This revealed

Here are some drawings of the kitchen.  Perfect to me.  Should be in place four weeks or so.  They ar picking out the granite slab next week.

Big reveal

Today is the big kitchen reveal, as I like to call it.  I get the design back and we dicker around, I give them money and we are good to go.  I did ask for a few bells and whistles of my own, like under the cabinet lighting.  So at about 12:30 today we trundle off to McDaniels' Kitchen and Bath and get final plans.

I must say I had a very rough night last night, between a migraine, which is still percolating in my head, and some sore muscles in my back.  MUST GET  BED!!!  I think that will be the biggest change in lifestyle for me will be to get a real bed and not sleep in a chair or on the couch anymore...Again last night the cats took turns sleeping on and with me but how nice it will be when I can lay down on a bed and sleep with all three cats.  So a bedroom with a bed and a good night's sleep.  My back is so stiff right now that I can't sit up without discomfort.  MUST GET BED!!!

Yesterday while I was at work pondering the universe I received a phone call from a colleague alerting me to the fact that a gentleman I went to graduate school with had a stroke and was expected to be rehabbing from it for the next year.  I suppose in the great scheme of things I should be getting used to calls like that, calls about deaths and funerals, but it still threw me for a loop.  I will call his brother tonight and get more details and a number or address so I can send him cards and letters to let him know I am thinking of him.

I think Sunday is the official day for the departure of the fish and the installation of the new sound bar.  Saturday we are going to see Pippin at a matinee.  Some reflexology before the show and a quick lunch and off we go.  Sunday I can do some packing once the fish are gone and the sound bar is in place.

Probably more later as I must be off to attend to some pesky hamsters that seem to want a life of their own.

Sleep

Here is a link to a rather catchy song that summarizing the need I have to get some of the above...would be so nice to sleep a nice restful sleep, preferably without a Simcha Cat slumbering on my face at 2:00 a.m.  Or waking up with a twenty two pound kitty laying on my chest asking for rubbies.  Ah, Yankel...that was you last night. Best of all would be the baby boy, albeit the oldest cat, Gonif, nestled in my arms.

So, listen and be enchanted SLEEP

One Fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish

Sometime this weekend the two aquariums will be moved to a new home, thanks to my fish buddy.  I have two tanks but they are not making the move with me and the sooner I have them go to their new home the less anxious I might feel.  I am actually a little weary of watching the little ones die as I never thought I would be so enchanted by them.  The first aquarium was to "put to rest" a persistent dream wherein I had an aquarium but forgot to take care of it for months at a time and then found out I did indeed have an aquarium.  Much like the dream where it's final exam time and you never attended the class all semester.  So once I had my first aquarium I stopped having that dream, as I never forgot to feed the fishies or clean their habitat. Now I have a hard time dealing with a dead fish.  First the tank gets a little cloudy and you know something has died and eventually it floats to the top in a week or two, nibbled on and bloated.  Not pleasant.  I do so love the sound of the water in the tank, but I can get that with a small tabletop fountain, which is what I plan to do.  And then there was the awful night I inadvertently left the top off the tank and six fish flew to their death and were greedily consumed by the cats.  No bones about it.  So now that I have conquered the fish dream it is time to move on.

I think once I get the tanks out of the house I can move some of the stuff out of the bedroom and into the living room.  That said I can sort through clothes and do some light packing and get some stuff to Good Will.  The place where the larger aquarium was (is) would hold about six paper boxes from work.  I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO MY CLOSET AGAIN!!!  Mostly what is in the bedroom/music room are linens, bath stuff, some kitchen stuff and God knows what else.  But I'd like to get into the armoire and sort and toss.  Get about ten pairs of jeans and an equal amount of sweaters and pack the rest up. Then I could get to the mandolin and guitars and start playing in the room again.  I think I have basically decided to forgo lessons until after I move as right now I fluctuate between buyers' remorse over all the money I am spending on Sans Souci, panic over the thought of packing and moving, and just general anxiety over all of the disruptions.  Today I have nothing planned and I just want to go home and crash.  Not do a damn thing other than relax.

