Monday Mayhem...

For those that missed it, I spent half an hour throwing away close to $400 in frozen groceries yesterday at lunchtime...not because of faulty freezer, but the fact that someone unplugged it. (From the temperature of melted water, thawed food & SMELL...I'm guessing at least 1-2 weeks) Due to yesterday's humidity and my lack of iron stomach, I put draining & sanitizing off until nightfall. However, plans tend to change so quickly in this house and it was put off again. (Lid is closed TIGHT and awaiting me to clean...though I might be investing in a gas mask now)

I was already taking the day off from the kitchen due to stiff muscles. By the time I was finished throwing all of the gross food out, I was really hurting. Spent most of the day lounging, rubbing lotion on my legs and trying to massage the cramps away, and applying medicated heat patches to my back.

Kat made it home around 9:30pm. I feel my baby girl slipping away from me. She no longer talks to me about everything going on with her. We never spend any time together since she started working full time and traveling every weekend with the drama team. Though I'm proud of what she's doing and the hard work she's putting in to it...I'm feeling somewhat neglected and ignored. Used to, if you were looking for me, it was automatically assumed that Kat would be near. I know I've whined before asking if this is what it's suppose to feel like when you are no longer needed, but this feeling is heart-wrenching.

I rode with hubby this morning to help with directions to the place for his drug test. Turns out he didn't need me. He had to go to Wal*Mart first to pick up the paperwork to take to the hospital, but while there he had another "small interview". (Dang...how many times must someone be interviewed to work in a garage?) Nearly an hour later, hubby comes back to truck sans medical paperwork. I asked him what was up and he said they decided to put him in another position making less money that what he was making at the Truck Stop so he said he was sorry he wasted their time for the past 6 weeks and that he would have to decline. It didn't sit well with the guy in charge, but he did leave it open for hubby to return at a later time.

Hubby was disgusted. He was told the reason they were giving him less money is because of his work experience and history. Hubby asked what he meant since he had managerial experience at AutoZone, Napa, and the Truck Stop. He then was told they wanted more years than what he listed. *sigh* For what they wanted to pay him, he would have been making LESS than what OS is making now at Costco changing tires. So we stopped by a couple of places on way home for him to get aps.

Hubby has been on the phone ever since we arrived home nearly an hour ago. Unsure what will happen now...especially since we thought he HAD this job and was quoted a certain amount 2 weeks ago and it didn't happen that way today. Something more for me to worry about and try not to let it get to me.

A few minutes ago, I received a message through my MySpace from YS saying that he was coming down with his Dad and Grandma to get pickup his other sister Somer. Would only be here for the weekend and would be able to spend Saturday with me. Now I'm really freaking since my entire house is turned upside down and my kitchen in shambles. How am I suppose to be relaxed and play gracious host to Grandma Joyce when there isn't a clean spot to sit? ROFL!! Guess I better get off my hiney and bust tail to get the kitchen halfway completed.

Getting Back To CT Work and UPDATES

After a long hiatus, due to server problems, Veronica Spriggs is up and running once more!! *Doing happy dance* This means you'll be seeing a lot more of me!! *giggles*

UPDATES: Robert's graduation ceremony left me in tears. Will scrap all of the photos as time permits.

I've completely finished the "purging of my home" project. Every nook, cranny, box, closet, crevice & cabinet couldn't hide from me. I removed so many knic knacks, clothing, furniture & linens from my home that I'm now able to see walls and floors that I forgot we had!! *oops* Though I feel amazing that I completed this major task, it's far from over. Now the remodeling, rearranging & decorating begins.

ON THE TO-DO LIST:
PORCH

1. Purchase lumber, trim and doors
2. Carefully unroll, measure & cut "no-see-em" screen (that came in mail while I was away)
3. Screen in back porch

FLOORS

1. Rip up carpet in den, kitchen & living room
2. Install hard wood floors
3. Either sand and stain floors or paint floors
4. Find several braided rugs varying in size
   

KITCHEN

1. Remove everything in kitchen
2. Take down single upper cabinet on right side of sink (Keep for new project)
3. Paint cabinet, walls & ceiling white (keep wrought iron hardware black)
4. Install 4 white shelves (supported by wrought iron shelf brackets) of different lengths to replace single cabinet
5. Use shelves to display/store glasses, coffee cups, plates, bowls, china, mixing & storage bowls
6. Convert double cabinets (that originally held all of above mentioned) on left side of sink into "pantry"
7. Convert Lower single cabinet on right side of sink as storage of oversized pots, pans, and small appliances (that originally was "pantry"
8. SELL kitchen table and chairs
9. Replace table for center island with storage on one side/bar with stools on other.
10. Remove make-shift counter hubby installed beside refrigerator
11. Move fridge to spot make-shift counter was located.
12. Place pie cabinet in original fridge spot.

BATHROOM

1. Remove sink, bubble tub & toilet
2. Remove unfinished side original flooring
3. Replace plywood floor & joists as needed
4. Reinstall sink & toilet (may need to replace bubble tub depending if hubby can repair motor for jet sprayers)
5. Install "Grab Rails" near toilet and tub
6. Install new wall insulation
7. Install new drywall
8. Purchase stack kit adapter, longer dryer vent hose and place dryer on top of washer
9. Finish trim & electrical
   
10. Paint walls & ceiling white
11. Use boards from old pallets for flooring and walls with whitewash treatment
12. Paint floors with SEVERAL coats of polyurethane
    
13. Decorate with beach/light houses

Of course, I'll also be taking plenty of before, during & after photos of these projects. HA! (Which reminds me, I need to upload my Florida Vacation scrap pages I finally scrapped...lol)

Until then...that leaves me with showing you my latest CT scrap page.

Kit: Pretty As A Princess
Designer: Veronica Spriggs
Link:http://www.digiscrapboutique.com/
boutique/pretty-as-a-princess-scrap-kit
-pr-3949.html

Layout: Jay Elliott (ASTC)
Program: PSP-9
Font: Jenkins v2.0
Plug-Ins: EyeCandy 4000/Shadowlab

Good & Bad News

I'll start off with the bad news first...

It's a sad day in the world of scrapbooking...I just learned that Tina Williams is closing the doors to her store. Will hate to see her go...but wish her all the best in wherever life takes her. Don't pass up on this great opportunity of grabbing some amazing products at an incredibly low price!!

SO...on to the good news...

For the past 2 weeks, I've been trying to decide if I wanted to purchase a bus ticket and risk health issues by riding 24 hours one way to see youngest son graduate, or go broke by purchasing a plane ticket so that I wouldn't be uncomfortable. In the end, I called YS and let him know that it just wasn't possible for me to make it...that was until last night. MIL called hubby and before I knew it, had purchased me round trip airfare!! *jumping up and down* So now I have less than a week to pack, his graduation ceremony is Monday evening!!