My Weblog

Another day gone

I have tomorrow off and then it's back to work. I feel as though I have worked and worked and accomplished not near enough, but.........it is what it is.

I had to start the morning by getting my kit of the week into the store's software. That took longer than I expected as I discovered that one of the alphas I had made for the kit had somehow gone missing. So, I had to recreate that and reupload the alpha file. But, everything is fixed up and in good shape now.

I have worked on the kitchen. It's better but it still needs more work.

I spent an amazing amount of time on the shades today. I got the fabric for the second shade for the French doors cut. And I ironed it and ironed it. I couldn't seem to get the wrinkles out. Finally, I used a spray bottle to dampen it and ironed it that way. I was much more successful when I went at it that way. Tomorrow, I want to cut the Warm Window fabric for that second shade and then I can sew them. I can't hem them because the Velcro still isn't here, but I guess once I get them stitched together, I can at least tape them in place like I've done with the shade on the west-facing door. 

I got the tomato-barley-veggie soup that I made with the liquid in which I cooked the pork all packaged up for the freezer. I froze 4 generous portions (so much in those bags and the soup is so loaded with veggies and barley that that may well end up being 8 portions). I also ate a bowlful for dinner tonight. So, I've had two pulled pork sandwiches and a bowl of soup and I still have packages and packages of pork and soup from that one $8 roast. I'd say that was a good investment, LOL.

I did some work on the desk, but I think maybe I made it worse...........trying to sort things that need to be filed. Now there are many little piles everywhere as opposed to one big pile. Not my intention, I assure you.

I crawled around on the floor again and cleaned carpet spots. It is so kind of Parker to make those for me. I'm sure he just doesn't want me to be bored, right?

Also, worked on laundry with more to do tomorrow. My clothes for work on Monday are already laid out, ready and waiting, for Monday morning.

We had a strange day today. Mostly it was overcast. Not dark, just lots of cloud cover. So, most of the day, the sun was behind clouds. But it managed to peek out for a few hours. I watered the veggie plants outside and I watered some shrubs I'm trying to sustain as well as the olive tree. This last week of wild and crazy heat has taken its toll on plant life around here! Thank God, it's supposed to cool off from here on through the next couple of weeks.

Last night, I prayed very sincerely and earnestly for God to show me if there is anything I can do to deal with these wretched muscle cramps. Yes, I can take muscle relaxers and pain pills, but I'd much rather prevent them than treat them, as you can imagine. Lo and behold, on Facebook today I found a reference to an article advocating drinking tonic water for muscle cramps. Seems tonic water contains some quinine and quinine does a job in fighting muscle cramps. I researched it further. Seems the government stepped in and got doctors to stop prescribing it because, if taken in large doses, it can have a bad effect on the liver. Well, there isn't really much quinine in tonic water, but there IS some. The recommendation I saw works out to about 83 units a day, far below what might have been prescribed. So, tomorrow I have to go pick up a prescription and I'm planning on trying to get some tonic water at the same time. It can't hurt to try..........

A small package arrived on my doorstep today. I was guilt ridden and not wanting to go outside and get it. I thought it might be the Velcro, somehow delayed in shipping, and here I had contacted the bank to get my money back. But, of course, it wasn't the Velcro, so I needn't have worried.

I decided I needed some bigger coffee cups. Using the Keurig, I make an 8oz cup of coffee. By the time I add some half 'n' half to it, the cup is very full. And, of course, the coffee is really hot. So, I can't just drink some to reduce the amount in the cup. The result is that I dribble it on the carpet as I bring my cup to the desk. So, bigger cups. What was in that package on the doorstep was a bigger cup for which I am most grateful.

Mr. Fixit and son were supposed to be here early this AM to start work on fixing the patio. Mr. Fixit came over last evening for just a few minutes and helped me unload all the wood from the van. He informed me then that they wouldn't be starting today. Apparently he is having some sort of problem with his son and can't start this til they get everything straightened out. Mr. Fixit has back problems and his son does the heavy lifting and more physical stuff. Well, I guess I just wait...........

That's it for now. I'm headed to bed. Have a blessed night.

