Where I have been...

I have been here, there, and everywhere in the past few weeks; so I am very sorry that I haven't updated in such a long time. I have been to Albuquerque probably three times since I last blogged, and when I have been home it's all hectic finishing our addition. It's almost finished...we just have a few minor hiccups left to take care of. One of them is my brand new, luxurious, air-bath tub is on the fritz. When I called to complain, Jacuzzi said, "no problem, just call this licensed repairman in your area, give him your serial number, and we will get it fixed." OK--this wasn't a shock to them that my bathtub would not turn on when I pushed the power button, but would turn on by itself in the middle of the night and not shut off. Also, the blower is stuck on high. So, when I called the licensed repairman, he said no problem, sounds like the computer and I will just call and order a new one. Funny thing...it was so easy to get the repair ball rolling that it almost makes me wonder if this happens a lot with these tubs. I didn't read about any problems when I was researching the tub...but it makes you wonder. Oh well, by next Monday I will have my tub repaired, and I will be able to soak my worries away.

I will post pictures hopefully this weekend.

The Land of Enchantment...my arse

Question for today...why was New Mexico populated before Arizona? I just don't get it...and this Land of Enchantment thing...enchantment?? No you are just lulled to sleep with the boring flat landscape that hypnotizes you into a half-catonic state; not to mention---it's brown. Korie, your husband has no clue what brown is until he sees NM. I have two words for NM--brown and cold. Imagine Flagstaff weather, but no trees--just brown dirt and little shrub bushes, or at least that's what Albuquerque has to offer. The only slightly interesting thing I found in that city is a Hobby Lobby. Seriously, never been in one before and for a box store, not bad.

The big happening in that city last week was they are finally getting a Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, a White House/Black Market, and a Sharper Image. The tag line was..."now you don't have to travel to Phoenix anymore to visit these stores, we have them right here." Everyone that I spoke to outside my "engineering" world was so excited. Hell, if I had to live in Albuquerque, I would be damn excited about a Pottery Barn as well.

Lucky me, I get to travel there every other week for the next six months. Can you tell I am just so excited about it? Also, my comapny is screwing me as well. As a "part-time" travel employee, I am entitled to a laptop, which is something that I have been requesting for quite a while now. Well, my lovely office manager is hesitant to order one for me, and he would rather just scrounge one up. WTF! I am doing this company a HUGE favor by agreeing to help clean up one screwed up project, and all I am asking for is a stinking laptop. So now this lovely office manager is forcing me to go over his head to the regional manager and plead my case. This will add some fire to an already tense working relationship. Oh, and a side note, another engineer here basically got a laptop forced on them because they will be traveling one day a week to Sedona. Oh, and girls, the week I am here in Phoenix, one of the days is in Sedona as well.

Gotta just love this shit. Sorry to be venting today, but it just isn't a good one. As C put it, it's good to be angry, just not emotional...something I haven't mastered yet.

Before I get into trouble

I don't want the blog police to come after me again, so I just wanted to let you know that I am fine. I am working in Albuquerque this week. Good for a change, but with everything going on in this office and the condition of the project that I was asked to fix--one phrase comes to mind--they don't pay me enough to deal with all this shit!

I must be getting picky/grumpy or something because there are lots of people out in the world that annoy me. I just want to tell them to "Shut up. Do you really think you make any sense, or do you just like listening to yourself?" Jeez. Long story--and not that interesting...

I haven't booked my plane ticket yet, but I will when I get back to Phoenix. I am so excited to come and play in February--I can't wait.

Also, the home front is finally shaping up! We hope to have everything completed by Thanksgiving! YEA! Carpet and vanity and shower included.

Enjoyed Vegas, too! Loved Mystere! We thought it was unbelievable what those people can do--it was almost unreal! C kept saying over and over that there is no way this is real! We had a great time! Didn't gamble too much--because of the house and some yet unpaid subcontractors.

Observations about the world we live in...

I have noticed over the past few weeks in dealing with contractors and handimen, trades people, and in general other people, that as a general rule people don't care anymore. They don't care that they don't do what they say they are going to do; that they lie to people; that they don't take pride in their work and they say it's good enough...I could go on and on. What is wrong with people today?

