Kitchen is now empty and new beam (see top) in.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thanksgiving and December
Andrea’s favorite holiday has come and gone, but we have some nice memories in its wake. Jack and I went to the home of Andrea’s cousin Susan Chadney for a big gathering (27?), and even Jack had fun despite there being no other kids. Thanks for that goes mostly to a very patient college freshman (Sam Gordon). On the way home Jack asked if he can go next year if Sam goes again. I think that can be arranged. Susan was nice enough to invite us back ahead of time, so it looks like we have a place to go. She has been on a course of chemotherapy, but showed no trace of her rigors and seems to be doing well. Andrea and I lived in her guest house for three years starting in late 1989, our first shared housing. I still remember how Andrea casually mentioned that Susan had a guest house for rent when we were driving nearby. I have lots of good memories of the time. Her “quiet” son Paul is now an attorney, very engaging and not particularly quiet, lol. Daughter Abby is a delight. She went from a teen whom I barely conversed with to a poised and professional woman (and new mom) I enjoy talking with. I just love it when things work out that way.
Big tables and big gatherings are fun, but because of arrival time or table seating or just proximity, some people get barely a hello. My ideal big dinner—in a house with enough room to move freely about the table—would have people changing places for each course. And a big buffet area to keep food hot…and someone to wash dishes afterwards.
--- Break / 5 am Monday ---
Can’t remember why I stopped writing, but I’ll pick up again.
It’s been cold this week and windy at times, but that clears the air and creates nice views from our house. I saw the ocean (at Long Beach) clearly for the first time yesterday, a gleaming band some 35 miles away and a lovely sight. I kick myself for not taking a photo. It’s still dark out this morning, but there is a twinkling band of lights visible from my vantage point in the living room. I downloaded a program yesterday on my phone that tells me I am 2057 feet above sea level, which accounts for the view.
Yes, our computer is in the living room. For now anyway. We’ll see what happens once the kitchen is remodeled. Maybe there will be room for a small office area. Work on the kitchen continues. I’m down to bare walls. Studs cross the room, but I’ll remove them when a new ceiling beam goes in. I hope to have demolition of all cabinets and counters finished this week, which means a fresh start from an empty room. I ordered the flooring (cork) and will get the cabinets soon, if all goes well. It rarely does, though, but I’ll get whatever help I need to finish, if it comes to that. I am getting help on the second floor addition. Currently that plan consists of a master bedroom and bath, a laundry room, a utility room (for A/C, heating and hot water) and another bedroom/storage room. Met with the designer and contractor a few days ago. By the time the design, review and permit approval process is complete, it will be April or May.
I’d hoped to begin sooner than that, but I’ll use the time to remodel the bathrooms and get the pool and pool plumbing re-done.
Jack has had a nice break, staying up late every day, playdates and plenty of time playing on the computer. He asked to stay up all night one night but I called the event off at midnight. The guy never gets tired. He was watching "Elf" tonight, keeping me posted on all the doings in the movie when I couldn't hear, pretending to sing some of the songs. It really is a fun movie, a Christmas Classic in its own right for us. Jack got his report card a couple days ago, and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't as good as it could be and was in the past. I think he needs to pay (better) attention in class. He's been pretty good in math before, but last night had difficulty making change for simple purchases, which surprised me. I guess I need to spend some extra time with him on homework. Sigh.
================= A week later
Long day. I did some ceiling demolition in the kitchen to access attic water lines, moved the hot and cold water plumbing lines, the gas line and hot water heater, hooked everything up again and it works, but one water connection is leaking. I'm not even going to fuss with it tonight, though. It's outside and isn't critical. I'm done.
Something unusual happend at mid-day. I was in the midst of work, very dirty and headed for OSH for some fittings when I got a call from a client I like who is a grief counselor at a local hospital. She asked if I could be at the hospital in 30 minutes for an interview on hospice care. Apparently the local ABC affiliate was preparing some stories around Elizabeth Edward's death. I was dirty and without running water at the house to clean up with, so of course I said "yes". Grabbed some water from a bucket, scrubbed my hands and nails and raced off. Sat for an interview for 20 minutes or so, then went back home to work. I figured I'd end up on the cutting room floor, but no, they actually aired some of it. Wish I had more practice doing interviews, though. I didn't see the piece until a few minutes ago. I'd recorded it on my DVR because getting water back on and Jack to chess class was more of a priority than sitting around wondering if I might make it on to the news.
