CRAPPY NO MORE!

I wish I could post pictures.   I wish I could show you somehow how it is to be in the formerly crappy little house.   But a few months ago I decided that an IPhone was the default camera of my life.  And the IPhone does not cut it here.


To be fair, the house is not "ready."   I got all the junk out of the living room so that when Ed, my first builder who had to bail out, came to see it, it would look great.  I dreamed up this project in the first place.  But it was Ed who took me through the initial steps to get me to where I am today.  Ed started a cottage company that attracted me to its model.  The economy just could not support the project, and Nelson County made it too difficult to find the land for the cottages.  But our friendship took off like lightening.  And Ed helped me to sell my Coles Farm property and another lot I owned, and took me through endless houses throughout Nelson County and Charlottesville to try to find my vision of a little place to live.  When we found the Crappy Little House together, we began to dream in tandem.  Ed, who was a builder by trade anyway, and I were so committed to this project.  But it was not to be.   And as the project evolved, I came to hire Duncan to do the building and the design.  Ed has been more than supportive throughout.  He came last Sunday to see the final project and could not have been more flabbergasted at the end result.   There is no remnant of the Crappy Little House left.


So I should post pictures. . . right?   But it's a tiny house.  The IPhone does not translate into this small space.  I need a wide angle lens and someone who knows how to use it.   I've tried to take the "after" picture of the front of the house, but the sun is always in the wrong place and the IPhone cannot pick up how great it looks.  MY KINGDOM FOR A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER!!!!


Once the couches come, in 6 - 8 weeks, I'll try to take pictures.  But the colors don't come out right.  It's like when you have a new baby and you just love that baby so much, but every time you take pictures the baby doesn't look nearly as cute as you know he or she is.  Or something like that.


Anyway. . . . little by little, day by day I'm getting settled.  This is a final settlement in many ways.  Out with anything that doesn't work or is not used.  At least that is the intention.  What a challenge!


As I unpack boxes I handle every day those possessions which I have not seen in 6 months, but which "made the cut" when I was doing a slash and burn on everything I owned last spring.   It's like finding an old friend.  And then looking at the object  and hoping I can find a place in my tiny house.   


So pictures are coming.  But it's impossible to photograph what is in my heart about this place I now live.  It is my soul and a true representation of all that I love.   Next week's project:  hanging pictures on the walls.  And only the best pictures from my past life have survived. And there are limited walls.  And they are small.  And I have several new photos and art created by people I actually know and care for.  And they will find their place to the walls of my new home.  I will be surrounded by what I care about and by who cares about me.   Everyone should have the opportunity to regroup and search for what is truly sacred to them.  I'm so happy and lucky to be doing this.   Okay. . okay.   Pictures will come. . .  eventually.  Patience!

PERSONAL TRAINING

Yesterday was moving day.  And I should have blogged at the end, but frankly, I was so exhausted that I could not even think about it.   But the move took place and I did spend my first night in my new house last night.  And it was great.


I know I have recently blogged about George the Trainer.  But yesterday he took "personal training" to a whole other level.  I showed up at 9:45 for my work out. He had already agreed to help me move between 11 and 1.   I figured that would allow us two trips with his pick-up and my Rav 4.   We could get most of the bigger pieces of furniture in two trips.  I would take him to lunch between the trips.  Luckily, the storage unit with my stuff was 10 minutes away, and lunch would be at the good old Blue Toad, located between the storage area and my house.


So when I showed up to work out, George announced to me that my workout that morning would be a "pre-moving" workout.  And he was true to his word.  While the others had their more conventional cardio/weight/core workouts, George had me doing all kinds of different stretches to get my legs and back and arms ready for the moving ahead.


At 11:00 we went to the storage unit and loaded up big pieces including the bed. My goal. . . . get that bed built and made up and ready for me to sleep in!  Lunch in between loads.  Then the second load.  It's interesting moving with your trainer.  Even though he is strong as an ox, there were pieces that needed two people.  And I was person #2.   The whole time he was advising me how to lift.  At one point when we were struggling with the pillow-top queen-sized mattress. . . not be cause it was so heavy but because it was so awkward. . . .and the wind was blowing hard, and the straps for holding it were on the wrong ends.   So he told me to put my hands on both sides of the mattress an squeeze hard in order to lift it.   It worked!  What I didn't realize is that I've been in training for this move for three years!


