Hot and Cold

A week ago the weather was hot. Shirt sleeve, I wanna lay out in the sun all day, hot. Saturday night it got cold. Freezing cold. I tried to turn on the furnace. Nothing. Checked the pilot light. Nothing. Got out the matches, flashlight, removed the panels (okay I supervised as hubby removed the panels. We both crawled around on opposite sides - it's a wall furnace - ancient. Needless to say there was no way the pilot light would stay on.

The biggest problem was that Baby J was visiting us. I bundled him up as best I could and spent the night getting up every few minutes to cover him up.

Sunday morning I called PG&E. Four menu options later with explanations that they were overloaded with calls and it would be necessary for me to leave my number, I punched in the numbers. I waited around for them to call back. They didn't Monday morning I went out for an appointment. They called back. Left message for me to call them back. I did. Repeat from Four menu options... I called the emergency number. "State your emergency," an authoritarian voice practically yelled in my ear.

"I can't light my pilot light." I heard the sigh and the beginning of the usual speel about this not being an emergency. Before she got two words out of her mouth I gave her an earful about having an infant in the house and not getting any sleep, etc etc. She said hold on a minute and connected me to the Four menu option sequence.

No I was really railed up and called customer service billing department. The young lady on the phone apologized and said she would transfer me to the correct department. Before I could retort I was back at the four menu options. This time I went through them and actually got put on hold - for 30 minutes. It was suggested that I buy a portable heating unit. I carefully explained to the young lady that I had already do that and it blew my circuits (which is true - more about that later). I told her about the infant and not getting any sleep. She suggested I buy him some warm pajamas and gave me an appointment for nine days later - well not really an appointment, a 8am to 9pm window of time. Okay so I take Wednesday off or beg my manager to let PG&E in. I opted for that.

The manager was outraged that PG&E wouldn't come. She asked me if I told them that I smelled gas. That always gets them out. I told her yes, but I didn't do that because I just can't stand to be that dishonest. So she agreed to have someone come out and take care of the matter.

Meanwhile I informed the manager that my circuits tripped everywhere I plugged in the ceramic heater. She said I shouldn't be using one of those in my apartment. A year ago when my circuits were tripping I was told my hair dryer was too powerful and to go out and buy a reasonable wattage hair dryer. Have you seen a hair dryer with less than 1600 watts lately? Anyway I got all the circuits tripped back and off I went to work.

Came home at noon and found the refrigerator circuit tripped. Tried to trip it back. No luck. Spent 30 minutes running back and forth between the circuit breakers and the kitchen. Returned to the office, sweat pouring down my face, in spite of it being 48 degrees outside. Exhausted, hungry, I called the manager and informed her that my refrigerator seems to be tripping the circuits and would she please try to straighten it out before my ice cream melted. Also reminded her about the furnace and that maybe I wouldn't need a refrigerator anyway.

Came home from work to find refrigerator running. An hour later the refrigerator shut down. Good excuse to polish off that carton of Ben and Jerry's double chocolate whammy, or whatever you call it. Just enough to fire me up some more. Knocked on managers door. She gave me the key to a vacant apartment with an empty fridge. I hauled 4 loads of slightly thawed Lean Cuisine and frozen vegetables up the stairs and across the landing. A new refrigerator is coming at the end of the week.

Everyone I talked to said a new refrigerator won't fix the problem. It's a simple matter of changing the breakers. I asked my boss. I asked my uncle. They all say it's the breakers. I tried to tell the manager. She insisted I need a new refrigerator. So I'm not arguing - the old one dehydrates my ice cubes anyway.

Went out this evening. Came home to nice toasty warm apartment. Hmmmmmm. Magic? Checked the fridge - still dark.

Crowns, Clubs and Computers

I made a mistake. I went to the dentist on Monday. Or maybe I should say I made a mistake and didn't go to the dentist for 2 years. Either way, the jig is up. Let's see 5 crowns at $850 each. Not to mention the pain and suffering. The dentists says, well we can take it slow. Just do one for now and we'll work it out according to the payment schedule. I ask why he doesn't just put me out and do it all at once. His response, "do you have a problem getting here?" My reply, "you don't get it, I live 3 blocks away, it's a mental thing." He gave me a rather puzzled look and told me it's not good to do all at once, something about the bite being off. So let's see, according to the payment schedule, I pay $212.50 each month and get one crown every four months. I'll be done in a mere 20 months. But then again I can get a 5% discount if I pay cash up front. Heck I'll just take him a check for $4037.50 and tell him to get it over with. But then, what if I spend all that money and then get hit by a truck or something. What a waste.

I made a second mistake. I made an appointment at the new Ladies Workout Express in town. I signed up for a three year program. But, I am not so dumb - I made them put a clause in the contract that I could opt out within 30 days for any reason. I have learned something due to my previous health club hijinks. I got a free t-shirt. The only catch is, I will now have at least new enemies since I had to leave three names and phone numbers in order to get the t-shirt.

Perhaps I made a third mistake. Computer upgrades. Never mind the details.

Three C's and I'll now be working until I'm 92. Last time I calculated, I figured I could retire at 91. Oh well. Sorry kids. No inheritance.

Where have I been for two weeks?

Here. There. Everywhere.

Work. It was the end of the quarter. Any bookkeeper would know I've been working, working and working.

Home. Babysitting when the need arises. Hey it's what I enjoy. And Baby J gets cuter and smarter every day. He did not get any Halloween candy. Just a costume.

