Hey! It’s July! Holy crap-o-lah. Do you know what this means?
I’ll tell you what it means:
It means our house renovation was supposed to have been done 1 month ago.
It means July 4th is in, like, 5 minutes.
It means I’m going to be married in, like, 10 minutes.
You may have noticed my lack of house renovation reporting. Tis true. *sigh* Every week, every day…nearly every hour, we are informed, assured that it’s almost done. “We just have to….(fill in the blank)”. “As soon as we….(fill in the blank)”. When you’re told that something is going to happen over and over again and it never does, regardless of whether that something is good or bad, it seriously messes with your mental health.
Meanwhile, as we’re being mind fucked by our contractors, we are living in a constant state of clutter, filth and disorganization. Good times. The fuzz-butts are not happy about this situation either as they have to be locked up in the bedroom all day. Poor fuzz-butts.
We think they are almost done. No, for reals. I mean, it looks like they are almost done. They finally got the plumber back on-site to finish the master bathroom. He will be there today and then should be done. The master bathroom is the only major component not yet complete. But beyond that, there really isn’t much else, except for a few minor (and I mean MINOR) punch list items and then the removal-of-the-construction-crap process can begin.
Earlier this week, they finally removed all of the old disgusting carpet padding (it was being used to protect the wood floors throughout the house, but it was Nasty) and we were overjoyed to tears at that simple gesture of progress.
Okay, enough belly-aching about the house. Soon I will show you pictures post-construction. Soon. Very soon. Promise.
Not to change the subject abruptly, but have you seen Up? Ohmigod. Seriously good. I’m not a Pixar fanatic – I actually much prefer hand-drawn animation – but I wanted to see this film as soon as I saw the very first preview. And honestly, it was better than I thought it was going to be - which rarely happens. It was really fun and funny and sweet and imaginative and relevant. If you haven’t seen it, well, you should. That’s all. You just should.
So, what’re y’all doing for the 4th? Last year, Daniel and I went to Erie for a few days to celebrate, something I’ve been doing my whole life, and went to a handful of picnics/parties. The 4th of July celebrations of my youth have gone the way of my childhood Christmases. We always had great 4th of July parties at our house – playing murderball in the pool and volleyball on the grass. The older folks played horse shoes and bocce on the lawn. Everyone participated in the water balloon fights – willing or unwilling. There were sparklers and fireworks, cold sodas hunkering in coolers. The prerequisite hamburgers and hot dogs, and two big long tables full of picnic food. Lots of those elements remain the same at the various picnics hosted by friends and families. Although none of them have the element of my dad, and maybe that’s the problem.
Whew!…gettin’ a little serious there for a sec. Pay no attention to my navel-gazing drivel.
This year we’re staying here in Nashville. They have big beautiful fireworks over the river and a party at Riverfront Park. Although neither one of us really enjoys crowds, so we may skip that. Also, on our side of town they are having the Hot Chicken Festival. Hot Chicken, if you don’t know, is a Nashville thing and very nearly a religion…so we should probably check that out. It would be a sin not to, right?
Besides that, our agenda for the next 7 days revolves mainly around frantically cleaning, unpacking and organizing in preparation for the arrival of my mother and sister. That’s right. They are visiting in 7 days. And our contractors are still an intimate part of our lives. And currently there is no where for them to sleep. Or sit. Or walk really. So, we’ll see how that goes!
They are going to be our witnesses. Can I get a wit-ness!? sorry
We still need to go get our marriage license at some point. Soon. We have our rings – and we actually know where they are in the mess that is our home. And soon we will have announcements. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working with a local artist/graphic designer to come up with a cool marriage announcement. I think we nailed it. Now, we just need to get them printed. We are scheduled to be married at 10:30 am on Friday July 10th. This is a very early hour for Bethany but she is making the sacrifice to be our witness.
Can I get a wit-ness!? again, sorry
That is all.
