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Friday the 13th has always been a good day for me. Case and point: We won the lottery last Friday! "We" being the two ladies I share the office with, and "lottery" being $150 from Mega Millions. So, after taxes and after paying for our next subscription, that leaves about $30 a piece. Still, I've never won anything before, much less cash. Of course, that is mostly due to the fact that I am a non-gambler. And anti-gambler in most cases. But my portion of the 3-month subscription (for 2 drawings a week) was only $8.66. And with the way things are going around here, we needed a back-up retirement plan.
Here's hoping for bigger payouts to come!
I assume I won't be updating for a while, so I thought I'd post an entry about not updating. Once again, my life is unstable and I'm just doing my best to go about my business. No NaNoWriMo this year. I don't have the time or energy*. No Shakespeare Theatre ushering. I don't have the time or interest**. Anything I do in my spare time has got to be useful, like making gifts (I will buy nothing this Christmas except supplies for whatever it is I decide to make) or volunteering someplace that could potentially become a permanent job if need be.
* I've decided that when I attempt NaNoWriMo next time, I will be more prepared. So even though I've decided not to participate this year, I'm beginning to do research. My favorite genre is historical fiction, so I think that's what I'm going to try. And in order to do that, I figured I'd better brush up on my history. No time like the present!
** The Shakespeare Theatre is fine; it's just not inspiring. I mean, it's just handing out programs and telling people they can't take pictures (and confiscating their cameras when they try). What I've wanted to do for a long time - and what I've talked myself out of for just as long - is to volunteer at a hospital (either AMC or RMH). I volunteered at St. Mary's in high school and really enjoyed it. Plus, I figure it's a way to get my foot through the door should I need a quick career switch.
** The Shakespeare Theatre is fine; it's just not inspiring. I mean, it's just handing out programs and telling people they can't take pictures (and confiscating their cameras when they try). What I've wanted to do for a long time - and what I've talked myself out of for just as long - is to volunteer at a hospital (either AMC or RMH). I volunteered at St. Mary's in high school and really enjoyed it. Plus, I figure it's a way to get my foot through the door should I need a quick career switch.
On an up note, however, I'm doing incredibly well on my budget. I had money left over last month, so I promptly spent it plus an additional $25. But I added that $25 to this month's savings and have vowed not to do that again! Budgeting is so much like a diet. You give yourself just a taste of chocolate, and the next thing you know you're eating the whole bar. If I have extra money this month, I'm not touching it, or it will just lead to additional spending. It's got to be all or nothing.
One more little update: I paid off my loan to the Virginia Department of Education today. Yah! Thank god that's over. That was over $175 a month going down the drain (aka State Government). Now if I can just get the IRS off my ass.....
"The future will be a total disaster, with a collapse of our capitalistic system as we know it today, wars, massive government debt defaults and the impoverishment of large segments of Western society" - Marc Farber, September issue of the Gloom, Boom and Doom Report .
Burying money in tin cans in the back yard is sounding better and better every day.....
I'm home from my long weekend of reunions. It's torture sitting in front of the computer, but I'm afraid my short-term memory will fail and I'll forget the details, so here's a quick recap.
- Drove to Auburn on Thursday morning, arriving around 3pm CST. I made excellent time (just over 9h) despite the torrential rains from Gwinnett to Pine Mountain.
- Spent the afternoon chatting with Katie at her house, then Joanna and hers before dinner with everyone (Joanna, Dave, Katie, Brett, A.Deana, U. Clyde) at the Amsterdam.
- Friday morning - met Katie and Joanna for breakfast at Panera then took a tour of Brett's new medical office (SWEET!). Finally met up with Aunt Deana and Uncle Clyde at their place for a quick chat , then lunch at Joanna's before hitting the highway again.
- Drove to Athens (about 3h) and arrived at Jennifer's around 5pm.
- Jennifer, Helen and I went to dinner where Helen was a complete doll!
- Saturday morning: Biscuits at the gas station, then drove to Atlanta (in the rain) and did an little sightseeing. Met Lenore and Mandy at Neighbors (memories!) then headed back to Athens.
