I feel badly that I haven’t been blogging as much as I usually would
It’s hot, I’m tired, and I’m spending an inordinate amount of time driving around. That is, when I wasn’t hanging out at the Borders Books watching grown adults buried in HP.
I am the only person I know who hasn’t finished it.
It finally occurred to me as I was driving home from The Bakken in Minneapolis, where Max is attending invention camp this week, in my fourth round trip (out of 10 this week), during RUSH HOUR (which – no matter how bad Twin City folks think it is, has NOTHING on Rt. 10 in NJ at ANY time…) that it would probably be a good idea to cozy up to some of the other parents and see if we could carpool.
So tomorrow I’ll chat with some of them and see if they live on the ‘other’ side of the river and would like to share a ride. If they’ll admit it. The Bakken is in a very chi-chi area…
It’s quite a thrill, though, to drive across the Mississippi every day. Cool. The only cool thing in town today. Tomorrow is supposed to be hotter, so we’re taking a family trip to see Hairspray (Hannah saw it this weekend, she’ll see it again…) so we can be cool in the heat of the late afternoon. And bond.
We’re also going to see Circus Juvenitas this weekend – it was recommended by a few friends – then Hannah leaves the next day for camp. I’ll be gone later in the week teaching in Michigan, and I get home one day before our trek to the Maoy.
This week, then, is our last chance to really make some pre-BMT memories. Dad with hair… Ah, memories!
So in lieu of blogging, I’ve been working. I’ve been planning and organizing and moving and shaking. Lots of stuff.
PLANNING
Kitchen
We met with the kitchen cabinet folks – lovely (and they talked us INTO the lower priced, faster-arriving cabinets – yay!) And it dawned on me that everything must be moved out of the kitchen. Hmmm, why didn’t I think of that before? It’s like reliving our move in Jan, but this time I won’t be pissed off at Gerry for not helping me! I am still feeling a bit guilty about that.
The contractor guys are moving the big, heavy stuff – but all the dishes, food, books, etc., must be moved by yours truly (plus a couple of eager kiddies) I’m going to set up a wire rack in the dining room to keep everything organized, and set up another one down in the basement to act as our short-term pantry.
ORGANIZING
Pets
We’ve arranged to board Atticus with a Vet down near Rochester for the first few weeks, while Gerry’s getting testing, cells are harvesting and he goes through the high-dose chemo.
Atticus will be back with us when Gerry’s not quite so open to infection. We’ll also board the cat, because we just can’t stand the thought that she could get out while the contractors are here and get hurt or get away. We were going to have a friend look after her, but we’d rather be safe. She, too, may join us in our hotel suite – gotta love that Noah’s Ark Inn.
SHAKING
Lights
We bought lighting fixtures today for the kitchen and bathroom.
Actually, we bought the parts to assemble the fixtures, as the ones that we saw online at Rejuvination (BEAUTIFUL!) were just too pricey.
So stopping by Mohn electric on Lake Street in Minneapolis we discovered all the parts we need to create our kitchen fixtures at about half the price.
I ask you, though, is NOT this light absolutely gorgeous?
I swear I’ll replicate that with the materials we bought or I’ll turn in my MFA in set design! More later!
FURTHER SHAKING
Vanity
Speaking of replicating, I am trying to recreate the Roman baths in our new tiny addition. I think of it as our Roman Powder Room.
So I’ve broken up the big yellow bowl, plus another blue plate just for fun (blue plate special!) and tossed in a few small slate tiles that pick up the tiles from our floor, plus some beads & other wacky things.
Everything is glued down with the adhesive / grout. After it cures for 24 hours I’ll grout it, then I’ll add the edging pieces I bought. THEN I’ll add the bar-pour for that elegant poly-eurethane finish (SO Roman!) And it’s waterproof!
The contractor will cut out the space for the sink, the plumber will drop it in and hook it up, and when I get back from France I’ll do any touch up I need to do. Yeah, that’s the plan.
We’re thinking of taking the top of the hutch and mounting it behind the toilet as a linen shelf. I’d like to take the door off of it and use it as a frame for a mirror over the vanity. But that’s stuff that can be done MUCH later!
MOVING
Packing
We need to pack up Hannah’s camp stuff this week and get Max’s stuff together for NJ. I figure we’ll just launder Hannah’s camp stuff for NJ & toss in some hair care product and lip gloss.
Packing for me and Gerry’s trickier, but we have the out that if we forget something we CANNOT live without, we can drive home and get it. For Atticus and the cat we have to pack up food, their favorite toys and blankets that make them think of us. I hate that we’ll all be separated. Labor day will be great – we’ll all be together for that weekend!
MORE SHAKING
Knitting
I’ve started the alpaca mitered project – and here are the bottom squares to prove it! It’s going on a b
ack burner, though, until all the other stuff is taken care of. Fun must wait!
And now, to bed. With 5 fans on me. The kids are sleeping in the air conditioned office, because we love our kids. The animals are in there, too. Geeze, I’m sure when I go upstairs Gerry will be in there.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz!