Mea Culpa

I had to do something rather shitty and I'm disappointed.

I've been playing in the basement all day. Apparently while I was doing that, C was upstairs becoming increasingly full of snot. He got up to walk the dogs and said he wasn't well. I could tell by looking at him he wasn't well. He said he could still come with to spend time with Dad but he didn't want to make anyone else sick. He asked me to think about it.

I got in the tub and did my hair and reflected. I was really looking forward to seeing my Dad and the family but I knew the right thing to do was to have C keep to himself.

I have some problems driving at night and my preference is to avoid it at all costs. So I thought C could take me to Dad's and I could cab it home. A workable solution.

I guess Dad wasn't so keen with the cost of the cab ride as he suggested we bag it. So here I sit, showered, hair done, foundation and primer on. . .feeling terrible for having them go through all that preparation and work and essentially cancelling on them.

I know they understand. But it doesn't make me feel any better. I was looking forward to spending time with them. Happy Easter Dad & Patty. I love you!! Big Hugs! Thank you for being so gracious.

Organizational Nirvana II

The less creative and more serious side of the basement.

Organzational Nirvana haha!

Remember when you were a kid and you had a play room stocked with crayons and construction paper and all sort of other stuff to keep you busy and creative? I've never outgrown that!

Utility table

With 2 new desk lamps is ready for a project or 3!

Allister Approves

Of the new and improved basement.

Battle of the Basement Won!!

There are a few odds n ends but finally back on track. Time well spent I suppose. Now I will be free for guiltless yard work for the next few weekends.

Wrecked!

The recycle only gets collected 2 times a month under best circumstances. Due to yesterday's holiday, we have 2 more weeks to go! Where will we put it all?! Hate that! Considered moving to Zone 5 which gets picked up 2 times a week but doubt a recycle schedule is adequate justification for relocation.

Basement Throwdown - 1 week

Its been a full week since I started this little project. Ugh. Things are getting there slowly. I'm a filthy mess and the weather is chilly and wet so I guess conditions are perfect to finally get this mess put to bed. Deadliest Catch Marathon today! Yeah!!!!

Patience is a Virtue and I'm Clearly Lacking!

As you can see I'm a little impatient with my technology. Am I succumbing to McDonalds mentality? I just downloaded the best of Grandmaster Flash (yes I am that pathetic and old) - in a split second.

Does it matter that I read 2 books this week and a handful of magazines. . .?

No. I've got to get off the grid. LOL. I'm a technological mess! I feel as if I"m getting stupider by the minute. But Grandmaster Flash does rock it! Don't I deserve it for all my efforts in the basement?

ECK!!!!!! LOL. Flash 2 Times. . .Why don't you find somebody and party? ('Cause I'm old and fully understand the repercussions. . .) Thank you GM Flash!! How things changes from 6th grade to nearly half way to 66 years!

I'm about to trade his noise for songbirds. If it's not raining me and the woofs are going to spend QT in the park and I hope to get some pics.

The Wall and Progress

I'm making progress. This basement and it's chaos will be toast in another 16 hours (not straight thru! - I hope!!!!) Poor C won't be able to find a blessed thing but that allows me "spousal security." He won't be able to run me off or kill me off for fear he'll never find his beloved Dodgeball DVD or fav drill bit ever again!!!

Now to the "wall". . .Which every athlete references. And apparently what every domestic diva also hits. . .her-head-against-repeatedly.

At any rate, Jon Katz (bedlamfarm.com) has been taking phenomenal photos and writing lovely things about (real) old stone walls/fences he finds in the woods in upstate NY.

He has a novel take on the walls - He wants to know what was kept in the walls. He's not interested in what was kept out. That triggered a gigantic reaction on my part.

I think of building a wall - physical, mental, or emotional to keep unwanted things out. Perhaps, I should think of it more as keeping important things protected and contained. . .A more "circle the wagons" approach. . .Protecting what's important.

I'm not done with the wall. . .I'm also not done with the basement. . .More on the Wall and Progress later.

Tilghman in the eye of the storm

That is our basement. For once he's the calm and not the chaos. Could our little guy finally be growing up?

Tilghman in the Eye of the Storm

Rather than being the Storm for once!

Incommunicado!!!

