Kijiji

Posted on December 6, 2016 by kdarcy21

Gotta love Kijiji, for both buying and selling. Lately, I’ve purchased a new desk, well, used, but new to me. It is an IKEA desk that they no longer make. I’m not sure why they stopped making it, but they did. $60. No haggling on my part since new they were at least three times that.  It replaced a huge monster sized L shaped desk with a credenza that I had. It was bulky, could not be moved by one person and didn’t fit well in most spaces. Gone, goodbye. It served me well for three years. My office is set up with the new desk, plenty of room.

I’ve sold a lot of stuff in the last month. Washer and dryer, pub height kitchen table, two dressers, two bookshelves, small computer desk and chair, not even sure if there was anything else. Oh yes, today, well, shortly anyway, a pair of skates. Make about $700 or so, I’d guess. I didn’t sell some stuff and didn’t get asking price for anything. I was more interested in getting rid of it than getting 100% of asking. I paid small amounts for some of the ads, to keep them listed high, seemed to work. Thanks, Kijiji.

Next, I do need a filing cabinet. I’m sure I’ll find one.

Freezing cold today. I’m sure our trip to the dog park will be shorter than normal. The house appears to be well insulated, that’s good. At least it’s been sunny.

More later, if I don’t get frostbite.

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Back to work…

Posted on December 5, 2016 by kdarcy21

Back to work today after being off for nearly a week. I was busy while off of course, packing, organizing, moving, unpacking and organizing. It was a typical Monday at work, busy from the moment I started until the moment I left. That makes for a quick day.

My place is completely setup. I’m very impressed with myself. Typically, I would not be so efficient. In. Y last place, I wasn’t unpacked after a year. I think I knew I wouldn’t be there long. I’m really liking this place. I know I’ve said I will show some pictures, I will, honest.

We have started a cold snap in Alberta this week. Today, the high was around -15C. It is supposed to be colder tomorrow… The dogs don’t seem to mind, not sure about me. I’ll take it over hot and humid though.

Had a doctor appointment this morning. He’s sending me for a bunch of tests and an ultrasound as well. So, I guess I get a little time off of work. Both Blondie and Hera were good while I was out today, I’m sure Hera’s terrible puppyhood is behind her.

Well, it’s later than I’ve been up recently. A 2.5 hour nap after dinner did it, hopefully I won’t be up all night… 

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Almost there

Posted on December 4, 2016 by kdarcy21

The house is all but setup.  There are a couple of boxes that I have not organized yet, making my way through them, most of the stuff will likely be deposed of.  I am surprised at how organized I am this time around.

In my last place, I didn’t ever put up pictures and art for the walls, I don’t think I ever truly felt that it was home.  I needed a new place because of odd circumstances and it worked for me, for a time.  Really though, what was I thinking renting a place with 6 levels and a backyard the size of a postage stamp when I have two large dogs.  I guess I should have kept looking – one would think that after moving so often, I’d be better at it.

Well, this time, I think I’ve hit the jackpot.  The house is great (pictures to follow, as soon as the sun comes up) and the backyard is huge – the dogs love being out there.  I need to get some “Beware of Dog” signs for the front and back gates.  I’d hate some kid to try to cut through (for some reason, kids are weird) and have Hera take them down.  I don’t know if she would, or if Blondie would.  Blondie tends to be more proactively protective of my truck when I am away from it, in a store for instance.  Anyone who comes near gets a menacing bark from her.  She is not aware that the typical impression of Labs is that they are sweet, gentle dogs who lead the blind.  Not Blondie.  She protects what is hers, or mine, I guess.  Loyalty right there, for sure.

I am heading out shortly to pick up a microwave.  I don’t need anything fancy, at all.  I use a microwave to reheat left overs and that’s about it.  I might get a kettle too, I don’t have one.  I found a great stainless steel garbage can for the kitchen yesterday as well as a cast aluminium fry pan – both from Home Sense.  Not going overboard, just things I need.

My EcoBoxes get picked up later today.  They are all empty.  I would definitely recommend them if you are planning on moving, WAY better than cardboard.  They stack, won’t collapse and you can load them right up.  Check them out, http://ecobox.caa

Back to work tomorrow.  The office is completely setup, thanks to CH for his assistance on Friday.  The office is a bit more functional now than I have been in the last year.  I have two chairs in the office so that the dogs can spend some time in here comfortably while I am working.  I don’t have floor dogs…  Come on now, they are Princesses.  It has been a nice break from work.  Although I was busy, the mental break was nice.  I am looking forward to getting back to it tomorrow.

