Ramblings of an Old Woman

I just feel old. Maybe it is the heat or the work or the overwhelming sense of wondering when the pile will really be smaller and we can get on doing some things we want to do? I just can't work as hard as I used to, and some days, I want to sit and knit. Period. 

June 20 was Anne Murray's 80th birthday. Boy, that is a blast from the past and from my very favorite decade of music: Anne, Helen, Karen, Linda, John, along with three dogs and bread. There is always a playful argument when we talk about the best songs written or performed by each.  What I remember about each is that they had an unmatched talent, a voice that was recognizable in 1,000,000, and I miss the kind of music they made. Helen, Karen, and John are gone - way before they should have been. Linda's voice has been stolen by disease. And Anne is 80.

Jaws was 50 on June 20, and I vividly remember my 17-year-old self nearly throwing up my popcorn; I was that scared.

And damned if Bobby Sherman did die on June 24! He was the only teen idol I ever had on my bedroom wall! "Julie, Do You Love Me?" "Easy Come, Easy Go."

I truly do miss friends that I wish could all live in the same town where we could get together for a Stitch and Bitch or have lunch.  I miss teacher friends who have felt more like my family or my children, far too many to name, each with a very special place in my heart. And now we attend too many funerals and write too many memorial checks. I've been around so long, my students are having grandchildren!

I cleaned out a drawer full of my parents' favorite music and movies - on VHS, cassette, and CD's for a swap meet. Lo and behold, someone bought the Oak Ridge Boys.

I just realized I have four vacuums - all have different jobs. Three carpet cleaners, but only one works. Outdoor water hoses that are at least 25 years old.

Hand-me-down furniture - you know the bedroom furniture we took so the kids could match, and we still have it? 

How often should I buy bath towels and sheets? One sheet I use outside was a wedding present! At least this summer I bought some new shirts and said goodbye to ones I've had since before the kids went to college. 

Every time someone says, I need or I could use, I offer one of the doubles we have. Seems only right to help out!  My mantra? When it is out of my house, I don't care what you do with it!!  

William Allen White's study

We joined a camping club a year ago, and we do like it - especially because we're on the young side comparatively! We look at history - a lot. (My English students would tell you that a lot is a place to park a car, not a measurement. In my older self, this term is acceptable.)

Then we go and add a bathroom remodel, the kind that is supposed to take 10-14 days. We are on day 13, over budget, and he just said it would be next Monday, at the earliest. They have great hours - 8:00-3:00 - but they don't seem to accomplish lots each day. I'm sure I'm just getting tired of the mess, but I guess I'm used to watching my dad and brothers knock out a one-room job.  

Funny thing? We're happy and healthy, not slowing down. This is a week busy with meetings, canning pickled beets, and watching the Three M's for an afternoon. The journey is just so different now. The questions are different, the answers, too! 

And we always have a welcome home crew, inside and outside!

Day 2 - More surprises

The plumbers, Dave and Lee, and the carpenter Jason are top shelf kind of guys. It is very cool to be around people who know what the hell they are doing. Confident, positive and encouraging.  They have showed us everything, given the pros and cons, and told us exactly how it would be fixed, if we approved. Of course we approve!

As I reported yesterday, day one brought news of a big plumbing repair before bathroom pieces could be installed. Today, we had hit #2 on the plumbing front. As they chased the pipe to check it out, they found the kitchen sink was also draining into the crawl space. The old lead pipes were just dust. All of us were astonished that these leaks have not caused excessive odor. They found no mold, another miracle. Most of the day we were without water, but by 2:00, they had the new piping all connected and the water was back on, except for the kitchen. Thank God we have another bathroom!! 

So glad I saved more than the cost, just in case! It is one of those things, you just have to do it, but it is frustrating and disappointing. The carpenter said they were officially two days behind, but all the floors go back tomorrow. 

The electrician is next...

