The law of probability, as described by my father: “Seven accidents happen over the course of the week. The probability that all of them happen on the same day is seven times higher than having them happen once a day.”
I have no idea if it’s right, because I hated probability laws in school and I fought against them the way one fights against the most terrible injustice. But I can tell you that in the last two weeks:
- garbage disposal in the island had to be replaced
- baseboards in the kitchen have to be replaced. Delilah the Doberman is the culprit. She developed a charming habit of biting the water and then spitting it out. Gordon purchased a no-spill water dish, so we solved it, but baseboard is kaput
- chimneys had to be swept
- front door needs to be replaced
- Gordon’s PC suffered catastrophic disk failure. It’s always fun when you access the BIOS settings to see your boot options and the computer looks back at you and says, “HDD? What is HDD?” We bought a new PC because we are on a deadline and we have zero time to screw around with it.
- and the coup de grace, downstairs HVAC must be replaced. It is a huge bill, over $10,000, and they’ve been trying to install the new system since yesterday and it is clearly defective. We’re having a storm tomorrow. Right now we are heating the downstairs with the fireplaces.
I decided that Oliver has the right idea. I need a basket.
Also. The book sucks. Which is actually normal at this stage, but it’s not contributing to my sense of well-being in any way at the moment.
But such is life. 🙂 It can always be worse and I am glad it isn’t. And now that I have vented, I am going to get a glass of water and kidnap my husband for a long writing session.
Deary, I don’t know what to say. Holy crap? I’ve had the boo-hoos before but Never like that. Umm, how about I’ll simply wish you’ve had your share, and tomorrow gets better?
Yes, it could be worse, but my word you guys must have the buzzard of bad luck perched on your roof!!!
Wow, your bad luck runneth over! So sorry
It’s like The Money Pit except real. Wow. Hope things improve quickly.
‘Tis the season!
And the books Never suck, sweetheart. That’s a figment of your marvelous writers brain.
The Book Devouring Horde doesn’t commit yo just any random overlords, ya know.
True!
+1
We are here for you! If there is something we can do let us
Know
+1
+1
Yesterday was my sister’s birthday. She has a thing about blanket forts. (Also knitting blankets for stress relief. I am finally understanding this…) We were talking longingly of a New Year’s Eve party that was all about blanket forts and sleepovers and cats. (This sadly is probably not going to happen because of my relative broke-ness and career transition, though I might yet say hell with it and flee to the coast.)
So in addition to having a chocolate torte and sorbet and a bunch of antipasti delivered to her door, this is what I sent her yesterday. I kind of think we could all use more blanketforts right now.
(Also, our favorite aunt is in Maui, which is awesome for her, but there is more than a little jealousy involved from both of our northern climes.)
+1. Corn snow and sleet here.
…Of course only a few hours after I write this, I get a note from said same aunt, who hurt her knee hiking and is now having a fairly horizontal and medicated start to her Hawaiian vacation. Can I take back everything I said about jealousy?
I really think you should.
I so do!?????????? to my poor Aunt! (Okay, I’d sent that to her when I first heard she was there. I hope Uncle T is bringing her fruity drinks and good books.)
…really, half the jealousy is that my sister and I had been discussing a trip to Maui* and also down to Tuscon to spend time with aforementioned aunt. And here, it’s one of the nicer times of year in Tuscon, and she’s skiving off to Maui – ?? …I don’t even. And we’re not even there to wait on her and make a fuss of her.
* I’d even bought my first bikini… maybe ever?
LOL, I haven’t worn a bikini since I was maybe 17. Even Maui did not induce me to buy one, though I did get myself a lovely Speedo racerback for that trip. The tide pools on Maui are fabulous, so I do get the envy. We were watching a crab walk over a rock, when a little speckled moray maybe 20″ long popped out from under the rock and came a foot out of the water to grab the crab and disappear, just like that.
If I ever wore one it was well before puberty. I swam competitively from when I was a kid into my teens, and as far as I was concerned, swim suits were plain nylon speedos. …and as puberty progressed, that was amended to included “tight things that keep one’s breasts in place”. Seriously diving and larges breasts aren’t the best combination.
…and even when I’m down to the same weight as I was at sixteen (and I’m about twenty pounds above that now) I’m several cup sizes larger. So these days it’s mostly about seeking adequate support. Which is half of how I ended up buying the bikini – it looked like it would to a really good job, and it was on sale. I still think bikini bottoms are an accident waiting to happen, but I found a style I’m happy with, and that seem fairly secure. …we’ll see? I’ve danced with a bare midriff – not the least because it flipping hot and dancing made it more so – but that tended to be in dimly lit places. Exposing it under the sun might be a bit much, even with my general stompy “Fuck it, I’m not here to impress anyone,” approach to fashion.
