I LOVE KAMLOOPS

So, yesterday I was cleaning out the car.  The junk mail from the last two months was built up on the floor on the passenger side of the car.  Mixed in were receipts,  an envelope with Bill's will and death certificate, various coupons and bank statements for previous owners of the house.  As I was filling Kerry's recycling bin I noticed an unopened personal silver envelope, a little heavy for just a card.  I opened it and voila! it was a 75 dollar gift card for Earls from the real estate lady who sold me this house.  I darned near chucked it!

But that isn't the good part.  Monte and I decided to go there for dinner.  We had gone the other night and due to the expensiveness of pretty good but not THAT good food we had decided we wouldn't be going back.  But hey, 75 bucks of free food?  We went!

So we ordered our food, and when the receipt came it was 75.50 before tip.  And the food was delicious and the service amazing.  So when we were done, a different server came to our table, and reminded us that she was the one that served us the other day.  And…she turned to Monte and said that she remembered after we left that he mentioned that we had just moved here.  She apologized sincerely and said that people's first meal at Earl's, when they move here, is on the house.  So she said that our meal tonight was FREE!  No charge.  And she was so sweet about it.  We couldn't believe our ears!!  So we got this amazing 75 dollar meal at Earl's on the house as a welcome to Kamloops gesture!  Is that not wonderful?

When we were on the way to Earl's we popped into the vet and I picked up Parker's ashes.  I don't know what it is about ashes but they just are so upsetting to me.  I had the same reaction to Parker's ashes as I did to Bill's.  By the time I got to the truck I was crying like a big baby.  Honestly!  Poor Monte.  He didn't know what to say to me.  I still see Parker's old eyes looking at me so trustingly.  Funny, its the look that was in Bill's eyes, as he looked so intently at me from the bed at the end that sticks in my head too.    Ah geez its too hard to think about.

I decided to buy a lazy boy chair, or at least a recliner of some sort.  I would put it in purple room at the house and sleep there.   It frees up a bedroom here in case Kathy needs it over Easter.  I am kind of excited to sleep there!  So I wrote down all the thrift stores in town and off we went. But on the way we passed the lazy boy store so I decided to hop in and see if they had any in stock that I could take today.  I need a chair for the family room downstairs anyway and I can move it down there when the furniture comes.

And…yes they had a lovely one, big and comfy and a not too wretched colour.  It was super on sale and comes with the lazy boy warranty.  It is now in purple room.  I also picked up some purple flannel sheets to put over it and a purple duvet!  I will take some pics tomorrow.  Wait til you see the view out the window in there.  Such a change from Victoria.

Kathy and Kerry arrived home safe and sound.  After exchanging a few stories we were off to bed.  Yesterday (Sunday) I packed up all my stuff and moved up to my house.  On the way I stopped at Winners and picked up a thingy that works as a side table, a garbage basket and stuff for my bathroom.  Its fun!  

And now its the middle of the night, almost four in the morning.  For some reason I woke up…maybe due to Monte's coughing.  Due to his LONG torso, his coughs are tremendously loud, even though he is down the hall and both our doors are shut.  I am spending my first night in my comfy big chair, and its awesome!  TTYL

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY AWFUL PICTURE (THANK YOU VERY MUCH STUPID IPHONE 6PLUS) BUT THIS IS WHAT I AM LOOKING AT NOW WHEN I AM IN MY CHAIR IN PURPLE ROOM.  AND MY ROOM IS NOT THAT DARK A PURPLE.  I WILL GET SOME BETTER PICS WITH A REAL CAMERA TODAY.

REFLECTIONS

I think I mentioned this before.  But….if you had asked me six months ago what my favourite movie, tv show,  or even my daily food choices were, the answer would be entirely different compared to today.  I had no idea that those choices were so entwined with Bill's wants and likes.  I would have sworn that NCIS was a favourite show.  My favourite movie would have been a war movie like Black Hawk Down.  And I definitely loved Lipton's chicken noodle soup (old man soup).

Today?  Not so much.  I haven't watched NCIS since Bill died.  And while I cruise through Netflix choices, the last thing that I pick is a war movie.  And I actually don't ever want to eat Lipton soup again.

So it begs the question…how much of yourself becomes someone else when you are together forever?  And how much did he change for my tastes and choices?  It doesn't matter a whit but its interesting breaking old habits and finding out what I, all by myself, really like.   I find this an amazing discovery and here I thought I knew EVERYTHING!!!!

I have not watched one second of tv since I got up here.  We won't have tv at the house til we move and I don't think they have the stations here at Kathy's that I regularly watch.  But I am not missing it much.  Although I know that my must see shows are being recorded at home.

