28.10.12

Sunday 10/28/12 - back from retreat

Sunday - 10/28/12

Most of the people at the retreat are staying till noon on Monday. That's the right way to do it... Give everything a better chance to sink in. A few of us, including Mary and I have things we need to go back for. We're leaving after lunch.

One of the things I've really enjoyed about this year is riding with people. You get to spend so much more time with the special people in your life if you are traveling to things with them. I enjoying the ride with Mary.

I'm already thinking ahead to next year, when hopefully I'll have a working vehicle. I generally stay to lead postures. So I leave later then the others leaving on Sunday, including Mary We might be able to have Mary ride down with me and then back with someone else. I hope so! I like the idea of continuing the social I've added this year.

I told Mary I wanted to stop and buy some lemons if we see a roadside stand with them. None of the roadside stands we've seen had lemons. She's so sweet! She took a different way to the 15 so we could stop at the one stand I used to love!

They had lemons! I bought lemons, reed avocados. Grapefruit and pomegranates! I'm thrilled! They also had this weird lemon that looks like some kind of Halloween item. They say it's grown for it's skin, not the juice. I bought one to give to Tracye. I think she'll like it as a Halloween item.

On the way up I told Mary it might be nice to stop at a Walmart on our way back, to see if they have the a3 or aw125 scooter (basically the same scooter but the aw125 was made for Walmart.). Now I've made the commitment to get a new scooter, I want to do it. She asks me if I'd still like to stop at a Walmart. I check their prices on the internet, then check prices in eBay. There's one that's cheaper on eBay! I think that's the first time that's happened! It seems to ship really slowly I guess Christina can wait I tell Mary I don't need to stop, that I'm going to buy the one on eBay.

At home I ask Mary if she wants to stay for awhile. She gets her knitting out of the car. We watch cadfael and then some Ted talks I'd wanted to show her. I cooked a green salad, rice, chana masala, and stir fry broccoli and peas.


27.10.12

Saturday - 10/27/12 - yoga retreat

Saturday - 10/27/12

I woke up at 2 this morning. I probably should have stayed up. Instead I reset my alarm for 4:20 instead of the 3:30 I'd had it set for and went back to sleep.

I fell asleep last night soon after I got home. I didn't finish packing. I'm doing that now. It's always funny to me that I seem to pack about the same amount of things for a 2 day retreat as a 10 day. I know it's because of the pillow and bedding and such. It's still funny though.

The new gate remotes I ordered came yesterday. I need to set one and leave it for the new tenants. I also need to clear some things out of their back yard. I wish I'd done some of this last night. I know I was really tired though.

I'm done and still on time. Yay! A t-shirt sold on eBay last night. I'd like to get that packed and out to the mail before I leave. So far everything I've shipped out this month has been shipped within a day. I'm hoping this will get me back my "top rated" seller status with eBay. I still don't think it's fair they took it away because I didn't ship quickly while I was on vacation, since I had my ads marked that I was on vacation. Now though I'm just in damage control. They average the last 3 months together to come up with the status. My vacation will be included in the next two status summaries. So every item counts.

I'm on my way to the garage to get the t-shirt. The outside lights are off. They shouldn't be. It's still dark. I go back into my apartment, get the keys to the work room and check the timers. The one was set wrong. Ok. Now we have lights.

I almost forgot my coat! It will be cold at night at the retreat on palomar. I'm frustrated. I'm running really late. I grab my suitcase and the remote for the garage. I'll drive down to the garage and get my coat and then head off.

I thought I might still make it on time, even with leaving later than I wanted. I think that wasn't possible I left too late I'm going past road work now. I'm definitely going to be late

I'm finally at Mary's. I'm 15 minutes late. She's waiting outside. I'm glad I got everything done that I did, but I feel horrible for being late. She takes over he driving and we head off for the retreat.

We stopped for coffee (for Mary) and gas and still made it to the retreat site in plenty of time. Thank goodness the traffic was light all the way! I'm so glad I didn't cause us to be late! Now to enjoy palomar mountain and a wonderful yoga retreat!


26.10.12

Friday - 10/26/12

Friday - 10/26/12

I'm awake. The alarm won't go off for a few minutes yet. This never happens. Hopefully it means I got enough sleep last night. I know I fell asleep early. I'm laying here in bed with buster laying next to my legs, petting him a little and enjoying the quiet moment.

I finished steaming my laundry and prepared the business deposits. Now I'm rushing out the door. I still haven't managed to leave 15 minutes early (and I was thinking about it) but, I'm pretty happy that I'm leaving on time. It's the closer stop this morning!

I haven't yet replaced the blinking light that broke off the back of the backpack. I'm wearing my blinking shoes and the scooter has the light up wheels. As long as I stay moving I should be very visible. I hope I can get the light up wheels for the new scooter when it comes. It's fun and a great safety feature!

I'm at the stop. I know I left the apt on time. I feel like the bus should have been here by now though. I'm starting to get worried that I missed it.

That could be it down the street. The lights are right. It didn't stop where it'll it normally does though. I get off the bench and move over to the stop to wait for it. Oops! That's not it! It's a motor home.

There it is! That has to be it down the road! It's stopping at the right place.

We've got a different driver today. That explains why the bus was late!

We almost passed some people. Well, I guess we did pass them. The driver either didn't see them or didn't know there was a stop there. They yelled as we went by. The driver heard it and stopped for them.

At Disneyland. We just pulled up. The 43 is already here. I hope it waits. I'm rushing for it It looks like it is waiting!
Wow. I'm the only one that got on from the 460. It waited just for me! That's special!

Buying groceries at mother's market.  I missed the bus.  Sigh.
Fortunately it isn't that far from Mother's to Avalon.  So, I scootered there.

Rented all three apartments!

Mary picked me up we dropped off my deposit at union bank, then walked around the Tuesday morning store for awhile. I bought some fabric spray paints. Maybe I'll make some t-shirts for the kids and I.

We went to pizza port for dinner. I'm disappointed that they don't have vegan cheese. But at least they can make a pizza I can eat and also have a gluten free pizza crust Mary can eat.

