First Day of Family Vacation

Today was a day of travelling. My family was coming in on two different flights about an hour apart. The Hoosiers would arrive around 9:30 am and the New Yorkers around 10:30 am. I was up early, due to pain in my bad tooth that I had been struggling with for about 30 hours. I showered, went to the old apartment, picked up all the Goodwill stuff and dropped it off. I tidied up the new apartment a little and then decided to go to the airport and surprise my family. They were renting a minivan and were not expecting me to show, as they had their own ride from the airport. As I was driving to Tampa International, my cell phone rang. It was Kevin telling me they had arrived already, and early. It was only 9:15. He asked jokingly if I was on my way to pick them up. I told him I was out running errands but to call me when Kathy and Ryan's flight arrived.

I got to the airport and toddled around the shuttle area wondering if the Indiana people were waiting for the New York people. I could not see them. I decided to call and get a clue to where they might be. I called Kevin's phone. No answer. I called Larry's phone and he picked up. He answered the phone, "Hey are you here yet?" I absentmindedly answered, "Why would I be here?" I had accidentally used here to describe my location and he had used here to describe being at the airport. Ooops. Then Larry said, "Oh it is you Kelly. I thought it was Kathy calling to say her flight had arrived." We chatted a little and I learned he was waiting in the baggage claim area. I went to the baggage claim for his airline and none of them were there. All this while I am talking to him. There was quite a crowd standing around one of the carousels. I told Larry I was at the Publix grocery store and there was a big crowd because they were giving out samples. I wanted to cover for the noise. Then Larry said they got a text message from Kathy saying her flight had arrived. I told them to call me back when they were getting ready to leave. I went back upstairs to the shuttle area for Kathy's airline and waited for her and Ryan to arrive. After a few minutes, I thought maybe I had missed them. What if they were already getting their luggage and the whole group left the airport without my seeing them and surprising them? I decided best course of action was to go to Kathy's airline baggage claim area and at least I wouldn't miss those two. As I stepped onto the escalator, I spied my brother standing at the bottom of the escalator. He must have been waiting to catch Kathy coming down. I called out his name, grinning, and slowly waved my arm in the air. He finally saw me, a quick look of surprise on his face and then he smiled back. We hugged when I reached the bottom and he said he couldn't believe I had come to the airport. He thought it was very nice. I greeted my mom and Larry then. Soon Kathy arrived and it was all hugs except for Ryan, who didn't want to hug anyone. He and Kevin played catch, while Larry went to retrieve the New Yorkers' bag and Kathy went to get the rental car situated.

We all drove to Beall's first. They always want to visit Beall's. Kathy bought a swimsuit and a cover up. Mom bought a shirt. I, who had started my period the day before, what else is new, went to the bathroom to discover that I had bled profusely into my underwear and jeans. I took off the underwear and threw them away. I put the jeans back on. I explained to the family my situation. I bought a pair of cheap capris and a pair of underwear at Beall's (unexpected expense), put them on the Beall's bathroom and we were off the Sweet Tomatoes for lunch.

After lunch at Sweet Tomatoes we drove to my new apartment and sat around for about 5 minutes. Mom and I went to the nail place to get her a pedicure, while the rest went to the grocery store. The beauty treatments were taking longer than expected so they went to the resort to check in. I drove Mom to the resort when she was done, dropped her off, and then left to go pick up Darcy and Serena. I had promised to babysit them while Madison went to a party and Cara went to a wedding.

After picking up Serena and Darcy, we went to my apartment to get beach towels and to pack a bag for me. Serena then discovered she had forgotten to bring her epi pen and her inhaler. So it was a trip back to Cara's to pick that up and then onto the condo rental. We all went down the beach, except for Mom. Darcy and Serena wanted to get in the ocean right away. Ryan had seemed hesitant and wanted to do the pool instead. But one step in the ocean and everyone was hooked. The water was so perfect in temperature. Still refreshing the way water should be but it took no time to get used to. We walked in and immediately were comfortable. Darcy, Serena, and Ryan jumped the waves and laughed and played. Ryan didn't want to go out too far and didn't quite trust me to take him, so we stayed pretty shallow.

