How come the air conditioner doesn't break in the middle of the week in the middle of the day when all the AC contractors are hmmmm....open?? How come it only tears up at 6:30 on a Saturday night (of a holiday week, no less)? I think I jinxed myself yesterday when my teacher-friend called with a broken AC. Luckily DH is out as I type seeing if he has the parts needed to fix it. The up-side to this prediciment: DH is a handy man and chances are good that he will at least be able to patch it so it gets us through until Monday. We could be like 95% of the population and if we could get a technician out on a Saturday he would charge, oh, $3,254/hour...and we would gladly pay it because it is, oh, 243 degrees in my house right now. Seeing as how I'm the President and CEO of our heating and AC company, I'm learnin' a thing or two about these things. I know by the temperature in my house right now that the "light is on but nobody's home". The motor is running and DH tried to convince me that it was just so hot in GA today that the AC was having a hard time keeping up. I'm not buying it because I know hot and I know hooootttttttttt and it's hooootttttttttt right now.
As I sit here typing this, I'm also contemplating our choices if DH is unsuccessful in "patching" the unit. The way I see it, I have three...(1) sit here and suffer it out, (2) go hook up the AC to the camper and sleep out there tonight, and (3) check in at the Lynne Bed and Breakfast over at And Babies Make Six and have a slumber party for the night.
Let's examine these options closer...choice one isn't very viable because the temperature goes up each time I go check the thermostat. I'm hot now, I can only imagine it in about another hour. Choice two is somewhat viable, but DH doesn't think the "thingy" that we hook up to make the camper AC work works right now...another thing on the honey-do list at my house. Choice three seems like the most logical right now...they have enough room, they can always use an extra hand playing with babies; it's a good day in their house when the adults outnumber the kiddos. I'm waiting for just the right moment to make my personal suggestion.
And if that weren't bad enough, The Dude just called from his vacation..it was 50 degrees when he got off the plane today in New York. Personally, I don't know if that's really true or if he just told me that because he knew I don't do hot.
Footnote: My house is cooling - yeah!! It is so nice to have a DH who can improvise and compromise and come up with whatever he needed to make my capassiter work...I love you, DH!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
I Stand Corrected...
I only thought there was nothing in my house that would surprise me anymore...that was until I peeled strips of paint larger than strips of wallpaper from The Dude's room this evening. I only wish the wallpaper I peeled in the previous post had been as large as the paint that came off the walls this evening. So instead of finishing up the room like the original plan, I had to prime the whole room before I could continue painting the room. I hate it when a plan doesn't come together.
But the good side...DH did feel sorry for me and take me to the corner BBQ joint for slap-your-mama-good BBQ (complete with a huge slice of white, coconut frosting cake for dessert). Back to the drawing board tomorrow.
But the good side...DH did feel sorry for me and take me to the corner BBQ joint for slap-your-mama-good BBQ (complete with a huge slice of white, coconut frosting cake for dessert). Back to the drawing board tomorrow.
Painters are Underpaid
Those who know me know that my husband and I are pretty handy. Lynne over at And Babies Make Six asked me this morning who installed our dishwasher, then said, "Oh, that's right, DH did". I had a call today from my across-the-hall teacher asking if our AC had ever been serviced (living in Georgia in the summer, AC is NOT optional...) I told her kind of and asked her what she needed. She said her upstairs unit had the motor running but the fan not moving. I immediately diagnosed it at either the compressor motor or this or that...she asked me how I knew and I told her I was married to a heating and air guy. Then gave her the number of a reliable AC company to call . Working 70-80 hours per week doesn't leave DH much time for service calls (above and beyond me, his mother, and our dear, sweet neighbors). So we are pretty handy and very seldom have to call a service tech to our house. The one I'm married to is expensive enough; I can only imagine having to hire a real technician. But, on the upside, Dave Ramsey would be proud when we do Financial Peace University because we don't have to budget for a serviceman in the event that something breaks at my house.
But I have decided that painters are underpaid. I don't know what the going rate for a painter is; I've never hired one. Painting is therapeutic for me; I have almost repainted every room in our house since we moved in 6 years ago. Today The Dude and I started painting his room...affectionately called The Pit, previously known as the playroom, storage room, dog pen, etc., etc. I learned long, long ago not to let anything I find out about our house surprise me. The couple we bought it from built it themselves...and you can tell. You can also tell which rooms they started in and which rooms were the last to be completed by the construction on said rooms; I can walk through and see exactly what a certain home improvement store had on sale when my house was being built. Case in point, one day I decided to strip the wallpaper in my small masterbath. I calculated it should take me a half day max. A week later I finished. When I started stripping wallpaper, I found bare sheetrock; so I had to strip and strip and strip (wallpaper, that is...) and then prime, and then paint. DH just looked at me and shook his head. Today in The Pit, I heard a noise, then The Dude saying, "Oh, man..." I visioned paint running down the wall, all over the floor, all down his front...and he walked toward me holding what looked like a big wad of masking tape. I knew that couldn't be the case because we are also replacing the baseboards and carpet in The Pit, so I have covered NOTHING with tape. He said it was paint. I just looked at him questioningly. He told me it came off the wall. My response, "But it's dry paint, how could it come off the wall?" He explained that he saw a "bubble" in the paint, so he popped it so he could paint over it. When he popped it, the paint started peeling, and peeling, and peeling. Before we were done, we had almost one whole wall stripped of paint, right down to the... you guessed it - sheetrock. I didn't build my house for a reason...I don't do sheetrock. I don't tape it or sand it or prime it or whatever else you do to it before you paint it. I like my walls decoratively painted, not sheetrock showing. Luckily, I had some primer left over from aforementioned bathroom fiasco, so while The Dude continued painting The Pit, I stopped and primed the sheetrock and am now waiting for it to dry.
If I had any sense in my head at all, I would Google "painters" in my area, call a few references, pick out a lovely color, write out a check, and sit and eat bon bons while The Pit was being converted into a lovely bedroom suitable for The Dude. But Little Miss Do It Yourself and Save Some Money is about 1/3 of the way finished with the first coat of paint. You guessed it, it will take another coat on most of the surfaces to completely cover it.
I'm exhausted, so you'll have to tune in later to hear more home improvement stories from yours truly.
But I have decided that painters are underpaid. I don't know what the going rate for a painter is; I've never hired one. Painting is therapeutic for me; I have almost repainted every room in our house since we moved in 6 years ago. Today The Dude and I started painting his room...affectionately called The Pit, previously known as the playroom, storage room, dog pen, etc., etc. I learned long, long ago not to let anything I find out about our house surprise me. The couple we bought it from built it themselves...and you can tell. You can also tell which rooms they started in and which rooms were the last to be completed by the construction on said rooms; I can walk through and see exactly what a certain home improvement store had on sale when my house was being built. Case in point, one day I decided to strip the wallpaper in my small masterbath. I calculated it should take me a half day max. A week later I finished. When I started stripping wallpaper, I found bare sheetrock; so I had to strip and strip and strip (wallpaper, that is...) and then prime, and then paint. DH just looked at me and shook his head. Today in The Pit, I heard a noise, then The Dude saying, "Oh, man..." I visioned paint running down the wall, all over the floor, all down his front...and he walked toward me holding what looked like a big wad of masking tape. I knew that couldn't be the case because we are also replacing the baseboards and carpet in The Pit, so I have covered NOTHING with tape. He said it was paint. I just looked at him questioningly. He told me it came off the wall. My response, "But it's dry paint, how could it come off the wall?" He explained that he saw a "bubble" in the paint, so he popped it so he could paint over it. When he popped it, the paint started peeling, and peeling, and peeling. Before we were done, we had almost one whole wall stripped of paint, right down to the... you guessed it - sheetrock. I didn't build my house for a reason...I don't do sheetrock. I don't tape it or sand it or prime it or whatever else you do to it before you paint it. I like my walls decoratively painted, not sheetrock showing. Luckily, I had some primer left over from aforementioned bathroom fiasco, so while The Dude continued painting The Pit, I stopped and primed the sheetrock and am now waiting for it to dry.
If I had any sense in my head at all, I would Google "painters" in my area, call a few references, pick out a lovely color, write out a check, and sit and eat bon bons while The Pit was being converted into a lovely bedroom suitable for The Dude. But Little Miss Do It Yourself and Save Some Money is about 1/3 of the way finished with the first coat of paint. You guessed it, it will take another coat on most of the surfaces to completely cover it.
I'm exhausted, so you'll have to tune in later to hear more home improvement stories from yours truly.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Of All the Things I've Lost...
