Author: Dan Dickinson

Hey look…other stuff is happening besides me moving!

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Found while trying to get control of the RSS tide:

  • BlogTO reviews The Ghosts Of Abu Ghraib. With all the packing and such I forgot to write the film when we saw it at Hot Docs a week ago.  It was an excellent documentary; director Rory Kennedy let the story tell itself by interviewing the Abu Ghraib guards who were convicted for their role in the torture, and gave context by framing the story with the findings of the Milgram experiment. Excellent documentary. Highly recommended.
  • I agree with Esquire’s Angry German’s rant on punctuality. Next to smoking, being late is the fastest way to make me think you’re an inconsiderate jackass. Not occasionally late, mind you; I know things sometimes happen. But there are those people who’re just perpetually late, and those people are asshats.
  • The Quill & Quire’s blog points to a discussion between Lynn Coady and Christy Ann Conlin. Both Nova Scotian writers, they wonder whether it’s easier to write about where you’re from, or to write about a place if you’re “from away.”
  • Kirsten Dunst likes The Arcade Fire and Regina Spektor. ‘Cause I didn’t think she was hot enough already…

[tags]ghosts of abu ghraib, hot docs, milgram experiment, esquire magazine, angry german, punctuality, quill & quire, lynn coady, christy ann conlin, kirsten dunst, arcade fire, regina spektor[/tags]

"This day is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s"

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If you watched The Office last night that title will make a lot more sense. And if you watched 30 Rock, you might’ve heard Tina Fey yell “I will slice you open like a taun-taun!” And then you might’ve heard me yowl with laughter.

.:.

Another day, another bunch of boxes unpacked. The books are now taken care of, and the kitchen is close to done. Next thing is to set up the TV and stereo before I leave Sunday morning, and get the empty boxes collapsed and taken out. Also have to get to Dove Cleaners; I’ve got a stain on a suit jacket that looks as if I’ve been lactating. Nobody wants that visual.

.:.

Choosing between #1 and #1a is hard. And when you love them both, having to choose at all sucks. Sorry that’s cryptic, but it concerns stuff I don’t usually talk about here. It was gut-wrenching, but I guess there are worse problems than having to choose between the two best options I’ve ever had.

[tags]moving, spire condominium[/tags]

Is April over yet?

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The tiredness isn’t going away. Had a pretty hectic day, and tomorrow looks to be about the same as I get ready to leave for a week. Took a break tonight to eat some dinner (pizza…I skipped lunch and we got home late, so it was the best…pizza…ever!), watch The Office and 30 Rock, and unpack the DVDs. Tomorrow’ll be another late one but I hope to get lots more unpacking done while I watch the Raptors game.

That cat better shut up tonight or he’ll be getting a shoe in the head.

[tags]office, 30 rock, pizza[/tags]

Ch-ch-changes and f-f-fax tones

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It was very, very strange this morning to actually commute to work. For the past five years I’ve been able to walk 5 minutes to my office, but today I had to take the subway. It was only a few stops, but still…it means (gasp!) I can’t go home for lunch.

Eating at my desk instead of on the couch…hmmph. This is not the lifestyle to which I’ve become accustomed…

.:.

Still tired. The cats (or cat, rather; Sonny’s having the time of his life and not whining at all) weren’t so bad last night, but a fax machine called us at midnight and then again at 4 AM. That was a treat. Then, this morning, our stuff is all over the place so our usual morning routine was all disrupted and I couldn’t find anything, resulting in me wearing a belt that doesn’t match my shoes. Oh, the humanity. I’m hoping to get most of the stuff sorted out, set up and put away before I leave on course this weekend.