- After multple "misdirections" arrived back in Athens just in time to head out for dinner, then spent the rest of the night running my big fat mouth ( I had years of b.s bottled up in me, and I guess it all had to come out eventually. Sorry for having to listen, Jennifer!)
- Sunday: Hit the road around 7:30am and got back to Staunton about 2:45. No traffic, no rain. Couldn't ask for more.
What a fantastic show!!!! I'm so glad I decided to volunteer on Sunday's. It's less hectic than other days, so I actually get to got in and watch the show. PLUS I get a complimentary pass to a future show every time I volunteer. And it's transferable! A fair trade off for having to deal with the general public (which leaves a lot to be desired, let me tell you).
Did I mention that the show was fantastic?
I'm making a lot of headway with my living room. I know I am. But it feels like it will NEVER END! I'm trying to stay focused and do the best job I'm able to. That means not skimping on the details. But my God! It's literally wearing me out, and I haven't even gotten the shelves in. So, once again, I'm making plans for next weekend. Shelves. That's all. Couldn't be that bad, right?
Monday so far.....
- Middle cat has taken to screaming her little lungs out at 4am. I feel like I've gotten 2 minutes sleep. Note to self: Kill cat.
- Caught my toast on fire in the oven. As in angry flames. Set off fire alarm. House smells like smoke. Good news: Can no longer smell cat pee courtesy of incontinent oldest cat (who I calculated is the same age as my mother. Im just saying.)
- While airing out house, kitten ran out door. Fortunately, he was so confused at being out in the morning, he just stood there. So I didn't lose too much time hunting him down.
- Got to work as my boss was running out the door to rush visiting consultant to the hospital. No idea what's going on, but it makes my Monday look pretty tame.
- I look like death warmed over this morning. But it's cool and crisp and I'm wearing a sweater. So it's all OK.
I have a lot of personality quirks that irk me, one being that I refuse to accept anyone's help at any time. I may have actually said this before, but I REALLY need to open up more. I'm getting older, weaker, and less coordinated, and it's about time I start asking for assistance before I seriously injure myself (which will make me truly dependent and miserable).
Oh, well. Back to the drywall.....
UPDATE: End of day 5. A week of mudding and sanding, and another weekend doing trim work, shelves and painting, and it'll be ready for books!!
Estimate of Expenditures:
New electrics ($1,500)
Guest bedroom:
Fix ceiling ($100)
New floor ($200)
Bathroom: New floor ($200)
NADA!
Back hallway: $96 for laminate; about $20 for trim so far. miscellanous trim ($50)
Fix foundation: ($2,500)
New floor ($200)
Dishwasher ($500)
Plumbing/electricl ($250)
Front Bedroom: New floor ($200)
Dishwasher ($500)
Plumbing/electricl ($250)
Stablize floor ($200... and a hell of a lot of nerve!)
Miscellaneous trim ($150)
Fix ceiling ($50)
Living Room: Miscellaneous trim ($150)
Fix ceiling ($50)
Drywall ($250) *** These were my original estimates. I'm keeping everything written down, just to see how things change w/reality.
Wood ($250)
Doors ($150)
Trim ($250)
Floor repair ($75)
**** Expenditures by project - revised:
Wood ($250)
Doors ($150)
Trim ($250)
Floor repair ($75)
**** Expenditures by project - revised:
Wall one (closet): 2x4s = $20; louvered door = $68
Wall two (bookcases): est. $75
Drywall: est. $125
Mud/screws/tape: est. $25
Paint: est. $25
Chair railing: est. $50
Crown molding: est $100
Light fixture: est $75
Chairs: $200 (OK - so I spent too much on them, but I love them!)
Rugs: est. $100
Sofa: est. $300 (could be my biggest challenge!)
Fabric: $130 (original estimate $150)
Drywall: est. $125
Mud/screws/tape: est. $25
Paint: est. $25
Chair railing: est. $50
Crown molding: est $100
Light fixture: est $75
Chairs: $200 (OK - so I spent too much on them, but I love them!)
