Entry tags:
Real Life Update
(I started planning this entry two days ago; the following paragraph is from Monday afternoon. The sentiment, however, remains valid.)
Darcy. Sweetheart. I'm going to miss you so much this summer, love. However, there are some things I will not miss. Such as FINDING HUGE WET HAIRBALLS ALL OVER MY BED RIGHT AFTER I WASHED THE SHEETS. OMFG, CAT. OMFG.
... The cats are, in general, slightly traumatized at the state of my apartment. They know something's up, and it's only going to get worse. Poor babies.
So, it has been a while since I really updated here. My internet-brain was neck-deep in tribbles after the Star Trek movie, and then I've just been really really busy.
Eyes
I have my new pair of glasses! They came in a little over a week ago. I quite like them; they are squarish and copper-colored. So now I have three pairs: my old red ones, for normal wear; my prescription sunglasses; and the new ones for up-close work (i.e., messing with the computer). I have actually noticed a difference - staying on the computer for hours at a time is definitely easier on the eyes! ... Which means now I have even less incentive to not spend hours at a time on the computer. Eh heh heh. And, well: we'll see how I do juggling three pairs of glasses, especially while traveling halfway around the planet. Hmm.
As far as my enlarged blind spot/optic nerve goes .. the tests are all done, but the doctor wasn't there last Thursday to discuss results, so I have to go back on Friday afternoon. I don't expect he'll have much to say. But I'll probably take my last remaining sick day anyway!
Work
Speaking of work ... they're having trouble filling my position! If anyone out there has an engineering background and experience with orbital mechanics, and wants to move to Northern Virginia, I can tell you where to send your resume!
I'm working on finishing my part of the Actual Science Project. I might not manage to get it working before I leave, but ... oh well! And I've had to man the shop alone for half of the last two days; everyone else was in required training for our new (horrifically painful) software development process. Which I don't have to do. SCORE.
And I'm doing all the other finish-up things at work. I need to make sure I can access the internal site from home, in case I need to make any changes (address updates, etc) after my last day. Also, I'm vested! That means when I turn 65, I'll be elegible for a monthly pittance from $Giant_Aerospace_Company, even if I never work for them again. Score!
We're having a goodbye lunch for me next week - probably Wednesday, probably a cookout in the backyard. And then it'll be Thursday, and then I'm DONE. :D
Internship
Oh boy. I still have so much to do for this. I haven't done anything with the ceramics since the Night of the Dead Ants; I still have several more bags to go through. I have a lot that I need to add to the website - in particular, there is still no kid's page. And I need to write up all of that, plus something about the GPS points I took at Blue Ridge last week - plus maybe some more points, depending on where they go for Tuesday's class. And I desperately need to touch base with the department head, who is actually the advisor for the internship class, just so he knows what I'm doing! We may end up playing intercontinental email tag all summer. D: (Oh, if I'm not done with this before I leave .....)
I did get detailed instructions written for updating the website, though. So that's something.
And I might be going out to dinner with some LAF people one night next week.
The class is digging in Waterford tomorrow night, which I may not make it to, because I've got some family in town (for certain definitions of "in town") and they're meeting me for dinner. But I'll swing by Waterford if at all possible! There's no great need for GPS points there, so from a practical, internship-related standpoint, I don't need to go. I want to, though! Class has been rained out repeatedly this summer; hopefully tomorrow will go a little nicer. (Not according to ForecastFox, though, alas.)
Packing
... I'm surprised to say this, but I'm actually nearly all packed! Most of what's laying around is stuff I'm still using; the remaining Big Thing I need to sort through is my filing cabinet. Which I am a bit scared of, because the entire top drawer is full of work-related papers, and I've no idea which of it I need to keep! Maybe I'll go through that tonight.
I'm basically packed for the summer, too. I've got a medium-sized suitcase, a giant duffel bag, and a carry-on backpack. None of them are stuffed as full as my bags usually get, either, which has me slightly worried. But I don't have a good scale, so hopefully I've managed to keep it under 50 lbs per bag.
