April 16, 2009
Dear Everyone:
Last Thursday, as I finished the Weekly Letter, I
realized that I couldn't print it because there was exactly one sheet of
paper left in the
printer.
(There are three individuals who still receive the Weekly Letter in
hardcopy. One of them is
“Jeannie” who insists that she can't read it online.
Maybe I should show her how to print the email.)
I had three full reams of paper, but they were still at the "old"
place.
So after work on Friday, I drove over to the "old"
place to get at least one ream of paper.
My first clue that something was up came when I opened the gate
to the patio. There was a
neat stack of bricks that hadn't been there before.
I recognized them immediately.
Back when I was desperate for shelving space for books, I had
built a little brick-and-board bookcase in the dining area.
These were the bricks.
When I entered the "old" place, it was clear that
someone had vacuumed the entire place (except the stairs.)
Obviously, “Jeannie” had been busy.
She had moved anything small that was still on the floor onto a
piece of furniture, or into a closet.
Upstairs, there was a step-ladder standing in the bathtub.
Everything else was gone.
Especially the mold and mildew in the shower area.
The doors to both bedrooms were closed and the air-conditioning
fan was running throughout the house.
Later, I realized that she had been spraying in the bathroom and
turned the fan on to increase the air circulation.
I had packed some boxes in my car, with the
intention of taking some more of the kitchen items up to the "new"
place. However, “Jeannie”
had stacked everything on the counter directly in front of the cupboards
I wanted to empty. So I just
took the printer paper and a few other small things and went home.
On Saturday, I arranged to meet “Jeannie” at the
"old" place. We didn't
actually get there until around noon, so we had lunch first, then set
about clearing out the rest of the kitchen.
A lot of stuff ended up going into the garbage.
When you don't know how long it's been since you used that food
coloring, or flavorings, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Great-Aunt Amy and Elva's crystal finally saw the light of day
after 11+ years. We decided
that, once washed, they would make a find donation to some charity.
We also found my cheese
grater.
I didn't even know I had a cheese grater.
And the nut-chopper, which I used to use for making cookies, many
moons ago. I kept the
silver-plated gravy boat, with ladle, that had been a going-away gift
from my file clerks when I left the "Lard" Files; but the silver butter
dish could go to charity. We
hauled all the kitchen stuff up to the "new" place.
True to form, “Jeannie” planted a box of kitchen items on the one
kitchen counter that wasn't already covered with stuff.
Then she went home.
On Sunday, I drove up to “Jeannie's” place (19.2
miles) to reprogram her telephones with my new phone number.
She had started calling my cell phone instead of my home phone
because she didn't want to have to call my "old" number and write down
the recording that gives you the "new" number.
We also went online to her bank and figured out how to reset the
automatic payment to her
Homeowners Association to the new (higher)
dues. By the time I got to
the "old" place, there wasn't time for any more packing.
I just took some pictures and measurements (for new vanities in
the bathrooms) and headed home.
On Tuesday, I went by the "old" place to put the
garbage and recycle cans out for Wednesday's pickup.
I took all the old wrapping paper and ribbons and added them to
the recycles. Some of them
were from Christmas Past too long ago.
The garbage can was already full from our cleanup on Saturday.
On Wednesday, I had a Homeowners Association Board meeting at the
"old" place. This gave me a
chance to put the garbage cans away and break the news to the Board that
I wouldn't be with them for much longer.
Tonight my “new” Homeowners Association has a
monthly meeting. Hopefully,
there won’t be too much overlap between Associations.
This weekend, “Jeannie” and I plan to look for some lamps for the
second bedroom, which is going to be the library and home office.
I also plan to get the remaining small items in various closets
dragged out and either find places for them in the “new” place or donate
them.
Then the real fun begins:
Cleaning, painting, replacing flooring, upgrading bathrooms and
kitchen. Can’t wait.
Love, as always,
Pete
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