fabricators tomorrow.  I think Pauline had perils easier than I have had doing this bathroom.  How do businesses stay in business doing everything twice?  And they banged my wall and said nothing about it!  We are past needing luck, we need prayers

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So we went to church and to Olive Garden for dinner.  God reminded me of his promises on our way there.

The Granite Has Arrived

Ted stopped by the granite fabricators and learned our slab had arrived!  And it is Ornamental Light, not Santa Cecilia!  Plans are for either template on Monday, installation Thursday or Tuesday template, installation Friday!  Now we all know how this works so it will get installed when they install it.  

We had the shower enclosure glass company measure to replace glass in two windows where the double pane seal has leaked and fogged them up.  The guy came Friday and after awhile proclaimed the replacement glass was 5/8s and we need 1/2 or vice versa.  Can't anything be done right?  So now we have to wait again!  

We really want to take off next Sunday but can template, granite installation, new window glass all get done in a week's time? Stay tuned to the Perils of Pauline (aka Donna) to find out!  We have already resigned ourselves to having the bathroom painting done when we return.  Such is life.

Saturday was quiet.   I spoke to my sister by phone and worked some on our family reunion for 2019.  Of course we went to church in the afternoon and then out for dinner.

Ted's eyesight seems to be doing fine but his pupil is still very small.  We put in drops three times a day and will see the doctor on Thursday.

Sunday we went to Irene's to play cards.  She is still not able to get out so we keep going to her.  I took fruit and made a dip to go with it.  There were three other couples invited and we played cards too.  Ted won, I didn't.  

Monday I cleaned while Rhoomba ran around doing her thing.  I talked Irene into getting one since she can't vacuum and she loves it!  I love mine too.  I can dust while she cleans and then Wetjet the wood floors behind her.  Now we just need to figure out something for the bathrooms!  

The template was made for our granite on Tuesday.  Fingers crossed!

Ted's pupil is less constricted and his eyesight is fine he says.  Not shooting for two weeks is being a little hard on him but the doctor said no quick head turns.  

We did nothing of particular interest on Wednesday.  The saw broke at the fabricators so a Friday installation looks iffy.  However, Saturday would still allow us to leave Sunday.  I don't know about the contractor putting in the faucets though.  It will be last minute to advise him we are ready.  He still is unhappy with us for refusing the wrong granite but that is just too bad.  We custom built a 4 bedroom, 3 bath pool home in Florida and never had a disagreement with the builder.  And believe me when I say you have no idea how many decisions you have to make down to what plug do you want to work off the wall switch by the door.  We even had the builder, his superintendent and their wives for dinner when all was said and done.  I don't think it is us who are out of line.

I went to WW Thursday morning and am now down 34 lbs. with 6 to goal!  Ted went to the doctor and has 20/20 in his right eye but will need power 200 readers for close work.  The fabrication of our granite was being done and we were promised Friday installation.

The two fellows were 15 minutes early Friday morning and got right to work on our installation.  It took almost 4 hours.  We were happy with the result but in all honestly I am not sure it isn't Dallas White and not Ornamental Light!  Everyone I talk to has a granite story.  

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Cataract Removal This Week

We had little we had to do on Monday.  There was a huge pile of clothes on the bed from both of us.  As we put things on to wear, if it didn't fit, we added it to the pile.  (Ted has lost 20 lbs.on MY diet!) It took a huge black plastic bag to hold it all.  Then I put some home items in grocery bags along with our old printer, marked it for the Paralyzed Vets, and we set it out on the porch for their scheduled pick up.

Next up was a trip to the post office to send a package off to Kara.  Ted contributed three Aloha shirts for Bill to wear in Hawaii at Christmas and I had some things that may work for Kara.  And for good measure I put in the Disney cross body purse I got for Morgan.  The box weighed 10 lbs. when I mailed it.

We were invited to dinner at Sherida and John's to see their new home.  They recently returned to this area from a two year stint near Austin.  It is a new home and they are still deep in boxes but it is coming along nicely.  Gray is the color this year and her kitchen and baths carry that out.  She has the stainless black refrigerator that is so pretty.  I had a hard time finding a new dishwasher in the shiny black to match the rest of my kitchen last year.  This new stainless black is all the rage!  

We had a very nice dinner and then learned a new card game.  It is easy to learn but I ended up in last place.  Of 11 hands, I was dealt only one wild card the whole time.  Ted won!  We have to keep our card playing knowledge up in case a group forms or a casual game is scheduled.  We are asked to play Euchre on occasion but I don't like that game.  I have also never tried to learn Bridge.  Too serious for me.  We got home pretty late.

Do not plan to go on vacation anywhere I am headed this year.

First we booked a cruise to Italy, Turkey and Greece for September. Turkey had to be taken off as a port because they are not granting visas to US citizens now.  We are going to Malta instead.

