Alien

Today I watched the first of my ten movies to watch (#67), Aliens.  I happened to run across it one night, so I recorded it and today seemed like a good day to see it.  I liked it!  Which is really what I expected based on everything I've ever heard about it.  It's a good blend of horror and sci-fi, and I really had to keep reminding myself that it was made in 1979... good job with the special effects!  Most of the time I would much rather see special effects that are real rather than all the digital effects that so many movies have nowadays.  (back in my day, they made real movies!  *LOL*)  Anyway, I'm glad I finally saw it, and now I want to see the sequels!

It's been a weekend of ups and downs, due in part to the fact that I'm feeling a little under the weather, but I have managed to get pretty much everything marked off my to-do list this week which is always a good feeling.  Friday I had pictures taken for my passport renewal #12), but when I went to fill out the application online, I realized that the passport was in a lockbox and I didn't know where the key was.  I thought I must have packed it up during the move (although in the back of my mind, I really kept thinking that I had kept it out in case I needed it).  So I set the whole thing aside, frustrated that I wouldn't be able to mark it off the list for a while.  But then Saturday I noticed the keys sitting on top of a box in the living room!  Aha!  The back of my mind was right!  I had not packed away the keys!!  So now the application, photos, passport, and check are ready to go to the post office.  Yea!

Yesterday afternoon and evening I worked on putting together the bookcases that I bought at The Container Store last October.  Their purpose is to go in the living room and hold some of my books and knick-knacks.  So after many hours and one very sore hand from the teeny little allen wrench that you get to assemble them, I am finished.  I hook them together with the conveniently included brackets, push them up against the wall and get this...

umm, no.  That is really how it looks.  Apparently the slots for the shelves on one set was set to cut about half an inch higher than than the slots on the other set.  And yes, these are actually made for the purpose of being attached to each other and sitting side by side.  I was very upset.  I was quite close to tears at one point.  Or screaming.  Or throwing the whole thing over onto the floor.  But instead, I went to bed and called The Container Store customer service line this morning when I was a little calmer.  They are going to send me new pieces "A" and "C" (per the Leaning Bookcase assembly guide), and hopefully the notches will match one of the two bookcases that I already have put together.  They should be shipping tomorrow, so we'll see.

The problem with all of this was that I had planned on unpacking the rest of my books today and getting at least some of them onto the new shelves in the living room and the old shelves in my office.  Instead, I have read the paper and watched Alien.  I did go ahead and start unpacking some more of the books this afternoon, so I can get them sorted and ready to go on the shelves whenever/if they ever get finished.  Why can nothing ever be easy???  I do think that counts toward getting all my boxes unpacked, though (#80).  And I randomly took a multivitamin Friday night and again last night, so I think I have started my sixty days (#82).  Oh, and I went to Half Price Books on Friday where I happened to find two of the books on my list of fifteen to read (#66), so that was exciting!

Seeing all of it here makes me realize that I have actually accomplished some things and made progress, so I am feeling much better now.  I think that calls for some chocolate!