Thanks to you both for the input (I've had to come to work real quick to sign some stuff).

#1S has already found out about Jim Booth and we plan on going to his gallery today.

I'll see if we can find the shop you are referring to Mimi.

Tomorrow.....

Georgia

Good Morning to all -

#1S and I had a great time yesterday in Charleston. It is so nice to feel a little bit of "normalcy" by spending time with my family and doing stuff that we enjoy. Absolutley not one word was spoken about WW all day, and that was nice.

We hit the market area first. Most of the prints for sale in shops and the market itself are Jim Booth prints. Mimi - I found your shop, it is on a corner right next to the market, jewelry as you go in the door and a stairway upstairs where the art is sold.

#1S picked out the "Reflections" painting as his favorite. Several shops had had the print, framed, for around $150. We decided to visit the studio after lunch.

Okay, Mimi....lunch at California Dreamin'. And....in your honor, I wore "the" shirt. I looked all around but I didn't see any toga clad women with pink sunglasses. We both had the California Dreamin' salad. It was very nice, beaufiful scenery over the river. However, I'm still partial to the old train depot in Columbia.

After lunch, we went to Jim Booth's studio which is very close (<2 miles) to California Dreamin'. There #1S found that he could get a signed/numbered canvas print of "Reflections" for $400 (unframed). So that is the what he got, I am hiding it in my closet for him until graduation (May 14).

Then, it was back home without DIL knowing that #1S had left town.

I can't stress how nice it was to get some time together with #1S. He and I have always been close and it so nice to see him in the role of "best friend" as well as son. What a blessing!!!

Alright, that's yesterday for me. Mimi...I hope I didn't make you too anxious to get to Charleston again!! It is a beautiful city.

http://www.pressomatic.com/jimboothartgallery/upload/Reflections.jpg

Georgia

P.S. - Still no word from WW.

This is so "EERIE":

I can't believe you got the CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'SALAD. You had me thinking about that salad yesterday around lunchtime. It is my favorite and what I always get there!!

Also, you found my shop! You see, I am really me and I have walked your same paths.....

Partially thanks to you, Georgia, a significant event will occur tomorrow. Keep us in your prayers!

H arranged to do a very,very special favor for our YS tomorrow. Remember he is a man of action! It is a really symbolic way of H saying "I'm Sorry" to our son. It really is a stretch for my H and it is major. I'm not sure if our son sees it this way. Should I point it out to our son? It will also involve them spending an extended period of time alone together. I'm so anxious that one of them will blow this special moment in time. Of course, I want to be with them and caretake,oversee... However, I will put it in God's hands and continue to pray. I am so thankful to HIM for bringing us this far. This is truly a miracle. Miracles do happen. Thanks for your part in all of this.... I pray for them to be like you and your son one day.

Hi Mimi...

Well, I must admit that when I was standing on the landing in that little shop, it crossed my mind that MIMI had been at that same spot. Same thought at C Dreamin'. BTW - If you do decide you want to buy some art, you may wish to go to the Jim Booth Gallery instead. About the same price, and depending on what you want, you may be able to get a signed & numbered edition.

You've asked me about what you should say to your son. If you want to talk to him about it, just don't make it an "unnatural" event, like a chore you have to do. Talk with him in a natural way, in a natural setting. Say something non-threatening, communicate what's on your heart. You've told me (Georgia), tell him the same way. Something like "You know, S, I am so proud of your Dad. He has come a long way. I know it's hard for him sometimes to put into words what he wants to express, but I think he shows this through his actions. I am so glad that he is doing (whatever)with you to show you how he has changed". That's it...don't require a resposne from YS, just plant the seed that you are so pleased with H for this. Does that make sense?

Okay, let me show you a few photo (from the realtor's web-site) of the house I'm going to see this afternoon. I'm excited. I'm also including one of my former (and WW's current) house. Maybe it'll help you see the shift I'm going through, and how I'm really embracing the "simple life". Let me know when you're going to be on, because I'm going to leave the pictures on only long enough for you to see them, then delete them.

Georgia

Georgia:



I really appreciate your feedback regarding son. The thing is that it supposed to be natural? He is not supposed to feel pressured into having positive feelings for his Dad?

