WEEK 80 Thursday 25- Wednesday 31
Here are a few more reasons why I wrote what I wrote on September 5, 2011
(WEEK 79 AND BITS AND PIECES...)
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WEEK 800,000
PART 1
The names of the culprits have been changed.
I was really hoping for a better week. After all, who likes problems? It was Thursday.
I had been off a few days from work. I was back now and as always, ready to pretend I was
doing fine. I opened my department. Did a little work. Went to get some coffee at the
cafeteria. But on my way there I said, let me swing by Mary's department first, and see
what's new with my lunch buddy.
Mary was blowing up a bouquet of pink and violet balloons when I approached her and
cheerfully said, "Good morning dear! How are you?" Mary, opened her eyes wide,
pretending she was startled by my greeting, then said as she tied the balloons to a weight,
"Well, hello there! Hey, what's this you not telling me about Mayra's house? What are you
going to do with it now?" I tilted my head to the side, frowned and said, "What? What do you
mean what am I going to do with my daughter's house?" I fixed my eyes on her wondering
what she was up to... probably a joke. But, she casually answered, "Well, Lucy was just here
and said, Jeanie Lee and Bubba were moving out. She asked for boxes."
SOUND OF SCHREECHING TIRES
What the hell? My mind raced.
That couldn't be... My daughter would know... She would have told me...
I told Mary, I would call Mayra and ask if she knew anything. But I knew that some monkey
business was going on here... I am the landlord of her property. Mayra would have told me
immediately if Jeanie Lee and Bubba had given notice that they were moving.
Hmmm... could it be they were sneaking out of the house?!
I made that phone call. Gasp! They were!
Well... I had news for them...
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WEEK 800,000
PART 2
I don't think Bubba knew what hit him after I was done with him. He just stood there on
the front lawn. Baffled. Pale. Sweaty. "I don't care how you get the money-
borrow it, get a loan, or look under rocks- If not I'll see you in Court
for breaking a contract." still ringing in his ears.
Serves him right, I thought as I drove away. To think they were moving out that weekend
owing a month's rent and $329.00 on the electric bill. How easy to move out and use the
money they owed my daughter toward a new place... And how easy to leave Mayra and
Raul, who had forgiven their late fees so, so many times, hanging with their mortgage
payment for a second month in just a few days. Yet... I had found out through my "sources",
they would be going on vacation after settling in their new home.
The nerve of their actions had me bouncing off the walls. The fear of my daughter losing her
house had me in shock. What to do! What to do!
To make a long story short- A second visit to Bubba, after he lied giving a false address to
be billed for the electric bill (thank you internet), and calling the police to make sure he knew
I meant business...gave positive results. He paid the rent on the 31st. They still owed the light
bill. Still, I patted myself on the back. Mamma did good.
Now, I just had to wait until the day they promised to turn in the keys. Meanwhile
work was unbearable the days Jeannie Lee's mother worked. All day long she would
give me dirty looks from her cash register. And she spread the rumor that we were
lousy landlords... and that the house's celing was about to cave in. What? What?
What was she talking about?
When I knew they had left the property I searched for Mayra's keys. No luck. But I went
and peeked through the back door's glass... My knees went weak. WHAT THE HELL WAS
THAT SPREAD ALL OVER THE LIVING ROOMS CEILING!! MOLD?? It couldn't be.
How... WHEN...Why... Why weren't we told!!
Worry set in. This added to my own personal struggles at home was a little too much. And I
still had to wait another week for them to turn in the keys.
I felt like breaking an entry in my own daughter's house.
I asked... I begged God for patience.
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WEEK 800,000
PART 3
The days passed. And I was filled with anxiety. Working on FOOD STORIES was more of
a drag now than a joy. I wanted to finish it so bad... but I avoided writing. Any excuse was
good to get away from my computer. I couldn't concentrate. I started doubting my work.
I started doubting myself. Yet, I worked on more stories very slowly...
One story that had to written was the paella one. I couldn't finish the darn book without it.
I had promised that recipe to my nephew Alex, and by golly I was going to do it. I asked my
son Chris if I could cook one at his home. The answer of course was... YES.
On Saturday the 4th, I ran around town looking for paella ingredients. The victory of finding
calamari at Ingles, and clams and mussels at the Hamilton Mill Publix was a little tarnished by
breaking off the mirror on the passengers side with a shopping cart as I backed out. I wish I
would have seen my face when I heard the "CRACK" sound and then seeing the mirror dangling
from it's cables....Yeah, I am sure my face was a poem...
On Sunday the 5th, I cooked the paella at Beth and Chris's. Christian, Christopher's 18 year
old step brother who is living now with them, was the photographer. OH!! OH!! What a
blessing to have someone else take the photos... and OH! OH! What magnificent photos they
were! I won't get into this because it's all in "Get Your Flamenco Dress Out Paella", and
hopefully it will be available some day at your local book store... sigh..
Anyway, I had a marvelous time at my son's. It's always a joy to cook for others. Cooking for
the book and eating what I cooked by myself... well... it's just not very rewarding.
And here is the paella! Now there was no excuse not to finish the book...
But that wasn't all I did for that day...
Nothing better than to finish a good meal with a sweet flan!
I wished my next weeks were as good as that flan turned out. But they weren't. Even so I
kept cooking at home. For some reason the paella brought to mind I didn't have enough
seafood stories and before I wrote the paella one... I wrote "Fishy People's Cod Fish". I
actually cheated with this story-- I based it on a blog post from the beggining of Between
U.S.A and Spain!
At this point I asked Chris and Mayra to turn in their illustrations for the book. Each chapter
will have one of their drawings. Four Mayra. Four Chris.
As of today, October 6th-
Chris, has turned in three awesome illustrations:
"Cavemen Plantains". I am sure this one will get a smile out of my friend, Barbara Shallue
She liked these characters from way back when I started writing my stories!
This one is just too cool! "Fish Desperado"
And this one, for "Killer Recipes" is too funny! "
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Mayra, has turned in two wonderful drawings.
This beautiful one, is for the "Spanish Kitchen"
This humorous one for "Family Matters".
And I can't believe she worked on these drawings
(Yes, that is what she is doing) with little Gabriel also drawing on her lap!
Isn't he big? Look at those eyes! Just like his mom's!
My kids are amazingly talented. Don't you agree?
I am so proud and so thankful for their help and support in Food Stories.
Sandra can't draw a circle, but... she has been my proofreader.
I thank you too, Sandra.
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THIS POST WILL CONTINUE...
