The SFG Before I Left Town

The French lettuce is sprouting.

Ooh la la!

In a crop rotation experiment I have planted 2 zucchini seeds in the squares where the pumpkins were last year.  Am I out of my mind?  Maybe.

Can't wait to get home and see if the carrots have sprouted.

Could It Be True?

The kayak has finally arrived in Dodge City.  Too bad I am in Kansas City this weekend.

Kaleidoscope Update

All clear. 
As in two days of clear liquid diet followed by 12 hours of nothing by mouth.   
As in clear, nothing to see here, examination of the length of my entire colon. 
As in clearly a procedure I have no desire to do more than once every ten years.

West Side Story

My yellow lilac is going to bloom this year.  And the coral bells are showing great promise.

And the peonies have buds.

And my dream of lush greenery on the west side of the house has a chance of coming true.

Mood Swings

It wasn't that the day was bad.  Just that I was anxious to get home.  About 13 mph too anxious.  Which delayed my arrival home about 10 minutes and will end up costing me $112.  So sad.
Then the STP told me they called about my kayak today.  Because tomorrow is my estimated delivery date.  So I thought they must be calling to arrange delivery.  But no.  They were calling to say that my kayak missed the truck.  The truck that delivers to  'outlying areas' and only makes one run a week. 
Its one thing to miss the boat, but today my boat missed the truck.  So sadder.
So sadder that I had to just go outside and look at my plants. 

And I'm telling you that those baby onions are enough to return some happy to my day.  I had a plan for the SFG which included some plum tomatoes.  But when I was at the garden center I spotted some chocolate cherry tomato plants. ( Ever have a plan?  Ever think about changing it?)  So I bought four chocolate cherry tomato plants and planted two.  I have no idea what they will be like.  But just the words 'chocolate cherry tomato' are more than enough to make me forget my estimated date of kayak arrival is approaching June. 

Then I baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies.  And I served them warm with a glass of milk to the Goob for a bedtime snack.  And he gave me hug and a kiss and told me I am the BEST MOM EVER.  And that restored so much happy to my day that I can't even remember why that officer pulled me over. 

Two Updates

1.The STP came through his kaleidoscope with flying colors. 
Best thing about the kaleidoscope--it was in the big town with the garden center.  New plants!!

2.I start my new job today.
Worst thing about my new job so far--no time to plant my new flowers

Self-diagnosis

Maybe I don't feel good.  It started with plantar fasciitis in my right foot.  And then the pain moved up to my right hip and lower back.  Where it has lived off and on for two years.  Sometimes I don't feel it at all.  Sometimes I'm not sure I will be able to walk.  I don't think it is muscular.  Maybe joint.  Possibly weight related.  But my maid of honor had a hip replacement this week. (How old am I?) And I think that might be my problem.  And I watched a show called Mystery ER and the guy on the show had all my symptoms, but I fell asleep just before they gave the diagnosis.  Did I mention my fatigue?  And the STP has his kaleidoscope scheduled for tomorrow and I think I might have colon cancer.  Or kidney failure.  In the last week I thought it might be vitamin D deficiency, an ovarian cyst, or lupus.
Typed my symptoms into the computer and it says I might have network connectivity problems. 

Tiptoe Through the Dining Room With Me

I brought a little bit of Spring inside.  It is a new design idea I had to draw your eye up and away...

















...away from the other things on the dining room table.

The Goob was kind enough to point out the irony of the cover story on the Real Simple issue on the top of the stack.

Make a Note

I am working my last weekend at my last job, attempting to work my way through "Love Wins" in my down time.  Either it is too fragmented for me to get a hold on it, or too deep for my microbiology sized brain, or too early in the book (or maybe I shouldn't be trying to read it and watch 'The Bucket List' at the same time), but here is one tidbit from page 44 that I didn't want to forget:

There is nothing wrong with possessions; it's just that they have value to us only when we use them, engage them, and enjoy them.  They're nouns that mean something only in conjunction with verbs.

That's why wealth is so dangerous:  if you're not careful you can easily end up with a garage full of nouns.

Nor sure yet what, if anything, this has to do with heaven, hell, or every person who has ever lived, but I think it might be speaking to me and my kayak.

