Apartment Search Continues

I came upon a listing for a rental nearby on the ground level with off-street parking.  As I’ve mentioned before, it’s slim pickings out there. Only a few things wrong with it. Rent is more than I can afford, even if only $25. more. It is a 2-bedroom mobile home, I only need one bedroom. That’s quite a large space to heat with the winter ahead and I don’t know how well insulated the place is. With the compromised immune system, sensitivity to heat and cold is more pronounced. 

The other monthly expenses include water, sewer, and trash pickup. I already pay for electricity so that’s not an extra burden in itself, unless the heating system in the place is also electric. Then it could be a killer.  I know.  From the published image above the place looks clean and neat, well kept.  Yes, but at what expense?

The other issues include snow and ice removal - can’t do that myself - and the Verizon telephone and DSL wiring infrastructure is very old, so I may not have high speed access to the Net. This was a problem when I lived in that area about 6 years ago.  When it rained, snowed, or flooded the phone lines went down - sometimes for days until things dried out and techs could work on restoring service.

At any rate, I’ve called and left a message requesting the approximate cost of each of the added expenses above. I have little hope that everything will be within my budget. Even less hope that I’ll find something affordable and livable any time soon. My hope is to continue to gain strength and weight, get through the dizziness balance issues, navigate the stairs more than once rail, and drive my own car again. 

I am amazed.

*

Dark & Stormy Halloween and Visit to Hell

Sassy commented; “when you’re going through hell, keep on going.” Well, in the past I’ve been told that I do that, but also have a tendency to stop and take a long look around before moving on.  I suppose it’s like there are times I truly ‘want’ to remember and consider, so as not to miss anything.  Sick, no?

Lungs are clear - no more pneumonia. Blood count is up (without outside intervention) - I am no longer in isolation. Though the port is still accessed, I am no longer receiving any IV fluids - I can walk freely without dragging around that cumbersome “tree of life” with me.  No more oxygen necessary - lungs are at almost full strength and capacity.

The vicious red, fungal rash on my legs and feet is finally disappearing.  Having been properly diagnosed a week ago, the correct meds applied, the skin is just about back to it’s original color and the itching is all but gone.  Now I hope I can wear long trousers, since it is Autumn here, after all. The rash doesn’t take to being rubbed against heavy fabrics and is barely content with a light sheet covering them at night.  

Waiting for PT to sign off on my ability to climb stairs without adverse reaction. Considering the restrictions set in play in my last post.  Still, something is better than nothing - most of the time.

Rumor has it that I might get sprung either today or tomorrow if the stars and planets align properly and that I may just be able to return to my old apartment while I search for a place on the ground floor. To transmigrate at a future date…

We shall see. 

I had a delightful student nurse with me all day making sure I did all I was supposed to do as well as keeping me company. Abby did a wonderful job and will be with me again today for 4 or 5 hours. I look forward to the diversion since she’s a delightful walking companion as well. 

The locos guys are in Mexico today, Linda is working a double which means I won’t see much of her today or tomorrow. In honor of Halloween I did ask her to bring in a few boxes of decorated cupcakes for the nurse staff this morning. My fear is the staff will arrive in morbid costumes and we won't be able to tell them from the real patients.  Should be an interesting day.

Linda has promised me a 'Dark & Stormy’ when I finally get out of here.  So, the sooner, the better!

I've got to run over and see if the lovely and talented Dr.Spo has done my reading as promised.  Then I'm ready for breakfast and the rest of the fabulous day in Spa Beebe in beautiful downtown Lewes, Delaware. Don't hate.  It's how I roll.

And so it goes.

*

Classic Building Moves on to a New Life

Workers from East Coast Structural Movers take the first tentative steps off the lot with the Jane and Georgie building. (Photo by: Ryan Mavity)

This sort of thing happens periodically here on the Delaware shore.  Old and historic buildings, formerly homes, are (sometimes) not demolished, but moved to new locations and new lives.  There's a lot of planning and delicate work involved, but the results are worth the effort. After all, a dwelling that has survived the Atlantic Ocean weather for over 100 years, is worth saving and passing on to new owners. My tiny street has quite a few of these bungalows, many still passed down through several generations and they are a joy to all.

