1. I love my husband more each year we are married.
2. I think my know-it-all attitude is supposed to compensate for all the years I thought I was of low intelligence and ability.
3. I didn't think I was smart until about halfway through 10th grade.
4. I regret spending so much time with boyfriends in high school instead of with my friends.
5. I'm fascinated with running water (like the cats), especially rivers and streams but includes spring melting.
6. Someimes I'm afraid my husband isn't going to be faithful even though I cheated on him (in 1997, before we were married or engaged!)
7. I always wanted dance lessons but got cello and bassoon lessons instead.
8. I don't think I'm patient enough for teaching middle school.
9. I wish I had continued with physics after my undergrad, but went into teaching because I didn't think I was capable.
10. I can't believe that I'll love my baby more than my cats or husband!
11. I'm extremely messy even though my mother worked really hard to make me neat and clean.
12. I'm afraid my baby will have cognitive impairment and that I won't love it as much.
13. I love chocolate, but prefer white cake to chocolate cake most of the time.
14. I have a reputation for having an enormous appetite.
15. I love cross-country skiing.
16. I think I'm an excellent whistler.
17. I can't make that really loud whistle and wish I could.
18. I'm a terrible slow runner.
19. In high school track everyone had three events, but they told me to just do two (because I'm that bad).
20. I'm extrememly proud of bellydancing since I have no other athletic talents.
21. I watch children's movies and cartoon movies and don't usually enjoy them but watch them anyway.
22. I have terrible taste in picking out movies.
23. I watch lots of really bad movies.
24. I have only walked out of a move once: Singles.
25. I have not finished a few movies that I rented, including: Legally Blonde 2, date movie, and caligula.
26. The fist career I wanted was to be a paleontologist.
27. I'm proud of being a nerd.
28. I always wanted to wear glasses but my vision is persistently good.
29. I love NPR.
30. I download podcasts of Wait, Wait, don't tell me.
31. I like to think I'm technilogically savvy, but without my husband I couldn't even blog.
32. I think other people think I'm too blunt but I'm proud of being genuine.
33. I love gin and tonics and mojitos in addition to wine.
34. I love being pregnant.
35. I love how it feels when the baby moves, even when it has the hiccups and is slightly irritating.
36. I think people who smoke are crazy and don't understand how stopping could be harder than continuing something so gross.
37. I like politics but have to be careful not to get too riled up.
38. I thnk I'm open minded, but must be confronted with credible evidence before changing my mind.
39. I can admit when I'm wrong since it happens so much.
40. I'm afraid of worms.
41. I'm not afraid of spiders, but occasionally think they are creepy.
42. I'm good at remembering numbers.
43. I'm terrible at remembering names.
44. I am not good at remembering faces.
45. I wonder if my hearing is compromised, I often can't hear what people are saying if there is background noise.
46. I think I look like a man and try to wear earrings when my hair is pulled back.
47. I don't think my mom really likes me, even though I know she loves me. I'm too different from her.
48. I think my dad likes me, but I think he's sort of crazy so I don't know what that means.
49. I am often surprised that my husband loves me, but would never ask why because I don't want him to realize there aren't any good reasons.
50. I wish I had more friends, but I don't often meet people I really like that much.
51. I thought thinking of 100 things would be easy...but it is actually pretty hard.
52. I love to make things.
53. I love working with my hands.
54. I like to figure out problems and why things are broken.
55. I have worked as a waitress at two restaurants.
56. I worked at the paper mill for one summer.
57. I worked with the United Way for one summer.
58. I worked at Family Video for one year before being fired.
59. I worked at Redi Rental for years.
60. I worked as an RA in college but was not asked to return the following year.
61. I worked as a night receptionist from 3 am to 7 am in college.
62. When I lived alone after getting pseudofired from my RA job, my food budget was $3 a day.
63. I am cheap when it comes to spending money on others.
64. I cry helplessly at the movie "Rudy".
65. The thing that makes me cry in any movie is when one person sacrifices something for someone else (Rudy can have my position, coach).
66. I don't like babies very much, but love kids.
67. I really enjoy camping but my husband and I just camped for the first time together and probably won't get another chance to for a while.
68. I hate mornings and I am super crabby then.
69. I don't like dogs at all.
70. I think pet birds are stupid and gross.
71. I love french toast.
72. I waxed my underarms once in college.
73. I don't pay enough attention when I drive.
74. I love watching project runway and entourage.
75. I dislike Elizabeth on "The View".
76. I don't like popcorn and icecream as much as most people.
77. I always order the same menu item at most restaurants but it isn't the same at each place.
78. I can't usually drink a whole can of pop.
79. My parents didn't let me chew gum until I was about 10, and then not really.
80. I wanted Michael Jackson to adopt me when I was young.
81. I was afraid of the toilet when I was young and had nightmares about it.
82. I also had nightmares about a leprachaun filling my bedroom with my mom's loaves of home made wheat bread.
83. I love wheat bread now.
84. I always read at least one sentence before bed.
85. I sleep with a pillow under my head and one on top of it.
86. I love sleeping on my back, but am not supposed to in pregnancy.
87. My husband and I have separate comforters and it works wonderfully!
88. I could eat mayonaise out of the jar with a spoon I like it so mcuh.
89. I keep bags of chocolate chips in my cupboard for a snack.
90. I love the rain and occasionally stand in it just enjoying.
91. I love spring and watching the plants come up.
92. I like autumn but am usually too busy to really enjoy it.
93. I love family get-togethers and wish I lived closer to my family.
94. I love sailing.
95. I love swimming, but my doctor says I shouldn't unless I want another shoulder surgery.
96. one of my favorite songs is "under pressure" by david bowie and queen.
97. I like to drive fast, but hate jetskiis, snowmobiles, or atv's.
98. I'm a leo and think it fits me pretty well.
99. My middle name is Elaine and I really like it.
100. I like talking about myself.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
End of Summer Report
Tasks accomplished:
1. Guest room reorganized and cleaned, including closet and bureau, and mopped floor (including under bed)
2. Closet cleaned and reorganized
3. Drawers cleaned and reorganized
4. Skinny clothes packed, maternity unpacked and labeled with owner initials
5. Baby's room cleaned out, teacher stuff packed up
6. Baby's room painted, including dresser/changing table
7. Made curtains and bassinett ruffle for baby's room
8. Cut, nailed, and painted baseboards and moulding in basement (including framing in and around windows)
9. Watched and helped husband hang suspended ceiling in basement :-)
10. Cleaned out workout room after it was used for a dumping ground for projects.
11. Cleaned out and reorganized all kitchen cabinets and drawers
12. re-caulked bathtub and restored tiles for former glory (including scouring shower caddy)
13. Put in new lock and deadbolt on house
14. Cleaned out laundry room
15. Cleaned out mechanical room
16. Set up math binders (for 16 units, included typed up labels for dividers for each lesson)
17. Painted hallway downstairs
18. Stained and polyurethaned doors for basement
19. Cleaned carpet in upstairs bathroom and entryway
20. Sewed two baby outfitsand learned alot about sewing
Scorecard:
Sick days: 1
Toga parties: 1
Days spent with niece and nephew: 6
beers: 3 (no, not at the same time)
trips sailing: 2
days at the beach: 3
Gallons of bleach used: 1
Pounds Gained: about 20
Speeding tickets: 1
I have to go back officially Tuesday, August 29. That is the end of a great summer :-)
1. Guest room reorganized and cleaned, including closet and bureau, and mopped floor (including under bed)
2. Closet cleaned and reorganized
3. Drawers cleaned and reorganized
4. Skinny clothes packed, maternity unpacked and labeled with owner initials
5. Baby's room cleaned out, teacher stuff packed up
6. Baby's room painted, including dresser/changing table
7. Made curtains and bassinett ruffle for baby's room
8. Cut, nailed, and painted baseboards and moulding in basement (including framing in and around windows)
9. Watched and helped husband hang suspended ceiling in basement :-)
10. Cleaned out workout room after it was used for a dumping ground for projects.
11. Cleaned out and reorganized all kitchen cabinets and drawers
12. re-caulked bathtub and restored tiles for former glory (including scouring shower caddy)
13. Put in new lock and deadbolt on house
14. Cleaned out laundry room
15. Cleaned out mechanical room
16. Set up math binders (for 16 units, included typed up labels for dividers for each lesson)
17. Painted hallway downstairs
18. Stained and polyurethaned doors for basement
19. Cleaned carpet in upstairs bathroom and entryway
20. Sewed two baby outfitsand learned alot about sewing
Scorecard:
Sick days: 1
Toga parties: 1
Days spent with niece and nephew: 6
beers: 3 (no, not at the same time)
trips sailing: 2
days at the beach: 3
Gallons of bleach used: 1
Pounds Gained: about 20
Speeding tickets: 1
I have to go back officially Tuesday, August 29. That is the end of a great summer :-)
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Bad Boys, Bad boys, Whatcha Gonna Do?
I'm pretty well-known among friends for being a scaredy-cat. When I was in my super running phase in college I would often go out late at night and after dark. Friends would show concern for my safety and my reply was always that I was more afraid of trolls or ghosts or the supernatural than some robber/rapist type person. I often forget to lock the doors at night, and even if Dave is away it doesn't really bother me. Well, I think that is changing. There were two incidents this week convincing me that I'm not in NM anymore.