Friday is the big kitchen reveal.    Maybe I can get my own copy of the blueprint.  Basically it has a lot of cupboards, drawers and counter tops.  Going with a light cherry cabinets, a smoky gray granite counter top, red oak hardwood floors that will match what is in the rest of the house.  Now I am having a panic attack that the rugs I bought might be too big for their designated rooms.  Ah, this too shall pass.  If they are too big I can always re-sell them and get smaller versions.  Panic conquers.  Thank God for lavender essential oil and its calming properties.

Looks like the hamsters are visiting.  I shall have to move on.

What day is this?

Not to belabor camels, but it is hump day.  And I am just dragged out.  Brad the contractor and I went to Lowe's yesterday.  In a matter of minutes I had picked out my appliances, foregoing the black in favor of smudge resistant stainless steel.  Wowzer!!!  The gas range has a convection oven and a built-in fifth burner that has a grill/griddle plate, which can also convert to a larger gas burner.  Ah, the refrigerator has doors of steel, with an ice and water dispenser in the door.  Cool dishwasher and microwave, all matching, but of course.  All on sale for 10% off with an additional 5% off on my newly acquired Lowe's card, which I am certain will get lots of use.  We then bummed around the store for about two more hours, picking out a back splash for the kitchen (3 possible designs), and I spent about five minutes convincing him of the need for a complete bathroom tear out and a water saving toilet (1.2 gals a flush as opposed to the current 3 gals a flush now).  Got rid of the pedestal sink and picked out an oak vanity and top, faucets (got a really cool one for the kitchen), an oak cupboard for above the toilet.  A nice oak mirror in place of a medicine chest (well, I have the oak cupboard over the toilet, yes????).  Switch plates, outlets, light fixtures, a new screen door for the back of the house.  Vinyl floor for the landing to the basement and out the back door.

Brad and his electrician are completely rewiring the kitchen today and working on the bathroom.  Additionally Friday we go to McDaniels' to approve the kitchen and get the cabinets ordered.  The livingroom is getting rewired to accommodate a ceiling fan and light.  Flush mounts for the other lights.  Floors will get done and painting.  Shooting for a move-in party for opening day of baseball season.  April 6th...y'all come.

Argh!

The kitchen, such as it is or was.  The pipes are three-quarters blocked and need to be reamed out.  Also, as an aside, shortly after hanging the mezzuzah on the front doorpost I turned around and fell up the one stair that leads to the living room.  Today we buy the appliances and also, on a more auspicious note, I begin my training as an Area Rep for my Union.  Coming up on 2:00 a.m. And can not sleep as I keep seeing stainless steel appliances dancing like sugar plum fairies in my head..

Overwhelmed part deux

Okay, so I didn't sleep last night.  Maybe an hour and then my overactive mind took over.  The mezzuzahs go up today after work and hopefully that will ward off anymore bad news.  The remodel of the bathroom will just mean I will put off landscaping the backyard until next year.  Not a bad trade off.  I have therapy today and then a visit to Sans Souci  which is proving to be somewhat souci.  I will take some in progress pictures and post some tomorrow.  What amazes me is that the lady who owned the house prior to me absolutely let everything go to shit.  The paint on the walls throughout the house is cracked like fried marbles.  The floor in the kitchen has to be reinforced as it was worn down to a dangerous level.  Thus, the kitchen will have a gentle slope into the dining room.  Picked out paint for the various rooms.  Decided to go with the sky blue rug in the dining room and two tones of blue, darker below the chair rail and lighter about.  I am getting a picture in my mind how this will work.  Come to find out the floors are red oak and should refinish beautifully.  Friday I go to approve and/or modify the kitchen design and get the cabinets and counter tops ordered.  Three weeks later there should be a kitchen.  Time to start shopping for appliances, light fixtures.  Fun fun fun.

