RB isn't sure when the old floor was put in, maybe the 1970s. It had that vibe, mustard yellow. Underneath it was the old vinyl from 1955, an attractive (not) gray and black pattern. They didn't pull that up because it probably has asbestos under it. You can also see a bit of the old wall color behind where the dishwasher was, dark pink, next to the pale yellow that I chose. They had some crazy color combos back in the 1950s.
But then we had to put the kitchen back together. The guys put the fridge and dishwasher back, both incorrectly, but left the stove out. Rocket Boy was unfortunately at an appointment when this was happening, so he couldn't prevent it. Later he pulled the dishwasher out again so that he could put it in right. It turned out that he needed to get a new toe kick for under the sink, so that required a Home Depot run. Etc.
Somewhere in there I started feeling sick. Maybe Tuesday? I had a scratchy throat, a bit of a cough, some congestion. That went on for at least three days and then vanished, thank goodness. But for a while there I was worried.
I think it was Wednesday night when we finally ran the dishwasher for the first time since Saturday. Rocket Boy turned it on and went to take a shower. I lay in bed listening to the dishwasher and it didn't sound right.
When RB got out of the shower I told him that something was wrong. He disagreed. I said, "It sounds like there's no water in it." He poo-pooed that idea. Then he opened the dishwasher and looked in. "Oh, you're right," he said.
I should back up a minute. Wednesday was also the day that the "bomb cyclone" hit Boulder. All day long you could see the bank of clouds approaching from the north, but they moved very slowly. Finally around 5 pm the temperature started dropping. It went from about 38 down to, I think, 12, in maybe 15 minutes (I'm forgetting, but it was fast). Then it was down to zero. Then it kept going.
But there was the dishwasher problem. Rocket Boy figured out it was probably the water-sensing solenoid that had gone out (perhaps it didn't like being moved?), so he started calling plumbing supply places. The only store he could find that carried the part was in Parker, 50 miles south of here. Driving 50 miles in snowy, below-zero weather was unappealing, so instead he ordered the part and we'll pick it up at a store in Longmont on Tuesday.
So that meant we had to go on washing dishes by hand, but it wasn't the end of the world. The stove was back in place, so I could cook, and the fridge was back in place, so all was right with the world, more or less.
On Friday afternoon, we did venture out to do an errand (related to Christmas) and that was fairly exciting due to the snow and ice and cold. It was warmer by then -- it had been -18 on our front porch again that morning, but by afternoon it had gotten up to about 6. That's warmer than -18 but it's not WARM. I was very glad to get home.
We've been lighting the Hanukkah candles all week, and in the box with our hanukkiah we also keep three dreidls and a book about Hanukkah that explains (among other things) how to play dreidl. I had stashed some chocolate coins, so on Friday night when the kids started spinning the dreidls, I gave them a hint as to where to find the coins. This led to a major dreidl competition. Instead of reading the book, they made up names for the four symbols on the dreidls: penis (gimmel), W (shin), pi (hey), and cell phone (nun). Even after I picked up the book and showed them the right names, they kept using the made-up ones. It was fine. They're 14 -- everything is about penises and cell phones.
As they played, I sat in my chair and watched them, almost nodding off. And then, weirdly, I began to be overcome by a great sadness. Not depression, sadness. I almost felt like I might start crying. It seemed so strange to me because nothing was wrong -- they were actually playing a game together, not fighting, having a good time. Very unusual. It might have been because I thought we might not have too many more times like this -- they're growing up, only a few more Christmases before they (perhaps) go out on their own. Maybe it had to do with my sister who died by suicide instead of going to a Hanukkah party, 17 years ago. Maybe it was something about the pain of the world, that's so hard to keep out of our snug little house. I don't know.
***
We had an inkling that the tree roots were invading our pipes again around Thanksgiving, when the toilet started gurgling one day. I wanted to call a plumber then, but the problem seemed to go away and Rocket Boy suggested we wait. Of course, Christmas Eve would be when it happened again.
Today we've been extremely careful. We've discovered that, for now, the toilet will flush if we're gentle with it. The current rules are: (1) only flush if you poop, and (2) flush no more than once every 30 minutes. We've been timing it. And of course, no doing laundry, no showers, be very careful when brushing teeth, washing hands, or washing dishes, dump the dishwater on the lawn, not down the drain, etc.
