Day 117: Tuesday Homework

I decided to work from home today, Tuesday, as I had too many things to mail and take to GoodWill. I also had to get ready to replace the washer and dryer with an expensive LG gizmo that can do both. I am looking forward to having the space back and to a more efficient appliance.

I woke just before my alarm from my dreams filled with forgotten vistas and events. I cannot recall a moment of the dreams, but I did have a nightmare. I woke at 1AM and then went back to sleep. Too much coffee before bed! I did sleep well the rest of the night. I cannot remember the nightmare, but it woke me, and it took me a moment to know who I was and where I was. Nasty. But someone who writes Dungeons and Dragons and horror stories can dream something unpleasant!

I finally rose just before my alarm. I sat on the edge of the bed, looking at my slippers. I must have fallen asleep sitting as my alarm brought me back to the task at hand. Oh my, that’s not the way to start. “F**k” was my first word for this day.

I attended a few meetings, and missed one as it was added to my calendar after I stepped out. I made a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast (thanks, Joyce), as I have quite a supply available. I made liberal coffee in the French Press, my usual drink in the morning, lots and lots of coffee.

I had assembled the boxes of stuff for Susie’s Concert the day before, plus a duplicate cookbook to send back. All this was to be done at the US Post Office. I loaded it in an Air Volvo. My pants are too loose now, and I struggle to carry the boxes without losing them. I managed to succeed without any unplanned exposure, making two trips. I have clean and stripped underwear under my pants–for you wondering.

I stood in line and brought up my stack of boxes forward (I stacked them in the back of the room while I stood in line), which overwhelmed the mail clerk momentarily. Still, we worked it all out, and she was happy to help when I said I was having a second memorial for my wife in Michigan where other family members could attend. While the ice skates cost more than $900, I insured each box for $500 as that does not require a signature. Barb, Susie’s sister, should get all these on Monday.

Next, again, with the pants issues, I took some more clothing and other items to Goodwill. I also finally took Susie’s brown hat off the hook (the last one I have in the house and her backup hat) and put it in the closet. I am slowly starting to put things away.

I opened some boxes from Ben’s house that had not been opened since we sent them here–Ben was Susie’s dad and had been gone many years now. I tossed the things that were just not meaningful; I will take some of the more commercial items to Goodwill. I found all of Ben’s photos we kept. I may send them soon to Barb. I also have his WW2 metals and every letter Susie sent him. Not sure what to do yet. I found our wedding program in Ben’s stuff and some saved napkins. It made me cry; he had kept it and taken it back to Alaska and kept it with Susie’s letters.

I found a box of our stuff from Maryland that has not been looked into since we moved here. More photos and a few strange items like my Employee of the Month award as a consultant in Baltimore. I will have to dig in more on that one.

I stopped with the closet archeology and made lunch. I found a can of tuna, chopped celery, and onion and added stuff to make a good tuna fish salad. I spread that on another NYC bagel, toasted it, and covered it with cheese slices. Next, I broiled all of this. It was hot and cooked on the bagel. Sadly, I flipped it on the plate by accident and made a mess of it. Nonetheless, it was a good lunch.

I continued to follow along at work. It was a quiet day. I did the dishes, washed everything I could in the existing laundry machines, and put it away. I cleaned off the shelf above the laundry machines of old stuff and made room for the replacement.

I found the steaks (ribeyes) I bought last week and partially defrosted them just enough to separate them. I also made a Caesar salad from a bag and corn muffins from a box. Due to making dinner, I cleaned the kitchen a third time today. Laundy, doing dishes, and putting things in recycling, trash, or away seems constant today.

The recycling bin is stuffed, and the trash is stuffed—five glass things are in the bin. Yes, lots of stuff is getting done.

I held the last Zoom meeting for Nike on Tuesday on the deck, and everyone liked it. I had just finished grilling the steaks, which were beyond medium rare but not yet overdone. It’s my favorite way to cook a big steak. I imagine my neighbors, none of whom were out grilling on a perfect sunny April afternoon with me, smelling those steaks cooking. They need to get to grilling!

I eat while I rewatch the last Mission Impossible movie. I like this one. The driving chase stuff in Rome is fun. The food was great, but too much.

I put away my current SMS Derfflinger 1/700 work and carefully organized the table. I do not like to put away the model, but I want it out of harm’s way when they move the appliance on Wednesday. The model is now back in the box and in the office. Next, I slide in one of the extensions and push the table away from the laundry. Next, I fold and put away all my laundry and towels. Corwin’s clean clothing and towels are piled in a chair. There is now plenty of space to pull the laundry.

Corwin also made a path in the garage of his stuff so the new stuff could come through the garage. I wash the pans and let them dry. I finally finished everything I needed to do. I am tired tonight. I have worked non-stop.

I got a couple of items delivered today. I had to sign for one from the mailman. I purchased stickers for the board game piece of Stroganov, one of my newest games. It is an excellent improvement. I also got my new scalpels for model work. I bought 100 blades already. These came from the UK, and from what I have read, they are a pleasure to use. They are balanced and well-made. I will use them when I can get back to my models like SMS Derfflinger.

And that is when I collected the computers, moved to the office, and wrote this blog. I hope it was not too long or disorganized.

Covering some other thoughts…

A Kickstarter was delivered today, too. It contains maps of London and nearby areas in great detail, set in 1879, for the role-playing game of the same name: 1879. These maps are not sci-fi or historical fiction but an effort to redraw the London area in maps for 1879. I got a spare copy for a friend. They look great.

I still call Leta every day I can. We talked on Facetime, and Leta got to wave at the mailman. I also showed her the maps mentioned above. She loved them.

Thanks for reading.