Which means I had to go out and stop the pond pump that sits on the bottom, so water can start layering (warm water on the bottom, earth-warmth, 3 feet down from the to-be-frozen surface.
I’ve sent for another heater, the floating sort, to keep the koi’s airhole open.
And otherwise, after Jane’s run-in and cat bite, she caught a stomach bug. And is impacted by the antibiotics. I think I had a touch of the bug myself.
But both of us feeling good today. WOrking away. We’re finished with my birthday. Time to start planning Jane’s, and I wish there were something she greatly loved to do that won’t be frozen by the 24th. I’m going to see at least if we can’t get a rousing small party of our friends together.
I don’t have PT this week: going to every second week. And I’m doing really well. Several times working around the pond, caught my foot in wire, or on a rock, or something that might, a year ago, have made me fall, and that leg is now strong enough to absorb the shock of an impact or the jerk of a caught vine or wire, and I stay on my feet. This is great. I am also now getting up and walking without even thinking about it. ‘Just walking’ is not possible for people with balance and weakness issues. And I am so glad having both legs in operation again, without having to move carefully.
So—Jane and I are working on the next Alliance book. Having a good time.
Wishing I could think of a good reliable place to have a birthday gathering for Jane. The most apt place would be one where she can’t eat the food. They put coffee in everything, and she’s allergic. So I’m trying to think of places that are not stuffy, not horridly expensive, and that give you room to sit together and hear each other across the table. This can be a tall bill in our local area. There’s the Steam Plant, but its food is fairly take-it-or-leave it—chef determined on ‘his way.’ And Klinkerdagger’s noisy and overcrowded. Churchill’s I’ve never been to, but is fiercely expensive: hate to do that to our friends. Quandaries, quandaries.
This reminds me to check if there’s a library branch closer to me too. The two I know from growing up, one is older, large, and further in town, and the other is closer to where I grew up, a modern (at the time) one-story, large-enough library. I wonder if they’ve added on any since I last saw that location. Or am I dreaming, given that the library system is publicly funded? Heh.
There was a very small (mom-and-pop bookstore sized) old location near my grandmother’s house, but it was, around 2010 or so, going to be closed down, torn down, and not reused for a library branch. I don’t recall what they were going to do to have a new location. — I wish I’d had a camera and taken pictures. There was an old 50’s / 60’s era mosaic tile façade, all square tiles, mostly light turquoise with some mulberry, yellow, and a couple of other colors sprinkled throughout, fitting the style back then. It was very pretty, cheerful, and going to be done away with. I think sometimes “progress” ignores such things. I know the realities of buildings in this climate, but it seems a shame not to have saved that façade and put it somewhere, somehow. — On this point, I like Lady Ilisidi’s point of view of retaining what is best about the old ways and staying modern, being willing to change, in other ways.
—–
I got Curry’s first oral liquid dose down him with surprisingly little fuss. (Oh, I’ve got a couple of claw marks, knee and hand, but very minor as such things go.) I think I got the element of surprise this time. No hard feelings afterwards either, which really surprised me. So, well, I know there are ups and downs with giving a cat his meds, but this was, we’ll call it auspicious. Apparently, I still have the technique and might have improved a little on calmness, body language, when giving meds for a kitty. Good going, kitty. — Metronidazole, 50mg / mL suspension, refrig., twice daily for 1 to 2 weeks, until he’s surely 1 week clear of symptoms.
After that, he’ll be in for another checkup, and if fine, neutering and removal of the bb pellet. — I got an estimate of the cost for that. The neuter fee is not so bad by today’s standards, $49. Then for removal of the bb, plus anesthetic during surgery, which may vary as needed, plus antibiotics and painkillers post-op, due to, hey, that’s removing a foreign body — $115 to $224. (sigh) — But I am determined I want it removed, despite the cost. Oh, it may have entered fine, the metal composition of the bb may be fine, but that thing lodged in there, subcutaneous, near the muscle. It hasn’t moved much since then, apparently, but it could. It had formed a little nodule, almost like a wart or mole, right around this, grown over with skin and fur. So it had been in there a long while. Keep in mind, he’s estimated 10 to 12 months old, and I’ve had him now 7 weeks and 1 day, so he arrived at around 8-1/2 or so months of age. Someone shot a half-grown kitten or younger, with a bb-pellet, a very friendly little cat. If it had gone any deeper or hit just a cm or so elsewhere, or moved, or if it had gotten infected…he would’ve had a very bad end, unfair, undeserved, a cruel, needless fate. I know people dislike cats, etc., play what they think are pranks, all that. But blast, this makes me (quietly) slow-burn angry, that someone would do that to such a beautiful and mostly good cat. Misbehavior aside, no cat should have that happen. I don’t care about his misbehavior, compared to that.
