TheCapeBlog

It was 7 when Ron and Lizzie went out early this morning.

I did a grocery run at Stop & Shop then took Water Street/Route 43 to Five Corners for lunch and bakery items.

Took 7 back to Williamstown Center, stopped at the A-frame bakery for more pastry.

Gorgeous, gorgeous country.

Shops and stores were busy. Light traffic on the roads.

While I was gone, Lizzie leaked on the carpet. Ron cleaned it up with the Little Green.

I broke down a bunch of cardboard boxes and loaded up the truck. Brought some furniture in from the sunroom; found the rice!

We had crudites and pastry while we watched tv.

On or around midnight, Ron took Lizzie out again. She trumped and leaked – after they got back to the house.

This is not good.

We were at Tunnel City Coffee celebrating Festivus when rain turned to snow. By the time we reached the car in the (free) parking lot across the street, it had started to accumulate.

A block or two away, it had covered the passenger and rear windows so much that Ron had to stop so we could clear it off.

I was underdressed for the weather and had consumed a too-sweet mocha and ginger cookie: cold, nauseous, sore, a little scared. Emptied my stomach when we got home, curled up on the couch with a blanket and grateful to be out of the elements.

I’d made an appointment for Lizzie at a new vet but canceled it the day before. Lucky: we would have been in Bennington when the snow started.

Not much of an accumulation after all, and the vehicles are in the garage.

Finally canceled Vonage and Infinity.

Ron is online and back in business.

Still need to find his other computer.

I am supposedly approved for a home equity loan from Cape Cod Five.

It was my fault to have moved the closing date to November 29 instead of the 30th. What was I thinking? Wait, I remember: the attorneys put the fear of God in me about delays in wiring the proceeds to the Williamstown closing, and I wanted a day of grace.

Lizzie is sleeping in her bed: surprise.

Got my clothes more organized yesterday.

We have power this morning.

Sent the kids’ Christmas money.

Started a claim with Lemonade for the sewer pipe repair.

Up at 2:30 to help Lizzie get “unstuck”, stayed awake.

Blew my top in a phone message to a (stupid) customer service person.

Emptied more boxes. Found the computer with Ron’s accounts, but no power cord. Suggested he consider going to the Apple store in Albany before the “killer” storm starts. Then I found the power cord! That’s the second trip I’ve saved him (Bennington Home Depot for Ryobi battery charger being the first).

Realized that he doesn’t remember half the stuff I do for him/us. No wonder he treats me with contempt so much of the time (“I’m not…”)

Found vacuum cleaner accessories and stamps.

Insurance company might pay for the sewer line repair. We’ll see.

Approved for home equity loan. Interest rate not bad: 7.5%

Ron got his bank account set up yesterday, took care of Lizzie and cleaned up the kitchen.

I did nothing besides drop off the check to A1, stop by the credit union, unpack one box of books and order containers for the LPs. This morning I ordered another container for the CDs.

Had an awful time logging in to this site this morning; got here via GoDaddy.

Justin and Jean are on the road back to Wareham after an unbelievable two days of accomplishment. Our vehicles can now fit into the garage with room to spare! We can find things!

We are beyond ecstatic, grateful, humbled in the face of such preternatural goodness. They must be angels, which made Jean laugh: “When we leave, it’ll all go back to the way it was.”

I found the telephone base and we now have land line service and a (413) number.

Turns out, Ron doesn’t need to go to Home Depot in Bennington for a Ryobi battery charger. We found the charger and it’s working fine.

I also found Ron’s computers and am trying to log in.

A lot of sought-for things have emerged over the course of the last two days, thanks to Justin and Jean.

A fine person from the cable company attached the TV and Roku. I had all the parts, just not clever enough to put ’em together.

Found the rest of the remotes after he left.

Now need to find the telephone base. We have a new (413) number.

Justin and Jean have been hard at work. He’s already done a transfer station run.

Lizzie had a good night but trumped and leaked on the carpet, even after I let her out.

Justin and Jean worked unceasingly today to break down dozens of boxes (I need to count ’em) and place shelves and their contents against the walls of the garage.

It’ll be much easier for us to empty and sort the boxes that are left and to place furniture in the house.

Ryan and his coworker Bill came over to take down the awning and nail back the fascia board. He capped off the live electrical wires, which were my big worry.

The person who claimed to want the king bed finally punked out, to my relief.

I met the town Treasurer today. She sold me a transfer station sticker at the January price and a sheet of stickers for household trash. Very down to earth woman, helpful and friendly, welcome change.

Ron wasn’t able to open an account at the credit union, was lacking a social security card (huh?). He’s off to grocery shop.

Lizzie and I went for a brief walk this morning. I cleaned off the deck a bit to make it easier for her to get around. Got cold and dark this afternoon.

Made appointments with a vet and an electrician. Renewed registration for the truck. Ron deposited over $600 in refund checks to my credit union account.

Found no fewer than three Social Security cards for Ron in our strong box, thus saving him a trip to the nearest office for a replacement.

This morning, I filed complaints about Colony Moving with the AG’s office and Better Business Bureau.

I also wrote a Google review.

Their snotty online answer (no direct communication) to my earlier Yelp review was non-responsive, to put it kindly.

Just got a notice from WaPo that Twitter users have recommended that Musk step down.

The Patriots managed to indelibly mar Bill Belichick’s reputation with lamebrain moves by Rhamondre Stevenson and Jakobi Meyers, both of whom were either seized by temporary insanity or were attempting to execute the worst play call in NFL history.

Oh, well, it’s only money and only a game.

Yesterday we stopped in to the Berkshire Grown Winter Farmers Market at Greylock Works and came home with a nice collection of vegetables, cheeses, bread, jams and pastry.

The event was well-attended and it was a good opportunity to check out the restaurant and shops at Greylock Works. Ron bought some hard cider from one.

We got a recommendation from one farmer/vendor for a road trip to a quarry in Vermont. Had a long conversation with a firefighter about a vote in February for a new fire station.