Monday, February 5, 2007

Interesting Experiences

Well, the last couple of weeks have had a few interesting experiences, though I have not been blogging regularly. Now, those of you who have never owned a house (and been hard pressed to make the mortgage at times) probably won't understand my excitement, but I got two new toilets (upstairs and down) and a pedestal sink. I simply got tired of toilets that ran, on and off, after flushing. Not every time, you understand, just whenever I forgot to check. Every time I did forget, each toilet would think, "Quick, she didn't check, run all night!" And they did.
 
Finally, fed up by the wasted water, I called my plumber to ask for a bid. He came and after I had accepted his bid and he was halfway out the door, I heard a voice tell him, "You know, I think I'll get a pedestal sink for the upstairs bathroom as well." I looked behind me for the voice, and realized the voice had come out of my own mouth. Now I had disliked the cabinet under that blue sink since the day I moved in 30 years ago. (I also hated the blue toilet, now replaced, and blue bathtub, still there, and the green shag rug, gone two days after we moved in.) I had not, however, planned to pay for a sink, but sure enough, by four o'clock the next afternoon, I had two great white toilets and a wonderful white pedestal sink. And two boxes of stuff that came out of the cabinet, of course.
 
The second surprising event was that I went on a date! Sort of. Now, don't get too excited. I didn't. I found her on Match.com, and she lives nearby. After a couple of e-mails and the exchange of phone numbers, we agreed to meet at a local grocery store-to go shopping for ingredients for a Death By Chocolate Cake (her idea, not mine, I am supposed to live on a strict food plan). And off we went, from one town to another, from store to store, each more full of goodies and sweets than the last. And she talked and talked and talked, trying to tell me everything about her extremely busy life, as we climbed in and out of her mega-van over and over (remember, I walk with a cane and have a bum right shoulder).
 
Now, don't get me wrong, I talked, too. Just not as much. Plus, I have not had an extremely busy last couple of years. I knowthe point of a "first date" is to get to know about someone, but I came away feeling that she has not had much experience at relationship in her life, especially when she told me she had not really dated in 20 years. I am looking for someone who is capable of healthy relationship, and I don't think she is. I'll see her again, I'm sure, because she does live an interesting, busy life. But only as a friend.
 
When I called up Meg to tell her I was going out (and to tell her my date's name, phone number and the area in which she lived), she told me, "Remember, Mom, you've gotta kiss a lotta frogs..." I answered like a 13 year old, " Meg, I'm not planning to kiss her!"  As I hung up, I could hear her roaring with laughter.
 
The third thing that has happened recently that I actually chose to skip the Super Bowl last night (not much of a surprise to anyone who knows me) to go to a UU Church to hear my favorite unknown trio, Mad Agnes. It's a "girl group" with a male singer, and no one is named Agnes. But, oh boy, can they do harmony. It's absolutely incredible. Plus some of their songs are so clever, and at the same time so poignant, that I am amazed. And the songs of one of them, Adrienne Jones, writes wonderfully clever lyrics. I have and listen often to all their CD's (all three of them) plus a couple done before they joined forces. Go and listen to them: http://www.madagnes.com. Buy a CD, send them off to England on the No Visible Means of Support Tour.
 
My life is still made up of mostly physical therapy and doctor's appointments, and days are still mostly long and lonely, but I am attempting to begin to find a life. And eventually I will have one that does not include toilets as a major excitement!
 
Blessings, Margo

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I thought about you today while I was doing therapy on my R shoulder!  Hey, anything new is means for celebration, even if it's a few toilets and a sink!  I'm glad you got to get out, even if it wasn't a "match made in heaven."
~~Kath~~

Anonymous said...

Margo, congrats on getting the new toilets and sink, it's nice to get something new every so often, sorry your date was'nt a better one but maybe a nice friendship will happen from it, Hugs Lisa

Anonymous said...

