a little before and a little after part 2

These first two pictures speak for themselves.





The dining area....obviously.





Looking down from the master bedroom stairs.





Stairs to master.





The new railing.




The view into house from front door. The stone post you see was one of the two walls we tore down.





The back of the fireplace BEFORE chore time.





The basement still to come. This is exhausting.....

the custody agreement

Okay, I don't feel like before and after pics today. It's raining.

What? That doesn't make any sense??

Maybe next week, if the sun comes out I'll find my love of searching through itty bitty pictures and I'll post the rest. See now, it's lost it's zest for me, you know?

But here is my favourite before picture.



It is a picture mural on the far theatre wall. It was dressed on either side with some truly delicious nude coloured curtains. It was sad to see it go and for whatever reason it was the only 'thing' in the house in perfect condition.

Now it looks like this:


Less flare....sadly. But also, less distraction. It's a trade off, I guess.

So anyway..... moving on. Tomorrow is the big day. Number 16. Remember number 15? Good times.

All we have planned this year is dinner and a cheap movie and, in all honesty, I'm completely happy with that.

The other day we were reminiscing about when we were dating and we went into HMV to look at CD's. It almost seems unreal that there was a time when you had to physically get off your duff and go buy a cd.

Ohh, those 90's.

Anyhow...... we wanted to buy a Green Day CD and we actually had a conversation that included this sentence:

"Who gets it if we break up?"

We ended up buying two, we each paid for one and decided that we would each take one if we broke up. It only seemed fair that we each get custody of one.

Our custody arrangements now, 16 years later, have taken on a whole new meaning, youknowwhatimean?

Based on previous experience, am I to assume that since there are four children we would each get two? Because I'm pretty sure I know which two I'd take........

You still haven't answered my question. In fact the comment love around here lacks in a lugubrious way. Did I use that right? I have no idea how to use that word.

Where am I going for my anniversary dinner? Here's a hint:

meat

a little before and a little after, part 1

Every now and then I get an email from someone who wants to see some before and after pics of my house. I think you probably know which house I'm talking about.

Right?

Well..... if you don't then clearly you are not paying attention.

After I did the after pics I lost the before pics. So that's been a battle all on it's own. I found them finally so here goes........

Some of the after pics are dark, which is annoying but I'm not doing it again so suck it up princess.

The little brown house


otherwise known as Willacy.



It's a little blurry. Sorry.

The master before........







The master after.......






We added an ensuite in the master. This did not exist before so there are no before pics....capiche?





It's hard to get in there with a camera. It isn't a huge bathroom but it's a bathroom and sometimes, at 4 am, that's all that matters.

The kitchen. Dun dun dun......





And after, they're dark. iphones are just not that wicked.






We knocked out two walls to make it open concept.





That's all for now. I'll post the rest tomorrow.

Guess where I'm going for my anniversary dinner? Can't wait........

swedish fish and the eff word

This is my anniversary week. On Friday we celebrate 16 years of marital bliss. And it has been bliss. I have been the luckiest in love in the history of people feeling lucky in love. Our marriage has been easy.

Easy peasey, I say.

He isn't the most romantic guy I've ever met, although he seduced me with pretend romance whilst dating. Mean trick. Not nice. Roses weekly until marriage and then poof...... nothing.

No love letters, not like my ex-boyfriend. He wrote me love letters. Left them around and such. Even stomped a little love in the snow for me to read on my way to the car.

The man does sometimes whisper sweet nothings. I like sweet nothings.

He likes to make bets. As inappropriate as they may be on occasion. He thinks I'm wrong about stuff and when I'm right he says "you were right. You are always right."

He's right.

A few weeks ago we took Holden to see Thor for his treat night. Thor is rated PG-13 which means it CAN have one F word. The man asked on the way what it was rated, I told him, he said it would have an F word and I said it would not.

The convo went a little something like this.

me: "It's rated PG-13."

him: "Well then it has an F word in it. We shouldn't take Holden" (Holden is 8)

me: "That just means it can have one F word. Thor won't have an F word because it's sort of a kids movie. Plus, they didn't say the F word back in the olden days."

