Scary medicine

This scares me.

Loser says what?

I just arrived at work. I went directly to my bike bag to retrieve my keys. The keys are not in my bike bag. I reach for my knapsack and do another search in the side pockets. Sure enough, the bloody keys are exactly where they should be! I had the keys the whole time I was 'locked out' last night! They had tucked themselves down into the pocket, passed two girlie hair things and a butterfly paper clip.

not like when I was a kid

Several times when I was a kid (and by 'kid' I mean teenager), I'd forget my keys to the house. I had usually left them in the house without knowing it. I would arrive on the doorstep of my parents' house after school and start digging through my bag, sometimes emptying all the contents before resigning myself. I'd end up across the street at the neighbours'. A few times I was able to slide open the window to my parents' room and climb in. You should be impressed - my parents' room was on the second floor. One time I wasn't so successful and the entire window crashed in. Not such a happy evening for 2D Girl.

Tonight, when I was about 100 yards from my front doorstep, I realized that I'd left my keys in my bike bag at work. I turned around and walked to the park. I called Hubby to let him know. I sat on a bench until I was too chilly and then walked to the Bistro for an espresso.

I sat at the bar, read some neighbourhood news and tried to be patient with a Stella sipping crazy lady two stools away. (She looked perfectly harmless. I am disappointed that my usually fine tuned Crazy-o-metre was on the fritz. Damn you, Crazy-o-metre! Damn you!) If it hadn't been for Crazy Stella Lady, I would have had a fully corrective locked-out-of-the-house experience.

KR was right & other updates

My friend, KR, told me weeks ago that the only way to really get your boxes unpacked after a move is to set a date for a party. I've been beating myself up for the never-ending mess in the house: boxes, tools, clothing not put away, baseboards missing. The list goes on and on. I've struggled with feeling incredibly lazy and just trying to keep up with our regular life - eating, laundry, making a lunch for work.

My nephews are coming to stay with us on the first weekend in June. I want them to have a room to sleep in. Finally I have a deadline to get that second bedroom organized. I made a really good dent in it this weekend. I think I got rid of about 7 more boxes. I can probably do three more before we eat dinner.

KR was right; you need a deadline to force yourself to face the boxes.

I'm already feeling a lot better about the house than I did last week. It gets depressing living in clutter and disorganization. I just have to keep doing a little bit every chance I get.

Other updates:

I'm making good progress on a secret crochet project. I can't tell you anymore than that, hence the name 'secret crochet project'.

I'm almost done with the purse kit that Haley 'donated' to my crochet cause. Once all the crochet is done Haley will finish it up with a bit of sewing that I don't have the patience for. I think the finished project will be really nice.

I've picked out 5 skeins of Berry Red Cotton Fleece to make a camisole/T-shirt for myself. I'll start this once the secret project is done. It's going to look great!

I went to a very sexy wedding reception on the weekend at The Sultan's Tent on Front Street. The food and wine were fantastic! The decor is beautiful, red, golds, and dark wood (set up as Moroccan tents). The belly dancing was the sexiest wedding entertainment I've ever seen! It was really very nice.

Fate:

Hubby and I have been together for over four years now. In all those years. We have not had one summer vacation together. His work tends to pick up right around March or April and is going strong by June, July and August. I need to take a summer vacation every year to cope with burn out symptoms.

This year Hubby started a gig in April and told me that there would be a hiatus in June. My vacation was booked for the last two weeks of June; the hiatus, of course, was scheduled for the first two weeks. I was actually successful in getting one of my weeks rescheduled so that Hubby and I could take a week together. I made him promise to get out of town with me for a night or two. I even started researching some road trip ideas.

Happily, a week or so ago, Hubby found out that his television project is going to make it to camera! He gave notice at his job and started to have meetings about his own project. It only took me a couple of days to figure out that our vacation plans were mostly down the toilet. It seems like Hubby will actually be in Winnipeg the week that we planned to go on a little road trip.

