When We Get That Far

The new living room colors will be Sherwin Williams "Lime Granita" and "Great Green."

Of course we are not close to doing any painting yet since there is still a big hole in the wall.

What started out as removing a window for a sliding door and adding a patio has become:

• Removing part of the fireplace to add in the window I removed.  
• Having a custom bookcase built to cover the other side of the huge and hideous fireplace.
• Taking out all the bookcases in the playroom.
• Changing all the lights and adding a ceiling fan in the living room.
• New crown molding in living room.
• Painting walls and crown molding.
• Removing a couple of short brick walls outside.
• Adding a path from the patio to the pool.
• Moving and adding outlets to living room and outside.
• Painting playroom.

Each day I seem to find something new I want done. It has become a joke between John "the remodeler" and me.  "John, I want such and such done. That will cost me $5.00 right."  Today I added the bookcase.  I said "Bookcase. $5.00."  John said "$5.00, $5.00, $5.00."  

Oh well.  I did not enjoy my vacation this year, so I think I will make this my vacation home and just not go any where for the next ten years.  

I know it is going to be beautiful.  I don't even mind the work being done because John is really good about cleaning up his mess throughout the day and being very good about making sure his schedule works with mine and that he is not interfering with my life.  We made an agreement that he would always tell me what time he was arriving so I would know not to be in ratty robe.  It is working out great. 

As my friend Bryan said having John around is like having Eldin, the painter, in Murphy Brown around.  It really is like that these days.  John is very entertaining and pops up with some really funny things. He is also good about giving my youngest some pointers on the work he is doing.  I will miss him when the work is done.

Sleepy

I'm so sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppppppppppppppppppppy.

Very Content Right Now

As I sit here in my favorite recliner with my feet up and reflect upon my life at this moment I have to say I am very content.

The last three days have been so enjoyable.

Friday I took Loni to Celeste to Quilt Mercantile to pick out the fabric for the back of the cat quilt I made her for her birthday.  We also stopped at Texas Quiltworks for thread, and had a nice lunch at A Taste of Home.  

Friday night I met Loni and Mina for dinner at Joe's Italian Bistro after dropping the youngest off for a "Magic" card event.  

Saturday was Loni's birthday.  Jill (BFF) met me here right around noon and we drove into town to meet the girls for a birthday lunch celebration at Cheesecake Factory.  It was a wonderful lunch full of laughter.  Loni and Mina went on their way and BFF and I ran an errand and then came back to the house for a nice visit.  

BFF came back later in the evening for a very pleasant swim, and the Loni came back and joined us.  Then we had some of the Oreo Cake I made Loni.  It was yummy.  (Mina was on a date with her hubby.) (Loni went to dinner with her hubby but then he had to work, so she came back here.)

After cake BFF went home, but Loni stayed and we played games.  Youngest joined us.

I decided to grill burgers today, so Loni came over for lunch since her hubby had to work.  Oldest joined us and then he and youngest ran an errand for me to pick up a converter/digital frame from Brookstone that I have been wanting for a while and Loni had a coupon that applied.  

Loni and I played games while waiting on the boys.  

Once the boys came home with the frame, Loni helped me set it up. It is fantastic.

After a slice of cake, we all went swimming and then it was back in for more game play.  This time the oldest joined us.  

Tomorrow John will start on some remodeling work I am having done that I am very excited about, so yes I am very content right now.

So Proud

My oldest started work in May as an intern for a company in downtown Dallas.  He has been working there 20-30 hours a week and still working for the campus newspaper.  Last week the downtown company told them they would like to keep him on once school starts, and that they would be willing to hire him full time once he graduates. 

He really likes the company and the job, so it is a great thing. 

Unfortunately, he will probably have to give up his campus job.  

I am very proud of him. 

What Makes Women Special

Their ability to bond and be there for each other.

Loni, Mina, Jill and I went to lunch today to celebrate Loni's birthday.  Jill and I have discovered we really like splitting a meal so we shared a delicious salad.  Loni and Mina split their lunch and cheesecake.  Jill and I were too full for cheesecake.  It was a great lunch with fabulous conversation.  