The olden days of Thor.

him: "Then why would it be rated PG-13?"

me: "Cause, it's got fighting and stuff....."

him: "Nuh uh. It's got an F word."

me: "No, it doesn't. That's ridiculous."

This went on in this fashion until he said: "Wanna make a bet?"

me: "yep." Sometimes I get cocky.

I won't divulge here what he wanted if he won the bet. Like I said, inappropriate. I think deep down he knows he's wrong so he goes down fighting.

Me, on the other hand, I'm no fool. I asked for dinner made and cleaned up the next day. The menu had already been shopped for and planned, and it was fancy.

So, did Thor have an F word?

Nope. No siree bob. It did not have an F word and I ate well the next day, thank you very much!

The three of us snacked on these during Thor........



which just so happen to be the man's favourite treat. And just so you know, the only fish I'll eat.

another random thursday think

It's Thursday, right?

As I ponder what to write about my anxiety ridden mind can't settle on any one thing. A plethora of thoughts crowd my mind and I wonder, as I have for days now, what is wrong with me. Yesterday I mentioned on facebook that I was feeling crummy when a friend mentioned that she was as well. Then another friend suggested I go get my hormones checked since I'm getting OLDer now it is quite possible that my body is telling me something. And she's right because if anyones body is going to tell them something via annoying physical ailments, it'll be mine.

Yes it will.

I thought about this for some time. I thought maybe I should go see my doctor who happened to change her name at the same time she changed locations. Interesting. I haven't seen her in at least 18 months. It might just be time to shoot the breeze with Joan. And maybe mention that I want her to find my mojo and return it to me.

Plus, I need a pap smear. Was that uncalled for?

So I made an appointment for next Tuesday. The receptionist asked me where I've been and I said I've been healthy. She said it would be good to see me again. And then I thought to myself why oh why do they know me so well when I frequent their establishment but once every two years? Anyway......

Last night as I was getting ready for bed and entertaining thoughts as to whether or not to tell the man I think I'm dying of a mood altering cancer it occurred to me to check the calendar. So I did.

10 days until youknowwhat comes to town.

Nope, not talking about it.

But all of a sudden it all makes sense. Out come the happy pills. Give me a couple of days. Good thing I figured it out though because the shudders of anxiety I experienced at 4 this morning would have scared me to death.

So yesterday when I went to pick up Amelia, the teacher asked me to stay and have a chat for a bit.

Uh oh..... What on earth has my perfect kinder done now? (kinder, as in kindergarten student. Not kinder, as in nicer than me)

Apparently, she refuses to do her "must-do" work. She has no problem getting into play time. Well, duh. But must do stuff? No way, no how, she ain't doin' it.



Nuh uh, this little piece of perfection? I'm not buying it!

Yes I am. I'm totally buying it. After this little meeting I felt inspired to call the man and inform him that his last spawn has created a meeting with the powers that be in regards to her kinder performance and that he should be so proud that his unique kinder hating gene has been passed successfully into at least one of our children.

He laughed. Naturally.....

While I was writing this a giant thump was heard at my window. So giant was it that I jumped and may have said a less than good word. I went to the window in fear of what I would see and low and behold my fears were justified. A little birdie lay twitching on the earth.

What came next I won't say because I am less than proud of how I carried on. But by the time I got my camera and returned it looked like this:



He seems to have pulled himself together somewhat. However, he is still there.

I have to read The Forgotten Garden for book club this month and I was waiting, sort of impatient-like, for it to come into the library. Last Saturday, whilst I was perusing the book aisle at Costco with the man during our little stay-cation, I saw it and for $9.99 I thought my waiting could be over if I just purchased it. So I did.

It came into the library today.

Of course it did.

So today I finish The Lonely Polygamist which I loved loved loved despite the fact that it gave me horrible polygamy dreams. I will start The Forgotten Garden, which I now own, and it will most likely take me a million months to read because my mojo died and I have lost my love of putting forth any amount of energy that might exceed the amount required to watch Friday Night Lights and drink Diet Pepsi.

