Areas of Unrest

QOTD: "When it comes to cars, only two varieties of people are possible - cowards and fools." - Russell Baker

Reading: Primo Levi, The Mirror Maker

Listening to: Paris Combo, Attraction

Decluttering accomplishments: still unpacking

8 September 2002 - Happy New Year

I do intend to do my annual redesign, but it's a lower priority than making my life more functional. Or, if not my life, at least my kitchen. And my den/office. My life improved greatly this week when I finally found the stereo speakers. I haven't found quite all of the music, yet, but I have enough to unpack to. I also haven't yet located either the tools or the iron, but I sort of circumvented the former by running out and buying another screwdriver and hammer. You can never have too many screwdrivers and at least I could put the Virginia license plates on my car this way. I refuse, however, to buy another iron. The movers had a rather bizarre labeling method when they packed. The lamps turned up in a box labeled "stuffed animals." I suspect the iron is probably labeled something like "plasticware."

Incidentally, I haven't quite done everything I needed to regarding becoming a Virginian. It turns out that one must also register one's car with the county. And I still have umpty ump change of address forms to do. But, more significantly, I ran into a Catch-22 with my company in trying to get my payroll taxes changed. Namely, I filled out a change of address form, which our business administrator had told me was what would trigger a Personnel Status Change (PSC) to the new location. But the HR folks won't process the change of address without the PSC. I don't really care who goes first, but somebody has to. Particularly since Virginia taxes are lower than California taxes. I also suspect that they won't process my relocation reimbursement until they have my address changed. Though there's also the matter of them not being able to process it until I file it, which I haven't done because I had to find a receipt that had gone astray. It turned up in the outer pocket of my briefcase, which is more or less where it belonged, but that wasn't where I was looking, of course.

I am also working on a travelogue about the Papua New Guinea trip. I did find the USB cable, but haven't transferred photos from the digital camera to the computer yet. Between Rosh Hashanah and my birthday, I was a bit distracted. Robert did call to wish me a happy birthday and to ask about the trip. My mother sent a card, the general sent a note, and my boss took me out to lunch. And my apartment complex management sent me a chocolate chip cookie. And lots of people sent email.

There's a story swap this Tuesday in D.C., which I plan to go to. Gradually, I'll get past unpacking and relocation chores and start feeling like I'm actually living here. And then I can deal with things like web design.