It's a Wonderful Life!!

Big Love

My Contractors are finished, for the most part. I have a punch list, which includes a leaky roof and a broken kitchen cabinet. Mr. Man decided to climb up on the counter for something......so he used the cabinet door like a ladder. It broke. Brad and Preacher Paul made a brief appearance to pick up the door and survey the leak. I have used these guys for all my renovations: bathroom, sun porch, they even built my patio, which I love. I will suffice it to say that their work ethic has slacked off a tad. But all is well, they are ever attentive to my demands, no matter how great they be. They are fairly entertaining - especially if you wish to debate religion - which should really not be a debate at all - and I told Preacher Paul just that. But he is literalistic, and things are black and white to him.

You see, I am more of a gray type individual. I have the blessing of seeing both sides to most things. I do have my opinions, you see, but over the years I have mellowed and simmered some. On the other hand, this has gotten me in a shit-pile from time to time.

The Motherly Unit and myself drove Allen to the airport last Friday. It was a tearful departure. I have mixed feeling about this, but the only thing I can come up with is HALLELUJAH JESUS! He will do better out of Swan City. This is not a good place for him. It was quite the fiasco at the airport - what with the poundage limitation on checked bags. So, I stood dutifully with my arms out lifted as he puttered through his bags to expel 26 pounds. Now can I just mention that he has boo-hooed beginning at Wiggins and was still wailing away...... The M.U. and I just stood there in awe, dumbfounded. He was making quite the spectacle of himself, my friends. I could have crawled under the baggage cart and sucked my thumb until his plane took off. But I remained calm, and resolute. I really thought he wasn't going to make the flight to begin with. The check in attendant gently said you better hurry to your gate. So he bear hugged the M.U. first, and that was a big to-do. Then he bear hugged me, and that was a bigger to-do. He hurried off to the escalator and the M.U. and I ran to our car........., not looking back........... and carefully opened our bottle of the finest Champagne the Blue Moon Liquor Store carried.... and sipped our way home. My friends, it was a glorious moment, that Friday morning.

Well, that was all fine and good. Then Saturday came and I had to face the music. Once again, it is left up to me and mom to clean up his mess. I hired painters (not my contractors) and the work has begun. Sweet Leisa is helping me, well, she is actually doing most of the work while I tend to the office. Then I go over to scrub walls and wash windows, mop floors and wonder how in the world I am going to rent this house. The pool is algae green and looks more like a duck pond. I will take a sample to the pool doctor very soon. As of today - the house looks pretty darn good. The 3" crack down the living room wall is filled, sanded and painted. The Red Room is going Green. My plan is to scrape the walls in the kitchen and prepare them so the painters can finish. I will leave the sanding to them.

My painter's name is Mr. Leotha - I like him. He is a jolly fellow with 2 sons that help. I like saying his name. I was singing the old Hee Haw song - remember this: "Gloom, Despair, Agony on me, deep dark depression, excessive misery" - well Mr. Leotha started howling, just like they did on Hee Haw. You should've heard that, my friends.

Can you believe I just admitted to watching Hee Haw, oh my Lord. I really may be losing my composure.

I am having a garage/yard/house sale next weekend. We are preparing this weekend, along with my preparing the kitchen walls. It should be a lovely time - I really can't wait till the weekend rolls around. Come by if you like "stuff" you may even find something you like. A girl has to do what a girl has to do to pay the bills, right?

Garage/yard/house sales are not really a comfortable thing for me. I may have attended a couple my whole life. My former mother in law lived for a garage sale. She would arise bright and early every Saturday morning to make the rounds. I thought it CRAZY, and a tad obcessive. Did you know garage sales are listed in the paper? This will be great. Maybe I'll become addicted or something like that. My friends, if my prescence can't be found on a Saturday morning, you have my complete permission to seek medical/psychiatric help for me. Well come to think of it, I already have that covered, just ask them to increase my dosages, OK??

But all is well with the world. Mr. Man is doing great and I have Big Love.

Let me just take the opportunity to say that God is excessively good.

It's a Wonderful Life - And Another Worthy Tale.......

Peace Out!

The Saturday Evening Post - The Big Mess, Politics and a little Football

Things are a big mess around here. My office is being painted and there are drop cloths on all my office equipment. I uncovered my computer, because, well, I enjoy my computer. Mr. Man's room is all covered up as well.

The Preacher Paul and son, Brad, my contractors, worked some today - arriving at 10:30 - just 30 minutes after I woke up. Some work was started, but nothing completed. Brad has gone from "I'll have you finished up by the end of the day on Friday" to "I think I'll come in on Sunday if you don't mind, to get your office finished - I know you will need to be there for Monday morning". Ya think????? Yes, Monday's are the big day around here. I set production for the plant and take orders from my vendors. I am on the computer and phone most of the day. I am grateful Brad is willing to go the extra mile for me.....

Just for the sake of Preacher Paul, I announced I was going outside to pray over St. Joseph, but I would be right back. It makes him crazy, so I like to get in the nudge. He told me today that if someone came by in the next couple of days, and offered me full price for my house, it would make a believer out of him. My expectations are not that high, but it would be nice, just to get a jab in for Preacher Paul. Older folk are sometimes set in their ways and thoughts, it would be nice to make an old dog see some new tricks. But I prayed over my buried 6 inches deep, in a plastic burial bag, upside down, facing the street, St.Joseph Statue. Preacher Paul said it was idolatry and he would be bringing me a zodiac calender soon.  He likes to jab too.

