katesthoughts

I can’t believe I didn’t make a bigger deal out of the fact that Friday was the 1 year anniversary that the cats and I moved out of the house and into my sisters for the weekend before getting into the condo.  My Sister had been getting reminders all week and she sent me pictures of me packing up the car.   To me the official moving in is more important. 

I remember we had some big aggravations as the paperwork wasn’t completed by the time I moved out and so I could only unpack and leave things there but couldn’t sleep until that Monday afterwards.  The movers were supposed to come Friday but didn’t so they came Saturday when it rained.  It actually seems like a life time.

This weekend has been a bit crazy.  WE are in the middle of rain storm.  Its been raining for most of the day and should stop by tomorrow.  I was out in it today.  I decided that I would take the patio umbrella in from outside.  I was out there with no shoes.  After I got it out of the stand I went to go back inside.  The door was locked!  I had shut it behind me not thinking to unlock the door knob.  I went around to the front.  Both doors were locked.  I had called the association president and he called me back.  He asked if my sister had a key.  I explained that all the doors were locked.  That I didn’t have a key for the back (that will change by the way) nor did I have a key for the storm door.  He offered to put me up in the clubhouse until the locksmith came. 

So I called the locksmith and around 10:30 he came.  He called to confirm the address and I told him where it was.  I had to follow him after I said find the blue car.  He went to a neighbor’s house. I walked to my place and he followed.  He couldn’t do the front door so we did the back door.  He got the back one opened for nearly $300.

I was feeling really crappy especially the way President Frank was questioning me why was I outside without shoes and not dressed (I had sweat clothes on).  I explained to him.  I am pretty sure he thinks I am a whack job.  I made sure I sent him a Thank you note via email.

I spent the rest of the day feeling sorry for myself.  I managed to put stew together but when that is in slow cooker there isn’t much to do with that.  I did some dusting, and tried to vacuum but the floor piece continues to fall off and it was then I decided that the house now can wait until Wednesday to be cleaned.

I had to clean the bathroom a couple of times when one of the cats left a mess on under the litterbox.  That will also be done again on Wednesday.

Today was quiet.  I slept in after feeding the cats.  I have made a few calls to check the status of the prescription being filled and as of tonight it wasn’t yet so the neurologist can get an  update.

Midmorning I went to Christmas Tree shop to get some coffee (ended up getting Eggnog flavored-not that great).  While I was at the CT shop I misplaced my id and a few other things.  While I was at CT shop I went looking for mini Christmas stockings for gift cards but couldn’t find them (they were for Liz). 

I did some more laundry.  Watched TV and ate food.  Both of the cats are currently sitting or lying at the foot of the bed.  They have eaten and watered.  I should note that Tiger hasn’t been finishing her food lately.

This week will be a short week work wise.  I have a couple of appointments this week but will be working on the scanning, and daily stuff. I have a staff meeting again on Tuesday, and the committee meeting.

Tuesday night I have a ladies Guild meeting and I am going to have buy some desserts because I am not spending $60 on wings.  I believe this is the last meeting of 2021 and we start up again in February. 

Wednesday is the Coffee talk but Gillion will be visiting her Dad.  If the weather is cooperating that night I plan on going.  We have a holiday party at Stephanie’s later on in the week. The Gift I am giving came today.   It looks like there is a New Year’s Eve party at Gillion’s house too.  I am not sure if I will be going to that or not. 

There were a couple of activities in the Hiking with Friends that I missed this weekend and I think there is one more next week.  For all my complaining about no hikes on the weekends in the past I should try and go to at least one of them soon.

Well I have some more cards to write out and letters to finish.  There won’t be much more time for me to be able to print with the recess in two weeks.

Saturday I found myself not getting motivated to start the things I needed to do.  It was the rain partially and the anxiety that is saying I am going to need most of this stuff.  Whether it is to put the clothes in bags (where am I going to put them in the car when I will need to put the cats and their carriers in the car.  I will just have to do it.

I have come to the conclusion I can’t write on the fly.  I forget what I wrote from one blog to the other and it may not be written the same way or meant the same way.  I much rather write it once and past and copy.  Besides I set up writing on word documents.

It had been raining since Friday afternoon until Saturday night.  I don’t think it was the Nor Easter that they had hoped but throughout the day people had posted who had snow.  Among them was my nephew Adam and his family.  Sunday the sun was out and chilly.  This allowed Neighbor Kim to decorate our street sign for the holidays.