Then I rented two condos in Kona on the Big Island for Christmas and the volcano starts flowing big time.  

We have reservations on Oahu for 3 nights so Ted can share visiting Pearl Harbor and the Arizona with Sam.  The tours on to the Arizona Memorial have been stopped because the boat dock needs to be repaired.  

And now the tourist areas around Athens, Greece had a huge wildfire that killed many people, many of them tourists. 

Fair warning, we do hope to go to Florida in August.  Hurricane anyone? Geesh!

Tuesday was fairly quiet.  I balanced my checkbook and sent several cards and paid a few bills.  I had a long conversation with my friend with the fractured pelvis.  She can walk holding on to something but cannot walk on her own yet.  She wants company this weekend to play cards and wanted to discuss snacks and things.  

I took a walk twice around the block and then tried to manually start our sprinklers.  They wouldn't come on!  I traced it to a tripped GFI in the garage and then had to reprogram the whole thing!  We have temps in the 100s and it hasn't rained in awhile.  I thought an extra "drink" would be welcome.  It did solve the mystery of who turned our water off in the winter of 2017.  I now assume the GFI tripped and there was no one here to reset it.  I only noticed the sprinkler had been off on our water bill when I received it.  Heavy rain will cause the GFI that serves the porch and courtyard to trip.  We probably came home, reset it, and programmed the sprinkler without connecting it as one event.  Something else for Nancy to watch!  

Ted had his cataract surgery on his only eye Thursday.  Needless to say, we both were apprehensive.  No room for error!  Everything went well and we were home by 8:30.  He had some swelling that caused a cloudy or foggy appearance to things but it dissipated as the swelling went down.  We just have to do the drops thing for awhile.  

We had to return to the eye doctor first thing Thursday morning.  We were taken on time but Ted was unable to read the first line of the chart.  His pupil has stayed constricted and was not responding even to direct light.  There is swelling they said and once it goes down things should improve rapidly.  I sure hope so!

I took him home and left for my WW meeting.  Once again my phone told me how far and driving time to the Good Feet store which is next door to WW!  Now it knows what I do on Thursday mornings AND Saturday late afternoons!  I only lost .2, 7.6 to go.  They warned me about how hard the last 10 lbs. are and getting off the last 5 are next to impossible!  

John stopped by to pick up the plant I bought as a housewarming present but forgot to take Monday night.  While here he received a text from Dave about losing his remote programming.  Since he was close I checked my bag and found a cord that he said would work so he left and got that fixed before heading home.  John is a lot of folks' entertainment systems guru.  And I never throw out a cord.  We made a good team that day.  

On Friday Ted was seeing properly so he went ... to the gun club, not to shoot but to look at the targets as they are thrown to see if he could see them.  He took my brownies to church for the funeral before heading out.  

We have no plans until Sunday when we are going to Irene's to play cards.  The poor thing is going stir crazy!  I didn't want to force Ted to go somewhere or do something too soon after his surgery but he says he is okay for Sunday!

I am about to post this so I will put in a photo to see what happens!  I have started and stopped this edition several times.  Here is a photo of the new comforter and newly covered bench (that is probably close to 30 years old and has had many covers over the years.)

That Worked Well!

I was pleased to see my last posting.  It cramps my style writing as I go along, particularly if I find a photo after the fact and want to insert it.  It always worked before and I am not sure why it is doing this.  

Friday we planned to go visit Tommy and Susan at the campground.  About 4:15 we received a text that Tommy was starving so we needed to meet for dinner.  We agreed to meet at Sweet Tomatoes before 5:00 while the special senior pricing was still in effect.  I always enjoy eating there.  It is easy to record your points.  Then we returned to their motorhome to visit and it was really late when we got home.

I helped Tommy get his WW app up and running on his phone.  Then he helped me understand the RV Wizard app we both downloaded recently.  I am still not sure about some things and I bet he feels the same way about his new app!  I received a text on Saturday night that he only had 2 points left.  I told him I was having a 2 point fudge bar and he had to hit the zero foods if he was still hungry.

Saturday morning Rafi and Sochi, our next door neighbors, came to visit.  They have been in China for quite some time.  We ended up having a three hour visit!  Their travels are so interesting and they are always interested in our upcoming travel plans.

We left for church shortly thereafter and afterwards went to our favorite Mexican restaurant to eat.  We both were hungry and cleaned our plates.  We had missed lunch!

Sunday was so hot I stayed in until I took a walk after dinner.  I stopped to speak with Jeanette and then visited with Nancy for a bit.  I did laundry while Ted was shooting in the afternoon and ordered a few things off the internet.  I am all shopped out!  For someone who isn't a shopper I have burnt up the credit card this past week.  The bathroom, bedroom and I are all in good shape.  Here I am in my new skinny jean capris!  This was the best I could do for a selfie!

