January 2011 | Page 2 of 3 | Kate's Point of View

A Theme for Gifts

On January 21, 2011

Buying gifts for Wonder Boy was really easy for a stretch there. He had just gotten his Vespa and was so in love with it. You could buy him pretty much anything with a Vespa logo or picture on it and he would swoon. Buying things for me has been more difficult. (My family reminds me of this frequently.)

But with the new(er) purchase of my moped, I now have a theme around which gifts can be purchased. Exhibit A:

It’s a mouse pad. And normally I would think getting a cool mouse pad was very 1998. But this one? Holy crap! It’s a fabulous addition to my office!

Ernie

By Kate

On January 20, 2011

In uncategorized

A long while back my mom gave me one of my toys she found around the house. It was a strange toy for a little kid to have had — a glass figurine of Ernie. But apparently I loved the heck out of it because he’s held together by glue in several places. (See his right foot for two examples.)

I don’t have the same fondness for this glass toy, but I love the idea that I used to so I keep him on one of my bookshelves looking down on me.

Our Cat is Prince, When He Was a Symbol

By Kate

On January 17, 2011

In animals

The cat formerly known as Logan STILL does not have a name. For a while we’ve been trying out Barry White on him but it just isn’t sticking. I’ve tried Pinkerton but even that I struggle with. I’d like to give him a new, funnier name. Suggestions? Please???

Trying to Distract Myself From the Mess

By Kate

On January 16, 2011

In house

I am an admitted control freak. I like order. I like neatness. I don’t care much if things are clean or not, within reason, but things need to be organized. It’s what makes Wonder Boy and I a good pair. I organize; he cleans. Rehabbing any part of a house leads to both a mess and clutter. The horror!

We have cleared out our master bedroom so that our upstairs bathroom can be worked on. Most of the stuff went into my office. Our bed and both of us went into Wonder Boy’s office. The sleeping room is pretty neat so that we don’t go insane. My room is not neat and its driving me insane.

Things have gotten so bad that I’m not even being organized now.

I am attempting to notice small, pretty things around the house. Trying. Maybe I can fool myself?

When the bathrooms are done, there is an amazing amount of work that I will put into organizing everything. Everything. My closet will be organized by color, my shelves will have neat stack of carefully folder clothing arranged by what I am most likely to wear and furniture will be arranged just so. I can’t wait!

Bathroom Updates and Using Public Showers

By Kate

On January 15, 2011

In house

The bathroom project is moving along. It seems like its going slow, but I know that its just because some parts of the project aren’t as dramatic as others. And because I am so impatient. I want to be able to walk barefoot upstairs again. I want to be able to shower at home instead of at the YMCA.

An update:

Weapon of mass destruction.

Can you spot the still-standing shower head in this picture?

The people who were able to see that you could fit a full bathroom into this space were crazy.

Starting to become real.

No more drafty window. The original one, which was caulked shut, was so tiny that we couldn’t find a replacement for it. Solution? A design made out of glass block.

While all of this work is being done, this is where I am showering:

Wonder Boy assures me I should stop complaining because the ladies room at the YMCA has stalls and curtains. Apparently the men’s room looks like the setting of “a prison rape scene.” His words).