Get your mind off the sidewalk, she isn't hooking.
At one time my wonderful wife and I would walk a couple miles in the early morning. She still does on week ends and when she can, work mornings. I try to exercise using our Wii Fit. I run in place and do step aerobics. Since I started this about eighteen months ago I've lost about twenty five pounds. Occasionally I slip and fall on my ass too.
Oh my, where are my manners? Congratulations to the Super Bowl Champs, the Green Bay Packers. And how about this, the Detroit Lions beat them last season. I guess that means the Lions may win five or six games next year?
It's become painfully clear, advertisers don't care about people my age. The only commercial I half understood was the one of the old folks who couldn't hear.
Friday morning while Wanda was street walking I was doing my step exercises. I try to go for an hour at a pretty good pace. The Fit Board is only about six inches high but it is a good work out. I was holding three pound weights, almost finished when my right foot slipped off the corner of the board. Someone said these things happen when we get old. Maybe I should get one of those "can't fall over" wrist bands? If we indeed do this when we get old, I better start spending more time in the recliner. I've said before I'll end up with a bib and drool cup, just didn't think it would be this soon.
Anyhow, I knew I was going to fall but could not stop myself. I remembered nursing school when we practiced falls, relax and go with it, so I did. I went with it all the way to the very hard floor. I landed on my right ass cheek smacking the back of my head on one of the cabinets. I still have a goose egg on my head and a sore ass. It could have been worse I'm sure but it did get me out of painting this week end. The fall and the fact that we are done painting, I guess.
Wanda walks the streets. I knew there was some point to this. She always seemed to find money when we were out. She always stopped and picked it up. I always laughed at her. I could not be bothered stooping down for a penny, are you kidding? I just thought of an old joke:
Two guys are standing at a urinal when one notices a quarter laying in the bottom of his. He reaches (with his free hand) into his pocket, takes out about seventy cents and throws it in the urinal, then, he reaches down and picks up all the money. The guy next to him is watching (carefully), is shocked and says, "why did you reach in your pocket and throw that money in there?" and the other guy said, "Well, I sure wasn't going to reach in there for a lousy quarter.".............Wanda always picked up the penny.
Now, you may think this odd, I did at first. I finally said that maybe we should write down the money we find, so we did. For the last five years we have tried to note money found. The best year to date was 2008 with a total of $24.84. Remember, this is found money. I know we won't retire on it, it's just fun, and profitable. The total up to date is, $87.50.
I wonder if we can go out for a nice dinner? Speaking of dinner. We had a coupon for a free oatmeal and coffee at McDonald's and went there yesterday morning. I think the last time I was in that place was making a phone call in 2002. In line in front of us was a pregnant lady with three kids. They were ordering breakfast. A large box of oatmeal, bread, a dozen eggs and milk would have been less than she spent. Also a Hell of a lot more nutritious.
When we realized how much fun finding money was we started walking with plastic bags. We didn't expect to fill them with money but cans and bottles. We were getting exercise, cleaning the neighborhood and making some dough. Since I was adding the found money I figured I would track the can money. Since September 2008 we have picked up and recycled $789.00 worth of mostly other peoples drink receptacles. We don't drink beer, or much soda but do add our own water bottles.
If any of you think you may do this and live near here, remember, we have dibs on this area.
I had some errands to run this morning. One of them required a stop in the local Comcast office for a new cable box. Here it is, 9:15AM on Monday morning. The office is closed on week ends and there are about a dozen people in line. Can anyone tell me WHY anyone would pay their cable bill by GOING to this office? Most of the people in front of me are doing just that, it looks like the line may move quickly. There is a man three or so in front of me who is yakking on his cell phone, loudly, very loud-ly. After several minutes I walked up to him and said, "Excuse me, we will hold your place in line, would you step outside and continue your conversation?" I thought I was polite. Maybe it was the, "so we all don't have to listen to you." that got him upset?
We exchanged some words, he suggesting I "enjoy your (my) coffee" and "I guess he (me) must have lost money on the Super Bowl." and with one of the counter Comcast people saying, "It's OK, you can talk on your cell phone" I felt like the F-ing bad guy.
Don't people know just how annoying their conversations are? When I got to the counter that same lady told me they have had "fist fights" in line over phones. She was trying to diffuse a potential problem. What they should have is a sign, like the Safeway Pharmacy, "PLEASE, turn off your phone.".....a case of, "No Phone, Yes Service."......"Yes Phone, No Service."
It just wasn't my morning. Several more people walked in, some walked out, others stayed. The line is now about twenty deep and starting to wrap back on itself. As the people in front of me move up the lady just in front of me, doesn't move. She looks like she is somewhere in North Dakota. Now more people come in and she's not moving. There is about fifteen feet (enough room to park a school bus) in front of her. I finally said, softly (because I didn't want the people to think I was a REAL jerk) "mam, would you mind moving up?" She looks back at me and said, "I will, I don't want to stand in the sun, it bothers me." "Some things bother you, some things bother me." There was a patch of sun shinning through the front glass doors, she was waiting for the shady area in front of that.
I couldn't get out of there, finish my errands and get home fast enough. No wonder I don't go out more often.
I also have been meaning to have my tires checked for a couple weeks. I know they needed air. On the way to Best Buy (a story for another day, soon) I pulled into Big O Tires here in Pittsburg. They took me in, checked and filled the tires in under five minutes, great service. I feel kind of bad though. I didn't tell them the owner, who is off on Monday is my son in law, Eric. We did buy the tires there, he gave us a nice discount. I guess I should have had just three of the tires done?
By the way, the new cable box? It's still not working. I almost got in a fistfight. I had some women give me stink eye, twice, and the guy on the phone said it would be working forty minutes ago.
I'll sure try to finish the family story tomorrow.............Chuck
PS: In all fairness; I was getting nuts with the television so called Comcast again. It now looks like everything is working. I'll really know in thirty (do they all say thirty?) minutes.
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