By Lucy

Selling to people on Facebook is always a joy. I cleaned the microwave and posted it for sale. I don’t know how new it is cuz I’m pretty sure I got it second-hand, but it was 1100 watts and quite large, clean and worked well. Got someone who was interested in it, and at the time he said he would be by, I carried it downstairs and set it on the counter, expecting he would want to see it work.

Five minutes passed. An SUV pulled up at the curb, sat there for ten minutes, and drove away. Had he changed his mind?

I went back upstairs and asked if he would be there soon. He replied he was outside and asked me to call him. I replied that he should just knock on the door, and a moment later the doorbell went.

I opened the door and he stepped back. “Don’t you want to see if it works?” “No, you said it works. I trust you.” Handed me the money.

Oookaaay… went back to the kitchen, grabbed the microwave, handed it to him. What the heck? Well, I got the price I asked for… shouldn’t complain.

Packed up my desk, literally. I figure it’s easier like this, then I don’t have to rush to clean it off and take it apart when someone wants to pick it up. Plus I have slightly more room to organize and pack.

My new temporary set-up, because the dresser can be gotten rid of or abandoned easily.

It’s been below minus 20 for the last few days, so I was hiding inside. Today the mercury climbed above minus 10, so I bundled up in my work jacket (I also had 2 pairs of pants on and two pairs of socks) and went for an hour walk.

Halfway through the walk, I got a call from the girl I went to Dryden with, Adrianne. She was in town and wanted to meet up, so I went home and showered and we went out for pizza.

This move has been good for letting go of things I held on to for too long. Like sewing machines! I ended up receiving over ten machines when someone’s mother died with no plans for them. I’ve been slowly fixing them up and selling them when I have time, which is admittedly more often than not having the time and not the mental space. I posted them on the local Buy Nothing group and got together a group of women who are going to fix the rest and donate them. My heart sank a little at the dollar bills walking out the door, but I’m gladdened that they will get homes and not end up in the landfill.

I finished the paperwork for my name change. There was one section for “parent’s other names” that confused me. I put my mother’s maiden and married name off the bat, but then I realized. She might have changed her name for her first marriage. Did that count? I texted my father and asked him, but when he heard it was for my name change he shut me down, very aggressively and rudely. He doesn’t want me changing my name for any reason.

I’m starting to wonder if I’m an orphan. My parents don’t call or even text me for the holidays, they never visit even though I live in town. I haven’t heard from my brother for 4 years. If I live in another town, never hear from them, and have a different name… I have no family. I changed my father’s contact name in my phone from dad to his given name. Maybe I’m letting go of more than just stuff with this move.

This is the list of skating rinks available in Thunder Bay:

• -Brent Park
• -Carrick Park
• -North End Community Centre
• -West End Park
• -North McIntyre Community Centre
• -County Park
• -John Jumbo Community Centre
• -John Kusznier Park
• -Oliver Road Community Centre
• -River Terrace Park
• -Volunteer Pool
• -Waddington Park
• -James St. Playfield
• -Tarbutt Park
• -Wayland Park
• -West Thunder Community Centre
• -South Neebing Community Centre
• -Vickers Heights Community Centre
• -West Arthur Community Centre
• -Dease Park
• -Frank Charry Park
• -North Neebing Park
• -Parkdale Park
• -Stanley Park
• -Green Acres Park
• -Thornloe Park

This is the list of skating rinks in Barrie

• Town Hall
• Heritage Park Pond
• Holly Community Centre (that Peggy Hill bitch can kiss my ass, it will always be the Holly Community Centre to me, no matter how much godamn money she throws around)
• Lampman Lane
• Redpath Park
• Shear Park
• Will Dwyer Park

That’s it. I shall point to this list when people ask me why I want to move to Thunder Bay. The only one on the Barrie list that’s open is Will Dwyer (which I didn’t know about and I will be there next week!)