Another Lifetime to go

9th July 2024

It was all go to get the mid century pieces cleaned up and ready for the buyers. These are the furniture pieces we like, max reward with minimal effort.

This didn’t mean that is all we did, there was a smaller dresser that had to be painted and the drawers on the large dresser to sand. I also managed to strip and sand a table top.

All this, and it was hot as hell.

Late in the afternoon a red truck arrived to collect the two dressers. They said it was for her mother who was returning to the area, so we were happy that it was going to a good home.

Their money was also going to a good home, ours.

Tomorrow is shopping day, which is just to as well because we were right down to the groaty things left in the fridge, however Kelli managed to make a tasty meal from it.

8th July 2024

Well the good night sleep anticipated didn’t happen, it was dire. Kelli woke after two hours, and then stayed awake for four hours. She managed three more hours only after I moved into the living room and slept on the couch. I’m certainly getting used to it, but at least she wasn’t a grouch in the morning, in fact it was better than I expected.

We had the opportunity to purchase two mid century dressers from someone we sold a pair of side tables to. They got in touch and offered us these wonderful pieces, we’d be mad not to get them.

As we had slept in, we were a bit late collecting them, but boy was it worth it.

There is an active market for mid century furniture even if they are unbranded, and we have had success with many that we’ve worked on.

We could wait to get them home and start work on them. What was the amazing part is their condition, sure there were a few scratches on the top, but the rest was immaculate. We both spent the rest of the day cleaning and doing some minor repairs, and then took pictures.

Kelli posted them on Marketplace in the evening and they were snapped up even at the price we put on them. If we could find some every week there is a good chance to make some decent cash on them.

7th July 2024

After a good sleep lasting eight hours I woke up invigorated. It was a sunny day, and after our ten minute arm exercises, which I’m not sure are doing anything, I was eager to start work.

A breakfast of melon and pineapple, and some scrambled egg and toast fuelled my enthusiasm.

I had a large dresser to wash down and prepare.

I had already stripped the top ready for staining so it was sanding the surface to key the primer.

Kelli finished the dresser that was painted yesterday, so we took pictures of that.

It’s nice to be able to work outside, and whilst I’m in this mood I wasn’t to take advantage of the chance to get colour into my legs. For many years I was a pale specimen of an English man.

Since I’ve been here I do tan a bit, not like Kelli who looks like a Mexican, but I’m happy with the result.

It was ice cream time at Kelli mum’s. We cycled up there knowing that we would burn off the sugar.

We have adjusted our diets to remove grains and sugars, and although I don’t notice the change, Kelli does. We bounce around from sourdough, made from ancient gains to almond flour, I like the sourdough, but she believes it creates inflammation of her knees. She is far more susceptible to food effects than I.

6th July 2024

Another terrible night, a few irresponsible people were letting off fireworks even though it was now against the city ordinance. Kelli just wanted a quiet night to sleep, she was not happy.

With the ranting and raving I didn’t get any sleep either.

She was so worked up, even when the fireworks finished she couldn’t relax, an essential part of getting to sleep.

So she tried deep breathing to try to slow her heart down, that didn’t work, she tried listening to nature sounds but that failed to calm her down. Eventually we both drifted off, at what time? I have no idea. We both woke at seven thirty, Kelli still not happy, she wanted more sleep, but my breathing was too loud, so I did what I always do when that happens, I go out to the living space, she did manage another couple of hours.

That then set up back a lot, we eventually finished breakfast at one o clock, that was really late.

Fortunately I was ahead of the game with several dressers already to start painting.

5th July Friday

It was a bad night for Kelli. Although the fireworks went on till past eleven, we delayed going to be until midnight just to make sure.

But she couldn’t settle, she maybe got three or four hours, so the mood was dark.

I don’t know what to do when things get so bad, it becomes my responsibility, and blame hits me like a hammer.

Whatever I choose to do or say just inflames her condition, so I choose to give her space and submerge myself into something.

What I struggle is trying to understand the source of her sleeplessness. The supplements she’s on are supposed to ease any anxiety, but it’s more than that, there is the mental part, the head space, fight or flight, all this and more.

I am fortunate to have not suffered depression or anxiety, I should have, there have been many emotional black spots I’ve endured, but I’ve faced them, knowing what the problem was and worked it out. We wear two cloaks, I use one to shield the other, that how I deal with it, but with Kelli it’s a puzzle and some of the pieces have been misplaced.

4th July 2024;

Well I’m glad that’s over. The expectation weren’t very great from the start, Both Cameron and Greer couldn’t be with us, but Mandy, Matt’s daughter, her man and two girls came over.

Matt and wife Brenda with their little precious puppy arrived. Georgia was there, with all her issues, so the afternoon was set.

The girls went straight into the pool, that kept them occupied, not necessarily quiet.

I was in charge of the grill, filling it up with charcoal and generally the one bathed in smoke.

Matt and Brenda weren’t sure they would stay long, they were worried their pet would get tired and they would have to take it home. Oh brother! They treat it like a baby, I would be surprised if they didn’t breast feed it.

I threw on the last of the large bag of charcoal, worried that it would burn through before the cooking started.

There is a lot of preparation that goes on behind the scenes, I snooked off and started the fruit salad, when the family starts talking it’s better I go off and do other things, mainly I don’t understand what they are all talking about.

As the cooking time arrived, I realised the charcoal was a bit thin, so I reached for the emergency bag of apple wood chips. Clouds of smoke engulfed me, I started placing the sausages and burgers on the wire shelf, quickly closing the cover. Every time I had to add things I smoke hit me, with my eyes stinging I persevered, grilling everything close to perfection as I could.

