Friday, June 24, 2016

Castle Curley Update

Near the end of 2015, I created a list called the “Castle Curley Home Organization and Improvements List”, hoping that in lieu of improvements that the WGH and I cannot afford, at least organizing the house would make it functional and save us resources of money and time in that we could find what we need instead of having to buy new stuff, we could eat at home rather than going out most nights, and we wouldn’t have to spend our weekends and other days off cleaning house. I hoped that we could have this organization done with minimal costs by the end of the year.


Reality loves to laugh at any plans I make.


While Brian and I move faster than the glacial pace of state government, it’s not by much. We already modified the plans to state that the first floor will be done by the end of the year, with the second floor done in 2017, the (finished) attic in 2018, and the (unfinished, so storage only) basement in 2019.


We really hoped to renovate the house, and I’ve been waiting for the last eleven years since we moved into this 1902 Victorian home to either win the lottery, write a best seller, and/or receive a significant raise at work. At the rate all three of these are going, they are in order of likelihood of happening. If I’d been smart, we would have started this organization project back in 2005; then I could have spent more time working on creativity (novel and crafts, specifically) and Delazan Enterprises, my home business.


We did make an effort on the house organization over the Memorial Day (MD) weekend, despite the fact that we spent almost all of Friday in bed (sleeping, felt wonderful). Mekhi did forge a path from the door to his bed in his bedroom, but not the big cleanout that I hoped he and Brian would do that day. I really can’t complain about the mess in my ten-year-old’s bedroom considering it matches the cleanliness – or lack thereof – of my bedroom at that same age; my adult bedroom isn’t much cleaner.


The biggest project completed MD weekend was the assembly of the hutch we bought at Ikea (pronounced ɪˈkeːˈa) earlier in the year. Actually it’s a secretary with a matching cabinet on top, but it’s far more functional than the pub table and chairs that it replaced in our kitchen. The table was a clutter magnet, and I hate barstool height chairs. Brian and I only snipped at each other a few times in the process, both losing our tempers at least once each. After about four hours (felt like forty), we have a beautiful hutch that I already started organizing with snacks for Mekhi, treats for the critters, and my two favorite cookbooks. The handled baskets that I purchased (and started using in the freezer and refrigerator) help this endeavor, plus providing storage for the unused baskets to get them off the counter.


We didn’t remove the ugly and stained brown carpet from the study MD weekend, but we did go to see Captain America: Civil War for some positive mental health and to keep up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Brian said the movie followed the comic book reasonably well; I loved the unexpected, yet very pleasant surprises the movie’s plot made. Fight scenes (which I usually find very boring) were good, too.


This coming weekend, we have no RPG; just Mekhi’s karate lesson, Janet’s memorial to attend and a few errands to run. The following weekend will be our annual Independence Day Party, so Brian and I will be cleaning and organizing. Wednesday night we hauled our seldom-used treadmill to the curb, and we don’t have anything else super-heavy that needs to be moved from the study before we take out the carpet. A lot of stuff in there will be thrown out.


I also hope we finish organizing the kitchen this weekend. Of the eleven drawers, three will continue their current uses (silverware, linens, and hand-held appliances), and I’ve gone through one of the junk drawers and now store the pot lids in there since our new stove doesn’t have as much storage as the older one. Although, now we have room next to the stove for a small organizer that we’ve purchased and hope to assemble this weekend, in which we plan to store more items that used to be on or in the stove, as well as large utensils that are in a carousel on the counter (that Brian hates because it takes up so much counter space). We also need to set up a drinking fountain for all the critters and a special timed/measured feeding dish for the dogs.


After living in this house for eleven years, I finally looked into the huge cupboard high up in the half-bath just off the kitchen. Basically it was empty, so now we store for seldom-used items for entertaining (like the football-shaped chip and dip bowl). Some of the “stuff” in the drawers may find their way into that cupboard or into the basement for other long-term storage.


I’ll let you know how what progress we make over the weekend, but understand that our plan for this evening is to go to bed not long after arriving home.


