10/25/2020

 

Occasional Update 10/25/2020

I couldn’t do a Sunday evening update because I don’t have internet service yet. This is a little late, but I’ll get it posted as soon as I can. I won’t have much about AP (Aventon Park West),but will concentrate on the move. I will say this: my new theme song is I Think I’m Gonna Like it Here!

The week didn’t start too well. When I got in my car to go meet Barbara for coffee, it would not start. I had the AAA come out, and the technician told me that the battery was not dead, but low. He charged it and told me to let the car run for about 30 minutes and I should be fine. Sure. Because I had things that needed to be done before the move, and I really needed to be able to move on Friday, I just wanted to make sure. So I drove to the Goodyear and asked my buddies there to check on it. Amazingly, they told me I did indeed need a new battery. I had checked my records and found that I was still on the original one from when I bought the car almost four years ago. I took their word for it and they set me up. I was grateful for the piece of mind of knowing that the car would start when I needed it.

Tuesday and Wednesday was a day of packing and more packing. And trying to stay calm and focused. I was reminded once again how much I will not miss the damn cats that seem to love my unit more than any of the others.

Thursday, Kay was kind enough to run errands with me. She took the afternoon off and we got some things done. After all my running around, we ate at Crystal Beer Parlor. They were having Octoberfest! I got pork schnitzel, red cabbage and German potato salad. It was wonderful.

And then it was Friday. I tried to not get too anxious, and that was tough. It was a hot day, and muggy, and tried to move as many boxes as I could. Mostly, however, I let the movers do all the heavy stuff. They came about 11:30 and I were gone by 3:30. And I was left with a new apartment loaded with boxes. And there was a lot that is still at SB – all my clothes except for a few jeans and t-shirts, and undies, lots of pillows, some holiday stuff and the pictures on my walls.

Just a few photos:

boxes at SB. ready to go

the moving truck packing up

one bedroom at AP

kitchen - a lot of work

my first sunset from my porch

enjoying a cup of wine

10/18/2020

 

Occasional Update 10/18/2020

Well, it’s been a while. I haven’t done much, and haven’t had much to report. I’ve made an effort to get out a little more.

A few weeks ago, the bridge over the Wilmington River between Thunderbolt and Whitemarsh Island was renamed for my good friend, Jimmy Petrea. That’s quite an honor, and it took an act of the State Legislature to change the name. Long before I knew Jimmy, and June, his wife, he was the mayor of the City of Thunderbolt. Jimmy has been confined to a full care nursing facility for more than a year, but they did let him out long enough to attend the ceremony.

I early voted on Monday this week. It was the first day that voting was allowed, and I went in the morning. As I have often written in the past, retirees have their own calendars, which have no 3-day weekends. I completely forgot that Monday was a holiday, and voters who had a day off work may have wanted to vote when it was convenient. (I noticed, however, when I drove past on Tuesday and Thursday, lines were sill down the block and around the corner). The polling place was at the library, and I stood in line for more than 3 hours to cast my ballot.

Tuesday, I was excited to watch the undefeated Bills play the Titans who had not practiced in ten days because players had tested positive. How hard can this be? I got my comeuppance, that’s for sure! It was actually painful to watch.

Saturday, to take a break from packing to move, I decided to drive to a State Park. I looked online and Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation was hosting a classic car show. That did it! I drove to Darien to see some great old autos, but got there just as it ended and most cars had already left. Nonetheless, it was a pleasant drive, and I enjoyed getting out.