A Shopping Spree

Ever since I had read about the new HyVee Grocery store at 95th street and Antioch (Johnson County, KS -- rich man's territory) I had wanted to visit.  I thought I'd go last Friday but then Hubby brought home some meat and I spent the morning carving and dividing and was too tired to go foraging in a new produce department.

Since I've retired I've not gone grocery shopping on the weekends -- I leave the crowds and long lines for those people who MUST shop on a Saturday.  Yesterday we met friends for lunch at Webster House, a really nice downtown restaurant that once was an elementary school in the early days of the city.  Now the "foodie folks who dine" have turned the building into a variety of posh shopping areas downstairs and upstairs you can sup elegantly in one of the classrooms turned into a dining room. 

 Finally, today, with the sun shining and the temperatures warm enough that a coat was not required over the dog tee-shirt, we ventured across the state line to do some fancy grocery shopping. 

What fun we had!  Hubby went in with me and we purchased a very nice lunch for two (with one soda) for a little under $11.  We even had food leftover to bring home for my supper tonight.  Then Hubby picked out some fruit and found his favorite hard candies before he left to wait for me in the car.

I wandered around, enjoying all the services offered by the store:  catering, a huge bakery, a full kitchen with two chefs in residence, a sandwich island, a huge butcher shop including a seafood island, giant tubs of fresh herbs and rices, aisles filled with organic products, an Italian kitchen, a Chinese kitchen, a downstairs eating area, and upstairs a wine bar with a restaurant.

One of the best features is the "green" plan used to save energy at the store.  The freezer cases are not lighted until you walk down the aisle next to them.  Then the lights turn on until you pass by. It makes you feel special when you realize that cases are being lit just because you're peering inside to check out the ice cream selection. 

After all my groceries had been bagged, I went to leave the check-out stand but was told I had to wait.  My bill was being reconfigured.  I couldn't understand, until the friendly gentleman checker explained that he had realized that he had scanned an item twice and my bill was being deleted and replaced. I waited maybe 30 seconds for the manager to hurry over and punch a key on the register -- and then I was able to leave with my new bill.  I hadn't even realized I'd been overcharged and would have easily paid for the item twice without the honesty of the store. 

The checker also told me all about the Sunday brunch served at the store from 10 to 2 -- with shrimp, prime rib, a "made-while-you-wait" omelet bar, and every kind of pastry one could desire.  We will certainly have to check that option out one Sunday. 

I don't go to malls or department stores anymore but I do enjoy a really nice grocery.  I won't go to this one every time.  My neighborhood HyVee has warm personnel, I know where things are located, and it's small enough that I don't wear out shopping there.  But for a special treat, the HyVee on 95th may need to be a once a month visit. 

April Means Taxes

Hubby took over doing our taxes by TurboTax in 2006.  However we could never file electronically because my name was different on my social security card, my W2 forms, and my tax returns.  We could never figure out exactly who had which name so we always filed a paper copy.  I couldn't even file for social security but had to go to the actual offices where they determined I had another form of the name - and they used that for both social security checks and Medicare.  The IRS and social security all use my married last name but then they get all confused and use various forms of my first name, my middle name, and my maiden name in combination with my accepted last name.  Personally, I think since all the name forms are connected to my one social security number, it shouldn't prove to be such a problem, but that's the IRS for you.

Anyway, after Hubby began having heart problems we just tossed up our hands and we didn't file for 2010 and 2011.  We knew it would catch up with us eventually and it was better to be proactive about it, so after the pacemaker was installed and Hubby began feeling better, he once again took charge.  By then we were also having a problem with 2009's return.

Hubby began in early February meeting with an accounting office and today we electronically filed the last of four years of tax returns and were notified electronically that the IRS had accepted 2012's return.  In the middle of all this we were notified that two of the returns had NOT been accepted because the name filed did not match the IRS social security identify for me.  It took two days of work and numerous calls to the IRS but today we got that part straightened out.

For some years we get back a little pile of money and some years we need to pay.  Missouri and Kansas state taxes get the biggest windfall from us.  The Feds owe us the most money.  We needn't worry, though, because, in the long run it all balances out and we come out pretty even.  Frankly, that's about as good as it gets when paying taxes. 

