Don't get your panties all in a bunch

Today we started remodeling one of our bathrooms. My parents gave us a little money for Christmas, so we are able to do it.

I kind of have mixed feelings about it. I loved the colors in the bathroom (or lack thereof.) It was black and white. The tub walls were tiled in white with a black border, and the countertop was tiled as well. The black tiles had a beautiful iridescent patina on them, since they were about 60 years old. So they will be missed. What won't be missed is the tub. It was old, refinished cast iron. The tub itself was great. It was a nice size, and deep. The problem was that it was peeling. Whoever refinished it didn't do it right, so the paint didn't stick. So I feel bad about getting rid of an otherwise nice tub. But since I couldn't really use it unless I wanted peely tub paint poking my bum, it had to go.

And go it did...

Our handyman friend is doing the really hard stuff for us. He and his friend came this morning to start the demolition. After chiseling the tile from the walls, they started in on the tub. With a sledgehammer. Being cast iron, the tub couldn't just be carried out of the house. So they had to break it into several more manageable pieces. After quite a beating, the poor tub finally gave in and broke in two. Then they broke those pieces in two.

After the remains of the tub were taken out and the mess cleaned up, some discoveries were made. But first, a little back story. Our house was built in the 1950's. The people we bought it from "fixed it up" because it had been trashed by renters that had lived in it previously. "Fixed up" was really just a nice way of saying patching things together so they will last just long enough for the house to pass inspection and us to move in before starting to fall apart. We have noticed so many shortcuts that were taken, and so many odd things that I am no longer surprised when things go wrong. We've also found a lot of strange things...like beer cans in the walls, an air mattress in the attic, probably at least a dollar in pennies in the back yard. I'm not kidding. We joke about how there's probably a car buried in the back yard. Or a body. I honestly wouldn't be surprised. I actually found a car key in the yard...

Which brings me to today's discoveries. In the wall behind the tub. Yes. In the wall behind the tub. First, a toy turtle. Then two combs and a measuring spoon. And then...


Wait for it...


Panties. Yes, you read that right. Panties. Pink lacy panties in the wall behind the tub. Was I surprised? No, not at all. Just one more weird thing we found in our house. How they got there, we'll never know. We probably don't want to know. Maybe they belong to the body that's buried in the back yard. :)

Don't you love how the rays of sunlight frame this glorious find?

New year, new bathroom

Happy New Year everyone. I know it's two weeks late, but I am still suffering from a horrible case of writers block.

The year started out quite eventful. Instead of our usual spending New Years Eve at home watching the ball drop, we chaperoned a teenage dance party. Our church youth group had a NYE party/dance for hundreds of teens with potentially raging hormones. Our job was to keep them from running amok. It was actually quite fun. Husband and I went to events like these when we were growing up, and later in college, and we always had a great time. Mostly I just like to dance and hear great music!

In other news, my parents have given us some money to help us remodel one of our two bathrooms! Yay! We need a new tub like you wouldn't believe! The previous owners had the old cast iron tub refinished. Basically this is painting the tub to hide whatever crap may be underneath. About three baths after we moved in, the tub started peeling! The paint is peeling off. In huge chunks. It's like it wasn't actually even attached to the surface of the tub. Ugh! So we are getting a new tub, new plumbing fixtures, new surround tile, new sink and vanity, and new floor tile. Pretty much gutting everything except the toilet. I am excited beyond words! Our friend/handyman will be doing the work, and he always does a great job. He's pretty much the only person I would trust to do it right. I'll try to post pictures of the progress. He might start as soon as next week!

I've also been feeling super crafty lately. I just haven't had time to justify indulging in my crafty urges. Until today. Well, I made time. I just recently discovered Mod Podge. Apparently it's been around for, like forever. I Mod Podged some scrapbook paper to the light switch cover in the bathroom that will soon be remodeled. Hey, I can't do the big things like replace the tub, but I can make cute little decorative enhancements. It was so fun and super easy to do, and it looks super cute! I'm actually happy!

I guess it's over now...

So by the time I finish writing this, it will be December 21, 2012, the day that the world is supposed to end according to the Mayan calendar. I wonder what will happen? When will it happen? It will be interesting. Personally, I don't really think it will all end today, but who knows?

I've been so depressed lately, I almost wouldn't mind if it all ended today. I can't seem to get into the Christmas spirit. Maybe it's because Christmas won't be happening this year because the world will have ended. :) But seriously, there are so many horrible, depressing things going on in the world right now. So much hate, and violence, and just plain stupidity. Not much to really be happy about. At least from my depressed little point of view. So if the world does end, it might really be a good thing after all. So bring it, Mayans!

