Serenity on Saturday

Ahhhhh! My channel 2 (ABC) is back!! I can't tell you how happy that makes me. Butch knew it would.

We had happy hour last night---just the two of us. He waited until the very end to say, "I have a surprise for you." I'm like, "What? You mean in addition to this?"

Flowers for no reason are the best!! (Then, when I asked "why" he said, "Well, you know, sometimes Kroger has them on a really good sale!" He's so darn romantic! I'm not complaining, I'll take them anyway they come!)

No, that wasn't it. He turned on the tv. Lo and behold, Wheel of Fortune was on!!!  I was downright giddy and gleeful! Well, part of that could have been the extra dirty martini!! Anyway, I immediately emailed Connie as we were just talking about the fact that we were probably not ever getting channel 2 back---earlier in the day. Then I texted the girls that we were watching Wheel!

All was finally right in the world!!

I've been feeling unsettled since June 19 when channel 2 ceased to transmit. And here all this time I thought it was Mitchell!!

Channel 2 is the only tv that we watch live. We get all of our news from local to national on 2. I/we love Good Morning America. Most of our favorite tv shows are on 2---even though we set them to record so to zip through the commercials.

I stayed up late last night. I missed Jimmy Kimmel so much!! I didn't go to bed until 12:30. I got up this morning at 5:45 because I was so excited to see my morning "peeps." I forgot that it was Saturday and it's the replacement team. That's okay, I like them too. I look forward to Davis Nolan's Saturday fishing report--even though I never realized it! I can't believe there's even something comforting about hearing the commercials I'm used to!

On this Labor Day weekend, I am already feeling serene! I'm so happy! It takes so little!!

Now I'm going to need to stop lallygagging with my channel 2 friends. I've got labor to do! I need to get the Halloween decorations out. Don't really love doing that, but if I can't have it for two months, it's not worth the work!!

I hope y'all have a great long weekend!

Friday Funnies

And that's why I call it FAKEbook!!

Five Things Thursday

 This is the traffic on the way to Atlanta. I was stuck at a dead stop for nearly an hour outside of Chattanooga!

While I was in Atlanta, I encountered this. You actually have to stop and wait your turn to enter the highway. I've never seen that before.

 I don't subscribe to any magazines anymore, but I still get quite a few. Butch says it's because they would rather send it for free so they can report the numbers to their advertisers. Woman's Day is so skinny---skinnier than my iPad! I checked and it was only 88 pages!

Mitchell is a big guy. I always feel it when he's standing next to me as I only reach his armpit. But I noticed how much bigger he is than his grandpa. 

He scares me to death! And then he asked me to hold the ladder!

What I Buy Wednesday

Well, I didn't really buy anything last week---or at least---not anything that's been delivered. So, instead of a "what I buy" post, I thought I'd bring up a different topic.

Have you heard of "Swedish DEATH Cleaning?"

Neither had I. I read the article and little did I know that I actually have been contemplating doing this already! Basically, it means "clean out and get rid of  all your crap before you die (so your kids don't have to do it--- becasueGodknowsourkidsdon'twantyourstuff---I added that bit mysel! I've been preaching that forever)!

Personally, I'm not getting very far with my own cleaning out. I started in the library and had Butch haul boxes of books to the used book place. Next came the dining room. I have all sorts of pretties that I've collected over the years. I don't know what to do with it. I don't want to wrap it all up. So, I just have a box full. I guess I'll take the box "as is" straight to Goodwill. It's a shame because there's value there---antique Nippon. Still there's nothing to do with it.

I did go through the drawers in the guest room in anticipation of Mitchell's residency. I got rid of all the old, outdated ski clothes. I might as well have not bothered since Mitchell is using the floor to store his stuff! Oh well, it shouldn't be too long. Have I mentioned how much he eats?

Anyway, back to the Swedish Death Cleaning. When you put it like that, it sounds pretty morbid. But the truth is, as you get older, that word isn't so scary! It's just a fact. Not too soon, mind you! After all, I still have a lot to do! Oh, and the article says you are supposed to start at age 65.

