Downsizing - That Empty Sound

 It has begun. 

The Emptying Wine Room
Elkridge, MD
July 26, 2022

As I walked into the house yesterday I noticed the empty sound had begun in some of the rooms where the carpets and furniture have been removed or reduced. 

It is eerie and weird. 

I think maybe that the downsizing is getting serious. A bit too serious.

The empty sound is only the beginning because we still have a lot of furniture yet to remove and items to pack.

Amazon was not helpful yesterday. We needed more newsprint for wrapping and we went to Lowes in the morning to get some, but they didn't have any. So, I ordered from Amazon with a delivery time of 1-5PM. Then it changed to 2-6PM. The newsprint arrived about 8PM. Not very helpful--but the wrapping and packing will continue today. 

Another day of wash, rinse, repeat.. 

On the exciting news note, the movement into new homes begins today when Cory and Julianne settle on their new townhome. This comes a week before Patrick and Jen settle. And then hopefully, by the end of August we will settle on our home. It is definitely an exciting time with many moves coming during the next few weeks.

And the empty sound in the house will only get more noticeable.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - July 25, 2022

 

1. The final Monday of the month of July has arrived. My favorite month of the year will soon be complete and it is all a downhill slide into darkness from here. There are 23 Mondays remaining to celebrate during 2022. 

2. Yesterday afternoon during the 3 o'clock hour it was reportedly 97 degrees. Hot! And where was I? By and in the pool which had cooled a degree overnight to 89 degrees. It actually felt very good. 

My Empty Wine Rack
Elkridge, MD
July 24, 2022

3. What is sadder than an empty wine rack? Probably nothing. I boxed up my wine collection yesterday as we cleaned closets in preparation for the move. The wine rack is on the cut line. We are unsure whether it moves to Florida or is sold.

4. The heat has been stifling. I noted, however that it was 8-10 degrees cooler in Jupiter, Florida every day of the current heat wave! Just saying.

5. We are off to the annual golf tournament for my nephew's scholarship fund this coming weekend. Due to COVID concerns, it is being played for the first time in two years. I wonder if it is cooler in Central New York?

6. What is the plan for the day? More of the same.

7. Today in History. On July 25, 1978, Louise Joy Brown, the world’s first baby to be conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) is born at Oldham and District General Hospital in Manchester, England, to parents Lesley and Peter Brown. The healthy baby was delivered shortly before midnight by caesarean section and weighed in at five pounds, 12 ounces.

Before giving birth to Louise, Lesley Brown had suffered years of infertility due to blocked fallopian tubes. In November 1977, she underwent the then-experimental IVF procedure. A mature egg was removed from one of her ovaries and combined in a laboratory dish with her husband’s sperm to form an embryo. The embryo then was implanted into her uterus a few days later. Her IVF doctors, British gynecologist Patrick Steptoe and scientist Robert Edwards, had begun their pioneering collaboration a decade earlier. 

Investors Bet Fed Will Need to Cut Rates Next Year - The Wall Street Journal

The U.S. Middle Class Is Getting Squeezed in 2022 - The Wall Street Journal

Challenges to Gun Laws Take Off, After High Court Ruling - The Wall Street Journal

Trump's damage to US politics is already tainting the 2024 elections - CNN

Russia and Turkey will use naval forces to escort vessels carrying Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea - CNN

Myanmar junta executes leading democracy activists - CNN

The Ukrainian nationalists standing in Russia’s way on eastern front - Reuters

Oil rises in volatile trade, Fed hike weighs - Reuters

Migrants increasingly die crossing into U.S. from Mexico - Reuters

Claim that sex ed ‘grooms’ kids jolted Nebraska politics a year before it swept nation - The Washington Post

‘The stakes could not be higher’: Kansas abortion vote set for Aug. 2 - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

It is all in a Saturday

 I felt the loss of the youth baseball season yesterday. I missed the usual Saturday doubleheader in the heat and had time to accomplish an assortment of tasks and projects around the homestead. 

Jen and Patrick's New Home
Glen Burnie, MD
July 23, 2022

The heat was pervasive! When Chris and I were finally able to fall into the pool about 5PM, the air temperature was 97 and the pool water was 90 degrees. I cannot remember the last time that the pool reached 90 degrees without the aid of the heater. Chris and I enjoyed the warm water which quickly evaporated from our skin making us feel cool. It was very refreshing after a day of working in the heat.

I started the day on the mower! Yup, the lawn needed mowing and I was on the tractor by 8:30 while temperatures were still in the low 80s. 

