I haven't written in some time and I have no excuse. NO EXCUSE!!! I could make up one. I could blame Hurricane Sandy or that I'm too busy decorating the newly rebuilt house or I was kidnapped by elves and just now managed to gnaw my way through the ropes that held me.
Anyway.... I'M HERE NOW!!!
The house is beautiful. The colors are wonderful even if it is somewhat like living in a pinata. We didn't buy a whole lot of furniture... truthfully the house is so small there isn't any room for a lot of furniture. I still haven't found the perfect thing for the living room wall tho finding a throw for the back of the couch has taken away the turd look of it. Did look like that in a store but there in my peach living room it was like Godzilla took a dump in my living room. The throw helps
I've also discovered wall decals and if I'm not careful the house will be covered with them but how can I resist? STICKERS for WALLS!!! My favorite I think is the little blue fairy door I got from Wilson Graphics on Etsy. There are decals in the kitchen and in the eat in kitchen part and in the living room, hall, bedrooms and the craft room. I'm not slapping up any old thing, I think this through carefully.
This is all new to me. I never put together a house before. Even when we first got married we each had bits of furniture that followed us through the years. Nothing matched and there was so much of it so this has been rather hard for me. I am so afraid of making a mistake even if it is my own home. Now that I have the last of the Ikea Furniture assembled I may take a crack at photographing the whole house.
We have a new deck out back that reminds me of a tree house. It really isn't up that high but whenever I am on it I think tree house. It's a custom built deck and so sturdy I think it could withstand almost anything.
We got really lucky with our contractor. I've heard all kind of dreadful contractor stories but our rebuild went fairly easily. Our contractor had told us early on that he rarely got the chance to rebuild from the ground up... so to speak. We had our walls from the old house but everything else was replaced including roof. Boy is this house built solidly. During Hurricane Sandy we didn't wobble or shimmy or shiver or shake. The walls didn't rattle. The only sound from outside was one of those peculiar moaning wind type of sounds that always makes me think of winter snowstorms. We lost power and I had problems with the sump pump but the contractor talked me through what I needed to do and we stayed nice and dry. We even got a generator with left over house contents money and when the neighborhood was out we had fridges, sump pump, a lamnp and TV and Internet and were even able to share some of our electricity with the best neighbors in the world when the pull string on their generator broke.
The dogs are thrilled with their new home. They love the idea of all those doors and while they may go out the front door, we never really know which door they will want to come in. There is even a doggy door in the basement door but Kali is the only one who uses it. Charlie will go through it if I hold the flap open but nothing stops Kali. She'll be in the house, hear Charlie bark then she's off mumbling to herself as she runs downstairs and out the door. When she comes in, she comes to find one of us and grins at us until we tell her how clever she is and then she settles down, Charlie barks and off she goes again.
Charlie is an outdoorsy sort of dog. He didn't even mind going out into the hurricane and would have been quite content to sit on the porch in the driving rain. Nasty us made him come in where it was dry. He's jsut lucky I didn't make him put on a sweater or a rain coat. What Charlie loves as much as sitting on the porch is sitting on his mound. We had dirt delivered to landscape around the base of the house to draw rain water away from the house instead of into the basement. A huge pile was delivered, spread about and still there was a pile. Eventually we had the pile moved to the front of the house under a tree and Charlie just adores the mound. He stands on the mound, sits on the mound and yesterday lounged on the mound. I'm sure if it snows he'll be sitting on the mound in the snow. Of course it looks rather odd to have a pile of dirt in front of the house for the dog but well.... it's us. Why wouldn't we have a mound of dirt for our dog?
So that;s about it for now. Stay odd my friends.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
The Bodkinz is still oddz
We received our salvaged possessions from serv pro. 27 boxes of comics and 7 boxes of not comics. So what was IN those 7 boxes? H handful of useless keys wrapped as if they were made out of spun glass. Why useless? Because the doors they fit no longer exist being either burned or shattered by the firemen. A clutch of rusted grilling tools. I've needed more iron in my system. A dented collander, a frying pan with a wobbly handle, a pile of old mail from 3 years ago, loose photos now all stuck together. Framed photos and a mildewed wedding album. No clothes, no trophy of Josh's that I was promised would be returned, nothing that I would actually want, other than photos. I was enraged and would have torn somone's head off if I could. I should have been more demanding and insisted on seeing what they were taking away instead of assuming they knew what they were doing. A pox on them.
