this was probably not a good idea.
Yes, I am now a light weight. It was only one beer and a "light beer" at that.
Yet I am now a bit too relaxed and a wee bit sleepy...
I hope I don't fall asleep in the middle of it...
Dad - Being his typical silly self...
We miss you dad!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Another day without a box packed...
Well, I did find a spring that might just be the solution to the passenger seat moving freely, up and back. While some find it mildly fun, it really isn't safe, or suitable for a 2500 mile cruise, so gotta get it stationary! Hopefully Issac will be able to get the one of the springs I bought to solve the problem.
Cat's quarters need some help, luckily, my co-pilot, Maria, is a pet expert and is arriving at 10 on Sunday morning. She may be starting a pet vlog (that is video log for those of us not so techie). She is a whiz with solving all manner of problems, has tons of common sense, is quite capable with her hands, and I am frankly relieved that I can turn the "cat tricking of the Jeep" over to her. Whew!
Oh, in case I forgot to mention it, the mechanic's shop - B & W on 26th and South Van Ness in SF, the wonderful guys that did the routine service that unearthed the laundry list of repairs... well, those guys are really awesome - they have always done a good job on the Jeep. When I have had to take it someplace else in an emergency and been told, "you need to replace x" I would end up taking it to Bill and Wayne (B & W - which also stands for Brake and Wheel - that worked out nice didn't it) and as often as not, they would say, you don't need to do that -- just do this and save me a ton of cash. Honest fellows those guys. Bill is just a sweetie to boot. Well, when I asked Wayne to prioritize the list of repairs, I told him I needed to drive it cross country. His reponse "that thing" - well, that inspired tons of confidence, needless to say.
I did mention I was wanting to start thinking about a new vehicle and wanted a 4WD station wagon and was looking at the Subarus. He said they were fine for the first 50k to 80k but if I wanted to keep it longer, (as he shot a look at Jeep on the rack) he suggested sticking with the higher off the ground vehicles and said he'd go with a Honda Pilot and second would be a Toyota 4 Runner. So, if you are in the market for a 4WD, there is some advice from a long term mechanic that runs a good shop.
So, it is Saturday night and co-pilot arrives around 10 am in the morning. I am going to do homework tonight, as it is due on Sunday and I just "KNOW" that everything will get done by Wednesday morning.
So, this morning I went to buy the hitch cargo carrier and the 1 1/4" to 2" hitch adapter so the cargo carrier would fit on my hitch. Bought it, went to my old place in Pt. Richmond to pick up my stuff from storage and decided to just check out that hitch adapter. Couldn't get it to fit. Called Mike back and told him I thought there was a problem. I went back to see him and the poor man had to get a dremel sander out and sand the inside of my hitch, get the grinder and grind down the hitch adapter and then get a board and a mallet and bang the hitch adapter into my hitch. He got it to fit and we are actually able to remove the adapter, which is a good thing long term for the shins... He was a super nice man, so if you know anyone that needs a bike or cargo carrier that is hitch mounted, or needs autobody tools, or auto mechanic tools, he deals in those. Mike Moore. www.broadwaylifts.com He has an adorable, and way affectionate black and white kitty named Samantha.
That added about 45 minutes onto my day. I am so glad I checked it out.
Got to see my friend Karen when she gave me her pet barrier to use. She is the mommy of Snuggie's sister, a fiesty calico that I named Precious as a wee kitty and Karen renamed Boom Boom when she adopted her. Well, turns out Boom is a much more fitting name for her. I also got a real chocolate shake from Foster's Freeze. Ohio does not have Foster's Freeze, boo hoo.
I did get all my stuff from Anne's garage (3 trips) and she will be coming by on Sunday afternoon, along with Sedi, to help with packing and such.
I also bought a rooftop bag to store some stuff in since we won't have any space in the car as the boys will have the entire back, which really isn't much space.
The furniture will arrive in Dayton sometime between June 30 and July 7. Nice spread, eh? Hence the rooftop carrier and the hitch carrier - just a few things to tide us over.
OK, vented enough for today. Getting on to the stats homework which is not really stats focused this week which makes me very freaking happy.
More later!!!!!!!!!!! There are plenty more hurdles to clear before we hit the open, and loud, road.
Video camera, if I can unearth mine and get it to work, will record a wee bit of the boys car surfing and probably barfing, poor little shits.
All right, off to have my chicken and rice - thanks Sarah! and do the homey work!
later!
