A New Bike for Robin?

I am checking this Craig's List Bike out tomorrow -I think it is just what I was looking for -but i have to see it in person.

Hey I buy my cars by myself and I am going to take it on the road by myself -I should be able to handle this, right?

RIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah........................Any suggestions bike riders?

I haven't owned a bike or ridden one in 45 years!! Except at the gym and I don't think that counts? YIKES!

LOL, I know think helmet.

Katie's Most Excellent Blog

My sisters' step-daughter, Katie, -writes a blog from Argentina -where she is currently living -it is very cool and she is also taking pictures -you would all enjoy it -so I thought I would share -http://seashellsandsunflowers.blogspot.com/

Oh the latest entry gives a recipe for Cheese Bread -(Gluten Free)- so if anyone makes it in the US near me -ah -Please save me one? I would love to try it .

I sort of gave all my baking stuff to the local thrift shop, in an attempt to force me to stop eating. Ha Ha

http://seashellsandsunflowers.blogspot.com/

US AIRLINES Flight to Ft Myers

I am in Florida , again, visiting my snowbird parents,again, I don't know why, My sister decided to go to Florida to see our parents on her Spring Break from teaching. Her husband -could not go with her (he is going in two weeks) So I said -how much are the tickets? -I 'll go. I was thinking she and I could do all the neat things I missed doing on my last visit.

Her husband booked us on an inexpensive US Airways flight to Charleston SC then we would change planes to FT Myers. I don't like to change planes and the last time I didn't take a direct flight; I missed my connection. But he assured us that we had and hour and 50 minutes between flights. No problem.

I got up at 5am and they picked me up at 6:15. To the airport we did roll. Deb asked what gate ? and he hadn't checked. Deb said he always checked so she didn't. THIS was a harbinger of things to come.

We got off at Concourse C . But the plane was flying out of Concourse A -the International Wing and about a mile and a half from where we were. So we picked up a free trolley cart and put on my very heavy carry on (with computer) and wheels that decided not to work that day , and her very light pull little suitcase. Walked to the other end of the terminal (B) up the elevators to Security.

My sister informs me because she is an elite passenger. we can go in the first class security line. This line is out to the parking lot. It is ALL first class elite passengers. The regular security line has no one waiting!!!! But she wants to stay. We have to ditch the trolley cart. Which is ok for her little roller bag -but my heavy ass no wheel bag is giving me fits.

We make it through security. I have to take my computer out of the suitcase where it is balanced, and put it through in its own bin. Then carry it to a chair and repack it into its little padded case and into the carry on bag. Then the mile hike to Concourse A and of course our Gate is at the end. WE have to stop a half a dozen times when my bag flops to the ground and refuses to roll in a straight line. I have already apologized a number of times to people who have jumped out of my way only to be side swiped by my 'the monster bag'.

We get to the gate and Deb assures me SHE can get upgraded because she is a Silver Elite and will take me with her. Nope the first class waiting are PLATINUM which out ranks her. Oh well , no problem we are together.

Our seats are in the back row 27 -but plenty of space for bags -even my bag has room -I need help pushing it over my head from a tiny oriental woman seated behind us.The flight attendants are all big woman -one bigger than I am -who just looked while I struggled with this bag. But all is well. This is a big plane, two seats on the sides and four in the center.

We get settled. Leave the terminal and start to queue to take off . We waited 10/9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2/ YEA we were next to take off.

Then the pilot says -static: -"we have bad news and good news. The bad news is one of the engines will not start . It is a small valve and we have called the mechanics to see if it is serious . The good news is that Charlotte is having some weather problems and the landings are backed up -so we should be in good shape when we do take off. We are going back to the terminal and anyone who wants to get off can leave." Half the plane gets off. The Oriental woman asks me what the pilot says. I tell her.

Two hours later the mechanics have decided to replace the little valve that is stopping the engine from working. My brother in law says this is the most reliable plane and engine in the fleet and it must be my fault -because stuff always happens to me. Of course.

I call the parents and tell them NOT to go to the airport to meet us -we don't know when we will be to Ft Myers/ RSW (they were on their way) Jeeze
The flight attendants passed out water and juice and sodas and coffee. NO food. I had an energy bar that I shared with my sister. Both of us diabetics, and........

Of Course; We missed our connection flight to Ft Myers.

We landed in Charlotte, SC and had to stand in a line at least 50 people long. Where the Airline customer representatives offered us a standby flight in an hour and a half. No wait two seats -not together -just came available. Did we want them. OK. The plane is at the concourse on the other side of the airport. Of course. Another drag for my bag. We hit the bathrooms and get lunch ( no food voucher for our inconvenience). We buy water.

