Reading through my last few entries I realized an important detail was left out. By now, you might be scratching your head wondering why I was filling holes by hand.
Yep, that's a detail you should know. Yes, the excavator is still up at the lot, but we're not using it. Our friend we are borrowing it from asked us to park it. Something about not being covered by insurance; a detail he found out about (THANKFULLY) after we'd finished digging.
Honestly, there were times I soooo wanted to hop on that thing and polish off the project in one fell swoop. But, we gave our word. There was a section of pipe we laid from about the middle of where the house is going to be to where I filled in the trench for the septic truck to drive on that took me three days to fill. The whole while I was right next to the excavator!
You know what, it made finishing all the sweeter.
Plus, I would have never met Dennis. You'll meet him in my next blog, and believe me--he's worth a whole post!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
What a Time!
So much to talk about...
After the afternoon working with the family I spent the next few days shoveling gravel on my own.
Great fun.
Not real productive.
See, the trenches to be filled--two of them--were six feet deep, two feet long, and fifty feet long...each. Working five hours straight I managed to fill maybe ten feet.
One night, after three days of slooow progress, I was driving to a Bible fellowship with two friends and they could see how tired I was. Once they realized what I'd been doing I got a stereo scolding!
It would seem that I was going to get some help.
Two days later six wonderful saints showed up to help. It was unbelieveable! In all my wildest dreams I never even considered we would get so far, but together we finished filling the two trenches with gravel. It was like Nehemiah and the wall--the people had a mind to work. By the end of the day everything was level and ready for the next step; they even installed the pipe in one of the trenches just for fun. What a time!
The next day my husband and I laid the rest of the pipe up to the septic tank. Two days later we got our final approval on the septic system. The engineer was so impressed he said we should become contractors!
But my wonderful friends weren't finished yet. They came back and did the final gravel work (six inches more to cover the pipe) and filled in the trenches so that the septic system is all tucked in for the winter.
There is more to the story about the pipe from the house site to the septic tank...but that's for another day.
After the afternoon working with the family I spent the next few days shoveling gravel on my own.
Great fun.
Not real productive.
See, the trenches to be filled--two of them--were six feet deep, two feet long, and fifty feet long...each. Working five hours straight I managed to fill maybe ten feet.
One night, after three days of slooow progress, I was driving to a Bible fellowship with two friends and they could see how tired I was. Once they realized what I'd been doing I got a stereo scolding!
It would seem that I was going to get some help.
Two days later six wonderful saints showed up to help. It was unbelieveable! In all my wildest dreams I never even considered we would get so far, but together we finished filling the two trenches with gravel. It was like Nehemiah and the wall--the people had a mind to work. By the end of the day everything was level and ready for the next step; they even installed the pipe in one of the trenches just for fun. What a time!
The next day my husband and I laid the rest of the pipe up to the septic tank. Two days later we got our final approval on the septic system. The engineer was so impressed he said we should become contractors!
But my wonderful friends weren't finished yet. They came back and did the final gravel work (six inches more to cover the pipe) and filled in the trenches so that the septic system is all tucked in for the winter.
There is more to the story about the pipe from the house site to the septic tank...but that's for another day.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Ok, maybe it's not that bad, but sometimes that's how it feels! Wednesday our septic tank was delivered. My son (wahoo, he's home) and I went up an hour or so before delivery and made sure the area under the tank was perfectly level. Then I showed him how to play with--I mean operate--the excavator. He only got to use it for a few minutes because the truck with the tank showed up.
For those of you who have never seen a septic tank--it is big, huge, gigantic!
And so is the truck. Well, we've been digging up on top and, wouldn't you know it, the truck couldn't get to where it needed to go. So I had to fill in about 15 feet of ditch (small sob). What makes it worse is that this is the second time I've had to fill that section in! Still, that's what needed done, so it got done. The truck got in position (taking out several large limbs in the process) and he lowered the tank into the hole.
Now I gotta say, the driver was amazing. Very professional. He wasn't willing to wing it and park in an ok position, which is very good. Like I said, the tank was huge, and the tank needed to get into a spot about 20 feet below where the truck was parked.
