Progress and Wizards

     My bedroom smells like paint.  I finally got my bathroom painted today and since it's attached to the bedroom I can smell it pretty strongly.  I just got over a cold so I'm hoping the fumes don't send me into a coughing fit.  I was able to borrow my neighbor's 8' ladder today so tomorrow I can finish painting the 10' ceiling in the lower level and then all my painting is done - unless I decide to paint the basement which could certainly use a new coat of paint.  And by now I'm pretty good at painting!  We'll see . . .
     Once the ceiling and crown molding are painted I can start getting my house back in order so it doesn't look like a construction zone!  My West JHS teacher group is coming over Thursday night for our monthly dinner.  We always go out, but everyone has been asking me about my house remodeling and so I decided to invite them over.  This has also been a good incentive for me to get everything done!
     I'm happy to have found a handy man who will do some odd jobs for me - ones that I either don't know how to do, like electrical and plumbing things, or ones I don't want to do like scraping the ceiling in my bedroom (my back just can't take anymore of that!).  He'll be coming over the first week in March.  After he's done then I need to get the floor replaced in the kitchen and lower level (Home Depot is doing that), the wood floors on the main level redone (like the floor I did in the little bedroom), and get the carpets cleaned.

My "construction zone" house!

At least the kitchen's finished

     I'm hoping to get most of that accomplished before I leave for "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" on March 6.  Renae and I are so excited, we're like little kids!  I bought a guide book for the 2 parks and am going through it when I get the chance.  We have our flights and our hotel package all taken care of.  The package includes 3 days at the Harry Potter parks - both Hogsmead, which includes Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and also Diagon Alley which is connected to Hogsmead by the Hogwarts Express which leaves from Kings Cross Station at Platform 9 3/4!   Universal Studios has completely recreated the sets from the Harry Potter movies and added rides, interactive wand stations, outdoor stage productions - just about anything you remember from the books and movies can be found in the parks.
     This will most likely be my last vacation in the States before I head overseas.  But I still don't know exactly when that will happen as my house will need to sell first.  I hope to have the house ready to put on the market when we get back from Orlando.  And then keep my fingers crossed!
     Once all my house projects are finished (and I am getting closer!) I will post photos.  I'm also thinking about having an Open House/Bon Voyage party so I can invite all of you to see what I've done and party with all my friends!  One last time!  And then you can all come visit me in France, right?
      Thank you for staying with me on this part of the journey.  I feel like I've accomplished a lot in the past year and I must say that your encouragement and enthusiasm have helped me tremendously.  A huge "Merci" to all of you!