Disassembled and Empty Bar
Elkridge, MD
July 23, 2022

I transitioned from the mower to disassembling the bar. I was able to remove the top to make it easier to move. Patrick and Jen arrived somewhat later and the four of us loaded the bar and all of the stools, except one, into the truck to transition to their storage room. The bar will remain there until the 13th when the movers will install it in Patrick and Jen's new house.

After the bar was safely in the storage room, we went to their new house to check things out. Although we were not able to enter the house, we could see that it is in near-ready to move in condition. We spent time meeting a neighbor couple and hearing their tale of settlement and move-in--and they were moving in as we were talking. They were the first one to move in on there street. 

The evening was quiet and now we are preparing for a busy Sunday. We are going back through the house and beginning the final packing process. Totally emptying closets and cupboards in preparation for the arrival of the Pod in two weeks.

So much to do and so little time, it seems.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Downsizing - A Last Hurrah

George, Sue, and Chris at the Bar
Elkridge, MD
July 22, 2022

We enjoyed our Friday evening happy hour with friends last evening.

We hosted at our home and enjoyed a great evening--but it was tinged with a hard reality.

Today our bar will depart and begin its journey to a new home. It is not going far and will stay in the family as it will eventually grace Patrick's new home. 

Although we have had the bar just less that four years--it has become a focal point for happy hours and parties. I enjoy sitting behind it and ensuring guests have what they need in terms of drinks and the bar is a great place for discussions. The first gathering around the bar was a party we held when I completed radiation therapy for prostate cancer! It was a great way to inaugurate the bar as well as the remodeled basement entertainment area. 

As a counterpoint, last evening was the last time the bar will host discussions in this house.  

It has been a great run! And the bar is going to a good home where it will be in the center of many more parties and meetings!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Summer Heat

 Yesterday was on of the hottest days of the summer. And I worked outside most of the day. 

I started early. 

Old Caliper and Bracket in a Box
Elkridge, MD
July 21, 2022

First, I replaced the broken antenna on my Jaguar. That was harder than it needed to be because the pliers kept slipping off the slots in the nut which holds the antenna onto the car. Other than that it was easy.

Following that, it was another trip to the dump to get rid of more downsized items. And I needed to make rim in the garage to do a brake job for Chris's Highlander. 

So, in the heat of the afternoon, in a small space I was able to clear in the garage, I did brakes on the Highlander. Who knew that the core charge for old calipers is $45 each? I need to turn them in today.

It went well and now, in addition to new tires, the car has new brakes. One of the rotors got warped and I replaced the calipers, rotors, and pads. Yay me!

Hopefully that will solve the problem.

Did I mention the lawn needs mowing? That is today's project in the heat!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

Downsizing - Garage Stress

 I have garage stress.

The Mess in the Garage
Elkridge, MD
July 21, 2022

I pride myself of being able to actually store vehicles in my garage out of the weather. When we went to Florida to begin the year we actually placed both vehicles that remained behind in the garage for safe storage. MY Jaguar has been displaced from the garage for the first time and has been related to the driveway.

Downsizing has repurposed my garage as a storage unit and a sorting station. There is precious little room to move. I keep tripping over my bicycle which I am not riding very much.

Yesterday, I made a run to the local landfill and recycling center with a truckload of stuff and it appears that I will be doing the same today. Last evening, Jeremy went through six containers of stuff we had been storing for him and took two away, leaving the remainder for landfill. The sorting may have paid off for him as he believes that among his baseball card collection he found one worth over $1,200. I guess I don't get to collect storage fees for the 20 years they have been in the attic. 

Yes, I have a lot of work to do, but the good news is that the attic is empty, except for holiday decorations.

I believe the end is in sight, but it is not pretty.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Downsizing Drama--Storage Media

 

We are under a month to go on the downsizing and subsequent relocation to Florida. There is not panic, a little consternation, but we are keeping it in check. 

The latest issues revolve around old storage media such as VHS tapes and CDs. 

Do we keep or discard?

The CDs are marked for donation, we finally decided. Actually we do not have many CD players left in the house. The best on is in my Jaguar--a six-CD changer! My truck does not even have a CD player, it is too new. 

The CDs, therefore, are not a problem--the VHS tapes are. We have a mix of tapes which contain family videos and another group which are of TV shows tapes and sent to us while we were living in Germany. As we went to check the contents of the tapes we discovered that our VHS player was not working. It may have been 15 or more years since it was actually used and someone left a tape in it which would not eject. 

