the victory of optimism over experience

[the_siobhan]

There's always at least one task on my to-list that I really really don't want to do. Usually because it requires sitting down for an extended stretch of hours and figuring out what the fuck happened so I can then figure out how to fix it.

Back when the house nonsense started I applied for a grant being offered by the federal government to make your house more energy efficient. Since I was going from UN-insulated wooden box to an insulated wooden box I figured I would qualify for at least some money.

Well that was a whole Prime Minister ago, and after two extensions and lots of missed targets I finally got the final energy audit done this summer. Something went wrong though and the application was never completed so I sat down today and dug through a stack of email attachments to figure out what was missing. I think I'm on the right track, so wish me luck I can get it fixed. A few bucks to offset the money pit would be very very useful.

Next on the donwanna list is compiling the full list of contracts and bills and fix-it work that has had to be done. If I can get a comprehensive list together of what has and hasn't been done up to today's date it will be easier to add to it as things go forward.

***

Nothing yet from the city inspector. I spoke to the permit-wrangler and he left a message with her on Friday, so hopefully she gets back to him this coming work week.

I haven't done much in the basement while I've been waiting to hear back, so that means I have time to finally put my living spaces in better order. Lots of moving furniture and cleaning up cat puke. Finally made homes for a stack of pots and pans that have just been living on top of the stove. And I finally installed the new front door lock that's been sitting in a drawer and waiting for me to deal with it for um, about 18 months.

***

My sister got an email from a woman in Australia who said her DNA test with ancestry.com showed a match. I'm pretty sure my mother told me we had relatives in Australia but I don't know how we're connected with the little info I have. I had an old free version of ancestry that didn't have much info on it, so I upgraded to a paid version and now I just need to find time to start adding stuff to it.

I have an aunt who is charge of remembering all the family members and how everybody is related so once I have a skeleton together I'll reach out to her and see if she can fill in things like how many kids my cousins have, because I have no clue.

It's a project I've been meaning to get around to for pretty much years. But maybe I'll have a little bit more free time this winter.

***

Physio still going really well. Crossing my fingers I'll be back to normal in a couple of months.

Comments

[jo]

You didn't mention if you signed up for a 6-month or full year Ancestry membership, but when it's coming up for renewal, cancel it before it auto-renews. They always ask why you're cancelling. If you tick the "it's too expensive" box, in my experience, I would usually get emails not long after offering me very nice discounts on the regular membership price, at least 40% off, sometimes 50%. The last time I cancelled, I forgot and ticked the "I don't have time" or equivalent option and definitely didn't immediately start getting offers with discounted membership prices.

[the_siobhan]

Oh nice! I'll try that.

I'm assuming all your info doesn't go away while your account isn't active.

[jo]

Nope, everything stays as is, and they keep emailing you "we may have found new hints" info. I've been contacted by people who've had questions about my tree while my membership was inactive -- you can still log in to your account -- you just can't do anything to your tree.

[greylock]

My sister got an email from a woman in Australia who said her DNA test with ancestry.com showed a match.

My qualms with DNA sites aside, I assume over east?