I now officially can have a House Party! (Big 'ole vanity here guys)

Me | 8/09/05 | Najida

[najida]

Well,
It’s official…
After fits and starts and starts and fits….and fits….and fits…. and FITS!
Plus the help, support and love of two of the best brothers in the world
One father to the

“Cutest Baby Girl in the World”

Not to mention the unique incentive that my third brother gave me ;),
Grumpiness, beer, guns and a constant "sorry, can't help ya, bad back, ya know"
making me more determined than ever to get back on my own.
I passed the last house inspection,
Got a ‘Green Sticker’ on my meter box,
Gradually, since then, by weeks and days, I’ve gained such great things as

Electricity
Air Conditioning
Telephone
And as of this morning, I have a working refrigerator (no thanks to Maytag!) with an ice maker

OK, so it isn’t 100% finished. I still have paint smears to fix, grout haze to remove, holes to caulk. But I now have a home. I realio, trulio home.

I’m even cookin’ with gas (fer real)

I’ve hot enough to boil eggs and fill my bathtub, a dishwasher that works!
WOW! Plus a telephone that doesn’t require me walking all the way out to the highway to get a signal.
I’ve moved month by month from the 1800’s, to the early 1900’s to the 1950’s til now I’m in 2005!

And with my very own,
South Georgia, Biodegradable Security System

With a Dual-Bio Alarm

(Sounds just like the opening credits of a Tarzan Movie—If you are still willing to break into my house in that racket, you’re either deaf or crazy.)
The Hobbit in me is happy.
The Incompetent Construction Worker in me is amazed.
The Woman in me is living in the bathtub.

It’s the kind of home that I don’t plan on leaving until I croak (I don’t care WHAT the SCOTUS says!)

And when I die, I want to be hoisted on the roof,
Lashed to the “Flying Pig” weather vane,
Then the whole thing set on fire around me.
A’la Viking funeral, “Rocket Gibraltar” or “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”
(All will depend on my age and weight at time of my demise).

In the process I’ve
Lost my mind,
Gained weight,
Lost weight,
Gained a shrink,
Lost friends,
Gained skills,
Lost fingernails,
Gained more cats.

I’ve lifted 2 tons of flooring…twice,
Maybe three times, moving the stuff around like some Chinese fire drill.
I’ve collected enough paint to rival Jackson Pollack.
I’ve ruined a closet full of clothes; stiff, saturated, ripped, stained or just worn to tatters.
I’ve learned to use wood-filler like an artisan.
I’ve become on a first name basis with everyone at Home Depot.
I’ve discovered I have talents in tiling, faux finishes, cabinetry and organization.
I’ve realized that I’m a hazard with flammable liquids and large power tools.
And that I can’t wire an outlet worth a dang.

My mantra has become ‘Everything can be fixed, no mistake is permanent’.
OK, so to fix a mistake may mean buying another front door, but it IS fixable!

I’ve finally decided that there is a blind chimpanzee living in the attic that only comes out when I’m gone. Who tracks through glue, grout and paint in MY shoes, leaving a trail of messes in his wake. He also is responsible for large splatters of paint on the ceiling, holes in the walls and catty-wompass hanging wallpaper.

I blame him for the puke green stain on the front porch and the even pukier green in the guest bathroom. For an off-centered light fixture and toilet almost in the shower. For missing electrical outlets, for tiles coming loose, for tape pulling paint off of walls and for globs of thin-set on doorknobs.

I hate that ape.

Anyhow, this is a cyber-party. A celebration that I want to share with my favorite people.
THANK YOU! thankyouthankyouthankyou ALL!
You’re all invited. You’ve been my buddies, my pals, my mentors.
You’ve made me laugh, you’ve given me advice, you’ve even set me straight when needed. You’ve been a distraction, an education, a comfort and my role models.

SO! Bring your favorite music, (post lyrics even)
Your favorite food and drink (yep, recipes would be cool)
Bring your family, pets or boss (We can put grout in his shoes J )
Wear your favorite T-shirt.
You can even post pictures of your ‘dates’….but remember, kids are at this party too! ;)

Me? I’ll be in the hammock,
Music blasting loud enough crack glass,
Drinking Margaritas and tossing all my old work clothes into the “End of Construction Bon-fire” And I’ve invited these guys ,

To rescue me if I take a header in the gold-fish pond.

And these guys,
,
To make sure the bon-fire doesn’t torch the county.

And these guys, ,
,
Well, ah…,
Hmmm, ,
Just in case some of my work needs reworking. ;)

[PaulaB]

OK this is me in your front yard singing Karoke

[retrokitten]

Me too. That's why I resemble the picture of you in the front yard doing the hula. LOL!!

[Tax-chick]

Congratulations! WOOOO_HOOOOO! Welcome to the 21st Century - hope it lasts!

[najida]

OOhhhh,
You're adding to my security system!

Thank you!

[isthisnickcool]

I had to post something for the guys....

[isthisnickcool]

I had to post something for the guys....

[peacebaby]

Well, heavens to Betsy, child. You are one independent woman.

As a friend of mine said, "I need a man twice a year. On December 15 to put the Christmas tree up, and on December 31 to take it down!"

Congrats, Najida, on a JOB WELL DONE!

[najida]

Thank you....he he he, my toenails look worse :)

[pissant]

I don't think I can attend. I'm intimidated by all the hunks and feel totally inadequate! ;o)

Congrats!!!!

[najida]

Hmmmm,
she looks like she would be really good at sumthin'....

Just need to think about it, in the mean time, I'll have her in the back, keeping the Freeper guys away from the grill.

[Rebelbase]

"Yep, I am a Southern girl"

After seeing those pictures I sured hoped you were.

[najida]

Thank you guys,
but nickiscool just brought something to keep you guys occupied and away from the bon-fire and my grill. ;)

[najida]

Thank you sweetie,
and you also need them to open the occaision jar too ;)

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Somehow, you do not seem the type that ever feels inadequate.

[pissant]

I'm just a wallflower. You know that! ;o)

[Lurker]

Mrs. L thanks you for the eye candy.

She likes the sailors the best. What you couldn't find any Marines?

L

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

"I'm just a wallflower. You know that! ;o)"

Pissant, a wallflower? Hey najida, you got flood insurance, it is getting real deep in here.

[najida]

Erm,

Gimmee a minute, and I'll find a few Marines ;)

[peacebaby]

Well, I have to have my hubby open jars all the time.

I said to a gay co-worker of mine that I needed a man to lift a heavy box. And he said, "Well, you're talking to the wrong woman."

I'll bring the potato salad. Oh, by the way, where do you live anyhow?

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

Enjoy your party, sweetie. You've earned it.

I left a bottle of champagne in the fridge for you. :-)