Tag Archives: getting lost

Where the Heck Am I?

Howdy from Greeley, Colorado! Bet you thought I ate some bad beef bar-b-que and have been down for the count, but for five months? Truth be told, I’ve been busy promoting my book, EVolution: Rose & Vera Save Mother Earth which was published in June.

It’s been fun and challenging, but ol’ Ermigal is just getting started!

The book project has morphed into an important cause that I’m passionate about–recycling. After I moved here from Central New York, I was surprised to learn Colorado has a pathetic rate of recycling: only 14%! Boy, have I been kvetching about that!

The good news is the law that was passed a few months ago, the Producer Responsibility Program, which “requires producers of packaging, paper products, and food service ware to fund a statewide recycling system to recycle those materials.” More on that soon; now, back to kvetching!

What the … ! “Exit Only” ?

May I share with you the challenges of navigating a new area after decades in Syracuse, NY? FYI, I get lost easily because I’m “geographically challenged,” always have been. After two years here, I can get to maybe four places without using my car navigation.

The other day I was headed to my credit union but navigation said to make a U-turn asap. Traffic was heavy and I was getting stressed, then I spotted a familiar place: Dutch Brothers.

(Never been there, and thought it was a paint store until recently, when I figured out the perpetual line of cars outside must be a coffee shop or something.) Got stuck in the line of cars, and when I tried to get out, almost had a major fender bender with a car coming out of the exit of Dutch Brothers.

Help! The only option was to go thru the line. That’s just great, Ermigal. Nice work.

After waiting for about 12 cars to get their calorie-laden, unhealthy beverages, I finally got to where I was going. Yeesh.

That’s enough kvetching for tonight.

Reminder, our editorial board is always looking for kvetches, big and small, from you, Dear Reader.

Kvetch a little, you’ll feel better!

A Plateful of Kvetches

Yeah, yeah, it’s the season of giving thanks and loving your neighbor. Holly Jolly, my keister.

The HOA where I live now was very swift in blaming me for ongoing water damage to the unit below. I stood my ground, but it took a toll on my deteriorating mental health.

Since I moved to Greeley, Colorado six months ago to be closer to my Daredevil Child, it’s been a steady diet of mishaps–HOA* threats to fix water damage I didn’t know about, the loss of house, mailbox and car key (never found), new furnace/water heater/AC (all apparently ready to conk out, thanks for nothing, home inspector!)–and those are just the ones I can remember.

Thank goodness I was able to get a coal delivery until my new furnace was installed.

Then gradually, things began to calm down. I met some nice folks where I live and the car navigation wasn’t needed to get to a few places (Granted, they’re only a mile or so away, but I’m severely geographically-challenged.) I can do this! Confidently, I planned some errands for last Monday.

First stop, the Computer Support store. They’d helped me with basic things like passwords and what an eight-year-old knows about a laptop. This time, I wanted support for my blog. When I walked in, a customer was monopolizing both techs about ordering a new phone. This interloper continued to yell questions to my tech guy while we were trying to work– on my dime! (Granted, I was a little late and they went about 30 minutes over my allotted time, but still–the unmitigated gall of this gal!

Daring me to intervene, ol’ Blue Eyes would get her new phone.

Finally the other tech came over to help me, explaining some blog highlights, like how to send out a survey to readers. Tech person assured me it wouldn’t go out into the world, I could simply delete it later. Just for fun I wrote, “Do you have any complaints about this blog?” Well, guess what? It went out into the world. If you have a complaint about the complaint survey, I don’t want to hear it.

Next was a short jaunt to shop for Christmas, right in the little downtown area of Greeley. First stop: Warm Hugs, a sweet little gift shop where I scored a few things to cross off my list. I headed to my car and put in the address of the second store, which will remain unnamed. I was looking for science kits for a young child. Finding just what I wanted, the friendly salesperson rang it all up. The employee wore a way-too-short T-shirt, the lion’s share of an ample stomach showing, along with a very long vertical scar down the middle. It was hard to not look as if I was looking away from it. That kind of threw me off balance. Whatever happened to employee dress codes? But at least I’d accomplished something, so I had a little spring in my step while walking to the car.

Where the heck is my car?

Not so fast, Missy! Wait, where did I park? All I could remember was parking on the street. I walked around and around, looking for a clue. There were none. Greeley has a grid system of numbered streets and avenues. I’ve been told Streets run North and South, Avenues East and West. I started walking in the direction I’d driven, then thankfully saw a familiar place! The flooring store I’d recently purchased overpriced laminate flooring from–surely they’d help me! Two employees were there and I explained my plight. I even closed my eyes to recreate it as accurately as possible, like where I thought I turned, and so on. One didn’t even look up from their cell phone, the other stayed in their swivel chair and suggested some possible streets. I left even more confused, carrying my big cardboard box with the science toys. When people start in with the numbers–8th St, 24th Ave–it’s not helping. Just for effect, I walked by their store twice and shot them a dirty look. Would it hurt you to get off your uncaring butts and help a senior citizen, especially a disoriented one? May your supply chain take a wrong turn in its journey.

There, I’m done kvetching. Now I need a warm hug.

* Home Owners Association