Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

During every long renovation, every renovation of something major, there comes a time when it’s been TOO long.  When the dust and the mess and the lack of running water in the kitchen finally gets to you.  When you cannot possibly eat out one. more. night.

Well, for me, that day was today.

It started out as a perfectly wonderful day.  First day of school for my kids, and I got to see and visit with old friends up at the school.  Then I walked home and my knee felt pretty good.  Then I went to work.  So far, so good.

Then I got home.  The fridge – the gorgeous, spacious, beautiful fridge:

…was making some G-d-awful noise.  Like a noise that a five-day-old fridge should definitely not be making.   My contractor said I needed to call for service and explained what he thought it was.  Annoyed, I called the Kitchen Aid service line.  They are coming out Wednesday, which is good, although I’ll either be in a meeting or picking up kids or dealing with screaming kids when they come.  Grrrr.

Then I learn that the fridge still isn’t hooked up to the water supply because of a problem with the lines. The contractor called the plumber, who never called back.  So, not only is the fridge making some sound like Wile E. Coyote with a small jackhammer in the back of the fridge, but it also can’t give us ice and water yet.

Add to this several other minor annoyances going on (washing dishes in the bathroom sink, e.g.), and I just couldn’t deal anymore.  I had hit my limit.  That was it.  It was time to have the tantrum that all sane people who live through a renovation have.

I. WANT. MY. KITCHEN.

OK, it wasn’t a full-fledged tantrum.  It was more like a mini-tantrum, although I might have jumped up and down a couple of times.

My super-duper contractor and I went over his to-do list, because as you know from this post, I don’t like chaos and I love to-do lists.  Luckily, he understands this.  We went over ALL the things he can be doing in the meantime before the countertops arrive.  And he gave me times and days on which he’s going to try to get those things done.

I started breathing again.

My dear friend Wendy once told me a story about her brother (apologies to Wendy for stealing her story and to her brother, in case he’s reading this):  her father and brother went out to run errands when her brother was maybe four years old.  Her dad neglected to mention to her brother that they would be going to the shoe store.  Her brother was furious and all upset, and, when asked what the matter was, he said, “I just want to be kept informed!”

That’s how I felt today.  I needed to know when things were going to get done.  I felt like things were happening – my wonderful contractor is working as best he can – but things weren’t getting finished.  I want to be finished now.  I hit the breaking point.

And then we went out to dinner.  Sigh.

This renovation will be done soon.  I am so lucky to be able to renovate our kitchen, let alone end up with the gorgeous, useful, amazing kitchen that we will eventually end up with.  Just sometimes I get woolly weary (I hate it when people get the words wrong).

Tomorrow, I am working from home.  I am going to use that time to do some much-needed work, but also to complete a few lingering projects.  Getting something crossed off my list will feel good, and maybe counteract the weariness from the kitchen renovation.

How have you dealt with a long renovation or project?  How did you stay sane?

As always, thank you for stopping by.