Saturday, January 4, 2014

Who Isn't Thankful for Learning How to Wallpaper?


So…it’s the new year. And so far my resolutions for the year are going pretty well, thank you so much for asking. (that might be #1 for my non-numbered list) Only 361 days to keep.it.up.

I have no idea where this week went, let alone 2013, but it is ok…what would I do with all that time if I could hold onto it? Keep it in a bottle? Any Jim Croce fans out there?


It’s been a busy week, but aren’t they all? Just busy in a different way; no scheduled activities yet (which could be #2 on this same non-numbered list), but they will all start back up this coming week.

But thankfully (#3…if I were to number) none of them are scheduled on Monday. I should really not complain, so don’t read this in a whiney tone, but it is going to be a HIGH of -10 here on Monday.

Yes, you read that right…it was not a mis-type. That is a (-) in front of the 10.

And no I do not live in Alaska; it will just feel that way.

I must confess that the thought of it has crushed any dreams I may have ever had of living in Cicely, Alaska (reference, anyone?). I don’t like cold or snow. But then again, it’s not always as bad as it seems.

But I digress.

So now, I shall commence with my again-non-numbered list of TTOT. It’s what you were all waiting for anyway…I am thankful for

Spending New Year’s Eve with my three favorite guys (Mr. Always Random and the PBA, in case you were not sure)…it was a pretty wild time, as one might expect. We busted out Mr. Always Random’s haul of cheese and sausage from Pepperidge Farms (He loves that stuff and it’s on his Christmas list every year…it’s the little things really), pizza from Papa Murphy’s (the $5 Favs…we’re cheap), and milkshakes utilizing my botched Peppermint Oreo Bark as a mix-in (tasty!) made with my new blender (which I’m not so certain about yet, but it’s red and shiny and looks pretty sitting on the counter).

Going to bed before midnight on New Year’s Eve…shocking, I know. We let the PBA stay up to midnight if they wanted…at 10:45 the 10yo came to snuggle in our bed and promptly fell asleep, and the 12yo fell asleep watching “Twlight Zone” on the SciFi channel at about 11. We’re all night owls, to be sure. Don’t judge.

Not being sick or hung-over (there was no reason because I only had one drink and that was at about 6pm) on New Year’s Day. I felt great!

Spending all day on New Year’s with a sweet friend.

And her adorable kiddos.

And their dog.

Learning to hang wallpaper on New Year’s Day.

MASTERING hanging wallpaper on New Year’s Day. OK, probably not really mastering, but still it looked pretty good and her son was surprised and pleased. (He was out of town and came home to a finished room…I was glad to help her pull off the surprise. Also, I feel compelled to tell you that  no it was not “a nice floral pattern” as my 10yo asked about it…it looks like a brick wall).

As an aside, I don’t know what it says about me that I did not take a picture of the friend (she might have killed me if I had), her beautiful kiddos, or the wallpaper project we worked on for 6+ hours…just the dog. It made Indy jealous, which was the whole goal. Frankly there’s not much challenge in it, but still, I consider it a challenge.

Finally getting in our annual Duck Pin Bowling and Santorini’s Greek Kitchen …I know you are dying to see the pictures but no worries…it’s on my docket to write about soon. I promise I won’t forget.

School starting again. I LOVE vacation and three weeks wasn’t nearly as long as I thought it would be (although on Day 2 I was having serious doubts about my sanity when I planned for us to have three weeks off, as well as my future sanity when the three weeks was over), but it’s good to be back into a routine. I’m sure the PBA would concur…if you strong-armed them.

A consultation with an oral surgeon for my 10yo…remember that whole “Anklosis” thing? Well, the oral surgeon (who, as an aside, I have known most of his life, and is the son of our dentist who is in the process of retiring) wanted us to have a 3D x-ray taken just so he could see how things are in relationship to one another in there. He’s going to use that x-ray, as well as consult with another oral surgeon, our dentist (his dad) and the orthodontist who referred us in order to come up with a course of action. And just because I couldn’t let it alone, I asked him how common this sort of “hot mess” is…and he said “not very common.” Fabulous. My kid is going to be “that kid” who gives the oral surgeon and the orthodontist a great story to share at cocktail parties. I won’t even go into the possible options (none of which sound great), until after we meet with him again in two weeks. So we’ll just put it out of our minds until then, ok? So where’s the thankfulness in that? That we had the initial appointment and that we can continue to stuff it down into a “mental compartment” and not deal with it for two more weeks.

