Adventures in Renovation

So...it was a very long, yet very productive weekend. We put in two very full days and had a WONDERFUL crew of 3 extra people helping us out. And there was very little arm twisting. Two of them even showed up two days in a row! We have taken lots of pictures of the current status, and those will be uploaded later today (hopefully).

The most exciting part involved an "I told you so moment." I really dislike hot feet. REALLY...DISLIKE. Therefore, I am not a fan of working in sneakers. Yeah, I know, it's a construction site, and there is all sorts of crud on the floor, but my feet are tough. Right?!?! Anyway, my feet weren't the problem. I stepped into the kitchen, onto a wet floor, in flip-flops and WIPED out. No graceful Gene Kelley kind of choreographed fall, either. Smack. Boom. Arm right into the railing leading down the stairs into the bathroom. Chris walked in to see me writhing in pain on the floor, and, to his credit, did ask me how I was before telling me I shouldn't be wearing flip-flops. Fortunately, no broken arm, no trip to the emergency room, any of that. Just a pretty bruise.

Our version of Easter

I just ran across another blog, discussing their crazy Easter egg hunt, and I truly believe that no one can out-do ours... I regularly kick butt, and make upwards of $75. You have to understand, while some of these eggs hold candy or change, some hold up to $20. Unfortunately, at least one of the $20 is usually sunk at the bottom of the pool, and since I have to drive some ways afterwards, I don't usually go for THAT egg. Also, what is crazy, is that more than one of these participants is or was a college athlete. (Including myself. Water-polo. Real sport.) However, I am SUBSTANTIALLY smaller than everyone else. Not in weight (at least not anymore), but in height. Bobby's got about a foot and 1/2 on me. I'm the little one in the purple 1-strap tank. This was our "ghetto" year. We wrote all sorts of fun slogans on our bodies. Yes, mine says, "Two schools smarter." We're a little proud of our institutions of higher learning, can you tell? I hope it happens again this year. It hasn't since Jim and Sara moved away from NC and her parents. We need more 20-somethings running around like fools while I'm still a 20-something!!!

See some other people (also named Katie and Chris) who participate in such mature activities.

Cesar's Way

In eager anticipation for our future puppy (still a few months out), Chris and I have started reading training books. Of course, that means all other books have been relegated back to the "to be read" pile. This weekend, I read the bestseller "Cesar's Way", and, to be honest, it deserves to have sold every copy that it has. I thoroughly enjoyed it, learned a ton, and am glad it's on my bookshelf. It did name drop a little excessively, but other than that, was everything I hoped it would be. Remember, your dog needs Exercise, THEN Discipline, THEN Affection...and be the best Calm, Assertive person you can be. Grade: A

Sharing Every Day

A couple of days ago, I was at the bank, and the teller asked how I was...for some reason it took me a moment to answer. He asked about my pause, and I responded that I just had to process the question. We got into a discussion about how frequently people tend to just brush people off in every day life, and fail to stop and talk with those around them. I shared a story about how my boss, knowing I am a disgustingly cheerful morning person, once bet me that I couldn't say "hello" in my cheerful, sing-song way to every person we met on our travels to a client site. If I could, he would buy my morning cup of coffee. (You have to realize that our travels start with a 6:19am train, and so this is truly a test of my morning-person-ness.) Not only did I sing-song to people we knew, or interacted with, but EVERY...SINGLE...PERSON we passed in the train station, and on our walk. Needless to say I won my coffee. And also made quite a few people smile.

The conversation at the bank just reminded me how important it is to connect. Also, how I used to lament the cold nature of the east coast when I originally moved here. So, post-bank, I am again making an effort to have "real" conversations with people I interact with. You really notice a response, too! I am pleased to say that the woman at the grocery store (who got off work in 45 minutes, but was tormented by a clock that always had the wrong time on it), and the nurse who drew my blood (and explained how the yellow goo in the vial helped separate the blood serum, and remembered me coming in two days in a row), both responded very well, as did countless others. So, I hope I can continue to be a sickeningly cheerful person. Nudge me if I forget.

Take a Chance Challenge

So, the next challenge I plan to participate in is the Take a Chance Challenge. This involves new and innovative ways of either finding a book, or reviewing it. I figure I'll just do the challenges in order. So task number 1:

Random Book Selection. Go to the library. Position yourself in a section such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, Children (whatever section you want). Then write down random directions for yourself (for example, third row, second shelf, fifth book from right). Follow your directions and see what book you find. Check that book out of the library, read it and then write about it. (If you prefer, you can do the same at a bookstore and buy the book!)

My plan: I will find a shelving unit and select the bottom row, 10th book. I'll let you know what I end up with!

The World Without Us

Well, the Challenge is now over, with my total only being around 6.5 hours. Didn't finish The World Without Us, but have been enjoying it, and I'll write up the review to where I've reached.





The World Without Us was turned into a television special, which I've seen a few times, and may have done a better job. I'm thoroughly enjoying the book, but it does sometimes go off on tangents, or get bogged down in facts. I'm a complete dork, though, and appreciate it. Can't say I think it would be for everyone. I was laughing, though, as Chris was writing a paper for class on urban stream management, and I was reading a chapter on how Manhattan's rivers that had been forced underground, would likely be an early factor in the city's deterioration after humans disappeared. I will finish the book, and will enjoy doing so, but you have to remember that we have an environmental, hippy bent to us, and so it may be of interest to a narrow group of people. Grade: B+.

Last Night at the Lobster

So, the challenge has not gone well. I was getting sick trying to read in the car, then the wedding, then went and played wiffleball with friends once I got home. So...at a grand total of 3.5 hours so far, I have one book done.



Last Night at the Lobster was a wonderfully written book. Not really something you want to read if you are looking for "light and happy", though. The book centers around the manager of a Red Lobster, that has been slated to close the next day. It is how he faces the last night of the restaurant, the last time he'll see a former girlfriend who waitresses there, and a snow storm to boot. It is touching, and you can't help but love, respect, and pity Manny throughout the last hours he works. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Grade: A.