Too much time has passed since I wrote- there is no way I could even begin to put in an entry for every day I was off line (3 weeks) so the blog 365 will have to fall to the wayside for this year- yes I know I could treat it like a diet & not give up just because I had one lapse…. But I found while I was offline just how seriously addicted I was & I’m determined not to go there again.

I have no doubt that on Thursdays & Fridays while 11 & 8 are at camp I’ll be online non stop still. I am however- planning not to be on for more than an hour after work any longer (especially while I’m still on this 8am to 7pm shift) There’s only so much time in a day- a week- a life & I don’t want to look back someday & see that all I have to show for my life is a web page.

That’s not to say I am not going to write- I’ve been really missing the writing part of this & if I was more focused & had bothered to verbally record some of my ideas in the car while driving to & from work I’d have enough blog fodder for months! Of course I’m not so many of those great ideas will be lost to the world- ha. ha.

I will do a post (heavy on pictures) about 18’s graduation eventually (you read that on my days off) Other than the house being completed (for the most part) there isn’t much new. I planted my garden- we chose yellow to paint the dining room- 18 & 11 compromised on teal for the bedroom which is 18’s currently & will be 11’s when 18 & the BF move out later this summer (they both need jobs which pay first) 18’s going to work at my place of employment if they’ll take her with green hair. I bought her spacers for her lip rings Friday in preparation for her interview which in typical 18 style she’s putting off until next Monday. (I’ll admit she gave me a reasonably good excuse- we have to go to the college she’s attending this week & discuss financing & her classes & since my company is fairly inflexible even for part timers she wants to have her class schedule before she files her application.)

The kittens are growing by leaps & bounds. Pictures will have to wait as I can’t find any kittens to take pictures of right now- they learned to navigate the stairs last week & it’s been a mess keeping track of them since then. They especially like the under couch area because the slip covers provide some hiding space.

The summer camp program is- at least on this one thing- right on the ball - the schedule begins tomorrow- 2 weeks after school ended & it’s just the right amount of time- 11 & 8 are already beginning to groan about being bored & they’re starting to try to spend the entire day in front of the tv- it’s time!

I’m still working on a schedule to keep them home from camp- it’s supposed to be fairly flexible that way & as I’m very anti-over scheduling my kids & pro- spending time with them when I’m off from work- I’m thinking about having one home on Thursday one week & the other home on the next Thursday- then the idea of spending time with both of them together is good too- Of course the plan was originally that I’d keep them out of camp on the day I get paid (every other Friday) but as luck would have it the camp has field trips scheduled for every other Friday & it’s the same Fridays I get paid!

It’s been a few weeks - not by choice- but my house looks great & my Wild blue dish is finally repointed.

1. Idle hands are uncommon for me.
2. I love my Mandelular Sanctuary scrub in the shower.
3. My favorite time of the day is when I’m home from work & it’s not dark yet- I sit on the porch & talk with the kids.
4. The last tea I drank was Lol- I think I tried a taste of some licorice spice tea my mother had back when I was 12- Not a tea drinker here.
5. I like to be in the Summer.
6. My mother always said “set an example for your brother”- I wish I’d known the comeback about not being totally useless as I can always be used as a bad example back then!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to getting home early from grocery shopping & checking out the garden, tomorrow my plans include work of course- and Sunday, I want to know when they’re going to change everyone’s shifts around again- I hate being unsettled!

1. What is your occupation? Level 3 tech support

This was sent in email, I’m only typing it once, I was right, the contractor was wrong & now he’s talking to Wildblue to get them to come out & repoint my dish, I have no idea how long it will be though.

If you play along, please link me.

2. What color are your socks right now? No socks, just sandals, are you kidding? It’s June!
3. What are you listening to right now? Peter Gabriel Salisbury hill on my mp3 player here at work

4. What was the last thing that you ate? Cheetoes & Lean Cusine Chicken Parmigana & Lasagne.

5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes but I’m happy with my current 4wd automatic.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Jungle Green

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Miss 18

8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I love her.
9. How old are you today? 39

10. Favorite Drink? Diet Coke
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? Hockey
12. Have you ever colored your hair? Yes
13. Pets? We are currently at 6 cats, Scarlett, Spider, Bast & Bast’s babies, Loki, Iris & Bartleby (I had nothing to do with choosing these names)

14. What did you do last night? Worked until 7 & went home, messed with the computer, discussed it with WIldblue & watched the news until I was tired enough to go to bed.

15. Last movie you watched? Black Snake Moan

16. Favorite Day of the year? Any day I don’t have to work.

17. What do you do to vent anger? Cry
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? My Dollhouse

19. What is your favorite season? Spring or Summer

20. Hugs or kisses? Both

21. Cherry or blueberry? Cherry
22. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes
23. Who is most likely to respond? Maybe Ann will put it on her blog!

