Here's what it looks like:
Walls, plumbing, and electricity are done; waiting for tile, toilets, sinks, fixtures, washer/dryer, closet shelving, paint, and clean-up. Two more weeks sounds naively optimistic.
Jen is starting to go stir-crazy in our temporary studio apartment, and spying on people in the Dakota turned out to be incredibly boring. God forbid we might actually see Yoko Ono or Roberta Flack undressing. That might scar us for life.
So on Friday night we rented a car, drove to Connecticut, and stayed at a hotel for a little rest and relaxation. On Saturday we dropped Jen off at Target while the boys and I went to the Stamford mall; "Ten Tiny Toes" was a Top Pick in Picture Books at B&N--Jewel's book was not. Ha. High-five.
Yesterday I revised and re-submitted a manuscript while Ethan sat next to me writing his own book. Chocolate milk at the farmer's market on Columbus, "Wreck-It Ralph" with friends, late family dinner at a restaurant, then "home" to our teeny studio on 72nd. Yoko and Roberta Flack probably watched us undress for bed.
This update has such a great mix of humor, exhaustion and “we’re doing our best” energy. Renovations have a way of dragging on forever, and your description of the evil cat guarding the construction zone made me laugh out loud. The whole thing reads like a slice of real life where everyone is improvising their way through the chaos.
ReplyDeleteYour weekend escape was a smart reset. A little space, a mall wander, and the tiny victory of seeing your book earn a Top Pick slot is the kind of joy that keeps a family going during long stretches of inconvenience. And Ethan writing beside you feels like the sweetest quiet moment tucked inside an otherwise messy season.
What shines through most is your ability to find levity even when things are objectively frustrating. That perspective is a superpower when life refuses to stick to the schedule.
In the software world we lean on structure and simple tools during unpredictable stretches. Teams often use platforms like Tuskr test management software to keep progress steady while the rest of the environment is in flux. Your approach to this renovation feels a lot like that: keep moving, stay organized, laugh where you can and trust that it will all come together eventually.