One of those days...

You know when you watch a hamster on a wheel, he's running and running and running and getting nowhere? That is a good illustration of my life these days. It's feeling like a hamster wheel I can't get off of (except that brief respite of a silent retreat in the middle of it).

Things I need:
Balance.
Time.
Energy.
A Weekend.
Sanity.
To not care anymore.

Drum roll please...

Good news after a really shoddy week...

1. One of my brothers who has been job hunting for awhile just got a job! Hurray! God is good!

2. I am heading down on retreat this weekend to the Abbey of Gethsemani for my annual silent retreat. I am soooooo ready. So. Ready. Yay!

3. Have I ever mentioned how my silent weekend retreat annually is one of the highlights of my life? Well, it is. Wonderful. So ready...

4. Some far away friends are coming to visit soon- already getting excited for the visiti.

5. I made some small progress this week on the kitchen- finished the undercabinet lighting, painted the shelf I got back from my brother who made alterations for me and installed it, touched up some paint, generally worked on it. Good to make progress, even small progress.

Happy Thursday!

Snow Day!

As a kid, we never had snow days like normal "real school" kids, because we were homeschooled... snowy days meant we could still do school just like any other day. We were envious of the kids with the snow days, in fact. Then I worked for my dad's business for years, and we didn't really have snow days (of course if it was unsafe, we weren't expected to be there). Then I worked for Neverland- no snow days there either (although I guess I didn't work there for a winter). But now I have really arrived!! If the local schools are closed, the parish office closes down (and all activities therein). Today is a snow day, and it is awesome!! So far I've drunk half a pot of coffee, am still in my PJ's, just purified and put a load of Jesus' laundry in the washer, paid some bills, watched some dogs fight inside (grrr), watched a movie and a half with my homie who is also home today, and am now contemplating productivity and shoveling for the afternoon. This is great.

Snow days are so worth the hype.

The Progress of the Day

It ended up being a fairly productive day- although wiring projects always take forever somehow. And no Saturday is ever as productive as I'd like- but today measured up okay.

I drank coffee. Suzie napped in the sunshine. Maggie went outside every 15 minutes, only to find it was still as cold the last time. Then I had to figure out numerous circuits until I found that the over the sink light is on the same circuit as the basement family room and the one plug with the wireless router in the dining room- who mapped this house??? Anyway, I did find and turn off the circuit. And removed the halogen light from over the sink. And went to Aco for supplies. And started to wire the previous power supply into a plug so as to then install other under-cabinet lights. And went back to Aco for a couple more things. And finished installing the plug. And my brother came with my cute neice to deliver the shelf he fixed for me- THANKS Bert! And then I discovered I've got some mild vertigo again while trying to measure the undersides of the cabinets for the lights. Thankfully my housemate was around and happy to help - so she measured and helped install the lights. I drilled some holes, helped run wires, made a list for Lowes since we had some hitches in the installation. Went to Lowes. Spackled some holes. Ate some dinner. Made some adjustments, glued some stuff in place. Waited for glue to dry. Got out the paint brushes and let them thaw. And ran out of energy and never got around to the painting. Put the brushes back in the freezer. Watched TV with housemate.

To sum up: the undercabinet lighting is almost all in, but not quite (remember, the glue is drying and then I have to paint). But in doing so, I've also created yet another project for another day. Two steps forward, one step back. Such is life.

One of those days...

There's nothing better at the end of a ridiculously frustrating day at the end of a very long week than a good dinner, good beer, and great company.

Progress- any progress at all- is huge!

Look, dear readers, finally, after two (or has it been three?) busy months of not doing anything to further the kitchen painting project, today I am making progress. I have a Saturday at home at last!!!! And thankfully my friend Orsi said she'd come over this morning to help me paint, which meant I actually had to get out of bed (even after working till midnight last night).

Progress so far:
- Mostly removed the awful barely functioning light fixture from over the sink (though I haven't turned off the circuit and removed / rearranged the wiring yet).
- We painted the undersides of the cabinets- a couple coats of primer and then the topcoat.
- Painted the topcoat on several areas of previously primed trim
- Drank 1 pot of coffee

Next up, I've got to get out the yellow wall paint and do some touching up and some touching up with the white too. And I should probably eat something because I think the paint fumes and the pot of coffee on the empty stomach is making me a little queasy. And maybe I'll touch up the white trim in the dining room while I've got it out... and gosh those dog blankets need to be washed... and I should do a load of sweaters... and I want to bake... and...

Also, a note of appreciation to my pooches, who have really come a long way with this whole process. I can have open paint cans in the kitchen, and they know when the paint comes out, they have to go to their beds (or at least out of the room). Awesome.

Here's to progress... And thanks, dear friend, for your assistance this morning. I really, really appreciate it!!