The start to this year has been one of the rainiest and most drab ones I can ever remember. I hate to complain about the rain because I know we will be praying for rain later on, but goodness! With all of the rain, we discovered a leak in the roof, and finding someone to work on it is proving to be quite difficult. When we bought this house in 1993, we thought the shingles were slate, but sometime around 2000 or so, we had to have the outside repainted. The guy who was doing that told us we needed to replace some of the fascia board. He gave us the name of someone so we called him. He told us that he found some cracks in some shingles that needed repairing. We were then told that the shingles contain asbestos. In order to replace them, we would have had to have a hazardous waste permit, and we would have to pay a disposal fee...by the pound. These shingles ain't light. So replacing them was out of the question. We found a man from Decatur (I think) who worked on this kind of roof, so we had him come do the work. And now we have this leak, but we cannot find anyone who works on anything other than "regular" shingles. Actually, that's not true. John found a company who is going to come look at it, but they've never gotten in touch with us, and John has stayed so busy he hasn't had time to call them back. Joys of owning an older home!
Today has been a really nice day. It has been warm enough to sit outside (where I am now), and the sun has popped in an out. Even when it's been in it's been sunnier than it has been in a while. I am so ready for warmer weather and sunny days! The only drawback is the pollen. When I went to get my shot Thursday, the pollen count for some of the trees was 10.2, and that's not good for allergy sufferers.
Speaking of allergies...mine have given me FITS all winter. I cannot tell you the last day I didn't have sniffles or congestion or watery eyes or sneezing. I would give almost anything for one week of absolutely no allergy issues.
John has done beautifully since his stroke. He has no lingering problems at at, and for that, I am so very thankful! God is so good!!!! We're working on getting his blood sugar stabilized. He's been back on his pump, so his numbers have been much better. He was due for an upgrade, and it came in yesterday. And that's a good thing because his old one messed up. Again. We're also working on getting his blood pressure lower. It isn't extremely high, but because he is a diabetic, they want to see it a little lower. We've started trying to eat healthier foods, and we haven't gone out to eat nearly as much. (That's good for the wallet! Hahaha). I've actually found a couple of "real" recipes that I've made...and they've been GOOD! Anyone who knows me knows I don't LOVE cooking. 😜 But you do those things you don't LOVE for those who you LOVE. 😊
School is winding down. Two weeks until spring break, and then only eight more after that. And the. I can retire (fingers crossed!) in four more years!!!! Woo hoo!
I guess that's about it for now. Have a GREAT day!
09 March 2013
16 February 2013
The biggest scare of my life
This past Wednesday, I got a message from the office that I needed to call John. I pulled my phone from my pocket and saw I had a missed call from him. I keep my phone on vibrate during the day, but I usually either hear it or feel it vibrate. This time I didn't. I didn't think much about it because I knew he was supposed to be calling our insurance agent, and he was going to Birmingham for a root canal. I figured he had a question about one of those things.
When I called him back, the first thing he said was "I'm sick." I still thought maybe he woke up with a virus and wanted to know if we had anything for it. So I asked what was wrong. He said his left arm was numb and his head was killing him. I went numb. I told him I would be home as soon as I could be. I immediately called down to our secretary and told her what was going on. Within minutes, she had one of our subs at my door. I drove faster than I have ever driven in my life on the way home. I glanced down once, and the speedometer was literally at 100 mph. Once I hit Hwy 280, I don't think I went slower than 80.
When I came in, he was in his recliner and the pups were on his lap. I grabbed Bama and put him in the floor and turned to get Ali. Bama jumped back up into the chair, and when I started to pick him up again, he hunkered down. I think I must have yelled or spoken sharply to him and scared him. Plus, I flew in and I'm sure they could pick up on my fear. I got John in my vehicle and headed to East Alabama Medical Center. From the time he called me, and I had him at the ER, no more than an hour had passed.
Even though we have a small hospital in Dadeville and Russell Medical Center is closer than EAMC, I chose EAMC because my first thought was that he was having a heart attack, and they have an excellent reputation in that respect. His dad had several, so he has that family history. Then I began
thinking about his headache, so I started worrying about stroke. Again, he has a family history. Both his mom's parents had debilitating strokes that eventually led to their deaths, and a stroke is what actually led to Carl's death.
In the ER, he told the triage nurse that he had a similar episode 3-4 months earlier and had gone to the ER at the hospital where he works. The ER doc there told him that it was probably due to his blood sugar falling so quickly. No CT or MRI scans were ordered. No blood work was done. NOTHING. John never told me about this since it was "nothing" and he didn't want to worry me over "nothing". The ER doc at EAMC ordered a CT, an EKG, and blood work and decided to admit him because hey, a severe, sudden onset headache and numbness of a body part are classic symptoms of a stroke, right? Even I know that, and I am no where close to being a medical doctor. And I don't think staying at a Holiday Inn Express qualifies me as one.
After he was admitted, he was put on a heart monitor. He also had an echocardiogram, a bubble study, a carotid ultrasound, and an MRI. The MRI showed that he did, in fact, have a stroke. Not a mini stroke or TIA, but a stroke caused by an embolism. Since the previous heart studies came back normal, a transesophageal echocardiogram (TE) was ordered to see if there was an evidence of clots in his heart. The TE also came back normal.
Considering his dad's heart issues, I am really glad those studies showed nothing to be concerned about, but we still do not know where the emboli originated. (He has two spots, so there was more than one embolism.) He has an appointment with a cardiologist and will wear a monitor for 30 days. They will be looking to see if he possibly has atrial fibrillation. According to the Mayo Clinic website, some people with a fib never realize their heart is in a fib, and episodes can be chronic or they can come and go. Since the monitor he wore in the hospital didn't pick up on any abnormal activity, he either does not have a fib, or his is the come and go variety. If he does have a fib, age and diabetes are factors that can lead to stroke. John is 57 (still young, but older), and he is a diabetic. And his diabetes has not been under control for a while. (He's also seeing a new endocrinologist week after next.)
He is feeling well now, but I am still constantly asking him how he feels. Anytime he is out of my sight, I am anxious to get back. When he goes back to work Monday, it will be all I can do to not call him eleventy billion times throughout the day. I know I can't control anything, and I have to trust him to pay attention to his body.
This was an experience I hope we never have to have again.
When I called him back, the first thing he said was "I'm sick." I still thought maybe he woke up with a virus and wanted to know if we had anything for it. So I asked what was wrong. He said his left arm was numb and his head was killing him. I went numb. I told him I would be home as soon as I could be. I immediately called down to our secretary and told her what was going on. Within minutes, she had one of our subs at my door. I drove faster than I have ever driven in my life on the way home. I glanced down once, and the speedometer was literally at 100 mph. Once I hit Hwy 280, I don't think I went slower than 80.
When I came in, he was in his recliner and the pups were on his lap. I grabbed Bama and put him in the floor and turned to get Ali. Bama jumped back up into the chair, and when I started to pick him up again, he hunkered down. I think I must have yelled or spoken sharply to him and scared him. Plus, I flew in and I'm sure they could pick up on my fear. I got John in my vehicle and headed to East Alabama Medical Center. From the time he called me, and I had him at the ER, no more than an hour had passed.
Even though we have a small hospital in Dadeville and Russell Medical Center is closer than EAMC, I chose EAMC because my first thought was that he was having a heart attack, and they have an excellent reputation in that respect. His dad had several, so he has that family history. Then I began
thinking about his headache, so I started worrying about stroke. Again, he has a family history. Both his mom's parents had debilitating strokes that eventually led to their deaths, and a stroke is what actually led to Carl's death.