I am working as much as I want to and a little more. I've had to do some jobs on weekends recently, which I prefer not to do. Just concentrating on the kitchen now. The cabinets (referred to earlier) are gone and a new pantry is framed in. Should get the pantry door today or tomorrow. I’ll post a few photos, maybe.
This post has taken longer than I thought, but better late than….
Sunday, September 26, 2010
MORE Changes...MORE Challenges
Hello, Friends.
If life IS change, then I'm looking forward to my afterlife!
Lots of changes lately, and they have been overwhelming, or nearly so. I have heard it said that moving is one of the most stressful things we go through in life, but that never had much reasonance for me, the guy who lived in a motorhome for four years and traipsed about with barely an address for years afterwards. I know the verity of that statement now. It was not so apparent to a younger man with few possessions and no wife, children or house. It is now. Even though I no longer have a wife, I have a lot of possessions gathered with her, and NOT having a wife is a type of burden now.
Let me set the stage. 6 am Sunday morning and dark, but warm. I don't think it got below 80 until midnight last night, and not a breeze to buy. Jack and I are in our new house, which does not have air conditioning so I have a fan blowing fiercely across the room. Our white brick house is on the side of a smallish mountain in La Crescenta in a nice neighborhood with great schools. It has a nice view, a pool, four small bedrooms and was built in a Modern style in 1952. The exterior and some interior walls are solid brick-not wood walls faced with brick. It also needs a lot of work. The pool needs resurfacing, the kitchen and two baths a total remodel. The steel casement windows need work and some other things, too. That's what I wanted, though, and now it's time to get to work. So much work needs to be done, and that's the overwhelming part. Where do I start, and what exactly do I do? I did not move everything in for a a couple reasons. First, there isn't enough room and second,the stuff would just be in the way if I re-do floors, which is in the cards (I plan to replace the carpet with wood floors). Decisions, decisions are coming at me fast.
Backing up a little, buying this house was a flat-out pain in the ass. I expect lenders to ask for all documents relating to financial status, but they asked for so much more. Every day. The fact that Jack and I have Social Security income because of Andrea's death led to a ridiculous train of requests for birth certificates, adoption paperwork, Social security award letters, requests for copies of documents from Social Security, requests for confidential Social Security codes, conversations with Social Security personnel in the loan officer's office, requests for letters from my CPA pertaining to this, visits to the local SS office and more. I was asked to find someone to lie about the roof and termite work done (virtually no termite damage was found, but water from a leaking shower pan "could" lead to something, so I had to rescind my waiver on this, originally granted because I planned to tear apart and re-do everything in the bathroom(s)anyway. Brokerage statements disappeared after faxing, then became out of date, necessitating re-sending. Insurance issues came up at the 11th hour, mistakes were made on paperwork that almost cost me $11k...and probably other things I can't remember right now, too. Issues I expected, like documenting income and a contentious bargaining process with the estate of the seller never appeared. So I guess it could have been worse, lol.
Anyway, we're in. The pool needs resurfacing, but Jack swam in it anyway. A neighbor with a boy his age appeared at our doorstep yesterday morning with muffins, and Jack swam at their house an hour later, which was nice. Met three other pleasant neighbors, all of whom who are thrilled that the previous owner's son and his "White Trash" crazy friends are gone. There are boxes of things to be put away, old carpet waiting for the trash collectors, empty boxes from ten new ceiling lights, empty boxes from moving...stuff. And if the normal process of starting mail forwarding, gas, water, electric, phone, cable, gardener, pool guy, paper, internet, etc wasn't an ordeal, it added to the stress level when combined with other things, like new school enrollment paperwork, new homework routines for Jack and a punctured water line that flooded the kitchen (the cable guy hit a water line in the wall). I also have clients and work to fit in, plus way too much stuff that isn't right stylisticly (sp?)for this house and needs to be sold. I have what amounts to three 10 x 10 storage units now that cost me $400 a month, so that needs to be paired down asap. More fun.
