Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Excuses Excuses

Today I think I have some valid reasons for not writing....

Our new hot tub was going to be installed today.  I was doubtful the new one was going to fit in the hole in our deck where the old one is.  I was correct about that, but the problem, apparently, was getting the old one out.  When I saw four large men with their heads bowed in defeat after a solid hour of trying, I knew it was a no-go. 

(Before you tell me it shouldn't be stressful to get a new hot tub and I should be lucky to have one, I need to say I absolutely agree.  Our old one came with the house.  And it's broken three times over.  It's trash on my deck.  Water leaks into it despite the lid and festers because, well, it won't turn on.  The new one cost less than the repairs needed for the old one.  And it's the teeniest, tiniest hot tub you can buy, nothing with built-in speakers or room for six.)

I'm waiting for three contractors to call me back to remove the deck boards so the old hot tub can be freed.  The first one to call wins.  If you're a deck guy, please call me. 

I need to decide real quick what to do about the deck.  In addition to having the deck boards temporarily removed, I need to decide whether to remodel the deck while we're at it and if I still want the tub to be recessed.  I came up with a plan and wish I had thought of it while the guys were here.  Oh well.  My husband thinks he and my older son would thoroughly enjoy ripping it up.  Yay!

Did I mention we're probably selling the house anyway (which is why we need to have the dead tub replaced) - so all of this stress and money and effort isn't for us anyway?  Awesome.

On top of the hot tub drama, one of the mouse traps in our garage is missing.  (See last few posts regarding my extreme mouse phobia and suspicion I'm going to hell for killing them.)  That means there's a mouse with it's front legs stuck to a trap suffering somewhere in my garage.  Or something larger got it and is gnawing on it.  Eeek.

Also, my daughter got a real job, the kind that requires 16 forms to be completed, a bank account set up, a pre-employment drug test (I'm happy to say I'm not stressed about that one), a trip to the doctor's office, and a drive to the city.  Many of the things needed to complete this process are things a teen can't do without their parent.  I don't remember life being this complicated as a teen.  I think I applied for a job at Pizza Hut, filled out a withholding form, and started work the same night.

Yes, there's more...I had a car accident in March.  The thing has still not been settled.  The other party wants to settle this week (just in time to cover the cost of remodeling my deck apparently).  It's a little stressful because once it's settled, it's done. 

I have a physical on Friday.  I am absolutely certain my blood pressure is going to be a little high.  I'm behind on three cancer screenings, two of which have a decent probability of being bad based on past tests.  This alone is enough to stress me out this week.  If one of the tests goes bad, I get to have a needle stabbed in my neck repeatedly again.  I'd rather have a mouse crawling all over me to be honest.

So I didn't write today. 

35 comments:

  1. Those are a lot of good reasons. I wish I had the money for a hot tub. Though not an outdoor one. I'd like one I could use all year long. When I travel I love getting a room with a whirlpool tub in it. Nothing better after a long day than that.

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    1. I wish I had the space for an indoor one. I was surprised at how little it costs - maybe not so much now that we needed a deck renovation...deck boards were old and partially rotted already.

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  2. You need a nap!
    Sorry you won't get to enjoy the hot tub much.

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  3. You have a very full life, Tonja. One day at a time. I hope that everything works out with the sale of your house.

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    1. I think having three kids is a guarantee of a full life. We haven't listed the house yet. We have about 100 things to fix first.

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  4. That was stressful just reading about it. I hate having workmen at the house. Projects never seem to go smoothly.

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    1. I was glad I got a handyman to pull up those deck boards. The ones that were nailed in had to be cut out. It took him 2 hours - would have taken us 20.

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  5. Get that hot tub in asap! You need it!

    Also, I had a mouse trap go missing about a year ago under the cabinets in the kitchen somewhere. We never found it. But there was this slight odor that only I smelled. *sigh* Someday, someone will find it.

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    1. The hot tub is on my deck in shrink wrap mocking me.

      I'm the only one that smells slight odors too. :/

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  6. Only you did write. A whole blog post. It counts. :))

    Yikes, go take a soak in that hot tub the minute it's hooked up.

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    1. Yeah, but I didn't get any work done on my novel.

      The guys are coming on Friday to finish it. It takes a really long while to fill it and then wait for it to get warm and get the chemicals right. It's definitely an exercise in patience.

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  7. All good reasons for skipping the work-in-progress. There's always tomorrow.

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    1. Yes, tomorrow is here now. Must double up on the writing.

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  8. All those reasons sound valid... you sound very busy and seems like you've been experiencing lots of stressful moments...

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    1. I think the excess of coffee doesn't help with the stress. :/

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  9. Reading that made me veerrrry tired. Sometimes, life takes over the best laid plans. I wish you better luck (and contractor calls) tomorrow.

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    1. I'm not answering the phone today. As if our home phone is working. Darn you, cable phone!

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  10. Once, I found the mouse trap with the leg still there, but nothing else.

    I hope your stress levels return to below nermal very soon!

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    1. Yeah, that comment actually upped my blood pressure considerably. Ugh.

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  11. I hope the tests go well. Sending positive vibes!

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    1. Thanks. I'm not doing those test on Friday - just the physical where I'm sure they are going to schedule them for me because...well...I haven't. I always thought that was stupid that my mom wouldn't go get tests done. Now I get it.

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  12. You had lot of good excuses. I hope the tests go well too.

    My mother got a hot tub, and it wound up being a huge headache.

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    1. Thanks for the good wishes (I almost typed 'fishes.')

      Our old tub was recessed into the deck. The access panel in the deck was a full body-length from the access panel for the hot tub. So whenever it needed to be drained or the power reset or the temperature changed, we (I) had to belly crawl in the mud and spiders. I think having it on top of the deck will make it easier.

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  13. If I were you, I'd cover the hole the hot tub made. Get rid of the hassle. As for job applications for teens..its much more complicated. I remember when I was a kid you filled out the application, spoke immediately to the manager, and bingo you got hired.

    And its so easy to get behind on taking care of health stuff. I do the same. As got your settlement, those things can take a while.

    Hugs and chocolate,
    Shelly

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    1. My last sentence has major issues. I hope you know what I meant.

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    2. I read it how you meant it. :)

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  14. I'm sorry you are going through so much stress. I hope things will settle down soon and you will get good news from the screenings.

    I had to laugh about all the hoops you and your daughter have to jump through for her job. I definitely think things were significantly simpler when I applied to work at Arby's when I was 16.

    Take care!

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  15. *hugs* And a deep breath might be useful. There's definitely a lot going on. I hope everything gets worked out.

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  16. YIKES! You deserve a break today! Like laundry, writing will be here for you tomorrow.

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  17. I got stressed reading this. Hope it goes better, Tonja.

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  18. You need to relax! Hope everything calms down and goes better for ya, Tonja! :)

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  19. I don't think I could even consider writing with all that going on, although you wrote this post. It's writing, just in different form. Maybe it helped clear your head?
    I hope your hot tub problem is solved in the simplest way possible and your test results are better than expected. As for your daughter, congratulations for getting a "real job". That alone is an accomplishment these days! I'm sure the hassle will be worth it in the long run

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  20. Just remember that your health is the most important thing. Hope all goes well with your physical, and cancer screenings. Sorry the hot tub is such an ordeal, but it's nice that your husband will help with the deck. Congrats to your daughter, and once all the paperwork, and running around is done, she will have a very rewarding job experience. Hopefully, the mouse got carried away with the old hot tub! Julie

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