Of course the Second plane is late. I am in the last seat next to the bathroom -where the seat does not go back. Deb is at the front -behind first class. I am seated with a commercial pilot at the window and a nice man who brings his own salad and onions. Yes, peppers and ONIONS. He is eating his salad and taking his half plus some of my seat. I am behind the nice lady with a young girl and a crying teething baby. Of course. The guy across the isle is about my age and nice looking and doesnt have a ring on. I am to tired to do anything but smile.

Every one is friendly and I close my eyes for taxi. When I hear an "OH NO". And the commercial pilot in seat A; says the ground crew directing us just allowed our planes wing to side under (HIT?) the wing of the plane parked next to us. He calls the flight attendant and asks her to tell the pilot. She says she will and proceeds to ignore him.

He calls the second flight attendant -who is older and he calls the pilot. The plane goes back to the terminal. The mechanics are called out -who check UNDER the wing. It hit? on the top. The commercial pilot in seat A; can see out his window that the mechanics are NOT checking the top of the wing -where he thinks they grazed each other. HE calls the flight attendant again and the attendant, gives him attitude and tells him he will NOT call the pilot again -"The pilot said it was fine". The guy at the window says; "but the mechanic didn't check the top of the wing". The flight attendant walks away.

The guy in seat A, at the window asks us all to get up and he walks to the front to talk to the pilot and the mechanic. The attendant then says to me that "passenger in A seat will most likely be thrown off".

I didn't say anything -but this passenger is a pilot and he is exercising due diligence in reporting his concerns. How could this be wrong? I have been on this trip almost six hours by now, and all I can say is thank goodness someone cares because the staff of this airplane sure doesn't.

Turns out he commercial pilot spoke to our planes pilot and the mechanic up front. The mechanic said : "Oh yea I didn't check the top of the wing", and went back out to check the top of the wing.

All was well -but better safe than sorry. Thank you passenger in seat A.

We landed in Ft Myers -a total of Nine (9) hours into our travel day. The sun was still shinning. It was 80 and breezy. Called the Parents and waited for them at the little park at the end of the baggage area. They took us out to dinner -we were very hungry.

It was a good adventure that ended well.

Oh my sister just checked our non stop flight back on Thurs. She has been upgraded to First Class -window.

I have not.

Snow Day

My brother in law pointed out on facebook 'When you are retired -everyday is a snow day" true -it is fun but also not true.

I didn't sleep last night -watched the snow and the wind and just couldn't get to sleep -so when it was 7am -i gave up trying to sleep/ got up and opened all the blinds in my house -so that ALL the white light came in. I forced myself to wait until 1pm (taped Days.......)and went out. Oh my......It was over my snow boots, that by the way had dry rotted and need to hit the trash -yes trash!. I uncovered the car and left it running with the defroster on and went back in the house to get my package for the Post Office.

Can you believe we SPRING FORWARD for time next week?

The tiny So Seaville PO is very friendly -but the regular Postmaster -Barb -was not there -so i didn't linger and talk. I did offer my thanks on the clean Parking Lot -to which the postal person covering said he cleaned more snow off where the lot cleaner guy missed. WoW -above and beyond for a government worker. But that is the kind of place it is. smile I also mailed the check to my sister in law for my part of the family cell phone plan and to my brother in law who paid for the tickets to FL. check out his blog, Midnight's stories@ http://www.cappilot.blogspot.com


Then I went driving around the back roads I use to the gym. I open at 5am tomorrow and well it will be more like 4am. I HAVE to sleep tonight! I think I may have to travel RT 9 because the roads may be slippery. Figures.

MY last three days as an employee. At least it wasn't today in all this snow. Today the owner was there. The parking lot is a mess and the driveway is a disaster. I told her about the So Seaville PO lot -but......? The entire gym parking lot isn't even done -so he(?) -the lot cleaner - cut out about 20 spaces in the back -just did not clear them and piled all the snow in the driveway. Unbelievable -there are retaining ponds on two sides for the runoff. Could it be he never saw the parking lot w/o snow? The owner said she called him to come back. I hope she fires him.

Yes , this is the job I just resigned from -it is a responsibility thing I guess -you sign on for a job -you finish it as best as you can. If you cant do the job any longer -the way it should be done -you explain and resign -with two weeks notice.

It is just the right thing to do.

It is called personal honor.

Which is why I will be up at 3:30am and driving on icy roads to the gym!

The GIANT and The Other Girl

The weirdest thing happened today -and it got me laughing.

