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It's supposed to rain today but the skies are blue and clear. The next door neighbor trimmed his eucalyptus trees yesterday and trimmed the branches on my side as well. Frankly, I was hoping he'd cut down the one right next to the fence but the trimming was done beautifully so I have no reason to complain. I have wonderful neighbors! Now if I could just get everyone to agree to replace the fences...
I realized this morning that ever since the storm that toppled the two large branches I haven't had all those nasty little seed all over the yard and the leaves have been minimal so maybe it was the two branches that are gone that was my problem. We'll see how the summer BBQ season goes but I may not need to build a cover for the BBQ patio.
I found out what critter has been digging up my lawn looking for grubs...it's a skunk! LIttle bugger comes by and pulls up the sod in a little chunk. Fortunately I don't have grubs there right now. I think it must remember the last two years when I had a huge awful grub infestation. It seems to check out one or two spots in each section of lawn, kind of like it's testing to see if the grubs are surfacing yet. It should make for an interesting spring when the grubs emerge (usually around March 1).
I'm roasting a turkey Thursday, yes I know it's early but so what? Turkey is turkey and I love stuffing so why wait. I was going to do it today but appointments got in the way. Happy appointments so not roasting the turkey yet is fine with me. Gives me a chance to try out my new salmon recipe tonight instead.
I realized this morning that ever since the storm that toppled the two large branches I haven't had all those nasty little seed all over the yard and the leaves have been minimal so maybe it was the two branches that are gone that was my problem. We'll see how the summer BBQ season goes but I may not need to build a cover for the BBQ patio.
I found out what critter has been digging up my lawn looking for grubs...it's a skunk! LIttle bugger comes by and pulls up the sod in a little chunk. Fortunately I don't have grubs there right now. I think it must remember the last two years when I had a huge awful grub infestation. It seems to check out one or two spots in each section of lawn, kind of like it's testing to see if the grubs are surfacing yet. It should make for an interesting spring when the grubs emerge (usually around March 1).
I'm roasting a turkey Thursday, yes I know it's early but so what? Turkey is turkey and I love stuffing so why wait. I was going to do it today but appointments got in the way. Happy appointments so not roasting the turkey yet is fine with me. Gives me a chance to try out my new salmon recipe tonight instead.
I got hired! My externship turned into a paying job. Yippee! It's 27-31 hours a week but all the places that are posting jobs are offering full time iat 32 hours so I think this will do. The pay is good (compared to what's been offered elsewhere) and it's a nice comfortable fit. I don't get to touch the books but as long as I can learn how to do it without the responsibility of calling the accounts receivables I'm happy.
The "papers" were signed on Tuesday. The Ex in one conference room and me in another. I had hoped we'd be in the office at totally different times. The last thing I wanted to see that day was him smiling and looking happy and smug and acting like everything is wonderful. Just because I didn't make a stink and played nice didn't mean I agreed with his decision. I'm smart enough to know that once someone's mind is made up you can't stop them and I made it easy for me to get through it by working as amicably as possible. I doubt he will ever regret this decision and I hope he understands why I won't be in contact unless absolutely necessary. My attorney says the filing should be complete by New Years.
The "papers" were signed on Tuesday. The Ex in one conference room and me in another. I had hoped we'd be in the office at totally different times. The last thing I wanted to see that day was him smiling and looking happy and smug and acting like everything is wonderful. Just because I didn't make a stink and played nice didn't mean I agreed with his decision. I'm smart enough to know that once someone's mind is made up you can't stop them and I made it easy for me to get through it by working as amicably as possible. I doubt he will ever regret this decision and I hope he understands why I won't be in contact unless absolutely necessary. My attorney says the filing should be complete by New Years.
Tuesday is the big day. Signing the divorce papers creates a whole new round of paperwork for me but it's good paperwork like getting my home into my name - alone. Ex-hubby has a bunch of obligations to take care of which will result in me having another round of paperwork but it's all good.
My neck is sore. I painted the kitchen ceiling yesterday. It needed a second coat so this morning, bright and early with roller in hand, the ceiling was finished. Now the family room ceiling looks dismal. I never realized how dark the ceilings are in this house. I wonder how much it would cost to have them painted? It's popcorn and I'm not about to paint it myself.
I'm beginning to feel a weight lifted. I am starting to relax again. Sigh.
My neck is sore. I painted the kitchen ceiling yesterday. It needed a second coat so this morning, bright and early with roller in hand, the ceiling was finished. Now the family room ceiling looks dismal. I never realized how dark the ceilings are in this house. I wonder how much it would cost to have them painted? It's popcorn and I'm not about to paint it myself.
I'm beginning to feel a weight lifted. I am starting to relax again. Sigh.
Insurance claims: the Gift that keeps on giving. More calls, more frustration. Received a call during my morning commute (don't worry, I was on the bluetooth) and the adjuster was on the line letting me know my claim estimate was $560 and since my deductible was$500 they'd pay the $60 it was going to cost to remove the tree limb (singular) from my property and I would have to take care of th fence myself. I explained to him that it was five sections of fence. How could the estimate be $500? He said he'd send a copy of the estimate to me. I got home from work at 8:00 pm, very dark outside. I read the report and laughed. I realized that neither he (the adjuster) or the estimator had ever set foot on the property. No wonder the estimate was so strange. We're back to one section of fence, only one tree limb mentioned (there were three) and no mention of repair of the rest of the fence. I called the construction company and complained to an answering machine, made me feel better but doesn't do any good. I waited until morning and looked outside and lo and behold the tree limb had magically disappeared from my yard. No one had contacted me - somebody just went into my backyard, cut up a 15' long, 10" diameter tree limb (and another 10' limb, 6" diameter) and removed them without even letting me know they were coming to do it let alone that they were on the property. I called the insurance company on Saturday afternoon and complained expecting to get nowhere. I, instead, got an adjuster who looked at the photos I'd e-mailed (showing 5 sections of fence before and after the temporary shoring up) so he knew there were in fact five sections. He looked up the estimate and saw that it was for one section and agreed to settle for an amount I was happy with. it took 10 minutes. Now I just have to get the fence replaced. For me this is the fun part. Really, it is!
