Moving Day

I have to thank all my friends who made Moving Day possible: Christine, Randy, Debbie, Dave, Jp, Sue B, Rob, Sue R, Johanna, and Eddie. They are my heroes.

Moving day didn't start off all that well, I got up off the cot (the king size bed was already dismantled) and looked out the window to find a foot of snow had fallen overnight, and there was still snow coming down. ACK! We got lucky and it stopped mid-morning just like the weather man said it would. It didn't get all that warm, the temp was somewhere in the teens. I was mighty glad to see my buddies show up despite the less than perfect weather. Once we had a car or two, we started the actually hauling of things out of the apartment.

A couple of things still needed packing; folks pitched right in. I loaded some stuff in cars & trucks myself but most often to be found in the kitchen answering questions of this person or that one while moving things out from the back rooms to the front. I didn't even see the piano going until they had it on the porch maneuvering it onto the trailer ramp. We had an open trailer; everyone brought tarps (& I bought one - for the cost of the thing it should outlive me)One of the funnier moments was watching the king size bed being wrapped like a Christmas present before going out the door. constant flurry of activity, and then suddenly there weren't any more boxes. Most of us headed out to the new place while the Barbers and a few others stuck around to help John move the remaining furniture around to his liking.

We traveled the 4 or so miles up the road to the new place in Waterbury Center. Our "plow guy" had done a great job clearing all kinds of room in the yard. My roommate Z was out running some errands, so we had the place to ourselves. The neighbors did call the house though, to find out what all the commotion was all about. What with the local speed trap being a 100 yards from the driveway and the neighbors checking things out, I'm feeling pretty safe here, even though it is not on the main road.

I called in a wings and pizza order for lunch, and we emptied out the vehicles in record time. The back porch has a ramp on it, which made it somewhat easier to move the big stuff in. The Parlor ended up the resting place for most the boxes until I could go through them. A lot of the furniture went right up to my bedroom, a 15 X 14 room with a couple of windows and a hole in the floor (this appears to be the place a stovepipe once went up to the chimney) which was "covered" by a Frisbee. We got all of it unloaded by the time lunch arrived.

An enjoyable meal was had by all, or so it seemed. the party broke up after the eats, as most folks had a bit of traveling to do to get to their homes. I found out later Dave had been bested by my office chair - it gave way at the wrong moment and he took a tumble. He was shook pretty hard but survived it just fine. Apparently the piano move wasn't perfect, even with the two furniture dollys - there were a few spots where it still needed to be lifted. The fellas made it look easy though. I had a few tense moments when I realized there only was an inch to spare around the sideboard as it went up the stairs as I hadn't measured the width of the stairwell, and although the glass lamp made it intact the other ones needed to have the bulbs replaced.

All in all though it was a very busy day, and every body worked hard. Eddie, Sue B & Jp stuck around and helped me set up the electronics and set up my bed. Sue was was intrigued by the furry sheets mom had found for me down in Pennsylvania. We also were able to set up the rugs Canadace had given to me; everything fit just so, and except for the hole in the floor, It was turning out pretty good. We all went out for dinner at the local wings place, and then since Sue & Jp had a room at the Best Western, we went over there to do some swimming and met back up with Johanna who was also staying there.

I eventually found a piece of plywood that currently resides over the hole in my floor: Eddie is working on a better fix for that. Jp came up and helped us re-caulk our shower. I replaced the dark shower curtain , and Eddie put in the handheld showerhead I got. Its better than it was, but its still the smallest shower I've ever seen. I managed to empty 20 or so boxes within the next week; another 12 or so last week, and the remainder are things that probably won't be used here as the house is fully furnished (in Early American hand-me-down style), with dishes and everything. I'm settling in and this big 4 bedroom farmhouse is beginning to feel like home. Here's hoping I'll be here a while. Look me up if you're in the neighborhood!

Another Party with the War Buddies

Last Saturday was another get-together with a slightly different group of War buddies. The Halfords invited the 27th & 29th units over to their cabin in Tinmouth, Vt which is about 2 hours from Waterbury. John decided not to go so Eddie & I car-pooled together. The four wheel drive was busted on his truck so we took my car. Due to the snow we started out early but managed to get there just fine.

