So I went with George and Breezey as they toured 421. I had not been in that house since 1979- the year Dad moved the family out. It was both exactly the same and different. The kitchen has been totally renovated, the laundry room moved out to 'Tom's room' and the half bath off the kitchen expanded into the 'old laundry room' site with access through the dining room. Other than that, the house was pretty much the same. It was a bit odd walking through it the same age Mom was when we lived there. George really wants to buy it - Breezey was not sold on the idea. It would be wonderful to get it back in the family but I would never be able to live there - too many memories. And my heart broke when I thought of all the folks I knew and loved that are no longer with me. I could see Chowkidar roaming the backyard and Mom and Dad sitting in the living room. I could see young Hunts climbing out the bedroom window and jumping off the garage roof. And that's all gone now - the young Hunts are old and the old Hunts are gone. I'm going to have dreams about that house for weeks now.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Happy 2011
So, we're expecting a snow storm to begin tonight and go all thru tomorrow, letting up Tuesday morning. Sucks for Shawn. Fortunately for me, I don't have to go anywhere or do anything outside the house. But I will worry over Shawn the whole time he's on the road. And it's only the first half of January - it's going to be a long cold winter.
Got the rest of our windows replaced (well, not the basement - we'll do those when we finish the basement). I don't particularly like the look of the new ones, I don't think we'll be able to put the wood blinds back up (and I REALLY like those) and it's costing us $8,000. All for windows. Even if they do end up saving us money with heating and cooling, it's going to take as long for those things to 'pay for themselves' as it will take to pay off the house! Hmm, wonder if we did the right thing in replacing them.
I have overtime most of this month. It's only three hours a week mandatory but I can put in more if I want. I don't want, but read the previous paragraph and understand that I will. Between windows, credit cards, Disney trip and maybe a new car - I need all the money I can get!
Got the rest of our windows replaced (well, not the basement - we'll do those when we finish the basement). I don't particularly like the look of the new ones, I don't think we'll be able to put the wood blinds back up (and I REALLY like those) and it's costing us $8,000. All for windows. Even if they do end up saving us money with heating and cooling, it's going to take as long for those things to 'pay for themselves' as it will take to pay off the house! Hmm, wonder if we did the right thing in replacing them.
I have overtime most of this month. It's only three hours a week mandatory but I can put in more if I want. I don't want, but read the previous paragraph and understand that I will. Between windows, credit cards, Disney trip and maybe a new car - I need all the money I can get!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Getting Old
Devin has announced his engagement - I'm feeling old. I am pretty sure I've started 'the change' - I'm feeling old. I have to color my hair every quarter - I'm feeling old. Life is pretty sucky right now.
I also owe more money than I even realized. I had thought I could pay off the Disney Card in 12 months but I don't think I can swing that unless I get a second job. So where does a 46-year old go for a second part time job? No idea. But I think this spring I'm going to need to find out. I can't carry this debt - Shawn would stroke out if he knew how much I owe. I almost stroked out when I found out. I've no idea why I keep spending - no idea. But it stops. Now.
New Year 2011 is in 3 days. Is it going to be a good year or am I going to have a health issue? Will I get my weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and finances under control? Will I have friends this year or still be pretty much alone? I am not so sure I want to find out.
I also owe more money than I even realized. I had thought I could pay off the Disney Card in 12 months but I don't think I can swing that unless I get a second job. So where does a 46-year old go for a second part time job? No idea. But I think this spring I'm going to need to find out. I can't carry this debt - Shawn would stroke out if he knew how much I owe. I almost stroked out when I found out. I've no idea why I keep spending - no idea. But it stops. Now.
New Year 2011 is in 3 days. Is it going to be a good year or am I going to have a health issue? Will I get my weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and finances under control? Will I have friends this year or still be pretty much alone? I am not so sure I want to find out.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Christmas Eve's Eve
Two nights before Christmas and again waiting for snow - yuck. I guess I should be grateful that the accumulation isn't suppose to even compare to last year's record-breaker but still; I am all for a green Christmas any year!
Uncle Pard passed away last week. At 93, it wasn't unexpected but still very sad. An end to that generation of Hunts. We have one more Sexton from then, Uncle Jim. That's it. That generation is very nearly gone. It makes me want to research and record the family history all that much more. After an appropriate time, I will contact Tony to see what kind of additional information he can share about the family tree. I really want to include something in my Family Scrapbook.
Speaking of family, I guess Dan is expecting his next assignment to be Fort Leavenworth! It will be cool having him and his family here for a year and I can spoil the girls without fear of running out of currency (like I had in Greece). I suppose they will be moving here next August (if all goes according to plan and he really does get assigned here - there's a slight possibility he won't).
2011 is just around the corner. I was telling Shawn that I think it's going to be an expensive year. With the cruise/WDW vacation and the window replacement and possibly start on the basement next winter - well, can you say 'second job'? Especially since I'm sure I won't be seeing any substantial raise in the future. ACI is getting greedy (or maybe it's Stowers Institute that's sucking all the profits out). Well, I just might look for a second job next spring.
If I don't log in tomorrow, Merry Christmas!
Uncle Pard passed away last week. At 93, it wasn't unexpected but still very sad. An end to that generation of Hunts. We have one more Sexton from then, Uncle Jim. That's it. That generation is very nearly gone. It makes me want to research and record the family history all that much more. After an appropriate time, I will contact Tony to see what kind of additional information he can share about the family tree. I really want to include something in my Family Scrapbook.
Speaking of family, I guess Dan is expecting his next assignment to be Fort Leavenworth! It will be cool having him and his family here for a year and I can spoil the girls without fear of running out of currency (like I had in Greece). I suppose they will be moving here next August (if all goes according to plan and he really does get assigned here - there's a slight possibility he won't).
2011 is just around the corner. I was telling Shawn that I think it's going to be an expensive year. With the cruise/WDW vacation and the window replacement and possibly start on the basement next winter - well, can you say 'second job'? Especially since I'm sure I won't be seeing any substantial raise in the future. ACI is getting greedy (or maybe it's Stowers Institute that's sucking all the profits out). Well, I just might look for a second job next spring.
If I don't log in tomorrow, Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Loss of A Generation
We lost Uncle Pard early this morning. He never recovered even remotely from his fall Thanksgiving week-end. I believe he was 93 and the last of that generation of Hunts. My generation is next.
The burial is in Leavenworth on Friday, just a graveside service is planned. Mary Lou will stay with Aunt Bobbie for the night but Tony is heading home after the burial as he has Christmas plans with his current girlfriend. Typical stoic Hunt male - bury the dead and move on. A contingent of our side will attend - along with me will be Susanna, Tom, George maybe Charlie. We will represent Dad.
The burial is in Leavenworth on Friday, just a graveside service is planned. Mary Lou will stay with Aunt Bobbie for the night but Tony is heading home after the burial as he has Christmas plans with his current girlfriend. Typical stoic Hunt male - bury the dead and move on. A contingent of our side will attend - along with me will be Susanna, Tom, George maybe Charlie. We will represent Dad.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Disney Cruise!
I'm going on a Disney Cruise next October! I finally made it down to the travel agent and booked the three day cruise to the Bahamas and a five-night stay at Caribbean Beach resort at WDW. Now all I have to do is find $2,000 between now and August to pay for it! That on top of the $2,350 I need for my half of the windows. I am going to need to find a part time job this spring. As it is, I'm working as much overtime as I can. I have 8 hours in so far this week and it's only Wednesday. However, OT isn't going to last very long - maybe a few more weeks. Long enough to pay down my credit card a little but that's it. I'm beginning to get strapped for cash.
Uncle Pard is in failing health after a fall Thanksgiving week-end. Tony didn't think he would make it through last night but he did and was more aware today than he's been in awhile. I didn't have the heart to tell Tony often times someone will get one last surge of 'life' before dying. I hope Pard can hold out through the holidays, for the sake of his kids and grand kids. I would imagine losing someone over the holidays takes the specialness of the occasion away forever.
Uncle Pard is in failing health after a fall Thanksgiving week-end. Tony didn't think he would make it through last night but he did and was more aware today than he's been in awhile. I didn't have the heart to tell Tony often times someone will get one last surge of 'life' before dying. I hope Pard can hold out through the holidays, for the sake of his kids and grand kids. I would imagine losing someone over the holidays takes the specialness of the occasion away forever.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Sad Week
This has been a sad week. It started off with my having to write a letter to the father of a 22 year-old soldier who was killed in Afghanistan last month. Then Tony wrote that Uncle Pard had fallen over the week-end and is now in ICU. At 92, Tony doubts his father will ever get out of the hospital, and if he does, he will have to go to an assisted living situation. He'll never go home again.
Then we got word that the 25 year-old daughter of one of our (very nice) directors died of a brain tumor. Then Felicia called me this afternoon distraught over her kitten, Spazz, who died last night. She said he had started to limp a few days ago - ring any bells? Just like Cujo. Apparently the poor thing died of kidney failure. Felicia is totally heartbroken. I understand. We went looking for some marker for the burial site but couldn't find any. We ended up ordering something online.
Then I got a note in the mail from Aunt Bobbie with a certificate stating she had purchased a memorial brick in my mother's name for placement around the Leavenworth Carousal. When I got that, I just sat down and cried for a bit. Too many losses this week - too many losses.
Then we got word that the 25 year-old daughter of one of our (very nice) directors died of a brain tumor. Then Felicia called me this afternoon distraught over her kitten, Spazz, who died last night. She said he had started to limp a few days ago - ring any bells? Just like Cujo. Apparently the poor thing died of kidney failure. Felicia is totally heartbroken. I understand. We went looking for some marker for the burial site but couldn't find any. We ended up ordering something online.
Then I got a note in the mail from Aunt Bobbie with a certificate stating she had purchased a memorial brick in my mother's name for placement around the Leavenworth Carousal. When I got that, I just sat down and cried for a bit. Too many losses this week - too many losses.
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