Saturday, February 28, 2009

Welcome to my world...

And would someone PLEASE save me?



In the interest of full discloure I am showing some pictures that I would never show because my kitchen is THAT UGLY. But you have to be able to compare the before and after pictures to appreciate the results.
This is our future fireplace. Gorgeous, huh? For some reason I'm having trouble visualizing what it's gonna look like when it's done. Can't figure out why. At this point I just want it hooked up so I can WARM MY TOES on it! I don't care what it looks like anymore. This industrial look is starting to grow on me.
But nevermind the fireplace. Because we're going to have to abandon that project for now in favor of a different one.

Say goodbye to the kitchen. Our new cabinets will be in on March 16 so it's time to start demolition. If anyone wants cabinets for their garage let me know. I'll be placing an ad on Craigs List soon. And yes, that IS a tent in my living room. It's just how we roll these days. I'll be sleeping in it for 40 years to increase my spirituality.


See how the lovely ceiling drops DOWN in the kitchen? It's further evidence that this house was definitely built in the 1980's. But we're taking the ceiling out. Can't wait to be able to see the attic right from my kitchen! And to hang sheet rock, tape, mud, sand, mud, sand, mud, sand and then texture. It's gonna be a blast.

See these red shelves? This is my catch-all area of the house. (Yes, two people DO need to own 5 pairs of sunglasses!) But I think I've come up with a solution to make everything more organized and pretty looking. So stay tuned. When this project is done in the year 2027 I will show you what we did. And if I still have my sanity we shall rejoice together.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

We're home, we're safe, we're alive

(Name that movie for a chance to win....nothing)

OK. So I realize it's been awhile since I've reported on our doings and happenings. But believe me, it's not because there are no doings and happenings. So let's begin.
We continue to make microscopic progress on the installation of our new fireplace. I would show you pictures, but I don't have the camera with me.
Chris, Keaton and the camera are at the Klondike Derby this weekend. For those of you who don't know what that is, you're not alone. I don't know either. I think secretely they're spending the weekend at Hooter's. Just kidding. It's a Boy Scout camp out in the snow. Wonder why I'm not there? I don't. I can't imagine anything more miserable. But hopefully they're having fun and we'll share pictures sometime in the next year or so.
Carson started his basketball season a couple of weeks ago. So Saturday mornings are spent watching practice and games. I love the program he's in because they practice for 45 minutes then play a 45 minute game and then we're done for the week. No mid-week practices or anything. And they're nice enough to schedule team pictures during practice too. This program must be run by a mom! And she's a woman after my own heart. I have recently realized that Carson is a runt. I knew he was a little bit small for his age, but I look out on the basketball court and he's the smallest one out there. But it doesn't stop him. He still does great and his football team as well as his basketball team (same group of kids) is undefeated so far.
Daniel finally got his cast off this week and now only has to wear a removable brace for about another week. He was so excited to give his arm and hand a good scrub and to take a shower without a plastic bag on his arm. He also really missed playing his guitar and cello. We can hear him strumming away for hours at a time downstairs. He also is going to be in the spring musical at the high school, "The Pirates of Penzance." Did I spell that right? Probably not. Anyways, he's really enjoying it.
Jantzen is still loving preschool and especially loved her Valentines day party. She spent many hours admiring all of her little valentines and memorized which kid gave her which card. It was amazing, considering that she has about 20 kids in her class. We kept quizzing her just for fun. She's such a sweetie and such a turkey. She is so excited to read and usually at bedtime she wants to repeat everything I read to her so that she can pretend she's reading. She's sounding out simple words and is working on memorizing all her story books so that she can "read" them. This girl has some seriously crazy memorization skills and one day I'll figure out what to do with them.
This is really starting to feel like one of those Christmas letters where you go through the family one person at a time and highlight their year. But...oh well, no excuses. I'm lame and I know it.
Chris has just had eight days off of work and I'm not sure what he did. Just kidding! He's been working on the fireplace, but since he's learning as he goes, we've run into lots of delays. We've spent a week waiting for some vent pipe to come in and he couldn't really do anything on it until that was here. So my feet are still cold and we have a huge hole in our ceiling but life's good. We're gearing up for a big kitchen remodel and I'm excited but dreading it. I know that nothing will go as planned and everything will be more difficult and expensive than we thought. I'm not being a pessimist, it's just the reality. I've lived through remodels before and that's just the way it goes. But when it's done it will be so worth it.
I just returned from Boise last night. I was at Scentsy Director Boot Camp and it was so amazing! I learned so much and met tons of great people. I love this company I'm working with and the growing potential is so huge. It's already growing at a rate of about 400%, even when the rest of the economy is tanking. The company is totally debt free and the owners are amazingly humble and down to earth. The product sells itself, all I do is share it with people. I was talking to the owner, Orville Thompson, and he told me that people who have been Scentsy Consultants for four or more years are consistently making $200,000 per year or more. Of course it takes work. You can't just sign up then do nothing. But it's not that hard, either. Believe me. I don't work that hard! So here's my pitch to you. If you hate your job or don't make enough money, give it some thought. It's only $99 to get started and you can easily make that back at your first party. In less than one year my team grew from one person to 20 people and I'm making money off of other people's work. How great is that? At that rate, I'll be paying off my house a lot sooner than 30 years from now. And I've met tons of great people and made lots of new friends. It's definitely been a win-win.
In other news about me, I've signed up for another half-marathon and so will soon be torturing you with details about my grueling runs. This year I talked my good friend Heather into doing it with me and I know it's gonna be so fun. It is, after all, the Girlfriend's Half Marathon. We'll definitely be shopping for matching running outfits to wear on the big day. Pink, of course. If there's anyone else out there crazy enough to join us, let me know.
Well, I think that's about all the news and weather in the Wrathall household. Thanks for reading all the way to the end. Your eyes are probably tired by now.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

