It Was A Perfect Day

For painting that is. Today was one of those rare winter days - the temps hit the mid 50's and even though it was raining off and on, it was the day to paint the outside of the entrance door to the 3rd apartment. Guess who does all the painting in our family....No, not Pete. We are finally to the part of this apartment where I have been painting these last few days. We made a bunch of progress yesterday - trimed the window and ledge in the bathroom. Made the door jam for the bathroom pocket door and cut and painted all the bathroom door trim. Hung a linen cupboard in the bathroom. Made the shelf in the refrigerator nook, painted the trim around the nook, and finally pushed the new fridge into it. We have doors painted for the cupboard over the fridge and a door painted for the pipe access in the bathroom. We even laid half the bathroom sub-floor tonight before we left for home. Tomorrow we should have the bathroom complete. I am hoping by Sunday I am painting the kitchen. A couple more days and the kitchen should be done too. We are also pushing to get the double doors for the front entrance hung. I got them primed and the first coat of paint on them today. One more coat tomorrow, and then need to paint the trim. Mike has to add the glass and put the hardware back on them. The New Year is starting with a bang - busy, but much progress being made.

I thought today would be the day to take down the outside decorations. The weather man said that it would be 40 degrees today, although rainy, and it was already 38 when we got up this morning. So, off the boys and I went to pull them down. Oh, it was wet already, but we were optimistic. Shortly into it I began to think it was a bad idea. We had gloves on, but cold fingers anyway. Some of the stakes are still frozen in the ground - they will have to come out tomorrow after it thaws a little more. And I decided the garland in the drive way will wait too. Mr. Grinch stayed in with Sadie who was upset so many of us were outside without her. Besides, he didn't put them up, so unless I really need him, he doesn't have to take them down. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He forgot he put the wreath up high on the house - that one he gets to take down!!!

I'm Impressed

Today I went to the post office to check the P.O. box for the rental house. While I was getting out the mail, I saw a young man about 16 or 17 come in and drop something into the mail box. He left first and as I was dropping the adds into the recycle box there in the lobby, he was standing there holding the door for me. I hurried along, it's so rare these days to find polite young people, I hate to make him feel uneasy by holding the door too long. I thank him as I begin to go out, but he did not just hand the door off to me, he held it until I was out - a rare occurance. When I got back to the house, I told Mike about this and how good it made me feel. Then I looked at him -"was he just very polite, or am I looking so old now that people will begin to hold open doors, help me cross the street, and smile indulgently because I am so old that I can say anything and get away with it?" I will be 40 on my next birthday. Mike just smiled and changed the subject.

The stockings have been emptied, the boxes and wrappings thrown out. The boys enjoyed the day and headed off to their dad's family for holiday celebrations. Time to relax, and just enjoy. I made a ham on Christmas eve and we gave Sadie the bone on Christmas Day - lots of meat still on it. She was in Heaven, and by dinner time, I had to take the remains of the bone and throw them away. The Kitties got tuna from Grandma - Heaven for them too. Mike was the big winner - 12 tape measures. ( Mike loses tape measures like the kids lose their toys. These should last him for a couple of months at least!)

Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!! Really.

However, my Grinchy hubby was at it again last night. He and the boys were working out in the garage, and after about an hour, Pete came in the house - alone. "Hey, Pete. Is everyone else on there way back up to the house to?" "No, Mike sent me up here. I think he was tired of hearing me sing Feliz Navidad." At that point my phone rang - Mike calling. "Send Pete out her with _____ (whatever tool he wanted)." "Sure Honey, is that why you sent him in?" "No, I was tired of hearing him sing Feliz Navidad" At least my son knew why he was banished to the house with me and the animals.

The First Full Day Of Winter

Today Steven had a Dr. appointment with his specialist 3 hours away. As we were getting ready this morning, I heard on the weather we had freezing drizzle but the roads were not too bad. Mike confirmed that when he went to work so we set off. As we drove, the drizzle turned to rain. OK, still not too bad, we'll continue. The radio station from the North of us said that there was snow, but no mention of freezing rain, and we were heading North. If we keep going, we will move out of the nasty weather. Then that station started talking of the freezing rain starting. The windshield began to ice up. That's it. We turned around and came home. It's too far to drive when the roads are this bad. Welcome Winter.

Update

Yesterday, Mike got a call from his boss, saying that he had an interview with a different department. In he went, and when he came out, he was again employeed!!! Kind of.....he works 3 days this week (this department is only working 4 days a week right now, but they are 9 hour days) Then they are closed for 2 weeks over the holidays. Then back to work. We don't have to worry about keeping Steven insured now - my biggest fear is my son going uninsured then paying astronomical rates when we can get him back on the plan. At least the President has made it so he can't be denied insurance. This job includes some outside work so off we went to TSC last night to find him some Carharts (actually ended up with the same thing, different brand) to get him through the winter.

So, he went in to work this morning - starting time in this department is EARLY!!! and a call to say he needed me to bring him his boots. As I am looking around the house for them I went into the bassement where the boys and dog sleep. On goes the light and I hear Sadie yawning. No boots, so light off and back upstairs. I figured at that point Sadie would begin to bark and wake the boys up so she can get up and play. Nope......that silly puppy went back to sleep 2 hours ago and I still have not heard a peep out of her or the boys. Glad they are all on vacation, I get up with Mike so I can pack his lunch and make him some breakfast before he heads off to work. He's so lucky to have a great wife (if I do say so myself!)