Friday, June 2 - Massachusetts

Standard cabinet height is 36.5". Which is OK if you are 5'5" or so. I am 5'7"&3/4". It does not work well for me. Never has. Working on a counter top and having to hunch over it hurts. It especially kills my back now.

That extra 2-1/2 or 3" height would really be most welcome!

Short (ha ha) random post on a Friday night. My very good friend came over this afternoon and assembled a small case for me which now holds my tablecloths & candles. Awesome! Small spaces equals small furniture :) I am actually loving it so far.

Bookcases got delivered today. Yeah, I am at the point where what is left of my furniture & boxes need to be shuffled around again so I can start on the "wall of books" that is currently occupying a great deal of my living room.

I cannot wait! I have been filled with fear and trepidation for the past 6 months - not knowing what survived and what did not. I am steeled for this. Looking at the book boxes, I am filled with dread, anticipation, and anger.

Dread what is missing. Anticipation for those that did :) Anger that likely - judging by the number of boxes - many of my books did not make it intact.

I am still making friends here in the Park, and so many people have given me their numbers! It truly is a good community where people watch out for one another and are friendly and helpful. I love it here :)

Next week is busy, but stay tuned!

May 31 - Massachusetts

My new couch was delivered yesterday, and it is red! I wanted a red couch but the store said it would be an 8-10 week special order. Did not want to wait that long and figured I would just get a red slipcover. When it arrived in red I was so very, very happy! Here is a picture. I love it!!

New couch

I kind of hit the wall yesterday as far as unpacking, and did not do much. I am at the point of needing a few bits of furniture, shuffling things around, and picking away at small boxes. Trash is going out almost as fast as I unpack.

Went through my once massive movie collection (took up 2 cabinets). Ruthlessly - there's that word again! - tossing. There are still a lot I am keeping, but realistically I do not watch a lot of movies. I had accumulated quite a few. To be frank I had kept many of them out of spite for reasons those close to me will understand :)

Weeded through my music CDs as well. I truly have no desire to listen to "Godsmack" or "AC/DC" any more. I did keep "Chili Peppers" though (guilty pleasure)! And of course my beloved Dylan!!

Small boxes stacked on top of bigger ones (obviously). Makes sense to me to empty & consolidate many of these now. Get them out of the way!

I have more furniture arriving at the end of next week and want to be prepared. I want to be settled and  feel "home". I am tired of feeling I MUST unpack 4 or 5 boxes a day!

Here are some web pictures of the coffee and end tables I got. They have slate tops, and are absolutely gorgeous!

Stay tuned my friends :)

Coffee table

End table (ordered 2)

May 30, Postscript - Massachusetts

Fire Dirt

Meant to mention this in tonight's post but it is deserving of its own. One of the reasons it has taken me so long to unpack is that EVERYTHING has fire dirt on it and must be cleaned.

Even the things in the back of the apartment that were in the closet. Nothing came out unscathed. Fire dirt is gritty, it is smelly, and leaves a film on things.

I have had to wash every single dish, every piece of silverware, every glass. All of my clothes.

Much was ruined, but the most important things were saved: lives. Me, my neighbors, and all the pets. I do not think firemen get enough credit for what they do.

And I can still rant about the fire dirt :) It really is awful. It smells months after the fact! When I open a box I automatically step back as I know its contents will make me cough.

So there is that. (And why it is taking me so long to unpack these darn boxes!)