My Last Attempt

Okay, I will not try to insert photos after the fact.  If I want you to see something I mentioned previously, I will do it separately.  If that doesn't work, I will just sign off and try Wordpress or something.

My big dinner Sunday did give me a "no loss" on Thursday.  Actually, I think it was overdoing zero point fruit (Bing cherries to be exact).  They are zero points but still have calories.  But they are so good and around for such a short period of time!

Our bathroom hit a bump in the road and it didn't turn out well.  Our contractor Chris had given us a good sized sample of what he said was the only one that would match our espresso cabinets.  We asked about going to the yard to pick out the slab and he said that wasn't necessary.  Two companies came to measure, Romero and JRT.  Romero called our sample one name and the lady said it was Santa Cecilia.  Ted told her the other fellow called it something else.  He said we didn't care what name they used but it needed to match that sample because everything else had been chosen using it.

Come Monday, after a week's delay, they arrive with dark brown and gold granite.

Our sample is this.

I said it wasn't what we ordered and I wasn't accepting it.  There was a lot of back and forth and Ted decided to go see Romero with our sample. He said it was Ornamental Light and Ted remembered then it was the name he originally mentioned. I wrote Chris, told him our sample was Ornamental Light, brought to us by him, and we had not signed off on any granite and the Santa Cecilia was wrong.  

Ted said he wanted our granite money removed from the invoice and we would handle the granite ourselves.  Chris wouldn't even come over and look at it!  I think they realized it earlier and that was the delay.  They maybe thought they could get it past me.

The cost was just about what we owed so the difference was minor.  They wrote a new invoice stating they will do the four minor things remaining after the granite goes in.

We called Romero. He came and re-measured, sent us to Galaxy Granite to pick out the slab we wanted.  In this huge yard filled with hundreds of slabs of all kinds of granite, I walked up to a slab and said I am looking for something like this. What is it called?  Ornamental Light she said.  I laid the sample on it and it was a perfect match.  We did the paperwork, called Romero, and he was on it!  

Overall I guess that isn't too bad after all.  We didn't lose any money (they may have with JRT depending on who ordered Santa Cecilia) and eventually it will get done.  We will be waiting another two weeks now but I will have what I want.  Once the granite is done, the faucets, grab bar, toilet paper holder and cabinet touch up taken care of, Greg will come and paint.  He just said to let him know when we are ready!

I am closing now and hope this works!

It Did It Again

I lost the last part of the previous blog.  It just disappears when I post it!  Writing it once is enjoyable, twice is annoying!

Can the End Be in Sight?

I did a lot of shopping over Friday and Saturday.  I have worn the same size for over a decade so I had no "Doesn't Fit" clothes section in my closet.  Unfortunately, it all fit!  I had been to the mall but I am not ready to invest in too many better clothes until I know they will fit for awhile.  So I headed to Kohl's and was able to buy several tops that will see me through.  I also bought a pair of white denim capris in size 10!!  It was nice to have a few things to choose from when getting dressed.

Saturday my day turned to more errand type shopping.  A piece of upholstery material for my bedroom bench, return a printer cartridge and get a different one, hit At Home for bed pillows and candles then on to Walmart next door for a squeegee, toilet brush, hook for back of the door, new nylon scrubbers (I just couldn't hang a pink one and blue one in our new shower) and a few greeting cards.  So many little things I kept forgetting to pick up.

While I was gone Ted shot on a team at a fundraising event with three friends creating Team Ted.  They came in Second, one target behind First Place.  Each received a trophy.  I hope there is room for it on his shelf.  

We were invited to John and Irene's for dinner to thank us for bringing them dinner previously.  I made a coconut custard pie for dessert.  I only used 2 points all day before we got there but I think my dinner and dessert may have used up my remaining 21 points and quite a few of my weekly ones.  I may pay for this next Thursday!  

Weekend Came and Went

Saturday, despite my phone advising me of the time and distance to church along with a traffic report, I fooled it and we went to Gerre's instead.  That will teach them to pigeonhole me.  I was flabberghasted to learn that my phone assumed where I was going at 4:40 on Saturday when I got in my car!  Big Brother is indeed watching.

Our plans for a swim party were ruined by showers but that didn't stop the festivities inside along with a great meal.  Eventually we left for Fay's and watched 45 minutes of fireworks over the lake.  Her deck afforded the whole bunch of us front row seats.

I don't know what my phone thought when we left at 8:45 for church on Sunday!  I didn't look.  We saw friends Jeff and Rachel who had a thyroid tumor removed that froze one of her vocal chords.  She had just had some sort of treatment and could talk some but very softly and a bit gravelly.  And it was announced a young man had died in an accident.  I told Ted we will be having a funeral this week.  Monday morning I received word they were in the process of planning a funeral for a 14 year old boy.  How sad!  I learned on Thursday it was a four wheeler accident.  

We originally received word that both our shower enclosure and granite would be installed Wednesday.  Then it was changed to granite installation on Thursday. There are a few things for the contractor to do when those two things are done but they are minor.  I will send Gregg an email and see what date we can have the painting done.  I am confident that we will have it all done before Ted's cataract surgery.  

So no one was coming on Monday and I took the time to assess my clothes for the cruise in September.  I have enough but will need to keep checking how they fit as we get closer.  

Then I printed our Seapass and luggage tags while I had the time.  Getting the cruise tags on luggage after you get off a plane can be tricky.  We have tried folding, tape and staples in the past.  Last year in anticipation of our Hawaii cruise that never happened due to my DVT and PE, I bought special plastic tags with screw on metal rings for both us and Irene and John.  They worked well!  I printed enough to have the cabin info visible on both sides.  I have two extra tags and will take them to Kristin for her two cruises.  

Other than that, I didn't do much.

Tuesday I didn't have anything particular to do so I put a new chicken dish in the crock pot and did two loads of laundry.  I called Sam's and ordered two half sheet cakes for the funeral on Thursday.  They are predicting 1,000 in attendance because of the many church groups the parents belong to and the friends and groups this young man encountered in his short 14 years.  

The shower enclosure people arrived about 9:00 on Wednesday. But I will not call Gregg to paint until the granite is in.  I don't want to waste Gregg's time changing dates if the granite isn't here as they said.  It is all coming together!

Thursday morning we had no idea if anyone was coming.  Ted went to Sam's and picked up the two cakes and took them to church while I stayed home.  Then he stayed while I went to WW.  He told me no one was coming after he called Chris.  Ted chewed him out because once again communication was non-existent.  When they said it would be Friday Ted said we weren't going to be home and it would have to be Monday.  I went to my meeting then picked up Jeanette to attend our neighborhood ladies luncheon.  Returning home, Ted announced we were going to the granite place to get some answers.  We went to the storefront for the granite fabricators.  They had us on their calendar for Friday and assured us the ogee edge was being done.  They said the hold up was the contract they were working from said "waterfall edge" and we told the template guy "ogee edge" so it had to be reworked.  We set it up for Monday morning and saw them erase us on Friday and move us to Monday.  Now we wait!  No word from Chris all day.

I am down 32.8# and am about 7# away from goal.  When all this construction is done and I start cleaning the house thoroughly as it should be I hope the extra energy spent helps me get there!  

And We Are Still Busy

We didn't do a whole lot over the weekend but we did get out and about some.

We met Gerre and Barry for dinner Friday and then enjoyed a comedy production at our community theater.  It was interesting, funny and well done.  

Saturday we went shopping for towels, rugs and wall decor for the bathroom.  I was dragging granite pieces, paint chips, original rugs, original soap dish with me.  We bought proper colored towels but have bath sheets instead of towels so they have to be exchanged.  I also forgot to get one extra hand towel for Ted's sink.  The newest rugs look too gray for the granite, wall color and towels.  However, they do look great on the floor tile, the one thing I didn't have with me!  Back to the rug drawing board Sunday.  We exchanged the soap dish for a different color and it works.  

We picked our ailing neighbors up for church and then we all went to dinner.  It was after 8 when we got home.  Jeanette had a cortisone shot in her knee and feels she can drive now that she can once again push on the brake!  

We are invited to Ted's shooting buddy's home on Tuesday for an Independence Day celebration, Tommy and Susan are coming here Wednesday and Thursday is WW, Ted's doctor appointment to get his clearance physical done for cataract surgery (not sure why they need to know he had his gall bladder removed in 1990, but oh well!) and the granite should be installed.  John and Sherida are back from the dentist in Mexico and have brought me tortilla chips I can't find here!  They will be stopping by on Monday.  July is looking a lot like the rest of the months.  

Ted went shooting Sunday and I gathered up my bags and off to the mall I went.  First I stopped at Office Max to get two ink cartridges and received three reams of paper for free.  Then I went to BB&B to exchange the bath sheets to bath towels.  On my way to get them I saw something I liked even better.  However, the shelf was almost empty.  I asked about availability and a girl took me to the back and brought them up on the computer.  I could buy the few things that were there but needed to order 3 rugs and 2 towels.  She got that finished, took 20% off everything, handed my coupons back to me and told me to use them when I paid for the things I had in my basket!  Wow!  Terrific Customer Service.

Then I took the other rugs back to Marshall's and bought a picture for above the toilet in that room.  I ended up with a credit!  With all that settled I headed to Macy's.  I bought some "skinny jeans" and a blouse.  When I paid she asked if I wanted to make a $3 donation to the Armed Forces to receive 25% off that day and for the next week.  With my new coupon, I shopped some more and bought 3 pairs of capris.  No more baggy butt as Ted calls it.  Finally, something that fits.  I headed home!   