 

It's not that I mean to be. Rather, that I think I am entitled to the deals other people get. Or, more correctly what seems to have been promised to me. I found out something I didn't know in the process. Tomorrow Mr. Fixit and son are supposed to begin work to make my patio safe again. It won't be what it ought to be, but it will be safe and that's all that really matters to me.

I had to pick up some wood, some nails and a few other little things. I ordered them online. I found a coupon online for 10% off any online order. I expected to also get my employee discount. There was a problem with that expectation when I got to the store to pick up the order. What I didn't know is that they treat an employee discount the same as if it were a coupon. And the company does not "stack" coupons. Okay, but................. my employee discount is not a coupon. It is something I "earn" by working there. I don't understand the logic here. Certainly, the company has the right to do this sort of thing any way it wants. However, if the mission of the online coupon is to encourage folks to purchase online, then that's what I did. And if they wish to give me a discount because I'm employed there, then, yes, I am employed there. But, to me, one of those things is a coupon and the other is an employee benefit. And I can't reason out why one negates the other.

I certainly don't mean to be a dissident or troublemaker. I only want to understand. At the moment, I don't. IF I can get the logic behind something, then my mind settles. I don't get the logic here. But, at least, now I know. So, from now on, I won't waste my time looking for coupons!

I have been in pain for part of the day. My feet are sore, probably as a result of the charley horses last night. And I woke up with back pain. I did take some ibuprofen and lie down earlier today and both my feet and my back are WAY improved. For this I am very grateful.

I treated myself to a sandwich made with my pulled pork for lunch. Oh, my, THAT was GOOD! It's certainly been a while since I've eaten anything that tasted that good to me. I just might have another sandwich this evening.

I decided to add some veggies and some barley to the liquid in which I cooked the pork. In essence, it will be like a soup with a tomato base. I think I'll throw in some Mexican type spices. I've been taste testing and it's pretty darned good!

So, it's now almost 1AM. I am hurting A LOT. My back is NOT being very friendly again. However, I haven't done too badly today. I've made that soup and it's dandy. I've spent considerable time working in the kitchen.

I've managed to get the decor fabric for the first shade for the French Doors ironed. That was not easy. My iron is not steaming properly. Tomorrow I'll try adding some vinegar to it in hopes that will help it along. I worked and worked at getting the wrinkles out. I'm not thrilled with the results, but it's really not too bad. Maybe some of the rest of the wrinkles will hang out. Or, maybe as I sew and press and sew and press, some of them will give in. I hope the vinegar thing works. I priced GOOD steam irons and..........Phew!

I've done a load of laundry and it's hanging on the inside drying rack. I worked my way through some more junk on the desk. 

I made that trip to the store to secure the stuff for the patio repair (only to be informed we no longer need the nails I just bought. Now we need screws!) All the wood has been unloaded and stacked in the garage. 

I spent considerable time on the phone with my mother, as I do every week.

All in all, it wasn't a grand day, but it was okay. If I hurt less tomorrow, maybe it will be a better day. Let's all cross our fingers.......... See you in the AM.

 

The end of a not so great day..........

So, I worked 5PM til close at 10PM. And I was in pain most of that time. 

I left here around 4:30 and it was beastly hot. The thermometer on my van registered 117. It did eventually jiggle down to 112, but not before I'd driven quite a ways. The interior of the van was so hot that I could barely stand to touch the steering wheel for a little while there.

As to work, I did fine tonight. I did have to call the head cashier a number of times but, all but once, to get approval for military discounts. The once that was not a military discount, I had a young woman come in and hand me 200 $1 bills plus some other odd bills to purchase 3 fans. The girl barely spoke English. She was buying the fans to send to Mexico. I tried to imagine what she could be doing to have so many $1 bills. I think a co-worker of mine probably guessed right. She guessed that the girl was a stripper, or an exotic dancer as they're called in polite conversation. She was pretty enough. Of course, it takes more than "pretty" to be a stripper in Vegas, but I certainly wasn't checking that stuff out. But I can't think of anything else she could be doing that would result in $1 for cash tips without being able to speak English........... Anyway, I double counted all the $1 bills and then tried to fit them in my drawer. There was just no way so I had to call the head cashier and ask him to come and get them. I certainly couldn't have them just laying around............

I went on break around 7PM and, before I ever made it to the van, I got hit with a charley horse in the sole of my left foot. Wow, that hurt, and I couldn't seem to walk it off. I moved my van closer to the front door and limped back in. I went to the head cashier and told him I had parked close in and why. We're supposed to park way out on the lot, or at least so I've been told. He told me not to worry about it. According to him, it's perfectly acceptable to move the van closer in after my break. He says it's kind of an unspoken rule (Oh, Lord, another one of those!). I failed to ask him if that only applies when I'm working at night or if that applies any time of day--my schedule is all over the place.

Eventually, I took my shoes off and that seemed to cause the charley horse to abate. It was pretty boring the last couple of hours. Not many customers in the store on a Thursday evening......

I am cursed with a very literal mind. I hear and do exactly what I'm told. He, the head cashier, called me at 9:45 and told me to shut my light off and close up at 9:55, to gather my stuff, and go to the front door and wait to go out with all the others. I did EXACTLY that. And, doggone it, that was wrong. I didn't clock out. I didn't realize it til I was in my car and a good half mile away. By that time I had no hope of getting into the store to correct the error. 

I think this waiting at the door thing is their answer to "security". By having a group of us all exit together, I think the theory is that we will be safer. There is little about Target that is better than working at this place. However, this is one thing that IS better. Target has multiple people employed in security. So, if the store's open, someone is watching the security cameras and there are security cameras in the parking lot. I felt a little safer, though the neighborhood this store is in may be marginally safer. 

I found out this evening why they need to replace cashiers. Apparently they rank jobs by some process, more or less similar to government service. I am now, I was told, a CSA1. The highest a cashier can go is a CSA2. However, there are other positions within the store that pay more and are CSA3's and 4's. So vacancies are created as people jockey for higher paid positions. However, one can also advance from a CSA1 to a CSA2 by longevity. One of our guys was telling me he is interviewing at another store for a CSA4 position on Monday. He is currently a CSA2. I wouldn't want the job he is applying for because of the area in which the store is located. But, for him, it may work out just fine. So, down the road, there is hope for a promotion to a CSA2 and higher pay.

You see all kinds of people when you work with the public. First, I am shocked at the number of grossly overweight people that work at the store. I can think of 3 ladies, off the top of my head, who can barely walk and it appears to be because they are so heavy. And then there are the customers. Tonight a woman came in with what appeared to be her teenaged son. I noticed her at first because she was wearing a dress that was short to begin with. She had tucked her purse under her arm and somehow bunched the dress up there. This managed to hike the hemline within 2 inches of a normal panty leg. However, it was easy to tell, a few minutes later, that she wasn't wearing "normal" panties. Here she was in a semi-sheer offwhite dress and she was wearing black thong panties under it which were infinitely visible as she walked away! Amazing that someone would go out in public like that, particularly with a teenaged boy in tow! Well, I'm getting an education!

I didn't tell you earlier that the remainder of the Warm Window fabric was delivered today. So, I may not be able to hang my shades, but, at least, I can continue on with making them! I was thrilled to see that stuff. 

The bank has indeed credited back to me the amount paid to the shysters in Florida for Velcro. However, they are now "investigating" So, I'm kind of afraid to spend behind it to buy more Velcro from Amazon. Obviously, I need the Velcro, but I'm not in a position right now to pay for the same stuff twice. But, nevertheless, tomorrow I will double-check my calculations of how much I need and then decide, based on the prices on Amazon..........

Well, that's it for tonight. I am bushed. I put in a decent day's work around here and then went to work and stood on my feet for 5 hours. It must be time to get horizontal. See ya on the flip side.

Filing a claim..........

I have my panties in a knot, and rightfully so, I think, about this darned Velcro. I used my debit card for the transaction and they took my money from my account on 7/12. Common mail order business practice would indicate this is when it should have been shipped. I contacted them via e-mail on 7/20/16 and never even got a response from them. Yesterday I received a hard copy invoice from them via snail mail showing the order was "complete" and my card had been charged. The invoice is dated 7/11/16. Today I contacted UPS. I have no tracking number for the shipment, if, indeed, a shipment was made, but according to UPS a package shipped from there to here via ground should have arrived on 7/20. It's the 28th! Since I could get no response from them, and since UPS did not have a tracking number with which to work, I contacted my bank.

