Not so much

Went to the house yesterday and realized it is not as spacious as I first envisioned.  I have enough art for two houses now and need to slow down and re-think furniture.  I have the new kitchen mapped out, light cherry cabinets, dark hardwood floor, black appliances, and granite countertops.  Lots of small islands and cabinets for storage and lots of lights.  The sofa I covet may not fit so I have to step back and re-think.  The bedroom situation may have reversed with the smaller bedroom becoming the music and music office room.  I can have a small office in the bedroom as well.  The floors need some sanding and then refinishing.  Brad the Contractor will handle it all, including some cosmetic painting of the outside and removal of some rather large bushes/small trees.  Brad will also be handling the move.  I decided to also have the bath torn out and the tub replaced with a walk-in shower. 

I was so excited when I got home and yakked on the phone for a long time with JB.

Gastric has taken an actual vacation day and I am here all alone.  Oh, well.  She is picking me up and taking me shopping and then will come to my place and I will give tech support for her iPad.  The weather is crappy today...cold and wet.  Perfect day for allergies and a sinus headache.

Oh, well, on to the day!

If Detroit can't win it all...

I am happy the Giants won the World Series and not just because I won a $10 bet.  I hate KC.  Originally I had wagered $5 but after the Giants went up 3-2 I told my wagering compadre that double or nothing that it would go all seven games.  Yee-ha...it did and the Giants won it all.  Almost blew it in the bottom of the ninth on a E-8, but the last KCbatter fouled out to the Panda and voila, they won it all, and so did I.

Today after the Diversity Social at work I am meeting with my general contractor to go get what I want done to the new house.  I have a list and so does he.  I don't know if we will be going to the house for a walk through.  A friend is coming along for the ride and to see the house.  I just want a day off and a little peace of mind, some rest and a quick resolution, and closing.  I am saving my vacation time for when I move and have to take some time off to get settled. Then I can start taking Fridays off for the summer and really take care of the new house.

Yes, looking forward to the time off at Thanksgiving.  I enjoy working over the Christmas holidays as it is so quiet at worki can get a great deal of work done.  Two months left to this year.  If I can make it patiently through the next ninety days I will be good to go for the move.  But a day off would be lovely.

So, now I am going go to work and relish my wager win.

Tuesday panics

For some reason, and I think I may k ow why, I was just in a panic yesterday about the house.  I was afraid. And will continue to be afraid until we actually close, that I won't get the house.  My current bedroom/music room looks like a staging area for Normandy.  Not that I have bought anything more than artwork and cat furniture, but still...

I am feeling better about things today. Perhaps because I actually got some sleep night night.  Had a nice relaxing dinner with friends after work and came home and just crashed.  Actually slept until 4:00 a.m.  Showered and practiced and I am not In Such a shit and a sweat about getting the house.  I was stressing so hard yesterday that my financial guy arranged for me to get a massage.  What a guy!

I did call my psychiatrist and get some sleeping medication.  Prior to last night I was only getting about three or four hours of sleep a night.  With the time change this weekend and and all I hope to catch up on some rest.  No plans this weekend.  The plan for today is to come bphope and get some grocery shopping done.  Watch the World Series and collect on my wager.  I have the Giants in seven and tonight is the night.

Time to get to work and do some, well, work....

So...

This will prove to be a busy week.  Monday I have therapy and my mandolin lesson. Tuesday a haircut and dinner with friends.  Wednesday the furnace gets winterized.  Thursday I meet with my contractor and Friday I teach guitar.  The weekend looks free...so far.

For some reason and I will discuss it with the mandolin doctor I fear praticing.  Once I get through what I am learning for the following week I feel better but basically practicing is a chore and it shouldn't be.  I love music and I am slowly getting better on the mandolin but I think if my mindset were better I would pick it up faster.  Yep, I need an attitude adjustment.

I am waiting to hear about the down payment on the house.  I get paid, monthly, on the last day of the month so it would work out well if I could cut a check this weekend. I'd feel better if they had some earnest monies and the sign in front of the house said sell pending.  Brad, the contractor, is coming Thursday to discuss the renovation.  I am prepare to have the kitchen completely torn out, the bathtub taken out and the floors redone, as well as th house painted.  I'd like the wall paper in the dining room gone and a two tone paint job done.  Brad wants to talk about some plumbing issues and some outside cosmetic issues.  I listen and spend.  I have a notebook full of changes I want and so does Brad.  I listen I spend.

I am anxious...free floating type.  There is still some unresolved tension with Mal. I just have to talk to Hyphen and let her know how I feel.  Some of the anxiety is about the house and wanting to put up the earnest monies.  Once that is done I will feel more in control of the situation.  And getting started on the kitchen and bath tear outs and knowing I have the funds to do what both Brad and I want will relieve some stress.