7.02.2009
6.15.2009
6.12.2009
Random Hyperbole
OMG! So, the most disturbing thing happened today!
It’s Friday. It’s lunchtime. Which typically means I go out for lunch instead of eating my “brown bag” lunch like I do throughout the rest of the work week. Unless Daniel text messages me at 11:30 with “I want to see you. Can I take you out for lunch?” And I usually let him take me out for lunch…cuz I’m nice like that.
So there I am, standing at the counter of my favorite sandwich shop, ordering my favorite sandwich and next to me are the strategically placed cookie baskets. When I go to this particular sandwich shop, I almost always get a cookie (oh who are we kidding, I ALWAYS get a cookie) because they make really delicious cookies. Strike that. I don’t know for a fact that ALL of their cookies are really delicious because I only ever get the Chocolate Chunk Cookie.
Today, I looked at the Chocolate Chunks. I looked at the Peanut Butters. I looked at the Oatmeal Raisins. That’s what I do, I practice equal opportunity when it comes to cookies. I give each cookie it’s chance to entice me and inevitably Chocolate Chunk always wins. But today, TODAY, I willingly picked out AN OATMEAL RAISIN and put it on the counter.
I don’t know what happened! I don’t know what came over me!
Here’s what I suspect: My choosing an Oatmeal Raisin over a Chocolate Chunk is a clear sign I’m getting old (well in addition to the other signs…like wrinkles and white hairs). Today it’s Oatmeal Raisin over Chocolate Chunk. Tomorrow, it’s the Weather Channel over VH1. Weak Tea with Lemon, over Vodka Tonic with Lime is next. And before you know it I’ll be getting up at 5 am on a Saturday to go have breakfast at Shoney’s!
This is where it starts my friends…this is where it starts.
It’s Friday. It’s lunchtime. Which typically means I go out for lunch instead of eating my “brown bag” lunch like I do throughout the rest of the work week. Unless Daniel text messages me at 11:30 with “I want to see you. Can I take you out for lunch?” And I usually let him take me out for lunch…cuz I’m nice like that.
So there I am, standing at the counter of my favorite sandwich shop, ordering my favorite sandwich and next to me are the strategically placed cookie baskets. When I go to this particular sandwich shop, I almost always get a cookie (oh who are we kidding, I ALWAYS get a cookie) because they make really delicious cookies. Strike that. I don’t know for a fact that ALL of their cookies are really delicious because I only ever get the Chocolate Chunk Cookie.
Today, I looked at the Chocolate Chunks. I looked at the Peanut Butters. I looked at the Oatmeal Raisins. That’s what I do, I practice equal opportunity when it comes to cookies. I give each cookie it’s chance to entice me and inevitably Chocolate Chunk always wins. But today, TODAY, I willingly picked out AN OATMEAL RAISIN and put it on the counter.
I don’t know what happened! I don’t know what came over me!
Here’s what I suspect: My choosing an Oatmeal Raisin over a Chocolate Chunk is a clear sign I’m getting old (well in addition to the other signs…like wrinkles and white hairs). Today it’s Oatmeal Raisin over Chocolate Chunk. Tomorrow, it’s the Weather Channel over VH1. Weak Tea with Lemon, over Vodka Tonic with Lime is next. And before you know it I’ll be getting up at 5 am on a Saturday to go have breakfast at Shoney’s!
This is where it starts my friends…this is where it starts.
6.11.2009
I Need Your Help
That’s right, I’m actually soliciting your opinions and wise words of advice.
To register or not to register? That is the question.
What is your opinion on the whole registering for stuff you want?
As a creator of such a registry, I have to admit, the idea makes me uncomfortable. Uncomfortable in a guilty sort of way. It just seems very demanding or bossy of me to put a bunch of things on a list that I am hoping people will buy for me to “celebrate” my decision to get married. *shudder*
Don’t get me wrong – I love gifts. I love giving gifts. I love getting gifts. I love seeing what kinds of gifts other people get. I am NOT against gifting. But shouldn’t a gift be something that the giver wants to give and not something that the receiver is instructing the gifter to give? Are those two things mutually exclusive? Are you confused yet? I am.
Because the gifter in me understands that it is nice (and convenient) to be able to give someone something that they really want/need without having to agonize over the decision or go all Columbo trying to figure out what it is they want. Ya know? If I give someone a toaster, but what they really needed was a blender, then essentially what I’ve just given them is an errand. And that’s no good.
On the other hand, I don’t want to seem presumptuous. I mean, I don’t want anyone to feel obligated to buy any kind of gift at all. After all, I’m 33 and Daniel is *gasp* almost 45, so it’s not like we’re just starting out and need to build a household full of toasters and stuff. Although since both of us are first time home owners, there are certainly things we are lacking that we will need to buy at some point (lawn mower comes to mind…)
Am I being stupid? The giver in me says yes to registries. If a registry is available, I typically choose an item from it to give as a gift; although I also sometimes add non-registry things to the gift as well. See? Even as a gifter, I don’t entirely like to be told what to do. It's like the registry is insulting my ability to choose an appropriate gift.
I know there are people who will want to give me and Daniel a gift in celebration of our marriage – I would want to do the same for my friends and families. So, if I don’t register then I run the risk of receiving 3 blenders and a dozen pink towels with little embroidered flowers on them – not that anyone would actually give me pink towels if they knew me at all . . . although now that I’ve said it, I’ll most likely get pink towels from some wise-ass.
So, do I just suck it up, be bossy, and tell people what to buy me?
Pro-Registry? Anti-Registry? Anyone? Anyone?
To register or not to register? That is the question.
What is your opinion on the whole registering for stuff you want?
As a creator of such a registry, I have to admit, the idea makes me uncomfortable. Uncomfortable in a guilty sort of way. It just seems very demanding or bossy of me to put a bunch of things on a list that I am hoping people will buy for me to “celebrate” my decision to get married. *shudder*
Don’t get me wrong – I love gifts. I love giving gifts. I love getting gifts. I love seeing what kinds of gifts other people get. I am NOT against gifting. But shouldn’t a gift be something that the giver wants to give and not something that the receiver is instructing the gifter to give? Are those two things mutually exclusive? Are you confused yet? I am.
Because the gifter in me understands that it is nice (and convenient) to be able to give someone something that they really want/need without having to agonize over the decision or go all Columbo trying to figure out what it is they want. Ya know? If I give someone a toaster, but what they really needed was a blender, then essentially what I’ve just given them is an errand. And that’s no good.
On the other hand, I don’t want to seem presumptuous. I mean, I don’t want anyone to feel obligated to buy any kind of gift at all. After all, I’m 33 and Daniel is *gasp* almost 45, so it’s not like we’re just starting out and need to build a household full of toasters and stuff. Although since both of us are first time home owners, there are certainly things we are lacking that we will need to buy at some point (lawn mower comes to mind…)
Am I being stupid? The giver in me says yes to registries. If a registry is available, I typically choose an item from it to give as a gift; although I also sometimes add non-registry things to the gift as well. See? Even as a gifter, I don’t entirely like to be told what to do. It's like the registry is insulting my ability to choose an appropriate gift.
I know there are people who will want to give me and Daniel a gift in celebration of our marriage – I would want to do the same for my friends and families. So, if I don’t register then I run the risk of receiving 3 blenders and a dozen pink towels with little embroidered flowers on them – not that anyone would actually give me pink towels if they knew me at all . . . although now that I’ve said it, I’ll most likely get pink towels from some wise-ass.
So, do I just suck it up, be bossy, and tell people what to buy me?
Pro-Registry? Anti-Registry? Anyone? Anyone?
6.01.2009
Get Outta Mah House!
