BINGO FIASCO!!!

There's a lot to be said about living in the country.  Unfortunately, I now live in a subdivision in the country.  That means neighbors ... and you KNOW how I love them!!!  Someone is smoking skunk weed every single day.  No, it's not a skunk ... there is a difference.  Skunk weed smells worse than a skunk!!  Every morning now I wake up to the stink.  I can smell it before I even go outside.  It's so bad in our area that when I drive by Home Depot, it's SO STRONG it makes your eyes water.  I would so much rather smell garlic or even COWS!!!  Cows would be a nice relief!!!!

Anywho ... it's Bingo Day ..... so get ready!!!

It started out a little cloudy .....

And turned into a tiny bit of sunrise.  

I was already awake because of the kitty screaming outside my bedroom window.  I was pretty sure it was Kitters guarding her territory.  Sure enough ... that was it.  I know you love seeing the evidence!!  This is foxy scat.  Apparently they got a little too close to her Mom's bedroom windows and she gave them what for.  I found her sitting quietly by the door, keeping watch.  What a GUARD DOG she is!!

Breakfast was a quick egg McMuffin.  There's avocado and tomato under that egg.  Sadly, it's not just like McDonalds, but close enough for me.

That's when I got the call.  Can you please come in EXTRA early?  That means Bingo turns into a marathon 10 hour day.  Now they are wrangling about the chips.  Not potato chips ... but the chips people buy to give to others in the bar so they can drink the next day or the next week.  

Here's the problem with that.  We raised the drink prices $2.00.  They wanted to buy 50 chips so they didn't have to pay the increase in price next week.  Gosh ... can't anything just be easy?  Maybe you can just have 4 drinks today instead of six.  Wait ... I have to get something out of my truck ............. I slipped out the back door.  Yes, yes I ghosted them.

Dinner came about after setting up for Bingo.  Woohoo ... Kettle Corn.  Dinner of Champions!!  The owner of Hunter Farms Pumpkin Patch brought in a bag to share.  It was the calm before the storm.

So here I am all set up and ready to roll.  Hmmm I wonder where my Girl Friday is.  In no time the line was across the room, so I grabbed one of the players to count and opened the doors.  

The very first purchase was with a debit card.  We only accept debit cards because credit cards charge us 6%.  Debit cards only 3%.  Besides that, gambling on credit cards is only allowed at casinos.  I looked down to see the INFERNAL MINI ME machine say NO PHONE CONNECTION.  

Yes, you have a phone connection.  I reset it.  Nope ... reset it twelve times, unplugged and plugged it in, before I finally gave up and called the King.  We tried everything, but nothing worked.  It kept giving me an XV53 SOCKET error.  I've been trying to get them to replace that socket for two years.  Maybe now it will happen.

It took twenty minutes to get the only other machine from the bar.  The pitchforks came out and got WAY too close.  The new machine was disgustingly dirty and sticky to boot!!  With a new cord, it stayed connected, but the card reader refused to work.  By now I was WAY behind in selling.  I had to swipe every single card, meaning it ran them all through as credit card transactions.  Some worked, some did not.  People weren't too happy when they had to go across the street to the bank for cash.  

To make it worse, we pay out 100% of what I bring in.  Take the credit card fees from that and we just lost $200.00.  Hopefully today the machine company will show up to fix and/or repair whatever is wrong.  We have eight more Bingos to go before we all exit the building.  Yup we are counting the days!!!

To add insult to injury, this borrowed machine usually stationed at the bar, had not been cleared.  It kept asking me if I wanted to X the 38 tips in its memory.  NOOOOO .... no x'ing.  But X it did, meaning all that data was lost from the Saturday party and the total of my bingo account came to $5,280.  Nope ... we have never had more than $4,000.  

That meant I had to figure out how much the big Infernal Machine said we had, count the cash and the bank I had left and try to come up with the amount actually charged on our Bingo folks cards.  Yeah ... that's an accounting nightmare.  I finally got it, but I feel bad for the bartenders whose tips disappeared.  Oh well .... that's the infernal machine for you.

