It is in God's hand now.

Amay with her 2 men and a cart. She is hitching a ride.

That saying, God helps those who help themselves, well Big Daddy has a plane ticket for Friday. He confirmed he can cancel the back portion, he is using his FF miles, he confirmed the bag allowance and he went to sleep in the barren apartment. He only kept the Ikea chair and the funky coffeemaker.  Amay says if I ever come to visit Shanghai I can always stay with her.

The first offer is a very good one except for the fact that we can prolly never sell this damn house. First I need to put in a furnace, carpet the family room and paint the bitch. If I could find the asshat that did the last paint job I would tie him behind my car with a log chain and drag his ass down Lakeshore Drive. And if the cops stopped me I would show them the painting fiasco. It did not last, and I am not happy. And I hate to paint. I will have to check and see if I told you the story of the painting of the inside of the house.

Next offer is to arrive around Tuesday. BD still has to figure out how to tell his boss he has an emergency and has to fly home. There is an emergency, I am pulling my hair out and I pay quite a bit of money for this hair.

If he takes the first offer and nothing here changes it will be a short term if we can't sell the house. Hate to do that to people but you gotta be able to live. At least he is not making them pay for the plane ticket from China.   That would be bad karma.

My mother decided to add to the drama this month, she left another message this time telling me she is selling her house and asking if I wanted anything. I already knew about the sale from my niece and what part of crazy ass shit does she not get. If there is anything in that house that my brother has not already absconded with-his wife has given it to her relatives. WTF. SIL is the woman who told me she wanted to be me. Creepy. Well, she got what she wanted, she is the beloved daughter and now she has to take care of everything. Hope my other brother gets what he asked for, tho I doubt it.

Off the finish cleaning.

Drunk Tulips

Day one and not flopped over.

I have lost Big Daddy's pictures of the frogs and 100 year old eggs from the wet market. Cannot find them anywhere on this damn computer.

The neighbors that are now named the Repats, they were in Sweden for a few years are gonna get on my nerves. This is the woman who already put the new dirt on her flower beds. Every day now she out digging something out of her grass. Don't know what, but really it is March. Yesterday I was walking around the yard and it got wet and squishy. That means do not walk on the grass, it is too early and you will tamp down and cause damage if you do yardwork too soon. This bitch is out there first thing every morning.

Well, this false spring is about to end. I am washing and ironing summer clothes.

False Spring is here

Pink snow flake type spring bulbs, usually seen in patches of snow. Esby wanted to know how Spring is making on early appearance here in SE Michigan.

Having spent way too many years in Michigan I know this weather is gonna hurt soon. 60's and 70's the last few weeks. Everything is in bud stage and an ice storm is always on the horizon this time of year. We always have a bad ice storm or snow this time of year. And it kills the plants and buds. My Weeping Cherry and Jade Cherry trees are in bud, the European Tri-color Beech tree is holding back a bit more, maybe smarter. The daffodils and tulips are up and most of the early spring bulbs are in bloom. Peonies are poking their heads up.

This afternoon I went to town for groceries, left the house in sunglasses and noticed I could not see the end of the main street when I turned right. Half way down the big street I could not see the yacht club. The fog was so bad I could not see the lake from Lake Shore Drive.

The garage gate was up at Trader Joe's, they are finally fixing the broken machines, yea.

I bought the cheapest vodka that they had at Jerry's Party Store. I heard cut tulips will not flop over if you add vodka to the water. As I do not drink "hard liquor" it seemed silly to buy vodka for once a year flowers. However in searching out cheap cleaning procedures I learned that vodka is also good for cleaning silk flowers, tile surfaces, clothes that cannot be cleaned (theater trick) and is good on mold and mildew. Who knew.  

Shopping in the Pointes

Well, I have run out of exciting photos to post so I thought I would post what I cleaned. Not really wanting to post the toilet and the kitchen sink or my laundry, I started making a list. Of the cleaning shit I needed.

First I had to buy pens and paper.

