Decorating Diaries - There Be Tile

The "Tile Enthusiast" was here yesterday from 8 AM - 7 PM and got most of the tile laid.  He's coming back this afternoon to grout. I love the way it looks and can't wait for everything to dry so we can fire up that heated floor for the first time.

Poor tile guy--it's freezing in our bathroom.  Barely any heat reaches back there no matter how much we crank up the temperature.  That's why we went with a heated floor--to raise the temperature of the room. But this guy and the woman helping him spent all day on their knees on concrete in this freezing room.  I'm sure they're as ready to be done with this job as I am.

Not sure what's next.  More work to the shower and then tile guy will be back to tile it.  But I think we're close to being ready to install counters.  Too bad I'm going away this weekend.  It would be a great time to get in there and prime the walls before the toilet and countertops go in.  Less mess and fuss.  I might see if I can bribe Blair, who hates to paint, into at least splashing some primer on the wall behind where the commode will be.

Women Who Inspire Me

I met a fantastic group of women today at the Greensboro Women's Resource Center.  The Center is where I used to work as a Job-Search Program Coordinator for displaced homemakers, and I was there today teaching a class on Networking for the program I used to run.

I wasn't overly enthusiastic about going.  I've got a lot to do to get ready for my trip and really wanted to be at home in front of my computer. But I'm so grateful for having the opportunity to teach this wonderful group of women.  I'd forgotten how inspiring it is to be around the women in this program.  They make an 8-week commitment to attend class 2 days per week to work on all aspects of the job search so it's not an easy program to graduate from.  But every woman there is determined and motivated to change her life and follow her dreams.  Most of these women have so little (materially) but they have huge spirits and hearts and I walked away with an energy buzz just from spending 2 1/2 hours in the same room with them.

It was a wonderful reminder for me as I told them  (and I believe this) that they can accomplish anything they want.  That they are full of talents and passions and purpose.  That if they reach out a little first, the Universe will reach back tenfold.  I was saying to them the words I needed to hear myself.  And the group was so receptive, taking notes and asking questions that showed they were paying attention.  As they got excited about the networking process, I got excited right along with them. 

Having the chance to speak to them today was the best thing I could have had on my schedule.  It reminds me how lucky I am to be doing what I love with support from people I love.  And how important it is to give back and help others climb obstacles and reach their goals, so the chain continues.

Little to Say?

I feel obligated to post something, but I really don't have a lot to say (versus the eye-opening, makes-you-want-to-rethink-your-life-and-be-a-better-person posts I'm famous for).  Still,  I will try. :)

I griped at the contractor via voicemail Tuesday night.  On Tuesday, before they left, I asked the contractor to call my local contractor that night, as he has a key to our house and could arrange to let him in.  That's whey they told me the tile guy had to finish another job in the morning, but would be at my house in the afternoon.  At my request, my  local contractor called at 9:30 Tuesday night to say that he hadn't heard from tile guy.  So I left a message saying "Hey, I don't want my local guy called last minute.  He's got other jobs and I want this planned out to make sure he's available to let you in." Then I said, "And, it was my understanding the tile guy was 'all mine' this week until the job was finished and now he's not even showing up until tomorrow afternoon.  What's going on?"  I told you, I'm on it this time.

So I got home last night and had a message that the guys would be meeting today (Thursday) at 9:30 am.  Fine, but that means no work was done yesterday.  Plus, why does the morning start at 9:30 vs. 8? Yes, he has an hour drive here but lots of people have long commutes and manage to make it in by 8 to work.  Blair leaves the house at 6am every day, so I don't have a lot of sympathy for the "Oh, it's so early" excuse.  Anyway, I just want this bathroom done.  I'm tired of being in a bad mood about it and am getting on my own nerves.

I had a great day yesterday.  I was the THIRD person to arrive at my Triad Networks group, thank you very much, to make up for my embarrassment at being late last week. And these people rock.  I said I'd appreciate any leads on distribution venues for my book--gift stores, jewelry stores, flower shops, hospital gift stores, etc.  I walked out with 9 leads and 5 book sales.  Absolutely stupendous.  It puts me on my game so I can offer them as many good leads in return.

Then we had 15 International students visit our Toastmasters group, and hearing where they were from and their goals was fascinating. I had a power marketing meeting with my friends Pam & Michael, dinner with Blair, and then my children's writers critique group came through in aces for me with dead-on critiques of the first chapter of my book.  So all in all, a good day.

Today I'm teaching a networking class at the Women's Resource Center, picking up my new glasses, and maybe lunch with a friend.  Then home to work, work, work!  I'm going to Chicago this weekend for a long overdue trip to see my mom, sister, nephew, and brother-in-law.  My nephew is 2 1/2 and I haven't seen him in over a year.  I know he's going to look huge to me--he's at the top of the charts for height.

But the thing about going out of town is that even if you're gone for a day, you have to do a weeks worth of work before you leave and a weeks worth after before you feel caught up. So I'm trying to tidy up a multitude of loose ends today and tomorrow so I can leave and enjoy my trip with a clear conscience (And a ball of yarn.  I've started knitting  project #2).  

So, off to face the e-mail monster I go!
 

You Can't Hide Knitting

I may have to tamper my newfound enthusiasm for knitting.  The reason is there's no way to hide from your spouse if you've spent the day working on a scarf versus doing work that actually stands a chance of bringing in any money.

Blair come home yesterday and asked how my day was. 

"Great!" I replied.  "I finished a draft of my networking article and found some sources for my next Art Jewelry marketing column and did some work on my novel."

Then a few minutes later we sat down to watch TV and I pulled out the scarf I'm working on, which had grown a good 3 inches in length since he'd seen it the night before.  "Um, tell me again how you spent your day?" he said.

Busted!  I did do all those other things.  But I also spent an hour and a half in the middle of the day, knitting.  It's just a wonderful breather from the stressors waiting for me at the computer. 

But alas, I must set aside my needles during the day. But that's okay because it still leaves nights.  My best friend Trisha called me tonight from Texas where she's staying on business.  "What are you doing tonight?" I asked. 

"Oh, I'm going to have some wine and a light snack, go see the Alamo, and maybe meet up with clients for a late dinner. And you?"

"There's a two-hour episode of American Idol on tonight and I'm going to knit while I watch it."

It's really sad, how far I've fallen socially in such a brief period of time. Maybe I'll knit myself a "I am not a loser" t-shirt to cheer myself up.