Yay!

Let's Play a Game of "Boo/Yay". Every time I say something bad, you say, "Boo"! Every time I say something good, you say, "Yay"!

Me: I decided to get my bathroom remodeled.

You: Yay!

Me: But my 10% off coupon for Lowe's was expired.

You: Boo!

Me: But Lowe's let me have 10% off anyway.

You: Yay!

Me: But I had to help my carpenter carry in 9 sheets of drywall.

You: Boo!

Me: But I impressed my neighbors with my incredible show of strength.

You: Yay!

Me: But the walls weren't done perfectly and looked ripply.

You: Boo!

Me: But the carpenter came back to fix it.

You: Yay!

Me: Then the pipes leaked through the ceiling into the dining room.

You: Boo!

Me: But the plumber came back to fix it.

You: Yay!

Me: But now I have to paint my dining room ceiling.

You: Boo!

Me: The carpenter and plumber said the whole thing would only take a week!

You: Yay!

Me: But it took 5 weeks.

You: Boo!

Me: But it's done now.

You: Yay!

Bathroom update

I'm out of town. Apparently so are my contractors. And when I say my contractors are out of town, I mean they're out of my town and in their own town in their own houses NOT WORKING ON MY BATHROOM!

We were hit with a giant snow storm and to some people that's scary. Snow is covering the streets, sidewalks, cars. When people dig out their own car, they're inevitably burying somebody else's. There's just no where to put the snow.

I found out today that my contractor was on his way to my house a few days ago and got into an accident. My initial thought was, "Well, if it's not serious, why didn't he come over anyway?" But I've learned through regular social interaction that a response like that isn't considered "acceptable." So, I gritted my teeth and told him to come when he can. He took that to mean, "Take an extended vacation."

So the house is still shower-less, but we've traded a shower in for a giant hole in the dining room ceiling, so I guess we're even.

My Fat Cat

My house had its first dinner party. The guests enjoyed fresh corn chowder, beautiful salad, delicious wines and between the chewing and sipping, came to the conclusion that my cat is fat. Understandably I was hurt and argued that the pendulous paunch swinging beneath his haunches was merely a characteristic of the breed. They chuckled, mistaking my defensive retort for charming humor.

When a snow storm hit later that night I wanted to show the remaining guests a special trick my cat can do. His gift can only be matched by circus dogs and people... the ability to wear a T-shirt and forget he's wearing it. The T-shirt of choice is a gift from my brother and sister-in-law who cat sat for me over the holidays. I squeezed the "Paws and Claws Country Club" cotton over the cat's head and shoved his paws through the arm holes. When the material hit his expanded mid section I glanced up at my friends in embarrassment. By golly, they were right. Refusing to admit it, I rolled the T-shirt over the bulges of fur and fat until my cat resembled a giant black, white and green sausage

We all laughed. The cat glared. The next day he went on a diet. I support his choice.

Bathroom update

I would rather be doing anything else in the world than sitting here listening to the sound of water drip into a bucket. Splat. Splat. Splat. It echos over the wood flooring and newly spackled walls. Splat. Splat. Splat. The blue bucket filling slowly with each drip.

So, my bathroom is coming along. My toilet was put in today, along with the sink, bathtub and radiator. Apparently they had trouble putting the radiator back in and broke several tiles in the process. They also ripped apart a baseboard. When I got home, I realized that the radiator was leaking. Splat. Splat. Splat.

I called. Oh, I called immediately. But at that time, I hadn't noticed the leak was working it's way down to the kitchen. Is 10pm too late to show up at my plumbers house with the look of desperation on my face? What about a look of rage? I guess I'll call tomorrow.

In the mean time I'll sleep to the sound of Splat. Splat. Splat.

Things a Good Neighbor Should Do

I want to take a quick hiatus from "bathroom talk" to make a list.

THINGS A GOOD NEIGHBOR SHOULD DO

(or, things my neighbor does not do)

1. Shovel both sides of the steps when sharing steps with a neighbor.

2. Let a little bit of salt spill on to both side of the steps.

3. Not stomp up the stairs when the homes share walls.

4. Keep trash bags on the appropriate side of the sidewalk.

5. Accept the cookies neighbors bake for them.

6. Not complain when a neighbor asks them to hold the front door while she carries her bike inside.