Of course, feeling frustrated is natural, but I've been thinking of nothing but those folks in Texas - family lost, family gone, and such devastation. Compared to their tragedy and grief, our bathroom is of no consequence.  Say a prayer, say many prayers, for their comfort and peace. Say another one for all those who have searched, are still searching, and will continue searching. They have a hard and sad job. Say a prayer of thanks for all the first responders and individuals who have gone above and beyond, and helped with a horrible event they'll never forget. Amen.

And so it begins...

The workmen showed up right on time to begin work on the Bathroom Magnificent! More questions, nothing too important.    

Question 1: Lights. Where? What kind? Three pot lights are being added. The 10 x 10 room will be lit up for the blindest of the blind!

Question 2: Are we painting it or are you? You, just white. We'll bring the book because white has 11 shades. Ok. (I said I wanted Linen White eggshell from Benjamin Moore. They don't use "Benny Moore.")

Question 3/4: Are we taking off the popcorn ceiling? Yes. Do you want flat, eggshell, or satiny? Yes. 

Then there is Frank. Bless his heart, he wanted to watch them take out the tub, (which we were going to use for a sandbox for the little cousins). Nope. It came out in about 10 pieces. The water cut off mystery is solved; no crawl space...probably.

Oh, but wait! 

First, I must introduce you to Jennings' Law, like Murphy's, but a distant cousin. We have NEVER made a major move without a glitch! We knew it was going to happen, but not where or when. 

The plumber, headed to another job, stopped to see what supplies he'd need tomorrow. A conversation

ensued about the best access to the waterlines, and the next thing we knew, there were two holes in the floor where they discovered the sink has been draining into the crawl space for who knows how long.  

Now this feels normal! No need to be upset - isn't it better this was found now before the brand new tile and shower were installed? At least it will be right. 

That is what I said out loud.

Remodeling, Lessons 1 and 2

Not to be redundant, but we live in a 63 year old house, built by a legend in our community. Louis Hull. He built solid, simple homes. Say his name and the elders know what I'm talking about! 

My dad designed the ranch-style house with big rooms and lots of light. (Fun fact - he drew it on a piece of cardboard and the builder never had blueprints!) The house is built on the same site that the "old" house sat for my great-grandparents. The old house was moved so this same spot could be used; they lived in it until the new house was done, then burned it. (I got a penny for every nail I picked up - several years later!)

My grandparents kept everything simple, with a mid-century and/or Swedish simplicity. Call it Early IKEA!  The trim is oak (I think), the plethora of cabinets were all built in place of birch plywood, with only finger grooves to open and copper hinges. Drawers are deep. The light fixtures were pull down lights with copper shades - looked a lot like space ships. One still hangs in our bedroom, where it will remain, and our son has one. The entire house has 12" square linoleum tile, off white with sparkly gold and silver flecks. The first oven, at waist height, was a beautiful Santa Fe turquoise color. No basement, and a very very slim crawl space.

My parents moved here in 1991. They put their stamp on things - paint, different floorings, and they built an addition with two more bedrooms, a bathroom, and basement. They had to add AC!  Some of my grandparents' later-in-life updates are still here, like custom drapes and some of the carpeting.

Last September, we began talking with a remodeler about updating our home. We gave him a very long list, and we almost fainted when the bid arrived. The estimated budget doubled our guesstimated budget! So, we backed off to regroup and made the decision to just have the bathroom done.  We're big talkers - we'll demo (what we can) and gather all the appliances. The builder ordered the shower and countertop. He thinks we're crazy to not put in two sinks because we have a 9.5' countertop.

FIRST LESSON:  We're too old for this. Frank's calf stayed cramped for 24 hours after demo-ing for two days.  

SECOND LESSON: The main water shut off is in the very, very slim and spider infested crawl space. Because we aren't plumbers (or crazy) neither of us has crawled under to find it.  We are imagining another chunk of cash will be spent to move that water shut off valve to a more realistic space. There went the budget. Time to tap the savings. I'm scared to death, but can't wait to take a bath in a soaking tub! Stay tuned - Start date is July 7!