Cat's quarters need some help, luckily, my co-pilot, Maria, is a pet expert and is arriving at 10 on Sunday morning. She may be starting a pet vlog (that is video log for those of us not so techie). She is a whiz with solving all manner of problems, has tons of common sense, is quite capable with her hands, and I am frankly relieved that I can turn the "cat tricking of the Jeep" over to her. Whew!
Oh, in case I forgot to mention it, the mechanic's shop - B & W on 26th and South Van Ness in SF, the wonderful guys that did the routine service that unearthed the laundry list of repairs... well, those guys are really awesome - they have always done a good job on the Jeep. When I have had to take it someplace else in an emergency and been told, "you need to replace x" I would end up taking it to Bill and Wayne (B & W - which also stands for Brake and Wheel - that worked out nice didn't it) and as often as not, they would say, you don't need to do that -- just do this and save me a ton of cash. Honest fellows those guys. Bill is just a sweetie to boot. Well, when I asked Wayne to prioritize the list of repairs, I told him I needed to drive it cross country. His reponse "that thing" - well, that inspired tons of confidence, needless to say.
I did mention I was wanting to start thinking about a new vehicle and wanted a 4WD station wagon and was looking at the Subarus. He said they were fine for the first 50k to 80k but if I wanted to keep it longer, (as he shot a look at Jeep on the rack) he suggested sticking with the higher off the ground vehicles and said he'd go with a Honda Pilot and second would be a Toyota 4 Runner. So, if you are in the market for a 4WD, there is some advice from a long term mechanic that runs a good shop.
So, it is Saturday night and co-pilot arrives around 10 am in the morning. I am going to do homework tonight, as it is due on Sunday and I just "KNOW" that everything will get done by Wednesday morning.
So, this morning I went to buy the hitch cargo carrier and the 1 1/4" to 2" hitch adapter so the cargo carrier would fit on my hitch. Bought it, went to my old place in Pt. Richmond to pick up my stuff from storage and decided to just check out that hitch adapter. Couldn't get it to fit. Called Mike back and told him I thought there was a problem. I went back to see him and the poor man had to get a dremel sander out and sand the inside of my hitch, get the grinder and grind down the hitch adapter and then get a board and a mallet and bang the hitch adapter into my hitch. He got it to fit and we are actually able to remove the adapter, which is a good thing long term for the shins... He was a super nice man, so if you know anyone that needs a bike or cargo carrier that is hitch mounted, or needs autobody tools, or auto mechanic tools, he deals in those. Mike Moore. www.broadwaylifts.com He has an adorable, and way affectionate black and white kitty named Samantha.
That added about 45 minutes onto my day. I am so glad I checked it out.
Got to see my friend Karen when she gave me her pet barrier to use. She is the mommy of Snuggie's sister, a fiesty calico that I named Precious as a wee kitty and Karen renamed Boom Boom when she adopted her. Well, turns out Boom is a much more fitting name for her. I also got a real chocolate shake from Foster's Freeze. Ohio does not have Foster's Freeze, boo hoo.
I did get all my stuff from Anne's garage (3 trips) and she will be coming by on Sunday afternoon, along with Sedi, to help with packing and such.
I also bought a rooftop bag to store some stuff in since we won't have any space in the car as the boys will have the entire back, which really isn't much space.
The furniture will arrive in Dayton sometime between June 30 and July 7. Nice spread, eh? Hence the rooftop carrier and the hitch carrier - just a few things to tide us over.
OK, vented enough for today. Getting on to the stats homework which is not really stats focused this week which makes me very freaking happy.
More later!!!!!!!!!!! There are plenty more hurdles to clear before we hit the open, and loud, road.
Video camera, if I can unearth mine and get it to work, will record a wee bit of the boys car surfing and probably barfing, poor little shits.
All right, off to have my chicken and rice - thanks Sarah! and do the homey work!
later!
Friday, June 20, 2008
June 25th - Moving Truck at my house
Zowie,
Gulp.
4 days to be packed up and ready!
I still have a bunch of stuff in storage in my old neighbors garage, so I have to go get it.
Went to get the car serviced, and to juice up the a/c and received a $1600 estimate for repairs to make her seaworthy... that is enough to make you sweat even when it is not 100 degrees outside.
Luckily, I found the number for a mobile mechanic I used a few years back. He will be coming over either Sunday, or Monday, to spend the whole day repairing the car. Should be able to get away with about $600 or so in cost. Whew. It took 2 hours to get the parts at Auto Zone. My mechanic friend, Issac, is awesome. Totally committed to doing a good job and doing it right. I am so relieved I was able to scrounge up his number! I'll get the best phone number to reach him for mechanic work, and post it on Monday or Tuesday. He is based in Berkeley.
