A post with some overdue pictures of my new living room

I figured you would want to see them. 'Bout time...

A post in which I have Nicole over

I finally got in touch with Lisa today about this weekend. We had planned this coming one as a visit weekend for me to visit her, but then her schedule filled, and I realized I had the Hat Party this Sunday. I haven’t had time to make any hat, so I’ll be wearing a baseball cap and a sheepish grin I suppose.

Since Cole’s team has a game up here this weekend, they’ll be up Saturday and I’ll join them there. Then there is a bear dinner Saturday night, and the Hat Party on Sunday. Another crazy busy weekend coming up. I also didn’t take the day off on Monday, so I’ll be in Monday morning drug out like a dirty rug. Since I took this past Monday off I guess it’s just as well I don’t have another one scheduled.

I hadn’t seen Nicole in a while, so I sent her a text on a lark today. She called me a couple of times last month, but things were so insane that I couldn’t find any time to do anything. Wednesday now is really my only free evening during the week. I don’t have things scheduled on Monday, but usually I’m either so exhausted I collapse when I get in from work, or (as this past Monday) making up for chores I didn’t do over the weekend because I was playing.

Unfortunately Nicole had to put one of her cats to sleep today, but she wanted to come over anyway. I can understand wanting to get out of the house after that. We worked it out and she got to the house about 8. I spent the time waiting surfing the web searching for Eve’s birthday present. She has let it be known (in her own inimitable fashion) that she wants a fancy birdhouse for her new flower bed. I know the kind she wants. Unfortunately the sell for about a hundred bucks, and I’m not going to plunk that down for a birdhouse. I’m going to consult with Dad.

Nicole admired the new living room, and we ate pizza and caught up on each other’s lives and relevant gossip. It was really good to see her.

A post in which I am able to help Cole

I had dinner with the rents tonight. We just went to Portofino's, where the food continues to be superlative. We also had a waiter tonight who was so hot I could have thrown him over the table and eaten him on the spot. I tried not to look too much since Dad was there, but sheesh. Yes it is spring, and George has again come out of hibernation with a vengeance. It's enough to make you nostalgic for winter.

After supper I visited with them for a while. Typical Tuesday, and I was glad of it. There's been too much to deal with lately.

On the way home I had a call from Cole. He was working on a project for Spanish class, and his teacher told him he could get extra credit if he made an authentic Spanish dish called "Tortilla de Patatas". He was asking me for pointers. When he started describing it, it just sounded like a frittata to me. I know how to make that, but he insisted it was something different. I thought about it the rest of the way home, and eventually figured that it had the same ingredients and assembly, so the cooking methods would be similar anyway. I was able to call and offer him some tips to make it easier for him. I can't help him with sports, and would despair of trying to help with school work, but this I could help with. It made me feel good.

Cole with his "Tortilla de Patatas", or Frittata, or whatever the hell it is. It looks good though.

I looked it up later. Basically, the Tortilla de Patatas, or Tortilla de Papas, is the Spanish version of a frittata, which is Italian. So I was a little bit right. I've never cared for frittata because to get it done through you have to dry out the eggs. It looks like it turned out OK though.

A post in which I feel kinda crappy*

I woke up this morning exhausted and not feeling well. It's the height of allergy season, and I was outside too much the last couple of days. I really over-did it this weekend, and because I played so much there was a lot of stuff I needed to do, not to mention I was sleep-deprived from all the night hours and early mornings.

Eventually I got it together a bit and put some laundry in. I got my valances up in the living room to finish it (finally). I cooked the squash I bought yesterday for lunches, hauled all over town, and then didn't have time to cook. I took a nap. I even had a buddy in.

By the end of the day I was back together enough to feel like I could start the week. Oy. Yeah, now the work starts. I have got to slow down.

A post in which I am madly glassing

Well Russ and I made plans last night to go to the flea market. He said we did before, and we may have, but I didn't remember it. I was up so late last night, and had so much to do that I kind of didn't want to go, but I haven't been in so long, and the weather has been so gorgeous, and Russ was singing his siren song, and frankly I just couldn't resist.

