2023 Life Logs, Day 182: For the Love of Turtles
Date: Saturday, July 1, 2023
Weather: Sunny; High 76, Low 63 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

Progress today was slow but sure, just like the turtles I love so much. When I lived in New Hampshire, I met a naturalist named David Carroll. David was a swamp walker, and he knew every turtle in that swamp. Through him, I learned to love turtles. And today, I think I turned into one. At least, I certainly moved at their pace.

When I got up this morning, I really didn’t think I was going to be able to do anything today. I have aggravated those herniated disks in my back to the point that I could hardly walk. My back is fine, but it is the pain shooting down into my hips and legs that is the problem. I used a CBD cream that Karen Baranowski gave me yesterday. I waited an hour and was still no better. So, I broke down and took a couple of Ibuprofen. That worked like magic. After a bit I was able to move, slowly, but I could move. I got a few more things put away and then turned to the task of unloading the car that I had packed late yesterday at the cottage. I got a lot of things taken down to the basement and now the car is packed with empty boxes to go the cottage to fill up tomorrow or Monday.

I am going to continue to move like turtle. That means that this move is going to take even longer. But I do have the essentials in place and can start living a normal life style again. I made my first smoothie in three weeks this morning and actually fixed dinner in my kitchen. The basil in my garden is growing like gang busters, so I fixed a big basil, tomato, and fresh mozzarella salad to go with roasted chicken. I feel almost human again!

2023 Life Logs, Day 181: A Mix of Moving Chores and Camp Oma
Date: Friday, June 30, 2023
Weather: Sunny; High 77, Low 56 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

Today was a mix of moving chores and having fun with Ollie and Jonah. I start each day now putting a few things away and at 10 am I went to Heather’s to pick up Jonah and Ollie. We had planned to drive to Marion to bail out the dinghy since we have had so much rain this week. But the traffic on the Cape today was just crazy. The Fourth of July weekend is a big one for Falmouth, so we decided not to travel across the bridge today. It could take us hours to get home. Instead, we decided to wash cars and then go to the beach in the late afternoon. Washing and cleaning the inside of just my car and new ID.4 took longer than we thought, so we didn’t get the Goldstone’s Honda Civic done. Maybe on Monday. The beach was delightful. The water felt cold at first, but once you were in, it was great. Heather met us at the beach after work, so I left the boys with her and made another trip to the Cottage to load some items from the basement. I didn’t have the energy to unload, so that will happen tomorrow.

2023 Life Logs, Day 180: More Trips to the Cottage and Yard Work at Lakeview
Date: Thursday, June 29, 2023
Weather: Partly Sunny; High 76, Low 61 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

Today was a mix of unpacking and putting things away, making more trips to the cottage to pack up more things, and taking time with Ollie and Jonah here at the house on Lakeview doing yard work. They have spent most of their week at home playing soccer on the Xbox, so I really wanted to get them out of the house today. I offered to take them to the beach or to do yardwork. They opted for both. First, yardwork and then a late afternoon trip to the beach where Heather could meet us after work. Ollie brought his little battery-operated John Deere tractor over with its attached wagon, and he had a great time using that to haul the weeds he was pulling to the dumping area. Jonah opted to use the weed eater to trim the yard. His only comment was that this is BIG yard with a lot of trimming because there are so many different garden areas. And he is correct. Lynda cuts the grass, but there is a huge amount of trimming. He then rode his skateboard home and cut the grass in the backyard there. By the time Ollie and I went to pick him up to go to the beach, Heather was home. So, they went to the beach, and I went back to the cottage to bring another load of boxes.

I have joked this week that I am doing this move with one leg and half a back. And that is not much of an exaggeration. Carrying so many boxes has really aggravated my herniated disks to the point that walking is really painful. I tried to get in to see my chiropractor today, but he had no openings. So I just have to keep going until next week. My right knee, the one that needs to be replaced, is also suffering from carrying boxes. I don’t put much in each box, but still they are too heavy. Walking is difficult, sitting is difficult, and standing hurts. So I am going to bed and hope that works! But I should add, that even though the moving process is so painful in many different ways, I am loving the new house and yard. I had a wonderful five years in the cottage, but I think I am going to like it here just as much, maybe even more. I love being in town and being only a minute away from Heather and family. I can already see how much time I am going to gain by not having to drive in and out of town multiple times on most days.

