Expectations Schmexpectations

I used to live in Knoxville; I think I've mentioned that. I miss it. People talk about East TN like they talk about MS. What they fail to mention is that if they like nature and good ole friendly people, they'd love either, and when they get to know those places, they'd always long to go back.

Knoxville is (or used to be) home to HGTV. They put on the best Home Expos! They really rocked. You could get good knowledge and information. The Expo we went to today in the bustling hurricane dodging city of Tampa was more like a sales event. I expected some of that, but I also expected some good tips and to get some of my questions answered. Cause let's admit, living in a subtropical climate is a little different on your home than living elsewhere in the country, much as I'm sure living in the midwest or extreme north would be. So, we have these great "flintstone" look pavers around our pool. They were new and dry when we bought the house, sand grout looked great. Now, after a summer of humidity and rain and more humidity, I realize yet again that the previous owners skimped on yet another detail...sealing the stones and the surface of the sanding "void" between them. Needless to say, the rocks (or spaces between the rocks) are black. Gross, mold, mildew, yicky, sightsore. Ok, anyway, so there are tons of these dealers that sell and install these pavers and I ask about sealing them, and they're like call this guy. No info. So, I ask a cabinet dealer about the real re-sale value of a kitchen that's had the cabinets refaced. The outside looks great. The inside looks original (not that that's not great, but hey, if you're refacing them, obviously this is because you don't like the ones you have), and she's like oh, yes, they sell. That's all we do. Ok, why am I asking a person in the business of selling cabinet refacing about the re-sale value of a home whose cabinets have been refaced. All she wants to do is sell me some cabinets, whether it helps my home value or is a waste of my money.

There were some interesting green companies there, which made me happy. One guy tried to tell us about a box you wire into your circuit breakers that uses alternating current to cut energy consumption of your motorized appliances in your home, AC, fridge, etc. Still need to research it, but I'll bite for more info. Afterall, my DH thinks I'm naive, and I'm curious. Check it out if you want to for yourself, I'm going to. If it'll save me money and the planet one small step at a time...

The company is southern energy: www.sec-leswatts.com

Interesting thing I read for this warranty is that it is not covered by: riots, civil disturbances, war, or other related acts of God. I know lots of warranties usually say this, but it's usually in print so fine you can't read it, but this one was pretty evident, guess that's for us hurricaners.

There were other greenies, but this one was of the most use to fellow readers. I was a little letdown that there are so many GREEN COALITION and LEED people out there (I'm a member of LEED) and there was such a poor representation there. There is a place for me and my green ideas in this growing area, I just have to find it...like I have to find my gardening expertise offering niche.

So, somehow the last conversation of the day, well not the last, but last significant, was about the 5K my neighborhood is hosting to benefit a Kids Community College (sort of like pre-pre-school) and St. Jude. I suggested it to DH who needs to lose 20 pounds by Nov...yes, makes me sick, he can drop it too, I can't. So, he told me he'd run it if I would non-stop. The 5K is Oct. 18. That's 7 weeks away. 5K is 3 miles. I can do that. I just have to put my mind to it, train, and stretch and not get injured. I found a training schedule for a 5K in 9 weeks, but I only have 7. The only thing that worries me is I sometimes have this catch thing on the outside side of the back bend of my right knee. As long as it doesn't flare up, I should be fine. I've been so down and out about not working and can I do something other than chemistry should I need to that compensates me as well as my last job did or makes me happy. This is a good therapy I think, plus it's good training for Chance, and perhaps, it'll help me lose some of my 20 pounds I want to lose. Discipline. I used to be a highly disciplined person. I still am, just not in areas that once were, so, Flylady (yes, I am a flybaby) says it takes 45 days to make a habit or 28 or something. So, here we go: train the dog, clean the humidity and mold off the house, design new flower beds, learn to study again, exercise, and find a job...to be unemployed, things are certainly starting to get cooking again. Oh, one last question for my readers, I need to make Christmas presents this year, save money, it's really smarter, I'm so over all the giving and exchanging of gift cards, well, not really, just need to save money, so got any ideas? Good ideas for gifts for men are the most sought after...but anyone will do.