Overwhelmed

I spent the weekend alternating between being in a tizzy and being out of control.  I am basically feeling overwhelmed.  Having two homes is proving to be a test of character for me.  Did pick out paint for the new house.  But moving stuff from my bedroom to Sans Souci didn't materialize.  The realtor is coming Tuesday night to assess the condo and get the paperwork going for the sale of the condo.  I am going to the new house tomorrow to hang mezzuzahs and take photos of the work in progress.  Friday we go to the kitchen and bath showroom to look at designs for the kitchen.  But basically I am overwhelmed.  I keep going through the process mentally and emotionally and just feel  overwhelmed.  There are times I can't enduring talking to anyone and times when I do feel like talking and not telling the other person to go fux themselves. My aunt called on Saturday with suggestions for the house and I couldn't wait to get off he phone.  She was listing all the things I need to do for the house, things I had already thought of and listed in my book.  I just wanted her to shut up.  Oh God.  So today I slept much of the day away and just took some sleeping pills.  Dan won't be around much of the week and I may need his kick in the ass.

Anyway, homeownership is intense, especially if you have two homes to account for.  Overwhelmed. And I am sure folks are getting tired of me whining about work on the house.  Maybe getting the mezzuzahs on the house will calm me down.  Who knows?  Okay, time to make relax and get geared up for tomorrow.

On second thought

Since the new house was a short sale, a step just before foreclosure, I was feeling rather empathetic towards the seller.  She seemed like a nice, older lady who just couldn't handle the physical upkeep of the house.  Well, fuxers, the empathy is gone once I spoke with Brad, he of the general contractor personage.  He said when they took the sink out the pipes just fell to the floor, clogged and rotted.  Now he tells me we will probably have to redo the whole bathroom as the toilet is shot, the sink is cracked and the tile is cracked in multiple places necessitating a complete remodel if I want my walk in shower.  The toilet has to be replaced.  So, from my beautiful blue tiled bathroom to a more functional and functioning one we are going with white.  I'll have an oak vanity, medicine chest, and an oak cabinet above the toilet.  I can still use my blue towels and shower curtain but now they will be "pops" of color.  I am going to Sans Souci on Monday. To  view the wreckage or rather will see the progress.  The attic insulation. Took an extra eight bags of insulating materials.

What have I learned so far...don't trust older ladies playing on your sympathy bone.  The inspection went well and there was no reason to suspect she would be underhanded,  I guess we all should have looked deeper.  P.S. The cats asked for a countertop by the window that overlooks the deck and subsequently the whole of the backyard.  No reason given but I suspect it is to accommodate the watching of wildlife.  PLUS... Yankel, he who must be obeyed, likes to lay on his own countertop.  Although accessing it at his weight might require some finesse.

Off I go.

Day one redux

Well, I found out yesterday that they had torn out the entire kitchen and had the designer in.  The designer called me at work and we hashed out a few ideas about design.  Today is adding insulation day.  I need to get the painters in this weekend for a price and get the paint.  Percolating.  The process is percolating.

Now, on to Mal, who was humming yesterday and talking and laughing and generally being as, if not more,  annoying than she claims I am.  I am holding on to that moment to use as a bargaining chip in the ongoing battles between us.  I  hope to be as annoying today as I will be on the phone quite a bit.  A lawyer from the Detroit area contacted me about frozen pipes I had last winter as her parents live in the complex and they are in the process of bringing a suit against the condo service agency that handles maintenance for the building.  Last year when I found my pipes frozen I called the condo people and they were less than helpful.  So I called the plumber and since the whole building was in the same situation maintenance and the plumbers worked from the bottom units up to thaw the pipes. I ended up paying the bill as the maintenance company said I jumped the gun. Fux it.  I paid but that was a reason to move, that being the incompetence of LANSING CONDO SERVICES.  I fought with them all summer about poor grounds maintenance.  They don't know a weed from a lily.   I hope this lawsuit is a success.  So that will be an annoyance to Mal today, me speaking with the lawyer.   Also calls to the painter, and the kitchen and bath people.  Fux her.  I am loaded for bear today.

