CONTINUING SAGA....

Call after call, text after text from Veteran man.  Some of it was involving the Ball but a lot of it was trying to make amends and get together, then this morning I got a  text from him wanting a favor and would I like to go to the yacht club for dinner...he didn't say when.  I emailed back and asked him when.  Then my cell rang and it was him.  He actually did want a favor.   He wanted me to make certificates for the workers that pulled up the carpet at the Vets transition home on Saturday.  He came to the wrong person as I'm not computer savvy.  I can do anything artistic, but when it comes to creating things on the computer, forget it.  Guess no dinner a the yacht club.....not that I'd go anyway.

I didn't go out with my age appropriate friend on Sunday.  I decided to cancel that too.  I stayed home all weekend and sat in a pile.  I'm always busy during the week and the weekends I'm usually at home, bored.

Today, Monday, is busy.  A short meeting in East Irvine, then I need to go to Trader Joe's and Ralph's....home the rest of the day to again try and finish the center pieces.  I have over thirty done and about eleven to go.  Slogging through them one by one.

Tomorrow dinner with my ex-neighbor.

And so the week starts.                      

ODD HAPPENINGS....

As reported, Veteran man did come to take me to dinner and to do my craft shopping.  Now this man has told me that he is dating someone, but that it is very casual and he sees other people other then her.  He knows about Dez, so it is all out in the open, or so I thought.

Dez kind of knows about Veteran man and I've told him I see him to go over the Marine Corp Ball details, which is pretty much true.  If dinner is involved, it is.  Now Dez very seldom calls me two days in a row.  As Veteran man was sitting in my living room waiting to take me to dinner and the craft store the phone rang.  Lo and behold it was Dez  who was up North.  He was still hacking and coughing but wanted to make plans to go to dinner and dancing this coming Thursday night.  Raining men! I love being with Dez, he makes me laugh and we have a great time together, casual though it is, it is special.

Veteran man and I drove to the craft store and I purchased what I needed.  The Lone Star is right in front of the store so as we drove over to go into the restaurant Veteran man said, "I can't believe it."  I responded, "what."  Seems there was a vehicle parked in the parking lot that belonged to  good friend of his and he didn't want to be seen out with another women.  Now does him seeing this other women just casually sound true?

I was more then miffed but we drove to another restaurant.  He kept saying it really didn't matter if anyone saw us together.  Yeah, right!  We did have dinner and drove home.  I hate people that aren't totally honest and at this age, I'm not sneaking around. 

The next day I got a text from his that said, "good morning."  I responded to it that I thought we should just stop going out and although we were thrown together with the Marine Corp Ball planning I didn't want to continue a relationship on any other level.
He said he understood but the I got another text from him asking if he could come over on Sunday.  What about forget it, didn't he understand  not to mention this man isn't my type at all.  I've got a year to get through this Ball thing and then it is off you go.  I guess it doesn't matter if your in your teens or my age, man can be jerks.

I will say Veteran man is extremely helpful and very nice which was probably the reason I agreed to go out with him to dinners and lunches.  He's brought me flowers, sent cards and obviously thinks he wants a relationship of some type.  No thank you.  I don't like liars or people the shroud the real intent.

Then there is my local man that is my age that I met almost two years ago  He wants to go out tonight.  He calls almost everynight to check to see how I'm doing with my knee, which by the way is coming along.  I'm debating about going tonight.  Probably not.

I called Dez last night to see if he was feeling better.  It went to voice mail.  He sent me a text that said he was in a dinner meeting and what was up?  I said I was just checking on him to see if he was doing okay.

This mornig Dez called, still coughing and said he had taken the superintendents on his project to dinner to review change orders etc.  We firmed up our plans for Thursday night.  At least I know what's what with Dez.  I may not like some of it, but he has been the one constant the last umpteen months.

So, today, Saturday is a get myself together day. Nails, facial etc.  I'm trying to save money so I'm doing the above myself.

Happy weekend!

MEETINGS ETC......

One of the men on the committee, that lives in my area, picked me up and took me to the Veteran's meeting.  That meeting was at 4:30 and the following meeting was at 8:00.  I decided before I went to the Veterans meeting that I had better make a list of all the things I thought were needed to put on a Marine Corp Ball. At this point I am the only women and men are notorious for not being organized, so I thought I better step up.

We used my list as a guide and discussed point by point and added things that we thought might be needed.  It was a very successful meeting.

The other meeting was one that went on for several hours, nothing to do with the Vets but we all got through it.

