How'd it go today?

I just took two boxes containing hitch cords, ropes, hardware, gear, etc. to UPS, to be sent to Massachusetts, and I nearly shit a brick when he told me that my 70lbs worth of equipment in 2x 18 cubed boxes would cost $238 to ship ground.

I was not financially prepared for that. But I have no choice. At least they come with tracking. I also returned four boxes, so I got $47 back, so that helped a little.

Now I just need to save up for my carry-ons for the plane. One or both of them will easily be over 50lbs, so I'm looking to feel the financial hurt again. But my luggage contains my most valuable devices and ropes and pulleys, etc. There's only a small section for clothes. I can always buy more clothes at Kohls once I get to MA. But I'll fit a few outfits into my luggage. Maybe two pairs of jeans and a few shirts.

Ugh. That was a huge shock to my budget. I wonder what the airlines will charge me. Good thing I've already stocked up on food and have NOTHING to buy except cleaning supplies to hopefully get my damage deposit back. But I've been living here for four years, so we'll see what happens. I've been cleaning nonstop for weeks to clear out the nonsense I've accumulated, and to get ready for a deep clean.

Wish me luck, guys and gals! This is so incredible stressful!
 
I also returned four boxes, so I got $47 back, so that helped a little.
Explain. Boxes are $12/each? We're talking cardboard boxes, right?

Shipping is expensive. I'm always shocked when I get the bill for a not terribly big box. I always use USPS. I consider it a donation, cause a good postal system is essential for a real first world country. Makes me feel a bit better about spending a fuckton on shipping, and it's still cheaper than hand delivering. Y'all are welcome.
 
Explain. Boxes are $12/each? We're talking cardboard boxes, right?

Shipping is expensive. I'm always shocked when I get the bill for a not terribly big box. I always use USPS. I consider it a donation, cause a good postal system is essential for a real first world country. Makes me feel a bit better about spending a fuckton on shipping, and it's still cheaper than hand delivering. Y'all are welcome.
2x18inch cubed double currogated boxes. I should have done USPS. It would have been cheaper.
 
I just took two boxes containing hitch cords, ropes, hardware, gear, etc. to UPS, to be sent to Massachusetts, and I nearly shit a brick when he told me that my 70lbs worth of equipment in 2x 18 cubed boxes would cost $238 to ship ground.

I was not financially prepared for that. But I have no choice. At least they come with tracking. I also returned four boxes, so I got $47 back, so that helped a little.

Now I just need to save up for my carry-ons for the plane. One or both of them will easily be over 50lbs, so I'm looking to feel the financial hurt again. But my luggage contains my most valuable devices and ropes and pulleys, etc. There's only a small section for clothes. I can always buy more clothes at Kohls once I get to MA. But I'll fit a few outfits into my luggage. Maybe two pairs of jeans and a few shirts.

Ugh. That was a huge shock to my budget. I wonder what the airlines will charge me. Good thing I've already stocked up on food and have NOTHING to buy except cleaning supplies to hopefully get my damage deposit back. But I've been living here for four years, so we'll see what happens. I've been cleaning nonstop for weeks to clear out the nonsense I've accumulated, and to get ready for a deep clean.

Wish me luck, guys and gals! This is so incredible stressful!
Www.pirateship.com
 
Routine day. Some property work at work. I washed Spot's blankets from winter, and washed my helmet. I've been meaning to do the blankets for awhile, but haven't made the time. She doesn't use the enclosure when it's warm, so it wasn't pressing. I wash them in a bucket with soapy water, and hang them on the clothesline. After a couple rains/dries for rinsing, I'll bring them in til winter. Exciting day :^D
 
Final run up to a summer vacation starting Saturday. Today, a little final chipping onsite for finishing a 21 hazard tree contract for an HOA.

Friday might have multiple snow-bent birches to prune. Not sure what I'll get into tomorrow.

New part-time college guy went home sick yesterday in the first hour. Back after July 5th. Doing an internship and a class, so probably a 2 day a week guy. Handful of days so far, going well. He's got a bit of experience, some good/ some to be corrected (give each other lots of working space and don't cut something held by another person).

My GF/ usual part-time employee is on a reduced schedule for the summer since there is no school.
 
Saw a fox tangling with a squirrel on the way to a job today. I guess foxes need to eat, but I'm always on the side of the squirrels. I suppose it could've gotten away, but it wasn't looking good for Rocky. OTOH. I saw Spot giving a lot of attention to the ground in front of her, so I went out to see what she got. I was enough of a distraction that the wren got away from her \o/. There's *always* a chance as long as you keep trying.

Also saw a dead snapper in the road across from the job. That's a bummer. The world needs more turtles.
 
I think I've finally reached a point where there's very little left in my apartment to throw out. I've also been deep cleaning small areas of my apartments as I clear stuff out, but there's still a lot of areas to deep clean if I am going to have any hope of getting my damage deposit back. I've made a list of everything that needs cleaning, and I still have a long way to go. I wasn't expecting it to take so long just to get rid of the crap I accumulated over the last four years. C'est la vie.

On the upside, I got invited over to this pretty neighbor's apartment yesterday. She and I have become quite friendly over the last several months. She knows I'm moving across the country, and she's actually moving to California in a few months. So dating isn't something that's an option. But "friends with benefits" is our official label, and that's perfectly fine with me, too. We had a wonderful time last night. Didn't leave until around 4am, and getting home was simple, since I can see her door from mine haha

It was definitely a boost to my morale and being with her helped me get out of my overwhelmed and anxious mindset for a night. It sucks, because I'd definitely give dating her a shot if I could. She's very unique, interesting, and attractive. But there are plenty of other girls in Massachusetts and I'm not sure I'm ready for another relationship yet. I definitely need to get myself situated, to get myself in order, and to feel better about myself and my life, before I can be of any real value to anyone else in a relationship.
 
