I haven't done a meme here in oh, EVER, but this one that Average Jane did the other day looked kind of fun.
The rules are to post my answers to a quiz. There are no wrong answers because it’s all about me. Unless I lie to look cooler or smarter than I am.
So, here goes:
A. Attached or single? Married
B. Best friend? My Hubby
C. Cake or pie? Lemon Meringue Pie (but only if it's tart enough)
D. Day of choice? Sunday
E. Essential item? Internet Access
F. Favorite color? Blue
G. Gummy bears or worms? Worms
H. Hometown? Byers, KS
I. Indulgence? Pedicures
J. January or July? January (I abhor hot weather)
K. Kids? 4-year old Little Man, and almost 2 Little Miss
L. Life isn’t complete without? Family
M. Marriage date? September 20, 1997
N. Number of brothers & sisters? 2 brothers - one older, one younger
O. Oranges or apples? Apples in the fall, oranges in the winter
P. Phobias? Claustrophobia if there is no airflow
Q. Quotes? More Cowbell.
R. Reasons to smile? My kiddos (and seeing them go to grandma's for the weekend)
S. Season of choice? Fall
T. Tag seven peeps! Meme if you must - no assignments here
U. Unknown fact about me? I had a huge crush on Jean Luc Picard in high school.
V. Vegetable? Cucumbers
W. Worst habits? Procrastination
X. X-ray or ultrasound? Ultrasound 'cause usually there's a baby involved!
Y. Your favorite food? Mexican
Z. Zodiac sign? Aries
Monday, August 18, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Building a House: The saga continues
I've been silent about the house building project for a while because it's going so. damn. slowly. There's not been much to report besides my intense frustration with the whole process.
When last I left you, I was waiting for the final bid to come in so I could decide on a builder. The final bid came in 3 weeks after the others, and it was $60,000 higher than the next closest bid.
I was SO pissed off that I wasted 3 weeks waiting for a bid that we clearly couldn't work with. I had expected the guy to be higher, but $60,000? Fucking robber barron.
So. It took us an additional couple of weeks to get all our ducks in a row and choose between the remaining contenders. We finally did make a decision. And here we are, 4 weeks later, still dicking around without a builder's contract. Breaking ground isn't even on the distant horizon.
Sigh.
I'm hoping to have the last change the builder is requiring to the house plan done tomorrow. Then, when the mood strikes him, he might actually draw up a contract that we can haggle over for a week or so before we sign. Then it's off to play with the bank, title company and (God forbid) the county for another few weeks. If we're lucky, by the time the ground freezes we'll have a backhoe in place to sit and wait like everything else.
Fucking delays.
The only glimmer of progress is that we got flags put in the ground marking the corners of the house. It's weird - it looks really small, like it barely takes up any ground at all. At the same time it looks enormous.
I got to stand in the place where my screened porch will be. I daydreamed a little about sitting and sipping a daiquiri on it, watching the sun set. It was SWEET.
When last I left you, I was waiting for the final bid to come in so I could decide on a builder. The final bid came in 3 weeks after the others, and it was $60,000 higher than the next closest bid.
I was SO pissed off that I wasted 3 weeks waiting for a bid that we clearly couldn't work with. I had expected the guy to be higher, but $60,000? Fucking robber barron.
So. It took us an additional couple of weeks to get all our ducks in a row and choose between the remaining contenders. We finally did make a decision. And here we are, 4 weeks later, still dicking around without a builder's contract. Breaking ground isn't even on the distant horizon.
Sigh.
I'm hoping to have the last change the builder is requiring to the house plan done tomorrow. Then, when the mood strikes him, he might actually draw up a contract that we can haggle over for a week or so before we sign. Then it's off to play with the bank, title company and (God forbid) the county for another few weeks. If we're lucky, by the time the ground freezes we'll have a backhoe in place to sit and wait like everything else.
Fucking delays.
The only glimmer of progress is that we got flags put in the ground marking the corners of the house. It's weird - it looks really small, like it barely takes up any ground at all. At the same time it looks enormous.
I got to stand in the place where my screened porch will be. I daydreamed a little about sitting and sipping a daiquiri on it, watching the sun set. It was SWEET.
Monday, August 11, 2008
My Condolences
It's been a sad few days. It seems that it's a funerary year - one in which I am destined to attend many funerals.
So far this year I've said good-bye to my grandmother and aunt. This past weekend my aunt's husband passed as well - an expected loss, but hard on the family nevertheless.
I opted out of traveling 3 states away to attend his funeral for a myriad of reasons, but I got another dose today anyhow.
A bad, bad dose.
I found out yesterday that a co-worker's husband died in a hiking accident late last week. He was 31.
THIRTY-ONE.
He was a very talented, vibrant person, as is his wife. She and I were pregnant at the same time last year - she with her first and me with my second child. I helped throw a baby shower for her. The girls are 2 months apart.
It just makes me ill to think about it. To think about a little girl just the age of my Little Miss having to grow up without her daddy. Of her mom suddenly being a single working mother whose best friend is gone just like that.
It breaks my heart.
I went to the memorial service today along with a number of other co-workers. It was nice to see the hefty turnout - the line was about half a block long to sign the book at the door when we got there, and the service was standing room only. Even though I was crammed with about 25 other attendees in a hot entry way craning to hear the service through an open door, I'm glad I went. The service was well done, and my co-worker did one of the bravest things I've ever seen. She got up and read a letter to her husband. It was superbly written - poignant, funny, and real. Perfect. And she read it flawlessly - didn't break down once. I am proud of her, and in awe of her.
I am sleeping with both of my kids and my darling husband tonight. And holding on to all of them tightly while I can.
So far this year I've said good-bye to my grandmother and aunt. This past weekend my aunt's husband passed as well - an expected loss, but hard on the family nevertheless.
I opted out of traveling 3 states away to attend his funeral for a myriad of reasons, but I got another dose today anyhow.
A bad, bad dose.
I found out yesterday that a co-worker's husband died in a hiking accident late last week. He was 31.
THIRTY-ONE.
He was a very talented, vibrant person, as is his wife. She and I were pregnant at the same time last year - she with her first and me with my second child. I helped throw a baby shower for her. The girls are 2 months apart.
It just makes me ill to think about it. To think about a little girl just the age of my Little Miss having to grow up without her daddy. Of her mom suddenly being a single working mother whose best friend is gone just like that.
It breaks my heart.
I went to the memorial service today along with a number of other co-workers. It was nice to see the hefty turnout - the line was about half a block long to sign the book at the door when we got there, and the service was standing room only. Even though I was crammed with about 25 other attendees in a hot entry way craning to hear the service through an open door, I'm glad I went. The service was well done, and my co-worker did one of the bravest things I've ever seen. She got up and read a letter to her husband. It was superbly written - poignant, funny, and real. Perfect. And she read it flawlessly - didn't break down once. I am proud of her, and in awe of her.
I am sleeping with both of my kids and my darling husband tonight. And holding on to all of them tightly while I can.
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