(Part Two)

Lovely front porch... looking forward to lots of sitting on it. :) I envision black shutters and a red front door in our future.

Back deck and screened in patio - I think I want to paint the brick eventually.

Back of the house.

The yard and parking pad and our own private woods.

The End... for now...

Inspection - check! (Part One)

We had our inspection Saturday, and it went pretty well. We already knew two of the major things, one of which is getting replaced, but we did find some interesting inhabitants of the attic... BATS! That's right... a lovely colony of around 15 bats decided to make their home between the attic vent and the screen that keeps pests like that out! Needless to say, they must go.

I am still freaked out about they money. I just realize I like it a lot better where I can see it (i.e., online savings account) than over my head! Haha. I know once everything is said and done, I'll be happy and stop stressing (I hope!).

So, anyway, I took several pictures during the inspection, so here they are along with commentary of what we're going to change, slowly but surely.

View of the living room from the entry way - going to paint all of the common areas more of a khaki tan

View from living room into kitchen - first project will be to take down the shelf above the left doorway and paint inside of built-ins same color as walls (or maybe even a shade darker)... eventually, we want to knock out this wall and the pantry on the other side (there's another pantry type closet in the kitchen) to open up the space... we're also putting hardwoods in where you see carpet

kitchen - wall to the left will be knocked out, pantry will go to that back right closet, hardwoods will eventually extend into kitchen, island will be made wider (deeper?? maybe the right word would be deeper), counter and cabinets will extend further down the wall to the right and we'll have new granite or similar counters and new cabinets

We already got a lovely french door stainless GE fridge, thanks to Best Buy and 3 years no interest financing (also picked up a sweet front loading washer and dryer)... also in the kitchen renovation will include oven (double ovens if I can get my way, but I don't think I will) :) and microwave roughly where the current microwave is by window and gas cooktop with a sweet hood on the island. Since we're going to extend the counters and cabinets under that window, I don't mind losing that high up cabinet space. Also, we're going to do a lot of big drawers, because they're more efficient anyway. And, by the way, this won't be happening for a good year or so!

My least favorite room in the house and biggest compromise is this very small dining room. No way we can seat more than 6 in here, which limits formal dinner (because I throw so many of them), but I can live. I'm still devising ways to make it bigger and I think I want to at least open up the doorways wider at some point.

Sitting room off the master - new carpet and same paint as master. This may be an office at first, but I think it will eventually be a nursery. :) The master is downstairs and the bedrooms are upstairs, so I'm sure all the moms out there can relate with not wanting to go upstairs to feed a baby in the middle of the night.

Master bedroom - this will get new carpet, a greyish blue paint color, and a new ceiling fan. There's also a fireplace on the opposite wall of the bed I didn't take a picture of. It looks like the one in the living room.

View to the "hers" side of the master bath. There's a walk-in closet behind that. The his side is the same, except hers has a vanity and his has a small linen closet.

Shower, jetted tub and toilet connect the his and hers side. Not so keen on the green counter tops and tile... that will go eventually. Matt says he can tile, so we'll see! :)

Half bath - only needs paint... thinking a chocolate brown.

Upstairs landing looking down to front door - again, common area paint color and going to paint the spindles white and maybe rails black??? Might leave them wood, but then they won't match the new wood color (which will be a darker wood than is currently there)... hmmm...

Future guest bedroom #1 - new carpet and will eventually be painted. Didn't get a picture of the other bedroom, but it's pretty much the same.

Upstairs Jack and Jill bath... also on the eventually to do list... like tile instead of linoleum, paint, probably okay with the fixtures for a while...

Our first pets - the bats! haha, j/k, they're going bye bye!

Gotta love that...

Today, the Atlanta City Council voted to raise the already ridiculously high property taxes to help balance the budget. Just in time for us to buy a house. YAY! (Please note my extreme sarcasm.)

A sign of weakness?

First, as I'm sure everyone knows by now unless you live under a rock, both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson passed away yesterday. It's certainly a sad day for the entertainment industry, as they were both legends. Who hasn't seen the poster of Farrah in the red bathingsuit or the Michael Jackson Thriller music video?

Anyway, I'm sure like many, I watched the special reports on Farrah and Michael last night, and something hit me during the ABC report on Farrah. They were interviewing Jaclyn Smith, and she began to cry as she spoke of her dear friend. She tried to hold it back and turned away from the camera. I noticed a similar thing during a recent Jon & Kate episode, where Kate began to get emotional over the impending split from Jon, and again, she tried to hold it together and turned away. I understand that crying is a very personal thing for most people, but why is it in our society than we try to hold it together in front of others? What is so wrong with letting that raw emotion out and being vulerable? Is it considered a sign of weakness?

