days_unfolding

I'm thinking of buying a small TV for upstairs after I get the check from my aunt's estate because I can get one for $100, and getting the old one fixed probably would cost that much. I'm expecting to hear that my toe is healed when I go to the doctor next week. I need to spend some treadmill time. And do exercises. I plan to start up yoga again after the 1st of the year. Actually, someone is selling a small smart TV for $30 on Facebook Marketplace.

Zara hates the smell of the Neutrogena lotion. She took one whiff and went to the other end of the bed. Maybe I’ll keep it in here and put it on right before I go to sleep.

Overslept. I used to charge my phone in my bed, which helped get me up. But now it's on my nightstand, and it isn't waking me up. I could set the obnoxious alarm with the bells, but Zara hates it, plus I don't want to get used to it and save it for occasions when I really need to get up. Hmm.

It's very quiet at work. Some people are off today and tomorrow.

Oops, I don't think that I got the mail yesterday (done).

Took a shower at lunch. I feel nice and clean. But the cold bathroom is getting cold. Maybe I need to put a space heater in there.

I am starving, but I'm trying to wait to eat. But I'm hungry. Maybe I should go to Walmart tonight and get a few things. I really would like a poke bowl, but it's expensive. I made a Lean Cuisine turkey dinner.

Hmm. Someone has put a white footstool on the curb in Urbana. I think that I'll slap some makeup on and go see if it's still there because it would go well with my white chair. Actually I think that I want both the white one and black one. The black one would be good when I cover the wingback chair in gray. And it would be nice to read with my feet up.

Hmm. Cunard has a New York to San Francisco cruise that does a full transit of the Panama Canal. I could tag on a couple of days in New York and San Francisco too. (I like to go to San Francisco every few years.) And I'd get to see a Cunard ship, which is supposed to be spectacular. It’s in January, so I’d need to go in 2026. Maybe I'll skip my New York trip at Christmas next year and go on the cruise.

I'm pondering going up to Chicago for a couple of days near Christmas. I could take the train up and stay in a hotel and see the windows. I haven't done that in a while. Downtown hotels are expensive though. Have some deep-dish pizza. I'd like to see the Titanic exhibit up there, but then I'd have to drive. (Well, no, I could take the L and bus.) Maybe I should stay at the motel near O'Hare and take the Blue Line downtown. I have some time to think about this trip. I asked my Chicago friends on Facebook for thoughts. Actually, there are some good prices downtown for the Black Friday sale, but I need to wait to book it.

The good news: I got one of the footstools. The other one was taken. The bad news: I shopped until I dropped at Walmart, but it said that my card couldn’t be processed. I called the number and I have credit, but I wasn’t able to speak to a representative because their office is closed. I might try a Walmart delivery later. Suckage. I know what I can do. I want a ticket to a concert at the uni. I’ll try that and see if it goes through. If yes, I’ll submit a Walmart order.

I’m feeling shaky and need to eat something (done).

I got the fresh sheets on the bed while Zara was drinking water. She came back, but stood in the doorway while I finished putting the sheets on. Yay! (She is not cooperative if she’s already on the bed.)

Okay, the credit card did not go through, so I need to call them tomorrow and say, "What the fuck?"

My aunt's nephew told me that there will be no place for me to sleep at my aunt's house next weekend. My mom will sleep in the recliner. He told me that he'd buy an air mattress if I wanted, but I said that I was too old for air mattresses, and he laughed. I booked a hotel for me to stay at. He said that he'd reimburse me for the hotel (or actually, reimburse my mom because I'm using her credit card for stuff related to my aunt's house. She has a crazy amount of credit.)

Someone in my class recommended That's It! fruit bars, so I ordered a sampler box of them. I'm always looking for stuff to satisfy my sweet tooth, and they're healthy.

I think that I want to try Factor for meals when I get my aunt's money. They have some meals that sound really good.

Slept until noon. I must have needed the sleep. Started laundry. Checked in on the discord for my classes. One person said that she was thinking of dropping out, but she decided to stay. I'm glad.

I want to start packing for Chicago next weekend. I'm trying to decide whether to take the bigger suitcase or the carry-on. I can do laundry at my aunt's house or my mom's house.

I'm trying to figure out what to do in what order. I do want a nap. I need to go to the grocery store, and I started a list. And I should start on homework.

My dad is saying don't buy real estate or a car because interest rates are going up. Makes sense, but I'm wondering how long the economy will be screwed up. My dad says that it's anyone's guess.

Mom bought a pair of arch-support Skechers shoes, and she said that they were helping her walking. They're expensive though, so I'm looking on eBay for less expensive ones and have a bunch that I'm watching. Who'd of thought that I'd get into a shoe fetish over Skechers? I'm trying to decide between an arch support shoe (which is what I was looking for) and a really cute pair of sneakers. Okay, I bought the arch support shoes, but I'm not entirely ruling out getting the sneakers too.

I'm getting a headache, so I'm going to lie down for a little while. Mimi is snuggled up against me. Maybe I'll go to the store after I talk to Mom, but I'm also eyeing cinnamon bread sticks at Dominos for delivery.

Talked to Mom. She said that she's not feeling emotionally supported by me, but I don't know what she wants. She dumps all her stress on me, gets disappointed in me, and hangs up. She also said that her friend Lotus will drop everything and be there for her, but I have a job. Lotus is retired. All I know is that talking to me doesn't make her happy, and I sit and churn over the conversation for a couple of hours.

I think that I'll just shower, put on fresh pajamas, and order Dominos (done). The food has put me into a food coma, so I'm going to bed.

Well, I overslept and got up at 6 AM. At least I'm well-rested.

Well, crap. My TaskRabbit mover canceled. I tried to book two new people for today. We'll see what happens. Now I'm not sure what to do. Okay, I found two more people. I hope that they will show up. I'm resting for a moment with Zara on my lap, and then I'll hit the road.

I made good time on the drive. I got used to the truck pretty quickly. I decided that I had time to stop for lunch, but ate quickly.

My aunt's nephew, bless his heart, had already pulled the plugs on the TV and stereo. One TaskRabbit guy got here early and shrink-wrapped the entertainment center. Then then other guy got here, and they moved it out and strapped it down. Elapsed time about 10 minutes.

But I had a problem because I thought that I had another strap for the TV and stereo, but couldn't find it. So I roamed the basement and garage looking for rope. No dice. I called my mom, and she didn't know where any was. She's stressed because her phone wasn't working right and because my aunt's nephew said that the estate sale people will start the sale in mid-November. She's talking about coming to Chicago the week after next.

I sat and wondered if the TV and stereo would fit in the front cab with me. They fit perfectly. Problem solved. And they will be locked up when I stop. The lock that I bought from U-Haul doesn't quite fit the sliding door of the truck. Bah.

Now I'm taking a nap before I drive back. It took a while before I was able to fall asleep, but I did and woke up freezing cold.

Touched base with the people unloading the entertainment center tomorrow. Had a bowl of soup and some leftover onion rings and an apple pie from lunch.

I'm back. I was going to stay up and study some Italian and wind down, but I think that I can go to sleep now. The cats are happy that I'm home.

Mom is driving me crazy. She wants me to order her an Uber to get her to the doctor tomorrow. Then she'll call me to order her an Uber to get her back. I told her that I was in a meeting tomorrow at 10, and she said "Well, they aren't being very generous, are they?" And she said that she stayed in Chicago for two months when her mom died. Then she said that she guessed that she needed to die. Whatever. She doesn't seem to realize that the world isn't revolving around her. Sigh. I don't understand why she needs to be nasty about it.

She did say that she's not going to go to Chicago next weekend. So I just need to get through this weekend, which will be a bitch. I have a test next week too.

But! I did finish my impossible homework assignment. I told my aunt's nephew that I would be coming up to Chicago Saturday morning because I thought that I'd need to work on it tomorrow night too. So now I'm not sure if I should go tomorrow night or Saturday morning. It would be better if I got to sleep really early tomorrow night and got out early in the morning.

Now I need to switch credit cards for U-Haul and TaskRabbit and crash.

I'm telling Zara that she's a stomach with legs. She wants her lunchtime snack! Actually, she gained a little weight and looks good. She was very thin before.

I had a bad case of the "don't wannas" (plus I've been fighting a headache all day) for class, but I attended anyway.

I picked out a day to take off so that I can look at places in Champaign. Next week is not going to work, so I'm targeting Wednesday of the week after. (It's a case of, "Which meetings can I skip?")

I tried lying down but couldn't sleep. Just as well because I have stuff to do.

Watched a Flight Channel video about a near miss at O'Hare. A 737 doing its takeoff roll rotated early and cleared a 747 on an intersecting runway by 35 feet. The only thing to say is "Fuck!!!!!" I didn't know that O'Hare had intersecting runways. I don't think that I wanted to know that.

Things are coming together for my Chicago trip. My pet sitter will drive me to the U-Haul place. My aunt's nephew called and asked if I would be there on Saturday so that the real estate person could look around. And oh yeah, I need to doublecheck that I've got the keys to the place.