"Hi, I'm calling in to report that a branch from my neighbor's tree fell on my fence and crushed it. How do I start a claim for this?"
"Not a problem, Ma'am" (takes insurance information). "It was a bad storm and there are a lot of claims. You will get a call within 24 hours though to let you know who your adjuster is and when they'll be out to inspect the damage" "OK" Click
Two days later "Hi, I'm from Crase Construction. I'm calling to let you know I have a crew coming out this afternoon to shore up your home. Can you tell me what type of tree fell on your roof and how bad the damage to your home is?" "Um, the tree didn't touch the house, it's a very large branch that took out a section of fence. The storm also took out two other sections but it's just fence. My house id fine." "OK, we'll send a guy out to saw up and remove the branch and will call back with the day and time we'll be out with the adjuster." "OK, thanks" Click
Next day. "Hi, I'm calling to find out who my claims adjuster is." "Oh,, his name is (Won't give it out here). He'll be contacting you shortly, it's been very busy."
Next day. Two messages, one AM and one PM "Hello, claims adjuster (yoohoo). Please call to let me know when I can expect you to come by so I can get the semi tree out of my yard."
Next morning. "Hi, I'm (totally new name from insurance company). (whosit) was swamped so your case was handed over to me. So, I understand there's a tree that's fallen onto your house." "Nope, there's a huge branch that fell and took out part of my fence, and while we're talking about it, I inspected the rest of the back fence and the wind took out three more sections of fence and there's another limb from a different tree that took out a section of fence onthe other end of the property." "Oh". We'll be out to inspect the damage on Tuesday or Wednesday." "That's fine with me."
Next morning "Hi, this is Cecilia from Crase Construction. I understand your fence is down?" Yup" Is this a fence you share with a neighbor?" "Nope, it's just that his tree fell on the other fence." "OK, who do you share the broken fence with?" "The county park" "Do you have any safety issues in the yard?" "Like what?" "Do you own a pool?" "Yup" "Oh my God, some kid could wander in from the park! Or animals! I'm sending someone out to get some kind of barrier up as soon as possible. And we'll write up the damage report and send it to the adjuster." "OK, Thanks!"
Next morning. "Hi, I'm Al. I'm here to board up that section of fence" "One board isn't going to do it, come take a look!" (Sigh) "I'm going to Home Depot. I'll be back with the rest of the supplies soon." Al takes off and is back in less than an hour with enough plywood and 2x4's to shore up 5 sections of fence and 9 posts to keep the fence up through another nasty storm. I'm impressed with the construction company. Great work, fast and efficient. AND they knew what was going on.
Thursday (the next day I have free) I'll be on the phone with the insurance company to find out when they're coming out to take care of the branch that's crushing adn kiilling he bushes underneath it.
Oh yeah, I now have the business cards of 6 fence companies (not all seem too legit either) that were slipped under my front door mat.
"Not a problem, Ma'am" (takes insurance information). "It was a bad storm and there are a lot of claims. You will get a call within 24 hours though to let you know who your adjuster is and when they'll be out to inspect the damage" "OK" Click
Two days later "Hi, I'm from Crase Construction. I'm calling to let you know I have a crew coming out this afternoon to shore up your home. Can you tell me what type of tree fell on your roof and how bad the damage to your home is?" "Um, the tree didn't touch the house, it's a very large branch that took out a section of fence. The storm also took out two other sections but it's just fence. My house id fine." "OK, we'll send a guy out to saw up and remove the branch and will call back with the day and time we'll be out with the adjuster." "OK, thanks" Click
Next day. "Hi, I'm calling to find out who my claims adjuster is." "Oh,, his name is (Won't give it out here). He'll be contacting you shortly, it's been very busy."
Next day. Two messages, one AM and one PM "Hello, claims adjuster (yoohoo). Please call to let me know when I can expect you to come by so I can get the semi tree out of my yard."
Next morning. "Hi, I'm (totally new name from insurance company). (whosit) was swamped so your case was handed over to me. So, I understand there's a tree that's fallen onto your house." "Nope, there's a huge branch that fell and took out part of my fence, and while we're talking about it, I inspected the rest of the back fence and the wind took out three more sections of fence and there's another limb from a different tree that took out a section of fence onthe other end of the property." "Oh". We'll be out to inspect the damage on Tuesday or Wednesday." "That's fine with me."
Next morning "Hi, this is Cecilia from Crase Construction. I understand your fence is down?" Yup" Is this a fence you share with a neighbor?" "Nope, it's just that his tree fell on the other fence." "OK, who do you share the broken fence with?" "The county park" "Do you have any safety issues in the yard?" "Like what?" "Do you own a pool?" "Yup" "Oh my God, some kid could wander in from the park! Or animals! I'm sending someone out to get some kind of barrier up as soon as possible. And we'll write up the damage report and send it to the adjuster." "OK, Thanks!"
Next morning. "Hi, I'm Al. I'm here to board up that section of fence" "One board isn't going to do it, come take a look!" (Sigh) "I'm going to Home Depot. I'll be back with the rest of the supplies soon." Al takes off and is back in less than an hour with enough plywood and 2x4's to shore up 5 sections of fence and 9 posts to keep the fence up through another nasty storm. I'm impressed with the construction company. Great work, fast and efficient. AND they knew what was going on.
Thursday (the next day I have free) I'll be on the phone with the insurance company to find out when they're coming out to take care of the branch that's crushing adn kiilling he bushes underneath it.
Oh yeah, I now have the business cards of 6 fence companies (not all seem too legit either) that were slipped under my front door mat.