[tags]new condo, moving, pets, fax machines[/tags]

Line 'em up, knock 'em down

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So tired. Once again Michael kept us up from about 4:30, but at least he seems to be better today. Less scared, emerging to hang out with us, climbing on furniture, etc. Now if we could just get him to sleep through the night…

After work today we popped down the street to C’est What; the Amsterdam spring bock was tasty, as was the food (falafel, yam frites and antijitos), and it was nice to just chill for an hour outside of the apartment.  When we got back we unpacked a few boxes; once we have the bookcases in place I can start unpacking all the books, which would free up enough space to unpack the desk, and I could set up the computer. Likewise, once the kitchen boxes are unpacked we can move the table, and I can set up the TV & stereo. Like dominos, wrapped in packing tape.

[tags]moving, unpacking, c’est what, amsterdam beer, spring bock[/tags]

Hey…I think you can see me up there drinking a diet pepsi…

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Fitting that on the day we move, Sam would post a picture of our building (ok, well, he took a picture of St. James Cathedral with our building in the background) on Daily Dose of Imagery.

Our phone is ok, my Sympatico connection worked immediately, our cable has just now been hooked up, all the gear has been dropped off at Goodwill, the old apartment has been cleaned (sort of) and a few more things have been taken out of boxes. So…progress. Not much, but we’ll get there slowly. Nellie’s been busily running errands, buying things, cleaning up and so on. The cats have mainly been sleeping; Sonny explores occasionally, but Michael’s been hiding under a blanket all day. Literally, all day. He hasn’t moved since this 7:30 morning. He even slept under our blanket last night, cuddled up to my legs. He’s never done that before.

The weather’s been perfect today…clear and windy, so our windows are filled with the blue of the lake, and I can see clear across the lake. This is what I’ve been waiting 3 years for.

[tags]condo, moving, daily dose of imagery[/tags]

Aaaaaaaaaand we're home

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The move is over. The pets have been brought to the new place and the basics (bed, tv, diet pepsi) have been unpacked. The cats are FREAKED OUT; Michael’s cowering in the walk-in closet, and Sonny’s just now coming out to explore.

All in all our movers were great. When we got to our building our elevator was being used by someone else, so our guys had to use a standard elevator while we got yelled at by the construction crew and angry residents. Four hours from the time they showed up to when they left. One or two little broken items, but nothing too substantial, and neither of us had to lift a finger all day.

Now we’ll rest our tired feet, order some pizza, unpack a few more things and sleep like the dead.

[tags]condo, moving[/tags]

Project migration is underway

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The movers arrived a little late (they got hit by a schoolbus on the way here) and managed to get their ginormous truck into the driveway (despite losing a rearview mirror to said schoolbus) before tearing ass through the apartment. Nellie and I basically just got out of the way as they whipped our stuff into blankets and out the door. They’re bringing down the last few loads now so…so far so good. Perfect weather too…warm, but not hot. Then again, I’m sitting on my ass so it’s not like I’m working up a sweat.

Here’s hoping part 2 goes well.

[tags]condo, movers[/tags]

Und now…ve vait

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Everything’s packed and ready to go. Just have to do a few things tomorrow while the movers perform their move-ish duties. We’re not too tired, but we’re certainly tired enough. We shall sleep well tonight. Even the cats seem bagged. Nellie’s gonna shower while I do this computer-y stuff, and I’ll shower while she watches TV. Tomorrow morning the TV comes down, the few remaining things (sheets, towels, etc.) go into the bags, and then we wait for the pros to arrive.

Keep your fingers crossed that this goes more smoothly than the last one.

[tags]condo, move[/tags]

18 hours to go

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Another beautiful day, and we’re inside packing. 😦 Oh well, we actually got out for a few minutes here and there, to clean the new place and for a quick trip to buy a telescoping squeegee and some more boxes.

We’re getting there in terms of packing. I think we’ll be packing well into the evening, but there shouldn’t be any 2AM packing like there was last time. My goal is to be totally done by 10:00 so Nellie can watch The Amazing Race and I can get a net connection going.

The cats are alternately freaked out and having a blast.

[tags]moving, condo, cats[/tags]