Shortcomings

I wanted to take a month and write about a single topic. Sort of a challenge to myself. But before I could even start writing the first paragraph, things began to fall apart. The renters up and left with only an email notification the day they took off. The rental house needs a lot of repairs (as usual) but with a lot of painting added to the work load. I'm pushing to get it done since now there is a short time limit so it can be ready to rent again.

My hands are dry from the cleaning stuff, and my back hurts from bending over so much. I'm pretty much tired all the time. When did I get so old? I don't remember ever having so many aches and pains. My frustration level is easier to hit and my desire to blow up the house keeps making me imagine an action sequence from a movie. Boom! What? It's gone? Wow, no I have no idea how that happened... (grin). But I would never do it because I'm sensible.

I'm doing everything right. I work hard, eat right, watch my health, and have friends and family whom I love and who love me. However I never feel like I'm getting anywhere and that all my hard work is useless. Worse yet, I'm getting to old to keep up the massive work for much longer. Then I look into the eyes of my guy and I realize that it's going to be ok. Thank God for him, otherwise I'd be sitting in the dark watching TV, crying and eating lots of fattening food.

I find as I get older all I want to do is simplify my life. Except for him... I want more of him than I have ever wanted of anything in my life. So once again my shortcomings are keeping me from my goal. But I am happy to say that as shortcomings go, he's an awesome one!

So here's to writing, working, loving and living. May your shortcomings bring you some happiness!

Rental House Blues

So the rental house is evil.  I mean, every time I get some stability financially it is like it knows and says, "YES! Now I can get a new..."  This time it was the A/C.  Cost me $1600!  Now I have no savings and a happy house.  Is this what it is like to be married to a big spender?  Always wondering what next big ticket item is coming?  I hope not.  If so, you have my sympathies.

I used to love the house.  Its quaint charm is why I bought it, and felt at home the moment I walked in the door.  But with leaking windows and leaking basement and this and that, it all has become a bit overwhelming.  I do have twelve years of fond memories in that house, but all I can think of now is selling it and letting someone else appreciate its beauty for awhile. 

I admit I had blinders on when I bought the house.  I kept telling myself that I would have no problem fixing the little things that I thought were just cosmetic.  Little did I know that the former owners were 'weekend warriors' who tackled repair work without a clue how to do it properly.  For example, after moving in I decided that the ugly baby blue carpet had to go.  So I set to work removing the carpet by pulling up the carpet tacking.  When I reached the fireplace I found that where they had built the cute little concrete and tile area had been framed by wood.  Wood that they had hammered into the floorboards right through the carpet!  In order to remove the carpet I now had to remove the frame and rebuild the tile area edges. 

In the bathroom they put wallpaper directly onto the drywall without painting, so when I went to remove it, off came the top layer of drywall which of course now had to be replaced, mudded, sanded and primed.  So as you can see, every project became a nightmare of one step forward and three steps back.  My heart was slowly beat into submission over the years and my quaint little one story 900 square foot fairy tale cottage became a burden rather than a pleasure.  It has earned the title 'money pit'.

Which is also the title of a very good movie with Tom Hanks.  I empathize with the characters struggle...a lot.