Summer Vacation has officially begun

7-23-08

Wednesday

Two years ago the 23^rd was a Sunday. It started out with the possibility of being the worst day of my life and ended as the best. No regrets about the decision to make that five hour drive that changed my life.

I’m really bad… not with remembering important dates… just with realizing when they are. Time passes so quickly. I knew today was approaching, but it didn’t click until I got out of bed this morning that TODAY was the 23^rd. Never mind that I knew the 22^nd was my last day of school. Or that the 23^rd follows. The importance of today just didn’t register until I got out of bed.

Happy Anniversary Bryan! You’re the best EVERYTHING. I love you.

~~~~~~~

So, my “vacation” might not be so much one. There’s a lot of catering events coming up before school officially resumes and I think I might have volunteered to help out with some. I’ll get paid for them, but it isn’t something I’m required to do. Just like working summer school wasn’t mandatory, but I wound up doing it.

Strange thing. I thought I’d be all happy that yesterday was the last day. Instead, it was bittersweet. Kind of like: now what?

Got a couple “projects” I can work on, but nothing that absolutely MUST be accomplished. There’s painting the trim outside on the house. I can do that in the morning, before the sun comes blazing down on me. But even that shouldn’t be more than a three or four day project, despite working only a couple hours every morning. Not like we live in a honking mansion or anything.

We have two walls in our living room that are natural rock. Been researching ways to clean the rocks up, haven’t found anything. If they were outside, I could powerwash them. Or use acid. But no. The cement mortar between them is really nasty dirty. So, we’ve decided that if the mortar is painted it might be an improvement. That’s another project. That’s rather a lengthy project because it’s detail work.

~~~~~~~

Was HOT HOT HOT Monday. Ninety-eight degrees with 200% humidity. Horrible. Then we had a nice little storm come through around 11 that night, stay until five or six Tuesday morning. The good thing was that it cooled things down significantly. The high yesterday was around 76… with 100% humidity. The bad thing was that because I didn’t put the umbrella down on the patio table, we lost the table top. The scene greeting me when I looked at the back yard yesterday was glass shattered all over the patio deck.

I got most of it cleaned up after work, but because the patio is made up of wood squares…and each square is made up of planks…there’s lots and lots of cracks. Glass is wedged in the cracks and is gonna be a challenge to get out.

~~~~~~~~~

I mentioned we went to see Glenn Beck Thursday. We had a bag of popcorn while we watched the show. We also ate Burger King for dinner before the show. I was sick for the next three days.

At first I blamed the whopper. Then I realized it was the popcorn.

So, no more popcorn for me.

Funny how that works. I was able to eat it before, no problems. Now it’s another food item on the “do not eat” list. In fact, it’s at the top of the list. In bold letters.

Not to get too graphic, but I felt like I’d been butt-raped from the inside. Or, what I imagine it might feel like. If it was possible. All I can say with honesty is that I had tears in my eyes quite often, had trouble sitting, had trouble walking, and I felt like if someone shot me I’d feel better.

Crohn’s Disease is so much fun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The last week, week and a half, has been quite newsworthy around here. Not in a good way. There was a truck driver talking on his cell phone who plowed into ten cars on I-64 (farty-far to us locals), killing a couple people and injuring several more. The next day a man walked into a nearby mall, shot and killed his ex-wife (they were still living together, though), then killed himself. An airplane lost a piece of itself after take off, dropping the chunk onto a street a couple cities away. And Monday some psycho …

This is what I’ve been hearing about this man: there are no pictures of him. Can’t even find an old high school picture. He blackened out the windows in his house. He went around introducing himself to his neighbors saying, “I’m So and So. I’m required by law to tell you I’m a registered sex offender.” #1) they aren’t required by law to tell their neighbors, and #2) he wasn’t one.

Anyhow, Monday morning he set a car afire in front of his house. When the trucks arrived to put out the blaze, he opened fire on them, killing a firefighter. Then he locked himself inside his house. He set his house on fire.

Last I heard, the fire caused so much destruction that investigators couldn’t get in yesterday… they have to have it reinforced before they can go inside. And between the fire and the rain Monday night, a lot of evidence is gone.

What about the man? The psycho? No one knows if he killed himself and his body is inside the house…or if he somehow escaped.

Haven’t heard anything yet today.

