My time here in Dallas ...

[CD43]

is coming to a close .... my DIL and grandchildren will be home from California on Saturday, so I'll be heading home! I've enjoyed this quality time with my Son, Kenny, it's been very interesting to attend his Physical Therapy sessions with him, it's absolutely AMAZING how far he has come since the accident on New Years Eve, that left him paralyzed from the chest down. In the past weeks, I've seen him struggle with day to day activities that I for one, simply take for granted, those things are a challenge for him every day! Yesterday he turned 34, and we enjoyed lunch with his pastor, then dinner with his In-Law's, as well as physical therapy! We were both worn out by 7:00 PM ... lol!

Ya'll have an AMAZING day

[tontrin]

It's good to know you've been enjoying your visit with your son. I'm so glad that he keeps pushing on. One of the hardest things in life is to accept things the way they are and realize we can't go back and change things and the best thing to do is to live in the here and now and take each challenge as it hits us in the face. That's the way life seems to go a lot of the time. Things just punch and we can only hit back by pushing forward and not backward.

It's like climbing a mountain sometimes, and it can't be done all at once; many steps are small baby steps and it feels like we're going nowhere. Then when we least expect it we see that the hard work payed off, that all along there was a plan that we knew nothing about. I hope he continues to progress.

It truly is amazing how much we take things for granted until we or someone we know has limited ability. I hope the rest of your stay goes well and you continue to enjoy it and for a safe journey home.

[Judy Sims]

Ahhhh... Dallas...I used to live near Dallas. Texas was my home until I moved to Virginia. It is such good news that your son is making daily improvements. I know it makes your heart happy. I shall keep him in my prayers. Sending hugs to both of you. :hug2:

[CD43]

Quote:It's like climbing a mountain sometimes, and it can't be done all at once; many steps are small baby steps and it feels like we're going nowhere. Then when we least expect it we see that the hard work payed off, that all along there was a plan that we knew nothing about. I hope he continues to progress.

So true Tontrin, and Thank You, we received VERY good new's from his bone specialists yesterday, the tumor in his hip is NOT malignant, and they should be able to stop it's growth with antibiotics! Thank You Lord Jesus :breakdance:

Judy... I have lived in Texas all my life, although I'm about 5 hours South of Dallas, more in the "boondock's" you could say ... I'll bet Virginia landscape is glorious in the Fall Season! Thank You for your prayers, and I for one am ready to get out of the Big City, these people on the roads here are just plain RUDE! Had a guy actually make a very vulgar expression with his hand yesterday, after blowing his horn and scaring me out of my wits .... and it was HIM who showed up out of nowhere, because he was doing 75 in a 60 zone, while I was trying to change lanes .... the road way's are just MUCH slower where I live ... and that's just fine with me :coolthumbup:

[tontrin]

Yay, that is good news CD. I'm very glad to hear it.

Wow, I think some of the drivers up here in Idaho might have come from down there. We have had fresh gravel added to the highway I traverse to go to work, and just after about three days, I have 10 or more new pits in my window because people have such little regard for other driver's vehicles and speed and pass me in the construction zone. I never speed in construction zones, mostly I never speed anymore anyway; it's just not worth it. But there's no way I'm going to crack someone else's windshield; that's just plain inconsiderate.

I hope things keep going well for you.

[Sookielee]

Fantastic news CD.

I know all about rude, speeding drivers, living in Metro-Atlanta most of my life. So I do understand what you are talking about. There are places around Atlanta where the cops won't even consider writing speeding tickets unless people are exceeding 75 MPH and this was back when the limit was 55 everywhere in the country.

