A failed dinner party.

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All of the friends I had asked over for dinner failed to arrive. I know why one, therefore two did not show. The other I cannot tell with certainty, though I suspect the reason was the same for all. One I understand, the other could be a problem. Time will tell with all things.

And yet, it was fine. I never worry about people missing out. I can only offer. My mother and myself enjoyed a great meal, a leisurely evening, and life is good. If they want to come by some time, they are welcome if my schedule allows.

I do not know if I mentioned this, but... I went to the animal shelter for Logan and picked a kitten. She is here and I am trying to get Sam and her get along. Her name is Sassy, now. She came to me named Saucy, but that did not fit. My mother thought Sassy fit her better (and it does). I thought about it a while, and some other names, but I think Sassy is close enough to Saucy it will fit, plus Sassy truly fits her. Sam simply wants nothing to do with her, so far. Well, other than to maybe bat her around a bit. I have Sassy in her cage at night, for now. I am hoping Sam will go in and see her, get used to her and such. During the day, I let them both go free, though I pay close attention at the merest of hisses.

My mother is going home soon. I will miss her. But as they say, how can I miss her if she is still here?!? I do not get all mushy, especially since I know she will be back in the spring. We will work then too, but not like this time. She had best find and bring her smokeless cigarette system next time. I simply could not afford another one for her visit.

So much to keep up here and a few things to get done beyond what we completed. I am so tired though, that I will take some time off. I need to rest. I am fried and it is high summer here. All I can think is rest and cool, somehow. Water, I think, would help.

Good night.

We are both wiped out.

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For her it has been nearly two weeks, for me almost three weeks of long days and hard work. Our days have been from 12 to 16 hours. The work has varied. My house and my lawn equipment is set up and has all been used, saved the wheelbarrow I purchased yesterday. There really is nothing more to do at this time. A few days of rest and then she will go back to her home.

I hope we are able to see the Great Salt Lake and maybe take a drive tomorrow. She needs to do some shopping, as do I. A visit to Idaho, travel on a road that has garnered her curiosity on the way, perhaps a drive over a mountain on a back road, and then one last good meal tomorrow night. I need to check with some people to see if they wish to come over and enjoy it with us.

I am simply exhausted. I will take some time off, doing only bare minimums and some of the things I want to do. Walking to the dam, or driving there if that proves too much for now, and swimming. Checking out the hen house to see if roofing it would be worth the effort and then getting started with that if so. Moving two mounds of dirt, one permanently, one to be piled near the tomatoes, to fill in that area when tomatoes and peppers stop growing there. But... over time. Oh, and I suppose I could do a bit of weed whipping now and again.

She has not created lists. She has been quite tired to lately. We have both pushed well and truly beyond ourselves. But the results are fantastic. I hope she finds as much satisfaction with the results of our expenditure of ourselves as I do. As well, we have had a pleasant time together. We have kept our... differences... minimal. When we disagree, we simply note the fact and leave it there. She likes this done this way, I like that done that way, but we both know that without both of us doing what we do as we do it little would have been done. Some compromise, of course, has taken place as well. A little time and patience sees to that much better than bitter words, yelling, and all that.

I will miss her. I will be glad to go back to my slower ways as well. I am most certain she will be pleased to be back home also. All with gratitude and love, some new found respect on both our parts, and a little forethought into her return in the spring. Let us just say that this was the best time I have ever enjoyed with my mother. If you remember the little roboboy in AI, you might begin to understand.

Well, good night. I hope you rest half so well as I will. Twice as much sounds nicer but then you would never wake up. :p

A very good day of work.

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The yard is pretty much done. I need to weed whip along parts of the fence yet, and probably out along the perimeter of the acreage. I realize more than ever how big of a job just tending this size of a place really is. All "grass" has been mowed, huge swaths of weeds in areas which were too sever and risky to mow have been weeded. The tree near the drive has had sappers removed and it has been trimmed up and evened. I saved one odd side down so as to compare. I want to see how fast those branches grow. The main lilac bush has been trimmed. Two stumps have been cleared of saplings and weeds. Many other types of tasks were completed throughout the day.

I am constantly amazed by Sam. She catches mice all day long. I think we saw her catch 4 or 5 mice today. She also catches bats, which worries me. Just because there is no (known) current threat or trend of rabies, I would rather figure out how to move the bats out. She loves them though, I know. Mice with wings, in her book. She has been enjoying having two people give her loving, once she became familiar with my mother. Which she did rather quickly. I do love Sam.