We owed a "hunk-a-hunk-a" change to the accountants and Hubby spent an enormous amount of time gathering materials and going to meetings.  I only had to go in twice to the accountants, both times to sign things or write checks for payment of services.  I got off really easy and now we are all caught up -- with two states, the city, and the Feds. 

Hubby made the final mailing yesterday.  Today we met for a correction of my name through electronic signature and a final accounting with the accountants and we are done.  What a blessed relief to have filed three years of tax forms and amended one.  And it's not even April 15th yet.

Four Straight!

We're doing it -- and regularly. 

Hubby went to see his PT trainer who told him that water aerobics three times a week was his ticket to improved strength and energy. 

He came home to announce, emphatically, "WE ARE GOING" and going we have been. 

As a real water baby I love getting into the pool -- it's just sometimes hard to get me motivated to leave home and GO to the pool.  Hubby loves leaving home, it's just that getting wet is not really his thing.  We are encouraging each other in this instance.  He gets me into the car and to the Health Center and I get him into the dressing rooms and from there to the pool.

I've only encountered two problems.  One -- Hubby used to walk the dogs at night and I'd do the morning shift which included longer walks in the park.  Now Hubby takes us to the park in the early morning hours AND after water aerobics so I end up walking the boys twice daily, instead of just once.  The dogs love it but I'm feeling "put upon."  Two -- Hubby comes home from aerobics hungry and wants "real food."  Canned pears or cereal isn't going to cut it.  We eat our main meal around 1 p.m. which means that I'm now fixing two major meals every day. He's fine with tuna fish salad in the evening -- but I used to be able to make tuna salad a main meal.  Now it's relegated to supper. I'm chopping my way into carpel tunnel.   

It's good we're exercising regularly.  I love being able to afford a well-kept pool membership with good quality aerobics instruction as part of the package.  Now I need a dog-walking team and a cook.  

Off Beat and Out of Step

We all set patterns in our lives and when they produce a rhythm our bodies can dance to, that matches our internal awareness-es, and  that can pump up our physical being -- then, simply put, we seem to feel good.  I lost the rhythm of my life once 2013 rolled across the calendar page.

The pacemaker installation for Hubby started the misbeats, of course.  When Hubby did not bounce right up from the surgery but required extra days at Research Hospital, when he came home and laid in bed for two weeks feeling downright awful, the reduced drum beats of my life destroyed the ritual power of my internal music.

Then came the virus that hit Hubby for the third time in six months.  Following that, two feet plus (over 25 inches) of snow kept all of us housebound for days on end.  Once snowfall was a thing to bring joy, to venture into with a sense of excitement and wonder, to celebrate days with school and work cancelled.  Now, old and enfeebled, we could not dig ourselves out, we could not drive the heavy car that sat in front of the garage and venture forth to see the pristine beauty of the snow laid sugar coating like on the lovely trees of our city, and the cold kept us shivering in our nightshirts and bedroom slippers even throughout the daylight hours. Now the snow imprisoned us instead of freeing us.  

We had to quit exercising.  We made a quart of milk last a week instead of venturing out to the store.  We stocked our freezer with frozen bread so we could make stale sandwiches for dinner.   We begged doggies to "please, please, please poop outside" even though when we went through the front door to try and walk them, I slipped repeatedly on the ice and fell often into the snow right in front of the house.  Twice Luie, the little blind guy who never goes outside unleashed, escaped from my frozen hands as I tried to either stay upright or crawl my way to a spot where my feet would find purchase.

Musicians and mystics understand the power of rhythms on your life. Ritual drumming and rhythmic prayer are found in cultures throughout the world and are used in religious ceremonies to induce trance states. 

Scientists now posit that rhythmic music may change brain function and treat a range of neurological conditions, including attention deficit disorder and depression.  Doctors are working with rhythmic therapy to improve cognitive functioning in elderly people. 

