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!