I awoke Monday feeling unusually energetic, and as I was off work, I vowed not to waste it.

SO,  I started with the 450+ asphalt shingles piled up by the curb at the end of the driveway. 

You see, Guma's (Tristan's Grandmother) ex-husband was "general contractor" for 30 years.  Personally, I don't think he was anything but a glorified handyman, as he never really produced an income, but somewhere along the way he self-appointed the title.

He liked to bring home EVERY SINGLE piece of left-over construction "stuff" when he finished a job. 

He left about 6 years ago (who gets a divorce in their 70's anyhow?), and took with him only his clothes and his 25 foot long Oldsmobile Delta 88.

As a result, the last 3 months have consisted, not only of us moving OUR stuff in to this house, but hauling his leftovers off.

In the garage behind the house, there were at least 250 empty, dried-up Sherwin-Williams paint cans, dating back to 1976, a virtual "timeline" of the company's label changes on their paint cans over the years.

Oh, and did I mention?  Paint is considered "hazardous materials" and has to be disposed of properly.

He also left behind about 500 asphalt shingles, of which there were only about 20 of any matching pattern or color.   Even Habitat for Humanity wouldn't take them, and the garbage men left them on the curb 4 weeks in a row.

But, now it's all gone.  

And to top all that off, Guma asked me afterwards if I would mind planting some grass seed where the shingles had been lying on the (already dead) yard.  I informed her that I would, "Look into that."

"OK, Lord, it's Heaven or the Nursing Home.  She's going one of two places.  You pick," I mumbled.

I'm still waiting for Him to get back to me on that one.

Tristan and I then managed to unpack and put away another 5 moving boxes or so of our clothes.  We're kind of down to the "Why didn't we sell this or leave it behind" stuff now.

Put some of it in the attic, along with several things of Guma's that she refuses to part with.  Lord only knows why we need to hang on to the Presto Hot-Air Caramel Popcorn Popper, complete with original box, owner's manual, and picture of a model on the box, wearing bell-bottoms and happily using HER Popper in her Harvest-Gold kitchen!

I guess Microwave Ovens may just be a passing "fad" and we may need to pull the ol' POPPER out some day.

So, after the dust settled this morning (Literally), Tristan and I decided that we should make the most of the rest of our day and wander the Thrift Stores.

There are honestly 15 Thrift Stores within a 10 mile radius of our house, which incidentally doesn't say much about the 'Hood we live in, as they typically don't open these stores in affluent areas.

Finds of the day included:

Brand NEW Target scarves, gloves, hats (found a Goodwill that gets all of Target's clearance merchandise from last year!) for $1.00 each.

A Brand NEW Jansport black Messenger-style laptop computer bag for $5.00.

A Brand NEW white shirt to wear for Catering events at work for $3.99.  It's white and tuxedo-style.  The brand is "Bowie."  Yes, that's right, folks, as in "David Bowie."  Apparently this clothing line never went over real well with the masses of Bowie fans who shop at Target.

Several books, including Billy Graham, RC Sproul, John Piper, and Max Lucado.

Not a bad day in all.

Had lunch together at "Nothing but Noodles."  It's a pretty cool franchise concept that sells....yep, you guessed it.....Nothing but Noodles.   I had Pad Thai and Tristan had Eggplant Parmesan on Angel Hair pasta.

All in all,  a great day spent with my beautiful bride!