The Home Depot Is Kissing My Butt

I posted a critical entry about the Home depot in January.
Tinsley from the Home Depot in Atlanta contacted me shortly thereafter and we discussed the issue. I still have not heard from the local store, but I feel comfortable that Tinsley did her very best to put The Home Depot back into my good graces. I accepted a $30 gift card which they sent to smooth things over.
Yesterday we went to the HD to get the prices for lumber to build a treehouse, so I think we are back on track with the store.

Ick - Tick

On Sunday my partner and I were scouting his large property in the foothills for a location to build a tree house. We were looking to find a clump of pines growing close enough to build the platform, their location a bit to the side of main traffic paths. We had to get into the brush and we found a great spot. More about that later though.
Returning to the house we checked the dogs for ticks, sprayed them to keep the ticks off.
When I got ready to shower a few hours later I noticed that a tick had landed on my chest, just inside the shirt's neckline. Ick, ick, gross. The insect was removed but left an area that was itchy and swollen. Gradually, two days later, the skin in returning to normal.
The whole idea that some creature is biting into me and eating my blood is just grossing me out. Ick to the multiple!

Friends

I have several really good friends, some across the country, some close by. I also have siblings.
So, when something important happens in my life and I share it with some friends and my siblings, how come the friends come to support me and my sibling blows me off? It's really quite hurtful and very disappointing.
Therefore, I will continue to stay with my friends, some have been in my circle for close to forty years, gather new one as often as I can and enjoy my life, with siblings on the periphery only.
Clearly I must downgrade my expectations of my sister so when I get little I won't be disappointed.
Did I mention that I really like my friends?

The Home Depot Sucks

I never thought I would say this, but I was almost cheated by an employee from The Home Depot.
As I'd written before, I was ready to select carpet to replace the worn one in the spare room.
I had found what I liked at The Home Depot and made arrangements for installation. I had the measurements, but no, a professional had to come from Sacramento, two days later. (Turns out my numbers were exactly the same as his, imagine!)
Another two days later I went to the store to make the purchase and was told a specific person alone sets up the installation schedule and she was not there. Over the next few days I called and left messages for her, to which she did not respond. Once a helpful person offered to pull my file and see how far this rug business had progressed and, importantly, exactly how much this would cost. I already had a close idea.
The total cost had risen by $97, about 25%! Say what? What did I buy? Carpet, padding, installation, and tack strips. Tack strips? I have tack strips, don't need tack strips. How many could I use anyhow?
And wait, who's in charge of my purse anyway? Oh, it's me!
I had the strips taken off, purchased the rug, with a three day cancellation option. Still no contact with Laura.
This whole mess was bugging me so I decided to get a refund, stopping at Carpets Galore on my way to Yuba City. I shared my story there, and my paper work. I found a rug there I liked, better quality as well. Those folks took a little more money off to make sure it would all cost less.
After leaving HD with my cash, having given the reason for canceling to the clerk, I got about a mile away when the phone rang. Of course it was Laura, the so, so, so sorry Laura. I pretty much blew her off, too little, too late.
I emailed the store management asked them to look into this and give me a call. Nope, they have not called me either.
This will cost them, as I will learn where things are across the street at Lowe's.
This morning the installer form Carpets Galore was here. The job took an hour, he used a short section of tack strip (part of the installation, no extra cost) brought his own vacuum cleaner, took the old rug and left. And he was nice to my dog! I will work with them for ever.

Cold and Shiver

Not many people tuck their trees in at night. I'm one of those people.
I have three citrus trees no taller than I am and I cover them up at night. I clip sheets, (that I keep for utility purposes) together and drape them over the branches before dark. The lemon tree is loaded with fruit right now and will bloom in the next few weeks.
It has not been this cold in ten years! 22' F this week, let's wish for clouds!
I can deal with replacing flowers and little bushes, but fruit trees are expensive and take years to produce so I want to protect them.
Nighty night!