One Little Indian

The STP and I ordered our kayaks at the same time.  We each chose our own kayak and paddle with the idea that we would compare them and see which we liked best. Not that it was a contest or a race or anything, but the STP's kayak arrived first.

I attempted to track my kayak on-line.

I waited two days past the 'estimated delivery date' to call about my kayak. 
I call the shipping company that was to deliver the kayak.
Me:  My kayak is late.
Shipping Company Representative:  Let me see about that.  Please hold...( Hold... Hold...holding longer than estimated holding time....)We don't have your kayak.  We can not deliver your kayak because we never picked up your kayak.  Because your kayak was not released for pick up. You will have to contact Amazon and have them release your kayak.  Then we can pick it up and deliver it.
Me:  So even though 'my order has shipped' and I have pick up and delivery dates, the kayak has not gone anywhere? 

The Shipping Company Rep explains the difference between an estimated pick-up date and an actual pick up date.  She suggests I call Amazon and have them 'release' my kayak.
I use Amazon's contact us on-line service where I enter my problem on-line and Amazon calls me.  The phone rings.  It is Amazon.  They instruct me to hold for a representative.  (The ultimate in customer service is where the company calls you to put you on hold... Hold...hold...holding to very bad holding music....)
Amazon customer service representative probably named Rahib:  How may I help you?
Me:  My kayak is late.  I want you to release my kayak.
Rahib (Reading from a fill-in-the-blank item-did-not-arrive-as-expected script): I am sorry for the problem with your kayak.  I will connect you with our large items department.  Please hold...
(Hold....Hold...Holding just a little longer while Rahib explains to the large items rep that he doesn't know what my problem is...)

Amazon Large Items Customer Representative:  How may I help you?
Me (Reverting to the Goob's third grade fill-in-the-blank anti-bullying script):  MY KAYAK is LATE.  When my kayak is late it makes me feel cranky.  I want you to give me a dollar.
ALICR:  I am sorry for the problem with your kayak.  Do you still want the kayak?  I can release the kayak for shipping today and credit your account $30.00 for the inconvenience.
Me:  Could you please hold while I consider your offer?  

The STP is waiting patiently for the arrival of my kayak.
 
The actual shipping date of my kayak is May 12th.  The new estimated arrival date is May 19th. 

Cooking Updates

How to cook a 13.5 prime rib...

Invite two friends to help you cook.

How to serve 13.5 pounds of prime rib...

Set two of your tables and most of your chairs up in your big room and host the main course of the progressive dinner.  Let me just say that the food was excellent.  I think I will invite people over to cook at my house more often.  Just let me know when you want to come over.  I'll set the table.
 

The Insistent Lap-top

I have a lot of things to update you about.  So I sat down to blog with my lap-top.  The Goob suggested I move from the dining room to the big room to be near him and the STP.  No problem because I have a lap-top. 



The SLD had her own idea about what should occupy my lap. 

It is slower to type with a dog in my lap, but I have to admit a lap dog is more comfortable than a lap-top.

Oh Where Is My Kayak?

Shipped


Delivery Estimate: May 9, 2011


Tracking Information:

We're sorry. We are unable to retrieve tracking information for this shipment at this time.

Emotion Kayaks Blow Molded Glide (Orange)

Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC

How helpful is that tracking information?  The STP says it is too cold and rainy to kayak anyway.  Still and all, I wish my kayak had arrived. 

Special Deliveries

Things that have arrived from my online shopping spree in response to the STP's online hunting license application spree:

2 green watering cans
1 yellow kayak paddle

Awaiting the qualified-for-free-shipping arrival of my kayak.   Wanna guess what color it is going to be?

This Just In

A tumbleweed.  In the wild (, wild West).

I Can't Go For That

The STP is a big fan of breakfast.  Myself less so.

 

In an effort to have gluten free breakfasts,  he has been rolling his own oatmeal.  Thus this picture in my kitchen of hull and oats.

  (Get it?  Hall and Oates?)   I thought this was hysterically funny.  The STP less so. 

More or Less Fortunate

STP's text:  On my way home.   Need anything?
My text:  2 eggrolls
STP's text: ok
Verizon unlimited texts:  Totally worth it.

My fortune cookie:

Cracked open in the wrapper:

Totally lacking a fortune:

Leaving me to totally write my own fortune for today:

You will have lunch with the love of your life.