yesterday's 'trauma'

Yesterday was a day 'in hell' but which ended on a good note!

Gym in the morning with a good workout; such a great way to start the day. Spent a lot of time 'exercising' my jaw as most of my posse were here. Lot's of good talk and fun and planning for a lunch date next week.

Then a pretty nice lunch in the dining room with a married couple that I know and like. We had some good food: Chicken Jambalaya and Moussaka [now there's a combo] at the buffet. Banana Cream pie [to go] for dessert.

Then a trip to Walmart to get some extra keys made [for the cottage]. Got an attitude in the Walmart parking lot and decided I didn't want to fight the crowds. So I went to TruValue, a nice neighborhood store, to get the keys. They didn't have the blanks but would be getting them next week. I drove over to Home Depot where I was sure I could get the keys but they don't carry that blank. 'Where is this key for?' said she a little perturbed that I was disrupting her oncoming break. 'My house!' said I. No keys but I can always get them done next week, no hurry.

I went scouting around the store and after a search found the water filtration aisle [how clever]. There was the Brita system I 'really' needed. But I hemmed and hawed because it had a mail-in rebate and being the really lazy person that I am, I put it back on the shelf. Then I found the PUr system I really needed and it was in chrome to match my sink and it was more expensive so it must be better. I purchased it.

Found gasoline at a good price and filled up after fretting over the four cents I was losing because of using my credit card. Watch for the fine print!

Went to Stop and Shop and yes, I do use one of those little handheld computer thingys that are putting everyone out of work! That worked fine and I was out of there quickly.

Then the day proceeded to go to HELL!

There was a call on the phone in regards to my wife's memoriam brought back lots of sad memories. The newspaper had changed page size and my address had changed, so last year's placement wouldn't fit and they had to change the poetry line and add a picture [which I don't like]. Anyway, get the message, I wasn't a happy puppy.

And my phone has decided that every call in or out should be sent to voicemail. Now the voicemail light is flashing and the message says: "you have no messages". So why is the damn thing flashing; doesn't it listen to itself? You have to unplug the phone to get it back on track. And don't try calling ATT to deal with the push button 1, 2, 87 or whatever.

So, I decided to install the 'you don't need any tools' PUr system on my kitchen faucet. That was a disaster! As anyone who knows me will understand, anything mechanical is a nono. I can speak/read/write several languages and do other professorial/linguistic feats BUT I cannot use a pair of pliers. Of course, according to the instructions [and I did read them], you don't need any tools. The gadget would not stop dousing the sink and adjoining counters because I could not screw [good word] the damn thing tight enough.

Talked to daughter-in-law who volunteered my son to fix it. I declined as they have enough going this weekend anyway. So I called my old [oops sorry for that word] standbys; brother/sister-in-law. She, hearing the complete hysteria in my voice, volunteered brother-in-law to come and fix it. He did! So we went out for ice cream [nice try on the diet, Thomas] and I had a junior sized hot fudge sundae which seemed to heal all my woes [the wonders of chocolate].

Good day to bad and back to good again; that's life!