It was 10:15 by the time I got home.  WAY too long a day for me.  I would love to rest up, but alas, I'm back to the big accounting job at noon.  Hopefully we don't have any of these problems there.  I'm a pincushion from all the Bingo pitchforks.

STOOD UP AGAIN!!

 LIZARD COUNTER:  26

I can't wait for COLD weather.  No, not because it's hot and I want some relief, but because the lizards will all go into hibernation, or whatever they do, and not be available to play the WHERE'S THE LIZARD game.  

I could tell by the sounds of SOMEONE batting something around.  I saw her lay down and roll over.  That can only mean ONE thing.  She's playing with a lizard.  At least now she doesn't try to EAT them.  Sure enough, as soon as I got closer, she got in YOU CAN'T HAVE IT mode.  Oh yes I can ... and in two seconds, it was out the front door to the bushes.  This is THE LOOK that ensured.

About an hour later, she froze and looked at the bookcase.  I know THAT look too.  She made a beeline for the built-in shelving.  NO WAY ... there just CANNOT be a lizard up there too.  Famous last words.  She jumped up and stuck her nose in the corner.  I dumped her unceremoniously on the floor while I scanned the shelf.  

OMG ... there's a HUGE one!!  Luckily he was dried out and slow.  I caught him immediately and out the door HE went.  With no water nor food, they will die .... but EWWWWW!!!!  I'm now contemplating closing the doggy door, but then I will have to get up and let her in and out 15 times a day, not including her midnight raids.  BIG SIGH ....... Cats can be a PAIN!

Obviously not the least bit happy I stole her fun.  This is her sixth most favorite place to hang out, right behind my head.  

In no time she was fast asleep.  No one told me this CAT thing was going to be so much trouble!!!

By noon I was out and about.  I had a 1:00 meeting with a big time Elks member at a restaurant in town to discuss the recent happenings.  I drove over and parked in the empty parking lot at 12:47.  There was not a single car.  What's up with that?  I waited until 1:10, then walked over to the door to find it said OPEN, while it was locked up tight.  I waited a few more minutes before leaving.  STOOD UP AGAIN!!  That has happened a few times in my life, and Nancy was not a happy camper.

Back home, now starving, I decided to make another new recipe.  I figure if I keep trying, SOMETHING will turn out good.  This one could not be more simple.  Brown sugar, ketchup, dry onion soup mix and a little water.  Bake for one hour.  These were thick chicken breasts, so this time one hour was appropriate.

While that cooked, I realized I had not received part of a Walmart order.  I checked my account.  Sure enough, it was supposed to have been delivered on Sunday.  It said ATTEMPTED.  Um no ... I was here all day Sunday and no one attempted to deliver anything.  

Just try finding a phone number to call.  Apparently this whole process is run through some building somewhere ... and NOT at my local store.  

The first guy I got said to HOLD ... then came back on to say HOLD again.  Ten minutes later I hung up.  I called again and asked for a Supervisor.  I was told the wait for that was 45 minutes.  I hung up again.  After scanning through multiple pages, I read that my order could be picked up ... I had 4 days to do so.  I'm sorry, but I PAID FOR DELIVERY.  

I gave up when the timer dinged for dinner.  It looked pretty good and smelled DELICIOUS!!  It was a tad bit sweet, mostly because my brown sugar was hard as a rock and I couldn't measure out 1/4 cup very well.  Add to that 1/4 cup water, 1/2 cup ketchup and one packet of onion soup mix.  I LOVED IT!  This will be going in my keep-the-recipe drawer.  Thank you Linda!!!!!

It was late by the time I remembered I had also made up some ice cream and left it in the fridge to cool.  I took the freezer part out of the freezer (it lives there just in case I have an ice cream attack) and turned it on.  Literally ten minutes later ... ICE CREAM!  Once again this is peanut butter.  I really would rather have something like rocky road, but that's a lot of work with ingredients I didn't have.