...I miss my mind the most. I am totally addicted to the Karen Kingsbury book series. Last summer I read the Redemption series; could hardly wait for this summer to get here so I could read the Family series. And lo and behold, that is exactly what I have been doing all summer; I was averaging about 1 book every 4 or 5 days. That is, until this past weekend. I stayed up way too late my last night at the beach finishing book #3...only to start book #4. Finished book #4 (by far my favorite so far...) only to start book #5...therein lies the trauma. Book #5 has totally disappeared off the face of the earth (or I've forgotten where I put it...). I bought 3, 4, and 5 at the same time so I wouldn't have to waste time running back to the bookstore. I took them everywhere the first three weeks of summer vacation took me so I would have the next one readily available whenever it may be needed. I finished #4 on Friday night and didn't start book #5 then; it was already past my bedtime and, afterall, I did need my beauty rest. So I was all set to start on Saturday morning. And the Karen Kingsbury book thief came and took it sometime during the night while I was beauty resting.
I am so addicted to these books I can't borrow them or check them out of the library...I have to OWN them so I can loan them to my friends when I finish. As soon as you finish reading this blog, get in your car, run right out to your nearest Christian bookstore (or Borders or Barnes and Noble) and buy one; I promise you won't regret it. But alas, I digress...I went to pick up the book on Saturday morning and it was gone...disappeared...absolutely nowhere to be found.
Yes, I was at my dear sister-in-laws house; yes, I stayed up way past my bedtime helping her get ready for Saturday's company (see previous blog regarding our country being well protected...); yes, it probably got put up in a safe place so I would remember where it was. And NO I can't remember where the safe place is. I searched my bedroom at my sil's personal bed and breakfast and it is nowhere to be found. I even looked at my house thinking maybe, just maybe, I had accidentally left it at home...And here it is Wednesday afternoon and I still haven't been able to find out if Dayne is able to get out of his movie contract and return to Bloomington which is where he really wants to be and if the birth family accepts him for who he is or rejects him because of the life he lives and everyone gets mad at Ashley because she knows too much and doesn't share it with her family first...Guess now you'll have to come back to see how I resolved the best-book-series-in-the- whole-wide-world delima.
I am so addicted to these books I can't borrow them or check them out of the library...I have to OWN them so I can loan them to my friends when I finish. As soon as you finish reading this blog, get in your car, run right out to your nearest Christian bookstore (or Borders or Barnes and Noble) and buy one; I promise you won't regret it. But alas, I digress...I went to pick up the book on Saturday morning and it was gone...disappeared...absolutely nowhere to be found.
Yes, I was at my dear sister-in-laws house; yes, I stayed up way past my bedtime helping her get ready for Saturday's company (see previous blog regarding our country being well protected...); yes, it probably got put up in a safe place so I would remember where it was. And NO I can't remember where the safe place is. I searched my bedroom at my sil's personal bed and breakfast and it is nowhere to be found. I even looked at my house thinking maybe, just maybe, I had accidentally left it at home...And here it is Wednesday afternoon and I still haven't been able to find out if Dayne is able to get out of his movie contract and return to Bloomington which is where he really wants to be and if the birth family accepts him for who he is or rejects him because of the life he lives and everyone gets mad at Ashley because she knows too much and doesn't share it with her family first...Guess now you'll have to come back to see how I resolved the best-book-series-in-the- whole-wide-world delima.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Rest Well; Our Country is Safe
This blog came to me last night as I was sitting at Stone Mountain Park getting ready to watch the laser show. Our son, The Dude, has just gotten out of the Army and enlisted in the National Guard. While he was in the Army, God knew exactly what we, as his parents, needed. The Dude was surrounded by supportive, goal-oriented soldiers who took excellent care of him and "had his back" the whole time he was gone. Out of this experience, he (and we) have gained new friends. One husband and wife team came for a visit this weekend. We have met them before, enjoying their company while visiting The Dude at Fort Bragg and he and his wife spent Thanksgiving with us. When it came time for them to get away for awhile, they decided to come up for a visit.
Sunday saw them at Six Flags in blazing 1,453 degree heat. Then we went to the Park last night for the laser show. Watching Sgt. R, Mrs. Sgt. R (who is also in the Army), and The Dude play around and joke and tell stories had me laughing until my sides hurt. There were tears rolling down my cheeks from laughing so hard. I sat there and thought about how differently the whole situation could have played out if things in Iraq had turned out differently, I thought about how thankful I am that God gives us exactly what we need when we need it, I thought about how thankful I am for friends and family.