The cabin is amazing. There is a (very cold) spring fed bathroom whichis rather hidden, but otherwise its pretty much an 18th century kind of place, no electricity and beautiful. Steve & Kathy built it, including the huge fireplace and hearth. Steve makes blackcap wine, and Kathy makes Cider...not your typical Cider, more like the applejack kind; so the booze was flowing and the food was everywhere. I brought my sweet n sour meatballs, always a hit. I use the liner from the crock pot and just put it right on the woodstove, works like a charm everytime.

The guys went out and did a live shoot with their muskets, while we ladies and kids stayed inside warm & dry. Then we had a big meal and many laughs as we all entertained each other with stories and a sketch or two. The cider snuck up and hit a few friends a little hard, which those of us driving found rather amusing to watch. The whole party was 18th century dress, so as it got darker and the candles were lighted you really got a feel for how it may have been back in the 1750s. We headed back to Waterbury around 9, as we decided we really didn't want to crash there for the night. Although it was still snowing we made out fine getting home, although we did get a few odd looks when we made a pit stop due to our clothes.

Eddie's Birthday

Eddie, a reenacting friend in town turned 21 - his dad threw a very nice dinner party to celebrate which John & I both went to. Eddie (known as Ed the younger) and his dad (known as Ed the Elder) live in a log cabin, so it was really nice with the Christmas tree and the fire going in the fireplace and all. Afterwards Eddie wanted to go down to the bar in town, so his dad & I journeyed down there with him. Seems Eddie's learned a thing or two from his reenacting friends, who (except for me, the Mic Light girl) are mostly beer snobs.

No Bud Light or Coors for this fellow, he was disappointed to find no Guiness on the menu and settled on Boddingtons. He was very surprised to not be carded; we pointed out the average 21 year old in a bar goes for cheap beer, very few will take the time to read the beer menu and ask the bartender about things not listed. Once we got through that discussion, the band started up and we hung out for a while before heading home. Not a late night but a fun night.

Moving Right Along

In case you didn't hear, John & I are splitting up. We've been having issues for quite some time now, and to make a very long story short, I am moving out. January 3rd is the move date, lets hope for clear and maybe a balmy 30 degrees? (only in Vt would 30 degrees be considered balmy!)

Some genealogy friends, co-workers and reenacting buddies are all coming on the 3rd to help move me out of the apt. I found on craigslist a homeshare type situation in Waterbury center, only a few miles from where the apt is. Big house, another single gal (by name of Z) who describes herself as quirky, enough room for the piano, the king sized bed and even all the boxes. If you don't have the new address or phone #, and would like it, email me at the new email (mizrebecky@gmail.com) and I'll send it onto you.

The Holiday Party

So I've been remiss in keeping up with current events. Lets see if I can get you a tad updated. First weekend in December my reenacting friends all gather together at the clubhouse for what we all refer to as "The Holiday Party." Everybody brings some food & usually we have snow (but not this year), but other than that its not really holiday related. Gives us all a chance to get together again. After all the last event has been a few months ago, We all want to catch up on whats happening with who and the fellas can all compare beards. Often we rehash all the events for the past year, sometimes pictures come out, and we banter about the events we'd like to play at next season.

The clubhouse isn't Big - but we do manage to pack all of us in there. A tad chilly at first, the woodstove eventually puts out some heat, and having 20 -30 people in there certainly warms things up (its a tight fit, good thing we're all friendly, huh?) I had a wicked cold that was going around the office but was determined to be there or else. So with a large quantity of dayquil & other assorted meds I was there... slightly off kilter from the stuffed head and meds I was taking. The clubhouse is a fulled stocked backyard bar - plus a keg is ussually going. This year I drank soda most the evening as the cold meds were doing a number on me already, I didn't need any beer on top of that.

This was the year of the Black Watch Plaid. Three fellas were wearing it, one gal had a scarf and there were a few other green shirts in there to complement the plaid wearers. We had a baked ham and ribs, & meat pies to chow on this year; Its always a slightly different menu although Jamie's grandma always makes us cookies. I car-pooled with Eddie (behind me in the pix on the right above) from Waterbury. we stayed pretty much til the end of the party (Midnight? 1 am?). Several of the folks traveling for more than an hour or two crash at the local's homes - Being the clubhouse is 3 hours from waterbury, we stayed the night at the Jp & Sue's house (JP in the plaid munching on the pix on the left) which is typical for us going to a meeting at the clubhouse. Was great seeing everyone even if I was sick, and the party is always a highlight for the winter.