I may be moving to Oregon soon. Mom, who lives in California, has finally decided that she's tired of living alone and wants to move to Oregon, where my older brother lives. I told her that I'd like to buy a house with her and live with her. She said that would be okay. So, if she doesn't change her mind, I'll probably be moving to Oregon. I'm allowed to take the dogs, and maybe a couple of the cats. This is a difficult thing for me. I don't believe in disposable pets, and I made a commitment to every pet I've ever had. So I have to decide if I'm willing to give up a couple of my cats. I honestly don't believe any of my pets would be treated as well anywhere else except here with me. That's what makes it so hard for me to find them another home.
I'm also worried that mom will go up to Oregon and find a house that I don't like and go ahead and buy it. You see, what will inevitably happen is that mom will pass (hopefully not any time soon) and the house will then be mine. I don't want to be stuck with a house I had no say in buying. So I'm putting my two cents in ahead of time. I've spoken with my brother about my concerns, to let him know I'd like a house that's about the size I have now (1,700 square feet), with a nice back yard big enough for the dogs to run around. And I've even seen a house online that I really like, and I've contacted the real estate agent selling the house. So hopefully, I'll have some say in the house I'm going to live in.
As for my house in Texas, I'll sell it if I can. If not, I'm prepared to walk away from it and let the bank foreclose. My credit is already in the toilet. I'd also consider selling it for the mortgage pay off amount to any Realtor who is interested in buying it, fixing it up, and reselling it.
I won't miss Texas, except that there is no state income tax. Oh, and the ruby throat hummingbirds that spend the summers here. Oregon is cooler than Texas, for sure, and the Texas heat is incredibly uncomfortable, to say the least. And I think Oregon gets the Rufous hummingbirds in the summer, as well as Anna's hummingbirds year round.
By the way, Mom has not made the announcement that she's moving to Oregon, so this information is close hold, until mom says something. Keep it a secret for now! Thanks.
Of course, I'll keep the two of you who read this blog posted on my progress! (More will read if I put the word "pussy" in the title or labels. Perverts.)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
RIP Nunu, and more
I watched Lost for six years. I grew fond of the actors, as most of us do when we love a show. In this day and age some actors are on Twitter or Facebook, or they have a blog. This makes us feel even closer to our favorites. I know that Jorge Garcia and I aren't friends. I'm not that dumb. But I've been reading his blog since he started it, and I listen to his podcasts during this last season of Lost, so I am as close to him as he allows his fans to be. I've also grown to adore his little dog Nunu. She's been featured on his blog, and she can be heard barking in the background of his podcasts. She even showed up in an episode of Lost this season. That's why it broke my heart to hear that Nunu had been struck by a car and killed on her last day in Hawaii. Having had pets that passed away, I know what Jorge and his girlfriend, Beth, are going through. I wouldn't wish the feeling on my worst enemy. Rest In Pease little Nunu. You were loved more than you'll ever know.
I haven't been feeling very good lately. Not physically, but overall. It's hot in central Texas - hotter than it should be this time of year. And my A/C isn't working. I suspect that has a lot to do with it. I've been sweating more this past week than I did all winter. I think I already said that I'm thinking about moving to a colder climate
I'm also thinking of canceling my television service. But having grown up with TV in my life, I don't know if I can live without it. Well, of course I can live without it, but I don't know if I want to. It's not like I have a lot going on in my life that could replace watching television. I'd have to come up with something. A hobby, or friends, or something. I could read. I do that now, but not enough. I have several books on my bookshelf that I haven't read yet, so those would get me started. I might even be bored enough without TV that I'd clean my house. Regularly. But I'd have to get the A/C fixed, first. Excessive sweating would keep me from moving around too much.
I can still remember the TV line up when I was a kid living in California. Channel 2 was independent. Channel 4 was NBC, 5 was CBS, 7 and 11 were ABC, with 11 having some independent programs, as well. Channel 9 was PBS. That's all the channels we had back then - in the olden days - before cable. I think all those channels are still the same, actually. But they've been joined by several others, of course. Back then when someone said, "There's nothing on," they really meant it!