I know I am guilty of the same thing. Example A: at our rehearsal dinner, I became very emotional while thanking my Uncle Steve for coming all the way from Utah. He is my dad's younger (not youngest) brother, and so much of him reminds me of my dad. They don't look exactly alike or even have all of the same mannerisms, but enough of it is there. I also think because he was only three years younger than my father, while my other uncle is 16 years younger and closer to my age than my dad's, I feel a more emotional connection to him in that way. So, anyway, I pretty much had a complete breakdown despite my best efforts to hold it in, turning away, and hiding behind a hankerchief someone (thank God) had on hand. And, I was a little embarassed... not terribly, but I mean this was an all out bawl fest. But really, who cares? No one else did. My dad couldn't be there for one of the most important days of my life, but my amazing uncle (and aunt and cousin :)) came all the way from Utah and truly filled some void. I am actually about to cry sitting here thinking about it. And, what would be so wrong with that?

Holy Crapoly!

Well, we are officially under contract on a house as of 6:05 pm yesterday! Ahhhhhh! I think I'm supposed to be excited, but every time I think about it, my stomach turns... or that could be because it's lunch time.

We have our inspection Saturday, and assuming all goes well, we will be homeowners (well, our bank will be... we'll just be in major debt) come July 20!

Things that make me smile...

Adorable x infinity!

You must check out the gorgeous pictures of my niece Madelyn that our friend Jenny took. UH-MAY-ZING! Check them out HERE!

Memere

All this depressing stuff on my blog lately! But, it's not depressing... it's also joyous. Don't get me wrong, I can't believe my sweet Mee-mer (Memere is pronounced like Muh-may, but we also affectionately called her Mee-mer) is in Heaven, but it's been great to be able to celebrate her life with the family.

The viewing/wake was Monday and the Mass and burial were Tuesday. Everything went really well, and all of Memere's grandchildren in attendance played a role in her Mass. The boys were pall bearers, the girls did readings or provided the offertory, and I did the eulogy. Thirteen of her 14 grandchildren were able to be there, and it was so awesome to have almost everyone together.

I thought I'd share her obituary and the eulogy, so you have a little more insight as to how awesome she was. Some of you reading have met her (SB'01 girls - Memere cooked us dinner one night when we were spring breaking in Clearwater), so you probably understand her awesomeness. :)

http://www.legacy.com/SPTimes/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=128392550

DAUGHTER, SISTER, WIFE, MOTHER, AUNT, GRANDMOTHER, GREAT GRANDMOTHER, BUSINESS WOMAN, PHILANTHROPIST, PARISHIONER, NEIGHBOR, FRIEND…
MEMERE, AS HER GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN CALLED HER, WAS MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE.

SHE WAS CARING AND COMPASSIONATE, HUMBLE AND STRONG, GIVING OF HER TIME AND RESOURCES, LOYAL AND HONEST. THOSE WHO KNEW HER WELL KNOW SHE WASN’T ONE TO SUGAR COAT THINGS, AND THAT’S ONE OF THE MANY TRAITS I APPRECIATED ABOUT HER. THAT AND HER QUICK WIT BROUGHT US LAUGHS RIGHT UP UNTIL THE END. SHE TAUGHT US ALL MANY VALUES, ESPECIALLY THE GOLDEN RULE – DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU. SHE LIVED HER LIFE BY THIS SIMPLE SAYING.

ALTHOUGH IT’S EASY TO BE SAD THAT WE’VE LOST SUCH A DEAR PERSON TO ALL OF US, I KNOW MEMERE WOULD WANT US TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE AND REJOICE THAT SHE IS IN A BETTER PLACE, SMILING DOWN UPON ALL OF US WITH OUR OTHER LOVED ONES WHO PAVED HER ROAD TO HEAVEN.

SHE LIVED A WONDERFUL AND RICH ALMOST 82 YEARS. SHE WAS THE 7TH GIRL IN A ROW, BORN ON 7-7-27. CAN YOU GUESS WHAT HER LUCKY NUMBER WAS? SHE HAD A HUMBLE UPBRINGING AS ONE OF 14 CHILDREN IN A FRENCH CATHOLIC FAMILY IN NORTHERN MAINE AND WAS THE ONLY ONE IN HER FAMILY TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL. SHORTLY AFTER, SHE MOVED TO HARTFORD, CT AND LEARNED ENGLISH. SHE MET MY GRANDFATHER WHILE WORKING AT A RESTAURANT CALLED THE CHICKEN COOP. THEY WENT ON TO BE MARRIED, HAD 5 CHILDREN – TOMMY, MICHAEL, EDDIE, MARGARET AND JIMMY, MOVED TO ST. PETERSBURG FOR A NEW OPPORTUNITY AND HAD ONE MORE CHILD, VALERIE.

