Not Sure.....

Okay, I have some before and not-so-afters of my little hutch-moving extravaganza yesterday. I'm not sure about it. At first I liked it, but now I'm not sure.



BEFORE:

















AFTERS:







I'm messing around with accessories. This will probably lead me to taking everything off the walls and re-arranging all wall hangings.

And then painting the walls and getting new window coverings.

And then inevitably painting the woodwork.

This is all because I had to make myself busy while waiting for little Xochi to make it into this world. Now we have 2 new sweet girls: Audry and Xochi!

This Job Stinks....

I haven't worked on the garage since last week. I got about 1/3 of the way done with this side. It's boring work. It's dirty work.



I'm trying to figure out how to arrange the Noodle's new book shelf to look cute enough to show my internets yet still hold practical items.

No matter. Noodle has other ideas:





This kid cracks me up! She is so much like her Daddy...rigging things up and using that big imagination of hers. We've been talking about hammocks lately and she decided that she was going to make one for her dolls.




I'm thinking about taking off the top of this hutch and placing it across the room. What do you think?

Oh boy.....

Sigh.

It's been a weird few days. I was up at 2 am today and can't back to sleep.

First of all, I'm thinking about Cutz and her baby adventure.

Second? My elderly neighbor, Mrs. C. came over yesterday.
And not for a friendly little visit, either. Oh, no.

She's becoming a little off-kilter and thinks people in the neighborhood are spying on her.

There's about an hour and half (yes. and hour and a half.) of this nonsensical conversation that I'm leaving out, but please know that it was bad enough that I had to overeat and take a nap after she left.

And then I woke up and sucked my thumb and rocked back and forth under my divorce desk.

Because it's just disturbing to hear an 85 year old woman use the "F" word. Over and over. In my house when I'm still in my jammies with bed-head and morning breath.

Third: On Saturday one of the great loves of my life died unexpectedly:

Our neighbor dog, Gracie Mae, the Shepherd-Collie mix.

We loved her like crazy. She was a remarkable girl....smart, protective. Her nickname was "The Sheriff" because Girlfriend was in charge and not to be messed with.
We were lucky to know her, but she wasn't here long enough. She brought so much joy to our family...we loved taking care of her when our neighbors, Pam and Jeff, went out of town. She was a world-class snuggler and when I'd stay over night, she'd spoon with me all night long. I can't even say that much about Zuddy.

I don't know what else to say. And I cry every time I think about her. Her sister, Nikita, is very sad. She's been howling with sadness. It breaks my heart.

WHAT??? Another Post?

Wow.

Is this going to be a habit? Daily posting?

Don't worry. Probably not.

I just wanted to tell you something.

I found a pair of headphones for iPod.
Even if he's just not that into me? He's coming on a walk with me, Dammit.

Because I need me some Justin Timberlake to make it up this hill:


After my walk? I'm going to start sanding this ugly garage:

Zuddy did the side on the right with the window last weekend. It took him a whole day to sand it. He really stuck with it and he even got it primed.

So the least I could do is sand this side:


I have to get this done today so I can go to my friend Michelle's naughty adult toy party tonight.

Have you been to one of those?
I have not.

But I hear there's going to be pomegranate martinis there. And mango margaritas.
So I'm going.

And Michelle will keep filling up my glass because she likes to laugh at me when I start getting tipsy and spilling drinks. Because that's what I do. It's the first sign I've had too much to drink.

I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Playing Catch-Up

I read a few of my favorite blogs today.

And I still have 637 posts in my Google Reader to read.

I can't decide if the Google Reader is a good idea for me or not.
Because, I've gotta tell ya: I'm feeling a bit stressed knowing how behind I am on my blog reading.

I mean it could take DAYS of me doing nothing but blog reading to catch up.
Well, blog reading and eating.
I mean, really.
One needs a little 'snackie' when she reads, doesn't she?

I have some things to tell you. Where do I start? I'm not sure if I should start with the really impressive things or not.
I mean, I'm pretty cool and graceful.
And lucky.

Let's start with the really graceful stuff: I was having a FABULOUS morning last Sunday. I went for a nice little early morning walk with my best friend, iPod.
After iPod and I got back we brought some chairs in the front yard and sat in the sun and drank some coffee. It was nice.
Then I got the idea to go down to the newspaper box a couple of blocks down the street to get the Sunday paper.
With my coffee.
And iPod, of course. Can't go anywhere without my buddy. My pal.

We started down the block and iPod's earbud shot out of my right ear and landed in my coffee.

Do you think iPod's getting sick of me? Is this his way of breaking up with me?

Maybe if I take Britney off of my playlist? Maybe that will help. Maybe he's just sick of Britney. Maybe he just thinks Britney has no place in a 39 year old woman's play list? I can change. I really can.

Another thing: Jon and Kate. What do you think of their situation?
And why do I feel the need to purchase every US or People weekly with Jon and Kate on the front??? I crave it. Why? WHYYY? I think I secretly see some of myself in Kate. I mean, I think every woman does. I understand some of her freak-outs yet she's so freaking mean sometimes.

Mother's Day: What did all of you Mommies do?

I asked for Zuddy and Noodle to go golfing with me:



It was Noodle's first time and Zuddy and I haven't golfed since -- get this -- I was pregnant with Noodle!! We had a lot of fun. Until the 6th hole. Then Noodle got hungry and tired and we left. It was still fun and a perfect day.