2023 Life Logs, Day 179: More Progress Before Detta Headed Home
Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Weather: Another Overnight Storm, Partly Cloudy with Some Rain; High 75, Low 64 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

We had another rain storm during the night, but we only got about half the amount of rain. Then it was a fast-paced day. Detta and I started the day at the cottage getting most everything out of the refrigerator and packing a few more kitchen items. Detta needed to start her drive back to New Hampshire by 1 pm at the latest and we wanted to make a trip to Woods Hole before she left. Today is her son-in-law’s birthday and she wanted to get him couple of Woods Hole Oceanographic t-shirts. So we brought the things we could to the new house and put those things in the freezer and refrigerator that were crucial. We left the rest in a cooler and made the trip to Woods Hole. We found just what she wanted at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Discovery Center gift shop and had a little birthday lunch celebration for Detta at the Quicks Hole Taqueria. Detta’s birthday was in the beginning of June, so it was a bit belated, but fun. We both a lobster taco and then were on our way. Detta dropped me off before 1 pm. I am so thankful to have such a wonderful friend and I really, really appreciated the help.

I got the refrigerator things put away and then got ready for a 3:30 pm Public Policy meeting. This was a planning meeting for next year and it went even better than the best that we thought we could hope for. I think everyone left the meeting excited about the upcoming year.

Once home, I played ball with Shadow, put a few more books on the shelf, had dinner, and crashed. I talked to my sister and had a wonderfully long conversation with my friend Lynne Kirwin. She hopes to come visit during the third week of July. Looking forward to it.

2023 Life Logs, Day 178: Detta Comes to the Rescue
Date: Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Weather: Storm Overnight, Rainy; High 77, Low 67 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

During the night, we had quite a storm with lots of rain, thunder, and lightning. But by 9:45 am when my friend Detta arrived, the rain was off and on and not a downpour. I thought we were going to Debbie Lane to move the food in the refrigerator and freezer, but Detta insisted on doing more. In addition, I had a medical appointment mid-day, and I was also on Camp Oma duty. So, there were lots of things to fit into the day. The Goldpebbles were going to be on their own today, but I had told Heather I would make sure they ate lunch. They do fine on their own, but they forget to eat! So, after my appointment, I offered to drop the boys off at Shipwrecked so they could have lunch while Detta and I did another run back to Debbie Lane. They decided they wanted to help us move the boxes from the cottage, so they did Le Bon Jour take out. It worked out great. Having more people to pack and load boxes was so helpful and we made a lot of progress.

Heather had a School Committee meeting this evening, so I had the boys over for take-out. They chose Indian. I picked Jonah and Ollie up and Sam was going to stop as he biked home from an after work hours summer meeting. It was after 7:30 pm when Detta and I picked up the take-out. When we drove in the drive-way, Sam was just arriving and Heather was just getting out of her car. Her meeting was an amazingly short one, so she joined us for dinner as well. It was the first dinner in my new abode and we all enjoyed the wonderful space in the dining room. Dining at the cottage was always a crowded affair, but here it is fabulous. I wish I had taken a photo to share. Next time.

2023 Life Logs, Day 177: Official Happy Birthday to Jonah
Date: Monday, June 26, 2023
Weather: Partly Sunny; High 77, Low 67 degrees F
Location: At Home in Falmouth, MA

Fourteen years ago today, Jonah Biggs Goldstone came into this world. He has had four days of birthday celebrations for his 14th birthday, so tomorrow he will come back to earth and begin his summer vacation. Camp Oma began today, but it is a very different Camp Oma as in the past. Sam was at work and Jonah and Ollie don’t need full-time adult care. I went over to check in with them at noon and they decided that they really didn’t want to do anything today—just stay home and play soccer in the backyard and on the Xbox. And that is what kids should be able to do in the summer. I had to be at my new house during the afternoon, so Heather said she could work at home after 1 pm. As per Jonah’s request, I did take the boys to Subway for lunch and then to the Dairy Queen. I then went back home to see if Onavo had arrived to install a new deck. He was busy at work when I arrived, and Lynda was also there in the studio apartment of oversee the work. The work was completed, and the deck looks great. I then had to leave again as I had a 5:30 date with my dining-in group. We met for pizza at Olivia and Terry Whites. It was great to see friends and have a bit of a break from unpacking. Tomorrow morning Detta arrives and we will work on getting the kitchen and pantry set up. Onward moving.

2023 Life Logs, Day 176: The Move Continues
Date: Sunday, June 25, 2023
Weather: Partly Sunny; High 75, Low 64 degrees F
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

I got up at 23 Debbie Lane this morning and am going to bed at 225 Lakeview tonight. There is so much more to do, but I am just going to do a little each day. I am loving the new house. It is full of boxes right now, but hopefully by the end of the week, most things will be put away and I can start living a normal life again. I can’t remember the last time I took my vitamins, rode my exercise bike, cooked a healthy meal, or took Shadow for a nice long walk. We walk a quarter mile twice a day, but that has been it for the past two weeks.