  What I have done is read five books in the past couple of weeks.  I mentioned before that Jan gave me that awesome website 'Readcheaply.com'  I buy every book that catches my attention so I have a long build up of books to be read on here.  I am really enjoying it.

The most amazing and wonderful thing happened today….and a very sad one.  But this post is getting loooong so I shall put a comma in it here (as my mom would have said) and I shall tell you about it in tomorrow's post!  TTYL

ANOTHER ONE SOLD (I THINK)

The house in Victoria is not selling…so far.  But it looks like the one in Port Alberni is sold.  At least I have filled out all the documents and they are in the hands of a notary in Port.  The guy has put in a tiny deposit.  The purchaser is the neighbour.  He has a beautiful old house, well maintained, and beautiful grounds.  He told me, carefully, because he knew it was my kid living there, that he wants control of who lives next door to him.  I don't think Monte was too much of a problem but he did have a band of somewhat questionable merrymen smoking out on the back deck pretty often.  But you know the old cliche….don't count your chickens etc….If it looks like he is hesitating I am going to stage a massive swinging bbq right on Monte's deck and invite every hobo I can find!

I have gone ahead with the insurance claim.  The only punitive side of that is I lose my discount of ten per cent on my premium.  I can handle that a whole lot better than four thousand dollars to fix the hole.

Its shocking how much money just flies out the window.  I was awake in the night thinking about it.  200 for the plumber.  500 for the deductible.  200 for the windshield.  350 for Parker (ashes).  185 to detail the interior of the truck.  580 for brakes for the truck.  And it isn't over.  I have to go to Vancouver.  I can't put it off any longer.  I have about four really important appointments, spread over several days.  So that means hotel and probably kennelling for Molly, AFTER she gets her shots updated.  Then its a 100 buck ferry trip home to Langford.  I think I need a better cash flow!!

I don't know what I was thinking, but I only brought three shirts.  I brought lots of pants, tights and shorts and lots of unmentionables.  But no shirts.  I will have to go down to the fat lady store and have another look.  But after the humiliating experience I had buying a bathing suit, I am not too anxious to show my face there again.

The lady that worked there helped me pick out a suitable bathing suit.  Actually, there was only one.  I don't wear those tanktini fandangley type two piecers.I only wear one piece suits, and there was only one one piecer there.  So it has these iron clad built in rubber bra parts, ruching (sp?) down the sides and a little flap of material across the bottom….I think to hide the giant roll of fat that hangs down on us heftier ladies.

So the sales person asks my bra size, I tell her, so she picks out exactly the right size suit for me.  Its all black on black.  Off I go and I put it on.  Well CRAP!!  Even I started laughing.  It was totally ridiculous!!!  The rubber foam upper part was basically empty.  I didn't even fill an inch of it.  The stomach was tight but the bottom of the suit hung down halfway to my knees.  I should have taken a picture!  So imagine this stand up by itself top that my body wasn't even touching except for the straps, my big belly pushing out the centre and the crotch and little skirt hanging down practically to my knees.  Hahaha!!!  When the lady saw it even she couldn't keep from laughing.

  So back to the drawing board.  Needless to say I ended up having to get a two piece tank toppy type, and the only one they had was a size too small.  And that meant that the minute I got into the hot tub the top rolls up to my armpits and my very large white stomach is exposed.  I think fat broads should just stay out of the water.

Well its a lovely day here.  Sunny as all hell, blindingly so.  Its supposed to go up to 19 today, which is pretty warm!  Makes me happy.  Gotta run…the contractor is on his way to my house.  He said it would take all day today.  TTYL

NOBODY WANTS MY HOUSE

My house is never going to sell.  There are not enough bedrooms upstairs and there is no kitchen downstairs.  There has been a number of showings and two open houses.  Apparently Dane said that the speedway was in full blast again, which instantly turns people away.  I need that stupid house to SELL.  NOW.  Oh well if it doesn't I will just have to go back down there and wait it out.  I shall have to suspend plans for Maui and just stay there til eventually it sells.  Its a lovely place to get stuck in!

We had a lovely weekend!  This house of my sister's is amazing and I am totally enjoying it.  I have set up shop here in the best seat in the house and I look out over the city and beyond.  Fantastic view, comfy chair (that challenges me on occasion) good coffee, easy plug ins for my technology, sweet sweet Emma dog at my feet…what more could one want I ask?

On Sunday Myles, April and I spent the whole day just lazing around and eating leftovers from the night before.  Craig, Jo and Ainsley popped in for a while and dinner before the hockey game they were attending.  We ordered Chinese food and had a great time.  The next day we sat around, hot tubbed, ate Chinese food, April stole a poster sized paper from Kathy's office and sat at the table and drew the most amazing picture, I read almost an entire book about elephants (they are freakishly interesting..we humans could learn a thing or two from them). 