I don’t know if I posted it everywhere but I did hear from the lawyer Friday.  He wanted me to have the oil guy get the left oil metered so we get a credit.  He made some comments about his being behind the 8 ball on this.  He also wanted me to get it done right away.  Excuse me?  I am working.  It can be done later.   Got it done and they should be here Tuesday.

Saturday afternoon I was binge watching TV from the dramas to cooking.  I wasn’t in the mood to start much although late that night I cleaned out the upstairs bathroom and finishing late Sunday.

Liz was here around 10 on Sunday and we managed to sit and organize our day and chat.  We finished my bedroom.  The clothes in the closet are all bagged and everything was dusted and cleaned.  I will do the bed on Thursday morning and bag the sheets to put on the bed on Friday when I move in.

We worked until 1:30 2 because I was exhausted.  I hadn’t slept that well in to Sunday and thought I should be vacuuming and doing things that needed to be done.

After several failed attempts on my part Liz was able to find the buried ST. Joseph statue but now there are several holes in the front lawn.  Actually that’s not really true. We covered them up.  He is ready for his new home.

I spent the rest of the night watching various TV programs (probably the marathons on TBS).  Since I didn’t have much else to do I went to bed early listening to the Echo’s radio program on my phone.  

Today I ran some errands and made some calls before Liz came over in the afternoon.  I probably should have gone to the PO to get the in person verification for the informed delivery but I was focused on getting the label for the license and getting stuff to the goodwill. 

It looks like the a few things I was going to leave behind will be coming with me.  The desk I was unable to sell and the bookshelf in the kitchen.  I will probably need it for towels or something.

Our aim is to have the kitchen or bathroom (I think the bathroom could be done in 30 minutes) done today.  Then by Wednesday everything will be in the front room and ready to be moved out.  That will hopefully be Thursday afternoon. 

I was waiting for the mover to call to discuss in-depth of what will be needed and payment.  They will hold my stuff overnight and then take it to the condo.   We called him when Liz came

After that we spent the next several hours reorganizing the back room and put the rest of the empty boxes in the dining room.  We did the bathroom and by 4 we had enough. 

We made a list of things for me to do tonight.  I have already cleaned out the car to hold the kitty litter, food and the cat stuff. 

The house is ready to be put on the market.  All the hard work for the last several weekends and even during the week has been completed.  Liz’s cleaning crew came in yesterday and did a great job. (The floor in the foyer part could have done with some more work but the rest of it is perfect.)  Unfortunately I wasn’t home more than an hour and spilled tea on the wood floor.    Before going to bed I did some sweeping.

As of this writing Lawyer man has not signed the papers.  Cheryl sent him a text yesterday reminding him it needs to be done before she can move ahead with putting the house up on the market and all that goes with it (posting it on the net etc.).  I may have said this couple of days ago but Liz seems to think he is playing games.  He is rushing me out of the house but takes his time to sign the papers?  Jim is supposed to continue discussions on things they didn’t go over on Saturday.

Jim did promise to send me details of their meeting.  He says he didn’t want me to share it with folks because it’s financial information.  It’s my choice to share or not.  I had to remind him last night via text and phone call. 

Good news I already have interest in the house but I sent them in the direction of Cheryl.  It’s the neighbor D family.  I gave their entire family a tour of the place on Sunday.  Everyone that is, except for Sean-d.  I am not sure if he will be here or not.  I just checked with SCook and they are still coming.  They will be at the house by quarter of 7.  I sent a message to Cheryl asking if she is coming tonight.  I doubt it but at least I know she called them back right away.

Did I mention that my Friend JanetM sent me a listing for a condo in town?  Liz once said she would like it if I didn’t go there.   I sent it to her and Cheryl this afternoon.  I am either going to get a pointed text message or phone call from one or both of them.    Oh jeesh, Cheryl just reminded me that this is the one that doesn’t accept pets.    This is one of the downfalls of telling people you are in the process of moving or looking for a place to live.  They start sending you what THEY think you should be in. Sometimes I feel this is so inappropriate. This is also a fear of mine that HE who will not mentioned will do the same thing. 

Last night I ended up going to bed around 8:30.  I was tired and this allergy is kicking my behind hard.  I am hesitant to go to the Doctor because that’s all I think it is.  I have been kicking up the dust with all the work its killing me.  I don’t want to be sick and I doubt it is C19.  I think I have been careful.  I did have a great sleep though.