In the ER, he told the triage nurse that he had a similar episode 3-4 months earlier and had gone to the ER at the hospital where he works. The ER doc there told him that it was probably due to his blood sugar falling so quickly. No CT or MRI scans were ordered. No blood work was done. NOTHING. John never told me about this since it was "nothing" and he didn't want to worry me over "nothing". The ER doc at EAMC ordered a CT, an EKG, and blood work and decided to admit him because hey, a severe, sudden onset headache and numbness of a body part are classic symptoms of a stroke, right? Even I know that, and I am no where close to being a medical doctor. And I don't think staying at a Holiday Inn Express qualifies me as one.
After he was admitted, he was put on a heart monitor. He also had an echocardiogram, a bubble study, a carotid ultrasound, and an MRI. The MRI showed that he did, in fact, have a stroke. Not a mini stroke or TIA, but a stroke caused by an embolism. Since the previous heart studies came back normal, a transesophageal echocardiogram (TE) was ordered to see if there was an evidence of clots in his heart. The TE also came back normal.
Considering his dad's heart issues, I am really glad those studies showed nothing to be concerned about, but we still do not know where the emboli originated. (He has two spots, so there was more than one embolism.) He has an appointment with a cardiologist and will wear a monitor for 30 days. They will be looking to see if he possibly has atrial fibrillation. According to the Mayo Clinic website, some people with a fib never realize their heart is in a fib, and episodes can be chronic or they can come and go. Since the monitor he wore in the hospital didn't pick up on any abnormal activity, he either does not have a fib, or his is the come and go variety. If he does have a fib, age and diabetes are factors that can lead to stroke. John is 57 (still young, but older), and he is a diabetic. And his diabetes has not been under control for a while. (He's also seeing a new endocrinologist week after next.)
He is feeling well now, but I am still constantly asking him how he feels. Anytime he is out of my sight, I am anxious to get back. When he goes back to work Monday, it will be all I can do to not call him eleventy billion times throughout the day. I know I can't control anything, and I have to trust him to pay attention to his body.
This was an experience I hope we never have to have again.
20 December 2012
Twenty years!
I cannot imagine my life with John. He drives me nuts sometimes with his goofiness, but that is part of the reason I love him so.
Happy anniversary, babe!
15 November 2012
Looking forward to Thanksgiving break!
John and I don't have any huge plans for Thanksgiving itself...we may meet Mom and Dad for lunch in Cullman...and of course we'll go to watch the Tide roll all over Auburn on that Saturday. :) Other than that, though, I plan to R. E. S. T. We didn't have our usual fall break this year, and I can tell a difference.
We did have a modified fall break. We had a Thursday and a Friday off in October, and it was appreciated, but what I wish we'd done was have not had those two days and have all week out next week. My seniors have their final research papers due Monday, and if Tuesday is like a lot of other Tuesdays on a short week, the absentee rate will be quite high. Fortunately, my plans for my seniors will be "easy" for them to do on their own. It is an activity much easier done in groups though. 😊 My juniors are reading Of Mice and Men, so if they are absent, they'll have to read on their own.
It's hard to believe that Christmas is just over a month away. AND I HAVE BOUGHT NOTHING. I have ideas for Jessi, Sam, and Layton. Camille will be so new, what she gets won't matter to her, so whatever I decide for her will be easy. Katy, Phillip, and Lance...no clue!!! Mom and Dad...no clue!! Billie will probably get some winter PJs or an outfit since she doesn't need much else in the nursing home. Since this year John and I will be celebrating our 20th anniversary, we may take a weekend trip. 😍😍😍 We talked about it earlier in the year, but then we learned that we would be welcoming Camille sometime around Christmas Eve, so we decided to take a wait and see approach. Katy's doctor has agreed to inducing her if Camille hasn't made her appearance by the week before Christmas, and Katy says she cry if she's still pregnant by the 15th. I don't get out for Christmas break until the 21st, so we may try to go that weekend if it all works out. Since Christmas break consists of all of 8 work days, the weekend before Christmas will work out better than the weekend after. Then again, either would be fine.
Guess that's it for now. I've had the crud since Friday. After a steroid shot yesterday, I'm about 85%. My bed is seriously calling my name.
Have a GREAT day!
16 October 2012
Has it been five years already?
Over the last five years, we have spent countless hours replumbing and rewiring. (If we never have to redo water lines again, it will be too soon!) We've spent even more hours in the yard. I have probably raked 945 million tons of leaves. And that was just this past spring. Seriously, when we first bought it, very little had been done in the five or so years previously, so we did have leaves that were about ankle high. The first full week we spent there, we did nothing but drag off junk and rake leaves. In the end, it has been worth it though.
We still hope to build a cabin and move there permanently within the next 5-10 years. (We really hope it's closer to five than ten.) I know exactly which plan I want. After looking at plan after plan after plan, I just couldn't find what I wanted, so I began trying to draw out my "dream" house. I knew what I wanted, but I never could get it to work exactly right. One day, I picked up a Southern Living plan book Susan and Tim had forgotten (and I kept forgetting to return to them.) As I flipped through it again for the 98th time, I saw one that was so very similar to my vision, but it wasn't exactly it. I knew the plan could be modified though. I flipped a few more pages, and there it was. THE ONE. The main level was identical to the other one, but instead of an upstairs, this one had the basement plan I wanted. So now I dream of paint colors, light fixtures, and cabinets. LOL Maybe in about five years, I can post the progress we're making on the rest of our dream. :)
I guess I really should have posted this in the lake blog, but I haven't put anything there in forever. Oh well!
I'm about to call it a night. The weekend allergies I posted about last time have taken over my life. I go to bed sniffling and sneezing, and I wake up sniffling and sneezing. Fortunately, the sniffling and sneezing during the day has seemed to lessen somewhat. The sinus headache all day is still a killer though.
Have a GREAT day!
23 September 2012
Happy Fall, y'all!
Fall has officially arrived, and the early morning/late evening temps match the season. At least on the shores of beautiful Smith Lake they do. I never want to leave the lake to go home on Sundays, but that becomes even harder in the fall. I noticed this weekend that some of the trees across the creek have begun to change. I'm sure they have on our side too; I just haven't noticed them. 😊
With the arrival of fall, my fall-related allergies have kicked in. For the last couple of weekends, I have been miserable. I guess it's good that it has been just the weekends though. Trying to teach while sneezing every few minutes isn't fun or easy. I've been back on shots for right at 4 months, but either they just aren't working or I'm just more sensitive than I used to be. I would HATE to know how bad it would be if I weren't on shots.
We took the SeaDoo in for servicing and winterizing yesterday (BOOOOOO!!!!!) and then we went by to see Billie. She didn't seem any worse than she was the last time we saw her, but she still keeps saying she doesn't know why "they" put her "in this place." I think "they" is supposed to refer to her children because she'll say she guesses "they" had something to do and she was in the way. Sadly, if the "they" is her kids, she doesn't realize that every time she says it, she is talking to one of "them." At least no one was dead and no one had torn down her house this time. Small victories! I told John that we need to take the iPad next time and FaceTime Katy and Jessi.
I guess that's about it for now. I think I might go sit in the sunshine for a while. Have a GREAT day!
With the arrival of fall, my fall-related allergies have kicked in. For the last couple of weekends, I have been miserable. I guess it's good that it has been just the weekends though. Trying to teach while sneezing every few minutes isn't fun or easy. I've been back on shots for right at 4 months, but either they just aren't working or I'm just more sensitive than I used to be. I would HATE to know how bad it would be if I weren't on shots.
We took the SeaDoo in for servicing and winterizing yesterday (BOOOOOO!!!!!) and then we went by to see Billie. She didn't seem any worse than she was the last time we saw her, but she still keeps saying she doesn't know why "they" put her "in this place." I think "they" is supposed to refer to her children because she'll say she guesses "they" had something to do and she was in the way. Sadly, if the "they" is her kids, she doesn't realize that every time she says it, she is talking to one of "them." At least no one was dead and no one had torn down her house this time. Small victories! I told John that we need to take the iPad next time and FaceTime Katy and Jessi.