Did I tell you about my new flooring for the kitchen? Did I?

I'm really excited about this. The owner of the company Zuddy works for bought the house next door to the office and then ripped anything good out of it and tore it down. Zuddy kept wanting to show me the place before it bit the dust, but I wasn't interested, quite frankly. I mean, the place was a total dump.

Well, one day I visited him at work and he dragged me over there. Yeah. It was a dump. But guess what? It had wood floors in the living room that nobody took! I asked Zuddy to rip out for me and put into my kitchen!

We have no idea what kind of wood they are....maybe pine. It's hard to tell because the wood is old-growth and has a tight grain. Anyway, here are a couple of planks as they look now:


I originally wanted some old-fashioned black and white linoleum, but - hey. Free floors.....know what I'm sayin'?

Besides, I could do something like this:

(Photo: Cottage Living)


Couldn't I?
I don't know. Could I?
I mean, seriously.
Look what I did with my iPod earbud. I don't really think I can be trusted with some gel stain and painter's tape, can I ?

Alright....Alright....

I know I've been a total slacker in the blog department.

But, really.
There just hasn't been a thing going on here.

Well, except we've been "finishing" projects after that little world-wide-web outburst of mine.

Noodle's furniture is all painted, but there are still a few finishing touches to put on before I can give you actual photographic evidence of this completed task.

Next on the agenda is to paint the garage. (I know, I know. You were thinking, "tile that freakin' kitchen backsplash already!" Weren't you? Well, I want to get the garage painted before it gets too hot. Plus, I'm mulling over some beveled subway tiles vs. plain cheap ones.)

In the meantime, Noodle has had the audacity to turn another year older:



The nerve of that girl! Turning 9 before I've had the chance to lose this baby weight. Rude.



We've also been having playdates with Noodle's best friend Lily, who is a very intelligent little girl..........until we get finished with her. I swear, she drops a few IQ points every time she comes over to our house.





Let me illustrate:


And...there you go! Good times.

I've also been traveling a lot. San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Boston again next week. I've wanted to visit with my internets in those towns, but I just haven't been able to juggle a visit and the meetings I need to attend.

Okay. I have a confession.

I can't stop thinking about painting my woodwork. Tell me to stop. Please. Tell me I can't do it before the kitchen gets finished.

Please. Help a sister out.


Ooo. One last thing: I haven't been keeping up with my blog-reading except for the blogs of my two expectant blogging mommies: Sarah and Cutzi. It's killing me. I want to see photos of sweet little babies. I'm thinking about you girls!!!

What I've Been Doing On My Spring Vacation.....

First of all, my friend Kim came over to give me a taste of her baby's deliciously chubby little leggies:








Turns out her face is pretty yummy as well:





Kim has a very busy little boy. He barely slowed down for a photo:


That smile? Fake.

He was a little annoyed that I wanted to take his photo and gave me a quick, "Here. I'll smile. Hurry up and take the photo."


On Wednesday, I took care of Sweet Reenie. She informed me she wanted a quick dunk in the tub.

"Just for fun." she said. I kid you not. That kid makes me laugh.

I let her have a Pedi instead. She was good with that.




Now? I'm working on painting. Noodle's desk and 2 bookcases. And touching up my upper kitchen cabinets.

And this, my friends, is where you may want to quit reading. Because this is where your friend explodes with frustration. My teeth gnash and the swear-words are flyin'.

Because painting has been no small task since I had to go to Sherwin-Williams THREE TIMES for the paint I needed. I kid you not. Here is a summary of my visits.

Visit #1:
"You don't have an account here"

Umm.....yes I do.

"No, you don't".

So I leave.

Visit #2 (helped by another associate):
"Yes, here's your account. We don't have that paint in stock."

Ummm....yyyyeeeah. I kind of got my paint at the specialty paint store so I wouldn't run into this crap. Are you not, in fact, a SPECIALTY-FUCKING-PAINT-STORE???

"I can have it here later today, ma'am."

Turns out I have absolutely nothing better to do than visit you jackasses all the live-long day. I'll be back next week, douchebag.

Visit #3:

Yesterday.
Got my paint. One gallon for $47.
Sorry about the swearing, internets. And no - I didn't swear AT the Sherwin-Williams associate. It was all totally in my head.
Sometimes the only thing that can make things better is to let the "effenheimer" fly. Try it.
You'll like it.
Don't judge. I warned you.


So, I'm FINALLY painting the wainscoting on the ends of the upper kitchen cabinets....they were primed, but not painted.

And even though I've asked him more than once?
That Damn Zuddy hasn't finished the caulking of the upper goddamned cabinets. Which makes all of my paint-getting moot.

Because I can't fucking paint what hasn't been fucking caulked.

Okay?

That's why it's never been painted. I forgot that little detail. So when Zuddy got home I very nicely asked him to caulk so I could do my painting. Fucker.



And Noodle's "new" bedroom furniture. It needs one more coat. Maybe two.:







Remember earlier in this post when I told you there were 2 bookcases? The reason I've never painted all of this is because LAST SUMMER Zuddy promised to sand and prime the 2nd bookcase that was in the garage.

I'll let you sit there and think about whether or not the sanding and priming of the second bookcase ever happened........

Are you feeling the venom seething through every vein in my body?? Are you feeling it?

BECAUSE MOMMA'S STILL HAVING THAT BREAKDOWN, PEOPLE!