After he left I built the bed. Which involved locating a phillips-head screw driver and some socket wrenches.  Luckily, Chad gave me a set a couple of years ago and they were easily accessible in the storage shed out back.  It took a lot of grunting and groaning, but eventually I managed to get it together!

The pieces of the puzzle.  Each one of these frame parts is VERY heavy and awkward.

Step one.  Figure out the order to construct this.  Lots of nicked fingers and grunting and groaning ensues.  I have attached the cross bar with the three "V's" only to find out that this one obviously goes in the middle slot.  Take it apart. . . start over.  More grunting and groaning!

Yes, I know.  A very dark picture.  That's because in order to get the frame together, I had to man-handle the mattress up against the sliding glass door to get it out of the way, which blocked the light.  But the frame is finally together in this picture.  Some people may find this picture "dramatic."   But I find it dark!

Let the sunshine in!   The problem?  I had stacked the mattress and box springs against the wall backwards so that when they fell on the frame they were upside down.  Much more grunting and groaning.   Also I learned:  If you store a pillow-top mattress on its side for 8 months,  all the "pillow" ends up on one side.  Kind of like having a Sleep Number Bed, with one side being hard and the other soft,  until it all settles back in!

Colors are off again.  And I haven't found all the pillows that go with this set.  But this is the finished product!  And I could crawl right in last night.  And after the moving and building day I had had,  it was pretty easy to fall asleep.


And this morning when I woke up. . . . I opened my eyes and this is what I saw:

This is what I "saw" the first day I came into the Crappy Little House a year and a half ago.  I imagined waking up and looking out of a sliding door (it was a tiny window at the time) and seeing the mountains.  And this morning. . . there they were.  Just like I contemplated.  Just like I planned!  Ahhhhhhh!


I grabbed some breakfast. . . harder than it sounds since I have not found the silverware yet.   I "drank" my cereal out of a mug.  Then I WALKED to 5 Star Health and Fitness, just like I've been imagining I would.  It was cold and blustery.  But the walk is all of 2 minutes.   And I arrived at my workout where George put me through a "post moving" regimen.    Now THAT'S personal training!   And I am home at last!

NESTING!

I'm not sure, but I think this might be my last night in Jean's house.  I've known this was coming, but I didn't know the exact day.   My Formerly-Known-As-The-Crappy-Little-House is finished.  Well. . . almost.  But finished enough for me to move in.


Inspector lady came today and said I didn't even need a certificate of occupancy since it was not a new construction.   She must not have seen it in its "complete gut job" stage.   


George the Trainer is on board for tomorrow after my workout.  We'll make one trip to the storage unit for a pick-up truck's worth of furniture.  We'll unload that.  I'll take George to lunch.  Then we will return for load #2.  That's all I want tomorrow.  And with any luck, we will make it to the back of the left hand side of the storage unit where resides my bed.   Even if I have nothing but a mattress on the floor, I'm sleeping there tomorrow night.  I'm going to contemplate myself sleeping there tomorrow night.  I'm pretty good at this contemplating stuff.


Today I took a few things from the storage unit.  Small bags of stuff.  Like my new pots and pans that I bought at Chautauqua.  However. . . . BEWARE!  The bags from the storage unit are inhabited by quite a large number of stink bugs.  I discovered this today.  So each and every item will have to be inspected thoroughly before admittance into the house.  And that will slow things down a bit.  But an infestation of stink bugs is unacceptable.


Today was distinguished by two main house-related events.   I unpacked and constructed the table I bought at Pier 1 Imports and picked up yesterday.  It was not difficult, but it was awkward.  I could have used a third and fourth hand in the putting it together process.  Sandy was going to help me but Bill is back in the hospital with a post-surgery infection.  So she had an excused absence.   And me being me. . . . well, I just don't let that kind of thing stop me.  And voila.  The table is built and in place in front of the triple windows in the living room.   My first set piece of furniture.


The second event was that my new neighbor, Chelly, came over to see the house for the first time. She is bubbly and friendly and I'm so excited to have this neighbor next store.  I have all my wonderful neighbors at Chautauqua, but have never had close neighbors outside there.   She's happy I'm there and vice versa!


Besides that there is mud everywhere, although Duncan the Builder has done a good job of putting in drainage and mulching the hell out of the surrounding land. But the wonderful cleaning job of this past weekend is a thing of the past.  There will be a lot of mud to get off the floor.  Trying my best to keep the carpet clean.