 The kids left around five and Monte and I went down to Señor Froggies for a seriously delicious Mexican dinner. Mmmmm…..

And that is it.  Sorry this is so boring.  Oh, one thing that happened…..the truck absolutely reeks like sour milk.  No matter what we do, febreezing etc.  will not get rid of that odour.  So I arranged for an expensive detailing on next Thursday (about 300 bucks) to destink the cab.  And today the truck goes in for a brake job, and I hate to think how much thats going to be, so Monte and I cleaned out the truck completely.  And guess what Monte found?  

Back last July Bill took a sick Molly to the vet in Vancouver.  I didn't go.  The vet did his thing with her and gave Bill some cans of medical dog food. (shovel list..stupid) And yesterday when Monte opened the console compartment, there it was.  An open can, half empty and absolutely incredibly stinking rotten.  It was enough to make a maggot gag.  So out it went, febreezed the console…problem solved.  I am phoning the detail place and cancelling.  That saved me a bunch!

The sun is shining, the magpies are flying and its time to take the truck in.  Then its off to Costco!!! Good day to be had!  TTYL

THE SKY IS NOT PINK…STUPID IPHONE 6PLUS…TAKES CRAPPY PICS…DON'T LET PEOPLE FOOL YOU ABOUT THAT…ITS BETTER THAN MY OLD IPHONE 4 BUT NOT MUCH

SOME THINGS I FORGOT

I forgot how the wind blows here.  It doesn't blow all the time but when it does its crazy.  It makes you wonder how the trees stay standing.

I forgot how many woodpeckers there are in the Kamloops area.  My mom occasionally would shoot them out the back of our log house back in the day.  Right now there is one that likes to sharpen its beak on the metal air vents in the roof. Its the most thunderous loud noise, usually just at day break.

I forgot how super easy it is to get around.  There is NO traffic.  You can pretty much get anywhere in Kamloops in ten to fifteen minutes max.

I forgot how many fat people there are here.  I feel right at home.  I was the fattest person in North Vancouver but here I am just right.  I remember reading an article not too long ago about how people here are heavier because they have to use cars and do very little mandatory walking.

And I forgot just how great it is to be in a place that just feels like home.  This is where I spent my teen years and this is where my family has predominantly been all the years since.  I lived here for many years with my older two children.  It just feels right.

April and Myles arrived yesterday.  We decided to go buy bathing suits so we could partake in my sister's awesome new hot tub.  Some day I will post about that particular fat lady store shopping experience.  Jeez! 

 Thank goodness we had Myles with us.  He has hot tub experience.  So soon we were immersed in 104 degree bubbling water with party lights twinkling.  Soooo awesome.  What fun!  Confirms to me that I need to put one in my house next year when I get settled.

Today we are going to Harold's for breakfast.  They make the most amazing delicious breakfasts. Then we are heading up to Aberdeen Mall.  This town has incredible shopping and restaurants.  Both North Van and Langford were seriously devoid of restaurants and shopping.  Here…you can see ten restaurants from anywhere you stand and every store conceivable.  We are going up to Costco at some point to get steaks for dinner.  They have the bbq set up and ready here at Kathy's. 

 And everywhere I go I shall be taking two little doggies with me.  Molly and Emma, Kathy and Kerry's (I'm not sure…sheltie?  she looks like a miniature collie) little awesome dog just ride around in the car.  I find little grassy spots here and there to stop and let them do their thing.  Today I will find somewhere to run them.

I got the final estimate for the water damage.  In two parts.  The first being the emergency call that night.  I have to pay that either within the claim or, if I am not going through with the claim, directly to them out of my pocket.  That part was a thousand dollars.

The reparation part was three thousand dollars!  Five hundred of that was dust barrier.  Ridiculous!!!  I now need to hear what the punitive measures will be if I go ahead with the claim.  Then I do the math and make a decision.  Right now I just don't have the four thousand.  I will probably pay the boys the thousand, not make the claim and just leave it for now.  I don't use that room anyway.  And I know I can hire someone to replace and paint that bit of gyprock a whole lot cheaper than three thousand.

Now its time to dress, kick some kids out of bed and get this day going.  TTYL

MUCH BETTER

Well I am feeling much better today.  Dear old Parker…even though I miss him I sure don't miss the worry, smell and endless dog hair.  Its going to take a while to get used to not always having him lodged in the back of my head.