I can't believe it, but I'm going to get my money back. It might not seem like a lot of money to some folks, but to me, yes, it's way more money than I can afford to lose. The bank says I will have the money back in my account within 12 hours. I'm already lining up alternatives on Amazon.com. I think I have learned a lesson here: it does not pay to order stuff from people you don't know. 

So, thank God for Amazon. I will be making sure my measurements are accurate so I know exactly how many rolls of Velcro to order from Amazon's suppliers. And, honestly, I think I might break even doing it this way. For sure, I know I'll be getting the order in a timely manner! What a terrible way for these folks to conduct business.

And they have the nerve to advertise on consumer sites. Just as though they actually intend to fill orders for us common folks. Liars. I am so grateful that I am several thousand miles away from them. If I were nearby, I might march over there and "give them a piece of my mind" and I certainly can't spare a piece of my mind! 

Well, I can't hang around. I have to leave for work in 27 minutes and still need to do something with my face and my hair. YOU be BLESSED today!

Unusual..........

I am expecting an unusual day, LOL

First, my main task in the kitchen today will be getting rid of the fat and bones from my pork roast and shredding it with a couple of forks. That thing was so tender when I took it out of the crockpot that it just fell apart. I tasted it and it was YUMMY. I can't help but wonder how much of it will actually make it into the freezer, LOL. You just know, if I have to pick through it, I'm gonna taste it and taste it and taste it. I hope I see a sale like this again at Smart & Final. I won't hesitate for a second to grab another of these shoulder roasts! Maybe even two! I am envisioning pulled pork sandwiches.........

I have finally gotten the fabric for that shade marked in a way I approve. Because the fabric is wrinkled, it was really hard to mark it "straight". Thankfully ALL my pen marks will either be inside the seam line or cut off. Once I get it cut, I will press it so that the wrinkles in the "pattern" piece don't cause me trouble with the next piece. I only wish I knew how to get the wrinkles out of the next piece........... It's far too wide to hang over my ironing board..........

I think for today I will probably not be working in the Master Bedroom and Master Bathroom. I need to spend a good bit of time on the desk. This desk is like a brushfire. It just keeps going and going and going from halfway decent all the way to total chaos. It's time to pour lots of water on this fire!

All in all, I got about 9 hours of sleep, even if I did have to sleep in shifts to do it. But I feel much more "with it" today than I did yesterday. SO GRATEFUL for that. 

I work a crazy schedule today. I DID tell them I would work any shift, any day, and they are taking advantage of that today, LOL. I thought long and hard before I made that statement and I meant it. I thank God for this job, even if it does hand me crazy hours!

So, I'm not going to hang around today. I have a lot to accomplish on the computer and in the house. Besides, that pork roast is calling my name, LOL. YOU be BLESSED today. 

It has been quite the day.........

So here it is, almost 2AM. What the heck am I doing writing to you at this time of day?

I have had an off day, for sure. I prayed over today last night. I prayed over today this morning. I prayed over today off and on during the day. But, I had a very difficult time getting my engine started. I tried, but I just had NO oomph. Finally, around 8:30PM I went to bed! Four hours later I got back up. And NOW I have oomph! What the heck is that all about?

I woke up with stomach problems so I guess it's a good thing I decided to stay up. 

I contacted the seller about the arrival of two shirts. I offered to send one back. It was, after all, the honest thing to do. They told me just to keep it. So, now I have two pink shirts. 

My pork roast is quite tasty. I still need to fish it out of the crockpot and shred it for future use. 

I have bills, bills, and bills to pay. UGH! 

I was disappointed to get my power bill. After all, it covers a month of having the a/c thermostat raised multiple degrees for at least 4 days a week. It also covers 3 days of no a/c. When I leave the house, I raise the thermostat, turn off the computer monitor, turn off the oxygen concentrator, turn off the fan, etc. And, I've reduced the number of KiloWatt Hours used this month by 160 over what was used in July of last year. And, when you call these people, their answering system tells you they've had 4 rate cuts in the past blah-blah months. Yeah, well, how come my power bill is $40 higher than last month? 

