Friday Roundup

Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them.

John Shirley

Good morning everyone. It's Friday. Used to be my most favorite day of the week. Now it's just another day. In fact, I always think Thursday is Friday now. Don't know why. I just find myself looking for Bluebloods at 10 pm and then it hits me that it's only Thursday. Oh, the freedom of retirement!!!!

I had a good night's rest last night. Went to be at 10 pm, fell right out, bathroom run at 1am, another one at 5am, but this time I didn't lie awake after the 5 o'clock run waiting for the noise to begin. I was able to fall back asleep until 6:30. Wonder how long this peace will last. Who will be upstairs next?  I'm expecting Leadfoot at some time today.  It's rent time, and he has to pick up the bill and clean up after his 'guests' left.  Grrr!!!!!  But, little does he know that the wheels are already in motion to get him out of there.

Stayed the same on the scale yesterday.  Cannot break through this plateau. Not giving up though. I'll get there. Just have to tweak a few things to get my metabolism re-started.  It's been months now.  -.2, stay the same, +.2, stay the same, and then the same sequence is repeated over and over again.  And I remain 3.6 pounds away from the 50 pound loss mark.

It's going to be a cool day out today with some showers on the way. I'm off to do my monthly banking today. Can't believe that bill time is here already. Seems to come quicker every month.  Wouldn't it be nice if everyone gave us a one month's grace period on our bills?  Oh, what I could do with that extra money.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Thursday This and That

What greater blessing to give thanks for at a family gathering than the family and the gathering.

Robert Brault

Good morning friends and family. Temps are on the way down again today, but not enough to make me start digging out winter clothes.  I'll be warm enough if I layer my clothes.  Just don't want to see those winter clothes anymore.  Most of them are too big on me now, but I refused to buy any new winter clothes as I still have about 30 pounds to go.  I did give away three coats that I just bought last year.  They hung on me.   

So I found out that I DO have dental insurance, and it's pretty good.  I've been suffering for awhile now with this permanent bridge, and I know it and sadly, the rest of my teeth have to come out.  Major work.  I kept putting it off because I was afraid of the cost but lately I've not been able to eat what I want and have been through two infections in the past 3 months.  Most of the time I feel pretty darn uncomfortable.  I found out that the extractions will be free and the top and bottom bridges are $150 each.  Not bad.  I was thinking thousands.

Why have I put it off you may ask.  I wanted to finish out this semester at school.  This week we are on Spring Break and my last classes are next week.  I'd been planning to do it then, but now my daughter is flying in on the 17th, my granddaughter on the 20th, and we're planning a big family get together.  It will be the first time I meet my grandchildren, and I don't want to do so toothless.  I am so looking forward to this.  Tears of joy.  A few family pics.

Today I am off to Weight Watchers.  Hopefully I will have gotten over this plateau.  It's really frustrating when you do everything right and don't see the results you were hoping for; instead, you either see a gain or remain the same.  I am so close to that 50 mark, yet I have stayed 3 pounds away for months now.  Not giving up though.  I came too far for that. 

Have a good one.

Tuesday This and That

"There's a world of wisdom in our personal stories. Your life is a legacy, a gift that only you can give. Why waste something so precious?"

"Too many Americans have ignored their ancestors and family history and not bothered to examine their own life stories, much less share them with others. They too rarely share much of their past lives with friends, or pass them on to their progeny. And yet we desperately need to do all that..."

 Dolly Berthelot

Good morning from Brooklyn, New York.  It's a rainy one here, so I'm planning on spending it indoors.  It's Spring Break so I have the whole week off from school. I really do need this rest.  I've a new alarm clock upstairs.  Oh, wait til you hear the latest.

