Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling:
* Played board games
* Set up charcuterie spread for 10 people
* Did photo shoot with friends“dressed up” for New Years Eve
* Dances
* Organized a Newlywed Game for 5 couples
* Rested with a book
* Drank and laugh until 12 when we’ll eat 12 grapes each
What were highlights of 2025
Moving
NYC
Vegas
Peter succeeding at school And maturing
Flamingocon retirement and changes
Rembrandt at the Norton
Laurie’s birthday
Hanging out with Nora & Jon & Kenji
Nora getting married
Baking sourdough bread
Bike trips with Sean, esp Gainesville
National Symphony Orchestra and (separately) Itzhak Perlman
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
what to do after buying house with solar panels
https://www.greenlancer.com/post/buying-a-home-with-solar-panels
a company to inspect and teach us
Two kinds of inverters -- learn which ones we need
This company sells solar power batteries, but maybe only Tesla.
Another solar power battery company
Alternatives to Tesla batteries
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
still to do:
After all that:
Ok, 6 days after movers unloaded and we moved more stuff from 2 other locations… both our offices are set up and we are working. There’s still plenty to unpack and yeah, tomorrow is a major holiday… but looks like moving “vacation” is over.
Actually… I am looking forward to sitting down some and to routine.
a recap of our 2025:
Packing & Moving
Bike trails
Theater & Concerts
Museums/Art events
Places visited
Great Restaurant Meals
Idea:
create circle diary of nature
need large cardboard, draw large circle. Draw 365 rays from it — tricky to figure this out. Inner part — not seasonal changes, moon phases
outside— document birds, Nature, backyard
I am quite knackered. I don’t know what day of unpacking this is. Here’s a summary I put on blue sky, I can’t think of more detail. I need to call it a night and get some sleep.
Today we unloaded a U-Haul, put away board games, did a bit more in the kitchen, dusted 5 bookshelves and a bar, set up the bar, rearranged dressers, unpacked clothes, hung up new shower curtain rod, had a visitor, fed sourdough, reheated latkes.
And enjoyed a sunset.
So tired. G’night.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Unpacking the kitchen while listening to (very basic) continuing ed = good multitasking.
But my feet hurt. So now I’m multitasking sitting on couch with feet up and taking continuing ed test.
Waiting for my boys to come home — bringing the last of our stuff! We can decorate for Christmas!
A few friends helped pack our kitchen on our penultimate day at the house. It was great to get us over the hump of being *sick* of packing. And I’m happy to report: nothing broke. Yay, friends!
Also: I do not miss having a two story house.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling:
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
What made you happy this week
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Three days until movers!!!
Cleared out medical papers, financial papers. Emptied son’s closet. Working in boxes of stuff from back of master bedroom closest. Finishing packing up two bathrooms. Helping clear stuff off back porch.
Sean and I took a break for lunch, and he really finally expressed some excitement about the move. He is excited about exploring Lakeland and riding bikes and seeing Nora more and just starting a new life with me. He has been alone far too long, been alone in his own head for too long. He was definitely getting depressed. I’m glad to see him brightening up and getting excited.
Trying to give away Peter’s bass player and amp. I have a few other small things to give to Barbara and Stacy tomorrow.
Internet installed on Thursday.
Meanwhile the painter delayed again. I got upset at two weeks of delays. They finally admitted they couldn’t do the job. But thankfully, they were kind enough to give me names of painters with bigger teams that could get the job done in time. Had a couple of options, but I also reached out to the Handyman who I met on Monday, Warren, Who was willing to take on the job At the same price, I’d already agreed to pay, and I feel I know him and trust him now. So he started on Friday morning, with prepping and taping things off and filling in holes and taking down doors.
Nora also came by on Friday and we tightened knobs on cabinets in the kitchen and she cleaned out the interior of all the cabinets and drawers. Which was amazing. We also discovered all sorts of little oddities like a piece of trim that had been hammered very poorly back in place and a random nail just sticking out of a cabinet. I showed the Painter where the accent walls would be, one wall of the laundry room, one wall of my office, one wall of my master bedroom, closet, and the toilet room.