I got the Pixel and it's charging. I need to buy a case for it (done). I joined Google Fi to get them to send me the SIM for it. I need to contact AT&T for a transfer pin, but I'll wait until I'm ready to transfer the cell phone number to avoid issues with AT&T.

Started laundry. Went back to work. And oh hell, I forgot to put the clothes in the dryer. I guess that I'll dry it in the morning and wear pajamas when I start work.

I threw myself together and ran to Whole Foods for Mom. I'm really enjoying driving in Chicago (with the help of the GPS on my phone). I also really like Forest Park. People have stopped there several times to let me in traffic! Also in the store! I couldn't afford a house there, but could afford a condo. Hmm. But my car was the cheapest car in the Whole Foods parking lot :)

When I came back, Mom said that she found still more sweaters in my aunt's closet. I asked her, "How many sweaters did she have?" I think that I'm taking around ten of them. Maybe more. I tried them on and a pantsuit and dress. I grabbed a t-shirt that says, "Memphis Music Store, Beale Street, TN". I have the t-shirt on now. Then Mom folded all the "good" clothes that we want to donate to a woman's shelter, and I noted them down in a donation notebook that my aunt's nephew created. Then I bagged them. Mom says that she'll fold and bag stuff going to Goodwill while I'm gone. Mom said that she found some shorts for me to try, but I said that I was burnt out and will try them tomorrow.

I started laundry. Then I went through my aunt and uncle's CDs. I took most of my uncle's classical CDs.

I heated up some Shrimp De Jonghe for dinner, and it was very good. Now I'm fading fast. Tomorrow I leave for Lincoln, but I'm not going to leave until the late afternoon.

Woke up a couple of different times, but got up a little before my alarm. Took a leisurely time getting myself together. Ate breakfast (a Pop Tart) and lunch (my leftover peanut butter sandwich) and checked out of the hotel. I told them about the faucet. I was kind of hoping that they'd comp me lunch because of it but no dice. Found the bus stop. Made it to Union Station.

Chicago people are nice. I don't know where big cities get such a bad rep. People were thanking the bus driver. (I did too.) When I went to New York many years ago, people were nice there too.

But Chicago drivers are the worst. The nice Midwestern people turn into demons in a car. I hate driving in Chicago and I refuse to drive downtown. I was impressed by the bus driver weaving in and out of traffic.

I always loved Michigan Avenue because you had ladies in fur coats (back when that was a thing) and homeless people and tourists walking on the same street. Taking the bus is a democratic enterprise too because no one wants to drive downtown. You had a lady with a designer bag and kids and one downstate person with lots of luggage (me). I was enjoying the drive downtown and I gawked at the buildings. Downtown Chicago is very nice.

I remember when my goal was to get a job at a library in Chicago. How different my life would have been. But I'll be happy to live in Champaign when I get there.

Now I'm in Union Station. I enjoy people watching here too. I have lots of time to kill, but I brought Italian to study (done).

I knocked over my soda and spilled some of it on the floor. I looked for an Amtrak person to get someone to clean it up, but couldn't find one. So I mopped it up with my pajamas. Whatever works :)

I was reading about Buy Nothing groups, and there's one in Champaign. You have to live there to join though. Bummer.

Got hungry and ate a very expensive burger and fries at McDonalds in the station. It was quiet and I got a nice seat though. A little girl outside the window was waving at me and I waved back.

On the train. We were making good time until right after the stop before mine when we stopped for two trains to go by. We got in almost an hour late.

The girls are happy that I'm back. My lap has been busy.

Talked to Mom. She's been having digestive issues. A handyman that helps her sometimes has kind of adopted her and is helping her with the yard. Her surgery is coming up soon. One more pre-surgery test and then the surgery.

I've decided to skip Italian tomorrow and sleep in. I think that I need the sleep.

Two out of the three people that I messaged on the Language Exchange messaged me back. Cool!

Just remembered that I need the pet sitter for when I'm in Chicago. Need to contact her and get some cash.

More cool, wet weather today. A colleague said that it's supposed to be in the 40s F this weekend. It might be time to bring in the rosemary and thyme.

Went to the doctor. I asked her if I could work out in the gym instead of doing physical therapy for my leg (which would cost at least a thousand dollars from my deductible). She said that I need to make sure to exercise all the muscles. So I'll do some research. I also asked about getting the impacted wax out of my left ear. She looked and said that it was like a brick wall, so she wants me to put drops in my ear for a few times and then make an appointment to have the ear rinsed out. I'll do that at the same time as my fasting blood test.

Bought a Greek Alphabet practice book and a frequency dictionary of Italian. And cat food. Subscribed to the Premium Plus option of Greek Pod 101, which gives me access to a teacher for questions. Still cheaper than one-on-one lessons.

