Progress!

this is why I haven't posted lately..

What Was I thinking?!

This wall has kicked my ass, busted a toe, broken every fingernail I have, given my fingers mortar burns, strained my back, and has made my kids run, screaming from the house on weekends.

Not bad for a rookie.

I wish it was done, but it's not.

I'm running out of things to hurt.

Fathers Day

A letter to my father,

I wanted to type the eulogy that Barbara wrote for your funeral. But I still can't bring myself to read it. I love you and I miss you and I thank God everyday for what you gave me. Your death helped give me life.

I think you'd love the pool. I know it would have helped both you and mom. I hope you like it.

I know you're both still here... flying tupperware. 'Nough said.

Thank you for teaching me many things, but most of all for teaching me to "do" things. Who knew all those years of camping and hiking would translate over to an independent woman that could rely on herself to get things done. But...

a little cosmic help on the rock wall would be appreciated.

I love you and miss you more than I can say.

Thank you Daddy.

Susan

Motrin For The Win

It's Monday, and it's sunny and beautiful. Figures, since it's been raining FOREVER.... or so it seems.

Son #3 (Ian) is recovering from his, a bit stiff and sore. The chemical burns from the airbag look awful, but he shrugs them off.

I need to quit shark jumping, the back just can't take it. It's just stiff and sore. But that might be because I'm stubborn and am slowing down just enough to keep it at a dull ache, instead of spasms.

I've waited years to be able to do landscaping projects. I can take stiff and sore and achy, and walking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame...but I can't take those spasms. Besides, I've got two tons of fieldstone begging to be turned into a rock wall.... not to mention that both Lowe's and Home Depot now have my address memorized for deliveries...

There's a pallet of pavers, bermuda sod (.99 each woohoo!), gravel, more paving stones, rocks, sand .... all sitting there calling my name.

It's a good thing Motrin also knows my name... otherwise I'd not be able to answer.

Uh Mom - It's About the Car, Again....

Guess who had a wreck.

In his defense, all I can say is that this time the bent metal wasn't his fault. Nothing much you can do when you are stopped in traffic and someone decides to use your car as a brake.

The airbag smashed the windshield. Ian has a few chemical burns on his arm, but other than that. He's fine.

The worst part was calling my ex and telling him we just lost Car #3.


Oh ya.. Can't you imagine THAT conversation. Uh huh, that was fun.

JUMPING THE SHARK

Apparently I so enjoyed jumping the shark last month, that I tried to do it again... and succeded very well too, I might add.

The pool is done... let's all take a moment and reflect on the wonder of that statement. ok, wonder done.

Now if the weather would get warm, and the sun would come out, having a pool might be more fun if you could actually SWIM in it. Details, details, I know.

So.... pool done ...

I decided that next I wanted a stacked stone wall next to the house, around the pump, filter, heater etc.... And being the determined (read stubborn) woman I am, I decided.. I can do this myself.

What I didn't realize is that 6 hours of digging a trench, shovelling, loading and unload cinderblock for the wall foundation was not something a woman prone to shark jumping should do. Or overdo, as the case turned out to be.
And this was a whale shark. 2 days on my back. Back spasms are like labor, without the payoff when they're done. I never want to go through that again. ever. ever ever. Give me shearing sharp back pain any day over spasms.

And so the bricks lay scattered around the yard, the stone stacked neatly in it's pallet and the trench filling up with water and mud..

And speaking of water.. had I known it was going to rain for over a week straight, I'd have saved $ and let the pool fill up that way.

Just a thought.