Teaholic not quite anonymous

Ah... nothing like a martini and the deck with the sounds of the cicadas and crickets to relax a person. (Of course I also I have my citronella candles, too.)

I have to say, we are REALLY getting there! I mean, REALLY getting there! Normally, house hold projects take twice as long and cost twice as much. But, this project??? We're kind of on track! Here's the timeline: Friday morning Matt and I start excavating our current back yard under the deck and along the fence line. Well, after just one swipe we realize we're in way over our heads. Matt says, "Let's go hire some guys to dig it out from the day labor site." Grandma's say, "That's a good idea." I'm the only one who's hesitant on it remembering back to time LONG ago in Matt's history.

*Flashback* Matt and I just started dating. I was 18 (God, am I old, that was 11 years ago). We went out to eat at a really nice restaurant down town Milwaukee. We're all dressed up. It was a ton of fun. Afterward, we were waiting for his parents to pick us up (Don't ask... car trouble...yadda, yadda) and Matt gets hit on by a street guy asking for money. (Here' comes the kicker) He PULLS OUT HIS WALLET and hands the guy money. HELLO!?! I realize he's not quite from Milwaukee, but STILL. He should have known better. I about freak out but don't show it. You NEVER pull your wallet. Never.

*End flashback* So I see Matt getting abducted by day laborers and driven to the nearest ATM to take out all our money to then be killed or left on the side of the road. So I lay some very STRICT ground rules.. any cash must be locked in the glove compartment, no one in our car, the house stays locked at all times.... etc... etc..

And let me just say, I have nothing but respect for people who want to make an honest living doing honest work. I worked in a very low-income/inner city neighborhood for years and I'd go back in a heartbeat. I would love to work there again. But one needs to still be careful (remembering back to the news story of the mom who got raped/killed by a renovation guy who was high on drugs and working in her house).

But anyway, after all was said and done we had four guys in our backyard who dug up the area in 45 min. that would have took Matt and I all day and then some. So they helped us lay down the base stones as well. They were excellent workers, polite, hard working, attentive to detail. I'd gladly hire them again.

That was Friday. On Saturday Matt and I started to lay out the sand. After a while we needed a break and he and his dad went to see Transformers (which he enjoyed the first time around) and I thought I'd surprise him and get all the sand leveled during Maddy's nap before he got home. Which I did (with Donna's help! Thanks, Grandma!). I was surprised that I wasn't achy at all today. That means my workouts are actually doing something! Anyway, he was pretty shocked I did it all and never went back to check my work at all!! I was pleasantly surprised by that and wouldn't have been offended if he did. But he took it at faith that I did a good job.

Saturday night was kind of a blur. Matt's mom and I went to Trader Joe's and then picked up dinner. Maddy had a hard bedtime and then Matt worked outside some. We hung out with his folks, but only for a little while before I was absolutely tired and ready for bed.

Today Matt and I spent the entire day working on the patio until dinner. Matt's parents were SO HELPFUL this weekend watching Maddy. Not to mention they did all my grocery shopping for the week AND made bbq chicken, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob and salad for dinner tonight. All while watching Maddy!!! After dinner we cleaned up tools, gave Maddy a bath and put her to bed, and then saw his parents out the door. It's been a FULL day today. I already took an aleve since my arms are a bit sore (already). We owe Matt's parents a TON for letting us both work ALL weekend long on the patio. It was a huge help and we wouldn't be anywhere near as far as we are now without them.

But, alas, I think I feel mosquitos and as allergic as I am to them, I better get in the house. Citronella candles or not. Not to mention, I still want to get up at normal time tomorrow to work out and Maddy's been in the habit of getting up at 2:30 since I think she has a bit of a cold and that's when the tylanol wears off. Of course, she falls back asleep in 15 min. but my allergies kick in and I'm awake for 3 hours!!! I was awake from 2-5 last night. So I think I'm going to drag Matt off to bed. He has work tomorrow and it's just Maddy and I tomorrow during the day (she often has a hard first day without Grandma and Grandpa). So I better get my sleep now!

Here's the link to our latest patio pictures if you're interested.

Tea of the day: Coffee, I was too tired for anything else.
WO of the day: 7 hours patio work.