Bikini bottoms are easily dislodged by high dives, I’m here to tell you. A word to the wise should be sufficient. Come to think of it, that may be why I haven’t worn one in 40+ years. Although it’s probably been 40 years since I went off a high dive too. For some reason.
Also, it had been a day of formatting hell.
The joys of home ownership.
+1. It really blows that it is happening during the holidays, which are stressful enough….
Hug, also apparently human sized baskets exist so maybe Gordon can get it for you for christmas/holidays
https://piximus.net/others/this-human-sized-nest-is-the-cure-for-the-common-couch
This is information worth knowing. Human sized baskets, for the day that you want to finally find the answer to why cats enjoy it so much.
I had a papasan chair in front of the non-sliding section of a sliding glass door which let in afternoon sunlight. Throw in a few pillows and it was the perfect place to enjoy the view, soak up the sun (so great during Minnesota winters which I escaped), nap, read and cuddle with my cat who graciously allowed me to share her basket. Woe to anyone else. Pier One has papasans, swingasans and sunasans.
Oliver is gorgeous. Despite the multiple problems you’ve had, your home seems so welcoming and, it seems contradictory since it is a big house, cozy.
I’m having a rotten year and besides the priceless gift of escape into your worlds and discovery of the BDH, finding your blog and seeing how you and Gordon keep on going is inspirational. Thank you so much.
Buy two and invert one over the other. Wicker Chicken, anyone?
That looks big enough for at least 2!
Fingers crossed it gets better soon x
::hugs:: Well, get it out of the way before Christmas!!!
Just think… if the book didn’t suck at this point you’d be wondering when the other shoe would drop. Keeping my fingers crossed that the day will get better.
I’m sorry that you seem to be catching some of my luck. I hope that your luck turns around soon.
Katrina
I love the look Oliver is giving you. Its clearly “find your own basket silly human.”
I hope that everything is fixed asap and the week ends on a better note 🙂
Screw the basket! Have a drink! On a beach! ???
…On the other hand, none of you are sick! Yay!?! ??
We didn’t know it, but we wound up being very happy the previous owners of our house were lazy and left a waterhog rug that we put the 3 gallon water bowl. Between the the toddlers playing in it and the cats that believe that to mothership is in the bottom of the bowl, it’s been a lifesaver.
I have 2 waterhog mats, and they’re great. ?
+1 We have them for the pet bowls and at each door. Really an excellent product. It will not, however, prevent a Doberman from spitting on the baseboard.
Adulting is hard. I feel the pain.
My sympathies on everything going wrong at once. Also, Oliver is adorable! First guarding Batty’s food the other day, and now the basket scenes. Thanks for sharing him with us.
Sorry about house infrastructure issues. I always reminded myself there was a reason the prior owners moved.
In the last three years, we have had to place two HVAC units (old house, no access across remodeling barriers) several appliances, rework ducts for bathroom exhaust, AND tent for termites. These are times that provide a strong argument to move and let the new owners deal with it all. HAHAHAHAHA.
I will pray for you. ❤️
Ugh! I’m so sorry. It sucks when life knocks you over and then kicks you a few times. I hope your luck turns around. Stay warm and healthy ❤️
My personal experience with Gordon’s computer issue is that, almost always, an update installed and screwed everything up. Then I follow my friend’s instructions to access windows, uninstall it, restart, and everything is fine. (This happened to me a few times.) I got tired of it so I disabled automatic updates and no more problems again.
Remember – this too shall pass! And no matter how much you think the book is bad, it always ends up being that much better than the last book. I’ve lost track though – which are you concentrating on now – Hugh 2 or Catalina 1 (how I’m naming them in my head..)? And wishing you a Joyeux Noël from the Great White North.
Here, have a mental umbrella…
You are loved and appreciated by many. Thank you for all that you do.
Omg when you have a bad day. You have a bad day. Oliver is right.
Have fun with your hubby.
Taking care of a house is a constant fight against death, disease and rot. Like humans.
Just keep your go-to names up to date, ask for recommendations, and always presume there will be $$$$ to pay to fix something all the time.
Still: Christmas is coming and some joy will occur. Be brave.
After last year – they moved, misplaced presents, general horribleness – I’m thinking with all the current fiascos it is still MILES better this year.
I am so sorry about all of it. If you lived in South Carolina, you would be protected as a home purchaser for a certain time after buying. I hope your string of bad luck is over.
Your books never suck. Oliver is gorgeous! I hope this is the last in the run of bad luck and everything takes a turn for the better now!?
