Thursday, August 30, 2007

Corporate phone tag...

.. is a lousy game. I don't recommend it to anyone, no matter how bored you may be.

That's what we're doing right now. We're trying to hammer out what we're supposed to do on all aspects of the move; the shipping container, the flight, whether we have to come back to the lower 48 between interview weekend and store set, et cet-ah-rah, et cet-ah-rah, et cet-ah-rah. (It's good to be the king!)

We're told okay, you need to talk to this person, then this person, then this person. The next person says oh, you need to talk to this person and this person. Then we're told oh, you're not supposed to be handling this, so-and-so is. So on and so forth, ad nauseum.

Can't wait to run out of persons!

So I'll talk about Serenity to make everything all better!

Here's another reason to buy the Collector's Edition: You'll learn about space hickeys! Gods, this cast enjoyed each other's company so much, the documentary-type footage is as funny as the outtakes!

One bummer: no easter eggs as far as we can tell. The easter egg on the original Serenity is now a standard on the Collector's Edition.

We found the full comic book at Fry's. Would have bought it, but it was a little munched up along the bottom. Wanted to see if I could find another copy somewhere else. Thought I'd try going to some comics shops and see if they sell the figurines, too!

More good news: Our boss in Alaska called to let Logan know that they bought a house and that right down the street, about five houses down, another home that seems to fit the description of what we're looking for, has just gone up for sale by owner. He's going to take pictures and email them to us. Who knows, if we like what we see, maybe Logan will fly up and check it out. Maybe we'll have a home before we even get there! Wouldn't that be totally SMOKIN'! (Ooops, I broke the law. Oh wait. You can still smoke in your home, so I'm not breaking the law at all. For now.)

Okay. Goin' dark. Good night, y'all.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Domeless

It's gone.

We spent Sunday showing the dome to a nice couple interested in buying it. We settled on $4,650, but gave it to them for $4,500. There were a few issues with the dome, such as a lot of dirt and some peeling of the outer coating from the heat, so we knocked the price down a bit. Then we spent the rest of the day breaking it down, including the floor, piling the pieces into the couple's car and U-Haul van.

We were sad to see it drive off. We hugged each other tight.

Logan was a riot to watch, clambering around at the top of the structure like a monkey as he and Ben took the canopy covering off. And he wanted to put the money in the freezer for a while to have "cold, hard cash". It didn't get hard, but it sure was cold!

The girlfriend and I drove to Mt Aukum to get the U-Haul. We drove past a lot of vineyards and black and yellow tractor crossing signs. One showed a tractor popping a wheelie and the driver chugging from a wine bottle.

Fantastic. Drunk tractor drivers. I think I prefer the soup thing. It's always a hoot and we don't all die from it!

The dome was a big thud of reality for us. It basically screamed we really are moving to Alaska. Maybe someday we'll buy another one. They're making them better and stronger now, so maybe it's all for the best. (Cue Godspell music.)

On a cheerier note, if you haven't bought the Collector's Edition of Serenity yet, you are missing out. The box art is utterly gorgeous and mine came with a comic book to boot! I've got some nifty new ideas for birthday present ideas for a certain soon to be 30 year old I know. Big Damn Shindig, anyone?

Friday, August 24, 2007

If nothing else solidifies the move to Alaska...

... this certainly seals the deal.

We've sold the dome.

We are releasing our Earth Muffin status (yes, I know we'll always be earth muffins) and selling the dome to a couple that has been looking for the exact same dome package that we got at a great price. They're coming up this Sunday to check it out and help us take it down. At this point, they've agreed to $5,000 dollars.

But I have to admit that we both feel sad about it. This dome was like our sanctuary. We had so many plans for this dome, even plans on living in it with a trailer for the bathroom and kitchen, but none of them panned out.

Now we're afraid it may get damaged in Alaska. Also, we'd have to spend a lot of money to get it insulated so that it could even be possibly usable during the winter. It just seems better to have the money.

At any rate, the people buying the dome sound very satisfied with our description of it and we think they will love it as much as we did and get a lot out more out of it than we were able to.

(Pausing to wipe away a tear before it short circuits the laptop)

Aw, hell.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Make the signal go farther...

The Collector's Edition of Serenity is coming out tomorrow. It has a much more appropriate cover picture this time. The last one drove me crazy; that wasn't River on the front, it was Summer Glau with all her model-ness on. This one actually looks like River. Has all sorts of neat additions that other countries got to see, but we didn't, from what I've seen of other websites discussing this momentous occasion.

