It's gonna be....

.....a long day.  New floor in bathroom and vapor barrier under house.  Sigh.

So, sorry.

As you know I'm in the process of (not just thinking about) but actually putting my home on the market (AGAIN).  My new Realtor is 100 degrees different from my first and most of my time is spent working on the house getting it ready to put on the market, hopefully late next week.  As a result I have very little time for work, or for writing, or for even finding time to eat what with people in and out of my house at all hours.

As for my blog it has been badly neglected.  I hope you will bear with me and continue to check for a new entry.  I will be back, I promise.  In the meantime I'm trying to keep my wits about me, I think I'm doing pretty well...mostly...oh, there are times I'm reduced to a puddle of tears but I pick myself up, dry myself off and carry on.

I've come to believe moving goes much better when you are younger, although the stress is exactly the same, youth seems to float with the current, while I on the other hand want to reach out for a branch and hang on.

What an adventure.  I will keep you posted as I have the time.  Thanks for hanging on with me to my precarious branch I appreciate it more than you know.

Where has the time gone?

After being thrown into such a tizzy last week over the fact I have been out of high school for 60 years I have lost all track of time.  Frankie says I've been "bouncing off the walls"...her words not mine.

Actually she's right. I'm getting closer and closer to making that 'big change' in my life and some days I'm really upbeat and ready, while some days my heart flutters and I find I want to breathe into a paper bag.  I'm glad Frankie is here, she's the yin to my yang.

Over the last couple of years I've been reading my I-Ching and horoscope and the particular website I visit has been pretty darn accurate in keeping me grounded.  Seriously, it's as though they know me on a personal basis and after I check out my daily read I often sigh with relief.  Take today's reading:

"The good news is that you are on the receiving end of more encouragement now than you dreamed possible. However, the bad news is everyone seems to have an agenda that's different from yours. You would love to embrace their support, but you don't want to alter your plans for any reason. Although there's no quick solution to this dilemma, it's best to graciously accept the assistance rather than to fearfully push it away. Thankfully, the full story will come out sooner than you expect, clearing the air once and for all."

Considering the changes I want to make for myself and my little family, today's reading has some mysterious connotations I don't quite understand...yet.  I feel as though I'm about to start a boulder rolling down a steep hill and envision that boulder bouncing out of control hitting trees, road signs, other boulders as it picks up speed careening to the bottom of the hill.  I'm running as fast and hard as I can behind it screaming "Look out!"  "Get out of the way!"

Ain't I too old for this kind of nonsense?  Shouldn't I be lounging in the sun somewhere feet up, with some kind of exotic drink that has an umbrella and wedge of pineapple floating on top?  Sigh.

I guess not.  Instead I'm thinking about selling my home and moving into a retirement community where somebody will take care of me, Frankie, Zorro and CC as well.

Frankie's standing here looking over my shoulder, leaning against my chair causing it to shudder. She says I'm not chasing the boulder...I am the boulder.  She's the one screaming "Look out!"  "Get out of the way!"  See, I told you she's the yin to my yang.  I think I'm going to let her be in control.

Meantime, I'll try to take it day by day and let my future unfold however it should.  As my reading said this morning.  "Thankfully, the full story will come out...sooner than you expect"  Let's hope I'm up to the challenge.

Well, that's depressing!

I enjoy my trek to my mailbox every day, I don't care what the weather is, I simply look forward to whatever surprise lies within...usually.  I like glossy catalogs, local mailers with coupons and yes, I confess even bills (most of the time).  Zorro enjoys the jaunt out to the mailbox as well and bounds up and down the front yard next to the curb. 

I frequently put the mail on the front stoop and spend a little time pulling weeds or perhaps trimming a shrub or two.  It's the kind of exercise that's good for my soul.

Yesterday the trip was not as delightful as usual.  There was one piece of mail and before I pulled it from the dark interior of the box I could tell it was not a catalog, local mailer or even a bill. This appeared to be (hold on to your boot straps) an actual letter, the envelope had actual handwriting on it.  Be still my heart.

I recognized the return name and address; it was of an old friend.  Uh-oh I think to myself, this can't be good news.  Heart pounding and breath quickening I hastily and messily ripped the envelope open.  I wish I hadn't bothered.  The letter started thusly.

"Dear Friends,

We graduated from high school 60 years ago!!!  Amazing!!"

