More Home Improvement

The internets say that the average lifespan of wallpaper paste is ten years.

My question is who is the contractor that sold his freaking soul to the devil to get the wallpaper paste on my bathroom wall??? This crap is like rhino snot! Seriously, I can tell that it's been on the wall for at least 20 years and it's still stuck on there like a nun's panties.

New Meds

Before you get an antibiotic for a UTI, urine has to be tested.

Before you get antibiotics for an infection, your blood is tested to see what meds will work on that specific infection.

But what kind of test is done for anti-depressants? What would happen if Alan, who doesn't need anti-depressants, takes Prozac?

I went to the doctor yesterday for a backache and while there I expressed concern that Celexa wasn't working for me the way it used to. I was perscribed Pristiq and was told that it has the seritonine reuptake inhibators like Celexa, as well as norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. But what does that mean in layman's terms?

I just want to feel better. I want to not take 2 hour naps everyday. And I want to WANT to do dishes and fold laundry and take care of the house and my family like I used to. I want to WANT to leave the house and meet new people and do new things.

It seems that more people than ever take some kind of anti-depressant, but how do the doctors decide that someone needs to be on something like that and how do they know which drug to prescribe and how much to prescribe?

I also had a million vials of blood drawn to find out why my hair is falling out. I'll let you know what's going on with that when I find out.

Right side:


Left Side: My hair is growing back in whispy little bits; not like it was before.


On a positive note, because of these pictures I've decided not to dye my hair anymore. It's kind of a pretty color, isn't it? heh.

Lilly's baby sweater

Made this one for Carroll's little girl. Of course in TX she may grow out of it before she can wear it!

Chunky Cable Sweater

This is the baby sweater I finished for my Aunt Jeannie. Fun little pattern from the book Adorable Knits for Tots by Zoe Mellor.

And Then You Had a Duh Moment....

Of all the germy things in and around us, soap dispensers are the least of my worries. I mean, what's ALWAYS the next thing you do after touching the germy soap dispenser? You lick your fingers! Wrong, you wash your hands. Duh. Duh. Duh.

What a money-making gimmick.

Missing the James Family Already

We just had our 1st Memphis visitors!

Cortland's honorary cousins just left and it feels too quite already. We had so much fun playing and hanging out. And I swear Shauna's husband, Cullen, and Alan are twins separated at birth. It was such a great visit.

Left to Right: Tori, Cortland, Sarah and Gabriel

Shauna may kill me for posting her 3AM picture. One minute it was 10PM and the next thing I know it's three in the morning.

Wrapped Around His Finger

When he cries he looks just like the very 1st day; the very 1st minute he was born. God, he's got it all over me it's not even funny. Twist Mommy, twist!

Some Kids Eat the Stangest Things

Cortland loves Thai and Japanese food.

Alan cracks me up!


We have to work harder at not laughing when disciplining or he's going to know who's really the boss in this family.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Thank you Kooistras for Blue Buster. C still loves it.


Aunt Jeannie, can you hear the bug singing? He pulls it around all day long. He loves his bug!


Lilly and Kiwi came over to play today. We had lots and lots of fun.

What We've Been Up To This Summer

First of all, Cortland wanted me to tell you he loves you all THIIIISSSSSS much!


This is the coolest park ever. See all of that wood? It goes up and down and to slides and rings and tunnels and tire swings... A kid could get lost in there if he wasn't wearing a neon yellow shirt. Phew, thank goodness we just happen to have one.





We went to Nash Farms in Grapevine, TX to milk cows and pet chickens, but I couldn't get C away from the tractors and farm implements. Gee, who here is surprised?




Here he is doing his serious KS farmer face. He totally has it down. And those who know, doesn't his expression look like my dads?


Sometimes I take Cortland to the local kid cage along with the other moms who just. need. a. break.


Only kidding. It's called The Tubes. It's like a really big Chik-Fil-A playground, or a really small Going Bonkers, which is another place we've been, but I was afraid to take pictures. There were so many kids at Going Bonkers I was afraid the patients were about to take over the asylum.



Daddy and Cortland finding animals in the clouds.


Concentrating REALLY hard.


And laughing a whole bunch!

Cancer

I want to vent and throw things and yell profanities, but Carroll's husband, and hopefully someday Carroll, will read this post and I want to keep things as positive as possible. It's a raging war in my head between emotions and conventionality.

Carroll (Kiwi) has brain cancer. It's a level/grade IV astrocytoma. Hers was a primary tumor, meaning it started in her brain, not metastasized from somewhere else in her body. It was removed last Wed and the doctor said he got it all. They estimate it grew to the size of a ping-pong ball in less than 6 months.

Brain cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body. I guess it figures it's found the Holy Grail with the brain, and it's doesn't have to look any further. She has already started chemo and will continue for 6 months. She starts 6 weeks of radiation the beginning of August.

She has been a trooper through all of this. As she says, "It is what it is." . She says she's scared which to me means she's got her wits about her. I would have been more worried if she wasn't. She is enjoying her daughter and husband and is just taking it easy.

Painting

Would it have killed the builder to spend an extra $5k to make smooth walls as opposed to these stupid knock-down textured walls? I mean seriously, it would be an extra $5 per mortgage payment for whoever initially bought the house. But for me to fix these stupid bumpy-ish walls? Out of pocket, baby. Poopheads.

And bumpy ceilings, too? What else are they going to throw at me? Suckerfish.

In my best Barbie voice; Painting texture is harrrrrd!

New additions!