So I expect I'll be moving in and getting settled for weeks and weeks as I decide what items that made the cut last spring will not make the final cut.  Nesting.  One of my favorite things to do.   Couches aren't due until 6 and 8 weeks respectively.  So there won't be much of a place for anyone to sit for awhile.  And the island counter top is still not back.  So there's not much place to eat yet.


But my house is mine.  And I will, hopefully, tomorrow be able to take the quotation marks off the word "home."   I could not be happier.

                           

DEAR JOAN,

Today is your 63rd birthday.   You know I can't go much farther without mentioning that even though I celebrate the day you were born,  I wasn't born yet.  I had a trimester to go in my development.  But don't think I hold that against you.  Oh I held it against you when you got your driver's license before I did.  But that did not prevent me from letting you drive me all over the place before I got mine.  Let's just say that having picked "driving around" as our location of choice for all our long talks, it's a good thing that, at the time, gas was less than 30 cents a gallon.


You are the emotional one of our friendship.   If we go to a movie, you have the Kleenex out before the opening credits have rolled.  I, on the other hand, can watch the most gut-wrenching sentimental movie and come out of it dry eyed ( I inherited Marion Powell's genes in that respect).   So why, when I was driving down the road on the way home from choir practice this morning, and the title of this blog popped into my head (as it so often does), did I burst into tears?  Maybe it had to do with the Paul McCartney and Wings radio station I had created on my Pandora.  Maybe the sentimental music swelling in the background, coupled with the thoughts of you and your birthday were just a little too much for me.   Or maybe in those circumstances, I just finally realized what my life has meant to have you in it.  (Oh God. . . I can hear you running for the tissues now.)


Our 63rd year of life means the 59th year of our friendship.  I can't remember a time when you weren't there. . .if not in the flesh, then surely in my mind.  We were doctor's daughters together.  And everyone thought we were privileged and we were for sure.  But we also both came from households that exercised amazing fiscal restraint.  Neither of us was indulged as a child.  I'm so glad for that.  Your dad never even had air conditioning in his car!  


What will always be the hallmark of our friendship is our laughter.  For you and me. . . . EVERYTHING is funny.  And if it's not funny right now, it will be funny in the near future.  So we have laughed.  Not just girlish giggles, although there were those.  But big, mountain-moving, uncontrolled, screaming, can't catch your breath, honking laughter.  So much laughter that just to think of our laugh-attacks can make me come up with one.  And sometimes that's just what I need.


As kids we spent the night at each other's houses.  I thought your mom was gentle and kind and warm.  You thought she was lame and suppressed.    You thought my mom was outgoing and lively and maybe even funny.  I thought she was an unfeeling army sergeant.  We got from each others moms that which we lacked in our own.  Funny that.


I remember in our junior high and high school years, giving each other our yearbooks over night so that we could write in them.   And what resulted is pages and pages of memories for each year.  Memories dotted with:  "Never forget. .  . .. .", "never forget. . . .  . . ..,"  "always remember. . . . . . ,"  never forget. . . . ."   And now we get together with those yearbooks and a bottle of wine, and we read them to each other.  And we laugh and laugh because we CAN'T REMEMBER ANY OF IT!!!!!  But it sure sounds like we had fun!


We work well together.  You are one of the few people I can be with almost constantly for days at a time and I don't want to drop kick you off the nearest roof after a couple of days.  To that end we have explored the length and breadth of Indianapolis for days and days,  revisited Danville, and of late Bloomington/Normal.  You endured what was probably the most hideous fashion show of all time.  No, I'm not talking about the ones in junior high where we modeled what we had made in home ec,  and I always had to have my dresses remade by a dressmaker before the style show.   I'm talking about last October when we were in Bloomington and I was determined to use the pool in the motel but had not brought a suit.  So, much to your horror, I walked across the street to Goodwill and bought 3 different swim suits (heck they were 3 bucks apiece) and then modeled them for you so that you could tell me which was the least offensive to wear in public.  Now that's a friend!


Our two trips to Nantucket (turning 50 and turning 60) were amazing.  From lobster daily, to exotic cocktails, to stalking local authors, to renting a Smart Car, to riding our bikes 20 miles to Sconset and back, to Peter Pipers market. . . site of one of the most memorable laugh attacks we have ever had over something as innocuous  as a cherry tomato rolling off the salad bar and bouncing across the floor (I'm laughing as I type).  Nantucket is our place.  Or one of our places.  


