The Renovation - Part I

Well, I guess I asked for it. The bathroom is tore up and believe it or not, I am not stressing over the mess, YET. I have give Sabrina Cart-Blanche in doing her old bathroom over, not realizing that the drywall may be coming down and new, mold free drywall will be installed. They just don't make houses of the days of old so I will do it right, since I will most likely live in here through my retirement years. At the request of my daughter Andrea, I will post some regular pictures of the transformation regularly, as it is much easier now with electronic devices to snap and upload quickly. For my sanity, I am only working on a single project at a time. Will need to finish the bathroom before my parents come to stay for 3 weeks in April this year. Should have the new colors on the wall and the new vanity and fixtures in as well as hooking the already purchased and installed energy efficient toilet back up. The most dreaded task is recaulking it all, as it is messy and takes a bit to dry completely. Have to go shopping for new fixtures and vanity yet, still trying to decide on the right color, then there is the task of choosing a theme and purchasing new towels and the like. Something simple really is never that, so much thought and planning to consider.

Sabrina has the "installing drywall" instructions from the Internet open on my computer and I guess this will really happen soon, hopefully this weekend, in order that I might be able to start coloring the rest of the room. I never really considered fixtures until just now, but am going toward the brushed nickel look, clean and easy to upkeep as well as being a classic look. I am getting more traditional in my interior design selection, a change from my current contemporary look. I believe age has a way of doing that, becoming more classical and rich looking. The south sure has that appeal here. And the patients whom I visit weekly have provided me with many different varieties of decor and color as well as style.

Had to take a break here to get that first sip of coffee, ah, the delicacy of good coffee. Sorry to get off track here, but need my java in the morning. So wonderful doing the slow raising and welcoming a new day. Will have to stretch and work out next then do my reading.

Back to the house. As noted in Andrea's blog, the house was built in 1985 and has all the original workings except for the new roof, windows and A/C units/heat pumps. All energy efficient, which is evident in the monthly savings on the electric bill. Solar would have nice but the technology has not really been affordable as yet. Upon purchase of our home in 1991, we immediately installed an in ground pool, which has been upgraded with new liner and cover, a must when you live in the humidity here and have small children. During latter years of my children's youth, the pool sat empty and neglected, as they were too busy with boys, school, athletics to name a few, but has recently become the popular hot spot for the neighbors and me. I used that pool almost daily this past summer and plan the same this year. Nothing better than to feel the water on your bare skin during the humid nights. A hot tub has been added to the enclosed deck which also gets a lot of activity year round. It is especially nice when it is freezing cold outside and the steam is all about you and the sun is rising. A new fresh coat of paint sits on the exterior of the house. Kevin has been faithful to maintain this over the years. Gutters will need to be upgraded at some point, but no hurry on that as yet. I believe one could upgrade just about everything if having an endless checkbook. I am looking at the time and realize I must turn attention to other tasks, so I will close on this installment of the renovations. Look for updates soon to come. Have a blessed day, one and all.

The Dawn of a New Day

Here is sit, in the wee hours of the morning, wide awake and feeling like I need to write. Hit the sack early, guess the events of the weekend and company wore me out more than I realized. Got a clean bill of health from the doctor yesterday, gallbladder is staying put for awhile, fine by me. Didn't relish the thought of surgery anytime soon. Getting used to having someone else in the house again. A bit of chaos with Sabrina's things all about and the upstairs bathroom in turmoil. But the end result will be well worth it.

I sit here with my XS drink in hand, enjoying the sassafras root beer drink tickle my tongue. I really don't need the extra kick at this time of the morning, but what the heck, it sure tastes good. Almost considering a dive in the hot tub to feel the warm water but then I may never get back to bed. Will most likely hit the books to study before trying sleep again later.

Will try and post a bit a humor today since Andrea feels my first post was a bit serious but that is my personality. I can be all business one minute and then my sanguine side kicks in. The new item of events happened this weekend when the old frig decided it was time to quit. I didn't even realize this until my company made comments on the melting ice cubes. Lucky, we didn't have too much food in the old frig to worry about, the cold weather sufficed to provide the exact temperature to keep the goods cold until the new one arrived yesterday morning. More room that I imagined and it just fit, and I mean just. No longer can I prop the ironing board alongside the frig, it has now found a new home in the hall closet, less clutter I guess. But what do I do with the junk that used to live on top of the old frig. The dining room now looks like a college dorm room with junk piled high on the table with Sabrina's stuff and the leftovers from the items that used to inhabit the old frig space. Too lazy now to locate a new home for these often used items. Maybe this weekend we will find them a new place to live.

The frig has all the amenities one needs except for an egg tray. Never realized it was not there when I looked at it in the store, got it at Lowe's for a bargain price, nice stainless steel and glass racks inside with the french doors on top and double rack for the bottom freezer. All the frozen items still find themselves in the chest freezer, as we have not moved them to their new home as yet. The ice maker is a added plus on the outside of the door and takes up very little space on the inside for my everyday items. The veggie and fruit bins are huge and temp controlled, something I am not used to and now I am energy efficient. The whole house is being transformed to low energy needs to save $$$$ in electric. Got to save those pennies for retirement one day.

The old frig lies in the garage with yet more stuff from Sabrina's apartment, one could live out there now comfortably now, all the necessities except a couch. I was not planning on being transformed into a storage unit. Motorcycle and my items are at least accessible to get at thanks to Audra, who was gracious enough to reorganize the mess. At least we can walk around in there now.

The issue with the cars is another matter. No word yet as to the final fate of the S-10 truck that sits in Florence, SC in some guys front yard with Sabrina's high tech gas grill. For those of you unfamiliar with the events of the move from New Orleans to NC, please refer to posts by Sabrina on her blog "Another Chapter". The insurance company has yet to evaluate the damage caused by the U-Haul company to determine a total loss or need for only a new transmission. Either way, the truck has seen it's destiny and a buyer has already been found to handle the transaction. Sabrina meanwhile, is using the GG to get around. The Explorer now with over 190,000 miles is going strong, but in need of new tires. Got at least 70,000 miles on the currnt tires since getting them in RI and will not need snow tires this time. The Ford Ranger has a gas seal leak but as long as it is not full to the top, no gas leaks, so we will leave it alone. I could write a book just on car experiences I have had since my first days of driving. May do a humorous book one day just on that topic alone, I could write volumes. Car wash disasters, rolling down hills, engines catching on fire to name a few. This will be another post I am afraid.

The hum of the air filtration system is peaceful and I cherish the solitude it provides during these early hours of morning. I have a zillion things to do but love to just enjoy the quiet and reflect on the upcoming day. I am missing Kevin and our times to just sit and chat and reminisce together and plan our future together. It will not be long before we are reunited in Europe traveling the rail together to some unseen territories again. Europe has so much to offer in its history and ombience. This is truly living life at the fullest to watch the lights of the Vatican while sipping on cappichino and watching the locals gather on the street cafes at 2 am. Such memories of past I wish to relive in my mind.

As Andrea would put it, just another random thought and post, one of many to come. I am trying to post another lighter side of my life here, just for you Andi. Right now I am more reflective and enjoying the XS and root beer flavor singing on my tongue. Will go and study for a bit before retiring for a quick nap to start the "Dawn of a New Day". Peace.

The Start

Here I sit in the peacefulness of the dawn to begin my journey of online blogging, partly due to the fact that my daughter Andrea has been pressuring me for sometime to get one going, and the other because I have always been a journalist in recording the events of my life for decades. Now, while there is not much here to start with, keep in mind that there are volumes of records in the upstairs closet of my very messy office bound by deteriorated and broken elastic bands that have not been looked at for many years. I started the art of journaling as a young girl with the traditional diary one gets herself to record all the secrets and adventures she wants NO ONE to be privy to. The whereabouts of these journals are lost to me now, but I still have the mementos of my youth in an old case in the attic. Back in the historic times, journaling was begotten by pen and paper, but with the advance of technology, electronic recording was born. I remember the old days when home computers were born, dual floppy discs, (I thought I was the bomb with this one!) and now wireless and portable smartphones with unlimited texting, Internet, and Facebooking via mobile are utilized. In this way, memories can be forever remembered with back-ups and DVD storage at your beck and call. My old dear palm pilot is still around, just more revolutionized and hopefully my data will not become lost in the throws of space as many of the crashes, due to my ignorance of the past with computer reformatting, which caused the lose of so much of my memories of late. My goal has always been to write a book, of which I will do by the age of 60. Gosh, I realize this is only 9 years away, where has all the time gone. I don't feel 50 1/2 yrs old but the memories are forever locked into my mind and now is the time to record electronically before the cells in my brain shrivel and die. I only wish that I will be able to contribute to the significance in others lives as they have impacted me. As a health care professional, my focus has been on "Self Help" with my vast personal and professional experiences, and in this way, I want to offer to mankind the same opportunity to impact others with my thoughts and advise in the hopes I can add value in their life. My writing skills, while not perfect, have continued to improve with age and experience, will be tested here in these postings. My daughters Andrea and Sabrina have grown tremendously in this department and are quite articulate in their wording. Enjoy these affirmations of thought and conviction in being the best that you can be. I will contribute my words of humor and leave you to ponder these experiences with the hope of adding value to your day. So I close with my best wishes for a "Purpose Driven Life" for both you and myself. Happy blogging to you all.

Always ,
Karen