First party

To celebrate his 48th birthday, Terry wanted to have a few people from work over for a bbq.

The weather prediction was for a beautiful day: 29C and sunny. The day certainly was quite warm and sunny - until about 45 minutes before people were due to arrive when the dark clouds started to roll in over Patricia Ave. As usual, if you want to find Terry's house just follow the black clouds. In the distance the sky was still bright. After some thunder and lightning the rain came down heavy for several minutes and then tapered off, only to start up again a short time later.

Before the rain had started, Terry & I had moved the patio and bar tables into the garage as well as the chair cushions and fabric chairs. By the time guests had arrived, the rain had stopped but it still looked overcast. After awhile the sky did seem to clear and we moved everything back outside. The rain held off for the rest of the evening.

JOB

I start a job in the Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Office at the University of Regina on June 1st!

Fortunately most of the boxes have been opened and unloaded. The only boxes not unloaded are files or computer related stuff which needs some weeding. At least we can move about our basement now without having to navigate through a maze of stacked boxes.

Terry actually had 3 days off (in a row!) over the long weekend and was able to get a fair bit done in organizing his workshop (formerly known as a garage). Still has some wiring to do in the house to improve the phone line and position phones where we want them.

Making headway

It's been a busy couple of weeks since the spa break in Moose Jaw. When we had returned from Moose Jaw, Canada Post had left notice that the 2 parcels I had mailed before I left Kingston had arrived in Regina - so 2 more boxes to be added to the collection for unpacking. Of course those had priority as I knew exactly what was in them - including my "Super Linda" hard hat given to me by my library co-workers to signify my work in library stacks. I had to model it for Terry!

The car (which was picked up in Kingston April 6th) was still enroute to Regina with ETA May 1st! It didn't take Terry's van that long last November!!!

Terry was back to work the following day which left me to return to unpacking boxes. A lot of time was spent checking the labels on the boxes and repositioning to common areas. Eventually sufficient space was unearthed at the entrance way into Liz's basement bedroom so that I positioned several shelving units there to temporarily house souvenir and other collectibles until a more permanent home could be set up. This at least cleared off the dining room table so that we could eat at that table.

Bought curtains for our bedroom as well as the necessary hardware for that room and the other bedrooms and dining room. Already had curtains for the guest room as they had never been installed in Liz's bedroom in Kingston. Terry installed the master bedroom rod and curtains but the others are still pending as it hasn't been a priority.

Continued emptying boxes in Liz's room and the rec room - creating a maze to get to the counter and cupboard area in the rec room. Once I was able to utilize the cupboards, boxes started flying! I quickly discovered that the labels were deceiving. Boxes labelled "puzzles" may have ONE puzzle box in it along with a numerous other items which belong here, there and somewhere in the house. A box labelled "CD" could mean software or DVD or maybe actual cds or a combination of various things.

At one point there was a good size floor area cleared. But it was eventually partially filled again with boxes as Terry climbed up to move boxes stacked to the ceiling to a manageable height for me. Another 'road block' I would encounter during the day would be stacks of boxes labelled "records" - too heavy for me to reposition and we didn't yet have the shelving in place we wanted to store the records on. So I would just move on to another area working around the stack of record boxes (or what I thought was records).

Got the main DVD cupboard into place but when I started to fill it with the movies, I realized there were many still not accounted for. The same with the boxed sets of movie sequels and tv series...seasons 5-8 of Magnum PI but no sign of seasons 1-4! Similar with Married with Children, Star Trek, etc. They should have been taken off the shelves together - why weren't they packed together???? Many of the 'missing' items have been discovered in the "CD" boxes. Terry opened another box last night but has left it for me to empty and organize. [NO I don't catalogue them and assign call numbers, but I do shelve the movies alphabetically and group the tv series together and in season order - otherwise its like trying to find a needle in a haystack.]

