Not the film.
So much is happening so fast right now that it's difficult for me to keep up. I've decided to put the house on the market when I leave. I'm not even sure what triggered that for me. Perhaps the unexpectedly high cost of the mortgage payments on my new home. I just don't want to be stuck with another house payment (and occasional additional deductibles for this and that) in the event I failed to rent it. Or something. I think I just don't have time or the necessary fortitude for the possible extra stress this could bring to my life, so in the words of Emerson, "Simplify, simplify, simplify!" (Either that or Thoreau. Who can keep them straight?)
So to that end, I've been spending my home time working on the house, painting rooms, cleaning things, etc. My main project is regrouting the bathrooms.
Apparently, the previous owners didn't bother to regrout where regrouting was needed. They just caulked the cracks instead. This did make it watertight and it didn't show up for a while--at least, not to me, little Miss Hypovigilant--but the problem was, there was mildew in the cracks. Caulk does not kill mildew. Thus, the caulk began to peel and the mildew reasserted itself. So here I am with a grout saw (a smallish hand tool that just screams "labor intensive"), working the tile joints.
On the bright side, I did view this home as a "practice home" when I bought it, so...I'm not being disappointed in the lack of practice. :) So far, I've learned about caulking (it's an art), laying hardwood flooring, scraping off wallpaper, painting just everything (and what not to paint), and I expect to learn about wallpapering and driveway patching before all is said and done, as well. All in all, though, the handyman who came through to look at a couple of walls said the place is in excellent condition, something I find reassuring.
I have a plumber coming out this afternoon to repair/replace the garbage disposal, which I believe has finally given up the ghost, as well as several other minor plumbing needs while he's here and since I've already paid the deductible. I replaced the GCFI outlets on the outside of the house last Monday. In the event you ever do this, I recommend you follow the directions to the letter. There's a reason they tell you to run all those tests as you go to ensure you haven't, say, flipped the outlet and have accidentally spent twenty agonizing minutes getting the ornery load wires onto the line screws and vice versa, only to pull the fuse and switch them back. Trust me on this. It seems like a hassle, but it will save you over an hour of frustration, easy.
I have learned, at least, to heed the "TURN OFF MAIN CIRCUIT" warnings after my ill-fated ceiling fan installation many years ago. (Oh, I got the fan in and didn't burn down the house, but it was looking iffy there on both for a bit.)
I have continued to watch my diet (I just like healthy food, so this isn't much of a sacrifice), but I haven't run in a couple of weeks now. My rationale is this: if I have enough energy to run five miles, then surely I have enough energy to paint the living room, work on the grout, mow the yard, trim the bushes, caulk the eaves.... The obvious problem is that the usual housework doesn't provide the same outlet for nervous energy that I'm used to.
I never thought about it much before, but I suppose I thrive on nervous energy (that is, stress). To a certain degree, this is not even unhealthy. The point of stress is to provide the extra energy and alertness you need to accomplish certain things; the whole point of stress is to help you thrive. However, over a prolonged period, this is not good. I was beginning to not feel so good a couple of days ago, and had the distinct feeling that I needed to go for a run. I was just too tense and couldn't relax. I didn't, though, because my sleep was screwed up and I was pulling a couple of twelve-hour midshifts.
My blood pressure yesterday was 146/90. Today (just now) it was 137/79. This explains why I feel the way I do. Time for an attitude adjustment.
I'm off on vacation for three weeks as of Sunday. I've planned this for several months, and heaven knows (heh) I need a vacation. I'm off to Germany, where I am certain to be pampered. Plus I'll take my running shoes.
The date hasn't been set yet, but I defend my thesis upon my return. Then there will be a couple of weeks of scrambling to get the house on the market, get packed, and...all the attendant odd jobs that comes with moving. I'm too busy, yes, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
d
