Good morning! Exhausted morning here, the girls had a rough weekend (possibly precipitated by me eating a little bit of cheese Thursday night to test whether they'll tolerate dairy -- apparently they won't). Up all night two nights in a row, and they were a mess for poor DH yesterday. He took them to the doctor to get them checked out for ear infections (they're fine) and get their reflux medicine adjusted and they had a massive stranger danger attack and basically cried at all the nurses and doctor even with DH holding both of them the whole time. Sigh. On the one hand, I don't want them to be scared of people, but on the other hand it's kind of cute and reassuring to see that they know their mommy and daddy and prefer us to other people. They're also dealing with some changes in their diapers due to eating more solids which is making them uncomfortable. DH fed them a bunch of prunes yesterday to help out.
Dagmar, was this a contractor that you hired? You should be able to call them up and make them fix it if they did it wrong. Also re: the water in the basement, do you have a sump pump?
Jen, glad you finally got the furnace working again at least!
Shannon, great job for your DSS!
Saef, did you get to take your bath and relax? I love those Lush bath bombs.
DH is a member of a stay-at-home dads facebook group and a new guy introduced himself on there yesterday -- a dad of 16-month-old quadruplets! I can't even imagine.
In the U. S. we use 'buzzard' as short for the Turkey Vulture that dines on carrion and is always represented in cartoons as circling folks in a desert who are about to die.
Jessica-- oh my! Are any of the dads local in the Facebook group? Stranger fear is quite normal. Hope the girls feel better now. My younger dd could never ever drink milk-- still can't. We had some nasty experiences-- one in a California Pizza Kitchen so we'll never go back there-- until we figured it out.
Dagmar-- I agree-- the contractor should definitely come back to fix his mess. You can file a complaint (at least in the US) with the BBB if they don't handle it well. Yelp, etc. are other places to voice your displeasure if necessary.
one in a California Pizza Kitchen so we'll never go back there
DH and I have had THREE problems at different CPK restaurants (all severe stomach pains the evening and day after eating there). And those are the only three times we've been there. Once, even my sister and her DH got the same thing as us. Never enough to throw up but it was pretty uncomfortable for all of us. We'll never, ever go back there (or even buy their frozen stuff).
Looking for your opinions even though I think I know what you'll say already.
I just joined a new meet up group (book club). They are having a get together (non book related) this Saturday night at a Mexican restaurant. I already know that my schedule doesn't permit me to go to the next book club meeting in February. I'm debating whether or not to go to this.....
Pros and cons:
Cons--
I'm super shy and have trouble meeting new people.
I don't drink so I won't get loosened up plus I might look weird.
I don't like driving on the freeway at night.
I will want to order healthy which will be a challenge.
It's late at night (for me anyway) which may make me very tired Sunday and throw off my exercise.
Pros--
I really need to get out and meet new people/ make friends.
I am pretty lonely with dh gone so much and my girls gone.
You know when I joined the Wine Women group? I went first with a friend who had invited me and had a good time and recognized that I'd be able to meet more people. I joined. Now my MIL has joined as well (although she and FIL only attend a few months of the year). DH and I go to almost all of them and Kathleen, the person who organizes everything mixes people up so you rarely sit with the same group--unless you've hit it off then she'll sit you together at least once more.
Anyway, I've met some wonderful people--several of whom I call friends. We even get together outside of these events to do other things. I'm glad I did it regardless of how hard it is for me to do because I'm shy as well.
Looking for your opinions even though I think I know what you'll say already.
I just joined a new meet up group (book club). They are having a get together (non book related) this Saturday night at a Mexican restaurant. I already know that my schedule doesn't permit me to go to the next book club meeting in February. I'm debating whether or not to go to this.....
Pros and cons:
Cons--
I'm super shy and have trouble meeting new people.
I don't drink so I won't get loosened up plus I might look weird.
I don't like driving on the freeway at night.
I will want to order healthy which will be a challenge.
It's late at night (for me anyway) which may make me very tired Sunday and throw off my exercise.
Pros--
I really need to get out and meet new people/ make friends.
I am pretty lonely with dh gone so much and my girls gone.
???
Tis a new year and time to try new things!! Get your butt out the door and meet with them!!
No need to be shy - you have a brilliant and funny personality from what I can see here - you just need to translate it to real life situations! You won't be the only one there who feels a bit awkward at first!
You'll be ahead of the curve meeting folks at the first book club meet after this early introduction - even if only an OK get together.
There are solutions for eating Mexican. The first rule is to count (as in 1, 2,3 ...) the initial serving of chips. After that, it's just about making a sane entree choice.
I knew y'all would say that. Okay-- I RSVP'd before I'd chicken out. Feeling anxious just thinking about it.
I'll read your suggestions for Mexican Jen-- thanks! What I usually do at Mexican restaurants is have a dinner salad with salsa instead of dressing and chicken tortilla soup. I'll check the menu and see what my options are. I never touch the chips-- too hard to stop.
Jessica I did hire a contractor whose name was given to me by another dogwalker. I had seen (and used) the bathroom he installed for her and it looked fine.
Unfortunately I agreed to pay him cash - at his suggestion - to avoid paying 13% tax on the job (which would have been several thousand dollars). I have no record of his doing the work as he suggested I pick up and pay for all of the fixtures and tiles.
I think he totally conned me, knowing this was the first time I'd hired anyone to do a reno (me and my big mouth told him that) and making sure I had no recourse to get anything he did wrong fixed.
It is going to be an expensive lesson. I seem to learn best that way but it still hurts all the same.
I am probably going to post pics of the hole DH had to cut in the wall, the garbage bags and duct tape waterproofing the tub enclosure, and the mess that is our living room ceiling on Facebook. I will make some glib comment. I will also send same to him.
Oh and he was also very careful to not give me any ammunition vie emails or phone messages.
Doesn't look bigger from here, Silverbirch. By the way, is a "jumper" the British word for "sweater"? I've been reading a lot of P. D. James, and now you used it.
Dagmar, we have notoriously bad "contractors" in Florida. I had one walk off the job--fortunately he had finished most of what we wanted, but I was still out some money. Oh--and his "helper" used my bathroom and stole meds! I couldn't prove it, though.
Here is what I've learned:
- What you want is a Licensed, Insured and/or Bonded person doing the work. That is, a REAL plumber, not just a guy with a wrench. A REAL electrician. That doesn't mean you can't be conned--lots of lousy folks out there even with licenses.
- Ask to SEE proof of the license and the insurance. Ask the contractor for references of jobs he has done.
- Never let your neighbor work on your house because he does "a lot of work for other folks." No matter how inexpensive! If someone is injured while working on your house, you could be liable. And they may not know sh!t about how to do the job.
- Never pay in cash. Never pay in advance. Always get an estimate in advance in writing that includes a maximum. Always get receipts in writing.
- Get references from the contractor. Don't rely on someone telling you about what a good guy someone is. They may just like to get cheap work done and don't know what's good and what isn't.
- For that matter, maybe you don't want to let DH work on your house. Otherwise you could be facing plastic bags for a long time.
Do you have Angie's List in Canada, or its equivalent?
Michele, I don't drink either, and I don't think I look weird to anyone. Most people don't worry about what you're drinking. I hope you go and have a nice time.
which is making them uncomfortable. DH fed them a bunch of prunes yesterday to help out. 
But you might like it!