Oh, one last thing, I must advertise, the booth that was the busiest and DH and I decided sold the most (qty) goods for the day at least was Wild Rooster Sauces: From the Finest of Southern Scratch. They use no preservatives, and no MSG, and if you like sauces and rubs, they are gooooooood. We bought a lot, didn't get a rain gauge though. Please, visit, and don't be afraid to buy, if you like sauces that are extremely low cal and GOOD for you:

www.wildroostersauces.com

The Great Home Expo Show Expectations

I'm sure most of my readers know that DH and I bought our first home in May. We were ecstatic. We plan to live here roughly 5 years, sell the house, then move on somewhere else. Me, I'd like to go home and build my dream home on the lake, but something tells me Uncle Sam is going to send me somewhere like remote N.C. or the ever expensive D.C. area. I would love to hang out in Savannah for awhile, but I've been entertaining that idea for the length of my marriage and DH hasn't bought into it yet.

Anyhoo, I've always had dreams...big ones. I'm a dreamer, yes, I'm also a realist...not optimistic, yet not pessimistic, just live in the real, but I LOVE to dream, as much as I love my VNFNWEH mocha from Starschmucks, or a Speedy Gonzales #1 with rice and beans and LOTS of salsa (thank you, Kay, I miss these Mexican Mondays), or my plants, or my poochies...Charlie tops the list in fond memory, and I learn from my mistakes with him in this new little ankle biter, or butt biter.

So, today, I am dreaming about retirement, kind of a hurdle for someone who is unemployed at the moment and doesn't have much of a prospect of a career right now. Have any of you ever pondered the new catch phrase "career path"?

However, the--well, I started to say more but I think more appropriate given the above conditions--less tangible desire is home improvement. I become emotionally attached to property. When I first looked at this house, I was floored. YES! This is it! Now, I'm like ok, I like it BUT.........

So, I want to do curbing around all of the flower beds, paint the house (yes, it needs it, I looked up close), re-do all the flower beds (which you all KNOW I will have my way with in the next 2 summers), paint and install cabinets in the garage--I hate that here, when everyone opens their garage doors, I see junk piled up. It kills me!!! Organization, cleanliness, come on, you are parking your overpriced rapidly depreciating stupid-purchase gas guzzling car in here. Scoff at this if you want, but I bet some part of that auto description fits everyone reading this. Unless you are driving my old blazer, Olivia, and then you got a deal, I fixed it for you. It is a gas guzzler, though, so screw that comment. Let's see, I want to gut the kitchen cabinets, build a window seat and cubby holes around our large bedroom windows, replace the bathroom vanities and countertops (with silestones or concrete!!:)--though DH thinks this is stupid--perhaps our outing today will change his mind)...I want to replace the flooring in the living room with bamboo and then, I think I will have covered the major stuff, oh, no, no, this florescent light in the kitchen that dates the house, has got to go. Don't get me wrong. We have a very nice house, I sometimes am like, what, how did I ever end up in a house this nice? But re-sale, re-sale, re-sale, it's all about what will be desirable in 5 years. I guess what will be desirable is for the market to settle down and re-equilibrate, I fear deeply and REALLY that those days are long gone.

So, we are off to the Home Expo Show...where all the newest trends and designs are highlighted. DH wants to wait until right before we move to do all of this, and I say, no why can't we do it and enjoy it while we live here? Opinions? The landscape, he has no say in, nor do I think he wants any...my plans are in the making, and I am going to post them when I get them figured out. And then, before pics, and perhaps a new blog about transformation. As for today, while I am grounded from spending...I plan to at least purchase a rain gauge. Any gardener should have one or two. And I think now that I've thought it, I'll start it...stay tuned for a gardening blog. All about what I've learned by trial and error and I hope some of you learn from it. Since I used to see so many people at FTB stop and say how do you do this? Perhaps my journal will help you. Perhaps my readers will help me envision my gardening business I've always dreamt of. And yes, I will have it, when I settle in one place. Well, off to the shower for the Home Expo. Don't worry, I have the camera ready and a little notebook for notes, and a bag for goodies! Such a dork...