This little gem had recently been a retail boutique and will soon become, once again, a family home. From our local newspaper, The Cape Gazette: 

Rehoboth Beach —
It’s not often that buildings get police escorts.
In a little less than two hours, Jane and Georgie in Rehoboth Beach made its trek from 419 Rehoboth Ave. to its new home on Burton Street in West Rehoboth.
East Coast Structural Movers, under the supervision of driver John Davidson, began moving the store around 8:45 a.m. Feb. 19. From there, the store went around the circle and down Rehoboth Avenue Extended, where it ran a gauntlet of electrical and telephone wires, lifted as the truck came through by crews from Verizon and Delmarva Power. To assist the move, Rehoboth Beach Police and Delaware State Police temporarily blocked off Rehoboth Avenue Extended to traffic.
The building, which traces its origins to 1901, will be converted into an affordable, single-family house. It is one of five relocated homes the Coalition for West Rehoboth hopes to bring to a neighborhood that traces its roots back to the post-Civil War era.
Kevin McKinney, project manager for the Coalition for West Rehoboth, said, “It’s such a great thing to be able to provide decent housing for someone. The fact that this is a historic house, going into a historic neighborhood - it’s really the perfect place for it.”
McKinney said five families have applied to live in the house, and the coalition is reviewing those applications with an eye on selecting a family at the end of the month. The coalition still needs $25,000 to build the foundation for the house, and McKinney said East Coast might donate the foundation. He said enough money has been raised for the sewer connection, although more is still needed for the water connection and renovations.
“It needs a new kitchen; it needs a bathroom done. There’s no kitchen in it at all,” McKinney said. He added that he hopes the home will be ready for occupation by the end of spring.
Kate Chambers, co-owner of Jane and Georgie with sister Lisa, said, “It’s exciting and sad. I’m excited that it's finally moving day, but I’m kind of sad to see it go. It was more upsetting when I saw them coming in and tearing it all apart to get it ready.”
Jane and Georgie plans to build a new store at the now-vacant lot, but the plans have been slowed by delays in getting permits.
“I’m hoping it could be March, but it could be April,” Chambers said.
Still, she is glad the old building did not get demolished.
“That would have been a horrible sight,” Chambers said. “Worse than seeing it get moved. It’s such a cute little building. I want to see it once they get it all set.”

Go to the link above for more photos and videos of the moving.

And so it goes.
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Saying "Goodbye"

This time of year isn't ever easy for us at the restaurant. Many of the summer students return to their home countries and head back to school.

This year has been no different. As 4 students spent their second summer with us, a few were first timers and became dear to us all. Some have already left without saying good-bye (seems the young'uns are as sentimental as us older folks) others took a brief holiday for themselves; to see more of the country which they may never see again (NYC, Chicago, Miami, Boston, etc) and returned to see us once more. 

Some of these young adults will be unable to return next year because they will graduate and their respective governments are afraid they might try to defect to the US.  Yes.  The same old, same old.

Maria Alexandra returned to Romania last week and David drove back to Mexico on Monday. They both arrived safely; none the worse for wear and very tired.

Certainly there are others, but I had most interaction with these two and shared many memories and copious amounts of laughter.  I miss them terribly.  Still, they are both on FaceBook so we are in touch, at least for the time being.  Their lives will change with graduation and the summer of 2012 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware USA will recede into fond memory. For that alone, I am truly grateful.

A few pictures of our last times together:

Kitchen & Wait folks. Maria (center), David (far right).

Three Mexican servers and Maria. What a motley crew! I love them.

Maria & the "Elder Sage"

David & Maria on their last day working together.

The upside of all these goodbyes over the years is that I've been invited to visit anytime and that's a comforting thought.  I know I would be treated well and shown the best their cities have to offer.  But...



And so it goes.
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Five on the Fifth: Movement

Stephen Chapman over at “The State Of The Nation UK”, has a monthly feature called “Five on the Fifth” in which bloggers may participate by posting five photos on their blog and exchanging links with his. The five pictures, taken in the days leading up to the fifth of the month, may be random or may follow his suggested theme, which this month happened to be Movement.  Having dusted off the D70 this past week, and spending a few hours getting used to it again, I decided to shoot what I saw as movement, especially at, or near the ocean.

I shot in 2 modes - shutter or aperture priority only - and it will be interesting to see if anyone can tell the difference.  So, here goes.

