Jude Stringfellow's Blog, page 2

Be Careful Out There! (Scammers Abound)

     As I sometimes do, I was sitting with the dogs this morning, just enjoying my Saturday. I was sipping coffee, thinking about making walnut bread, when I picked up my phone to check on a few quick recipes. As I did, an ad popped up, suggesting a connection to walnut bread, perhaps. It was a GPL-1 ad; selling an over the counter or through the internet supplment that could help a person who was obese to lose between 8-100 pounds; depending on the dose you ordered.

    They had a small, one-box offer for $16.99, accompanied by a virtual promise of losing 8 pounds in about three weeks. That sounded doable, and I wondered about their reviews. I checked them out online, and while it wasn't good, it wasn't bad either. I decided to order one box to see if the stuff really worked. That way, if it did, I could order another box and complete the job more efficiently and with a plan. It didn't work out that way!

    I ordered the one box, and while scrolling through to check out, I had to click a few things to get to the payment section. The only problem is that, somehow, because of the buttons I pushed, I accidentally ordered another four boxes, but hey, they were half off! No, that's not what I wanted, and they had already charged me! They had already charged me, and they had already taken the money out of my account within seconds. I was duped, and I was mad.

    I'd been through this sort of thing before, recently in fact, and the bank won't simply agree not to pay since I used my debit card. I explained to the bank that I had only authorized one box, not five. They basically told me I could stop the payment, but they'd have to capture the card -- on a weekend. I couldn't get my new card until Monday, and I'd rather not wait. You just never know what could happen. I was pissed. 

    I wrote to the customer service department of the company, which is called NEWLLIFE, and I demanded my money back. I wasn't nice about it. I told the customer service rep that I would turn the matter over to the new Trump Administration - and someone would have oversight! I told them I would not allow them to continue to scam people like that. The area I needed to click was both faint in color and tiny in font size. I found it - after I had already paid.

    The service rep was kind enough to say she was refunding me, and she apologized for the inconvenience. It makes me wonder if it was because I was adamant or because I threatened to turn the matter over to a federal agency. Either way, they gave me my $52.47 back, and no, I did not accept her offer of only paying for one. I told her if her company chooses to flim-flam people the way they did, I was certain their product wasn't as nifty as they say it is.

    I must not have had enough coffee! Then again, I am only drinking decaf these days. My brain wasn't up and running like it should be, but whenever I hear the service reps on the phone and they not only have a foreign accent, but one all too familiar with scamming and would-be liars, it makes me shake my head. They had a much better website and setup than most. I was fooled (again), but hopefully, I'll start paying much closer attention and do the research completely before buying online, except for Amazon or Kroger.

    No, I'm not going to check to see if either Kroger or Amazon sells it - I'll stay fat. The rapture is coming soon anyway!

Photo Credit: Facebook.com 

Ginger - Her Story.

 God has blessed me so many times with some of the greatest animals this side of Glory. He really has. He started this practice with me about the time I was born, and He just hasn't stopped. One of the best things about having a good relationship with God is that He knows when and where to place an animal that will be seen, heard, or noticed by me, or someone close enough to me, so that said animal ends up in my life. Ginger is no exception.

    This Monday, in just a few days, I'll return this sweet dog to her Maker and she'll run free with all of the other dogs, cats, horses, lizards, snakes, and others that He has allowed me to love. Ginger has gone back and forth on the decision making when it comes to whether or not we'll actually make it happen, but again, she is a really good friend, and I won't see her suffer. I can't. She springs back, almost as if to say she doesn't want to leave yet, but then, out of the blue, she'll collapse. Her legs and hips lock up, twist behind her, and she loses control of her bowels and bladder out of fear and stress from what has happened. 

    The fact that she screams out is enough for me to make the decision for her. She is on pain meds now, and has been for a couple of days. I was going to go yesterday, but our doctor wasn't working. He'll come back to his office on Monday. He's been the only vet she's known for her entire life - well, since I got her 10 years ago. We think she was either 2 or 3, but we can't know. We can only guess. She was adopted from the Edmond Animal Shelter.

    In early October, 2015, I went to the Edmond Animal Shelter expecting to visit with a small dog named Zoe that I had picked out online. They make you do that, and when you show up, they pull that dog out, and you play with it to see if the two of you are going to get along. Well, Zoe wasn't a small dog. She looked small in the photos! She was about 60 pounds! I almost left, but decided to go through the cat section, you know...just to look. Who does that? Who goes just to look?

    There, in a cat cage, minding her own business, was little Ginger; but it wasn't her name. She was named Angelica. Who couldn't see that coming? She had the sweetest face. BUT, the cage she was in clearly said "Ginger" and I teased the shelter ladies about it - saying that the cat needed to come home with me. They agreed, but we had to play for 10-15 minutes first; it was mandatory. When I say Ginger was ready to leave after 2 minutes, I'm serious. She had made up her mind. 

    Since that time, she has been such an adorable friend. She's been in my lap, by my side, on my bed, and by my desk when I work. She's a constant reminder of God's grace and His mercy. She has been the follower when we had George, but when he passed, Ginger took over as alpha dog, and she's done such an amazing job. She is the queen, and every dog in the house, as well as the cats, treats her as such. That's another reason it's so hard to let her go but I know it's the best thing for my friend.