And…I want to place him with a good home, but…dang it, I’m still attached, despite the frequent calling to go out, dawn and dusk, and other, fairly minor stuff. He needs a place where he can be outside some. He also has a very sweet side, and the socialization he does have is good, surprisingly, sometimes. I like the little so-and-so.
But while he’s here, he’s a guest at least, a friend, family — “crew, crewmate” in that ships and spacer sense. And if that boon soaks in, and he settles down, well…I would keep him if I knew I could trust he wouldn’t always want to be outside, and if I could trust he would not pee or poop on the dang bed again.
Meantime, he belongs here, this is his home, and he’s got an ID name tag and now they both have their rabies vaccination tags to prove it. I want him to have a home that’s ideal for him. But while he’s here, he’s welcome, in that crew and friend, family, guest sense.
The two are now more valuable or expensive investments, from that strictly monetary viewpoint; a view I don’t really hold to. Nearly $300 for their two visits, an added couple of hundred, potentially, to treat Curry, which must happen for his well being and my peace of mind and notions of what is right, principles. Little guys, in a few short weeks, you two are now upwards of $500 more than you were. (I no longer recall how much I’ve put into Goober’s care over the years, in vet bills for shots, medicines, boarding fees, etc. But I am sure it probably makes his share of the recent bills pale by comparison.) And, well, it’s needed. The benefit is, I’m sure I’ve done everything I can to make sure they both will be in the best of health for another year and into the future. Goober is doing fine and may have more years than I thought to enjoy life. I hope so. And whatever happens with Curry, if he gets a new home or ends up staying, well, he will have the best start I could give him.
Here’s hoping the evening dosage goes well too. If he learns it’s a brief nuisance, no hard feeling afterward from either of us, then good for him, and that would be so much easier, on me and on any future owner.
On the roster for today: another load of laundry, more reboxing and discovery of the Great Reshuffle’s Aftermath (heh), and some Spanish study. Also some attention to the two felines. That should keep me out of mischief. — No word from my friend about getting items from the office. I don’t expect to hear from him today. I will remind him tomorrow, if not.
So…not too exciting. Yesterday was “exciting” as such things go, but the good kind, not the bad. Thankful for that.
A book is due today and another over the weekend. I found (aha) where several of my Cherryh paperbacks had been saved and are here, plus some others, which reminded me I want to read another couple, so those were ordered Used, Very Good. Heh.
I am still working on consolidating, all X with X, all Y with Y. Some semblance of neatness and organization and (oh my) spaciousness, not so much clutter, might be sneaking into existence here. We just might end up civilized and livable and human once again. Wanting to keep it to a dull roar once we get it that way. My goal is to reduce down so that, just maybe, there could be empty space in that spare bedroom, which is now, along with the rest, excessive boxers, storage. Longer goal: Get the storage space cleared. So, there is progress, slow but happening. I have this heady notion of going over the entire apartment with a thorough cleaning before Halloween. Not just sweep, vacuum, and mop, but everything, organizing in places that need it. Uh, if that happens at least by year-end, I’ll still be happy about it.
In 22 days, Goober will have been here with me for 13 years. He was given to me on Oct. 31st by chance. A very fine cat, and it looks like he will make it past 13-1/2, to be my senior most kitty ever. (Toby, his predecessor, reached that, another very fine feline, still missed.) Curry’s just starting out in life. He’s now bulking up (gained a pound, thanks to growth, good food, and less interference from uninvited passengers.) Curry’s starting to show that tomcat bulk. It’s showing in, ah, scent too. But if we can heal up what he’s got going on, he could have a good long life, a happy tomcat. I think there’s some chance he’ll mellow. I like that sweet side.
So…back to it.
“Hard Freeze Warning” the first in a new trilogy by CJ Cherryh.