I guess that's about it for now. I think I might go sit in the sunshine for a while. Have a GREAT day!
16 September 2012
Greetings from my favorite spot!
About a month ago, I broke down and bought an iPad. I got the newest version with wifi and cellular so I could have internet access at the lake again. I can't get service inside the sardine can of the trailer, but I get really good service on the steps and on the dock. I'd rather be at one of those places anyway instead of inside. :)
The last couple of weekends have been so quiet! Most of the traffic that is out and about on the water are people who live here, so we aren't seeing the crazies who fly up and down and zig zag all over the place while pulling tubers. This time of the year is really my favorite because it's so quiet. And the weather is still perfect for sunning on the dock.
And for some reason, watching the TIDE ROLL all over their opponents is more fun here. Hahaha I loved the good old butt whooping Bama gave Arkansas yesterday. We went through some mighty lean years, and many of our conference rivals took full advantage of our probation years. I kinda enjoy seeing them go through the same struggles WITHOUT having the sanctions we had. Oh heck! Who am I fooling? I don't kinda enjoy it. I LOVE EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY SECOND!!! If that makes me "classless", so be it, but I challenge any fan from a rival team to honestly say he or she didn't delight in our woes. I know they did because I had to put up with their inky face gloating. You know what they say about payback.
I do feel for the younger fans of those rivals. Those fans who grew up in the glory years of their teams. Those fans who remember Alabama football only from those years of sanctions and probation Those fans who don't understand that THIS is traditional Alabama football. For them, it is hard to accept our return to the top. But life will go on.
For now, I guess that's about it. I'm gonna enjoy a few more hours of my weekend. Have a GREAT day!
ROLL TIDE!!!!
02 September 2012
Stuff...just stuff
The school year is off to a great start, but man o man am I ever tired! Last week was crazy busy with open house Monday night, bunco Tuesday night, dinner & pedis with Jess and Suzanne Wednesday night, college football Thursday night, high school football Friday night, and more college football last night. I don't know if being tired is from all the "stuff" or age, but either way, I'm glad this will be a short week.
The BRHS Wildcats won their season opener against the Opelika Bulldogs. I worked the game, but since it was such a well-attended game, the parking lots filled early, so I got to see almost all of the game. I have about 20 players in my classes--the most I've had in a long time--and quite a few band members. This was a big win for our guys. We've moved down to 5A this year, and Opelika is 6A. We haven't beat them in quite a few years, so this should be a huge confidence boost. We had a good season last year, and I know the guys are looking to build on it. The band show was great too. They don't have the entire show ready yet, but what they do have is impressive. Our band director always has a great selection of songs.
John had to work yesterday. He went in at 6:00, and didn't get home until midnight. The person who does weekends hada family emergency, so John covered her shifts yesterday. That meant I was home alone watching football. :(
And watch football is pretty much all I did. I woke up in time to shower and turn on College Gameday when it came on. The early games weren't all that exciting to me, and the only one I really cared about didn't come on until 7:00, so that made for a loooonnnnngggg day. The closer it got to 7, the more antsy I got though. By the time the game kicked off, I literally could not sit still.
When the Cowboy Classic between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Michigan Wolverines finally got underway, I thought I was going to be physically sick. I have always gotten nervous over big games. Our first offensive series didn't really help take the feeling away either, but once the guys in CRIMSON got rolling, they took care of business in a huge way. At the end of the evening, Michigan knew that SEC football is nothing to sneeze at. I know people in other parts of the country get tired of the SEC successes, but it is what it is. Of the SEC teams who played an out of conference opponent, only one lost (way to represent the conference auburn!!!) Kentucky plays Louisville today, and Texas A&M was postponed due to Hurricane Issac. Vandy lost to South Carolina, but that was a conference matchup, so somebody had to lose. Here's hoping UK can win today, and A&M can take care of business when they play later in the season.
Unless something has changed, John and I are keeping Layton tomorrow while Jess goes to visit a friend in the hospital. He and Pop Pop will have loads of fun. That kid loves his grandfathers!
Guess that's about it for today. I need to get some grading and housecleaning done this afternoon. Neither sounds like fun. **sigh**
Have a GREAT day!
The BRHS Wildcats won their season opener against the Opelika Bulldogs. I worked the game, but since it was such a well-attended game, the parking lots filled early, so I got to see almost all of the game. I have about 20 players in my classes--the most I've had in a long time--and quite a few band members. This was a big win for our guys. We've moved down to 5A this year, and Opelika is 6A. We haven't beat them in quite a few years, so this should be a huge confidence boost. We had a good season last year, and I know the guys are looking to build on it. The band show was great too. They don't have the entire show ready yet, but what they do have is impressive. Our band director always has a great selection of songs.
John had to work yesterday. He went in at 6:00, and didn't get home until midnight. The person who does weekends hada family emergency, so John covered her shifts yesterday. That meant I was home alone watching football. :(
And watch football is pretty much all I did. I woke up in time to shower and turn on College Gameday when it came on. The early games weren't all that exciting to me, and the only one I really cared about didn't come on until 7:00, so that made for a loooonnnnngggg day. The closer it got to 7, the more antsy I got though. By the time the game kicked off, I literally could not sit still.
When the Cowboy Classic between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Michigan Wolverines finally got underway, I thought I was going to be physically sick. I have always gotten nervous over big games. Our first offensive series didn't really help take the feeling away either, but once the guys in CRIMSON got rolling, they took care of business in a huge way. At the end of the evening, Michigan knew that SEC football is nothing to sneeze at. I know people in other parts of the country get tired of the SEC successes, but it is what it is. Of the SEC teams who played an out of conference opponent, only one lost (way to represent the conference auburn!!!) Kentucky plays Louisville today, and Texas A&M was postponed due to Hurricane Issac. Vandy lost to South Carolina, but that was a conference matchup, so somebody had to lose. Here's hoping UK can win today, and A&M can take care of business when they play later in the season.
Unless something has changed, John and I are keeping Layton tomorrow while Jess goes to visit a friend in the hospital. He and Pop Pop will have loads of fun. That kid loves his grandfathers!
Guess that's about it for today. I need to get some grading and housecleaning done this afternoon. Neither sounds like fun. **sigh**
Have a GREAT day!
15 August 2012
It's that time again!
On Monday, I will have 103 (as of today) bright-eyed, eager-to-learn juniors and seniors walking through the doors of room 313. OK...so most of them might not be bright eyed, and I know some of them won't be eager to learn, and THANK THE LORD I won't have all 103 at one time. :) But Monday is the start of a new school year, and I'm excited.
Because of the state made the decision that no school system could start before August 20, we've had a little more time to get rested. (In addition to this, no system can have instructional days after Memorial Day.) Our board voted on a calendar that put all but one of our professional development days at the beginning of the year, so since last Wednesday, we've been back at work. Yes, you counted correctly. We have 8 PD days before the first day of school, and then we have one day between semesters. WHY do we have 9 PD days, you ask. I'll be more than happy to explain.
Teachers in Alabama have contracts of 187 days. For the past I-don't-know-how-many-years, students have generally been in school 180 days. That is not a magical number though. The magical number is 1,080 hours of instructional time per year (minimum). In our system, at the high school at least, we were providing almost 1,170 hours of instructional time per year, so to make the calendar fit the state guidelines, we were able to cut a couple of days off the instructional calendar. Of course, that makes me freak out because I'm wondering how that will impact the material I have to cover.
