Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"Airlines have also complained loudly about increased DST. When DST was lengthened, the Air Transport Association estimated that the schedule-juggling necessary to keep U.S. flights lined up with international travel would cost the industry $147 million. DST hurts other transportation interests, too: Amtrak is known to halt its overnight trains for an hour when clocks change in November so they don't show up and leave from their 3 a.m. destinations early. In the spring, trains have to try to make up lost time so they can stick to the schedule.

"DST might also cost employers in the form of lost productivity. A 2012 study found that workers were more likely to cyberloaf -- doing non-work-related things on their computers during the day -- on the Monday after a DST switch. Study participants who lost an hour of sleep ended up wasting 20 percent of their time."

-- Rachel Feltman, "Five myths about daylight saving time", 2015-03-06

[I hate the time change a little bit more each year even though my personal schedule is mostly pretty flexible. My first choice would be to stay on standard time year 'round -- let clock-noon stay close to solar-noon, eh? -- but I would be nearly as happy just staying on DST year 'round. This switching back and forth is stupid. If your business needs a different schedule when days are shorter, or if you personally prefer a different schedule then, just change your hours for those months -- don't change everybody's clocks. *grrrr*]

I'm gonna need some help. Which I suck at asking for or figuring out how to use. But I'm gonna try.

Mom's long-anticipated move to the Eastern Shore (my sister's new place in Centreville) is now a reality, packing has begun, and a date has been set for loading Mom's stuff into a truck and hauling it and her across the bridge (though I'm not certain how firmly that date is set). The house in Bowie will be prepared for renting out, and I'll be moving back to the house in Baltimore. Which needs a lot of work that, between time spent watching out for Mom and times when my own health issues have gotten in the way, I haven't been able to get to. I'll have a couple weeks to get stuff done after Mom leaves, but if I can get any of this done before then, so much the better. And in any case, with how few hours of activity I usually get before I run out of spoons, I could definitely use help. (My backup plan is to just do everything as quickly as my body and other demands on my time (like being here to mind Mom) allow. But it's slowly dawning on me that ... it's a lot.)

And the asking is stressful, so this is going to be like, half stream-of-consciousness. Sorry.

I need to get the back door opened and re-keyed, plumbing repaired (which requires access to the porch via the back door), the oil tank and furnace checked out (which would probably be best timed for when the plumber is there), and windows repaired or replaced. It would be a great help if someone could be there to let the locksmith, plumber, boiler tech, etc. in while I'm still taking care of Mom, though if that doesn't work out, I'll try to rush all of that after Mom leaves Bowie. (Or if one of y'all with the relevant skills wants to get my back door open and replace the deadbolt, that'll work too, instead of calling a locksmith.)

I also need to start running vanloads of my stuff from Bowie up to Baltimore, but because of too many "no time to think or plan, just move everything from this floor to that floor and pile it however" incidents ... I could use help clearing space to put what gets carried up there. The place is in a frankly embarassing state, be warned. Y'all be warned. I'll be sitting here feeling embarassed. *sigh*

One bit that'll help with making space is hauling the three 8x12 segments of the tent platform for my old tent, out of the dining room. I'm giving up on the idea of trying to get that to Pennsic and finding a buyer for it. If any of y'all want it, fine; if not, it can go on the sidewalk. It was pretty cool when I had means to transport it easily and a tent that fit on it, but I haven't used it in a few years. Um, I should also (with help) haul a couple of ancient mattresses and box springs that are no longer even emergency-guest-bed condition, out to the curb.

Meanwhile, in Bowie, I need to relocate my stuff to the designated "out of the way of the teens my sister will hire to load Mom's furniture into a truck" room, by moving day (earlier would be better so as to facilitate Mom's packing). I think I can do that part myself, but I won't turn down help.

At some point in all of this, I hope to obtain some mildew-bombs and de-mildew at least my basement -- whether I need help with that depends on timing -- when I get the foggers and when the plumber et al will be there.

I need to get measurements of all the doorways a new clothes-dryer will have to pass through. And, um, clear out some stuff that'd be in the way of that.

I could also use help cleaning my kitchen and organizing it better, but that's not so much a moving thing as a general ongoing living thing. Note that I think this'll involve borrowing a pressure-washer and taking the top of the stove outside.

Other stuff not on a particular schedule:

• Replace bannister on back stairs (servant stairs).
• Install more lighting in basment.
• Check stuff in basement for water damage.
• Remove fascinatingly crystallized rusted cabinet from basement.
• Install house jacks in basement under kitchen (floor already sagging) and living room (I want to put bookshelves in).
• Do something about flooring in kitchen.
• Arrange furniture previously stacked willy-nilly so rooms are useable.
• Set up servers (mount in rack, configure, etc.).

The last word from my sister is that she plans to move Mom this coming Saturday, 14 March, but I'm guessing that the schedule will slip another week based on how much packing there is left to do here, of Mom's stuff. I should have another couple weeks after whenever Mom moves, to get the most urgent bits of my house taken care of.

It's a lot to ask, and I know that. And I know I've had to lean on some of you a lot more than I've been able to be leaned on, especially these past several years. But please, if any of this is something you can help with, please call/email/text me -- I'll even check my FaceBook messages this week -- and we'll try to work out timing. Thanks.