So. It is 2:30 Monday morning, I am wide awake, and anxious.  Some of the new cat furniture will come this week.  It will look great in the new house.  My music room/bedroom currently looks like a staging area.  Framed pictures, furniture, a new vacuum.  Yep, I am out of room.  I will double my space at the new house.  And you know I know what I am doing.  My aunt called last Saturday and tried to tell me what I should do regarding the new residence and I wanted to crawl through the phone and rip her face off.  I have a notebook of concerns and ideas and I am on top of things.  I just want to get moving. I guess, I felt like she was maybe treating me like I was a child, and really she is just treating me as if I were her child.   I consult my new house notebook daily, adding new items and concerns.  I think I am sold on getting the tub ripped out and a walk in shower installed.  I am almost certain to put in a security system, which will help with my homeowners insurance.  Motion lights outside and on the front porch.  I am now just thinking out loud and this is helping me to relieve some stress.  Now, if I could just sleep some before going to work...

Later

Temper, temper, Ms. Cranky Pants

The last two days I have gone home to small disasters wrought by the cats.  I lost it both days, once in front of Gastric.  I warned her I was going to blow and she said go ahead, so I did.  I yelled and yelled.  And the only cat it impacted was Gonif, my baby and most sensitive cat.  I have got to learn not to lose it, especially as it concerns Mister Gonif Cat.  I am sitting here at work, dreaming of moving into my new home and how many happy times the home will see and the fixated on some sad times, like when a old Gonif goes across the Rainbow Bridge (*euphemism).  I remember how upset I was the last time I lost a kitty and it was not even mine, it was Jerry's late cat Sassy, who only outlived her owner by a few months.  Alright I have to pull myself together.  Yes, there will be sad times ahead, but, hopefully, more happy times.  My cats are really my family now.  Parents...gone...grandparents...gone...Aunties (and uncles)...gone. Yes, my dad's older brother is still around and just celebrated an eighty-something birthday.  And his wife, my Aunt, has been good family to me...but they are in California.  Cousins in Chicago, Seattle and California.  Some family in the Detroit Area but since I apparently ran away from home I don't hear from them unless they need something from me, which is rare. 

So, bottom line, I better learn to stifle the temper and be nicer to the cats, especially Gonif.  Yelling doesn't bother Yankel and Simcha, just Gonif.  The other two just look at me and seem puzzled, or stare at a visibly shaken Gonif and wonder what's up with that.

So for happier times, look to move in by Passover 2015.  Seder-rific.

Big day into a big night

Gastric, as she had been threatening to do all week, called in sick today but I suspect it is more of a mental health day than an illness.  So I am all along.  Went to Subway and snagged sandwiches for a few of us.  I'll eat at my desk.  Leaving at 4:00.  That is when the limo will depart.  I really need to get a good alias for her.  How about She Without an Alias?  Okay, I will work on it.

Big to do on campus tonight to mark the start of a major capital campaign for MSU.  I am going to the dinner at Beaumont extravaganza.  The preliminaries didn't interest me.  I think five hours in celebration of MSU is a bit lengthy, even for a diehard MSU supporter like myself.  Dinner at 8 will be sufficient.  Business casual is the attire.  I will have time to go home and rest before dinner. 

Tomorrow, ah, tomorrow, is the big rivalry football game between MSU and the other Michigan university.  Stand tall, men, and beat the piss out of the A2 riff raff.  I don't know if I will be brave enough to watch the game.  UofM has had a bad season so far and they really may be pumped for this game and take us to task.  I am prayerful we are equally as pumped and take it to them.  Go Green (Go White...fight, fight, fight)

Whatever the outcome of the game the town will be a looney bin for a few days.  I shan't be going out tomorrow.  I think I shall cook up some stew or short ribs turning into tacos.  Slow cooking day.

I wish, I wish, I wish I knew more about the remodel of the house.  And also if I can get the condo sold quickly.  I am getting anxious, like I used to before the end of the year and the holidays.  Having the house worked on will make the winter pass more quickly.  I hope.

I am trying to get an analogy worked out. Something along the lines of:  It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.  And it came out like: it's not the amount of life lived but a life well lived.  This was brought on as I was listening to music yesterday and the song was very upbeat and I wondered, to myself of course, how the singer might have sung the song if she was aware that she'd be dead at a young age.  So, I thought, along the lines, that it isn't the length of the live lived, but the how it is lived.  She sung that song like there was no tomorrow to worry about.  She was living...not worried about how long she would like, but living for the moment.  I need to be more in the moment.

Ms. Cranky Pants here.

C'est moi.

Had a quiet evening at home.  Spoke with my contractor and we are getting together in a week to go over plans.  I am both dreading and looking forward to that.  I will go by what he wants to do.  We spoke briefly yesterday and he had some good ideas.  I am thinking of having the bathroom tub turned into a stall shower, something befitting my senior status.  Like I say, we will talk.  And then he can speak with the financial guy and we can take it from there.

Tomorrow is a big donors' dinner on campus.  They are setting up huge tents in the shadow of Beaumont Tower.  Business casual is the attire.  Looks like a an enjoyable evening.  The food sounds splendid. Additionally Saturday is the big rivalry football game MSU/UM.  The students are guarding the statue of Sparty.  So it is green tomorrow and Saturday cheering the home team on.  Go Green

I was looking at today's date and thought it was November 23rd  and had a moment.  The day that Jack Kennedy was killed my mother wrote that date on the basement wall near the ironing board (November 22, 1963)  I thought this weird as she was a Goldwater Republican (it happens in the best of families) and not the most tolerant of others.  I never knew it it was as in a remembrance of the man or the day history started anew for her.  She hated Democrats...blamed FDR for the Holocaust.  Imagine her disgust when I turned into one of the people she hated.  And my dad would forever tease me about cancelling my vote out at the polling place.  I don't think my mom voted much.  My dad did, also a Goldwater Republican (it happens).  As I think back they were the only Republicans in the family.  So the apple did fall far from the tree, or, more appropriately, the shit fell farther from the bat.