When did people stop caring about work or behaviors that reflect negatively about themselves to other people? Are what people in other countries saying about Americans true? I hope not, because I try really hard in my life to put the best foot forward, give my very best efforts (except of course when I procrastinate, but I will readily admit that), and not lie to people. I don't really want to be lumped in with the slugs of this society, and viewed by the rest of the world as not caring. Here's the question though: Why has this happened?

Gotta love these quotes...

So this afternoon I am sitting at work minding my own business and my sister sends me this wonderful email full of funny quotes, and I just LOVE quotes. Here are a few of my favorites:

I try to take one day at a time--but sometimes several days attack me at once.
--Jennifer Unlimited

If you can't e a good example--then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
--Catherine

Thirty-five is when you finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart.
--Caryn Leschen

Inside me lives a skinny woman crying to get out. But I can usually shut the bitch up with cookies.--Unknown

I am a marvelous housekkeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.
--Zsa Zsa Gabor

I told you, you have gotta love them all. Other than that, it is a quiet Friday around here. Just working slowly for an afternoon. Have a great weekend!!

Carrie has me all inspired...

Before I begin, let me take just a minute and say that this is the second day in a row that I have blogged. No one get too excited, but just thought I would like to pass that little bit of information on. Anywhoo...

Carrie asked how was the CK Convention this weekend, and it was a blast. Mara and I started out at 6:30am and headed to Bazzill for their annual warehouse sale. Tons and tons of paper all for the taking. Women are funny, as Mara and I were collecting our fair share of this wonderful cardstock (and we were also buying for Korie), all these women kept asking me, "So, do you think you have enough paper?" My response was a resounding, "no, actually. I think I need more." Being very sarcastic...and you all know how I respond to ridiculous questions like that. OK--two points of logic here I would like to point out:

1. Hello? We are at a paper company warehouse sale. What else is my main staple of purchase besides paper?
2. Also, at $15 for over 120 sheets of Bazzill paper (retailing at 60 cents a sheet), why the hell not? That's a saving of nearly $57 per box over retail.

OK, and Mara did point out that we probably wouldn't buy this much paper if it wasn't such a smokin' deal. But, now I have every color in the rainbow, and won't run out until next sale. So that makes me happy. So, that was an interesting adventure, and not a cheap one either. We ended up getting seven boxes. OK, so you buy six and get the seventh for free. No a bad deal on textured cardstock.

Then we went to the convention. Had a blast, took a couple of classes, and spent way too much money on Technique Tuesday stamps. All TOO CUTE. Here are just a couple of my purchases...

Letters and Images and dates...and before you say anything else...I will tell you that I broke the piggy bank for this one.

The other highlight of the day had nothing to do with scrapbooking at all, actually it was a fire alarm. Yes, we had fire alarm go off at the Convention Center and they evacuated all of us out in about five minutes. They literally had to tell people to move away from the building...women were actually standing just outside the doors because they wanted to be let back in. Figures, scrapbookers can be neurotic at times, can't we?

Surprise in the mail

When I got home yesterday, I had a surprise waiting for me in the mail. C didn't have a clue what it was so he left it for me. When I opened up this non-descript envelope, I immediately realized what it was. No, it wasn't a letter telling me I won $100 million dollars, and wouldn't have to work for the rest of my life--I wish, but that's a whole other story. No, dear girlfriends, all my trips to New Mexico have finally paid off. I have earned a free roundtrip ticket anywhere in the US, and I am going to use it to visit my friend Korie back east in February for a wonderful weekend of scrapbooking. I was totally excited.

C on the other hand couldn't understand why this made me so happy. His response was, "we can use it for our trip to Las Vegas." My answer, "Hells to the no. We can buy those tickets. I am using this to visit Korie." He wasn't too impressed until I told him that I am going in February whether or not we pay for the plane ticket. This way it costs us less. C said fine, as we are trying to price out how much its going to cost us to finish our master bedroom.

Either way, I have my free plane ticket.

Life...in general

This past weekend C and I spent our anniversary in beautiful Sedona. Anyone who has been to Sedona knows that you just can't get enough of the wonderful views. We arrived Saturday afternoon and had a relaxing dinner at the Redstone Cabin. Completely stuffed ourselves to the gills. The next morning we got up and played golf at the Sedona Golf Resort. We had a wonderful time playing golf, who wouldn't with those views. I also broke 50 on the back nine. OK--for all you non-golfers, that is a big accomplishment for a beginning golfer like myself. I par'd a Par 3, Par 4, and Par 5 that day. In my short time playing golf, up until Sunday, I had only par'd a short Par 3 and on another day a Par 4. I have never par'd each one all in the same round.

