Sunday, September 30, 2012

Sans Grid

J. is officially one of those 'retired people' who gets showered and dressed around 1PM....'cuz he does a ton of 'stuff' in the morning and refuses to get showered and cleaned up only to get hot, sweaty and messy again shortly after.  This morning, that wonderful man is outside washing my car!!  'Tis a beautiful thing!

Check out our new 'roof':







Shortly after the installation team left, J. sent me this:



We await final inspection from the county building department - then await PG&E coming out to install the special 'solar meter' - that measures both ways.  For now, we are generating power vs. using electricity but we don't get credit for what we are generating in excess of what we need.  We have heard PG&E is behind several months on installing the meters....so it might be awhile.  Oh well.  We're doing fine for now.

There's pork tenderloin and roasted potatoes in the oven.  B. is away for the weekend celebrating his newly unemployed status.  H. got up around 2:30 PM (yes, really - he was out late) and so he just ate leftover Chinese and went to the mall to get his cell phone repaired.

Heading into another uber-busy week.  Last week sucked.  Totally...which had nothing to do with returning from vacation but that probably only added to the drama.

High's in the high 90's this week so boy are we glad we have solar!!  Though we are still very careful 'cuz it's just the way we are - the thermostats are set high and we don't plan on changing them anytime soon.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Think About It

One of the shows we've started watching is "Shipping Wars".  Have you seen it?  Did you know that there's a website where you can 'post' jobs of things you need moved from one place to another and transporters (or logistics experts) bid on the jobs.  The lowest bid 'wins' and then has to go pick up the items and successfully transport it per the terms of the agreement.  Some are time sensitive.  Many are one of a kind items.  Some are living - farm animals, pet parrots, etc.  Some are iconic pieces for restaurants or other public events.

Watching this show has given me new respect for truckers - those in 16 wheel semis transporting food, etc. for all of us.  I've always felt truckers are (for the most part) exceedingly careful and very aware that their vehicle is HUGE (compared to the average passenger vehicle) and not capable of stopping on a dime.  They are cautious (again, for the most part - like you've, I've encountered my fair share of jerks behind the wheel but I think those are the exception not the rule) and polite.  Not that I'd hitch a ride with one (I wouldn't ever hitch a ride with anyone and once stopped speaking to a friend who picked up a hitchhiker when I was with her - we both survived but it really pissed me off)....but I think many are good, hard-working folks who happen to drive for a living.  I admire them.

"Shipping Wars" highlights individuals who can transport ANYTHING in ANYTHING - meaning:  they can use a van; a truck with a trailer (open or closed); an 18 wheeler....whatever they drive.  And most of them don't know what they're doing.  They're tying down things and figuring out 'weight' and load without actually having a lot of formal training about doing those things.

So now, when I'm on the road - and I've been on the road a fair amount this week, using a full tank of gas this week compared to a tank usually lasting me a month - I am acutely aware that the huge trailer full of 'metal awnings' - dozens of them just stacked up and secured with 'tie downs' - might have been loaded by a yahoo who's watched the show and decided THIS is their new career.  Holy Crap!  I am more nervous than ever on the road - and stay clear as much as possible.

We successfully cleaned out 'Hazardous Waste' from the garage and the storage shed this morning and J. took it to the event at the airport.  We've identified more Goodwill items and are making serious progress on reorganizing the garage.  We've decided not buy any new shelves for now - we're just loading stuff up in the rafter shelves (which we cleaned a lot out from when we did the garage sale).

I drove to Lodi today to lunch with a friend - haven't seen her in over a year (hence my 'road trip' story) and as always, we pick up where we left off and talk non-stop for two plus hours.  Her son is newly married - and he and his new wife are living with her.  They are both teachers - and there are no jobs - though they are subbing for their district.  Pics and stories of the wedding were a lot of fun.  It was a great afternoon.  Ran errands on the way home (pet food and a quick Target run for violet nail polish 'cuz I need a little 'pizzazz' to get me psyched up for the week).

