Screwdrivers, Computers and Sugar Ants

So, the missing screwdriver (and a pair of heavy-duty ridged pliers) were found - actually next to where he sits when he's working on the computer. *sigh* Of course that doesn't solve everything, but we're moving ahead - step by step, photo by photo. 

We own a lot of screwdrivers, but the one he was missing he was 
using to disassemble metal shelving to make them uniform in 
their type of shelves - either industrial or commercial. He was 
really upset that he couldn't find it (he obviously didn't look 
very well). 

Yesterday it was time to tackle my area of the back room - the credenza where we keep the printer and a back-up computer system, and the smaller credenza where we have old printers and/or copiers, and where Chickie sits. It was a job to get everything cleared off enough for the photos, but we got it done and everything is back in the appropriate place now. I'll probably toss the old printer, although keeping old printers is what saved us when our regular printer died a year or so ago. 

We're nowhere as bad as this. We only had three old printer, 
and one of those is our main printer right now. That leaves 
us with two old printers that possibly would work with our 
computer system. But, the printer only needs to work for 
another few months, so I'm hoping it hangs in there. 

I'm still fighting the good fight again sugar ants. We live in an old house, and there are cracks in the foundation that are plenty large enough for something smaller than 1/8" to crawl into. I saw a few in the downstairs bathroom about two weeks ago. Sprayed, and they were gone. But I also knew that when they were one place, they'd probably show up at another, so I've been watching. 

Sugar ants are TINY, and so they're able to get in through 
small cracks in the brickwork or the foundation. I keep my 
eyes peeled for the suckers. I'm on a mission to keep them 
out of my house! 

Sure enough, a few days ago they showed up in my bathroom (which is directly above the downstairs shower room), and my bathroom is directly next to the pantry. The last time we had these miserable little beasts, we ended up having to pull EVERYTHING out of the pantry. I decided to do a pantry check today, and did find a few of them, which I instantly sprayed with ant killer. I'll keep a sharp eye out. I might clean out the bottom levels next Wednesday on my "day off", but I really can't do anything until them. All our time is focused on the business, and I don't have any days off except Wednesday right now. 

So, on that note, I'm out of here. Have an excellent weekend and I'll be back Monday morning. Slava Ukraini. 

Argh ... Just Argh

Just a quick check-in today - so much that I need to do. DH is assembling and re-assembling the metal shelving that we keep all of our products on both on the main floor and the basement level. That's close to 75 individual 6 foot shelving units, each with anywhere from 6-12 shelves. The entire event rests on the fact that there are two different kinds of shelves - commercial and industrial. He's trying to match up the shelf type as much as possible. It's a JOB! 

All of our backstock is kept on industrial shelving very simlar 
to this, in bins very similar to those in the photo. That's 1000's 
of small items, collected together with others and organized 
so that we can pull the beads the customer wants easily and 
quickly. But now we're trying to get the shelving put 
together and matched into one of the two types we have - 
industrial and commercial. It all comes down to how much 
weight they'll hold. 

I'm trying to figure out when I have time to cut the mats for the newest art pieces I want to get onto our walls to sell. I've got the frames, but one of those will have to be recut - Wednesday's agenda. I've got the mats, what I don't "got" is the time. But I need to get it - so somehow I'll make this happen. 

We're all growling at each other, while banging on steel 
shelving and helping customers. We're under a hard 
deadline to have this done, and it's taking a LOT more time 
than we had thought it would. 

I heard from an attorney I've done business with before and he recommended a different attorney to help with my paperwork. I contacted Lawyer #2 and give him the quick scoop. It's a bit out of his normal range - he works with adoptions mostly - but he'll check things out on his end and get back to me. Baby steps. I'll get there yet. *sigh* 

All I want is a "Real ID' so that I can actually 
cross the border into Canada or Mexico if I'm 
so inclined. You would think I was asking for 
the damned moon! 

So, I'm off and running. If all of you could put your thoughts and mojo towards DH finding the very large orange-handled screwdriver that he put down somewhere yesterday and that has been MIA ever since, I'd appreciate it. Right now, it looks as if it has joined the single socks in their black hole. But it's a BIG thing - very hard to miss. We're missing it - LOL. ARGH. Have an excellent Friday and I'll wrap the week up tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

GRRRRRR - I HATE Small People in Large Jobs

I have no time today, just a quick post to let you know that yesterday's attempt at getting an updated Driver's Licenses was a complete and total disaster. I've sent an email off to my attorney, and might have to get him, or someone he recommends, involved in this. Meanwhile, I'll soon have an expired Driver's License which also won't be good. GRRRRR I'm off to swim off some frustration. 

- Erulisse (one L)

It's Going To Be A VERY Busy Morning

We're working very hard to get the inventory accounted for to sell it, and there just aren't enough hours in the day. I've already given up my Friday's off, and I have a feeling my Wednesdays will soon follow and I'll be working 7 days a week. EXCEPT, I really can't do that. I have a crammed schedule today, for example. Not only do I need to make my next batch of baked fruit, as well as tonight's dinner and three loads of laundry, I also have a 9:30 am appointment to get my enhanced driver's license. The website quite pointedly states that I have an appointment that guarantees me a spot in the line, but not the actual time. I'll be there early - probably much closer to when they open at 7:30 am. If I'm going to waste time on my phone, I might as well waste it there - LOL. 