I've been exhibiting classic symptoms of depression.  Sleeping has become an exercise in futility.  I only want to eat things that push me further into a "coma" state.  Chips and cookies call my name.  I can ignore oranges, bananas, carrots, and any form of protein.  Afternoon naps can carry me through the high points of the day, however 4 a.m. kitchen raids for ice cream occur regularly.  I often don't bother to get dressed.  Or comb my hair.  Or brush my teeth.  Or wash my face.  I've given up any semblance of healthy cooking.  I've actually fed Hubby (with the heart condition) boxed macaroni and cheese for dinner - and he loved it.  Which says his rhythms are pretty much kaput, also.  My lips have chapped to the point where I can peel layers of skin from them, the salt from the chips burn like fire, and the cold cream in the house has so many additives that it hurts worse than the chips -- so I just let them peel and bleed and now the entire area around my mouth has turn red, swollen, raw, and sometimes, even bloody.  And I don't much care.   

The good news is that just these last couple of days things are showing an upturn.  I managed to meet friends for dinner on Sunday evening and basking in the glow of their friendship went quite a ways to lifting the clouds I was letting darken my life.  Then Tuesday Hubby had a very good day.  He worked on our tax situation, he took me to lunch, he walked the dogs, and he went to the doctors to get a script to help him finally fight the continuing virus.  Wednesday, of course, he was unable to get out of bed at all.  However, I felt up to walking the dogs for nearly a mile (without falling down) and met four friends for a 2.5 hour lunch at a wonderful Chinese restaurant in Westport.  Then yesterday Hubby got back out of bed and met with his physical trainer in the morning and in the evening we both managed 45 minutes of intense water aerobics at our fitness center.  

The rhythms of my life are slowing returning to normal.  I'm finding a steadying beat that's helping me establish the flow of a new paradigm, to manage the changing seasons of my life and adjust to the expectations that come with a slowing of that pace and cadence.  I'm managing to wake up and think, "Hum.  I feel pretty good.  Today the sun is shining and the snow is melting and the temperatures will be in the 50's.  I can walk those dogs.  I will make the tuna fish that Hubby loves as the staple of his diet.  We will have enough money to pay the taxes and meet the medical bills."  I may not yet have the ambition to get dress and brush my teeth but I did run a comb through my hair this morning.  Hubby did go out and meet for the fourth time with the tax consultant and we are almost to the point where four years of taxes will be finally and completely put to rest.  I only hope that changing over to daylight savings time on Sunday doesn't throw a spanner in the works. 

No More Spills

After my autumn fall in the tub, Hubby decided it was finally time to act.  This week he had the regular old water saving toilet removed and the elongated "comfort high" toilet installed in its place.  The problem was finding a toilet seat that would work and not leave spaces of porcelain exposed for either one's thighs or bottom.  After several tries we finally found one I could live with, though it still exposes a bit of porcelain on the inside, just not on the outside. 

I have to admit I've not yet adjusted to the fact that the toilet meets me way sooner than I'm expecting and I'm surprised by every single visit to the loo.  Yet when rising from the johnny, I find my knees are uttering words of thanks for the extra inches they no longer have to rise. 

For the tub, Hubby installed two safety handle bars.  One is perfect and it really does help in getting out of the tub.  The second one, though, he put too far down and it knocks against the back of my head when I sit upright.  I have to sit catty-whampus to not get a concussion and kind of slough down into a half prone position.  Of course, both bars are toggle bolted to the walls so changing the second one may present a problem.  We're still under discussion about it.

I guess as we add safety features to our home to accommodate our dottering conditions I must finally admit we have passed into old codger status.  At least, in the bathroom we're going to be safer and more comfortable. 

A Wintry Morning

All night long we heard the reports of the winter storm that would arrive "sometime."  Nobody was sure exactly when the rain, which came down steadily most of yesterday, would turn to sleet and then into snow.  Everybody was sure it would happen.

During the night the thunder and rain stopped while the predictions of sleet and then snow continued to show blue and pink bands on the weather maps coming closer and closer. 

At 4 a.m. there was still no snow.  The prayed for school closings around the city were now an impossible dream.  Around 5:30 a.m. the snow, mixed with some sleet finally began, accompanied by high winds.  It was miserable outside and folks were now destined to drive to work during the rush hour accompanied by very dangerous road conditions.

Not me, though.  Not the retired me, who lay surrounded in her nice warm bed with her hubby and her two doggies, all of us dozing through the continued traffic and weather warnings. 