~~~~~~~~

That’s probably more than enough for today. So, y’all have a good day.

Almost Vacation Time

7-21-08

Monday

A few months ago (probably longer… time passes too quickly to keep track ) Post Cereals changed the recipe on my favorite cereal of all time: Alpha Bits. They decided to go “healthy” and make it with whole grain. Yuck. I was incredibly disappointed to say the least. However, when I was at the grocery store Friday I made a venture down the cereal aisle and discovered they had “new” Alpha Bits out. Sugar coated oat and corn! Just like the “old” had been! I bought a box and woo hoo! It tastes just like it did before!

I’m happy.

Tomorrow is my last day of work for three weeks. Found out this morning that the woman who had left last January but had decided to come back… isn’t. That means that there’s a vacant head cook position. Possibility there for someone. Me? Don’t know.

We’re under our first heat advisory for the summer today. My little temp icon had finally quit flashing a couple days ago (constant flood warnings since March). Now it’s flashing again.. but instead of blue/red, this time it’s yellow/black. So, it’s begun.

Was so hot this morning that as soon as I stepped outside at 6 am I wanted to go back inside and take a shower. By the time I got to the truck I felt covered in sweat, and it’s only maybe ten feet from the door.

Y’all have a good day! Hope it’s pleasant wherever you are.

The long and winding road

7-18-08

Friday

Things are starting to feel almost settled. Seems like for the last few weeks it’s all been up in the air tossing every which way. No particular reason, but that’s the way it’s felt just the same.

Only two more days of school. By two o’clock Tuesday afternoon I’ll be done. Off work until August 18^th. Right now it seems like a “Yay!” thing, but after a week will it still? At least I’ll be drawing unemployment, and when you consider how much I spend on gas a week, it’ll almost equal out to what I make working. Almost. It’s still better than being off, making nothing.

My goal was to paint the outside of the house. It won’t be a huge expense, only want to do the trim. However, this is the hottest time of the year. The last thing I want to do is stand out in the sun and paint. A year ago I was making plans to paint the inside of this house… and we made a trip up to Michigan last July as well; right around this time, actually.

Wow.

On August 5^th last year we got the green light to move in here. Woo hoo us! We’ve lived in one place for almost a year! Considering this was the third place we called home before we even celebrated our first anniversary, that’s a feat!

Two years ago we were making plans to meet for the first time. Wow. In fact, it was right around this time that they had a huge storm here in ’06, knocking the power out… and we came this “I-I” close to not meeting at all. ~Sigh~ Don’t want to think about that.

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of Bryan’s divorce from The Storm. I was so hoping I’d be divorced by now, too.