I got over my fury with a nap and a bit of crafting and I think we will all be pleased to know is that the one thing not damaged by the fire is the gravity in the craftroom. It isn't even the same craft room and yet the gravity there works like it did in my original craft room. Craft room gravity sucks the stuff off tables and shelves no matter how carefully I place it. Good thing to know some things never change.
Unfortunately though, I think my angels have been displaced. Whenever I took photos in a certain spot in the house, I would always have orbs. Same spot post fire and no orbs. No orbs anywhere in the house, unfortunately. I did uncover the angel shrine that I had made that the orbs were always around. Now I need to take a pic to see if the orbs follow the shrine and not the spot in the house. It always made me feel better Knowing I had angels.
Some angels, people might think, they let your house burn. Perhaps, but the angels made sure we all got out and no one was hurt. I can't ask anything more of them other than to come home, we miss you.
I got over my fury with a nap and a bit of crafting and I think we will all be pleased to know is that the one thing not damaged by the fire is the gravity in the craftroom. It isn't even the same craft room and yet the gravity there works like it did in my original craft room. Craft room gravity sucks the stuff off tables and shelves no matter how carefully I place it. Good thing to know some things never change.
Unfortunately though, I think my angels have been displaced. Whenever I took photos in a certain spot in the house, I would always have orbs. Same spot post fire and no orbs. No orbs anywhere in the house, unfortunately. I did uncover the angel shrine that I had made that the orbs were always around. Now I need to take a pic to see if the orbs follow the shrine and not the spot in the house. It always made me feel better Knowing I had angels.
Some angels, people might think, they let your house burn. Perhaps, but the angels made sure we all got out and no one was hurt. I can't ask anything more of them other than to come home, we miss you.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Vacation
We were away on vacation last week. Did ya miss me?
Anyhoo, we went to the beach. Yes, an Oddz Bodkinz vacation where one goes to the beach AFTER the season and when one forfeits bathing suits for sweat shirts.
The first night there most of the boardwalk was open (this is Wildwood, NJ). I hit a dollar store only to discover the lamest merchandize EVER! It was as if they swept the floor of all the stores and stuck the crap that they swept up on these shelves and walls. It's pretty pitiful when you can't find one thing to buy at the dollar store.
I didn't hit any more stores that night but the Husband bought himself a pound of candy. Now I know we haven't been on vacation in a while but when did chocolate candy cost $22.00 a pound??
So Wildwood Baordwalk was a bust. We hit Cape May the next day and trolled the stores in what they call the Mall... Out doors, gifty, that kind of thing. I bought only two things there when usually we come a staggering back unable to carry our loot. I don't know if I lost the taste for shopping, for the beach, or did I just NOT want to be there but at home in my new.old house.
We headed home on Tuesday and I was never so glad to leave the beach in my life. The whole area just didn't feel right. It was hard to equate the vacation Wildwood with the one where there were no... and I mean NO cars on the streets after dark. No people either when this place usually keeps going until the early hours. It felt almost like a post apocalyptic movie set where manhole covers bite at your ankles and sharks are swimming in your toilet. and youdon't dare look behind you for fear of what is lurking. In fact, the most exciting thing to happen was two gorups of hot bodied young coast guard guys that came jogging past singing aloud some kind of cadence that kept them all on the same beat. And that was only once. I must say that coast guard guys, young ones, at least have great butts. HEY! I wasn't looking. I happened to be sitting in the car as they came past and is it my fault that their butts were the same level as my eyes/ Well, except for the tall ones.
I am glad to be home, even tho still don't have the house set up perfectly. I'm in dire need of some artwork for my walls. Out big brown couch doesn't look so much like a turd since I bought a throw for the back of it and the cat peed on my bedspread so my bedroom smells a bit icky but it doesn't matter I'M HOME!!! And I'm not leaving EVER!!!
So there isn't much else new. I almost had a new laptop but the one bought for me had a cracked screen so I must wait for a new lap top. One that will hopefully turn on unlike the old one which is finally dying of the fire damage.
Speaking of fire damage. Serv Pro is bringing the stuff they managed to save to us on Thursday. I have no idea what they have so I guess it'll be like Christmas and I'll have surprizez. Till then......
Anyhoo, we went to the beach. Yes, an Oddz Bodkinz vacation where one goes to the beach AFTER the season and when one forfeits bathing suits for sweat shirts.
