Deal of the Day!

The neighbors had a garage sale day. 3 of them. I hate to have the sale, but love to look around at them. You never know what you'll find.

As I looked down the block, I thought it would be a good opportunity to meet and greet on a first name basis these neighbors who have only been driving by and waving. . . always pleasantly. They are at the end of my block so I don't usually have a reason to venture there on foot.

Meeting them was so nice! We talked for 2 hours. None of them had met face to face before either , and it was happenstance that their sales were on the same day.

I spotted something wonderful at each of their sales, focusing on mid-century furniture in fair shape. One had a super heavy, solid birch dresser in need of refinishing and TLC. I don't really need another dresser but when she told me $10, who could pass? (Large mirror included).

I was really interested in her buffet piece, but it was too large for me to put in my house, and much too big to store in the garage which is already too full for comfort. I thought the buffet price was $200. The other neighbor had a smaller one in better condition for $250.  I bought the dresser and started texting potential co -owners. It was decided to go get the buffet and miraculous things could be done with it.

Excited to get a second largish piece of furniture, I walked back to the sale with cash. Getting ready to hand it over when the neighbor selling her own buffet pulled two drawers out of the piece and walked home with them. The seller said, "Oh, I thought you didn't want it and she decided she liked it better than the one she was selling herself so I sold it to her. " Ugh! Well, my own fault for not having cash in hand or reading the price tag correctly . . . the buffet sold for $20 not $200! Yee Gads!

Mr. Man was having a  fit telling me no furniture was going into HIS garage and something about asking him "permission" before buying anything larger than a shoe box. (cute that he thinks that I need to ask him first. I'll let him live with that delusional thought for a bit).

At first, he refused to be a part of  bearing  the dresser home.

Shrugged my shoulders and said I would do it with the men at the sale who already offered help.
"There is absolutely no room in the garage for it! No! "

Again, shrugged my shoulders and said it could sit outside on the patio and age a bit which would give it more character.

I pointed out that the dresser was solid, not veneered and constructed very well.  Repainted and cleaned up, it would be a great piece of furniture for the price of $10, adding that his eldest daughter was currently using her baby dresser with 3 drawers instead of a full sized one with 6 and most of her clothing is kept in piles surrounding the aforementioned baby unit. Wouldn't it be nice to give her something FULL sized and nice?

Reassurance that the buffet was lost to me, and would not be joining our garage collection, I walked down the block to retrieve my prize and Mr. Man followed, growling the entire way .

As we got to the sale, the other neighborhood men had gathered to tote their various pieces home and Mr. Man was handed a beer and welcomed into their lament club! He got a tour of the sellers recently redone flooring and kitchen remodel, met 4 new people and was actually cheerful as he was helped home with my new dresser!

All in all, not a bad day and we both benefited from it.

I don't even mind too much I lost the buffet to one of my other neighbors. If I'd gotten both pieces of furniture,  Mr. Man may have lost an entire gasket and start contemplating a serious crime upon my person!

Thank you neighbor. It was the best!

Eagle eyed for the next DEAL OF THE DAY! I'll be bringing the cash and wearing the glasses!

"BEETLEMANIA"

              

This is the summer that I have been terrorized by the Japanese beetle. . . you know. Those giant green and yellow beetles that have shells of rock, vary in colors of beautiful green and  serve no genuine purpose other than to scare the bejeebers out of those of us with bug phobias, and eat every flower and plant in its path.

Last summer I wrote about friends running widly into their car, burning rubber and driving madly away leaving me to fight off the Beetle alone. (still harboring feelings of abandonment Mrs. C!) Truly, I know it isn't going to eat me alive and cause me harm, but I assume it could change it's eating habits at any time and start craving blondes. All the same, it strikes terror into my soul and I switch to kill and bludgeon mode to keep the things off of me.

Yes. I've heard all about how saintly this beetle is. How beautiful it can be. How striking it is when flying and as big as a small hummingbird but much louder. . . . and yes, I have heard the stories about tying strings to its leg and using it as a kite, a parade balloon, riding along with it on your bike, etc.

This doesn't change my opinion of the bug.

The horrid things have turned my Crepe Myrtle tree into a beetle metropolis and the Ficus trees lining my back wall as the new nation of Japan.

I was looking into ways to obliterate the beetle easily and cheaply. I also don't want to coat my yard in pesticides as it hopefully is a haven and habitat for honey bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Turning to the reference of the mighty Internet, I have discovered the easiest way is to mix a solution of dishwashing liquid and spray it on the lawn in the spring to force the beetle grubs to the surface and become bird food. Too late for that one.

But get this. The most reliable, cost effective and easiest method to remove these beetles is to HAND PICK them off the trees and plants. I bloody don't think so! If I can't bear to have them buzz bombing me, I certainly am NOT going to touch them!~!!