This weekend, my friend M and I are attending the Creating Keepsakes Convention in Phoenix and going to the warehouse sale at Bazzill. Korie has already put her order in, but Carrie would like anything, give me a call and I will get you what you want. M got into Bazzill early, and she says a ton of cardstock (including all the textured) is dirt cheap. Prices are 120-12"x12" sheets for $20, and 120-8 1/2" x 11 for #15. I figure that is a $50 savings.

Everyone have a great weekend. Oh, our contractor--I think we have finally given up the ghost. Thanks Kat for your offer on the lien release form--I will take you offer up. I sent an email to you, but if you don't get it, put a response here and I will try again. I think we are going to have to hire other people to come in and finish the work and sue our contractor for damages and what it is going to take us to finish the work. Sucks, but hopefully in a month we will have a finished master suite. Unfortunately, we will be a little lighter in the pocketbook--a hard lesson learned.

Fabulous Weekend...sort of

Well, this weekend was a great weekend for two things, a typical weekend for many things, and not a memorable weekend for one thing.

Let's start with the "not" first and get that out of the way. The "not" is my contractor. I found out on Saturday that he is "not" paying his sub-contractors for work completed at our house. We have paid him, but he seems to be lacking in his bill paying habits, and not passing the money through to them. So, which means we can be held responsible for his lack of paying. When confronted he said he has paid, which after speaking to the AC installers (one of the subcontractors), his statement is completely untrue. Unfortunately for us, we need to either get him to pay or pay the sub-contractors ourselves and sue him for the money. The "between a rock and a hard place" thing is we don't want to piss our contractor off too much, because he still has to finish the work. So both C and I are crossing our fingers and praying every night that it all works out in the end; otherwise, we may be out upwards of an additional $10,000 to pay everyone off and prevent any liens from being attached to our home. Life of home improvement is never dull. One huge lesson we have just learned: Never hire a general contractor, be your own--it's more of a headache for you, but at least you are the only one to blame if you don't pay the sub-contractors.

The typical weekend stuff happened: cleaning and grocery store shopping, which by the way has anyone noticed how expensive food has gotten. WTF??

The good things that happened this weekend is that my friend and I held our first monthly crop at Recollections and ...drum roll please...I got FIVE layouts completed. Two single page layouts and three two page layouts. I am finally getting back into the scrapbooking groove and it feels good.

The other good thing that happened this weekend is that C and I went and played golf and I actually made par on a par 4 hole. Meaning that the rules say you must make it from tee to hole in four shots or less, and I did it!! Only on one hole, but still it was my first par 4!! Mind you, I typically shoot a 6 or 7 on a par 4.

...and that's it for a weekend. I am hoping next weekend isn't that "not" exciting.

Friday...and the weekend is almost here

I am so looking forward to this weekend. I have a crop to go to with my friend on Saturday, and C and I are playing golf on Sunday. This afternoon it is my turn to babysit the contractor, as he is getting ready to install our bathroom cabinets, and work is slowing up--thank goodness. I am actually a bit excited to be slowing up at work. BTW, can you believe it is almost a year to the day that Entranco was no more? Time really does fly by a little too fast for my tastes these days. I can't believe summer is almost over, and we are heading into fall. I remember being little and the days, weeks, and months used to slowly creep by. These days they fly by--

Actually, I think I am having a little panic attack about my age today. I don't know. I feel like I should be doing more with my life then what I am doing. Seems strange to write it down, kind of silly, really. I enjoy my life, and I am happy--but I feel like there should be more, but I don't really know what that more should be. Does anyone else feel this way?

Anyway, I am leaving work now, heading home for the weekend. Bye.

House update

This house expansion was supposed to be complete by the end of July. Sitting here at the end of August, and we are still not complete. Closer, but not complete. Cabinets arrived today for the bathroom, the correct bathtub will be delivered tomorrow along with my forgotten item of order the medicine cabinet. Those MIA items will finish the list of materials for my bathroom. More on that later.

OK, OK, OK...damn blog police

So, I received a warning. Fine. I'll play the game, promise.

Love this...

My friend Mara sent this to me yesterday evening and I love it:

God grant me
the Space to put the things I buy,
the Money to buy the things I want,
and the Wisdom to know when to get rid of something,
so I can get something else.

