I know I just wrote you yesterday.
I can't believe I forgot to tell you my exciting news. I've been working on number one of my bucket list. The kitchen cabinets were installed yesterday and today. I think I am about as close to heaven as a person can be and still be on this earth.
The only downside to all this remodeling is that I have been using the microwave and going to way too many restaurants. The ten pounds that I've managed to keep off since February is coming back on in less than a month.
I blame my mother. She has been known to demo a whole box of Nestle Drumstick ice cream cones—while, not in one sitting—certainly, in one day. Here I was doing so great, emulating Tom Hanks and his new way of eating.
After the concert the other night, Ken and I ate pizza (for about the tenth time since this remodel started): The Hawaiian and Papa's Favorite with pepperoni and mushrooms and olives. Maybe I should just quit all of this bad eating cold turkey. Yum. Turkey. Canadian bacon. Pepperoni. Where was I? Oh yeah… failing miserably at my new healthy way of eating, apparently.
How am I going to go on Ellen with you if I get too fat for my Oprah dress?
Just in case you thought I was spending all my time daydreaming about how I can meet Fran Drescher instead of working toward fulfilling my bucket list, let me assure you, I have been doing both at the same time.
The financing has been in place for months and months, the house plans are almost completed, and I have been shopping for stoves.
I've narrowed it down to the really expensive (four-burner) Wolf stove and the really, really expensive (six-burner) Wolf stove.
Back in 2012, I blogged about forgetting my expensive Keen hiking boots in a motel room. The next thing I knew, I received $150 cash in the mail from a benefactor. I've been writing him letters ever since, even though I still don't know who he is.
I wonder if I can be so lucky twice in one lifetime and find a benefactor to buy me my Wolf stove….
First, there was the rat. Now, we have some sort of ants crawling around the mud room (that will someday become part of our kitchen).
I'm having a hard time concentrating on saving money for our remodel so that we can accomplish #1 and #5 on my bucket list. I'm too busy chasing all these critters around. Blech.
If you've followed this blog for any length of time, you know that I have a short bucket list. If you haven't followed this blog at all, shame on you, I mean… welcome.
1. Get my dream kitchen.
3. Go to Maui for our 20th anniversary.
4. Fit into my Oprah dress.
5. Get a patio set and concrete poured in the back yard.
Ken—the builder that we lined up to do the job—has two major projects before us. Rather than be impatient, Ken (my Ken, not the builder) and I have concentrated on budgeting and paying off as many bills as possible, tuition being one of the biggest.
I let her talk. It was easy, because I had a big lump in my throat.
"We're talking ten grand here. That's a lot of money." I wanted to make sure there wasn't some sort of misunderstanding. Maybe they didn't know just how much tuition cost.
I had to hang up because I was crying so hard.
I felt guilty about waiting so long to get to the doctor. Seven months I waited. It was my fault we were suddenly in this financial strait. It was my fault I went and got sick.
Quilts. Gardening help from friends. Cards pouring in every day. Meals provided by others. Now, tuition. This was more than tender mercies. This was overwhelming.
Because of the graciousness of these friends (and others) all those years ago, I am happy to report that we were able to catch up and I am pictured here mailing our last tuition payment. Now, to save up for kitchen cabinets. And a new stove. And fridge….
Remember my bucket list that I made when I was first diagnosed with Stage III locally-advanced breast cancer?
4. Yeah, we're not discussing this one.
5. Patio set… check. Concrete… prepping the ground as we speak.
Prepping the ground as we speak? Well, here's a picture I took today when Ken (the contractor) showed up to give us some ideas on how to remodel our house. This picture shows that we've done bupkis over the fall and winter. I said in September that we were prepping the ground. Other than killing the grass, all we've done is wait… and move plants… and continue to dream about kitchens and barbeques and fun times to come with family and friends.