Monday, June 26, 2006
Laundry Day
Thank goodness the second floor is open with a beautiful, long railing spreading out to the view below. Of course these days there isn’t much of a view since every inch of each handrail is covered with drying clothes. Hopefully soon we’ll have the dryer situation resolved, but until then I’ll save a little dough and hang everything out to dry. Fortunately in the dry desert heat most things dry rather quickly, allowing me to do several loads of laundry a day. Usually we don’t have a ton of articles to be laundered, but after the move there was a big pile of stuff needing to be washed and I just got so sick of looking at the growing pile at the end of the hallway. It’s down to a fraction of its original size. Soon I’ll be all caught up. I can’t wait.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Digging a hole to China
My sweet little Karma has a renewed interest to help her adjust to life in the desert. Hole digging. Not just small little holes to tuck a treat into, but BIG gapping holes that lead to homes of cute little critters that burrow into the earth. I haven’t seen the creature yet that Mz. Karma is after, but clearly the dog isn’t about to give up or give in until the whole back yard is destroyed.
Karma begs to go outside so she can dig and/or guard the hole. Sass on the other hand could care less and would much rather stay inside the cool air conditioned house. Sassy almost refuses to go near the patio doors for fear we’ll toss her fuzzy little butt outside. She got caught in the yard when the sprinklers went off. She was none too pleased about this. Karma on the other hand must be in doggy heaven each time the sprinklers go off: “Yeah! Now it’ll be even easier to get at my nemesis!” Thank goodness the carpet and floor tiles are “dirt” colored.
Karma begs to go outside so she can dig and/or guard the hole. Sass on the other hand could care less and would much rather stay inside the cool air conditioned house. Sassy almost refuses to go near the patio doors for fear we’ll toss her fuzzy little butt outside. She got caught in the yard when the sprinklers went off. She was none too pleased about this. Karma on the other hand must be in doggy heaven each time the sprinklers go off: “Yeah! Now it’ll be even easier to get at my nemesis!” Thank goodness the carpet and floor tiles are “dirt” colored.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Can I get a working mail box key please?!
Tina, Home Builder Sales Representative: "Hi, how may I help you?” All eager and ready to sell me a new home!
“Hmm, yes, but it doesn’t work? Which house do you live in?”
I point it out on her map.
“Oh, yes, that used to be a different address number, then it changed, then I think it changed again, but now it’s what it is.”
“Nope, sure isn’t. So…”
“Well, you’ll need to contact the Post Office since they actually own the mail boxes. Our contact there is Candy, here’s her number.”
Tina hands me her business card with Candy’s number hand written on the back. I walk home. I try calling the number. NO answer. No voice mail. Nada. I give Erik the low down that night. The next day he gets through to Candy. Candy explains that we have mail box number 8. Eight is great, but only if the damn thing works. Candy goes on to explain that if that doesn’t do the trick have the home builder call her directly.
Two more days later I walk over to the sales office, again. I speak to a different Sales Rep. She says, “Sorry your key doesn’t work. You’ll have to contact the Post Office.”
“Right, already did that. I was here last week and spoke with Tina about this.”
“Tina now works at a different location.”
Bully for her. I want my freakin’ mail.
“How nice. Anyway, she gave a contact at the Post Office, Candy. My husband spoke to Candy and explained the issue. Candy told us mail
No answer.
“I’ll continue to try Pat and find out from him what he knows, then I’ll call you. O.k.? What’s your number?”
I give her my number and walk home.
Short while later my phone rings. It’s the new Sales Rep. “I spoke to Pat. He asked where you got the keys from.”
“From my landlord. Mr. ______”
“Mr.___, how is that spelled?”
“Landlord, L-a-n-d-l-o-r-d.”
“Oh I don’t know who that is, he is not in our files.”
“O.k. try Mr. Other Landlord. O-t-h-e-r L-a-n-d-l-o-r-d.”
“Oh yes, he’s in our files. I will call him and ask if he knows who provided him with the mail box keys and why don’t you try Mr. Landlord. Hopefully between the two of them we’ll figure out where the keys came from.”
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
It's Good to be Home!