So run right out there into the 'verse and buy one, even if you already have several copies of the first one!

I got a great idea for when we move to Alaska. I'll just pretend I'm on one of the border planets, one of the colder, snowy ones like the one Tracey's parents lived on when they carried his body home. That'll appeal to my Firefly imagination, eh?

Friday, August 17, 2007

Too tired to think of a nifty title

Wow, I'm so wiped out, it's not even funny. I'm trying to find a funny way to express it, though.

Second day of my new job. Spent the last two days in Customer Service relearning everything that I used to do. I'm picking it up pretty fast, but I keep forgetting the small things and it makes me, well, aggravated with myself. Even the girl training me said she knew she was throwing a lot at me in a short amount of time, but the sooner I have all the front end stuff down the sooner I can start learning Office Manager stuff.

My trainer, E., cracks me up. She's a lot smarter than she looks. (I know, it's real crappy of me to base an opinion on how someone looks, but sometimes it's hard not to, ya know?) She's invented all these little systems which are rather ingenious. I'm sure I'll steal a few to take up with me. But she made me my name tag today and called it my "ghetto tag". It was one that used to belong to a girl in CS who just got the Footwear Manager position. She just slapped a sticker with my name over hers.

I wish she hadn't put Office Manager on it, though. I'm still trying to learn the old stuff. I'm just making manager pay and working manager hours. It might give people the impression that I know what I'm doing. Gawd Forbid!

They have a neat new machine that counts the money for the cashiers when they're counting down their drawers at the end of the shift. You put the pile of bills into this little tray and it tells you how much is there by its weight! I couldn't believe it! I didn't think it could possibly be working correctly, so I counted a few of the smaller piles and sure enough. I don't think we'll have one in Alaska, though. I heard the store manager doesn't want one. Fooey.

I'm so tired when I get home, I almost head straight to bed. Except that my tummy won't let me sleep since it wants to be fed. Bothersome to have to eat and drink, isn't it?

Pardon my weird way of writing. If it doesn't make sense, just remember to read this when you're half asleep and maybe it will make sense then.

That's all, folks!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Back with the Parental Units

Well, we've completely moved out of our apartment and in with my parents for the next month and a half before we make the final move to Alaska. The yard sale is already a dim memory, having been scrubbed away by the pain in my legs and feet and arms and hands moving all our stuff out in just a couple of days. Well, evenings, really. Last night we got back around 12:30 am and the night before we got home closer to 2 am. I'm sure the neighbors in our building were glad to see us go.

We didn't get much of our deposit back, but talking with our landlady about the whole thing, we're not upset with that. She was able to spell everything out to us, she gave us the material that shows what she has to do by law, and she listed everything being deducted from our deposit and gave us a copy, so we understand all that's being deducted and why. At least she didn't walk in and say, "It's a dump. You get nothing." I've heard of landlords that have done that, no matter how diligently the tenants worked to clean the place.

And my cats seem to be doing just fine. They're a bit shook up by all the barking dogs here at Mums and Daddums' house, but they're fascinated by the view out the window.

We're cramped, but grateful to Mums and Daddums for taking us in and giving us a break in our rent before we leave the lower 48.

I was so happy to be done with this whole phase of the "Moving to Alaska" plan that I took my best friend and her sister out to lunch today just for the pleasure of sharing food with them. It was short, but so much fun.

I start work tomorrow at my new management position. I work in Customer Service for a couple of weeks until the lady who is going to train me for Office Manager arrives and trains me for two weeks. Then I just work until we leave. I'm going to be very busy, but we'll be packing some money away before we move, so that's good.

I'm still really nervous, though. Worried that since I haven't been working at this place for six months that people will think I'm a lousy manager. At least I'm already familiar with most of the people and the workings. I just have to remember how everything works!

All right, enough of that stream of consciousness. That about catches up on the currentness of me.

Now, if only I could find my left shoe in this mess...

Monday, August 13, 2007

Don't ever let me do that again.

If you ever hear me talking about having another yard sale, please drag me around the house by my hair, douse me with kerosene, and threaten me with a pretty, engraved lighter. Or let some terrifying space monkeys loose in my teddy bear making supplies.

It was a great experience. I'd never had a yard sale before and I learned about public relations, haggling, and other things like that. Got to meet all my parents' neighbors and got a little money for some of the stuff that was going to go to hospice anyway.

