I am a week into my 3 week vacation. Actually, the last week I'll be working, but it will be in Tennessee so it will seem like vacation. I'm sitting in my Mom's living room, half dressed, reading blogs on my laptop. Mom is still in Kansas City. I'm 'supposed' to be up in Kentucky with friends at a campout. I'm too tired of traveling around, and am taking down time. I have learned a lot the past few days. I learned that the Molly Mac Pack that I got last September at the hangout is not a good fit for me. Too much fiddle factor to packing it right. So, I'll leave it with Turtle Lady to put back into the silent auction at the hangout next September. No need to lug it back and forth to Washington. I learned that I'm eating waaaay too much sugar and I'm getting fat. I learned that I need to try on clothes when I buy them because I'm not just a medium now, I'm a large... I'll go to the outlet mall here and return the things I got at the outlet mall in the Smokies. I've learned that I need a place, spot, somewhere I can just sit alone, a bathroom I can use as long as I need with no one around, someplace that I can just 'be' when I'm traveling.
I'm also realizing that this is Mom's place because her stuff is here. She moved here after I was last back in Tennessee, so I've never been to this apartment before last night. She gave me the key to get in while we were both in Kansas City this past weekend. So, I'm weighing the value of 'my stuff' vs. getting rid of everything. I need to find the middle ground as I go through my storage unit this next week. I need to figure out what things mean 'home' to me. Apparently some of the stuff still out here meet that, because my apartment in Washington just doesn't totally feel like home.
Oh, and I also learned that I totally miss my cats.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Changes
Bits and pieces. In my check around the internet of interesting blogs I was directed to this guy's blog: http://theflyingtortoise.blogspot.com/ He's in New Zealand and lives in an RV of sorts. The ones he writes about are much different that the ones here. Below is a picture of the inside of the RV owned by a lady called Jypsy Jude:
I wish I was artistic enough to make my living space look so cool. Kind of the opposite of the minimal look I've been heading towards lately. For more cool pictures of her and her RV, head to The Flying Tortoise blog.
I wish I was artistic enough to make my living space look so cool. Kind of the opposite of the minimal look I've been heading towards lately. For more cool pictures of her and her RV, head to The Flying Tortoise blog.
Speaking of headings lately, I'm actively embarking on change now. I am looking for a different job, in a different location. Perhaps even a different country. I'm trying to stay open to the possibilities. If you are of a type to pray or otherwise discuss things with the Greater Power of the Universe, please put in a word for me to be lead to where I need to be.
I start packing this weekend, and looking at my possessions in a more immediate way (as in, how the heck can I move (again!) all this stuff) both here and while I'm in Nashville. This time next week I'll be in Kansas City visiting family. Actually, next Saturday about this time Mom and I will be heading to the cemetery to put my Dad's ashes in the ground. I'll visit with family on Sunday and then head on to Nashville on Monday.
Tonight I'll head to the mall for a book to study for more certifications, then probably head to the casino near there. If I play the machines for 2 hours I get a free buffet, and I've been going there a couple of times a week now. It's the best I eat since I get salad, vegetables and real food in general. Not a lot of those in the rest of my life right now. It will be a good thing for me to make major changes in many ways, with my diet as well as getting away from the casinos being two of the main things.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Update
Mom just called to update me on the flooding in Nashville. It sounds bad. Ironic that I've been reading all weekend about Katrina and preparing for a disaster, and my home town (adopted, anyway) is experiencing one. Mom is fine so far. While her apartment is close to the Cumberland River, she is in a second story apartment. She has food and has stored water in jugs and the tea kettle in case the water supply gets contaminated. She has it better organized than I do at this point. Heck, she's more organized than I am in most ways. My thoughts are on Nashville right now.
Bits and Pieces
I haven't been in a mood to communicate. Still trying to get out of this slump. It will happen one way or another in a few weeks since I'm headed first to Kansas City to meet Mom to inter my Dad's ashes and briefly visit with family, then on to Nashville for 3 weeks. I'm starting to pack now. Slowly, but it's starting.
I was reunited with a site that I've been wanting to find again, and it happened in a strange way. I was talking with one of the pilots at work. As often happens after I make one of my rare appearances in a skirt at work, he was making conversation aimed at encouraging me to wear them more often. I said that I was ordering a Macabi treking skirt, and he (kidding) suggested we should get matching ones. Others in the office heard him, and Googled 'Men in hiking skirts' and found a site that shows a guy in the Macabi skirt. It's quite a strange sight for these military guys, and the joke went around with the pics saying that this was the new regulation flight suit. When I saw the picture, I said 'hey, where did you get that, I'm looking for that guy's site!' This was funny to them, the fact that I recognized a, to them, random picture from the internet. However, Shane is also a hammock camper and that is how I'd found him a few years ago. He also has an extensive part of his site dedicated to his experiences living through Katrina. He turned it into a site that gives amazing detail on how to be prepared for a disaster. This isn't the 'have X number of gallons of water stored in your bathtub' type of disaster planning, this is 'here is how you have what you need to do things like find a job, have your medical history with you...' and other details of rebuilding a life after losing most of your possessions in a fire, hurricane, or whatever. The site is: http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/ This dovetailed neatly with the minimalist sites that talk about digitizing important papers and such, and that was why I was wanting to find him again. He gives such wonderful, detailed, step by step directions. That's where I've been the past couple of days, reading it all again.