The unpacking came to a stand still for a couple of days this week when I got sick. NOT the Swine Flu, but no energy, joints hurt and whenever I got out of bed to try to do anything (even just to eat or check the computer) I started shivering. So I quickly crawled back into bed under the warm blankets. Terry wasn't doing much better - but did drag himself to work each day. He wasn't going to contaminate co-workers as he had brought the bug home with him and generously shared it with me. I think it was a coincidence that the day I came down with the flu was the day the ground was covered in that dreaded white stuff and more in the air (while more was in the air). This was the same day that temperatures in Ontario and Maritimes was in the mid to high 20's!!! :(

Finally felt more normal yesterday - which was good as it was the day my car was to arrive in Regina! It did and everything seems to be fine with it. The truck was still full with the various things I had managed to stash in it (baskets still to be unloaded). But we now have our upright vacuum, freezer baskets and ice packs which had not made it onto the moving van.

Terry had more energy too and made good headway in repositioning and/or emptying some of the heavier boxes. We bought a cubed shelving unit for the records and it was soon filled with only a small portion of our collection. Why is it the good records that get broken? [Elvis, Everly Brothers and Fats Domino so far]. I'll leave the unpacking of the record collection to Terry. But at least one more shelving unit will need to be purchased.

Still haven't come across the wire baskets to fit into the frame which houses a lot of my craft supplies. I guess I'll just have to position the frame somewhere and proceed on in the hopes that the baskets are buried in boxes - somewhere.

The filing cabinet has been positioned so that the drawers are accessible to return the contents to the drawers - when I unearth those boxes!

There had been a leak into the laundry/storage area. Terry had fixed the problem by tighting a faucet but hadn't had a chance to tear up the damaged carpet. The stackable washer/dryer had been pulled out to the front of the area when Terry was checking for the cause of the leak and there hadn't been any since in putting the unit back into place until the carpet was removed. Access to the storage areas on either side was hindered and we were needing to use the space to make room in the more public areas. Terry finally had time this morning and removed the carpet and came out the winner in the battle with the underpadding that had been glued to the cement floor! Access to mega storage finally available!!! Suitcases, coolers and other items nicely stored in an organized fashion.

We finally have a working telephone installed in the rec room area of the basement. After trying to fix the existing wiring, Terry finally ripped it out at that spot and installed one of the new jacks he had purchased. The 'pay phone' has now been installed. Lesson learned: don't bother wasting time trying to repair the other non-working jacks in the house - rip them out and install new.

Visit to Moose Jaw

To celebrate my arrival in Saskatchewan, Terry took me on a mini-vacation to the Temple Garden Mineral Springs Spa Resort in Moose Jaw. It was fantastic!!!! I'm sure our suite was larger than some of the houses we had looked at in Regina!

The hotel has a huge indoor pool of mineral spring water piped from elsewhere in Moose Jaw. For a non-swimmer, that was my kind of pool - people lounge rather than swim. The water level at one end of the pool was about knee height and very gradually deepened to neck height and there were various jets around the perimeter of the pool as well as mini walls and pillars at various spots throughout the pool. These structures had built in seating, as did the perimeter of the pool. At the deep end, the water was much warmer as there was a narrow passage way connecting the indoor pool to the outdoor pool. It was nice and sunny and the temperature was actually starting to get warm. A few people were actually stretched out sun bathing!

Our suite had a jacuzzi for 2 which filled with mineral water. The 2-night package also included breakfast each morning and full body massages for both of us. Boy did that feel good! My muscles were so tight that the hour was used up with just my feet, legs and back - no time for the neck or arms as Terry was able to get done.

Didn't see alot of Moose Jaw. The hotel is in the downtown area, but it seems that Moose Jaw is a town that still rolls up its street on Sundays. Many of the stores and restaurants were closed when we ventured out on Sunday looking for somewhere to eat lunch. The hotel was serving Sunday brunch and the casino across the street didn't have a restaurant - only pre-packaged sandwiches in the lounge. A couple of restaurants on the main street were also closed on Sunday. We ate at the first place we found open: a chinese buffet...the food wasn't that great, but the price wasn't bad - so I guess you get what you pay for.

