Monday, July 27, 2009
More Mulch
This turned into an after and a before but you get the idea. This tree also got a haircut courtesy of M.
Mulch Pre and Post
Wow, it's really annoying to post pictures on this site. It's impossible to move them around where I want them. Anyway, it's going to end up being two posts because I don't feel like spending the time to rearrange this.M and I did our first attempt at landscaping this past weekend. The before pictures show all kinds of weediness and unkemptness. The after shows lovely neatness and tidiness. Honestly, I thought I would hate weeding and mulching but I really enjoyed it! How therapeutic, out with the bad in with the good! And for very little blood, sweat, and tears you can great results.
Extra bonus, nice neighbor next door came over and donated an old but still working leaf blower to us as well as a garden kneeler thingy. If only he had been a bit sooner, my inner thighs might not be killing me for the permanent squat I was doing from 100-330 yesterday afternoon.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Stress Relief
I have zero time to knit right now....or do I?
I wanted to find something productive to do on our commute, so I decided to keep knitting projects in each car. M usually drives in the morning so I plan to do that when he's driving (not when I'm driving of course :)
This morning, I worked a few lines on my cowl neck sweater, pattern by yours truly. I haven't touched it since we were in Santa Cruz on vacation so it was nice to get back to it. Knitting while commuting me saves from looking up at the long line of cars snaking along the highway..very nice. Also, there's much unpacking to do at home still I wouldn't be able to knit in good conscience as M slaves away so guilt free knitting, here I come!
I wanted to find something productive to do on our commute, so I decided to keep knitting projects in each car. M usually drives in the morning so I plan to do that when he's driving (not when I'm driving of course :)
This morning, I worked a few lines on my cowl neck sweater, pattern by yours truly. I haven't touched it since we were in Santa Cruz on vacation so it was nice to get back to it. Knitting while commuting me saves from looking up at the long line of cars snaking along the highway..very nice. Also, there's much unpacking to do at home still I wouldn't be able to knit in good conscience as M slaves away so guilt free knitting, here I come!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Hooligans
Y Family vs. Hooligans, take 3.
Remember when I said that M had his first home improvement in repairing our mailbox that seems to have been knocked over?
Well right after we repaired that, probably within 4 days, we came home to find that the flag had been knocked off, M saw some kids circling near our mailbox at the time and looking up at the house. We haven't even had a chance to repair that.
Today, we have come home to find our mailbox knocked over again. Poor M is out there doing his best to right it again.
Really annoying and about the last thing we feel like coming home to after an hour commute. I think some neighborhood kids have a little extra time on their hands.
Remember when I said that M had his first home improvement in repairing our mailbox that seems to have been knocked over?
Well right after we repaired that, probably within 4 days, we came home to find that the flag had been knocked off, M saw some kids circling near our mailbox at the time and looking up at the house. We haven't even had a chance to repair that.
Today, we have come home to find our mailbox knocked over again. Poor M is out there doing his best to right it again.
Really annoying and about the last thing we feel like coming home to after an hour commute. I think some neighborhood kids have a little extra time on their hands.
School Blah Blah Blah
We're past the midway point in my Health Policy/Finance class. It's totally online and for the 4th time I have gotten a professor who's never taught a class online before. How much breaking in can one student do?
This time the pitfalls are as follows:
She forgot to archive the class for those who couldn't make it
She discussed groups for the group project, but since it wasn't archived the people absent have no clue what group they are in even though she said she would post it
She hasn't posted an example of the group project as she said she would
My question about the paper has gone unanswered for one week
Assignments seem to be posted in random places so you're never sure where to look
From my perspective, it's nice to have an online class in summer as long as it's not something that's totally crucial. something like Advanced Pharmacology or Advanced Pathophysiology are very intense and I felt like it ended up being more work because it was online. I cherish things like theory or policy being offered online because it's most likely a paper or two and some readings. You can work at your own pace etc, check in when you want. I think this professor is also cherishing that it's online, she doesn't check in very much and is not very detailed about anything. I think she thinks that being loosey goosey about the exact expectations of the paper and project keep it low key, but it actually just makes everyone panic because the due date for the project is approachign (we still don't know the date for the paper, whether it's a seperate project, ideas of for topics) and we don't know all of the details.