The first night there most of the boardwalk was open (this is Wildwood, NJ). I hit a dollar store only to discover the lamest merchandize EVER! It was as if they swept the floor of all the stores and stuck the crap that they swept up on these shelves and walls. It's pretty pitiful when you can't find one thing to buy at the dollar store.
I didn't hit any more stores that night but the Husband bought himself a pound of candy. Now I know we haven't been on vacation in a while but when did chocolate candy cost $22.00 a pound??
So Wildwood Baordwalk was a bust. We hit Cape May the next day and trolled the stores in what they call the Mall... Out doors, gifty, that kind of thing. I bought only two things there when usually we come a staggering back unable to carry our loot. I don't know if I lost the taste for shopping, for the beach, or did I just NOT want to be there but at home in my new.old house.
We headed home on Tuesday and I was never so glad to leave the beach in my life. The whole area just didn't feel right. It was hard to equate the vacation Wildwood with the one where there were no... and I mean NO cars on the streets after dark. No people either when this place usually keeps going until the early hours. It felt almost like a post apocalyptic movie set where manhole covers bite at your ankles and sharks are swimming in your toilet. and youdon't dare look behind you for fear of what is lurking. In fact, the most exciting thing to happen was two gorups of hot bodied young coast guard guys that came jogging past singing aloud some kind of cadence that kept them all on the same beat. And that was only once. I must say that coast guard guys, young ones, at least have great butts. HEY! I wasn't looking. I happened to be sitting in the car as they came past and is it my fault that their butts were the same level as my eyes/ Well, except for the tall ones.
I am glad to be home, even tho still don't have the house set up perfectly. I'm in dire need of some artwork for my walls. Out big brown couch doesn't look so much like a turd since I bought a throw for the back of it and the cat peed on my bedspread so my bedroom smells a bit icky but it doesn't matter I'M HOME!!! And I'm not leaving EVER!!!
So there isn't much else new. I almost had a new laptop but the one bought for me had a cracked screen so I must wait for a new lap top. One that will hopefully turn on unlike the old one which is finally dying of the fire damage.
Speaking of fire damage. Serv Pro is bringing the stuff they managed to save to us on Thursday. I have no idea what they have so I guess it'll be like Christmas and I'll have surprizez. Till then......
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
I Know
I know I whined and moaned about wanting to go back home. I couldn't wait. Was impatient and antsy all in one and now that I'm home I wonder when it will start feeling like home. Right now I'm getting that rental vibe. Maybe because I don't have much to put on the walls and they look so bare. Or, maybe, because it is so clean and clutter free. Well, for me clutter free. Right now I have things that need to be put away but nothing to put them in but I should be getting my IKEA stuff soon.
Having been in the house for so long, almost 30 years, there was a real mish mosh look to what I fondly referred to as decoratig. There was no rhyme or reason, nothing matched stuff I made was everywhere. Now I find myself matching stuff and I wonder if I'm channeling the Stepford neighbors from the rental house.
For instance... my bedroom is a pale moss green. My sheets match the walls, the comforter on top has a white background with a loose stylized leaf design. Some leaves match the walls other are beige to match the floor. The woodwork is white, as if the book case and the dresser will be white as well. I found matching green valances at the dollar store and these crazy vines with fuzzy green leaves, clear crystals and a hint of lavender. I obught myself a table at pier one to use as a night stand with a clear top and the base is metal branches with leaves and a small bird perched on one branch. I'm even getting a white decal to use as a head board that carries through the leaf and branch theme. I'm starting to scare myself. I never had anything match anything before and now I find myself bothered by the fact that one bath mat in the bathroom doesn't match the other rug by the sink and the towels. Heaven forfend!!! I think I need to go lie down.
The best next door neighbor in the world gave me some cute ceramics that will grace the top of my cabinets, now that I have a stepstool, only the tops of the cabinets are recessed and I now need to find a slat of wood or something to raise them so I can enjoy the look of them. I have put some of my polymer clay people I saved as well a a few smaller knick knacks on the kitchen windowsill and JOsh actually told me that he liked the way I was decorating the kitchen. I guess my little clay people are a reminder of home how it used to be.
Meanwhile the dogs are having a pisser of a time in the yard. The deck is coming along but the rain has stiopped work on that..
Speaking of work. The workmen I have encountered during this take as much pride in their work as they would if they were building their own home and not one for a stranger. I've noticed little touches like a soap dispenser in the kitchen sink, the pull down lights over the breakfast bar, the marvelous sump pump. I know we all hear of horror stories about contractors but I am thrilled with my guys and the job they are doing. So, I suppose all around I did get lucky.
