Hanging on for dear life

There!!!! My new room---well, at least the floor is new---once clean and neat, is now trashed! Justin came over after working yesterday to put my office stuff back together and into place, including piles of paper, heaps of paper, on my desk. Nice! One thing that came to mind when Mike and Andy were putting my furniture into place and such was my office chair. It really needs something to govern it, because when I stand up or sit down, whee!!!!!, away it goes, as though trying to get away. One thought they had was to put coasters under the casters, or was it casters under the coasters??, like they put under the legs of the bed frame and dressers. I would not be able to scoot around, as is my custom, but it also would prevent scratches from marring the floor. Another option Mike thought about was the floor protector used typically under desks to protect carpet and allow for chair movement, but not the one for carpets. Some research must be done on that. Or or or I could move the round rug that I brought in from my foyer over here to the desk region and ride around on that!

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Since beginning this posting, I have been out to the pool and am back in again. It was sort of quiet today, not as full and busy as I would have liked, but lovely just the same. The greatest news was the return of the hot dogs, the same brand as last year. Yippee!! The water was the perfect temperature and the air was great, too, coming in at 97 above zero. Who could ask for better? Tonight is a mini-buffet event poolside so I changed from the swimsuit to nightie until such time as I must dress for dinner. Last night I enjoyed time with my friend, Penny, and others from the building. Once more I stepped outside my comfort zone and ordered the chicken and cheese quesadilla served with corn salsa. I ate half of the four pieces and my neighbor, Rosemary, ate one quarter, and Cassidy, my downstairs neighbor, ate the salsa. I really prefer the sirloin sliders and that's all there is to it! Even Beckham, The Prince of The Palace, enjoyed some time poolside with his parents.

The project from start to completion

The flooring is stacked along the walls, acclimatizing to my temperatures and humidity. This hallway connects the bedrooms, the walls wearing the artwork of Justin on the right. Out of sight is Timmy's artwork. The basket at the end of the hall is piled with my decorative pillows, waiting to suffocate me!

I took this shot to show the dark path worn in my carpet, which showed up after these same guys remodeled my bathroom and closet in 2007. And THAT is the big reason why I wanted to change the flooring. That, and the dust situation.

These built-ins were here when I moved in, figuring largely into my decision to purchase this unit. When Andy was getting started on the job, he said, "Can I ask you a personal question?" Sure! "Why do you have a flag with a parachuting star?" It does look like that, doesn't it? It is actually a Turkish flag, a gift from my favorite Turk, Sabin, who has moved my household and office 110 times.

This is the other set of built-ins which frame the windows, as well as the map of the travels of Lahaie Day, complete with color coordinated pins. (Sigh...)

This is not the best shot, being against the window, but was a good way to show the pile of furniture stacked in my river room. Boy, I am glad to have my rooms back!

Here is the river room from another angle, and somehow the table stayed basically unstacked!

Mike is in the corner, grinding down the areas on the floor where the carpet strips once were and any nails that had popped up from the parquet floor. The doorway behind him is to my bathroom and closet.

It is so amazing how quickly the job proceeds once they start putting the pieces together. Both men had soaking wet shirts despite the A/C being on and ceiling fan set on high. Mike commented to me how nice and hot it gets in that window----well, ya! That's what I love about sitting here!

The floor is completed so Mike and Andy begin bringing the furniture back in. Yay!!!!

My room is put back together, sans the computer equipment, my bed is made and still unpiled in this photo. The next day I brought my magazines and books back to the 'passenger' side of the bed and I felt right at home again. Well, it was nice while it lasted....The backside of my desk presently sports a lovely Greek drape so that it looks pretty from the river room.

A view from the closet doorway toward the river room, before I put the round rug into place at the foot of my bed. And, as of yesterday, the two printers and the gas-powered computer put into place, rolling files returned to my left and the shredder/thrashing machine wastebasket behind me. Ta Da!!!

Yes, that is me!

Can you believe your eyes??? I am eating a grilled chicken and fresh fruit salad with greens at Bahama Breeze for lunch today. I ate most of it except not all the greens and about 2/3 of the chicken. Justin finished the chicken and ate those cracker things that came with the salad. Love eating outside on days like this!