Life is good. Look at the alternative. I keep saying that as the snowball fight continues here. I get bombarded from one side and as I scoop the snow from the back of my neck another hits my cheek from the other side. I'm having a "hot chocolate break" right now, literally. Furnace in, check, A/C in, check. Where are the rebate forms (arrgghhh!). Four days later and rebate forms are in the mail from the contractor. Ceiling started, ahhh! Contractor now shows - twice. He finally calls to reschedule (for today no less) and I accidentally delete his number before I can call him back. Wait, hope for a call, wait some more.
Who will agree to be a reference for my job apps? Dang it, at my last two jobs I don't even know the last names of my supervisors. In this feel good fuzzy world they don't use them! How is that good for a new job hunt? I had two app's with a deadline today so I put down names of friends and e-mailed them to warn 'em. I don't want to put down the name of the doctor I'm working for now since it's only an externship and if she knows I'm out hunting for something "better" she may not want to keep me on salary after the non-paid portion is done.
It never occurred to me that having my back fence down was a safety issue for anyone but me BUT since my property backs up to the county park and I have a pool the insurance company sent a guy out (really great guy by the way) to shore it up until AAA comes out and decides what it plans to do. Now I have a ginormous tree branch lying on the ground in my backyard that they're going to take away soon, I hope. I don't want to get bids on the fence until I know what they're going to do so here I sit but at least the wild boar, deer and other critters can't wander in from the park through the gaping holes in the fence.
Going to the gym for the first time in two weeks, I'll be very sore tomorrow. I miss my step class :<(
Today is filling out insurance forms (boring!) and going to school to fill out more forms (boring!) and then going to my old employer and finding out if they want me back for a couple of days a week. I want a day off from job hunt. I know everyone else is hunting too and I now appreciate the pain of the process. I applied for a secretarial job this morning and they want a thorough knowledge of Outlook. I've never used outlook but I took a look at the program this morning and I can figure it out in a day or so, didn't realize it's just a scheduling program that tracks e-mail as well. OK, I may be oversimplifying it but I learned Eclipse in a day so I think I can manage.
Who will agree to be a reference for my job apps? Dang it, at my last two jobs I don't even know the last names of my supervisors. In this feel good fuzzy world they don't use them! How is that good for a new job hunt? I had two app's with a deadline today so I put down names of friends and e-mailed them to warn 'em. I don't want to put down the name of the doctor I'm working for now since it's only an externship and if she knows I'm out hunting for something "better" she may not want to keep me on salary after the non-paid portion is done.
It never occurred to me that having my back fence down was a safety issue for anyone but me BUT since my property backs up to the county park and I have a pool the insurance company sent a guy out (really great guy by the way) to shore it up until AAA comes out and decides what it plans to do. Now I have a ginormous tree branch lying on the ground in my backyard that they're going to take away soon, I hope. I don't want to get bids on the fence until I know what they're going to do so here I sit but at least the wild boar, deer and other critters can't wander in from the park through the gaping holes in the fence.
Going to the gym for the first time in two weeks, I'll be very sore tomorrow. I miss my step class :<(
Today is filling out insurance forms (boring!) and going to school to fill out more forms (boring!) and then going to my old employer and finding out if they want me back for a couple of days a week. I want a day off from job hunt. I know everyone else is hunting too and I now appreciate the pain of the process. I applied for a secretarial job this morning and they want a thorough knowledge of Outlook. I've never used outlook but I took a look at the program this morning and I can figure it out in a day or so, didn't realize it's just a scheduling program that tracks e-mail as well. OK, I may be oversimplifying it but I learned Eclipse in a day so I think I can manage.
New sleep habits are creeping in that I don't like. I've taken to waking at 4:30 a.m. and not being able to fall back asleep. Then around 3 in the afternoon I'm dead tired but if I'm at work I manage to stay awake. If I'm not working I take a nap for a couple of hours. When I get home from working at 7:30 or so I've been grabbing a quick bite of something cold and lounging on the sofa where I fall asleep for a couple of hours, waking with a sore neck, unable to sleep again until after midnight. I'm getting 7 hours of sleep but it's not restful. Need to break the cycle.
Missed the play! Read the matinee time as 3:00, showed up to a closed Box office because the play started at 2:00. The 3 o'clock matinee is on Saturday. this hasn't been a good week. Let's hope Monday starts a fresh beginning all the way around.
I DID manage to decide on medical and dental insurance plans and will fill out the paperwork and send on Tuesday.
Missed the play! Read the matinee time as 3:00, showed up to a closed Box office because the play started at 2:00. The 3 o'clock matinee is on Saturday. this hasn't been a good week. Let's hope Monday starts a fresh beginning all the way around.
I DID manage to decide on medical and dental insurance plans and will fill out the paperwork and send on Tuesday.
Aye, yi-yi! Checking dental coverage. It's no fun choosing private dental or general health insurance folks! I just discovered that my dentist doesn't participate in the dental plan I can afford. So, if I want to keep my dentist I have to pay triple the amount in dental coverage. I hope I find a job with benefits soon because it sucks to choose a new dentist after twenty years with the same one.
I do have the joy of knowing that my OB-GYN and General practice doctors are on the medical coverage I plan to apply for. Again I'm hoping that I'll get a job with benefits soon. Paying for medical/dental insurance on your own is not something one wants to do long term.
Since I started applying for jobs yesterday (dang, the process is long on-line!) I've had a splitting headache and I am so depressed. Here I spent all that money for classes so I could get a better job and the market is dry. Too many people out there with experience who got laid off. All us newbies are left with minimum wage jobs - heck, I can go back to Target and get better hours and medical benies! that isn't good.
I'm gonna go the theatre now. Gong to see Groundswell at the San Jose Rep. Review to follow this evening.
I do have the joy of knowing that my OB-GYN and General practice doctors are on the medical coverage I plan to apply for. Again I'm hoping that I'll get a job with benefits soon. Paying for medical/dental insurance on your own is not something one wants to do long term.
Since I started applying for jobs yesterday (dang, the process is long on-line!) I've had a splitting headache and I am so depressed. Here I spent all that money for classes so I could get a better job and the market is dry. Too many people out there with experience who got laid off. All us newbies are left with minimum wage jobs - heck, I can go back to Target and get better hours and medical benies! that isn't good.