Today I forayed out to shop for the needed items: Simple Green, Doozy, Marble cleaner, Silver cleaner, glass cleaner, and brown paper trash bags for the yard waste. Ace in the village was my last resort, forgot they carried all this stuff. Rosenthal's was the only thing I could not find. There was a Grosse Pointe Matron in line in front of me. You can always spot them. Pencil thin, perfect hair, LV handbag and wallet, buying a small white candle for six dollars and change, and she had the exact change. WTF does anyone need with a small white candle. And if you did-why wouldn't you go to Target. Or the Dollar Store. Or order it from the Beeswax Candle Store.

Four stores and I have most of what I need including food and drink. Farms Market dropped the price of the Rotisserie Chicken by 2 dollars.  Big Daddy better keep an eye on my bank account.

Lost the crown for Trash Queen, 2 neighbors had more trash bags. And I recycled and it worked. They took the shit and I retrieved the container.

So now when I clean I can post the pictures of my treasures.

Every woman needs a Leatherman

This tool does it all. With the exception of opening wine bottles you are good to go. And it comes with a nice leather case.

Things need to be fixed and this little tool can do most everything that will happen in your life.  Until you can afford a real tool box this will be your go-to tool.

How did I fix the alarm system power down, the Leatherman. How do I tighten loose door knobs, the Leatherman.

When I worked in the plants I wore a fanny pack filled with tools. It was against UAW rules to work in the plants, so I had to hide this shit. I sometimes wore the Leatherman on a belt as I could explain it was for investigation purposes only. Next to the Blackberry and the cell phone it did not stand out.

As Martha Somebody would say, it is a great thing to have. And it fits in your purse, pack or junk drawer. And it comes in different sizes, mine was the largest when I got it 15 years ago. Yea, they last a long time.

Get one, you will be happy.

I am losing my sense of humor

Little things are dragging me down the rabbit hole. One stove burner is intermittent, one light in the bathroom is intermittent, and the coffee grinder went AWOL. When I finally got the coffee grinder working and it ended it's cycle I heard a beeping, the alarm system was beeping. According to the alarm company I had a low battery. This took 2 phone calls as in the middle of the first call the phone went dead, the land line. I was starting to get suspicious I was starring in a horror movie, ala Doris Day in one I think was called Midnight Lace.

So after continuous beeping and multiple phone calls I had to drag the step stool to the basement and pull the red wire from the mini "car battery" and then lay on the filthy floor and unscrew the plug in thing. The screw was of course cocked in the hole and a pain in the ass to get it loose.

I think if we get an opportunity to move we should rent.

Alarm company is scheduled for the morning.

Just because I am blonde does not mean I am dumb

Here is Big Daddy's precious clock, it has lost it's chiming mind with all the time changing.

I am turning into my mother and she can make you pull your hair out no matter what color you buy. So not dumb, genetics.

Thought I would be Mrs. Eye on the Ball and change all the clocks yesterday afternoon. Well there was no problem with my eyeball, got them all changed and boy I was proud. Until the 11PM news when Mr. Anchor told me not to forget to spring forward. As I was a goofball, I fell back.  Rats, I fucked it all up. Well at least I learned how to change most of the clocks. Not sure about the stove and the car and the thermostat. Figured out the computer too, it was still on China time which never changes and that was not easy. China computer, China time, who knew.

Since it was a beautiful day I walked the yard. Then I came in and cried. The work needed here is so huge I cannot believe it. A few bulbs are coming up and I have one survivor my Lenten Rose, but it looks sad.

There is some nonsense going on in the wood pile behind the garage and I think I have discovered the source, the missing next door neighbor newlyweds. It looks like some crap was thrown on top and I looked in their yard and the whole back garden area looks like someone was digging for gold. And there are bundles of wood scraps and branches and twigs all over their yard. If I catch that asshat I may get a bit angry.

Tried a new wine from Trader Joe's, the "on special" Terrenal Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine, product of Spain. It is not bad , again all under 10 bucks.