I got a report from Dane on the sale of the house down yonder.  I asked him to lower the price to 525,000, which he did.  Hopefully that will pick up the pace of views.  It will sell, just a matter of when.  The sooner the better.  I think I am going to phone Beakins and arrange for a move date for the end of April.  Apparently there is no racing scheduled this week end at the race track so he is going to have another open house.

The day after we arrived a box arrived on our doorstep.  It was a costco sized snack box of these popcorny bags.  I hate them.  I thought Monte had somehow bought it and set it there when he found the front door locked and then forgot it.  But I just left it there just in case.  And it stayed there til today when I finally picked it up and took it into his room, woke him up and asked if it was his.  Nope.  What the heck?

So I opened it, expecting to find the box full of little bags of popped stuff.  And It wasn't.  Three weeks ago I found a website called Joss&Main.  They have the most awesome stuff from furniture to bedding to dishes.  The prices are amazing and they ship inexpensively to Canada.  I found some bedskirts I have been looking for and ordered them to be delivered here.  And thats what was in the box!  I was impressed with their 'recycling'!  When I order stuff from Amazon they always use huge boxes, tons of filler and Styrofoam.  And the bed skirts are awesome, just no beds to put them on yet!!!

Its now five in the aft on Thursday.  I am heading down to Kathy's for pizza!  and hockey.  I just might have a snooze.  I am so tired.  Thats what shopping does to me.  Catch ya later.  TTYL

SAD

Up then down then up then down again.  Its been an emotional roller coaster.

I was really up when I saw my house and watched Arnie paint my purple room.  Then I was down when the paint water flooded the downstairs due to a broken  drain pipe.  Then I was up when Aryn and I tried a whole bunch of paint samples on the wall, picking just the right one and enjoying the awesome sunshine and blue skies.  Then down cuz of our Parker.

He was on the deck and clearly he couldn't stop peeing.  I knew there would be a clear sign when his time came and that was it.  I phone a vet and made an appointment for two o'clock.  Monte and I took him and it was awful.  His trusting dear old face looked at us as he was led away.  It felt like he knew and he was very calm.  There was absolutely no way I could stay with him.  Its too soon after going through the same thing with Bill. It was bad enough just letting him go.  He went with her happily. 

 Now I can't seem to pull it together.  Too many things at once maybe.  I am going to get a good night's sleep tonight and get geared up to deal with insurance peeps tomorrow.  The plumber is coming at ten.  So lots to distract.  I will have a happier report tomorrow night.  TTYL

EXCITING TIMES!! HAPPY HAPPY!!

Well its been a crazy exhausting exciting couple of days.  The trip up was a white knuckler.  It snowed and slushed and blew.  My poor little car wasn't happy.  But we made it!  I got my keys from Kathy's place and went straight up to the house.  I couldn't wait to see it!

And….it was different than what was in my head.  It was smaller (which suits me just fine) and the wall paint was worse!  Half the upstairs is pukey gold and the other half is either poop brown or burgandy (shovel list).  I unloaded tables, chairs, radio, dogs etc…and walked and walked around the whole place.  The downstairs is huge and weird.  Lots of rooms..family room (big) rec room, hobby room (huge with lots and lots of storage…my new 'garage'), windowless bedroom, freezer room etc..  there is also big beautiful double garage.

Aryn arrived around ten and set to work painting my purple room.  I sat in a chair and we visited whilst she painted.  And..she got the whole room done beautifully, two coats and all.  It looks spectacular.

Jocelyn and Ainsley came up and we visited and when Craig came I gave him the tour and Lo and Behold!! the basement was flooded and the ceiling was caving in and there was painty water everywhere.  At first we kind of panicked, trying to figure out how to clean up the water with nothing and then there is that moment…you just know, its going to be alright because this just became an insurance claim and THEY can do all the work!

So Aryn and I got on the laptops and found the info we needed and got hold of the right peeps and before you could say Bob's your uncle two guys and tools and fans and great attitudes showed up.  They ripped out all the necessary gyprock and ceiling stuff, set up six big fans, mopped and cleaned and finally around 9 they went along their way.  I have just called a plumber (its ten Tue. morning right now) and they will be here tomorrow morning at ten.  And the insurance contractors will be back on Thursday to make it all right again.  Just a little blip and all will be well.  My deductible isn't too horrible either.

Now I am sitting at one of the folding tables in beautiful sunshine and clear skies.  I am in my kitchen.  I will take a picture of what I am looking at and post it down below.

