Yes, that’s where I was today. Quite a shock to me, too, I must admit. Here’s the whole story:
When I was visiting with Joe and Miguel in L.A., I was telling them that after 10 months of employment I was now unemployed and hoping for more temp work in 2009. They asked if I was on unemployment and assured me I was eligible. They told me to check it out online when I got back.
So (after waiting two days) I decided this morning to see what the story was. I filled out an application and, when they asked for my driver’s license number, I went to my wallet and – lo and behold – my license was gone. Where was it? I backtracked to the last time I saw it.
On Saturday night, when I transferred necessary items to my gorgeous new purse, I put my driver’s license and a credit card, along with some cash in there, so I didn’t have to take my whole wallet. I emptied the purse on Sunday morning and put everything back in my wallet and big purse. Or so I thought!
The first thing I did was leave a voicemail for Joe asking if he or Miguel found it. I knew the answer was “No,” because they are so neat and clean and organized and I just knew they would have seen it if it was laying on the floor somewhere.
I emptied my big purse – looking in all the compartments inside. I checked my wallet THREE times – completely emptying it and squeezing it to assure myself there wasn’t anything hidden inside.
I called Eric to tell him the bad news. He told me, “You never lose anything.” It’s pretty true. See, he loses a LOT of things – sunglasses, keys, etc., but I rarely – if ever – lose anything. I always say, “I never lose anything,” until I lose something! Anyway, I searched my suitcase, the fancy purse, and looked around the apartment everywhere I could think of to look.
I called Jimmy to tell HIM the bad news and he also told me to keep looking and that it was probably somewhere in the apartment or the car. I hadn’t checked the car, so I figured I’d do that before I went to the DMV.
I decided today was the day, since I was kind of hoping it might be less busy on Christmas Eve, and also because I might (hopefully) be working soon and I better go while the going was good!
I quickly showered and got dressed, but decided I’d better put my “full face” on, in case I had to take another picture. I really dolled myself up – as if for a photo shoot – and even put on glitzy dangling earrings.
The DMV is about 4 miles from the apartment, so I was there by 10:40am. I am happy to report I was out of there by 11:05am! It was JUST THAT FAST! They re-use your old picture and just need to print out your temporary license. My advice – if you ever need to go to the DMV and you can choose the date – go on Christmas Eve!
I paid $22 and was given the temp license and told I’d receive the new one in about 2-3 weeks. Then, since I was dressed and out, I decided to go to STARBUCKS. I figured it was the bright spot in a bad morning, because I never would have gotten dressed and driven there just for coffee, but since I was already up and out…
As I was waiting at the drive-through, I looked at my purse, sitting next to me on the passenger seat, and noticed an exterior zippered pocket. I thought to myself, “Did I check that pocket?” I didn’t remember, but I knew it wouldn’t be in there anyway, because the only thing I keep in there are business cards and gum.
I decided to check and – lo and behold – there it was. I just sat in the car, on line at STARBUCKS laughing outloud. The first thing I did was call Jimmy who promptly called me a goober. I guess I am.
I THOUGHT I had searched the purse everywhere, but I have NO idea WHY I would have put it in that exterior pocket anyway. Then, I called Eric to tell him he was right – I never lose anything – I just misplace things temporarily.
Well, it only cost me $22 and a half hour of my life, so I guess I got off easy. I then called Joe to call off the search and told him I was a huge goober (according to Jimmy) and had it all the time, but only found it AFTER I went to the DMV.
When I got home I stopped at CITIBANK so I could get money to put in an envelope for the building manager. He has a brand-new baby girl, who is SO precious. I get to see her all the time, because they love to walk her around. She seems to like being outside and the weather is so mild they can stay outside with her.
Anyway, he does a great job of making sure everything runs smoothly here and it is such a pleasant place to live. I really will hate to leave my little apartment on Clairemont Drive, because it’s so, so nice. I wish all of you could have stayed here and seen it, because it is cute and roomy, and well-kept, and just a great place to live (and very reasonable, too!). I just hope Eric and I can find a place as nice in Queens when I move back in the Spring!
I finally got down to typing at around noon. I guess I didn’t lose too much time after all. I typed, answered emails, typed, talked on the phone, typed, watched a little TV and typed until 5:00pm. It’s hard to just sit and type from a book, even though the subject matter is VERY interesting. It’s all about men and women and relationships. It was written in 1976, so some of it seems out-of-date, but that’s why I’m retyping it – so the author and my friend can update and reprint it.
At 5:00pm I stopped to make my "famous vegetable soup." This time I sautéed an onion, mushrooms, celery, spinach, baby carrots, garlic, and then added a can of corn, a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies (to add a little kick), and a can of black beans. Finally, when it was all cooked down, I added two cartons of organic vegetable broth. Then, I let it simmer for 2 hours and had some for dinner at around 7:00pm. It came out really good – had a bit of a kick to it, which I really like. This batch should last me the rest of the year and I’ll freeze some for 2009!
I wanted to show Rosemary pictures from my summer gig in Hershey park in 1981, because I was telling her about my dancing career while we were at DWTS. So, I started looking through boxes. I found them (thank goodness!) and then I started to go through boxes to see what I could get rid of, to reorganize, etc. Two hours later I had gotten SO much accomplished!
I had left A CHRISTMAS STORY (which is my favorite Christmas movie) playing in the bedroom and walked in just as my favorite part came on. It’s the scene where they go to the big department store to see Santa. When he sits on Santa’s lap and freezes up and doesn’t ask Santa for the gun he wants, and then he climbs back up the slide to ask and then Santa says what everyone else says -- “You’ll shoot your eye out kid!” The look on his face as Santa takes his boot and pushes him in the forehead with the tip of his shoe, sending him down the slide, is priceless. Then, when he lands at the bottom next to his brother in the fake snow, he just lays there, not moving. That gets me every time. I could see that scene 100 times (and probably have!) and I’ll never get tired of it.
Peter Billingsley had a cameo in FOUR CHRISTMASES, working behind the counter at the airport, and he was great. Thirty years later he’s still got those electric blue eyes!
After that I started working on my typing project again. It’s going to take a LONG time to finish, since the type is so small and the book is almost 200 pages!
It was a very quiet Christmas Eve for me, but I got a lot accomplished and enjoyed myself. I thought about the friends we’ve spent 25 Christmas Eves with and called Marygrace, but only got her voicemail. Truthfully, if I could have my Christmas wish, it would have been to just spend the night alone with Eric, watching TV in bed and maybe bringing in Italian from Cascarinos. That would be a perfect Christmas Eve!