tedwords

"About a maid I'll sing a song..." Tom Lehrer

Our first merch trip started today. Our goal is ultimately to get to Ohio; our destination for today is upstate New York.

But as we were heading out on our four-hour drive to the Brae Loch Inn in Cazenovia, my world became Fido once again, all day long.

Turns out, the day after we held my retirement party (on a Monday), the big boss had used my retirement as an excuse to deliver an ultimatum to two friends of mine, both around my age: either retire or have your role eliminated by June 30.

My friend Jonathan, who was one of those impacted, called me to ask: is that why you retired?

My answer is a firm no. I decided to retire on my own volition back in November, because I was seeing how things were playing out at work and had decided that this was a good time to move on. And I let him know that, although shit, had I known I could have waited a week or two and been given the option to get laid off…

Ah, who am I kidding? That would have been a horrible option for me. I never would have wanted to have been forced to leave, I would have felt too rejected. Better for my psyche, for my well-being, to leave on my own terms, to have people celebrating me heading out, rather than knowing my job had been eliminated. The extra money would not have been worth that. It would have done a number to me.

So, our drive became people contacting me to tell me the news. It was very distracting and I am sure annoying to Corb. I think I spoke to seven different Fido folks today, texting back and forth, calls…it was as if I were still working there!

Still, we also managed to see some antique locations in upstate New York. Most were fair to middling.

Glenwood Manor: This was an old mansion that had clearly seen better days and kind of smelled like cat pee. The place was filled to the brim with stuff, although the quality was kind of iffy. I bet that about ten years old this place was in much better shape.

Glenwood Manor Antiques & More - Antique Store in Queensbury, NY This second one was very well curated and definitely the best of the lot

200 Glen Antiques: This third one looked like the junk shop that Jupiter Jones ran in the Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators mysteries. It was really run down, and when Corb tried to buy an old radio, one of the owners went on about how his dad had invented it and the FBI had wanted it, so it really wasn’t for sale. Still, Corb did end up buying a lamp there. Really crummy places that are packed with stuff can sometimes give you the best deals.

We arrived at our digs for the night, the Brae Loch Inn, at around eight. The Inn is lovely and Scottish themed and the stairs leading up to the rooms are amazing. The person at the check in desk greeted us with a glass of scotch or sherry.

And, when we went to the pub downstairs, they had fish and chips with brown sauce! Just like in Edinburgh...or at least, similar. The brown sauce definitely wasn't as good as Scotland, but close.

I think we have the place all to ourselves tonight. We have heard tell it is haunted. Maybe we will see some ghosts! The room is very cozy and our canopy bed quite comfortable, but I only want to share it with Corb.

Some things are better left for two.