June 6 - Massachusetts

Small Appliances

It is a running joke in my family, and also when I was working, that small electrical appliances and I do not co-exist well. My siblings chalk it up to excess electricity I generate. I am not thoroughly convinced that is scientifically possible.

Whatever it is, I do seem to burn through small appliances faster than socks. Moreso than most people on the planet. They explode, fry, fizzle, or simply stop working. I could not even begin to count the number of coffee makers I have had to replace over the years. I gave up on trying to keep an electric can opener years ago! I do not own a toaster oven for the same reason. Toasters are iffy as well.

Can opener envy!

 Microwave ovens especially do not get along well with me. Three have quit on me in the past 4 1/2 years (nice ones). Not a good track record! You do not want to hear the story about the one that fried on me once at my place of work. It was not pretty, to put it mildly.

It is not for lack of purchasing top-rated brands. Black & Decker, Frigidaire, GE, LG, etc. It does not seem to matter.

Small kitchen appliances also suffer in my possession. Blenders, mixers - you name it. I have toasted at least several dozen various smaller appliances. Not my fault! I am fastidious about reading the User Manuals, and have never once attempted to use an appliance for anything other than its intended purpose.

Vacuum cleaners. They hate me! So many vacuum cleaners have fizzled out on me, and it is not for lack of care. I clean them and ensure the rollers are free. Still - 5 have died on me in the past 3 1/2 years. No, not a good track record. I was a little worried about The Hoover when I was in Maine this past Winter. Yeah that thing weighed a ton, and it took me awhile to vacuum, but I did worry in the back of my mind about it fizzling out while I was there! Perhaps it was more stubborn than most :) Thankfully!!

I have had my most recent coffee pot about 10 months now, and am keeping my fingers crossed. It is a most awesome coffee maker my brother gave me. My previous one (a replacement for one that simply quit halfway through brewing a pot) exploded all over my kitchen less than a week after purchase. Sigh.

When I was working it was computer parts that fried. Keyboards, interior boards, etc. Mostly computer mice. I arrived at work one day to discover a co-worker had adorned an entire wall of my office with my dead computer mice. The IT guy had saved them for some reason, and they found it humorous I had burned through so many.

Yes there were a lot, but I still think they were all defective :)

Fortunately the bad electric ju-ju does not extend to large appliances! Whatever it is with the small appliances is aggravating and expensive enough.

Perhaps it is possible for one to have an abundance of "electric" current that will fry small appliances and such. I am not 100% convinced, but given my track record I suppose I cannot entirely dismiss that! That - and given the fact I have perfectly good socks that pre-date all of the above appliances...

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)