Did you accomplish anything today?

[jbeany]

Nice nap, Chris!

My doc told me I was the most stable patient he's seen all week.     Creatinine is a lovely .94 today.  Ahhh....so nice when it finally goes the way it should.  That's enough of an accomplishment for the day, really.  But I'm going to sort the junk on my desk and pay the bills anyhow.

[cariad]

I sold the chaise on Craigslist, though it was an ordeal to meet with this woman. I chose a spot by the hospital because I figured it would get me to finally go get labs - Northwestern phoned at some point either this week or last saying Ahem! Little help here? You may be over it, but some of us have a lot riding on that transplant of yours.

Also met with my economic anthro prof who weirdly enough I ran into at the co-op last month. I told him that my advisor basically told me to bugger off since I was leaving Milwaukee, and he said he could be my advisor and get my psychological anthro prof on board and that I had to finish this thing because you're smart and you have an important perspective. So, I said I would get in touch after my son's birthday, but sort of let it slide thinking maybe he was just babbling in the heat of the moment. Then he emailed me saying he had just finished my 'excellent' paper (Wow, this is the only prof who's ever given me a B+ at that school, so I always thought he was none too impressed with my work) and had comments. Soooooo, went to see him today and we spoke for an hour about how I'm going to do this all in two and a half years, apply for grants, they will connect me with people who can help. I am cautiously optimistic that I can do this. I want to look at the eval process, a particular fascination of mine, always has been.

Then I dropped Liot at his first ever sleepover. I so hope he and the other invitee don't drive this poor mom toward a mental collapse. It is so weirdly quiet without a little guy asking me which animal, dinosaur, superhero, pokemon, monster or dragon I'd be if I could have my pick.

[okarol]

Put together two racks for plants I got at IKEA - first one was hard but second one a breeze.
Have been gathering succulent cuttings from friends and have assembled a nice little collection. Most are potted now. Only a few to go!

[jbeany]

Bills are paid, and the stack of things awaiting address changes and official confirmations of address changes has been dealt with.  Dishes are washed and house is tidied up, with the stray tools collected in one spot again.  I even managed to go shopping.  Bargain for the day - a curtain rod that fits my enormous 8 ft living room window - on sale for only $20, and a little one for the other window that is similar enough in style to do for a match - only $9.  And curtains at $12 a set.  I love Big Lots.  No rug for the bedroom though.  That's what I actually stopped at Big Lots for, of course.   

[cariad]

Cleaned the breakfast area in between picking little Liot up from his sleepover and getting Aidan to his baseball game. We have nothing scheduled for tomorrow. Nothing!!! I can have a lie-in. I am so excited I probably won't be able to sleep! (irony)

[cariad]

I cleaned the kitchen (well, except the floors) this morning and then the boys and I made the blueberry oatmeal scones that I have made twice already. They really enjoyed getting to do the work and see it all come together. Then as they were baking my older son and I whipped up some egg and cheese scramble and we all sat down to a lovely brunch of scrambled eggs and fresh scones. Aidan's best friend invited him over today. They are moving out of Milwaukee in a month, and his parents only just told him this morning. His mother kept telling me she couldn't stand the idea of telling her son because he would be in mourning over leaving Aidan. She was at least able to tell him that Aidan is leaving in 6-8 weeks, so staying in town would not mean getting to see him anyway.

I had an afternoon of Elliot time. We went on a hike through the Audobon nature preserve and went shopping at Trader Joes where I bought them two different types of ice cream sandwiches (in addition to all sorts of random supplies) because it's supposed to get to 100 degrees by Thursday. Liot found Milly the parrot at Trader Joes and got a free lollipop, and insisted on getting one to bring home to Aidan.

[kitkatz]

I took a shower this morning....Came out of the shower and promptly slipped and fell.  Hit my right knee pretty hard.   Went to chiropractor afterwards.  Evaluated me, says things look okay.  Then went to thrift store and cleaned up on 11 sci fi books for ten bucks!  Bought two pillows at Anna's Linens and some dark chocolate at Big Lots.  The Danny and I found a new Sushi place in Ontario. I would go back to eat there again.  Nice ambience.  Then to WinCo for groceries.  Then home, Now off to D in half an hour.

[cariad]

Cleaned the master bath shower stall - such a production. All I have left is the stainless steel tower (mostly done, but a few more baskets to clean) and the hardware in there. The tower is in pieces all over the bathroom floor. I drove Liot and friend to gymnastics today - I basically have to pack a week's worth of edibles for them, they eat like little raccoons back there while I'm driving: muffins, cheese crackers, apple sauce packets, yoghurt, juice, bunny gummies, and so on. Watched them jump around for an hour, drove back to exchange children with friend's parents - their child for Aidan. Traffic was mad today, drove Aidan straight to beach soccer with Hewerton. Ladies (or gents, don't want to discriminate), if, like me, you have a weakness for dark, well-fit, bilingual foreigners, have a look here. And the picture does not do this man justice. http://www.milwaukeewave.com/team/roster/?player_id=20 Nicest guy, too, Aidan adores him.

He is the coaching director for the club that Aidan would be playing with if we stayed in town. I asked him what it meant to be a first alternate for the Blues, and he said they pick 2-3 kids who will take a position with the A-team should anyone decline or otherwise be unable to play. Wow. What are the odds with all those kids there that Aidan and one of his best friends would be those 2 kids? Huh. I have to think at least one kid on blue will decline his offer, so I wonder which of them will move up first. Anyhow, beach soccer is played on the little beach at the bottom of a massive set of steps. Liot and I trudged down, dropped Aidan off, trudged back up, went home, Liot ate dinner, drove back, trudged down, watched Aidan for about 15 minutes (Hewerton won't stop until they kick him out of the place) trudged up, went home. Needless to say they are collapsed in bed right now. I had packed Aidan a PBJ for a snack and thankfully he said that would just be his dinner. I'm tired but I have to do dishes and finish cleaning that stupid tower. Probably should not have downed a large glass of wine first, I'll likely fall asleep sitting in the bathroom, sponge in hand.

[Chris]

After a rough night of watery eye and pain, a runney and stuffed nose, coughing spells, and a sore throat, I fell asleep after 4 am, got up at 7 am to take one more bag of garbage out before pick up. Went back to bed, got up at 11:30 and finally outrt of bed at 12:30 to get some things done before trip. Haircut done, most prescriptions picked up, gas in car. Came home and took a nap. Now preparing for tomorrow by typing up financial expences and mileage report for insurance spend down qualifications.

[jbeany]

Scheduled an assessment test for two clerk job openings with the local county court system for tomorrow afternoon.  I have to be tested for computer skillsand typing speed, so I think I'm spending the rest of the day doing speed drills.  I only need 50 wpm, which I know I have, but I'm out of practice the last two months. 
One job is with the Friend of the Court, which would use all my paralegal training.  The other is at the Sheriff's Department, which would involve more people skills than legal knowledge, but I'm good with that, too.  The Sheriff's Department is within walking distance of my new house, as well as a 3 minute ride on the bus if the weather was horrid, so that would be awesome!  Think of all the money I'd save on gas and parking fees. 

Typing drills, here I come.  Cross your fingers for me that I get a call for an interview for at least one of them!

[jbeany]

Job application, cover letter and resume are prepped and ready to go.  My typing speed drills range from 48 wpm on my worst attempt to 66 on my best.  That should do.  Clothes are picked - dress casual, since even though it's not an interview, it's in the Human Resources office, and I don't want to make a bad impression on anyone.  (Never underestimate the influence of the receptionist.  Ever.) 

Now off to do a manicure.  Home improvement does not give me an office-appropriate paint color on my nails, let alone nice looking ones.  And of course, I've been painting the front door bright pumpkin orange.   

[Chris]

Most of July meds now picked up and packed, financial expences and mileage report submitted. Not taking dog for a walk due to heat and still not up to it, but feeling better. Now updating medication sheets and doctor appointments for doctors on Thursday and Friday. No word back yet from knee doc about MRI to see if I have a tear in ACL, but can't do anything about it till I get back.

[MaryJoe]

Chris, hope you're feeling better and that all goes well on your trip.

jbeany, good luck on your assessment tests, sounds like you're as prepared as you can get.  You're right the receptionist's impression is key.

[okarol]

I just ran 36 new registrations through a spam filter one by one.
Of the 36, 21 were spammers.
I approved 15 new members.

I hope I didn't miss one spammer! 

[Chris]

You did! I'm still here ain't I?

[okarol]

  So you are!!

[MaryD]

Do you usually get that proportion of spammers?

[jbeany]

Got 60 wpm on the typing portion of the test.  100% on Excel and the filing portions.  (Really, they give you a test to see if you can file in alphabetical and numerical order.  Cracked me up.)  I stunk at the Word part, only because if you didn't have the right answer on the first or second click, it was wrong.  I haven't done a mail merge on it - only in Perfect, so I couldn't find the options for that fast enough.  88%  - Ah, close enough.

Stopped to say hi to the professors who ran the pro bono clinic I volunteered at.  Both offered to be excellent references.  One said if I get past HR and get an interview with Friend of the Court to let her know.  She'd tell the director over lunch to put my name at the top of the list.  Ah, it's good to have a network of people who you've worked well with, isn't it?

Lastly, stopped and ordered a trash bin delivered.  Been using bags and tags with the city sanitation crew.  I'm tired of the stray cats ripping open the bags.  A bin with wheels it is!

Right now, it's so humid and warm, I'm thinking of going to the basement and blowing up the air mattress and sprawling out in the cool air with a snack and a book.

[cariad]

Best of luck with the jobs, jbeany. It sounds like you are well on your way to some very interesting, gratifying employment. It sounds to me like you'd be perfect for either, so I'm hoping you get your pick!

I scrubbed the two bathrooms today, top to bottom. I cleaned the master bath yesterday, just have to clean out the actual tub as that is where I normally put the drying rack for my hand washing. Ten minutes tonight after the kids are in bed (no, not yet) and all three bathrooms should be spotless. I have someone coming to look at the property and tell me what he could get it rented out for. I did not get the best feeling from him on the phone, but we'll see. Our friends recommended him but I'd have no problem going our own way. The people with one company took pics years ago of our house and, without asking us first, sent the pics all over town. They have a client who is interested, but they wanted to see it a few days ago. Sorry! Not enough notice, I don't normally have this place pristine.

The weirdest part is that the one company thinks they could get three times what the other company has mentioned. Now, only one of them has been inside the house, so who knows. The second company is really cheap to use, but not cheap enough that I would turn away three times the rent if the first place can actually get that for us. I am wary of going with the cheapest option because I think they can afford to be so cheap by lowballing the properties and getting tenants in very quickly.

I also spoke to my father at length. He is coming to milwaukee end of July and says he can stay "as long as it takes". Oh. Great.

[jbeany]

Oh. Yay.  Familiy!

Best of luck with that, cariad!

[Chris]

Get your labs done Cariad!

[cariad]

Get your labs done Cariad!

Did Northwestern put you up to this?

I did get my labs! Honest! Obligation fulfilled until next month.

Oh. Yay.  Familiy!

Best of luck with that, cariad!

Yes, I'm sure all can just feel my excitement leaping off the screen. Gwyn and I have been discussing what crucial, two-person job my father and I will be in the midst of when he abruptly announces he's due at the airport in 30 minutes and leaves. Yes, it has happened before.

So far today I've tidied the house a bit more - still looks like a hurricane came through, but at least it's mostly clutter and not dirt. Still have to steam the floors in the kitchen, dust them in the dining area and on the first floor, vacuum and start getting the boys to decide which stuff they can part with. Met with the property manager this morning and we had a good long talk. I think we will be hiring his company. The sooner I can get the place cleaned and on the rental market, the sooner I'll have one less thing to worry about.

[paris]

Yesterday, I made food for the long weekend.  No heating the house again for days in this 105 degree heat.  So, I didn't get anything done today.  I took the day off and read and did mending.  That is it.  You all put me to shame!  Everyone is working so hard.   My mind is so scattered right now, I can't concentrate on anything very long.   Maybe tomorrow.

[Chris]

Paris, in now way shape or form am I working! You neeed a break also and are allowed to take it easy.
 
Cariad, no, but I was there on Friday and got my labs done. I'm sure they wouldn't take mine for you 
 
So today was my day to get up at 5 am to be in the city early for two appointments. Was going to get 1:30 pm train home, but after getting on there apprently was a pick poketer who just got off and the drive got off, called the police and supervisor. After waiting sometime with idiot passengers complaining because the driver was doing the right thing instead of getting to their stop, I missssed my train and had to wait an hour for next train. While in the doctor offices I missed the quick big downpour till the next opne came at 9:30 pm

[Gerald Lively]

Did I accomplish anything today?
Nope!