I am gulping down Taco Hell (sorry Anne...) and on my way to see how low the wires are that hang across my street. There may be a problem getting that 14 foot high truck under them. Wouldn't that be lovely. I am also wondering about them getting in and out, it is a dead end street with a curve and a dip...
It has been a helluva day, I was expecting to start packing up by about 1 pm, and now it will be about 7 before I even get started.
I am trying to buy a cargo carrier to put on the hitch so I can carry a few things with us - like cat food, a change of clothes, a few cat things, (furniture may not arrive until July 7), and it turns out I have a 1 1/4 hitch and most carriers are made for a 2" hitch. I also need a rooftop bag, if anyone knows a local place to get one cheap in case I cannot manage a craigslist item.
I'll post the planned route and the daily destination goals before I leave and if I have free wireless anywhere and it is convienent, I'll post an update from the open road...
Gotta get choppin!
Gulp.
4 days to be packed up and ready!
I still have a bunch of stuff in storage in my old neighbors garage, so I have to go get it.
Went to get the car serviced, and to juice up the a/c and received a $1600 estimate for repairs to make her seaworthy... that is enough to make you sweat even when it is not 100 degrees outside.
Luckily, I found the number for a mobile mechanic I used a few years back. He will be coming over either Sunday, or Monday, to spend the whole day repairing the car. Should be able to get away with about $600 or so in cost. Whew. It took 2 hours to get the parts at Auto Zone. My mechanic friend, Issac, is awesome. Totally committed to doing a good job and doing it right. I am so relieved I was able to scrounge up his number! I'll get the best phone number to reach him for mechanic work, and post it on Monday or Tuesday. He is based in Berkeley.
I am gulping down Taco Hell (sorry Anne...) and on my way to see how low the wires are that hang across my street. There may be a problem getting that 14 foot high truck under them. Wouldn't that be lovely. I am also wondering about them getting in and out, it is a dead end street with a curve and a dip...
It has been a helluva day, I was expecting to start packing up by about 1 pm, and now it will be about 7 before I even get started.
I am trying to buy a cargo carrier to put on the hitch so I can carry a few things with us - like cat food, a change of clothes, a few cat things, (furniture may not arrive until July 7), and it turns out I have a 1 1/4 hitch and most carriers are made for a 2" hitch. I also need a rooftop bag, if anyone knows a local place to get one cheap in case I cannot manage a craigslist item.
I'll post the planned route and the daily destination goals before I leave and if I have free wireless anywhere and it is convienent, I'll post an update from the open road...
Gotta get choppin!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Salamanders and PODS
Ok, 2 post in the same evening.... gosh I could become a twitterer...
Well, I was chatting with Lance, pretty sure he was an Australian chap, sweet as pie. Trying to get schooled on PODing & to get a quote when darling Jaz bounds through the cat door to my right, and proceeds to the red Pakistani rug to my left, and starts going in circles... must be a critter.
Yup, salamander.
I share the news with Lance, who is amused. I manage to dispacth little sallie back to the wilds while keeping up with Lance. He has a cat, and has wished me well in my, um, task.
Well, FYI - the POD thing is convenient, yet not as wallet friendly as Broadway Express. $4200 for the POD for a month, which included the cross country move that would take a minimum of 9 days. BE, for the record, is only $2400... yup, BE still wins, and they did such a nice job with James' move to NC a few years back...
So, here I sit, checking out the auto transport quotes, and wouldn't you know it...
Jaz busts through the door again with sallie. Sallie got away, and damned if I can find her... nothing about this is good. They are very quick and fragile and soft... and probably smell when the die and are in a corner somewhere for a few days. Good job I am moving very soon!
Ever slept when 3 cats are tearing the place up trying to find the critter they smell? Me neither.
Any advice on finding a yound sallie in a place with beige carpet? I've got time for this, really.
Well, I was chatting with Lance, pretty sure he was an Australian chap, sweet as pie. Trying to get schooled on PODing & to get a quote when darling Jaz bounds through the cat door to my right, and proceeds to the red Pakistani rug to my left, and starts going in circles... must be a critter.
Yup, salamander.
I share the news with Lance, who is amused. I manage to dispacth little sallie back to the wilds while keeping up with Lance. He has a cat, and has wished me well in my, um, task.
