Three Day Weekend!

First day . . . slept into the early afternoon. Must have needed it. Also got all of the leftover boxes and other junk out of the living room (into the second bedroom, my future office/art room/sewing room/guest bedroom), started my first fire (in the fireplace -- it was legit and safe!), and made things look more like a home and less like a warzone. Second day . . . swept, vacuumed, cleaned out fireplace ashes, laundry, spider hunt (it's time for them to learn who's boss) (hope I don't live to regret those words . . .). If it was warmer, I'd haul leaves to the trash, but it's still too cold for me. Actually, it's 50 degrees -- that's warm enough -- might be working in my yard this afternoon! Plans for rest of today . . . dunno. I so so badly want to relax and work on one of my cross stitch projects, or finish my lime green scarf, or READ (I kind of remember doing that . . . ), or just watch TV and do nothing else. Sadly, I just can't do it. It was four weeks ago last night that I started packing, and every weekend has been cleaning/unpacking/settling in/etc. There's just too much to do. I also really really really want to go for a nice walk through my new (or old?) neighborhood. I have a pile of those frames that you put a lot of photos into -- I'd love to fill those up and hang them. I'd love to make a nice pot of stew -- I have a beef stew recipe with "dried plums" and vanilla bean that I've been dying to make. Maybe that's what I'll do while continuing with all of the chores, and maybe I'll also pull out Mom's Christmas present to work on (kitty sampler). Tomorrow . . . plan to be at IKEA for store opening. There's a rug I want (on sale!) and some shelves that I want (not on sale!). I have to figure out where "my" piano can go. Mom's promised her piano to me (maybe she's changed her mind, though), but I've told her I can't take it until I have a house for it to go into. now I have the house! I'm thinking the wall just at the hallway into the bedrooms/bathroom. It's an indoor wall (important to prevent major temperature or moisture changes that harm the piano) and it has room. I would have to have it tuned after moving, then would have to take piano lessons (I haven't played since I was a kid, and then it wasn't that well), which I've been dying to do.

I filled out one grad school application last night, to USF's MPA with healthcare administration concentration. Starts in the Fall, two year program. I spent time looking at local MBA programs. I'd love to go to Berkeley's, but it's THREE years, requires a GMAT (which I'd have to take a few months to prepare myself for), and it's really expensives (>$30K/year). I looked at SJSU as my runner up, but it would take three to FOUR years, it's very very affordable, and I'd have to take at least two classes a semester (two nights/week, ugh). USF is TWO years, one night/week, I think there are also some Saturdays involved. It's a known quantity (did my undergrad there), and it's on the way home. No parking nightmares. Order books online. No graduate entrance exams (GMAT, GRE, etc.). I think the answer is clear. So I filled out my application last night. Have to write a personal statement, line up my references, and order transcripts.

Well, better get back to the fun!

MAJOR house and yard makeovers needed

I spent a few hours yesterday reading about how to create one's own composter, since I have a yard FULL of leaves and twigs and branches. I keep changing my mind: compost what I have, or just trash it all, or post FREE COMPOST YOU HAUL on craigslist.

I at least raked out the edges of the patio to find where the concrete ends and the dirt begins. Along with leaves, branches, twigs, worms, acorns, and god know what kinds of bugs, I've dug up:

• Christmas ornaments (!!!)
• A lightbulb
• Numerous rather garish garden ornaments (butterfly, flower, some kind of abstract thing)
• A barbell with two 25lb weights on it (!!!)
• Several doormats
• Rotting gardening tools
• Jimmy Hoffa

OK, maybe not Hoffa, but when I find human bones, I won't be at all surprised. Hey, maybe I should look harder for bones -- then the criminal labs will take EVERYTHING away, massively dig up the yard, and I can start from scratch.

Kidding.

Kind of.

I'm getting great exercise.

It's a GORGEOUS day, warm and balmy, breezy, pre-Spring day. Yay Spring!

I was up very late last night getting my bedroom in better shape, including scrubbing out all sorts of marks on the walls. I really need furniture -- one day at a time. Got the kitchen in better shape yesterday. Tried to get some rust stains out of the tub, finally gave up.

Today I'm tackling those rust stains using different cleaning stuff, hope to start tackling some of the hardwood floors, scrubbing more walls, cooking for the week (pasta salad and london broil), continuing with laundry, and continuing to get rid of boxes.

I WILL post photos today, too.

In LOVE with my new home

Note "HOME" vs. "apartment." I've never lived on my own in a house before. I get to explore lots of questions, issues, projects, etc.:

• How to clean out a fireplace (vacuum worked just fine).
• How many calls to the cable company does it take for cable to finally work (two visits, five calls).
• How to best clean after previous tenants who cleaned NOTHING, apparently for the last ten years -- one section at a time, and very thoroughly. (I'll be cleaning every weekend for the next six months, easy.)
• What to do when I'm too wiped to read, watch TV, move, but also too tired to sleep? Castlevania!
• What's a good way to clean window screens and glass w/o being very stinky? The Method shower cleaner (ylang ylang) -- works GREAT and smells good too!
• Can one nearing middle age single woman do everything by herself? Yep, pretty much. When money's flush, hiring help isn't a bad thing (can't wait to hire a cleaning woman next month to get the hardwood floors done really well).

My cats and I just love love love our new home. It is SO wonderful to not listen to:

• Drunken parties.
• Drunken fights.
• Skateboarders.
• Sirens all night long.
• Airplanes every 15 minutes or so from 5pm to 11pm (I don't miss living under the flight plan at all).
• The two babies that lived downstairs.
• The blaring stereo on my right.
• The door slammer behind me.
• The car stereos.
• The motorcycle afficianado.

It's HEAVEN not to smell:

• The cigarette smokers downstairs and next to me.
• The trash.
• The broken beer bottles on Sunday mornings in the parking lot.
• The very traditional Chinese food being cooked downstairs (I don't love fish THAT much).
• Exhaust from constant cars, trucks, motorcycles.

Here's what I listen to and smell now:

• Birds: tons and tons of birds (my cats are mesmerized all day long).
• Flowers and greenery.
• Fresh, clean air.
• Fog in the morning, from the ocean over the mountains.
• The creek behind the houses.
• The occasional cat fight.
• Fireplaces.
• Barbecues.
• Kids laughing (playing vs. up to no good).
• My TV or stereo (hard to hear before -- so much competing noise).

I'm sorry not to have pictures yet -- I'm still not fully settled in -- that little thing called work keeps getting in the way. I had a WONDERFUL day today. Groceries. Cat food. Laundry. Raked leaves. Cleaned windows. More cleaning. Kitchen's looking better. Watched HBO. Did VERY LITTLE WORK. Roasted a chicken. Steamed artichokes. Organized my fridge.

Tomorrow = the library, get my car completely cleaned and vacuumed post moving, scrub out the bathroom, work on my living room and bedroom, get my art stuff organized (I'm having creative thoughts!), do a little more VERY LITTLE WORK, get ready for the week.

Life is good! Can't wait to have company! My new bed should be here by mid-March, then let the guests commence (because I can then set up my guest room/office).