Christmas X 3

So I've waited and waited and all on the same day, I get my appliances, my toilet back, and the bathroom AND kitchen sinks hooked up! What are the chances? So I got home from work (an exhausting day, I might add) and there were trucks and vans parked all down the block--all for us! I came in and Rex the contractor was in the kitchen and there were boxes and plastic everywhere and two plumbers in the bathroom working under the sink and going in and out the door--there may have been three or four. I changed my clothes and then left for the chiropractor and bank. Got back and Rex was tidying up. The fridge amazes me! It has huge doors and tons of space. I can put the milk in the door! Rex will hook up the water and ice (on the door) tomorrow! Rex left and of course, I had to try out the new toilet right away! One tiny touch and swoosh! When you've lived with old plumbing you can really appreciate these new toilets! I recycled cardboard boxes and put trash out for about an hour. Then I moved the stuff back under the kitchen sink and moved all the fridge stuff into the new fridge. Got done with that and was HUNGRY. The stove still isn't hooked up because it needs a cord so I got chipotle. But I ate it at the new kitchen island! I put my pots and pans that were dirty from the construction in the new dishwasher and set it running. So quiet! And it holds a bunch! THen I cleaned up the dush in the bathroom and cleaned the 5 foot mirror and moved my bathroom stuff (all but the shower items) into the cupboards and new linen closet in the bathroom. Oh that reminds me! Need to search out some of Leah's cool pottery to put in the bathroom. Its going to look so cool in the bathroom and kitchen. I already found a couple of cups Leah made that were the exact colors of the new bathroom upstairs and they look awesome! I'll have o frame up some of Hannah's paintings for the dining room and the new room addition when its all done. Maybe I'll contract with her for a cool sculpture for the front lawn too! This is too exciting! I felt like Christmas morning!

Perspective

After I hit "publish now" on my blogs, my perspective often changes. God does that, too, when I give things over to Him. "Moreover, let us be full of joy now, let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character produces the habit of joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation." Romans 5:3-4. Friday is the day I pray for healing. I have family members with Alzheimers, some with depression, some with horrible cancer, some with addictions, some who've lost a husband and father, many who don't have the love and comfort of Christ, and here I am stressing over a renovation. Perspective.

An Exercise in Patience

I have two major character flaws (and a bunch more but these are the ones God is honing right now): a lack of patience and inability to deal with change. I am NOT ungrateful. This renovation is really stretching me. When I talk about it seeking support and understanding, people are incredulous that I'm not focused on the end result. It comes down to these two basic flaws. The work seems to be moving at a snails pace. We started mid summer and the only thing complete is the upstairs bathroom. It is beautiful, I am really happy with it! Currently, I have been without a toilet on the main floor for more than six weeks. I tromp through the entire house to use the bathroom in the basement in the middle of the night. We have no water at all on the main floor now and will not for about 6 weeks. I tromp up the stairs to get water for coffee and for the dog bowl each morning. We cook in a microwave and eat on paper plates. I don't know why I can't pull the adventurous side of me out. Sometimes I can see the humor in it and I try to stay focused on the end result and the progress each day but I am struggling to near tears daily. The kitchen cabinets came in and they are beautiful, really, beautiful. We will love the island. We will love the triangle work space. But I didn't plan it well, there is no place to put the dishes near the dishwasher and the food pantry is far from the cooking area. When I packed up the old kitchen, I took about 3 trunk loads of stuff to give away. So the other night I started putting away dishes and food and unpacking boxes of kitchen stuff. I got the cabinets almost full and I was only about halfway through the boxes. I will have to be really creative and give away a bunch more stuff. I do like the idea of living with less things but this is stressful to sort out! I've had a stressful few weeks at work and I really need to have time to relax and take care of me. I haven't gotten to work out this week which is probably good because I fried my back dragging the kitchen floor to the dump wagon this last weekend. I know, its going to be great. I just want my toilet back. A sink on the main floor would be nice. Did I mention I don't like shopping or decorating? Only about 4 billion more decorating decisions to make and this will be done. I really do sound ungrateful, don't I? Character changes are hard. Pray for patience and flexibility for me please.

A Beautiful Fall Walk

I was exhausted when I got home today so decided to sleep as long as I could, even if I slept into my gym class. I woke up at 5:10 and had a snack then hitched up the dogs and took them for a walk around the park. Just a good, old fashioned walk. They are in terrible shape so they pulled and tugged and strained because they were so excited to get away from the contractor and all his banging and buzzing and get outside, but then they crapped out and strolled the rest of the way around city park. It was the perfect temperature and the big leaves were floating in the air and crunching at my feet.
Now I'm home sitting on the front porch away from the dust of the renovation. It is dusk and it is still warm. My phone said it was 83 degrees when I left work today. Now there is the perfect breeze. I still have on shorts and a t shirt. I have some real food on the grill and in the microwave (no soup or fast food tonight--we are living it up!)
Today was day one of Red Ribbon Week. I was so stressed out, but praise God, it all did turn out ok. We had a guest instructor from my gym teach the kids in 1st and 2nd hour PE some Body Jam. They were reluctant but then they really got into it! Then a gal from the Extension Office taught half the 8th graders to make a healthy snack. The other half of the 8th graders did yoga in they gym and I heard it was a giant hit. The 7th graders had a mental health lesson and a stress relief day where they had relaxation. Tomorrow its more of the same but turbo kick instead. Then Thursday I feed them oatmeal and Friday the all school party where we have special activities and sign a banner and give out toothbrushes and floss.
It was also safety week and we had a giant fire drill complete with smoke and a debriefing with the fire department. Tomorrow is a tornado drill, Wednesday an evacuation drill, Thursday lock out and Friday lock down. On top of this today we had a kid who faked a heart attack because she wanted to go home. Lovely, just lovely.
So, I am enjoying a little relaxation of my own on the front porch tonight. And I will enjoy those pork chops and sweet potato too.