Work has been busy.  Between the normal scanning and the refund scanning most of the day gets the focus on that.  I am just waiting for the day when we get the correspondence to start scanning.  That should be interesting.

I am going to have to do more with the re-address mail but I don’t consider that to be exactly high priority.  I also have to scan some stuff to other teams that we associate with that we had their mail.  I am waiting for GA to email me again.

Today the union had the power point for the cash and credit balance team.  I had to go around and remind people that it was today.  Two basically refused.  There seemed to be a lot in attendance.  Some I was able to see others not.  However there are many more for the various teams in YM.

I have tomorrow off as I have my infusion.   I am sure I will be busy come Thursday.

The cats have been so funny to watch.  For the last several days they have been sleeping with me at night.  They have gotten into the attic more than once.  I had to put the chair under the door knob again.  Sky continues to steal from Tiger her food.  Apparently he got into one of the bags of treats out back.  I am expecting a huge pile of yak sometime soon.  They are currently climbing all over the bed.  I imagine they will find their sleeping spot until 4 tomorrow morning. 

I signed up with Texas Roadhouse to order dinner and they didn’t have it.  At first I thought they messed up and as I think about it I must not have completed the order.  It really annoyed me because I really didn’t feel like making dinner tonight but I did.  I had to sweep up a couple of crumbs here and there and for some reason the soy sauce spilled in the refrigerator and when I opened the fridge door it came out.

It’s very weird to hear the echoing in the house.  Several times during the night I heard what I thought were things falling down or the cats knocking over and I would check it out and nothing seemed out of place.  It can be unnerving at times and times not so much.

I have been awake since 4 and Sky who had been vocalizing from downstairs finally came up and in my face.  I think he got over the trauma of being captured and put in the crate for those few hours.  Not sure about Tiger yet.  They didn’t mind getting fed.  I had to keep pulling Sky from eating Tigers food again.  It’s funny but Sky has been eating his food and walking with it.  Sometimes he is half way across the floor with the dish.  A few times he tried again and I kept saying no and he listened (victory!).   I don’t think they will be happy when the Photographer comes on Saturday.  I am not looking forward to having to put them in the crates for the open houses or the visits. 

So I went to go ship a box of friendship books to Karyn in Colorado and it will cost about $13.  So I sent her a letter (printing at work) and told her what I will do instead (send her some either every other day or weekly in a normal letter).  At least it will make up for the dry spell.

I can’t believe I actually made the bed this morning.  I have been pulling the sheets up to the pillows since Livia made it for me but today I actually took the pillows off and did it right.  The tops are not folded over but it’s almost flat.  I need to get into practice especially for the viewings and visits.

Well my alarm went off so I have meds to take and get ready for the day.  Shadow comes back from Vacation and I can return to my normal routine of scanning.  I also have a committee meeting to attend and then come home and put the winter hats and gloves into the dressers like Liz Suggested.

It’s been so long since I last actually posted any of my blog entries this week.  I keep saying I will go back over them and finish them and then post but then more time goes by and gets away from me.

The house and condo situation:  Well Liz and I have been making a lot of progress with clearing out project.  We managed to get the cellar cleaned out with the help of a friend of hers and of my BIL.  Made several trips to goodwill and made a trip to the dump.  Some of the things that are left will be going to friends and family.  In the weekend coming up I believe we will be working on the Attic and then bedrooms, and then office and then finally the kitchen and dining room. 

Jim will be speaking to “He who will not be named” by Labor Day and apprising him of the progress.  I am told that Liz suggested that Jim also discuss perhaps begin the process of having “he who will not be named (the lawyer)” removed as the trustee and perhaps make my siblings the trustees.   It would involve some of the proceeds of the sale of the house to do that. 

My Niece has been searching for prospects and has brought to my attention as recent as yesterday of five potential places.  Three are about 4 miles away.  Another one I have looked at before and is close to my sister and to the Nursing home I used to volunteer at.  Another one is 9 minutes northwest of here.  Near what is known as route 1 and in between Orange and Milford.

My hope is we can look at them this weekend.  I have also let her know that I would be willing to take time off from work to go looking as well.  She says evenings and weekends would be best for sellers and we will do the best. 

Jim will be coming up in the next two weeks (to help I hope) and to pick up stuff I have collected for him to take into possession. 

