We just lived through a week of subfreezing temperatures ending with a 5-inch snowfall. Since we don't have a tractor anymore Ray was able to clear the driveway by pushing the snow (not shoveling). The sun was bright and melted any remaining remnants. Now we are expecting another week of below average temperatures, a week where we probably don't get above the freezing mark. It's good that our driveway is clear!
On Ash Wednesday we had the Imposition of Ashes as part of the service for the first time since I've been a member of Concordia. I was surprised at the emotion I felt after receiving the ashes on my forehead. The women of the congregation served supper between the services to about 100 people. Had some delicious food and great desserts, all donated. The freewill offering was designated to help congregation and/or community members with financial needs.
I truly was reminiscing during the week while cleaning, sorting and packing for our upcoming move. Found a newspaper article from January 1964 with photos of the Tillman Road farmhouse, my parents home, on fire. Also, came across an article of my engagement and upcoming wedding. It was interesting to see how the layout of newspapers has changed over the years. Back in 1962 the newspaper only cost 10 cents delivered. I also found a certificate of my commission in September 1961 as a Notary Public from the State of Illinois.
Digging down into a closet I found a scrapbook that I kept when I was pledging a sorority, Phi Gamma Nu, in 1961. Phi Gamma Nu is a professional business fraternity founded in Chicago in 1924 and in 2014 celebrated its 90 anniversary. When I looked through the scrapbook, I realized I hardly have any recollection of this time. I never became an active member since Ray and I were planning on marrying. We wouldn't be living in Chicago, but moving to Oklahoma, so it didn't make sense to become a member.
All these finds reinforce what I freely admit -- my housekeeping skills are not the best. Or maybe I should admit I'm a packrat.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Purging and discarding
"Where to begin?" is the same question I ask myself almost every day as I go through closets and cabinets. True Confession: I'm not a very good housekeeper. There, I've said it for all the world to hear. Some of the items I've found take me back years and years and I wonder why I still have them.
We've listed several items on Craigslist.com and have sold a few items. As everyone warns, we've been cautious. Ray has met people at the nearby truck stop where the exchange took place: cash for the item. If we had put these several items in the auction, we would only get 60% and maybe not even the price we'd hoped for. The guy who contacted us about Ray's metal detector lives only a few miles from us and even goes to the Monrovia barbershop and knows the barber that cut Ray's hair last week. He came to our house to get the metal detector and while here bargained for a few other things.
We kept up our regular routine last week and were able to go to the Rec Center like usual. I'm running indoors since it's been very cold. Sometime soon I hope to run outside so I can get in some miles outdoors before my next big event: April 18. Indoor miles are a lot different that outdoor miles.
In three weeks we'll get possession of our apartment. There's still a lot to be decided but we can also accomplish a lot in three weeks if we don't slack too much. We have until March 31 to move everything and leave for the final time.
Nancy, Joe, Kylie & Jayden visited this afternoon--maybe for the last time--at this house. They went home with some giveaways from the items we can't take with us.
I'm hoping the weather warms up a bit and we don't get any huge snowstorms. I can't imagine what it must be like on the East Coast. They are experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime winter.
We've listed several items on Craigslist.com and have sold a few items. As everyone warns, we've been cautious. Ray has met people at the nearby truck stop where the exchange took place: cash for the item. If we had put these several items in the auction, we would only get 60% and maybe not even the price we'd hoped for. The guy who contacted us about Ray's metal detector lives only a few miles from us and even goes to the Monrovia barbershop and knows the barber that cut Ray's hair last week. He came to our house to get the metal detector and while here bargained for a few other things.
We kept up our regular routine last week and were able to go to the Rec Center like usual. I'm running indoors since it's been very cold. Sometime soon I hope to run outside so I can get in some miles outdoors before my next big event: April 18. Indoor miles are a lot different that outdoor miles.
In three weeks we'll get possession of our apartment. There's still a lot to be decided but we can also accomplish a lot in three weeks if we don't slack too much. We have until March 31 to move everything and leave for the final time.
Nancy, Joe, Kylie & Jayden visited this afternoon--maybe for the last time--at this house. They went home with some giveaways from the items we can't take with us.
I'm hoping the weather warms up a bit and we don't get any huge snowstorms. I can't imagine what it must be like on the East Coast. They are experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime winter.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
One more decision made!
Yesterday morning we headed to Greenwood to look at an apartment that just became available. A week ago we drove by the complex but had not stopped in. We couldn't get into the apartment as it's still occupied but were able to see a similar one in another building. There are nearly 300 units in the complex in 13 different buildings. We liked the apartment, especially the kitchen area and the extra room -- a den besides the two bedrooms. The bedrooms were a little smaller than some we had looked at previously, but we left without making a decision. We now had three different apartments in three different area at the top of our list.
As we've been doing for the past several weeks, we came home and did odd jobs including sorting and deciding what to keep, what to give away and what to send to a landfill or recycling center.
Late in the afternoon, we stopped for a snack and I said "I guess we lost our opportunity for the $150 waiver of the administrative fee at Copper Chase Apartments." The waiver was only good for yesterday. Ray asked if I had decided that this was the place I liked best and I suddenly said "yes." We didn't know if the leasing agent would still be in the office so he called and learned that several others were also interested in the ground floor apartment. She said someone was coming today (Sunday) to apply but if we wanted the apartment we should come immediately. We gathered up the application papers and were out the door in about 10 minutes making our second trip to Greenwood.
The weather was beautiful yesterday, reaching about 50 degrees in the afternoon. Apparently this good weather brought out lots of people as the leasing agent had been kept busy all day with more than the usual number of people stopping in to inquire about vacancies.
We left a deposit with her and agreed to a move-in date of March 10. The current occupant moves out this coming weekend which should give management plenty of time to get it ready for us. As we drove home we observed a beautiful sunset and then enjoyed a glass of wine with our late evening meal. One major decision accomplished. More decisions in the coming days and weeks. Life is interesting isn't it?
As we've been doing for the past several weeks, we came home and did odd jobs including sorting and deciding what to keep, what to give away and what to send to a landfill or recycling center.
Late in the afternoon, we stopped for a snack and I said "I guess we lost our opportunity for the $150 waiver of the administrative fee at Copper Chase Apartments." The waiver was only good for yesterday. Ray asked if I had decided that this was the place I liked best and I suddenly said "yes." We didn't know if the leasing agent would still be in the office so he called and learned that several others were also interested in the ground floor apartment. She said someone was coming today (Sunday) to apply but if we wanted the apartment we should come immediately. We gathered up the application papers and were out the door in about 10 minutes making our second trip to Greenwood.
The weather was beautiful yesterday, reaching about 50 degrees in the afternoon. Apparently this good weather brought out lots of people as the leasing agent had been kept busy all day with more than the usual number of people stopping in to inquire about vacancies.
We left a deposit with her and agreed to a move-in date of March 10. The current occupant moves out this coming weekend which should give management plenty of time to get it ready for us. As we drove home we observed a beautiful sunset and then enjoyed a glass of wine with our late evening meal. One major decision accomplished. More decisions in the coming days and weeks. Life is interesting isn't it?
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