The tank was lowered--between two trees and then the driver "walked" the tank down the side of the hill, using the dirt piled up to keep the thing from spinning. But, just before he did the final lower he knocked a chunk of dirt into the hole. He set the thing down and we all looked at it--fail! Even I could tell it wasn't level. We grabbed a level and I had him raise the tank a few feet. I cleared out the extra dirt from the corner and I told him to set the tank back down. He looked at me like, "Yeah right, that made a difference." But he humored me. The tank set down...and was perfectly level. Believe me, it was nice to see that the whole leveling workout was worthwhile!!!
So we have the tank set now and the rocks (from hell) have been delivered. Today, my whole family is going up to the lot to work for a few hours after fellowship. Can you say family time?
For those of you who have never seen a septic tank--it is big, huge, gigantic!
And so is the truck. Well, we've been digging up on top and, wouldn't you know it, the truck couldn't get to where it needed to go. So I had to fill in about 15 feet of ditch (small sob). What makes it worse is that this is the second time I've had to fill that section in! Still, that's what needed done, so it got done. The truck got in position (taking out several large limbs in the process) and he lowered the tank into the hole.
Now I gotta say, the driver was amazing. Very professional. He wasn't willing to wing it and park in an ok position, which is very good. Like I said, the tank was huge, and the tank needed to get into a spot about 20 feet below where the truck was parked.
The tank was lowered--between two trees and then the driver "walked" the tank down the side of the hill, using the dirt piled up to keep the thing from spinning. But, just before he did the final lower he knocked a chunk of dirt into the hole. He set the thing down and we all looked at it--fail! Even I could tell it wasn't level. We grabbed a level and I had him raise the tank a few feet. I cleared out the extra dirt from the corner and I told him to set the tank back down. He looked at me like, "Yeah right, that made a difference." But he humored me. The tank set down...and was perfectly level. Believe me, it was nice to see that the whole leveling workout was worthwhile!!!
So we have the tank set now and the rocks (from hell) have been delivered. Today, my whole family is going up to the lot to work for a few hours after fellowship. Can you say family time?
Monday, November 21, 2011
Silly, Silly Neophytes
Sometimes I just amaze myself by just how naive I can be! The weekend before last my husband and I planned on getting the septic done. He had Friday off, so we were going to knock it out in a weekend!
WAHAHAHAHA! Oh, no no no!
To start with, we ended up visiting the engineers Friday morning. (I had picked up the plans on Thursday--didn't even look at them--and trotted up to the county building department. After dropping off a couple of sets for them to ok, I went home and looked at the plans--and almost had a heart attack.) So my husband and I figured we'd better talk to the engineers and find out what the heck they were thinking! Turns out they wern't completely crazy--there were changes made because Nevada is in an earthquake zone. They went through the plans page by page with us and showed us what everything means (oh, and they also added a few pages of "stuff" that we don't need!). Anyhow, we didn't get up to the lot until the afternoon. That kinda set the pace for the weekend.
Well, the good thing is I got to use an excavator. OOOOhhhh--fun!!! Yeah, that's right guys, I now know your secret. Heavy equipment is great fun!
So, I been diggin holes!
Yep, dat's right.
But done in one weekend--so, so clueless!
WAHAHAHAHA! Oh, no no no!
To start with, we ended up visiting the engineers Friday morning. (I had picked up the plans on Thursday--didn't even look at them--and trotted up to the county building department. After dropping off a couple of sets for them to ok, I went home and looked at the plans--and almost had a heart attack.) So my husband and I figured we'd better talk to the engineers and find out what the heck they were thinking! Turns out they wern't completely crazy--there were changes made because Nevada is in an earthquake zone. They went through the plans page by page with us and showed us what everything means (oh, and they also added a few pages of "stuff" that we don't need!). Anyhow, we didn't get up to the lot until the afternoon. That kinda set the pace for the weekend.
Well, the good thing is I got to use an excavator. OOOOhhhh--fun!!! Yeah, that's right guys, I now know your secret. Heavy equipment is great fun!
So, I been diggin holes!
Yep, dat's right.
But done in one weekend--so, so clueless!
Monday, October 31, 2011
My Weekend Rocked!!!
This weekend we worked up at the lot! Wahoo!
