Life moves fast sometimes

Ralph put in for the Sam's Club they are building here in Surprise. I so hope he gets the promotion. I think he deserves it.
Found out through knowing someone who knows someone that Megan is (crossed fingers) getting into the school I wanted her in. If so she'll be right there by me but we won't know until the 10th day of school.
Summer camp is over and we have one week of prep before my classes start.
Meg and Andrew start August 11.

Things seem to be moving very quickly.

part 2 because I'm a goof and can't figure this out

I had to split this into two posts because I can't seem to get them in the right order with the words. It makes me glump them all together (words) (pictures) can't do words picture words picture. I least I can't figure it out. So here is the whole room with the beat up old coffee table I got for a steal (42) and a close up of the material on the couch!

Our new look

Well I called the next day and the couches were gone. I resigned myself to it but came home on Wednesday and there they were sitting pretty as can be in my family room! Turns out my wonderfully generous in-laws got them for me for my birthday and for DH and I for Christmas. A nice combo present early :) Ralph and I went back and got the ugly coffee table that is as sturdy as one can be and brought it home to be primed and painted along with my end tables. Then I'll have a nice co-ordinated family room. Here are the new couches! This one is on the left wall and the one below is on the long wall.

Oh wow!

Only 48 hours?! Well lets see-- Ralph put gum out in the van and had put something that was supposed to stop oil leaks in the car and it did. As a result it had too much oil- got an oil change and it's running perfectly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes!!!! WooHoo!

I found 2 couches for under 600.00 and a coffee table for 40 dollars. I'm so happy. The couches are Ethan Allan and are in perfect condition and beautiful. The coffee table in really torn up but its solid wood so I'm going to sand and paint it and it'll look perfect.

The last 48 hours have been really good!

Vacation - Day 2

OK got Meg's clothes boxed up. Well they are in a tub not boxed because I'm sure there is a piece here and there that was left out and I want to wait to make sure I have them all before I close it up and send it off.
I went through all my books. combined the paperback and the hard back books by author. Now what do I do with them all? I had the hard backs on the half wall but now that the hard and soft are combined I don't have enough room. I have to figure out what to do and then get it done quickly. I still have my closet to do which is a 2 day job - one 8 hour job if I really work.
Ralph went back to work; today his vacation came to an end.
Well off to figure out what to do about the books. If I could figure out what to do with the car I'd be thrilled. Everything that shouldn't leak does. It needs a new engine, thermostat, probably brakes too - again. This car goes through brakes like I go through soda pop.
OK off to deal with the books.

On Vacation

Well it's my first official day of vacation. My plans for today are to -- go through Meg's clothes and take out the ones that are too small for her. Box them up and get them ready to be shipped out. I'm going to send them to my sister Jody so she can hold them for Stacey to go through. Then Stacey can take what she doesn't want to once upon a child and keep whatever they give her. I can still write it off as a deduction (even though I never do I can). Phase two is similar. I'm going to go through all my clothes and anything I'm not wearing consistently goes as does most of my winter clothes. In the five years we've lived here I've not worn most of them. It never gets cold enough long enough to wear them. So they are just taking up room in my closet. Time to say goodbye to them. Project 3 is to clean up above the cabinets in the kitchen. Nasty job; but it needs to be done. Thankfully I still have some Murphy's oil soap as that is the only thing I've found it good for.

Yesterday we went and looked at couches. There is a consignment store not too far from here and they have model home furniture along with some really nice stuff and I found a couch I want. Its a sectional in a wheat colored chenille custom built. I like it because it's nice and neutral , not too big or too small and is a good transition piece. I've decided to take the advice of the "experts" and I went into my closet to see what color I wear the most. That was easy Red and tan. then I asked Ralph if he could wear any color he wanted what color would it be he said blue. I asked him what his favorite color for me was and he said red. So we are going to leave behind the dark browns and greens and move towards tans and reds with some blue thrown in. I found the lamps I want at Fry's marketplace (Fry's is Kroger's grocery of all things) They are red and white, I bought some red throw pillows at Target although I need more and plan to check out Pier One - If not I could make some, I need a new sewing machine but a basic one would work fine. I want to dye the curtains which are actually 6 white king sized flat sheets. I don't know what color to do them in though. Tan is obviously an option but I'm not gung ho on that. Red probably would work well and would be too much, blue is an option too but hey I'm open to suggestions. I can't get the couch right now of course but since my kaput van was just paid off and so is Meg's tuition that frees up a little bit of money soon. The couch may not be there then of course but I'll keep checking and I know there will be something that'll work. My couch is in very bad shape and needs to be replaced which ticks me off as much as I paid for it. Unless I can just pay outright for it I'm never buying such a thing again especially a new car. Nope rather buy a low mileage used one. I tell James that all the time. Look for a good used one don't buy anew one until you are over 25. Odds are too good he'll wreck it and he'd have a negative equity-- too risky. OK I've rambled on enough to postpone doing Meg's closet and drawers so off I go. Seriously. I'm going. Soon. Right after I play a few hands of Qwerty. (Scrabble on POGO.com)

Life is so hard some days

Life really can be a trial. Today is one really rotten crappy day. Found out the car is gonna be kaput soon and we can't afford a new one - just paid this one off; Like, just paid it off a week ago. I'm so tired of money problems. It seems like this cloud of bad luck simply follows us around. Every time I think we've gotten a little bit ahead nope we are two steps farther behind. Enough please. I've prayed and prayed, hoped and had faith but sheesh isn't it time to test someone else? I'm emotionally exhausted. I'm sick all the time and I know its stress. So is Ralph. The stress is literally killing him. I hope to have him around for 5 more years but it's no longer something I expect as due course. his kidneys, his BP, his weight, his back all combined to take a very heavy toll on him. Today was my last day at work before my vacation too. Happy bleeping vacation to me.