HI ALL!!      "    Please don't you call me at home, please don't come knocking at night, please never ring on the phone, your manners are never quite right, please take the favors I grant, curtsy and look nonchalant, just for me    "  Well how goes it today? Not toooo good for me, I seam to have some kind of lower belly thing going on today. Maybe some kind of bug? It has been a challenge to get off the toilet, and I seem to have some kind of "pulled, or strained something" on my left side 4 or 5 inches away from my belly button. And then over all I just feel icky!! Am starting to feel a little better this afternoon, compared to this morning. So maybe I am working my way out of it. I am not scheduled for a colonoscopy tomorrow, but I just might be ready for another one!  { Now THAT was funny! } Anyway got 350 items ending on eBay and got a bunch of calls about re-financing my house. I made the decision yesterday to see if there was a better option for my mortgage. Since CHASE Mortgage CAN NOT get it right. The paper work we got on Friday is wrong, but the amazing thing about all of this is that Chase has not made any adjustments for my 2nd tax account on my escrow. They have not asked me to increase the escrow payment YET. And 1st half taxes are due .. .. ..  TODAY!!  HELLO!! Earth to Chase Mortgage!! So I bet I tell them to pay these taxes as well. WOW. Anyway so I am fielding offers and will see where that leaves me. Broke I'm sure! CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!      "    Well I heard a quiet man is half a man, with no sense of pride, if I have to cry to keep ya I don't mind weepin', if weepin' gonna keep ya by my side    "  Been a quiet day, I am just laying low. Spent all day outside yesterday helping to get primer on the shed. Much harder and longer then we ever thought it would be. Had plenty of problems with the airless sprayers. The primer was just TOO thick, we finally got it to work, some what, by thinning the primer almost 50%!! WOW!! So the shed is primed, about 99%. Will finish that this week and then maybe start painting next weekend. We will roll the paint on, I am done with the airless sprayers for that. I am just sooo tired and weak today, not really hurting, but just no strength in my arms and upper legs. It was colder than we thought yesterday as well, that may have played into the problem as well. So just close to my dish and relaxing. tomorrow will be a phone call day. I got several calls to make to get people IN LINE!! Should have great weather by Wednesday. So I will venture out and do some more priming. Got eBay items ending on Tuesday, with no results so far. So should be an indoor week to start, then back outside to do yard stuff. CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!     "    Have you seen her dressed in blue, see the sky in front of you, and her face is like a sail, speck of white so fair and pale, have you seen the lady fairer    " Well how goes it today? I am STILL trying to straighten out my Mortgage Company! They sent me the new paperwork today. AND IT IS WRONG!! WOW!! They have not added the 2nd tax account onto the deed, which is why I was past due on taxes before. And they have not added extra to my escrow account to pay for the 2nd tax account. WOW, and a couple of other problems. I am NOT signing new paperwork until it is CORRECT!! I can NOT believe their inability to get the simple things correct. Also I am still waiting for my overpayment of COBRA refund. I have made two phone calls and an e-mail. I think they have it in the works. I will blow them out of the water AGAIN on Monday. I mean COME ON people, it is NOT that hard. Hope to get the shed painted tomorrow, I think the weather will hold. AND, GOOD news, I contacted my Concierge Service through my Diamond Preferred card today. And got arrangements for going out of town. Heads Up Girls, Daddy is coming!! Should be a GREAT trip!! I am still VERY sore from this weeks tasks, and with being out all day tomorrow, I bet I am very sore for another several days. WOW. Guess it is just part of the game. It will be sooo nice to get the stuff done. CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!      "    Always in a hurry, I never stop to worry, don't you see the time flashin' by, honey got no money, I'm all sixes and sevens and nines, say now baby, I'm the rank outsider, you can be my partner in crime    "       WOW What a sunny, bright, warm day. I stayed inside. I have been SOOOO very sore the last several days. I have been going hard in the garage to get it cleaned and sorted and stored in the shed. Hope to get the yard mowed this week, and hope to be able to start the painting process on the shed this weekend as well. Got 350 items listed on eBay, let's see what sells. I fully expect it to stay quiet for another week or so. That's how it's been trending this year. Made some calls today, waiting on the Mortgage Company to figure out my past due Taxes problem, waiting for my refund from my over payment of COBRA, AND ONCE AGAIN, WHAT A TOTAL FUBR!!! Talk about SCREWING THE POOCH!! My ex-employer and their COBRA insurance handler are that. They REALLY don't know   {come here, from sick 'em}. Wow, so I just keep making phone calls, and requesting several times to speak to a supervisor. For those of you who don't know. One classic trick of phone people who work in any kind of "phone bank" setting. When you ask for a supervisor, they pass the phone to their friend sitting next to them. So I ask several times and tell them they had better not be duping me. I just keep pressing and pressing. I sent a VERY nasty e-mail to my ex-employer as well. Also found out I STILL got air miles with American Airlines, even after NOT flying for over 25 years. WOW Maybe one of my daughters can use them. CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!!     "    Childhood living is easy to do, the things you wanted I bought them for you, graceless lady you know who I am, you know I can't let you slide through my hands    "       What a GREAT verse! I really love the back ground guitar part of this song, it is almost like the guitar is crying, WOW just soooo cool. And then KR ends the song with it as well. VERY COOL!! This is the one song that I just CRANK to the MAX when it comes on. Especially if it is on USB. WOW!! Anyway, spent a lot of today out in the garage sorting and cleaning up. Was able to take another 5 or 6 boxes to the shed. I am slowly running out of boxes!! Might even be able to park the cars in the garage again. Got over 350 items ending on eBay tomorrow morning, sure would be nice if they would start selling. Like I said in an earlier post, I think it is an every other month thing. And, April is just the slow month. Time to mow the yard again as well. Made my last appeal to the Mortgage Company about the past due taxes they caused. We shall see. CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!         "    I went down to the Chelsea drugstore, to get your prescription filled, I was standin' in line with Mr. Jimmy, a-man did he look pretty ill, we decided that we would have a soda, my favorite flavor, CHERRY RED    "     Well how goes it? I am a day late with the post, sorry. I spent a lot of time yesterday in the garage sorting and cleaning up old boxes of  STUFF!! Was able to throw out some things and get the others more organized. I even found my Panasonic 8-track player!! Now I can hook it up and grove to the sounds of my 8-tracks I have been saving all this time!?!? Hey by the way, the answer to the Magnolia Lane tree question is  61 Loblolly Pines. You remember,  " How many trees line the drive way of Augusta National Country Club?  " Well it's  61, and they are Loblolly Pines. Well after being out so long yesterday I am plenty sore today. I think I will lay low and do some indoor stuff. I am still fighting with my mortgage company about some taxes, I need to write a formal "complaint letter" and see were that gets me. Then a few other paper work tasks to complete as well. I am seeing a lot more action on eBay the last several days, no buying  yet, but lots of lookers. Which is an improvement over a week ago.  Looks like I may get to paint the shed next weekend. At least I hope to get primer on it and the little fence on the side of the house. Hope to be done with re-organizing and get stuff back on the shelves in the shed this week. Then I will have room for both cars in the garage  AGAIN!! Very Cool. CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!       "    Oh a storm is threat'ning my very life today, if I don't get some shelter, oh yea I'm gonna fade away,  ....    ....    ooh see the fire is sweepin' our very street today, burns like a red coal carpet,  MAD BULL LOST ITS WAY    "  WOW how true, I can relate to the  "Mad Bull lost its way", there seems to be times that this ' retirement ' thing just doesn't work. I am still adjusting to current life. I understand that I spent 40 years working my ass off, 40 or 50 or more hours a week. And was doing it to  provide for my family, and to garner some kind of success for myself. I was 30 years old and the District Manger of 14 offices in Texas. Some where in the neighborhood of $16 to $18 million in receivables. I had an office in each corner of the State of Texas! Port Author, El Paso, and Lubbock. I would drive to one city, then fly to another, then fly back to the first city, then drive home. Don't get me wrong, I would do it all over again. Of course I would change a couple of things, but I did what I had to for my family. And YES I missed events with my daughters. But, you had to make a choice, work and try to better yourself, or lose your job and make your family suffer. I have tried since then to make up time with my daughters. It is VERY hard now because they have the life I once had. They are pumping out 40, 50 or more hours a week to make a life for themselves and be successful. So now I have 24 hours a day at my disposal, and am trying to adjust. It took almost 40 years to get the working thing down, I guess I should give my self more than 18 months to get the retirement thing down. I am up late tonight because I am not tired and can not sleep. Plus, remember I spent 5 years working the 4 PM to 2 AM shift. I do have projects that keep me AND my mind busy. I just had these thoughts after talking to my daughters the last 2 days. It has been a LONG time since we, ' talked '. I do get a fair amount of  ' electronic ' communication with them, which is nice. But, I do enjoy a phone call and a chat. Got several errands to run later today and spend more time getting the garage sorted and the shed filled up. CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!     "    Well when you're sitting back in your rose pink Cadillac,  making bets on Kentucky Derby Day,  AH, I'll be in my basement room with a needle and a spoon,  and another girl can take my pain away    "         Another nice day in the Northwest, spent some time out sorting through the garage and storing things in the shed. I find I can spend about an hour or so doing things out in the garage, then I just get too worn out and my legs get real weak. I do spend some time resting while I am out there. But, I just seem to wear out so quick!  