Sunday, July 13, 2008

Expenses and Buyer's Remorse

Of course, all you brilliant readers were right. Those were medical bills. I get at least one in the mail a day, and some lovely days I get a giant pile like the one pictured. We haven't even met this baby yet and he/she is costing us more in medical expenses than we've ever paid for anyone else combined! Today I have to go in for a Rhogam shot (because my blood is Rh negative) and tomorrow is yet another ultrasound. So, they will continue rolling in.

However, I am glad that we have insurance. I am glad that the places I have been sent take my insurance. I am glad that I don't live in Fairbanks anymore, because I know they wouldn't be doing fetal blood transfusions there. If we were still in the military in Alaska either this baby would have died, or I would have been sent to Seattle for months. I'm glad I live 45 minutes away from an expert in the subject. I am glad that the baby made it through all the procedures and viruses and anemia. I am glad we'll get to meet this little trooper in a few short months. So, I guess seeing a big pile of white envelopes in the mail isn't really that big a deal.

Now, do you want to know what is a big deal? When you buy something big that you end up hating!

What have I done??? I went in my neighbor's house about a year ago and she had the most awesome black kitchen table. I loved it. I wanted one. I've been on the lookout for a similar one for a year now. And this week one went on sale. And I bought it. And I sold the other country style tacky one on Craig's list. And we put the new one up. And we sort of hate it. Because I sort of forgot I have a BLACK FLOOR and not the wood floor that my neighbor's lovely table was sitting on.

And now there is this bottomless pit look going on in my kitchen. And I want to cry. The table just blends in to the floor.

John said he told me so. He did. I didn't listen, because he never saw my neighbor's awesome kitchen (she moved) so what did he know?

Turns out he knows more than I give him credit for. Because look. LOOK WHAT I DID. OHSHIT.

Before:

After:

This actually looks worse on the computer than it does in person, but it looks bad in person too. The black plastic floor is at the very top of my list of Home Improvements Needed Last Year But Must Wait Until Medical Bills Are Paid. One glorious day, it will be wood. And then I think this table will look better. But for now, it is just reeeeeeally not quite right. I feel like crying about it!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Katie I have 2 words for your floor "White Paint" that will make that black table pop.

The Quinn Report said...

Honestly, I really don't think it looks that bad. I actually think your new table looks better than the old one! Sure, wood flooring would make it really pop, but for now, I think its great...don't stress!

I love the table!

Unknown said...

I don't think it looks that bad either. BUT, since you hate it, 2 words.....area rug. Will take care of that problem in a snap!

Tracy said...

I don't think it looks bad either. What if you put white/off white cushions on it? Maybe that would make enough pop until you can get your floors.
MUCH better than the other table.

Lysandra said...

Get a rug. No worries. P.S. Where did you get that because it looks like a good compromise for our breakfast nook?....

joanna said...

Yes, a rug. An inexpensive and busy one so the food droppings blend in - or maybe one treated with whatever makes stains not stick. maybe it's more fun to vacuum after meals than sweep? I always hated when our eating table was on carpet, but aside from wet spills it's not that different. And the table is beautiful! Think of it as an investment since the floors you wanted to change anyway eventually?

Swistle said...

Here is what I would do: I would put a tablecloth on it. With one of those plastic things over it that says Yes, We Have a Child, because otherwise you will be laundering tablecloths morning noon and night. And I would keep the tablecloth on it until the floor was done and I could feel happy about the table again.

Andrea and Ben said...

Rug, rug, rug. Find one on sale you won't be sad to get rid of when you finally get your gorgeous wood floors. I don't think it looks bad anyway, but do what will help you feel better about it.

Anonymous said...

Bevo likes it! You just need to get used to it because it is so different. You have enough light beaming into your kitchen that you don't need a white or light colored table.

Also, one can never have too many table runners. And a small area rug would be cute, but not necessary.

Anonymous said...

how about getting one of those cool bamboo area rugs? that would look woodish and cool!
or, you could go to a flooring store and get those snap together floor tiles that are raging on hgtv lately....

easy! relatively cheap!
not all black! cool table btw.

Anonymous said...

How about making a floor cloth? It's pretty cheap and you can mkae it match the rest of your decor. Here's link on how to make one...
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_floors_cloths_mats/article/0,1793,HGTV_3411_3189506,00.html
(I don't know how to hyperlink it in comments, but it should work for a copy and paste)

Anonymous said...

I say throw a rug under it. I think the table looks really nice and if you know you are going to redo the floor then eventually it will all work out ok.

Katie said...

I totally think a rug would look much better under there....but I just can't wrap my mind around how you keep a rug clean under where a toddler eats? Just yesterday she spilled a glass of blueberry pomegranate juice....that wouldn't come out of a light colored carpet!

I love the idea of a really colorful/oriental one, but it would likely be dark too (to hide stains)...not to mention the cost.

I wonder if the bamboo ones or the floor cloths are easy to clean!?

joanna said...

I bought a carpet remnant at the BX in AK for cheap - it was a 5 by 7 rug or so that we put under where Alan ate. It kind of blended into the carpet and the worst stains landed there. There are also splat mats (made out of oilcloth) that you could put under where the kids eat - or it that the same as a floor cloth? Or go for all white and just bleach it a lot?

Smitty 1, 2 , 3 and 4 said...

I also have two words: area rug. Go to a carpet store. Pick out some fun carpet. See what the smallest size you can order is. Order. Ask about having it binded. The carpet will most like come scotch-guarded.

You saved hundreds.

Anonymous said...

The floor cloth is almost like an outdoor rug; once you paint it, it's easy to clean up and flat enough for a chair to run across it pretty smoothly. The article I linked to talks about using one in the kitchen/eating area, so I think it must be pretty durable. Plus you can make it any color(s) you want!

Sioux said...

I like the black. Why not celebrate the modern chic-ness of it until you get your floors?

Angie said...

Well, you will just obviously have to get new floors sooner. I would probably do the area rug and maybe a tablecloth in the meantime.

Anonymous said...

we use those clear, sturdy computer chair rolly mats from costco (i hope you know what i am talking about cause damned if i know what they are called for reals) and put them over the carpet in our dining room. they are big and catch most of the goodies my 2.5 and 1 yr old toss out. bonus, they are easy to sweep or vacuum.

Lysandra said...

You know what...I think those are the ones I ordered from Ikea!