Now if Michael has the same luck at court tomorrow all will be well.
That's it for As the Head Whirls.
Having been in the house for so long, almost 30 years, there was a real mish mosh look to what I fondly referred to as decoratig. There was no rhyme or reason, nothing matched stuff I made was everywhere. Now I find myself matching stuff and I wonder if I'm channeling the Stepford neighbors from the rental house.
For instance... my bedroom is a pale moss green. My sheets match the walls, the comforter on top has a white background with a loose stylized leaf design. Some leaves match the walls other are beige to match the floor. The woodwork is white, as if the book case and the dresser will be white as well. I found matching green valances at the dollar store and these crazy vines with fuzzy green leaves, clear crystals and a hint of lavender. I obught myself a table at pier one to use as a night stand with a clear top and the base is metal branches with leaves and a small bird perched on one branch. I'm even getting a white decal to use as a head board that carries through the leaf and branch theme. I'm starting to scare myself. I never had anything match anything before and now I find myself bothered by the fact that one bath mat in the bathroom doesn't match the other rug by the sink and the towels. Heaven forfend!!! I think I need to go lie down.
The best next door neighbor in the world gave me some cute ceramics that will grace the top of my cabinets, now that I have a stepstool, only the tops of the cabinets are recessed and I now need to find a slat of wood or something to raise them so I can enjoy the look of them. I have put some of my polymer clay people I saved as well a a few smaller knick knacks on the kitchen windowsill and JOsh actually told me that he liked the way I was decorating the kitchen. I guess my little clay people are a reminder of home how it used to be.
Meanwhile the dogs are having a pisser of a time in the yard. The deck is coming along but the rain has stiopped work on that..
Speaking of work. The workmen I have encountered during this take as much pride in their work as they would if they were building their own home and not one for a stranger. I've noticed little touches like a soap dispenser in the kitchen sink, the pull down lights over the breakfast bar, the marvelous sump pump. I know we all hear of horror stories about contractors but I am thrilled with my guys and the job they are doing. So, I suppose all around I did get lucky.
Now if Michael has the same luck at court tomorrow all will be well.
That's it for As the Head Whirls.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Lordy, Lordy, Lordy
I am so tired I could sleep forever and a day. Rip Van Winkle shove over.
I thought once we were back home thingz would settle down. Who would have imagined that there would still be so much to do, even without owning practically nothing? We are slowly making our way to the finish line but it's anyone's guess if I'll be awake to see the finish line.
The furniture rental people are picking up the rental furniture today... nearly now, in fact.
The cleaning service is coming in tomorrow late afternoon to clean.
Big TV and freezer are being delivered tomorrow as well.
Wednesday is walk through of the house we left.
Meanwhile not only do we need drapes but shades on the windows would be nice. Only I'd be the one stuck putting them up and I am a wonder with a hammer. Such as... I wonder why anyone trusted me with a hammer and I wonder if anyone will notice the 45 degree angle and I wonder fi we really need these damned things at all. Right now I'm using poster board as a rudimentary shutter
I'm waiting on a delivery of furniture from IKEA. It would be good to have something to put my underwear in other than tote bags from Michaels. I'm using the one with the zebra print.
We need to go grocery shopping. We need to put a tv stand together for tomorrows big TV arrival. I need to sort the craft room once I get the furniture... and the husband wants to go away for a few days next week so we can recoup from the move. WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to go away as much as I want my neighbors to see me in the altogether as I climb out of the tub. I wonder how fast I can clone myself.
Oh and with all of this I need to put in some extra hours at the business to catch up onthe days I missed last week.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the guys are working steadily on the deck and the siding also gets done this week. I had to make some serious decisions as to where to put the deck steps and where did I want the left over dirt shoveled. Right now I'm thinking to move the pile out of the drive way but make another pile somewhere and leave it for the dogs because Charlie does so love sitting on it surveying his kingdom. Inside there are a few things that need to be touched up and that should be that... till the lanscapers come to tackle the bamboo jungle in the backyard.
and yet
I LOVE MY NEW HOUSE!!!!!
Yes, it's small but it is so clean and uncluttered and it's home.
The dogs are thrilled. I think Kali grinned for the first week and charlie spends the majority of his time outside. A doggy door will be installed in the basement outside door so the dogs can let themselves in and out to their hearts' content. Charlie has also spent the past two days barking. Not at anything in particular but simply because I'm not telling him to shush. We tried to keep them fairly quiet at the rental and now he can let it rip. I figure by Thursday he should be all barked out.
