What a crazy week/weekend...

Wow...what a crazy week and weekend it's been. Thursday, we lost our beloved minister (and sis's FIL) Jim Harley. Such a sweet old southern gentleman he was...he'll be greatly missed. Friday, went to lunch with Nolan and Tim. Then Tim and I came back to our house to start on the invoices. OMG...he hasn't done a single invoice for that area since work started up again last March. We spent at least an hour just sorting all the SSD (Atmos' work order), KRSC's work orders and various receipts that needed to be added to the cost of the jobs. We worked on them for about 3 hours, then Tim went home. Woke up Saturday morning with Taylor crying her eyes out. She'd been running a fever since Thursday afternoon. She's complaining of her head, back and neck hurting. I freaked out a bit and told Nolan we needed to get her to the ER. They got her hooked up with an IV and ran a battery of tests. All the bloodwork was negative. They finished up the IV and sent us home with an Rx for Vicodin. Said it was probably just viral. So I guess she had the Hawaiian flu. Poor thing, I've been so worried and stressed about her. She seemed a little better today. Hopefully, she'll con't to improve over the next couple of days. Nolan and I went into the office today to meet Tim (he and Nolan were going over a new bid for Durango)...anyway, I finished all the invoices I had last Friday...so I told him to bring "his" (that he was working on) and I got all of those done today too. Made copies of everything and they're ready to send in.

I'm pooped though. Sis will be coming back to P late tomorrow night after Evan gets back from camp. She's going to bring Evan and Kyle here and then Jim's funeral is Tuesday. My laundry somehow got completely out of control...so bad that I think I might need to make a run to the laundromat to try and catch up. Anyway...that's just a brief update of last week...

I miss Jimmy!!

Okay...I said it! I love it when he's here visiting...but I just hate it when he has to go. It's so depressing. I guess we're very fortunate that we get to see each other several times a year...but it's never enough. I suppose it will be the same letting all the other kids go (eventually) and grow up...but why do they have to grow up so darn fast?? He really didn't want to go...in fact, he even was looking into changing his flight (pushing it back a week). Says he's gonna try and come back out later on this summer (which I hope), but if not...I hope he can make it home for either Thanksgiving (my personal favorite) or Christmas!

When Jimmy comes home...I let everything else go...so needless to say, that's why I'm still up at 11 pm doing laundry (and I haven't even scratched the surface LOL).

My house progress and an epiphany...

Well...the last few weeks have been hard (labor intensive) and enlightening as well. Jimmy's visit and having the party seemed to get everyone's butt into gear. I can't remember the last time that things looked so nice. Anyway, Sunday morning....Nolan and I got up and were sitting on the back deck having our coffee under the patio umbrella when something occurred to me: I don't want to move! I don't. As much as I love the Legacy home...I really don't want to move and leave the familiar environment as well as the memories we have now made here over the last 7+ years. Not all the memories were good ones, but along with the bad...we have some very good memories. It also occurred to me how much I enjoy having Jimmy come "home"...if we leave here and move into a new house (which he's never lived in), it won't be "home" to him. I think I've realized that it isn't really the "house" that has been making me so miserable all these years...but rather being in "limbo"...feeling unsettled and always in the "going to move" mode which has made me so unhappy. With my recent "update" to several rooms...I can honestly say for the first time, I really love the home we've created. And while our neighbors are a bit on the snobby side...at least we know everyone. I cannot fathom the thought of having to "start over" in a new neighborhood and quite possibly ending up with worse neighbors, kwim?

So...to make a long story short...I've decided to stay here and to make this THE home that I've been avoiding making all these years cause I thought we were moving. I'm planting my roots and this is home. Anyway...here's a few photos of the new spaces (master bedroom, kitchen dining area, living room and piano room):

Party Central...

The party was great (all except Jimmy & Tony's motorcycle wreck)...but other than that, everything went great and everyone had a good time! I ordered meat/cheese trays from Gag's and I made BBQ ribs, potato salad, fruit salad, veggie trays, ranch dip, guacamoli dip, spice cake and cookies galore!! Anyway...here's a few pics of the night!

Me and my Pride & Joy (Jimmy)...


Steph & Tony...

Steve & Me...

Kenny, Artie, Stephanie, Carol, Steve and Patti...

Jimmy & Me...

Group photo...

Jay, Chad and Jimmy...

Group photo...

Zach, Hannah, Jean and Mike...

My nieces Nikki & Hannah...

Tony & John...

Amy, Natalie & Steph...

Jay, Terez, Jimmy...

My brother Mike and his son-in-law Zach...

My brother Kenny, Steve, Carol and Krystal...

Just wanted to thank Jimmy's guardian angel...

