Update on Life
Geia sas oloi! So what's been happening in my corner of the world lately? A few interesting things but nothing really major, except the renivating of the bathroom, which I'll get to in a bit. The other week, I spent a few days with my long-time friend Dorian. We hadn't seen each other in quite awhile, so it was refreshing. I arrived on the afternoon of a Wednesday and we just relaxed and watched a few films. On Thursday, Dorian's friend Chris came over and we all went to the National Food Warehouse, which was great, since I hadn't gone there in a long time. Chris was nice, and I don't know how we got started (I think they were speaking about something and then I chimed in), but both of us managed to piss off Dorian within a little while of him arriving by discussing our views on the death penalty. He agrees with me on almost everything there and you should've heard the debate, or was it a fight? lol But we had a really nice time at any rate. After the store, we went out to lunch and I had one of the best pork chops that I've ever had in my life. It wasn't fried, as we usually make it at home, nor was it baked. It was grilled, and believe it or not, had nothing on it, not even seasoning. It was pure pork, so soft and juicy that I couldn't believe it! After that, Chris drove us home and had to leave. Dorian and I spent the rest of the night talking and watching a few things. She got netflicks and was eager to use it, so we didn't get to watch the films/shows that she already had. But we did get to watch a series that she taped, in three parts. It was about the seven ancient wonders of Greece, Egypt and Rome and it was completely amazing! Friday was more of the same. I think we finished one of those three, since we didn't watch them all in one night, and then we watched this really cool show called Walking with Monsters! It was on Netflicks and I'd seen something similar to it, so wanted to try this one. I was not disappointed at all. Then, she showed me Billy the Exterminator. Now I see why Loretta loves him. He's funny and interesting at the same time. After that, we made Smores. I never had them and wasn't hugely impressed but they were different. I prefer icebox cakes, which use the same crackers, only with pudding and cinoman ontop.
I went home that Saturday and spent that day just relaxing and sleeping. On Sunday, Spiros came over and that Monday was the fourth of July, which is, as most people know, American Independence Day. Of course, I don't celebrate it, but it gave Spiros an excuse to spend an extra day with me, which was a reason to celebrate in itself! It also meant that we could go to the New Medowlands Market, a pretty large flee market, which is usually only open on Saturdays. I hadn't been there in years and read that it changed hands, so was eager to see if it was any different. I was disappointed the last time I went because they had so many new things and hardly any old ones. This time, there were only a few sellers and they were scattered every which way. Spiros was slightly annoyed by it but I was glad for the chance to walk around. I went to two places selling computer parts and asked for a parallel to usb cord. Ordinarily, I don't use usb. But of course, my netbook, like all others, doesn't have a parallel port and I want to use both my ink printer and my embosser, so I need to get the converter. No one had the slightest idea of what I meant. The woman at the first place first gave me a regular usb cord, even though I explained clearly that I wanted a standard 25-pin parallel to usb cord. Then, she showed me a few others, but none were even close to what I needed. Then, the man who worked with her, who was a foreigner no less, told me that he knew what I meant and that they didn't have them. In the end, I wound up getting a hot dog, kettle corn (like sweet popcorn originating in Germany) and a Sprite. Spiros got something called a fullafel, which neither of us really liked. But at least we got to enjoy the fresh air and get out of the house. Then, we went to Shop Right and Dollar Tree and stocked up on food, mostly at the latter place. But Shopright had these incredible rice cakes! They're huge and seem to be either bagged or made right there. I got plain, but they have a ton of other flavours coming, including cinomen, which I adore! These are not the hard/tasteless ones from Lundburg. They're fluffy, soft and melt in your mouth as you eat them! Even if they're not natural (I'm not sure) I'm going for more!
