Today is Keith's birthday. Despite the fact that I have no kitchen, I'm having family over tonight for a little something to eat and some cake. Normally I would cook all day, making a meal and appetizers, but since I can't, I'm ordering in. Chinese food and ice cream cake. I only have to worry about my dad and afro, since neither of them likes Chinese food. I'll throw a couple of burgers on the grill for them.
There are actually workers here today, working on the kitchen. Electricians and cabinet guys. The cabinet guys pulled out my island, and took the dishwasher out....you should have seen the crap on the floor under there. I was mortified. They said, "Don't worry, they all look like that." Tomorrow the plumbers come back, then Keith can insulate. Next week the dry wall guy is coming. After that, it should go quickly. The stone mason came yesterday and he should be calling early this week with a price on a slate floor. I hope it's in the budget, because I have my heart set on slate now.
We went to this discount home supply place on Saturday and found a Jacuzzi brand toilet and pedestal sink for the basement bathroom. $250 for the set. That's quite a deal!! That's me, I'm all about saving the money ~~0~~0~~!
I got the kids' report cards last week. JJ had mostly B's, an A or two and one C. Braden had all B's, and two A's. Pretty good, especially since Braden's 3rd marking period report card was all C's and D's. I never thought I'd have a kid who got D's on his report card. I was always A's and B's. I'm proud of both of them!
On Saturday I have to call the passport agency to make an appointment to get JJ's passport. Rono was in the shelf the other night, and he said he applied for an expedited one, and got it within two weeks, so I have some hope.
That's it for now from boring housewife land.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
"Bad luck, it's what you got, it's what you got..."
I am so terribly stressed. It's absolutely ridiculous.
My kitchen has sat for a week without one thing being done to it. The plumbers came two weeks ago and did what they had to do.....completely wrong! So, we can't do anything else until they come back and fix what they screwed up. And, because they won't be getting paid to repair their own error, I know we're at the bottom of their to-do list. I've decided to go with a real slate flooring instead of something that just looks like slate. The price is almost the same, so why go imitation?
Now, as for our vacation. What a total fucking mess. I thought that since I didn't get JJ's birth certificate until four weeks before we left, the only way to get it in time was to go in person and apply and pay for an expedited passport. I called the passport office (After trying five separate times, and waiting on hold for over an hour I got to actually speak with a live person) and they said that I can't apply for his passport, his legal guardian has to. That would be DHS. I'm still trying to get ahold of them. Also, the passport guy told me that even going in person isn't going to guarantee a passport, or even that it will be processed enough to print out the statement on line that is supposedly all you need until September. He recommended a Passport Expediting Company. There aren't any listed in the phone book, and there are a lot on line, but how do I know if it's legit? They all seem legit (said the senior citizen as she was emptying her bank account). I'm worried that I'll send his birth certificate, and all the other documentation in and they'll cash my check and laugh. Then I'm really screwed, because I don't have another birth certificate. I called my local congressman, who referred me to my state senator, to see if they could tell me of a legitmate expediter, I'm waiting for his call back. We're leaving in three weeks. This is never going to come all together. Why didn't the Children's Home, back in December when we started talking about this trip, tell us that we could run into these problems? We never would have booked it. We would have kept it to somewhere in the United States.
If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all.
My kitchen has sat for a week without one thing being done to it. The plumbers came two weeks ago and did what they had to do.....completely wrong! So, we can't do anything else until they come back and fix what they screwed up. And, because they won't be getting paid to repair their own error, I know we're at the bottom of their to-do list. I've decided to go with a real slate flooring instead of something that just looks like slate. The price is almost the same, so why go imitation?
Now, as for our vacation. What a total fucking mess. I thought that since I didn't get JJ's birth certificate until four weeks before we left, the only way to get it in time was to go in person and apply and pay for an expedited passport. I called the passport office (After trying five separate times, and waiting on hold for over an hour I got to actually speak with a live person) and they said that I can't apply for his passport, his legal guardian has to. That would be DHS. I'm still trying to get ahold of them. Also, the passport guy told me that even going in person isn't going to guarantee a passport, or even that it will be processed enough to print out the statement on line that is supposedly all you need until September. He recommended a Passport Expediting Company. There aren't any listed in the phone book, and there are a lot on line, but how do I know if it's legit? They all seem legit (said the senior citizen as she was emptying her bank account). I'm worried that I'll send his birth certificate, and all the other documentation in and they'll cash my check and laugh. Then I'm really screwed, because I don't have another birth certificate. I called my local congressman, who referred me to my state senator, to see if they could tell me of a legitmate expediter, I'm waiting for his call back. We're leaving in three weeks. This is never going to come all together. Why didn't the Children's Home, back in December when we started talking about this trip, tell us that we could run into these problems? We never would have booked it. We would have kept it to somewhere in the United States.
If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
"If I could turn back time..."
You know, most of the time I'm fairly content with my life. Most of the time. But there are other times when I think there has to be a mistake somewhere.
A lot of times I think I was supposed to be a man. I'm not really sentimental - I don't go for greeting cards and remember anniversaries, I don't want to cuddle after sex, I don't like a lot of small talk...the things men are stereotypically accused of. But then, I love clothes and makeup, so, I guess I am not supposed to be a man.