Okay, on to do battle.  Mal beware!

Remodel Day1

Brad the general contractor has re-keyed the new house and is putting more insulation in the attic of Sans Souci, as, hence, the new abide shall be called.  Today I meet again with Dan and we go over finances for the next two months of the remodel. The kitchen and bath designer is going in today and I will have a design to approve by week's end.  The bathroom gets a walk in shower, with a few bells and whistles.  The kitchen is the bigger challenge as it will be a complete tear out.  So I will be curious to see the design they arrive at.  I do want a countertop/storage area by the window overlooking the deck and backyard.  That is, in part, the cat counter.  The bird feeder and bird bath will be out that way but only if the counter is doable.

Of course Sans Souci will be entirely a cat friendly design.  Many windows will facilitate ample bird and squirrel watching.  Tough screens for the front porch so they can sit out there with me.  They are ready to move with their new cat trees and beds.  They will, however, lose the futon but they will be gaining a real bed, big enough for the four of us. Yes, I am going to try sleeping in a real bed.  Yankel likes he couch but we will be getting a new couch and pillows so he will be a happy cat.

Yes, the game is afoot.

The day has arrived

Today is closing.  Then the work begins and I stat fretting about MOVING!!!!  After eighteen years in the condo I have a ton of shit to move.  Hyphen, that fount of wisdom, suggested doing a little every day.  Me. I wanna wait for Bonnie to assess the situation.  Before I move old stuff I need to clear out the bedroom of the new stuff and get the communal hallway cleared.  That we can do this weekend and put stuff in the basement of the new home.  Then the phone calls start, much to the annoyance of Mal I am sure.  Live with it baby!  Then get Michelle the realtor in the condo and get some idea of what to do with the condo to ready it for sale.  I am on mental overdrive,

So, Sophie, is this good enough?

Closing

Finally.  Set for January 20th at 11:00 a.m.

Stay tuned.

Zen Judaism

The Yiddish Parrot

Meyer, a lonely widower, was walking home one day. He was wishing something wonderful would happen to his life when he passed a pet store and heard a squawking voice shouting out in Yiddish: "Quawwwwk...vus macht du...!"

Meyer rubbed his eyes and ears. He couldn't believe it! Meyer stood in front of an African Grey that cocked his little head and said: "Vus? Kenst reddin Yiddish?"

In a matter of moments, Meyer purchased the bird and carried the parrot home. All night long he talked with the parrot...in Yiddish. The parrot listened while sharing some walnuts.
The next morning, Meyer began saying his prayers. The parrot wanted to pray, too. Meyer hand made a miniature yamulke for the parrot. The parrot also wanted to read Hebrew, so Meyer spent months teaching him the Torah.

On Rosh Hashanah, Meyer rose, got dressed, and was about to leave when the parrot demanded to go with him. Meyer explained that a synagogue was not a place for a bird, but the parrot pleaded and was carried to the synagogue on Meyer's shoulder.
Meyer was questioned by everyone, including the rabbi. At first, the rabbi refused to allow a bird into the building on the High Holy Days, but Meyer convinced him that the parrot could pray. Wagers were made on whether the parrot could speak Yiddish or not.

All eyes were on the two of them during services. The parrot was still perched on Meyer's shoulder as one prayer and song passed...but the parrot didn’t say a word. Annoyed, Meyer said "Pray, parrot! You can pray...do it now while everybody's looking at you!" The parrot said nothing.

After services were over, Meyer realized he owed the synagogue over four thousand dollars. He marched home, saying nothing. Finally, several blocks from the temple, the bird began to sing an old Yiddish song.