You don't really have to miss "television" if you cancel your service. I think just about anything is available on the Internet. I wouldn't want to sit at my desk watching TV shows, though, so I'd have to figure something else out. Some way to beam the computer display to a television set. (Do we still say "television set"?) And today, when I called to cancel my TiVo, they told me about something they offer that's an alternative to cable or satellite. I don't think it has an official name, but it has to do with buying a box you can use to order programs. Not an upgrade. I can't afford their upgrade. This is something else. I'm going to check it out on their website and see what it says.
Okay, that's all for now. Time to go shower and go grocery shopping. I decided to wait until after dark so the temperature would go down a few degrees.
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| Nunu. This photo "borrowed" from Jorge's blog. (Link above.) |
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| A screen shot from Lost, featuring Nunu. |
I haven't been feeling very good lately. Not physically, but overall. It's hot in central Texas - hotter than it should be this time of year. And my A/C isn't working. I suspect that has a lot to do with it. I've been sweating more this past week than I did all winter. I think I already said that I'm thinking about moving to a colder climate
I'm also thinking of canceling my television service. But having grown up with TV in my life, I don't know if I can live without it. Well, of course I can live without it, but I don't know if I want to. It's not like I have a lot going on in my life that could replace watching television. I'd have to come up with something. A hobby, or friends, or something. I could read. I do that now, but not enough. I have several books on my bookshelf that I haven't read yet, so those would get me started. I might even be bored enough without TV that I'd clean my house. Regularly. But I'd have to get the A/C fixed, first. Excessive sweating would keep me from moving around too much.
I can still remember the TV line up when I was a kid living in California. Channel 2 was independent. Channel 4 was NBC, 5 was CBS, 7 and 11 were ABC, with 11 having some independent programs, as well. Channel 9 was PBS. That's all the channels we had back then - in the olden days - before cable. I think all those channels are still the same, actually. But they've been joined by several others, of course. Back then when someone said, "There's nothing on," they really meant it!
You don't really have to miss "television" if you cancel your service. I think just about anything is available on the Internet. I wouldn't want to sit at my desk watching TV shows, though, so I'd have to figure something else out. Some way to beam the computer display to a television set. (Do we still say "television set"?) And today, when I called to cancel my TiVo, they told me about something they offer that's an alternative to cable or satellite. I don't think it has an official name, but it has to do with buying a box you can use to order programs. Not an upgrade. I can't afford their upgrade. This is something else. I'm going to check it out on their website and see what it says.
Okay, that's all for now. Time to go shower and go grocery shopping. I decided to wait until after dark so the temperature would go down a few degrees.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Avatar (The Movie)
I forgot to mention that I have finally watched Avatar. It was extremely predictable. Except for the great graphics, it was only a so-so movie. I think the pre-release hype is what has been responsible for the movie's popularity and high ratings. I honestly believe that, if you take away the special effects, this movie wouldn't have made near as much money as it has.
When it first came out I joked that it was basically the story of Pocahontas set in the future in a science-fiction world. I still feel that way (except that the Na'vi are the winners, whereas the indigenous "Americans" were the losers).
I gave the movie three out of five stars on Netflix, which is the lowest "liked it" rating. (Two stars is "didn't like it" and one star is "hated it.") It was worth the time to watch, but if you don't see it, you really aren't missing much, in my humble opinion.
When it first came out I joked that it was basically the story of Pocahontas set in the future in a science-fiction world. I still feel that way (except that the Na'vi are the winners, whereas the indigenous "Americans" were the losers).
I gave the movie three out of five stars on Netflix, which is the lowest "liked it" rating. (Two stars is "didn't like it" and one star is "hated it.") It was worth the time to watch, but if you don't see it, you really aren't missing much, in my humble opinion.
Lost Series Finale and More!
First, let's get this out of the way. I'm having a muscle twitch inside my right ear. Normally little twitches like that are tolerable, but this one is in my ear, and so it makes noise, and so it's driving me slowly insane. It's been happening on and off for three days. Does anyone have any suggestions for getting rid of it?