Curry’s second oral liquid dose was…whee…an exercise in combat avoidance for both of us. He wanted to startle, hiss, and avoid the medicine dropper / syringe. I wanted to avoid him accidentally biting or clawing me. I finally got it down him, I _think_, if he didn’t simply spit it out without me realizing it. But I think we got it sufficiently, and try, try again in the morning. I realized after, he wasn’t trying to bite or scratch me. He was only trying to avoid getting that bad-tasting stuff in his mouth, down his throat. Poor little guy. I think the medicine dropper also feels like a threat to him, besides the smell. I’m also aware, if he’d wanted to, he couldn’t really zapped me. Next time, I’m going to try the towel-wrap burrito-kitty method and hope for the best. Heh. So we did fine.
A few minutes later, and he was, “no hard feelings” again; in fact, I think he was a little worried I might be mad at him or punishing him. I told him he was a good kitty and petted him a little, being cautious. But he liked that. I tried to explain the medicine is to cure his upset stomach and bowels and heal him up so he feels all better. Of course, I don’t really expect he understands all that, but maybe they get the tone, the body language, the emotional intent behind it.
—–
Located today that the boxes with Augie and Zeke, and most or all of the doll clothes Janneke made for them, are here, safe and sound. (Though I’m not sure where their wigs are, the ready-made ones or the ones Jane made.) Still have to find things. The Mystic Kids BJD is also here, and another box.
Robby, the Kidz-n-Cats doll, is, I hope, in storage. I don’t think he’s here at the apt. I want to find him and any other stuff and get that here, but that will mean moving more around in storage, if/when I get back over there.
I reduced down by a couple of boxes because of getting rid of packing materials and miscellany.
Not much else today. Gotta nag the friend for us to get over to the apt. offices tomorrow or Friday, to resolve that for a while.
At least things are mostly OK.
How big is your storage space? Could you conceivably bring it all down to your apartment in a trip or two, thus making it more convenient to sort through it at your leisure and taking the cost of the storage unit off your monthly bills? Do you have space fot it? (Cats: Whee! Boxes to play in/around!)
Oh, if only. Nope, the apt. is too crowded already, and there’s too much to fit, even if it were empty. — A four bedroom house crowded with boxes into an two bedroom apartment, doth not fit. Alas! (I’d say alack too, but hahaha, lacking, it is not.) (Groans.)
I spent most of today transferring items from box A to box B, and I had several empty boxes, but filled a couple of those by transferring things. I _think_ I will make up for it later. — I think Robby (et al.) is still in storage, but several other things BJD-related are here. I’ll be very aggravated if I don’t find him.
Hoping to make more progress through the end of the month.
Did not hear from said friend today. I left a phone message. I’m going to call again tomorrow. If items stay at the apt. mgmt. ofc. for a month, by contract, they can send them back. And it’s now been 17 days since the office phoned me to say they’d somehow lost track of the master key, and I needed to go by their office and hand over my key so they can make another master copy. I wish I’d had the presence of mind to say, hey, great, I’m on the way to the vet now, but any other time you could walk over to my apt., escort me over to the office, and we’d take care of that right away. (Other times, they have said they’d send someone over, but have been busy and forgot / didn’t have a chance to, due to limited staff. I, uh, notice I hear that same busy/forgot excuse a lot. — But they can conceivably claim I’m refusing response, if they don’t get the key. — I’m going to try calling my friend again tomorrow, and if he doesn’t show, I’ll call the office Saturday to suggest they escort me over so at least the key is taken care of, and bounce that ball into their court.
—–
Oh boy, domestic argument in the parking lot between a couple. No, thank you, I don’t want any of that.
On the bright side, I did get Curry medicated, but my “cat burrito bundle” skills need work, haha. He was not happy during, but afterward, was fine again.
Hoping to get rid of some more stuff and make some more space through next week.
Also have to hunt for a permanent home for Curry, with the resource list provided by the vet.
Keeping at it. Somehow, I am going to make progress. Just still frustrated.
Declaring a pause to read. While going through boxes, my copy of Rider at the Gate had shown up but not Cloud’s Rider. I ordered the latter and it arrived. I am going to read the two.
I was in the middle of Alliance Rising a while back and was absent so long, I have it to reread too, and finish. There will then be a pause before CJ gets done with the second book.
It’s been an odd night and day. I missed Curry’s dosage last night and caught up this morning. My cat-burrito wrapping skills are still not par excellence, but we managed better with giving him his meds this morning.
I had to re-find the box where I’d seen the copy of the book and get it out, so they are now together. A very minor victory, but these days, hey, I’ll take what I can get.