My new white capris had an ink spot on them so they had to go back, I needed to return the towels that matched the bath sheets since I had taken them back on Saturday, and I wanted to turn in 10 ink cartridges for a credit on my rewards account.  We met Sherida and John for lunch, gathered up my tortilla chips they brought and did all our errands.  We then stopped at the grocery and finally I went to the nail salon.  It was 6:30 before I finally got home.

Tuesday I made my red/white/blue salad (strawberries/blueberries/bananas) and a blueberry cobbler to take to Tal and Cindy's house.  Their kids, the other in-laws plus mostly the kids' friends were all there and in the pool.  Lots of little kids were running around.  I was so impressed that everyone introduced themselves to us!  So many times in a situation like this young people tend to ignore you.  We had  a good time talking to their daughter-in-law's father.  His job had been Catholic school start ups and so much has changed in the past several decades.  The food was amazing.  Tal had his smoker going filled with ribs and chickens and had already done pulled pork.  I ate too much.  We came home about 7:30.  

We had invited Tommy and Susan for dinner on the 4th.  They are at the close-by campground and we normally go there but due to the holiday being in the middle of the week there were no festivities.  With the rain predicted I said I would cook here at home.  It rained buckets all morning and afternoon so our deck dining got moved indoors.  

We all enjoyed a nice meal and celebrated Tommy's birthday!  

Thursday we expected the granite people but there was some kind of glitch between the installer and vendor so our contractor moved to Plan B.  Ted went for his pre-op check up and Dr. C was as confused as we were about the need for it for cataract surgery.  My corner cabinet was delivered and I put it together while Ted went to the grocery.  We both know our strengths.  By the time he returned, I had it done.  No one else showed up for the granite so we stayed home for nothing!

Friday we were surprised by the doorbell ringing and it was a fellow wanting to make a template for our granite.  The first two only "measured" but this guy built a template and said he would try real hard to get this in by next week.  The glass is being delivered today to the company building our shower enclosure so maybe, just maybe, we can give a Gregg a date to do the painting.  We are still in the guest bedroom and bath waiting to put everything back where it belongs.  

Someday ...

Remember I told Ted I just need to get through April, then it was May and then June.  July looks promising!  Usually we are gone so I expected our social life to be non-existent.  And redoing a bath isn't something you do too often.  But I have been busier than a one-armed paper hanger and I am not sure how that happened.

We went to church Saturday night after I came home from the shower and Ted returned from working some charity event at the gun club.  

Katelyn and Matt

Afterwards we tried to eat at Cheesecake Factory with Terry and Carol but ended up at Brio because of the wait.  We finally used a courtesy offered by the dealership where I bought my Expedition - free valet parking at the mall!  All you need is the license plate holder with their name on it. I seldom go to the mall but with the crowd around the restaurants, this perk was much appreciated!

My friend Irene fell last week and has a fractured pelvis.  She isn't in a lot of pain but is pretty much confined to a wheelchair until it heals enough to put weight on it.  Carol and I told them we would bring dinner over Sunday and then play cards.  I made mac and cheese in my Instant Pot (so incredibly easy) along with cole slaw (Carol likes mine).  Ted bought an angel food cake and I cut up strawberries, huge blackberries, raspberries and blueberries (from my freezer) to top the cake followed by Cool Whip.  Carol made baked beans.  We stopped at Spring Creek BBQ and bought turkey, brisket and pulled pork plus some green beans.  They threw in 6 of their rolls for good measure.  Quite a feast!  

We enjoyed a nice meal, played cards (I came in third for lack of one ace in the third round!) and then enjoyed dessert.  Since I had some mac and cheese I didn't eat the cake, just the berries.  I hadn't put sugar on the fruit but instead sprinkled lemon Crystal Light sparingly over it.  Enhances flavors, adds a bit of sweetness but no calories.  

Monday was Ted's ophthalmology appointment and he is now scheduled for cataract surgery 7/25.  The bathroom should be done, he will have to see the doctor the next day and then in one week.  If all goes ok, we can take off the first week in August.  And I will have made it through July!

Tuesday I worked at the thrift shop and in the afternoon was expecting the drywall guy to come fix the light switch hole.  But they changed it to Wednesday when the tile guy will come back to fix the top row in the shower.  It starts with a small gap, continues on, then the next piece is about 1/8-1/4 inch bigger and at the end overlaps the crown molding.  Not going to fly with me!!

Ted went to finish his Sporting Clay league followed by a "banquet" and I waited for the carpet guys.  Our bedroom carpet needs stretching and all the carpets need cleaning.  I will be ready to call them as soon as the bathroom is done.  

Wednesday the tile got fixed but I don't think the tiler was happy with me.  He kept saying he was going to show me by measuring.  I told him I don't care how it measures, I care how it looks.  Having half the tile on top of the crown molding and the other just below it (as it should be) is not what I want.  I don't know how Chris made him understand but he fixed it.  They drywalled the last few spots, put in the new toilet and put up the towels bars, door handles, etc.  They won't be back now until Thursday when the granite is installed.  We can have the painting done now but I am getting the feeling Gregg is too busy since his answers to my inquiries have been non-committal.  I need to nail him down or move on.  