Looks like that’s on hold for a while. Stupid is doing all he can to avoid the inevitable. If he’d cooperated I would have been willing to make this as easy as possible. Now I’m just pissed. And me pissed off is not a good thing. I’m gonna have to hire a lawyer, and if I’m going to have a lawyer I’m going to get as much as the law will allow. I left him because I got tired of putting up with his immaturity and bullshit, I’m certainly not going to put up with it now.

~~~~~~~~~~~

We went to see Glenn Beck last night. The show was “live” but not in person. He was actually in Texas, but we saw the show at the theatre. In person or not, it was still a good show. I like him.

He’s funny, but gets serious issues across. Kind of like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, but with real news. A lot of people don’t like him because he’s conservative and not afraid to voice his opinion on everything. That’s why I DO like him.

We saw him in person at the Fox… how long ago? I don’t remember. So much of that first year together is a blur…. Too much happened. Anyway, that was when I became a real fan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

That’s probably enough for one day. I’ll try to write more often. No promises.

Y’all have a great day!

Summer’s just begun and it’s almost over

7-12-08

Saturday

Oy vey! Feels like I’ve been running around like a chicken trying to avoid the farmer.

Mom was released from the hospital on the 5^th, just spent the night. We went out to their camp Sunday. HOT! Way freaking hot. They drove into town Tuesday and we all went out to dinner. Then they left early Wednesday morning.

Wednesday afternoon I took the boy to practice parking. Again Thursday. Early Friday morning we went to the testing facility and he took his road test. To our amazement, he passed!

The boy is now a licensed driver. Not sure how I feel about that, to be honest. He’s loving it, that’s for sure. Keeps looking for reasons to drive. Alone.

I only have six actual work days left before my summer vacation begins. Those six days are stretched over the coming week and the first couple days of the following week. Then it’s three and a half weeks of doing whatever I want. As long as I can afford it, that is.

Here’s a couple more differences between Missouri and Michigan: in Michigan after you complete Drivers Training, you take your results to the Secretary of State office and get a slip of paper as your driving permit; in Missouri, you go to the License Office and get an actual license, except it says “Permit” across the top. In Michigan, your permit is free, in Missouri it costs $3.00. In Michigan when you’re ready to get your license, you go to one of the driving schools, pay $35.00 to drive your car, another $35 to drive one of theirs. You’re tested separately on parking and driving and if you flunk one part you don’t get your license. In Missouri, you go to a Licensing Facility and a state trooper goes with you in your car – it’s free and it’s one test with points subtracted for every “goof”. After passing the test, in Michigan you go to the Secretary of State office, pay another $20.00 and your license is mailed to you. If you’re under 21 you get a vertical license. In Missouri, you take your test results to the License Office, pay $10 and get your license before you leave. If you’re under 21 you get a regular license but your picture is on the opposite side.

Going to a party tonight. It’s sort of a birthday party for my kitchen manager. I was asked to make potato salad. Was boiling some potatoes this morning and forgot about them. Next thing I know the boy is asking me if something is burning in the kitchen. Um… sort of. The potatoes boiled dry. Was able to salvage some, but it’s gonna be hoot trying to get that pan clean again.

And that’s about it for this round.

Y’all have a great day.

Not how I planned to celebrate

7-5-08

Saturday

Argh. First the stress of having to spend Wednesday and Thursday afternoon with my sister, now my mom is in the hospital here.

We got the call Friday morning, not long after I posted here, that Dad had taken her to the emergency room. A couple hours later me and B were there.

At first they thought it was appendicitis. Then no. Then they ran oodles of tests, including a CAT scan, to rule out this or that. She went in with extreme stomach pains and a really bad headache.

Final verdict is that it’s fluid in her lungs. Again.

She’s been admitted, will probably be there for the weekend.

No cook out for me on the Fourth. No fireworks watching. I spent the majority of it at the hospital. Yay.

Anyhow, post updates later.

Y’all have a great day.

I hope you get to spend the holiday with people whose company you enjoy…

7-4-08

Friday

#1) Today is the third anniversary of when I started to blog. First comment I got was from a friend who is no longer with us. Anyhow, for three years now I’ve been writing as if I have something to say that other people might find interesting or entertaining. It’s my life.

