Push me, bore u
February 24th, 2012Today we had a dumpster delivered to our house by a guy with a head of gray, greasy hair styled like Prince Valiant, no upper teeth and the darkest tan ever (Paco’s description – he notices the weirdest details). Demolition starts tomorrow. We are tearing up the carpet everywhere except bedrooms. In the living room we’re taking down floor-to-ceiling oak paneling, an oak stair rail, the ceiling itself, including rough-sawn cedar beams, a mantle and two built-in bookcases (also rough-sawn cedar). Oh, and a marble entryway floor.
This ought to be fun.
I have been bitching about our shabby house since we moved in six years ago. It took one year of Dave Ramsey-esque austerity (sticking to a budget and passing up cruise vacations) to save up a shitpile of money so we can make our house fantastic. I’m so happy.
I’m going to go back and read this after two months of living in the basement and see if I’m so happy.
We are going with hardwoods everywhere except the bedrooms and the stairs to Elliot’s room. We already put down vinyl that resembles hardwood in his room, but we never got around to doing his stairs. When we got the bid for hardwoods they wanted $2100 to do his stairs and I was like, fuck that shit. There’s a door to hide it. We’ll keep the carpet there until we get around to the vinyl and until then we’ll have something to look at and say, “MAN I’m glad we got rid of that carpet.”
OH MY GOD could this blog get any more boring? Running shit! Remodeling shit! Judging from the lack of comments, no one wants to hear my advice shit. I’m grouchy! And what’s up with the comment, “If jogging is so painful and distasteful, why continue?” I’m sorry to call someone out, but come on. Why continue? Because I’ve decided to make a commitment to accomplish something but I also reserve the right to bitch about it! I thought it was less annoying to hear someone bitch about running than wax eloquent about it! Cut me some slack!
Maybe my complaining is tiresome. I had a quasi-boyfriend in high school who one night just blew up at me and said, “GOD. You complain ALL THE TIME! I don’t want to see you anymore!” It embarrasses me to this day that I was so obnoxious that I made this guy throw up his hands. He did turn out to be gay, but still. That’s not the point.
Your blog makes me happy. I just don’t comment on anything, anywhere, other than my own damned blog. I bought a butter bell because of you. And I love it so much that I’m now putting butter on EVERYTHING. Which is probably not compatible with the time spent on the elliptical machine at the gym – about which I complain wildly because you’re damned right you get to bitch about it if you want.
Your blog isn’t boring. I love reading, and it makes me happy you are writing more often. I love reading about the C25K-I started it once and got stalled on week 4, and gave up once my knee got tweaked. I don’t think it is complaining to state how you feel about things like the running. Didn’t that commenter go on to say she admired your perserverance? (is that spelled right? Sure doesn’t look it)
Good luck on the house remodel!
I love the bitching. It makes me feel like I’m not the only one who hates things!
I’m still trying to get through Week 1 without wanting to kill myself. And it’s been… a lot longer than a week. But if YOU can do it… well, fuck you.
I say that with love.
Always enjoy reading your blog, haven’t commented much because my job is keeping me too damned busy to write anything extra these days. Would bitch about it more, but no time.
Oh this remodeling ought to make for some real entertaining postings from you. Ha, cannot wait.
I enjoy your “complaining”and find it quite enjoyable to read. I don’t consider it whining, just truthful. And, I just skim over the running stuff but I think it’s great that you are doing it.
Am proud of Paco for renting a dumpster. My husband would have found many creative ways to get rid of the stuff, including 20 dump runs, sawing, slicing, anything to avoid the cost. Those things are way more expensive than it seems they should be!
Was he gay before or after he dated you?
Suzi’s comment is funny.
True story, I started running again 2 years ago with a neighbor. She’s all ‘YES, RUNNING – LOVE IT’ and I was constantly (and still am) all ‘Fuck, I HATE running, but I like to have run.’
One morning she YELLED at me and turned around to go back to her house, something about she was sick of my complaining.
She made me cry. Until I got pissed and thought no one should make me cry. I’m 40ish for Christ’s sake.
Anyway. I got over it although I am still bitter that she can’t accept a very important part of the process of all things life and running. Bitching. It’s good for you.
I love remodeling talk. But you have to post lots of pix throughout the ordeal.
JANE. I’m merry at the moment (code for halfway through my second bottle of wine DON’T JUDGE ME) and I must say, your blog is anything but boring. I love reading about your trials and tribulations raising kids, your running career and everything else you write about. You are frank, funny and fiesty. (Jeez, alliterative much?)
