Since the loss of life loved

After Grandma’s funeral, it was time to get on with life.  My younger brother, G, who spent the past year in Iraq, was going out on his own in his carpet installation business, and asked me if I could come help him out some before I went back to Minneapolis to start on the kitchen remodel.  So I left the Sunday after Grandma’s funeral to help him out some.  We would go do a job during the day, and after we came home, we would work on installing the fence around his backyard.  We would work on that until around 10 PM, then put everything away, visit for a while, and then go to bed, only to get up and do it some more the next day.  I was there from June 13th, until June 22, when I left to go to Minneapolis.  Over the weekend, I assisted J and a friend with a garage sale, too.  Once I got to Minneapolis, I began immediately on the kitchen remodel.  I had the kitchen torn out completely by the 29th, when Beth picked me up to go back home for the hometown Centennial.  We stopped by GoA’s house for a couple days on the way.  We had so much fun.  As Beth and I pulled into the big town by GoA’s house, we stopped for gas, and my cell phone rang.  It was GoA, asking where we were.  I told her we were about an hour and a half away yet.  Fifteen minutes later, as we were pulling in her driveway, we saw her getting some stuff out of the trunk of her car.  We honked as we turned in the driveway, and she turned around with a huge grin on her face, and immediately started to curse me out for lying to her.  Hehehe  Oh well, it was worth it.  I got big hugs anyway. 

We went to GoA’s place of employment that night and the following night.  We had a blast meeting all her “kids” who work for her.  (This one guy she has working for her is SOOOOO cute!  I could look at him all day! LOL  She thinks he is gay,  but he says he isn’t, so who knows for sure?”) 

We talked and talked and talked, about everything.  Somehow the conversations would always sink a little and they would be in the gutter a lot.  Of course that had to change when the kids were around, but we were still able to get a few comments in here and there.  We had music cranking out of the stereo at home, and at one point,  GoA would start dirty dancing with her daughters, which would embarrass them so much!  We would just laugh and laugh.  I don’t think we were at her house for more than 30 minutes when Beth started complaining about her cheeks hurting from laughing too much!   This continued the whole time we were all together.  Laughter prevailed that week.  We spent most of our time together, the three of us, and I am CERTAIN that some rumors were probably started in that town.  Our hometown thrives on rumors, and we gave them all kinds of fodder for their wagging tongues.  Oh well, rumors don’t bother us so much anymore.  It’s more fun to just laugh it off.  LOL

The girls dropped me off at Mom and Dad’s the first night.  I was up and gone early the next morning.  We spent the day at the parade and enjoying the festivities of the Centennial Celebration.  That night, there was a street dance, and I think we finally all went home around 3 or 4.  I stayed at GoA’s Mom’s house that night.  In the morning I got up and went home to shower, change, and go do it all over again.  The following night, Saturday night, there was another street dance, so we did it all again.  That night, there was also a party at C’s house, GoA’s sister.  We bounced back and forth between them some.  That night I stayed at the house where Beth was staying.  They had an extra bed, and said it would be okay if I stayed in that bed.  I slept well.  J 

Finally, we packed up the cars and headed back to GoA’s house again.  We stayed there a couple nights, and went out again both nights, as I wanted to see the hottie she has working for her some more.  Hehe  Those nights were a little more low key than the rest, as we were a little worn out from the week of carousing.  Beth finally dropped me off back in Minneapolis on the 7th of July.  I have been doing more of the remodel job ever since then.  As I write this, on the 26th of July, we have the walls repaired, painted, wall cabinets hung, and base cabinets sitting in place.  We are waiting to install the base cabinets until we get the appliances delivered Wednesday and Thursday.  He will, for the first time in 15 years or so, have a dishwasher, and a kitchen that is actually functional.  After we get the base cabinets and appliances installed, we will have to order the countertops and wait for them to come in.  Then we will install the sink and everything will be done.  After that I will be heading back home to my new job. 

Oh, I didn’t tell you about that?  I’ve got a job waiting for me when I get back to Virginia.  A friend of mine is going to hire me as the building engineer for the condominium complex which he manages.  The pay will be at the minimum of what I would accept (to be able to survive in the area) and I will have all benefits, including insurance, vacation, etc…  I’m so excited!  The complex has 170 units in it, and he said that I would be able to contract my services out to the residents if I so desired, and I could probably double my yearly income that way.  I will probably also be able to continue doing jobs on my own, as well.  My friend told me that when he first decided he needed to hire a building engineer, I came to mind immediately.  He also knows that I am obligated to be away for the summer, so he has been putting off hiring someone until he could talk to me and now is holding off until I get home.  It sounds as if I will be able to start working right away when I get home.  I can’t wait.  It’ll be so nice to have a steady income again, not to mention the benefits!