I hope that everyone enjoyed their holiday weekends. For many it’s an extra day off of work, but for others it is a very solemn day. My dad is a veteran and it’s become a tradition to spend the holiday together. We try and do something to pay our respects. Growing up there was a parade and the local VFW held a brief service. In more recent years we’ve watched Rolling Thunder and gone to the Vietnam War Memorial.

I have the utmost respect for veterans. To be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice is incomprehensible to me. I am in awe of their courage, bravery and commitment. It is one of the things that makes me most proud of my dad.

Going to the Vietnam War Memorial is an emotional experience. To see and read what people have left behind can pull at your heart. To see people touch a name on the wall is to see them connect with a long-lost friend or loved one. I can’t fathom the memories it must bring back.

This weekend someone left an old Indian poem at the wall:

Do not stand at my grave and weep…
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the diamond glint on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush.
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die…

- author unknown

Whatever Memorial Day means to you, hopefully you can take a moment to pay tribute those who have fought for freedom. It’s not about agreeing or disagreeing with war, but about the people who believe in something so strongly, passionately they died for it.

To the many men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, thank you. I am humbled by your courage.
memorialday

Tags: veterans, Indian poem

Painting is complete. The walls are pretty orange, but I like it. If you look up the stairs from the third floor, you see an orange glow.

It has toned down now that the appliances are in place. Bill also hung the main support for the Elfa shelving. Not the easiest installation he’s had. We’re hoping that we didn’t drill through our neighbors wall or puncture anything that shouldn’t have been punctured.

The doors are back on and I’m pleased with my color choice. It makes me smile which is what I wanted. I’m looking forward to putting up the shelves next weekend and getting everything off my floor! The paint is still pretty fresh and we don’t want to leave any marks from the shelves or face plates, etc.

I’ll post pictures once everything is done!

Tags: laundry room, organization

I’ve spent a lot of time the last two weeks working on our fourth floor which is our office/laundry room. I’ve been trying to organize my endless supply of craft items, as well as my books, office supplies and desk. Then there’s Bill’s side of the room and the laundry area.

Yesterday, my side of the room was pretty much done so I tackled the laundry area. I decided that the closet could be better organized and that an extra row of shelves would make a difference. To make sure, I started by pulling everything off the shelves to see what I had, what I needed and what I could get rid of. I determined I needed the following:

• Above the washer - a lower shelf for all my detergent, bleach, baking sode, oxyclean, etc. (things I use regularly) and a higher shelf for extra supplies.
• Above the dryer - a lower shelf and a rod for extra hangers and my ironing supplies, other misc. supplies and then a higher shelf for extra things like beach towels.

I took inventory of all my stuff and figured out what kind of containers I needed and then took measurements of the closet. Off to the Container Store, I went (dragging Bill with me)! I’m addicted to Elfa Shelving so we met with a planner and designed our closet. I already knew what I wanted so that made it easier, but the Elfa planners are knowledgeable and can help you if you’re not sure what you need. The other great thing is that Elfa is adjustable, interchangeable and extremely easy to install.

While waiting for an Elfa planner, we shopped for our containers and I broke the news to Bill that I wanted to paint the closet. I batted my eyes a few times and he couldn’t say no. I’ve had it in my head that I wanted to paint a room a fun shade of orange and thought the laundry room would be the prefect place for such a happy color. I am not a fan of doing laundry and I figured that the right shade of orange would make me smile when I opened the doors. When I was picking out the color my dad asked what was wrong with more conventional colors and joke about doing my laundry closet in all Home Depot.

Then last night we started to clean out the closet, taking everything out and removing the shelves and ironing board holder. Next was pulling out the washer and dryer. I can’t even describe the amount of dust. Once the washer was moved we found some serious mold growing. Majorly disgusting and made us realize that the area needs to be cleaned out annually. You never know what you might find. We washed, dusted, patched holes and went to sleep, exhausted.

This morning we woke up, painted the ceiling and sanded and primed the patched holes. I’m waiting for the ceiling and primed areas to dry so that I can paint the walls. I want to get the washer and dryer back in place and then later in the week we can install the shelves and put everything back.

Tags: laundry room, organization

So I’m reading the Friday 5/20/05 Sports Section of the Chicago Tribune, enjoying a “Letter From The Cubs Beat” and what do I find? This guy stole my blog! He mentions the “Philly-ization” of Wrigley Field where fans boo first and think about why they actually booed later. Now, that is worded a little differently than my blog, but the idea is MINE.

Now I don’t actually think the guy stole my blog (but it’s flattering to think so). It does make me think I should be a sports writer as I put the idea to paper three weeks before he did.

Link to his version.

Tags: Cubs