School started all over the city at the regular time.  The poor teachers were out there inching through blowing snow and sleet at 6 a.m., undoubtedly cursing their lot.  Business folk started up about an hour later, as conditions continued to worsen.  So did the traffic jams. 

At 8 a.m. I went outside and warmed the car.  Hubby and I put on our warmest outer clothing -- for me a heavy fleece sweatshirt, jeans, the ugly black walking shoes purchased at a cost over $200 that would not let the snow seep in to my toes, the warmest dog-walking coat, a fleece scarf wrapped around my head, a fleece hat over the scarf, another fleece scarf tied securing around my neck, and fleece gloves covering my hands.  Hubby had on wool sweater, hat, heavy coat, and face mask to protect the frozen larynx.   Even the boys wore their fleece dog coats.

Once the car was nice and toasty and had melted most of the ice off its windows, we drove a couple of blocks to the local park where Luie and Gus bounded about, frolicking in the new, pristine snowfall.  Hubby stayed in the car while I trudged, head down, into the gusting wind, making sure the poop and pee for the day were eliminated. 

In 20 minutes we were back into the old Lincoln that Hubby had kept invitingly warm and headed back home.  As we cruised down Troost, our stomping ground, being careful that the Lincoln did not slip and slide, a youngster on his cell phone, tried to rush past us on the right and ran smack into a parked car.  He was going at quite a clip and really banged the heck out of both cars.  We waited around to give our "witness" information, see the kid carted off in an ambulance, and then drove the two blocks to our little house where we settled in for a quiet day of relaxation, warm food, good books to read, and a nap when the inclination came upon us.

I still wonder at the joy I get from being retired.  On mornings such as this, when only the park walk with the boys is my required duty, I offer up thanks to the universe that I have been allowed to relish the serenity that comes with retirement.  We may not be rich, we may not be traveling to the Spanish coast to bask naked in the European sun, we may not be able to buy a $60,000 truck like my neighbors just did -- but I have the wondrous luxury of never worrying about trekking out in bad weather, meeting artificial deadlines, or pleasing superiors I don't much respect.   I have the great comfort and extravagance of staying home on a wintry morning and doing absolutely nothing. 

Proof -- in the Pudding, of course

Hubby actually likes the new C-pap machine.  I'm not sure if that's going to jinx it but right now he is very happy with it.

After two naps wearing it yesterday afternoon, he put it on and it lasted most of the night.  It does make him very, very dry mouthed after a couple hours of usage.  The home health care provider swore that in about three weeks the dry mouth / stuffy nose thing would begin to wear off.   We solved some of the immediate problem by laying in a supply of icy cold orange juice and two packages of sugar free popsickles.  When he wakes up he wanders out to the kitchen and gets himself a swig of juice and a fruity pop.

Now right there is a first.  Lately Hubby has not been getting himself anything.  He plaintively cries out from his bed what he needs and expects it to be delivered to him post haste.  Admittedly I've been grumbling that he needs to start again "doing" for himself, but he's rather taken to enjoying thinking he's got a downstairs maid just like in Downton Abby.  Last night he took care of his own needs without disturbing me or the dogs.

He slept so well using the C-pap that when I woke up at 1 a.m. I had to stand and stare at him for a couple of minutes before I was sure he hadn't died in the middle of the night.  I was so used to his tossing and gasping and grunting and snorting and talking in his sleep, that I couldn't fathom that this mound of silent husband was actually just sound asleep. 

Today, to prove just how much better he was beginning to feel now that he had actually gotten some sleep and had a heart that was beating at a steady 65 (not 150+), he took us out to breakfast at Big Biscuit.  He didn't walk with the boys and me in the park this morning -- it was simply too deadly cold for his frozen larynx to cope, but as soon as we got home and the coats off the boys, he was ready for a morning's outing.

After Big Biscuit, we hit Sam's and for the first time in eight months he went inside, pushed the cart, walked around, and even pulled a case of dog food off the shelves.  He was ready to come home once we had put in two cases of water and some milk and eggs, but he had actually been inside a store.  This is quite a change for us.