What to do?

I checked Amazon--new VHS players are unreasonably expensive, but Chris had the answer: Goodwill. She picked up a very nice player for $12. 

We are working through the tapes and keeping only the ones with family vids on them. It is fun to work back through the past and see the places and people we visited. It is sad because I realized that we videoed many activities and have never actually watched the tapes, until now. 

Downsizing fun!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Early End to Summer?

Black Walnuts on the Ground
Elkridge, MD
July 17, 2022

 The Summer is progressing faster than I would like. 

I feel Summer fading into August where it will then end in September. There are signs that there summer may be ending early.

One sign is the black walnuts falling on my lawn. I was outside and heard a couple falling from the tree the other day. I was happy not to be under the tree as they hit the ground. They made a significant sound.

I think the black walnuts are falling early this year. I don't remember them falling during July. The online references indicate that the nuts fall during September and October. They make a mess when I mow as they shoot out from the blades. I keep the tractor pointed at the trees so as not to do any damage. 

Who knew that black walnuts are worth about $20 per hundred pounds? Hulled, of course. 

Maybe I should pick them up?

Nah, they are more fun to mow!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

Monday Musings - July 18, 2022

 

1. Monday has arrived again. Today is the 3rd Monday of July. There is only 1 Monday remaining in the month and 23 in the year. Better get out there and enjoy the summer. It is slipping away quickly.

Riordin Claiming the Pillow
Elkridge, MD
July 16, 2022

2. No. This is my pillow. That is how I felt as Riordin was guarding a blue pillow on the sofa the other day. It was almost as if he was saying, "Don't even think about it."

3. There is something about cars and repairs/maintenance. I am replacing tires on two of my vehicles this week and also replacing brakes on one of them. Amazing how things get stacked up.

4. It is the middle of the summer and vacations are in full swing. I am glad that I had the opportunity to enjoy a week in Sint Maarten because the rest of the summer is going to be a lot of work as we complete the sale of the house and move to Florida.

5. Just a follow-up. I am still selling many things on Facebook Marketplace and have become adept, I believe, as recognizing scammers. It is sad that so many people are trying to get something for nothing. I have even had a scammer try to separate my from my Jaguar and have me pay them for the experience. 

6. Today in History. On July 18, 1940, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who first took office in 1933 as America’s 32nd president, is nominated for an unprecedented third term. Roosevelt, a Democrat, would eventually be elected to a record four terms in office, the only U.S. president to serve more than two terms.

READ MORE: How FDR Served Four Terms as U.S. President 

Roosevelt was born January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York, and went on to serve as a New York state senator from 1911 to 1913, assistant secretary of the Navy from 1913 to 1920 and governor of New York from 1929 to 1932. In 1932, he defeated incumbent Herbert Hoover to be elected president for the first time. During his first term, Roosevelt enacted his New Deal social programs, which were aimed at lifting America out of the Great Depression. In 1936, he won his second term in office by defeating Kansas governor Alf Landon in a landslide.

Europe Fears Economic Fallout if Russian Gas Outage Drags On - The Wall Street Journal

Boeing Closes In on Making New Dreamliner Deliveries - The Wall Street Journal

Ukraine military says several Russian attempts to advance in Donetsk were repelled - CNN

What's this new variant BA.5, and is it worse than Omicron? - CNN

Heat wave sets Britain on course for its hottest day on record - Reuters

Russians buying cheaper food items as incomes fall, says leading retailer - Reuters

Ghana confirms its first outbreak of highly infectious Marburg virus - Reuters

Gunman kills 3 at Indiana mall; armed bystander kills shooter, police say - The Washington Post

Beach trips can be costly to the environment. Here’s how to reduce your impact. - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Standing in Line

 The past couple days have seen me return to brick and mortar stores to do some shopping.

It has not been an enjoyable experience.

The stores, while open, seem to miss an important point about retail sales. In order to get return business, the checkout process needs to be stress free and smooth. Think about it, the stores are trading their merchandise for my money. There are many other places to spend my money and even purchase the very same items. 

Why do I have to stand in line?

My sample size is three stores over two days with, sadly, similar results. 

In all three stores I was in line for over 5 minutes and approaching 10 minutes. I was next in line in two of them, but the cashier struggled with the person checking out. My beef? There were other employees in the store, why didn't they open another register. And by the time I was able to check-out, there was a true line behind me in all three establishments. 

Stores have got to do better or the competition will win.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD