I woke up while it was still dark. Eric did, too. I can always tell if he’s sleeping or not by the way he breathes. He got up to go to the bathroom and then he went back to sleep. No such luck for me. I dozed a little and then my phone rang at 8:00am.
It was Bob, a friend from work. He is one of the nicest people I have met since I have been working for this firm. He was kind of a boss in my first position there, because I did work for him, although I didn’t directly report to him. He’s a fun guy, who loves to laugh, and I always enjoy talking to him. He’s in the group that I no longer work for, but who always includes me in their celebrations!
Bob just bought a house and I’ve been talking to him a lot about his plans. He wanted to renovate his kitchen before he moved in, but I talked him out of it. After talking to some other friends, who have had their kitchens remodeled, they all agreed that I gave him great advice and that you should usually wait at least a year before a major renovation like that, because you may not know exactly what you’ll need until you use the kitchen for a while.
I have always disagreed with people who buy a house and start knocking down walls immediately. I think you should live in a place and figure out what’s working and what’s not.
When Eric and I moved into our house, our bathroom on the main floor was a total disaster. We wanted to redo it right away, but we didn’t have the funds. By the time we got our act together (over 4 years later) we realized that we never used the second bathroom on the main floor and decided to break down the wall and make a bathroom suite, complete with toilet area, shower stall, sink and vanity, a huge linen/supply closet, and a Jacuzzi that seated two.
There was also a door that led directly to the backyard, and the pool, which was the smartest idea of all. Instead of people having to walk all the way through the house, in a wet bathing suit, to go to the bathroom (or peeing in our pool!), they just went into the bathroom from the deck. It also flooded the room with sunlight and showed a beautiful view of the backyard. We enjoyed that bathroom for over 15 years, and so did everyone who ever visited our home. If we had rushed to renovate the bathroom, we NEVER would have done it again, and we never would have had that fabulous Hollywood-style bathroom! It was a major selling point when we sold the house to the young couple who lives there now. It was probably the only room in the house that they didn’t change!
Anyway, Bob called because he wanted us to come over to his condo and see all his furniture and help him decide what to bring, what to ditch, and what he’d need to buy. He also offered to take us out to dinner – an offer we couldn’t refuse! Eric hasn’t met Bob yet, but he’s heard me talk of him many times, so he was happy to have the opportunity. Also, Bob said he’s going to have a party soon after he moved in (in September) and I’m happy that Eric got to meet him before we actually went to his house.
Bob wants us to go to the new house, too, as soon as he gets the keys. He knows that Eric was in the contracting business for a few years, and that he really knows his stuff. He also knows that I have a lot of ideas about decorating and he wants my input. I’m excited to do something creative again, after such a long time. The only decorating I’ve done in a while is the apartment – and I used to decorate every day in my shop. It was always so much fun to arrange things, set up vignettes, and make things look their best.
Anyway, we made plans to meet at Fashion Valley Mall at 5:00pm and he would take us to the condo. He said it’s very complicated with the guard at the gate and the parking, etc., and it would be easier if he picked us up. We were supposed to meet him in front of a salon that had chairs outside, next to JC Penny. I felt like a spy, or a PI, but I guess I’ve been reading too many JOHN MARCH novels! Anyway, we couldn't find the spot he was talking about, so he directed us to his condo, jumped in our car, and took us through the whole parking routine (which WAS very complicated!).
Speaking of my John March novel, I was supposed to renew that book today, because my reading has slowed down considerably, and it’s already overdue since the 22nd. Unfortunately, 12:30pm came and went and we were still hanging around the apartment – unshowered!
I was working on the computer, paying more bills (do they never end?) and responding to emails. Eric was sleeping. He just kept sleeping. I know he didn’t sleep well for two weeks straight and he was so happy to be back in his own bed, and he just needed to sleep, so of course I let him!
I watched a little bit of LEGALLY BLONDE 2: RED, WHITE & BLONDE. It was fun.
I was going to run errands, but Eric said he’d go food shopping and to COSTCO with me tomorrow. I’m glad I didn’t go to COSTCO by myself while he was gone. It’s a lot easier to go with someone else, since everything’s so big and heavy!
I went for a swim (Eric wouldn’t go with me) and did 5 fast laps around the pool. I really feel it in my arms and the backs of my legs and it feels great. It also cools me off and I feel better when I get back in the apartment (which is very hot in the afternoon).
Eric and I were discussing life in California. His ideas really haven’t changed: He still hates it here, he still thinks it’s “a dump” and he still wants to leave. When I tell him I want him to go to North Carolina first, to get a job and make sure it’s going to work, he refuses. He says he wants us to go together, but that prospect really scares me. What if he can’t find a job? What if he’s not happy there either?
I told him I don’t want to talk about North Carolina anymore, until we’ve resolved all the California issues, which is him getting happy and getting a job. But it’s hard for him to keep off the subject. He really wants to move there, and he wants to move in Spring 2009, which makes sense to me, if everything else is working out.
Anyway, we met Bob at 5:00pm and went to his condo. It’s in a beautiful complex, in a great building, but the apartment itself is a very small one-bedroom. He’s going to have SO much more room now, moving into a 3-bedroom house with a living room and family room, too. I’m so happy for him! I told him he could really bring every piece of furniture with him and upgrade gradually. He needs a new bedroom set and dining room set, a sofa, and window treatments, but he doesn’t have to buy everything right away.
Bob treated us to dinner at PIZZERIA UNO in Fashion Valley Mall. I had an individual “Farmer’s Market” deep dish pizza (but I ate exactly half and brought the other half home for Eric). Eric had the Rattlesnake Pasta, which was chicken, jalapeno peppers and 2 kinds of cheese with rigatoni. Bob had the “sliders” with fries. Then, the three of us shared two huge desserts – the mudslide brownie and the peanut butter cup. They were both FABULOUS, although we could have used just one, because they were so big and we left over almost half of each!
When we parted, we came home and I did two loads of laundry. I immediately set to work on the computer, researching window treatments and finding out about removing popcorn ceilings, which Bob has in the three bedrooms. They’re really horrible to look at and they collect dust and dirt. He wants to remove them and I told them it’s a great idea. The only problem is, popcorn ceilings installed before the 80s can have asbestos in them, so they need to be professionally removed. It’s an ugly job!
Eric fell asleep before 10:00pm and I just worked on the computer and watched TV. Tomorrow we are going to run a lot of errands – KEIL’S (prounounced “Kyle’s”) and COSTCO (pronounced “Costco”). I may also go to BIG LOTS or BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY in the shopping center nearby to look at some cheap mirrors. Bob wants to take the two framed beveled mirrors he had custom made to hang over the vanity in his bathroom, and wants to replace them with cheaper versions.
I love working on stuff like this. It really makes me happy and gets my creative juices flowing! He’s so appreciative and such a nice guy. I’m really happy to work on this with him!