Mimi -

I'll post the pictures before I go home and delete them in the morning.

Not only should he not feel pressured, I would suggest that you don't convey that you are trying to make him understand his Dad. Just convey YOUR feelings...Help him understand how YOU feel. He can figure out the rest from there. Don't try to control the situation. (I know, that's hard for both of us not to do that).

BTW...if you don't feel comfortable viewing the pictures of the house(s), just say so and I'll not post them.

Georgia

Thank-you. Convey how "I" feel! "I" should have known that. You are so right. Hard not to try to control the situation for them. I want it to work well for them so badly that I can just taste it. However, it is "their" relationship with each other.

fgg:

Since I'm crazy about old houses myself, I'll show you mine if you'll show me yours! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Seriously, if you're interested, email me at **edit**, and I'll send you the Earl for the website where the photographer for my D's wedding has posted pictures of the wedding (in the yard around the house).

Old houses are truly a lot of fun, and working on them is great therapy!

best,
-ol' 2long

Okay, 2Long...it's a deal.

The pictures I'll post this afternoon are the house I'm going to look at buying. Small house, I think built about 1920. It's in an area that is seeing a lot of restoration activity and my realtor says I should be able to keep it a year or so and sell it and get all my money back out of it. Currently listed for $101K.

I don't think I have any photos of my current (rented) house which is MUCH larger, dates to 1870's. I'll try to shoot some pictures and put them here. It is in desperate need of lots of restoration (or TLC, if you prefer).

I'll e-mail you and look forward to seeing your pictures.

Georgia

FGG,

I am glad you found Jim's place. I think he does good work. Of course I am a bit biased as I have a fair number of his paintings and prints. I hope #1S's W likes that print. It is a very beautiful one.

Your house search sounds very interesting. So if you buy the house for 100K what do you think it will take to get it up to speed? Another 100K??

JL

Thanks, JL, for the input on Jim Booth. I know that DIL was love that painting. She plans on opening her gifts at lunch after her graduation on May 14. #1S is trying to "accidentally" drop hints that he has gotten her a lawn mower.

The painting is for their bedroom-to-be. As you may recall, they are having a house built.

On the house stuff, actually this house I'm going to look at is a small house that has been totally remodeled already. I would hope the only thing I would have to do is work on putting in a water garden and whatever landscaping I would want in the backyard, which is fenced, BTW. Jeb would like that.

The house I am currently living in is a very large house that would need probably $100K or more to totally restore it. It is in pretty bad shape, but definitely a beautiful house.

Georgia

FGG,

Lawnmower! I love it. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I could also make suggestions about gardening tools, etc. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The house does look nice. Having just been remodeled is attractive isn't it? We just went through remodeling besides the cost being breathtaking, it was a major pain as it was a kitchen and several baths.

JL -

As hard as this may be for you to believe, one of the things DIL said she would like to have for graduation is a lawnmower. She LOVES yard work and gardening. Fortunately, #1S is more of a romantic and wouldn't think that an acceptable graduation gift for a young lady.

On the house thing, in due time I might like to buy something that I can work more on restoring. However, right now I'd just like to have a place that I can call "home" (that's mine, not rented) and get my hands in the dirt whenever I want.

Maybe in a year or two I'll start to get more of a sense of direction and know what I want to do, where I want to go. Right now, a small house in the old part of town would be just fine with me.

Georgia

FGG,

The house looks nice! I'm envious.

-AD

Thanks, AD. We'll see in a couple of hours if it's as nice as it appears in the pictures.

I also am going to look at another one after that one. I am less enthusiastic about house #2, we'll just have to see what it looks like.

It would be prudent to realize that I'm not even sure if I can (legally) buy a house right now. I'm under this court order thing that prevents either of us from doing anything drastic (like selling a car <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) without the permission of the other. So...I don't know if / when I can even buy another house.

MIMI..... The link to the pictures are posted a few posts back. I'm going to delete them tomorrow morning.

Georgia

FGG,

Well, if you are not allowed to buy it right now, maybe you can do a lease/purchase deal - rent with option to buy.