I attempted to post a pic of Tilghman looking so sweet and calm in the midst of basement throwdown '09. But I keep getting an infuriating message that I'm not in an area that supports my Crackberry browser at this time. WTF? First Comcast and now AT&T Wireless?

Trying to take it in stride since currently the junk in the basement is my nemesis and I can't be loathing my technology when my wrath should be squarely focused on clutter.

Have realized I have "repurpose-itis." Meaning, I'm more than happy to part with quality items - never worn clothes or gently used household items; but if there's a scrap of paper, fabric, a hunk of broken pottery - essentially garbage, I can't stand to part with it - I think I might be able to repurpose it.

Not much I can do about it but stockpile it. Someday someone somewhere might want/need a cat bed (or something) made out of a glorious but stained camel colored cashmere cardigan and I know exactly where to find one of those! (Or at least I did about 2 hours ago - where it is now is any one's guess!)

Test

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

I'm Stuck!!!

I seem to be walking around with the same junk in my hands for half an hour. The shelves look good and everything is accessible but I can't seem to move forward. Time for a drink! LOL!!

The pets' medicine cabinet

Mostly - there's a basket in the kitchen too!! They are well loved and they love us well - except for the occassional shot, pill forcing, etc.

Basement Throwdown

Not to seem defeatiest but I also have these if all else fails!

3 day weekend basement throwdown

I have a case of beer and about $150 in organizational supplies. The basement is going DOWN!!!!

Spring on S Chester Streer

Eddie Bs Glass Door Lounge

Fayette and S Central. Claims coldest beer in town.

Detouring to avoid traffic

Seldom works. I'm stuck near the city govt buildings and traffic is gridlocked. Really glad I left work early - spent the time well - in traffic!

Spring Weather!

I don't think its supposed to last tho.

City Hall

Spring in Baltimore

Bank Street

Why did this piece of paper cost $10?!

Friday Evening 6:40. . .On my way home from work. Phone rings. It's C. "Where are you?" This is code for "I need you to run an errand."

C apparently needs a printer cartridge. Luckily for C there is an Office Depot downtown close to my route home.

Minor glich - It's nearly 7 PM on a Friday night. Getting parking in Little Italy is going to be ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as having an Office Depot located in Historic Little Italy. Whatev?

I'm actually not a bad parallel parker. I'd consider myself better than average. I tried to wedge myself between a brand new Mercedes and a BMW. The spot was clearly too small but I had to try given the lack of other viable options. After I tapped the BMW about 3 times decided to abort.

As luck would have it, there was a lot close by. . .And it was nearly empty. The lot is one of those deals were you park and put the money in a little box and you get a ticket - very low tech.

I'm intercepted en route to the box by some fellow waiving the ticket pictured. He explains to me weekend parking is flat $10.00. I explained I'd only be 10 minutes tops and could I give him $5? No. AND he wouldn't let me leave. Once you pull in, you pay. I realize times are tough but isn't that a little unreasonable? I've gotta think $5 or 5 minutes is a waaaaay better deal than $10 for a 2 or 3 hour dinner another patron might use. He was immune to my charms. So I finally muttered an unladylike holy shit under my breath and gave him all the cash in my wallet. Luckily I had cash - I don't typically.

Walk two quick blocks to Office Depot. . .It's FREAKING closed!!!!!!

My $10 piece of paper is about to be recycled. . .

Battle of the Basement Day 4

Battle of the Basement Continues

Thank goodness we have a long weekend. This is taking forever!!

All that great artificial light at the newly placed utility table, I was yapping about last night? Not so much. One of the cats has managed to knock the light off the table at some point today. I guess I'll be replacing that pronto because in this little cleaning adventure I've found no less than 10 unfinished projects!!

Here's some more randomness. . .

Apparently you cannot make sugar free instant pudding with rice milk. . .It NEVER sets!! I should have known. WTF? I'm considering adding some espresso vodka and creating some sort of chocolate martini/shot out of the remnants.

Dexter's little biopsy was not malignant (YEAH). They just aren't sure what exactly is going on the vet speculated hypersensitivity to a minor infection. Ahhhh. . .That sounds about right. More meds and rechecks. That's ok. I'm happy he's going to be good as new in no time.