Hope this brings a smile to your face!

So very cute...

So I have been doing my blog haunting lately and came across this very cool little website for custom purses that Ali E had a link to. BTW, I think its so cool that she gets to travel to places like New Zealand all with scrapbooking. Makes me jealous sitting here behind a desk with half-finished roadway plans staring back at me. Anyway, back to the purses. I adore purses, bags, totes, containers, etc. All things that I can't resist. They are from Elisa Lou, and I just adore the Mary Jane bag, hell, I want them all including the Messenger bags.

So onto another topic that combines totes and scrapbooking: I found this baby on eBay this weekend and bought it for $30.10 with shipping it came to just over $40. I swore to myself that I wouldn't buy another carry case because I don't scrapbook outside my house, but I have persuaded some friends to try and start up a once a month crop at Recollections. So, logically I need a tote. I got the pink and brown one. I need to see what all I can fit into this baby and whether or not I am in need of that tool carry thing. I can't seem to find it online anymore, saw one in a scrap store the other day, but couldn't bring myself to pay $30+tax for it.

K--thanks for the idea about the monthly crop night. Hope we can get this going, because I really need to get some layouts done.

...learned a bit

Thanks! I will take a little creativity and say your feet shouldn't be pointing out an outside door because if we place the bed on the west wall our feet will be pointing out the french doors, while if we place the bed on the southern wall they point down the hallway. So, if he tries and pulls rank on me I will just tell him it's bad feng shui. Anyway, the painters are at the house today, and I can't wait to see by crimson red wall. Now I will turn my attention to another matter, succeed in getting the contractor to phyically call me and set up a time to meet to discuss what is left to complete and the timeframe everything.

Something funny for the day on our house adventure: My dear husband almost had a break-down because he had to tell the painters today what colors I wanted and where I wanted them, and bless his heart, he didn't want to screw it up. He called me frantic wanting to make sure he understood the note completely. It's really easy to remember: I have three colors, burnt crimson for the south wall, oyster for the remaining walls, and french white for the ceiling. See not that hard, but I guess for men remembering things like that can be challenging at times, or he remembered the horrible reaction I had when our idiot neighbor asked if he could tear down our perfectly nice (and new) wooden fence to put up a block wall, and he said yes without consulting me. So, maybe it's just a sign that he is finally learning.

...getting my act together

OK--it's been forever, and I admit it. I have haunted all my regular blogs, but I haven't written anything. So if anyone is still coming to check my blog for updates, I will try to be better in my writing. Funny story yesterday, all I can say here is that my husband is a typical man.

OK--new master bedroom actually looks like a room now, and last night he figures we need to start talking about furniture location. We still need carpet and paint but the room is a room, so I think why not talk about this he will just re-affirm his preference that our bed will go against the southern wall as we decided about three months ago, and the reason for the smaller windows on that wall, so the bed can fit under it. We talked and talked, and I thought this would be a good comprimising point, and then he won't bug me about most of the other items I pick out for the bedroom. So I go happily off into the decorating world planning that wall to be the dark red wall in the bedroom, madily scanning decorating magazines for some fun window treatments that won't look so overwhelming next to the bed, and peacefully coming to the conclusion that C was right, the bed would be better on that wall... (little hint: my preference was the bed against the west wall)

Flash forward to last night: We measure, we talk, and he says the bed would be better against...you guessed it...the west wall. I'm sorry but wasn't that my preference in the first place? Now, I am lobbying to keep the bed against the southern wall, and he the west. So we diplomatically left it, well when we have the room finished we can move the bed frame around and see what works.

PS. I am hoping once I get that red wall painted and carpet in, and then he will have no choice but to keep the bed on the southern wall. BTW, is that bad feng shui??

ding...ding...ding....House Update...ding...ding...ding

Another exciting episode of The Old House. I am your host, Karen. And this week there has been a lot of progress since you last visited. We have the exterior wall up and the first level of stucco has been applied. Here's a shot at mid week last week...

...and then my the end of week 2 we had windows and doors installed.

...now great progress is being made, and the outside treatments start to be applied.

...and this is where we stand today.

I know its really exciting, but its time for a short commercial break. We we come back either Saturday or Sunday, we have some great updates inside the house with an the addition of the hallway to the new master suite, so please stay tuned.