I'm gonna go the theatre now. Gong to see Groundswell at the San Jose Rep. Review to follow this evening.
One day it's all good and the next it's all bad. The furnace and A/C units are in and work well and I know I'll be happy with them however... I didn't do my homework well. According to one source my furnace qualifies for the federal rebate and according to another it doesn't. I've requested the manufacturer certificate required for the rebate from the local installer. I did qualify for the PG&E rebate and I've sent that paperwork in. I looked at the itemized bill and it's different from the contract I signed BUT the contract does specifically state that I am entitled to 3 rebates so if they can't provide the paperwork that I need to qualify for the rebates I'll sue 'em in small claims court for amount of the rebates I don't get.
The contractor for the ceiling no-showed Saturday. I don't like this guy at all. He came in to do the work one morning and all seemed well. He asked for money for materials and I had my daughter get some from my purse. I haven't seen the receipt or my change AND I've discovered that my Sharks tix from the previous weekend (the ones that entitled me to two free pizzas) are missing now. On top of that he's no showed twice since then. His scaffolding, however, is sitting in my garage. If we haven't gotten everything worked out in the next two days I think I'll leave him a message to pick up the scaffolding (which I'll place next to the garage in front of the side gate so he doesn't have access to the house/garage or backyard) at his leisure.
On the other hand, thanks go out to my parents for coming down and my Dad (yeah!) installing the replacement faucet and repairing the water filter. I did have to tighten one connection in the plumbing under the sink later but now I have a working faucet and my undersink cabinet is dry again.
My trust and will are ready and I pick them up on Thursday. The long term care in insurance is ready and I need to finish the paperwork on that - also on Thursday. Still waiting on ex-hubby's attorney to get him the paperwork to sign so I can sign.
Job hunt is not going well. Where I'm at is great for the externship. I'm learning a lot and I'm getting a lot of feedback but after the externship is over she's not going to pay me enough to get by and there are no medical benefits. Because of the days I work (M,W,F) I'm finding it even more difficult to get a second job to cover the hours I have available. I'll keep plugging along though. I am really amazed at how few jobs are out there.
The contractor for the ceiling no-showed Saturday. I don't like this guy at all. He came in to do the work one morning and all seemed well. He asked for money for materials and I had my daughter get some from my purse. I haven't seen the receipt or my change AND I've discovered that my Sharks tix from the previous weekend (the ones that entitled me to two free pizzas) are missing now. On top of that he's no showed twice since then. His scaffolding, however, is sitting in my garage. If we haven't gotten everything worked out in the next two days I think I'll leave him a message to pick up the scaffolding (which I'll place next to the garage in front of the side gate so he doesn't have access to the house/garage or backyard) at his leisure.
On the other hand, thanks go out to my parents for coming down and my Dad (yeah!) installing the replacement faucet and repairing the water filter. I did have to tighten one connection in the plumbing under the sink later but now I have a working faucet and my undersink cabinet is dry again.
My trust and will are ready and I pick them up on Thursday. The long term care in insurance is ready and I need to finish the paperwork on that - also on Thursday. Still waiting on ex-hubby's attorney to get him the paperwork to sign so I can sign.
Job hunt is not going well. Where I'm at is great for the externship. I'm learning a lot and I'm getting a lot of feedback but after the externship is over she's not going to pay me enough to get by and there are no medical benefits. Because of the days I work (M,W,F) I'm finding it even more difficult to get a second job to cover the hours I have available. I'll keep plugging along though. I am really amazed at how few jobs are out there.
Furnace guys are here and it's all coming together nicely. I still haven't from the claims adjuster for the fence so I gave the guy a quick call and left a message. The ceiling guy called and postponed until Saturday. Hockey game in 10 minutes, whoo-hoo! Go Sharks!
So what else is happening? It really doesn't matter today.
To to remind the family about Secret Santa so they can get their lists started.
So what else is happening? It really doesn't matter today.
To to remind the family about Secret Santa so they can get their lists started.
Fretting again but today I'm spending a whole lot of money getting a new furnace and A/C. I know why I'm anxious which helps. I can afford the furnace and replacing it is a no brainer. The A/C is the part that's gnawing at me. I've "managed" for 15 years in this house with no A/C. The furnace needed replacing 10 years ago, the amount of money it costs to heat this house now is amazing. The A/C isn't necessary but I know from talking to Real Estate agents in the area that when I sell my home, if all other things are equal, buyers will choose the home that has it. It's an expensive treat though because I don't get any tax credits, or rebates - it's just a flat price. The new furnace with 96% efficiency vs my 1978 model 50%'er is obviously the right choice, and gets all the rebates. If I'm replacing the furnace it makes sense to do the A/C at the same time.
I'm living in the land of "What if?" and that's not a good place.
The angst comes from not actually having a paying job right now - what am I doing spending money on this stuff? I can answer that in one word - Anger.
I am keenly aware that this need to have all my projects done now is from getting slapped in the face with the divorce. My Ex promised we'd get to my projects "down the road", "in a few years" and then "after we get back" from HK. Fifteen years of waiting, I was patient wasn't I? We went to home shows, chose upgrades, priced them out and then filed away all the research for the right time to install. And then the Ex WOULD give in, sorta, but I never got the actual items we agreed on, always a compromise downgrade. Examples? New kitchen? True I got the kitchen...cabinets anyway. Counters? "that's too much money", you want the cabinets? You have to give up the "dream" counter so I learned to tile instead of getting my solid surface counter top. New windows? When the heating bill that one year tripled because the windows were so bad, you could actually feel the wind blowing through the house in a storm, I finally convinced him that double paned would actually save us money. We got the cheap plastic inserts instead of the beautiful wood double paned, swiveling ones he'd promised. I'm still literally hanging out second story windows to clean them because they're too heavy for me to remove to clean (now you know why they're dirty a lot of the time). Can't replace something that isn't actually falling apart - God forbid something be replaced before it actually broke. That's how I got the new roof! We got rained on - inside - water in the living room will get you a new roof. Looking at my wish list has made me more angry than him asking for the divorce. I get to make that wish list real but I want to make sure the projects I do also help sell the house later.