Rugs: est. $100
Sofa: est. $300 (could be my biggest challenge!)
Fabric: $130 (original estimate $150)
Dining table: est. ($100
****Grand total estimate puts me at $1500. I need to lose $500 somewhere. Let the games begin!!!!
****Grand total estimate puts me at $1500. I need to lose $500 somewhere. Let the games begin!!!!
Basement
Wall and floor masonry ($150)
Plumbing ($150)
Drywall for ceilings ($200)
Plumbing ($150)
Drywall for ceilings ($200)
Roof repair ($150)
Happy Weekend!
I LOVE IT!!!!! I love the whimsy and the orange. And I especially love the non-traditional pattern. Best of all, this is a napkin from Crate and Barrel. It is large enough to cover the front of a large throw pillow (21" square). I ordered two, then two coordinating orange linen napkins to make the backs. And Penneys has pillow inserts on sale for around $6/each. All told, I think it'll cost about $45 for two large, FABULOUS throw pillows. Now I just have to build on this pattern/color scheme for the rest of the room. Oh, and build the room, of course.
I'm trying to rein in my projects for the time being so I can save a little money - just in case I lose my job. My plan for this past Saturday was to install chair railing in the bedroom and repaint a couple of rooms (just because I felt the need to paint something!). I picked up my supplies at Lowe's (about $60 worth, I think), then drove around to my regular haunts: The Cheese Shop, Target, Ben Franklin. On my long-term "wish list" was a dresser to store my linens, so I stopped by Layne's in Waynesboro - my absolute favorite antique/junk store around - just to see what was there. I've been there enough to learn where the "good stuff" is hidden, so I skipped through the overpriced pieces upstairs and headed straight to the back wall of the basement. I immediately found a decent piece for $75 (not including the standard 5-10% discount). Then I noticed another one for $10 less and a much nicer profile. I've gone through this process often enough to know that you can't second guess yourself when faced with two viable options. Just look for good bones, a nice profile and no major flaws and you'll be good. So, despite my self-imposed budget, I went for the second dresser. If the other one's still there in a month or two, I may go back and get it as well. But that's definitely pushing the bounds of my budget for August.
I can't believe I didn't take a before and after shot. But here is a side-by-side of the drawers during mid-restoration.
And here's the final product (stained with brown mahogany and finished with high gloss tung oil).
And, yes, those are coasters under the feet. Even though the hallway floor is now stable, it's still slanted - like everything else in my house. I'll replace them with something more appropriate later. Or not.
My only regret is that the dresser isn't large enough to hold all my towels as well as the sheets. But by transferring the sheets, I've made lots of room in my closet for other stuff that's been sitting around - like cleaning supplies. I will not be content until all my possessions have a real home. I really should take another look at the other dresser at Layne's.
I now have a long list of projects (and supplies) lined up and waiting for me. My objective for next weekend is to stick to my existing list and not get sidetracked with some other hair-brained scheme.
My weekends might sound tedious, but they are never boring!
My first project crossed off the list! I really shouldn't cross it off yet, since I only did 1/4 of the trim, but the old hallway floor has been repaired, secured and refaced with really nice Pergo laminate flooring that I got at Lowe's on sale (20% off special flooring offer). I'll list the actual cost next to my original guestimate just for fun. So far, I'm in budget. Woo hoo! 
On the left: A single layer of old pine subflooring that was beginning to split along the grain. It was creaky and spongy and had me worried that someone would actually fall through it one day.
On the right: Subflooring covered by plywood then laminate. It's solid and sturdy and squeaky clean. I officially love laminate flooring (the floating kind, NOT the glue kind.)
Estimate of Expenditures:
New electrics ($1,500)
Guest bedroom:
Fix ceiling ($100)
New floor ($200)
New floor ($200)
Bathroom:
NADA!
Back hallway: $96 for laminate; about $20 for trim so far.
miscellanous trim ($50)
Kitchen:
Fix foundation: ($2,500)
New floor ($200)
Dishwasher ($500)
Plumbing/electricl ($250)
New floor ($200)
Dishwasher ($500)
Plumbing/electricl ($250)
Front Bedroom:
Stablize floor ($200... and a hell of a lot of nerve!)
