Sunday, February 28, 2010

Sunday Salon: Slogging through molasses



Happy Sunday, Saloners! Well, as you can tell by my title, I don't feel I've had a productive week. This may be partly my imagination, fueled by my dismal reading time. Why is it that I only feel productive if I have finished a handful of books? Anyway, my time is not my own these days, and is a serious buzz-kill.

On a bright note, my bathroom is basically finished. As with any project, there are one or two minor tweaks that still need to be finished, but we are operational. As the guys started wrapping up back there, it was my turn to come in and clean (more cleaning than I have done in a year), put all of our belongings back in the cabinets, shop for towels and rugs, and stay in touch with the general contractor to make sure all problems were resolved. We still have to get the cable company out here to hook up our TV in the workout room, replace the blinds in the workout room (which OF COURSE have to be custom ordered), replace our weights and weight bench, find mirrors for my husband's vanity, and decorate. But it is getting there. Slowly. At least I don't have worker boys underfoot.


Entrance into our double shower



















One side of the double shower (my back is to the second shower head)















My tub!




















My vanity (no picture of my husband's as it has no mirrors)


My daughter started volleyball, so we are back in the groove of dropping off, picking up and waiting. (Maybe this will help me get in some reading!)

I participated in a golf tournament on Wednesday, which at first annoyed me because I felt I needed to be home supervising bathroom wrap-up. But it turned out to be worth my time! Our team won fifth place, and I got "Closest to the Pin", both earning some wine-themed gifts. But the big kahuna was a raffle prize that I won...a weekend stay at the Portofino Bay Resort at Universal valued at close to $700. So I guess another weekend at Universal is in our future! Our plan is to wait until the Harry Potter portion of the park is open, which should be in the next couple of months.

The excitement is building in the Nawrot house, as we are leaving for Hawaii this Tuesday and will be gone for a week. Is it twisted that I am just as excited about the 12+ hours of flying time as I am about the destination? You're with me, aren't you? But with any trip, you have to prepare. I had to get all promotional communications written and distributed, and loose ends tied up for the book fair, which will be happening the third week of March. The kids have to make up the schoolwork. Resort wear must be purchased. Reservations must be made for dinners and tours. Housesitter and petsitter must be arranged. And so it goes. (I've got posts planned for while I am gone, but I may be scarce around the blogs this week!)

We wrapped up the week with an annual Crawfish Boil last night at some friends' house. This is a highlight on the Nawrot social calendar. Our hosts are from Louisiana, so they know what they are doing. Hurricanes by the gallon mixed with a liberal amount of liquor, fifty pounds of imported crawfish, steamed with corn, sausage and stuff, music and happy people. I probably won't eat today, but it was worth it!

So anyway. This would be why I only finished one audio book this week, Hold Tight by Harlan Coban. It was an entertaining listen, a bit tense, a bit convoluted, not entirely satisfying. I just started The Swan Thieves on audio, which was pretty exciting for me. I continue to read and enjoy Stone's Fall in print, but have only read 240 pages in two weeks. And ARCs are piling up in the meantime. This is distressing to me. I am counting on getting back my time and mojo with that long flight next week. Despite our best intentions, the kids and I did not finish the fifth Harry Potter on audio. We only have about five discs left, but we won't get through them until we return from Hawaii.

So what is on your agenda today? I promised my daughter that for her birthday (which is next week), I would take her to see that damned "Dear John" at the theater. I think I would rather have a root canal, but she really wants to go, so I may try to knock out that dreaded task today. It probably won't come as a surprise that she also wants to see "The Last Song" when that comes out at the end of March. I may have to bring a flask to get through all of that Nicholas Sparks hell.

On that happy note, I hope everyone has a great Sunday!





31 comments:

Harvee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Harvee said...

Oops! Made a mistake in the previous message. I like the colors of your bathroom, green for the outdoors. Have a great time in Hawaii! You probably won't do a lot of reading there!

Hope you'll visit my Sunday Salon.

Susan said...

Your bathroom looks fabulous!! Well worth all the upheaval it caused.

Have a wonderful time in Hawaii! I'm sure you'll get caught up on the reading. I would not be looking forward to two 12 hour flights, no matter how many books I took along!

I'm eager to see what you have to say about Swan Thieves. I loved The Historian.

Andreea said...

Wow, what a fantastic bathroom. I am jealous! As to the reading, I am sure you will get more done soon, don't worry:) Have a great time in Hawaii (jealous again!).

Julie P. said...

It's beautiful -- so worth the wait! Have fun at the movies! LOL!

Molly said...

I would say you had a very productive week, maybe just not in the area of reading.

Can I say I would kill for your bathroom?! I LOVE the color you selected, and the bathtub is heaven to me (give me a glass of wine - a few lit candles and a book and you probably wouldn't see me for hours).

I too LOVE plane rides - and now that you have a Kindle you will not be at a loss for what to read.

Have a wonderful time (as I am sure you will)

OH -- and congrats of the fabulous resort win!

Frances said...

The bathroom is gorgeous! Hawaii is right around the corner. There is plenty of reading time for you on the plane, and yes, you can always drink your way through that movie. Or find her a friend to go with and see something else in a different theatre. Recently clued into this common practice of the mothers of middle school girls and I HIGHLY recommend it! Happy reading whenever that time may come!

bermudaonion said...