Now back home to my place, driving Mary's car. I'll come back down in the morning to pick her up on the way to our yoga retreat.

Friday - 10/26/12

Friday - 10/26/12

I'm awake. The alarm won't go off for a few minutes yet. This never happens. Hopefully it means I got enough sleep last night. I know I fell asleep early. I'm laying here in bed with buster laying next to my legs, petting him a little and enjoying the quiet moment.

24.10.12

Wednesday - 10/24/12 - Watching The Kids

Wednesday - 10/24/12

Walked Christina To School.  She rode my scooter.  I've been wanting to try one of the A3 scooters (bigger wheels).  She will get mine when I buy a new one.

Christina is on a health kick so we stopped at Mother's.

Went to butterfly place...  no butterflies until may!

Stopped at my work.  Showed the apartment to one couple.

Time to take the kids home!

Tracye offered to let me borrow her car and return it tomorrow.  I've debated it, but I don't want to take the time tomorrow to return it.  Taking the time today to ride home on the bus is better.

I took too long leaving.  I think I've missed the 54, but I'm close.  I decide to get to the bus stop and then figure it out.  I can always head off for a different bus stop if it has come.

There's a lady there waiting for the bus!  It's running a little late so I've made it!  We get into a conversation about buses and which ones run on time.  She tells me there have been concerts at the OC fairgrounds the last few weekends and she's been taking the buses there.  She says the last group was terrific!  She's showing me the pamplet, but has to get off the bus.  I'll have to look it up.

I get a chance to sit down once we get to the train station.  An older lady sits down next to me and we start talking.  She asks me if I know where the Hyatt is.  There's a woman she met at the train station who is on our bus who needs to go there.  I look up the Hyatt, it's on Harbor and Chapman.  This bus stops right in front of that hotel.  It turns out the woman's husband is here for a convention.  She decided to go out exploring.  I often get off at that stop to go to Disneyland to meet the 460.  This time I'm going down to Beach Blvd, so I'm going farther.  I tell her I'll make sure she gets off at the right place.  Standing room only on this bus.  I'm very grateful to have a seat.

At the stop for the 29, I get into a conversation with a gentleman about which buses normally run late.  He rode out with me on the 54 and then took the time to go buy food at Carl's Jr, something I hesitate to do.  I always worry the bus might come on time and I might miss it.  He was just sure it wouldn't.  He says the 29 and 43 are the worst buses about not being on time, and we are right at rush hour now.  All the people getting off work make it more difficult.  I tell him the 42 is the worst bus.  He agrees that one is bad too.  He said the main problem with that one is that it's got such a long run, with stops all along the way, it's just bound to run late.  The bus is here and we're still talking.  We wish each other a good day and get on the bus.

Oh no!  I was so engrossed in the conversation, I forgot my scooter!  It's folded up back on the bench!  I'm standing and can't even reach a cord to pull to get the bus to stop at the next bus stop!  I'm asking everyone to pull the cord for me!  No one is moving!  Finally one gentleman tells me that he already pulled the cord for the next stop.  That's why no one was helping!  I get off the bus and head back to the last bus stop on foot.  It felt like we went quite a ways in-between.  I hope not.  I hope the scooter is still there!  I'd be horrible to have just promised it to Christina and then to lose it!  It's starting to get dark and it was folded up, sitting on the bench.  Hopefully it isn't too visible.  Hopefully, I'll get there in time!

I'm finally close enough to see the bench!  There it is!  The scooter's still there!  Yay!  Now to figure out how to get home!

Google maps is saying I need to wait over 1/2 hour for the next 29 bus.  That's the only bus that stops here.  I think I'll head up the road a bit.  The bus stops here on beach are fairly close together.  It will give me a chance to see a little more of what is around, and if I find a bus stop that serves another bus, it might be a better option.

I passed a few bus stops for the 29, but nothing else.  I'm at another 29 bus stop.  This one has lots of people at it.  Google maps is still telling me the bus isn't coming for awhile.  I'm thinking about taking off again  when the bus comes!  Oh!  I forget sometimes!  Google maps is trying to make a "trip" for me.  So, if the later bus is the one that will (by schedule) catch the 460, it will give me that bus instead.  That must be what happened here!  I'm glad I caught the bus!  It's standing room only, but I don't mind as I'll be getting off soon.

The 460 should have passed already, but there are probably 15 people here, waiting for it.  It must be running late.  That's funny!  It's possible I'll be catching the same 460 I would have caught if I hadn't left my scooter on the bench and had to go back for it!

We're packed into the bus.  Standing room only.  I don't like standing for longer times.  Mainly because I worry about accidentally hitting someone with the scooter I'm holding.  There's no choice here.  No one is offering their seat.  Most of the people sitting around where I'm standing seem to be sleeping.

Wow!  The bus has gotten more and more packed.  I normally don't try to catch the 128 home because of the extra expense and the amount of time I have to wait for that bus after the 460 drops me off.  Well, also, most of the times I come home the 128 has stopped running.  With this bus running late I'm wondering if I could get off at the alternate exit and catch the 128.  I set the scooter down on the floor, hoping no one behind me has to get off while I check google maps on my phone.  It says the 128 is leaving in one minute.  I don't think there's any way to catch it.  We're still several stops away from there.

I'm still debating getting off.  I don't know if the 128 runs on time or not.  It is 1/2 mile farther to get home from the Carminita stop if I've missed the bus.  It might be worth it to get out of this bus!

I talked myself into staying on the bus till my regular exit.  I'm sure I missed the 128 and taking the extra time to get home seems silly.  A really tall gentleman has been standing in front of me.  It makes reading the sign announcing the stops almost impossible.  I know we're close.  So, I'm working my way toward the door now.  That way I'll know when we get to my stop!







