Day 123: Monday with Appliances

I was home most of the day today as I needed to be home for the plumbers and the appliance installation.

I rose with my alarm, which seemed too early, as I had woken at 5AM and rolled over. I dreamed of traveling again, but the details evaporated as the day started. When I get this tumor stuff done, it seems like it is time to get back to traveling. I am thinking of New Orleans again or another crazy trip with driving to do museums in Chicago, Detroit, and then Lansing and the Old ‘burg (Laingsburg, Michigan 48848, for those who don’t know) for Linda’s last youngish birthday (59) on 23 July 2024. Folks will be welcome to overlap that trip and join me for museums (Chicago Field, Industrial, Arts, and then Detroit Arts). Details will wait after I recover. But yes, I am dreaming of travel.

I made liberal coffee in the French Press and had a banana with that. A light breakfast.

The plumber called around 8ish and said he was running late, and I should have expected him at 9:30. The appliance delivery, installation, and haul away were potentially at the same time. Oh my. I did the process Zoom call at 9 and a planning meeting afterward. Then, Rick, the plumber from Crown Plumbing, showed up, and he was done in just a few minutes as he was there to review the issues and provide an estimate in a few days and a date–likely in a week or so. They will replace the connections for the washer and the discharge to a more current setup with a little sink. Excellent.

Back to Zoom meetings. I met with my new boss, who asked me to help with a few items before I head out on Medical Leave about 15 May 2023 (I travel to Michigan for Susie’s Concert and fly back that same day, 18 May 2023). We discussed helping folks attend the technical conferences and how I can help.

We finished, and I was just starting on paperwork when I heard the truck. I spent the next two hours helping and watching as the dishwasher and stove were replaced. It took them a while to disconnect the dishwasher. I had turned off the power to the washer, not the dishwasher. They checked, and I fixed that. Yikes! The stove is not flush as the power cable is looped. We could fix it, but it will work as it is.

They hauled away the old ones, the boxes, and other packing stuff, and they were gone before 2PM. I was back online and worked until 4ish. I made a sandwich of shaved beef, cheddar slices, and cole slaw with Thousand Island Dressing. Corwin found my half sandwich from last night. I ate both halves as I was hungry.

I ran a few dishes in the dishwasher and tested all the burners on the stove. We had to burn off the transportation oil before I could use the stove. That is a bit smokey. I put on the vent fan.

I got out the slightly reduced Easter Ham and set it in a glass dish to make. I put Oregon black, not sweat, cherries in the dish; this was from a can. I peeled carrots and put them in some oil and seasoning to bake—they did dry out too much. Next time, I will steam them, cover them, and then uncover them. I made rice pilaf from a box as the starch.

I baked the carrots in the first oven and used the convection roast in the second oven. Fun! I used the cooking surface to make the rice pilaf in a saucepan. I used the whole stove! It works perfectly and heats much faster than the previous one.

I sliced off the baked ham and put the liquid and cherries on it. The carrots were passable. The pilaf was OK and made well. I think I am spoiled by my couscous.

Corwin was waiting for his paycheck. I paid for a tank of gas for him. While he borrowed my Amex, I raced to finish all the clean-up and packed the food in glass containers (thanks, Glenda). I was done before he returned and had the dishwasher on custom settings: A heavy load with regular dry but high-temperature water for three-plus hours.

With my AMEX card back, my bank card was lost–the AMEX is all I have, so I headed to The 649. I have put in a request for a replacement and locked down the card. Alexa immediately told me that my payments for her services were faltering. I fixed all of that. I already have the replacement card numbers (I printed out a picture of the virtual card) and put them in to make Alexa happy again.

I am now at The 649 writing and having a sour beer suggested by Avery, who bartends tonight. She is manually playing tunes, a DJ, and a bartender, as the sound system music selections are not working. I do recognize some of the music. It has a fast beat, and I can see Avery moving at the speed of the music. Mondays are often quiet, but she is keeping busy tonight. She is moving with the music. I saw her shaking a drink to the beat a moment ago.

Thanks for reading!