This is ridiculous. I got noise-blocking headphones, and even with them on, and even with my ears clogged so that I'm having some trouble hearing to begin with, I can still hear the band practicing next door.

Noise cancelling headphones were designed to put the sound coming into the headphones 180º out of phase from the noise coming out of the headphones (i.e. into your ears). They work best on continious tone and not fluctuating tones. Also, it is very difficult to put high frequencies out of phase, as they are very short, and a slight movement of your head can change that 180º to a lot less, thus, actually slightly boosting those frequencies. These headphones are primarily designed for reducing the volume of airplane noise. Sad to say, it doesn't have 100% effectiveness on shutting the world out.

I couldn't shake the nasty headache I woke up with and ended up falling asleep for two hours after eating. Ok. Grading. Attempt #2.

Ok, I went to change the linens on the bed to the flannel sheets, but the flannel sheets were under my winter coats, so I have now swapped out my whole closet of summer clothes with winter clothes. I did a good bit of culling too. And yay, pretty clothes I'd forgotten about!

I now have fewer clothes in the closet than the SO, who came home from tour with a bunch of extra tshirts for some reason.

Also, this means we will have a long stretch of warm weather. But I have staved it off, I think, by leaving a single tank top hanging in the closet.

Now I still have to do the original task of changing the sheets, but hey, I'll take accomplishments where I can get 'em.

Sad to say, it doesn't have 100% effectiveness on shutting the world out.

Is there anything that does? Or, at least, what's the best thing for shutting out noise? The headphones do pretty well at shutting out the noise from the cars going by, but they're less effective for the band, and not really effective at all at blocking the sound of the dogs barking. (The neighbors have three dogs. All three of them start barking and howling as soon as the band starts playing.)

A good set of custom molded ear plugs is about the only thing that will truly reduce the noise.

They are rated for the noise reduction in dB. I have a set of -12 dB and a set of -21dB ear plugs. You can get -30 dB and above for things like shooting guns.

Las Vegas casinos have very effective wide area active noise cancellation systems in the high roller rooms, but those systems cost millions of dollars to implement.

We still have no idea what is going on..

That is scary and frustrating, sj. I am so sorry.

Also, this means we will have a long stretch of warm weather. But I have staved it off, I think, by leaving a single tank top hanging in the closet.

Is there something that will cause the warm weather to back off? Because I am so tired of days over 100. [Edit! We are not forecast to go over 100 for the next week. There's a 99 in there but there are some lower numbers too. Hallelujah. Lock and load. ]

I didn't get to flop and watch racing but I did put a new rug in the living room under furniture, assemble a bookcase, move the old rug, moved some furniture, hung several pictures, failed spectacularly to hang a tv on the wall (which caused some major stress but I am repressing it) and unpacked my last box now that I had some bookcase room for decor things.

I repeat, I unpacked my last box. The only thing left is more art and curtains. And I need to get the tv mounted because a bookcase is going to "float" around it before I hang more art for spacing reasons. Also get a couple of things framed. Still, I am feeling confident in saying that I am moved in.

And I counted up my boxes so I can Craigslist them.

What Ryan learned this weekend: pirates say "Yarr" and "Shiver me timbers". A three year old dressed in pirate pyjamas saying "Shiver tee bimbers" is immensely cute.

Yay last box!

Aww, wee pirate!

I still have not got the flannel sheets on. I did the fitted sheet and the pillowcases and shams, but the duvet cover smelled a wee bit funky. I have a vague memory of it maybe not being entirely dry when I put it away last year. So it is now in the wash with bleach, but since we're low on propane (trying to hold out until this winter's prebuy Oct 1st) it will need to hang out on the line, which means it will not be done tonight. Woes.

Okay. What next? I have work work to do, but don't wanna. I think I'll tackle the kitchen? And then maybe house hugging, and then trout for dinner.

Something wierd in the air here. Had a bizarre dream last night that my friend was preggers (she has 2) but only had 1 kid, so i assumed she was carrying the second and it was in the past, but we were in a different country and i was helping her move furniture. I rented a motorbike to transport the furniture cross country, but of course got to destination without any furniture strapped to the back of the bike...likely because it never would have fit there and why on earth would anyone rent a motorbike to transport a sofa and chair? There was also rain, frantic attempts at braking (likely resulting in kicking the cats repeatedly) and some odd commentary on visual art. I guess I ought to check in with that friend. Several coworkers also had bizarre, memorable dreams last night and yesterday we had super wierd calls.

Thanks Cass. How is your dad doing?

I repeat, I unpacked my last box.

I'm impressed! You are so far ahead of us.