Unpacking together

The day started slowly, but in a very good way (wink, wink). The property manager's helper came over to take the large branch away. After our breakfast and showers, we went to Home Depot for a few things including a large outdoor thermometer and then to the base to return the book on CD. Finally, we stopped at Kroger for some groceries. I put the thermometer on a chair on the deck. It was wet from the rain. Then there was more unpacking. Chris worked in the computer room, and I worked first in the living and diningrooms, and then in the basement. I started a tool area in the garage. There were two more sets of plastic shelving out there, and I realized that those are the ones that go under my cutting table. So I exchanged them for the ones I had put under there earlier. They fit better. Now where do the shorter ones go? And I have 5 shelves left over, but no legs to go with them. Chris unpacked the phone system and hooked it up. We skipped lunch and had an early supper. Then we went downstairs to watch "Cowboys and Aliens", which was a Netflix DVD, and "Back to the Future III" which Chris got for Christmas with his gift cards. Chris washed the sheets and we dressed the bed. And now.....
* Here is a pic of my batting closet *

Oh, the things you can find...

It was almost 8 when I woke up after having a strange dream. I fixed and ate breakfast. Then got on my desk top computer to read e-mail. It was working fine. But then I remembered I had a phone call to make, and then I took my supplements. When I got back to my computer, it would not connect to the internet and I had to go over to my laptop. When I had read all the easily deletable e-mail, I went downstairs to continue my work. I set up the table in the middle of the space. I cleared several boxes that were still in that area. I found an old purse, so old that it had crayons and a lollipop in it. The lollipop had melted all over it. There was a wallet in there with a $20 and my social security card. Also Michele's social security card. They must be copies. I emptied several boxes of CD's and DVD's. Then , under the heading of 'what won't they pack?', I found a mousetrap with the bait still in it. Crackers and peanut butter. I also unpacked wallpaper. Tons of it, on rolls and in remnants. They had been packed so tightly that many of the rolls were flattened. I like wallpaper. It's kinda like fabric for walls. But not here. This is not my house. Anyway, I stopped for lunch. It was so nice out that I opened windows and the garage door. It smelled like summer and lifted my mood. Around 5 Chris came home. I was sorting wallpaper into two piles - keep and donate. He fixed organic turkey burgers for supper. After supper we listened to the two remaining CD's for 'The Book of Lost Things'. I can't really recommend it. It is fantasy like a kid's book but too dark and gory. We found something to do while we were listening:) Then we went downstairs to watch Back to the Future II. Before going to bed, Chris somehow got my desktop back on the net. So here I sit, on the blog again.

* Here is a pic of my usual lunch *

Distracted by the internet

First let me say how great this connection is. I have been watching video clips that used to take 15 - 20 minutes just to download. Now they play like they were already loaded in my computer. Yea!
The drawback is, I got a late start on my daily unpacking because I sat down at my computer after breakfast. My main priority was to order supplements, but something inside me can't stand unread e-mails in my inbox so I wasted a lot of time reading and deleting. Then I pushed myself away to get some organizing done in the basement. I went through all my bags of batting scraps (no small feat) and separated them into matching piles, and throwing out the narrower ones. Even so, I had a pile of stuffed grocery bags of the strips. I shoved them into some cubbyholes build into the basement. My second priority was to clear the space in the center to set up my cutting table. So I needed storage boxes that would fit on the shelves. I wanted to buy some clear ones at Home Depot, but decided it could wait until after dark. I get the most done during daylight. So I cleaned out some boxes that are short enough to fit on the shelves to use in the meantime. Those boxes were filled with DVD's and VHS. I put them on shelves surrounding the TV. I thought I heard someone upstairs, so I went up. No one was there. It was nearing lunchtime so I had a bite to eat and sat outside in the sun with my computer. Again, I intended to submit the order, but ended up clearing more e-mail. Then Maryann skyped me. She and her son were home and taking a break. She is still fixing up her house too. We talked for a bit, then her laptop battery died. We talked again after she plugged it in. After a while, my laptop battery died. But I called her back when I got mine plugged in. Then I had to go back to work. I organized my serger thread collection, and opened the box marked 'large fabric rolls'. I had forgotten all about them. Two were stained as if the box got wet, but it didn't look like it had. I put them out in the garage with the box of small batting strips. I also went through my collection of decorator fabrics, winnowing it down to a box that will fit on the shelf. The winnowed fabrics went out into the garage, too. I think I will Freecycle that stuff. I collected 4 bags of stuff to throw in the garbage can. It felt good to see stuff leave. I have several boxes of stuff for donation, but since they are still in the house, I haven't gotten a feeling of satisfaction from them. Chris came home while I was downstairs mending his tie. I brought it up along with some more ceramic pieces of Michele's. While he fixed me liver and onions for supper, I was able to clear a space for the table. Then supper was ready. We ate, and sat at our laptops. When Chris finished, he set up my desktop computer for me. Now I can go back to XP! We did not listen to a CD since Chris wanted to go to bed early. I stayed up to clear more e-mail. I did finally place the order. And I joined the local Freecycle group. I also located a good place to move my CD which matured recently and has to be moved by tomorrow or it will be tied up for another few years. Oh, I forgot to mention that we now have home phone service. And a new number (like I desperately need another number to memorize). But we won't be getting or making any calls until we unpack a phone.

