What is that man doing?

Last weekend was admittedly a bit trying for us. We started Saturday morning off with a requisite super-great trip to Home Depot. (We were getting bored at Lowes.) We spent a long time there and spent so much money my head hurt. One of the items we rolled away with was a contractor's package of chair rail. Rolling it through the store was interesting, but getting it home was more so. As Michael was trying to strap it to his truck, a little boy came walking out of the Depot with his dad. "What IS that man DOING?", he kept asking his dad while pointing. I was asking that very same question. I was at least polite enough not to point. My mama taught me well.

We actually made it back to the House safely and without police escort.


Later that day Michael installed our new outdoor light and dropped a piece of the glass, shattering it on the porch. I am told that the look on my face was not one of happiness and that the tone in my voice was a little frightening. A little later in the weekend I was attempting to fix up the boring and cheap vanity in the master bathroom. It didn't work. It didn't want paint, it didn't want sanding, it didn't want to be fixed. So I destroyed it. That will teach it to disobey me.

So that leaves a hole in our bathroom, and that leaves me scouring Craigslist again. One step forward, two steps back. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Putting it all in perspective

One of the most trying things about moving across country is having to find new doctors. We had great physicians in LA and used both Cedars Sinai and UCLA Medical Center. We've fortunately been healthy here, but it was that time...that one time of the year that I just won't push off. It used to be that I was eager/desperate/adamant about getting my birth control prescription refilled. A couple years ago that urgency shifted into a need to know that I was truly still healthy. Having a family with a history of breast cancer makes you realize the importance of a good doctor. That coupled with a scare a few years ago that required outpatient surgery makes me almost militant about being on time for my OB/GYN appointment every year.

So after a few recommendations and a bit of research I chose a doctor and a wellness clinic about 10 minutes from our House (everything here is like 10 minutes away!). The FIRST thing I noticed when I entered their parking garage was that IT WAS FREE and THAT THERE WAS LOTS OF PARKING. When you live in LA, this is a really big deal. Yes, you have to pay for parking at your hospital. Yes, there is NEVER enough parking. Yes, there was valet parking at Cedars Sinai and yes, we did use it once.

OK, I thought...this is a nice start. Once inside I was amazed at how clean and new it was. Check-in went smoothly so I sat down for the inevitable wait. (As a non-pregnant woman in an OB/GYN's office, you are NEVER the priority.) Not wanting to use my phone in this quiet environment, I chose to text Michael instead.

me: Hi, at the dr now. found the only newsweek in a sea of parenting magazines

michael: haha

me: there are a lot of pregnant women here. nice hospital though. we should find regular doctors here. close and nice

michael: how is parking?

It's good to see that my husband has his priorities straight. We obviously were meant for each other. Imagine the excitement we'll share when we can both exclaim about the great parking experience at the doctor's office. "Did you like your doctor?" "Who cares! There was lots of FREE parking!"

What's better than a boy?

Well two boys of course! Two boys get a lot of work done, but damn they are messy. On Sunday my friend Rainy sent over her husband Scott. Apparently we looked pretty pathetic the week before and they decided we needed some assistance.

With table saw in hand, Scott arrived and quickly took our chaos in control. Within hours he and Michael had replaced all the missing or busted wainscoting and chair rail in the dining room and kitchen. This may sound simple, but you must keep in mind that they were using materials that had been transferred from other areas of the house. So each piece of reclaimed wood needed to be scraped and cut to fit its new space. And as Scott so eloquently said, "100 year-old wood just doesn't bend like the new stuff".

The holes in my House are almost gone. Yes, there is still so much to do. So, so much. But this was a day of fantastic progress. Scott, you are welcome anytime. Just bring your wife on your next round so I have someone to sit on the porch with and sip mint juleps.

Running on Empty

We did have a House productive weekend, and actually had some much needed and much appreciated help yesterday. I will post updates later tonight on our progress. At the moment though, I am dead tired and all my brain power needs to be focused on the company that pays for 1/2 our renovation 'fun'. We will not be moving in yet this weekend, so that is making me tense and worn. I need a walk outside and an electrician that doesn't make ME want to beat things with a hammer.