days_unfolding

I ordered purple fountain grass, which I had in California and really like, for the front garden. Oh, and I discovered that I have daylilies on the side of the house, so maybe I should get more. I found an online site that specializes in daylilies.

Remembered to add oatmeal to my Walmart order. They aren’t open yet, so maybe it’ll go through.

Washed out Zara's carrier and staged it in the bedroom. Zara is suspicious. Washed dishes. Scooped litter boxes. Created my graph for my group project. Now I have time for a nap before work! Zara is being a love bug, which is making me feel a little guilty because I’m taking her to the vet today.

Oh crud. I forgot to empty the car and flip the seats up for Zara. I’ll do it at lunch.

vysila on DW suggested that I get a spare set of batteries for the mower. That’s a good idea (ordered). Why didn’t I think of that?

Mimi is playing with the strings on my hoodie :)

Cleaned out the car and put the seats up.

It’s supposed to rain at 1PM, so I doubt that the lawn will dry in time for me to mow. Yep, the lawn is still wet.

Zara was her usual fractious self at the vet. (They gave me some Gabapentin for next time.) But! She’s maintaining her weight, which is good for an old cat. They’ll call me with her blood test results.

I really want a nap but 1) I’m busy at work, 2) I have a meeting with my group tonight, and 3) I have homework to work on. But I’ll get to bed at a decent hour, especially because we have the presentation tomorrow. Oh man, I'm tired.

Had my meeting. In it, I learned that my final project for the programming class is due a week from Friday rather than Friday, but I want to doublecheck. We divided up the slides, but they want me to add another graph, and I'm having issues with it. I want to go to sleeeeeeep! I've been up since 3 AM except for a brief (very brief) nap before work! I'll get up early to practice the presentation.

I keep looking at the kitchen, which looks lovely.

I’m looking at pegboard to organize my tools. I need to clear out the room in the basement though. The organization in the bathroom is paying off. I need a way to organize shoes in there because I keep the shoes that I wear the most in there.

Mimi is rubbing against the railings on the stairs. “I claim this in the name of cat.” There is a cat head sticking out meowing at me. She also filed herself in my "to file" basket. Goof.

Where can I grow blueberries in the yard?

I need to pick up some catnip at PetSmart on the weekend. I’m my cats’ dealer :) There was something that I needed to get at Lowe’s, but I don’t remember what. I remember; I need to get a plug for the bathtub. And bubble bath or a bath bomb. And I need to drop donations at Goodwill and go to the storage unit. And go to the UPS Store for Amazon returns and shredding. And Comcast to return the router. I need to make a list.

I got on Nextdoor for my neighborhood. Someone was advertising yard work, but I think that I should save money and do it myself. But I also was wondering if I could get a housekeeper to clean the kitchen and the bathrooms, so I don’t know. I’m a little tight on cash right now, which is affecting my perception.

I talked to the trust. They can have my taxes prepared for me for $300 from the trust, which I decided to do. They're connecting me with a tax specialist.

I can rent a tiller from Home Depot for $46 per day. I think that I'll put in my vegetable garden myself and pretty it up later. Actually, Gardener's Supply sells edging. Sweat equity :) I also checked how much a sprinkler system would cost. Probably not any time soon. I also found out that you can rent an aerator from Home Depot! That's the way to go for the lawn!

Today I got a plethora of Amazon boxes. I agreed that they all could arrive the same day, but I thought that would reduce the number of boxes. Nope. I got cat toys (I left them in Michigan and kicked myself because they weren’t cheap), a colander (I’m all about pasta), a tea kettle that I’m going to return because they got mine clean, command hooks to hang the “Please don’t let the cats out” sign, a level for hanging pictures, more picture-hanging hardware, and a toothbrush holder. And I’m probably forgetting something.

Because the cats are sleeping, I think that I’ll take my nap now and process a clothes bag later. I also need to process my long list of Amazon returns and flatten boxes.

The estate sale people said that they did $7500 in sales today, and it isn’t even the weekend yet! Awesome!

Oops, Zara is up and wants food (done).

Tried to nap but just dozed lightly. I decided that I was hungry. Just as well because I need to go get some tape for my returns. Hmm, but I want to go to bed early. Meijer opens at 6 AM, so I could go get tape in the morning. Lowe’s is open early too.