(Gasp, cough, sputter, cough, choke, choke, gasp, sputter, sputter.)

"Our celebration will be on Saturday, September 12."

By now I had sunk, actually slunk into the corner of my sofa, rapped my arms around my legs and went into shock.  60 years!!!  60 years!!! How the hell did that happen???  NOOOOOOO!!!!!!  60 years is for old people.  I'm not old people!  Maybe my classmates are...but I'm NOT old people.

I was in a tizzy.  I could feel a panic attack coming.  I dial my sister...answer, please answer.

Ring.

Ring. (Please be there.)

Ring! (Heart beating faster.)

Ring!!! (AHHHHHH!  Pick up!  Pick up!)

She finally answered her phone.  Oh, I laid it on thick; I tried to get her to tell me this was some kind of horrid error.  Surely, goodness and mercy I could not be out of school for (gulp) 60 years.  Please, please tell me this is not true.
She could not.

Eventually I calmed down enough to become coherent and after we reminisced for a while I was able to accept the fact the years have flown by. But accepting the fact I've been a graduate for sixty years is pretty overwhelming.  I can't help thinking about the woman in the commercial saying she didn't need one of those emergency buttons and says "They're for old people."  Surely the same holds true for my class reunion in September.  It is definitely for "old people".

Am I going to attend?  No.  I've done all the traveling I have ever wanted to do in my lifetime.  Plus, it is simply no fun flying any more, just going through the airport is more trouble than the trip is worth.  I'll be there in spirit though, and will look forward to follow up letters regarding who did attend, what they are doing, and where they are now.  


After yesterday's shock imagine how I'm going to react five years from now when I get another letter telling me the 65th reunion is about to happen.  Oh, brother, maybe...if the Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise...and I'm still in my right mind...I might go, just to see who's out living me.

Hummm, de, dummm.

I told Frankie I couldn't think of anything to write this morning.  She gave me a look. I'm not sure how to explain it, it was sort of like 'You've got to be kidding.', and 'What? You speechless'.  Then, without a word she turned and walked away.

Well, so much for support and caring.

Maybe I'll just ramble and see what tumbles out of the old noggin'.

Here's news.  My house was so warm this morning I didn't have to turn on any heat, the last time that happened was probably mid-November.  Funny thing is, I didn't realize I had not turned it on until I was halfway through my exercise program when I realize I'm starting to perspire and go to turn the heat off.  It must be close to spring.

My friend who lives in South Africa is in the States, she messaged me yesterday asking for my phone number as she is going to be here in Oregon next week.  I'm hoping she'll have a little time to come see me, but since she not going to be here long I'll be delighted with a simple phone call.  I do love that woman.

Speaking of phones.  Mine went berserk night before last.  I was in the middle of a conversation with a friend in PA, when the phone went dead.  I hate that I sit there for several seconds shouting hello, hello, helloooo, hellllooooooooooooo even though I know nobody is there.  I tried to call my friend back but got a busy signal and I figured she was trying to call me so I hung up.  I did not get a call-back.  I tried to dial her again, but instead of a dial tone I got beeping.  Uh-oh, that's not good, I thought perhaps she had not properly hung up her phone and the line was still open so I moved on to other things.  I knew eventually she would discover the problem and everything would be hunky-dory again.  In the meantime I moved on to other things.

Little did I know I was also without Internet access.  Well, that just sucked.  I went to bed grumbling and lay there contemplating how I would clear up this mess.  I had several scenarios in mind none of which appeared to have a simple solution.  I slept fitfully.  Guess what? When I awoke and tried to use the phone, all was well.  I gave The Man Upstairs a great big 'thank you' for that.  In conclusion, I guess my server was at fault...sometimes it's not good to be 'bundled'.

Then, yesterday I was getting ready for Bible study when I got a call my study partner was not going to be able to come.  Geeze, all my dusting and vacuuming was for naught.  Oh well.  We are going to study on Friday instead...I hope she does not think I'm going to dust and vacuum again....LOL.  I'll just walk around and give the furniture a good huff and puff, what dust blows off will have to do.

Finally, I'm still working on standing erect without using my hands for support. Sometimes it is quite easy while other times I simply can't get my butt off whatever seat I happen to be in.  I can't figure out what makes the difference.  Maybe I'm not concentrating hard enough.  However I'm not about to give up, it is getting more easy day by day.

