Busy, Busy, Busy

Been a busy week around here. Here is a quick recap:

Monday was Brenda's birthday but we were both working so we decided to celebrate on Tuesday night. I did, however, surprise her with flowers and chocolate chip cookies when she got home that night. I am so thoughtful.

Tuesday morning, we found out we had no hot water. No problem, I put in a call to the apartment office. Knowing the reputation of maintenance around here, I figured they would show up on Wednesday. Well to my surprise, they showed up that afternoon. Of course, it was while Brenda was giving a massage here at home. It took two maintenance guys to try to figure it out. In the end they decided we needed a new water heater. So they would get one asap.

That night, we went out with some friends to an Italian Restaurant in the neighborhood that had been recommended by friends. It did not disappoint. The food was amazing. They have a nice outdoor patio area so we sat outside. It was a beautiful evening with a slight breeze. It had rained shortly before we got there so the temperature had dropped to a very pleasant level. It was a perfect evening. We both had so much food left over that we had several meals out of it. I love it when that happens.

On Wednesday, we headed up to Mt. Lemon. It is a beautiful drive up there and at 9000 feet, it is much cooler and a totally different climate. The drive is only 25 miles, but with stopping and taking pictures, it takes hours to get to the top. We had stopped at Jimmy Johns and got sandwiches for a picnic. At the top is a cute little general store that has some really good fudge. Of course, we had to stop in and get some.

Looking out over the valley.

The picnic area

Trying to photograph our vistor

Cute little purple bug that joined us for lunch

Tall pine trees at the top

A little brook

More tall trees

The hoodoos. My favorite part.

I am so proud of myself for figuring how to get these off my cell phone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember how I was telling you about the water heater? Well we had called the office on Wednesday afternoon and they told us they had to order a new water heater and it hadn't come in yet. They were expecting it Thursday morning and they would install it as soon as it came in.

Thursday we both had sinus headaches so we took it kind of easy. We did go out to Red Robin and used Brenda's birthday coupon for a free burger. We also did some shopping.

Today we had bunches of running around to do. But, the first thing I had to do was call the office and find out where our water heater was. The girl said she would find out and get back with me. About 5 minutes later she called back and said it had just arrived and they would be installing it this afternoon. We decided to go do our errands. As we were getting ready to leave the maintenance man came and began the process of replacing our water heater. We went ahead and left while he was working.

While we were out, we got some pieces for our Halloween costumes, did lots of window shopping for furniture ideas for the new apartment and got the oil changed on my car. I feel so productive.

When we got home, the water heater was all installed. After dinner, I took a good long HOT shower. It was heavenly. Now I am getting ready to head to bed. I need to go to work tomorrow and get some rest.

Moving Along

We are a mere 5 weeks away from signing the lease on the new apartment. I am really starting to get excited about this move. I haven't been as wildly ecstatic as I normally get when big change occurs. Probably because there were times we weren't sure if we were getting the place we really like. I think its definite that we ARE getting it.

We have sold several things through Craigslist and to people I work with. The more I sell and get rid of, the more I want to sell and get rid of. We still have lots we can sell so we are planning a garage sale the middle of October. I guess it will be a yard sale since we don't have a garage. DUH!

Here is a link for a photo of our new apartment. Its the one on the end on the second floor:

http://www.hslskylinegateway.com/j/r/zoomphoto.jsp?mid=970302

We love the big wrap around porches in the front and back. Our apartment faces the pool and hot tub. We also love that we will have a fireplace again. We love fireplaces and haven't had one for a long time. Nothing like a nice fire to keep warm and snuggly.


In other news, we both just had our birthdays so that is always reason to celebrate!!! We have had some amazing dinners. We have tried several new places and we have used more Groupons. We even went to Red Robin where I got a free burger for my birthday. Go me!!!! Tonight we went out with friends to a great Italian place to celebrate Brenda's birthday. Her's was yesterday but we both worked so we decided to celebrate tonight. Now, I am sitting on the couch like a beached whaled vowing to never eat again (at least for the next several hours.)

Another new concept in our life is we are trying to become complaint free. We both just read the book A Complaint Free World. In the book the author challenges the reader to attempt to be complaint free for 21 days. It is not as easy as it looks or sounds, but it is eye opening. We are enjoying the challenge (for the most part) and can see how negative thoughts and energy produces negativity in life. Its all part of the laws of attraction. I strongly believe that you attract the things you dwell on. I have seen proof of this in my life so many times.