I’m pondering where to put old towels that I use as rags.

I ordered a set of bath bombs for slightly more than one costs at Bath and Body Works on Amazon. So I’ll have some nice baths to come.

Well heck. If I want early crops like lettuce and peas, I’d need to plant them around the end of the month. I’m not going to have the garden set up by then. I could grow green beans in the summer.

I'm going to go to sleep. After I finish petting Mimi, who has decided that when I sit down at a computer, it's petting time.

Ack! I woke up with my alarm, but decided to go back to sleep for a little while and take my shower at lunchtime. I set my alarm for the wrong time and overslept an hour. I forgot to mention that my alarm clock other than my phone is not working. I'm trying to decide what to order because these alarm clocks don't last long. I bought a different alarm clock that's supposed to be loud as well.

My electric razor is biting the dust too. Nothing lasts these days. Okay, I ordered a new one. Sigh.

I forgot to submit my info for the closing, but got a reminder and did so. I need to call about getting home insurance as well. Oh, it just occurred to me that I probably could get insurance through the trust. Nothing from the title company about the total yet. Yikes. The real estate agent said to transfer the full asking price, and then I should get a check back for property taxes, etc.

I was looking at items to put in my front yard and front window. I want a lawn sign that says Love Is Love, etc. Possibly a pansexual flag. And a Unitarian Universalist stained-glass ornament for the window. (I need to start going to the church first!) I'm going to have a lot of fun with this house! I looked for a "COEXIST" thing but all I saw were bumper stickers.

The Urbana organizer contacted me with a bill for next week. I called back and said that I told someone that I wouldn't be available next week. She said that she was waiting to reschedule it, so I picked the week of Spring Break. I hope that I will have gotten rid of a lot of junk by then.

I had my photography lesson. She spent most of her time talking about Adobe Lightroom. I don't know what I expected from our lessons, but this isn't it. I'll take my camera with me to Illinois and take some pictures. I ordered a couple of books on Lightroom.

I started a load of laundry. I can't find many pairs of size 16P jeans. I need to order more of them (done).

I got my train booked for the conference in May. It's in Minneapolis. I told my boss that I'd prefer to take the train because it's better for the environment (though I commented, "says the person who just went to Hawaii"), and she said, "Okay". The downside is that the train gets in at 11 PM, so I'll be tired the next day, but I should be able to grab a nap on the train. It should be a scenic trip.

I ordered some curl gloss and styling mousse. Amazon apparently has it, which is convenient.

Put the clothes in the dryer. I tidied up the kitchen some, but I'll finish in the morning. Watered the plants. Cut up Zara's meds for the pet sitter. I need to throw my clothes in a suitcase in morning, finish the kitchen, and run a couple of errands to pick up a prescription and get money for the pet sitter. It looks like, though, that I'll get a reasonable start on my trip.

I was looking into massage therapy places near my mom's house. I should schedule a massage for mid-December.

I fell asleep with my clothes on again. So tired. Woke up at 5 AM.

I bought a new scale because my old one was giving wacky readings. I also bought a "sweater blazer" that I had been eyeing at Land's End for 50% off. Can't have too many blazers!

I took a nap and woke up again at 7:30 and got up. Now I'm working, but cool, they're letting us leave at 2 today.

Mom is on my mind today. It will be my first Thanksgiving without her, but we usually didn't spend Thanksgiving together anyway. Christmas will be harder. I had thought of watching Home for the Holidays, which takes place during Thanksgiving, when I get back to Michigan, but I'm sure that's one of the DVDs I chose to keep. Mom loved that movie. When the two sisters are fighting, it reminded her so much of her fighting with her sister that she kept on hitting my arm :)

The zipper on the Jeans That I Hate broke. Given that I hate them, no big loss, but I was going to wear them while I did laundry.

I almost forgot that I have a session with the life coach. I don't know what we'll talk about, but she usually thinks of something. We talked about setting dates for my move of my stuff from storage and the move of Mom's stuff that I'm keeping. All the other dates cascade from that. We also discussed my list of people to contact with changed dates.

I DoorDashed a poke bowl and a hot Earl Grey tea with milk and sugar. The tea was quite good. Actually, I'm craving another one. But I just convinced myself not to get one.

