Yesterday was a bit of a blur. School, then waiting for the floor, blind and appliance people to take over the house around 9:00. Well the floor guys showed up at 8:15, before I was truly presentable, the reconstruction guy made his office on my porch around 8:45 and the appliance guy called the reconstruction guy at 9:15 to tell him they weren't coming. They found that the dishwasher that they had ordered had a dent in it and they needed to drive to KY and get another one. I was less than pleased, said good-bye to Joe and waited for the blind guy to show up. He got here a little before 10 and left a little after 12. So the appliance people are coming on Monday at 9:00 and the floor guy had to come back this AM to get some spots that they didn't get yesterday that I didn't know they were supposed to take care of. That is why Joe was supposed to be here when they were. That and the fact that he speaks a little Spanish.
Once I get all of the visitors taken care of I quickly baked some cookies and showered in time to get to Friday Live at school. I like to go just to go but especially when the boys are getting an award or when their class is doing a skit. I thought I was just going to go but Will actually won an award so that was cool. Except the part that I didn't bring my camera. Oh well, next time his class is doing the skit so I'll go prepared.
After school the DI kids walked home with us and we met until 5:00. The meeting was quite chaotic and less productive than Monday's meeting but thems the breaks. The boys and girls have homework to tend to before we meet again on Monday. Let's hope they make progress, lots of progress.
Nic had a friend spend the night last night and we were all up and moving pretty early considering how late we all stayed up. We took A home around 11:30 and take advantage of his mom having a carpet shampooer and borrowed hers instead of renting a rug doctor. Fred had fun working with the cleaning equivalent of a power tool and took care of the two areas that needed cleaned. We turn in keys on Monday so let's hope we did enough.
After we cleaned for a few hours I came home and crashed. I got up and made frozen pizza for dinner. I am still on strike from making too much REAL food until I get my microwave. I paid bills, not fun, and have been trying to reduce some paper piles around the house. It all takes time. Tomorrow is pretty open for all of us. Nic has his DI meeting from 1-3 but other than that we can take some time hanging pictures around the house and getting the pile out of the living room. It looks like an art gallery storage room. Well, probably not really, we don't have that much "art."
OK, off to veg in front of the TV for a bit. Boys are upstairs so I can control the remote!!! YEAH!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
I am a slacker who stands corrected.
Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on
by Regina Brett
Sunday May 28, 2006, 10:13 AM
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
To reach this Plain Dealer columnist:
rbrett@plaind.com, 216-999-6328
by Regina Brett
Sunday May 28, 2006, 10:13 AM
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
To reach this Plain Dealer columnist:
rbrett@plaind.com, 216-999-6328
I'm a slacker
Stole this from an e-mail a friend from IA sent. Thanks Andrea, good reminders for all of us! I especially like # 21 - the lingere and should have #26 tatooed to my forearm, especially on days like yesterday! I am so looking forward to #42! Peace out!
45 Lessons in Life
The below listed 45 lessons were written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, Of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here goes:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. Love your parents because they will be gone before you know it.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no
one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a
Special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will.
Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
45 Lessons in Life
The below listed 45 lessons were written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, Of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here goes:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. Love your parents because they will be gone before you know it.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no
one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a
Special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will.
Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Whew!
It has been a VERY long day around these part. I spent the majority of my hours today at the vacation house. It seemed so simple, I was going down to clean and wait for the rental furniture people to come pick up their goods. I got a call yesterday that put their window of arrival between 12 and 4 PM. Seemed like a big enough window but I was told by the temporary housing folks that they could give me an hours notice so I didn't have to sit around and wait. Well, guess what, I sat around and waited.
I started on the cleaning a little before noon and soon realized that I had not left all of the proper instruments or concoctions to get the job done well. I headed to Target nearby and picked up some reinforcements. I got back to the house around 12:30 and got straight to work. I had plenty to do and tried to multitask a bit. I let the CLR work on the shower while I tried to clean some high traffic carpet spots with Resolve. I cleaned mirrors, swept wood and tile floors and generally dusted. Well, all of that took nearly three hours. So at 3:15 when I had not heard from the housing people with the 1 hour call ahead I called them. I sat on hold, at my request, while they called the furniture people. When they got back to me the bad news was the the window was now adjusted to 4:30-5:30.