23.10.12

Tuesday - 10/23/12 - Sleep Over At Tracye's

Tuesday - 10/23/12

Greg got ahold of me. He needs money and is thinking of selling the Meissen china I have listed for him for cheaper. He's even thinking of selling it to replacements.com he says he thinks they offered him $750. That's almost nothing. He want my opinion on if he could drop the eBay price and have it sell. I think it will sell on eBay at the price it's at. It's a beautiful set. eBay is so random though. I can't tell when something like that will sell. I'm thinking of making him an offer for the china. It is a beautiful set and I do believe it will sell. I just have no clue of when. If I do buy it from him, that would be the end of my plan to buy a computer during the black Friday or Christmas sales. I have to think carefully about this.
Having not-together day.
Kind of grumpy.

Going to Tracye's later today.

460 was crowded and grouchy

On the 29 a guy made me a rose!

On the 54 there was a lady greeting everyone

Christina let me pick the movie.  I picked The Princess and the Frog because I hadn't watched that one before.

22.10.12

Monday - 10/22/12 - Trying The Earlier Bus

Monday - 10/22/12

I'm so glad I stayed home last night.  It's nice to start out my early morning feeling rested!
I'm leaving the house just a few minutes late.  I could probably make it to my regular bus stop.  I decide not to chance it.  I like that I've drawn a line in the sand.  I know to go to the farther stop if I'm leaving even a couple minutes after 4:30.

On the bus, I'm sitting next to the lady from Disneyland.  We talk a little about weekends and Grandkids.  Then the conversation gets quiet and she dozes off.

I'm at Disneyland, waiting for the 43.  I hope it comes soon.  I had to stand up and move away because there's someone smoking.  He's a little away from the seats.  I'm sure he thinks he's moved away to keep from smoking on people, but he's upwind.  There's another person smoking farther away, still upwind.  There's no where to go where you can't smell the smoke.  There's the bus!  Yay!  It's the earlier one too.  I'll be to the Yoga Center early!

I'm at the next stop, waiting for the 55.  Now that it's dark in the mornings I've stopped going to the bus stop I'd adopted.  I don't like this stop nearly as much, but there are always people here.  In the dark I think that's a good thing.  With the dark I can't see as well to pick trash anyway, and I'm more worried about the bus not seeing me.  I don't want to abandon that stop though.  I'm trying to figure out what to do for the future.

It's almost time to go home!  It's been a frustrating day of trying to rent apartments and having the people who came to view them not want to rent "right now."  I know the units will rent to the right people at the right time.  With the busy week I have ahead and the fact that I've got two more units coming open soon, I'd rather it be now!

I'm calling OCTA.  I want to find out if the bus that never seems to come actually exists.  The lady on the phone says it not only exists, but that it's running on time so far.  OK.  I'll make one more try at taking it.  I need to get home on time tonight.  I'm signing a lease there at 9:30pm.  That was the only time we could work out when everyone could be there.

There's the bus!  It's only a few minutes late!  I should get home on time with no problems!  Yay!

I spoke too soon.  Two people in wheelchairs got on at a later stop, as well as one person not having change and several people futzing with their dollar bills.  We should be at Disneyland by now and we're not even in Anaheim yet.  I could still miss the 460!  How funny is that?!

We're at Disneyland.  It's 7:13.  The 460 leaves from across the street at 7:14.  Wow.  That's just frustrating.  I have no idea how late we are, but the bus that was scheduled to show up at my original stop 20 minutes after this one was scheduled to arrive here 8 minutes ago.  That's why I was sure I'd be able to make it taking this bus.  We have to be something like 40 minutes late.  The good thing is that I know about the far stop.  With my scooter I'm sure I can make there before the bus, but I'm not taking any chances.  I'm going as fast as I can.

Home on time!  Yay!  Now to get everything ready for the lease signing!

21.10.12

Sunday - 10/21/12 - Christina Sings At Church

Sunday - 10/21/12

I'm taking Christina and Logan to church today.  Christina's going to be singing.  If she doesn't have to work overtime, Tracye's going to pick me up on her way home.  I need to be ready by 7, just in case I have to take the bus.  She'll let me know by then.

I've decided to wear a skirt, something I don't seem to ever do any more.  I pick one that's long enough to cover my scraped knee.

Tracye just texted that she'll be here around 7:20!  Woo hoo!   One less series of buses to take!

I almost walked out of the apartment without my scooter!  That would have been frustrating!   Even though I'm getting a ride now, I'll be taking buses later in the day.

It's so nice of Tracye to pick me up!  I'm on her way home, but I know she's really tired.  She works long hours.  I'm sure even adding a little bit to the trip is a lot!  I love that we'll have time alone together.  We rarely have time to talk and share, well, without someone else wanting attention.

At Tracye's.  It's hours before we need to leave for church.  That's a long time that the kids need to be quiet so Tracye can sleep.  They're trying.   It's one of the few times they get to watch TV in the morning and it's still hard for them to be quiet.

I packed for rain.  It'd sprinkled earlier.  Now the day is so beautiful!  We're going to walk to Church!

Christina's group did great singing!  Christina was so different from the first time I saw her sing!   She has definitely grown, changed, learned.

Tracye won't get up till 2.  I'm planning on having us stay away till then.  Right now, we're at Starbucks. The kids are eating lunchables and cake pops.  I'm having tea.  I hadn't realized that the kids corner here had children's books.  Logan's already picked out one he wants me to read.

Well, that's a bummer!  I was going to let myself buy lunch at the Greek Place (Byblos), get it to-go and then take the kids to the center of town and let them play in the park there.  It turns out Byblos is closed on Sundays!  I'll have to remember that!  I'm starving!  We're going to walk down to the wheat free place and see if they have anything I can eat (they do vegan too for somethings.)

They had cookies and candies and frozen dinners I could eat, but nothing substantial for me to eat right now.  We're heading back down the other side of the street.  Curious George is here!  He lets the kids take a picture with him and signals us to a woman who's sitting here.  She is doing face painting for free!  Both kids get their faces painted!  Christina gets a ladybug on her cheek, Logan gets a snake.

This is a picture of her painting the snake on his face, while Christina helps by holding the water.


It turns out this is a grand opening celebration for a new toy store.  We check it out through the window, but don't go in.

Walking home, the kids pretend they have superpowers.  Christina has ladybug superpowers.  She can fly and can make herself big or tinsy tiny.  Logan has snake superpowers.  He can fly too.  He can also scare away anything and anyone that might threaten us.  Both kids have to hold my hands to fly me across the streets.

Back at their house.  Tracye's getting ready to leave for work.  She offers to drive me back home if I want to leave with her.  That's terrific!   I'm looking forward to the ride home with her!

At home now.  I had been debating going to class tonight or not.  I still have a sinus infection and I don't want to overdo it.  With Tracye taking me home, I've decided to stay home.  I'd have to leave in an hour to take the bus down to class and I'm just not up to it.  I want to spend some time at home.




20.10.12

Saturday - 10/20/12 - Doing Errands With The Bike!

Saturday - 10/20/12

I messed up a couple of days ago and paid a bill one day late.  I'd been waiting for my paycheck before paying the 2nd half bills.  I forgot that one normally comes due before my paycheck gets here.  I'm really frustrated at myself for that.  I can probably call them and get the late fee reversed as I only paid a day late and I'm not normally late.  I'll call them during the week next week.  I'm trying to bring my credit score up though and that won't help.  What I really need to do is to put about $600 in the checking account and just leave it sit there so I can have automatic payments happen for all the accounts.  That way there wouldn't be any forgetting or missed timing.  It seems right to do from that angle, and wrong from other angles...  $600 paid toward the highest interest card (instead of sitting in the checking account) could stop a lot of interest.  Well, and I don't have an extra $600 to put in the account.  So, it's just theory.  I'll have to think about it.  If it's really what I want to do, I could put some money toward it every month until I get to that point.

I've got one paycheck that's late, which has caused some juggling.  It's coming though, so I'm not worried.  I'm going to juggle money to pay today's bill.  I can take $60 cash back from my Walmart credit card and not have any interest or fees on it as long as I pay it within 30 days of the statement.  That's a really nice thing they do.  I've used it before to make immediate payments on something.  So, I'm going to go to Walmart, I'll look for the metal strips I've been wanting for the walls, get the $60 cash back, put that into my checking account and pay my bill...  on time!

I'm researching buses to Walmart.  It seems easy enough to get there.  They say it will take a little over 1/2 half hour by bus (actually 5 minutes on the bus and 20 minutes or so walking), or I could walk in 51 minutes.  Google Maps really does NOT know how slowly I walk! - giggle!  Though I probably could get there by scooter in that time.

Hey, wait!  I almost forgot!  I have a bike in the garage for just this kind of thing!  I should try out riding my bike there!  It's sprinkling a little and looks like rain, but I think it will be OK.

The trip to Walmart was easy enough!  I'm paranoid about chaining my bike up anywhere, but you have to trust sometime and I can't use the bike for errands if I never leave it anywhere!

They don't have the metal strips I want for putting pictures up on the walls.  I'm buying an extra bike chain.  This bike has quick release wheels.  My bike chain isn't quite long enough to go through both wheels at some of the bike stands.  I figure I can chain the two chains to each other and that way have both wheels chained.  That should work anywhere.

I'm also buying some Mucinex.  I don't want to use it, but I'm getting concerned about going to the retreat on Palomar mountain next weekend if I still have a sinus infection.  I don't want to be in pain!  One of my yoga students is a nurse.  I remember her saying that the Mucinex they keep behind the prescription counter works terrifically.  I figure I can get it now and then take it in a day or two if I still have a problem.  Either way, it seems like a good thing to have around.

Wow!  How funny!  It turns out you can get anything at Walmart!  There's a machine in the entrance that will engrave id tags.  I'm getting a heart tag for the cat for $4.  You get to watch the engraving happen!  I love the way it pushes the tag out when it's done.  I may have to come back again for another tag, just to watch that!

I'm going back a different way than I came.  That way I can pass by Chase and deposit the money.  I think I'm also going to stop at the 99 cent stores.  I'd love a couple more of the fold up baskets I got at the Dollar store the other day.

This is requiring more trust.  There aren't bike racks in the front of the stores.  There aren't even bike racks in the back.  There's an iron fence a couple of bikes are chained to.  I'm chaining my bike to it too.  There are some stores back here, but mostly it looks like a place that once was teaming with life.  It's sad.  I wish there was a way to re-vitalize this area.  There's a lovely fountain.  I think it would be amazing to have it happily teaming with life again!  There's even this odd shaped building in the center.  I wonder what it was for?  It looks like it might be used for storage or something now, but it would make a perfect Santa House or something like that.  I bet it was wonderful when this place was more alive.  The other bikes here have heavier chains on them then mine.  I'm reminding myself that to make places safer you have to first and foremost be aware and act when you see anything suspicious, but you also have to take the chance and trust.  If everyone lives in fear than nothing is ever safe.  You do what you can to help keep honest people honest and then you trust.  The more people who trust and go out and act on that trust, the more safe a place is.  Trust is one of the blessings I can give, one of the blessings I have to give.  I leave my bike chained up and go off to search the dollar stores.

I didn't find the folding baskets at either store, but I was shopping for awhile and my bike was fine!  Yay!

The movie house here is showing the movie "Brave."  I'd wanted to watch that!  Hey, it turns out they only charge $2 if you come before 2pm, and it's $1.50 all day Tuesday!  I'll have to come watch movies sometimes on Tuesdays!

It's really nice to be able to come and go on my schedule, not have to think about catching or not catching a bus.  I'm ambling home, exploring a bit.  In a parking lot there's this car all decorated up for Halloween.  It might have been part of the Halloween parade that went on today.  It's gorgeous!







19.10.12

Friday - 10/19/12 - Movie!

Friday - 10/19/12

I was supposed to do some paperwork last night, and fell asleep instead.  Here I am doing it before heading off to the bus.  I'm glad I'll have it done and sent off.

I'm leaving the apartment a few minutes late. Part of me is trying to say it would be OK to go to the regular bus stop.  I don't want to risk missing the bus.  So, I'm going to the farther away stop instead.  I'm still happy I stayed and got the paperwork done.  It helps to know I have a ride home tonight and won't have to deal with taking the bus and with it being late.  Mary and I are doing my birthday celebration tonight!

Two seats in front of me on the bus is a white haired gentleman who's in such a deep sleep that he keeps falling forward and knocking his head on the top of the seat rail in front of him.  I don't think it wakes him up, but he corrects and sits up and then falls forward again.  It's like watching one of those plastic birds that "drinks" out of a cup of water.  Disneyland is the end of the line.  Everyone else gets off.  The bus driver has to go back and wake him up.  I hope that's the stop he wanted!

I'm in luck!  The 43 bus pulled up right after us!  I'm going to be at the Yoga Center way early!  That's much better than standing outside in the dark waiting for a bus!  I just have to catch the 55 after this and then I'm there!

I had a great morning teaching yoga!  Now, I'm heading off to Avalon.  I'm going to stop at Ralph's on the way and buy aluminum foil.  I need it for cooking the frozen burrito that I have for lunch.

I kept telling myself I shouldn't look at their discounted flowers while I was here at Ralph's...  but I did.  They have some lovely red roses marked down to $1.99.  I can't resist!  It's going to be awkward taking them on the scooter to Avalon.  I need to stop at Mother's Market on the way too.  I hope they don't die from being out of water that long.  They are so pretty though, it's worth a try!  I'm going to take 1/2 home with me and give the other 1/2 to Mary (if they survive that long.)  I know she likes roses too!

I wasn't going to buy much at Mother's Market, just salad for lunch and maybe a protein bar since I'm hungry.  Walking through the store, I've picked up a lot.  Mostly vegetables.  It seems to make sense to get this stuff now since I have a ride home tonight.  I hope I'll be able to catch the bus from here to Avalon.  It isn't a long way, but it would be really awkward trying to get there with all of this!

I just checked the bus schedule and it's coming by in a few minutes!  I need to get out of here!

Oh no!  I'm at the corner, waiting for the light to change, heading to the bus stop.  The bus just pulled up to the light!  The bus stop is a ways away from the other side.  When the light changes for me to cross, the bus will head off to the bus stop.  There's no way I'll make it in time!  I try signaling the bus driver, just in case he's willing to wait for me.  He isn't looking my way.  The light changes, I head off as fast as I can on my scooter with my backpack on, the bags of groceries hanging from the scooter handlebars and the roses in my hand.  The last person is getting on the bus and I'm still too far away!  I yell out to hold the bus.  I'm too far away.  I'm sure they didn't hear me.

I'm almost there.  The bus hasn't taken off yet!  I keep waiting for it to close it's doors and take off, but it hasn't.  Maybe it's waiting for me!  That's funny!  The driver wasn't waiting for me.  The delay was people futzing with their dollar bills, trying to pay the fare.  I think it's so funny that I was just saved a lot of awkwardness and traveling by the same practice that has so frustrated me in the past!  (Personally, I think they ought to outlaw using bills on the buses.  People should either have to use coins or cards.  That would make it much more likely that the buses would stay on schedule.)  Today though, I'm grateful for the people with the dollar bills!

I only had one person through to look at the studios today.  She does want one, but doesn't want it till next week sometime.  Sometimes waiting for the right person to come through and be ready to rent can be frustrating.

Mary's here!  We place our pizza order for the Z-pizza on Adams (managing to use the Entertainment Book coupon right before it expires at the end of the month!) and I start wrapping things up!  I'm excited!  We're picking up pizza then going up to the drive-in and watching Hotel Transylvania!  It's a double feature with Frankenwenie, but Mary's seen that one.  I don't know if I'll manage talking her into staying for it or not.  She does have a long drive home after.  She'd have to be awake enough to stay too.

The pizza isn't ready and it's getting dark early.  I don't know if we'll make it there for the start of the movie.

The traffic is really backed up!  I'm not sure I've ever seen it backed up here before!  There must be an accident or something.  It's getting darker and darker and we're still far away.

We decided to give up.  We're close to my place.  So, we're going to take our (now) semi-cold pizzas and watch something there.

We watched "Nausicaa of the Valley of The Wind."  I liked it.  It is nice being home.


Here's a picture of my half of the roses.  :-)




18.10.12

Thursday - 10/18/12 - Returning The Car

Thursday - 10/18/12

Tracye texted me yesterday that she doesn't have to go to court first thing.  She's on call instead.  This means I didn't need to show up there at 6am (yay!), and that I'm on call too.  If she does get called in, I'll have to immediately head over there, turn the car back over to her and watch the kids while she's gone.  I hope she doesn't have to go in.  This is her "day off."  It doesn't seem much like a day off, if she has to be at court for all or part of it.

I still need to return the car to her.  I've got a safety meeting for Jamboree this morning.  Since I need to go to Brookside for that anyway, I think I'll drive the car back to her from there.  That should give me the maximum possible time home today (after the bus ride back home) to work on eBay.

A new Dollar Tree store opened up on the way to Tracye's.  I'm stopping to look for some metal strips.  I want to set up an area of wall to display Christina and Logan's artwork.  I think I also want to put up an area for myself and Tracye.  I'm thinking one magnetic strip for each of us would work.  That way I could hang the art works whatever way they work, using magnets.

I didn't find anything I could use for the metal strip.  I found several other things though!  Even the glass cutting board I've been wanting!  It turns out that brand new dollar stores are very well stocked!  I spent a lot more time than I planned.

I'm beginning to wonder if dollar stores are part of why a lot of Americans seem to have lost their work ethic.  I mean, if you can get so much for $1 each, far less than you could make it for, where is the drive or push to learn how to create those things?

I stop and put gas in Tracye's car right before I get to her place.  Another $20 spent.  This year of doing things differently is certainly bringing it home to me not only how much gas costs, but that gas is used by driving, even by driving a little and the result of that is spending money.

At Tracye's Christina wants me to stay tonight. I'm not going to, but I will stay for awhile.  So much for having lots of time at home to work on eBay.  I keep making that time smaller and smaller.  Time with Tracye and the kids is always special and worth it though.

The 54 just pulled up.  It's the first bus on my 3 bus trip home (it seems to generally take me 3 buses to get anywhere.)  The driver isn't collecting our money and is telling us to get on at the back because there's more space there.  It's packed, standing room only.  It's nice of him to try and get us in.  A young man in his late teens, early twenties, who is sitting down asks me if I want his seat.  Since I'm carrying my backpack, a large bag of things from the 99 cent store and my scooter, I say "yes."  It's hard to stand, hold on, and not poke anyone with anything while carrying all of that.

Wow.  I just woke up on the couch!  I fell asleep watching a TV show not long after getting home.  I'm still tired.  I'm going to clean the place a bit and then go to bed.  I guess I won't be working on eBay today.

17.10.12

Wednesday - 10/17/12 - Using Tracye's Car

Wednesday - 10/17/12

It's a good thing I have Tracye's car today!  I would have been late to work otherwise.  I didn't notice the time until now!

I left for work early so I could make the bank deposits on the way.  I'm going to stop at Trader Joe's and pick up something for lunch too.  I missed eating at home and am starving all of a sudden!  I'm so grateful to have the car to make all of that possible!

I just found out one of my tenants moved out last week and never let me know!  How frustrating!  She thinks she's going to get all of her deposit back too!  Rule number 1, if you want all of your deposit back, make sure your apartment manager knows ahead of time when you plan to move out and that you did actually move out!

I've been telling people I didn't have any vacancies!  I've got several units here coming available all of a sudden.  The gentleman in unit 4 is going to counseling and getting back together with his wife.  I think that's awesome.  I remember when he first came here he poo-pooed the idea of counseling.  I'm glad he decided to give it a try even if it means I lose good tenant.  Then, I've got two other units coming open at the end of the month.  I'm going to have my work cut out for me to try and get everything rented to good people fast enough to get my bonuses for both this month and next!  It's Halloween season too.  A lot of people don't look right around Halloween.  Somehow, it will happen.  All the units will get re-rented to nice people.  Things will go on.

Wow!  I just dropped library books off, went to the spa, picked up the caribeener watch I accidentally left there yesterday, did grocery shopping at Mother's Market, stopped at Stater Bros for bread machine yeast and still got home at 8pm.  That's 1/2 hour to an hour before I would have if I'd taken the bus!   That's amazing!

16.10.12

Tuesday - 10/16/12 - Birthday Party!

Tuesday - 10/16/12

It's my birthday!
Well, OK  it isn't.  Last Tuesday was.  Today is the day I'm celebrating with my grandkids.  I'm excited!  One of my favorite moments last year was having both kids running at me yelling "Happy Birthday!"

I'm supposed to be at their place by noon.  I don't have to leave till 9:30.  Still, there isn't much time.  I slept in this morning, waking up a few times, realizing I was still tired and going back to bed.

I left the apt in a hurry.  I have everything I wanted to bring, but I'm here at the bus stop rearranging it all.  It's bothering me that there's someone's food trash on the bench.  It's all spread out too.  I want to get my stuff arranged first, before dealing with it.  There's the bus!  I just finished re-packing everything when it showed up.   Hah!  I managed to scoop up the trash and throw it away on the way to get on the bus!  Win!

At the 2nd bus stop there's a lot of trash here.  I had to return a call first.  Now I only have 3 minutes before my bus comes.  I'm debating the worth of digging out a glove and picking up trash.  I decide to do it!   At least I'll get some of it!   Heck, maybe I'll pick up trash at every bus stop on my way there as a "happy birthday to me!"  A cleaner world definitely would be a good present for me.

That's cool!   A car drove by, honked and waved at me.  He must have noticed that I was picking up trash!   Nice to be appreciated!  I'm wondering if some of this trash might have been pulled out of the can by animals.  It is an open can and mostly fast food trash (well, that and cigarette butts.)  I don't see signs of things being chewed though.  So, maybe not.  There's the bus!   I got most of the immediate trash at least!

I was waiting for the bus to announce my stop before I pulled the cord.  I didn't want to accidentally pull it early and I'm not totally sure where the bus stop is.  The bus announced the stop right as we were passing it! That means when I pull the cord the driver assumes it's for the next stop.  Arrggg.  I go up and tell the driver what happened.  I know he can't let me off right here, even though we're stopped at the light.  We're not next to a curb and their rules say they have to let us off at a curb.  I ask if he could let me off at the other side of the light.  He's nice and does.  He could have insisted I wait and get off at the next stop.  As I get off the bus, one of the other passengers tells me to have a nice day.

I'm at the bus stop waiting for the 71.  I'm at this stop for 20 minutes in the sun with no bench or shade.  It's a shame!  There's a lot of trash around that I'd gladly pick up, but no trash can.  With no trash can, I have to leave the trash.  I'm just standing here looking at it, trying to figure out what I'd do with it if I did pick it up.  I know buses don't come early, but I hope this one does!  At least I have a good audio book I'm listening too.  It's "Living The Seven Habits" by Steven Covey.

I'm in the Tracye's kitchen.  She and Christina have gone back into the hallway.  Christina comes out and announces that I can't stay very long after lunch.  I "have to" go to the spa!  They've arranged a pedicure for me at Burke Williams.  I love that place!  It has a hot tub, steam room, sauna and even quiet rooms. I'll be able to use it all while I'm there!

Tracye's loaning me her car until Thursday, when I come back in the morning to watch the kids. I'm taking it now to go to the spa, then I'll come back afterward for the dinner.  The kids are helping to make my dinner!

What a wonderful time it was at the spa!   They specifically said no texting or emailing or phone calls.  It made me realize how much I don't unplug and how much I push myself to accomplish.  I do stop the cycle for my time with the kids, but I'm not really sure I do it for myself.  I'm going to have to try and work that in somehow.  I wish I could come here one day a month...   Just take one day, go early, hang out, rotate between hot tub, sauna, steam room, quiet room, read a book and spend the whole day unplugged!   It would be wonderful!  This is the hot tub there.  I love it!