    When George jumped off the couch and broke his back, there was no question. When Matrix was diagnosed with cancer that had spread throughout his body, there was no question. When Yuuki, much like Ginger is doing now, began to decline and he was no longer capable of having a quality of life; he was also sent to see Jesus, and it broke me. He was 17 years old, and we had had him since he was just over six weeks old. He was truly our little guy. 

    Ginger is there now. She'll pretend she's not suffering. She'll zone out at times and I know she's having seizures, so I hold her. She's literally crying or shaking too much; and I won't have it. She'll stop, snap back and think she can run again, but I won't let her for fear that she'll hurt herself worse. It's time to let her be with George and with her really really good friend Baeleigh, (black and white cat) who Ginger adored.  They'll be there Monday to greet her, and if that's not what God does, if He doesn't have them lined up and ready to escort her into the gates, please don't tell me. Don't tell me.

    I love this dog, and I know by the way she's refusing to let go that she loves me too. It won't be easy, but then again it will be. I can't hurt her. I can't let her live with pain or fear. When God gave me a heart, He allowed it to break enough to know that He will comfort me and He'll take care of her as well - every second of every minute of every hour or every day. He is a good and merciful God. I thank Him for loaning her to me, but it is time for her to return to where she came from in the first place. I'll see her again. No worries there.

    I'll have a few more days and nights with her, and I'll use this time to remind her that when I do come up that way she's to be with me, and leave Pop's house -- you and I both know he's been hoarding my dogs since the day he got there nearly eight years ago!

Ginger. 

Meet Fionn. (Number 7 and Probably the Last)

     I say the last as if I mean it. I should mean it. A person needs to know their boundaries, and with seven acoustic guitars, I think I've reached the top. That is unless I find something really cool, or really different, or really unique. I don't have a Stella Harmony. I used to have an old Stella, but she was stolen. I haven't replaced her, not even with all the 7 new guitars I've purchased since her departure. No, I'm not looking to do so. I can grieve without replacement.

    I wasn't going to do it, but it couldn't be helped. I find myself going to places like Reverb, eBay, and Musicians' Friend, and I see things that make me want to just say yes. I also said to myself that the extra bonus I received this past month more than makes up for the new purchases, and it does. Besides, I don't pay for services like getting my hair done, manicuring my nails, or having facials or spa days. I don't buy wine, cigarettes, beer, or drugs - not even gummies. I really am rather boring when you think about it.

    So, how did I end up with Fionn? Well, simple story really. I went to Reverb and looked up white acoustic guitars on sale, and there it was. I'm going to say he. Most of my guitars are boys. I have a girl coming tomorrow - her name is Starr. (for Belle Starr)  The word "Fionn" is Celtic, and it means fair one or white. I could have named it "Blanca," I suppose, but I am more inclined to call things by something that I'm closer to; and that would be the Celts.  

    The thing is, Fionn is a Luna Aurora Borealis guitar; probably a newer model, but it was an overstock, and the larger warehouse that once had it in stock sold it on Reverb, and they lowered the price to get it out of their stock to make room for their more expensive units. I love that. I'm all for finding a deal. They range in price from $179 to $1500; this one might be around a $249-$400 model, but it was on sale for $109, with an additional $29 for shipping. You can't beat that. You really can't. It's unused and new, but I estimate it's about four or five years old and has been sitting in the back of a big warehouse somewhere.

    There's nothing really fancy about it, but it's white. I have a black Fender, and to be honest, I have a black and white checkered guitar that I gave to my granddaughter, which I really miss (hopefully she loves it). I thought Fionn would fit in just perfectly with the others. I have to stop buying guitars, and I think I can now. I think I have reached a point where even 5-10 minutes a night for each will keep me playing for a while.  That's my goal - to play each one every night or every other night, so I can show them all that they really do mean a great deal to me.

    Playing guitar, or in my case, learning to play guitar, is so much better than watching silly shows or wasting my time doing something much more costly. If you think about it, my hobby is rather inexpensive, and I don't have to feed any of them. I don't have to pay board; I just have to train them. One at a time, and I'll let them all watch while I play the other one so they get the idea of what I'm trying to do. Sooner or later we'll all work it out -- one free online lesson at a time!

    Fionn (pronounced "Fin") will be here in about a week. I'll get the others first; one coming tomorrow, then one the next day, and one the next after that. If I were looking in from the outside, I might say I have a problem, but then again, I could also say that I had a plan and it's all coming together. When I get my new house, I'll have three on the wall and four on the floor in their stands. I hope to learn as much as I can and play well enough to freehand it. I'm not hoping to learn songs or covers. I just want to play. No one has to hear me. I just like them; I always have.

    Seven is a good number. I'd have seven dogs if I were allowed. With Fionn, I think the buying spree is over, and now Phase II can commence - with a heavy focus on training. My finger tips are getting to that point -- I don't think I'll ever perform with any of my new friends, but I will tell each one of them what they mean to me, and they can help me heal from within. Music does that; it doesn't have to be pretty or precise; it just has to come from the soul.