 

These were shot not over a five day period, but only my 2 days off this week.  That's what I've got for the cause. You can click on any image to embiggen. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.  Thanks for visiting and viewing.

More later.
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5 on the Fifth: BLUR

Take five photographs and post them on your blog on the 5th of the month for all to see. Each month has a theme, or if you don't feel inspired by the monthly theme, you can simply take five random photos. Five On The Fifth was started and is directed by Stephen Chapman at The State of the U.K. Nation. My first go at this was last month and Stephen kindly invited me to participate again.


While I didn't think last months entries were really a part of the "theme" LINES, turns out others thought otherwise pointing out to me that while the subject may have been otherwise, lines are a prominent feature in 4 of the five, so I guess I did OK by default. Who knew?

BLUR is this month's theme and I took one shot each day from April 1 to today.  Shot at work, home, or around town.   Some have been cropped for effect.  Here they are in no particular order:

Animated, singing dog.  Moving & Singing.

Samuel Adams: Sloshed Brewer and Patriot.

Quick pass of the beer taps at work. Yes, Sam Adams is on tap.

Huge Blackbird glaring through my skylight in a rainstorm. Paging Tippi Hedren!

Napping in truck window. Must have been a busy day.

 Well, that's it for me. I had a great time with this one.  Any and all comments (and suggestions) are welcome.

Thanks Stephen, for inviting me to take part again.  I hope I did a better job this time round.

More later.
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Flowers, Flirting, and Late Frost

These last two days have been quite a ride. This is an edited version of events.

It's been raining since Wednesday evening.  So rainy and cold in fact, I took the car to work rather than walk, so as to ward off any potential illness lurking about. Of course, due to the high humidity the back and thumbs are giving me fits.  I sometimes wonder if life is worth this level of pain but then, never mind.

Week day lunch visitors are on the upswing and that means people are coming to the beach more often working to open their summer homes a bit early. That's great news.  I'm happy to see their faces again after so  many cold months - they make me think of spring and the summer season ahead.

Unfortunately, thanks to global warming, the forsythia has already bloomed and faded, the hyacinths are on their way to their end, too.  The lilies are almost ready to open and it's only April 1st.! Even though the temperatures hover in the upper 30s to low 40s, nothing seems to stop the green anywhere.

One late frost could destroy everything, but let's not focus on that possibility, OK?

Waiting in the mailbox tonight were (among other trash) 3 more offers from insurance companies trying to sell me on Medicare Part B coverage. I am afraid that I cannot afford ANY of the policies (all around the same rates, BTW) with my present salary and the other monthly expenses that leave me with less than nothing at the end of any given month.

Good news was waiting in my in-box however, the new glasses were shipped today and should be delivered in 2 or 3 days.  I'm guessing Tuesday, which also happens to be my really-and-for-true day off next week. I can't wait.

Then there was an encounter with a very handsome man at work today.  Seemed he was flirting at times, but I wasn't quite sure. Overly friendly and his beautiful deep brown eyes always locked onto mine whenever we talked. (I love when someone talks to me while looking directly into my eyes.) Mostly small talk, but there was an edge to the chatter that made my gaydar go off more than a few times.  Each time I passed his table he would attempt conversation just to get my attention, which I must say, was very easy to do.  Ahem!

After about an hour he left, got into his car (with Ohio tags!) and waved through the glass doors as he drove away.  It was your classic 'close encounter of the third kind' we made contact, of some sort. What?  I dunno. No music of the spheres. Maybe next time...if there is a next time.

Look, I was never good at this sort of cat & mouse activity and at my age after being with one man for 30 years, I am sure I'm even worse. So, there is that reality.

And so it goes.
*

Limited Space -The Final Frontier: Fitting In.

Not me!  That will probably never happen.

I'm talking about the living room and bedroom furniture. Over the past several months (since the IKEA trip) I have been moving pieces around in an effort to maximize their usefulness in the tiny space. Due to the limited number of (now safe, upgraded) electrical outlets, the cable connection (in case I can afford it at some point) and only one telephone jack, it's a challenge to accomplish both.

Listening to music while taking a break from prepping ingredients for a stew, I paused in the kitchen doorway and took another look at the LR.  The tape measure came out and the move was on - - again.  It looks good but there is still frustration with a few old pieces that I want to showcase and fit into the space. Maybe when I get someone to help me lay the large area rug and its padding, I'll have a better idea of where to make changes.

