Mt. Rainier and Lenticular Clouds - Dec. 2008 copyright: JMM

July 17, 2011

Respite

We were using an unsecured wireless signal in the neighborhood when we first moved in, but they got wise to us, so I've been offline since then, except for one quick trip to the library to change my Facebook status to say I was offline.  'Back in the day', when you'd call your cable co. to hook up service, there was, at most, a 2-3 day wait.  That's why I figured I can call 'whenever' and they'll come out quickly.  Wrong-et-vous.  I called last Monday (6 days ago) and was told their first available appt. was not till July 20th.  Just out of chance I tried today to see if there was a wireless signal I could snag for now, and there was, so here I am.  

However, I must say, I am very much enjoying the peace and quiet.  My house is close to lots of stuff, but my neighborhood is very quiet with other small homes and lots of yards and trees.  We are fairly close to the water so there's a nice breeze outside in the late afternoon.  I haven't been out shooting photos much yet because: 1. It's just too damn hot and humid; and 2.  I'm taking my time unpacking.  That alone has been a royal pain.  It took me 3 months to get it all packed, and I just don't feel like taking half the stuff out of the boxes if we are only gonna rent this place for a year. I'm talking books and LPs and craft supplies that I really, truly, won't read, play or use in that time period.  I am more inclined to put out all the tchotchkes and bric-a-brac than I am the record albums and at least half the books.  

Life is definitely moving at a much slower pace than what I am used to and it's been an adjustment to say the least.  I don't have to get up early.  I don't have to wait till Sat. to do my errands and shopping anymore.  I don't even have to feel guilty about getting up at 8:30, and reading till Noon.  I haven't hooked up my stereo yet, had no internet and didn't feel like watching movies, so I spent all last week reading the His Dark Materials trilogy in the mornings and evenings. I haven't enjoyed that kind of calm in many, many years. There was a thunderstorm last Wed. night and while it scared Pepper, I gratefully realized that it meant cooler, less humid weather was on the way and when it arrived the following morning, it was one of those capital Cape Cod summer days that made me glad to have moved back.  There are no 14,000 foot mountains looming, although the other day I saw a huge cloud formation in the shape of Rainier and almost said, "Look at The Mountain!" when I realized that it was clouds.  There is an olde-tyme loveliness to this part of the world and it's nice to see it again.  I have a new appreciation for it.  I'm trying hard to get rid of, or at least tone down, my Type A personality, and this is a nice way to start decompressing.

I've always been a bit 'Mario Andretti' when it comes to driving, and that's another thing I'm trying to take slower, more or less being forced to due to the tourist traffic.  But it's pretty hard not to get frustrated by the Bay Staters' inability to USE THEIR DAMN TURN SIGNALS!!!  My brakes are getting quite the work out with the lane changers and left turners who don't bother to let me know what they are doing.  We're not called Massholes for nothing.....That said, the prize goes to New Jersey for the Worst. Drivers. Ever.  (No offense to any of my Joisey readers, but seriously....).



I had lunch with my high school friends, Marsha & Pam, and Pam's partner, DeAnn, last week.  That was a fun day and it was great to catch up with them again!  I'd also seen Marsha back in March when I visited.  I've been able to spend time w/ my mom and was glad to be there to help the day she took a nasty spill at her house and cut her arm.  My cousin Diane is up from Maryland this week w/ her kids so I will get to spend time with her, and with Sharon & Paul as well.  

L to R:  DeAnn, Marsha & Pam

Life on the home front is going very well too.  My sweetie and I have enjoyed some meals out and browsing through the antique/junk shops on the main drag here in BBay.  It's really nice to be in a relationship with someone who actually likes doing that stuff.  He's a great cook too, and we've mostly been watching movies.  I've seen more movies in the last 2 or so weeks than I have in the last 5 years!! lol  I'm very, very happy and this move was definitely the right thing to do!!!

I can start uploading pictures from the trip as soon as I have my own internet up and running.  I will do my best to catch up on all your blogs at that time as well.  Ta for now!!!

9 comments:

  1. Hey you,

    Sounds like your doing a lot of reconnecting and adjusting and relaxing. Perhaps not having the cable hooked up during this time frame has actually turned out to be a bit of a blessing.

    I'm so happy you're enjoying life and that you feel validated in your decision to take the leap.

    Also "Massholes" and "wrong-et-vous" cracked my ass up!
    xoxo pf

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  2. Aaaaah! Hunting a wireless signal! I know that (do that on my phone now and then!)

    Isn't it amazing how much stuff we have once we move it??

    I hope you're back soon and wish you all the best until then!

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  3. Hi!!! I had no idea your blog was public again. Caught up with it now, though. Glad to see you're settling in and happy.

    I remember moving from Hawaii to Michigan and it was really a headache. Had to move our household (Jim and mine) and my mom, too. I had $5000 + in shipping across the ocean and 3/4 of the North American continent and that was with us leaving half our stuff.

    Once you get settled though, you feel very accomplished. :-D

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  4. Anonymous10:14 AM

    Glad to hear you are relaxing and decompressing. You need some quiet for a change. I had to crack up about your comments about using signals...that's a pet peeve of mine. I hate that people think we are supposed to read their minds. That type of rudeness most likely spills into their everyday life as well. That being said, I pity anyone who dares to drive in Pittsburgh from out of state. Once a Pittsburgher sees an unfamiliar plate, it's not pretty. I tried hunting for a wireless signal and the ones around me are all protected. Good to have you back!

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  5. You need an excuse to get up early, buy some chickens, you'll never get to sleep in again!

    I had a very outspoken passenger in my car several times some years ago, and when people didn't indicate, he would yell, "Go on, mate, fart and give us a clue" which I found amusing...at first.

    As for the two cars that took the nearside lane today (a bus lane) then forced their way out so that they could turn right and block the path of those they'd cut up, sounds like they'd be right at home. Only in reverse of course (or would they notice?)

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  6. Anonymous2:27 PM

    I'm relaxing just reading that you're relaxing. Nothing wrong with slowing down a bit. I think we all tend to forget sometimes that it's OK to do nothing at all ;0)

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  7. I think you needed this chill time very much. We've decided all we need cable for is hockey games:)! We still have it though. BTW, everything here is fine,per your question on my blog.

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  8. Sounds like you're peaceful and content! I can't think of a better way to be :)

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