Bfth's week in Review

I know this week is not yet over, but... It's been a week (or so) hasn't it? Let's see there was/is: burglary at the Louvre, Hurricane Melissa deciminating the Caribbean, continued government shutdown with no end in sight (or anyone actually working on making things work) with government employees furloughed or working with no paycheck and SNAP benefits being cut off for thousands or more starting Saturday (many of them children and senior citizens), East Wing of the White House (once known as the People's House) being demolished (to make way for a privately funded ballroom)... I could go on, but who needs to get more depressed than we already are? (Personally, I am pretty upset that CBS News has lost so many great reporters/news people...John Dickerson, Michelle Miller, Dana Jacobsen, Debora Patta, s Janet Shamlian, Nancy Chen and Nikki Battiste.) So instead of focusing on the news of the world, today I'm going to focus on the news (both good and bad) of Bfth.

So welcome, to "news" and all about ME!

Household News: The fence IS done.

It took longer and cost more than I had hoped, but it's done. I'm not seeing any deer in my yard. Hoorah! I KNOW that if something REALLY wants to get in, they will, but it's definitely more difficult now. I also think there is probably a really pissed off groundhog residing in the storage add on of my garage (the part that is unfinished) because he/she can no longer get into my backyard for lunch. I don't know about the squirrels...they could probably get in, but they never really did. The chipmunks I actually hope will still be able to run around, but it's too cold and (currently) rainy to find out. I suppose the real test will be next spring when things warm up again.
More Household News: The gas fireplace in the living room will not ignite. We don't use it that much, but with electric and heating oil costs going through the roof (not that propane is cheap), I'd like to use it more often. (It's cold and rainy today so it would have been really nice to use it this morning while sipping my coffee.) The first company I contacted said they could come out in January. The second came today. Can you say BIG MISTAKE? I should have known better when they called to give me a window of time and the phone number was NOT the one on their website and when they called back again today it was still a different number; none of which came up with a professional name. When the “technician” arrived (in his personal truck with Florida license plates; not a business vehicle), he did not seem to know what he was doing and pretty quickly went to “replace everything.” I don’t want to that period, but if I have to, I want to do have it done by professionals and this definitely was NOT the case. Nutshell: I wasted $50 (service fee) and got myself a headache. No fireplace for me…at least for the time being. (And if anyone in the Poconos wants to know the name of a chimney service NOT to use, message me. I'm purposely NOT posting the name here.)
Customer Service: Back in September (the 11th to be exact), I had an appointment at the eye doctor. I don't go as often as I should (insurance allows once a year) and this year I specifically went because I was concerned with all the eye "issues" I've had. ( https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-weirdness-continues.html) I saw the doctor (who I really like) and he confirmed that my problems were just allergies and that using eye drops as necessarily was fine.) Then I went to pick out new glasses. I didn't particularly like any of the frames and no one really helped me, but I finally settled on one, paid for them and that was that. I waited and waited for the call that they were ready for pick up. Two weeks, 3 weeks, over a month and a half and no call. Finally, last Wednesday I called them. The person I spoke to said all Opticians were busy and someone would call me back. No call came that day, but that night (after their office was closed and I was on my way to PA), a text and email came in saying they were ready for pick up. Since the only time they are open "late" was Tuesday, after work I went in to pick them up. I waited at the front desk where the person was on the phone...for a LONG time. Only to be told to go to another area where someone would help me. However, there was no one there to help! Eventually someone from billing came by and said if I was just picking up she could get my glasses for me. She asked my name and looked...and looked...and looked. Finally she gave up and got some on from the optical staff to help. This person asked my name and looked and looked...finally she asked what insurance I had (?!) and then she found them! I tried them on and they were loose, so she adjusted. Once that was done, I had to request a case (because she was going to give them to me in a small bag) and 20+ minutes later I finally walked out. (Actually WE finally walked out because my husband came with me to keep me company and I'm glad he did.) While I like the doctor, I won't be going back. It's not just about the (lack of) customer service, but their hours are not conducive to a person who works full time and I think it's time to find someone in the Poconos. Sorry doctor B.
Halloween "Stuff": Wednesday was our annual Halloween party at the office. This year I dressed as a 60s/70s flower power/hippy chick.

I needed a costume that I can wear on public transportation and this fit the bill. With my flared pants, flowy blouse, flowery purse, print scarf/headband and loads of light blue eyeshadow and pink lipstick, I was good to go. Oh, there were also flowers to offer AND a black wig. I was quite the hit in my row. Our lunch was chaos (hundreds of people in line for pizza and popcorn), but my team (which included Where's Waldo, cat woman, a lumberjack, two supermans and a pirate) were able to get lunch and candy. I hurried back to my work station because I was really busy, but my manager insisted I go back down for the costume contest, which I did just before the contest was to "start". I DID manage to be selected, but there was no way I was going to win! There are just too many creative people. There were team costumes (one winning team went as the emotions from Inside Out), scary/funny costumes (Darth Vader Ginsberg) and amazingly intricate ones (a dragon). But as they say, it's an honor just to be nominated. And I'm already thinking about next year!
Halloween "Proper": It's tomorrow. My son put up some decorations outside the house in NJ, but no one's going to be there. In PA, no one will come to our door or see the pumpkins outside our house (except the delivery people). However, there is a house not too far from us (2 short blocks up) that has a whole Halloween lawn display that you can walk through.

It's scary enough during the day, I know I couldn't walk it at night! Especially when I understand there will be "live" actors in the display. (Volunteers were asked for on the local social media board.) However, they were also looking for help in the "candy tent" at the end of the display, so I volunteered for that. So I'll get a little dose of Halloween even if it's not at my house. I've been promised candy and a fun evening, I just hope it's not too cold. (Apparently you can dress up if you want, but it's not required.) I'm looking forward to helping the neighbors, maybe making some friends and getting to see kids dressed up. Apparently trick or treating in town is from 6-8. But there were other opportunities to show off the Halloween spirit: the town parade was two weeks ago which features all sorts of floats (with candy being thrown...and yes, I got some) and there was a trunk or treat at Skytop last weekend as well as one at a local church on Sunday afternoon. So even if I don't get little ghosts and ghouls at my front door, I did (and will) get my share of spirit this Halloween.