Peppy's Dream Moving Adventure Blog

It's the first day of February.  When I lived in New York February 1st was always a big day for me, because it meant I had lived through another January.  Januarys were always bad -- very, very bad.  They were better the last five years, when I worked in the shop, but I always HATED January.  I always said there's nothing redeeming about January.  The holidays are over, the winter looms ahead endlessly, there are no great holidays in January, it gets dark early, it's cold, it's ugly.  It's just a horrible month.  Now, I don't feel that way much.  I still don't think there's anything great about January, but I don't hate it the way I used to.  It's a whole new world for me! 

So, I snoozed three times this morning.  I was in bed by 9:00pm and turned the TV off after 10:00pm, but I still couldn't get out of bed!  I had the weirdest dream this morning, too.  I was with a bunch of girls, whom I didn't know, and for some reason I was writing a check.  We were in a restaurant and the waiter came over and I was distracted.  When I looked back down, my wallet and checkbook were gone.  I looked at the girls and one of them said, "The waiter took it."  I ran over to the manager of the restaurant and told them one of their waiters stole my wallet.  He said one of the waiters just went home sick and I said, "That's the guy!"

My next step was to go to the bank.  I found out all our money had already been withdrawn.  I was freaking out, and then I woke up.  You know the relief you feel when you wake up from a bad dream and realize it was just a dream?  That's a good feeling, I can tell you.  Why I dreamt about having my wallet stolen, I'll never know.  Anyone out there know how to analyze dreams?  I guess it probably has something to do with the fact that Eric and I are both a little worried about money, since we've been living off our savings for about 8 months.  I'm happy I am going to get my first paycheck next week!

I finally got out of bed and showered.  I remembered to weigh myself this morning: 128.6.  If I go down a few ounces a day, that’s fine with me – as long as it doesn’t go up!

Eric drove me to work.  I worked on a few projects and then found myself with absolutely nothing to do.  I went in to one of the guys I worked for and asked for work.  Instead, he gave me a computer game to play with.  It’s called 20Q MUSIC.  It’s like 20 questions on any rock or pop group or performer.  I was intrigued.

The first person I picked in my head was Mariah Carey.  After asking me a bunch of questions – it guessed correctly.  I decided to try for something a little less obvious and picked The Pretenders.  I think you really have to know all the facts about a group or a singer, otherwise it doesn’t always get it.  It worked with The Doors, Elton John, Janis Joplin, and a few others.  It was a fun way to pass a little time.

My boss finally arrived at a little before noon.  He gave me a few more projects, which kept me relatively busy all afternoon.  Everyone at the firm is so helpful and friendly.  Anything you have any questions about, or anything you need help with, there’s someone to ask and someone to assist.

At 5:00pm Eric picked me up and we came right home.  I heated up my soup (make a big batch and it takes you through the whole week) and we had some baked Ahi Tuna.  A delicious, healthy and dietetic meal!

After dinner, Eric said he wanted to watch basketball, so I went inside to catch up on my taped TV.  First, I watched an episode of a new show, called ELI STONE, which I absolutely LOVED.  This show is right up my alley.  It’s about a lawyer who starts to hallucinate and it ends up he has a brain aneurism, which could kill him at any time.

The fact that the guy who plays Eli Stone is adorable wasn’t what sold me, even though he is.  The fact that there’s a big dance number in the first half hour wasn’t what really sold me, although it was great.  It’s the whole debate about science vs. faith that sold me.  I’ve always been a person who believes in the power of faith.  I’m very romantic.  I had a piece of paper for years that said: Faith sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible!

I believe in angels, in ghosts, in reincarnation, in aliens, in just about anything.  I am not a cynic or a doubter.  I don’t have to see, smell, hear, touch or taste something to believe it exists.  I choose to believe.  I enjoyed this show, and I’m looking forward to next week’s episode.  You can watch the entire episode online, if you missed it, or just watch the next episode next week and you’ll catch right up!  I highly recommend it.

After that I watched a 2-hour episode of CELEBRITY APPRENTICE.  Such drama!  What a show.  It’s better than ever with the celebrities, and I thought it would be boring.  These people are crazy!

It’s so nice to know that I don’t have to wake up at 6:00am tomorrow.  I’m going to go to bed early anyway, because I’m exhausted, but I’m going to sleep LATE tomorrow!  I have a lot of errands to run and then Eric and I are going to see GUYS & DOLLS at the SAN DIEGO MUSICAL THEATRE.  I’m so excited.  It’s one of my favorite shows.

So, I made it through my first week at work and it wasn’t half bad.  I’ve found that it doesn’t really matter what you’re doing, if you enjoy the people you’re working with and working for.  That certainly proved to be the case this week.  The work is pretty boring, but the people are so nice, friendly and helpful that it was a pleasure to be there!  I look forward to making a contribution to this wonderful firm for the next few months!

I went to bed at 11:00pm last night.  I was so exhausted.  Eric was asleep before me.  I could have slept all day if I wanted to, but I was up by 8:00am.  I guess 9 hours is as much as I need!  I set up all my tools and materials for creating more jewelry mosaic mirrors.  I wanted to get as much done as I could today, because I am bringing more to Gili Anna tomorrow.  It should be quiet in La Jolla tomorrow, since it’s SUPERBOWL SUNDAY, but who knows?  Anyway, I know where Eric will be – in his chair watching the game!

When Eric woke up we watched last night’s episode of MONK (which was fantastic, as usual) and then I did three loads of laundry.  Eric was just lying around and all of a sudden he said, “Well, I’m going to roll down the hill and then walk the bicycle back up.”  I don’t know why, but he went out for a ride.

He didn’t gear up, he didn’t even wear a helmet.  He just put on jeans, a t-shirt and a windbreaker and left.  He came back less than 2 hours later.  I don’t know where he went or how much he rode, but at least he had his behind on the bicycle seat today.  I was amazed.  He said he wasn’t riding anymore, but he can’t resist, I guess.  Or he just knows, deep down inside, that it’s the best thing for him.

When he came back he relaxed until it was time to take a shower, get dressed and leave for GUYS AND DOLLS at the SAN DIEGO MUSICAL THEATRE in El Cajon.  We left at 6:00pm.  The theatre is 18 miles from our apartment and we were there in 15 minutes.  We found a nice Italian restaurant right across the street from the theatre called MANGIA BENE, and had a delicious dinner.

I had a bowl of seafood chowder and a fresh spinach salad with goat cheese, pine nuts, kalamata olives and tomatoes tossed in a warm pancetta dressing.  Eric had a cup of seafood chowder and the eggplant parmigiana with a side of spaghetti.  I had one piece of their delicious fresh-baked bread and Eric ate the rest.  He’s always been a big bread lover!  We each had a cup of coffee for dessert (mine was decaf).  I think Eric thought he’d need help staying awake for the show! 

That wasn’t the case at all.  The show was really well done.  Everyone had a beautiful voice, the choreography was great, the costumes lovely and the sets were good.  We had wonderful seats and since we have a subscription we’ll be sitting in the same seats for all three shows.  They were about 10 rows back and right smack in the center.  Perfect seats, as far as I’m concerned.

I’ve had this discussion with many friends and family and I consider myself an expert in this area.  I think that a show is better enjoyed from further back.  For a play the first row might not be so bad, but for a musical, it’s the worst.  You’re too close to see the “big picture” and you’re just looking at people’s knees while they’re dancing!  When you’re further back you can see the entire cast in big musical numbers and enjoy the entire set.  Besides, when you’re very close you can see all the stage make-up and it kind of takes away the fantasy.

Anyway, I had forgotten some of the musical numbers, since it’s been a long time since I’ve seen the show, but there are some I just love.  My favorite number is SIT DOWN YOU’RE ROCKING THE BOAT.  My friend, Joe, whom Eric and I just visited in L.A., did GUYS & DOLLS four times – playing one of the leads – Nicely Nicely Johnson.  I saw Joe as Nicely Nicely two times.  His character sings SIT DOWN and it’s such a great number.  The guy tonight had a beautiful voice and did a great job.  I really enjoyed it!

After the show we came home and Eric went right to sleep.  I stayed up and watched TOM BRADY (New England Patriots) host Saturday Night Live.  It was a repeat, but I had never seen it before. 
I really enjoyed a night out at the theatre.  The next musical in the series is BYE BYE BIRDIE in June.  I love that show, too!  Can’t wait!

I’ve never been a fan of football.  I like baseball (although I’d never watch a game), basketball was interesting, but football – I never got it.  I could never figure out what was going on and the only thing I ever enjoyed was looking at some of the cute tushies in the tight uniforms!

Baseball I understood.  It’s a relatively simple game.  I grew up just a stone’s throw from Shea Stadium, so I went to some games as a child – mostly with camp.  We were usually WAY up in the stands and I was doing more playing and eating than watching, but I was there.  I remember when RON SWOBODA came to camp and we all got autographs.  I saw him recently in an old episode of EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND where they had all the old METS players.  My friends, Susan and Andrew, are big METS fans, as is my friend, MaryBeth, so I always heard about the games.

Eric doesn’t like baseball as much as football or basketball.  I think basketball is his favorite.  He wanted to watch the big game today, so I decided to go to La Jolla to see Gili Anna and then go food shopping.

I finished a mirror for Gili this morning, then watched some TV and then got ready and left the house a little after 1:00pm.  I drove to La Jolla.  I have a bunch of new mirrors for Gili and was excited to show them to her.

I won’t be posting pictures here, because I now have another blog where I will be writing about all my crafts and my efforts to sell my pieces.  I wanted my customers to be able to read about what I do, but I didn’t want them to necessarily know my whole life story (like you all do), so now I have a NEW blog, which can be found by going to my website and clicking on BLOG, or clicking here: www.peppysdream.com/craftsblog.

I won’t be writing every day, just when I have new pieces to show, or other PEPPY’S DREAM news to report.  By the way, my website has been completely updated to reflect my current situation (I don’t have a shop anymore, but I’m still crafting away!), so feel free to check it out and let me know what you think of the new set-up!  (www.peppysdream.com).

It wasn’t raining when I left the house this afternoon, but it had been raining hard all day and it started raining again while I was driving.  When I got to La Jolla I had to drive around for a while before I found a spot.  I walked over to Gili Anna’s, but she was closed!  I spoke to the woman who has the shop next to her and she said she expected her today, but she wasn’t there.  Linda, who also has a beautiful shop selling new and estate jewelry, told me she's been there for five years.  We spoke for a while about the challenges of owning your own business, and then I left.

I walked over to Starbucks and my friend Dutch called.  I spoke to her for a while, got my Grande Decaf Skinny Mocha Latte and got back in the car.

I decided to go to the shopping center on Clairemont Drive to see if I could find a pair of shoes for work.  The arthritis I have in my right foot has really been hurting, because I’m not used to being on my foot so much, so I thought if I could find a nice pair of shoes that fit well and look good, I could wear them for work.

I went to TJ MAXX.  Unfotunately, I wasn’t able to find any good shoes, but I DID find two dresses and a black knit swing cardigan with an empire waist that really fit great.  The dresses also have an empire waist (which is very flattering when you’re fat in the belly like I am).   They’re exactly the same, but have different colors and different patterns.  I always found dresses easy, because you just throw them on and go – you don’t have to worry about coordinating slacks and a top or a skirt and a top.

When I finished shopping I went to KIELS and did a big food shopping, getting everything we’d need for the week.  Last week I made my “vat” of vegetable soup, so this week I bought more salad stuff, so we’d have salads as a change.  Next week I’ll make the soup again.  This way, eating our veggies along with the NUTRISYSTEM entrees doesn’t get too boring!

After I got home and put all the groceries away I did some things around the apartment, tried on my new dresses and modeled them for Eric and got my clothes ready for the week.  Then, I made me and Eric a BIG salad with lots of great stuff, including some leftover Ahi tuna we had on Friday night.

We watched BOSTON LEGAL, which I had recorded the other night and then Eric fell asleep.  I watched EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION.  Tonight’s episode was about a family who was struggling because their little girl had cancer and their house was falling apart.  I fell in love with this entire family.  The 8-year-old girl was so brave and strong, her parents were so wonderful, and she had two older brothers (13 and 14) who were so devoted to her, so caring, so sweet.  It broke my heart to think that they all had to go through this.  A beautiful new house didn’t seem like enough.  At the end of the show they said that the little girl, Boey Byers, lost her fight with cancer on December 28th.  I burst into tears.  I couldn’t believe she could be gone.  It’s so unfair.

I always tell Eric that we think we have problems, but as long as you have your health, is anything else REALLY bad?  I have so many friends and family who suffer from health issues, or who have a friend or relative who is suffering from a serious disease.  It is so hard to be strong when your health is failing.  It’s hard to stay optimistic.   When you hear stories like that it makes problems at work, money issues or any other trials and tribulations you may be experiencing fall to the wayside.  They seem unimportant in light of the life-threatening illnesses people struggle with.
I pray that the Byer family, who lost this precious, beautiful child, can find happiness again.  I can only imagine what it must feel like to wake up every morning and know that your daughter, or your sister, is gone, and I guess it must feel like it will never get better.  I know it will, I pray that they find the strength to go on.  Their story is a real tragedy and it is sometimes necessary to hear a story like that to realize how lucky you are.  In that way, I am grateful to them, because tonight I feel very lucky.

Before I start today's entry, I want to share a few photos of my beautiful nieces' trip to San Diego:

Here we are at the Hotel Del Coronado:

In Pacific Beach:

In South Park:

I hated getting up in the morning, but once I was in the shower I was actually happy to go to work!  I told Eric that in the car on the drive there.   It’s not like this is my dream job or anything.  It’s very far from that.  It’s just absolutely pleasant.  The commute is easy – just 15 minutes from door to door.  The place is really pretty and interesting, with original art everywhere.  The people are super-friendly and helpful.  The work is either easy or challenging with lots of support.  Either way, I get the job done.

My only complaint is that I’m bored a lot, because they don’t keep me busy.  When you have a real job you can always find something to do.  There’s usually no time to get everything done.  When you’re a temp you just do what they ask and wait for the next task.  It makes the day drag on and today I actually stared at the computer clock and watched 4:50 become 5:00pm.  BOR-ING!  If they could keep me busy I’d be totally happy!

There’s a guy who works in the cafeteria who is a musical history savant.  By that I mean that he knows every popular song in the world and who recorded it and in what year.  He’s amazing.   He’s got the radio playing really loud in the cafeteria and I challenge him every time I see him (which is about once a day).  He’s never stumped.  Now of course I wasn’t sure that Patsy Cline recorded CRAZY (written by Willie Nelson, by the way) in 1961, but – sure enough – after researching online I found that he was right.  He could win a lot of money on a music trivia show!  I think he gets a kick out of the fact that I ask him about whatever song is playing when I’m there.  I can see it gives him pleasure to show is expertise in this field.  If only you could make  a living at it!

I’ve been doing so much walking for the past week and my right foot is really hurting.  I’m trying to get an appointment with an Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Practitioner.  He works at the place where Eric and I got massages back in November.  I’ve wanted to go to him since then, and now that I’m working and my foot is hurting a lot I figure it’s time to check it out.  I’m not bad with needles, since I had allergy shots at a very young age (and very regularly), so I figure it won’t be so bad.  And it’s in my foot, so I can just look away.  I don’t know if I could take them in my face, but I’d like to investigate helping my allergies, too.

I spoke to the acupuncturist and he is going to call our insurance carrier to find out if they cover those treatments.  If they don’t, I will see how much it costs.  I’m betting it’s expensive and I don’t know if I would go for it if we’re not covered at all.

Eric was waiting for me at 5:00pm and he drove me over to the acupuncturist so I could give him a copy of our medical card and other important information.  Then we came home and I made us salads and we each had a NUTRISYSTEM flat bread pizza.

Eric and I watched DR. PHIL and then I came out to work on the computer.  My niece Stephanie called and we spoke for a while.  Then I paid some bills, worked on the computer some more and my Mom called.  We spoke for a while, too!  I packed up some NUTRISYSTEM breakfasts and lunches to get me through the week and decided to blog and get to bed early.

As I was typing the paragraph above I realized how boring my life has become.  I don’t even understand why anybody would take the time to read this blog anymore.  When we were traveling it was exciting to see where we would go next (and what we would eat), but now that I’m working and eating NUTRISYSTEM meals all the time, what’s the use?  My life’s a bore.  It really is.  I mean it’s relatively interesting to me, but I just can’t see why anybody else would be interested.  I really can’t.

I know a lot of people use their blogs to rant and rave about things, or just for stream-of-consciousness-style writings.  I’ve always used it to keep in touch and let people know what’s going on with us -- people whom we love and miss but just can’t write or call as much as we’d like.  I actually believe the people reading this now number less than 10.  It sometimes seems like a big waste of time.  I never kept a diary in my life, and it made so much sense all across America, but now I hardly care and I’m wondering if anybody else does.

Maybe I’ll start making stuff up.  Not bad stuff, because I wouldn’t want to worry anybody.  But not really good stuff either, because I wouldn’t want to get anyone excited for no reason.  I should just make up stories and be honest about it, so people know they’re reading fiction.  This has been a non-fiction blog for over 180 days.  Maybe I should start writing fiction!

Eric found out yesterday that he got a job, but I didn’t want to say anything until he finished his first day.  I’m VERY superstitious and I was afraid to make a kinahora, which in Yiddish superstition – wards off the evil eye.  The way it works is, if you say something too soon, bad luck may come and take it away, or actually make something bad happen.  For instance, if you tell someone, “You know, I’ve never broken a bone in my body,” that night you will trip and break your leg.  That’s the way it works.

Another example: If you’re driving along and say to your spouse, “The traffic is moving SO well!  I’m so happy,” you can be sure that at the next curve there will be construction and the 4 lanes will become one, causing a bottleneck that delays your arrival at your destination by another 40 minutes.

I have driven Eric crazy with my superstitions for many, many years.  I’m not superstitious about normal things – like a black cat crossing your path, or breaking a mirror and causing 7 years bad luck.  I think those are “cliché superstitions.”   No, I’m superstitious about ridiculous things that are mostly in my own head.  I am a BIG knocker on wood, even though I’ve heard it’s based on a Christian belief of touching the cross.  I don’t care.  I knock on wood ALL the time.  Sometimes I will think of something while I’m lying in bed and have to lean over to my night table and knock on wood or I won’t be able to fall asleep!

I also hate when people wish you good luck.  It’s a theatre superstition, but it stuck with me.  I never wish anyone good luck.  If they’re performing, I’ll say “Break a leg” which is the custom, or “Have a great show!”  If someone is going for an interview, or looking at a house or getting ready for some big event, I will say, “Do good!”, but never "Good Luck."

So, anyway, remember I mentioned that Eric was “making the rounds” and even had an interview?  Well, that’s the place where he got the job.  He’s just like me – one interview and he nails it!  He started today.  He’s not very happy about the situation, and it may not last, but at least he’s working.  It was VERY complicated, because he had to be in Santee, which is 23 miles away, at 6:30am, so I took the car to my job and he took the RV.  It’s the most inconvenient and uneconomical way to do it, but he can’t drop me off at work at 6:00am and then go to work.  I investigated car services, which would cost me about $40 a day.  That’s ridiculous.  Eric says it costs him about $20 a day in gas, because the RV gets such bad gas mileage (about 10 miles to the gallon).