Anyway, teachers still have that 187-day contract. That meant 9 days of PD for us. When the calendar came out, my first thought was, "WHOA!! Eight days of PD before school actually starts?!" But after I started thinking about it, I decided it might not be a bad idea. First of all, we are getting ALL those required inservice meetings (like bullying, ESL, alcohol/drug/tobacco, etc.) out of the way. Secondly, we have PLENTY of time to get our classrooms ready, get first day copies made, catch up with colleagues we haven't seen since May, and most importantly (in my book anyway), is that we have PLENTY of time to let our bodies adjust to getting up again. :) In the past, we've had 2-3 PD days, and then there are the kids. Normally, the first week of school I can barely keep my eyes open past 7:30. I'm sure I'll be dragging this time next week, but maybe...just maybe...it won't be so bad.
And this year is starting my 20th year at BRHS. I will actually complete 20 years of teaching in December since I had a semester in another system, but this is 20 for me at ol' Russell High. That means this:
Yes...that is the light at the end of the tunnel. Granted, right now it is a small light, but it is there, nonetheless! I remember when I first started teaching. Twenty-five years seemed like a life time. Now, I look back and wonder how the time passed so fast. I hope that there will be only 4 more starts to a new school year after this one. That's the plan, anyway.
Susan and I have already got it figured out. I will turn 50 in December 2016, and Susan will turn 50 in January 2017. What a better time to retire? I mean...a 50th birthday AND retirement all within a few months? Can you say PAR-TAY????? LOL Oh, and in December of 2017, John and I will celebrate our silver anniversary. <3 Oh yeah, that's gonna be a great year. :)
Now, I gotta go wait for the BEST UPS guy EVER in the history of UPS guys! He's making another stop to bring football tickets! Woo HOO!!!
Have a GREAT day!!!!!
Because of the state made the decision that no school system could start before August 20, we've had a little more time to get rested. (In addition to this, no system can have instructional days after Memorial Day.) Our board voted on a calendar that put all but one of our professional development days at the beginning of the year, so since last Wednesday, we've been back at work. Yes, you counted correctly. We have 8 PD days before the first day of school, and then we have one day between semesters. WHY do we have 9 PD days, you ask. I'll be more than happy to explain.
Teachers in Alabama have contracts of 187 days. For the past I-don't-know-how-many-years, students have generally been in school 180 days. That is not a magical number though. The magical number is 1,080 hours of instructional time per year (minimum). In our system, at the high school at least, we were providing almost 1,170 hours of instructional time per year, so to make the calendar fit the state guidelines, we were able to cut a couple of days off the instructional calendar. Of course, that makes me freak out because I'm wondering how that will impact the material I have to cover.
Anyway, teachers still have that 187-day contract. That meant 9 days of PD for us. When the calendar came out, my first thought was, "WHOA!! Eight days of PD before school actually starts?!" But after I started thinking about it, I decided it might not be a bad idea. First of all, we are getting ALL those required inservice meetings (like bullying, ESL, alcohol/drug/tobacco, etc.) out of the way. Secondly, we have PLENTY of time to get our classrooms ready, get first day copies made, catch up with colleagues we haven't seen since May, and most importantly (in my book anyway), is that we have PLENTY of time to let our bodies adjust to getting up again. :) In the past, we've had 2-3 PD days, and then there are the kids. Normally, the first week of school I can barely keep my eyes open past 7:30. I'm sure I'll be dragging this time next week, but maybe...just maybe...it won't be so bad.
And this year is starting my 20th year at BRHS. I will actually complete 20 years of teaching in December since I had a semester in another system, but this is 20 for me at ol' Russell High. That means this:
Susan and I have already got it figured out. I will turn 50 in December 2016, and Susan will turn 50 in January 2017. What a better time to retire? I mean...a 50th birthday AND retirement all within a few months? Can you say PAR-TAY????? LOL Oh, and in December of 2017, John and I will celebrate our silver anniversary. <3 Oh yeah, that's gonna be a great year. :)
Now, I gotta go wait for the BEST UPS guy EVER in the history of UPS guys! He's making another stop to bring football tickets! Woo HOO!!!
Have a GREAT day!!!!!
29 June 2012
Frustrated, but I WILL NOT BACK DOWN!!
When I feel strongly about something, I will stand my ground. If someone tells me I can't, my attitude is "just watch!" Challenge me, and I'll push right back.
So, having said all that, my weight loss/fitness plan is not going as well as I'd hoped. Oh, I am still exercising almost daily, and I am watching my calories, but the pounds aren't coming off, and I'm not seeing the change in my body that I want to see. So what do I plan to do? Keep pushing!
The first couple week or so, I was so stoked because I was losing at least a half pound a day. Yes, I know that is not typical, and the healthy way to lose weight is to lose it slowly...about a half pound a week. Then I hit a wall. I know the reason for the early loss was because I had not been doing anything and my caloric intake was probably pretty high. Starting to walk and watch my calories was enough to jump start, but not enough to keep it going.
For the last couple of weeks, I've been at a stand still, and it is frustrating me. I know my walking, even though really good for me, wasn't enough to keep the pounds coming off, so I decided to get a workout video. I thought about Insanity, but I really didn't want to pay that kind of money. I thought about Jillian Michaels. I mean, she lays to it the folks on Biggest Loser! But I decided on Billy Blanks because I'd done some of his workouts before.
With the outrageous heat, I decided to not do my walk this morning and to try out the video. In 15 minutes, I was sweating more than I have in an hour walk. Of course, with it being the first time I've done this type of cardio workout in forever, I wasn't able to do all of the moves for all of the sets, but I know I'll work up to it. Hopefully between walking (if it ever gets out of triple digits) and doing tae bo, I'll see more change.
But I am not giving up! When that voice in my head whispers, "This is too hard. You can't do this," I'm going to remind myself that this is a challenge that I can and WILL win.
Have a GREAT day!
So, having said all that, my weight loss/fitness plan is not going as well as I'd hoped. Oh, I am still exercising almost daily, and I am watching my calories, but the pounds aren't coming off, and I'm not seeing the change in my body that I want to see. So what do I plan to do? Keep pushing!
The first couple week or so, I was so stoked because I was losing at least a half pound a day. Yes, I know that is not typical, and the healthy way to lose weight is to lose it slowly...about a half pound a week. Then I hit a wall. I know the reason for the early loss was because I had not been doing anything and my caloric intake was probably pretty high. Starting to walk and watch my calories was enough to jump start, but not enough to keep it going.
For the last couple of weeks, I've been at a stand still, and it is frustrating me. I know my walking, even though really good for me, wasn't enough to keep the pounds coming off, so I decided to get a workout video. I thought about Insanity, but I really didn't want to pay that kind of money. I thought about Jillian Michaels. I mean, she lays to it the folks on Biggest Loser! But I decided on Billy Blanks because I'd done some of his workouts before.
With the outrageous heat, I decided to not do my walk this morning and to try out the video. In 15 minutes, I was sweating more than I have in an hour walk. Of course, with it being the first time I've done this type of cardio workout in forever, I wasn't able to do all of the moves for all of the sets, but I know I'll work up to it. Hopefully between walking (if it ever gets out of triple digits) and doing tae bo, I'll see more change.
But I am not giving up! When that voice in my head whispers, "This is too hard. You can't do this," I'm going to remind myself that this is a challenge that I can and WILL win.
Have a GREAT day!
12 June 2012
Trying to get fit!
About 16 years ago, I weighed more than I had ever weighed in my life, and after a trip to the beach with Ron and Cindy, I decided I HAD to lose some weight! (Nothing like seeing your thin friend in a bikini to motivate you.) I immediately came home and talked to my friend and neighbor Becky. She had lost a lot of weight, and I wanted to know her secret. She told me she had joined TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly), and she gave me the details about it. I told her I wanted to go with her to the next meeting. I went, and I joined, and about seven months later, I had lost 33 pounds and had met my goal. I maintained that weight (within five pounds on either side) for about seven years. And then I got lazy. And the weight returned.
For the last couple of years, I've said I needed to lose weight. I've played around with losing weight. But I never got serious about it. Earlier this year, I said that by the time school was out, I was going to lose at least ten pounds. It didn't happen.