At one point of the meal Jill looked at me and said something about all the topics of discussion for the lunch. As I am sitting here thinking about it again, I am laughing all over again.  Here are some of the topics from lunch:

•  Balls, as in the kind that belong to the male species.(Started with why a couple in Mina's neighborhood did not know their dog wasn't neutered.
• Why we can never make our hair look the way the stylist fixes it.
• The latest antics of my boys.
• Massages (I'm the only one of the four that does not enjoy a massage)
• Colors of nail polish, and our personal favorites
• Husbands
• Travel
• My affinity for really old and ratty clothes
• Latest update on Jill's son and his girlfriend
• 100's of other items that were interspersed among the above discussions.

Add to that the underlying comments about each of us and it makes for a very fun afternoon.  

The four of us make a great combination when we are together.  Jill and Mina are so much alike I swear they must share DNA.  Loni and I are the more practical side of the group.  I can't wait until the next get together.

"Menopause the Musical"

On June 3, Loni, Mina, Jill and I went to see "Menopause the Musical" at the Majestic in Dallas.  We were supposed to go last year for Mina's birthday, but her travel schedule did not allow us time. 

It was a fabulous, fun night.  What a great musical and so true!  I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard.

At the end of the musical they invite all woman that have been through or going through the "change" to come up on stage.  Loni looked at me and said "That would be daring Mama."  So up there I went.  

I wish I had the words to explain the bonding that happened up there among all those strangers.  It was so much fun.  We were all laughing at ourselves and trying to kick our legs in the right direction at the right time.  The woman in front of me lost her shoe and we all found that hilarious.  It was truly an amazing experience, and yes, a very daring for me.  

Thank you Loni for inviting me along.  

I recommend this musical to all women.  I have the cd in the car and it helps me get to work in the morning, the entire five minute drive in the light is red. 

Today is a Good Day to Remember Why

I had a frustrating morning with my oldest so I would like to share a couple of stories that show just how wonderful my boys are to me. (Yes, they are kind and nice to others, but this is about me.)

When we were on vacation my youngest showed just how observant and caring he is when it comes to taking care of me.  On Sunday morning I had drawn one of the easy chairs up to the window to look at the lake in the sunroom.  The windows were long and slender with everyone other one screened.  I had my chair in front of a window that did not have a screen.  The youngest came over and started cranking open the window next to the one I looking out of watching the turtles.  I asked him what he was doing as he started to remove the screen.  He told me that he was going to wash the window I was looking out of so that I could enjoy the view more.  It was quite dirty and covered with spider webs and gnats.  It was so nice to have a clean window and that he noticed and thought enough of me to make my vacation more enjoyable.

The oldest also showed me how much he cares on vacation.  On our way back we spent the night in Conway, AR.  The room we were in looked out across a parking lot and there was a spotlight shining into our window.  When we went to shut the outer heavy curtains we discovered they did not close.  They were just narrow panels.  I immediately started to panic.  I cannot sleep with lights and I knew I had a long drive home the next day.  I laid down and turned my back to the window trying to calm myself.  I heard sounds behind me and asked the youngest what his brother was doing.  It turns out the oldest was putting a blanket over the curtain rod to block out the light so that I could sleep.  Blessed relief.  What a wonderful son.

My boys are so good to me.  Here are other examples:

• My youngest turns down my bed at night when he is home.
• My oldest remembered I was out cream cheese the other morning and picked some up on the way home so we would have it for our breakfast bagels.
• When I got sick tonight, my youngest had a big glass of water next to my chair when I came out of the bathroom.
• My oldest is always showing me websites or blogs he thinks I will enjoy.
• My youngest made my favorite muffins for my breakfast the other morning, even though I am the only one that will eat them.
• During the school year when my youngest is not living at home, my oldest always takes out the garbage and does the heavier stuff around the house when he stops by to visit.

I could go on and on, but I don't need to keep telling reasons why my boys are so wonderful.  They just are, and I am truly blessed.