Last night both Aryn and I were so painfully hungry by the time the guys left.  It was awful.  The second they left we hopped into our cars and dashed down to Original Joe's (which is most conveniently located right at the bottom the hill here) and we ate and we ate till we felt awful.  Creamed broccoli and cheese soup, humus and pita, calamari, chopped salad.  Sooooo full.  Had a good night at Kathy's.  Monte arrived late and slept there too.  Now he is getting us breakfast and febreeze for the stinkiest truck ever (someone spilled milk in there a few months ago…bad news that) and Aryn is picking up little cans of sample grey paint. I am going to choose one to use everywhere in my house.  yipppeee!!!  So excited!!!

When the place gets cleaned up I will take pics and post them here.  Right now I am going to go do some mugs and make coffee and clean the gyprock off the floor and walls that the men dropped while taking out all the old stuff.  TTYL

SITTING AT MY KITCHEN TABLE

MY LAST "REAL" NIGHT

I feel like this is my last real night in this house.  When I come back in two or three weeks it will be to do final packing and moving.  I am not waiting for this house to sell.  I leave tomorrow morning on the nine ferry.  I CANNOT WAIT!!!  I am sooo excited!

I haven't done too much the last day or two…I am afraid to move!  Today was the open house and wouldn't you know it, today was the first day the race track right near hear came to life!  Screaming tires and thundering engines do not make a house sell.  

 I put the dogs in the car one hour before target time.  I then swept, vacuumed, swept, vacuumed and febreezed the heck out of the chairs and couch.  I finally got everything shiny and perfect and sat down in my chair in purple room to wait.  And….first one then another then another ball of dog hair rolled casually past my door into the dining room.  What the hell!!!  So I got up and chased them down and swept them up.  Back to the chair and sure enough…another one rolled past then another.  I freaking give up.

I took off and headed to the mall.  I got a greek salad at the greek place and sat and read my book for a very pleasant hour.  I ran a few errands and then came home…to a bunch of cars still here.  So I ended up sitting outside for half an hour til the last ones left.  Dane said a number of people went through and one actually went and got his wife and brought her by to see it.

But…..as I thought, Dane did say that the final numbers were somewhat low and he feels we may be listed a tad too high.  You think?  If someone offered me 500,000 right now I would grab it.  545 is just too high.

Monte arrived right about then and we were both so sleepy and tired so we lay down in our chairs etc and slept soundly for two hours.  I was so deep asleep that when I awoke I couldn't walk for about fifteen minutes.  We went out to Turmeric for a yummy dinner and then back home and packed up the vehicles.  Chairs, tables (all foldable a'la Costco)kitchen stuff, speakers, all important stuff of course!  Monte has an appointment with a respirologist on Monday and he is coming up on Tuesday.  I am nervous about my house staying clean so I finally decided to drive the car up with the dogs and he can bring up everything else on Tuesday in the truck.

Like I said I cannot wait!  Finally I shall get to see my new house!  Aryn is also coming up tomorrow for a couple of days and she is going to help me paint purple room…its kind of a tradition.  I feel like I am repeating myself so I am going to sign off.  TTYL!!!!

HOUSE SHOWING

So today I got the house as close to perfect as is physically possible.  It was all shiny and wonderful.  At four thirty I loaded up the dogs, did  one more sweep and took off for an hour.

When I got back I could see that someone had been through the house, the realtor's card was on the counter.

Dane called.  The family that went through really liked it and appreciated the updates etc.  BUT:  they did NOT like the dog smell.  When he told me that I almost cried.  I have a house that has that f**king dying dog smell.

  Even when he isn't here and everything has been washed or removed.  So, I see I have only two choices…either I move right now (and I am not ready) or I put him down.  He can't jump into the back of the car properly, his back end is full of sores and is driving him nuts with itchiness.  Oh, there are lots and lots of reasons to put him down but I just can't do it.  Not yet.  He still has too much love and spunk in him.

So I think when Monte gets down here on Sat., we will dismantle and take apart Parkers stinky couch and get it out of here.  And I leave on Sunday with the dogs so this first rush of people seeing the house won't be so hit with the smell.  And then I am going to move in the middle of April.  I don't have to sell first.  All this thinking and planning because of a stupid dog.  (SHOVEL LIST)  I hate to admit it but I can't stand the thought of actually putting him down.  Its too soon.

I hate to keep going on about dogs but the funniest thing happened today.  While I had to go away for the showing I headed down to the drugstore to stock up on my pills.  I parked and left the back windows halfway down for the dogs.  I don't normally leave them down so far as someone could reach in and take Molly.  But I wasn't going to be more than a couple minutes and I could see the car.

As I was heading back, a lady saw Molly barking at the window and she went over there to pet her.  What she didn't see was Parker lurking in the back behind the darkened window.  As she reached her hand out to pet Molly, Parker lunged forward and barked ferociously!  I thought she was going to have a heart attack!!!  By that time I was out there and immediately told her that he would never hurt her, that he just barks. 