So, I promise I will post pics of the place later today.  Look for it and enjoy your Sunday.

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Almost settled

Posted on December 3, 2016 by kdarcy21

The unpacking went very well.  I am, surprisingly, not being lazy at all.  I have a couple of boxes to organize where I want to put stuff but everything is done essentially.

It appears that my EARLY morning wake-ups are back.  I was able to sleep pretty well all summer long and now, the last few weeks I’ve been waking up at around 3am and not going back to sleep after that.  Oh well, this shall pass, I am sure.

Today, I need groceries.  My fridge and freezer are essentially bare.  I also need to purchase a microwave.  I have had a built-in one for ages so I haven’t owned a microwave.  At least they are pretty cheap – a visit to Walmart is in order perhaps.

My office is very functional.  I have two chairs in here so the dogs can hang out if they want while I am working.  I don’t have floor dogs, they are too Princess like for that.  🙂

I am also planning on exploring Bowness a bit today, likely by foot with Blondie and Hera.  I will wait until the sun comes up though.

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Unpacking…

Posted on December 2, 2016 by kdarcy21

Unpacking.  I guess it has to be done, after you pack it all and move across town.  This move was pretty snooth.  I picked up the truck at 10am yesterday.  What a truck it was as well.  I decided to spend the extra $10 and get the largest truck they had.  Glad I did since by the end of the loading phase, it was full.  I hired two movers to do the moving and they did a great job.  They arrived just before 11am and worked pretty well non-stop for a little over 3 hours.  I tipped them $20 each, I don’t know if that’s good or bad, what do you tip a mover?  They cost me $150 USD and that worked out to a little over $230, I think it was.  I have to say, it was some of the best money I’ve ever spent.  I am sure that the guys who I normally would have asked to help are glad I did as well.

So, the unpacking is progressing.  The kitchen is done.  I had my first meal at 9:30pm last night, chicken fingers and fries, it was all I had on hand, well that and pasta.  I am about half way done on unpacking clothes.  Man, do I have a LOT of clothes…  The living room will be next.  I need to put the sectional back together, BUT, I need space to do it.  I have not decided where the TV will go as yet.  There is an electric fireplace and I could put it on top of that, there is also a free corner – decisions, decisions…  Pictures to follow – once things are setup…

Well, I won’t get done if I don’t get off of social media.  Until next time…

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Moving Day

Posted on December 1, 2016 by kdarcy21

Moving day is finally here.  It will be very nice being in my own space, not attached to anyone.  The backyard is going to be great for the dogs.  They will have a large area to play in and being fenced in, they can’t run off, although they don’t do that anyway, it is nice that they won’t see a squirrel and go chasing.

I am packed and organized.  I just need to disassemble my bed frame and I am set to go, with hours to spare as well.  I pick up the U-Haul at 10am.

Blondie and Hera are at Treetops Pet Resort, just outside of Cochrane.  They apparently like it there since when they saw the lady that looks after them, they went nuts – Hera rarely whines, she was whining away.  I will pick them up this afternoon and will bring them to their new house.  Hopefully, they’ll be as excited as I am.

Mother Nature tried to make things a little more difficult by dumping a half inch of snow last night, but it will be clear and cool today.  Enjoy the day.

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Packing, packing, packing…

Posted on November 30, 2016 by kdarcy21

Today is packing day.  I am making very good progress, of course, I have no choice, I am moving tomorrow.

I am looking forward to getting into the new place.  I drop the dogs off at Treetops Pet Resort this afternoon and then I will be able to basically finish everything else.  I need to take the sectional couch apart, a quick job.  I need to disassemble the bed frame tomorrow morning and put the mattress into the mattress bag.  Just about everything else is already done and a lot of stuff is already in the garage.

I think I am more organized this time around.  I pick up the U-Haul tomorrow at 10, my movers arrive at 11.  I should be loaded by 12 or so and it won’t take too long to unload.

Unpacking and setup needs to be done by Saturday since the EcoBoxes go back.  That’s good, it will force me to do it.

