Work has moved me out of hourly management and back to production and I am on day shift, the first time in many years I have worked days on a steady basis and I am liking that. The work is harder, I hurt more and have far less stress and am much happier. My income is similar so that works well also.
Yes, this is my dream, small stuff, progress on this old house, small perks like a planned trip down to KY for a couple days next month while I have vacation time. Plans to enjoy the National Quilt Museum and just an escape out of town with my friend Larry to break the winter, if the weather and roads are good the week I am scheduled off on vacation.
The old house projects make little progress most of the time but the debt load is going down every month and I am down to under 26 more house payments. I plan to sell my lot in MO and think those funds will cover most or all the costs for the concrete work on the back patio I want/need.
The grass has made progress, at least most of the sand is covered in something growing and I added some more day lilies and Robin Hood roses this fall with plans for more of both in the spring. In time the roses should make a nice hedge between the edge of my south side and the street so the house feels more private. I have accomplished that in the back with pampas grass along the alley and the south side of the back yard area. And native day lilies also help fill in that and hold the sand with little care or attention.
Jake has helped some with drywall in the attic area so most of the ceiling has drywall, still have slopes to do on both sides of the south end and both south and north end walls need done but do have 1 sheet on the north end.
Right now the drywall jack is tucked away and I have no plans for more drywall work until warmer weather or I can afford and get some help. Mostly I am just too tired and often work 6 day work weeks and just hurt and do not want the battle. Move stuff out of the way, get Jake to help, put up a bit of drywall, clean up, put everything back so I can continue to live up here in the attic and not go nuts. Ya, prep work and after work is more time and work than getting that sheetrock fastened to the ceiling or wall area.
Really miss living alone but know Jake will have a good start on his education with the time he is here, some money saved up and I like him, LOL but not the loud or the mess that adult sons seem to bring with them.
I am working on thinning out stuff I don't need, from books and patterns to clothes and such so that my small space is workable and enjoyable and if I don't need it, won't use it, can't use it, then it can leave. Or in the case of many of my books, the library is a far better place as they have more shelf space and far more people can use the woodshop and home repair books and such.
I wonder how Mike Ferrin is doing, he did comment on a post I made on Facebook but he can't be found with a search so he is hiding out, which I find funny. Not sure if he thinks it matters much to me or if it his creditors he is hiding from but he has nothing to fear from me. We walk different roads and we sure look at some things I consider very important different. But I can say that about several other people I know and dated in the past.
It has been almost 11 years since I came here, for a job and because of a man. He has been gone from this area and my life for most of those years but I settled in and have made myself a good life with a good job and an old house that really works well for me.
Not saying God has not kept his eye on me, or that He has not given me plenty of opportunity and choices but it is my hard work and my making good choices that has gotten me to where I am right now. In my own home that I can afford to heat, with job security, something being put away to help with my old age, ok credit and lots of nice stuff to enjoy.
Material goods abound here, and some of them sure are not needed, enjoyed, yes, glad I bought them, yes but I do not need both an iPad and a Nexus7. There is the very old desktop computer and the not so old Toshiba laptop, the iTouch and the Kindle, 3 sewing machines and a serger. Plenty of yarns and fabrics and lots of dolls and books. Food in the house and money in the bank, maybe not much but still, money and gas in the tank of my paid for and well maintained old truck. 2 paid for Honda rides, the Metro and the Rebel, under covers and waiting for warm weather and both are in very good condition and great fun, good on gas.
Yes, a great life, the only petty gripe I often have is over slow internet and I will not pay a higher price until the very old phone lines serving this house, this town, this area are updated. Paying a higher internet bill will not deal with those problems and I will continue to have poor service until the phone companies update their blasted wiring.
