My VERY Busy "Day Off" and Computer Issues

As soon as I got back from my grocery shopping yesterday, I dove into making my week's portion of "Ogre Juice" (alkagizer) and then, after the kitchen was cleaned up again, went down to the den to assess what needed to be cleaned up. A hell of a LOT! Oy! I dove right in, didn't even stop to take any photos of the mess. I started on the mess at the North wall - boxes and books that had been stacking up there for several years. I pulled out every box, went through it putting the items away or tossing them, and then continued to the next.

I have a tri-leaf folding table at the South wall that I've had up. When I use my knitting machine, make holiday cards, or do any jewelry making, this is my spot. I had one leaf up, the other folded down, but it still was quite a bit to get cleared away and put away properly.

Then I tackled what was underneath the table - mostly photographic supplies like my light rings, white chamber, spotlights, etc. I got all of that finally put away, folded the wing down so that the table is now
just an eight-inch thick piece of wood, and moved it against the South wall. I made sure I could open the closet door for Sewing Area Storage #1.

MY COMPUTER SEEMS TO BE ACTING UP TODAY, SO TODAY'S BLOG IS TEXT MOSTLY. SORRY! 

My attention turned to the boxes blocking Knitting Area Storage #1 (or Sewing Area Storage #3). I had a large box, and a bunch of Swarovski crystals labelled and bagged by type. I had been photographing them for our Etsy sales platform - thus the lighting, white box, etc. Those got gathered up and consolidated into a single box. Since it's a project that's not actually finished (although it might not be worth expanding it any farther), I consider it a WIP and that box had just enough room to snug in next to the table on the South wall.

That left a variety of boxes and bins to go through, item by item, which I did. A fair amount was tossed, quite a few items were separated out for photographs to be listed for sale online, and a couple of lidded plastic boxes were put into the lower attic space. I was proud of myself - I only had to reset one mouse trap, not the whole row of them - LOL. I can be quite a klutz in that low-ceiling crawl space.

Finally, I folded up my Fluidity Barre. I'm going to offer that for sale at the YMCA I think. It normally costs almost $600 to purchase. I had bought it during COVID because I was going crazy being unable to exercise when I broke my foot and couldn't use the treadmill. I got a good deal on it, and used it quite a bit while I was healing when all of the gyms were closed, but I really don't need it any more. So I'll offer it for sale at a good price, probably around $150. It's a great piece of equipment for anyone who loves dance or who loves good stretching and flexibility exercises, and I have all of the items it came with.

After dinner, DH wanted to put an order in to Hong Kong for some stone beads we need for the shop. He finalized the order and asked me to pay for it with my Discover card (not an unusual request). However, apparently my card has been compromised. After almost 30 minutes on the phone with Discover, they are issuing me a new card, the old card is frozen, and I have now downloaded the past five months of transactions to see if I can isolate what charge(s) are fraudulent. We put the stone onto the AMEX card instead - *sigh*.

So, what do you usually do on YOUR day off? LOLOL

Housecleaning, Bone Density, and Voting For My Story

I have a video conference with my physician next Tuesday. This is new ground for me - I've never done a video consultation before, but I suppose there's a first time for everything, and sometimes this is a bit easier all around. I can tell her that I'm getting a treadmill delivered and set up (although the actual date for delivery is still unknown), but more than that, we need to talk about my bone density results - which were NOT good. 

I'm a bit concerned about my latest bone density scan. I've 
had a 3% decrease in my lumbar spine, a 6.1% decrease in 
my right hip, and a 6.8% decrease in my left hip. That's 
totally NOT good, in anyone's book. 

While on the conference with her, my co-worker and DH want me to request a more detailed memory assessment test from her. They're quite concerned that I'm not as sharp as I used to be. They're not wrong, but I'm not sure it's dementia rearing its' ugly head, as much as a realization - bone deep - that I want to be anywhere BUT at the shop and want to do my own thing without being bothered. I haven't been able to create any of my art for more than a decade because I've dedicated myself to the business (Christmas cards don't really count, but at least I've had those to create). I also live with a person who is highly critical of me but refuses to see his own shortcomings which infringe upon my mental and physical space. It's a conundrum. But, I'll ask her about it anyway. It couldn't hurt. 