I spent the day with my friend Annie -checking out some stores -buying a shredder =looking for a carry bag for my new lap top -nothing -had lunch -talked and laughed

Annie is on the look out for a desk at local thrift shops - I meant to suggest the Freecycle group in WW and check with her landlord -who may have 'extra' furniture stashed somewhere.

Anyway, I dropped off two bags of my stuff at the Rio Grand ARC/ Thrift store -ok I am going a little low with the down sizing of my home and me -but two bags are still two bags. Got the receipt as Annie searched for her desk. Nothing

I had to stop at Home Depot and get a bathroom fan. My cousin Dave, had taken it down from the ceiling and handed it to me -to get a replacement at Home Depot. So Annie and I go into this store. I always loved the smell, but feel like a alien in a foreign country. I just don't speak the language. But Dave told me to show them the old fan and they will know.

I showed them at the service desk -what my assignment was -and she said isle 13 and ask for Floyd. He would be around. So we walked down to isle 15 before Annie saw where the isle numbers were. I had totally missed them and truthfully it is not like a supermarket.

No one is around to help us -but Annie found a tiny little middle age woman, in an orange apron, who said Floyd was at lunch. She proceeded to look at my old fan and look thru the shelves. She was barely 5ft tall and couldn't hardly see to the second level shelf.She calls on the intercom for Floyd to interrupt his lunch and call her back and direct her to the fans. He doesn't call. The she calls an orange apron man walking by, to help -He is shorter than she is! They both stand and stare at the second shelve........stretching to reach and move the boxes so we can see behind. He trys to reach a hidden box...........When I say........

I can get that.

I am 5'9" and in my younger days liked to wear 4" heels -I like being tall. I am use to being around my brother-who is 6'5". Short people ore ok -but get in the way -I often stop and offer to get things off the top shelf in at the Acme for short old ladies. So I am ok with offering to help. Hey , I am what I am. But the short Home Depot orange apron lady says:

Yea let the GIANT get it. She is the tallest one of all of us.

Who says that to a stranger? At first I was sort of taken aback -then I started to laugh.

These two little people -that I could literally squash- just called me a giant.

I was calling Annie -the 'other'one -So we were the GIANT and the other ONE ! LOL

Even after the munchkin people got the yellow step ladder and checked the second and third shelves -nothing. They sent me to a supply house that had it in stock but for over thirty dollars.

The GIANT will check on line. No, Thank you.

What kind of person calls another person GIANT ?

I mean REALLY? How Rude/ funny but rude.

Good thing I am a Friendly GIANT.

In this ECONOMY?

Well I had a melt down at work, at the gym on Monday -and it was not from over exercises. It was from stress.

I had been answering non stop questions for 4 hours/ putting new people into the computer/answering phones/ watching the floor for people in distress/ taking money for classes and memberships/The owner had just come in to make high energy shakes (a new duty,the staff was asked to do) and decided to do an introduction to a potential new member (-I had just put on a 7 day free trial membership)/ I had just started a new shake (I had never made that type) and the owner came over to help me and then left me to take the money and put in the cafe register/ I was able to wash out that blender holder/ and start disinfecting all the gym equipment/ empty out the trash cans/ then say goodbye to the owner (=who had finished the introduction and was on her way home after a 10hr day) / clean the three stall men's bathroom and women's bathroom (=all except the floor)/

-I stopped.

The other staff on duty had finished her third introduction to the gym and was making shakes. I had not eaten dinner or had time to buy a water to drink.

I got really light headed and almost fainted. I though i was having another TIA. I freaked out. I said I was leaving/

The other staff/ making shakes/ said what about the floors / I said i don't care/ she said at least close out the cash register for the gym / I tried but it didn't match /and me -auditor and brain/ couldn't think how to fix it.

I left, and spent the next 48 hours praying for an answer.


Wednesday, on the phone with my best friend. I typed out my resignation letter.

Thursday, I handed it to the manager.

For the first time in my life I resigned from a job. I had to admit to myself and the world -I could not do a job because of my health and I think age; or all of the above.

What a horrible and humbling thing to have to admit.

When I handed in the resignation letter, the manager was not surprised. Apparently, my 32 year co-worker that evening, had all ready called her. Ouch.

I gave them 2 week notice and am scheduled to open the gym at 5am/ a couple of days. Then I will turn in my keys.

I can not believe how much this humbling experience and finally the decision to resign, lifted such a weight off my mind.

I still believe in the need to exercises for all ages and the dream the owners have for this business -but it will not be with me. Younger and healthier bodies have to multi-task and clean toilet's.