Ok--these are my new must haves. Look here for snap boxes.
I found these described on Donna Downey's blog today. She has been re-organizing here studio--which I love!! Can't wait to get more bookshelves in my new den as well as a new desk of some sort. I will have an entire wall to myself. C has said that he would like back into "our den", so I guess I need to yield and give him half the room...and that's really fine, because we will have much more space with the addition.

I will get the snap boxes--I swear---I just have to wait until C lifts the Karen scrap trade embargo, and I can shop again!

Promise to be better...

OK--no house pictures today, but soon I promise. The contractor is moving now. We have a hallway and door into our new master suite. Roofing, some interior framing completed, and the first layer of stucco on the outside. Tomorrow we are going to buy the tile and cabinets for the bath. So exciting! Anyway, I was hopping around at the various blogs I haunt and came across this site. It's called Wonderful Graffiti. It has so many different words, phrases, etc. for placing on your walls. So much fun. I think I am going to look into the site more, and find something for my new bedroom or bathroom. Something that will make me smile when I see each each day.

Sorry, it's been so long...

We signed the contract with our builder on March 22nd. The following week we get this...



...and for the next several weeks we stayed the same... even the cats were getting upset. After all, their backyard wasn't the same--strange people would come in the backyard, disturb everything, and then leave, and ruin a good nap.



Or at least this is what I imagine the cats saying, and this expression says it all...

Then after several phone calls, and unanswered voice mails this Wednesday we get the foundation in...great I am thinking I can take pictures this weekend of the actual concrete being placed, but no sooner than this morning, three men come through the back gate, and by the time C and I get home this afternoon, we have the following...

Go figure...all the wood was delivered yesterday, and they ripped through the rough framing in all of one day. Now, for the walls of the bathroom and walk-in closet on Monday and Tuesday. So we are on our way...finally!

It's been awhile...

...since I last blogged. I have been extremely busy, and just about at the end, so I thought I would take a few minutes and share a story my aunt sent me via email...

Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, "I love you and I wish you enough". The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom".
They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?". "Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?".
"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.
"When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough'. May I ask what that means?".
She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone".
She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more. "When we said, 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them".

Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

She then began to cry and walked away. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

I wish you enough...

Post pictures of the SLOW construction on the house, soon.

You know you are loved...

Well Carrie did a wonderful tribute to her mom in her blog today! So I am going to return the favor for my friends. I adore Carrie and Korie, I love their spirit for life. They both have unique traits that I don't have, and it's fun hearing the adventures. For example, they take risks. Carrie with her adventures in the peace corps, and Korie leaping in with both feet to the overseas adventures with her husband. I adore that spirit knowing that I could never do that--it is way outside my comfort zone.

I love the fact that they are both love organization. They need to have it, almost like breathing. The day planners, PDAs, notebooks filled with appointments. And they always need that, otherwise they feel their worlds' are out of control. It cracks me up when either of them get a new calendar or planner because I can feel how happy they are when their world is in order.

...and the talent. They are both so talented with their scrapbooking.

Carrie has dedicated a ton of time to scrapping the memories for her children. Each one has their own scrapbook filled with layouts that Carrie has done so beautifully. With those books, Carrie has made each of her children feel special.

Korie with her classes and her original creativity for all things with paper and her new found friend, photography. Baby G will adore all the pictures you have taken of her as she gets older...I promise.

The final thought, I love that they care...I am super busy in my life, but when I write on the blog, they read and respond---always. I know that I can depend on these two amazing women throughout my life, just as much as they can depend upon me. I love you both!!

What is wrong with me--Day 2

OK--

So, C and I had a talk about this and I finally got to talk to the doctor's nurse.

1. C's suggestion: I need to learn to release the stress. I get all wound up, and stress, as much as I read, really messes up your system. So, I am on a mission to learn to breath deep, and let the stress go.
2. Spoke to the nurse, and I have an appointment on May 2nd for blood work, etc. At least that is much better than 4 months out. She was great, and I was happy that I called. If there is nothing wrong, then I will be able to breath easier. Her parting words, "If you get pregnant between now and then, please call and cancel this appointment and set one up for your first pregnancy visit." I said thanks, and told her I would call right away if that happened.
3. Why are the stupid, poor people in this country breeding? and so easily? I got it, they have no stress, the government will pay for their children so no worries...but I digress.

Korie--thank you so much for the great response. I appreciate you!! I promise I will keep you posted on the happenings.

What the hell is wrong with me?