Last week, I made up my mind that I AM going to get serious, and I AM going to get some of this weight off!! I am tired of seeing that size 16 in my clothes. I hate buying XL. I AM going to do something about it! So I downloaded the 5K Runner app, an exercise log app, the MyFitnessPal app, and the MapMyWalk app. And yes, I have actually used them. Daily. I don't plan on running a 5K, but that one helps me keep my pace up. I could probably delete the exercise log app because I put my exercise into MyFitnessPal, and now that I have done several walks around town, I pretty much know the mileage, so MapMyWalk could be deleted too. I doubt I will delete it, though, because I do like knowing exactly what I've walked and the speed.
I've started drinking more water again, and I'm being more conscious about what goes in my mouth. Do I REALLY want to put those 43 calories in my mouth for a one-inch square Snickers? Or would I rather have an apple? Sure, an apple has about twice the calories, but it is also more filling, and it provides healthy nutrients. The Snickers provides a brief moment of bliss. Don't get me wrong; sometimes that brief moment of bliss is EXACTLY what I need, and I have it, but I try to be smart about it.
Exercise and watching what I ate (and going to TOPS) was how I lost my weight before, so I know I can do it again. I did consider joining Weight Watchers, but I figure my accountability will be to myself through the apps instead of going to the weekly weigh-ins with a group.
Today was day 7 of my fitness plan. When I weighed, I was down 4-1/2 pounds from Tuesday, and I had lost right at two inches. I know the first week or so is when the most dramatic change occurs, so I don't expect to be down almost ten pounds this time next week, but I am very pleased with myself so far. I don't plan on my goal weight being quite so low this time. I had a couple of people tell me I looked anorexic when I was down to 125-130 pounds. I didn't see it at the time, but when I look at pictures now, I can tell how gaunt my face did look. And of course, there is nothing like the tactlessness of teenagers to tell you how bad you looked in old yearbook pictures. :-/ My first goal is to reach a ten-pound loss. When that happens, I'll set another one until I reach my goal of 40 pounds lost. That sounds like SO much to me right now, but hey, I have only 35-1/2 to go! :)
Now, I need to decide what HEALTHY meal I want to make for dinner. Have a GREAT day!
For the last couple of years, I've said I needed to lose weight. I've played around with losing weight. But I never got serious about it. Earlier this year, I said that by the time school was out, I was going to lose at least ten pounds. It didn't happen.
Last week, I made up my mind that I AM going to get serious, and I AM going to get some of this weight off!! I am tired of seeing that size 16 in my clothes. I hate buying XL. I AM going to do something about it! So I downloaded the 5K Runner app, an exercise log app, the MyFitnessPal app, and the MapMyWalk app. And yes, I have actually used them. Daily. I don't plan on running a 5K, but that one helps me keep my pace up. I could probably delete the exercise log app because I put my exercise into MyFitnessPal, and now that I have done several walks around town, I pretty much know the mileage, so MapMyWalk could be deleted too. I doubt I will delete it, though, because I do like knowing exactly what I've walked and the speed.
I've started drinking more water again, and I'm being more conscious about what goes in my mouth. Do I REALLY want to put those 43 calories in my mouth for a one-inch square Snickers? Or would I rather have an apple? Sure, an apple has about twice the calories, but it is also more filling, and it provides healthy nutrients. The Snickers provides a brief moment of bliss. Don't get me wrong; sometimes that brief moment of bliss is EXACTLY what I need, and I have it, but I try to be smart about it.
Exercise and watching what I ate (and going to TOPS) was how I lost my weight before, so I know I can do it again. I did consider joining Weight Watchers, but I figure my accountability will be to myself through the apps instead of going to the weekly weigh-ins with a group.
Today was day 7 of my fitness plan. When I weighed, I was down 4-1/2 pounds from Tuesday, and I had lost right at two inches. I know the first week or so is when the most dramatic change occurs, so I don't expect to be down almost ten pounds this time next week, but I am very pleased with myself so far. I don't plan on my goal weight being quite so low this time. I had a couple of people tell me I looked anorexic when I was down to 125-130 pounds. I didn't see it at the time, but when I look at pictures now, I can tell how gaunt my face did look. And of course, there is nothing like the tactlessness of teenagers to tell you how bad you looked in old yearbook pictures. :-/ My first goal is to reach a ten-pound loss. When that happens, I'll set another one until I reach my goal of 40 pounds lost. That sounds like SO much to me right now, but hey, I have only 35-1/2 to go! :)
Now, I need to decide what HEALTHY meal I want to make for dinner. Have a GREAT day!
08 June 2012
Summertime is off to a fabulous start!
The Fabulous Foursome (aka Susan, Tim, John, and I) took a trip to Memphis last weekend. It was our Blues and BBQ Big Ass Road Trip 2012, and it was a blast. We enjoyed some blues at B.B. King's Blues Club, and we ate enough BBQ to last us a day or two. We had our first Memphis BBQ experience Friday for a late lunch at Neely's Interstate BBQ, and it was delish! The next day, we decided to try out Corky's. HANDS DOWN, our favorite! We tried the 1/2 slab of dry rub and the 1/2 slab of the wet ribs. My favorite was the wet, but I think that's because that is what I'm used to. No way would I turn down the wet rub, and I think with time, they'd become my favorite. We bought some of the dry rub seasoning and some of the BBQ sauce, so John is going to attempt to recreate them. Paul (we think he may be Corky...) told us the "secret", so John is fairly certain he can do a decent version. I have no doubt because MY MAN CAN COOK. LOL
On Saturday, we did the Sun Studio tour. If you are ever in Memphis, that is a must. Our tour guide (Jason Fly, I think was his name) did a fabulous job. He was extremely knowledgeable, and it was easy to tell that the loves what he does. The history of the studio is unbelievable, and to realize that we stood in the SAME room with the SAME flooring, wall and ceiling tiles, and microphone as some of music's greatest...Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, U2...sent chills over me.
We made sure to go to B. B. King's Blues Club on Saturday night. The guy who is the house band, Will Tucker, is AMAZING! A guy sitting at the table next to ours told Tim that he has to have milk or Pepsi, though, because he isn't old enough to drink. hahaha He's been playing in the house band since he was 14 years old. He'll be famous soon. The All-Star Band was amazing as well!
A few pics of our fun weekend, in no particular order.
Memphis was a great trip, and I really want to go back. We have so many places we didn't get to see (ok, ok...BBQ places we didn't get to eat at, and yes, I know I shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition, but it's SUMMER, okay? Leave me alone. LOL) Maybe a quick ride up for a 'que sometime in the fall. :)
So that's the start to my summer. So far, so good!
Have a GREAT day!
On Saturday, we did the Sun Studio tour. If you are ever in Memphis, that is a must. Our tour guide (Jason Fly, I think was his name) did a fabulous job. He was extremely knowledgeable, and it was easy to tell that the loves what he does. The history of the studio is unbelievable, and to realize that we stood in the SAME room with the SAME flooring, wall and ceiling tiles, and microphone as some of music's greatest...Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, U2...sent chills over me.
We made sure to go to B. B. King's Blues Club on Saturday night. The guy who is the house band, Will Tucker, is AMAZING! A guy sitting at the table next to ours told Tim that he has to have milk or Pepsi, though, because he isn't old enough to drink. hahaha He's been playing in the house band since he was 14 years old. He'll be famous soon. The All-Star Band was amazing as well!
A few pics of our fun weekend, in no particular order.
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| Self-explanatory :) |
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| The Big Ass Bad Ass Album Cover 2012 |
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| What can we say? They prepared for our visit. :) |
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| Dry rub vs. wet at Corky's...OMG |
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| Hollywood has stars. Memphis has musical notes. |
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| Meal for two at Interstate BBQ. And yes, BBQ spaghetti is good! |
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| "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" |
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| Musical history was made here. |
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| Father of the Blues, Mr. W. C. Handy |
Memphis was a great trip, and I really want to go back. We have so many places we didn't get to see (ok, ok...BBQ places we didn't get to eat at, and yes, I know I shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition, but it's SUMMER, okay? Leave me alone. LOL) Maybe a quick ride up for a 'que sometime in the fall. :)
So that's the start to my summer. So far, so good!
