one of my favorite windows in my house, showcasing a lovely view of today's outdoor 'festivities'.
b. e. a. u. t. i. f. u. l.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
winter view
If this is all we get today, then I'm soaking up the vista.
I LOVE SNOW.
I LOVE WINTER.
Mother nature - bring it on! Jazzy Christmas tunes and winter weather just go together, and nothing gets me in the mood more! (ok... other than a boozy beautiful irish hot chocolate and a warm roaring fire. I'm just sayin')
Monday, November 15, 2010
relief
This morning was one of those mornings where it could go one of two ways. It could be a shitstorm of a day (pun intended, given our recent multiple sewage backups), or it would be a day that goes more our way.
And so on we go. Our way. Relief today is spelled with a BIG R with many heroes a part of that amazing feeling. We are one day closer to getting our basement fixed and our lives back to normal. And we are one day closer to hearing the words 'Yes, we're responsible for the situation, it will be cleaned up, repaired, and your job is to eagerly watch the progress and ensure it gets done.'
Its one of those things that unless someone has felt the frustration and discomfort from their own disaster and displacement, most people really don't react. 'Oh that's too bad.' Or in the case of someone yesterday, (lovely as she is) tried to equate our situation with her car's ongoing mechanical issues.
SO. NOT. THE. SAME.
And our basement leeching poop is by no means the worst that could ever happen. And there are SO many things that could have made the situation worse. And we are all healthy. And we have been able to continue living here, in our very own house. And I have a family that I love and adore. And we are nowhere close to being at each other's throats, despite living on top of one another right now.
It's showed me how much I can internalize. How much stress I can handle. How much unknown I can take before I crack. I'm an emotional person. Amazingly, the first tear I have shed throughout this whole process was not when sewage spilled the first time. Or the second time. Or the third time. Or at the thought of shelling out tens of thousands of dollars that we don't have to fix the problem. It was after our hero plumber told me this morning (for the third time so I was sure I heard him right), that this problem was not ours to fix. It was the city's problem and they would be dealing with it today. As I walked back to the house to call Guy with the great news, I was overcome with relief and let myself go for a few seconds.
Still so much to do, but man oh man. There is a light at the end of this tunnel of darkness. And tonight there may be a little celebrating down the street at our favorite neighborhood establishment, toasting the birth of my husband over forty years ago, and toasting a challenging experience that feels like its on its way to being over. Finally.
And so on we go. Our way. Relief today is spelled with a BIG R with many heroes a part of that amazing feeling. We are one day closer to getting our basement fixed and our lives back to normal. And we are one day closer to hearing the words 'Yes, we're responsible for the situation, it will be cleaned up, repaired, and your job is to eagerly watch the progress and ensure it gets done.'
Its one of those things that unless someone has felt the frustration and discomfort from their own disaster and displacement, most people really don't react. 'Oh that's too bad.' Or in the case of someone yesterday, (lovely as she is) tried to equate our situation with her car's ongoing mechanical issues.
SO. NOT. THE. SAME.
And our basement leeching poop is by no means the worst that could ever happen. And there are SO many things that could have made the situation worse. And we are all healthy. And we have been able to continue living here, in our very own house. And I have a family that I love and adore. And we are nowhere close to being at each other's throats, despite living on top of one another right now.
It's showed me how much I can internalize. How much stress I can handle. How much unknown I can take before I crack. I'm an emotional person. Amazingly, the first tear I have shed throughout this whole process was not when sewage spilled the first time. Or the second time. Or the third time. Or at the thought of shelling out tens of thousands of dollars that we don't have to fix the problem. It was after our hero plumber told me this morning (for the third time so I was sure I heard him right), that this problem was not ours to fix. It was the city's problem and they would be dealing with it today. As I walked back to the house to call Guy with the great news, I was overcome with relief and let myself go for a few seconds.
Still so much to do, but man oh man. There is a light at the end of this tunnel of darkness. And tonight there may be a little celebrating down the street at our favorite neighborhood establishment, toasting the birth of my husband over forty years ago, and toasting a challenging experience that feels like its on its way to being over. Finally.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
the current one
{borrowed from one of my regular blog reads}
listening to the hum of fridge and cody sleeping
eating nothing but the crema of my espresso
drinking the crema and the body of my espresso
wearing my cozy white robe
feeling anxious about getting our basement finished
weather rainy
wanting to have our basement finished and storybooks completed for Christmas
needing to go shopping for birthday gifts
thinking about how to make things liveable here for the next few weeks while we still cohabitate on our one floor
enjoying the coziness of darker days
wondering how I'm going to grow and change this coming year
listening to the hum of fridge and cody sleeping
eating nothing but the crema of my espresso
drinking the crema and the body of my espresso
wearing my cozy white robe
feeling anxious about getting our basement finished
weather rainy
wanting to have our basement finished and storybooks completed for Christmas
needing to go shopping for birthday gifts
thinking about how to make things liveable here for the next few weeks while we still cohabitate on our one floor
enjoying the coziness of darker days
wondering how I'm going to grow and change this coming year
Friday, November 12, 2010
the dark and the light
Today I woke up with a killer stomach ache. Every once in a while that will happen, and although it feels like its because my tummy is empty and needs some fillin', today I can't help but wonder if its some anxiety that I'm experiencing. Today my Dad is going in for a medical test, and until I know that things are ok, I'm going to remain uneasy.
I do that. I dramatize. I'm good at it. Should have been an actress... at times the drama meter in my head soars higher than the heavens and it takes a lot to talk that meter down.
And I can't help but think that today my gut was telling me something. I'm home, nursing my ill feeling, and hoping that I get some positive news from my Dad.
On the lighter side of things........
We took this blessed holiday tale out of the library the other night, as an official kickoff to the holiday season, and MAN O MAN what a laugh fest we have! Giggles galore - it really is such a great feel-good-I-feel-like-a-silly-kid-kind of movie. Well chosen by my sweet girl, and what a great way to celebrate the start to the season.
No bah-humbug here... I think I might even get my husband in on the early celebrating. Why do we resist the season so? It really can be full of so much joy, especially spread over the course of many weeks instead of just chaos-packed days.
As you can see, someone really got in the spirit - hauling ALL of the Christmas books upstairs to hold court in our living room until December 25th. Several were read, and one was utilized - an absolutely beautiful book on creating seasonal drawings and crafts. The true spirit of the season is soon upon us, and we're going to embrace it for all its worth!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Limbo
There is something about having to give up something that you take for granted in order to appreciate that thing.
My basement.
Its a place for children to sleep, to play, to entertain friends, entertain each othher. And for 11 days now we've not had that space. We have a family room that is not in use, except for storing all the items that nearly fell victim to 'the flood'. We have pet stuff that now nuzzles in between all the rest of our living space upstairs.
And I have a creative space that is used in fits and spurts. For the last 6 months it has been a catchall for all things creative. Luckily, I've been able to maintain THAT. It has not become a catchall for all the rest of our life's ephemera. I consider that a little triumph.
But now, we are embarking on the next few weeks of holiday prep and joy and wonder. And I'm SO into it this year. Fellow bloggers have been inspiring me with their exhuberance over the upcoming season, and I've caught the wave {in my head at least}. And wouldn't you know it? My mind is racing with ideas and desires and wishes for creative adventure... and no creative space to work within.
So I miss my space that's been neglected. I feel like I might get back into lots of creativity once our living area downstairs is restored. And the balance will be achieved {somewhat} again. As much as this experience has been pretty uneventful in a good way, I'm ready for it to be over. SO. OVER.
And then let the creative angels and goddesses be unleashed upon the holidays!
My basement.
Its a place for children to sleep, to play, to entertain friends, entertain each othher. And for 11 days now we've not had that space. We have a family room that is not in use, except for storing all the items that nearly fell victim to 'the flood'. We have pet stuff that now nuzzles in between all the rest of our living space upstairs.
And I have a creative space that is used in fits and spurts. For the last 6 months it has been a catchall for all things creative. Luckily, I've been able to maintain THAT. It has not become a catchall for all the rest of our life's ephemera. I consider that a little triumph.
But now, we are embarking on the next few weeks of holiday prep and joy and wonder. And I'm SO into it this year. Fellow bloggers have been inspiring me with their exhuberance over the upcoming season, and I've caught the wave {in my head at least}. And wouldn't you know it? My mind is racing with ideas and desires and wishes for creative adventure... and no creative space to work within.
So I miss my space that's been neglected. I feel like I might get back into lots of creativity once our living area downstairs is restored. And the balance will be achieved {somewhat} again. As much as this experience has been pretty uneventful in a good way, I'm ready for it to be over. SO. OVER.
And then let the creative angels and goddesses be unleashed upon the holidays!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
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