This little part time job, just is not fun any longer.

Notes about Florida Trip

My brother in law -wants to know where are my blogs -funny thing is -I wonder also.

I came home from the Florida visit with my folks on the first warm day in the three weeks I had been there. Figures. My parents took me out to a Denny's on the way to the airport -when we were just about finished -12 motorcycle police came in and took up the two tables around us. They were in full uniform and so good looking my mother (77) and I could hardly talk -we were drooling. If I did not have a plane to catch -I would have still been there. I think they must have been practicing for Pres. OBama's visit the following day.They were fine looking men. :)))figures.

I had a nice visit with my parents -but i was ready to come home -I am glad I had my lap top computer with me and had a nice break/visit with NJ friends, Paula and Stan, that had moved to a large retirement community near Tampa. About #300,000 seniors I think. Very very nice. They are very active seniors -Golf and Softball/ other sports/dance lessons/rehabbing rental properties and just enjoying all the activities offered. I could easily live in a retirement community, somewhere in the world. They made me feel so welcomed -I stayed an extra day-at their invitation. Stan and I were able to go to the John and Mable Ringling Estate near Sarasota -worth the day trip -I had a great time. Paula played in three softball games that day and we were able to catch up with her for the third one. WHEW -she is my hero!

I had rented a car in Ft Myers -Hertz- across RT 41 from my parents community. Very convenient. The price was high for the long weekend/ Thurs to Monday. I knew it was about 2 hrs from exit 131 north to exit 240 (242?) on Rt75 - but i didn't know if i would wander. I like to explore a bit, I was flying home that Monday and hadn't done much sightseeing. Anyway -I went on line and checked my emails and found a coupon code from Spirit Air Miles club I belong to -so I used that with Hertz and it only cost me $100.00 plus tax for the 4 days - I should have rented a car the whole 3 weeks. My parents offered to let me use their large Mercury -but.... I liked the Mazda 6 I rented.

The first Hertz rental car had a broken tail light -Hertz,still wanted me to take the car -but i said no- and had to wait about 40 min for a replacement car. I hope everyone checks the lights when they do the walk around -before you sign the rental lease -I never did until the lease in Grand Junction CO and my friend Bonnie found the broken headlight. This time I made my Dad hobble with me -he stood behind the car with his cane and wobbly knees and I touched the breaks and turned on the lights. He is the one that found the broken light. I was sort of upset with Hertz -but I guess these things happen with rentals -but where is their due diligence? What else hadn't they checked?

I get the replacement car -but it had no gas -so this Jersey Girl had to go to a gas station and pump the gas (we DO NOT pump our own gas in NJ and it is a lot cheaper prices also -don't ask me how?) even though i did pump gas on my road trip out West -i still had a little problem -ah- making the gas come out of the hose. LOL. But I wanted to get on the road -I was an hour late and Paula and Stan would be expecting me.

Driving toward Tampa or exit 240 north was a breeze on this great road 75. Very fast moving. But I didn't see alot of rest areas and I had to pee. Finally just before my exit -a rest area! Yea! Paula calls and I tell her where I am and she says - I am about 20 mins away. good. I hang up and go to get out of the car and the horn and alarms go off. whoops.

I quickly start the car again and put it into gear and it stops. Then I re park and get out -again the alarms and horn -FIVE times I try to get out of the car -and five time the alarms go off. By this time i am Laughing and of course still have to pee. I had picked up a card from the Ft Myers Hertz and put it in my pocketbook. So I call the manager -Steve- and tell him the problem -he has never heard of such a problem and doesn't know how to help. The Mazda is holding a middle age woman on diuretics -hostage and he cant help me -Hello?

He suggests I call the toll free number on the front of the yellow cover sheet holding my receipt/contract. He hangs up. I have the contract but my yellow binder is not in my purse -oh yea it is in my bag of maps in the trunk. Crap.

LOL ...The car is to small to crawl to the trunk and my bladder is way to full. I check out the glove box and YEA - the past lessee left their yellow cover in the box -I now have the toll free Road assistance number.

I call and a very nice man answers and I give him my problem and info from the contract. He says he never heard of the Mazda doing this to anyone.??????Figures

But he can help and tells me how to reset the alarm. Which goes off again as I get out. (meanwhile NO ONE has come over to see why the car alarm is going off ????) Long story short -I reset the alarm by opening the door from the outside with the key.

The guy on the phone from roadside assistance has a nice voice and wants to talk and laugh with me -but hey -I am at this rest area for a reason....Thanks for the help......but GOTTA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

All is well that ends well/ when you can laugh with your adventure! :)))))