With the difficulty we had trying to find a place for lunch, we decided to have Sunday dinner at the hotel's restaurant Harwood's. It was a fantastic meal - we shared appetizers (escargot and stuffed mushrooms) and both had a steak. For dinner Monday night we went to an Italian restaurant, Cordova Bistro, we had seen on the main street but was closed Sunday's. Our meals (Shrimp Alfredo and Peppercorn chicken) were great there too.

Earlier in the day on Monday when we were exploring the shops along Main St, we stopped at Deja Vu Cafe on a side street for a break. They offered dozens of flavours of milkshakes, but I had my traditional chocolate. Terry was more adventurous and ordered a raspberry one, but changed it to black raspberry when the waitress informed him she was out of raspberry. The shakes were great - thick but still able to suck it through a straw.

We went to the casino Sunday and Monday - no great wins but then we didn't gamble a lot either. On Sunday we turned $40 into just over $47 and Monday we turned $25 into 10 cents. The casino was extremelly small - one room and an alcove in addition to the lounge. A lot of different machines from what we have seen before but nothing that got too excited. The casino wasn't very busy and only aware of one person getting excited about a win.

On the 45 minute drive between Regina and Moose Jaw, we found that there were actually some hills! The highway was the usual flat but off at the sides were the occasional small hill! The landscape also looked strange - the usual open flatness broken by a small formation of trees - almost always surrounding a house. When returning to Regina on Tuesday, we were still miles away from Regina, but could see the 'skyscrapers' of the downtown area.

I certainly felt spoiled and pampered after 2 days at a spa. Back now back to reality and getting the house in order.

After we returned to Regina, we went shopping to get groceries and some stuff for the house. When we returned, there was notices in our mail box that my parcels had arrived and were now waiting at a nearby postal office for me to pick up. Great! Just what I need: more boxes!

Settling in

Spent Friday reorganizing some things and emptying some boxes while the satellite was installed. Now have tv again! Will take some getting use to with the 2 hours time difference between the show times I'm familiar with and when things air here. Just seems strange to watch 6 o'clock evening news at 4 in the afternoon. Dinner for Friday date night was Sushi and Terry's favourite restaurant in Regina.

Terry & I finally got to see the latest James Bond movie together. It had been released in the theatres last November just after I had visited Terry in Regina and it left the Kingston theatre just as Terry had arrived in Kingston for Christmas. Bought a copy of the dvd when it was released a few weeks ago and waited until I got to Regina so I could watch it with Terry.

Need to get some baskets, etc to organize things in closets and bathroom vanities. Until then things are in various piled or stashed willy nilly out of sight. Was spoiled with numerous drawers in the vanity in Kingston.

Terry spent much of Saturday emptying boxes in the garage and rearranging things. I worked in the house trying to sort out or rearrange some of the things that Terry had emptied from boxes. Cooked my first meal (well, actually it was a re-heat of the left over Chicken Normandy and fried potatoes Terry had cooked Thursday night).

On Saturday evening Terry dug out the mattress & box spring for the guest room and dragged it upstairs. We then switched Liz's chest with the chest that goes with the guestroom bed, as well as moving the matching dresser upstairs. Due to space limitations, the movers were told to put most of the furniture in the basement. A lot of the boxes ended up there as well rather than the specified bedroom. Oh well, it will give me something to do...but I first have to redistribute the stuff that did end up in the bedrooms.

I HAVE NOW OFFICIALLY MOVED WEST!

Arrived in Regina this morning. Left bright sunshine in Toronto (I left Kingston before sunrise) to land in the pouring rain in Regina. But at least the plane was able to get through the thick fog and land - unlike Terry's last flight to Regina when he was redirected to Calgary.