That blasted bird is still there...... I wish Rhonda was here. She'd know what to do and then she'd probably do it for me.

the skinny on stay-cations

Mon May 30 4.1 on couch to 10k program = 4.06 miles
Tues May 31 35 min powerwalk 1.88 miles
Wed June 1 4.2 on couch to 10k = 3.05 miles


So here's the problem. I'm an idiot. I let sugar sweet talk me. It beguiled me with its wicked ways. Day after day it was slipping in through the crack between my lips. A little here, a little there. I was sleeping great but everyday was a gamble and everyday I took the bet. For whatever reason I allowed the gambling to continue knowing full well the gambler is an addict.

I should be arrested and thrown into the sugar enabling clink!

I was getting my exercise in last week and feeling a little off kilter. I wasn't eating well and therefore felt the need to exercise like crazy but I was feeling icky so it was hard. A vicious cycle, you know? I knew it was because I forgot what fruit was but remembered all to well who the cookie was. And the cupcake. Tuesday night I woke just after 4 and tossed and turned. Uh oh, I thought. Get it together you moron, before it's too late. Wednesday I ate lots of sugar. Why?? Well now.... that is just a really superb question.

Wednesday night I woke at 4:08 and did not go back to sleep at all. Thursday I ate 2 Crave cupcakes. What is wrong with me?Thursday night I took 4 melatonin and went to sleep. I woke at 2:30 am and was done for. "No more sleep for you!" (that was for all you Seinfeld lovers and I clearly changed a word.....)

Anyway, Friday I was down right ticked off at myself so I quit the sugar right then and there. I didn't want to though because it was the beginning of the man's and my little stay-cation. You know..... where I ship the kids off for 48 hours and enjoy my own home with my own man. It was just like being newlyweds only better.

* wink wink *

I wanted to eat sugar all weekend, which is why I didn't bother giving it up during the past week. And then I had to decide if I wanted to eat garbage or sleep.

No brainer. Apparently, after being awake for 24 hours this is a no brainer. Until then, though, I can't make this decision to save my life.... or my sleep.

Hi, my name is Catherine and today I celebrate 3 days sugar sober.

I finally just stopped hearing my heart beating last night. And I slept. My heart really hates the sugar. Really really despises it.

I have googled and googled and googled some more anything I can find out about sugar and insomnia. I have been only slightly satisfied with what I have found. It just doesn't seem real to me. It doesn't seem possible that anyone can have such a delicate reaction to sugar. I feel l like I might be making it up. And then I eat it for days on end and I stop sleeping. I definitely am not making that up at 4 o'clock in the morning.

Dear sugar,

I can't see you anymore. It isn't you, it's me. Actually it's you and me. We are no good together.

Yours sadly,

Catherine

It is a very wretched thing. (If I didn't have a thing against sideways punctuation faces I would insert the sideways sad face right here.)

Good bye old friend.

Oh............ and stay-cations are the B.O.M.B!

'nuff said. (sideways winky face)

a random thursday think

Just a couple of items of business on this Thursday morning. No biggie or anything.

- it has been brought to my attention that this month twenty years ago I graduated from high school. It seems to me that the math on this is just simply wrong. There is no way it has been 20 years. There is just. no. way.

- my children are going away tomorrow for two sleeps to their auntie's house. I do not know why, but my level of excitement over this equals that only to a trip to disneyland.

- I went to my last kindergarten butterfly celebration yesterday. I seriously do not understand what genetic makeup would be required for a person to want to teach kindergarten. Five years olds are cute, no question. But 55 five year olds fighting over who gets to let the butterflies go and who gets the orange popsicles is not cute. Knowwhatimean?

My 5 year old is cute though. Seriously cute.









This is the flower she planted her 'very own self'. They asked Walmart to donate each one of them a flower so they could give the butterflies somewhere beautiful to live. She was very proud of her little fleur.








and finally........... sweetness.



We are almost done with kindergarten forever. Sigh......