Saturday my husband and I went out and picked rocks for our foundation. We got two truckloads; Bob was very happy! In a wierd sort of way, it was really fun--every rock is going to be a part of our house. We got everything from small, baseball sized rocks to some really huge rocks that took both of us to move. Yeah, maybe we got a bit carried away, but they were perfect and will look great when they are in place.
Then, Saturday night, we were perusing Craigslist and came across free rocks. A really nice woman wanted to get rid of about 1000 sq feet of rock, and the rock is perfect!! We got two loads yesterday and then another today, and maybe (but probably not) we've gotten half. We'll get the other half in the next few days. It is perfect for our driveway. I'll post some pictures.
Saturday my husband and I went out and picked rocks for our foundation. We got two truckloads; Bob was very happy! In a wierd sort of way, it was really fun--every rock is going to be a part of our house. We got everything from small, baseball sized rocks to some really huge rocks that took both of us to move. Yeah, maybe we got a bit carried away, but they were perfect and will look great when they are in place.
Then, Saturday night, we were perusing Craigslist and came across free rocks. A really nice woman wanted to get rid of about 1000 sq feet of rock, and the rock is perfect!! We got two loads yesterday and then another today, and maybe (but probably not) we've gotten half. We'll get the other half in the next few days. It is perfect for our driveway. I'll post some pictures.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
I Am Easily Amused
Yes, it's true. I AM easily amused. I think it is a great strength of mine. Think about it. How much have I saved over a lifetime by being easily amused? Billions, I'm sure. The kids were a laugh a minute, but now that they're gone I still have much that keeps me smiling.
My dog sleeps up-side-down. She smiles too. Usually that entertains me (but sometimes it creeps me out).
My husband can be a goofball. The fact that folks think he is very serious makes it even better.
Life entertains me too, and I love that it is usually so unexpected.
For example, last night I was driving home from Carson City, where I run a Bible fellowship once a week. I had the radio on--oh yes, I was rocking out, but that's not what entertained me. I mean, yes. Good music, good fun--entertaining. But it couldn't hold a candle to the commercial that came on: Midget Wrestling!! I kid you not!! Holy cow, I almost swerved off the road. Whoda thought?? The announcer kept listing off different...wrestler's...names and stats--it was almost more than I could take. That stupid commercial kept me smiling the whole way home.
My dog sleeps up-side-down. She smiles too. Usually that entertains me (but sometimes it creeps me out).
My husband can be a goofball. The fact that folks think he is very serious makes it even better.
Life entertains me too, and I love that it is usually so unexpected.
For example, last night I was driving home from Carson City, where I run a Bible fellowship once a week. I had the radio on--oh yes, I was rocking out, but that's not what entertained me. I mean, yes. Good music, good fun--entertaining. But it couldn't hold a candle to the commercial that came on: Midget Wrestling!! I kid you not!! Holy cow, I almost swerved off the road. Whoda thought?? The announcer kept listing off different...wrestler's...names and stats--it was almost more than I could take. That stupid commercial kept me smiling the whole way home.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Logs? What logs?
I realized that I never gave a log update. Last you knew, the logs were on their way! Well, that didn't work out. Totally fell through, in fact. But that's okay. We don't need them yet. Our plans should be done in the next week or so, and then we'll put in the septic...maybe even the footer. Heck, I'm even studying up on the slipform stuff and looking at rocks in a whole new way (it is taking all my self control not to start grabbing rocks that are laying about the apartment building--I keep telling my self, no, tacky, tacky, tacky!). In a few weeks it will be the perfect time to start rock hunting--no snakes!
Still, we are making calls about logs...
Still, we are making calls about logs...
Settling In
The boxes are gone (shhhh, we're not talking about the stuff in the garage) and I pretty well know where everything is...with a few major exceptions...like my iPad (gasp!). <sigh>
I digress. My point is, I'm settling into a routine. And, since there is focus time, so far it's going pretty well:
I digress. My point is, I'm settling into a routine. And, since there is focus time, so far it's going pretty well:
- I'm exercising regularly
- I study the Bible every morning
- My husband and I are eating pretty well, health wise
- We even have planned date night on Fridays.