But, the good news is I seem to recover over night and am able to go back out and work in the garage the next day. So that is good. There is stuff out there that I have not unpacked in 25 years. Some of it is stuff I accumulated while I was dinking around on cars. Things like brackets for radios and CB radios and gauges, etc. Different little hoses, wires, clamps etc. So I think a lot of it will go to the garbage. NEWS FLASH!! I do not work on my own cars, or anyone else cars for that matter any more. Got 352 items relisted on eBay today. Let's SELL IT ALL!! And my fantasy baseball teams are doing a little better. Did find the paint and did some research for painting the shed. I think I will have enough of the house paint left over to use it. CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!       "    I was a pitcher down in a slump, I was a fighter taken for a sucker punch, feeling bad I guess I lost my spring, I was a boxer who can't get in the ring    "   Well another GREAT Sunday at the Master's!! WOW Great tournament and a well deserving winner. Not my favorite, but it was a great 4 days watching the azalea's bloom. Was able to get a lot of stuff done around the house yesterday, lot's of help from my brother in law and nephew. THANK YOU!! Now just a matter of getting stuff back on the shelves and sorted out. I even found parts to my turntable I didn't even know I was missing. COOL! Anyway, slow week at eBay. I think that is just a phase. I looked back on the year so far, January and March were VERY GOOD, February and April were not so much. So maybe it's a every other month thing!! That I can deal with. My fantasy baseball teams are getting beat on pretty bad. I just have not been able to figure out the flow of the year. Did OK in the weekend Fantasy Golf challenges. But, baseball has me all twisted up. CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!      "    She comes on like a rose, and everybody knows, she'll get you in dutch, you can look but you better not touch    "   Well first and foremost   HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my youngest daughter. WOW you have really grown into a successful and vibrant female adult. I am so very proud of the lessons you have learned and the teachings you have dispersed. Thank You for what you do and I love you very much.  Just taking it easy today. Was out and about yesterday, shopping at hardware store and grocery store. So I am relaxing today and watching the Masters golf tournament. And on that note, How many trees line Magnolia Drive as you drive up to the front door of the Country Club at Augusta National??   OH I KNOW!!!   Just ask me. EBay has become very slow. Just nothing selling, but I will keep at it. I think this is just a cycle it goes through. I have been busy rearranging the garage and trying to get things ready for the shed. Then spending time with 3 different fantasy baseball teams and 3 different fantasy golf teams. WOW.It feels good to be out and doing something every day. My goal is to be out in the yard or garage doing  'something' every day this summer. I think the activity will be helpful. Need to plan a weekend visit to Bellingham and see my three kids. Let them take Dad to dinner!! CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!        "  This coming and going is driving me nuts, this to-ing and fro-ing is hurting my guts, so get off the fence, it's creasing my butt, life is a party, let's get out and strut    "         Well my new shed is a beauty!! WOW I am impressed, all the lumber showed up in one pick up truck!! Took the guy about 4 hours or so, got the shed level and then BOOM up it went. Now I just got to paint it! And move stuff into it. I am very happy with it. And I am sure it will help with me getting out in the yard more, and more room in the garage. I spent some time today taking stuff off the metal shelves I want to use and getting some stuff sorted in the garage. WOW I am just worn out!! It is amazing on just moving stuff off the shelf onto the floor, how much that really takes out of me. I only spent about an hour doing it, what would have taken me "back in the day" about 20 minutes or so. I will just spend a little time every day until it gets done. At this point I am very pleased with the progress!! Not anything happening on eBay, I am surprised! And my poor fantasy baseball team is just getting beaten on. I did win the NCAA bracket for the chat board I belong to!! COOL!! Well got some errands to run this week and pay bills. OH JOY!! CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!      "    Now I bet your mama was a tent show queen, and all her boyfriends were sweet sixteen, I'm no schoolboy but I know what I like, you shoulda heard me just around midnight    "    Well what a FULL day. I was out in it all day. Mowed the yard, then put weed and feed on it. Watched the guy build the shed. WOW very nice, now just got to paint it, and FILL it. Tried to chase down my Pizza Hut buddy. I find that his restaurant has been closed. HOW ODD. It was the MOST profitable store in the Seattle market for 5 or 6 years in a row. Think I got his home number, and left a message. This also is the BEST week of the year for sports. The NCAA Final is Monday night, then baseball full schedule all week, and the Masters starts on Thursday. YES, BOYS AND GIRLS, THE AZELEAS ARE IN FULL BLOOM!! Go ahead, ask me what that means. It is the one single phrase that describes a sporting event to a tee. I think. A close second is " Take a bike ride down the Champs-Elyees". YEA, go ahead and ask me about that one TOO!! So after being out in the yard all day today I am REALLY suffering now. My legs have zero strength in them, and they just have a constant dull ache to them. I do feel a little better after a couple of beers and dinner. I will lay low tomorrow and just relax. I think Wednesday I will try and start unpacking my shelves in the garage so I can move them to the shed.  Got stuff relisted on eBay. CHOW MOI