Miscellaneous trim ($150)
Fix ceiling ($50)
Miscellaneous trim ($150)
Fix ceiling ($50)
Living Room:
Drywall ($250)
Wood ($250)
Doors ($150)
Trim ($250)
Floor repair ($75)
Wood ($250)
Doors ($150)
Trim ($250)
Floor repair ($75)
Basement
Wall and floor masonry ($150)
Plumbing ($150)
Drywall for ceilings ($200)
Plumbing ($150)
Drywall for ceilings ($200)
Roof repair ($150)
I haven't had time to do any research this week (too busy sleeping), but I'll be all over it this weekend. I don't want to rush in to anything, since I really would prefer adult ed and am not sure how to go about it. I won't look for a position this fall unless this job gets even crappier (which is quite possible). I had this same plan a year ago, but recession woes kept me where I am. Now I'm ready to make a move - recession be damned!
"Fifty-four percent of employed Americans plan to look for a new job once the economy rebounds"
Looks like I'll have a lot of company....
And it's not only sleep. My depression is all but gone, my taste in food has changed, my appetite has gone down, my energy level has gone way up (when I'm not sleeping!). And since I've started to sleep, the swelling has gone done, most obviously in my face. No more bags under my eyes! Unfortunately, this just accentuates the wrinkles, but whatever. At least I don't feel like the Stay-Puff marshmallow man any more (even though I still look like him).
I'm not sure how long it will take me to make up for 20+ years of insufficient sleep, but I'm sure enjoying trying.
Who would have thunk.......
"Seize the day". "Live life to its fullest". "Make every moment count". How many cliches and quotes are there to remind us just how short life is? I'm sure I've uttered a few myself. But I never really got it. And I still don't, but I'm getting closer. Not that I have a large number of regrets in my life. I think I've done pretty well considering the cards I've been dealt. However, there is one regret that I not only carry with me, but I also repeat on a daily basis. And it must stop, or my next 43 years won't be any better than the first.
Despite outward appearances, I am very insecure. I am head strong and opinionated, and I live a non-conventional (albeit boring) life. But I'm not living the life I was supposed to lead. I am not the person I know in my heart I was meant to be. And that makes me really sad for myself. How have I dealt with my insecurity in the past? I basically drank it away. I've struggled with this dependency on alcohol for years, and I think I've finally - FINALLY - broken the cycle. It's unimportant how and why I've made it over this major hurdle, but its done. And just like my past smoking addiction, I think this is the real deal.
The downside to this is the constant awareness of my aforementioned insecurity. I'm having a difficult time dealing with all these new emotions that I had numbed for the past 25 years. Its intimidating, but I'm so much stronger now. I see great potential in my future.
Basically, this all comes down to my fear of doing what I want to do with the time I have left on this planet. I have wonderful fantasies of doing interesting and adventurous things with my life. But, when the fear sets in at night, and I listen to those voices in my head (my mother's, specifically), I lose my courage. I wake up in the morning a scared and broken person and waddle off to my loathesome but safe job.
When I started making plans to move to Georgia, Jennifer asked me what I wanted to do for a living. My response? "I don't know". How is it that someone with as diverse background and abundance of interests could be 43 and not know what she wants to do with her life???? In reality there are loads of thingsI want to do, but I'm afraid to commit it to words because my insecure self will just end up getting a miserable desk job and hating life, just in a new zipcode. I'M SO VERY TIRED OF BEING SCARED!!!! I respect the limitations this economy has placed on us, and I appreciate that there will be some obstacles starting a new career at my age, but what the hell!!!! If I don't start doing some uninhibited soul-searching and set up some realistic goals for getting there, then I might as well just crawl back into my pre-fab cubicle at my soul-sucking job and just end it now.
Phew. I feel better already! I'm off to start my research.
p.s. I must add that I don't actually want to start a new career. I want to use my existing education and skills in a more positive way. Surely I won't encounter the same obstacles that a 40-something would if he/she were starting from scratch. At least I hope not!
