Friday, March 16, 2007

Spring Break!; Tile Project; Family Drama

The kids are on a two-week break from school. We leave for Boston on Monday, which should be a lot of fun. Bobby asked to go to Boston because he loves history and wants to see the Freedom Trail, especially Paul Revere's house. He was enthralled by the American Revolution in school this fall and has talked of going out east for months, so I hope it's all he has cracked it up to be in his mind. He does actually have a couple ancestors who were Minutemen. My dad's family (the Morgans) came here in 1710 and several played some pretty interesting roles in Colonial history (founders of Morgantown, WV, and Wilmington, DE as well as the first Episcopal Church here). They also were the very first white settlers west of the Blue Ridge Mountains; Civil War historical figures, the Westward Movement, etc... If I weren't so lazy, Ally and I would be card-carrying members of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). Maybe going there next week will inspire me to get our paperwork filled out for it. Anyway, this week has been a flurry of shopping for clothes (they keep growing!), planning the trip, tying up loose ends around the house... can't wait to be on that plane.

My girlfriend (who created the mosaic for my basement kitchen floor) finished last week, and we installed it for three solid days: laying the underlayment, re-mortering a second layer to house the glass tiles, then grouting. It looks amazing. I have a carpet guy coming out on the 26th to re-align the carpet to the new edge and then it will be officially finished. I'll post a final picture when that is done. I am so proud of us for taking on and actually completing this huge project. Neither of us had ever laid tiles before and I admit there was quite a learning curve, but the gratification of knowing we had the gumption to attempt this is very satisfying!
Way back when we first had to pull up the carpet and lay these sand-colored tiles.
Here is Stephany laying the final tiles along the edge by the door. There are literally thousands of 3/4 inch glass tiles on the floor. About half of them are hand-made art glass that people use in stained glass windows.
Here we are grouting - last step!

The wave pattern goes from the sliding glass doors around the kitchen counter and ends before you start to go down the hall. About 45 linear feet total.

Many of you know I gave up alcohol for Lent. I'm not sure if my uber-soberness has made me more sensitive to (and irritated by) drunkenness, but after last weekend, I could see giving up alcohol for life. We were wakened in the wee hours Monday morning by my husband's ex-wife (the mom of my step-kids) telling us to go retrieve my 33-year-old stepdaughter from jail. She was arrested for beating up her husband, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. It's all so unattractive and unladylike it's just hard to understand. And rather than being embarrassed and ashamed by it, Marnie's just blaming her husband, blaming the alcohol (like it just pours itself down her throat?), blaming the stress of law-school, blaming the stress of working at the Capitol, etc. How about a little personal responsibility? All I can say is "ick". Actually, as the step-mother, I can't even say that.

In the mean time, I am excited to take my family to Boston; I have my plane ticket for Wildflower; I love my Bible-study "small group" that I meet with once a week.... the stuff I am actually sort of in control of is running smoothly.

My step-kids are coming over for dinner on Sunday. As usual I will just bite my tongue, smile politely, BE polite, and know they will go home after a few hours.
Today our friend Momo is at her cousin's funeral. That whole situation has me a little sad, too, so those of you who pray, please pray for Momo to find comfort and understanding on this difficult day.

16 comments:

:) said...

The floor is amazing. You have true talent.

Hope the dinner with the st-kids goes well.

My heart aches every time I think of Momo and her family. I will continue praying.

Comm's said...

that floor is awesome. have a blast in Boston. Its on my top ten list of trips for Mighty Mo as he gets older. Going to history gives you a deeper appreciation for it.

Unknown said...

Nice job on the floor. Have fun in Boston.

Yikes, that blaming behavior is probably more annoying than the alcohol (although possibly magnified by the alcohol, I would imagine)

Momo and family is in my prayers; I am sure that is a difficult situation for the family.

Spokane Al said...

Wow, your post certainly covered some highs and lows. I hope you enjoy the highs and get past the lows.

Perhaps some of Boston's beans, clam chowder and cream pie are in order.

Unknown said...

so, that floor? awesome. but, i must say that when benny looked at it, he had a totally different perspective. he thinks it looked like fun to do. i thought it would be my own personal hell. whaddayagonnado?

oh, and benny and i were in boston at this time last year. cooooolllllddd, biiiiittttteeeerrrrr wiiiiinnnnddddssss.

but the trail that we followed was awesome, as was all of the history we got to experience.

and the 33-year-old in jail? i woulda let her rot there. that's just me though. and maybe the birth control.

have fun in bean town.

Iron Girl Nyhus said...

You better get your Daughter's of the American Revolution card... it's awesome that YOUR family played such a part in history, you've got to keep it going :)

RunBubbaRun said...

The floor looks pretty cool. Remind me not to show my wife about it. She will start getting ideas in her head.

Have a fun and safe trip.

jbmmommy said...

Wow, what an awesome looking floor!

Hope you have a great trip to Boston and that the bad weather doesn't alter your travel plans. How cool that your family played such an important role in our country's history.

Have a great time all together. So sorry for Momo's tough times, prayers to all of them.

momo said...

i hope you guys have an amazing time in boston. there is so much to see and do - i know your kids will love it. the floor is amazing and just so you know, i love you, jenny, you are a true blue friend. mwa.

brendaj said...

Wow, can you come decorate my house sometime? :) Hang in there with the step-daughter situation.

TJ said...

that floor off the chart cool! and doing it yourself has too be extremely gratifying.
have fun in boston. throw some tea in the harbor while you're there!

Tri-Dummy said...

Wow...alotta stuff in that post.

Bummer about your step-daughter and I agree she needs to step up and accept responsibility in the situation.

Have a blessed vacation filled with fun!

ironshane said...

That floor is fantastic! Well done. I wanted to send you a thank you. My wife (tri-dog mom) had you make a pillow for me in memory of my IM Wisconsin adventure. I love it! It's on my "IM Shelf". So, thank you!! Seems you have a lot of artistic talents. Have a great time in Boston.

walchka said...

WOW...That floor in ridiculously amazing. I can't even imagine doing a project like that. It looks soooo good! Nice job...

Bigun said...

big project - well done! Mrs. Bigun has a blog she does you may like...http://cominghometoday.blogspot.com/ - it's along those lines of great looking home projects...

Di said...

Iron jenny!! That floor rocks! You made that floor your bitch! (stolen from talledaga nites) It's gorgeous!!! You should send me pics of before and after that I canfeature on the blofg for DIY'ers That is awesome!!