days_unfolding

The plumbers came back, opened up the floor, and replaced the pipe. Then they put in concrete around it. I need to wait a day to let it set, but I should be able to do laundry tomorrow night. Yay.

I ordered a 1Terabyte memory card for the GoPro because I'll be recording parts of the train trip. I've got its batteries charging. I'm in the process of packing the GoPro stuff. I'm going to have to put some of the mounts in the checked luggage.

The pet sitter came by and got the key and did a walkthrough. She said that she would take the garbage and recycling bins out, which would be a big help.

It's 5:30 PM and I'm just making lunch. That pretty well describes my day.

Closed my eyes for a little while. While I was resting, it occurred to me that I might want to take all of my meals on the train room service because COVID is going around and Dad and Sue aren't vaccinated. I'll wear a mask, but that won't work for eating.

Found my memory card reader. So yay. Ordered nail polish remover wipes because I'm getting my nails done tomorrow, and they might chip on the trip. Also rubber gloves in case I do some cleaning tomorrow.

Okay. I managed to squeeze the GoPro and a mount into my jump bag. There isn't a spare inch in that bag. I've got the camera, a telephoto lens, a power strip, and my neck pillow in the backpack, and I should be able to get the laptop and my wallet in there. (Yeah, I just tested it, and it'll fit. There won't be a spare inch in there either.) There is a little room in my checked luggage in case I bring something back, but I'll have to be judicious.

Okay, now what? I think that I'll sort through the stuff piled on the dining table because I thought that I had a spare camera battery there. (I also ordered two more. Thank you, Amazon Overnight Delivery.) I have packed its charger. Oh, I want to print off tickets, so maybe I'll do that first (done). They have to fit in the backpack too! And I can legit sit still for a moment. I suppose that I should eat dinner too. Entered my dad's phone number on my phone. (We mainly communicate via email. It works well for us.)

I forgot to mention that I made an emergency order of Ziploc bags from Meijer and put GoPro and camera paraphernalia in them. I'm following an old family tradition. Mom used Ziploc bags to file bills in. But my travel documents got a plastic envelope with a snap.

Zara convinced me to feed them a fourth time by climbing up my leg with claws out. They'll have had more meals than I had today! It's the trip-packing diet. I want to take my meds and let them kick in because I need to get up early. I have a meeting at 9 CDT, and I want to log on a half-hour early to prepare. Plus the plumbers want me to call them and let them know if the cement has dried. After all that, Zara didn't finish her food. Oh, Mimi showed up.

Oh, note to self: pick up meds at Walgreens tomorrow!

There's a Web site where people shoot videos of the view through their window. It occurred to me that I should shoot video of the pond from the gazebo once the pond gets fixed.

Huh. I was reading susandennis' post that mentioned a Mini Cooper, and Mini also makes a small SUV with all wheel drive that is very similar to the Kia Soul, only cooler-looking. The problem would be service. The only dealerships in Illinois are in Chicago. I really like it though. Though a Subaru Crosstek is also similar and is cheaper and has local service. I think that the Crosstek will be my next car. I like the top trim level because it has automatic braking when something is behind you. The question is when.

Remodeling creep...They replaced the sink in the bathroom, and it looks great, but now the tub and toilet look dingy. And they're pink! I asked them to replace the toilet, which has some issues anyway, and I can have the tub refinished in white. I think that it'll look better. I'm looking into getting someone to clean the kitchen and bathrooms for me. There's someone on TaskRabbit who doesn't require a two-hour minimum. The rest of the place is too chaotic to clean yet.

I asked them to look at the sink upstairs, and it looks like that needs to be replaced too. Sigh.

I contacted the guy who did previous handyman work for me to patch up the hole under the sink and look at the drywall coming down in the upstairs bathroom.

It keeps storming and raining. Yay! Water the lawn!

Started clearing out the vanity of the sink upstairs. Did it until my back started hurting.

Ack ptewy. I started applying for the Delta Sky Miles Debit Card checking account, and I got partway through and was reading the 35-page agreement, and it logged me out. I need an application ID to continue, and I don't have one. Now it says that the applications aren't available right now. Well, that was a waste of time. (Note to self: I moved into the place in Lincoln on 4/2019.) I received the cruise excursions list, and would like to pay for the ones that I want, but I would like to use the Sky Miles account to pay for them and also pay for the trips next year. Okay, I got the account set up. But I'm having problems with getting online banking set up. My mom's and my Comerica account had problems with the last four digits of my Social Security number, so this might also be the case. Le sigh.

Back to the sink. Well, no. I put some antibacterial stuff in the pond. Moved the trash and recycling bins back. Opened some bills. Decided that I need some highlighters to note stuff like her cell phone needs to be cancelled. Then I got involved in looking at stuff on her phone. I took some pictures of some people's numbers. Shared some photos from her phone to my Google photos. There are a few people whom I need to call back. Plus Citibank called, so I need to see what that's about (done, and I moved the storage place off of that card, and I'll call to cancel Medical Guardian tomorrow). Did dishes.

Finished cleaning out the sink. I actually went through everything and made decisions, except for a tin full of mysterious vials that I decided that I was too wiped out to deal with. I'm keeping all the bath gels, of which there probably is a year's supply, and am keeping four body lotions, about which I was more picky. I threw out a bunch of stuff. There are some fancy milled soaps, which I will never use, that I think that I'll put on Buy Nothing and see if anyone wants them. Whew. The sink and the shelf above the sink are clear except for a couple of things of mine that I'll sweep up in the morning.

Mom even had some Avon samples. She sold Avon when I was in elementary school! I'm 60 now! I remember when my mom and aunt were cleaning out my grandmother's house after she died, and they found yet another drawer full of stuff to go through, and my aunt went, "Oh Mom!!" I'm having a few "Oh Mom!!" moments. Whoever cleans out my place after I'm gone will probably say something like that about the books.

I'm going to eat something, take a shower, and crash. I feel accomplished though.