24. Who is least likely to respond? I hope everyone does.
25. When was the last time you cried? I admit to tearing up a little at 18’s graduation on the 25th of May

26. What is on the floor of your closet? No closet
27. The friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? Not sending it,

28. The friend you have had the shortest that you are sending this to? See Above

29. Favorite smells? Chocolate, Peonies - not together.

30. Who inspired/inspires you? My Kids

31. What are you afraid of? Losing one of my kids to death.

32. Favorite car? In all? ever- 72 Mustang fast back
33. Favorite cat breed? Not sure where we’re going here, panthers for large cats, as for domestic I’d love a persian.

34. How many years at your current job? 6 years 11 months & counting every minute until retirement age (30 years give or take a few)
35. Favorite day of the week? Friday - really any day I don’t have to work during.
36. How many states have you lived in? 3
37. Do you think you’re funny? Funny Lookin’, Ha ha- yes, I do.

A lot of reading is the main answer, I’ve watched a few movies on TV, put my garden in & begun embroidering hand towels again. We’re all bored & interestingly enough, though I’m the one the kids all say is addicted to the internet, checking my email every few days from here in the ‘internet cafe’ at work has been about enough. I probably could have put the computer back online Friday night, but opted to plant the garden instead.

18 & the BF are probably going to put the computer back together today (though they hadn’t begun when I went to lunch at 3pm) I’m not hopeful, the roofers from the contractor who did the roof due to the tree falling on it had told me when they began the roof work that they could take a bolt out of the base of my Wildblue dish, put the shingles etc beneath it & then put it back, unbolting & re-bolting all of them one at a time. I was skeptical but willing to see what happened.

Then on the day after they completed the roof (it looks great btw) the guy who said that before confessed that he’d taken the Wildblue dish down & reinstalled it. He said that he used to work for Directtv & felt like he knew enough to not mess with the alignment. In my nearly 7 years of experience in the industry, I can say that just bolting it down in the same location it was before is not always enough to ensure that you’ll have a signal when you’re through.

He admitted this is possible, said all I’d need to do would be contact the insurance adjuster & tell him the situation & the insurance would pick up the cost of re-installation (that would be nice, but I know the deal, I’ll have to come up with the $199. it will cost & then be reimbursed, I hope the IRS comes through pretty soon with that stimulus check!)

Work is frustrating & home is crazy, we put most of the furniture back where it belonged on Friday & the new light in the kitchen & the newly painted walls make everything look great! 18’s bedroom included is very pretty in her & 11’s joint decision color of teal. (I of course agreed, it being my favorite color)

I understand I have to do a walk through with the assistant on the house sometime soon & I hope they realize that the mortgage co will need to do a walk through too. Not something I’m looking forward to at all!

 

 

We’re still in the throes of construction, everything in my dining room has been shifted from one side of the room to the other - twice, my kitchen is a mess, the toaster & coffe maker are on top of the clothes dryer & there are shingles galore all over my yard.

18 & I especially are suffering twitches from not being able to use the internet & I’m more & more convinced that the Wildblue dish will have to be repointed when this is all over & done with. I check email from work but when they gave me their blogging policy it included a statement that I would not blog from work.

Which seems ridiculous to me, I could see if I was a supervisor & had internet access at my desk, but I’m using the ‘internet cafe’ which is for the general populace to use while on break. If I’m on break or lunch or go in there right after work (or before my scheduled shift) I’m on my own time & it seems like I should be able to use it (I have, but only for those 2 paragraph entries which say I’m alive but can’t talk right now.

So here I am at the library on my day off. When I should be at the laudromat, I have the laundry in the car, but I wanted to check my paycheck, (funny how you never realize just how much you use your computer for -until you can’t use it)

We’re also still suffering water issues, it’s alleviated somewhat because there is water- it doesn’t seem to be a dry well. I can go to the basement & use a hose attached to a spigot that comes in before the reserve tank & the kids & I can haul water in buckets & pans & gallon jugs upstairs. But it doesn’t come out of the faucet, or if it does, it only works for a little while, I got a shower yesterday morning, (for the first time in a week) but after the shower I flushed the toilet & now the only water we have is what we’ve hauled upstairs from the basement.

Last week when I called the plumber he felt it had to be the pump, I called the pump guy he recommended & before he showed up the water came back (as it does) then it went away & 18’s BF’s boss (who is a  jack of all trades) came over - it was him who found the spigot works- which suggests the well is not dry, the pump in the ground works, & that it has to be something in the house plumbing.

It turned out that 18’s BF’s boss is an acquaintance from 18’s child hood & also had been to our house for repairs before we lived in it, he said that it was not the first time the house has had weird water issues just like the ones we are having & that it’s beyond his knowledge to fix it. So I’m back at square one & am dreading calling the plumber to explain this to him & ask him to come back out. I’m seriously considering trying a different plumber too.

