Damnit.

Why are plumbers so freakin' expensive?

In other news, I'm on my way to having a fixed front door lock. Just one more trip to Ace tonight for a different kind of screw. Then it will be time to tackle the kitchen door.

In addition to having Home Improvement ADD, I think I'm starting to get Home Improvement Guilt, or something. I imagine it's how most new mothers feel- like nothing you do is good enough, like there's something better you could always be doing, like all the other mothers are looking at you and thinking, "She's a horrible mother!" I feel this way about my house. I've really let my garden go, because I'm LAZY and hate watering (also, it probably has something to do with working 50 hours a week). I've killed a few mum plants, some vines, and even some bushes. I can excuse it by saying, "It's horrible for the environment to waste water on plants!" And while this is true, it also makes for an ugly garden. The whole thing is just TOO MUCH to take care of. I feel overwhelmed just looking at it from inside my house. It doesn't help that my next door neighbors have an absolutely stunning garden and yard, complete with koi pond, hand-built gazebo and arbor, and window boxes. Even though I've always made fun of it, I can totally see how people get roped into competing with their neighbors on things like this. It's easy to feel inadequate! I know I shouldn't care what my neighbors think. But I do wonder if they're mumbling under their breath, "Wow, she's really let that place go..."

I could also use this failure of mine as an opportunity to turn my backyard into something *I* want. I'm not crazy about the boring design, or the complete random mish-mash of flowers scattered here and there. I want something more environmentally friendly. Something more suited to Oklahoma's climate. Something easy to take care of.