I’m sure that’s at least ten and if not, there’s no need for you to count and tell me about my mis-step. 

Instead, spend your time hopping on over to Lizzi and the other co-hosts to see their thanksfuls for the week.









28 comments:

  1. OK, so I hadn't read this yet when I wrote that thing about "...but I digress" ... "Hi! My name is Kari and I'm a DIGRESSOR" "Welcome, Kari!"

    Is that puppy a King Charles? He's a cutie! My dogs were super jealous when I was helping to take care of Wag. .. and I had pictures of him on my phone as well.

    See? It is MUCH easier to not number them isn't it? :)

    Great list of thankfuls! Have a super-duper weekend! ...and STAY WARM (we are having those types of temps here....and Nebraska just rhymes with Alaska!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome, Kari! LOL

      Yes he is...isn't he the cutest thing? Ok, after Indy, Henry & Piper, the cutest thing? ;)

      Yes, much...thanks for the tip!

      Yes, you stay warm too!

      Delete
  2. I love the song Time in a Bottle. Jim died way too young :( Kudos to you for learning how to wallpaper. Myself, I hate doing it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It may be the last time I wallpaper but I did learn how to do it. I didn't love the process...just the idea of learning something new and also spending a day with a friend. :)

      Delete
  3. my favorite Jim Croce songs was, Roller Derby Queen...and I can't remember her name right now but I always wanted to go to Alaska to meet the receptionist in that doctors office. She was the coolest person on that whole show and so understated. And who wouldn't want to see a moose walking through the middle of town? I mean if we're going to have temperatures like that we might as well have the fun with it...that's amazing that you did the wallpaper ring and it looks like a brick wall so that means you had a line up all of those lines I'm so impressed. I can't believe you didn't even take a braggart picture! I mean making the jealous is one thing but really!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. as you can see my new years resolution of proof reading before I hit send is falling by the wayside already!

      Delete
    2. Marilyn...I loved her too. I know...a moose walking down the street would be something to see.

      Well, thanks for the kudos...it was like working a big puzzle, especially at the end, when we didn't quite have enough paper and had to "fake" the last little bit. It was interesting, for sure. I am hoping she'll send me a picture when he gets everything up on the walls so I can see the "final" result.

      And yes, I am glad your resolution to proofread before hitting enter is going so well. ;)

      Delete
  4. When I saw that other dog photo in the thumbnail, I thought, "What did she finally do to Indy???"
    Wallpapering is horrible, awful work. I hate it so very much. We've done it several times. The first time I thought I had actually married a man who had been hiding his Turrets from me. Oh the swear words coming out of his mouth! I'm glad you learned how to do it, though. In case we ever have to do more here. I'd rather work with you. :)
    We sing Time in a Bottle here all the time. Well, not the whole song. Just that one line. But still. We like it.
    As for the dentists talking about your child's teeth at cocktail parties, I really don't think anyone listens to dentists talk about their patients the way people listen to doctors. Jacked up teeth can't compare to, say, a nail through a foot. What's he going to say that will elicit anything besides, "Poor kid"? By the way, poor kid. It won't be any fun. I won't talk about it again.
    Good luck surviving the storm!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Poor Indy...but Archie is the kind of dog I want next. Yes, I am already thinking about the next one...is that bad?

      I would be happy to try it with you, so long as you are the one who reaches up to the ceiling...that was one thing my friend didn't consider when she asked for my help. I am not the tallest of helpers.

      I know that his story won't be as interesting, unless, of course, he takes a picture of the x-ray to pass around. It's a show-stopper for sure. But yes...poor kid, I don't think he fully grasps what may be happening to him later this year...

      Thanks...good luck to you too! Enjoy that robe and slippers!

      Delete
  5. Counting, counting...*checks for dance dedicated to the 7 GuardVirgins*...ach I'll let you have this one. You did pull off what sounds like a STUNNING piece of pleasant surprise for your friend's kid.

    Also, wallpapering? On New Year's Day? YOU KNOW HOW TO LIVE!

    I feel like you should relax, kick back and go out for coffee with a friend sometime, just to remember how it's *meant* to be done ;)

    I really hope the dental/mouth/whatever stuff goes well. Sounds horrible. And being any kind of 'unusual' patient is rarely a good thing :/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am a party-animal if I do say so myself. And yes, I would have preferred the coffee and relaxation but frankly we got more time to talk by wallpapering. If we'd gone for coffee it would have been 2, maybe 3 hours TOPS. This was 6.5 hours of relatively undisrupted chatter...so that was a boon for sure.