I wish I could put up pictures of the house in progress, but the library won’t let me do so, the roof is about 1/3 done, the ceilings in the kitchen & dining room are finished & they’re supposed to paint the rooms that were damaged tomorrow. Because we live so far from their office (I wanted someone local, but the insurance agency didn’t have anyone any closer than Roanoke) they work a half day at my house & then go somewhere else for the rest of the day so it’s slow going, since I don’t have my IRS check yet, I’m not really in a hurry because I need that money in order to pay my deductible !

Not sports silly! Video games

I would not even begin to pretend to be a real gamer but my name is Becky & I’m a little bit of an addict.

It all started when I was 10 or so- we got an Atari - not the 2600 - it wasn’t quite out yet- we got an Atari that was a big gray console which you set on your lap & used a knob on the console & flipper buttons on the sides- it was about a foot long. it has basketball- multiple screens of pinball & the great big hairy deal- (at least for me) Breakout!

The whole family sat around for entire weekends playing & watching each other play - I am serious- my father- my mother & even my grandmother sat there entranced by this thing. I remember friends of my father’s coming over & playing it too- I remember one guy telling another he should be good at breakout because he was a bricklayer- that still makes me laugh- I remember wondering back then even- why that would make a difference!

Another friend of my father’s got a 2600- he was a divorced guy- his kids were grown up & he always got the latest & greatest gadgets- he had one of those 70’s vans with the bed- the bar- the CB radio & the porta john. His was the first walkman I ever saw- he had the first car I ever rode in which had a voice telling you that ‘a door is ajar’ which my father used to tease him unmercifully about- asking why the car was posing metaphysical questions to him- ‘a door is a door- it can’t be a jar’ my father would say.

So my father had a one night a week ritual to go to this guy’s house & hang out- for months they played video games on the Atari- Christmas came & Ben & I wanted an Atari in the worst way. My father was unemployed that Christmas I believe & so he wrote a poem on a card- I have the card somewhere but I’m not going to fish it out right now- it ended with

“we’ll get an Atari- but not in a hari
We’ll play space invaders- or Dad ain’t my name”

I believe it was New Years day when my father’s friend brought his Atari game to our house for us to keep- with about 25 cartridges- remember when they were called cartridges? The whole family gathered for awhile to view the video game phenomenon though the thrill wore off much more quickly for the adults that time & Ben & I were left to our own devices.

Many of the best songs of 1982 are mentally linked in my mind with Space Invaders- Asteroids & My very favorite game ever- Megamania. After awhile my brother Ben decided - since we were then listening to the top 40 religiously every single week- that we needed a chart to quantify how many times each game was played- we were supposed to put a tick mark next to the name of each game we played each time we played it- I complied for about 2 weeks & grew bored & stopped.

My brother- being a little obsessive hounded me & fussed at me & finally ended up sitting in the ’school room’ (Also something of a playroom) making a tick mark for every game I played. We debated whether my resetting the game if I didn’t get a certain score by the end of the first round counted as a game or not- the relative merits of certain bands & songs (U2 broke big that year & of course Human League’s ‘Don’t you want me’ was almost inescapable) & of course - that ever present topic of conversation with my brother- how cute was Mouchacha- our dog.

I gave up playing video games for more fun out with Chrissie & other friends when I was about 15 or 16- when I left home & except for arcade jaunts (I lived at the beach 3 out of the next 7 years-so there were plenty of those) I didn’t play at all.

When the ex & I moved to North Carolina to live with his father & stepmother (That lasted 3 weeks) I was appalled at his stepmother’s Legend of Zelda addiction- I played Q-bert a few times with my ex & his dad & then 18 & I (she was 3 at the time) moved to Floyd co because the stepmom & I weren’t getting along well at all.

Then- when the ex & I moved back in together about 6 months later- we got- I don’t even remember where- a game boy & I discovered Tetris. For months I played- on the toilet- before bed- before getting out of bed- the only things I did besides play Tetris during my free time was make beaded earrings & read. I even gave up embroidery for a year or so.

After about 2 years the buttons wore out on the game boy & we couldn’t afford to replace it so that was that until I discovered Sonic my cousin- who was already on to better than the Sega Genisis loaned me his Sega & I played all that summer- then for my birthday in November that year the ex bought me my own Sega Genisis. I think ms 11- along with her interest in hair dressing & nail polish -imbibed the ‘Se-Ga’ song through the womb because I played so much when I was pregnant with her.

Once she was born I was busy- among other things when she was 9 months old my ex insisted I go to work so no more video games for awhile- When we moved back to VA in 1997 though- I dug my old friend out of the box & while my ex was out studying to be an EMT & practicing anatomy on his study partner (I found that part out later) & helping his friend build a race car I played Sonic nightly after the girls were in bed.

Occasionally the ex & I also would play video pool on the Sega- in the hopes that my ex might be able to take me out to play pool in real life someday & not have me embarrass him to death- it didn’t help- I’m great at video game pool & terrible in real life pool to this day. The ex was as bad or worse about the games as I was - he only played hockey- to the exclusion of every other game- games like Sonic were a waste of his time as far as he was concerned.