#2) We got a new principal at school; he started July 1^st. Haven’t met him yet or even seen him. We were told he’s going to implement some things that make sense. Also, school won’t be starting in the morning until 8:20 as opposed to 7:50 as it has been. Not sure what effect this will have on us.

On the one hand, we won’t need to get breakfast around as early, which should mean a half hour later starting time. On the other hand, if lunch is still served at the old times, then we’ll still need as much time to prepare, which means that we continue to come in at the old times.

#3) HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Now, the real reason for blogging today: I haven’t bitched enough to people who can actually hear me, I feel the need to spread the misery to people who can read.

My parents are here visiting for a week. That’s not the problem. The problem is that my sister also lives here – they wanted to see her, she wanted to see them. That means that if I want to see my parents, I’ve also had to deal with seeing HER.

I CAN’T STAND BEING AROUND HER FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. Any longer and I become a raging lunatic. I had to go pick her up after work Wednesday, then brought her back here while we waited for Bryan to get home so we could head out to the campground to see my parents. It was two hours with her before B got home. Then it was hours of having her around while we visited with my parents. Then, to make it worse, because we couldn’t get her back to the home before nine, she spent the night at our house.

Thankfully, my parents came over before I got home from work yesterday, so she wasn’t here when I got home. However, within an hour they were back. Would have been nice if they had just left her at the home and come back alone for dinner.

So, I had her around me last evening, too.

I was invited to Big Boss’s house for a BBQ this afternoon. My parents were invited, too. When I told Dad, he was all for it. Until my sister said that they were having a BBQ at her house. Then, it was decided that we’d go to her house for the BBQ. Until me and Dad talked a little later, by ourselves, and he expressed a desire to cut his eyes out rather than go to her place for a cook out. So, to keep the peace (translated to mean: keep her from going postal on us all), we decided to cook out at the campground.

That means I have to go pick her up this afternoon, drive with her all the way out to the campground, and spend the day with her. Again. Only this time neither my son nor Bryan will be around to help with the keeping me sane. She thinks she’s spending the night here again… I’d rather miss out on watching the fireworks to get her back tonight rather than have her in my house another night.

We’re having a cook out here tomorrow afternoon. Just my parents. Not even mentioning it around her.

My mother can tolerate her better than the rest of us, but I think even she has had her fill. Dad is like me: an hour with her is enough.

When we were at the campground Wednesday, Dad sent Alex to the dumpster with the trash from dinner. I was outside having a smoke (it had started to rain, so we were forced to go inside…no smoking inside the camper, which I wouldn’t do even if it was allowed).. anyhow, Alex asked me to walk with him. As soon as we were away from the camper, he said, “She’s crazy!” Then he showed me a text he had sent to one of his friends: ‘I’m still with my crazy aunt. God help me!’

And she’s huge. Not just fat… she’s freaking HUGE. In my kitchen, there’s a space of counter between the pantry and the stove approximately three feet wide: she stood there and took up most of the space… there might have been an inch or two on one side of her. Her upper arms are about as wide as my thighs; then there’s a slight indentation at her elbows and another at her wrists… like an overstuffed cloth doll. She keeps her hair cut short, which only emphasizes the hugeness of her face.

She said to me: “The doctor has taken me off my night psyche meds because they were making me gain weight.” I asked her if he’d switched her to something else… I’m thinking: psyche med- she’ll need something to replace it. She said, “No, I just take a Tylenol PM to help me get to sleep now.” Which tells me that what she had been taking wasn’t some kind of psyche med, it was a low-dose sleeping pill. Or, since it supposedly was making her gain weight, maybe it was just some loaded sugar pill. Anyhow, she claims to have lost six pounds since going off the “night psyche pill” a month ago. Personally, I think the only thing making her gain weight is putting food in her mouth and her only exercise being getting up from the couch to walk to the table.

Also, she’s diabetic. I made lasagna yesterday for dinner. She refused a second piece, but ate a huge slice of cake for dessert.

