A New Washer/Dryer

P.C. Richard is where we get all our appliances, PCs, TVs, radios (does anyone have a radio anymore?) GPS, DVD players, all of it, except cameras, which I get online. So when the washer started smoking it seemed another visit was imminent. Paul immediately blamed my robe as the cause, saying it had caused an imbalance in the rinse cycle and that I had probably overloaded the machine. I was ready for this accusation though, and I always wash his robe with mine now as I am a recovering overloader. I showed him that his robe was also present in the mix- I was cleared of guilt-it was simply the washer finishing its final life cycle at 18 years. I put it on "rinse" one more time so it could go out in style with a flurry of creaks and high pitched whines. Regis Boy then declared "time for a new washer/dryer". I was assigned the job of buying them at our favorite appliance store, P.C. Richard. I walked in and a salesperson came over right away. I told him what I wanted and that I was ready to buy. His name was Tom Keating. I was thinking that I bought my PC from him last February, but there would be time for renewing an old acquaintance after the sale. Then came then dreaded question, "gas or electric"? We have gas heat. Must be gas. I reply without hesitation, "Gas". Okay we find them, two different brands, has to fit in the 1948 basement doorway, and Maytag-my brand of choice, makes dryers too big for our doorway. Okay-deal done-A Maytag washer and Whirlpool dryer-diversity- change we can believe in. Now comes the question I love as a retiree: "when can we deliver?" " I am retired" I say gleefully-then I wait for the shocked response. So far it has happened 100% of the time. Tom comes through "No way". "You look too young" see photo -this is how Tom must see me. At this point I have to decide if I reveal that Feds can retire in their 50's. I am confident the compliment will hold. After all, he is a salesmen. I say, "We can retire before 62, not entirely admitting to be age 58. Tom says "You must hear it a lot, that you look too young too be retired." Yes, I do" at least for now.
I buy the two items and as I am leaving the store I remember-yes, it was Tom who sold me my computer last February- the memory of the conversation fights its way out of my crowded brain to the front of my mind. I had asked him if he knew my friend Paul Keating and he had said "No" He then countered with "Do you have a teacher relative, Mr. McNiff"? "No I don't". Turns out the teacher McNiff was a tough one- still giving poor Tom nightmares.
The delivery is set for Friday, March 6. I have a window of time 11-2. The P.C. Richard men arrive at the end of the window of time, then proceed to eat lunch in the truck, while Liam and I spy on them from the kitchen window. They have to eat-guess this is their lunch break. I always have to worry about Liam when deliveries are made. He wants to lick and play with all who come in. So my procedure is to let him out the side until he throws his body against the door often enough for the delivery men to say "let him in"> So far all the folks have been dog people. The two men come in, play with Liam, march downstairs and as soon as they disappear to the left side of the basement I hear "No go", and they emerge smiling. Liam is afraid of the basement, is waiting up top, is happy his new playmates are back so soon, woof woof
The leader slyly announces " you have ordered a gas dryer but you need an electric one". He seems very pleased with this development. I am mortified. I knew that question from Salesman Tom. " Is it gas or electric"? was make or break one. "So what happens"? I ask " Call the store-" He adds "the clue should have been the outlet with the plug" Of course! I have seen that plug at every washing session. I also realize why they are so happy. My mistake has shortened their work day. They are done early on a Friday-their weekend has begun. I have done a * Mitzvah. One of my retirement goals is to do as many as I can each day.


*Mitzvah.

Main Entry:

mitz·vah

Pronunciation:

\ˈmits-və\

Function:

noun

1 : a commandment of the Jewish law
*2 : a meritorious or charitable act, such as ordering the incorrect dryer, causing the P.C. Richard's men to have a shortened Friday workday and early weekend

They call P.C. Richard, the dispatcher at the store calls me, I call Paul, Salesman Tom calls me, I go back, I buy another dryer, save $ 168.00 and we are on for a revisit Sat.
It is Saturday, they are here, just in time for the my chore of laundry. I do not have to drag my clothes in the street to the pay laundry. I can stay home-here is the happy couple-
a mixed marriage of Maytag and Whirlpool. Change we believe in.
Yay