Heather helped me move all of my clothes out of the closets in the cottage today and hung up in the new house. And she got my internet connected. Then she went to the beach to pick up Jonah and Ollie who had gone with the Keefe’s and I drove to Sandwich to have Happy Hour with my good friend Detta Porat and her life-long best friend. Detta and Diane have been friends since they were two years old. Diane is in an Air BnB for the week and Detta joined her for the first three days. On Tuesday morning, Detta will come to help me get the kitchen and pantry moved and put away.

I left Sandwich and headed back to Falmouth to attend the birthday dinner for Jonah. And then it was home to sleep in the house on Lakeview for the first time.

2023 Life Logs, Day 175: The Incredibles
Date: Saturday, June 24, 2023
Weather: Rainy, Then Cloudy; High 75, Low 64 degrees F
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

What a difference a day makes. Twenty-four hours ago, I was ready to give up. Tonight, I am in a much better frame of mind due to the phenomenal effort made today by Heather, Sam, Jonah, Ollie, and Mike and John from Rich Moving and Storage. They were all incredible. Since I had failed to fully ready for the move, I still have a lot of odds and ends that need to be packed and transported. I have a few pieces of furniture that I need to give away and more stuff for the Swap Shop. I will continue to work on that a little each day, but I am now excited about unpacking and getting properly moved into the new house. I am staying the cottage tonight, but I should be ready to sleep in the new house tomorrow night.

The move did get delayed this morning until almost noon due to the rain. I spent that time delivering another carload of things to Lakeview and then coming home and getting the drawers out of the big tool chest. When I talked to the mover early this morning, he reminded me that I said I would have that done before they arrived. I had no idea how to get the drawers out, but YouTube came to the rescue. Heather and gang got here before the movers, and they moved all of the tool chest drawers into my car and then packed as much of the other bulky, hard to pack things as they could into their car. They also helped me pack more boxes of photo albums that were on top shelves that I had not been able to reach. By the time the rain stopped and truck arrived, all I could do was stand and watch as furniture and boxes were carried out to the truck. Everyone worked fast and efficiently, so it took only two hours to pack. And all I had to do was direct and watch the Incredibles at work. Jed even stopped by for a bit before he had to leave for Boston. He was on his way to Denmark for a science conference. He will get back just in time for the 4th of July.

I am still having a hard time believing how much was done today. It could never have happened so quickly without the help of Heather and the boys. By the end of the day, the mover wanted to hire them. So, I sit here in an almost empty room in the cottage giving thanks for the miracle that happened today. I am so grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2023 Life Logs, Day 174: Too Hard
Date: Friday, June 23, 2023
Weather: Partly Cloudy; High 72, Low 64 degrees F
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

I have known since February that I would be moving by July 1 and somehow, I have managed to not be ready. It is just too hard. And now the weather is not cooperating. The mover called today and said he would either arrive at 8:15 in the morning or, if it is pouring rain, he will call to set a time later in the morning. Right now, it looks like the rain might start to slack off a bit just before noon. Since I am not ready, a delay of a couple of hours might not be a bad thing.

I took a dinner break and went over to have pizza for Jonah’s birthday. Heather and gang got home from their trip to New York in the early afternoon and then Jonah’s friends arrived for his birthday party and overnight stay. Jonah asked the boys to bring their bikes, so they biked, played soccer, played on the trampoline, rode bikes some more, and by the time I got there, they ready for pizza. I did not count how many pizzas Heather and Jed made, but it was quite a few. Evidently fourteen-year-old boys eat a lot of pizza! I also got to see more photos from the New York trip. I didn’t really get to talk to Jonah, but Sam and Ollie raved about the trip. They loved downtown Corning more than the visit to the Corning Glass Factory, but still it was interesting to them. Niagara Falls was a definite hit, and the photos are fantastic. And they raved about the hotel they stayed in near Tanglewood. And, of course, they loved ‘Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me.’ I didn’t stay for the ice cream birthday cake as I had to get back to work. But I was able to solicit some help. Jed and Sam came over tonight and got the IKEA bed apart. Heather had done some of it last Sunday night when they were here for dinner, and she showed me how to finish the job. But I just couldn’t do it. It is now apart and ready to move. Sam and Jed also helped get the larger plastic bins off the basement shelf which will make moving them faster for the movers tomorrow. But there is so much in the basement that is just not packed and ready to go. But rain or no rain, and ready or not, the mover says the move happens tomorrow or not for two more weeks. He can’t move the things that aren’t packed, so I will just have to continue to move a little more each day next week. Eventually, I will get moved, but right now it seems totally overwhelming and impossible. Wish me luck. I certainly need it.