Oh, remember I told you some time ago Bobby, my shield bug died?  Since the weather has been so wonderful I've had windows and doors open, and another bug somehow got into the house.  I didn't realize it until night before last when I was in bed working a crossword puzzle and I heard a bzzzzz.  I look down and there's a shield bug on my blanket.  Well, I don't mind one camping indoors over the winter, but it's time to start a family so no loitering allowed.  I scooped the rascal up, opened the front door and gently placed him on the stoop.  Silly bug.

There you have it, this is just a bunch of Ramblings of an Old Woman.

Have a great day.

Beep, beep...look out world!!!!!

Last night I was watching a show on BBC America called "Mud, Sweat and Gears". Of course it's a show dealing with automobiles.  I get a real kick out of shows dealing with cars.  This one (I think) is pretty new and I was immediately hooked.  It involves two teams of three people pitted against each other.  They have to soup up clunkers and have to try to get their cars to survive three extreme tests. The car that loses gets blown up at the end of the show.

Anyway...last night as the show began, one of the teams happened to have close by a very strange looking car, and the presenter (the BBC word for host) was explaining to his team what the car was. It was one of the Google Mapping Vehicles.  I was fascinated.  It was white and bright green and had this humongous 'thing' on the roof that held cameras which apparently could take pictures in the round.  These vehicles have been going round the world, making a visual Atlas.

I use Google Maps a lot; I'm curious and want to see where people I know live.  And, after seeing one of Google's mapping vehicles I now understand how they got the pictures of intersections...the cameras mounted like a monstrosity on the roof of the vehicles simply panned around it in a constant and very smooth way.  Awesome!  But, here's the thing. How did I not see this vehicle when it was on my street?  It must have stopped at my intersection, stayed there for at least a minute, panning, before moving further up my street.  Seriously...it drove past my house...how did I miss that?  I'm quite aware this happened because I've been on Google Maps many, many times and I've seen my house.
 
Matter of fact, I've been many places using Google Maps check out places I've lived over the years and have seen them all except for one.  As close as I could come to that particular one is a few blocks away where I can see that intersection quite well.  I'd have never recognized it if I'd been dropped there by some alien vessel but thanks to Google Maps I would now.

What's fascinating about all of this is how small the world has become, and how close Google Maps can get me to where you live.  I can see your residence starting from outer space, zoom in, zoom in, and zoom in again until I can see your driveway, your car and almost peek in your living room window.  Is this an invasion of your and my privacy?  I suspect so.  I've been told there's a way to remove your home from the mapping, but I figure what's the use in that I'm sure Realtors already have it recorded in their records and I'm sure my County Tax Assessor's office does, too.

Shoot, once more I've digressed.  What this blog is really about is the Google Mapping Vehicles and how clever Google engineers, researchers and scientists were to come up with the whole system of mapping the world; it boggles my mind.  If you've never had the opportunity to discover these maps, you should.  It is amazing. The program is very easy to use and it will take you just about anywhere in the world you will probably never be able to go, and give you the next best thing to actually walking up to and knocking on your friend's or family's front door.  Try it, you’ll love it.

I'm very sorry I missed the mapping of my neighborhood, street and house.  Had I known Google was going to do that I would have stood in my front yard and waved to the world.  Imagine my image standing at my curb for the whole world to see, waving forever and ever, and ever.

Vog???

Last week while checking one of my daily 'bookmarked' web sites I noticed a new word in the body of the copy.  It's a NASA website that everyday shows wonderful pictures of the planet we live on. Some days the pictures blow my mind.

Anyway, last week one of the pictures used the word 'vog', describing what looked like fog in the picture.  I figured it was probably a typo which is something I'm very familiar and let it go at that.

Then this morning the picture was of the Hawaiian Islands from space and superimposed on it was the word 'vog'.  Now I'm very curious what the heck is 'vog'? I scroll down to the article hoping I might discover what 'vog' is.  This time I got lucky.  First, it's not a typo. It is an actual something.

According to the article, 'vog' is a haze that is a combination of fog, smog and volcanic gas...in other words pollution.  According to the (Hawaiian Volcano Observatory) "Vog is scientifically defined as “a visible haze comprised of gas and an aerosol of tiny particles and acidic droplets, created when sulfur dioxide and other gases chemically interact with sunlight and atmospheric oxygen, moisture, and dust.”"  Wow, that sounds awful.