Pog ma thoin!
-Lori


“Every time I make a plan, God laughs at me.” – Jason Isaacs

Friday, June 17, 2016

No Mithril Party

We at Castle Curley have had to dig into our meager savings to pay bills (medical, water bill for leaky toilet, furnace repair, etc.) and buying needed items like a new microwave (when I broke the old one) and a dehumidifier for the basement to slow the rusting of the furnace we purchased in 2006. This coupled with our lower pay thanks to the Wanker Administration means we will not have a big party for our Silver/Mithril Anniversary. Thus, our annual Independence Day Party (IDP) is back on the calendar for Saturday, July 2, 2016, at 3:30 pm-ish until the fireworks are spent and the mosquitos overtake us.


I am having a hard time letting the Mithril Party go (case in point: this blog entry has been in production for about a month), as well as the second honeymoon we wanted to do afterward. When Brian and I married, we couldn’t afford a big honeymoon: a week in the Poconos in a suite with a champagne glass whirlpool and/or a heart-shaped tub. That was my dream from the adverts in Brides and other like magazines to which I subscribed from the age of eighteen to my wedding at twenty-one.


Well, the Poconos now have a lot of the same resorts as one would find in the Wisconsin Dells, and Brian and I decided that a dip in such peculiar tubs is neither necessary nor feasible at our age. When I asked the World’s Greatest Husband what he’d like for a second honeymoon, he mentioned Ireland or Greece. I like both those ideas, but I prefer Ireland because I’d like to look up our ancestors, and aside from a few places, they speak English in Ireland. Hell, I’d love to go on any vacation that doesn’t end in the word “Con”. Unfortunately, this is still out of our budget for both money and leave time (unless I win the lottery). Sigh.


So, back to the events of this summer: Brian and I plan to go out for a very nice steak dinner on our anniversary proper. I looked at the wish list I made for the Mithril Party and highlighted a few items that I wanted to do before and for the IDP. Unfortunately, we can’t afford the abbreviated list, either:
  • Have a new family portrait taken, and with Mekhi
  • Have wedding videos/photos scanned/converted to digital to display on a digital frame and/or laptop throughout the party
  • Bring out wedding flowers, ring bearer’s pillow, etc. to display.
  • Packers Shareholders Stock frame for us
  • Silver Jordan Almonds
  • Anniversary cake
Just the sitting fee for the family portrait would be about $80, plus the cost of the photos themselves. I haven’t priced fees for scanning our wedding photos and videos because it would be a waste of time. If I went through the Packers Pro shop, a frame for our share of stock would be at minimum around $90; even though I know a local place that could make one cheaper, it’s still not in the budget. Jordan almonds represent the bitter and sweet of marriage, and I wanted them at the wedding twenty-five years ago. Again: not in the budget (and the only place I found that sold silver Jordan almonds has discontinued them). I wanted a fancy cake in the style of Charm City Cakes, but at the (tenth) anniversary party of friends, they had cupcakes, and I already purchased some silver anniversary picks to put on some inexpensive yet delicious some cupcakes that I can buy locally. The only item on the abbreviated list that wouldn’t cost any money is to bring out the plastic tote that stores all our wedding paraphernalia for display, and I’d rather not do that considering some of the children who may attend.


In light of my friend Janet’s death earlier this month, and that her 50th birthday would have been the day after our party, I’m thinking of making a German chocolate cake (her favorite) in her memory. Otherwise, I refuse to stress-out regarding this party. Brian and I have been working on the house (more in a later entry), and the past several years have proven that once the invites are out, all I have to worry about is buying a bunch of meat (and their accompaniments) for the grill.


My parents had a lovely (but stress-filled to prep) party for their Silver. Then went on a cruise to Alaska for their Ruby (forty years). I was going to plan a Golden (fifty) Party for them, mainly because (aside from end-of-life-care for our parents) my siblings couldn’t organize a special brownie giveaway at a Grateful Dead concert. However, Mum and I disagreed on the date for the party (I reserved the church reception hall for the weekend of their anniversary proper; she wanted the weekend that Brian and I planned to attend Gen Con), and then they died shortly after their 48th wedding anniversary.


Conversely, when my in-laws celebrated their Golden back in 2004, , I designed the invites, and my MiL and I had a good time together shopping for the party. When they celebrated their Diamond (sixty years), I arranged a simple and successful potluck luncheon with their descendants.


