And one CRAZY busy month it's been! I know I shared previously about the first Boot Camp...well...we had a second one at the end of the month, and it was a fantastic success! We had nearly 200 candidates there, many of whom were repeat participants. We had a great time! And now that the two Spring Drive in Clinics are behind us...what lies ahead are only a packing party, because the countdown is on! National Board Certification candidates are mailing their boxes in just two weeks...and I couldn't be happier! I must admit though...I'm a little sad, because I know my life and my work will change dramatically once the new loan program goes into place. That's okay...change is good...but I sure will miss the work I've done with this program in the last four and a half years.
I have continued the work on my house. I'm keeping a list of everyone who's helped out with the house. I have to - otherwise I won't remember them all! So far, we've almost gotten the upstairs ready to completely paint...and then we can do the floors up there. Just as soon as we thought the master bedroom was ready to trim and be done...I decided I wanted the old trim to be taken down...and that jacked up parts of the upper wall, so Kim's gotta go back and do some puttying and fixing so we can then go back and paint it...stupid ideas for grand wallscaping. Ugh.
I had planned to go over to the house this past Sunday and work...but was waylayed by a stomach virus. (More on that later.) So...I haven't made much progress...but what I have gotten a great deal done. We've nearly gotten the last bedroom upstairs ready to paint. The hallways are also almost ready to paint upstairs. Downstairs we've gotta drill the sheetrock back into the walls (it's covering plaster, which is stupid to me, but hey, I didn't do it, and I'm not undoing it because that's a mess I don't have time for), and then we can paint downstairs. I started sanding in the entrance foyer and the Great Room downstairs...and that's where I ended. I'll get back to that this weekend after Convention. Once I get all that sanding done, we can move on!
My uncle HB has come and covered an old vent hole in the upstairs kitchen, and I ripped out an old window up there that was cut in half. (Odd people, those upstairs people.) HB and Candace also corrected an issue with the upstairs rear entry where there used to be a window...now there's just a wall. (No song suggestions, please.) Kim and Terri have been busy destroying things, which is just the way I like it. After I ripped out the shelving and partial cabinets upstairs (man, that was fun), Kim came behind me and pulled out the front wall to the 1/2 bath. (I'm going to convert the room to a full bath with a storage/linen closet). Terri's also working downstairs to help complete the removal of wallpaper in the downstairs bathroom. My brother's going to come over (I know, I can't believe it either, but I'm pretty freakin' jazzed about it) and help me move a wall, lower a ceiling or two, and create a doorway. My HOPE...note it's a hope...is that by Easter or so, we'll have the place ready to work on the floors. There's a lot to be done, and that's one ambitious goal...but I think we can do it. I can see it...I really can see it. Paint helps.
My one wish? Tiling. I wish I knew how to tile. I'm going to learn, though, by God. I'll figure it out one way or another. See, I have this bathroom upstairs that I need to put tile in around the bathtub and shower area. Then, I can just paint the rest of it and call it a day. Then, I've got the other full bath I'm trying to put in upstairs, where I want to put in a tub/shower combo...and I'll likely want to tile the floor because we'll more than likely have to rip up the good, beautiful old hardwoods to do the plumbing. And downstairs...well...whatever mastermind put in the shower downstairs apparently didn't have a level, because the ENTIRE THING is crooked...so, I'm just going to pull it out, stick in a drain, and tile the whole thing...it'll be one BIG shower. I may even put in one of those two headed showers. How hot would that be? :)
So...yeah...that's what's going on in my world. My house is the center of my universe right now. If only the other half would get his whole half down here to help...or at least enjoy watching the rest of us. LOL. Eh...soon enough. :)
Until next time!