That's when I saw a car in my driveway.  Ummmm wait ... he disappeared around the side of the house.  Maybe ... just MAYBE ... that's my washing machine cleaner.  Sure enough the guy jumped out and very nicely laid the package on the ground.  Walmart finally came through, so maybe those phone calls worked after all.

OH JOY ..... now I can clean my washing machine!!!  

Just for fun and giggles, I called the guy who was supposed to meet me at the restaurant.  He didn't sound the least bit cordial.  He actually told me he was there ... in the parking lot at the front door ... for 20 minutes.  I'm sorry, but NO ONE was in the parking lot but me.  So did he stand me up or get the time wrong.  I know MY time was correct because I checked my watch six times wondering where he was.  I'm thinking now there are TWO of us who are mad.  AND the restaurant he told me to go to is closed on Mondays.

So this morning, I'm donning my armor for another rousing night of BINGO.  I can tell you, the attitude of everyone has changed since the announcement of the Kings retirement.  MY attitude probably more than anyone.  He's a good guy ... and they should not have treated any of us the way they have.  Oh well ... life goes on!!!  Those of us who volunteer will enjoy our remaining time.

FINISHED AT LAST!!!

 It was the usual early morning.  DARK.  Not all that dark because there's a town way over there, but dark enough.  I jumped up and threw on my running gear.  It's the only way I will actually make myself go OUT the door to run.

The sun was just coming up.  It's been about a month, and a BIG mistake not to stick to the schedule.  I hurt from the get-go.  It's funny how in a few short days, you can lose it all.  

I was met at the end of the street by two crows.  Pretty smart these guys are.  There is a walnut tree close by.  They bring the nuts over to the street, fly up very high and drop them.  Back on the ground, they pick the shell clean.

By now my body was complaining loudly.  No breath, lungs screaming for air and legs complaining just as loudly.  I made it all of 1.3 miles before giving up.

The other after effect is the coughing.  If you don't run for a while, and then you do ..... you cough for the next 30 minutes until your lungs get cleaned out.  Quit you say?  It's an addiction, not that easy to say goodbye to.  

While still in the upright position, I ran out to give the van some juice.  She was quite happy to get a battery jolt.

Back inside, I saw this on Facebook.  Did everyone see the flying car?  That Elon ... he dares to dream that guy.  So next time you are speeding in 2030, better look up because you just might see this one waiting for you.  I'm sure people laugh at him, just like they laughed at the Railroad Barons and the Wright Brothers.

I had one big circled thing on the calendar for today.  Finish up those quilts.  Kitters thought maybe she could help.  I really don't allow her in here because of kitty hair.  Somehow she slipped through the door.

So here we are.  I actually finished all four of the named quilts late last night.  They are ready to be boxed up and hauled to the lodge.

Here are the other TEN that will be given away to the Veterans who attend our Veterans Day Free Lunch.  They will all get a ticket to put in the bag next to the quilt of their choice.  Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.  I hope they enjoy them.

The last one is the America 250 quilt which will be auctioned off.  I think I just might bid on this one myself.  I also think I'm not going to make so many of these from now on.  It's just too much work, and a big headache when your quilting machine is on the fritz.

It's funny .... every time I turn around, Kitters is sleeping in a different spot.  This is her front door guard duty station ... where she NEVER sleeps!

Dinner was a helping of that failed pumpkin dessert.  I smothered it in whipped cream because ... well ... it tasted better that way!!  And I didn't have any ice cream, which would have been even better.

That was my Sunday, a day of no rest and lots of football.  I watched three games, most of which were not all that exciting.  The Panthers beat the Eagles, and the Raiders tried their best to beat the Bills in a very close game, but lost.  The Cowboys and Packers ... well the Cowboys were having a bad time of it.  I think there were a total of 22 penalties, most of them 15 yarders.  

