TheCapeBlog

Ron, much to his credit, put together our bed frame – by himself – last evening.

We were able to set the mattress back on with relatively little difficulty.

I took apart some of the old king bed headboard.

That worked okay but my attempt to put the desk chair next to my computer failed. The chair fell apart and we ended up with grease spots on the carpet. Remarkably, “Shout” laundry stain remover got most of them out.

It’s become time for year-end evaluations by the media. Dave Barry’s humorous one was quite good, I thought. The wrap-up in “Time” is optimistic: “We learned there’s power in protest” according to the voiceover.

We still haven’t opened our gifts, but no way we’d trade them so doesn’t matter.

There is still so much to do to get the house organized. The worst are the bags of tiny things: pill bottles, miscellaneous pieces of this or that, hardware.

I’m hoping to charm up the pantry with a bunch of just unpacked baskets.

Replaced the broken glass in front of the photo of Ron’s grandparents.

Trying to fit a drawer into Ron’s dresser. Think an attempted repair job may have made it a tad too wide.

Tech on Spectrum Chat sent a reboot that cleared whatever wasn’t letting me set up voicemail. Points also to the last customer service person for getting rid of the damnable TV service.

I unpacked the collection dolls today. Need to move the LP boxes so I can arrange them.

Last year’s Fall silk flower arrangement looks nice in Alice’s tole.

Mountain in view from this window does have a slight purple hue.

J Marie had the best idea so far: a wee dram o’ whiskey to make the season bright.

I’ve been puttering, finding places for most of the big furniture. Made a salad, which seemed to take forever.

Set up the living room with the upholstered chairs and an end table in one section and a work area with my computer and the printers near the windows. I have a fine view!

Ron(hero) made ravs for our first real home cooked meal, cleaned up the dishes and took Lizzie out. We ate on TV tables in lieu of the kitchen.

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.