I want to apply to your advice column for I am in a quandary. Email to follow when I sober up, otherwise it will read all “Zmfghhh omg HALP”.
There are loads of player haters when it comes to running. Jealoussssss is my professional diagnosis.
Oh look! My glass is empty! Don’t hook up with an Irish lad. Your liver WILL NOT THANK YOU. xx
Exercise is like voting – if you do it, you can bitch about the process – especially if your bitchy is funny. I am pulling up my carpets for hardwoods this week (or month more likely) too. Hope I have enough wine in house to get through the process (and to survive the 1st time one of my bastard dogs, relieves themselves inside).
Just no hating on runners who “lame themselves” by misdiagnosing a stress fracture as routine soreness (ahem) and it’s all good.
I’d comment more but commenting on a mobile device is like ripping out your fingernails with pliers. Also running sucks. I like teh walking.
I happen to like bitching & complaining way more than susie-sunshine-kittens & rainbows crap. I am a complainer too and well that is just the way it is. Will you post before & after pics of the remodel?
Oh oh oh!! This will be goooooooooooood. We remodeled, but we did so before we moved in. And every day I would say to my husband, “oh thank God we are not living here while this shit is going on.” So now I will get to hear/read all about it from someone who has a similar range of patience and tolerance: NONE!!!
But it will be so worth it. It is great to come home and have your home make you smile.
Also, there is nothing like the feeling of filling up a dumpster.
Amazing how things boyfriend’s said from our way younger years just sear through us eh? I had a guy call me out for calling people names too often. A horrid habit that I have no idea where I picked up, but he was so right, because good or bad I was constantly labeling and categorizing people and I had no problem saying “Idiot!” when the compulsion hit.
I love Leeloo!
I agree with the above comment about pictures.
We come for the writing and stay for the bitching.
I am not a runner but still enjoy reading your take on it.
Keep on keeping on
~K!
I don’t care what you write about; I like it regardless.
Right out of high school, my best friend and I ended up at some party, and I don’t know, I was talking to a bunch of people, and some random guy turned to another guy and said, “Man, this girl hates everything!”
It still embarrasses me, too, although I think I curbed my complaining a little after that. I don’t have the chip on my shoulder that I did at 18, anyway.
MUCH better to vicariously bitch about running with you than to be cyber-shamed by the eloquent waxing.
And I think many times what you and I think of as fact-stating, others hear as complaining. Listen, em-effer, I am not complaining unless I ask you to do something about it. I can state that something is amiss and go on my merry way, or even better, enjoy the schaedenfraude (sp?) of someone else’s encountering it withOUT complaining.
I remodeled and lived in my basement and cooked on a camp stove in the garage (with the rain blowing in the open door so I wouldn’t get CO2 poisoning). I am looking forward to your stories.
my m-i-l and her sister bought me a shirt that said something to the effect of ‘member of the piss and moan about everything club’.. i rather liked that shirt and thought they should have also bought ones for themselves because i pale in comparison to them.. also..wait until about 3 days into the remodeling. you will know what true bitching is.. i can’t even imagine going thru that much.. we are just getting countertops replaced and i feel that i will bitch up a storm over the inconvenience of it all..
I haven’t exercised in about 20 years, but I was just telling my husband at dinner that because of your blog I’m thinking about doing the C25K. Almost thinking. Nowhere near ready to start thinking about remodeling though.
Jane, I’ll read anything you write because you’re very intelligent and it shows in your writing. There is an enormous need for more intelligence out there in blogland.
When the remodeling gets tough on you just remember that you’ll never, ever have to endure horrid w2w carpeting again. That’s priceless.
Jane, you need to post pictures while filling the dumpster. Jackie had us DYING when, at her full height of 5’7″ or whatever she is, she rode a teeny pink tricycle out to be thrown away, her knees practically in different zip codes. Also the day we came upon the box of Halloween costumes and she wore the Cat in the Hat hat, angel wings, a shark fin, cowboy boots, a tutu, a sword and I forget what else, for the rest of the day. Or the day she lobbed stuffed animals into the dumpster from behind her back, under her leg, over her shoulder, etc. Holly and Elliot will have you in hysterics. Possibly Paco, too.
Oh wait. You’re just throwing away construction debris. SIGH. NEVER MIND.