I filled out the pre-application documents this 
morning. It's a good thing I couldn't sleep, because 
that took almost an hour of filling out the form and 
finding the documents they're requesting. *sigh*

I did double and triple check my envelope to make sure I have all of the things I'll be called upon to have - bills that have my name on them, for instance, and of course my Certified Copy of my legal name change, which is the whole reason I had to go through this in the first place. I couldn't just renew the way I've done for the past 20 years. Now the drivers licenses are specialized, and I plan to want to travel abroad once I've finally put the shop behind me. I can't do that without the highest tier driver's license, the one that I have to ring all the bells for and blow all the whistles. *sigh* I guess it's actually a good thing, though. It pushed me to finally get the name change (and deal with DH's complete anger at my doing that). 

It's a good thing I did fill out the pre-check in forms. I 
would have forgotten my income tax return, and there was 
one other thing I needed that I would have had to go 
back home for. 

Among that, and grocery shopping, and making my next batch of baked fruit, I also have three loads of laundry to do. For some reason or other, I think I'll be just a bit busy today - LOL. It's a good thing I can take some of my frustration and anxiety out in the swimming pool this morning. There's nothing like a good workout to start the day out right. Hopefully our roads won't be icy. We had a small storm come through yesterday leaving a lovely coating of ice on everything, including, of course, the roads. Really NOT a good thing. 

We had freezing rain yesterday morning, but it started right 
after I got to the shop, and was gone by the time I left 
last night. I'm hoping things didn't ice up a lot today, though. 
I have too much to do for icy roads and walkways. 

So, as you can tell, it's a busy day for me today. I hope all of you have a day that's a bit more restful than mine will be, and that you go to bed tonight feeling accomplished and pleased with how your day went. I'll be back tomorrow - hopefully with only good things to report about my crazy Wednesday. Slava Ukraini. 

We're Drowning In Metal - Shelving and Desks

Yesterday was a grind - I did get the next check sent off to Travis, but DH spent a rather unproductive day dealing with the metal shelving we're overwhelmed with. We've got two types of metal warehouse shelving - industrial and commercial. The difference is the quality of the actual shelves - the amount of weight they will hold. The side braces are almost identical, and the shelf difference is slight, but it does make a difference if you're putting a lot of weight onto them. 

We have close to 50 units of steel shelving, most of which have 
eight to ten shelves. That's a LOT of shelves to make sure are 
all assembled with the same types of shelves per unit. I think 
that's a waste of his time - we're not going to get a massive 
amount of money on the steel shelving, but at least the 
photos for the main room's furnishings are complete. One step 
at a time. 

The boxed sets are easy - but the assembled shelves are a mismatch of what was at-hand at the time they were first assembled, and what was at hand when they were reconfigured to fit one place or another. I think DH said we have approximately 60 shelving units, some still in boxes, but most already assembled. Since both types of shelf fit onto the same brackets, it comes down to figuring out which shelves need to be switched out to make it one type of shelf or the other. I think it's a tremendous waste of time. We won't get that much for them in general, and he's spending days tearing his hair out trying to get them configured correctly. *sigh* I'm VERY annoyed. 

The difference between heavy-duty and industrial steel 
shelving is the amount of weight they can bear. Our shelving 
is a mix of both, and we also have extra shelving - some 
of which is still boxed in the original packaging. We've run places 
with metal shelving in the warehousing for decades. It's a lot 
of steel that we need to sell. 

I'm also annoyed at Verizon. I've been trying to get my bill paid with them for almost a week now, and I'm having all types of difficulties. I pay my bills on-line all the time. It's only Verizon that gives me grief, and I really can't afford to be without my phone. I'll try again at the shop today, but it's very frustrating. 

All I want to do is pay my Verizon bill. But it's becoming 
an impossible dream. I don't know why I can't get it paid, 
but their website is bouncing me off time and again. Can you 
say "Frustrating!"? 

I'm getting things together for Travis - I sent a lot of things over to him over the past few days, but it occurred to me in the middle of the night (because that's when things can creep up, as you well know), it occurred to me that I hadn't done anything about the desks, etc on the main floor - the ones we use every day. Those have to be included, and we've done nothing with them. We need measurements and photographs. I'll have to put that onto Sunday's agenda because I'll have to clear the tops completely and that's a chore. They're working desks, not ornamental - LOL. 

We have four industrial metal desks that we use - one is 
in the main room, one in DH's area, and two downstairs 
in the warehouse area. They're heavy and bulky and probably 
would survive the Apocalypse. I can't wait to get rid of them.

So, I'm leaving to swim off some of my frustrations. I'm hoping the exercise will help me unclench my teeth and breathe a bit deeper. At any rate, I can work off a bit of the three pounds I put on last week. Shame on me! Big thanks to Samtyr for the wonderful "Year of the Horse" shirt she sent to me. It's fabulous and I'll wear it happily when the weather gets warmer. *hugs* Have an excellent Tuesday and I'm off to the swimming pool. Slava Ukraini. 