As you lay your head on your pillow tonight, please say a prayer for our men and women who aren't sleeping in their bed at their house tonight; remember the boys and girls who are in Iraq and would enjoy a trip to the laser show; say a prayer for the sons and daughters who weren't fortunate enough to return home from the battle lines. As Independence Day approaches, say a prayer for those who are helping us keep our independence.
Sunday saw them at Six Flags in blazing 1,453 degree heat. Then we went to the Park last night for the laser show. Watching Sgt. R, Mrs. Sgt. R (who is also in the Army), and The Dude play around and joke and tell stories had me laughing until my sides hurt. There were tears rolling down my cheeks from laughing so hard. I sat there and thought about how differently the whole situation could have played out if things in Iraq had turned out differently, I thought about how thankful I am that God gives us exactly what we need when we need it, I thought about how thankful I am for friends and family.
As you lay your head on your pillow tonight, please say a prayer for our men and women who aren't sleeping in their bed at their house tonight; remember the boys and girls who are in Iraq and would enjoy a trip to the laser show; say a prayer for the sons and daughters who weren't fortunate enough to return home from the battle lines. As Independence Day approaches, say a prayer for those who are helping us keep our independence.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Things I've Learned on Summer Vacation
1. Never plan back to back to back trips for me or the kids.
2. When you are making plans for the summer, always refer back to rule #1.
3. When you set off on adventures for the summer, start off by counting counties you drive through. I bet if I'd have done that, I would be at 1,427 by now.
Let me explain. Back in January when it was cold and rainy and miserable outside, I found a really cool looking campground in Destin right on the beach. What could be better in the middle of January in the aforementioned weather than thinking about a warm (or hot) summer day with nothing but sunshine and sand. So the only available dates for us to go were the first week in June. That would work OK, because oldest child didn't have to leave for church camp until the Sunday after we got home. That would give me Saturday to do laundry and get her off to camp in north GA.
Then sometime during the spring, my girlfriend who has in-laws with a condo in the Savannah area invited us to go to the beach...you guessed it, the week oldest child was at camp. That would be good, that would give youngest child and me a week at the beach together with friends - a fun time to be had by all. And besides, it will be as easy to repack for three as it would for one. Dear Husband had to stay and work...who else is going to finance my life of luxury?? Then we would come home Friday, pick up oldest child, go to mother-in-law's house, rewash laundry, repack youngest child for a week at said church camp.
So in the span of 2 1/2 weeks, I have left Atlanta, driven to Destin, driven back to Atlanta, driven to north Georgia, driven to Savannah, driven to Atlanta, driven to north Georgia and finally driven home. I go back to north Georgia to pick up youngest child on Friday..I may not be ready to get back in my car by then...
2. When you are making plans for the summer, always refer back to rule #1.
3. When you set off on adventures for the summer, start off by counting counties you drive through. I bet if I'd have done that, I would be at 1,427 by now.
Let me explain. Back in January when it was cold and rainy and miserable outside, I found a really cool looking campground in Destin right on the beach. What could be better in the middle of January in the aforementioned weather than thinking about a warm (or hot) summer day with nothing but sunshine and sand. So the only available dates for us to go were the first week in June. That would work OK, because oldest child didn't have to leave for church camp until the Sunday after we got home. That would give me Saturday to do laundry and get her off to camp in north GA.
Then sometime during the spring, my girlfriend who has in-laws with a condo in the Savannah area invited us to go to the beach...you guessed it, the week oldest child was at camp. That would be good, that would give youngest child and me a week at the beach together with friends - a fun time to be had by all. And besides, it will be as easy to repack for three as it would for one. Dear Husband had to stay and work...who else is going to finance my life of luxury?? Then we would come home Friday, pick up oldest child, go to mother-in-law's house, rewash laundry, repack youngest child for a week at said church camp.
So in the span of 2 1/2 weeks, I have left Atlanta, driven to Destin, driven back to Atlanta, driven to north Georgia, driven to Savannah, driven to Atlanta, driven to north Georgia and finally driven home. I go back to north Georgia to pick up youngest child on Friday..I may not be ready to get back in my car by then...
Saturday, June 9, 2007
BooMama Would be Proud!
