House-sick?

        After my last post, the feedback I got was all along the lines of "write whatever you want".  I'm vastly relieved by this, as I had a secret fear that one of you would challenge me to skydive or barefoot waterski or some other not-on-your-life activity.   Blathering on about nothing much is a lot easier.  :-)

        January and February were pretty quiet here, so let me give you some back story.   About the first of the year I began having a lot of back pain - different than anything I've had before, both in the type of pain and the intensity.   I couldn't even drive without whimpering, which is very disconcerting to the children.   After playing the martyr for a bit, I finally buckled and went to the chiropractor, thinking I'd just tweaked my sacroiliac worse than usual.   A couple weeks of treatment went by without any improvement, though, so the doc sent me for an MRI.   Much to my joy, I discovered I had two severely herniated discs, some pretty major inflammation in the vertebra between them, and a good start on arthritis in my lower spine.  

    (heehee - I just realized I said "back story" and then started talking about my back...pun-intentional!)

        Anyway, I began decompression therapy, which is a fancy way of saying I get strapped down on this big machine and it streeeeeeetches me.  The idea is that it relieves the pressure on the discs while gently straightening the spine.   I was doubtful at first, but in so much pain I was willing to give it a shot.  Now I am a convert!   It is amazing how much it's helped.   After the first session I was able to get into my van without pain, for the first time in weeks.   I need to do exercises to work on my core strength, but my sessions on "the rack" have been life-savers.    Who knew a medieval torture instrument could be altered to do such good?  :-)

        Apart from my back issues, it's pretty much been life as usual.  I'm still having some - ah - attitude issues,  shall we say, with living in South Carolina.   They've improved, but some days I still just want to get in the car and head north to stay.   We're slowly starting to meet more people and make some friends, which has helped a lot.  However, one thing I just realized earlier today is a large part of my discontent;  we don't have our own house.   Oh, sure, we're living in a house by ourselves, but it's not ours.   I don't have the right to paint the walls or pull up carpet or anything like that.   And I like to do that stuff, you know?  Colorful paint jobs  and I have a long-standing love affair, and this house is almost uniformly beige.  The kitchen, powder room and master bath are an odd rust-brown, and the other bath is yellow.  Everything else is some shade of blech.   If we'd bought this house, I guarantee you that at the very least the downstairs would be painted by now, and probably all the bedrooms too.   I am dying to whip out the paintbrushes and rollers and just go to town.    I think I'm house-sick,  instead of homesick.   I miss having my own house to play with and decorate.    Funny that it took me this long to realize that, but then again, I've never said I was a quick study. 

        So, since we aren't in a position to buy a house right now - anyone need any painting done?  :-)

     

Comments

[Julia]

How long is your lease? If it's a year or more, the owner may be willing to let you paint. They would probably have to repaint when you move anyway. No harm in asking... (I doubt they would let you pull up any carpet, though)