Things are on the upswing!

The A/C is fixed. ($1,200 later!) 

The Dryer is fixed (part installed by Butch - cost unknown

I have access to my work computer - no ID card yet, but I can get in so yay me!

Monday I drove to ATL to get my ID card as they could print. I got there on time for my 9:40 appointment despite the rain on the way up. 

The system to issue IDs was down. Sigh. Ok I’ll wait. 

Noon rolls around…. Nerves are frayed as they are unable to print. So I say “go to lunch, I’ll call and check in” I went to an estate sale on the way to go drop off a treat for my cousin Eve in Kennesaw. Hey, if you’re that far north you go to the sale and you go to your cousins!!  So I popped up to her house BUT didn’t stay long as I had to go back to see about my ID. Sigh. Got back to IRS @ 3:00. Held out until 4:15 then headed to the house. Nothing more we could do. It was printable Tuesday - go figure. They mailed it to Macon. NOW to get an appointment in Macon is the trick!!  I’m currently scheduled for JULY 5th. Yep. THAT far out. I had an appointment on the 22nd of June but cancelled it to drive to ATL for the “fix” of getting it done at once. Big joke!!

Now I actual start the job…

This is going to be fun and interesting for sure!!

The second shoe has dropped - A/C is out

Yeah this is fun. At least it’s not August!  A/C guy came over today and should be back tomorrow to finish the job. Gotta love it. Right?  Wonder what #3 will be?

May be the job situation. I don’t have ID. I have no idea if I’ll go to Atlanta to get my laptop or not. I’m in limbo. Fun times. At least at my age I just roll with it. What else you going to do?  Nothing. I’m either driving to ATL or I’m not. Waiting for them to tell me. Insult to injury? My emails from home are NOT going through, so that’s fun. 

This weekend (First Shoe Drops)

Because we’re going on a cruise and 8 years ago we had this SAME problem. Sigh. 

Life around the house

Well. My flurry of job applications paid off. I have a new job. The tricky part is I don’t know exactly when I start. The timeline is a bit weird too. I didn’t realize how LONG this process is until someone asked me and I had to go look it all up:

I applied 1/6/23

The job closed 1/20/23

Interviewed 02/23/23

Offered job 3/30/23

And it’s now MAY and still no closer to a firm date. The powers that be started negotiations for a release date a while back and they settled on after I finish appraisals. (Which I finished writing NLT 7 April - which I did)…and I’ve still not been able to give those to the employees. It’s a weird thing this leadership in the government. 

Sooooo I think my start date is the 22nd of this month but may well be the 5th of June. It will all work out. I will be on the cruise that week so it would be interesting to start work on vacation. Ha!  It all has to do with when the pay periods start/end. I just wait patiently. I should have my credentials for IRS sometime this week or early next. So yeah, it’s very weird. 

Other than that I continue to run the roads going to estate sales and buying stuff I don’t need and selling it on eBay. Mostly for profit :) bought a vase for $7.50 and sold it for $75 last week. Not all are that great. Some are stinkers. But most have been a few dollars of profit at a minimum. So all is good. 

Ran into an old co-worker at a random Flea market in the middle of nowhere. That was fun!  He was “thumbing a ride” as we were driving out and I rolled down my window to tell him he has to show leg to get rides around here - not even knowing it was him!  What a hoot!  As soon as he started talking I knew who he was and about died!!!  

Weekday adventure

https://www.americasmart.com/

Why am I starting this post with Americasmart?  Because this is where I went for three days to help a friend gather goodies for her online shop. Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday was cash and carry sample sales. These are the stores that other boutique come to order and shop from so all the items in this place are samples of what the boutiques can order at wholesale prices. So cash and carry is half off of wholesale or more. So killer deals!

It was so fun!!  I was the helper but still got to shop for stuff for Christmas while there. There are 18 floors in building 2 where we started. Goods didn’t really start until floor 6… we walked 5 miles in circle’s from 10am to 5pm. We made it through 1/2 the stores in building 2 on day 1.

This was not cash and carry but OH so cute. Yea, spring may have this display on sale!!  We did see folks walking out with large displays items too. Fun if you have a store, right??