I have started to water the "grass". We can tell, through the weed whipping and mowing, that the "grass" has been allowed to go for some time. It was quite thick, brutally thick. Much of it is, or seems, quite yellow and dead. Still, I have decided to move the sprinkler around and begin occasional watering. I will try to hit every area for an hour, perhaps two, per week for a bit to see if some of it will come back. I hate living in a hayfield, even (perhaps especially) a recently mowed one. My mother suggests that the grass will come back in the spring if it does not recover this summer. She only wanted me to water the front, but I... just cannot do that. I would like to see some green grass. The back and side lawns have a better chance of recovery, with more green under what was cut. And yet, the watering will be a bit expensive. Still, that is the way I am running the show.

I think I am getting stronger. I think, even before my mom arrived, I was back to or near the strength I had when working out two years ago. I was just at the point where I could bench right at 400 pounds, theoretically (based on how much I was benching in my work outs, and conservatively figured). So, I decided to step on the scale this morning before breakfast or anything. I was surprised, a bit angry, and disappointed. I now weigh 278 pounds. I got dressed, ready to go, and realized I needed a belt. Those pants fall off. So, I tightened the belt as needed, then... thought something was weird. I had a lot of belt overage to try and tuck around. Looking more closely, I realize I am on the last notch of my belt. That was the same belt I have been using since I lost weight/size while working out. At that time, I was using the 3rd from the widest hole on the belt. There are seven holes. I am now using the 7th, the slimmest hole... and it is barely enough to keep my pants on. I have gained muscle and lost fat. A lot of both I would guess.

When my mother goes, I will try to keep on the weed whip and mowing as necessary. I will be checking out the hen house, and roofing it if possible. I will be maintaining my simple lifestyle, or going back to it a bit more. As well, I will begin my journey to the dam and swimming. I think I can walk it. And I will be setting up my weights in the garage for now, beginning to use those again. I suspect this will go well with figuring out how to get into first aid and first responder classes and volunteering, if that is available. Life is going to be very different here. I have no choice, at this point, but to keep on top of things I never knew existed before, things which never crossed my mind. I am guessing there is much more I do not even know or understand yet out there I will have to step up and tend.

Tomorrow I have an appointment. I also need to take the paperwork by the insurance company I am working with, signed of course. Then on to Logan. I will be stopping at the humane society to find a kitten as well. I think this is the time. I am hoping Sam will adopt the new little one too. While there, I will ask about veterinarians. Sam, I think, has ear mights or something. And a checkup would be good. My mom will be cooking dinner for us and my friend, so I will pick him up in there somewhere. I am thinking I may take him to the humane society as well, so the kitty will not need to be transported more than necessary. I really would love another adult cat, for the cat's sake, but I think that might be a bit much for Sam right now. So, a kitten will do. Sam, if she takes her in, will teach the new little one the joys of mousing while the summer is high and the getting is good.

Hmm, should my mother or lady friend want to move out here and stay here with me, I might have a solution we could help finance together and both or all live with, depending on building codes of course. I, actually, had dreamed of this before. I just had never seen the means, if you can believe it. How weird, dreams that is.

Pleasant dreams. Good night.

All day doing little, for my part.

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I have been trying to get insurance since last Friday. I think, think I say, I have it. I was sent an issuance to print out and put in my vehicle which allowed me to go to town and buy the goods on the most recent shopping list. But not until 15:00 or 16:00. I am not holding my breath that this will all fall through for sure, but I am going with the flow until I know better for better or worse.

While I was in town, my mother... mowed. She is nearing 68, she has had two back surgeries, had both knees and a hip replaced, and had some number of surgeries on her feet. She was not supposed to do that, plotting for my disappearance to rev the engine. The grass was 2 to 3 feet high, it has not been mowed in... probably a year or two, and it is a hot day. Did I mention she smokes? It simply is not fair. Nor right. You can tell the woman, just not much. Ha!

I did get everything on the list except corn, which simply was not available. And, I did, after negotiating with... many people, gain insurance (for the moment?). I also set up the insurance (auto part) to be placed on automatic pay (first payment even), and am part way, or have actually, set the home insurance to go back to being paid by the escrow account. Still, after seeing what my mom did, it is not much.

I told her tomorrow I am her yard worker. Getting her to just organize and give orders will not work, though I am hoping she will at least leave the heavy work for me. Really, I can and will do it, if slow to get to it, once I start I do really well. I do it much more easily than she, once I get started. She even painted the purplish/mauvish/something bits.

I placed an order from a longtime friend. But the wrong address was used. My old Iowa address is still in my payment account, so it automatically put that into the order. I need it to go to my mom's, so not even my current address. I sent an email, and told her I would blurb so she might better know. Some gifts I think my mother might appreciate as an "I love you." and thanks. /blurboff Hmm, there were some things I like too. Maybe next month? No promises though, until I figure out my new fishbowl finances.

I now need to call my friend. He will hopefully be over for dinner tomorrow night. Chicken, fried, and lots of other good stuff. Friday, I believe, myself and my mom will be going to the Great Salt Lake. I have found a more favorable place there to visit and found the directions. Then, perhaps, a dinner Saturday with both my friend and some newer friends. I guess it is sort of a house warming (open house?) event. Whatever they are called. My more senior friend has seen the house before it became a home. He will be amazed. My other friends have not seen this place at all. Anyway, tomorrow is the last day of work, period. If I have to put some Queen in the stereo and grab some duct tape, this is it. She will relax or... "Tie your mother down, tie your mother down..." Ha!

Well, good night. Stay cool, even, perhaps especially, if it is not.

The house is done.

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Not all boxes have been unpacked. But every room and area has been arranged, furniture is placed and re-constructed as needed, everything is clean. I honestly did not think this could be done. I had been thinking that the kitchen, bedrooms, and living room would be it. I did not think they would be done to the level they are done. Curtains to rugs to vacuuming to placemats on the endtables. The few boxes left will be handled over this week or after my mom returns home. They are neatly stacked upstairs and contain material that might be more difficult to place well. And yet, I will get to that, or we will.

The rest of the lawn is next. Tomorrow will be the time for that. I will need to get out earlier in the day as the appointment for today had to be rescheduled for tomorrow. I have a shopping list for tomorrow, from several stores, as well as my appointment. I am well and solidly winded. I suspect the rest of the week will see ongoing work, but at a more leisurely pace. Upkeep and a bit more I would guess.

My insurance company dropped both my house and auto insurance. The letter suggested it was written July 16th. I know I checked mail as recently as last Saturday, and perhaps Monday, and had not received that mail by then. I did not check my mail the rest of last week as we were quite busy. So, I received the notice Friday, early in the afternoon. I have not been able to contact the agent in that time. This morning I called a local insurance agent and requested a quote. I called back in the afternoon and... they had not even put the material in for a quote. I got them to send the material to an agent who is not too busy to sell insurance. She called shortly after, thankfully, and suggested that a quote would be coming in the morning. That I understand, they have to run things by the underwriter.

Why was I canceled by Allied? Because their (my) agent did not supply them with enough information on the house and they considered it too high a risk with no more information than the year the house was built (1880). They did not even know, according to paper work they had, that this home has electricity. They dropped my auto insurance because of being rear-ended within the first 60 days. Needless to say, I do not think Allied could or should be trusted. By the way, I have had automobile insurance with Allied for... 7 to 10 years, this was simply a change in where I was getting insurance and packaging it with my home. Should I have advice on insurance, let me suggest you stay away from Allied. The main character in their advertising pretty much sums up what you can expect, if you can read between the lines and think just a bit. Trust? That is earned, or not.

Yes, tired. I have been working for 2 weeks now and I am simply out of gas. I do not wish to give out. The choice is not mine though. I will need a rest soon, a good one. Although I am hoping that when things go back to usual, I can start walking, or even driving if needed, to the lake in order to begin swimming. The hike would be good, though, too. And, back to beans and rice. Still, I cannot complain about the food while my mother has been here. Even the simple has been very good. Not having to cook nearly as often is pleasant. I have kept my lip zipped on the differences between our ways and not only is the food just fine but life is easier.

We have been doing well together. I know we are both on good behavior, and yet I think with some practice that would be good. I also know that my mother, like any woman I have ever known and in this way, cannot go without mood storms. As for me, I can. I do not need nor want drama. I do not want anger and yelling and arguing. I think it is a chemical thing with many women. Or a passive aggressive thing due to their inability to actually physically compete. And yet, I think if my mother really put her mind to it, she could calm a great deal... I think.