I REALLY don’t understand why Americans have garbage disposals (or why your bad things don’t come in threes like normal people ?)
hahaha, I *LOVE my garbage disposal. Not having one when I grew up, of course, Mom always tasked me with dish duty. (Brothers got out of certain things, being boys)…and there was this moment when it was time to clean the drain of all the disgusting bits of food… with bare hands. It was horrifying and gag-inducing. 🙂
I think the 7s are for Russians? She said it was from her father, and in my family, it comes in 3s, lol.
-Tiffany
Ilona is Russian American now, troubles should probably come in fives ?
Fingers crossed! 3s are bad enough as it is!
-Tiffany
LOL Not all of us have garbage disposals. Some of us have compost heaps. Much quieter.
And more useful in the long run
TV HAS LIED TO ME!
Who’d have thunk it?
Does this mean Americans don’t drive around in massive trucks and SUVs, and drive sanely sized cars like the rest of the world? ?
Please. We know you have trucks in Oz. Mad Max, hello? Those of us who haul hay regularly do have pickup trucks, yes.
Although tbh, there are definitely people here who drive vehicles they don’t need. I once overheard a guy at a party humble-bragging that he had felt compelled to buy himself a yellow Hummer. I avoided him for the rest of the night. I could not think of a single thing to say to someone who would do that.
Not a single polite thing, anyway, except possibly “Bless your heart.”
Kid 1 drives a H2. 🙂
🙂
Is it yellow?
“Food scraps range from 10% to 20% of household waste,[18] and are a problematic component of municipal waste, creating public health, sanitation and environmental problems at each step, beginning with internal storage and followed by truck-based collection. Burned in waste-to-energy facilities, the high water-content of food scraps means that their heating and burning consumes more energy than it generates; buried in landfills, food scraps decompose and generate methane gas; a greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change.[19]
The premise behind the proper use of a disposer is to effectively regard food scraps as liquid (averaging 70% water, like human waste), and use existing infrastructure (underground sewers and wastewater treatment plants) for its management. Modern wastewater plants are effective at processing organic solids into fertilizer products (known as biosolids), with advanced facilities also capturing methane for energy production.[20][21]” – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garbage_disposal_unit
Google is your friend. 🙂
You have all my sympathy. Three years ago my furnace (no ac ) went out during the Polar Vortex. I was unemployed at the time. My generous ex-husband came to my rescue, but I had to wait a week for installation. Incandescent lights near all the basement pipes, a ceramic heater, and three German Shepherds on the bed.
Hence the term Three Dog Night.
Oh my, feeling your pain and we’re only renting at the moment. The week we moved in, we discovered that some type of gnawing critters had invaded via a rotted board. It’s been a month and our property management company can’t seem to get their act together to eradicate the unwanted guests and repair the siding.
Fingers crossed that your spate of maintenance is now over until at least the new year. I agree with everyone who said that your books never suck.
You cat is beautiful. Is he a Maine Coon?
Oh I thought you were going to say you adopted the stray cat. My sympathies especially with the hvac. We did get a tax break with ours but I don’t know if that still applies.
You’ve had quite a year. Try to relax and give yourselves time for December Want you to destress and stay healthy.
Sorry for your bad day!! Thank you for sharing Oliver’s pix – he is a very handsome guy!
I know your doggie bowl pain. I have one dainty drinker and one slob! Hardwood floors and water…no bueno.
I hope your week gets better…and the book only sucks because you’re not finished! It will be wonderful when you’re done….just like everything else. Take a chill pill (or a really big drink) grab the hubs and stage a mock fight scene. It will be a good stress relief….=D
Cat in a basket, perfect! Hope things improve for you. You always exceed our expectations, so keep doing what you are doing, as it is done well!
I thought for a minute the header of the column was when it rains it “purrs”.
Sending good vibes. Hope luck turns around for you soon.
Or a glass of wine.
I’m a college student and this and the next are my final weeks. Everything is due and study must occur at the same time.
I already had my glass of wine.
You too, huh? Fun times ahead for us students!
-Tiffany
We are sorry you are having so many troubles, and right before the holidays. How can we, the BDH, help?
You just re-enforced by decision not to buy a house anytime soon.
When something goes wrong, I like being able to call my landlord and wash my hands of the problem, lol.
I hope everything gets better. I grew up with wood heat so I know it’s effective. Just be careful it doesn’t get to hot or it’ll melt your candy canes. My brothers and I did that one Christmas. LOL
Your books could never suck. Damn, you are sucking a bunch of lemons right now. Breathe deep, have a margarita or 3 and feel free to vent to us. Hoping stuff improves soon.
Cheer up!
AWW, love to Oliver! He has the right idea for sure!!