The next weekend, Spiros couldn't visit, since he had work to do. But when he called me to tell me, he said he would be here on Tuesday, 12 July, which was our fourth anaversary! On It was either Sunday or Monday that I learned that the bathroom was being completely redone. It's very old and was leaking through the ceiling, causing water to go into Mom's kitchen downstairs. This is the second time she's had to have the wall torn down and all of us agreed that enough was enough. So on Tuesday, before Spiros was due to arrive, I completely cleaned out the drawers and cabinets, stuffing most of the things into a large bag for later sorting, putting others in a smaller bag for me to take with me and throwing the rest away. Once Spiros got here, it was complete happiness. We hugged and kissed before he even came in the house! lol Originally, we were planning on going to Astoria, New York, for dinner but I heard we were due for a thunder storm and it really didn't make sense to go that late. So we took a rain cheque on it. Still, we had a really nice time, I smoked two arghiles and I got my bathing suit! Now let me explain. I wanted to find a bathing suit for awhile, since I really didn't have a good one. So a few weeks ago, I went on Ebay to look for one. Immediately, I went to the vintage section, thinking they would have decent things, but was wrong. They had mostly bikinis, bombshell aka sexy stuff and halter-topped things. Then, I went to the modern section and it was even worse! But I did find a vintage one that caught my eye. It was a nice one-piece which was described as modest and innocent. But they did say that it had a dress and sash. I was a bit nervous at that, since I don't wear such things but figured what the hell. I'll try it. I showed Spiros and he said he liked it. So he got it for me. In the meantime, Mom went to K Mart and found me an incredibly comfortable one-piece that I adored. It was standard, covered in the back and all in the front, with the bottoms like underwear not a bikini or shorts (though I don't mind the latter) and with a hook in the back, which is actually a bit annoying. She got me another one from the same company but it was too small. But that was a size 10 and the one which fit is a size 6! Go figure. So she brought that one back and got me another of the good ones, so now I had two of the same. Speaking of sizes, as anyone who has ever bought real vintage (not replica) clothing knows, sizes were different then. But the description of the bathing suit on Ebay said that it would fit a modern small to medium. When I tried it on, I thought that it was ever so slightly tight. But then I realised that it actually fit me properly! Spiros couldn't believe it when I showed him and said it was even better than the new one that Mom got me! When I went to show Mom, the first thing she said was "buy another one!" When I told her that i couldn't, because it was from the 60's and that I had picked it out, she was amazed. Then, I asked her to guess the price. She said $40 and $50. It's too bad that I couldn't see her face when I said $5. She, too, said this one is far better than the new one and told me it actually looks like something someone would wear to tennis and not girly at all! I know that I'm traditional in some ways, but I just don't know how to wear such things. I'm not even sure how I would feel in a traditional costume, though it would probably be far more comfortable than in a frilly modern dress and I would be willing to try it. Even Joanie said the bathing suit was cool, which sealed the deal for me.
Spiros left for work on Wednesday and I called Mom to see when they were coming to fix the bathroom. It turns out that they'd be coming the next day at around 8:30. So I pretty much slept and relaxed that day. Yesterday, I got up really early and couldn't get back to sleep. So at eight something, I made a hash brown and waited. Mom called me down and gave me a coffee and an egg sandwich and then the work began! From what she told me, everything will be new, from the sink, which would never really stay clean no matter what you did, to the toilet with it's broken chain, to the dirty bath tub (I just bought a natural cleaner for it and now don't need it) with it's ridiculous setup (one knob to turn the shower, one for hot and one for cold), to the tials to the ceiling fan, which hadn't been cleaned since the 1989 fire and which therefore couldn't be used. So yeah! I'm excited, and! Of course, I can't use the bathroom while all of this is going on, so I'm temporarily back in my old room in the basement. I'm pretty sure they won't be finished by tomorrow, so will call Spiros then to cancel our weekly meeting on Sunday. In the meantime, I've got some snacks down here and Mom's been cooking for me and bring stuff home for me, since I don't know her kitchen setup and she's got one of those digital microwaves with a touchscreen instead of buttons or a dial. Today, I went on the deck for the first time this year! It was hot and wonderful out but I didn't get to go swimming because Mom was sleeping, none of my bathing suits were available and. my sunscreen was upstairs. Now, I've got both and will definitely be hading out there tomorrow. Oh yeah, and I sent off that letter in Greek, with yet more modifications. I really hope that everything goes well. But if not, I'll try some other pages and groups and then call in the big guns, namely General Pattakos and Despina Papadopoulou, the wife of Colonel Papadopoulos. I just hope that I won't have to go that far. Someone's got to know a person who can help me! In the meantime, I'm off to Ellada uh I mean dream land. *yawn*
I went home that Saturday and spent that day just relaxing and sleeping. On Sunday, Spiros came over and that Monday was the fourth of July, which is, as most people know, American Independence Day. Of course, I don't celebrate it, but it gave Spiros an excuse to spend an extra day with me, which was a reason to celebrate in itself! It also meant that we could go to the New Medowlands Market, a pretty large flee market, which is usually only open on Saturdays. I hadn't been there in years and read that it changed hands, so was eager to see if it was any different. I was disappointed the last time I went because they had so many new things and hardly any old ones. This time, there were only a few sellers and they were scattered every which way. Spiros was slightly annoyed by it but I was glad for the chance to walk around. I went to two places selling computer parts and asked for a parallel to usb cord. Ordinarily, I don't use usb. But of course, my netbook, like all others, doesn't have a parallel port and I want to use both my ink printer and my embosser, so I need to get the converter. No one had the slightest idea of what I meant. The woman at the first place first gave me a regular usb cord, even though I explained clearly that I wanted a standard 25-pin parallel to usb cord. Then, she showed me a few others, but none were even close to what I needed. Then, the man who worked with her, who was a foreigner no less, told me that he knew what I meant and that they didn't have them. In the end, I wound up getting a hot dog, kettle corn (like sweet popcorn originating in Germany) and a Sprite. Spiros got something called a fullafel, which neither of us really liked. But at least we got to enjoy the fresh air and get out of the house. Then, we went to Shop Right and Dollar Tree and stocked up on food, mostly at the latter place. But Shopright had these incredible rice cakes! They're huge and seem to be either bagged or made right there. I got plain, but they have a ton of other flavours coming, including cinomen, which I adore! These are not the hard/tasteless ones from Lundburg. They're fluffy, soft and melt in your mouth as you eat them! Even if they're not natural (I'm not sure) I'm going for more!
