I had spent the afternoon being both lazy and productive. Reading for an hour and a half was a little longer than I had anticipated, but the sun was out, and it was glorious. I know I use that word often, but it really was! I laughed out loud on several occasions. Thankfully, I was alone! My next task was to tackle the shed, again! The challenge really was on! Once again, I removed everything, barring, of course the items I had stacked on the newly erected shelves. The third shelving unit was made and I was ready to 'organise'. However, it was time to stop before I had time to start! As I started to put everything back, again, I started to run out of space. Of course, the idea was to have so much space, I would get lost! I put as much as I could on the shelves, and then just piled it all in. By the time I had finished, the last box was on the step and if anything had been left inside this time, it was tough! I locked the door and turned tail!
My shed floor slopes. It not only slopes down, but along! The third unit was tilting backwards and to the side. I was going to have to anchor it, but had already put quite a few things on the shelves, so to put something under the feet was going to be a challenge. I did not want to start unloading again. I was sure I could do this! Of course I couldn't! However, when it comes to 'botching', I am quite the expert! "Just stick that in here, and that in there, and voila!" It was perfect! My third shelving unit was anchored, and not going anywhere! The first prize for 'Who can balance the best, with both hands full, one leg outstretched, standing on a stepladder' also went to me! I am not sure how I managed it, as co-ordination is not normally my strong point, but after balancing a box on my forearms, my left leg shot out to catch another object that was hurtling towards the floor. However, I was now faced with another problem. Where did I go from here? I have no idea, nor recollection of any sort, of how the items were transported to a more secure location, but they were! Before Dana arrived home, the shed was a masterpiece, and everything had a home!
Dinner was a traditional 'MLK Day' event! It used to be that Monday's were spent at a local Italian, which branch closed down shortly after Samantha moved virtually opposite! I am sure the two events were not connected! The Monday night specials are still in existence, and we met the kids at the nearest location, which is in between our two homes. It was fun to experience 'old times'.
Our walk on Tuesday was interesting. On the second round, the tale tell sound of "What's that" came from Samantha. Once again, it had been raining, and once again, an arachnid had been swept from the rocks. It was heading in the direction of one of the condos, I stood in its way and it turned a quarter, and then I stood in its way again, so it would be facing the stones. It started to walk back. Samantha stood at a distance. I was a little surprised at my bravery! However, upon returning to the same spot, the sharp intake of breath, with a comment of "It's turned around, again", caused me to stop. Yes, it was once again making its way to the condo. Now, it was nowhere near my condo, but I was sure the owner would not be amused at having an eight legged visitor come for breakfast! Especially one of the tarantula variety! Of course, the name for the poor beast does nothing for its reputation. "Now, come on, Lucy", I started. "You named it? I can't believe you have named it!" screamed my daughter, backing up, further. After speaking to Lucy for a while, I realised she was not going to be co-operative, and I found a long twig to encourage her to take another path. Despite being at a distance, my daughter thought this was a good 'photo op' and was grateful for the 'zoom' aspect on her phone. Lucy took a while to respond to the twig. "Come on", I gently coaxed. "That's it, well done", I encouraged. She grabbed hold with all eight limbs, and allowed herself to be taken back to the rocks and foliage, where I believe she belonged! "There you go. That's better, isn't it", I softly gestured. "Now, don't come out again", I gently demanded. I thought she might live longer in the 'row' rather than out of it. Having done my good deed for the day, I now had to encourage my daughter to finish the walk, and stop shaking and cease from making squeaky sounds! I must admit I was a little surprised at my complete lack of terror!
There are, among others, two things that I feel I have conquered since I moved to this part of the world. The first, as mentioned above, is the ability to live with (some of) the wildlife that is not indigenous to my birthplace! The second is my ability to travel to a new destination without getting lost! My sense of direction was very good in England, but with the combination of driving on the wrong side of the road, highways with no ability to u-turn, and the panic that set in when I realised there was 'no way out', my confidence was somewhat shaken when I arrived. However, as long as I have a full tank of petrol, and preferably battery in my phone, I am now quite unperturbed at the challenge. I do not 'do' GPS, and so I rely on maps, or road signs. The reason for the explanation of the 'second', is that Joe has moved his 'shop', and I was in need of coffee!