I opted to do the biggest (furnace and A/C) and littlest (kitchen lighting) projects first. After this I can sit back and slowly do the rest - after I'm working. It's kind of nice to shop for things when you know they're actually going to get done. And heating and cooling the house is cheaper (by more than half) than heating the pool so don't expect to go swimming next summer - although I will fire up the hot tub for anyone who's over.
I did the math and it will take 3 years for the furnace to pay for itself completely. The A/C? Well, that takes almost 10 years but that's my raspberry moment and it's worth it.
Got the car, got the furnace (w A/C just for me) and kitchen lights that work (and aren't a fire hazard - but we won't go into that now). I think I'm ready to look forward now, bring on the holidays.
I'm living in the land of "What if?" and that's not a good place.
The angst comes from not actually having a paying job right now - what am I doing spending money on this stuff? I can answer that in one word - Anger.
I am keenly aware that this need to have all my projects done now is from getting slapped in the face with the divorce. My Ex promised we'd get to my projects "down the road", "in a few years" and then "after we get back" from HK. Fifteen years of waiting, I was patient wasn't I? We went to home shows, chose upgrades, priced them out and then filed away all the research for the right time to install. And then the Ex WOULD give in, sorta, but I never got the actual items we agreed on, always a compromise downgrade. Examples? New kitchen? True I got the kitchen...cabinets anyway. Counters? "that's too much money", you want the cabinets? You have to give up the "dream" counter so I learned to tile instead of getting my solid surface counter top. New windows? When the heating bill that one year tripled because the windows were so bad, you could actually feel the wind blowing through the house in a storm, I finally convinced him that double paned would actually save us money. We got the cheap plastic inserts instead of the beautiful wood double paned, swiveling ones he'd promised. I'm still literally hanging out second story windows to clean them because they're too heavy for me to remove to clean (now you know why they're dirty a lot of the time). Can't replace something that isn't actually falling apart - God forbid something be replaced before it actually broke. That's how I got the new roof! We got rained on - inside - water in the living room will get you a new roof. Looking at my wish list has made me more angry than him asking for the divorce. I get to make that wish list real but I want to make sure the projects I do also help sell the house later.
I opted to do the biggest (furnace and A/C) and littlest (kitchen lighting) projects first. After this I can sit back and slowly do the rest - after I'm working. It's kind of nice to shop for things when you know they're actually going to get done. And heating and cooling the house is cheaper (by more than half) than heating the pool so don't expect to go swimming next summer - although I will fire up the hot tub for anyone who's over.
I did the math and it will take 3 years for the furnace to pay for itself completely. The A/C? Well, that takes almost 10 years but that's my raspberry moment and it's worth it.
Got the car, got the furnace (w A/C just for me) and kitchen lights that work (and aren't a fire hazard - but we won't go into that now). I think I'm ready to look forward now, bring on the holidays.
What, me worry? Fretting has become the underlying emotion in my every day life. Every decision I make causes agitation these days. It doesn't matter whether I know, surely, that the decision is a good one. The pit of my stomach churns and I spend days (and sometimes weeks) letting it gnaw at me before I can feel comfortable with it.
I know this is because of the divorce. Knowledge that I have no one to fall back on if the decision is bad and also not having a person to simply say "I've got your back" if it's wrong. After twenty-one years of someone always lovingly confirming your daily decisions having the safety net gone is wearing.
Now that I've divined this is what's made me the squirming flip flopping nutcase I've been the last few months I believe my self confidence is coming back.
Granted I've also had to make some huge decisions (Am I staying in this house or moving - now or later?), a new car - major expense - or try to get by with the totally impractical one, a new furnace? Do I add Air-Con to it - will it help sell the house, after 15 years of no AC do I really need it? Do I switch investment companies - twenty-one years with an investment counselor chosen by ex-hubby's company? How do I invest what I've negotiated in the settlement so that it will last me the rest of my life especially taking into consideration what the economy did to all of us the last two years?
My gut wrenching days aren't through I think I'm starting to come out from under the weight of dealing with everything alone. Today isn't the one to start spilling about decisions but I think I can start writing in my journal again without worrying about what I say.
I did buy the car (A red Rav4) and sold my Spyder to my ex who loves having the convertible to hop around in. Hey, I need to get sacks of manure! And manure works much better in the back of a small SUV than in the passenger seat of my "guy magnet".
I decided to stay in the house for a while longer. I am rattling around in here but I need to do some improvements to make it more sellable and I'd be crazy not to enjoy those upgrades for myself before giving up the house for something more practical. I'm waiting, as well, to find out if Boomer is going to need a place to live after graduation. That may seem like an excuse but Princess got to stay in the house for a little under two years to help her (and Spam) get a nest egg together. I'd like to offer that same opportunity to Boomer. With jobs scarce for college graduates right now he may need it even more. this is something I can do - provide a safety net for the same amount of time - without sacrificing my own needs.
Which leads to - I'm replacing the furnace and adding AC to the house and I'm finishing the kitchen. I've had tradesmen in and out of the house the last few days and have discovered two things. One - there are a lot of really cute single/divorced men out there that like to flirt while they work, and two - I think I'm ready to try adding a social life back in. This should be interesting as I haven't actually dated casually since high school. And you thought I was gong to expound on the virtues of heating and cooling - I am - just a different kind.
Dipping my toes slowly back into the shallow end...more on this later
Today, is my day off. I finished my last module of class at Everest yesterday and tomorrow I begin my externship in earnest. Today is gym, coffee with BFF, a trip to school to get the paperwork I need to fill out time cards, a haircut and a trip to to see one of the kitchen counter companies and pick up the quote.