US Postal Service

My postal carrier and I renewed our acquaintance today, he knocked on my door and asked if I supposed to be getting mail. I told him no. He said it is all messed up and can't understand what the problem could be with the Postal Service. Hmm. This government group of folks is losing money and they can't figure shit out. And we need to keep them because the Constitution says we have to have them.

In Washington we have a barbershop, dining room, spacious offices and basement rooms where reams of written documents are hidden, for the Congress. We have a Postmaster General that has better china and flatware than most museums. Does the Constitution call for this shit? No, it says these asshats are supposed to deliver the mail to the right address.

And they want me to pay more taxes for this sorry ass service.

By the way, my mail carrier is the nicest, kindest and most hardworking guy I know. When I would come home from work and he saw me, he would come back to my house for items that had to be personally delivered. He is great.

Jobs, to have or not to have

Big Daddy talked to his buddy at the Big Company that may involve Brazil. Seems the guy that wants to hire him is ranting and such at HR for dragging things out. That just makes those people happy. I believe most HR people just love to see people miserable, gives them something to do, have meetings about cranky, crabby people.

Loosie Goosie is losing her people. Quitting and not looking back. Guess no one is too happy with the move and the sale of the company but Loosie is saying everything is great and treating her people horribly. She makes her department eat lunch with her and pay the tab. WTF, I would have kicked her ass on the way out the door and told everything I was looking for my steamed buns.

Job interview yesterday was a no-go, I would have to relocate to the mid south and take a job with a short life expectancy. Every one in that position gets fired. No power, all the blame and everyone turns on you when things go to shit. Had that job once and it was nasty, I got another job and gave notice. I did hear from one of the guys I used to work with and he gave me some good tips. He recently got a new job and I am dying to know what happened.

Went to the dentist today for a check up and cleaning and everything is fine. Decided I should go to Farm's Market instead of Trader Joe's as I need tea and it must be decaf. Twinings Earl Grey and green tea was about it for choices, hope it is okay, China did have nice tea. Now I need to find a teapot. Don't remember if I had one or not. Off to search.

It's back

I noticed a green recycle bin on the boulevard across the street. No one else seemed to want it so I went and fetched it. I am sure it is mine as I now have possession. Now I have to figure out how to use it. I think the newspapers I am not supposed to be getting can go into a paper bag. I probably should go on the city web site and look up the rules.

Not much to say today maybe more tomorrow.

Laugh of the day

One of my neighbors, the ones I affectionately refer to as The Clampetts had a political sign in their yard this morning. Number one it is a first for them to express an opinion on anything other than their kids not being the assholes the cops are looking for or why we all object to their spawn carving  up newly laid cement.

Picture Mr. Clampett, kinda overweight big guy, pants to the butt crack. He is usually seen throwing heating and cooling parts out of his truck onto the street at 4 in the morning OR standing around his crappy yard with a beer bottle (same pants) and calling his wife worse things than even I use as swear words. Usually his spawn are standing there and listening to his description of their mother.

Have you guessed who he supports yet? Come on, it is not hard.

Rick Santorum. Huh? Clampett is ape shit crazy. Does he think at any moment in time Rick would not have him shot as the head asshole of all assholes. Clampett supports a man who is the saint of all home schoolers and Clampett can't find his kids most days. And his wife tried to cold cock a cop in the middle of the street.

That was the beginning of the end, when the Clampetts moved into our neighborhood.

What is up on the Internet and Google and Blogger

If I was in China I would be blaming all this crazy ass shit on Mao, but no right here in the USof A this Internet shit has gone crazzzzy. Can't post a comment on Esby's blog and God knows he needs my help to make coffee. Dude, you buy a European coffee maker that does that steam press thing with regular coffee grounds and a grinder thingy for beans and then you can make coffee by the cup at whatever strength you want. My special coffee maker is broken and waiting to go into the shop. European coffee makers are like the European cars, expensive to maintain. But they make the best coffee ever.

All this computer shit changing is pissing me off. And if I could figure out how to take the stupid ID off my Blog I would, this is getting really stupid.

Punkin Head called me today, I think he is fearful I am about to run down the street naked and screaming. He is probably right, I am getting close. I think my expectations of the new and wonderful jobs would be a done deal by now. Gullible and idealistic.