...and it's alright, alright, alright with me.

Oh baby part 2

I know. Don't faint. Two posts from me in one day. What's with that?

We are dumb. I needed to take a nap. I like to nap on the couch. So we picked up Nephew in his exer-saucer and carried it down the hall to the bedroom, where Husband would relax and watch him. Only after all this did I realise that I could have just easily walked down the hall and napped on the bed, leaving Husband and Nephew in the living room.

After I pointed this out to Husband he said, "We're so smart. That's why we're the adults!" :)

Oh baby!

Husband and I are watching our 6 month old nephew for 5 days. Well, mostly I am since Husband works all day. The rest of Nephew's family went to Disneyland, but thought it would be too hard to take a baby, so we offered to watch him while they were gone.

This has been quite an adventure! As you probably know if you've read my blog, we don't have any kids. So this is a totally new experience. I am feeling old. I am not used to carrying a baby around and playing on the floor. I am exhausted. And it's only Day 2. But so far, things are going quite well. He pretty much sleeps through the night, and is a very happy baby. So other than my aches and pains, all is well. Except for the ultra stinky poopy diapers. :) But it helps a lot that he is super cute!

I'll try to keep posting updates on how the baby adventure is going. If I can stay awake! :)

Happy new year

Happy New Year? But it's October.

Today is my birthday. It's a new year for me. I've noticed over the last few years that my birthday feels more like New Year's than New Year's does. No, I didn't stay up late last night and throw confetti and drink sparkling grape juice at midnight. Maybe I should have. Maybe I will tonight. But I feel like this is a time to renew myself, to start over fresh. I like making resolutions for my new year. It's more meaningful for me than making them on Dec. 31st/Jan. 1st. Traditional New Year's resolutions are so generic. Birthday New Year's resolutions are more personal; more meaningful.

It's a time to reflect. The past year was a mixture of good and bad. I spent about 3 months of it in the most horrible depression I have felt since about 1997. But so many good things happened too. We got chickens! I love my chickens! They are so fun to watch and to listen to. I've never been much of an animal person. But I had no idea that I could love something so much!

I was also able to connect with so many wonderful people on Facebook. When I first heard about Facebook, I thought it was dumb. But I caved and decided to sign up because that's how much of my family would communicate with each other and I was always missing out. And I am so glad that I did! I found a friend I hadn't heard from in years. I found cousins who I don't hardly ever get to see. And best of all, I am friends with Rob and Keith from Cause and Effect! Rob even wished me Happy Birthday today!!! That means so much to me!

I am so lucky to have so many wonderful people and things in my life. I need to remind myself if this more often. When I get really down and nothing seems right, I really have a hard time seeing the good things that are already there. Maybe that should be one of my resolutions...and I need to lose some weight :)

Thanks for reading!

It's official

Yes. Just as I've known for years. I now have confirmation from my doctor. I am fat and crazy.

I had to go see him today for my 3 month checkup. I have to see him every 3 months because I have high blood pressure and he likes to check up on it. Mostly I just think he wants my money. Every time I go, he tells me to watch my diet and to exercise. In a very thick Pakistani accent. "Diet and exercise. Eat chicken and fish." Seriously, like every time I go, that's what he tells me. I really need a new doctor!

Today, my weight was up. Duh. I don't need a scale or a doctor to tell me that my weight is up. I can see it. I can tell that I am getting fatter by the second. He told me I should get a personal trainer. Like I can afford that! Visions of the fat-people-abuse I've seen on The Biggest Loser flashed through my mind. I don't think so. I don't need to be treated like that. Like I need any more stress!

Speaking of which, I mentioned to him how I've been really stressed out lately for no real reason.

Flash back to last week...My heart would pound and my stomach would be all tight just out of nowhere. I thought for sure I was having a heart attack. I even looked up the symptoms of a heart attack, which are different for women. I had almost every one of them. But I have all those symptoms all the time anyway! I think I would be dead by now if it was a heart attack! I knew it was just from too much stress. And I'm too scared to know what's wrong with me anyway, so I just stayed home and freaked out.

Anyway, he said I should go see a psychiatrist to help me "sort out my issues." No thank you. My issues don't need sorting. They are just fine as they are - even if they are making me crazy!

So there you have it. Medical evidence that I am indeed fat and crazy.

I'm so sorry for not updating my blog for so long! I've had a serious case of writers block. I will try harder to come up with stuff to write about that won't bore you to death.

Thanks for reading!