Tonight's the first of our date nights. There are rules. We take turns planning the night and have a budget of $20. Yeah, I know! The limit keeps us from trying to out do each other and it stops us from spending a bunch of money. We have to be creative. Also, if the whole $20 is not used the remainder of the money goes in the till for later.
For example, tonight I get to plan. Since my husband and I are eating healthy, we'll eat in, so that doesn't count towards the date night (score!). We're going to the movies tonight (Cowboys and Aliens). Believe it or not, there's a place in town that has movies for $3. Again, we're eating healthy, so there will be no popcorn or soda. We'll finish the night with a moonlight walk and I've done date night for $6. The $14 goes in my "account" for later planning (I'm already looking at upcoming concerts). Good planning makes for good fun. A few "cheap" date nights and then I'll dazzle the man, wahaha!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
It's Simmering
When I cook I love it when a dish starts to simmer, blending it's way to a tasty finish. That's how I feel about our house project.
I met with our Engineers yesterday and one of them had our plans up on his computer--in 3-D! As he spun the house around I pointed out what windows I wanted to get rid of and the ones I wanted to add. One window became French doors! It will take a few weeks before the plans are done, but it's underway.
I'm looking for a new job, too. The job I have I took as a favor to a friend, and it worked well for me--I didn't have to work if I was in the middle of mom stuff--but it hasn't been something I'd want to do forever. Now, I want to do something more in my field--writing. More simmering going on there, and I'm excited.
I guess what I'm seeing is that life doesn't stop as an empty nester. For me, at least, I've got the brain space to focus. This is a good thing. I just have to make sure and not bite off too much--even if it is tasty.
I met with our Engineers yesterday and one of them had our plans up on his computer--in 3-D! As he spun the house around I pointed out what windows I wanted to get rid of and the ones I wanted to add. One window became French doors! It will take a few weeks before the plans are done, but it's underway.
I'm looking for a new job, too. The job I have I took as a favor to a friend, and it worked well for me--I didn't have to work if I was in the middle of mom stuff--but it hasn't been something I'd want to do forever. Now, I want to do something more in my field--writing. More simmering going on there, and I'm excited.
I guess what I'm seeing is that life doesn't stop as an empty nester. For me, at least, I've got the brain space to focus. This is a good thing. I just have to make sure and not bite off too much--even if it is tasty.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Living Easy!
I cleaned the house today...it took me all of half an hour!! Oh yeah, I love the apartment life.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
I've been BAAAAD!
Hello, absent blogger here! Yes, that's me--the woman who starts a blog...and then falls off the face of the earth. So sorry! It's not personal, you know. I was, after all, moving. I spent a week trapsing up and down stairs, with a final push to get the big stuff with the help of many friends. After that, I focused my attention on the place we moved out of. (We'd rented that place a year ago, when we first moved to our city. We knew it would be temporary, since we picked it out in light of our son's school and him living at home, no sense in putting down roots in an untested area.) Since I believe in leaving a place better than I found it, there was much scrubbing, painting and carpet cleaning into the wee hours.
With the keys turned in at the old place, being mostly settled into the new place, and my husband off hunting I had grand plans to get lots done. Ha! Actually, I slept--a lot! I guess the last two weeks caught up with me.
But now, as you can see, I'm back. Talk soon!
With the keys turned in at the old place, being mostly settled into the new place, and my husband off hunting I had grand plans to get lots done. Ha! Actually, I slept--a lot! I guess the last two weeks caught up with me.
But now, as you can see, I'm back. Talk soon!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Mooooooving!
Part of my hubby and my master plan to not spin into a dark depression, now that the kids have flown the coop is to move. Honestly, it sounded better before we got started. But we did have a great reason, a few actually, to move.
1) There is a high school next door; the same one my son went to. Every time I hear the bell between classes or drive by the full parking lot I sigh. My boy is not there. He's gone. I'm not going to see him forever. I wonder if he forgot about me....Now, that's dangerous! I could lose my cookies and start running through the school hugging random kids. I'd get locked up for sure.
2) It puts us MUCH closer to our lot---we were driving 45 to 50 minutes. Now it's 20.
3) Downsizing. Oh yeah! We are doing apartment living! I feel so cosmopolitan.