I decided to check my dictionary, which was published in 1999 to see if the word was listed there, it wasn't.  I'm not sure why, but that surprised me.  So I decided to delve into this vexing word 'vog'.

It is mentioned in Wikipedia, but strictly from a scientific observation. I wanted to know its origin. Of course this can't be 100% substantiated, but I learned there are at least two possibilities. One is that a Hawaiian Teruo 'Buddy' Watanabe coined the word as far back as 1965, while the other states Reginald "Reggie" Okamura used the word sometime during the mid 1980's.  I guess it doesn't matter who coined the word or when, apparently 'vog' has become a serious problem in Hawaii not only causing polluted skies but health issues as well.  So much for paradise.

I'm beginning to think there is no such place as paradise, some places have smog, some places have fog and now Hawaii has 'vog'.  I guess no matter where we live on this gigantic blue marble problems arise everywhere and maybe we need to work on the ones in our own little corner of it. It's time we had better do something...it's almost too late.

TP

Yesterday morning I had the opportunity to change out a toilet paper roll.  Okay, there's nothing unusual about that, I've been doing that my entire adult life.  In every family (generally speaking) there is one person to whom falls the responsibility of keeping each toilet paper dispenser operational.  We wish others would share...but, we know they won't.

Since I know this is something Frankie will never, never, ever do, and CC and Zorro can't I continue to do this tiresome job.  I can do it blindfolded.  However, yesterday I had nothing in particular on my mind as I did this chore and I actually examined the roll of paper.  As usual it was two ply, but upon close inspection I discovered it was as thin as one ply used to be.  I took a good look at the individual squares, dang they were tiny.

I removed the metal roller from the dispenser and shoved the new roll of paper on it and returned the whole shebang to its proper place.  WAIT A MINUTE!  There was almost an inch of metal extending beyond the toilet paper roll.  How come I never noticed this before?  Those dispensers were made to hold a much wider roll of paper...and I remember when it did.

Well, that's just wrong.  Once more I'm getting gypped.  It's like when I noticed I was getting a mere 15 ounces of margarine instead of 16, or being able to buy only four pounds of sugar for the same price I used to get five.  Thing is, manufactures and suppliers have been sneaky about the changes and we don't notice until after the damage has been done.  I confess I have no idea how long I'd been buying 15 ounce margarine containers, and four pound bags of sugar until I went back to reading labels.  I was shocked.

But, toilet paper! Oh I was aware even the most expensive kinds aren't nearly as soft as they used to be, but how sneaky they were to gradually, ever so gradually decrease not only the length of each square but the width as well.  Are we paying any less for this product?  No.  Are we paying more? You bet your lifesavors.  I normally buy the house brands of this product because they are cheaper than name brands, unless one of the name brands happens to be on 'special' making me feel giddy that I'm getting away with something illegal.  They can afford to put it on 'special' it's smaller, as cheaply made as the house brand and certainly does not last any longer.  I'm simply getting gypped...again.

I wish now I had not paid so much attention to replacing my roll of toilet paper.  I spent the morning stewing and fretting.  I even began to wonder if Sears still puts out a catalog, in olden day it supposedly made excellent TP for the outhouse.  Better yet maybe I'll stop recycling my catalogs and simply stack them up next to the toilet in my bath room.  Hmmm, I wonder how Frankie will take to that?

Anyway, who knows what will gyp me (and you) next.  I'm already noticing bleach does not remove stains the way it used to.  Cookies are smaller, while packaging remains the same size so I'm discovering broken ones when I open it. Darn cookies have room to roam around.  Potato chip and snack packages are loaded with air, so when you peek inside the first chip is halfway down into the bag. It's like looking into a cave or a well.  I think the air is supposed to protect the snack from 'breakage'... yeah, right...take a good look at your chips, people.  Sigh, I could go on and on but I suspect I've already spoiled your day, I know I've spoiled mine.

Dang you toilet paper manufacturers!  If I didn't need you so badly I'd, I'd, I'd....

Remember, do you remember?

Last night as I was dozing off an old time song popped into my head.  I've no idea why that happens with such frequency.  Sometimes it prevents sleep, but last night I thought if I remember the song in the morning I would write about it.  Even going so far as to break the rule and use the computer before exercising.  (Don't tell on me, please.)