Finances or budget:  I am constantly reworking the budget I have and been doing better without using the credit cards (all but one has been shredded).  Jim told me in our last phone conversation that if this method isn’t working for me (using only one in emergency) that  can always request new ones to be ordered.  As of right now the minimum payments are being made.  It has been suggested to me to look into consolidation loans from the credit Union I belong to.  When I suggested this to my Brother and Sister they both had reservations on this.   I will try again with J when he comes up.

Health:  With all that is going on I am managing to get exercise through the clearing out of the house (who needs weight lifting when you can haul heavy objects and items up and downstairs and to cars etc.).  I have been walking at least once a day at work weather permitting.

I have had some doctor visits recently that went well.  The hematologist last week liked the numbers from recent blood tests.  I had my infusion earlier this week and another next month.  I have a dermatology appointment, pulmonary, also next month.

I haven’t seen the inside of the gym since last Saturday but keep saying maybe later or tomorrow.  I haven’t signed up for classes because by the time I get home at night I am tired and now that we are beginning the in person search for condos I won’t have time.

Work:  The issues with DCS scanning have been finally resolved and yesterday began the scanning.  It was about access and the staff that worked on it was taking their time.  Now that that has been resolved I will now have to rearrange my daily routine with these things.

Shadow and I are about ready to have it out before she goes on vacation.  She has been speaking rather rudely to me of late and I am done.  I had told her supervisor today before I left.  I also told my on-site team leader.  She has been barking orders to me regarding mail and I really need to remind her that we may not be each other’s boss but I am the mail lead.  I need to ask questions on whether or not things came in.  WE are having a chat about what I will do while Shadow is gone.  We were already given instructions about certain things (I can scan documents to people it was a challenge I have met).

As a matter of fact starting next month TRS department/ courier service will be doing the mail runs.  One of the reps will be delivering mail that hasn’t been delivered by the other service later today.  It really should have been given to them from the very beginning.

The negotiations are going along.  Some new proposals from the union have been submitted and now they are waiting for counter-proposals.  WE have a rally later today for the Omni hotel unions.  They are our sister unions and the corporation not hiring back from the pandemic.  The recent negotiation updates are not being made public yet.

I did let the committee know I have personal issues that will conflict with activities with the union.  They managed to get me to volunteer for this activity today.

Family updates:  Earlier this week the anniversary of Mom’s death.  We didn’t make much of it but it was felt by me because of the current situation and the fact I was stressing out with Liz at one point.

We finally had a family reunion via zoom on my mother’s side of the family recently.  There were 12 of us.  Some came late but it was great.  They were told of my plans to move.  No criticisms or judgements just curiosity.

My Niece’s future DIL lost her Grandmother yesterday so in addition to the final preparations and countdown to the wedding they have to prepare and navigate through the funeral process.  This may not be appropriate in this item but said wedding invitations came in the mail today.  I am looking forward to this.

All of Liz’s kids are getting ready or have returned to school this week amid various groups expressing concerns about the plans or the validity of the plans for the return to school in Connecticut.  Some teachers want it done differently, Parents, Bus drivers also express concerned as well.

Jim’s kids are doing well.  Kristian is working, Emily is working, and James has returned to school and started classes.

Angel Brother’s kids are doing well.  As I said earlier I am expecting D&R to come up and get the remaining dishes from her collection. John has moved to Fayetteville to the Army base.  Rob is…well Rob.

The Kitties: I keep thinking they don’t understand what is going on around here with the cleaning.  So every chance I get I tell them we will be starting a new adventure.   When anyone comes they hide or sleep. They have been sleeping and hiding in weird places (weirder than usual).  Furniture they haven’t slept on at all they now sleep on.  Sky is currently grooming himself (note to self-expect hairball).  They are primary concern during the condo hunt/house cleaning.  I have been told they don’t react well to change.  Well most cats generally don’t like change.

I am not letting them down in the cellar anymore after I broke some class punch servers.  I cleaned it up when I dropped them Wednesday but there were some remnants of it left.

My Volunteering activities:  With the Corvid 19 pandemic (or post pandemic) continuing there hasn’t been much going on.  At least from where I see things.  There haven’t been many meetings either on line or in person. 

I did contact my 4^th District chairman and another friend from the district yesterday and told them of the plans to put the house on the market.  I am expecting an email in my inbox tomorrow morning from at least one of them.  The election is more than 9 weeks away.  Aside from the primary I have not received any alerts for campaigns or volunteering.