Our apartment is on the third floor (which is a big reason why I am ready to be done with this move), but it has a great view, valted ceilings and a fake fireplace (gas). All in all, it's still a good thing--I'll keep telling myself that every time I climb the 39 stairs.
1) There is a high school next door; the same one my son went to. Every time I hear the bell between classes or drive by the full parking lot I sigh. My boy is not there. He's gone. I'm not going to see him forever. I wonder if he forgot about me....Now, that's dangerous! I could lose my cookies and start running through the school hugging random kids. I'd get locked up for sure.
2) It puts us MUCH closer to our lot---we were driving 45 to 50 minutes. Now it's 20.
3) Downsizing. Oh yeah! We are doing apartment living! I feel so cosmopolitan.
Our apartment is on the third floor (which is a big reason why I am ready to be done with this move), but it has a great view, valted ceilings and a fake fireplace (gas). All in all, it's still a good thing--I'll keep telling myself that every time I climb the 39 stairs.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Get It?
I met with an architect on Tuesday; all I can say is woohoo! Here's how good God is: I've lived in Reno for just over a year. Early on I began working very part time as a virtual receptionist. That means I answer the phones for about fifty different companies. It's fun and totally not boring! Anyhow one of our clients happens to be an engineering firm. We've chatted a few times, joked around about OSU vs. OSU (Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Oregon State University).
Once I started looking for an architect to sign off on the house plans we have, and maybe tweak the plans a bit, I come to find out that the engineering firm we answer the phones for is the perfect fit. I mean really—what are the odds of that??
I had so much fun meeting with them. I had printouts of our plans (we purchased stock plans from the organization where we learned how to build log homes) and got to voice all the ideas that have been stewing in my head. Oh, did I ever say that the home my husband and I will build is going to be a log home? It will sit on top of a full basement/garage. Anyhow, I had the plans, notes from our class, books on slip form stone masonry...
Have you heard of that before? It's a way to build walls out of rocks and concrete and rebar--instead of poured concrete. Should be just as strong, looks pretty, and is much less expensive—and much more work. Don't worry if you've never heard of it before, most people haven't. So, there I was explaining to the engineer what I was talking about and one of the other engineers exclaimed that his parents had done the exact same thing! In fact, it turned out to be a parallel universe kind of thing--they moved out of their house the day after he left for college and built their dream home. Again, what are the chances?
I left a stack of information for the engineer to go thorough and we’ll get back together next week. So far, so good—they got it!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Countdowns Suck
It's two days until I get the keys to our new apartment and can start moving.
It's five days until my daughter heads back to OSU for her final year.
It's a loooong time till the four of us are back together.
Gack!
Sometimes I wish I could hit the pause button...or rewind. But I can't.
I packed away the photo albums. They'll come back out when our house is finished (a couple of years, it looks like). Soooo many sweet times--I think I enjoyed every phase of their childhood. Sigh, I think I'd bawl my eyes out if I saw the photos of the toddler-version of my kids. But, why why would I do that to myself? That's right up there with hair shirts and self-flagellation.
With horses, they put blinders on the side of their heads when they're pulling a wagon or carrage. It limits their vision so that they don't get distracted or startled. I'm doing that to myself. There are certain mindsets I don't want to entertain right now. For example, memory lane is not the place to take a stroll. I'm going to endevor to focus on the road ahead. That way I'll be moving forward and not sitting in the middle of the road rocking and sucking my thumb!
This weekend we dropped a tub off up at the lot (we have a shed). We also picked up some rock to show to our archetect (I meet with him tomorrow afternoon.) I want to show him what we have in mind. We are thinking of doing slipform for the basement--utilizing rock in the forms so that it looks absolutely lovely.
We stopped by Home Depot, too. We were looking for something to set our logs on to get them off the ground. We'd heard of peeler cores--get this, plywood is made by taking a tree and peeling it like a pencil. The "shavings" is what the plywood is comprised of. The middle that's left over is called a peeler core. It's about six inches around and not too expensive--around ten or 12 bucks. That's what we went to look at to see the price and decide if we wanted to go ahead and get some. But we didn't...because right next to the peelers were logs almost the exact same logs for less than $2.
Oh yeah, we were jazzed. It was our find of the weekend.
It's five days until my daughter heads back to OSU for her final year.
It's a loooong time till the four of us are back together.
