Wow! I can’t believe it’s been 500 days since Eric and I drove off Leggett Place and changed our lives forever! If you would have told me that 500 days later Eric would be back in Whitestone, steamfitting, and I would be sitting here in San Diego, typing on my new laptop, I’d have thought you were nuts. Yet, that’s exactly where we stand, 500 days later. Life is a constant surprise, don’t you think? You never know what tomorrow will bring. I think it’s kind of what makes life worth living – what makes each day exciting. If you really did know exactly what would happen, it would get very boring very fast, at least I think so!
Anyway, my 500th blog entry will have many photographs, because I finally had a chance to download all the fabulous wedding photos my niece Melissa gave me on a CD. So, you will get to see the gorgeous bride, Jessica, the handsome groom, Ken, the fabulous maid-of-honor, April, and all the rest. You can reminisce about Peppy with her curly hair, because it’s all gone now!
I had a fun day today. I got up at my usual time – 9:00am – and called Eric. I was pretty tired, because I didn’t go to sleep last night until after 1:00pm. It took me a LONG time to get all those pictures from DANCING WITH THE STARS uploaded, but I think it was worth it! Do you know 2 people found my blog, because they were googling DANCING WITH THE STARS? They loved my photos and both wrote to say they couldn’t wait to go see the show when it reached their town! Very cool!
I had to run a few errands, but first I picked Tifney up at the office and we drove about a mile to SOUP PLANTATION for lunch. We both had salads, and then I had chicken broth and a few noodles, some pasta, and a chocolate muffin. It was all really good. The place is a bargain if you can eat a lot, because it’s all you can eat and it’s about $12 a person, including a drink.
We had a great time. Tifney is really fun and I enjoy her company a lot. We made plans to get together for lunch again in a few weeks – after all the holidays. She invited me over to her house for Christmas Eve dinner, which I thought was SO sweet, but she has two pugs and I know I couldn’t stay at her house for more than 10-15 minutes without getting sick. Too bad. I’ll bet it will be lots of fun.
After lunch, I dropped her off and headed back to Clairemont. Ever since I got back from NY, I have been unable to access the internet on my old laptop. Isn’t that ironic? I get a new laptop, with internet access, and my old one konks out. I brought it to CIRCUIT CITY, because that’s where I bought my VERIZON modem. Unfortunately, the guy who checked it out showed me that it wasn’t the modem, but a piece inside my computer that was broken. I told him this thing is an antique and I refuse to put one penny into it, so I just canceled my contract. The good news is, I’ll save $60 a month! The bad news is, that computer isn’t good for much anymore.
If I gave it to someone, they could get internet access the “old fashioned” way – through the phone or cable company, but not the kind I have – Wi-Fi – which means you can go anywhere and have internet access without being hooked up with wires.
It DID cost me $95 to cancel my contract, but they said you pay $60 in advance, so I really only have to pay $35 to cancel and I’ll start saving in January. My contract was up in August, so if I DID keep it I would have spent an additional $420!
After CIRCUIT CITY, I went to the shoemaker, because the shoes I want to wear to the Bar Mitzvah needed new leather soles. They’re dressy black mules from VIA SPIGA and I love them. I wore them when Eric and I went to see BILLY ELLIOT and walking along the streets of Manhattan did a number on them. This guy is good, so I’m confident they will be as good as new. I told him I need to pick them up tomorrow morning and he said they’d be ready!
After running my errands, I came back to the apartment to hang out until it was time for my Thursday appointment. I have been working diligently on the mirror for Marlene and I figured if I could finish it by tonight I could actually deliver it to her in Costa Mesa on my way to Los Angeles tomorrow and save her and her boyfriend the trip down here. I know it’s a pain for them to come, because he works all day and then drives her down in Friday night traffic. By the time they get home it must be after midnight. This way, I can deliver it, and then be on my way. She was absolutely thrilled!
This is the fastest I’ve ever completed such a large project, but since I wasn’t working this week I was able to put 4-5 hours each day into it. That’s much more than I could if I was working.
I went to my appointment and couldn’t believe how cold it had gotten. During the day, when the sun is shining, it’s so warm out, but in the late afternoon, as the sun was setting, it felt very chilly. The temperature was only about 53 degrees, which is very cold for San Diego! It gets cold in the apartment at night and I’ve been sleeping in my flannels under a few cotton blankets with the heat on every night!
I had a Birthday coupon for a free ice cream at COLD STONE CREAMERY, so I stopped by on my way home. It felt too cold for ice cream, but I figured I’d take it home and have it for dessert while wearing my fluffy fleece robe!
Turns out, this particular COLD STONE CREAMERY is combining with ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE FACTORY and will now be selling chocolates by the pound, and caramel and chocolate-dipped apples. A young man put a tray of something chocolatey on the counter and I said, “What is that?” Turns out it was three chocolate covered marshmallows on a stick. He offered me one and I couldn’t refuse. I swear, I’m going straight to hell! Between the ice cream, the marshmallows, and my lunch today with Tifney, I probably gained two pounds in one day. Anyway, the marshmallows were TO DIE FOR! I offered to tip them, because they gave me the ice cream and marshmallows free, but they just said, “Just come back and see us again!” I promised I would and hope I get invited to a party, so I can bring some of their fabulous chocolates!
I had my leftover eggplant parmigiana and the rest of my vegetable soup (yes, it’s finally gone) for dinner.
I don’t know if I mentioned this previously, but I have a friend who occasionally gives me typing work. I haven’t done anything for him since last December (which came in very handy, because I wasn’t working last December either!). He emailed me last week and asked if I’d be available for some typing. I told him it was perfect timing because, once again, I was out of work! I received the work today and will get started when I get back from Los Angeles. The money from the mirror and this typing won’t exactly pay my rent, but it will keep me in groceries, gas and STARBUCKS!!!! I’m lucky Eric is working, because he’ll be paying my rent this month!
Since my mirror is finished (and I’m delivering it tomorrow!), I just relaxed and watched TV. I am REALLY tired, so I’m going to try to get to bed at a decent time, because I have to pick up my shoes at the shoemaker, get my mani/pedi and drive to Costa Mesa before heading up to Los Angeles. I have a busy day ahead of me.
Enjoy these wedding photos!
The lovely maid of honor -- Jessica's sister, April!
My beautiful nieces -- Melissa and Stephanie (sisters):
Four of my beautiful nieces: Ashley, Michele, Stephanie and Melissa.
Brother and sisters -- Jason, Stephanie and Melissa. Yes, that is a mohawk and bow tie Jason is sporting. Like his grandfather and his Uncle Eric, Jason is also a steamfitter!
Here we are!
Jessica and Ken Mejia:
I wish there were pictures of all my nieces and nephews, but there just weren't! I'm sure when Jessica sends out pictures I'll be able to show all 11 that were there!