|
Dungeon
Saturday, January 15, 2000 This morning Jack and I woke up to the sound of screeching seagulls and crashing waves. At least that's what it's supposed to sound like, the alarm clock I bought for his bedroom last year. I'd picked it out because the numbers were big enough that I could easily make them out without my contact lenses, the clock beside me in his old bedroom; it's not as easy now that it's across the room from where I'm sleeping. Actually, the sound of the alarm is a weird screeching noise, but it does wake you up! I never did figure out why Jack set the alarm, except that he had various things he wanted to get done around the house this morning.
After getting the kitchen and living room straightened out, the three of us went out on a shopping/errands expedition. (Jack's younger daughter H---- was with us.) Driving from one end of Bellingham to the other is a recurring theme for these weekends, probably because Jack lives at the south end of town, and the main shopping areas are on the north end. The weekend is a good time to get things accomplished, too! Our first stop was Kmart (or "Big K" as it seems to want to be called, now). Jack went to a thrift store in the same shopping center, whil I escorted H---- inside. She had a gift certificate card from Christmas, and she wanted to see how much money was on it; her sister A----- had had it with her on an outing, and it was very possible A---- had helped herself to some of the funds. The customer service person checked the card, and it still had the full value of credit, so I guess A---- didn't find anything she wanted that day. (How bitchy of me to think that.) I ended up finding a bunch of new hair clips! They were the same "concorde" shape I like, but were copper-toned and gunmetal, which I didn't have yet. I also found a new pair of black leather oxfords for daily wear, which I desparately needed. I've been wearing black leather Keds for a year and three quarters, and my toes were busting out of one of them. The new ones are bowling-shoe styled, from Cobbie Cuddler. If they don't work out, it's not a big deal, since they only cost twenty bucks. We wanted to eat lunch, but didn't have a strong preference for where, until I remembered that Quizno's sub place was close to our next destination. So we feasted on subs and chili there. I really like their bread!
Jack's main mission for today was to buy a couch. I was glad to hear that! His old couch didn't make the move with him last summer; I was just as glad since it was a big ugly sectional thing in bad shape. But that meant that the current seating in his living room was a big recliner for himself, and stacking metal-frame office chairs for anyone else. I've felt isolated from him when we were watcing tv or a video -- there is no way to snuggle up to someone when they are seated in a recliner. Sometimes we'd take turns, one of us seated on the floor, leaning against the other person's legs. This was good for a few minutes, but inevitably the person on the floor would start to get a numb seat! Our first stop was the Quality Rentals place. I wasn't wild about any of the couches, but there were two futons that were previously rented, and were only three hundred dollars. Even better, that price could be split into three monthy payments. The futon wasn't that comfortable for me, but some added throw pillows might help. The seat is rather deep, and slopes back, so I have trouble getting out of the thing! If I sit far back enough to rest my back, my little feet are sticking straight out in the air. We drove up the road to check out the couch currently being featured at Costco. It's a golden-brown brocade, with poufy pillows at the back. I liked it! But -- it was two hundred dollars more than the futon. Delivery would be an extra charge (but is free for the futon). Given that, I didn't feel good about lobbying too strongly on the Costco couch's behalf. It's Jack's house, after all. So we went back to the rental place and Jack bought the futon. The paperwork took a surprisingly long time, long enough for me to look at all the rest of the nasty furniture there, plus the unattractive photos in the binder where you can get all the details of fabric and configuration. I'm thankful that the futon is comparatively inoffensive. (I'm such a furniture snob!) They'll deliver the futon and frame this Monday, after work.
On the way back home, we stopped at the used bookstores downtown. I finally succeeded in my quest to get a hardback edition of the Lord of the Rings, for my nephew in Delaware. Now I just need to get it sent, before they move to Switzerland! My sister B---- has been transferred by the famous Delaware company she and her husband both work for. The grocery store for stir-fry components, and we were home at last. I did the stirfry cooking, as an excuse to break in Jack's new rice cooker. Oops! I thought I bought him one that dings when the rice is cooked, but it doesn't. He'll have to listen for the little click, or just look at the light. It worked fine, anyway. I used Costco frozen chicken breasts, napa cabbage, cherry tomatoes, and a few other veggies in the stirfry. I found out after cooking that H---- doesn't care for mushrooms. I could easily have left them out, since we only put in a small quantity and they weren't a dominant note in the the dish.
Jack has had a Dungeon board game kicking around for a while, and H---- has been wanting to play it. Tonight was the night. I cooperated, even though board games (or role-playing games either) aren't really my thing. This one was from the orginal Dungeons and Dragons company. I laughed when I ended up winning the game! I was lucky in my dice-rolling, and won lots of valuable treasures, I guess. Of course Jack was mock-frustrated about it. The game actually turned out to be fun! We put the game away and watched tape three of the "Lain" anime series. These later episodes varied in tone, and even in the look of the characters! I hope that Lain will take some action before the end (there's one more tape of three episodes), and not just be a martyr or victim.
|