Our baby birds finally sprouted!!!!!!!!

Click on the picture to make it bigger so you can see their little heads!

MIL (Mother-in-Law) Litmus Test

While cleaning the bathroom this morning I got to thinking about what my Clean Litmus Test is. It surprised me to realize it's my mother-in-law. I have never consciously thought it outloud, but inside my head, whenever I look around the house I think, "Would I be embarrassed if Marla just dropped by with the house in this condition?"

I love my mother-in-law and if I chose my husband based solely on who I would get for an MIL; I would choose Alan all over again. But that doesn't change the fact that I don't want her to ever walk in and think that I am raising her grandchild in abject filth.

MIL Litmus Test:
NO - Messy Bathroom
NO - Dusty Floor
YES - Scrapbook Project on Dining Room Table
YES - Dishes in Sink
NO!!!!! - Dishes on Counter, Stove, Table
NO - Dirty Clothes on Floor
MAYBE - Unmade Bed
SOMETIMES - Dust

It's good to have a motivator. Thank you Marla!

Just wondering...

I was just wondering, is there a switch or something on gas stoves to turn off the pilot light when cleaning the knobs so that someone won't, hypothetically, light a burner while holding a paper towel and about burn down her nice, new house?

New videos. Lots of new videos

Cortland decided to wear the USB cable for my camera to get the mail awhile ago and it disappeared for weeks. Alan found it tonight and I posted about a million videos to you tube. Search for cortland burke (or click here) and there will be many videos to feast your eyes on.

Music

I turned on my Itunes and put in my earbuds to drown out Alan's basketball game and BAM, I'm back in 10th grade, in the commons at South High, during play practice listening to Under Pressure by Bowie and Queen. The layers in that song, the horns and strings, the guitars, the percussion, all of it. So rich and moving.

I forget how music can make me feel like I'm on a roller coaster; it can totally take my breath away.

I get the same feeling from ABBA and the soundtrack to Grease 2. (Oh yeah, you heard me, Grease 2. And you all totally know you want a coooooool rider, c-o-o-l r-i-d-e-r....)

And then Under Pressure takes me to Vanilla Ice. Ah, that one song. Ding Ding Ding Da Da Ding Ding. Da Ding Ding Ding Da Da Ding Ding. It makes me giggle just thinking about the lawsuit that followed and Robert van Winkle's ridiculous argument that the extra ding made it an original riff and not copyright infringement. What a goofball. And sadly, it just makes me like the song more. That and the memories of riding around with Jeni Edwards after Friday night football games.

Zao, Swing Swing by All American Rejects and Jimmy Eat World take me to 2003 when I was newly single after 14 years. When I felt nervous and excited and utterly grown up and self-reliant for the 1st time in my life. I bought a red couch that year and cried in the store because it was the 1st piece of furniture I picked out without having to put aside my own style in order to keep the peace. (other than my daybed in high school. Thanks mom!)

Alan gets all of the pining-for-you love songs due to his year in Memphis without me. All of them from the last 36 years; not just the ones from 2004. *Sigh* Poor guy. Drives him nuts. He also gets I've Been Working on the Railroad. heh.

So off I go to bed with a lighter heart and excited to start tomorrow by going out and meeting new people. I'm looking forward to making a 2010 Life Soundtrack to reminisce about in 10 years. I may even pay the $20 to join that mom's group here in town - even though it skeeves me out a little to have to pay for friends. Makes me seem desperate.....

Under Pressure....

Dead or Alive

MISSING: INVISIBLE BOX

Contains pizza cutter, tin foil and Saran wrap

Reward Offered!!!!

The Good List

The marble bathtub. I told Alan when we redo the master bath we are going to have to design around the bathtub with the perfect slope for cars (and barbies) to wing down the back like a water slide.

I LOVE the ice dispenser. Not because I actually eat ice (ick, of the devil, ice cream headache without the yumminess), but because Cortland thinks I'm a magic princess when I push the button and frozen bits come raining down on his head. He is entertained for 15 minutes trying to pick up slippery bits (and shhhh, put them in his mouth - don't tell CPS) and I get a clean floor by mopping up the melty spots. Win! Win!

Grace's Do-You-Want-to-Go-to-Your-Room? room is far, far away from Cortland's bedroom and behind two doors for maximum not going to wake the baby with her barking and have to be shaken Memphis-styleness. *gassssspppppp, big breath*
So much less stress knowing I don't feel like beating the dog because she is yelling at an evil cotton ball. We have a no-bark machine coming the 26th. Maybe then we can watch TV again. It's the kind that makes the high-pitched sound not a shock collar.

The kitchen faucet took a little getting used to , but now I love it. The head is also the sprayer and water shoots out hard enough to peel paint. I fell in total love with it when it cleaned out a 1/2 full can of tomato paste in 2.1 seconds.

I have lots and lots of cabinets So many cabinets I routinely loose things in the kitchen. It's great! (As routinely as someone who's only been here a week.)

Cortland can go play in his room all by himself. No stairs = wander in and play with trains whenever he wants.

And the bad stuff? No Tanya next door. I miss her.

Moving In - Day 5

I've spent the last three days moving large items (eg. huge packages of paper towels and toilet paper because Alan had to get a Costco membership to support his rampant nut cluster habit. Thanks David) from one unacceptable in the way place to another in the way place, neither of which is it's new home. Rat in a maze. Rat in a maze. I feel just like a rat in a maze.

Today I have big plans. I'm going to eat powdered donuts and contemplate my navel.