I’ve lost track. When I woke up this morning I wasn’t sure if it was Sunday or Monday. My walls are bare; even the mirror over my dresser is gone. I don’t think I look at myself so often, but I’m always aware of its presence. now I’m terribly aware of its absence.  My serious computer is over at the new apartment waiting to be connected to a different online service. I’m using the toy I take with me when I travel. Did I ever tell you I hate it? It’s not very well behaved; any typos should be blamed on it, not me.

I’m still packing, but the end is in sight. Over the weekend we moved the remaining fragile and unpackable things. This morning I will return and move the stuff out of the way of the movers, also get phone and computer set up with new service.

Time to get moving.

Butcher block was delivered yesterday, but not much else happened. Ed had other things to do. Oh yes, I packed.

Today I am packing again. I think I have 81 boxes already, on my way to a probable 100. This is after much sorting and disposing. But I fail. I just packed three frying pans. In fact I haven’t used any of them in years. I have another one that is in the sink, waiting to be washed. Maybe I’ll go back and get rid of two of them. One, anyway.

It’s  a beautiful day and I’d like to go out. I’ll pack another couple of boxes, then maybe to to Target and Home Depot. I can’t even remember what I wanted to get, but I’ll think of it.

I was too tired to write yesterday, and almost too tired to write today. I got to the apartment early to see my newly painted cabinets. They really did a wonderful job. All the handles were replaced and everything looked like new. Of course the paint fumes were still there, but they are disappating now.

The dishwasher installer arrived about 9:30 yesterday morning and did his thing. Good worker. I was hoping Ed would come in the afternoon, but he postponed until today. I had a class at 1, so I got lunch and hung out. The class is about Harry Truman and the aftermath of WW2. This is the same professor I’ve had for many US history classes. I really enjoy him, but this will be his last term. He’s leaving the Pittsburgh area. You can’t make a living teaching Osher classes.

After class I hung out again, waiting to go to a retirement party for the CMU Osher registrar. I’ll be happy to be living in Oakland so I won’t have to hang out while waiting to attend an event at one of the universities. The party was very nice. I left early, while I could still keep my eyes open.

My first stop this morning was my now monthly blood test at 8:20. I got to the apartment at 8:30 to find Bill, the maintenance man, and Scott, another owner, in the apartment. Bill is supposed to replace a (tv) cable that had been cut by the previous owner. I’m sure he brought Scott to see what I had done. Scott has the same apartment on the 9th floor. I don’t think they expected me to show up so early. I didn’t mind, although I can see where this could become an issue.

Scott invited me up to see his apartment. He’s done a wonderful job fixing it up; I was very pleased to see it. You wouldn’t know it was the same layout.

Ed and Meg were working by the time I got back down to my apartment. Shortly afterward the granite counter arrived. Installation was very quick, but much remains to be done. We aren’t supposed to touch it for 24 hours while the glue sets that’s holding the back splash in place. Ed will have to install the faucet, the garbage disposal and connect the water. He installed the stove and removed the florescent lights that were in the kitchen to be replaced with track lighting. After that, he will only have the floor left. We’re putting in the same laminate I installed in the living room and bedroom. Probably after I move in Perry will return to paint the kitchen. He has a job he thinks will last for two weeks. All I have left now is packing and only seven days. Ha!

The apartment is coming along right on schedule, but I’m beginning to worry about getting it all packed in time. I’m spending too much time supervising and not enough sorting and packing.

Now the story. We looked at three different apartments in the building over the year and a half. Each time the hallways were filled with artwork: drawings, posters, prints, all nicely framed and reflecting the interests and tastes of the apartment owners. Robin and I both thought this was great. Much better than the usual dark or overly decorated hallways. Shortly after I closed on the apartment I received a letter saying the hallways would be painted this year so the art had to come down. That was OK; painting was good. But after the halls were painted we would each be allowed only two small pictures and nothing on the brick wall on one side of the hall. The reaction was immediate. Letters were sent out; a petition was put on the bulletin board. It looked like the entire building concurred in their hatred of the new rules. Over the weekend a note was placed in each of our boxes: the new rule would be changed. Here is a picture of the hallway.

Last night the condo association met. After the usual activity and financial reports we got to the big question. This condo board is smart. We can put back the art subject to approval by our neighbors and we can put art on the brick wall. It makes the bricks much easier to live with. Furniture and plants were prohibited: fire department rules. I think everyone won.

My cabinet painters returned this afternoon with the drawers all painted. The paint smells awful and the sprayer makes a lot of noise, but if the cabinets look as good as the drawers, I’ll be happy. This is a picture of the kitchen all masked off and ready for spraying.

Cabinet painters arrived promptly at 8:30. I am amazed at how everyone has appeared when they said they would. They removed the old dishwasher, moved the refrigerator, removed the shelves, which look like old refrigerator shelves and will not get painted, removed handles and put them in a bucket of soapy water to get rid of the grease, took out all the drawers, cleaned and scraped 50 some years of dirt from the nooks and crannies and then masked off walls, floor and ceiling. Drawers go back to the shop with them tonight and get painted there, wherever there is. Inside of cabinets and drawers get epoxy paint, outside is urethane. Spraying will take place tomorrow when they return with drawers.

While they were doing all of this I cleaned the two bookcases that had been left by the seller, and moved them into place in the large bedroom. Originally there were four of them; I gave two away. Here is a diagram I created for furniture placement in the two bedrooms. The black areas in the larger bedroom are walls. That same weight-bearing wall that cramps my dining room also appears in the bedroom. This is a famous architect designed building. He placed those walls every 20 feet without any thought to what they would do to space in the apartments. The bedroom is not 20 feet wide, only about 11 feet. It is at the back end of the building; I guess he couldn’t go any further. It’s only a few feet to the lot line. Three unmarked blank rectangles are windows; long narrow one at the top is the closet door. I moved the two bookcases from the center of the room to the two walls. Other furniture won’t be delivered until I move: May 24.

