Before During and After

It's finished. Yesterday was incredible. First the colored primer, a hot coral, just to freak everybody out. While the primer was drying we tackled the cabinets. Washed them inside and out! I enlisted the help of two fussing teens. Finally got them to shut up by using some of Peach's "therapy," one additional hour of weeding in the sun! They quit gripping! Next I wiped out as in cleaned, the refrigerator. I did not take it all apart, masochistic I am not, except for the crisper's.
Right about 2 in the afternoon I am not feeling like lifting one more finger to do anything. I am officially exhausted. We have worked our hind ends off. At which my husband arrives ready to paint. There is a catch, I have to help. What's my preference, do I want to cut in or roll? Roll right out the door. First, I heated water. This calls for strong tea and forget the pearly whites. My teeth are translucent thin and don't take too well anyway. That's another story, I wore my teeth out with a Sonic toothbrush.

Back to the painting. Was it the primer that inspired my husband to put his hand to the plow? once I tried buying hot pink screwdrivers to see if they would stay in my toolbox. I thought my man would be to embarrassed to use pansy tools. Not. They are gone. Whatever his motive, he was ready to work. We started with me cutting in, and quickly switched. He started critiquing. I told him I was to tired I could hardly hang on to the stinkin brush much less paint straight and not get much paint on the tape! Isn't that what tape is for? So we switched and I rolled. Then we had some off white oil base to brush on, he did that. In a couple of hours we were finished, actually finished. We put the refrigerator back and cleaned up the paint mess.

Today, when I came home from work I finished the kitchen. Hung pictures, the curtain, cleaned up, and had the girls wipe out the microwave and mop. I then headed for the market. I haven't cooked dinner in about two weeks. The girls were bowing to me when I came home. "Thank God, your going to FEED us!" Poor starving children. There is food in the cute kitchen, it looks great. Later I plan to tile and change out counter tops etc,...all the pricey stuff. For now we are just ready to eat. Tomorrow is tacos.

Falling out Fast

Im going down quick, the mattress is calling. I almost feel kooky, we got up and primed the kitchen. While it dried we cleaned the kitchen cabinets inside and out and rearranged a couple. Oooooh lordy what a mess. The refrigerator needed a scrub down too inside and out. We managed to get sheet rock dust everywhere. It looks so nice. More to do but we can't take another step. My fingers have cramps and so do my toes. Will post picchas when we ere fini! Then you can admire my teeny weeny kitchen all spruced up!
Workin on an orientation day tomorrow. MY new CD came so who out there has the brilliant mind and ya know savay, to tell me how to post just a song???
Then ya'll can hear "Skin and Bones" the combination of the music and the words really cracks me up, I luv it.

Noble Pig, just feed me and I'd like a drink please,..

I'm going straight to bed, I'm beyond tired,......

Time Out

My computer won't boot up the Internet. My friend is coming on Monday from California and the kitchen looks like someone threw flour all over it. Sheet rock dust and it's everywhere. I am exhausted because I whitened my teeth and can't drink coffee or tea. What timing! The walls are ready for primer and I must do it! Paint tomorrow and then clean up all this MESS!!! Which brings me to the time out, which I need to take to accomplish these jobs without any caffeine, but my smile will be pretty!

A Little Fun

In my twenties I enjoyed some rather "different," music. Off color you might say. Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks had some great tunes like,"How can I Miss You if You Won't Go Away?" I still have that LP, you know are very large CD that works on both sides. What a concept!

I was thinking about fat ladies, and loving food. That would be me. I did get up and walk this morning. We had a thunder and lightening storm at 3 am so when the clock went off I thought it was the middle of the night. I could not however in good conscience roll over and snooze on. The work out today was humiliating. My fastest is last, about a half mile behind everyone else. How depressing. Old flabby men that look like they are walking in slow motion are passing me. I am moving as fast as my legs will go, why don't I cover more ground? Go figure. I did not go the whole 7 mile route. I could not risk being late for Piglets graduation brunch, but I probably did 4 1/2 or 5 miles. Some things seem to never change, being the last to be picked in school ball games. Being last on the walk/run. You would think it wouldn't matter at my age, that just doing it would be enough. You'd think. Not.