I keep checking the weather forecast (like it's going to change dramatically from one hour to the next????). Today, Thursday is forecast at 115 degrees. Tomorrow, Friday we go down to 107, and from there through August 6th, the highs are supposed to be in the low 100's. 

At least, with the use of the indoor clothes drying rack, my gas bill is only $15! I'm sure the fact that I really don't care if I cook or not and barely care if I eat or not saves on the gas bill too. Less gas used to cook, fewer dishes to wash..........

It's all about timing these days. When are the bills due vs when do I get a paycheck. So far, so good. Some of my creditors are receiving their payments later than usual, but there's not a whole lot I can do about that. 

I have analyzed that list of expenditures and there are areas where I can do better. For example, I bought 3 meals in restaurants. Now, really, that turned into 7 meals as 2 of those meals made 3 meals each for me. However, I can still get by on less if I set my mind to it. I did pay for 2 shirts (I ended up getting 3 for the price of 2 (see above)). I won't need to buy any more shirts for a long while. What really set me back included 1) the purchase of the water cooler and the initial purchase of water bottles; 2) the Amazon Prime membership fee; 3)the broken air conditioner, and 4) a few piddly little things I bought--snacks or drinks at work, blender parts, Velcro for the blinds, that sort of thing. Well, actually, I don't think you could call the purchase of the Velcro as a piddly little thing! And, in the long run, the water cooler and the Velcro should give me a return on my investment.

So, I will try to tighten my belt some more (hardly see how that's possible, but I'm sure it is if I work at it). For example, I am sitting in the office right now which cools down nicely with the swamp cooler once the sun goes down. So, I've knocked the thermostat up a few degrees til I decide to go back to bed. This swamp cooler is supposed to be "portable" and it does have some tiny wheels on it, but it's a gargantuan effort for me to move it when it has water in it! Otherwise, I'd move it in the bedroom at bedtime and leave the thermostat even higher!

Now it's 4AM. I have busied myself around the house and with reading bazillion blog posts so I could reduce the size of my blog reader backlog. Some bills have been paid, but not that power bill--yet. I don't have that much courage--yet. And, now, I'm going to try going back to bed. I have a dandy headache right now so it seems like a good time. See ya in the AM. 

This crazy life.........

Supposedly, a shirt I ordered on Amazon was delivered on July 16. It never arrived. I wrote an e-mail to the supplier who said they would send me another. Today I received two of the same shirt!

When I saw two packages in my mailbox, I was elated. I was just sure my Velcro had arrived. No, of course not. Instead, they sent me a paid invoice dated July 11th! Lotta good that will do me!

 

The Gift of Today........

I have been given another day to accomplish something on this earth. Yay! My big decision for today is how I will spend the time..........

I am planning to concentrate on the same 4 areas I was working on Monday. Namely, the kitchen, the shade I'm "manufacturing", the Master Bathroom, and the Master Bedroom.

In the kitchen, the Master Bedroom, and the Master Bathroom, it's starting out to be all about clearing surfaces. If I clear the surfaces, I can clean more efficiently and that surely sounds good to me. I also plan to cook some stuff ahead for the next couple of days since I'm home. And I want to finish up giving the Master Bathroom a thorough cleaning.

As to the shade, it's time to mark and cut the first piece of deco fabric. Next will be to do the same for the second shade. As I noted last night, if I use the first piece of deco fabric as a "pattern", the marking and cutting will go much faster and the patterns will be matched better. As to the Warm Window fabric, the next shade I have fabric to work on is the single west-facing window. I notice a difference, here in my corner, when shade from the neighbor's tree hits that window, but that's not til about 5PM. Imagine the difference I can make if I "shade" that window all afternoon! I did receive an e-mail yesterday confirming that JoAnne's has shipped the remaining Warm Window fabric I need to complete all the windows. Now, if only the Velcro would arrive. It's more than 2 weeks now since they took my money from my bank account. 

Today is also a "fetch and carry" day. I've already "fetched" the bottle of water in from my car. In general, my back feels better today than it did yesterday, but I don't want to carry any more 3-gallon water bottles today! However, there is still a gallon bottle of vinegar in the car that needs to come in.