Have a GREAT day!
11 May 2012
Allergy testing done
I went on Tuesday for my allergy testing, and as I thought, I'll be on shots. Again.
The last time I was tested was probably eight or nine years ago, so things are done a little differently now. Now, before the skin prick testing begins, a sensitivity screen is done to help determine the strength that the skin pricks need be. A plastic "instrument" is placed into the allergen solution and then placed on the arm. After twenty minutes, the welts are measured. During that twenty minutes, you can't scratch. OH MY GOSH!! I have discovered how prisoners need to be tortured. I thought I was going to cry, and that was when I was only about five minutes in.
This was how my arm looked at about five minutes. I wish I had thought to take a picture at the twenty minute mark. My arm by that time was soooo red, and some of the welts were quite large. You can probably tell that the area closest to my wrist was the worst.
After Mickie took the measurements, she wiped off the solution and rubbed my arms down. Yeah, ARMS. Fortunately, the other arm only had one half of one set (so four areas).
Then the testing got started.
This was about five minutes into the fifteen minute waiting period. The ones on the top left were the grasses. They started itching and popping up almost immediately. Trees got pretty bad, too. I was showing positive for nine allergens on the first set. I only had to have one more set on five or six other areas. Maple was my worst, with pecan and pine coming in right behind it. Household dust and dust mites were pretty high as well. I told John that meant he needs to hire somebody to clean my house for me, and I can't do ANY yard work. He didn't buy it. Oh well...it nevers hurts to try.
I go back Wednesday to meet with the PA for the results and to get started on my shots. I can't wait to get the started so some of this crappy allergy stuff under control. Time to go, so I can get ready to go to the lake and enjoy all of the maple and pine trees we have on our lot. LOL
Have a GREAT day!
The last time I was tested was probably eight or nine years ago, so things are done a little differently now. Now, before the skin prick testing begins, a sensitivity screen is done to help determine the strength that the skin pricks need be. A plastic "instrument" is placed into the allergen solution and then placed on the arm. After twenty minutes, the welts are measured. During that twenty minutes, you can't scratch. OH MY GOSH!! I have discovered how prisoners need to be tortured. I thought I was going to cry, and that was when I was only about five minutes in.
After Mickie took the measurements, she wiped off the solution and rubbed my arms down. Yeah, ARMS. Fortunately, the other arm only had one half of one set (so four areas).
Then the testing got started.
I go back Wednesday to meet with the PA for the results and to get started on my shots. I can't wait to get the started so some of this crappy allergy stuff under control. Time to go, so I can get ready to go to the lake and enjoy all of the maple and pine trees we have on our lot. LOL
Have a GREAT day!
07 May 2012
Heavy heart today
Today was one of those Mondays. It started off well enough. I did get up a tad later than I needed to, and then I had to rush because I thought we had a faculty meeting today. Turns out that is tomorrow. About the time I got to school, we got an email from JR saying that one of our assistant principal's mother had been admitted to the hospital about midnight, and then she passed away about 4 AM. At coffee, one of my dear friends told us that her sister (also a dear friend) is having surgery Wednesday because during a checkup, her blood count was low. Further testing was done, including a colonscopy. The doctor could not complete the colonscopy because of a mass. A biopsy was done, and the mass is malignant. However, the doctor feels certain that he can remove it and do a colon resection, and all will be good. Still, it's a scary situation. During 2nd block, our basketball coach came to my room to see his daughter. I couldn't imagine it was anything serious. She is a great kid. A minute or so later, one of the other teachers stuck her head in my room to ask if she could take the student with her, and then she motioned for me to come over to the door. I did, and she told me that another of my student's dad had died of a massive heart attack this morning. The two girls are good friends and have been on dance team together for years.
So yeah, Monday, you suck!
My heart has been so broken from my sweet student. It is broken for my administrator, and it is scared for my friend, but the hurt I feel for AK goes deep. She will graduate in seventeen days, and her daddy won't be there to watch. She will get married someday, and her daddy won't be able to walk her down the aisle. She left home this morning thinking that she'd be able to see him when she got home. Life can be so damn unfair sometimes.
One of her other friends came by during my planning because AK wanted to know what she needed to do for English. My answer: NOTHING. She doesn't need to worry about Macbeth. (He dies.) She doesn't need to worry about the next set of vocabulary words. She needs to take time to grieve. I told Brooke to tell AK that IF she just needs something to occupy her mind, I will be glad to give her what she will miss, but honestly, as far as I am concerned, if she doesn't do one thing more, she will pass my class. I always tell my students at the beginning of the semester that I have expectations. They will be expected to do their work, but I also tell them that I am an understanding person, and I will work with them when life throws them curves. The loss of a parent is more than just a curve.
AK is a strong young lady, and she has an amazing set of friends who will be there for her. I know she will be okay...eventually...but her heart will always have that spot that misses her daddy. I pray that God will comfort her.
Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. You never know when they'll be gone.
So yeah, Monday, you suck!
My heart has been so broken from my sweet student. It is broken for my administrator, and it is scared for my friend, but the hurt I feel for AK goes deep. She will graduate in seventeen days, and her daddy won't be there to watch. She will get married someday, and her daddy won't be able to walk her down the aisle. She left home this morning thinking that she'd be able to see him when she got home. Life can be so damn unfair sometimes.
One of her other friends came by during my planning because AK wanted to know what she needed to do for English. My answer: NOTHING. She doesn't need to worry about Macbeth. (He dies.) She doesn't need to worry about the next set of vocabulary words. She needs to take time to grieve. I told Brooke to tell AK that IF she just needs something to occupy her mind, I will be glad to give her what she will miss, but honestly, as far as I am concerned, if she doesn't do one thing more, she will pass my class. I always tell my students at the beginning of the semester that I have expectations. They will be expected to do their work, but I also tell them that I am an understanding person, and I will work with them when life throws them curves. The loss of a parent is more than just a curve.
AK is a strong young lady, and she has an amazing set of friends who will be there for her. I know she will be okay...eventually...but her heart will always have that spot that misses her daddy. I pray that God will comfort her.
Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. You never know when they'll be gone.
20 April 2012
Allergies are killing me!
Seven days. One full week. And they are still going strong.
I've fought allergies for what feels like forever. Mom and Eddy are both sufferers too, so it's definitely a family thing. This is one thing I wish we didn't have in common.
Unfortunately, I'm one of those year-long sufferers. The last time I was tested (which was many years ago now), something I was allergic was in bloom from February until October. The rest of the year, dust mites, mold, mildew--those things that never go away--get me.
In the last week, I've gone through about five boxes of Puffs with lotion. (GOT to have the lotion or my nose would just peel right off my face.) I've taken Zyrtec every morning, and I've taken Benadryl religiously in between. I'm quite certain that wouldn't be recommended, but I have to do something to get some relief. I've even had to gt up in the middle of the night to take some.
I love springtime, but this is one spring I'll be glad to see end.
Have a GRE--aaahhhchoooo-AT day!
04 April 2012
And we are done!
Well, almost. But the bathroom is now a functional bathroom again. The only things left to do are those little things: put up the towel bar, towel ring, and robe hook; get everything back into the linen closet; find the perfect piece of stained glass to use over the bottom part of the window.
So yeah, I can say we're done.