Ooops! I've missed it by two years! I better catch up!

Travel Tuesday

I had planned to tell about my trip to St. Louis over the weekend, but I've decided to talk about Butch's trip to Seattle instead. Mostly because I can't believe he did what he did!! Inspiring for sure!

He left Monday morning for a board meeting. He planned an extra day so he could do some geo-caching. He's on a mission with his geo-caching to try to find the oldest cache in each state. Little did he know what a challenge it would turn out to be. He had to hike uphill for a couple miles. The first route he took turned out to be wrong as he missed the trail he was supposed to be on. He persevered and finally found it. Then, there was another he wanted, but wasn't sure he had the stamina to go for it. He did! He said that when he got back to the car, he took some ibuprofen since his legs were already hurting.

When it was all said and done, he walked more than 29,000 steps---his personal record. Since it was uphill, he logged 294 flights of stairs and burned 5,000 calories! I forgot to ask him how many miles, but it's got to be close to 6 miles.

Now that's what I call dedication!!! He has another difficult one to go for today. He's going to wait and see how his legs feel. His meetings start in the afternoon, so playtime will be over!!

After hearing this I decided that no more laziness on my part!! I NEED to get back on the treadmill! And I did---first thing this morning. It's just so darn boring!! NO MORE EXCUSES! If Butch can be so driven, then I really need to up my game too!!

I didn't have a picture of him from today, but here he is after hiking to Machu Pichu in Peru.

He just sent me this picture and a few others.

Senior Sunday

I'm starting a new meme. Won't you join me? Share your stories and I'll post them here!

Let me begin. Last week, I was opening a new container of Tide pods.

I COULD NOT open the lid! Could not!!! First of all, there was a really heavy duty tape that was nearly impossible to pull off. I couldn't pull it off, so I just sliced it. Next, there were these two white "buttons" on either side of the wide part. You were supposed to press in the buttons and twist at the same time to open the lid. ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME! First of all, my little hands could barely reach the buttons, much less press them in and turn at the same time. I tried using both hands to push in the buttons. Of course, that left me with no leverage to turn the thing. Now I needed to find another person to hold the container while I pressed and turned. Oooops, no one was home!!! I said "FTS" to myself---or maybe out loud!!!

I banged it, I threw it, I stomped on it. I could not get that sucker open!! I finally took my heavy duty Cutco scissors that can cut through pennies! Funny, when the guy gave me that demonstration 25 years ago, I laughed to myself. "Yeah, right. I need to cut through pennies!" Little did I know this was preparing me for Tide containers to come!

The scissors did the trick---but not before massacring the lid of the container!

That's okay, I don't need the lid anyway. I just wish I'd thought to take a picture of it before Margarita was here and emptied the trash!!

Anyway, immediately after this frustration, I decided that I wasn't going to take it anymore. I went straight to the Tide website and lodged a complaint. Here's my email to them:

First off I want to say that I have used Tide for 50 years. Today, I discovered that I am unable to open the tide pods container. I get that you are trying to childproof your products, but you have also "senior" proofed your products. Being older and with small hands, there is no way to be able to reach both buttons, press and turn at the same time. I basically had to destroy the container to get in it. I'm just letting you know how unhappy I am with this situation.

The next day, I got this response:
 

Hi Barbara,

Thank you so much for taking the time to reach out and especially for your long time love and dedication to Tide. It is such a pleasure to know that we have a loyal fan like you on our side - that's for sure!

I am sincerely sorry to hear about the difficulties in opening our Tide Pods. This isn't anything we'd expect or want for you to have happen. I am, however, glad that you took the time to let us know. Now, I can help you and get a report to my Quality team.

Please know that our consumer feedback is the best kind of feedback that we can get, Barbara! With that being said, I've made sure to save and forward your comments to my Packaging and Design Team for further review and consideration.

In the meantime, I'd like to make it up to you anyway that I can. With that being said, I have a $10 prepaid Tide card coming to you. This will arrive in 7-10 business days and if there's anything more that I can do, please let me know - I'm always happy to help! Some folks find the bags easier to open. 

