BLOGGING...

I'm going to de-Blog for a while...back sometime the end of July....

I'VE BEEN ROBBED......

Not really, although it looks like it in the house at this point in time.  Friday Vet man came and took the five foot sofa for his use and also moved my seven foot sofa bed out the door.  Since I'm getting a sectional the tables, that I've had since the seventies, needed to go away too.

 I think it is time to cleanse all the memories that come associated with these items.  Plus the electric lift chair that Merle, my husband,  used prior to passing on, and a piece I detested, needed to leave too. This morning Saturday, Veterans First came and picked up all the pieces.  They can use them for their thirft store and for the men that transition out of Veterans housing after a year.

My new sofa, which I'm sure is gigantic, will take the place of the above and the Build a Sofa company will be bringing it in between twelve and two today.  I'm hoping this is cathartic and I can get things to look different around the house.  After fourteen years of living here it is really time for a change. Oof course as usual, one thing leads to another and there will be a lot more to do.

Thursday, Dez called and came over to take me to dinner.  We needed to talk after his debacle of standing me up, yet once again.  I know his life is busy and he puts to much on his plate, but enough is enough.  I wouldn't have been so upset, since this is norm for him, if he had at least said he was sorry.  Fat chance on that happening. It never occurs to him.

He ha s a job site going in Orange County so he arrived at the house around five on Thursday..  We had reservations at seven at a local Italian restaurant.  He had drink, changed clothes and we left.  We did have a pretty good talk regarding how things are between us.  His comment was I needed to know that he really liked me, he thought about me a lot and he knew that the problem was he wasn't around enough, due to his travels. I just think he is so used to being a "stray lone wolf" that it doesn't occur to him to use a little consideration.  He keeps saying that the reason my friends don't want me to be with him is that they are jealous that I'm having a good time.  His comment was they aren't going out to dinner and dancing, plays and having a close relationship, ergo, jealous!

Well, I do have a good time with him, but I also am not happy about how things are.  I finally came to the realization if I want to keep seeing him I have to take things as they are and not let it upset me.  You would think at my age I'd be a little smarter, but there is no accounting for chemistry and the feelings that brings.

We returned from the restaurant, which was very, very good and he changed clothes again and left to go back to his job site.  He has cut back on help and he said it was pretty bad for the boss to have to work a split shift.  He was planning on staying until midnight and then going home to sleep and get caught up.  He was suppose to come back on Friday but said he couldn't.....same old, same old.

So, I've decided not to be upset, take it where it goes and if I find someone else that "floats my boat" and I'll go into the sunset if that happens.  Dez is talking about where he might want to be when he retires. We have discussed him going to Paris, Dubai, Cabo San Lucas, Hawaii etc.  He is a traveler of the world and he can pretty much do what he wants when he wants.

So, I'm off to wait for the sofa guys and I need to vaccuum the carpet, again.

Tomorrow is breakfast with friends. 

ANOTHER DEZ BLIP........

It is Tuesday and the last time I blogged was Friday.  I was waiting for Dez to show up to take me to lunch.  The morning went by and then at two o'clock he called and said he had overslept.  Seems the job he has in Anaheim had a major problem and the electricity was damaged and most of the area was blown out.  He said he had to get a sub from Malibu and had spent most of two nights awake, hence the oversleeping. He was in his Hummer heading for San Diego.

He went on for forty five minutes about the job sight and problems while driving to his San Diego appointment with the doctor to see about his Aunt being able to travel to France to live with her son. Now I can understand problems and I can understand what went on, however, not once out of his mouth was and I'm sorry.  I was very pleasant on the phone but after I hung up I became more pissed at him.  He really lives in his own little self centered world and I have put up with more from hm then I've ever put up with from any man. Chemistry can only go so far.

I emailed him telling him enough was just about enough, and I wasn't happy about him standing me up.....I'm to old to put up with his crap.  He emailed me back saying the next time he would call me at 3:30 am and let me know.  Totally a smart ass.....two can play the game, so I emailed back and said," honey I would appreciate that."  I was going to email and say one word, "text." but decided I was tired of playing his games and didn't.