Photo Credit: Reverb.com

Kroger Delivery! (I am a fan)

     I would say, if I had to guess, that I shop for food more often than most, and I'd say that I really love my grocery store. I don't actually have a grocery store, but I shop online a lot, and I use Kroger delivery. I know my neighbors must think I'm crazy because none of them use Kroger, and my landlord tells me that she's heard them talking about me when they pay their rent or go into the office to ask for maintenance help. I'll explain.

    I live in the same complex I've lived in for more than a decade, but I no longer live in the apartment complex part of it. I live in a little house that is literally in the corner of the two branches of the complex. Think of it as an "L" shape, and that's me in the corner of it. I'm really super happy about this house, but that's not to say that I'm staying in it too long. My neighbors are one of those reasons.

    When we lived on the other side of the "L", Laura and I would and could walk around without issue. We were forever outside with the dogs, and the neighbors that lived on that side of the place. We knew everyone, we watched out for everyone. There have been several friends and neighbors who, over the past 10 years, have passed away; most of them didn't actually move away. When you move into this joint, you die here! (LOL) 😀

    Well, we moved from the 2-bedroom upstairs unit we occupied for over 9 years to this 3-bedroom bungalow home that has more room, bigger rooms, large windows, higher ceilings, a washer and dryer, a backyard, a carport, and so many other amenities.  The neighbors on this side are independent. They don't gather, they don't mingle. They just do their own thing, like 99% of the world probably, but it's not the same. One or two of them antagonize my dogs, and that's a problem.

    Kroger delivery won't deliver upstairs, so I couldn't do it the entire time I lived in the unit that we lived in, but now I can. Because we're downstairs, they deliver! YES! The neighbors in the downstairs units could do it, but I think they think it's more expensive. It is not. ($5.99 for a gallon of milk, $3.79 for a dozen cage-free eggs, $1.00 for a package of Chicken of the Sea tuna - to give you an example)

    I'd say we order 2.5 times a month, and it's always around $130 each time. So, if you do the math, we spend about $300 or $350 a month, which isn't much for two people for a month, and we eat well. We spend more on paper products, dog food, cat food, stuff like that, but those things come from Amazon. Kroger has those things, but we prefer the prices at Amazon. My landlord hears about that, too. You'd think these people would have more to talk about!!

    So, Kroger supports those ready made meals; the ones you see online for 1/2 off everytime you order (it's 1/2 off for the first box, then you're obligated to buy more at full price and it could really add up if you did it) I can see spending the $56-62 a week for 10 meals (5 each for the 2 of us) but I can't see me spending $113-125 a week on the same. NOPE...not when we can get pretty much the same things and do it ourselves for less.

    Kroger has pre-cooked meats (beef and pork) that are microwavable, and they have Bob Evans mashed potatoes or mac and cheese. You can get frozen veggies and nuke those too, and there you have it, a prepared meal! No fuss. We do that two times a week; one pork and one beef.  It saves on time, dishes, effort, and it's rather tasty - and less expensive. If you think it through, you can find what you need.

    I've shopped there long enough that now I pay $69 a year and my deliveries are free. I don't pay $7.98 for the driver to deliver, but I still give a tip. (I tip $10 each time because it's not expected, Kroger pays well enough, I'm told.) The thing is, if I wanted something delivered tomorrow, I could do it. I don't usually have it delivered the next day. I usually go out a few days and plan well enough ahead to have space in my pantry. (I did overload the freezer last time - have to watch that!)

    When I move, I want to be sure Kroger will deliver to wherever it is that we go. I'm thinking a small city, but Laura's thinking a place with land, so if it's country living we have in our future, I hope Kroger delivers there as well. I really don't want to get up, drive to the store, shop, stand in line, load my groceries, drive home, unload my groceries, and repeat. I just want to tip the driver and put the things away!

    Yes, I know, I'm really super lazy - you got me! I'm caught! Yes, I love going to grocery stores and staring at everything, but I hate the crowds, and I hate the people arguing all the time. It's like they wait to be in my space before throwing it down with one another - I avoid all that now. I avoid all that because I don't go into the stores! I do, but only to get one or two things that I wouldn't bother Kroger to bring to me, and I wouldn't want to pay a tip for a few things either. 

    Well, that's it, that's my Kroger endorsement. I could say, and I should say, that I have NEVER been disappointed in what they have picked out as far as produce. A lot of people I speak with say they'd be wary of that, but I'm not. They always find really good produce, and if something needs to be substituted, they tell me. They ask. They don't just do it. I get the final say. I like that too. Such a good deal!! As for the price? You see it when you order - If you don't like it, don't buy it.  It's not any more than Aldi, Walmart, or a similar store - cheaper than Target for the most part. I will use it for years to come.

    Good prices, good food, good service. What's not to love?

    

Photo Credit: Kroger.com 

I Didn't Win the Resonator - But I Bought One.