I had picked out and picked up mirrors for the master bathroom, and now I’m questioning myself. But I can always return them. It’s the mixture of gold edge of the mirrors and the silver/pewter color of the faucets. So it doesn’t bother me at our old home. It’s the mixture of gold edge of the mirrors and the silver/pewter color of the faucets. So it doesn’t bother me at our old home, so it’s probably not a Problem. . And I have mirrors picked out for the office bathroom, which I still need to order. I picked out a new light for the foyer and a new light for the breakfast, which are arriving on December 26
I keep adding to my list for the Handyman with more stuff to keep or busy in late December!
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
7 hours of continuing ed done so far.
As of last week, because I procrastinated, I needed 9 by 12/31, preferably 23. So I will definitely have the minimum done this week. Whew!
I will knock some out tomorrow at the new house. And hopefully I can squeeze in some more in the next week. May not hit 30 this year.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Met and confirmed plans with Mo the fence guy. Very happy about that. Very happy we have an extra wide yard in back, based on survey. We had no idea.
Waiting on lawn guy. Waiting on deliver of bed frame.
Decided to be here Friday 12/12 to meet with painters. Gonna try to move internet install to that day.
Gonna stop at Lowe’s for lights and mirror shopping.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Saturday: Nora and I took down some vents and talked and took down some alarm things from windows and talked, and figured out all the screens in the house are sideways!?
Monday: electricians, lights, fuse box, security box removal
handyman, mirrors, patch walls
me: remove tape around tub
lawn: getting price quote from Uppercut
So far… texts to Nora to summarize:
I called mover and he was very reassuring that he will be there on December 16. I admitted to him that I was a wee bit nervous that everything‘s going well on our end and then if the movers didn’t show up, it would be all for not. But he promised that unless he get hit by an asteroid, that he’d be there.
I like the new Handyman. He’s a little bit like Chris but maybe better prepared. Certainly has more tools and a better truck. He has already fixed several things and got himself a shopping list to go to the hardware store and get stuff.
And we got the approval from the HOA to get the architectural form, so the fence is back on track!
And the electricians took down all the weird security crap, and replaced some lights and fixed the fuse box! The house is already better than when you last saw it!
It’s been a very productive day. Now, I have two lawn companies are gonna give me quotes for mowing the lawn. And I am waiting for a phone call from the painters to tell me when they’re gonna start. Whew!!!
Dixieland Handyman, Warren, cost $485. A bargain to take care of so many little tasks. He put blank plates over all 3 new holes created by taking down security crap, plus covering phone outlets.
Electrician: we put another LED recessed light and added a dimmer switch in kitchen. Total cost was about $1250. Possibly going to add another LED recessed light near DR, maybe above shower in front bathroom, plus new proper plug for fridge in garage.
Loved the Uppercut guy and hired him. $125 per month. But also keeping appointment with Myerscape on Tuesday for comparison.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
What made you happy this week
Of course, buying a house. But more specifically:
Can’t believe this was all the same week.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Locksmith arrived on time, installed new lock on one door, and re-keyed the other. And a spare moment, he tightened a hinge and the door now longer rubs the door jam, causing it to stick when opening. Based on the wear and tear on that corner of the door, the previous owners put up with this problem for years. Charged me $80 for all of it, and the lock had cost $105. We now have keypads at two doors.
Electrician arrived on time, and confirmed my suspicion about a problem with the fuse box. Again with an easy solution. Which means the previous owners just put up with an issue (minor) with the fuse box for 15 years instead of fixing it.
Anyway, the electrician answered my questions and agreed to do more work than I had planned on, like removing all the wacky security stuff from prior owners. And promises me much better light in the kitchen, and is charging a reasonable amount -- $1075. And they'll get it all done on Monday.
Then I went around and counted all the cracked or paint-dripped outlet covers and light-switch covers. i was going to buy replacements, but holy cow there are choices. And maybe we want dimmer switch or USB plus in the plug. And I got overwhelmed with choices, so I will wait for Sean in 2 weeks. We don't need to replace these until after the painting.
So far I’ve committed to painters, Chuck & Lou — $7250
And committed to fence installers, My Fence Co — $6,985, plus $750 survey.
I’ve had garage doors serviced, and he helped program keypad outside of house. $150 by Prestige Garage Door Services.
Having new lock installed from kitchen to garage, and front door lock re-keyed. By Ace Lock. Install = $80 plus $20 tip. Lock cost $105. And the dude fixed hinge in front door so it closes properly.
