I woke up at 9:00am and Eric was up right after me. He jumped in the shower, and I thought I’d go in right after him, so I could accompany him to HOME DEPOT. He had other ideas. He said I should stay home and relax while he went, and then when he got back I could go to the Holiday Parade. I insisted that I go with him, but he got his way. I watched some TV, did a little cleaning and organizing and then jumped in the shower, so I would be ready when he got back.
I am already having a problem with my DVR in the bedroom. I programmed it to tape a new episode of MONK last night, but it didn’t tape. It had the show listed, but said “unable to record show.” I had NO idea what that meant, so I called this morning to try to find out. The guy who answered had no idea why it happened, but tried to explain that it might have been the company that provides the computer service, or something like that. He said, “maybe their server was down.”
I asked him if anyone else had called, complaining that they programmed something and it didn’t record. He said they had not. I asked him if it was a server problem how I could be the only one of the thousands of people in San Diego who are using Time Warner Cable who had this problem. I now assumed there was a problem with my box. He started to ask me questions about how I programmed it, if I was trying to record more programs than the box is able to record (two at a time) and I told him, “Listen, I had DVR in New York for over a year. I am VERY familiar with the system and know every aspect of it’s use. I am also one of the biggest couch potatoes in America, and watch more TV than most people, so BELIEVE ME, I know how to program the DVR!" At this point he suggested that they send someone to look at it, so someone from TWC is coming (for the fourth time) on Monday between 12:30pm and 2:30pm. We’ll see where THAT goes.
Eric returned a little after noon. He had purchased 16 shelves and 32 brackets, plus all the hardware to go with it. He was ready to start sanding, and I was ready to go to the parade! I drove down to Pacific Beach (which is a 5 minute drive). Garnet Street was closed after a certain point, so I went down to Grand, which runs parallel. I was really looking for Cass Street, because that’s where the vendors were going to be and I was a lot more interested in the vendors than in the marchers.
Here come the Cub Scouts!
I got a great spot (and it wasn’t easy – there were SO many people driving around trying to find a spot). The parade started at noon and by now it was 12:30pm, so I didn’t miss much. I got to Cass and Garnet and there was a pretty nice crowd. I actually was standing right where the action was, because there was a guy on a platform with a microphone and he was announcing the groups as they marched by. There were cub scouts, girl scouts, dance troups, marching bands, firemen in fire trucks (who were being honored) and lots of people advertising their businesses, which kind of annoyed me. The guy would actually go up to the people and ask them to say something, and then he’d tell you to visit this or that business.
A classic car advertising some business or other!
The best part was the four people on horseback who represented some ranch or something. I am not much of a parade person, so I only stood there for about 10 minutes and then crossed to the other side of Garnet to visit the vendors. I was disappointed by how few vendors there were, and even more disappointed by what they were selling.
My favorite parade moment. Wish I had a carrot!
There were less than 20 vendors in all: two different businesses selling replacement windows, one selling subscriptions to the Union Tribune, one selling aromatherapy products, trying to get you to have a party at your house to sell the stuff. I told them I wouldn’t be very good for a party, since I just moved here and I told them, “You’re the only friends I have here!” They laughed and then tried to get me to buy a crème to make my skin look more youthful. I know I’m going to be 50 next week, but I was insulted! Obviously, I didn’t buy anything!
There was one booth selling jewelry carved out of coconut shell and mother of pearl. They were really beautiful, but the entire earring was the mother of pearl or coconut shell, and the part that goes through your ear was pretty thick – too thick for my ear holes. I took a look at the people selling and they were young people with lots of piercings who like the big hole look. Not for me.
There was another young woman selling jewelry she made herself. She would take pieces of colored glass, melt it down in a kiln into a kind of lump that looked like a stone, and then drill a hole and attach it to a finding and hang it on a black silk rope. They were quite beautiful, but much too modern for me.
I saw a booth selling framed photos, another that had t-shirts that said, “Pacific Beach 92109” and other variations on that theme. I guess it’s close to 90210, so they thought it was clever. Maybe it was.
There was a woman selling pocketbooks made from different fabulous fabrics. I purchased one exactly like it in New Orleans. It has a roses and skull designs (very goth). I love that purse and always get compliments on it. We talked for a long while. I told her that I had a purse from the same manufacturer and that I purchased it in New Orleans. I started talking about our trip, and then she told me how she and her husband (who was also there) traveled across Europe for six months living mostly in the back of a van! They said they were invited to stay in a chateau in the South of France, a cabin in the woods of Germany, and had more adventures than most people have in a lifetime.
They live in Ocean Beach and said it was the best neighborhood in San Diego. Eric and I haven’t been there yet, but it is the place where all the antique shops are in San Diego, so I know I’d like it. They also said it’s where the older hippies live, which we'd like, too. I think we need to check it out.
There was a young woman selling wrap-around skirts that had two layers of fabric and could be worn in a multitude of ways, including as a blouse or dress, depending on whether you bought the short, medium or long version. The patterns were nice and the fabrics were flowy, but it wasn’t for me.
There was one vendor selling dog clothes and accessories; another selling some kind of rubber sandals and sun visors, and another advertising some kind of bar and grill.
