Where The Weekend Went: Early To Bed, Aqua Cleaning, Multitasking And Again, My Poor Feet.

On May 16, 2022May 16, 2022 By SuzIn As blogged by Suz30 Comments

Hello, it’s me.

For your viewing pleasure: some orchids I found in the yard this weekend. To be clear, they weren’t hiding, but I don’t always know where or when they are gonna bloom.

The Coach was home the entire weekend. That is a first in months; he spent most of it finalizing plans for a Veterans Charity Event coming up in a few weeks and tackling a few honey-do’s.

We resumed our Friday Date Night. I made a reservation on Open Table for a place not too far from us for 6pm. We departed our home at 5:45 and we were back home at 6:58. Our dinner was lovely, but getting home at that time on a Friday night must mean we are steps away from the hereafter. No?

I’m definitely not on The Cocaine. I can’t even have iced tea after 2pm.

Getting home early meant we could finish the last episode of Ozark. I have issues watching shows like that too close to bedtime; they get me riled up and I can’t sleep. I was happy to end Ozark; I’ve had it up to here *reaches for the sky* with Wendy and Marty making bad decisions, and usually against each other. If it sounds like fictional characters were stressing me out, it’s because they were.

Photo of a male monarch I released on Saturday where zero stressing was involved.

If you had the inkling that my life is all glitz and glam (that always ends by 8pm), it is not. I spent a good portion of my weekend pulling weeds, trimming plants, planting plants and spreading bags of mulch. While wearing my flip flops, of course. When it was time to cool off, I went in the pool. Did I relax in said pool? You bet your sweet biscuits I didn’t. Our beautiful newly installed glass tile has calcium buildup/haze around the water features and the entire waterline.

*sigh* Do we have anything that is low maintenance?

The answer is NO.

I started the cleaning process in the shallow end last week with CLR and a scrub brush. It was taking more chemicals and elbow grease than I was comfortable with. So on Friday I went to the pool supply place and purchased a chemical spray MADE for just this situation and a large pumice stone.

Again, lots of elbow grease and by this time my toes were raw from the rough ass pool floor. *raises fists in the air wishing our pool contractor a lifetime of cold sores*

Have you ever tried to clean with a chemical spray in one hand and a scrub brush or pumice in the other WHILE TREADING WATER? That my friends should be an olympic sport.

Finally a few of my brain cells actually connected long enough for me to have an AH HA moment whist almost drowning in the deep end; I remembered I had some of these:

What a life and toe saver.

I’m not sure that my toes will ever be the same; it might be too late. If I had to do a Toe {finger} Print, I’d be doomed. I ordered some water socks for my pool time in the future as I try to do some water aerobics whilst in there between cleanings.

Why can’t I just DO ONE THING? Multitasking is a disease and I need a Dr. ASAP.

*Spacey dude…*now my feet tan lines are going to even weirder.

Nance, are you happy I covered my tootsies?

Are we the only ones who are having dinner earlier and earlier? Pretty soon we’ll be at Morrisons Cafeteria for their 4pm early bird special and cramming free crackers in my purse.

Do any of you remember going to an event that started after 8pm? I know we did, but now? Being out after 8pm wearing clothes and being pleasant towards other humans, well, that sounds like torture.

XOXO

I’m Feeling Like A Salty Rock Star.

On May 6, 2022May 6, 2022 By SuzIn As blogged by Suz32 Comments

Ya’ll! I’ve been working my biscuits off for the past few weeks on our upper deck/lanai area. I was an eager beaver to get it going after all the pool/deck work was done and before Florida turns into hellfire; 6we are on the cusp of that already with temps in the mid 90’s. The beds were there from before, but had to be updated because the area was trashed from all the work.

I had (40) 30lb bags of Mexican Beach Rocks delivered. (I still need 15 more). I lugged the bags of rocks in my little girl wheelbarrow which can only fit four at a time, from the driveway around the back of the house UPHILL and to the deck.

*Doing the math: 120lbs each load x 10 trips. It’s as hard as it sounds, no wonder I’ve been exhausted.

I’ve also manipulated and updated all my drip irrigation lines in the rock beds to my potted plants and in-ground plants.

*Adds Irrigation Specialist to resume.