Meyer stopped and looked at him. "You miserable bird...you cost me over four thousand dollars today. Why? After I taught you the morning prayers, taught you to read Hebrew and the Torah. And, after you begged me to bring you to a synagogue on Rosh Hashanah...Why did you do this to me?"

"Don't be an idiot," the parrot replied. "Think of the odds we'll get on Yom Kippur!"

A veritable plague of Frogs

Seems the thermometer has plunged low enough, yet there is some moisture in the air.  The result...frozen fog, or, as I refer to it as Frog.  Amilah the bakery gal referred to it as fairy dusty but that seems to be an approbation. 

Had a not so lovely morning so far.  I awoke to the dulcet tones of Mister Gonif puking his way around the condo.  I didn't find the "bulk" of it until just before I left for work, which, along with some other morning FUBARs, induced me to take some Valium.  Speaking of inducements to Valium myself, closing on Sans Souci will be this Friday so, wait for it, a DAY OFF!!!  Much running around to do, cashier's checks to get, a hair cut in the works, etc.

I can start hauling stuff over to the new abode, Sans Souci this weekend.  Maybe Bernie and Dan can help facilitate some of that move.  Then the work begins.  Bernie to paint and then the heavy work with Brad the contractor.

So, readers of this venerable blog, stay tuned for a open invitation to the Annual Opening Day of Baseball Season party and Open House on April 6th from 2-8.  Sans Souci Awaits you.

You may think your nose it dirty...

But, as my mother used to sing to me, it's snot.  Charming woman, my mother,  the whole of the song went "you've got freckles on your butt....I love you, you may think your nose is dirty but it's s'not!"

I don't know why I bring this up other than to say, well...the shit doesn't fall far from the bat.  Each step in my journey is a step farther removed from that mother.  The first house with PJ was a first step removed from the parental nest.   The current abode a step removed from both PJ and family and I am leaving  some, perhaps all that baggage behind.  The new house a fresh start at the ripe age of sixty. So much new, like actually having not only a bedroom but a bed to put in it.  And, hell, the new kitchen...what says home more than sustenance from my new kitchen made wholesome by my own hands.

The nice thing about the delay in closing was that the interest rate I locked in to has gone down almost half a point to 3.85%...who could complain?

...a tropical heat wave

May not be able to close on the house Monday as planned,  but will definitely close at some point next week.  The mortgage guy need some more paperwork from Dan the Man and Dan just came back from Florida on the 5th.  And this way I will be able to see Hyphen on Monday and not have to brave the ridiculous weather to get to the bank until it 'warms' up next week.

Sophie and I are going to the symphony Saturday and to dinner beforehand.  Be nice to have the symphony to relax to that day.  Sunday, the three muskrats are going to an early supper.  Nice to stay busy while waiting to close.  Meanwhile Toni is coming this weekend to help organize the music room so I can pack some items to give to a coworker at the library for her first apartment.  Maybe then I will be able to get into my closet.  And the hall looks like a staging area for the Normandy Invasion.  Sophie's housewarming gift of an outdoor fire pit is stacked on top of a patio set, which is next to two rolled up rugs and a snow shovel.  Once we close I can start taking stuff over and leave it in the basement of the ne abode, Sans Souci.  So things ar moving about as fast as I can get then to go right now.

So, my life is a bit disrupted right now, which causes me loads of stress.  Once we can organize the music room and hall I might relax.  Might.  Time to see if there are more Valium taped to the handle of the vacuum cleaner.

We're having a heat wave

A tropical heat wave....so it's not surprising I have on three layers , yes, we are having a heat wave.

And, more good news....snow tonight.  Next week I will be a home owner and be in need of shoveling "my" snow.  Maybe I can get Bernie to do it.  I'll. See him this week to handle the clusterfux of a vacuum cleaner that came without the necessary screws... But thank goodness there were two Valium taped to the handle and I was able to weather, so to speak, that storm.

