I'm a Bit Stunned .....

..... that something was done on the day it was said to be done ..... and it was finished on the same day.

I'm actually a bit speechless.

And very, very pleased.  

            Here are my new stairs, with the railings (the wood still needs to be stained):

                             Here's my living room with the furniture mostly in place:

                Here is my study, which I worked in all afternoon to get stuff put in place (this is with flash so the color didn't come out as true as it is):

                 This is without a flash, and is much closer to what it actually is .... a "melon" color:

     I still have to put pictures back on the walls, but I love this room.  The doors and transom window have yet to be added, but that's about it.  I need to find a slip cover for the sofa, which totally doesn't blend with the room now, but I'm OK with that ..... for now.

It was great to get things put in place (the guys put the furniture in ..... I re-arranged some of it a few times).  It looks much bigger than it did before and it feels like me.

     I played my first USTA match of the summer today and won ..... 6-1, 6-2.  My good friend J was my partner .... for the first time in a "real" match.  It was great to be out and playing, even though it was at least 90 degrees with 90% humidity.  

I was still feeling blue this morning, but once I got on the court I felt much better.  I just need to make sure I get out there as often as I can.  I need the sun and I need tennis.  Jim knew that even better than I did.

Man, I miss that man!!

     So now I am having a glass of wine and not believing that I agreed to let Son #3 have 3 friends over for the night.  I think I lost my mind around 8:00 p.m. when he asked.

So far I have managed to just sip on one glass of wine ..... making it last for over 2 hours.  That's because I know there's not enough wine in the world to get me through a night of 4 teenage boys!!!  Wait .... I think it may be only 3 because one couldn't stay for the night.  

See .... that sounds better already!

     I have also spent the last hour arguing with Son #2 via text messaging.  That boy is tenacious.  The argument is about him wanting a TV in his room, which has always been against the rules. I put one in there in the fall, while re-arranging furniture, knowing that it would only be temporary.  Son #3 has spent much time up there playing video games and I've hated it.  

So I took it out today and put it in the study.  Son #3 knew it was coming.

Son #2 should have .... but he loves to live in the world of "Denial".  And loves to argue.  The boy would argue with a wall if he could.  He comes by it honestly.

We've also argued about him having a summer job and not being a picky 16 year old .... because 16 year old boys cannot be picky about jobs.  Why can't they understand that???  

     So between the game-playing teenagers in the game room, and the arguing teenager on my cell phone ..... I think it may be time for a second glass of wine.

    Oh yeah ..... and add to that mix the letter I got from the IRS today.  They informed me that my spouse had died. 

Really?

Yes, really.

Thank God that someone in our government is paying attention or I may have NEVER realized that Jim died way before the IRS told me!!!  

Since he died they now want me to fill out some new form that tells them that I am aware that he's dead.

     I think I'll move to Australia.

     I hear they have good wine there.

:)