Recently in Rant Category

Can I just say that Caller ID is one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century? To be sure, it has changed our phone answering habits. Gone are the days of just picking up the phone although I think that's a shame. If someone calls us and they have an out-of-area, toll-free, or unfamiliar phone number listing, they must talk to our answering machine before they will ever get to talk to us. I realize that we may be eliminating Publisher’s Clearing House from contacting us but I can’t imagine why they would ever want to contact us anyway. We don’t fill out their stupid sweepstakes any more. My only fear is that someone I care about will call me from their new cell phone to tell me they are bleeding in the street. They may have to endure an extra ring or two. That fear is somewhat offset by my remote location. From where I live, unless they were heading to my house, I don’t think I could do them much good anyway. Better for them to call someone closer or 911.

After living for a week in a topsy-turvy house, I am back in business. I have a new floor in my kitchen and office that is truly beautiful. It was put in place yesterday and looks like an old-fashioned oak-plank floor, and yet, it is really a Linoleum, Congoleum, Solarian -- what what what -- sheet of stuff that looks fabulous. It would take a USDA forester to determine it wasn't a real oak-plank floor. (It has a name but I can't think of it and can't find the papers, unfortunately.)

The bad news is that when the men asked where the shut-off valve for the ice-maker was, I said I didn't know. I said I thought it was in the attic so they went in the attic. Time passed and the job was done. I asked if they had found the valve and they said no, they didn't need to. I asked if the ice-maker worked and they said yes. They left after having me sign a release that the job was done in an excellent fashion.

Last night, while moving the furniture back in place, Joey noticed there was water by the refrigerator. He looked inside the works and said he thought they might have popped a line. The towel I placed to catch any drips was saturated this morning, so now I'm waiting for the store to open so I can discuss it with the sales person.

Both Angela and Christina (Tasmanian Devils in dealing with stores that don't do right) wanted to make the call but I said no, I could handle it. And when the lady tells me it's my fault for having an old refrigerator, I'll ask her how much I owe her and will she take a check???

So wish me luck today.

Here's the rundown: I've got the turkey, peas, pumpkin pie, and a homemade cranberry cocktail which has a medley of fruit and chopped nuts in it made by a friend. Mom and Christina have cauliflower au gratin and sweet potatoes. I have some 2-liters here left over from the fish fry. David's got the mashed potatoes; I shot down his offer of green bean casserole. He called last night to offer them. I told him we (all Mangunos) would not eat them. Mushrooms are nasty. He said his kids wouldn't touch them either and then he talked himself out of the offer. Are you coming Robbie and Patsy? We will miss the Soule's this year, but happy they will be with Scott's family in Florida. It will seem like a small crowd without them and Sue's family. Angela too. She and Joey will be sharing thanksgiving with Joey's family. I have to talk with Katie and then we will be all set.

I am not sure I should be saying this, but I guess I will. It all started along time ago when I had an itch on my leg. I scratched and scratched until it bled ( I was asleep at the time). Anyway, I developed a leg ulcer and it got infected. The docs sent me to a wound clinic at the hospital and I was refered to an infectious disease doc who had me get a picc line inserted so I can start IV home therapy. I had that done today! My boss won't let me work, with this in me so it looks like an unexpected vacation. I know that it sounds like I am ranting Sorry. I will keep you informed as to my progress.

I need two root canals, one on either side of my lower jaw. That will be next week and the week after. I really don't get panicky over going to the dentist. I focus on being able to eat all my favorite sugary foods again and stopping the pain. I was afraid to watch the infamous toothache scene in "CastAway" last week lest it start my tooth to throbbing. Motrin has been my friend for the past two weeks.

Our tacos were good last night. I baked a white cake with coconut/pecan icing, not from scratch. I ate some despite knowing how those particles were going to go into the place where my filling used to be. I didn't feel a thing.

On with the day. Supper tonight will be something quick and easy. I might go to the planning and zoning committee meeting. They covertly have approved an ammendment to a land use plan and a mini-mall will be put up near my home. I mean, c'mon. A sewage treatment facility on one side of me and a mini-mall, probably will have a dollar store there, on the other side of me. I so want out of here.

Michael was just remarking on the humble home on hwy. 59 that has two schools behind him and two mini-malls on either side of him. Those things were built around him, or it could be a her (though we both assumed it was male - wonder why), and we want to know what thoughts are/were running through "it's" head as constuction was taking place. Was he holding out for a good offer? Or he likes his location and convenience to getting on I-12? Don't know, but it looks out of place to see a little home sandwiched in between all that commercialism and administration. Fountainbleu highschool and middle schools are big schools. Traffic is intense around his house for hours out of each day. Go figure, where people settle.

Aaron (and I) just finished his social studies project which he has had months to work on. Did we do it in a timely fashion? No. I fussed at him, harangued, and gave him the evil eye every time I saw him vegged out in front of the darn t.v. all this time. He is unperturbed by me. He would get me to back off easily by asking me to home school him instead of his having to do all these projects. Maybe that is why Mandeville schools have such a reputation for excellence in education; the parents are getting the grades.

Now we just have a science project to crank out. It is not my favorite subject and I have tried to delegate the responsibility to Michael. Plus, we have a lame project, growing beans in different soils (clay, sand, and potting soil), that Aaron put only a little effort towards. It makes me crazy.

I am working the next couple of days at the superdome, selling high end X-mas ornaments. I am looking forward to the break from domestic bliss. It will be long days Thursday and Friday, 9-9, and Saturday 9-5. Yee-ha. Momma will be coming to watch the children after school on Thursday. It does us all good for me to get out and leave them to their own devices for a few days. They will miss me in a good way.

Laura, I forgot to tell you how much my children enjoyed the NorthPole.com.

This is the most boring Louisiana election I can remember. When I first moved to the NorthShore, a flyer was sent out by one of the candidates for judge (Yes, judge!). Seems his opponent's neighbor was watering the lawn. When the sprinkler happened to throw a few drops of water on his car, this particular candidate for judge took out his axe and chopped up his neighbor's hose. Elections with those kinds of candidates are my kinds of elections.

Note the ridiculous hour of this post. I’m heading off to do inventory this morning. It’s not as much fun for me now as it once was. It’s tedious but not terribly difficult.

Update (6:10PM): Inventory wasn't so bad. Home for 2PM.

And thought I'd add a little color to the place. Posted a picture of these on the CrabAppleLane Blog last week but they look a bit better now. My blue ginger below.