The first happened during my sewing frenzy. I was happily sewing a little dress when I hear pounding on a door and someone say "this is bounty hunter, open up or it'll be knocked down". When I looked out the window I was relieved to find that he wasn't at MY door, but at the house next door (not on the driveway side). This is about 20 feet from the window of the room I was sewing in. This guy was wearing a black T-shirt that said "Bounty Hunter", had a giant flashlight, was bald and tatooed and generally menacing. I snuck out the front to cross the street to see what was going on better and see if the neighbor knew what was going on. She said said that next door lady's son must have done something wrong. Now, said son has heretofore been just generaly annoying. Mid 20's, lives with mom, people come to pick him up or drop him off late at night with loud rap music blaring These people also have some fear of getting out of their vehicles, because they just honk the horn. Alot. A few weeks ago, when it was unusually hot there was a man banging on the door wanting to install air conditioning and loser-son forgot/slept through it and so they were charged an extra $100 bucks and couldn't get air for another week (it was the hottest days of the summer). Anyway, I didn't even realize bounty hunters were real. This means that loser-son must have been arrested and jumped bail (this is the postulate of the other neighbor lady's son who looks as if he might be familiar with this situation).
I wasn't ever afraid of my neighborhood before, but it seemed just a little scarier knowing that not only was the next door neighbor a criminal at some level, but a bail-jumping criminal (which is indeed much worse in my opinion).
The second incident happened last night/this morning at 4 am. I usually wake up pretty easily, but I'm not sure what it was that awakened me. I looked out our bedroom window because I must have heard noise. There was some confused yelling, what looked like someone running across and into the back yard. Flashlights swinging wildly. Light over garage clicks on. At this point, Dave wakes up. Not because he heard anything, but becuase I was up and moving around trying to look out the window from the bed. He asked what was going on, I replied that there were people in our backyard and flashlights. Then into the light from the garage steps a figure. A policeman. I threw on my robe and run down to the side door where there is s cop car in the driveway and four cops and a k-9 unit (pretty dog). I asked what happened and after making some crack about me serving them breakfast, they said that someone stole a car, crashed it on the streed behind ours, and ran through our yard. He was apprehended in our yard in the back corner behind the garage.
Then I couldn't sleep for about two hours (Dave of couse was back to sleep quickly) but I eventually nodded off again around 6. This morning I went outside to see what happened. By my pond I have a little statue that was knocked down, and the lily pads are in a different position. I think he climbed the fence and landed in the pond. There is also a shirt (size 2x) laying on the ground there. Did he take it off to be harder to see or because it was all ponded up? In the back corner the top of one of the fence pieces is sort of broken off. He apparently had a hard time getting over the fence.
I think I'll make sure the doors are locked all the time now. Is our neighborhood unsafe?
The first happened during my sewing frenzy. I was happily sewing a little dress when I hear pounding on a door and someone say "this is bounty hunter, open up or it'll be knocked down". When I looked out the window I was relieved to find that he wasn't at MY door, but at the house next door (not on the driveway side). This is about 20 feet from the window of the room I was sewing in. This guy was wearing a black T-shirt that said "Bounty Hunter", had a giant flashlight, was bald and tatooed and generally menacing. I snuck out the front to cross the street to see what was going on better and see if the neighbor knew what was going on. She said said that next door lady's son must have done something wrong. Now, said son has heretofore been just generaly annoying. Mid 20's, lives with mom, people come to pick him up or drop him off late at night with loud rap music blaring These people also have some fear of getting out of their vehicles, because they just honk the horn. Alot. A few weeks ago, when it was unusually hot there was a man banging on the door wanting to install air conditioning and loser-son forgot/slept through it and so they were charged an extra $100 bucks and couldn't get air for another week (it was the hottest days of the summer). Anyway, I didn't even realize bounty hunters were real. This means that loser-son must have been arrested and jumped bail (this is the postulate of the other neighbor lady's son who looks as if he might be familiar with this situation).
I wasn't ever afraid of my neighborhood before, but it seemed just a little scarier knowing that not only was the next door neighbor a criminal at some level, but a bail-jumping criminal (which is indeed much worse in my opinion).
The second incident happened last night/this morning at 4 am. I usually wake up pretty easily, but I'm not sure what it was that awakened me. I looked out our bedroom window because I must have heard noise. There was some confused yelling, what looked like someone running across and into the back yard. Flashlights swinging wildly. Light over garage clicks on. At this point, Dave wakes up. Not because he heard anything, but becuase I was up and moving around trying to look out the window from the bed. He asked what was going on, I replied that there were people in our backyard and flashlights. Then into the light from the garage steps a figure. A policeman. I threw on my robe and run down to the side door where there is s cop car in the driveway and four cops and a k-9 unit (pretty dog). I asked what happened and after making some crack about me serving them breakfast, they said that someone stole a car, crashed it on the streed behind ours, and ran through our yard. He was apprehended in our yard in the back corner behind the garage.
Then I couldn't sleep for about two hours (Dave of couse was back to sleep quickly) but I eventually nodded off again around 6. This morning I went outside to see what happened. By my pond I have a little statue that was knocked down, and the lily pads are in a different position. I think he climbed the fence and landed in the pond. There is also a shirt (size 2x) laying on the ground there. Did he take it off to be harder to see or because it was all ponded up? In the back corner the top of one of the fence pieces is sort of broken off. He apparently had a hard time getting over the fence.