Spent a great deal of time faxing materials for the house and the closing.  I did not have any new emails from the realtor or mortgage company this morning so I may be good to go for Monday.  I'd like to know what my final costs are so I can get th cashiers check for the closing.

So to calm me this weekend the three muscatels will be outgoing for a nice dinner on Sunday.  Because we are eating dinner so early by my schedule I may opt to have an early breakfast and save myself for dinner.  Red Cedar Grill is the restaurant of choice.

I had a talk with Seth the Development Officer for the library about planting Jerry.  Wouldn't be the first time he'd be potted and probably not the last.  All of that seems a go from the library's standpoint, now we new the Grounds Department approval and that could run $3,000 for a tree to be planted at the library.  That would be considered a donation to the U so should be a tax write off.  Which really would not matter as long as I believe Jerry is where he would have wanted to be and is at peace.

Let's end on an up note ...Ta Da!!!  Nussbaum, a new student at Harvard walks up to an upper classman and asks "where is the student union at?" To which the upper classman responds in a very belittling tone, "here at Harvard we do not end a sentence with a preposition", to which Nussbaum responds "alright, where is the student union at, you asshole?"  Point taken.

One more.  Morty walks into a McDonalds.  "Boy, am I thirsty, am I thirsty.  I haven't had a sip of water in days.  Boy, am I thirsty". A McDonald's employee takes pity on the old guy and offers him a ice cold glass of water, which Morty gratefully drinks.  "Boy," says Morty "was I thirsty!"

More Zen Judaism.

The Rabbi

Was very helpful in regards to Jerry's ashes.  He found for me a site where you can purchase soil for the soul.  That is a composting mixture for ashes in which you can plant a tree, or a shrub for that matter.  And the ashes won't taint the soil (or soul).   It takes the pH and acidity out of the ashes by mixing it with the compost mixture and makes for a lovely potting soil.  Today I am going to see if I can donate a tree to the library and have the ashes and compost mixed with the soil (and soul?).  So this issue may get resolve today.  Until the weather is suitable for planting Jerry can reside with our friend Toni.

Hopefully, I will close on my house, to be known as Sans Souci, on Monday.   It has been like pulling teeth getting the last of the paperwork in, while at the same time worrying about Jerry,.  And today of all days I have a doctor appointment where she will most likely ream me a new one over recent lab work.

Meanwhile it is colder than a well digger's ass out.  Gotta love winter in Michigan.  High of ten degree...Tropical.

I am taking a few weeks off from lessons as my left hand is achy and Mondays of late have been very busy with Sans Souci issues, like closing and getting the contractor in to get my final design plans.

And here it comes...off to work....

Hibernating

Welcome to the very cold new year.  Thank God Hyphen is back, but just so.  She left her appointment book with her missing luggage.  Oh well, I am still a go for today.   Discuss: neW house....new beginning...right?  So, should I scatter Jerry before the move or take him with  me and have that carry over to the new abode?  I am thinking a fresh start and scatter Jerry during spring break in March.  Am I ready? I really don't know.  Something Hyphen and I shall discuss ad naseum.  I am all up in the air about what do do.  Oh, sure, you can weigh in.  But I am leaning towards a scattering to let him be in pieces and peace.  The move might be the perfect way to come to a closure,  I found Jerry dead, laying on the floor of his condo, seemingly peaceful, but that one moment will haunt me the rest of my life.  Time for some closure?  Part of the reason for the new house and move is the lack of Jerry as my friend and neighbor.  I should like to know if I am ready to let go.  But I have never had someone entrust me with their ashes and I really don't have a clue.  Maybe speak with the Rabbi at KI as well as Hyphen.  I want to do right by Jerry (and his car Sassy who is also in ashes in a box In the bag).  I am just Not sure how to proceed.  Hyphen first, Rabbi Z second.  My heart is third.