 After we finished the day we went back to the hotel and went through our loot and decided to DRIVE the next day and park at the venue!!  

going through our loot at the hotel:

We had two wagons on the trip. Both were full. We then had to schelp them home. 

. 

Stuff on the shelf, stuff on the counter. Stuff on the beds. Stuff everywhere. Day one was actually light compared to day two. I was surprised when Barbara said this was light on the shopping haul. 🤯

Day two. 

A considerable amount more. This time I had a box partially full as well with Christmas presents. Big old load today. Walked 5 more miles on this day as well and went to all the remaining stores in building 2!

A few of the things I saw when I was waiting and failing my job as helper (sitting in a rarely found chair!)

So cute!!  The stick was padded and fairly firm with one flaming marshmallow, one scorched and one without marks. Sooooo cute. 

A great pair of Audrey stuffies!!

Some AWEAOME lawn furniture that was very high end for $4,000. They were comfy for sure!  Honestly we were just taking a break!  Ha!!

The view from our hotel. I jokes with Butch it was a man’s heart healthy hotel with the boobs across the way!  

What boobs?  These

Day three and I look like an old man!  And honestly so stiff and sore I didn’t care!

No picture of the haul but an embarrassing picture of my footwear. I wore these HeyDude shoes the first day with pants but I was sooo hot. I switched to capris and wore my tennis shoes with socks. They gave me a blister. Sooo last day, back to these shoes with socks just in case the blister popped. Soooo sexy - not!!

Last day was only 3 miles walked as we only shopped the temporary items. Most were jewelry and clothes. Things Barbara wasn’t looking to buy and nothing I would fit in on a good day. AND only one showroom so we did that, debated about revisiting some shops in building two but opted to just call it a day and headed home with the back of her big SUV full. not to the ceiling but quite full :)

That’s what I did this week!  I worked Monday and Friday and played through the middle. And now it’s the weekend. Tomorrow I am in a glass pumpkin blowing class. I’m not sure we really blow or of we just shape. We shall see. 

Macon

 

Look - grandpa clock beside Smitty's painting... the two fathers represented on the mantle

No matter what I do,these photo's load backwards, so this is looking towards the front door from the back of the house.... nice stained glass.

bathroom at the back of the house (it's in an addition that was added some time ago, but odd to have a full bath off the back of the house with a shower/tub)

this is the den - with the bathroom right through that door to the right... 

the kitchen with a nice island and this is the only room downstairs with a functional fireplace and it's gas.

all of the rooms downstairs (4) have fireplaces... very pretty for decorations!  This is the room to the left as you walk in the front door - it does not connect to any other room so it's sort of a formal living room area that Liz is using for her office.

Dining room as it links through the blue "closet" doorway to the kitchen

Each of these rooms has a closet off of it... so the kitchen uses one for the fridge and the dining room has it punched through to the kitchen for a walk through - smart move during renovations later in this houses life.

going upstairs.

yes, this is an 1885 house...

while in town I took Angela's car to have the oil changed (she doesn't adult well) and found that the oil cap was MISSING.  Yep, just gone.  I got that replaced, oil done AND made her register it and got the title turned over to her, so this is now officially HER car.  Considering she had not registered it last year I was a little scared because there was ALSO a brake light out... so here I am driving round with a brake light out AND it's not registered... sigh.  That child!!

BUT she's all fixed now and has a new license plate in Angela's name, not mine!  Yay!

Alex's cat Ash finally trusted me enough to sleep above my head on the couch and you can see Salem up on the shelf as well :)  They tolerate me... not love me, but tolerate me.  I don't feel bad, neither one of them are lovey cats, so I don't feel too off put by the fact they are not loving to me either.

And with that we start the fiasco that was trying to leave the states... the web site stated just get the Antigen tests for Germany... well, we were transiting Amsterdam who wanted a PCR.  We didn't know this so when we got to the airport we didn't have the PCR test... dang it.  We did a mad dash over to an off site rapid PCR testing facility to get it done for $150 per person then cam into the airport with NO time to spare to get our bags checked.... as in less than an hour before take off - BUT we made it.

