Weekend Recap Part I: Gas Lines Removed

I'm trying to recap...because sometimes, it's just easier than living in the now.  Although right now, I can't complain.  So here's the recap from Thursday - Saturday mid-day...

MS (he really needs a different name) had suggested that I "pack a bag" and spend the weekend with him last weekend.  I wasn't sure if he was serious.  Apparently he was, but that wasn't how the weekend quite unfolded.  I scooted out of work a little early on Friday - after making another six tie blankets for foster kids - changing it up and making infant and toddler blankets too!  I headed home and grabbed an overnight bag.  MS had informed me a few nights earlier that his family "birthday celebrations" were going to be Saturday night at his mom's and I could hang out with him and his son until the birthday dinner.  Not attend the birthday dinner.

Oh wait...random is my middle name.  Time to back track even further.  If you recall, the gas had been shutoff and on Thursday 10/30 the Semco Gas man was coming to relight my pilots.  While I may have tried to light them myself (or blow my house up), I couldn't because the gas was actually OFF.  So I finally met up with the gas man (I was running late and the 800# couldn't contact the dispatch and of course I missed him, but he left a message and anyway...) who was very polite.  Since he was in the house, I inquired of the gas smell I have smelled for well, over a decade that I have owned my house.  I realize I have a sensitive schnoz, and we haven't blown up yet.  Even the gas man couldn't smell anything; however, he got his handy dandy tool from his truck which identified a minute leak from an old capped off gas line.  He also wondered who did my furnace and why they connected the gas lines the way they did.  Hmmm...

Long story short, he informed me twice of how my "husband or boyfriend" or "friend" could remove the old lines and fix the lines to the furnace to reduce the potential for gas leaks to three.  Instead of the likely thirteen or something I had!  He then offered to do it on the side for $50 and a couple hours.  I took him up on that offer since "friends" and "projects" have failed miserably for me in the past.  He said that Saturday would work for him and seeing that my weekend plans were crumbling with MS, it seemed like a great opportunity! AG and I had talked about doing something on Saturday if I didn't trek across state to touch base with TS who has been having some difficult times.  Nothing at the time included a costume or Halloween adventure, at the time.

Friday night MS and I headed to Pasta Night at the Cascade Winery and had a great time sampling the wines.  The pasta was a checklist that you could chose your own veggies, meat, pasta and sauce.  It was accompanied by a glass of wine or beer, garlic bread and a mini brownie made with the dessert wine!  All for $10 a person!  Fabulous and if you are ever in the area of Grand Rapids, check it out! Saturday afternoon they had a wine tasting, chocolate and cheese event that AG and I had planned to attend.  Planned.

Saturday morning I waited for Freddie to arrive at my house.  22 minutes late and no word, I was again wondering what it is with handymen not finding it handy to be on time or own a watch.  He called shortly thereafter saying his pipe wrenches were missing and he would be on his way shortly.  He arrived over an hour later. Very nice guy and he did a great job cleaning up all the old pipes in my basement.  I would say that there had to be about 60' of old pipes removed.  There is no more gas smell!  After four hours, the job was complete and he maintained the same price.  I paid him more, he deserved every dollar of it! 



Old Gas Lines Removed (& a copper water line)

Stay tuned for what I managed to do while Freddie worked on the gas lines and I had to be "handy" or onsite for an extra hand if needed.  Never a dull moment.  Dull...now that would have been favorable!

Nothings & Neon

Where to begin?  It seems like a lifetime ago since I posted last, and it was less than a week ago, well exactly a week ago.  How quickly things change.  How quickly perspectives change.  I maintain that life happens for a reason and I am so particularly blessed. 

While I was raised Catholic and I believe in God, I wouldn't say that I am a "believer" per se.  Or maybe I should say that I am a "believer" but not a "preacher".  I pray.  I give thanks.  I ask for guidance and assistance and help with the path that is chosen for me.  I am afterall, a realist.