We ordered pizza and salad for dinner. We ate on the screened porch. Kathy, Ryan, Darcy, Serena and I then crossed Gulf Blvd to visit the Candy Kitchen in hopes of getting ice cream. This place is very small and was quite crowded. Some people would have to leave in order to allow more people room to get in. They had everything there, especially old candy. Old as in from my childhood or older, not old as in stale. They had actual candy cigarettes that were packaged like a real pack of cigarettes. Who sells this anymore? They had Zots, with the fizzy powder in the middle. They had Fun Dip in the original grape and cherry flavor. They had Pixie Stix. They also had larva and crickets in packages with a variety of flavor. I tried to talk Darcy into trying the Mexican Spice Larvae or the Bacon and Cheddar Crickets, but she said no. We bought Cara some Zotz. I bought some peanut butter fudge. Ryan got ice cream. Kathy was tempted by the frozen banana. Darcy bought this item that had a hard candy paint brush. You dipped this paintbrush into a paint can full of sour powder. Her teeth and tongue turned a big bright blue.

We crossed the street again and went back to the ocean. Kevin and Larry got in with this time and we had a great time, this time with inner tubes that we found in a closet in the condo. Soon it was Ryan's turn to go to bed. Darcy, Serena and I spent a little time at the pool, during which we got to see the shuttle's landing trail in the sky. Darcy and Serena showered in the master bedroom and we played some Scattergories. Everyone else was tired and beginning to turn in.

I decided we should go to my house so we wouldn't keep anyone up. I also had some things I was requested to get and bring back, like nice toilet paper, laundry detergent, peanut butter and jelly, and popsicles. While at my apartment, I taught the girls the basics of backgammon. Soon Cara arrived to pick them up. I was so tired I decided to just spend the night at my apartment. I have made plenty of trips up and down Gulf Blvd for one day.

Finally SYTYCD is Back!

Say what you want about Survivor or American Idol. Both of those are great reality shows. But neither of them moves me the way another reality show does. No I am not talking about Rock of Love Bus. My favorite reality/competition program is So You Think You Can Dance. And it is finally beginning a new season. The show has interesting judges and one of the best hosts on TV right now, Cat Deeley.

I watched the two hour season opener this evening. It moved me to tears 3 times. I just love that show. Dancing is something I am terrible at and I am so impressed by the dancers who appear on the show. The level of their dancing shows a control and strength of body that is breathtaking to witness. I love the choreographers from Tabitha and Napoleon to Mia Michaels to the newest choreographer Sonja. Last year's winner Joshua was spectacular to watch. Last season's Mark and Chelsea partnership, especially in the Bleeding Love routine, blew me away. I have watched that routine several times on YouTube since it first aired. Season 4's winner Sabra was a revelation to watch. The amount of work, commitment, and heart that these dancers bring is inspiring. For me, they are almost like superheroes. How do they do that!

I'm so happy it's back on! Yeah!!!!!

Darcy's Unfortunate Continuing Education

Darcy gets a bit of an education from me at times that I am sure her parents would rather she not get. See my previous blog entry titled 'Darcy's Vocabulary Lessons'. Once again Darcy was helping me clean up an apartment and once again she may have learned something she shouldn't have.

Newest pic of bedroom

Darcy was helping me out with the unpacking of the bedroom of the new apartment. I was tired and uninspired to help, so she told me to sit in a chair and she would pull things out of the boxes and ask me where to put them or whether to throw them away. She took items one by one out of the box. If I was keeping them, then she decided where they should go.

Later I was sitting on the floor of my guest bedroom, sorting and matching up a load of clean socks. Cara was organizing the closet in that room. Madison was still working on the cabinet under the bathroom sink. Darcy was unloading boxes in my bedroom. Then Darcy walked into the guest bedroom. In one hand, held way out in front of her, pinched between her thumb and index finger, was something she had found in one of the boxes. I will not describe it fully; let's just say it is something that many women have that you purchase from an adult-oriented store. Used to be called "marital aids"....Got it? Anyway it was pretty life-like in its appearance and size, but was a dark iridescent blue color. I got it as a gift from a friend. She walked in holding this item by one end, holding it out as far away from her as her arm would go. She marched over to me and said,

"I don't know what this is and I don't where to put it!"