I;'ve also managed to put up a few touches to make the place mine. Wall stickers and this twiny branchy things I found at Michael's for 79cents... original price $7.99. The branchy things have a new home above the bedroom windows and the decals are in the craft room, kitchen and at the end of the hallway. That decal was sujpposed to go into the bedroom but I didn't like it there and it looks so much better where it is. the builder even thought I had painted it there. Nope wall sticker... on ebay... free shipping under $5. But my favorite decal is a little blue fairy door ( from wilson graphics on Etsy) that is tucked away at the bottom of a wall, all ready for the fairies, or Borrowers or Gremlins BECAUSE even with the fire home still has its quirky whatevers that love to keep me guessing and fiddle with teh gravity in the craft room.
I have a solar powered dancing hula girl in my garden window. I have her facing me and she shakes her hips all day long. When it gets dark, she stops and not even overhead lights can stir her. So why, for the past three mornings I find her sideways. (no the remaining cat does not get into that window) I straighten her out each evening before I go to bed and first thing in the morning there she is, sideways. Sort of a cosmic gotcha I suppose. It does, however tell me I am at home.
I did buy a new camera and I will be taking pics but I want to wait till all is settled and I'm no longer hobbling around like a crazy woman.
There is some good to all of this. I find myself doing a lot less craft shopping. First of all I got some wonderful craft goodies from friends but now I find myself looking at something that I MIGHT use SOMETIME and say no thanks. Me! Me who used to have the girls that came to thehouse to visit my sons SHOP in my craft room is now saying thank you but I do not need more. Except for Halloween ephemera because I lost my second Halloween glue book in the fire and I want to try and replace it. But even with that, I think I have enough. Who woulda thunk it.
So I guess we won't be seeing me on an episode of Hoarders.
And that's it for this episode of... As the Head Whirls.
I thought once we were back home thingz would settle down. Who would have imagined that there would still be so much to do, even without owning practically nothing? We are slowly making our way to the finish line but it's anyone's guess if I'll be awake to see the finish line.
The furniture rental people are picking up the rental furniture today... nearly now, in fact.
The cleaning service is coming in tomorrow late afternoon to clean.
Big TV and freezer are being delivered tomorrow as well.
Wednesday is walk through of the house we left.
Meanwhile not only do we need drapes but shades on the windows would be nice. Only I'd be the one stuck putting them up and I am a wonder with a hammer. Such as... I wonder why anyone trusted me with a hammer and I wonder if anyone will notice the 45 degree angle and I wonder fi we really need these damned things at all. Right now I'm using poster board as a rudimentary shutter
I'm waiting on a delivery of furniture from IKEA. It would be good to have something to put my underwear in other than tote bags from Michaels. I'm using the one with the zebra print.
We need to go grocery shopping. We need to put a tv stand together for tomorrows big TV arrival. I need to sort the craft room once I get the furniture... and the husband wants to go away for a few days next week so we can recoup from the move. WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to go away as much as I want my neighbors to see me in the altogether as I climb out of the tub. I wonder how fast I can clone myself.
Oh and with all of this I need to put in some extra hours at the business to catch up onthe days I missed last week.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the guys are working steadily on the deck and the siding also gets done this week. I had to make some serious decisions as to where to put the deck steps and where did I want the left over dirt shoveled. Right now I'm thinking to move the pile out of the drive way but make another pile somewhere and leave it for the dogs because Charlie does so love sitting on it surveying his kingdom. Inside there are a few things that need to be touched up and that should be that... till the lanscapers come to tackle the bamboo jungle in the backyard.
and yet
I LOVE MY NEW HOUSE!!!!!
Yes, it's small but it is so clean and uncluttered and it's home.
The dogs are thrilled. I think Kali grinned for the first week and charlie spends the majority of his time outside. A doggy door will be installed in the basement outside door so the dogs can let themselves in and out to their hearts' content. Charlie has also spent the past two days barking. Not at anything in particular but simply because I'm not telling him to shush. We tried to keep them fairly quiet at the rental and now he can let it rip. I figure by Thursday he should be all barked out.
