Planning a busy "vacation"

Starting Friday, I will be off until May 24, which will the first time since I first started at The Brazil Times that I will have taken more than one work day off at one time.

I've already had a few people, and a couple co-workers, tell me that by the middle of next week, I will be pining to get back because I will be bored, but I know that will not be the case.

I have already put into motion numerous projects around the house that I plan to work on, including:

* Pull up the carpet in the kitchen and lay down tile,

* Paint both of the kids' rooms,

* Lay down tile in those rooms as well,

* Pull up carpet in the bedroom and clean the wood that is in pretty good shape underneath, and

* Screen in the front porch, with the help of Ivy's dad.

We also are hoping to get someone to come by and replace at least one of the windows, but that just depends if there is any money left to do that.

We've already purchased all the tile and paint, so come Friday, I will be all set to get started.

I realize that sounds like a lot of work to do, but it shouldn't be that bad. We bought the self-adhesive tile on sale. Since we are just renting the home right now, we decided not to go with the fancy, expensive tile. So the tile and painting shouldn't take more than a few days, and tearing the rest of the carpet up shouldn't be much of a problem since the cats have already got started on a couple areas.

Other than the window, the big wild card will be screening in the front porch. Not because I may be worn out by that time, but because it may be hard getting Ivy's dad to land in one place long enough to help.

He always seems to be working on 10 things at once, whether it be helping to clean out a house, to setting up an auction, or helping a friend move. So that may be put off to another time. I imagine I could do it myself, but I enjoy spending time and joking with him, and it is something he has talked about doing since he moved in a couple years ago.

I do also plan to take a little time for myself.

I purchased a Mr. Beer home brewing kit about a month ago, and intend to give that a whirl next week, and I might even venture off to Indianapolis one day and catch practice for the Indy 500.

Needless to say, it's going to be a busy week, and I highly doubt work will be on my mind very much, if at all next week.