Halloween is right around the corner and Alison was bugging me to finally get out the Halloween decorations. As much as I love Halloween, I really don't have that many things to put out. But that's no big deal. Kris doesn't like the clutter around the house so I keep my focus mainly outside, which is nothing more than a couple of lighted pumpkins, a couple of plastic ghosts that look like posts, and out jack-o-lanterns. We have a couple of little figures that my mother gave me a few years ago that Alison loves to have out so I took those out of storage as well.
Since we are still a little far out, the jack-o-lanterns won't be carved for a couple of weeks, though we do need to go look for our pumpkins before all the good ones are gone. But it should only take about a half an hour or so to get the cords out and the things staked outside. One of these years I need to really start collecting some good, spooky things to put in the yard.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Cleaning the Basement
After finishing the driveway (and cleaning Alison’s feet) we headed over to Kris’s parent’s house. We were helping to clean out their basement of all the things that had collected there over the years. Lots of stuff got taken to Goodwill, and lots just got tossed. We also tried cleaning all the cobwebs, and spider webs. Since no one goes down there anymore it was just awash in spider webs. YUCK!
Overall it took us a good six or seven hours of cleaning and carting stuff out of the house. We found all sorts of things that hadn’t see the light of day in years. The girls ended up bringing home a kimono that Kris’s dad got in Japan was he was in the service in Korea, and there was a box of old record albums, which included an original Sound of Music soundtrack. Overall we filled their recycling bin with all kinds of empty boxes and had, I think, five or six giant yard bags full of trash. But now you can at least move around down there and find things.
Overall it took us a good six or seven hours of cleaning and carting stuff out of the house. We found all sorts of things that hadn’t see the light of day in years. The girls ended up bringing home a kimono that Kris’s dad got in Japan was he was in the service in Korea, and there was a box of old record albums, which included an original Sound of Music soundtrack. Overall we filled their recycling bin with all kinds of empty boxes and had, I think, five or six giant yard bags full of trash. But now you can at least move around down there and find things.
Footprints
Before I went to get cleaned up from sealing the driveway, I needed to get things put away. As I was doing that and about to get in the shower, I heard Kris shout out the window to Alison. She was outside doing something or other and I heard Kris ask her why she needed paper towels. Then she walked downstairs, and I knew exactly what had happened. She had been outside blowing bubbles and was chasing them around and ended up running onto the wet tar on the driveway.... BAREFOOT. She didn't want to tell me (or Kris) because I had told her several times to stay away from the driveway.
So now there were several tarry footprints on the concrete and porch:
I was sort of mad at first, but as I was outside cleaning Ali's feet with a combination of baby wipes and turpentine, I softened a little. When I thought about it, it was sort of cute thinking that Ali thought she would be able to get her feet cleaned up with just a couple of paper towels. I don't know what she was going to plan on doing about the footprints on the concrete.
I ended up telling Ali about how my brother and the stupid kid that lived behind us when we lived on Alva St. walked through the freshly tarred street and then walked all over a brand new driveway.
It took about an hour, but I finally got her feet cleaned up. I figured I would take care of cleaning the concrete later, because we still needed to get to Kris's parent's house to help out.
So now there were several tarry footprints on the concrete and porch:
I was sort of mad at first, but as I was outside cleaning Ali's feet with a combination of baby wipes and turpentine, I softened a little. When I thought about it, it was sort of cute thinking that Ali thought she would be able to get her feet cleaned up with just a couple of paper towels. I don't know what she was going to plan on doing about the footprints on the concrete.
I ended up telling Ali about how my brother and the stupid kid that lived behind us when we lived on Alva St. walked through the freshly tarred street and then walked all over a brand new driveway.
It took about an hour, but I finally got her feet cleaned up. I figured I would take care of cleaning the concrete later, because we still needed to get to Kris's parent's house to help out.
Sealing the Driveway, Again.
I was busy this weekend. It started with going into work early. And when I got home I had to get ready to reseal the driveway again for winter. Anything I can do to try and get another season out of it before having to get it replaced. But I had to rush because there was more to do on this particular Saturday.
I always hate doing the driveway because I always feel like I never mix the sealer good enough. It always ends up being too watery to begin and then too thick when I get to the bottom of the bucket. Plus, every year I seem to wait to long and there always ends up getting leaves in the tar. But I was lucky enough for it to be semi warm and also relatively calm, so there were few leaves and the tar was drying pretty well, so that by 11:30, I was done and ready to move on to the next item.
I always hate doing the driveway because I always feel like I never mix the sealer good enough. It always ends up being too watery to begin and then too thick when I get to the bottom of the bucket. Plus, every year I seem to wait to long and there always ends up getting leaves in the tar. But I was lucky enough for it to be semi warm and also relatively calm, so there were few leaves and the tar was drying pretty well, so that by 11:30, I was done and ready to move on to the next item.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Garbage Pickers
So we got the new microwave set up, but that meant I needed to get rid of the old one. I wasn't sure if the garbagemen would end up taking it, but I figured I would put it down at the curb anyway. So I set it out when I left for work next to the garbage cans.
When I got home I didn't see the microwave, so I figured that the garbagemen took it. I asked Kris about it and she told me that we didn't need to worry, because by the time the girls left for school it was gone. I said, oh the garbage men must have come early, and she said, uh, no they didn't, it was just gone. So in the time between when I left for work, and the time that Sarah left for school, someone came by and just took it. Well, OK, I guess. It was still working after all; I think the keypad was all that needed to be replaced. I just thought it was more of a hassle to repair it, but if someone wants to take a shot at it, ok.
When I got home I didn't see the microwave, so I figured that the garbagemen took it. I asked Kris about it and she told me that we didn't need to worry, because by the time the girls left for school it was gone. I said, oh the garbage men must have come early, and she said, uh, no they didn't, it was just gone. So in the time between when I left for work, and the time that Sarah left for school, someone came by and just took it. Well, OK, I guess. It was still working after all; I think the keypad was all that needed to be replaced. I just thought it was more of a hassle to repair it, but if someone wants to take a shot at it, ok.
Test Results
At the end of September, I had my annual PM visit to the doctor. Kris convinced me that since I am now over 40, I really need to see the doctor at least once a year to make sure all systems are still working the way they should. So the report? All things are go. I got my lab test results and everything was good to go. My cholesterol levels were good, though they were slightly elevated, or off the averages, but still within the normal ranges. So looks like I am good for another year. Though I will say that a little more exercise can’t hurt. So I have that to look forward to.
Sleepover
Ali is having a sleepover tonight and she is very excited. It is with her first new friend from her new school. We have to go to the Jr. Indians game in the morning to watch Sarah cheer, so hopefully they will feel like going to bed early. But so far Ali has all kinds of things planned. Games, movies, she has the air mattress set up in the basement, and is all set to go, we are just waiting for Izzy to get here. I'll try and post some pictures if the girls let me take some.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)