I went online to investigate bus service, but nothing goes anywhere near Del Mar from here.  Maybe if I took 2 or 3 buses I could get there, but that just seemed crazy.  I asked a woman in HR about car pooling at the firm and it turns out she lives very close to me and offered to pick me up and drive me home, since we actually work the same hours (8:00am – 5:00pm).  She said she couldn’t be sure she’d be able to do it every day, but I said we could play it by ear.  If she could take me, then Eric could have the car.  If not, he’d have to take the RV.  At least it won’t be every single day, and my job is only for a couple of months, so eventually he’ll have the car all the time until I get my next job.

If I was working Downtown, it wouldn’t be a problem, because the bus stop is right outside our apartment and it has a few stops in the city, and I could walk anywhere from there.  So, I have to try to get my next job Downtown!

It seems like this should work out for the foreseeable future.  We’ll see what happens.  I SO appreciate this woman picking me up, because I know she didn’t have to mention that she lives nearby or get involved with this responsibility, but I told her I’d pay her, since I was inconveniencing her and the least I could do it pay for her gas.

So, Eric was up at a little after 4:00am, left the house a little after 5:00am, and I’m sure was at work before 6:00am.  I was so nervous about him and worried about him that I couldn’t fall back to sleep, so I was pretty much up from 4:00am until 6:00am when my alarm went off.  I am not used to him not being home with me in the morning, so it was strange to get dressed and leave by myself.  I drove to the office and parked in the parking lot.

My boss was in today, and he gave me a lot of little projects, including some typing (wheee!).  I need to SLOW DOWN, because I finish everything too fast and then I’m bored again.  I need to pace myself better.  I went online a lot and looked at my emails, read articles on YAHOO and even perused my own website (www.peppysdream.com).  It’s looking really good and I enjoy looking at the new set-up.  If you haven’t checked it out recently, please do and let me know what you think!

I left work at 5:00pm on the dot and was home before 5:30pm.  Eric wasn’t home yet, so I called him and he said he was on his way.  LONG day for Eric!  I told him I was thinking about going to a yoga class, but he said I shouldn’t chance it, because my left hand still really hurts from my fall (with my nieces) 2 weeks ago.  I’m pretty sure I did something to it, and I’d like to get it x-rayed so I could know for sure, but it’s SO complicated when you don’t have a doctor and there are no walk-in clinics around (like in NY – Eric and I used to go to FIRST MED if my asthma was bothering me, or if he cut himself when he fell off his bike.  It was easier and more convenient than the emergency room or getting an appointment with our regular doctor.)

I’ve been forgetting to mention how I’m doing on my diet.  I weighed 128.8 for the past two days.  I was 128.6 on Friday, so I guess I gained 2 ounces over the weekend.  Maybe it’s that one piece of bread I had on Saturday night!  Darn it!

Eric got home at 6:00pm and was not very happy.  He said he sat around the office all morning until they figured out where they were going to send him, and he’s pretty sure he’s not getting paid for sitting around, so even though he was there at 6:00am he didn’t really start work until after 8:00am.

Then, after he was done working at 3:00pm (and he said he killed himself all day), he had to go back to the office and fill out a bunch of forms and he was there until 5:00pm, and he’s not getting paid for that either.  The boss already told him not to come in tomorrow, because they don’t need him, so he’s not even working regular hours.  The boss told Eric to call him at 1:00pm and Eric said he may have to go in at that time, if he has a job for him.  Eric said the boss could call him at anytime and tell him to come in, and because it’s non-union work, there’s nothing that he can do about it.  No, he is not happy.

Not that much makes Eric happy anymore.  I was so hoping that this job would be good for him; that he’d make friends; that he’d be in a great company – like me.  Unfortunately, it’s not looking good and it’s just his first day!

I told Eric that I thought working would be good for him, but if it turns out that it’s not, he should just quit.  The truth is, we don’t have children to feed, we don’t have credit card debt or a lot of expenses.  I’m making money now and if he’s not happy at this job, he can just find another.  I’d rather have him stock shelves at Kiels than kill himself as a steamfitter again.  That’s exactly what I didn’t want when we came to San Diego.

I only wanted him to work because I felt he needed something to fill his days, and he agrees that he needs to keep busy.  But you have to weigh the pros and cons of any situation to see if it’s worth your while.  We’ll see what happens.  He says he’s going to give it time and see how it works out.

Oh, and another thing – there’s a problem with the RV!  He hasn’t driven it much more than to the car wash or to fill it up with gas.  Today was the first day it went on a relatively long trip – about 50 miles.  When he got home, the lights inside wouldn’t go out.  He came in and told me about it, then went back to the parking lot to see if they went off.  They didn't.  He says there’s a short, so he disconnected the battery and then when he reconnected it the lights were off.   I think we should just sell the stupid thing and take a plane back across the country, when we finally go.

So, even though I waited to talk about Eric’s job, I still feel like it was bad luck, because he’s so unhappy after his first day.  Maybe things will improve, when they see what a great guy he is and how much he can contribute.  I hope so!

I made some organic cream of mushroom soup for us and I had the NUTRISYSTEM mushroom risotto (do you notice a theme here?) and Eric had NUTRISYSTEM chicken and dumplings.
I’ve been really good on this diet and only cheated when my nieces were here and a little Saturday night (when I had the piece of bread).  I’ve been eating their food and tons of salads and vegetables for 22 days now and I don’t really think I’ve lost any weight.  I haven’t been exercising, but it’s for a combination of reasons.  I wanted to do yoga, but my left hand is now hurting.  I want to walk, but my right foot is killing me.  I’m not used to walking so much and all the walking I do at work is exercise, but it’s also hurting my foot.  I know I'm full of excuses, but I just can't get my act together in that regard.

I made an appointment with the acupuncturist for next Monday, 2/11 at 6:00pm.  I hope that can help me, because then I’ll be able to exercise more.  I really don’t mind walking, but not if every step is a pain in the foot!

I’m going to get a ride to work tomorrow, even though Eric’s not working in the morning, because there’s a chance he may get called in when he calls at 1:00pm.  It’s crazy not to know what your schedule is, don’t you think?  Oh, well, Eric’s willing to deal with it, so I should just be supportive and do whatever I can to make it easier on him.  I think I did the best possible thing by finding a ride to work, so at least he doesn’t have to drive the RV!

Tomorrow should be slow and boring, because my boss is going to be in San Francisco all day and he didn’t leave me any projects.  I should bring a book to work, but I guess that doesn’t look very good.  I wish there was another messy cubicle for me to clean up.  At least that was fun and kept me busy!

This is going to be short and sweet, because I’m exhausted and have to go to bed.

I got a ride to work today.  It worked out great.  I had a good day at work – some projects to do, but also lots of time to sit and stare at the computer.

One highlight at work – the woman who has been training me works for “the big guy” the man who actually founded the firm and who it is named after.  He was very nice and I was starstruck!

Eric picked me up at 5:00pm, because he didn’t work today and he took me to an “Urgent Care Clinic” I found in La Jolla where I could get an x-ray of my hand without going to the emergency room of a hospital.  My hand has really been hurting me and I was afraid I might have broken bones.

We got there at 5:30pm and I got out at 8:30pm.  The good news is – my hand is just badly bruised.  No broken bones!

Got home a little before 9:00pm.  Made myself a salad and NUTRISYSTEM vegetarian lasagna and Eric had a turkey/Swiss sandwich.

Eric’s not working tomorrow either, so this looks to be a very promising job, don’t you think?  I told him to keep looking, but that doesn’t thrill him too much, because it’s no fun looking for a job, as we all know.  Anyway, maybe the guy will come to his senses and Eric will actually work another day!

So, I must close, and go rest my hand (which still hurts, but I’m SO happy to know it’s just badly bruised!) and go to sleep.

LOVE YOU ALL!

I got picked up by my co-worker this morning.  It’s an easy 15-minute ride to work.  She agreed that having some company made the ride more pleasant, so it seems to be working out fine.

My boss came in today and, although he had a few meetings and conference calls, he gave me a few projects and I had some other projects from other members of the team, so I was very busy today – which is great!  I also offered to help the woman who taught me how to do the expense reports, and she gave me some typing (which is my favorite thing to do).  The day flew by!

I even got to do some shopping!  One of the guys on the team wanted me to buy 16 copies of a book on AMAZON.COM and have them sent to people all over the world – U.S., Canada, England, Switzerland.  That took me a while, so the time passed quickly, and I always love to shop!

I got dropped off home a little before 5:30pm.  When I got in the apartment Eric was vacuuming the living room wearing full bicycle gear.  The last couple of times he rode he didn’t even gear up, so I was very surprised.  I said, “Are these your new vacuuming clothes?”  He laughed and said, “I figure I should wear them to do SOMETHING!”  I didn’t press him on the subject, but obviously he went on a ride today.  He rode a little yesterday, too.  Imagine that!  And I’m not even bothering him about it.  In fact, I don’t mention riding at all and told him I couldn’t care less if he rode or not.  It was totally his decision.  I guess backing off was a good idea!

Eric finally got a call from his boss today and he said to come in on Monday, so I guess he’ll have tomorrow off and then go back to work on Monday.  We’ll see how long it lasts.  I told him I’m “cautiously optimistic!”

I had a NUTRISYSTEM pasta primavera with tofu, which was actually delicious!  Eric had NUTRISYSTEM macaroni and cheese, which doesn’t match up to KRAFT, but he said it was pretty good!

I weighed in at 128.4 this morning, so the numbers went down again, but just barely.  I really don’t think I’m losing any weight, and I know why – I haven’t been exercising.  I have to work on that!

I got a lovely letter from my friend, Kaja, who celebrated her 94th birthday on January 16th.  Can you imagine – she’s 94 and she’s hand-writing us a long letter.  Her penmanship is beautiful and she filled me in on everything going on and also did my numbers.  Kaja is psychic and does palm reading, numerology, etc.  She’s fabulous – mystical and magical.  She told me I’m in a “1” year (a “1 vibration”, as she puts it) and that there will be new ideas, and a taste of everything different.  She advised me to wear red (one of my favorite colors).  She said last year (a 9 year) was a good year to get rid of things, which we certainly did for our move to SD.

She also enclosed an article about cranes, since she knows I love Asian art, which often features these long-necked birds and – believe it or not – a page of dirty jokes.  She’s 94, but you can talk to her like she’s 20, because nothing’s off limits with Kaja!

Kaja is so special.  She lived across the street from us on Leggett Place.  She lived in that house for 65 years.  Can you imagine?  65 years.  She saw Whitestone grow from apple orchards, farms and a few houses to the suburb it is today.  We became friends soon after we moved onto the block in 1986, when Kaja was 72.  She looked like she was 50.  She was gorgeous then and she’s gorgeous now.  I have seen pictures of her when she was young and she looked like a movie star.  She’s Norwegian and has blonde hair and blue eyes – eyes so blue and striking that you can’t take your eyes off hers.

Kaja has always been popular.  Whenever there’s a party, you will see a crowd of people and you can bet that Kaja is in the middle of the crowd.  She attracts people like flies to honey.

She told me, in her latest letter, that she received 80 cards for her 94th birthday – cards from all over the world.  Kaja has traveled the entire world and made friends on every continent.  She has friends in every state, every city.  Everybody loves Kaja.

Kaja is also an unbelievable artist – she specializes in ceramics and pottery, but also paints on glass (and then bakes it in a kiln), and paints on canvas with charcoal, watercolors and oils, too.  She was a teacher for many years, traveling the world and teaching her arts.  I took marbleizing classes with Kaja – right in her driveway.  You mix water in a big tub with a substance that makes the water like gelatin.  Then, you drip paint on top.  Since it is “thick water” the paint sits on top and you use a stick to move the paint around into designs.  Then, you put a piece of paper, or a piece of silk on top and the paint immediately sticks to it.  And that’s how marbleized paper and fabric is made!  We had such fun!

Kaja also ALWAYS had visitors – always.  Since she knew people all of the world and everybody likes to visit New York, when they came they inevitably stayed with Kaja in her beautiful house, which I called "Kaja's Museum."  Her house was filled with her own art and the art of those she was friends with, or got to know through her world travels.

Eric and I got to meet such interesting people, because Kaja would always have us over for dinner when she had guests.  And what a hostess she is!  She had many sets of dishes and would set the table in all pinks and purples, or black and gold, or silver and blue, and had matching napkins, placemats, glasses, and dishes.  She is a great cook and would spend the entire day preparing a meal that we would devour in minutes.

She had a fabulous garden and tended to it so lovingly.  She always had fresh flowers everywhere in the house, which she picked from her own garden.  She would always tell me to come over and pick flowers, so we could have fresh flowers in our house, too.

Kaja moved into a nursing home a few years ago.  She enjoys it, because she loves to socialize and there are always people around, but unfortunately most of the other residents are not as sharp or as “together” as Kaja is, so she’s kind of lonely in that regard.  After all, the people who work there really don’t have much time to spend talking with her, although people from all over the building come to get their palms read.  Yes, even in the nursing home Kaja attracts people.  They all love her.

While we were traveling all over the country I knew Kaja wouldn’t be able to keep in touch through the blog, so we’d send her postcards from almost every city.  My phone would ring while we were driving the RV, or relaxing in the morning, and it was Kaja, calling to say she loved the postcards, she was so happy we were traveling, and she missed us and loved us.  She told us that she has all the postcards from all over the country on her closet doors and that they tell the story of our adventure across the States.  What a beautiful friend.  How I miss her.

The love of our friends and family have sustained us these many months and kept us going on many an occasion.  We are so grateful to you all.  We have been on some emotional and spiritual roller coasters lately, but we are hanging in there, clinging to each other (both literally and figuratively).  Knowing that you are all there, just an email or a phone call away, thinking of us, and praying for us, really keeps us going.  Thank you!

It wasn’t a hard week, but working 5 days in a row is hard until you get used to it!  I completed 2 weeks of work and got my first paycheck (which Eric picked up for me).  My pay’s not half bad!  It’s even more than I expected, because I didn’t know how much would be taken out in taxes.  There are five different taxes deducted, but I still got about 80%, which I think is great!

Nothing too thrilling to report today.  Had another pleasant day at work.  I found out that two women I work with actually lived in New York for a short period of time.  One lived in Kew Gardens at the same exact time that I did.  Talk about a small world!  I told her I thought it was really weird, because we might have been on the same train at the same time, or been in the same restaurant or shop in the neighborhood!

When I got home I discovered that our NUTRISYSTEM food for the next 5 weeks had arrived.  Eric unpacked and organized all of his and I unpacked mine (not too organized).  He has his neatly divided into breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I kind of have all of mine shoved into a cabinet.  It’s easy to identify the meals: blue is breakfast; green is lunch; red is dinner and dessert.  Eric also has snacks, which I don’t get (boo hoo, I say).

Tonight I had cheese ravioli (2 big ones) and Eric had chicken with pasta.  One thing that is a real benefit of the program is not having to think about what I’m going to have for dinner, or having to go through a lot of fuss to have it (since I don’t like cooking very much).  I just pick out a package, read the instructions and a few minutes later my dinner is piping hot and ready to eat!  I make salads, or soup to go with it, and I’m done!  Not too many dishes to wash either!

After dinner I did two loads of laundry and watched a lot of shows I had recorded: DR. PHIL, PRISON BREAK, CSI NY and GHOST WHISPERER.  You can watch a lot more TV when you fast forward through all the commercials!

Tomorrow I have to go to the post office, food shopping, and tidy up the apartment, because I’m having company on Sunday.  My friend, Bonnie, and her daughter, Nicole, are coming over for a decoupage class.  I haven’t taught a class in a long time and it will be fun to show them how much fabulous decoupage can be!

Eric is working on Monday and is hoping that the job turns out to be pretty normal hours, but I can already see it’s not going to be.  I guess we’re lucky, because it’s no big deal if he doesn’t, but I know he’ll be disappointed.  He says he needs to keep busy and since he’s not doing much riding, he needs something else.

The other day I heard someone on TV say, "If you're not givin', you're not livin'."  They were referring to volunteering.  It gave me an idea, so I spoke to Eric about volunteering, because I have always done volunteer work of one kind or another, and know how gratifying it can be.  Unfortunately, he is totally disinterested.  I told him that doing something for someone else, and not getting anything out of it for yourself, is really a gift.  You end up getting much more than you ever dreamed.

Years ago I volunteered at a place on the Upper West Side.  It was a residence for blind and mentally handicapped men and women.  I ran their “music program” which really just meant that I brought cassette tapes (yes, it was long enough ago that we used tapes and CDs were just a distant dream) and would play different music for them every week and talk to them about it.  I would bring rock one week; pop the next; or maybe a Broadway musical.  I remember how much they loved THE MOODY BLUES and TALKING HEADS.  Some would just sit and listen; others would dance; others ignored the music completely and were lost in their own world.  I tried to get them all involved and just enjoyed opening them up to new sounds.  Since they were blind, they really had acute hearing and noticed everything in the music.  It was very interesting.

Years later I volunteered with a group called HEARTS & VOICES, which entertained people with AIDS in hospitals in the city.  I also got involved through that organization with a hospital all the way uptown that took care of babies with AIDS.  That was really hard, because you’d fall in love with these babies and play with them, change their diapers and hold them and love them every week, and then one week you’d go and they’d be gone.   There was a gorgeous baby named Javier who loved to be held.  He was about a year old.  All the volunteers would practically fight over who would hold Javier – he was so loveable.  When I found out he died, it broke my heart.  Sometimes I still think of little Javier and believe he’s an angel now watching over me, along with all the others I have loved and lost.  It brings me some comfort.

My last stint as a volunteer was with the MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION.  I was on their Speaker’s Bureau and also their Special Events Committee.  I would go to schools or organizations that raised money for MAKE-A-WISH and make a speech and collect a check.  It was great work, because people love that organization and they were really touched by what their donations could achieve.  I also worked at their special events as a volunteer – coat check, working the silent auctions, or accepting tickets – anything they needed to make the events run smoothly.  They were always fabulous events and I love parties, so it was really fun.

I think Eric could volunteer in so many ways, because he has so much to offer, but he just doesn’t think that way.  I think when you’re helping people in need it makes you look at your own life differently, and you see what you have to be grateful for.  I’m going to work on him, and maybe even find someplace where we could go together, so he can see how great it can be to give of yourself.

Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, because things are not perfect.  Eric is so unhappy and I’m going to have to leave San Diego.  Sometimes I can’t believe how things turned out.  Then I remember that this is real life and nothing ever goes as you planned.  Yet I am the eternal optimist and I still believe something good will come out of all this.

It was 21 years ago this week that Eric had his motorcycle accident.  Those were dark days.  He was in the hospital for days before they even figured out whether or not to operate.  He was in the operating room for six hours and they said he’d never work again.  He was on crutches for six months and had to learn to walk all over again.  Things seemed bleak and the future looked dim.  But Eric refused to believe that he couldn’t work.  He refused to become disabled.  He refused to give up.  I don’t know how he did it, but he fought back and became an athlete.