I;'ve also managed to put up a few touches to make the place mine. Wall stickers and this twiny branchy things I found at Michael's for 79cents... original price $7.99. The branchy things have a new home above the bedroom windows and the decals are in the craft room, kitchen and at the end of the hallway. That decal was sujpposed to go into the bedroom but I didn't like it there and it looks so much better where it is. the builder even thought I had painted it there. Nope wall sticker... on ebay... free shipping under $5. But my favorite decal is a little blue fairy door ( from wilson graphics on Etsy) that is tucked away at the bottom of a wall, all ready for the fairies, or Borrowers or Gremlins BECAUSE even with the fire home still has its quirky whatevers that love to keep me guessing and fiddle with teh gravity in the craft room.
I have a solar powered dancing hula girl in my garden window. I have her facing me and she shakes her hips all day long. When it gets dark, she stops and not even overhead lights can stir her. So why, for the past three mornings I find her sideways. (no the remaining cat does not get into that window) I straighten her out each evening before I go to bed and first thing in the morning there she is, sideways. Sort of a cosmic gotcha I suppose. It does, however tell me I am at home.
I did buy a new camera and I will be taking pics but I want to wait till all is settled and I'm no longer hobbling around like a crazy woman.
There is some good to all of this. I find myself doing a lot less craft shopping. First of all I got some wonderful craft goodies from friends but now I find myself looking at something that I MIGHT use SOMETIME and say no thanks. Me! Me who used to have the girls that came to thehouse to visit my sons SHOP in my craft room is now saying thank you but I do not need more. Except for Halloween ephemera because I lost my second Halloween glue book in the fire and I want to try and replace it. But even with that, I think I have enough. Who woulda thunk it.
So I guess we won't be seeing me on an episode of Hoarders.
And that's it for this episode of... As the Head Whirls.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Sometimes my heart just hurts.
Read on Facebook this morning that my youngest (almost 30) vomited blood this morning. I called him immediately but only got voice mail and when I opened my hotmail, he had emailed me. I haven't heard anything since and my mind is racing to the point where I now have a headache.
Double digits and winged things have been showing up AGAIN and no matter how I try to ignore it, there it is. I had wondered what more could happen given the fire and all, and I was only being silly because how can numbers and winged things hurt you? Now this. It may be nothing serious but my brain always takes me to the deepest darkest place first and I have to scratch and claw my way back to the light. Right now all I can do is pray.
Then, as we were leaving the house this morning, a truck came barrelling down the street and the dogs shot across the lawn to chase it to the edge of the property. It wasn't dangerous since the dogs were and remained in the yard, behind a fence and not in the road. I had never seen them do that before and I swear I saw a small white dog head bobbing along beside them.
Little dog Olli (remember him) loved to chase any and everything that way. He put his heart and soul into it and ran for all he was worth his little head bobbing along as if to say.. I know I can... I know I can. My heart twisted as it always does when I think of my Ollie. I was always amazed at how much love such a little body could hold.
Casey has the heart of an Ollie. He's the softest touch I know. For instance..... When he was buying a house, he wanted one big enough so that he would have a spare room in case one of his friends needed a place to crash till they got back on their feet. When he lived at home, he was always bringing home stray people who shared his tiny personal space. Now, he stops whenever he sees a motorist in distress to see what he can do. Once, when we were on vacation and he was nearly grown, I noticed he was no longer with his father and I and his girlfriend. When I looked back Casey was standing stock still in the middle of the Boardwalk watching someone. It seems that he had seen a couple quarreling and didn't like the way it was going. When the guy suddenly grabbed the girl by the arm and started dragging her down a ramp and onto a street, Casey was on the move following. The girl swore she was ok, that it was only an argument but I wonder how many people would have done what Casey did... other than his father that is, who followed Casey when I told Michael what was going on.
My earliest memory of Casey's generosity is when he was in early elementary school. I bought them those fancy pencils that, at the time, could only be gotten at school supply stores ( no dolalr stores then) and cost a fair bit. Every day Casey took a new one till I finally out a stop to it and told him he could have only one new one each week and if he lost it then he would take a regular ordinary pencil. That same day he comes home AGAin without his fancy pencil and just as I was about to blow up at him he told me the reason he didn't have the pencil. There was a boy in his class who couldn't behave if his life depended on it and that day this boy had behaved, mostly, so Casey thought he deserved a prize and there went the pencil.
Casey is not perfect. No one is and he and I have had our ups and downs. Lately it's been mostly downs and while those downs hurt my heart I know how good he fundamentally is and how he wants to be loved and how much I do love him.
So now I can only hope and pray that he is ok and I can give him a big fat kiss and he can pat me on the head and call me his "Little Mommy."
Get well Casey.