Gack!
Sometimes I wish I could hit the pause button...or rewind. But I can't.
I packed away the photo albums. They'll come back out when our house is finished (a couple of years, it looks like). Soooo many sweet times--I think I enjoyed every phase of their childhood. Sigh, I think I'd bawl my eyes out if I saw the photos of the toddler-version of my kids. But, why why would I do that to myself? That's right up there with hair shirts and self-flagellation.
With horses, they put blinders on the side of their heads when they're pulling a wagon or carrage. It limits their vision so that they don't get distracted or startled. I'm doing that to myself. There are certain mindsets I don't want to entertain right now. For example, memory lane is not the place to take a stroll. I'm going to endevor to focus on the road ahead. That way I'll be moving forward and not sitting in the middle of the road rocking and sucking my thumb!
This weekend we dropped a tub off up at the lot (we have a shed). We also picked up some rock to show to our archetect (I meet with him tomorrow afternoon.) I want to show him what we have in mind. We are thinking of doing slipform for the basement--utilizing rock in the forms so that it looks absolutely lovely.
We stopped by Home Depot, too. We were looking for something to set our logs on to get them off the ground. We'd heard of peeler cores--get this, plywood is made by taking a tree and peeling it like a pencil. The "shavings" is what the plywood is comprised of. The middle that's left over is called a peeler core. It's about six inches around and not too expensive--around ten or 12 bucks. That's what we went to look at to see the price and decide if we wanted to go ahead and get some. But we didn't...because right next to the peelers were logs almost the exact same logs for less than $2.
Oh yeah, we were jazzed. It was our find of the weekend.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Long Day
My husband and I spent the day doing a Bible home fellowship coordinator's training...all day. Lots of work, but so much to be thankful for. What a blessing to be able to serve someone God's Word. We have answers that can impact, bless, and change people's lives for the better. Wahoo!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Let go of the leg, and move away from the child!
About seven years ago a dear friend was about to have her third of three children leave the nest. She had a very close family, like ours. Just thinking about what she must be going through made my heart squeeze. One day I exclaimed, "I don't know how you can stand watching your children leave. It must hurt so badly!"
To my surprise she laughed.
Then she told me something that I have held on to ever since (did I mention she is a very wise friend?). She said, when it's time for your kids to leave, you'll be ready. She went on to talk to me about how good God is. He worked in our hearts when it was time to have kids and He'll do the same when it's time to let them go.
When she said that I couldn't even fathom that I would ever, ever be ready to willing let my children walk out the door. More likely I'd be holding on to one leg as they tried to exit the building. But she was right. Now, I'm good with the whole thing.
At least that's what I keep telling myself!
To my surprise she laughed.
Then she told me something that I have held on to ever since (did I mention she is a very wise friend?). She said, when it's time for your kids to leave, you'll be ready. She went on to talk to me about how good God is. He worked in our hearts when it was time to have kids and He'll do the same when it's time to let them go.
When she said that I couldn't even fathom that I would ever, ever be ready to willing let my children walk out the door. More likely I'd be holding on to one leg as they tried to exit the building. But she was right. Now, I'm good with the whole thing.
At least that's what I keep telling myself!
Friday, September 9, 2011
The EN Word
It appears that the term "Empty Nester" brings up a mirad of emotions, especially this time of year where there is a slew of parents fresh from getting their children ripped out of there arms and other parents revisiting the time last year, or the year before...
Emotionally I want to run around in circles and say, "Noooooo, this can't be happening!!!" This action would be followed by much wailing and gnashing of teeth (Isn't gnashing a great word? I'm so excited I got to use it.) Of course, this only happens in my mind, 'cus I'm a big girl now.
The logic in me prevails. Yes, it is a good thing that my kids are leaving. And I'll be honest with you, I don't want a thirty year old sitting on the couch playing video games and raiding my fridge, and cleaning up after one man (although he would deny that I have to do anything) is quite enough. Thank you very much. So I stick that in my head.
Then I remember how hard we worked to get our kids out the door--into great colleges with great prospects for the future. God forbid that didn't work out!
I remind myself that I did have a life before kids--and I repeat that over and over in my head, desperately hoping that there will come a day I believe it.