We did it!

I'd like to thank my agent, my manager and most of all my fans. I couldn't have done it without you. I really appreciate your devotion and willingness to participate in our dog adoption rituals. I knew they would work!
The puppy went to a nice retired couple who live on nine acres with other dogs, cats, chickens and horses. But their world was somehow empty without a little lap dog to sleep at the foot of their bed. So I'm sure that he will have a wonderful life there, and now I can continue my life, free of doggie messes and midnight yelping. Yes!
There are some tears being shed by Jantzen but I think a trip to Dairy Queen should take care of those.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Cross your fingers!

Someone is coming over tomorrow to look at the pup! Oh, please please please let them take him home.
Over the last week, I've started to become a little bit...how do I say this... attached to the little bugger and I am now finding it very difficult to drop him off at the animal shelter. But if I know he's going to a good home, I will gladly say goodbye to him.
I have been thinking long and hard about what I can do to make sure this dog finds a home tomorrow and I've come up with a plan. But I'll need help from all of you.
Are you with me?
I can't HEAR you!
I said ARE YOU WITH ME???
I thought so.
We need to do something to make the Dog Adoption Gods smile down on us. We need to show that we're serious. It may feel a little funny, but just know that you're not the only person doing this tonight. There is strength in numbers. We can do this!
Everyone please join me in a good luck bark, scratch, and rock eating ritual tonight. We will all need to act like dogs and howl at the moon. Our yards will become our bathrooms. We will chase laser lights and tennis balls. A little bit of yelping in our sleep can't hurt. And let's throw in a little bit of drinking from the toilet just for good measure.
Thanks everyone. I knew I could count on you.

Monday, February 2, 2009

No takers, huh?

Well, if no one is gonna take this puppy, then I guess I'll just have to throw a fit and start tearing the bricks off my walls.


I'm starting to feel better already.


But seriously, this is getting really messy. Aaawww, look! Someone already found a new use for this empty corner.Stay tuned for more updates of the stray puppy and the crazy parents who decided to rip their kitchen and fireplace apart.