Second 1200... er, 12 hour shift

Really, I've done twelve hour shifts before, and they're not that hard. I'll come in again tonight (Tuesday) and I won't be due in again until next Sunday, and that'll be nice. But these first few days....

There's good news: I did some exercising today, maybe 20 minutes in two sessions (5 minutes and then 15). There's also bad news: I'm in even worse shape than I'd feared. My knee injury, coupled with my standard "eating lots because I'm stressed" reaction, has really done a number on me.

There are also lots of little moving-frustrations that are getting to me right now. It's amazing how much stuff I didn't bring with me that I really needed for comfortable living. Thankfully, I did make up a list before I left, and I now have everything on that list.

Well, there are some things that I'm missing... the "miscellaneous cleaning supplies" that were partially a suggestion of Bill and Rosie (two of my dearest friends from Columbus). What, I'm going to *CLEAN* while I'm up here?

Oh, of course I will... I just don't like to think about it. Right now, it's time for someone else to come in and solve my problems for me, not for me to have to contemplate cleaning up an apartment that won't get really bad because there's no place for things to pile up that's not really obvious.

Anyway: I have a sheet to cover the airbed, so no more sleeping on a folded pillow. I have a shower curtain, so I don't have to take baths in a tub with a leaky drain. (Reminder: call the rental office re: the leaky drain, and also, remember you need to step up the heat on the hot water heater). I have a pot with a glass lid, so I can make the beans and rice that I bought. The refrigerator is mostly empty, but let's remember that "terribly out of shape" and "trying not to eat due to stress" bit above, and leave that as it is. If I need comfort food so badly that I'll drive out to get it, I probably need it badly enough not to deprive myself.

Oh, and I fixed my big panic over there being no air conditioning in my apartment. Apparently, last year, Seattle (and Kent) went over 80 degrees four whole days during the month of August.

Yes, those of you living in 'normal' areas read that right. Per the almanac I found online, it only went over 80 - starting to get uncomfortable, but still bearable - four times the entire month of August. Granted, one day was 88 degrees. If worst comes to absolute worst, we'll get a window mount air conditioner based upon my wife's medical condition, and if the rental office raises a fuss, I'll talk ADA at them.

(Anyone who doesn't know: my wife had fainting spells earlier this year.)

More good news: my wife now has the phone number for the movers. I think she's anxious enough to start playing things right, and being such a pest that they'll move heaven and earth to get a quote to her just so they don't have to get any more phone calls from her again.

I'll be relieved when that quote comes in, and doubly so if it come in as low as I hope. Chris and I could end up over $1200 richer based upon mileage they'll be paying us for driving our cars out here, and that will help with some of the things I think we'll need out here.

I think I'm becoming human again, too... I managed to tell a joke to a perfect stranger, and got a good response. (Huh? Oh, the drive up here. Driving, and being alone, for a long time tends to make me very detached, and I start feeling like I'm not quite human. Once I have some more contact, I start feeling better, but, as you might remember from yesterday's entry, I'm working essentially alone here.)

Ah well... I have some actual work to do. Time to sign this off, and hope I can get my internet access at home sorted out so I can post the two entries I have from there.

Second 1200... er, 12 hour shift

Really, I've done twelve hour shifts before, and they're not that hard. I'll come in again tonight (Tuesday) and I won't be due in again until next Sunday, and that'll be nice. But these first few days....

There's good news: I did some exercising today, maybe 20 minutes in two sessions (5 minutes and then 15). There's also bad news: I'm in even worse shape than I'd feared. My knee injury, coupled with my standard "eating lots because I'm stressed" reaction, has really done a number on me.

There are also lots of little moving-frustrations that are getting to me right now. It's amazing how much stuff I didn't bring with me that I really needed for comfortable living. Thankfully, I did make up a list before I left, and I now have everything on that list.

Well, there are some things that I'm missing... the "miscellaneous cleaning supplies" that were partially a suggestion of Bill and Rosie (two of my dearest friends from Columbus). What, I'm going to *CLEAN* while I'm up here?

Oh, of course I will... I just don't like to think about it. Right now, it's time for someone else to come in and solve my problems for me, not for me to have to contemplate cleaning up an apartment that won't get really bad because there's no place for things to pile up that's not really obvious.

Anyway: I have a sheet to cover the airbed, so no more sleeping on a folded pillow. I have a shower curtain, so I don't have to take baths in a tub with a leaky drain. (Reminder: call the rental office re: the leaky drain, and also, remember you need to step up the heat on the hot water heater). I have a pot with a glass lid, so I can make the beans and rice that I bought. The refrigerator is mostly empty, but let's remember that "terribly out of shape" and "trying not to eat due to stress" bit above, and leave that as it is. If I need comfort food so badly that I'll drive out to get it, I probably need it badly enough not to deprive myself.

Oh, and I fixed my big panic over there being no air conditioning in my apartment. Apparently, last year, Seattle (and Kent) went over 80 degrees four whole days during the month of August.

Yes, those of you living in 'normal' areas read that right. Per the almanac I found online, it only went over 80 - starting to get uncomfortable, but still bearable - four times the entire month of August. Granted, one day was 88 degrees. If worst comes to absolute worst, we'll get a window mount air conditioner based upon my wife's medical condition, and if the rental office raises a fuss, I'll talk ADA at them.

(Anyone who doesn't know: my wife had fainting spells earlier this year.)

More good news: my wife now has the phone number for the movers. I think she's anxious enough to start playing things right, and being such a pest that they'll move heaven and earth to get a quote to her just so they don't have to get any more phone calls from her again.

I'll be relieved when that quote comes in, and doubly so if it come in as low as I hope. Chris and I could end up over $1200 richer based upon mileage they'll be paying us for driving our cars out here, and that will help with some of the things I think we'll need out here.

I think I'm becoming human again, too... I managed to tell a joke to a perfect stranger, and got a good response. (Huh? Oh, the drive up here. Driving, and being alone, for a long time tends to make me very detached, and I start feeling like I'm not quite human. Once I have some more contact, I start feeling better, but, as you might remember from yesterday's entry, I'm working essentially alone here.)

Ah well... I have some actual work to do. Time to sign this off, and hope I can get my internet access at home sorted out so I can post the two entries I have from there.

Funny final notes...

Sunday, I checked my mailbox. There was a large "Vacant!" notice inside, stating that no mail would be delivered until this postage pre-paid notice was mailed to the local postmaster. I dropped the notice in the outgoing mail slot. Monday, when I checked the mailbox, there was a sign posted inside, near the top: "Palmer - S103". A home is starting to build itself for me... it's all becoming more and more real.

Funny final notes...

Sunday, I checked my mailbox. There was a large "Vacant!" notice inside, stating that no mail would be delivered until this postage pre-paid notice was mailed to the local postmaster. I dropped the notice in the outgoing mail slot. Monday, when I checked the mailbox, there was a sign posted inside, near the top: "Palmer - S103". A home is starting to build itself for me... it's all becoming more and more real.