The office of my therapist sent me a zillion forms to fill out, which I did. I couldn’t remember Dad’s cell phone number (we usually email), but it was on my phone. I also emailed the therapist and told her that my date for being back in Urbana has moved two to three weeks forward.

Talked to the diet coach. I’m trying to find something to DoorDash that has vegetables but am having no luck.

Took a nap. Ate the rest of my poke bowl.

Ran to Best Buy and picked up an SD card reader. It hit me that I can modify the new house any way that I want, so I looked at Nest thermostats, doorbells, and cams and Ring doorbells and cams. I'm going to have a lot of fun fixing up the place the way that I want it. I need to find a handyman to help me with fixing the place up.

Went to Meijer and picked up soda, oatmeal, and some frozen Shrimp Scampi for later. I'm telling myself that it has spinach and tomatoes in it, so it must be okay :)

Now I'm resting for a minute and then will start laundry. I poked around an interior design site and it said that I liked a "classic" style with clean lines and minimal clutter. The "minimal clutter" will be the hard part!

I just ordered a ton of Kindle books. I ordered Barbra Streisand's autobiography (thank you, shadowkat), and the "you might also like" led me to Anderson Cooper's book about the Astors, which led me to Anderson Cooper's book about the Vanderbilts and a historical novel about one of the Astors. I won't lack for reading material.

Hmm. I can't stop yawning, but I wanted to do laundry tonight, so I started it. (I'm leaving tomorrow.) I suppose that I could start packing my stuff up too.

Hmm. I'm looking at January 8th for moving my stuff from storage to the new house. But when will I have it painted? Should I stay in a hotel in Urbana for the first week of January? And I'm looking at January 15th (if the movers don't have a holiday) for the movers to take my stuff from Michigan. I'd be out of the house by the end of the week. Then the estate sale can happen.

Now I'm wondering if the living room in the new place should be sage green. I have some time to think about it. I'm mulling over slipcovers for my mom's Pottery Barn loveseat and chair. I found one in gray with a kind of greenish tinge that I kind of like. I need to order swatches.

The clothes are in the dryer. The really nice guy who works the front desk in the evening asked me if I wanted some coffee before he put it away. I said "No," but thanked him for asking. He wished me a Happy Thanksgiving, and I told him that I would be driving, and he said that he hoped that I'd get a chance to rest.

Waffle House is on my list for tomorrow. My life coach and I were discussing Waffle House. She lives in Florida, and she said that if Waffle House closes during a hurricane, it's time to worry.

My strategy with eBay is if I find something that I like, I wishlist it, and often the sellers will give a discount. It worked for the blue tweed blazer that I wanted.

Woke up around 8 AM. Selected my BistroMD meals. Started a load of laundry. Got boxes for the packing person. Had a good petting session with Mimi. Found my missing pair of glasses; they were on the floor in the bedroom. I don't regret ordering more though.

Took a short nap. OMG, there are more pictures in the other dresser in my room. Crud. The packing tape order that I placed was delayed. I just placed an order at Mejier for more tape. I want the packing person to pack up all the pictures in my room. Plus, I need to pack up the clothes that I'm returning.

Oh okay. I have a hair appointment next Sunday, and I had the thought in the shower that the organizer scheduled for that Sunday, but it was the following weekend.

Oh. The packer is having car trouble, so she wanted to reschedule. And I started my Italian homework, but Italian isn't until next week. I am confused :) Scheduling stuff is a pain. Oh good, the pet sitter confirmed for my Kauai trip.

Zara wants lunch! Now! I’m making my lunch too. I got up to order a book for the Kindle called Honest Aging, mentioned in the Washington Post, and both girls got excited because why would I get up except to feed them? They're charmingly self-centered. I fed them.

Crud. I put clothes in the dryer, and it was making a weird noise. I might have to replace it sooner rather than later. And I put a load in the wash, and I'm almost out of detergent, so I placed a Kroger order too. I also ordered blue dress pants to go with the blazer and blue top.

Got the tape. Yay. I’m practicing guitar and my chords are going better.

I booked a cleaner for Friday. Ordered more boxes. Urgh, I have a headache, but I've been practicing voice. I think that I need to power through. Okay, I've got my song memorized. Back to guitar. I'm getting hungry.