I think I'll make sure the doors are locked all the time now. Is our neighborhood unsafe?
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Done with Jen's Baby's outfit!
I almsot don't want to give this away, I want to carry it with me so that I can show people how cute it is!! Cookie monster isn't the ideal model, but I figure he approximated a three month old baby (except for his neck, which I'm pretty sure is way to big for babies). the jacket is a ribbed knit material that will keep baby cozy. I think you can click the pics to see larger ones. The colors may seem untraditional, but I think Jen already has about 800 pink dresses. I like that this one is more fall/winter color oriented and is a nice change from pink and purple.
Feeling quite proud of myself
Monday I woke up and thought: just this one last free week before school obligations bring me back. I'll just relax.
Then a few hours went by and I was BORED! So I thought I'd use up some of hte excess material from the bassinett and make burp clothes or something. Then I went to the fabric store where there was a sale on everything! So I bought a pattern and some material and had the ladies help me find the notions to match. At first I was going to get two patterns, one for my baby and one for Jen's baby girl. But I didn't want to purchase material for the pattern I chose for my baby because the lady said I needed a stretchy fabric and I thought I should start with a simpler, non-stretchy one. i've never sewn from a pattern before, but I figured that since it's a pattern, its like following a recipe and you can't really go wrong.
Wrong. I probably spent an hour just reading the directions trying to make sense of them. I couldn't get ahold of my mom to ask questions and I really didn't know what I was doing and what alot of terms meant. But I figured I'd start and maybe the rest would start to make sense. It did.
I might have spent two hours on the sleeves (hey, they had gathers AND elastic and they are so super tiny sewing on them was ridiculous).By the time husband came home I was mostly done, just the buttons and holes were left. I felt so good, we went back to the store to buy material for the jacket. Then we came home and had dinner and about 9pm I figured i"d finish it off.
Wrong again. Spent about an hour and half doing three buttonholes. I had a lot of thread explosion and I kept rethreading the machine and practicing on another piece on which everything went fine, then I'd do on the actual material and SPROING thread everywhere. This morning I was up for the challenge again, and did the other 4 holes in about ten minutes and the buttons went well, and it is DONE! here it is:
And here is the picture from the pattern. You can see what the jacket looks like:
So I learned many things (including that if you are going to put in elastic, don't sew the pocket closed, what "finshing an edge" means, how to do buttonholes, how to do buttons properly, and that tiny things are a b**** to sew). Back to work!
Then a few hours went by and I was BORED! So I thought I'd use up some of hte excess material from the bassinett and make burp clothes or something. Then I went to the fabric store where there was a sale on everything! So I bought a pattern and some material and had the ladies help me find the notions to match. At first I was going to get two patterns, one for my baby and one for Jen's baby girl. But I didn't want to purchase material for the pattern I chose for my baby because the lady said I needed a stretchy fabric and I thought I should start with a simpler, non-stretchy one. i've never sewn from a pattern before, but I figured that since it's a pattern, its like following a recipe and you can't really go wrong.
Wrong. I probably spent an hour just reading the directions trying to make sense of them. I couldn't get ahold of my mom to ask questions and I really didn't know what I was doing and what alot of terms meant. But I figured I'd start and maybe the rest would start to make sense. It did.
I might have spent two hours on the sleeves (hey, they had gathers AND elastic and they are so super tiny sewing on them was ridiculous).By the time husband came home I was mostly done, just the buttons and holes were left. I felt so good, we went back to the store to buy material for the jacket. Then we came home and had dinner and about 9pm I figured i"d finish it off.
Wrong again. Spent about an hour and half doing three buttonholes. I had a lot of thread explosion and I kept rethreading the machine and practicing on another piece on which everything went fine, then I'd do on the actual material and SPROING thread everywhere. This morning I was up for the challenge again, and did the other 4 holes in about ten minutes and the buttons went well, and it is DONE! here it is:
And here is the picture from the pattern. You can see what the jacket looks like:
So I learned many things (including that if you are going to put in elastic, don't sew the pocket closed, what "finshing an edge" means, how to do buttonholes, how to do buttons properly, and that tiny things are a b**** to sew). Back to work!
Sunday, August 13, 2006
A day at the beach
Today we spent a lovely day at the beach. I had suggested that we do this and my husband was at first hesitant since he just came home and wanted the laying around the house that is necessary for relaxing. But he capitulated and we left around quarter to 11:00. We got to the beach at about noon and went down to the part in NM where you don't have to pay the state park fee. It was actually much nicer there since there was a short walk to the shore. Down at the pay area it feels like you have to walk a mile to get to the water. And if you forget something, walking back makes you so HOT and takes forever.
The key to our trip being so great was the hole. I found that laying at the beach is somewhat uncomfortable for a 7 months pregnant person. Not really supposed to lay on back, can't lay on front. So at when I was at the beach last time I dug a hole to put my belly into, thinking that I'd lay on belly. But that didn't work so well. So this time I dug a nice trench for my bootie. Then I took the partially inflated beach ball for a back pillow. This basically made a "craftmatic adjustable beach chair". It was perfect. We didn't even get burned, but got a nice layer of tan.