Ms. Cranky Pants

Mal.  That's it.  I was called Ms. Cranky Pants today by a woman who is quite friendly with Mal.  I asked her from whence that came and she alluded to the incident the day before Mal sent me the cranky email about my phone etiquette and I shot back about her company the day before.  I guess the bully might have felt a little bullied herself.  She may never have had anyone stand up to her rude manners concerning her need for absolute silence when she is working, unless she has a visitor at her desk and then it is okay to bother other people.  Anyway in reference to the Cranky Pants remark I responded that I was in fine fettle.  I guess in my own way I did score a small victory and caused Mal to back off some.  No shoes to drop I guess.

Gastric is taking me grocery shopping after work and then chilling at my place until she has to go to dinner with friends.  Works for me.  The Boys love seeing their Aunt Gastric.

My contractor called today and wants to get together next week to discuss work on the new home.  Next Thursday.  I can only hope it doesn't break the bank.

I was treated to lunch by a development officer.  It was very nice and I got to talk about my favorite subject...ME!!!  Special dinner on Friday for donors.  I am taking Limo Driver, AKA, my ride into work in the morning.  I can't think of a good alias for her so if you have any ideas contact me.

Mal-content

Well, while waiting for the other shoe to drop I almost literally ran into Mal, who did not kill me or engage in conversation, but ignored me.  I guess the war may be over and the battle won. I guess.  She may blow at any minute.   Who knows with her.

I contacted one of my coworkers who I know to have a good sense of style and she is going to help with fine tuning the house.  She lured me against my will to a number of rather cool furniture sites.  I saw the dining room set I MUST have.  Kinda of a contemporary oak design.  It's more than I wanted to spend but I can cut back on area rugs for the time being and devote that money to the dining room. Decided on black appliances again.  Picked out my wants and tried to bring it in under $7,000.  So I will still with the black theme and accent with red throughout the kitchen/dining/living area.  The bedroom will be espresso woods and the music room will have the old area rug.  I did see a great red area rug for the dining area.

I think I can do my 20% down payment, closing costs and remodel for about too much mo ey.  But I can spray it out over several months,  I do need all the outlets and light switches upgraded and replaced.  Now I have to hope the inspection goes well enough.

So, I apologize for fixating on the house and to a lesser extent Mal but that is what is keeping me up at night,  it is going on 2:00 a.m. and I should try to get some sleep.

Day two of Mal watch

Well, Mal behaved herself yesterday, actually being social to Gastric, which gave Gastric a woozy tummy.  She did not speak to me.  My big fear was that she would. I am still waiting for. The Other shoe to fall.  I will not engage in a discussion with her.  My thought was her ex husband, who is chair of the United Way campaign for. MSU (which I am involved with),  and he is also a big wig in The HR department for MSU, would have told her what to do to me.  Mayhap because of the United Way work I am doing lead him to tell her to lighten up and back off. Whatever, she did not bother me today.  I will be getting calls about the house from a number of people and she may blow again.  I will not engage.  I think I will speak with my boss this week and get some back up. I will start with saying I realize we are packed in like sardines and we should endeavor to be accommodating, but...one person should  Not dictate the rules for a whole roomful of people.  I try to be quiet on the phone but due to hearing loss I may speak too loud.  Lighten up and get over yourself.

But...I still have fears regarding her bullying of me and those around her.  She will at some point go ballistic again and all I can hope for is she takes more time off.  She is such an unhappy person and she makes those around her as unhappy as she can.  I don't think retirement is going to make anything better.  I try to be as positive as possible and try to say something nice about all the folks I have contact with.  Yet...I can't seem to find anything nice to say about her,  sad, that is.

Alright.  Work on finalizing the house sale begins today,  I have to get my condo ready for sale.  Life can't get much better...except for the Mals in the world.

BTW, I am still plotzing

I could just plotz

They countered the offer and I accepted.  Now the real fun begins.  I have been pre-approved for the mortgage and the next step will be inspections and then the work on the house,  I want the kitchen redone to my specifications.  Gas range, new cabinets and countertops.  New fridge and dishwasher.  A microwave and new electrical throughout, redo the floors.  Start getting furniture.. . Looks like Passover Seder in my manse.  And opening day on April 6th...a done deal.  Excited?  Me?  Hell yes!!!


I have a wish list for the housewarming (yes, I am having one) on Amazon.com.

I could just PLOTZ!!!

3:16

Not to Yuma, but up, nonetheless.  I am fretting the next three and a half hours until Mal comes into work.  I just feel she is going to be confrontational today, guided by the drunken advice of her ex who is in HR for the University,  Ian not going to engage.  I just wish I was able to speak to someone other than Pseudo-Hyphen, aka Gastric, who advises me to let go and not engage in a pissing match, something Mal excels at.  I think I will ask My friend, who I have yet to assign an alias, to keep an ear out for Mal's annoying voice. I am not going to engage...I am not going to engage...

