For Rent

We own a couple of rentals. The income from these at some point will be our retirement. We have never had a problem filling our rentals, even in January. This year, re-renting these units has become a nightmare. Both the tenants in this duplex took advantage of Obama's $8000 incentive to become first-time home owners and vacated the building. We reduced the rent on one side by $150 and got a new tenant but the unit was vacant for a month. We reduced the rent by $100 on the other side and are........waiting. One prospective tenant e-mailed to cancel the viewing because she is allergic to cats. She drove by and saw this cute little kitty sitting on the stoop. A young couple came to look and loved it, but then offered us $200 less a month and said God would take care of them. One woman while sauntering around commented, "It's a renter's market, ya know?" She decided the place was too small. When tenants don't pay the rent/mortgage, we do and we have our own money woes at this point. We let the current tenants stay longer than their lease to be "nice". Our kindness gave them time to get into their new Obama-supported house. Probably a mistake for us. With these rentals we always need to keep in mind that they are a business. Being kind will cost us money; money that's hard to come by these days. But, maybe in the bigger scheme of things it was the right thing to do :)

Flu Shot

My husband, who doesn't panic much, called me to tell me that maybe we should think about getting the flu shot. He had heard, just that day, that thousands not hundreds have died from the H1N1 virus, I called my doctor's office in a bit of a mild panic. I knew that you had to get the regular flu shot before the H1N1 vaccine. The medical receptionist promptly told me that they were no longer were giving the flu shot, they'd run out. They offered no help. They were out and too bad for me. When I asked, "So what am I supposed to do?" the woman put me on hold and returned to direct me to a couple of websites where I could enter my zip code and search for a clinic. Jesus. Then I remembered that our school nurse had sent out an e-mail a week ago, so I also knew there was a clinic of sorts in the mall. It was 5:00, the clinic closed at 7:00. I had heard somebody at work say that the wait for the flu shot was 2 hours the day before...ugh. I wondered if they would be out? I wondered if they would not give me the shot because I had a cough? When I arrived, the line was short but the scene was surreal. It seemed like something out of a syfy movie. The line wound back and forth. People waited quietly. We all filled out and signed long forms that detailed the potential side effects. The Merk employees took my insurance card. After a short time, I sat down and rolled up my sleeve. It all went easily and quickly but I was left with an uncomfortable feeling. Running to get the shot before they ran out? Thousands dying. My normally calm husband worried? The world we live in now frightens me. And, yes, the irony does not escape me....I got the flu shot on Thursday evening and was very sick Friday and today.

Flu?

Wednesday I started to feel a scratchy throat. Thursday I started coughing and feeling like I was dragging a 100 pound weight around. Thursday night I felt chilled. With all the sickness going around I thought I'd better take my temperature. I didn't believe the digital display. I took my temperature 4 more times (did you know your temperature can vary 1 degree when you take it repeatedly?). Maybe the thermometer was broken I thought? I took my temperature with the old fashioned mercury thermometer I dug out of the bathroom drawer. I had, no matter how I measured it, a fever. "Fever?" I thought, "Piggy Flu!" But today I am not writhing in pain or throwing up or wishing I would die so I don't think it's H1N1. Last night I did a google search and found you can have a fever with a cold or a sinus infection. Who knew? Since I don't usually take my temperature when I'm sick I don't know if I usually get a fever when I have my yearly cold and sinus infection (which I have already had this year). In any event, given the scare these days and the directive from our school nurse to stay home if you have a fever....here I am....home, taking a fever reducer, swimming in water, coughing, and sniffling, feeling achy.....maybe I do have the flu but I'm counting on a bad cold.

Chirstmas, Weeks Away!