What didn't happen was time to change out of my summer gear so I was on the plane in capris'.... I did change to pants when we landed in Amsterdam however... so all was well with the world.

We were bumped to Comfort, but not first - drat it!  it was NOT comfortable, but we made it... that's what counted.  I was able to sleep on and off most of the flight.  I slept the WHOLE 2nd flight from AMS to STR.  :)  Woke up to say "no thanks" to snack service - ha!

Georgia Fun

I got into ATL and Angela and I headed out to get Pizza at our favorite place while waiting for her sister to get into town.  While we were waiting we got the news that Elizabeth's plane was going to be late and we were lazy and did NOT want to hang out until 11pm to see her for a few minutes so we went back to the house and passed on meeting Elizabeth at the airport.  We opted instead to meet her at her house on Monday evening for dinner :)

 We walked to dinner through the Christmas lights - love the Christmas lights there :)

 This shake was loved by all - it was a whoopie pie shake ... we all enjoyed it!
It was a quick trip - as soon as we got done with dinner, we headed back to Liz's apartment then headed back up to ATL for the last night in the country.

My flight wasn't until 6pm BUT Angela had to work and wouldn't be getting home until 5pm so I was left to my own devices after we went out to Breakfast - yep, I had my parting Waffle House Breakfast.  It wasn't worth documenting as Angela and I were busing chatting and spending our last bit together.

 The evil grin is due to the EMPTY seat next to me on the flight - YEP, I got to be super comfortable!!

 Weird shot on the take off...

 AND over the ocean we go into the sunrise on the far side.  I didn't sleep nearly enough on the flight but I did sleep for TWO hours at Angela's after breakfast before catching my Lyft to the airport.  So, with that I was back to reality and work.  I did go into work for 1/2 day after going home and showering... it did keep me awake long enough to sort of get back on track.  I didn't really get back on track.  I was still off from all the traveling.

I had a back that was super tweaked since about the first week in December.  yeah, fun.  I was popping Tylenol like it was candy.  I'm still not super well and still not super well on the back area.  There are days I don't know it feels a bit tender... today is one of them darn it.  So I'm about 20 days into it.... but it's getting better, just super slow.  This getting old and the travel is just wearing on a gal.  Sigh. 

Short Whirlwind tour home (yes, already!)

Well, since I was in the states already and Butch came with me, of COURSE we were going to stop on the way back to Germany!

There are VERY few pictures on this part.. not sure what is up with my lack of "documenting" of things...I just have stopped taking a lot of "every day" pictures.

We flew into ATL and hopped into a rental car on Saturday the 24th and headed down to Florida.  Why you ask?  Because of this!

The trip from ATL to Fort Walton is 4 hours 55 minutes
The trip from Fort Walton Beach to Warner Robins is 5 hours 10 minutes
The trip from Warner Robins to the airport is 1 hour 35 minutes....

It's FASTER for us to go to Fort Walton from ATL directly then backtrack.  Saved us a few hours on the trip - although we could have reversed the trip and ended in Fort Walton, but that wasn't the plans, now was it?  LOL

So.  our rental Car... yeah....  We didn't get the car until 7pm - it was a Nissan Altima - PRETTY and nice car full size, comfortable for long road hours... and it was a lemon.  We stopped to get snacks and tinkle about an hour into the trip and it stalled going into the gas station area... keep in mind we are in NOWHERESVILLE Alabama at this point as it's now 8pm.  There are NO Dollar Rental Car places anywhere near us - none.  They aren't even open in Tupelo - which is our next major town.  So I said a prayer, revved the gas a bit, got it back into gear quickly before it could stall and got it on the highway - once on the highway it was fine.... so, we just can't stop... hum, this could be interesting.