Your blog is far from boring! I read it every day, and am always entertained
Oh please, bitching is a fact of life. Don’t ever stop! I love reading it because, half the time, it’s just what I’m thinking. Intelligent bitching is even better.
I’m really interested in the remodel. Please post pictures. I’m weirdly obsessed with seeing how others fare. We put in new kitchen counter tops and it was like a week of hassle. We have cats and dogs and CREAM carpeting so we’re well on our way to replacing it. I can’t wait to see how yours turns out!
I am IN NO WAY sick of the running shit, and I doubt I ever will be. So.
I love remodel stories! Post lots of pics!
Sorry, that was NOT a slam! As I also commented it was coming from someone who cannot commit to anything and detests running… My apologies if I offended.
Apropos of nothing, I’m still drinking! Not non-stop – it’s not that sordid. We are out at an Irish pub here in Glasgow for an engagement party. I swear to god, the whites of my eyes will be yellow by Monday. There is a ceilidh band playing, the balls of my feet are KILLING ME from dancing in heels, and someone (J MY PARTNER) has suddenly presented me with a glass of whiskey. Let the good times roll! Keep writing! Over and out x
Your last paragraph had me howling and beating on the table. You gave me the best laugh all week and damn did I need it. I don’t know too many men who don’t bitch about their wives’/girlfriends’ complaining. I think it just goes with the territory, maybe part of the Men Are From Mars…theory. A women who can’t be there to listen to her friends bitch should be drummed out of the sisterhood. That is of course unless the friend is a psycho with no boundaries who wants to call at all hours over really stupid things.
I try not to comment or keep it short when my personal stuff is making me bonkers and I don’t trust what I may say. I wish I could blame it on wine but I’m on too many necessary medications to be able to partake much. Life is just fucked up sometimes and hearing other people bitch about their stuff can make me feel less nuts. Your writing is never boring!
My best friend remodeled her kitchen and entryway last year. They came out great. There were many agonized phone calls but not any more than I gave her when some really hairy stuff went on with my in-laws some years back. I think her entryway and kitchen floor are marble too and she loves them.
Leeloo commenting while at a party. Now that is interest right there, how can you question it???
LeeLoo, do you have a blog? Not that I would EVER ditch Jane, but I might need more than one to read from time to time and I love people who make me laugh.
Sure, I have a crappy blog that I started because of THIS one. I was like, “Hey, I could try my hand at that!” So I started it about a month ago and it has three posts – if you click on my name it should direct you to it. Now that I have one confirmed reader, I will put up some new posts.
So here I am, in jammies with a throbbing head and APPARENTLY we are going to brunch to “take the cure and stave off the Horrors.” This is Irish for “drink just enough so you don’t feel hungover and cringe at all the things you might have said and done the night before.” O HAI, slippery slope to alcoholism. I’m really making us sound like upstanding parents here, aren’t I? Things should revert to their puritanical norm when all these damn Irish get back on their plane home this evening.
I love the bitching! But remodeling bitching goes better with pictures! Please oh please!
Leeloo-I am your second confirmed reader! I clicked over to you from Jane’s comment section after you wrote something that had me rolling. Glad you are thinking of updating, I was wondering what was happening with the christening.
READERSHIP HEIST!
I love your blog and the remodel is going to be so, so fun (to read that is). So many many things to complain about! Can’t wait. Also love the bitching about running. I can’t wait until you bitch your way thorough a marathon. Heh.
leeloo..i just left you a comment on the dogs itchy ears. i know dogs. i have picked up a couple blogs from this one…
I’ve been trying to respond but there’s some glitch. I’ll fix it and Jane, sorry to hijack here – Kris, this is what I said:
What a coincidence. My mother has three Brussels Griffons (one red smooth, the black and y
tan smooth, and one rough). I have been considering feeding raw for awhile now – we buy a dry food called Burns Pork & Potato – my vet recommended it. We don’t buy the grain- based dogfoods because bulldogs as a breed are rife with skin issues. He scratched his ear so badly last summer he gave himself a haematoma and it doesn’t stand quite as erect as the other one now.
One person’s “bitching and complaining” is another person’s “tellin’ it like it is” …
I like the bitching, keep it coming!
I hear myself doing it too much, too. You can see the look in people’s eyes…strangely enough it mostly bothers me when I’m talking to someone I don’t like! I’m all, ick, ugh, I sound like an idiot, why am I even bitching to this person who clearly doesn’t care.
People only accept bitching in themselves. Which is something I like to bitch about.
Keep it up, Jane! We can take it!