Danged Curtain Rods!!!

My project for Sunday was to re-position* the curtain rod in the living-room, and then install two in the bedroom. Once I got the gist of it, it was pretty easy. I didn't even measure or anything, and it came out really well.

Once up, the curtains were easy to add. My only issue, was that I was placing curtains over vertical blinds, so there isn't much space between the mechanism for the blinds, and the rod...so "pulling back the curtains" will take some effort.

In any case, I'm checking another item off my list, yay!

* eh, I placed them way too high...I was trying to avoid covering the electric heaters...the end result (before the "makeover") looked like I had placed a pair of pants all the way up to the chest, tied it nicely with a belt that was 3 sizes too big, and then added long socks to cover the now-exposed ankles. So sad...

Getting Tired of His Ass

Ok, no, I'm not talking about the handyman...He actually called this morning, and then came over to replace the flooring that was rotted, and installed the new water heater.

What I'm getting tired of, is trying to be graceful towards the ex-husband, who is still dangling the money he owes me, like a carrot, right in front of my eyes. I really did think we could remain "friendly", but he's making it impossible.

I am still driving the purple passion, because HE insisted. I wanted to give the car back, many times, and he said no, for me to continue using it, because it gets great mileage. How did I fall for that trick again?

Sure, it is true...with a full tank, I can go one month. In my Mazda? Maybe 2 weeks...it's a guzzler. Plus, he was supposed to get the heater fixed, and never did. That was two years ago. I know, I know...My car, my decision. I have no excuse now (before, it was I would never hear the end of it, for going to a mechanic without consulting el in-house mecanico ---aka him). It's either getting ripped off at a garage, or getting el diablo more involved in my life. I think it's time I get robbed by a stranger.

Anyhoo, there was another story here, but I've digressed a bit in the last paragraph...He took the purple passion, and I took his Toyota (we made the "exchange" at Commerce Bank, where I was running an errand). He told me if I turned off the engine in his other car, I might not be able to start the car up again.

This just had to coincide with my need to meet up with Frank, the handyman, so we could get plywood from Worm Depot (name changed). I took my chances with the car. And I failed! Uh-oh...I called H up, and asked what would happen if his car wouldn't start. Instead of giving me instructions, he proceeds with the "mother f*cker" this, "f*cking b*tch", "ugly lazy head" that, and the ever so endearing terms he calls me. Then he proceeds to tell me what I'm supposed to do, but he keeps screaming on the cell, so it's hard to follow...

Luckily for me (Frank had no idea this was happening; he had come separately in his truck), a young couple parks right next to me, as I'm holding a piece of wire that somehow, I'm supposed to start the battery up with, trying to listen to the directions as he's practically crying now..., and the girl tells me the guy, who's with her, is a mechanic and will take a look at the car for me.

Ah...thank goodness for these small coincidences...and for the kindness of strangers. The guy starts up the car in like a second, and then I go in my merry way, hanging up on him, when he tries to call again for a bit more yelling.

After el diablo returns from Newark, with the purple passion, he calls me up to tell me he's in my driveway. I pretend to be on my way out (kind of a "just waiting for you to return so I can finish my errands" type of deal), because he wants to say hello to Sushi, then he wants to use the bathroom...He wants to go inside, that's what he wants...I tell him to go home. He's got a bathroom there (two very nice ones, even...). The last mental picture I have of that scene, is him with his arms up, and starting to curse. I put my foot on the gas, and didn't look back.

Did We Break Up?

I'm out of sorts with this whole handyman thing. He hasn't called! I'm wondering what I may have done to upset him, then I get angry and resentful for giving him so much power. Is he with me? Is he not? Is this his way of breaking up with my to-do-list?

Arghhhhhhhhh! I hate not knowing... That's it. He doesn't call me this week, I may have to start shopping around for people...But he's so good and affordable...Should I give him another chance?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I went to my friend Natalie's house. I can't believe I have been going over for the holidays for the last, what, 15 years? Holy crap! I should really come down to visit every now and then, because I miss being around Nat and her family. I'm such an old fart, always thinking of the long drive, as if it were really that great of a distance!

I made cheddar bay biscuits, yummers! I wish Thanksgiving came around more than once a year, because Nat's family always makes it so great, and I'm not just talking about all the juicy foods...I think they are the only thing I miss about Newark - well that, and illegal cable.