In a lovely added note, when we got home and the car was unloaded, I found an email from Amazon that the last CDs I had purchased at Christmas had now been loaded into my Cloud account, ready for access whenever I wanted.  When I signed-in to Cloud I found 556 individual songs and some 50 albums waiting for me.  I usually give Hubby CDs at Christmas so on our way home from Houston we can listen to music other than Christmas. This year we loaded up on Alfie Boe and Il Volo.  Now, as I'm composing this, Alfie Boe is singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" to me and my heart is filled with joy.  Once, years ago, when I asked Hubby if he associated songs with people, he said, "Of course." So I had to ask -- and my song was "You'll Never Walk Alone" -- and I thought, well, how unromantic.  But life has taught me that the song is very loving and caring and now it probably is MY song (though I usually try to claim "The Impossible Dream"). 

The house is full of food, the furnace is cranked up high to combat the cold, the dogs have been walked, our bellies are full of warm breakfast food, and Alfie Boe is serenading me.  Hubby IS in recovery mode with a strong heartbeat, the potential for restful sleep, and we have been able to afford, so far, all the medical treatment he has needed.  Though the dogs had to be walked in the cold, we are now able to cocoon ourselves into out fleeces and jammies and ride out the sub-zero temps. This retirement thing is damned good! 

Chillin'

The title of this entry is deceptive -- we actually are chilling here in the heartland, not relaxing in comfort.  It is cold.  Like wind-chilling, bone-chilling, teeth-chilling cold.  The heavy dog walking coat, the fleece sweat shirt, the wool scarf, the pull-down-over-your-ears cap, and the fleece mittens have been called into play.  Still, out there in the park with the wind-chill at less than six degrees, I'm cold.

 We went to the movies on Saturday; Hubby's first real outing since the installation of the pace-maker.  He did fine but needed a nap on arriving home.  We saw Silver Linings Playbook and, though both of us enjoyed it, neither of us thought it was a better movie than Argo or Lincoln.  Honestly, I can't imagine a better movie than Lincoln  -- a movie that is both inspiration and realistic about the tribulations of politics.










 Monday we spend watching the inaugural activities and enjoying the political commentary, especially the live coverage by ABC on computer.  The balls were well-covered by CNN and C-Span.  I loved how perfectly dressed the Obama daughters were but I was less than thrilled by Michelle's outfits.  Seems to me the new hairstyle (with bangs) is an attempt to look a lot like Kerry Washington.  Neither the belted coat and matching dress with the stiletto heeled boots or the red ball gown caused me to gasp with delight, but then I didn't like the white gown from four years ago either.  At least this one was one she could actually dance in without having to move around a huge train dragging after her. No matter that I find her clothing choices less than stellar, I find the woman herself to be completely inspirational -- and the family unit she has created an example for the world to follow.

Kerry Washington

I lifted up a canister from the kitchen counter last night and a very ugly cockroach ran down the cabinet and escaped before I could react fast enough to kill it.  Today I'm scrubbing and rearranging in the kitchen.  Cockroaches are just about the most disgusting insects ever.  I know that having dog food sitting around probably draws them, but it's been a long time since I've seen one in the house.  Once we've got the scrubbing done, Hubby will bomb the house while we go out for a couple of hours. 

 Tomorrow Hubby is meeting with the C-Pap people and will try to be fitted with a device he can tolerate.  It will be interesting to see what they bring out to him.  Neither of us realized that these machines are built in with hefty monthly fees -- it's just like an on-going prescription.  We're piling up some incredible medical bills around here and this is still only January, but a look at the calendar for February shows us pretty clear of medical appointments.  It will be good to take a break from doctoring for a while.

Stay warm if you live in the mid-west.  February is just around the corner -- and then March which is almost considered a spring month!

Smiles

Once in a while you just wake up happy.  There is no special reason for it -- you just feel content with the world.  Today IS one of those days for me. 

Maybe it was because I did get most of the trash out before 7:30 and then was able to crawl back in bed for a tiny little nap before -- well, see the next "maybe it was because."

Maybe it was because Hubby got up and walked the dogs and went to exercise while I laid in bed and watched my DVR shows (The Good Wife and the holiday edition of the Extreme Home Makeover which I don't normally watch partly because it's sappy and partly because it always makes me cry when the folks get their new home). 

Maybe it was because breakfast went quickly when I prepared it at 9:00 (instead of the before 8:00 routine which is normal).  Hubby has been eating well, not just asking for a couple of canned half pears and one slice of toast with tea.  Today he had a two egg omelet folded over on rye toast, half a glass of orange juice and two cups of mint tea.

Maybe it was because the sun was shining and the humidity was finally low.  We've had what I consider rather miserable days of very warm temps (up in the 60's and 70's) with high humidity and blowing clouds making the days seem dark and depressing.

Maybe it was because the toothless, gentle Gus has kept his sweet pink tongue inside his mouth though we expected it would drag down into his beard.  He is also able to eat chunks of roast beef and chicken and he even attempted to take a big old rib bone from Luie -- though once he got the bone he looked at it with disgust and then he finally gave up and spit it out on the floor.

Maybe it was because I got my hair permed and cut last Friday and now feel much freer - and look much less bedraggled.

Maybe it was because the chicken was thawed and I still had two baking potatoes left over from Thanksgiving and lots of onions and garlic -- so dinner preparation of marinated baked chicken breasts, baked potatoes, and green beans was a snap.  And a cup of chocolate mint ice cream for Hubby.  Hubby ate half a breast and half a potato.  Not bad for food he really isn't wild about -- but keep him salt free and healthy.

Maybe it was because we got the sheets changed on the bed yesterday and both of us slept better for it.  I had used my spare mattress cover the last time we made up the bed and it was rumpled under us all week long.  The good one is back on the bed and sheets fit properly now.

Maybe it was because I organized my own pill containers, ordered up the refills, and took all the proper dosages for the first time in several weeks.

Maybe it was because I have all but one set of Christmas presents ordered -- and most of them are already in Houston.  Booyah for me!

Maybe it was because I heard some lovely Christmas music on my Kindle Fire this morning and I got my computer desktop switched over into holiday mode (I change my desktop picture daily -- while I NEVER change out my Facebook page). 

Maybe it was because for the first time in a week I'm going to water aerobics at 5:30 and wearing my new swim shoes.

Maybe it's because tomorrow I have lunch with four women who retired from my high school.  Carol and I started out as a group of two in July -- and now we are a group of five.  Next year we think we'll be six.  It's fun to get together and talk about old times and new retirement experiences.  

Maybe it was all these things combined. Whatever brought the smiles to my face, it's a good day.  I'm cherishing it. 

Remembering Why I Married This Man

We've been having "little skirmishes" in this house for the past month or so.  Mainly they are about the cleaning up process -- and moving "his things" without asking permission.  Of course, if I asked permission, I assumed he would NOT graciously grant it -- so I move the "crap" and live with the consequences. 

Three weeks ago we had a really bad Sunday dinner  when I told Hubby he was blaming me for everything wrong that happened in the house.  And I claimed that NONE OF IT WAS MY FAULT.  We were dining out and at that point I refused to eat and he refused to talk.  We brought my dinner home in a doggie bag and the pups were delighted.  Then I checked on the item that "wasn't my fault" -- and darned if it didn't turn out that it was my fault.  But I never admitted it -- because that was just one item in the hundreds I claimed Hubby was blaming on me. 

We've limped along since then, Hubby giving me the dirty look but wisely keeping his yap shut.  Me mostly not talking, but why talk to a scowled up face?  When we did talk, it was over very elementary things -- like the weather.

Friday I got the lecture on how crowded the computer desk was becoming.  Hubby said I'd better figure out some place to put things other than on the desktop.  Instead of saying what I really wanted to ("You figure it out yourself, damn it, I'm off to go swimming), I said I'd work on the problem as I kept cleaning up in the room. I asked him to give me some time.  

Saturday I worked on the problem, cleared off two shelves across from the desk and moved out the "offending items."  

Today we went out to dinner at our favorite chicken restaurant - neither of us ever eats the fried chicken, though I do eat the chicken livers while Hubby always has pork chops.  Wanting a little validation, I asked Hubby if he was pleased with the new condition of the desk. 

"If you start filling it up, I'm going to empty out the desk and you won't have to worry about it again," was the response I got. 

"You are becoming impossible to get along with," was my reply. "We share that desk.  If you want to empty it out then go ahead and do it.  You can clean it up yourself.  I don't even had a tray top for my side of the desk -- and you fill the one we have with all your junk which I have to maneuver around every day."