Today was my last day of work for this school year. A good majority of the staff went out for a couple of drinks after work. We were having such a great time, I was laughing and laughing. My cheeks hurt a couple of times. It was a really, really good time. But, it was also Braden's last day of school, hence his last day of school party. I had to leave because Keith was stuck home alone with 40 13 year olds (and not because Keith said I had to, just because it wouldn't be fair to be out enjoying myself while Keith was trying to keep an eye on all those kids by himself). As I was leaving, I had this overwhelming feeling of resentment. I don't want to be 45 years old. This must be some sort of mistake. I can't be 45 years old. I'm young. I don't want to be married with kids and a mortgage. I want to be 25 with my own cute little apartment. I don't want to chaperone parties, I want to be at a party. I was in a real funk for a couple of hours. I'm tired of being old. I want to be young and carefree. I want to stay out too late, not be in bed by ten every night. I want to not check the pantry and refrigerator before I go to the store, shit, I don't even want to have a pantry. I want to wear a skimpy shirt, not something that covers as much of me as possible.
I'm sure I'll be over it by tomorrow.
I hope I'm over it by tomorrow.
A lot of times I think I was supposed to be a man. I'm not really sentimental - I don't go for greeting cards and remember anniversaries, I don't want to cuddle after sex, I don't like a lot of small talk...the things men are stereotypically accused of. But then, I love clothes and makeup, so, I guess I am not supposed to be a man.
Today was my last day of work for this school year. A good majority of the staff went out for a couple of drinks after work. We were having such a great time, I was laughing and laughing. My cheeks hurt a couple of times. It was a really, really good time. But, it was also Braden's last day of school, hence his last day of school party. I had to leave because Keith was stuck home alone with 40 13 year olds (and not because Keith said I had to, just because it wouldn't be fair to be out enjoying myself while Keith was trying to keep an eye on all those kids by himself). As I was leaving, I had this overwhelming feeling of resentment. I don't want to be 45 years old. This must be some sort of mistake. I can't be 45 years old. I'm young. I don't want to be married with kids and a mortgage. I want to be 25 with my own cute little apartment. I don't want to chaperone parties, I want to be at a party. I was in a real funk for a couple of hours. I'm tired of being old. I want to be young and carefree. I want to stay out too late, not be in bed by ten every night. I want to not check the pantry and refrigerator before I go to the store, shit, I don't even want to have a pantry. I want to wear a skimpy shirt, not something that covers as much of me as possible.
I'm sure I'll be over it by tomorrow.
I hope I'm over it by tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Time flies when you're having fun. Or chaos.
Wow! It has been a while since I updated. Things are really crazy around here. My old kitchen is completely ripped out, and the addition is on. Well, there are walls, a roof and a sub-floor. The electrician and plumber have to come. Then Keith's putting in the insulation. Then the dry-wall guy. Then I have to paint. I'm thinking some type of golden color. Then the cabinets have to go in. (Actually, the cabinets have to be built, but hopefully that will happen while the wiring/plumbing is being done) I'm reusing the cabinets I already have, which are cherry with this greyish pickled oak insets. I think the new cabinets that will go in the island, and the desk I'm having built will be out of the pickled oak. Then we have to get the floors installed. So, I should have a kitchen in about a month. I hope it's not longer than that.
I've run into an aesthetic problem. They had to put a support beam in since the wall we took down was a load bearing wall. The problem is that the beam runs diagonally through the island where the sink is. It screws up what I wanted to do with the lighting, and the general look I was going for. I'm assured that once it's drywalled, and painted to match the ceiling it won't be that noticeable, but I have my doubts. Also, I can't decide on a floor. I want something that looks like a tuscan slate...with the greens, oranges and greys. We can't afford genuine slate, and I can't decide if I want a laminate or a tile product. I'm going to have to decide quickly.
School's winding down for everyone. JJ's last day is Monday, Braden and I on Wednesday. Braden is planning on having his annual last day of school swim party. That should go swimmingly (pardon the pun) since I don't have a kitchen.
I DID just finish reading "The Other Boleyn Girl". I really liked it and now I feel like I need more information on Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII.
We finally got JJ's birth certificate and permission for him to go with us. What a hassle all that was. Now I have to get him a passport. I know I'm going to have to go to Philly and apply for an expedited one in person, but I can't seem to find out if I am allowed to do this. I mean, will the agency let me apply for it, or do I have to have someone from the Children's Home or DHS apply for it? I wish I would have realized all this before we booked the trip. We have a month to get everything in order, and sometimes I doubt it will happen. Keep your fingers crossed. Well, keep them crossed twice. Once for this, and once for a speedy kitchen remodel.
I've run into an aesthetic problem. They had to put a support beam in since the wall we took down was a load bearing wall. The problem is that the beam runs diagonally through the island where the sink is. It screws up what I wanted to do with the lighting, and the general look I was going for. I'm assured that once it's drywalled, and painted to match the ceiling it won't be that noticeable, but I have my doubts. Also, I can't decide on a floor. I want something that looks like a tuscan slate...with the greens, oranges and greys. We can't afford genuine slate, and I can't decide if I want a laminate or a tile product. I'm going to have to decide quickly.
School's winding down for everyone. JJ's last day is Monday, Braden and I on Wednesday. Braden is planning on having his annual last day of school swim party. That should go swimmingly (pardon the pun) since I don't have a kitchen.
I DID just finish reading "The Other Boleyn Girl". I really liked it and now I feel like I need more information on Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII.
We finally got JJ's birth certificate and permission for him to go with us. What a hassle all that was. Now I have to get him a passport. I know I'm going to have to go to Philly and apply for an expedited one in person, but I can't seem to find out if I am allowed to do this. I mean, will the agency let me apply for it, or do I have to have someone from the Children's Home or DHS apply for it? I wish I would have realized all this before we booked the trip. We have a month to get everything in order, and sometimes I doubt it will happen. Keep your fingers crossed. Well, keep them crossed twice. Once for this, and once for a speedy kitchen remodel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)