Author: peterb51

6th April 2025

We have potential interest in two of the pieces in the garage, one we have just finished and one that is in progress.

The first priority of the day was to finish the dresser. I gave it another coat of finish, giving it plenty of time for it to dry.

We had to go out, back to Goodwill for Kelli to return things she had bought yesterday. Furniture has been a bit scarce recently, even things on Marketplace have been forthcoming. It doesn’t help that sellers take forever to get back to us, especially when they often state on their posting that they want it gone.

We had our ice cream party at Kelli’s mums.

Matt has recently got into painting miniature figures, and even started selling them. These are finely detailed pieces that obviously have a following, so he has found a good selling opportunity.

We had to leave early because we had a lady who lives just down the road, coming to look at the two pieces.

We managed to fit the drawers with the knobs just as she arrived, and the piece looked good.

There was a lot of interest in the dresser, because it was something that her daughter was looking for. However she herself was more interested in the large larder unit. We talked about colours and she paid us in full to complete it. The dresser, however, was still in limbo. 

Not convinced that her daughter would buy it, we posted it on Marketplace, if they do want it they had better decide quick.

5th April 2025

Demonstrations came to downtown Holland today, and we hit it full in the face.

We had done our rounds of the Goodwill thrift store, and were heading over to the north side to go to, yet again the UPS store. We had to drive through the town when we were immersed by demonstrators on both sides of the road. Placards were being waved, and chanting was going on complaining about Trump and Musk, about how they were destroying the social security system and ruining the country. It was quite intimidating, and although these protesters have the right to their opinions, not everyone wants it rammed down their throats. The arguments were intense, and most were basically wrong. It is the aim of the Democrats to try to dis-stabilise the country by saying the complete opposite to what is happening.

As we were driving along Kelli was giving the thumbs down signifying that she didn’t agree. One of the protesters then gave her the finger in reply. This was an insult, and the window was lowered and Kelli called out the person for being rude. This was met with loud verbal abuse, which illustrated that there is so much more hate than honest discussion.

Throughout this confrontation I had slipped down into the seat trying to be invisible.

I had not seen this scale of activity even during the height of of the election, so whether this was an organised protest with people being “shipped” in, like it has been alleged, I’m not sure. 

There is no doubt that something sinister is behind all this unrest, no government would dare touch social security, Medicare or Medicaid, that would be political suicide. 

Savings are vital, in less than ten years funding for social security will run out, as most of the income to the federal government will go to pay the interest on the vast dept that America has been saddled with, but there are many that don’t understand that.

Elon Must continues to be the bad boy finding all the waste, fraud and abuse, Trump is wrong to deport all the criminal gang members, other countries should take a look, and do a similar thing before it’s too late.

 The day did start well, we did sell the dresser that we posted yesterday, it will take pride of place in a nursery near South Haven.

4th April 2025

Recently there has been a steady stream of reading glasses delivered to our house. Almost everyday a new pair will arrive, and without fail they are returned. There are samples of every frame style and colour, in quantities that would make Elton John and Dame Edna jealous.

I’m not sure what she is looking for, there are glasses dotted all over the house, there are ones for work, some for leisure, some are tinted some are bi-focal, there is no point in her asking me to find a particular pair, I just look lost.

The sun was out today, I had to check to see if it’s time that I can clear the winter debris, that irritates me every time I look outside, but no, there has to be a run of five days of a certain temperature before I can get at it.

I can see life sprouting from the ground bursting through the blanket of leaves that are supposed to be protection for bees and other bugs. Soon my bluebells will bloom signalling the start of the American spring.

I was out in the garage finishing the stripping of a badly painted dresser, it has been a labour of love getting all the layers of old paint off, now it will be refinished in it’s natural timber.

We took pictures of the other dresser that I picked up a couple of days ago, we paid more than usual because we just wanted to clean it and flip it, as of this evening we had someone interested, we shall see if it become a sale.

