i am just a dreamer wearing sensible shoes

It's a new year, I want to stand up and shout it's going to be DIFFERENT this time. THIS is the YEAR I'm going to DO IT ALL and all that nonsense but I'm not gonna. Except I kind of am.

The Shady Nook project aka The Embiggening, A Project with Limited Funds (thank you memaw) is coming along. Most of the back deck had to be demo'd due to rot. The new back deck is twice as large as the old one (the old one was postage stamp sized I've got a full envelop now), it will have a roof over half of it, the stairs will have a landing instead of a straight fall to the concrete below. The French door back there needs some work. Some rot in the wood, hopefully that can be replaced instead of a whole new door.

The front deck is getting an 8x8 roof, a new storm door, and a doorbell. The upstairs bath received an exhaust fan.

Actual Shady Nook gets a beam to reinforce its roof.

I plan to "finish" the upstairs bath. This means a new vanity, paint, light fixture, blinds, and shelving in the nook behind the shower. I want to tile all the bath floors and the laundry floor but that will have to wait a while. The Embiggening and the Upstairs bath are the major house projects this year. I'm getting a gas log estimate next week, but an estimate is just that. If it's affordable it goes on this year's list, if it needs saving for it goes on next year's list.

As for ME personally:
I exercised yesterday, a full body strength work out. Then I "went" to my online class. I want to do this everyday. Go home, pick up the house if it needs it, do my work out, "go" to class.

Surely, that's not reaching too far? Surely, with a goal as modest as go to class everyday and move a little every day is something I won't fail at. Surely. As for the exercise plan itself. Last year I bought a home TRX system and promptly put in a drawer and didn't use it. Currently, I'm not fit enough to use the TRX SO I am doing the TRX workout with light weights until I am strong enough to use the system. I'm following the program as it's written. If I manage to maintain a month of daily work, I should be able to use the actual TRX by month two.

Pre-new year, I had implemented a routine at home to make sure I'm doing small chores as needed instead of waiting until the end of the week and cleaning for 12 hours straight. It's a much better way to live. I used to be like this without effort, but that was before depression, thyroid, and the reckoning where-in nearly everyone I know and loved died in an 18 month span. I'm on week three of not being a slob so I'm making progress in at least one avenue of life. YAY!

Way back in the fall of last year I went to an auction and bought enough furniture to fill my house. Part of that furniture was a wrought iron and glass dinette. It had been used previously in someone's sunroom, but I thought it would be perfect for my deck.




Off white iron, white cushion. Kind of boring yes? Also, indoor fabrics.

( So I bought this outdoor fabric: )

Added up, I've spent about $80 on the whole thing. Not bad, huh?

In awesome news my friend J from the Y that I go see all the awesome action movies with? She was just inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Self Defense Instructor of 2011. Her Jujitsu instructor nominated her. I'm so proud!

Things are really getting down to the wire on my house. I am a frazzled ball of nerves. But! I got my hair cut and a color yesterday so I am a cute frazzled ball of nerves.

I had to ask for help this week. You wouldn't know it from how often I beg for technical help on here, but when it comes to real life situations, I'd almost rather eat dirt than ask people for help. I always figure if people want to help they will.

Here's the sitch:

* Family is coming down the weekend of March 19th to install the floor. I don't feel bad about asking the family to help because a) they're family and b) mom is offering them time at her condo at the beach for helping

* I am going out of town *next* weekend for some much needed de-stressing and de-compressing

* Moe has yet to show up this week

* the walls have to be painted *before* the floor is installed. Currently in a 12 room house only 4 are painted. And I'm not talking about the trim, I'm talking about the WALLS, the ceilings however are completed through out the house.

I think you see where this is going. Between Saturday and Sunday this weekend and Tuesday and Wednesday evening next week ALL of the painting must be finished. So I sent out a call for help. I've had some people say they *would* help so I'm crossing my fingers and praying that it works out.

Send me some good vibes that it gets finished? Or you know, come on over and help? IF ONLY I lived near ANYONE on my flist I bet this would have been finished ages ago.

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Who's watching Spartacus Gods of the Arena? I haven't watched it yet so don't spoil me. What I'm curious about is this: if I wanted to introduce someone to the Spartacus world should I start them out with Blood and Sand or Gods of the Arena?