In other news, I have found a clinical placement for fall following an MD in a busy primary care practice (he sees 30 patients per day). He has previously precepted for my school before and recieved high marks from the previous student. I'll start right around Labor Day, I'm trying to savor the remainder of the summer...and savor that this is the last summer that I specifically have to remember savoring because Fall semester is right around the corner! In September, I'm reducing my hours to 30 so that I can complete the required 16 hours of time in clinic per week so that will be an interesting change.....
This time the pitfalls are as follows:
She forgot to archive the class for those who couldn't make it
She discussed groups for the group project, but since it wasn't archived the people absent have no clue what group they are in even though she said she would post it
She hasn't posted an example of the group project as she said she would
My question about the paper has gone unanswered for one week
Assignments seem to be posted in random places so you're never sure where to look
From my perspective, it's nice to have an online class in summer as long as it's not something that's totally crucial. something like Advanced Pharmacology or Advanced Pathophysiology are very intense and I felt like it ended up being more work because it was online. I cherish things like theory or policy being offered online because it's most likely a paper or two and some readings. You can work at your own pace etc, check in when you want. I think this professor is also cherishing that it's online, she doesn't check in very much and is not very detailed about anything. I think she thinks that being loosey goosey about the exact expectations of the paper and project keep it low key, but it actually just makes everyone panic because the due date for the project is approachign (we still don't know the date for the paper, whether it's a seperate project, ideas of for topics) and we don't know all of the details.
In other news, I have found a clinical placement for fall following an MD in a busy primary care practice (he sees 30 patients per day). He has previously precepted for my school before and recieved high marks from the previous student. I'll start right around Labor Day, I'm trying to savor the remainder of the summer...and savor that this is the last summer that I specifically have to remember savoring because Fall semester is right around the corner! In September, I'm reducing my hours to 30 so that I can complete the required 16 hours of time in clinic per week so that will be an interesting change.....
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Eagle Has Landed
The move is complete. The unpacking, far from it. The movers arrived at 730 sharp and left our house at 330. Wow. I blame M, he has tons of shelving units and they wrapped each shelf seperately. Kidding aside, the estimate was dead on to the actual charges, they estimated it would take 6-8 hours, loading took 4, plus 2.5 hours transit time for them, plus 2.5 hours unloading.
There are a sea of boxes to grow through obviously, but I think we know where the most important ones are even if we haven't unpacked them yet. Most importantly, I remembered to quickly locate some clean sheets and towels for us to know so that when we were ready to keel over, we had a nicely made bed to do it on.
One wierd thing, as the movers left the apt today, probably not more than 30 seconds later because I remember still hearing the truck, I heard someone yelling hello. It didn't sound like the movers but since I could still hear their truck I assumed it was them. I was on the phone with M at the time telling him I was leaving. I go toward the doorway to the living room, and coming up the stairs was this somewhat disheveled tooth lacking man asking if I was the owner. I thought he was going to complain about the moving truck or something. I told him no, that we were the renters. He then asked if we were moving in or out and I said out, he said he wanted to rent it. I told him it was already rented and kept moving towards him wondering 1. how freaky that this guy just decided to walk into my house 2. why were we having this conversation at all 3. had he been watching the movers because as soon as they left he was in my house. He kept telling me he wanted to rent the apt and asking if the owners lived downstairs, what real estate agency they used. Tons of questions, I took quite a disgruntled tone with him but he wasn't getting it. Finally he left. The movers had been great about shutting all the doors again when they were done using them but inexplicably left my front door and screen door wide open. the whole thing was really unsettling. I checked all the doors again and everything was locked, I looked outside and couldn't see him walking down the street or driving away so I was a little skeeved out to leave but all was ok.
In other suburban news, our mailbox that has been repaired earlier this week, or was it late last week, was facing straight one minute as M was looking out the window then was suddenly facing sideways with the flag knocked off the next. All this as two prepubescent boys on bikes circled around it and looked up at the house. M didn't actually see them do anything but it's kind of fishy..we're not sure if they accidentally hit it while riding bikes or what, but it's not like it's that close to the street so who knows.