At least CBS shows the football games, unlike baseball.  If you won't pay to go to a game, Baseball thinks you WILL pay to see it at home.  I already pay for television.  I'm not paying MORE.  Don't they make a fortune off of advertisements too?   

The World Series games are coming up next week and will be shown on FOX, for free.  I'll watch one or two, but it's not like it was in the old days.  And hey ... anyone know what happened to the Dodgers?  They lost the series 4-0.  Ouch!!  

Now to REALLY relax and do nothing all day!!!

MY BAKING SKILLS

 Welcome once again to sunny California.  The daytime temps have been in the 90's, but cool off enough at night that I don't throw all the covers on the floor.  That means making the bed is SO much easier.  I try to make the bed every morning .... it's the clothes and shoes all over the floor that ruin the landscape.  I really need a laundry basket instead of a pile.

Breakfast was my usual ... a microwave mini burrito with not much flavor.  It works, mostly because it doesn't fill me to the brim and I can actually get things done instead of sitting on the couch moaning about how I ate too much.

I was on the phone for the first two hours.  I love my Elk friends, but listening to the stories over and over can be tiresome.  This time I magically had an Amazon delivery I had to gather up.  No really .... I did!!!

By the time I hung up, it was way too hot and too late to run.  Darn ... another day I missed exercising.  So let's make a huge pumpkin dessert instead.  

I was given the recipe for one of the best I've ever had, but could not find it to save me.  This one had something like 500 five star reviews.  Of course I had to make a Walmart order since I had no evaporated milk.  Who uses that nowadays?? 

This is basically a dump cake recipe.  I preheated the Breville oven and got it all in the pan, ready to bake when I realized this particular pan does not FIT.  Well RATS!!!  I took everything out of the small REAL oven and turned it on.  Of course it took time to heat up.  

This was to bake for 60 minutes.  In 30 I smelled it ... the aroma of YOU BURNED IT!!  How can that be?  Not burned exactly, but the nuts were getting on the black side.  I took it out and went in for a taste test.  I suppose it won't be terrible if I smother it in ice cream, but it is NOT a 500 five star dessert.  I foresee about half of it disappearing after a week in the fridge.

The day just seemed to fly by.  I was tired from no sleep and not motivated to do very much.  I did cut and machine-sew binding on the third quilt, so at least I accomplished something.

Hey ... let's try another UNTRIED recipe for Thai chicken thighs.  I think this is the last package of the 10 I bought at Costco.  Note to self ... don't buy these any more.  I marinated them for about two hours with garlic, soy sauce, ginger  ... you know the routine.

Though THIS recipe said to bake them for 60 minutes also, I was sure they were done in 40.  This time I tested them with a thermometer.  It read 120.  Nope ... back in the oven.  Then I thought ..... no, those should be done.  I grabbed another thermometer and tried it again.  Well look at that ... 170!!  I threw the first one in the trash before giving them a taste test.

I microwaved a bag-o-broccoli to oblivion, because apparently this microwave is hotter than my old one.  Okay ... everyone knows these taste better if the skin is left on.  And so dinner was melted broccoli and overcooked chicken.  I'll see if I can get Kay to invite me back to the residential care facility.

I sewed and sewed the rest of the evening in order to finish up the third of four quilts.  I've got one more to go that I hope I can finish today.  

That was it for Saturday.  Oh ... except for my Cooper picture.  I have a million of them!!!  Here he is sitting on top of the couch where he was not allowed, holding his favorite ball.  "If I drop it right now, Mom will throw it for me" ..... and so I did ..... over and over and over again!!

THAT LOOK!!

Another day, another dollar.  Not that I need to work really, after all I'm retired.  At least I keep telling myself that!!  We've got two days of 90 degrees ... back to summer .... before supposedly FINALLY having summer come to an end.  Then it's going to be 70 they say ... with rain.  

Thankfully, the sun keeps coming up and going down.  This one not quite as spectacular as some.