Once Ted was here to run the show, I left to play Mah Jongg.  I won two games out of six.  One was a closed hand (pays more) and I pulled my own tile so I got paid double!  Made up for last week!

Thursday, Gregg the painter came to give us an estimate just as I was getting ready to leave for WW.  He went over all that has to be done and gave us a price half of what the contractor's painter wanted.  Gregg has painted our house inside and out plus the deck and I know what kind of work he does.  We will call him with the day the granite and glass will be installed and he will come right after that occurs!  

I went to my WW meeting having missed the last two because of working those days.  I would get weighed and leave right away.  Today I was able to stay after weighing in down 30.6 lbs.  I am 9.6 lbs. away from goal.  (Happy Dance!).  Afterwards I went to Ross and Marshall's looking for rugs and towels for our bathroom.  I found two pictures that work well that I noticed while standing in line, I didn't find towels and feel the rugs I brought home are too busy and clash with the granite.  Back to the mall tomorrow.  I did buy two shirts for me too.  

Tomorrow is dinner at Joe's Italian restaurant followed by opening night at the community theater.  No big plans for the weekend though!  

Just Staying Home

I haven't done much of anything but stay home, watch the doors stand open while we air conditioned the outside and gathered up the dust!  Now that's a waste of time.  

Workmen have been in and out everyday.  The shower and floor are tiled.  The new door has been hung and the other door opening dry walled.  All the electric has been completed and the new lights hung.  Two different companies are bidding on the granite more for timing than cost and we have ordered our shower enclosure.  I have picked out the paint and sent all our timing info to the painter but he will be last to come in I think.  And now we wait!

I put an ad in our neighborhood classifieds offering my ivory drape to a good home and a gentleman right across the boulevard picked it up the next evening.  It was posted for a half hour and I had four inquiries.  Shows you free is good!  I was pleased when he emailed me shortly after picking it up saying how nice it was and thanked us saying that we are good neighbors.

So I thought why not post the two vanity light bars?  Same result!  A lady picked them up the next morning.

There are many still trying to recover from Harvey and I just couldn't see tossing usable things away.  I also didn't want to charge for them.  They served us well and were being replaced for aesthetics, not because they needed replacing, and I knew Free would move them quicker than anything and I was right.

I fibbed when I said I just stayed home after looking back on the week!  It was just that one of us was always home.  I took my bunco group (9 attended) to lunch on Monday as a farewell thank you gesture.  I chose a nice restaurant and picked up the tab.  One lady is interested in keeping the 18 year old group going so I sent her all the info and forms I had on my computer.  I will be the #1 sub and will play when I am in town and am needed.

I played Mah Jongg on Wednesday but received three phone calls and was so distracted that I played poorly.  I couldn't turn my phone off because I knew Ted would have questions and he did.  Also, one call was from the doctor for my September ultrasound on my legs.  I was flustered because I didn't have my calendar with me and was just hoping I picked good dates!  I did.  Mah Jongg is not a game where you can chit chat during play.  You need to concentrate and listen for tiles called.  I didn't win any games.  😬

I worked Thursday at the Thrift Shop and to add insult to injury, I gained .2 at WW.  That's less than 3 ounces but still a gain and no loss.  Getting meals together with all the activity was more "grab as you go" and that is never good.  Back on the bandwagon this week!  And now I have another box to ship to Ohio because I worked the kids' table and lots of nice things came in.  I buy mostly for my sister's 7 great grandkids.  My 14, 16, 24 and 28 year old grandkids aren't too interested though a Minecraft T-shirt I bought last year was a big hit with Morgan!  

Tomorrow I am attending a baby shower for a friend's granddaughter.  We have moved on to the next generation in both family and friends.  We have one granddaughter married but no great grands on the horizon.  I know Katelyn is a Disney nut so I chose Minnie Mouse red polka dot wrapping paper.  After 3 daughters and 3 granddaughters I have seen enough pink everything to last a lifetime.

Let's hope this all posts.  I still haven't figured out what has changed to cause the posting problem.

Tiling Done!

The shower and floor tiling was finished on Saturday.  Now they can measure for the frameless glass enclosure.  Also the granite template needs to be made for the countertops.  The drywalling where the door was needs to be done and the new door hung on the other wall.  We bought a new high seat toilet just to finish off the things you can do in a bathroom to make it easier to use. Last I assume are the faucets, towel racks, lights, etc.  It will be awhile before it is totally finished.  The shower glass can take up to three weeks.

