Top 10 at 19 (weeks)

19 Weeks along. Halfway there. I'm about halfway through my "best" trimester, and am just now starting to feel human again! So much for "it will all end at 12 weeks." Yeah. WhatEVer!

As you will see from the pictures below, I haven't quite "popped" yet...but I sure feel it! But for a little Halfway Humor, I wanted to enlighten you on 10 things I have found interesting, or funny, or enjoyable, (or embarrassing) these last 19 weeks...

1. The first thing I noticed were the colossal burps! In general, I try to not pass gas, but I'd rather have to burp than, well, the alternative. Honestly, though. I've scared myself with these burps! Once I was driving, and it sounded like there was a lion roaring in the backseat...only I realized that it was me. Then another time I was in the shower, and maybe there were good acoustics, but I could swear there was a huge clap of thunder above!

2. Over Christmas, Dave's aunt said "I just realized. You're 4 months along, and not only do you not look pregnant, you look like I look when I have gas" Like I said, one of these days I'll pop. I'm well into maternity bottoms, but not yet needing the tops. One day.

3. For the first time in, oh, 15 years (?) I have the privilege of buying bigger bras. Yay Me! :o)

4. I have a strong aversion to chocolate and sweets...which is really strange for me! I haven't had any true cravings, just anti-cravings. In fact, it's usually Dave eating the pickles, not me. :o)

5. When we went for my first scan, as I got out of the car, I realized that I had forgotten to put on shoes! It was funny, but it was okay because at least I was wearing my house shoes! :o) I don't think anyone noticed.

6. It hasn't been "morning" as much as "night-time" sickness. I don't feel nauseous, it just comes on quickly, and almost always at night. Thankfully, never in public.

7. There have been many nights that I have woken up and found my (ahem) hands down my (sorry, Mom) pajama pants. I think it's to alleviate the pressure of the elastic band on my bump, but I still think it's funny. :o)

8. It has been SUCH a chore to buy maternity pants. Holy cow! I hope it gets easier, because I'm going to have these 3 pairs of pants worn out over the next 5 months if this is all I can find!

9. I think watching TV makes me sick. I know, TV makes lots of people sick these days. But I'm serious. I'm a lot more likely to lose my dinner on nights that I watch TV than on nights that I don't. Strange, huh?

10. I can't believe the amount of awful smells and wretched tastes of common things. I know all pregnant women talk about The Nose, I just think it's interesting what things have been most annoying to me. I mostly can't stand the smell of lotions and soaps and air fresheners. As for taste, sadly, I CAN'T stand the taste of water. Yes, water. It's made me puke. This makes it really difficult to drink 8-10 glasses a day...Crystal Light doesn't help, either. :-(

And for the visual learners out there, here are the latest shots from this morning. I have gained 2 inches at my belly button in the last 4 weeks, but haven't gained much weight...not that I haven't tried!

Belly Button

Below the belly button

Side shot

Back from Dial-Up

Whew! I had forgotten what 45kbps really feels like! It feels like chocolate chips melting over a tealight candle. It feels like "shaving" your legs with a pair of tweezers. It feels like making tea with no hot water. It feels good to be home, and back to wireless broadband.

All week I wondered if Kelly had her baby (She did. Go see!)

And how Megan was feeling after the discovery of a Peanut growing within (better, it sounds like)

And how Katie was adjusting to life with a newborn (very well, with additional hugs and kisses)

And how Mike was enjoying New Zealand (tremendously, of course!)

And what new creations Tink was making out of yummy fabric (have sewing machine, will travel...she's still on vacation, so we'll have to wait some more)

We had a fantabulous time in Northern Michigan. Although it didn't snow very much, I still got to put my big long "sleeping bag" coat to good use. It hovered around freezing most of the week.

We got to celebrate Grandma's 97th birthday. Yup. 97 years young. She's a spitfire if I've ever seen one! That woman is A-Mazing! She keeps up with the 4-year old, plays dominos with whoever wants to get wooped, and enjoys life more than most 35-year olds that I know!

And we celebrated Christmas in fine fashion. I have to say that I'm glad I'm into maternity pants now because, well, you know that critical point after everyone has gotten seconds where they sneakily unbutton their pants? Well, good thing for me, I don't need to unbutton anything...so I could just eat, and eat, and eat and my waistband would just grow and grow and grow! :o) Hee hee! I'm SO glad that both Thanksgiving and Christmas fall in the critical "must gain weight" period of my pregnancy! Yay Me! :o) Dave's family is just great. We both have such an incredible time with all of them. It was just one awesome thing after another! Dial-up internet connection aside, I would gladly have stayed for more.

And with that, I bid you all a nice, relaxing weekend.

I do love it.

Blue and silver as a Christmas decoration combination, that is.

Over at Fried Okra, I found the link for a Christmas Tree quiz, and here's how I scored:

You Should Have a Blue Christmas Tree

For you, the holidays represent a time of calm, understanding, and peace. You avoid family fights, and you don't get too stressed out - even when things are crazy! You like to make Christmas about making everyone's life a little bit better. You don't get caught up in greed or commercialism. You're too sincere for that. Your blue tree would look great with: Lots of silver tinsel You should spend Christmas Eve watching: It's a Wonderful Life What you should bake for Santa: Chocolate chip cookies

What Color Christmas Tree Should You Have?