You have seen me through all my big events.  You wrote a note to pin inside my blazer when I auditioned at Wesleyan.  I still have it somewhere. . .  all the letters having run together what with all my sweating. You rewrote Shakespeare for me for one of my birthdays.   You provided 5 Star vacations for me as a single mom who needed child care relief.  Good old Bill!  


You bucked me up when I suddenly found myself with an empty nest about 4 years before I should have. . And you showed up at my dad's funeral in part because my boys wouldn't come and I was "alone."   Never mind that we snorted all the way up the aisle of the service and cried all the way down the aisle afterwards.  And then had one of our most hilarious episodes during, of all things, spreading my dad's ashes at Lake Junaluska.  Bill has never recovered from my irreverence for the dead.  He never understood that our afternoon at the lake was one of the biggest tributes my dad ever got!  We can't help it if EVERYTHING is funny eventually!    


We have walked miles and miles of antique malls and open houses. Your phenomenal house decorating abilities have inspired me to attempt my own. I'll never be as good as you are.  Being inside your home is a visual and culinary treat.  Not to mention a personal one.   We have drunk gallons of wine and put together dozens of jigsaw puzzles and watched millions of videos.   You have seen me through DFD situations and you have sat uncomplaining through sorority songfests.   


I just quite simply do not know how I would have ever negotiated my life without you.  And just typing that makes me well-up with tears again.  And you've sat through enough sad movies with me to know how amazing that is.


We often talked about finding a nursing home together.  That is not off the table as far as I'm concerned. But I think there are a couple more trips to Nantucket in the future before we have to think about that.  But maybe we should start 5 year intervals?


Happy Birthday my #1 friend.   Many many happy returns. .  . . and most of them with me!  And try to forget that you are 63 and I'm not!

BEING A REGULAR

Please note:  this is not about being irregular!   Regular is a noun in this blog, not an adjective.   Why would I write the other story????


But before I write any story I must digress (doesn't ever take me long to do that) and share a completely unrelated observation I made this week.   Under the heading: Things I realized that I never realized before.


         Couples who are in bad relationships talk like this:
                        #1 - "I'm right!"
                        #2 - "No I'm right!"




         Couples who are in a good relationship talk like this:
                        #1 - I was wrong.  I'm sorry.
                        #2 - No I was wrong.  I'm sorry.




Okay. . . back to the topic at hand.


Well, pretty soon I will be moving into my house and I can stop all this nonsense of eating out twice a day, every day.   I started on Weight Watchers back in October and I've battled the eating-out-twice-a-day thing the whole time.


I suppose I could eat here at "home."  And I do.  If I get to the store (which is at least a 20 minute drive, depending on which grocery store I choose) then I can bring in a couple of days worth of lunches or dinners.  But I'm very picky about how I eat.  I don't bring in "sandwich stuff."   I eat as little bread as possible. . . preferably none.  I don't eat lunch meat.   I eat produce and organic produce if at all possible.   At least one big salad a day.   I can bring in salad stuff, but not lots of it.  Not a week's worth.  In my new big refrigerator there will be room for LOTS of salad stuff.  I can go to Whole Foods (35 minutes away) a couple of times a week and stay supplied.  I can prepare wonderful soups and dishes and then freeze them in individual portions.  I miss that so much!


But I've been eating out pretty much twice a week.  So I have this group of selected eating places around here.  I have gone in, perused the menu, calculated the Weight Watchers points of a preferred dish, and then returned to that restaurant time after time for that one thing.


So what has happened is that I'm a "regular" in a number of places.  And I'm getting pretty spoiled about it.


It started with the Lovingston Cafe.   A few years back I discovered their smoked trout salad.  One of my favorite meals of all time.  Makes my mouth water just writing it.  If there was not a blizzard currently outside my window, I might stop writing and head over there right now!  It's about 25 minutes away so I have to go there on purpose.  Nothing else in that direction for me to combine a trip.   For the last several years all I have to do is walk in the door and they smile, point to my regular booth and go about preparing my salad.  I take a book and read while I wait.   They are so good to me there.


For the last few months one of my choices is The Blue Toad, a relatively new establishment only 5 minutes from my new house.  They have a veggie burger that I really like.  But I don't want the fries. . . I substitute a house salad with Italian dressing.  When I walk into the Toad, Guy the Waiter smiles, points to my regular table, and goes about arranging for my meal.  The only question is whether or not I'm drinking iced tea or coffee.  They know me by name.  They are so good to me there.


