Fam, Fam, and Heat

Today concludes the visit with Dad, Jan, Ari and Gene. It's been a good time. I was glad to see all of them and have actual family around for a few days. They really helped me get a bunch of stuff done, and we had some good down time as well. Dad helped me work in my yard and kill a bunch of poison ivy and other crap that doesn't belong in my bushes. We worked outside for a while that first day. It was good. While we did that, Jan put together a storage cube thing that is now in our office/2nd guest room. Then, all three of us put the daybed together in that room as well. Woohoo! It has been in pieces since we moved to Georgia almost two years ago. (Gosh, it's already been that long.) I think *dramatic, lip-biting pause* that I may be able to actually get the house completely put away for the first time. Yay!! In terms of pure aesthetics, I got Dad to pull down my stove hood so I could paint it. The home owners put in a new stove and dish washer before we moved in - black and stainless steel. However, they left a shitty old cream colored hood above the new stove. (They also left a white fridge, which kills me, but there's nothing I can do about that unless I want to buy a fridge - not right now.) So anyway. I bought a $9 can of semi gloss high heat grill spray paint, and after cleaning and sanding the shit out of the hood, I repainted it. It looks new now, and I am so happy!!!! Putting it back up required three people, but it is in there and now the kitchen matches at least a little more. I didn't bother to get permission from the property manager because c'mon, really?

We knocked so much stuff off my to-do list. It was so great to have so much help! Also, Gene showed me how to take part of the CRV's dash off to pull out the master power window switch (which needs to be replaced), so when I go ahead and order the part (over $150 cheaper on ebay versus the dealer for the same damn part), I can do the whole thing myself!!!!! Yayyyyyyyyyyyy.

But it wasn't all work. We did go to the Infantry Museum, which was pretty awesome. I had not yet been, but it was great to walk around and look at everything with the family. I sooo wish Joe could have been there, but we felt in cahoots with him when we checked out the Ranger School exhibit and video. :-) I drove them all around post afterward and then we chilled out at my house in the evening. The following day, yesterday, we pretty much laid low, drank beer, and watched the Flyers beat the Canadians. Good stuff. I got a little extra time with Ari and Gene last night and this morning just hangin' here, and they just left. The pups and I have a few hours before Mom arrives (on her way from my aunt's in MS). It's 90 degrees and hot as hell outside, so the dogs are wiped out. I'm gross and need to take a shower. Eh.

Having all these days off in no way makes me miss work. Sure, I miss the money I could be making, but man this just makes me think maybe I can be a stay at home Katie once more (and not go completely nuts). Of course the true test will be when I'm really alone again. :-) For now, I feel pretty good about my various options upon Joe getting his post-tab promotion, and I'll hang onto this current option as one of them. Hell yes.