I'm off tomorrow, the fridge is finally coming and so is the town to update our water meter. And unpacking, lots of unpacking.
There are a sea of boxes to grow through obviously, but I think we know where the most important ones are even if we haven't unpacked them yet. Most importantly, I remembered to quickly locate some clean sheets and towels for us to know so that when we were ready to keel over, we had a nicely made bed to do it on.
One wierd thing, as the movers left the apt today, probably not more than 30 seconds later because I remember still hearing the truck, I heard someone yelling hello. It didn't sound like the movers but since I could still hear their truck I assumed it was them. I was on the phone with M at the time telling him I was leaving. I go toward the doorway to the living room, and coming up the stairs was this somewhat disheveled tooth lacking man asking if I was the owner. I thought he was going to complain about the moving truck or something. I told him no, that we were the renters. He then asked if we were moving in or out and I said out, he said he wanted to rent it. I told him it was already rented and kept moving towards him wondering 1. how freaky that this guy just decided to walk into my house 2. why were we having this conversation at all 3. had he been watching the movers because as soon as they left he was in my house. He kept telling me he wanted to rent the apt and asking if the owners lived downstairs, what real estate agency they used. Tons of questions, I took quite a disgruntled tone with him but he wasn't getting it. Finally he left. The movers had been great about shutting all the doors again when they were done using them but inexplicably left my front door and screen door wide open. the whole thing was really unsettling. I checked all the doors again and everything was locked, I looked outside and couldn't see him walking down the street or driving away so I was a little skeeved out to leave but all was ok.
In other suburban news, our mailbox that has been repaired earlier this week, or was it late last week, was facing straight one minute as M was looking out the window then was suddenly facing sideways with the flag knocked off the next. All this as two prepubescent boys on bikes circled around it and looked up at the house. M didn't actually see them do anything but it's kind of fishy..we're not sure if they accidentally hit it while riding bikes or what, but it's not like it's that close to the street so who knows.
I'm off tomorrow, the fridge is finally coming and so is the town to update our water meter. And unpacking, lots of unpacking.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Packing, Spending, Repairing.
One short commute left....
The move is this Tuesday. It seems like it has taken forever to get to this point yet we still have a fair amount of things to pack up. We have taken a lot of things up to the house in our cars and trying to save the furniture and the big bulky boxes for the movers. We have taken some clothes, shoes, most of our dishes at this point, all of our dried goods and spices up there. I still have to clean out my closet, which is clothes, bags, and photo albums. We have a few things left in the attic to bring down.
Tomorrow the carpets are being cleaned at the new place, so I'm going to head up there by 9am while M stays home to continue packing.
Oh, before I forget, as if we didn't have enough expenses...M's check engine light came on last weekend. He took it in and let's just say both members of the Y family have new front breaks. I also decided before we leave our current town I should go to the eye doctor since it's about two minues away. $300 later I have new contacts and new glasses which I'm picking up tonight.
We've had our first home improvement issue. Last night, as we pulled into sweet suburbia and were noting the little bunny passing in front of our car, we looked the other direction toward our house and noticed that our mailbox had toppled over. It was barely attached to the post anymore, we don't know if someone hit it or if it just fell over. It's pretty top heavy, I think that's probably what happened. Of course, this is approaching dusk and mere days after we both switched our addresses with the post office so all the mail is coming to the new address now. Luckily,M was handier than either of us expected him to be and was able to brace the bottom of the post with some brackets and nails and get the mailbox standing upright again. It's not too bad as long as you avert your eyes from the shiny metal brackets at the bottom of the post. It was better than spending another $100+ to get a new box and post so until it keels over again, eye aversion is the name of the game.
The move is this Tuesday. It seems like it has taken forever to get to this point yet we still have a fair amount of things to pack up. We have taken a lot of things up to the house in our cars and trying to save the furniture and the big bulky boxes for the movers. We have taken some clothes, shoes, most of our dishes at this point, all of our dried goods and spices up there. I still have to clean out my closet, which is clothes, bags, and photo albums. We have a few things left in the attic to bring down.
Tomorrow the carpets are being cleaned at the new place, so I'm going to head up there by 9am while M stays home to continue packing.