Then there's Kumo Asian Bistro in Springfield where I have recently gone each and every Tuesday night before driving the final 20 miles to choir rehearsals.   They know me.   When I come in they smile and point to my regular booth.  Although we're talking the DC metro area and if I don't get there early enough, the regular booth is not available.   They know I'm either going to order hot and sour soup with an Alaskan roll made with brown rice,  or "Cindy's Roll."    Cindy's Roll is delicious, but made in such huge pieces that it's practically impossible for me to chopstick that sucker into my mouth!   So now they know that if I order Cindy's Roll, he's supposed to make it smaller.  This is a big "SO THERE" to all the people who accuse me of having a big mouth!  They are so good to me there.


At Trailside Coffee, Hunter the Waiter knows that I will get iced coffee and if I'm splurging that day, a Harvest Cookie to eat while I read.   Sometimes, if I don't order the cookie, Hunter will bring me out one that got a little burned or turned out too small.  He knows I love them.   I have an "account" there and only have to order the food and they deduct it from my card.  They are so good to me there.


And now there's Green Leaf Grill in Waynesboro, my new favorite place. Stumbled on that when I started making my almost daily trips to Lowes and Home Depot for renovation stuff.  At Green Leaf Grill the menu is so good that I haven't settled on "my dish" yet.  The food is freshly prepared by a chef, and served in reasonable proportions (I'm sure most people would call the portions small.  But for me, who knows all about portion size. . they are perfect!).  No matter what I decide on, the wait staff (maybe Ashley, maybe Matt, maybe Paul . . . . I always learn my server's name) now follows with,  "And you will be having coffee after your meal?"  Because they know the answer is yes!  They also know to bring me a "to go" cup for the iced water with lemon that I take with me.  On Sundays, after watching CBS Sunday Morning I go there for their brunch (although I eschew the buffet and order off the menu) and hear Steve, the jazz guitarist who always smiles and waves at me.  They are so good to me there.


So another wonderful benefit of small town living.  I have all these places where I show up and they are glad to see me!  Yea, I know, I'm buying their goods.  But they are just nice people.  It's great to be recognized.  To be told,  "We haven't seen you for awhile!"   To feel like I belong here.


Being a regular is fabulous.  Being irregular. . . not so much.  But why would I write that story?

FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES

It's Thursday night.  And I was told today that it is just possible that next Thursday night I will be going to bed in my new house!  That leaves 6 more nights here.  Which is fine.  And if I'm not there next Thursday, that will be fine as well.  But what if I am?   How cool!


Here's some new progress:

Appliances are in!  And mostly hooked up.  Water went on today so I could actually flush a toilet if I had to.  Haven't had to yet. 

Second bathroom vanity installed and backsplash tile behind it in, but not grouted.
These colors aren't exactly true, but you get the idea.


Kitchen backsplash is in but not grouted.  The living room is finally virtually empty. I can measure for the couch tomorrow.  This is one cute house on the horizon.


Also. . . .master bedroom closet finished except for carpet:

Made another trip back and forth to Lowes.   I'm hoping those daily trips are coming to and end.


Tonight Duncan and I went to a meeting of the local home builders.   I would not usually go to a meeting like this, but Dave was the featured speaker!   Now I have spent hours with Dave over the years discussing what it is that he does.  But I've never seen him in action in front of a crowd.


When we were dating, back when our kids were in elementary school, he regularly attended the year end performances of the 6th Grade Show that I wrote and produced each year.  So he's seen me in action as an elementary music teacher.  And he now and again attends Choral Arts performances.  So he's seen me in action as a choral musician.  But I have never seen him in action as an economist.   Being an economist does not necessarily lend itself to "action" unless you are Dave and a super big-shot with a national trade association.  And you are required to speak all over the world in that capacity.   But tonight I got to hear his presentation as he tried to reassure the local builders about the future of the economic situation where they are concerned.   I'm cloaking all this a bit.  I'm not typing the name of the trade association, nor am I going to use his full name.  Because he is someone who gets "Googled."  And I know enough after the famous singing celebrity that I mentioned a couple of years ago.  Someone Googles him and my blog pops up.  I don't think Dave would want his professional colleagues to necessarily read about my take on his abilities.  Not that I would be anything but complimentary.