Will have LOTS to do getting the house into order. Terry may have emptied a fair number of the moving boxes, but left things on the tables and floors for me to decide where things should be housed.

My car was picked up yesterday morning to be transported to Regina. I was able to stash many of the household items which hadn't got included in the moving van for one reason or another. Remains to be seen whether the car or myself will arrive in Regina first.

Terry positioned the hot tub at the head of the driveway (only flat surface not still snow covered large enough to hold the hot tub) and filled it with water on Saturday. He wasn't able to connect the hose to a hot water laundry tap as he did in Kingston, so he had to use cold water from the lawn service exterior tap. Water temperature: 43F. But by Sunday evening it had got to a warming 70 something and by Monday evening 100F. Not bad: 2 days to go from frigid to probably useable. By this evening it should be at the temperature (104 or 105F) for this time as year because as soon as you take the lid off, the outside temperature quickly cools the water down to 100F or lower. When the snow finally disappears (July???) and we can see what flat level surfaces are available in the back yard (or whether we need to create something), Terry will empty, reposition and refill the hot tub to a more private area closer to the back door.

Terry continues to unpack boxes so that he can move around the house. Boxes on the main floor have been emptied and disposed of, so he's now able to start working on the boxes taken to the basement.

Last night Terry freed up access to the cd jukebox and got it running. Some of the cds had come loose, but no visible damage. The corner tv unit left behind by the previous owner has been relocated into the basement bedroom to house the old 27" crt tv. Terry has set up our larger corner tv unit in the family room to take our media stuff. Satellite has still not been hooked up, but as Terry will be working a fair bit between now and when I arrive April 16th, he forgo tv until I'm there to supervise the installation. This will give Terry as much time as possible to free up floor space so the technician can access the tv equipment.

Terry reports that more of the snow has melted and revealed several cement patio blocks. So we may be able to position them to as a base for the hot tub rather than having to get a cement pad poured. For this year, we will have the hot tub outside and make a decision by the fall whether to spend money on an enclosed gazebo or solarium addition or relocate the hot tub into the garage and delay the expense for another year. We had hoped to get another year out of our gazebo tent shelter, but Terry had previously reported that some of the poles got damaged and he had disposed of the spare poles he had previously obtained in Kingston due to space. Don't know what the mesquito situation is like in Regina, but I suspect we will need to get one for the mesquito season.

I'll be arriving in approximately 3 weeks. So much to still do in Ontario, but am looking forward to getting to Regina to be living with Terry full-time for the first time since last August. Once in Regina, I'll be busy finishing the unpacking and decorating the house.

Terry has the internet up & running with laptops and ethernet cables - couldn't seem to get the desktop to connect through - so he's leaving that for now - probably a project for me. But at least we can now video call once again. He had quick success with SaskTel customer service to get something reconnected and then thought he'd tackle getting email established. But the settings for his Sympatico account get overriding and if he deleted it, he'd have trouble accessing his old Sympatico which he hasn't got transferred elsewhere. So @sasktel emails are on hold until Terry has another day off.

Terry says he has most of the boxes emptied on the main floor. Of course a lot of boxes got stored downstairs to provide some space to walk upstairs. But he was a happy camper on Sunday when he opened the box containing his rum decanter and drinking glasses. The decanter was quickly filled with rum and a drink was poured & enjoyed! When we video called, he was sitting in one of the LazyBoy chairs watching his beloved Rockola 1422 jukebox and sipping his rum & coke. He said all that was missing was me in person. How sweet!!!!

Temperatures had been a bit warmer in Regina during the past few days and some of the snow has actually started to melt!!!! But it has a long way to go. Terry reports that the roof shingles are green.

Terry fixed the hum on the phone line - a loose wire!

Many boxes have been emptied, but one satellite receiver has not yet been located. Some of the kitchen has been assembled in an attempt to locate specific cooking utensils. Terry has been putting things away with the knowledge that I may need to rearrange when I get to Regina.