Now I need think about getting a job, getting a dog or getting into a volunteer situation. Job is dicey in case Big Daddy will need to move, can't risk my reputation in that case. Dog is easier but to make that decision right now, it will definitely be a rescue dog, and some of them just can't take the stress of constant moving. Me and the rescue dog running down the street naked is not a good picture. Volunteering could work for the moment, what could happen there? I could lead the crazees down the street.

This is the big election day here in Michigan and it is turning out crazy. One is asking the Dems to vote for his opponent and the other is robocalling from hell. Newt, I think his hanging back at Somerset Mall in the Tiffany store and who the hell knows where Ron Paul is having dinner.

In the Metro Detroit area, Kwame's dad is saying he will not take a deal from the Feds and rat out his son, the Grosse Pointe lady that was  strangled her case is still  sitting and percolating with no arrests, and they are still killing children a couple times a week in the city.

I overslept

Stayed up too late watching the Academy Awards. The Chinese clock stopped working and every time I looked at it I thought, gosh these guys are really moving this show along. I can stay up for the ending, gosh it isn't even eleven. I was doing stuff in between watching and really did not pay that much attention. I was sorry that The Help did not do better and was amazed at how many of the movies I watched in China on illegal DVDs.

The wind is horrible today and the sun just went dim so I am sure we are in for something. I worry now when it is windy, that huge hunk of tree that fell a few years ago still scares me. The injured possum was scary too. I will never forget that bloody possum face.

I still play a few games on FB and I have somehow gained quite a few foreign friends, it is hilarious to see their posts. If I was as curious as Esby I would be translating so I knew what was going on with these folks.

Big Daddy is okay, was happier until Loosie Goosie showed up and got into with him. Guess he told her he was going to tell the world she did not do her job and she was kinda miffed. For once his kinda boss backed him up and this one is gonna get ugly. She forgets he does not work for China, he works for a country in Europe with real food and wine. And everyone refused to go to dinner with her so she and the supplier had their own whirly bird. BD's Project Manager called him and begged him to come to dinner so he did not have to be alone with Loosie. Guess that in addition to the fact she is an asshole, she also smells pretty bad.

I am enjoying the politics but also getting tired of the robocalls. What I cannot believe are the ads on the media, they are so stupid how can anybody believe any of this shit. I guess there are some that either believe them or can be brainwashed over time, otherwise no one would fear them.

More later.

Just enough snow to make it slippery and not enough to make it pretty.

Well the hairdresser did miracles, color is great, she took 3 inches off my hair and I look like a new person. Then it started to snow, that heavy, wet, hard and fast snow. Fucked up the roads major. I had to brush off the windows when I left the salon. The I slipped and slid to Trader Joes's for grocery items. Then I skidded to Jerry's. It is hard to remember how to drive, drive a new car, and drive in snow at the same time. Anyway  kinda ruined the hairdo, it still looks okay, but not supermodel hair.  After the initial storm there wasn't much except the roads to deal with, too warm yesterday, nothing is really sticking. It is hovering around freezing and supposed to rain this afternoon so it should be icy for the next 24 hours. 

They remembered Punkin Head at Trader Joe's and the compliments were so nice to hear. He and The Lady did a great job there and I think they are truly missed. 

Punkin Head will be finished with school April 26 and is continuing the job search. He has thought about government work and I am advocating at least applying. He is worried about the background checks and I am laughing, if my niece got in for what she wanted, Punkin Head is good to go for Library Science. After 2 Masters let us hope he can find something he is happy with. I have always thought FBI or CIA would be great for him, but he has no love for statistics and those jobs are heavy on the numbers data. 

I've got to say the rubber gloves Big Daddy got me are the best ever. I am not a fan of work gloves and these are great. 

BD is still dealing with the jet lag but he has some jolly Germans and a Brit to keep him entertained. He tipped a U.S. quarter by mistake and the butler was over the moon. We gave our waiter in New Orleans a coin Yuan and he loved it. 