Unbelievably, Christmas is now only weeks away! Once Halloween passes you start hearing the bells jingle. I am not bah humbug about Christmas but this year I'm thinking, "What? Already?" I like to make homemade gifts even though that take a lot of time, always more than I plan on. This weekend I will start with the list. Some family and friends will get geckos. Some will get chocolate dipped pretzel sticks and/or a box of homemade chocolate truffles. Others may just get a homemade card. I rebel against all the money spent but love the lights and the spirit of it all :)

Me and My Hair

My hair has always been a big deal to me. Maybe it is to a lot of women but I also know many women who really pay very little attention to their hair. This is me in high school. I wanted straight hair because all the girls had it. To get this style I would go to bed every night with enormous amounts of Dippity-do flattening my hair to my head. When I awoke it was crispy but straight and flat. Attractive, don't you think?

Here is my sister who has had as many hair changes as me though her hair is straight as a needle. She's had it long, short, brunette, frosted, but I have never seen her with gray hair now that I think of it. We were sharing a hug in Mountlake Terrace, our hometown in this photo. In those days my hair was curly and gray and always held back with clips.

This is the back of my hair, uncolored and curly. This shot was taken right after I returned from a very expensive curly hair salon featuring the Ouidad slice and carve cut in MA.
The flagship salon for this Ouidad cut and product line is in NYC. I have visited this beautiful salon, thanks to my wonderful brother.

This is the gray look, curly with my bangs blown out. Not the best look or maybe it was the weather or maybe the wrong product? If I don't use the right product for the right weather conditions, I look like a Q-tip.

This is my hair colored and after I just returned from another visit to the expensive salon in MA. I believe the cut and color cost somewhere around $150. Not only is it expensive but my hair, for this look, has to dry on it's own which takes something along the lines of 3 hours when it's warm and dry out and 10 when it's cold and wintry. I currently live in Maine; it's cold and wintry more than half the year.

This is probably the most unflattering look. Not sure what I was going for there. Yikes. Honestly, before I saw the picture I was convinced I was looking good.

Here I am curly again but this time it looks like I'm wearing a curly cap with tight little ringlets covering my head. It was a warm, humid summer night as we toasted to our engagement.
As much as my hair changes from year to year....my wonderful husband always sports the same, yet flattering cut that costs less than $20 at the local barber.

Here is my curly wedding hair. I loved it. I think inside, I really am a curly girl but I would need a full-time stylist to pull it off.

I'm looking pretty snappy on my honeymoon with longer, curly hair.
No humidity in California.

However, this is how the same head of hair looks after riding across the Golden Gate Bridge.
My hair has a mind of it's own.

Here I am two years ago, first time experimenting with lightening my hair. For whatever reason, the stylist lightened just the front.
Makes me look like a blood-relative vs. a wife to my red-headed husband.

This is me now...my hair is sort of straight, sort of curly, sort of short, brownish hair. Though I no longer slather my curls with Dippity-Do...I do use Ouidad products (bought online in bulk) and have my hair lightened just a bit in front to soften my ever-growing wrinkles :P
Recently my daughter-in-law has joined the fray and started coloring my hair. I'm the blondest I have ever been and it's..... fun.

Maybe next year I'll go fully blond.

Thoughtful Husband

My husband is forever thoughtful. Although he is in pain just standing these days (back and spine issues), he took the time over the last couple of weeks to design and now create pallets for me to do my art work on. At this very moment, they are drying under plates and weights....little feet coming later on today. I can't wait to have an easy way to carry my various projects from storage to living room so I can join everybody at night; they watch the boob tube and I fiddle with buttons, glass and geckos.....

Amazing Creatures

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.

For me, they are the role model for being alive."
Gilda Radner

Olivia and Molly
BFFs

When we bought lovely Miss Olivia two years ago, I wanted, more than anything, to bring her AND her cute little brother home. "Too much work," my husband cautioned. I thought, at the time, that he was probably right. This week we are having Olivia's office "mate", Molly, over for 4 nights while her owners are out of town. We are all loving having Molly here! OK, she did leave a couple of little sausages in the garage and I'm pretty sure it was her pee I wiped up this morning when I noticed a funny little dry puddle on the hardwood floors and Jacki couldn't take her for a walk because she was running behind as Molly pulled all the way but other than that, we're loving the old girl. More bear than lab with that thick, soft, chocolate fur, she's a nice compliment to sweet and a little nutty Olivia who I am now convinced has ADHD (a little Marleyitis in her).