But it is kind of strange to see someone who I know so well be treated like a celebrity.  Kind of like when I go to one of Chad's appearances and see all his fans.  I mean. . . that's my little boy!!!!  I changed his diapers!


So tonight I sat at the dinner and listened to an economist speak.  And he was funny and charming and articulate and clearly knew what he was talking about.  I wouldn't have expected anything less, but it was fun to watch.


And having a big shot friend has served me in other ways too.   Duncan the Builder has been very excited about my knowing him.  And I know for a fact that he has pushed his crews to get as far along in the building of my house as possible so that when Dave stops by to see it tomorrow, Duncan can show it off. Whatever it takes!


Interesting and fun evening with a group of people in the building-related professions.  Always fun to see groups who have spent their adult lives doing things I don't understand.   All a part of being a constant learner.

Dave in action!

ON BEING IN LOVE

Well, chances are I've lost all my readers!  Because one thing that all my friends  know is that when it comes to "being in love"  I am NOT an expert!  I'm a disaster.


I think everyone gets dealt a hand in life.  Part of that hand is made up of the gifts and abilities we receive, and the other half is built of our struggles.  Then our life is composed of all the things we do to deal with how to use the gifts and how to handle the struggles.   


I was blessed with a good brain, a quick wit, musical ability and an independent spirit.  I would not trade those for anything.  They have served me well.  But when one considers my ability to make love work?   Well, let's just all LOL.   I did not get the innate understanding of what to do about that.  As a result. . . I live alone.  But my independent spirit has been a blessing.  . because as it turns out. . . I love to live alone and I'm good at it.   


So lacking the wherewithal to be able to sustain a relationship with a man. . . I have formed relationships with each and every house I've lived in since my boys grew up and left the nest and I was forced to dismantle the house where they were raised.  Once I was on my own, the houses I lived in became my source of comfort and security and constance.  Seems weird I know.  But that is the truth.


But even in the housing department, I have been fickle.  I have lovingly acquired and settled and then moved away from a wonderful rented townhouse in Old Town Alexandria.   Loved it there.  Every part of my life was wonderful, from the charming row house on Harvard Street, to the easy walk to Whole Foods, to the proximity to the metro, to the charm of the shops on King Street.  A fabulous year and a half of my life.   Loved the house in every way.


Then there was the house I built at the top of Devils' Knob mountain at the Wintergreen Resort.  Chose every single square inch of design and inner decorations.   Loved that house with my whole heart.   Got giddy on Thursdays in the classroom because I knew that on Friday I was going to drive away from that school and head for my mountain house.   I cherished every single second of every single weekend (and I was there EVERY weekend) that I spent there.  I agonized at closing the door on Sunday afternoon and driving back to my weekday life.  I counted the days until I could come back.


Then there was Coles Farm Drive.  Seven and a half acres of pure heaven.  The fields, the bordering stream, the privacy, the stars, the woods and the trails I made there, the beautiful house with the wood stove that kept me so warm and safe during the winters. . . and Chester the Wonder Dog who came to live with me there and who still lives in that wonderful paradise.   The hours on my John Deere tractor which were just sublime and which I still miss.   Fabulous house.


And now, coming up. . . Hillcrest Lane.   I'm only a week and a half out.  I cannot believe how my heart skips a beat as I drive up to that already beloved place.  It's my place.  I'm safe there.  It will be my refuge.  Here are a couple of teaser pics. . . the rest to come when the place gets cleaned up!  


Least exciting picture first!

Tankless hot water heater.  It's not pretty.  But I love it!

One of three ceiling fans with short blades.  Thought they might look weird.  But I love them.  They compliment the size and design of the house beautifully.  One in the living room, den and my bedroom.

Pendant light in the kitchen.  There are three of these.  Love the design. Bought them last spring at Lowes because I loved them that much.  They have cool "Edison" bulbs in them.  When those burn out I may have to go to regular ones. Can't really see in this picture how cool they are.

A close up of my living room rug which I found in Springfield on Tuesday.  Hope to get the orange/rust color for the couch.  If not then the gold, or maybe brown.  Still looking for the perfect couch.  I could stare at this rug all day it pleases my eyes so much.  

The dark door knobs against the wonderful paneled doors. This is the linen closet in the master bathroom. 