He left from San Diego to spend time with his younger son whose wife has just had a baby.  He is suppose to be here Thursday and Friday, but after our exchange I'm not sure he will come.  That is totally up to him and I'm not holding my breath. I'm tempted to not be home if he comes and see how he likes it.

In the meantime I sat home all weekend, which was fine, then last night, Monday I went to dinner with an ex neighbor of mine.  She and I meet about once a month or so, when she isn't traveling, and have a really nice time together.  I went through her divorce with her and her getting the man of her dreams thirty years ago.  We always have a lot to talk about.

Vet man sent me an email asking if Friday was okay to come pick up the five foot sofa I have I'm getting rid of.  It is part of a set of the sofa bed that I'm sending out the door.  The sofa bed isn't in great shape, since it is fourteen years old and has seen better days.  At least the fabric on it.  The bed itself has barely been used.  My new sofa should be here sometime in July so I need to make room.

My thirty five year old poet man who had one of his books published and available on Amazon, called "Pieces of Her Soul" keeps contacting me on Facebook wanting to connect.  He is house sitting in Palm springs right now.  I ordered his book and have read some of it.  He has a very bright mind and his command of the language and knowledge of women, for one so young, is amazing.  There are so many talented men.

Tonight I'm going to a meeting and my friends are picking me up for dinner first.

Hopefully things will iron themselves out, or maybe I just need to be using the iron to make it happen.

END OF THE WEEK......

Attended the meeting last night and there were only three of us plus the club manager. Seems everyone has somewhere else to be last night.  We did get a lot of things added and ironed out.  The man, who is a DA for the country led the meeting.  He was in a flap over the case load he had been handed that day.....sixty cases is way more then one man can handle.  The County doesn't have the money to hire more people so the work load is heavy.  My suggestion was, dismiss! dismiss! dismiss.!  He thought that was a fine idea.

Today Dez is suppose to come to take me out to lunch, whether he does or not remains to be seen since I haven't heard from him, although it is only 9:00 am in the morning.  He said he would be by early since he has to leave for a meeting with a doctor about his Aunt in San Diego.  I have never in my life met anyone that spreads himself so thin.  All things to everyone.

For some reason this week I've been in a funk.  I suppose one can't be happy all the time but this week has been exceptionally bad and I can't put my finger on why.  It isn't that I don't have plenty to do should I want to, but most of it leaves me very unsatisfied. I feel like I've been spinning my wheels and getting nowhere.  I know this too shall pass, but slogging through a bad week is hard.

Mikee, my Himalayan cat, went in this morning for a teeth cleaning plus a bath.  He was so funny this morning.  I couldn't feed him after ten at night and this morning he was sitting on top of his place mat just looking at me.  I suppose when I get him home I'll be punished in someway or the other for taking him into the Vets.  He makes himself as small as a nine pound cat can and tries to disappear in his carrier when I bring him in.....poor little guy.  So, Camille and I, she is my Siamese Himalayan cross are spending this morning together.  She is one wierd cat.  I've had her for seven years and she is still skittish and won't allow me to touch her.  If she wasn't so pretty she would be out of here.

Vet man emailed me to get my home address so he could send me a copy of a letter.  I don't know what that's about.  It isn't that he needs to know my address, he already knows where I live and has been here to pick me up to take me to meetings.  It will be interesting to see what the letter contains.

Off to get another cup of coffee and hopefully get in a better mood.

THINGS........

I've been home since Tuesday, today is Thursday and have been in the house being bored with housework etc. 

Dez called last night, two days late, but then that's him....Mr. Reliable, NOT!  He had a dinner meeting with the design people putting in the restaurant in Anaheim in Burbank.  He was suppose to come over Thursday and we were going to go out to a movie, but he now has a meeting most of the day with the architects and others that screwed that idea up. 

He needs to drive to San Diego on Friday and said he would come by early and we would go out to lunch.....we'll see how that works out or if.

