terrshee

Managed to schedule time off to go see my father at the end of July when my fave sister could make it.  Scored on the airfares big time, and got the best rates I have ever seen. Did nearly as well on the car rental selection.
 

The garage is now clear enough to put the car back in.

My Duran coffee order arrived.

I have fixed my new (refurbished) printer which had stopped printing anything black. A fresh cartridge did the trick, but I have to now wonder how long a cartridge lasts since I don't print all that much and this is less than two months old?

In the To Be Determined Column:

My brother came and finished the plumbing repairs in thegarage. Since there is wallboard covering it, I have no clue how well he did. I doubt if I saw it, I could tell anyway. He also replaced the light fixture outside the front door. He did this a week or so ago, but water from the continual rains got in there and shorted it out. It is a little crooked which will drive my OCD self crazy, but hopefully this time it is better sealed.

Timing of the trip to Costa Rica now puts going up to Pennsic in a far more doubtful position. At best I can head up on Sunday and come home Tuesday. I'm mulling over whether the 8 hour drive is worth it or not versus the attendence of friends I haven't seen for years. Hmm. That probably just answered that.

In the Ironic Column:

The notice to renew my SCA membership  arrived today, along with my new membership card from when I sent in my fees a few weeks ago.

AmEx wants me to upgrade my card, badly. I keep getting notices about the wonder benefits I will receive if I a) pay more money a year, b) charge more money a month on the card, and c) get a free companion ticket once a year for my nonexistent partner. And this is supposed to appeal to me because?

I have the most beautiful cat in the world, which manages to offset her biting and jumping. As friends would say, "Bad kitty. Aw, aren't you cute?"

My lungs are not rejoicing, but my project-oriented self is quite happy. The painters came today and knocked out the foyer in what must be record time. For a 25-year old house, it looks pretty fine. At last the finish on the walls is uniform and the bits that have been replaced  for minor repairs are all hidden behind a layer or two of semi-gloss. They were also good on repairing the most obvious of the nail-pops and dings in the walls. Bonus, they voluntarily replaced a light fixture I had waiting. Should I ever need a professional painting job again, you may be sure their names are going in my rolodex.

To add to the sense of satisfaction, the chimney sweeps came around and did the HOA-required inspection. The two funny parts were the discovery of the next piece of Old Lady Engineering (she painted some black on the back of the unused fireplaces to make them look used) and that one of the sweeps readily identified me as an SCA-type and we exchanged the metaphoric secret handshake of medievalists. I've been here a year and a half (it that possible?) and this was my first Society contact. They were quite nice. Cute, too, but much, much too young.

Then it was on to getting the handyman in to rehang the bifold doors in the kitchen. They've been coming off the hinges since I got here. It didn't take long, and in the end the cosmetic touch to hide the repair  is in fact is an improvement. More bonus.

The new catsitter came around to be briefed on the care and feeding of the White Cat in the Grey Tabby Suit, so now I don't have to worry about her so much when I am away.

I felt like I worked all day except for the part where I spent most of it in front of the computer playing games and IMing with kfitzwarin because I just wanted to stay out of the way of all the hard workers. I did get a bit of productivity accomplished in the cleanup and resettling of furniture, but it isn't that much to brag about.

The cat spent the entire day hiding under the bed. She's just now coming out and slinking about low to the ground.

Anyway, there's a bit more that needs to be done. Some pictures to rehang. The new piece of molding in the kitchen to be painted. Perhaps a little reorganization of the sewing and painting space. Some curtains to be hung when the paint is really dry. But for the first time in many months, I don't feel like there is a house project awaiting my attention. Egads. I live here, don't I? Oh dear, oh dear.

I came home last night smelling of cigarette smoke and disappointed hopes.  I had a good visit with Mom except for the fact that she's smoking again after two months of holding off and she's backing down on the notion of assisted living. It makes me crazy.  She knows better, she knows she can't live alone any more, and she can't make a change. I'm coming to fear it is going to be a showdown and we will have to force her to do something for her own good, and it will break her aged-Mom heart. It is so hard on her.  But what else can be done?

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The smoke and the stress have left me with a migraine, but at least the weekend was not without its pleasures. My sister and I had a lovely visit and a long walk with her beautiful dog prior to seeing Mom. Afterward, I went to have dinner with old friends and met a couple of new ones. An evening of relaxed and lively conversation over Indian food was great. It was made even better because one of the old friends had recently returned from India after a month of travels. She had great stories and the proprietor of the restaurant was impressed with her enthusiasm for the food and culture. He made sure we ate well indeed.

I suppose it is by no means a unique experience, but it is to me. Last night I was lying in bed, petting the cat and gave a contented stretch to match hers. Ow. Somehow I have sprained an ankle.  I guess it was a muscle cramp or whatever. But this morning I hobble about with a brace on my left ankle and frown upon my face. It isn't severe, but it is enough to put me off going to the gym, which I had thoroughly resolved upon this morning as I haven't been in weeks and need to. Badly. Obviously, if my ankle is weak enough to sprain itself. Pooh.

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There's snow on the ground. Again. I hope this is the last. I am right tired of winter and so not in the mood for this at the moment.

In my proposed travel to Madrid next fall, I am considering improving my exceedingly poor few words of Spanish.  Does anyone have any experience of the Rosetta Stone method? The software package is on the pricey side, but if it is effective, I might be willing to shell out the bucks, especially since having a little Spanish is getting more essential in the modern US. Also, any thoughts on the language of Spain vs. Latin America? Are there sufficient differences that it matters which edition I choose?

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A not-so-small happy dance at the prospect of an expedition with Pinkleader and StringMonkey in a couple of weeks. I've been entirely too uninvolved in life in recent months, and this will definitely be motivating, entertaining and enlightening.