I am wrecked over the Pittsburgh Steelers loss tonight. It was a brutal game, hard hits, lots of squabbling on the field, the whole enchilada. It is the playoffs, and I would have loved to see the Steelers go a little further. They have this fellow named Davenport on their team, but we are no relation. Mr. Man would love to boast about being related to some of those athletic Manning boys, but he isn't.

Have you been following the latest on the political scene?? I am really shocked that Obama won the Iowa Caucus. Hillary came in 3rd, but remember, she was only .2% behind John Edwards, so I consider that a tie. I had predicted John Edwards would win, but what do I know?

In the Republican arena, Huckabee handily won the caucus vote in Iowa. The Motherly Unit has been glued to CNN, well, when not watching Law and Order or  CSI.  This Huckabee fellow was a Baptist minister in Arkansas. He is articulate and I like his agenda. Check out his issues, see where he stands and judge for yourself. He was Governor in Arkansas for 10 1/2 years and when he left, Arkansas had a huge surplus in the budget. I like his tax ideas and immigration plan - he says, put a dang camera on the borders - now that is a novel idea!! But Mitt Romney is ahead in some polls. Now my Mormon Boyfriend, Starling, is about as good a guy as they come, but I just don't see a Mormon being elected as President, do you??? Of course, I don't agree with every little Huckabee thing - but that is just the way it is! Enough about politics.........the M.U. taught me well - in some instances, it is better not to talk about politics or religion with some folks. Once again, this is MY blog and I can talk about anything I want!

It is late and I am tired, so I will just sign off in my usual way:

It's a Wonderful Life!

Peace.

Contractors Make Me Crazy!

When I first put my house on the market, I had several small things around the house that needed updating and fixed. Here is my punch list:

1. Install new cabinet sink and toilet in spare bathroom.

2. Install vinyl flooring in small hallway between my office and Mr. Man's bedroom.

3. Fill in mortar in brick where century old oak tree skimmed my house.

4. Install shoe molding in hallway and both bedrooms.

5. Jack up SE corner of house where it had settled.

6. Fix cracks in office where that side of house had settled.

7. Paint office, Mr. Man's ceiling and ceiling in 1st parlor.

Now this list doesn't seem overwhelming or even monstrous to me. Probably the jacking up SE corner of house was the most demanding - but this only took them (2 men working) 1 day.

So, this is their schedule: Arrive between 10 and 11. Work a couple of hours and then take an hour lunch break. They did not work Christmas Eve or the day after Christmas. They did not work New Years Eve or the day after New Years. And they leave about 30 minutes before dark.

Heck that is better than bankers hours!

So, it is 11:31 as I look at my clock and no show yet. Before they left, Brad told me "we'll be here between 8 and 8:30, so we won't have to work so long on Saturday".

I gave them a deadline of FINISH NO LATER THAN MONDAY - REALTORS WILL BE HERE TUESDAY MORNING!

End of Week 3 that should have taken 1 week to complete.....

My beef with them and anyone else for that matter is DO WHAT YOU SAY WHEN YOU SAY YOU WILL DO IT. This is not so difficult. This is no new idea or new way of thinking. It is your honor at stake here.

Like my Mother used to tell me - your word is your honor. Period.

It really is a Wonderful Life, I'm just aggravated right now, and this is MY FORUM TO BITCH!

Peace Out!

All Hail to St. Joesph.....

  I will bury MY St. Joseph Statue tomorrow. I ordered him on a website - "The Complete St. Joseph Kit" - I got the small one, he is 3" tall and an ivory color. You can read about it on Snopes.

I had never heard of this St. Joseph thing. Nor have most of the other folks I have talked with. My smart and funny bookkeeper, Trish, told me about this. She was reared Catholic and went to Catholic Schools. Then I asked Mr. Man and he thought he had heard something about it at school. That Catholic upbringing sometimes scares me. But Trish claims it to be true and if Trish says so, then it is the Gospel in my book.

So Trish and her beloved wanted to sell their house. She went out and bought herself one of those "Complete St. Joseph Kits". She buried her St. Joseph and three days later had a contract on her house when it was on the market briefly. Then after she packed some 95 boxes or so, her beloved decided he kinda liked their house. So, they got out of the contract rather quickly.

So, this is the deal, and I find it rather amazing and mystical. You bury this guy (statue) head down, facing the street, in his burial plastic and say a prayer over him for nine days straight.

My contractor happened to be over here when he arrived. He is doing a few updates and repairs so a buyer will just fall in love with my house. Paul is a retired Presbyterian minister. I made the mistake of asking him about this Catholic practice to aid a homeowner in selling their home. He thought it to be hogwash. What he actually said was "that is Catholic indulgence". Then went into the Reformation Movement by Martin Luther, and how he found the Catholic to be indulgent with the Vatican and stuff. And from then on he looks at me like I have lost my mind.

Well, I don't feel like I have lost my mind. I even told my friend Becky who was here also today, and whose house has been on the market for 9 months. She said "order me one of those things". So I gently told Becky that you have to believe that St. Joseph will really help you in selling your home.

I'm just trying to cover all bases, so the burial will take place this weekend. And I will go dutifully out there and repeat my scripted prayer for nine days straight. I will probably do this after dark, just so my neighbors won't think I am wacko.

Now speaking of neighbors, there is one fellow in my neighborhood that would thwart my big plans - and try and uncover my St. Joseph, or turn him in the wrong direction, or take him out of his plastic burial bag, just to get my feathers ruffled. But fear not, no one, and I mean, no one, will actually know the exact burial site. This will be a well kept secret!!

So, on with the burial plans and the packing........I will sell my house in January!! Well, maybe the middle of February, but NO later than that.

Positive, Punitive, and Positioned - yes, it will happen.

It's a Wonderful Life!

Peace!