Moving--Kick it into Gear

 Moving has become serious now. We effectively have a table with chairs, a small futon sofa, and the bedroom set remaining in the house along with items that are destined for family members and donations. The PODS departs Wednesday and I have lost the better part of the past two days taking a much needed time-out to enjoy family.

Mostly Empty Living Room in the Morning Light
Elkridge, MD
August 21, 2022

Well, there may have been the issue of the sump pump that needed attention as well. But, I actually watched some of the Little League World Series and enjoyed it, despite everything that I need to do, because I miss baseball. 

Today it is back to the grind. I have three days to finish loading the half-full PODS. I had to unpack some of the items yesterday to find something we needed for a project. I hate it when we accidentally pack something and then need it. Ugh. Now I have to repack that part of the PODS and continue with the overall packing. I am looking forward to the PODS departure because I am fairly certain we will begin our journey south soon thereafter.

A hard deadline is a true motivator.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Home Inspection Blues

 As part of the sale of our house, we suffered through a home inspection yesterday. The appointment was scheduled for 2PM, but was changed to 12:45PM at 12:40PM. Great. We had the animals running loose in the house as we were sitting down to eat at a local establishment. It worked out, but was just a bit of added stress.

The Venerable Old Pump
Elkridge, MD
August 20, 2022

It is all part of the home sale process in America today. 

Do we know what they found? Well, no, except that the sump pump started smoking when it was checked. I wonder how long it has been non-functional? So, at least I was glad to know the sump pump needed replacing after 32 years. It was built during March 1990.

A new pump and check valve was installed today and I am really very happy that the non-functioning pump was discovered as I never really think about the sump pump. It just always did its job when it was needed. 

Well, at least the new owners will not have to worry about it for a few years.

I wonder what other repairs I will be negotiating about. I can't think of anything--the pool is in fantastic shape and the house is likewise in great repair. At least I think it is.

Moving is such fun.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

After the Storms

Rainbow
Odenton, MD
August 17, 2022

 Rainbows provide transient beauty after storms. I look for rainbows all of the time and I love it when, after or during storms, I find the rainbow.

The other day, I found what appeared to be a rainbow hiding in a small break in the clouds. It was very interesting to watch and imagine how it had formed. I can see the rays of light streaming through the clouds. 

I had just finished mowing the lawn when the thunder started and the first raindrops lashed at my face. I was glad to have put everything away before the deluge arrived. It was a short but powerful downpour. As it passed, there was the small rainbow in the sky. 

I marveled at how it was just a small portion of what could have been a much larger rainbow, but I was smart enough to enjoy the diffracted light for the brief time that it appeared. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Downsizing--When Treasures Become Cast-offs

 They are gone.

On the Auction House Table
Hunt Valley, MD
August 17, 2022

30+ years of clock collecting and repairing is over. The clocks, save for the few we gave away and the two we retained, have been placed out for auction. 

I took my treasures to two auction houses yesterday, a high end house cherry picked the collection and then a more moderate house took the remainder. I have been pretty successful in selling the best of the collection on Marketplace and of course the real gems are staying in the family. 

The Other Part of the Table
Hunt Valley, MD
August 17, 2022

Downsizing sucks! But, in fact. most of the clocks have been sitting in bins for the past few years as we transitioned from decorating with clocks and timepieces to a more modern approach. As it turned out I took only 17 clocks to auction. We determined another 6 were not worthy of being sold and they will be relegated to the landfill. They were in various states of disrepair and were project clocks that I never got around to repairing.

The house is becoming very empty. I was in the car talking to Chris on the phone yesterday and I could hear the echo. We are selling the last remaining table and chairs on Sunday leaving only our bedroom as the last remaining room with furniture. We are going to be sitting on plastic Adirondack chairs until we leave. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Rex--Soccer Star

 

Last Saturday, between our own packing and PODS loading and then heading over to help Patrick and Jen unpack their newly moved-in house, Chris and I were fortunate to take Rex, their American Bull Terrier, for a couple of walks to get him out of the house and away from the action. (I think I did OK with this long, but not run-on sentence).

Their new community at Tanyard Shores has a dog park. What a great idea! Building communities with dog parks. 

When we arrived at the park, it was clear that Rex had been there before. He immediately sought and found the purple ball and then the game was on. 

As can be seen, Rex has pretty good face-work with the ball. 

The only problem is that the ball is rough and it caused him to bleed a bit around his nose. I laughed at his antics until Chris and I realized that he was hurting himself and we had to separate the enthusiastic dog from the ball. That was an event, but we managed. 

It was a much needed "break in the action" for the three of us.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Rocket Sled Ride Through the Week

 My rocket sled ride through another week continues. 

Tuesday has arrived and it is chock full of previously unplanned activities. 

In the best news department we received and accepted an offer for the house yesterday! This happened less than a week after we terminated the previous contract to allow us to get back onto the market.

There is so much still to do and with the new contract the closing has slipped into mid-September. The new closing date presents a host of new problems--like when to close the pool and how to keep the house prepared if we decide to depart before settlement. I wonder if it is OK to close a pool before Labor Day? I can get the lawn mowed in the intervening weeks, but I worry about the pool if I close it too early. And I will still be paying for electricity and internet during that time so I will be able to monitor the place, much like my Florida home. 