Partly this is because I'm not taking much in the way of books -- in fact very nearly ALL of my books are packed. I want to load up my iPod with ebooks as notes and rely on that, but I'm running up against the 1000-note limit, which is only about sixish reasonably sized novels. Hmm. I'm also not bringing a laptop, but more on that later.
My field pack is done! I'm in love with American Science & Surplus, by the way. I ordered 6 folding rulers, 4 carabiners, 2 whetstones, brass vernier calipers, a drafting compass set, and a loupe. For $30 including shipping - the quality is very good, though I did break the smallest whetstone getting it out of the package, but whatever. Also you can order OWL PELLETS from them. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED OMG.
I even have enough boxes. Mom bought me about 6 plastic tubs (and Mom has been a huge help packing, she's been over here two weekends helping me sort and box things - last weekend she took away a carload of nothing but books) and between those, the cardboard from my balcony closet that escaped the squirrels, and all the bags I own, I think I've got it covered. Excellent. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
melannen has been helpful, too!)
I'm trying to avoid getting my carpet cleaned. Management is just going to come in and strip it all out after I leave, so I don't see why I should shoot it full of chemicals. No one answered when I called to ask today; I guess I'll try again tomorrow.
I'm finishing up the food I have, a situation somewhat complicated by the fact that people keep giving me more food. I'm not sure I'll finish it all, at this rate! Oh, well, if nothing else it'll be party food.
(Yes, there is party! Saturday June 20, 3PM to whenever. If you'd like to come, let me know, and I will get you details!)
And, of course, there is a big Pile of Stuff to get rid of. I plan to let whoever comes to the party pick through it. In the meantime -- would anyone like me to list out some of the neater things, clothes especially? There's a lot of stuff that's awesome, I've just finally admitted that it no longer fits me, and never will again, alas. Like a long white naval-looking skirt, and a black pleather miniskirt, and ...
Boston & Camping
I made camping plans, did I mention that here yet? Yes -- June 23-28, camping near Boston. The campsite next to ours is still available, and I'd still love more company for the trip ...
I still need to make some appointments to visit apartments while I'm there! I guess that'll be keeping me busy next week at work. And if I remember to, I'll look up some nearby geocaches. At some point I should put a sack together of just-camping stuff; I think I'll take Mom's advice and leave the other bags as closed as I can for that week ...
Iceland
I'm still so woefully behind on the preparatory reading I'm supposed to be doing. D: I've been finally reading the Fljotsdale saga, which is overdue at the NVCC library. It is lovely and wonderful and I have still more sagas as ebooks to read .. sometime.
I'm not bringing a laptop. It's just too big. And I'll have plenty to keep me busy, plus access to a computer lab. I'll be updating that way -- I don't know how often, but as often as possible. I probably won't be paying attention to my reading lists/flists (or trying to catch up after I get back), though, so please email me if something important happens! I'll try to at least check my email every couple of days, and I'll have notebooks if I'm struck by the sudden urge to write something. And I'm collecting snail mail addresses here, on the chance that it turns out not too difficult to mail letters.
England
I've got a hostel reservation! And Mom's going to meet me there! I'm really glad she's coming along. :D Plans for what to do in London are still rather vague. I think we'll take the Stonehenge and Salisbury London Walk on Tuesday. Otherwise we'll play it by ear. Still accepting suggestions!
Otherwise
I've been horrifically slacking on yoga. (I ripped the DVDs, loaded them on my iPod, and got an armband, though! I can totally do yoga in Iceland! Yeah we'll see about that.)
I'm upset with del.icio.us. The firefox plugin is not very happy with me switching between computers - it keeps forgetting bookmarks. Is anyone else having that problem?
I don't know what to do about my car registration/etc. When I was in ND, my "permanent"/parental address was still MD, so I didn't change anything. I'd like to just keep everything in VA, but I'm not sure I can, because I won't have any sort of "permanent" residence here .. I may have to switch it to MD, or to MA. It will make me sad to give up my CARD1S plates. Also inspections are due in August, and I'd like people to be able to drive it while I'm out of the country. I emailed my insurance agent with these questions and more, but he hasn't gotten back to me yet ...
