The Flea Market

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Living in Europe, I have learned that Sundays are not only a day of rest but that everything comes to a standstill! No shops, no markets, and no malls. You have to make do with is left standing. Bakeries, not all of them, might open for a couple of hours and that’s about it.

Flea markets are a godsent on Sundays if you’re looking for something to do. The one close to my place is a monthly event in summer. It is a big one and it is usually crowded. I’ve missed the last two but decided to make a showing for this one. Waking up early for a Sunday, thanks to Chachi, I made my way to the flea market. The sun was shining and the car park was already full. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, perhaps something for the garden. People were browsing and the vendors were loud as they let it be known that it would be worth your while to visit their stand. I walked taking it all in.

No plants worth buying. Loads of STUFF but nothing interesting. I passed a food vendor selling Greek tidbits. Olives in every color imaginable, dips, shrimps in three different sauces, squid salad and of course, bread. I told him I’ll be back later and had every intention of doing so. I did another round hoping something would catch my attention but there was nothing. I remember going there once with a friend and he said, “All junk!” True, but if you have a good eye, you might just pick up a treasure. I bought a small dish once, blue and white, and it turned out to be an antique. It has a place of honor on the sideboard and looks great!

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

True at times but this time around, it was more trash than anything else. I went back to the Greek vendor and picked up a small container of shrimp in garlic sauce, a spicy dip and some squid salad. The man kept speaking in English so I wondered what gave it away! Plus he kept handing me small samples to try, nice but I was filling up on them!

Back home, I walked in with Chachi, the cat, standing behind the door.

“Where have you been?!!”

ME: “Nowhere special. It’s mommy and Chachi time now!”

HIM: “It sure is!”

The time at the flea market was worth it because I’m feeling good and that is a good thing.

Have an amazing Sunday.

Just Another Day

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Have you ever had one of those days where you had it all planned out only to find out that life in its wisdom had other things planned?

I had a perfect Sunday planned. A nice restful sleep, get up whenever, breakfast in bed, cuddle with Chachi, the cat, and just hit the snooze button. I had all of that in mind when I got ready for bed last night. Feeling comfortable in my 3 sizes too big shirt, one of the perks of not having a guy by your side, I had done my nightly routine. Deep breathing, meditation and of course yoga. This ancient art form does wonders and I’m back to doing all the Pretzel twists that this requires short of headstands. Feeling good after torturing my body, I was ready for a goodnight’s rest with visions of a nice Sunday dancing in my head.

Guess what? Life had other plans. Waking up this morning, nice and early, I made a plan for the day. I was down to two piles of paperwork that needed sorting. My inner being, the one that sometimes has great ideas was whispering softly in my ears, “Let it all go to HELL!” Hmm…sounds like a great idea especially for a Sunday.

Then I glanced at my iPhone and noticed this message. “Updates are available, will install tonight.” Hmm…it has been saying that for the last two days! I am a Tech klutz as I’ve mentioned here before and this spelled trouble one that could throw my Sunday into something unrecognizable!

“Calm down!” I told myself. Reaching for my steady companion, I Googled! Why didn’t it do automatic updates as it had been doing? WHY?!! The answers came back. It could be shortage of space and a whole host of other things! Not good! A lazy breakfast in bed had flown out the window and now, I just wanted to get the update done but was afraid to press any buttons! The people at Apple are all about the updates! The Tech gods sitting up there somewhere keep coming up with new things all the time all in the name of security. The Fort Knox variety!

Anyway, I Googled for all I was worth! An hour later, I decided to take the plunge. Going to Settings and there grinning back at me was the latest update.

“Now what?” it said. “I dare you!”

I hit update and it immediately went to update followed by a blank screen! Nothing happened for a few minutes and then the Apple logo came on. It showed it was uploading or rather downloading? Who cares, it was doing something. How long? Google told me it could take 30 minutes to one hour. I was nervous.

I went downstairs to get my coffee and breakfast. Ten minutes later, I was back upstairs and it said, “Your iPhone has been updated!” Then it asked for my PIN and luckily I had it written down. Leaving nothing to chance these days! I put it in and it is up and running!

Just as I was taking a well-deserved deep breath, I glanced over at the floor where the sun was shining, and there clearly visible were the dust bunnies laughing their heads off!

“We’re back!” was all they said.

Just then, Chachi, the cat walked in wearing his macho pants.

“Mommy!”

ME: “I don’t want to hear it!”

That folks is the start of my Sunday!

Have an amazing day.

A Sunday Like Any Other

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I had made plans to be productive today. It didn’t matter if it was Sunday, a time for rest and relaxation. I was dead set on doing something and that something was to clean out my office area, get rid of the massive amounts of paperwork taking up space in every corner of the room and to discard as much of the unwanted stuff as possible. The plan was put in place last night.

Around 6 o’clock yesterday evening, I had this bright idea of bringing everything up to date and looking at what was staring back at me, I knew it would take all day Sunday to get it done. I looked at Chachi, the cat, and got to work. The poor guy didn’t know what was going on, just that changes were coming! He gave me one of his, “She’s at it again! No peace here and I’m at my wit’s end!” kind of look. He watched as I carried massive amounts of paperwork into the bedroom and set them on the floor. I made three huge piles. Then I moved the shredder into the bedroom as well. He gave me another look and inspected everything carefully. I could tell he wasn’t happy because he got jumpy. I stroked his forehead to assure him that all was well, nothing to worry about. Just his mom and her crazy ideas!