Fate is against us. Shall I go to Winnipeg? Shall I crash the business trip, be the tag-along wife? I have mixed feelings. I can hang with Hubby's sister, whom I like very much. I'll get to go to my favourite breakfast joint The Falafel Place on Corydon Avenue and my favourite steak house Rae and Jerry's (50s flashback extraordinaire). The major problem would be the 'industry talk'. I am not exaggerating when I say that the industry talk will likely be 24-7. There's only so much a girl can take.

(If you are ever in Winnipeg, you MUST get to Rae and Jerry's. The waitresses still wear red polyester dresses and serve tomato juice in a glass on a saucer. The decor is new, but reminiscent of the original - wood paneling and red vinyl, with carpet throughout.)

No wax it

Since Spring seems to finally have sprung, I decided I'd better get the fur off my legs. It wasn't enough that three weeks ago Hubby rubbed his foot down my shin, as we cuddled in bed, and asked me if I was wearing socks. He almost peed himself right there in bed when I indignantly replied, "NO! That's my leg hair! Humph!"

I made an appointment at my local pedicure/manicure/kids haircutting combo shop for the end of the work week. It's a little dumpy, but they're friendly and the price is right. When I go there I try not to think too much about the industry standards for sterile equipment.

Anyway, I hop up on the table in my undies and t-shirt ready for the leg wax. There's a bruise on my left knee - all purple and green - and a raw quarter size scrape just above it. (A couple of nights ago I tripped on a cement pad near one of those lovely almost dead city sidewalk trees. Major body skid. Knocked the wind out of me.) The whole knee is looking quite ugly.

She's making her way down my left leg and I can't believe it when she swipes the wax over the scrape! I know what's coming next and before I can even protest she presses the cloth strip on it and RIIIIIIIIIPS! FUUUUUUUUUUCK! The scrape starts bleeding and oozing immediately. I don't know what to do; my wax is only a 1/4 finished and there's an obvious imbalance of power since I'm laying there in my undies and she's got the hot wax.

Before I know it she's going after it AGAIN! This time I react, but she says, 'Oh, no. I didn't get it. No wax it. That would hurt you bad. No wax on it. Just around it.' Does she think I can't see?! I mean, I do only have one eye, but the other one works fine! I mumble something like, 'Oh. From this angle it looks like there's wax on it.' Does she think the scrape just spontaneously bleeds and oozes?!

Current status of knee scrape: stinging and oozy, sticking to everything that touches it. Ouch! Hubby is getting some serious sadistic thrills from sneaking touches when I'm not looking. Bad boy!

For a laugh like you have never laughed before, check out this related story from The Best of Craigslist! Women may related more than men.

A break from unpacking

This is my little break from unpacking and doing house stuff. We've been up since 5am (I know, I know!) just because that is when we woke up. I lay in bed for awhile and got up just before 6. We've been working on Hubby's office since about 9:30. We're just taking a coffee break and then it is back to the work, work, work.

I make it sound like we are busting our butts unpacking and setting up the house. Honestly, I feel we are taking our sweet ass time. It is hard living regular life with work, cooking, cleaning, laundry, socializing and also setting up the house. We've sort of become used to getting by without all of our stuff accessible.

Truth by told, I would rather read the paper or crochet when I have free time. I've noticed that I'm thinking more and more about baking again, making granola and scones and cakes. If I'm going to bake I have to get the kitchen fully set up.

Now that we are living in the house and we've emptied our storage locker, I notice how much stuff we have that we A) don't have room for, B) have not used, C) will likely never use. One problem we have is that our basement is an apartment for a tenant, so things that other people keep in their basements (large Rubbermaid containers filled with gift wrap, winter clothes, extra dishes for parties, wigs and boas for occasional dress up fun) we just don't have room for.

Well, Hubby is making some lunch and then we are off to the big Duff Mall (on a Saturday - YIKES!) to update our health cards and licenses at the convenient kiosk. I might may a pit stop at Reitmans for some pants for work. Hopefully we'll order the blinds for the apartment on our way home.

Out and about crocheting

This is me at The Paddock crocheting on Monday night. Hubby and I arrived early for a little welcome home celebration for our tv writer friend
who's been away in Vancouver for what seems like forever. So, there I am with my Let's Take a Shower martini (made with real raspberry puree) in front of me while I happily crochet on a lovely summer shawl for my sis. Their XM Radio was tuned to a great rocker station. I'm feeling like I'm in my own heaven - a little Led Zeppelin, a good tart drink, my crochet and my Hubby. All was well until I got half way through the second Let's Take a Shower and I realized the crochet had to go away. More than one raspberry martini and delicate cotton crochet clusters do not mix.

Check out the action on my hands? I look like a super hero crocheter!

First day alone with the house

Today I was alone in the house for the first time. I had the luxury of puttering at my own pace, doing this and that, talking out loud to myself and then going out to do errands. It may not sound like much, but I LOVE being at home alone. Hubby often works from home or keeps house when he is between contracts, which means most of the time I spend at home is spent with him.

There is something about puttering on my own that motivates me. I even made a quick stop at Yorkdale to pick up one more curtain panel. I would never have done this on a holiday Monday if Hubby was with me... well, maybe not never, but it would have happened with a bit of stress - the jam packed parking lot, the crowds roaming the mall; he would have hated it.

A few teaser pics of the house

The move went well. A bit of stress, but nothing major. Completely manageable.

Today I did some cleaning up from last minute dry wall sanding in the second bedroom. Once it was clean I was able to put boxes in there out of the way and Hubby got around to fixing up a bit of his office. We also got the bedroom a tiny bit sorted and the bathroom is in good shape.

Next up: bedroom curtain rod to be hung.

After that: kitchen set up ready for proper living.

And finally: the living room / dining room.

Here are a few pics of the not so complete project.


Here's the house...





Here's the front part of the living/dining room with our paint choice China Blue...




Here's the living / dining room looking towards the kitchen. Our paint choice here is Worn Wool (it's growing on me)... oh ya! Check out the fantastic bamboo flooring we put in!




Here's the basement apartment kitchen in progress...

Moving day - awake at 1am!

So, it is moving day. Well, it is 1:20am on moving day. Who drank tea at 8pm and now can't sleep? Me, of course. There's really no packing to do. Just a few odds and ends. I'm just sitting here watching t.v. with the volume down low so as not to disturb Hubby, who is sleeping like a baby in the other room.

Before the movers arrive at 10am we'll take down the medicine cabinet and towel rack and deal with the coats. Oh, I think I have to pack up the utensils, too.

I'll be writing more once we settle in. Maybe post a few pics, too.

Less than a week!

We move on Friday!

Most of the house has been painted and a new floor is going down in the living room and dining room tomorrow morning. We chose a lovely vertical bamboo. It is a beautiful caramel and will make the room look long and luscious!

Packing is going well. A friend helped me fill another 13 boxes today in about 3 hours. Tomorrow will be full on packing and should get us good and ready for Friday morning. My cousin is coming to help. I'm looking forward to a day away from the house (still needs some cleaning up) and hanging with my cous. Later in the week I'll get over to the house and clean up the kitchen, sort tools and measure for curtains.

A week from tonight we'll already be having our second sleep at our new house!

Can't wait!

Drywall Patch Girl Update

So, yesterday I fearlessly took on patching some holes solo. No mentor to tutor me in person (which helps A LOT!), just me, my noggin and a good drywall book for reference I screwed in wood supports for four smallish holes. Measured, cut and screwed in pieces of drywall to fit and finally spread a first coat of compound.

Each hole presented its own challenge and I kept at it until I was satisfied. I must admit that they won't be absolutely perfect, but I did it ALL BY MYSELF! At the half way point I rewarded myself with a nice Italian beer - good for me!

You may have noticed that I am writing this in the wee hours of the morning. Couldn't sleep. Can't sleep. I woke up worrying about a work related thing [sic client]. When I can't sleep I try to remember to get out of bed and distract myself enough to get my brain to relax into slumber. So, here I am. I've check my work email and have figured out that my biggest worry is likely not true. I read a couple of blogs and now I am writing.

New problem: my tummy just doesn't feel right to me. I have a bad, bad feeling I have a touch of a tummy bug. I have NO TIME for a tummy bug! No time at all!

Good news: my wonderful friend, Tanya, came by last night and we did a marathon pack of the kitchen! That felt great! It is so much easier to pack when someone who knows you well plugs along and makes decisions for you.

Hubby and I move on March 23rd. I feel the countdown has begun.

Ok. Time for a couple of games of Ingenious and then try again for slumber. Fingers crossed for no tummy bug throw ups.

Four years

Hubby and I have been together for four years this week. Our first date anniversary was on Sunday and neither of us remembered until we were walking to our apartment from our house in the cold and dark. I remarked on the date and Hubby said, 'Gee, I hope you like those safety goggles I bought you today. Happy four years anniversary, Honey!' We giggled. (I do love my goggles. They have elastic to hold them tight against my face and go over my glasses. This 2D girl has to protect her one good eye, don't ya know!)

As an aside, I thank the goddess for nature's goggles - the eyebrow. Before I got my anniversary gift goggles, my good eye was saved when my eyebrow caught a big puff of ancient dust that fell on me when I pulled down an old plaster ceiling in the hallway. I still had to scramble to the wash out my eye a bit, but it would have been a real emergency had it not been for my eyebrow. Thank you, Eyebrow.

Well, four years and goggles. I really, really love my life. This relationship is the longest relationship I've ever had. I love Hubby with a ferociousness I didn't know I had in me. He makes me laugh everyday. He makes me breakfast everyday (it's true!). He is my best friend and favourite person to hang out with. I just love him to bits!

house gerbil in her wheel... running, running...

Here's a rambling entry:

Hubby and I are low on reno knowledge. Everyone has told us that we will learn as we go, but our learning curve has been a wee bit emotional. There's been tears, some stomping around and even a couple of self-degrading comments. We are lucky to have some friends and family who really know their way around a tool box and have time to coach us here and there.

Along with low reno know-how, we don't own a car. Under normal life circumstances we happily get around on our bikes, our feet and the TTC. A couple of times we've done the Rona/Home Depot run on the streetcar with our backpacks. Today we rented the Rona van to bring drywall & a pedestal sink home. Not owning a car has really put a kink in our plan to try to buy as much as possible from the Habitat ReStore. You really have to browse the store a few times a week to scoop the good products. We are considering renting a car for a month or 'leasing' a few days a week from a friend.

Right now the house is a reno mess. Dust and grit everywhere. Wires old and new exposed. Our porch is Toronto's new dump. Sometimes when I am at the house I get a little bit down. I can see in my mind's eye how it will be when we are moved in and cleaned up, but I know how much elbow grease has to go into the place to get it that way.

I've slacked recently on the packing. Hubby thinks I am crazy for having started so early, but I knew this pause would happen, that regular life would distract me and I would get lazy. It is hard to start packing again once I pause.

This week I think we will finally pick out kitchen cupboards for the basement apartment. Ikea? Home Depot? Rona? If you have experience with the options, please leave a comment.

Sigh. I know everything will work out. Sometime in the summer we will be sipping wine on our porch and look back on this time and smile. Can't we just skip all the elbow grease stuff and get to the wine sipping time?

Drywall Patch Girl!

I did my first ever drywall repairs today! Drywall repairs on our very own house. As I waited for my friend to measure, cut and insert drywall pieces, I walked around the house with my premixed mud and putty knife patching up little scrapes and nail holes. I'm addicted!

(I even prepped some holes and screwed in some screws!)

An absence

Our dear, dear friend died last week. He was a force, an adventurer, a loyal friend. He was generous and protective. He was creative, fun, and easy to be with. He was opinionated and unapologetic.

When I had a rough day at work this past week, I felt the familiar urge to dial his number and bend his ear.

No more complainy, commiserating calls. No more southern Ontario road trips to browse antiques and pottery and used books. No more sharing of Hubby's delicious pre-pottery class meals.

We miss him very much.

There is an absence in our life that cannot be filled.

little house update

House, house, house... our life is about the house. The house that now has multiple holes in the walls and ceilings. Ah, well, at least we won't fry ourselves on the hidden knob & tube on the top floor.

Next up: deal with heating duct problems on the same floor. I can't even describe it.

I love our new house and can't wait to move in late in March! I have so much packing to do.

I've snuck in a little crocheting. I've finished a gauge swatch for some wrist warmers using left over Fable Alpaca from the Skinny Minnie Scarf! Yeah! So, I shall start on one wrist warmer and see how far I get without having to buy more yarn - all money is dedicated to the house currently. I've actually stopped buying timmie's coffee on my work breaks, too. I figure if I don't buy coffee for 3 weeks, I can spend $12 on yarn.

Off to bed to read predictable easy read novel that is good for distraction, but not for promoting deep thoughts.

night, night

Crochet, house, crochet, house

I finally started a second leg warmer this afternoon. I've sometimes worn the single that I made weeks ago around the apartment with its ends all dangling out. I can't buy any new yarn for a long, long time (because we get possession of our house in 2 DAYS), so I decided I had better concentrate on finishing up a few small projects that I had put aside.

Crochet projects I can work on:

second leg warmer
market bags (never hurts to have a few around for hostess gifts)
baby booties (I have old acrylic stash for this)
I have some hemp. I could make something with that.
hot water bottle cover
attach retro buttons to green double knit baby top

Hubby says I will be too busy knocking down walls and cleaning our new kitchen to crochet anything. He is probably right.

We pick up the keys on MONDAY!

I found some large, but tacky cushions in our storage locker today. I thought of sending them off to the Goodwill, but then it occurred to me that I could crochet new covers for them. I think I can check out a few patterns, adjust/enlarge and make something I really like.

I packed three boxes today.

I checked our lottery ticket today. We didn't win.

The BIG Announcement!

Hubby and I raced to our Realtor's office this afternoon and at 1:27 p.m. signed off on the final papers for the house!!! Hubby immediately went into an anxiety spin and I started grinning from ear to ear.

Unless the Universe takes a few devious twists and turns in the next week, Hubby and I will be happy homeowners on January 15!

I am SO looking forward to having a house, a home of our own. We are really lucky to have found a house in our neighbourhood - we love it here! I can still walk to work. We'll be even closer to our grocery store and favourite happy butcher. TTC a 5 minute walk. Three bedrooms, enough room for guests and the ever coveted office space for Hubby who works from home quite a bit. A large kitchen that needs some TLC, but we are looking forward to designing something we'll love. A fairly good sized yard by Toronto standards that is just waiting for some loving landscaping.

Sooooo many things racing through my head tonight... after a good night's sleep I hope I can slow down a bit and get a little more focused.

Limbo morning

We may find out today that our offer has been accepted and that we are now home owners. If that call comes there will be more signatures and initials, faxing tons of papers to the mortgage broker and the lawyer, and general excited running around and calls to make.

I don't know what to do with myself while waiting for the news. There is laundry to be done, but I imagine sitting in the laundry mat with our clothes in mid-wash cycle when the call comes. AAAGGGHHHH! Wet clothes, signatures, calls, and faxes! I could possibly go a tiny bit crazy (no comments from the peanut gallery, please!).

Hmmm... I could do a few errands in our neighbourhood: buy mouse traps, buy stamps, mail letters. I could read my new book. I could read this week's Maclean's.

Waiting...

Waiting...

Waiting...