"Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do." - Potter Stewart

Halloween costumes on a Sun City theme

We arrived at Baker Rd. one week ago today, and when viewed from that angle we've made a lot of progress. Checked off of today's to-do list:

• medicine cabinet and towel bars are up in the bathroom. 
• Pam did a week's worth of laundry at the Vaneta laundromat while I worked on an article at a coffee shop a few doors down. 
• The pictures and clock are hung. We only have wall space for three of the former, and some of my favorites are in the storage unit, but those classy floor-to-ceiling mirror strips that helped make the 70's so wonderful use up wall space.
• Pam's magnetic knife rack is installed in the kitchen.
• A trip to Lowe's got me the wood and shelving to convert the laundry closet to a coat closet and storage space. 
• A stop at Freddie M's next door got me some rain gear so I'm ready to work outside through the OR winter rains. 

While we're doing lists, here are some things they sell in OR that I never saw in Phoenix stores:

1. Hemlock boards
2. Rain gear
3. Boot trays
4. Plaid flannel shirts
5. Denim overalls. (gotta get me a pair of those)

Today's highlight, or lowlight, is the truck issue. It was originally supposed to be delivered Thursday or Friday of last week, but when that didn't happen I was assured it would show up Saturday morning. 

Nothing. 

No truck and no contact from the firm or the driver. 

This morning I started making noise, calling the trucking company and the broker who set the deal up. Repeatedly.

At 2 p.m. the owner of the trucking company told he he'd finally made contact with his driver who reported he was in Reno (???) and would provide an ETA in the next 30 minutes. I'd get a call as soon as that happened. 

Nothing. 

The broker is my best hope here. He has called them two or three times today and has put up a negative review on the site other brokers use when assigning jobs. He's going to call again tomorrow morning and tell the owner that the negative review - the only blemish on their otherwise perfect record - will remain until I receive a $200 refund. He agreed I've been more than patient thus far but that it's time to get this resolved, and that starts with the delivery of my truck. 

I know the truck is a thing, but it's a thing I spent 18 months and a fair bit of money on. It's the second most valuable thing we own (and better looking than MoHo), and having no idea where or how it is is more than disturbing.

I miss my books. I miss digging. I think we've made enough progress that I can soon begin implementing the new schedule with at least two hours every morning set aside for C.R. coffee and time in the Book. 

And that makes me eager to begin work on Fred.