Scraping, Filling, Painting

One of the bedrooms at my home is currently not in use. I took this opportunity to update the space. There was still the 70's look with the "cottage cheese" textured ceiling which I had to remove, apply a very light texture, prime and paint. The ceiling looks higher now. Walls also needed primer and paint after I'd filled in even the smallest holes and nicks. In itself it's not such a huge job, but it involved a fair amount of time consuming attention to detail. The electrician had to rewire the ceiling fan/light. I took out the extension phone wire as phone extensions now only need power to work, which gave me more holes to fill. I didn't want to overpower the air with paint fumes on any given day. All that's left to do now is to finish the trim painting around the door and the door itself. I already bought a new lock set, mind you, the old one was a bear to get off. Next month I'll decide on new floor covering.
So, that's what I've been doing.

More About B.

Although I'd planned to download some images, that was delayed for the moment.
Most every week I take Brighton to the youngster's gym hour. There are a number of kids waiting for their own class to begin or their sibling's to end. One girl especially and B have taken to each other. The girl pets and mushes B's face, ears and body and B. is loving it. On Friday they sat side by side on the bench watching the activities for a long time.
Norman Rockwell would have used this interlude for inspiration.

Therapy Dog

Brighton will be getting her "Therapy Dog" tag any day now. I'm very excited about that.
At this time I take her any place I can. She was quite the charmer at the Ford dealership this morning. First we did a bit of training amongst the cars and then we joined the other waitees.
Later I took her to the elementary school at dismissal time. She sits and lets herself be adored and it gives me an opportunity to instruct the kids about approaching a dog.
She spent the last three hours in the yard with the big girls. And, yes, she's sleeping now.
Next I want to coordinate with a place for her to visit the folks in a care facility.

Hot Summer

I've been keeping a secret. I don't enjoy the summers here as much as I used to. There I said it!

I just don't know what to do about it. Clearly, I can't change the temperature, only how I live with it and my activities during the hot days.

I've cut back on my yard plans, and upkeep. I've cut back on water use as that's expensive now that it's metered. I also have a much better idea of how much I need to use to keep my plants healthy, not just surviving.

Perhaps my poor attitude has to do with the fact that we've been in the 90s and 100s for a bit now.
During the hot days I am inside the house or car which reminds me of winter when it's too cold to be out.

Deja Vue

While Mosker was here we took a drive into the Sierra foothills to visit my friend. Mosker had not been to the house in twenty-three years, and that had been during a cold and wet time. (This time I was able to give Mosker a tour during the pretty time of year.) My friend was getting ready to leave town for a few days. As it turned out her timing was excellent.

On the drive we had noticed several areas where the chaparral had burned - perhaps backfires - so the hillsides are very dry.

Next day a red hawk flew into a power line and sparked a fire that is still burning, growing in fact. Many residents are without power. So, once again, we, here in the valley, are dealing with smoke filled skies. Of course that's nothing compared to what the folks that are in the middle of it are putting up with.

Who knows what the landscape will look like when the fire is out.

Deja vue.

Cheese

I am hooked on cheese!
I really enjoy eating fine cheese. I'm not speaking of Kraft slices for toasted sandwiches, but rather the specialty cheese that are such fun to find.
This is Friday evening, I'm going to Marysville to visit the Farmers Market. There is local produce and fruit, flowers, honey.
Tucked among them with a little table and a large cooler is the cheese lady. Usually she features three or four different cheeses and has samples to taste. Generally she has hardened (aged) cheeses as well as new. I have become very fond of the goat cheeses.
We had some on hand this week for the big adoption party along with the standards. Mosker took half of what was left with her. (I was not thinking clearly, she should have taken it all.)
The market will end next month and I will need to find out where I can get her product after that time. When Ray comes to visit he'll want some also.
Meanwhile let me get a load of money out and head to town. This stuff is not cheap.