The bedroom is another story. That's where the single phone jack is located along with the computer and that can't be changed or altered any time soon. Verizon charges big bucks for the technician to make any upgrades to existing service locations. What is needed is more storage units and a way to get the large mirror off the floor and on the wall over the chest of drawers.

For now things are OK as they are and I got to empty yet another box.  Tomorrow will find another 4 boxes emptied and their contents stored in a proper place.

I'll probably pay dearly for this strenuous exercise today, so I'm about to soak in a hot bath with Epsom Salt to minimize the damage/pain tomorrow.  Besides, I smell olives and that's always hard to resist.

And so it goes.
*

Only in New York!

From HERE. (click to embiggen)
More later.

Restock, Replenish, & Rain - Mostly Rain

Ya' know, some days you're the windshield, other days you're the bug.  This bug could have phoned the day in and stayed home.

If you want to make G*d laugh, make plans!

Started out in heavy rain at 7 am; cooler and lists in hand. And the best I could do was ultimately about 20% of items on the various lists. Practically every stop on the list was out of what I wanted, that was on sale. Frustrating, doesn't begin to cover it. The rain would taper off as I arrived at each stop, then come down in sheets as I made a dash to the car. 

Hey, we need the rain here.

Returned home soaked and cold to the bone.  Was going to stop at the new (Pennsylvania) Dutch Pantry market nearby but was too wet and uncomfortable to make the journey.  This store carries various flours, grains, spices, and more. The owner buys in bulk, repackages and passes along the savings to the consumer. His previous store was too far away and I only made the trip 2 or 3 times.  Now that he's closer, visiting will be easier.  Maybe next week.

I unearthed the recipe collection, like discovering the tomb of some ancient Pharaoh, and out of sheer desperation (read tired of leftovers) put together one of my faves the other night. A Beef Daube! Almost all ingredients were on hand, except for the fresh mushrooms (canned worked just fine, though) and it was delicious just as I remembered it. Looking through the files I became aware that my spice collection needs some replenishing, too.  I found lots of recipes that I used to make all the time, but couldn't after I moved into the previous apartment without a proper oven.

Then there are those posted by Dutch blogger and friend Peter, that I saved for future use. (I guess somewhere deep inside I knew I would have a place of my own again - just couldn't see through the haze.)

I also discovered that my kitchen utensils, baking pans, and casserole dishes need replenishing as well. These will begin being purchased when the financial hole I am currently in (thanks to the extra expense of the move & medical bill fiasco) eases somewhat, which will probably be mid-October.  There is light at the end of the tunnel that I cannot see, yet.

One step at a time.

So, I figure that if I choose one recipe a week and purchase the herbs and spices for that, I will eventually have all the ingredients I need, plus enjoy some great meals in the process. Simple things like, turmeric, whole cloves, fennell, curry powder, celery seed, cumin, allspice, cinnamon sticks, etc. I lived the past 3 years without these, with only the most basic ingredients, but I don't have to anymore.

And may the crock pots gather dust in their hidden places while I get back to real, hands-on cooking this Autumn and Winter.  "Make Way, I Take Large Steps!"

Too bad, there's only me to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I am not into fancy, hours of preparation, kinds of cooking, just healthy, hearty, comfort food from whatever country that hits my taste buds just right. I'll try anything (really!) at least once. More on this later.

OK, now get your mind out of the gutter, rinse it off, dry it, and put it a clean, safe place . For Shame!

No, don't worry, I am not going all Julia Child with this stuff - just the basics for baking, roasting and broiling will suffice. I mean, I don't even have a simple garlic press. We had three before the split - I have none - I guess he thought he needed all of them. Never mind. 

It is what it is.  No, really!

And so it goes.
*

Time Goes Quickly and End of Season Bits & Pieces

Another summer weekend is over and we're only 2 weeks away from Labor Day Weekend, the traditional end of the season. I cannot believe the time has gone so quickly.

Working long hours 6 days weekly keeps one occupied, but out of the loop and definitely away of any social activities. Not that my mailbox was stuffed with invitations, or anything like that, it will be nice to come up for air after Labor Day. I know the dos locos (Joe in white and Darryl in blue pictured at left) are more tired than the rest of us.  They are in the restaurant every day, arriving shortly after I do. Joe runs the restaurant side and Darryl the bar side. An excellent arrangement for everyone involved.  I love them both and appreciate the incredible effort they put into the place at every level.