Sorry about the HVAC, ugh. I hate being cold. Hope that sorts out soon. quite an ouch with that bill.
I think Pier 1 has those cushiony chairs that are like baskets, haha….with your high ceilings, I think you could do it.
A couple of things:
A)your books do not “suck”. Never, ever could you and Gordon possibly *write* a book that sucks. (Well…unless it’s about a vacuum. But I digress.)
B)having to replace the HVAC in winter *does* suck, especially before Christmas. Thank God for fireplaces.
C)You had the chimneys swept, which obviously makes you omniscient, considering B. Nice!
You’re allowed to be a basket case (literally!) if you want to. Some days we just don’t want to adult. Hugs to you and yours, and may the rest of the month be nicer to you.
Well that list sucks! However, we know your book does not. May need some work but does not suck 🙂
We had to replace our central air conditioner for our 900 sq ft apartment in NYC. First it took WEEKS to find someone who would fix it. Nobody wants to do residential – commercial properties make more money. It was during the middle of summer. So HOT. So expensive. $11k. Sigh 🙁
There must be a conspiracy where laptops and other electronics manufacturers program them to die out in December so that people will do more holiday shopping. My laptop wouldn’t turn on the other night. Finally had to reset it. Fingers crossed it will last a while longer.
Oliver is a cutie. I found the best cure all is having a cat lay purring on your chest. 😉
Ohhhh man. I saw the thumbnail with the kitty, and was worried something happened to them. I’m sorry you’re having so much trouble, but at least everyone is okay. Silver lining, Author Lords, silver lining!
-Tiffany
A long writing session…..is that what the kids are calling it these days? *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*
Good luck and I hope things get better for you.
That was my first thought too, “writing” is the new word for…..
Oh good, I thought my mind was just in the gutter! Nice to know it wasn’t just me, rofl.
-Tiffany
That is a run of seriously bad luck. You definitely need a basket, but it needs a nice comfy cushion. Oliver is a beautiful cat ?
Things in baskets on my kitchen counter are food or food prep items. Oliver better keep his eyes open!
Good gods. I am speechless.
?❤️
Hope your day gets better. Home maintenance and upkeep always sucks. Good day for soup or stew ?
Wowza! You are way, way over your quota for disaster!!! Here’s hoping that means that everything from here on out is nothing but daisies and moonbeams. Wishing you well. ???
+1
Oliver is beautiful. I have a cat, Figaro, who always jumps in my sweater drawer when I take one out .even if I am fast, he knows and pops in .He gets nice
cushy bed,I get fur on my sweaters. And I can’t close the drawer.
And your book is a work in progress.You will shape it, edit it and voila, another book that we will buy, love and discuss. To great length. And reread again .
Sorry for all the house problems .
Enjoy your first Christmas in your new house with your awesome tree.
my roommates cat used to do this to my sweater drawer. but my drawers were new and on rollers so once she must have shifted and the drawer slid shut with her her in it. I kept hearing her meow pitifully for nearly twenty minuetes before i figured out she was stuck in their.
It only took her about a week to recover and go right back to jumping in
The second picture of Oliver says it all. Now that all the disasters have struck. It should be smooth sailing. Mercury which was retrograde and causes all kinds of problems has now gone direct and will move forward from here. To whoever made this original post, I hope you forgive me for jumping on. I can’t figure out how to make my own comment.
Can comiserate on the HVAC issues. Last year had mine replaced (by Sears)and the contractor decided to utilize duct tape to keep the new (smaller )heater from falling through the floor. FYI, hearing a building inspector say “duct tape? Duct tape!?” Doesn’t inspire confidence in a job well done. The inspection was in January. I called in a complaint the same day. They got back to me in November.
And no, it hasn’t been fixed. My nephew who moved to a small town after growing up in the city was disparaging of small town contractors until I pointed out that it was Sears with their official contractor at which point he said “welcome to Sears, no wonder we’re going out of business.
Basket, blanket, catnip of your choice, and a good snuggle. This too shall pass.
The old saying comes to mind it never rains but it pours hope you get everything sorted out soon we of the BDH are routing for you take a deep breath and count to 10 ( 100. 1000. ) and know we are waiting with baited breath for what ever you write for us ?????
Oh goodness. 🙁 I hope you stay warm. Surely you have two heating systems in that house? Heating/cooling always fails right at the worst weather.
Wow. Maybe you need something stronger to drink than just water? I hope next year AND the remainder of this year is not so chaotic. Our lives are slowly getting back to normal after the 2018 earthquake(s) here in Alaska.
Sending you good vibes and positive thoughts! I hope things get better. Maybe your hunny needs to get you out of the house for some R&R? A bit of fun could help ?