The thought process was "maybe it's bad gas" so we'll get gas and when we do we will hope that is what the issue was/is.  Nope.  We got gas south of Montgomery and had to do the wing and a prayer and fiddle with the gas pedal to get it going and out of traffic... then once we got gas we had to do the same thing to get back on the road.  We though "OK let bad gas get out of the system?"  Nope... there are small towns on that route and near as we can tell it's the auto stop/start feature like they have here in German where when you stop the car the engine stops, which is great, but our car was NOT restarting automatically.  Yeah... fail.  So we call roadside and see if we can get them to get a replacement car at the airport in Fort Walton as we will be coming in just as the place closes. 

NOPE.  They were NOT helpful... they couldn't get in touch with the place, nothing... come to find out the next day that NO ONE has the right number for the car rental for Dollar in Fort Walton - not even the main line for Dollar.  Very inefficient as I was trying to call them all morning to see if they could get me a replacement car.  NOPE.  No answers.  I get there physically and there are three people sitting around doing NOTHING.  And NO phone calls are going through to them.  How convenient, eh?  hum... what a crock.

MY replacement car was a Hyundai mini suv.  Good enough car, but a step down from the Nissan.  Sigh.  I wrote a nasty gram to Dollar which only got me $45 in credit back to my credit card but no apology or anything about the phone number snafu.  Oh, well, we had a car and it now worked.  Good enough at this point!

We spent a few days with Sally before having to head on up to Warner Robins as Angela only had one day off during the time that we would be there.  So we made sure that we were there when she was so she could get some mommy time. 

We stayed at Liz's house with her kitty - Salem.  Love that cat!  She isn't nearly as friendly as I would hope but she will still sit near you for petting, so that's good enough for me.  She would sleep by Butch, but not by me - darn her!  I did have her come sniff me in the middle of the night a few times and she would love me in the morning because I would feed her :) 

We went out to eat, visited with Mom and Dad and our bonus guests was that Robert and Janet were there in town as well, so we visited with them as well.  Mom and I even tooka  day and went out to Cochran to relive our consignment shop days.  It was good for me as I had done a final drop off and told Liz she could go out and get the money from them if she wanted.  She never went out there so I was $150 richer when I left!  Bonus for me!!

We even got to meet with the renter of the place in Georgia.  He was nice.  The house is in order and all looks to be well with the world.

And THIS is the only picture that was taken - and it wasn't even taken on MY phone, it was on Butch's phone.  How funny is that?  Seriously I seem to have lost my desire to take pictures unless it's a castle or food - and sometimes not even food :)

I did take a few pictures of the cabinets in the garage... but even that I won't share here, I just put them on facebook to see if they would sell.... they didn't.  I think I shared them to Mom's pages, but no one needs cabinets it would appear.

Oh, well, I'll try again in a bit to sell them.  Speaking of which I just went and re-posted them. Maybe someone will be able to use them.  My Aunt in Virginia expressed interest but not sure they will come down to get them... if they do, they can have them :)

Anyway... we spent some time with mom and dad, Robert, Janet and even met Liz's boyfriends parents for dinner one night.  It was a pleasant experience, they are nice.

And just like that our time was over in the US and we were back on the plane to Germany.
I think there is another photo floating out there that Butch took of the two of us in the airport.... but really, you've seen us :)

Updates from Florida

Yeah. I decided I would do my rest and recuperating in Florida like a proper diva. Now to have warmer weather, a beach chair and a drink with an umbrella and I would be set!!

I got here Tuesday night after getting my MRI done. The MRI is to look at my spine to make sure there are no compressed or bulging disks causing the numbness in my legs. I still think it’s all neuropathy from chemo and as I wasn’t moving much, I simply didn’t notice how far it had progressed. The answers to that will be found out soon enough. I’m big sweating it just yet. Nothing I can do about any of it anyway.

So. Last I updated things in the healing front were going well. I participated I. My first Undie Rin for colon cancer.






Sherry’s boyfriend Josh. Tagged on his bum, appropriate for a colon shot anyway. Yes that is a Giant colon behind us.





The three of us ready to go





Liz with her “What’s up your butt” shirt.





So this ambulance was following me. It was funny he first quarter mile.





By the 1/2 mile I was beginning to wonder if he knew something I didn’t. Ha! Although I have walked upwards of two mikes in a day recently I have discovered it’s not all at once!! Yikes!!





