What Ana Does

Happy to report our new furnace is shiny and functional. When we woke up this morning, we were greeted to the sounds of warm air being pumped through the house. However, the major storm that blew through took down a live power line from the house next door -- dropping it on our driveway and across the street. So, we've got attractive "CAUTION" tape blocking the area in front of our house and the road. This is very attractive to potential buyers, I'm sure. And given the amount of people still without power, it's going to be awhile before they come out and get it cleaned up. Also feeling pretty good about removing the fence last month, as it would have been kindling thanks to the number of limbs that fell into the yard -- and from all sides. Though, I'm sad to report, the grill was smashed. Will be giving our insurance guy a call tomorrow -- does our policy cover freak October snow storms?

The guys have been in the basement banging away installing the new furnace all day. We're anxious to feel the warm air and pull off some layers. We're upstairs trying to keep warm and watching the first snow storm of the year ... in October. Really?! And tree limbs are coming down all over the house! You hear a crack and a whoosh -- snow and limbs come crashing down. Crazy weather day. When will the heat come on?!

This morning is definitely the coldest morning in the house since the furnace was disconnected. (For our safety.) There's frost on the pumpkins and we could see our breath when we dropped Leah off at Kindergarten.  Low 50s are forecasted for the day. The thermostat in the dining room is reading 61 degrees -- and we've got a space heater turned on in here! The water coming out of the faucets is ice-cold. It almost hurts my hands. And I've got three layers on to keep warm. And here's what the 3-year-old decides to wear around the house ... ... and I had to beg her to put on the sweatpants. Minutes earlier she was naked.  Sigh.

This is just bad luck. For years, we went to see Guster in NYC on Thanksgiving weekend. Usually with Maggie. Remember? It was a tradition, along with going to see the Macy's Thanksgiving parade with Josh. Guess where Guster is playing this Thanksgiving. Montclair!! Ten minutes down the friggin road. We plan to move away just in time for them to come to us?! Curses!

When it comes to spray cleaners for my house, I prefer the organic brands. They're not made from harsh chemicals, so I don't have to worry about who is around when I'm using them or what I'm cleaning. And the sharp ammonia smell always bothered me. The previous owners of the house didn't feel the same way and, in the spirit of generosity, left a few bottles of Windex, TopJob and 409 cleaners. I just shoved them aside, feeling too guilty about pouring them down the drain or trashing them. Since putting the house on the market I've been going through spray cleaner quicker than tissue in a preschool, so I pulled out the Windex one afternoon when my Method spray was gone. My question is this: What the HELL is inside Windex? It makes my counters sparkle, the stove top shine, takes up grubby oil in two wipes and generally makes the kitchen look brand-new. There's a noticeable difference. I still worry when I drop a strawberry on the counter -- can I eat ...

Found this little board book at the bookstore. Cute, no? Omen of things to come? Maybe. Maybe not. *sigh*

Work was slow today and I got my errand done early so I got to indulge in one of my favorite activities: puttering. Puttering = me wandering from room to room taking care of a variety of small tasks. But never staying in one room for too long. For a scatterbrain like me, it's true glory. I started in my bedroom, walked into Leah's room to put some photos I unearthed away ... found Alice's baby book so I looked through that. I headed toward Alice's room to put away the Barbies which sent me back to Leah's for more Barbie stuff. Back in Alice's I put away clean clothes I folded last night, which turned into reorganizing her drawers, removing summer items. Back to my room to check work email. And so on. Room to room, task to task. Puttering is a fine art. Puttering also has the added advantage of keeping me warm -- as the furnace is still busted and the current house temperature is 65 degrees.