This n' That

G'afternoon, friends ... how are you?

Oh my gosh, where to start?   Like a giant hand's turned the dial to fast-forward, so go the days of my life.  Nevertheless, here's a bit of this and some of that.

* * *

Big Corporation's expectation is (that) every associate volunteer a certain amount of hours each year ... so when someone said State Fair, I jumped.    The last State Fair I remember attending (Albuquerque), I was just a kid in love.  In love with the idea of meeting Roy Rogers and Trigger, that is.    

Compared to deep-cleaning industrial kitchens, collecting canned goods on behalf of St. Mary's Food Bank sounded like a stroll in the park. 

Because our designated parking lot was almost a half-mile away - and the Fairgrounds is situated in a sketchy part of the city - I opted to carry my aging 'police lady' purse.   See, back when I'd a yen for adventure, I enrolled in Tampa PDs' concealed weapons program -- and wound up purchasing a cute handgun and a leather bag.   In addition to steel wire inside the shoulder strap (preventing a snatcher from cutting it), the sweet feature of this purse is a concealed interior compartment only accessible through the side.  

Thrusting my credit cards inside that cache, I ignored the mercury and set off with a spring in my step.  LOL.

Just a guess, but my appearing a wee bit older than my coworkers, the coordinator dubbed me, 'Ticket Champion.'  In other words, for every 5 cans of food donated, the presenter would get a ticket for free admission to the fair.   

Stuff that truck!

My runners!

Just a sampling ...

Seriously, I was stunned by the turn-out.   Later it was said over 34,000 lbs. of food were collected!   The best part?  The olden folks and preschoolers.  Addressing the youngest child in a group, I'd ask oh-so-seriously, "Do you want to be Ticket Champion?"  

All the same, I don't think I'll be invited back.    I had to be reminded time and again, to untie the bags to make sure they contained 5 cans.  "Don't worry, I'm not the TSA" garnered me dirty looks from the coordinator.   Rules are rules, sure.  But I'm not about to deny an 10 year-old a ticket because her bag only contains 4 cans.

They said at the end of our shift we were free to roam about the Fair.  Unfortunately, I was so tired of standing in the 97-degree afternoon, all I wanted was a cold shower!   

* * *

So we met our (local) realtor Friday night, and were pleasantly surprised by what he had to say.   No pressure to list and no trying to pull the wool over our eyes.  I pray our realtor-lady in Alabama is as nice!

Our next-door neighbor who has a painting business on the side, is repainting the inside of our house while we're gone.   I initially balked at the price, but taking all the pictures and 'stuff' off the walls this morning, I was dismayed how badly it needs redone.   

Nervous?  Goodness, yes!  Only a week remains, and I'm not so sure this  old heart of mine can stand the roller-coaster.   When an e-mail began, "I regret to inform you ...." saying my Very.Favorite home went 'contingent' a couple of weeks ago,  I was heartbroken.  Then, another finalist went pending.  But just this morning... just when I was learning to love another, it reappeared as active.

I forget what my realtor in Tarpon Springs called it, way back in '95 when I was house-hunting.  Chemistry?  Psychology? 
After what seemed an eternity of searching -- when I'd taken only a few steps inside what eventually became my town home -- I turned and said, "This is it."   I'd not even seen the bedrooms or baths, but I felt it.  Suppose lightening can strike twice?

Cracks me up, but Tom's only concern seems to be space for a two-door refrigerator and a dedicated room for his keyboards and horns.  Yep, I'm darned fortunate!

It goes without saying -- you know how I feel about air travel -- so I certainly appreciate your thoughts and prayers while we're away!

Meanwhile!  Tom has a pot of Conecuh sausage and greens in the slow cooker needing tasted -- and I'd better get ready making nut bread to bring to my boy!

Happy Halloween from Phoenix!

Myra