I'll talk about "Carlos" after we've had that coffee...
I know this is because of the divorce. Knowledge that I have no one to fall back on if the decision is bad and also not having a person to simply say "I've got your back" if it's wrong. After twenty-one years of someone always lovingly confirming your daily decisions having the safety net gone is wearing.
Now that I've divined this is what's made me the squirming flip flopping nutcase I've been the last few months I believe my self confidence is coming back.
Granted I've also had to make some huge decisions (Am I staying in this house or moving - now or later?), a new car - major expense - or try to get by with the totally impractical one, a new furnace? Do I add Air-Con to it - will it help sell the house, after 15 years of no AC do I really need it? Do I switch investment companies - twenty-one years with an investment counselor chosen by ex-hubby's company? How do I invest what I've negotiated in the settlement so that it will last me the rest of my life especially taking into consideration what the economy did to all of us the last two years?
My gut wrenching days aren't through I think I'm starting to come out from under the weight of dealing with everything alone. Today isn't the one to start spilling about decisions but I think I can start writing in my journal again without worrying about what I say.
I did buy the car (A red Rav4) and sold my Spyder to my ex who loves having the convertible to hop around in. Hey, I need to get sacks of manure! And manure works much better in the back of a small SUV than in the passenger seat of my "guy magnet".
I decided to stay in the house for a while longer. I am rattling around in here but I need to do some improvements to make it more sellable and I'd be crazy not to enjoy those upgrades for myself before giving up the house for something more practical. I'm waiting, as well, to find out if Boomer is going to need a place to live after graduation. That may seem like an excuse but Princess got to stay in the house for a little under two years to help her (and Spam) get a nest egg together. I'd like to offer that same opportunity to Boomer. With jobs scarce for college graduates right now he may need it even more. this is something I can do - provide a safety net for the same amount of time - without sacrificing my own needs.
Which leads to - I'm replacing the furnace and adding AC to the house and I'm finishing the kitchen. I've had tradesmen in and out of the house the last few days and have discovered two things. One - there are a lot of really cute single/divorced men out there that like to flirt while they work, and two - I think I'm ready to try adding a social life back in. This should be interesting as I haven't actually dated casually since high school. And you thought I was gong to expound on the virtues of heating and cooling - I am - just a different kind.
Dipping my toes slowly back into the shallow end...more on this later
Today, is my day off. I finished my last module of class at Everest yesterday and tomorrow I begin my externship in earnest. Today is gym, coffee with BFF, a trip to school to get the paperwork I need to fill out time cards, a haircut and a trip to to see one of the kitchen counter companies and pick up the quote.
I'll talk about "Carlos" after we've had that coffee...
- Mood:
chipper
I just had the oddest conversation. I am trying to find an externship for school and my instructor gave me the name of a doctor she worked for, told me she had already contacted her and that she was interested in doing an externship and that I should contact her myself before the school contacts the office.
I called the doctor this morning and she had no clue who I was or what an externship was or what was going on. I tried to give an explanation to her and I'm going to go over to her offices this morning and introduce myself and give her my resume (such as it is). It was an extremely awkward few minutes. I'm thinking that I may be better off with the part time work at another office that has worked with the school before.
And I can work at good ol' Target again while I'm doing the externship and work through Christmas or until I find a full time position. This is not a good thing.
I have to say that the school, EVEREST COLLEGE, made a lot of promises that they have no intention of actually making good on. They promised full time externships, ones that they would find for us and that 90% of those externships turned into full time jobs. Well, we're all scrambling on our own to find externships because the woman who's in charge of finding them for us is 2-3 weeks behind and even then the externships are not full time so they're taking two months instead of one AND none of them are turning into jobs, full or part time. That's what I paid for, because frankly the quality of the instructors leaves something to be desired. I chose this school because they promised support for us even after graduation, help in finding jobs and that isn't happening.
Now, I fear I'll be out of work, money down the tubes from school loans,and nothing to show. It sucks.
I called the doctor this morning and she had no clue who I was or what an externship was or what was going on. I tried to give an explanation to her and I'm going to go over to her offices this morning and introduce myself and give her my resume (such as it is). It was an extremely awkward few minutes. I'm thinking that I may be better off with the part time work at another office that has worked with the school before.
And I can work at good ol' Target again while I'm doing the externship and work through Christmas or until I find a full time position. This is not a good thing.
I have to say that the school, EVEREST COLLEGE, made a lot of promises that they have no intention of actually making good on. They promised full time externships, ones that they would find for us and that 90% of those externships turned into full time jobs. Well, we're all scrambling on our own to find externships because the woman who's in charge of finding them for us is 2-3 weeks behind and even then the externships are not full time so they're taking two months instead of one AND none of them are turning into jobs, full or part time. That's what I paid for, because frankly the quality of the instructors leaves something to be desired. I chose this school because they promised support for us even after graduation, help in finding jobs and that isn't happening.
Now, I fear I'll be out of work, money down the tubes from school loans,and nothing to show. It sucks.
A photo of the my "new" used Rav4 ...
It's been nearly a month since I've written anything. I just don't have the energy right now. I am frantic about a few too many things. A lot of little stuff has gone awry this week (I accidentally cut through the irrigation system electrical when I was trimming a plant. At the same time I noticed that one circuit of the decorative lighting around the pool is not working so I must have cut through that line as well but I had to dig up the lawn to get to it. In digging up the lawn I discovered the agapanthus had overgrown the brick edging that was supposed to keep it in place. I started to dig it up and discovered it is far worse than I suspected. I did repair the irrigation line but now one section of the system isn't working so I have to take it apart again but there isn't enough slack in the line to do it so I need to replace an entire section, yum. Three yard projects and no time to do them for two more weeks. I went into the garage to put away the tools and looked it over. It's strewn with that garage sale stuff I took out of the attic along with several large pieces of furniture I had set aside for family that no one, it turned out, wanted. I've been planning to put the treadmill on Craig's list for a couple of weeks now but just keep getting sidetracked. I have a section of yard that isn't watering properly and the new plants are all dying.