Once I was pregnant with Mr 8 our lives were in too much chaos & in the back to back (3 moves in 6 months while pregnant & with a 6 week old baby - the last time) moves the Sega Genisis got broken. The ex bought a used one from someone who had an ad in the paper - it turned out to be a girl I’d known back in 1987 too- such a small world- & especially a small town. And the final months of our marriage were marked with- on the nights he deigned to stay home with me endless games of Jeopardy on the new (actually older than the Genisis) video game & a lot of Rummy 500 with actual cards.

After the ex left there was no time for video games- work- sleep- interact with the kids- that was the whole thing for a few years- when we got a subscription to dish network I sprung for dishgames & promptly got addicted to Talisman (its like Bejeweled) among others- then I won a game boy advance at work- they just do drawings for things randomly there- I got it about the third week of November & managed to keep it secret & hidden- didn’t even open the box until Christmas & gave it to all the kids as a family Christmas gift!

We picked out 3 games- Maybe I should say I did- because the kids picked a Fairly Oddparents game & I picked an Activision anthology & a Namco classics game - it had Galaga & Ms Pac-man on it so I was happy- until- 6 months later when a certain dog chewed the power cord- these new games have cell phone - type batteries you can’t go buy triple A’s for them- for awhile someone was looking for a new power cord for me - but the conclusion was reached that I’ll probably have to special order one if I really want one.

Then I realized I could get games on my cell phone- Of course the first one was Tetris- my first two phones had that one & the second one had Bejeweled- the next phone had Scrabble blast- which I purchased on like - night one with the phone-I got a monthly subscription thinking that I’d try it for awhile & then change games I never got tired of Scrabble blast though & when the phone died last month I immediately went to re-load the game as soon as I could- They don’t have Scrabble blast available anymore!

So since I got the new phone I’ve been trying other games- the setup offers free trials of games a couple every night so I’ve been checking out everything on the new phone- many of them offer unlimited play until you exit - so the past couple of nights- when I found games I liked I ended up staying up way too late playing them because I didn’t want it to end! I am torn as to what game I might actually purchase to entertain me while waiting for the kids to get out of school or on a particularly long trip to the bathroom- or as I used to play the Scrabble Blast game- while I’m listening to the local & national news each night before bed.

Still in the throes of major repairs at my house- we’re off line still & all my stuff is under a tarp in the corner of my dining room! I’m so glad to be getting this done & over with but it is definitely making the kids & I quite unsettled, after 2 & 1/2 days off (I worked 5 hours of overtime on Wednesday) I read 3 books & picked out paint for the walls of the rooms they have to paint & a new kitchen light fixture.

The Little ones & I are fighting over who is going to watch what on tv every night now (I’m usually sequestered with the computer) & 18 is refusing to cook anything but frozen dinners because the kitchen is such a mess with the ceiling down & all. They’re saying at least another week of work inside so updates will be sparse.

I can’t remember where I got this one…
1. When you dislike a book, do you say so in your blog? Why or why not?

I don’t really talk about books too much on my blog- whether I like them or not- just sometimes in passing & if I don’t like a certain book very much- yes I’ll say so.

2. Do you temper your feelings about books you didn’t like, so as not to completely slam them? Why or why not?

I don’t really slam books- some just don’t hold my interest & I let it go.

3. What do you think is the best way to respond when you see a negative review about a book you enjoyed?

I don’t react or comment for instance- on a blog where someone says something negative about a book I liked. Everyone has different tastes & I try to be respective of that.

4. What is your own most common reaction when you see a negative review of a book you loved or a positive review of a book you hated?

Oh I always feel sad when I see a pan on a book I liked or when someone I give or loan a book to doesn’t care for it- but I’m not too terribly confrontational so if someone has a differing opinion of a book I just chalk it up to different strokes for different folks- I am however - always interested to hear people’s opinion of books I’ve read- whether I loved or hated them!

5. What is your own most common reaction when you get a comment that disagrees with your opinion of a book?

I’m screwed up enough that I’m embarrassed- I always feel like they must be right & I must be a cretin.

6. What if you don’t like a book that was a free review copy? What then?

Not in my life- I wouldn’t mind if it was though! I’d love to preview new authors books.

7. What do you do if you don’t finish a book? Do you review it or not? If you review it, do you mention that you didn’t finish it?

I don’t really review books- I will say though that I won’t try to force myself to finish a book I don’t care for!

My computer is in my living room right now- unhooked from it’s lifeline- I wasn’t aware the carpenters would be working in my dining room right away (I think it was because of the rain yesterday) & so am unprepared for being offline. I don’t even know yet how long I will be without the home computer & so am just going to write each day & transcribe it for the dates after we are back on line so as to fulfil my blog 365 commitment (it says you can do that right on the main page!)
So far our adventures include running out of water & them ripping my whole ceiling in my dining room out & finding a cache of beer cans & a largish snakeskin.
Further bulletins as events warrant.

