Would you Like a Little Cheese With That Whine?

Tonight we grilled chicken and tried our son's recipe for zucchini on the grill. It was perfect. Wrapped 3 zucchini and one yellow squash which we cut into one inch chunks, one thinly sliced onion, dried oregano and basil, garlic powder and a little salt in tightly wrapped tin foil. We made a flat rectangular package and squeezed out the air. I also drizzled a little olive oil and a half shot-glass full of water over the vegetables before wrapping. Dave cooked them on the grill next to our chicken for about 20 - 25 minutes. They were really, really good. Better than steamed which is the way I usually cook them. Clean up was easy, too.

Earlier today I smelled an extremely strong smell of gas so we called the gas company to come right over. He checked all of our appliances, furnace, hot water heater and the main gas valve. No leak. Our neighbor was painting her garage door shortly after he arrived. He got very alert and asked if I smelled that paint smell. I remarked that I did but that was not the same odor I had smelled earlier. My neighbor and I told him that she hadn't painted for about 5 days prior to now. This is interesting I think. He said, when you paint with oil-based paint the fumes mix with the gas fumes and produce an awful smell, worse than just natural gas. This happens even weeks or months later until the paint finally hardens and cures. I didn't believe or trust him at first because it seemed like an easy way out. Here she was painting and he decided that was the cause of the smell. After putting him through his paces, I had to finally admit that he was right and there was no gas leak after all. I really grilled him and said if we die tonight, it would be on his head. He said he has been doing this for twenty years and he would absolutely make sure that we were safe. He added that if we were to die because of a gas leak he didn't detect, he would go to jail. That convinced me that I should no longer worry about the smell. He turned on all the appliances and left. About an hour later I tried to dry a load of laundry in my gas dryer. Nothing but cold clothes. I called several numbers at the gas company and after 25 minutes of being on hold, the gas company person said we'd have to wait until tomorrow between 7:00 a.m. and noon for the person to return to turn on the gas on the dryer. 25 minutes of cell phone time wasted listening to their annoying messages!

We were on our way out to get Dave's beloved Corvette inspected when we smelled the gas smell. He left to meet his appointment and I stayed home to wait for the gas man to arrive. The car hasn't been on the road for two years and we decided to enjoy it while we were here so we insured it last week. Unfortunately, it failed inspection because the driver's seat had one inch too much of play in it. Dave was not a happy camper about this decision of the Motor Vehicle Division.

I'm mad at myself for sleeping in too late and didn't walk this morning because it was too hot. How can I justify eating that sundae tonight?

Oh well. What is life unless you are mad, frustrated, sad, or happy. None of these aggravations are a big deal in the scheme of things. I'm on a four-month vacation at the Jersey shore. A vacation from my vacation in Florida where I play golf and enjoy life. Perhaps I'm adjusting to having nothing to fuss about since I no longer have to deal with the administration at mom's place where she lived. There is a great deal of empty time here at the shore in-between guests. As I write this, I realize I am annoying even myself. Such whining! I need a visit to a nursing home to get myself back in the proper perspective. Life is good. I am healthy, the sun is shining again and I have a wonderful family and friends. My simple daily aggravations are no worse than the next person's and certainly nothing like I experienced when mom was in the nursing home. As you read this, I'm slapping myself around and you will not hear any more self-pity from me. Go forth and enjoy your life!!! That's for me and for you, too.