days_unfolding

Hmm. Wayfair has a standing desk on sale. And it's not very expensive.

It's dead quiet at work. Most of my colleagues are off, and so are people at our libraries.

Got my grocery order with oatmeal. Why do the delivery guys always forget to close the gate? (I'm looking at "Please close the gate" signs on etsy.) A couple (whom I don't know) was walking past my house and said, "Good morning". People are very friendly here. I like Urbana.

Aww. Zara gave me a little kiss. From her, it means something, because she usually isn’t demonstrative. Napped at lunch.

Mimi has decided that when I leave the upstairs home office and come back, that means that I have to let her on my lap. She's making it hard to do my work, so I'm running reports to get data that I can then manipulate to put up on the Web. She also wants to jump on my lap after she naps. The perils of working from home.

I forgot to mention that I think that I found another daylily on the other wide of the house. (And whoops, I was going to take a picture of it for 1SE, but now it’s dark.) There seems to be no rhyme or reason where things were planted. I was thinking about the gardens that I want to create, and I don't think that I'll have much time to work on them as long as I have to mow the lawn. I need to hire someone to mow it. It might be late to get someone this season though. I saw a possibility on Next Door.

I need to develop a house plan. (My life coach would say, "Break it down." Hmm, I have two sessions with her paid for, so maybe I should get her help in making a plan.) I think that I'll work upstairs because I want to get a ceiling fan for my bedroom this weekend and get a handyman in here to put up the doors and air conditioner upstairs and put up the fan and maybe look at the water going outside. I might need to get someone to look at the central air conditioner because something is weird going on with it.

I cranked up Elton John (I can’t work without music) and am working on the music room. ( I still want to work on the upstairs, but I’ll do it in the morning while it’s cool.) Of course, I found a pair of gym shoes that would have been perfect for tai chi while I was sorting stuff. Oh well. And I’m throwing a lot of stuff out.

I was singing “Nothing Compares 2 U” upstairs earlier, while Mimi was taking a nap. She lifted her head and looked at me, and went back to sleep. Everyone’s a critic :) Actually, they both like it when I sing. I don’t know how they’re interpreting it, but it fascinates them. They’re neutral about the piano and hate the guitar.

I’d like to start voice lessons again, but don’t know where the music books are. And I’d like the piano cleared too. Voice lessons kind of suck without a piano, but my teacher was good at providing accompanying piano tracks.

I stopped to eat dinner and it got late. I’ll tackle the music room again tomorrow. I still need to study Italian. And I want to get to bed at a decent hour so that I can work on the upstairs before it gets hot.

I got a manga of Marie Kondo’s book in Italian, which is perfect for me to read. Small amounts of text and lots of pictures! And I’m familiar with the subject matter. (I need to work her method on my clothes. I have too many.) I need to look for more mangas in Italian.

I also got a new gym bag (which is very nice—gray with brown handles). I packed it with gym clothes and shoes and a lock and my weight-lifting journal. I don’t think that I’ll go this weekend because most gym managers are probably taking the weekend off. I have a membership through my health insurance, and some people don’t know how to use it.

I just bought the book The Wishing Year: A House, a Man, My Soul A Memoir of Fulfilled Desire. I have got to read that book. From the description: "One New Year’s Day, Noelle Oxenhandler took stock of her life and found that she was alone after a long marriage, seemingly doomed to perpetual house rental and separated from the spiritual community that once had sustained her. With little left to lose, she launched a year’s experiment in desire, forcing herself to take the plunge and try the path of Putting It Out There. It wasn’t easy. A skeptic at heart, and a practicing Buddhist as well, Oxenhandler had grown up with a strong aversion to mixing spiritual and earthly matters. Still, she suspended her doubts and went for it all: a new love, a healed soul, and the 2RBD/1.5 BA of her dreams. Thus began her initiation into the art of wishing brazenly."

I started studying my Italian flashcards, really I did, but my mind kept wandering. I finally printed off the months of the year in Italian because I was having problems with them, and I'll make physical flashcards and study them. Okay, my flashcards are made.

I need to get to bed so that I don't sleep really late so that I can work on the upstairs and work on mowing the lawn tomorrow during the day.

It's looking like May won't work for Paris due to final exams, assuming that I get into the Masters in Computer Science for Data Science program. September is probably the best time, unless I decide to spend New Year's in Paris, but that's a different program. Now I'm leaning towards New Year's in Paris. I need to make a decision quickly because one of the New Year's trips is sold out. I put a deposit down on New Year's in Paris (2025)! I'm so excited! That way, I can just enjoy and not worry about school. And I could have a glass of French champagne on New Year's Eve! It'll also give me a long time to pay for it too.