The next morning Dez called me on his way to Beverly Hills for his meeting.  He had been to the doctor the day before  and received a strong shot and told to go home before it kicked in and put him to sleep.  That plus more meds and an inhaler and he was on his way. 

He felt better in the morning and needed to get moving on his projects.  He hadn 't been up North for so long that he was planning on going today and will be up there for at least two to three days.  I"ll probably hear from his next week sometime. He said he may be going to the Super Bowl so that will be a lost weekend too.  His son is getting the boys tickets.

I've learned not to get to excited about what Dez says he is going to do.  Most of it doesn't happen. 

Tonight Veteran man is taking me to dinner at Lone Star.  I'll be able to go to the craft store to pick up some things I needed to finish the dreaded centerpieces.  He seems to want to keep seeing me even though I've told him that Dez is in the picture.  At least Veteran man is geographically nearby.

The week has flown by and there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day.

ANOTHER RAINY DAY....

The weekend was a fairly quite one.  I stayed home from Thursday to Monday morning.  Well, kinda stayed home.  Sunday, as the play-off  football games were on and I watched most of them, I had a call from Veteran man who wanted to stop by.  He was down in South County and was passing right by the house.  I couldn't very well say no.  Actually couldn't think of an excuse.

I sent him a list regarding the Marine Corp Birthday Ball that we are working on together.  Seems that is a good excuse to see. me.  A meeting is scheduled for everyone involved on Tuesday night, tomorrow night.

Veteran man did stop over and didn't stay long as he had to get home to get put his dog outside.  He said he would like to come back and take me to dinner and since I was basically going stir crazy I agreed.

He said he would take me to one of my favorite restaurants and listen to the piano player and have a drink and a bite to eat, which we did.  An old friend of mine who goes to this restaurant was there without his wife.  When I asked him about her he said she had fallen, again, and was in the hospital.  She is a tough old bird and I'm sure she will recover.

Should you be wondering about Dez, the poor man has been so sick and just staying home trying to recoup.  He has an appointment with the doctor again as some spots showed up on his lungs when he had his chest xray.  I'm hoping it is minor.  I don't think I'll see him this week either which makes three weeks we haven't see each other.  We do keep in touch by text and email.  His text last night was so garbled and misspelled, which isn't like him, and he said he just had too many meds in his body.  With this rain, I'd just as soon he stay home and get better.  I know he has to leave soon for a job up North.  He hasn't been on site for a while and needs to make an appearance.  The mice do play when the cat is away. With Dez it is business first, as it should be. It is a good thing I have my own life, if I depended on him, or any other man to make me happy, that would be the day, not to mention that Dez hates needy women.

I had a man contact me that I went to lunch with two years ago.  He could almost be Dez's younger brother.  He had cancer at one point, lost his job and just now found another after a couple of years.  He sounded so much more positve and I'm glad he is doing better.  I'm taking meeting him under advisement.  It seems a little silly to get involved with anyone when you don't want to pursue a relationship.  I've been out to enough dinners, lunches, events etc, to not really crave that.  OMG, do you suppose I might be growing up!  Horrors!!!

So life goes on and I'm maintaining.

HAIR...

My wonderful hairdresser, who came to the house before Christmas to cut my hair, did the same today but at the salon.  My hair grows so fast and with this short hairstyle it always needs trimmed.  She did just that and put in a few low lights.

This will be short as there really isn't much going on today. No word from Dez, but I don't expect one. He truly is an only child....seems most of the men I meet are just that.  Maybe one boy is enough.

I'm off to do exactly the same thing....boring.

TO LATE....

The whole physical therapy for my knee was a giant waste of an hour.  I am at full range with bending my leg and since I'm not doing the can-can anytime soon, what they had me do is pretty much what I was doing for myself at home.  The therapist said I could just do the exercises at home and really didn't need to come in.  Sounds good to me.  Wasting two hours every week for nothing is not on my list.  It has been two months since my surgery and way past the time of therapy.  I've not used a cane for weeks and although it bothers me if I sit with my leg bent to long, it is still healing and swollen so that is to be expected.

Veteran man drove me to my appointment at therapy yesterday.  He was a little distant in his demeanor.  I think he was a little miffed because I told him I didn't want him to come over after his meeting the other night.  Enough is enough as I had seen him almost three days in a row.  I don't want him to get the wrong idea or lead him on.  He offered to take me to my appointments and I asked him again yesterday if he woud rather not do it and to please tell me if he wants to stop.  He said no he was fine with taking me.  Hmmm.

