Good Shit, Cheap!

We're getting ready for a yard sale this weekend.  It's a lot of work, when you have a lot of crap!  My biggest concern is that the weather will hold out.  My next biggest concern is that we get rid of a lot of stuff.  

It's scary how much stuff can accumulate over time.  And stuff you don't use.  Ever.  And when it's your stuff that you've had, you've paid for, you've become attached to, it's easy to think it's worth more than it really is.  

Is it really good to be a part of a neighborhood yard sale with 100 other houses participating?  Or does it hurt you?  Do more people come out to these sales?  Do they hold off on buying things until they've been to a few blocks?  What do we do with all the leftovers?  

Sheesh!

Someone suggested a sign to us:

Good Shit, Cheap!

That about sums it up...

AMW

Moving once again

No, not me.  But once again I helped someone move.  You'd think I'd have learned by now....  But NOPE.  Who was it this time?  My folks!

Now, my folks moved into the house I grew up in when I was 5 or so.  And they lived in it for over 30 years.  (Now you know I'm over 35.  That's good enough...)

In those 30+ years, my mom didn't throw a whole lot away.  My dad did.  Repeatedly.  When I was growing up, and didn't take my shoes up to my room, my dad would threaten to throw them away.  And he did.  More than once.  He was usually good about not putting them in the kitchen trash can, so they were salvageable.  But he'd also go on periodic cleaning sprees where he'd throw all kinds of things away, much to my moms horror.  

Fast forward to this move.  They had months and months to plan, and my mom did a pretty good job of throwing things away.  But they still had a LOT of stuff to move.  They were smart, and hired movers.  Even still, I spent all day Saturday at the new house.

I showed up at the old house, to pack up the fridge and freezer into coolers, to take straight to the new house.  I threw half of the old fridge away.  There were dressings from 2004, limes wrapped in cellophane that I'm pretty sure was from when I was in high school, and unidentifiable objects that I don't think I want to know what they started out as.  Freezer was slightly better, but not much.  Got it all put away in the new house, and it looked like I threw out 90% of what they had, only because the new fridge was BIGGER.

I thought I'd tackle the kitchen (since I already had experience with the fridge), and try to get it a bit settled.  When the truck got there, they started bringing boxes in.  I backed my self into a corner, and just told them to pile them up, I'd work my way out.  BIG MISTAKE!  After half-a-dozen LARGE boxes, I know that had to be it, but noooooo.  There were more.  I lost count.  I managed to get it ALL put away (9 hours later) with room leftover.  Of course, I had to go through the spices and the food, and throw some more stuff away.  BUT I made mom make a list of things that needed to be replaced.  

I also managed to hang the electric can opener (which meant emptying the bottom shelf of one of the cabinets  I had worked so hard on), and hanging a light over the built in desk.  

Having not moved in 30+ years, my mom was getting frustrated as to why it wasn't all coming together by Saturday night.  And why there were still so many boxes everywhere.  BUT she did get connected.  By Saturday night, she had all of the TV's in the house hooked up, and her internet up and working.  For her, that's heaven!

I'm hoping most of my friends and family are pretty settled for now, and that I don't have to do this again any time soon!

AMW

Kayak Update

I know everyone has been waiting with baited breath to find out about my kayak and what happened to it. Here goes...



This past weekend, I borrowed the neighbors saw horses and pulled the boat out. I took a garden hose, and filled the inside through the front hatch. After just a few minutes, water was pouring out of the back scupper hole. Not the drain plug, but the scupper hole (specially designed holes in the body of the kayaks to drain water out where your gear is). So that's not good.

I drained all of the water out, and flipped it over. That's when I saw that a piece of pvc was separated by at least 1/4 of an inch, which is allowing the water in. In comparison to the front, there was no gap.

So, we stopped by Appomattox River Company in Yorktown where I purchased the boat, and they said it likely could be sealed. They suggested contacting Hurricane Aqua Sports (the boat manufacturer) and see what they had to say.

I called and talked to Summer and she said that she would send me some epoxy sealant right away, and to try that. If it didn't work, to call her back, and see what else could be done. So, right now, I'll give that a shot, and update here with my findings....

AMW

Helping People Move

Do you remember a post I did a few months back about physical labor? I should have added that moving falls into that category as well. Some folks are cut out for it, and some folks aren't. I will admit, that I have this odd nack for packing a car or trailer or truck full of stuff to maximize space. I must get that from my dad. He can pack a space like there's no tomorrow. And so that was my Thursday last week.

Now, I don't mind helping someone move. Especially when (like this person) they would help me out in a second (and she has). I just don't particularly care for all the lifting and carrying and such. If there was a job for moving that just involved getting things packed into vehicles, that'd be all for me....

And it was a WARM day. 98 at it's hottest (which felt like all day). But we got an awful lot accomplished, and managed to get the majority of it done. I left a little lighter (from all the sweat) and with a few more marks that weren't there before... But I sure slept good!

AMW

Rental Property

3 Words.....

Don't Do It!

At this time in my life, I have a house that I own, but don't live in. I rent it out. Could make me a slumlord, I suppose, but silly me, I take care of the place. The tenants don't. I've spent the last week or so just trying to get the house rentable again. Cleaning, painting, tearing out carpet. Spending money. Spending money. Spending money. Ugh. It seems like a never-ending process. New carpet, new storm door, etc.... Last time, I handled it all on my own. I don't think that's going to happen again. I've interviewed a Property Management Company, and will most likely go that route. It will cost yet more money, but the headache will be somewhat less. Hopefully. Cross your fingers.....

Physical Labor

Ok - Some people are cut out for physical labor, and some aren't. While I'm not opposed to it every now and then, I really don't enjoy a full weekend of it. Especially when it's for something that I didn't cause to begin with....

I have washed walls, painted, and ripped up and removed carpet/padding/and tack strips. I'm in no big hurry to do it again any time soon. I'm pretty sore, and still have to bowl this week. Hopefully, it won't impact my game too much. LOL! That's another post.....