Fixed lunch. The cats and I both waited too long, no breakfast. (I did, however, sleep more than usual overnight, but again, in short snatches.) So all is as well as it’s going to be.
The cover for my porch light has been replaced, but I’m not sure if it’s working or has a bulb. Going to check that.
It’s raining today, off and on, not too heavy. The weather fortune teller claims all is auspicious for two days of rain and only a high in the mid-70’s and a low, gods-be-feathered if it reaches down to the mid-50’s. As far as I know, that would be our first dip below 60 for the season. Ah, but it may be only a flirtatious tease. They also say, after that, back to the 80’s and mid-60’s to 70’s at night. Rot the luck.
One does not know if the weather fortune teller does the proper spin and shake to that dance, with or without clothing or paint, nor whether he or she examines, well, entrails or tea leaves or some such peculiar items.
One also does not know if the numbers are fortunate, whether the weather fortune teller is of the counting or non-counting persuasion.
It would, however, be welcome if we didn’t have spring/summer-like weather, in the 80’s and 90’s, in gods-be October. That’s odd, even for here. It is, admittedly, not unheard of for us to have 70’s during the day on Christmas. Then again, it is also possible, October through March, off and on, to have freezing and below in bouts. It’s the Gulf Coast, very close to it, so our weather, year-round, is…changeable is too mild a word. Capricioous might be better than mercurial. (Ah, as a descriptor. I hear Hermes / Mercury had some fine qualities also.)
Past noon. How can the daylight hours be half over already? Be it noted, although I slept “late,” this is a relative term. I got up at 7:45am, and I am not a morning person, but my biological clock is permanently off-kilter after being a caregiver so many years. I still sleep in two to four hour snatches most of the time, and six to eight hours at a stretch would be a sign of, well, something or other, but not so normal for me for many years now.
So I am going to read, dang it, and I wish the cats could both hang out with me on the bed. Going to try the unlovable used couch instead. If I get one or more furry companions while I read, good. — It is somehow my first read-through of the two Finisterre books.
(I really liked 40,000 in Gehenna, by the way, so I’m expecting I’ll really love these two. I may need to reread 40K in G after, now that I think of it.)
Spanish study, probably tonight. I slept last night, so didn’t study.
Reading may happen tonight. Instead, I ordered a semi-narrow, semi-tall bookshelf to attempt to bring order to chaos. Adjusted lighting and tried a new vision aid, with mixed results, will keep trying with it. Did at least get to spend a little time with the cats.
I guess I needed a day of distraction and/or rest. I’m not sure how rested I am, but I am pretty distracted.
(That vision aid is somewhat useful and somewhat not, at least if you aren’t sitting at a desk where you can lay flat the item to magnify. It’s essentially a digital camera viewfinder screen. I can immediately see several things I’d want different, such as a way to see an entire paperback page or US letter or usual ISO size (A4, I think it is) at a time, and pan L/R, T/B, at will on the screen.
I need to get the name and manufacturer of it, to give a link here. Will do so later. It was available on Amazon, somewhere between pricey and not-so-pricey.
Hoping that bookcase arrives soon, too. Kinda need my headboard back.
Cultural sidelight: It snowed in Yellowstone last week. I check the ‘Old Faithful webcam’, a live feed from a camera on the Old Faithful Inn pointed at the geyser, a couple of times daily (I’m a geyser geek, I guess :D). It was snowing sideways, and accumulating. CJ and Jane, pray stay warm; ditto the fishies and cats!
I’d like it if CJ could give us an update sometime on how the koi and the pond and garden are doing. Did the new heater arrive, is everything ready for winter, no raccoon or osprey incursions? Did the new koi grow well over the summer?
And is the leak in the little lotus/lily pond & stream sorted?
Can the lovely red bridges stay out all winter, or do you need to take the smaller one in to protect it?
How is the garden doing? Did all those heavy stone chip paths work out the way you wanted? And the trees and plants, the abundant iris you divided, the peonies, the roses you were thinking of maybe moving, and those giant hemlock trees you were sawing up – what happened there, have you got something else to screen you from that traffic corner?
Did you get something to grow in the shady narrow bit, on the other side of the house where the bins live IIRC?
Also, how are things going indoors? We haven’t heard about the aquarium in a long time – have you still got the two, as you had just after the new one came? How are the corals and the motorised clam and the little fishes liking the new tank?