The trouble was that I had to snatch bite of things in between the cooking, not having the chance to sit and enjoy my food, it pissed me off, everyone was all right, I didn’t enjoy the experience.

As soon as they were done eating, Matt and Brenda left, the rest hanging on for an hour or so longer, Kelli and I we left exhausted wondering if we will do this again.

3rd July 2024

As the holiday approaches I’ve noticed how little fireworks activity has occurred. According to the city ordinance there is a six day period when fireworks can be used, and so far there has been little disturbance. There could be a number of answers to this, one being the choice between eating and not. With prices as high as they are, there really is that choice.

I think that half America do not know what the fireworks are for. I am often asked what Independence Day means for me, I usually answer with a smile and say “We were glad to get rid of it, the journey to work was too far”.

Now my answer might be different. New colonials wanted to escape the tyranny of the British Monarchy, and winning the war of Independence signalled this new order.

So two hundred and twenty eight years later America has its own tyranny. Not a Monarchy, but a group of power crazed individuals financially supported by many special interests that have destroyed the republic.

“We the people” has been replaced by “We the elite” the rights of the individual has changed to manipulation by these shadowy characters.

Convincing the population to space themselves six feet apart from each other, wear masks, and take a vaccine, or lose your livelihood, these were part of this change.

Yes the British weren’t perfect, they have a lot to answer for, but it has existed for many hundreds of years, America has ruined what it had, and for the majority of its citizens, they have the country they deserve, the others have to put up with it.

2nd July 2024

We decided to do our shopping a day early because of the holiday, mainly to avoid the shelves being emptied by hordes, stocking their freezers, and eventually their tummies.

At Aldi the shopping carts require a twenty cent coin to release them, and there is an unwritten rule that if a cart still has it’s coin in the slot, you leave a coin for the next user. Well Kelli intercepted someone bring their cart back, and offered them the coin, but this person refused to take it, so as per the rule we left the coin on the ledge for the next customer.

We then discovered that the cart had a mind of its own. It wanted to go in the opposite direction to where you wanted to go. “This is why that person gave it to us”. Looking at the axles it appeared as if it had been dropped from a great height. My arm muscles were bulging as we made our way down the isles, I tried to avoid changing direction because it was easier to carry the cart round corners than to steer it.

So with the truck filled with food we headed home, all the time Kelli is looking for stuff by the side of the road, and by the way, we never heard from the person with the dresser left outside that we left a note for.

There were a few things that we could do in the garage, but that was interrupted by reports of a free dresser on the north side. Leaping into action we got there before the allotted time. It did have to be carried up a grassy slope that was covered with duck droppings, but thankfully we managed to avoid those.

It’s been a good month for free stuff.

We finished the child’s hutch, took it outside between showers and took pictures, although it takes as long to do as most dressers we can’t charge the same amount for it.

1st. July 2024

Days go so fast, no sooner do I awake, it’s time to sleep again. We reflect on the positive aspects of the day, but they seem so trivial.

We still try to do our arm exercises every other day, and maybe our breakfasts take too long, it’s our time to get informed about important events that could impact our future.

After the disastrous presidential debate all that is being talked about is who is running the country? It can’t be Biden, he has shown that he is incapable of speaking coherently.

The talk is about the security of this country, the enemies of the USA could be lining up to take a pop, and who will lead against that.

I could say it’s not my problem, I can’t vote, but I don’t want my ability to travel be restricted. We went through the bollocks with Covid and I don’t want it to happen again.

I want to fly back to the UK in October, Kelli is worried something might happen to put that at risk, or I might not be able to get back, I don’t want those worries

It was said the 2024 would be a year when everything changes, well we all should buy a lot of fans because a lot of shit is coming our way.

Some activity has been happening in the pond area, there has been sightings of a different frog.

This one is smaller and darker, but we don’t know what happened to our original amphibian.

I am mysteriously drawn to different parts of the garden and get great satisfaction by pulling up grass, one piece at a time. Keeping this under control is a full time job, so when I see grass or weeds growing where it shouldn’t I stop what I’m doing a pull them out, which is why other equally important doesn’t get done, I guess I’m easily distracted.

30th June 2024

There was a cleaning frenzy at the house today.

We were hosting the birthday cake party for Kelli’s mother and son. I cut all the grass and trimmed all the edges, and everything was looking good. We even borrowed a bubble making machine from a friend, and the weather was going to be kind to us.

It was the second day where we didn’t have to work in the garage, a rare treat.

There was concern that the frog hadn’t been seen for a couple of days, but Kelli caught sight of, what looked like a smaller one. We weren’t sure how that could be, but we went on with our preparations. Later I caught sight of the smaller version, it moved very quickly and disappeared into the depths of the pond, very strange.

The appointed hour came and the birthday people arrived. The bubbles were pumping out of the machine and going in all directions, it certainly was different, and I expect the neighbours were puzzled when all these coloured objects flew passed their windows.

Matt, Kelli’s brother couldn’t make it due to sickness, so his wife Brenda came along with their new Schnauzer, a puppy so small that we had larger balls of fluff under our bed. Well this little critter stole the show, even our dogs were intrigued at its size, and they didn’t try to eat it.

So the highlight of the event was the serving of the cake, however this time it was cheesecake, and because not many were able to join in, there was more for me, not bad for a bit of grass cutting.