hey - my tagboard is missing more than a week's worht of tags - wassup with that?!?!

...like a homemade meatball sub sandwich! (I'll explain later.)

I have used this bad old joke so many times in the past (including on one of my "100 things..." lists) but heck, it's St. Patrick's Day so this Polish-American gal has to share, yet again:

Although still nauseated about it, we have already applied for an equity line of credit to begin the process of getting architectural plans drawn up and finding out from there how much infrastructure work (and cash) will be required before any actual construction could ever begin. You see, we are on a septic tank and have well water servce - both of which actually work GREAT. OK, well I guess we wouldn't mind the convenience of being hooked up to city sewer service (not have to flush those wierd microbes down the pipe, no calling the "honey truck" to clean the tank every two years, etc.) we would really hate to lose our well. The water is wonderfully pure and delicious. We have it tested for safety's sake and of course, its clean as a whistle - almost like spring water! Of course, my clothes, hair and skin love it becuase its chlorine-free. And our budget loves it because it's water-bill free!

But according to local gov't rules, if we do any construction we have to "modernize" our infrastructure first. Damn!

The worst scenario would be if our municipal body decrees that we must also pave our 75 ft-long gravel driveway (built before municipal code required paving). That would scrap (or greatly delay) any improvement for sure as that would add at least another $12k to the project. Not to mention the possible forced destruction of our existing detached garage (add another $5-6k).

But according to my contractor-neighbor (who gave me this valuable inside-scoop) it is possible that a creative architect could draw up plans that leave enough clearance between existing garage and addition to allow the structure to remain intact AND not create more than 20% additional footprint so as to avoid the forced paving. Ugh. I have a feelng this thing is gonna end up looking like a 3 story closet!

While talking to my neighbor, I also learned of their situation in terms of "additions" and it really put my current situation into perspective. His step-daughter (his wife's 20-something year old daughter, half-sister to their 12 year old daughter) is moving in with them because she just had a baby. Yes, she's single. And unemployed. And, um, I am not even sure if she is a high school graduate.  My neighbors each work multiple jobs, insane hours, each week to keep the household going. They are such hardworking people, and yet they were up all night not only getting a room in the finished attic ready for the stepdaughter and baby but ALSO because stepdaughter has two cats, one of whom ALSO gave birth to 4 kittens in their house over the weekend!

I am sick to my stomach now after learning how much TIME and MONEY will have to be invested before we can see any semblance of an addition on this lil' (840 sq. ft!) house. Ugh.

Looks like I'll keep that IUD right where it is for now!

Not alot planned on this bleak (in terms of temperature outdoors, amount of sunshine predicted, etc.) weekend except typical stuff. Each Saturday, hubby and child prepare a big breakfast of apple pancakes (they are really more like crepes) and bacon (turkey bacon for me), coffee, juice, etc. They let me sleep in until the meal is ready (Hooray!) and then I clean up the dishes post-meal, while hubby does the household bills, checks email from work, etc.

As per usual I am still in my "loungewear" (read: old tattered t-shirt, sweatpants, and slippers), and enjoying some computer time after completing my "chores" for the morning (laundry, laundry, cleaning bathroom, and more laundry.)

Flurries my butt ... its full-on SNOWING here right now....grrr! But, on a happy note huby has gotten a nibble or two in his job search. Fingers crossed that I don't slip on my arse in this frozen muck and that I didn't jinx his job seach by taking his suit out of the mothball-swathed security of the attic closet!

Today is International Women's Day (but hey, with me EVERY day is MY day!).

While flipping through stations on TV, I came upon a certain on-air shopping channel that was hawking SPANX support garments (modern-day girdles with lycra in place of old-time bones/stays.)

The saleswoman/announcer had the brilliant idea to state on-air:

"Thanks for joining us this morning. We're celebrating International Women's Day with SPANKX support garments!"

WTF?!?!

While not trendy, per se, every so often I'll get a nearly obsessive notion in my head about some doo-dad I need to have in my closet. Over the winter it was the regret of not buying the perfect fit (for me) boot-cut slightly low-rise stretch cords in a familiar vintage graywhen I saw them at a department store. Needless to say, when I went back they were sold out of said cord/jean/pant-thingys.[Sidebar: I am a "petite" and thus when dealing with most jeans/flared pants, I need either one sized as "ankle length" (GAP) "short" (Old Navy, Limited) or "petite" (everything else). ]

I am on the hunt for some other items: the perfect 3/4 sleeve or cap sleeve t-shirts in a deep, saturated colors of turquoise, orange and hot pink. Maybe even a violet-blue. Shirt must be 100% cotton (no spandex - I don't like clinginess.) Garment length must hit below waistband, to cover the battle-scars of motherhood. Garment must also NOT be of that soft, tissue-like cotton but of a heftier loft, so as to provide adequate coverage, conceal bra lines, etc.  Crew neck is preferred, although not to high so as to be butch. And not so scooped or deeply v'ed to be slutty when I bend over.

The other piece of crap that my wadrobe is clamoring for is a new "lighter" (as in color/print) mid-size messenger bag-style purse. My current black microfiber one is looking too murky for the coming spring. I love the simplicity and sportiness of its shape and spare lines. I also like the adjustable shoulder strap. It suits me and my "lifestyle" (cough, cough.)

I'd love one in a leopard print, although paisely or some vintage acid-floral also has merit. Yet again, a nice bright solid would be great too, thus being much more "flexible" and wearable in the coming months. (I HATE changing purses. I like to have one for spring/summer, one for fall/winter. I only change for "evening/going out" occasions) LeSportsac, I'm sure has what I want, but its out of my price range until birthday time. I found a cute but slightly flimsy cotton one in just the right size at Target for $14.99 in a hot pink that might be useful. I think I'll hold off until 1.) the target pbag goes on sale (since it's not that great) or 2.) until I find something better.

I think I have a lead on the shirts, too (when all else fails the Old Navy "Perfect Tee" will suffice - available now online!) But, alas, as we drift into capri and shorts weather, I figured I'd never see my oft-coveted boss faux-vintage cords again.

Until tonight, that is.

I was outside refilling my birdfeeders and out of curiosity I began raking back the leaves I put on my bulbs and perennial beds for winter...up are sprouting tulips, peonies, stonecrop, iris, mums, lilies, and gladiolas. If nothing was there yet I would have felt ever so disappointed; but those little shoots give me hope that spring really IS around the corner, although the weather we've been having belies that fact.