Eric woke up with another neck ache, which is becoming a weekly problem. At least this time he didn’t have a headache, too. We both realize it’s stress and nerves. My allergies have been pretty bad, mostly in the mornings, and I haven’t had much of an appetite at all. That is REALLY unusual for me, because I’m usually a really good eater (which is what caused me to gain at least 10 pounds in 14 weeks). I know that my lack of appetite is stress-related, too. Everyone handles stress in a different way. I lose my appetite and sneeze. Eric gets a headache or a stiff neck.
We were supposed to go shopping this afternoon. Actually, I was going shopping and Eric was going to wax the PT in the parking lot. I told him he should stay in the RV and relax, because I had no problem going out in the PT by myself. I had good directions to the swap meet and the stores I wanted to go to, and I knew if he went with me he’d just feel worse.
Before I left, I gave him a nice neck massage with his PO SUM ON Peppermint Oil. He really feels better after I do that. Then, I heated up the cherry stone pillow that our friend and massage therapist, Rosemary, gave to us before we left NY. It’s such a great gift, because we’ve used it in the freezer, to help a headache, and in the microwave, for his stiff neck. I heated it up and left him laying there, smelling sweetly of peppermint, while he rested his neck on the cherry stone pillow and watched DIRTY JOBS with MIKE ROWE. Have you ever watched that show (on the Discovery Channel)? It's really fun.
I went out to BRUGGER’S BAGELS to get us breakfast and brought it back to the RV. I left him eating his bagel and I went to the SPORTS ARENA SWAP MEET. It was really easy to find. I couldn’t believe admission was only $1.00! I wandered around there for about a half hour, looking for sheet sets and a dresser on which to put our TV in the bedroom, but couldn’t find either.
There was a lot to distract me, but I walked with blinders and didn’t waste time looking at anything else. My only purchase was a $3.00 visor, because the sun was SO strong that, even with my sunglasses, I had to walk with my hand held out over my eyes, shading the sun. It was 75 degrees today and it was hot walking around the flea market. In NY they always called it a flea market, but here they call it a swap meet. I wonder what the difference is.
Next, I went over to BIG LOTS. I had never been there before. I was looking for deep pocket Queen-size sheet sets and the table for the TV, but – again – no luck with either. I DID get some cereal and bottled water, so the trip wasn’t a total waste.
While I was on line at BIG LOTS I spoke to a woman who told me that there was a TARGET nearby, where I would definitely find sheet sets. I drove over there and was able to find exactly what I was looking for. I was determined NOT to buy flowered sheets, because Eric and I had flowered sheets for YEARS in Whitestone and I want to try to decorate differently than I did in NY. I didn't see much besides solids and flowers, but then I hit the jackpot.
Eureka! I got two sets of Queen DAMASK STRIPE sheet sets. Each comes with a flat sheet, fitted sheet and FOUR pillowcases, which is very unusual. One set is a chocolate brown, which I thought would go well with the light brown carpeting we have in the apartment (in every room). The other is a powdery blue. I figured I would mix and match, and the brown and blue look SO pretty together.
I also got us two Memory Foam Supreme Contour Pillows from SERTA, because when we tried them at the first mattress store they seemed very comfy! My last purchase was a bunch of AA batteries, for the camera. Unfortunately, when I tried the camera, it didn’t work at ALL. I put the new batteries in the camera, thinking they were the answer, and it still doesn’t work. The camera is dead. RIP Olympus Camedia Camera C-4000 ZOOM! I had five good years with this camera, but it’s over. Boo hoo! So, I took a picture of the PT with my cell phone, and it actually came out pretty good!
Here's a picture of my pretty PT. My friend, Katie, says I have to name her. Eric says we should name her Opal, since that's the color name. So, I guess she's Opal!
After I left TARGET very happy, because my most important purchase had been made, I decided to hit a few more stores to see if I could find a piece of furniture for the TV. I had seen a SALVATION ARMY store and a PIER 1 IMPORTS in the same shopping center. I LOVE Pier 1 and our friends, Elaine and Brian, gave us a gift certificate, which I cannot wait to use. I went in there to look at the furniture. I was distracted by all the other beautiful things they have in there, but I focused on finding something for the TV. They had some beautiful pieces, which would work perfectly, but I don’t want to spend a couple of hundred dollars on something like that.