Unidentified Treat

The next door neighbors' fuzzy multi-colored cat (the one that taunts my little prince) caught something that was once very alive. All I could see was a small head, and lots of guts.

She gave me the evil eye, so I didn't really want to come any closer. Perhaps she thought I would want to steal her meal? No thanks. If I want any rodents, I'll take my chances at a McRomal's (name changed to protect the identity of the occasional offender).

Where is the Turdinator???

I was concentrating very hard, in the ladies' room at work today, and thought we haven't had an "incident" in a very long time. No turds placed inappropriately. Hmmm...Donde esta el Turdinator? Kind of makes me want to list all the muchachas that have left around the same time the turds disappeared...Coincidence? I think not.

Imaginary Restraint

Lately, I've been questioning myself...How did I get so fuddy duddy with everything? Why is it that I always restrain myself from being who I really am? What holds me back?

I feel old and republican, two things I'm definitely not. Where have I gone wrong? Well, that's just a rhetorical question here people...I think I have a tiny idea, ehehehe...I can easily blame it on living with a negative person for so long, but ultimately, I had the choice to leave him, even if I thought I couldn't then.

I let myself go. I let myself down.

Back when I started dating my ex-husband, I made a somewhat conscious decision to not have friendships with guys, one very important to me in particular, for fear of it being judged as "inappropriate" (or was it that I knew I would never be able to resist him? Probably that...).

I stopped worrying about myself, and dedicated my time and effort to a relationship that was wrong from the begining. And to think I didn't listen to the little voice inside that said I didn't have to marry him, just because I told him I would...Why did I ever feel like I had to? Such sense of obligation and duty...

I know this may seem like bits and pieces of something I can't quite put down on "paper", but I can't get myself to say it more directly. I keep thinking of a past relationship, but for which purpose?

I think of being with someone who writes little love notes, treats me like I'm made of the best stuff on earth, can't believe he is with me, fills my world with passion, longing, innocence, and gives me a sense of security and belonging...Encourages me to be imperfect.

Happy Birthday to Me! Where Are My Naked Men?

Happy Birthday to me.
Happy Birthday to me.
Happy Birthday, happy birthday...
Happy Birthday to me!

Who wrote this song? What a wild imagination, such creativity...Ok, down to business...Today, I got swept away into an evening of fun! Let's see...went to Sogo's in Denville for dinner. Had a great experience (very nice decor), food was ok (still not as good as ol' East Tokyo!), but the Chef, Frank (seriously. that WAS the name on his tag...) provided lots of entertainment, and I was in great company anyway, so all was good!

Right after, went to see Role Models, which I absolutely almost pissed my pants. Wait, I was wearing a dress, so cross that out.

As if that weren't enough, went to my friend's house, where there was a nice display of more food, a bit of alcohol (giggle giggle), coffee, and Skip-Bo. Yeah baby, one of my favorite card games ever! I won too, and it wasn't just because it was my birthday, eheheheh

Am I Dating the Handyman?

Ok, no I'm not, but I was waiting to find out if he was coming to the condo to repair the floor and replace the water heater.

But is this what it feels like? Waiting for his phone call? Getting nervous that he's not going to call back? Maybe I didn't pay him enough? Should I have tipped him?

Early Birthday Celebrations!

Another reason why I loves me the people at work...Besides the fact that they know how to party, that is...they decorate your cube with lots of stuff (I have to limbo to get to my desk), make you feel special, and take you out to lunch. Cool beans!

We went to Thai Nam Phet. Oooo delicious pad thai. I have to try to make it at home!

To top it off, I took a half day today, and a full day tomorrow. Yiiiippppiiieeee!

He's Withholding Text

I've been feeling so at peace lately...The birds are singing, my place feels like home to me...Something is different...Ah, yes...el Diablo hasn't called ever since we had that fight on Saturday.

Weee Weee Wahhh!!!

That is the ridiculous sound of my ex-husband complaining. He came over to touch-up the touch-ups in the ceiling, which I really could have done, but he seems to want to do it so badly...and of course, as soon as he came in, he noticed the new water heater, planted, right there in the living-room.

"What's this?" A water heater, I responded, and explained (as if I were still married to him and needed to rationalize my purchases...) that the old one is corroded, and needs to be replaced. "Who told you you needed to buy a new one?" Pardonnez-moi, petit hole de ass? I'm pretty sure if something is fucking leaking, has rust all over the bottom, and has rotted the closet floor, where it's located, that it needs to be ripped off, no? I'm just guessing.