 Well she turned around and gave ME shit!!!  Me!!!  for having a dangerous dog that could hurt people!!!  I looked at her and started laughing.  I told her I have, unfortunately, had dogs my entire life and I have spent a lifetime telling people to NOT pet dogs in cars, backs of trucks, tied to posts, or where ever.  Then I quit laughing and told her to get the hell away from my car and my dogs.  I wasn't nice and now I feel kind of bad.  It was all Molly's fault anyway.

I had another hungry man tv dinner tonight.  They are so delicious and so much fun…and clean!!  I love them.  And I had a huge grapefruit…they are so juicy and sweet this time of the year.  While I was out I popped into Milestones and had an appetizer size California salad…mmm so good.  An eclectic diet.

Now I am rambling.  Time for bed.  Tomorrow is laundry day…another whine day.  Never ends this life maintenance.  TTYL

DOG HAIR

Man I had to laugh when I read a comment made by Shannon on the last post.  She likened the dog hair to tumbleweed in an old west town!  So true, it rolls along the floor at a leisurely pace, like it belongs here.

Second thing I do after I get up in the morning is grab the broom and sweep up the night's offerings from the old half rotten dog.  And it isn't just dog hair.  Its a lot of scaly skin and just plain old dirt.  You wouldn't want this around if you had a baby.

Anyway, I sweep the dog hair into a pile by the piano.  I leave it there, with the broom.  Periodically I go around the entire area and sweep again.  I just keep doing this all day long until night time.  I then scoop it all up and into the garbage.

Early this evening I opened both doors to let some air through.  Parker immediately got off the couch to head for the door when a gust of wind blew through and…yes, the freaking dog hair, all nicely swept up, tumbled all over the place.  Now, go figure..Parker is scared of his hair.  He doesn't like it.  If I pile it in the middle of the room he scoots way around it as far as possible.  So, just as he came nonchalantly strolling through, not paying much mind to the pile of hair, the wind suddenly skittered it around and rolled it over the floor.  

Geez!!! for a half dead rotting dog he can sure as hell move when he wants to.  He shot straight up into the air, peddled his feet on the slippery floor, fell over, scrambled up, fell over the other way and then, most ungracefully dragged his ass end over to and out the front door, hell bent for election!  And then he wouldn't come back in!  Stupid dog!  Meanwhile his brainless little one eyed sister was cavorting and rolling and snorting all over that hair.  Arrrrrgggggg….I give up!!!!

Well today I managed to get my fridge cleaned out.  I am NOT liking this kitchen scrap thing.  The mini garbage can on wheels meant for kitchen scraps is so gross I want to puke every time I look in it.  When they dump it they leave so much in I can't hose it out anywhere.  I had so many containers and bottles and bags to empty out into that scrap thingy but there was no way I was bringing it in the house.  So I got a small bucket and a spatula, hauled about fifty things out of the fridge and set to work.  Bleeehhhhh!!!!  I brought a recycling container in so I dumped, scraped, dropped a container in the recycling thing, dumped, scraped, recycle over and over.  The bucket was full of cream cheeses, lump cheese, sour cream (mouldy), pickles, relish, leftovers, wieners, bread, mustard, cottage cheese, applesauce…awful awful looking mixtures.  Buckets and buckets.  As it filled I would take it out and dump it into the kitchen scrap thing on wheels.  The garbage guys are going to wonder what the hell I am doing.  

I also emptied out and organized the pantry.  Its looking awesome.  But I know we have a grace period with no fine for putting food in the general garbage til the end of March.  So all those half bags of cereal, chips, dried onions, raisins, prunes, oatmeal, quinoa (shovel list), rices etc….got dumped…right into the general garbage.  

I decided to empty out the lazy susan cupboard.  It isn't built, the shelves are in a box out in the garage.  Its too heavy for me to build so I shall leave it for the next owners to do.  In the meantime that cupboard seems to have filled up with pots, woks, bowls, boxes of keurig coffee things, cake pans etc…  So I brought in a giant container to empty that cupboard into.  All fine and dandy, I managed to get the close stuff out and then I ran into a problem.  I am too fat to get far enough in to reach all the stuff further in.  I got down on the floor and turned awkwardly sideways, and hootched forward and reached in as far as possible.

  Seriously!  I could not get past my chins and could NOT reach all the stuff in there!  So I backed out, pissed off, and stomped into Spod's bathroom and got his cane (which for some odd reason we all leave in there) and came back and hooked stuff out.  You know you need to diet when you don't fit into a lazy susan cupboard.  I could just see me getting stuck in there and not being found until the housekeeper showed up tomorrow.  I think I shall consider keeping my phone on me at all times.