After dinner I gathered all the dishes, rinsed them off and put them in the sink to soak for a few minutes. Then we sat around and visited for a few minutes. My parents were getting restless, ready to go ‘home’. Mom asked if I wanted help with anything before they left. I told her no, that I could get it. My sister piped up “She can have Alex help her. He can take the leaf out of the table,” as if that was the only thing there was to do to “clean up”.

Earlier, I showed my parents the apple basket afghan I made. My mom asked me some questions about it, and my sister wanted to answer them, as if she’d made it.

She just gets on my nerves. Big time.

People at work sometimes ask me how she’s doing. My standard reply is : “She’s not living with me, and that’s the big thing.” They’ve all heard the stories, my whining and bitching, so they just laugh.

Argh!

Seriously, if you were around her for just five minutes you’d know immediately why she bugs me! Five minutes is all it would take. Then she’d be on YOUR nerves, too. However, because I value all friendships I have, I would not subject anyone to having her around…unless it was unavoidable (sorry, Bryan! But, you’re family- you have to put up with her if I have to.)

Okay, hopefully that’s enough for now. I’m not entirely exorcised of the bitchiness that overtakes me when she’s around, but I think I’m okay. And, for the record, the bitchiness that she brings out in me is completely different than my normal bitchiness.

Enjoy your holiday!

Farewell, Friend

6-20-08

Friday

Second Post of the Day

Nigel.

What can you say about a car that was more like a member of the family than a piece of metal over an engine and drive train? I miss him already and he’s been gone less than 24 hours.

Talk about a car with personality! Nigel had enough for two cars.

He wasn’t pretty. Maybe when he was brand spanking new off the assembly line, but not in his latter years. No, ‘pretty’ was not an adjective used to describe him.

His interior was awful. Beyond awful, even. The seats were all cracked and open, especially the back seat. The ceiling material was pretty much gone and what was left was hanging down in pieces. The trunk leaked and there was water in the tire well. The sunroof creaked and moaned when it was opened or closed. The driver window wouldn’t go up in cold weather. If you used the air conditioner you lost at least a quarter of driving power. The floor boards were so dirty and disgusting that if Bryan dropped cigar ashes it didn’t matter.

The exterior wasn’t much better. He’d obviously been in at least one accident or bender. The front fender on the drivers side was replaced with a white one (Nigel was turquoise, or blue, or green.. all depending on how the light hit the paint). The back fender on that same side was gone…smushed up. The back bumper was also messed up. The passenger side didn’t look so bad… just a dent here and there, a little bit smushed.

A lot of money went into him to keep him running. More than he was realistically worth. He was always out of alignment, even after having one done. He needed a new exhaust system. And probably more wheel bearings. He was always ‘in need’ of this or that.

The last time we drove to Michigan, we took him. A six hundred plus drive in a little Mazda MX3 – not a comfort ride, for sure. But we were all so proud that he not only made it there, he made it back and continued. The gas mileage he gave us was unbeatable; 36 mpg. Well, okay, it is beatable, but nothing to sneeze at.

It should have been embarrassing just to have him sitting in the drive way. Moreso to drive him. Or just be a passenger. But I was never embarrassed by him or because of him.

He was fun.

He wasn’t easy to get in or out of. He didn’t provide a comfortable ride. He was always loud.

He had a kick ass radio.

What he did give was adventure. Ask Bryan. He lost a wheel once on a very busy section of freeway… where two freeways merge – with an exit to a major mall right there, too. He got a flat another time, very recently. And you never really knew if this ride was going to be the last one; if he’d give up the ghost miles from home.

He was just fun. Like no other car I’ve ever driven or ridden in. I can’t explain it.

He really was like family. The crazy insane uncle who always makes you laugh and feel good, despite the fact you never know if he’s serious.

And now, because we traded him for the new ride, he’ll probably end up… well, I don’t want to go there. It’s too sad to think what might become of him now. Seriously.

A person shouldn’t feel the emotional attachment we had with him.

Rest, Nigel… you served us well.

The new “not so new” car

6-20-08

Friday

Feels like Saturday. Except Bryan is at work, it’s the middle of the afternoon, and it isn’t Saturday. It’s Friday.

Freaky Friday. Because it isn’t Saturday.

So, we’ve been doing some research, looking for another car. Mostly, I’ve been doing research and sharing with Bryan what I find. Our criteria were: must have a sunroof, be under 12 grand, less than 100,00 miles, and have good customer reviews written about it. It also had to be able to seat four adults very comfortably. We knew what cars we didn’t want, no matter how trivial our reasons.

Last Tuesday we stopped at a local Mazda dealer to see an ’07 Mazda 5. It’s a mini van that looks more like the result of a minivan and an SUV mating, then getting squashed on the exit. I didn’t drive it, but I can say this with authority: it rides real nice, corners smoothly, and has nice “OH, JESUS!” bars to hold onto when the driver corners a little too tightly. It has seating for six, but the back two seats can stay down, leaving a nice flat surface for storage. The middle two seats also fold down for a little extra space if needed.

The one we drove was a “new ‘07” … never been off the lot, yet it still managed to have mileage added up on it. The sticker price was that of a new vehicle, though. About ten grand more than we wanted to pay.

We chose to not pursue that route.

Yesterday I took a co-worker into the city to get a box spring and mattress. Because I drive a truck. And I guess that means I get drafted for all deliveries that don’t fit in a car. Yay me.

She didn’t get the mattress or box springs. They gave her the wrong information on the phone. She was pissed.

However, I got to go to the city. Yippee. Martin Luther King Drive is always a good street to be on, no matter what city you’re in! Filled with things that give you the warm fuzzies. Makes you wish you lived on it.

You understand sarcasm, right?

Anyhow, this was just to explain why Bryan thought I wouldn’t necessarily be home before him yesterday. Why he thought I wouldn’t notice that he didn’t come straight home from work.

He decided to do a little “comparison shopping”, so to speak. Stopped at a little dealership just up and around the corner from us…then down a few blocks. Anyway, from what I understand, he told the salesman what he wanted, what he wanted to spend, and they went from there.

He walked in the door. “I’ve been a bad boy,” he said. Uh Oh, he went and bought something without me seeing it first! We had agreed to go looking at cars together and last night was supposed to be the night we took one or two chosen models for a test run.

“I found the perfect car. Has everything we want.”

Whew, he didn’t actually buy anything. That means I don’t have to pretend all is right with the world while I secretly seethe inside until I come to terms with it. Which could take anywhere from a day to a month, depending on what was done. Crisis averted.

He kind of cringed. “Only, it’s a ’99.”

Wow. Thought we agreed on something between an ’02 and an ’06? Okay, not a whole lot older than the oldest model we’d agreed to, so no reason to go ballistic. Life is still okay. Not amazing, but okay.

“A…. Mercedes!” he says, smiling.

“A what?” because he has to be kidding.

We’re NOT Mercedes kind of people. We’re not even Lincoln Towncar people. We could be ‘nice, reliable, decent mileage small SUV’ people; or ‘looks odd, but runs great’ people. But Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar… no. Not even old, boxy looking Volvo people.

A car gets you from Point A to wherever you need to be; it doesn’t have to be expensive or flashy, or have many or any bells and whistles. If it’s comfortable, that’s a plus. If it looks nice, more plus. Great safety and anti theft devices, even better. But a car is a car is a car.

A Mercedes is… well, I don’t know. But it’s always seemed like more than just a car. Y’know? Maybe a bit of a status symbol? An in-your-face-bitches kind of thing. “Look at me! I drive a Mercedes!” Whooping big deal, ass hole.

But – what the hell? Let’s go look at it.

Short of the long of it: Bryan has it at work today.

Yeah, it’s ours now.

She’s sweet. Only had just under 84,000 miles on it – and it’s nearly ten years old! We’ve got at least… well hell, some have gone a million miles. It’s a “c” class… 230? 280? Kompressor. If that means anything? I don’t know. I don’t really care. It has what we wanted and was in our price bracket.

On the outside it looks like any midsize sedan. Well, except that it has the Mercedes hood ornament. It’s gold, or tan, or beige, or champagne… whichever word you want to use to describe my favorite car color (doesn’t show dust and dirt, which I love). Tan leather interior, wood trim (not the cheap imitation, either). Power seats, windows and locks. And headrests! There’s even a built in first aid kit in the back window ledge. Six CD changer in the trunk. Air bags and side curtains. Alarm. Lots of cool features. Not bad for an old car, and that’s the truth!

Anyway, the search has come to temporary end. Next one will be a cheap little go-getter. Got a feeling that as soon as the boy gets his drivers license I won’t even have the truck to call mine anymore.

Y’all have a great day.

First week is DONE

6-13-08

Friday

Second post of the day

