Still alive!
I am very restless right now. The van is pretty much done and I am eager to quit work and leave on my "what the hell am I doing?" road trip. Long story short I am waiting for some really big checks to arrive because I don't have access to a lot of my savings right now, which is why I'm still stationary. Don't get me wrong I am so thankful to be living here that I feel pretty darn foolish giving up these privileges in hard times, but the good news is I can come back to the same room AND job... if I want to. (Actually I will be back mid-summer for some pre-planned trips). In the meantime I've been so busy this winter working, visiting friends, and toying with the van that I was caught by surprise at the sight of recent new growth on the trees! Moments like those are good reminders to stop and smell the roses, even if they haven't bloomed yet.
Dan, the homeowner/father here, offered me some beautiful scrap carpet he was about to bring to the dump. Turned out to be just over the amount I needed! I hadn't originally planned on doing this, but I love it and can even use the folding rear bench still.
Then without even realizing I was researching for one Dan gives me his old AC/DC inverter! Instead of using the cigarette lighter we hooked it up to the van's battery. Shortly afterwards both the battery and inverter died, which I later discovered was a loose fuse and a weak (now replaced) battery. The inverter turns off, but Dan wants to put a cut-off switch directly on the wire so we can guarantee it won't draw power when not in use. *crosses fingers that that's the only surprise mechanical issue for awhile*
Sewing together "pillowcases" for the reflectix window panels. See earlier entry for details.
At Joanne's I stumbled upon the last bit of black-out material in the PERFECT size at $50% off. Sweet! It slides along a bungee cord and blocks out light completely. Thanks to Donna for teaching me how to use a sewing machine :)
Dan, the homeowner/father here, offered me some beautiful scrap carpet he was about to bring to the dump. Turned out to be just over the amount I needed! I hadn't originally planned on doing this, but I love it and can even use the folding rear bench still.
Then without even realizing I was researching for one Dan gives me his old AC/DC inverter! Instead of using the cigarette lighter we hooked it up to the van's battery. Shortly afterwards both the battery and inverter died, which I later discovered was a loose fuse and a weak (now replaced) battery. The inverter turns off, but Dan wants to put a cut-off switch directly on the wire so we can guarantee it won't draw power when not in use. *crosses fingers that that's the only surprise mechanical issue for awhile*
Sewing together "pillowcases" for the reflectix window panels. See earlier entry for details.
At Joanne's I stumbled upon the last bit of black-out material in the PERFECT size at $50% off. Sweet! It slides along a bungee cord and blocks out light completely. Thanks to Donna for teaching me how to use a sewing machine :)