Well, my break is over.  Back to it.  🙂

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Ready to move…

Posted on November 25, 2016 by kdarcy21

I have to work today and Monday and then a few hours on Tuesday before being off until December 5 to handle my move.

I am using EcoBox for this move.  They drop off their reusable plastic moving boxes on Sunday morning.  I guess for the next few days, I will have to park outside since I plan on using the garage as the staging area for stuff to be loaded into the moving truck on the 1st.

Blondie and Hera are going to the pet resort overnight on the 30th.  They won’t be in the way and they won’t have the stress of having movers in the house and all of the stuff going.  I think it will be better for all involved.  I will pick them up on the afternoon of the 1st and bring them to their new home.

Telus will come on the 2nd to connect TV and Internet so I guess I will have a TV-less evening on day one in the new place.  That will be good though, I can use the time to unpack and organize.

I explored the new neighbourhood a bit the other day, it seems to have everything that someone would want.  I think this will be a good move.

Anyway, the weekend is almost here, enjoy it.

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End of my tour, back to normal…

Posted on November 19, 2016 by kdarcy21

Thursday marked the end of my Tour of Saskatchewan.  I started the morning in Saskatoon, early, around 3am, left the hotel at 6am for Prince George.  It was an easy 150km trek.  Luckily, the roads were dry and it was clear.  It was also dark so the odds of having a deer dart across the road were higher, or at least higher that I would not be able to see it well.

Anyway, made it to Prince Albert incident free.  That’s when the problems started.  Nothing major, just no Wi-Fi access in the building.  Great.  That was a 2.5 hour delay.  The work I needed to do took about 30 minutes in total.  I was on the road again at 11am.

This is where I guess I lucked out that Saskatchewan is an hour ahead of Alberta this time of year, they don’t change the clocks – don’t get me going on that.  I had an 8 hour drive ahead of me, not counting any stops and I needed to be able to pick up Blondie and Hera by 6:30pm at the latest.

The various highways between Prince Albert and Calgary are ALL one lane each way.  I am not sure if transport trucks are governed at 100khph but that is how fast they were all going.  I tried to lock my cruise in at 120 and made passes where it was safe to do so.  The drive back wasn’t too bad and I was able to get the dogs around 6:15pm, not much time to spare.

They were happy to see me, I was happy to see them.  I had to make two stops on the way home, gas and dog food.  They were fed and slept the rest of the night and were still pretty tried yesterday, as was I.  I was back to work, well, back to my home office anyway on Friday morning.

The week zoomed by, although yesterday was Friday, it felt more like a Monday or Tuesday to me.  Next week is a full week and then a 2 day work-week to accommodate my move.  Everything is set – U-Haul truck rental, moving help, Blondie and Hera booked for the day at the Pet Resort.  Utilities are arranged, TV and internet being installed on the Friday morning.  I don’t think I’ve forgotten to change my address anywhere – I hope.

So, it is the weekend.  My dogs are patiently waiting to go to the dog park, so, their wish is my command.  Enjoy your weekend.

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The continued Tour of Saskatchewan

Posted on November 17, 2016 by kdarcy21

Today is day four on my Tour of Saskatchewan.  I am still in Saskatoon and heading to Prince Albert this morning for what I hope will be a quick stop.  I need to verify internet connectivity, setup a local printer and activate an iPhone.  I am hoping to be in and out in under and hour.

If that works out, I should hopefully be on the toad and heading home around 9:30am.  Well, the first stop in Alberta will be to get my dogs from boarding.  I am sure they will be happy to see me as I will be to see them.  The past few days have been a change of routine for us, dogs don’t typically care for change, neither do I, really.

It has been a productive trip.  When all is said and done, three offices will be up and running, albeit temporarily until they move into new accommodations.  I don’t know if a return trip will be in order or not.  If it is, the weather may not be as cooperative as it has been for this trip – winter will soon settle on the prairie and it can’t be a nasty beast.  I will take it one day at a time anyway.  If I do return, I will suggest a flight as opposed to 7+ hours of driving.

At least heading home later today I will gain an hour.  If I am able to leave by 9:30, I should get back to Calgary before dark – should…  Guess I will have to see.

Well, Saskatchewan, thanks for the hospitality.  If nothing else, I have learned how to spell Saskatchewan.  See ya…

 

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