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Power outages that is.
I look at the Saipan newspaper’s website a once a week or so, just to have an idea of what is going on. Today I was stunned to see what the current power situation is.
The utility released a new power outage schedule and my heart aches for my friends still there (especially Deece & Jill). Instead of having 2 hours with out power a couple of times a day, it has been increased to 3 hours at a time, 3 times a day. That’s 9 hours per day without power! How can the food stay fresh in the refrigerator? How can businesses stay in business? How can employees be productive? The situation is absolutely ridiculous.
If we were still there, our power would be out: 8am-11am, then from 2pm-5pm, then from 2am-5am. And those are just scheduled times. No telling how many hours for “emergencies”. I would be one cranky Mama, that is for sure.
Peace.
This had to be the most painful pack out that we have ever gone through. It was our third pack out since we have been together. First was Louisiana to Guam, then Guam to Saipan, now Saipan to Juneau. In theory, it should have been easier. We got rid of our living room furniture and bedroom furniture, except the box springs & mattresses, frames and baby crib. And we spent a few nights before hand getting things ready. Wrapping up cords, taking things apart, putting similar things together…like all the books and dvds, etc.
When we left Louisiana and Guam, they took one day to pack us up, and the second day to load it all into the truck/shipping crates. These guys here would have been at our house for 3 days if we hadn’t helped them with packing, doing inventory and hauling boxes to the truck. And there were 3 guys – in Louisiana, we only had 2 guys. One guy here spent the entire day in our kitchen, packing. And believe me, there wasn’t enough in there to keep him occupied for a day. Slow mo fo.
But, it is done. Thankfully. (this was the craft/office room)
A highlight was finding my old light up Daiquiri jug with the lights still working.
What was even better was that it kept Conn occupied for about 10 minutes.
We have been at the hotel for a week now and although I adore hotel living, I am ready to get out of here. We are staying at the Fiesta. If you ever get a chance to stay here, I highly recommend spending the extra $$ on the Executive room. Check in is a snap, they whisk you up to the executive floor as soon as you tell them your name and in mere seconds, you are being led to your room. The rooms are lovely, the beds aren’t completely Asian-style (read: rock hard), the baths are well appointed and elegant and the level of service that you receive is outstanding. On the executive floor there is a private, air-conditioned lounge with tables and a couch, wifi, and complimentary beverages all day. There is a continental breakfast included in the price that is served in the executive lounge, along with a complimentary afternoon tea and complimentary happy hour. It rocks. I just wish that I could have a few glasses of wine with DH at happy hour. Oh well.
I think that Conn approves.
Peace.
*CUC is our utility company, run by the local government*
Dear CUC,
I want to thank you for changing our daily power outage schedule from 2pm-4pm to 4pm-6pm. This new time works out much better for me. With the old schedule, it disrupted my nap time almost every day. Now, I can get an afternoon nap in when it suits me and not have to worry about sweating to death without my fan.
My family has adapted pretty well to the changes and challenges thrown at them because of the power outages and doubled rates. Mama & Papa were talking about the new bill and it seems that we are still on track with using only 303 kWh per month. The bad thing is that our bill is now $120 instead of $60. We spend lots of time together when the power is out. Reading books, playing with blocks or playing outside.
But the straw that broke the camel’s back happened last night. Our power came back on at 6pm and I got in the bath around 6:40. Papa even made it a big bubble bath…that is my favorite! Unfortunately, at 6:45, the power went out again. Just as I was getting my hair all shampooed and had soap bubbles all over my body. The problem is that when the power goes out, we don’t have any water because our water pump runs on electricity. So, Mama had to figure out how to get a bucket of water out of the tank to rinse off with while Papa kept me company in the bathroom.
I eventually got all rinsed and ready for bed. I hate going to bed without my fan running, it is so hot in our house. But, I managed. Mama said that the neighbors sat in their car for a few hours last night with their airconditioner running, and drove around their yard and driveway. I might ask to join their family when the power goes out next time. Mama said that the power came back on at 11:15pm. That was a long time!
Good for me that we only have 2 more days in our house before we move to the hotel. Then we don’t have to worry about the power going out. Then only 10 more days left on Saipan. I can’t say that I will miss you, CUC.
Regards,
BTH
Peace.
I had forgotten how hellacious it is to be sick. Oy vey. I felt like I wanted to die. Thankfully, I am much much better today. I have even eaten something more than just applesauce and wheat toast. That alone is a huge accomplishment.