I went into the SALVATION ARMY THRIFT SHOP and they had some beat up furniture. I had never been in a Salvation Army shop before, and I was a little disappointed. They had a desk that might have worked, and I’m not really particular about what type of piece it is, as long as it’s about 36” high and at least 22” deep. This desk was a mess, but I figured it would be really cheap and we could fix it up. It was $59! I would never even have a piece like that in my shop, because it was in such bad condition and, if I did, it would have been outside with a $5 price tag! I know it's for charity, but still -- $59?!
Next, I tried another thrift shop (I can’t remember the name). They actually had some decent pieces of furniture, but none of it worked for me. I walked around with my handy measuring tape, but didn’t find any pieces the right size. There’s one more place I want to try, closer to town, and I’m hoping I can find something tomorrow.
I was exhausted from running from store to store. I was thirsty, and sweaty. I needed something cold and sweet. I decided to get a STARBUCKS, before heading back to the campground. I had spoken to Eric a few times and he was feeling much better. Sometimes, you just need to rest and relax!
Eric and I were wondering about the cable situation, so I called Brett, the manager of our building. When I asked him what kind of cable they had in the complex he said the sweetest words my ears could hear -- "TIME WARNER CABLE!" I told him that was what we had in New York and we LOVE it. We were SO happy! I quickly went to their website and was able to make an appointment for Tuesday morning. So, by Tuesday afternoon, we should have cable TV in our new apartment!
After I made the appointment, Eric was ready to go out to dinner. We went to a new place (for us) – PACIFIC BEACH BAR AND GRILL on Garnet Avenue (where else?). We got there while HAPPY HOUR was still going on, so Eric had a Bloody Mary (which was great -- real spicy) and we ordered two appetizers – Stuffed Mushrooms and Crab dip. I had a Tostado Salad, which had lots of greens, avocado, shredded cheese, and cucumber with a cilantro dressing in a big tostado shell. Eric had diced grilled chicken with veggies in a pita with French fries. The food was really good and the place was a lot of fun. There were TV screens everywhere showing football, basketball and hockey. It was a real sports place, but there was loud music playing, too.
At one point in the evening, I said to Eric, “You know what’s really sad?” “What?” he asked. Then, before I could say anything, he looked around and said, “That we’re the oldest people in the place?” “YES!” I said. He guessed it. I had been looking at all the kids in the restaurant. Some were at the bar, some playing pool, some sitting and eating. I don’t think they were just 21. In fact, they looked to be over 25, but I don’t think anyone except the bartender was over 30! Eric commented that we could be their parents! It made us feel REALLY old! But that’s what Pacific Beach (better known as PB) is all about.
After dinner we came back to the campground and I washed the two sets of sheets, so they would be ready for our new bed. I can’t believe tomorrow will be our last day in the RV. In a way, I will miss it, because it has been home for so long now. At the same time, I think it is contributing to the stress Eric’s been feeling, and I think the move to the apartment is going to be great for both of us.
Eric and I heard there are more fires in Malibu. We can’t believe it. At this time, 35 more houses – many mansions – have been destroyed. It’s so depressing. This is another thing about California (besides the mountain biking situation) that REALLY bothers Eric. He says New York is one place where there are no disasters like hurricanes, wild fires, mud slides, earthquakes, tornadoes, monsoons, cyclones or tsunamis. New York occasionally has blizzards, but even those are not that bad. They usually don’t need people to evacuate, or kill anybody.
He says that Southern California is a “tinder box” ready to go up in flames at any moment. The fact that it never rains certainly doesn’t help. The worst thing is that if it DOES rain a lot, there will definitely be a lot of mudslides, because there are no trees or shrubs left to hold back the mud, since they all burned in the fires! It’s scary. Of course, being located where we are, we are not worried about fire or mud affecting us, but it’s not fun to know it’s happening in areas nearby.
Tomorrow we are finally going on that bicycle ride Eric has been promising for the last few days. I know it’s not going to be easy for either of us. He’s not feeling great, and is not really into it at all. He's just doing it for me. I’m ready and willing, but may not be very able, as I haven’t exercised in about 4 months! Wish us luck!