Dez is really sick.  In his wisdom and road running he never got a flu shot or pneumonia shot this year.  He told me he was going to get the flu shot when he went to Texas but obviously that didn't happen.  Now he has a terrible cough, chest congestion, which he is getting a chest x ray for today, and feels horrible. He's been sick for almost two weeks. I thought about taking him by the hand last year, to the drug store or walk-in and having him get a shot.  This Fall I will do that since he can't seem to schedule the time to take care of himself.

I hate to sound like a broken record but I'm off to do those damn center pieces again.  I may be doing them until the end of the year.  The first banquet is for forty two and the second will be for over thirty.  Must learn to say no.

MONDAY AGAIN.

Things got changed again with Dez.  He called me Sunday morning and sounded like he was dying.  He had the same horrible cough and cold that he had last March and said he felt horrible.  If he felt like he sounded I certainly could understand why he didn't want to drive a hundred miles round trip to see me.  We   chatted for a while and planned on seeing each other this coming Friday for a date night.  We need to find a new place to go dancing.

I texted him this morning and he said he felt worse.  He does have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, since today is a holiday, and hopefully the doctor can give him something to make him feel better. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he feels better by the end of the week.  He was nice enough to say he didn't want to  give me anything to make me sick, something I don't need.

Actually one of the men at the BPOE was sick as a dog when I went there last Thursday so something must be going around.

I had cooked dinner for Dez and I and made some snacks but since he wasn't able to make it I decided to call and talk to Veteran man and ask him over.  It was a double edge invite since I wanted to use up the food and go over some things for the Marine Corp Ball that I'm suppose to do the center pieces for next November.

Veteran man came for lunch and we went over some of the things that have been going on regarding the event.  He decided that he needed to call another meeting with all parties for this Thursday. I'll wait to hear from him to see if everyone can make it. He didn't stay very long, which was fine but I did get rid of most of the food.  He came to the door with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.....unexpected, but nice to get.

Veteran man texted me this morning and asked me to either go to breakfast or lunch.  I had an appointment at 11:15 am and told him if he wanted to come with me we could go to lunch afterward.  The appointment was only for fifteen minutes and basically was a big waste of time, but I needed to go.  We had a nice Italian lunch and went over some other things.  He left as soon as we got back to my house.

I have dinner tonight with a good friend of mine so will do a couple of things around the house and then go out with her.

I'm hoping Dez makes it Friday.  He was spoiling me seeing me once a week since before Christmas.  Since he will be leaving town again, next week, I just hope he feels better for our date night Friday.

Off to do more centerpieces.

ANOTHER WEEK GONE.....

I got side tracked this week with errands and things going on and haven't had time to Blog.  Since I've been off the dating sites my life isn't quite as interesting and perhaps writing about what goes on everyday is pretty boring.  Of course I hope people realize that I don't tell all my secrets.  Some things have to remain just mine.

This week found me going to Saddleback Medical Center for an ultra-sound. My neighbors wonderful assistant drove me to South County.   I haven't heard the outcome yet as it is yet another holiday on Monday. Do you know that every month has some sort of holiday except August.  I'm sure somewhere down the line the powers that be will figure out a holiday for that month too.

I tried to get out of being a co-chair for a State banquet being held in April, but that didn't work.  I'm starting to work on the forty two center pieces that are needed.  The banquet is being held in Upland at the Hilton so I have plenty of time to work on everything.

I had friends call and want to take me to dinner on Thursday.  It was rib night at the BPOE and I hadn't been there since before Thanksgiving.  They picked me up at five thirty and we stayed until 10:00.....way to long.  When I sit that long my knee starts to hurt, but it was nice to see everyone I know.

My two men friends, other then Dez, who constantly call, called me.  One wanted to come over and see me in the morning for a short time as he had a Veteran meeting.  I do need to talk to him about the Marine Corp Ball in November. but thought that could wait.  He asked about Sunday but that was a Dez day.  The other wanted to take me out either Saturday night or Sunday I declined all invitations and visits. 

First of all Dez was suppose to come down on Friday night but after talking to him on Friday one of his appointments turned out to be later then he thought.  It was Friday, afterall and another four hour bout on the California freeways to go forty five miles is a stupid way to spend your time not to mention I was tired from the night before.  He said he had a bad week and asked if he could come down on Sunday.  I didn't want him driving that long after a full week so agreed that Sunday was perfect.  Actually better for me too, as I've been in a snit all week about one thing or another.  I just went to bed early and I mean early, 7:00pm.