     If you like guitars, and I do, you'll know that an acoustic guitar is more personal than an electric guitar is. I think so anyway. I have always felt that an acoustic guitar is a private instrument, while an electric guitar is more public. I could be wrong, but that is how I feel about them. I have only owned acoustics. I don't have a reason to own anything else. I'm not performing; I am simply playing, and the size of my audience depends on how many of my dogs and cats hang around in my office. The lizard is captive; she doesn't have a choice or a means of escape.

    Well, I decided to fulfill my desires and acquire every type of guitar I've ever wanted; I could, so I did. I don't buy cigarettes, booze, drugs, or gamble, so I decided to buy the guitars I wanted so that I can say, "This is my guitarsenal" and I can feel their energy and outstanding love as it resonates throughout the office/studio.  I used the word "resonate", and that was intentional. I now have five (5) acoustic guitars, but only one of them is a resonator; I just bought it. Before I bought it, I put in a bid for one online through an eBay auction. I was winning right up to the end, and then someone else outbid me. It's OK, I found a better one! (so I bought it)

    The one I was bidding on was really, really cool, I'm not going to lie. It was a Gretsch parlor-sized, brass-bodied resonator, probably made between 2015 and 2020. It was beautiful, but it was broken. The reason it was so cheap is that the neck was broken. It was broken, however, in a way that I could have fixed it with literally some wood glue and a clamp, but it was, in fact, broken. That lowered the price considerably.  My good friend and I just left Guitar Center in Oklahoma City, where they have one exactly like it for $839.  My top bid was $176; the winner took it for $237.

    Well, what do you do when you want a resonator but the one you were looking at was sold? Simple answer...bid again. No. I decided not to bid, not to wait at all. There was one I liked that was for sale at another site, the Musicians' Friend (Link), and they had a few for sale that were used, refurbished, repaired, or just older and sitting around. They travel and pick things up, and they buy and sell online. They have a great reputation, and the shipping was amazingly priced. When I asked the guy about it, he said they do bulk shipping so they can afford to lower their prices; it was $19.97! (Granted, it will take 4 days to get here, but still - $19.97!  The guitar was only $129.

    I bought an early 2000s model Rogue laminate-bodied maple colored resonator with the traditional F-hole design. It is a square neck; I would have preferred a round, but I'll learn to love it. Resonators are mostly used in bluegrass, country, and/or folk settings because they have an almost banjo sound to them. The strings vibrate off a metal cone or plate, not a hollowed wooden body; it resonates! You know what it sounds like when you hear it, and I really haven't met anyone who doesn't love the sound. 

    I name all of my guitars, and they all have identities; usually, dealing with where I got them or what they remind me of. I have "Cash", a black Fender. He's named for Johnny Cash. I have "Wally" for William Wallace, because I'm a huge Scottish fan, and the man I bought him from is named Jim Wallace.  I have "Norman"; he is a 1974 model parlor-sized Aria that was found in a dumpster in Norman, Oklahoma! If you can believe that! Who throws out guitars? The maintenance man at the apartment complex rescued him and put him up for sale. He was $50! I couldn't drive fast enough to pick him up.  I have "MacRae", he's coming to me this week. He's a 1930-1933 Ercar acoustic with a pretty artistic sound hole. 

    Now, as of a few minutes ago, I have "Belle Starr"; I'll likely call her Starr. She is my resonator - I could have called her Bonnie for Bonnie Parker, she resonated too! Hopefully, the guitar won't be infamous or full of daring misbehavior like those two women, but I have a soft spot for Belle Starr, even if I'm not supposed to have one. She wasn't misunderstood, nothing like that. All of her decisions were her own, but she was an interesting woman if nothing else, and though she was an outlaw, she was revered and respected as far as I can tell.  When asked once why she was bad, she quipped that good women don't make it into the papers. She had a lot of moxy, that's for sure.

    Well, so that's it. I have all the guitars I need until, of course, I decide I need something else. However, I want to play each guitar for 10-15 minutes a day, so five is a good number to have if I'm planning on sharing my time with them. They each sound different from one another, and that's the main reason people have a slew of guitars when they get into it. I wouldn't be the one to tell someone they didn't need a few, only because, like I said earlier, I don't spend excessive amounts of money on any type of vice. What other hobby can you get fully into for less?  If I were into flying planes, I'd be mortgaging my house to get just one! I'm good with my guitar hoarding...or collecting. I'll probably stop at five. (probably)

Photo Credit: Musician's Friend

Tune In! (I'm About to Tell on Myself)

     Many of you know me, and you know that I am a dork. I am not just any ol' dork, no, I am the Queen of Dorksville. I should have a flag, a fight song, and certainly, I should have a mascot and colors. I know I need colors. My favorite color is a darker medium brown, so we'll not use that; it could be mistaken for poo. No, instead, we'll go with Gold and Black, stark and sharp. We'll go with bright, bold, beautiful, and beholden colors! We'll use alliteration whenever possible because it's meaningful, marvelous, and magnificently moving.

    Why am I a dork today? Why is today a day when my dorkness has topped other days? I'll tell you. I recently bought two more, and almost three more guitars. It's how I feel right now, and it's what's taking up the space in my head. I wanted to play well since I was very young, but I never had the money for lessons, and the internet wasn't a thing back then. If you wanted to learn, you either taught yourself or you paid someone to show you. It never happened, but it is happening now, and when things happen -- dorks have a reason to shine.

    When you buy guitars, you need things to go with them, and I'm not talking about straps; I'm talking about extra strings, tuners, clips, picks, and that sort of thing. I went to Amazon and did just that. I bought a tuner and in the little package deal, I got a few randomly chosen colored picks, two pick holders, and a neat little clip to hold the strings down -- yea me! I can't wait to try it out.

    Tuning isn't rocket science, not when you have a digital tuner to do the heavy lifting! All I had to do was clip it to the guitar and pluck a string! When the face or display showed that my low E was in G mode, I turned the little knob on the tuner to set it straight - the arrow had to be straight to show that it was in tune. If the arrow goes to the right of center, the instrument is sharp - and if the arrow hangs to the left, it's too flat. The little needle must be pointing straight up, and it had to give you the letter of the string; what it should say, to be in tune! So simple -- until I used it.

    I'll be the first to say what actually happened, and I was incredibly frustrated when it did. After a lot of personal insight, and self-degrading because NO MATTER WHAT I DID...the strings would not tune to what I knew they should be, I figured it out. I was about to hit the roof. I was screaming at myself..."It's not hard, Jude. This should not be this hard. What are you doing wrong?" Oh, my goodness, the dogs were confused! They just kept staring at me, and the guitar sounded like crap!

    I simply could not get the E to be an E, no matter what I tried. I kept twisting it tighter, and I knew...I knew if I kept doing that....BAM! It snapped. Yes, it did! I broke the low E right off the instrument, and I shook my head in complete and utter disgust with myself. I knew I was doing it right, but I couldn't be because I knew that I was doing it so so so very wrong at the same time. YouTube to the rescue! Please!

    After watching a couple of videos, I was convinced again, furthering my belief that I was doing it correctly. I knew I was! I knew it. So, why was my guitar not behaving? Why was the little tuner not recognizing the sound? I unclipped it, and moved it. I tried to pick a string instead of strumming. It was ONLY AFTER I read the instructions again (with heart this time) that I realized that the digital tuner wasn't just made to tune acoustic guitars. It was made to tune a number of stringed instruments -- and there were separate modes for them.

    I had the tuner set on violin, not guitar. There you have it. My dorkness. I couldn't make the guitar sound like a well-tuned violin. It wasn't the digital tuner - no, it was me. I figured out how to reset the thing, and guess what, all the other strings are now in perfect tune -- with the low E just hanging off to the side for now. I'll take it to Guitar Center tomorrow, and yes, I will admit my folly. I am not too ashamed, I'm just laughing at how stupid it must sound to anyone who has been playing for over a month. You have to go through these trials, I suppose, if you don't take the time to read the instructions thoroughly. 

    So, if you're considering getting a new or used guitar, please invest in a high-quality tuner and read the instructions thoroughly.  I did buy a better tuner after all this, not because I blame the tuner; it was clearly my doing, but the better tuner may have a better clip. I don't like the clip on the cheaper one; it's just me...me being me.  Don't be me. Be you! You're the best you you can be, and I'm the only me I could ever be.

Photo Credit: Thomann Music

Guitars! I Could Be Addicted.

     I only have four guitars, not that I'm hoarding or anything, but just like some people have an addiction with getting a tattoo right after they've gotten their last one, I sort of have that feeling when I buy a guitar. I don't usually act on that urge, but I did this time.  I have always wanted a black Fender acoustic guitar, so I bought one. It arrived in a few days, heavily wrapped and perfectly shipped, and I was so impressed with the seller that I wrote to him and told him how grateful I was. 

    Well, as you can imagine, that conversation led to him asking me how many I had, and if there was something else I wanted or needed. Need? No, I don't need another guitar. I had three, and I can only play one at a time. I told him this, but you know how they are -- he said to me, "If you only knew how many people say that to me." I can relate. I hear some of the same objectives that other insurance adjusters hear, so I can imagine that as a guitar enthusiast and salesperson, he hears just about the same things over and over again as well.

    I told him I used to own a Stella acoustic guitar from the mid-1950s, and I truly loved it. I believe it was stolen, I think it was; since I didn't give the person permission to sell it, that means it's stolen, but it was a family member who did it. It makes it worse in some ways, so I prefer not to use the word "stolen". However, that is exactly what happened to my guitar. The thing is, as I get older, I am starting to understand the depth of the behavior of one of my family members, to the point that I am no longer shocked when I find out what really happened to a number of my sentimental possessions that I have "lost" over the years.

    I told the salesman that the Stella was a beautiful instrument and I loved it. He had a few. He has a few of everything, it seems. He travels around the central part of the US, picking up guitars in various stages of repair, retuning and reworking them, and then he sells them. It's a great gift to have, and I'm thankful for people like him.  He didn't have a Stella in my price range, but he did have something unique. He had something VERY unique. It's so unique that I couldn't find it online whatsoever!

    He has (and now I have purchased) a 1930's Ercar guitar. That's what it looks like. It could also be Encan, but I don't think so. I can't find anything online about them whatsoever. The man had a video of himself playing the guitar, so I know it will be playable and not just a beautiful ornament. This guitar is handmade by a luthier. I would have loved to have his or her name, but alas, it is not to be. You can tell, however, that it is handmade, which is even more rare and wonderful.

    I've got to come up with a great name for the guitar, and I will. I named my black Fender "Cash" after Johnny Cash, as he played a black guitar. I got this one for one very specific reason; it will remind me of the guitar Eoghan MacRae plays in my books. I suppose I have a name!  MacRae!  This is the second guitar I've named for a Scot! I have Wally, or William Wallace; he's a Yamaha from the 2010-2015 era. Besides those three, I have Norman. Norman is named Norman because he was rescued from a trash bin in Norman, OK.  Norman is a 1974 model Aria.

    All of my guitars, when I receive them, go to Guitar Center to be inspected, tuned, and restrung. I was told today that MacRae will not need that; he'll come already play-ready and have been worked over by a master who has literally sold over 110,000 things online with a 97% approval rating; that's really important to me. So, yeah, I think I'm strung up for now...see what I did there? Don't fret! (Ha...I kill me) I'll be in slide heaven soon enough, and when I actually know what I'm doing, I'll smile and let them all sing one at a time. I'm absolutely never alone, and I'm never ever bored. How could I be? I have God...and yeah, I have dogs, cats, lizards, a few kids, and guitars too.

Photo Credit: The Guitar Man.

Bigger Chair - Bigger Difference.

     I sit most of the day - just standing up when I need to go to the bathroom, get something to eat, or walk around the house to get my blood flowing in all my limbs. I do a great deal of sitting; let's put it that way. Over the past year, just since I've moved to the new house (renting), I have gone through three office chairs for the same reason; I want to be comfortable. I bought a new one when I moved here, so I wouldn't have anything old really in the new place. I loved it. It was nicer, new, shiny, and all that. It was ergonomic and trendy, but there was something missing.    

    I realized just about the second I sat in it, that when I actually sat in it, the way I sit, I couldn't sit in it comfortably. Because I'd spent a good deal of money on it, and I didn't want to take it apart and send it back to Amazon (and I didn't keep the box)I decided to keep it, call it my "Jeannie" chair, and let my best friend sit in it when she comes over. I bought myself another chair. I bought myself one I can sit in and cross my legs in while I sit, because that's the way I sit.

    When I went to school, the desks weren't conducive to me sitting the way I sit, but when I went out to the bleachers to watch the boys play, I could sit with my legs crossed. I have always sat that way, and there really is no reason to stop now - except maybe it's the reason I have bad hips, I don't know. Well, anyway, the new chair was good. It was really good, and I kept it for about eight months, I think. I found myself turning in it more than I wanted, and I found myself rolling to the point of having to pull myself back to the desk, too.

    Something I didn't want, was for my headset, which has to be a wired set, (I may get a mic so I don't have to do that) was apt to wrap around one of the arms because it sort of half way stayed in the air and half way pulled itself down. I needed a chair either without arms, or with arms that go up all the way when I need them to, especially on the side of my body where the wired headset is. It was driving me nuts!

    OK, so yesterday I got my new big, beautiful, fat, and fluffy fake leather office chair.  It holds up to 600 pounds, is 36" wide, and when I sit back in it, my feet don't touch the ground. It came in, and my daughter put it together for me. The arms lift, it's heated, it has a lumbar air pillow, and though I didn't get the one with the rolling massage balls, I could have. I probably should have, but I didn't. I told myself that I would certainly use it, and it could distract me from my actual work. I work hard -- I am basically commission-based, so I don't need distractions!

    The new chair has a natural tilt to it, so I sit in it, and my rear end is in a sort of "V" with the leg rest under my thighs being slightly higher than the last chair. It's also ergonomic, and I can feel the difference. I am absolutely relaxed, and don't want to get back up out of my chair - not always a good thing; I will admit that. I literally found myself today, while on the phone, sitting back, chillin' just relaxing, letting the person on the other side of the phone talk and complain. I typically stop them. I usually bring them back to the core of the reason I called, which is for them to pay their damage claim.

    Today, I didn't do that. I listened, and I thought silently, "What would Morgan Freeman do at this point?" I found myself nodding, listening, being polite, and taking longer, deeper breaths before speaking. I was thinking (while they were bitching), "I really love this chair. I'm so glad I bought it." Then, when they had told me for the umpteenth time that "I wasn't there", "I didn't do it", "the locate marks were off," and all of their excuses...I just smiled. They couldn't see me smile, but I had a little picture of Morgan Freeman smiling gently in my head.

    I told them I understood their frustration. I didn't agree with their reasoning, and the facts remain that they are found to be negligent and need to either pay their claim or send it to their insurance carrier, or face litigation. I was giving them a choice; people like choices. I say nicely, and in my best Morgan Freeman faux attitude, "I want to help you, I really do, but I wasn't the one out there digging in the tolerance zone with mechanized equipment without first calling 811 and having the underground facilities marked. That was you, or your crew. You are responsible, and you need to pay."