3rd March 2025

I cancelled today’s beer tasting session, I was not ready to go out in public and enjoy myself when Kelli was still suffering. That might sound a little bold, and respectful to my wife, but I will have plenty of opportunity to indulge when she is feeling better. On top of that I didn’t wish to keep coughing and blowing my nose and scaring the locals.

It was day two of the “Tariffs” in other words the great opportunity for all store to increase their prices regardless of where they buy their stock from.

“ No they won’t” I hear Mr America say, bloody hell, of course they will, this is a capitalist country, meaning they will do anything they can to screw as much money out of each other as they can. 

America complains that Europe do not import American cars, that is because they are crap, large thirsty monsters, they do not make a decent small car, and they don’t know why.

The whole tariff strategy is to build up manufacturing, but that is a long term plan to bring more jobs and higher wages, but for me, on a fixed income, the struggle will continue.

Unless we can charge more for our furniture, then bring on the good times!!

I had to go out to get more boxed of tissues, with both our noses in great need, they don’t last long. Kelli doesn’t understand that I can reuse a tissue, as long as there is one square inch of dry un-used material, then it is possible, although it is not a pretty sight.

Which brings me to another point, where have all the cloth handkerchiefs gone? These were staple Christmas presents when I was young. I remember my mum boiling ours, and then hanging them on the line to dry, you could get a lot of blows on those, and even when they were a bit crunchy, there was alway a bit of space left. Ah, memories, the demise of the handkerchief, gone, but not forgotten.

2nd April 2025

Sickness does not sit well with Kelli. After a turbulent night, she was completely out of it for the rest of the day. She seems to be suffering more than I. She said both her teeth and hair hurt, which I did not suffer with, however I still have a stuffy nose and annoying cough. This has now lasted just over a week, and although my aches have gone I still don’t feel 100%.

We did have someone come to collect the latest dresser this morning, and I had to go and collect one from an address in Holland, quite close to us.

The plan for this piece is a cleaning and new pictures and a quick flip.

It was a struggle on my own, I removed the drawers and had to manhandle the carcass through a screen door, down some steps, across a path and into the truck, in the rain. once I got it into the truck I noticed there was a piece of the plinth missing. I checked around to see if it had dropped of, but no, there was nothing.

 Not that was a real problem, but it was something I had to replicate.

So that is what I had to spend time doing.

It was a damp day, thunder was rumbling around most of the afternoon.

There was more activity over at Larry’s. 

Today he had the full set. First the fire marshal truck arrived, then the fire engine and then finally the ambulance. This time they didn’t take him away.

Now whenever we hear the sirens coming down the road, they are more than likely heading for dear old Larry.

I don’t think he’s heard of Uber to get him to the hospital, he prefers the sirens and flashing lights.

1st April 2025

I need to turn the internet off again, I am not only still sick from my cold, I am sick of hearing all the puerile arguments that is going on with the deportations of illegal criminals. They just need to go back to the cesspool they came from.

There are stories that thousands of social security numbers have been given out to illegals who are receiving maximum benefits. I paid good money for mine and I’m not entitled to anything, you can see why I’m pissed?

Anyway, off it goes, I want peace and quiet for a few days.

Kelli had a doctors appointment, so she dragged her weary body to Zeeland. Things were looking good, she has lost some weight, and her body resistance was strong, so all those years taking mountains of supplements might be paying off.

I dragged myself into the garage to finish off stripping the dresser ready for refinishing.

31st March 2025

It looks like Kelli has caught my germs, she woke up with a rough throat and an aching back. I really thought she resisted the attack, and I feel bad about it.

It makes me doubt all the talk about building the immune system, of which Kelli is serious about. She takes a mountain of supplements and elderberry syrup every day, so she is certainly not lacking.

I have a proposal that instead of making the syrup, I should make wine, it won’t help our immune systems, but if we drink enough of it, who cares.

I awoke around 5.30am with a coughing fit, trying to suppress it just didn’t work. My only option was to get out of bed, go to the kitchen and take cough medicine. I know I disturbed Kelli, but I was hoping that she would go back to sleep, whilst I made my way to the sofa.

I propped myself up in a semi-reclining position, hoping that would help with a future coughing episode, it appeared to work.

Once we were both awake, that is when Kelli had the beginnings of something. 

We had decided to do our shopping early because we had run out of a few essentials,so rather than suffer for another day we bit the bullet and do the run.

Aldi was remarkably empty of customers, it was almost a pleasure being there. There was no orange juice, only the one with pulp, which I like, but Kelli doesn’t, so we comprise, and get the one without, so we went without.

I was feeling rather energised, albeit with a blocked nose and a rattling cough, I went into the garage and finished scrapping the dresser I started yesterday. I did about four hours, and then gave up, no point in wearing myself out.

It was much colder today, Michigan weather is unique, it can be twenty degrees different from one day to the next, it’s no wonder our bodies find it hard to adapt.

30th March 2025

We took our regular visit to the UPS store for even more returns. This place has overtaken Goodwill as our top place to visit.

On the way back we stopped at the Dollar General store, god I hate that place, I’m not a snob, but I feel dirty entering the place. Kelli mocks me for it, but for her she can find the hair products that she can’t buy anywhere else. It’s the sort of place that when the US ban food colourings, preservatives, and highly processed foods there will be nothing left on the shelves.

I alway urge Kelli to get what she wants before we get recognised.

Just to rub it in more, she wanted to stop at the one close to us to return something we bought recently, yes they even take back returns. That was a very quick diversion.

I guess I dislike those type of places because they take retail to the lowest common denominator, and they are all over the place, usually in the poorer districts. There are established brands at knock down prices, but the rest is absolute crap, and not worth the money.

Then it was up to Kelli’s mums for ice cream.

I had an interesting diversion, trying to print things from her phone. It took many attempts, I finally managed to do it, but I haven’t a clue what I actually did. I must have been flaying about, and something clicked, I took the accolade, and carried smugness with me for the rest of the day.

There was an emergency warning on our phones  about a possible high wind event, 80 mile an hours winds were forecast, and the radar map looked frightening, but as usual, there was a torrential downpour and that was that, quite disappointing, but maybe some poor bugger got the brunt of it instead, sucks to be you dude.

29th March 2025

I must be getting better because there are more American dumbness that has grabbed my attention. 

There is a growing movement aimed at Elon Musk. He is instrumental is sifting through the bureaucracy within the American government. He, and the DOGE team are uncovering billions of American tax payers dollars that are being wasted, and were never audited. Most people would be in favour of cutting out this waste and be in favour of a leaner, and more efficient system, but it appears that there are people that don’t.

These dumb individuals have decided to take on Musk and try to destroy, not only him,but Tesla, his business.

Over the past few weeks there have been incidents of attacks on Tesla showrooms.

There have been fire bombs and vehicles damaged in the streets and outside homes.

Most of these people, who lack any sort of brain activity, don’t realise that they are not hurting Elon Musk, the damage at dealers will be covered by insurance, but the action on private vehicle hurt the owners, they are not to blame for anything, other than owning a Tesla.

Now this activity has been classed as domestic terrorism with a possible twenty year prison sentence, who wants to go to jail for spray painting a car, they are dumb as rocks.

And now, nothing to do with Tesla, we finished another dresser, I was still filling my tissues, but it’s reducing, I now have an annoying cough that needs sorting out.

It was a warm day again, so the garage door was wide open, I was able to start scraping the paint off another dresser. 

28th March 2025

Day three of my cold, and one box of tissues have been used up. Kelli went out to get me some nose spray, because as you can imagine trying to sleep is difficult, and in Kelli’s case, noisy.

So another night on the sofa, but she did get nine hours.

I feel my sickness easing a bit, but I hope to be clear by the weekend.

I did work in the garage, I had dressed particularly well to avoid getting another chill.

However the temperature was in the sixties so quite soon I was really hot, but I remember my dad saying “ sweat it out” and that is what was happening.

By the mid afternoon I was ready to stop, I went inside, changed into my evening attire and laid out on the sofa again with the dogs for company.