I didn't mention that I'm going to add a second floor, or at least a master suite with bath, laundry room and storage. More decisions there. Just a couple.
I'm sure it will all get worked out. Rome wasn't built in a day. Parts of Rome may look like that (my hometwon of Rome, NY), but they probably weren't. Incidentally, maybe one day I can add a few pictures from summer vacation in Rome and NY and Massachusetts.
All will yet be well. I think Abraham Lincoln said that, which is ironic. All may NOT be well, but I am proceeding on the assumption that it will be and trust that we can get through somehow if it isn't. If Life is Change and change is hard, then Life is...ah, it's not that bad. And Jack came in and kissed my head during the night so
I'm good for awhile. Hope you are, too.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Changes. Big Changes.
Hello Again.
So many things to write about I hardly know where to start. I'm writing this at 4 am at the home of a client and friend who is away with family for the month of August. Why are we not at home? Because I sold it. Escrow closed on July 30 and now a young couple with a 13-year-old daughter live there. They are happy to have the house, which makes me feel good. Fixing up the house, painting it, putting on a new roof (done by others), making all the repairs neccessary has been a strain. Moving was a bitch, too. So much stuff. I ended up renting a garage, two 10x10 storage spaces and used a third of Joyce's garage. All in all, I'd say the last three months were some of the most stressful in my life. Working on the fishing boat, sleeping six hours every other night was less stressful, believe it or not. So many decisions, things to do, indecision, questions, doubts, hard work, keeping Jack engaged and happy ..it all adds up (more about Jack later).
I did sell the house myself, thanks in part to a company which will put your house in the Multiple Listing Service for $99. I had consulted two realtors beforehand with the understanding that one of them would have the contract to sell the house if I could not in two weeks. So I had their input on price, which was very much in line with what I was thinking. In one case, the exact same price. I had a fair deal of interest right from the start and ended up accepting an offer $20k over asking two days after listing the place. Given the vagaries of the real estate market, the economy and quirky home loan situation, I accepted quickly and happily and continued to accept back-up offers. Knowing that so many people liked the house was gratifying, as I had changed every room in some way, sometimes with Andrea's input, but more often just her blessing.
I put in an offer on a house in La Crescenta which was accepted yesterday. It's in a nice location high in the hills, has a view and a pool. Jack is crazy about swimming, so I really wanted a house with a pool. The kitchen is a disaster, and the bathrooms need some work, as does the pool, but I hope to fix all that in the next year. My lender has okayed me for the money I seek, so I think everything is in order there, but I'm sure I will have to jump through a hoop or two. Plus we'll see how it appraises. Lots of work to do, and I will also have to pare down my possessions as this house has far less storage space. That could be a good thing, though. I'm not emotionally attached to that many possessions. I sold or gave away a ton of stuff at a big garage sale, too. It will be interesting. I'll post some pictures next month.
Before moving on to Jack, I'll briefly sum up our July vacation in Central New York and Massachusetts. The timing was awful, but mother has some dementia and not seeing her at this time was not an option. She was happy to us and accompany us to Rich's Island and sister Liz's "farm" in Western Massachusetts. Mother was usually in the moment--or seemed that way--but would forget a lot of whatever happened quickly. I shall never forget something that occurred on the night we ventured out by boat to brother Rich's island in the St. Lawrence River. We thought the rain had passed, so we started a fire for marshmallow roasting and general warmth, but soon the heavens let forth. We were caught in a downpour, and not well prepared. Our umbrellas turned inside out in the wind and we headed back to the mainland in a drenching rain. Mother laughed all the way. No complaints, no whining, just whoops of laughter every minute or so. Quintessential...Mother.
