My daughter has a condo in Austin, Texas which needs some work. Since this occurred we have conversed more in 2 days then in a life time. Getting reputable carpenters, plumbers and electricians is a feat.

When I moved to St. Augustine I knew no one and the realtor assured me what I purchased was a turn key condo. $10,000. later I knew she only wanted a sale and though I had a home inspection I question the man’s credentials.

We all have transferable skills and much of what I used to locate reputable workers came from my days as a single parent when I needed babysitter support. Here are some of my ideas and I hope it helps:

• Ask your friends, neighbors, and co-workers if they know anyone reputable who has done work for them. Check out the reference, their work and get estimates.
• Your local hardware or big chain store may know folks. The “big stores” no longer give references but sometimes you can find a kind salesperson who will give you a name.
• Some stores have bulletin boards with biz cards on them. Worth a shot, get references, check out the work.
• Cruise your condo parking lot or neighborhood for maintenance vehicles. See who other folks are using. If they are in the area they might stop by after they have finished their job and give you an estimate. The best carpenter I ever got was from a chat in the Dunkin’ parking lot.
• Church advertising on the back of the weekly bulletin. Who is going to mess with the Lord???
• Ask your condo maintenance man if he’d be interested in the job or the condo manager for a reference.
• The on-line services – Auntie Google them. They will give you 3 vendors for estimates.
• Amazon has workers associated with their products. I bought a ceiling fan from them and was able to purchase installation services from a local electrician. It even had the time slot listed for his arrival. I now have a reputable electrician for the future in this one stop shopping. YES!
• Your realtor, but don’t ask mine :).
• Home warranty services, but read the fine print. I haven’t been lucky here, but others have.
• Talk to everyone you know as someone always knows someone else. I’ve said this twice and repetition is a sign of insanity but trying to locate these folks can cause this. Stay cool and don’t jump quickly. The right person will come. Trust.
• If the worker comes looking like Rambo, (but avoid anyone packing), is a bit dirty or disheveled chat him up to test the waters. I had a great worker with hair in a long pony tail. During the interview he brought up his appearance which was a plus for me. Offense is the best defense.
• For some things learn to do it yourself, however, I only recommend this for painting as not everyone is so inclined or has the time.

Once you locate the worker..

• Get the estimate in writing and pin them down to a date.
• Give them the ground rules (gently). Tell them if you don’t want anyone smoking in your house. Once I had someone arrive post-interview who then spoke every other word as f–k. I began to wonder if he had another vocabulary word. He also spit enormously. Glad this was an outside job as it was particularly disconcerting. I was grateful he was only there 4 hours. When I let his boss know he shrugged. Need I say it was a one time job??
• Go with your gut, but single women especially, let someone know you have a worker coming and be safe. It’s important to trust the individual. Keep his or her biz card. Don’t have your jewelry sitting out and hide anything valuable. Look poor.
• Offer cold water and be pleasant but let them do what needs to be done and get them on their way. Check to see how it’s going periodically. They have schedules to keep and money to make. They don’t have time to chat with you.
• Pay when the work is done, not ahead of time. If they want money for supplies, meet them at the store and take the supplies to your home. I had a guy I thought was reputable and used him for a long time then he skipped town with quite a sum. Besides a worker, he had become a friend, and that hurt. Protect yourself. This is a business relationship and it’s your money.
• If you do have someone who is not reputable take the appropriate actions. Save someone else grief.

Good luck and once the right worker arrives treasure him or her.

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Today I received some bad news, however I am a firm believer that out of bad always comes good, so here’s the deal. If you have read any of my blogs you are aware that I am a Classical Stretch fan, guru and promoter. These exercises have given me my life back and I am eternally grateful to its founder, Miranda Esmonde-White, for this.

I signed up for a NYC course to become a Classical Stretch teacher, however it was cancelled as I was the only one who signed on. This upset me but I will keep my NYC vacation and have already signed on for 6 plays through Headout. They have super cheap theater tix but this is for another blog.

Classical Stretch teaches us to get out of your shoes and exercise your feet. especially your toes – loosen them up and unfreeze them. Why? Because these toes, feet, and fingers also start the muscle chains for the rest of the body. If they are working knee, back, and neck pain falls away. And if you don’t believe me, give it a try. She’s on PBS.

Whenever I see someone crunched up in a wheelchair or walker I ask if they walk barefoot. Their answer is always the same, “NO.” Sometimes they listen, sometimes they are indignant. If they are indignant I just chalk it up because if you are in enough pain you try anything, (as did I), and this works!

So, get those toes, feet, and fingers working then watch the pain disappear.

It’s Kathleen and if you don’t like what I say it’s still Kathleen. (And for this one if you don’t like what I say you are simply not in enough pain).

It’s March 27th but I’m writing this for April 8th as I’ve written blogs up to that date. I leave for Jordan soon and will write of that adventure beginning on the 15th. It certainly will be fascinating.

Today is a gloomy day in Florida and I welcome it. All that sun gets boring so it’s time for a break. As I lay on my couch staring out my sliders this morning a neighbor walking his dog stopped and stood about 10 feet from my sliders and starred into my condo. He has done this twice before and as a single woman I don’t like it. I got up immediately and closed my blinds. I could see through the blinds he continued to gawk.

