I spent part of my 68th birthday working on stuff for the Commission and the better part of the afternoon with Ron to, at and from the Plymouth Registry of Deeds to execute the docs to refi Edgewater. After six weeks (started February 2) of misery, it went very smoothly. We are still keeping our parts crossed that no last-minute spanner gets thrown in the works.

On the way back, we stopped at Market Basket for flowers, vegetable rolls and a half-price platter of petit fours, which we enjoyed with the champagne Cathy gave us when we got married. It was quite festive. We also scarfed down some of the boiled dinner I’d made earlier in the day. Finished off by watching the last of The Wire, Season 2.

Today, it’s snowing, and I’m grateful we can stay put, at least for now.

Ron and I joined a group of senior “bomb throwers” today at the State House. The Governor finally did respond, we think to Diane, expressing his “concern” about safety issues at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.

About time.

Friday night, we went to Providence to see Biscuit City and stayed for all three sets. Had booked a room at the Extended Stays in East Providence.

Yesterday we drove to Watertown for dinner and to see a play in which our young cousin (15) performed.

More or less kicked back today, transfer station and laundry. Ron is doing some sanding from the sound of it. He’s trying to clean up the heat register cover from one of the bathrooms at Edgewater.

I sauteed two pounds of mushrooms for soup. Made swordfish and roasted brussel sprouts for dinner and gumbo and rice for tomorrow.

Mike needed another doc, which I just scanned and emailed to him.

This evening, we went to a very good meeting of the Friends of Mashpee Wildlife Refuge. Nice people, and they filled us in on the unique qualities and background of the Reserve, the only one in the US that is managed by a coalition rather than a Federal government agency. I’m scheduled to meet with one of their officers to talk about their website next Wednesday.

We spent most of this morning doing errands in Falmouth: picked up a letter from our tax guy and a statement from BofA for the refi. Stopped at Job Lot, Walmart, the library and Beltone, which was closed.

Ron was fiddling with the furnace filter and forgot to put the door back on. I didn’t notice until it got down to 59 degrees, at which point I was ready to strangle him.

Roche Bros “5 Buck Cluck” for dinner tonight.

More insulting, stupid requests from the mortgage company, for which they blame the Federal Government. I was furious, finally asked poor Mike if he thought his mother, who is excellent at managing money, would agree to all these terms! Even had to ask our tax preparer to confirm in writing that we haven’t lied about our 2011 return.

Appliance company came to inspect and fix the leak under the sink. It was a fitting. Ron lost it two days ago when the owner nickle-and-dimed him over charging for a service call.

Cooked a Creole meal to celebrate Mardi Gras: red beans and rice and shrimp étouffée. Sauteed over-ripe bananas with a little rum, butter and brown sugar for Bananas Foster over yogurt. We skipped lunch, ate an early dinner and watched more of Treme, Season 2.

We were in New Bedford on Saturday for the March Wepecket Island concert and dinner, then Sandwich yesterday afternoon for a fun all-ages (from 5 to 70+) uke concert, then to Waquoit for an enjoyable set at the Higher Ground Coffee House.

Discovered yesterday that the dishwasher has been leaking.

Ron tore it up today, delivered Peter’s spare propane tank along with a hand-made wood stand to keep it off the deck; made another stand for our spare tank; bought four pretty cordial glasses and a cool winter hat at the COLA thrift shop; redeemed a pile of cans and bottles; picked up bread at the Senior Center and DVDs at the library; and now he’s making supper!

I worked diligently on Jim’s preowned selection page. Tired and looking forward to doing some actual programming for the Commission.

I went to a presentation at gGreen last night on healthy eating. A lot of vegan lore. I won a door prize.

I did it to myself this morning. Ron took on a coffee and cardamom grinding project today, as well as cleaning out the toaster oven. What a guy! Having an extra cup of the good stuff sent me into orbit.

Got our plans squared away for the next two weekends.

It was very cold this morning, 11 degrees. Glad I held off on cleaning leaves from the flower beds.

Spent part of yesterday talking with Mike about our refi. The appraiser nudged the value up a bit and we decided it was enough to go ahead. We’ll be able to wipe out three high-interest cards, assuming Mike can negotiate that for us.

Was looking at outdoor exercise equipment yesterday. Asked Catherine via email if the DPW would consider a proposal.

The appraisal came in low, and I’m exhausted from all the financial BS. Trying an equity line from HFCU.

Ron figured out how to get the shades off the chandelier in the kitchen and fixed a loose connection in the process. He also made a nice platform for the propane tank.

The pile of shingles is gone, gone, gone.

We went to a Steering meeting last night and the Senior Center this morning. I finally unleashed my unhappiness with the cliquishness there and got a sympathetic hearing from the new Director, who is a welcome change from the old regime.

Good meeting on Tuesday at the Commission.

Worked most of Wednesday pulling together a list of improvements for the appraiser: over $48,000 worth. I’m astonished, fearful that I spent foolishly and at no small cost.

Had a couple of helpful catch-up conversations with Chad Hathaway, the septic inspector, about Edgewater. He offered to give us an assist with the appraisal if needed.