Sound Bites

This isn't a list, per se, but just a not-so-random catch up.

I met with a lawyer last week so that he can handle the builder bullshit. For those of you not following the other blog, our builder didn't finish the house, wrote up a fake invoice, and sued me. So, I get to pay a $1500 retainer, have our defence filed, blah, blah, blah.

The new contractor's crew built the deck and parged the foundation. He also, after telling me there "is only one guy I trust to do the caulking," had someone else on his crew do it. A bunch of it needs to be redone. Lovely. Oh, and I get to pay him about $6200 for work we're already paying for in the mortgage.

I'm waiting for a call from a guy who is supposed to give us a bid on redoing the window well drain and some topsoil. Don't know if he'll call or not. We've decided that that's how New Brunswickers tell you they don't want the job. They just don't call back.

I bought and assembled a grill - or, as I've learned they say here, a BBQ. The deck and BBQ were a surprise for P who was in Atlanta when they happened. We didn't know when the deck would happen and on the 6th the [new] contractor pulled up and said, "We're here to do the deck." Alrighty then.

8YO is doing great. 14/14 on his latest spelling test. This from a boy who hated school. Being in this little school - the oldest continually operating school in Canada - with 14 kids in the class has been wonderful for him. I'm going to see about registering him for an art camp at the university - drawing aliens and monsters and stuff. Right up his alley.

Yesterday we had a guy from the university, and his partner, over for brunch. That was nice. Atlantic salmon, spinach, and gruyere quiche, fruit, bread, cheese, and the most amazing homemade blueberry muffins you've ever had. We just hung out, visited, and, of course, they tolerated some Wii time with 8YO. Nice afternoon.

Today I - drum roll please - unpacked the last cardboard box. That doesn't mean that everything is put where it needs to be - we need more bookcases and I have to finish the closet shelving - but everything is out of the boxes. Some of the boxes were packed a year ago. Hard to believe.

P spent much of the day cooking. A cauliflower/leek/sweet potato soup and a leek/sweet potato risotto. Later - homemade rolls and oatmeal cookies. Yum.

We had hoped to do some work outside, but it was 9-10 degrees outside with on and off rain. But, we got lots done inside so that was good.

Although I was in college when the first one, the real first one, came out, I had never - until this month - seen any of the Star Wars movies. Yes, it's true. But, I've now seen them all, except for Episode VI. We also watched Bedtime Stories. Cute and family friendly.

P goes back to work tomorrow. 8YO, to school. I should start turning the dirt so that we can get things going in the garden, set up the new composter, etc. I don't know if my joints will be up to it or not. We'll see...

That's about it. I've not been much up to writing. Too many details to take care of here and not a lot of energy to do much more. Have to file an amended tax return. Even though it means more money, I dread doing it. Have several boxes of papers that need filing, weeding, etc. Got to get this desk area organized...

But, I'm looking forward to sunny weather and some summer travels. Soon, soon.