Ta-da!   The much anticipated bath tub.  I am so in love with this tub!   And, as I have related before, I have scrimped in several areas of the house to provide myself with this decadence. . . this tub and a tv on the wall to watch while I'm in it.  I ordered a special water-proof tv on the internet a couple of days ago.    Not cheap.  Got the smaller one. . . 18 1/2 inch screen.   Told Duncan the Builder who told me it would be too small.  I countered that it would be fine and besides I could not afford the next biggest one.   Today the company called to say that they were very sorry but the TV I ordered had sold out.  But would I be agreeable for them to send me a 24" TV for the same price?   I told them I would be very agreeable to that.   Sometimes my Karma is very good!




Today the frame for the screened porch went up.   Kitchen counters will be installed next Wednesday which will make it possible for all the appliances to be installed.  By the end of next week,  I may be able to move in.


In retrospect, I wish I had figured out how to find the right guy, be in love, and have a companion for life.  Especially if he and I had been able to sustain our devotion to each other over the long haul.  I did not have that model in my parents, unfortunately.  I know couples who have been married for the long haul and have remained each other's best friends.  Wow, do I admire them.  Can't imagine how they did it.   I couldn't manage it.


But I love my life and my friends.  And I particularly love this Cute Little House that is over there on Hillcrest Lane waiting for me to move in.  My own little Valentine. . . in the form of my home.    All is well.

FIDELIO!

After missing the first Fidelio rehearsal because of illness two weeks ago, I was able to get to the rehearsal tonight.  It's interesting because the men have the larger part.  So the women are dismissed at 9:00 and the men finish out the rehearsal.  Which means I drive a total of 7 hours for a rehearsal that lasts an hour and half.  But I'm not complaining.  I learned in college that Beethoven had written one opera.  But I've never heard it nor sung it in all these years.  And here I am.  Learning the music.  As Beethoven for singers goes, this is pretty easy.  But there's a good chance that we will have to memorize the choruses we are singing. Opera music is so different from oratorios or masses.  Mostly the chorus punctuates the action or accompanies the singers. So we're basically singing backup.   We're The Pips!  It's great fun and challenging and a wonderful musical opportunity.  And we work really hard to get the German pronunciations perfect! The drive is irrelevant in the face of all that.  And I got back to Dave's at a decent hour tonight and got to have a long talk on the phone with Chad.  I wanted to ask him about his time in Indianapolis, and send him a photo I got of the Redskins race car that was part of one of the displays out there.  I rarely get to chat with Chad for a long period of time and tonight's talk was really special.  That alone was worth the drive!  No matter how many times I tell them, my boys will never realize the depth of my love for them.


On the home front the house progress is so exciting.  I think I may have a move-in date!  I have avoided locking in a date so as to not be disappointed.  I have been willing to let this house take as long as it takes to get it right.  And now it seems that MAYBE I'll be able to start moving in next weekend.  Not this coming weekend. . . .but NEXT weekend.   This is a glaring light at the end of a very long tunnel.


I came up to DC area early today to go to a couple of stores up here to search for the perfect living room rug.  I'm putting in the order for the couches tomorrow.  And I found a rug!  I know. . .who cares?  But for me, it was crucial in making everything else in the room work.  So the back seat of my little Honda is stuffed with rug.  When I get back tomorrow the bath tub will be in.  I will definitely post pictures of that.  I cut corners throughout the house to be able to afford my bath tub.  Actually my bathroom is one of my favorite rooms in the house.


So sorry that I'm so "all about me" these days.   Chad would tell you that I am always like that, but really I'm not.  But when you are 75% hermit,  getting your "hermitage" finished is very very important.


So. . opera by Beethoven.  Phone calls from Chad.   House renovation entering its final stages.  Life is good.

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK.

This has been a good week.  More eventful than I thought it would be.  I love it when a week turns out like that.   Here's what I learned:


1. Last Saturday:  I learned that it's possible to feel love from people even if you don't directly communicate with them.  It's frustrating not to communicate directly, but it's still there.  Last Saturday (one week ago)  I found a new wallpaper photo for my computer.   Hey. . . . I'm usually an open book.  Allow me one area of my life where I don't tell everything.  


2.Last Sunday: I learned about the classic movies at the Paramount Theater.  Glad I decided to go and will return often.


3. Monday: I learned that I can make good cabinet choices!

3.Tuesday:  I learned that a new guy really will come to take over the reins of The Washington Choral Arts Society.   I learned that the candidates are good!  I learned that of the two who rehearsed us on Tuesday, either would suit me.  Although I'm leaning towards Don McCullough.  If it's him, I may have to stay for another year.  But I also know there are two more guys coming up in a couple of weeks.  So I'll save my opinions.