The water was cool, but refreshing. The waves were quite large with a strong riptide, but it was more fun that way. We swam a few times, built a little sandcastle, and read a little. We also walked along the beach. Then we got home with plenty of time to make a nice dinner, clean up around the house, and watch a movie.
We watched "V for Vendetta". I highly recommend this film. About ten mintues into it I said to Dave, "I like this movie" and he noted that it has only been ten mintues. But it really captured my interest. Good acting, good costume/scenery, good dialogue, good plot. I'm usually too distractable to just watch a movie. But I really watched the whole thing without doing anything else. That's a good sign.
The key to our trip being so great was the hole. I found that laying at the beach is somewhat uncomfortable for a 7 months pregnant person. Not really supposed to lay on back, can't lay on front. So at when I was at the beach last time I dug a hole to put my belly into, thinking that I'd lay on belly. But that didn't work so well. So this time I dug a nice trench for my bootie. Then I took the partially inflated beach ball for a back pillow. This basically made a "craftmatic adjustable beach chair". It was perfect. We didn't even get burned, but got a nice layer of tan.
The water was cool, but refreshing. The waves were quite large with a strong riptide, but it was more fun that way. We swam a few times, built a little sandcastle, and read a little. We also walked along the beach. Then we got home with plenty of time to make a nice dinner, clean up around the house, and watch a movie.
We watched "V for Vendetta". I highly recommend this film. About ten mintues into it I said to Dave, "I like this movie" and he noted that it has only been ten mintues. But it really captured my interest. Good acting, good costume/scenery, good dialogue, good plot. I'm usually too distractable to just watch a movie. But I really watched the whole thing without doing anything else. That's a good sign.
Friday, August 11, 2006
The frenzy continues
After I got my kitchen looking good, I had to pretty much vacuum the rest of the house (finally). I didn't want to track dirt into my pristine kitchen! Then I started on the bathroom. I re-caulked the tub, which is indeed lots of work. I was jammed into the bathtub (big belly and all) and about every 30 seconds I'd get a leg cramp and have to change position. Apparently leg cramps are a common pregnancy thing. That old caulk was TOUGH to get off. As I finally scraped it off, I carefully bleached the hell out of the tub praying that no mold would make it, then I applied the new stuff. Of course, the tube, which was old, busted and there was a big caulky mess on my hands (literally) and I had to run to the store to buy more. Well, when that was set I couldn't help but notice how dirty the floor was and I proceeded to bleach the hell out of that, too. I love bleach. Then I decided I needed no-bake cookies. In the middle of these I found I only had about 1 tablespoon of cocoa, so I had to go to the store for that, too. I came back, finished the cookies and well, they are gone now :-). This was all on Wednesday.
On Thursday, I had the misfortune of waking up quite early. If I don't eat a small meal before bed, I have a hard time sleeping and wake up out of hunger (now I now how babies feel). I rolled back and forth for about an hour and finally at 6 I just got up. This is nice, it makes for quiet and cool morning, but I had planned on running errands and nowhere is open at that ungodly hour. So I tromped downstairs and peeked in at the totally destroyed laundry room. Yep, gotta clean that too.
My husband has loads of beer stuff and I reorganized that and put everything into bins. I put all my wine stuff into a bin also (which I believe had been done before and then someone raided it). I found a bin of teaching stuff. I thought all of that had been moved into the attic, whoops. I cleaned out the paint cupboard (mostly just put away the cans I've been using all summer), mounted a wine rack, moved some stuff around and generally cleared the place out. It is now a much nicer place for my husband to do laundry.
Then I went into the "mechanical room". I don't know why dave calls it that, it is just the furnace room to me. That was even worse! You could hardly enter the room, let alone find anything in there. So I went to town in there. I ended up saving about 100 wine bottles and I'll have to get rid of about 50. When I was making wine on a regular basis, I asked people for bottle. Boy, do they deliver! Now that I haven't made wine in about a year (actually, more like a year and half), the bottles really build up. My next wine will be a port and I'll have to make that soon if I want it ready for when the baby comes!
I threw away loads of trash, moved boxes to the garage to be broken down, etc. I pulled out the small strip of carpet that was apparently the target of cat pee and bleached the floor underneath. I even replaced the furnace filter and added a scented thing that is supposed to smell up your whole house with fresh smell. I figure that is probably better than the bleach smell that is sure to overwhelm people when they enter.I got this all done by about noon. So I took a nap and then ran all my errands.
Today I had breakfast with ladies from work, caught up on what's going on and then went to school. I did a minimal amount of planning and headed home where I....didn't feel like working! I guess I found the end of it. Well, there isn't much really for me to do left. I'm considering putting in more shelves in the linen closet (we don't have good space for storing blankets). My garden of course looks terrible and I should attack that with the same vigour that hit my house. But it doesn't so much seem worth it. Not this late in the year.