WHEN MY GRANDFATHER PASSED AWAY IN 1972, MEMERE TOOK OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS, THE TREASURE ISLAND FUN CENTER, AND RAN IT SUCCESSFULLY FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS WHILE RAISING A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. SHE WAS A ROLE MODEL TO HER CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, SHOWING US ALL THE VALUES OF HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE.

BUT, SHE WASN’T ALL WORK AND NO PLAY. MEMERE LED A VERY BALANCED LIFE WITH AN ACTIVE SOCIAL SCHEDULE AND INVOLVEMENT WITH HER CHURCH AND PHILANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS, ESPECIALLY THE SOROPTOMIST CLUB.

SHE ENJOYED BOWLING, PLAYING CARDS, TRAVELING AND GOING OUT DANCING. FROM BOWLING AN ALMOST PERFECT GAME OF 9 STRAIGHT STRIKES TO A NORTHERN EUROPEAN CRUISE TO DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY AT THE YACHT CLUB, SHE TRULY LIVED LIFE TO ITS FULLEST. AND, I KNOW MANY OF HER GRANDCHILDREN WILL ALWAYS FONDLY REMEMBER HEATED GAMES OF QUEEN OF SPADES, AND HANGING AROUND WHILE SHE PLAYED CARDS WITH THE GIRLS, PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE OLIVES FROM HER MARTINI.

SHE WAS EXTREMELY PROUD OF HER FAMILY. I KNOW THAT IN ADDITION TO HER CHILDREN, HER 14 GRANDCHILDREN – CHRIS, MYSELF, STEVE, JENNIFER, COREY, ERIC, DANIELLE, JACKY, KRISTINA, JAMIE, BRANDI, MARISSA, SABRINA AND LEAH AND HER 4 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN – COREYA, JAMES, KYLE, AND BRODY BROUGHT HER A LOT OF JOY.

THAT’S QUITE A LARGE FAMILY, AND IT IS COMPLETELY A TESTAMENT TO MEMERE AS OUR MATRIARCH THAT WE ARE ALL SO CLOSE KNIT. BEING SO CLOSE WITH MEMERE, MY AUNTS, UNCLES AND COUSINS WAS SOMETHING I USED TO TAKE FOR GRANTED… I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS THE NORM. AS I’VE GROWN OLDER, I REALIZE THAT NOT EVERY FAMILY HAS SUCH A BOND, AND I KNOW WE ALL OWE OURS TO THE EXAMPLE SHE SET. TO MY FAMILY, THE BEST WAY WE CAN HONOR MEMERE IS TO KEEP THAT BOND STRONG.

MEMERE WAS A WOMAN OF GOD, DEVOTED TO HER CATHOLIC FAITH. THERE ARE MANY BIBLE VERSES, WHICH I KNOW SHE TOOK COMFORT IN, THAT TELL US BY ACCEPTING JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR AND PLACING OUR TRUST AND FAITH IN HIM, WE WILL HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. IF YOU WERE AT THE WAKE LAST NIGHT, YOU HEARD THE DEACON QUOTE FROM ST. PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS. HIS LONGER VERSE ENCOMPASSES MY FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE, WHICH I HAD ALREADY PLANNED TO SHARE. I THINK IT CAN BE APPLIED TO ANY SITUATION, AND I BELIEVE IT IS A VERSE THAT MEMERE LIVED THROUGHOUT HER LIFE. IN HIS SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 5, VERSE 7, ST. PAUL SAYS, “WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.” WE CANNOT SEE GOD, BUT WE KNOW HE IS WITH US. WE CANNOT SEE HEAVEN, BUT WE HAVE FAITH THAT IT IS ALL AROUND US AND THAT MEMERE IS THERE. WE MOURN NOT FOR MEMERE, BUT FOR OUR LOSS. BUT, BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH, WE TAKE COMFORT THAT WE WILL BE REUNITED WITH THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US TO HEAVEN, AND THAT UNTIL THEN, WE HAVE ONE MORE GUARDIAN ANGEL WATCHING OVER US.

A Better Place

Memere passed away this morning around 2:50 am. I actually left about 12 hours before then to head back to Atlanta. I didn't think she'd make it much longer, but it was all uncertain and I'd been in St. Pete since Monday morning. It was tough to say goodbye, but I had a great day with her Monday. She was still doing pretty well then, and she even stayed up late with us Monday night. Everyone that was going to come had been there (6 children (and spouses/ex-spouses), 14 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, her brother and sister-in-law, favorite niece, priests and others from church, friends, etc.). We'd begun 24 hour care with Hospice nurses about 36 hours before she passed, so the nurse on duty woke up my mom and aunt when Memere's breathing changed. They woke up my uncle and my 2nd cousin (Memere's niece), and they were all with her as she went to a better place. Jeannine spoke to her in French (Memere's first language) and my mom told her to go home and that her parents, husband, brothers and sisters, and my dad were waiting for her. Shortly after that, she took her final breath. I am so thankful that it was peaceful and she was not in any pain. Also, a sweet lady from the church came yesterday to give her communion, and we sat and prayed the Rosary. I have not done that in years, and it was powerful and healing to do it.

