Month: December 2010

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Productive Forgetfulness

Last night, I didn’t feel like climbing up into the loft to turn off the dehumidifier, which keeps me up at night. So, I left it running and shut the dressing room and study doors most of the way, which did a pretty good job of blocking the noise.

Woke up this morning to realise that I’d not only left the dehumidifier running, but also left the windows up there wide open!

Well, it paid off. Last night, I was still seeing wetness along the edges of the corner and now the surface of it is dry! We finally have a beautiful sunny day, so I have the windows open and am hoping that another 24 hours of fresh air, dehumidifying, and heat will make the area workable.

Sort of related, the clear conditions give me a view to the lake from the front loft window and Neelix is sitting by it, enthralled by the ducks on the beach. Too cute!

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A Maudlin Ten Year Anniversary Post

Ten years ago this week, a sleek black cat entered my life.

Miss Bitha

The decision to adopt a cat took at least six months to make. My life was starting and having a cat would limit some of my choices. For me, pet adoption is for life. Going through the motions of adopting and then giving it all up sometime down the road wasn’t something I could see myself doing. I either committed wholeheartedly, or not at all. I’ve never been good with people, so a pet was the only way I could guarantee I’d have something to come home to and it would force me to take on some much needed responsibility.

I decided to adopt from the local Humane Society and the process was grueling. Being a student, I had to provide proof that I was an independent adult who wouldn’t be going ‘back home’ at the end of the semester. I had to show that I could financially provide for a pet. There was a background and reference check and even a home inspection! Oh, and my landlady had to provide a letter saying that it was okay to get a cat. It was definitely not a process to take lightly!

After all that, I brought home Peggy in October of 2000. I didn’t bond with her at all and took her out of a sense of duty. She was older, obese, and had some health issues. As it turns out, she had feline leukemia and she died about eight weeks after I took her in, at home, in my arms. I saw it as a sign to rethink my decision; I’d been given an out. I didn’t take it and I contacted the Humane Society to let them know what happened.

The background check must have turned out okay because they didn’t question the fact that Peggy had died under my care. Instead, they offered me another cat at no charge. They had a two year old they considered unadoptable, but felt would be a good match for me. What did I think about black cats? The superstition didn’t even come to mind, I was just so excited that they had another cat for me. I promptly left for the shelter and along the way the name Tabitha popped into my mind. It was the weirdest thing. I just knew that was to be her name.

When I entered the cat room, she was sitting on a ledge watching the snow fall outside. I whispered her at-the-time name and she turned, assessed me, and jumped into my arms. Tabitha latched on to me with a loyalty I have only ever experienced with dogs. I am her Person, there is no doubt of that. She has warmed to a few other individuals in the ten years I’ve had her, but it takes time. Our bond was instantaneous.

I know Tabitha is a cat, but I have a relationship with her that I’ve never experienced with the other cats in my life, and I’ve had a lot of them! It’s like she is more than just a cat, like we understand each other on a different plane. She’s so much more than just a pet to me.

My baby girl is an old lady now at twelve, and this boggles me. I know that we’re at, or past, the halfway point in our relationship. I can’t even think beyond her lifetime right now and I enjoy each precious day we have together. She had a health scare just before I hit the road that reminded me of just how ephemeral are relationships. Savour each moment together.

Tabitha has been with me through six moves, a college program, three jobs, two additions to the family, and the transition to the RVing lifestyle. She has adapted to the changes with the grace and dignity of a crone, needing as her only constant a place in my bed at night. She is a very special soul indeed and I am glad that I chose to walk this path with her.

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Slowly Drying

Progress in the loft continues to be very slow, but I can see that it is drying out. I’m pulling out about half a bucket of water a day from the dehumidifier. I went up there and blasted a section with the hair dryer on high and was startled to see an immediate improvement. I know that’s just surface drying and I expect to see moisture seeping back up, but at least I know that having the hair dryer on a section while I work on another is worth the power being used.

