Carpe diem

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Up at the crack of dawn, taking the car to a mechanic to fix something. No idea what that something was, The Colonel knows, the mechanic knows, just had to show up with the vehicle and trot off out of the way for an hour and a half. Easy peasy lemon squeasy as they say.

Walked over to a Starbucks to wait, gave car guy my mobile phone number, "Call me when it's ready".

Waiting, waiting.....falling asleep, so tired, massive headache. Wrote some Christmas cards out, read some of my book....4 hours later. No call.

Doctors appointment in Tampa, used to be a 10 minute drive from home, now its an hour away, such an inconvenience. Need car back or will be late, hate having to drive so far for a crumby appointment.

Living on the beach is tolerable, the sound of waves lapping against the shore at night is spectacular, living around 'Beach People', not so much.

Neighbours are a crusty old couple. He looks like a serial killer, she a barnacle encrusted old barge. Returned my friendly smiles with belligerant stares. Overheard the petulant lady yelling at someone in the street, 'No we didn't steal it'. Says it all really. House shot at by police first night, thieving neighbours. Missing old house in quiet neighbourhood.

Mozzie ridden rental is owned by the realtor who stole my cookies. Have a nasty insect bite on the corner of my eye, result of living in above mentioned insect hotel.

Most windows are broken, don't open or threaten to fall out if they open at all, making the place a sauna. The few that arn't in disrepair have no fly screen. In Florida, where the mosquito is the state bird, are you kidding me?

Got desperate a few times, at night its cold outside, but hot and sweaty inside, moments of weakness, opened windows, bugs took that as a formal rolling out of the welcome mat, bit me on the eye. Nasty little (expletive deleted).

Eye is sore and itchy, big and swollen. The dermatologist consulted today said if it gets bigger and vision gets blurry, go to the Emergency room. Sob.

She saw my Rosacea redness and heard how the cleanser prescribed did nothing. Must have IPL. She prescribed yet another gel. Bugger me. No help there at all.

Left Christmas cards on table at Starbucks. Some weirdo guy wearing camo pants*, (nut job) was sitting on other side of cafe. Went to utilise the facilities, came back to find him in the chair still warmed by good self. What else to do but leave and dawdle around Target then sit for yet more hours in the Target Starbucks waiting for a call that never came from grease monkey.

Returned to the garage, car was ready, said he had been calling for hours. He had written down an incorrect mobile phone number. (Expletives deleted).

Went back to Starbucks, expecting someone to have turned the Christmas cards in. No, they were gone. The guy who saw me get up, leave them, go to the toot then come back didn't think to say..."Oi you left these behind"? Or he stole them, or someone else stole them. Had written on some. A thieving miscreant is reading my personal notes to people. Feel so dirty. Who steals someone's Christmas cards?

Yes there was a nice picture on the front, a jaunty snowman and a bit of glitter, but really, to steal someones Chrissy cards? Talk about the Grinch, talk about Scrooge, talk about a complete loser.

Title quote from ode by Horace, Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero – "Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future."

* In reference to the guy in camo pants. Nothing against people wearing camouflage, (The Colonel looks very good in camos with his red beret) if they are in the MILITARY. Random civilians walking around town wearing camos are usually creepy-serial killer, drug dealer, escaped mental patient, survivalist militia...get the drift?