      Delete
    2. Okay, so there's that. Nothing like a big PROPER time with a friend. And in all honesty, I'd assume a large degree of satisfaction at a Job Well Done. So there's that, too :D

      Delete
  6. Yes, I made it till midnight on New Year's Eve because I was stricken with a nosebleed at 10:30 and I had to make sure that stopped before I got in bed. And I love Jim Croce. "Working at the Car Wash Blues" is always on my iPod.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no! Nosebleeds are no fun! But way to be positive about it.

      Yes, I love Jim Croce. "Don't Mess Around With Jim" is one of my favorites. :)

      Delete
  7. I think I've ripped out more wallpaper than I've hung, but both projects give a sense of satisfaction. I bet your friend appreciated your help!

    The dog is very cute.

    There is something to be said for being remembered by your medical provider. And at least your son didn't do anything to end up being a memorable case. (Unlike someone I know, who will remain unnamed, who dislocated his jaw playing the "how many tootsie rolls can I put in my mouth" game!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think she was very appreciative of the help, and her son was pleased as well. Totally worth it.

      I think so too. :)

      Wow...that sounds like a very painful game to play. Well, maybe the game wasn't painful until the unforeseen outcome. OUCH!

      Delete
  8. "Time In A Bottle" always makes me a little weepy. Factoid for you: I used to be friends with Jim Croce's producer (this was in the late 80s/early 90s, so long after Jim died).
    Since you are so good with wallpaper, you can feel free to come to my house and see if you can get all the remaining wallpaper paste off my bathroom walls from where I peeled it off during the Great Swine Flu Epidemic of 2009.
    -10 for a HIGH?! And I thought our forecast of a -3 low was going to be the end of the world.
    The only thing I can say about your son's whole orthodontic situation is if he can't set a good example, then, by golly, make sure he sets a really bad one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are full of little delightful fun facts, Dyanne. :)

      Ummm I am horrible at taking wallpaper off. I shall tell you sometime about the experience we had with wallpaper border in my 12yo's nursery. AWFUL. So no...you don't want my help.

      Yes, -10...good times, good times.

      And he's always good for the bad example...and he's really outdone himseld this time, for sure. :P

      Delete
  9. I am super impressed with your wallpaper hanging skills! Wow! But I was puzzled as to why there way only a picture of the dog. :) Happy 2014!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't be impressed...you haven't seen the final result yet. ;) And I don't know why I only posted one of the dog...I guess I wasn't really thinking about it at the time. :)

      Happy 2014 to you too!

      Delete
  10. It went up to -8 here today and is going up to -5 Celsius tomorrow and we're all happy dancing! But I can imagine how -10 feels pretty horrid when you aren't use to it. I don't like winter either, but we live where we live and deal with it. Sigh.

    The pup is adorable :) Best - Louise

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I made a discovery...you are in Celsius, we are in Fahrenheit, so your -5 is like 23 to me...so my -10 is like -23 to you. Phew...I thought it was REALLY cold there. I mean, it is, but not quite as cold as I thought. :)

      Delete
  11. The dog is cute, Kristin! And how wonderful to decorate the home this new year. I'm in the process of painting too, and love new ideas! Thanks for sharing and being on the TTOT!

    ReplyDelete
  12. hanging wallpaper! yow! let me add my compliments and respect to the others… I hate painting because it requires such careful patience to be careful and do it right. But wallpapering! thats another level entirely

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, wallpaper would not have been my first choice but that's what she wanted to do...however I have unfortunately heard that we should have sized the wall before-hand. Now it will be VERY difficult to get the paper off the wall once her son is tired of it...oh well, not my problem! ;)

      Delete
  13. Ok, that dog is too cute. I think mine are cute but that one.... don't tell my Daisy ;-)
    We were asleep before midnight here too! Tried to stay up, the boy made me promise to wake him, at 1:45 I shot up and realized I had slept through it. The boy was pretty ticked for a while ;-)
    We did Just Dance on New Years, more fun than a wallpaper party??

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow. I was totally distracted by the words "peppermint Oreo bark" and almost couldn't finish reading your post.

    ReplyDelete