Anyway, although I do remember the song, I also got to remembering the wonderful movies that had these kinds of songs in them.  Oh, do you remember those wonderful films.  They had Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ann Miller and Esther Williams in them.  While Gene, Fred and Ann danced and swirled around gigantic sets, Esther Williams swirled around a gigantic swimming pool.  Music filled the theater as we were swept away with the magic.  Gene and Fred could tap dance half the way up a wall, then flip over and land on their feet without skipping a beat.  And, I heard when Gene Kelly did that famous "Dancing in the Rain" scene he was in reality a very ill man, such was the caliber of men in those good old days.  Sigh, too bad they don't make movies like those any more.

But, getting back to the song I remembered last night.  It's called "Put on a Happy Face".  That in itself is charming enough don't you think?

The story behind the song is quite lengthy and can be found on Wikipedia so I won't repeat all of it here but can I tell you it appeared in the Broadway play Bye-Bye Birdie, and a few years later in a Hollywood musical with the same name.  The lyrics were written by Lee Adams, the music by Charles Strouse and sung by...go ahead...guess?????

None other than a very young new-comer Dick Van Dyke.  No kidding, Dick Van Dyke.

Who'd a thunk?

Anyway, this song is so up lifting it made me put on my happy face and I hope my posting it here will put a happy face on you, too.

Bye Bye Birdie - Put On a Happy Face 

Gray skies are gonna clear up

Put on a happy face

Brush off the clouds and cheer up

Put on a happy face

Take off that gloomy mask of tragedy

It's not your style

You'll look so good that you'll be glad

You decided to smile

Pick out a pleasant outlook

Stick out that noble chin

Wipe off that full of doubt look

Slap on a happy grin

And spread sunshine all over the place

Just put on a happy face

Put on a happy face

Put on a happy face

And if you're feeling cross and bickerish

Don't sit and whine

Think of banana splits and licorice

And you'll feel fine

I knew a girl so gloomy

She'd never laugh or sing

She wouldn't listen to me

Now she's a mean old thing

So spread sunshine all over the place

And put on a happy face

I don't particularly like licorice, but do love banana splits, so how can I not have on a happy face? Plus, I don't particularly want to be known as a gloomy girl and turn out to be a mean old thing........ 

..........so, (I'm gonna') spread sunshine all over the place

and put on a happy face.

Here's the thing.

Yesterday my blog was about inserting new things into my exercise program.  I did that, as a result I realized this morning I have not been working all my muscles in the way they could be used. Ow! On the up side I've discovered I'm able to do things I thought I would never (again) be able to do in my lifetime.

Remember when I said my friend stood in a ballet position, heels together, toes pointed outward then lifting her heels off the floor.  Well, guess what?  This morning I was using the arm of my sofa for support while doing this and it struck me that I could do this without the sofa support and let go.  To my amazement, I was able to do this exercise standing alone, arms extended outward and lift myself...my whole body up onto my toes.  Then held this position without losing my balance.
Wow!

I'm starting to think the aging of my body is not just physical, but  mental.  I'd come to believe all the things people do tell you about getting old and that is exactly what makes a person old.  If you think you can't do something, you won't.  We become content with being sedentary. At least I know I did. Now that makes me so angry at myself I could spit tacks.  What the heck was wrong with me, if everybody jumped of a cliff would I jump, too?  I don't think so.  As a result I'm taking the opportunity to change my mental attitude about getting old by being physical.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm addicted to being sedentary, and just like being addicted to anything, it's a day to day process controlling it.  I could backslide at any moment.  I remember those afternoons, watching TV, taking a 40 winks nap, those were the good old days.  Some days I miss them.  What keeps me going is trying new, more difficult physical endeavors.  For instance, I'm sure you remember my trying to hoist myself up and off my sofa day before yesterday afternoon and that it didn't go well.  I thought for sure it would take at the very least weeks, at the most months to accomplish this feat.  But, not to be dissuaded I attempted the same thing yesterday afternoon.  At first I couldn't get my leg muscles to do what they were supposed to.  I pictured in my mind what I wanted them to do and I thought very, very hard.

Concentrate.

Concentrate.

Concentrate.

I willed my body to stand...on it's own...without my hands having any part in lifting my body off the sofa.