So - I have been finding dozens of these beetles floating around in my pool every day, clinging to leaves and debris, pool floaters and sweeper hoses. They have spikey legs and are tough to make let go of a net. Because they tend to swarm towards me, and attack, I carry a skimmer net with me in the pool, using its handle as a bat and net to remove bodies, and refuse to get into the pool if any beetle remains floating around. After I get a nice grouping of the damn things, I throw them into the bucket of soapy water and abandon my net. Mr. Man's job is to rid us of their carcasses and empty the pool skimmer of them daily.

As I'm enjoying pool life and sunshine with friends, the beetles dive bomb me, and every one tells me they won't hurt me; however, they're screaming and running/swimming in each direction. One got caught in my hair. . . my worse nightmare, and wouldn't get off- no help from my "friends" poolside. Extracted myself apart from the beetle and began using my pool net as the Sword of Shannara, hacking at them and determined to beat them into a pulp. Somebody suggested I had anger issues, however, the "Somebody" had secured a safe spot to observe and be protected from beetle bombings far from the pool.

As we sat around the table eating al-fresco, a horrid beetle hit me in the back of the head, then proceeded to get its legs stuck on my tank top strap. Unable to flick it off myself and feeling it scratching to get uncaught, I plead for help from my table mates only to watch their mouths gape open screaming that it's on me, one choking on carrot bits, but no assist coming from them! Thankfully, Mr. Man rescued me, flicking the beetle off, bludgeoning it to death and telling me again, it is nothing. . . . only to see him scurry away from the secondary attack of beetle bombing on his way to the trash cans!

I would post a photo of the beetle here but can't bring myself to mar my blog post with it. After the recent traumas, I'm not watching the movie " Beetlejuice" again or listening to any BEATLES albums.

If you want to participate in a BEATLE MANIA, come on over. Not a fan but I scream like one!

Just keep swimming

My blogs took a little vacation so I could gain focus on my health and well being.

As I have declared many times in the past, I vow to make this the summer of change!

Physically, mentally, spiritually.

Reflecting back on the many fails in all these areas only convinces me that this has to be it. 2016. I may die trying but try I must! Failure is not an option. I have seen the light. My ego has taken its last swipe and downfall. I will plod along alone if necessary but I will plod. . .  while dragging weights behind me.

It's always better to have an exercise partner to keep you on the path of thinner and better and also to keep your whining and failures in check. Also, somebody to be accountable to for your time and days spent working out and continue to be faithful to the exercise regime.  I've seen and tried almost every workout there is and am repulsed at going to a gym and having to see my reflection in a mirror dripping sweat, gritting teeth and grunting to no one in general. Having a private trainer was a dismal fail and only making one of us better themselves and gain financial freedom. I don't respond well to shouting, bullying, fake encouragement or "give me 5 more".

I know what needs to be done. I did this to myself. I put bite after bite of mostly delicious food into my mouth and swallowed. I hate to sweat and due to a jacked up knee with no cartilage left in it, I can no longer walk long distances or use stairs. My 4 mile walks are but a memory now and so is any muscle mass accumulated during that period of my life.

There are no longer excuses that I have to be at work, volunteering or cleaning out the closets to be used to avoid the morning workout. Here I am. It is time. I've taken to a pool swim every morning before the sun is fully up and begin the 1 hour workout followed by the laps. At least there is no sweating and there is a time crunch to be fit and sleek due to water cooling as the fall approaches.
Even better, there is absolutely no judgment or comment about swim gear, forgotten hair trimmings and obvious lack of hair grooming on my part. Any one who wants to join us must adhere to these simple rules. . . . and bring their own towel.

My water buddy and workout companion is in the same boat as me but has the advantage of youth. She too is highly motivated and inspirational. We embarked upon our weight loss adventure on a whim and have kept it up for a month now. I love her so much because she reminds me that "We are HOT! We work out! We are going to be Accawesome! Our Earthly bodies will be almost as good as our heavenly ones!"

She's also not opposed to shouting and spouting obvious sentiments to God above . . . .   i.e.- "These kicks are the DEVIL!    Lord! Help me DO this! " Yup. We never forget to thank God that we are even able to have the option to exercise as choice and that every single day is a blessing. Praying through the tough parts is part of the day too. Sometimes, I think its the only thing keeping me afloat.

As I struggled to complete the last pull up on the board , I kicked my feet for extra boost power and was empowered after the success. . . although I was certain a stroke would overtake me at any moment. Definitely saw a flash of light and dizziness .

I keep feeling my carotid for any irregular heartbeats because with all the panting and grunting going on, it seems inevitable that the heart will just give up and take a permanent vacation. Week 4 and we are still good. We are getting better so we add more sets and weights. The heart rates have to be kept up so we switch up the routine to do it.

Am I ever going to be skinny??? Never.
Am I ever going to wear a 2 piece again? Nope
When I strut down the street, are heads going to turn? Doubt it.
But it's all okay. I am going to be okay with it. I'm not doing any of this for any one but myself. I don't need affirmation or congratulations from a soul. It's all me and for me.
Only 100 lb. more to go.
Only 20 more pounds to go before I can eat a chocolate cake and gallon of milk for my first tier reward!
Come find Nemo with me. BE the Dory! "Just keep swimming.......just keep swimming"
I'm out at the pool and the water is just fine!