Remembering 9/11

As the entire country stops and remembers 9/11, we feel its appropriate to share our stories of 9/11. It has become our generation's day where we all know where we were and what we were doing when our world stopped for a moment. The day was terrifying and we can honestly have no idea how the people directly affected must have felt. Even to this day, if I just see a touching story about that day I cry (I'm tearing up now).

Don't worry, we'll never forget.

Here are our stories.

Maureen:
I was in my sophomore year at Winona State University in Minnesota and awoke that Tuesday like any other day. I got ready for my Natural History class (a local natural biology class). I had not turned the television on that morning and just got ready for class. It was a gorgeous early fall day with the sun shining and the birds were chirping as I crossed campus.

When I arrived for my 9:30 AM (CST) class, about an hour and 45 minutes after the first plane had hit, one student had a transistor radio in his ear and asked the whole class, "Did you hear a plane hit one of the World Trade Centers?" Only one other student said yes. We all started asking questions. He continued to listen to his radio and told us that a second plane had hit the second tower. We were all starting to panic at this time.

Our professor came in that morning and told us we were going to have a lab day and were going to walk around campus identifying trees. At this point, this was the last thing on our mind. I will be honest. I don't remember what my professor said that day. We did walk around as a group identifying local Minnesota trees but that was all I can vaguely remember. My attention was glued on to the student with the radio. He told us that there were reports that a plane has hit the Pentagon. I was even more scared and panicky. Our professor took note that no one was really paying attention to her and let us out of class a little early.

I ran across campus back to my dorm at Sheehan Hall. I flew into my room and turned on the TV. My dad was working overnights at the time and I knew many times he was fall asleep watching the morning news. My mom was at work and my sister was at school. So I called my dad screaming. He was sleeping as I suspected. I demanded he turn the TV on and see what was going on. The second tower had just fallen. At this point the chaos had officially ended but the questions were just beginning. I asked him questions he could not answer.

We received an email that all classes that day were optional. I sat in my room staring at the television for a few hours. I just sat crying for hours. My roommate, Jenn, didn't seem as affected as me. They announced that a plane crash had happened in Pennsylvania which was supposed to be aimed at the White House. Later we would find out that some brave people stopped the hijackers from their plans being properly taken out.

I did not attend the rest of my classes that day. I eventually ventured out and saw how others were taking it. I walked through the Union and saw everyone crowded around the large television there. Some people were crying and everyone else just sat silent. It really summed up the day.

The rest of the day was a blur but that morning and early afternoon will always be burned in my mind.

Max:
I was still attending Middleton High School at the time and I was in the first semester of my senior year.  The day started just as any other, just like everyone else on that day.  My first class class of the day just went like every other one, my teacher showed up late to my morning math class and I did my best to pay attention to him.

While I was on my way to my 2nd class of the day, I remember this commotion happening in the hallway and there being a sense of urgency that all the students where having, almost a panic.  There where was some rumors about "attacks" and "a war starting".  The first thing that I did was discount them, you hear a lot of stupid rumors in a high school hallway.  I was thinking that it was part of some senior prank I wasn't in on.  When I got to my next class that everything changed.

My next class there wasn't attendance, there wasn't any instruction, there wasn't anything but most of the school glued to whatever TV they could find.  I watched in silent shock, just like everyone else.  I remember the feeling of helplessness that I had watching the attacks.  I was livid that I couldn't do anything about what was going on other than sitting in a classroom watching the TV.

When I got home I remember my parents hugging me, I also remember my dad taking my car to go fill up the gas tank.  He remembered that there was a big run on gas after Pearl Harbor and didn't want to see me having to pay $4 for a gallon of gas to a price gouger (how times have changed).  I remember the rest of the day being solemn and quiet, there where a lot of prayer meetings at every local church I could think of.

The emotions of that day are a bit hard for me to sum up.  Shock, anger, fear, compassion and sorrow are just some of the emotions that I felt that day.  It's a little hard for me to put them into words.



9/11 Never forgotten.

Feeling Me Some Fall

As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, fall is on its way. I love decorating for the seasons, especially fall and the Holiday season. 

I updated all my Bath & Body Works Wallflowers to their new fall scents (I'm a little obsessed with how awesome they smell). "Autumn", "Kitchen Spice", "Apple Crumble" and "Leaves" in my world mean "love". 

Here is the light decorating for early fall with the heavy stuff to come later during Halloween and Thanksgiving. All of the items were from Target or Dollar Tree last year.

Target leaf lantern

Fall floral from Dollar Tree

Fall leaves from Dollar Tree, twig pumpkins from Target

Ceramic pumpkin candy dish from Dollar Tree

Stay tuned for more decorating. We have big plans for our first Halloween. I can't wait to hand out candy to all the neighborhood kids!

Let's Get Ready to Demo!

We are gearing up to tackle our main bathroom remodel. This is the biggest project (to date) that we have done and it has taken quite a bit of planning. From the moment we saw the "Packer" bathroom, named that because of the green tub and sink with the yellow tiles on the walls, we knew we had our work cut out for us. Although I love the Green and Gold, my bathroom is not one of the places I want to see it everyday.

The challenge with this project is we have to move fast. We have no other shower so we at least have to get the shower done as soon as possible from demolition.

Here is the way it is right now. The furnishings are from our previous apartment and luckily tie the room a little bit together (if you know your colors: yellow + blue = green).

These are the only lights at all in the bathroom currently. There is a small light over the tub (but it is not working). They seem to be original to the house with the electrical outlet underneath. There is also no vent in the bathroom which is something we desperately need to add before winter (the window has to get cracked right now to let the steam out).

This is the sink, also original to the house. The faucet has been updated but that is it. There are two soap build-ins right below the medicine cabinet mirror.

I have a feeling the toilet has been replaced at some point but it was still over 20 years ago. Some of the tiles are cracked through to the interior wall.

This is a cabinet that is attached to the wall for additional storage. At this point we have more than enough storage in the closet behind it and want to remove it.

Here is an intimate view *gasp of our tub. Currently the water is controlled by two seperate switches, neither of which are tight to the wall. We have to use the mini screwdriver many times to tighten them back to turn the water off. A tile that was supposed to be a soap holder is gone and we have a nice support rail for grandma.

There is also a detachable hose for the shower. Max actually loves this since he can wash Turk (and any future children we might have) with ease. He is determined to get something similar in the remodel.

Even the outside of our door has issues. Domestic dispute? We may never know.

So what are the plans?

We want to replace the tub, sink, toilet, lighting and fixtures. All of the yellow tile is coming down. The white cabinet is getting tore out. The door is getting replaced. New wood laminate flooring will be laid. The closet door removed and baskets will be used as storage. The budget for all of these fixes is $3000. We are really trying to be as far under that without making the room look cheap.

John and Sherry Petersik from Young House Love's first house bathroom is our inspiration bathroom. It is has a very similar layout to ours (just slightly different) and, come on, its gorgeous.

We have a few things already picked out. We want to add a high efficiency toilet to save as much money, and oh yeah the Earth, as possible. And the tax credit will be sweet as well. With our tub we are going to add the wall panels for now to save on time with a possible upgrade with tile down the road.

We have this open concept sink and faucet from West Elm on clearance picked out to keep an open air feeling to the small space.

We haven't decided on a mirror or lighting yet. Those will come a little ways down the line.

So big things are coming in the next couple of weeks. First on our list is demolition. Let the fun begin!