Sleepy Nostos

We just got back from what will likely be our big vacation of the year. We went to Seattle for 5 days (Sun-Thurs), and it was really lovely. Got in Sunday afternoon, left late Thursday afternoon. Tuesday was rainy pretty much all day, which was actually pretty nice. We had rain jackets, so we just wore those and were totally fine. Glad we went to Bainbridge Island on Monday when it was nice and sunny. I’ll write at a little greater length soon, but wanted to write something tonight at least. We didn’t get in until almost 1am on Friday morning, and didn’t get home until almost 2am, so we were pretty tired the next day. We picked up the kitties from boarding first thing Friday morning and it seems to have gone well. The cat boarding place we’ve used for years, which was in town as well, is closing, so we had to find a new place. This place is maybe 15-20min down the road, so not terribly far, but not nearly as close as the other place. However, I think this trial run went very well and we’ll be using them again. They said the kitties were great and sounds like they had a good time!

I was incredibly glad we took the whole week off, and as a bonus, we also get Memorial Day off, so we will have an extra 4 days after we got back to recharge. We’ve used two of those, and it’s OK. We did a couple of errands yesterday (mostly just getting the kitties), and did a bunch of errands today. I needed a drill bit at Lowe’s and also wanted to get replacement weed-eater line (“string trimmer line” as they call it). We also needed some groceries, since we basically depleted as much as we could before we left. I don’t plan on doing much tomorrow, or at least not leaving the house, if possible. I need to patch the hole in the bathroom wall we created while installing the towel rack; it is still not sorted out, and I want to fix it before my family gets here in about a week.

That’s right, my parents and sister are coming to visit. There is a family reunion in eastern Colorado we’re going to; distant cousins of my dad, as far as I know, so I don’t know them at all. Mostly it’s an excuse to get my sister out here to see the house and meet Lyra! So we are excited to have her. I’ll be working Tues-Thurs, then off again Friday, so I booked a shuttle from the airport for my sister, and will pick her up on my way home from work is the plan. My parents are supposed to be getting in Friday sometime; my mom is flying in and we may pick her up, and I think my dad is driving out from Oregon. But yeah, I am excited to see them, and we’re trying to think of things to do with my sister. I mostly want to hang out, show her the house, and show her around town, y’know?

After that, we aren’t doing much the rest of the year, as far as I know, which is fine by me. Maybe some day trips here and there, long weekends, &c., but not too much. I need to let my vacation hours “recharge” so I’ll just be laying low for awhile. I am always happy to do stuff around town, and the farmer’s market will be starting up soon too, which will be really nice. We are close enough that we can ride our bikes over, and can get there pretty easily on the rec trail, so I definitely want to do that.

Oh, almost forgot. We got plants today at the garden center and planted! My spouse really likes growing tomatoes, so they got some cherry heirloom tomatoes to grow, I grabbed hot cherry peppers, and we both picked out a sweet pepper. We have a rolling planter that we use for tomatoes, and then a terra cotta pot and a plastic pot, so we put the peppers in the latter two. Loaded everything up with soil, used some plant food, and all good. Not too long after we planted, we had a really loud and intense, but brief, thunderstorm earlier today. My spouse said it scared the hell out of Ajax, at least some of it (he is our literal “scaredy cat”), but I will say I could hear it through my headphones. Glad we got planting done earlier!

Aside from fixing the wall tomorrow, I also want to hang a frame, if possible. That was the reason for the drill bit. The frame holds a schematic of Cinderella Castle that we won at The Mouse Meet back in 2018, and we’ve never hung it up until now. It’s kinda heavy and unwieldy, and the hooks on the back are also a little confusingly placed. I’d like to drive screws into a stud if possible, but the studs and the hooks do not seem to match up. As a result, one screw is going into a hook, and another is likely going to have to go into a bracket of some sort. I have some 1/2" toggle bolts lying around; I had heard that they are good for hanging pictures, but haven’t used them until now (I was trying to use them for the towel rack I mentioned earlier, but they didn’t work out). However, since they’re 1/2", I need a 1/2" hole, and I didn’t have a 1/2" drill bit that would fit my impact driver or drill. Bought one at Lowe’s today and it is a Kobalt brand, which matches my impact driver, so I think it will work nicely. Sounds like I just need to drill the hole and then set up the toggle bolt from there; the instructions seem pretty clear otherwise. My spouse is going to help me with measuring (they ordered a yardstick that we will be using, since measuring tape has been a pain), and we should be able to hang it in the hallway nicely.

I bought two art pieces while in Seattle. One we got on Bainbridge Island and it’s a really pretty, almost 8 1/2" x 11" (sheet of paper? maybe a bit bigger) reflective piece with skeletal-looking trees. I loved it and had to buy it. I hung that yesterday, in the hallway right outside the bathroom, and it looks great!! When we were at Pike Place Market, too, there was a “farmer’s market” or “craft market” section as well, and I bought a small piece (we determined it was 5" x 5") that is moon-themed, and it is by a Native artist. She was really friendly and even gave me a cash discount! My spouse ordered me a frame for that one as well, since we weren’t able to find one locally, and I’ll hang it ASAP, likely somewhere in my office.

I’ve really enjoyed finally hanging up the art that we’ve purchased over the years; I never really felt comfortable hanging it in our apartment, but now I can use wood screws in studs and hang things very securely. Reminds me, there is a Haunted Mansion-themed piece my uncle made that I need to hang up somewhere! Maybe on the wall on the other side of my office closet, I dunno; there is a nice blank space there for it. We have a number of other pieces yet to be hung, and we’ll get to them soon I hope. I really think having art around brightens up a living space.

In any case, that’s about all I have for now. I hope y’all are well and resting up and taking care of yourselves. Thanks so much for reading! <3