The plan for the window was to spray it with the stuff that makes glass look frosted and hang a small stained glass sun catcher over the top part, but when John did the spray yesterday, it didn't look exactly like we hoped, so bless his heart, he had to scrap it all off. He said he should have sprayed just one to make sure we were going to like it. You know what they say about hindsight. I suggested maybe finding a piece of stained glass and hanging it so that it covers the bottom part. We have two pieces in a window upstairs. John has been wanting to replace the window for a while anyway, so if one of them will fit, we'll probably use it.
I told John last night that the bathroom seems bigger. That's odd because the sink and the toilet are larger than the ones we took out. I don't know if it is because of the lighter walls with the darker on top or if it's because of we turned the toilet to face a different way.
It felt so strange to go home yesterday and not have to immediately tear into something. It was a good strange, though. :) If and when we ever do another project of this nature (the kitchen or either of the half baths), we'll do them in the summer. Even though John might still have to work during the day and then come home and work at night, I could at least keep the rest of the house in some kind of order. I know that if and when we do those rooms, it won't be during 2012. LOL
Have a GREAT day!
So yeah, I can say we're done.
I told John last night that the bathroom seems bigger. That's odd because the sink and the toilet are larger than the ones we took out. I don't know if it is because of the lighter walls with the darker on top or if it's because of we turned the toilet to face a different way.
It felt so strange to go home yesterday and not have to immediately tear into something. It was a good strange, though. :) If and when we ever do another project of this nature (the kitchen or either of the half baths), we'll do them in the summer. Even though John might still have to work during the day and then come home and work at night, I could at least keep the rest of the house in some kind of order. I know that if and when we do those rooms, it won't be during 2012. LOL
Have a GREAT day!
02 April 2012
I'm tired of the bathroom...
So I know my friends are tired of it!
We were so, so very close to being finished yesterday, but the supply lines we bought for the sink were too short. Of course. We thought...briefly, very briefly...about going ahead and installing the toilet, but by this time it was almost 7:00, and we were tired, dirty, and hungry.
My job as soon as school is out is to go to Home Depot (again...) to get two new supply lines and a door latch for the linen closet. (My feelings are really kind of hurt because they don't greet me by name when I walk in. hahaha) John has to go to Moore's to get a new window pane and the mirror for the medicine cabinet cut. Then, we can put in the sink and the toilet! And we'll keep our fingers crossed that the plumbing will work perfectly. John will have to put the door on the medicine cabinet, and he needs to move the light over the sink just a tiny bit to the right.
This has definitely been more difficult than we anticipated, but we've been quite fortunate. Other than John's cut on his nose, we haven't had any major injuries (and I hope I haven't just jinxed ourselves); although, I did think he'd sliced a finger on his jigsaw once. He ended up with just a blister. We have had a ton of aches and pains. Muscles I haven't used in forever were screaming in pain after last Saturday.
I've always heard that divorces aren't uncommon after building a house. Well, we haven't built a house (and no, Mom, we aren't headed for a divorce LOL), but I can imagine that doing a remodel could lead to a divorce too. The stress. The financial burden. The lack of down time. Throughout this entire project, John and I haven't lost our cool with one another the first time. We've lost our cool with the plumbing or the out-of-square walls or the wrong cut in a piece of lumber. I guess the fact that John and I are so much alike helps. He's a DIYer, and I am in no way a "girly-girl" so getting my hands dirty and being covered in sawdust don't bother me.
I've said this several times over the course of the last month, but this time I think I can say it and mean it. By the time I go to bed tonight, we will have a "new" bathroom. WOO HOO!!
Oh...I just found this humorous article about building or remodeling. I wish I'd found it earlier. :)
Have a GREAT day!
We were so, so very close to being finished yesterday, but the supply lines we bought for the sink were too short. Of course. We thought...briefly, very briefly...about going ahead and installing the toilet, but by this time it was almost 7:00, and we were tired, dirty, and hungry.
My job as soon as school is out is to go to Home Depot (again...) to get two new supply lines and a door latch for the linen closet. (My feelings are really kind of hurt because they don't greet me by name when I walk in. hahaha) John has to go to Moore's to get a new window pane and the mirror for the medicine cabinet cut. Then, we can put in the sink and the toilet! And we'll keep our fingers crossed that the plumbing will work perfectly. John will have to put the door on the medicine cabinet, and he needs to move the light over the sink just a tiny bit to the right.
This has definitely been more difficult than we anticipated, but we've been quite fortunate. Other than John's cut on his nose, we haven't had any major injuries (and I hope I haven't just jinxed ourselves); although, I did think he'd sliced a finger on his jigsaw once. He ended up with just a blister. We have had a ton of aches and pains. Muscles I haven't used in forever were screaming in pain after last Saturday.
I've always heard that divorces aren't uncommon after building a house. Well, we haven't built a house (and no, Mom, we aren't headed for a divorce LOL), but I can imagine that doing a remodel could lead to a divorce too. The stress. The financial burden. The lack of down time. Throughout this entire project, John and I haven't lost our cool with one another the first time. We've lost our cool with the plumbing or the out-of-square walls or the wrong cut in a piece of lumber. I guess the fact that John and I are so much alike helps. He's a DIYer, and I am in no way a "girly-girl" so getting my hands dirty and being covered in sawdust don't bother me.
I've said this several times over the course of the last month, but this time I think I can say it and mean it. By the time I go to bed tonight, we will have a "new" bathroom. WOO HOO!!
Oh...I just found this humorous article about building or remodeling. I wish I'd found it earlier. :)
Have a GREAT day!
30 March 2012
No pictures, but...
We think we'll finish up this weekend! We rode down to Home Depot (for the ninety billionth time) and bought all the stuff we need to finish this project. We hope.
I am falling asleep on my feet. And I mean that almost literally. Thank goodness for having an intern because if I didn't, I would be totally wiped out. And poor John...he gets up at 4 AM, drives 45 minutes to work, works all day, drives 45 minutes home, and then as soon as I get home, we've started working. We have wrapped up each day anywhere between 7:30 and 11:00. (We try to finish earlier on week nights, but that doesn't always work.) I bought him a gift certificate for a massage as a way to say thanks for the hard work he has put in on this. He deserves one!!
All I want to do when I get home this afternoon is take a nap, but I have more trim waiting to be painted. I'm not sure what John plans on doing while I'm painting. Tomorrow we have to put in the trim and touch it up, and then we hope to install and connect the sink and toilet. IF all goes well, we can have the bathroom finished by the time we go to bed tomorrow night.
When we do finish, I think I'll spend the night in the bathroom just so I can look at our hard work. Juuuuusssssttttt kidding!!!
But I am going to take a nice long bubble bath, and I will probably have a glass or two of wine when I do...
Have a GREAT day!
I am falling asleep on my feet. And I mean that almost literally. Thank goodness for having an intern because if I didn't, I would be totally wiped out. And poor John...he gets up at 4 AM, drives 45 minutes to work, works all day, drives 45 minutes home, and then as soon as I get home, we've started working. We have wrapped up each day anywhere between 7:30 and 11:00. (We try to finish earlier on week nights, but that doesn't always work.) I bought him a gift certificate for a massage as a way to say thanks for the hard work he has put in on this. He deserves one!!
All I want to do when I get home this afternoon is take a nap, but I have more trim waiting to be painted. I'm not sure what John plans on doing while I'm painting. Tomorrow we have to put in the trim and touch it up, and then we hope to install and connect the sink and toilet. IF all goes well, we can have the bathroom finished by the time we go to bed tomorrow night.
When we do finish, I think I'll spend the night in the bathroom just so I can look at our hard work. Juuuuusssssttttt kidding!!!
But I am going to take a nice long bubble bath, and I will probably have a glass or two of wine when I do...
Have a GREAT day!
27 March 2012
Progress...
It's been slow going, but progress on the bathroom is being made. If it hadn't been for 80-year old galvanized pipe, I think we'd have gotten farther along. We might have even finished already. Unless something goes wrong when we connect the sink and the toilet, all of the plumbing issues have been solved.