What a flea market day! The weather was gorgeous and the vendors were out, and wherever I looked it seemed there was glass. I hadn't really come with great expectations, but found a Royal Lace sugar bowl almost before we got started. I usually don't like that pattern in green, and I am faithfully sworn to STOP buying cream pitchers and sugar bowls, but it was priced at about a quarter what it was worth, and I just couldn't resist. It had been so long since I had bought anything.

Then I found a Queen Mary tumbler for a quarter, and obviously I couldn't leave that. That was followed by the find of the day, a green Princess vegetable bowl. The woman selling it usually has high prices on her stuff, and it's usually pretty beat up to boot; but apparently she was there to sell today, and I couldn't find a chip on this piece. I picked that up at about half price.

I bought a small bubble bowl for my set (I found one yesterday also, coincidentally), and then as we did the last row I found a green Patrician "Spoke" creamer. OK, it was a creamer, and I don't usually care for the pattern. But it's prettier in green - usually you see it in amber, and I don't like amber glass. The guy wanted $5 for it, and at that point there was no way. Eventually, after half walking away (I really didn't need it) he sold it to me for a buck. For that price, I couldn't leave it. It's in perfect condition too. So I was naughty. I really have to stop buying cream and sugar sets.

Patrician "Spoke" in green by Federal Glass Co., circa 1933 to 1937

Royal Lace sugar bowl in green by Hazel-Atlas, circa 1934-1941

Queen Mary 9oz flat tumbler in pink by Anchor Hocking, circa 1936-1949

Princess 9" vegetable bowl in green by Anchor Hocking, circa 1931 - 1935

I got in touch with Sabrina, and agreed on a time to get the chair. We left the flea market, picked up Billy, got the chair, and then stopped for lunch at Pho Noodleville, a haunt of Russ and Billy's. It's OK, they just don't give you very much food. But it was fine for lunch, and I hadn't eaten anything. I was so hungry at that point it was any point in a storm.

After lunch we went back to my place and stashed the chair in the green room. It does look good in there, and it doesn't get on my nerves the way the wing backs did for some reason. It's a nice piece. Either that will become it's home or I'll find someplace for it eventually.

We were off to Spartanburg for dinner tonight, but we were all pretty worn out. Russ and I had been on the go all day, and Billy's back is messed up. After a short, blissful interlude in my new living room, which I am growing to love more and more, it was time to hit the road again. We all got cleaned up and headed for Spartanburg.

Dinner at Jeff and James's house tonight was rather avaunt-guard. We had a beet and apple salad and lemon pepper fish. It was a nice meal. Morgan and Andrew were there, and Amanda. After dinner everyone relaxed, Morgan painting designs on people with a henna kit she had brought. It was a little nippy to be outside, but we were out on the front porch anyway. Lovliness.

A post in which it is a busy Saturday

I had a quite ambitious day planned today, but I didn’t exactly get a running start at it. Since I was up so late last night I was still in my jammies when Justin got to the house to view the new living room color and help hang pictures. First, though, we had tea and ate the bagels he brought. It was good to see Justin, it’s been a while. We have a lot of interests in common, and whenever I see him we fall right back in together as if we had just seen each other the day before.

I moved some of the pictures in the living room around, and took still more out. This is the second time I have decreased the amount of pictures in there, and I like it. The less stuff I have in my little house, the larger it seems. I’m trying out a new motto in my head: ‘Less is freedom.' It feels right, but it’s easier to proclaim than to put into practice, particularly for a collector.

With the pictures hung, Jeff and James dropped by to make pictures for their website for the new business. We made plans for lunch, and met at Corona’s on Wade Hampton. Although this was the site of the lousy nachos last week, I got a different kind today and they were much better.

After lunch Justin and I split off to do some antiquing, because that’s what we do. We did a mini-run to Greer and looked around a bit but didn’t buy much. I did fall in love with an $1100 linen press, but didn’t buy it, despite Justin’s encouragement. It is a lovely thing, but I have spent a lot of money this spring.