A suburban mother’s role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after. ~Peter De Vries

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love. ~Mildred B. Vermont

Parenthood: That state of being better chaperoned than you were before marriage. ~Marcelene Cox

It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn’t. ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.  ~Phyllis Diller

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance. ~Franklin P. Jones

A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands. But a mother’s love endures through all. ~Washington Irving
We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. ~Stacia Tauscher

The phrase “working mother” is redundant. ~Jane Sellman

Any mother could perform the jobs of several air traffic controllers with ease. ~Lisa Alther

You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again. ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile, 1762

He is a poor son whose sonship does not make him desire to serve all men’s mothers. ~Harry Emerson Fosdick

Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories. ~John Wilmot

It would seem that something which means poverty, disorder and violence every single day should be avoided entirely, but the desire to beget children is a natural urge. ~Phyllis Diller

Children seldom misquote. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said. ~Author Unknown

The quickest way for a parent to get a child’s attention is to sit down and look comfortable. ~Lane Olinghouse
When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty

Boy, n.: a noise with dirt on it. ~Not Your Average Dictionary

Anyone who thinks the art of conversation is dead ought to tell a child to go to bed.  ~Robert Gallagher

She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she doesn’t take them along. ~Margaret Culkin Banning

Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you. ~Robert Fulghum

Picture notes: Myself & my Mother November 1973 on my 5th birthday. Miss 18 & I June 1991. Miss 11 & I December 1996. Mr 8 & I August 2000.

1. What’s your favorite color ? Turquoise.

2. Who’s your favorite Beatle ? John

3. What’s your favorite cooking spice ? Garlic

4. What’s your favorite book ?  I could never narrow it down to 1

5. Favorite explorer ? Um- perhaps Christopher Columbus?

6. Favorite post it note size ? The 2 inch squares- anything smaller is too small- larger is usually a waste of space

7. Favorite Barbara Streisand movie ?  I’ve only seen Yentyl so I guess that would have to be it.

8. Favorite adjective ? Cool

9. Favorite car ? 1971 Mustang Fastback. (Mine would be green)

10. Favorite Rat Packer ? Uhhh- Can I name a Rat packer? Tony Bennet maybe?

11. Favorite Brat Packer ? Demi Moore- she’s overcome so much to get where she is.

12. Favorite Green Bay Packer ? Once again can I name one ? Nope I can’t.

13. Favorite City ? Boston!

14. Favorite song ? Like books I don’t think I could narrow it down to just one. Currently I’m listening to Filter’s Take A Picture & Eddie Vedder’s  Big Hard Sun every chance I get.

15. Favorite adhesive ? Super Glue

16. Favorite ex of Liz Taylor’s ?  The one who was so much younger than her.

17. Favorite Brady ? Alice- she was always so matter of fact about everything

18. Favorite Christmas Carol ?  God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

19. Favorite animated monkey ? Where are my references- the kids aren’t here to give me a list of animated monkeys- wasn’t there a warner brothers cartoon with an ape grabbing Bugs Bunny? That one will do.

20. Favorite Writing Implement ? Papermate pens in blue- always- they’re slow to start but once the ink is flowing they’re very smooth.

21. Favorite soap ? I buy Oil of Olay bar soap but only use it to shave with- I use this body scrub called Sanctuary Mandelular which is awesome- the scent is out of this world!

22. Favorite vegetable ? Spinach- no broccoli- no potatoes- no green beans- no cucumbers. Well I love vegetables so I can’t really say

23. Favorite superhero ? Batman

24. Favorite Brian Dennehey movie ? Eh– Romeo + Juliet I guess.

25. Favorite prehistoric family ? The Rubbles.

26. Favorite TV Show ? Now or ever? Now would be Medium I guess - ever may very well be Jericho.

27. Favorite movie villain ?  Christopher Walken in most anything- but especially in At Close Range

28. Favorite candy ? It depends- for a couple of years it has been Skor bars- but just lately I’ve been on a Caramello kick & my kids can tell you I will never turn down Peppermint Patties.

29. Favorite movie ? Eye of The Beholder Or At Close Range (this has to be a tie)

30. Favorite berry ? Raspberries hands down.

31. Favorite breakfast cereal ? Apple Jacks or Froot Loops.

1. The chef had an extra secret ingredient; it was Garlic!
2. Rain comes in through my window (because it is broken).
3. Right now, I need large infusions of cash & patience- the builders come Monday to begin fixing my house where the tree fell.
4. DJ’s Drive-in is where I went Thursday night; it was busy & the food was good & greasy as always & also as always it was better than chain fast food.
5. Why does change hurt so much?
6. All I can think of is the chaos which is to be my life for an unknown amount of weeks while the house is repaired.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to getting through with the grocery shopping & coming home, tomorrow my plans include work- bleah! and Sunday, I want to get home from work & make sure everything is cleared out in the kitchen for the builders to come in & fix the roof supports!

Too gray to take many pictures today- I was gratified that I at least managed to get the laundry off the line before it started raining. I was up & around bright & early- feeling shocked & appalled at how messy the house was- I got the couch & chair covers straightened- had breakfast- picked up dirty laundry - 11 has this thing about getting dressed in the living room & leaving clothes all over the room- started a wash- washed the dishes I couldn’t do last night because it was 11 & 8’s shower night last night.

It was still only 9:15 & the co-foremen weren’t here yet. Not surprised- it always takes people longer to get here than they think it will- especially from Roanoke- the mountain is no joke & today - being so gray & cool I bet it was foggy- I got online - remembered I hadn’t checked the amount of my paycheck online last night -that was my excuse- when they showed up around 9:45 I went out side with them to discuss the different materials which they’ll need for the repairs. The guy who had called me went over the listings of things that have to be done.

Page by page- the dining room- the kitchen- the garage- 18’s room & 4 separate pages of roof repairs- one for the back- the front- the garage & the part of the roof which covers the front porch. Then they came inside & explained how- because of the broken joist in my kitchen they’re going to start there- rip 3 panels of ceiling out after moving my fridge & tacking up plastic in front of my sink & counters- they strongly suggested we move everything off the counters & said we will have to move everything off of the fridge etc.

They will do what they have to in the kitchen & then tack up plastic over the top while they do the roof- after they’re through with the roof- the gutters & all the other outside work they’ll do the garage-18’s room & the dining room then finish the kitchen. Yes this is going to SUCK!

However the end result should be excellent- including the whole new roof- after my mental debate last night about the shingles I ended up deciding today on bark brown just like I chose when the original guy brought me samples to choose from. Funny how they work in teams- the first guy came in looked it over - patted my hand- showed me shingles & measured the rooms. These guys were a lot more business oriented- making lists of the sheathing- shingles- ceiling spackle & paint that they will need for this endeavor.

They were nice enough- one - the older- rather dour one was from upstate New York- he reminded me of one of my uncles- didn’t say much & most of what he did say was rather negative- but he did comfort me because it dawned on me while they were on my roof determining something or other- that my internet dish is mounted on the roof & would have to come down. When I asked him about this he said it wouldn’t have to come down & described a process in which he could keep the dish in alignment & do the roof- I wish roofers who encounter the satellite dishes I troubleshoot would do what he said he does- because (if it works & I’m still a little doubtful) it would make a lot of my customers happier & save me a lot of arguing on the phone.

The other guy was younger & pretty outgoing- at first he seemed like a normal VA type guy- especially when he first got here & unloaded a mouthful of tobacco on my lawn. (Yech) but a couple of times in the first 15-20 minutes I caught that accent- the one I grew up with. Then in my kitchen he said something I believe it was the work ‘floor’ & it came out ‘flooah’ Sure enough - he’s from MA- Plymouth to be exact & so was quite familiar with where I actually grew up- armpit of the south shore- Rockland.

I was surprised & not exactly pleased when they said they’d be up first thing Monday morning- Monday? as in 4 days from now? And I’m supposed to clean off the top of the fridge- my countertops & stove- 18’s supposed to take everything off her walls? My garage is a pit from hell & I was going to do that this afternoon but now- well- uh oh. In thinking about it after they left I realized that they were going to have 18’s room pretty open air for at least a few days too. Which means either 18 & the BF were going to be sleeping on the living room floor or we needed to clean 11’s room too.

When I went to get 18 & broke the news to her she was less than thrilled- but felt if they brought their mattress into 11’s room & put it on top of hers & just took their actual bed apart to make room for the roofers/builders what ever you want to call them- that it would be ok. We went to the store & then on the way home I realized I’d forgotten to stop & get boxes to store stuff in- everything has to come off of 18’s walls too- So we went up to the Village Mart above our house & 18 went in to get boxes- they told her we’d need to go around back & get some because they were all out back there.

We were both grossed out at what we found there- a couple of cow carcasses. I was fascinated- 18 was horrified- especially when I took pictures- I said it always amazed me & she asked- as she was loading boxes into the car ‘what amazes you? Anatomy?’
I replied- no- how close we live to our food here- when I was a kid & I saw meat on a Styrofoam tray wrapped in plastic wrap at Stop & Shop it seemed to have nothing to do with the cows we saw on the rare occasions we went for ice cream - let alone cucumbers- tomatoes & lettuce’ She shrugged this off- we’re working on our 11th year here in VA- & of course- before that we lived in a country like setting in MA so I guess it’s not weird to her- but it still is to me.

We came home & went upstairs to 11’s room immediately much to the BF’s glee since he was home from work on account of the rain & online- since I went upstairs he didn’t have to get off the computer- 18 & I tackled 11’s mess of a room with 11’s help after she arrived home from school- until 3:40 when I had to take the two of them to the doctor’s office for shots- 11 will be entering 6th grade next year & needs some shots for that & they both got their final HPV shot. Which I’m glad is finished because I don’t have to hear any more about how much it hurts.

