i said i'd be busy

and I wasn't joking either.  Here are a few things that have been going on:

- Cosme left yesterday for Vicksburg.  I wanted to go and do some sightseeing but I think we might go back another time, just the two of us and not with his coworkers and preferably not on a commercial flight.  Did I just admit that?  Crazy, I know.  I think I get less anxious when he flies instead of going on a commercial flight.  There's something about the process of getting to the airport, going through security and doing it all on someone else's schedule that really adds to my stressing out.  It's so much more laid back when you don't have to worry about what's packed where and keeping up with your one carry-on and/or one checked in bag and trying to get to the airport by this time and fighting for a spot for that carry-on.

- The dogs left another possum in the yard for me this morning.  It was a tiny one so I thought I'd handle it on my own instead of bothering Eric.  Didn't happen.  I went to throw it and it just slammed into the fence and bounced back into the yard.  The good news is it's close enough to the wire to keep them away until Eric wakes up... hopefully.  Also, it's cool outside.  TMI, I know.  Or, maybe with it being out of the dogs' reach, a bird will have easier access to it and take it away sooner.  It's been known to happen.

- I have a list of names I need to write in the Parish Book of the Dead for the church.  Since Saturday is the 31st, I need to work on getting that done.

- I need to remember to take our old Uverse stuff to UPS.  Now that the Cowboys had us switch to Direct TV, I don't need any of that anymore... and don't want to be charged for the boxes.

- I have a hair appointment tomorrow.  It's the first haircut I've had in several months and I still haven't colored it since February.  I just can't decide what I want to do.  I was going to get a pedicure today but think I might wait until tomorrow and maybe try to get a bunch of name writing done today.

- I got annoyed with the contractor who did our roof and fence yesterday and hung up on him.  Cosme is right, I have no in between.  I am super sweet or raging mad.  And usually, there's no warning.  I take it and I take it and then I flip.  I've mentioned it before but I've been asked by recipients of the flipped me to please say something sooner if something's getting to me next time.  In most cases, there won't be a next time.  They have either 1) learned not to make it go there or 2) burned that bridge and I don't have anything else to do with them.  In the case of the contractor, it's the latter and I let him know.  It's not that I'm against second chances but I already gave a second chance... and third, fourth, fifth...

- I've been buying this lately.

I can't drink a lot at once, maybe because it's thicker like a smoothie and less like a juice.  I'm not the biggest fan of smoothies.  First of all, it seems like every smoothie I've had has been overloaded with bananas and that doesn't work for me.  Second, meh...  But anyway, this stuff is good.  It's fruity berry goodness.  Try it.  If you don't like it, just send the rest my way.

Now I guess I'll find my calligraphy guidelines and tackle the name writing.  Maybe I'll have one thing to scratch off the list today.

i'd like to take

a moment and share the bougainvillea.  I say the bougainvillea because of the four I planted a few years ago, this is my best and favorite.  One died.  One is doing okay and another is doing a little better than okay but this one... sigh.  I like not only that it's taking over but I love the color.  It's dark but bright but muted. 

I think I'll call this color Melanie Red or Melanie Pink.  Or maybe just Melanie.

Pretty soon I'll have a section of fence that will remind me of California.  I'll probably put a chair in front of it to sit and stare and pretend I'm on vacation.  I'll take a glass of wine out there with me so I can get the full effect.  Oh, that and put the dogs in their cage.  Or maybe just sit so close that I'm within their invisible fence zone.

You should see my grass.  The grass isn't terrible but those weeds that grow and stick up about 2 feet are horrible.  Just horrible.  I called Antonio last week and he said his guys would be here Wednesday or Thursday.  Didn't happen.  I called him yesterday to make sure I was still on the list and told him nobody came last week.  He sounded a little surprised and said he'd be here this morning.  Thank goodness.  The yard is embarrassing.  And then it started raining this morning.  #defeated  Luckily the rain has quit but now if some sun will break through, I'll try to have hope once again.  Maybe if I stare at the bougainvillea long enough I'll forget about the weeds.  #Don'tCountOnIt

it's been a busy busy

week.  On the plus side, I got a lot done.  That's always good.  Now for the bad news.  I've got a headache.  I know it's sinuses and I thought long and hard before I took my Zyrtec D.  I didn't know if I should just take the headache pill and be done with it or the Zyrtec D.  Apparently I didn't think long enough or hard enough because an hour later and I'm still sitting here with a headache.  I thought an early Coke might help out.  Not yet.  My next move?  Breakfast.  That usually helps.

Speaking of food, last week I was watching the Cooking Channel and saw someone making Graham Cracker Toffee.  I hit record and made it a few days later.  I made some with pecans, as the recipe called for

I made some without nuts in case Eric wanted some

And then I also had the pan's liner to lick.

It was all wonderful and I ended up throwing it in the garbage because we couldn't stop.  It was SO addicting.  I need more right now.  It'd probably get rid of my headache, or at least make me forget about it for a few minutes.

i was looking over the

water bill.  I rarely do that unless it's just crazy high.  Anyway, I was looking it over but zoomed in because everything was all shifted to the right so the billing date looked like the due date and other stuff like that.  By zooming in, I noticed the note "*voluntary contribution".  Okay.  Well I noticed the two asterisks included in my breakdown and sure enough, that all adds up to my amount due.  It reminds me of that whole fine print of tips being included.

Now, I'm not about to not donate to the city's emergencies services and I'll even donate the 50 cents to the beautification cause (even though it's a little questionable) BUT... it shouldn't be included in the breakdown of my total.  It should be one of those extras, like "Do you wish to contribute $1 to the Presidential fund?" - or whatever that lame, off the wall one is.  But no, it's thrown in there, mixed with the things we have to pay like garbage and tax.  And tax?  Am I being taxed for a "voluntary" contribution?  This just seems to be getting shadier by the minute. 

What I'm getting at is, sure, $4 isn't a lot of money but to somebody, that $4 could be a loaf of bread and carton of eggs or meat to have for dinner.  That could be going towards a kid's lunch money or haircut.  If the city's going to keep it added into the total due, it should be noted as a mandatory contribution.  There's a difference, you know.