I had everything prepared for dinner on Wednesday, and had gone for
an earlier than normal walk. My quick chat with Raul was very quick, and I was ready to leave home around seven thirty. I had memorized the map, and written down the instructions for good measure. I had this! Heading out, I checked my phone, checked I had a charger, and checked my tyres! (The latter was a visual check.) Mopac was not busy, and instead of turning off to another highway, I continued south. My exit was clearly marked. 'Slaughter Lane'. I had to go left on west. Guess what! West did not go to the left, it went to the right. East went to the left. I did not want East. I was a little confused. I am sorry to say that common sense did not prevail. Of course, just because the sign said 'East', did not mean that the first part of the road was 'East'. I should have known that it meant that it was heading towards 'East Slaughter Lane'. I went right, and headed down West Slaughter Lane. I got to the end. It was time to use the battery charged phone. "Hello", I said to Dana. "I am lost". I did not panic. I knew that if I kept on the road that I was heading down, I would arrive in downtown Austin, and that would be okay. (For the record, Burnet Road was a lifetime away!) The obvious question of "Where are you?" was next, and I had made sure that I had turned off after making a note of the previous intersection. The expected, "Wow, how did you get there. You are way off track" came next, and I shrugged my shoulders and did not react! "You need to take....", was next, and I turned out of the layby and headed in the direction I was told. Of course, I had been asked in which direction I was headed, and knowing that this too was going to be a question, and knowing that I 'aint got a clue' which way is up or down, right or left, or more to the point, North, South, East or West! I was ready for this too! I had made a note of which side of the road was which road. I was so pleased with myself. However, I was then, apparently, in the wrong lane. I was forced to turn left. "What do you see?" asked my husband. "A white Volvo", I said. "That is not helpful. I need to know where you are". I sighed. Literally, all I could see was a white Volvo. It was pouring with rain, the street was tree lined, and all I could see was what was directly in front of me. It was a white Volvo! I could hear laughter in the background. Eventually, the lights changed, and I turned off the main road. I could see a sign! "There is a break in the road. Turn around", came the instruction. I obeyed! Perhaps a twig would have been helpful! I headed along the road, over the intersection of a road that I had seen three times previously, and eventually found the road I was looking for. I overshot the entrance to the new warehouse, but managed to swing my car around and parked. I was sure I could find my way home!
Joe was pleased to see me. I was more than pleased to be there! I told him of my trip. I had been on the road for more than an hour, and was ready to go home! I was quite surprised at my lack of terror! I felt I had conquered another milestone! "I went past Davis Lane, and then it went downhill!" I knew Davis Lane well. It was en route the very first time I had got lost!
Heading back to work, I made a mental note of all the exits. I saw where I had made my mistake at Slaughter Lane, which was quite aptly named! That was where my map, my notes, and in part my confidence, had been slaughtered!
"Tell us about the white Volvo", was chanted as I arrived in the office!
The rest of the week went by without much incident. I did not drive myself anywhere, again. I did not see Lucy again. The raccoons were already 'in bed' when we walked on Thursday and Friday.
Shopping on Saturday went without hitch. Once home, I started to tackle the room formerly known as 'the abyss'. I had my bookshelf to put together, but before I did so, I would have to move some of the furniture around. I had transferred quite a lot of the contents into the other room, so I would have some space, but the large pieces of furniture would have to remain. I moved and shifted for a while and then realised that I could not get out! The space I was trying to create had me stuck within! I am quite good at that! I was stuck inside the room, and my phone was in the other room! I was never a particularly good gymnast. I could stand on my hands, and on my head, and even turn a cartwheel but as for the flips etc., it was not for me. Finally, Dana appeared. "Shall I leave you to it?" he said looking at the chaos. "No!" I could see more than a white Volvo, but was just as stuck! He moved the bookcase and I was freed! That was all it took! My green light! Thank you!
My evening was pleasant. We watched a cutesy film which had no bearing on fact and although was not meant to be fantasy really was! We both commented, thoughout, "That would not happen!"
I walked, made breakfast and had a nice relaxing morning. Drizzle prohibits sitting and reading by the pool today. Even I do not do drizzle! Instead, I shall finish the relocation of furniture and build a bookcase. It is from Ikea. It is flat pack with picture instructions. I foresee an afternoon of fun, games and swear words! Look out for what happened in ............. another story!
No comments:
Post a Comment