House Guest and Fish

My house guest has departed.
While she'd been here I talked much about goals one might have, and follow, to give purpose and direction to life. She can't seem to face facts having spent much time, years in fact, flitting about with no plan for the future and no intent to make a plan, other than relying on friends to help out. She was at times moody, sometimes sitting in the room - not feeling well - just a bit of passive aggression there.
I am being harsh, as she'd been taking care of herself until last year's job loss and a very severe health issue that arose this year. I'm a firm believer in making plans, so the job loss would not have put me in such dire straights.
Now my cat can roam again in every room of the house.
There is some saying about house guests and fish after a few days.....

Refresher Course

This year I've been less than enthusiastic about gardening chores. (Did you notice I called it "chores"?)
My house guest has had moments of 'need to do something worthwhile' and was pulling and snipping around the plants. That has served me to get reinvigorated about yard work. Between us we have trimmed bushes and she has cleaned up among the plants. Thank you, thank you!
Not to be outdone I went out early and did some cleanup of spent flowers.
I remember now why I like to garden.

Dog, Barbie Things and Guests

Wow! Again time has flown without an entry. Tonight is doggie training class. The ten weeks have been extended as the instructor has been ill at times. She's canceled the next class and has invited all of us to come back anytime for the class beginning in July. But only with the same dog. Duh! I've enjoyed going to the class, meeting new folks. Even the dog has picked up some useful things.
I've made some Barbie furniture and bedding. I made a little bench that I want to upholster and I need to made a couple of benches and table to match. I want to pick up varnish that is other than mahogony. I used it to varnish a four poster bed I made in Tudor style. It turned out quite nice, with curtains on rods, fancy gold trim, upholstered headboard and more. Michelle made the tiebacks and fancied up the turned posts. All for Barbie sized dolls. I enjoyed making them, got really sick of the materials laying around. I used my outside workspace for the woodwork, but the sewing was an inside job.
I cleaned up a couple of closets, storing seldom used things somewhere else. Maybe I'll donate them. I'm making space for a houseguest who will arrive the beginning of July. We can always get new stuff for her to make her life more comfortable.

Stupid People/ What The ....#4

Yesterday, on my way to a party, my friend asked me to stop at Long's so she could buy a card. I stayed in my car (my lovely two days old vehicle) with the AC on.
Out of the store walks a grandma, a young woman and two little boys. And a huge, really huge bunch of balloons. Grandma opens the small sedan's doors and everyone pitches in to shove the balloons into the backseat. Then the front seat. Then the proverbial light bulb goes on. Gee, how are we going to get the family home? Grandma gets on the phone while the rest are scratching their heads. Others, whom they seem to know come out of the store and more discussion ensues.
You noticed I said I'd left the car running with the AC on? That's because it was a 90' + day.
OK, so the young woman and boys go back into the store, presumably to keep cool. Grandma gets in another car with those, "others". I'm assuming they are off the find a larger vehicle. And no, they didn't take even some of the balloons with them.
Grandma is smart though because she locks the car up with the windows tight. (Nobody is stealing those balloons!) As she slams the door a final time I hear a pop. I'm sure there were only shreds of balloons when they came back. At least there was room to get the family home then.
That's what you get when you let stupid people buy balloons without plans on how to get them home. On a hot day!

Easter

Sometimes things work out just as planned, sometimes not.
It was my turn to make the Easter meal, provide the entertainment.
Michelle had organized the Easter egg hunt, laying in the supplies, keeping the dogs away. She and I had shopped for items and put them aside. One night last week we stuffed the plastic eggs and pinata and shoved then into the freezer.
The daughter of our neighbors was invited to join us for breakfast and the hunt, also the pinata smashing.
I planned the menu, cooking and baking most of Saturday. Among many other things I made an almond paste filled Brioche, as did the girl from next door for her family. We colored many chicken eggs and today loads of them got cracked though are still usable.
Saturday morning it was slow to warm up and we had so hoped that we could eat outside, I feared it would be just as cool on Sunday. Well, after the egg hunt, the smashing of the pinata, the chasing down of a lost bracelet in the tall grass, the divvying up of the treasure it was late enough and warm enough to sit outside and really enjoy the morning.
Except for the over-baked, ruined cinnamon rolls, all the food was yummy and filling. The only meal we needed today.
(The girls drew pictures over my front patio with the new chalk and after about four hours together they actually began to bicker.)

