Photography

Spring Cleaning: Phase 2

Shelly

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Shelves

They are ugly, and they are plastered down one side with fruit stickers, but they are shelves, and they are up. More importantly, The Pile o’ Basquills that has been living in the middle of my studio floor for the past six months now has a home.

That may be it for me tonight. I’m going to watch TV and contemplate area rugs and alternative floor covering options. Joyce left a link to bamboo rugs in comments, which is funny, because I’d been remembering the rice mat carpet that some family friends had when I was a kid. Bamboo looks to be similar (better, actually, because it is more durable and comes in bright colors!). It’s also relatively cheap, so a definite option. I’m also thinking about one of those ubiquitous faux Oriental rugs. They’re kind of tacky, but might be fun and unexpected in a kitchen. If I can find one cheap enough, I won’t be too worried about spilling stuff on it, and any stains I create would be well hidden by the pattern.

Just on a whim, I looked at rag rugs and dhurrie rugs, and was surprised at how expensive they are for larger sizes. Not huge, mind you. My kitchen floor is about 5 x 7 feet. Rugs that size are not cheap!

Crankypantsing

And Another Thing!

Shelly

Why on earth do I still have old installation booklets for Windows 95 and Windows 98? I mean, maybe I originally kept them because the product keys were on printed on the covers, but that doesn’t explain why I didn’t get rid of them in the last couple of moves.

There are bigger pack rats than me out there. I know, because I’ve met them, but still, my ability to hold on to junk is kind of mind-boggling.

Also, not to be whiny, but I broke a nail, and I am not amused. It takes me forever to grow them, even when I’m not chewing my fingers to bloody stumps. Hrmf.

Uncategorized

Apple Pie

Shelly

I don’t think I’ve ever made one before. I love to bake, but I’m more of a cake-and-bread-and-brownie baker, not a pie baker. When I was in the grocery store last week, though, I was suddenly overcome by the granny smith apples and had to have them. I’ve been really disappointed in apples the past few years, but these were damnfine tasty. So tasty that, after sharing one with Miss Brown, I had to make the rest into a pie.

It was good. And easy peasy. The crust even turned out decent, considering I’m a novice crust maker. And did I mention easy? Why did I think making pie crust was hard?

Mmmm. Pie.

No photos, alas. Maybe next time. And there will be a next time.

Crankypantsing

Retail Therapy

Shelly

It’s been a crappy day. I woke up really early and couldn’t get back to sleep, so I got up and watched The Amazing Race. Bad idea. Reality TeeVee is supposed to be mindless, not make you feel weepy and nauseated and generally awful. And the day hadn’t improved. Blech.

So, after work I’m going to the Mecca of cheap-assed crap, Target, and I’m going to engage in some retail therapy. Specifically, toothpaste, a bottle of wine, cat litter, and some shelves for the pantry.

That is all. As you were, comrades.

Photography

Painting Project

Shelly

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I haven’t gotten anything accomplished this weekend, though I have been busy. I managed to put three coats of paint on an old child’s wardrobe I got from my mom, and it could probably stand a fourth, but that might be beyond my endurance. I’ve got another dresser that I’m going to paint the same color, as well as the dining room chairs. The chairs will also get new denim covers on their seats. The master plan is to put the wardrobe in the kitchen, so that I can put the microwave on it and free up some counter space. I also need to get some shelves that will fit in the kitchen closet, so that I can turn it into a real, live pantry. Right now, I’ve got open utility shelves–ass ugly ones, at that–in the kitchen, and I’m tired of looking at all my crap.

Between putting the aforementioned crap away and getting all the ugly furniture painted in similar colors (or just painted at all), I’m hoping it’ll start looking like I live here, instead of like I’m just here for an extended visit.

And now, I need to go fold laundry. I meant to wash the dog this weekend, but I don’t think that’s going to get done.

Crankypantsing, Meta, Photography

Snow

Shelly

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I had to work this morning, but left just before the roads got bad. There wasn’t a whole lot of snow, but there was icy-sleety horribleness underneath it, and I didn’t want to be out in it. Which is just as well, because things were not okay in blogland, and if I’d been working all day, I wouldn’t have had time to fix the problem. I really need to upgrade WordPress, but not today, thankyewverymuch!

Photography

Work

Shelly

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Somebody else’s work, to be exact. This book cart full of old junk showed up outside my cubicle a few months ago. I won’t be surprised if it’s there a year from now. That’s how things are in Libraryland. I think it belongs to the department head, who is my cube-neighbor. Maybe she’s hoping that if she pushes it in front of my cube and ignores it for long enough, it will magically go away?

Crankypantsing, Pets

No Noise is Good Noise

Shelly

This day? A total waste. I took my car in for an oil change and to get the “I think it’s a warped rotor” problem fixed. Only, they hunted high and low and could not find anything wrong with my car. That’s typical, isn’t it? It only makes the rubbing noise when the temperature is below about 15F, so I guess I’m going to have to wait until the weather gets cold again and take my car back in. If it gets that cold again. In the meantime, I’ll try to look on the bright side: less money spent is a good thing, right?

I was so stressed, worrying about how much this was going to cost, that I didn’t get a damned thing done today, aside from walking the dog and loading the dishwasher.

Oh, and to add to my stress level? I got home last night to find another notice from the property manager about people not picking up after their dogs. I really hate tattling on others, but I guess I’m going to have to call tomorrow and let them know that it’s the folks in number 9. Since they also have a fawn Boxer, I don’t want to risk my dog taking the fall for their laziness. And we’re talking serious laziness, here. They stand inside the main door, with their dog’s outside on retractable leashes, so their dogs just squat anywhere–including on the sidewalk right in front of the door–and the owners don’t pick up after them.

Now, I understand that it’s not always fun or convenient to put on your shoes and coat and take your dogs outside, but if you’re going to have dogs, that’s what you’ve got to do. And if you suspect that you might occasionally feel lazy and just want to let your dog out the back door, then you’d damned well better make sure you get a ground floor apartment, preferably one with its own patio. Duh.