The good news is that Dave comes home tomorrow :-) He'll go back to CA probably on Wednesday, but it'll be nice to see him. Only one week left before school responsibility starts again. I gotta make some beach time!
On Thursday, I had the misfortune of waking up quite early. If I don't eat a small meal before bed, I have a hard time sleeping and wake up out of hunger (now I now how babies feel). I rolled back and forth for about an hour and finally at 6 I just got up. This is nice, it makes for quiet and cool morning, but I had planned on running errands and nowhere is open at that ungodly hour. So I tromped downstairs and peeked in at the totally destroyed laundry room. Yep, gotta clean that too.
My husband has loads of beer stuff and I reorganized that and put everything into bins. I put all my wine stuff into a bin also (which I believe had been done before and then someone raided it). I found a bin of teaching stuff. I thought all of that had been moved into the attic, whoops. I cleaned out the paint cupboard (mostly just put away the cans I've been using all summer), mounted a wine rack, moved some stuff around and generally cleared the place out. It is now a much nicer place for my husband to do laundry.
Then I went into the "mechanical room". I don't know why dave calls it that, it is just the furnace room to me. That was even worse! You could hardly enter the room, let alone find anything in there. So I went to town in there. I ended up saving about 100 wine bottles and I'll have to get rid of about 50. When I was making wine on a regular basis, I asked people for bottle. Boy, do they deliver! Now that I haven't made wine in about a year (actually, more like a year and half), the bottles really build up. My next wine will be a port and I'll have to make that soon if I want it ready for when the baby comes!
I threw away loads of trash, moved boxes to the garage to be broken down, etc. I pulled out the small strip of carpet that was apparently the target of cat pee and bleached the floor underneath. I even replaced the furnace filter and added a scented thing that is supposed to smell up your whole house with fresh smell. I figure that is probably better than the bleach smell that is sure to overwhelm people when they enter.I got this all done by about noon. So I took a nap and then ran all my errands.
Today I had breakfast with ladies from work, caught up on what's going on and then went to school. I did a minimal amount of planning and headed home where I....didn't feel like working! I guess I found the end of it. Well, there isn't much really for me to do left. I'm considering putting in more shelves in the linen closet (we don't have good space for storing blankets). My garden of course looks terrible and I should attack that with the same vigour that hit my house. But it doesn't so much seem worth it. Not this late in the year.
The good news is that Dave comes home tomorrow :-) He'll go back to CA probably on Wednesday, but it'll be nice to see him. Only one week left before school responsibility starts again. I gotta make some beach time!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Nesting or just cleaning like normal people: you decide
As my other projects wind down I'm left with some "free" time before school starts. With my hubby in California I try to keep busy so I don't get as lonely. One of the things I've been meaning to do is make room in my kitchen for baby stuff. The drawers and cupboards were all packed and surely there are things I could get rid of to make room.
When you start a project like this, you should know that it will invariably lead to more. After cleaniing up one cupboard, I decided to move some stuff to a different cupboard. Uh-oh, that one needs cleaning and reorganizing, too. Before you know it, you're going full throttle with every pantry item and dish spread out as the cupboards get organized. I went through EVERY one. My husband will need a map when he gets home; I changed the location of many things also.
I made a big pile of junk that isn't necessary and moved it to the basement (the bad news is that organizing the basement is one of my next jobs...move it to the garage?). I also found myself scouring every surface. Top of the fridge. Side of the stove. Under the dishwasher handle. It is a good thing though, because that level of cleaning hasn't been done in the last five years or so. I mean, I'll clean well a couple of times a year, but not with all the reorganizing. Oh, then I finished by scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees. i'm tired!
Maybe I was inspired because my darling husband thoughfully straighted the house for me so that when I came home Sunday night even the bed was made! Maybe since I didn't have to worry about the straightening I was able to focus on the real cleaning.
My next job: I think I'll re-caulk the tub. Nesting or not? What do you think?
When you start a project like this, you should know that it will invariably lead to more. After cleaniing up one cupboard, I decided to move some stuff to a different cupboard. Uh-oh, that one needs cleaning and reorganizing, too. Before you know it, you're going full throttle with every pantry item and dish spread out as the cupboards get organized. I went through EVERY one. My husband will need a map when he gets home; I changed the location of many things also.
I made a big pile of junk that isn't necessary and moved it to the basement (the bad news is that organizing the basement is one of my next jobs...move it to the garage?). I also found myself scouring every surface. Top of the fridge. Side of the stove. Under the dishwasher handle. It is a good thing though, because that level of cleaning hasn't been done in the last five years or so. I mean, I'll clean well a couple of times a year, but not with all the reorganizing. Oh, then I finished by scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees. i'm tired!
Maybe I was inspired because my darling husband thoughfully straighted the house for me so that when I came home Sunday night even the bed was made! Maybe since I didn't have to worry about the straightening I was able to focus on the real cleaning.
