Call Me Marty

Greetings! 

For those of you who are wondering, no, I'm not bored yet. There is always so much that can be done at the Stress Pool - and oh, so little time! There is catching up with friends and family; organizing the studio; going to Zumba class (which has really helped me with movement in the old limbs); holidays that are still with us in oh -so -many ways. The Christmas tree is down, but DH decided to leave a few things up for another week or so because it just looks so bare without them.

Then, there is the psychological welfare of the cat. I have to play with Simon, who is just having such a hard time adjusting to the changing schedules. And change they have.

Ms. Business took some time off while searching for another dental office - her boss (and our dentist) retired, and she simply didn't want to stay with the corporation that had bought the practice. Since the holidays were upon us, she took time off, therefore spending a goodly amount of time at home. I was leaving for work every day. Simon was thrilled, as Ms. Business is the Favored Human. 

Then came Christmas break, and we were all home for a couple weeks. There was the 'putting up of the tree', which Simon thinks we do just for him. He's never climbed it, but he does like to rub against the bottom branches. All of his humans were around all the time, and life was good for the kitty.

The week after New Year, Ms. Business found a new position - Yay for her! Now, I am home all the time, and she is going out to work. Simon really doesn't know what to do with this, as I am the second Favored Human, and we have found him occasionally moping. So, I play with him, and he often comes in to nap with me in the afternoons (yes, that is a VERY IMPORTANT thing that happens most days!). He'll get used to it, I'm sure. One thing for certain - any time I go down near the studio, he runs to beat me down the steps, only to be disappointed that I haven't gotten out the water for painting. That should start up this week, so he'll be a very happy art cat, indeed!

However, one thing I never expected was to get a new name. Well, new year; new life; new name! Who knew?

As DH and I were leaving a friend's house the other night, we placed a pick-up order of wings at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Washington for our housemates, Ms. Business and Moink. I called it in, because having to try to place an on-line order from my phone just isn't my idea of a pleasant time. The young girl on the other end told me it would be ready by 6:10 - it was 5:45. We arrived by 6:00, and DH said he'd go in, leaving me in the car. The very cold car. Around 6:15 he came out and waved for me to get out and come inside with him.

"Are they running behind?" I asked.

"They don't seem to have an order for us. Did you get a confirmation?"

I looked confused, because I've never gotten a confirmation for a phone order. I shook my head, and we went inside. Well, this poor girl was swamped. She would go back to the kitchen to look for someone's order, and would stay back there for a few minutes. (I think she was hiding.) Meanwhile, even with the people coming in for orders, there remained one bag sitting on the counter behind her. Finally, she got to me.

"Order for Wendy," I said with a smile. 

She glanced at DH, then back to me. They had been through this, going through all of the names DH could think it might be under. "I don't have one for Wendy. Wait. Did you phone it in?" I nodded. She reached for the bag on the counter and read off the order I had placed. With a sigh of relief, she handed us the bag and took DH's credit card. "I thought you said Marty."

And, sure enough, the name Marty was on the order. I know it was noisy in there, but not sure how she got 'Marty' from 'Wendy'. As we left, I said to DH, "My alter ego must have place the call. So, just call me Marty.'

"Wow, what a great title for a story!"

Someone suggested that I should place all take-out orders under the name 'Marty'. I might have to do it, if for no other reason, for kicks and giggles. I've often wished for a nick-name, but Gwen was my choice. I guess we don't really choose our nick-names; they are bestowed on us by others.

Marty it is.

When you're in the neighborhood, stop on by and we'll gaze longingly at the frozen real pool, while perhaps sipping on a nice peppermint hot chocolate - or tea, or coffee, or another beverage of your preference! Stay warm, and good luck on placing your own take-out orders. If you get a new name from someone at your favorite restaurant, we can chat about that on your next visit to the Stress Pool.

My Favorite Things (A.K.A the #1 Thing I Will Miss About Work)

 Greetings to all! Hard to believe that the holidays are just about behind us now, and 2026 is coming in hot. I've had many friends who have asked how it feels to be retired, and I've honestly had to answer that it's hard to say - it is, after all, still winter break. Ask me on Monday, January 5th. 

Darling Hubby (DH) and I are doing the dance - I'm trying to stay out of his way, as he has an already established routine. And, by routine, I mean whatever he feels like doing that moment/day/week - you get my drift. Like, shopping for food for the holiday - I said I would go with him, but I wanted to go early (before noon). He acquiesced, but I don't think he was too happy about it!

Other things that occupy my time (besides the cooking -which I was more than happy to do this year) is reading (3 David Baldacci books -the Amos Decker series - and counting!); cleaning some of those hard -to- get -to spots (has anyone else looked at tips from Southern Living or The Spruce? Highly recommend it!), and reorganizing the studio. One of the things I'm doing in there is making up a Kids Kart - the place where the grandkids know that those are the supplies meant for them. I'll post a picture when I get it all done.

But yes, there will be things I miss about work, like my colleagues; but more importantly - the IT department. One of the things you must remember, is that I "Art" - which does not include technology! It was always comforting to know that Mitch was only an email away, and technology would be fixed in a jiffy!

I went to print something out from my new laptop (an Apple MacAir - love it, but we're still getting used to each other!) which I was able to do this last week, so no problem, right?

Wrong.

Printer out of paper. No biggie - this is within my abilities to remedy.

So I go downstairs to the printer. It isn't out of paper - it claims to have a paper jam. Now I'm sweating.

I take the thing apart (according to directions) and there does not seem to be a jam. So, I try again, and to no avail - my things are not printing.

I went back upstairs, and looking at DH, I said, "I would like to register a complaint with the tech department." I told him what happened, and he said the same thing had happened to him the other day! After a little while, he hauled himself down to his computer to try to correct the issue.

He came back later with several printed things in hand. "I got that message once before, so I asked my friend AI (more on that another time!), and it told me to turn it off, unplug it, remove the paper, turn it upside down, put it right side up, replace the paper, and turn it back on." He handed me the things I had tried to print out. "However, these were in the tray when I went down."

I frowned. "These were the things that wouldn't print for me. I guess the printer was just taking its good old sweet time."

"Oh, so maybe I didn't have to do all those things."

"Probably not. It just doesn't like me."

He nodded in agreement. "It told me it doesn't like you."

A joke we've shared forever about my family talking to inanimate objects made me laugh, "Oh, so you talk to inanimate objects now?"

Scoffing, he started to walk away. "No, but I listen."

Is it any wonder I've started talking to myself?!

So, don't look the IT department (gift horse) in the mouth - that is something I will truly miss!

And, if nothing else, I guess doing calisthenics with the printer might be a change of pace! So, nothing changes at the Stress Pool - but then, I guess we really wouldn't want it to change too much.

Happy New Year from all of us to all of you - and when you're ready to share a cup of peppermint hot chocolate and hear me muttering things under my breath, come on over - there's always an extra pool towel at the Stress Pool!