ravan

In all the years I've lived in this house, we never had a new washer. Well, both of the former owner's bought used washers died.

With five adults and at least as many cats, we needed a new one. So I bought one - new, not used or refurbished. I got a big one with a separate delicates wash area. It theoretically can do two loads at once, and the big front loader can wash bedding. It was delivered yesterday. We are still learning how to use it.

Well, this year has started out very mixed.

The good:
* I went regular at my job, which seems to be doing okay, but the company is a little weird.
* The new job has real health insurance, not the joke that the agency had, and not the screwup that my job from 2021 die to me.
* My spouse is getting social security and medicare, being over 70. This means my health insurance is less.

The bad:
* My roommates car got stolen, from right in front of our house, probably because of an unlocked door.
* Our remaining washing machine died. Now, the previous owner bought two used washing machines and two driers. The water heater in the garage died a few years ago, and we have had a problem getting the demand heater installed. So now we don't even have cold water wash.

I do not want to get another used washer. I want something new, Energy Star, high efficiency with a warranty.

I'm over sixty, I just want shit that works.

Our household is still masking and applying full Covid precaution because one of the roomies is immune compromised. This is not negotiable.

Unemployed, but at least I qualify for unemployment, which will cover the mortgage for six months. I just need to come up with the other $3000/month operating expenses, including COBRA at over $1200/mo. I will have to liquidate my stock in my old company, but I won't lose money on the deal. If I didn't have that reserve, I'd be terrified right now. As it is, I'm quietly panicking - I'm 52, and Silicon Valley is ageist as hell. Datapard hasn't even been able to get temp work for over 4 years.

I have had phone screens and interviews since the day after I was let go. Unfortunately, it's still an employers market (thank you, GOP) and they want the usual laundry list of every specific little program in their environment. Some of them even call me about contract opportunities at my previous employer!

Fighting the winter unemployed blues, but doing OK if I remember to take my supplements, especially vitamin D3.

I still need to put the new power supply in my Linux desktop (the original blew last July) and unload the half dozen or so blog posts and stories that are trying to burst out of my brain. I can't do them on my laptop because it would aggravate my RSIs too much. I may need to take the Windoze netbook and see if it will run Dragon Dictate or something.

My health is okay, but I really need to get a new neuro to get an updated sleep study and script for Imitrex.

Because I have had high (as in above $600) utility bills, I did qualify for zero down solar. Considering how much the PG&E rates have been ratcheting up in the last few years, locking in my rate increases on half my utility costs to 2.9%/year is a good deal - it flattens my cost curve a lot. Plus, if I overproduce, I can sell to the grid, which actually helps stabilize the grid on hot days. I had said when I owned this place I wanted solar, now it's going to happen. Still need $$$ to do painting and other repairs. If I get work in the new two months, I can use the liquidated stock for house repairs.

After much 'round and 'round, we are all signed, sealed and delivered and paper shuffle completed. I start paying mortgage on *my* house July 1. *phew*

Kittens!!

So, as you might remember, the feral momma that we haven't been able to trap yet had yet another litter. Well, this time she had it in the downstairs portion of the back building.

Last night, raindrops and vflig caught three of the kittens without a trap. This morning, vflig and I caught number four. Two grey tabbies and two solid grey (possibly dilute torties). So now we have 4 of the cutest little kittens, and the trap again set for mama.

In other news, I'm now officially part of the idle poor underclass. I drank a bottle of raspberry wine before noon. It was my severeal servings of fruit for the day, don'cha know...

This post is public, because it's an important concept. ( Read more... )

So, we moved in to this nice mixed neighborhood in San Jose, just south of Japantown. Well, it lacks one thing: other fans! Please, give me some fannish neighbors!

The apartment complex next door has a two bedroom apartment up for rent. While the people in there are not the quietest people on earth by a long shot, the people in the victorian next door are. I don't know how much they want for rent, but it can't be too much - it has no pool or other frippery. If you like trains it's a plus!

The coolest thing is that this location is about halfway between the DoubleTree Hotel and the San Jose Convention Center. It's only a 5 block walk (short blocks at that) to the Japantown light rail station, and there is sushi within walking distance too.

Are you interested? Call (408) 294-3210 - they have a message machine, so leave a message.