Work project

I've mentioned I'm a secretary.  I work in a department that builds buildings on campus.  Here's one of the projects we've been doing.

This is a video done by a student, Chris Paige, at the college I work at.   To save money (just a little) we moved this building to a new location instead of demolishing it.  It was sitting on a site to be used for a new building.  It's a cool video.  I can't believe there are people out there doing this for a job.  They must either be crazy or super brave.  Btw, not even a window cracked during this process.  Enjoy.

Margaret Brent Hall Moving at SMCM from Chris Paige on Vimeo.

And, if you want a bit of a history lesson to understand the riddle, here you are.  Who was Margaret Brent?

The truth

I've got nothin'.  Sorry.

I was thinking about doing a 30 day blog and exercise challenge, but that just is not going to happen this month.  I just don't have the energy for it. 

I don't want to whine about my house.  So I'm going with one of my Dad's favorite sayings.  "If you don't have anything nice to say.  Don't say anything at all."  I think it's appropriate. 

I hope you took a moment to stop by Kati's CulturTwined blog.  She wrapped up her interview with me.  If you look, you will get to know me even better.  :)

More truth.

"You don't have a Soul.  You are a Soul.  You have a body."

C.S.Lewis

Dear Sweetheart,

Thank you for all you've done for our family during this difficult time in our lives.  Thank you for patching our roof with a patch strong enough to last for a year.  I know you worked for two days on this patch just to put my mind at ease and allow me peace while we traveled west.  I know, because I see them everyday, that a blue plastic tarp would have kept most of the rain out of our house, but it wouldn't have allowed me to enjoy my time away from the house.  That's what you did for me.  You scrubbed your fingerprints from your fingertips with your hard work.

Thank you for cutting up the trees and moving the debris to the side of the road.  I saw you out there in the drizzle working all day.  I know you did this for me.  The mess of the trees and dying leaves and you are out there cleaning it up.  All for me.  Because you know the chaos brings me so low.  Thank you for telling me our son was helpful in this process.  It helps me feel better about him when I think he has pleased you.  I love you both so much.

You are a very good man.  You have sacrificed so much of yourself for our family.  I know you have put your education to the side to work on our home.  I know you feel frustrated by the time passing during your dissertation process.  You are more than a PhD.  You have done more for our family with the time and effort you have spent trading options and managing our portfolio.  You are so smart.  And lucky.  I thank God for the luck he has given you.  I know the luck comes from your good sense and your willingness to work hard.  So, what I mean is, I thank God for you.  If you decide to continue your schoolwork, I will support you in every way.  I feel I can do more in our home restoration process.  I am coming out of the depression I was feeling and I know I can do better.  *amazing what a good night's sleep will do.

Thank you for reminding me of your love for me.  I know my self doubt and whining must be so annoying.  Yet you are always there to boost my spirit.  I want to do the same for you, and yet it doesn't come easily for me.  And you love me anyway.  You understand my character flaws and love me in spite of them.  And I appreciate this more than I can say.  I love you so much.  I often feel unworthy of the love you have for me, and that is why I doubt it sometimes.  Thank you for understanding this about me.

It is said our true nature is revealed in adversity.  You have a generous, loving, compassionate nature.  This is what has been revealed to our family.  I hope these words convey the depth of my feelings for you.  I want to be your partner in this life.  I want to be strong for you.  Thank you for being there for me while I was down.  Thank you for appreciating me when I don't appreciate myself.  If you ever find yourself doubting yourself, stop.  You are a very good man.  One of the best.

Irene, one month ago

It's been a month since Hurricane Irene hit the mid-Atlantic coast.  It's been a month.  I will give you a short update of where we are in the restoration process.

• The insurance adjuster has been to our home.  They've written a check to us and our mortgage company.  In order to get money to pay for repairs we have to send a notarized affidavit to the mortgage company to get the money to pay for services.  Every time.  For each service.  Tedious.
• We've hired a roofer.  Hopefully they will begin roofing within the next 2 weeks.
• We've hired someone to replace our deck.  This is not to begin until after the roof is replaced.
• We've hired someone to replace the picture window in our bedroom.  This may be coordinated with the roof replacement.
• I've worked with my son to sort through his clothing.  Truthfully, we are only half-way through this process.  He found a bunch of old clothes he had stuffed in a couple dresser drawers.
• My son sold his old X-Box.  *cheering*  He's learning to let stuff go.  <3
• Big tree in the front of the house (with the giant root ball) is cut up and branches removed.  Still need to get the giant root ball out of there.
• One tree in the side yard of the house is cut up and branches removed.
• Valium prescription for Happygirl get some sleep, filled.

Things left to do.  No, I can't go there.  How much does all this cost.  No, I can't go there.  It's the thing that's keeping me from sleeping at night.

Today a co-worker mentioned that if I had better insurance I wouldn't be going through all this trouble.  He says his insurance company has NO deductible for hurricane damage.  Wow, thanks for telling me this.  I have no way of  confirming it and you had no damage to your home, but THANKS for the information.  It's good to know I have crappy insurance.  I hope you feel great about yourself now.  (btw, I didn't say any of that out loud.  :))

And, today a Kati posted the first part of a question/answer conversation we had.  Kati writes a blog called CultureTwined.  Kati is a Christian storyteller.  She is a world traveler and is fortunate enough to be able to work all over the world.  Kati, I think, sees the ways all the people in the world are more alike than not.  I love her positive and loving attitude about life.  I love how she can put what she sees around her into words.  Thanks for for the kind words about me, Kati.  It was fun.

Good stuff on the 'net. Who knew?

I've been inspired this morning.  Well, some of the inspiration came this morning, some of it came over the weekend.  Anyway, I found a couple blogs that just gave me that "Ah Ha" moment.  And I really needed that moment.
 
I don't know how I stumbled upon Lorrie's blog, but I'm so glad I did.  She was just about to start a challenge to eat when hungry and stop when full.  I know, all you skinny girls out there do this naturally.  Well, some of us don't.  And it shows.  So, I decided to leave the comment "I'm in."  And, she called me on it.  So, I'm in.  I'm doing the challenge.  I know portion control is one of the keys to weight loss and know when I'm beginning to feel full, contrary to wanting to stop eating, has been an issue for me.  So I'll use portion control along with stopping and starting my eating with the hungry and full urge. 

Thanks Lorrie.  I'm looking forward to the accountability and encouragement.

Another blog I read is Matt's blog.  I've been reading Matt for a while, but... sometimes I just don't get Matt.  Maybe it's the age thing, I don't know.  Anyway, I still glance at his blog once in a while and see what he is up to.  TODAY was gold.  Matt's post, Homelessness is Next to Godliness, was just what I needed.  I've been struggling with the attitude of a growing number of younger adult christians.  I especially noticed them in the church I recently left.  And, one of them was in the hurtful women's bible study.  I couldn't put my finger on what it was that was bothering me.  I couldn't stand hearing them call themselves "poor" and begging for money.  I mean, I could articulate what I bothered about them, but I couldn't find a "name" for them.  Matt coined the phrase, "Recreational Poverty."  He defines this term this way.

"The difference between these people and real poor people is that they are able bodied, capable of working.  They just choose not to.  They have chosen a life that may be free of idolatrous “things,” but they are also free of responsibility.  No one is counting on them.  They contribute little of value to communities."

Thanks Matt.  I can't tell you how naming it helps me so much.

Please take a moment to look at each of these blogs.  If you like either of them, tell them I sent you.  :)