    The chair made the difference. Before the chair, I didn't let them vent. I was quick to end the complaints, and I could even be considered cold or unforgiving at times. I have two little signs pinned to the bulletin board in front of me. I made them; they are to remind me of the truth and the facts. One says, "It's not your money, be kind."  The other says, "Grace, grace, God's grace" because I am not really all that nice to people who put others in harm's way by breaking gas lines when they could have called 811 for a locate (a free service). 

    The chair is the key here - I hope I can just zen out from this point forward. I may light some incense and turn out the overhead light -- then again, I may just keep smiling, thinking about being comfortable, supported, and relaxed, and let them tell me their excuses -- but probably only for about 30-45 seconds; I can't waste too much time on one claim. I have 40 or 50 to get through each day.  Awwwww....the chair.

Photo Credit: Me

Making Plans!! (I Love to Pretend)

     I simply love to pretend. I have been a pretender all of my life, which means I have a few centuries of experience! I'm one of the best pretenders I have ever come across, so keeping it up when the rest of the world is busy being boring, depressed, and upset with life, I have created a world that I choose to live in, and I don't mind sharing if people accept me for who I am. It's a really fun place to be, really. If you haven't been on a pretend shopping spree with me, you're really missing out.

    Right now, I have a lot of pretending to do. I'm in Phase I of my house-buying experience, and that means I am fully capable of jumping off into a great pretend at any moment of the day; several times a day! I may go off to Home Depot, pretending I already own the house that I'm thinking of buying. I'll pretend to buy literally everything from the plants I put in the house, to the hinges I need for the new gate. I pretend to buy countless dollars' worth of things before I stop to ask myself just how much fake money I'll need, or if I'd be better off having it all delivered. My car couldn't possibly hold all the things I think I'm going to buy.

    I'm buying shutters for the exterior walls out front, new numbers for the address, and a cute little metal flat decor for the front of the garage.  I'm adding those cute solar lamps that line the drive, but I'll probably just line the flower beds instead. I'll also get wind chimes for the backyard, no more than two. I'll need a hot tub back there, too, and a little table to put my drinks on; you have to have that.

    Inside, I'll likely use Express Flooring, but since I'm at Home Depot, I'll check the prices for slate tile for the kitchen and dining areas, as well as the bathrooms, and the vinyl planks for the living room, hall, and bedrooms. I think I can get the materials much cheaper at Express, but we'll see what it all comes to when we get closer to the actual date! Too happy to play. So many options! That's the fun part.

    I'm picking out paint, picking out cleaning products, curtains, and plants. I'm choosing countertops, cabinet pulls, and hinges, but I don't think I'll replace the actual cabinets. I don't mind the ones that are there; they just need sprucing. The backsplash isn't what I want now, so it will need to be changed eventually, too; that's not a priority. Another non-priority is the shower door in the master bath. I will, however, want French-style sliding doors and probably new windows. I hear that being older, I may get discounts! Ooooo... aww!

    Then there are fix-it things like the gate needs replacing, the concrete needs filling in (driveway), and I may want to do a bit of landscaping, but not before I call 811! I know the rules. I have a tree that needs to be removed, which is a concern if the house I'm looking at is the one I'll end up with. No trees closer than 20 feet. It's only a myrtle, but it will need to be pulled up and placed further away from the house. No roots in my toilet, thank you.

    I don't have to pretend to buy a new HVAC system, a new roof, or a garage door. Those things will be fixed and/or perfected before I move in; the flooring will be either paid for by the owners or I'll pay less and do it myself. I haven't decided, and I won't, not until I have saved what I need and have a bit more leverage than what I have now.  One thing I will buy, and probably rather quickly, is a bird bath but instead of filling it with water, I'll fill it with seeds and let the birds gather to eat. If God fills it up with water, I'll watch them play in it.

    I'll hang a "Beware of Dog" sign on the fence, and a "Beware of Owner" sign on the door - No welcome mat - sorry, it may says "HOME" or something, but I don't really have too many guests; just a few and they are always treated like or better than family. Fun times are ahead -- in the meantime, I have appliances to look at, sinks, faucets, hoses, lighting fixtures, sconces, and more -- lots more. Aisles and aisles more! (and that's just Home Depot. Hobby Lobby, Ashley Furniture, Living Spaces, Home Goods, and @Home will all get a visit! I may even sneak into Bed Bath and Beyond, you just never know!)

Photo Credit: Pinterest.com 

Starting the House Hunt!

     Phase I of the house hunting has begun in full swing. I'm looking on Zillow and Motovo to find the houses that (a) fit in the budget, (b) have the aesthetic look I am hoping for, (c) have enough space for both Laura and I to have our own bedrooms and an office space for each of us, and (d) is in a good safe neighborhood; one I can live in for the rest of my life. I don't want to move again. I am OK living in a smaller space. I don't need a lot of big rooms or fancy amenities. I have always considered myself to be a cave-dog, not a show dog.

    This particular house is in a city a bit west of where I live. It's a much much smaller city than mine, but it has access to all the places I may (or may not) want to go. There is a hospital within two miles of the house. There are at least three or four shopping strip malls within the same distance, and yes, there are at least two Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy stores in this city! That is a must. It also has, of course, a Sonic drive-in, a Walmart Super Center, and a neighborhood store. There are dozens of churches, schools, and various activities to enjoy as well.

