It's a Wonderful Life!!

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas!

OK, So I had a little get together for some High School friends, etal.

I had initial trouble that lingered long past dark. I haven't had gas for 6 days. Finally a plumber came out and began the job Friday - Noon. This consisted of gathering up the 62 feet of pipe, plus materials, plus rental of a ditch wench to dig the ditch thru the Magnolia roots. We (and I use that term loosly!) had to cut down a Nandina tree to get to the meter. This job was involved and time consuming and expensive - to the tune of $2900 - you  know I have no secrets and tell no lies.

My party to begin at 7pm. The plumbers were still here working - still no gas. No big deal - I can deal so long as I have water and electricity - gas, I thought was optional. Well, let me tell you sports fans, to not have hot water is a little awkward. You have to shower all over town at friends and neighbors homes. You can't really wash dishes - and if it gets cold, well you are just shit out of luck.

The plumbers were "on call" for Saturdays. The were a little disgruntled at first with my communication with them. By the end of the night I gave the main guy (there were 4) one of my nerve pills. I offered them appetizers and cocktails. The wife which stayed the duration, Tiffany, accepted. So Tiffany and I had a few Cape Cod cocktails together and complained about working on Saturday. But my gratitude was big! 

I thought this appropriate considering the fact that I have not had hot water or heat for SIX days. I have taken showers in 4 different places in 6 days - I STINKED, STANK AND STUNK the skipped days.

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You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch. You really are a heel.
You’re as cuddly as a cactus. You’re as charming as an eel.
Mr. Grinch! You’re a bad banana with a greasy black peel!

You’re a monster, Mr. Grinch. Your heart’s an empty hole.
Your brain is full of spiders. You’ve got garlic in your soul.
Mr. Grinch! I wouldn’t touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!

You’re a vile one, Mr. Grinch. You have termites in your smile.
You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile.
Mr. Grinch! Given the choice between the two of you I’d take the seasick crocodile!

You’re a foul one, Mr. Grinch. You’re a nasty-wasty skunk
You’re heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk
Mr. Grinch! The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote:
STINK, STANK, STUNK!

You’re a rotter, Mr. Grinch. You’re the king of sinful sots.
Your heart’s a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots.
Mr. Grinch! Your soul is an appalling dump-heap overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable, mangled up in tangled up knots!

You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch, with a nauseous super “naus”!,
You’re a crooked jerky jockey and you drive a crooked hoss.
Mr. Grinch! You’re a three decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce!

They finished at 10PM and now I have hot water. The plumber decided to join our party. William is one of those strange characters, but a nice guy. It looked like a crime scene in my backyard. Major ordeal.

Here are some pics of the plumber that lingered.

My friend Brian, played the piano and was in rare form - could it be the plumber had inspired him? Seems as if to me if the plumber had enjoyed a Christmas Party and he partook of some adult beverages and food, he could have at least cut me a deal on the jumbo bill.

But now my pipes are safe and sound for the future owners of my home.

Some pics:

It's a wonderful life! Merry Christmas!

Peace!

Times are a Changin'

It's funny how life changes and evolves. Don't you just love that? It truly keeps our often mundane lives, once again full of vigor and optimism. One month ago, there was not one person in the world that could have convinced me that things will be much different very soon. I tend to like things to go smooth, as we all do. Just the thought of starting afresh excites me.

There is alot of change in the air, here at my humble abode. I have fallen in love. Love is a magical thing - it makes things new, blossom and bud. Oh, by the way, my Christmas Cactus is just about to come into full bloom - it will be beautiful.

I have considered a move for some time. First it was to Dallas to be close to my brother. But God had something else in store for me. West Nile Virus came along and thwarted my eagerly awaited plans. I had to scratch all that I had dreamed and planned for. I found that there were many people here that loved me. I quickly learned I could not easily leave my church, nor could I easily leave my beloved hometown.

I put a contract on a condo in the Historic District of Swan City today. It was a leap of faith. I prayed that if this was where God wanted me, then things would fall into place easily. I talked to the builders and they were willing to make a few changes and additions. I fell in love with the space. When walking into the condo, I had this warm feeling, like this would be my new home one day.

This was last weekend - during the open house and the annual lighting of the Historic District. You know, carriage rides thru the district, open houses, tours, gallery openings, downtown streets blocked off for us walkers. It was magical. When I was growing up, my church was Bay St. Pres. and we would sing on the steps of the church and put out the candles in sand bags. I have been going downtown for as long as I can remember for this event. It has been written about in all the magazines as "places to see at Christmas".

