Alexander Supertramp

I can't stop thinking about the latest film I saw. "Into the Wild". I saw it nearly three weeks ago and I cannot stop thinking about the movie.



I am bothered. Utterly bothered. When I think of what happened, I feel ecstatic and sick. Thrilled and depressed. Do I wish things ended differently? I don't know. I think that I am most haunted by the sign he left on the door of the bus..."For the love of God..." and then begging for his salvation. All I know is, if I ever have a son or a daughter, I hope that they are brave like him but forgiving enough to accept life amongst the rest of us.

For the Love of Boris!

I stand corrected about my judgement regarding our structural engineer, Boris. I now see why Rafael loves him so and now I think I do, too. Mr. Donaghy guessed correctly this evening that Boris is 71, count 'em, 71 years young!!!! My goodness I was thrown. I have learnt that one of the reasons why he failed to show was because he is so busy working on other projects that he has trouble fitting in our teeny project. And once he gets here he is completely focused on the task at hand. Not only that but he genuinely is looking out for our best interest.

At least that is my perception. He told me a story about a friend of his in Russia, Uzbekistan to be exact. He said that his friend had another friend. A fellow who had recently fell onto hard times. His parents had passed away unexpectedly and his brother had fallen ill. The losses and turmoil in his life had left him anxious; nerves frayed and he was no longer able to cope with even everyday matters. A friend (Boris' Friend) bought a ring and gave it to his friend. When the fellow asked, "Why did you buy me this ring?" the friend replied, "Because I want you to look at this ring every time you feel bad and remember me and know that I will always help you. You will never be alone."

Well, you can imagine, I was damn near in tears. I was also thinking 'Does this guy know that I am a stressball or what?' Then he looked at me and said, "Don't worry so much. Everything is going to be okay. Everything is always going to be okay." I wondered, 'Can he look into my eyes and know that I owe tens of thousands of dollars for Mr. Donaghy's medical bills? Does he see that I am worried I will have to move to Canada because my husband may be denied emigration? Does he see that I don't want to be a nurse anymore and I hate going to work?' or is that he sees lines on my face and I need Botox? Ha!






*****

My living room has become the dumping grounds for everything that was once in the kitchen. Funnily enough, there is room for both the things that were already in the living room and EVERYTHING that was in the kitchen. I suppose I could deduce that there was really not that much in the kitchen to start. And even more funnily, I am going to donate most of the stuff that was in there so's I can buy new pretty things worthy of a brand new sparkly clean kitchen. Those pretty new things are going in with the new appliances I just bought at Best Buy this afternoon. I decided to go with white and break away from the stainless steel mold. White will look clean and shiny. LOVE IT!!!

*****

Alas, it's 8:51 pm now. Mr. Donaghy doesn't want to see the Darjeeling Limited tonite so I've agreed to go to In 'n Out instead. Altho, I must be honest and confess that I am secretly elated at the prospect of a Double Double Animal AND Protein Style. Goin' crazy!!!


Until then, a mighty Hurrah to you all!

Oh, Chuck...

Mr. Donaghy and I were heading out the door to go grocery shopping. Chuck usually makes requests for the shopping list. He prefers nachos, popcorn, steaks, and rotisserie chicken over his dry food Whiskas. We normally tell him "No, Chuck, you are just a little guy. You can't tell us what to buy you to eat. You just have to eat what we give you." Well, Chuck certainly made his point loud and clear when he insisted on coming with us the grocery store. As a matter of fact, he told us that if we didn't get him what he wanted, he wanted us to leave him at the store so someone would buy him some real chicken, not the hard dry stuff. As you can imagine, we were stunned to learn that he felt so strongly about this. We told him we would buy him some chicken and promptly made an appointment with a psychologist. Mr. Donaghy feels that Chuck needs to be put in his place and remember once and for all dammit that he is just a cat.

Two No Shows

Hmmmmm. Is this a sign of things to come? Boris, a structural engineer, came highly recommended to us by our contractor, Rafael. So far, we have received three phone calls and one visit. Oh yes, and a quote for $2000.00 to draw up plans for our new stairs. Of the three phone calls, two were to make arrangements for him to come and make some measurements. Each of those times, schedules were cleared, huge chunks of time were made wide open, and asses got sore sitting around waiting for this guy to show up. And show up he never did. Not a phone call. Not a word. What the hell is this? This guy's gotta be kidding me. He's holding up the entire production. So, Mr. Donaghy placed one very firm and unhappy phone call to Rafael and, lo and behold, guess who showed up today to make measurements?

While I am happy he did so, I am still nervous that this appearance is ghostly at best. Yes, he showed up today but will he really make the plans and deliver? Idiots. I am surrounded by frigging idiots.

By the by, I got shitfaced on Sunday night for Diana's Birthday. It was truly needed and I don't regret any giggly or hungover second whatsoever.

P.S. I won at PeeWee Golf AND Bowling!!! Take that Boris!

Fire

The whole of Southern California is ablaze. Mr. Donaghy said it right when he said the "sky has a creepy apocolyptic orange glow". For the past couple of days, we've noticed a layer of ashes on the cars and yesterday afternoon, I noticed four ashes fall to the ground right in front of me. Fire terrifies me. This is the second major wildfire of the year. I cannot watch the news anymore and see people in shock about the loss of their homes. Thankfully, the news is subsiding today and I hope that the fires are as well. It's hot outside. Damn near 95 degrees in the shade. Mr. Donaghy is sick and hacking up a lung. Great. Mucus and ash are proving to make a dandy combo.

On another note, WE HAVE A ROOF!!! We can finally look foward to what will hopefully be a very wet and rainy winter since we replaced the old leaky roof. PLUS, we are nearing the final phase of upgrading our HVAC system. The AC ductwork has been installed and we are waiting for a new set of stairs to go in so we can finish the furnace ductwork. Hooray!!! I won't melt next summer...altho, I am melting now. Our electrical panel was upgraded yesterday so we no longer have to use our electronics in phases. Our little house, built in 1911, is getting 106 years young!! On Sunday, the structural engineer is coming to to measurements so he can start drawing up plans to create a new set of stairs. The stairs will be the most exciting phase of the remodel as it will completely change the entire feel of the house. Be gone you dark and dreary hallways!



The garden is looking spectacular beneath the orange glow. It's unfortunate but true. I dethatched the lawn this morning. I just think of it as combing the hairs of the lawn. So many mangy tangles!!

All Was Lost

Ah, the troubles with technology. My computer crashed and I lost everything that was on it. All the photos of my family in Indiana, all the photos of Mr. Donaghy and I, and all the photos of my life for the past 3 or 4 years. When I got the news that everything was lost, I was shocked that I was completely okay with that. It's as though the house caught fire (p.s. my worst fear ever) and I lost "things". I figured I lived just fine before these "things" were in existence and I imagine that I could keep living pretending they never existed.

Met with another contractor today. He quoted an outrageous price. Well, not really but I can't afford what he proposed. I told him that I would think about it and then proceeded to spend the next 30 minutes reminding him that I would, indeed, think about it as he began to tell me all the reasons why I should be careful and pick him. I was irritated when he asked me if I was serious about having work done to the house. AM I SERIOUS!!! No, buddy, are you serious? Oh Yes!!! I love scrambling around the house making sure everything is clean and tidy so the person coming over does not think we are slobs. I love spending three hours with a total stanger in my house showing him every room knowing that I am standing in front of the drawer with all my panties and jewery and hoping they don't have x-ray vision. Hmmmm. The pleasures of being an adult and dealing with this *!@%.

The bright spot of the day was the many pink buds I've been noting on my rose bushes. I dare say they are about to explode. Pictures to follow.