"You really want me to take care of this?" Hubby threatened.  "I only have two drawers in that desk .. . " and at that point I put up three fingers -- which he saw.  His face became a thunder cloud.

Once upon a time I would have been cowed.  But my mother, who could pull these I'll-make-you-sorry stunts with regularity, is no longer around -- and I just don't have to take it.  "Absolutely, clean it all out and make sure we share it equally.  Hey, you have one half of the desk -- it's got four drawers.  I have the right half and it has three drawers because one is the big deep file drawer.  We share the middle drawer."" 

"I only have two drawers!" snarled Hubby.

Luckily our food came right then and for some reason, maybe because I've been on the "you are impossible to live with" kick, Hubby shut up.  We had a nice dinner together, equally sharing the mashed potatoes and gravy.  We talked inconsequential things, like politics, on which we both agree completely this time around. The desk remained a lingering problem.

Back home I went back into the computer room and scrubbed that desk -- a task I had promised to do because it was covered with soda rings and sticky hand prints.  And I looked into the four drawer vs three drawer situation -- and both of us had been wrong.  Hubby only had three drawers (not the two he claimed) because I had one of his drawers partially filled with stationary.  Tons and tons of stationary.  Clearly I had forgotten about it -- because who uses stationary any longer?

So after I washed down the desk and replaced the mouse pad and filled up the pencil and pen jars with all the pens, markers, and mechanical pencils we had stored in the desk, I removed all the stationary from his side drawer and re-purposed it into  my greeting card files (if you get Easter or retirement cards from us now and there is no sentiment inside, you will know why).

Hubby had taken himself out to exercise while I puttered.  On returning home, he found me reading the newspaper so he trundled into the desk and I could hear drawers opening and things being moved all around.  "Oh, lordy," I though.  "He's actually emptying out the desk, probably dumping everything on the floor, just to prove his point."

I waited a good two hours but I eventually wandered into the computer room to ask if he wanted the remains of his pork chop in a sandwich.  By then I had calmed myself down and decided whatever he had done to the desk I'd just ignore.

Proudly, he opened the drawer I had removed the stationary from -- and there was all the junk he had been keeping on the tray side of the desk.  All neatly filed.  His drawers had all been sorted and cleaned, which he opened and showed me, grinning like the Cheshire cat.  He had even taken the slide top off his side and rearranged it on mine -- so I now had the self all to myself.

Marriages are ying and yang propositions.  If you're lucky, you marry a smart man, one who can be prickly and domineering, but has the good sense to know when it's time to compromise and make his wife happy.  "You want a sandwich?" I asked.  "Yeah, and a kiss, too," was the reply.   

Favorite Things on Saturday, July 7, 2012

Things that I'm loving right now:

• Closet cleaning in the computer room:  

 We live in a house with very small closets (1950's era) so the bedroom closet is all mine.  Many years ago we moved most of Hubby's clothes into the living room closet, which is actually the coat closet.  He never wanted to go to the back bedroom for his things.    First his shirts made it into the coat closet, then his slacks.  Still, we never actually cleaned out the closet for him -- he just gradually took over until most of the things stored there belonged to him.  A few coats remained at the sides, hats were on the top shelve along with the unused light bulbs and cookie sheets and duet piano music.  On the closet floor we stored anything we couldn't find room for in the house -- huge packages of toilet paper from Sam's, boots, dust rags, paper towels.  The coats pretty much gravitated into the computer (second bedroom) closet, along with Hubby's ties, suspenders, shoes he wasn't wearing, his sweaters, shoes I didn't wear but couldn't bear to part with and shelving we weren't using. 

Yesterday we started cleaning out the computer room closet.  We found 15 pairs of slacks Hubby had forgotten he owned.  They went into the front room closet with the rest of his clothing.  Out of that front closet we removed all the clothing and paraphernalia that wasn't Hubby's.  We found coats in our garage, in the front living room, and on the floor of the computer room.  We trash-bagged all the coats neither of us wanted, all Hubby's ties, and all the shoes we hadn't worn (except for a $400 pair of Ecco's that Hubby had NEVER worn and looked at in disbelief).  At least 10 coats and jackets have been discarded, but we still have way too many stored because Hubby kept looking at his coats and thinking they were in really good condition (like his trench coat on the left).  I had an easier time putting things in the discard pile -- some of my old coats actually had shoulder pads in them!  I had trouble dumping fleeces and jackets, though.  