My Dad

Now I'm at my Dad's. Drove up here from Newton.
My Dad is doing great. He's settled in here at Aberdeen and even though he's lonely and doesn't feel a real connection to the people here yet (other than all the women who are crazy about him), he's making the best of it. He goes to swim aerobics three times a week and played golf with his old friends the last two weeks. He walks to the grocery store even though it is hard for him to find his way back to the same door.
Alzheimer's is interesting. It forces one to be really present in the now. Dad doesn't have much memory for 5 minutes ago, earlier today, or yesterday or last week. But he remembers random, insignificant facts, like that none of the kids or me used to like salad. I am so proud of how Dad copes with his memory loss--you can tell he used to be a manager because he constantly problem solves. He doesn't get impatient with himself when he can't remember. His personality has mellowed. He doesn't get snappy or stressed. He's kept his sense of humor and fun and is up for doing about anything. He just handles all these changes that have been thrust upon him. He is very loving and affectionate and appreciative. I enjoy spending time with him.

Today

So today I got up at 8 and got ready and drove to Newton to see Leah. Fall fest! I also knew my old friend, Lori, would be in town. We hadn't seen each other in 15 years and hadn't talked in that long too! I found her recently on facebook so that's how I knew she was coming to Newton. She lost her husband, Mike, also our friend from college, to a brain anuerism 4 1/2 years ago. Leah and I walked to Mojo's and ran into David on the way. I had amish egg casserole--yummy and a cinnamon roll that Leah had made and coffee. It was raining when we came out. I had called and texted Lori and no answer so we walked around and finally found her! It was as if no time at all had passed! She lives in New York--in the Hamptons. It sounds amazing--the beach, surrounded by farms and near enough to explore the city. She invited me to come next summer! We walked around and talked and listened to jazz in the tent and went to Mojo's with Leah and with Maggie, her neice, who is Leah's mod mate! It is a truly small world. I love friends that you can see after that long and take up right where you left off.

More USC

A zillion bikes and skateboards whizzing along wide sidewalks with brick decorations. Lots of fountains, trees, grass, flowers. Many asian students, lots of security guards. Joel lives by an interesting intersection that runs quickly through the cars' turns then a sound happens and all the pedestrians, skateboarders and bicylists go at once, including diagonally. There's a cool tree with intricate roots all sticking above ground. Joel walks by his friend Alicia, Marianne and Carly's apartment on the way to his and he stops in often when they are home. They are nice, friendly girls. Joel's roommates are Sam, who is dark haired and wears put together, pressed clothes, perfect hair, shaved and has a sassy side. Nate is small and wears dark glasses and is very sweet and funny. Forrest is unshaven like Joel and is in interactive with Joel.
Today I sat in the perfect, sunny weather on a bench on campus near perfectly groomed green grass and watched Joel play quidditch. I enjoyed it very much. Lots of interesting people walked by--asian guys in suits with briefcases and cell phones. Skater guys on trick bikes with the giant earrings in their earlobes. Girls in low cut tops and mini skirts. Guys in pajama pants. A girl with a case of beer. And lots of regular looking college kids too.
After quidditch we walked over to Chipotle which I'd eaten at before when I came with Joel to orientation. The prices were a full dollar lower than at home! We sat outside and Juan came down (he lives upstairs of Chipotle). I liked him very much. He is older, has been in the army. Joel stayed with him this summer. He looks out for Joel. We walked to the cinema school lab and watched the short film that Joel and Juan made recently starring Joel. It starts in a forest with Joel looking around and he finds a table. When he puts his hand on the table, he is transported to a beach! The table is there so he touches it again and transports to a parking garage. He touches it successively and is transported each time to a different location instantly--one of which was a glass sided elevator going down!
We walked back to the apartment and sat around with Nate, Forrest and Alicia who were studying then Joel and I sat by the pool where we napped and I read. It was a tiny bit cool so we changed to jeans and walked to catch the shuttle to downtown LA to watch a movie--only the shuttle wasn't running! We walked to Dominoes and got pizza and sat outside the Zumekis center and ate. We walked back to the apartment and stopped by to visit awhile with the girls and Nate and Forrest were there too. We went back to the apartment and Joel played smash brothers.