So today, Saturday, is a semi house cleaning day and working on center pieces.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

MEN AGAIN....

In the spirit of Cougar Tracks, it is back to the various sundry men that have touched my life in the last almost two years.

New years has brought a lot of the men I have met and some I've dated, back into my realm.  They are all being so supportive and offering to drive me and help out in any way they can, when they found out about my knee replacement.  Phone calls seemed to come in one after the other.  I sometimes wonder what triggers their thoughts of me.

Dez, of course is the preferred.  Don't ask me why, pheromones on both of our parts. It is his personality and the fact that he is totally positive.  Maybe a little Pollyanna, but a balance to my negativity.   Totally ridiculous, but it is what it is. Being an ex-football player, smart as hell, and a lot of fun makes it a no brainer.

Last night Dez drove to see me from Beverly Hills, The night before he came back into town from the South late,  now in my past life of working in that area and living in Orange County it took me two and a half hours on the freeway to go forty five miles in traffic.  Mr. Positive told me he would see me in an hour and a half.  Not so.  There was a tremendous accident half way to my house and the lanes were backed up to LAX.  Since he is resourceful he took the side streets, but everyone else had the same idea.  You guessed it after leaving at four o'clock he arrived at six forty five. He always says he doesn't mind driving to see me. Guess not. We spent three hours together and off he went as he had an early morning meeting. He is coming back either Thursday or Friday.  We'll see.  Since Christmas he has made an effort to see me once  a week.  Jobs are finalling up and he has some time. Just the fact that he is here is amazing.  He travels three hundred and forty two days a year.

Veteran man not only sends me texts everyday but calls.  Yesterday he was at a framers to get some photos framed and called me for my opinion.  He is redoing his home and is sweet enough to want my take on what he wants to do.  He has been doing a good job on his own, but I'm happy to be asked.  He has a girlfriend, which is good, and he is the nicest man.  Not really my type, but hen my brother says no one is my type.  He is probably right.

Then there is my seventy two year man that I've known for almost two years.  He has been calling me every night.  He is extremely young acting and one would never know that he is his age.....my age, OMG!  He lost a lot with the economy and is trying to regroup, which isn't easy at his age.  He is financially savvy and is trying everything he knows to get back to some semblance of order. He is tall with a shock of grey hair and has a lot of nervous energy plus a good personality.  He is easy to talk to which we do on the phone every night.  No romantic interest but a good man to know.

On to a younger man that is on Facebook with me.  He sent me a message that said we should have lunch soon.  He reminds me of Dez, although younger.  I don't need a young man in my life, Dez is young enough.  It is amazing out there how many men in their thirty, forties and fifties prefer older women.

I am off all the sites for dating at this time and have been for a while.  I still keep getting things on my email saying you have eighteen men interested in you.  This is almost everyday.  The purpose of this is to get you to come back to the site, for a fee, of course.  Delete, delete, delete............

So I'm nursing my knee, trying to stay out of trouble, although it seems to come to me even if I'm sitting at home.  My brother says we should never leave our houses.  Dez says we should stay in bed with the covers over our heads.  Both ideas seem good to me.

Ciao

ALWAYS SOMETHING....

Nothing is ever easy.  I had a surprise bill come in that threw be for a loop.  I was already trying to figure out what I was going to do with all the bills piling up and to add insult to injury a huge one came in that I wasn't prepared for.  I really don't know what I'm going to do.....muddle through somehow. Thank God they don't have debtors prison or I'd be there for sure. California is a hard place to be retired.

To get off that soap box, I've been called by so many people offering to help me out.  My good friend took me out today for errands and some lab work.  We had a nice lunch and caught up what we had been doing the last several months.  I'm so blessed to have so many good friends in my life. 

I also had a call from a man that I have known for a while.  Just a friend, but very giving and willing to help me anyway he can. So far I haven't needed him for anything and I would prefer to just keep it friendly, so probably will never ask him   Better that way. He also doesn't know where I live and I want to keep it that way.

Veteran man has also been there offering to help me out but again I always feel that you end up paying one way or the other and it is better to figure things out yourself and do your own thing.  I hate being obligated to anyone, especially a man. To big of a price to pay.