My music teacher was nice to reschedule me for a half-hour later. I told her that it wasn’t necessary this week because no Italian, but she decided to stick with the time.

Oh no! I lost my voicemail when I switched phones, including voicemails from mom! I need to see if I can get them back.

Music lessons went well. I have a bunch of homework, and I'm learning a new song as well. I need to order more guitar picks (done). We're also having an issue with printing off one of the books that we're using. I bought an electronic version of the book, but it will let me print it only three times. I'm thinking that I should go to Kinko's and print the whole 280 pages off.

Zara wants food. I thought that she was trying to con me, but she’s right, I didn’t give them dinner. (I can tell because her pill is in the pill splitter.) So I’ll feed them and take a short nap. I’m doing mass quantities of laundry because I want to start packing for Hawaii.

I reminded my Italian/French teacher that the lesson tomorrow should be French, and she said "perfect- perfetto-parfait :). So I guess that we've got the schedule worked out.

Tried to nap but couldn’t sleep. Gathered up clothes to pack. I'm getting a crashing headache, so I think that I'll go to sleep and do stuff in the morning.

I looked into Ancestry DNA because it’s something that I wanted to do for a long time. But it takes six to eight weeks after getting the kit, which would put me in December, when I’m not sure when I’ll be where. Maybe I could get it for myself as a Christmas present.

Oh, what a morning. I woke up early, but decided that I wanted to go back to sleep for a half-hour. And I overslept until a quarter to nine AM, with my French lesson scheduled at 10. I jammed through the shower and fed the cats. I had enough time to put my makeup on, but I was getting a headache because I needed to eat, and I wouldn't have time to eat until after the organizing session. So I gave up and told my French teacher that I wouldn't make the lesson and just charge me. Then I had breakfast. While I was eating, I noticed the handyman outside looking at the windows. I joined him and we did a walkthough of the painting that needs to be done, and he also said that he'd do the powerwashing first. I also reminded him about the gutters. He said that it all needed to be done ASAP, before it gets really cold. I thought, "Haven't I been saying that for a while?" But whatever. It looks like it really will get done now.

At that point, I gulped down the rest of my breakfast and put on my makeup. Then the organizers were here. We almost finished the living room. I have lots of homework, including getting the dumpster emptied, getting someone to take stuff out of the storage space and put the stuff that I'm keeping in the storage space, and pulling my stuff out of the kitchen and breezeway. And finishing the living room.

I'm leaning heavily towards getting the Apple Watch. The reason is that I don't feel really safe here with so much stuff to trip on. But I need to check my wrist measurement first. Okay, done and ordered. It should get here tomorrow. I should be able to sell my Fitbit Sense.

Took a long nap. Started tackling the kitchen table.

I forgot to mention that I did something to both knees today, and they hurt, so no workout today. I can't wait to get the weight off my knees. Got the rower plugged in. Got the app set up. Apparently they do have a “scenic row,” which is what I want. Got the batteries in the stepper.

I have dishes soaking in the sink, so I need to do them and go to bed. And practice guitar and voice. I have my meeting with the photography teacher at noon. Oh, and I need to get ready for Italian, but I'll do that in the morning.

I'm craving sleep like food. I don't know why. When my alarm went off this morning, I went back to sleep for 1.5 hours. I napped during lunch and it helped.

I sent an email saying that I was canceling my Maui Haleakala sunset/stargazing tour, but that I didn't need a refund because I figured they needed the money more than I did, and they said "Mahalo (thank you) for your empathy. You're the only cancellation that didn't request a refund out of $70000." They offered me a rain check. So that was my good deed for the day. Same thing for the snorkeling tour, and he said "every little bit helps," and thanked me.

I got a discount for a Sam's Club membership in my work email. I wound up joining because they have good prices on garbage bags (we're going through A LOT of garbage bags) and paper towels. There's a Sam's Club in Southfield and in Champaign. But now I'm looking at exercise equipment (Total Gym and stepper, both of which people are raving over). If I could go downstairs to exercise in Mom's basement, it would help, because I'm really reluctant to get myself together and go out. I don't know why. Though I should get back in the swimming groove before my Hawaii trip. I have room for the exercise equipment in the basement in Urbana. I'm also looking at an Echelon rower on Amazon. I've always regretted selling my rower in California. I really like it as an exercise.