The next weekend, Spiros couldn't visit, since he had work to do. But when he called me to tell me, he said he would be here on Tuesday, 12 July, which was our fourth anaversary! On It was either Sunday or Monday that I learned that the bathroom was being completely redone. It's very old and was leaking through the ceiling, causing water to go into Mom's kitchen downstairs. This is the second time she's had to have the wall torn down and all of us agreed that enough was enough. So on Tuesday, before Spiros was due to arrive, I completely cleaned out the drawers and cabinets, stuffing most of the things into a large bag for later sorting, putting others in a smaller bag for me to take with me and throwing the rest away. Once Spiros got here, it was complete happiness. We hugged and kissed before he even came in the house! lol Originally, we were planning on going to Astoria, New York, for dinner but I heard we were due for a thunder storm and it really didn't make sense to go that late. So we took a rain cheque on it. Still, we had a really nice time, I smoked two arghiles and I got my bathing suit! Now let me explain. I wanted to find a bathing suit for awhile, since I really didn't have a good one. So a few weeks ago, I went on Ebay to look for one. Immediately, I went to the vintage section, thinking they would have decent things, but was wrong. They had mostly bikinis, bombshell aka sexy stuff and halter-topped things. Then, I went to the modern section and it was even worse! But I did find a vintage one that caught my eye. It was a nice one-piece which was described as modest and innocent. But they did say that it had a dress and sash. I was a bit nervous at that, since I don't wear such things but figured what the hell. I'll try it. I showed Spiros and he said he liked it. So he got it for me. In the meantime, Mom went to K Mart and found me an incredibly comfortable one-piece that I adored. It was standard, covered in the back and all in the front, with the bottoms like underwear not a bikini or shorts (though I don't mind the latter) and with a hook in the back, which is actually a bit annoying. She got me another one from the same company but it was too small. But that was a size 10 and the one which fit is a size 6! Go figure. So she brought that one back and got me another of the good ones, so now I had two of the same. Speaking of sizes, as anyone who has ever bought real vintage (not replica) clothing knows, sizes were different then. But the description of the bathing suit on Ebay said that it would fit a modern small to medium. When I tried it on, I thought that it was ever so slightly tight. But then I realised that it actually fit me properly! Spiros couldn't believe it when I showed him and said it was even better than the new one that Mom got me! When I went to show Mom, the first thing she said was "buy another one!" When I told her that i couldn't, because it was from the 60's and that I had picked it out, she was amazed. Then, I asked her to guess the price. She said $40 and $50. It's too bad that I couldn't see her face when I said $5. She, too, said this one is far better than the new one and told me it actually looks like something someone would wear to tennis and not girly at all! I know that I'm traditional in some ways, but I just don't know how to wear such things. I'm not even sure how I would feel in a traditional costume, though it would probably be far more comfortable than in a frilly modern dress and I would be willing to try it. Even Joanie said the bathing suit was cool, which sealed the deal for me.
Spiros left for work on Wednesday and I called Mom to see when they were coming to fix the bathroom. It turns out that they'd be coming the next day at around 8:30. So I pretty much slept and relaxed that day. Yesterday, I got up really early and couldn't get back to sleep. So at eight something, I made a hash brown and waited. Mom called me down and gave me a coffee and an egg sandwich and then the work began! From what she told me, everything will be new, from the sink, which would never really stay clean no matter what you did, to the toilet with it's broken chain, to the dirty bath tub (I just bought a natural cleaner for it and now don't need it) with it's ridiculous setup (one knob to turn the shower, one for hot and one for cold), to the tials to the ceiling fan, which hadn't been cleaned since the 1989 fire and which therefore couldn't be used. So yeah! I'm excited, and! Of course, I can't use the bathroom while all of this is going on, so I'm temporarily back in my old room in the basement. I'm pretty sure they won't be finished by tomorrow, so will call Spiros then to cancel our weekly meeting on Sunday. In the meantime, I've got some snacks down here and Mom's been cooking for me and bring stuff home for me, since I don't know her kitchen setup and she's got one of those digital microwaves with a touchscreen instead of buttons or a dial. Today, I went on the deck for the first time this year! It was hot and wonderful out but I didn't get to go swimming because Mom was sleeping, none of my bathing suits were available and. my sunscreen was upstairs. Now, I've got both and will definitely be hading out there tomorrow. Oh yeah, and I sent off that letter in Greek, with yet more modifications. I really hope that everything goes well. But if not, I'll try some other pages and groups and then call in the big guns, namely General Pattakos and Despina Papadopoulou, the wife of Colonel Papadopoulos. I just hope that I won't have to go that far. Someone's got to know a person who can help me! In the meantime, I'm off to Ellada uh I mean dream land. *yawn*