My sister looked at google maps for me and worked out a basic walking route. We tested it out today. There is still construction at West Wingra and South Park so that direction was blocked as was West Wingra to Fish Hatchery crossing South Street. So we walked on the opposite side of the street, down Appleton to a busy street which I later determined was Fish hatchery. We retraced our steps–Elwood hates this part–and crossed, going up to Midland and along to Fish hatchery, crossing Appleton and going down to West Wingra. That’s a strange crossing, but Elwood is a champ and knew where to go and with the traffic running on Fish Hatchery, I figured we were pretty safe. We can’t walk along the river/creek on Planert because there isn’t a path, so we crossed and walked on the other side of the street. I’m wondering if there is a store at the corner of South Park because I heard someone making those paging noises out to the street which I often here at big stores. We crossed over the water–a very steep bridge–and had to walk all the way back to along West Wingra to Fish Hatchery, up to Appleton, and back down to South and West Wingra to cross. Elwood hasn’t figured out yet which building is ours from this direction, but fortunately I now know the step up to –51 is different than our entrance. We went in the front door of our building after that. We had never done that before. Come to think of it, we could have stepped off –51’s stoop and gone into our building. I’m just not wired that way just yet. It’ll be a shock to Elwood when we do that. ...

Elwood and I went to the grocery store today. We went off early and arrived at the store with help from others entering the store. We located customer service with help and received it promptly. The helper was very straight forward: What should I do? We traveled about the store, picking up a few items. The helper stayed with me through checkout. The cashier wanted to know how I wanted my cash back and, since I asked that my groceries be put in my carry bag, if I was taking the bus. Our helper got us out of the store. We returned to the parking lot we need to traverse. Wow! This is going great. Then I find myself on a street with traffic on my left instead of my right if we are to be going back to the apartment with about 10 pounds of groceries. I turn around. Elwood suggests we cross a street and start investigating a residential area. I decide to retrace our steps and one thing led to another and we are walking down the sidewalk of a busy road. I heard a buzzer to indicate a signal change and hoped we were on South Park. Elwood hesitated, then went on. We walked. No one was out and about. We walked some more. I didn’t have my cell phone but then again, who would I have called? I kept thinking we’d hit the corner but the sidewalk seemed to go on forever. I hoped this was not a street I had never been on. Remembering that the corner of West Wingra and South park is a long walk, and yet not coming to it, I turned around. Elwood was grumpy and I was short with him. He turned into a parking lot. With luck, this was the grocery store and yes, it was. A very helpful man wanted to know if we were going inside and I said no and we went into the parking lot again. Elwood thought we might cross South Street and stood firm on that for a short while, but then did indeed turn toward home. But he didn’t turn into our driveway and kept walking and walking. Were we on our street? I decided to turn around because if we were, we had passed our building. Elwood turned into a driveway but the step up to the door wasn’t right and my key doesn’t work in that building’s lock.. We tried again. We went to the front of the next building. I decided to find our driveway and we went up the next one. Yes, this was ours. Elwood had found it. ...

This morning Elwood and I took out the trash and the recycling. Lots of odds and ends. He sat quietly while I got everything into the right dumpster. Then we took boxes down to the basement. This is a bit awkward since there are the stairs, the boxes and us. I ended up having him sit inside the basement while I maneuvered the boxes inside. The door is heavy and spring-loaded so that it remains loccked. I didn’t want to catch any part of him in the door. Then I manuevered the boxes around the corner and picked him up to go to the storage unit. Then Elwood sat quietly again while I stowed them. It’s so impressive, this waiting patiently and not going off about dog business. ...

There have been grumbles that I haven’t updated this journal recently. I guess that is because I’ve been tired and frustrated with my internet service. I guess I’ll have to get on that soon because it isn’t working with my wireless router and that is a real pain. There are still some boxes to be unpacked, some stuff to go down in the storage area and some odds and ends of packing materials to go in the dumpster. Elwood is very good about finding the dumpster and the recycling dumpster which is behind it. ...

Melanie and I spent the day picking up little things. We began at Good Will and worked our way up to Bed Bath and Beyond. I now have a 5% discount card at Good Will–disabled people and seniors get one. We also found Elwood a mat for his bowls with blue pawprints on it since he will be eating in the dining room. J. reviewed the contract and we think we’re okay. The difficulty has arisen over under-estimating we think. The company says my things will arrive this weekend. We are off in the morning to start the process.

We went out for dinner at Qudoba to celebrate Melanie’s birthday. Afterwards, we walked outside. The band played Celebrate. Then thunder and a downpour. Melanie had an umbrella. Half of Melanie was under the umbrella. Half of me was under the umbrella. None of J. or Elwood was under the umbrella. When we got inside, J. went to dry his hair. We looked at a few things in the mall then went to Barnes and Noble for a coffee and to get warm and a little dryer. AFterwards we picked up a few things at Trader Joe’s. Now we are home. Elwood got dried off and we are a bit dryer, too.

Something is fishy in the charges for my move. According to the moving service, I moved 5,800 pounds. Not a chance. The money owed may or may not be correct, but certainly relates not at all to the poundage reported. The solution is to pay and go with the truck to a weigh station. Much inconvenience and irritation. Waste of time and gas, but necessary, I think, to avoid being scammed. According to the office, they loaded the truck 709. Try 0628. Melanie suggested they are reading the wrong ticket. I hope it is that. I asked the coordinator via email to re-confirm info. Waiting for a response. If this does not come by afternoon, I’ll call. irritating enough. Time to move on as my guest status has gotten old for everyone. ...

She had to pull the file. The weight ticket is dated 627. My things were loaded on the truck 628. Stand by.

Still waiting around to hear about the arrival of the moving truck. Well, experience is handy in these things. Fortunately, I have a place to hang. We even had leftovers last night. I have learned that the local co-op in Madison delivers to my area and I’ve had fun reading about all the products I can order. Figuring out poundage as opposed to pieces of fruit will be an adventure. You can also order glass jars and bottles for your stuff to be delivered in if you want to avoid plastic. Meat is pricey because it is organic or free range but then we’re all supposed to eat less meat and this is certainly an incentive. I was pleased to discover they have a specific link to Wisconsin cheeses. I could dump most meat for cheese anyway. The coop is full service so there’s paper towels, toilet paper and light bulbs, too. Unfortunately, it’s a different kind of pet food. There’re cleaners in bulk, too. Definitely not glass there for me. I remember the days when shampoo came in glass containers. Not good. ...

I shot off an email to the moving company yesterday and within 15 minutes I got acall. Unfortunately, the cell phone wasn’t nearby so it became a voice mail. They don’t have a weight ticket yet; the truck was at a loading stop; they will deliver by 7/11. I can’t ask for better resonse than this. The impression that things are messier than they really are is because I’m so unfamiliar with this process. I am sharing the truck with others. I will receive a call 24 hours before delivery. Melanie has advised her office. It’s like waiting for a baby. This afternoon I will see the apartment. I hope to have pictures.