I was pretty horrified to realize while we were out that I had completely forgotten to go and get a chair I was supposed to pick up from Rhonda's ex Sabrina today. Rhonda moved away but couldn't take it and offered it to me. I don't really have a place for it, but agreed to take it because it is such a great chair. There was nothing to do but apologize profusely to Sabrina. She was nice about it.

When Justin left to go home I braced myself for another Saturday night alone. I had just seen Miss Kat and dana last night, and Russ and Billy had plans. But I had plenty to do at the house. Shortly after I got home though, Russ got in touch to say that they had decided to stay home after all. He invited Miss Kat, dana, and me over.

We all went and sat on his lovely deck for a while. I discussed the linen press thing with Billy, who helped me to realize that it would be insane to spend that much money on a piece of furniture to put shoes in. Hello.

We headed out to dinner at Stax Omega. Unfortunately they have cut their menu back severely and didn’t have what I wanted, but of course it wasn’t a problem for me to find something to eat. We just went back to the house and hung out until it was time to turn in. It was a nice, laid back visit, and I really enjoyed it. It was good to see Russ and Billy. It’s hard to catch up with them.

A post in which it is a rough Friday at work

Today was a terrible day at work. Not only did I find out I have to make a trip to Texas that will be a complete waste of time, I also set off a computer bug in our system that sent 5,000 (yes, literally 5,000+, not a humorous exaggeration) emails out to the company from my email address. After IT got the problem shut down, I had to go in and clean up my email. By that point I was pretty much done for the day.

Just as I was getting ready to leave, Miss Kat called to invite me for dinner. That was a nice end to the day. I had a very pleasant meal and visit with them.

On the way home, however, I succumbed to temptation and stopped for another complete dinner. Which I ate while I stayed up way too late watching trash TV and basically just being lazy. It wasn’t even that good. I’m pretty disgusted with myself, but tomorrow is another day. And Saturday!

A post in which I go sing

I woke up at about 4:30 this morning, the list of all the things I had to do today running through my mind. It was all just too much. After about an hour of that I just decided to get up. I knew I wasn’t going back to sleep. I’ve slept poorly this week.

Then I did something against my principals. Although I have paid to have my taxes prepared, I have always refused to pay any fee to file them electronically. I think the government gets enough of my money, and I just refuse to pay for something that saves them money and allows them to file their staff (even if they are tax collectors). But I was tired of fooling with the tax crap, and it needed to be done because I’ve put it off, and I had the wrong form (well actually I didn’t, but I didn’t know that at the time), etc. So I signed on to the H&R Block website and paid them $31 to send my state taxes in. I hated it, but I did it, and I felt better to have that done.

I have a bad case of spring fever, and it was really hard to concentrate at work today. I did what had to be done though.

I did take some time to write about going up home for Granny’s funeral today, and felt the better for it. I wonder now if writing is starting to become a coping mechanism for me. When the blog is badly behind, I go around feeling like there’s an unmade bed in the back of my head somewhere. I also have all these bottled up impressions rattling around in my mind. It’s uncomfortable. I’ve been kind of unresolved about the funeral in a way. I think I’ve worked out what was going on but writing it out made me feel better.

After work I was scheduled to run the gamut. I had to leave and go directly to Russ to get my hair cut, and then leave there to go directly to choir practice. It was a good thing I was up early this morning to pack a bag and all. After debating I just decided to catch supper on the fly somewhere, but it ended up working out. Russ’s back is bad so he called to beg off, which left me time to go home, eat, change, and feed the cats in a civilized fashion.

Choir practice was fun tonight. I’m really enjoying it. I’m always happiest when I’m singing somewhere – it really doesn’t matter where. But I am having a tiny conflict with it. Jim told us tonight that he had a job for a quartet to sing for a big Republican conservative reception downtown coming up. He emphasized that we needed the money, but that we would be there to blend in to the background, and were expected to sing a selection of patriotic standards. We would be allowed to give out business cards. One guy remarked, “Wow, good thing we don’t have ‘gay’ in our name.” Jim indicated that the woman retaining our services was a wealthy socialite and a valuable source for future gigs.