There are a few patients in the hospital that I have taken care of and I cannot seem to get them out of my mind. I think that I am softening in my old age and I really have prayed to God that he take good care of them. I do not dare ask Him to cure them...it would be heartbreaking if they weren't. I've only asked Him to please take care of them and make sure that they do not suffer. Alas, I am hoping that soon, I can leave work at the hospital. It's not that I don't like it. I just don't love it anymore. It hurts a bit when you try hard to save someone's life and it all goes to shit just because it has to. I am weary that's all. Just weary.

Knock it Down!!!!

Belive it or not, this is a hallway in my house. This hallway takes you to three different places: the bedrooms, the living room and the kitchen. So dark, so scary.












This set of stairs takes you to the kitchen.
















This is where we are supposed to eat? Does this eating nook know how big my brother is? How is he supposed to eat in such a small place?














Cocina de la familia Keaton...remember Family Ties? Yeah, I remember it everyday when I'm in this kitchen.









My plan is to bust down the wall in that dark doldrum hallway and create a new staircase that lands right smack in the middle of the kitchen. The stairs that led to the kitchen would be busted out to make way for a larger eating area (informal dining room?) and everything in the kitchen will be replaced.

New cabinets--white
New countertop--black
New floor--white and black or gray tiles
New appliances plus a dishwasher...Please God Please!!!
New lighting--recessed and pendants

I am excited and frightened of this new endeavor. There was one contractor Mr. Donaghy and I really liked. So straightfoward and no nonsense. Good price as well. I hope I don't screw this up.

1 down and 14 to go

Ah, the mysteries of Homeland Security.
It appears that Homeland Security is on the ball in regards to our case. You see, Mr. Donaghy is a Canadian and since we've been married, we have applied for his Green Card. Our immigration attorney had advised us that the entire process could take 6 months to one year as the government agency has been bombarded with applications and like any true beauroracray, they like to take their sweet time making people wait. (Living life in the private sector is very much free and democratic. One is free to do as they please with minimal wait times. However, once one calls upon the government for anything, one feels like they are dealing with Big Brother and that can be very scary.) Believe me, I am not complaining because for some reason, our application has been pushed through in a very expediate manner. We filed on July 19th. We were told the fingerprinting would be done in three months and our interview could be anticipated for February 2008. Mr. Donaghy got fingerprinted on September 11th...one month early.

Back and Forth

This is Mr. Donaghy. He was up North with my brother and friend doing their favorite thing...car stuff. Was really nice to have the house all to myself. Kinda scary, though. This is not the best neighborhood. I know that the house is mine and that I have lived here for the past two years and, yet, at times, I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that I really do live here. I still have dreams about my little apartment on Willoughby and secretly wish I could just go back. I love that I have a garden here, but I also had one at the apartment. Albeit in containers. I love being married and I love my husband. I just wish I could go back and forth from my new life to my old one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRlvdmnD7nU


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4oL-O5NoJ8


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdFVMEm9WLA

Sunday Morning Lag

This morning Chuck fell asleep watching TV. I can't believe he fell asleep watching the Dog Whisperer. That's his favorite show. I think he might have had too much to drink last night...

I spent the morning drinking coffee and playing Sudoku and Crossword Puzzles. Chopin is playing softly in the radio distance. I've noticed that it takes my brain a good 45 minutes to get clear and bright; revving for a good quick mind game. Otherwise, I am dull, dim witted, and altogether dark and dense.



This afternoon has been dedicated to first of many fall clean ups in the ol' garden. My great and grand walnut tree is falling into Autumn. The leaves are browning and creating a great mess. I must find a way to compost. I try not to think about the possiblity of losing this tree. The neighbors are complaining about the "basura" and they think the roots are growing under their house. If so, the problem surely must be remedied...altho, I hate to think of losing the tree. For as much as I complained about how messy it is, the thought of cutting it down makes me grateful to rake twice, nay, thrice a week!