I get to see Hyphen today after having last week as a bye.  Lots to tell her.  I need to call the realtor and get a little feedback.

I will not engage...I will not engage....

I hope my friend Dianne is indeed looking down upon me and is helping me to get the house across the street from her old house.

I will not engage...I will not engage...

Maybe a little two hour nap before work will help.

I will not, oh. Well, merde.

Shine on harvest moon

Gastric, the Sherpa and I had a great day Saturday.  Went to a tea at Kellogg and the food and friends were great.  Pumpkin roasted pepper soup.  Wow, was that good.  I enjoyed everything but th whitefish canapé,  as I don't lie to eat fish.  Then in the evening we went to see Once, which I probably would have enjoyed more if I could understand all the dialects they were using.  Music was great.   Shops went down to be on the stage as it was a very open production,

Sunday is full of angst as I am anxious about a potential run in with Mal Monday morning,  I have a small script but she is such a bully I fear for me emotional safety, really I do.  So I spent the day ru Ning small errands, watching movies and football.  And fretting.  Gastric will be home soon and I can be a little relieved when I speak with her.  I can't seem to relax enough for my usual Sunday afternoon nap.  It's all Mal's fault.  I just had a nice relaxing shower and I am hoping to rake advantage of some peace and quiet.

Gonif is telling to relax,  and to get those chicken wings cooked for dinner tonight.  I am going to season them up soon and get the new air fryer out. I need to,relax.

Really,  I NEED TO RELAX

Good day

Friday was a Mal-less day.  It s like a weight had been  lifted.  I spoke with the president of my Union and if Mal approaches me at work on Monday, or whenever, I will say something to the effect that I am not discussing anything with her without my buddy Maury from the union.  As she is a scab from way back I don't expect her to know who Maury is.  But I don't plan on having any further interactions with her and at this point she has probably spoked with her ex husband who is with the Human Resources department at MSU, and probably gave her some advice on how to approach this,  but I doubt she will have the  balls to approach me.  But if she does I am prepared.  She is toxic and a carrier of bad karma.

On a happier note today we are going to a Harvest Tea at the Kellogg Center and then later tonight to a show at Wharton, Once.  (He show not the time).  Between the two we will hang out at my place.  It will be a fun day.

Tomorrow I will probably go to the farmers market nd get a few things.  And then probably dread going to work on Monday because of Mal.  I am grateful to have therapy on Monday.  But until Monday morning I will probably Valium and fret.  I am a world class fretter.

Haven't heard back anything about "my" home.  Maybe next week.

Later.

Mal-content

Today I will dwell upon Mal, who is on a collision course with none other than moi.  Seems I upset her fragile sensibilities with a phone call I had gotten yesterday and she shot me a very hostile email complaining about my "phone etiquette" and how "everybody" was annoyed with me.  Well she must have been speaking for the masses as I have not heard any other complains about my "phone etiquette".  I shot back an email saying that I could have said the same about her the day before and to "lighten up".  She shot back. "You have got to be frigging kidding me".  I do believe that upset her enough that she left for the day, without signing out I hasten to add.  I was so upset I emailed my supervisor. I sent her the texts of the exchanged emails and said I was going to go to Employee Assistance to help me deal with the situation, As I feel she is toxic and poses a threat to me.  I mean if looks alone could kill I would have died many times.

I am grateful she is out today.  The atmosphere will be much lighter and easy going,  I won't be looking over my shoulder to see if she is shooting me the evil eye.  She is a whiner of unparalleled being.  I suspect at some point I will be called Into someone's office for a talking to.  As my work is, In my opinion, exceptional  I don't think I have laid myself bare to an open attack.  It's basically a pissing match.  She has got to learn that her excrement does, indeed, emit a certain odor, not unlike most people's.

My appointment with Employee Assistance is not until October 28th.  I do have therapy on Monday.  So between the two I should be able to learn some coping strategies.  I shouldn't have to feel so threatened at work by her but I do feel threaten and a possible hostile work environemt. If management allows her to continue to dictate work "etiquette" for all in Tech. Services this is unequitable to all in the unit. Granted we are all packed in like sardines and we should observe some discretion but one person should not be allowed to be the final arbiter unless that person is the head of the unit.  She has spoken at times about being considerate but Mal goes above and beyond what is generally considered considerate.  Again I must repeat.  One person should not be able to dictate behavior for an entire work group.  I suspect, too, She is missing her window seat and wants mine.  That may be part of the problem.  Who knows.  Life sucks sometimes and this is one of them.

The Saga of the Girl who Couldn't Sleep

I have been fully awake for two hours.  Finally got up, did my morning ritual and practiced the mandolin, quite successfully I might add, for an hour.  Last week if you asked me why I wasn't sleeping I'd say I don't know.  This week is the anticipation of a new home. I may have to wait ninety days to get a response from the bank but I think around the end of November I'll push some buttons. Passover is the 3rd of April and how nice to have a Seder dinner in my new home.  And you may notice I am being awfully optimistic about the prospect of a new home.  Pouring all my positive energy into it.  And I expect you to do so as well...if you are of a mind to...

I see my primary care doctor this afternoon.  Flu shot, refills and a talking to.  I am the last appointment of the day.  I should be home very late.

Picked up my new Mac Book Pro last night at the new Apple Store in town.  What a clusterfux.  The training people were standing around doing nothing and the sales people were all busy.  I had to wait for a sales associate to free himself up from a rather persistent older gentleman who had already purchased an iPhone 6 and then wanted to be shown all the desktop computers.  I had to wait almost twenty minutes just to pick up an already paid for laptop.  They had enough people standing around, they just can't all be helpful at once.  Good thing I didn't need help setting up.  I asked a question about transferring the music from the old Mac to the new and learned about iMatch for iTunes which is a cloud for your music.  So, in essence I was able to add music to the new computer, just not via the route I thought was the obvious solution.

Gonif Baby wants to cuddle and he who must be obeyed, must be obeyed.  More later.  I am sure I'll be up...

Talk about fun

Was on the phone a great deal today regarding the purchase of the house.  Talked to Dan and decided to,put 20% down and have about $30,000 for renovations.  Put in an initial bid $14,000 lower than the asking price so we will see if that flies.  If they come back with a counter offer we will take it from there.  But I have been pre-approved for a mortgage so the housing ball is really rolling.

Decided to put a wish list together for a house warming.  I have never had a wedding shower so maybe this is the time in my life to ask for stuff.  Basically I want outdoor stuff Ike a grill/smoker, BBQ tools, stuff for yard work, a bird feeder, etc.  so if you are interested in what all I want log on to Amazon.com and check out my wish list for my open house.

So basically the offer sheet goes in tomorrow and we take it from there.  Brad the Contractor thinks we can get the kitchen done for around $20,000 including appliances,  get the floors and the wood work stained and the house painted inside and that will eat up the rest of the renovation monies.  Then I will be as happy as a pig in slop.  Oh, yes, I want the screens replaced on the porch.  I purchased a few paintings today and a new mezuzah for the front door.   I have been so excited I can hardly sleep.

Once our offer is accepted I will have a Brad start working on the house.  Then I can get Jackie in to start packing and tossing.  The bank has ninety days to reply to the offer (the house is in foreclosure). I am hoping by opening day of baseball, April 6th 2015, I will be in my new home.

Yee-ha

Now the fun begins in earnest

So I was answering phone calls during my lesson last night in regards to getting pre-approved for a mortgage.  And all the way until almost. 9:00 p.m. did I deal with Steve the mortgage man.  I have to fax my tax returns for a few years to him today but basically it looks like a go.  I will have sufficient funds to renovate the house to my specifications.  I am so excited about getting a real kitchen to my needs.  Spoke with the painter yesterday and got a good estimate for painting my condo and will use him for the new house.  If I do have enough funds I will replace all the windows before moving in, As well.

I am getting anxious about all of this.  I will live closer to the street and I worry about the cats getting out.  But that is my only true concern.  I have outgrown my condo.  How nice it will be to not have to move furniture to have a music lesson.  Just sit in the music room.  Bedroom will be fore the cats.  I am making the larger of the bedrooms for the music.

I meet with Dan the Financial Guy today and we will make monies available for the house.  I can't believe this is going as fast as it is.

And that's all for now.

Housing

New home looks like a go, including all the renovations I want to do.  Meeting with Dan tomorrow to discuss finances.  But I keep going back to the kitchen remodel.  The kitchen of my dreams.  Gas range  there is room for a double wall oven if I choose.  Hardwood floors and get ride of th4e knotty pine in the kitchen.  I am meeting with the painter today.  Also, I may have a buyer for my condo.  That would be too exciting.

I have picked out some new furniture, like a bedroom suite with two tall bureaus. A Shaker style dining set.  Two club chairs for the living room.  Overstock.com is going to be buzzing.

To say I am eager and excited is an understatement.

YEE-HA!!!

A new house is in my future

Looked at the house today and put a bid in on it.  The kitchen needs a complete tear out and the floors need refinishing and I wast all new electrical but other than that that the house is solid.  Good roof, heat plant, water heater.  Washer and dryer, especially the dryer should get replaced within a year.

Really loving forward to all of this.  Shared my excitement at brunch today with my buddies and showed them the house.  Spoke with JB about  the kitchen remodel and we are now both very excited.  Dan has to weigh in, but overall it looks like a go

It is just a darling house and in my mind I am doing floor plans.  I haven't been this excited in a long time.

A house in my future?

Well, dear friends, I have made a decision and hope I can follow through.  There is a darling house, a two bedroom ranch close to where I live now.  It is perfect for me and the boys.  I am going to see it on Sunday.  I will probably make a bid on it at that point.  There is not a lot of yard to mow or sidewalk to clear of snow.  It has all the appliances, even a washer and dryer, but no microwave,  that is easily remedied.  It's a brick  house with a lovely screened in porch as an entrance to the front door.  I can see me and the cats sitting there on a summer's morning, reading the paper and sipping coffee, the cats luxuriating in the sun.  I am really hopeful that the house lives up to my expectations and I have made arrangements to get my current residence painted and ready for sale should it come to that.  No more stairs for me, although there is also a finished basement with a half bath and also a wet bar.  Plenty of storage and I can get stuff back from friends.  I can have an actual music room and and actual bedroom.  The latter I may or may not use. It it can always be a guest room.  Oh my gosh I am so excited,  I had seen the house for sale all summer and it spoke to me.  Once I went online and did the virtual tour I called my realtor and told her to work on it.  My financial guy said it was a go.  So I am good to go.  After the viewing on Sunday I am going to go to brunch with the Turtle Lady and Mr. Nikon.  I will be so excited.  Maybe I will take my phone and snap pictures.  Before buying it I will have it inspected.  I want to make sure the furnace and roof are in Good shape,  but what I can tell you is it has lovely oak floors. Some great built in oak shelves and cabinets.  The kitchen is an actual kitchen. And there is also a small breakfast nook.  Oh, I can't wait until Sunday.

More to come

Late night practice

Up at midnight again and unable to go back to sleep.  The story of my  life.  I got up and practiced for forty five minutes and still have problems with Gold Rush, but it is getting better.

I ordered a new Mac Book and should be able to get it next week and I have already committed the old one to sale and will take my stuff off and get it ready for its new owner.  I got a huge hard drive and will be able to write and score my own music.  I am looking forward to a great retirement in a few years of writing and recording my own music.

Yesterday was the Tech Services open house and tour.  I had my own balloon with "authority control" written upon it.  It was a noisy day and thank the stars that Mal was not in attendance as she would have been complaining all day.  Her whole team are nothing but whiners and supervising them must be like herding cats.  I am hopeful that Mal will also take today off.  The whole mood of the work environment lightens when she is not in attendance.  Just is a happier place without her.  Why in the world one person is allowed to run roughshod over the whole team is beyond me.  But again her whole team is like that...CMS team, Can't Mind Supervisors.  I am on a two person team, Metadata Management Unit.  I love my supervisor and we work really well together.  And have some fun Doing it.  Data wrangling, that be us.  The Cowgirls of the Catalog.

Here's hoping for a Mal-less day.

Post colonoscopy

Went well.  A slight flare of the colitis and a polyp.  Yee-ha.  All that pain and angst for naught.  I thoroughly enjoyed the Preservation Hall Jazz Band last night; stayed awake for the whole show.  The tuba player was a hoot.

Gastric is out for the second day.  I imagine the move to her new digs caused her a great deal of pain so she was out yesterday (as I might have imagined...with me being gone...no real reason to come in...oh, Self, you are so self).  Today I know her son had a teacher's conference so I imagine between the pain and the need for him to have the car she decided not to come it.

Today was the grand tour of the "new" technical services.  The scavenger hunt commences at 1:00.  I waited until the official tour was over before heading out to Subway to get sandwiches.  Just ate lunch and am waiting for the 12:30 heartburn attack.  I was gifted a no bake cookie which I just may have to eat. 

I have to grocery shop today as Gonif is running low on his turkey.  I will cook up a roll for him tonight and chop it up.  The other two eat kibble without the scarf and barf feature but not so Gonif.  Special food for my little buddy, whose eighth birthday is tomorrow.

That's about it for now. 

'Tis today

Yes, I am clean inside and out and it is colonoscopy day.  Yee-Ha.  On a more pleasant note tonight I am going with a friend to see the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.  I have seen then before, but not with this roster.  Last time I saw them I was on a drunken trip to New Orleans and actually saw them at Presevation Hall in the French Quarter.  The trumpet player cleaned his spit valve at my feet.  Those were the days.  Yes, indeed.  I went to NOLA on a lark that started as a trip,to see Hot Springs, Arkansas but need up two days later in New Orleans.  On arrival in the city we were rear ended and although the insurance company totaled the car out and gave us cash, they let us keep the car and after a few hours at a Sears Automotive we were on the road again with cash to spend for a week in New Orleans and a leisurely drive back to East Lansing.  In 1979 this was, the year MSU won the NCAA basketball  tourney with Magic.  I watched the game in Metarie at a friend of a friend's house, high on wine and marijuana and life in general.  So I ponder this today in anticipation of seeing the Jazz Band tonight.

They just moved my test up from 3:00 to noon so I must attend to the details.

Some day I am just going to let the spell check have a field day and let go what it thinks I say.  Until then...adieu.

What the hell...redux

Well, at least I slept three hours tonight.  That is better than the last few nights.  So I am up and getting ready for tomorrow's colonoscopy.  Love it.  Clean, clean d more clean.  Liquids all day and then the prep solution at 6:00 p.m. And again at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow.  And in between I have a close relationship with the bathroom.  And the darn cats better stay out of my way.  Happy, happy, joy, joy...

The CT scan found nothing unusual.  The new medication has helped with the abdominal,pain.  So hopefully all this is a flare of the ulcerative colitis and nothing more.  Maybe compounded a little bit by stress from Mal at work and some friendship stressors.  I was hoping the CT scan would lead the. To cancel the colonoscopy, but I was due for one in a few months anyway so what the hell let's get it over with.

Alright,mine morning progresses.  Another three hours before I leave for work.  Maybe a small cuddle,with the cats and a nap.  More to come.

What he hell...