I should be getting up....

......but I am so comfortable here in my sort of new room! Sadly, the cable is messing up again and I cannot get F & F this a.m. so am listening/watching yesterday's radio show on-line. Man, I wish I had the physical stamina to endure a trip to Washington, DC on 8/28! Certainly I will be alive with regret for not going but I also know that I would have a terribly tough time with all the walking and standing. Justin said we would have about a mile walk to just get to from the hotel to the Mall and then to get to the Lincoln Memorial would be another hike. And then standing....Yes, I could take a lawn chair but would have to buy one once in DC since I cannot take my own on the plane. Ugh, I am so frustrated with myself. I have offered to pay Justin's way so he can attend with Grove and his girlfriend. Justin is all about "Restoring Honor"!

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Well, the new floor is in place and the big furniture put back in my room. I brought the round rug from my foyer and put it at the end of the bed and like the look of it there. Once the bench is in place, that might help secure it so I don't slip. Or so the rug won't slip 'n slide. I did not notice any undo echoing last night with the TV on and I did not have it on louder than before. Next time I turn it on I will pay extra attention to the volume numbers to see if I have it lower than usual since the carpet will not be there to absorb the sound. It is more than a decorating thing, it is science!

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At one point when Mike was putting in the transition boards, he had one that needed something heavy to hold it down so it would not pop up again. He asked me for something heavy to put on it for about an hour or so until the adhesive set. We decided to use books and went to my shelf to start pulling them down. I reached up and got some of my 'bigger' books, telling the guys to use these because "they are heavier reading", which Andy thought was so terribly funny. On Monday, when they were busy working, I was out in the family room listening to the radio/podcast and laughing my silly head off, as usual. At the end of the day, when they were packing up to leave, I walked them out and Andy turned to me and said, "I hope you cheer up for tomorrow!" I tried, I really did!

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Back now from Bible study and lunch with my Justin, who makes me laugh, too. We were talking at the study during a brief break and I told those gathered how I listen to the radio/podcast and just roar with laughter, all alone in my home. (That is, except when workmen are here, then not alone.) Later, at lunch, I told Justin that I had an emergency for him to take care of tomorrow when he comes over...The base from my "cut-out" of Maurice Jones-Drew that David gave me for Christmas fell off when I was doing the dusting. In order for me to try reaching it, I had to take off my steel bracelet and was fishing around behind the shelf next to my desk. Nuts! It slid under the shelf itself. All this while he is just nodding, likely thinking, "I can get it out tomorrow...." but I kept going with the story. The only thing in reach firm but narrow enough to fit under the shelf was my Greek calendar,as I demonstrated for him my attempts. But, no, that didn't work either. He was sitting across from me, chuckling. He said, "I should put a camera in your house to video tape you laughing (as he threw his back to imitate me!) and digging around, trying to get your stuff out!" Now, why was that so amusing to him??? I was being innovative in my attempts to get my little stand back, that is all. A butcher knife might work, too, and I will try that later on. I must have my MJD in a standing position, that is all there is to it!!!

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After Mike and Andy left me yesterday, having cleaned everything up inside and outside, I carried a few things back into my room. Not too much but I just wanted to sort of get things settled. The biggest job for me was making the bed again, including the mattress pad, which fought me all the way! At last the bed was made and the pillows, all 25 of them, or so it seems, placed on the bed with photos taken of the finished product. After Justin moves the computers and printers back to the room and has them hooked up again, I will be able to download my photos taken during the project and will post them. One of my friends on Facebook, someone I have never met in the flesh, asked me to take pictures so I did! Hey, it is summer and people are looking for something to do---if it is my photos, so be it!

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After resting my back a bit, I went upstairs to Jessica's to deliver the Papa Murphy's pizza I had picked up for them. She had taken Beckham over to her mom's house on Tuesday when the majority of the work was being done in order that his naps would not be interrupted and I felt badly even though I did not need to be. Anyway, she was appreciative of my offering. My downstairs neighbor, Cassidy, was coming up to watch the soccer game with Jessica but she is a vegetarian so Jessica would make the pizza later. She thought they might come over to The Club later for Happy Hour but they never made it. I did, though, and enjoyed my time very much. The appetizers were melon wrapped with prosciutto ham, a pickled veggie tray, and mussels. I like the melon and ate several of those, with some strawberries. More fruit! Penny came over as did others from The Palace and there was a nice roomful of folks. I saw a friend of mine with her office staff as guests, going into the dining room so I went in to say "hi" to Mary. It was great to see her, somewhere other than at Great Hang Ups! It was a lovely evening and I hope tonight will also be such, with the 'real' Outreach meeting going on. Most of me does not want to go, but I will anyway, so I can plead with those there to pitch in on the preschool anniversary event!!! HELP!!!!

Pictures of Alayna

This photo so perfectly sums up the joy felt that day as Alayna graduated from high school. She is so adorable and beautiful, especially when she lets herself go and kicks up her heels!!

Mom, or in this case, Grandma K, posed with Alayna following the ceremony. Mom had much to do with helping with her upbringing and they are very close. "I love you more...."

It is nearly finished!

Sitting here on the "Day" bed, not nearly as comfy as my own bed, I await the arrival of the workers. Already I have vacuumed the new floor and used my Swiffer wet mop (I love who ever came up with that idea!) until I ran out of cleaner. It looks very very nice in there! Mike and Andy are going to install the trim pieces along the floor edges and put the transitions in place in the doorways, covering my Comcast wire so I will not need to have those people come out to do anything more. That is, unless I would like to get those couple of stations in my bedroom that will not come in, such as HGTV and Lifetime. It really is not that inconvenient to go to the family room to watch "Selling New York" once a week, and Justin had at one time forbade me from watching Lifetime due to the subject matter covered there. Fine!

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Since it is water aerobics day again I am not getting dressed until I have to, because my suit is not dry from yesterday's outing. Boy, did I ache after that work out. But, I smell sooo good, because my beach cover was recently washed and the Publix-brand laundry soap just makes my stuff smell wonderful. And it lasts, even after a wearing. My pillow cases hold the scent for a good long time, reminding me of the ad on TV where women are drawn to a man, sniffing his shirt. That would be me, people chasing me down to smell my beach cover! I used to be nutso for Dynamo laundry soap but cannot find that anymore. No need, really, since this Publix-brand 'cheap' soap equals the scent of Dynamo, in my book. This is as close to wash-line fresh as I will get!

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Thinking I would head off the task, I wiggled around in the river room with my Pledge multi-surface cleaner, which I love, too, trying to clean my exposed furniture areas not often accessed when in place in my room. I discovered streaks of Diet Coke down the side of my dresser from when the soda splashed as I tossed the can into the wastebasket. Hmmm....perhaps I should re-think that habit and not throw the cans....I wonder what the wall looks like behind the wastebasket. When I was in the bedroom cleaning the new floor, I could not help but notice how dusty the book shelves and such were, being able to get up closer with no furniture or stuff in the way. Yech! In November I had Patti, our former waitress at Longhorn, come and do all the dusting of these things for me and six months later, it's like the shelves have never been touched. This dust is not in my imagination and drives me wacky!

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My sleep was not the greatest last night but but but I did manage to fall back to sleep without the TV on. When the VCR tape gets to the end, it automatically rewinds, pops out of the player, and the TV shuts off. How convenient! And somehow, I was able to go to sleep without it, but not soundly. This afternoon, when the fellas are gone and the house is my own again, with my bed in place and redressed, I can take a nap! Tonight is Happy Hour at The Club which means I have to wear my church pants since there is a rule about no denim inside The Club. I can sacrifice once or twice a week in order to be in compliance and to look decent for church. In two weeks will be the buffet dinner at Happy Hour but I believe it is something I do not eat, fish or something like that. Last month was steak, red potatoes, green beans, carrots, and yes, I even had some salad! I was with Sharon and Kathy M. from the building next to mine and we left before they came around with the pie. That was fine with me because I did so enjoy my steak and potatoes!

