The Basement Saga part 1

This really is a saga. It's going to take months and money and sweat, probably some blood too because we know how this works.

I'm hoping to be in my new bedroom after soaking in my new tub by October some time. Am I dreaming? Probably but a girl's gotta dream.

On the Fourth of July while the rest of the world was relaxing and watching fireworks or grilling out my dad and I decided that 90 was a good temperature to dig holes in. We were crazy. We did get almost all of the first hole dug. We didn't die either so that's good, if we had though we could have just rolled that person into the hole and back filled. It's definitely big enough.

There will be a pair of holes. They are for the egress windows that are required for living space in the basement. They'll let a lot of light in too so we don't turn into people that could be mistake for Powder.

I do have a picture of the plans and I'll have to post that later since I forgot to scan it. The dimensions though are as follows: Bedroom 18x14, bathroom 12x14, living space 40x13 (whole length of the house).

I really can't wait until we have a little more US space. The only downside is that we'll be as far away from Gabe as possible. So I'll need to get another monitor. My mom is in the room next to Gabe so he's not alone or anything but it will take some getting used to I think for me.

Without further ado here are the first pictures of the side of the house. The one on the right will be the bedroom, the one on the left is the living space.

The first hole, both will be about 65 inches side to side and from the top of the window to the bottom of the hole is about 52 inches, it's 36 inches out from the house.

The second window and where the next hole will be dug next weekend. That's the top of the umbrella laying on the side. We use it to keep the sun off of us.

Friends

Sometimes I forget how much I love my friends. Sometimes I forget I have more friends than I think too.

We had a fabulous day Saturday with lots of friends, old and new, and I find each and every time we get to go and be geeks wonderful unexpected things happen and I always find new friends.

I remember why the gaming community is something that I love and I don't mind calling myself a gamer anymore. Ten years ago I would have avoided calling myself that at all costs, now not so much. The people are some of the nicest, sweetest, most giving and generous people I've ever had the privilege to meet. The few jerks can be ignored, every group has them.

Of course when we get home at 2:30 am and only get four hours of sleep the next morning I remember why I don't do it more but I do know I want to do it more anyhow. Although I think we need a bigger vehicle. Someone should have a van (other than Jenny :P)

I'm really looking forward to our "little" BBQ this Saturday and I'm hoping I have enough food/drinks/fun (EEK!) but no matter what I know that we'll have a blast.

If you're heading our way next weekend we can't wait to see you. Bring some beer (or whatever you drink) and anything else you think might be fun. Heck bring someONE you think might be fun too. Maybe we'll pitch more than one tent in the backyard. This is one of those events that reminds me why I love having a yard and a house.

OOOH in completely other news, we got the loan for the basement so we will be starting all of that work. I'm REALLY hoping to be in the finished product by October. That way we'll have even more room (privacy) for us and anyone who wants to come and stay. Then the parties can get even bigger ;)

1094 days

Every once and awhile you surprise yourself. It sneaks up on you and suddenly you look at yourself and are all "huh did I do that?" It's usually something you talked yourself out of and when you finally make the leap you find out that you can do it.

Today I took a math final where I knew I was the most prepared student. I taught several other people things that they needed before class. I was the one people came to for help this semester. When did that happen? When I was in high school I used to be the one that needed help but most of the time I was too afraid to even ask for it. I was the one that never thought I was very good at math. Now I got a 100% on my final and have an A for the semester. When did I get so smart? Was I always good at math and just convinced myself that it wasn't cool for a girl to be good at it? I hope not.

I hope that as I've gotten older I've become better at focusing and concentrating on what is really important.

Henry Ford said "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal" I think he was right. I have my eyes on the goal now. I know what's important. I don't really care what other people think of me and I'm going to do the best job I can do because I'm the only one that matters.

I have one last test to take before I'm done for the semester and it's anatomy. I'm really working hard so that I end up with an A in this class too. It's definitely my hardest class but it's also the most fun.

I did my first college English paper this semester and I got 190/200 points on it and it was all about carseats, which is even more fun. I got to write about something I like and I got a good grade on it. I have an A for my final grade in that class as well. All my Psych work is in but the teacher hasn't given back grades, as far as I can figure I have a B+ or A- in that one too.

One more to go! Eye on the first goal. I am already on my way to achieving my goal of being a nurse. Only about 1094 days til I graduate.

Fog

Noun- A cloudlike mass or layer of minute water droplets or ice crystals near the surface of the earth, appreciably reducing visibility.

