5-20-09

It was so nice of my friends R and M to stop by and bring me flowers on my graduation day. That was Sunday and now it's Wednesday and the lilies are opening up and smelling so nice. And the roses are perfect. It really helped me feel special to get flowers on the day of my graduation.

5-19-09

Back when Jes was a baby and we lived in a little two bedroom apartment, I bought this country cupboard from a yard sale for $175. I really like it and it has a warm feeling to it. But we really don't have room for it in our new house in Kentucky. I had it appraised at $1000. Woah. So I put it on Craigslist but I doubt it will sell for that. It's late 19th century. The dresser I paid $100 for back around that time too, from a used furniture store in Alexandria. I refinished it when we moved here. It's been Squirt's dresser his whole life. You can see on the left corner, he decided it would be a good idea to take a pocket knife and carve the curve a little differently. It too was appraised at $1000 and is solid maple from around the turn of the century. Once again, I doubt I will be able to sell it for that. So I spent today trying to sell antiques. We move in about a month. So much to do in that time.

5-18-09

I picked all the peonies out front because the monsoon season had them
on the ground, poor things. They smell wonderful! The suede paint on
the wall makes a great portrait backdrop. Today I packed up all the
wedding china.

5-17-09

I graduated today. Here I am with my diploma on the lawn!

5-16-09

Me with my advisor after the hooding ceremony.

The chair in which I sat while the hood was placed by my advisor and the dean.

Squirt, Aza, My Advisor, Me, and Dan. It was a great day to be hooded!

5-15-09

This dresser belonged to my great great grandfather. I think. That's what my mom said anyways. We got it out of my great grandmother's house after she died. It's very beat up and we use it in the workshop for storing tools. I want to refinish it and keep it in the family. The marble top is broken into two pieces, so I'd have to fix that. I don't know. Would it look good refinished? It sure is bashed up. The knobs are not original- I'd need to find ones that are better. Any opinions anyone?

Tomorrow is the hooding ceremony. I get to wear my cap and gown and get hooded. Aza is coming home for this. I'm glad about that but not so excited about the ceremony. It's seems like a lot of fuss. I could have had my advisor put my hood on in his office. Why a big ceremony? Oh well, we shall see.

5-14-09

Look at what I did with an old cracked up photo/painting of my grandmother? Amazing, hu? It's so much fun and so rewarding to be restoring old photos.

My peonies are in bloom again. I moved the bush last year and it didn't bloom much. This year I got three blossoms. The new owners will get to enjoy this bush as it grows and matures each season with more blooms.

My two favorite TV shows are over for the season: Lost and Grey's Anatomy. The season finales were very good and very surprising. It will be a drag waiting until 2010 to see if Izzy and George live, and if Oceanic Flight 815 lands in LAX.

5-13-09

Grace Mae Hudgins, born June 8, 1890 in Mathews County, VA was my great grandmother. Today I took an old beat up photo of her and restored it digitally. I think I did a mighty fine job. I knew my great grandmother as a child, and have fond memories of visiting her on the island. When she was elderly, she lived with my grandparents and was blind from cataracts. She died when I was approximately the age she is in this aged photo, I suspect taken around 1900.

5-11-09

We got kicked out of the house this morning for four hours with the
dog while a home inspector and the buyers and their real estate agent
invaded. We dropped Frisbee off at the Dogg House and we went to
Panera. Thankfully the inspection went well and I had a productive
afternoon. Finished the Christmas video using Premier for my first big
production.

5-10-09

Went to Lowe's today and got a replacement for this, a new tub
stopper, some screening, and other stuff for last minute fixed on our
house-which is being inspected tomorrow.

5-9-09

My finger is fine. I guess I'm a wimp. I took off the splint and found the actual knife mark though. Finger is still too swollen to get my wedding band on. You can see the indentation that 25 years of wearing a band there has created! Today I stayed busy doing odd jobs around the house. My next task is to re-screen a screen. Never done that before- looks like fun. Dan rented a carpet stretcher today and got the wrinkles out of our carpeting in the basement. It looks so much better. We will be all ready for the inspection Monday.

5-8-09

I slept well with my poor finger all taped up, woke up and got to work caulking the tub that caused the injury. Well, actually I caused the injury-- removing the old caulk with a pocket knife which slipped. Anyway, back on the old horse. Caulked the tub, worked on packing up stuff for Goodwill, then decided to try and sell some stuff on Ebay. Here are two plates of a set of three. Pretty, but not going to my new house. I've got stuff on Amazon, stuff on Ebay, and I may take stuff to a consignment shop. We just have waaaay too much stuff! Starting over involves this process. It's a good thing to let go sometimes.

5-7-09

Guess what happened? It hurts and it's hard to type.

5-6-09

Igor successfully defended his dissertation today. He did a fantastic job and now we get to call him Dr. Igor. We celebrated this evening at a fabulous restaurant. Dan had the best scallops I've ever tasted. Mmmmmm.... like butter.

5-5-09

Some people would say that I should not blog photos of ants. Ants in my house. Ants eating poison in my house. In my house that just sold and is under contract. But you know what, these pictures are really cool and these pictures will help me remember this special evening. My friend, whom I shall call Igor to protect his identity, flew into town today to give his dissertation defense tomorrow. We were sitting at the kitchen table going over his presentation when Squirt got the idea to photograph the ants we were actively poisoning. Squirt held the flashlight while I snapped the photos. Squirt took the one of me and Igor. I think Igor will approve of his appelation. We were in class once like 4 years ago and did a project and he took that as his pseudonym, so it's OK Igor.

