What a powerful cleaner Tod’s Bissell Steam Master carpet shampoo machine is.   I’ve been cleaning at the rental and I may not have to replace all the carpet after all.  Last night I finished the September layout of  Horizons and sent it off to the printer.  First thing this morning, I went over to the mobile and began shampooing the carpets.  When I worked on the back bedroom carpet last night, I didn’t know how much shampoo to use, so I only added a couple of capsful.  I got lots of dirty water up that eventually came up clear, so I knew it was working.  Today I was told to add a cup of shampoo, so I did that for the living room.    Wow, big difference!

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The last few days I’ve been working almost nonstop 18 hour days doing final layout for the September issue of Horizons Magazine.  It helps me to stay focused when I don’t dilute my thought energy.  I got several new ads and those are always fun to create.  I took breaks in the middle of the day and worked late into the night.  That’s my favorite time to work: nighttime, when it’s dark outside and the crickets are loud and the phones are quiet and the streets are clear.  About 5:00pm I took a ride to the rental home.  I’d turned the a/c off but kept the fan running and wanted to know how warm it got in there.  It wasn’t bad and it began to cool off quickly.  A/C floor vents are a good idea: heat rises.  I opened the little bathroom and kitchen windows for more air circulation, but kept the other windows closed in case it rained.  This way I won’t run up a big power bill on days I don’t get over there.  I’ve got good neighbors next door and across the street who are home all day long,  watchdogging the ‘hood.  Built in security!  As I look back over my life, I realize I always end up in the midst of people who want to look out for me.  Is that because I need protection or because we all like to have something or someone to protect?

A friend asked me yesterday how the construction was going with my rental.  She follows my progress on Facebook and is surprised I take so much of it in stride.  She’s a landlord, too, and knows how aggravating tenant damage can be.  For me, at this stage of my life, it’s a no brainer.  I think of the truth of the situation:  I had an ideal tenant who paid rent on time for nine years.  Ok, so she moved out with little notice and no deposit, and as she was a smoker, I have to clean every surface, or replace or paint it. For me that means not only replacing all ceiling lights and ceiling fans, but all wall receptacles and light switches, medicine cabinets as well as carpet.  I think my out of pocket is just under $2,000 so far.  So I can’t really complain about the situation.  She’d still be there had she not developed a serious health problem and had to move in with family.  I’m glad she had a happy nine years there and like to think I contributed to her happy life.  So I know that I’m not just readying a rental, I’m creating a home for someone new and that’s a sacred endeavor. Continue reading →

Special request to all you kids returning to school in the next few days or weeks:  If you see someone who is struggling to make friends or is being bullied because he/she looks or acts different, or because they are shy, PLEASE step up and say “hi” and smile.  You never know what that kid might be going through outside of school.  Your kindness can make a BIG difference in someone’s life!   Veronica Villaverde-Dayoub

Pom-Blueberry Vanilla Spirutein Protein Smoothie

This week I’ve been having a hard boiled egg and a protein smoothie for breakfast.  I make it with a splash of orange juice, a cup of Pomegranate-Blueberry 100% juice and some vanilla Spirutein, the whey version. I find this is the most efficient way to eat right now while I’m running around doing physical work.  I wish I knew this in the 90’s when I was a fattie.  In the past month I’ve dropped another 5 pounds because (1) I’m walking all over Home Depot every day and (2)  I’m too tired to eat for entertainment when I get home.  Yay, I love when that happens.

Yesterday was another long but productive day.  I began by working on final layout for the September issue of  Horizons Magazine which has to be at the printer on Friday.  I’d asked for an extra five days to finish it so I could work on my rental renovation.  After a morning of computer work, I went over to the rental and dropped off supplies and two bananas for my friend and his worker buddy.   Tod and I went through the place with a checklist and made a pile of items to return and another list of items to buy.  I went across the street to Home Depot and returned a ceiling light, two smoke detectors and a dozen switch plates, receptacles and wallplates.  I then bought the 10 packs of each which was a lot cheaper (thanks Tod for the tip.)  I bought a faucet set, a medicine cabinet and another ceiling fan.  With so many returns and purchases, I’m not sure what my grand total is yet, altho the receipts are in the file and I’ll check them against the bill when it gets here.  When I got back, ceiling fans were going up, the new toilet seat and shower curtain were installed and the place was shaping up.

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Thank you for my life, my job, my home, my health, my friends, my family, my opportunities, my lessons, my knowledge, all that I have and all that I am and everything I’ve been and all I’m yet to be.   Each time I think I couldn’t be happier, you make me happier.  No, really, thank you.