Downsizing

Well, Eve and I have made some pretty big decisions in the last couple of weeks....We're moving - AGAIN. We decided that my PhD. endeavor will be pretty costly, and we have to consider that at any given time, only one of us will be able to cover the living expenses of our home. So...we made a decision to move to a townhome where the costs per month equal less than the total income of only one of us.

Right now, I am not earning any money. The first 16 weeks of my work at MCC will be an unpaid volunteer position. We're living only on Eve's salary and that's tough. She earns just enough to pay all of the bills and there's no margin for error. By moving, we reduce our expenses enough to give us opportunity to put money away and feel secure that rainy days will not end up causing a flood from which we cannot recover.

Melvin will be moving to the new place with us..Not optimal, but we committed to helping our friend get past his current station and reach for more in his life. It'll be okay...for the short time we have allotted him. His magic move out date is September 10, 2011. That's the day I have to leave for Santa Barbara to start my program, so the date may be moved backwards or forwards a week or so. I don't want Eve to feel the pressure of my absence and the discomfort of Melvin's dilemma.

I played mechanic this past week. Eve and I did our rat killing the week before and my car's expansion tank (part of the radiator system) cracked spewing fluid everywhere. I ordered the part to fix the problem and once it came in, I installed it in about 35 minutes. Then, I decided to take a look at what was going on with my driver's side window. It seemed to be off track. Well, I get the door panel off and realize that the window regulator slider is broken and that's an easy 2.39$ fix. I order the piece (with a BMW...seems everything has to be ordered). I went back out into the garage to close the driver's side door until the part came in...In a weird, and freakish, occurrence, the window shattered. It was crazy....Anyway, I ended up having to buy a window pane (60$) and Eve and I installed it ourselves. It's actually, pretty easy. Got the window in, needed another slider so had to order that...got it installed, and wouldn't ya know...that's not the problem after all...apparently, the window regulator itself is not feeling well. So...100$ later, we realize I will still have to take my car to have the window fixed. Oh pooh...

We're having a huge garage sale...that's a lot of work. We were going to have it this past weekend, but two birthday parties, and a migraine kept me from making it happen. We're going to have it this coming weekend, and the following weekend until we're able to get rid of most of what we don't need in the apartment. I think the hardest thing to get rid of will be my piano. Don't know what I will do if I am unable to get rid of it....it's too big for the new place, and we have nowhere to store it. Hmmm...that may be problematic and I may end up having to donate it...I would hate to do that...It's an 1874 H.G. Wagner made of rosewood. It's worth about 56,000$....it needs strings replaced (maybe even the whole soundboard) and some minor aesthetic, cosmetic repairs, but the ivories are all in perfect shape and all the original components are still in place. I hate that I won't have room for it anymore.

If anyone knows of someone who would love to have this...don't hesitate to let me know.