I pointed out to 18 when she was whining about as the doctor was preparing the shots - that it’s preferable to cervical cancer & she stupidly said ‘how would you know’ not thinking of the fact that I had it in 1988. The doctor walked back in during this diatribe of mine & took it as an open invitation to remind me that it’s been something like 3 years since my last pap smear & I need to come have one done. It’s not the pap smear I mind really- (not that it’s comfortable mind you- but at least I know I’m doing some thing good for myself) it’s the cost of the lab tests- last time I had it done it was $140. Just for the lab testing & they hounded me & harassed me- I paid them $10 a month until it was paid off & swore never again.

We got dinner out & brought it back to ‘the guys’ who stayed at home- after dinner 18-11 & I went back upstairs to finish 11’s room & it looks great now! While we were finishing up 8 came upstairs annoyed because a tv show wasn’t recording- it’s something we all like so 18 went to see why it wasn’t recording in her room & came back almost immediately to tell me to come quick- there was a tornado watch on our county!

It is amazing to see where you live marked in red for something like that- weak ass hurricanes is all we ever had in MA when I was growing up- really tornadoes are unusual here in the mountains though in the past 2-3 years there’s been at least one a year in the eastern parts of VA. We were definitely getting heavy thunder- lightning & rain - 8 came up & said there were small pieces of hail falling. We didn’t get any actual twisters but the wind did howl something fierce or awhile. (We never lost our satellite tv though & as far as I know 18’s BF didn’t have any trouble with the satellite internet either!)

While we were working on 11’s room 8 picked up his room & worked on the garage- 18’s BF gave him a hand on the garage a bit too. That just leaves the kitchen for me to tackle tomorrow - & of course I have 4 big baskets full of clean laundry to fold tonight- in order for the kitchen to be empty enough to rearrange tomorrow!

Grocery shopping tomorrow night - bleah- I’m getting quite tired of it- but there isn’t exactly any other way to get it done- maybe I’ll buy my meats locally though - they certainly are fresh!

So I went to work for overtime today- I could only get 3 hours in though- when I signed up the 1 pm to 2 pm block was already gone. When I asked my new supervisor (did I mention I changed ‘teams’ ? This group is in the building the same days I am - although they’re on a 8-430 5 days a week schedule.) about doing overtime she felt like she’d be able to sign me up for the full 4 hours for next week more easily than I could through the ‘overtime’ computer. I’m happy about that because although I don’t mind walking out the door at 1pm into bright sunshine if I’m going to drive 56+ roundtrip miles to work & back I want to be sure I have made enough money to cover the gas to do so easily.

Not a problem as far as my new supervisor is concerned. However- other things were not as wonderful on other work fronts- they’re opening the chat option that I’ve been doing for the last few months up to more people & because of that I have to interview for the position even though I already have it- it also may mean that I may have to change shifts yet again- if I pass the interview process it definitely means I’ll have to change desks again! I brought a bunch of my stuff home today in preparation for the moving around because I just changed desks Tuesday morning & decided I had entirely too much stuff at work.

The desk move has been good- I always feel disoriented after a desk move for about a week & it makes the days at work pass more quickly when I’m disoriented- I am not sure why that is but it is & I’m grateful for anything that helps to make the days pass quicker. Now that I’m with a supervisor every day again I’m sure I’ll have to behave myself better & not log out to pee so often (of course- when you’ve gotta go you’ve gotta go!)

When I was nearly ready to leave I snuck a peek at my cell phone & found I had 2 new messages- the first was the Doctor’s office reminding me that 11 & 18 have their final anti HPV shot tomorrow. And one from the ‘co-foreman’ of my construction site! When I called them back they scheduled an appointment to come do a site survey tomorrow morning ! I am so excited that it’s finally getting started & I get to meet the guys who are in charge of making my life a living Hell fixing the tree damage- the roof- the ceilings- the walls & the windows.

He- or they- more accurately- they- are coming tomorrow morning- as in as soon as they can get here from Roanoke- like 8:30 am! I’m not too thrilled about that part of it- but I am excited to be getting an idea of how much- how long- how many people etc. Are going to be involved in this - I was surprised that he said he was bringing shingle samples because I thought I had already chosen one- but I’m somewhat relieved that I get another choice- because I was so surprised last time that I don’t think I made the correct choice- of course being obsessive occasionally I realize that I’m likely to always think I made the wrong choice.

I’m also apprehensive about people being around on my roof & my kitchen- dining room & 18’s bedroom as much as they’re likely to be during this process. It certainly will be a challenge to deal with hammering- banging & the general chaos of repairs which will be with us for awhile. They’re supposed to re-paint my dining room & kitchen because of the ceiling replacement- I am going to have to insist on them matching the paint in the kitchen but I’m reconsidering my maroon plan for the dining room.

