My happy student

I have this one student who I like very much, but sometimes I really don't like her. I know that doesn't make sense right now, give me a few more sentences.

See, she's a really upbeat and positive person. You know the kind. The kind that somehow, magically, naively, almost childishly sees the good in just about everyone and everything. It's like somehow the sheer irritating mess of the universe just passes over her without touching her in the slightest.

Now, I know her well enough that I know she gets down. She even complains sometimes. She gets sad. She get angry. She carries mountains of stress and anxiety more often than not. So, you might think her normal personality is some kind of 'fake out' or a facade. Basically, a lie she tells the world to keep from going insane.

Maybe it is, but I don't think so. I think somewhere along the line she decided to be happy and then (and here is the important part) learned how to be happy. (I used italics, so you know it's important).

Lots of inspirational messages will want you to 'decide to be happy' and that's all well and good. Not horridly helpful though. I'd love to decide to be good at drywall installation. Until I actually learn how to do it, that little decision is pointless.

So, I like her because her personality is upbeat and pleasant.
I really don't like her sometimes because she's so good at something I don't know how to do.

How did she learn to be happy? I have no idea, but I'm gonna figure that out. Then I'm gonna learn to do it.

Recovery and Countertops

Last time, I mentioned my dad was in the hospital. At the time we really did not have a very clear idea of everything that was going on. Basically, two things tried to kill him at the same time. Oddly enough, because it was two things, neither succeeded.

Basically, he had a bacterial blood infection. We're not 100% sure how, but he did. It got serious and an ambulance was called. We think he may have had a heart attack on the way to the hospital. The heart attack he had has a nick-name. It's called the Widowmaker. It earns that name. Here's the irony: If he had not had the blood infection, it's likely the heart attack was going to happen with no warning and just kill him outright. BUT, because the blood infection tried to kill him first, the heart attack was treatable. BUT, the heart attack had to be treated first before they even found the blood infection. So, because two different, intensely dangerous, conditions both tried to get through the 'kill you' door at the same time, they got stuck and failed comically.

Surviving,
Like a Boss. 

It was a really intense few days. He stayed 10 days in the hospital and then a couple weeks at home recovering with a PICC line and a drain line. The drain line hurt and we were all happy to see it go. Since it came out, his recovery has been intense. He still gets tired pretty easy and has to watch his exertion, but he's back to work and getting caught up.

I could EASILY fill a blog about how great Dove Academy (where he works) has been. They had flowers in his room before he even got there. The principal came and visited. They've been nothing but awesome through the whole thing. I'll leave it at that.

So, today, I was able to get him to help me redo the sink. Now we also redid the countertops. Well, Mo did. I just primed them. So, here are more before and afters.

Before

After, lights on

After, lights off

Here's a close up of the counter tops. This Giani Granite stuff looks surprisingly good. Mo did a great job.

See that new switch? I did that. It was hard, but it works. 

You might notice, the faucet looks different and the sink is now stainless steel. That is what Dad I did together today. It took most of the day and we are both tired now.

But, it looks really, really good.