Yahoobie. After all the sagas, I finally have the Delta SkyMiles debit card in my hands. Now I can pay for the Italy trip next year plus some Kauai extras. But Road Scholar is open only during the day during the week. If I get the exercise equipment, I should transfer money there and get it.

My grand boss posted links to electronic stuff that was useful (charger, adapter, power strip) for her trip to Italy, and I wishlisted it.

I used the new SkyMiles debit card to buy the exercise equipment. (I'm going to transfer money back. I've waited this long to pay for the Italy trip; I can wait a little longer.) For the rower, Amazon offered moving to the room of your choice and assembly for a fee.

Oops. I forgot to email the first dumpster place about a refund. I'll do that this weekend.

Downloaded the Sam's Club app. They have organization bins that will be useful for Urbana, and also a fire pit set that I am coveting. They also have good prices for a washer and dryer for here.

I love one of my solo women travelers Facebook groups. It's so positive, and I learn a ton.

I'm just feeling like starting a load of laundry and going to bed. It would be good if I could get up early tomorrow and get to the bike shop earlish. Okay, the laundry is started and the litter boxes are scooped. I'm getting a headache, which is another reason to go to sleep. My headaches are weird. They don't come on gradually. It's like "BOOM. Headache."

Hmm. I usually stop first at the AIDS chapel at Grace Cathedral at the beginning of any San Francisco trip, but it opens at 10 AM. My breakfast place opens at 7 AM. So I need to stall for a while.

My hotel is on a great street for people-watching. I saw a really cute guy waiting for my DoorDash yesterday. I guess that I'm seeing the sights :)

Wow. I have some large bruises on my left arm. I have no idea what happened.

I'm looking at other train trips that I could take. I told Dad that I might take the train to Washington DC to see the museums. We got into a conversation about the Smithsonian. New York is another possibility. Hmm, I wonder if I could swing a short trip next year.

I also told Dad that I wanted to go to London and see the museums. He said that he never wanted to go to London. Then we talked about Paris, and he encouraged me to go. I'd want to brush up on my French though.

I need to charge my FitBit watch, so I have more time to kill. I removed my nail polish because it was chipping. I like how it looked, though, so I'm going to pick some up at Walgreens. I got my camera strap attached to my camera with the help of YouTube. Hmm, now I'm looking at a nail salon near Union Square, but I don't know its hours.

I stopped at Walgreens and bought some nail polish and makeup brushes. The person working there loaded me up with freebies, even though I told her that I was traveling and had limited space.

I found the breakfast place. It's crowded, which is a good sign. I had Smoked Salmon Benedict, and it was perfection.

I made it up Nob Hill, stopping to rest a few times. I made it to Grace Cathedral. Apparently they're charging for entrance now, which annoyed me slightly but whatever. I sat in the AIDS chapel for a long time. It is still a peaceful place. But this time I felt a message of survival. It seems wrong in a way, given how many people died, including two of my friends. But the world keeps on turning, which is reassuring. I also walked the labyrinth outside. I like how it brings you close to the center and brings you back out. Like life.

The following picture is of the Keith Haring triptych at the AIDS chapel. I felt a little guilty taking a picture inside Grace Cathedral, but no one else was there and no one stopped me.

I went to Chinatown and shopped until I dropped. I bought a sweatshirt that said "The City" (what locals call San Francisco). An incense burner, a bracelet, and a kite. And an amber necklace. Now I've stopped for lunch in a Chinese restaurant. The waitress didn't understand me--I was the only non-Asian person in the place--so I wound up with crab soup. It was good though. And I brought the leftovers back with me. I need to pick up some utensils.

I went to City Lights, and got a pile of books, mostly on Buddhism and one about the social construction of the self, which sounded interesting. I'm glad that I bought a pile of books because I want the bookstore to stay in business.

Then I had way too many bags to walk back. I ordered an Uber, and a guy showed up in a Tesla! Only in California :) I gave him the wrong address though, so I had to walk up the street to my hotel.

I need to find a post office or UPS store and mail packages back to myself. There is a UPS store in the Fairmont Hotel that's open tomorrow. Excellent.

7818 steps so far :)

Now I think that it's nap time.