We are also continuing to be thankful in all things and celebrate the abundance in our lives!

Where Have I Been?

Sorry I was MIA this week. I was picking up some hours at work for a coworker so she could take some much needed time off. Not only did it help her, I was able to make a little extra money to put toward the move.

I have a few more extra days scheduled plus I had worked a couple of extra days the week before. My paychecks are getting fatter. Perfect timing.

I noticed as I was looking at pictures from other blogs there is a new feature. When you click on a picture, it brings up a slide show of all the pictures in the blog. I like it. Instead of having to open each picture individually to see it bigger, I can see all the pictures posted in a bigger size.

I just threw in a few random old pictures so you can try it too. It also makes for a more interesting post.

Travel safe.

Update On The Dilemma

So I talked with my parents yesterday to discuss the furniture situation. I am amazed at how much their need to keep everything has changed as they get older. I really do believe they are realizing clutter and memories are not the same.

Several of the pieces of furniture have been given my parent's blessing to find a new life. Whew! I was really happy to hear that. And, we may be able to incorporate some of the stuff in the new place, at least temporarily. We will check with other family members and if they want some of it they can make arrangements to come get it or pay to have it shipped to them.

I did find out something very interesting. We have two wood chairs that I know are antiques. I was told that they were valuable but I just found out they are Stickley Brother chairs. Wow. A search online showed they are worth hundreds of dollars each. Well no wonder my parents don't want to part with them. My dad did say that if they change their minds about keeping them we could sell them. Wow, selling them would be a great way to increase our savings toward an RV.

Just to clarify, there was never any doubt about my parents making the arrangements to get the furniture or to pay to have it shipped or stored. I have had this furniture for years and love it. It has come in handy and I have appreciated being able to use it. If we weren't downsizing, I would not be getting rid of it. I guess I was just thinking about how expensive this would be for them and I was feeling bad about that.

In other news, we talked with the management of the new apartment complex and everything is a go for our move. We hadn't heard anything so I was a little concerned. I kind of thought that if something was up or they needed more info they would let us know. But, I was also thinking maybe we got lost in the shuffle since the move is so far off. I called them today and they assured me everything was fine. I figured that was the case but wasn't sure. So now I am even more excited about the move.

Today we went to Best Buy and I got the necessary cables so that we could hook up my computer to the TV. Now we can watch streamed movies and TV shows. We watch another Dexter marathon tonight. We have to be careful because we could easily keep distracted and not get anything done around here. I have been wanting to do this for a long time and now that I see how easy it was, I wondered why we hadn't done this a long time ago. Since we can watch just about anything through the computer, I am wondering if we really need cable anymore. If we got rid of cable and just had internet, we could save a bunch of money each money. Hmmm, food for thought.

When Two Worlds Collide

Such a dilemma. I am not a pack rat. I hate clutter and if I have something I don't need or want anymore, I get rid of it.

In my quest to simplify and reduce, I have a situation. I am in possession of furniture that has been in my family for a long time. Some of it is old and valuable and some of it just has sentimental value.

My parents, on the other hand, are pack rats. Not the type where I will be calling in the Horders group for an intervention, but they do keep some of the most unusual things. For example, they have the original brochures for every vehicle they have ever owned. At least in their need to keep such important documentations, they are very neat and orderly. No joke. In fact, as I think about it, I have a lot of pack rats in my family.

Somehow, we have to figure out the logistics of getting said furniture from Tucson back to Indiana to my brother. That is, if he wants it. I am not sure he really wants it because his house is full of stuff too. He inherited the pack rat gene. My parents don't have room for the furniture so if he doesn't want it, it is going to open another can of worms. I can't see paying to keep it all in storage for who knows how long. It will get very expensive and I am not sure anyone will ever want it. I would rather sell the furniture to someone who will appreciate it and take care of it. However, knowing my parents, selling is not an option.

Now don't get me wrong, I am sentimental and do have feelings for these lovely pieces, but I no longer need them or want them. They have served me well and it is time for us to part ways. I will always have the memories. I just won't have room for all of it in the new place and hopefully the next time we move it will be into an RV.

For all the things my parents gave me in this life, I am most grateful for the one thing they did NOT pass onto me-the need to keep EVERYTHING!