HITCHIN' A RIDE!

It was not so much a lack of time, last week, as a lack of opportunity.  I was fully intending to write a week's worth of trivia, but I had promised to look after my grandson, so my daughter and son-in-law could go shopping for furniture.  Although it would be possible to go with a two year old, I know that if I had the chance to 'dump' the kids at my parents' when I had a task like that to fulfill, I would do so.  I was going to have him Saturday, as well, but they were invited to an event, and I encouraged them to go!  Much as I love the little rascal, he is two, and makes a whirling dervish look lethargic!

My car was taken to the 'shop' on Monday for some work that needed doing, and I was collected and taken to the office.  It was going to be a difficult week, having told the mechanic that I was 'not in a hurry' but realising I was going to have to rely on others to take me to work.  I would have to be ready on time!

Despite my best efforts, I was not ready on time!  I had a lot to accomplish.  One of my neighbours had decided, last minute, to host a 'get together' on Friday, and had asked everyone to 'bring a dish to share'. I have a problem with the word 'dish' as in the singular, as I can not conform to the lone digit!  I would make a 'dish' and maybe a dessert, or two!  Unfortunately, or fortunately, as the case may be, relying on others to collect me in the morning did keep me from going 'overboard'.

Arriving home on Monday, I set about getting dinner ready, and finishing the tasks I did not manage to complete in the morning.  I had left the house early, dropped off my car, and although not a 'mess' had left the house, slightly 'out of sync'.  I doubt anyone would have noticed!  

Everything worked out very well on Tuesday morning.  I prepared some things for dinner the following evening, and was confident I would be ready to walk out of the door on time.  However.....!  Life is very simple without gadgets, despite them making it easier!  I have a dispenser under my sink, that holds washing up liquid (dish soap), and when I need to dispense said liquid (soap) I just push down.  When the bottle is empty, I unscrew it, take it out, refill it, and .... that is where the plan falls apart!  I cannot get it back in place!  I have tried.  We have tried, but to no avail!  I thought I had it Monday night, but I did not!  I tried again on Tuesday, and succeeded in taking everything out from under the sink and leaving it strewn across the floor!  My 'handyman' who also doubles up as our hero and office colleague, Grant, is often called to the rescue.  My daughter can take care of almost anything, but she is not always around!  I was late!  Thankfully, Grant came in and saved the day!  The day was not particularly brutal, and we got home, had dinner, and all was well!  All was well, except....the dispenser was not dispensing.  I did wonder if the small straw like hose had come loose.  I unscrewed the bottle, tried to attach the straw, but failed!

I knew I would not be on time on Wednesday.  I just knew!  The fact that everything was going to plan, again, gave it away.  I had dessert ready.  I had prepared dinner, and that was sitting waiting to be put into the oven when the time was right.  I had laid the table, cleared the tops, made the bed, put away the laundry.  Everything was done!  All I had to do was find the slivered almonds for the trout!  

Writing what is in my storage boxes, on the box, was a brilliant idea!  Reading the writing would have been genius!  However, why make things easy for myself!  The most accessible was screaming at me. "Pick me, pick me!" and I should have listened.  The one marked 'sugar' tried to warn me.  Instead, I pulled it out of the freestanding unit with a little more force than necessary.  The unit rocked.  I was not sure what had happened, but soon realised that the two plinths under the unit had popped out (they are Ikea!) and everything was falling forward.  I managed to steady it with one hand, pull as much as I could off the shelves with another, and keep the rest from falling with my foot.  I stood, a few minutes later, and looked at the mess that was my kitchen.  It was a disaster.  I had two choices.  I could stand and cry, before putting everything back where it belonged, or I could go for a swim, message Grant to say I would be late, and clear it up when I got back.  The latter won!

Putting the unit back together was simple.  (It's Ikea!)  Putting everything back into the unit was a little more complicated.  I have a lot of spices on a precarious spice rack.  Perhaps precarious is not the right word.  Perhaps I just have two many spices for the rack!  However, I digress!  I started to put back the pots and jars, and they wobbled and fell, until they didn't!  I am sure it would have taken longer had I decided to cry, and then put it right!  A change is as good as a rest!

I found my almonds!  Dinner was rather good, even if I say so myself, although it was confirmed by others.  The disaster had been repaired, and no one (except everyone) was any the wiser about the situation that had occurred.  Grant replaced the straw, and fixed the dispenser!

The rain came in late Thursday afternoon.  Storms had been reported all around and northern Texas, apparently, was getting drenched.  One of our servers said that she had gone to 'post' a paper to a gate, but the fence had been washed away, with part of the road!  Thankfully, we did not get such sever weather, but the rain that came, came with a vengeance!  

We were only a few minutes late on Friday.  We walked over the shepherd's pie, meringues and lemon cups, and got a nice warm welcome.  It was a small gathering, but pleasant.  A couple arrived a little later, who were not neighbours, but friends of the host.  He was American, although had lived in England as a child, and she was from Brazil.  Although arriving 37 years ago, her accent was still strong.  We shared stories about the immigration process, living in America, and with Americans.  It is always fun talking to another Brit, but equally as amusing talking to another woman abroad!  It was a great end of the week!

I chose to drive to Samantha on Saturday, having got my car back on Friday, ang parked up by the warehouse.  We shopped, and I then made my way back home. There are few places here, perhaps nationally, but definitely in the Austin area, that have a 'roundabout'.  They are not really a function of the traffic system.  However, there is one near the warehouse.  I usually try and avoid it, as no one quite knows how to negotiate this enigma.  There are no traffic lights, no stop signs, no yield signs.  Just a circle in the road.  I was behind a driver that was struck by the 'magic' of the roundabout (pardon the pun, for those in the know) and sat.  A couple of cars came around, but then there were none.  We sat for a while, and eventually, the driver took the plunge and went.  I have no idea what they were waiting for.  I resisted depressing the horn.  

It was a beautiful afternoon.  I went down for a swim and noted that there was a towel on one of the chairs.  I wondered if a neighbour had 'dropped off' her stuff and gone for a walk, but she usually has a book on the chair as well.  I then saw some car keys.  Again, I wondered if it was the friend of another neighbour, who lets herself in and uses our pool, which she should not! I started to mutter about how this was 'not on' and shook my head.  Still muttering, I turned to get into the water, and saw a young neighbour sitting by a tree, and watching me.  We both laughed, and thankfully, she was more interested in the fact that I was wearing a wet suit than the muttering, although she probably thought it was all part of the eccentricity!  I finished my book in the beautiful sunshine.  A true Texas autumn day!

Sunday started cool.  The wind and lack of sun dictated a day indoors, until it didn't!  I decided to take on one of the jobs I hate.  I emptied out the cupboard under the stairs, and stood surrounded by all the contents, when the sun came out.  It was bright, and beautiful.  I stood and looked.   I had two choices.  I could stand and cry, before putting everything back where it belonged, or I could go for a swim, tell my husband not to be concerned about the mess in the kitchen, and clear it up when I got back.  The latter won!  

It took slightly longer to get everything back in the cupboard than it did to put all back in the unit, but it was a good idea to take a break!  Again, I saw a neighbour who thought I was very brave.  Brave or stupid, I just hate to give up my swim!  

Next week will be a short work week, as we will be celebrating Thanksgiving.  An American tradition that we have embraced, full force!  The turkey is waiting to be basted, the vegetables ready to be roasted, and the sweet potatoes ready to have marshmallows spread across them!  Never in my wildest dreams!!!!  No doubt the week will have its share of Thanksgiving tales and I shall endeavour to be thankful in ..........another story!