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Now that I have spent more time than ever in my guest room, I have the sense of urgency at getting it straightened out. Not only does my temporary stuff being in the room make it look dumpy but my art supplies and scrapbooking stuff does too. Justin had removed the closet doors when he had his TV in the closet on the open shelving but now that he is gone, the doors could really be reinstalled. That would help tremendously with the look of the room. Also a brighter ceiling light would be a blessing. I might have to hire my friend's husband, Judy C.'s son, to do some wiring for me as two of the three bedrooms have the old-fashioned pull strings for the lights! At the very least, here's another option---I could put in the ceiling fans with light kits and mount the remote control on the wall closest to the door. Not only am I cute, I am also brilliant! Like my bedroom lights! Time for water aerobics while the guys finish up....

The project update

The guys are already hard at it, tapping boards into place on my bedroom floor. Mike figures he can re-use some of the transition boards already on hand, trimming them, modifying them, and such in order for them all to match. Swell! Many photos have been taken but I must wait to post them until my other printer is hooked up again, in the finished room. Patience, all, patience!

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My sleep was great, at least until the VCR shut-off. I tried, I really tried going back to sleep without the TV on but no dice. The remote control for this TV is not to be found so I have to physically push the VHS tape into the player, built into the TV, and hit PLAY. Very primitive, but truly a blessing to my sleep. The other day I had the presence of mind to record back-to-back "House" episodes which played back to me in my sleep--twice through. I am not sure how many hours the tape holds but I am guessing about four hours, although it did play through twice, which woke me right around 7:30 or so. Oh, and here's a funny thing: I left the door open from the kitchen to the guest room overnight and sure enough, the sun shined on me way back in here!!!! Not quite so funny was my observing the horribly filthy French doors to the kitchen. Someone should do something about that, too!

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In checking my e-mail first thing this a.m. I found a sad note from my friend, Judy R., in MN. Her sister, Diane, passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of 71. She has suffered forever and ever with physical ailments and since the beginning of the year had surrendered the majority of one of her legs already. Di had circulation problems and walked with a cane. I had the pleasure of meeting her and shared a meal just more than a year ago when she came to visit her daughter, Chrissie, who lives in Mandarin, on the road to Clark's Fish Camp. Chrissie has been diagnosed and is being treated for breast cancer so has her own battle going on. She had been married in March of 2009 and diagnosed later that same year. Yikes! This is her second marriage and has three sons from her first one. Di made Chrissie's wedding dress plus did some curtains and such while staying with Chrissie. Quite the seamstress that Di! Now she will have no need for legs as she joined her husband and others gone before her into heaven and has met the Lord face to face. Please keep my friends, Judy and Chrissie, in your prayers---thanks!

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Tonight is Bible study at church and Judy J. called to ask me to dinner beforehand. Much will depend upon the progress Mike makes today since we meet for dinner prior to class instead of going after. Some folks like to eat earlier and Judy is one of them--usually. We shall see. She is taking off for Michigan this week and I will not see her for weeks and weeks. That is a long ride by herself and I give her lots of credit for doing it. Since it is such a trip, she goes up and stays for lengths of time. All her children and grands live up there as do her many of her friends from child-raising days so she has plenty to keep her busy. In her daughter's home, she even has a mom-in-law's suite at her disposal.

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It is now 2:00 pm and I have greeted my workmen, attended water aerobics at the pool, gotten dressed for the day, gone errand running and am home again. Whew! It is about 90 degrees outside but I have the A/C set for the comfort of my guys, around 75. They left a few moments ago to pick up some shoe moulding and are coming back, but I have dialed it back a few degrees until they return. My toes are numb (my slippers are not presently accessible...) from the cold, which makes me wear my sad face.

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I saw something interesting on the HTR newspaper site in Manitowoc and called Mom to talk to her about it. As we were wrapping up our conversation, I was relating to Mom a segment of "Seinfeld" where George is sort of rebuffed by his parents, who make believe their Chinese food order had come so they can get off the phone with him. Just as I was finishing the story, I heard someone knock on the door and told her I had to go. Mom thought I was kidding but it was Connie, building maintenance lady coming to check on the project! Mom sort of kept talking, thinking I was putting her on, but it was absolutely true. She actually had to 'go', too, so we hung up but it sure was a funny experience! Like Justin says, everything is "Seinfeld"!!!! Mom did not get a chance to tell me her story of a Justinism Lynn and she remembered....I hope she can the next time I call her!