[CD43]

Tontrin and Sookielee, I certainly am looking forward to getting back to my "Country Dirt Roads" .... there is a section here in Dallas that is known as the "High Five" ... I think Kenny told me it's where 5 interstates become 1 ... I saw it from a distance, and my anxiety level began rising, as we got closer ... Thank God, our destination exit was before that massive union of roadway! Tontrin....I know well about the chips in the windshield, although mine have come from the large semi's ....I've gotten at least 5 new ones! I feel so trapped on the roads with all those big trucks, and me in my little honda! Sookielee, I liked the speedlimit at 55, it was much more comfortable for me, and you would think that with gas prices at an all time high, the states would be reducing the speed limit's instead of increasing them .... I noticed between my last trip and this one, that I-45 speed-limit has been increased to 75 now, instead of 70 ... although I will admit, that's OK with me, on those really long, long stretches of highway, but getting into the cities, it's just plain chaos, and I can live without all that!

[tontrin]

I know too how you feel around those big trucks. I drive a little Chevy Tracker, and I've had semis come into my lane on the freeway and about run me off! I'm thinking, "I'm going to get squished like a bug!!!" :scared:

Driving didn't used to bother me, even fast driving, but with more traffic around these days and so many people who've gotten more and more aggressive, life getting more and more hectic, and myself getting so tired all the time. . .It started stressing me out. So I decided to take myself out of the rat race that many of the other drivers seem to be in these days. I drive the speed limit and if people want to pass, fine. It has reduced my stress level immensely. It's still stressful when people do really stupid things around me while driving, but I just slow down and give them lots of room when they do that and it helps. Other people behind me don't like it, but hey, if they run into the back end of my vehicle, at least it will be less likely that I'll be sandwiched between two vehicles that way.

I know it saves gas driving more slowly too. I can't afford to speed these days! That's another stressor, watching your money get sucked out your gas tank. :bounce:

[CD43]

I'm right there with ya tontrin .... life is stressful enough....so I just do my thing, and let the others race on by :)

[CD43]

Well friends .... I'm home, slept like a baby, and ready to unload the car ... and that's all I have planned for the day! Tomorrow starts a whole new adventure though, as I'm preparing for the "remodel" of my bathroom that will begin on Saturday! whew ... it's gonna be interesting :happy:

[tontrin]

That sounds good. I hope all goes well with the bath. Oh, and the unpacking.

My bathroom is currently under remodel, and I'm a little excited about it because I went to Restore and was able to find what looked like a new vanity with drawers and sink included. If you can imagine a bathroom without drawers; I've never before this house lived in a house that had a bathroom with no drawers. I was going to replace the sink anyway, and I got the whole vanity for $45.00. Woo Hoo! That's what I call a deal. I found a medicine cabinet there for about $12.00 that's huge that matches the vanity. The cabinet does need some paint cleaner taken to it and probably the shelves relined, as it looks like someone had lining on them and then took it out and left some stickies, but that should be really easy.

I still have to find some flooring, a tub/shower surround (there were some reasonable ones at Lowes) and a tub/shower faucet.

Also at Restore, I found the cutest, also really nice and normally expensive kitchen faucet for $22.00. Yay! My kitchen also needs some work, including a faucet. I'd never made it in to that store before, and I'm sure I'll be back.

Among my purchases was an entertainment center for $70.00 that's huge! I think I'm going to add some shelves to it when we get it set up, but it matches the living room perfectly and I can get rid of the old one that doesn't hold the new TV and doesn't match the house.

Wow, you got me rambling! I was just so happy to find several things that I really need that came to under the cost of just a TV stand, let alone an entertainment center.

[CD43]

(08-19-2012 02:37 PM)tontrin Wrote:  That sounds good. I hope all goes well with the bath. Oh, and the unpacking.

My bathroom is currently under remodel, and I'm a little excited about it because I went to Restore and was able to find what looked like a new vanity with drawers and sink included. If you can imagine a bathroom without drawers; I've never before this house lived in a house that had a bathroom with no drawers. I was going to replace the sink anyway, and I got the whole vanity for $45.00. Woo Hoo! That's what I call a deal. I found a medicine cabinet there for about $12.00 that's huge that matches the vanity. The cabinet does need some paint cleaner taken to it and probably the shelves relined, as it looks like someone had lining on them and then took it out and left some stickies, but that should be really easy.