Trash day isn't until Friday, but I work tomorrow, so I'm going to try to get the trash cans emptied today as well. That way, when I get home from work tomorrow, I can just wheel the big bin to the curb and not worry about trash anymore for a while, LOL. I also have several containers of compostable stuff I need to take outside and get working in the compost bin.

I've already done a round of unzipping, sorting, and organizing downloaded CU design files. Next up is to do some more backups. I am very close to doing everything that should be done in the way of backups for the month. I want to get it ALL done! 

My SSI check hit the bank last night and I've already paid 4 bills. I am sure there are more to pay. I like to set them up for payment early but not release the funds til absolutely necessary.

I could stand a "real" grocery shopping trip, but it's not "urgent" so I'm waiting on that. I do need to buy, of all things, some beer. I don't drink the stuff; I've probably had a total of 2 bottles of beer in my life. But, the recipe I want to use for this pork roast calls for it. I guess that means a trip to 7-11. I wish I had remembered this last night when I was there. I try to watch my gasoline consumption carefully, and this trip is a waste, but I think I need to do it. Maybe I'll search for a crockpot pork roast recipe that appeals to me as much as the one that requires beer. Maybe I'll find one I like as well that only requires ingredients I already own. 

My shirts arrived yesterday from JC Penney. I am really pleased with them. I can hardly believe I scored those shirts for such a small price. What a blessing! I have a couple of really old tee shirts I've been wearing for work. I may continue wearing them, but at least I won't have to wear them as often! 

Sometime today I will work in some design time. I have a kit that is just about finished. I should at least spend enough time to get the design work done on it. It won't take much. 

To add to my great joy, my wrists are bugging me lately. So, when I'm done here, I'm headed into the bathroom to find my wrist braces. Usually wearing those during my off hours does the trick. I can't honestly imagine why they're acting up now, but they are. Maybe it's another by-product of using my hands and arms to much at work--to pick up stuff, scan it, and bag it. In any case, the braces will be helpful.

Oh, I learned another new rule at work yesterday. I was told to turn off my light and shut down my register and go home. Later I was told that if someone is in line, I need to serve them. Well, I only did what I was told! And, actually, the person in question lined up AFTER I shut off my light. But, no problem. If I serve one more customer, I get a couple of extra minutes on the clock. That works for me.

Well, that's all I have for now. YOU be BLESSED today! 

Rough day.......

I have had about half a headache all day. I'm sick of it. In addition, I think my back is trying really hard to spasm. This frustrates me because I really don't want to lose tomorrow! 

I worked today. And I hurt at least part of the day. When I got home, I laid down for a while, but nothing, so far, has relieved the back pain. I don't know it you'll believe this or not, but I can actually feel the muscle that is in spasm. As in, I was rubbing the lower part of my back where it hurts and my fingers happened on a muscle that is hard as a rock. And, I promise you, it is not hard as a rock because I'm so strong or because that muscle is so well developed, LOL. 

Because I don't want to move, I haven't accomplished too much tonight. I did do some straightening in the kitchen. And, I started working on the decor fabric for the French Door shade. I decided that when I get one piece cut, I am going to lay it down on the remaining fabric and use it like a pattern. It will go MUCH faster that way, and I can also match up the print in the fabric. Since the two French Door shades will hang just a few inches apart, I think matching the pattern is important. I was going to try to eyeball it, but I'm glad I thought of doing it this way. It will certainly have a better chance of success!

Because the measuring needs to be precise, I cut the edge off the decor fabric tonight. And I started marking the fabric where it should be cut. I'll get that done tomorrow. The shade on the 9-pane window fell off again. I sure wish I had that Velcro. Taping that thing in place is not working very well. I keep putting it up and taping it in place again, but the tape doesn't hold on the fabric. I think I am going to try pinning through the fabric and the tape and I'll see if that works.

I just made a 7-11 run and actually had enough sense to buy some stamps. I've been trying to remember to do that for a while now. I long ago completed my mother's tax return. AND, I've told her over and over that it's not due til October 15th because I extended it, but she's a professional worrier. So, she keeps asking if I've mailed it. Now that I've remembered to buy stamps, I can get the thing in the mail and then she will just worry about whether the post office will lose it instead of whether I've mailed it, LOL. 