Now the computer room closet has been cleared of the junk.  All the retained coats are on good hangers (ones that won't bend or break when heavy coats are pulled from them).  Hubby's 36 sweaters are neatly folded and on the top shelf while all the ones with piles have been put aside for donation.  The shoes we both had saved were so old that they were once again in style -- but I'm never going to wear high heels again -- and these lovely shoes were hooker high.  One sad pair was so old the soles had disintegrated on us and when we opened the box we initially thought that cookies had been stored in it. 

Finally, because we had moved so much junk out of the computer room closet, the floor was empty.  I was able to move all the stored winter clothing of my sweaters, Hubby's winter pants, my fleece sleepwear onto the closet floor so we would not have to shlep the big bags of winter stuff from the basement ever again.   How cool is that?

When I open the closet door, both in the living room and in the computer room, I smile at the neatness and the organization. 

• Donating bags of used clothing and other sundry junk to City Union Mission for resale.

Hubby has those huge trash bags that kids sell door to door and we've been filling them with our discarded donations for the City Union Mission (the KC help  for the homeless).  We took over the first load yesterday.  Today went the second load.  All the coats, jackets, shoes, ties, dresses I would no longer wear, all my Christmas clothing -- all donated to a good cause.  And two of our closets have been cleaned and organized.  It does one's heart good.  We've got a lot more to donate, though. 

City Thrift Store -- many of the less fortunate shop here, but it's also become a chic place to pick up unusual and hip items for little of nothing. 

• A slab or ribs and a quart of potato salad from Gates Barbecue

Good lord, I haven't had a full slab all to myself in years -- and this slab was the best EVER!  Honestly, I just don't know how one can not L O V E Gate's ribs.  We went to the restaurant on 47th and Paseo and got take-out so the doggies could have a little outing too in this 105 degree weather.  Hubby had the pork on a bun because he loves their fries.  I decided after all the closet cleaning to treat myself to a full slab of pork yumminess and I've been in heaven ever since.  Of course, the dogs think I'm a goddess because I can dole out pork ribs every couple of hours.  Gates also makes delicious potato salad -- it's mild, sweet, AND spicy all at once, so I ordered a full quart.  Tomorrow Hubby's baking pork chops and we're serving it with the Gates salad.

• Central air conditioning.

Thank you Lord! for a fully functioning house AC unit.  Without it I think both Hubby and I would be dead.  Just peeling eggs in this heat causes a full body sweat (I know, I tried it for some tuna salad yesterday).  Our electric bill for June is $163 -- but that's a small price to pay for staying alive. 

• Jasper's Vinegar and Oil Salad Dressing

I found out that the wonderful Oil and Vinegar salad dressing that makes the plain old ice berg lettuce from Marco Polo's deli (which is the same as Jasper's Italian Restaurant without the price tag and service) so fabulous is sold by the bottle.  I'm consuming platefuls of salad since I bought a bottle.   I get up at 3 a.m. and eat salad.  This stuff is pure heaven.  Unfortunately, Jasper's is currently closed for their annual July vacation, but as soon as their reopening, I'm pricing the stuff by the case. 

• Novels under $4.00 on my Kindle.

I have been a downloading fool this summer.  I keep expecting the Kindle to belly-up and tell me I've got to delete something, but so far so good.  I just got 30 new either free or nearly free mysteries so when it's too hot to clean, I can read. My total download fee for 30 novels was $7.50.  Now when I wake up at 3 a.m. I can read myself back to sleep -- or stay awake all night digging into various new mystery experiences. 

• Paychecks for not working.

Both social security and KPERS arrived on time this month, my first month receiving full retirement benefits.  I LOVE retirement.  Nancy, a good friend, emailed us the opening week offer from the Heartland Theater (tickers at $2.50 each) and we could call and make arrangements to go on -- Wednesday nigh!  We can go to the theater ANY night of the week and not worry about getting up the next morning!

Now if Hubby would only feel better, the weather would cool off just a little, and the gouty toe would decide to ease up (every frickin' July, man!) life would be nearly perfect!