My next job: I think I'll re-caulk the tub. Nesting or not? What do you think?
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Summer draws to a close with lovely days
This past week has been nice. With no major projects to occupy me, I was afraid I fall into the spiral of depressing boring solitude. Luckily, with my husband home, I had some interaction with other people and did accomplish things while at the same time relaxing.
I went into school a few days. I rearranged my student desks and rearranged my desk. I pretty much made it so that my teacher desk is right in front and I could go from my desk to the overhead project without getting out of my rolly chair. THis sounds lazy, but as a 6 month pregnant woman is not going to get less pregnant, I see it as an investment in my own future. Now is not the time to try for "Teacher of the Year". I'll be working instead towards, "Teacher who made it for 10 weeks". I also did some compulsive working. I'm a retentive binder freak. THis means that each unit I teach gets a binder. In science, the binder is huge and I just sort of pull stuff I like out and rearrange a little each year. In math, however, the lessons are pretty laid out so it required a divider for each lesson. Also, since our math curriculum is new next year, that was plenty to prepare. Oh, and I'm doing two grades of math. So 16 units had to be prepared with binders, dividers with lesson numbers and names printed from computer, natch, and smancy cover sheets and side labels. Oh, and tearing up the teacher books so that each lesson is in the right section. I'm glad I got this stuff done, but loads of things hang over my head. I still have a reasonable three weeks to get things under control, but the though of going back to school is sad indeed.
I was supposed to go with my sister to the Binder Park Zoo on Thursday, (they have giraffes!) but we got rained out (so I went to school again that day, instead).
On Friday, my mom came and we got a couple of nice big things from the baby store and had lunch. After lunch, mom left and I went home with Dave. About 60 seconds after we parted ways, I realized that my car keys were in mom's car! I then proceeded to dig through my purse frantically, papers flying everywhere (Dave was driving and he got pelted with receipts and what-not) as I'm cursing like a sailor dropping the F-bomb and adding some "mother"s to various words. I get out my new pretty cell phone and try to call mom. Oh, even though Dave has been reminding me to transfer my contacts for the last three days, I haven't done it. So then I'm madder (at me) and call siblings asking for mom's cell number. They both say, "Mom has a cell phone?".
Meanwhile, Dave is driving north on Beltline trying (in vain) to catch up with mom who isn't known for being a speedster. By the time we get to the highway, we've given up pursuit and I realize that I just went atomic for NO REASON! Could I get into my house? Yes, we had Dave's keys and the spare. Could I drive my car? Yes, Dave has my spare. Was there anything else I needed? No. Was I going to Muskegon anyway Satureday AND Sunday? yes, I could just get them back. Dave informed me that I was OFF his "Disaster Team" (by the way, Roland, you never made it in the first place...something about a hammer in your wife's face). I was so ashamed. I can't believe I totally freaked out. And my poor husband who was assaulted with purse contents as well as language I'm sure he doesn't want to hear coming out of his sweet wife's mouth. I'm going to blame it on pregnancy hormones, since they pretty much make you insane most of the time.
Saturday was a better day. Dave and I headed for Muskegon at about 10 am and planned a day at the beach. My sister and her kids were going to meet us and we were in the water when Dave looks up the beach and says, I think your sister and her kids are here. What does he see? On the horizon we see one child (gender unknown) with bright orange swimmies swinging arms like a monkey and running crazily toward the water in one direction. There is another smaller child holding nothing, but wearing a mysterious blue full-body-suit that is puffy crazily running the other direction toward the water. I mention that it's probably not Beth since she's nowhere around. Dave claims this is just further evidence that it indeed little Sophia and Sam. Sure enough, they approach closer and it is them. A few moments later, said sister lugs the rest of the beach stuff down to us. It was a fun day. Sophia is a fish and Sam tolerated the water much better. Uncle Dave was loads of fun and was busy launching Sophia in the water.
We came home around 5 pm and met up with Jen Flanigan who was bursting with excitement about her new purchase: Ipod 30 gig video. Dave was equally excited (if not more so). I was simply starving. We ate out at BW3's (I know there is no more 3) and that was okay. I missed getting a couple of blue moons, that was one of my favorite things to do with Dave. Then we came home and I made tapioca and chocolate chip cookies while Dave showed Jen his new computer and gave her some ipod lessons. I think they both enjoyed this. Meanwhile I ate only two cookies, but had two full glasses of milk and then thought I just might split into two.
The new pregnant experience is alternately starving and bursting. My usually food storage space has been compromised by baby (my uterus is apparently the size of a soccer ball now) and so I'll eat and then 15 minutes later start moaning about how full I am. I also start belching uncontrollably. Some people do this anyway, but I'm not much of a burper. Dave used to tease me that my burps were so wussy. Not anymore. Unfortunately, last night I didn't have cookie burps, it was hot wing burps. Not as nice the second time. But I love hot food anyway.