Well, FYI - the POD thing is convenient, yet not as wallet friendly as Broadway Express. $4200 for the POD for a month, which included the cross country move that would take a minimum of 9 days. BE, for the record, is only $2400... yup, BE still wins, and they did such a nice job with James' move to NC a few years back...
So, here I sit, checking out the auto transport quotes, and wouldn't you know it...
Jaz busts through the door again with sallie. Sallie got away, and damned if I can find her... nothing about this is good. They are very quick and fragile and soft... and probably smell when the die and are in a corner somewhere for a few days. Good job I am moving very soon!
Ever slept when 3 cats are tearing the place up trying to find the critter they smell? Me neither.
Any advice on finding a yound sallie in a place with beige carpet? I've got time for this, really.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Well, there are days (today) that I kinda, sorta, just a little bit, might wish I didn't have three little tumblefurr creators... but then, look at those fellas stretched out on the bed.. too freakin adorable to live without.
My little 10 year old great-niece, bless her heart, called me today to offer me one of her kittens... they are a month old and she is trolling for homes for them. His name is Paul. I don't know. It was a voicemail message. Paul? I DECLINED - yup. I still have my eye on the neighbors orange male cat "Baby" - they never let him inside, he has no siblings. He has adopted the fellas and hangs out with them, he comes when I call them on the cat whistle, and he uses the cat door to come eat the crunchy bits... it is a good job 3 cats is providing to be a big ordeal, or I'd arrive with 4.
It would probably take them a week to miss him...as it stands I don't have a forwarding address, so I wouldn't need to worry about them tracking me down...
I am thinking of forwarding my mail to "general delivery" in Dayton... I did that in Sydney for 3 months and it wasn't so bad...
My latest "move" plan was to get a direct redeye flight from SFO (or Oakland, or San Jose) to Cincinnati (or Columbus, or Indianapolis - testing your midwest geography ain't I???) and just have a friend (you know who you are oh experienced animal mover) come and collect me and the fellas and make the shortish drive to Dayton during the rush hour commute. luv ya...
Well, it seems that overnight redeyes between these cities is not so easy to come by - that is on airlines that will accept the cats during the summer months...
I still have some calls to make, and I need to call Delta back - the Indian fellow I talked to was sweet but I just could not be clear what he was telling me. It was a bit fun though. I said I had 3 cats to fly and he said "3 ma'am?" I said yes. He said, with more inflection, "3 ma'am?" I said yes. I kid you not, he said, "3 ma'am?" I then said "Yes, 1, 2, 3 -- 3 cats," to which he said "OK ma'am." He proceeded to attempt to give me information, which, bless his heart, came out as gobbledy gook.
I started wrapping up the call so I could speak to someone else and get some usable data, and then he says. "3 cats ma'am?" and he is kind of laughing. I say yes "Americans are crazy aren't we" to this he laughed out loud and put me on hold to find some more information. He was so sweet I agreed to get transferred to Avis. Avis told me I could rent a van one way from Chicago to Dayton for $130. Plus $60 for gas.
Back on the phone with Delta and yes, it is another Indian fellow. I haven't mentioned the cats yet, but they do have a direct flight (Cincy is their hub) and it is only $600 - for me and one bag. Right now I think they are interchangable. .. (I know some of you understood that).
I have been on hold for a very long time while this nice fellow finds out what the largest size 50 lb bag is that I can check. Ok 62 linear inches... now I have sprung the cats on him. It took a while for him to grasp the question, and get that it was 3 cats. Not as much fun. I have said yes, about 82 or 83 times so far, yup we are having fun now. Just threw him a "correct" for a bit of variety. BTW, I have a flight on hold for June 35th - not a typo. At least this is fun.
I am going to call back in the morning and confirm the information with another person... I am not convinced the cat thing is 100%... and I don't have margin for error. I also need a travel date that shows on a printed calendar of the Gregorian kind.
Now, lets hope I can get the moving truck for that day, and the car transport and oh, yea, get packed. Not a single thing has gone into a box. Well, Snuggie has a box festish so he is often in one, but he cannot go in the truck-- and don't even think about that!
Aren't you glad I am blogging??? Just like being here, huh? You can live vicariously through me!
Ahhhhhhh, time to start looking into the move options, just in case Broadway Express is not the best all around option… my sister suggested PODS, so I am off to surf the modular moving experience!