The next hallmark holiday for me is my fiftieth birthday in 2019, and I already told the WGH that I want a special party. However, I’d like a nice celebration for Brian, too (when he turned fifty last year, all he wanted was a few good friends over to play games; we had a blast). I don’t’ want to wait until our Ruby or Golden anniversary for a big party or trip, but current economics is not on our side. I don’t see a change anytime soon, either. Sigh.


I can haz winning lottery tix now plz?


Pog ma thoin!
-Lori


“I hate being poor.”Ronald Weasley, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

A Preacher Walks into a Grocery Store...

...and comforts a grieving Atheist and Pagan.


Saturday night, I heard that a dear friend of mine – Elle Janet Plato – died. Sunday I learned that the cause of death was suicide; something that I attempted when I was fifteen. My attempt was a cry for help, which I eventually received. Was Elle crying for help? I last saw her at Odyssey Con in April. She was playing in the gaming room, and her back was to the door. I snuck up behind her and hugged her. She seemed happy and having a good time.


Because of my attempt more than 30 years ago, I trained myself to look for the signs: talking about or asking questions about death, giving away prized possessions, a disconnect from others. If Elle displayed any of these symptoms, I missed them, and I’m sorry.


I will reiterate something that I hope all of my friends and even family should know: you can call me anytime; I don’t care the hour. I’ve dealt with the three AM phone call before, and I’d rather deal with that than what I am facing now: a memorial service for someone I loved during which the guilt ferrets will nibble on me (thank you Kevin Hearne for the analogy), and I will wonder if I could have prevented it.


I know that I am being self-centered right now, but Fuck! I’m grieving, and I’m not the only one. I had the unfortunate luck to have to tell Brian how Elle died. I already had to deliver such news when his brother died (heart attack 2002), and I’m still in shock myself.


Remember my framily: call me whenever you need; I don’t care the hour.


Sunday we went to breakfast as usual to the Prairie Diner, then ran a very few errands. At Pegasus, I bought yet another booster for my Munchkin collection (Knights). We picked up a few items at Target, especially a copy of Deadpool – a movie Elle raved about, and more boxes of tissues, which I’m sure we’ll need more of by next weekend.


At Woodman’s, we bought some chocolate ice cream, but we almost forgot the clear juice for Brian in advance of his colonoscopy on Monday. In the processed fruit aisle, we met a preacher, his wife, and I assume their teenaged/young adult daughter. How’d I know he was a preacher? The white shirt, dark pants, clerical collar, and the necklace with the cross pendant tucked into his breast pocket. His wife was dressed the same but her white blouse had an open collar and she wore a dark skirt. I can’t recall what the preacher was looking for, but we had a bit of a hard time finding the clear (and inexpensive) juices. The preacher wondered if, like him, my husband was plagued with gout. I whispered the real reason in his ear.


While waiting in line at the checkout, Brian noticed the preacher and family a couple of cashiers away and went to ask him to pray for our friend Janet who just committed suicide. Brian is an Atheist, and Janet – like me – was a Pagan (or was she an Atheist like Brian? I don’t know), but even Brian admits that he may be wrong about God. The preacher came to us in line and gave us hugs and fist-bumps as we cried.


I don’t agree with a lot of what modern Christian Churches espouse, but I also know the good works the Church does, too. Back in 2007 when my parents were dying, members of their Church helped my siblings and me by giving my parents rides to their numerous doctor appointments, bringing them meals, and just visiting with them so they weren’t lonely. My siblings and I were grateful because we couldn’t do it all because of our jobs or distance.


Elle was transgender who transitioned to transsexual. Some of her friends knew her as “Larry” before her transition. Her sexuality probably was a factor in her suicide because of current events and misperceptions of LBTGQ people. She told me about her transition once, and later on I wasn’t sure whether or not to believe her because Elle had a wicked sense of humor; nor did it matter. Elle was simply my dear friend.


Over the years of gaming with Elle, I collected many quotes; here are just a few:
“Emergency Dice.”
“I’m not a paladin; I don’t do lawful stupid.”
On the martial arts “I started with martial water colors.”
“I’d like to make sense, but I’m not sure how to.”


Requiescat in pace, Elle.


Blessed Be,
-Lori


“Pain is temporary; Suicide isn’t.” – seen on a poster at UW-Platteville when I was a student there in the late 80s