Double digits and winged things have been showing up AGAIN and no matter how I try to ignore it, there it is. I had wondered what more could happen given the fire and all, and I was only being silly because how can numbers and winged things hurt you? Now this. It may be nothing serious but my brain always takes me to the deepest darkest place first and I have to scratch and claw my way back to the light. Right now all I can do is pray.
Then, as we were leaving the house this morning, a truck came barrelling down the street and the dogs shot across the lawn to chase it to the edge of the property. It wasn't dangerous since the dogs were and remained in the yard, behind a fence and not in the road. I had never seen them do that before and I swear I saw a small white dog head bobbing along beside them.
Little dog Olli (remember him) loved to chase any and everything that way. He put his heart and soul into it and ran for all he was worth his little head bobbing along as if to say.. I know I can... I know I can. My heart twisted as it always does when I think of my Ollie. I was always amazed at how much love such a little body could hold.
Casey has the heart of an Ollie. He's the softest touch I know. For instance..... When he was buying a house, he wanted one big enough so that he would have a spare room in case one of his friends needed a place to crash till they got back on their feet. When he lived at home, he was always bringing home stray people who shared his tiny personal space. Now, he stops whenever he sees a motorist in distress to see what he can do. Once, when we were on vacation and he was nearly grown, I noticed he was no longer with his father and I and his girlfriend. When I looked back Casey was standing stock still in the middle of the Boardwalk watching someone. It seems that he had seen a couple quarreling and didn't like the way it was going. When the guy suddenly grabbed the girl by the arm and started dragging her down a ramp and onto a street, Casey was on the move following. The girl swore she was ok, that it was only an argument but I wonder how many people would have done what Casey did... other than his father that is, who followed Casey when I told Michael what was going on.
My earliest memory of Casey's generosity is when he was in early elementary school. I bought them those fancy pencils that, at the time, could only be gotten at school supply stores ( no dolalr stores then) and cost a fair bit. Every day Casey took a new one till I finally out a stop to it and told him he could have only one new one each week and if he lost it then he would take a regular ordinary pencil. That same day he comes home AGAin without his fancy pencil and just as I was about to blow up at him he told me the reason he didn't have the pencil. There was a boy in his class who couldn't behave if his life depended on it and that day this boy had behaved, mostly, so Casey thought he deserved a prize and there went the pencil.
Casey is not perfect. No one is and he and I have had our ups and downs. Lately it's been mostly downs and while those downs hurt my heart I know how good he fundamentally is and how he wants to be loved and how much I do love him.
So now I can only hope and pray that he is ok and I can give him a big fat kiss and he can pat me on the head and call me his "Little Mommy."
Get well Casey.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Oddz Bodkinzville
WE ARE HOME!!!!!
My home. My home with the too small house on the big (for this area at least) plot of land. Of course, most of the land now looks like a jungle because the yard hasn't been mowed since last year. However, the dogs are in heaven spending hours roaming the yard, familiarizing themselves with the land that they had been away from for so long. There is also a pile of dirt in the driveway waiting for landscapers to come and spread about and slope to draw rain water away from the house. The dogs, however, think that the pile of dirt is just for them. Already someone is digging him or herself a cave in the side and they spend a great deal of time running up and down the pile and getting their feet all muddy.
And then the two of them go and sit on the front porch, something I swear they never knew existed till we moved back, catch their breath and set off on another adventure.
We now have a usable front door with a window the length of the door which the dogs think is just the best and most times they go out one door to then come in a different door AND their doggy door hasn't been installed yet and when it is, I swear those dogs will be in and out a hundred times a day. Kali hasn't stopped grinning and Charlie will sit for hours on the porch simply because he can.
I LOVE MY HOUSE!! I love my house. I love the colors the floors the cabinets the new french doors and the promise of a deck. I love the extra bathroom and the space Josh has in his two rooms in the basement. Two rooms painted bright and light and a far cry from the cave like basement he had been living in. All of that dark paneling is gone, thank god and everything is lighter.
Josh had friends over and one guy, our usual Wednesday night visitor when we were in the rental, asked for a tour and then stood in the living room and asked me why did people just paint their interiors white or off white when they could put such COLOR into their life. Ok, I like the colors even though it reminds me of a pinata but who would think a young man would appreciate it so. Then the rest of the friends chimed in later as to how great the house looked and was I happy and how glad they were for us. I'm glad for me too!