Mundane things: I joined Costco awhile ago. I don't buy all that much stuff, but there are things that I do need from a larger place like that, or are at least cheaper there, such as kitty litter. I took a chance and tried their 'all natural' brand. It works well. I needed dishwashing detergent last week. I've been getting the cheaper Sun brand, but it runs out of cutting power too soon for me. I was resigned to getting a more 'brand name', but when I went to Costco they had their own 'all natural' brand. I tried it, and I really like it. It didn't hurt in these cases that the 'all natural' store brand happened to also be the cheapest.
I'm starting the search for a cheaper apartment. After I get back from Nashville I only have 2 weeks to decided if I'm staying here and paying $200/month more rent, or moving. Today I'll drive around and look at the neighborhoods around a few I found on the internet. I'm also looking at going to a 1 bedroom or studio. This should light more of a fire under me to get rid of the stuff that I'm having a hard time letting go of.
I think that is most of what's been going on.
I was reunited with a site that I've been wanting to find again, and it happened in a strange way. I was talking with one of the pilots at work. As often happens after I make one of my rare appearances in a skirt at work, he was making conversation aimed at encouraging me to wear them more often. I said that I was ordering a Macabi treking skirt, and he (kidding) suggested we should get matching ones. Others in the office heard him, and Googled 'Men in hiking skirts' and found a site that shows a guy in the Macabi skirt. It's quite a strange sight for these military guys, and the joke went around with the pics saying that this was the new regulation flight suit. When I saw the picture, I said 'hey, where did you get that, I'm looking for that guy's site!' This was funny to them, the fact that I recognized a, to them, random picture from the internet. However, Shane is also a hammock camper and that is how I'd found him a few years ago. He also has an extensive part of his site dedicated to his experiences living through Katrina. He turned it into a site that gives amazing detail on how to be prepared for a disaster. This isn't the 'have X number of gallons of water stored in your bathtub' type of disaster planning, this is 'here is how you have what you need to do things like find a job, have your medical history with you...' and other details of rebuilding a life after losing most of your possessions in a fire, hurricane, or whatever. The site is: http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/ This dovetailed neatly with the minimalist sites that talk about digitizing important papers and such, and that was why I was wanting to find him again. He gives such wonderful, detailed, step by step directions. That's where I've been the past couple of days, reading it all again.
Mundane things: I joined Costco awhile ago. I don't buy all that much stuff, but there are things that I do need from a larger place like that, or are at least cheaper there, such as kitty litter. I took a chance and tried their 'all natural' brand. It works well. I needed dishwashing detergent last week. I've been getting the cheaper Sun brand, but it runs out of cutting power too soon for me. I was resigned to getting a more 'brand name', but when I went to Costco they had their own 'all natural' brand. I tried it, and I really like it. It didn't hurt in these cases that the 'all natural' store brand happened to also be the cheapest.
I'm starting the search for a cheaper apartment. After I get back from Nashville I only have 2 weeks to decided if I'm staying here and paying $200/month more rent, or moving. Today I'll drive around and look at the neighborhoods around a few I found on the internet. I'm also looking at going to a 1 bedroom or studio. This should light more of a fire under me to get rid of the stuff that I'm having a hard time letting go of.
I think that is most of what's been going on.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
It's Saturday, and I'm on the computer
Interesting link #1: http://openpdf.com/ebook/-pdf.html I haven't played with this at all, but it was recommended by someone on a message board I frequent. It searches the 'net for PDF's on the subject you put in the search box. I'm thinking that will be a major time sink later today and I search my way around the internet.
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Link Fun
http://blog.makezine.com/ I'm thinking that most of the techie world already knows about this site, but I just found it. They have already taken apart an IPad to see how it's put together. There are robots, and room size domes made from umbrellas. My technical side is starting to have faint stirrings of life again, and this site helps further that. The description: Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Still Here
I'm fine. I've been battling a bit of depression and not getting much of the right things done. No knitting, little cleaning, or working out, or hiking. I have gone to the Casinos a lot. I'm working on it.
I did go to Seaside, OR last weekend. I reconnected with a high school friend who I thought was still in California. Turns out she's a couple of hours south of me in Oregon. So, I drove down and we spent about 24 hours trying to catch up almost 20 years of events. It was fun. I also was introduced to Oregon coast salt water taffy. I'll be heading down again for some more talk and taffy.