The ants will be gone tomorrow. This happens sometimes when it rains. We're used to it.

5-2-09

We sold our house today. Only 11 days on the market. Happy. I will
miss sitting on the front porch in the rain.

5-1-09

Last day of getting ready for this garage sale tomorrow. I hope I make at least $300 for my week's work getting ready for it. Aza came today to help and brought her own stuff to sell.

Today was interesting on the house selling front. We have repeat customers tomorrow from out of town and the hint that the first visitors may be making an offer. It's all too good to be true and may all fall through but
you
have
to
have


hope

4-30-09

 

I tell you, Freecycle is the best. Dan and I were just saying that we didn't know what to do with these two old bikes. One was wrecked and the other has a cracked frame. Not safe for selling. I checked Freecycle and whaddya know, an artist was looking for old broken bikes!!! He came today and picked them up. Here's a plug for his business. He makes new stuff out of old stuff: click here and here.
I think the gear clocks are really cool and (shhhh!) think one would make a nice gift for a certain someone I know who loves to ride

4-29-09

 

Dan and Frisbee curled up in bed after a long day. We showed our house again today and took Friz to the field for a long run while the clients were looking around. We wore him out, and he LOVES cuddling up in bed. Aza called today- she's coming home to help with the garage sale. Yeah!!!

4-28-09

I sure did get my exercise today. I cleaned all morning, including vacuuming all three floors of the house. Then Frisbee and I left at 1:55 for a walk so that a Realtor could show our house. We walked along the river for 40 minutes then turned around and walked back. Returned at 3:15. He conked out on his doggy bed! Now I need to cook dinner. I'm making "Buddy's Special", a stew of zucchini, onions, carrots, chicken over rice. Mmmmmm says Buddy.

4-27-09

Today I made this video tour of the house we have lived in for 11 years and raised our children to adulthood in. (They were 7, 10, and 11 when we moved here.) The house is on the market, and I uploaded the video to YouTube so our realtor could made a link to the video from the MLS listing online. Don't know whether or not it will help sell the house, but it felt good using my photographic/video talents. I can watch the view count on YouTube to see if anyone actually watches it. We got a call that someone is showing the house again tomorrow and I hope it's the same people that came on Saturday having a second look.

Posted an ad in the newspaper today- we are having a yard sale Saturday. I hate having yard sales, but it has to be done. I sure wish a certain daughter of mine would come help me!!!! If she does come help, she can have first pick of items for free! What a deal! And we will feed her Christian's Pizza and Bodo's Bagels!

4-26-09

 

We had a showing of our house yesterday and I called Squirt from California and asked him to go to the store and get a bunch of yellow flowers for the front hallway. And he did. Tulips. It probably won't be the last of the showings, but we were hoping to get this sale over with quickly. Yellow flowers never hurt!

4-25-09

 

 

I left California this morning, sad to say goodbye to my sister and baby nephew. We left the house at 9:30am California time, and I arrived at my house in C'ville at 10:15pm. Long day.

4-24-09

K and I went for a walk with Buddy down a street that is in a lot of
TV and movie scenes because of all the houses with white picket
fences. We had a good day. It will be sad to leave tomorrow. But Dan
needs me at home and it's time. I've been gone over a week.

4-23-09

 

Just hanging out with Buddy. Here he is eating a banana with the sticker on his forehead! Life is about 360 degrees different this week than it was last week! Gotta go... supper time. Mashed food, here we come!

4-22-09

Two days now I've spent hanging out with my nephew. Here he is reading
a book this morning while his mommy is at work and his daddy is on a
trip. I'm glad I could be here to help!

4-20-09

Last day of the conference. We presented our paper today and did a good job. Here is a photo of me and Igor (I just made up that name.) We like to have photos of us at every conference we attend- been doing this since 2004 I think. One day we'll have quite a collection. I'm soooo tired, and really never have gotten used to this time zone. Today I will leave the conference and spend the rest of the week with my sister. I'm really looking forward to relaxing and not worrying about writing a dissertation, presenting any papers, or any other academic pursuits. Just playing auntie!

4-19-09

 

I got up really early this morning. 6am California time (3am Virginia time) to make the drive to Beverly Hills for my nephew's baptism. The service was beautiful, and afterwards we all had lunch at my sister's house in Van Nuys. I got to see my mom, dad, grandmother, aunt and uncle, sister, baby sister, etc. etc. Driving on the freeways was a challenge but I DID it. It was over an hour each way. Here is a photo of my sister, her husband and Buddy after his baptism. Soooo cute.

4-18-09

 

Another photo from my hotel room. I'm not seeing much of Southern California, stuck going to meetings all day.

4-17-09

 

 

I woke up at 5am and left for California at 7. It seemed like I traveled all day, but actually got here around noon. Funnny thing, that time change. This is the view of palm trees from my lovely hotel room. I'm soooo sleepy. Quietly celebrating my first full day of being Chrissy Wormwood, Ph.D. Something feels changed. It's a bigger deal than a birthday. It feels way more than just being a year older. I'm a degree older.

4-16-09

This is going to be my new kitchen. How cool is that? Actual green slate counters, a Dacor Double Oven, Jenn-Air gas cook top, an Asko Dishwasher, and a Sub-Zero Refrigerator with maple facing so it looks like a cabinet. Hardwood flooring. Georgeous. Dinner party, anyone?

Today is a day that will always be remembered.

But also today I turned in all the paperwork for my dissertation and am officially Chrissy, Ph.D.
Graduate school is OVER!!!!!!!!!