Sherry and I at the finish





Butch and I at the finish amazing this is such a good shot as I couldn’t see a thing!!





Lizzie coming across the finish line. She cut two minutes off her time fro
The 5k ran the weeks prior. Yay Lizzie!!





And a fun time was had by all!!

The day after Lizzie and I drove to Ikea to shop and to visit with Angela. She drove down and met us. We shopped out hearts at in Ikea (buying surprisingly little) had pizza at Antico’s pizza.






They have the BEST pizza. Check them out if you’re ever close!! It’s as close to TRUE Italian pizza as we have found stateside.

That done along with a Target run and we headed home.

Long fun filled weekend!

Flash forward to me making some calls for air conditioning heater replacement for the the tiny house. Why you ask? Well one emergency call from kids last year that the A/C was on the fritz on the weekend of all times led us to know it’s time. So. Everyone wanted to give me quotes on Wednesday. I HAD planned on driving down on Wednesday. Guess not. I decided to bite the bullet and drive down after my 9am MRI. Thinking that it should be quick. *insert maniacal laughter here*. Yeah what they didn’t tell me was blood work was first then an hour after that was the MRI. So I didn’t go in until 10:30. I came out at noon. Back just screaming. I hate MRIs. That table is too hard!!

So seat heater is a wonderful invention as it goes up the back a bit. I had it on for parts of my drive.

I had to go home from that, eat and pack. On the road by 2pm. Not shabby. By the time o got here I just wanted to lay down and relax, so that’s just what I did. Crawled in bed and read and played on electronics.

I didn’t even disturb my bowel habits too bad. Whoop whoop!! Still had 9pm poo and bed. Yeah!!

Wednesday was four quotes and even a nap as the 1pm came early and the next one was at 3pm. Yeah!! Nice nap!!

So today is Thursday. Sticker shock is in full affect. $4500 to $5645. U had to justify my choice to go with the cheapest. The REASON wasn’t because of price. It was because he was the only one to mention the $400 rebate from the gas company AND will fill out all the paperwork and file it and pass the saving on to me up front. Sweet!! I like one stop shop!! So, choice made.

Sad fact was someone “rang my bell”at the front door. Yeah. It noworkie. So I went out to take it off to check battery size as it’s a wireless one. Uhm, yeah, I broke it. Whoops!!! In my defense it’s about three years old now, so it was delicate. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!! Ha!!

I think parts of the higher price is I’m not doing a simple a/c replacement. Why would I do something so mundane? Nope. So, when the folks had the a/c put in they put it here:






This is it. Smack dab in the middle of the back of the house! Right next to the back door and RIGHT under windows.





Yeah can you tell that’s the living room windows. Yikes!! Noisy in the summer.

Where do I want it?

Right here:





It’s in the west side if the house... the only down side is it’s planned to be in the wrong side of the fence. Now realistically it is just a deterrent for honest folks. The gates are never locked so it would be easy enough for anyone to off with the unit as it is. But it’s OLD so who wanted it?











And realistically it’s sort of out of sight when the azaleas are in bloom and has leaves. BUT. Going to get a fence there anyway. Why???

This:





That my friends is three windows in the house next door boarded up. Why ? Who knows but it’s a crappy job and it’s all sorts of messed up with plywood, metal and some fake brick veneer looking stuff. Not sure what’s going on over there. Not sure I want to know!! They are odd ducks.

So while out there I snuck this picture. See the pink dog in the distance? Gone are the days of folks not stepping out of their house fully put together. (Guilty as charged a lot of the days)





A closeup. I feel I can show this as there is a shrub blocking her face. Hahah. Wonder if bunny slippers are involved?






During today’s adventures I also listened to my husband and ordered my blinds for the last two rooms in the house - coral bedroom and side window in the living room. A bit more sticker shock... but I bought them anyway. Done and done.

Now to get a fence installed on the side of the house I’m having the A/C moved to.... and a few other odds and ends and this will have been a very success trip indeed. Finding a handyman to remove our attic fan would be icing on the cake, but doesn’t look like it will happen. Sad face.