Thursday, August 14, 2025

Because I'm worth it

Wednesday day was cleaning family day so I was out again, third day, steaming hot weather. I spent quite a bit of time in the library, took my lunch sandwich with me. 

There was an interesting example of male privilege at work. The public puzzle is set up on a table with no chairs and people are invited to stop by and work it, usually meaning a few minutes. 

There was a man today who'd drawn up a chair, put his belongings around the table,  so nobody else could get close to take part and he'd drawn all the pieces close to him, crouched over to work them.  

I looked over briefly, as did a couple of other people, but it wasn't worth asking him to make space, who knows what would be the response. And there he sat the whole time I was there.  Hmmm. That's a first. Maybe it was obliviousness as much as anything.

Then I needed to shop for dishwashing sponges. And while I was there, well I haven't had ice cream in literally years, so why not.



 At the checkout the lady said, yeah, it's an ice cream kind of day! I do agree. And once home, whoa was that good. Just a little dish of dulce de leche, it's rich.

My contractor friend Michael came in the afternoon to pick up the kitchen cabinet to get on with the reno on it and we had a visit. 

A couple of days ago my front door lock broke down, probably worn out. Gary was instantly trying to fix it and wanted to install a new one.  

Michael and I both know the complications Gary loves to introduce,and will certainly want me to have a chiming video camera coffee-serving high-tech thing with, as Mike said a revolving disco ball! 

We both know and love him, but Mike will get and install a simple Kwikset for me before Gary gets home.  Chances are he'll have forgotten by then, so this will work.

Always something! 

I love my neighbors. But it's lovely and peaceful on both sides, no hammering and drilling and nail guns while everyone's away.

Happy day everyone, duck complications wherever you can. And here's Wednesday's entertainment 






42 comments:

  1. Enjoy that peace and quiet for a bit. Your and Michael's assessment of Gary's projects sounds spot-on. Mr. Enthusiasm!

    I've run into other kinds of duck complications in my life as a naturalist - just sayin'. :-). Nowadays we only have chicken complications.

    You are absolutely worth ice cream. What's life without the occasional splurge?! Especially in this summer's heat. I do agree with the checkout lady.

    Chris from Boise

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    1. Yes, enthusiasm personified is Gary. So you either duck complications or chicken out! Choices!

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  2. Simple is usually best. Especially door latches and locks. All singing, all dancing is great until there is a power failure/batteries run out.

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    1. Exactly. I like simple things that do one thing. So much less chance for system failure. Just a lock with a key, no codes and cameras.

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  3. I think Foyle's War went on without Sam, or the original Sam, and I think I lost interest then. But it was so long ago, and I am not sure. Simple locks are best, and yes, after years of use, they do wear out.

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    1. This series seems to be postwar, so we'll see how it holds my interest.

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  4. I must admit I don’t deny myself ice cream whenever the mood strikes. And, ooh, dulce de leche. That is so funny about Gary. I wouldn’t mind a front door lock that serves coffee to my guests.

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    1. Trust me, if there were one, he'd try it. Dulce de leche is my favorite, then butter pecan, but I decided to branch out into strawberry.

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  5. The man with the jigsaw was focused and impervious to all others,
    Ice cream is good, occasionally. It's good that you have a new, simple door lock - things can become too complicated.

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    1. The last place I want complications is my front door. The jigsaw puzzle man had clearly set up the table to prevent anyone else from joining in. It was odd.

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  6. Mmm, Hagen Daz, I like their salted caramel, though after half a tub it gets too sweet and I don't eat any for several days.

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    1. I think it will probably be years before I have any again. It's a very occasional thing.

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    1. It seemed fair, after buying kitchen sponges, just to balance things.

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  8. Gary sounds like Husband. He likes things to whiz and fizz and pop.

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    1. I used to envy women with handy spouses. But now I'm seeing a definite downside.

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  9. With recent mouth surgery I had a nice dish of ice cream yesterday...just Moose Tracks, which has little tiny peanut butter cups hidden in it! Today my cheek is all swollen and I'm a lopsided chipmunk. Hagen Das is definitely the way to go for a treat. I liked Hoyles War many years ago, and may be ready for re-watching it.

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    1. Ice cream is usually good after mouth surgery. But you're not supposed to look as if a moose walked on your face, that doesn't sound quite right. Take another look at Foyle, the early seasons anyway. You might like it again.

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  10. After everything that's gone on in your life lately, you deserve a rich ice cream indulgence! And I think you will regret not getting that chiming video camera coffee-serving high-tech entry system with the revolving disco ball. No home is complete without one!

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    1. Just think, I could have been the envy of my friends!

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  11. Oh come on! Life is for living! Just get the disco ball. The regular lock and key are all you may need but think of the amazement when your friends and neighbors enter your house to a stunning rendition of "Staying Alive" sung by the BeeGees, while your disco ball slowly rotates, sending flashes of light everywhere! You will never want for visitors.
    I am so kidding.
    What the heck with the guy at the library?

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    1. I think if I did have a production instead of a lock, my visitors would say oh there she goes again!
      There are some mentally ill people whose medics send to the library, and I suspect he may be one, hence my reluctance to disturb him.

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  12. Vanilla is my favorite ice cream and it's perfect weather for it right now. Glad that Mike could take care of your cabinet and lock jobs while Gary is away. ;)

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    1. The cabinet wasn't an issue for Gary, as I made clear at the outset, but yes, saved on the lock front. Michael is a professional, and even he has to fend off kind offers from Gary!

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  13. I LOVE ice cream and indulge often! Good for you, you got a couple of excellent ones. Gary is a whirling dervish. Enjoy the quiet while you can.

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    1. The quiet and ice cream are great. Whirling dervish is about right, you can see puffs of dust in his wake..

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  14. I hope you enjoy every bite!

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  15. Ice cream on these hot days sounds perfect!
    I'm with you on a simple lock. I have enough trouble with my smart phone and smart TV--don't need a lock smarter than I am, too--LOL!
    The puzzle hog may have just been oblivious. Could have come in when no one was around and settled in like he would have at home. (We had one of those here in our community room--just zoned in--lol!)

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    1. That's possible about the puzzle man. And yes, enough devices that are smarter than we are! Life's hard enough.

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  16. Nice post. Interesting about the puzzle man. No one really knows what he is going through. Maybe working the puzzle put him at ease. Ohhh yeah ice cream is any day for me. LOL I've not seen this move but I don't get acron. I will look for it though.

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    1. You may be right about the puzzle man. I don't have any streaming services, but I do have a library that lends DVDs.

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  17. I think that there are people who are oblivious to the space occupied by others and there are some only too aware. I do hope that he was the former. I also wish that ice cream and I could resume friendship but I have learnt in life that there are things - even things that I love - that I must eschew for my digestive peace.

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    1. That's too bad that icecream isn't your friend. I eat it rarely but I really enjoyed this treat yesterday and today.

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  18. We are fortunate (or maybe not - depending on how much you love an hourglass figure) to have a wonderful dairy not too far away that makes amazing ice cream. One of our summer rites is to go to the dairy and indulge in a double decker ice cream cone with two flavours. Not good for me due to lactose issues, but dang it - it's worth every lick!

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    1. We have a homemade icecream shop not far, but it's been too hot to go. You eat on the patio and even in shade it's a bit too much for me.

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  19. We get the quart size (I think) ice cream cartons. We love Extreme! Moose Tracks.

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  20. Any day is a Häagen Dazs day. A rare treat here too. Now I am tempted.

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  21. Once in a while it's good to yield to temptation.

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  22. I am sure you savoured every mouthful. Good.

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