Top of the World

Two years of planning and preparation (also referred to as madness and mayhem) involved in the project downtown only to have it still come down to the wire as usual.  Craziness, stress, pressure, anxiety...all culminating in the grand unveiling of my blood, sweat, and tears merged together in the form of wood veneers, faux finishes, and a giant wall of glass.  Visitors arrive with mouths agape and the sound of oohs and ahhs dribble out uncontrolably--but I arrive and see every flaw, every dent and ding, every oversight, every missed opportunity, and every shoulda' woulda' coulda'.  As I stand in the space and play the male cabinet salesman version of Vanna White during the awkwardly named "Uptown Living Expo" (like it's craft fair or something?) while gawkers and hopeful clients come in, I wear a nametag hung around my neck that says simply, "Lee Williams, Cabinet Concepts," but couldn't it just say, "It's not my fault". 

On the flip side of the nametag I carry a black and white image that looks like something produced by either Air Traffic Control or the Red October (ladies, that is a submarine from a classic movie).  This image is the icon of a year and a half undertaking which also required hard work, determination, perseverance, procedures, appointments, etc.  This image is the ultrasound of our not-yet-born child.  I carried it around so I could show it off to past and current clients at our Grand Opening party on the 16th floor.  I carry it while I play Vanna and sneak peeks to distract me from my throbbing feet. 

Despite the heartaches, despite the frustrations, and even when I'm not up on the 16th floor...

I'm on Top of the World.

Who's the pregnant one?

It's 2:30 am and I'm awake--UGH.  Who's the pregnant one, anyway?  Oh don't worry, she's fast asleep upstairs...sleeping as she has done most of the day.  Don't get me wrong, she needs the sleep because she is literally--as we say--growing another human being.  But what about me?  I need sleep too!

Full moon.  A lot going on at work.  My mind's racing.  ...or maybe it's just the caffeine.  I'd bet on a wicked brew of "All of the above."  I guess aspiring daddies have to get used to not sleeping and running on our preferred method(s) of energy supplements also.

At least we can eat hot dogs and take Nyquil though.  Now there's an idea...