I also remind myself of the grey hairs my children have contributed to my life.
I've planned date night with my husband--every Friday. We're taking turns and have a $20 budget for the evening. That'll keep us on our toes.
I've got lots of projects planned--besides the house and moving in the next few weeks, I'm working on a couple of MSS, working on the fitness aspect of my life, promising myself I'll study more, and I'm even thinking about starting a blog!
I've resolved to laugh alot, spend time with friends, and have fun--enough said.
And sometimes, late at night I think about the pieces of my heart that I miss...and I cry.
Sigh, I guess it is an EN word.
Emotionally I want to run around in circles and say, "Noooooo, this can't be happening!!!" This action would be followed by much wailing and gnashing of teeth (Isn't gnashing a great word? I'm so excited I got to use it.) Of course, this only happens in my mind, 'cus I'm a big girl now.
The logic in me prevails. Yes, it is a good thing that my kids are leaving. And I'll be honest with you, I don't want a thirty year old sitting on the couch playing video games and raiding my fridge, and cleaning up after one man (although he would deny that I have to do anything) is quite enough. Thank you very much. So I stick that in my head.
Then I remember how hard we worked to get our kids out the door--into great colleges with great prospects for the future. God forbid that didn't work out!
I remind myself that I did have a life before kids--and I repeat that over and over in my head, desperately hoping that there will come a day I believe it.
I also remind myself of the grey hairs my children have contributed to my life.
I've planned date night with my husband--every Friday. We're taking turns and have a $20 budget for the evening. That'll keep us on our toes.
I've got lots of projects planned--besides the house and moving in the next few weeks, I'm working on a couple of MSS, working on the fitness aspect of my life, promising myself I'll study more, and I'm even thinking about starting a blog!
I've resolved to laugh alot, spend time with friends, and have fun--enough said.
And sometimes, late at night I think about the pieces of my heart that I miss...and I cry.
Sigh, I guess it is an EN word.
Details, details
I'll be taking a look at our apartment today and getting the paperwork in order so that when my husband looks at it tomorrow it should be an easy sign-our-life-away time.
Come Wednesday I get to start moving stuff in. That should be fun--the third floor with no elevator. I'll be getting a workout, that's for sure. My goal is to get mostly moved without the house we're in now looking much different. Right now the cabnets in the garage are empty and a few closets in the house are bare, or thinning out, but everything else looks the same. We run a Bible fellowship in our home, so we can't afford to have boxes everywhere.
I pick up a tub today. Kinda silly, but I got a great deal on a cool tub--the kind with the jets--that will eventually grace the upstairs of our home. I'm still deciding where to put it. So far we have a tub and a front door. Progress! Well, and land, a driveway, big hole where the house goes and a well. Not bad!
I'm thinking the logs will arrive the week after my daughter leaves.
Woah, there you go! A key for empty nesters--good planning makes for good fun. I plan on this chapter of my life being a good time.
Come Wednesday I get to start moving stuff in. That should be fun--the third floor with no elevator. I'll be getting a workout, that's for sure. My goal is to get mostly moved without the house we're in now looking much different. Right now the cabnets in the garage are empty and a few closets in the house are bare, or thinning out, but everything else looks the same. We run a Bible fellowship in our home, so we can't afford to have boxes everywhere.
I pick up a tub today. Kinda silly, but I got a great deal on a cool tub--the kind with the jets--that will eventually grace the upstairs of our home. I'm still deciding where to put it. So far we have a tub and a front door. Progress! Well, and land, a driveway, big hole where the house goes and a well. Not bad!
I'm thinking the logs will arrive the week after my daughter leaves.
Woah, there you go! A key for empty nesters--good planning makes for good fun. I plan on this chapter of my life being a good time.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
I have a list and I'm not afraid to use it
Aren't lists great? I don't always use them--I forget--but when I remember, boy do I get tons done.
Today I have a list. So far, I've posted stuff on Craigslist, started to hunt down equipment we'll need, and read up on rock walls and stain. I even packed a box.
In less than a week we start moving our stuff across town to an apartment. We're "downsizing." I put that in quotes, because my husband and I were first looking at one bedroom apartments. Then our daughter caught wind and was not pleased (when did they become the boss???) "Where will I stay??"Short story long, we now are the proud renters of a two bedroom apartment. Well, we will be in a week. It's smaller than where we are now, but not by too much.