My righthand neighbor(the McLouds/dumbasses that cut down all their trees) are shortening grass before 7am. Who the frig does that?! I'm already up and getting ready to head out, but there's a pretty good chance someone's still in bed and doesn't want to hear their friggin' mower doing nonsense work.

They're the noisiest, most irritating people. Nice enough I guess, but they have the sense of turnips. I startled awake one night, grabbed my knife, and listened closely. They're nextdoor demoing concrete at 3am. WTF?!
 
My righthand neighbor(the McLouds/dumbasses that cut down all their trees) are shortening grass before 7am. Who the frig does that?! I'm already up and getting ready to head out, but there's a pretty good chance someone's still in bed and doesn't want to hear their friggin' mower doing nonsense work.

They're the noisiest, most irritating people. Nice enough I guess, but they have the sense of turnips. I startled awake one night, grabbed my knife, and listened closely. They're nextdoor demoing concrete at 3am. WTF?!
Basic common decency is missing in too many people.
 
It's good that we have a law on silence- ,,Violation of the peace and quiet of citizens at night, weekends and holidays is unacceptable.
Non-compliance with this requirement in the period from:
- 22:00 to 8:00 on weekdays;
- from 22:00 to 12:00 on weekends and non-working days of national holidays
, violators face administrative liability ( fine ).,,
 
Whereas invading the country next door is perfectly fine.
So I guess the Ukrainians can fell safe from bombardments from 22.00 to 8.00 on week days and 22.00 to 12.00 on weekend.




Violators will be fined! :lol:
 
In other news, I found a beautiful apartment in Quincy, MA, which is a 15 minute walk from one of the subway stations on the Red line! It's right by the beach, and I have easy access to pretty much anything and everything I could ever need.

Been working with the leasing agent all day to get my application approved. Spent $350 to put a hold on the apartment and just finished verifying my identity! Next step is for them to call my current apartment complex to do a landlord verification! I haven't missed a single rent payment in the entire four years that I've lived at my apartment here in Scottsdale, so this should be a breeze.

Fingers crossed that this works out and that I get approved! Rent is much more expensive out in MA, but the one I found, which is a 450 square foot studio, is extremely nice and between my disability check and getting a job nearby after I move, I'll have no problem paying the rent, with enough left over for food and whatever else!

This is all super last minute. I don't want to have to impose upon my parents by having to stay at their place while I continue to search for an apartment if this falls through. But I have a really good feeling about this! The guy at the leasing office is so nice and helpful and he's really hauling ass on the process! My father is cosigning and he has near perfect credit and millions in assets (since my credit is...nonexistent; never even owned a credit card), so there shouldn't be any problem.

Still have much to do in order to clean and clear out of my current apartment, but I'm actually cranking it out and making lots of progress every single day. I feel much better about everything right now! I just hope everything works out! =-D
 
Not sure about the direct vicinity. It's all residential with a few parks that might have some promising trees. But the real gems will be a very short, 15 min bus ride away to Bare Cove Park, which is a bird sanctuary and dog park. The very last stop on the route is right there, which, coincidentally, is also a quick walk away from my parent's townhouse. I can also get ride from my father, if desired, to Wompatuck state park, which is an enormous wildlife preserve. But I'll have plenty of amazing trees to climb in Bare Cove.

Only problem is that, if the fuzz were to ever see me climbing in Bare Cove, because it's owned by the town of Hingham, they'd probably (maybe; not sure) tell me to stop immediately because it's a liability. But I'll be sure to stay out of sight. I climbed in there for two years before moving to Arizona and never got caught because everything is very dense. Even in the leafless winters. Definitely going on a snow climb or two and filming it.

Wompatuck, on the other hand, is owned by the state and so all kind of recreation is permitted; including tree climbing and hunting during certain seasons. I just have to be a ghost and leave no trace and give no signs while in Bare Cove and I should be fine. Police rarely ever leave their cruisers on the main road and probably aren't looking above the horizon (in a tree), so I'll be okay.

Gonna miss having tree access right outside my apartment, but the trees are so much bigger and better in the part of MA I'll be going to. It'll be worth a quick bus ride with all of my shit. Maybe I'll be surprised and there might be some sweet trees nearby in Quincy in some of the public land. People -- even officials -- tend to assume tree climbers know what they're doing and that they're supposed to be there, and probably won't give an educational YouTuber much trouble...usually.

UPDATE: My two boxes weighing a total of 75lbs arrived at my parent's house mangled, but with everything inside. So I'm relieved. Pretty quick ground shipping.
 
@lxskllr Let's put it this way: it took my apartment complex FOUR YEARS to catch onto the fact that I was climbing REGULARLY on their property, complete with filming equipment and tons of gear. I'm pretty stealthy and I keep everything exactly how it was before I got there when I leave.
 
Things I saw today...

A ~7' silver maple stump...

View attachment 139616

A young white oak with a beautiful form. I'd love to have this tree...

View attachment 139617

Catalpa! I was pretty excited to see it still had beans on it. I picked a couple, fully opened them, and found... A stick inside?! Opened my tree app, looked it up, and found the seeds mature in autumn. So, I can't try to grow my own off that tree; not yet anyway, but they're cool looking trees...

View attachment 139618
Was that the silver maple between the gas station and the rental house on your boss’s property? No way in the world we should have done that one. Bucket and crane job.
 
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