I find it annoying that when I attempt to find an 
illustration for "housecleaning" it's always with 
dusters, vacuums and brooms. I need to houseclean 
by putting things away - physically moving things 
from where they currently are, to where they should 
belong. Very different than dusting (which probably 
also needs to be done). 

Speaking of housecleaning, that's my job for today. I don't need to cook anything, and my grocery shopping will be minimal. I'll wash the car, but that's pretty fast and easy. So that will allow me plenty of time to start cleaning the den and making it clear for the new treadmill. I still don't have a delivery date, but we'll get there (hopefully before the snows fall since they won't be able to get the box through the house interior, but will have to go around the exterior to the lower level entry door). 

Today will be one of those days with a little bit of this 
and a little bit of that. I'm hoping, by the end of the day, 
that there will have been a serious improvement in the 
mess in my den/exercise room. 

So, that's what I've got on my mind today. I have a little bit of this and that, a couple of bills to pay, and something to complete for the County Assessor (sigh), but it should be a rather uneventful day, leaving me LOTS of time to clean, clean and clean. Have an excellent Friday and I'll be back for my final post of the week tomorrow. OH ... and if you have any opportunity to vote for my story, I'd sure appreciate it. The link is here, https://www.dreamwidth.org/poll/?id=31883 and I hope I survive the vote to write again. We'll be eliminating two this week, and I'm usually in the lower vote part of each week. So ... I'm a little nervous about this week. 

Cooking Leading To Deep Thoughts and a History of the Kitchen Stove

I cooked like a crazy woman yesterday, doing two different soups, and our chicken for dinner. My refrigerator is stacked with containers of yummy goodness that will last me, hopefully, for more than a week. Ideally, these will last me for 10 days or so. I also honey roasted some carrots and baked some pears. I made two of my favorites because it's easy to make them on the same day. My Asian Vegetable-Beef Soup cooks on the stove top, and my Spicy Kielbasa Soup cooks in my slow cooker. So I got the Kielbasa soup started first, then worked on everything else while the slow cooker worked its' magic. I do love modern appliances. 

Look at these antique gas stoves. I'm estimating these 
were from the 1950's or so, but I can't find a date and 
don't have the time to research it. It almost looks as 
though the very back top is hinged and would close 
down over the burners. Can't say for sure on that either, 
though. 

A century ago this particular kitchen routine would have been next to impossible. There were no slow cookers, the kitchen stoves/ovens/ranges that we use without much thought these days also didn't exist. There were stoves - of course. A different style, however. The electric or gas stoves that we use daily now weren't even a whisper of a dream in the 1920's. We might dream about the 20's as having been a milder time, an easier time, a "fun" time in which everyone danced the Charleston and wore flapper dresses or Zoot suits. But in reality, the 1920's were days leading into the Great Depression of the 1930's, the Dust Bowl and the beginning of things like Social Security and governmental work projects throughout the nation to keep people employed and fed. 

In the 1920's, this stove may have been in your 
cooking/food preparation area. It was top of 
the line for its' day. Gas operated, it was one big 
step away from the wood burning stoves of the 
late 1890's through early 1900's. 

History always seems to look a little bit better through the warped glass of the past. World War II? It was just a big war that lasted a lot of years and cost a lot of lives. Well, yeah. It was that, and it fulfills that description, but it was a lot more than that. It was fear, running away, leaving everything behind to flee the soldiers ahead. It was D-Day and the atomic bomb and Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini. It was war that spread from the Reich through to reach almost every point of the entire world. And it will look like children having a playground fight if we lose our ability to think with a conscience again. 

This was a typical (actually rather high-end) gas stove 
from the 1950's. Although I could cook on this, it would 
still not be adjustable enough for my purposes, and those 
tiny ovens would be a problem. Still, it was quite a step up 
from the stoves of 50 years prior. 

It almost seems as though we, as a species, are hard-wired for self-destruction. That after coming out of our previous conflagration, digging in our heels and rebuilding, we can't resist tearing everything down and starting again. Our sand castle keeps falling apart, and/or others come along and kick it down. We seem incapable of making and maintaining relationships between individuals, neighborhoods, cities, states or nations. We are, at basics, a very territorial and confrontational mammal, and sometimes it does us good to remember that. 

Today's stoves are glass cooktops, clean 
and straight. The "burners" are elements that 
never see a pot directly. The stoves are sleek, 
minimalist, and actually a lot of fun to 
work on. I don't have a stove, I have an electric 
cooktop and a separate wall oven. It wasn't my 
choice, I didn't design my house. But it works 
well for me, and I use it A LOT. 

So, as I head to the swimming pool on this day, to work off some of my frustration with the "human" race, I do hope you'll reach out to others today. Even if it's just to say a kind "Hello" or to hold a door open for the next person. Let's remember that kindness also spreads, and do our best to leave the world a little better place tonight than it was early this morning. I love you all - my readers and my long-distance friends. Slava Ukraini. 

So Many Pans in my Fire, and I'm Not Even Talking About Writing!

I'm running a bit late today, and it's a laundry and cooking and shopping day. It's my last laundry, cooking and shopping day for several weeks. For the next two weeks, I'll be grabbing time as I can because I'll be working six day weeks and I won't have my "day off". Sucks~but Chickie well deserves her vacation. As I recall, she didn't take any vacation at all last year, or maybe just a day here and there. (I could be wrong about that - there might have been a trip to Montana built into her schedule). Still, she deserves her vacation. 

It's a bit too early in the year for us to have 
leaf turn, but within a month or so, we'll 
be multiple colors. The trees are already 
starting to turn and Fall in the Frozen 
Northlands is a spectacular season. 

Vacation - what thoughts do you have when that word is mentioned? For me it's sandy beaches, palm trees, sun and surf. Since I've experienced that so rarely in my life, I'll blame media for that vision. Television and movies have cemented that experience into my brain as an "acceptable" vacation. But I would be fine just having an extended period of a week or two away from the shop. That would be ample "vacation" for me. I'm quite happy at home, and I need to do a major clean before my treadmill can be delivered and set up. 

When I Google "Summer Vacation" for images, almost 
every one features a beach and summer sun dancing on 
the waves. Almost 100% of the images. What? Summer 
doesn't exist in a small cabin in the Rocky Mountains? 
To experience Summer you have to be at a beach? Really? 

Speaking of the treadmill, I'll have to call her today. I haven't heard from her in a couple of days, and I still have no date for delivery. I haven't paid them yet either, so I'm fine with the delay. I also am quite sure I'm far from the only person who ordered equipment from them at the State Fair. Those booths are not inexpensive, and they can't afford to be there just to be a showcase for equipment. But, with Chickie's vacation coming up, I fear I may not actually have my new treadmill until the middle of next month. I comfort myself with the thought that I haven't had a functional treadmill for more than two years, so a few more weeks won't make a difference. But I really, really REALLY want my treadmill - LOL. 

I did call and get the ball rolling on a new phone system 
for the shop. Yesterday was filled with dealing with the 
paperwork and filling out form after form. I think the 
system I chose will work well for us, and it should actually 
save us quite a bit on our current monthly rate because 
we'll be dropping one carrier and going with a different 
one. Still hoops to jump through, but I got a good start 
on everything. 

So, since I'm not on a treadmill, I'm dressed for the swimming pool. It'll be a very busy Wednesday all around, so I'm going to wrap this up. Stories are due on Thursday, so I'll be posting voting information for all of you on Friday. Have a truly wonderful Wednesday and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

Now I Get To Figure Out Digital Phones for the Shop - Oh Joy! (Not)

I've got about 15 minutes to get this written and posted today. It's a rare day when I sleep until my alarm goes off (it's set for 3:00 am on swimming days and I know, that's early for most people). But, I'm ready to head to the gym, I've printed the business cards I needed for the shop, I packed up my laptop, and I'm as ready as possible when I return from swimming. I'll contact my treadmill people today to inquire about scheduling the delivery and payment. I don't want to get lost in the sea of paperwork and orders that they get from the MN State Fair. 

I'm getting the top of the line in this version of treadmill. 
I figure if I'm paying for it and using it, I deserve the 
best - one that I can work with until they burn me. This 
seemed like a good choice. 