Well, back to scrubbing until it is time to Skype BD when he gets up. 

Big Daddy is sad

And frankly I would be too if I had to be in China all by myself. I would post a picture but I don't have one with tears.

His asshat boss called him about nothing (on a Sunday) so BD asked him what he is supposed to do with the mail, cereal bars and dandruff shampoo he lugged back for the idiot. This is the guy that wants no help, knows everything about China from his expat groups and can't find dandruff shampoo in Shanghai. It is everywhere for  fecks sake. Love that word, feck, swearing but not really. Kind of like wanker. So anyhoo, the cretin offers up that his friend moved into our apartment complex, in the locals section. BD tells him to get the guy to walk his sorry ass over to our apartment and pick up this shit. When the guy gets there is mouth is hanging open at how nice our apartment is compared to his. Guess TRW does not have a decent relo package.

He will be spending the next two weeks in Ning Hai and probably discussing giving our leftover furniture to his buddy. He did find the 999 roses and we will see what is coming back with the roses and the fish plaque.

Trying to get on track here and it is not easy. Can't figure out the TV channels, sleeping patterns still off and I hate my hair. I do have a hair appointment Tuesday. BD bought me a pair of rubber gloves with cuffs for Valentine's Day so I might as well put them to use.

Off to scrub something.

Why does Delta Airlines suck?

Now that I am a newly repatriated American, or as Mexico likes to say Norte Americano, or as some might say, citizen of these United States, I no longer feel the need to be conciliatory to the asshats of the world. As Miss Donna would say, I feel like cutting-up. Yes, ma'am, I do feel the need to bitch.

I am one of those people that will take you at your word. Until you fuck me over. Then I might look for details that prove you to be a lying, thieving, piece of shit.  That is why I must post about the whoring, asswipe, fecking idiots that work for Delta Airlines.

We made a deal, me and Delta. I would purchase their crappy flights and they would kinda get me where I wanted to go most of the time. Then The Spawn of Devil, aka Delta, started changing the rules. They were sneaky about it, never really admitting they were changing shit, they were just adjusting for the current economy. Their web-site sometimes reflected some changes and sometimes not.

My latest experience with the three headed dog from hell wannabees makes me wonder why people keep buying the products. The Medallion status gets you mostly nothing, the Sky Club is worthless and customer service is non-existant. Just so you know, I fly Delta because it is where I want to go (not that they always get me there), I live in a hub and everything else is a side benefit from a Plat AMEX (not a Delta AMEX), I do not go out of my way for this abuse.

First, their web-site states that Platinum status is upgraded according to a schedule. They publish the schedule. They publish your turn. They publish the odds; how many seats, how many hopefuls, your turn in line.

Then they don't do the upgrades and their response is "There are other airlines". Well, no shit, I am amazed, I thought all those other planes were phony big Tonka toys sitting at the gates.

Second, they blamed me. I am only Gold, and even though I was number 4 out of 4 on the fucking list, I was the hold-up. The web-site says upgrade at 5 days for Gold and 3 days for Plat. I don't care if you hold seats to make money, just say so, don't dangle shit in front of people. Okay, just admit you don't follow your PRN and tell people. Own it.

Third, and this is priceless, they upgraded Big Daddy at the last minute but would not put me in BD's former aisle seat. Because they had already given it away. How do you put someone in a seat someone else is sitting in? They gave away my upgrade to someone more important, and gave away BD's seat prior to moving him? And then they moved me to an exit row and a flight with no seats. WTF.

So I sat in First as a Valentine present and as thanks for all the middle seats I sat in with China Southern. BD sat in the exit row.

And I got the wacko seat mate. This dude was so weird I almost asked for a Priest and I am not Catholic. He had everything he owned stuffed under the seats including the pillow and blanket. He took the middle so he had two under seat compartments. This of course took enormous amounts of energy to keep all his stuff from falling all over the floor. He wanted me to crawl over him to get into my window seat, and I have a rule "get your sorry ass up and let me in like a normal person". If you cannot stand up and let me in you are a safety risk to me. He also had bad gas. Horrible. He went to the lav while the plane was at the gate. (Proving he could walk) He then spent the entire flight hitting on the Flight Attendant and stalking her in the galley when she tried to hide. Then he gave me a song and dance in Detroit that he could not get off the plane without help, so I could not leave the plane either.  He is so lucky I did not bonk his head.