I bought another 3 gallon bottle of water today. Well, that's not exactly true. I "exchanged" a bottle, meaning I took the empty in and got a replacement. I have not moved it out of the car. Given the pain in my head and the pain in my back, I think that is probably not the best thing I could choose to do. It's not like the water is going to spoil in the car. I'm not sure, but I think the cashier charged me for a 5 gallon bottle instead of a 3 gallon bottle. I'll check into that when I go back to work on Thursday.

It was a scorcher here again today. The weather channel says we made it to 110. We have 3 more days of temperatures forecasted above 110, and then 10 days of temps in the low hundreds. I can't wait for those "cooler" days! I think I have one of those "screen" type things that attach to a car's windows with little suction cups. I'm going to mount a search for that in the garage tomorrow. When the sun is hitting the rear of the van, or even the passenger side, it's not so bad. BUT, when it's coming in through the driver's side window, it's really hot. Maybe I can screen some of that out. I'm gonna try.

Well, that's it for now. I'm going to stop this and nurse this headache of mine. See ya tomorrow.

 

Quick Update...........

So, I had a rather ambitious plan for today. How did I do? Well, better than some days but I'm certainly no all-star, LOL.

The bedding in the Master Bedroom has been changed and the stuff I took off, together with some other items is all clean and dry. The horizontal surfaces are significantly improved but there's more to do.

I got the counter cleared off in the Master Bathroom. I also got the counter cleaned as well as the mirror. It looks a lot better in there, but there's more to do, LOL.

I got the fridge cleaned out. Hooray! And I did a little bit of work on the horizontal surfaces, but there's more to do..........(Is this beginning to sound repetitious?)

I discovered I'd cut the fabric incorrectly for the French Door window shade. That is all fixed now. I also went after the decor fabric and got the bottom all evened up. Everything has to be very square to make this thing work! Tomorrow I'll try to get the decor fabric cut and ironed.

I went to Smart and Final and managed to come out of there having spent less than $25.00. (Phew! Cash is tight for the next day or so.) They did not have ANY 50 pound bags of dog food. So I got a smaller one. At least I only had to make one trip to bring the dog food into the house rather than my usual bucket brigade. They had pork shoulder roasts on sale for $.99 a pound and I grabbed an 8 pound roast. That will be cooked in the crockpot Wednesday, I hope. 

I love green grapes, Thompson seedless. They've been mighty pricey around here. S&F had 2 pounds for $2.99. I actually found a container marked "manager's special" priced at $1.99. I don't usually buy fruit if it's more than $1 a pound. However, $1.50 is the best price I've seen in a long time on Thompson seedless grapes and I did even better because of the "manager's special". I own some green grapes now, LOL. (But a lot fewer than I initially brought home!)

I also bought a quart of half 'n' half and a gallon of vinegar. Then I ran for my life before I succumbed to any more "bargains", LOL.

I filled the van with gasoline. It was almost down to half a tank but it's full now. I did not like doing this when it was 112 degrees outside! Holy Toledo, it was SO hot! My van was pumping air conditioned air at me as hard as it could. However, it was just no match for the hot, hot, hot desert sun. I arrived home with sweat dripping off my hair in the back and running down my face and into my eyes. At one point, I spent a good 10-15 minutes under an overhang on the drive-thru at CVS Pharmacy. Even that wasn't good enough for the a/c to catch up!

I went through all my expenditures for June and July, looking for holes I should plug. I have quite a few items to sort into categories and decide whether spending the money was justified. I'll try to do some more on that project tomorrow. 

I got next week's kit uploaded and mailed out to my creative team. I watered the garden and moved the one tomato plant that has a tomato on it back closer to the house to shelter it from the sun a bit more. The 4th zucchini plant has now bitten the dust. So, no zucchini for a while. I think I will try again for the second season. 

I ran the swamp cooler most of the day. Finally, around 6:30 or so, I turned it off. I was actually feeling a little chilly, LOL. 

So, I'm rating this as a successful day. I didn't get a lot of projects finished. But, I made good progress on everything so I will try again tomorrow. I work a decent shift tomorrow so I should be able to accomplish some stuff after I get home from work. 

I hope you had a good day. I did!