Ugh. Got the programming midterm back and didn't do very well. I currently have a B in the class. Need to study more.

Hmm. I was looking at the shops in a shopping center in Champaign, and there is an Irish dance studio. That sounds really cool, but I don't know if my bum knee could handle it. Need to think about it. I was also looking at swimming lessons, but I think that I should wait until I move to Champaign.

Hmm. I have all-season tires, but I'm wondering if I should get snow tires for the drive to Champaign. Need to price them. Hmm. Kind of pricey. Costco has a snow tire that looks good, but it's a member-only price. I wonder if I know someone with a Costco membership. Maybe someone at work? I checked to see if I could get Swagbucks for getting a Costco membership but no dice. I looked at a discount gift card for Costco (sold out) and Walmart (only a few bucks).

Called Mom to talk about what Great Courses DVDs she'd like for Christmas (they're having a buy two, get one free sale, and there are a bunch that interest me), but she wants to make a list of the ones that she has first. We'll talk about it on our usual call on Saturday. Mom has an appointment with a cardiologist tomorrow at 7 AM! Yikes!

I bought a ton of cat food and kitty litter to get free shipping on Chewy. I got a 35-pound pail of litter, but it least I don't have to carry it up the stairs.

Zara is hanging out on my lap (she did that while I was in the bathroom and I told her that I'd give her lap time later), so I studied some Greek.

Went to get some library books at my old workplace. Chatted with my friend Jude, who is also having health problems. What's with this year? Picked up some ear wax softener at Walgreens.

Zara licked my veggie bake plate clean. I told her that she's one weird kitty. Zara settled on my lap again, so I paid some bills from my phone. Yay technology.

Paid my car registration online. Now I need to get stuff together for work tomorrow, do nighttime chores, and crash.

I overslept, but made it to Italian. The class went well, although I forgot the word for when (quando). In one exercise, I picked the word that sounded right, and it was right.

I'm trying to see if I could pull off a trip to Madison over Labor Day weekend. (I'd take Friday off.) That means that I'd need to do lots of cleaning because I'd have a pet sitter.

Zara was on my lap, so I studied more Italian. I should thank her for her help!

The "pod hotel" that I found in downtown Chicago was farther south than I realized, but I found a hotel "for the tragically hip" (okay, I'm not) off of Michigan Avenue Magnificent Mile. It'll be a trek to the train station, but I'll have plenty of time. And there's a poke place in Water Tower Place for lunch. And there's a Chico's there. Uh oh. Hotwire also has some great deals.

Had a nice, if short, nap. Threw myself together and ran to the storage place. There was a rusted old set of shelves for over the toilet, and I grabbed them because garbage pickup is tomorrow. I also grabbed a box of books. Then I went to Aldi and got my pizza, plus some other odds and ends. I bought celery and hummus, and I'll try again to eat it as a snack. I'm trying to make incremental overhauls of my diet.

I also saw a weight-loss program that interested me, but I need to check that the U of I will reimburse me for part of it. It's run by a nutritionist.

Got the garbage out. My "get up and go" seems to have got up and went, so I'm wondering if I should go to bed early and get up early. I think that I will get ready for bed. If I don't fall asleep, I'll get back up.

Oh! I haven't eaten dinner!

Played a fun game of "guess where Zara is now". The answer turned out to be the tub in the guest bathroom. I guess that it's cool in there.

Mom called and she wants me to stay in a hotel when I go to Chicago because otherwise, it would be three people and one bathroom. So I'll look for one. Catching the late train on Tuesday is fine. I'm looking at a room at the Hyatt, which is surprisingly cheap.

Mom called again. "Maybe you should book the hotel before you book the train." Okay. I wanted to have breakfast first :)

Booked the hotel (Hampton Inn with a refrigerator for my Diet Cola!) and train. Contacted the pet sitter. Now it's nap time. My pet sitter isn't available, but another one is. I arranged with the new pet sitter to meet on Wednesday.

Got my Bluetooth headphones to pair with my phone. Yay, music while I clean. An interesting thing happened while I was listening. I heard all the parts of Landslide by Stevie Nicks separately. Not a very complex song (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar), but still kind of cool.

Cleaned the stove. Does anyone have any tips for getting baked on goo off of the stove? Got the garbage out for collection. I'm taking a break to make and eat dinner.

I'm looking in my freezer. Does anyone have any ideas about what to make with a pound of ground turkey? I guess that I could make turkey burgers.

Hmm. I thought that I get paid (from the new job) on the 27th, but a payroll dates file from the U of I says the 23rd. That would be great if true.

I'm mulling over going to bed, but I think that I'm just tired of cleaning :)