Tuesday-9am

I am finally back!  

Whoohoo!  

Have a lot to fill you in on...plus an Ian video!

I slowly kept up reading blogs, but made no comments because of the pathetic intermittent Century Link connection. But as of yesterday I am all set to go in cyberville...and my land line still has my old telephone number.  :)  Now I just have to call Century Link for an immediate disconnect today.

I was actually up really early and caught a sunrise. 

Been quite a long time since I've seen the orange display... 

...of the waking morning. 

We did have some gorgeous fall days... 

...but what have I been up to?  Nobody wanted the four fish.  So I cleaned the bowl.  You will notice--no snails, gravel, or live plants.  Much easier to clean.  I got out an old "cave' for them to hide in, added their slate rocks, and they seem to have adjusted and are quite happy again. 

We had days and days of blanketed skies and cold.  Even had frost and freeze warnings. 

I finished cutting up the stabilizer for the diaper tote...

...and ironed... 

...and ironed...a little at a time...

...while Karma's curled up under a blanket in defense against the cold. 

I was emptying the desk and file cabinet for days and days.  Dagan stopped by after work one day and moved... 

...Phil and... 

...my pen cabinet for me. 

More chilly, dark days. 

Karma has suddenly wanted to be up off the floor and in her chair again.  She barely uses it all summer.  Won't she be surprised when it is carted away! 

I had to finish up the ironing on of the stabilizer using a chair.  (Sciatica has come back for a long annoying visit.)

Finally got all the pieces that needed stabilizer ironed and was ready for the next step... 

...to set up the 40 year old sewing machine! 

See that silver knob?  Well, I couldn't loosen it to be able to thread a bobbin. 

Not even with a gripper.  Leah had used the machine last for her neoprene project and she is much stronger than I am--LOL! 

I had to wait for Dagan to stop by again to loosen the knob.

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Meanwhile...my Franklin Planner arrived!!  
For the T Stands For Tuesday group over at Elizabeth's...the coffee pot is as close to showing you what I was drinking for the last two weeks as I can get--ROFL!!  ;) ;)  

SO EXCITING!!  

Changing up an old and extremely familiar system is quite jarring to someone with my OCD tendencies.  But I will be as ready as I can be by October first.  Am almost there now. 

I made it over for a McFamily visit last week. 

Mr. Ian is such an expressive fellow that out of a dozen shots this is the only one that was not a blur.

So Gramma decided that Ian is definitely a video boy.  ;)   Ian and Gramma were having a little chat while Mama and Daddy were having a subsequent conversation about cameras.  

It's the only way I can really let you see clearly who Ian McGregor really is, anyways, right?  Guess I'll be spending more time on youtube--LOL!  ;) 
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Had some days with partial sun.

Mostly 60s during the days and 40s at night, but we hit the 30s a night or two.  I heard it snowed in Montana!

Karma finds her heat where she can.  
The morning sun's angle is changing rapidly.

I finally got the file cabinet... 

...and the desk completely emptied.

Cleared off the bookcase next to the desk and the curio cabinet so that the Eventis person would have the easiest access to all the mysterious wires and cables--and because I planned to have Dagan move my printer, too.  And where did all the tons of stuff I removed go?

Where else.  
My bedroom.

It's become a catch-all, waylay area again.

Meanwhile...Dagan had loosened the knob on the sewing machine, right?  So I thread the bobbin...get all set up to sew...and the blasted needle won't go up and down!  The wheel won't turn--at all?  Now what?!  I drag out the old manual...and hope it is the belt.

Not the belt. 

So I decide to try to stare into the scariest part of the machine.

I couldn't get the gears next to the wheel there to move at all.  :(  I am bummed.

Dagan and Leah were coming over last night to take the desk apart so I asked Leah if she would look at it.  She doesn't know anything about sewing machines, but her mind understands mechanical stuff better than either Dagan's or mine does.  I've put so much money into this old machine over the last few years that if we couldn't get it working...I am done.  It's like having an old car where every time you turn around something new breaks down, you know?  *sigh*
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My Eventis guy arrived yesterday...sorted through wires and cables...here he was double checking my phone before he left.  Super nice guy!  I am back in cyberspace, people!  :):)

I had him set up the Eventis box over on the curio cabinet.  Was going to try the top of the bookcase but the cords weren't long enough.  Might work after the desk is gone, he said.

Dagan and Leah came.  Dagan moved my printer and set it up.

They dismantled the desk and also took the arms off my desk chair.  [Was so sick of not being able to tuck the chair under the desk because of the gigantic arms that I was actually looking for a new armless chair online.  (They have red ones!) But it suddenly hit me...I wonder how those arms are attached on my desk chair?  Bolts!  Off they came--tada!]

Dagan and Leah put together the floor lamp from IKEA, too.  Not sure if I will switch it with the art table lamp or not.  Have to get used to both of the new lamps first.  :)

Me.  Well, I got to sit in my chair and have a nice long chat with Ian--who was smilier than ever.  He fell asleep for a quick snooze and woke up shortly before they were getting ready to leave.  No pictures.  My arms were full of baby the whole time.  :):)
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Leah said the sewing machine seems to have frozen up solid.  She couldn't get anything to move, either.  So, I packed the machine up with all its feet and bobbins, etc.  Yes--it's goodbye to the old friend who sewed Dagan's baby clothes and so many things over the last four decades.  I suppose somebody might want it or know how to fix it themselves.  The verdict is in, though.  I am going to have to buy a new sewing machine.  The diaper tote has been put on hold.  :( 
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I'll ask them at New Life if they want a broken sewing machine, too, when I call today for pick up of the desk, file cabinet, lift chair, and broken floor lamp.  [Dagan convinced me that, even if four out of five arms still reluctantly work, not to stick it in the garage as a lamp backup.  "I thought you were purging?  Purge!  Your new Target lamp was only $13.00."  True.  True.  The failing one was a $29 Target special, too--LOL!  Sometimes one needs a push.]
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So...here I am.  Back in blogland.  Sunny day...53 degrees.  And I have to start making phone calls...Century Link, New Life, UPS (to pick up the modem from Century Link)...going to be one of those telephone days.  Wish me luck!  I hope all goes smoothy this time.  ;)
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 Feels good to be back.  Great to have pages pop right up--OMG!  Been soooo long!  Well, I've got to get moving.  Things to do before Caroline arrives this afternoon.  Have a super day!!  See you again soon this time.  :):)
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"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance."
Alan Watts