Your loyal fans have 100% faith in you and on the fact that you create fantastic worlds…errr I mean books lol **hugs**
+1
Sending positive energy your way. ?♀️✨ And, I agree with Oliver- a cozy nap might just be in order. ?
OMG you have. A Blue Abby…we lost ours in 2016; best cat I ever had at the age of 19 … Jack of Hearts……
Sorry your week has been terrible ,my back is still out from sitting trot back pull…
I like tp say Life does not get better or worse …just different…
Cheers
Juni
What’s a Blue Abby?
Normally Abby refers to Abyssinian, but those are shorthairs, and this one appears to be a semi-longhair. Guessing it’s Autocorrupt for Tabby, which is a coat pattern. Classic tabby has rosette stripes and mackerel tabby has stripes supposedly resembling a fish skeleton.
The past two weeks have been a raging dumpster fire.
My friend died at the age of 38
One friend’s mom is in the ICU, four days unconscious from a stroke.
Another friend’s mom was diagnosed with stage three cancer.
Another friend’s grandmother passed away.
I don’t know what’s wrong with the universe right now, but I hope it gets better soon.
Sending sympathies …. sometimes life just sucks … hope yours and your family & friends gets better!
I am so sorry to hear this. It’s a hard time of year for this to be happening.
Aaaggh. The joys of home ownership. You have my deepest sympathy. We experienced something similar last year. Lightning had struck our detached garage and we had some damage to the electrical system, but nobody (insurance, electricians, etc) thought there was any problem with the house. But over the next year, every appliance in our kitchen (all electric) except the dishwasher died, one by one, plus our TV in the den. My fridge died right before thanksgiving and my stove right before Christmas. Just curious, is the HVAC problem anything that should have been discovered or disclosed when you bought the house? There might be some recourse there.
The only good, is that next week will feel like a breeze through after experiencing the challenges of this week. Praying for your Patience and Preserverance.( also the names of the lion statues who guard the NY Public Library! )
Yeah, shit happens, but any day you wake up not dead is a good one. ?
This is true! Any day I wAs up and I am NOT looking at the inside of the box, is a great day! Although some days require a bit more work to see this……
The expression on Oliver’s face says it all.
You may feel as though your book sucks. As a writer, I know the feeling also. Editing stage sucks. Your book is wonderful and will be warmly received and greatly appreciated. Hang tough. Much love – A.
Did your home happen to come with a home warranty? Many do now, including mine.
Exactly this. It might not be worth the deductible for the garbage disposal, but warranty policies are absolutely meant to be used for large appliance replacement.
I think you need more than a basket. You need a cave with curtains and a stash of yarn, chocolate, and good books. Maybe a game or two.
Man, you are tough. I’d be taking a nap after chocolate sea salt caramels. Here’s hoping things get better. The furnace is very concerning. Lot of money to know it’s defective. WTF?!! Soldier on. My admiration and best wishes.
That just sucks! I’m sorry you’re having such a terrible week. I don’t know what else to tell you that we love your books. We love every bit of writing you guys out out. My husband and I have read every bit of writing you guys publishes or blogged. We will always be here to support you guys. Hope everything turns for the better.
The cat is saying, “I don’t bhave a time for photo op. Shoo! Do whatever you hoomans do.”
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
::snerk:: Beef stew dribbling down my hoodie.
That HVAC may fall under a non disclosure by the seller when you bought it. On the other hand, law of averages says you got that batch of crap over with. 🙂
Seconded. OTOH watch out for exceptions to the rule.
Oliver is a gorgeous noble looking cat. Does he share a kinship with the Ripper of Souls?
Here’s hoping everything runs smoothly now and you have a wonder Christmas and New Year.
Oh, and the book and deadline?
You guys have got this and we have faith in you ?♥️
*wonder-filled
On the otherhand, the Library Journal picked “Diamond Fire” as one of the best books of 2018! So congrats on that.
OF course they did!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! (do you get an extra bonus for that?)
Hard times really let you appreciate the good ones. (Easier to say than to live through I know.)
Take a deep breath and take them one at a time.
Such a gorgeous kitty. Oliver is clearly ahead of the game. Step one should always be, “basket.”
Mercury goes direct tomorrow. You’re getting slammed with all the bad stuff right at the end of it—especially the computer issues. Best of luck for the rest of the month!!
How did Delilah ruin all the baseboards? Shouldn’t you just have to replace the one/ones near the water dish and repaint all to match instead of replacing all of them? Do you have a home warranty? That should cover HVAC. If not I ‘d get a second opinion – may be able to repair it and then get a warranty.