Date: Friday, June 23, 2023
Weather: Partly Cloudy; High 72, Low 64 degrees F
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

I have known since February that I would be moving by July 1 and somehow, I have managed to not be ready. It is just too hard. And now the weather is not cooperating. The mover called today and said he would either arrive at 8:15 in the morning or, if it is pouring rain, he will call to set a time later in the morning. Right now, it looks like the rain might start to slack off a bit just before noon. Since I am not ready, a delay of a couple of hours might not be a bad thing.

I took a dinner break and went over to have pizza for Jonah’s birthday. Heather and gang got home from their trip to New York in the early afternoon and then Jonah’s friends arrived for his birthday party and overnight stay. Jonah asked the boys to bring their bikes, so they biked, played soccer, played on the trampoline, rode bikes some more, and by the time I got there, they ready for pizza. I did not count how many pizzas Heather and Jed made, but it was quite a few. Evidently fourteen-year-old boys eat a lot of pizza! I also got to see more photos from the New York trip. I didn’t really get to talk to Jonah, but Sam and Ollie raved about the trip. They loved downtown Corning more than the visit to the Corning Glass Factory, but still it was interesting to them. Niagara Falls was a definite hit, and the photos are fantastic. And they raved about the hotel they stayed in near Tanglewood. And, of course, they loved ‘Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me.’ I didn’t stay for the ice cream birthday cake as I had to get back to work. But I was able to solicit some help. Jed and Sam came over tonight and got the IKEA bed apart. Heather had done some of it last Sunday night when they were here for dinner, and she showed me how to finish the job. But I just couldn’t do it. It is now apart and ready to move. Sam and Jed also helped get the larger plastic bins off the basement shelf which will make moving them faster for the movers tomorrow. But there is so much in the basement that is just not packed and ready to go. But rain or no rain, and ready or not, the mover says the move happens tomorrow or not for two more weeks. He can’t move the things that aren’t packed, so I will just have to continue to move a little more each day next week. Eventually, I will get moved, but right now it seems totally overwhelming and impossible. Wish me luck. I certainly need it.

2023 Life Logs, Day 173: Another Day of Moving and a Summer Celebration
Date: Thursday, June 22, 2023
Weather: Mostly Sunny, Rain Beginning in the PM: High 66, Low 60 degrees F
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

Somehow, I still managed to avoid the basement today, but I did make progress in moving bits and pieces. I also made a trip to the Swap Shop at the local dump to get rid of an entire carload of stuff from here and from Heather and Jed’s. There were at least 20 cars at the Swap Shop when I arrived, and most everything I dropped off was taken before I drove away. It makes me feel good that things I thought I needed to just throw away are valuable to someone else. I’m glad I took the time to take things there.

From the Swap Shop, I took things to the house on Lakeview. While there, I looked around the living room and realized that what I have in my tiny living room is going to need to be supplemented in the much larger space. I thought two chairs might do it, so I stopped by Home Goods on my way home to check the price of a couple of patio chairs. I was shocked that two chairs with a little table would cost $500, $300 for the set on sale. No way I was going to spend that amount of money, so I stopped by Restore on the way home. I found four padded, very comfortable chairs with a table for $65. I left to think about it, but only got to the exit before I decided to turn around and go back to buy the set. I said I wanted the chairs, but not the table, and that was fine with them. But transporting the chairs meant I needed to go unload the car and come back to pick them up. I could only transport two chairs at a time, so all of this took more time than I expected.

Then it was time for me to be at the summer Wear White celebration hosted by wine club members Eileen and Billy Sullivan. This was at the local vineyard, so I had to drive home to get dressed in white and then return to the vineyard. Again, this took longer than expected as I sat in bumper to bumper traffic the last half mile to my house. I basically had to sit still for 40 minutes. I have no idea what the problem was, but it was probably a wreck. Whatever, I was late for the party. But when I finally got there and had a great time with my fabulous wine club buddies.

Tomorrow my day starts with a meeting, but hopefully in the afternoon, I will get to deliver more things to the new house. Whatever I get done tomorrow will have to be enough because the mover arrives on Saturday morning. The weather is not cooperating as the misting and drizzling rain that began this afternoon looks like it will continue into the weekend. I guess I just need to be thankful that pouring rain is not forecast.

I finally found the photos that Heather sent from Niagara Falls. The photos reminded me of just how powerful the falls are– the world’s greatest waterfall by volume.