connie....?????

can i rent you for a week or so? today my dog got wired during a strom and tried to break outta the basement so i have door molding to replace- my "ensuite master bathroom" needs a new sink and floor installed- i am not sure if lino or tiles are going down but it needs to look good on a cheapy budget! and i 'm sure there is more!!!! i want this house sold.....

Margo, I think there'd be a line around the block to "rent" Connie if she was a mind to "rent" herself out for projects. I'd be on that list too!! I hope things go well for you and the house gets SOLD!! Va

I want in that line to rent me too! I have unfinished stained glass panels waiting to be done. Still have to finish the wood panel for the front of the Jacuzzi tub and I just ordered marble tile for the kitchen counters. I still have 1/2 of the bedroom floor to finish laying the hardwood floors and 1/2 of the ceiling still needs the popcorn scraped. I still have an unfinshed 10 by 10 foot room that I'm converting to a walk-in closet, but I need to wire and insulate it before I put up the drywall. Nothing like over extending yourself. you guys don't want to rent me these days. I can't seem to get anything finished. Connie

We are in the middle of ripping out our bathroom - old antique house circa 1836 and we've NEVER done any kind of remodeling work other than painting! Throughout, I have held Connie close to my thoughts, especially when I've felt very overwhelmed - the electricity is in place (didn't have any before), and now we are putting in the sub-flooring, prepping it for laying down tiles (they're gorgeous!) and then we will install new fixtures - including a whirlpool tub, new toilet and new pedestal sink. All because of Connie!!! After this, we will rip up the floor in the master bedroom, lay down new wood floor, fix old, cracking plaster (and I'm not talking sheetrock here! - a daunting task), repaint and and turn our bedroom/bath suite into a haven for retreating from those everyday stresses I am constantly referring to. All because of Connie!!! Margo, best of luck in selling your home - the real estate market has got to turn around soon. Take care, Reenie

Reenie, I'm so proud of you! I want to see pictures when you're done. We should all start a business. "Former Fat Girls Remodeling" I remember the first time I laid a tile floor after losing 100 pounds. It was such a joy to get up and down off the floor with ease instead of hauling myself up by clutching the counters. OK, now you're inspiring me. I've got marble tile on order to redo the kitchen counters. I'm getting excited about it again. You are going to LOVE the jetted tub. I use mine every single day. In fact, I've only been in the hot tub outside one time since I put the new tub in the bathroom. Hugs, Connie

Margo, I want to rent ME to Me! I'm so exhausted from work that I come home and crash. No energy left for home improvement these days and it's bugging me. I can't believe I'm laying in bed watching Bridezillas instead of painting something. So if I can't be there in body, I can be there in spirit. Here's my advice... Bite size chunks. Make a list and do things in bite size, manageable chunks. You'll get there. There are some great choices in peel and stick tile these days and it's pretty inexpensive. You can also get ceramic tile for a buck a square foot. Also, check and see if there's a Habitat for Humanity resale shop in your area for the sink and door molding. People donate their old stuff after a renovation and Habitat sells it for a reasonable price. Everybody wins. I'm still kicking myself because I passed up some 6 panel mahogany interior doors for 15.00 each and of course they were gone when I came to my senses and went back for them. OK, you've inspired me. I'm going to go build a shelf for the kitchen. Big Hugs!!! Connie

