10-188 (7/7/23) -- Transitions

Packing continues <sigh>  I got the key to the new place today, so I took some small fragile item boxes to their next home. I placed notes for movers noting large furniture placement. It will take time to find the right homes for some of it, but there will be time to live in the space and work it out from there.

The list of what needs to be done is still too large for comfort, but some of the stuff can happen after the movers arrive. I have three days to clear final items and clean up before the lease ends. Today I removed the post cards and magnets from the fridge. These covered one side and parts of two other exposed sides. Without this covering, the fridge has no personality. <sigh> So, the place is starting to look foreign -- not like home. I've had tears a few times when confronted with the lack of 'me' in the space. Tomorrow I begin packing the wall art. I know this will be difficult to do and to see.  The new place has a large open concept kitchen, dining and living areas, so there are fewer walls to display the art that defines places as my space. The bedroom, bathrooms, hallway and front room (at front of house and will be combo guest room and office) have walls. I may need to learn how to combine things into collages for the walls in the open space. Again, time living there will help me see what fits where.

A chorus line or two came to mind. They spoke to me about the place as is was before I began the deconstruction project that is packing. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Personality -- Lloyd Price

 

 

100-187 (6/7/23) -- War Wounds

In all the pamphlets and websites with tips for packing and moving, none note the potential -- nay absolute -- for increased injury. Boxes bite and scratch. I try to remember to wear disposable gloves to minimize torn nails and cut fingers. Focus is not fully engaged during the whole moving adventure, so forgetting simple things is inevitable. Each day I discover a new bruise or scrape. I recall how the big ones occurred, but the countless small ones just happened without the brain registering that an injury is or has transpired. 

I swear some of the wounds look like I've been abused when all are somewhat self-inflicted. Now that could be seen as negative, too. The good thing is, the dark and scary bruises quickly fade and change to a lighter colour. I need to be more self aware during these moments, but it just doesn't happen as often as it should. 

 So -- what have I learned. Being Zen about the moving process is very difficult. I have not been in the moment as clearly as I would like to be. Taking time to check in with myself and to breathe for a few moments doesn't happen enough. Simple breathing from Tai Chi and Chi Gong help, I just don't get to those moments as often as I should. The most practical tip I have based on the days so far is -- DO NOT pack the first aid kit until the last possible moment <smile>. 

A folk duo came to mind today. <smile> This song highlights their amazing vocals and harmonies. Enjoy!  

Emmylou -- First Aid Kit 

10-186 (5/7/23) -- Does it fit?

I woke at 730AM with a phone call from Canada Post to tell me that I can pick up my key for the community mail box and to highlight that their hours were 9-5. Not sure why she was calling that early then <smile>. Back to sleep and woke again with a call from an unknown number -- some crazy phishing thing, no doubt.  

A number of items that were looking for a home that fit well found their way into boxes. A couple of odd sized items still need to find such a home. I expect they will have to go into a larger box filled with sheets and towels. I also packed the majority of the bathroom today. I left out 'last minute' things that I will need to use between now and the move. They will be in a 'last minute' box, so will also be easy to find and use at the other end. 

Finding the right fit for an item reminds me of shopping for shoes, which I detest. My foot needs a narrow heel and a decent arch support. These are not easy to find. Packing makes me lose my sense of calm and spatial reasoning at times. Pondering all of this reminded me of a song title <smile>. Keep safe. Enjoy!

Sensible Shoes -- David Lee Roth

10-185 (4/7/23) -- Calmness Calls

The seven day countdown is in play now. I'm working all over the place trying to tie up loose ends in some areas and start in earnest in other rooms. I completed more in the kitchen and several combo boxes of two or three rooms. I try to console myself that another box packed is progress, even if it is unclear what the plan for the day really is. <sigh> 

I took an hour in the late afternoon to attend the rededication of the cemetery out the back yard. There was a very good turnout. A local history professor and curator of the town history museum, provided us with stories about the lives of people buried there -- with and without stones. Some stones may not have survived, since the last burials occurred in 1877. Other graves likely were marked with simple wooden crosses, which would not have survived over time.  

I felt very tired at the end of the day again. I went to a friend's place for a short visit and felt better. She thought I might need to get out of the house for a bit. She was correct. Being somewhere without piles of boxes helped me to relax. Cool, that. 

At Your Side -- The Corrs 

10-184 (3/7/23) -- Alone Together?

Wow! I need to get out of the kitchen <smile>. I've been packing here for what seems like eternity. I plan to pack elsewhere tomorrow to see if that helps a bit. So many things are needed in the kitchen, that I may not pack much of the remaining items until the weekend. 

I made a grand outing today to fetch more packing tape and got the last package of two from the store. Others must be moving around now, too. I feel for them, though I'm not sure that being one of a number of people going through this particular challenge helps me feel any less stressed. Perhaps if the others were not unknown, it would allow us to commiserate and share tips and ideas of how to develop a grand plan. That might help. Supportive messages with each other would help, too. 

These thoughts brought back the talk of being alone together around the great isolation. It reminded me of a song that still makes me smile with its phrasing and the group joining through a virtual platform. My pondering has made me feel that my current packing predicament feels much like the isolation of recent years. The lyrics remind me of the need for patience and a sense of humour. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Gotta be Patient -- Michael Buble, The Barenaked Ladies & Sofia Reyes

10-183 (2/7/23) -- Spaciality

While packing boxes and stacking them for later removal, I was struck by the challenge to spacial reasoning held by these tasks. I thought of it like a game of Tetris, for which I once held the hugh score record at an arcade for a hot minute back in the '90s. Fitting things into boxes, especially now that many boxes are being filled with miscellaneous category goods, and piling boxes in rooms so one can still walk around a bit are the two challenges that occupy my days. Who knew the physics courses I was required to take as an undergraduate student would come in handy? <smile> One might think that wrapping and packing was semi-mindless, particularly when I find myself zoning out. In my experience, these challenges lead to mental fatigue, while the lifting and moving of boxes creates more physical fatigue. 

I share with you today an irritating little melody -- the theme song for Tetris. I never played on a gaming console but only on my computer screen or at the arcade the evening I made the high score. I found it relaxing to run through a few games before heading off to bed, though I always played with the sound off <grin>. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Tetris Theme Song (GameBoy) 

10-182 (1/7/23) -- Smokey Events

Today was Canada Day. I spent it doing laundry and packing in several areas of the house. I got to the front closet where I boxed up all the scarves, hats, mitts and cloth bags. Even after culling the collections, it apears that too many still exist. <sigh>. The last of the kitchen mugs weint into a box. I did keep a couple out so I can have some variety with my tea for the next ten days. 

 During one of my breaks, I watched the Canada Day celebrations from Ottawa. The speeches and musical performers were interesting. As the daytime events were comingn to a close, a tornado watch began. With the severe weather risk, high smoke index and fire risk, the rest of the festivities were cancelled. Here, we did have fireworks. I walked down to watch what could be seen. There were a great many people at the field and it was very noisy. With the high humidity, the smoke just hung in the air after the explosions. It was less than pleasant.   

I heard a unique band today from the televised celebrations. I share a song from this world music band -- a mashup of a number of rhythms with a fusion of Bhangra, Celtic, reggae, hip hop and other genres. Keep safe. Enjoy!

My People -- Delhi 2 Dublin