Lewman Electric is coming at 8 to fix fuse box issue and give price quote on new lights and light switches. EDITED TO ADD: getting 5 new LED lights in kitchen and 4 in giant closet. On Monday, they’re fixing fuse box, adding a light switch, and taking down various security sensors off wall for me. $1075.
I need to inventory, then shop for coordinating lights, mirrors, fans that I like. I also need to inventory and buy new outlet covers.
And while waiting on locksmith, I started prepping kitchen wall for painters.
366 days of Beethoven music. I’m going to start listening on New Years Eve, and continue through 2026.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
good lord, I need a slow quiet day. Soon. This was supposed to be just massage and work day. I woke up stupid early, but then spent the time super organizing my To Do list app and coming up with 26 good goals for 2026. So that was kind of nice.
But then many messages about fence and HOA and locksmith. And research of water systems and paint. And driving Peter around. And getting my glasses fixed. it dies t feel like that much but somehow the day got away. I’m pooped.
i did remember to do my stretches though so that’s good.
… and it turns out, we’re out of cat litter so now I need to go out and get that tonight. Cause I gotta be in Lakeland by 7:15 tomorrow.
I still need to sign in at work to put some time in, just in case things go badly tomorrow. I also want to take a photo of the full moon!
Annual water quality report for City of Lakeland
Tips for choosing water filtration system:
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
1. Refilled monthly pill boxes
2. Researched solar panels, political affiliations of tradesmen, reprogramming door locks, water filtration, alarm systems, refrigerators, property management companies, paint schemes,
3. Spoke with electricians, locksmiths, veterinary hospitals, handymen, fence installers, water filter system salesmen
4. Enjoyed unexpected phone call with friend
5. Signed contracts and paid deposits for painting and fence
6. Made appointments with locksmith, handyman, electricians
7. Enjoyed a visit and a homemade cookie from daughter
8. Listened to Billy Strings
9. Discovered local thin pizza joint
10. Played two hours of online board games because brain dead
g’night #lifeisgood
11. Also bought a bed frame and a keyless door lock
Today I committed to painters. And a fence installer. And had the garage doors serviced. And thought about paint colors and tile and placement of light fixtures. And wished Erin Schrump Silver was here to help me with picking colors. Maybe I’ll consult with her by phone.
And waited for a handyman who never came.
And reached out to an electrician and locksmith. Who responded while i wrote this. Ordered a lock and scheduled appointments already. This post took a very long time to write!
And showed Nora the new house for the first time.
What I didn’t do today: eat. No wonder my brain is mush. Waiting now for sushi order before driving to Peter’s condo, as i call it now.
Anyway… here’s photos of various odd shit attached to the walls that i want to remove.
Thank you end of merc retrograde.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Day 301
#394
count my blessings
Where to start? And it would never end. I am very fortunate and very grateful.
Sean and the kids — how did I get so lucky to have this amazing family.
Barbara — makes my life better. Changed me for the better and for good.
Numerous other friends — I am blessed with abundance. I try to keep up with birthday cards and fb messages and texts.
Financial stability — and even beyond that. We’ve worked hard but we’ve also been lucky. The real estate transactions and home improvements of this year are incredible and I’m humbled to be able to afford them. Money does ease life.
Medical miracles — I wouldn’t be here with them.
A cat who adores me. And is beautiful and fuzzy and lets me pet her incessantly.
A dog who adores me. So loyal and gentle and sweet.
Board gaming hobby and community — really changed my life for past 15 years. Entertainment, friendships, community building, Flamingocon — all blessings.
Sourdough hobby and community — delicious bread, a meditative hobby, and sharing joy with fellow enthusiasts.
Day 300
#294
practice curiosity
i feel like I’m always curious. We went for a bike ride, and explored a couple side paths. I looked up what happened to the drained lake that became Paynes Prairie. We decided to walk to the concert rather than drive and explored a tiny bit of gville.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
December goals:
IN:
OUT:
UPDATE:
No more stairs and living with Sean again! Way too much sugar.
We are moved and unpacking. I’ve made bread, used candles, worn sweaters. I sent a few Christmas postcards. Nearly daily stops to enjoy the sunset with each other and the dog. Bought a bed, bought a house, signed many documents, dealt with many handymen.
Not enough meditation and we put off the refrigerator until January.