There is much that I want to post.  So many words and emotions that are circling through my mind.  So many thoughts.  So many reservations.  And in all of that, so many tears.  Tears, that as they fill my eyes, I'm not ready for them to flow, again.  Not yet.  Not now.

So on a lighter note...I was so very excited to get my car back!  It is amazing how much I truly missed it and have grown to love the stability and comfort of my little Nascar Neon...now new and improved.  And oh so pretty =)

10/30/2010: 9 years & counting

Sunshine & Smiles & Summary....

I am sitting in my house, somewhat cold and avoiding a likely cold shower.  I turned off the furnace yesterday as I was too lazy to reset the settings.  It was just easier.  Fortunately though, the gas was shutoff by the gas company for the work in the neighborhood, so wouldn't have mattered anyway.  The house is 63 degrees, so nothing too terrible, not as bad as the cold shower.  The pilots will be relit by the gas company later today.

The City Assessor came by and visited for a matter of 3.5 minutes, literally.  He looked at the 3/4 bath for about two minutes and then looked at the egress window and recreation room.  He said, "This is considered recreational space due to the ceiling.  It is not living space."  And then, he left.  So, my taxes shouldn't be too affected.

My car is officially done, a day early!  I have been driving a Toyota Yaris and for purposes of brevity (I know, really? ME?), I will never buy one!  I'm looking forward to picking up MY car today!  On a side note, JN confirmed that this paycheck has our longevity pay - so extra bonus for replacing my hood, no additional out of pocket expense!

I went to the ENT (Ear/Nose/Throat) doctor the other day.  Long story short - I felt dumb and was told I have "crusties".  So I don't have some crazy malady but I was given a saline wash and a steroid to use.  I did fill the prescriptions and they sit on my counter.  I'm having a hard time accepting that I will have to stick something other than my finger up my nose.  I realize they aren't doing me any good in their boxes on the counter, but this is going to take me time to take this leap!  Until then, the side affects of the deviated septum: crusties, pain/irritation, sore throat (due to mouth breathing at night) and irritated ears will prevail. 

While at the ENT, he inquired about my thyroid.  He was the specialist I saw years ago to follow up with my nodule/goiter.  I hadn't been called back for a recheck since 8/2008.  So in about an hour, I will have a follow up ultrasound to see that everything is maintaining.

I took yesterday off as surprisingly, I have been working a lot of late hours.  I have even made seven tie blankets for foster kids and plan on making one daily until I just can't tie anymore (a project at work that all the fleece was purchased - they just need people to make them!  So I have been literally "tying one on!)!  I spent the day with MS.  We had a great time and I really enjoy his company!  I left him to meet JN for drinks and appetizers.  I haven't seen her in a while and while I wasn't looking forward to leaving MS, I had a great time catching up with JN.  She asked if MS and I were "Just hanging out or dating."  I'm declining any other options to hang out with anyone else because I only want to date MS, but that didn't really answer the question.

Then there at dinner, MS texted me, "Miss me yet? Lol, just wanted to make you smile :)"  I accidentally hit reply without sending anything.  So I sent the following, "Oops sorry about no comment.  I was rendered speechless =) I do miss you!"

And his response, that in this morning makes me shudder with happiness instead of shivering with chills in the coolness of my house...

"Miss you too, can't stop thinking about you.  I am falling for you BIG TIME, prob already fallen just don't want to admit is yet :) " 

Sigh...Can't wait to see him again...and what a fantastic feeling!

How to Embrace Ghettoesque....

This morning as T was getting ready for school, I reminded him that I would be chauffeuring him to school.  Due to the car accident yesterday and the inability to open the passenger front door, he will have to sit in the back seat.

T grumbled.  He is so embarrassed that he has to sit in the backseat.  I told him it will only last the weekend and he almost begged that we have absolutely nowhere to go this weekend.  I told him we might have the movies, shopping and a haunted house.  He sighed heavily.