Yep! Same pouring rain on my house in Decatur GA. Maybe can blame magic wave.
Rats ate my dishwasher (well its wiring). New dishwasher. $500. Rat exclusion. $1300.
Several months later:
Mice ate my oven wiring. New oven (fancy upgrade) $1400. New rat traps and outside traps. $175.
Mere days later:
Chipmunk (or monster rat with furry tail!!) ate electric cord of fancy new oven. Cost TBD.
With oven out, no Christmas baking yet so backed up on neighbor gift treats. Can’t nuke shortbread. Oh well.
Joy!!
Your HVAC system is suppose to break down when it is 102 degrees outside and 80% humidity. Which is not unusual in San Marcos, TX.
You got lucky girl!
I was thinking that too. At least in the winter you can add layers of clothing, snuggle up to others, and do other things to keep warm. In the summer…air conditioning is a must. So at least the HVAC breakdown is now not later.
So you purchased the house and moved in not quite a year ago and systems are breaking down. That’s just about on schedule.
I bought my home while I was working overseas and then rented it out for the next 5 years, until I retired. During that time the only thing that had to be replaced was the dishwasher. Que retirement in Oct. 2014. The following summer I ended up replacing the frig – the original was still working but the compressor sounded like a jet warming up for take off: the stove, very high end with impossibly expensive double burner units; both of which had one burner each go out. And the HVAC which was 14 years old, hadn’t been serviced in several years, and was located in the crawl space under the house.
That sort of month seem to be going around. Talked to family and all had really unexpected get bills, and / or house repairs.
How did I get in this handbasket and where am I going ?
It’ll be alright. One day or minute at a time. That’s the only way to take it. Your amazing, don’t forget ?
Your father is right. It’s true. All you can do is ride it out. Good luck!!
When I was in college, one of the places I lived (university-owned townhouses) had this chair that when I first sat in it, I thought, “This is literally the worst chair that anyone has ever invented!”
And then I learned the trick. It was basically a human-sized cat bed. If you curled up in a ball, it was perfect. And from that point forward, if I was in the living room, I could be found doing my best cat impersonation.
Which is to say, human-sized cat beds to exist. As a caveat, though, I’m not sure that the spine of any human older than about 26 is made to withstand being a cat for more than a half hour or so.
AH, It’s always something. Last night my dog Eva Marie aka Evil Marie found the knitted baby blanket I had just completed. I am not a great knitter, this was my best work so far. It is a cable/ladder patter and it was perfect. Evil stole it from the entry table and gleefully chewed a hole I it. This is very bad, first blankie destroyed and more importantly Evil ate yarn which can cause an obstruction and can be fatal. I poured hydrogen peroxide down her throat and walked her in the snow until she barfed up the yarn and everything else, but spent the night awake and wineless in case there was an emergency. Today I found an experienced knitter who helped me pull out the damage rows so I only have about 6 inches to re-knit Shessh! I am waiting for my dishwasher to die it works well 1 out of 3 times and really hope my fridgie dies. It is 25 years old and seriously ugly but the beast won’t die. Hot soup stock cooling, no problem. Ah I guess they don’t make them like they use to.
I have a dishwasher that is so old you can’t read the button but it still works great. It’s just an ugly monstrosity in my kitchen. It has to die before I will replace it. Ilona and Gordon do you ever read one of your books and think omg that is so good? I am rereading Magic Shifts. OMG that is so good I keep backing up chapters so that I don’t finish my reread. Thank you.
Life is full of ups and downs… Unfortunately the downs come in multiples at the worst possible time. Just keep saying – this too shall pass and be thankful that life is not static.
Oliver looks like he has to pay for the HVAC!
To be more like the cat (Sir Oliver) invest in a good quality overstuffed rattan papasan chair. When I was a child, on bad days, the chair was not set at an angle, it was turned so it resembled a bowl. I’d crawl in with a blanket and commune with my inner cat self. I would not come out until I felt better or after a good nap! Cats have the best wisdom.
A long writing session with your husband? Yeah that’s it. Cough Cough.. smooching in front of the fire..cough cough 🙂
Your cat is beautiful – I miss mine as they are all passed on. We’ve done the HVAC replacement, dishwasher repair, garbage disposal (twice) and are currently trying to get rats out of our attic. And we have had a tornado of bees in our bathroom. They came in through the attic and ATE through the bathroom ceiling and swarmed in the master bath. Finding the humor in a situation/event/catastrophe during or after is key.
Son #2 home from college called me at work: “Mom you have bees in your bathroom”
Me: Open the window & let them out.
Son #2: Mom, there are several hundred bees in there. I’m looking at them right now
Me: Are you my child that is allergic to bees?