His first days on the bicycle were torture, but he persisted, riding through the pain.  He grew strong, and then he found a new life – a life he never would have had if he didn’t have the accident.  I actually asked him once, if he could change the past, and never have had the accident, if he would.  He said no, because he knew that it had put him on a different path – a bicycle path – and that it made him healthier, happier and more successful than he ever could have been if he didn’t have that accident.

I think he is going through the same struggle now, and I tried to show him the parallels in this situation.  Things look grim, but you have to fight through it to find what lies ahead – your next great adventure.  But instead of fighting, he is giving up.  He is just letting the negative overcome him, instead of fighting for the positive.  If I could just make him fight again, I know he would win.  I just don’t know how to get him to fight.

We were both up by 9:00am.  I had the whole day planned – post office, La Jolla to see Gili, food shopping, home to do another mirror.  But Eric had other plans!  I was sitting at the computer and he came in and said, “So, let’s gear up and ride down by the beach.”  It wasn’t really on my agenda, but obviously I need to exercise, and the fact that HE was suggesting it – well, I was there!

We geared up and did the same thing as last time: Eric puts my bike in the car and I drive about a mile downhill to the parking lot by Mission Bay.  He rides his bicycle down the hill and then we meet up and ride from there.  We rode all along the bay, then went onto Grand Avenue and rode the sidewalks and streets for a mile or two down to the beach.

Then, we rode along the beach.  It was a gorgeous day – 73 degrees – the sun was sparkling on the water.  There were people kayaking, fishing, boating, roller blading, sunbathing, picnicking, walking, running, dog-walking, and exercising with their trainers.  I thoroughly enjoyed the weather, the scenery and the exercise.  Unfortunately, Eric kept complaining that he was “roasting” and that he doesn’t like the beach and prefers trees and mountains.

I just kept speeding up so I couldn’t hear all his complaints, but then he would yell that I was going to get a ticket for riding too fast, since the speed limit on the path is 8 miles per hour.  It was good to work up a sweat and get my blood pumping.  It was beautiful to feel the sun shining and enjoy the scenery on a gorgeous February day, but Eric did take a lot of the fun out of it.  When we got back to the car, Eric put my bike in the car and I drove back to the apartment and waited for him outside while he walked the bicycle up the hill.  The hill is so intense that I don't think anybody (okay, maybe Lance Armstrong) could ride up that hill, but Eric won't even try.

When we got back he kept complaining about how hot it was and how it was going to be over 100 degrees in the summer and he can’t wait for that.  Obviously, he’s exaggerating, as it rarely gets to 100 degrees in San Diego (although it can get pretty close in New York!).

My friend Susan and my Mom had both called when we were out riding, so I called them both back.  My phone bill was HUGE last month, so I called and changed my free minutes from 700 to 1,400.  I found it hard to believe Eric and I were on the phone for more than 700 minutes a month, but it was mostly me.  Eric is hardly ever on the phone.  Since we don’t have a home phone, it’s all the cell phone and it’s hard to wait for the weekend to call people sometimes, or wait until after 9:00pm, because it’s midnight on the East Coast!  It’s $30 more a month to double the minutes, but it will probably save me $100 a month!  I can’t wait to get my next phone bill!

I made a NUTRISYSTEM lunch for me and Eric and then I jumped in the shower (again) and got dressed to run my errands.  I was ready to leave the house when my friend Marygrace called.  It was a psychic moment, because I woke up thinking, “I HAVE to call Marygrace today!”  We hadn’t spoken in over a month and I really missed her.  We got all caught up and she told me she’s taking her husband to San Francisco for his 50th birthday!  I’m so excited, because I think Marygrace and Bill will LOVE San Francisco.  I know I do!  It’s so frustrating to think that she’ll be on the West Coast but too far for us to see.  Oh, well!

I finally got out of the house.  The post office was long closed, but I drove to La Jolla and gave Gili Anna my five Jewelry Mosaic new pieces (four small mirrors and a tiny silver frame).  She was thrilled.  She now has 6 different small mirrors, the round mirror (that’s hanging on the wall) and the tiny silver mirror.  I hope she sells more soon!

After that, I went to STARBUCKS and got a Grande Decaf Skinny Mocha Latte and then went to the 99 cent store to see if I could get more mirrors, but I didn’t find any I liked.  Then, I went to KEILS and did my food shopping.

When I got home I immediately started making another huge pot of vegetable soup.  I put so many different veggies in this time and it came out GREAT!  It was 9:00pm by the time it was ready and Eric and I had big bowls as we watched an episode of MONK.  Then we started watching WILLY WONKA with Johnny Depp, which I had never seen.  I thought it was really cute and fun and Johnny Depp was fantastic.  He’s so versatile – he can obviously do anything.  Just take Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Pirates of the Caribbean and Sweeney Todd.  The boy can do it all!

After that was over, Eric was fast asleep and I just started changing channels.  I saw that GUYS & DOLLS was on (which we saw at the SAN DIEGO MUSICAL THEATRE last Saturday).  There was only a half hour left, but the last half hour of the show has some of the best numbers!

I got to see Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine sing “Sue Me”, Marlon Brando sing “Luck Be a Lady” and Stubby Kaye sing “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat” which is one of my favorite songs in the whole score!  It’s such a sweet, colorful, fun musical and I wish I had known it was on, so I could record it and catch the whole thing!

By the time the movie was ending my eyes were closing so I went to sleep.  I was too tired to blog, which is why this is being posted late!

A few days ago Eric threw away the San Diego Mountain Biking book he had purchased when we first got here.  He just got very frustrated and said it was a total waste of time.  I saw it in the recycling bin and thought about taking it out and hiding it, but I don’t think he’s really wrong about the book and the mountain bicycling here, so I let it lie there.  Turns out, he took it out himself, and used it to go on a ride today.

Last night, right before he fell asleep, he said he was going to take a long drive with the car today to find some place to go mountain biking, since I was going to be busy decoupaging with my friends and wouldn’t need the car all day.

I asked him where he was going and he said he didn’t know.  I said I didn’t think he would head south, since he’d be in Mexico in a half hour, and he couldn’t very well drive West, so it was either North or East.  He said he would probably drive Northeast.

This morning he actually got up before me and woke me up to tell me he was leaving.  He was all geared up and had his big bag of mountain biking paraphernalia and one of his bikes.  He said he’d probably be back very soon, because I guess he didn’t expect to find much riding out there, but I was pleased that at least he made the effort.

After he left I got up, tidied up the apartment and got everything ready for the class.  There are a lot of tools and supplies needed to do decoupage – Mod Podge (the glue you use), scissors, a sponge brush, paper (to glue), drop cloths to protect the chairs, table and carpet, and old magazines, which you use as a work space to glue.

I decided to put on some music, so I put on a DIXIE CHICKS CD and was enjoying listening to it.  Since I was doing a lot around the apartment, it was getting hot (it’s really warm out this weekend), so I opened up the front door.  I like to play the music pretty loud, but it was about 11:00am, so I didn’t think I would be disturbing anyone.

About 20 minutes later, the manager was at my door, asking me to lower the music.  That’s apartment life!  In Whitestone we were very close to our neighbors and Eric and I would BLAST our music, but no one ever complained.  I don’t know if anyone complained here, or if he just heard it (since his apartment is pretty close to mine) and he thought it was too loud.

Anyway, I opened the window in the bedroom, to get more cross circulation, and I could hear someone’s TV so loud in an apartment behind mine.  They must have had their front door open, too.  I could actually hear exactly what kind of show they were watching.  It was a cooking show and they were baking a chocolate something or other.  I was a little frustrated and felt like ringing Bret’s bell and telling him if my music was too loud, then this TV was definitely too loud, but I resisted.  After all, you don’t want to be labeled a “trouble maker.”  Better just to listen, learn how to bake a chocolate cake, and go on with my life.

My hand was really hurting me today.  I don’t know if it’s the bicycling.  Eric and I were both worried about that, but I didn’t really need to grip the bicycle handlebar.  I just held on tightly with my right hand and kind of leaned my left palm against the bar.  I guess it was more of a strain than I thought, because I’m paying today, and I was working with my hands all afternoon, so I took a few Advil to help me get through it and it felt much better.

The girls arrived at around 1:30pm and we got right to work.  Bonnie was decoupaging the top of two stools and Nicole had a small box.  I showed them the techniques and they both did a beautiful job.  Nicole is only 9-½, but she’s very artistic.  I had a big white plastic tray which I covered with pictures of clocks.  I thought the round on round look would be pretty and I think it came out great!

Nicole and her beautiful trinket box!

Eric came back around 4:00pm.  He said the ride was hot, because it was really warm out and there was no shade on the whole ride, but he did ride and I’m glad about that.

After the girls were finished they took some pictures with their digital camera and sent them to me so I can show their work.  They did a great job and we had a really fun day!

Bonnie's fabulous stool!

After they left Eric and I had a snack and then we watched TV together.  At around 8:00pm I made us both a bowl of soup and then we watched more TV.  Eric has to go to work tomorrow, but he’s not even sure he’s actually going to work.  The guy just told him to come there and he’d see if he had someplace to send him.  It seems pretty stupid to me to drive 25 miles just to see if there’s work, but that’s what he’s going to do tomorrow.  We’ll see how that turns out!

Here's my tray!

I have my acupuncture appointment tomorrow night at 6:00pm in Hillcrest.  I’m excited to see what it’s all about and how it will help me.  I’ll keep you informed!

Eric had to go to work this morning, but wasn’t sure he’d actually get to work.  The boss told him to come in today – and he had to be there by 6:15am, but he was just supposed to go in to see if there was any work.  Sound crazy?  It does to me, too!  Or, as my friend Susan put it, “What kind of cockamamie job is that?”

He was going to take the RV, because I had the acupuncture appointment at 6:00pm and he couldn’t be sure he would be home in time, so he left me the car (dear boy).  He came back at 5:30am to let me know that the battery on the RV was dead (don’t know if I mentioned before that there was some kind of short with the RV) and he had to take the car.

I couldn’t fall back to sleep, so I was up from 4:30am, although I did lie in bed and toss and turn until 6:00pm.  Nice!

I got a ride to work and  it was a great day today.  I was pretty busy, so the day passed pretty quickly.   I called Eric in the late morning to see what the story was and he was already home.  There was no work today, but the guy told him to come back on Wednesday, only he has to start at 5:30am, because they have to be out of the building by 1:30am.  That means he’d have to get up at 3:30am, leave at 4:30am and get to work by 5:30am.   Cockamamie, I say!

Anyway, he had the afternoon to work on the RV.  He disconnected and lugged the battery up to the apartment to recharge it.  He said he’s pretty sure the problem is with the battery, because he couldn’t get it to fully charge and it’s 5 years old, so he’s going to replace it and hope that the problem is solved.

I got a ride home and was dropped off at 5:15pm.  I didn’t have to be at the doctor until 6:00pm.  I told Eric I would just jump in the car and head right to the doctor by myself, but I had a little time, so I went up to the apartment.  Eric wasn’t there, and his bicycles were all there, so I couldn’t figure out where he could be.  I figured maybe he was in the parking lot still working on the RV, but I didn’t have time to go check.

I went to get in the car and was shocked to see Eric sitting in the driver’s seat, reading his book.  He didn’t want me to drive by myself to the doctor, so he was waiting in the car for me to come home.  Sweet boy!

He took me to Hillcrest to the office and waited outside with his book while I had my appointment.  First I had to fill out a bunch of forms (I swear, Eric and I have filled out more forms in the last 3 months than we did in the last 3 years!).  Then, I had to get undressed (except for bra and panties) and get under a sheet on a massage table.  He examined me by taking my pulse (on both wrists -- several times), feeling my foot, asking me all sorts of questions about my sleep habits, my diet – anything you could think of.

Then he started sticking the needles in me.  I knew he was doing it, but I couldn’t really feel anything.  It didn’t hurt at all.  He put one in my left leg, one in my right foot (the problem I was seeking treatment for), one in my right hand and one in my stomach!

Like I said, I couldn’t feel it at all.  He was so sweet and pleasant and talked to me and explained everything to me the whole time.  He said it may take as many as 10 treatments to see an improvement and I told him I was very patient.  I explained to him that I went to my holistic podiatrist for an entire year – 12 months – but never really had great results.  My foot has gotten worse, and he explained a lot about how the body works.  He actually thinks my problem isn’t just about my foot, but involves other parts of the body – it’s just that the symptom is in my foot.

He burned some kind of herb (that I told Eric smelled exactly like pot) and put it very close to my foot so I could feel the heat of it, but it didn’t burn.  It was really interesting and relaxing.  I felt very comfortable with him and he seemed filled with positive energy.  In all, it was a very pleasant experience and I hope it helps!  If anyone out there has had a positive response to acupuncture, I’d sure like to hear about it!\

After I was done I made another appointment for next Monday and left.  We drove home and I made us both NUTRISYSTEM thin crust pizzas and some of my ultra-delicious veggie soup (if I do say so myself).  I swear that soup is SO good!

For dessert I had a NUTRISYSTEM almond biscotti cookie and watched Dr. Phil’s 1000th show!
Tomorrow night I have a dentist appointment – I’m getting fixed up head to toes – literally!
I have a half-day on Friday, because this firm gives it’s employees a half day before every single holiday – no matter when it falls.  They’re closed on Monday for President’s Day, so I have off on Monday, too.  I don’t mind being off half a day on Friday and off on Monday, but of course I’m not getting paid for it, so I’d much rather work!

I had a fabulous surprise this morning at work.  At around 11:00am the receptionist called and asked me to come upstairs to the reception area.  I couldn’t imagine what she wanted and even thought, “What did I do?”  I thought I might be in trouble!

When I got off the elevator, there was Eric waiting for me with a dozen long-stemmed red roses!  I was SO thrilled.  I couldn’t believe he did that for me.  He didn’t work today, so he decided to bring them to me in person, and thought it would be nice for me to have them a few extra days, so I could enjoy them longer!

He came down to my desk with me and I showed him around the department.  All the girls were VERY interested to meet the guy who brought me a dozen roses, and they were all gathered around Eric.  He was shaking hands and introducing himself.  He was SO cute!  It was the “old Eric.”  He was just the way he used to be -- happy, and sweet and so considerate and thoughtful.  I can’t tell you what it meant to me.  I wasn’t even sure I would get a card this Valentine’s Day, because he’s been so down, and here he actually drove to the office just to bring me flowers!

I was floating the rest of the day.  Everyone kept coming around my desk and asking me about the roses and the “mysterious man” who delivered them.  Since they hardly know me, they were all extremely curious.  Eric was the talk of the office all afternoon!  I told my boss I was sorry I didn’t get to introduce him, because he was behind closed doors, but he said he “heard all about it.”

I got a ride home and went straight to the dentist.  I wanted to get a check-up and get a cleaning.  I have receding gums and my teeth are extremely sensitive, so I always get nitrous oxide when I get my teeth cleaned, or have anything more than an examination done.  Unfortunately, once I got in the chair they told me they don’t have nitrous oxide.  I couldn’t believe it.  How could that be?

First, when Eric went last week, he was surprised because they don’t have the little sink next to the seat where you spit.  He was getting work done and wanted to spit out blood.  They said, “Those were outlawed.  We just use the suction.”

Now, I go and they say they don’t use nitrous oxide.  What kind of a cockamamie place is this?  I told them they could take x-rays, so I’d know if I had any cavities, but I wasn’t going to get my teeth cleaned without gas.  I told them I’d find a sedation dentist and get put out.  I just can’t deal with the pain!

Fortunately, I didn’t have any cavities, so I was out of there pretty quickly.  I got home and Eric and I each had a NUTRISYSTEM entrée.  Today is the 29th day we’ve been on this diet and I have been SO good, yet I think I’ve lost about 3 pounds!  I can’t eat much less, so I have to start exercising more, but between my bad left hand and my bad right foot, I’m a mess!  I know what you’re thinking:  “Boo hoo!  Poor, little Peppy.”

Tomorrow, if he’s not working, Eric is going to take me to get a new digital camera.  I’m so excited!  Mine broke months ago and I’ve been using my cell phone ever since (and the pictures STINK!).  So, I’ll be photographing more and putting more pictures on the blog.  And won’t that be nice?

Eric didn’t feel well today and he never heard from his loser boss, so he didn’t work today, and didn’t do much else either.  He said he felt nauseous and he did feel a little warm when I got home from work tonight.  I really hope he’s not coming down with something, because I want to go out for Valentine’s Day!

I had a great day at work.  They kept me busy and the day flew by.  I’m starting to make friends and everyone is so nice.

I’ve been getting a ride to and from work every day now and the girl I ride with is great.  She said that having company makes the ride more pleasant, and we have a lot in common.  Her husband sounds a lot like Eric.  He loves to work on cars, rides a dirt bike (and occasionally a mountain bike) and is very handy.  I told her we should go out to eat sometime and we’d take them to HAIKU, since they’ve never been there.

We have a half day on Friday, because the firm has a new policy, which it just started in 2008, where you only work ½ day the day before any holiday, no matter when it falls.  So, we leave at noon on Friday, and then have Monday off.  I’d rather work, since I’m not getting paid, but – hey – vacation is vacation!  It sure will be nice to do laundry and food shopping during the week, instead of the weekends when everyone else has to do it, too.

We were going to go camera shopping tonight, but Eric wasn’t feeling well, so instead of going by myself I thought I’d wait for him and go Friday or Saturday afternoon.  I’m so excited to get my new camera.  The one I want is the CANON Powershot SD1000, which my niece Jessica has.  It’s light, small, easy to operate and not too expensive either!  It’s amazing how far digital cameras have come in just 5 or 6 years.  My OLYMPUS was over $400 and it’s big, heavy and hard to use.  This is less than half the price!

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day.  I’m going to see if I can pull together a red outfit for work.  I have a nice vintage dress that’s red and black, but I don’t know if I’ll fit into it.  Probably not.  I weighed 129 yesterday and was back to 128.6 today, but haven’t gotten below 128.4, which is my best weight to date.

Losing at LEAST 10 pounds seems insurmountable, because I have been SO good on this diet and have now been on it for 30 days.  What’s with this cockamamie diet?

Have you noticed that I have been saying “cockamamie” a lot lately.  That’s because my friend Susan wrote it in an email and the word made me laugh and now I can’t stop using it myself!  It just says it all, don’t you think?

The dictionary defines it as meaning: ridiculous, pointless, or nonsensical: full of wild schemes and cockamamie ideas.  I think it’s a word that’s not used enough these days, and I think we should bring it back!  Justin Timberlake is bringing sexy back; I'm bringing cockamamie back!  Start using it!

Well, I’m going to close now, because I must go tend to my sick husband, and nurse him back to health (all that really means is cuddling with him in bed).  I need him to be well for Valentine's Day tomorrow!  I’m sure it’s nothing serious, so don’t fret, my dear friends.  He’s just got a little bug or something.  He’ll be just fine.