I spent the rest of Saturday sweeping, then dust mopping, then using a Wetjet and finally using the wood floor cleaner on all our wood floors.  Dust was terrible in our bedroom and I took a metal sculpture off the wall to take outside to hose it down.  Pictures, flower arrangements, furniture, windowsills, everything was covered in dust!  

When I had everything done but the two guest bedrooms and bath that we are still using, I stopped and got dressed for church.  We picked up our neighbor to go with us.  He cannot drive because of retina surgery and his wife has been fighting an undetermined illness involving her leg and cannot drive so they asked us to give them a ride.  Only he was able to go, she was feeling too poorly.  I have told them we will drive them anywhere they need to go.  Maybe God is keeping us here to help them.

We met Terry and Carol at Red Lobster later. Their daughter Karen has lost about 30 lbs. on Weight Watchers and now Carol is getting interested.  She was curious about my WW app I use when eating out.  By the way, the magic number last Thursday was 29.2.  Really want to hit 30 this week!  I am closing in on goal but the last pounds are hard to lose.

Happy Father's Day to all the fine fellows in my life, especially Ted who has always been the port in a storm for our kids.  

Dust, Dust Everywhere

I don't do well in dust and chaos but I am hanging in there!  It is Saturday and I think the worse of the dust will be over.  I could write a dissertation on my dresser in the dust.  

To add to the mix, our new security system was installed and they came on Friday.  I don't know how to say "what the hell" in Spanish but I bet it was uttered a few times by the tilers as our Vietnamese installer had to get into our closet to change out a motherboard!  It was a day of diversity!!  Then there was the lawn maintenance crew but they stayed outside and away from all the goings on in the driveway!  

This is the shower almost completely tiled.  It will take almost three weeks for the frameless glass to be ready.  They cannot measure until the tile has all been set.  It is bigger than it appears, about 4 X 4 floor plus the bench.  We chose to keep the seat (bench did not translate to my Spanish tilers) having had experience with hip surgeries and back surgeries in the past.  Most of our neighbors are empty nesters and retirees.  A walk in shower, with seat and grab bar could be a blessing not only to us but to any buyer down the road.  I remember the doctor asking after my first hip surgery "What are you going home to?"  When I told him no steps, walk in shower, seat and grab bar he said I was good to go, no rehab place was needed.  

Our security system is up and running and all this technology is taxing my brain!  I can run my whole life from my IPad or telephone.  Our installer was very patient with me and told Ted I was good with the new technology.  "You can fool some of the people some of the time, etc.!"

Demolition Begins!

To avoid losing my pictures while writing, I am going to post them separately as they occur.

Counters and sinks removed.

Huge tub that we haven't used once in 15 years.

Original walk in shower.

After Day 1

The wall and door which crowds Ted's sink will be dry walled and the door moved around the corner.  

Tub gone and the right hand wall will become the entry to the commode room.

Shower things removed.

The shower footprint will be enlarged.  It will be tiled, have a decorative band and a niche for bottles decorated same as the band, pebble look floor and frameless glass.  Plumber due for Day 2. 

And the Renovation is Scheduled to Begin

We went to my cardiologist appointment and of course she blamed the hospital on the communication snafu on the day of my procedure.  She insisted they have a second number to call if the doctor does not respond to the first.  I find it hard to believe his own nurse in the cath lab or the manager of the cath lab didn't know this and try several ways to reach him.  He was at the other hospital completing a complicated procedure but someone dropped the communication ball.  I also told her how disappointed I was that after being told my hematoma could get bigger and cut off my air supply and to call 911 if that happened that no one from her office or the hospital called to check on me the next day.  She said she didn't know about the hematoma or she would have. Again ... Whose job is it to report to you on your patient?  

I told her it was said and done and let's move on.  This time she indicated a vein in each leg needs to be collapsed.  So I will have another Dopplar on both legs in September and then see her two days after.  If the thrombosis residue is diminished she will set the wheels in motion because insurance clearance will take a month.  So in the meantime we will go to Rome for 4 days, then cruise for 9 days and have the procedures done one at a time when we return.  I think she said they will do my right leg first which looks perfectly fine to me to see how well I tolerate it.  If all is good they will do the left that has two very visible veins.  I have to wear compression stockings while flying and if I will be walking all day, plus continue with my Eliquis.  So for now, once my mammogram is done next week and comes back Normal I am good to go until Fall.  Ted will see the eye doctor June 25 and hopefully his cataract will be ready to be removed.  Then he will need to stay close for two weeks.  

The third thing on the agenda and keeping us home is the bathroom renovation.  We have picked everything out but the paint which we won't need for awhile.  We have the 5 door handles already, two lights were delivered yesterday, all the tile was delivered today and Chris is trying to reach the plumbing supply place to check on our hardware and sinks.  We have chosen the granite but that comes later.  They are starting Monday.  So just maybe sometime in July we may be able to slip away for a little while.  