Now it's dinner and TV - Pawn Stars.  That's another great show.  A lady comes in with a necklace she was given by Elvis.  Has pictures of him with her and the necklace to 'prove' he gave it to her.  No reason to doubt it.  She said she was once offered $400K for it and she turned it down.  And now she's in a PAWN STORE trying to sell it 'for at least $250K'.  The owner of the store basically says 'why didn't you take the $400K' - she felt it was worth more.  He offers her $20K for it.  He's a pawn broker.  If it's worth any kind of $, take it to an auction house and auction it off.  People are stupid...



Thursday, September 20, 2012

Last Day

Tomorrow is my last 'work' day of vacation - and I'm considering heading up to Jackson for a morning of recreation.  Need to feel like I've done something besides hung out at home.  "Staycations" are great but in some ways, I don't feel like it's been much of a break.  Not sure why.  I haven't obsessed over emails; haven't checked in often (barely at all, really).  Guess getting away works better....

Still, it's been nice to sleep in.  I realized that one of the medications I started taking for my sore hip has a side effect of 'difficulty falling and staying asleep' and I think that's why I'm sleeping in so long.  I don't actually fall asleep for a couple of hours lately (the past few days) which is when I started taking the new medication.  Hmmm.  So tonight, I will skip it and hopefully get to sleep earlier and stay asleep longer.  I was up by 9ish this morning, but could have easily gone back to sleep -

Tonight, we put out the ruined furniture and look forward to the 'wide open spaces' of the still-being-purged garage.  How did we acquire so much crap?  J. asked me the other day 'why do you want to get your car in the garage?'.  I have no idea why he's asking - but I answered honestly:  'because it's ridiculous to have a three car garage with ZERO cars in it!'.  True...so true. 

I have to admit that I miss work.  I miss the routine.  I miss a reason to get up early and get going....

J. seems to be adjusting fine to not having those reasons to get up and get moving....but maybe I'm not wired the same. 

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Ahoy Matey!

I love how J.'s birthday is shared with 'National Talk Like a Pirate' day...so he gets birthday greetings and 'swab the deck' and other assorted phrases throughout the day.  I just posted on Facebook 'happiest of birthdays and I'd walk the plank for you'.  So there.  Better than the greeting he got from his brother which was a 'with sympathy' card.  They share a unique bond of odd humor - always have.  Suits them....

My first from scratch carrot cake turned out yummy!  My french dip sandwiches were also good but they will be better tomorrow when I can take out some of the fat from the broth.

We went out for sushi today!  Well, I had sushi.  J. had teriyaki chicken and some of my Super California Roll that I'd removed the unagi from.  It was a treat....

Survivor! is on!  It's like Wednesdays are worth getting through again.

I slept in until TEN AM this morning - absurd....I'm like a young adult male who is adapting to just sleeping all day.  That will truly suck next week.

My lists of things to get done has taken a back seat to just true vegging - and I think that's what I needed so it's fine.  It probably won't be fine next week but for now, it's good.

Still four days left.....

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Happiest Happy

Tomorrow, J. is embarking on the start of his 64th year - turning 63!  In honor of his special day, I am whipping up a carrot cake FROM SCRATCH!  It's his favorite!  And I am off this week so am cooking up a storm of lots of delicious stuff.  Tonight was 'from scratch' sloppy joes that were delicious and so, so much better than the canned stuff.

My throat is pretty sore from yesterday's procedure.  No stomach polyps this time - but he 'widened' my esophagus and also did a biopsy to confirm 'Barrettt's Esophagus'...which if I have, there's nothing they can do about it.  Just another reason to have the throat scope done annually.  It was pretty easy this time - I made a point of mentioning how I sort of 'woke up' during the last one and I didn't want to do that again - so they knocked me out quite well.  Came home and slept most of the afternoon.  I am eating but it hurts....making it an excuse to have Frappucinos and smoothies!

I worked around the study today - though you'd never know it.  It takes a lot of 'behind the scenes' stuff to make a dent - and we continue to cull.  We made the HUGE decision to take the living room furniture to the dump.  It's hopeless and we're calling it an official 'stuff the cat ruined' and moving on. 

I was on the city website today to find out how long the dump was open because H. and his friend had been 'hired' to take the furniture to the dump in the friends' pickup truck.  And 'lo and behold - the city now does an annual 'by request' pickup of anything you want - INCLUDING up to two big furniture items and ten bags of trash - for free!!  So we're bagging all the cushions and putting the two couches out on the curb Thursday night and by Friday afternoon, I hope my car will be back in the garage!! 

We just won't have any living room furniture again until Klink is no longer here.  :-(  And at the moment, we are pretty sure he might outlive us all...he is 14 1/2 years old and showing just a few signs of 'age'.  He's still a character -

I think someone just knocked on the door only I didn't hear them - just Chloe scaring me to death barking her head off.  I'm so used to hearing people come in and out without a word (their names are B. and H.) that I feel constantly on edge - she over-reacts to the slightest noise and I never know who's here - or might be here....nerve jangling to say the least.

I am managing to be pretty much 'off' - I did check emails at the end of the day today and responded to a few.  Very few.  I think I will go in briefly this weekend just to get a jump start - but it's been nice to feel more 'checked out' than not.

We were thinking of heading to Jackson tomorrow but my frugality is making it hard to do that....and honestly, I would much rather just enjoy a day of being at home, making a nice dinner and working around the homestead.  And sleeping in!!

I'm off another week in October (at least that's the plan so far) so there's plenty of time for Jackson another day.  

Must tidy up some more....determined to get a grip on all this paper!!  Cleaning from the inside out takes awhile but hopefully, we'll have more space - the garage is definitely shaping up and I can't wait to have a car in there!!  Winter mornings will be so much easier without having to defrost windows!!



Saturday, September 15, 2012

Terlets

As if on cue, two of the three toilets in the house went on the fritz this week.  Logistically, it's been a bit rough - though thankfully, the boys toilet is working...you just have to remove the lid off the tank to flush 'cuz the handle finally broke.  I've been saying for weeks it was not working right - taking Herculean strength to flush and finally the handle broke.  I was the only one not surprised about that turn of events.

Days later - and a house now littered with OSH, Home Depot and ACE Hardware store bags - all are working.  In fact, the downstairs one now flushes twice - refills slightly and goes again!  I should be happy about that given the frequency of excrement around here - but it's a waste of water and it's not right.  I fear it foreshadows yet another repair somewhere down the road - and pray it won't be catastrophic - like discovering it's leaking somewhere inside the wall or under the floor.  Probably not but who knows?

The repairs involved removing both tanks from the base and reattaching....and in the case of the kids bathroom, also removing the 'over the toilet' storage unit we've had since we moved in.  Remember the plans to put in cabinets?  Yeah, well the estimate was ridiculous for the guy who wanted to 'build' them and then J. stopped working and I got uber-frugal so now we continue to use the over the toilet storage unit we purchased at Target 12 years ago when we moved in.  Only this time, J. removed all the 'stuff' in it before attempting to move it.  Said 'wow, that was sure a lot easier'.  (I said nothing but inside was thinking 'Dude - DUH!  Why did you not do that the last time you repaired the toilet - which was a couple months ago...and shortly after that repair is when the handles started sticking)....

I have to give J. a lot of credit 'cuz it wasn't easy - and now they work!  So yeah!  Back to all systems fully functional - and one upgraded to include an extra 'boost'....which will be handy.  Should prevent clogs - which, by the way, we rarely have anymore because we stopped purchasing the '3-ply' toilet tissue.  I won't allow it in the house.  Less expensive AND we've not had a single stopped up toilet since!  It's hard to find these days - but it's still available and we don't even miss the 'extra layer' we are no longer paying for.  How many layers do we all need, really -

I've made menus for the next couple weeks and planned shopping lists.  Irritated at the number of stores I will be trekking to - but WinCo doesn't have soy yogurt and I've not had those in a few weeks...and I'm getting back on my healthier eating habits ASAP.  I've been reasonably good - but I haven't been anywhere that carries soy yogurts in over a month and so I've been eating bagels and cream cheese for breakfast.  Cheese and I....well....I just don't want to eat cheese, including cream cheese.  And a bagel without cream cheese is - just a bagel....

Then I relax and think 'isn't it nice to have plenty of time to trek around and shop' 'cuz I'm off work and have nothing but time....

My throat scope is set for Monday around 11:30 (based on my 10:30 arrival time).  Home by 1 (I hope) for napping....fine by the next day with a somewhat irritated throat and stomach depending on what they find and remove....grateful this procedure doesn't require any 'prep'....though I'll be a cranky beast with little to no coffee 'cuz I can't have soy milk in it -

Weekend in progress and I'm not working!!  Joy, joy, joy...

Friday, September 14, 2012

Of Boys and Men

So....

I start too many sentences with 'so'.....

It's my style, I guess...sort of like an invitation into my life....

One of the stresses recently (and there are always stresses in every household right?  Tell me I'm right...) is that H. has a ready supply of cash each week.  He burns through his entire paycheck pretty much every week and largely has nothing to show for it.  Gasoline for his car; energy drinks and food; stops at Quick Marts - cigarettes (which I wish I didn't have to even acknowledge but I do 'cuz he is smoking them and therefore paying for them), etc.

We've had huge blow ups and discussions over how many times he's overdrawn his checking account - because he puts his check into savings and then transfers as needed.  Should work except a) he's really bad at math and b) he doesn't keep track of the checking balance very well...so he's frequently overdrawing and paying bank fees because of that.  The bank will move money from his savings to checking and happily charge him to do that....

This morning, I noticed an expense that seemed high for a shop he goes to for cigarettes...and he told J. he paid for his friend " 'because his dad is charging him rent and so he didn't have enough money".

ARE YOU F-ING KIDDING ME?  Because this week we laid down the law with H. and outlined the room and board we are charging him effective this week.  He was totally indignant about it - but we said 'if you can afford to burn through your entire paycheck every week and have nothing to show for it, then you can afford to pay us for the roof over your head and the food on your plate'.

And then we find out that he's been treating his friend (there are a lot of 'meals' H. has paid for lately that are way more than one person would eat) for weeks - all the while grumbling about our assertion that he needs to pay room and board.

Therefore, (avoiding the word 'so' so as not to be repetitive) beginning today, he deposits his check into savings; moves enough for gas to checking; gives us room and board AND $100 for his savings account (which will go into our savings account clearly marked 'H.'s $' so he won't be tempted to spend it), gets cash for what's left (about $120) and turns over his debit card.  He will get the card back to get fuel for his card but other than that, he's done with swiping his life away.  He's clearly not tracking it well and has no concept of how much he's spending - so we'll help with that by taking the mechanism by which he overspends.

During these stressful times, my mind convinces myself he's up to his old tricks.  He can be tested at work anytime - and he volunteered to be tested here.  Said he'd even go to the doctor for blood work and we could test for any and all - other than occasional alcohol at 'the beach' with friends, he swears he's not doing anything else.  I'm not keen on the alcohol either but it can't be prevented.  Kids will be kids....

I am officially off and forced myself to sleep in until 7:30AM.  It was hard.  I really had to work at it.  Consequently, I feel groggy....which pisses me off - to feel less ready for the day because I slept MORE...

Other than a 12:30 haircut (which is three weeks overdue and I've cancelled twice), I have no firm plans.  It's another 'Smart Day' so we will attempt to use less electricity between 2PM and 7PM.  We're going to grill chicken and make a pasta salad - doesn't require the oven or microwave.  I feel like a pioneer trying to 'make-do' which I know is totally silly.  But I'm not paying the 'surcharge' for using more energy during those times.

Our retirement plan arrived from Schwab and so far, I'm afraid to open it....

UPDATE:  Son #1 called hot as a hornet a couple of hours ago ready to walk out of the job he's had for 5 years.  Passed up for a promotion with the job going to someone who's been there a month or less.  Sounds like a union thing to me....we are trying to calm the beast and get him to at least write a letter of resignation, give proper two weeks notice.  Then J. tells me that 'and he wants us to lend him the money to live on until he enlists in January and he'll pay us back'.  And I said 'no, not happening.  If he's worried about not having a weekly income to cover his 'life', then he shouldn't be quitting the job.  No, we will not be doing that - he can draw on his savings - which he shouldn't do but oh well.  Life is about choices and if he chooses to quit and lose income, there are consequences for doing that.'

