Flashing lights

Went to ReStore--Habitat for Humanity's shop--in Ronkonkoma. This is like a big warehouse, where they sell donated building and home decor materials. Rather like a thrift shop for do-it-yourselfers. And the proceeds go to funding projects such as restoriing homes in New Orleans, building homes for low-income families, and restoring run-down homes to make affordable housing. See http://habitatforhumanity.org

I found a chrome wash-stand for the bathroom. It came with a sink: I'm going to first try to convert it to take a flat countertop, which I can tile (or find a granite remnant for), (because I'd really like to use the white "vessel" sink in the non-master bathroom), or, if that doesn't work, I'll use the whole thing in the downstairs/apartment bathroom. Good opportunity to learn more plumbing than replacing taps (faucets).

I need to measure the front door and the windows that have to be replaced. Most of ReStore was stocked with brand new windows and doors, still in original packaging. People mis-measure their homes, order windows/doors made for them, and then can't use them. So it may be possible to find replacements at a lower cost. If, of course, any of the sizes fit. Now I think I know where the mis-matched windows in this house came from...

After driving from Ronkonkomo to Lake Grove (Trader Joe's shopping-and-flowers trip), back home, then to Patchogue hospital to deliver Karli some lunch and say hi to Kevin-minus-his-appendix, intended to go to the thrift and furniture shops to look for replacement dining table (the old one just doesn't fit this house)... but was distracted by the "all 60% or more off" bookstore. Darn. Miles of home improvement and gardening books. Only went ten feet into the shop and spent 50$. One of them "Moroccan Interiors". Now I know exactly where the Egyptian chandelier is going and how the apartment living room is going to look....

Did get to the huge furniture shop on 112 (who the heck calls a road, "112"???). Really nice, huge furniture showroom. It's a warren of little bedrooms/living rooms/dining rooms. They have done a really good job of showcasing the furniture in the type of room size that is typical of New York housing. It's also really really easy to get lost in there. But don't worry, there's a salesperson following you like a shadow...

All this driving around and I was noticing a problem with my right eye. A flashing light. Not a migraine. I hope it is just a contact lens problem (they have been driving me insane lately, won't stay in place)... but I need to have this checked.

Today's new discovery: opticians in New York state are like those in France. They will measure your eyes for contacts and for glasses, but they don't examine your eyes for problems (in California they do everything, from putting those horrid drops in so they can see your retinas to selling lenses to make your eyes look like cats'). So Monday I have to find an opthamologist (sp?) and make an appointment ASAP...