You'd think I have nothing better to do that to stay up all night.  Apparently I don't.  I nodded off about 10:30 and woke up 'round midnight, 'round might,,,it is now going o. 3:00 and I am as wide awake as can be.  Gonif is keeping me company but others are deep asleep.  And it will be a long day.  I have Hyphen and a mandolin lesson today.  Tomorrow I start the prep for the colonoscopy.  And I will be up all night Tuesday with that preparation.  Hopefully after Hyphen I can take a nap for an hour and recharge the batteries.  I noodled on the mandolin for a bit and watched a rather blue comedian and now. Access Hollywood.  I might have a little snack.  I might take some time to figure out what to speak to Hyphen about.  And deal with the fact she'll be off on the 13th.  But available via email one can hope.  I am yawning but I wish I could say I am tired.  This is the new me...not sleeping much and enjoying it less.  Of course that frees me up to write this blog but I have less to say.

I must say I am anxious about my upcoming test and the results of the CT scan.  I have no idea why I have had the pain and the other gastric issues. Mayhap it is a colitis flare gone mad.  I just know I am sick of being sick.  That was part of the Petoskey trip purpose was to deal with chronic pain and chronic illness issues for me, Gastric and Brody's mom.  And I ended up getting sicker.  Which was followed by a quick trip on the GI doctor and the barrage of testing,  and now the waiting and worry.

Tigers are out of the playoffs, rather quickly and now the Royals will play the Orioles for the league championship.  I am pulling for someone.  Baltimore I think.  I'd like to see the Nationals come back and win their series and go on to win their league series and have a Beltway World Series.  Other than that I don't really care.  Spring training starts in February and it starts all over again.  And I am reminded is Sisyphus rolling that rock uphill.  What's the point?  According to Camus we must imagine Sisyphus happy.  Otherwise one might get too depressed and decide to stop rolling that rock. And that is my deep though for the day.

Autumn

Lovely day for one of the last trips of the year to the farmers' market.  As usual, I bought too much, but the tomatoes looked fabulous, the peppers, eggplant, zucchini, and acorn squash.  Lovely.  And a lovely loaf of rustic brad.  I am making chicken wings for dinner in my new air fryer and will have some bread on the side.  I might make my ratatouille for dinner tomorrow.  I also purchased a lovely brisket for the annual Hannukah festivies in December. Yes, I am planning this already, as well as a pasta party for Christmas Day.  I am tying out some recipes on me now and see that makes it onto the holiday tables.  Going to watch football and relax a bit today.  The cats are all ready for me on the couch.  Getting ready for lunch the  a nap.  Start cooking about 6:00 if I am going to make the ratatouille for dinner for tomorrow.  Tuesday I start my prep for Wednesday's colonoscopy.  Yay.  That should be it for tests for a while.  And then after the colonoscopy I am going to a concert.  Preservatio Hall Jazz Band.  I am looking forward to that.  So that is my day.  The Yom Kippur fast went well.  I did go to services and then broke fast at about 8:00.  We ordered food in from a rather bad deli, as it turned out.  You know, since I left Detroit I haven't had decent corned beef.  Still looking.  The closest I came was Zingerman's  in Ann Arbor but the place is a zoo.  Not worth the hassle or the trip A2.  Okay, lunch is calling.

After midnight

Today, Friday the 3rd of October, it the night that precedes the evening of Yom Kippur. In the Jewish  religion it is the Day of Atonement.  A fasting observance.  Sundown Friday to sundown Saturday this year (Jewish holidays follow a strict lunar calendar).  I am hoping to go to my new synagogue but in lieu of that I shall fast the entire time, reflect on the new Jewish year, and make amends to those I have hurt or offended.  Yom Kippur is the highest of the High Holy days, which begins with New Year, Rosh Hashanah, and ends ten days later with Yom Kippur.  I really will attempt to make it to KI, the synagogue in question, at the very least for the mourners' or remembrance service, as I would like to remember my aunt Martha, who passed in the last year at the ripe age of 105.  Of all my greats aunts, she was a a favorite, although I loved them all with my heart and soul.  Martha was an elementary school teacher in the days when Wayne State University was a Normal School, and if you don't know what a Normal School is, go ask an old person.

This is the time of year I shall work to forgive my cousins for being the money grubbing, self serving, self righteous people they know themselves to be.  They know who they are.  It is not all the cousins, just the most wealthy of them who took advantage of an old woman and getting the bulk of her estate, which I was lead to understand (from another cousin), was originally earmarked for me and other cousins.  But these cousins were able to  get her to change her will and to give them the favored cut.  As the say the rich get richer and the poor, well, they get children.  It is not that I need or want the monies. I just wanted Martha's true wishes acknowledge.  They can keep everything if it means that much to them.  I did,  after all, "abandon the family" when I left Detroit for MSU.  And these cousins saw to it that I got what they thought I deserved.  Now is the time to forgive and move on.  They have to live with themselves and what they have done.  I have a clear conscience, and that is worth more than anything.  I shall meditate on this during Yom Kippur.  I want to have a light soul and be a better person. than I have been this year, and be a still better person in the years to come.

Well, if I hope to be up for the day in less than four hours I best try to sleep.  Easy fast to all my Jewish friends and family, cousins included.

It's raining, it's pour...what the hell?

Moments ago, waking me from a sound sleep, was a rather large crack of thumder which sent the cats scattering.  My big guy, Yankel, is the most afraid of thunderstorms.  So afaid that I tried to get him to use a Thunder Vest, but he wouldn't go for that.  His favorite safe place is in the bathroom between the toilet and the wall, thus...  Now I am not afraid of storms anymore,  time was when I lived in Detroit that if there was a storm il would hightail it into my grandmother's room for safety and sleep in the other twin bed.  When I first came to MSU and was living in the dorms folks would call and/or come to my room to see me through storms.  I have thankfully outgrown that fear, living alone as I have for over eighteen years.  No longer do I hide between the wall and the toilet, as it were.  It is a dark and stormy night.

Watching the ballgame.  Tigers already lost, hoping for the same for the KC Royals.  This game is a lot closer that the Tigers' ended up.  That was embarrassing.  Tigers need to take at least one from Baltimore before heading back to Detroit.  And before heading back to sleep I need to see KC lose.


The storm seems to have abated. That said it will probably resume momentarily.  Yankel is prepared.

                                                                     

We aren't racisits (we just act like them)

This story was on NBC this morning.  The Today Show.  A women is suing a sperm bank because they accidently inseminated her with a African American man's sperm.  The couple in question is lesbian.  Blonde haired and blue eyed, or blue hair and blonde eyes, I can never tell with racists.  The mother wanted a similarly hued child for her partner.  What is upsetting the mom said the following:  She has to take her daughter to a bad part of town to have her hair cut and she (the mother) stands out (much as I guess her biracial daughter does, the mom must feel).  Also, she is afraid her daughter, and this is my take on it, won’t be privy to white privilege, like her parents, and will not be able to go “freely anywhere in the world”.  She is suing the Ohio (yes, this is in Ohio) for damages and $50,000 in compensation. 

I am terribly incensed at the parents of the child.  The mom says she hopes her daughter understands that “this isn’t about race” (her words)  What the hell is it about?

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/black-donors-sperm-mistakenly-sent-white-parents-lawsuit-n215801

For the whole story from NBC.

Dancing the CT scan

I has one...in less than an hour.  Of course since I can't eat or drink until after the exam I am very thirsty and have a headache I can't take a Tylenol for until after.  And I have to drink two icky bottles of contrast and have  an iodine IV that make it feel like you are wetting your drawers when they administer it.  So I have about three hours until I can take my medication and have a Coke.  Fortunately there is a Sparty's snack bar close to the scan center in the Clincial Center on campus.  So those of you missing me this morning and my door opening technique I apologie.  And you'll miss me next Wednesday when the colonoscopy is.  Bang into unopened doors, ye mighty, and bitch at your meetings about it.  You know who I am talking about.  Gastric is taking me and I am off in a few.  I will walk back to work, hopefully not in the rain.  I might have two Cokes today as a reward and to get all that crap out of my body.  Salad for lunch...who knows what for dinner,  potatoes perhaps.  Anyway I is off (certainly am).  Later.

The Soulsucker redux (Again)

I was privy to a remark made by Third Party to Gastric regarding something the Soulsucker said to Third Party's mother.  Soulsucker indicated that I was too mad to ever talk to her again (correctomundo) but she hoped at some point in the future she and Gastric could repair their relationship and move on and be friends again (according to Gastric "That ain't gonna happen").  I have pondered this remark for a while and I believe the Soulsucker was not being genuine.  I believe she was trying to portray herself the the conciliator in the relationship and that somehow the problem was Gastric's and nothing the Soulsucker did or said.  She was simply misunderstood and really hoped in the future they could be friends.  I am thinking she is telling this to our other friends and somehow thinks this will put her in a good light with them and make us look like the "shits we are".  As for the animus she believes I have towards her that could never be repaired, well, that is rather true.  For a "friend" to put a "ve-hicle" ahead of a friendship is beyond my understanding.  Come up with a better excuse, please.  This break-up was a long time coming and while we were pondering our next move between Christmas and New Year's I wrote a long note to Soulsucker saying her politics and her basic intolerance towards others who are diverse was a thorn in my side and saying that the friendship would never be more than an acquaintance in the future.  I never had a chance to give it to her but she is right.  I could never betray my inner sense of right and wrong for a friendship with her in the future.  So, there you go.  But that was what was in my thought process this morning.  Take it for what you will.

How can I keep from singing

I practiced for almost an hour this morning, some of the time devoted to playing the above song on the new instrument, the Irish bouzouki, hereafter referred to as Ib.  It's an interesting instrument and I am anxious to receive the lesson book I purchased. The instrument lends itself to picking rather than chording.  But the frets are so wide apart I really need the dots on the neck to help keep me focused.  Meanwhile Winging It is getting more detailed, adding chords and more intricate picking.  This is taking my mind off the colonoscopy, now scheduled for the 8th and the impeding CT scan to happen sometime this week.  It best not be Saturday as that is Yom Kippur. I would refuse the test that day as I shall be fasting.  But music, too, is my religion.  So I strum, pick and play.  And since I have been off the arthritis drug that made me so sick my hands ache more and feel stiff.  So I play more...use it or lose it is my motto.

Not wild ideas, idle or deep thoughts.  Just tests and music.