Toozday chit chat

Ooops, I meant to say that the new bureau and bed look really nice.  Gorgeous cherry wood -- it's light colored right now, but it'll change as it oxidizes (turns more of a reddish brown).  DH and I were saying we'll have to be neater about the bureau top so we don't wreck it.  No more tossing handfuls of change, his pocketknife, wrist watch, etc. on it every night.  And I can't be piling up hair pins, rubber bands, various sundry items I tend to clutter onto the bureau.  We'll aim for that minimalist look of nothing on it but maybe a lamp and a photo frame or two!

I've been having major computer issues all week long so DS #2 finally set it up for me to go through Google Chrome instead of Internet Explorer. It works ... but it's "different". Just different enough to drive me nuts. The little color box and emoticons don't pop up here now. Oh well. At least I found my way to the forum. Cathy, that huge bill could be part of what's owed by the previous owner. It doesn't seem like you've been in that house long enough to have a bill that high so you might be paying for what was owed before you moved in. Don't you have SMUD instead of PG&E? I just got the city bill yesterday (water. garbage. sewer) and almost choked. Our water bills are really going up fast because of this project partnering Davis and Woodland to bring water from the Sacramento River instead of our ground wells. I'm seriously considering contacting Home Depot and getting an estimate on installing artificial grass. Neither my front or back lawn is what anyone would call huge, so paying a small fortune to keep it green might not be in my best interest. I could just leave the drip system hooked up to the plant pots. On the upside ... I just the green light to drive again. Yea!! Joyce

Tracy, you should find a cute little dish to put on top of the dresser to toss jewlery, change, etc. on.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/152747174/star-shaped-dish-darkened-patinated?ref=sr_gallery_25&ga_search_query=change+dish&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all

http://www.etsy.com/listing/158255707/ceramic-cup-q-tip-cup-change-dish?ref=sr_gallery_18&ga_search_query=change+dish&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=all

http://www.etsy.com/listing/158637827/vintage-metal-leaf-dish-key-holder?ref=sr_gallery_30&ga_search_query=change+dish&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=all

 http://www.etsy.com/listing/158445859/small-hand-turned-bowldish-irish-yew?ref=sr_gallery_28&ga_search_query=change+dish&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=4&ga_search_type=all

 

 

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Don't you have SMUD instead of PG&E?

Nope - just PG&E now. We had Roseville electric at the other house and everyone tells me PG&E is more expensive. The charges start the very day we moved in and are for 32 days. :(

Tracy - yes, this is the friend with the unhappy home life. She is super excited about the trip and would be perfectly content to sit and chat for the entire vacation. I love to chat too and there's no one I enjoy chatting with more than her but my mind gets numb after awhile. She knows me well and knows that I can barely get through a one hour episode of a favorite show while she can watch a marathon of something. She can also shop till she drops and I'm kind of done in 20 or 30 min's. I told her to bring comfy walking shoes so we can take Shane over to the lake the days it's not too hot. She laughed and said "how far is it and what do you mean by comfy walking shoes?" LOL! The good news is that we both love to eat out and especially Mexican food :)

Deb -- National Root Beer Day ... to be honest I was in heaven with the mere mention of "root beer".

Unfortunately -- husband loathes the smell of root beer -- so I can't even drink it when I'm with him. But ohh my my .. that does sound good.

Yay, Joyce, for getting the OK to drive!  That makes everything much better, doesn't it?  I still remember the first few weeks we lived in OR and I didn't have a car (my friend was driving it out from CT a couple months later).  I couldn't drive DH's truck, so I was sans wheels.  It was awful, and it made me understand why seniors so often fight giving up driving.  Unless you live somewhere like Boston or NYC, you need a car to feel independent, I think.

Cathy, fingers crossed your friend is a bit flexible about taking some walks to the lake, to break up the hours of conversation and dining on Mexican food!  :-)

Janice, I love those dishes -- especially the blue/brown ceramic one.  That's actually very close to the colors in our bedroom.  You've given me some ideas -- there are several local artisans and potters who sell affordable pieces in shops around town and at the outdoor markets.  I'll have to keep my eyes open for something nice.  If I can't find anything local, I'll try the Etsy option!   

Finally have the bid all wrapped up and ready to turn it tomorrow.  I just got home a little while ago and I'm ready for bed. Tired but very happy this is done.  Hopefully we'll get this contract and have some job security for the next four years.

 

Finally getting a chance to check in.

We have West Nile Mosquitos in the park near me. I walked there last week. They're spraying tomorrow.

I have an extra puppy here for about two weeks. He's so calm at my house so far compared to his own house. At his house, he jumps around like a nut. He's a Yorkie I guess, and jumps waist high to me. No jumping at my house so far. Luke likes him, the others haven't met him. My mom is unthrilled, and my dad doesn't know he's here. He may never. This puppy is getting major boot camp while he's here. I got him here at 7:30. I conditioned the clicker, and we did a bit crate games. We've got more on the agenda tomorrow.

And, here's a geeky brag. My niece (2.5) went to the dentist for the first time I guess some time last week. The dentist was impressed with her flossing, and said it was better than her own kids. I didn't think it was that great, but I take full credit for getting the kid into flossing. We've been doing it since she had two teeth that were touching. I'm glad the dentist was impressed.

Jackie - good luck with the new bid and contract.

Jen - congrats on the new puppy and the good report from the dentist for your niece. I don't think I even knew what floss was until I was in my 20s, so she's way ahead of me.

Absolutely gorgeous evening. I so wish I could bottle the weather when it's this nice. I hope it's like this when my friend visits.