whew and yuck!

First stage of big clean-up project accomplished. All the boxes from my latest spate of Ebaying and the rest of my recent cardboard consumption (six-pack cartons, pizza box, cereal boxes, catlitter box) have been emptied of plastic peauts and other nonrecyclable packing materials, broken down, and are sitting by the car waiting to go to the recycling center.

Discovered that the black wool hat blank I'd bought many years ago in thought of making into a cocked hat (which served me well on a few 17th century occasions) had been dragged (or had fallen) into a corner of the packing materials from the foosball table and used as a cat nest/urinal. Why cats insist on pissing in the places they find comfortable (like my ex-sleeping bag and a few years before that a comforter I rather liked), I do not know. Anyway, that would explain the lingering scent of pee that kept filling the aprtment even when I cleaned the cat boxes assiduously. Some care and much cleaning required to get that bit of floor un-nasty again. New rule: cats canot have access to places I don't visit and inspect regularly. Corrolary: I must inspect regularly all areas that cats have access to. Really, this cat business is getting a bit out of hand. Do I want cats this much? (Answer, grudgingly, "Of course!" but could they make the choice a bit easier, please?)

All of former housemates' leftover rubbish (postly packing peanuts, bubblewrap, old Xmas cards never sent, etc.) as well as remains of two broken fluorescent bulbs, dead vacuum cleaner, and boxes from my foosball table and hammock have also been shifted from the small boxroom, preparatory to calling AAA Trash for a special pick up of those (and a few other bits of overlarge junk). Latter overlarge junk includes remains of pressboard filing cabinet which has been sitting outside my outside door being an eyesore. This, other junk, and big box from the new TV M & C got are all staged together in the carport (I won't put them out by the curb until the pickup is due, since it's supposed to rain off an on this week.

Still to do today/this weekend:

* take cardboard to recycling depot
* return last week's keg for deposit
* finish vacuuming apartment, which was where all this started
* clean kitchen floor
* clean bathroom
* laundry
* ironing

Am I going to get all of that done? Doubtful, but it's a start!

American Civil War rifle (reproduction)

Do any readers want, or know someone who might want, a Navy Arms reproduction 1858 Enfield rifled musket? It's in excellent condition and comes as a stand of arms (i.e., bayonet and scabbard, cartridge box and cap box are included). I have caps and tools (incl. a nipple wrench--down, you-know-who-you-are!), and there's a brown leather regulation sling already attached. $400 OBO.

I got it when I was with Company B, 28th Massachusetts, and as much as they're a great bunch of guys and ACW reenacting is fun, I have a feeling that if I haven't done it in several years, I'm not going to be getting back to it. I have other kit, too, if someone's interested.