But how do I turn in the cable boxes and modem if I am not there? I worry about dumb stuff like that.

The PODS is half packed--well it is half-full but mostly we are packed. We are getting down to the remnants, like golf clubs and push carts--stuff like that. I'm not thinking that I will be playing golf before I leave and I need the space in the truck to haul those "critical for living" items to Florida with us. Those are the items we need to survive after the PODS has departed and before we actually leave for Florida.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Monday Musings - August 15, 2022

 

1. Welcome to the Ides of August. It is the third Monday of the month and there are 20 Mondays remaining in the year. I hope your vacation plans are complete!

2. Moving is tough--whether across the street or across the country. There is so much to do and my back has about been burned out between moving my stuff and helping Patrick and Jen.

3. Our house is becoming empty. There is nothing sadder than a now empty house that has been full of activity for the past almost 22 years. 

4. They are found! I lost the keys to our PODS, well misplaced them. It would have been helpful if I had actually remembered which shorts I was wearing, because when, in the middle of the night, I remembered I found the keys.

5. Espionage and treason are criminal, right? Even when a former president commits the crimes?

6. Why do a minority of people living in America believe they have there right and the mandate to determine how the rest of us should conduct our lives? 

7. Today in History. On August 15, 1969, the Woodstock music festival opens on a patch of farmland in White Lake, a hamlet in the upstate New York town of Bethel.

Promoters John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfield and Michael Lang originally envisioned the festival as a way to raise funds to build a recording studio and rock-and-roll retreat near the town of Woodstock, New York. The longtime artists’ colony was already a home base for Bob Dylan and other musicians. Despite their relative inexperience, the young promoters managed to sign a roster of top acts, including the Jefferson Airplane, the Who, the Grateful Dead, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival and many more. 

Republicans pressure Garland over search of Trump home - CNN

Florida students return to schools reshaped by Gov. DeSantis' anti-'woke' education agenda - CNN

A disastrous megaflood is coming to California, experts say, and it could be the most expensive natural disaster in history - CNN

Caste in California: Tech giants confront ancient Indian hierarchy - Reuters

Iran says Salman Rushdie and his supporters are to blame for attack on him - Reuters

China to lift Aug fuel exports but 2022 shipments to drop to 7-year lows, article with image - Reuters

Michigan plot to breach voting machines points to a national pattern - The Washington Post

At least six explosions rocked Crimea air base over course of an hour - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Sunday--Funday

 Well, not so fast. 

Arthur and Makayla Mooching Breakfasr
Odenton, MD
April 14, 2022

It has been a busy Sunday following a busier Saturday. 

We had another open house today. It seemed to be well attended and we are hopeful of an offer soon. I think we have had 15 or so people view the house since it has been back on the market. 

It takes Chris and I a lot of time to get the house "show" ready. We turn all of the lights and fans as well as make sure the house looks like a Better Homes & Garden showplace. That is a bit tougher now that most of the furniture is gone--but, we try to make the place look as presentable as possible.

Chris and I are finding refuge at Nicole and Mike's place while they are away. We are watching their dogs and it is easier to watch them there than at ourt house. We are still, however, making the 20 minute drive about 4 times per day. My cat, Riordin, is in charge of security at our house while we are away. We only take him out of the house when there is a showing. 

We are busy packing, cleaning, and then packing more. The PODS remains and we are slowly filling it with belongings and treasures headed for Florida. 

The biggest question remaining is, when will be make the 15 hour trek south. 

And there is not a clear answer, but the departure is slipping later in August and possible even into September.

Fun days. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Beautiful Night for Baseball

Padres vs Nationals
Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
August 12, 2022

 

The sky was stunningly clear and the temperatures moderate after stifling heat and humidity. Jeremy secured some prime seats at Nationals Park for the game between the visiting San Diego Padres and the local Washington Nationals. 

It was not so much about the game, I spent much of the evening watching the Orioles scores as they defeated Tampa Bay to move into third place in the division and actually take sole posession of the third Wild Card spot. Of course there is a lot of baseball remaining, but that the Orioles are third in the toughest division in baseball is no small feat.

But, back to the game. I was able to see some of the Padres superstars--Manny Machado--a former Oriole, and Juan Soto, a former Nationals. The Nationals were never really in the game once the scoring began and the Padres piled on the runs, winning 10-5, but three of the Nationals runs were gratuitious in the bottom of the 9th inning. 

The game was fun to watch, but there was a problem with the scoreboard and we did not have live pitch counts or scores after about the 6th inning. Fortunately, we were able to keep up with the game on our cells.

I thank Julie because she accepted the task of driving in the ferocious traffic; allowing me to enjoy the game more because I could just be a passenger.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Projects in the New House

Under-Cabinet Lights
Glen Burnie, MD
August 11, 2022

I was able to take a break from downsizing and packing yesterday to help Patrick install under-cabinet lights for his countertops.

It was a lot of fun to work with him again and he is very creative. The lights are multi-color LEDs and they are synchronized with his over-counter lights above the island. From his phome hae can change the colors with one command. 

We had a good plan for the installation, but as with any plan thery are designed to be changed and rarely survive first contact with the enemy. So we made a few modifications on-the-fly.

In the end, the project looked fantastic and the kitchen can adapt to whatever color scheme they desire.

New houses are so much fun because they are a blank canvass waiting for projects to personalize them.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD