It's always a possiblity. I know I have my place to stay in Burbank. And SW will fly me there for free.
Lemme see how its all going in South Bend. She will likely phone me tonight. Last year (and many years) I was there with her. Although we live far apart, we get together 3 or 4 times a year. She has been to the cottage. We go to Disney together (both Florida and California). I have even assumed her identity with her annual Cal pass (we're both blonde). OOPS - my bad! Ashley even went in as Kelsey (her son). She wore a baseball cap! HA!
They had miscalculated the amount of wallpaper. I knew it would cost about $400 (as it ended up) but it took 90 min for them to figure it out as $600 2 weeks ago. I knew they were wrong.
Sunny and warm. This girl needs to start packing up. I need to take my kitties and go home for a few days. The washing machine is not working and Ash and friends have got the hot tub really dirty (apparently). It will be work work work at home. Bills to pay. Hair to get cut. Stuff like that. But it needs to be done. Now, if only my kitties will be good l'il darlins in the car. Sometimes they sleep all the way. Sometimes they cry for 1/2 hour. They DO NOT like leaving the gazebo here.
One sunny minute I was sitting on the deck with my laptop and my lunch and the next minute the thunder cracked, the heavens opened and even hail started bouncing on the deck. I did a mad dash to gather kitties into carriers, grab one box of items - no clothes, no food and the garbage. And I ran out of the cottage. Of course once those most humid moments were over (and Ashley phoned me right in the middle of it when I had one calico in a carrier and one ragdoll in the gazebo) - the sun came out! YUCK!
Anyway, drive home was fairly uneventful. I dropped off the carpet and laminate samples and got my quote. Hmmm - much more than I had bargained for. Labour and taxes really add up. Oh well - I'm doing that flooring come hell or high water. (both are likely).
Ash had called to say the house might not be "just so". Ok, that put me in a bad mood. Didn't know what to expect...
Arrived home to perfect order. The house is spotless. Wonder why she even bothered with the phone call.
Ash has been moody and somewhat bitchy lately. Well, actually for a LONG time. She did invite me to lunch tommorrow in an earlier call this week. (I figured she was just in the mood for sushi and of course I will pay). But actually, she was in a good mood when I got home and actually open to chat.
Turns out she wants to take a break from her BF. Remember the one she wanted to move in with? Well, he has never been my fav, but I don't say much. Turns out she is finding him too immature and depressed. (I KNEW this). I am so glad I never said too much. Now she is comfortable talking to me about it.
I talked to her about always doing what is best for herself. Like me, she is very good at putting others ahead of herself. But this time is for her. To learn. To grow. To be free. She agreed.
So she is having some dilemmas right now but I feel like for a moment I have my daughter back. She is anxious to go out tonight. She has spent many evenings here watching Ryan. (Yes, she does get paid and yes she does have friends in and yes this is her choice). The nights she wants to go out my sis, Leenie looks after Ryan. It is a win win situation for all of us.
So, the house is still standing (there was that fire department call the 2nd night I was gone when the bbq caught fire but oh well). And clean. And I'm feeling really good about my home.
I am so anxious to get the work done on the cottage, though. I'm trying to find a new bathroom vanity before I go back on Tues. Seems like the thing to do while we're getting a new floor. Tommorrow is the day the retaining wall gets fixed. I won't be there to watch it. Oh yes - don't have to listen to the backhoe!
I'll be back in time for the flooring installation which apparently take 2 days! And they'll have my water off! But I need to be there so I guess I'll be camping with a basin and a port-a-potty. Good thing I own those things for the times when there is no water (like winter!)
I have so much going on. It is all good, though. I'm a happy Barbie.
Late night phone call from my friend. (the one who's son has been in so much trouble lately). Her son was taken into custody tonight. He has been working 2 jobs this summer and has been under house arrest. Well, he breached the terms of his parole when he stopped at McDonalds on his way home from work. Not sure if he will stay in jail or not. He has just turned 18.
My friend is beside herself again. I reminded her that she did everything she could to help, support and protect him. But he kept pushing the envelope. He knew the consequences. It was almost like he had to test them.
Congrats on the dance award. That's great about all of the estimates.
You must feel a sense of relief with your daughter. Looks like you handled it well. (I hate saying handled, but you know what I mean) Glad you are happy and having fun.
My friend called this morning and she was ok. Her son was released on bail again. But it gave her an opportunity to lay down the law again as he has been walking all over her. Now she can remind him that if he screws up - he goes to jail. And it is not her fault. I told her we'll go out on the w/e so she can have a break.
Ashley has been in a really good mood. And she is opening up to me. We had a lovely lunch out and great sushi. Her BF has promised to change (we know THAT story) and although reluctant, she is giving him some time to prove himself. I guess that is only fair.
Ryan was a bit under the weather today and his nurse announced that she is pregnant. His other nurse is away on her honeymoon. Guess we'll be hiring again soon. I hate when we have to - usually upsets the apple cart. It will be different this time, though, as they won't be coming through the house anymore - they can use the elevator! Unless you lived through this - you can't imagine the interruption to your life. Life is better now.
And I found the perfect bed and dresser for the cottage today as well as the desk of my dreams for my craft room. I had seen the desk many times but wouldn't pay the price. Well, today Pier One had all my fav pieces on half price. In addition, because I took the floor models - I got an additional 15% off! I brought home the desk and will have the bed delivered. It and the dresser (which I have to pick up out of town) are white wicker. I had already started adding white wicker pieces to the room. I have a white wicker armoire here to take up that has been taking up space in the basement. My dad agreed to come and pick up the furniture as he is driving his truck to his cottage this week. He will stop at my cottage and unload first. I was really lucky he agreed to do this since I had no other way to get the furniture up there. It is nearly 2 hours from my cottage to his cottage. My dad is a gem! He is driving my 2 nephews up north with him so it will be handy to have them help move the furniture too. My cottage keeps getting better and better! Won't that look nice with my nautical blue walls?
My dad has a doctor friend who lives in St Paul. He is one of Dad's 2 best friends. Today my dad got a call that it is all over the Internet that the dr was found lying upside down in his boat, dead. But it was the dr who called my dad. Talk about scarey - I'm glad Dad told me this before I read it. Turns out the dr and his family have a house full of flowers, cards and mourners. But he is ALIVE! It was a bit unsettling at first, he said but now he has decided to throw a "Resurrection" party for himself. I think its kind of neat in a morbid kind of way to see how many people really cared. This is an incredible dr who has been written up in Reader's Digest and at one time worked out of 7 hospitals in the Minneapolis/St Paul area. He was instrumental in finding help for me when Ryan got sick and even had us there for a couple of weeks of out patient clinics at Gillette Children's Hospital - trying to find ANYTHING that could help Ryan. He has even worked at the Mayo Clinic.
I am thrilled to be celebrating someone's life, not their death. I am going to find a "I'm glad you're alive" card somewhere or make one myself.
I tried to find the info on the accident but could not. Guess I didn't try hard enough. I'm wondering if someone stole his boat then crashed it. Will learn more later but in the meantime - this is a man whose life should be celebrated. 3 years ago he flew here for 3 days (in the midst of his busy dr life). Why? So he could spend those 3 days at the hospital with my Mom. He brought her the most exquisite sand art glass piece. She adored him. And I think she stayed alive knowing he was coming. He did not attend her funeral. His visit while she was alive meant so much more (to all of us really).
I'm SO excited about pulling my room together with the white wicker. Funny how every single piece in the room will have come from a different source yet it will all match so nicely.
Thanks - I'll go read. I care about Lib and wonder how she's doing. She is a fine woman.
Hope you have a great day!
I'm off to get my hair cut this morning. Reason to get up early.
BETHIE - are you out there? I have to tell you. I had a dream last night that I visited you at your home (which was lovely, BTW) and you were getting ready to drive me to the airport. Couldn't get rid of me fast enough I guess - LOL!
Hope it is a great day for all of you! Make it so.
Well, I've been running around like a crazy woman the past couple of days. Today will be no different. I got my white wicker wardrobe and new bed loaded into my dad's truck last night. I hope I can fit the dresser into my car. Along with Dad's lawnmower (which he had no room for) and my 2 cats. I don't care about taking anything else.
My new big desk arrived yesterday. I hadn't moved things in the craft room yet and wasn't home so asked them to put it at the top of the stairs. Now I have a HUGE problem. I can't move it! And it blocks the hallway. Might get my handyman to come, take it apart and move it. So much stuff going on.
Renos at the cottage. Handyman doesn't want to take out the vanity. Then he changed his mind. Then he changed it back again. I have one day to get that vanity out before the new floor goes in. I need to get on with it. Then I have to buy a new one.
Gonna have to come up with a name for you two rebellious blondes. LOL!