Because the trip is so late in 2025, I'll probably take a trip within the US earlier that year. My top places are Seattle or Charleston/Savannah, maybe over Spring Break or late May. I'd also like to go to Miami, but given the politics there, not. I have lots of time to figure out what I want to do.

While I was on the Road Scholar site, I looked up the reading list for my Italy trip and it's 17 books! I better get cracking! I started to order them new, but realized how much that would cost, and got most of them used for a low cost. It cost me a little over $100.

It occurred to me that I could have an aquarium, which I’ve wanted for a while, but where? Then it occurred to me that I would like one in my office space. I got a couple of books on them. There is a tropical fish group in Champaign. That would be another good way to meet people. I think that I know where I'd want to put the aquarium, but I'd need to have an extra outlet installed.

I had a problem falling asleep last night until I ate some oatmeal, so I didn't get up early. Sigh.

It’s snowing. The forecasters said up to four inches. It's kind of pretty out.

I saved an article yesterday called “Five Steps to an Organized Dresser”. Getting my clothes organized will be my first task in my new house. I’ll have to Marie Kondo my clothes because I bought a bunch of new stuff up here.

I found a desk that I really like for the home office for work. And another wooden folding desk that I could use for my home computer. Now I'm thinking that it would look better if I got two of the same desk. I also found drum coffee tables (in silver) and end tables that I like and are cheaper than the Art Deco table that I liked. I'd like a set of a coffee table and an end table if possible though.

Classes are still going well. I keep talking in class to the point that it gets embarrassing. I'm trying to help my classmates, but I'm a lousy teacher. One classmate said that I used too many words.

I needed to go get the trash and recycle bins in the snow. I need a shoehorn to get my new snow boots on because my left foot is slightly bigger than my right foot. I wound up putting rain boots on, and they worked. I ordered a shoehorn.

Now I'm working on my homework that's due tonight. Mimi thinks that it's woefully unfair that I'm not snuggling with her. I told her that I need to do well so that I can get in the Master's program, and she didn't like the sounds of that. She wants me to flunk out so that I'll spend more time snuggling :)

Okay, the homework is done. I need to go back to work for a while.

Heck. I'm going to have to go down to Urbana to get my mail soon, but I'm waiting for the painter to finish so that I can see the new paint and give him a check.

I was "talking" to my mom, telling her my plans for the Urbana house, and drawing the similarities to her house. I think that she'd really like it.

I did a couple of hours of work, but it's gotten late, so I'll do the other hour tomorrow. I need to do dishes and tidy up the kitchen a little (I'm trying to keep on top of it) and start a load of laundry, and then I'll snuggle with Mimi and go to bed.

I just realized that the time change works in my favor towards Illinois, so I can grab a quick nap before I leave. Excellent.

Aargh. I’m trying to set up tours of the houses that I’m interested in in Urbana, but all Zillow will say is that they will connect me with an agent. I’ll need to make a list of the houses (done).

I’m packed except for shower stuff. The cats know that something is up and they don’t like it. I’m going to take a short nap and then eat lunch and shower.

Finally connected with my handyman. He’s going to have someone work on the siding, but it looks like it’ll be at the same time as the roofers. I told him to call the real estate guy.

Hmm. I’m mulling over a possible trip to New York City over Christmas, given that I’ll still be in Michigan. I’d have to fly instead of taking the train, but there are direct flights from Detroit.

Got the money for the pet sitter. Got squared away with the movers for Friday.

Thank goodness that Zara is food-driven. I went to put the last stuff in the car, and the gate to the basement didn’t latch properly, and Zara dashed into the basement. So I fed them, and she came right up. Whew.

I’m stopped at a Waffle House in the suburbs of Toledo. The waffle was goooood.

Now the movers want to come on Saturday, when I was going to look at houses. Scheduling stuff is like herding cats.

I made it to Champaign! I told the hotel that I'd be there at midnight, and I rolled up at 11:45! I rock! Now I need to wind down and sleep fast because I have an all-day meeting tomorrow.

Yay, we've got the dumpster. And it's in the right spot.