Then I got to work. I shredded some papers and then got tired of it. I just tore them apart and tossed them in a bag. The bag was getting full and I hadn’t even started yet! The piles of paper looked the same and nothing seemed to be getting less! I was getting frustrated at this point so I called it a night and left everything as is and ready to tackle it on Sunday. Chachi was restless for most of the night and if I moved a little in bed, he jumped off and went under the bed! He is a real scaredy cat!

Sunday dawned bright and early and I was up early even before the birds were! Okay, first breakfast, shower, get back into a fresh pair of PJs and hit the road running. I tried, believe me I tried. I had to make sure I wasn’t shredding stuff that was needed so it was a painstaking process of going through each piece of paperwork and making piles again! Toss! Keep! Maybe or rather I don’t know! God, Sundays are not made for this kind of BS! There is a reason why Sundays are rest days. Well, I knew that but “ambition” got in the way and now I’m stuck. Chachi, eyed me suspiciously with his, “I told you so,” look.

Close to lunchtime, I carried the piles of paperwork back into the office area, found a space for them and promised I’ll get to them when I was in a better mood. They whispered back, “We don’t care! Just leave us alone!” Chachi, the cat, jumped off the bed and walked into the office and looked back at me, his big eyes speaking volumes. “Sometimes your eyes are bigger than what you’re capable of doing! I’m worn out. I’m going to go take a nap!”

So folks, that’s my Sunday so far. The office is till messy but who cares! I’m going downstairs to make some banana muffins because the cheesecake is screaming at me to come get some and my mind, the one that takes care of me is saying, “Don’t you dare!” Banana muffins are healthier so that’s it for today AND watching ghost or horror movies. I just love spooking myself and doing nothing!

I Love Sundays!

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I do love Sundays. It is a day of rest and meant for time well-spent with family, friends and yourself. Well, it should be and every weekend before Sunday rolls around wearing bells and whistles, I have exactly that in mind but it never works out that way.

I had that talk with Chachi, the cat, and you guessed it, it went in one ear and out the other! The little guy in the fur coat marches to a different drumbeat and he makes his own rules! Last night started out well enough and the little rascal toed the line until he decided that it was not something a cat should be expected to do, toe the line that is. He was off and running and kept me up most of the night with his antics. I decided to let it roll off my back like water off a duck’s back. If you can’t beat them join them…..well, I decided to let him have his way and went into a nirvana state of mind but only in my head, everything else was riled up and revving to go! You guessed how my night went.

I even went to bed wearing a t-shirt that said:

SUNDAY CHECKLIST

EAT AND DO NOTHING

DO NOTHING AND CHILL

CHILL AND SLEEP

No luck there. Reading is not what he is about. He, the little munchkin, was up at his usual time and his first cry was, “Mommy!” We went downstairs at around 5:30 and I made my breakfast with my well-meaning t-shirt full of creases just like my dreams of having a cozy time in bed! Now, I am sitting at the computer and the little guy just came back up and jumped on the chair behind me and has his back up against me! Mommy’s boy? Definitely!

Sundays are meant for relaxing and I’m going to make it so. It is storming outside and it feels cold inside the house. I’m happy about the rain because the ground has been parched and a good dousing would do a world of good as far as the plant world is concerned. So rain on! I’m going to get my second cup of coffee and TRY to CHILL!

Have an amazing Sunday.

Sunday Blues

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I hate Sundays! Sure, it is a day for rest and restoration but it is also the last bit of hurdle after Saturday and the day before everything opens back up and life returns to normal again and the “fields” become mine alone sans the usual Sunday crowd. The way I love it.

Yesterday was no different. I had my intentions set for the day and I was going to take it easy, relax, meditate, watch “reality” on TV and play with Chachi, the cat. However, it didn’t turn out that way. I was bored stiff! It doesn’t happen often but somehow it was different yesterday. I couldn’t stand my own company anymore.

It was time to get out and about. The “Cheesecake Guy” came to the rescue. If you don’t know who he is, read my article the, “Cheesecake Dilemma.” Anyway, he invited me over to watch movies with him and it sounded like a perfect plan so I took him up on it.

We decided on a Charles Bronson movie, The Telefon. It was an old movie but since I had had my fill of horror movies, we settled on it. My said friend is a horror movie aficionado! Once the movie got going, I couldn’t get into it. It seemed to drag on but my friend was fixated on it so I bit my teeth and kept my patience in check. Halfway through, he suggested stopping for coffee. I agreed enthusiastically. He made the coffee and set the table and there right in the middle holding a place of honor was my nemesis staring back at me! Not one but two! A cherry cheesecake and a raisin cheesecake. He, the friend, had a twinkle in his eye but mine was filled with dread, fear and disbelief.

I’ve been trying to get off this addiction for cheesecake and it was working sporadically but here it was again and I just can’t seem to keep my distance away from it. He said, “Cut as big a slice as you want.” I swear the cheesecakes were nodding in agreeance! I let myself be led meekly to the table. You guessed it! I had two slices and my willpower was nowhere to be seen. It said, “It’s Sunday and I’m taking a day off! You’re on your own!”

Long story short, I had my fix and it felt good going down. Today is another day to get it in grip again. Did I tell you, “I hate Sundays!”

Have an amazing day.