4.  Wednesday:  Even though I was back to working out, I learned that it takes awhile for the body to bounce back after being sick for over a week.  I also learned that sometimes you have to cut your best friend some slack when she's caught between a rock and a hard place.


5. Thursday: I learned that if I'm contemplating not being in choir and having a fuller life down here, I need to nurture these relationships.  I learned that instead of dropping out of Writer's Group,  I should stay in and be with these lovely women.  Almost didn't go on Thursday.  But went anyway.  And I feel re-committed to this group.  Received a Super Bowl Sunday dinner invitation which will probably be a Downton Abbey Sunday instead.  Lovely invitation. . . would not have received it if I had blown off writer's group.  


I also learned that I need a lot more stuff for the house.  Thursday's acquisitions:  ceiling fans,  garbage disposal, door knobs, light fixture, toilet.  I learned that I need to look hard at the deliveries.  My builder caught the dents in the front of the refrig.   I would have never seen them.  Back went the refrig.   I learned that if the Lowe's truck hits the eaves of the front porch and damages it, the builder will step in and fix it.


6. Friday: I again learned that I need to resist the temptation to not do what I need to be doing. ( I guess the opposite of that would be to resist doing the things that I should not be doing!) Almost didn't go to workout, but then did.  It was assistant trainer Andy.  Had a great workout. . . getting stronger.  


I learned that there are some gorgeous photos coming out of Indianapolis as they celebrate the Super Bowl.  And that Chad comes back home today.


7. Today:  Sixth workout of the week.  Sometime in the middle of this one, I got my mojo back!  My energy kicked back in and I just wanted to keep going.   I learned that the human body is an amazing machine that sometimes gets sick.  But with care and patience (and in my case,  1 lousy Aleve tablet) it will heal itself.  I recommit myself to healthy eating and practices.  I love the way I feel today.


It's been a great week!

INDY STATE OF MIND!

So it's Wednesday and I have house updates to report.  But I must also report that I'm in an Indy state of mind.   That's in part because my first born son Chad is out there now for Super Bowl.  He's no doubt at this very minute sitting in Radio Row and interviewing some important football player or coach or celebrity.  Hope I can figure out how to stream the show so that I can listen.  I love to hear him do interviews.   Last year he interviewed Dan Snyder, the wildly unpopular owner of the Redskins.  He was not gentle with old Dan and the interview got a bit of press.


Chad's being in Indianapolis increases by one the number of people within those city limits whom I care for deeply.   I have spent time in that great city for many years running.  My Best Friend From Childhood, Joan lives there.  I used to take my kids to Indy during the summers.  I would leave the boys with her husband Bill, a certified grown-up but with a penchant for easily slipping back into adolescence at the drop of a hat.  My boys LOVED spending time with Bill.  Joan and I would spend our afternoons prowling antique malls, eating at Steak & Shake, driving the neighborhoods, attending open houses.  Chad and Casey would stay with Bill where they would attend movies, play with remote control airplanes, go to video arcades, and indulge in junk food.  It was win/win/win/win/win.   For a single parent this was just about the best arrangement ever.


According to Joan, Indianpolis is positively abuzz with Super Bowl functions right now.  Considering that their team was worse than even ours this year, it must be a bittersweet pill.   But a boon to the economy.  


There was a time in my life when I seriously considered retiring to Indy.  I love the mid-west feel of the place.  Having grown up in Danville, Illinois, not too far away, it felt like my childhood.  Joan and I were always on the look out for the 1920's vintage house I would buy to live in her general neighborhood.  But eventually the mountains of Virginia called louder.   But I love to visit there.  And I envy my son for being there right now.


On the Crappy Little House front. . . . . I think I'm going to have to change the name.  I was going to lovingly always refer to it by that name, but it's just so cute now that I'm not sure I can.  Today the painting inside was done.   I have colors in my house!  And beautiful colors.   My front door is now a gorgeous burnt orange/russet color.  Looks sensational with the siding.  Tomorrow the appliances arrive.  It's beyond exciting.  Pictures to follow, but not tonight.


So a big shout out to all my loved ones in Indy.  May the Super Bowl come and go without incident and the whole city be better off for the experience.   Chad comes home before the game, I believe.   I hope he has some time to enjoy the ride while he's there!  Check out this gorgeous photo!