She will be greatly missed, but I am just so thankful I had her in my life for 27+ years and that we shared such a great relationship. Until the glorious day when we meet again...

My cousin, Marissa, and Memere at our wedding.

My bub seating Memere and Gram at our wedding.

Picture from an article in the Evening Independent in 1976. We don't look alike or anything, do we?

Recap

Whew! It's been a busy few weeks, and this is going to be short, but I wanted to share some pics of our Memorial Weekend. I have more at home (I'm at work and I just pulled these from ones I've already uploaded to facebook) and more on my good camera (my birthday present I never told the story about) that I still need to dump. Anyway...

We went to Florida for Memorial Weekend to attend my good friend, Allison's wedding (gorgeous) and visit with my family. Allison had an 11:00 am wedding in Orlando, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to go at all. But, we got to see the ceremony and we stayed at the reception long enough to eat (delicious food) and congratulate the newlyweds.

Me, Allison, Brian and Melissa (my "pag" girls + the new hubs)

I can tell from pictures that we missed a good party, but we had to get on the road to St. Pete to visit with Memere before it got too late. I wasn't sure if I'd see Memere again, so that was definitely a tearful goodbye. Back story - the doctors have said that once Memere stops dialysis, she'll only live for a few days. And, she's over it. She's not improving like she should and although she still has good days, she absolutely dreads going to dialysis and it completely wipes her out. She developed emphysema, and she gets winded just walking from her bedroom back to the couch and is on oxygen for as long as she lives. Despite all that, it's still hard to believe she could be gone that quickly. Anyway, I will see her again in this life, because when she decides to stop going to dialysis, I am heading down there to be with her. I know it might seem morbid to some, but I want to be there when she leaves this world for a better place. I've always held a very minuscule grudge that I was not with my father when he passed away... I was babysitting across the street and my mom asked the family to make up an excuse to keep me there when they got home. She regrets that, too. In any case, I want to be by Memere's side. I just pray that everything is quick and painless and she just goes to sleep. Now, enough of the sad stuff! We also got to spend a lot of time with my other amazing grandmother, Gram. I seriously have the coolest Grandmothers ever. I could talk to Gram for hours and listen to stories of their travels (Gramps was a retired lieutenant colonel and they lived all over the US and world), of her childhood, and just her general beliefs.

Sweet Brody

Memere enjoying her youngest great grandchild... check out that Gator bib! The brainwashing begins early.

Funniest 3 year old I know. And, such a little stud.

On Sunday, we spent the day out on the boat with Matt's good friend, Jason. Although I caught the most fish of the day (Jason was a wonderful captain), Matt wins the award for the biggest. I also snagged a seagull and Matt snagged a pelican! Ha, that's what we get for casting into baitfish being chased by mackerel with birds diving in for some dinner, too!

Yes, that is an eyeball... of a fish. So, Matt lands the fish and it comes off the hook in the boat... we then notice that the fish is bleeding pretty good... and then I see that it's left eye socket is completely void of anything. And, this is what we found on the hook. I'm not sure if a fish can survive with one eye, but hopefully our friend is thriving.

Our one eyed bonita.

After Matt removed the hook.

The pelican Matt hooked. He was cool. We called him Fred.

Pretty sky on the way back in.

We looked at some houses last weekend, and we may have found "the one." But, I don't want to jinx it yet. We haven't put in an offer, because Matt wants to go back and see it one more time, and he's gone until next weekend. It needs a little updating, but it's immaculate and 100% livable, as is. I'm meeting with our realtor tonight to look at a few houses we haven't seen yet, but really only one of them is promising. Plus, we've already redecorated "the one" in our heads. :)

I was in NY for work the last two days. I love it. I especially love Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chelsea and the West Village. That's a lot of neighborhoods, but I love that general area... so much quieter than Midtown and Downtown. We ate at one of Mario Batali's restuarants, Lupa. It was pretty good... didn't knock my socks off, but it was a good meal for the price! I had gnocchi for the very first time, and it was delish!

I'm "working from home" tomorrow and heading down to the burbs because one of my bestest friends, Kelly, is coming in town, and we're going to hang out with Jenn and play with Madelyn! Kelly doesn't even like babies, but she is so excited to meet her "niece"! I love it. Until next time...

P.S. I thought it was going to be short, but then I got going... haha!