Tomorrow I will finish up the final cleaning of cupboards.  I have a showing already on Thursday and an open house on Sat.  Wouldn't it be a hoot if it sold fast?  I don't think so though.  I think its listed about fifty thousand too high.  We will see.  TTYL

NOT TO GROSS YOU OUT BUT THIS WAS HOW MUCH THERE WAS BY THREE TODAY

WHY ISN'T HE BALD?

A SHORTY TONITE

Just a short post tonight.  I will write a more detailed one tomorrow night.  

I had a wonderful weekend with Shannon.  She came over on Sat. morning and we talked and talked and talked!  We also did a little shopping at Stupidstore then hit Original Joe's for dinner.  It was super good..we got their monstrously humungus nachos to share.  Sooo goood.

We then went home, put the hockey game on and talked and talked and talked.  What a great evening!

This morning (Sun) we made a big breakfast and sat at the table and talked and talked and talked. We then moved to the living room and talked some more.  Then we moved to the deck for a while and back in, talking the whole time.  The poor girl got totally regaled with story after story.  And the stories she shared were so interesting and I could have listened to her all day.

Finally she did have to go and I swear if she hadn't had to we would still be sitting in the living room talking!  I LOVE it!!

Now its time to get my head wrapped around all the things that need to be done before I leave Sunday for Kamloops.  A lot of business, banking, emails, insurance crap, pantry cupboard to clean up and the front closet…just in case people snoop.  Oh, and dog hair.  Endless freaking dog hair.  Over and over and over…seeping, vacuuming, sweeping, vacuuming…just ask Shannon..she can vouch for that.  TTYL

UTTERLY NERVE WRACKING

My house is so clean it squeaks…and it is nerve wracking.  My house is never ever clean.  If its clean where you can see it, you could always count on my closets and the unseen parts under the chairs and couch to be full of crap and dust.  But not now.  The cupboards are full of neatly packed boxes…that or empty.  Under the couches and chairs is spotless.

Although…I keep finding fistful sized dog hair balls.  Seriously, I vacuumed about six times over the morning this morning and I still found fistfuls of dog hair.  I finally put the both of them in the car.  Three hours later I went out to get them and they wouldn't get out.  They knew…they both gave me that look.  The one that says, 'Hey!  we haven't been anywhere yet!'  I couldn't fool them so I drove them up to the forest near here and let them run awhile.

Dane, real estate guy, came and so did the photographer.  They are so funny.  The basement is virtually empty yet they still found things that had to be tweeked.  And Dane has asked me, nicely, to remove my garbage can and recycling can.  Like…where to?  I asked politely.  Well I don't know he says.  So I said, "No seriously Dane.  Where do you think they should go?"  I'm into realism…him not so much.  So he says, ' how about a little bucket under the sink?'  I laughed.  I fill my big can twice a day…a little bucket under the sink will not cut it.

I forgot to post this last night.  I fell asleep.  I got up early this morning and stepped right into a puddle of pee…Molly size.  I gotta tell ya people I am so done with these dogs.  They are all lovely and all that but between the dog hair, the pee and not being able to travel because of them, I am done.  The new house has carpet in it too.  I don't think they are going to be happy living with me either.  I can see many baby gates in my future.  And kennels.

Now its time for the videographer to arrive.  People came by last night to look at the sofa downstairs, bought it, but can't pick it up til next Fri.  They left the mattress on the floor so I need to go put that straight.  Gotta run.  TTYL  (sorry about the dog whining.  I know a lot of you out there either love your dogs to pieces or would give your right arm to be able to have one.  I am unfortunately not one of those people…never have been.  I am really trying to love them and be kind and understanding….but just as I am getting to that point…they do crap that drives me nuts.  I do know that I will miss them…eventually when the time comes.)

THE KITCHEN IS CLOSED….LIMBO TIME

I seem to have done this moving thing so many times that it seems quite familiar.  There comes a point in the selling/moving process where too much is packed to really do things right…be it cooking, dressing nicely, playing your records, or pretty much anything.

I have to admit though that not having Spod looking over my shoulder into the current garbage can has made it somewhat easier.  Yesterday Monte and I loaded up the back of the truck, and I mean loaded full, with chemicals.  Watco oil (four cans!) slug bait, oils for various things, bug dusts, raid, jugs of unknown stuff etc… and he took it all to a special dump that takes chemicals etc..