Today I'm headed to Costco with a friend to purchase items for the Veteran's BBQ on Saturday.  I'm waiting for her to pick me up.  The sprinkler man showed up and he is working on my errant sprinklers.  I thought I'd better get someone to look at them since my water bill has been close to one hundred dollars each month.  It used to be thirty seven and took this huge leap several months ago.  Trying to find someone that can fix things is sometimes hard.

Just returned from my Costco run with my friend.  We got everything but sugar free cookies.  She said she would go to Staters to see if she could find them....so our mission was a success.

Now I need to regroup for the meeting tonight, which means changing clothes and perking myself up to be in a better mood to attend a meeting that I really feel doesn't need me there.  I think, since I'm the only women that is on the committee , at this time, they need me to point out the error of their ways when they get off track.

So, with that being said I'll close for now.

MEETINGS....

I attended my two hour morning meeting and then swung by Home Depot for a new fountain pump , 2nd Street Beauty for some OPI nail polish, the bank to cash a check, then the nail salon for a polish change. Dez had used my car to go to his meeting the day before and had filled the tank with gas so that errand was something I didn't have to do. I always have a few little "honey dos" for him when he comes and he is more then happy to do them for me. The fountain pump removal was one on Sunday and when he returns he said he would install the new pump.. 

Last nights meeting at the Orange Elks regarding assigning the various things that needed picked up for the Veterans BBQ went well. My friends picked me up and we went a little early.  They were suppose to serve tacos but it ended up being individual pizzas.

We sat at the bar and ordered our pizzas.  Vet man walked in, he was expected, and we finished our pizza and went into the meeting.  I think the event for the Vets that live in the transition house will be a success. Our committee is pretty well versed in what needs to be done and what items need to be purchased or supplied.  I think it will be a good event for these poor guys that don't get much from our government in the way of extras.

We finished the meeting and left the Lodge.  We looked at each other and decided that tiny pizza, which was minimal wasn't going to do it for dinner.  We walked over to Watson's Drugs and had something to eat before we drove home.  While I was sitting there I had a text from Vet man saying he was headed home.  I sent a text back saying feel better as he had his cold back again. I got another text back saying, "you look gorgeous as always."  ah, flattery will get you everywhere.. Ha!

There was a younger girl at the second dive bar we went to on Friday, that made it a point to come up to me at the bar, and say, "I just have to tell you your beautiful."  Now, I don't understand what would make a young gal, who was attractive in her own right, come up to a seventy two year old women and say that, but it was nice to hear...little does she know that I thank the "God's of Makeup"for helping me keep it together, at least somewhat.  Dez's take on the comment was that by her saying that she was saying that she would never hope to be and had low self esteem.  Interesting how that man's mind works.

Dez was going to call me yesterday to let me know when he found out about his meeting day.  Of course he didn't which leads me to believe that he doesn't know yet.  He really is my will-o-the-wisp, with him the only thing for sure is nothing is for sure....but then I wouldn't like him if he was vanilla.  Vanilla is so boring!

Today is a day that I will try and do somethings around this house. 

Off to accomplish them!

ANOTHER WEEK.......

Here we are with another week coming up and it is almost the middle of June, a half of a year has gone away already.....to fast. 

As promised Dez came on Thursday and stayed for the afternoon.  He is so busy I don't know how he finds the time to do what he does.  He had just flown in from the East coast on Wednesday and hit the project he is doing in Orange County, then he was going to come see me, which of course didn't work out.  So Friday he came in the early afternoon, after his meeting.

We had decided that we needed to change up our venue of places we had been going in the past. Both of us had heard of this dive bar that had two locations and supposedly had Karaoke and dancing near by.  We decided to give it a try.

I had called my friends that lived in Laguna Niguel as I knew that they had been to the place near them for dinner recently. We were supposed to stop to see them prior to going to the establishment but I canceled the visit as Dez was going to be late and they were leaving for Hawaii the next day.  Dez showed up early on Friday so I called back but they had rescheduled something so we didn't get a chance to see them.  Next time. 

Well, we went to the first place, OMG, what a dump.  There was a obese girl sitting out front getting a tattoo with a felt tip pen.....that should have told us something.  I was dressed as casual as I get and Dez had on jeans and a dress shirt.  We were totally alien for this crowd.  We walked in and walked right back out.  The people were just the dregs and I was trying to figure out where they lived.  It was the, "I'll have a drink at six a.m. group."

Dez drove us to the second place in Laguna Niguel.  We decided we would stop and at least see if it was semi acceptable.  Now, remember Dez had been at Mixology in L.A. the night before with his project people. No comparison.  We walked in and at least the place was clean and the people were a little better appearing, not much, but passable.

We decided to sit at the bar and have a drink.  The two of us were laughing about having a date night in the car driving around Orange County trying to find these places.  The owner came up and asked us how we found the place, and Dez told her my friends had been there. She seemed thrilled that we were there and of course wanted us to stay and please come back.  When I went to the ladies room she clomped unto Dez and had a long conversation about her family owning the place." Mr. Chick Magnet"

She had a fiance, who looked like, as Dez said, a "profit eater."  He was slugging down the wine and scarfing down a dinner.  She on the other hand was an attractive blond and what she saw in this slug of a guy was beyond us.

 Again, we really didn't fit in but gamely decided to try some food as we were both hungry.  Now this place is an Irish Pub and both of us ordered sea food at the bar. Dumb!  My plate was good and Dez had crab cakes and clam chowder which he said wasn't bad.   We were there late enough for the Karaoke to start and that was worse then dreadful.  Songs no one had ever heard of and sung like screeching owls. One song had a lot of woo-woos in it.  Good God!

We looked at each other, after we ate,  and got out of that place too.  We went to Brio which is one of our places we can dance.  As we were sitting there Dez was getting sick with stomach cramps.  Oh Lord, I was hoping it wasn't food poisoning. We left and it is about a half hour to get home.  Poor Dez was in misery but managed to get home just in the nick of time.

Dez had to be somewhere Saturday during the day which was eighty miles away.  He was coming back and we talked about going to see Snow White and the Huntsman.  He didn't get back in time, One hundred and sixty miles for the afternoon drive took more time, with traffic.  He was still sick but announced maybe we could go dancing.....I told him he was crazy and he needed to calm himself down.  So, we went to a local place for dinner instead.  Talk about my ADD boy.

That dinner, at Quinns was very good.  We actually enjoyed it and stayed for the small group playing music until eleven and then came home. Dez was feeling better, not perfect, but better. 

Sunday morning he made his normal trip to Starbuck's for coffee and the New York Times that he does when he is with me.  He had picked up bagels the day before as I had lox cream cheese, onions, tomatoes and fruit for breakfast planned.  He came back and stayed until almost noon before he headed home to play catch up for his week coming up.  He is suppose to come back either Tuesday or Thursday, depending on his schedule.

This was the first time he has spent this many days with me.  It was great to be together but I know it is a fluke. I can't plan on him and will see him when we can arrange it.  Our relationship, if you can call it that, is just for fun and even though we both really like each other it is going nowhere.  I know someday he will leave to live in Europe, the local desert, or points God knows where and for me to think I will be part of that is not going to happen.  As long as I realize that it will be fine.

So, today and tonight I have a meeting and I need to go get ready. 

More later.

IN OUR MINDS.....

We all think we are young in our minds.  I just got back from having lunch with Tarzana man.  He was interesting and had an interesting life.  It included building coach's for the entertainment industry.  He had hob nobbed with Michael Jackson and Paul Newman.  He looked older but at least could carry on a conversation even if it was about his dead wife and the fact that he wanted someone in his life and didn't want to be alone. Mind you he has been a widower for twelve years.  What does that tell you.