HI ALL!!     "    As you poured out the drinks for me, I felt your hooks sink right into me, and I knew you were my destiny, and I thought you'd get the best of me    "      Well a wet Pacific Northwest day. This IS the reason we live here!! Quiet day, some eBay stuff, baseball fantasy stuff, miscellaneous things, just took it easy. Got some stuff to do tomorrow to get ready for my shed on Monday. Had a BAD time sleeping last night. I know what it is, but not sure how to resolve it. I do every once in awhile 'reflect' on stuff, and sometimes that 'reflection' can make it hard to sleep. OH, I get sleepy and node off, but then you can feel your hand on her arm ..AND ..BOOM your awake and reaching for her. ONLY ONE PROBLEM!! I think the Zombie's said it best " SHE'S NOT THERE!!"  WOW There have been two 'ladies' in my life that cause this. And I have been having issues getting a hold of the latter of them. This use to be the time she would JUST show up out of the blue, and draw me back in. Well she has not walked from the fog YET. And she has been on my mind lately. The 'former lady' I have not spoke with in over 18 years, I have located her and reached out, but no response yet. However, I have been thinking about the latter one ALOT. I hope she finds her old trick, and shows up out of the blue. Otherwise I am not sure the next time I will sleep through the night. Remind me one day to fill in all the names to this drama and explain it to my daughters. As you have gathered, OR NOT, the lyrics I use at the start of the blog is a reflection of my daily feelings. CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!     "    You will be mine, you will be mine, all mine, You will be mine, you will be mine, all mine, I will be your knight in shining armor, Riding across the desert with a fine Arab Charger    "       Well my big toe, without the nail, was barking big today. Not sure why, had a trip to Olympia for Mom's doctor appointment. Then back home to beer and pizza!! My fantasy baseball team is starting to improve, SLOWLY, but still improving. The other two leagues I am in are a weekly thing, so I won't know until the end of the week. eBay has slowed, and I am surprised because baseball seems to be getting lots of air time. We are less than a week away from The Masters " The azaleas are in FULL bloom! " Should be a GREAT tourney. Got rain today, so no chance to get out in the yard. Hope to get out in the yard this weekend and get the site ready for my shed. Then hope to get the garage cleaned out as well. I have been busy in and out this week, got my truck back from the mechanic, and things are running great. Been watching all the news around the Stones tour, WOW, they still get a lot of pub!! I doubt I will be able to go, prices and mobility, but I hope they do another PPV!!  CHOW MOI 

HI ALL!!      "  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 " OK ALL! MAY I PRESENT TO YOU  THE WORLD'S GREATEST ROCK AND ROLL BAND............. LADIES and GENTLEMEN, THE  ROLLING STONES !!! Yes today they announced they're continuing the  "50 and counting tour". They will start on the West coast in early May and work their way East. They are NOT coming anywhere near Seattle,  YET!! , but maybe there will be another PPV show! CHOW MOI CHOW MOI

HEY ALL!!         "    I'll tell ya, you can put me out, on the street, put me out, with no shoes on my feet, but, put me out, put me out, put me out of misery    "    Well been out and about the last couple of days. I lost about 3/4 of my right big toe nail on Sunday. It was the toe that I stubbed 4 times with in a week about 4 months ago. With my compression socks on it bothers me, so I cut a hole in the sock so I could wear it. But even with shoes on it bothers me. And the last 3 days I have had shoes on. Which is NOT normal for me. Monday Sears came and serviced my riding mower, then today took the Ranger in for service, oil,  A/C, etc. Went by the hardware store and got outdoor stuff for the yard, weed and feed, weed killer, moss out, etc. I think tomorrow I will take a day off. I think Friday I will try and mow, and weed and feed. Also been quick to be pissed off the last couple of days too. Just irritated all the time. I think I know why, we'll see. eBay still dragging a little, and my fantasy baseball team is getting beat up pretty good in the first two games of the year. But, this year I am going to try and not be so quick to switch out players. I learned last year, especially with pitchers, that being quick to switch is not always good. I keep telling myself that it is 162 game season. I will say that the league I am in is much more competitive this year than last year. There has already been more activity among the other teams than all of last year. Should be fun. CHOW MOI