The smaller bedroom will be my workroom. It gets one bookcase from my present apartment, my light table that I’ve had for at least 40 years and a butcher block table I now have in my kitchen. Also some other furniture I haven’t placed yet.

I left the workmen about 11am and went grocery shopping–no food in the house. Then I came back, took a nap and did more packing. Tonight is the semi-annual meeting of the condo association. The council put out some new rules and succeeded in fomenting a rebellion. So while I had always planned to go and meet some of my new neighbors, now I have to go and find out what will happen. Come back tomorrow for the whole story.

Packing and packing and packing. Bought more of those file boxes. Packing. Brought things to the apartment both days but no more work. Living room is finished. Dining room is almost finished. Bedroom is almost finished–need to finish emptying the cedar chest and one closet shelf. Kitchen is almost finished. Left some stuff to cook and eat with. The biggie is my workroom. I suspect I will be working on it, even though I started here first, for most of the remaining time. If I run out of things to pack I can always sort photos. I must have thousands of them.Don’t worry about my working too hard. I never do that.

Tomorrow morning the kitchen cabinets get sprayed. I promise a full accounting. I’ll watch every move.

I was so tired by the time I got home last night I couldn’t even think about writing. First I woke up at 4:30 and finally got out of bed at 5:30. I never do that. At 7:45 the appliance company called and told me they would deliver between 12:30 and 3:30. I thought about going back to sleep, but it didn’t happen. Instead I sorted through the tool box. I really should get one of those heavy duty boxes they sell at Home Depot, but I probably wouldn’t be able to lift it. I got to the apartment about 9:30 to find Ed in conference with Bill, the maintenance man. I had asked Bill to stop by; but didn’t expect him so early. We had lots of questions about electrical outlets, lighting and problems installing anything electrical. We got lots of answers, but nothing we really wanted to hear. In order to install new electric lines you have to cut into the concrete. There is no way to feed the line through as you would with lathe and plaster. It’s a good thing I bought two new lamps; probably there will be others in my future.

While I waited for the delivery I cleaned the bathtub and the tile around it, then hung the shower curtain. This tub will have two curtains, a liner and an outer curtain, the better to hide the tub. I think it will be like taking a shower in a cave. I have a walk-in shower in my present apartment and I really enjoy it. I’d love to replace the tub with a walk-in shower, but it’s not going to happen. While I was doing this, Ed and Meg worked in the kitchen. Everything is ready for the paint sprayers who have promised to arrive early Monday morning.

I finished the day with my usual Thursday evening ESL tutoring, went out for dinner, then crawled into bed.

Haven’t done much about the apartment today. Just had lots of other things to do. BTW, I have arranged to have the gas, electricity, phone and internet turned off and phone and internet turned on in the new place. Gas and electricity are included in the monthly assessment.

Everything is finished except for the kitchen. I can’t believe we’ve come this far. The dishwasher and stove will be delivered tomorrow. Ed will be there to hook up the stove and finish some cabinetry. Dishwasher will be installed by someone from the vendor in the next few days; probably next week. Here is a sample of the granite along with the color I plan to put into the kitchen, replacing the blood red. The countertop will be delivered next week after the cabinets are sprayed.

The next challenge is packing. I think I’ve packed 50 boxes, but I figured 100, so I’m half way. I was promised more boxes from a friend. I’ll find out more about it tomorrow. In the meantime I’m still throwing out and otherwise getting rid of stuff.

My Osher classes started up again yesterday, so I spent both yesterday and this morning trying to think about other things. Today was especially good. The professor is great, we are working on the detective in literature.

After lunch I went up to the apartment. It’s very convenient to my classes, which, of course, was the point. Ed and Meg were working on the bedroom floor. The medicine chest and the shower rod were installed, finishing the bathroom. I carefully measured the nooks and crannies in the living room and the master bedroom, trying to determine where to put the furniture without physically dragging it around. I’ve been doing this on the computer but it’s hard to get the scale just right. I need a drafting program.

Robin and I are going to Costco tonight. They have a wonderfully funky looking kitchen faucet that I want to see. It’s also convenient to Lowe’s if I decide it’s too funky.

Thank you all for your kitchen comments. I understand that kitchens sell houses or apartments. That’s what sold my last two places. If it was up to me I’d have a microwave, a toaster oven and the dishwasher; no stove.

I’m celebrating tonight. Ed gave me the name of another place to try. They only sell granite, but no minimums, good prices and I can get the finished piece this week if I want. I didn’t really want granite and it’s still more money than I wanted to spend, but it’s not laminate and it’s less money than all the other alternatives. I selected a shiny, gaudy black and tan stone. Should have taken a picture now that I think about it. I’ll probably go back on Wednesday so maybe I’ll do it then.

Perry has finished painting. He’ll return for the kitchen. The living room floor is finished as is the formerly dark green bedroom. Ed has two or three days work left. The replacement doors need hardware attached and sconces installed in the living room. Kitchen counter has to be removed and florescent lights replaced with track. Medicine chest and shower rod are needed in the bathroom. Floor has to be replaced in small bedroom.

The dishwasher and stove will be delivered on Thursday, cabinets will be painted next Monday and Tuesday. I’ll have the granite counter installed some time next week, Ed has to install the new kitchen floor and butcher block on two other counters, then Perry will return to paint. With any luck it might be finished when I move in: May 24. I’m still packing and getting rid of.