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!!!

DO NOT STEAL AT BINGO!!!

 Oh Yeah ..... it's 46 degrees this morning ... perfect running weather.  However, I didn't go out to run.  I just have not had the gumption.  I better get back to it soon or I will be so sore when I do, I can't walk.

This is what morning looks like around here, only darker.  Quite a few stars in the sky.  When I was a kid and we slept outside in the summer, sometimes on an ancient mattress sitting on railroad ties in the front yard ... I could not believe how close the stars were.  Now you can barely see them.

It was of course BINGO night, but let's talk about more fun things first. 

Early mornings have become play time.  Though she sleeps on the bed for a couple of hours, she got tossed off last night.  She made bread and purred for the first 45 minutes.  Okay .... that's enough!  I think she spends at least half the night outside.  That brings on the zoomies when she comes in at 4:45.  The only way to calm her down is this.  She's a little "mild" by this point because we have already done this for 30 minutes.

Breakfast will find her here.  Yup she has declared the old microwave hideaway is hers.  Maybe I will take the bread machine out and put in a blanket.  What can I say ... 

It seems like it was 20 minutes before I had to head on out with my armor on.  I spent 45 minutes with the bookkeeper giving her the heads up on the last meeting.  She is no happier than the rest of us.  I gave her some instructions, then went downstairs to have lunch with some of these guys.  

That was a bad idea.  I had our little salad bar and a cup of soup.  That macaroni salad stuck with me until 11:00 last night, a big basketball in my stomach.  Oh it was good, it just didn't like me much at all.

I got everything set up and ready to go except the microphone system.  I'm not touching it because of the question over it being put in without Board approval, and it does not work well.

Trouble raised it's head before we even started.  Remember a couple of weeks ago when one lady stole someone's pull tabs and tried to sell them back to us?  Did I tell you this one?  She was kicked out with no ceremony whatsoever.  Later we found she also stole $100 from the same lady's purse.

She came back the next week with her mother.  I'm guessing this gal is maybe 30?  She uses a walker, but we think that's all fake.  Anyhoo ... she argued with the King while her mother told her to just shut up.  She was kicked out until November 3rd.

She snuck in the back door last night and tried to buy pull tabs.  NOPE ... sorry ... you are not allowed to buy ANYTHING, or PLAY BINGO until the first night in November.  She wasn't too happy about that, but that's what you get for stealing and cussing out the King.  The only thing worse than cheating at Bingo, is STEALING from another player.  Oh boy the players don't like that one bit.  

After six trips upstairs, we were off to the races.  We only had 96 people, making our jackpots on the small side.  That's when it happened. The sound system went POP again and shut down, even though they SWEAR it was fixed.  You know the problem here ... we are not paying for it until it works EVERY time ... and they are not happy about that part.

Here's the thing however ..... every single one of the bingo volunteers were laughing and smiling, in spite of the King giving his "I quit speech".  The crowd erupted in NOs and YOU CAN'Ts.  They all like the King a lot and are not happy he is leaving.  It put a smile on his face and ours.  

If only the others would take a look at how this place really SHOULD be ... even if we disagree at bingo, we all get along, and no one yells .... well except when you get caught stealing!!

The night ended with the Infernal Machine balancing.  It's a good thing because I would have slapped it silly!  

Unfortunately this morning I have to made a trip to the lodge to re-sign payroll.  There was a mistake made and the checks have to be redone.  No biggie ... except I have an accounting job to do at noon.  A BIG one!!  There's no sleep when it comes to accounting.  I think I will then have an entire day tomorrow to lounge on the couch.  I wish I had my best friend to lounge with!!

IT'S FREEZING!!! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!

 Our weather has been erratic.  I imagine it's the same all over.  We got a few clouds from the latest hurricane which is causing flooding and coastline disintegration with about six drops of rain this morning. It's a chilly 45 degrees, meaning I was up several times looking for blankets.  I guess it's time to drag out the quilts for the bed.  It was so cold, even Kitters slept on the bed next to my feet.

I think I'm still on Hawaii time.  I was able to sleep an extra hour.  That's a miracle!!  My morning cup of microwave hot water for fake coffee always brings up the same dilemma.  Where to put the huge microwave.  This is actually where I do 99% of my cooking.  

About the old one having a fuse.  It ran just fine when you turned it on.  Light worked and everything.  It just would not heat up the food.  I unplugged it over and over, checked it top to bottom and tried again.  Nothing.  I even tried all the quick internet fixes, but it appears it's something to do with a broken switch inside the door that allows the magnetron to turn on.  Anyway, I like the new one and it heats up much faster than the old.  That's good because I was late for an appointment.

Who in their life would think dermatology ... that's a good occupation!!  Certainly not me, but I'm glad they decided to help people with small annoying growths.  I had two to be removed on my arms, with a quick check to be sure no skin cancer was slinking around.  After all, I do spend a lot of time out in the sun.

Just as I parked the truck, I heard sirens and saw flashing red lights.  Uh oh ... I quickly looked around for smoke.  They went to the far end of the parking lot, so I figured I was safe.  I think it was a medical thing in the next building over.

My appointment was an example of how doctors offices should be run.  I went in the door, sat down for two minutes and got called back.  In the blink of an eye, the good looking hunk came in the door with a big smile and said HELLO!!  

WOW ... not only on time, but EARLY!!  It took less than five minutes for a quick check before freezing two spots.  I of course was almost to the panic stage.  I'm sorry, but that HURTS!!!  YIKES!!!  I was actually out the door EVEN BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT TIME!!!   And not because they weren't busy ... the waiting room was full to the brim.  That's a FIRST!

I thought I might celebrate with a nice big burger, but instead I just drove home to Kitters who was waiting at the door.  She parked right next to me on the couch for the next two hours.  Truly, she is a sweet affectionate kitty.

I fielded another six phone calls about the Lodge, all lasting at least 30 minutes.  One was concerned about what we call "Elkdom".  The place where everyone gets along no matter what, we believe in helping each other out and even politics don't enter into the building.  I told them that's a thing of the past.  That's the Old Guard ... we were raised completely different from today's "it's all about me" generation.  They don't seem to have the respect we have nor the love of tradition, and nothing is going to change that.

In between calls, I worked on the second of four quilts.  I have no idea when they will be handed out because "they" have cancelled the meeting on the day we normally celebrate Veterans Day because they won't be there.  Of course there are plenty of others who WILL be there, so we are having the meeting anyway. 

That's it folks ... that is all I did the entire day.  Hopefully today is much better, but as you probably already guessed ... it's time to put on my heaviest set of ARMOR.  It's bingo day and I'm just not feeling it. 

 It used to be so much fun ... looking forward to having a good time with great people.  I guess nothing stays the same.  Hopefully there's a good reason for this all this mayhem.  It's just hard to see it amid the commotion.

Now to figure out how to set my thermostat to HEAT!!!

KITTY ANYONE??

 A good Monday morning to everyone out there in internet land.  It's a VERY cool 49 degrees this morning.  Where did THAT come from??   Just like McDonalds, I'm LOVIN' IT!!

I finally got some sleep, though I think I could have used another hour or two.  I did a few brain games before picking up the critter cam.

Yessiree ... the Kitty Saga has come to an end.  I knew it would.  In the beginning, I was trying to feed just one little stray cat who was as skinny as Kitters was.  Sadly, she apparently got hurt and never returned.  

Oh but wait ... SIX other cats did.  I knew there was bound to be a female, and I had no intention of having more than ONE cat.  This is her.  There were 163 videos (no kidding .... that many) of all the boys courting her around the yard.  Anyone want a kitty??

I have since removed all the food.  All of those partaking, were plenty fat when they got here, meaning they are being fed somewhere else.  I will try to catch the female in my skunk cage to get her fixed, but I don't hold out much hope.  She is THE most skittish of all and I sincerely doubt she will be caught.  I guess that remains to be seen.  

There was nothing else going on except to head out and find lunch/dinner.  I was given a ticket for a drive through dinner at the local Catholic Church.  It was not exactly what I expected, but hey ... it was for a good cause.  I bought TWO extra and just like Uber, delivered them to a friends house.  

I sent her a text message later ... "it needs a salad".  I already tested the chicken wings, as you can see, and did a taste test of the chili.  Not bad ... not bad at all.  This made three meals for me and it was free, so I can't complain.  And look ... OREO cookies!!!  You can't beat that with a stick.

I spent the rest of the afternoon sewing on this quilt.  All the big squares have become one large piece.  The side pieces look uneven, but you cannot actually see the last beige square.  There will be two inner borders and another outside border before it is complete.  Though complicated in the beginning, I like the end result.  

I hope to finish up two more borders today, but I have an appointment at 10:00, followed by a meeting with the bookkeeper at the lodge.  That will be a good one!!!  There were a lot more phone calls today from people wanting to know what went on.  I used the no-holds-barred method before I finally turned my phone off.

With nothing else going on, here are the last pictures of the little town of Lahaina on Maui.  This is a picture of the huge Indian Banyan tree, the center attraction of the town.  It was planted in 1873, a mere 8 feet tall.  It is now .66 acres big.  This picture of course is before the fire.

They did everything they could to save the tree, and even though it was scorched, the tree guys from all over came to give it everything it needed to survive.  It is 153 years old and hopefully with good care, will live another hundred years. 

I have a table full of paperwork spread out as I plan my next few trips, because I will soon have lots of time to TRIP.  There is one already in the works.  I'll be flying to Denver mid November.  To be honest, I would rather be sitting on the couch with my sweet boy, just like this.

OH THE PHONE CALLS

 WHAT???  It is 51 degrees this morning in sunny California with a high of 74. Apparently we are doing the yes-no-yes-no dance with fall.  It just cannot make up its mind.  In four days they predict we are back to 92 and it's already the middle of October.  

Miss Kitters must have had a late night out.  It's early and she's already sleeping.  It's funny how she changes her sleeping spot from the window chair, to the chair behind her, to the bed, to the pile of quilts on the bedroom chair ... always a different spot every day.

She must be sensing my stress.  Or not ... it's most likely she just wants to be petted.  This is her FOOT notice.  I'm here ... pet me.

Which soon turns into THIS if you don't cooperate.  Just look at those claws!!  She actually is much more careful with those daggers since she got swatted the first time for leaving claw marks on my arm.  Now she reaches out, but doesn't touch.  She's a very smart kitty.

This is the latest addition to the group.  I haven't seen him or her before.  Very curious these guys are.

I didn't really want to sit on the couch, so I got my act together and hit up Target.  I wanted to go to Marshalls, but when there is no parking, you know it's a bad day.  Target had maybe ten shoppers.  My kind of store.  I roamed around and came out with $10.00 worth of stuff.  Not hardly worth the trip, so I headed home.

There were many phone calls asking about the Elks problem, to which I responded they are in big trouble now ... BIG.  Everyone works ... so just who is going to run Bingo?  I have my personal opinions, but I won't go there now.  And I assure you it WILL NOT BE ME.

I took a few antacids and hit the fridge.  It was time to feed my starter.  I find it interesting that between these two, originating at the same time, both have a different sourdough flavor and smell.  All the same flour, but different levels of sourdough flavor.  I can tell the difference in the taste of the bread too.  These hit their peak and are on their way down, so into the fridge they went.  Maybe I'll bake next week.

 I try hard not to couch sit too much, so on one pass through the sewing room, I spotted this.  Time to get back to stitching the squares together into bigger squares.  There is little sitting involved, since you have to get up three times to iron each piece.

Lunch was a treat.  My first grilled cheese made with the sourdough sandwich bread I made.  When getting my hair cut, I was gifted the biggest green tomato I've ever seen.  She told me to make fried green tomatoes.  I prefer them red, so it sat on my counter for over a week.  YUM YUM!!!

Back to sewing, all the little squares are done, now to sew THEM together.  Then there are probably 200 2 x 2 inch squares to stitch together to make the outside rows.  This one turned out much better than I expected.  

There were two more hours of phone calls where I explained I'm not doing anything about the problem.  It's theirs, not mine.  The good news ... I can go on any trips I want now and not feel guilty because I'm not at Bingo.  There's only one other person who knows my job, and her health doesn't allow her to work that long.  I think they are in for a big surprise!!

I wish my little buddy was here to make it all better!!!  This is the "chase me" look ... see if you can take my toy away!!!!

BYE BYE BINGO

 WHOA!!!  It's 58 degrees here.  What's going on!!  My doors are open and the fans are bringing in the COOL.  