Woof, Woof

First Snow Day in 5 Years

Schools closed and Liam played The snow watch commenced when we returned from the shower, actually after the end of Amazing Race. The school closings started scrolling across the bottom of the screen. I get excited about this, as it NEVER happened when I was in school. In the '50's and 60's when I was going to school-they never closed because the nuns lived right there. They just walked down from the convent and appeared in the classroom. A miracle! below Dec '61The parents sent us out with plastic bags over our shoes in our boots and did not expect us back.
My job Sunday night was to call the work emergency number at 11PM. I also posted it on Facebook as there was a need expressed by some SSA employees. So I called, put the Blackberry on speaker The message announced a delayed opening. Not what the hubby wanted to hear and it was my blackberry that delivered this odious news. He stared at it with disgust. Fast forward to Monday morning, Liam and I are sleeping in and Paul informs us that the message has changed-work is closed!!!! He praises the brilliance of this decision as well as the original announcement of a delayed opening. Paul explains to me in his best "Regis Boy" voice that the announcement of a delayed opening was very smart as it bought time for an informed weather based decision in the morning before people had set out. Of course, that was the plan all along - this was now very obvious. , I respond-I am just glad to be retired and not have to worry about getting in because as a manager I would have tried. Paul began shoveling and Liam began exploring, attempting to do his business... this looks deep

above-How do I get through this, the snow is up to my neck?
I Have to jump

Yikes, that is cold on my belly and my private parts Arooooooooooooooooo

I am done, let me back in from the Winter Wufferland


Woof, Woof

King Kullen Saturday Night

Chore Girl Thinks Ahead The forecast said a big storm was coming Sunday night into Monday. I had my niece's shower on Sunday, superseding my routine Sunday food shopping. So I announced to hubby, Paul "I will be doing the food shopping Saturday night early, get the list ready" -the list is his chore. This provided a tricky scenario as we go to the health club separately on Saturday, and Paul does his food shopping for his special Saturday meal. The cars were moving in and out of the driveway all afternoon. I arrive at King Kullen and immediately notice the store is quiet, no hustling around going on, the aisles are negotiable. All goes well, until checkout. I get on line and at that moment a container of yogurt falls from the runway to the ground. Big plop. This is an item belonging to the woman front of me- and she seems very sad about it. Guess this was going to be important on her menu.
She asks the cashier to call to have it cleaned but the cashier is embroiled in a heavy dispute with the woman in front of her about what is on sale. Backup has been called by the cashier-I recognize this woman, she knows her stuff-the arguing customer does not have a chance. So I size up my plight- I have two women in front of me on line, the first has dug her heels in about her items being on sale and the second woman is upset about the blob she has sent to the floor as well as its loss in her menu. Should I go to another line? No, never do that. The "Yogurt plop" woman is wearing high heels, so she is off balance and getting fidgety. She says. " I am getting another yogurt". I say "Good idea". She leaves, the fighting continues up front. Then the arguing customer gets the ultimate revenge. "Okay, take them off the bill" On no, this requires yet another King Kullen employee to join in as he has the power of removal of items. Yogurt women returns. "What no progress !" I feel like a failure for not getting the line moving" "No" I reply and add wickedly, "She (referring to arguing woman) does not seem to realize that others are waiting". Evil Carol. That gets Yogurt woman more annoyed, as I knew it would- my revenge for her releasing feelings of failure in me.
Then it happens-the BIG manager announces that two more checkouts will open. All the people waiting in back of me run and I am now alone again naturally. My line is not moving. I make the decision. I go to the next line. Not bad, only one person in front, a woman. I see that there is no divider between her items and mine, a flag goes up in my mind-trouble ahead if I do not watch. "Well , why should I always have to be the one to watch?!" I soon hear a commotion, I am still loading my stuff on the belt. "Those are not mine, those are hers" Yikes, it has happened- my items have morphed into hers. And not just one. She ticks them off one by one, so all can hear. "The soup is not mine, the sauce is not mine, the tarts are not mine" .Oh no. Everyone now knows I have tarts. And then it happens, the Manager with the power of item removal is summoned to my line and I am the cause. I am no better than the arguing woman. I have caused "delay in line" It takes a while. My total time on line has now exceeded my total shopping time. It gets done. My items are zooming along, I am packing, back in the groove. Then the dreaded produce question "What kind of pears are these?" I answer "Red". "No" says condescending checker" He continues " I mean like type of pear for example - Bartlett or Anjou". I patiently explain that these pears are labeled "Red", nothing else. Another checker is called and a decision is made, not shared with me-(ignorant of pear title person). We finish, I am done.
Everyone seems a little on edge. But not me, I have a secret. I don't mind what happens. I am always writing a story in my head, and the more that happens the better I like it. I look at the receipt to find what title my pears were given They were rung up as pears red. Not red pears. Guess that was his revenge.