Tonight, I pulled up most of the top layers of paneling and insulation to see how far the wetness extends on the bottom layer of paneling, which is about two thirds of the way across. Thankfully, the wet section is not rotten or mildewy, just wet, and definitely not spongy. Now that it is exposed, I’m sure it will dry well. I’m going to look for a wood hardening product to apply to the wood that got wet but which isn’t being replaced.  The wood hardener product would also prevent new damage from wetness. Probably overkill, but I’m not taking any chances.

At this rate, I don’t anticipate being able to do any real work up there for at least another week. Moreover, I’m waiting on an order for a 50′ roll of Eternabond from Allan at A.J.B. Distributing in northern Ontario, upon the recommendation of several Canadian RVers. Once that roll arrives I’ll do the bottom seam at the front to guarantee that I’ve got the leak sealed. So, I really need to be patient about this.

I might be pulling out of this park at the end of January, which means I have six weeks left to get the renos all done. I really want to leave here with my tools stowed away for good, so as soon as I can get going again, renos are going to be my top priority. I’ve decided to use credit if I have to in order to get things done right, and completely. I’ve made an incredibly detailed list of what needs to be done and in what order so that I can start blasting through things as soon as the loft is secure without wasting time looking for a strategy. I’ll be finishing with the kitchen even though I’m SO tempted to get it done right now.

In the meantime, I’m focusing on my work projects. Between the furnace and the leak, my budget took a serious hit and I’m not pulling in anywhere close to what just bled out. So I think it’s good to have a week to step back and work at bringing in some money. Thankfully, I reeled in a couple of new translation contracts this morning, so I have plenty to keep me busy!

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Water Matters

Water Matter 1:

Last night, I checked the water levels before I took my shower. The sensors swore I had a full third of a tank left. Ha ha ha ha ha. No sooner was I covered with body wash than my shower started to do alternating boiling out and freezer cold sputters! I could also hear the pump running through the din of the water spurts, the dehumidifier, and the fan. Why do I trust those evil sensors?!

So, it seems that with my shower habits, I need to top up the water every three days. Duly noted. 😀

One thing I’ve noticed since I started living off the fresh water tank is that the water no longer smells musty! This is a first in two years, even after shocking the system with chlorine two or three times a year. I must have finally gotten rid of the bugs I needed to get rid of.

Water Matter 2:

We had some snow yesterday, which is now melting and pouring down my gutter right where my leak is. I checked the Eternabonded seam and I am not certain that it is watertight. I just have a feeling… I’ll keep monitoring it during the day from both inside and outside.

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Solo Cooking Tips

Tip One:

One of the things I dislike about cooking for one is having to eat the same thing for several days. What I do now is make several days’ worth of plain brown rice in my rice cooker, and then I jazz it up every night with my sides. I might add Moroccan spices and throw in some chickpeas and raisins. Or I’ll add salsa and chicken cooked in fajita mix. Sometimes it’s lentils with Ethiopian spices. Whatever. I’ve learned that rice is the carb I can eat daily without getting sick of it. Making a big batch at once and reheating it uses less energy, and time, than making several small batches. You could do the same thing with pasta. I don’t like reheated potatoes (unless they’re made up into hash browns!), but I know folks who do.

Tip Two:

Since I started eating chicken again, I’ve been buying boneless, skinless, chicken breasts on sale and freezing them individually in baggies. Invariably, I forget to take one out first thing in the morning. They cook up very nicely from frozen, but won’t take on any flavouring. I tried an experiment last week and it works beautifully: I add the flavouring to the chicken breast before freezing it. This way, the meat marinates as it freezes and as it thaws, infusing it with flavour. Tonight, I had one marinated in VH Asian five-spice sauce, and in the freezer I have one with mustard, one with balsamic vinegar, one with BBQ sauce, and one with just salt, pepper, and garlic powder to be served up with gravy. I just transfer the frozen chicken breast to a bowl filled with water and let it sit in the fridge for about a half hour, then I slice it up and cook it. It comes out tender, juicy, and flavourful.

Tip Three:

Frozen vegetables are at least as nutritious as fresh ones. Keep different kinds on hand and throw a handful in with your carb of choice while you’re reheating it. Too easy!