Bender has left the building.

I have some of this stuff packed up but I've decided not to take a trip with it tonight. Breaking news, I know. I'm getting there. This process doesn't seem to end. Right now I'm going to bed.

Originally uploaded by nthaniel.

The move has begun. I cleaned up the jig-making mess in my living room (I was amazed that the vacuum cleaner got all of the feather cast-offs) and boxed up some stuff for storage. I dropped that stuff off at Lee's and then proceeded to Fall City to pick up my trailer. I think my car battery is getting old because I left my lights on for a short time and that was enough for me to wear it down so that I was unable to get the car started again. I was really weighing my options when a wealthy guy and his boy came into the storage place to retrieve their snowmobile. I asked him for help but his Land Rover is so new that the battery, once found, was too foreign looking to be of help. The guy who lives on the lot came out to give me a jump, after recounting his days racing snowmobiles with the rich guy. I was so glad to see them coming. Hoping and cranking wasn't getting the engine to turn over. From there I took the trailer back to Bellevue to pick up my motorcycle and bicycle, which I then dropped off in Sammamish. There I met Lee's ally Marta and I had a nice welcome, which will help make my stay there be not so isolated.

I have much more packing to do, but the important thing for me is that I've started. I have the trailer so I'll be able to haul a bunch of stuff out of here tomorrow. I can do more car trips next week before resuming the trailer moves next weekend. I have to be out of here by the 31st, so New Year's Eve I'll spend in Sammamish (I always thought it was Issaquah). I've been looking for a house needing roomates on Craig's List and more recently on Windows Live Expo. I want to stay in Bellevue because I'm optimistic about getting accepted to school for next year. Please tell me that you are optimistic for me too.

As for the holidays I've lined up a Christmas Eve party in Mill Creek with some runner friends and I'm treating myself to some steelhead fishing for Christmas Day. I thought that was very nice of myself. Thanks self. I can't feel guilty about not moving on Christmas, so I thought I'd really enjoy the day out on the river, and I will. Depending on what happens up there I may head down to Orting to see Jesse and family. Well, thanks for tuning in. I hope your holidays are very enjoyable and your new year stellar.

This is my If Today Is Your Birthday horoscope:

"December 18, 2006 -- A Sun-Pluto conjunction on your birthday means it is time for a change - and the bigger the change the better. Whatever it is you have been dreaming of doing now is the time to take it to the next level. Don't look back a year from now and wish you had been more adventurous. Your life is here, now."

What I'd like is to find a new apartment. I'm working on the rest of it.

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This was taken on Mercer Island today. I got a few hours of work today, and almost more importantly, some gas. We worked on our big property on Mercer Island, clearing limbs from walks and streets. There are more trees down like this onto buildings there. I saw a few cars wrecked similarly. I'll get more overtime work tomorrow too working at the same place. I guess I can get ready to move when it is dark and I'll make my money during the daylight. I hope all of you fellow denizens of Western Washington are well and warm. I hope you have gasoline too. I hope to fill up in Mukilteo tomorrow. Y'all take care.

This was a typical sight throughout Bellevue today. Yesterday's wind storm knocked out power to most of the eastside and Seattle. I was lucky to have today off so I was spared from most of the driving hell. I did go out to look for an open coffee shop. I didn't find any so I went home with my one purchase from Fred Meyers and then set up my camp stove to heat water for my french press. That really tasted good.

I took my new camera phone with me on my run today and this is one of the pictues I took. The downed trees I saw were on SE 16th St. and 168th Ave SE near Weowna Park in Bellevue. The damage is covered by the Seattle Times here and Komo 4 here.

Well, they've caught up with me. My lease ran out in September and I've been renting month to month since then. I came home last night after our school nursing home clinical to find the note I've been expecting. I have ten days to tell them whether I'll be moving out. There is no way I'll be able to afford what the rent is going up to. Any ideas out there?