I finally found something that really interested me. It is called AROMA JEMS™. It’s an all natural, biodegradable, non-toxic, environmentally friendly product – the only green alternative car freshener, air freshener and bath salt! There is no smoke, no toxic fumes, no fires. They explain that people spend a fortune on candles, which contain paraffin, which is a heavy hydrocarbon which comes from crude oil (yuck!).
Eric and I very rarely burn candles, because I have “fire paranoia” so it seemed like a great alternative. They had every scent you can imagine, from bayberry to ocean breeze. They all smelled great, but I settled on a fruit mixture that had several fruity scents together – like pineapple, coconut and mango. There are a lot of ways you can use them – you can put them on top of a potpourri burner, if you like, or just place in an open bowl. You can put them in your drawers, gym locker, or use them in the bathtub as a bath salt.
The reason I like it is that it’s not very strong – you really have to get close. I don’t like strong scents, because it bothers my asthma. As I always say, “It gives me the asthma!” So, this works for me, because it’s very subtle. A bag of about 20 pieces (which look like colored rock candy) was $7.00 and they last from 3-12 months. You can buy colors to go with your décor, or buy the scents you enjoy. It’s great stuff!
After my one $7.00 purchase, I walked around the corner to watch the parade a bit more, and then went into a boutique I had driven past and wanted to check out. It’s called WISH.
They had some really cute clothes and their prices were so reasonable. I tried on two dresses and two blouses and ended up buying an adorable dress that cost only $27, including tax! They have a card like I had in PEPPY’S DREAM, where you get a hole punch every time you spend more than $20 and after 10 purchases you get a $20 gift certificate. That’s exactly the same system I had! It encourages repeat business!
They had a guest book, which asked for your name, date of birth and email address. While I was filling it out (and putting in 12/16/57), I noticed that the name above me was born in 1981. I’m old. Very, very old and I really shouldn’t be allowed in stores like that anymore, except to buy gifts for my nieces and nephews. Where do you go to shop when you get old? Someone please tell me!
After I left the boutique, I walked back to my car and drove to the SALVATION ARMY where Eric and I had purchased the entertainment center. I wanted to check out a headboard/footboard I had seen. It’s a natural rattan/wicker style. It only came in on November 25th, so they weren’t willing to come down much in price and it was a little more than I wanted to spend, so I’m going to keep my eyes on it.
The main reason I want it is that our bed is up against the window and those gosh-darn verticals are a pain in the you-know-what. The verticals are about four feet long and, when I’m laying in bed, with my head on the pillows, they hit my head all the time. It’s very annoying. Did I ever mention that I hate vertical blinds? I think they should be banned, but that’s just my opinion. It’s just my luck that the four big windows in this apartment all have the verticals with the cornice above. Hate ‘em.
I left the Salvation Army and headed back to Clairemont. I went to KEILS to do some food shopping. I bought everything I need to make a “big salad” for dinner tonight. I also got Eric more turkey and swiss, and more chicken cutlets. I don’t know if I mentioned before that they don’t sell chicken cutlets at KEILS, just big boneless chicken breasts.
The butcher was putting meat out, so I asked him why they don’t have cutlets and he said they don’t sell that, but that he would take the breasts in the back and slice them thin for me. Such service! I was so happy, because I usually ask Eric to do it and it’s a messy job. Eric says that’s probably why they don’t sell them, because it’s a big job to cut them all up. They always had it at Waldbaum’s!
When I got back, there was Eric on the balcony sanding the shelves. He worked all afternoon sanding each side and all the edges on SIXTEEN shelves. What a job. They are so smooth and beautiful. He uses an electric sander and wears goggles and a mask. It’s a dirty job and I felt so bad. When he saw me coming with all the grocery bags, he smiled down at me. Even though he had the mask on, I could tell he was smiling, because it went all the way to his eyes. Know what I mean? It made me so happy. It was the smile I used to see so much more of and I was so glad to see it again. He's definitely been feeling better lately. I'm so grateful.
After putting all the groceries away and making Eric a little snack, I decided to do an organizing job in the bedroom, while he was still busy working outside. I watched a marathon of PROJECT RUNWAY (do you notice I like marathons?) and went through all my costume jewelry. I actually was afraid to pack and ship my collection, so I put every single piece in a giant tin that’s the size of a picnic basket, with two handles, and had it with us the entire trip. I needed to put everything away, so I went through it and organized everything. Earrings together, bracelets together, necklaces together, pins together. It was really fun to go through all the pieces I have, looking at it all again. I only brought a few simple pieces with me to wear on our RV adventure, because I didn’t dress up at all, so there really was no need. I can’t wait to start wearing all my pieces again!
After I finished, Eric came in from outside. He was covered in dust from all the sanding. He changed his clothes and went into the bedroom to watch basketball and put some more brackets up (for more shelves). I came into the living room to continue my marathon and make the “big salad.” When it was ready, we both stopped to eat. Then, he continued working and I cleaned up.
Now, he’s watching ULTIMATE FIGHTING (oy!) and I’m blogging. He actually talked about going mountain biking tomorrow, which filled me with joy, but it’s supposed to rain, so I don’t think he’ll get the chance. I told him if he expects to ride in South Carolina, he should ride while he’s here, so he’s in good shape, and I guess it sunk in. The fact that he’s even considering riding makes me so happy. I just hope he will follow through. Keep your fingers crossed!