Got the clothes in the dryer. Apparently, I washed the Honda key, but it's still working. Way to go, Honda key. My back is killing me.

Got the app to use for weight loss installed. Logged my first meal. I'm thinking of doing a weight-loss bet through HealthyWage to defray some of my costs (done).

Paid my YMCA bill (it was on my old card) and checked that I was registered for yoga.

Hmm. Another book club posted 1984 as the book for the month. I don't really want to read 1984. I was trying to talk myself into reading it, but why? I have plenty to do without reading a book that I don't want to read. So, no. Plus I have a weight-loss book to read.

I was wondering if I should try Zumba on Mondays. I had a feeling that I had something else going on on Mondays, and it's my weight-loss call. Fardles. Maybe I can reschedule it? Yeah, my coach said that it would be good for me to do Zumba, and we rescheduled for Thursday afternoons. Yay. I also brought up some exercise videos from my health insurance that I can do at home.

I made it to Yoga! I got my "scan card" (you scan it when you arrive and leave) and went to the class. Well. It was the toughest yoga class that I've ever been to. Another new person was next to me, and he got up and left partway through. I told the teacher that it was the toughest yoga class that I had been to, and she said "Oh no!" But I agreed to come back. (it's been hours since the class, and my abs are still twitching.)

Afterward, I went to the fancy smancy grocery store. It had great produce though. I got kiwi, pineapple, and mangos, some cut up pineapple, and some kiwi and strawberries to put into a infuser, and a salad mix. By then I was starving, so I got a yogurt parfait (I was proud of myself for getting something nutritious) and some plastic spoons. And some granola squares. And a silicone glove for baking. It was expensive. Like $90 expensive. But the produce was beautiful. Afterward, I sat in the car and ate the yogurt. And then I went home.

Mimi was chewing me out because she was hungry! And I hadn't been home! Well, I just ate yogurt in a car, so I can't complain too much :)

I have a boatload of stuff to do. The manager of my mom's trust said that I should get a payout to fix the house next week, so yay! But she asked for receipts, and that will take a while. Plus I need to make up time at work because I left early (done). I need to take pictures of my blobby self for the weight-loss coach (done). Etc.

I forgot to mention that I got my new glasses the other day, and I wore one pair for the first time today and love them. Like "I might want another pair" love them. I'll try to remember to take a picture of me wearing them.

I'm probably the last person to realize this, but yoga pants are oh so comfortable. I'm tempted to get another pair or two (done).

I found an "over 50" workout online that looks good, but I need to clear some stuff out to make room for it. And buy some hand weights (done).

I marked all the yoga poses in the book for balance practice. Now all I need is air conditioning so that I don't melt.

A friend on Facebook mentioned the Tori Amos song "Winter," and I think that I want to work on it for singing class. I ordered the sheet music for Little Earthquakes.

I was unable to fall asleep until 5 AM because I was too hot to sleep. Then I overslept. Today is cooler, thank goodness.

Still nothing from the complex management about my air conditioner. I also called and left a message.

The therapists got back to me with questions, which I'll answer tonight (done). Both therapists have openings.

A maintenance guy came over asking questions about my air conditioning. He's new and is trying to catch up on delayed maintenance. Yay. They're going to ask the people who fixed the a/c last time to come back out.

Hmm. I just found a place for Mom if she needs it in Savoy, which is south of Champaign. They have garden plots! Mom loves gardening. It's both Independent Living and Assisted Living.

I was looking at bread machines on Amazon Prime Day, and I found one that I like. After hemming and hawing, I got it. Here comes fresh cinnamon-raisin bread! It automatically will add the raisins!

Zara has been hiding in my closet because she disapproves of the heat. (I leave it open so that she has a place to hide, so I don't mind.) She did stick her furry nose out for a moment and ate a little, although she's off her feed, due to the weather? I'll keep an eye on her.

Full moon. Heh.

I did my self-compassion exercises. I need to remember the exercises for the next time that I make a mistake. There are a lot of harsh people in the world. I don't need to be one, especially to myself.

I did a Calm meditation session. It helped, but I didn't relax as much as I do on the Smithsonian sessions. There's something about the voice of the guy who leads the sessions that is very relaxing.

I think that I'm going to go to bed early and catch up on my sleep in the relative coolness.