And I've been cramming in what socializing I can manage, before I run away. I went to a party on Memorial Day, and a game day last weekend; another party is this weekend, and then next weekend is mine. I feel like I'm forgetting things I've done somewhere in there, too ... hmm.
I have a massive list of stuff to do, but I think I'll spare you. Because half of it's in my head, and the other half I'm really not in the mood to look at right now!
I feel like I'm forgetting something .. I've been busy enough recently, I ought to have more to say than that! Well ... maybe it'll come back to me. In the meantime, I'll just leave you with my new yahoo avatar:
TWO WEEKS, THREE DAYS TILL ICELAND!
So, guys: what would you be likely to forget to do when moving house?
Darcy. Sweetheart. I'm going to miss you so much this summer, love. However, there are some things I will not miss. Such as FINDING HUGE WET HAIRBALLS ALL OVER MY BED RIGHT AFTER I WASHED THE SHEETS. OMFG, CAT. OMFG.
... The cats are, in general, slightly traumatized at the state of my apartment. They know something's up, and it's only going to get worse. Poor babies.
So, it has been a while since I really updated here. My internet-brain was neck-deep in tribbles after the Star Trek movie, and then I've just been really really busy.
Eyes
I have my new pair of glasses! They came in a little over a week ago. I quite like them; they are squarish and copper-colored. So now I have three pairs: my old red ones, for normal wear; my prescription sunglasses; and the new ones for up-close work (i.e., messing with the computer). I have actually noticed a difference - staying on the computer for hours at a time is definitely easier on the eyes! ... Which means now I have even less incentive to not spend hours at a time on the computer. Eh heh heh. And, well: we'll see how I do juggling three pairs of glasses, especially while traveling halfway around the planet. Hmm.
As far as my enlarged blind spot/optic nerve goes .. the tests are all done, but the doctor wasn't there last Thursday to discuss results, so I have to go back on Friday afternoon. I don't expect he'll have much to say. But I'll probably take my last remaining sick day anyway!
Work
Speaking of work ... they're having trouble filling my position! If anyone out there has an engineering background and experience with orbital mechanics, and wants to move to Northern Virginia, I can tell you where to send your resume!
I'm working on finishing my part of the Actual Science Project. I might not manage to get it working before I leave, but ... oh well! And I've had to man the shop alone for half of the last two days; everyone else was in required training for our new (horrifically painful) software development process. Which I don't have to do. SCORE.
And I'm doing all the other finish-up things at work. I need to make sure I can access the internal site from home, in case I need to make any changes (address updates, etc) after my last day. Also, I'm vested! That means when I turn 65, I'll be elegible for a monthly pittance from $Giant_Aerospace_Company, even if I never work for them again. Score!
We're having a goodbye lunch for me next week - probably Wednesday, probably a cookout in the backyard. And then it'll be Thursday, and then I'm DONE. :D
Internship
Oh boy. I still have so much to do for this. I haven't done anything with the ceramics since the Night of the Dead Ants; I still have several more bags to go through. I have a lot that I need to add to the website - in particular, there is still no kid's page. And I need to write up all of that, plus something about the GPS points I took at Blue Ridge last week - plus maybe some more points, depending on where they go for Tuesday's class. And I desperately need to touch base with the department head, who is actually the advisor for the internship class, just so he knows what I'm doing! We may end up playing intercontinental email tag all summer. D: (Oh, if I'm not done with this before I leave .....)
I did get detailed instructions written for updating the website, though. So that's something.
And I might be going out to dinner with some LAF people one night next week.
The class is digging in Waterford tomorrow night, which I may not make it to, because I've got some family in town (for certain definitions of "in town") and they're meeting me for dinner. But I'll swing by Waterford if at all possible! There's no great need for GPS points there, so from a practical, internship-related standpoint, I don't need to go. I want to, though! Class has been rained out repeatedly this summer; hopefully tomorrow will go a little nicer. (Not according to ForecastFox, though, alas.)