We like the extra long windows that the county demanded be put into the bedrooms so we can get out in case of a ....shhh...f.i.r.e. I like the soap dispenser that is part of the kitchen sink, the small breakfast bar and the hanging lamps (to come) that was the idea of the builder and a surprise for me. I liek the space and I SWEAR I am not stuffing the house full of furniture and STUFF. My craft room is a little crowded now but once I get in my storage from Ikea All that boxed stuff will be sorted and stored.
I actually have sheets etc that match. My bedroom furniture is going to be light wood and not that dreadful dark that we had. I'b be happy with a white chest and night stand and i already have a white bookcase that I put together (tho not too well) last night. NO shades or curtains yet but shades are a priority and curtains will come when I find the perfect ones.
I have a new camera but I want stuff in a settled before I start taking pics and posting them.
Now I just have to finish emptying the rental house, then call the disaster services guys to come and take the furniture back, then hire a cleaning service to clean and mop which should be easy for them in an empty house. Serv Pro still has what they were able to save and on top of all of this the husband wants to go on VACATION for a week to the beach leaving the 15th. Which means staying ina HOTEL something I promised myself I wouldn't do again, not after 31 days in one when this all began.
I know it will all be done, eventually but I do wish there were elves or magic folk or someone I could hire to come and empty the rest of our stuff out of the rental so I wouldn't have to go back there ever again with the stepford neighbors. I think however, the only magic folk will end up being me with my banker boxes. oh well. This too will pass.
My home. My home with the too small house on the big (for this area at least) plot of land. Of course, most of the land now looks like a jungle because the yard hasn't been mowed since last year. However, the dogs are in heaven spending hours roaming the yard, familiarizing themselves with the land that they had been away from for so long. There is also a pile of dirt in the driveway waiting for landscapers to come and spread about and slope to draw rain water away from the house. The dogs, however, think that the pile of dirt is just for them. Already someone is digging him or herself a cave in the side and they spend a great deal of time running up and down the pile and getting their feet all muddy.
And then the two of them go and sit on the front porch, something I swear they never knew existed till we moved back, catch their breath and set off on another adventure.
We now have a usable front door with a window the length of the door which the dogs think is just the best and most times they go out one door to then come in a different door AND their doggy door hasn't been installed yet and when it is, I swear those dogs will be in and out a hundred times a day. Kali hasn't stopped grinning and Charlie will sit for hours on the porch simply because he can.
I LOVE MY HOUSE!! I love my house. I love the colors the floors the cabinets the new french doors and the promise of a deck. I love the extra bathroom and the space Josh has in his two rooms in the basement. Two rooms painted bright and light and a far cry from the cave like basement he had been living in. All of that dark paneling is gone, thank god and everything is lighter.
Josh had friends over and one guy, our usual Wednesday night visitor when we were in the rental, asked for a tour and then stood in the living room and asked me why did people just paint their interiors white or off white when they could put such COLOR into their life. Ok, I like the colors even though it reminds me of a pinata but who would think a young man would appreciate it so. Then the rest of the friends chimed in later as to how great the house looked and was I happy and how glad they were for us. I'm glad for me too!
We like the extra long windows that the county demanded be put into the bedrooms so we can get out in case of a ....shhh...f.i.r.e. I like the soap dispenser that is part of the kitchen sink, the small breakfast bar and the hanging lamps (to come) that was the idea of the builder and a surprise for me. I liek the space and I SWEAR I am not stuffing the house full of furniture and STUFF. My craft room is a little crowded now but once I get in my storage from Ikea All that boxed stuff will be sorted and stored.
I actually have sheets etc that match. My bedroom furniture is going to be light wood and not that dreadful dark that we had. I'b be happy with a white chest and night stand and i already have a white bookcase that I put together (tho not too well) last night. NO shades or curtains yet but shades are a priority and curtains will come when I find the perfect ones.
I have a new camera but I want stuff in a settled before I start taking pics and posting them.
Now I just have to finish emptying the rental house, then call the disaster services guys to come and take the furniture back, then hire a cleaning service to clean and mop which should be easy for them in an empty house. Serv Pro still has what they were able to save and on top of all of this the husband wants to go on VACATION for a week to the beach leaving the 15th. Which means staying ina HOTEL something I promised myself I wouldn't do again, not after 31 days in one when this all began.
I know it will all be done, eventually but I do wish there were elves or magic folk or someone I could hire to come and empty the rest of our stuff out of the rental so I wouldn't have to go back there ever again with the stepford neighbors. I think however, the only magic folk will end up being me with my banker boxes. oh well. This too will pass.
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