OK--we have a problem Houston--and it is otherwise known as my reproductive system. Nothing is taking...had positive thoughts all this month...thought just maybe...maybe...but, no. Almost broke down in the bathroom at work here, but quickly put it back together--this place is so unfriendly at times--you don't need to hear a crying PM in the stall in the ladies room. So, decided to spill it in the blog instead. I have made an appointment (sort of, on the waiting list) to see my OB/GYN, and with this issue the nurse has to call me back and give me some instructions before seeing the doctor. God knows what that is...take your temperature, pee on a stick until you see a second line...and all the other things that I have been doing for the past year. Sure, waiting until I was ready shouldn't have been a big thing...I am only 34! Other thoughts, I am truly trying to stay positive with everything...but why can't this happen? And oh by the way, is it normal to be a complete jealous freak when you hear about a friend expecting, or almost in tears when you see a baby or pregnant woman...then a few minutes later think it's totally unfair to feel the way you do towards friends and that I seriously need some mental help...AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF-one of my little pleasures in life, reading CK while curled up in bed, has lost all appeal, because I will just see another cute layout of an adorable baby staring back at me...

Ok--Tub specs for my dear friend who is grossed out by gunk---believe me I thought about cleaning--as I do hate to do that chore. . . the tub has a control to blow air through the jets to clean them out after every bath so they stay clean. As for the price, the original tub I thought would be fun to have is over $8000. True--and I almost fell out of my chair when I heard the price. I'm not paying that though...C and I can get things wholesale, so my price would be half the MSRP...you know me, I typically freak out when I spend that much on one thing. And C has to keep reassuring me..."Are you OK with spending this much money? You aren't going to hypervenilate on me, are you?" All I can say is he knows me too well--and at times its quite scary...

Can't Commit Decorator (Day2)

OK--so you said you would help. So now is the opportunity...I decided I would pick out the bathroom sinks and bathtub first. Those, I thought would be pretty easy. I wanted clean lines, nothing frilly, but the bathtub had to be special. My aunt sent me this article saying what the five hottest trends in home remodeling are today, tomorrow, and future. The article said you do not design for what is hot today, but what is hot tomorrow or future (depending on budget). Good advice...the trouble is that I have wanted a whirlpool bath for ages, and now I was finally getting one...enter problem...article said that "whirlpool baths are yesterday." My heart sank, until I read further...bathtubs that have whirlpool capabilities but also soaking capabilities are the tomorrow, and the future just way to expensive for our little pocketbook. So tomorrow it is... so here is the bathtub...its by Kohler. And the tomorrow aspect of this tub is the chromatherapy lighting. Sounds interesting, and the clean lines of the bathtub means no curves or grooves that I will have to scrub to get clean. Click here to see the matching sinks.

So what do you think?

Signing off--Can't commit decorator

My friend Carrie tagged me. I always enjoy reading other people's answers. So here are mine:
Four jobs you have had in your life:
1. Reservation Agent for Choice Hotels
2. Dillards salesperson
3. Waitress at an Italian Restaurant
4. Engineer

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Knotting Hill
2. Office Space
3. Oceans 11 (hot men)
4. All the Harry Pottter movies

Four places you have lived:
1. Chicago, Illinois
2. Phoenix, Arizona
3. Tucson, Arizona
4. Indianapolis, Indiana

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Alias
2. ER
3. Survivor
4. Coupling

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Ireland/Europe
2. Vancouver
3. Orlando
4. All over California

Four websites I visit daily
1. Friends' blogs
2. Ali Edward's blog
3. MSN
4. 2peas (not every day, but I don't spend a huge amount of time on the net)

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Italian
2. tacos
3. Peach Kuchen (its a peach pie basically, my mom makes it, and its to die for)
4. the breakfast burritos my husband makes

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. beach
2. getting a pedicure---I desperately need one
3. on vacation with my husband
4. scrapbooking with my girlfriends

Four friends I am tagging I think will respond:
1. Sarah
2. Mara
3. Deanna
4. Korie (I know she has already been tagged by Carrie)

Where to start...

OK-I haven't had such the "exciting" and scary month Carrie has had, but big news we met with our contractor yesterday and the down payment has been received, some refinements to the contract has been completed, and we are signed and on our way. Now, it has just dawned on me how much work/decisions we are going to make.