Ok, ladies...I have to tell on myself. I was so proud of me when my girls went next door at the campground last week and played Wii and I actually knew what it was! Sometimes I'm smarter than the average bear, and then there's the other days. Anyway...I digress...the family camping beside us had a large motorhome that served as tailgating headquarters for LSU games during football season and came equipped with a TV larger that the one I have in my living room. They also had a Wii...which I only figured out after it dawned on me that when the girls said they were bowling, they didn't actually have a bowling lane in their camper. My girls would rather be spending time with kids their own age than their parents (go figure!)...so they were next door bowling and I actually knew that it was on a TV and it was a game and they got to pick out their very own characters that looked like them - all because Boomama picked out a hairstyle using the Wii control. And guess what else...the original game even comes with more than one game when you purchase it - unlike previously purchased game systems that come with, hmmmm, zero games. I think it could be a good Christmas in the household this year. I just love planning Christmas presents before, let's say, December 15th!
The Real World
I would much prefer vacation life as opposed to real life. Last week, I had no cares in the world...just me, my family, a bunch of sand, some salt water, and a big, beautiful sun shining overhead. The toughest decisions I made all week were (1) whether to lay by the pool or the ocean and (2) whether to cook or go out to eat. Not bad if I do say so myself. We pulled the camper to the beach for the first time and had a beautiful week. Thank goodness the weather was sunny all week; I can't imagine 5 people living in a 25' travel trailer with no slideouts. Luckily, God understood my plight and we had beautiful weather all week. We had so much fun, we have even booked the same campground for next year's vacation.
I tried to blog while I was gone, honest I did. But even with free wireless internet at the campground, I couldn't figure out how make my computer connect (yes, I am hopeless when it comes to technology!)...so now vacation is over and we are back in the real world. Yes, I have been doing nothing but laundry, laundry, and more laundry since we got home. And I think I may even cook in tonight. Yes, vacations are nice and relaxing and a wonderful time to regroup and catch up on family time. But all good things must come to an end and it's back to the real world...I must run because I have a week's worth of bills sitting in the kitchen calling my name.
I tried to blog while I was gone, honest I did. But even with free wireless internet at the campground, I couldn't figure out how make my computer connect (yes, I am hopeless when it comes to technology!)...so now vacation is over and we are back in the real world. Yes, I have been doing nothing but laundry, laundry, and more laundry since we got home. And I think I may even cook in tonight. Yes, vacations are nice and relaxing and a wonderful time to regroup and catch up on family time. But all good things must come to an end and it's back to the real world...I must run because I have a week's worth of bills sitting in the kitchen calling my name.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Introductions
Welcome to my very first blog ever. I have been hooked on blogging since my friend over at And Babies Make Six introduced me to it. Since then, I've read, laughed, cried, and been entertained by many, many, many blogs. Seeing that I'm one of the busiest people I know, I had to put creating my own blog on the back burner. Alas, school was out for me yesterday, my blog is created less than 24 hours later. I invite you into my little corner of the world as I go about the business God has called me to do. I am a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, teacher. I live in the southeast US (transplanted from WV for the past 18 years); I love Nascar, camping, vacations at the beach, reading and spending time with friends.
I have been married to Steve for the past 15 years; I can honestly say he is my best friend. Together, we have Kaiti who is 13 (and sure to be the topic of many future blogs) and Cassie who is 10. They are polar opposites and keep me on my toes constantly. When I married Steve, I inherited his son Michael, who is now 22 and just out of the Army. I had the privilege of staying home with the girls before they started school; I currently teach 4th grade in a public school and love it.
I decided to start a blog to share with my out-of-state family and friends what goes on on a somewhat daily basis in the life of fab the mayor. To understand the name, read my profile. My guess would be little did Beth know when she gave me that name long, long ago that it would not only stick, but become and "official" blog.
Sit back, relax, enjoy, share...I look forward to hearing from you soon.
I have been married to Steve for the past 15 years; I can honestly say he is my best friend. Together, we have Kaiti who is 13 (and sure to be the topic of many future blogs) and Cassie who is 10. They are polar opposites and keep me on my toes constantly. When I married Steve, I inherited his son Michael, who is now 22 and just out of the Army. I had the privilege of staying home with the girls before they started school; I currently teach 4th grade in a public school and love it.
I decided to start a blog to share with my out-of-state family and friends what goes on on a somewhat daily basis in the life of fab the mayor. To understand the name, read my profile. My guess would be little did Beth know when she gave me that name long, long ago that it would not only stick, but become and "official" blog.
Sit back, relax, enjoy, share...I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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