I get this week and next week before Chickie is gone on a two-week vacation. Well deserved - but still, it will be a royal PITA. Today, however, I get my own version of hell. I need to look into changing our phone system at the shop from a wired one to a wireless one to meet with Federal regulations. Our phones will become inoperable later this year. We use the old wired and push button style - very old school, but that makes sense for a business that's been around since the 1950's. I was thinking about limping along in one way, but DH is actually up to the thought of upgrading the equipment, then taking it home when we close the place so that we can have digital phones at home. I'm all for that. So I have interviews with several digital phone companies early this morning, before I have to open the store. Ick! I hate initial calls like this, but I need more information, and this is the way to get it. 

My only concern about going digital at the shop 
is the security system. Sometimes those get 
a bit picky with a digital system, and sometimes 
they don't respond correctly when the power 
goes off during a thunderstorm or something. 

For home - hell, we really don't use the land line at home either. We rely on our cell phones for almost everything. But there are times when we actually need a land line, and our security system is tied to the land lines. I'll need to contact that company anyway and make sure our security system at the shop will be compatible with a digital phone system. Some of them are more fussy than others. So I'm taking the first steps onto that road, but it needs to be walked, and relatively soon. Just one more thing to do - LOL. 

Any phone system I get needs to be easy enough for 
DH to understand and handle (he's not all that up 
on modern technology - although he likes his portable 
phone). He's very old-school. *sigh*

On that thought, swimming looks like a very good way to get rid of some of this stress. So I'm wrapping this up and heading for the pool. Have an excellent Tuesday and I'll be back tomorrow - hopefully with positive things to report and a bit more time to write them down. Slava Ukraini. 

Miscellaneous This and That - A Bit of Kvetch, Too

DH and I had decided to skip Renaissance Festival this past Sunday and have a relaxing day enjoying football. I asked him for a read-through of my latest story for LJ Idol, which he did, and his suggestions were quite helpful. After a lot of writing and re-writing, I think I have it ready to submit. Of course, last story, although I did manage to survive another week, I was still in the bottom for voting. I know that's because I don't have a wide circle of outside friends or relatives I can ask to vote for me, and I'm VERY appreciative of each and every one of you who do cast your vote in my favor. I'll submit my next story today and it will go live later in the week. As the saying goes ... I live to write another day - LOL. 

I live to write another week, and this week's tale 
will be posted today. I don't think voting will open 
until later in the week, I'll let all of you know. 

My first task this morning (after my meditation, shower and brewing a cup of tea) was to find a supplier for a new batch of Mr Clean Thin Eraser. They're amazingly difficult to find but I vastly prefer them over the thicker eraser pads that you find everywhere. One complete clean of my shower will destroy any pad, and with the thin ones,  I get 16 pads in a box. Over time, it's far more economical for my usage. But it's hard to find. I finally found a good price on a carton from a cleaning supply company in Pennsylvania. I ordered five containers of four boxes each. That will keep my in stock for a minimum of six months, probably closer to a year. 

I prefer using the thin sheets to clean my 
shower and bathrooms. They do fall apart, 
but so do the thick ones. I get 16 in a box 
of these, so they actually last a LOT longer 
than the thicker cleaning pads do. 

I start my last week of comfortable work schedule today. Chickie goes on a two week vacation starting next week, and DH and I will have to work six days a week at the shop for two weeks. That will be as close to hell as I can possibly think, and I'll be MORE than grateful when she gets back into town. DH tends to spend most of his time in the basement, or growling about bills and cash flow. Either way, he's always in a bad mood, and I hate being tied to my space on the sales floor without even the ability to get any computer work done. If anything will crash and burn my writing contest for me, it'll be Chickie's vacation. She well deserves the time off, but two weeks in a row is harsh for DH and I. 

While Chickie is away on vacation starting next week, 
DH and I will have to work six day weeks to have two 
people at the store at all times. I won't get my days off, 
nor will he. That's the reality of working with a small 
staff - you have to pitch in for one another. But we rarely 
take blocks of time off. She's taking two full weeks off 
in a row. *sigh*

Still, I have one "normal" week left, and I'm going to try and enjoy it to the fullest - LOL. On that note, I'm going to wrap this "kvetch" fest up and start my day with a nice cup of tea and breakfast. Have a lovely Monday and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini.