The New Normal
We find that terminology rather contradictory. New and Normal do not play well together. If you see something new it implies it is unknown, unusual, as of yet indefinable, and normal means just the opposite. If you are talking about the market, the new normal term entered our lexicon about the fall of 2009 after we clawed our way back from the fires of collapse in March of 2009. By fall the market had recovered but was a bit yoyo-ish. We wrote a series of posts about the sideways market. We are sure you were sick of how often we used the term sideways market, but it became known as the new normal.
Now our life has a new normal. While our restoration project is not completely over, we have some essence of normalcy interrupted with chaotic episodes of pure frustration. For us that has become the new normal. Today we started out with a nice little swim and taking care of the dogs. I spied on our baby tanigers and they seemed to have survived the unusual little storm we had last night.
The we visited our local bagel and brew establishment which was a staple moment of my day pre-flood. Of course I was swimming everyday pre-flood so when the swimming stopped, my bagel consumption created the effect of the stay puff marshmallow man in the way I looked. So we switched back to cheerios and blueberries until we could get back in the pool. So after our exercise, the bagel shop seemed like a nice treat and another step back to normal.
Unfortunately normalcy in the new normal is short lived. We had conflicting priorities at the house again today, and in an effort to keep the fire breathing hydra locked safely in my wife's skull, I came home at lunch to see if I could intercept some of these tasks. My mission was to retrieve the bike we had one at the charity Friday night. I also chose to drop off our mud covered bikes at the bike shop for a tune up and an oil change or what ever they do to bikes to make them pretty.
I drove to the auction house and realized I had grease on my good wool slacks from putting the bikes in the back of our Ford F 250. I was not happy. Then once I had made the trek to the auction house to pick up our bike and other booty, I was told that someone from the Charity was there earlier and picked up our stuff to deliver it to us. I got the bike and headed home to find bed people in the house. Bed people are people who deliver beds.
Bed people are not the strangest thing you can find when you come home. Earlier in the day when I came home to intercept tasks, I was a bit taken back to look out in the backyard to discover our faux paint artist in our pool. Martin is an extremely handsome, funny, pleasant, tall, good looking, charming, experienced, chiseled, handsome mans man. He is incredibly talented and while I would not have been surprised to find him touching up the now marble looking columns, I was surprised to see him in our pool. He was apparently starting a new project on the walls of our pool. Devin must be having a very good year as I don't remember seeing the quote for Martin doing any work around the pool. He is handsome though.
The work day (yes I finally made it back to work about 2 ish) finally ended with a call to run by Radio Shack and pick up a cable for the new TV in our guest room. That would be a good things as it means we are almost finished with the guest room. Just in time as the mother in law is in town for Jacks (Man Child) graduation ceremonies this week.
It is impressive what they do for an eighth grade graduation at this school. A banquet earlier tonight, prayer service tomorrow morning, they get a day at Disneyland on Thursday, Mass and Graduation services on Friday. When I attended the 8th grade it was OK your out here now. Not so fast Cronin. By the third year in the eighth grade even I was ready to go.