I also learned that my parents' house was a little too far away from traffic, so the second day was really boring, and most of our stuff other people are not interested in because the five people that showed up in four hours walked around the yard sale in less than 30 seconds and left without touching a thing. Not worth the sunburn.

I finally gave up around two o'clock and started packing things up and taking the signs down. In those last three hours one car pulled up and asked to take a peek at what was left and I explained that most of the good stuff was gone, but I let them in anyway. And my friend Matthew showed up as well.

By the way, a gigantic thank you to my best friend Melly Bean, her sister the Queen of Geeks, and Matthew for coming to the yard sale. You guys were the highlight of my weekend. I'm so blessed with friends.

And thank you to my mom, my aunt Paulette, and Melly Bean for buying the most stuff on the second day!

My aunt was so adorable. She arrived while I had a customer first thing in the morning. She had her dog with her, so she kept him in the car while she waited for the customer to leave. She wandered over to the dinette set and sat down in one of the chairs. She looked at the table for a few moments and then announced, "You have my table."

I said, "What?"

"You have my table."

We had gotten the set from my in-laws, so I was trying to figure out how the table set got from her to them to us when I was positive she'd only met my in-laws at our wedding six years ago.

"I've been looking for a table and chairs like this for a long time. I want to buy them from you."

Oh.

She also bought the bar stool because it matched her furniture.

Mom bought the cupboard and also took a lot of books to be donated to the Friends of the Library. She might be taking the office desk, too.

Melly Bean and the Queen of Geeks took the cat tree, the Furby, the Karaoke machine, and a bunch of my books. Queen of Geeks talked Melly Bean out of several more items, which she is still welcome to take if she wants them (HA HA!)

So overall, I was glad I did the yard sale.

But please, please, please don't ever let me do that again.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Happy Anniversary!

I almost forgot. It's our sixth anniversary today! Last night we had a few squares of dark chocolate (it's got more beneficial stuff in it then regular chocolate) and organic vanilla ice cream in celebration. We like to keep things simple. Besides, we're always so busy during our anniversary, I'm surprised we found time to get married at all!

So happy anniversary, Honey Bear! I love you!

This day kicked my...

... Grandmother! (High Society reference!)

I've never had a yard sale before. What a mind screw. You want to sell things for as much money as you can get away with, but I love getting things for dirt cheap at yard sales myself, and I love watching the little ones' faces when I give them free toys. Even my dad said I was great at giving away things, but I'm not much of a salesperson.

How true.

I was hoping more things would get sold, but I'm happy with what did. There was one dresser that had been moved so many times and was such a heavy, awkward pain in the grandmother to move that a piece of wood on the bottom got broken off. But someone bought the thing for $20 today and tossed it into the back of his truck with practiced ease. "How we wept as we launched him and so tearfully we cheered." Well, except without the tears.

There was one long lull that lasted about an hour and a half in the afternoon. At least three-quarters of the customers were Spanish speakers. It made communicating that much more... entertaining. I need to learn Spanish. If for no other reason than I'll know if someone is making fun of me.

It'll be interesting to see how tomorrow goes. I think around 3 pm I'll start telling people take what you want and put a donation in my can for our Moving to Alaska fund. Thank you and have a nice day.

I don't think people in that area are used to seeing yard sales along that road. Several times I'd see cars cruising on by and screech to a halt to turn around in the middle of the road. Not everybody bought something, but most people left with at least one or two items. One old Spanish speaking gentleman found my case of gel pens and I brought him some paper to test them on. I was a little surprised that he bought them! I had thought only kids would be interested in those!

This is definitely an experience I'll not soon forget. Not even after my full body sunburn goes away. Ouch-i-wawah!

More tomorrow after the final day of the famous Moving to Alaska Yard Sale epic!

Yard Sale Day!!!!

Come one, come all! Hurry, hurry, here's your chance. See the mystery and romance!

Oops, sorry. Slipped into a little Disney there. At least I know one person will appreciate it! Hi Matthew!

Well, this is it. We start the yard sale today at 9 AM. Well, technically 8:45. One of my father's neighbors asked if they could come a bit early. Since he was offering to let people park across the street near his road, how could I refuse?

So if you have the time, please drop in. We have an ad in the Gold Panner, but I expect both days to be filled with stretches of boredom. A little distraction would be most welcome. It's being held at my parents' house. See ad in the Yard Sale section of the Gold Panner for the address.

(A la Cal Worthington) See ya here!

Thursday, August 9, 2007

More ch-ch-changes...

I just got a call informing me that I won't be starting work until the 1st of September. I guess that's all right, but I hadn't planned on being unemployed for so long. And already there may be trouble about me and Logan having the same schedules so that we can take the same car, especially since I'm going to have to sell Mustang Sally pretty soon.

Sheesh, why is it so hard for people in large businesses to communicate with each other? With all this technology it shouldn't be this difficult!

I've reached that point in my apartment packing where it's hard to decide what to do next because I have to keep the yard sale stuff separate until after this weekend and I have lots of random things strewn everywhere. I look at the mess and want to throw my hands up in exasperation.

I've taken all the stuff out of the different pieces of furniture that we're going to sell, but now most of that stuff is sitting on those pieces of furniture! And poor Logan is still going back and forth about what he wants to sell of his stuff at the yard sale. And we only have two days left to prepare!

When in danger or in doubt,
Run in circles, scream and shout.

Oh, and I just added a poll to the sidebar there for fun! In case no one noticed it without me adding a huge blinking neon arrow sign pointing right to it. Not that the people I know need such obvious effects! ;>

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

This is a morality tale about the evils of sake...

... except I don't drink. So why the #^%@ do I feel like I have a hangover?!

I've got one of those headaches that won't go away.

No, I don't mean my spouse creature.

I've had a headache off and on for a whole week now. Yesterday it totally waylaid me by turning into a migraine and dropping my fluffy white cotton tail into bed. And it still hasn't relinquished me.

My appetite is still good, so I know I'm not sick.

Exercising helped for a while, but it's starting to loom over me yet again.

Usually sleeping nips it in the bud, but that hasn't been working, and I already wasted one whole day to that. I don't have any more time to waste. I've got to get this place packed up and get my yard sale stuff over to my parents' house. We plan to be out of the apartment by Monday so I can clean it up before the 15th.

Does anybody know of any all natural remedies for the headache that wouldn't die?!

Friday, August 3, 2007

In case you need a laugh...

Now, it could be I only found this high-larious because I've done transcription for a lot of parole hearings for life inmates who have usually committed murder or kidnapping or whatever, but this really triggered the giggles for me. And these guys are doing the Thriller dance a lot better than the group in "13 Going on 30"!

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=879021&fr=&cache=1

I couldn't sit still while watching it, since I know the dance, too!

Thursday, August 2, 2007

More Moving News!

All the managers going to Alaska had a meeting last night and we learned some more about when and how we're moving.

We are going up there on October 1st. There was some iffiness about whether we'd be coming back for a couple weeks after the interviews, but Logan and I are thinking we may stay up there instead. It would be easier on the cats for one thing. But also, we may be looking for a house right off the bat.

The store manager told us about a real estate agent who could set up a deal for all the managers who are interested in buying a house and save us a bunch of money. And he told us that we are moving at the best time to buy a house in the Wasilla area. Housing prices are going to be crashing soon and October to May is the best time to buy. So we are considering forgoing an apartment altogether and looking for a house as soon as we get up there. I'm so excited!

We discussed how our stuff is going to get moved. Basically our car and all our stuff will be put into a 40 foot "pod", or shipping container, which will take about five days to sail up to Alaska and will then be placed at the store site. Then we will rent a U-haul and take our stuff to wherever we're going to be living. The store will be paying for a hotel until we secure a place to live.

I had thought that when I started working, I was going to be bundled off to Reno for my training and that I'd be started at an hourly wage until we got to Alaska. Actually what's happening is I'll be working in Customer Service for a week, starting August 20th, then getting trained for two weeks, then working for the rest of the time until we leave, all right here in California. And I'll be starting off with my salary, too, so we'll be able to save a good chunk of money before we go.

I WANT TO GET YOUR ATTENTION, SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS IN CAPS. ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION NOW? GOOD!

We're moving the yard sale to the weekend of August 11th and 12th. Once again, we will be too busy to celebrate our anniversary on the 11th, but that's okay. It's been that way ever since we got married.

With all the information we got last night, this has changed how we are viewing what we'll take with us and we want some time to ponder it. Also, I simply haven't had enough time to get it all sorted out, anyway. I'll email this to all my friends and family so they'll know. This way, moving all the yard sale stuff to my parents' house will coincide with moving out of the apartment, so we'll do it all in one fell swoop.

All right, I've hit a roadblock in my mind, so I must be out of things to say.

Oh! Roadblock is cleared! Melly Bean, I think I may be able to swing March for your happy little event. I talked to the store manager and he said we should be able to arrange something in that time. Yea!

Blessed be, y'all!