Best Regards,

Lisa 
Tide Team

Now that was a surprise. I didn't do it to get something. But, I'm glad I did. I emailed Lisa back:

Yes, I’ll go back to the ziplock bags. I got the tub for the economical value.

Sending this email forced me to recognize that I am a senior! I am very active and don’t consider myself weak or decrepit. But, opening containers is such a problem for me that I decided that from now on, I would let companies know. This was the first email I’ve sent. I keep saying that ALL companies need to have me test their products!! 

Thanks for your consideration.

I love my Tide!

Barbara

Hmmm. If I'm going to get free stuff, I'm definitely going to let companies know when I have a problem---like the bottled water company whose caps are so small you can barely get a grip to open it. Or, the salad dressing bottles with the pull off tabs that are so stuck that I have to stab it with a knife first and then peel it off. Or the medicine bottles that require you to get the box open, hold the cap down and turn, stab another tight foil seal and remove the cotton before you ever get to the medicine. Or the peanut butter jars that I have to stab too. So many things. ALL the things. So much stabbing. I'm becoming quite adept at that Pyscho motion! Let's just hope this packaging doesn't make me pyscho!

Oh, and then there's the Enclave that I always had a problem seeing out of for all the blind spots. Darn, I guess I'm a little too late for that one. If I contact them now---7 years later, do you think I'll score a new car? Might be worth a try!

Friday Funnies

Five Things Thursday

When we toured the Tillamook cheese factory in Oregon a few years ago, I had never heard of it. Since it's the number two best selling cheese in the US, I thought that was odd. When I got home, I paid attention and realized that we do have that cheese in our grocery stores. Now, I see it constantly!

 Traffic at the Nashville airport at 4 a.m.! I was shocked! All three lanes were packed!

Yesterday morning, I noticed a dead spider on the floor. I picked it up with a paper towel and threw it in the sink. All these babies started scampering around! Apparently, there were many more on the floor! Connie said this happened out at the pool a couple weeks ago. I've never seen it before.

How can you tell it's nearing the end of the pool season? ---the amount of "left behind" sunscreen!!

$19.99 buys you this meal for 4 from Fresh Market. Chicken parmesan, salad, vodka spaghetti sauce, Italian cheese and garlic knots. Seems like a bargain to me!! I'll be keeping an eye out for more of their dinner plans.

What I Buy Wednesdays

As you know, I mostly stay out of the stores. Well, except for the grocery store---which I have been frequenting way too much lately!!

Last week, I went to Atlanta to get Elizabeth to and from Blessed Trinity High School while her parents took Victoria off to college.

All went smoothly until I returned home after dropping E off. I had no idea that Titan would dart out of the house! Of course, there was no way I was going to be able to catch him. I could get him to come to me, but as soon as I made any move, he darted off again. I got the bright idea of leaving the door open and disappearing inside. I was certain he would come look for me. I hid in the kitchen for a couple minutes or so and he never came. Then I worried that he could really be gone. I went back outside and called for him. He came around the side of the house and kept doing the darting thing whenever I moved towards him. I think he thought we were playing and wanted me to chase him. Uh,  no---not in 95 degree heat!!

My last idea---I really was out of ideas. I have no idea what I would do if this didn't work. I went back inside and got a doggie treat. I held it out for Titan and he came to me. Before he could get it, I quickly threw it inside the house. He ran back in!! I was really quite impressed with myself for that move!

He and I hung out for a couple hours while I read. Around noon, I decided to go out for lunch. That's when I saw Stein Mart. I love that store. I hardly ever go, but I do love it. We have one about 2 miles from our house. It's been over a year since I've been. I stay out of the stores as much as possible. I'm too much of an impulse shopper. And I did a little of that this time.

I'm telling you, I don't know if Stein Mart always has this good of sales, or I just happen to luck out annually when I go.

 They have the best selection of costume jewelry at really good prices. I'm going to have to rely on Stein Mart since my favorite---Charming Charley's is closing. That was a sad day when I heard that. I loved that store for everything accessory.