Son #2: umm maybe
Me: Close the door, put a towel across the bottom I’m on my way home
By the time I got home there was a floor to ceiling tornado shaped swarm of bees in my bathroom.
Found a company to exterminate them (they were Yellow Jackets not honey bees). The guy that showed up went into the bathroom in pants & shirtsleeves no protective gear.
Me: Don’t you use one of those hats with the veil thingy on it?
Guy: No, I do this all the time and I’ve never been stung
So he goes in the does his stuff. Came back out with a very dazed look on his face
He also had six to seven lumps on his head
Me: Are you ok?
Guy: Huh, they stung me.
If all else fails get a nice bottle of wine and enjoy a snuggle while admiring your beautiful tree!
Sending hugs
The cat says, I‘ve settled in, where is my room service?
I hope things get better soon and in my opinion you are not able to write bad books?
Here is some comic relieve
https://simonscat.com/films/
Well poop! Hugs deepdeep sympathy. Finally decided replace 40 year old hvac. Had to first do new roof.next massive ceiling duct repairs because raccoons had lived there ruined insulation etc. Then needed entire new master electrical panel. WTH let’s add on solar panels. Then carrying unit on top of roof it was dropped thru bathroom ceiling.still broken ceiling because contractor skippedtown. It’s better now mostly but the stress of all that and EXPENSE!!! Just about killed me.
Oliver is SO beautiful.
I can relate, had a huge client demo today, 10 minutes before the demo everything stopped working, it was chaos.
came home, baby fell down and is now sporting a goose egg for her effort
I’m so sorry. My husband’s company “forgot” to pay the December salary to everyone who started after June (which includes him). I don’t know what’s going on in the world.
My goodness this new house reads like a litany of catastrophes and my sympathies are with you. On a brighter note I would not steal my husband away for a long writing session I would have another long session beginning with ‘L’ in mind. The bills and catastrophes will wait.
I can relate, we lost power last year, the generator kicked and an energy spike, fried a lot of electronics including the fridge and stove boards.
I just googled ‘human nest bed’ they exist; there are very creative people in this world…
All the sayings – Trouble comes in threes (sevens, whatever); Life has its ups and downs and the downs are all coming at once – aren’t really true. It’s just that when the bad stuff happens, we focus on that & not the good stuff that is happening right along side it. Last February, I discovered a water leak – small, but had been leaking for a few days. End result: all carpeting ripped out (I’m in a single-story mobile home) & replaced with vinyl laminate, & some of the sub-flooring replaced. Lived in a construction zone for three weeks. Yuck! BUT: I never lost power (despite 3 New England blizzards during that time); nothing I valued was destroyed (sheer luck there!); I didn’t have to move out to a hotel for the duration (but if something like it ever happens again, I will anyway rather than living in a construction zone again!); the insurance covered everything but my deductible and the depreciation, which I got back after proof of the improvements. Etc. Next disaster (last May): discovering that the mice had finally realized that I don’t have cats in the house anymore (those mice never heard of “quiet as a mouse”!). Horribly stressful (“how did they even get IN there?”). BUT: my house is cleaner than it’s been for a long time; I’ve changed some lazy habits (ALL food trash goes into the COVERED kitchen garbage can, including napkins and wrappers); I now have shelves up on the wall for my baking goods (flour, etc. – they somehow got into that cupboard); the pots that were in a lower cupboard are now hanging from a rack suspended from the ceiling so I don’t have to re-wash them every time before use (if you’ve never been moused, they leave a trail of excrement /everywhere/ they go!); and I’ve found traps that work great (the electrocuting ones – quick & no mess; up to 10 kills now, & 3rd generation of mice). I still have lots of boxes that I used to store stuff “temporarily” so it could be schlepped from room to room during the floor work, but I’m unpacking it slowly, so the contents get sorted and put away where they belong. It will still take a few months, but by the time I’m done, I’ll have everything I’m keeping in its place; usable stuff that I’m not keeping donated (about 6 car trunks full so far!); stuff that should have been thrown out years ago thrown out; and all of my books (hundreds), VHS tapes (dozens), DVDs (back to hundreds – I think!), & CDs (tens to hundreds) inventoried as well as on shelves or in cabinets/bookcases where I can actually see/access them. So, yes, when it rains, it pours, but that rain is watering flowers!
Hang in there, Ilona! We don’t want you turning into a permanent “basket-case”! 😉
I agree with the things happen in 3’s. I quit my job after 12 yrs – couldn’t handle working with lazy ass, did nothing, destroyed the team in 3yrs person – and then the dishwasher leaked and had to be replaced, the tv antenna died, the tap on the house leaked and I thought phew there’s the 3, but no, then the ride on lawn mower died, the house shorted out and we couldn’t open the garage door, and the hot water system started leaking and had to be replaced. All while I had no job 🙂 thats life
Consider getting an electric blanket. You’ll always have a warm bed that you may have to share with the cat.
