January 29, 2009
Speaking of the library 
…
In addition to the book swap sites I was using before, I’ve found two new ones.
WhatsOnMyBookshelf? has already shown some activity since I signed up a week ago.
ReadersUnited is another new one (to me). I don’t think I’ve gotten around to listing any books there yet.
And as for the ones I’ve already been using, in case you missed them before:
PaperBackSwap swaps more than just paperbacks. This one is by far my favorite, as it gets the most consistent “traffic.”
BookMooch is another good one. I have a tendency to run out of points, though, because this is one site where you can’t buy extra points.
TitleTrader is nice, because you can also trade videos, cd’s, etc. Basically, if it has an ISBN or you can find it on Amazon, you can list it.
FrugalReader hasn’t been especially helpful to me, although it might be for someone else. I haven’t yet seen any of my wish list books come up, and the site loads pretty slowly for me. But if you read different kinds of books than I do (for instance, if you read primarily fiction), you might have greater success than I have.
January 28, 2009
Does anyone know if a laptop screen, like an lcd monitor, has no refresh rate? Just curious, as I understand that the lack of a refresh rate can be easier on the eyes. (I guess probably that’s also true of our new tv. Pretty cool.)
Michael got the first coat of paint on the library last night, and it looks pretty good. If it really came down to it, we could leave it like it is. (Well, except for the spot where he had to repair the wall and, therefore, wasn’t able to paint it yet ’cause the mud was wet.) It’s a nice medium dusky blue. Similar to a Williamsburg blue, I guess. At some point I will post pictures, but probably not until the paint job is finished. This is an exciting first step, though, as getting the rest of the house in order sort of hinges on this room.
January 26, 2009
We spent most of Saturday shuttling back and forth between the storage place and home, getting our larger storage unit completely cleaned out (except for Michael’s model train; we still have to get that this week). So we now have everything here except:
-the model train
-the piano
-the weight bench
-a handful of our pictures (of the hang-on-the-wall variety)
-about 25 or so more boxes of books.
Now that basically all of our stuff is here, we’re really getting started with getting the house in order. One great challenge is that, really, the best way for us to start will be to get the library set up. That will clear out quite a few boxes and give us some usable space for working with other still-full boxes. Problem is, it’s “full up” and needs to be painted before we can start! So Michael and I spent a while last night condensing the stuff in it into the center of the room so that, hopefully, we can get it prepped tonight and painted (at least a first coat) tomorrow.
Meanwhile, he got the surround sound speakers all hooked up to the television, which was pretty fun. Michael says he wishes he had Star Wars on DVD, just because it would sound really cool with the surround sound.
January 23, 2009
Many people’s New Year’s resolutions involve losing weight and/or getting into shape. If losing weight is one of your resolutions, before you head out to buy the Lipovox, or Alli, or whatever other new diet drug is promising the moon, try adopting a new exercise routine.
I don’t do resolutions, and I don’t need to lose weight, but I do set goals for the year, and I do need to get fit. One simple tool that I have found amazingly useful is the fitness ladder that John Walker of “fourmilab” has posted. It is composed of very simple exercises, doesn’t take very long, and is set up in such “baby steps” that practically anyone can do it. Even me, who started out very out-of-shape. (And will probably have to go back to the beginning, since I’ve been so bad about this during all these months we’ve been moving!)
January 23, 2009
The two rooms in our house that will be the most significant, as far as our setting them up, will be the library and the kitchen. The library, because we’ve never had one before and have always wanted one. The kitchen, because we’re basically going to gut it and start over. (We’re keeping the appliances, sink, etc., but all of the cabinets and the counter are going.)
My mom’s house is basically decorated entirely in “America’s favorite discount furniture store” – a.k.a. IKEA. This leaves my hubby a bit reluctant to buy much from IKEA, ’cause to him, it says “Mom.” (Not that my mom’s style is bad or anything; it’s just that then he thinks of it as looking like Mom’s house and not our house. Despite the fact that IKEA sells some variety.) Nevertheless, there’s a good chance we’ll get our cabinets from IKEA. Mom got an island composed of IKEA cabinets and countertops, and they are some nice cabinets. Consumer reports said the same thing – that IKEA cabinetry had a lot of the high-end features, for being one of the lowest-priced options. So, we’ll have to see, but they’re definitely on the short list.
Meanwhile, the plan is to line the large room downstairs almost entirely with bookcases. Hence, “the library.”
(reading chronologically)