Did the kitchen remodel get finished, or is the very handy builder man still busy? Do you like the improvements, now you’re living with them?
How is the basement remodel getting along? Do the new sunken windows annex fire-escape fill up with snow, or do you still get light & air from them now the winter’s started?
Is Tanner still living in his own basement appartment, and is he settling in any better?
As you see, plenty of questions – doesn’t mean you have to answer any of them, if you’re too busy or don’t feel like it. 😉
Also curious about the progress of things aquatic.
That’s kinda cool. I have no idea what it smells like around the geyser, but then, there are hot-mud, cold-mud, and less fragrant kinds. — We always went eastward to visit various relatives, or into the Texas hill country. I’ve never been west of Texas or northwestward; Oklahoma and Kansas, though.
The one narrow bookcase arrived last night and I’m putting it together right after I post. The other is due today. Darn thing arrived last night. The delivery guy must have tiptoed up to the door, didn’t knock, and left it. I discovered this when I checked before bed and got it, amazingly still there, fortunately in the privacy area rather than at the parking lot door.
I narrowly avoided having the rice stick and scorch this morning. Oh, I’m glad it did not. — I had a very nice fish stock left over, because I’d put in more lemon juice than I’d thought, and the fish rendered a good amount of liquid, so olive oil (intended to broil and create a sauce) plus Spice Hunter fish seasoning (very nice blend) and lemon juice, and a package of flounder filets. I should’ve gotten two packages, it didn’t give quite enough fish to suit me. — I added this very lemony, seasoned fish stock to the rice, with a tbsp. of margarine, and oh, I have a simple, easy base to add a pkg. of frozen stir-fry or other veggie blend to, add a can of tuna to make do, and I have a few hush puppies and tater tots (haha) left over, for a nice fish lunch or supper tonight. If I’d had enough fish, I could’ve crumbled that and added it to the rice and veggies for a nice almost-stir-fry fish dish. — Therefore, I have two packets of fish and a package of ready-made hush puppies on the grocery list for during the week, for my next fish dinner. (I think it’ll be flounder again. I’ll hold out for catfish for the Southern equivalent of fish and chips another time.) — Huh, and somehow, I’d realized, I don’t think I have cornbread kits on hand to make cornbread or hush puppies. Also, I don’t think I have a hush puppy recipe, though there’s often one on the cornbread mix. — A can of cherry pie filling called out to me from the pantry while finding the canned tuna, so that will be the accompaniment after the main dish. Drat, I don’t have graham crackers. — This feels and sounds exceedingly civilized.
Not so civilized were the prices for fish and particularly meat. Explains why I don’t do steak or roast as much anymore. But I added a pkg. of steaks, as it has been too long, and hamburger is OK, but sometimes you’re in the mood for something more.
The usual salad kits (I’ve been lazy lately) will be on the list. It will be three weeks since I last bought, but my last grocery bill was higher than I’d wanted. I pared it down. — Trying to watch better again.
Curry was very, very, very mouthy last night, meowing several times wanting out. Goober took refuge in the bedroom with me. Heh. Tried giving Curry extra attention. He liked that for a while, but out, out, out is what he really wants. He has a little more than a week left on his current meds, and we think then he’ll be cured of it and ready for, ah, to be neutered and remove that bb pellet. Sigh. Pricey kitty, who still will need a new permanent home. This is what I get for wanting to do a good deed and thinking he’d be a good fit to the team, a balancing third. But, well, he still needs what’s right, and for now, I can still do that.
So I am short on sleep and hoping the delivery of the bookcase happens this afternoon rather than evening, please.
Tomorrow morning, I get to bug that friend about getting the packages from the office again, including a book. I also get to report that, although the porch light did indeed get a new light and the cover put back on, from the maintenance guy on Friday, that did NOT fix the light, which did not light up any night since. So a wire or a fuse or the light fixture needs to be replaced, but it’s gone out, not just the bulb, now. I hope that’s a minor repair and won’t take another week to happen, like the light bulb replacement. (They use some special weird mercury fluorescent light.)
All in all, OK enough, but I had a stressful, wakeful night, and want some peace tonight and a chance to relax and read. Writing may happen today. I’m stuck and may simply write something else before tackling the redraft again. I have not written much in many days, haven’t done much on fonts in some days, since I’ve been doing rebooting and unshuffling of same. I’m itching to do something else today, to write some.