I'm so happy to be back in CA, though the time in Knoxhell sure helps me appreciate CA and the many things I missed (not in any particular order):
- TJ's - Trader Joes, a unique grocery store as they call themselves
- FatBurger
- Abundance and variety of fresh produce
- 2 hours or less from most anywhere I’d want to be – ocean, mountains, CA friends, culture, diversity of every kind: people, languages, food
- LAX with its less expensive than Knoxhell and DIRECT flights all around the globe
- Cheap gas prices... hey wait a minute, how that get on the list?
Anyway, the desert, thus far, is really pretty to me. I love how the
I like the wind which rarely stops blowing, however, due to all the dust, dirt, sand, etc. I don’t dare open a window.
All Settled In
The ABF fella delivered our stuff last Wed. (6/14/06) late in the afternoon. We pack and load, ABF picks it up and delivers it. I was very pleased with the turn-around time for this. We arrived in Palmdale on 6/9/06 - early, so for all of our belongings to arrive in just 6 days is incredible. Especially when one considers that when we moved from Redondo Beach , CA to Knoxville , TN
Unfortunately the ABF driver wasn't able to open the trailer so we could not get at our stuff. The loading ramp had jammed itself in such a manner as to make opening the trailer door more than 3 inches impossible. So there I was looking at boxes of our stuff so close............ and yet so far away. After about 45 minutes of manhandling the trailer door the ABF driver was able to enlist the help of a construction worker who is building other new homes in the neighborhood. Fortunately these two men together were able to dislodge the ramp enough to clear the door and thus provide me with access to crushed boxes, damaged furniture, scuffed and marked mattresses, sofas, etc. I asked the driver to please place the ramp in the garage. I knew I wouldn't be able to unload the trailer till the next day and I didn't want the same issue to reoccur in the morning. It's very windy in this part of the world. I didn't really think the wind would knock the trailer around enough to re-lodge the ramp again but why take the chance?
The next day 2 movers, Erik and I all unloaded the trailer in less than four hours time. Of course it probably would have taken even less time than that if Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest in
Anyway, many crushed boxes and damaged belongings later our house looks like a home and everything is in its proper place. Well, almost everything. Currently the patio table is hanging out in the dining room with a table cloth adorning it to help to conceal the fact that it belongs out in the yard and not in a formal dining room. Since it is very, very light I don't wish to see the patio set flying about in the wind crashing into the house, or worse, into the dogs. So for the time being the empty dining room is less empty. The base for the patio set is helping my poor broken dresser to stand on its own 3 legs, since the 4th leg looks like it was twisted off, see pictures below:
Thursday we unloaded, Friday we put everything in place and broke down most of the boxes and bagged up much of the packing paper, Saturday we hung the pictures and broke down the rest of the boxes. By Sunday the house was pretty much finished but was still awaiting a few small details - like towel bars, toilet paper holders and shower curtain rods. The KB Homes dude stopped by Monday (6/19/06) and took care of these things so now our house is really done. Oh, well, uh, except for the dryer. We have an electric dryer and the hook up in the house is for gas! Hopefully soon we'll remedy this.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Thoughts on Road Trip
Day 1 - Road Trip to CA - Leave Knoxville at 2:00 pm EST.
Mile 79 this is boring.
Mile 137 still boring, except now I have to pee.
Mile 142 wow, this is going to be a really long trip. Crap, I have at least 3 more days of this.
Mile 159 I wonder if E's as bored as me? Hey I'm hungry.
Mile 199 wow TN has a lot of pretty trees. I like the trees and mountains. Pretty.
Mile 237 I'm hungry again.
Mile 301 I have to go to the bathroom again.
Mile 352 still bored, call Mom. We laugh about something but heck if I can remember what. I like talking to mom she's funny. I miss my mom. I hope she visits us in CA.
Mile 411 it's getting late. Wonder when we'll call it a night.
Mile 441 all done. Check in at Days Inn. Unpack, let critters loose in room, pray they don't destroy anything. Watch TV, nothing on. Continue to watch nothing on TV. E's pissed. Laptop has line on the screen from when he dropped it. I turn TV off and read Grimm's Fairy Tales to cheer myself up. Read "Goose Girl" story. Not very cheery reading. Sleep.