That which does not kill us makes us stronger, but so does coffee. The book will be great, just like always. Just take care of you and yours and everything will eventually be OK.
Hang in there. We’re suffering a minor version of what you’re going through; although, we don’t have the extra pressure of fans waiting. The book will be great, everything will get fixed. Take a breath and Oliver is right – everyone needs a “basket.”
Spent the first 3 days of this week dealing with a broken HVAC so I feel your pain.
NOTE: If you buy extended warranty from a dealer, you think about the money you might save (and I did) but you have no alternatives when you get lousy service since you can’t tell them “I will just call someone else”, you are a captive audience and they know it so don’t expect priority if they are overloaded. (Wisdom acquired through a very painful week of having repairman show up hours late and staying until 11PM and saying “I need a part but will be back in the morning”, obviously we use a different language since “morning” was actually 9PM the next night and he stayed until midnight (blame company schedulers not the guy who was dead on his feet)
Oliver and my Zorro cat have the same philosophy, apparently. Judging by the snippets we’ve seen, the book will be great. I hate weeks like you just described, but luckily it’s all fixable. Sorry it all landed at once, though. Get some rest. Oliver has the right idea.
I wanna be as chill as that cat in a basket. That looks like a good life plan. I am sorry it poured on you. It’s been epic the last few weeks. It’s like the universe is conspiring against me getting a gosh dang Christmas tree. *sigh* I don’t wanna go into it bc I don’t wanna look like a one upper cuz life is not the misery olympics. But suffice it to say I feel your pain and gosh dang and wow aren’t those HVACs breath takingly expensive?? That happened to us in August. It sucked. Profoundly. Im glad you have the fireplaces at least.
That’s what credit cards are for! Sucks to go through all that extra life stuff when you are on a deadline. Hope you have time for some of the fun stuff and get to grab your husband for more fun reasons!
Your Oliver looks like a long-haired version of my Tommy.
Sorry to hear about so many things going kablooey at once. Those damn household gremlins really are nuisances. Hopefully the HVAC gets sorted without it being defective and everything else follows.
I’m seeing wine and chocolate in your near future! 🙂
Aaawww
Hugs
You got the tree & the lights are up & the cats leave it alone
So of course the dog acts out &
the house just wanted you to enjoy the tree ambience with the fireplace… ummm what to do when tree time ends. Nahh
Intruders, intruders, danger IA danger!
I wish U well, I wish peace, l wish you joy
Ain’t Life Grand☺??
When you grab Gordon to work, don’t forget your basket. Or a box.
My cats swear by both.
Life always has challenges. I don’t know anyone who sails through life without them. But my husband and I have a new way of feeling better about them.
We tell ourselves that it’s not like we’ve had a catastrophic medical emergency.
We came away unscathed from 2 giant hurricanes in one year, the last one a year ago last fall that was supposed to be a cat. 5, and would have wiped out the house we were about to put on the market as well as the one we just bought at auction, if it had not weakened before it hit central Florida. Unfortunately for Puerto Rico, It wiped out a big bit of it. Then this year, North Carolina got slammed, and we got nada. Also we aren’t living in a refugee camp or fleeing for our lives in some war-torn part of the world.
Any of the above people would trade places with us, happily in a minute.
Usually this stuff comes in threes. You must have ticked off a powerful being in the universe! Tread softly for awhile. It will pass and then many good things will come to make you forget all about the bad. Fingers crossed it is SOON.
Also, your books never ever suck. That is your creative process working the kinks out of a plotline. You and your husband always come through with wonderfully entertaining books. No matter what the series.
ya, what she said. If it sucks, it’s just the author’s spidey sense warning you that it isn’t done yet.
I always find it amazing that no matter the size of the basket, the cat will always fit in (my previous cat favored shoe boxes).
I also have heating issues, I have to purge all my radiators, which is an easy procedure except I have to scrape the coats of paint first (wished I knew the idiot who thought it was a good idea to paint the screw). I am not motivated at all. On the bright side I will pick up my wool blanket at the dry cleaner tomorrow.
Sounds like we have the same guardian angel: Nietzsche. He sucks.
Baskets FTW!
You have Oliver!! And he is a real sweetie. Life is never completely bad when you have pets
I have just four words for that: unexpected expensive dental surgery. But, you’re right. Cats always do have the best ideas! Oliver is one beautiful baby!?