Down 'n Dirty

My place may not be spic and span all the time, but one thing I can't abide is clutter and messes.  Which is why I came very close to shedding tears yesterday.  I am very excited about the remodeling going on at our place right now, but it does something inside my brain when there are messes everywhere.  I know it will all be worth it, but seriously I think my brain short-circuits when I can't find things and there is disorganization.  I felt better after a good night's rest.  I have forced myself not to do too much at a time getting things back in order.

That said, the place is looking great.  The laminate floors are in (which I didn't realize would make the place so cold!), baseboards pretty much in, ceilings scraped and retextured, painting is almost finished, area rug in, and new blinds installed.  Lighting, fans, and rewiring are 90 percent finished.  The crown moulding remains to be installed and a punch list about 20 items long including assembling two new bookcases and a chair.  The sofa is still missing two legs -- picked up some at Home Depot as a temporary fix.  I feel like I have been at Lowes and Home Depot every day for a month.  I changed my mind on the blinds three times.  Good thing it's easy to return stuff.

That's all work in the downstairs.  Upstairs will have to be remodeled another year.  I can't take it.  Well, the ceilings are finished upstairs and girl's rooms are done except new flooring.  The rest can wait.  I still want to remodel the bathroom and fireplace downstairs, but I'm not crapping money, people.

This always makes me feel better...

Highway 52 is opening this weekend.  We had a grand opening party on the freeway and had a lot of fun. Ally kissed the freeway, so she could say she did it.  There was a three mile walk/run on the freeway.  The new road will connect East County to the shore.  We are very excited as we had to travel through Santee prior to this, which can add 10 to 20 minutes to your trip depending on how you hit the lights.  Now we can skip Santee altogether!

Counting Our Blessings

We have so much to be thankful for.  The news is filled with the devastation in Japan.  I was watching videos today of reunions of people who found their loved ones after thinking the worst.  Brought tears to my eyes.  It makes the headlines from the United States lately seem trivial -- almost shameful.  One thing Ally pointed out to me was that you don't see headlines about looting going on all over in Japan.  Maybe the devastation was too great, maybe they care too much about their fellow countrymen, or maybe it doesn't make the news.

Well, here's my trivial stuff that's been happening this week...

Broke my finger playing volleyball almost two weeks ago and didn't know it was broken until I finally went to the doctor.  They would have cast it had I come right in, but since it's been almost two weeks, I have to use this splint for another week and then tape it for two more weeks after that.  Typing is so fun!

Yesterday I was sitting at my fave place, Starbucks, and the ceiling decides at that moment to start leaking right on my head.  After two drips I realized that no, someone is not spitting at me or shaking water on me.  By the time we left it was dripping into a bucket from several spots.  Hmmmmm... SAVE THE STARBUCKS!

Chris and I did finally make it to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for our anniversary dinner.  Man, these are the biggest, best shrimp ever!  They are big enough to be a tiny lobster!  Chris' steak was the best, as usual.  Of course, for $42 just for the steak and not even any sides, it better be.  We eat here once a year and that's why!  Totally worth it, though.

View from the restaurant -- I love living in San Diego!

On Sunday we went to The Yogurt Mill.  Any local will tell you it's the best soft serve yogurt around.  They don't skimp on the yorgurt or the toppings.  Mine is the one in the middle -- it's the junior size.  I forgot to order the child's size (see others) so I ate it for three days.  Mine was vanilla with cookie dough bites, which they put on the bottom, middle, and top.  Tasty!  I don't know why we don't go there more often.  Yeah I do... I'd weigh 50 pounds more.

One of my fave games -- this is the St. Pat's release:)

Wonders Never Cease

When we first got iPods a few years ago (yes, it took us while to get onboard), my friend Thelma inadvertently called mine an iPad.  We thought that was the funniest thing and started calling them iPads until... yes, until they actually came out with an iPad.  We think she should get royalties for that name!

Well, I got a text from my mom the other day that would be the last text I'd ever expect to get from her.  Just the fact that she's texting is amazing in itself.  She will be 70 next year.  I just stared at the text for a few minutes not fully comprehending... it read, "I just bought an iPad."  So immediately all my iPad advice bubbles up, since I've had one for about a year now.  One of the things I texted her was, "You might want to get the camera connection, it makes it easy to upload your photos directly, and you can insert your SD card directly into the connector."  Her response was one word which pretty well sums up her computer savvy... "Huh?"  ROFL -- I might need to take a quick weekend trip to Ohio to give iPad training.

My house is a mess right now.  The ceilings are scraped and half the lighting is out.  Next is rewiring the lighting, texturing the ceilings, install crown moulding, paint computer room, install blinds, install flooring, install base moulding, replace outlets and switches.  Can't wait -- but how long I ask, how long?

We finally went out for Amy's 21st birthday celebration at The Melting Pot in La Jolla.  Very fun, very good, and very expensive.  Probably the most we have ever paid for dinner for the four of us.  It is a fondue restaurant, and you cook all the food at your table.  There are cheeses to dip, pots to boil, and for dessert -- goodies and different chocolate fondues.  Will definitely go back -- I think they have early bird specials and $20 days on Thursday evenings.

This is what happens when you throw cinnamon in a fire?

I made these S'mores tarts this weekend.  A take on a Pampered Chef recipe.  Tasty!

Chris and I are going to Ruth's Chris Steak House tomorrow to celebrate our December anniversary.  We are a little behind the times... we were so busy with the holidays, we didn't go out for our usual celebration.  I better start perusing the menu online...

My Uncle sent me this photo from Ohio.  I guess he left the whirly-gig up through the winter... thought it looked pretty cool.  I'm surprised it didn't fall down.