can't beat that price

Still have quite a few boxes left and less idea of where it will all go.

Woke up slow. Put on my robe. Had some tea. Unpacked glasses and dishwear. Started a bin that will be for things to bring home. A couple pans went into it. Ma and Pa called right as I finished showering and came over. I felt I didn't get so much accomplished, but they seemed impressed that I got my shelves up.

First of many little round trips was Trader Joe's for groceries. Got some of my diet essentials. Pasta. Sauce. Toblerone. Apples. Bananas. A cucumber. Picked up an Aloe Vera plant as well because those are good to have around. Unloaded the food at home. Had some chips and dips for snacking. Then we went to William Temple House. WTH is a thrift store that has a greater chance for finding higher end furniture stuff than a Goodwill, but worse chance for clothes (though I did get a nice pair of shoes there). Anyway, lo and behold a bed frame! Head board, foot board, side bars, and the little things that go under box springs to support them! In lovely wood. It was part of a bed, vanity, chest of drawers, and end table set. And it was just $25. For the bed. Not the whole set. The vanity was impressive. People don't seem to have vanities anymore. Less vain? Anyway, we carried the bed parts the four block journey home. Upon assembling the bed, Dad found there were some bolts missing and so we took a trip to Ace Hardware. Picked up some bolts and other things and swung by William Temple House and grabbed the end table before this other group of people could blink (they were eyeing it). The bed was assembled and it looks great! It dominates my room but looks more elegant while doing so.

My room set up right now is as follows: the wall with the door also contains the closet. Entering the room, the wall on the left has the headboard of the bed and the matching end table. Straight ahead is a wall with a gap between the bed and the wall, but in that twoish foot gap is a combination of my smallest cubicle shelf, drawers, and just open shelves. These are shelves that you can assemble in different combinations. Next to this three unit, is my double stacked dark bookshelves. These fold up for nice storage and are sturdy. They also are designed to stack. There is a gap between the shelf and the wall to the right. The wall to the right contains the lone window that looks out into the courtyard. I have a desk positioned parallel to the closet and shelve walls (as opposed to pushed up against one). It is better feng shui to not have your back to a door, desk wise. Further down the wall is my red metal Ikea bookshelf and my chest of drawers. In the nook by my closet and door is another stacking dark wood bookshelf. This one is half the width. It is a cozy room. I think once I get everything squared away, I'll feel really good here.

While mom and dad sorted stuff out, I made a run to Laughing Planet and picked up lunch. Two burritos and a bowl. Dad seemed to really enjoy his Thai inspired burrito. Mom liked her tempeh thing. As always, I enjoyed my burrito. After lunch it was time to run the driving errands. First up was to get my last two things out of storage: my chest of drawers and a low boxy cabinet that I don't know what I'll do with yet. It went quick and took only one elevator trip. Closed out my storage unit and thanked them for their good service. We dropped the stuff off at my place and then headed out again.

Fabric Depot!! We were in 5:30 traffic almost all the way there. I was surprised that mom didn't buy a lot of fabric. She only got a bit of two fabrics. I got some fat quarters and fabric to make curtains (as well as a rod, some clips, a thread sampler, some black and white thread that was on super sale, a rotary cutter, and some pins). It was a nice haul. We then went to Fred Meyer where we purchased the smaller stackable shelves (buy one, get one half off) and some hubcaps for the motorhome, and a laundry basket, and some miscellaneous stuff. They dropped me off at the curb because there was no parking and we parted ways for the night.

I finished off my burrito from lunch. Put away more books. Put away plates and bowls. I also went around and looked at most of my boxes to try and find really obvious "send home" stuff. Right now it looks like a lot of things might end up in the storage unit downstairs. What I'm thinking will happen over the next couple days is that I'll go through everything I packed and if it is something I want up here, I'll set it aside, but if it goes into storage, I'll put it in a box and make a list of which box has what so that if I need to find it, I don't have to dig so hard. I should adopt a more minimalist lifestyle. Really. Books and clothes and art. I have so many knick knacks. Oh well.

too much stuff, not enough space

So apparently mom and dad were up at 6, because when I said "I'll be up early" they thought "really early" when I really meant 9ish because I didn't have that much to pack.

I got everything in bags and hauled it down. I filled a bin with fabric and the small rotary mat. Dad played boxes tetris with the truck and got everything magically sorted away. So much stuff fit! Wow! Mom took Holly to the kennel for our trip duration. We left at around 11:30 and went through Belfair. We took a couple detours for the hydrolizer in the truck and depositing a check. We didn't hit traffic till just a couple miles out of Portland and since we transferred to 405, we got out of it quick. A car pulled out right as we got to my new apartment and we got a perfect spot! Kristen helped us unload. Hauled the bed in. Ma and Pa seemed to like the new apartment.

The new place has a lot more living room and dining space, but less cabinets, smaller closet, and a sort of smaller bedroom in general. But with some creative sorting and organizing, I think I can get it to work. We also have a downstairs storage space, which some of my dishes might end up in and maybe some winter clothes that don't need to be in circulation yet. Maybe it is time to embrace the habit of only having season appropriate clothes in the wardrobe and shifting it out. I have plenty of plastic storage bins.