Someone was of the opinion that a pale butter yellow would go well in my dining room & as it has no windows to the outside- only 1 which looks into the garage & a door on each wall to the other rooms in the house I realize a light color really would be better than the dark color I had planned to paint it (I’ve had the paint under the benches which make up my seating for my dining room table for a couple of years now) I’ve painted in yellow before- we had at least 2 separate bathrooms while I was married to the ex which were yellow with bright sunflowers stenciled around the top of the room. If I have the contractors do yellow paint in my dining room I’d probably want to do the sunflowers.

I have issues with this though. I don’t think sunflowers are exactly apropriate in a dining room as I always think of a dining room as a formal room & sunflowers aren’t formal. However- nothing else about me or my house is formal in the least & of course my dining room is as informal as they come- after all- the computer is in here! On the flip side of that there is certainly a feeling of the need to have a room I like to be in since I spend an awful lot of time on the computer in here.

I have had my heart set on a dark red room with a fleur de lis stencil in gold (I have the paint & the stencil already- just waiting for me to get around to it) for years- ever since I read the first book I read by Judith Merkle Riley- The Oracle Glass- If you’re into the occult & don’t mind a book set in 17th century France it’s an excellent read & well worth the time to find it. (as are all her books- In my opinion) The protagonist in the book’s grandmother’s room was painted in this way & It just caught my imagination & I thought it would be an excellent way to paint a room. I’m not afraid of deep color in a room- my bedroom in the trailer was an excellent shade of blue. And in an apartment we had in Haverhill MA- The ex’s & my bedroom was a very dark purple (it looked lighter on the chip) That was the apartment that I tried to paint miss 18’s bedroom light blue & it came out looking more like the inside of a pool!

Another drawback to the maroon walls is I have never been able to decide what color the trim should be 18 says black but I think that would make it too oriental looking. White on the other hand would be crisp but maybe a little more country than French. I know the woodwork couldn’t stay the natural brown it is right now though & I don’t care at all for the white-cream-gray paneling which is here now. I don’t mind the paneling exactly only the fact that it shows everything & is marked- chipped & dirty. Yes I have cleaned it from time to time but with my kids- it gets dirty again so quickly!

So I’ve digressed again- not that anyone cares but the rest of my day consisted of picking up 18 from school- listening to her fuss about the school secretary (again) going to the Harvest Moon for Garlic & dealing with the post office issue. I’ve had a P.O. Box since we moved into this house- partly as a way to have an address to give to the ex so he wouldn’t have our home address- that point is moot now- he has been here multiple times & definitely knows where we live. The other reason was to have a safe secure place to have bills etc mailed to - since our mailbox doesn’t stay closed & the mail sits out there for hours on end most days- but credit companies insist you have your physical address on everything so it was a useless plan.

I decided that when the post office box was up for renewal we wouldn’t renew. So I had to go in & take care of getting the mail forwarded to the house. We ran a few more errands & came home where I made my chicken with garlic & red wine vinegar sauce for dinner with 11’s help. Laundry was attempted- the water is very low this week so it is with mixed emotions that I hear that we’re supposed to have scattered showers for the next 4 or 5 days. Because while I need water in the well to continue to wash clothes - I’d also like to get the wet clean clothes dry- the wind is whipping up as I type & the laundry on the line has only been there about 2 & 1/2 hours & so is nowhere near dry yet- it’s going to get a whole lot wetter before it does dry- it looks like now!

1. How many cell phones have you had? How long have you had your current cell phone number?
I have had 4 physical cell phones- all with the same provider & the same phone number- I got my first cell phone & the number I have now at the end of may 2005 - so nearly 3 years.

2. Where was the last place you had sex?
When would be the most interesting question- a depressingly long time ago. Where was at a ‘friend with benefits’ own personal dungeon. Other than sex but fairly fulfilling was about 4 to 6 weeks ago in a ‘friend’s’ car.

3. On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you with your love life? (1 is lowest, 10 is highest)
Not too good- especially this week-let’s say a 3.

4. Does Bliss sound like a fun game to you? Have you ever played it?
I couldn’t get enough info out of the link to say- I haven’t played it but I’m usually up for anything.
5. Is there anything or anyone you would be willing to die for?
Just my kids.

Bonus (as in optional): If you were (or had) a magic genie and could only grant wishes for others and you only had three left, what would they be and who would they be for?
1. My mother- that she would have all the money she needs to be comfortable & be able to enjoy her last years (She’s 70 you know) I’d want her to have enough for that trip to Russia she’s always wanted to take of course.
2. College educations & enough money for a good start in whatever all 3 of my kids chose to do with their lives.
3. Whatever it is that the ex & quite a few other people I know- who are never- ever happy- no matter what- need to be happy in their lives.  (my ex once told me - before we were married- should have been a clue- that he didn’t think he even knew what true happiness felt like)