We are getting to the end of the year, meaning it smells of more accounting time.  There are a few elderly that I do bookkeeping for so they don't have to pay an expensive accountant.  Sadly, my main gal that I have worked for over 35 years, from real estate to rentals, has had to move into a senior facility.  I think she is 90-something now and still sharp as a tack.

I admit, I was having a little trouble with her computer.  It's almost as old as she is, and the accounting program matches that.  It took much longer than normal since the program kept sticking entries into 2025 instead of 2026.  What a pain that was!!  

The best part ... she invited me to lunch at the facility.  She has the neatest little scooter that goes 3.6 miles per hour she says .... and she floors it every time.  I think I need one!!! 

Sorry for the half eaten picture.  I should have been faster on the camera.  This was oven roasted salmon, with two slices of lemon on top.  No kidding, this was THE most delicious piece of salmon I have ever had.  The now missing broccoli was delicious and the rice pilaf quite tasty.  

They serve every meal in a large dining room, just like a restaurant.  I expected something like gruel, but this was DELICIOUS!!  All the staff I encountered were friendly and smiling.  I think I would move in here in a flash.  No cooking ... they do the cleaning ... they do the laundry ... not at all what I expected.

 

Unfortunately, the desk chair is the most uncomfortable thing I've sat in ... and it took me an entire SIX HOURS to get the job done.  That's what happens when you have to do an entire years work in one sitting.  Reminder to self .... schedule this at least TWICE a year!!

I was pretty tired when I got back home, and full to the brim.  I played with Kitters a bit before catching up on the news.  I'm pretty sure I could have picked up three more clients, but I am SO trying to be completely retired.  It's not working out so well right now, but hopefully somewhere down the road I won't have marathon accounting sessions.

Kitters met me at the door, meowing.  She just loves you to pet her, and tells you in no uncertain terms.  Here's the "paw" again!!!  Hey lady, you aren't paying enough attention to me!!!

Here's THE LOOK.  You can just imagine what she's saying in her little head.  Why are you not doing what you are TOLD ..... PET ME!!

About that time, she made a beeline for the front door.  You can see out the side windows, and when she heard something on the porch, she was sure it was those interloper cats in her territory.  This time however, it was Amazon, delivering a box of candy for Halloween.  Between this and the other big one, I should have plenty.  Sadly, everyone does the trick or trunk stuff around here.  I get it ... it's much easier to walk 50 yards than drive around the neighborhood.

On the other hand, I sure think it keeps the kids from the great experience of knocking on their neighbors doors and making old folks happy with their cute little costumes.  I even like the tractor/trailers full of 20 kids at one time.  I think they have a lot more fun than walking up to strangers standing by their cars.

Another short writing day.  There's not much to say about income, expenses, draws and "what the heck do I do with THAT".  Balancing when two bank statements are missing doesn't help.  

It's Saturday and I would love to go shopping, but standing in line for 20 minutes just to get to the one open cash register to buy new washcloths, just isn't in my blood.  I hate that there is no such thing as service any more.  Maybe a nice nap is a better idea!!!  Or baking a big fat pumpkin dessert!!!!!!!!

WHAT DAY IS IT NOW?

Lately I have to check the calendar to see what day of the week it is.  It was not Wednesday.  It was Thursday, meaning Lodge Night with a meeting to follow.  That's why I stayed at home Thursday night typing this!!  I didn't go, nor did lots of other people.  I think word is getting around.

Actually it's Friday ... so here was my Thurs-Day.  I pulled off the sheets and installed the flannel ones topped by one of my quilts.  Yessiree ... it's been getting chilly on these 50 degree nights.  Time to bring out the big guns. 

I really tried to ignore the candy in the fridge, but it just kept yelling my name.  Okay, okay, I'll try those Skittles.  I already know I don't like them, and that hasn't changed one bit.  Those will be the first to go on Halloween night.  I grabbed a Reeses peanut butter cup for breakfast.  Did anyone notice they are half as thick as they used to be?  Once again, we are being gipped, paying more for half the product.  NO FAIR!!

