life in the old lane

Actually, I don’t think this is ordinary time. But, to my pagan soul – today seems like I have finally returned to ordinary time. Not Hawaiian time, not just returned jet lagged time, not frantic about finding a new place time, not packing time, not moving time, not unpacking time. Just ordinary time. Ordinary time is good. For now.

I am going to get a spotting scope for the living room. For me. Not for Carlton.

Also going get some chunk of furniture to hold my computer and its accoutrements. I am not a good furniture shopper. And, I don’t want another monumental chunk of furniture which will prove problematic next time I move. And, I want it to hide all the stuff. For the last 6 years our living room looked like a computer repair facility.

I had hiccups last night – I was sitting in the living room – waiting for them to leave – when I realized that I didn’t need a tripod. All I had to do was zoom out my little point and shoot camera and sit it on a library book on the window sill and take a picture. Right thru the window.

Here is the same view, not zoomed, from the comfort of my own living room chair.

Not too shabby. It is actually a view “to die for”. Speaking of which – it would be really easy to suicide off the ledge outside our window. Not even requiring a stepping stool. I have no problem with suicide. But, I do have a problem with making other people unwilling participants. Jumping in front of trains, death by cop, and taking a header into the metro plaza all fall into that category.

I had a very fine Mother’s Day – and Happy 50th Birthday to the Birth Control Pill. Thank you Margaret Sanger and Katherine McCormick, and Dr Gregory Pincus and Frank Colton.

Back to Mother’s Day – I made baked chicken breasts coated with those French’s canned fried onions that are so popular on canned green beans around holiday time. Canned fried onions are much better used as a “breading” for sauteed or baked fish and chicken. Trust your momma on this one.

DSL still works fine.

The new answering machine/cordless phone is going back. Carlton hates it. No need to buy the man a present and have him say the F-word every 15 minutes about it.

This happens everytime I try to buy him a present. Well, I have finally learned. Never again. Heck, it even happens when I buy him necessities. That is why he generally looks so shabby. If he doesn’t care, neither do I. I am not his Mommy. Thank the Goddess.

But, DSL is still working. That is good. Very good.

Do I have DSL service or not? Well, if you ask me…I do. When I came back from today’s outing, I turned the DSL modem on – and – TaDa – the DSL light lit. I fired up the Airness and it connected. Sweet. So, I went about my offline business. (Setting up a new answering machine for Carlton.)

After a while, I decide to check my WiFi signal from around the apartment using the iPod Touch. It happily connected to the internet – and started doing important iPod stuff.

The phone rings – I answer it and it is Verzion. With a mechanical message telling me that my DSL service will not be connected until Tuesday. I noted that they didn’t call until after all humans left for the day.

So, I don’t know if I have DSL or not. Maybe, I should cancel my order and continue to get DSL free???

All Right All Ready. I want my DSL back.

Getting back to normal.

Decided it is time to start cooking real food not food where Trader Joe or Whole Foods did 90% of the work.

Also, went back to the volunteer job today.

Not all normal – still no internet love from Verizon. But, I am still enjoying the freedom that being offline provides.

Got the closets measured for shelves and rods this afternoon. When you pay a whole lot of money – they take very good care of you. It is like assisted living – but the inmates are younger.

Here I am, down in the dog lobby – going online. Dare I say that at little time away from the internet has been a good thing.  I almost think that a 3G iPad – might replace my need for internet in the unit. But, I have been online since before the internet.

I am almost all unpacked. Except for the computer stuff.

While taking my boxes to recycling – I discovered a fine Pottery Barn dining room chair. It was a little dusty. I asked if I could take it, they said “Please – that way we’ll not have to pay to have it carted away.” My dining room chair is on it’s last legs. You have to sit carefully. I am liking the new chair.

Went for a walk today – as you can see – we live just on the edge of suburbia. The area doesn’t have the robust nightlife scene that the old place had. But, about all I ever did nightlife wise was to watch the comings and goings at 2AM when I wasn’t asleep.

All in all, life is good in the new place. Maybe even better than the old place. No, it is better than the old place. Old Army Brat training. Where you are is always better than where you were and not as good as where you will be next. But, at my age – I am not so sure about the wonderfulness of the next place. Isn’t there a Paul McCartney song about that?

Good thing I gots no internet – since goldman sacs and british petroleum are core holdings in my portfolio.

Took day off from moving – except for wandering around The Container Store.

Currently using the Apartment WiFi in the lobby – checking out the dogs. There is supposed to be 75 pound limit. As in 75 pounds of dog per unit. Some of the dogs must have been weighed when they were puppies.

Tomorrow we turn in the keys and check out of the old digs. Except for the kitchen, I don’t miss it.

Last night when the moon rose, over the Air Force Memorial, while we were have something nuked for dinner – life was good.

By this morning it was chaos again. And, Verizon said – it will take until May 8th get your cheapass DSL going – but – if you want really expensive FIOS – that we can do today. UP YOURS VERIZON. So, I am using the building free WIFI on the top floor. I so hate Verizon.

Up to about 40 boxes.

About Carlton – he really is just napping. But he does look dead as a door knob.