It's Monday and We're Back to a More "Normal" Schedule

I found my opal-embellished crystal and gold chain, so I'm breathing a bit easier today. It wasn't too far from where the pendant was found, but for some reason or other, I simply hadn't found it in my first run-through (or 2nd, or 3rd - LOL). Whatever reason, however, it's all back together again. 

What was lost is now found. I'm quite relieved, my 
Lady and the Moon, amethyst crystal and gold 
chain is quite important to me. It's all together once 
again and I'm very happy. 

I worked yesterday - we were photographing items that we couldn't take care of during the business day. But we got them done. DH needs to send them to me, then I'll get them into the format, and our photographs will (mostly) be complete. We got home and decided to have Chinese for dinner - Moo Shu pork - yummy! Of course it put two pounds on me for this morning, but I consider it worth it and those two pounds will quickly be gone. 

I do love my electronic bathroom scale. It's just about as 
accurate as my previous mechanical scale, but it's quick 
and easy and has large numbers so I don't have to wear 
my glasses. LOL - The perils of growing old. 

I stayed up late to watch the closing ceremony for the Olympics. We were still working at the shop when they were originally broadcast, so I caught the redo. Since I stayed up until 10:00 am, I decided to skip my treadmill today and sleep in until 5:00 am. I can't be late to the shop - I have too much that has to be done before I open the doors this morning. 

I adored that the closing ceremonies were held in an 
amphitheatre that is 2000 years old and still used today. 
Think about it, those of you who live in the USA. Two 
thousand years old and still being used! Fabuloso! 

So, I'm cutting this short, hoping that all of you managed to catch some of the Olympics (which were absolutely MARVELOUS to watch), and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

I've Lost Something Dear to Me and the Olympics (of course) - They're Winding Down

I lost something very dear to me last night. Fortunately the part that mattered most managed to me is still with me, but ... I had a very bad night's sleep and I'm going to leave for the shop very early to check the parking lot for the other two items. I have always loved jewelry and enjoy wearing it. Yesterday I was wearing my favorite gold chain with two dangles - my 24Kt and Sterling Silver Lady and the Moon, and an amethyst crystal with an opal inset. Apparently the chain broke at some point, because I found the Lady on the carpet in my computer room. I checked everywhere and still haven't found the chain or the amethyst. But, they can be replaced, if necessary. The Lady and the Moon was custom made for DH by a dear friend of ours who was operating a jewelry store at the time. That isn't replaceable, so I'm relieved that I at least have that. But the gold chain was a heavy chain - it's WAY more than I can afford to replace at the prices of gold these days. 

My Lady Riding the Moon is very similar to this one, 
except my Lady is white gold, and my Moon is 18Kt 
yellow gold. It was a custom order that DH made with a 
dear friend who was running a custom jewelry store at 
the time. I treasure it and wear it often. It was on a solid 
24Kt neck chain, that must have broken. I had been 
wearing it all day, and wear it often. 

But, I'm still a bit heartsick at losing that chain. I'm VERY grateful that I still have my Lady and the Moon pendant, but I'm not very happy. I'm going to grab a very early breakfast and then head over to the shop to check the parking lot. I already checked the garage and the entryway to the house - nothing. If it's lying on the ground on the parking lot, it's a 50/50 chance of finding it. We have a lot of homeless people in the general area, and that could be a real find for them. I just need to find it because with today's gold prices, I can't afford to replace the necklace. 

The price of gold has gone through the roof over the past 
few years. I can't afford to replace the chain, so I'm 
hoping I happen to come across it in the parking lot at work, 
or in the store. I'm extremely grateful that I didn't lost 
the pendant - that is irreplaceable. But the chain is a 
serious problem too. 

So, the Winter Olympics are winding down. Only two more days of competition and they're over and the torches are doused. The next Olympics will be in Los Angeles in 2028 - that will be a summer games version. We'll be in the French Alps for the next Winter games in 2030, and down south in Brisbane, Australia for the next summer games in 2032. 

We had already been awarded the 1976 Winter Olympics, 
but the populace of the state decided it would be death for 
our mountains, so we put it to a vote and voted it down. The 
Olympic Committee had to pull away from the decision and 
they had to find a different venue - Innsbruck, Austria. 

I have the pleasure and distinction of being one of the many who voted AGAINST holding the Winter Olympics in my state while I lived in Colorado. We were one of the finalists for the 1976 Winter Games but we rejected it in a 1972 referendum, forcing Denver to withdraw it's bid after it had been awarded the games. We didn't want to spend the money, and we especially didn't want to deal with all of those extra people on our ski slopes. I am still totally behind that vote - it would have changed my mountains in a way I really didn't want. They've still changed over the years, but it's been a more controlled growth than quickly making things "proper" for a major sporting event like the Olympics. 

So I'm wrapping this up, having a quick breakfast, and then heading over to the shop to check out the parking lot in hopes of finding my gold chain. Have a great Saturday and weekend, I'll be back on Monday morning. Slava Ukraini, and enjoy the final two days of the Olympics. Italy has done itself proud - the games have been glorious.