I spent another 3 hours back at the business doing accounting.  At least we had a rousing time with the CPA (a very special lady with a GREAT sense of humor) on the phone for an hour trying to make a Federal Tax payment.  We tried six ways and three apps to no avail.  They needed passwords no one could remember.  We laughed and laughed, but never could get it done.  There MUST be a better way.  Sometimes the old fashioned check in the mail works better.

I got home to find Kitters in the kitchen.  Maybe I will try on that harness I got for her ... you know, in case I want to try and take her with me.  Well that didn't go at all like I expected.  I got bit, scratched, tied up in knots and screamed at.  You would think I was killing her.  I've never seen a cat move that fast in my life.  When she finally got loose, she ran under the couch and didn't come out for three hours.  I'm guessing that's not going to work.  No Kitty trips in the van for her.

I spent the afternoon working on the binding for this quilt when I got a phone call about the event where we give them away.  In two weeks she said.  WAIT ... WHAT???  I've only got two weeks to finish two quilts?????  Good grief ... I thought I had at least a month!!  

So I stitched this one for the next three hours until it was done.  I've got more accounting work today ... an entire year of many rentals to enter in to the computer and balance the accounts.  At least she is taking me to lunch, so I won't starve as I spent six hours on the computer.

With so much boring accounting, the day passed quickly.  Just like a magician, it disappeared in a flash.  This is the best sunset we've had for several days now.  

To brighten the rest of my day, I cruised through some Cooper pictures.  Here's my little boy the first time he ever saw snow.  He was not impressed.  I guess I'm never going to get over this.  I miss him terribly.

MAKING A LONG DAY SHORT

Good morning ... Good morning!!  I think that probably sounds more cheerful than I am at the moment, but hey .. I'm alive and well in Central California.  Just a bit stressed.  

This should help that out considerably.  The big firm I'm working for part time has the worst calculator in history.  Maybe that's why things are the way they are.  So yesterday, after six grueling hours at a too small desk stacked two feet high with "stuff", I got on my phone and ordered this.  It's what I use at home and works SO MUCH better than your phone calculator!!

Six hours later I was finally done just enough to get out the door.  I'm retired, and SO not used to working that many hours in one sitting.  Unfortunately, I have to go back again this morning for some government on-line payments.  This will ease the pain!!!

The rest of the day I spent going through this Elks binder that is so full I could not close it.  I came to an amazing conclusion.  I don't need this in my life.  It's too bad because I loved the people and the "Elkdom", but that has flown out the door.  It is 100% not worth the stress of dealing with people who have no clue.  

There's a meeting tonight ... I'm not going ... and another one next week ... I'm not going to that one either.  I guess I finally just hit my limit.  When all this is over, I'll relate some of the craziness.  I have agreed to help the "King" out with Bingo until he leaves mid December.

There was one magic moment when I went to my truck after Bingo.  I found this lovely box of candy.  Someone is trying to twist my arm ..... or ruin my diet.  I've no idea where it came from, but it's the perfect size for Halloween!!!  The bribe did not work however!!!

Can you believe it?  It's October 15th already.  Weird weather is the name of the game.  We are jumping up to 88-95 for three days, then dropping like a rock to 60 degree days.  All I can say is it's about time.  Today I'll get out the electric blanket for my bed!!!

This picture?  I have absolutely NO idea where this came from.  I did not take it, nor do I think I have ever been here ... wherever HERE is.  If I took it by accident from online, it would have black space at the top and bottom. It's a ghost picture ... appearing in my phone photo album last night.  I think someone, or something is telling me to get out of town!!!  

So this blog makes a very long day look very short.  I'm tired and hungry.  Maybe some bacon will brighten my day.  That and watching Watch Kitty keep watch.  She is always on the job ... mostly ... okay, SOME of the time.  

Hope you have a great day!!!