Home Depot called on Thursday afternoon to let us know our refrigerator was in but they couldn't deliver it that day (as had been promised). Was that "okay"? No, it was not okay. However, not much to be done about it. We got a call nice and early (8 a.m.) this morning that our refrigerator was ready to be delivered. However, there was just one little problem. It has a dent in it. Do we still want it for $100 off? Need to see this dent. Turns out it is pretty small and on the side where it won't show. They are installing it as we speak. I am staying out of the room because the deliver guy insulted me. Dad directed them around back like the guys took the old one out. I suggested maybe it would be easier to go through the front door. Without even glancing at the direction of the front door, he proceeded to give me a lecture on how wide these refrigerators are and how you usually have to take the door off its hinges, etc. So much for his tip!
Please let me know whose stuff that is Dad described in his comment to Greyson's post--the t-shirts, sock and DVD. Thanks.
Grandma FarAway went to the doctor yesterday and he told her she can start eating "more complex" foods over the next couple of weeks. After that she will finally get her gastric tube out.
While Dad took down the Christmas lights, I dusted and cleaned floors -- swept, swiffered and wet-swiffered. Then I left to take Grandma to the doctor and he vacuumed all the floors. Apparently, the floors still looked dirty to him. Then he came in and started cleaning the TV screen (which I had dusted earlier). Seems we have a slight communication problem.
The chauvanist delivery men are gone so I'm going to go admire my new frig.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Christmas has come and gone
We have been cleaning house for two days now. Mom had me take down all the holiday lights. Everything was either wet or wet/dirty so I coiled them on the garage floor to let them dry out before I box them up. The vaccuming is done, the floors have been swiffered, and the beds are in different stages of sheet washing and making them up. It seems like the washer and dryer have been running for days. I decided to open the dryer compartment up and check for lint. When I removed a metal funnel piece that directs the air thru a large fan and out to the dryer hose I found a huge plug of compacted lint and dirt. I removed it, washed the piece because it felt oily/sticky and then checked the vent hose and found more lint, but not as bad. Spent a couple of hours trying to get all the pieces back together and pulled the dryer back into position after pulling the washer out and away for room/leverage. I can only hope that everything stayed connected.
Well, we never got our refrigerator today. I thought Mom had called and found that it wasn't in yet, but later she told me it was in but thought I wouldn't want to pick it up myself. Anyway, hook or crook I had better have refrigerator tomorrow; either they bring or I will drive to Albany and pick up (HMMMMMMMMMMMMM but then how do I get rid of the one we have since Home Depot was to pick it up for free ----- cancel that idea). Living out of iceboxes is getting really old (this escapade has been going on since Thanksgiving with a straight 8-9 day diet with ours out of service completely) and I am worried about the safety of the food; I think a lot of stuff will go to landfill.
Hope everyone had a great time. I started using that mechanical flashlight; it is really cool and holds it's charge for a long time with just a little turning. Christian called to thank us for his basketball Xbox game which arrived today. I have read the dog book and hope to start the science book that the Deans got me. Believe it or not but there is still good fudge left and I have two big slabs in an icebox in the garage. Does fudge spoil when it is just cool? I would hate to throw it away.
I truly had much more fun with the grandkids this year and look forward to more good times in the near future. Love, Dad
Well, we never got our refrigerator today. I thought Mom had called and found that it wasn't in yet, but later she told me it was in but thought I wouldn't want to pick it up myself. Anyway, hook or crook I had better have refrigerator tomorrow; either they bring or I will drive to Albany and pick up (HMMMMMMMMMMMMM but then how do I get rid of the one we have since Home Depot was to pick it up for free ----- cancel that idea). Living out of iceboxes is getting really old (this escapade has been going on since Thanksgiving with a straight 8-9 day diet with ours out of service completely) and I am worried about the safety of the food; I think a lot of stuff will go to landfill.
Hope everyone had a great time. I started using that mechanical flashlight; it is really cool and holds it's charge for a long time with just a little turning. Christian called to thank us for his basketball Xbox game which arrived today. I have read the dog book and hope to start the science book that the Deans got me. Believe it or not but there is still good fudge left and I have two big slabs in an icebox in the garage. Does fudge spoil when it is just cool? I would hate to throw it away.