You would think that I would be at least a little interested.  But he looked a little unkempt....the shirt needed ironing and the pants could have used a cleaners.  His Mercedes was a little cluttered and smelled like smoke, although he doesn't smoke. He looked his age and then some but was tall and at least not fat.  I just can't make myself like someone that I'm not attracted to.  He of course wants to see me again.  I don't think so.  He is working on his boat and is getting ready to sell it.  Good luck on that one. So another one bites the dust. Thank God it was only lunch, which by the way was good. Salad Nicoise with seared Ahi. 

Then when I returned home, he came in to use the bathroom and then left for a meeting in Marina del Ray where he keeps his fifty foot boat.  The worst part of it was I had an email from Dez while we were at lunch asking if I wanted a surprise.  He was going to come over.  Of course by the time I got home it was an hour past the time he said he could be here.  I emailed him and he said he was on his way back up North.  So that opportunity was lost.  I will see him tomorrow and Friday and it was an apologetic "oh honey, I'm on the freeway going back."  Double damn.  I really miss that guy. what is it about chemistry?

Vet man sent me a text this morning asking for my pet sitter, then asking again,  "dinner Sunday night?" I'm really on the fence.  I have something to do every night until next Wednesday and some things during the day.  I've all of a sudden become very busy.

So, I'm off to get my hair trimmed and pout that I couldn't see Dez today. I suppose the anticipation makes it doubly better.

MAINTENANCE...

I certainly wish I was wash and wear.  I've never been able to just wash my hair and face and let it all go without  spending time improving the product.

Today I had a nail appointment for a mani/pedi and while I was there I had a cell phone call from the man in Tarzana.  He had mentioned going to lunch tomorrow and since we had several conversations regarding getting together, I thought I should probably just get it over with.  I have a hair appointment at 4:00 so I can send him on his way after we are done.

Tarzana man is age appropriate, seventy four, and has been a widower for twelve years.  I know he is in a different spot then I am as I've only been alone, if you can call it that, for less then two years.  Dez keeps telling me I should find someone as a supplement while he is out of town but Tarzana??  I swear these men are willing to drive hundreds of miles through traffic to have a date.

I had an email from Dez after I sent him some fashion show pictures I received from the boutique I modeled for and he said he like them, but then he added that he always likes how I look and everything I wear.  Wonder what bug bit him?  When he is working I very seldom hear from him but this time he said "I'll see you very soon."  So, it looks like he will be here on Thursday and Friday if the "creek" or is it "Cree" don't rise. I frankly can't wait to see him  Everyone else is just fill in.

Tonight I have a meeting at the Elks.  a couple I'm good friends with are the leaders of the California-Hawaii State organization so I feel I should support them. 

I'm continuing this on Wednesday.  I did go to the Elks last night and as usual didn't get home until eleven p.m.  It was an interesting night.  The place was packed as it was a state visitation and every Lodge was represented.  It is amazing how many people I know from all over the county. 

Vet man was there alone.  The women that he is suppose to be with and who is the ER of another Lodge was there also.  However, they weren't speaking.  She came over to the table I was sitting at and sat down and chatted.  She has no idea I know him and she did say she recently broke up with the man she was dating.  Little does she know I know the actual story. It all was very pleasant and chatty and since I don't care one way or the other it was very benign.  I think the only person that was having a fit was Vet man.  It was a larger group of people at the table and more people joined in, so it wasn't exactly one on one.

I did get a text later that night, after the meeting and he had gone home asking if I enjoyed bonding but also asking if I wanted to go out to dinner.  I swear it is nothing but food.  I couldn't go out with Vet man when he wanted me to so he changed the date he wanted to take me to this coming Sunday. 

I find it interesting that at this late stage of my life I can date at will.  It is very liberating and since I'm only out to have fun it isn't stressful like it was in my twenties. I know it sounds like it is none stop going out, but it really isn't.  I spend a lot of time home alone, which is just fine.  The going out comes in spurts.

Speaking of going out, today is the Tarzana man date so I had better go get fluffed up and also straighten the house up.

Life just keeps getting more interesting.


 

SUNDAY....

Friday I had a call from a man that I only saw once a little over a year ago.  He asked if I would like to go to the Angels baseball game that evening.  It was the same game Vet man was going to and I had visions of running into him, not that it would have mattered much.  I don't particularly like baseball so I declined the invitation.  He then asked if I would have lunch with him the following day. Since I really didn't have any plans on Saturday I said okay. Seems they all come out of the woodwork again.

He came to pick me up and we drove to Laguna Beach to the Beach House Restaurant for lunch.  The dining room sits above the sand of Main Beach Laguna and the view is spectacular.  This man is very personable but is going through the same thing most men seem to be going through.  His only child, a teenage boy, isn't speaking to hm.  He has a bitter ex-wife, he is out of a job due to the fact that he had cancer and the company he worked for let him go because he was out longer then six months.  He is trying to regroup.  Aren't we all?

Of course sitting there having lunch and wishing it were Dez instead, the table next to us had an order of Paella delivered.  Since Dez and I had thought that Orange Country didn't know what it was I found that everyplace I have gone in the last three weeks has it on the menu.  I have another place to add to the list I gave Dez.

We returned home after about two and a half hours and he came in for a little while.  I really had no interest in him and was deciding I wouldn't see him again.  After all he took over a year to take me out again.  Probably a money issue as I'm not a cheap date.  He stayed and talked for a while and then said he should leave.  He didn't want to, but I frankly couldn't wait to send him out the door.  He left and I breathed a sigh of relief that it was so easy and proceeded to get comfortable and relax for the rest of the day.

As soon as he left my long time grey haired man called with his problems.  He manages to call me once or twice a week and I consider him just a friend.  He too has a multitude of problems, most of them brought on by him, as most of our problems are,  He is the man that blew through six million dollars and now at age seventy two is trying to reinvent himself.  He is truly the bad luck kid with a little black cloud over his head.  He just wants to talk and that is fine.  Just call me Ann Landers.  He bounces his considerable ideas off of me.  Some I think are fine and the majority aren't.  He is a very young seventy two and says he feels thirty five.  I believe it.

So, this coming week is a little busy.  A meeting tomorrow in the morning, then a meeting Tuesday night.  Wednesday I have nails, haircut and shopping for food at Trader Joe's.

Dez is suppose to come Thursday and Friday....again we will see if that transpires. We are suppose to go dancing at The Phoenix Club and then Brio.

Today Sunday I'm going to the Build a Sofa store to look at the schematic that the designer has done for the sofa I want and choose the type of pillow backs I want.  It is always a big decision when you are investing thousands in a furniture piece.

Hope everyone has a good upcoming week.

SHOPPING....

Vet man and I went out furniture shopping this morning, for him.  We had talked about making a sojourn into the furniture world several weeks ago.  Since he isn't familiar with the multitude of places that are available in the area I had offered to be with him when he looked.  We had ended up on a little bit of a sour note the last time we saw each other, but that went away when he sent me an email asking if I had come to my senses.  Alrighty then!

So, this morning at ten he came to pick me up and we headed out to look for chairs.  He actually decided he thought a small cuddle chair or sofa was something he might want.  We found one that was attractive, at the first place we looked, and then a couple of other pieces that might work.

My focus was on sofas as the one I have is fourteen  years old, white and has seen better days.  I heard of a place called Build a Sofa which was near by.  We drove to it and I found exactly what I wanted, which was two chaise ends.  The sofa I have now you can't really enjoy the fireplace to full advantage ,due to the arms. 

I talked to the designer who said she would come to the house to measure and see what would fit as the one I liked in the store was to deep. This company will do pretty much what you want.  You can have different pillows, configurations, fill, stitching or not etc.  I think I will be pleased with it when I do order one.  I may have to wait since there are a few other things that need taken care of money wise....always about the money. As always, nothing cheap.

Vet man brought me home, dropped me off and left to work in his yard and then go to an Angel's baseball game tonight.  The designer came to my house, took measurements and said she would be in contact with me.  I have the rest of the day to relax or iron....relaxing seems like a better choice.

Happy weekend!