This was the continued conversation that ensued after pulling down the driveway:

Me:  "Think of it this way: How cool is it that you get chauffeured around?"

T:  "I feel like such a little kid!  Drrr...."

Me:  "Just think of it as a Nascar Neon Limo!"

T:  "Right Mom (eyes rolling).  This Neon is so not big enough to be a Limo!"

Me: "Think about how cool you are that you no longer want to be seen sitting in the front seat next your Mom!  Now if only we can find the remote to the radio, you can change the channel from the backseat!"

T:  "So Mom?  Where is the off button to silence you?"

Me:  "Adolescence My son.  It was when you turned 13.  You no longer hear me.  What?"

T:  (laughing) "What?  Yeah, that's a good one mom.  Yeah, THAT'S FUNNY!"

Happy Friday! 

Tenth Anniversary That Isn't...

Today would have been my ten year anniversary.  TEN. YEARS.  I thought today about all of the things that I wanted to say in my blog.  How ten years ago, on Sweetest Day, I was married.  I have now been divorced for almost 6.5 years. 

I logged into my blog and searched to see if I had blogged about my anniversary before.  I thought that I had, but I couldn't recall the details.  I had, two years ago, near my eighth anniversary, I blogged this.  I was brought somewhere, years ago, somewhere that I hardly recognize when I read it.  Somewhere I am completely not today. 

I celebrated Sweetest Day weekend this year with a very sweet man.  Someone that I adore his affection, intelligence and company.  Someone that I had no idea that going into the weekend would be anything even remotely affectionate or romantic, but a weekend spent forgetting about Sweetest Day and having fun with someone that also wanted to have fun!  I have no animosity toward the Hallmark holiday.  It hasn't been forever plagued and haunted for me.

This morning I left for work on time as we had "the big dogs" in the office and were requested to be punctual.  I had 7 minutes to travel the three miles.  SEVEN. MINUTES.

A mile from home, I turned and headed on a two lane, one-way street westbound.  I was in the left lane when a van in the right lane proceeded to turn...LEFT.  Turned RIGHT. INTO. ME.  I did my best to slam on the brakes and turn to the left - but a curb and the side of her Freestar prevented me from avoiding the accident.  Surprisingly, I was in good spirits.  I found it comical.  I called 911.  I left a message for my boss that I wasn't going to be in on time and then I called my insurance. 

Life happens. 

My car is still driveable.  I had to laugh at the woman, the other driver that thought that we were on a two-way street.  When I was almost free to go, I wished her a better day.  She said, "Thanks.  So I was just realizing, I was at fault, wasn't I?"

I went to get an estimate on the repairs of my car.  $1670.  I was thankful that I didn't try to save a few dollars when I considered increasing my deductibles and getting rid of rental car coverage.  The accident wasn't my fault so the deductible is waived and a rental car replacement will save me up to $600.  Worth the few dollars in the insurance premiums!  My hood is rusting so I asked how much it would cost to replace, since there was no hood damage.  So for less than $400, I will have practically a new front car!  The car will go in the shop on Monday and will take four days.  Unfortunately, after my son got in the car today, he couldn't open the door to get out!  He'll just have to sit in the backseat through the weekend (another ghettoesque moment).

I would say today was a great day!  I have made the best of an accident and am looking forward to my car looking pretty and new for a GREAT DEAL. 

Some would argue that ten years ago I made a mistake of getting married.  Some would also argue that today, I made the mistake of leaving on time for work and getting hit. 

Today, my accident will cause me far less grief, agony, heartache and money than my marriage and subsequent divorce. Surprisingly, I don't regret ever getting married.  Everything happens for a reason.  Today was another reminder of my anniversary.  I have survived both and I am a better person!

I just researched the gift that is considered for a Ten Year Anniversary:  Tin or Aluminum. 

Ironic?  How is it that on my would-be 10th wedding anniversary my gift to myself, with the assistance of someone out of my control, results in metal car replacement? 

Who says you can't still reap the rewards and gifts of marriage without being married?