And, I did.  Oh, it wasn't pretty by any means, and Emily Post would shuddered at how unlady like it was.  But, I was so proud of myself I could have cried.  For the rest of the afternoon each time I stood I made my legs, and legs alone to get me to a standing position.  Color me amazed!!!

I guess what I'm trying to write is we encumber ourselves by thinking we can't accomplish things; by the same token can't we become unencumbered by thinking that we can.  Last September I never would have thought I'd be where I am today getting myself up off my sofa unencumbered.  I've no idea what's coming next but I'm sure it will surprise me.

Disclaimer:  Please remember I started my program with the encouragement and support of my physician, check with yours I'm sure he/she can provide a program suited to your current physical condition.  If he/she already has provided one for you but you prefer being sedentary, remember I used to be like that, too.  But also remember, I'm starting to think the aging of my body is not just physical, but mental.

Then I got up off my sofa and that changed everything.

Up-down, one-two

A friend and I were discussing our exercise programs, and kind of comparing notes. She goes to an actual gym and participates in several different programs.  I like talking about exercise, it keeps my incentive up.  She told me one of her programs had some exercises from ballet and I was quite intrigued.

We used the side of a car as a ballet 'bar' as she showed me some of  the moves. I notice one was similar to what I do, except, where I stand flat footed, feet together, her program has her heels together, toes pointed outward, and she has to lift her heels off the floor.  Wow...I tried that then and there, I could feel myself using different leg muscles in order to do this.  Holy mackerel.

I told her I'm still having trouble with balance, and showed her the exercises I do to improve mine. She said she did one similar, but instead of putting her arms down to her sides, she was instructed to place her hands together in front of her chest.  I think she called it something like 'heart position'. I've decided I'm going to do that.

Then, still talking about balance she mentioned her instructor said one of the most important things we should do is never give up on being able to stand up with out the aid of clinging to something for support.  I get that!  I always prided myself I was able to get up, even off the floor, without having to push or pull myself up.  However, over the years I've discovered I can no longer do that.  I've been very embarrassed about having to crawl across the floor on hand and knees to a sofa or chair. It's even more embarrassing when I'm working outside on my hands and knees and have to scour the neighborhood making sure no one is watching as I get myself upright once more. As a result I decided come heck or high water I am going to get myself back into shape to be able to do stand up again...by myself...on my own.

I started yesterday.

Baaaaaaaa, haaaaaaaaa, haaaaaaaaa, haaaaaaaaaaa, Whew, that felt good.

Wish you could have been here, I had myself in such a fit of giggles.

I started by skooching myself to the edge of the sofa, feet firmly planted on the floor. I attempted to stand. I could not get my flabby butt off the cushion.  (Snicker.)  I tried again, this time I managed to get my butt off the sofa, but my arms flailed about like a fish freshly landing on a beach for the very first and probably last time. (Snicker, snicker.)  Plop, down I went onto the sofa.

I think maybe if I grunt while trying to pull myself into a standing position it might help. I do so, as quietly as possible.  Did you know you can't grunt in silence 'cause it makes you...well, you know...fart.  (Now I'm far beyond snickering.)

I try one more time, by now my legs feel like rubber.  I've awakened Zorro...CC has fled in fright, I think because of my flailing arms and Frankie is doubled over in a fit of laughter.  It's hard to try to better yourself when those you love get such a kick out of it.

I finally give up, for the moment.

However, now I'm bound and determined I'm going to conquer being able to get myself into a standing position...on my own...without the aid of anything but my own muscle power.  I don't care how long it takes!  I am going to become the little train that could!

At least I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

Happy hour

As I posted yesterday I had a date to go to happy hour with friends, and since I had given Frankie such a hard time about my coffee creamer system I invited her to go along with us.

At first she declined, but I pulled the please, please, please, pullllleeeeeaaaase, 'be a two year old kid whine until you say yes' trick.  It worked.

Around 3:30 my friend showed up, and the three of us took off to meet our fourth companion.  My friend lives within walking distance of many great restaurants, and she suggested we walk.  Boy, I shoot Frankie a look...she's not used to walking, is she going to make a fuss.  I glance to my left and I can see the intersection with the light and think, it's not all that far, we should be able to make it no problem.  After all Frankie and I have been exercising for quite a while, and we are in better shape than we've been in a long, long time, walking several blocks should not present a problem.