My toes look great and my feet feel all pampered!  My hands are jealous though! ;-)

Back at Tracye's I have more presents!  I love having this time with everyone!  Christina made me a "Happy Birthday" banner.  She picked out the pasta for my spaghetti, as well as tore apart all the pieces for the salad and poured the water for me.  Logan presented me with a pewter angel they got for me.  She specifically watches over Grandmas.  They gave me a necklace, flowers and a huge bouquet of balloons too (I do love balloons - they know me well!)  I forgot to take pictures of the bouquet of balloons.  But here are the two Mylar ones.  Logan picked out the one with the dinosaur for me and Christina got me the one with the flowers.



15.10.12

Monday - 10/15/12 - Tired of long days

Monday - 10/15/12

I don't want to go.  I don't want to start that three hour trip and the long day.  I'm laying in bed, trying not to get up.

The other side of it is that I have so much.  I'm so blessed to be able to teach yoga!   I have a warm roof over my head and food whenever I want it.  There's much to be grateful for and nothing to complain about.  Sure, it would be nice to stay home another day, sleep and work on getting rid of this sinus infection.  I'd miss teaching though.

Time to get up and get around and forget the grouchies!

I'm hoping to get out of the house at 15 after, rather than 4:30.  It would be nice to just know I was on time!  I've been trying this for awhile and haven't managed it.  Today might be the day!  Though I do have the Monday morning reports to finish.

All my reports are finished and I'm heading out.  It's 4:30.  I didn't manage leaving early, but at least I'm on time! It's the closer bus stop for me!

I'm scootering to the bus stop.  It's fun!  The world is quiet and magical this time of the morning.  I don't know why I was grouching!  How many people get to play on their way to work in the morning?!  I love the blinky lights in my scooter wheels!

There's an ambulance and fire truck parked on the road.  On ahead I can see blinking lights.  The police have the road closed.  I wonder if it's OK to go through on the sidewalk?  There's no one here to ask and everything looks quiet.  I'm going to chance it.  If I try to go around, I'll miss my bus!

I'm past the blocked off street (yay!) and to the bus stop.  Wow.  That looks like the bus down the road!   I didn't think I was cutting it that close!  I'm glad I made the bus!

Yoga is over.  I'm heading over to Avalon.  I'm going to Costco today with Charles. I think we are going in the middle of the day, before my work. I'm hoping to convince him to wait and go after my work. That way he could take me home afterward and I wouldn't have to do the long bus ride.

Charles just called.  He's sick.  No Costco run or ride home today.

The sinus infection is bothering me a bit.  I decide to try once again to catch the earlier bus.  I want to be sure I'll get home by 8:30.  I don't like leaving work early, but it will be OK today.

I'm at the bus stop.  It's 5:55.  I text OCTA to see when the next bus is supposed to show up.  They say there's one at 6:07.  That's the one that didn't seem to come when I tried on Friday.  I really hope it comes on time today!

A number 43 bus is going by for the other direction.  Yay!  When it turns around that should be our bus!  It won't be able to get back here by 6:07, but at least there will be an earlier bus!  I'm going to make it home by 8:30!  Woo Hoo!

I'm going to set google maps on my phone to the bus route.  That way I'll know what time the connection haappens.  Huh.  Google maps wants me to take a whole different way home.  That way depends on a connection between the 173 and the 1 though, and I know the 173 sometimes misses that connection.  I've been stranded by that before.  Though, if I'm going to be stuck somewhere for an hour waiting for a bus, being stuck at the beach would be better than where I'd get stuck if this route is late.  I'm debating it.  If I'm going to take that bus I need to leave now to get to the other bus stop.  Wait.  The last bus on that other route is an LA bus.  My bus pass doesn't cover it.  I'd have to pay $1.50.  I know this bus is coming.  I saw it.  I'll stick with this route.

It's 6:15.  The bus never came.  There's another 43 bus going by in the wrong direction.  That would be the one that's supposed to be here at 6:22.  According to the schedule, I can still make the 460 if I take the 6:22 bus, but I know that's not necessary true.  The 43 has been running late and I've been missing the connection.  Now I'm wishing I'd tried the 173 route.

Here's the bus.  Right at 6:22.  I'm going to have to call OCTA tomorrow and see why they say there's a bus that comes at 6:07 when there isn't.  This is the 2nd time I've been on time for it and it hasn't seemed to come at all.  Nothing to do now but cross my fingers that we'll get to Disneyland on time for me to make the bus home.

The problem with one bus disappearing is that it makes the next bus run late.  There are double the people to load.  Double the people getting off at different stops.  Double the people fumbling trying to put dollar bills into machines.  The chances of me making the 460 are getting slimmer and slimmer.

It's 7:00.  The 460 I need to catch to get home at 8:30 leaves at 7:14.  I can catch it a little further down at a different bus stop (if I'm lucky) around 7:18.  We're not in Anaheim yet.  I don't think there's any way we'll make it.

It's 7:23.  The bus just dropped me off at Disneyland.  I'm going to scooter down to the last bus stop for the 460 before the freeway, just in case.  I don't think there's any way I'll catch the bus though.  The 460 normally leaves on time.  It would have already passed that stop.

I wish there was a bench at this bus stop.  I've waited a bit and the 460 hasn't come.  I definitely missed it.  I guess I'll sit on the concrete and meditate while waiting.  It won't be that long till the next 460, but it means I won't be home till 9.  That seems so late.

A group of people just came by.  It could be one family and a few friends.  They're all in costume.  The costumes are great!  Heck, there's even Princess Leiah and a storm trooper.  I'm worried about the storm trooper.  It looks like they're heading to Disneyland and Disneyland has a rule against costumes that cover your face.  It's such a good costume.  I really hope they are going somewhere that the person can wear it!

On the bus, there's someone here on the bus very quietly playing acoustic guitar.


9.10.12

Tuesday - 10/09/12 - my birthday!

Tuesday - 10/09/12

It's my birthday and Catalina cruises is giving away a free trip to Catalina on your birthday. So, my friend Scott and I are going! I'm excited! Catalina is so close, but I've never been there.

