Weekend Rest

It was nice not to have many plans this weekend. We ate at Big Board on Friday night will Bill and Jen then did some paint homework. And I got my haircut on Saturday, ran errands, cooked, etc. It was nice and quiet and too short. Isn't every weekend too short? I value some quieter times more often, and I am looking forward to finishing this painting project.  God do I hope we get that done in the next couple of weeks. So much to do with all of that.

I also got a couple of decent runs in. It's about to get hot and humid, so no more of these 65 degree mornings for awhile. Boo. But I need to regain my running mojo to keep up with you know who.

Welcome to 2012

So we had a burst pipe late on Wednesday night. Lovely start to 2012.  While I am doing my best to focus on the positive--we weren't out of town, we have good insurance and $$, we can get the floors and cabinets replaced, etc., I am still bummed about the amount of time and effort this will all take, let alone the lack of a full kitchen for who knows how long.  It is a pain to have ventilation equipment going all of the time, and it's a pain to have to take time off from work. And not to mention all of the furniture. I feel for the last three years, all we've done is be uprooted and not able to be comfortable in our own home. Maybe that makes me "used to it," but it just makes me aggrieved.  At least the husband has been zen. I'm the one having nightmares about the house flooding and then having to go to work, feeling like I missed out on something!

So hopefully the rest of 2012 goes better, but considering its inauspicious start (NYE sickness, poor Daz, everyone else in the family having to make costly repairs), it can't get much worse, right???

Tracing Back the History

Since we moved in June, I've been curious about the history of our house. I saw this post on Urban Turf about researching its history through a trip to the library. I really need to do this someday.

Curious about your home and in the mood to partake in some amateur detective work? The Washingtoniana division at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library has real estate maps, building permits and resident lists going back more than a century for most residential properties in the District. In a couple hours, one can find out when their home was built, see its first appearance on a plat map, identify former owners and residents, look up their occupations, and see if any additions were ever built and when. Last night, Jason Moore, collections librarian for the Washingtoniana division, walked UrbanTurf through the research process.

It's really cool that we live in a place built in 1905 that has stood through so many changes over the decades, from Washington's rise and fall and rise again, to new families moving through those doors, changes in the neighborhood, etc.  The particular Washingtoniana was established in 1905, so you would think the records will be accurate. It would be fun to do this...someday!

I did finally order a bar table for the bar room. Now I need to get stools this weekend! Ten days until our guests arrive!!

Long Weekend

I finally got some work done around the house, including de-boxing up some of the storage closet room and adding a small shelf to the master closet, so I could finally unpack that duffle bag after two months. So much I still want to be doing, least of which is unpacking and shopping.

We still need to get a pub table/breakfast bar; bar stools for the kitchen, a new coffee table, and nightstands, at least to start with. Then we need to paint and hang things on the wall. Then deal with the garden. Ugh. So much to do. And keeping the house clean is another matter. Not that I am complaining. Two months in and life could be much, much worse!

Fourth of July and Detroit

We spent out first holiday at 625 last night, celebrating the Fourth of July with friends and fireworks and fajitas. The after-party was just as much fun as the party, with crazy fireworks going off in all directions for both the pre- and post-show, not to mention the drinks afterward. It was a good night, and I hope there are more to come.

The show was a bit reminiscent of Detroit and the fireworks at McGregor we always left town for. Ah, Detroit. Here's an interesting piece on youngsters moving back to the city.

Life is Like That

We moved into our beautiful, big new house this weekend. It felt like a dream house, with so many bedrooms and bathrooms, a beautiful deck with a view and a lovely kitchen. But life punches you in the gut. It makes your husband yell at you and call  you names. It makes you cry before work and feel snappish and on the edge. It makes you call your dad in tears because you cannot take being screamed at anymore.

Life sometimes hands you lemons and you try to make lemonade.  But sometimes the lemonade is sour too. Sometimes you just try and try and you still get screamed at. Sometimes you cannot take it any longer.

Dear St. Joseph

I have been asking ALOT of you lately.  A lot. So maybe one more favor is a bit too much....

But if you can intercede...we need a place to live, not too out of our budget, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an outdoor area.  That is all. Not too far away, and hopefully in NE. Or SE. Please?  We need a place to be a family, to have a family, to share our love and be comfortable and happy and stress free. We need this like we need air and water and food.  We need a home.

And I am also praying to the other Josephs in our family.

Home

Today was a day "off" but after a red-eye, errands galore (oil change, Target, bridesmaid dress, hair stuff, etc., yet another purchase at Crate), I don't feel like I had much relaxing time. Plus the entire house smells like polyurethane after all of the floor work we have had done. I am very optimistic that everything will look nice once we complete the work, but we'll be a little broker too. And it will be worth it.

Only two trips next week, sheesh. I am tired of travel. San Francisco was great but I was so tired yesterday and I still have not slept. After B&N, I walked back toward Chinatown and the Italian part of town. I stopped in the (in)famous City Lights bookstore, and then got a bite to eat. I was feeling woozy and dehydrated. After some time chilling in the airport and two glasses of wine, I made it home. And one more Peet's scone.

So I've put on a few pounds, and I find it a bit inexplicable. Granted, I've been eating crap lately, but I have maintained regular workouts and the scale jumped overnight, almost literally. I am going to stick to salads the next couple of lunches and just be healthier again. Almost like a detox. Even the bridesmaid's dress was tight! I think the heat, lack of sleep, irregular eating, and just general stress of a hectic month have caught up with me. It'll be okay, I'm sure. I will get up earlier and run again tomorrow, and I will be far, far away from San Francisco thai food. Oh god that was good.

And the weekend ahead should be quite quiet, right? That is a good thing. Next week, though, not so much! But our furniture will arrive, work travel will end, and that I am looking forward to.

Moved

Ugh, I hate moving. But at least all of the old stuff is now in the new house. Granted, much stuff is still in piles in the dining room, waiting to be sorted and thrown away. Much of that is the boy's. But at least we are out of 1768. The movers got there relatively on time, and moving went pretty smoothly, except for crazy lady across the street. Pricey, but gosh we have a lot of stuff!! The next pricey item are blinds, but then we are done spending. I plan to get my haircut on Saturday, then venture to Macy's on the worst shopping day of the year. I would like to get some nice stainless steel bathroom accessories there with gift card moolah.

Experimenting with commuting has been interesting, and time consuming. I guess the fastest, most expedient way is walking/metro. Or walking/circulator if it comes quickly. I am trying to get up every day at 7am, which is not a huge problem b/c I am usually awake. Of course, driving is quickest, but most pricey. And I really dislike the X8 bus; will avoid that when possible. There are some interesting shops/liquor store places on F street. I do like the walk. I will get back in the gym habit soon, and will need to sign up for results upon the return from Michigan. But it is nice to take a little gym break. Unfortunately, the holiday goodies are a huge temptation here, so I must avoid if possible.

I also trying to readjust my coffee addition, to either make it here or bring it from home or simply just not buy it every day. I really do need the caffeine fix. Just black coffee and creamer will work, thought the nasty folgers-esque coffee we here simply will not do. Maybe I should bring in one of the old coffee makers/press.

Finally, I've been listening to All Songs considered's year in review. Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend, My Morning Jacket, Blitzen Trapper, Animal Collective, etc. What I don't have, along with a mix of some of what I do. I am very excited to put together my ipod list of my favorite 2008 songs! I will need to post on that.

We are homeowners!

Broke, but homeowners. Less than ten days left til the big move!

Ten Things Going On

10. The Road to XVI: Un-victorious Lions? 0-16??
9. Kwame is going to jail today.
8. New Snow Patrol CD is out today!
7. Philadelphia yesterday. Got a picture with the Justice. Very exciting. Dinner at Capital Grille. Had the filet.
6. Seven days to the election. Yeah, we're going down.
5. I still need to buy new shoes. And work stuff. Sigh. Why am I unable to shop?
4. Halloween is Friday. I do not want to go out or get dressed up.
3. I did get a morning workout. Just a three and a half mile run. It was rainy and cold. Ugh.
2. Meeting with mortgage lady tonight....
1. And offer to come tomorrow?