I truly had much more fun with the grandkids this year and look forward to more good times in the near future. Love, Dad
santa giveth
and santa taketh away. This entry is for folks who are missing one thing or another.
Our found and lost list includes a video game:
Ghost Recon 2 Summit Strike.
and
the wireless network which is plugged into Jan and Larry's machine.
2 xbox controllers (regular xbox off brand names)
Our found and lost list includes a video game:
Ghost Recon 2 Summit Strike.
and
the wireless network which is plugged into Jan and Larry's machine.
2 xbox controllers (regular xbox off brand names)
Thursday, December 22, 2005
meet Napolean
This is the newest addition to our family. This photo was taken after he inhaled (literally) 9 half inch minnows with his barely 2 1/2" long body. He is barely thicker than a leaf, his namesake. He's still eating as I type.l
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
ezza mase
It was my first consumer experience in downtown blustery Chicago. They didn't take cards there, but were willing to cut my hair on my word that I would go to the ATM next door to get cash out. How could I possibly walk away from such kind people in such a long standing establishment? The three of them were fully italian, with the thickest accent belonging to my barber. I said "You must really think I need one", sat down and he began. I told him "1/2" off and get rid of some of the bushiness" and he nodded quickly and said "oh ok". After a few 2" long clumps of hair thudded in my vinyl covered lap, I knew this was a big mistake. He and I had a bit of a communication breakdown somewhere, from his incomprehensible answer to my question of where could I get a good pizza, to his comment "You have a lotta nice hai bot ezza mase", which was far more worrisome. With that, he cut and cut. I went in there against my better judgement. I thought "They must know how to cut long hair in Chicago". I soon learned that there is no long hair in Chicago, and this place was exactly why. The place had intensely loyal customers, all entering with a "left-parted George Bush", and leaving just the same.
I left the barber shop to get my cash with even less insulation in the windy 19 degree weather. My scalp was now seeping whatever heat was left in my body to the environment. If anybody should grow their hair out, it should be the folks in Chicago! I requested $60 and waited about 5 minutes for it to process. I tried to cancel but it was too late, and to walk off would leave someone else $60 richer. It was that cold. It finally said "take your cash" and I reached, but no cash. The receipt mentioned no error other than there were 60 fewer dollars in my account. After calling the atm company and waiting for them to call me back in the warm chamber of the barber shop. I ended up leaving my laptop at the shop for collateral, going north few blocks to a bank (with an indoor atm). By that time, I couldn't feel my face. People on the street had suits on with leather coats, wool scarves and knit caps, bare minimum. I eventually returned and paid the barber, and the atm company called me. The technician apparently looked at the machine and said it was fine, and this $60 was now "disputed". After making enough fuss over my cell phone, no one in that barber shop likely thought that that I was scamming the business for a "free whacking".
Thanking them for their patience, I began to leave when the owner said "Don't you have a coat?". I replied "No it's in my luggage at the airport" and left it at that. I walked absolutely hunched and pathetic, all ashiver, down the street in my search for not only more clothing to buy, but some hot legendary Chicago pizza. I must've looked like Gollum, leading the hobbits down their path to the cracks of doom. The pizza I did find, and it was Z best I have EVER had. I kid you not. Spinach, mushroom, 2" thick. It was at a place called Ronnie's steakhouse. This concluded my experience in downtown Chicago. The cook at Ronnie's had said that not but 3-4 blocks down the road, there was a place to buy clothes. I took his word for it and scurried back to the subway. Did I mention that my sweatshirt was elastic around my waist, and was constantly pulling my shirt upward toward my ribcage, and exposing my mid-section from my low-cut jeans on up? Yeah...it was sized for a 13 year old girl. The subway car was moderately warmer, and the ride lasted about 20 minutes each way. The scenary was something else. Skinny classic old industrial brick buildings leaning precariously, smoking furiously. It was beautiful in a desolute urban sort of way. There was a real order and stylization to the architecture, and gave me more of a sense of Chicago's grace and history than my interaction with its business facade.
I spent the next 7 hours looking for wireless spots in the airport where I could game with a friend of mine to no avail, and eventually picked up "memoirs of a geisha" which is a really good read so far.
The flight, landing, finding my car, driving home on the icy and incredibly windy I-84 was fairly uneventful, but when I reached duncan creek road and started up, my tires began spinning, and my car slowed to a stop, sideways in the middle of my first steep hill off of hwy 14. My only option was to back down the hill, and as I attempted that, my car further angled itself towards the edge. After some discussion, breaking, steering wheel flailing, sliding, and cursing, the car aligned with the road again and I eased it back down to the store where I parked and called mel. She put on her chains, now at 2:00 am, came down, and I drove us back without a hitch. See, I was insistent on personally tackling the hill with chains after my defeat, and was confident in my worst case scenario experience. Notta problem.
I left the barber shop to get my cash with even less insulation in the windy 19 degree weather. My scalp was now seeping whatever heat was left in my body to the environment. If anybody should grow their hair out, it should be the folks in Chicago! I requested $60 and waited about 5 minutes for it to process. I tried to cancel but it was too late, and to walk off would leave someone else $60 richer. It was that cold. It finally said "take your cash" and I reached, but no cash. The receipt mentioned no error other than there were 60 fewer dollars in my account. After calling the atm company and waiting for them to call me back in the warm chamber of the barber shop. I ended up leaving my laptop at the shop for collateral, going north few blocks to a bank (with an indoor atm). By that time, I couldn't feel my face. People on the street had suits on with leather coats, wool scarves and knit caps, bare minimum. I eventually returned and paid the barber, and the atm company called me. The technician apparently looked at the machine and said it was fine, and this $60 was now "disputed". After making enough fuss over my cell phone, no one in that barber shop likely thought that that I was scamming the business for a "free whacking".
Thanking them for their patience, I began to leave when the owner said "Don't you have a coat?". I replied "No it's in my luggage at the airport" and left it at that. I walked absolutely hunched and pathetic, all ashiver, down the street in my search for not only more clothing to buy, but some hot legendary Chicago pizza. I must've looked like Gollum, leading the hobbits down their path to the cracks of doom. The pizza I did find, and it was Z best I have EVER had. I kid you not. Spinach, mushroom, 2" thick. It was at a place called Ronnie's steakhouse. This concluded my experience in downtown Chicago. The cook at Ronnie's had said that not but 3-4 blocks down the road, there was a place to buy clothes. I took his word for it and scurried back to the subway. Did I mention that my sweatshirt was elastic around my waist, and was constantly pulling my shirt upward toward my ribcage, and exposing my mid-section from my low-cut jeans on up? Yeah...it was sized for a 13 year old girl. The subway car was moderately warmer, and the ride lasted about 20 minutes each way. The scenary was something else. Skinny classic old industrial brick buildings leaning precariously, smoking furiously. It was beautiful in a desolute urban sort of way. There was a real order and stylization to the architecture, and gave me more of a sense of Chicago's grace and history than my interaction with its business facade.
I spent the next 7 hours looking for wireless spots in the airport where I could game with a friend of mine to no avail, and eventually picked up "memoirs of a geisha" which is a really good read so far.
The flight, landing, finding my car, driving home on the icy and incredibly windy I-84 was fairly uneventful, but when I reached duncan creek road and started up, my tires began spinning, and my car slowed to a stop, sideways in the middle of my first steep hill off of hwy 14. My only option was to back down the hill, and as I attempted that, my car further angled itself towards the edge. After some discussion, breaking, steering wheel flailing, sliding, and cursing, the car aligned with the road again and I eased it back down to the store where I parked and called mel. She put on her chains, now at 2:00 am, came down, and I drove us back without a hitch. See, I was insistent on personally tackling the hill with chains after my defeat, and was confident in my worst case scenario experience. Notta problem.