In reality it means that we're cooped up inside and Gabe is laying on the floor wrapped in a blanket and with a pillow watching tv. He's awful melancholy for a 3 year old sometimes. Maybe he's part Eeyore? Such a funny boy sometimes. I just hope he's not getting sick. He says he's sad today. It's amazing how sensitive kids can be to things like the weather.

I'm really looking forward to some nice warm weather this anti-spring junk has to end. Yes we need the rain but geez can it be warmer than 50 out for it at least? My heat is still kicking in. I hate the cold and damp. It does horrible things for Mike as well. We want warm dry weather any day now, please?

I'm just about done with school. I have til next Friday but that's really only two meetings for one class left. There are no big or exciting plans for summer though. We are hoping to have a big BBQ at the end of June, so if you're local and haven't been invited check Facebook and send me a message. I promise I want you I just forgot :D

We interrupt this blog....

With just three weeks left in the school year I've been a bit busy. I've just submitted the rough draft of my first real college paper for English. Of course it was about carseats ;) So that's mostly where I've been and what I've been doing.

I do exist I promise!

We're busy at the house as well. We're going to be painting the outside. We have actually bought paint so any day now we can start. We need to seal the deck too, bought that stuff already. My mom put up some lattice work around the deck so the cats don't decide to go hiding.

Lewis- He would and he's dumb enough to not find his way out of a paper bag. He's cute and has a lot of extra toes so we keep him.

Mango-I'm not sure she'll go outside at all. She's a big ball of fluff and teeth (no claws) and really is Mike's cat. Once she got into the hallway of our apartment complex and she was so scared she peed herself.

PJ- He's not that bright either but he's little so he can squeeze through a lot of little places. He likes being outside too though.

Moses- Well she's fat so she can't get into or out of much. I'm betting she'll just lay on the deck and bask in the sunshine.

Yes I admit to having four cats. We're not really crazy cat people, though I'm more of a cat person than a dog person. My mom had Lewis and PJ and we had Mango and Moses and now that we all live together we have four. It's quite amusing most of the time.

There will be a full fence going up this summer as well so the cats can roam the yard freely then.

I'm hoping to have some fun this summer and in just three weeks I'll be free of school til fall (I think).

Over a month?

Image by aussiegall via Flickr

I haven't posted anything in over a month :( Wow I'm sad.

School is great, I'm on spring break now. I've got 2 A- and 2 A's so I'm happy! I really enjoy school. Of course these are the easy classes right? :D It's finally nice outside so I'm thrilled my spring break is later than most colleges too. We're actually seeing the sunshine and warm weather before the humidity kicks in an ruins it.

As for life, well we're FINALLY getting the plans together to do the basement renovation. I'm going to hope we'll be all settled by October in our own bedroom. The plans are in the baby stages and we have to have them approved by the city but we read through things pretty well so I don't think there is anything they wouldn't approve. We're putting bigger than needed windows and we've left enough space next to the furnace and we'll have good ceiling height too.

Anyone who is handy (or dumb enough to take orders from me) is welcome to help us on any part of it. We're going to need hands!

Gabe is getting huge and his vocabulary is EXPLODING so ya really gotta watch what you say around him or you'll be in trouble. We've had to explain that a dam is something beavers build already, oops.

Mike and I just celebrated our EIGHT! wedding anniversary on March 20th. I have such a hard time believing that I've been so incredibly lucky and blessed to have him in my life. He's truly my best friend, the first person I want to talk to every day and the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. I can't imagine being with anyone else. I love him so much! Infinity plus one ;)

Things get away from me

Image by rosefirerising via Flickr

It seems that the busier I get the less I update even though I should have more interesting things to say right?

I've been uber busy with school, anatomy is definitely a time sink, but at least it's enjoyable. The other three classes are just annoying.

I've been actually keeping up with laundry and putting it away. It's a nice change to be able to find my clothes for once. I got a super cute hair cut which I'm in love with. I just wish that I could get it as flat as the stylist did. I'm sure it's because her flat iron is better than mine and she can see every spot on my head without contorting. I even bought all the products I'm supposed to and they definitely make a difference. I think the hubby is glad to see his wife not in a ponytail too.

Otherwise it's the big V day weekend, we have no romantic plans really but that's not a biggie. Mike brought home an orchid for me spur of the moment on Thursday which he knows I love. General running around and familial obligations to attend to should be fun too.

I just wanted to let everyone know I'm not dead just busy for once.