Wednesday - we got internet!

When I got up it was around 7. I prepared breakfast. While I was eating, I found my social security card. Chris called at 7:30 to be sure I was up in case Knology came at 8. Well, the guy showed up at 8:15, but just sat in the driveway for a bit. I was expecting two ladder trucks, but it was just one guy in a van. His name was Ernest. He worked very hard drilling and searching lines, going up in the attic, moving furniture. He ran internet to the computer room and cable to the family room by the kitchen. He had to move the entertainment center and I plugged in an extension cord. Sadly it was just a two-prong outlet. I would have preferred a power strip there. Try as he might, Ernest could not get a cable line to the den downstairs. The ceiling in the basement is nailed up tight and the wall is underground. I asked if he could tack it along the ceiling. He said it could be done and to think about it and call him if we really wanted to do that. I wrote him a check for $89. Then his van wouldn't start and he had to jump it from my car. After he left I finished my lunch. While he had been working, I moved shelving around in the basement, put shelving in the closets down there, emptied several boxes, rearranged some others, cleaned the closet floors. I also used the extra hardware from some windows that had them to put up curtain rods in the dining room. I hung the two burgundy panels that I bought in the Chosun. They turned out to be tab curtains not rod-pocket. I had to take down the traverse rod in the kitchen window and lay a regular rod across the hardware to hang a topper there. I hung toppers in both bathrooms, too. I wanted to be as productive as I could before the internet was installed. But I could not find the router when Ernest asked for it, and the desktop computers were not set up, so I still am not on the net. I expect Chris will handle that when he gets home tonight. When Chris came home, I had finished recording my blog for later when I could connect with the internet. He hooked up the router to the Knology modem and we were online. I checked e-mail and watched a video of BBT on the CBS site while he cooked some fish from the freezer. It was very good. We also did two loads of laundry and listened to two CD's from the book. It is due Saturday. Then I jumped back on to the computer to upload the previously written blog posts, almost catching up to present day. Ah, the joy of internet!

Tues, Jan 3rd

Chris got up early and went to work. I got up around 7:15 but got cold so I went back to bed. When I warmed up, I got dressed and went out to the kitchen for breakfast. Chris called while I was making breakfast to be sure I was up and ready for Bob. After breakfast I went downstairs to move all the boxes away from the wall where the outlets were in case Bob had to take the paneling down. He arrived when I was installing a curtain rod in the master bath. We talked for a bit, then he went downstairs to see what the problem was. He took apart the unscrewed outlet and found that the hot wire was broken, and too short. So he left to get a new outlet, wire, wirenuts, etc. He completely replaced it and checked to see if it was grounded. The other outlets were wired like Christmas lights. Once he replaced the one that didn't work, the others started working again. He showed me a new way to operate the garage doors. Boy, was it cold outside! Then he left. I took one of the tubs Faye bought me for Christmas and loaded it with wool fabrics. Now they are protected. I think I'll put dressy fabrics in the other one. I also put quilting scraps in the small tub vacated by the wool fabric. Now I am sitting down to write notes for my blog which I cannot post from here. But tomorrow Knology comes and we will be reconnected to the world. Maybe this house will seem more like a home when we can surf the net and watch TV.