I also got contacts last week. Today is day 4. I am on the last hour of my first 10 hour day. I am ready to take them out. I was ready yesterday a little before the end of the 8 hours I was to have them in that day. I'm getting better at putting them in. I'll find out in a few minutes if I'm also getting better at taking them out. I'm a bit disappointed in how well I see, or rather don't see. The whole reading glasses thing is a pain. I also need to get some sun glasses for the first time in a few decades. I'm glad I'm trying these contacts out so that if I get Lasik surgery I'll know ahead of time what I'm getting into. Had I discovered all this (how fuzzy more than just 'reading distance' things are still) after going through the expense of an non-reversible surgery I'd be upset.
I am still sorting paperwork. Also, Lori and I had a 'skirt day' at work. Took me 3 tries to find a dress I could still get buttoned, and it was tight. Several things are going in the donate pile from that experience. When I lose this 10 pounds I've put on, the things will still be out of style. Slowly I'm making headway in my pursuit of less stuff.
I did go to Seaside, OR last weekend. I reconnected with a high school friend who I thought was still in California. Turns out she's a couple of hours south of me in Oregon. So, I drove down and we spent about 24 hours trying to catch up almost 20 years of events. It was fun. I also was introduced to Oregon coast salt water taffy. I'll be heading down again for some more talk and taffy.
I also got contacts last week. Today is day 4. I am on the last hour of my first 10 hour day. I am ready to take them out. I was ready yesterday a little before the end of the 8 hours I was to have them in that day. I'm getting better at putting them in. I'll find out in a few minutes if I'm also getting better at taking them out. I'm a bit disappointed in how well I see, or rather don't see. The whole reading glasses thing is a pain. I also need to get some sun glasses for the first time in a few decades. I'm glad I'm trying these contacts out so that if I get Lasik surgery I'll know ahead of time what I'm getting into. Had I discovered all this (how fuzzy more than just 'reading distance' things are still) after going through the expense of an non-reversible surgery I'd be upset.
I am still sorting paperwork. Also, Lori and I had a 'skirt day' at work. Took me 3 tries to find a dress I could still get buttoned, and it was tight. Several things are going in the donate pile from that experience. When I lose this 10 pounds I've put on, the things will still be out of style. Slowly I'm making headway in my pursuit of less stuff.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Test #2
Now that I can blog from email, I can blog from my IPhone, which means that I may actually write more. It also means that I have one less reason to buy a new netbook. sigh.
I'm reading blogs again this morning. Lloyd Kahn's blog is, as usual, a treasure trove of interesting things. First, this blog on boingboing: http://www.boingboing.net/2010/03/05/bob-harris-trip-to-t.html he's a good writer, writing about a trip to Peru. Fun stuff, and worth reading. Over at MissMinimalist she talks about floor coverings, and gives the link to http://www.flor.com/ . There they sell carpet squares that you attach to each other (velcro?) to make a room rug. When you move, or just want it in another room or shape, you just take them up and go. Makes sense to me, and something that I'll remember for the future. That site is kinda pricey for this bargain-basement gal, but the idea could be used with regular squares by just not using adhesive, I'd think.
I tried using Evernote as a place in the 'cloud' (what I used to call the internet...) to store documents and such. It uses the new organizational method of putting everything in one space and using tags to search for it. That isn't how my mind works. I used a huge chunk of my free monthly 'usage' to just set up seperate notebooks to organize about a dozen documents. In the comments on another minimalist blog I saw a place that has 50G of free storage to organize how you want, http://www.adrive.com/ . So, I signed up there and put a few things up. I won't put real private documents there, but it will be a good secondary off-site storage for my scanned documents. I'll get back with a review as I use it more.
Continuing on with the bankers boxes of files that I brought out here, I spent yesterday and today sorting and shredding bills and statements from '96 and '05. Some never opened. I tend to just toss things into a file folder in case I need it later. The number of files I'm keeping is still just one box, and I've gone through 3. My new desk area is a cluttered mess, though. I have stuff to scan, more recent files to organize, and general mess with the computer related stuff I'm coming across. Today will be spent reclaiming parts of that area. I did finally find my generic IPod. Now I can download podcasts to listen to while walking at noon at work.
I tried using Evernote as a place in the 'cloud' (what I used to call the internet...) to store documents and such. It uses the new organizational method of putting everything in one space and using tags to search for it. That isn't how my mind works. I used a huge chunk of my free monthly 'usage' to just set up seperate notebooks to organize about a dozen documents. In the comments on another minimalist blog I saw a place that has 50G of free storage to organize how you want, http://www.adrive.com/ . So, I signed up there and put a few things up. I won't put real private documents there, but it will be a good secondary off-site storage for my scanned documents. I'll get back with a review as I use it more.
Continuing on with the bankers boxes of files that I brought out here, I spent yesterday and today sorting and shredding bills and statements from '96 and '05. Some never opened. I tend to just toss things into a file folder in case I need it later. The number of files I'm keeping is still just one box, and I've gone through 3. My new desk area is a cluttered mess, though. I have stuff to scan, more recent files to organize, and general mess with the computer related stuff I'm coming across. Today will be spent reclaiming parts of that area. I did finally find my generic IPod. Now I can download podcasts to listen to while walking at noon at work.
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