I have two weeks of overlap between where we are and where we're going, so the move should be easy-peasy (hopefully not famous last words). I'll be taking a truck load down at a time in Bob.
Bob is our truck. He's very old and a bit crotchety. Bob has imprinted on me, as I'm the one that drives him most of the time. We let someone borrow him for a couch move and Bob had a melt down--quite literally--on the highway. After a trip to the truck doctor he's now back and feeling much better. Bob made his point though, and now I'm pretty much the only one behind the wheel. And yes, I look like a total red neck in my rusty old truck. But that's ok, it's for a good reason. Bob is not only going to help us move, he's going to be very instrumental in hauling the stuff we'll need to build.
Well, back to my list!
Today I have a list. So far, I've posted stuff on Craigslist, started to hunt down equipment we'll need, and read up on rock walls and stain. I even packed a box.
In less than a week we start moving our stuff across town to an apartment. We're "downsizing." I put that in quotes, because my husband and I were first looking at one bedroom apartments. Then our daughter caught wind and was not pleased (when did they become the boss???) "Where will I stay??"Short story long, we now are the proud renters of a two bedroom apartment. Well, we will be in a week. It's smaller than where we are now, but not by too much.
I have two weeks of overlap between where we are and where we're going, so the move should be easy-peasy (hopefully not famous last words). I'll be taking a truck load down at a time in Bob.
Bob is our truck. He's very old and a bit crotchety. Bob has imprinted on me, as I'm the one that drives him most of the time. We let someone borrow him for a couch move and Bob had a melt down--quite literally--on the highway. After a trip to the truck doctor he's now back and feeling much better. Bob made his point though, and now I'm pretty much the only one behind the wheel. And yes, I look like a total red neck in my rusty old truck. But that's ok, it's for a good reason. Bob is not only going to help us move, he's going to be very instrumental in hauling the stuff we'll need to build.
Well, back to my list!
I'm a Beginner
It's 12:30 in the morning and I can't sleep. Too many things on my mind. In ten days my husband and I are going to be official empty nesters. It's wierd. When we first decided to have kids both of us thought that the kid project was going to last FOREVER! Then, a blink of an eye later, it's about to be just the two of us again. Dang.
I'm not one to wallow, however. Sure, I know it's 76 days till our son flys home for Thanksgiving, but that's normal...right? Still, the plan is to move forward. When my daughter left for college I repainted the upstairs. Then I refinished a bunch of furniture, too. This time will be similar, just bigger.
Humm...I'd better explain myself before I go much farther. One daughter, 21. She's a senior in college--aerospace engineering at The Ohio State University (the The is very important, trust me). Our son is 18. He graduated high school just a few months ago, then less than two weeks later he was wisked off to the Air Force Academy. Yes, I'm thankful, but a bit shell shocked. Our daughter was concerned for us and decided to move in with mom and dad for the summer. Smart daughter! Now she's getting ready to head back to college all the heck the way across country.
Our plan, as empty nesters is simple: downsize into an apartment and then build a house--ourselves, by hand. No problem! The adventure is what this blog will be about. If you happen to stumble across my story, then welcome!
All the best,
Josie
I'm not one to wallow, however. Sure, I know it's 76 days till our son flys home for Thanksgiving, but that's normal...right? Still, the plan is to move forward. When my daughter left for college I repainted the upstairs. Then I refinished a bunch of furniture, too. This time will be similar, just bigger.
Humm...I'd better explain myself before I go much farther. One daughter, 21. She's a senior in college--aerospace engineering at The Ohio State University (the The is very important, trust me). Our son is 18. He graduated high school just a few months ago, then less than two weeks later he was wisked off to the Air Force Academy. Yes, I'm thankful, but a bit shell shocked. Our daughter was concerned for us and decided to move in with mom and dad for the summer. Smart daughter! Now she's getting ready to head back to college all the heck the way across country.
Our plan, as empty nesters is simple: downsize into an apartment and then build a house--ourselves, by hand. No problem! The adventure is what this blog will be about. If you happen to stumble across my story, then welcome!
All the best,
Josie
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