Now on the one hand I applaud Jim for putting together a working chorus that is actually part of the community. He has some community events scheduled where we will be able to be ourselves, and that’s great. But on the other hand, I thought I was joining a GAY men’s chorus. I understand he’s trying to make a living from this eventually, and really I don’t have a problem with that. It’s work to put together something like this and make it functional. But. I don’t do many things any more (none at all if I can possibly help it) where I am required to go in the closet or sit at the back of the bus. This isn’t a huge thing right now. The quartet is a volunteer thing, and even if I wanted to do it I’m not ready. I guess it will depend on where this goes. If you’re hiring out to sing, you sing what the client wants. I understand that. But if we end up spending an inordinate amount of time as ‘the help’, rather than the entertainers, particularly for people who look down on us, I’m gonna have a problem with that.

A post in which I briefly debate the nature of charity

I had an agenda tonight. I think I may have taken on a bit too much schedule-wise.

Tonight I had to go to the pharmacy, the grocery store, do a load of towels, and do my state taxes. The errands were run, and I was tearing into the house when I was approached by a guy. He was walking down the street, and I first thought Crap, he wants money. But he asked to cut the grass so he could get some food, so I said sure. I quickly got the groceries in, got the mower out, determined (of course) that I had no gas, and ran to the store to get some.

As I was on the way to the station, I happened to think that I had left this man on the front porch with my lawn mower sitting in the yard. That wasn’t a particularly smart thing to do, but I didn’t think they would be gone when I got back, and they weren’t. I put him to work, put the towels in, and futzed around the house while he worked outside.

A rather elegant solution to a dilemma presented itself. Amanda had left Chinese food with chicken in it in my fridge. (I loathe it when people leave meat in my house. I feel guilty if I eat it, and I feel guilty if I throw it out, so it’s a lose/lose.) I had resolutely decided to eat it for supper (the only thing worse than an animal dying so that I can eat is an animal dying so that I can eat and ending up in the trash), but I decided instead to feed it to the guy, whose name I discovered was Wayne. I heated it up, fixed Wayne a to-go box, poured him some soda, and sent him on his way when he finished. Of course I paid him as well.

I don’t know if I get credit for that or not. I don’t think feeding the poor your left-overs is particularly generous, but it was something I was going to eat myself. Does giving someone something that you don’t want count as charity? I’ll let the philosophers decide.

I ate my own supper and sat down with the best of intentions to finish the state taxes, but found I had pulled the wrong forms offline. I wanted the EZ, and had the regular 1040, so I put that aside and just vegged out on RuPaul’s Drag Race, my latest semi-addiction and excuse for not getting squat done. Eventually I put the towels in the dryer and toddled off to bed. I have a long day tomorrow.

A post in which I have supper with the folks

Today was better. Not massively better – I still had to work – but I got through it with only the usual number of murderous impulses, instead of the usual tenfold.

I had supper out with Dick and Eve tonight, as is pretty usual for Tuesdays. We went to Don Pablo’s, a place I’ve never particularly cared for, but I’ve been a couple of times lately and it’s OK. The other alternative was a place near their house that is incredibly noisy inside. Ugh. I understand the restaurant trend to concrete floors. They’re durable, easy to clean, etc, but for God’s sake put a rug down, or a plant, or something to muffle the noise. It’s like eating in a freakin airport or something OK?

We went back to the house after supper and I visited for a while. I told them about my living room. They really love stories where I end up looking silly, so they enjoyed that.

It was a nice evening.

A post in which I re-load the room

It was a nerve-shredding day. Not only was it month-end, but there are apparently gremlins in the works in the area where I sit now, and they were having a field day today. Of course, just when I am the busiest. The up-side of having 8,000,000 simultaneous reports due is that if the system for one is screwing up, you can just move to another. Additionally, since I had all those new clients last week, there were a slew of phone calls to make.