Why do I write this? I guess I watch too many Forensic Files, 48 Hours and the like, but you never know. While I am not paranoid I think this weird.

Maybe the sun will shine again tomorrow. I have one last day on my Disney pass and the flower show is on. Good to get out of town.

I have been receiving emails that I have a follower. Since I have a history of being stalked this concerns me, however in checking further I suppose it’s a good thing. Someone is out there and reading the stuff I am writing. I never thought this would happen. Thank you, Marie. I hope you are laughing and continue to. Maybe we could meet and go on a trip together or better yet I could figure out how to find your site and read it. I must locate a 6 year old to help me.

Why did I start writing? Well, a psychic gal did a reading for me and said that I should write as it would get me out of my post election funk. This has helped along with discovering Stephen Colbert. It has given me purpose and something to do. Thanks again Marie for reading.

I promise I will locate that 6 year old.

In Florida they think I’m a lesbian.   Don’t get me wrong I like lesbians, Ellen DeGeneres is one of my favorite folk.  But one day after  4 people stated this to me I wondered why do they think this? Is it my shoes?  I like those orthopedic shoes and after 44 years as a nurse or in some sort of health care capacity I need those shoes to stay erect.

Then I thought maybe it’s the clothes? So now I am on a campaign of wearing flowers and frilly tops, but I still love those shoes.

I’ve been working on taking off ten pounds and quite frankly it’s discouraging. Besides writing down everything I eat, measuring portions and exercising more the weight doesn’t come off as fast as expected. You see I’d like to have these 10 pounds gone in a week.

Today I discovered a way I can loose 5 pounds in one day. I take the scale and move it around the house. It seemed to work best when you put the scale on carpeting but if you have uneven flooring it might work even better there. Give it a try.

So what do you do when you are sick but the tax deadline is looming and the cortisone is driving you crazy? Well, you do your taxes regardless.

Ralph from the Bronx has been doing my taxes for over 10 years now. He is one man I will never give up. I pray for his health and now even have my daughter going to him. It’s become a family affair where I nag her annually, “Have you sent your stuff to Ralph?” I know she appreciates this even though I hear the groans.

Each year I write Ralph a friendly letter inquiring of his family and health. I really do care and want to make sure he stays around a long time. I then compose a detailed letter based on my Excel spread sheet figures, 1099’s and other gobbledygook that goes with the scene. Somehow Ralph makes sense of it all and I sign on the dotted line after a review.

This year was a cosmic event as I rolled over my 401k to a Roth. Gosh, I wish I had discovered Suze Orman earlier as this year I am paying more in taxes than the Donald has ever paid in a lifetime. However, I am a good citizen and I prepped for this. I gave the IRS their third and moved on. As Donna Summer sang, “I will survive,” and that I will as who wants to mess with the likes of RMDs at 70 1/2 years of age even if you have a Ralph.

Today was taxes, tomorrow the novel. Gosh, maybe this cortisone stuff isn’t as bad as I think.

Every year St. Augustine has a Flower and Garden Expo and each time I attend I am more fascinated by the variety of plants and items offered for purchase. This year a vendor was selling a device which I saw used in all places, the Chicago Airport Lounge. Plants grow suspended with an automated watering system to nourish them. They grow as much as a half inch a day. The technology was developed by Disney decades ago.

And you thought Disney was only about cartoons…………

I used to think it was hard coming back from vacation because of the mail. But now with email you can pay your bills from any spot in the world. Too bad it isn’t the same for catching up on your favorite television shows. I only follow CBS but even keeping up with that after 2 weeks is time consuming.

It’s 3 am and I am up to date on my news shows, 60 Minutes, CBS This Morning, and Stephen Colbert, (yes, he is news). The Blue Bloods and Madame Secretary are left for tomorrow.

I can’t imagine what return from vacation would be if I followed more shows. Which brings me to the point, how do other folks catch up on this? Maybe they only take vacation during re-run season?.

Off to bed. Signing off. Kathleen

I recently purchased a new car and quite frankly I don’t know how to use it. These problems started with my first tank of gas. I couldn’t figure out how to open the fuel door.

After walking around the car and checking the trunk and vehicle doors I asked the man in the next bay for assistance. Together we opened the driver’s door and the floor mat had covered the latch to open the fuel door. Grateful for someone to have patience with me I thanked him and bid him adieu. I’m sure I gave him a chuckle and a story for the “boys.”

Today I had the courage to read the email from the company about the vehicle’s advantages. In the email it recommended that you install Android Auto. I tried to copy the address for installation instructions from the email and was challenged. After going back and forth 10 times to obtain the address I got the correct you tube site. The video person spoke too fast for me to comprehend was using words like lollipop and blue tooth. Why was she talking of candy and dental treatments?

I then called the national customer service people and the gal on the other end who also spoke too fast asked if she could help. As politely as I could I asked her to slow down and her name. In asking about the AP she gave responses which displeased me but were truthful. Installation was more involved than I could handle.

Technology is moving so fast it’s terrifying when you are an old dog.