Woof, Woof

Liam Loves My Underwear

No one told me. I adopted Liam when I was 57, past the point of thinking any male might be interested in my underwear drawer. Apparently dogs love bras, socks and other unmentionables.
Liam knows what items are in which drawers and he has an order in the colors he likes: beige, white, then black. I am a simple girl now, just the basics.
My only pets have been parakeets and turtles. They are too small for the Victoria secret stuff, not that I have any of that any longer-there is a recession after all.
I did not realize the incredible precision and focus of a dog's mission when he/she has a piece of underwear. How did I find out?
We were on an annual fall trip with friends. I packed what I thought were viable bras. (hope that is okay for the Web.) First day, I start dressing and realize all bras have one strap, yes, all of them!
I now understand the one strap look at theOscars, all women have dogs, who have eaten their underwear, One strap. The cut looks as if it were done with VERY sharp scissors. A beautiful job. Liam should be a surgeon. Liam does the right strap.

Liam's Play Date

Liam had a play date today. Molly, (dog) came with her Mom, Connie. They live in Riverdale, so this involved a car trip and crossing a bridge. I consider crossing a bridge to see a friend to be a gift of love. The little sausage dog had a great time with big girl Molly.

Script follows:

Liam-"Hey Big girl, play with me"
Molly "I don't play with babies"


Carol -Liam needs to work off those extra pounds from Ruth's visit-if barking alone would do it then he lost 20 pounds today.
Come to think of it, if talking would do it I would also be a stick. Since we are friends we want our dogs to like each other. I found myself saying crazy stuff, like "look Liam, Molly wants you to lick her, and go have fun, be social" "Good dog, share your water." This is human talk. I think Connie and I ended up playing ball and throwing sticks to each other while the dogs watched.

Liam-"catch me, Molly"
Molly- "I can, my legs are much longer"




Liam "come here, let's relax"
Molly " not in the mud!"


Molly "come out sausage dog"
Liam " No way, BOL" (bark out loud)

Woof, Woof

ENT Visit-No Change Needed Please

Today was time for the Ear Nose and Throat visit. Why? I do not remember what brought me there a few years ago, but whatever it was is no longer a current symptom. What was revealed at that time was that I had an inherited hearing loss. Not the romantic kind the Rock Stars have-the opposite- hard to fix and not my fault. I rather it was my doing, then I could wonder which deafening rock concert did the damage and feel the like the band members of the "Who". No, mine was just given to me, without my asking; not the result of any shared fun experience. But this explained some of my famous gaffes resulting from mishearing words in a conversation. I have made sure Ruth knows that she has given me this hearing problem. Seems she gave it to my sister also. Today, we are checking the nose, throat and ears. The doctor always asks if I did cocaine as I have a hole in my septum. That would be the thing that separates one side of the nose from the other. When I squirt nasal spray in -it does not even go up, it goes through and comes out very fast, ending up all over my face. And I say "No cocaine, Afrin nose spray". He looks skeptical and enters this comment on his laptop- has a hole in septum-looks like cocaine use. "No" I say "I drink wine, no cocaine use, and ask " Is that why my throat hurts"? Figured my throat needed some attention in this conversation. Doctor says "Not, wine". I reply "shiraz" . That must be the hearing again. I sometimes answer what I think is the question, just to get by. Exam done-time for the hearing test.
I am sent to the "waiting for the audiologist" green couch where two elderly sisters join me. That will be Lois and me in 30 years, I think. While one sister is in with the audiologist we start talking about the Oscars. Last-born elderly sister says "Did you see Heidi Klum's roots?">> <<< "Yes, of course, I did" I reply, but add that "the latest is that it is " in" to have roots".