I can't (and won't) complain. I've moved into town, walk to work, close to the boardwalk and beach, continue to empty boxes from the previous life and gawk in amazement at their contents, and though climbing out of the added expense of the move (movers, utility & Verizon deposits) will be a struggle for a while, I ought to be out from under that too, by October. Then there's the Hospital Medical Bills which were finally addressed and the latest charges added to my existing balance, adding an additional 9 months of payments, which is OK and preferable to the outstanding bill being put out for collection because of stoopidity, that  would have ruined my credit rating - which I may need again someday.

Worked with an incredible bunch of people today; a good team attentive to detail - for the most part - you know, 1 or 2 always develop senior moments, but I chalk that up to the busy-ness of the day. We all worked hard and I felt better for it.

Had a Golden Margarita after-shift because I still have no sense of taste/smell and to have anything else would be a waste of good liquor. Dr. Eddie, our resident Romanian Bartender gave me a shot of Jameson's Irish Whiskey with a wedge of lime.  Instructed me to knock back the whiskey and follow up quickly by sucking the lime. I did as the Dr. ordered and not only was the combination a surprise treat, but within minutes my voice was almost back to normal and less like the Brenda Vaccaro voice that's been with me all week. Colour me surprised and amazed. Oh, and tipsy...

Bland leftovers and a G & T are on the menu for supper then I will shower and hit the sheets praying for the ability to smell/taste by tomorrow.

And so it goes.
*

Not Just Another Monday

In yet another effort to reveal more of the wood floor in the living room, I spent the better part of last evening opening boxes and discovering their contents.Old birthday cards, plans for the first vegetable garden in NJ from 1982 and some pictures of the finished product and the fruits of our labor. Many ancient tee-shirts from various events going back to the mid-70s, many from NY Pride parades when I used to volunteer as a marshall to keep the folks moving and away from anti-gay hate-mongering a**holes on the side lines. Sadly, some things never change.

All kind of depressing really, as most of those years were spent with the now Ex (any photos of him or us went immediately into the trash) as we spent 18 years on that hillside in the woods in what I thought was bliss.  As it turns out, it was anything but.

Then, this morning I opened another large box and was cheered up at once.  This one contained old clothes - shirts, slacks, jeans, shorts and more tee-shirts - only these were from when I was a lot heavier.  All shirts were extra large, slacks and shorts were size 36 and 38 waist. A few items were brand new, original tags still attached.  Don't know how these items got packed, I don't even remember many of them. 

As I sip my iced coffee I look at these clothes like they are from the life of someone else, someone who passed away and left them to me. For some reason, I can't stop smiling as I think of how I've changed from that "husky" (as they used to say) guy into the me of today.  A 34 waist, medium shirts, and large tee-shirts (I like them loose and comfy) suits me just fine and I've maintained these sizes for almost 5 years now.

This is just one more box for the thrift store as it joins 2 others already in the car awaiting my Wednesday errands. With every box emptied I feel as though a layer of skin is being shed and, somehow, I feel I can breathe easier.  Strange feeling, that.

To be honest, I don't miss the house on the hill, or the garden, (though I do miss the fresh produce), or the lawn mowing, or the weeding, or any of that home-owner bliss. That was then, this is now.  I am exactly where I ought to be at this moment.

Of course, a little more furniture (and some extra money) would be nice.

If the forecasters are correct (for once!) and we get heavy rains today it will be a great day at the restaurant. When it rains people tend to do other things - shop the Outlet Stores, go to the movies, and eat out. We'll be waiting for them...

And so it goes.
*

A Walkin' Man, and Just in Time!

Second night sleeping on the new mattress.  Initially attributed yesterday's back pain to the last move on Tuesday, but today I am not quite sure - the pain is still with me.  Getting used to this new bed may take a while.

Had blood work the doctor ordered yesterday morning, followed by breakfast at the Filling Station (the other restaurant owned by the dos locos), then hit every thrift/consignment store I could find in an effort to find a small kitchen set and/or living room chairs and loveseat.  Everything worthwhile was already sold and awaiting pickup. This kind of shopping isn't a viable option for a guy with one day off each week.


