A To Do List

I'm going to put this out here for all 10 of you to read so that you can see how much I fail at getting it done over the next month. But these are the things I need to do in the next 4 weeks. That's 28 days. Of which 12 I will be out of town. No worries, right?

Downstairs Bathroom

• Touchup paint
• Hang picture
• Order wall cabinet - complete 09/06/2010
• Hang towel rack

Kitchen

• Finish painting "test wall" to ensure I like the color 09/19/2010
• Reorganize cabinets to make items needed regularly more accessible

Dining Room

• Get everything out that does not belong
• Measure pictures for wall and send measurement to mom so she can get picture made of Dad and Doodlebug
• Take leaf out of table and store upstairs

Living Room

• Get carpet and couches cleaned
• Rearrange furniture
• Fix curtain
• Put away items that don't belong

Master Bedroom

• Put away items that don't belong
• Decide if I want new mattress or get rid of queen bed (moved queen bed to guest room 10/09)
• Clean out closet; get rid of clothes I have not worn since I moved to the low country (10/09)
• Move TV into other room

Green Guest Bedroom

• Find someone to haul away old mattress
• Finish painting
• Decide if I want to put a bed in there or make it an office/work-out room
• Move TV stand from other guest bedroom into this room

Other Guest Bedroom

• Decide if I want to move that bed into my bedroom (moved 10/09)
• Decide if I want to just put daybed in there and only have one guest bedroom (after all there are two couches) (Decided to put queen bed in there and moved double bed to my room 10/09)

Guest Bath

• Test paint color on wall
• Hang towel rod
• Hang shower curtain rod

Outside

• Mow
• Weedeat
• Pull weeds
• Take old lounge chair to dump
• Mulch

Personal

• Budget
• Resume - complete for the purpose it was needed

So, if I fall off the face of the Earth it's much more likely that I've jumped off my roof in an attempt to try to mark off even 3 of these items. Oh, and I also need to get an applicance person to come look at my washing machine because it isn't aggitating, which is aggitating in and of itself.

Saying No to Starting Over

I had a call this week about a possible job opportunity. Well, actually I first heard about it last week. The job would be with my same company, but when I first heard about it the idea is that it would be part time for another client. That was attractive to me based on my current situation. Then I found out it would be full time at the other company and would involved relocation in about 6 months. So tonight I said "no." Mainly because I don't want to start over again in 6 months. I don't want to have to pack up my life, sell another house (at a loss), and rebuild my life by myself again. In 6 months I may have no job, but I will have friends who care about me and a life that is somewhat familiar to me. And if I'm going to start over, I want it to be surrounded by people who know me and love me, not the other way around. I don't want to start over again knowing no one and having to rebuild my life from scratch. So for now I'm saying "no." I'm doing this for me, and not for the financial security I may be turning down. But I know one thing for sure, if I had said "yes" it would have been because of my desire to follow some worldy idea of what is right and secure and not because of Him. And that would have been the wrong reason. And this gives me peace.

I Say Goodbye, You Say Hello

Tonight my family said "goodbye" to my Granny. She said "hello" to her eternal life with the Heavenly Father. It's only hard for those of us on this side. We're the ones left with the void in our lives. My cousin and I were talking this afternoon before she passed about the things we never thought. She said she thought our grandparents would just have Alzheimers forever, our moms would take turns living with them, and that's how it would be forever. I mean, after all, grandparents don't leave their grandkids do they? I am facing the reality that if I ever get married or have kids my Granny won't be there. I never thought I'd face a wedding day without my Granny. She's the one who was supposed to tell me not to see or speak to the groom after midnight until I would walk down the aisle. She's the one who would wear the brightest lipstick and the most fragrent perfume. And she'd have to have a new dress. My granny loved her a new dress. But it's not meant to be. Tomorrow I'll get in the car and drive home to a life I've never known. The life of only one grandparent. The life of a Papaw and not a Granny. The life of a 31 year old whose Granny has been taken from her by a disease that is more cruel that can be put into words. You see, I got to go home and tell her goodbye a few days ago. But my Granny, she never got to tell us goodbye. And that hurts a little bit too.

Anonymity

Sometimes I wish this blog were completely anonymous. That you didn't know anything about the person who writes it. And maybe you don't. Maybe you've stumbled onto it from some corner of the universe. But I know a lot of my 10 readers in person so sometimes I don't want to just put everything out there. But here's what I do know. I know that if this blog were anonymous I would tell you that I wish I'd never met him. But then I'd tell you that he is perhaps one of the neatest people I've ever met. Then I'd tell you there are lots of reasons why he should not be part of my life, with one of them being big. Then I'd tell you how much I love talking to him, and how sometimes those conversations are that glimpse into a relationship I wish I had. And then I'd tell you how I know I'm setting myself up to get hurt. And then I'd tell you how I know, but yet it feels so good to feel again. But since this blog is not anonymous, you don't know any of this.