And if you're that jerk in the new white Lexus SVU who cut me off 3 times on the JFX at damned near 80 MPH, this afternoon: I have your plate number and a law degree! LOL. . .But seriously.

I have to go pretend 3 gingersnaps are a satisfying snack and shuffle a bunch of stuff.

OH!!! Almost forgot, Deadliest Catch - best reality show EEEVVVVVERRRRRRRR - is back next week - the 14th at 9. Love, love, love. I'm addicted!

Mornin' from Snuggle Buddy

WTF? Out of everywhere he could snooze, he picks this? Maybe cats aren't as smart as we give them credit for? Or maybe they are infinitetly smarter and we're missing something fundamental? Probably both depending on which one of us you ask.

PS So aggressively hungry (apparently) I damned near took out the inside of my cheek crunching a carrot dipped in hummus!

Fat Cat on a Little (silk) Pillow

Yikes!!!! It gets better. . .

Few more shelves

They are actually waaaaaayyy better put together now.

Objects of Desire

And adoration - tags. That I put on gifts wrapped in craft paper and tied with hemp string. . .or to label things in the house. Simple and thoughtful love love love!

I'm Worried

I'm worried about a lot of things if I indulge it. But primarily this evening I'm worried about my Grandmother. She is a 92.5 year old rock star. She has been recently overwhelmed with terrible back pain and I feel terrible that at her age she would have to endure such pain. I also worry that she won't live long enough to meet any great grandchildren. I suppose it's morbid to worry about such things but I do sometimes.

I used to not fear death but recently I have and do. . .I suppose that is tied to my struggle with faith. And finally being mature enough to understand that I'm not invincible. I'll figure it out. And if I don't, I'm still going to end up dead. . .haha. . .Little funny. . .little gallows humor. . .

Maybe it's not just my faith that's bothering me. Maybe I'm not living my authentic life. Maybe I haven't figured out what and who and where I'm supposed to be yet? Maybe that's it?

I would imagine Merton would say it's one in the same.

Maybe I'm meant to shuffle my belongings around and re-arrange them until all hours of the morning, focusing, thinking, being quiet. It's like meditation for me - always has been. I am productive and waiting patiently for a new sunrise, a fresh start, a new opportunity to do better, work harder, to have fun.

Maybe sorting and moving and shifting inanimate objects helps me take inventory of my thoughts, feelings, emotions - it does. A coping mechanism and therapy of sorts if you will.

I'm going to say a prayer for all of us, as I often do, while I'm sorting my "stuff" and look forward to a bright new day. I think my Grandma and Merton would appreciate that.

Great Junk Shuffle

This area gets horrible natural light but great artificial light so I decided - old eyes not being what they once were - the big table - should be relocated so I can better paint, craft, and sew. Also removes me from the computer and TV for better focus. I can still hear the itunes, XM radio, etc and if I shift the right way can still catch glimpses of whatever sporting event or trashy reality tv is on at any given moment!

The Great Junk Shuffle!

Moving all my painting and other looney crafting stuff to another part of the basement. I think this area is better suited to those purposes.

All Seems Right with the World. . .

The O's beat the Yankees on Opening Day. Mr. Tastee was trolling the neighborhood peddling his ice cream. . .And hopefully not crack! It's a short work week. . .I've managed to clean up three shelves in the basement. Tilghman didn't TCB in the basement. . .What more could a gal want?

TO LOSE ANOTHER 25 FLIPPITY FREAKIN POUNDS!!!!!!! LOL!!!

I just love pigs!

Dog Toy. . .Mmmmmm. . .Bacon and pork chops and tenderloin, and sausage. . .And proscuitto and other salty cured meats. . .That I don't eat. Because pigs are very intelligent animals and are typically raised in deplorable CAFOs.

I Loathe this Chick!!

Sharon Mann on Fit TV. She's clearly a psycho! How can one woman be so damned perky while exercising? Sooooo obnoxious!

UGH!!!

I thought with her bad hips Molly's sofa sneaking days were over. At least she just had a bath!

Shuffle board anyone?

Pat n piss I've been practicing! I totally lie - I have not been practicing yet still hold out hope that I open up a can of whop ass.

BTW the bartender remembers me and mocks my technique to this day