 Did 2 loads of laundry when I got back to the apartment. What a luxury to have a laundry room right downstairs instead of driving 15 miles each way to do the deed. Emptied more boxes during washing and drying cycles. Nice!

On the next day off the search will continue for a computer desk so the printer and speakers can be connected, and a chair as well.

Enjoyed a festive martini followed by a supper of broiled rosemary chicken and my grandmother's artichoke salad last night.

The move concluded just in time.  The tourists begin arriving this evening to kick off the Memorial Day weekend - the official start of Summer. The car is parked across the street. Walking to work for the very first time today. With my luck I thought it would be rainy, but the forecast is for sun and warm temperatures with light breeze. The new life begins now.

More later.
*

I'm Back! Well, Only Just.

I must be a resident of the City of Rehoboth Beach. My polling place information card arrived in the mailbox today! I guess it's true.

Regular readers may be surprised by this, but I came to realize (late, of course) that there are only 2 three-prong outlets in the apartment - one in the living room, the other in the bathroom - and I was too tired to face traffic to get to Lowe's for more after a long day at work. There was a voicemail waiting from Verizon informing me that the DSL was up and running.  Not to be deterred, I checked out extension cords and telephone cables and came up with a makeshift solution for the evening. Plugged the surge protector into the living room outlet, connected the computer, monitor, mouse and DSL modem to it, then ran a 25 ft. phone cable from the bedroom to the modem.  Worked immediately and I cannot detect a difference in the speed.

Anyway, I finished the move this morning before work before returning the key to the landlady and shedding a few tears with her. We're both moving on. I'd known that she was my angel these past three years, but I didn't know that I was also hers. Both of us getting over broken marriages, I can't imagine being an angel in the state I was in back then. If I overlooked anything I am sure she'll call.

I am having my first martini in the new place, and will prepare a first meal, too. Tomorrow is the only day off and I am sure you can guess what is at the top of the to-do list. Yes, three-prong outlets!!! There are also a few leads for furniture at thrift and consignment stores in the area.  I'll check them out and see what I come up with.

The sheets are on the bed, more boxes emptied and ready for the recycle center, which is actually the top item on the list, but closely followed by the damned outlets. I hope I remember how to replace them. Without cable or other service, I have That's Entertainment running in the background to keep me going.

This building is old and there are things requiring adjusted thinking (see outlets above) nothing that can't be worked around in the future. Whatever. For now I am thrilled to be close to the Atlantic and work; not dodging tourists in traffic; and the possibility of getting out more socially. We'll see.

For now, I want to furnish the place sparsely with things that strike my fancy.  My fancy what, I don't know, but I'll know it when I see it.


BTW, thanks to everyone for the good wishes, comments, and offer of a home blessing.  I am overwhelmed.

And so it goes.


Image by friend Ron. Click to embiggen.
*

Move Planning on the Fly

For some strange reason things have been falling into place regarding the final days of the move. Seemingly, without thinking about it too much, I have planned pretty well as to what to take to the new place, when, and what to leave behind as I get the place cleaned and ready to vacate - hopefully by Tuesday.

Cabinets are empty and clean, bathroom is too, except for shaving and showering stuff for the next two days. Stainless steel kitchen sink is sparkling this evening. The bathroom fixtures are clean; only a vacuum and mop are needed by Tuesday.

Taking things day to day and keeping the few necessities required as I continue to sleep in the old place has worked out quite well, so far.

Took half of the refrigerated items to the new place this morning - leaving behind a few things I will need - and leaving the other half for tomorrow. More clothes, food, artwork, and file cabinet moved today, too.  I spent 2 hours putting things away in cabinets, refrigerator, closet, and linen closet. Took flattened boxes to recycle center and marveled at the progress made it the past week doing this daily routine. This offhand planning is working and I am enjoying the process and progress.

Tomorrow the TV, stand, and DVD player find their place in the apartment, along with the rest of the clothes, knives, utensils, and remaining refrigerated foods.

Feeling good and the martini hit the spot. Some more light packing and a viewing of "The Story of Us" on History - one last time. All plugs are pulled tomorrow.

I'll be offline for a day or two. If you are so inclined, please keep me in prayer.