So, Eric hasn’t really worked since he started this cockamamie job.  They’d ask him to go in, and then send him home.  They’d tell him they’d call and never call.  They'd call and say they'd call back, and he'd never hear from them.  Finally, today, of all days, he went to work in the afternoon and is working all night.  He told me he’s working until 1:00am and probably won't get home until after 2:00am!

Meanwhile, I had a great day at work.  I wore a vintage red/black dress with a black kimono-style jacket over it.  I enjoyed my beautiful roses all day and kept busy with different projects.

When I called Eric in the afternoon, he told me that he was being called in to work and wouldn’t be able to take me out tonight.  It’s no big deal for me.  After 25 Valentine’s Days together, missing one is not a big deal.  I already got my flowers, and there was a lovely card waiting for me when I got home (I left Eric’s for him this morning).  So, all that was really missing was his company.  I’ll get to enjoy him all weekend!

He called me at around 7:00pm and told me the job was hell and he was supposed to work tomorrow night starting at 5:00pm, too.  He said he hated it and it was horrible.  I told him to just quit.  It’s been ridiculous anyway.  The work isn’t steady, the hours are crazy, it’s 23 miles away, and the guy he’s working for seems to be very disorganized, to say the least.  We don’t need the money THAT badly!

I don’t know what he’ll do, because he’s not the kind of guy to open his mouth and quit.  He’s not a quitter.  I just hope he gets so sick of this that he will.  I think it’s admirable that he wants to stick with it, but there are some times when you have to realize that you’re not being appreciated and the people who you are working for don’t deserve you.  I think part of it is that Eric really wanted this to work, because he didn’t want to start the job hunt again.  It’ a frustrating exercise.

So, I spent my Valentine’s Day catching up on AMERICAN IDOL.  I don’t know if any of you are interested, but they’re now down to the final 24 and there’s some really great talent in there this year.  I’m in love with some of them already.  I usually vote every week, because I am really interested in the whole process.  I feel guilty if I don’t vote and then the ones I like get voted off!

It’s a little after 10:00pm and I am going to sleep now, but I plan to get up when Eric get home – whenever that is.  I just want him to know that I am there for him and whatever he wants to do is fine with me.  I just hope that what he wants to do is quit!

Before I close, I have to tell you about the loveliest email I got tonight from a dear friend, Heath.  Like our dear friends Geri and Larry, and Sergio and Lourdes, I met Heath because of Betty Boop.  He is from Georgia.  We were pen pals for a while and then, when he was just 18, he came to NY on vacation and stayed with us.  I took Heath all over the city and showed him the sights.  We had the best time and we have kept in touch off and on since then.

Heath still lives in Georgia and is now 30 years old!  Time does fly, doesn't it?  Anyway, Heath wrote to let me know that he is one of the 10 people who reads my blog all the time.  His email was so sweet and so touching, and made me feel so good that I just wanted to write about it.  He said that I have been an inspiration to him, and that he enjoys reading the things I write because I can make the ordinary seem extraordinary.  That is a huge compliment and I really appreciate it.

It's amazing to me how people can touch your life when you haven't seen them in years, and you don't really communicate that often.  But I want Heath to know that his email made me cry and that I am grateful for his friendship.

I hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day.  Today is really just another day to let our loved ones know what they mean to us and I want you to know that if you're reading this I thank you and I appreciate you!  Happy Valentine's Day!

I don’t know what time Eric got home last night.  I didn’t fall asleep until almost midnight, and then I woke up when he got home and we only talked a little, because he wanted me to go back to sleep.  We’re both pretty light sleepers, and I could tell neither one of us got a lot of sleep last night.  I really wanted to come home and take a nap, but I ended up staying at work later than I thought (2:00pm) and then ran a million errands with Eric.

Eric is very down in the dumps.  Everything he says is negative.  I tell him he’s a volcano of negativity, because he’s always spewing negative thoughts.  Everything he says is negative.   I really don’t know how much more of this I can take.  It’s so hard to live with someone who is always mad, always unhappy, always criticizing his environment, always putting down everything around him.  He’s not mean to me – he doesn’t pick on me or put me down, but it hurts me that the place I love is so abhorrent to him.  He complains that it’s too hot and dreads the summer, because he’ll be “roasting.”  Meanwhile, the weather here is PERFECT.  It's PARADISE.  I SWEAR to you!

I know that anyone who knows anything about depression will understand that it’s not Eric’s fault and that he needs help, but I can’t get him to seek help.  He just won’t do anything about it, because he says he just has to “deal with the situation until he can get the hell out of here.”

Today we learned about the young man who went into an Illinois university and killed 5 people, injuring many more.  They said that he was on some kind of medication, but he stopped taking it.  I have told Eric I think he needs antidepressants.  Today he said he was afraid to take them, because then if he stopped taking them he might kill somebody.

I had printed a list of the signs of depression and he pretty much shows every sign.  I am positive he’s got clinical depression, because his reaction to San Diego and the mountain biking situation is so out of proportion.  If he thought we were staying here forever, I could see him getting so down, but I have already told him – a million times – that we will leave here in November and move to North Carolina.  If he can’t put up with this place for one year, and deal with the situation, then something is really wrong.

It’s weird, because one day everything will be so great (like the day he brought the roses to me at work), and then another day he’s just about giving up (today).  I realize that the good days are just days when he forces himself to smile, to be happy, to be in a good mood, but it’s not real.

I wish I knew for sure that moving to North Carolina would make everything better, but I’m SO scared that we’ll make this huge move and have another huge upheaval and things won’t really get better.  I could be wrong and some great forests and mountains are all he needs to be happy.  It could really happen.  But should I be willing to take that chance?

I have told him several times that he should leave – go to North Carolina – live in the RV and get a job, get settled, go mountain biking.  I will stay here, keep working, save money, pack us up, ship everything to NC and join him there when I can.  He says he needs to be with me.  He can’t leave me.  I think he’s just scared of being on his own, and he relies on me for so many things. 

It really helps that I’m at work all day, kept pretty busy and surrounded by lovely people.  Being with him these days is really not much fun.  For the last 4 months I’ve been praying that he will “snap out of it,” or that he’ll adjust, or just learn to deal until we can leave.  I know now that my eternal optimism is not going to win this time.  Eric is not going to get better while we’re here, and I’m not sure how this will end.

Whenever we're together, even just sitting and watching TV, I am cringing, because I know anything negative they mention on TV will set him off.  If there's a robbery on the news, he says that the crime here is the worst in the country.  Anything he can latch on to which will help him in his case of Eric vs. California, he will say it.

On to another subject:  Today my weight was the lowest yet – 127.8.  It was great, especially since I ate more than I should have last night.  I did some emotional eating, because I was feeling sorry for myself that I was alone on Valentine’s Day.  You can imagine my surprise when I actually got below 128 this morning.  I guess maybe this diet IS working, albeit very slowly.  I wish I was the kind of person who couldn't eat when they were stressed or upset, but I think I've always eaten more.  Not a good thing when you're stressed and upset more than usual!

Eric had to pick me up at work, because my ride left at 12:30pm and I had to stay until 2:00pm.  We went to CIRCUIT CITY to check out cameras.  I knew exactly which one I wanted (the one my niece Jessica has), so it was pretty easy.  We checked out the price at CIRCUIT CITY and then went to COSTCO to see how much it was there.  We looked at the cameras, but they no longer carry the model I wanted.  We shopped a little, picking up laundry detergent, toilet paper, balsamic vinegar, sugarless gum and FUZE, a 10 calorie fruit drink I really like.  I always liked shopping at BJs in NY, because you get so much more for your money.

I had to join COSTCO before we could pay, so Eric stayed by the shopping cart and I filled out all the paperwork (as usual).  It costs $50 to join, but I think you save that in one or two trips, because shopping at KEILS and buying the tiny bottles of things like detergent or balsamic vinegar just makes you realize how great the prices are at BJs!  I got 12 packs of gum for less than $8.  If you buy a pack of gum in the store, it’s at least $1, so there’s a savings of $4 right there!  We got 300 oz. of detergent for $11, and I usually pay at least $3 or $4 for 64 oz.

After we left COSTCO we went back to CIRCUIT CITY, so I could buy the camera, since they didn’t have it at COSTCO.  Turns out, they didn’t have any left, but the guy gave me a great deal on the floor model, which looked perfect.  He gave me $50 off, and then I bought the 4-year warrantee for $50, so I’m guaranteed that the camera will work, and it didn’t cost me any extra money.  What DID cost extra was the card and the case, because they don’t come with that, so they get you coming and going!

Eric had mentioned that he wanted to listen to music while he was riding, because he thought it would make it more enjoyable.  Since neither of us knows how to use an IPOD and Eric said he didn’t think he’d like the sound quality, I bought him a portable CD player/AM/FM radio.  It’s a lot cheaper than the IPOD and I think it will be fine for him.  We just can’t seem to get into the 21st century, can we?

After that, Eric dropped me at STARBUCKS, so I could get my Iced Grande Decaf Skinny Mocha Latte.  I only get to have STARBUCKS on the weekends now, so I REALLY appreciate it!

When we got home, Eric apologized for being so crabby and said he felt bad that his being so unhappy was making me unhappy.  I really think he means it.  I think he knows what this is doing to me, but he can’t help himself.  I have thought about couples therapy, but I think I’d end up doing all the talking, because that’s how it’s always been with the two of us.  He clams up and I talk.  So, is that going to help?

I made us the last of my delicious veggie soup and we each had a NUTRISYSTEM entrée.  I know Eric is not eating well and even bragged that he hadn’t eaten anything all day.  He thinks it’s impressive that he is starving himself, and he’s getting thinner than ever, but then I’ll make him dinner and he eats the whole thing, so I don’t know what to think.  He used to take vitamins every day, but now he never takes them.  That was one of the first signs, when we were on the road, that he wasn’t doing well.  He stopped taking his vitamins and I couldn’t convince him to start again.

After dinner I went and did two loads of laundry.  Eric has a new system to hang the laundry that I don’t put in the dryer (jeans, t-shirts, my tops, stockings, etc.).  He ties a rope to the hinges on the kitchen cabinet doors and strings it all around so there are clothes hanging everywhere.  You have to go past my pjs to open the refrigerator door.  It looks pretty funny.  When I get my new camera going (tomorrow), I’ll take a picture.  That’s one positive thing – you can expect a lot more pictures in the blog!

Tomorrow I am getting a cut and color at noon.  It’s always nice to pamper myself a little, and I REALLY need the cut AND the color. Those roots are really showing!  I was thinking of getting a pedicure after that, to really pamper myself.  I figure I deserve it.  I’m a working girl now!

Tonight I got another lovely email from another darling friend.  His name is Stephen and he lives in Canada.  He is “one of the 10” who also reads my blog religiously.  I met Stephen in the city while waiting to see a show.  We exchanged emails, started corresponding, and then became theatre buddies.  Whenever he would come to town (which was 3 or 4 times a year) we’d go to dinner and see a Broadway musical.  We always had a fabulous time and he is the best company.

He came to spend a night at our house and Eric had a great time with him, too!  I also brought Stephen to Fire Island to meet my friend, Artie, and they hit it off.  Canadian Stephen, as I call him, is a sweetheart, and just like so many other friends I have.  I hardly ever see him, we don’t even email much, but he is in my heart and I am grateful for his friendship.

I’m crying now, because I’m thinking of the people who read this every day.  I know you’re worried about us.  I know you feel helpless, because you’re so many miles away and we’re here, and Eric is suffering.  I want you to know that we will be okay.  I promise you.  I will do whatever I have to do to help him, to help us.  We will get through this.

I could never write this if I thought my mother would read it, because she really doesn’t know much about this.  She knows that Eric is unhappy, and that we’re planning to leave San Diego.  She’s actually happy that I will be closer to her (in Florida) because she misses me a lot.  She just doesn’t know how serious the situation has gotten.  I don’t want her to know, because she would feel the most helpless of all and I don’t want to upset her.

Tomorrow is another day and I have a three day weekend.  I have to enjoy it, because when you’re working you live for the weekends.  Right?

Before I close, I have to share two things with you.  One is a picture of our great-niece, Rian (who will be 1 in 2 weeks), and my great-nephew, Kyle.  Aren't they gorgeous?

The other is a letter from a child to God.  Someone sent me a bunch of letters and they were all REALLY funny, but this was my favorite.  It reflects my feelings about winter perfectly and mirrors my own thoughts.  ENJOY!

My big plans for the day were to get my hair cut and colored at noon at HAIRSPRAY in Hillcrest.  I woke up at 8:00am, and turned on the TV while Eric slept.  Then, I started to feel tired again and turned off the TV at 9:00am.  Eric woke me at 10:30am and I had to drag myself out of bed to jump in the shower, so I could be sure to be on time for my noon appointment.

The bell rang and it was the mail person with a box for me.  It was one of the pairs of shoes I ordered on ebay.  I’ve been having a problem at work, because I’m not used to being on my feet all day and wearing shoes all day.  If you know me, you know that I always wore mules in the shop (and at my previous job), because I can’t stand wearing shoes all day long.  I need to be able to slip them on and off.  So, if I’m wearing shoes that buckle across or have an ankle strap, as comfy as they may be, they drive me crazy, because I can’t take them off.  Enclosed shoes or boots are the worst.  It’s an idiosyncrasy I’ve had for years.  I used to call it shoe paranoia.  I LOVE shoes.  I mean, I LOVE shoes.  I adore high heels.  I probably have 50 pairs of shoes.  But I don’t like having them on for 8 hours at a time.  If I go to a Broadway show, or a movie, I always take my shoes off.

I used to run around barefoot at work.  My bosses never cared (although other people in the department used to complain and said that I would step on a staple or something).  I just feel better when I’m barefoot!

So, although I’m not running around barefoot at work, I DO take off my shoes when I’m sitting at my desk, and then put them on when I stand up.  I have a few pairs of mules or shoes that easily slip on or off, but I figure if I’m going to be working for months I better have a few more, so I ordered 4 pairs of shoes.  They were all really cheap.  I think the most expensive pair was $40!  Most were about $15, with up to $10 shipping/handling.

The first pair was a pair of black fabric pointy-toe mules with a lace overlay, which are super comfy and really pretty.  Then, I got a pair of black leather platforms with a peep-toe and a bow.  They’re SO cute, comfy and easily come on and off.

The third pair was black suede with a buckle and an espadrille-style wedge sole.  Unfortunately, those don’t fit very well, so I’m sending them back.  I have two more pairs coming – purple suede and green suede.  Then, I should be set for every possible outfit!

I feel guilty buying more shoes when I have so many pairs already, but all the ones I have with buckles and straps are no good for work.  I needed to invest in some “work shoes” although they don’t look like work shoes at all!

I got to my hair appointment on time.  Unfortunately, he wasn’t ready for me and I waited about 20 minutes.  While I waited I read the most recent issue of VOGUE, with Eva Longoria on the cover.  They showed the inside of her closet.  OH MY GOSH, the girl has about 100 pairs of shoes, all designer and all FABULOUS, and drawers and drawers of clutch purses.  I was SO jealous when I saw her collection.  She has over 50 pairs of jeans (that I couldn’t care less about) and an amazing array of gorgeous designer dresses.  What a closet!  What a life!

I got my hair cut and colored.  The guy does a great job, but he talks, and talks, and when he tells a story, he stops working and after a while it was driving me crazy, because I told Eric we’d take a drive this afternoon, and I was NEVER going to get home at this rate.  I finally told him that I didn’t mind him talking, but could he keep working, because my husband was waiting for me!  I don’t think he was insulted and he did keep working and talking from then on.

When I got home Eric and I couldn’t decide where to go.  I really wanted to go to Ocean Beach, which is supposed to be really fun and has great antique shops, but Eric said he didn’t want to go to the beach (because, apparently, he hates the beach).  I also knew he wouldn’t want to walk around antique shops with me, so I figured I’d go there by myself sometime (maybe even tomorrow or Monday) and we’d go someplace else.

It was getting later and later.  We couldn't decide where to go.  I wanted to bring my camera, so I got it out and started reading the manual.  I had to charge the battery before using it, so I took the charger, put the battery in and then had to wait over an hour.  We discussed where to go and it seemed to be more trouble than it was worth, so we decided to just go out to dinner and forget about a drive this afternoon.  It was already after 3:00pm, so we went into the bedroom and watched BOSTON LEGAL and then took a nap.

When we woke up, I tried to put the battery in the camera and it wouldn’t fit.  Eric couldn’t get it either.  We decided to go to CIRCUIT CITY before we went to HAIKU for sushi, so they could help me.  Turns out they gave me the wrong battery!  They gave me a new battery and we went to HAIKU for dinner.

We had green tea, edamame, and two rolls: Philadelphia and Spicy Cruncy Shrimp roll (our favorite!).  The young sushi chef, David (aka Jin), asked when my nieces were coming back.  Turns out he had a big crush on April.  You see we went there on Friday night and then Saturday, when we were shopping, we ran into him on the street in Pacific Beach and he was so adorable, flirting with the girls.

He said he wants to go to New York, but he has no one to stay with.  I told him he could look up April and she’d show him around New York.  He’s adorable and he obviously was smitten with my gorgeous niece!  The next time I go, I’ll bring my camera and take pictures of the people there, because they are SO sweet and so nice and greet you like you’re family whenever we go.

After dinner Eric suggested going to Hillcrest for gelato at Gelato Vero.  I didn’t really want any, because I’ve been SO good on my diet, and weighed in at 127 this morning – a new low!  But Eric wanted some and I was so happy he wanted to go somewhere and do something (especially eat something fattening), so I said okay.  I told him I felt guilty for cheating, but I have been really good for the past 5 weeks and have not cheated at all.  He said it’s not cheating – that you’re allowed to have something fattening once in a while.  I guess he’s right and I shouldn’t beat myself up about it.

Anyway, we took the ride, but couldn’t find a spot, so he told me what he wanted and I went in alone.  Eric got a pint of Chocolate Hazelnut (so he could have some for the next few days) and I got a small scoop of dark chocolate.

The guy behind the counter asked if I was visiting and I said I was from NY but moved here 3 months ago.  The girl said she remembered me having been there before.  They were very friendly and sweet and the guy said he LOVED New York accents.  It’s so strange to me, because I really don’t think I sound so different from anybody else, but I guess I do! I mean it’s not like I’m English or French, but everybody picks up on it and comments on it.

I got back in the car and we drove home to eat our gelato and watch an episode of MONK.  I laugh out loud so much from that show.  I really appreciate the writing so much.

After that, Eric was ready for bed, so I came out to work on the computer and then watch a little bit more TV before I hit the hay, too. 

Today was a little frustrating.  Eric and I seem to be arguing a lot lately.  I think my frustration level is exceedingly low (and I always get frustrated easily), and Eric is so negative that we end up arguing.  It’s not screaming matches (although my voice is always louder than his).  It’s just heated discussions.  It could be about anything – the weather, where we’re going, my camera, anything.  He just seems to say things that make me upset and then I say something back and we get into it.

