What a weekend it was...

Friday I took Victoria to tennis lessons and then headed over to Marilyn's new house. She insisted that it be thoroughly cleaned before she moved anything in. I know if it were me, I would just move into that house and worry about the cleaning later - if I ever got around to it. We purchased some cleaning supplies and went to work in 90 something percent humidity, temperatures in the 80's and no air conditioning on in the house. I swept the trim all over the house, and the window sills, and the shelves in the closets, the basement steps, and the trim going upstairs. Marilyn washed the windows and used dusting/polishing wipes on all of the trim. She also cleaned the fans and the bathroom. I sweated so much that my panties were sticking to me. I used my shirt to wipe drips of sweat off of my face and neck. Ugh! I am so not used to sweating. After eating a delicious Caesar salad for dinner at her apartment, we moved boxes into her house. We had to go up and down the steps of the apartment building a few times which induced more sweating. I arrived home at 10:00pm - exhausted.

Saturday morning Craig and I arrived at Marilyn's apartment at 10:30am to join the rest of the moving crew. In an attempt to keep Marilyn's parents from making a zillion trips up and down the apartment stairs, I started carrying lighter things to the bottom of the stairs for them to put in cars. I took some mirrors and shelves off the wall and took drawers out of dressers. Day two of being a sweaty mess had begun. When we took a break, I ate an ENTIRE foot long sub. Explains my round belly doesn't it? Craig and I left the new house around 3:00pm.

The next project was for my dad. We worked on landscaping at my parents' house. Craig dug up myrtle plants from one area and I planted them around trees in the yard. I think we worked for three hours there. Oh my aching body! I am so out of shape. After that long day of physical labor we went out in the boat and jumped into the lake to cool down and relax.

Sunday morning we went to church. I did some laundry. I read articles and watched DVD's for school. I took a nap. We made the hour drive to pick Victoria up from Biomom's house. Then I set to work writing a lesson plan and a paper for my class. I finished submitting the paper online at 1:00am. My normal bed time is 9:00 or 10:00pm, but sometimes during the summer I stay up until 11:00. This morning I slept until 8:30am. I never sleep that late. I have a list of things to get done today, but no car - which may be another story in itself. Let's just say that I am feeling frustrated.

Breaking the rule of location, location, location

My grandfather and uncle were both owned real estate companies. They always told me it is better to buy the crappiest house in a nice neighborhood, rather than the nicest house in a crappy neighborhood. When you have a nice house in the bad neighborhood, the surrounding area brings down the value of your home. When you have the worst house in the good neighborhood, the surrounding area brings up the value of the home, and if you fix it up, the value goes up even more.

Now that Craig and I are fixing up our house, we are so breaking that rule. Rental houses surround us and they are not all well-kept. Two houses down is a real dive, complete with windows covered with plastic, overgrown bushes, trees growing in the gutters, peeling paint, and junk cars in the driveway. It is a real eye-sore. The exterior of our home has been given a major upgrade. The inside is well on its way to being nice. We have to stay here a long time. Between the horrible economy and the decaying neighborhood, our house isn't worth as much as it was 5 years ago. I just keep reminding myself that it is a home I can afford, and we will never be homeless. Sorry Grandpa, I listened, but your advice didn't work out too well for me.

Reading for fun

I haven't allowed myself to read a book for pleasure, since I don't know when. Once I get started reading a good book, I cannot stop. All self-control goes right out the window. Who am I kidding? I don't have any self-control. Anyhow, with classes for my master's degree, and lesson plans to write for summer school, and the book my counselor has me reading, I decided that there just isn't time for fun reading. Yesterday I slipped up and allowed myself to crack open a book by Nora Roberts that one of my girlfriends gave me last week. It is called Morrigan's Cross, and it is a vampire story. It has romance, and magic, and time-travel, and I am a goner. I don't know how I am going to get any work done with that darned book tempting me at every turn. Even worse - it is the first in a trilogy and my friend gave me all three books.

Summer school is looming ahead...

July 20th I start teaching summer school.
Haven't made a single lesson plan.
Meet with my teaching partner today.
Have an assignment due tonight in my online class.
Help my bff move into her new house Saturday.
Have two papers due Sunday.
Have three assignments due each week for the next two years.
I need to plan some fun activities between August 9th and August 18th, because the first teacher day is August 19th.
Summer vacation is flying by and I am helpless to stop it.
I need a longer break!
I know, I am being a whiner.
Forgive me.

Polish Funeral = Food

After the funeral today we had dinner at the VFW hall. The meal included roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, chicken, polish sausage and sauerkraut, salad, bread and butter, green beans, and ice cream with chocolate syrup for dessert. I ate some of everything - except the mashed potatoes. Four hours later I am still full, but in serious need of coffee.

I have a coffee dilemma. Yesterday I broke my coffee pot into 100 pieces. This morning when I got up the motel didn't have flavored creamer. We walked across the street to the golden arches where I ordered a latte. They didn't have lattes there and no flavored creamer for their coffee either. AHHHH! I seriously need to go buy a latte so I can do my school work. I am two days behind in my class and have to start planning for summer school. I must stay awake. Either I am going to buy a new coffee pot, or I am driving to the nearest big M in the sky to get my coffee fix.

Summer has returned

After a week of clouds, drizzle and cool temperatures, summer has finally returned. Today I worked in the nursery with adorable babies and when I came home one of our friends stopped by on his Harley and gave me a short ride. Sunny skies, gentle breeze, temperature of 80 is perfect for a motorcycle. It is also perfect for the boat. Craig and Marilyn and I went out on the pontoon boat for a few hours this afternoon. It was AHHHHHH - perfect. Dinner consisted of grilled BBQ pork chops, corn on the cob, and mozzarella sticks. I fed the koi and watched them pig out as my food started digesting. Craig and I went out for ice cream this evening - after he washed, waxed and cleaned out our car. Now I am packing for a short trip to Chicago. Craig's uncle died so we are going to the viewing and funeral. I cannot say it is a joyous occasion, but it is always nice to see his Chicago relatives.

Happy Fourth of July!

Just want to say...

that I made it through counseling without shedding a single tear yesterday. I felt good about that - like I can continue going and not be an emotional wreck every time. I go again in two weeks, and so does Craig.

I had a big "sex talk" with Drew. I know he is madly in love with Merri and I am worried about what they are doing. He was a little embarrassed, but still swears that he is going to wait until he is married. I told him that I really pray that he does, but if he decides not to- please don't be too shy to tell me. I want to do everything I can to make sure I am not a grandma for several more years. He actually gave me a big hug when we got done talking. I hope that is a good sign.

I went to see Marilyn a few nights ago and I went out to lunch with my friend Dawn today. Craig didn't call me once, or grill me with questions, or pout, or sulk. What a relief! It is a good day despite the gloomy weather.