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same_sky ([personal profile] same_sky) wrote2006-03-20 09:46 pm

between the bluegrass wavy seas

M looked at me a little while ago and said, "You need a project! A website! Writing a book! Something! Anything!" I think I am annoying when I am bored. No, I take that back. It's not so much that I am annoying as that M doesn't like it when I get restless. Women will listen to your problems and commiserate, men will try to solve the problem. Mainly, I'm restless now because there's always something to be done with the house. It's not like our house is in an awful shape or anything, but we are very much people who prefer to be at home, and we have been waiting forever to finally get a house of our own, so we want to be doing all these projects. It's just that now we're at a point where we don't have to work constantly, and I'm just not sure where to go with the times of idleness. M has his computer games, but the ones that I play are not keeping me involved right now because I keep thinking I need to be doing something else. I had realized just last night that I needed a project, and so I am playing around with obtaining one and hopefully my boredom will go away soon. It made me laugh that even M is begging me to find something to do.

When we first got married, I really didn't have that many things to do with my time. I was still in college, so a lot of my time was spent in class or doing homework. Before he moved, I was living at home with my parents, and most of my time (at least.. before about six pm) was spent online with M. Other than that, I'd probably be doing stuff with my family or reading or eating out, either with my family or [livejournal.com profile] stewlis. When we got married, he brought with him a love for computer games. I really don't have a problem with the games, but I would get bored with it because I didn't have anything equivalent to spend time on. The first time he mentioned that he thought I should get a hobby, I was a little pissy about it. But then I happened to get into tatting, and slowly, both of us have been acquiring hobbies and interests and time-consumers like there's no tomorrow. (I must say that I passed some sort of special crazy test when we got into Mosaic Minds.. not that I regret it but I wonder sometimes if any of us would have gotten involved if we had known what it would entail.) Now, I have so many things that I want to do, and I keep thinking of more things, and then when I start those next things, I'll find something else I'm interested in. Where am I supposed to find time for all these things? Especially when, truth be known, I would generally rather sit here and refresh my friends page.

Not that I have a particular purpose in mind for writing about all this.. I was just thinking about it. I had the beginnings of a serious case of Sunday-angst (yes, it's Monday, but to us, it's just the end of a really long weekend, so the thought of going to work tomorrow is downright painful.) I don't know why I do this. Tonight it was prompted by a headache, but I will sit around moping, not wanting to get going on something because I only have a few precious remaining hours of time off from work. The end result is that I don't enjoy those hours, I don't get anything done and I still have to go to work. So, Boyo and I got into a round of small house things that we've been meaning to do. We have hung up ten things on the walls this evening, and we carried in three bookcases from the garage into their semi-permanent home of the sunroom. The sunroom is such a mess.. it basically is just a catch-all for all the furniture that we bought for a specific purpose that we no longer need it for. There's an oak-type cabinet that used to be in the kitchen, a white and maple matching dresser and cabinet that used to be in our dining room, and now three black bookcases. Also, an exercise bike. It looks like crap. But at least it's just an extra room. It's not like we have to spend much time out there. Well. For one thing, there's nowhere to sit. That makes lingering out there somewhat difficult.

The chimney guy came out this morning, inspected our chimney and told us the very last thing in the world that we expected to hear: it didn't need cleaning. Doesn't it just figure that the only thing in the whole house that didn't need cleaning was the one thing that we assumed would be a fire hazard? The seller's realtor told us that the previous owner used it all the time and had never had it cleaned, so we didn't really give it much of a looking over. M and I are security freaks, and couldn't imagine lighting a fire until it had been inspected. The guy was very professional and very competent--well, how would I know, really, but he seemed very competent. Our chimney isn't really made right on the inside, apparently, and he was bound by law to tell us about the flue* not being long enough, but he thought it was still safe enough for us to use, especially since we don't intend to light the thing more than a few times a year. He also wants to sell us about $375 worth of work done to the chimney itself (on the roof) and.. well, actually, I think I'm all for letting him do it. We apparently have such a problem with moisture in the chimney area that there is a fern-like growth. That just isn't right. But speaking of ferns, I can't wait until spring gets here and I can buy a few to hang on my front porch. Won't that be pretty?

When we bought the house, the whole yard was in a dismal state. It still is, because it's been winter and days when we could go out in the yard to work have been few and far between. M has cleaned the gutters, which were green with algae, and we have cleaned some of the windows in front and sprayed down the worst of the goop on the front of the house. I don't think anyone has taken a rake to the yard in years, though, and we have now accumulated three sizable piles of sticks and branches and twigs of various sizes. We're going to consolidate them into one pile eventually and burn them.. and speaking of burning them, there was a pile in the yard when we looked at it that dwarfed what we've picked up since that was burnt for us before we closed on the house. We're still not done collecting those.

Anyway, buying the house in the middle of winter means that we have no clue what kind of plants that we have. Someone has apparently done some gardening work in the past, so we have the remains of work buried under years of neglect. I was delighted when easter lilies started poking up, and we now have one beautiful yellow bloom. I adore easter lilies, always have. We have more, but they haven't blossomed yet--I don't know why, but they're behind the others in the area we've seen. The strange thing, though, is where they planted these things. We have three rows (estimated two or three yards long, but my estimates always suck) of unidentified plants sticking up in the side/middle of the backyard, and another, similar rectangular patch a few feet away. They look somewhat like easter lilies in the way they grow, but they're bushier and the individual shoots are broader and more rounded. We have no idea what they are (I am totally clueless when it comes to plants, M is a little better but will not be winning any botany awards around here any time soon.) I am planning to post a bunch of pictures and get my knowledgeable friends in the computer to tell me what these random things in my yard are, when I get around to it.. should probably wait until a few more things start growing, if M will let me. He is intensely curious about some alien plants that are growing up from the ground in three or four perfectly flat shoots. I haven't the faintest idea what they are but they look really strange, I'll give him that.

