Thursday, new water heater, Misfits

When Greg the plumber said Joe would be here first thing Thursday, he wasn't kidding. Eight am, van here, Joe unloading equipment, by 11am, job done, hot water resulted, my bank account emptied.

The old heater leaving 

New one ready to unbox. Then the new one in place, and Joe wrote the date on. The old one was far past its lifetime, but who's counting. 

That was a 50 gallon tank, but modern 50 gallons are too big for the space what with better insulation, new regs. So I have a 40 gallon now, which fits. Plenty for me, since anyway I do laundry in cold water. 

In early July we did this with the water heater at the condo. Seems like no time.

In the middle of all this, I took a cosmos break 

Those seeds are repaying me over and over. Definitely doing that again next year.

And there's Misfits. Fortunately, when I ordered,  I had included treats, which I really need today.

Inserted into this picture of the foil cooler bag and freezer blocks out for pickup, is the gallon of paint Gary had changed his mind about and wanted to toss but I said no, I'll Freecycle it for you, and I got a happy taker in minutes, picked up in an hour.

Anyway here's this week's lovely food.

Apples because they're excellent and my morning snack is an apple. Blueberries for breakfast with seedy bread, strawberries to go with chocolate almonds, carrots to go into soup with the pumpkin in the freezer. Scallions to accompany the rest of the chili with cheese grated over, also for some Yeung Man Cooking recipe or other, tba,  with the firm tofu. Cheese because I always need cheese.

It's all in the continuous story of meals around here. If you have a favorite tofu recipe, please let us know.  Always open.

Happy day everyone, I hope you build in nice things for your day. It's as much a part of life as disasters, also easier to plan for.

Earthly Possessions, doors and other pests.

 I couldn't find the Anne Tyler novel in my library system, so I found the movie, now old enough to be on YouTube 

An upgrade from yesterday's oldie, Quartet by Somerset Maugham

Amazing cast of current and future stars in this one. A bit slow, trite, but fun to watch.

In the middle of today's matinee, Gary came over to let me know the delayed plan for three of us to replace the battered old doors on our outdoor storage area is on. He and contractor Michael are doing it together. I see my job as staying out of the way, basically, until someone bills me. They're picking them up today.

It totally needs doing. It's in a sun, rain and snow blasted location, and weathers out rapidly no matter how many coats of paint it gets. 

The only doors that fit this opening are really interior doors, not made for weather. So they delaminate fast. 

No, I don't know why the builders didn't make them full-size and install exterior doors.  I'm guessing someone got a deal on interior doors and the tail wagged the dog. We just replace them frequently. My builder brother, Mr OCD, would have roared in disgust at this situation.

Ed. Update: Gary's been all over creation trying to get replacement doors, nothing in the smaller width we need. We'll see what's to do next. 

Tuesday I will be at the condo waiting for the reinspection of the water heater, and hoping the inspector gets there earlyish. Handsome Son is working, so he can't be there. I'll be armed with reading, knitting, tablet etc. I may not make it to yet another knitting group, sigh, unless he gets there before lunch.

This too shall pass. All this too shall pass. I suppose.

They say that one element leading to a long life is social engagement. I imagine that includes running next door on request to check the design of the bathroom door, which I just did, Gary having forgotten it, and he's at the door store.

There are other elements to long life, such as exercise, good food etc. I don't think longevity has much to recommend it unless it comes with good health, though. 

I fired a doctor decades ago because he shouted me down when I said I exercised to stay well, not just to live longer. EVERYONE wants to live longer, he bellowed.  And other such silly stuff. I'm glad my activity seems to be paying off, but I'm lucky, too. It's easy to take credit when your own efforts are really only part of the story. 

Happy day, everyone! Live long and prosper, doing the Spock hand sign.

Getting stuff done

 Yesterday Joe the Plumber came and spent the morning at the condo replacing the water heater.

You can see the tight quarters. Its an alcove, no way to enlarge it, which is why the washer and dryer are compact. Also very expensive, the only ones which fit.

There's always a point at which the soldering sets off the smoke alarm. It's undetectable by human nose, but the alarm goes into overdrive. So it seems to be working anyway.

And while I was there I noticed near the building a stand of peppermint, so I swiped a bit 

I'll start it in water then move to a pot.

When I got home, Misfits had arrived 

Still buying bread until the weather moderates and I can bake my own again.

The paper supplies went out in the afternoon to a local friend, and what she didn't need will be freecycled this morning to one of several interested takers. 

She and I had a funny chat about being drawn to blank books and fountain pens. She noted that she hadn't been able to get them to meet and work together yet.. I think that might be true of a lot of collectors. Using them doesn't seem to be the point. 

For me using stuff is the point. 

This picture is my homelife in a nutshell 

On top of coffee table, l to r current DVDs, breakfast tray, on extra table,  DVD player, Kleenex for sad movies, stitched box. Just out of frame, pinloom weaving supplies.

Under the table l to r, stitching supplies and current fabric book, waste basket for threads, spinning supplies, knitting bag.

In the downstairs closet, not pictured, bag of cordage and basket in progress 

This is HQ. It's why I no longer need a studio and extensive art supplies. Life's good. 

Happy day everyone, go Joe, and confusion to his enemies. Joe's bringing the economy roaring back has increased the value of my little mutual fund investments, and directly enabled me to pay for this month's expenses.  So miss me with whining about daily costs.  

Two years ago I couldn't have managed this well. Money may not buy happiness, but a bit extra to relieve the strain is pretty close to it.

Time to play!

Friends online and in real space

 Yesterday was about staying cool, knitting,  getting surprise visits and online meetings where I could vent my feelings about the current political turmoil.

Best of all was a flying visit from a close friend who moved away but never fails to stop by when she's anywhere near. We did a great catch-up about families and friends, ending with our traditional selfies.

She's so short I have to bob down to get us both in the shot. 

While I was in the online meeting Gary burst in with a question about plants (!) and got a very brief answer.

Nice Indian neighborhood proof #23,543: I was carrying my recycling bucket and a bag of garbage to the dumpster when a young woman ran up, took them from me, disposed of them and wished me a nice day! Total stranger from somewhere down the street. 

Today is about getting the water heater installed at the condo and selling my firstborn to pay for it.

It's also about another friend this afternoon, visiting and getting this from me. She makes art, and I offered her first look before I put this supply of wonderful acid free paper and portfolio on Freecycle.

If she takes only some of it, I have a couple of people eager for the rest of it. It's the supplies left after I had a solo show of prints and paintings. Arches paper, beautiful quality.

So that's where we are today, happy day.