Hodge Podge

I'm over the rainy season. And by the rainy season I'm referring to the Summer months where it rains from 6-8 on weekend days so that you either get soaked going about your evening plans or your evening plans get cancelled. I've said it once, and I'll say it again. I am ready for FALL!

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Last night I played a two person card game over the phone with a friend. The mental aspect of it was a little much for me on a Friday evening, but it was quite entertaining.

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A friend texted me that she is engaged. Yeah for young love. I truly hope she enjoys this season of life and that God will bless them as they start planning a life together.

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This coming Friday night I get to go on a harbor cruise of Charleston. So excited because I've been wanting to do another one for a few months and have the opportunity to as a thank you from work for the latest project we completed.

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Saturday morning I will head home to see my Granny, I hope. Her health is deteriorating and we really don't know how long she will live. It's so hard because she doesn't remember us anymore due to the Alzheimers and yet she's still my Granny and I miss her. The hardest part of moving away was leaving my family. I miss them a lot and wish it were easier to see them more often.

A Random List

1. I love throwing surprise parties.


2. I hate being the recipient of any type of surprise. This includes gifts I have not personally picked out and sold to you to give me or explicitely described and approved for purchase. I also do not like to be the recipient of surprise parties.


3. I love cupcakes.


4. I hate lima beans, pinto beans, and collard greens.


5. I love to travel, so I fly because I have to, not because I think it's exciting.


6. I would love to take a month-long road trip and see as many random road-side attractions as I can.


7. I would also love to just go stay in a cabin in the mountains or on a lake for a month.


8. I love trying new foods, but 95% of what I cook is certifiable Southern: it's either fried or in casserole form


9. I have always wanted someone to pick me up at the airport with flowers.


10. I need me time. That means every so often I just want to stay home for 48 hours straight.


11. I like the idea of going to grand events, but I much prefer small gatherings.


12. I love playing games and I am fiercely competitive.


13. Cooking dinner and working on a puzzle is a perfect evening in my book.

Plans

Mish-mash. Is that even a word? It basically describes my brain right now. It's a mish-mash of wondering. Wondering what I'll be doing 6 months from now. Wondering where I'll be 6 months from now. I know one thing. If you had asked me at 18 where I'd be at 31, it would not be here. It would not be the sole provider for my family of 1. It would not be 5 hours from my family. And it most certainly would not be worrying about if I would have a job in a year. I've been out of college for 8 years now. And I'm on my second job, not by choice. It's hard. It's a lot harder than I tell anyone. And as much as I have not worried about my status before, it's heavy on my heart and mind these days. I wish so often that I had someone to go home to at the end of the day. Someone to hold me and tell me it will be ok. Someone to celebrate the highs with and someone to talk to when the lows hit. And I do have Someone. I have the Someone. He's always there to listen, but so often I don't want to talk to Him. And that's what I need to work on. I need to work on turning my problems over to Him first and foremost. Because no matter what happens, no matter where I am or what I am doing, He is in control. He knows the path my life will take. And really, that's all that matters.

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -- Jeremiah 29:11

And If You Haven't Had Enough

A couple of weeks ago I wrote you an itinerary of what we'd do if you came to visit me. And I knew someone would want to know what day #2 includes. And yes, I knew who would question this. And they did. Love you guys!

For day #2 I suggest a carriage ride. And I suggest going with the Old South Carriage Co. I have done two tours now and this one was much more professional than the first. It takes about an hour and gives a good overview of one of three areas in downtown Charleston. It's always fun to learn something new and this is a great way to see a good bit of the downtown without having to walk it all.

If you're wanting some more history then a visit to the H.L. Hunley is in order. Lost for over 100 years, the first submarine to ever sink an enemy ship in battle was found off the coast of Charleston. A recovery project to restore the ship and learn more about it is just a few minutes drive from my home. To see and learn how this small vessel was able to tackle such an incredible task is very interesting if you're into history and random facts. And you know I'm all about the random facts.

The second day of your trip can also include some time for relaxing on the beach. The coastline at Isle of Palms always offers the relaxing sound of waves and walks along the water include views of some gorgeous homes.

Dining Options:

Breakfast - Charleston's Cafe
Lunch - One of the options you didn't eat the day before
Supper -- Coast Bar & Grill if you're feeling like seafood, Basil if you'd like something spicy

Sometimes Life Takes Us Full Circle

I was looking for a specific blog post the other day and I ran across this one. So appropriate for my life right now. This time I took a risk and let the person in. And then I got hurt. And instead of walking away, I've let them hang around as part of my life from afar. Part of it is because I know that in a few months I will gain some benefit from this person. Part of it is because this person fascinates me. And part of it is because it gives me hope that there are people out there who share some of my same quirks.

But I know that in a few months I'll also say goodbye and walk away knowing it's what I have to do.