And those Delta bastards did not have cheese in the Sky Club. Nor did they have Sun Chips or any Chocolate on the plane. In.First.Class. So much for those promises.

Would it not be better to advertise they have no intention of honoring the Priority programs and just get down and dirty and tell people the truth: We oversell our planes, we do not have a clue if you might get to your destination and we will treat you however we feel like it depending on our moods.

Oops, I guess they did when they told us there are other airlines.

Jet Lag is bad

I thought I was all fine and dandy. I have not slept since the first hurrah of 11 hours. I am not happy.

Big Daddy's first job interview was strange as hell. I mean really, really strange. It is to continue later today. After all this time and various meetings and conversation, they may want him to fly back for another interview in another state. WTF. I always felt bad if I left and hour early for an interview, how the fuck do you fly in and out from China without using up your vacation on a maybe. And Big Daddy is here now, which this dude knew last week. Also, this would have to be business class, who is gonna pay that kind of money.

There is a "new" job interview at two this afternoon. The other companies have checked and are confirming so I am hopeful the screwy people won't matter.

I had forgotten about the commercials on the television, it appears everyone in the USofA is quite ill and willing to do anything to get better. They take medication with horrible side effects to feel better. And there was this one old guy that was almost in tears because they made a better catheter. He did not insert it but the graphics were enough to give me the willies, something about burrs on the old ones. And apparently all the houses stink as everyone is using an assortment of air fresheners and treatments. Hmmm. At least the toilet paper is not sticking to the behinds anymore, I never did understand all the problems people had with toilet paper.

Okay, I need try to sleep again.

A Safety?

Tom, WTF, a Safety? Watching the Super Bowl, this is great. Now 12 men on the field. WTF. This is getting ugly in the first quarter. 

Just had our first at home dinner and it was fantastic, I had a filet and Big Daddy had a veal chop. Baked potato that tasted like a real potato, real sour cream, kidney bean salad with real mayo and real asparagus. We could not get the pastrami yesterday, it was sold out for Super Bowl. Huh? But we did get some nice corned beef so we had great sandwiches last night. The best thing is having real china and flatware, glasses and cups. And ice cubes readily at hand. The food prices here are around 3x less than China, amazing. 

We only had a few foibles on our way home, first was when we checked in. Delta now allows only 2 checked bags for Plats when the seat is booked in coach. Paid 400 dollars for 2 bags and went to the lounge and called Delta and they were so confused by the new rules they refunded the charges. That was good news, will pay for a couple meals in New Orleans. We landed very, very early and sailed through CBP  so we had to get a taxi home, Punkin Head planned to pick us up 2 1/2 hours later. Our driver was from Pakistan and talked the entire way, he was quite a character only slowing down when he passed the State Police. Did not slow down when passing, got in another lane and said that is way the traffic slowed down as we whizzed by the cops. 

Upon arriving home I opened the door and turned off the alarm system, but it would not turn off. All the buttons stuck down. We had to convince the alarm company we were us, and then make arrangements to retest the system Monday. I think no one living here has made the house very dirty and everything needs a major cleaning. The buttons on the phone stick too. We should have done that rich people thing and covered  every thing with drop cloths.   

Seems like we may not have the bad jet lag this time, we were both so grateful for our fabulous beds, I slept for 11 hours last night, and that was after a nap or two. I woke up a couple times in the morning and just thought "this bed is too wonderful to get up". 

Tomorrow morning BD has the first of his job meetings, this a conference call with a guy he has talked with for about a year or so. This guy is the one who sent an email last week that said, Game On. BD wants me to tell him who wins Super Bowl so he can act like he knows sports, as it seems Game On may be a fan. 

I might post  later on the game and the commercials, so far nothing special.