Molly and Olivia
Gal Pals

Down the road when we finally move away from this monster of a condo, we'll get a permanent canine buddy for Olivia...I'm thinking of a charcoal colored lab much like Cocoa...our once and always beloved black lab who I know, without a doubt, is happily roaming and jumping around dog heaven these days alongside Honey (my brother's sweet lab/chow mix who passed away almost 2 unbelievable years ago), Marley who has been gone just a month, and Scrappy and Butchie (those cute little pugs gone way before their time).

Cocoa and Me
(we both shared gray hair in those days)

Mike and Honey

Honey Love
We should all feel as loved as this puppy was by my brother and Andrew

Booga Booga Booga.....Meow!

So, I'm loving Halloween this year! Usually I stay home on Halloween Eve; the door bell forever quiet as we live on an island in a condo and few kids wander into our neighborhood looking for treats. But this Halloween I wandered the Haunted Halls of my school with my husband and granddaughter last Saturday night. Yesterday I delighted in the costumes of all the kids at school and even wore leopard tights, a short black skirt and a leopard turtleneck (cheetah woman) to get into the spirit of it all. Then last night I was invited to tour Strawberry Banke's Haunted Eve with the kids! What fun!

Yes, this is a head in a bowl. But was is startling is that the eyes wiggle back and forth and a strange voice speaks to you from the dark, otherwise silent looking decapitated specimen! Booga Booga.












And, check out this lovely horn-nosed green witch! Boil and toil.......

Ah, Mrs. Pumpkin head...always a treat.....














What a delightful family night out....

The Joy of Fall!

Forever, Fall is my favorite season...Spring a close second. Take a look at the colors just outside my back door. Olivia and I played ball for an hour in this glorious Autumn air. Life couldn't be better.

Willy Wonka and Pizza!

Last night my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed taking our granddaughter to her favorite place to dine out, Pizza Hut. She enjoyed a cheese personal pan pizza and pudding (vanilla AND chocolate). Then we went to my school where there was a Haunted House (Haunted Halls) and a Willy Wonka Hall! What fun!

Master of Ceremony

Giant Pumpkin Greeter

Wonders of the Bubble Machine
Notice Wonka in the Background!

Jimmy on the TV set with the Mad Scientist

Miss Blueberry!

Grandpa Limping Along (poor Grandpa has a slipped disc...ouch!)

If this isn't the cutest picture! I think she was an OmmpaLoompa

It's tiring having a night out with grandma and grandpa!

Haunted Gingerbread House!

This weekend we celebrated one of my granddaughter's birthdays...4. Do you remember being 4? I think my Mom make me a fabulous doll cake. One of the few really amazing memories I have of my Mom. I have even fewer memories of my grandmother..well I do remember her flying off to Hawaii when she stopped taking her medicine, in search of Elvis...but that's way off topic. Anyway, for my granddaughter's birthday party she and I and grandpa made a Haunted Gingerbread House which turned out to be a big hit at the party yesterday. Here's the photographic evidence :)

Putting the sides and roof on!

Grandpa loved helping with the construction.

Here Miss B is working on the coconut "grass".

Haunted Gingerbread House with Tinkerbell and Dora!

Ok, yah, this was a hit!
Look at the fabulous cake Daddy Gabe and Mommie made, as well....

Every piece of candy was taken off and eaten!

And that's all she wrote!

Art Fair

She smiled nervously from behind the tidy little display, showcasing her sparkley geckos and colorful fused glass necklaces. She wanted to sell all her handmade jewels and she didn't want to sell any of them. She loved each and every one of her creations and now people just passed by her booth, looking, deciding, sometimes buying....judging each one and turning away, or handing her a crisp $10 bill. When money was offered, she slipped it awkwardly into her wallet and then lovingly tucked each cheerful little piece of jewelry into it's sleek black box. Tying on the lavender bow she said, "Good bye,” to her little handmade treasures.