We have taken a breather on home improvement projects for the moment.  Still a few things we need to get done (painting, replace carpets) in addition to the gutters and finishing that bathroom.  Our normal Modus Operandi is to visualize the finished project, estimate the cost, start it, watch the budget skyrocket, take a 6 month break in the middle ( Read more... )

The gutters on the back of our house are rusting.  The house is about 18 years old and everything is demanding to be replaced these days which I can't ignore.   I can ignore my children's demands only because they aren't dropping pieces of ceiling on my head.  If they learn that trick they would all have sports cars by the time they turn 16 ( Read more... )

We have been very slowly, glacier-like even, doing improvements to our house.  Generally our motivation is for personal use, but if the future sale value increases, then great.   However as any homeowner knows, the process builds upon itself.  Buying a hot tub means you need to build a deck to put it on.  Which also means shelving for the towels, ( Read more... )

Like most women, I am selectively forgetful. Not only do I forget the pain of childbirth, but I forget the trauma of 40-stitches and blood transfusion, remembering only holding the infant for the first time. I forget that Will mows the lawn every week but remember that his coffee cup never makes it to the dishwasher. And I forget that both Erin ( Read more... )

Today is the first day I have felt clear-headed and myself this week.  Monday morning I checked myself into the hospital for basically a tune-up surgery.  Three pregnancies, one very traumatic delivery, and unusual hormonal changes had done a number on my chassis.  I decided to go ahead and get things fixed - while someone told me that it was ( Read more... )

Happy Birthday Will.  Welcome to your 40's.   It sucks.  Here is some Ben-Gay and Geritol.

I liked having a younger husband.

We're having some friends over tonight for beer & wings - nothing much really.  We might do something Saturday night if I can muster up the energy.   Since he threw such a big party for me on my 40th birthday, I felt a little ( Read more... )

Will is going to be very pleased to know that I have LET IT GO.  What so annoyed me yesterday is now nothing more than an anectdote that I will share with the other crowd*.  Those people who don't know Bobby and the...oh I'm not continuing with that line again.  Too much hassle.  I'm over it.

But man - do I wish I could tell you about it.   I'm ( Read more... )

Again, this is one of those days I wish this were an anonymous blog instead of one where I'm pretty sure it's read by everybody on my street, my mother, my boss, the mailman and Janet_Evanovich*.  Because if this were an anonymous blog, I would go off on a long-winded, yet brilliant, rant about my neighbor Bobby and how he let his dog run loose, ( Read more... )

When I post a lot of pictures here, it's because I'm too lazy to find the words to describe something, and figure that the picture can do it for me faster, better, and much more accurately.  This leaves me time to do more important things, such as finish the internet.  If I don't maintain a certain daily reading level, I could fall behind.

However, ( Read more... )

Failed my iron test.  Again ( Read more... )