Monday, December 19, 2005
real quick
Dean family update: Ok- well we have snow issues at our house…our power keeps coming off and on. Our fridge keeps coming off and on- and I didn’t have water until this afternoon…so no shower yet today. My bball practice got cancelled today- but I haven’t heard yet about tomorrow’s game. Well I’m only here for a second…to pick up my address book. So hopefully I will update you all from home- need to get some more shopping done and some ice is on its way.
The windy city in December (without a coat)
Just thought I would update you all on my hubby's progress. As you may guess from the title he is in Chicago. His flight from Chicago to Portland last night was cancelled and the next 5 flights were booked. So he has a flight that leaves tonight. He had to spend last night in a hotel there at the airport and for all his trouble all the airline gave him was a coupon off part of his hotel bill. So he still had to pay $90 for a room and he was not allowed access to his luggage to get a change of clothes or a coat. Also, the only room left at the hotel was a smoking room so he said he is smelling a little funky today. Hopefully he will be home tonight.
My drive to work today was slow and cautious. It snowed about 2 inches and then had about 1/4 inch of freezing rain. The snowy roads were predictably slippery but were you really had to be careful was were they had previously plowed and the snow layer was gone just leaving the freezing rain. Those were very slick but don't worry parents I went slow. I did have some issues this morning with my car. I was defrosting it and started to drive out of my driveway when I decided to run back in and get my gloves so I could knock some of the loose ice off my car. So I turned off the car to get my keys to unlock the car. Came back and knocked all the ice off and went to start my car and got that dreaded "I really want to but I just don't have enough juice to start" sound. So I had to search the garage for our battery charger. When I entered the garage there were the two cats sitting five feet from a bird that had got stuck in the garage. I left the door open to free him and dragged the battery charger to the car. I held my breath as I attached all the leads hoping it wouldn't explode. After about 1 min. I gave her a crank and off she went. I was really impressed by the speed of the charger. I definite must have for people like me. Anyway, all is good. I am here at work and Greyson should be home tonight.
My drive to work today was slow and cautious. It snowed about 2 inches and then had about 1/4 inch of freezing rain. The snowy roads were predictably slippery but were you really had to be careful was were they had previously plowed and the snow layer was gone just leaving the freezing rain. Those were very slick but don't worry parents I went slow. I did have some issues this morning with my car. I was defrosting it and started to drive out of my driveway when I decided to run back in and get my gloves so I could knock some of the loose ice off my car. So I turned off the car to get my keys to unlock the car. Came back and knocked all the ice off and went to start my car and got that dreaded "I really want to but I just don't have enough juice to start" sound. So I had to search the garage for our battery charger. When I entered the garage there were the two cats sitting five feet from a bird that had got stuck in the garage. I left the door open to free him and dragged the battery charger to the car. I held my breath as I attached all the leads hoping it wouldn't explode. After about 1 min. I gave her a crank and off she went. I was really impressed by the speed of the charger. I definite must have for people like me. Anyway, all is good. I am here at work and Greyson should be home tonight.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Will my husband make it home?
My hubby is flying in at midnight tonight. I am wondering if this freezing rain will materialize or not. Normally it takes them much longer to get the runways clear with freezing rain. He may just get stuck in Chicago. He didn't seem worried and told me that they checked the weather and it would be just fine in Portland tonight (implying I didn't know what I was talking about, Ha!). So we'll see who is right.
It has only been above freezing a few times since that snow we got. I already lost my power this morning. It didn't stay out for too long but I was glad to have my woodstove. I have even gotten down the "stoking to last all night" thing down so I have coals left in the morning. It can usually last a good 12 hours if I do it right. There is kind of a science to mine because you can actually close it down too much and it will go out. I think I am going to take Ada for a quick bike ride to the end of the street and back to wear her out before the ice and wind comes and she doesn't want to be outside.
-Mel
It has only been above freezing a few times since that snow we got. I already lost my power this morning. It didn't stay out for too long but I was glad to have my woodstove. I have even gotten down the "stoking to last all night" thing down so I have coals left in the morning. It can usually last a good 12 hours if I do it right. There is kind of a science to mine because you can actually close it down too much and it will go out. I think I am going to take Ada for a quick bike ride to the end of the street and back to wear her out before the ice and wind comes and she doesn't want to be outside.
-Mel
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