They still promised to call 1 hour before and even offered that I could leave a key under the doormat. I did not feel like the latter was an option at all so I called the boys, who had arrived home from school by this point, to check in. They were doing well on their own and so I decided to stay and continue the cleaning tasks while I waited. Well, 4:50 showed up on the clock and I decided that rather than call the housing people I would call Cort myself. Lucky for me it's phone book season in TX and I had four varieties that would hopefully hold the rental furniture listing that I needed. I hit the jackpot on the second volume and called Cort. Of course I had gotten the retail end and needed delivery. A very nice lady gave me the number slowly enough for me to quickly mem
orize it. I had not a pen in the place. I called and spoke to someone who basically said I needed to just wait. I told him that I was not satisfied with that answer. He said he'd have his manager call me. About 5 minutes later I got a call from the Manager of Operation who said he was sending a fresh crew out the door to me right away. He said it would take them 30 mins to get to me. Well, it was 5:00 so his estimate was off by 30 minutes. The guys showed up at 5:56 and were done emptying the house in about 45 minutes. By this time I had called a neighbor and sent the boys across the street for some supervision. They in turn let the dog out in the yard and failed to bring him in before they left. He had fun in the back yard for 2 hours. He was barking up a storm when I got home.
orize it. I had not a pen in the place. I called and spoke to someone who basically said I needed to just wait. I told him that I was not satisfied with that answer. He said he'd have his manager call me. About 5 minutes later I got a call from the Manager of Operation who said he was sending a fresh crew out the door to me right away. He said it would take them 30 mins to get to me. Well, it was 5:00 so his estimate was off by 30 minutes. The guys showed up at 5:56 and were done emptying the house in about 45 minutes. By this time I had called a neighbor and sent the boys across the street for some supervision. They in turn let the dog out in the yard and failed to bring him in before they left. He had fun in the back yard for 2 hours. He was barking up a storm when I got home.We ate cold but yummy pizza that I had ordered too early, and got back onto the homework track that had been abandoned earlier without my supervision. They got through it and I went to draw a bath to soak my aching body. I tried out the whirlpool tub that I had not used before the fire and I give it a definite thumbs up. My shoulder and thumb are achy still but I think I just aggravated an old injury and injured my thumb while trying to disassemble a headboard to move the movers along. It helped a little but not enough to justify the bum thumb.
So, the boys are in bed, I have taken my Aleve and have big plans to veg in bed and watch mindless Wednesday night television. I sure hope there is something mindless on.
Tomorrow I am supposed to volunteer at school. I should be fine to copy but can not imagine any cutting task. No scissors would fit my thumb. Maybe I could use the paper cutter guillotine thing? Off to rest.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
A new era...
It was supposed to start yesterday, due to the BAD weather we had it starts today. My boys are officially walkers. They really didnn't want me tagging along so I made sure they were together and sent them off. I think this afternoon I'll meet them on their way home...
Monday, January 5, 2009
Snaggin a good idea
I could probably come up with something to write about today but I think instead I will snag this good idea from another blog that I frequent.
Right Now:
Out of my window: It is a rainy cold day here in TX. The boys so wanted to walk to and from school today but it was raining this AM and will still be raining when it's time to come home.
I am wearing: It's sweater weather so I am wearing my softest brown V-neck and some comfortable jeans. I still have my shoes on because I just got home from a Kroger run!
I am hearing: I can hear the dog behind me snoring and the sounds of animal planet on the TV in the LR. When I went to Kroger I left the TV on for dear Pete. It keeps him from howling at any little noise he hears while we are away.
I am thinking: About whether I should brown the ground beef for tacos now or after the DI meeting. About what snack I feed these DI kids and how hard is homework going to be tonight. Also thinking about getting some insurance work done with Fred before he vacates for the week. There are only so many hours in the day so we'll see what gets accomplished tonight.
I am thankful for: Being back in this house. Even though we were only here for 2 weeks before it does feel like home. Can't wait to get pictures hung on the walls this weekend and get some more goodies from the storage unit.
I am creating: Nothing today:(
I am going: to pick up the boys from school in about 40 minutes and then will hopefully not leave the rest of the day.
I am hoping: That the DI team works well this afternoon and gets some progress made on their script for the competition that is only about 50 days away!
I am reading: Enemy Within by ??? I found this paperback when I was unpacking over the weekend. I think it was made into a movie last year and maybe my mom gave me the book. No matter, it is holding my attention for now.
Around the house: You will find some messes, mostly in the boys' areas, and some piles. Overall things are moving along and items are finding their ways to homes throughout the house or in the donate pile.
One of my favorite things: Lately my shower has turned into one of my favorite things. Usually when we move we install this cheapo little shower head that we have had for many moves that we both like in our master shower. This time the shower is more than acceptable. This is REALLY a great thing because I think we lost that trusty old shower head in the fire.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Getting back into the routine of school is high on my list. The boys did fairly well today, let's hope that continues. We need to find our rhythm in this house and the best process to get the kids out the door in good time. We are also having the rental furniture picked up from the vacation home on Wednesday and Thursday is another Chick-Fil-A fundraiser night. I love those days!
I think that wraps up my right now. I think I should go ahead and brown the ground beef for tacos and I have time to do that before I pick up the boys. Take care all and stay warm!
Right Now:
Out of my window: It is a rainy cold day here in TX. The boys so wanted to walk to and from school today but it was raining this AM and will still be raining when it's time to come home.
I am wearing: It's sweater weather so I am wearing my softest brown V-neck and some comfortable jeans. I still have my shoes on because I just got home from a Kroger run!
I am hearing: I can hear the dog behind me snoring and the sounds of animal planet on the TV in the LR. When I went to Kroger I left the TV on for dear Pete. It keeps him from howling at any little noise he hears while we are away.
I am thinking: About whether I should brown the ground beef for tacos now or after the DI meeting. About what snack I feed these DI kids and how hard is homework going to be tonight. Also thinking about getting some insurance work done with Fred before he vacates for the week. There are only so many hours in the day so we'll see what gets accomplished tonight.
I am thankful for: Being back in this house. Even though we were only here for 2 weeks before it does feel like home. Can't wait to get pictures hung on the walls this weekend and get some more goodies from the storage unit.
I am creating: Nothing today:(
I am going: to pick up the boys from school in about 40 minutes and then will hopefully not leave the rest of the day.
I am hoping: That the DI team works well this afternoon and gets some progress made on their script for the competition that is only about 50 days away!
I am reading: Enemy Within by ??? I found this paperback when I was unpacking over the weekend. I think it was made into a movie last year and maybe my mom gave me the book. No matter, it is holding my attention for now.
Around the house: You will find some messes, mostly in the boys' areas, and some piles. Overall things are moving along and items are finding their ways to homes throughout the house or in the donate pile.
One of my favorite things: Lately my shower has turned into one of my favorite things. Usually when we move we install this cheapo little shower head that we have had for many moves that we both like in our master shower. This time the shower is more than acceptable. This is REALLY a great thing because I think we lost that trusty old shower head in the fire.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Getting back into the routine of school is high on my list. The boys did fairly well today, let's hope that continues. We need to find our rhythm in this house and the best process to get the kids out the door in good time. We are also having the rental furniture picked up from the vacation home on Wednesday and Thursday is another Chick-Fil-A fundraiser night. I love those days!
I think that wraps up my right now. I think I should go ahead and brown the ground beef for tacos and I have time to do that before I pick up the boys. Take care all and stay warm!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
OLW
So I haven't updated the blog yet in 2009 because I had not settled on my OLW. I am not totally sure about the word that I have chosen but I am hopeful it will grow on me. Drum roll please....
My 2009 OLW is... DO!
Yep, a very little OLW that should keep me focused and moving toward all of the goals in my life. I just need to DO it. I need to DO things with purpose, DO things to simplify, DO things that create hope. DO some creating, DO some nesting and DO somethings that I believe in. The key is that I should not choose to DO nothing!
I need to create some art around the word but I need to DO some unpacking first. Fred took a big load of debris to the dump nearby then ran through our storage unit and picked up a truck-load of stuff. A bunch of inefficiently packed china and misc. other stuff. Fred commented that we had not used or needed the stuff in the last 6 months and he wondered how much we really need any of it. I may be a bit more discerning as I unpack about what goes back into service. I am absolutely certain that some stuff can just be re-boxed and donated.
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