I was mortified. I have forgotten about that item being in the bedroom boxes. I grabbed it from her and said that I would take care of it and not to worry. I took it and threw it under the bed I was leaning against. Then I noticed that she had my other one in her other hand. This one does not resemble any body parts and you wouldn't really know what it is unless you already owned one. I told her, "I'll take that one too!" She passed it over to me. Then she turned to go back to the bedroom. My face must've been quite red. When she got to the door, she turned and made a disgusted face and said, "I don't even want to know what that is!"


Darcy's Bedroom Decorating Touches:


























Madison's Bathroom Organizing Touches:

A Moving Portrait

CABLE

I knew when I moved in that there were two cable jacks in the wall, one in the living room, one in the bedroom. I knew I would need another jack installed in the second bedroom (so cool to be saying "second bedroom"). The installers first arrived on a Monday at 6 pm. It was a father-son team and after they surveyed the situation, they announced that it was going to be a lot of work. They told me that there would be a charge for putting an outlet in the 2nd bedroom and they would need to put in 2 outlets. Why two? I asked. One for the phone/internet and one for the cable. I told him that the installer had used one jack for both in the old place. This guy told me they "don't do that anymore because it slows the internet speed". For whom? I asked. For the person using it, he replied. Well, I said, my internet speed was just fine in the old place with the split cable, so I don't want two jacks. To summarize his response - Too bad. They only use two jacks now. Then he told me that I would have to pay for the living room jack because the cable in the wall had been cut, probably by a previous installer who was using the outside wall box. I told him I didn't think I should have to pay for that either and he agreed that I should argue it. He told me that he couldn't get the job done that day because it would involve climbing trees, hacking branches to string a new cable to the building and he didn't think he could get a ladder up there and didn't have enough time. He suggested I reschedule.


I called Bright House, the cable company, and explained to them what the installer had said. I needed to reschedule the installation and I wanted to know why I should have to pay for an outlet that had been ruined by one of their previous installers. I spoke to someone from the Installation Research Team. She was quite unhelpful. She didn't seem to be able to research anything for me. She could only quote me prices on each line being installed and could read the notes the installers had decided to put on the account. When I asked her if someone could look into the problem with the living room jack, she told me that she hasn't been out to see the room or the building herself, so how could she know what's going on. I think they need to rename her department and leave out the "research" part of the name. The conversation went on for about 2o minutes and ended with my question to her: "So my only choices are to pay for a line that was destroyed by one of your contractors or not have cable in that room? I just want to be clear." Her reply (after pausing a few seconds) "Yes, those are your choices."


I was infuriated but had to refocus my efforts in a new direction temporarily, due to an equally infuriating situation at work. A few days later, I called the Sales Dept at Bright House and told them I wanted to cancel my service. This person asked to hear my story. I told her that I paid them a lot of money for a service that probably only costs them pennies a month to actually deliver to me. I told her I didn't think I should have to buy the equipment that is needed to deliver that service to me considering the price I pay. I told her I did not think I should pay for mistakes made by previous installers. After telling her everything, including my conversation with the Installation Research Team member, she cleared me to get up to 4 outlets installed at no charge to me. She gave me her operator code and the operator code of the person who had approved the waiving of charges.


An installer, from the same contractor as before, arrives at 3 pm that next Friday. He worked for 5 1/2 hours installing lines, boxes, outlets and setting everything up. I felt bad for him because he was alone and it was almost 90 degrees that day.


Now my cable, phone and internet are working. Of course I just got my online bill from Bright House and it includes $130 in installation charges. So the fight is not over...yet.

PACKING/UNPACKING/MOVING

lmost everything is out of the old place now. A friend from work and his boyfriend came over on Saturday and helped me move the mountain of crap that was piled in the living room.


Cara had made that pile of crap when she spent a whole day cleaning the old place while I was at work. She wants me to get my security deposit back. I told her I would give her half of it if I get it.


The major furniture had been moved the previous week by another friend at work and his friend, two strong young gentleman, who made light work of my couch, dresser and other items that I could not have moved myself.


Cara and her daughters have been over often to unpack and put away stuff in the new place. Honestly I ran out of energy or desire way before they did. I could not have done it without them. Cara has a motivation to see it done quickly that I do not possess.


Cara and I spent almost an hour puting together that bed frame with the two worst wrenches ever. We were drenched with sweat despite the thermostat being set at 74 degrees. Both beds are up and made and ready to be used.


Some pictures have been hung up on the wall also. I am looking forward to my beach cat and manatee that Kevin and Larry have promised me. The second bedroom is for the more colorful (and gaudy) artwork, like the Mardi Gras poster and the Elvis paintings. The very first picture to go up was my favorite. See below.


BEST THINGS ABOUT NEW PLACE

I am only 16 steps from my front door to the laundry room. It is $2 a load (cheaper than old place) but you pay on the honor system. The landlady collects your laundry money herself or you leave it in a communal jar in the laundry room.


A second bedroom! This is where the bookshelf, the computer, the litter box, the Christmas stuff, the LPs I refuse to get rid of, the CD shelves and other stuff is kept. There is a full size bed for guests or me if I need a nap. It even has a small TV (donated by a friend at work).
Bedroom closet! I actually have a bedroom closet now that I can hang clothes in. In the old place, the bedroom closet had the litter box in it and so no clothes could be kept in there. I cannot explain how excited I get everytime I open the folding closet doors and see shirts hanging there.


I have windows on 3 sides of my apartment. If there is a breeze outside, I can feel it inside, without having to open my door. I have six large windows (if you don't count the window in the shower, which I cannot seem to get open) and it is glorious.


The neighborhood is very quiet. When I turn out the lights to go to bed, it is still and dark and very conducive to sleeping.


There is a nice little patio courtyard area right out my front door. I have put my outside chairs there. This weekend I repainted them after having them for 10 years and they look great. Say what you want about wrought iron but they have lasted. They look almost new and I was not their first owner, so they are pretty old.

Sweatin' Like an Oldie

It was Sunday around 11 am. I lay on my back on the couch in that lovely drowsy state halfway between sleep and awake. I was cool. I was clean. I was dry. That was the only time in the daylight hours of this past weekend that I had been all of those things at one time. It felt great. Then the phone rang.


It was Cara. When was I coming over? We had work to do. We had that dining room table to assemble. Did I have any boxes packed and ready to go? Oh well, so much for cool, dry, clean Kelly. It was time to get back to the job of moving.


This weekend passed in a hot sweaty fog. My hair was almost constantly drenched under my lavender bandana, my scalp starting to itch. The collars of my tshirt dark with perspiration. My "weekend" bra heavy with sweat, even with that supposedly wonderful Ultimair lining. No point in makeup, it would just slide off. Constantly looking for a papertowel or tissue to soak up the moisture. I am old, it seems, and I guess I should expect to get a little sweaty doing this much physical labor. Still...


Friday I packed and sweated and this was in an air-conditioned apartment. I also did three loads of laundry. Saturday we moved boxes and some smaller furniture into the new apartment. The kitchen stuff was put away. The mattress given to me by a friend was re-Febrezed again in an attempt to get rid of the awful tobacco smell that permeated it. The girls organized the bathroom. Saturday night we went to SuperWalmart and bought a table and chairs.


Panic has clearly started to set in, I said to myself, as I sat in bed on Sunday morning. I had awakened at 2 am, after only 3 hours of sleep. Several thoughts sped across my mind. I will never be done with this move! I will never be ready for Thursday's major furniture move. I should call Goodwill and ask them to come take everything still in my old apartment away. Maybe make a big pile and start a bonfire instead. I need to remember to call the electric company, the truck rental place, and the cable company on Monday. Also need to go to library and post office that day. Did I pay my rent? How much money was left in my checking account? I got up out of bed and began to pack some things. By 3 am I was tired from all the worrying and lay back down to sleep.


Sunday we moved some boxes over. I put the giant and heavy box from Walmart on my back and made like a mule. Cara helped and steered from behind. We put the whole thing together. Who invented hex screws? What happened to good ol' flatheads and phillips heads? And what's the deal with giving us one tiny little hex wrench with which to assemble? And the Chinese factory worker who labeled the legs clearly has a few left/right issues. What was I thinking getting chairs with light colored, suede-like seat cushions? They are going to get filthy and soon. What was I thinking getting a venti iced nonfat latte with an extra shot? Too much caffeine for heat and hard work. The table and chairs turned out nice though. Worth the sweat.

Anyway, I am looking forward to Monday and regular work at the office. No sweat and hardly any physical labor.