During the week, I need to look though the info and search for a place that can take Curry, to find him a new home. — He is still a mix of sweet social with feral not-social, and still no way I’m going to risk letting him in the bedroom and onto the bed. Little guy, if he could only improve so I could trust him with either consistent good behavior, or with my bed remaining safely, ah, clean and dry, as one is accustomed to one’s bed being. I am torn between, I will miss much about him and the misbehavior, I will not miss. Having to keep my bedroom door shut is hampering me as well as Goober, and just doesn’t feel right. Not being able to let Curry in is necessary but feels unfortunate, unwanted, and untenable. So he’s still got to go. I keep wanting to see proof he’ll learn better, but I think, as many good qualities as he has, he just has to have a home elsewhere. I think he’ll be happier ultimately. He likes me, I like him, but the bond is not as strong. Goober, by contrast, wants in with me, repeatedly, and insists on it, at the door. The whole pattern tells me what Curry really wants and needs, but I’m still having trouble with it. I’d wanted it to work out, and I still like him a lot, and I think he’s bonded to me in his way. But I think also, maybe once he has a chance to get what he really wants again, he’ll be happier.
What gets me is, knowing he’ll be outside some wherever he gets a new home, he’ll be at risk again for unwanted passengers, after being cured of them before leaving here. I wish he could get a family who will love him, whom he can love in his own way, as an indoor-outdoor cat, or an outdoor-only cat. This has turned out to be a foster kitty situation, instead of a new addition to the crew / family / team. I suppose I’ll be fine with that once it happens, but while he’s here, I see the very good qualities he has and wish it could be permanent. So…as Mick and the guys said, you can’t always get what you want. I guess I’m still hoping to get what I need, as the song also says.
Bookcase, then, and moving things around a bit to place it near my bed. The other will go in the spare bedroom or in the living room, being the only places there are for it. At some point, I still need a new shelf to replace the errant, missing, whereabouts unknown, shelf for the old bookcase currently in my living room. Or to replace it entirely. — A futon is still on my list. At present, I’m undecided whether to bother with getting a dryer, though oh, that would be so much easier and quicker, if I could be sure everything was repaired and ready.
Still have the goal of getting everything presently in the apartment ship-shape by the end of the year. So more days spent rebooting and unshuffling have to happen, and some more periodic housecleaning. A run-through of the pantry and the bathroom’s linen closet has to happen this week, plus the usual sweep, dust, vacuum, mop. I think I am almost back to weekly on that, but it’s not yet a habit again. Want it to be. Still taking too long to air-dry clothes.
Yup, that’s the excitement in my life. I suppose it’s better than dire emergencies, though, so I’m thankful, although still stressed / frustrated with my situation. Got to work on it.
Whew. Bookcase is together, hexagonal end table is moved to the other room until I clear out some stuff, books will go on shelves and off headboard after I rest. Cleanup and vacuum to spot-clean and so on.
The other bookcase: “Delivered Today – Item was delivered inside resident’s mailbox.” — Really? Wow, that would be a neat trick, if they could fit that in my mailbox! It would have to be a TARDIS mailbox. (Hmm, you know, that’s a great idea. How come they never thought of that?) — Well, I’d checked earlier, nothing outside. Checked just now; aha, there it is. Surprised a kid and myself, as the kid was climbing the stairs. We stared at one another, I said something after a second, the kid continued walking upstairs. Oh well. No idea if he is one of the upstairs neighbors (who may be new) or a friend or relative of same. He was in shadow against the afternoon sun, so I have no impression other than, probably male, mid-elementary, maybe, and thin. No other clue. He could probably see me fine. Hmm, middle-aged white dude, beard, looks goofy, dressed in jeans and a tropical shirt today, and looked tired or preoccupied, lol. —
Well, at least we didn’t yell at each other and no fighting. I guess it’s a plus. Kinda missed each other there. I’m not even sure what I said. :-/
Oh, I should have finished fixing lunch or supper ahead. So I had a sandwich, tortillas instead of bread, because I’m out.
Going to rest the rest of the day. More cleanup and moving around tomorrow.
Writing once I’ve rested some. After putting the books in the new narrow bookcase. That thing went together easily, just took a bit more time than expected to do everything. — Songmics, I think was the brand. Metal and plastic, but it will work.
