It's Coming!

No, not the baby ... although she is coming soon, probably this week (tomorrow?) ... it's our Economic Stimulus check!!
We got the letter today telling us it is on the way and we should have it by July 5th. Not sure why they send those letters, but I guess they have been getting lots of phone calls asking "when" and so maybe this is to help with that.

The big question is, of course, what to spend it on. Because as patriotic citizens, we must spend it, and as soon as possible. Not a problem; I have a list: (in no particular order)

1. Two new recliners for downstairs -- these are showing serious wear and the recline mechanisms are pretty much shot. Also considering a dual recliner love seat but not sure how that would fit/look down there.

2. Finish the back step concrete work. Yes, it's been almost 16 years since we remodeled the kitchen and added the mud room, and this "later" project is now nearing the top of the priority list. The back step still has no railing and the concrete sidewalk is not finished so that the first step is a tall one. You've all been here, you know what I'm talking about.

3. Plumbing. The water softener is no longer working; the kitchen faucet leaks badly, and the downstairs toilet is worn out so that it only flushes with assistance (pouring about a quart of water into it while flushing). The guys are busy enough that I will just hire these done.

4. The kitchen/dining room floor needs to be replaced. There is a hole worn through underneath Lou's chair in the DR, and other places are discolored from the fine fine fine dirt/sand we have here that has been ground into the floor by other chairs sliding over the floor. Sweeping 4 times a day hasn't helped the situation. I am trending toward some sort of tile, but the first guy to drop his pliers on the floor and break out a corner had better have his running shoes on. (Just watch, if I do this, I will be the one to drop a pot and crack something.) Hardwood would be nice, but out of the question (see my comments about sand being ground into the floor above ...) Complicating this is whether or not to extend the K and DR floor covering into the entryway and down the stairs (can one tile stairs?)

5. I'd sort of like to have a laptop computer. We already have 2 functional computers downstairs so it's not a need, but with the wireless in the house it might be nice to be able to check email upstairs, and have something we can take with us when we travel.

I am sure if I sit here long enough I can think of a few other things. And that is just MY list -- Lou probably has one of his own. Like many others, we will spend way more than the $1200.00 the government is sending us -- we will probably do all of those things and more in the next year (the shingles are curling on the roof of the house ... at least 22 years old). I suppose we ought to use this check for something we weren't planning to do already, so that it would truly be "extra spending" to help the economy, but one of these will have to do.