    I currently live in the middle of the urban and suburban areas of the city. There are over 500,000 people living within a 10-mile radius of me. I don't like that. The city I will move to has just under 23,000 people, and it is about 22.9 square miles vs. 621 square miles of the city I currently live in. Nice change! I am genuinely looking forward to doing nothing, going nowhere, and just chillin' in my backyard listening to cicadas while soaking in the hot tub...year round.

    There is a good dentist; his family is full of teeth-docs, and I trust the brand. There is a good vet for dogs and cats, and even a skating rink, but no, you won't catch me going in it, or even around it. Nope. Not gonna happen. I will make it to Ollie's discount store. Yes, I will do that. I went today and pretended I had the house. I pretended to buy all the necessary supplies to clean, tape off, and paint the house, except for the paint itself. I'll pretend to do that at Home Depot when I buy the little paint gun to paint the walls faster.

    I'll have to invest about $6000 in the house as soon as I sign the papers, if I get this one. It will need new floors, new fence slats, and some tiling replaced in the bathrooms. I may also consider getting a walk-in tub instead of what's there now. I want them to handle a few tasks in the closing negotiations. Additionally, I may include the flooring, HVAC, and roof replacements in the mix, but I'm willing to offer $15,000 more to ensure everything is done correctly. Then, if they say yes to that, I'll only have very few things to repair. Nothing that would stop me from moving in before completing those tasks.

    This house is about 50 years old. It's solid, but you know, older houses have issues. The inspector will charge about $1000 to go over it, and I want them to do that. I want them to get on their hands and knees and look at literally every single thing, so I don't have to. The house is on the corner, it has a larger yard for the dogs, and I've seen a few of the neighbors. They liked me, I liked them. We'll see if it works out.

    My new realtor is a cutie. He is the son of the pastor of a small church in the area. His wife and he are super sweet, and he's going to try and get my lender to do a sooner close than March or April. I told him I want to save money to do what I want, but he's young and will likely try to get everything done. He'll ask the sellers to take $15,000 more, fix the roof and HVAC, and remove all the flooring, which will save me money when my guys come in to replace it. I can live on concrete for a month if I need to, but I'd rather have it installed before we go into it.

    Phase II is when I make all the plans to save, so I can pay for everything before we make the purchase. If I were to get this house, I would need $6000 down, $1000 for an inspection, and an additional $1000 for miscellaneous, unforeseen expenses. I'd want the flooring paid for, which for this house, will be heavy-duty vinyl laminate throughout the house, no carpet, so at 1150 sf living space, that's another $2500 for the laminate and $5000 for the labor. Fence repairs: $250, painting: $300, and various other expenses, including a fridge and stove, total $1500.  

    It will be January before I'll have that, so I'm good with moving in around the first of the year, but if this house is sold, it's sold. I'm good. God knows I want to move into a good house, so He'll make it happen. What's keeping folks from buying this one is the fact that it's been empty for a year, there's still some trash that has to be removed, the HVAC isn't new, and will likely need to be replaced, and the roof, though only 3 years old, was damaged in a windstorm and will need repaired.

    I'm OK with all of the above because it has what I need, it's the right place, the right price, and I like it. If it gets sold before I can get it, there will always be another one. I've found a good realtor, and I'm making plans. That's the important part.  I'll rattle off a few things I love about it, so you'll know I'm not just saying it needs fixing. I really do like it.

Corner lot with larger front and back yards, only one neighbor to the side and one in the back.Red brick with white trim. I would buy black shutters.A place for my flag already!The door is really pretty and painted teal on the outside.Two hall closets.  I love that.There is a foyer; you don't walk straight into the living space.The kitchen is wide and long, with ample space.The dining room would be used as an extension of the kitchen. We don't sit at the table to eat, but it's a nice and cozy spot that would be perfect for a small bistro table, just in case we do sit down together.The garage was divided (professionally), and there is a larger space for Laura to have her office and gym.The master is on the side with the traffic, so Laura doesn't have to hear it. The yard is good, fenced, and the fence is tall.The faucet in the kitchen is really nice - love it.The garage is good-sized for one car, which is exactly what we have, so I'm good with that.The shower in the master bath is nice, smaller, but tiled.The windows are not bad, but will likely be replaced soon. They are larger and there are several. I love windows and light.    The things that will be replaced will be done so either before we move in, or soon after. I'll live with the kitchen cabinets for a year or so before I replace them. They are dated, but they are good. I hope we get it - but like I said, it's not up to me. I pray about everything.  I like the street name too, I won't say it, but it's a name, not a number. I like names better.    
    The mortgage guy, Josh, will call me on Monday and we'll talk, but I also want the interest rates to go down. I am paying off the last two things I didn't know I owed, so I can boost my credit a bit. I'm really glad I checked. I had no idea I owed those two things - if you haven't done so, go check your credit records. They had so many things on mine that were either incorrect, outdated, or disputed. I'm glad I checked.


Photo Credit: Adobe Stock