Yeah...the kids (Jim & Steph) arrived on Sat. June 6th (so happy to see them). And our party took off @ 7 pm. It was a pretty good turn out, though none of our neighbors showed, which is no biggie. I'm not surprised as I didn't even get them an invite til Thursday evening, but honestly...it was more like a "courtesy" invite (not one from the heart). Steve Curry brought me a bouquet of flowers and Pete brought us a bottle of wine. My brothers, sils, neices, etc...were all here. It was so great to have everyone together. So why am I thanking Jimmy's guardian angel?? Well...unbeknownst to me, Jim left for a few minutes to go for a ride on Tony's Harley-Davidson. I was in the garage when I heard a motorcycle, but I had no idea that Jim had left with Tony. Anyway...about 10 minutes later, I was in my bathroom (powdering my face, etc.) when Jimmy knocked and came in. He was all banged up. His hand was injured and he had a bunch of cuts and scrapes on his legs (he was in shorts). I could tell from the look on his face that something was wrong before he even opened his mouth. He and Tony wrecked the bike. OMG...I think I had a heart attack, panic attack and aged about 15 yrs. all in the scope of a couple seconds. They were just down the street and only doing about 30 mph when they hit a patch of gravel and wiped out. Jimmy was thrown over the handle bars and landed in somebody's lawn. All I can say, is thank God he was wearing Tony's helmet!!! I literally get sick to my stomach when I think that the night could have ended in tragedy if not for Jimmy's guardian angel.

After talking to Steph about it...I've come to the conclusion that perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. Apparently, Jimmy had been talking to Steph (recently) about wanting to get a motorcycle and he was pretty shook up after this accident and said he'd never get on another motorcycle again (thank God)...

I do not want my boys (or girls for that matter) riding or riding on any motorcycles. I will not allow my kids to have them while living under my roof.

Anyway...down on bended knee thanking God for watching out for my precious boy...

Counting the days...

Well...here it is June 1st already. Paige will start her summer rec program today and Taylor is having some teeth pulled, but it's also just 5 more days til Jim & Steph's visit!! At this point, I'm not only counting the days, but the hours and minutes as well. I'm so excited to see my boy!! We have been plenty busy around here though trying to get things ready not only for Jimmy's visit, but for the party on Saturday night. We have gotten so much done this weekend, even I'm impressed, LOL! The office is once again an "office" (and not Paige's room)...and Chase & Paige are together again (and I've built enough bedroom furniture to last a lifetime, LOL)...Taylor's new bedroom is up and the entertainment room actually looks like a room again! My poor living room is once again EMPTY...but not for long. Wednesday, the new stuff is coming (even though I don't have the money for it cause of the job I thought I had, but don't, which began my "jump the gun" shopping spree, but oh well...I'm not taking it back now)...More on the job thing later.

So Nolan's been working in the garage throwing out all the junk (and piles of old carpet which have been taking up an unGodly amount of space in there)...making room for all the stuff we're getting rid of (which will hopefully pay for some of the new stuff LOL). Who knew that all I had to do to get things done around here is to plan a party. OMG, projects and things which have sat unfinished for nearly two years, have suddenly gotten done all in the span of a week. If I'd have only known this a year ago, LOL! Anyway, a couple days ago, I wasn't sure that even WE could pull this off (masters of the 20 min. house showing call), but today we made a major dent in things. I've got almost 5 huge boxes ready for Goodwill and our trailer is full of stuff to take to the dump (have I mentioned that I offered just to hold a big bon fire in our back yard??? LOL). Dare I say that for the first time in 7 years, I'm actually almost starting to like this house ((lightening strike)) LOL! Well...I've always said that nobody is going to buy a house that isn't loved...so this is really a win/win situation. If we get it all fixed up/up dated and we decide we love it enough to stay...then we have a home that we love...and if we decide we still want to sell it, I have no doubt it will sell this time!

Tomorrow morning, I've got to drop Paige off at her summer reg program...then head out to get all my bedding plants...and then after Tay's dental appt...I plan on working on planting the rest of the day. Oh, and I need to get my piano tuned this week too. Tuesday morning, I'm going to steam clean our livingroom carpet and con't working on the inside. Wednesday will be my furniture coming and also shopping for Saturday (food, paper products, etc.)...and I need to order a meat/cheese tray from Gagliano's Deli. OMG...just so much to get done still, but I can't wait!!

Oh...the job woes! Well, I'm over it...I was upset Friday, but ya know...I'm really glad to find all this out now and not after the fact. Aaron is a bullshitter and I don't care if he is one of Nolan's biggest clients...he can seriously kiss my arse! I really need to get as far away from the Gas business as possible. Note to self: next time Nolan (or one of his biggest clients) offers me a job...RUN, RUN FAR, FAR AWAY!!! Honestly, at this point...I'd rather work for and help Tim out for free than to work for someone like Aaron for a salary. I'm a huge believer in things working out when they're meant to be...and this obviously wasn't meant to be. Okay...and I learned a lesson about counting my chickens before they're hatched (spending my paycheck before I actually have one)...but I will not make either mistake again.

Crap...gotta get some shut eye!

Why lie about it...

I need a beer, LOL!! Yeah...cause for some strange reason, trying to control my "truth-o-meter"...makes me really thirsty! Truth-O-Meter you ask?? Uh yeah...it's that little filter you have on your mouth and fingertips that keeps you from saying/typing what you really think...instead, just insert ((hugs)) and walk away, seriously...trust me, it's much easier to just walk away. At this point, I really don't care what people think, considering how little they do...