Lunch was a large salad and a hard-boiled egg. I used most of the salad dressing that Chris made. After lunch I tried on the dresses from last night. I was too tired then to decide which should stay and which should go. I put the 'to be donated' clothing in a box. Then I tried to organize the hall closet by sorting the sheets and pillowcases into sets, and placing each set into a case. I only got so far because I found a number of incomplete sets. I hope the missing pieces aren't at Michele's apt. It was after 5 and Chris arrived home from work. I called Deb to see if the meeting was still on. It was, and she had sent an e-mail with the address (which I did not get ). I read the map one more time to memorize the route and where to bear left to follow the main road. I kissed Chris goodbye, and drove off. It was after dark and I was worried about getting lost. But was very excited when the trip went perfectly. I arrived on time. A few other ladies came in about the same time. We all sat down and began to talk. Then Deb started Show-n-Tell. I showed my large wallhanging that won the Army quilting contest. Other people had quilts in various stages of progress. They had a pizza box exchange. Then Deb showed us the fabric sets for the Buck-a-Block program at Huntsville Sew-n-Vac. We could sign up for the set we liked best. Then once a month we come in to buy a 'block' which includes the instructions and the fabric strips to make it. There is a one-time purchase of Thangles paper. Each set actually makes two blocks, so at the end of the year we will have 24 blocks. She was not sure how big each block would be. I did not sign up. It was very tempting. But I took a vow not to buy any fabric until Michele graduates. And I want to see a block made in the purple and gold batik set before I decide if it would be worth it. We set tentative dates for a Ricky Tims kaleidoscope class and an Open Sew session. When the meeting was over, I checked my map once again to be sure I could get home. Then I braved the cold and headed out. When I got home, Chris kissed me and I ate some onion soup and cheese. We listened to another CD of “The Book of Forgotten Things”. Then we went to bed.

Monday Jan 2nd

I got up first. It was a federal holiday so Chris stayed home. I ate while Chris showered, then showered while Chris ate. Dressed. In the basement, I pulled my sewing desk into place and tested my sewing machines. The Singer works fine, but had a lot of trouble with the embroidery machine. The touchscreens aren't working properly. Went to post to pick up mail. Then sat at the library to read e-mail in the car. Also ordered a shower head filter and posted to my blog. Then we stopped at the Korean market for natto and seaweed. On the way back, we went to the large Kroger for groceries and organic cheese. By then it was lunchtime so we had lunch. I called Bob about the outlets not working in the basement and about the large branch that fell from the tree across the fence. I hung curtains in the bedroom and spent the rest of the afternoon trying on the clothes hanging in the closet to whittle the lot down to something reasonable. I took a break near the end for supper. Chris made onion soup. Then he used his computer to play the book on CD that we hadn't finished in the car. I finished trying on dresses while listening to the 4^th and 5^th CD's, then lay down. When the 5^th one ended, Chris turned out the lights and we went to bed.

New Year's Day - going home.

When I got up, Mom was dressed and finishing her breakfast. I had fixed mine the night before, so I got it out of the fridge, ready to eat. Then I bathed, dressed, and fixed Mom's hair. Chris was ready to go. When I went to say goodbye, Dad had taken Mom to the bathroom. So I went back there to hug them goodbye. Then we were on the road. We finished listening to the book on CD that we started on the way up. I had trouble following it due to road noise and the way it was read. We ate the remaining hard-boiled eggs at lunchtime. Later we stopped at a Subway for a salad and a sandwich. It was at the same exit we have stopped at twice before: once at the Wendy's and once at the Cracker Barrel. When the first book was finished, we started another one. It had less conversation in it, so it was easier to follow. We did not finish it by the time we arrived home circa 6:15 central time. We unloaded the car, and unpacked our suitcases. The state of the house was depressing: boxes and stuff everywhere. Chris and I had a 'discussion'. I threw out the fermented coconut milk from two weeks ago, and he made another batch. Then we went downstairs to watch the DVD of Back to the Future. I have seen it before, but not for a long time. We retired then for the night. No internet means no blogging.
It is New Year's Day and for some that means resolutions. But I don't make New Years' resolutions. My philosophy is that anything worthy of being a resolution should be started right away. I don't wait for the first of the year, or of a month, or even of a week. Usually I only wait until morning. (All my best ideas come in the middle of the night)