IMPATIENCE & OTHER COMPLAINTS

     Regarding my lack of patio furniture, I discovered the surprisingly fruitful dumpster bins in my complex, and a thrift shop on Redwood Avenue with fabulous stuff at cheap prices.  I now own twelve outdoor chairs, none of which afford me any moments of peace and quiet, living, as I do, on a busy road between the freeway and the Ferry.  I’m considering buying earplugs for visitors, if I ever get any after all this disclosure.  We could watch the great flocks of birds that swoop over the river at sunset, a billowing sailboat filled with wind, the silhouettes of runners and strollers, and ignore belching, booming farting vehicles, especially big buses whose drivers shift down right in front of my house as they barrel down Curtola Parkway and growl onto Mare Island Drive.

     The good news is my pulmonologist told me my lungs are already so bad the soot of the road won’t make them any worse, but I should keep up my swimming, the best exercise for me.  

     Since I arrived in Vallejo, I’ve been trying to find a good gym with a heated indoor swimming pool, which is no easy feat.  First, I had to survive the con-job hustle rip-off gangsters at In Shape, who refused to answer any of my questions, starting with, “do you have a pool?” unless I showed up at their facility, signed their waiver giving them permission to solicit me in any way they see fit (pun intended), and spoke to a “fitness specialist,” aka professional sales person who would earn a commission for signing me up.  I told them I wouldn’t step foot in their club even if they paid me.  Imagine my joy when I discovered 24 hour Fitness near Rahley’s, with its friendly welcoming staff, interesting enthusiastic members, a delightful 85 degree swimming pool.  As if all that's not enough, they offer Silver Sneakers free membership for seniors.  
  

     Yes, I’m hanging in, but I still have no shelves for books or clothing, because workers constantly let me down.  I know, eventually, at least before Christmas, hopefully, I’ll finish unpacking and things will settle down, surely, but it can’t be soon enough for me.   

     And, what ever happened to summer?  

     At least I enjoy visits to my grandkids, who light up my life and make everything else insignificant.  We’ve decided to create a cookbook for grandparents and grandkids; we'll call it Chopped Pickles: the three of us will come up with ideas and recipes, the 7 year old will do the illustrations, I’ll supervise the cooking and write it all down, and the 2 year old won’t stop reminding us not to forget strawberries, chicken and rice.

     On the subject of books, a couple of VIB readers bought my book and told me they loved it.  Thank you! There are several 5 star reviews posted on Amazon’s website, but sales aren’t exactly soaring; I need more business.  So, how about it?  Buy my book.  It’s a good story well told, with lots of sex and intrigue, without whining and complaining, I swear.  You’ll get hours of entertainment, and it’s only $2.99.  A bargain!  Go ahead.  Go to www.flatbushprincess.dom.  Look on Amazon Kindle Books for FLATBUSH PRINCESS.  Buy it.  Please!