Annoyed ......

I awoke in a state of mild annoyance this morning. Then immediately felt guilty for feeling that way. I have tried to push away the feeling all morning, hoping that my coffee would wash it down when I swallowed. It didn't. I reminded myself of all I have to be thankful for ............ and, the list is long. So now I just feel annoyed at myself for being annoyed.



So, I brushed my teeth, showered and washed my hair, hoping that creature comforts would prevail and I would snap out of my funk. Nope. I reheated a cup of coffee and after pulling my sleeve over my hand to dust the screen of my computer, here I am. Dust is everywhere, so why am I not cleaning it up, you may wonder. The dust is part of the reason I am annoyed. You may recall that last year the pipes in the ceiling burst and I went without water for several weeks. The ceiling had to be opened up in order to make the repairs and after doing said repairs he who plumbs simply covered the hole with a piece of sturdy cardboard ............ temporary, he said, you know, until he could 'get to it'. The cardboard was from a coffin box used to ship a body and proclaimed this for all who entered my house to see. Definitely a conversation piece.


Okay, what does this have to do with dust, you may wonder. This past spring I tired of the cardboard that said "HUMAN REMAINS, FINAL DESTINATION ST. LOUIS". I ripped it down in hopes that he who plumbed the pipes would take the hint and purchase a piece of sheetrock and cover it. I paint, I patch, I help, but I confess that I am not all that adept at hanging sheetrock ...... especially on the ceiling. After gazing into this gaping hole for days and realizing how silly I was to think that I could lure him indoors with such ploys I covered it with a neutral piece of upholstery fabric and the electric staple gun. In his defense, there is always a mountain of outdoor chores in springtime. Several times I mentioned the hole and the electrical work that needed his attention before we should close it, always on a rainy day when nothing outside could be accomplished, but he always had an excuse that was perfectly valid.


Fast forward to cold weather and me wondering just how long he could procrastinate. I had gone on an adventure with my buddy, Yvonne, and returned home to find he who plays with fire feeding the wood stove and telling me how cold it was. I swear to you that it was at least 80 degrees in the house and there he sat next to the wood stove, suitably attired for a visit to Sarah Palin's Alaska, complaining about being cold. As I shed my clothes and put on a tank top and pair of shorts, I casually mentioned that he was losing most of his precious heat through the gaping hole in the ceiling. Had I known that this would prompt him into action, I would have said those magic words long ago. I think I may have done so, actually, but, we know it is all about the timing, right?



So, he began by removing the cover to the hole and has been working on this project for ever so long. Weeks, not months (one of the things I am thankful for). He reworked the water pipes that he repaired last winter and at my suggestion, insulated them. Actually I suggested it and he told me it wasn't a good idea. I was so happy to see any progress that would cover the hole that I simply agreed with him; but later noticed that he had purchased the very thing I suggested on one of his many trips to the hardware store. He said that he reconsidered my idea and decided that it wasn't a bad idea after all. The plumbing done, he moved on to solve the lighting (lack of) issue and hung the chandelier I purchased over a year ago in a second hand store. Progress was so s l o w. But, it was progress and I was thrilled with every little bit. I have three new light sources (also on my thankful for list). As of yesterday I even have a switch with which to turn on the light that is not danging from the ceiling.



So, why am I annoyed, you still wonder. The hole, the big gaping hole in the ceiling is still there. It is now filled with brand new insulation, this is true, but still there. I am afraid to ask when he plans to actually install the piece of sheetrock that is cut and waiting. He gets side-tracked. I admit that I am sometimes the cause. I did take out a wall that had to be finished and was the reason for the dangling switch. And, I did realize that placing the refrigerator next to a wall prevented me from swinging the door wide enough to remove the shelves in order to clean it, and decided that we should relocate it while we worked on this project. Yes, I am partially to blame. It is my fault that all of the contents of the cabinets next to and over the fridge had to be removed and are now gracing every available surface in the dining room and the kitchen. I did the prep work and stacking of said items. He who loves gadgets and tools has managed to put the entire area in chaos with all his stuff laying about and tucked here and there, making it impossible to locate a tool without a search party.



Yesterday I carefully re stacked all the contents of the cabinets and removed the layer of dust that covered everything and then carefully prepared a place on my table on which he could have all his tools laid out and easy to find atop some of his many shop towels (I washed 31 of them yesterday, I am thankful that I don't have to wash them today). I was hoping this would act as a catalyst for some big time action on the project. This morning he announced that he was going to get some re bar. Re bar? Yes, he is going to work on the roads today. He wants to shore them up and place some old telephone poles along side the roads that always wash away. He is going to secure them in place with re bar. This was actually my idea. I mentioned it a couple of years ago. These things take time to recycle through his brain. I am thankful that he is listening, even when I think he isn't.


There is still a hole in my ceiling and I will try to avoid looking at it as I walk by on my way to my sewing room. It would be pointless to clean in here, what with the hole in the ceiling ...........