It was hell getting the pool and deck finished. We realized early on that our pool contractors were possessed by satan. *sigh* I’ll forever loathe those people.

MOVING FORWARD AND LETTING THE ANGER LEAVE MY BODY

This is a little video clip I found on my phone of the pool area on a rainy day from a few years ago. BEFORE

I tried to place the videos side by side but WordPress said NO effing way lady.

AFTER:

Our lanai is naked; as in no screen/cage. I’m not a fan because mosquitoes love to dine on my blood, but we’ll see how long I can hold out.

DON’T BEE FOOLED BY THE ROCKS THAT I GOT

Behold the beauty of my rock beds…even the area that is waiting for more rocks looks pretty to me.

We’ve still got to install the stone spa spillover and Coach is finally able to start his outdoor kitchen. I’m SUPER excited about him having a grill again; my butt is tired of preparing the protein for every meal.

*wipes sweat from my brow*

I had no idea I had such a thing for Frogs; I found three that had been in here and I have a few more out in the butterfly garden. RIBBIT

I have an affinity for garden decor. The inside of the house is clutter free, but in my gardens, I love tchotchkes. Frogs. Bee’s. Mushrooms. Gnomes. Driftwood. I’m surprised I don’t have an old toilet out there with flowers popping out of it.

Wait, I just had a great idea…

KIDDING.

Anyhoo. I’m almost at the end of my project and I’m happy about that. I’m also happy that the pool is there because I’ve had to dunk myself many times to cool off; it’s been a lifesaver. We went with a salt system this time in lieu of just chlorine and I’m loving it. It’s weird to explain, but the water feels softer, less harsh, with no smell and it doesn’t burn my eyeballs.

Of course, I’m having to carry a salt shaker with me every time I walk out there to refill it, but what else do I have to do? 😳😜

Happy Mother’s Day! Whether you mother humans, pets, plants, that weird guy who works at the grocery store or your best friend.

Where would be be without mothers?

We’d all be dead in a ditch wearing dirty underwear, that’s where!

We started the pool and deck work in September—to say I’m sick and tired of having workers out my back door for that long is an understatement.
Anyone else excited to be FINISHED with a labor intensive project?

XOXO

Reinforcing Comma Placement. Being Educated On Angry Periods And Isn’t Being Right The Most Euphoric Feeling?

On May 2, 2022May 2, 2022 By SuzIn As blogged by Suz30 Comments

A text exchange with Lauren this past week had me confused for a minute but caused me to giggle:

I thought EXCLAMATION POINTS made me sound angry, but according to my oldest daughter, I was incorrect. She is not only the real police, she is also the grammar police so, I know she was being funny.

I have music playing on our Sonos system ‘throughout the inside and outside’ of our house from the moment I wake up until we sit down to watch the boob tube around 7:30-8pm.

Some days I’m all about John Mayer or Return Of The Mack Radio, but lately it’s been Chris Stapleton and whatever Pandora thinks relates to Chris Stapleton. Soulful country.

One day last week The Coach waltzed into my office while singing along with this oldie-but-goodie when he caught my attention at the second line.

The only two things in life that make it worth livin’
Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin’ women
I don’t need my name in the marquee lights
I got my song and I got you with me tonight
Maybe it’s time we got back to the basics of love
Waylon Jennings

Me: Hey, what if the women aren’t firm feeling any longer?

Coach: No, it’s Guitars that tune good AND firm, (comma) feeling women. The guitars are firm.

Me while giving side eye: And then he feels women? I don’t think so, let me look that up.

*Goes directly to the google machine for verification*

I said excitedly: WRONG!

Isn’t being RIGHT the best feeling in the world? I mean, if drug addicts felt right about things before trying drugs, they might never have traveled that path and instead tried to be RIGHT about things.

*I just made myself laugh*

Thank goodness I was right, but still, the only thing firm about me is my stance on recycling.

I love being married. You can literally annoy ONE special person for the duration of your life. Am I right or am I right?

*I just realized a FUN fact after listening to the entire song again: In the last line Waylon mentions “Jerry Jeff’s (Walker) Train Songs”; well we’re almost ~~full~~ ~~semi not really~~ circle because now, present day, we are friends with Jerry Jeff’s Son, Django. (yes, his real name)