Jack was good, too, and did not complain about the rain. He got to swim and fish the next day, which was sunny and warm. He loved playing with French cousins Odile and Leonore while in Massachsetts. They are 7 and 5 (I think) and total dolls. In Rome he swam every day at the Y or a municipal wading pool across the street from mother's house. Jack travels well as long as he can have access to his DS and the hope of an occasional ice cream. I just loved traveling the back roads of New York and never tire of green vistas, small towns and farms. Not in a two-week period, anyway.
I did get to see old friend Dave Dick (now Dave Leigh)and went to the Floyd Firemen's Field Days with his wife and daughter, which was a treat. I had hoped to see others, and talked about a dinner with school friends, but the timing was not right this trip and I also returned a night earlier than expected. Dave was actually going to a memorial service for his Dad the night we left. His dad was a wonderful guy and I'm sorry to have missed the service. Mom June seems to be doing well. They were a wonderful, loving couple; great parents and great people whom I admired and who influenced me in many ways on the subject of love and marriage.
Jack is happily back in Y camp this summer, although next week he goes to Science Camp for a week. He is fine with the move, swims nightly at the home we are staying at for August and is his usual happy self. I think he will adjust to a new school just fine. He makes friends quickly. We can continue play dates with old friends, too, which will help the transition. I hope there's some kids in the new neighborhood to play with and will check with neighbors asap.
I have not had much of a social life lately, but I am catching up thanks to Match.com, which I strongly suspect works much better for middle-aged guys than middle-aged women.
Off to lunch, then to meet my real estate agent at the house for another visit and photos. I haven't covered all the ground of the last few months, but it's a start.
Best...
So many things to write about I hardly know where to start. I'm writing this at 4 am at the home of a client and friend who is away with family for the month of August. Why are we not at home? Because I sold it. Escrow closed on July 30 and now a young couple with a 13-year-old daughter live there. They are happy to have the house, which makes me feel good. Fixing up the house, painting it, putting on a new roof (done by others), making all the repairs neccessary has been a strain. Moving was a bitch, too. So much stuff. I ended up renting a garage, two 10x10 storage spaces and used a third of Joyce's garage. All in all, I'd say the last three months were some of the most stressful in my life. Working on the fishing boat, sleeping six hours every other night was less stressful, believe it or not. So many decisions, things to do, indecision, questions, doubts, hard work, keeping Jack engaged and happy ..it all adds up (more about Jack later).
I did sell the house myself, thanks in part to a company which will put your house in the Multiple Listing Service for $99. I had consulted two realtors beforehand with the understanding that one of them would have the contract to sell the house if I could not in two weeks. So I had their input on price, which was very much in line with what I was thinking. In one case, the exact same price. I had a fair deal of interest right from the start and ended up accepting an offer $20k over asking two days after listing the place. Given the vagaries of the real estate market, the economy and quirky home loan situation, I accepted quickly and happily and continued to accept back-up offers. Knowing that so many people liked the house was gratifying, as I had changed every room in some way, sometimes with Andrea's input, but more often just her blessing.
I put in an offer on a house in La Crescenta which was accepted yesterday. It's in a nice location high in the hills, has a view and a pool. Jack is crazy about swimming, so I really wanted a house with a pool. The kitchen is a disaster, and the bathrooms need some work, as does the pool, but I hope to fix all that in the next year. My lender has okayed me for the money I seek, so I think everything is in order there, but I'm sure I will have to jump through a hoop or two. Plus we'll see how it appraises. Lots of work to do, and I will also have to pare down my possessions as this house has far less storage space. That could be a good thing, though. I'm not emotionally attached to that many possessions. I sold or gave away a ton of stuff at a big garage sale, too. It will be interesting. I'll post some pictures next month.
Before moving on to Jack, I'll briefly sum up our July vacation in Central New York and Massachusetts. The timing was awful, but mother has some dementia and not seeing her at this time was not an option. She was happy to us and accompany us to Rich's Island and sister Liz's "farm" in Western Massachusetts. Mother was usually in the moment--or seemed that way--but would forget a lot of whatever happened quickly. I shall never forget something that occurred on the night we ventured out by boat to brother Rich's island in the St. Lawrence River. We thought the rain had passed, so we started a fire for marshmallow roasting and general warmth, but soon the heavens let forth. We were caught in a downpour, and not well prepared. Our umbrellas turned inside out in the wind and we headed back to the mainland in a drenching rain. Mother laughed all the way. No complaints, no whining, just whoops of laughter every minute or so. Quintessential...Mother.