I have a family reunion in Muskegon today, so more beach :-) but Dave flies out to California today so he won't be joining me. This week is really the danger week with no projects and no Dave. So friends, give me lots to do and make many posts on blogs!
I went into school a few days. I rearranged my student desks and rearranged my desk. I pretty much made it so that my teacher desk is right in front and I could go from my desk to the overhead project without getting out of my rolly chair. THis sounds lazy, but as a 6 month pregnant woman is not going to get less pregnant, I see it as an investment in my own future. Now is not the time to try for "Teacher of the Year". I'll be working instead towards, "Teacher who made it for 10 weeks". I also did some compulsive working. I'm a retentive binder freak. THis means that each unit I teach gets a binder. In science, the binder is huge and I just sort of pull stuff I like out and rearrange a little each year. In math, however, the lessons are pretty laid out so it required a divider for each lesson. Also, since our math curriculum is new next year, that was plenty to prepare. Oh, and I'm doing two grades of math. So 16 units had to be prepared with binders, dividers with lesson numbers and names printed from computer, natch, and smancy cover sheets and side labels. Oh, and tearing up the teacher books so that each lesson is in the right section. I'm glad I got this stuff done, but loads of things hang over my head. I still have a reasonable three weeks to get things under control, but the though of going back to school is sad indeed.
I was supposed to go with my sister to the Binder Park Zoo on Thursday, (they have giraffes!) but we got rained out (so I went to school again that day, instead).
On Friday, my mom came and we got a couple of nice big things from the baby store and had lunch. After lunch, mom left and I went home with Dave. About 60 seconds after we parted ways, I realized that my car keys were in mom's car! I then proceeded to dig through my purse frantically, papers flying everywhere (Dave was driving and he got pelted with receipts and what-not) as I'm cursing like a sailor dropping the F-bomb and adding some "mother"s to various words. I get out my new pretty cell phone and try to call mom. Oh, even though Dave has been reminding me to transfer my contacts for the last three days, I haven't done it. So then I'm madder (at me) and call siblings asking for mom's cell number. They both say, "Mom has a cell phone?".
Meanwhile, Dave is driving north on Beltline trying (in vain) to catch up with mom who isn't known for being a speedster. By the time we get to the highway, we've given up pursuit and I realize that I just went atomic for NO REASON! Could I get into my house? Yes, we had Dave's keys and the spare. Could I drive my car? Yes, Dave has my spare. Was there anything else I needed? No. Was I going to Muskegon anyway Satureday AND Sunday? yes, I could just get them back. Dave informed me that I was OFF his "Disaster Team" (by the way, Roland, you never made it in the first place...something about a hammer in your wife's face). I was so ashamed. I can't believe I totally freaked out. And my poor husband who was assaulted with purse contents as well as language I'm sure he doesn't want to hear coming out of his sweet wife's mouth. I'm going to blame it on pregnancy hormones, since they pretty much make you insane most of the time.
Saturday was a better day. Dave and I headed for Muskegon at about 10 am and planned a day at the beach. My sister and her kids were going to meet us and we were in the water when Dave looks up the beach and says, I think your sister and her kids are here. What does he see? On the horizon we see one child (gender unknown) with bright orange swimmies swinging arms like a monkey and running crazily toward the water in one direction. There is another smaller child holding nothing, but wearing a mysterious blue full-body-suit that is puffy crazily running the other direction toward the water. I mention that it's probably not Beth since she's nowhere around. Dave claims this is just further evidence that it indeed little Sophia and Sam. Sure enough, they approach closer and it is them. A few moments later, said sister lugs the rest of the beach stuff down to us. It was a fun day. Sophia is a fish and Sam tolerated the water much better. Uncle Dave was loads of fun and was busy launching Sophia in the water.
We came home around 5 pm and met up with Jen Flanigan who was bursting with excitement about her new purchase: Ipod 30 gig video. Dave was equally excited (if not more so). I was simply starving. We ate out at BW3's (I know there is no more 3) and that was okay. I missed getting a couple of blue moons, that was one of my favorite things to do with Dave. Then we came home and I made tapioca and chocolate chip cookies while Dave showed Jen his new computer and gave her some ipod lessons. I think they both enjoyed this. Meanwhile I ate only two cookies, but had two full glasses of milk and then thought I just might split into two.
The new pregnant experience is alternately starving and bursting. My usually food storage space has been compromised by baby (my uterus is apparently the size of a soccer ball now) and so I'll eat and then 15 minutes later start moaning about how full I am. I also start belching uncontrollably. Some people do this anyway, but I'm not much of a burper. Dave used to tease me that my burps were so wussy. Not anymore. Unfortunately, last night I didn't have cookie burps, it was hot wing burps. Not as nice the second time. But I love hot food anyway.
I have a family reunion in Muskegon today, so more beach :-) but Dave flies out to California today so he won't be joining me. This week is really the danger week with no projects and no Dave. So friends, give me lots to do and make many posts on blogs!
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