Red Hats. See the latest here

Today:
Reading 2 Sunday papers, still not finished and it's dinner time.
Babysitting, right now he is napping - he cruises and walks with walker. He's all over the place.
Freezing the pilot light won't work on our heater. PG&E has not returned my call.
Napping. Yes I did that.
Cooking dinner... what's that?
Writing. 2850 words for Nanowrimo - will I make it to 50,000 words before the end of the month?
Now - baby is awake - see ya.

Melinda White

Last night I attended a performance at Lesher Regional Arts Center. It was an absolutely astounding concert by my friend Melinda White. Please visit her website at Music By Melinda and check out her sound bytes. Buy the CD. You will like it.

Doing Nothing

"You have to allow a certain amount of time in which you
are doing nothing in order to have things occur to you, to
let your mind think."

-- Mortimer Adler educator, and author

and so tonite I am doing nothing... signing off

Casserole Recipe - try at your own risk

My uncle gave me this recipe and insists that it is the absolute best casserole ever. Enjoy it or read my notes below.

-------------

Chicken Divan

4 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
4 cups broccoli florets, cooked
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tsp curry powder
4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

In a bowl, mix the soup, mayo, and curry and set aside.
Butter the bottom and sides of a 13x9 casserole dish. Arranged the cooked broccoli as the first layer in the dish. Top that off with the cooked chicken pieces. Spoon soup mixture evenly over chicken and broccoli. Sprinkle cheese over entire casserole and bake @ 350 for 30 minutes. Serve with steamed rice.

------------
My Notes:

I seem to recall making this years ago, well before I had to started watching my cholesterol. When I first saw this recipe resurface, I decided to take another look at it. According to my calculations weight watchers points come in around 92 for the entire casserole. I assume it serves 8. Is it worth almost 12 points per serving? You decide.

P.S. At my current weight, I am allowed 20 points per day. I'll be the one eating plain old broiled chicken and broccoli.

The Package

I returned from the post office a few days ago with a huge package. Rusty and Minnie were on top of the bundle the moment I set it down. They haven't been as excited since the arrival of their veterinarian catnip toy icon of Dr. Gerry.

Thinking I could wait to open it after lunch, I headed to the kitchen. As soon as I was out of sight, the cats began to claw the package, with the viciousness of Roy's tiger. I came back into the living room. Rusty sat on top of the box, his statuistic stance of innocence. Minnie strutted around the package inspecting the damage. I gave in and brought out the scissors.

Four paws reached in to help remove the popcorn stuff, all over the rug naturally. Oh well, the cats were distracted enough so I could open the contents of the first box. I pulled out a six foot purple feather boa. Real cool, just what I needed to complete my flapper outfit. I hung it over the door to my bedroom. The cats were still distracted by the popcorn stuff.

Back to the package. I pulled out the next treasure, an 18" long narrow box. I shook it a bit. Rusty looked at me. Minnie looked at me. I opened the box. You would think the cats were in heat by the sound of the howls as I pulled out this most perfect Red Hat icon:




I placed her on top of my desk and stood back to admire. Minnie leaped up and sniffed at her, Rusty jumped up on the other side. Before I could grab her, Minnie and Rusty started a game of tug of war with the boa. Minnie knocked my precious icon to the floor. I ran to the rescue, picked up the icon, checked her for injuries and ruffled up her boa. Then I started the parade around the apartment looking for a place to put her as a precaution against future feline attacks. Minnie and Rusty pied pipered their way behind me, emitting the most horrific yeowls. I wanted her to be on display, in a prominent place. I eyed my husband's I Magnin Stief bear in its glass doll case. Perfect. It's a bit crowded with the two of them in there but it's just temporary until I find a more appropriate environment for her majesty.

Later that evening... while relaxing in my favorite chair, I heard the a thump from the direction of my bedroom, the banging of a door knob against the wall, followed by claws screeching along a hollow door. Minnie ran into the living room, purple feather boa trailing behind her with Rusty on the chase.

In the middle of the night... something woke me up, a sense that something was amiss. I looked around the room in the dim light. There was Rusty perched on top of the glass case, salivating, plotting...

P.S. I need a name for my Red Hat Cat - any suggestions?

Caution, Beading is Hazardous

It looks so simple. Get a piece of string, cord, wire, whatever. String beads on it until it seems to resemble something that you might even wear. Tie a knot at the end. Glue the knot so it won't come untied. Pull glued knot into large bead in order to hide it. Simple right?

So why am I sitting here at the keyboard pecking this out with 7 fingers and 1 thumb? Because a big chunk of my left forefinger and left thumb are glued to the large bead holding the necklace together. Perhaps I shouldn't have used super glue.

Should have heeded my horoscope today: This is certainly not the time to try anything new or far-fetched...you'll be much better off...the more new things you attempt, the more times you are apt to fail...stay focused...

The Party is Over

It was quite a weekend. Earlier in the week I had Baby J overnight. Check out his website for the latest.

Saturday I went to a great Red Hat mini convention - Check the RHS Molls weblog for the latest pictures.

Okay, I've updated you all. Now I must recover.

Nanowrimo

It's been a year. I'm going to write another 50,000 word novel this November. Why? Just because I did it last year and found it good practice for when I finally decide it's time to write the real novel.

So....Wittbits may have even less posts during the month of November.