Jack was good, too, and did not complain about the rain. He got to swim and fish the next day, which was sunny and warm. He loved playing with French cousins Odile and Leonore while in Massachsetts. They are 7 and 5 (I think) and total dolls. In Rome he swam every day at the Y or a municipal wading pool across the street from mother's house. Jack travels well as long as he can have access to his DS and the hope of an occasional ice cream. I just loved traveling the back roads of New York and never tire of green vistas, small towns and farms. Not in a two-week period, anyway.
I did get to see old friend Dave Dick (now Dave Leigh)and went to the Floyd Firemen's Field Days with his wife and daughter, which was a treat. I had hoped to see others, and talked about a dinner with school friends, but the timing was not right this trip and I also returned a night earlier than expected. Dave was actually going to a memorial service for his Dad the night we left. His dad was a wonderful guy and I'm sorry to have missed the service. Mom June seems to be doing well. They were a wonderful, loving couple; great parents and great people whom I admired and who influenced me in many ways on the subject of love and marriage.
Jack is happily back in Y camp this summer, although next week he goes to Science Camp for a week. He is fine with the move, swims nightly at the home we are staying at for August and is his usual happy self. I think he will adjust to a new school just fine. He makes friends quickly. We can continue play dates with old friends, too, which will help the transition. I hope there's some kids in the new neighborhood to play with and will check with neighbors asap.
I have not had much of a social life lately, but I am catching up thanks to Match.com, which I strongly suspect works much better for middle-aged guys than middle-aged women.
Off to lunch, then to meet my real estate agent at the house for another visit and photos. I haven't covered all the ground of the last few months, but it's a start.
Best...
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Life continues...
Hello, Friends.
My appearance on facebook was purely as a vehicle for dispersing news about Jack and me (mostly Jack), so I guess I better do something about that.
The kid who says “video games are MY world, daddy” is doing fine. I think. I can’t remember what conversation sparked that response, but I do remember the line. It was probably spoken in defense of MORE video game time (and less time doing homework and baths and reading). He does play a lot, but he still likes other activities as well, like Legos, word searches, and makebelieve this or that, so I’m concerned but not worried. I have had to take him with me on jobs in the last crazy-busy two months, and I’d hate to think how I’d deal without his Nintendo DS. I’m rationalizing, of course, so if one day Jack gets arrested for giving a ninja kick to an appliance repair person who ripped him off, well, it all goes back to me. Or my father. Yeah, HE’s the real culprit here. You see, when I was young…oh, never mind.
Jack’s report card came last week. He was performing at grade level or above in everything. Third grade reading level, for instance. Math was above grade level also. Dad is performing below grade level. I can’t even understand some of his homework instructions. I don’t blame his teacher as much as I blame the program she uses. I believe it was actually written by a foreigner whose first language is Cantonese. Anyway, perhaps the teacher graded a little easily in one area: reading comprehension. Jack knows the words but he doesn’t always understand what he’s reading. He races through a book without stopping to think about what he’s reading. Yet somehow he was marked above grade level there, when both his teacher and I know it’s an issue. Maybe the other kids are in the same boat?
I keep saying I’m going to write down the funny things Jack says, but generally I don’t. Here’s a few snippets of recent conversations I found amusing, though.
I had suggested to Jack that he use a dustpan to speed the clean up of his enormous (a bushel?) Lego collection sprawled out across the bedroom floor. “Too dirty” he said. I told him I’d wash it. “Too wet” he replied. So I offered to dry it off with the hair dryer. “Too hot” was his reply.
Jack remembers well the motel swimming pools from our drive to Albequrque a couple years ago. More so than the great scenery or Indian sites (I won’t say “Native American” because they don’t). He’s looking forward to something similar. I asked him where he wanted to go. “Maybe South Dakota” he said. Why? He didn’t know, but “maybe we could go to North Diego instead.”