I brushed him off, saying I have a person doing that for me, and that must have set off some alarms in the back of his bird-brain. He started playing the childish games he used to play, hoping that, somehow, I'm caught again in his web of stupidity..."How much did you pay for that?", none of your business...But apparently, that answer wasn't good enough for him, and it must have fed into his little frenzy...

All of a sudden, I feel like I'm back again, in the old house, defending my way of being. He starts going off, saying I don't appreciate him (what???), and all the work (???) he's been doing for me for the last 3 weeks...He kicks the bag of food I had prepared for him (yeah, what a real man he is...), and then I proceed to evict him from my presence.

I just didn't like where the conversation was going. He seems to think that ever since I got the condo, that all of a sudden I think my schmidt don't stink...Well, it don't...It smell like roses.

Pfffft.

The Troublemaker

My little prince is being taunted by the neighbor's cat. The cat, let's call him/her "the troublemaker", is an outdoor kitty, who prances around jumping from window sill to window sill making fun of my babies for being locked up.

Well, I was coming home from work today, and saw the troublemaker laughing it up at my Sushi's expense. Then all of a sudden, they start "fighting" (well, there was a window between them), and it just makes me giggle, because both of them remind me of a character Michael McDonald played on Mad TV, Ron? Kind of fought by flinging his arms awkwardly? Just think of the typical cat fight, paws and all...

Anyhoo, the two cats were in the middle of the action, when the troublemaker, loses his/her footing, and falls into the bushes. I guess you had to see it, but it was really cute in a slightly retarded way. Poor bunnies.

O What a Beautiful Morning...O What a Beauti...BOINK!

Although the first time I saw my new condo, I was slightly horrified, I did find the nice big window in the living room to be a great thing. It's actually one big piece of glass, with a window on each side. I mean, that's the only way I know how to describe it.

Sooo this morning, as I was prepping the house for visits (the guy who's going to be replacing my water heater, eheheh), I opened the vertical blinds, and just took a moment to admire the beauty of this cloudy day. The leaves are floating through the air, making gentle rustling sounds, and then...BOINK.

Yep...red cardinal...flew right into the window...Guess I need to find some anti-bird-crashing devices for the place. Not to worry, birdy was ok.

Promotion and New Title…A Bazillion Pesos. Funny Mother…Priceless!

Momsie called yesterday morning. I had sent her and Gil an email with my new address and phone number, along with a note on my promotion. She called to congratulate me, and to check on how I’m doing at the new place.

I told her, at my new position, I will be making x-amount more. She asked “dollars”? I’m pretty sure I don’t get paid in pesos, but I knew what she meant (dollars or did I convert the amount into Swiss Francs so it made more sense to her?). She said it wasn’t bad! I said “x-amount a year”. “Oh.” Nah, she still thought it was good stuff, and she was so happy for me.

We moved on to discuss mi new casa, and she asked if there was anything in particular I would like for my chateau. I said something for the walls would be really nice to have, like a painting? I have a few that one of my “stepfather’s” nephews (?...don’t know his exact relationship to Gil) did that my mom passed on to me. Anything for decorating would be wonderful!

And then, I mentioned the color of each room…Ahhh, I am sure she will grow to love them…She started throwing words like “warm colors”, “oranges”, “yellows”…By the way I described the paint colors, she says I’ve chosen too dark ones…Eh, not necessarily. The bedroom is light bluish-gray, the bathroom buttery-yellow, the kitchen phlegm-green (eheehhe, it’s nicer than that!), and the living room medium blue with a touch or two of gray. Not too shabby, I think.

She's Got the Squirrely!!! Let the War Begin.

This morning, Pixie got a hold of Sushi's Squirrely. Don't know if I ever mentioned this, but Squirrely is my oldest kitty's FAVORITE toy. He loves it so much, I can't believe he hasn't humped it yet (see the look he gave me, when I took his picture? It's the "go ahead, try to pry this beauty out of my sharp nails. I dare ya").

I've been sleeping with an eye open ever since.



To my shock and horror, I see Squirrely in Pixie's little paws, and she's fighting the squirrel, like it's going out of business. And then...then...she proceeded to prance around, with Squirrely between her teeth.

Now, it's bad enough that she has been kung-fu fighting Sushi's bed, but now, she's taken possession of his stuffed mate. In her defense, she's just a little kitten, discovering the world of toys...She's so cute! Where the heck is my camera? I gotta take some photos of the action.