I am horrible on decisions, I love all the options we have with this addition. It's going to be amazing and fun...we will be creating a space just for us...from the ground up. Everything from what kind of doors do we want to what color carpet, tile, etc. to where do you want electrical outlets and lights. And to me, all these decisions are scary. I hate making decisions with personal choices; at work its no problem; but when it affects me personally--I hate doing it. The options are endless, and there is always that little nagging voice in the back of my head saying, "Is this the end all be all for this, or is there something else that you haven't come across yet?" OK, that's why I wouldn't call my house decorated, just lived in. I need to come up with a theme (my mom's suggestion) and then build on it, and that's scary in itself. I think C will help make the final decisions, but I will be the one who brings the options to the table, and most time I end up not choosing any of those options. So, (here comes the favor), my friends that are so savvy on the internet, please help me find some websites that help me tackle the options and help me get a theme together--because I feel like signing this blog like a Dear Abby letter: A Can't Commit Decorator!

alive...

It's been a horrible busy month, and working basically non-stop for most of it...so my apoligies for not writing until now--almost a month since my last entry...

the month was quiet...and now I am going to try and start focusing on the house...more to come with color and decorating choices...

Sorry this is so short, but we are doing well...and everything is still the same...

Tuesday--the last day of January

Can you believe it--another month has gone by already?? It seems like only a week or so ago was Christmas and the new year, not 30 days ago. Where does time seems to go? Tomorrow is February--and here, the temperature feels like March into April, and we haven't seen a drop of rain in over 100 days. With my luck a spring deluge right when they open our existing roof to build the addition. If that happens--you all will hear about it! :)

Other excitement for the week, not really anything. Just hanging on and waiting for the weekend.

It's over

After several weeks, and one really maddening week of real work-9 hours, work at (or on) home--5 hours--the appraisal is over. OK--so you ever get the feeling of being let down. There has to be more to an appraisal then... "I'm going to take some pictures, measure the house, and then I will be done." I need some praise..."Your house looks great...love the colors...something." I would even take "...like the flowers." But nothing. All I got was, "this house is completely square", as he was measuring my back patio. OK--yes that's right we live in a completely square box.

Either way, the house looked super. Especially with clean carpets. C and I started a trend to take off our outside shoes at the door, and put on slippers "that you can only wear in the house" on. Hoping that trend continues.

Other positive things that came out of this appraisal...

• De-cluttered my house. Threw out, gave away, or disposed of absolutely everything that we haven't used in at least six months, not to mention years.
• Organized my house. Yes, that's right. Put everything where it belonged, or created new bins, etc. if it didn't really have a home.
• It's manageable--now I just have to keep the house up. As both C and I work things get way out of hand at times. If I just take 15 minutes in the evening, and clean something, anything, I am hoping everything won't get so out of control.

I should now go around the house and take the "before" pictures. That way, once the construction starts and finishes over the next six months, I can remember a completely clean and happy home. Post the pictures up here over the next week or so.

Sunday and all is good

Its Sunday, and all is good. The house is completely put together for the appraisal tomorrow. So everyone keep your fingers crossed that we only have to do this once, and we can get all the things constructed all at one time. I went to Trader Joe's today, and these flowers just screamed out at me, "Buy me, Buy me, and I will make you happy." A quote from Ali..."these flowers make me happy." They are bright, but there colors are very, very rich. I tried a couple different settings on my camera to try and capture the vivid yellow and rich oranges. Hope you get the idea. Thought I would share...Have a great week.

One final thing...

Love the fact that I have so much ribbon...but one final nail in the proverbial coffin for the Tuesday...towels that I hunted for all over the city and finally found on the internet were delivered last night by a hot UPS man. These towels are perfect for my bathroom--I have the hand towels, but I wanted bath ones too. Found them on the internet--ordered, and then they showed up last night--so happy, and a great ending to a horrible day. Try again. Opened the package, and the tag said the exact towel that I ordered, should have guessed because of my day...but they weren't the towels I thought I ordered. The picture on the internet didn't match the towels I received. That figures, and now they go back, and for this pleasure I owe $6.95.

Today was much better though...