Terry had got most of the main computer set up but will wait until he has several hours free on Sunday to try to set up the internet connection. His sympatico email (rockola1422@sympatico.ca) ceased on Friday. I have set him up with a gmail account: Terry.Legere@gmail.com to use in the interim until we get the sasktel.net email accounts set up. I'm using jukeboxlinda@gmail.com. Liz has set up a hotmail (legere_e@hotmail.com) to replace her sympatico email.

My flight has been booked: 6am out of Kingston on Thursday April 16th. My last day at work will be Tuesday April 14th, so I'll have the 15th to get organized and packed. The transportation of my car has been arranged for Monday April 6th - hopefully it will arrange not long after I get to Regina.

Installation of StarChoice has been postponed pending Terry being able to locate all the receivers and tvs and get them hooked up so the tech would be able to test signals.

Installation of internet also delayed: Terry went to a SaskTel location to discover they were out of stock! Had an appointment, so wasn't able to track down other locations until later.

I gave Terry instructions of where to store the china, crystal and various kitchen related items. But of course he has to unearth those specific boxes! His knee is still bothering him from the lifting etc he did the other day. Will be interesting to see if Terry is able to get enough stuff organized that he can move in today. If he does he'll be without tv and internet!!!! I don't think I could survive!

SaskTel has activated the phone line! Phone number: (306) 543-6618.

Now Terry just needs to unearth our phones in whatever boxes they were put into. The replica payphone hadn't been boxed, so it was available for Terry to plug in and test the line. A lot of static. Don't know at this point whether it's the line or the phone. May need SaskTel to do a service call after all.

StarChoice was to install a new dish today, but called yesterday to reschedule as they had a seminar to attend today. Their suggested new date didn't jive with Terry's availability but the StarChoice guy thought they could do it tomorrow (Wednesday) when Terry had a day off. Hopefully Terry will have unearthed the receivers and tvs and got them hooked up so the technicians can test the connections to the dish.

The moving van arrived at the house early this morning. Terry reported that the van was PACKED to the roof. 4 hours later the van was empty but the house and garage were full! Terry had to get to work, so he didn't have a chance to start opening any boxes. Of the furniture, the only damage was a corner of our night table got dinged. Hopefully that was the only damage.

I had emailed Terry some floor plans for the bedrooms. The layout for our bedroom is a tight fit, so we may need to make some adjustments. Whether Terry will be able to make do until I arrive in Regina remains to be seen.

The refinishing of the hard floor continues - Terry reports that the floors that have been done look fantastic! The floors should be done by today (Sunday).

Terry talked to the driver of the moving van earlier in the week. He expected to arrive in Regina late Sunday and would unload the outdoor stuff. Terry is meeting him @ 7am Monday morning for access to the house. Terry figures he'll be able to relocate from his basement apartment to the house by Wednesday.

Terry spent Saturday replacing light bulbs in the house and garage.

Terry got the keys from the lawyer first thing this morning and got the heat going in the house. When he left 3 hours later, the temperature had gotten up to a rip roaring 69F. Hopefully by the time I get there next month I won't need to wear a coat inside!

Terry and his 'volunteers' unloaded the UHaul in less than 3 hours. The only visual damage to stuff was a broken dome on a jukebox and some glass tubes. Fortunately Terry has another dome in his collection and the tubes were spares. Crossing fingers that when he gets into the boxes of records everything is intact.

Possession of house

Tomorrow around 9am Regina time (Central Standard Time??? Gawd I don't even know what time zone I'll soon be living in) Terry is scheduled to get the keys from our real estate agent.

Weather permitting, Terry and some 'volunteers' will start unloading the UHall truck that's been in Regina for the past week. The contents were from our various sheds and will be housed in the garage.

The guy hired to redo the hardwood floors is to start sometime tomorrow and the floors should be done before the moving van arrives next Monday or Tuesday. Phone and satellite are scheduled to be installed on Tuesday.