All the news: Gnomus blinded, Jake Clunked, New Views, and Being Tested!
The arugula finally keeled over last weekend. The hollyhocks froze, blooms and all. We ran about picking up the last of the flowerpots, dumping soil and putting them away in the garage. I brought in my mystery pot of flowers from the front porch as it was still blooming for some reason. Anything that tough deserves to live. In other words, it got cold and today (Monday) there is more than an inch of fresh snow over everything.
Had the weirdest weekend. Saturday, I was planning to go with Mom to St. Vinnies to relieve myself of a whole trunk-full of stuff that I've salvaged from the cleaning projects and to look for treasures. Then we were to go do some other shopping--something that we haven't done for quite awhile. But instead, Gnomee and I went to the ER again as his vision was blurry. I thought the edges of his iris on that eye were strange looking too. It turned out that the healing cornea was a bit rumpled; and was causing distortions to his vision. It will heal but he got a different antibiotic--ointment form--that is pretty soothing. The one he had before caused irritation.
Three hours later I went to pick up Mom--second attempt a going out with her. When I got ready to make the left turn into her driveway there was a loud clunk--like something fell off the car and hit the pavement. I put it in first gear and nothing happened. The engine seemed ok but it wouldn't go! O poor old Honda. Towed to the dealer and I took a taxi to the airport to get a cheap rental car.
Jake turned out to have a broken axle, not a totaled transmission, and was relatively cheap to repair. Jake lives again! Gnomee's eye is quite healed now (Saturday) and he is doing well although a bit tired from all the snow moving because...WE HAD 18 INCHES OF SNOW!!! on Wednesday. Didn't make it to work. Governor closed state offices (even in areas where they didn't get snow!) and we get paid for staying home. That was nice although everyone I know (except those condo dwellers) spent a long time shoveling that day. Gn about 4 hours, me less than an hour but I made up for it in kitchen cleaning which for some reason needed doing. Today, he spend his day working on scraping snow off the roof to prevent ice dams.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, despite a high of 7 degrees F, Everyday Exteriors came and installed casement windows in our studies and bedroom. Then on Friday they put in a new front door and storm door. The windows are beautiful. The views are awesome as we no longer have all the framework of the old double hung windows. In Gnomus' office they put a square plain window in the middle with two narrow casements on the side since the two windows they removed had been side by side. We are really happy with all. The door also has a window and really brightens up the entranceway.
I got up early today and took a state test for a job at the Unemployment Office. I think I did very well with it, strangely enough. I was slow as there was math and I had to figure out things and answer questions about complicated paragraphs on legal issues. I was surprised by how much thinking I had to do--and on so little coffee. I think I got most of it right. Still I'm out of practice. It was all math and logic with a lot of reading comprehension, proofreading and spell-checking. I was glad that they offered us a proofreading class at work last month. It was all pretty fresh. There were over 100 people taking the same test so the competition for the jobs will be fierce.
After that, I had brunch and went Christmas shopping for a bit. Also, I finally got to St. Vincent's to drop off my stuff that's been in the trunk for the last two weeks. Felt quite accomplished. I found a blue onion plate at St. Vinnie's--not a good one but it will go with my other blue plates and cost only 75 cents. The streets are lousy so I didn't do as much roaming as I had initially planned.
Home, working more on my office, moved the desk in the living room, polished it and glued up the loose veneer. I feel bad that this desk (actually a library table) has gotten so beat up. Never give antique furniture to your kids!!! (if you read this Kids, I love you!!! anyhow!)
So now, a nice Gin and Tonic (no snow in it Guy Guy) and it's time to roast a beast or frozen pizza or something for dinner. Have fun kids!
Snow on the broccoli!
Had the weirdest weekend. Saturday, I was planning to go with Mom to St. Vinnies to relieve myself of a whole trunk-full of stuff that I've salvaged from the cleaning projects and to look for treasures. Then we were to go do some other shopping--something that we haven't done for quite awhile. But instead, Gnomee and I went to the ER again as his vision was blurry. I thought the edges of his iris on that eye were strange looking too. It turned out that the healing cornea was a bit rumpled; and was causing distortions to his vision. It will heal but he got a different antibiotic--ointment form--that is pretty soothing. The one he had before caused irritation.
Three hours later I went to pick up Mom--second attempt a going out with her. When I got ready to make the left turn into her driveway there was a loud clunk--like something fell off the car and hit the pavement. I put it in first gear and nothing happened. The engine seemed ok but it wouldn't go! O poor old Honda. Towed to the dealer and I took a taxi to the airport to get a cheap rental car.
Jake turned out to have a broken axle, not a totaled transmission, and was relatively cheap to repair. Jake lives again! Gnomee's eye is quite healed now (Saturday) and he is doing well although a bit tired from all the snow moving because...WE HAD 18 INCHES OF SNOW!!! on Wednesday. Didn't make it to work. Governor closed state offices (even in areas where they didn't get snow!) and we get paid for staying home. That was nice although everyone I know (except those condo dwellers) spent a long time shoveling that day. Gn about 4 hours, me less than an hour but I made up for it in kitchen cleaning which for some reason needed doing. Today, he spend his day working on scraping snow off the roof to prevent ice dams.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, despite a high of 7 degrees F, Everyday Exteriors came and installed casement windows in our studies and bedroom. Then on Friday they put in a new front door and storm door. The windows are beautiful. The views are awesome as we no longer have all the framework of the old double hung windows. In Gnomus' office they put a square plain window in the middle with two narrow casements on the side since the two windows they removed had been side by side. We are really happy with all. The door also has a window and really brightens up the entranceway.
I got up early today and took a state test for a job at the Unemployment Office. I think I did very well with it, strangely enough. I was slow as there was math and I had to figure out things and answer questions about complicated paragraphs on legal issues. I was surprised by how much thinking I had to do--and on so little coffee. I think I got most of it right. Still I'm out of practice. It was all math and logic with a lot of reading comprehension, proofreading and spell-checking. I was glad that they offered us a proofreading class at work last month. It was all pretty fresh. There were over 100 people taking the same test so the competition for the jobs will be fierce.
After that, I had brunch and went Christmas shopping for a bit. Also, I finally got to St. Vincent's to drop off my stuff that's been in the trunk for the last two weeks. Felt quite accomplished. I found a blue onion plate at St. Vinnie's--not a good one but it will go with my other blue plates and cost only 75 cents. The streets are lousy so I didn't do as much roaming as I had initially planned.
Home, working more on my office, moved the desk in the living room, polished it and glued up the loose veneer. I feel bad that this desk (actually a library table) has gotten so beat up. Never give antique furniture to your kids!!! (if you read this Kids, I love you!!! anyhow!)
So now, a nice Gin and Tonic (no snow in it Guy Guy) and it's time to roast a beast or frozen pizza or something for dinner. Have fun kids!
Snow on the broccoli!