  I remember now that when we were packing up the last house I had a hell of a time getting him to clear out the garage and sheds.  When he finally swung into action I remember a whole bunch of trips over here by himself (go in the morning and home in the evening) with his truck loaded to the gills.  Now I see what he was dragging over here…to the tune of 200 bucks a trip with the ferry included.

And I have to admit to being not much better with 'under the sink' crap.  I always swear I am not going to cram under sinks with bottles and bottles of stuff, but it always ends up so crowded you can hardly shut the doors.  So its all going to the dump, except for dish, laundry and hand soap, and the pink cans of lysal (sp?).  It smells good and cleans everything.  NOTHING else is going under the sink.  Nothing.

So it looks like I have three hell holes to tackle.  It won't make a difference to the pics tomorrow that are being shot, and the video on Friday, but those holes need to be done before the house goes on the market.  One is the front hall closet.  The second is my giant pantry cupboard.  And the third is the fridge.

The biggest problem is going to be the disposal of edible stuff.  Now that we can't put food in the general garbage, putting it in the scrap container is a huge giant pain in the ass.  I have at least forty containers of gooey stuff (like dips and cream cheeses), plastic wrapped frozen stuff, bags and bags and bags of dry stuff like cereal, dried onions, chips, quinoa (shovel list…hate this stuff), prunes, tea, marshmallows, split peas, dried up wormy raisins, etc…  Its going to take forever!  I will be keeping a lot of food but there is a ton that needs to be tossed.

I think the first thing I am going to do when I move to Kamloops is go to Costco and buy a small freezer.  I am not taking the old one from here…I love it but it weighs a ton.  At 45 bucks per hundred pounds to move it, I think it would be cheaper to buy a new one.  That way most of the good frozen stuff I can put in a cooler in the car and drive it up when I move.

And this is where Shannon comes in.  Bless her heart, she is coming over this week end coming up to help.  Originally I thought it would be the garage but Monte and I got that pretty much as done as we can.  So I think I may enlist her help with my hell holes…the final frontier!!! 

I am throwing on some random pics.  Just for the heck of it.  TTYL!!

ON A BUS IN COSTA RICA….THE GUIDE SHOWED US WHERE CASHEW NUTS COME FROM…THAT STEM AT THE TOP OF THAT FRUIT ENCASES THE NUT…I WAS SHOCKED!!!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE…IN ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA…THIS IS WENDY, KERRY'S SISTER…WE RANDOMLY RAN INTO THEM ON THE CRUISE WE WERE ON AND WE HAD THE MOST FUN WITH THEM!!!  GREAT TRAVEL COMPANIONS.

THEY TOOK US OUT TO A SPECIALTY RESTAURANT FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY!  I WAS REALLY APPRECIATIVE, POOR WENDY WAS SO SO SICK THAT NIGHT

KAREOKEING  CUZZES

BAMFIELD PEACEFUL CONTEMPLATION

ARRRRG!!! SHAKING THE PIRATE'S HOOK IN THE CARIBBEAN 

 NAKED COWBOY NYC!!

THIS WAS OUR LAST TRIP OUT OF BAMFIELD :(

SUCH A CUTE PICTURE OF THEM!

 

FABULOUS WEEKEND

Wow!!  What an amazing weekend.  Bradley and Aryn worked their butts off!!  There was soooo much to do and they pretty much got it all done.  And the quality of the work is the best.

My kitchen now is all pimped out, as they say.  All the bells and whistles are in and every little detail attended to.  I will put pics up tomorrow.  Its such a pretty, easy kitchen.

The bathroom downstairs is all finished.  And Bradley had to do some fancy chipping and fitting and hole making to get the vanity to fit properly.  Arnie painted and painted that little bathroom, including the door.  The whole room looks spectacular.  We still need to put up the mirror and the new light.  I am going to get the handyman to do that part.

The bathroom up here was painted and backsplashed.  It is truly amazing what a coat of paint or two and a new backsplash does for a room.  I will definitely take pics of that…crazy good.

Closer and closer we get!!  We may not make the thursday deadline.  I have to phone the handyman tomorrow and see if he is available.  If not then I will have to find someone else.  At such short notice it might not be possible.

Tonite I had dinner with Jeni (my brother's daughter) and her mom, Marilyn (my brother's first wife).  We had a lovely time visiting and catching up on all things important.  Jeni is so funny, I love visiting with her.  And Marilyn and I have a lot in common so visiting is always good.

Now its late and my head is a nodding.  And I am choking on old dog smell.  He is getting worse and for some odd reason he has started farting.  He has never been a farty dog but now to add insult to injury, he has started to pass awful gas.  Mind you, his farts don't actually smell as bad as he does all the time!!  Jeeeeeeeeeez!!!!!  TTYL!!