Still Busy

Warning: This could be Part II of Alice's Restaurant, (in other words, it kind of rambles) so you can skip it, if you wish.

Crazy, crazy around here these past few weeks. Phew. I'm exhausted! I spoke with my SIL today, MJ, and she told me her family was all in a ruckus when they called her after 9 p.m. last night and couldn't get a hold of her. She had been so exhausted after worrying about her sister being ill, she hasn't been sleeping. Guess last night was the night, because she said she fell into a hard sleep at about 9 p.m. When her son tried to call with no answer, he became worried. Apparently, the entire family was called and no one had heard from her so panic set in. My nephew phoned MJ's neighbor to go over and check up on her. By this time, she heard the phone ringing and let everyone know she had only been asleep. I think it's good when you know you have folks looking out for ya. I am telling you this only because I, too, went to bed at 9:30 last night. I'm a night owl, ya know. I normally don't go to bed until, at least, after 2 a.m., 3 a.m. is my limit though. So, last night, when I could barely hold my eyes open, I thought to myself to not fight it and just go to bed. I knew today would be a busy day, just as yesterday was, and the day before that, and so on, and so on.

Saturday, as you remember, we purchased another Honda ('96) for the teenager after finding out his first car was deemed "totaled" by the "other" insurance company. Of course, after we purchased it, he drove it all day Saturday and after work on Sunday called to ask if he could run to a friend's house because he had left his ipod there. We received a phone call not an hour later. Dun dun dun . . . . The radiator had begun leaking. Lovely. New car (to us anyway) and already breaking down. I was furious! He made it home safely, and I called and left a message at the Honda place to bring the car in first thing Monday morning to see what else we may be up against! Cars! Grrrrrr.

Yesterday, I woke up at 6:30, got the kids off to school and then woke the hub to begin our chores. To fill you in, I don't "do" 6:30 a.m. (See night owl, above.) I normally go back to sleep after the kids get off to school. But yesterday, I had to take advantage of having the hub home all morning. He was leaving for Geneva mid day. The first thing we did, at 7 a.m. was get coffee, of course. He then followed me to the Honda place to drop the teenager's "new" car off. After that, we came home, picked up the rental car that the other insurance place was paying for since the teenager's car was in the shop (NOT getting repaired--rather being labeled as TOTALED). They were only paying for the rental through Monday, so I had to get it back. It just happens to be right next door to the repair shop where his "old" car was sitting "totaled." Of course, after I learned it was "totaled," I went to the shop and had to take every item out of the teen's, including taking out the stereo system. This was all done on Friday. Fun. Now, you'd think I wouldn't have missed anything, even with dingo dogs biting at my butt (behind a fence, but still close enough to scare my butt). But of course I did and was told by the teenager late Sunday night that I "forgot" to remove some component of the stereo that is screwed to the back seat from the trunk. Hmmmm, how could I have ever missed that??? Lord. And so, after dropping the rental off, we went back to the old "totaled" car where the hub had to literally crawl into the trunk in order to get at this thing. Lord. It was only about 17 degreesƒ outside, so we were both chilled to the bone by the time that little chore was done. Then we received the bad news from the Honda place. They wanted about $1800 to fix everything that was wrong with the car!! OMG! I told them not to do a thing, we would pick it up. In the meantime, I called my trusty mechanic and asked if I could bring it over there, knowing Honda was gouging us. Of course, bring it on over. We go back to the Honda place, where the car is not yet put back together. We wait. Fifteen minutes, still not ready. By this time, the hub really needs to get back home to shower and pack for his trip. I have to get back to get mom to her doctor's appointment. Lordy.

The hub got off on time, we made it to mom's doctor's appointment; and as you can see, the wood was delivered. They even pulled the carpet up. My floor guy, Jack, said he had a friend who was looking to put carpet in their, get this, garage. Perfect. Hey, knock yourself out! The wood needed to sit in the house for 24 hours before they would begin to lay it. Thank goodness, because I still needed to put that second coat on the walls. As soon as the teenager got home from school, we went to pick his "new" car up and drop it off at my mechanic's. He then forgot his cell phone in the car and we had to drive back to get it. By the time we made it home, it was already dark and I had to finish putting the second coat on the walls. I did. I finished about 8. So, by 9:45, I was bushed!

Before the hub left, he phoned the dealer where we purchased the wonderful "new" car and chewed the guy out. They offered to buy a new radiator, but I had to go pick it up. Now, the dealer is about 45 minutes away (North of Nashville--are you proud of my direction ability?). Joy. He promised to call me when it arrived today.

The floor guys arrived around 9 a.m. this morning and began installing the floor. What ruckusus that is. I had forgot how loud that is. We had wood floors put down in the guest room and upper hallway when we first moved in here. Oh yes, now I remember, the noise, the dust, then the smell of the polyeurothane. Lovely. Oh well, I guess I have a few days to enjoy the nice new wood smell before that smelly stage, at least. By 1:30, I figured I better call the dealer to see if our radiator had arrived. Do you think the guy called me and let me know it was there? Nope. And so, after a friend came over and could keep an eye on the "guys," I had to drive all the way out to North Nashville and pick the radiator up. I had a 3:00 appointment at another location right in Nashville, so I really had to book to make it. I did, barely. Did I mention I was also having my kitchen redone? AS if I don't have enough going on! Lord. We are finalizing those plans and getting close to demolition there. Joy. And, so after that, I had to drive the new radiator to my shop at which time my mechanic tells me they don't install parts purchased by the customer! Ha. Wrong thing to tell me after I've been driving for two hours getting this sucker. Thank goodness I had brought them apple cinnamonin buns, I think that did the trick. They said they would do it, just this time. hehe.


Here's the progress. It's going to be gorgeous. Of course, they still have to stain it, sand it and coat it. But, I can tell, it's going to be gorgeous! I cannot wait!

Since you've been such good readers, here's a little funny for you.

Abby does "Tricks for Food."

PS Can you see why I want to re-do the kitchen. Look at where they put the return vent when they built the place! You can only imagine where all the dust and animal dander ends up. Yep, right in the cabinets. Yum. Want to come over and have dinner with ME? I promise to dust the dinnerware before I serve.