It really had been a lovely day.
Happy Easter!

Ah, Grocery Stores

I love statistics! One can be so creative with them.
I heard that two local grocery stores are rated among the top ten. Two others are rated among the lowest.

Bel Air and Raley's are considered among the best. Here's why, in my opinion. They both have wonderful products some of which are hard to find. They are also expensive and people that shop there clearly are willing to pay the higher costs. The service is excellent as is the ambiance, what with the cozy lighting in the deli and bakery area. They know my name (if I pay with a check or card) haul my purchases out and stow them in the car.
In addition I suspect that the clientele is mostly literate, willing and able to answer a questionnaire about about their store.
These two stores are a bit far for impulse shopping, so I don't get there very often.

On the other spectrum is Food Maxx and Wal-Mart both of which I patronize . Food Maxx has a great indoor fruit and vegetable market cheap prices, good quality. There is new management and when I can find a worker they seem eager enough to help.
And then there is Wal-Mart. OMG the service at the deli is so slow. So very slow! No,
no one there seems to know that 8 ounces is the same as .5 pounds. It's pretty much a self-serve store after all. I generally use the self check-out, but when I pay to a cashier, no, they don't know my name, nor will anyone load my car for me.
I suspect that a good many of the patrons don't speak English and many of those that do are probably unwilling to bother with a customer satisfaction survey. (Those are, perhaps, the same people that shop wearing their pajamas) Another reason Wal-Mart's rating is low is because, well, service there really sucks!

Today at Food Maxx I selected a shell of raspberries listed at $2.99. At the check-out the price had become $4.99. After a discussion with several employees, some insisting that that was indeed the price, people backed up behind me glaring, the vegetable clerk came up with the sign that agreed with me, $2.99. That means that I got the berries for free, as per store policy. The day has not yet come where I will pay $5 for such a small amount of berries.

Splurge

I rarely spend money extravagently.
(Perhaps when I travel, though I did pass up an opportunity to sky dive.... but that's another entry.)
Last week I went with Michelle into a store that she wanted to check out and as I meandered I checked out shoes. I saw stylish athletic shoes (how's that for an oxymoron?) and with my recent foot problems I thought it wise to give them a second look. Michelle did not help when she stated the obvious, "try them on". So I did!
Yes, I did spend the rest of my clothing allowance (plus $6 borrowed from the food budget), and have been wearing these shoes ever since. Well, no, not to bed.
Wow, am I glad I bought these. I have been walking in comfort ever since.

Doggie School

This spring I'm continually delayed in achieving the little milestones I laid out for myself. I've been wanting to take regular walks with Brighton. Walking with her now is like following a dog that's chasing rabbits.
The community college catalog came about a month ago and I finally opened it up yesterday. The one course of interest beginning yesterday evening was the dog training course. Ten sessions for $75, plus $10 for parking. So I went.
The instructor came in, a very formidable woman, laid a bunch of scary looking metal implements on the table. About that time I questioned my philosophical compatibility. Turns out that the scary dog restraints she'd brought are examples of things we do not need. We had not brought our dogs, introduced ourselves and explained our issues. Of the forty people there there are seven dogs that are small like Brighton, or smaller, the rest are big. Shepherds, dobies, labs, even a mastiff.
I went to the pet store with Brighton this morning and bought her the required choke collar and a leather leash, sewn, not riveted.
I've been walking her in front of the house in the Cesar Milan way with fair success.
Maybe when I get back to the class next week all my Brighton problems will have been solved.
Not likely!

Insensitive ? - Perhaps

Breakfast deal at local diner:

Octo-Special
14 eggs
no sausage
and....
The people in the other booth have to pay for it!