reports on my TT renovation

[BirdbyBird]

You were definitely busy today! Sounds like it is all coming together.

[Nasoosie]

Holy Cow, Rogi! The work you are doing puts me totally to shame! That you have the gumption and knowhow to fashion yourself a dwelling completely amazes me! PLEASE, PLEASE never again think of ending your life, as we would all be the worse for it....we all need a model of what a woman alone can do given the motivation! And, as you found out, the very minute that you might have decided to pull the plug, something wonderful can show up and it would all be so stupid! You are anything but a stupid woman, and so keep on keeping on no matter what happens!

I always tell myself, each time I get so down and feel futility in trying to live on my own with my meager retirement income, "At least I am not yet living in a leaky tent under an overpass in some city eating pallets of Ramen Nodles!" By your standards, my life is a piece of cake compared to yours, and I am ashamed to even feel anxious! Please keep us informed, and I can't wait until you can get some pictures of what you are doing, as you go along.

You should be congratulated! I will be keeping my eyes on your progress, for sure, and my sniveling and complaing and anxiety will pale and evaporate as I get to read about your progress----and even any setbacks you may encounter. Take care of your body, however, as best you can, and don't wear it out before you can experience the rewards of having fashioned yourself a safe, comfy place to live!

You make me proud to be a woman!

[AlmostThere]

I agree with what Soos said. You are needed in this world. I would love to see pictures of all you handiwork. Good for you!!

[rriverstone]

Someone just donated a HD video camera to me, but I haven't had time to research its operation. I also bought an el cheapo, not HD, that I know takes stills. I haven't had time to unwrap it yet.

Spent 4 hrs. this morning hooking up my computer and now have internet in bed. My new monitor came last night. I removed the mounting stand and replaced it, upside down. So my flat screen monitor is hanging from the shelf/frame I built over my head at about mid thigh. I can see SO MUCH BETTER on this new monitor.

Realized I had a Brain Injury moment of logic gap. I ordered Verison's MiFi, which I finally opened (it's only been here 3 or 4 days) today, only to realize, duh, I need a Verison cell phone to work the damn thing! And my 30 day free trial started the day it was delivered. So, I'll have to call Verison, beg for some time and ask them to help me pick a cheap but functional cell phone service to use.

Mean time, I strung my phone cord out a window of the house, made sure it's high enough of the ground the goats can't eat it (goats love copper), brought it through the louvered, back bedroom window and hooked up my Qwest high speed & land line phone, mostly so I can contact Verison and be on their website while talking to customer service. Four hours.

Snow, rain and 40mph wind gusts predicted for next, 3 days; starting to seriously cloud up. Food & coffee stuff in here. Water in bottles, cuz I don't want to turn on the hose; cold water leaks all over yard, under house, in bathroom of house....

Laid strips of carpet from front porch to door of TT. I expect to be bringing stuff out here during breaks in the weather, particularly my tv and dvd player; a new movie from NetFlix is due tomorrow: "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," an appropriate title, given my circumstances.

MUCH warmer & more comfortable inside TT than old house! Cats (except Fatty Watty Kitty Catty, who is still hiding under bed) and dogs LOVE it in here! Nobody wants to escape. Dogs do business outside, but are eager to come back in.

Hung icecicle xmas lights from each end toward center: very cheerful, enough light, low energy: cost $4 for 2 15 foot strings.

Weather clears this weekend. Will rest body and just geek out & watch films & putter in new space 'til then.

Maybe I'll now have time to learn my new cameras & at least tape the interior and maybe edit a YouTube video or 2!

[Liz]

My Verizon MiFi works on my laptop....I have no Verizon cell phone, just a data plan for the MiFi. Data plan runs about $60 a month.

[Bethers]

Like Liz said - no phone service needed to use the MiFi - completely separate things - and don't let Verizon try to tell you differently. I use the MiFi, also.

[rriverstone]

Hard weather's coming
http://livinginthehood.blogspot.com/2010/12/hard-weathers-coming.html

[bluepinecones]

I haven't had a chance to catch up on all your work yet but am very impressed with what you have undertaken. Stopping to rest the body now and then is a good thing. Enjoy your down time with the bad weather.

[rriverstone]

I guess 2 days off is "progress?"

Latest report: the weather is terrifying
http://livinginthehood.blogspot.com/2010/12/cold-is-terrifying.html

[flick4411]

Echoing what Carolyn said...we love pictures...show us the fruits of your labor...

[rriverstone]

I'll fool with my cameras tomorrow and see if I can post some pictures or maybe even some video, ok?

Meantime: How I'm handling the cold:
http://livinginthehood.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-im-handling-cold.html

[avalen]

I have a verizon thingy on my computer too, my cell phone is totally separate. The verizon
5g thing cost me $60 a month and I have never even come close to using up all the g's on
it per month. But then I don't use it for youtube videos or music or movies etc. But I do
play some games on occassion, and pretty much leave my computer online most all the time.

[rriverstone]

This isn't exactly a progress report on my TT, but it may explain why I am in such precarious circumstances.

Effects of my brain injuries
http://livinginthehood.blogspot.com/2011/01/effects-of-my-brain-injuries.html

[retiredhappy]

Rogi, you really are a lesson to all of us not to judge a book by its cover. Its such a shame that we jump to conclusions about what type of person someone is by the way they look. I love reading your blog - you are a very intelligent woman. Hopefully you find support here on this forum.

PS: Many of us are grey haired and could/should (me included) lose a few pounds.

[rriverstone]

Thanks. I've gotten much support from this forum. I even know I'm not fooling with the water heater, and that it's my fault the furnace wasn't working right! But the moral support, and having people respect what I'm doing without thinking I'm crazy for trying to have an independent life, those are so valuable to me. You have no idea how much easier it is to get up and go beat the hell out of the obstacles in my way because I can flop down at some point, write a blog post about it and have y'all break out yer pom poms and cheer!