You can never have too many knit shirts. Plus, after several washings, they are not quite crisp anymore. These were all marked down half price and then another 25% off. I got them for about $7.00 each. I couldn't resist the polka dot jacket either. That was $14.00.

I also got 2 white hand towels and 2 white with little embroidered flowers---I forgot to take a picture of them.

Now that's what I call successful shopping!!

Heading to St. Louis tomorrow. As always, I have a full schedule. No shopping involved. At least that I know of!

Tuesday Thoughts about...

Carrying cash!

While I was in Atlanta, Sandy, Greg and I had a conversation about the fact that Mitchell will have to pay ATM fees to get cash if his bank is not in Nashville. I told them that I would give him cash and then he could just Venmo me. After all, I go to the bank once a month and get $1000 in cash! 

When I got home, it went like this

Me: “Mitchell, if you need any cash, I can give it to you and you can Venmo me so you don’t have to pay ATM fees.”

He: “I don’t pay any fees.”

Me: “Well if you get cash from an ATM other than your own bank you do.”

He: “I don’t carry cash.”

Me: “Oh my gosh!! How can you not have any cash in your pocket? What if you need tip money?”

He: “I just write it in on the credit receipt.”

Me: “Well, what about valet parking?”

He: “Grammy, when do I ever valet park?”

End of conversation. I forget that young people don’t deal with cash!! Another way my age is showing. I break out in a cold sweat if I have less than a hundred bucks in my wallet!!

I know it's a generational thing, but I can't get over it. I just have to have money. Who's with me on this? 

Monday Mystery

So, you might remember that I lost one of these earrings.

This one turned up a year later---AFTER I'd already gotten rid of the first one.

Now, why in the world would I save this one? I have no idea--it's a mystery as to what I was thinking.

But then, this past week, I was in GA for a couple days. I went to Steinmart. I'll be sharing that report on "What I Buy Wednesdays." Anyway, I bought these earrings:

 Close, but not exact.

Even though I don't know why I save it, I'm glad I did. If I happen to lose one of the new ones, I'll have another pair. Even though they are not quite the same, I think I can pull it off. It will be interesting to see if anyone notices. In fact, I just might do it for that very reason!!

What I Buy Wednesday!

Well, we've been having printer problems---again! Mine hasn't worked in months. I kept getting the message that I needed to take it in for servicing. You might recall, I only paid about $10 for that printer with a clearance sale and my reward certificate. So, it definitely wasn't worth spending money getting it fixed. Printers are cheap.

Sooo, I've been using Butch's printer for months. All of a sudden, his printer quit working. I tried to troubleshoot it. Finally, I, too got a message that it needed more help than I could provide. It said that the print basket was full and needed emptying (or something like that). I gave up.

Butch got the Staples ad from the Sunday paper. I was going to get us both new printers. Before I even left the house, Butch said he got his going. That meant I only needed to buy one for myself.
I did. And then, the shocker---the ink cost more than the printer. There's just something wrong with that.

I set up the printer yesterday. When I opened the closet to get the box for the old printer---to take back to Staples (they recycle for you), I discovered another printer! What??? Honestly, I don't really have any recollection about it. I'm thinking either Sandy or Stephanie gave it to me when they moved. and I just forgot. I told Butch about it.

Hopefully, we'll remember we have a spare the next time we need one.

Other than that, the only thing I've been buying this week is groceries, groceries and more groceries. I'm averaging three times a week now---and I hate grocery shopping! I cannot keep enough food in the house for our boarder!!

Monday Mystery

What is the best way to peel potatoes for potato salad? 

 Score your potatoes before you boil them.

 When they are cooked, you can see that the peels are starting to fall off.

And they do! So easy!

Mystery solved!

It's Finished!!

I just got it back from the framers.

This was so much fun to stitch. When it comes to beading (that tree), you either love it or you hate it. Luckily for me, I happen to like it, but it is really time consuming. Since finishing this one, I've already taken the "pumpkin topiary" to the framers. Of course I'll be sharing that when I pick it up.

And this is what I just started. I love fun Halloween projects.

Travel Tuesday

The Atlanta Botanical Garden