I'm down to a size 16 from a 16W. This causes a problem for the Kauai trip because all my shorts and most of my jeans are 16W. (It's a good problem to have though.) I'm looking at relatively cheap used jeans and shorts. Bought some, although I don't want to get a lot because I'm planning to lose more weight.

The management company for the Urbana house sent me a letter asking if I was going to renew my lease. The deadline had passed, but I just got it forwarded to me, so I emailed them. I also got my SkyMiles bank account password fixed.

I asked Dad if hiking boots would help on the Hawaii mud that's as slippery as soap. He said that he didn't think that they would help, but an online site pointed out that you probably don't want to get mud on your nice gym shoes (good point!), so I bought some hiking boots. They also suggested hiking poles for stability, so I'm looking for some that contract small. Okay, bought some.

Took a nap and slept through until morning. Oh crud, I didn't get the garbage out (done).

I was in a panic because I overslept 15 minutes. It was a quarter to 8, and I wanted to log on at 8:30, and I needed to take a shower and get dressed. I was waiting for the hot water to kick in for my shower, when I remembered the time change. I needed to log on at 9:30 local time. So I calmed down.

Mimi was upset because I was in the bathroom with the door closed, and she wanted to come in. Unfair to cats!

The plumber asked me to let him know if the cement was wet, and it looked still wet, so I told him that.

The meeting that I ran went well. So yay. My meeting with the life coach also went well too. We came up with a list of things to do when I get back. I need to book more sessions with her.

I checked on the cement, which didn't appear to have changed, so I touched it, and it felt dry. It's just dark. So I told the plumber that, and he came just as I was about to nap at lunch. He finished up quickly. But I forgot to ask for a receipt so I texted him. Aargh!

I got a really nice manicure in a chichi place in a chichi suburb a couple of town over. I wanted a neutral manicure, so I got a pale pink, but I don't think that's my color. I'll go for a rose color next time. But it looks nice and a lot better than any job that I would do. I also got money for the pet sitter (which reminds me that I left it in the car) and my prescription.

The cats reminded me when I got home that I was feeding them late! Unfair to cats! I'm feeding me late too.

There's a night market in Kauai (Lihue) one Saturday a month, and I'll be there for it! I guess that will be my Lihue day.

I'm drop-dead tired. I need to do laundry and pack some remaining clothes and do dishes, but then I think that I'll crash and get up really early. Oh, and I need to check into the flight.

I completely forgot about 1SE. I'll try to do better next month. I should have some interesting pictures from my trip.

The clothes are packed. The laundry is in the washer. I'll put it in the dryer in the morning. I'm not packing those clothes. Mostly I want to see that the washer is still working after all the work that the plumber did. Not that I know what I'd do if it isn't working because I'm leaving. I did the dishes with rubber gloves on to protect my manicure, and it does make it more pleasant, although I managed to soak my pajamas. I still need to pack my laptop and wallet, but I'll do it in the morning. Oh, and I checked in for my flight. And printed my boarding pass so they don't charge me to print it.

I got an email from the water company in Urbana saying that the meter had a zero reading twice in a row, so they think that something's wrong with the meter, and I have to let them in to look at it. I need to call them tomorrow.

I just bought two top and short sets and a tankini set from Tomboy X. They're pretty cute.

I was sitting out in the back yard, and I think that I just decided to keep the house. The back yard is my happy place as well as hers. Behr has a tool in which you can upload a picture and see it with a new paint color, and I've been playing with it. I also ordered some swatches from Clare. I want the living room in light gray with dark gray on the fireplace. And a yellow-beige in the dining room. When I made the decision, I felt my mom's presence for one of the three times that I felt it. I still want to see how the Urbana house feels to me though.

Also, I've decided to take my Hawaii trip in October instead of November so that I can do my snorkeling trip.

I decided to leave tomorrow because my last meeting ended at 6 PM local time and I wasn't packed yet. Cleaned some of the kitchen. I ran out of steam, so I'm taking a short nap. Couldn't sleep. I was moving my stuff in in my mind. I'm trying to figure out where to put the piano. There isn't a great spot for it in the living room. The room that I had originally thought of as an office, the "plant room," which is also the pathway to the stairs upstairs, would make a great music room with the piano and my guitars. And I want to keep the TV room mostly as it is, so that leaves "my bedroom" to be the office. I'd have to get rid of the bed in there and the dresser.

I'd have to remodel the kitchen because there is zero counter space in there.

Oops, Zara wants food and is getting impatient with me. I'm going to go finish the kitchen and pack. And get a good night's sleep and get out early.