And boy, did we have some issues. In one day, the lines blew out three times. The first time, the hot water line blew off where we'd had to cap it earlier. Once we fixed that and gave the glue time to cure, we turned on the faucet to the tub to help ease the pressure. No leaks. Woo hoo!! For a while anyway. Then the line from the from the main hot to the sink blew. We fixed that, waited for the glue to cure, and no leaks. Whew!! A couple of hours later, we were in the basement when we heard that familiar pop and then the sound of spraying water coming from upstairs. I ran up to see what had happened while John ran out to cut off the water. The new supply line for the toilet blew. I was ready to scream. And then John realized he had not gone back and glue the connection after he did the dry fitting.
About 11:30 that night, we were finally calling it a night. John had just gotten into bed and I was brushing my teeth. With hot water. From the cold tap. I told him something was wrong, but we'd figure it out the next morning. About fifteen minutes later, he said he couldn't sleep for trying to figure out what we'd done. We got up and went down to trace the lines. The best we could tell (because of duct work) the lines were still right, but we were still puzzled. I googled the problem and read all about "back flow." We figured that was what was going on, so the next morning, John drained the tank and let it fill back up, hoping that would solve the problem. Guess what. It didn't. So then we took a marker and really followed the cold line and found that at some point in all of the blow outs and reconnections, we'd crossed the lines. Easy fix. Seriously. It was almost too easy. That's why I figure something will go wrong with the toilet and/or sink.
Once we got all of that worked out, we were able to begin putting up the bead board and trim. We pulled up the old flooring last night, and John got the mounting ring for the toilet put in. I'm playing bunco tonight, so John is taking the night off, too. The plan for tomorrow afternoon is to put the new flooring down and hopefully get the toilet in place. Then on Thursday we can get the sink installed and connected.
We still need to finish the closet. We decided to Sheetrock and paint inside it, and we're redoing the door for it. Instead of having a built-in laundry hamper at the bottom and an extremely high linen closet, we're going to put a small cabinet up top for the winter sheets, mattress pad, and blankets, and then we're going to have a regular linen closet.
I'm getting so excited because what I envisioned is finally beginning to take shape. When we were fighting with the plumbing, I was getting so discouraged. I knew we were making progress, but I just wasn't seeing it the way I wanted to see it. Patience has NEVER been one of my virtues. LOL
So, here are some pictures of the progress we've made.
And boy, did we have some issues. In one day, the lines blew out three times. The first time, the hot water line blew off where we'd had to cap it earlier. Once we fixed that and gave the glue time to cure, we turned on the faucet to the tub to help ease the pressure. No leaks. Woo hoo!! For a while anyway. Then the line from the from the main hot to the sink blew. We fixed that, waited for the glue to cure, and no leaks. Whew!! A couple of hours later, we were in the basement when we heard that familiar pop and then the sound of spraying water coming from upstairs. I ran up to see what had happened while John ran out to cut off the water. The new supply line for the toilet blew. I was ready to scream. And then John realized he had not gone back and glue the connection after he did the dry fitting.
About 11:30 that night, we were finally calling it a night. John had just gotten into bed and I was brushing my teeth. With hot water. From the cold tap. I told him something was wrong, but we'd figure it out the next morning. About fifteen minutes later, he said he couldn't sleep for trying to figure out what we'd done. We got up and went down to trace the lines. The best we could tell (because of duct work) the lines were still right, but we were still puzzled. I googled the problem and read all about "back flow." We figured that was what was going on, so the next morning, John drained the tank and let it fill back up, hoping that would solve the problem. Guess what. It didn't. So then we took a marker and really followed the cold line and found that at some point in all of the blow outs and reconnections, we'd crossed the lines. Easy fix. Seriously. It was almost too easy. That's why I figure something will go wrong with the toilet and/or sink.
Once we got all of that worked out, we were able to begin putting up the bead board and trim. We pulled up the old flooring last night, and John got the mounting ring for the toilet put in. I'm playing bunco tonight, so John is taking the night off, too. The plan for tomorrow afternoon is to put the new flooring down and hopefully get the toilet in place. Then on Thursday we can get the sink installed and connected.
We still need to finish the closet. We decided to Sheetrock and paint inside it, and we're redoing the door for it. Instead of having a built-in laundry hamper at the bottom and an extremely high linen closet, we're going to put a small cabinet up top for the winter sheets, mattress pad, and blankets, and then we're going to have a regular linen closet.
I'm getting so excited because what I envisioned is finally beginning to take shape. When we were fighting with the plumbing, I was getting so discouraged. I knew we were making progress, but I just wasn't seeing it the way I wanted to see it. Patience has NEVER been one of my virtues. LOL
So, here are some pictures of the progress we've made.
 |
| The holes for the supply and drain lines fit perfectly! |
 |
| We have the bead board up. |
 |
| Trim and medicine cabinet are in place. |
 |
| The baseboard trim has been painted.
|
Like I said, my vision is starting to take shape. Pay attention to the horrible harvest gold flooring because it is no more. Of course, right now what you'd see is the even more horrible subfloor, but that will be covered soon.
I know we still want to redo our kitchen, but a plumber will be hired to do that job! Even when we get around to redoing my little half bath, I'm quite certain a plumber will be hired to do that job as well. :)
Have a GREAT day!
14 March 2012
We have a sink!
For the third time. Maybe. We hope. Fingers crossed.
We really wanted one with a "back splash" on it, but the ones we found that we liked were either too large or too small or out of stock in biscuit. Honestly, I finally got tired of looking and decided that this one will be the one. Don't get me wrong. I love it. I really do, but after looking at sink after sink after sink, I was ready to make a decision. So I called John just a while ago and told him I was ordering it.
Now, if it will just come in and actually work.
I was trying to decide between this one and another one that was similar. This one won out for several reasons. First of all, it is about an inch and a half taller than the other one. Next, this one is just a smidgen wider and deeper. But the main reason is because we can get this one with a 4" centerset faucet mounting, so we won't have to buy another faucet. Well,until we decide to redo my bathroom. But that isn't going to happen any time soon!
So what's left to do? I need to finish painting the trim. I have the cap trim for the bead board and the trim we're going to use at the bottom of the bead board left. Not much left there. John has to run the new water line for the toilet. (Let's hope that goes easier than the plumbing for the sink went.) Then we can put up the bead board and trim, put down the flooring, install the sink and the toilet, put the new light up, and put the light over the sink back up. John is going to build a new medicine cabinet and doors for the closet, so that will need to be done too. I think I'm actually seeing a light at the end of this tunnel! Woo Hoo!!!
Y'all have a GREAT day!
We really wanted one with a "back splash" on it, but the ones we found that we liked were either too large or too small or out of stock in biscuit. Honestly, I finally got tired of looking and decided that this one will be the one. Don't get me wrong. I love it. I really do, but after looking at sink after sink after sink, I was ready to make a decision. So I called John just a while ago and told him I was ordering it.
Now, if it will just come in and actually work.
I was trying to decide between this one and another one that was similar. This one won out for several reasons. First of all, it is about an inch and a half taller than the other one. Next, this one is just a smidgen wider and deeper. But the main reason is because we can get this one with a 4" centerset faucet mounting, so we won't have to buy another faucet. Well,until we decide to redo my bathroom. But that isn't going to happen any time soon!
So what's left to do? I need to finish painting the trim. I have the cap trim for the bead board and the trim we're going to use at the bottom of the bead board left. Not much left there. John has to run the new water line for the toilet. (Let's hope that goes easier than the plumbing for the sink went.) Then we can put up the bead board and trim, put down the flooring, install the sink and the toilet, put the new light up, and put the light over the sink back up. John is going to build a new medicine cabinet and doors for the closet, so that will need to be done too. I think I'm actually seeing a light at the end of this tunnel! Woo Hoo!!!
Y'all have a GREAT day!
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