Tuesday I worked at the thrift shop and will go back to cover a double shift for a friend on Thursday.  There were so many bags to be emptied!  I didn't feel like we made much of a dent in what needed to be done!

I took a half day vacation Wednesday morning, i.e., I did nothing, but then we took off to run errands to the post office, bank, dollar store and grocery store.  I mailed a package, then deposited a check, stopped to find a plastic devil egg dish but they didn't have any so I bought just a plastic platter.  I have to make two dozen deviled eggs for a funeral on Monday along with two gallons of tea, a gallon of lemonade and a case of 8 oz. water bottles.  They are expecting 500 people, thus the large amount of things needed.  We bought all we needed at HEB and chose coconut shrimp for our dinner.  It was really good!  

Thursday was WW at 9:30 and thrift shop work at 10:00.  I am down 28.4 now!  Less than 11.5 lbs. to go!  Things were a mess at the shop.  We have no control over donations and sometimes it just gets overwhelming.  There was a need for children's play clothes in the store so packed summer bins were brought down and we checked and tagged both boy and girl clothes.  I went through the infant bins again and refilled the store bins.  There was a pile between the two tables that we all tackled and when we left it was all cleared off!  Sandy and I also did several bags that had been brought in.  I left at 2:00,  more than ready to sit down!

I bought lots while I was working though, a small phone case that can be hung around your neck, perfect for traveling as it can be slipped under your clothes and hold your phone, driver's license, credit card and a few dollars while leaving your hands free and a pair of Chico slacks in my new size!  There were lots of new with tag items for the kids - Justice tops and bathing suit for Lily 

and five baby outfits that I keep on hand for our prolific extended family.  There was a Mickey Mouse purse for Morgan or Kara who both love Disney items 

and a 3 piece swim set for Jameson.  

Mixing work and pleasure!

Wind Down Week

Tuesday and Wednesday we recovered from our day in the sun and geared up for one last group to be entertained at our house for awhile.

I spent part of the time pampering myself.  My eyebrows have needed touching up for some time so I took care of that on Tuesday.  And Wednesday was haircut day and it was way past being needed.  In between I did three loads of laundry.  When that was all done I went to the store again for food for Thursday's crowd.  Then I used my blueberries to make 24 mini muffins for a funeral on Friday and a dozen large ones for Thursday's Shanghai group.  

In between all of this we have been picking out things for the bathroom.  Chris stopped by with the piece of granite he thought would work best with our espresso cabinets and the "warm" tones of the rest of the house.  Gray and white are the big look now but that just isn't me.  Too stark for my taste and just wouldn't go with our bedroom or anything else in our house for that matter.  He was right on and we agreed with his choice when we put it on the counters above the espresso cabinets.  Next up is floor and shower tiles.  We hope to get to that by the end of this week.

I went to my WW meeting Thursday

 morning and am down 27 lbs.  Finding things to wear is getting difficult.  Even my recent purchases, some of which I haven't worn, are now too big!  

We had a group of 10 to play Shanghai and I couldn't do diddly squat.  Everytime I wanted to buy a card, the person in front of me took it!  I would need one of any five cards and could not draw or have one thrown.  I hadn't backed myself into a corner needing a specific card but I couldn't get what I needed for love or money.  So I lost! 

Ted had spent all afternoon at the gun club to get out of the house and brought Subway sandwiches home for dinner.  He knows after entertaining and cleaning up that I wouldn't feel like cooking.  He knows me well.

On Friday I dropped the mini muffins off at church for the funeral then continued on to the country club to meet Gail so we could pass the baton of Regent Care Nursing Home on to the three new Chairs (not to mention the 6 containers of supplies and decorations I have housed all year!).  Gail treated us all to lunch and we spent two hours discussing all kinds of things.  I saw a half dozen other friends enjoying their lunch too.  

I returned home around 2:00 and we took off for Floor and Decors to pick out our floor and shower tile.    This is worse than looking through wallpaper books!  A young man Kevin took us under his wing and was oh so patient.  We chose floor tiles, shower tiles, hexagonal shower floor tile and decorative tiles for a band around the shower walls and the inside of the niche that will be built.  It took us quite some time to choose.  There are such subtle shades of colors and needing to pick four different tiles that all went together well with the granite and cabinets was no easy task.  

We stopped at Sweet Tomatoes for dinner and came home for the evening.  It has been a busy week so I took a nap for an hour or so.  Sometimes you just have to stop and regroup.  

I have been busy cleaning the linen closet and all the cabinets in the master bath.  Getting down is still a problem for me but only half the problem of getting back up!  It is taking me much longer than it should have.  We went to church and then out to eat.  I am getting really good at finding things on the menu that work for me.  

While Ted was shooting Sunday I finished up with my projects and then went shopping. I bought a size 10 dress.  Woohoo!  

Tomorrow is an appointment with the cardiologist.  We will see what she has to say about her colleague's lack of professionalism last week!