My little 10 year old great-niece, bless her heart, called me today to offer me one of her kittens... they are a month old and she is trolling for homes for them. His name is Paul. I don't know. It was a voicemail message. Paul? I DECLINED - yup. I still have my eye on the neighbors orange male cat "Baby" - they never let him inside, he has no siblings. He has adopted the fellas and hangs out with them, he comes when I call them on the cat whistle, and he uses the cat door to come eat the crunchy bits... it is a good job 3 cats is providing to be a big ordeal, or I'd arrive with 4.
It would probably take them a week to miss him...as it stands I don't have a forwarding address, so I wouldn't need to worry about them tracking me down...
I am thinking of forwarding my mail to "general delivery" in Dayton... I did that in Sydney for 3 months and it wasn't so bad...
My latest "move" plan was to get a direct redeye flight from SFO (or Oakland, or San Jose) to Cincinnati (or Columbus, or Indianapolis - testing your midwest geography ain't I???) and just have a friend (you know who you are oh experienced animal mover) come and collect me and the fellas and make the shortish drive to Dayton during the rush hour commute. luv ya...
Well, it seems that overnight redeyes between these cities is not so easy to come by - that is on airlines that will accept the cats during the summer months...
I still have some calls to make, and I need to call Delta back - the Indian fellow I talked to was sweet but I just could not be clear what he was telling me. It was a bit fun though. I said I had 3 cats to fly and he said "3 ma'am?" I said yes. He said, with more inflection, "3 ma'am?" I said yes. I kid you not, he said, "3 ma'am?" I then said "Yes, 1, 2, 3 -- 3 cats," to which he said "OK ma'am." He proceeded to attempt to give me information, which, bless his heart, came out as gobbledy gook.
I started wrapping up the call so I could speak to someone else and get some usable data, and then he says. "3 cats ma'am?" and he is kind of laughing. I say yes "Americans are crazy aren't we" to this he laughed out loud and put me on hold to find some more information. He was so sweet I agreed to get transferred to Avis. Avis told me I could rent a van one way from Chicago to Dayton for $130. Plus $60 for gas.
Back on the phone with Delta and yes, it is another Indian fellow. I haven't mentioned the cats yet, but they do have a direct flight (Cincy is their hub) and it is only $600 - for me and one bag. Right now I think they are interchangable. .. (I know some of you understood that).
I have been on hold for a very long time while this nice fellow finds out what the largest size 50 lb bag is that I can check. Ok 62 linear inches... now I have sprung the cats on him. It took a while for him to grasp the question, and get that it was 3 cats. Not as much fun. I have said yes, about 82 or 83 times so far, yup we are having fun now. Just threw him a "correct" for a bit of variety. BTW, I have a flight on hold for June 35th - not a typo. At least this is fun.
I am going to call back in the morning and confirm the information with another person... I am not convinced the cat thing is 100%... and I don't have margin for error. I also need a travel date that shows on a printed calendar of the Gregorian kind.
Now, lets hope I can get the moving truck for that day, and the car transport and oh, yea, get packed. Not a single thing has gone into a box. Well, Snuggie has a box festish so he is often in one, but he cannot go in the truck-- and don't even think about that!
Aren't you glad I am blogging??? Just like being here, huh? You can live vicariously through me!
Ahhhhhhh, time to start looking into the move options, just in case Broadway Express is not the best all around option… my sister suggested PODS, so I am off to surf the modular moving experience!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
In the beginning...
Ok... some techie type that I know (and will miss famously) suggested I start blogging to keep in touch across the miles, as I swim through deterritorialization and continue to live in imagined social worlds...
ok, still trying to come down off of double anthro theory classes... and, as might be obvious, I am not a natural at theory...
I have good intentions of keeping this thing relatively up to date, that is if I can remember my gmail log in info...
I'll plan to blog a bit, then email folks to let them know there is an update, if they want to check it out.
Don't plan on me actually conversing with you over this thing, though... and no, I am not about to twitter anytime soon, nor do I wish to get twitterpated by the prospects of being able to document all the mundane moments of my days.
Alright then, back to the homework that never seems to have an end...
ok, still trying to come down off of double anthro theory classes... and, as might be obvious, I am not a natural at theory...
I have good intentions of keeping this thing relatively up to date, that is if I can remember my gmail log in info...
I'll plan to blog a bit, then email folks to let them know there is an update, if they want to check it out.
Don't plan on me actually conversing with you over this thing, though... and no, I am not about to twitter anytime soon, nor do I wish to get twitterpated by the prospects of being able to document all the mundane moments of my days.
Alright then, back to the homework that never seems to have an end...
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