And so it goes.
*

Wishful Caturday

So close to the finish line with the move and all I want to do is curl up and sleep. Working every day this week (and longer hours with the season upon us) means little time to move things and clean the old place up to return it to what it looked like three years ago. Once the personal stuff is out I can begin the mopping, sweeping and vacuuming.

And so it goes.
*

Moving, Imagining, and Taking Ownership

Counting the days, hours, minutes until I am entrenched in the new digs. Brought more things over early today, then spent 2 hours unpacking boxes and putting things away; taking ownership of the new place, I guess.  Doing this relaxed and took me into another place. I began to imagine what the place will look like when all the pieces fall into place.  Probably not until after the season. I am in no rush, but I would like a chair or two and a small table.

Though I had to be super careful about the weight I was lifting, that didn't dampen my spirits. I took great pride in collapsing the boxes and taking them for recycling - there are 7 fewer boxes than yesterday - along with my usual recyclables.

When I arrived at the restaurant I was calm, energized, and ready for the day ahead.

I'm taking a break tomorrow and only running a few necessary errands before work. I just can't run up and down that flight of stairs another day without a respite. And, the errands are an important part of the process, as well. No guilt here.

Didn't sleep well last night, so following a festive cocktail and a light supper, it's off to bed. I am really exhausted

Image by friend Ron, who helped with the move on Wednesday. (Click the image to embiggen.) Yes, the apartment boasts 2 skylights - 1 in the kitchen and another in the bathroom.  I love them...so does Ron.

An so it goes.
*

One Forward - Two Back

Even as torrential rain slammed the area this morning, I took another load of boxes to the new place before heading to the doctor's appointment at 9:45. It was slow going; hard to see the road and other cars, but just as I arrived at the apartment, the rain turned to a drizzle. I moved quickly to get the things inside and put a few things away to reuse the the reusable shopping bags and boxes for another trip.

As I began the drive to the doctor's office I ran smack into another heavy storm, and this one was unforgiving. I was soaked just running from the car to the front door and little time to drip dry. I was called in about 10 minutes early for the nurse to take the vitals and check my current weight.  Lost a little over a pound since last visit, but blood pressure is elevated again. Possibly from the stress of the move and the hectic schedule I've been keeping, but who knows. He gave me a scrip to have blood work done asap and asked that I monitor the pressure twice weekly and call him if the pressure got any higher.

The doctor brow beats me and continues the exam.  He has me lie face up on the exam table and proceeds to check out the upper stomach area, stops in mid-poke and asks if I'd been doing any heavy lifting. I say no, not since the back injury a year and a half ago. "Well, you've got  hernia! Are you in any pain? Can you think of something you may have done to cause this?" I can't, really. I've been super careful because if I do lift anything heavy, I pay for it for days after.
"If you're not in pain, hold off on surgery until it becomes absolutely necessary, but if you begin to experience pain, get your butt to the emergency room right away."

Ah, the joys of being uninsured - and he wonders why the blood pressure is elevated. Jeez!

And so it goes.
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Hello, I Must be Going...

I cannot wait to park the car in town and not drive anywhere for a week. Today was another whirlwind of activity to help the move along.

Before reporting for work pay a visit to:
Credit Union - activate change of address and order new checks.
Insurance Co. - change of address and driving status (to reduce cost of premiums) and give odometer reading.
Dry Cleaner - drop off dress shirts to be ready by end of the week.
Drop off Boxes at new apartment.
Unpack boxes of food stuffs and store in cabinets. (Came across some personal items belonging to the Ex and my previous life. Can't bring myself to throw them away, so they are being packed into another box in hopes I can find someone to deliver them to him.)
Recycle boxes to be filled again.

A busy day at the restaurant - especially for a Monday - with a good staff and diners in a very bouyant mood. The season is upon us...

After work:
Ordered Spicy Wings takeout for supper tonight - tired of leftovers.
Checked out prices for step stool and light fixture for kitchen - maybe a ceiling fan with light kit - at 2 stores.
Stopped at Hardware store for picture hooks and hardware.
Made a quick stop for Gin.  (We do needs our Tinis, precious)

Packed a few more boxes and now settling in for that festive Martini followed by those wings and a salad.

Stay tuned.

And so it goes.
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Caturday

That's today's watch-cry!

More later, if I'm still standing.
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