Our fourth companion shows up and we begin our trek.  It's a beautiful day, there is a scent of spring blossoms on the air and we leisurely stroll along the street.  Our conversation is as light and breezy as the day, we talk about all sorts of things which is easy to do since we've not been together for quite a long time.

I glance at Frankie, she's not talking much but I can tell she's enjoying herself and listening to our conversation because she smiles and laughs at the appropriate times. Lake Oswego is a dog friendly city so as we stroll we stop and pet all kinds and sizes of them.  We're having a wonderful time. Our destination comes into view. Surprisingly...none of us is winded...even though we talked and laughed the whole way.

We seat ourselves, order drinks and eventually food. Now, you'd think by now we'd have run out of things to talk about, but that was not the case.  Frankie talked about the move we hope to make later this year and I was pleased to know she's as excited, yet just a bit as scared as I at the prospect of making such a gigantic change in our lives.

Much too soon it's time to start our trek back to where it began.  This time it is slightly up hill. Frankie and I share a secret glance...down hill was one thing, going up was quite another.  We needn't have worried the walk was easy-peasy.

Once home I asked Frankie if she had a good time.  She sank into a chair and kicked off her cowboy boots as a grin of contentment spread across her face.  I grinned back, there was no need for words. I'm glad she agreed to come along because I knew she had forgiven me for my morning tirade, and this morning she made both of us a cup of hazelnut flavored coffee.

All is right in our world.

Grrrrr, darn Frankie.

Me:  "FRANKIE!" Yes, I'm yelling.  Sometimes I could spit tacks.

Frankie saunters into the kitchen, steaming mug of coffee in hand.  See, I knew she was guilty.  She looks so innocent...so.....ahhhh!!!!

Frankie:  (Taking a bite of peanut butter covered bagel.)  "What's got your bun wound so tight?"

She actually snickered.  Grrrr.

Me:  "Did we not have a long talk about the flavored coffee creamers?  Did we not set up a system to rotate the creamers so they all run out at the same time?"

Frankie screws up her face in fake concentration, wrinkling her brow, shifting her mouth from side to side, scratching her nose.  "I guess I recollect something like that."

Me:  "Is that all you have to say for yourself?  You know you deliberately messed up the order."

Frankie moves way to far into my personal space and challenges me.  "How do you know I messed up the order, maybe you did."

I drag her to the cupboard and remind her about the system.  There are four jars of flavored creamers and one jar of just plain sugar...the sugar is the jar that guides us through the system.  Every day, the creamer we are to use that day sits in front of the sugar, every day as we use that creamer, a new creamer moves in front of the sugar container and a round robin system begins.  It works well, each creamer container empties within days of each other.

Frankie hates this system.

Oh, I know, it is kind of silly, but I guess I kind of have a bit of OCD because I like the order of my creamer system...I know each day I will enjoy a different flavoring in my coffee, and I also know I will be opening new containers all at once, not one every two weeks or so.  Frankie, on the other hand does not care a twit.  Dang her.

So, Frankie says, "Just how do you know I used a creamer out of order, anyway?"
Me:  (Sighing.) "Yesterday, I used the pumpkin spice, which means I should not have found it in front of the sugar container this morning."
Frankie:  "I didn't want pumpkin spice yesterday, but I did this morning, so I moved back in front of the sugar for this morning.
Me:  "But, I should be having hazelnut this morning...I want hazelnut!"

Frankie in her usual, I don't give a crap attitude grabs my cheeks squeezes just a tad hard, while being waaaaay to close in my private space when she says: "I've got one word for you getoverit!'

Wow!!!  This is hard to process.  I retreat, intending to return and do battle...she's not getting away with this.  No way!!!!

I take my pumpkin spice flavored coffee and go to my office contemplating my revenge. All of a sudden I recall a conversation I had yesterday when I boastfully and proudly exclaimed I was pleased I've become mature and forgiving, able to overlook the small stuff.   Yet here I was making an awful fuss over of all things...coffee creamers.  Oh, I don't know I will ever be able to give up on my rotation system because I like it, but I have learned a lesson this morning.  In the scheme of things does it really matter if Frankie occasionally, or even frequently wants a different flavor in her coffee than I do?  Nope, I don't think so.

This was definitely 'sweating a small stuff' thing and I definitely should be the bigger person and overlook it.

So since I'm going with friends to happy hour this afternoon, as a way of making up and saying I'm sorry, I think I'll ask Frankie to come along.