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.