Saturday, August 21, 2010

Wow. A big push.

Kind of strange. We've made some progress with the house that almost doesn't feel like progress because nothing got painted or ripped out.

This morning the plumber came to have a look at the job. After discussing it I decided that I'm going to rip out the bathroom cupboard and install a proper cabinet. I wanted to do that anyway, but I was hoping I could put it off. The bathroom project just got bigger. The plumber is going to email the estimate to me.

I moved all the pet food storage cans out to the sun room. Lio is not pleased. I've been wanting to get those big cans out of the kitchen for a while. It looks much better in there now. I worked on cleaning the garage for a while. You can't really see the progress at this point, but it's there. Got rid of a lot of stuff.

Tonight Paige and I FINALLY assembled her bed. I had been planning to get a new mattress and give her my old one. It's killing my back but she likes it. I've been on the look out for a new bed, but I haven't found one that I like. When I can afford it I'm going to get a latex mattress. I tried one out a couple weeks ago when Tracey and I were out shopping. Oh man, it was heaven! But it was about $1,800. I think I know where I can get one cheaper. Anyway, I had told Paige that when we get her bed put together she can have my mattress. Well, that happened this evening. So, tonight I'll be sleeping on one of the inflatables. Probably will be for a while.

Ooh, I'm getting excited about this bathroom project. Here's the big ol' list-
Get the valves fixed, shower and sink.
Rip out the old vanity and sink.
Repair the tile under the vanity.
Repair the huge, gaping hole in the wall where the shower leak ruined the plaster.
Take out the toilet.
Repair the plaster near the floor that was damaged when the washing machine leaked.
Install new baseboards.
Assemble the new vanity and medicine cabinet.
Paint.
Get a new toilet and install.
Install new large cabinet.
Install new vanity, sink and medicine cabinet.
Get a new light fixture.
Window treatment and decorating.
Someday a new shower door.

Wow.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Poor, neglected blog

I think Facebook has killed my blog. Evil Facebook. Pretty dumb since this is the place where I live. This blog has gotten me through the toughest of times. I love being able to go back and read some of the old posts. I'm amazed at some of the things we went through, and so glad to be on the other side of it all. Still, even when I was going through the worst of it, there was plenty to laugh about.

This phase of my life doesn't seem to have much of an identity. I went through those years of being Daughter and Caregiver of Crazy Alzheimer's Dad, and then Grieving Widow. Pretty potent shit. Now things are foggier and more bogged down. Kinda swampy. That tough stuff was tough, but at least there was life in it. This? I don't really know what this is.

I'm such a blob. Physically, things have been difficult. My back was giving me a lot of trouble (fixed for now), and I've been inconsistent with getting exercise. My body and I aren't such good friends right now. I'm kind of ok with it, because that situation will soon change. Other parts of my life are blobby as well. The house still overwhelms me, but I've been enjoying getting some work done. I've been marking things off my to-do list, which feels pretty good. Some things are moving in a good direction, others are stagnant. I've been getting back to my old mantra- More out than in, more out than in... Today I took a carload of stuff to donate to the Ramona cheer squad's rummage sale. Yes, it's come to this. I've donated to cheerleaders.

The blobbiest thing of all is my shitty job. Man, I wish just one person there knew what it's all about. Those of us who are new certainly don't know, but damn, shouldn't the people who've been there twenty years have it down by now? There's no real leadership in that office. No unity or caring. No teamwork. Everyone is just doing their own job.

Today I snuck off to an empty office and poked around looking at job postings and websites. Technically it's kosher, because that's part of what we do. But I wasn't trying to find a job for someone else. I filled out the job search page on the Kaiser website. It didn't come up with a single match for the criteria I entered. Getting the hell out of the DSPS office is going to take some time.

This isn't the lowest point of my life. Things are hovering just below the neutral line. It's time for a kick in the ass. A big, juicy project would help. I've barely touched my uke in the last couple months. I guess I just need something to get excited about. Ok, that's it. I'm calling a plumber tomorrow. Time to take on that front bathroom.