Sass's big wet nose wakes me several times before the sun makes an appearance. I try to ignore her she nudges the hubby. He gets up and feeds the dogs and takes them outside. He's a good man. I pet the kitties while waiting for hubby to return with the dogs. We all go back to sleep. Erik's phone rings at 8:00 am CST. E keeps his ringer on the loudest setting I've ever heard. Phone scares the bejesus out of me. Spend 20 minutes hyperventilating. VERY awake now and decide to shower. Eat "free" food in the lobby. I like Kellogg's Raisin Bran, good stuff. Return to room. E's teaching class online. I watch HGTV while packing up. We leave. So far we're both in better moods than the night before. We kiss, make up and apologize for being jerks to one another.
Day 2 - Leave Forrest City, Arkansas at 10:00 am CST.
Mile 462 notice Gentlemen's Club located next to a church. God does have a sense of humor! Who's a bigger gentleman than God? Hmm, hey what if churches and Adult Stores/Gentlemen's Clubs were to work together. Instead of trying to convince the parishioners that such places are evil churches could have these dens of debauchery in the basement. Slogans like "Our Angels are Heaven Sent" could be posted on billboards! The whole congregation could get involved. The choirs could provide live dancing music for the Angels. The little glasses used to serve the "blood of Christ" could double as shot glasses during non-church activities when the "guests" of the Angels want a drink. At Sunday school the lessons could involve washing the glasses while the story of how Jesus turned water into wine is told. The Angles could dance around poles in the shape of a cross.... wow, this could be really profitable! And the wives would be so happy that their husbands were spending soooooooooooooooooo much time at Church. The families of these churches would be so pleased that their daughters were spending their evenings at church instead of clubbing it and doing God only knows what in the back seat of some boy's car. I think this could really work.
Mile 478 worry that I'll be spending all of eternity in hell then remember that I'm an atheist. Whew that was close.
Mile 521 I'm hungry.
Mile 576 I have to pee.
Mile 599 I'm hungry and need to use the rest room again.
Mile 613 is this stupid rain ever gonna stop?
Mile 638 I can't see a damn thing, am I in a river? Are those tail lights or flotation devices in front of me?
Mile 742 rain finally stopped.
Mile 870 Oklahoma City sucks.
Mile 877 holly $#%! I have 4 flat tires? How the %$@!# did that happen? Oh wait, my tires are fine, Oklahoma has really, really crappy roads.
Mile 901 I'm hungry again. Hey look at all the pretty windmills. Oh no! That poor little fella over this is broken. All the other blades are slowly going around and around and around... but not him. Perhaps he's on strike? What's his cause? Is he just lazy? Perhaps he's one of those "original" types, gotta go against the grain, or in this case just not go at all. Silly windmill doesn't he realize how stupid he looks just standing still while all the others swing round' and round? Those windmills are mesmerizing... I could watch them all day... oh crap gotta watch the road. Nice road I see ya. Yes, yes I know the shoulder is not for driving on thanks for the friendly reminder. Oh no where did the windmills go? All gone. Boring landscape again. Better get used to it the pan handle of Texas SUCKS even more!
Mile 949 quitin' time. Woo hoo. Check into Ramada Inn in Clinton, Oklahoma. Let critters loose in room. Pray they don't destroy anything while we eat dinner at "Fat Cats" which is on the grounds of the hotel, very convenient. Think about going swimming in pool after dinner. Eat kid's grilled cheese sandwich and fried black olives with asiago cheese. Freakin' good little fried fellas. Restaurant cold, don't want to swim, just want to go outside where it's hot. Return to room. All critters and furniture accounted for and in same condition as when we left the room. I watch TV, E plays on computer. We're happy. No cross words exchanged today. Blog. Sleep.
Mile 79 this is boring.
Mile 137 still boring, except now I have to pee.
Mile 142 wow, this is going to be a really long trip. Crap, I have at least 3 more days of this.
Mile 159 I wonder if E's as bored as me? Hey I'm hungry.
Mile 199 wow TN has a lot of pretty trees. I like the trees and mountains. Pretty.
Mile 237 I'm hungry again.
Mile 301 I have to go to the bathroom again.
Mile 352 still bored, call Mom. We laugh about something but heck if I can remember what. I like talking to mom she's funny. I miss my mom. I hope she visits us in CA.