I remember days like that in the RV, when everything would bother him and that would bother me.  I try to be patient.  I try to tell myself it’s not him – it’s the depression.  I try to keep my mouth shut, but it’s really hard.  I keep telling him the old saying, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”  But he refuses to listen.

I think he gets a perverse pleasure out of being negative.  I really do.  I think it makes him happy to say negative things.  Does that make sense to anyone?   Am I crazy?  Sometimes I think he says the things just to hurt me, because he knows how much I love it here and how happy I am with the weather, my job, etc.  I think he likes putting San Diego and everything about it down, because I enjoy it so much.  And that really hurts, too.

I guess I have to learn to put up with it and shut up and not let him bait me.  If I just ignore him, then maybe he’ll stop.  I don’t know.  I guess I’ll be dealing with this for the next 9 months.

Tomorrow he already told me he has a game on that he wants to watch (basketball, I think), and I’m going to get a pedicure.  I need one badly and it will get me out of the house for a while.  Then, I’ll come back and do some crafting.  It’s so nice that I have Monday off, too.  A long weekend is nice, but work is nice, too!

We both woke up a little late this morning, then hung around watching TV.  There was a marathon of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL on and since I haven’t seen any of this season, I was hooked!  Of course Eric had no interest in that, so he went into the living room and watched TV there.

Then, around 1:00pm, Eric decided we should go for a bicycle ride and even though it really was the last thing I wanted to do, I agreed.  After all, if he’s willing to go bicycling, how can I say no?  I mean, we all know I need the exercise, and getting out in the sunshine is good for everybody.  So, even though I had plans to go food shopping, do laundry, get a pedicure and visit CIRCUIT CITY again (to get help programming the camera), we went for a ride.

Instead of me driving the car down to the parking lot and Eric meeting me there, Eric agreed that we could walk the bikes down the hill (about ½ mile) to the bay.  It’s really dangerous to ride in the street, because it’s the entrance to I-5 and the drivers are CRAZY!  So, we walked on the sidewalk and when we got to the park we got on the bicycles and rode around.  We probably went about 2 miles.  It was a gorgeous day and the park was packed with people.  Lots of people.  Flying kites, putting boats in the water, fishing, and having picnics.  Lots of kids, too.  It made riding a little tricky and I used my bell a lot to warn people that we were coming!   After almost an hour Eric said he thought we should stop, because we still had to walk back up the hill.  I had really pushed myself when we were riding, so I felt like I got some exercise.

We started walking up the hill – when I say hill, I mean HILL.  This hill is so huge and so long and it’s ALL UP HILL!  I told Eric I’d like to try riding a little, on the sidewalk, and he agreed, so I got on the bike.  Everything was okay, but it started to get so steep and I kept pushing myself.  You always hear that you’re supposed to push your muscles to exhaustion and that’s the way to build muscle, so I figured I’d keep pushing!  The next thing you know, I was so out of breath I thought I was having an asthma attack.  I got off the bike and tried to catch my breath, but I couldn’t.  I felt sick.  I wanted to sit down, but we were on the side of the road and there really wasn’t anyplace.  The sidewalk is very narrow and there are no houses or anything.

Eric came up behind me and gave me some water.  I sat down on the ground for a minute and my breathing finally started to return to normal.  I was really scared for a minute there.  It was SO ridiculous.  I am so out of shape that one big exertion and I thought I was going to die!  The thing was, it wasn't my muscles that were giving out.  I actually could have ridden further.  It was my lungs!  I actually started thinking Eric would have to take me to the emergency room, because I was having an asthma attack!  Thank goodness I got my breath back and we continued up the hill.  He wanted to walk both bikes, but I told him that leaning on the bike and rolling it wasn’t hard, it felt like it was helping.

When we got back to the apartment we opened all the windows, because it felt like it was 100 degrees in the apartment.   Eric immediately laid down to take a nap, but I didn’t even want to lie down, because I was so sweaty.  My face was SO red (I always get red-in-the-face when I exercise – it’s VERY attractive!) and the back of my neck was soaked.  I wanted to jump in the shower, but (like the episode of Seinfeld with George), I knew it wouldn’t “take.”  So, I just sat in bed and watched more AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL until I cooled down.  The cross ventilation in the apartment is really great, because after a few minutes I was actually cold!  I closed the front door.  Then I did lie down and took a nap, too.   

Eric got up at 5:30pm to watch the All-Star Basketball Game and I just stayed in bed for another half hour.  Then, I took a shower, made us both NUTRISYSTEM flat bread pizzas and a nice salad.  We had the rest of the gelato for dessert – Eric had most of it and I had a small scoop.  It’s SO SO SO good!

After dinner I finished my “clock tray.”  I had finished the front, but wanted to finish the back.  It’s done now and I just need to varnish it, which I will do tomorrow, if I have time!

Then I went back inside and watched more ANTM (I know I don’t have to spell it out AGAIN).   I really enjoy that show.  You learn so much about modeling, and seeing these girls with no makeup and then how they look on camera is so amazing.  I love the different challenges and photo shoots.  It’s all very glamorous!

After that, Eric went into the bedroom to watch TV and I stayed out here, watching THE PRINCESS DIARIES, which is such a cute movie.  I love Ann Hathaway.  She is fantastic in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, and she’s adorable in this one, too.

Tomorrow I’m going to try to get done all the stuff I didn’t do today: laundry, food shopping, 99 cent store (for more small mirrors), CIRCUIT CITY (for help with the camera), and a pedicure.  Think I can fit all that into one day?  We’ll see!

I did get everything I wanted to do accomplished today.  I woke up pretty early – about 8:30am, even though I stayed up watching TV until after 1:00am.  Eric got up soon after, because his boss called, asking him to work today.  Eric knew I had plans to run around all day with the car, and had a 5:00pm appointment for more acupuncture, so he told his boss he couldn’t work today.  I listened as he spoke to him for about 15 minutes.  He says all the right things.  He expressed his frustration at the hours, the lack of work, and said he was thinking of looking for another job.

Meanwhile, he has to be at work at 5:00am tomorrow, so he’s working tomorrow.  I left the house around 11:00am and my first stop was KEILS for food shopping.  I came home and Eric brought up the packages and put everything away for me, because I had a noon appointment for my pedicure.  It was 11:30am, so I went to the 99 cent store (no mirrors) then to CIRCUIT CITY and the guy showed me how to use the camera and set the date/time for me.

Next, I had my pedicure, which I find SO relaxing, and left with beautiful red toenails!  After that, I went to TJ MAXX and BIG LOTS looking for small mirrors to do a custom jewelry mosaic in all pink, which Gili requested.  She has a customer who wants all pink, so I’m on the job!

My last stop before heading home was STARBUCKS, where I treated myself to a grande mocha light Frappaccino.  They use the sugar free syrup and fat free milk, but there are still more calories than a Skinny Mocha Latte.  I just needed something special and it hit the spot!  I weighed in at 127.4 this morning, which I figure is the gelato talking!  I’m hoping tomorrow I’m back down to 127!

After I got home I kept going – I made us a NUTRISYSTEM lunch entrée and a small salad.  Then Eric and I went down to the laundry room and we started three loads.  Then, I went back to put some in the dryer and bring the rest back up for Eric to hang on his makeshift clothes line.

Then, I started sorting my jewelry, trying to find pink pieces.  I was a little disappointed, because I didn’t find as much as I had hoped.

At 4:30pm I left for the acupuncturist, which is also very relaxing.  We talked a lot and I told him the situation with Eric.  He was very sympathetic, but said he’s been in San Diego for four years (from Chicago) and has adjusted to it, but still doesn’t love it here.  He actually says that he thinks a change in seasons is better for your body (but don’t tell Eric!!!!).  He feels that people in San Diego are a little light in the head, because they get too much sun!  Isn’t that funny?

When I got home I made dinner for Eric and me and then proceeded to make my vegetable soup.  I use slightly different ingredients each time.  This time I used a red onion, mushrooms, celery, baby carrots, cilantro, a can of black beans, two cans of stewed tomatoes, a can of organic mixed vegetables, some shelled edamame, and two containers of organic vegetable broth.  After it was done I added some fat free half and half and then pureed some of the vegetables to make it even more creamy.

I had a bowl without the half and half, but Eric said he likes it a little creamier, so I added it for him.

Then, I washed all the dishes, cleaned up the kitchen, made my lunch and Eric’s lunch for tomorrow, and then sat down at the computer to blog.  I guess I really got a lot accomplished today, wouldn’t you say?

I told Eric that the new plan is to visit North Carolina together as soon as my temp job ends.  Then, I told him, if we both like it, we will start planning to move as soon as possible.  So, he says, “There’s no rush.”  I said, “What do you mean, there’s no rush?  You’re not doing very well are you?  I’m worried that you won’t last until November!”  So he said, “I’m just saying that there’s no big rush and I can wait.”

I guess I should be happy that he’s not pressuring me and that’s a positive sign.  Nevertheless, he has okay days, bad days and very bad days, so I’m not anxious to stay another six months if I can help it.

The only thing I really dread is doing everything we just did ALL OVER AGAIN.  We didn’t even get our California Driver’s Licenses yet.  I just changed our address and had our mail forwarded for the second time in 6 months.  I changed our address on all our computer accounts – credit cards, ebay, paypal, amazon.com, etc., etc., etc. 

Then there’s the packing.  Oh, the packing.  I guess it will be a lot easier this time, since we’re only living in a small 2-bedroom and we didn’t even unpack a lot of our boxes, but I did buy a lot of new stuff.  The folding table and 4 chairs, the headboard, the bed (which weighs A TON), the couch, the desk chair, the chest/coffee table, the AB LOUNGE ULTRA.  We’ve managed to buy a lot of new stuff in just 3 months and now we have to ship most, if not all of it.  I guess we could try to sell the couch and the table/chairs, since they’re nothing fabulous and the couch would definitely be expensive to ship, because it’s heavy, but the thought of putting everything I’ve unpacked back in boxes is overwhelming.

I guess I could just pay more and let the movers pack everything.  But I’m so practical and I hate to waste the money.  Anyway, I did it before and I can do it again.  I just have to think of Navy and Army families, who can move every single year.  If they can do it, I can do it!

Well, tomorrow should be nice and relaxing, compared to all I did today!  I just have to try to get to bed early and get a good night’s sleep.  My biggest fear is that I won’t be able to fall back to sleep tomorrow morning when Eric gets up at 3:30am!!!!  I hate lying in bed from 3:30am to 5:50am, when my alarm goes off.

The good thing is that this is a short week, so it’s already just four days until the weekend!  Wheeeeeeeeee!

Eric worked today, and he had to be there by 5:00am (yes, 5:00am), so he got up at 3:30am and left around 4:15am.  I fell right back to sleep, but there’s this guy who coughs really loud every morning (it really sounds like he’s throwing up).  The first time I heard it, I figured he must have had a rough nite and was paying for it the next day.  But then I heard it again, and again, and again, and again!  Either he’s a raging alcoholic who throws up every morning, or he’s a smoker who wakes up with a hacking cough.  Either way, it’s disgusting!  It’s also amazing how loud you can hear it through the floor.  It sounds like he’s in the next room.  Then, I hear him flush the toilet and go into the shower.  Nice.

My ride picked me up and I got to work a little before 8:00am.  First thing, my computer wouldn’t turn on.  I called Tech Support and this guy came and fixed it by just fiddling around with it.  As soon as he got back to his desk, I called him again, because now I couldn’t log onto MICROSOFT OUTLOOK.  He came back, checked a port in the closet and said my plug was plugged into the wrong port.  Huh?  How did THAT happen?

Then, I had to call him a THIRD time (immediately following the first two times), because it was taking 5 minutes to launch a 2-page document!  I had no idea what was going on, but he “took over my mouse” from his location (it’s weird how they can do that) and figured out that something was running in the background, which was causing the delays.

By 8:30am I had my decaf coffee, my NUTRISYSTEM cereal was ready to eat and my computer was up and running.  NOT the way I like to start my day, but at least the problems were resolved quickly!

I knew this morning was going to be crazy, because I was preparing three different packets of presentation materials my boss would be using in St. Louis on Thursday.  I had to be sure they were shipped out this afternoon, for delivery tomorrow, so he could use them on Thursday.

I worked with him on getting it all put together (he told me what should go where in each packet and I made up 3 copies of 1; 6 copies of another; and 1 copy of a third.  It was all very confusing, but I'm pretty sure I got it all done correctly.  I'm sure I'll hear about it if I didn't!

He left at 11:15am to catch a plane, and I spent the next few hours getting it all done.   I stopped for lunch – NUTRISYSTEM vegetarian chili and a small salad -- and then got it all finished by 2:30pm.

I had a few other projects from other people in the department, and then by 4:00pm I was done.  I had done everything I could possibly think of.  Nothing left to do.  Not a thing.  The last hour of the day seemed like three.  I went on YAHOO and sent a few emails and read all the news.

At 5:00pm I got a ride home.  Eric was in bed when I got home.  He worked almost 12 hours!  I didn’t want to bother him, but he did wake up long enough to say hello.  I told him to take a nap and I'd wake him for dinner.

I set about making our dinner – chicken cutlets for him; a piece of salmon for me, with asparagus and some of my soup.  We ate together while watching TWO AND A HALF MEN.  That’s a really funny show and one of Eric’s favorites.

After dinner I washed all the dishes and then got a call from one of my customers, who became a friend.  Sabrina was a regular in my shop.  She would come in once or twice a week and almost always bought something.  She has a wall in her apartment with about 15 different works of art and most of them were purchased in PEPPY’S DREAM!  She asked me about work, about Eric, and about our lives here.

Sabrina said something that really struck me.  She said it’s like we moved to another country.  She said that we should be proud of ourselves, because except for the fact that we spoke the language, we were in a completely strange and new environment and didn’t know anyone and managed to find jobs and get settled in an apartment.  She said it was a big accomplishment and that most people would be afraid to even try.  I never thought of it that way, but it made me feel good.

After I hung up the phone I continued my hunt for pink jewelry to make the commissioned piece for Gili Anna.  I’m kind of disappointed, because I can’t find as much as I had hoped.  I’m going to have to mix some creams and beiges in there with the pinks.

I watched a new reality show called GIRLICIOUS with 15 gorgeous young women competing to be in a new girl group put together by the same woman who put together THE PUSSY CAT DOLLS.  I love watching people sing and dance, so it’s interesting to me, although there’s always a bitch in the crowd!  I hate that people have to be so mean.  Can’t they all just get along?

At around 9:30am Eric went to bed.  He has to be to work a little after 5:00am tomorrow.  He was actually in a pretty good mood tonight.  He didn’t speak much about his day, but I think he’s happy that he’s working.  I think he made the boss realize that he was going to lose him if he didn’t give him more work.  We’ll see if it lasts.

Tomorrow is probably going to be REALLY slow for me at work, because my boss won’t be in (he won’t be back until Friday), and there’s just not that much to do when he’s not around!  I wish I could do my crafting, or at least read a book while I’m sitting there, but I don’t know how they’d feel about it.  Maybe I’ll just try reading, and see if I get in trouble!  What’s the worst they can do?  Tell me to put the book away?  I can handle that!  At least I’m not on the phone, or away from my desk.  I’m there if they need me – ready, willing and able!

No, I’m not describing myself, although I’d like to think that I am!  I’m talking about today’s blog, because there really isn’t much to report!

 I have to give a shout out to my girl, Geri, whose birthday is today.  Hope it was wonderful!

It's also my nephew, Brandon's birthday.  He's 33.  Wow!  He was about 7 when I met him.  I remember the first time I ever saw him.  He was in Eric's room (Eric still lived with his parents when I met him) and he was playing some computer game and wouldn't even take his eyes off the screen to say hello to me.  He was so cute.  Boy, time flies!

Work was SO slow today, but I knew that it would be.  My boss is in St. Louis and won't be back until Friday.  I had the good sense to bring a book with me – THE RED TENT – by Anita Diamant, which my sister, Lenae, gave me when we were at her house in New Paltz in August, right before we left New York.  I read over 150 pages today.

Now, I’m a fast reader, but I have to say I think I read for about 5 hours and worked for less than 3.  Besides reading I had breakfast, then lunch, went to the bathroom at least 4 times, got a drink in the coffee room, talked on the phone, read my emails and the news on YAHOO and also did a little work.  They paid me for a whole day and I mostly read my book!

The book is great.  It's beautifully written and takes you into another world.  It’s the story of Dinah, a woman in the bible who is just briefly written about.  Anita Diamant took what little the bible tells about Dinah and wrote her life story.  It’s really quite lovely.

When I got home Eric was in the shower.  He said he had a pretty good day.  We both took a nap (missing the lunar eclipse) and then I made dinner.  Eric had leftover chicken cutlets and asparagus with my soup and I had a big bowl of soup.

Then we watched AMERICAN IDOL from last night (the 12 boys sang).  We agreed on all of them.  Eric's a great judge of talent (hey, he likes me, doesn't he?).  He was spot on in his assessment of all the guys and we liked the same ones (as well as Simon!).  There are about 4 standouts; 4 are okay; and 4 will be voted off rather quickly.  Tomorrow we’ll watch the girls!

Now, Eric’s sleeping and I just finished making his lunch for tomorrow.  I always loved making his lunch for him.  I like to know he’s going to eat well during the day.

Tomorrow should be more of the same at work, unless somebody finds me something to do.  I was begging for work in the morning, but no one needed help with anything!

I have to admit, reading made it better, but the day still dragged on.  I mean how long can you sit and read in one day?  I read off and on for 8 hours today!   If tomorrow is the same, I'll probably finish the book. Yikes!

Eric worked again today – three days in a row.  I think that’s great, although he’s off tomorrow.  We’ll see what next week brings!

I had another slow day, mostly spent reading, although I did have a few projects for different people.  I’m almost done with my book and I have to bring another book to work tomorrow, because I’ll definitely finish THE RED TENT within an hour!  My boss was supposed to be in tomorrow, but he’s stuck in St. Louis, because of an ice storm!

He’ll be in LA on Monday, so now I won’t see him until Tuesday.  That means two more days of reading!

I got home around 5:30pm and Eric was watching TV in bed.  I steamed some edamame, added some sea salt and we had a delicious little snack!  We watched MILLIONAIRE together and then he took a nap while I watched DR. PHIL.

Then, I made us NUTRISYSTEM flat bread pizzas.  We watched AMERICAN IDOL from last night – girl’s night -- and then watched the AMERICAN IDOL results show tonight, where 4 contestants were voted off.  There are only a handful of them that are any good anyway – about 4 boys and 4 girls.  The rest are just fluff.

I really think when they audition all over the country they let a lot of super-talented people get away and choose some singers more because their personalities than their talent.  They just make good television.  That’s a shame, but it makes it easy for the first 12 to get eliminated.  When it gets down to the last 12, THAT’S when the real competition starts!

Tomorrow is Friday already.  There’s nothing like a 4-day work week!  We have no plans at all for the weekend, except I have to hit the post office before noon (oh, how I’ve missed it) and Eric and I are going to Citibank, because we decided Eric should open a savings account and put all of his earnings into a special account.  We called it his “escape fund.”  I told Eric that saving his money towards our move back east will make him feel like he’s really accomplishing something by working, instead of just depositing it with my check into our regular checking account.  He liked that idea!