Haha, the new little bookcase is great except — I think I’ll have to buy bookends (the thin metal or plastic dividers, not bulky, showy ones which would take up all the space). :laughs: I didn’t think about space on the sides. It’s open, so paperbacks or hardbacks either one can slip off the side if not supported. So, bookends needed.
Tomorrow morning, I’ll put together the other small bookcase, which I think has mostly closed sides, and try that.
Dang it, where is my brain? I should’ve thought of that. — However, this little bookshelf unit _is_ handy and will be used. Irony: I had a few metal bookends, such as used in libraries, and they were at the old house. I am not sure if they got moved or if they are in the storage space. So I will check on prices for a few new ones, about ten, to keep all the ends from slipping. Duh. — And it’s hard to find a combo of cheap, practical, and suited to the space and purpose. You either get particle board cubicle prefab, which isn’t too sturdy or lasting, or metal wire frame, which is OK, but doesn’t have the sides, or you get more pricey wooden or other shelves. Will resolve this.
I had a lot of steel shelving – I laced the back and sides with cord, knotted (tied a simple overhand knot around one with the other) where it crossed. The shelves kept it from sliding along the posts. Something like mason’s twine, or braided cord, would work pretty well.
@BCS, putting a pile of books lying flat (spines out so you can read them) at the ends of the shelves should work for the meanwhile.
Or if your bookcase doesn’t have front legs to tie the twine on for P.J. Evans’ suggestion, but you can push tacks into the sides of the shelves and don’t mind getting holes in them, you could pin sides to the bookcase, made from twine as P.J. Evans said (either long straight lines or knot/macramé it), fabric, mosquito netting, stiff paper/cardboard or whatever you’ve got available – that won’t support the weight of large photo books, but if it’s just paperbacks that might work.
Oh! I hadn’t thought of twine / string. — I had bought rope and a tarp, in case of hurricane prep. I have no idea if or where I still have string. Good idea! PJ, thank you.
Hanneke, the current small bookcase is metal and hard plastic, otherwise your suggestion of thumbtacks / pushpins would work.
The second, new bookcase with sides — Hahaha, oh, “fail.” Well, I’m using it until it wears out. It’s thin, unfinished wood (whee, splinters) and putting it together was in some places an exercise in willpower and wishful thinking, “using the Force,” more than actual wood and screws and the small wooden dowels. It’s flimsy, so light I can pick it up with one hand, and unstable on carpet. So it’s going in the living room, where it will work OK enough. It’s also shorter than I’d thought from the description. — I’d ordered a second one, anticipating this one would be good. The other has not yet arrived, but since it’s already been shipped, I have to “return” it, rather than to cancel the order. This means I get an errand to run down to the UPS store, show off the digital code that I hope has been emailed to my account, and sent the thing back…once it arrives.
I found and ordered a cheap, particle board, taller bookcase which, if it’s halfway decent, should do the trick for better storage, until I can maybe get a board sized to fit the old bookcase. (I have to re-measure one of the shelves to match that.) If I can get a run down to Home Depot or Lowe’s, I can get a board cut to the proper size (I presume) and then buy a pint of stain to stain it. — Hmm, or attempt to strip and stain and varnish, or else paint, the old bookcase. Would love to know where the missing shelf got to during the move.
So, still sort of an adventure. — It would be a lot more fun if my income would improve. This is odd. It feels, in some ways, like back in my college student days, and in others, it’s like starting over from zero, but with too much uncertainty about the future ahead.
So…I need to be more hard-nosed in what to keep and what to sell or donate or throw away. I am still not yet to the point that I’m creating lots of empty boxes and space, but I am winnowing down as I go. If I hadn’t redistributed two boxes, in anticipation of (maybe) finding things in storage, I would’ve kept some more boxes free.
Cleaned one of the two hexagonal end tables (nice furniture) that made it to the apt., and I’m waiting another day before I wipe it down again and apply Pledge. (No other furniture polish on hand.)
Taking twice as long as I’d thought to do things, but I’m still hoping to get everything in the apt. sorted through, tossed, cleaned, etc., by year-end. Hoping also to make trips to the storage space, and hoping I can (somehow) get those friends excited about taking me by there and picking me (and items) back up at the end of said trips, at least once a month, maybe twice, given that it’s entering the holiday season.
I was relieved to find metal bookends, of the type typical of library shelves, were less expensive than I thought they would be. Five pair for the current little bookcase was something like $14, and cheaper than three pair. — Going to buy string or twice too. Little expenses add up.