My new apartment also has the possibility to paint the walls, but the walls already have some nice color. And there is generally more freedom all around. Whoo!

After moving in the stuff from Seabeck, we took a Martinelli's break and then we three went to my storage unit. Backed the truck in and ma and pa hauled several loads down and filled the truck to the brim with boxes. So many boxes. It looks like less stuff in the unit, but then it was just really compacted and upright. Makoto, a nice neighbor, helped us move! In exchange for nothing! He just hauled some boxes (he was really strong) with a smile. What a great guy. Everything went into the place quite smoothly.

Ma and Pa treated us to a high class dinner at Lucy's Table. One of those hip and fancy places but not so fancy as to refuse business to some people dressed a little casually. I had the home made pasta in a light sauce with some beans, mom had halibut, Kristen had the goat cheese ravioli, and dad had the buffalo steak. We had a little pate appetizer followed with bread. Mmm good! Not really a huge meal, just enough.

Afterwards we three made the poor decision to go to Ikea tonight. The GPS gave us trouble and we were tired and stressed upon arrival. I liked this nice rattan bed frame but after we powered through the store (to the anxiety and stress of us all) we found that the sideboards were out of stock and no one was around to help us. Boo! I did grab a hamper, clothes organizer, multiple outlet thingie, and a new pillow, but didn't locate a bathrobe. Dad picked up some food from the market and very tired from the busy day, they drove me home. I felt bad about encouraging the trip after so much activity. But what is done is done.

Got home at 9:30 and started sorting and unpacking. Moved boxes out of the way and changed my bed orientation around. This allowed space to put up my shelves, which allowed me the chance to empty a couple book boxes into them. I'll still need another book shelving solution but for now just gotta work with what I got. It looks almost cozy if you ignore the many many boxes that I still have to sort through. Maybe this next week will give me a chance to minimize and organize my life and lifestyle.

burgerday

In 24 hours I'll be sleeping in a bed in a new apartment and I will be there for 10 months at the least. Wooooah.

Anyway. Got up. Toast and tea. Ma went to work. I chilled. Dad organized stuff around in the truck and all that. I finished another quilt (the Amish Shadow one, it looks good though I need to lint roller it). No pictures at this moment. Got another one pinned (the pinwheel). I had just enough batting and backing for it. Barely had to cut it down at all.

Dad made burgers for lunch and mom brought burgers home for dinner. Good thing I was wearing my burger shirt.

The finale of So You Think You Can Dance had some amazing routines. I voted for Lauren, mom voted for Robert. Kent was good as well. I smacked a hella huge mosquito while we were watching. It splatted blood. Ha!

Anyway, we watched Work of Art afterwards and laughed heartily. Ma went to bed and I finally got on with my packing. It is really just clothes and books and toiletries. I didn't have a whole arsenal of art supplies or anything of that sort. Most everything is packed up and almost ready to plop in the truck save for: cookies, plants, fabric, quilts, and mattress. Ohh I can't wait to go to Ikea!

errand runners/cabinet getters

Oatmeal and tea for breakfast. Whee!

At near three Dad and I went into town to run errands. First stop was the dump. Since we are good recyclers, a weekly trash pick up hasn't been necessary. Cheaper to take full cans now and then, than pay for the service. After the dump we went to Joann's so I could use my coupon and get backing and batting and border fabric. Then we ran to Costco for drinks and cheese and mochi ice cream. Mmm. We had some hot dogs as well. It was quite a nice day.

On the way back we stopped by Kristen's and picked up a cabinet and table to bring down with us to Portland. And some boxes and bags and things. If dad says there is enough room for all our stuff in the bed of the truck, there is enough room in the bed of the truck. I just have a suitcase, my bike, mattress and boxspring, and some books. Some of that (not the bike) can go in the back seat with me. It will all get sorted out. I'm sure if dad thought none of it would fit, he would have said so.

Anyway, we went back and put the mochi in the freezer. Ma came home and we got the mail. They watched a Yahoo Serious movie and I watched a few episodes of The IT Crowd. Dinner was chicken, potatoes, and beans. The chicken was a bit dry from being reheated so many times.

Tomorrow I have to pack! And finish my quilts! And pack! Ahhh going to be in a new apartment in just a few days!

Pilgrim in the Northwest

The power went out last night and I was forced to go to bed at a reasonable hour. Boo!

For some reason I got out of bed before 10am as well. Dad made poached egg on toast with melted cheese and I had some tea and watched my True Blood and Mad Men.

I FINALLY got the call from Barnes and Noble telling me Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour was in! Ma dropped me off at the mall at 4 and she met her friend Cathy for lunch. I scooped up my copy of the book, bought an owl necklace at Forever 21, a hot dog and drink at Orange Julius and took a seat far away from the noisy children and read!

And I read when mom took me home and for a little bit longer after that. Scott Pilgrim books are fast reads but get to the point in a way that doesn't feel light. Some parts of the art felt more rushed and I don't know how I feel about the ending. Waited a good long year for this comic. I'll read it again tomorrow naturally. I think I rushed through it too quick in my excitement.

Anyway, mom and pop went to a concert and I toodled around on the Internet. Then I put Storm Front, the first Dresden Files audio book, on play and went to finishing another quilt front. And when they returned and mom came up to the barn, I was sewing the last strip on. The middle is a 7x5 pinwheel square flanked by two 2x7 strips of pinwheels with a narrow 2xI dunno 20? smallest pinwheels. I dig it. Long and narrow. Now I just need to get the material to finish it up.

So yeah, doing nothing, reading, quilting. That was my day.

pulali party with family

Welp, three days and two nights of Pulali fun. Better get the blogging on the road. Even though I may skimp of the exact details.

Friday

Ma and Pa packed up the camper (not the motor home) and Nathan hung behind to do a phone interview. It was a nice day. We swung by Silverdale for some shopping. Barnes and Noble did not have Scott Pilgrim volume 6! But World Market did have McVitie's chocolate biscuits. A family favorite. Then we were on the road.

Ben was already at Pulali when we arrived. I quickly put on a swimsuit and joined him on the beach while the sun still shone on the beach. The parents joined us eventually. I forget if I swam or not. I probably did... Nathan and Rubie arrived with Carlo and Joy (Rubie's niece and nephew). Dinner was ravioli and watermelon and water which Nathan spilled over half the table in his efforts to pour it for people. I beat Carlo and Nate at games of Battleship. We had s'mores and lit some fireworks when the sun went down. It was nice.

Saturday

Breakfast was hash browns. Mmmm! Lunch was hot dogs. Hans arrived early. We lugged kayaks down and went for a hike. Rubie, Mom, Ben, Nate and I went for a hike that is. It was a steep hill down to a river off the camp grounds nearby. Then we trekked on down along the river, and hoofed and wheezed our way back up. When we got back to Pulali, Brynne, Averie, and Averie's friend Tony were there. It wasn't a day for swimming, but people paddled around in the many kayaks (Brynne brought her new ones) and the mini sailboat. I went out for a bit but the wind wasn't making me comfortable. I stopped by Kirie's and we talked a little bit.

Dinner was a feast! Salmon! Chicken! Watermelon! Beet salad! Carrot spice cake! Veggies! And so much more! Brynne is a top chef and Dad a great griller. I came from Kirie's after the burger course. Which was probably good as I wasn't full by the time the gourmet salmon was put on the table. Linda Harris was also there. Jeanette and Liam arrived. It was lovely. Everyone was crowded on the deck of Grandma and Grandpa's house. Mmm. So good. Dessert was amazing as well. I felt stuffed three times over, and for some reason I decided badminton was a good idea.

Brynne, Nate, Ben, Averie, Tony, Carlo, Joy, Rubie and I all wandered over to the badminton net Mom, Dad and I had set up earlier on the drainage field. It took a lot of rope tying and scheming to get the net up but it was a good field. Badminton is a great game. Doesn't take a lot of skill or strength. We all maneuvered the field after the sizable meal. Nathan was agile. Joy won a prize for her skill. Then Celia peer pressured us into dusk swimming. Not all of us, just the crazy ones.

Nate, Ben, Averie, Tony, Dad, Brynne, Mom and I all threw on swimsuits to join Celia in the water. In fact it was Nathan and Ben who were first in. I bounded in not wanting to suffer slow adjustment to the cold. Nathan was first to dive under, I was second, and Ben a close third. This was the same order we arrived at the raft. I regretted more the exercise with my full stomach than the chill of the canal. Mom and Celia hooted but came in, as did Tony and Averie. Dad made a lap to the raft, jumped in, and called it good and headed back to shore. Brynne came out to the otter poop stained floaty in good time as well. Swimming is great once you warm up. We jumped and dove and swam around, but eventually all went back in to change and dry off. A fire on the beach was started and we roasted s'mores as it got dark. People retired to bed one by one. And at 10:30ish we all went back to our respective sleeping spaces.

A day well spent.

Sunday

Breakfast was a large pile of small pancakes. The first round of people gobbled them down and filled up, and a second round came in to take their place. A hike was organized and I opted out, only to find that when mom said everyone was going, she meant everyone. So I wittled away a couple hours listening to Sookie Stackhouse and glueing googly eyes on things. People returned and leftovers made for a delicious lunch. Then Brynne, Tony, and Averie packed up and left. Nate and Rubie and Carlo and Joy had left for home instead of hiking (or maybe on top of, I don't know). Hans and Ben left. Ma and Pa started packing up. I hung out with Celia and we chatted. By the time I returned almost all our stuff was packed up and it was time to depart. It was a nice, no traffic ride back (getting to Pulali was plagued by a big line of cars at the bridge). Holly the dog was very glad to see us. We had left the camper at Pulali, separated from the truck.

And leaving out a lot of little details, that was my weekend. It was nice. Pretty soon I'll be packing and then heading down to Portland to start my new apartment life with Kristen.