Just completed my first week of summer school. We have approximately 120 kids enrolled; only a dozen eat breakfast in the morning. Hardly worth being there.

At around eight fifteen me and Dwight lock up and head across the street to the high school. He spends the day baking. I head into the office, start paperwork, then go out at ten to cashier for the “break” which is when we serve lunch since the actual “lunch” period is after classes are finished and the kids go home. We have three breaks: the first is for “transition” students – eighth graders earning credit for high school, which they’ll be starting in August. Maybe thirty kids. At ten-thirty we have “first break”… close to a hundred kids. Ten- fifty we have second break, probably the same number.

After all the breaks are done, I head back to the office to finish the paperwork. I’ve been leaving between two and quarter after.

This week I’ve been training. Next week I’ll be on my own. Not only will Shirley be gone (she’s the regular office manager), but Big Boss will be in Mexico with her family. That means that me and Second Boss will be doing it all. It’ll be interesting, that’s for sure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Haven’t had a chance to get the lawn mowed this week. It’s just been too hot when I get home. Meant to do it this morning, but it was already sprinkling when I got up, then I heard thunder, and the sky looks a little menacing. We’re supposed to get some nasty weather.

However, I’ve been inside now for an hour and still no heavy rains. I’m just afraid that as soon as I pull the mower out and begin the sky is gonna open up in a torrent. Yay. Besides that, I’m tired of it raining as soon as I get it all cut. It’s supposed to be nice tomorrow. It can wait a day.

She loves me

6-13-08

Friday

She’s back on the market, looking as lovely and enticing as before, playing the same seductive tune. It’s hard to resist, but resist we will.

So much about her is what I’ve always wanted. She’s historic, has a separate dining room, a bi-level brick patio, a HUGE master suite with it’s own sitting room and French doors. A family room AND a living room. An entry foyer. Real wood shutters with hinges at the windows. A basement with a walk-out door. Ivy growing up one side of the brick exterior. Wood floors. Actual flower garden. Huge backyard. And, she has over twice the square footage of this house.

She’s beautiful.

However, we’ve had time to assess the situation and resist the temptation. “Historic”: she’s 151 years old. The plumbing will probably need to be replaced. The electrical will need work. There’s also siding that needs replacing on the second story. We couldn’t see all the roof, so who knows what that looks like.

The bi-level brick patio needs to be pulled up and re-laid. The French doors off the sitting room in the master suite lead to nothing: if you used them, you’d walk out to thin air and fall onto the angled roof of the back porch that’s listed as “a sun room” (barely big enough for two chairs inside). The basement is a “cellar type” which most likely means it’s dirt and could only be used for storage of things that were in air tight containers.

The entry foyer needs a new floor. The carpet in the living room is old and stained and would need to be replaced. All three bedrooms are upstairs and the only staircase is in the front foyer.

There’s work to be done in it. We’d be spending the rest of our lives trying to update and remodel. Not to mention there’s no drive way, let alone a garage…and because of it’s historic standing, we probably wouldn’t be able to put in either.

Then I think to myself: I have a beautiful kitchen right now, I don’t want to give it up. I’ve already cleaned up one house that someone else is living in and enjoying; and I’ve spent a lot of time and energy cleaning this one – I don’t want someone else to enjoy all the hard work I’ve put into this house, too, just so I can spend the rest of my life making another house into a home.

Also, me and Bryan have spent a lot of time and energy cleaning up the yard here… the yard in that seductive beauty needs a lot of work, don’t want to spend every day cleaning it up when I can spend this summer enjoying what we’ve already done here.

There are a plethora of reasons to not even consider it, and yet… a part of me would really, really, like to live there!

Here’s the link to look at it:

http://www.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?mlslid=80007525&ml=3&typ=7&sid=0c648011596044f5a28ba8e5f83c1956&lid=1100264303&lsn=2&srcnt=3#Detail

If you like old houses, you’ll fall in love, too. I’ve contacted the realtor to set up an appointment to see it, just because we’ve only walked around the outside and looked through the windows. I need to be actually inside so I can find as many things wrong with it as possible.

I must resist.

I love the house I’m in.

Repeat as many times as necessary.

Y’all have a great day!