Well, the week from hell is over. This is our last week in the house. Everything went pretty smoothly last week except for Bella baby (orange kitty) taking off one day before her appointment with the DLNR Vet for her final sign off on the Health Certificate to fly. I forgot to capture her and keep her in the spare room, so we were kind of stressed, but she showed up right after we got home from the appointment with the other two pets. So we popped her in a kennel and off we went, back to the clinic. I think that she was trying to say, “Neener, neener, neener. The appoinment is over already, so I don’t have to go.” Sorry sister.
I think that the pets have winged their way from Saipan to Japan and are now in Minneapolis where they will spend the night at the kennel before flying to Chicago in the morning. There is a limit as to how many hours per day that a pet can fly. And there is a ban on pets flying in the summer months…seems like we got in just under the wire. *whew* My Dad & Father-In-Law are picking them up in Chicago and taking them home with them for the time being.
The garage sale was a giant success. Much thanks to Harry’s radio station and their “Bargain Basket” announcements and the Saipan Garage Sale website. We still have the brush cutter available, so if you want a brush cutter, let me know and I can get the info to you. Plus, I have lots of plants that I would like to find new homes for. These are plants that I have rescued, saved, divided, repotted, nurtured and loved. I am not sure if our house is going to be rented out quickly or not and I would hate to have my lovelies croak from lack of water or too much sunlight. We can’t take them with us, otherwise I would. I am giving them away. If you want some, let me know via comments.
I received an awesome package this weekend. I participated in a pin cushion swap on Ravelry. My partner did a fabulous job on a pink ribbon pincushion for me and I love it! It will have a special place in my new sewing room when we move. She even included lots of tawashi’s for me and a cute little lion puppet for BTH. He carries it around making meowing noises at it.
We didn’t get an updated MLS listing this weekend from our realtor. Not sure what is up with that. He hasn’t answered our last few emails either which is making us nervous. Is this a precursor as to what is to come? I hope not. But, I have totally fallen in love with this house…
Looks like a cabin, but isn’t.
It is on Douglas, the island across from Juneau. Love the fact that from the front it looks like a little cabin that could be sitting on the river. Even DH is yapping about this house and he hasn’t yapped about a house on his own for a while. Fingers crossed that it is perfect in person and still there, waiting for us on August 1st.
Here are some questions for you, my lovely readers…
1. Anyone own a Honda Odyssey? We are looking at model years 1999-2004 specifically. Your experience please.
2. We have talked to the bank about pre-approval for our monster mortgage. It will be good for 90 days. How long does it usually take to get pre-approved?
3. On average, how long (in weeks/days) does the house buying process take from the time of offer acceptance to closing? (We have asked the realtor this but he hasn’t replied yet)
4. Anyone have furniture from Pottery Barn? I am really liking their eco furniture (what am I, a tree hugger?) and we will be buying all new furniture for the new house. Just wondering what other people’s experinces have been with their furniture. We figure that furniture should be bought with the idea that you will keep it for at least 10-15 years, therefore we don’t mind spending the extra $. Most of our furniture was hand me down stuff that I got when I moved out on my own a long time ago. It is time we bought our own.
Okay, that is enough from me. If I am scarce this week, it is just because we are busy. And not the drive-you-insane-following-appointment-times-and-other-people’s-schedules either. Just getting stuff organized for the movers when the come on Monday. Squee!
Peace.
When: Saturday June 14, 7am to 12pm
Where: Look for signs just north of Shell San Roque and across the street from San Roque Church
Things priced to go!
Some of the things that we are selling include:
- Troy Built 4 cycle brush cutter – bought in Oct 07, retails for $300, selling for $150 including big spool of line, manual and copy of receipt
- Ceramic water dispenser (mint condition) $10
- 5 gallon water jugs $5 each
- 27″ Zenith TV, Sony DVD player and wooden stand, all for $40
- Lots of plants – starting at 50 cents, nothing higher than $5
- Set of pots, pans & lids – all for $15
- Microwave $15
- Wooden dining table and 4 chairs $30
- Folding camp chairs – 2 for $5
- Plastic patio chairs – 2 for $5
- 2 living room lamps and shades $10 for both
- 3 charcoal barbecue grills
- Bicycle
- some tools
- wine rack
- towels
- comforter
- coolers/ice chests
- iron
Of course I painted the signs. Using pieces of wood that we found in the boonies and paint that was left behind at a previous house. Because that’s how I roll.
Peace.