In my honor and in salute to off color music, and fat bottomed girls; I am going to write you one of my favorite songs. It was recorded by the Kinks about 30 years ago.
The Muswell Hillbillie Album, which I have actually just discovered thanks to Amazon.com. the song is titled, "Skin and Bones."

FAT FLABBY ANNIE was a bit over weight,
she weighed just about 16 stone,
till a fake dietitian, put her on a diet,
now she looks like skin and bones,
can't see her walk by.

She don't eat no mashed potatoes,
she don't eat no buttered scones,
do your daily exercises,
you gonna look like skin and bones.

She used to be lovely,
she used to be so fat,
Oh what a sin, she's oh so thin,
now she's lost all the friends that she had.
she looks like skin and bones,..

skin and bones and bones and skin and bones, bones and bones and skin and bones,...

Ahhh now that my dear friends is a good song.

Just in case this leaves you with a hankering for some Kinks,....

Gifts Wrapped In Pain

What would you do if your son had cerebral palsy? This father and son team is inspirational, and that is a major understatement. The father is now 66 years old and still participating in the Iron man with his son. With our narrow vision we think in terms of a "handicap." We can't think of positive outcomes as a result of adversity; but when does human nature shine the brightest? Are we full of courage and triumph under the guise of pleasure and affluence?

Our first reaction to the news of a Down syndrome child, or spinal bifida, or cerebral palsy( fill in the circumstance) is tragedy. Put them away. It can be the worst defeat, or it can be the catalyst to drive a family to such a close connection that others would stand in awe and wonder. When a person can't speak they develop their non verbal skills. When a son can't walk, his father helps him to experience being an athlete by carrying him. When a family says "No," to the recommendation to institutionalize their child, they take a stand on a hill of sacrifice. What great love, when a father says, this is no vegetable, this is my son, and give him life.

This father and son are a picture to me of what our relationship is with the Lord Jesus. We are powerless, weak, and dependent; but because of his great love He endures overwhelming challenges for us. We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us. We feel the heat, the wind, the forces of the race, but He is the one who is carrying us. His love provides for our needs, quenches our thirst, and thrills our hearts with victory, with Him we forget our disabilities.

It is a picture of the ultimate victory, to overcome the worst odds, to develop ones character, to set a shoulder to the wind and persevere. These giants among us, who receive these gifts wrapped in pain, achieve what ease can never birth. The soul refined by fire, gleaming and reflecting the Father, inspires us to greater heights and reduces whatever little obstacle we may be facing to what it truly is. Without adversity we would shrivel up and surely die. There would be no shining ones among us. No one would ever desire to chose to suffer, or should; but in all these trials there is a gift, the potential to overcome, to be stretched, to experience victory. It is up to us to decide how far we will go. Will we trust? Will we endure what seems to be so hard?
A prayer of mine is that the Lord would open my spiritual eyes that I would see life in light of eternity. Stamp eternity upon my eyes. These two men have increased my vision, my faith and my hope. I hope their example impacts your life too.

Flower Mysteries

Flea has a mystery in her garden. Here are some picchas from mine of what I think it may be.

Lillies or?

Slogging

Blah, double blah. No witty repartee today.

Weight loss zero,...weight gain zero. Guess that's a good thing.
Runs this week-nada. Yoga times 2.

Accomplishments this week;
one high school diploma ordered.
kitchen walls cleaned, prepped, ready for mud.
Girlie physical and mamogram.
Job- signed up with an agency one day orientation tomorrow.

To Do List.
finish kitchen- did someone mention cooking?
yard needs major weeding and fixing, changing from spring to summer,
some plants need cutting back. roses already covered with blackspot.
get emotions out of the tank- depressed.
work on high school transcript---HUGE chore, HUGE, did I mention large enormous job?

The "I forget, I forgot list."
Been there, done that, can't remember.
I'm sure this is the longest list of all, if I could only remember what to write on it.