Margo, I sit here laughing because I have a toilet that runs and runs and runs. I have to shut the door at night because it drives me crazy. At first we had a phantom flush, now it doesn't flush, just runs.  So I am happy for your news of NEW toilets and a sink. Also, I am happy that is time for you to get out. If not to find a new love interest, maybe a good friend.  (One frog down!)   Anne

Anonymous said...

two things:

1.  As a home-owner myself I know the pathetic joy in getting a new fixture or appliance.  I didn't use my new oven for two days because I was just so reverent of its newness.

2.  Kissing frogs?  Darlin' -- I've kissed many frogs and I've kissed the insects frogs eat! LOL  It takes time.  I'm just glad you're open to "possibility".

Hugs,
Russ

Anonymous said...

Ohhhhhhhh I adore new appliances  LOL ~ when we got our new fridge I was happy, happy... now I am waiting for a complete new kitchen overhaul minus the fridge :)  I understand the happy in that.  About your outing?  I'm very glad that you at least got out and tested the waters so to say, but remember beneath one of those frogs you may have to "kiss" one of those will be THE princess or butch as it was in my case.  Your outing to your gathering with Agnes sounded great, I'm glad that you had a good time... with the passing of time more things will come about, just be patient with yourself, that's just as important.  Hugz, Teresa

Anonymous said...

YIPPEE!!
Two new loos... I am having peepee envy.
:)
Sounds like your date was more like a day out with a buddy... and that can be a really great thing.
:)
i'm going to go take a peek...er... listen to Mad Agnes. Thanks for the tip!
Love,
Loretta

Anonymous said...

New appliances, toilets anything, I love em............ I am still staring at my new cooker............ I have, found love!!!!!!
G ;-)

Anonymous said...

My mother completely mangled my attempt to set you up with her friend Bette, so I'm gonna have to try again when I next visit New York. It's probably nothing more than the fact you're the only 2 lesbians I know over 55, which I don't suppose is a very good basis to believe you might have something in common, but she is an ex-nun, and an ex-hetero, so that's something.
Clap clap for the loo-loos.

Anonymous said...

New toilets is a definitely cause for celebration.  :-)  I would be thrilled with new bathroom fixtures.  You should have seen me when I have my new oven and dishwasher installed.  It was the highlight of my year.  ;-)

The sounds of your date, well she would have worn me out that's for sure.  :-)  But, I am glad to hear you are getting out a bit.  I'm off to check out the musical recommendations  :-)

You have a great day and I hope you are staying warm.

Hugs,
Deb

Anonymous said...

yes you know what////////// I love remodling becuase sometimes it does save you money

Anonymous said...

I have never owned a house and probably never will.  My partner is a confirmed apartment guy with modest needs when it comes to making a home.  I on the other hand, having owned a landscape/gardening business, a plumbing and drywall service, and done everything from build fences to painting to brickwork, find that I wish often for a fixer-upper bungalow with front and back yards and an account at Home Depot.  We live in a lovely apartment that is comfortable and quiet but there are days I want to prune trees or add fixtures or knock out a wall or whatever and I can't.  So I can totally understand the glee you felt at getting new toilets and a new sink.  Have you flushed just to flush and hear it work properly yet?

Well hooray for you Margo for going on a date!  That took courage I'm sure but it sounds like it went OK.  About 18 years ago I went without dating for 3 years and when I got the urge to jump back into it I was kind of tentative.  Everyone was either looking for Mr. Right or Mr. Right Away and they didn't want to waste time with details.  I wasn't desperate and I wasn't looking for my other half so I was fine with dating around and checking 'em out.  Knowing that I wasn't in a rush made the less stimulating dates easier, the lousy dates quicker  and the good dates more relaxed.  My friend told me "hey, they are lucky to have a chance at the prize and you are lucky to know that you are the prize so don't settle" and I tried to keep that in mind.  It worked 95%, no ones perfect.

Wishing you well, and happy flushing!
Robert

Anonymous said...

Aren't you the busy beaver!  New fixtures, a date, a concert!  My, my, my, we are painting the town red!