<p>Well, Rochestermom, you know if you don’t give to yourself, you can’t give to anyone else. So that exercise is critical! Look at me being so cocky about what you all should do! I know how you feel–yesterday I had a stack of coupons out to go to the market and really do the right thing–big shop/save money. I got overwhelmed, and went to the more expensive market, got something for a quick nice dinner ONLY, and today I’m looking at the stack again. I don’t know why we get so overwhelmed–those days I accomplish a lot I feel so good. I guess if I had the answer, I’d also have lost those last 10 pounds…</p>
<p>KM, LOL: just spit a mouthful of water at your ceiling solution!!! LOLOLOL!!! Couldn’t we ALL use an escape hatch?</p>
<p>Missy, lololol (again)!!! “broccoli-shaped scar???” I love that he just called you about that…</p>
<p>Toilet overflowed in our master bathroom and was literally raining into the kitchen. Was waiting for it to dry before fixing and now… well, I’ve gotten used to it. We have smooth ceilings and to paint the ceiling in the kitchen would mean painting almost the entire first floor until you hit moldings. I have so many other things that require repair before I even think about tackling that one.</p>
<p>Too funny about a broccoli shaped scar. My question is, how hot does broccoli need to be to actually burn through a shirt?</p>
<p>That’s always been my question! He said he was wearing a black turtleneck. I guess broccoli must retain heat. (?) </p>
<p>Maybe when the bus drives to everyone’s houses to pick them up for the tour to see my Christmas decorations, it could include a handyman and painter to repair all of our ceilings.</p>
<p>fireflyscout, your posterboard patch just had me spewing Diet Pepsi. I am SO GLAD I’m not alone!!!</p>
<p>It would appear a mouse has (again) chewed into our dishwasher hose. Another $XXX to the plumber! The cabinet under the sink is so soaked from these constant little floods that it’s going to have to be replaced, whether DH likes it or not. They are crappy cabinets and I’d like to do something with them after college expenses are done in six years…but DH is reluctant. No way the house will sell without doing something!</p>
<p>Maybe while DH is out of town I’ll repaint the ceiling in our living room. Replaced the roof two years ago, but the stains from the leaks are still there.</p>
<p>S1 had a Harry Potter-esque scar smack between his eyes for a good year. He kept picking at a cut and it would never heal. This was right around when the books were getting hugely popular, too.</p>
<p>missypie, I would totally sympathize with your S if he refuses to eat broccoli.</p>
<p>The material in the cabinets under our sinks is some kind of graham cracker compound, I believe. We had a leak one time in the powder room and the cabinet base truly looked like graham crackers soaked in milk. Ah, the 1980s tract house.</p>
<p>All this talk about house maintenance makes me glad that my H is VERY handy. He fixes everything himself. Even added on to our house with a full basement a few years ago and he was the contractor - not his real job. He did hire people to help out but much of the electrical/framing and drywall was done by him. If you can’t find a handyman for the bus he might be able to help out :)</p>
<p>Thanks to all for the laughs! Since we moved to our current house 3 years ago, we’re actually in good shape in the maintenance department. Well, except for the hot water faucet on my bathroom sink, but that’s pretty minor.</p>
<p>So what time should I expect the bus? I’d much rather do a road trip than start dealing with the holiday “stuff.”</p>
<p>We have a large hole in the wall that backs up to the shower. I just put an armoire in front of it - never know when you might have to get in there again. Same with the wall in the mud room that backs up to the fridge in the kitchen - hole to service the ice maker - - bought one of those mentioned white grilles and stuck a bench in front of that one. Oh and the hammer that was used to smash the ice dam last winter that was causing leaks into the house - still on the sill of the jetted tub by that window. My motto, might as well be ready for the next disaster. Why fix the damage if it might just happen again?</p>
<p>What were you all doing this time last year?
I believe I was heavy into college research, had just found CC and was signing son up on common app.</p>
<p>I have to say, this fall is a lot easier. Probably not for you that have coming HS graduates</p>
<p>Little did you know the spring semester that was ahead of you!!!</p>
<p>I totally remember this time last year. University of Tulsa was insisting on a face to face interview with their local rep. The only date Son could make was right before Thanksgiving. He and H drove to a hotel in a distant suburb. They met the rep who said, “Well you’re going to be admitted, do you have any questions?” THAT was the “interview” that was so very essential to TU!</p>
<p>Rochester, my man is VERY handy. He always starts those little “honeydos” with enormously great intentions. Then we call my brother, the contractor, to finish them months later… On the positive side, DH is a computer/internet/wireless/printer/mouse EXPERT and I farm him out a ton.</p>
<p>I’m the one who takes on too many projects and doesn’t get them done. Drives H nuts. I’m always doing many craft projects. H would just like me to finish them. H on the other hand starts something and works on that until it’s done. No holes here. We’ve had a couple through the years when things broke but always fixed in his word “promptly” (this is a dig at me) and it’s over. Kind of nice except there are times I feel guilty that I don’t have that kind of concentration – I get bored with projects and need to do something else. Oh well. I too would like to be on the bus and forget all of the stuff I need to do. Exercise for the night is done. Dinner is done. I’ve cleaned up the kitchen. Now need to decide what project to do for the rest of the evening…</p>
<p>oh…one of my dearest, closest friends just found out her 21 yr old son was arrested and charged with robbery at a little convenience store. How sad and awful. Four kids, three who have done so well and this one who has struggled so much over the years. It breaks my heart. Possible 7 1/2 yrs in prison. Terrible news. :(</p>
<p>How terrible. For a while I feared that my nephew was headed down a similar path. The thought of him being in prison just horrified me. I think he’s going to be fine now but I can just imagine a mom’s horror for the entire prison time. Not to mention the possible financial ruin of attorneys’ fees. (From what I hear, criminal lawyers tell their new clients, “You know that money you’ve been saving for a rainy day? This is the rainy day.”)</p>
<p>OK…I need advice/help. For years, we hosted a huge Christmas party for friends and their families - actually lots of my D’s friends and their families. This party was FUN! Huge antipasto, pasta for the kids, endless lasagna for adults. We have no furniture in our living room - just for this party. We’d rent tables - have 2 seatings one for kids - one for adults. We’re talking about 80 people all together. After dinner it was Christams trivia - family against family, kids would play music and we’d all sing Christmas carols round the piano. So much fun!!
I didn’t do it last year - with college apps, all the kids were stressed, H was out of work - I think, or just getting back - YUCK!
I gotta tell you - Christmas was a lot less stressful last year…HMMM!
I really like it but don’t know if I should do it again. H is kindof against. It is $$$. But now all the kids will be back - I’d love to have everybody together again. What do you think…</p>
<p>I was all planning to miss Fang Jr. this fall as he went off to college, but instead I’ve been getting a good lesson on how lucky I am.</p>
<p>The worst happened to a close friend-- his daughter died in a freak accident at college. Another friend’s daughter is depressed and, I fear, suicidal. She’s resisting any kind of therapy and she goes to a school that has had <em>four</em> suicides, yes <em>four</em>, in the last calendar year.</p>
<p>I’ve been doing a lot of listening lately, as my two friends work through their situations. It’s heartbreaking to hear my one friend wishing he could fix things when death can’t be fixed, and it’s scary to hear about my other friend’s daughter spiralling down.</p>
<p>I am so thankful Fang Jr is healthy and happy.</p>
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<p>Woody-- I think you want to do the party, so you should.</p>