We've been through this before, we know what to do. We left voicemails for two plumbers. Hopefully we'll hear from one or the other tomorrow. I know a lot of people had frozen pipes from the bomb cyclone, so the plumbers are very busy. I don't think that's our problem, I think it's tree roots. We'll see.
But you know, I feel so lucky to have a snug little house, WITH POWER, unlike millions of other people right now. By a stroke of luck, Rocket Boy missed the storm entirely on his trip out here, and we didn't try to travel anywhere else, so we didn't get stuck in an airport like millions of other people. I feel very lucky that Rocket Boy is here with us during this mess, and that he exists at all -- and that I'm married to him.
***
I was the first one awake this morning, at about 8:30, but soon I heard Teen B get up and come out to the kitchen to get his phone (having the phones charge in the kitchen is a great way to get your kids out of bed in the morning). He and I sat out in the living room and "waited" for the rest of the family (he actually started pulling things out of his stocking instead of "waiting," but I didn't stop him). Eventually Rocket Boy got up, and then finally Teen A, and we could get on with the present opening.
I didn't have any good ideas for the kids this year, mostly just got some goofy stuff to have fun with, but it was OK. Both boys criticized almost everything they unwrapped, to the point where it got quite funny. "Oh, a book that I'm not going to read," said Teen A, opening a book that I later saw him reading. "Mom, why did you get me this?" demanded Teen B, opening a robot kit that he later started playing with. It's as though at this age they just need to criticize, even though the criticism has no meaning.
Nothing could get me down today. I was so pleased that we were together, that it was not only above zero but above freezing, that all my cookies were baked, that I managed to put together enough gifts under the tree to make people reasonably happy (if a bit critical), that I wrote a check for the rest of the kitchen floor on Wednesday and paid my credit card (not due until January 9th) off on Friday, so we're ready for the next financial challenges (plumbing costs, dishwasher repair, the possible need to buy a new dishwasher and/or dryer).
I got him a Film Noir encyclopedia, which he seems very happy with, a selection of chocolate and marzipan, a calendar, and a new shirt, so that all worked out well too.
Being a mom at Christmas is kind of a thankless task, but I've got to say this was probably the easiest Christmas I've had since I became a mom. With the FlyLady's help, I made most of my preparations ahead of time, so I had the energy and good mood to deal with the inevitable Christmas disasters. I'm hoping that keeps me going through whatever the week ahead has in store for us.
***
Now what comes next? Boxing Day, but I don't know how to celebrate that. Kwanzaa starts tomorrow, we'll think about that. I like to celebrate it, but have trouble deciding exactly how. Here are the days:
- unity (umoja) Monday, Dec. 26
- self-determination (kujichagulia) Tuesday, Dec. 27
- collective
responsibility (ujima) Wednesday, Dec. 28
- cooperative economics (ujamaa) Thursday, Dec. 29
- purpose (nia) Friday, Dec. 30
- creativity (kuumba) Saturday, Dec. 31. Feast day.
- faith (imani) Sunday, Jan. 1
In the past, I've celebrated by giving money to Black-related organizations. So that's probably what I'll do this year too. Mission St. Louis has become one of my regular donees, and I like to buy something from a Black-owned business or two, a book by a Black author, that kind of thing. I've been reading about Kwanzaa and they say that anyone can celebrate it, and it can be about you, your "self-determination" and "purpose" and whatnot, even if you're not Black. But I still feel as though it's a good opportunity to donate to Black causes. The only issue might be that we need to be careful with our money right now! I gave away about $500 on Colorado Gives Day, which was only a few weeks ago. I'll see.
My book group meets Tuesday -- NOT here, as I had thought, but at another member's house. I'm extremely grateful for that, given our lack of plumbing and dishwashers. I don't know what else we'll do this week. Teen B wants to see a movie, but we can't come up with anything that appeals to us. Maybe we'll go to a museum.
And I must work on planning, planning, planning for 2023. What to read, what to do, how to improve myself and the house. All that stuff. I really enjoy it. A new year! So much fun to think about.
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