The Ladies Guild is supposed to start next month.  What have I heard? Not a thing.  I ran into Tori who is the Religious education coordinator for the church, and school at the grocery store and she eluded we won’t be able to have food at the meetings.  There hasn’t been anything in the bulletins or anything like that.  I will have to email the new president and ask her what’s going on.  I will also tell her the plans for the house.

I am getting the distinct feeling that the Recreation Director at the nursing home isn’t going to call me back anytime soon.  Actually I am okay with that.  It was time for me to move on anyway.

The Weather: Its been sunny for the most part until yesterday when we had some severe thunderstorms and tornados.  North Haven, Hamden, and New Haven were hit pretty bad.  I can agree to that as I left the office yesterday.

Well it’s nearly 3 in the morning and I will be getting up in a couple of hours to get ready for work.  So I will check in later today.

I must begin this entry with an apology for the symphony of chirping crickets lately.  I have been going through some challenging times since Tropical storm Isaias.  The day after it hit I noticed the gutter needed repair and so I called my lawyer/Trustee (if you have been following me for while it was set up long before Mom died) to let him know it needed to be fixed.  He didn’t see it but came and surveyed the property and started a bullying campaign to reissue the whole “we need to put the house on the market” .  We argued and by the end of the conversation he hung up on me.  He sent me a very insulting voice mail by the end of that same week after my brother spoke to him.

   My family and I met at the beginning of the week with my therapist to discuss what could be done but came to the conclusion that it isn’t worth fighting him.  We are not giving in but I cannot afford to manage this big house. My brother spoke to him and got the SOB to back off as long as we made efforts to restart the process of cleaning out the house and look for a more manageable  residence.  My family has been very supportive of me and we agree that this guy is chauvinist and a whole slew of other adjectives I won’t dignify with.

So I have restarted a budget and working to get the debt down.  I have been getting advice from how to fight him, to how to best search for the new place (I have been looking but there are some variables that I don’t know yet) to budget shopping for groceries etc.   My sister will be coming over to help the purging process begin today.

So the milestone I was going to write about was 58 years ago today my family moved into the house I am about to give up.  AT that time it was my parents and my three older siblings.  I was born two weeks later.  So for my 58^th birthday in two weeks I will be in the middle of a new start. 

Work is going okay.  The scanning machine problem is still a problem and we are waiting on someone to do something.  WE have been very patient and we do have scanning to do.  I have been working on refund scanning and that is done through the copier.

The parking lot that we use is in the beginning stages of being repaired so we have had to park in a small adjacent lot near the building but have to be careful not to park in the school parking lot that we share.  We have been getting warnings to move or be towed.

The University is preparing for the fall semester that starts in two weeks.  Some departments are still mixed with on campus working and remote working.  We are constantly being reminded about the social distancing and to wear the mask when needed. 

Labor negotiations are currently going on and I am pretty sure they are still a little rough.  I was not at the last meeting because my brother was arriving at the same time.  I am pretty sure I will be hearing about it next time.

I have been trying to get out and walking at break times and lunchtimes except the last couple of days because I wanted to focus on work or I wasn’t here for part of the week.  Sadly I am finishing up the last two sessions with Alex this coming week.  I had to let him go because of my current financial crisis.  He was absolutely understanding and wonderful about it.  He will be there to reach out if I need to. 

I would like to say I have been trying to follow my diet but I recently made buttered spaghetti and clearly not on the diet.  I had it for dinner the last couple of nights.  My reasoning is flawed.  I attributed to the new grocery budget.  I have been looking at budget meal plans online recently so hopefully I will be able to follow it.

I will be keeping the gym membership and they have been all very kind.  Again it would be great if I actually got there.  I was there Tuesday but the rest of the week not so much.  I won’t be able to go to the classes as they are additional (part of the Edge Strong program).  I was just told I have them until the end of the month so I can still go to the classes until my birthday.  However I will be doing the routines or whatever the word is for it on my own. That is if I force myself to the gym.

The rest of the family seems to be busy with the end of summer activities and bridal shower events.  I went to the bridal shower last weekend for my great niece to be and it was a blast despite the turmoil going on with me.  The people were great, the scenery was great, and of course so was the food.  Gina got so many wonderful gifts I wonder what’s left on the Registry for the October nuptials.

 I have finally found out more about a new pen pal.  She recently sent me an intro letter that was like her emails to me lately.  It was short and sweet.  I am working on her letter now and updating her file.  She is from South Carolina but is originally from Texas. 

Well I need to move along and do some more stuff before the gym and before sis gets here.