November 01, 2003

The art of putting everything off

Time for another episode of My Life: So When Do I Get a Parade? Yes, it's what you really look for here at Spleenville Central: evidence that I am really a total phuqup instead of the web goddess you love and fear. Well, to begin:

I finally got my hands on the key to my patio utility room. This means that I can finally get my washer-dryer out of storage, along with all the other heavy things I left there, such as my bed, futon frame, and kitchen table. (Hey, no way was I going to pay for two Uhaul trips. I already moved everything that could be transported by car, including the millions of books I own, and the mostly eighties vinyl album collection no one wants to take off my hands. Yeah, used record stores only want rare records and master recordings these days. But that is for another rant.)

Let me explain about the key: it turned out that the lock on the storage door was broken, so they had to fix it before I could put anything in there. Not that I was really afraid that I would get robbed of my washer-dryer set, but I am from Miami and I don't take chances. Yes I lock my car doors -- Orlando hasn't been a small town for quite some time. Anyway, they replaced the lock on the door -- and then didn't leave the new key in the office for days and days.

On the other hand, I am not too pleased right now with management; they promised me that someone would be here yesterday to fix the annoying dripping tub faucet that drives me insane, as well as remove the showerhead so I could install the handheld shower I bought. Their showerhead is some ancient plastic thing with several years of Orlando water grot caked on it, and I want it gone. I knew something was up when I came home and my cat was not cowering in some far corner because a Strange! Human! had been in the house. And of course, the tub was untouched. Hey, they pay for water, so I guess they don't care if a 400+ apartment block of leaky faucets runs up their bill. Fortunately for me they are open today so I plan to call and harangue them.

In plant news, the Australian fern confirmed that it was a creature of the shadows, so I brought it indoors and trimmed off the scorched leaves. Once it was no longer subject to the blasting rays of the Florida sun it immediately perked up. It already looks crowded in its little pot, so I am going to buy a larger pot some time this weekend.

Books, books, everywhere books. All over my bedroom, mostly, which is still sans bed (I have been rolling the futon out onto the living room floor and sleeping there). I finally went and bought a three-shelf cube bookcase thing from Vilemart, and hauled it indoors. Now I must put it together, yay. And I know that it is only large enough for a portion of my books, but it's a beginning. I also have my eye on the Mission Style desk -- the one I am using now is too small, really.

Incidentally, in searching for the perfect (cheap) bookcase I found myself in the Belz Fashion Outlet. I had no time to really go through the place -- it spans a few blocks and has outlet stores for every manufacturer you can think of; and I really don't need Donna Karan knockdowns from last season, or a Burberry trenchcoat right now. But I did get sucked into a lingerie store, where I found what might be the world's most comfortable bra, so the day was not wasted.

Posted by Andrea Harris at November 1, 2003 10:39 AM
Comments

I have often thought that if a way could be found to sit and eat and sleep on the books without damaging them, this would be the ideal solution. Then there would be no need for that pesky "furniture" that takes up space that otherwise could be filled with books.

Posted by: Angie Schultz at November 1, 2003 at 12:03 PM

Soft covers, Angie. They should be made with soft, upholstered covers.

Posted by: Mrs. du Toit at November 1, 2003 at 01:21 PM

Are you going to leave us hanging? What's the world's most comfortable bra? I'm always on the look-out for comfortable bras.

Posted by: Polly at November 1, 2003 at 11:24 PM

(Enter stage left. Astonished voice) "You're not a web goddess?"
(Plaintive) "Oh, say it ain't so."
(Exit stage right, head drooping in despair.)

Posted by: Michael Lonie at November 2, 2003 at 08:35 PM

Ugh. Need caveman fix drip.
Ugh. No caveman.
Drip fixed.
Declare victory.
Why people no vote for us?

Frame that ya' bastads.

Thus a single comment to address so many who get so little in so few ways while remaining so bitter about it.

Good news on the fern though.

Posted by: Brian at November 3, 2003 at 04:24 AM

For about 10 bucks more, Target has a similar Mission style desk, except Target's has a proper keyboard shelf. (Always looking out for you ergonomically.)

Posted by: Moira Breen at November 3, 2003 at 07:08 PM

Silly me. That one you linked does have a keyboard tray. Never mind.

Posted by: Moira Breen at November 3, 2003 at 07:09 PM

Oops! And I was just about to post the reply. And actually, I do own the small Mission style desk that Target sells. It's fine, except no real room to mouse. (The less I use the mouse the better, though. I just wish it had come in "cherry" stain; I am thinking pale wood for the living room, cherry for the bedroom. Ah, it's nice to dream.

What I really would like to do is get a better chair. I have a standard secretarial, that I took the arms off of because with them it didn't fit under the keyboard shelf of my other desk, but the chair is falling to bits. I want the Aeron chair. Like I said, it's nice to dream.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 3, 2003 at 07:15 PM