Two months into the remodel and my excitement for the project is dwindling rapidly. I'm distracted, tense, sore, and I can't seem to sleep through the night. I think it's a classic case of a woman who likes a tidy house but is forced to live in chaos.
After discovering that I cannot attend to writing and remodeling simultaneously, I sent my characters, Heidi and Dave, on vacation. I occasionally hear snippets of scenes from them in the wee hours when I'm teetering between awake and asleep. It's then that I wish I had a method for capturing thoughts because by the time I get to pad and pen the snippets are gone. Anyone know where I can get my hands on a brain recorder? REM transcriptionist? Sleep slate?
Meanwhile, back to the remodel. I finally chose windows only to find out that my husband disagrees with my choices on window placement. Fine time to tell me. More than one friend has commented that a certain percentage of remodels ends in divorce. No kidding. I love my husband very much, but I wish he'd voiced his opinion some earlier time during the two weeks I spent trying to decide on what windows to buy and exactly where I wanted them.
I need to find a way to relax and enjoy the home makeover experience. We have this wonderful neighbor who comes over every day and works on the remodel. Seriously, he is a nice guy who enjoys the work and wants to help out. There's no way we could do this without his assitance. My husband isn't an outgoing person, so it's been interesting to watch as he and the neighbor form a friendship. My husband's younger brother has come over a few times to help, too, especially when there has been heavy work. I pitch in where/when I can, but a lot of the heavier work falls to the guys, thanks to my health issues. All in all, I have a lot to enjoy. Friends, family, progress...and let's not forget the (eventual) end result. If anyone has remedies for the stress that goes along with remodeling, clue me in, because I'd rather not wallow in tension!
And no, I am not going to write a story in which my characters are remodeling. Nuh-uh. No way. There is no drama in waiting for a sales associate at the home improvement warehouse to answer your questions about galvanized nails.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
If you ever find a way to enjoy that nightmarish ordeal, you'll be a millionaire. Remodeling is the worst. Been there, done that. Yuck.
No advice for you, just sympathy. Good luck.
cjh
Lots of herbal teas, clean as you can - an organized mess in your case would be better than total chaos and you might sleep better. Keep a pen and pad by your bed for those snippets you get when you are there or keep something handy - or a digital recorder - Wal-Mart has them for less than $40 - they hold about 6 hours of dictation and work really well - I use mine for Sisters in Crime meetings so I don't hurt my wrist writing the minutes - and this way I just come home and type up the minutes before the next meeting.
Take some time for you too - do something for yourself and try to keep the stress away as much as possible.
and if all else fails - call me for a cry on my shoulder if you need it - E :)
A digital recorder or a tape dictaphone is a must for me. I even keep one in the car for those odd, sometimes very odd, moments of inspiration that come when sitting in a traffic-jam.
Post a Comment