So much to do, in some ways, so little time... and yet a need to rest. But having the house, or even storage unit, turned into a home has been a little miracle. Now I can begin more living my life and less trying to get to the point where I can begin that process. Hiking! Swimming! Perhaps even a beginning of weight lifting! Eating right, taking care of the home, figuring out a few other things, and simply living where I have spent years merely dreaming of living. Who would have believed that I would even have figured out how to be here just 3 years ago. I do not think I believed, I just... wanted, tried, and doubted.

Well, good night.

A slow Sunday.

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Very little is being done. I think both of us have... well... wearied good and well. Life has returned to a bit of an easier pace. However, we still have some work to do. We have until next Sunday to complete our work and set things up, make some lists, and last minute checks. Hopefully we can enjoy a more leisurely week this last week, get a few more things done, and both be the better for it.

I may do one thing on the list for sure today, outside. I need to paint those pieces that were painted purple, plum, mauve, or something in there. I have the white paint and the brush. As well, with the bookshelves up, this (the computer room) will probably get at least a lick and spit start today.

Steaks, again, tonight. I pulled out what I had thought was ribs, along with the steaks yesterday. So, two days of ribeye. My tears are big and wonderful... and crocodile to the last nano ounce. She made potato salad and sliced veggies to be grilled along with the steaks. Yes, life is good and good food only adds to the event.

Have a great day.

The work goes on if the pace slows.

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We are wearying quickly. The heat is getting to us. And the work is nearly done. We have one room and some outdoor work left and more than a week to go. A little slower pace is good. What we have done is amazing. She has done the organizational aspect and a lot of the work. I have been muscle, height, and auxiliary functionary. Oh, and technical specialist. Women are great at some things, some things are simply outside of their area. I will grant that, for a woman and even among some men, my mother is not a slouch in mechanical. I have some natural talents though, which allow me to simply know, somehow, how to solve some problems. It has been good working with her. This has been some of the most successful work we have colluded upon.

Today I was able to do little things that were on my list along with a few things on her list. I tried to be more available for her demands, but as the work nears completion, I saw the opportunity to hit the things I know and wanted. She always has things for me to do, and sometimes her list is on my list, so it is easier. I like to do jobs I know and have been thinking about. My mind seems to set those jobs up so I simply do them by the time I get to them. Some good news. The windows I will need to replace have gone from 6 or 8 or something... down to one. After cleaning them and looking at the rest I realize they are indeed double pained and well placed and set. The one I need to replace is in the downstairs spare bedroom. It is that multi-slatted jobby. We were, finally, able to open it. When she started insisting it be opened (and working toward that), I decided to look the thing over a bit more closely and was able to remove a few literal and virtual problems, while she was able to get the mechanism to work. So, she has a little fresh air in there tonight. And, I now know how to make that work. I guess I just did not believe it would or could work... pessimism is not a great friend.

She, I think, is a bit surprised that I have been staying up whole days, been active for the whole periods (if still slow), and taking the initiative. She has not seen this for years, decades. I am moving quickly enough that she is not frustrated and she has been being patient enough with her requests and pushing that I have not been getting angry. Good thing too, I know how close my life is to failing. A couple of severe high blood pressure spikes really could see some serious damage or death. What has happened here has been perfect though.

I have been working, sometimes hard. I have been in the heat, using my muscles and mind, and pushing the edges of my day. I have to pace it, and do. I do not think I could keep this up indefinitely, not yet. But that is a goal. I have already been thinking about what to do when she leaves. As I said, we will work on a plan before she goes. Jobs yet to do, both inexpensive and the bigger projects. As well, I would like to get a list of cleaning chores I can shoot at. For example, cleaning the bathrooms, which she suggests I do every two weeks (minimally). I would like to get a list of her recommendations, a calender just for those, and begin checking off things so I may track those. Yes, I wish to change, and to live. Really, I think I can.

For you mothers out there... understand, your children will always need you. You may go through some very tough times. But once they mature, have need, or simply miss you, life will get good. The bounty my mother is reaping now, from two rascal sons, is more than she could ever have hoped to reap... perhaps. She certainly went through some dry times and some rough times. Just stay the course and love those rogues and scalawags of children and it will happen. And yes, working hard for your children is a reaping... oddly. Something special only parents can understand and perhaps beyond that mother's can feel like no other. Do not worry about mistakes or perceived mistakes. Get them to adult and wait, if need be.

Good night. I will be sending out a special prayer for mother's and their sufferings, joys, work, and play tonight. You are a special people.