Birthmonth continues...

I'm not sure what's going on right now, but my birthmonth celebration has been severely hindered by a number of undesirable, odd situations. In addition to lower level mice (gone), a broken car AC (still broken, part difficult to locate), a leaking shower (fixed, thanks Calvin, Jr & Tessa Jo), a newly sick son (on the second day of school, teachers LOVE that), an exhausted husband from work/theater and a mix up on the renovation tile sizing...we can now add....broken refrigerator to the list! :-|

Thankfully, we have a temporary solution- a cooler filled with ice (from the still working freezer), and a mini fridge we had in Rich's office that he hauled back home. So even though my kitchen looks like a campsite, it could be much much worse. Like our freezer could also break, and we'd have to eat 57 lbs. of semi-cold food in 12 hours (because any self respecting local would NEVER let food spoil, we'd just eat it all).

Even though I keep saying 'it can be worse' as a way of coping, I'm ready to return to normal. I still have plenty to be happy about, after all:

• I went on my first run today with a friend in two months (she's been abroad for awhile). Oh how I've missed her company!
• I had another hearty eggplant harvest despite neglecting the plants for the last month (they've since been given some TLC today, hope it's not too late), and got to share it with a few neighbors who love eggplant (not an easy task)! Eggplant lovers are not as easy to find as, say...'pizza lovers' or 'crack lovers.'
• My husband won his second 'Best Male Lead' in a play award from the theater, which was truly such a surprise and honor. He also won the 80s costume contest that night, despite some stiff competition!
• Our neighbors had a lovely pool party last night and had us and another neighbor couple over. We couldn't love our neighborhood anymore than we already do...they're the nicest people on the planet. Not a single rotten egg. Neighborhood watch in full effect. And they even surprised me with a birthday truffle 'cake'! It was so sweet!
• My nephew is continuing to achieve the 'dream' by getting to go hunting with a legendary hunting instructor, who has kindly offered to mentor him (even though we were total strangers to him)!
• I get to run in the early AM tomorrow with R, and then I get to spend time with one of the funniest people I know, right after...my niece! She may be only 2, but I assure you...she's much cuter, smarter, funnier and sassier than I could ever hope to be.
• My son reported that he had a great first day(s) of school. I'm always happy to see and hear how much he appreciates his teachers/school.
• And on that note, I had a great first day of subbing on Friday. What a fabulous class, teachers and campus! It's where Ry would be if he didn't get into his current charter school, and where he was for two years prior. We miss his old school a lot, so it's a very comfortable, pleasant place for me to be. It minimizes the anxiety of subbing in new classrooms.
• Rich gets to perform this week! This makes me happy only because it makes him happy! He loves to be on stage and gets to hang out with his 'theater family' and my very first sister wife (she and I have decided to share him). Show #1 is two nights of a sold out dinner show/benefit fundraiser, and shows #2-5 are in an original play festival this week!
• This week the electrical/lights/fans gets put in, and then we can move on to the inspection, nail up the drywall, and start doing some painting. Gutters, tiling, furniture assembly and railings will follow in the weeks after, and then...dare I say it...we will be done? :-D *ecstatic happy dance*

Someone is the captain of the ship in this show!

Rich reprised his role as the Hulkster from our 80s birthday bash a few years back!

Our future pig/goat/sheep/cow/turkey hunter...we hope!

Someone scored his own swan (we got one for his friend's birthday, and he desperately wanted one too)!

So despite the mounting costs of things in need of repair, I'm going to try to stay positive (this is tough, as I default to being critical and soliciting pity from everyone I know). It's not hard when I have my two boys and we're healthy, I just need to remember that. ;-)