What Struck Me

I chose windows for our new addition last night. The architect had some prelim drawings for us to look at, and we gave him more information so he can come up with more detailed drawings.

It’s starting to feel like it may actually get built! I’m still nervous about the cost- really, who spends all this money on an addition at the same time they’re about to be hammered with college tuition?

Don’t know how much I’ve written about this before- I’m adding a new category to make it easier to follow along as we go. Anyway, the plan is to add a master bedroom, master bath, and sunroom/family room to the back of our house. We’ll also be taking over the existing den (including fireplace) as part of the bedroom. Off the sunroom will be a new deck, and eventually a hot tub out there. Also, we want to add a front porch.

Where we live it will cost us so much less to do this than to trade-up- and we do need a fourth bedroom, even with Andy going away to college- he’ll still be home 4 months of the year!

So that’s the plan. Stay tuned

I turned 42 the other day (need to update my sidebar I suppose.) One of those blah birthdays, but it was OK- we went to a Lion’s Club family picnic thing at the home of a member- they have a nice property with a pool. I didn’t want any gifts (spending a little more than planned on our trip to WDW) but Pat gave me some flowers, chocolate, a book… and the kids collaborated on a card for me- Nick drew the pictures, Tim colored them in, and Andy did the words. Best gift they could have given me!

Today was the day I could make dining reservations for my October trip to WDW. We got great airfare thanks to Jet Blue starting to fly out of Newark- overall I’m getting away pretty cheap on this one. Now I just hope to get a lower rate on my room.

The architect for our addition came over the other night, he suggested a few changes but overall he said our plan looks good. He’s doing this on the side (Pat used to work with him) so I don’t know how soon he’ll have drawings for us- but we did tell him we’re anxious to get started.

Of course, I’m also anxious about the money it all will cost. I know intellectually that this is a good idea, but the hidden tightwad inside me is screaming right now!

Heard through the grapevine (not through my son, of course) that Tim got two strikes against him at summer camp yesterday- thankfully today is the last day so I guess he’ll make it through the week without being sent home. Apparently he was squirting water on someone and didn’t stop when told to - typical. He was in a mood from the moment he woke up yesterday, and when he gets like that he refuses to do as told… then gets all apologetic later. Sigh.

It’s been so nice this week- hot but not very humid (although a little stickier today.) I’ve been trying to get outside, relax, read more than I usually do… but I do have work to do.
And on that note, I’m off to look for a border graphic…

Wonder if anyone still checks in? Guess my blogroll entry will light up so that might bring in someone.

So… hi!

Plenty going on but I guess I just haven’t felt much like blogging. The kids are keeping pretty busy with swim lessons, camp, Andy seems to enjoy his job well enough. Pat’s still trying to figure out exactly what he’s expected to do in his new position at work.

I’ve been putting off making the calls I need to make to get on the substitute teaching list (need to get certified.) Nothing subconscious about it- I really don’t want to go to work! But the bills are not going away. When I run my numbers through Quicken everything looks great- but in real life cars break down etc… and it all comes crashing down.

This is cool- Andy and I are going to do the Segway tour at Epcot! They teach us how to ride the things then we get to go around the World Showcase before that part of the park opens to the public (I suppose so we don’t run over people.) I’ve always wanted to ride one and I wanted to do something fun with Andy since WDW isn’t his dream vacation.

Let’s see, what else? Did I mention that it’s HOT?? And sticky, too. I think tonight’s a pool night. I’m trying to get there more often but my kids are just not into it so much- mostly because the place is dead during the week. Very few of our friends are members, and very few of them are around on weekdays, so Nick & Tim get bored. Me, I’m happy with a book or magazine for a few hours, beats the alternative which is staying home and doing housework etc.

My iPod is giving me fits- I’m trying to get it set up for Podcasts and because it’s an older model (yet only about 14 months old…) it doesn’t seem to like such newfangled things. I got it working somewhat, not the nice pretty interface you see at apple.com, but working… of course, who has time to listen to podcasts?
Well, gee, that was an exciting entry. It’s better, I think, to write when something is fresh instead of sitting here wracking my brain for things to post about. I’ll see what I can do about that…