Yesterday

Don't you ever have one of those days when you tell the world to stop, so you can catch up? I had many balls in the air, and many of them came crashing to the ground yesterday. So, let's summarize:

• Monday night, 8:30 pm, appraiser for the refinance called and wanted to show up at my house the next day. The answer: No, let's try for next Tuesday.
• Next morning, 10AM, loan processor calls, for some additional info. I tell her about the late phone call, and idiot appraiser. Her response, is how rude, but you do need your home appraised by the 23rd (the absolute latest) because we need ten business days to complete, otherwise you owe more money, and your rate can't be locked in. So what is with this 30-day lock in rate when I have to have everything completed within 15 days? Panic mode sets in because my house is in no condition to be appraised--that appraiser would be laughing, " you want that much for this dump?"
• 11AM, husband calls, claiming he has a deathly illness and will die by sunset. Men...why can't they just suck it up? I threw up for four hours on Saturday night from some mysterious illness, and the next morning I ran all my weekly errands and housework. Love my husband, hate the helpless person he turns into when he doesn't feel well. There goes any chance of slave labor for the day.
• 2pm, boss says, the $2.6 million project I have been madly trying to finish over the last week, needs to be completed because the $30 million project needs attention. Not to mention, another co-worker promised a set of documents for this project with a VERY unrealistic deadline to the client, and she didn't consult me on the timeframe--I was playing hookie that day, but that is besides the point-- I am the one that will complete the docs--and she can't help me.
• 4:55pm, one of my subconsultants on the $2.6 million project has now gone MIA. He is the one holding me up, and I can't get a hold of anyone in his office of 20 people, and that's not for a lack of trying. Didn't anyone realize that 4:55pm is still 5 minutes away from 5pm, and the receptionist should still be answering the phone?? Hello??

So, to summarize my day--it just sucked. So to finish off the day, I spent the next five hours at home scrubbing walls, fixing little dings (so they can be painted today), and threw out five garbage bags of crap. My motto last night: haven't picked it up in six months--then it gets thrown out--don't even look back, and don't second guess yourself.

I ended up organizing my scrap room last night as well--and who knew I had so much ribbon?

Days like this...

My mantra for the day is the serenity prayer...please let this day end...

More later...

Buddy

Well, this weekend was going to start off wonderfully. C and I were going to get up and get this house together to be appraised. We need to have the house completely put together, so our refinance and expansion plans can proceed with at least no financial hiccups. That was until Saturday morning at 7:15 am. I fed the cats as usual, but when I went back into the house, and back to bed to lay down for another half a hour, I was brought back to awake by my oldest cat crying outside. I thought that was strange, so I got up and went back outside to see him crying in pain. I inspected his back leg and notice a huge gash in his skin on his back leg by his tail. To make a long story short, C found an emergency vet, and I quickly bundled Buddy into the cat carrier and off we went. A half an hour later, the vet told me that Buddy has had this wound for several days and it was severely infected. He didn't think that he could save his tail, not to mention his life. Buddy was almost twenty years old, and I had to make the decision to put him down. I hate those decisions. So, if you ever met Buddy, he was just a friendly cat that just wanted some attention whenever you were around. He was happy just following you around the yard, and sitting in the shade watching you do your yard work. We adopted him two years ago, and he walked into our little family, and he will be greatly missed.

TGIF!

This week is the best and worst of all weeks. The holidays are over--insert small cheer here because the "family time" is over with, but the week at work after the holidays, to put it in one word--sucks. Time drags slower than molasses, and yet you work on so many things to catch up but you can't stand sitting at your desk more than 10 minutes at a time. Go figure.

On the house front, C and I finally started on the road to refinancing. We are totally excited, but have lots of work to do on the house to make it presentable to the appraiser. UGH. Forgot about that part. So its cleaning and minor fixes for us for the next couple of weekends. Once that is over with we can sign the papers for the remodelling to begin. YEA!! Keep you posted on that one.

Other than that, have a great weekend. Gotta get back to work and finish the hour or so.

Back at Work again...

I have survived the Christmas at my brother's house. Actually, it was fun. The kids were great, and our gift to my nephew went great! All we heard for the remainder of the visit was: "Uncle C, Uncle C will you be my train engineer and build me another track?" He is such a cutie. Promise to upload a picture or two when I have a chance this week.

I can't believe another year has passed. It was twelve years ago since I graduated college--can you believe that? It feels like yesterday in some ways, and in others literally 12 years ago. My life has changed so much in those years, and for the better. I have a wonderful husband, and a kick-ass job or a job that kicks my ass (depending on the day), three wonderful pets, and a house that is planned to go under some major overhaul in the spring. There is only one thing missing--and I don't know if that will ever happen--so I will be happy with what I have.