An explanation and a re-introduction. Sort of.

So I realize that it’s been over 6 months before I posted here. I’m going to be honest. I’m a lazy writer. This really gets in the way of me becoming a writer. I would like to give a go at it. I’ve always been scribbling away at stories I’ve made up or altering stories that I liked. Oh, to only have the re-vamped version of The Outsiders with a sister. Of course, that sister was me. Hey, don’t look at me like that! I was young! Just a lonely teenage girl who wishes her brothers was the late and gorgeous Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe and C. Thomas Howell or being Johnny’s sister. Mmmmm…being fictionally related to Ralph Macchio. Oh my!

So, what has happened in these past six months? Well, The Boy started his final year of high school. Sadly, if he doesn’t kick it in gear, NEXT year will be his last year of high school. *sigh* He did find a part time job and that made Mommy very happy. He digs making his own money. The Boy even bought me lunch and dinner the first weekend he was paid. How sweet.

The Bear and I celebrated our One year anniversary as a married couple. We spent the weekend going out to eat and basically making everyone ill around us because we were mushy. It was fun.

We had our friends over a few times this past summer. It was nice, but in all honesty, it could’ve been nicer. I think it was nice for what we have. The backyard (and the front) are by no means perfect. There’s still a LOT of work to be done, but it’s much better than it was the previous summer so that’s good.

Bear and I have been talking about what work we would like done. We’ve made lists, discussed the options to death and made decisions; only to re-prioritize and change what work should get done. We’ve ultimately decided that the work we’d like to absolutely have done this summer is our deck. Last year, when we had the pretty new deck stairs installed, the Young Guy doing it told us are deck was “going to fall down if we didn’t repair it”. Needless to say, the entire summer we were paranoid about entertaining. The deck never did fall, in fact, the Young Guy was a bit hasty in his assessment. He probably wanted more business, but given that it took him nearly 2 ½ weeks to finish the stairs, we were not interested. Instead we called upon a very good friend of mine. I grew up with my crazy friend and he was one of those bad boys that I loved so much back in the day. Checkered past aside, my buddy is a damn fine carpenter and I trust him completely. Bear agreed to let me call him and have him come over to the house and take a look at the work that needs to be done. What made me even happier was the next statement made by Bear. “Have him check out the kitchen too.” I can’t tell you how happy this made me. I hate my kitchen. It’s too small. There is no counter space. It’s ugly. It’s painted horribly and I hate it. I know, “Tell us how you really feel Tee.” I just don’t like the kitchen. Bear agrees it’s inefficient. So the day my buddy came over, Bear came home early from work and the two of them strolled the tiny backyard. I was happy because I hadn’t seen my buddy in a long while plus he had his nephew with him and I hadn’t seen him since he was a little guy. My friend looked at the supports, the boards, the rails and in his expert opinion determined that the supports of the deck were in great condition. Yes, some of the floor boards needed replacement as did the rails but we could get away with fixing the floorboards and still do the teeny tiny expansion Bear wants to make the deck more even (he likes things square). That way there no need to involve the town and permits and all that jazz. Also, it will cost us less money to repair than re-do the whole thing. This leaves a bit of cash to fix up the kitchen a bit. Now, it’s not perfect, Bear’s idea that is. I want more cabinets and a large counter. I’m getting a counter and a window cut into the wall. When I get around to getting pics of the ugly ass kitchen I’ll post them. But you’ve all read that before. Anyhoo, in the wall that is between the dining room and the kitchen we’re going to cut a window and add a shelf. We’re also going to build a bar/island type thing there as well. My buddy pointed out that he could build cabinets and I got very excited but Bear shot it down. I pouted and since my buddy has known me since I was 12 years old, he knows the Power of the Pout. I’m still working on Bear for a few more cabinets, but if I have to trade off cabinets with a new stove, I’m taking the stove people! I am so excited for these improvements, while it’s not an entire kitchen makeover, it’s a start and I’ll take it.

The rest of the time has been spent with me finishing up my degree. I will graduate in May (unlike my son, my graduation is definite). I’m trying to decide on whether or not I’m going to grad school. It’s very overwhelming for me right now and I feel a little lost. I also have a fun new job. It’s seasonal. Spring to the end of December. I work at Sunnyside, which is the home of author Washington Irving. You know, the guy who wrote Legend o Sleepy Hollow. Yeah, that guy. His house is in Irvington, NY which is the town my brother lives in and the town right next to where we went to high school. I’ve known of its existence for years but until my interview I had never been. Well, not in the house. We’d sneak on grounds in the woods every so often as kids, but nothing major. With the exception of the dress (19^th century clothing makes me look even worse than modern day clothing) I like meeting new people and its fun to talk about “Uncle Wash” and his stories and how he lived. I love being in his house. It’s the writer/English major in me that likes the job. Plus, I like the people I work with. It’s a nice job and I’m excited about spring and starting out from the beginning. I didn’t come on until late September, but the last few months of the season was a good time. I loved it.

So that’s the update. I did promise a friend or two some updated recipes and I will do so. I was actually surprised that people read this. Not a lot, obviously, but I figured no one paid attention. I’m glad my written word gets a little bit.

Till next time!