I am embarrassed about my neglect of sending out a blog for such a long time. I have reasons, which many may call excuses, but all I can say is: over the past months I could write a book of experiences, if only I had the time to sit down and put them to paper.

But today became my “snow day” (you know those days, where even if you have plans you can’t do them because a snow storm has settled in). Yes, the sun is shining, and even the temperature is quite nice, but I am literally house bound.

Let me take you back to earlier this summer. We contracted someone to put interlock tile flooring throughout our main floor excluding the small living room that has a good quality carpet and since it is used very little it doesn’t need to be replaced. But the rest of the main floor was screaming, “I have outlived my warrantee by about 20 years, so do what you must do.” If you had seen the floor, you, too, would have agreed this is an act of mercy.

When we hired him, we said we were in no rush. He is very busy with many projects, and this being an inside job (excuse the pun, not only was it something that could be done when the weather is lousy, but he is a friend so it was an inside job on many levels!) we could wait until the colder weather of the fall, but asked to have it done by Christmas. Well, summer around here wasn’t great, but not bad enough to send him indoors. September – beautiful, October – yucky ( I was starting to dream about that all important call, “I’ll be there in the morning”) November – beautiful, so on December 6th he informed us he could start that week in order to be done by Christmas. Within a day and a half the entire main floor was stripped down and either piled in the living room, basement, or in my son’s vacant bedroom. I had hoped he wouldn’t come home until everything was done, but he assured me, “Mom, all I need is my bed.” “Oh, Dear, about your bed!”

I wanted to be on site for our Reno Friend, and so I had been only running out when my husband was available to be on location. But I thought that by today, he has been here almost a week, and that he would be near to finished, so we could afford to both be away. I really didn’t want to opt out of my Share’n’Care group’s Christmas luncheon and my husband didn’t think is was necessary to miss his curling game in the afternoon. This morning I planned to hit the gym before our Reno Friend arrived. I went out to the garage but I couldn’t get the garage door open. Long story short – The spring was broken so it couldn’t even be opened manually. I promptly phoned and Garage-door-opener Guy said he would come today, but couldn’t say when. “Will someone be home all day?” I wanted to say “No!” or “Yes, but you may have to work with our Reno Friend if you are only able to come in the afternoon.” But I reluctantly answered with only a “Yes” and knew that I would just make one call to tell my girlfriend that I couldn’t attend the luncheon knowing that it wasn’t fair to ask our Reno Friend to deal with Garage-door-opener Guy. But before he hung up Garage-door-opener Guy said he would call before he arrived. By the time I realized the conflict in that it was too late. Mid morning it became clear I couldn’t even step in the shower or I might miss the call.

And though there is no snow, as a matter of fact there is no wind, and the sun is shining in my face, but here I am taking a “snow day” and doing things that I have wanted to do but just haven’t has the time to sit down to do. And when I think about it, even though my house is a total disaster only a week before Christmas, I have no baking done, because, I still don’t have a functioning kitchen (thank you, Lord, for freezers and microwaves so I can still put reasonable meals before my family), I am literally unable to leave my house and attend a luncheon with my sisters-in-the-faith and I remain un-showered until the Garage-door-opener Guy arrives, I am enjoying my “snow day.”

P.K.