Our contractors have had it good, man. G-O-O-D. For the past 5 weeks, they have had exclusive run of our house. No bothersome people or pets to work around, no furniture to worry about, and no schedules for them to deal with. Ideal circumstances under which to work.
All of that is about to change Friday morning when Daniel and I pull up with our moving truck full of furniture, our two cats, our work schedules and our lives. Our contractors' perfect little set-up is about to go down the terlit very quickly.
Which is why they should hurry the fuck up and get outta mah house!
Otherwise, we're going to be moving into this:
And this:
And this: Notice the lack of countertops
Right now, there is NO WAY all of our stuff will fit in addition to all of the construction crap strewn willy-nilly throughout the ENTIRE house.
Hopefully (fingers and toes crossed), MUCH will get done in the next 4 days. Today, the electrician is supposed to install all the new lighting, new receptacles, and upgrade some wiring. Our kitchen countertops are also supposed to be installed today. Our contractor is supposed to finish the kitchen floor and finish repairing the kitchen walls. Our kitchen appliances are supposed to be installed on Thursday.
That's a whole lotta supposin'.
In more productive news: This past weekend, Daniel and I sanded, primed and painted the hallway leading to the kitchen and the kitchen ceiling. Paint under our fingernails and in our hair has become an inevitable part of our lives. Tuesday night we will be sanding and priming the walls behind the refrigerator, and Wednesday, we will paint those walls in preparation for the refrigerator installation on Thursday.
You can see the color we'll be painting the kitchen walls just there above the window. It's not a terribly accurate color representation but, it's called Puddle and it's a purple-ish gray color. I love the names of paint color. Really. I delight in them. If I could find a way to make paint-naming my career, I so would! In addition to Puddle, we also bought cans of Castle Walk (for the dining room), Sweet Molasses (for the pink bathroom), and Gobi Desert (for the master bath and bedroom).
FUN FACT! My sister also, without prior knowledge or consultation, bought Gobi Desert for HER new bathroom. We're weird like that.
Anyway, cross your fingers that our contractors fully understand the ramifications of us moving in to their construction site in less than 4 days!
All of that is about to change Friday morning when Daniel and I pull up with our moving truck full of furniture, our two cats, our work schedules and our lives. Our contractors' perfect little set-up is about to go down the terlit very quickly.
Which is why they should hurry the fuck up and get outta mah house!
Otherwise, we're going to be moving into this:
And this:
And this: Notice the lack of countertops
Right now, there is NO WAY all of our stuff will fit in addition to all of the construction crap strewn willy-nilly throughout the ENTIRE house.
Hopefully (fingers and toes crossed), MUCH will get done in the next 4 days. Today, the electrician is supposed to install all the new lighting, new receptacles, and upgrade some wiring. Our kitchen countertops are also supposed to be installed today. Our contractor is supposed to finish the kitchen floor and finish repairing the kitchen walls. Our kitchen appliances are supposed to be installed on Thursday.
That's a whole lotta supposin'.
In more productive news: This past weekend, Daniel and I sanded, primed and painted the hallway leading to the kitchen and the kitchen ceiling. Paint under our fingernails and in our hair has become an inevitable part of our lives. Tuesday night we will be sanding and priming the walls behind the refrigerator, and Wednesday, we will paint those walls in preparation for the refrigerator installation on Thursday.
You can see the color we'll be painting the kitchen walls just there above the window. It's not a terribly accurate color representation but, it's called Puddle and it's a purple-ish gray color. I love the names of paint color. Really. I delight in them. If I could find a way to make paint-naming my career, I so would! In addition to Puddle, we also bought cans of Castle Walk (for the dining room), Sweet Molasses (for the pink bathroom), and Gobi Desert (for the master bath and bedroom).
FUN FACT! My sister also, without prior knowledge or consultation, bought Gobi Desert for HER new bathroom. We're weird like that.
Anyway, cross your fingers that our contractors fully understand the ramifications of us moving in to their construction site in less than 4 days!
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