Oh, before I forget, as if we didn't have enough expenses...M's check engine light came on last weekend. He took it in and let's just say both members of the Y family have new front breaks. I also decided before we leave our current town I should go to the eye doctor since it's about two minues away. $300 later I have new contacts and new glasses which I'm picking up tonight.
We've had our first home improvement issue. Last night, as we pulled into sweet suburbia and were noting the little bunny passing in front of our car, we looked the other direction toward our house and noticed that our mailbox had toppled over. It was barely attached to the post anymore, we don't know if someone hit it or if it just fell over. It's pretty top heavy, I think that's probably what happened. Of course, this is approaching dusk and mere days after we both switched our addresses with the post office so all the mail is coming to the new address now. Luckily,M was handier than either of us expected him to be and was able to brace the bottom of the post with some brackets and nails and get the mailbox standing upright again. It's not too bad as long as you avert your eyes from the shiny metal brackets at the bottom of the post. It was better than spending another $100+ to get a new box and post so until it keels over again, eye aversion is the name of the game.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Dwindling Days
We spent the rest of the weekend bringing more stuff to the new place. Since the previous owners did such a great job cleaning, we've been able to bring boxes up, unpack them and get a little bit organized, bring the boxes home and repack with something else.
I've started organizing the pantry and some of the kitchen cabinets. Today, I put our coats and sweatshirts in the hall closet, yes! we have a hall closet! No more leaving everything at the bottom of the stairs.
Yesterday we bought a fridge from Lowe's and did a 12 month 0% financing deal. Today, we returned and bought our new electric lawn mower. As our luck would have it, we get all the way home to discover that it's defective so poor M had to drive all the way back to exchange it. Luckily, the second time's a charm.
We met our neighbor's wife and his son today, the whole family seems very nice. It was a really nice day today, weather wise. I had the patio door open and was enjoying listening to the wind rustling the leaves. Not really any other sounds....yeah suburbia!
We have only 6 commutes left from our apt. which I am making a mental note to savor this week. 9 more nights sleeping in this apt. Suburbia here we come :)
I've started organizing the pantry and some of the kitchen cabinets. Today, I put our coats and sweatshirts in the hall closet, yes! we have a hall closet! No more leaving everything at the bottom of the stairs.
Yesterday we bought a fridge from Lowe's and did a 12 month 0% financing deal. Today, we returned and bought our new electric lawn mower. As our luck would have it, we get all the way home to discover that it's defective so poor M had to drive all the way back to exchange it. Luckily, the second time's a charm.
We met our neighbor's wife and his son today, the whole family seems very nice. It was a really nice day today, weather wise. I had the patio door open and was enjoying listening to the wind rustling the leaves. Not really any other sounds....yeah suburbia!
We have only 6 commutes left from our apt. which I am making a mental note to savor this week. 9 more nights sleeping in this apt. Suburbia here we come :)
1st 4th.
We spent the 4th up at the new house and somehow managed to host a few friends. We discovered that people watch the fireworks from a nearby strip mall parking lot, so rather than deal with an unknown traffic situation we joined them. There's nothing like seeing a fireworks display over the neon signs of a Hallmark Store and Fantastic Sam :)
I had heard that our new town had a pretty decent fireworks display and this turned out to be true. It lasted about 30 minutes and had a great finale. Definitely worth going to see.
My friend L and her friend came over, they were the first that got to see the new pad. We had a great time sitting on the back deck, we lit some candles to line the back railing and had a citronella candle to stave off the massive amounts of mosquitoes. We lucked out and really had no problems with mosquitoes. Aside from being ill prepared i.e. no fridge, very few cups, no knives, no plates, no chairs it went off without a hitch!
I had heard that our new town had a pretty decent fireworks display and this turned out to be true. It lasted about 30 minutes and had a great finale. Definitely worth going to see.
My friend L and her friend came over, they were the first that got to see the new pad. We had a great time sitting on the back deck, we lit some candles to line the back railing and had a citronella candle to stave off the massive amounts of mosquitoes. We lucked out and really had no problems with mosquitoes. Aside from being ill prepared i.e. no fridge, very few cups, no knives, no plates, no chairs it went off without a hitch!
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