I bought a new car(a red 2008 Toyota Rav4)in anticipation of ex-to-be purchasing the now-not-practical-enough-but-in-near-pri
I went to the Home and Garden show at the Convention Center this morning. I loved looking and I still have all those projects to do. There were only about a quarter of the exhibitioners that I remember from days past but the economy must really be hurting the small, independent entrepreneur. I have to wait until I have a job to start working on the house but I know exactly what I want to do and how much it will cost. But is it worth it if I plan to move? The debate will go on in my head for a long while. Some of our past projects make me so angry now - getting talked into the cement overlay instead of pavers around the pool - not keeping the "oops" gunite that would have been a better color anyway. Lots of regrets right now. Time to get out of this funk. I'm off to clean up the garage and box up stuff for Goodwill/garage sale/Craig's list.
I did sell the student trumpet yesterday. It's a start I guess. The Craig's list stuff has to wait until I have time to be home to have someone come by to get the stuff I'm offering up.
I bought a new car(a red 2008 Toyota Rav4)in anticipation of ex-to-be purchasing the now-not-practical-enough-but-in-near-pri
I went to the Home and Garden show at the Convention Center this morning. I loved looking and I still have all those projects to do. There were only about a quarter of the exhibitioners that I remember from days past but the economy must really be hurting the small, independent entrepreneur. I have to wait until I have a job to start working on the house but I know exactly what I want to do and how much it will cost. But is it worth it if I plan to move? The debate will go on in my head for a long while. Some of our past projects make me so angry now - getting talked into the cement overlay instead of pavers around the pool - not keeping the "oops" gunite that would have been a better color anyway. Lots of regrets right now. Time to get out of this funk. I'm off to clean up the garage and box up stuff for Goodwill/garage sale/Craig's list.
I did sell the student trumpet yesterday. It's a start I guess. The Craig's list stuff has to wait until I have time to be home to have someone come by to get the stuff I'm offering up.
Meet my new kitty "Pumpkin". Her name on arrival was Petunia. Sorry but I can't name mu cat Petunia. I wanted "Bruiser" but my son talked me out of that. The way I say her name it's more like "Pun'kin". She is a wonderfully quiet and serene lap cat with the tiniest little mew. She finally gave in after three days and ate the dry food I had put out for her. She had been treated royally at her previous home and didn't want to give in to boring food.
Saturday morning and it's smoky and windy, this is not a good sign. Last night just before going to bed I checked the doors and windows (gotta lock 'em!) and realized the air smelled like some one had a fire in the fireplace - not grass fire smell. It smelled like oak. I digress...I thought,oh yeah it's the "Lockheed" fire in Bonny Doon. At 5:00 a.m. I awoke to eyes stinging and realized it was really windy and really smoky. Closed all the upstairs windows and went back to bed. Awoke at 8 and it's worse. While the fire is sure to be out long before it gets anywhere near my home it's scary to be even this close to that fire. And the power has just gone off for the third time in 24 hours. The power never goes out here - not for more than a flash anyway - I'm not resetting any clocks for a while, its too annoying to change them only to have them go out again so soon. The outage yesterday afternoon was only about 45 minutes. The one in the middle of the night was three hours. We'll see how it goes this morning. They don't expect the fire to be out until the 23rd - NEXT Sunday - so if outages will be the norm I'm going to have to pull out the hand crank clocks.
I'm going to check the pool for soot and work on my embroidery. And I'm picking up the new cat in an hour or so.
In hopeful news, I was supposed to go to AC to pick up a couple pieces of furniture but there are potential buyers looking at it today so I'm staying home. I know it's only an excuse but so what.
I'm going to check the pool for soot and work on my embroidery. And I'm picking up the new cat in an hour or so.
In hopeful news, I was supposed to go to AC to pick up a couple pieces of furniture but there are potential buyers looking at it today so I'm staying home. I know it's only an excuse but so what.
Was it a good day or a bad day? I was overwhelmed when I started to work on the yard. It took nearly an hour of staring at it, a few tears of frustration and figuring out what was do-able before I could bring myself to begin. All I could see where gopher mounds and destruction. Once I shook it off and started working on cleaning up the landscaping and ignoring gophers I was able to feel good about what I did get done. I have a call in to a pest control company in town that specializes in critters (instead of termites, ants and little creepy crawlies).
The yard looks pretty good now and I have six 30 gallon trash cans of green waste for the recycling team come Wednesday. I put the gopher bait out two days ago and as expected there was a slight increase in activity but not as much as I expected. I still have a lot of work to do but it's hecka-hot out today and I just got too pooped to prune any more. I did dip my feet in the pool which is just about the right temp now. Made decisions about how to handle this and future infestations and I need to buy a few items to make it work but not today because the hardware store didn't have what I need in stock.
I'm working in the garage now. No homework this weekend!
Tomorrow is shopping day. Mom and sister number 1 are going to help me find a suit to do my interviews in. And shoes, ah some new shoes. And the mall will be air-conditioned. And I won't have to cook. And...it's turning into a nice weekend.
The yard looks pretty good now and I have six 30 gallon trash cans of green waste for the recycling team come Wednesday. I put the gopher bait out two days ago and as expected there was a slight increase in activity but not as much as I expected. I still have a lot of work to do but it's hecka-hot out today and I just got too pooped to prune any more. I did dip my feet in the pool which is just about the right temp now. Made decisions about how to handle this and future infestations and I need to buy a few items to make it work but not today because the hardware store didn't have what I need in stock.
I'm working in the garage now. No homework this weekend!
Tomorrow is shopping day. Mom and sister number 1 are going to help me find a suit to do my interviews in. And shoes, ah some new shoes. And the mall will be air-conditioned. And I won't have to cook. And...it's turning into a nice weekend.