It seems Mr. Leadfoot is renting out his apartment.  Lately I've been hearing a toddler running around at all hours of the night, and the other day I confronted a pregnant woman carrying a toddler in the lobby.  I asked her if she was new and what apartment she was in. I already knew because I had followed her footsteps to the door and knew she was on her way out.  It seems as if she and her husband are from Israel.  I didn't push about Mr. Leadfoot but I did make them aware that their bedroom is right over mine, and they have been quite loud at night.  She apologized and said they were still trying to adjust to the new time zone.  That I understand, but is it fair that I should have to adjust with them?  Well, lately now it's been a 5 am wake up for me, every morning.  What is it about that bedroom that fascinates everyone?  Why does everyone have to hang out in there?  

Now I am sure the Asian people who partied so wildly last week had also paid him, probably just for the weekend.  My intuition tells me he has an ad in Craig's List or something similar renting out the rooms for a few days or weeks at a time.  Needless to say, the office is not too happy about it and are planning to take action.  Like the super's wife said, we don't know WHO he is going to rent to.  

On a happy note, I received a letter from a lost cousin on Saturday. I'd been doing some work on my genealogy and discovered that my mom's brother had two sons so I set out to find them. Well, I did find the address of one of them and sent out a letter. Heard from him yesterday and phone numbers have been exchanged. I haven't called him yet because frankly, I don't know how to begin the conversation.  What do you say to someone you either never met  or met and haven't seen for 60 years?  It seems Mom alienated her own family as well as dads.  And in the process I have also met a wonderful new friend and 2nd cousin, his ex wife and their son.. And who said genealogy is only about the past.

Wishing my son, Jerry, a very very happy birthday.  The years have passed so quickly. 

Have a good one.

In Honor of Earth Day

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

Native American Proverb

Good morning everyone, and a happy Friday to all.   Not much happening here.  Stayed the same at Weight Watchers.  I am totally surprised.  I've had a mouth sore and have not been eating much; plus I have been getting in a lot of walking.  Should have been a loss.  Oh well, guess you can say I've hit an official plateau.

In honor of Earth Day, some pictures I took at school the other day.  Spring has officially arrived, and it is gorgeous.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Tuesday Ramble

Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off.

Author Unknown

Good morning everyone. It's going to be a lovely spring day here in Brooklyn. Wish I could enjoy it. I have a sore in my mouth that is really paining me. All soft foods since yesterday. Even had to grind my carrots last night.

Well, Mr. Leadfoot came home and is at it again. Within a half hour he was stomping feet and moving furniture. Then, he started again at 4:30 am, this time right over my bedroom. I banged on the pipes but he just doesn't care. He's evil. About 5 it quieted down and I dozed but a minute later he started again. So, I've been up since 4:30. Now he is up there and at it again. What he doesn't know is the office has already been alerted about his behavior and all they are waiting for is my call.  9am can't come soon enough.

Today I am off to Weight Watchers. Keeping fingers crossed for weight loss.

Have a good one.

I have seen a flower blooming in beauty in a secluded vale, and, ere I had a chance to look again, a chilly breath of air had scattered its petals and left it a ruin.

Charles Lanman

 Good morning friends and family. Well, it's going to be a bit cooler out today but still comfortable in my book. I was telling Ralph last night I think it's time to pack away the winter coats. I don't think I am going to need them anymore this season, and frankly, I am tired of looking at them.

On Monday I went to the park and had such a lovely peaceful . After the stressful weekend I had, I really needed it. Came home feeling like a new person. No noise upstairs. Mr. Leadfoot did come home yesterday and walked in his old normal way but no furniture moving about and he was gone quickly. I think he is scared of Ralph.

A few photos I took the other day.

 Up the hill I go.  Was a time I couldn't do it.

 Dandelion trail.

 So beautiful as I near the top/

A special little visitor.

My favorite spot

 

It's going to be a bit cooler out today but still comfortable in my book. I was telling Ralph last night I think it's time to pack away the winter coats. I don't think I am going to need them anymore this season, and frankly, I am tired of looking at them.

Today I am off to lunch and Spanish class. The class afterward is finished so now we have been having double classes--from 12:10 to 2:30. By the last half hour I am totally out of it. My brain is scrambled. 

Have a good one.

Noisy Neighbors

Action is the antidote to despair. 

Joan Baez 

Good morning friends and family. It's going to be a beautiful day here in Brooklyn. Sunny and temps are going up close to 80. I'm off today for the park. Been waiting awhile for this. Have my bag packed and ready to go. It is just so peaceful sitting up on that hill looking over the water. And since I read the history of the park and discovered that my ancestors once owned the land.  I get the feeling that they are still there.

Had a rough weekend. Mr. Leadfoot again. I've never had to deal with such a noisy neighbor. This time he had some visitors. I hate to call it a party because they were out on the fire escape, and he was pacing in the bedroom. Strange guy he is!!! I'm thinking he is on cocaine most of the time. On Friday, this went on until almost two in the morning.  Heck, they even went out on the fire escape and carried on just above my bedroom window.

Saturday night was a repeat...even worse. Thankfully it did not go on as late, but it started earlier and went on for hours.  At one point I was in tears and had to go stand in the lobby for some relief. I knew my BP was rising. Especially when I banged on the pipes and heard the little bitch laughing at me. Music was blasting and it sounded like they were jumping off furniture and wrestling. It's hard to explain the noise, but for sure it's not something anyone wants to live with so I did some research last night and saw that my hands aren't tied. There ARE things I can do.

First step is a contact. If this doesn't work I will be calling the super again....but Leadfoot doesn't listen to him either. But, I do owe him the respect of telling him before I call the building management. I don't think they will be too happy to hear they were out on the fire escape. Calling the police won't work because they won't come, but I need the call on record. So, the final step will be Civil Court. Hey, maybe I can make a couple bucks out of this. At any rate the noise issue will be on record and peace and quiet in my own home is all I really want. This is a quality of life issue.

Then on Sunday it happened. While I was at church, Mr. Leadfoot and pals started in again. Hubby has been working nights on weekends because they get more calls. So, he hasn't really had to put up with any of their nonsense. And because he is working until about 2 am in the morning, he was sleeping when they started. So he went upstairs and didn't knock, he said he banged on the door with the side of his hand. Leadfoot's little female friend poked her head out. Here's the conversation as per Ralph.

Ralph: And not very politely) Are you the owner of this apartment?
Girl: No.
Ralph: Get him.
Girl: Okay. (She leaves and comes back without Leadfoot). He's not home. (Yeah right, I say to myself. You'd know he wasn't home and wouldn't have to go check. Mr. Leadfoot, it turns out, is a real chicken sh.... and wimp)
Ralph: (yelling) Then I'll tell you. YOU ARE 'NOT' THE ONLY TENANTS IN THIS BUILDING. THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING DOWNSTAIRS AND WE ARE TIRED OF YOUR NONSENSE. WE CAN'T SLEEP. STOP THE DAMN JUMPING AROUND AND ACT LIKE NORMAL HUMAN BEINGS.
(At this point she gives him a nervous smile).
Ralph: DO I LOOK LIKE I'M SMILING???? THIS IS NOT A JOKE AND I WILL NOT TOLERATE YOUR NONSENSE ANY LONGER.

There was more said, but this is the gist of it. Hasn't been a peep out of them since I got home. Guess they needed to be put in their place. Ralph said they probably either thought I was living alone or that we were an older couple and that they could get away with it.  Meanwhile, I had already put a letter in their door and notified the super. He sent an email to the office and urged me to call the first thing today. All I can say is, they messed with the wrong people. You can only push us so far.

Ever since he is  up there tiptoeing around so quietly. He did move a little furniture yesterday but did so very, very slowly and only a wee bit at a time. I'd like to say he is just finally being respectful, but I believe the truth is he is afraid of Ralph and doesn't want him to know he is up there. Whatever it takes. At least I finally have some peace and quiet.

Have a good one.