There is a lot that can happen between now and January - all the 'what-ifs' play in my head...what will he do if he ends up 22, jobless, can't enlist (there are things that can prevent you from enlisting including health, fitness, legal issues - not that B. has any of those things right now but who knows)....and living with his parents who are working very hard at lowering their monthly outflow by at least 25%.  So no, we're not adding 'weekly funds for son who got pissed off and quit his job' to our list of expenses.  Not happening.

I am able to put one of J.'s checks in savings this month - 25% reduction in expenses just like that!  Carefully tracking, logging every dime we spend.  I know it's making J. a little crazy but just that simple exercise of knowing how much we've spent and maintaining a log to keep track has resulted in us spending so much less!  Already on track for another month of the same which is LOVELY!  We can do this!

But not if we are supporting two adult children.  Fly, little birdies - fly away....visit often but it's time.

(We're still years away from that happening but it's time to start setting some limits and parameters around here....or they will likely live here, on our dime ,forever)...


Thursday, September 13, 2012

Startle

I just looked online at our bank account checking on paycheck deposits and was startled not to see one!

Then, I realized that this feels like Friday to me - because (God willing and if the creek don't rise), I am officially on vacation beginning tomorrow through next Friday.

It's only Thursday!  Payday is tomorrow!

I slept in pretty much every day this week - not getting to work until after 8.  It has it's upside - more sleep being at the top of the ups.  And it's downsides - fighting for parking space with the preschool parents dropping off their kids at daycare and competing with school buses and watching for kids.

This morning, I'm back up early and heading to the shower shortly.  Have a meeting in a town 45 minutes away and much to do in order to actually be off.  I do not anticipate being home before 6 tonight and I will have 'stuff' in tow...

We are working on garage, bedroom, closet and other projects as well as enjoying some down time and a couple lunches out!

There have been several things that have come up that make me think twice about being off - but I just have to ignore the voices in my head saying 'stayyyyyy' and take the leap and GO.

I need a break....

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Never Forgetting



This mug is never used...it's not big enough for my morning coffee fix.  Each time we get into these 'culling' moods, we grab this mug....and then we stop....and reverently return it to the cupboard. 

It's the towers near the left that stop us. 

Every time. 


Sunday, September 09, 2012

As If



We are past the college application part of this scenario.....but when Mama isn't happy, ain't nobody happy, right?

And mama ain't happy.....

Tomorrow is Monday.  Ugh.  I loathe Mondays.

Saturday, September 08, 2012

Post-Garage

Wow.....from 6:30ish AM to just about 1:30ish PM non-stop is a lot for our road-weary bodies to endure....but we did it.  Son #1 got up and was a huge help.  Son #2 was no help at all until the very end - and only then because I pointed out (somewhat dryly) that we had two neighborhood kids helping us out [met new neighbors - she's a nurse, he's a sheriff.  Nicest people and their kids were just as sweet as they could be.  One son wanted a pair of roller blades we had for sale but had no money - so I asked him if he'd check with his parents and if it was OK with them, we would love to have him help us put stuff away at the end - in exchange for the skates.  His brother helped too and got a bag of beanie babies that he was ECSTATIC about] who were complete strangers to us up until this morning. STRANGERS being more helpful and supportive than the adult person who lives here and is our genetic material.

{I know H. was out until at least after 3AM 'cuz that's when I got up to go potty and he wasn't in his bed.  I don't freak out anymore....it's Friday night after a long week of work and he's usually out pretty late.  He was worthless at 6:30 this morning and wasn't much help even when he did finally get up.  What's up with that?}

Anyway, the new neighbors bought the two electric scooters we had - they need 'work' but the dad seems able to tinker and there are parts available on line.  We introduced the dad to B. and said 'and B., great news!  He's a sheriff!'.  I told the dad 'you have our permission to monitor any noise levels anytime and especially when we are not home'.  He said 'about a month or two  ago, it was pretty noisy'...I said 'Really?  We were in Vegas and the kids had a little get together'.  He said he had to yell out the window one of the nights to get them to quiet down - B. has no memory of that.  Surprised?  Not!  The dad was good natured about it and I said 'J. is retired now and we plan to take more frequent get aways together - so you are always welcome to monitor crowds and noise and intervene'.  I will be so much more relaxed next trip!!

Like all good garage sales, it's fun - people were friendly and the morning passed quickly.  My mom's needle point and stitchery items (all brand new - unopened - so many of them) did not sell and that disappoints me.  We were asking $5 for them - and they had price tags still on them from $15 to $50.  FIVE DOLLARS is too much?  I boxed them up again and plan to save them.  I will try to do them in retirement, perhaps.  Though they may end up in Goodwill.....

So then the hard part comes - after expenses [which included:  McDonald's breakfast for the three of us out there at 7AM; $4 donation to the realtor who organized everything to enter a drawing for a Kindle - she's donating the raffle proceeds to a local charity; and $20 for one trip to the dump] - we netted just under $400.  Considering it was all 'junk' that was just in the garage, we did OK.  

We still have loads of stuff to take to Goodwill; the library....and possibly another dump trip.  There is space in the rafter storage now - and we will use some of the proceeds to buy another heavy-duty shelf set for the garage - to put all the car/cleaning stuff on.  

It was a huge amount of work for $392 - but it feels good to get it done.  

I am so tired, I can barely move - and my feet are cramping unbelievably badly.  I could never do a job that required me to be on my feet all day - I wouldn't make it. 

We enjoyed time with our neighbors (the new and the old) and had a pleasant morning.  Thankfully, it's in the 80's today which also greatly helped - hot when we were wrapping up and moving stuff around but pleasant while the sale was going on.  

The urge to box stuff up for 'next time' is strong - but so is the urge to just be done with stuff.  There will likely be plenty more 'stuff' for next time.  We are planning to do this every six months or so - next working on closets (clothes, shoes, etc.).  

So I spent my first day off in 27 days working my ass off - but it feels great.  Now I'm in the mood to continue massively reorganizing everything in site.  The mind is willing - the body is weak.  

Nap time!  I haven't had a nap in FOREVER!

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Miscellaney

Is that a word?  Let me try to use it in Words with Friends and I'll let you know....eventually....

Various stuff to say - much ado about nothing at all, most likely.

Michelle Obama rocked the DNC last night!  Looking forward to tonight - and that's saying something since I don't really enjoy politics all that much.

It was cloudy with thunder most of the day today - and in the high 80's!  It finally rained a bit - big, huge drops - but it was so hot that the streets didn't get wet.  Enough water to need the wipers (and enough to give the car a decent rinse cycle) but no water on the streets.  It was so odd....I happened to be driving to a Dr. appointment during the major rain and was just amazed at how hot it was outside.  It sort of reminded me of Arizona monsoons - without the wind and dust!

I have work that I brought home - I'm using the kind of rolling 'bag' lawyers use - it's huge and holds an abundance of papers, file folders, laptop, etc.  It works and it's helping me not have acute shoulder pain from carrying an overstuffed laptop bag constantly.

The other day, J. asked me if I was watching "American Hoggers" on A&E.  Huh?  I guess it's logical 'cuz we do watch a variety of 'reality' shows - like Storage Wars and Texas Storage Wars.  But a show about hunting hogs - with family drama thrown in for good measure?  Um...no.  I'll pass.

Tonight, I discovered there's a Farmville 2....OMG....no!  I had to check it out but thankfully, I'm pretty good at resisting.  I rarely play FV anymore and my game play is way down these days...

Alrighty - that's it for this post - time to unplug this laptop and plug in my work one and get to getting to work!!  More work!!  Work never ends...

PS - I am taking off the week of 9/17 and with no firm plans, I am looking forward to lazy days.  Working around the house.  Lunch with friends and with hubby.  And sleep....so much sleep.  I want to sleep enough that I don't feel tired.  Will that happen?  Here's hoping. 

PSS - I won't turn this into a political post - but I have to say this:  if a candidate doesn't want us to see their tax returns, there's a reason for that.  I work in the public sector and transparency isn't just preferred, it's required.  It's not optional.  It is such a travesty that he won't release his tax returns - and there has to be a reason he won't.  He doesn't want the people in his party to see that he pays little to no income tax.  Doesn't want the average person out there, working their butt off to just stay 'even', to see that he doesn't pay anywhere near his fair share.  Consider that when you vote.  If you consider nothing else - and there are so many other things you could also consider - consider THAT.  You want a President who won't disclose tax returns?  You want HIM responsible for our country?  Really?

And don't even get me started on the oh-so-many women's issues.  Seriously.

God loves all of us - Mitt Romney included.  But God isn't bringing all these issues forward - God doesn't give a crap about any of that.  God wants us to be good to each other; be respectful; accept differences.  It appalls me to have this election becoming more about God than about the incredible struggles we still have as a nation.  I love God with all my heart - but He is not part of my politics.  He has nothing to do with my politics.  I use my brain for that.  I believe that's why God gave it to me.

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

With Friends

J. and I have started playing Words with Friends together....

A game designed for folks who aren't anywhere near each other to play - back and forth; back and forth; across the miles.

For us, we play sitting across from each other which leads to a lot of guffaws and laughter that makes it even more fun.  Sure, some of the words I'm using aren't words I've ever heard of or used - but if the game takes them, they are a word.  Yes, they are, J.!

I felt pretty proud using 'snore', then modified to 'snorer', farts and oath in the same puzzle yesterday.

My only gripe is that I (once again) am getting more than my fair share of vowels.  Last night, I had two 'u's, two o's, and two y's - and then some odd consonants.  Ha.  I had a many two letter words and to say it was a low scoring round would be understated.

We are having fun and at least this game requires a bit of brain power.

I'm taking my tired brain to bed....

Monday, September 03, 2012

Really...Yes, Really

A realtor is hosting a 'neighborhood garage sale' next Saturday and we signed up to participate.  She is taking care of the advertising, providing signage and hosting a little 'get together' in the park down the street.  Obviously, it's promoting her business - but hey, there are 9 families participating so far and we are one of them.  Yes, really!  We are. 

It's approaching 2PM and I am just now showered and getting officially dressed.  Worked in the garage this morning in tank top and PJ bottoms 'cuz it was sweaty, dirty work and why dress for that only to feel filthy three hours later?  What progress we have made!  J. will be making a trip to the dump tomorrow with stuff that is just truly trash.  We've already filled up our garbage bin and recycle bins.  J. asked the neighbors if they had space in theirs and they replied with a cheery 'sure, add to them anytime'.  But they didn't take the 'hint' and bring them out NOW so we still have a huge amount of recycling to cut down and lots of trash.  They will have their bins out tomorrow evening so we can use their room, too. 

We've made a list of things for sale and now we have to see if they sell.  What doesn't sell we will just take immediately to our local church's thrift shop and see if they can sell stuff.  We are going to invest in one or two of the really sturdy, restaurant quality storage shelves and get rid of the cheap plastic shelving we have - the weight of stuff has thrashed the heck out of it and it's time to reorganize that stuff a bit.  Car/household cleaning supplies that could use a sturdier home. 

Made careful room for the new solar 'inverter' that will be installed in a couple months.  Swept a bit, too.  It's looking not too shabby out there - though crowded with stuff for the sale.

Lots of trips down memory lane.  Found things the kids had as wee ones that I'm keeping - two bears and one 'baby' that H. used to carry with him everywhere.  I just can't part with those.  The boys did a bit of review and helped decide what to sell, junk or keep.  B. went through his drum paraphernalia and for now, we store those for him.  Someday when he's settled, he'll either want them shipped to him or we will sell them for him.  For now, the drums are in drum bags and neatly stacked.

We found a nice pet bed that was for the cats - only as is typical of cats, they wanted nothing to do with it.  It's cleaned and Chloe is in it - very throne like.  It's cushy and comfy and will be very warm in the winter when she wants a place to snuggle.  We put it in our office so she has a place to sleep near us during the day - it's always been her hang-out spot but now she's got her nice little bed!

It's been a very labor intensive labor day and I guess that's a fine way to spend the day.  My calves are killing me....no known reason why except I guess gingerly walking barefoot through the garage had me on my toes - literally?

Now on to 'work' stuff that I trudged home with yesterday.  Labor Day continues to live up to it's name.   


March

I'm starting to think maybe I will just do a monthly post and call it what it is - whatever month we're in.  Here we are winding dow...