Packing
... I'm surprised to say this, but I'm actually nearly all packed! Most of what's laying around is stuff I'm still using; the remaining Big Thing I need to sort through is my filing cabinet. Which I am a bit scared of, because the entire top drawer is full of work-related papers, and I've no idea which of it I need to keep! Maybe I'll go through that tonight.
I'm basically packed for the summer, too. I've got a medium-sized suitcase, a giant duffel bag, and a carry-on backpack. None of them are stuffed as full as my bags usually get, either, which has me slightly worried. But I don't have a good scale, so hopefully I've managed to keep it under 50 lbs per bag.
Partly this is because I'm not taking much in the way of books -- in fact very nearly ALL of my books are packed. I want to load up my iPod with ebooks as notes and rely on that, but I'm running up against the 1000-note limit, which is only about sixish reasonably sized novels. Hmm. I'm also not bringing a laptop, but more on that later.
My field pack is done! I'm in love with American Science & Surplus, by the way. I ordered 6 folding rulers, 4 carabiners, 2 whetstones, brass vernier calipers, a drafting compass set, and a loupe. For $30 including shipping - the quality is very good, though I did break the smallest whetstone getting it out of the package, but whatever. Also you can order OWL PELLETS from them. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED OMG.
I even have enough boxes. Mom bought me about 6 plastic tubs (and Mom has been a huge help packing, she's been over here two weekends helping me sort and box things - last weekend she took away a carload of nothing but books) and between those, the cardboard from my balcony closet that escaped the squirrels, and all the bags I own, I think I've got it covered. Excellent. (
melannen has been helpful, too!)I'm trying to avoid getting my carpet cleaned. Management is just going to come in and strip it all out after I leave, so I don't see why I should shoot it full of chemicals. No one answered when I called to ask today; I guess I'll try again tomorrow.
I'm finishing up the food I have, a situation somewhat complicated by the fact that people keep giving me more food. I'm not sure I'll finish it all, at this rate! Oh, well, if nothing else it'll be party food.
(Yes, there is party! Saturday June 20, 3PM to whenever. If you'd like to come, let me know, and I will get you details!)
And, of course, there is a big Pile of Stuff to get rid of. I plan to let whoever comes to the party pick through it. In the meantime -- would anyone like me to list out some of the neater things, clothes especially? There's a lot of stuff that's awesome, I've just finally admitted that it no longer fits me, and never will again, alas. Like a long white naval-looking skirt, and a black pleather miniskirt, and ...
Boston & Camping
I made camping plans, did I mention that here yet? Yes -- June 23-28, camping near Boston. The campsite next to ours is still available, and I'd still love more company for the trip ...
I still need to make some appointments to visit apartments while I'm there! I guess that'll be keeping me busy next week at work. And if I remember to, I'll look up some nearby geocaches. At some point I should put a sack together of just-camping stuff; I think I'll take Mom's advice and leave the other bags as closed as I can for that week ...
Iceland
I'm still so woefully behind on the preparatory reading I'm supposed to be doing. D: I've been finally reading the Fljotsdale saga, which is overdue at the NVCC library. It is lovely and wonderful and I have still more sagas as ebooks to read .. sometime.
I'm not bringing a laptop. It's just too big. And I'll have plenty to keep me busy, plus access to a computer lab. I'll be updating that way -- I don't know how often, but as often as possible. I probably won't be paying attention to my reading lists/flists (or trying to catch up after I get back), though, so please email me if something important happens! I'll try to at least check my email every couple of days, and I'll have notebooks if I'm struck by the sudden urge to write something. And I'm collecting snail mail addresses here, on the chance that it turns out not too difficult to mail letters.
England
I've got a hostel reservation! And Mom's going to meet me there! I'm really glad she's coming along. :D Plans for what to do in London are still rather vague. I think we'll take the Stonehenge and Salisbury London Walk on Tuesday. Otherwise we'll play it by ear. Still accepting suggestions!
Otherwise
I feel like I'm forgetting something .. I've been busy enough recently, I ought to have more to say than that! Well ... maybe it'll come back to me. In the meantime, I'll just leave you with my new yahoo avatar:
TWO WEEKS, THREE DAYS TILL ICELAND!
So, guys: what would you be likely to forget to do when moving house?