This is my last post before the computers get taken apart and packed. The camera is already packed so I can't post pictures of the socks I just finished. Bummer. I'm not sure when we're going to have our new access, it may be a week or more. We're not able to get cable modem or DSL, so Dave is looking into a radio internet feed (Wi-fi), and if we're not able to do that it's back to dial-up. Urk.

We found our perfect fridge. Spent too much money, but it had absolutely everything that both of us wanted. I wanted an ice water dispenser, I drink too much soda but don't like water unless it is really cold, but don't like cubes floating around in it. He wanted one that would be slim enough to not stick out so far towards the island. This one has both those things, plus adjustable shelves, and a lovely brushed stainless exterior.

Next I want to replace the dishwasher with one of those ones that has drawers. I love the idea of being able to do smaller loads, and not having to mix greasy pots with my china and glassware. This will have to wait for sometime in the future, probably after we finish paying for the fridge.

We are now officially homeowners. Why don't I feel any different? Oh, yeah because I don't get to actually move in until next Saturday. The previous owners couldn't easily change the moving day that they had set up, so we were nice enough to accomodate them.

Almost everything is packed, I have a few balls of sock yarn in my everyday bag to tide me over, and I know where the boxes of yarn are stacked in case that isn't enough. All the cross stitch is packed. I left a box of books untaped so I have something to read.

We've thrown out, or donated a ton of stuff, but somehow it doesn't seem to make the piles of boxes any smaller. I hate moving, you get to find out just how much crap you've been storing. I tried to throw out anything I hadn't touched or bothered with in over six months. Books don't count, but I did discover that I had some duplicates, and even triplicates of some titles. Those went to Half Price Books. The last bunch we took over we got $56 for, and left the store without buying anything new, which is a first.

Packing, my life consists of packing. I don't have time to do much of anything else, so posting will be even more sporadic until the move is complete. We also have to find a new internet provider, since comcast doesn't service Ovilla. Poop. I hate being with out access, it makes me feel completely out of touch, and I'm on eight zillion lists so I'll have several thousand messages to skim and delete when I'm back online.

Closing is Friday, I'm pretty excited. This is going to sound really dorky, but I'm also excited about going refrigerator shopping. It will be the first time I've ever owned a refrigerator that I picked out, I get to choose features, like an ice and water dispenser. Renting has it's drawbacks. For instance, our current refrigerator should really be retired, the light doesn't work (it's not the bulb), and you have to turn it all the way up to keep stuff cold.

Closing date has been moved to the 18th. Apparently nobody was listening when I said, you're scheduling it for the 21st? But that's President's Day.

So we get the house a couple of days earlier. We've already agreed to give the previous owners four days past closing to move out. They didn't want to move all their stuff until the place was paid for, and I can't really blame them. They've been trying to sell it for more than six months, I'd be pessimistic that the sale was going to fall through too. Truthfully, I am worried that something is going to happen. But I'm one of those glass is half full people.

Recent Reads: Dark Descent

in comments maus says: Oh gosh, I can't believe you are working on flower power while packing!

I think I'm working on it because I'm packing. I found it under the coffee table, and decided I needed to put some more stitches in it if I ever want to see it complete. That's not as bad as it sounds BTW, the coffee table has a shelf, and it is where I store most of my partially worked projects. That way they are close to my stitching spot.

I had almost the same conversation with my gyno's office yesterday. I won't get into the specifics, but if I want the procedure done, I have to pay out of pocket. Right, I was aware of that, in fact I told you that when you said you had to call and get my insurance to approve it. Does nobody have actual money or credit cards these days? 'Cause I can't figure out why all of my doctors seem to think if insurance isn't paying for it, the patients can't afford it.

I finished Zuma yesterday! I was stuck on level nine forever, then I had an awesome game and got all the way to level twelve. Where I sat forever, until last night. Dave wants to know what I'm going to start playing now. I'm not sure, I'll have to check out Real Arcade and decide.

Everything is going smoothly with the house purchase, I shouldn't say that because I don't want to jinx it! I packed my yarn closet yesterday. Nine boxes. Some are smallish, but if it takes nine just for the yarn, I don't want to know how many boxes the books are going to fill up.

I had the most annoying phone conversation with my doctor's office yesterday. They called me to tell me that I hadn't met the deductible on my insurance. No shit, the deductible is $3000 because my employer is cheap, it's February and I don't have any health issues that cost a ton of money. So, I told her that I was aware of that, and that I'd still be coming in for my appointment today. She said, "sometimes people need to cancel or change their appointments when they find out that insurance won't be paying for them". I said, "ok, so how much is this going to cost?" This being a echocardiogram that my doc recommended based on EKG findings last week. Doc said it could be operator error on the EKG but since my dad has heart disease it should be checked out. She says "hold on, I'll check". She comes back on the phone and says "just a minute more, I'm still looking". Five minutes pass, she comes back and says "it looks like it will be $650" I say, "ok, my FSA will cover that".

Um, if you're calling to tell me that I can't afford a medical procedure because my insurance doesn't cover it, next time try having the info on how much it does cost in front of you so I don't have to sit on hold for five minutes while you look it up. Ok?

Then when I get there today, they tell me this all over again. So, what changed since yesterday? I already told you I could afford to pay for it, would you like to see my bank statement?

I'm a little worried about the chance of heart disease, so it's a major effort to keep my sarcastic comments inside my head.

I had the Echo, the tech said, it looks ok, I shouldn't worry, but that he can't really tell me that because the cardiologist has to read it. Cool. I know what that means. We do it all the time at work too. It isn't official until the doc looks at it, but we techs see them all the time and know what normal is and isn't.

A few project updates:

Simply Sweet has the back finished. I'm taking a break before casting on the front to work on some socks.


Habitat for Humanity Sampler for the Greater Dallas EGA. I'm going to do another one for Fort Worth.


I worked on Flower Power by Crossed Wing Collection. I started this in 2000, and set it aside. I've just recently picked it up again. It will look perfect over the fireplace in our new house.


And here's Zedd helping me pack:


Finished:

The house inspection was last night. A few minor items that need to be repaired, nothing major. The house comes with a warranty, so most of it will be covered. There were a couple of things that we might try to get the owners to fix before we close, but none of them were dealbreakers. No evidence of termites - phew!

Dave sent me a link to view the house from space the picture is from 2001, but it doesn't look like there have been any major changes in the neighborhood since then.

Talk about a small world, I was wondering why one of the women in the Tudor Rose Sampler Guild looked so familiar. This month, she had her zoo nametag hanging off her purse. She works on the administrative side, and I don't often interact with the folks in administration, but I've seen her at all-employee meetings. She said she didn't recognize me because I had my hair down and wasn't wearing my uniform.

I finished the stitching on the Vineyard Purse. I also finished the back of Simply Sweet, and a Habitat for Humanity sampler that I'm doing for the Dallas EGA. I have to find the camera, the office is a mess, but I'll post some pictures later.