He seems to be in a much better mood when he’s working, so I hope there’s more work for him next week.  It is somewhat aggravating for him, because some of the things he has to do at work waste time and money, and he’s so practical and so good at his trade that he gets frustrated by the inadequacies of the people he works with and for, but he just deals.  Actually, it was the same way in NY, but at least he was getting union pay with union benefits.  Here, the pay’s less and there are no benefits.

The bottom line is: Keep Eric busy.  He told me today that someone at work offered to take him by the Mexican border to do mountain biking.  He says it’s supposed to be pretty good and he really wants to go, even though he knows how dangerous it is around there.  I’m not happy about it, but I don’t think I can stop him.  I just hope he doesn’t end up crossing the border into Mexico!

It’s a good thing I brought THREE books with me to work today, because I needed all three!  But, let me start at the beginning.

It was pouring when I woke up.  The rain coming down was the first thing I heard.  Eric didn’t work today, so I got ready, quiet as a mouse, and wore my raincoat, my rain shoes, and my Barbie umbrella!

I try to drag everything out at work.  I don’t multi-task at all.  If I’m eating, I eat.  If I’m drinking, I drink.  If I’m waiting for something to print off the printer, I don’t start the next task.  I wait for it to come out of the printer.  I have to pace myself, because there’s NOTHING TO DO!

By 10:00am I had finished THE RED TENT, a beautiful, romantic tale of Dinah, the sister of Joseph (and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!).  While I was reading it, it reminded me of MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, because you really care about Dinah, just as I cared about Chiyo/Sayuri.  I would actually worry about the little Geisha-in-training when I wasn’t reading the book.  I couldn’t wait to get back to her, to hear more of her story.  It was the same with Dinah.  I loved her.  I wanted to meet her, to be her friend.  I was sorry when the story was done.

Next, I read a children’s book (ages 8-12) that one of my customers had given me when I closed the shop.  Grace saw this book and thought of me.  It’s called THE VAN GOGH CAFÉ, by Cynthia Rylant, and is the story of a “most unusual establishment” where wonderful, magical things happen all the time.  Grace said that she thought my shop was magical and that people always felt better as soon as they entered my doors.  The ultimate compliment!

Since the book was just 53 pages, and the print was large, I finished it in less than an hour, so I started a THIRD book: I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE, by Wally Lamb, author of SHE’S COME UNDONE.  This book was one of Oprah’s Book Club selections, so you know it must be good!

It should take me more than a few days to read.  It’s 900 pages!  So far, it’s very sad.  It tells the story of identical twin brothers, born on New Year’s Eve 1949.  One arrives right before midnight, and the other arrives right after, so the twin brothers are actually born in different years!

As they grow, one brother begins to have difficulty, and it turns out he is schizophrenic and spends most of his adult life in a mental institution in Connecticut, not far from where his house-painter twin lives.  It’s not light reading, I’ll tell you that!  This is another book I got from my sister, Lenae.

The day dragged on.  I’d read for a while, then go to the bathroom, then check my YAHOO emails, then check my OUTLOOK emails.  Then, I’d read some articles on YAHOO NEWS, then read my book again, and start the whole thing all over again.  I told Eric if someone used a stop watch and timed me every time I did something for the office today, it would probably measure about 40 minutes for the entire day!  There was just nothing for me to do. 

It’s going to be more of the same on Monday, because my boss will be in L.A.  I didn’t bring the book home, because I have tons of stuff to do around the house, million of errands to run tomorrow, and lots of TV to catch up on, and when I have a book to read, I tend to not want to do anything else.

I could not wait for 5:00pm.  I thought it would never come!  Finally, it was time to go home and I went downstairs to meet my friend.  The weather had really cleared up and it was nice and sunny out.  What a difference from this morning!

I wanted to go to the 99 cent store and since it’s right up the block from the apartment, I decided to walk there before going home.  I was looking for a duffel bag for Eric, because the one he has is ripping in so many places that it’s not worth it to sew it.  It’s just an old, cheap bag and it’s falling apart.

I was walking around and passed a rack filled with clothes.  I never even noticed that they sold clothes at the 99 cent store before.  I’m always looking for mirrors, or a sponge or household item, not clothes.  As I walked down the narrow aisle with the clothes, I saw a black woman looking at the clothes.  I couldn’t pass her without bumping into her, so I apologized and excused myself as I passed behind her.  She said, “That’s alright, sweetheart.” I turned to look at her and we exchanged smiles.  Then, she said, “You are so beautiful.”  I thanked her, and said she was beautiful, too.  She had the sweetest smile and a big head of curly black hair.

When I said she was beautiful, she suddenly seemed very self-conscious.  She touched her hair and her face and all of a sudden she started to cry.  She said she was running away from a man who beat her and she lost everything she owned.  She was in the 99 cent store to buy warm clothes, because it was cold at night in San Diego.  She had no place to go.  She told me she had the phone number of someone who might be able to give her a place to stay.

My heart broke for her.  I told her I was so sorry.  I told her that everything would be okay and that she did the right thing to escape this man.  I took her hand and held it and looked into her eyes and said, “I promise you.  Things will get better.  You just have to hang in there.  Believe in yourself.  You are a strong, beautiful woman and you will be fine.”  She started to cry even harder and told me I was an angel sent by God to her.  She said she still had her bible and she was going to read it and pray and that she believed me and felt better.  She said that surely I was a sign from God that things were going to get better.  I assured her that they would.

I can tell that this woman has not had an easy life.  Her hands were so rough and leathery, like she had done hard work her whole life.  I told Eric they were rougher than his working man's hands had ever been.  He just closed his eyes and shook his head.

She told me her name was Helen, and I told her my name, which she loved.  She had a really cute laugh, which was light and happy, even though her heart was heavy.  I was about to walk away, and I bid her good luck, but before I left I reached into my wallet and gave her $3.  I didn’t have much ($6), but I figured the $3 would be of some help, especially in a 99 cent store!  She thanked me so much and again said that God had sent me and that I was an angel.  I walked around the store, looking for a duffle bag, but they didn’t have them, so I left.

When I got home, Eric was just leaving on his bicycle.  He said he was going to play LOTTO.  So, I went inside and he came back in about 15 minutes.  There’s really no food left in the house, except the nutrisystem food, so I asked Eric if he wanted to go up the block to the Italian place.  I’m going food shopping tomorrow, and will pick up more fruits and vegetables, cold cuts and cheese (for Eric’s lunch) and drinks.  Right now, the fridge is pretty bare!

We walked the 200 feet to the restaurant and there was Helen, standing right outside.  I called to her and she started laughing and was so happy to see me again.  She remembered my name, and I introduced her to Eric.  We were so happy to see each other, that Eric couldn’t believe we had just met in the 99 cent store across the street a half hour before.  

She told Eric that I was her angel, sent by God.  She looked at Eric’s face and said he was the sweetest man in the world and that he loved me more than anything.  I told her it was true.  Then, one of the cooks stepped out of the back door of the restaurant and gave her an aluminum take-out dish and a bag of bread.  I don’t know how it happened, but they were giving her a free meal.

She was so grateful, so happy.  I told her that we were going into the restaurant and that the food here was delicious and she would surely enjoy it.  She said, “See, my good luck is starting already, and it’s all because of you!”  She was so happy just to have a hot meal and we talked for another minute.  I told her to be strong, and then we went inside.

When we sat down I told Eric that I felt so bad, and I could see she broke his heart, too.  She will probably sleep on the street tonight, but at least in San Diego you won’t freeze to death.  She showed me the warm sweaters she had layered on and thanked me for the money I gave her.  I told Eric that I wished we could bring her home and give her a warm place to sleep, but you just can’t take a stranger into your home.  Not in this day and age.  In the days of Dinah they did it all the time, showing kindness to strangers wandering in the desert, but this is 2008.

I told Eric I wished she could sleep in the RV.  At least she would be out of the cold, but he said we couldn’t do that either.  It really broke my heart that I couldn’t help her more, but I hope that my few dollars and encouraging words helped a little.

I hadn’t had much to eat for lunch, so I was pretty hungry.  They have the most delicious tomato soup at this restaurant, so I just got soup and salad for $8.95.  I’m a cheap date!  I could have had the Ahi Tuna or Salmon, but I figured the soup and salad would be enough – and it was!  I had two small cups of the soup and a nice salad with lettuce, cucumbers, kidney beans, shredded carrots, radishes, hard boiled eggs (I mostly eat the whites), sunflower seeds, and my favorite – anchovies!  This salad bar has everything – at least 20 different fruits, vegetables, cottage cheese, blue cheese, shredded mozzarella, bacon bits, croutons, and nuts.  It’s one of the nicest salad bars I’ve ever seen!

Eric had a big salad, a cup of soup, and chicken cutlet parmigiana.  They also give you a basket of fresh-baked bread with a sun-dried tomato and olive oil paste to dip into.  It’s fabulous and I tasted the paste, but didn’t have any bread.  It was hard to resist, but I had to!

Over dinner we discussed our plans for going to North Carolina on vacation to check it out.  We’ll probably fly to Ashville and then drive to Charlotte and spend some time there, too.  If Ashville is good, that would be preferable to Eric, because there is much more mountain biking there, and it’s supposed to be a “Mecca for mountain bikers.”

I told Eric that I had been told today that the woman I’m sitting in for probably won’t be coming back.  The woman who trained me has become a friend and she has been very kind to me.  She asked me today if I wanted to come on staff (they want me), but I told her no.  She was very surprised, so I told her I would come up to her desk and explain it all, because I had a good reason.  She has been so kind to me since I came and has been very supportive and very enthusiastic about my work.  I know she’d like me to come on board, but I sat down with her for about a half hour and told her that we’re leaving, probably before the summer. 

I explained the whole situation and – surprisingly – she told me that she and her husband are planning to retire and move in three years – probably to ASHVILLE!  She told me she lived in Charlotte for a few years – many years ago – and she loved it.  I told her it had grown a lot over the last 20 years and it much different now, but it’s still a beautiful and very popular city. 

I told her that I was planning to go with Eric to check out North Carolina after I finished my stint at the company, because they told me I would only be there through March.  If they want me to stay on longer, I would be happy to do that, but I’d have to be gone for a week or two.  She said she was sure they wouldn’t mind, and that they’d want me to stay until I left San Diego.  I told her I’d be happy to do that, because I was very happy there and it would be good for me to keep working until I was ready to leave.

Eric was very pleased by all of this.  He is anxious to go and check it out.  He said that he knows it will be wonderful for us and that he’ll live wherever I want (a loft in the city) and chauffeur me everywhere when it’s cold outside, so I don’t have to be outside a lot.  I told him he was going to be my slave -- my love slave -- and he said he liked that idea -- a lot!  He was so sweet, so happy, so enthusiastic.  It really gave me hope!

After dinner we walked over to KEILS, because Eric wanted to buy some bathroom cleaner (my super-clean Eric) and ice cream.  I convinced him to buy frozen yogurt instead, and he was happy.  When we got home he started watching basketball and we had some Haagen-Dazs DULCE DE LECHE frozen yogurt.  There’s only 190 calories in ½ cup, so it’s about the same calories as our NUTRISYSTEM desserts and a LOT better!  It was so sweet and delicious that I felt really guilty eating it, but I did anyway.  We’ll see if I pay on the scale tomorrow morning.  Uh oh!

Tomorrow Eric is taking the RV to HARBISON ROAD to do some mountain biking.  He’s not sure how muddy or wet it may be since it rained a lot this week, but he’s willing to try.  I think that’s a VERY positive thing.  He’s mountain biking!  His whole attitude has changed since he worked this week.  I’m not saying he’s back to the “old Eric,” but this is a definite improvement over last week.

Tomorrow I will be running errands all day – the post office, food shopping, the shoe repair shop, the bank and maybe Gili Anna in La Jolla, if I finish the pink frame (which I haven’t started yet!!!).

I promise to download pictures from my new camera and put them on the blog this weekend.  I’ve just been too lazy after work to do it.  I haven’t even read my CAMERA USER GUIDE yet.  I have lots of things to learn about my new camera!  I can't wait to really start using it!

I was up before 7:00am this morning, which is pretty sad considering I could have slept until 9:00am.  I guess it’s because we both went to sleep before 11:00pm last night.  I was just exhausted, and Eric was tired, too.

I wanted to write about something that happened last night, which I forgot to mention yesterday.  Eric received another paycheck in the mail yesterday.  It was for the one day he worked last week – Valentine’s Day.  It had been a long day (11 hours), but it still should have been a pretty small check, since he’s not making as much as he used to.

When he opened it, he was pleasantly surprised at how much it was.  Then, he started doing calculations in his head, looking at the stub, and he realized that they made a mistake.  They paid him 2x what he should have been paid.

I’m ashamed to say that I told him he should deposit it anyway.  I felt that he has been abused a lot in the past month, and made many a trip there for nothing, waited around hours, and I felt that he deserved the money.

Eric said he couldn’t steal.  I said it wasn’t stealing.  It was their mistake.  He could deposit it and if they noticed he could say he didn’t even look at it – that he just gave it to me and I wouldn’t know.

Eric immediately dismissed the idea.  He said even though he had been abused in the last month, the boss didn’t steal from him, and he couldn’t steal from the boss.  He insisted that he was going to bring the check back to work and give it to his boss, explaining the mistake.

I told Eric that down the road the boss might really do something mean and he would feel bad that he had been so honorable.  Eric said he would never feel bad, because he had to do what he thought was right.

I consider myself a very honest person, but I’ve had such resentment for this man, who I feel doesn’t appreciate Eric the way he should, and is so disorganized and such a bad businessman that it’s a miracle he can even keep a company open.  This is just another example of the slip-shod way they do things!

Here’s an example of what Eric has to go through WHEN he works, IF he works:  He was sent to buy a 21’ (yes twenty-one foot) piece of pipe to replace a piece that was leaking in a building downtown.  They went to the store (Pipes R US?) and he and some kid bought it, lugged it to the truck, put it on top, and drove downtown.  When they got to the building, they lugged it up to the floor and got to work.

The first thing that happened is that Eric saw that the piece of pipe that needed work was less than 2’ long (yes two feet).  He couldn’t believe the boss didn’t even know how long the piece was!  He examined it and realized that it was sloppy installation, and NOT the pipe, that was the cause.  He took the whole thing apart.  Cleaned each piece and put it back together properly and the problem was solved.  No money spent.

He though the boss would be happy, when he told him what he had done.  Instead, the boss started yelling at him, saying that he had told the building they were REPLACING pipe, and that he should have REPLACED the piece.  Eric reiterated that there was NOTHING wrong with the pipe – that it just needed to be installed properly.

He also explained that all they had was a 21’ foot piece of pipe, which could be returned for a refund (which Eric estimated was probably over $200), since they didn’t need it.  He couldn’t imagine cutting a 2 foot piece off a 21’ foot pipe to replace a pipe that was perfectly good.  The boss wasn’t happy.  He kept complaining that Eric didn’t do what he asked him to do.

So, after Eric tells me this whole story, and I shake my head and wonder why he doesn’t quit, can you blame me for wanting to deposit the check?  It’s just that I don’t think this guy deserves Eric, or his skills, honesty and honorable nature.  But, that’s my Eric – he’s bringing the check back the next time he works.

Anyway, back to today!  Soon after I awoke this morning, Eric got up, too.  I was starting my commissioned mirror – all pinks – and I was a little nervous about it, because I really didn’t have that much material to work with that was ALL pink.  I had pinks – mixed with purples, or blues, or greens.  I thought it would be kind of boring to have an ALL pink mirror anyway, so I just started working with what I had.

Eric started working on his bicycle, to prepare for today’s ride.  I felt bad that he had to take the RV, but I really need the car on Saturdays so I can run all my errands.

While I was working on the mirror, I also varnished my “clock tray.”  I just put it outside  on the balcony sitting on top of a vase and I sprayed it.  Then, I sprayed the other side.  It dries so fast here.  It’s the perfect temperature and not very windy, so it’s easy to do.  In NY, sometimes I’d be standing outside the back of the shop in the winter, spraying a piece.  Or it would be 90 degrees outside, which also isn’t the best situation.  San Diego has perfect varnishing weather!

Eric finished what he had to do with the bicycle and left around 8:30am.  I finished a little after 9:00am.  I decided to watch THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE, which I had recorded the other day, before I jumped in the shower.  I just had to make it to the post office by noon, and had all day to run all my other errands.  I watched that show (Marilu Henner got fired) and then got ready to go out.  I left the house at 11:00am.

My first stop was the post office, then CITIBANK to deposit my check (wheee!).  Then, I headed to La Jolla to bring the pink mirror (which turned out great) to GILI ANNA.  Unfortunately, she wasn’t working.  Her friend was working for her, so that Gili could have a day off.  She works seven days a week, so she really needs some time to herself every once in a while.  I know working six days a week was hard for me, so it must be really hard to do seven!

I showed her the mirror and she called Gili and I told her I would leave it there and she would see it on Sunday.  I trust her to leave work without a receipt, and I will just get it from her next time.  I had my new camera with me, so I tried to photograph all my mirrors she has all around the shop, but I couldn’t get the camera to work right!  I told the woman and she said she had the same camera and set it up for me.  She showed me how to turn off the flash, and fixed something else that I had messed up, trying to turn off the flash!  I still haven’t read the user guide – that’s my homework for tomorrow!

After I left her I wandered further down the little “street” where GILI ANNA’S shop is.  I put street in quotation marks, because it’s not a real street, but I don’t know what word you would use to describe it.  Instead of being RIGHT on Prospect Street, it’s in an alleyway that stretches from Prospect to the street parallel to it.  But no cars can go down it – it’s just a walking path.  There are shops, restaurants and art galleries on either side.  I went into a boutique and looked around.  I found a sweater I liked and looked at it $230.  I got out of there fast.

Then I went into another boutique.  They had really cute purse holders.  Don’t know if you are all familiar with these items, which were very popular in the 50s.  I used to have them in the shop and sell them (vintage ones, mind you) for about $8.  When my nieces were visiting, we saw them in a shop and they loved them.  They were new, but really cute.  I asked the price and they were $25.  The ones in the boutique today were starting at $30 and went up to $50 (if they had Swarovski crystals). 

I told the girls I would get them nicer ones for less money and I did!  I found gorgeous black enamel and rhinestone purse holders (one shaped like a butterfly, which my niece Jessica loves) for less than $10 each on ebay!  There are THOUSANDS of them on ebay.  Even though you pay shipping and handling it’s still MUCH cheaper than these boutiques!

I did some more window shopping, including an art gallery that has a collection of DR. SEUSS artwork.  That’s MY kind of exhibit!  I always loved DR. SEUSS (who didn’t) and it was fun to look at.  Then, I went to STARBUCKS, got my usual, and got back in the car to head back to Clairemont.

I went to the shoe repair, which is in the same shopping center as KEILS and gave him two pair of shoes to “revitalize.”  They’re shoes I’ve been wearing for a few years, but love and are very comfy, and thought it worthwhile to fix them up, rather than throw them out.  In the same shopping center I found a dry cleaner, so I went there and brought my rain coat, which really needed a good cleaning.

Then, I went to RITE AID, because I’m still looking for a small duffle bag for my Eric.  No luck.

By now it was almost 2:00pm and I was starving, so I thought it a bad idea to go food shopping.  I went home and made myself a NUTRISYSTEM lunch with some grapes and THEN I went to KEILS.  I finally remembered to bring plastic bags with me, because they’ll re-use their bags if you bring them.  We have a lifetime supply and it irks me to keep collecting them. 

I’m really into recycling, so if I can keep using the same bags (until they rip, since they’re so darn thin), then I will feel better about using them at all!  I see lots of people at the supermarket with big canvas totes that have flat bottoms for packing groceries and I think they’re fabulous!  They sell them at KEILS, but they’re so small I’d need 5 or 6 and I just think it’s better to recycle, then spend money for supermarket bags!

I went a little nuts with the vegetables and beans for my soup (which I’ll also be making tomorrow).  I got frozen cauliflower, fresh broccoli, cilantro, snap peas, 2 cans of corn with no salt added, pinto beans, black beans, 2 cans of stewed tomatoes (with jalapenos to add some spice!), mushrooms, a big red onion, peeled baby carrots, celery, and 2 boxes of organic vegetable broth.

Eric and I have really been enjoying the soup.  I also bought everything to make salads, so we switch off.  I have a salad with my meal almost every day at lunch, and I’m supposed to have a salad every night, too, but sometimes you get sick of salad!  I enjoy the soup and I know it’s more calories, but I think it’s healthy and filling and there’s worse we could eat!

Eric just got back from his ride when I got home, so he helped me with all the packages.  He said his ride was good, and he even hooked up with some guys to ride with.  The situation at HARBISON is it’s a seven mile ride up a big hill (unless you have someone to drive you up there).  It took them an hour and a half.  Then it’s a half-hour downhill ride to the bottom.  Sometimes you’re lucky enough to see a car going up and hitch a ride with them, but otherwise you have to do the uphill.

I told Eric I thought it must have been great exercise, and he agreed.  I guess it just wasn’t that much fun, since the downhill part was so fast!  Anyway, he had a good time and I think he’ll do it again.  He would have gone tomorrow, but they were predicting rain, so he had to go today – with the RV, instead of the PT.  I told him I will not always need the car on Saturday, I just had to go to the post office and shoe repair, which is only open on Saturdays, so he couldn’t take the car.

I can do food shopping on Sundays, and I wouldn’t mind doing that at all.  It’s just week to week seeing what I have to do and then figuring out when he can take the PT.  Since HARBISON is only about 20 minutes away, it wasn’t a bad ride with the RV and he said it was fine.  I just want to make things as easy as possible for him.

I unpacked all the groceries and then we watched Friday night’s part two episode of MONK – the season finale.  It was great.  Then, I took a nap and Eric came out to work on his bicycle more.

He woke me at 6:00pm and I came out and did some work on the computer.  Then, I made us a NUTRISYSTEM entrée and the rest of my latest batch of soup.  I tell you it’s really good and hearty and healthy and it’s so easy to make.  There’s just a lot of chopping involved – and I sauté the veggies in a little olive oil before adding all the canned veggies and broth.  It takes about an hour, but then you just stir and stir and simmer and simmer and I make so much that it lasts a whole week.  You could also freeze a lot of it, and just heat it up a little at a time, but we just keep eating it until it’s gone!

Eric watched a basketball game and I decided to do another project.  I don’t really have the energy to do it during the week, after work, but weekends are great for crafting!  I had found a nice vanity tray that looked like a gold-framed mirror on little gold ball feet.  It was a little chipped on the edges, so I got it really cheap at BIG LOTS.

I painted the edges so they were all gold again and then covered the entire top of the frame (surrounding the mirror where you would put perfume bottles) with jewelry.  It was a challenging project, because the surface wasn’t flat, and that’s the easiest surface to work with.  I had some great pieces that wouldn’t work because they just wouldn’t fit into the curve of the frame.  I finished it around 11:15pm and then got ready for bed.  I wanted to watch SNL, not only because it was the first live show since the writer’s strike, but also because TINA FEY was hosting, and I’m a huge fan.

Eric stirred and said he wanted to watch it but he was too tired, and I told him not to worry, because I was recording it and probably wouldn’t stay up until the end either.  I did manage to stay up to hear CARRIE UNDERWOOD sing her first song.  I love her, too.  I follow AMERICAN IDOL very closely, so I was a fan of hers and now she’s doing very well and I love her music.  I don’t have any of her CDs, but I love her songs when I hear them on the radio!  She was wearing the CUTEST vintage-looking dress that was tight to the waist and then flared out in a huge pleated skirt.  She’s gorgeous!

I turned the TV off at 12:30am and fell asleep.  It was only as I was drifting off that I realized I didn’t post my blog, which is why I’m doing it this morning.  Most of it was written, I just didn’t finish it! You’d think after 200 days (yes, today is my 200th posting.  It has been 200 days since we left NYC!) that I would be in the habit of blogging every night, but I guess I just had a long day.  I guess you could also say I’m getting old!

I was up at 8:00am and came in to finish the blog from yesterday and post it with photographs I had taken with my new camera.  I still have to work out the kinks, but at least I know how to take pictures and download them.  Believe me – it wasn’t easy!

Eric came in soon after and we watched some TV together while I was reading my CAMERA USER GUIDE and trying to figure it all out.  I’m not good at reading and implementing.  I’m the kind of person who needs to be shown.  Then I’m good.  But if I have to read and follow directions, I sometimes can’t get it all done.

I was hoping I’d just have to plug in the cord from the camera to the computer and the downloading would begin.  No.  Not going to happen.  So, I read about it and realized I had to install a program with a diskette that came with the camera.  I figured I could handle that.  Done!  Then, I plugged the camera in again.  Surely, now it would work.  Nope.  Not yet.  I had to read more, do more, and then it all came together and – voila! – pictures! 

Unfortunately, half of them were blurry.  I spoke to Geri tonight and she told me what I need to do.  She’s a professional photographer and taught for years.  I wish she and Larry were here.  They’d be able to show me every single thing and instruct me on what to do and when.  There are just too many options:  Portrait, night, color accent, color swap, kids and pets, indoor, foliage (foliage?), snow, beach, fireworks, aquarium, and underwater.  Wow!  I’ll have to remember that the next time I’m scuba diving!  (For those of you who don’t know me THAT well, I can hardly swim!)

Eric decided we should go out to breakfast.  I didn’t like the idea AT ALL.  This morning I weighed in at 125.6 – a new low.  I didn’t want to blow it by going out to eat – especially since he wanted to go to IHOP!  What are my choices there? 

Eric went into the shower and I kept working on the photos and watched an episode of I LOVE LUCY that I had never seen.  I’m a huge fan of the show, so it was really amazing to see an episode for the first time.  It’s called “The Amateur Hour.”  It was hysterical and from researching online I found out it was from the first season in 1952.

Lucy wants to make money to buy a dress, so she figures she’ll babysit.  Unfortunately, all the babysitting jobs pay only 50 cents an hour, which will take her forever.  Then, she sees an ad in the newspaper (did you ever know that in the 50s people advertised for babysitters in the newspaper?) for $5 per hour.  She calls to make sure it’s not a typo and makes an appointment for the woman to bring her son over.

When the kid gets there, it’s instantly apparent that he’s a brat.  He’s demanding and he kicks her in the shins.  He asks for milk and cookies and when she brings him into the kitchen, the mother opens the door of the apartment and shoves in his twin brother.  There are TWO brats! 

Well, you can just imagine the hilarity that ensues.  She doesn’t know there are two of them and they keep appearing and disappearing and it’s hilarious.  Then, she finally figures out there are two of them and they tie her up and put an apple in her mouth.

Finally, the mother calls from the hairdresser and asks her to take them to the Amateur Hour contest and she can keep the contest money if they win.  They end up singing a cowboy song in full costume (with moustaches) and it’s adorable.   Great episode!

After Eric got out of the shower I jumped in and we got out of there a little after 11:30am.  We were going to go to IHOP, but I convinced Eric to take a ride to SOUTH PARK and go back to the BIG KITCHEN CAFE restaurant, where I had taken my nieces last month.  I told him there would be a wait, but it was worth it, because the food was SO good and I could get something that would not conflict with my diet.

He agreed and we drove the 10 miles to South Park.  It was really raining hard, and a dreary day, but it was still nice to take a ride and visit another neighborhood.  When we got there we saw that they had a small tent with open sides set up outside (like you use at a barbecue).  There were a lot of people under the tent.  A lot.  I got out of the car and went over and asked if we give our names inside and they said that you put your name on the pad.  The pad was soaking wet, as were most of the lawn chairs under the tent, and everyone was huddled under there, trying to stay dry.  There were at least 10 names ahead of ours, so I put down “2 for Eric” and got back in the car.

We went and found a spot right around the corner and walked back to the tent.  They had free coffee for everyone waiting, which I thought was very sweet and Judy, the owner, kept coming out to call off more names.  Even so, we sat there for at least a half hour.  I was STARVING, because it was now 12:30pm and I hadn’t eaten anything all day!

Finally, we got inside and sat down at a cozy table.  It was warm inside and there was so much going on.  They play great 60s/70s music and there’s lots of artwork on the walls.  We were in a different room than I was in with the girls.  There are two small rooms and a big kitchen.  There’s also a big outdoor patio, but they couldn’t let anyone sit out there in the rain, so that’s why there was an extra-long wait.  They don’t take reservations at this place, so you have to just be prepared to wait.

I found out something so interesting today.  There is a dish named after Whoopi Goldberg and lots of posters, portraits and photos of her in the restaurant.  I figured she was a good customer, but today I found out that she actually worked there years ago -- washing dishes!

I ordered the same thing I had last time – Nova’s Favorite, which is an egg-white omelet with spinach and cheese, salsa and fresh fruit.  They give you a wheat tortilla with it and it’s delicious!

Eric had Damian’s Breakfast Burrito (which one of my nieces got last time) with avocado, cheese, eggs and other great veggies.  It comes with potatoes, which Eric said were really good.  He wasn’t that enthusiastic about waiting ½ hour in the rain, but I told him it would be worth the wait – and he agreed it was.  He liked everything about the place – the hominess, the artwork, Judy the Beauty (the owner, who sings along with the music as she waits tables) and especially the food!

We both couldn’t finish our breakfast and took home some to enjoy later.  After that, Eric took me on a tour of places he had ridden on his bicycle, which were very close by.  Presidio Park is a gorgeous neighborhood with tons of Mission-style houses – one of my favorite styles.  There were some that were so fabulous, but others that were very run down and needed a lot of TLC.  I figure in that nice neighborhood the gorgeous ones probably fetch $1 million. 

After that, we went through NORTH PARK, where I saw a great thrift shop called PAT’S CORNER – UNIQUE COLLECTIBLES.  It was fabulous.  The best thrift shop I’d been in since I got to San Diego!  The old lady who owns it was talking to people and she had about 15 silver bracelets on her arm and about 10 silver rings on her fingers.  Big bracelets!  Big rings!  This girl likes her silver!

I wandered around looking at the furniture, collectibles, clothing, artwork, knick-knacks.  It was all great, but totally disorganized and also very dusty and dirty.  The place was nothing like Peppy’s Dream, but there were definitely treasures to be found – lots of them!

I told Pat that I thought her shop was fabulous and she said something I had said at least 1,000 times in PEPPY’S DREAM – “We get new things in every day!”  When she said that, I wanted to just hug her, because she was so cute and she obviously had the same mentality as I.  I wish I could work there, because she obviously needs help organizing and I think I could get that place in order in no time.  She also had a desk that was so piled high with papers that it looked like it could just collapse at any moment.  She’s obviously not organized, but she still manages to run a successful business.

I found three flat wood frames with small mirrors.  They measure 10” square, but the frames are very wide, so the mirror itself is only 3” square.  Since they were pretty beat up, I figured that they wouldn’t be more than a dollar each and I was right.  Three for $3.  No receipt.  No tax.  I don’t know how she does it, but I guess she pockets the money on cheap stuff and only declares the big items, of which she had many.  It’s all hers – not consignment, so I guess she can get away with it.

I took her business card, which is very unusual.  It shows a drawing of a ferris wheel and says, “Coming here is like an amusement park!  There’s excitement!  There’s challenge…”  Then it just gives her phone number – no address, no hours, no email, no website.  I guess she does alright just the way she is, since it looks like she’s been in business forever.  You definitely don’t accumulate a collection like that in a few years!

When I got back in the car I showed Eric my purchase and then we headed home.  When we got home I immediately did two loads of laundry.  When I got back, I told Eric that I needed to find some papers in order to get our tax papers prepared for our accountant (who works in Flushing, NY).  I have my very organized list of what is contained in each of our boxes, but the boxes that were supposed to have the tax papers didn’t.  The box had already been opened, so I obviously took them out and moved them someplace else.  I ended up opening about 10 boxes.  Some had stuff I really needed – including more craft jewelry, craft supplies, and some of Eric’s work clothes, but no tax papers!

Finally, I decided to look in a wicker suitcase I had on the floor in the bedroom and there they were.  Why is it you always find stuff in the last place you look?  I hate that!

I was so exhausted from unpacking and repacking 10 boxes that I had to relax a few minutes before starting my soup extravaganza!  At about 6:00pm, after the laundry was all done and hung up I started the soup.  I am showing you a picture of the laundry hung in the kitchen, but that was from the other day, when I first got the camera.  Today we hung a line from the front door to a closet door down the hall, because I needed the kitchen clear to make the soup!

I was chopping and sautéing for about a half hour, then added the canned veggies and finally one container of vegetable broth.  After that, it’s just simmer and stir, simmer and stir, then more simmering and more stirring.

I told Eric that this is going to be my best soup yet!  There are TWO kinds of beans – black and pinto; and I added cauliflower for the first time.  There’s shelled edamame, peeled baby carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, celery, two cans of stewed tomatoes with jalapenos, and a can of corn with no salt added.  The piece de resistance is the fat free half-n-half, which makes it very creamy, but doesn’t add any fat.  I don’t add that until it’s all done cooking, right before I put it away for the night.

While I was making the soup, I also made Eric a salad for dinner and made myself a salad for lunch tomorrow.  I ALSO baked a salmon with asparagus, so I could have some for dinner and have the rest tomorrow. The oven was baking, soup was cooking, and I was chop, chop, chopping! 

Eric didn’t want any soup tonight, so I made him a NUTRISYSTEM entrée of cheese ravioli (it’s just two large ravioli in tomato sauce) with some of the asparagus I just made fresh.  I had some asparagus and salmon but neither of us ended up having any soup, so I still have some of the leftover soup.  The fresh batch will take a few hours to be ready!

I stupidly forgot to tape the Academy Awards and didn’t realize until 6:00pm (it starts VERY early here, because of the time difference).  So, I missed the first hour.  I love that it starts so early, because I ALWAYS stayed up until after midnight to hear best actor, best actress and best film.

They had a little video about the voting process, which featured the offices of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Los Angeles (I’ve been there!).  It was very exciting to see my old firm featured in such a special way at the Academy Awards.  Then, after the video, Jon Stewart came out and said, “That was amazing!”  It was hysterical.  I realized that no one except an employee (or ex-employee) of the firm would give a damn about all that anyway, but I certainly enjoyed it!

Gili Anna emailed me this afternoon to say how much she loved the pink mirror.  She said if the woman who requested it didn’t buy it, she would!  She’s so supportive of my work and so enthusiastic.  She told me she’s going to be selling at a “Gem Show” in March and that she’s bringing all my frames and hopes to sell them all!  I’m going to make sure she has even more to bring!

Here are some pictures of my newest creation – the mirrored tray.  Eric really loves it, which makes me so happy.  I can just imagine this in someone’s boudoir with lovely perfume bottles on it.  If I had a dresser I might be tempted to keep it for myself, so it’s a good thing I don’t!

I looked at 143 pictures of the Academy Awards already posted online and decided that the most gorgeous woman of the night was Katherine Heigl in a fabulous red dress with her lovely blonde hair and her beautiful face.  I think she was perfection!

There were a lot of gorgeous gowns – I also loved Kristen Chenoweth’s.  I adore her and I thought she did a great job singing one of the nominated songs. 
 
I had a fun-filled weekend.  I really feel like I got a lot accomplished, and Eric and I had a good time, too.  He was in a pretty good mood all weekend, which was really nice.  He’s been more lighthearted this week than he has in months.  I don’t know what it is, although I think it was the fact that he worked 3 days, and I’m not sure it will last, but I am certainly appreciating his good mood.  He always was such good company and it’s nice to be able to enjoy that again!

Eric had to go to work to fill out a timesheet, but he didn’t know if he’d be working today.  Since he didn’t have to be there super-early, he got up with me at 6:00am and left before 7:00am.  I left at the usual time and went to work.

Here’s my day in a nutshell: I had NUTRISYSTEM granola for breakfast, read over 100 pages of I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE, had a big salad for lunch, and left at 5:00pm.  Not much in-between to speak of!

I spoke to Eric by late morning and he was already at home.  He kind of got laid off today.  The boss told him there’s just not a lot of work and that he’d call him if he got more work.  Eric told him he’d probably be looking elsewhere for work.  I figure he’s better off, because he only worked 5 days in a month, so who needs it?  It was more trouble than it was worth – for sure.  I told him not to worry.  That it was no biggie.  That we’d be fine.  That he’d find more work, if he wanted to.  He seemed okay with it, but we’ll see what the next few weeks hold.

When I got home, he had just gotten back from a ride.  I just changed my clothes and left again to go to my acupuncture appointment.  It was another pleasant experience, but he stuck so many more needles than ever before.  He asked me if I was comfortable and if it hurt.  When I said no, he said he was going to be a little more aggressive, so he started sticking pins in my hands, my legs, even the bottom of my feet.  It stings for a second when he sticks the needle in, and then you forget they’re there.

We talk the whole time.  He’s very interested in our situation and is very supportive and encouraging.  He’s very sweet and I enjoy the whole thing, relaxing on that massage table with a fluffy pillow under my head, and a nice pillow roll under my knees.  I don’t have to take my clothes off – he just rolls up my pants to my knees.  I still don’t know how much (if anything) will be covered by our insurance, but we’ll see.  Meanwhile, I’m optimistic that it will help!

When I got home I made soup for me and Eric.  He had a little leftover salad from his dinner last night and I had some leftover salmon and asparagus.  I had a new low weight this morning – 124.8.  It seems like I am losing a few ounces a day, and if it keeps going this way, I will be EXTREMELY happy!

Eric and I watched a DISCOVERY CHANNEL show about an American Loch Ness monster in Lake Champlain.  They call him Champ.  It was very interesting!

I also did another jewelry mosaic project – I covered the top of a vintage compact/purse with jewelry.  It was one of those old metal cases that holds your powder, lipstick, mirror, and a place for money and cigarettes.  The whole shebang in one little purse.  It was very beat up, but had a beautiful jeweled piece on the top.  I figured if I covered the beat-up part with jewels, it would be fabulous.  It took me a few hours, but it was worth it.  I think it’s worthy of the Academy Award Red Carpet!  When I get a chance to download and work on my photos, I’ll post it on the blog!

I recorded A RAISIN IN THE SUN, which is a fabulous play and now a wonderful movie, which got amazing reviews.  I can’t wait to watch it over the weekend, when I have a few hours to sit and watch.

Tomorrow my boss will be back in the office, so it should be MUCH busier, which I am definitely looking forward to, although I have to admit my boss makes me a little nervous.  He’s just very impatient and gets frustrated very easily.  He can be a little condescending and sharp with me, which of course I don’t like at all, but at least I have something to do!  It’s just that it’s not much fun.

He’s not entertaining at all and you all know I like to be entertained in everything I do.  I think that’s what life is about.  If it’s no fun, why bother?  He has absolutely no sense of humor.  I try to joke around with him, but he won’t have it at all.  He’s all work and no play.

I notice that people stand around and joke with each other, but he doesn’t really talk to anyone except regarding business.  I can assure you, he’s not the most popular guy in the office!  There’s a woman who works down the hall and has her own office.  She laughs CONSTANTLY – this high-pitched, hyena-type laugh, which – after a month – I find SO annoying. 

She must be the kind of person who laughs inappropriately – like a nervous laugh – because – I tell you – there just CANNOT be so much funny stuff going on in her office!  She laughs ALL the time – on the phone, with people in her office, when she’s standing at a cubicle talking to someone, walking down the hall with someone.  She’s ALWAYS laughing.  If I worked at COMEDY CENTRAL, I’d be a little more understanding, but this is an INVESTMENT firm!  Hello?

I like to laugh as much as the next guy (probably more), but you don’t catch me laughing all day long.  I’m DYING to ask someone else if her laugh annoys them as much as it does me, but of course I’m the new girl in town and can’t start backstabbing at this early stage of the game.  I’ll have to wait at LEAST another month!

Aside from Mr. Crabapple and Ms. Laugh-a-lot, everyone in the office is perfectly lovely – friendly and helpful.  I think I’m really lucky to have found this job – the first one I was offered.  It has turned out to be a really good gig and I am going to try to make it last as LONG as possible!

As the ROLLING STONES sang in 1969:

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well you might find
You get what you need

I was thinking about our situation today, and I don’t know why, but those lyrics came to mind.  What I was thinking was that I was going to have to compromise when we move to North Carolina.  The weather this time of year is about 20 degrees higher than NYC, but about 20 degrees lower than San Diego!  So, it’s not as warm as I’d like, but not as cold as I hate!

I feel I won't have everything I want in North Carolina, but I will have everything I need -- mainly a happy Eric.

Today the weather in San Diego was perfection.  The sun was strong and there was just the slightest breeze.  It felt SO good.  It’s supposed to be that way all week.  I enjoy and treasure every single day here.  I feel so blessed to have spent this winter here.  To have known what it was like to be warm and comfortable in January and February!  I may only have been here for one winter, but what a winter it was!

My boss was in work today, so the day was much busier, although I still managed to read about 100 pages of my book!  At one point I had nothing to do in the morning and decided if he didn’t give me anything I was just going to read my book.  He saw me a couple of times and didn’t say anything, so I figure he doesn’t mind.  Every time he gave me something to do I did it immediately and gave it back to him right away, so he knows I’m working when there’s work to do.  I guess he figures if he has nothing for me, I can do what I want!

He was actually in a good mood today.  He joked around a little, which really amazed me, and thanked me a lot for the stuff I did.  Don’t know what that’s about, but it was nice.

When I got home I did a lot of work on my crafts blog (which you can access from my website – www.peppysdream.com.  I put up pictures of my latest creation, which I made last night.  It’s getting complicated – having two blogs, so sometimes I’m just going to put the pictures of my work on there.  I just don’t have the time or energy to do the same work in two places!

Eric rode today, but of course he complained to me how lame it was and how he didn’t really enjoy it.  I suggested to him that he start working on the RV, so that it’s all ready for when we leave here.  Remember we had toilet and refrigerator problems?  Well, they’re still there, and now there’s probably even more wrong with it, since it’s been sitting for three months!  He thought it was a good idea and he’ll start all the maintenance and repairs.  I think that’s a good job to keep him busy, and then when we get out of here, it will be better than last time.  It really wasn’t a big deal, but it would be nice to have everything working, wouldn’t it?

I made us NUTRISYSTEM entrées for dinner and some of my latest batch of soup, which came out GREAT!  I watched GIRLICIOUS (okay, it’s totally trashy, but I love it) and then Eric and I watched AMERICAN IDOL (boys’ night).

Tomorrow Eric has a dentist appointment to have a crown put in.  He’s been walking around for a few weeks with a temporary and now he’s getting the permanent.  I still have to find a dentist that will sedate me for my cleaning.  I know, I’m a baby, but it hurts!

Tomorrow, and the rest of the week, should be busy, since my boss will be in for the rest of the week.  Then, he’s off to Las Vegas and will be out next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, so I guess that’s when I’ll finish my book.  I’ve already read over 350 pages!  It’s really good and I’m really involved now, thinking about the characters and wanting to get back to them whenever I can.  I purposely don’t bring the book home, because I’d get absolutely nothing done and would be reading all night.  I told Eric when I finish the book I want him to read it, because I think he’d really love it.

Isn’t reading the greatest gift ever?  To be able to be transported to another time, another place and get a peek into someone else’s life – and you can do it at your own pace, in your own time, wherever you are.  It’s such a great escape.  It’s better than any TV show or movie, don’t you think?  My mother gave us our great love of reading – me and my sisters.   She would take us to the library every week and we'd get out new books and devour them.  Our gifts always included books and we always loved to read.  My friend Susan told me about that new electronic book – the AMAZON Kindle.  It sounds fantastic to me.  I’ll have to get me one, one of these days!

Eric IS my king – don’t get me wrong – but I’m talking about his trip to the dentist!

I don’t know if I mentioned this when it happened, but a few weeks ago we were eating dinner and a piece of his tooth broke off.  He went to the dentist and they gave him a temporary and tonight he went to get his permanent crown.  It looks great!

But I’m getting ahead of myself!  I had a good day at work.  Nothing exciting.  Did some work, but not too busy.  I’ve now read 550 pages of my book.  My boss even asked me today if I was enjoying it – if the author was a good writer.  I told him I definitely gave it a thumbs up!

The weather the last two days has been glorious.  Just perfect.  I’d say low 70s and just a little breezy – pure San Diego Sunshine!

After work I picked up my raincoat from the dry cleaners and the two pair of shoes I had fixed at the shoe repair.  My ride dropped me off there and I walked down the block to the apartment after I ran my errands.

Five minutes after I got home Eric arrived back from the dentist.  He said he could only eat mushy food, so I made him a NUTRISYSTEM meatloaf and mashed potatoes and I had cheese ravioli.  I told Eric it was the smallest piece of meatloaf I’d ever seen.  We also had some of my soup.  Yummy!

I watched DR. PHIL and then a PRIMETIME show called “What Would You Do?”  They had actors in certain situations to see how people would react.  If you saw someone damage a car while parking and then leave, would you try to stop them?  If you saw three young teenage girls verbally abusing a fourth, would you step in?  It was very interesting!

I’m trying to get my tax papers ready for the accountant.  This is the WORST job of the year – by far.  Every year I DREAD it, and I don’t even do it myself!!!  It’s just the stress of collecting all the paperwork (especially when I had the business) and compiling all the information I needed.  I only had the shop three months last year, but I still have to do ALL the same work – it will just be a little easier than when I was open the full year.  I always feel SUCH a weight off when that’s finally done for another year.

Eric and I watched AMERICAN IDOL (girl’s night).  We really enjoy watching that together.  We also watch DANCING WITH THE STARS together when that’s on.  It surprises even me that Eric would be interested in those shows, but he’s a great judge of talent and we love discussing who’s the best, who should be voted off, are the judges right or wrong, etc.  We used to love watching HELL’S KITCHEN, too.  I LOVE reality TV and I guess Eric likes it, too!

Tomorrow morning someone is coming to inspect a picture that was damaged by the moving company.  It’s a piece that I really wanted to hang over the couch in the living room, and it’s the only thing that was damaged in transit.  I thought we were VERY lucky.  It seemed like it must have been dropped, because two sides of the frame were broken and two sides were just kind of pushed out, because of the pressure of it hitting the ground on the other side.  The glass was cracked, but only up in one corner.  I’m so grateful that the picture wasn’t damaged, because it’s a signed lithograph of Marilyn Monroe, and it’s one of my favorite pieces.

I worried SO much when our stuff was packed and left our house in Whitestone.  It went from: (1) the house to a moving van; (2) from the moving van to a warehouse in the Bronx; (3) from the warehouse to another moving van – which drove across the country to San Diego; (4) from the moving van to a warehouse in Temecula; (5) from the warehouse to another moving van; and (6) from the moving van to our apartment here in Clairemont.

Is it any wonder I worried?  There were SO many opportunities for something to get lost, stolen, or damaged.  I worried a LOT.  And the only thing that was broken was this one picture.  What are the chances we’ll have the same wonderful luck when we ship everything back to the East Coast?  I’d like to think everything will be okay – again – but, I’m not THAT optimistic!

We finally got our California State Driver’s Licenses.  I actually like my picture.  It’s a miracle!  Eric did his “I’m not smiling with teeth” photo and it always kind of looks like a mug shot (which he actually posed for in the Beverly Hills Police Department, when we visited my cousins in LA!).

Anyway, it’s good to have because everywhere you go they’re always asking to see your driver’s license (yes, they ask to see it every time you use a charge card!) and I HATED my NY picture, so this is definitely an improvement!  PLUS, you actually need a California driver’s license for some jobs – they don’t accept out-of-state licenses.  So, this was a good thing.

I have now read 750 of the 900 pages in my book.  I cannot bring it home, because I would read until it was done.  I am now obsessed with this book.  I can’t stop thinking about it.  It’s SO good.  I’m definitely going to read his other book – SHE’S COME UNDONE.  He’s such a good story teller, this Wally Lamb.  I’m actually dreading finishing it, which is often how I feel when I’m reading a great book.  I just don’t want it to be over!

So, today my boss was in, but it seemed like he went from meeting to meeting, from conference call to conference call, and he gave me a few projects to do, but then I don’t have time to discuss anything with him, or show him the fruits of my labor!  I worked on something all morning and then when I went to show it to him he says, “Just keep it on your desk.”  I thought that was a little rude, but I told myself I wasn’t going to let it bother me.

He’s only going to be in for 2 hours tomorrow and will be in Vegas on Monday for a conference.  He’s supposed to tell me what needs to be shipped (tomorrow) for his conference, but he hasn’t yet.  I emailed him earlier in the week, asking him to let me know what he needs, and how many copies.  No response.  This afternoon I emailed him and reminded him that I needed to ship out the stuff tomorrow.  I was actually worried about it – about the fact that it needs to be shipped tomorrow and he still hasn’t let me know what I need to do.

Then, in the late afternoon, I said to myself, “Peppy!  Are you crazy?  What are you stressing over?  You’re a TEMP!  You’re JUST a temp!"  I get so invested in my job that I’m actually worrying about a stupid conference in Las Vegas.  Who CARES?  Really?  I decided I wasn’t going to say another word.  He’ll probably tell me, right before he leaves tomorrow, that he needs 50 copies each of 10 different documents, and I’m sure I’ll get it done, if I have to.  I just need to stop worrying about this stuff, because it really has no impact on my life.  None at all.  I was mad at myself for caring so much!

So, I must tell you about the Tamale Man.  I don’t think it’s every week, but once in a while an email will go out from the receptionist that the “Tamale man” is in the lobby downstairs and will be there until 11:30am.  The first time I saw this, I just drooled a little and deleted the email.  The second time I was tempted, but I resisted.  Today, I didn’t bring a salad with me and actually thought about going down there to see what kind of tamales he had, but – unfortunately – by the time I read the email he was already gone.  Darn it!  I LOVE tamales and I can imagine how good they are – fresh from the Tamale Man!

I’ll never forget when I flew to LA by myself in 1998 to perform at the Betty Boop Festival in Montebello.  I stayed with my friend, Leslie Cabarga, the artist who designed my logo (and just redesigned my new business cards!).  He and his wife live in LA with their young daughter.  Well, she’s not that young anymore.  She must be about 13, because she was about 3 back then!

Anyway, he took me to an open market where they sold all sorts of fresh fruits, vegetables, crafts, clothing, and – Tamales!  Leslie told me they were the best tamales in the world.  I never tasted anything so wonderful in my life!  Any time I’ve ever had a tamale since then, I always hope it will be as good – and it never is!  I am wondering if this Tamale Man can fulfill my tamale desires!  Since I don’t eat meat or chicken, it would have to be a vegetarian tamale, so I’m going to see if he comes next week and I’ll spring for one!  It won't be THAT bad for my diet -- just a few extra carbs!

When I got home from work, I made soup and NUTRISYSTEM flat bread pizzas for me and Eric.  I added onion and cilantro to mine, but Eric just wanted his plain.  Then, I watched DR. PHIL which was all about pageant-obsessed women.  I’ve never understood that whole thing, but these women had it BAD!

For dessert I made us NUTRISYSTEM chocolate pudding.  It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t that great either.  Their cookies are really good, and the bars are good, too.  I used to make us JELL-O sugar free/fat free cook and serve chocolate pudding and it was delicious.  This is instant, which I think has something to do with it, but you can’t ask for a faster dessert.  Just empty it into a bowl, add 4 oz. of water and stir!  What it REALLY needed was a big dollop of whipped cream!

Tomorrow’s Friday already.  I really can’t believe how fast time flies and how quickly the weekend arrives.  I feel like it was just the weekend and it’s already here again!   I have completed 5 weeks at this job.  In some ways it DOES feel like I’ve been there forever, but I AM happy that I’m not there permanently and that there is an end in sight.  It’s just that it is pretty boring and, even when I’m busy, the subject matter is nothing I am even remotely interested in (investing).  I guess I’ll get a lot of books finished in the next month or two and that’s a good thing!

We are going back to COSTCO on Friday night or Saturday afternoon, and I’m going to the SAN DIEGO NORTH PARK CRAFT MAFIA show on Sunday.  I just discovered this wonderful craft group by looking online.  Don't you love that name?  They sound tough and dangerous!  There are Craft Mafia’s all over the country, and I’m lucky that there’s one right here in San Diego!  They have craft fairs, encourage creativity and inspire each other!

This is a small show – just for their newest members to be introduced and sell their stuff.  It’s at a coffee house called THE OTHER SIDE.  I am going to go meet the people who run the shows and see about selling at a future show.  I am really interested in selling my own stuff, because Gili Anna doesn’t seem to be doing that well with my mirrors and has only sold one in a month.  She’s a wonderful person and believes in my work, but they’re just not moving.  If I can sell them myself, I’ll probably make a little more money, and have the joy of seeing people fall in love and buy them!

I can also talk more about my commissioned pieces and might get some future work, too!  I would also sell my jewelry boards and the larger pieces, which Gili Anna doesn’t have room for – my pearl lamp, the big clip-on earring mirror, and my perfume screen/room divider.  I would only sell that for a great price, because I really love it, but for the right price…

I want to make a vase that matches the clock tray.  It’s just such a pretty subject matter and I have so many cut out already, I figure I may as well use them!!!  Oh, if only I could just do my crafts all day long – day in and day out – I’d be the happiest girl in the whole U.S.A.!

Well, I finished my book today.  It took me exactly a week, and I only read it during the hours of 8:00am – 5:00pm.  Jimmy commented that I was getting paid to read.  It’s true!  900 pages in 7 days and I enjoyed every single page.  I was done by 2:00pm and still had three hours left to kill and absolutely nothing to do.

Eric drove me to work this morning, because my ride had a seminar downtown and wasn’t going to the office.  My boss was in until 11:00am and then left to go away for the weekend.  From there, he’ll go directly to Vegas for a conference on Monday and Tuesday.  He’s staying an extra day, so he won’t be back in the office until next Thursday.  I better find another book!

I started planning our trip to North Carolina today.  We’ll probably go at the end of April.  It’s going to be pretty complicated.  We’ll fly first to West Palm Beach to see my parents (by way of Atlanta).  We’ll stay there for 2 days and then head from West Palm to Atlanta and from Atlanta to Asheville.  We’ll be in North Carolina for 7 days, visiting Charlotte by car, and then leave Asheville to go back to Atlanta, and from Atlanta to San Diego.

I don’t mind flying, but I hate to change plans.  I always flew non-stop, but they just don’t have any nonstop flights from San Diego to West Palm (or Ft. Lauderdale), or West Palm to North Carolina, or North Carolina to San Diego.  It stinks, but what can you do?  Our layover from Atlanta to San Diego on the return trip is 4 hours!  I told Eric there was really nothing we could do about it.  "What are we going to do at the airport for four hours?" I asked.  "We don't have to stay at the airport," he answered.  "We'll go to the zoo!"  He's so cute.  He's willing to go along with anything just to get to North Carolina.  He's very excited about the trip.

Eric picked me up at work at 5:00pm and we came right home.  We relaxed and watched SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, which I had recorded but hadn’t seen in its entirety.  Eric hadn’t seen it at all (he was sleeping).  I started to fall asleep, so we stopped watching and I took a nap from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.  Eric watched TV out in the living room.

He woke me at 8:00pm and I made us dinner – NUTRISYSTEM entrées and soup.  He had rotini with meatballs in tomato sauce and I had pasta fagioli. I just got an email confirmation that Eric’s next 5 weeks of NUTRISYSTEM food was shipped.  I really don’t know how long we’ll be on this diet, but we discussed it and think it’s working for us.  It’s fast, it’s easy, it’s healthy, it’s portion-controlled, and I figure we might as well keep doing it.  We even discussed how great it would be to have this food in the RV, since we have a microwave and we wouldn’t have to eat out so much (which is what got us so fat in the first place).

After dinner I watched ELI STONE, a great new show that I really like.  It’s about a lawyer who starts having visions, which end up informing and affecting his cases.  There are musical numbers, which I always love!

Then, I watched GHOST WHISPERER.  I enjoy anything that has to do with ghosts, so this show appeals to me, too.

Tomorrow I have to get all my papers together for our taxes and put together a spreadsheet for my business with all the expenses, etc.  I hate this job.  It makes me sick to my stomach.  It will be especially complicated this year, since our accountant lives in Flushing, and we’re here, plus I closed my business, we sold our house, and we moved across the country in an RV.  Can’t wait to figure all THAT out!

I want to do another project or two this weekend, but I have to make sure I get all the tax stuff done first.  It’s SO easy to procrastinate and do the “fun stuff” first, but I really need to get this done.  It’s already March 1st tomorrow!

One great thing is Eric did all the laundry this week, so that’s one less thing I have to do this weekend.  Now, if I could just get him to do the food shopping!!!