Still with me? This is approximately the longest post I've written in ages. One other thing that I feel compelled to write about was a little conversation we had in the car today. I said something about a particular person who seems to like me more than the situation would warrant, and added that it was surprising because I am not a likable person. The husband? Immediately said, "No, but you're smart." And I like it when my husband thinks I'm smart and all, but shouldn't he have given a token protest to my characterization of myself as unlikeable? All he had to say for himself was that he saw what I meant. HMPH. I was prepared to defend my argument because I just knew that he disagree because he never lets me get away with tearing myself down. I really am not all that likable. I think I grow on people, and I don't feel unworthy of being liked or anything like that--it just usually takes me a long while to be who I actually am with people I meet. (In his defense, he headed from there into the territory of me particularly not being likable--his word was "accessible"--around people I don't particularly like, and this person falls into that category, because I don't.)

*M thinks that flue is a stupid word and has argued the matter with me since we moved in that it wasn't the right word. "Flu--that's when you get really sick! It's not part of a chimney!" Even when I spelled it for him, he persisted. He waved away my explanations and has been calling it the flute. My attempts to point out that a flute is actually a small wind instrument have been largely ignored.

[identity profile] courtesy.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 12:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Hrm, I think I thought it was a flute too :)

This was a monster post, you unlikable monster you!

Gardening is an excellent hobby :)

[identity profile] same-sky.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I always wanted to play flute, and my mean old band teacher made me play trumpet instead. So maybe I'm just bitter. Actually, I think he's funny when he is obstinate about words but please don't tell him that, he's hard enough to live with as it is.

I was thinking of you when I wrote about being unlikable, btw. Not that I think YOU are unlikable, of course, but that I worry when (yes, WHEN) we meet you will think, "who is this boring, unlikable person and where is K2??"

Gardening is way too confusing. And dirty. I think that M will be in charge of all gardening and I shall just reap the rewards. That suits me better!

And speaking of nothing, I dreamed last night that you were posting about S again. :)

[identity profile] courtesy.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
You big goof! Re the unlikable thing that is ;) Of course I think that too but then again we both know that in real life it's alway different but then again SO the same. I will definitely like you, EVEN if you are unlikable :) And we wil definitely meet. M's flying you to Paris late this year, didn't you know?? And you will have to play the trumpet!

And as for the S stuff, that is cute :) Well, actually, I could post about it, but perhaps not in the way you .. we .. hoped :( But I think a review of how it was in Sweden is perhaps overdue :)

[identity profile] same-sky.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 04:59 pm (UTC)(link)
It is so weird for you to be in a realistic time zone! *grin*

Yes, I know I'm a big goof. But I did think that! And I almost mentioned it, even. I am pretty pleased about this being flown to Paris thing, though. I had no idea! :)

Sorry about the S thing. I don't have any real hopes except that you find someone that makes you happy and all, but still. Is it sad, though, that I am reading about reading my friends list? And making up stuff for them to be posting about?? :)

[identity profile] courtesy.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I think it's adorable that you dream about it :) So cute :) And yes, I know you just want me to be happy, me too. And heck, I'm in no rush. This is not the best time anyway as my recent little obsession showed me. But still, strong feelings for S which refuse to go away, just still a disappointing 'fit' when we're together. Hey look, I'm doing the update here, this means I don't have to do it 'publicly'! Or is that publically?? I forget. My mind is mush. So yeah, same old same old, just him not standing up for himself and it being a relationship about me rather than a real partnership and I don't want that. It was nice to catch up as friends with less pressure, but ultimately it was still a bit frustrating for me at times and then for him too. It probably didn't help that I was as sick as a dog and in the midst of a hell trip. At least with me over here we can catch up again and have it less stressful and get to know each other in real life better, even if it is just as friends....

[identity profile] same-sky.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Does it count as publicly--funny, because I always want to write publically, too, but I think.. just think.. that it's publicly--if I announce to LJ that for an update on the Kirsty-S situation, just check the comments of this post? *tease* No, kidding, of course I wouldn't do that but I bet you'd sure be surprised.

Anyway, some people are just meant to be friends, I guess. There's nothing wrong with that, and well, at least you tried. :) Time to find yourself a hot French guy instead!

[identity profile] e11en.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 03:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Funny, I was just talking to Ingrid about flues yesterday. She was likewise confused but has the excuse that we don't have a fireplace, and, oh yeah, she's FOUR. Try the word damper out on M and see if that agrees with him better.

Damper:
An adjustable plate, as in the flue of a furnace or stove, for controlling the draft.

[identity profile] same-sky.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Funny timing, then. Unfortunately, changing the word to damper doesn't work because apparently it's a slightly different chimney word, and in this case.. our flue is fine, if a few feet too short, but the chimney guy wants to install a (stainless-steel, ooh, fancy) second damper to the top to prevent all the heat from going out when not in use. So it's close, but we have recent data that will cause him to reject switching the word. Shucks!

He has strong opinions on words sometimes.. ;)

[identity profile] courtesy.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Damper is australian bread you make with flour and water in a camp fire when you're ... well ... camping :)

[identity profile] same-sky.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 09:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Is it tasty or is it just like.. flour and water? :)

[identity profile] courtesy.livejournal.com 2006-03-26 11:30 am (UTC)(link)
Just like flour and water :) But surprisingly good!