Thinks have been going so smoothly that my head is spinning. I would have never dreamed I could get a contractor over here so quickly to make a few minor repairs. Or a yard man to do a basic clean up job, for the curb appeal. Everyone is supposed to begin on Monday and finished by Thursday or Friday. Amazing - no problems yet. I contacted a lender to start the loan process. The developer/builder recommended someone that was familiar with the project and condo lending. When he said her name, I said "MY LORD, I HAVE KNOWN HER FOR A HUNDRED YEARS"!! I closed a million loans for Lori when I was a real estate paralegal. So I contacted her and got the ball rolling there.

In one week, my life has the prospect of changing quickly. In all reality, my house could sell quickly and I will be packing up/selling my beloved belongings. I am getting rid of lots of stuff, because I am scaling down considerably. Going from at 1900 square foot home to a 1550 square foot condo.

This is all quite exciting! Sam and I will be happy in this new home. It is 2 blocks from his school and there are 14 kids on a 3 block street just beside the building. Sidewalks are on every street and everyone rides their bikes and plays outside. Sam will thrive. On a side note, he will miss his neighborhood alot. I will miss my neighborhood alot. I have fabulous neighbors and I love each family around me very much. But I have to do what I think is in our best interest. Not to mention the fact that I bought this house in 1991 from my Great Aunt's estate. It is a family home and I am sure that someone wonderful will surely buy and love this house as much as I have. I told my realtor/friend that she will be holding my hand through all this.

But, life is good! I have a renewed energy that surely will lead to exhaustion! I just can't think about packing up right now, but I better start real fast. As soon as the financing is complete - I am getting out the boxes.

It's a Wonderful Life!

What a truly magical Advent this is, my dear friends!

Peace!

Flylady has had me Busy!

I am on track with Flylady. I am a few days behind, but for the most part, things are going as scheduled. Did I say I love Flylady?? I had no one to jump on board, so me being the rebel, I pressed forward.

All the shopping is completed - I did every last single bit on the computer. I have not walked into one store. I decided that the hustle and bustle of retail did not fit my mood this year. Sometimes I like to fall up into the crowds in December, but not this year. I am far too busy to deal with long lines and grumpy patrons and tired and overworked clerks.

The house is decorated - done - finished. The only thing left is wrapping gifts, and by golly, that will be completed by the end of the day tomorrow. I feel relaxed and not rushed. I feel like I am on the other side of preparations. I have done all this in increments of 15 minutes. I have two egg timers, and they have been used quite frequently lately.

I have not blogged in forever, I have been busy.

I joined a group of folks tonight and we went to Bellingrath Gardens. It was really amazing. The attention to detail and the magnitude of preparation that was put into this is really mind bending. I really wonder what the electric bill will be for this place. There were hundreds and thousands of lights. If you have never seen Bellingrath Gardens at Christmas, please try and go. It was a lovely stroll thru the gardens.

I will surely post pics later, but I was quite tempted to throw the camera in the lake a few times. It was so foggy, that the lens would fog and make terrible pics. I am disappointed, but I will post soon.

So, I will rest easy tonight. Mr. Man is with the A.F. this weekend. I can have my bed to myself!

What simple pleasures in life make me smile.

Peace!

Strangers in my Yard

I was perusing my yard last week and found this strange growth coming from one of my plants. It came up overnite. One day it was not there and the next day it was. My friend, Bob, the Peanut Man, gave me these plants a couple of years ago and he called them Rice Paper Plants. According to him, this plant is indigenous to China and was once used to make paper. He said the first year they grow, the second year they run and the next year they flourish. There is a catchy little phrase, but I can't remember it.

He was right - the first year they just were there, same as when I planted them. The second year, all these shoots came up. I pulled many of them because I wanted to confine the plant to one area. And the third year they flourished.

This is what the plant looked like last year. This year they are about 4 feet tall and now have put out these strangers in my yard. I like weird plants - it suits my taste. My papyrus has taken hold also, and it is finally flourishing. I was a bit apprehensive at first that they would make it, but alas, I believe they will be fine.

Plants are a little like people, you just never know how they will turn out. You can fertilize them, nurture them, talk to them, but you just never know.

Makes me think of my family. Now bear in mind that the M.U. and my dearly departed dad had three children. We could not be any more different. We all have completely different personalities. We have all three chosen unconventional lifestyles - I mean not one of us lives in suburbia with 2.5 children and a two car garage, none of us are in a traditional familial setting. But, we all love each other deeply. Blood IS thicker, my friends. The M.U. loves each of us, but I believe she often wonders how all this came about.

It is the mystery of life. Much like those strangers in my yard.

Peace!