Trash day was yesterday and I managed to get rid of most of the ex-stuff clogging up the garage. I have three boxes of old text books (very out of date and useless the librarian tells me) that will be thrown out. They're sitting by the trash can outside now. I still have one trashcan's worth of my own stuff from cleaning out the side yard before Xman arrived.
I've decided to donate the clothes (they don't sell at garage sales anyway) and keep the door knobs so that when I move I can put the old ones back on the doors and take with me the handled ones I love. Hey, it makes for easy moving around the house when you can simply lean on the door handle to get into a room - no shuffling of laundry baskets or shifting boxes in hand. Does old sports equipment sell? I have a bowling ball, free weights, a punching bag and a bench to get rid of.
Garage cleaning will be cathertic. I do still need to go through the attic.
Someone came to the AC property for a look - no response yet though. I think if they offered a decent price Xman would take the deal.
My neighbor thought someone was breaking into my house yesterday and called me (I was in class) and the cops. It was my pool guy who came a day early so he could take a holiday on Friday. Poor guy was scared to death. He didn't drive his usual truck but he did have his usual equipment with him and he was cleaning the pool when they came to check the house. The house was all locked up and nothing had been touched. Glad the neighbor is looking out for me but I may have a new pool guy. I don't think Carlos was too happy. It also turns out the cop who showed up lives in the neighborhood so now I know another one of my neighbors.
I've decided to donate the clothes (they don't sell at garage sales anyway) and keep the door knobs so that when I move I can put the old ones back on the doors and take with me the handled ones I love. Hey, it makes for easy moving around the house when you can simply lean on the door handle to get into a room - no shuffling of laundry baskets or shifting boxes in hand. Does old sports equipment sell? I have a bowling ball, free weights, a punching bag and a bench to get rid of.
Garage cleaning will be cathertic. I do still need to go through the attic.
Someone came to the AC property for a look - no response yet though. I think if they offered a decent price Xman would take the deal.
My neighbor thought someone was breaking into my house yesterday and called me (I was in class) and the cops. It was my pool guy who came a day early so he could take a holiday on Friday. Poor guy was scared to death. He didn't drive his usual truck but he did have his usual equipment with him and he was cleaning the pool when they came to check the house. The house was all locked up and nothing had been touched. Glad the neighbor is looking out for me but I may have a new pool guy. I don't think Carlos was too happy. It also turns out the cop who showed up lives in the neighborhood so now I know another one of my neighbors.
Let's add gophers back in to the mix. Living in a home that backs up to an open space has a lot of advantages but the critters can be both a pain in the patootie and a wonderful blessing. I've discovered two new gopher mounds in the backyard on the hill where they're hard to get at. I captured another mole in the grass on the flat part of the yard yesterday. On the other hand the red tailed hawks that live on the hill (in the park) have decided that my pool is a great watering hole so I have been enjoying the site of them landing at poolside and taking a drink and then sitting either on the back fence or in the lowest branch of the eucalyptus tree and preening.
And the local quail family has decided my lawn is a nice place to stroll. I've been hearing turkeys but haven't spotted them yet.
The backyard will be my focus for the weekend. One day of nothing but trimming, purging (weeding), raking and mowing. Sweeping and cleaning the decks, just major cleanup. Do it all in one fell swoop and then I can relax and enjoy the yard the rest of the summer, with an occasional weed pulling walk through the garden or planting a few annuals for color.
Then it's on to re arranging the garage and going through all the tools the ex-hubby left behind to see what is garage-salable and what I really should keep. I'd love to have all the men in the family come over and help me go through it because I'm sure they'll spot a specialty item that I'll need once in a blue moon but I WILL need and I'll have gotten rid of it.
I also have a bunch of car fixing stuff (notice how I said that?). I will never use but I know would be wonderful in a car fixing guy's garage. I hate to see items go to waste.
Garage sale will happen, I know I flip flop on this. I honestly have a distaste for them but I think it would be better to rid myself of items that way than to just throw it out.
I am waiting on ex-hubby to call back and finish the last line item (the only item we haven't discussed) in our MSA. I have no desire to waste both of our attorney's time and our money meeting over one item but I haven't been able to reach him. I am curious how long it will take to transfer all the property around once we've got everything signed. I'm not sure if he's trying to be difficult or if he's just being moronic right now. The reason for the meeting is he wants everything settled before he leaves for HK again but if he'd just call and have a five minute conversation we'd actually be able to sign the first set of papers on Tuesday instead of having attorney's arguing one thing for us and then having to do all the paperwork from long distance.
And the local quail family has decided my lawn is a nice place to stroll. I've been hearing turkeys but haven't spotted them yet.
The backyard will be my focus for the weekend. One day of nothing but trimming, purging (weeding), raking and mowing. Sweeping and cleaning the decks, just major cleanup. Do it all in one fell swoop and then I can relax and enjoy the yard the rest of the summer, with an occasional weed pulling walk through the garden or planting a few annuals for color.
Then it's on to re arranging the garage and going through all the tools the ex-hubby left behind to see what is garage-salable and what I really should keep. I'd love to have all the men in the family come over and help me go through it because I'm sure they'll spot a specialty item that I'll need once in a blue moon but I WILL need and I'll have gotten rid of it.
I also have a bunch of car fixing stuff (notice how I said that?). I will never use but I know would be wonderful in a car fixing guy's garage. I hate to see items go to waste.
Garage sale will happen, I know I flip flop on this. I honestly have a distaste for them but I think it would be better to rid myself of items that way than to just throw it out.
I am waiting on ex-hubby to call back and finish the last line item (the only item we haven't discussed) in our MSA. I have no desire to waste both of our attorney's time and our money meeting over one item but I haven't been able to reach him. I am curious how long it will take to transfer all the property around once we've got everything signed. I'm not sure if he's trying to be difficult or if he's just being moronic right now. The reason for the meeting is he wants everything settled before he leaves for HK again but if he'd just call and have a five minute conversation we'd actually be able to sign the first set of papers on Tuesday instead of having attorney's arguing one thing for us and then having to do all the paperwork from long distance.
