OF COURSE, ALWAYS SOMETHING!!!

Okay, so I moved in, put everything in as much order as I could, but it was difficult as the place was painted “poop” brown. (very, very depressing!) However, my karma must have been in the good zone because the fan on the air conditioner never worked. Luckily, it was not hot yet. It did finally get hot, though, so I had to tell the landlord (who had told me her husband said I could not paint) and she and her husband came over to check it out. Meanwhile, sewage had backed up into the tub in the guest bath and in the shower in the master bath. Well, something in the electrical system of the air conditioner so they had to call an electrician. When they came in I appealed to the husband, saying I knew he loves the color, but I really need to live in blue. Of all things, the landlord then had to confess that he had not really said that. She liked the color. By the time they left, though, enough things had gone wrong that they said I could paint it!! Hooray! So, Saturday, that is exactly what I did. I even repainted the fireplace white. To add to their misery, they had never experienced a back up in the bathrooms before and thought it was probably a one-time occurrence where someone had already called the association for repair. What they hadn’t thought of, though, is that I live here. So upon returning from work about 4 days after the first occurrence, I noticed that there was sewage in the bathrooms again. I called Michele and reported it and she said she would call the association. Since it was already 9:30, I told her I was sure it could wait until morning as all of the sewage was dry by then. Silly, silly me! About 3:30 in the morning, I heard this glug glug sound (not good), got up and checked the bathrooms. Well, the tub in the guest bathroom was 2/3 full, the shower in my bathroom was almost full and neither toilet worked!! So, I managed to wait until 6 a.m., when I called and woke Eileen so I could go there and shower and take Gina so I would have to leave her alone in case it flooded over the tubs before anyone could get there to fix it. Luckily, as Shakespeare said “all’s well that ends well”. I believe it is finally fixed and my landlord even gave me a pedicure for being such a good sport! Still trying to figure out how to get photo on. Thanks for checking. Ricci

NEW TECH CASHIER!!

OMG, okay, so here I am 70 years old and a cashier at Publix. There are at least 100,000 numbers in produce and Vidalia Onions. I guess you could say that that is a start! And, then there is the scanner on the register. If you don’t move it the right direction immediately, it scans again. Well, once you void more than $10 of product, you need a supervisor to fix it. Actually, I am surprised that one just has not pulled up a chair at my register while I am there!! Most of the baggers are men and not only are they slow, when they take someone’s groceries to the car, it seems they must walk around the parking lot for a while to avoid coming back so soon. Then, when they get there, they are aggravated that you have been bagging (taking their jobs, you know!!) This certainly is a learning experience. So far, I have not had two days in a row! So, while it is technically “part time”, it is difficult to plan your life because you get only a week schedule at a time! Certainly a test of humor for me. However, it does take my mind off the fact that I am really living all by myself. Oh well. Tomorrow I am going down to Parris to visit my friend, Barb, and Hopefully play a little golf + look at a new t.v. Perhaps I will also have many visitors now that I am back in the “Sunshine State”. Will keep you posted. Thanks for checking. Love, Ricci

TURNING 70 WAS ACTUALLY FUN!!!

Turning 70 is actually a great deal of fun. My friends, Barb and Frank had a birthday party for me and it was just fun, fun, fun. Sisters, friends – even an ex-husband! Plus my granddaughter and her boyfriend! However, two of the most important people in my life were missing. Unfortunately, sometimes, life just keeps moving. So, there was this big, big bouquet of balloons, outrageously great food, cake, an unbelievably great chocolate cheesecake, a lot of wine and great fun! Trust me, I am one lucky, lucky girl (well, an old girl, perhaps, but a girl indeed!)

I received enough money to purchase a 40-42 inch flat screen tv, so that is my next project (aside from installing window treatments, painting and getting my little porch useable.

I have tried and tried to insert photos of my new apartment, but it just does not work. It seemed so simple – click on the icon and go. However, when it opens it is only computer language – no photo. I will keep trying, however.

Publix seems to be a very pleasant place to work, but I think they are trying me by fire, as I have had only long shifts and had to be on the express lane on Sunday – busy, busy, busy!!! However, they forgot they can’t get me – “I’m the gingerbread man!”. Perhaps, by the time the snowbirds return home, I will once again have time to schedule some regular golf!

Saturday, I went to a party up at Briarpatch, where Mike and I lived until he died, and they were all still very pleasant.

It’s a different life, doing this all alone (except for Gina – and it was much more fun when Mike was here. He would have liked this location a lot!), but I guess it will get easier and, perhaps, become a pleasant life! I will definitely let you know. Thanks for checking in. Ricci