I'm totally jealous of that double shower!

Wow, it sounds like you were the big winner at that golf tournament, so it was definitely worth your while.

I thought of you doing that tsunami scare yesterday - I'm glad it won't be affecting your trip. I hope you have the time of your life!

Kimberly said...

Wow, Sandy! Your week was far from unproductive. And your bathroom is AMAZING! Really pretty! I love the tile work on the door. Enjoy your time in Hawaii...what a wonderful treat!

rhapsodyinbooks said...

The bathroom looks great! And congrats on the closest to the pin and the raffle prize. (the only time I've gotten close to the pin is when I pick up the ball and put it there.)

Have a wonderful time in Hawaii - don't forget the camera! :--)

ds said...

I am sooo jealous of that bathroom (that tub looks specially built for a reader...hmmmm).Best of luck to your daughter with her volleyball. I wish you a safe and fabulous trip to Hawaii. Which island(s) are you visiting? And I am totally with you about travel time=reading time. Mr. L-S drove last weekend, I read. Bliss...
Again, have a wonderful trip!!!

Craftymoose Crafts said...

Your new bath looks beautiful! Workers are a pain but in the end it is worth it!

Hope you have a wonderful, safe trip to Hawaii!

Beth F said...

Wow, wow, wow!!!! Awesome room!!!!

Have a super vacation and collect airplane bottles to help you get through the films!

It actually sounds like you had a pretty good week (winning prizes and all).

Heidenkind said...

That is very nice bathroom! It looks like something in a fancy hotel.

Ana S. said...

Hooray for finishing the bathroom! It looks great.

Sometimes it alarms me how tied my sense of productivity is to how much I'm reading - even if other things are getting neglected :P

Trisha said...

Okay I'm jealous of the bathroom and the Hawaii trip! I hope you get in some good reading time!

Michelle said...

So much on which to comment! First of all, your bathroom is gorgeous! Highly jealous of the double shower and the bath tub. The colors are so soothingly. You have created the ultimate sanctuary.

I hear you on the pattern of picking up, dropping off, and waiting. My son started spring soccer last week, and it is going to be one heck of a season. I'm hoping that all those practices means lots of reading time!

Congratulations on your golf wins! The trip to Universal sounds fantastic, and the chance to visit Harry Potter Land? A dream come true.

Speaking of dreams coming true, you will have a fantastic time in Hawaii. You deserve the break. Have fun!

JoAnn said...

The bathroom is gorgeous!! Well worth all the hassle, I'm sure. Have a wonderful time in Hawaii. Will there be some tropical Wordless Wednesdays to follow?

Melody said...

Your bathroom looks fabulous, Sandy! Absolutely love it!!!

Hope you all have a great time in Hawaii! You'll be missed! And I can't wait to hear what you'll say about The Swan Thieves; I've heard mixed reviews on it though.

BTW, have read your post on your trip to Universal Studios at Google Reader but couldn't find it on your blog!

Gavin said...

So glad the bathroom remodel is done and it looks gorgeous. Have a wonderful trip and take lots of pictures!

Kathleen said...

The bathroom looks FABU and looks like it was worth the time and trouble! Sounds like you have been busy and Hawaii is coming at the right time. Hawaii always leaves me feeling rested and ready for anything. And you get to read lots and lots on the plane ride! Have an awesome time! My trip there is now planned for November...I am counting the days.

Ti said...

The bathroom stress was totally worth it as it's gorgeous!

Have a wonderful trip. At least you missed the tsunami.

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear that Stone's Fall is taking so long for you to read. I assure you that it is worth it in the end.

I look forward to your thoughts on The Swan Theives - I am tempted to get it at some point and I'd love to know if the audio is any good.

Have a great week!

Jenners said...

The bathroom looks fantastic!!!

And I'm sure you're going to have such a good time in Hawaii. Would you consider packing me in your suitcase?

The Bumbles said...

Andy enjoyed Hold Tight - of your adjectives the only one he agreed with was "entertaining" so it seems he liked it more than you :0)

I love your bathroom photos - especially the color scheme.

Enjoy your trip - which island are you visiting? We loved Kauai the most - but Maui provided a great mix of options for all types of travelers.

Alice said...

Dear Sandy, why is that you're reluctant in watching DEAR JOHN? Hehehe...

Your bathroom looks fab! And have a wonderful time in Hawaii!

Zibilee said...

Congratulations on the finished bathroom! It looks beautiful, I bet your first bath in that gorgeous tub was just wonderful! I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip and that you get a lot of good reading done on the flight. See you soon!

P.S.- I hope you look great in your swimsuit. I know you have been working really hard to look awesome.

Darlene said...

I am drooling over your bathroom - I would kill for that shower. Have a good trip - I'm drooling over that too. lol.

Serena said...

I'm drooling over the TUB! I would love one of those1 Fantastic! I hope you find more time to read!

Anna said...

Love the bathroom! Enjoy your trip. Wish I was going with you. LOL

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

Melissa said...

Your bathroom is beautiful, great job with the golf tournament and I hope you had a great time in Hawaii! One of these days I'm hoping to be caught up on blog reading...