Okay. So North Diego it is if I can find it on the map. Or maybe back to see Gramma in New York.
Today in Target I mollified my reluctant shopper with a container of Icebreakers at the checkout counter, though I extracted a promise not to whine anymore, and told him he couldn’t open the container until he finished his reading for the day and wrote in the class journal. He agreed, but then wanted to take the plastic off the container, “just to look”.
I said “no”.
The he said his legs were hungry for “icebergs”.
I said they’d have to wait. Then his fingers were hungry. “They need ten mints”.
Request denied. “My toes are hungry. My toes are going to die if they don’t get some icebergs.” “We’ll give them a nice funeral” I said.
“This is the worst day of my life”
Two weeks ago I went to the annual fundraiser for the foundation that helps buy things for Jack’s school. I lucked out and got seated at a table with four couples I like. Three have been to the house for dinner. Apparently someone worked behind the scenes setting that up. It was a wonderful event and I enjoyed the heightened sense of community engendered. Nice to see everyone dressed up, too. The master of ceremonies was Bill Dwyer, a comedian and sometimes game show host who lives in the neighborhood. I thought he did a great job, and it made me think of my own father, who sometimes acted as master of ceremonies for the annual Fireman’s Ball for local volunteer firefighters and a few other groups whom I don’t recall. That’s ironic, because my father was a stern man who could take people or leave them, and usually the latter. He was not funny to me at all. Not at all. I remember seeing a wartime (WWII) yearbook which included the faces of several hundred graduates of Army Officer’s School. Every man was smiling or looking happy. Everyone. With one exception. I did occasionally see him act gregariously with others, but it was a rare occasion.
Stopping here for tonight.
=======================
Starting again two days later
Jack bit his Nintendo DS last night. He showed me the bite marks. Very strange. He may have been frustrated by a malfunctioning screen, but I suspect that he got frustrated by a game, bit the DS and THEN the screen malfunctioned. Needless to say, Dad was very unhappy, and in this household, if Daddy ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. So. We had a “talk” and moved on. There will be no replacement for some time. His birthday is in May, but we’ll see.
I am almost done with two jobs that had me working 7 days a week, (two) apartment remodels and a housepainting job. I thought that if I hired a couple painters I know the housepainting job would be easy. It’s stucco, and in pretty good shape. The windows were not, though, and it took so much work. The lead painter is Mexican (and legal), and though his English seems pretty good, I realize now that he will say he understands things when he does not. It wasn’t an issue before, but maybe because other jobs were simpler. I suspect also that he is stubborn and does things his own way. Or only knows one way. He does a good job, but still, the process underscores my own weak management skills, which I haven’t used in years.
All this work is in addition to work for regular clients. I’m backed up two or three weeks. Jack gets off soon for Spring vacation. And I need to finish my own bathroom remodel and plan that Summer trip East and find time for some social life and clean the garage and house and get this house ready for sale in a few months and, and-- oh, the list is endless. I suppose yours is too. Well thanks for finding the time to read.
My appearance on facebook was purely as a vehicle for dispersing news about Jack and me (mostly Jack), so I guess I better do something about that.
The kid who says “video games are MY world, daddy” is doing fine. I think. I can’t remember what conversation sparked that response, but I do remember the line. It was probably spoken in defense of MORE video game time (and less time doing homework and baths and reading). He does play a lot, but he still likes other activities as well, like Legos, word searches, and makebelieve this or that, so I’m concerned but not worried. I have had to take him with me on jobs in the last crazy-busy two months, and I’d hate to think how I’d deal without his Nintendo DS. I’m rationalizing, of course, so if one day Jack gets arrested for giving a ninja kick to an appliance repair person who ripped him off, well, it all goes back to me. Or my father. Yeah, HE’s the real culprit here. You see, when I was young…oh, never mind.
