Dead Computer Mice

I wrote this a few weeks ago, and didn't think anyone was reading my blog. A couple of friends have asked for updates so here it is. The next update will tell of some major organizing that is happening. Finally we have progress! Still - what to do with dead computer mice?

We use a laptop that has so many problems that it has become a desktop. The screen is dead so it's hooked up to a monitor. The track pad has problems so we use a mouse. We have too many pictures on it so I'm looking at external hard drives. It has other issues as well, but it is all we have to use at the moment.

When the mouse died yesterday I was really frustrated. Last evening I went to Walmart and bought a mouse; it was tough choosing one from their many options, but I settled on a wireless mouse. Unfortunately, it doesn't work! I spent about an hour I trying to fix the problem, and finally gave up. The website for the mouse has no options for using tab and enter to get to where you want to go. No mouse? No mouse directions! Ha! It's going to get returned.

Since it was too late to go shopping for another mouse I set out to look for one in the house. The most logical place was in a box of cords and small electronic devices. I found mice alright! I tried every single one of them, except for the one with the serial port since this computer isn't that old. Every mouse was broken. I now have a dead mouse graveyard.

Please tell me if you know where I can recycle the dead mice. My trash goes out on Saturday this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Heating Update

A couple of days after I had gotten all the radiators uncovered, I went to turn on the heat. A couple of radiators made the effort to come on, but most stayed cold. I thought it might have something to do with the thermostat, but none of my fiddling with it helped.

I didn't have a chance to talk to the property owner before the weekend arrived, and we toughed it out for the weekend. Luckily on Monday the property owner had a plumbing guy there to fix the upstairs heat which was also broken. About half an hour after the plumber left our apartment was toasty warm. We are all happy.

On the unpacking scene - I am getting castoffs ready to bring to a friend for a sale to benefit homeless animals. That same friend and I have a "date" at Ikea in early November to get the bookcase that another friend has offered to help build. I will give my friend the items when I see her! I think she will be leaving with 5-6 boxes from me!

Time to Turn on the Heat!

So what does a pack rat do when the heating season begins? Seriously? This is a tough one because most pack rats have stuff near heating sources. I have always had to clear things away, and this year is no different. My job today is to clear things away from the radiators, and then I can turn on the heat. I started in one bedroom and already moved a violin and am going back in to move a cart full of assorted media including video tapes, DVDs, and the like. Wish me luck; I'll let you know how it goes.

• 3:40 PM - Kitchen done! Jett-Paw (her Warriors name changed at sixmonths old) tried to help!
• 4:12 PM - Dining room done! Kitties are napping.
• 4:33 PM - After a snack of crackers and cream cheese, I discovered that I will need a second person to do the living room. I think this is the only room that this is the case so Ree will have to help me tonight or tomorrow. She's not here right now.
• 4:38 PM - Front room (den) is fine already! The room has a lot of stuff, but nothing near the radiator that will be affected by the heat.
• 4:49 PM - Ree's bedroom finished. here wasn't much to do except pick up the half dozen books that has fallen behind or underneath the radiator.
• 5:23 PM - Amazing! I checked my email, read a couple of blog postings that aren't mine, and still finished my bedroom. I had started it first, and wanted to give up, but decided to do the other rooms first. Sadly, the kittens are losing most of the space they had under the bed, but they still have a little hiding space left.

I have completed my task except for the living room. In the process I even threw some stuff out and put some things in the boxes for flea market/yard sale/donation. You may wonder why I waited so long to turn on the heat. The apartment hasn't gotten as cold as my last one would by this time of the fall.

I try to open enough of the blinds to let the warmth of the sun help heat the place; we have been lucky enough to have quite a few sunny days. I would never use a stove for heat, but if I'm going to make something that can go in the oven, microwave, or toaster oven, I choose the oven. We wear sweaters and sweatshirts, but it's never gotten really cold yet. Our luck is running out so I'm glad I will be able to turn on the heat tomorrow!

No Box of the Week Yet, But....

Today have unpacked several boxes, and when I've gotten to the middle of each one I have thought, "This box would have been a good container of the week." What would make them good candidates? Each box had an odd assortment of items as if the stuff was just thrown in there willy-nilly. It's not surprising because many of my boxes were packed in a hurry, either while I was moving, or just before some event such as company coming when I was just trying to get stuff out of the way.

Some things I've found today:

• photographs which I've put in a box of photos
• a playbill and tickets from a 2004 production of the Nutcracker, most of which I've put in the recycling bin
• a satiny sleeping cap which I think came from my friend Rose's stuff which has gone into my box of clothing for a yard sale or donation
• a manual for Sims people program from several years ago
• a box of junk and costume jewelry
• a music box which smells a little musty inside and has some costume jewelry inside
• a pair of cream color tights which I think nobody will miss when they go in the trash
• two 33 cent stamps

Some other unpacking news:

• I finally figured out how to utilize a file cabinet that the not-so-brilliant movers blocked with an air conditioner: I moved my bureau over a couple of inches and then angled the file cabinet since I can't really move it myself. I cannot move the air conditioner, but hope to have someone help me put it under the window where it will go next summer. Then I will cover the box with a tablecloth or pretty piece of fabric.
• A friend of mine has offered to help me put together a bookcase so I just have to go buy one.
• I found the cord to plus my printer in, and now just need the cord that goes to the computer and I will be able to print at my house again! I can, however, print photos from memory cards now!
• The kittens continue to enjoy the empty boxes that I hav given them.
• The kittens have become more and more attached to Ree; I seem to be nothing other than the one that feeds them, scoops their litter, and gives them treats.

The Kittens are Now Six Months Old!

The kittens are six months old, and very sweet and a little bit rascally, just as kittens are supposed to be. I will post a picture of one or both next time I post.

The unpacking continues, but too slow for me. For about a week and a half my whole life seemed to revolve around sick people. I don't mean sick as in crazy or demented, but sick as in having a really bad cold or food poisoning. I had a little cold, or just nasty allergies; it's hard to tell this time of year.

I hope to begin my "Container of the Week" series within a day or two. I was going to call it a box, but I have bags and baskets as well so this will be less limiting.

I'm going to leave this post short, and go to bed. Tomorrow I have to get up earlier than usual.