I hope you soon start to get freed up from all the burdens of your situation.

For me, selling "the big house" would be an enormous relief. Here we are, a couple with one 4-year-old; living in a 5 BR house. Meanwhile, my other 4-BR house stands empty. It's nuts. At least the neighbors are nice.

-AD

Dang FGG,

You son has a "keeper", that is all I have to say. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Got the W a sleeping bag once for her Birthday. Haven't heard the end of it yet. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> BUT...it has been used a lot. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

God Bless,

JL

Good Morning to all -

I got to the house yesterday and met my realtor there. She was really shook up, told me she had just made a bad mistake. I asked her what it was. She said she thought she was going to be a few minutes late and she wanted to call me on my cell phone. She accidently called WW on her phone. When she got her, she wasn't sure what to say except to say that she was meeting me to show me some property.

About the house....it was much, much better than I had expected. It looks like it has been very professionally refurbished all the way through. The hardwood floors are beautiful, the ceilings and walls have all been refinished and nice molding installed. The kitchen and bath are both wonderful. The front yard is wonderfully landscaped. The back yard is huge, but rough. That would be my "canvas" to turn into a masterpiece.

My realtor feels that the house is significantly UNDERPRICED, especially with its location. It is within easy walking distance of the big park nearby (Jeb would like that too).

BUT....(don't you hate it when there's a BUT?). She called last night to tell me a contract was presented to the owners yesterday. They have until 5:00 today to accept or reject it.

So, I am going to TRY to get in touch with my attorney today and ask if I can actually buy a house right now. If he gives me the go-ahead, I'm going to make an offer on the house today and try to get it in before 5:00.

We looked at the other house when we left this one. Needs much work and is $8K more, and is a smaller house.

When I headed back home, I met WW at the intersection near my house. I just pretended I didn't see her and I turned. She turned behind me. I managed to loose her at the next red light by basically run the light. When I got home, my neighbor (the cop) came over to tell me WW had just left there.

So....it's going to be a big day for Georgia. I would ask that you all join in my prayers that if this house is God's will for me, then things will work out today. If not...there's something better somewhere, I know.

I'll update as things progress.

Georgia

P.S. - MIMI, I'm anxious to hear about how the H / YS thing is working out.

I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing about that realtor. It wasn't imperative for her to tell your WW about her schedule. She could have said that she had the wrong number. Some folks just like DRAMA. On the other hand, it may be a good thing that your WW knows that you are planning on buying a house. I guess you know that was the BIG STEP that changed things in my situation.

On the YS/H front, it's about to be in the works as I post. Leaving home this morning, I THANKED H for what he is doing. It is a BIG STEP for him and quite a sacrifice in terms of his time schedule today. YS is "not getting it" and I can't make him "get it". It's in GOD's hands and their hands. YS has so much resentment towards his Dad as I guess we all can understand. He has to experience the sincerity of this. He doesn't want to spend the extended amount of time with his Dad that this will entail. He's been on the phone this morning with me trying to come up with excuses and strategies to get around spending time alone with him. I get really frustrated with him about it but stood firm and did not buy into any of his avoidance tactics. WHEW! Very draining morning on the phone with him....

PRAY FOR THEM THIS MORNING.....

Hi Mimi-

Okay, I've prayed for them.

I know this is a drain on you, emotionally. I just hope that H can break through to YS and establish that bond that needs to be there. Hard to ask an 18 y.o. to take a lot of responsibilities for forgiveness and such.

Just remember, YS is young. He may not be "getting it" now...but there is a lot of time ahead of him to think about these things. The seed planted can sprout later.

One of the neatest things I've ever experienced was when S's came back to WW and I years later and thanked us for things. An example was when #2S told us about 1 year ago how much he appreciated our family vacations. He said he never understood why we ate so many meals in a hotel room, but now he understands that we couldn't afford to eat out but the time together meant enough to us that we had vacations anyway. He said #2DIL's family had never had a vacation together, and now he realizes how special that was.

Anyway...the point being is that what your doing NOW will bear fruit later. I know it's hard to wait.

Keep the faith.

Georgia