Mile 411 it's getting late. Wonder when we'll call it a night.
Mile 441 all done. Check in at Days Inn. Unpack, let critters loose in room, pray they don't destroy anything. Watch TV, nothing on. Continue to watch nothing on TV. E's pissed. Laptop has line on the screen from when he dropped it. I turn TV off and read Grimm's Fairy Tales to cheer myself up. Read "Goose Girl" story. Not very cheery reading. Sleep.
Sass's big wet nose wakes me several times before the sun makes an appearance. I try to ignore her she nudges the hubby. He gets up and feeds the dogs and takes them outside. He's a good man. I pet the kitties while waiting for hubby to return with the dogs. We all go back to sleep. Erik's phone rings at 8:00 am CST. E keeps his ringer on the loudest setting I've ever heard. Phone scares the bejesus out of me. Spend 20 minutes hyperventilating. VERY awake now and decide to shower. Eat "free" food in the lobby. I like Kellogg's Raisin Bran, good stuff. Return to room. E's teaching class online. I watch HGTV while packing up. We leave. So far we're both in better moods than the night before. We kiss, make up and apologize for being jerks to one another.
Day 2 - Leave Forrest City, Arkansas at 10:00 am CST.
Mile 462 notice Gentlemen's Club located next to a church. God does have a sense of humor! Who's a bigger gentleman than God? Hmm, hey what if churches and Adult Stores/Gentlemen's Clubs were to work together. Instead of trying to convince the parishioners that such places are evil churches could have these dens of debauchery in the basement. Slogans like "Our Angels are Heaven Sent" could be posted on billboards! The whole congregation could get involved. The choirs could provide live dancing music for the Angels. The little glasses used to serve the "blood of Christ" could double as shot glasses during non-church activities when the "guests" of the Angels want a drink. At Sunday school the lessons could involve washing the glasses while the story of how Jesus turned water into wine is told. The Angles could dance around poles in the shape of a cross.... wow, this could be really profitable! And the wives would be so happy that their husbands were spending soooooooooooooooooo much time at Church. The families of these churches would be so pleased that their daughters were spending their evenings at church instead of clubbing it and doing God only knows what in the back seat of some boy's car. I think this could really work.
Mile 478 worry that I'll be spending all of eternity in hell then remember that I'm an atheist. Whew that was close.
Mile 521 I'm hungry.
Mile 576 I have to pee.
Mile 599 I'm hungry and need to use the rest room again.
Mile 613 is this stupid rain ever gonna stop?
Mile 638 I can't see a damn thing, am I in a river? Are those tail lights or flotation devices in front of me?
Mile 742 rain finally stopped.
Mile 870 Oklahoma City sucks.
Mile 877 holly $#%! I have 4 flat tires? How the %$@!# did that happen? Oh wait, my tires are fine, Oklahoma has really, really crappy roads.
Mile 901 I'm hungry again. Hey look at all the pretty windmills. Oh no! That poor little fella over this is broken. All the other blades are slowly going around and around and around... but not him. Perhaps he's on strike? What's his cause? Is he just lazy? Perhaps he's one of those "original" types, gotta go against the grain, or in this case just not go at all. Silly windmill doesn't he realize how stupid he looks just standing still while all the others swing round' and round? Those windmills are mesmerizing... I could watch them all day... oh crap gotta watch the road. Nice road I see ya. Yes, yes I know the shoulder is not for driving on thanks for the friendly reminder. Oh no where did the windmills go? All gone. Boring landscape again. Better get used to it the pan handle of Texas SUCKS even more!
Mile 949 quitin' time. Woo hoo. Check into Ramada Inn in Clinton, Oklahoma. Let critters loose in room. Pray they don't destroy anything while we eat dinner at "Fat Cats" which is on the grounds of the hotel, very convenient. Think about going swimming in pool after dinner. Eat kid's grilled cheese sandwich and fried black olives with asiago cheese. Freakin' good little fried fellas. Restaurant cold, don't want to swim, just want to go outside where it's hot. Return to room. All critters and furniture accounted for and in same condition as when we left the room. I watch TV, E plays on computer. We're happy. No cross words exchanged today. Blog. Sleep.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
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