Trapped!

I had no intention of writing today. Actually I had no intention of anything in particular for today. After having painters here all day yesterday and consequently being at loose ends all day, I knew today would be more of the same. I decided yesterday that today I would get up, dress and head out to go shopping for the day, but once I really thought about it, I changed my mind.

So here I am trapped in my office. Our house has a great lay out. It was perfect for raising a teenage boy who liked loud music and video games. Our bedroom is on the opposite end of the house from the other two bedrooms. It gave Jon a whole “wing” of the house that included his bedroom, the third bedroom he converted into his den, a bathroom and a small hallway with a door to close off the entire area. It is on the front of the house. Our master suite in the back of the house is not only away from his noise but secluded from the street sounds, so it is very quiet and private. Between the two areas of the house (which is spread out all on one level so growing old here should be easy) are the kitchen, dining room and library which is nice for access from either side. And then we have our den/ living room in the very back of the house- close to our bedroom and more for us since Jon had his own den. Now that Jon has a place of his own, I have turned his old den into my new office. His bedroom and bath are now guest rooms although my office has a day bed and trundle for more guests when needed. It gives guests privacy just as it gave Jon privacy, so it is great. It puts me in the front of the house as I work, so that I can watch the street in case we have visitors or deliveries. It also gives me more peace and quiet in which to work. Tim hates it. He says he can’t find me even though I am usually here, working or studying. It is just a change and since I used to be right there in the open and by the kitchen, I guess it was easier to “find” me before.

However, this wonderful layout is not so great right now! The painters are working in the library and dining room which means if I am in our den or bedroom, kitchen or on the veranda out back, getting to my office is not only an obstacle course of tarps and ladders, but I have to interrupt the painters’ flow of work. So yesterday I stayed out of the way in the back most of the day. This morning I realized I had work I needed to do so I made my way to my office first thing this morning. I have paid our bills, paid my mother in law’s bills, balanced my husband’s business accounts, checked twitter and facebook numerous times and worked on my BFA project. It is only 9:45am. (This is why I don’t believe in getting up early, I have worked my butt off and still have the whole day ahead. I could have been sleeping!) I have had to interrupt the workers a couple of times but mostly I have just stayed in my office. But I am done, I am now blogging and then I will be sitting in a room stacked up with the books off the library shelves and covered in nick-knacks. It is giving me an odd feeling to be stuck here as a guy pressure washes outside of my window and another sands outside of my door. I am also incidentally listening to their guy talk about sports and I hear them when they disagree on a technique for doing their job. They each have a different way of doing things and each one is sure they are “right”. There are five of them so it gets loud and heated sometimes.

I know that I have to leave this space eventually and retreat back to the veranda. I do have a book to finish reading and a magazine to peruse, but I also know once I leave this room I am then stuck on the other side of the house, away from my computer. It is a no win situation. Maybe I should reconsider getting dressed and going shopping for the rest of the day. After all, I haven’t missed anything by changing my mind, the stores aren’t even open yet!! I got up way too early!

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Marietta is a graduate of the University of Montevallo with a BFA in musical theater. She has been performing for over 50 years on the stage and continues to perform, direct and teach. Marietta is married to Tim, has a son named Jon, and a cat named Penny.