I like January

[mollyringle]

I always have liked January. Fresh new start; clearing out the weight of the holidays; putting the new loot away to sparkle on the shelves. Clear-headedness; increasing sunlight.

And this January should be especially interesting. I have nine more working days before retiring to become a mother - or fewer, if Lemondrop so decrees - and am feeling quite optimistic about it. I don't mean I expect it to be easy, but at least I'll know it's important and is definitely a job I personally am meant to do. Our house now has objects like newborn diapers (they're teeny!), onesies (footed and non-footed), a stroller/car seat system ("European design with American conveniences" - by which I think they mean a cup holder), and many waterproof-yet-absorbent lap pads with cute patterns like tiny bees on them.

However, rather than spam you with pictures of that, behold our reassembled kitchen! First, the way it looked when we bought the place...

Before ("their" work):

(That was a cast-iron sink, by the way. I think the house shifted when we moved it. Not pictured: screwed-up plumbing behind wall.)

After (our work):


Yes, I cheated by using softer lighting on the "after" shot, but all fashion makeover shoots do it.

Anyway, it's just as well I will be hanging around home more often. They installed a new firewall at work, which is liek OMG fascist about blocking sites. I can't access Webshots, because it counts as "freeware/shareware." I can't access KEXP.org to see what song they played on my commute, because it counts as "music downloads/radio." And I can't access LiveJournal, because it counts as "clubs/message boards." Hmf. However, they haven't yet blocked Gutenberg.org, so my coworkers will be able to download e-texts of classical lit and read them for free, at work! Hahaha! (Yes, that is about the geekiest form of subversive behavior I can think of.)

And FYI, it is now the Year of the Dog, so remember to stop writing "Year of the Rooster" on your checks.

Comments

[rachel2205.livejournal.com]

*snort* I love that "European design with American conveniences" thing. So, Europeans have the style, and Americans are the practical ones, is that right? :D

I like your kitchen!

You've worked very close to your due date, haven't you? I think it's good if you can do that (obviously not all women can, due to ill health in pregnancy), because it stretches your maternity leave further into Lemondrop's outside-womb life! :)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

I know, they managed to insult both Americans and Europeans with that advertising claim, huh? Good work. :D

Yeah, I sometimes wish I were through with work already, but the distraction is probably good. I'm actually not returning to the work force afterward (at least, not for a couple years), so it counts more as "quitting" than "maternity leave." :) But I do get more paychecks the longer I stick around, so that's a plus!

[ramaustin.livejournal.com]

very nice transformation! I love the tile checkered effect... and your last sentence in this post made me laugh out loud for some reason.. good when that happens :)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

It IS good when that happens. :) Thank you - I'm rather enamored of the tiles too. Very cheery. Which of course means the next people to own the house will hate them and tear them out...

[thomas-a-kempis.livejournal.com]

Very nice...and the plumbing isn't likely to flood the house while you're out shopping one day. Attaway!

+

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

That truly is a solace. Worth the investment!

[elfinity.livejournal.com]

Wow, great job, you guys! It's quite a transformation! Softer light or no softer light, it looks so much cozier and homier!

Good luck with Lemondrop and all that! And as for me, there can never be too many cute baby shots. Or shots of cute baby things. Even if they have American conveniences in them o_O

And just FYI, it's not the Year of the Dog yet - Chinese New Year will be starting on 1/29 this year. ^_^

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And I'm sure I'll spam you guys with baby photos before long. Truthfully I think the "American conveniences" really did consist of the coffee cup holder you could attach to the handles. Hehe. (Since Europeans drink their espresso in one gulp and don't need to carry it around.) :)

Hah, right you are on Chinese New Year. I keep forgetting that. OK, still Year of the Rooster; carry on accordingly!

[(Anonymous)]

um, cock-a-doodle-do? ^____^

[laleonaenojada.livejournal.com]

mmm butcher block countertops. I always get so carried away by the different types of granite and other stone countertops available, but when it comes down to it, butcher block is not only more practical, it is also warmer and more homey.

Excellent design choices

~A

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I wouldn't have minded some of the stone-look ones myself, but after their original gray-colored countertops, we yearned for something softer and warmer. Wood suits the feel of the Western States in general, too. :) I'm not sure if it's practical, though, since there will be no cutting directly allowed upon it, and it takes several treatments with oil stuff to get it to resist water damage...but still, I do like the look.

[modmerseygirl.livejournal.com]

The kitchen looks fantastic! :-)

Take care of yourself, Molly and please check in when you can and let us know how you and Lemon Drop are doing!