Jack’s report card came last week. He was performing at grade level or above in everything. Third grade reading level, for instance. Math was above grade level also. Dad is performing below grade level. I can’t even understand some of his homework instructions. I don’t blame his teacher as much as I blame the program she uses. I believe it was actually written by a foreigner whose first language is Cantonese. Anyway, perhaps the teacher graded a little easily in one area: reading comprehension. Jack knows the words but he doesn’t always understand what he’s reading. He races through a book without stopping to think about what he’s reading. Yet somehow he was marked above grade level there, when both his teacher and I know it’s an issue. Maybe the other kids are in the same boat?
I keep saying I’m going to write down the funny things Jack says, but generally I don’t. Here’s a few snippets of recent conversations I found amusing, though.
I had suggested to Jack that he use a dustpan to speed the clean up of his enormous (a bushel?) Lego collection sprawled out across the bedroom floor. “Too dirty” he said. I told him I’d wash it. “Too wet” he replied. So I offered to dry it off with the hair dryer. “Too hot” was his reply.
Jack remembers well the motel swimming pools from our drive to Albequrque a couple years ago. More so than the great scenery or Indian sites (I won’t say “Native American” because they don’t). He’s looking forward to something similar. I asked him where he wanted to go. “Maybe South Dakota” he said. Why? He didn’t know, but “maybe we could go to North Diego instead.”
Okay. So North Diego it is if I can find it on the map. Or maybe back to see Gramma in New York.
Today in Target I mollified my reluctant shopper with a container of Icebreakers at the checkout counter, though I extracted a promise not to whine anymore, and told him he couldn’t open the container until he finished his reading for the day and wrote in the class journal. He agreed, but then wanted to take the plastic off the container, “just to look”.
I said “no”.
The he said his legs were hungry for “icebergs”.
I said they’d have to wait. Then his fingers were hungry. “They need ten mints”.
Request denied. “My toes are hungry. My toes are going to die if they don’t get some icebergs.” “We’ll give them a nice funeral” I said.
“This is the worst day of my life”
Two weeks ago I went to the annual fundraiser for the foundation that helps buy things for Jack’s school. I lucked out and got seated at a table with four couples I like. Three have been to the house for dinner. Apparently someone worked behind the scenes setting that up. It was a wonderful event and I enjoyed the heightened sense of community engendered. Nice to see everyone dressed up, too. The master of ceremonies was Bill Dwyer, a comedian and sometimes game show host who lives in the neighborhood. I thought he did a great job, and it made me think of my own father, who sometimes acted as master of ceremonies for the annual Fireman’s Ball for local volunteer firefighters and a few other groups whom I don’t recall. That’s ironic, because my father was a stern man who could take people or leave them, and usually the latter. He was not funny to me at all. Not at all. I remember seeing a wartime (WWII) yearbook which included the faces of several hundred graduates of Army Officer’s School. Every man was smiling or looking happy. Everyone. With one exception. I did occasionally see him act gregariously with others, but it was a rare occasion.
Stopping here for tonight.
=======================
Starting again two days later
Jack bit his Nintendo DS last night. He showed me the bite marks. Very strange. He may have been frustrated by a malfunctioning screen, but I suspect that he got frustrated by a game, bit the DS and THEN the screen malfunctioned. Needless to say, Dad was very unhappy, and in this household, if Daddy ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. So. We had a “talk” and moved on. There will be no replacement for some time. His birthday is in May, but we’ll see.
I am almost done with two jobs that had me working 7 days a week, (two) apartment remodels and a housepainting job. I thought that if I hired a couple painters I know the housepainting job would be easy. It’s stucco, and in pretty good shape. The windows were not, though, and it took so much work. The lead painter is Mexican (and legal), and though his English seems pretty good, I realize now that he will say he understands things when he does not. It wasn’t an issue before, but maybe because other jobs were simpler. I suspect also that he is stubborn and does things his own way. Or only knows one way. He does a good job, but still, the process underscores my own weak management skills, which I haven’t used in years.
All this work is in addition to work for regular clients. I’m backed up two or three weeks. Jack gets off soon for Spring vacation. And I need to finish my own bathroom remodel and plan that Summer trip East and find time for some social life and clean the garage and house and get this house ready for sale in a few months and, and-- oh, the list is endless. I suppose yours is too. Well thanks for finding the time to read.
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