Lights on lights off!

Clarence is the eccentric "old peep" although the other "old peep" just says he's demented. Has a thing with the lights. It's not about conserving energy,but maybe in an eccentric/demented way of thinking it might be. You see, whatever room he is in, ALL the lights are on,but he never turns them off when he leaves the room. So imagine going from bedroom to bathroom to kitchen and lacing a trail of fully lit rooms behind you. Okay...now here's the resters part: my mother was in her "office" using computer, ceiling fan and light were on: he walked thru & cut the main switch off. I was in the den reading a book with Tv on in background; he came through and cut off the TV and the light. Jaiden & his Dad were in the game room om the Wii, he flipped the light switc which controls all the outlets in this room. But this"old peep" still had his bedroom light, the bathroom and kitchen lights on..and these were the rooms HE was in

School supply shopping: but you retired 10 years ago!

So to continue with my mothers' shopping habits: This "old peep" retired 11 years ago after 40 years of elementary school public education.
At 1st we thought it was the withdrawal phase; she still bought school supplies from Staples,Target!Walmart & the dollar store. She ocassionally did sub work, so there was a use for it and her travel group "adopted" a school in Ghana so they benefited as well from these purchases.
HOWEVER...she hasn't been doing sub work, and most of what she's taken on her most recent trips to Ghana have been candy & make-up (thank you MAC & ENF)but the school supplies just keep on coming in and piling up? When this "old peep" was asked the what & why question her response was : I'll figure it out later, someone will have a need. Going on 12th year of the figuring & the need and it's getting to be a mighty big pile of school supplies that have not yet found a home..except in the garage with the other"specials".

Grocery shopping: why buy for 2 when u can shop for 10???

Errand are a minimum 3 hour outing for my mother everyday. This "old peep" takes full advantage of being a prfessional Senior Citizen: you have to know double coupon days, senior days @ bank and for store discounts(not just grocery shopping,but marshals & staples participate). Who gives rain checks, and whose isms atr a better value purchase. There are 2 ppl living in this house.
This "old peep" will hit target,walmart aka walli-world,path mark,stopnshop,shop rite,CVS & Walgreens,compare, western beef at least 3x a week,each store on each trip.
"it's all about the specials" she says. I've scoured the fliers in Sunday's papers and the local penny savers. When I get to the store, they have some non advertised special that I have to go back for the next day.you can never have enuf toilet tissue or paper towels, so of course I buy whatever the maximum allowable purchase is in every store at the time. suffice it to say my son & I r thankful for this old peeps shopping habits: with a few exceptions; everything we need is right in the "old peeps" garage

Clarence: Mr Fix it Strikes Again

This "old peeps" is a true believer in the school of do it yourself. But me thinks he forgot to read a few chapters; and has become a tad... Let's just call it imaginatively creative
Let's look at yet ANOTHER attempt;weatherproofing the house

After having new front& garage doors, windows in all room installed this "old peep" still felt a draft coming in through the front door. So while the other old peep was out doing her "errands" (more on that later),Clarence had a brain fart to use the remainder of the attic/crawl space pink insulation foam IN The Front door!! This "old peep" actually installed insulator between storm and house door and nailed the door shut. Which means you now can no longer enter/exit the house unless you use either side (kitchen)' garage or rear backyard door.
Problem? Of course!!
How to get the mail?
What happens when company comes?
How do my son and I get in ( we only have a set of keys to fit front door locks)?
And best of all: he forgot to tell my mother that he was doing this when she left to go grocery shopping... Use your imagination about wthe scenario upon her return home ( remember: he's hard of hearing)

The "old peeps" loyal to Ma Bell" & 1970

These "old peeps" believe tried & tested to be a mantra of living.

FACT: until 3 years ago, they still had a pink rotary princess phone in the old master bedroom. back in the day,you could "rent" the phone w/new phone service. These "old peeps" actually returned this phone to Ma bell aka Bell Atlantic aka AT&T for a new rental... Which by the way isstillaveryoldassphone.

FACT: with the exception of the Den ( which has a brick wall& fireplace), all the walls including the dining area of kitchen have wood paneling

FACT: there is a globe shaped 8 track stereo radio hanging in the kitchen window....and yes, it still works

I think "these old peeps" are a living mobile Smithsonian exhibit
Pictures to follow...stay tuned

Clarence:A Hard head makes for a soft behind

Dormer being added to ancestral ranch. Framework in place & flooring down. Last request to this "old peep" by construction crew: Please, Mr. Washington allow the flooring to set 12 hrs before you go up. So an hour later while my mother is prepping dinner who "decides" to take a look? According to my Mother; she heard a snap and my father saying "oh shit" before one of his legs came thru the ceiling. Her assist to this "old peep" was only the comment: they told you not to go up there, and returned back to her cooking while the other "old peep" figured out how to extract his leg.

Clarence: Before there was HGTV...how NOT to do it urself

Many years after purchasing the ancestral split level ranch, Clarence became Mr. Do it Urself courtesy of Time/Life Home Repair do it Urself series of books. the most memorable project was his stucco popcorn ceiling in the den. The finished product didn't offer enuf pizazz; so this "old peeps" decided to kick it up a notch by... Tossing. Silver.glitter.sprinkles Upontheceilinginthehopetheywouldstick. Unfortunately my mother Joy was hosting a meeting that evening in the den. Fortunately some of the glitter did stick to the ceiling, unfortunately her meeting attendees all had silver highlights in their coiffures when they left.