It may not look like much to you, but to me, it represents (exhausting) progress!

I’m still nowhere near finished with either of the two new bathrooms – and for the last three months, I’ve been without a second-floor toilet. That’s meant stumbling down the back stairs (because the front stairs still have no rail) in the middle of the night should I need to adjust my fluid levels.

A few weeks ago, such a midnight need led to a slip resulting in a massive bruise on my posterior – so I decided to stop all fluid intake after 10 p.m. I want my bourbon back.

Today, my electrician (finally) hung one of the two exhaust fans, and he assures me the other – and the rest of his work – will be installed by Friday afternoon. Then I can finish the floor, start hanging and patching drywall, and install (and use!) the toilet. (“Is there a felicity in the world…superior to this?”)

In the meantime, though, I’ve been awfully busy in my off-hours with editing  – and I was happy to have the work not only because I enjoy it, but because I chose an expensive toilet (the wax ring might put me over budget).

But just moments ago, I emailed back to its author the last of my current freelance jobs. I’m quite excited about that book; it’s an earthy and at times hilarious collection of life/work stories and anecdotes from a well-known cabinetmaker…but I can’t say anything more until the author unveils it. Update: Nancy Hiller just posted the image at left on Instagram. I hope you read it and enjoy it as much as have I.

So now I’m back to fretting about the lack of progress in my bathroom – both mine and the electrician’s.

I’m very much looking forward to my nightcap consumption resumption.