I still have to find some flooring, a tub/shower surround (there were some reasonable ones at Lowes) and a tub/shower faucet.

Also at Restore, I found the cutest, also really nice and normally expensive kitchen faucet for $22.00. Yay! My kitchen also needs some work, including a faucet. I'd never made it in to that store before, and I'm sure I'll be back.

Among my purchases was an entertainment center for $70.00 that's huge! I think I'm going to add some shelves to it when we get it set up, but it matches the living room perfectly and I can get rid of the old one that doesn't hold the new TV and doesn't match the house.

Wow, you got me rambling! I was just so happy to find several things that I really need that came to under the cost of just a TV stand, let alone an entertainment center.

OH WOW tontrin, don't you just LOVE to find a great deal???? Sounds like you found some really great stuff! The vanity I purchased does have a couple of drawers but the whole thing arrived in a BOX!!!! Good thing one of the carpenters specializes in cabinetry ... :D! Also, hubby is what I call a "dumpster diver" ... and he found a beautiful vanity top with brand new faucet and plumbing, it's flawless and the faucet is a perfect match for the fixtures I am adding to the new tub ... I couldn't believe someone put that out for the trash, they must have been doing a major upgrade ... also, we have a store similar to "Restore" .. and my girlfriend bought a whirlpool/jacuzzi tub for only $60.00 ... it has a minor flaw, and one that is easily fixed....she donated it for my remodel since her remodeling plans didn't work out! I'm sooooo looking forward to that first bubble bath :D . We chose linoleum for the flooring, since our home is on piers and it tends to shift, when the seasons change, so I didn't feel that ceramic tile would be a good choice! I'm still shopping for the shower head and faucet, but after seeing the one's that Kenny chose for their bathrooms, I now know what I'm looking for and just where to find it :coolthumbup:, so tomorrow, I go over my Lowe's order list with the contractor and then on Saturday .... let the DEMO begin... :scared:

Good luck with your remodel :hug2:

[tontrin]

My family has done dumpster dives. Great deals are awesome and you usually have to be in the right spot at the right time to find them. It sounds like your bath is going to turn out rather nicely. I don't know what I'm going to put on the floor yet, it might be a cheap temporary fix until I can find something better.

[CD43]

(08-19-2012 10:36 PM)tontrin Wrote:  My family has done dumpster dives. Great deals are awesome and you usually have to be in the right spot at the right time to find them. It sounds like your bath is going to turn out rather nicely. I don't know what I'm going to put on the floor yet, it might be a cheap temporary fix until I can find something better.

I LOVE going to thrift shops and garage sales, but have never stopped on the road to pick up something ..... hubby simply CAN NOT pass up an opportunity to drive down the alley behind the "goodwill" store ... :giggle:, or stop and look thru "this or that" that someone has put at the end of their drive to discard ... and sometimes, he finds some really great things that just need a little TLC... and other times, well ... let's just say we do BONFIRES ALOT! The flooring that I chose came off of a roll at Lowe's, and I chose that, because I wanted a solid piece, no seams, or cracks that water could get into, and it should hold up well, with the wheelchair, we got a 12x16 piece for just under $200.00 .....the demo will take the room down to the studs, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to get something easy to keep clean, didn't cost a fortune, and still looked good

[tontrin]

Bonfires! That's great.

Definitely something in the bath that is easy to keep clean. I'm just happy now to have the carpet out of there. You can't clean leaks out of carpet amongst other things. There are just too many holes in the flooring from the staples that were holding down the carpet padding to not put something else over it. I'm hoping to find something that strikes my fancy that's not too expensive. I've got to also get some siding for the bottom of the house, as that strip has warped and is coming off. This year many things are needing a lot of TLC.