Another mash-up week of experiences and dealing with peoples...
First after much agonizing over a complicated recommendation (complete with background, justifications, evidence, stats and conclusion) and proudly sending it out for comment, I got nada, zero, zilch. Fortunately at my advanced age and experience, I do not really need the accolades of ego stroking on my masterful presentation,. It just means it's good to go and present it at the meeting. Also I hate stroking egos if any commentary had been made anyway heh heh heh.
Having idly conceived the "oh why don't we think about redoing the deck" about a month ago it is in full swing several thousand dollars later. Decisions had to be made instantaneously as prices went up every week, actually every day. These are truly strange times. Literally $5 every few days.
As much of the material had arrived at the store, the debate about pickup vs delivery ensued. $90 for delivery or badger our contractor and the OH to do it themselves. The contractor owning a 16 foot trailer and, recently parting ways with his significant other, realized this allowed him a place to "store" it for awhile. A decision that he later regretted as it took a full 3 hours in maximum heat to complete the task. As we were shorted nine boards and two were damaged it turned out to be an even more brilliant decision by all involved as they were immediately reordered at the store's expense. Of course the pieces for the pergola that have to be painted are stuck under all the composite boards, so this will be an exercise in "just in time" frantic activity to meet deadlines for installation as the deck is constructed.
Speaking of surprises, is anyone surprised our illustrious repub brothers and sisters decided they did not want an in-depth investigation of the January 6 insurrection? Complicit much? I cannot believe it is all about loyalty to the orange one. The Dems get accused of being all excited about the "voter suppression" rules being pushed saying "if you think the election was so honest what do you have to worry about". Irony, got to love it. Of course the problem is the losers have already proven themeselves sore losers and believe "cheating" is the only way they will win and they are not terribly subtle about it.
Another perk about the retired folk is the ability to go a-whining in the middle of the day. We met two other couples at a local winery, one set whom we have not seen for a year, and made an afternoon of it. Gorgeous weather, great wine and cheese and the bon mot of the day teasing one with a particularly colorful hat "I don't think I would ever feel comfortable wearing a red ball cap anymore" (maga days). After laughing about the early bird specials the older contingency relishes we ended up at a restaurant at 5:00 for dinner LOL. Great greek choices though and no crowd,...hmm I get it.
Seems that after a year in seclusion we grown-ups forgot how to act in public. Notwithstanding the local and ongoing altercations over mask-wearing and general garbage, recently avid fans mobbed golfer Phil Mickelson grabbing him around the neck and an attendee dumped popcorn over an injured basketball player. A flight attendant was attacked losing two teeth from a disgruntled passenger and the general shootings go merrily on without pause. The OH and I agree there is evil in the world and many are not trying to hide it anymore and the son-in-law chimed in with how the inconsiderate, flagrant and downright dangereous drivers are more prevalent than ever. This ME-first attitude is reaching a peak.
On that note, my second podcast is published entitled "Dealing with Difficult People"...
On a happier note, the OH and I engaged in a 50th anniversary picture-taking extravaganza with a local photographer that turned out to be quite an adventure in old people being silly. Katie is a lot of fun as a photographer and she had us posing in all kinds of ways similar to wedding shots like the "Superman" "Walking Away" "Into the Vinyard" "Admiring the Ring" "Fake Kisses" "Casual Lean on the Wall" and my personal favorite "give me the Raquel Welch vibe"-that one is hard to explain but I was actually trying to recreate my Ann Margaret look. At one point near a lily pad pool a bullfrog croaked really loudly and Katie almost did a header into the pool. That would have been hysterical. She apparently liked the proofs so much she asked us to sign a release to use some on her website. Hmm.
Oh yeah about the balloon. One was drifting down the canal at the lake house gliding into every nook and cranny scaring fish and fowl along the way in the tremendous winds of Saturday which ended with no dinner but lots of s'mores....
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