I'm praying Dave and Marcia are not getting hit by the hurricane in Florida and that Arizona will still be on the map from the tropical storm from Southern Cali.  At least Arizona can use the rain, maybe fill up Lake Mead again.

Around here we just had a lot of white clouds.

With nothing going on, which is a good thing since I was trying to recover from that terrible Board Meeting we had, I spent much of the day sewing binding on.  Here's one down and three to go.

The entire rest of the time, I have been on the phone.  Below are my thoughts for the lodge.  Sadly, the King of the Magic Castle has resigned because all the discourse (CRAP) going on has affected his health.  He is also resigning as Treasurer after maybe twenty years.  

With that, 90% of the bingo volunteers, including me, are quitting.  They just could not leave well enough alone.  They wanted to be in charge ... to be the boss.  They have gone above and beyond to make trouble for those running the program and making over $100,000 a year so our lodge would be the biggest donor to charity.   They got their wish.  We are done.  Good luck ... you're going to need it.

We will still be doing bingo for a couple more weeks ... I wish he had told them no more at all ... so there may be a few more stories, but to be honest, I don't want to go back even one night.  They made their bed, now they can lie in it.  Absolutely no one knows how to run the place except one other guy and I.  Neither of us are going to help them.  There are consequences to your actions in life.

I know ... it's a shock .... but WOW ... I will now have Tuesdays free from all the stress.  It's too bad such a great organization has come to this.  

No more worries about getting a backup cashier!!!!!!!

BYE BYE BINGO!!!!!

BINGO IS ON THE LINE

 4:00 am sure comes early in the morning.  That's when my eyes pop wide open and no matter what I do, sleep escapes me.  This time it was because of the worst Board Meeting we have ever had.  It's no fun any more.  But first ... let's look outside and see what the weather is doing today.

It's dark, with a little light from the tiny town a few miles away.  Stars are visible, so I guess it will be another hot day in spite of the 64 degrees on my patio.

The van got some new digs on this day.  I exchanged the black wheel covers for white, and these fit MUCH better.  The last time I drove it, the windshield was so covered in dust and dirt that I had to wash it with a hose so I could see.  I purchased a cover, but the lining was black.  In less than two weeks, it had completely disintegrated into a pile of dust.  This one is much heavier and comes with heavy magnets to hold it in place.  I admit I'm not quite tall enough for an easy install, but I got it done.

Cyndae and I discussed the microwave placement.  This is where it used to live, about 12" off the floor.  You had to bend over to see the control panel and remove anything after heating.  I admit, it is MUCH easier to use when it's on top of the counter next door.  It is also SO much quieter.

I like Dave's idea of a big drawer here, or maybe I'll get a wine cooler like the last owners.  It might help me with the Elks Lodge Board Meetings.  I could have used a GALLON last night.

I have been putting off showing you these pictures for the last week.  It's just so sad.  This is what Lahaina, on the island of Maui, looked like when I spent more time there.  It was old, quaint, full of little nooks and crannies where locals sold their trinkets and artists sold their paintings for huge dollar amounts.  This is the Main Street of town.  I have walked every square inch.

This is the exact same street today, looking to the right in the picture above.  You can't even begin to recognize where you are on the street because it is all gone.  

Lahaina will never be the local hotspot again.  There is nothing left on either side of the road for a couple of miles.  Two concrete buildings remain, but they are gutted and will have to be torn down.  I'm so very sad for Lahaina.

On the other hand, there is nothing like going to an Elks Lodge meeting with people that don't like you, to make you forget everything else.  There was lots of screaming this time, and I mean SCREAMING!!  It's ridiculous to get to a point of calling someone a liar.  The Board makes all the decisions, but they don't seem to understand that concept.

It got so bad that three people walked out and left the building.   I'm pretty sure five people will quit Bingo come January 1st, or probably before that.  I will be one of them.  It used to be a blast and we had lots of fun, but that is no more.  It was a four hour marathon of folks yelling because they did not get their way.  It's like kindergarten all over and I'm too old for this stuff.  It's time I took everyone's advice.

 This morning I will try to recover with Kitters and my fake coffee on the couch.  Though I felt great yesterday morning, I'm a tired wreck this morning with a splitting headache.  Maybe a PEPSI and a couple of cookies will jazz up my constitution for the day.

If Cooper was here, he would make it all better.