I've been pretty much been in the house since my knee surgery and will be for a while.  I will say that I've been to dinner and lunch with various friends so I'm not totally housebound. Last night I had dinner with my ex neighbor where I use to live many years ago. We have been friends over thirty years.

Dez is gone and will be back on Sunday night. I'll see him on Monday.  He seems to be a semi constant.
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I need to regroup and start a new year being frugal and trying to organize my life and house.

STARTING JANUARY....

Well as usual nothing goes smoothly.  For the last two days I've been on the telephone with the new insurance company which has lost me in their system.  Therefore, nothing, including my physical therapy for my knee, has been approved.  Literally hours on the phone with the prerequisite disconnects, hang ups, and idiot people that don't know anything.  How fun.  I think today I might have actually resolved a few things.  I'm hoping that if they do what they said they would do tomorrow I'll be up and running and maybe can get approval for what I need.  I'm three weeks behind in the therapy department, although I've been doing some exercises at home.  The knee is okay except at night when it burns and hurts.  I'm thinking that it is healing. I do have good range of motion.

A friend of mine spent the night with me last night.  She ran away from home, as her husband was being a jerk and verbally abusive.  This has been such an ongoing problem for the forty years that I've known them.  Nothing changes.  She leaves him, then goes back, feels sorry for him, then hates him.  God, you would think when your in your eighties things would quiet down.

Dez came down yesterday to see me in the afternoon.  Again he traveled for hours to get to Orange County.  He was leaving for Mississippi early this morning and I just had an email from him where he was in the process of changing planes to get wherever it is he is landing.  He has been making an effort to see me at least once a week for the last three weeks.  I'm sure it won't last as his projects take him all over the country and then some.  He'll know about the Morocco job by the end of the month.  He is asking for a lot and they may not go for it.  He says if they don't he isn't taking it. I really wonder if he actually wants to go on a  job that is three to ten  years.

I find it interesting that there are two guys that either text or call me everyday.  Not so Dez, but then he is really a busy boy.  He does what he can, but just doesn't get the picture  His whole take on things is optimism and joy and lets have fun.  I am on the other side of the coin as Miss pessimism and glass half empty. We kind of balance each other out. Oh  well, you can't help who you want.  And I do have the, I want what I want when I want it attitude.

Today has been a phone day with banks and insurance companies.  I have a lunch planned with a girlfriend and dinner with my ex neighbor.  We are going to play catch up since the last two months have been crazy for all of us.

The year is getting off to a running start.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

Happy New Year.....God how I despise  that saying. The holidays, for me, have always been about people trying to hard to have a good time. Christmas is for little kids, New Year's is for amateurs and the start of a new year just reminds me of how old I'm getting , Scrooge and "Bah Humbug."

So, with the above being said I did get the little bit of Christmas stuff put away yesterday,except for the wreath on the door,and that's being put away  tomorrow.

Christmas was odd this year..  Dez took me out the Thursday before for dinner and then left that night for Texas.  He came home earlier then expected the following week and I went to lunch with him on Thursday after Christmas.  Then for New Year's Eve he went to Arizona to be with his younger son.  He called me a little while ago and he sounded as bored, depressed and alone as I am. Although I think it is better to be alone then to be with someone you don't want to be with just to be out.

Christmas Eve I had a friend bring me a cinnamon roll in the morning as a treat.  Then my girlfriend came over and brought crackers and cheese and we had a drink together.  I was planning on staying in on Christmas Eve, since I couldn't drive.  I had a phone call from a couple and a ;man I know that wanted me to join them to listen to music and have a drink at a nice local restaurant.  I told them I couldn't due to the fact I couldn't drive, but that didn't fly.

 They said they would send a cab, which they did.  I got home way to late but then they also invited me to their house for lunch the next day.  I was picked up and taken to their house and then taken back home.  I flew around changing clothes, as much as I could fly, to get ready to be picked up by other friends to take me to Laguna Beach to a Christmas dinner that one of my best friends always has at Christmas.  She hosts almost forty people and this year it was a wonderful affair.  The only trouble was I didn't get home until almost eleven p.m. and boy did I pay for my being out so many times.

My knee was swollen and I spent the following day in bed the whole day.  I know this will pass, but since it is the third time for knee problems on the same knee and a second replacement it has not been fun.

I start physical therapy January 6th and hope this knee responds like I think it should  I can at least walk a little without the cane.  The can is Lucite, so I'm not stuck with one of those ugly brown things.Fashionista even crippled.

So all, I suppose I should say Happy New Year and I do wish all of you the best year yet.




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