Okay, now, on to the Lost Series Finale. First I was disappointed. Then I realized that that was because I apparently hadn't paid enough attention to what one of the characters said in one of the final scenes. (It may have been the final scene. I forget.) After I watched the episode I went to the newsgroup alt.tv.lost, as usual, to read what others were saying about the finale. Thank goodness someone there was more observant and smarter than I! Now I'm not disappointed. Not as much, anyway. I had my idea of what I wanted to see in the final scene, but that didn't happen, and I'm okay with that. I still believe that Lost was the best show ever, and I plan to re-watch the entire series now that I apparently have all the answers I'm going to get.
Central Texas is having warmer-than-usual spring temperatures, and I'm trying my damnedest to keep the air conditioner off. That has been made easier by the fact that it's not working. But I have a small window A/C that I was using once the outside temps hit the 90's. It cools the bedroom to a tolerable temperature. It doesn't clear the humidity as much as the main A/C, though, and that's not good. I've decided that, as long as I'm unemployed, and therefore don't need to leave the house much (i.e. shower), I'm not going to call the repair man until I'm close to dying.
Interesting thing about the A/C: I was doing all right without it for awhile. Then it got hot outside and I turned it on. I'd been using it for a few days when I turned it off, with fear looming of my next electricity bill. I spent yesterday without the A/C running, but with outside temps still in the low 90's, and I was okay. I actually felt a bit more comfortable than I had with the A/C running. So I have even more incentive for keeping the A/C turned off.
My house is infested with fleas and they're driving me nuts, too (in addition to the inner ear twitch. If I should stop blogging it will be because I've been committed). I am doing all I can to keep them under control. (I'll never completely eliminate them what with having three dogs and several cats, and living in central Texas.) Yesterday I washed several throw rugs and vacuumed the bigger rug in my bedroom. I'm washing sheets and blankets more often than usual. I'm treating the dogs and cats with flea killers. I'm using sprays that are designed to kill fleas and eggs on the furniture. Still, I'm tempted to move someplace where it's cold - really cold - during the winter. Someplace where the outdoor fleas actually die due to the low temps.
That's all for now from the cave. Not much going on in the life of a Hermit-in-Training.
Okay, now, on to the Lost Series Finale. First I was disappointed. Then I realized that that was because I apparently hadn't paid enough attention to what one of the characters said in one of the final scenes. (It may have been the final scene. I forget.) After I watched the episode I went to the newsgroup alt.tv.lost, as usual, to read what others were saying about the finale. Thank goodness someone there was more observant and smarter than I! Now I'm not disappointed. Not as much, anyway. I had my idea of what I wanted to see in the final scene, but that didn't happen, and I'm okay with that. I still believe that Lost was the best show ever, and I plan to re-watch the entire series now that I apparently have all the answers I'm going to get.
Central Texas is having warmer-than-usual spring temperatures, and I'm trying my damnedest to keep the air conditioner off. That has been made easier by the fact that it's not working. But I have a small window A/C that I was using once the outside temps hit the 90's. It cools the bedroom to a tolerable temperature. It doesn't clear the humidity as much as the main A/C, though, and that's not good. I've decided that, as long as I'm unemployed, and therefore don't need to leave the house much (i.e. shower), I'm not going to call the repair man until I'm close to dying.
Interesting thing about the A/C: I was doing all right without it for awhile. Then it got hot outside and I turned it on. I'd been using it for a few days when I turned it off, with fear looming of my next electricity bill. I spent yesterday without the A/C running, but with outside temps still in the low 90's, and I was okay. I actually felt a bit more comfortable than I had with the A/C running. So I have even more incentive for keeping the A/C turned off.
My house is infested with fleas and they're driving me nuts, too (in addition to the inner ear twitch. If I should stop blogging it will be because I've been committed). I am doing all I can to keep them under control. (I'll never completely eliminate them what with having three dogs and several cats, and living in central Texas.) Yesterday I washed several throw rugs and vacuumed the bigger rug in my bedroom. I'm washing sheets and blankets more often than usual. I'm treating the dogs and cats with flea killers. I'm using sprays that are designed to kill fleas and eggs on the furniture. Still, I'm tempted to move someplace where it's cold - really cold - during the winter. Someplace where the outdoor fleas actually die due to the low temps.
That's all for now from the cave. Not much going on in the life of a Hermit-in-Training.
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