Sweating While Talking

Today was a day which will go down in history as the day where glaciers officially formed in the deepest levels of the abyss.  You see anyone who knows me knows that I have a little bit of an aversion to the telephone, which is a condition I developed from my days where I spent vast periods of time chatting on the phone all the live long day.  It became a titch bit better once the whole email thing became an acceptable form of communications for doing business, but even so I still spent so much time on the phone that I had to - a) buy a headset because my neck and shoulders got screwed up from trying to hold the phone while typing on the computer, b) had to go to massage therapy for years to try and reverse the above problem, c) had to have my desk and chair ergonomically tested and replaced so I could continue to do my job.  Anyway I developed a form of dislike for talking on the phone that boarders on pathological hatred.  I would rather pick ticks off the dog than actually spend time talking on the phone (330 by the way).  But today...today I went all the way over to the dark side and still haven't recovered.  Today I was on the phone for six hours straight.  You read that right....six hours....all in one shot, all to one person.  Thank dog for speaker phone, I prepared, cooked, and ate supper during the conversation, swept the floor, did two loads of laundry, made the bed, fed the dog and cat, sat on the deck and drank coffee, moved to the living room and drank water, went to the bathroom, twice, let the dog out, let the dog in, let the dog out, let the dog in, let the dog out, let the dog in...etc. 

My conversation was with a friend who I hadn't spoken to in a long time, and who is going through a rough time in her life.  We chatted about family, and friends, old times, and new, dogs and babies, houses and jobs, sad things and happy things, doctors and medicine, mothers and fathers, good things and bad.  It was a good long talk.  I think it might even be a real break through for me, I didn't feel like I wanted to open a vein at any time through out the call.  I had plans to head into town and take care of a few things but by the time I hung up everything was closed and I didn't even care because...wait for it...tomorrow is another day.  Can you believe it?  I think this whole not working thing has finally sunk in and I don't feel cheated out of my time.  Because that is what I always used to feel like whenever I would have to get on the phone while at home...cheated. 

Actually it is probably a good thing that I didn't go into town today because while I was talking on the phone the weather went from slightly overcast and cool to slightly overcast and warm, muggy, and uncomfortable.  I have been enjoying the past couple of weeks of sunny, warm, yet with a hint of coolness to the wind.  Today if felt as if someone had turned on the steam room and forgot to turn it off.  It was yucky.  And the worst part about it is that I had opened all the doors and windows as per usual and all it did was suck the coolness out of the house and make it just as hot and muggy inside as out.  Note to self, close all doors and window tomorrow before the temperatures heat up too much. 

Oh and as I was looking at Facebook this morning a friend of mine had posted a link to The Oatmeal site and reminded me that I hadn't checked it out forever.  So I spent some time this evening catching up on his craziness and ran across this old post.  http://theoatmeal.com/story/twilight  I remember seeing this several years ago before I had even heard of the whole Twilight thing and laughed my ass off, it is still funny.  If you haven't had the opportunity to check out this site I would totally recommend it.  Just remember not to take a drink before reading some of his comics, it wouldn't be good for your keyboard. 

Rocks In My Head

Well the rocks ain't exactly in my head they are more like on the trail.  You see we have two spots on the main trail that are really wet in the spring and get super trashed when we are doing the whole firewood gathering thing, consequently they look like crap once things dry out.  And because I am out of paint, and am holding off driving into the city to pick some up, I have decided to see if I can do some road repair on the smaller of the two spots.  (The big spot will need some backhoeing and a culvert, and will need four hands instead of two, so must wait for the return of the hubby to complete.)  Anyway I started a little bit yesterday...damn I should have taken a "before" pic.  My method of operendii is to see if I can find relatively large, flat rocks, and lay them down into the deep areas, then take smaller rocks and use them as fill.  Then, hopefully, find sand and or dirt of some kind and pour to pack them in tight.  It probably won't work but what's the worst that can happen?  :)

Alone Yet Not Lonely

Two days ago the unthinkable happened.  I still get the heebie-jeebies when I think about it.  The horror, the horror...our coffee pot finally gave up the ghost.  Gasp!  It had been threatening off and on for the past few months in fact the last go around was when it started beeping for no known reason, and then stopped beeping for no known reason for almost a half hour a couple of weeks ago.  As you can see it was just a matter of time, but still even when things are inevitable it can come as a shock.  So one of the first things I did yesterday after dropping the hubby off at the airport was to go and find one on sale.  To be honest even though it was listed at 40% off it still wasn't a great deal.  I almost opted for the model one step up but in the end I realized even if I bought this one I would be shattering the budget.  I brewed my third pot this morning and can say that I am very satisfied with the results.  Yes actually, this is what my life has come to in the blogging world, waxing poetic about a coffee pot. 

 And here you thought I was going to go on about ticks.  As a matter of fact I hadn't thought about it, but while I'm on the subject the dog is on 318 as of this morning.  She's pretty nonchalant about the whole process now, in fact I think she rather enjoys all the attention she gets when we hunt for the parasitic little blood suckers embedded into her flesh.  Gross. 

Today I started my painting project for the walk in closet and en suite, I was a little pouty about it though because it is such a nice day, and really, who the hell wants to be inside painting when it is so beautiful outside.  Not me.  But, you ask, how can you be blogging when you should be painting?  Ah well now there is the beauty of things, I just ran out of primer so I can not go on.  Why don't I just buy some more?  Even better - today is Sunday and around these parts the stores that sell the stuff are all closed.  Aw, that is so sad. So seeing as I hadn't blogged in a bit I thought I would sit down and write me some words before heading out the door and taking the hound for a run and to gather some new ticks.  Life is funny is that way. 

So hubby arrived safe and sound out west yesterday and started his journey back across the country.  Unfortunately they only made it 300 kilometers before getting a flat.  Yikes, apparently some scary stuff was going on for awhile but once they got the convoy stopped they managed to change the tire and drive to the nearest town where they spent the night. This morning they realized that things are not as they should be so  they are recouping and trying to figure out the next step and hope to be back on the road sometime this afternoon.  Luckily the hubby ended up going and not me because I would have been next to useless with the issues they are having.  This is me sending Internetty vibrations of luck and an easy journey to everyone! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>luck

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

One Million Acres

Whew...finally finished mowing the lawn...again.  Here at Kitpu Estates we have approximately one million acres of lawn to mow.  Okay perhaps not one million, maybe it's more like four or five acres, it just seems like a million.  Today I mowed, and mowed, and mowed, and the hubby mowed, and mowed, and mowed.  Then finally we were done.  He does the big assed chunk in the back with the riding mower, I do the slightly smaller assed chunk on both sides, and the front with two push mowers.  Yes I said two.  Typically I will take the smaller one and run it until it is out of gas, then take the slighter larger one and do the same.  Today, miracle of miracles, I did not run the big one out of gas, and this is the weird part, I actually mowed more than I usually do.  WTF?  How is that possible?  Oh the oddities that are found in the land of Kitpu. 

I also took my small gas powered hedge cutters and went out to the mail boxes and trimmed the verge, then I scooted to the back forty by the small shack and did some more trimming.  Then I figured I would cut under some of the apple trees close by and when I discovered three wood ticks I decided to call it a day.  Yes have wood ticks, will travel...away from said location. 

It has been threatening rain all day but so far we have avoided it.  The neighbour guy told us that it was raining like cats and dogs on the highway turn off.  That is six kilometers away.  I'm really okay with that right now.  If it wants to rain it can do it in the middle of the night. 

The good news is that my knee and hip seemed to stand up pretty good to the kilometers I walked while mowing today.  I really have to find my pedometer and see if I can figure out exactly how far I do walk when I am mowing.  It would be interesting to know. 

Bummed

I am not sure what is up with me today but I feel kind of bummed out.  Of course, as usual, there is no reason for it.  Today was sunny, warm, and beautiful.  I went for a run and wonder of all wonders there were no bugs.  My knee and hip were sore but nothing that I couldn't deal with and a bag of ice couldn't help afterward.  I did my budget without too much cursing or swearing, had a nice lunch because the hubby caught three small white perch which I rolled in crushed cornflakes and served with a big salad.  So really...what the hell?  I even had help changing the sheets on my bed today. 

Well I guess I should just suck it up and quit whining about things, or maybe I should just do what my helpers are doing. 

Or better yet, I will do what the FSM recommends and pour myself a glass of grog, grab my Scientific America and pull up a stump out on the deck and enjoy the evening. 

Wet Weather

I am happy to report that ALL the hardwood has finally been laid down on its final resting place.  Whew.  Only one more floor, in the last room on the main floor that needs to be completed, and then we can finally say it is done.  Haha...we can't even come close to saying that it is done, there is this whole other floor, mainly the basement, which needs to be gutted and redone.  Then there is the deck, the Wookie Cave (aka my studio) to name but a few.  But the main floor is the one we spend 95% of our time living on so once that is done the rest we will do as we can and not stress about it much.  Well I will spend less time stressing, the hubby will continue to stress as usual. 

The hubby is pushing to get the drywall done in the ensuite so I can throw a coat or two of paint on it.  It may potentially be used as a temporary housing unit for small human beings for a few days so I want it to be relatively livable, and hold no possible health hazards.  Although knowing the particular mini human that will be inhabiting it, it might be impossible to make it completely safe.  Only padded walls, floors, and ceilings could achieve that.  (Maybe)

My hips and knee don't hurt as much anymore which means that it is time for another run so I can retain my Gimp Along title.

***************

Back from my run, which by the way I actually survived, and felt pretty good about it.  Did just over 2k and managed not to injure myself, puke, or fall.  A good day.  The pain in my knee and hip now is starting to feel like "I just started to run after a long hiatus and it feels crappy and hurts because of that" instead of like "OMG I think I need surgery" which is my book is awesome.  Yup I'm still walking around like a ninety year old who was kicked in the side by a rabid horse, but my brain is telling me that my body is starting to come around, like, "Well WTF?  If she is going to keep doing this shit again I had better start fixing things around here."  Great right? 

I had a nice chat with my bestest friendicus on the phone today, she lives all the way across the country on the other ocean so the time change is a bit of a hindrance so we don't talk much.  Plus both of us have an aversion to speaking on the phone, and that definitely doesn't help much.  But we caught up a bit and all is quiet on the western front. 

So Ms Gimp Along is going to sign off now and maybe watch a couple of episodes of Doctor Who.  

There Be Hardwood Here

Yup that is correct, hardwood has been laid.  For anyone who has lived through two years of non stop renovation you will understand the joys of finally getting in the last touches here and there.  I know that flooring isn't exactly a last touch, its more like a great big punch, but there you have it we are within a sneeze of having it finished for the shack.  There is one more room in need of flooring but that room will probably get some sort of tiling...yet to be decided. 

We were going to stop at around five thirty in the afternoon because both of us were at the point where we had enough, but the hubby suggested taking a half hour break and then going great guns to the finish, so that is what we did.  So around ten at night the worst of it was done...yippee!  We only have the small walk in closet to finish today and then the hardwood for the shack is complete...double yippee!! 

This picture shows where we had pulled a wall down which used to be part of the entryway into the house.  For months we have had to contend with vinyl glue which kept hoarding dog/cat hair and a hole in the floor, which I am happy to report is now gone.  You have no idea how exciting that is.  The rest of the floor was pine slates, very soft and very fally aparty.  (Oh and very covered in drywall mud, paint, and other items which we didn't bother to worry about knowing that it was going to be covered up sometime in the future.) 

Let the games begin!

At this stage there was some swearing but no fighting. 

Goodbye big assed hole in the floor!

Survey says...the big jigsaw puzzle for another room is complete!  Now we get to put everything back in some semblance of order.  The worst of it...making sure all the wires go into the right spot on the computer.