She replies, "then you would not be
"IN"my head newly highlighted head> She is correct, for today, for this week, for next week, I am not "with it", I have no roots. I say" I will be "IN"in two weeks". As we chat, I am eyeing the results of my audio gram hanging very near me and thinking I want to see it. The memory of Elaine from Seinfeld, floods my mind.http://worldofseinfeld.blogspot.com/search?q= the episode where she reads her chart when the doctor leaves and finds he has noted that she is difficult.
How time changes-there are no charts, They type the info from the exam directly into the PC. I would have to steal the laptop/notebook in its entirety. Doctor returns, No change in my hearing. Yay! In addition, the hearing aids which I never wear are confiscated to be adjustedNow to reception to pay. There is a line. Many people-when I finally get there the receptionist says "those were quadruplets and their parents- I had to enter everything six times. I told her to make sure she did not book my return visit with their next visit. What about those octuplets and other six sibs?
The office would close down.

Liam visits his new vet Change is what we need here. We want Liam to be vetted at the same place he plays. So we go. The last 3 times I have visited his resort, Best In Show, I have forgotten my pocketbook "Big Pink". I think this is because as long as I have something in my hand I think it is "Big Pink". So I had Liam , hence no "Big Pink" . I was without, money, credit, cell, camera, etc, but had a dog. So I guess =
I have now put up a sign on the door, "when leaving- bring, cell, sunglasses, keys and "Big Pink" But on this visit, I only have Liam. No pocketbook, money cell etc. They usher us into a waiting room. There it is. An unprotected laptop and a sentence on the screen. "Liam is a new patient, Mom is very happy with Best in Show and wants to come here". That notation is about me- poor Elaine. She could now just read the laptop/no theft of a chart necessary. Our turn comes, the doctor thinks Liam could lose a pound or two. Yikes, that dreaded Holiday weight gain is lingering.
Liam is mortified.
He turns shades of magenta

All goes well, they have my credit card on file, I am okay to leave. Liam nurses his hurt feelings with a low calorie latte-non fat, only a few licks of foam.

Woof, Woof

Liam's Leap/Change We Need

Liam's Leap 2/29/08. The year 2008 was a leap year, meaning it had a February 29 and in 2008 it fell on a Friday. It was the day that a leashed Liam leaped for a squirrel sending me crashing into the concrete pavement. Ouch! My cheekbone absorbed the blow as it was meant to -Doctor Lee of Stat Med told this. The injury did not fully disappear until July, 2008. But what a vivid palette of colors were displayed! See photo I took on my blackberry the day after-up to the right.

My Eye Evolves

I framed the eye.
Eye and Liam, 03/01/08

I use it as my cell phone pic.

I seemingly have inspired friends to play with it in photographs. below are some incredible shots from a talented SSA retiree. Thanks Ken-link to his work below

When you're strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you're strange
No one remembers your name

http://wrappedandwovenjewelrybymindy.shutterfly.com/291

And The Change We Need (or I need)

I have enjoyed writing and sharing Liam Licks for the past 13 months. The time has come to change the way I do it.

Why?

Things have changed with AOL mail, with Word, with copying and pasting. AOL will not send out the copied newsletter from Word anymore -this is the way I have written LiamLicks for the past 13 months-I write in word and copy into an e mail, so all can view. AOL will not send out this way anymore. So, last week I sent a word doc in 2 versions, some got it -no problem, others played with it and got it to work and still others just gave up in frustration. It took me 5 hours to write and prepare, a joy for me all week. But 3 hours to send UGH, no. The joy of the prep was severely diminished by the transmission; coupled with feeling the readers' pain-change is necessary.

So, I have made a leap on the approaching anniversary of Liam's Leap
I have become a blogger. I have a blog called Liam Licks. You can access, sign in and follow. If you are reading this, you did, welcome. Nothing pleases a first born Leo more than having followers.

LL will be posted to my Facebook profile page. the NEPSC retiree website (links, if approved) and the SNT website (links)- for those belonging to any or all of those applications. You can blog in when you choose. For those who will never think of it- I will send you the link each week as before, on Thursday for Friday or on Friday.

I hope you all come with me

"For the world has changed, and we must change with it"
Barack Obama-1st Inaugural Address

Below Liam and Carol morphed into one
What a difference a year makes!

created by Ken

Woof, Woof