progress was made eysterday inspite of ourselves- hubby is having a real lack of energy week and no uuuumpf to do anything so when he starts a project i look out! i shopped and bought a sink and drain and some lino remnant at lowes- also a replacement sprayer for the kitchen sink-came home had lunch and whammo--he replaced the sprayer before i could say boo and then he went about the sink project--i suggested that the old carpet was under the bathroom cabinet so why don't we wait to install sink after we do floor? well- shutting off the water to the sink-whoa! one shut off was frozen so i goes to the store- while i'm gone he rips up the carpet and has the door off and the old sink and vanity in our bedroom- so- we pulled tackless and i spruced up some of the paint- he rolled the lino out in the living room- the dog loved playing with her duck on it (she is a dane and so cute when playing!)--so--we're both kinda scared to cut the lino--we put that part off til today- we shall see... now if i could just get self motivated to pack boxes and take to the storage unit i rented yesterday- no reason for a 3 bedroom house with full basement and 1 1/2 car garage to be filled to the brim with only two ppl living in it! my depression causes me to get overwhelmed looking at the masses of boxes- many yet unpacked since i moved out of "home" after 26 yrs of marriage in 1999---so--i probly don't need those things right? i rented the storage unit so i could sort thru-put only those things that i really want but can live without til we move and a few boxes like winter clothes in case we are still here (UGH!) this winter.then-things that don't make it to storage or are not being used right now get pitched or given away.... we don't have a habitat store here- wish we did-we don't even have a recycled "house parts" store here- indiana has one but is about 150 miles away-and ypsilanti mich... sorry for writing a book- finally feeling like i am making progress-slow but sure! now- who would take care of my 13 year old callie cat when we move to hawaii? my mother will but i don't think it's the right home for her and almost am tempted to put her to sleep-i cannot afford to/do not want to vet her for moving there-costly-and i don't think she would survive the journey tho she would love the sunshine once we would get there. in all of the above-hubby sees only $$$$$$$ signs........ thanks for listening!

Holy Cow! Look at that picture of you. What a babe! You've remodeled yourself. Forget about the house! You guys have made great progress. Thaqt has to feel good. As for the cat, 13 is really not old for a cat. OK, middle aged, but not old. Cats really aren't as aloof as people think and they get very attached. Try to take her with you. Maybe it won't be as costly as you think. If you really can't take her, try the no kill shelters in your area or maybe there is an animal placement agency. Someone will snatch up a Callie in an instant. I have a Callie and I couldn't bear to part with her. She's the only normal animal I have. OK, she's close to normal. She's feisty and a bully and thinks you can't see her if she hides her eyes, but that's as close to normal as it gets in this house. Where in Hawaii are you moving anyway? I'm going to Maui in September. Hawaii is the only state I haven't been to so I'm looking forward to crossing it off the list. C.

on the big island of hawaii--it is less costly to live there than maui or oahu...more "common folkl" can live there tho i will probly work in some way within the "tourist" trade-a small shop or something--my background is retail or banking and i will have to work at least another 15-17 years...i am certain that maui and ohau are gorgeous to visit and hope to someday! the bathroom only needs molding/trim put in and it looks so much better- of course, we took the fairly cheap easy way out but the old sink had scratches and cuts in it so this is a big improvement and the old carpet was so dingy-no cleaning it would make it look good- this will be easy to clean about my cat-i agree with reenie's post and i agree with yours- callie was a pound kitty when i got her in 1999-she was then about 5 years old and had been there for about 3 months- she had already been spayed and front claws out and had a very quiet demeanor--she is one of those that probly had no human contact when very very young-they tend to be more "aloof' and untouchable. shortly after callie joined my family; she and i moved out -the ex hubby was getting very weird and well- let's just not open that book today! so-callie and i moved around quite a bit - and finally we ended up here-the whole issue of taking her really is money-vetting her to get her ready-ouch! there is a $125.00 blood test needed as well as microchipping and then her flight ticket-i have a carrier for her. since we came back from wisconsin-and now the bathroom remodel-she has been quite clingy tho--last nite sat in my lap while i attempted to wind a yarn ball.... this is a hard thing for me and i keep waivering! thanks for the compliment on the pic--i had hoped that the gal who put it up would have used more of my face and less of the non-boobage area! the pic was taken two weeks ago before hubby's 50th class reunion.....

My vet told me that Callie's tend to be a little untouchable until they bond with one person and then it's a hard core bonding as far as the cat's concerned. That's true of mine. I got her as a small kitten and there are certainly a lot of people through this house and she has plenty of opportunity for human contact with others, but she's very choosey. If she is going to let someone else pet her, it's always a man. I have a 60 year old girlfriend who literally chases the cat through the house, trying to pet her. She worships me though and who doesn't want to be worshipped. I should have named her VISA because she's "everywhere you want to be". I take Maisey to the groomer in the morning for her annual shave. She's a long-hair and the groomer shaves her to look like a lion. It's a riot. She has a mane and tuft on her tail. Imagine a miniature patchwork lion patrolling the roof. My neighbors stand on the sidewalk and watch this crazy lion-cat walk up and down the roof line.