The painting was completed about 2pm. James sent me a text before they left.

Despite the rotten day I was excited to get home, even though I had to clean. When I walked in, I put my stuff down and just stood for a moment savoring how gorgeous and different it looked. I swept and mopped the living room floor, put the blinds back up, and brought the furniture back in. Later on I turned the lamps on.

This was my beautiful perfect color, which I had spent an inordinate amount of time deciding on, and then gone to get a paint chip to live with for a year (well.. not really on purpose for that long) to make sure it was perfect. This was the perfect shade between melon and terra cotta. And in the lamplight, it was screaming, Crayola Clemson orange. I swear I heard “Hold That Tiger” in my head. The walls almost seemed to glow. I could hear a low throbbing sound, as if the color was pulsating slowly. I turned on the TV and tried to talk myself down a bit. I really love it in the daytime. I wanted something dramatically different, and this is. It will be better when all my pictures are back up.

I’ll get used to it. I think it will be fine when I get the pictures back up. I’ve been advised not to do so for a week to allow the paint to cure a bit. Can’t have vapor-lock.

A post in which I show off my new living room color!! WOOO HOO!!!

Today, of course, was very busy.

Jeff, James, and Amanda showed up around 9, and got to work. I was very busy making coffee, trying to keep the kitchen straight, making lunches, and doing a few little house things. It was a pleasant cacophony of a house full of friends getting things done. We mixed the paint for the ceiling by eye on the porch to start.
I wanted to recycle an old Christopher Lowell trick. We mixed a bit of the wall paint into the ceiling paint; just enough to make it a very, very pale reflection of the walls. What I wanted was for it to change the color of the light in there. When they started putting the Georgia Queen up it looked very pink next to the purple walls. I was calling the color ‘palest, palest baby’s breath of shrimp’, but Amanda hit the nail on the head and named the color Georgia Queen. That was about perfect.

When they started priming the walls, I was surprised to see that that primer was dark gray – almost as gray as the purple. Jeff explained to me that the Sherwin-Williams man had explained to them that to cover such a dark color they would have to use a dark primer. We covered the bedroom with no such affectations, but I wasn’t going to argue with a professional.

The primer coat was finished shortly before I left for lunch. Jeff refused to put a lick of the color on the walls until I left the house, so they could do a ‘reveal’ later. I was happy enough to comply.

Lunch went well. Ava was in a good mood, and Eve had laid a very nice table in the dining room. Lisa’s family had left right from church, so everyone was more dressed up than I was, but oh well. We ate and visited for a while. Lisa was telling us about her recent problems with Ava’s separation anxiety now that she’s in pre-school; and of her own job search, which is proving to be arduous.

I was as patient as I could possibly be, and of course I enjoyed seeing Ava and Cole (despite the fact that he spent most of the visit comatose in the floor, covered by a blanket to the top of his head – we couldn’t even see him), but I was dying to get home to see what was going on.

After three hours I just couldn’t stand it anymore. I excused myself and scrambled home, where painting was still in progress. They were beginning the fifth coat of paint on the walls when I got there. The coverage over that dark gray primer had been a problem. Paint people at the store always act like you’re trying to cross the Sierras on foot or something if you use a dark color, but if you just use primer its fine. The tinted primer is fantastic, but I think the guys got some bad advice from that SW guy.

Anyway, they went on painting, and the fifth coat did the trick. The color came true, and was gorgeous. We had planned to have people to my place tonight for Sunday supper, but Russ and Billy were of course late getting back from Savannah and begged off. Morgan and Matthew cancelled too, so it was just the four of us.

I went and picked up some Chinese food for everyone, and we ate on the porch. It was a gorgeous night. They started on the trim, but it was getting late, and they had been at it all day. Eventually, James called it a day, and said they would have to finish tomorrow, which was pretty much what I had figured.