This is the Week

Today I'm thankful because:

1. This is the week! On Friday we should find out if Z passed the bar exam. If so, we will most likely make an offer on the lake house.

2. I had a great weekend full of nice weather, relaxation, and excitement about the house.

3. I have wonderful leftovers from Cracker Barrel for lunch (hey, it's the little things).

4. My mother and stepdad like the lake house as much as we do.

5. I didn't run out of gas driving home for lunch. Seriously, I felt like Kramer testing the car to see how much father he can go once the needle's on E.


This weekend was great. It was the perfect mixture of lazy and fun so that I don't feel exhausted, and I don't feel like there was no weekend. It started sort of early, which always helps, because on Friday my office went to tour the Hyundai plant. That means we essentially stopped work at lunchtime and never looked back. We ate pizza and then left for the plant, then we were able to go home when we returned to the office (around 3:45.) The tour itself was actually very interesting and fun. The drama leading up to it – not so much.

That morning, my office friend decided she had too much work to do, and she shouldn't go. Well, my take-it-personally boss got her feelings hurt and went on a rampage about "I didn't plan this for myself. It's for the people. You should participate and have fun." I sort of agreed, because we were all carpooling to the plant, and she was my ride. So here I was with a friend who was upset about being yelled at for being a diligent worker, and a furious boss, and no ride. It's not like I have other friends here – I pretty much don't. So, somehow, I wind up in the Mercedes with the 2 co-owners of the company and the son of one of them (who happens to be the man who recruited me.) I was upset at first, because I'd been left out to dry pretty much, and was now forced into an awkward ride with the big bosses, but then I quickly realized I had the best seat in the house, by far. They are old (one of them is 70) and funny, and most of all, not psycho like the other boss, who is not a co-owner. So I rode with them, and we talked about everything but work, which was delightful. They opened the car door for me, treated me nicely, etc. Everything was the exact opposite of my loud-mouth bossy other boss. Then we went on the tour, which was fun, and rode back to the office. Like I said, we were able to leave after that, so I got home around 4:30, which was great! I cleaned up the apartment a little, but I wound up falling asleep on the couch until Z got home from work.

Saturday was a nice day too. We looked at houses, watched way too much football (I can tolerate about 1.5 games a day, nothing more), and I was able to catch up on my magazines. I also did laundry (hooray) and cleaned up other things too. That always makes me feel better.

Sunday we were running a little late, so we didn't make it to Sunday School (it is at 8:30), but because of that we had time for breakfast before church. After church we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch and still made it home before noon (early services are nice in some respects.) I cleaned up some, because my mother and stepdad were coming over on their way home from the beach. They were stopping by so they could see the lake house with us, and also to give Z his birthday present (tomorrow is his birthday.) They came over around 2:30, and we drove over to the lake house. They really liked it! It was the first time Z and I had been inside of it, as I've explained before, but we're sold. In our price range, and after all the research we've done, we know this is the best house we'll find, probably. It's on 1/5 an acre, lake view, new construction, all brick, nice landscaping, sprinkler system, stainless steel appliances, fireplace (OK – we discovered it's actually electric, but it looks pretty nice), good closet space, etc. It's a lovely home, and it made me feel nice that my mother liked it too. Confirmation is always nice. We spent a long time in the house checking out everything, and I know that Z and I will feel comfortable making an offer on it on Friday.

After they left, Z and I went to Cracker Barrel for dinner, and it was so good – I love that place, and somehow (I guess because I had the "Sunday Dinner" special) it wound up costing us $2 less than our "cheap" lunch at the Mexican restaurant. Hooray.

We were so excited talking about all the new things we'll need for the house that we decided to go to Lowe's after dinner and start pricing things. Z studied the outdoor storage buildings in the parking lot (the lake house has no outdoor storage) to see what exactly was needed to duplicate one, then we went inside to price the materials. Thankfully, Z will be able to make one for about half price. (Double thankfully, I'm married to a man who can/will build things!) We looked at refrigerators that match the beautiful stainless steel appliances already in the house, blinds for the windows, paint colors, etc. It's so much fun to dream about all the possibilities. We're also focusing on upgrades – not just things that we would like, but things that would help us sell the house when we're ready for our next move. Z wants to put in a pretty tile backsplash in the kitchen, and things like that. We agreed that no matter what, if we get that house, all our Saturdays will be taken up for the next year! (And this with a completely move-in-ready house!) I really hope this one works out. I'm not sure if my little heart can handle another beautiful house being sold out from under us.