I'm getting all tense about packing for the day. I want to make sure I get out of the house on time. I'm not sure what to wear. I figure it will be cold on the boat with the wind and then hot during the day. I finally decide on layers. I'm going to wear some lightweight silk long johns and a jacket. I think those will easily pack into my daypack later. I also decided to wear my brand new blinky light shoes (it is my birthday after all) and bring sandals along just in case.

Wow. I'm out the door! On time too! Oh my gosh! There's a huge pink stuffed pig in front of the apartment complex! I have to stop and take a picture! It's just not something you see every day! That has to be a really good sign that today is going to be magical!




There are several guys here at the bus stop. I'm the only woman. When the bus comes the one man signals to me to get on first and everyone waits. How nice! That doesn't normally happen!

I'm supposed to get off at the Lakewood exit. The bus is announcing the stops. So I should be able to find it.

I loved spending the day in Catilina!  For a little bit I could relax and just be and not worry about getting somewhere or doing something.






5.10.12

Friday 10/5/12

Friday - 10/5/12

It was so nice to be able to sleep in! I'm so grateful to Mary for loaning me her car! I feel like I'm able to take my time getting ready to go. It's awesome!

One thing that hasn't changed is the amount of stuff I want to bring with me. I thought taking only what I could put in a backpack and carry would cure me of that. It's no contest though. Wham I have a car, I'm packing my computer and everything else I think might be able to work on while i'm gone.

I just sat in the car and looked at the clock. I'm shocked! I thought it was 15 minutes earlier! I thought I'd learned how to leave earlier than this! If there is a bad traffic jam anywhere, I might not make it. I'm crossing my fingers and trying for it. That's one thing. It takes forever to get there on a bus, but once I'm on the bus I can relax and not worry. Here I relaxed beforehand, but now, for the drive I'm tense.

I'm here! Just a little before class, but I'll take that for today! For the future, I'll need to set alarms for driving like I do for riding the bus... Put an alarm for 5 minutes before I want to leave!

I'd told myself I could go look for eBay stuff before work today since I have a car. I keep thinking about going to the DMV to register my car as non operational though. I need to do that soon and I do have the car today.

At the DMV. It's a long line reaching out of the building. Maybe I should leave. I don't know when I'll be able to come back and this is just the sign in line. Maybe it will go quickly.

It's been an hour. I should be leaving for work. I haven't even managed to talk to the sign in person yet. I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to leave and have to stand in this line again. At least Avalon is fully rented. I guess I'll stay.

While I'm standing here I'm registering for their on-line system. I think with the car not being officially registered last year (couldn't get smog check) that I'll have to talk to someone at a window. But it's worth a try. I'd love to get out of here!

 It won't let me renew that way. I have to keep standing here. :-(

It's now been 2 1/2 hours. My number is up soon. I can't believe I waited all this time. At least it will be done then.

It's been forever. They keep not calling my number. They keep calling "f" numbers and I'm a "b" number. I'm starving too. I'm glad I had yoga class before this. It helps with patience.




2.10.12

Tuesday - 10/02/12

Tuesday - 10/02/12

I had planned on focusing on posting eBay items today. Everything else happened.

John, the maintenance man was here at the property. I needed to spend time with him and then went to home depot with him to purchase the items he needed. It's good because I know things are getting done the way I want them done. It took up a lot of time though.

First thing when he saw me, he told me it was his birthday. While we were at home depot I went off and bought an amaryllis bulb kit for him. Then, gave it to him when we got back. It's good to have happy things on your birthday.

When we left home depot John saw a lady with a sign asking for money. He said she is a gypsy from Romania He is Romanian he said they don't work, they steal and beg. He says the US gave a lot of them papers to come in, because they were being persecuted (for cheating and stealing.)

Now I'm preparing the deposit for villa Tuscany. Once I get it done I'll have to take off for the bus.

The cat knows I'm leaving. He's been playing all morning with packing paper I left on the floor for him. Now, he's hiding. It doesn't matter. I'm going to leave him loose in the apartment. I think I'm done closing him in the bathroom.

On the 460, I sit down in almost the last seat. I'm sitting next to an Asian woman. She has a suitcase, with lax tags on it. After awhile she asks me if I could tell her where the Disneyland exit is. That one's easy! I tell her it's the very last stop and the driver will make sure she gets off.

I'm waiting at the stop for the 29. There is a Chinese lady here. She's watching for the bus I tell her it won't be here for about 6 minutes She asks me how far this bus goes. I show her the map the octa has posted that says the bus goes all the way to the ocean. She says she lives around here and is going to go down to the ocean and then come back. She says she was a missionary in china for many years.

On the bus I'm sitting next to the cutest little kid. He's eating (or actually playing with) a granola bar. He has light, curly hair, and a sparkling smile. He wants to talk with me, but doesn't speak English. He's too young for much anyway. He keeps dropping the granola wrapper and having me pick it up. The Indian lady sitting next to him doesn't seem to be paying much attention to him. Across from me is the rest of the family. None of them seem to speak much English. The boy holds up a sign to me. I think it's something he found and laugh. It's a very crinkled piece of paper asking for money. The woman next to him is teaching him to say "please.". After they get off, some of the passengers start talking about them. Apparently they were passing around a paper asking for money or food. The granola bar the boy had been eating had been given to them by a passenger. Another had given them his bus pass. I hope they didn't take offense at me laughing. I had thought he'd just found the paper!

Mary wrote and asked if I wanted to borrow her car this weekend. She'll be riding her motorcycle. I kind of want to, but don't really need it and it might be more hassle to pick up and drop off then the benefits.

1.10.12

Monday - 10/1/12

Monday - 10/1/12

Everything is feeling difficult... Like it's extra hard to do. I was going to work the la decom in exchange for free entry. Now, what I was going to do went away... And they say I'll need to pay the entrance fee and then get reimbursed for it. That would work if I had money in my wallet, but I don't. I find if I keep cash around I spend it. So I use as much as I can to pay on the bills and don't carry cash.