Some of it is accurate, but other parts seem a little far fetched. I may not like family fights (who does?) but to go so far as to say I don't get too stressed out? Sheesh! Who do they think they're talking about?! :o)

And why should I bake Chocolate Chip cookies for Santa?

I wonder what color tree you get if your favorite Christmas movie is Elf? "Santa's coming? I know him!" And the best scene, I think, is when Buddy is putting the star on the top of the tree and uses the couch as a trampoline! Hah! That's great! I play that scene over and over.

And let us not forget in all the hustle and bustle, and the parking and paying, and eating and wrapping that the greatest gift of all has already been given. With this gift comes hope, and love, and peace, and forgiveness, and mercy, and grace beyond measure. With this gift comes eternal life. This gift is salvation, brought to us by Jesus, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas (and every day!).

Hark, the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!

May you and yours have a blessed Christmas, and a happy new year.

Hurry, Run!

I love being a host organism. I love that my body is no longer my own. I love the aches and pains of growing foreign beings in my body.

I found out yesterday that, not only am I a host organism to The Yipper, I am apparently also the host organism to a good-and-thriving, rip-roaring colony of bacteria, who have taken up residence in my bladder. sigh.

This is painful! I don't like this very much!

I'm trying to drink extra water, and I'm taking my antibiotics. And that's pretty much all that really works. I asked the doc about cranberry juice, and she said it doesn't help much after you have the infection, which is fine with me because I don't like it too much.

I'm looking forward to the next 10-14 days. I plan to spend my time either huddled on the couch or racing to the bathroom.

Wishing YOU good health this holiday season!

...and the survey says...

It's a girl? ??? Really? I guess you have to consider what you don't see, right? :o) But the doc is 97% sure it's a Pink.

And look at her purdy face... the arrow is on her right cheekbone, below her right eye. Purdy Girl. There's a whole big mess of proud grandparents scattered all over this continent!

(I think it's a little spooky, myself!)

But, her heart is good, her size is good (only 7oz/200grams), her limbs are the right size, etc. We got another DVD of the ultrasound, so we'll be able to show her off to Dave's family over Christmas.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Dave!

Today is Dave's birthday...and since it's neither fun to have a birthday on Tuesday, nor to have a birthday a week before Christmas, we celebrated last Saturday.


I always try to do stuff for his birthday, and then give stuff for Christmas, so there is at least some distinction between the two!!


We started out having breakfast at the Omelette and Waffle Shop for a BIG breakfast! Ugh, the gluttony started early, but my french toast was tasty!


After that, we went to Point Fermin Park to walk along the cliffs, and hike down to the water. Hiking back up from the water is sure a keister-burner...I don't think I've used those particular muscles in months!


We watered-up, and started the drive to Boomers, which is a "game" park...except I don't know the real word for it. Anyways, we played 2 rounds of mini-golf (I won both times!), and had lunch, and then played some video games and skeeball...you know, it's all about those tickets that you accumulate, then are forced to buy Tootsie Rolls and Fun Dip! :o) Whew! I was tired after that! But we weren't done yet!


By now it was dark, and we drove to the Proud Bird for dinner. This restaurant is themed around antique/retired airplanes. Dave was very excited to tell me all about the P38 Lightning, and another lesson about the Tuskegee Airmen, and I don't remember what else! They also have pictures of aviation history on their walls. It's a great restaurant for someone who likes airplanes! (And lobster...)


...and because it was his birthday celebration, when he made his next request, I had to say "yes." He wanted to drive up to The Hollywood Sign. We didn't have any real clue where it is, so I said "okay, but only if we can find it in the GPS." So, we typed it in, and found it, and started to drive. And drive. And drive. We went through Beverley Hills, up Sunset Boulevard, past Hollywood-and-Vine, and then up into the Hollywood Hills. And up. And up. We finally found it - sorta. We discovered that it's no longer lit at night, and, much to Dave's dismay, we learned that one cannot hike up to it after dark. (duh) We'll try again in the springtime.

All in all, we had a splendiforous day! The weather was perfect, and so was everything we did.

Admitting...

...that I'm a nerd.

Most of you knew that already, but I'm just 'fessing up to it.

Dave and I started "planning to start planning" for a baby about a year ago. Which is to say that it took me quite a while to work up the courage to actually start planning, and then (gasp!) start "trying."

But we knew we were going to start trying, so I, in all my shopping opportunities and wisdom (and nerdiness), decided to start buying. :o) When we were in Italy in April, I bought a silk maternity skirt thinking how cool it would be to remember that wonderful trip anytime I wore that skirt. Then when we were in Greece in July, I bought a really pretty, really practical dress. And a couple of times, while working at the thrift store in England, I bought maternity clothes that I liked. I only got a pair of jeans and a shirt, but I am really really glad I did now because I'm having a horrible time finding jeans here! I know some superstitious people out that that are saying I'm crazy for buying stuff before I was even pregnant and somehow jinxed myself...but I think they're wrong.

As for shopping for the baby, the only thing I bought pre-bebe was a moses basket. I liked it, and thought it would remind me of oldey-worldey England. I had to hide it from the cat, though, because she thought it would make a really comfy little bed for her! :o) Silly kitty!

Anywho...all that was to say that I bought something(s) for the baby yesterday at Old Navy that I think are pretty stinkin' cute. We still don't know the gender, but these are neutral, so it's okay.

Check out the little stripe down the side! Little Baby Chucks. Awww...Aunt Tash would be so proud!

Someday I'll tell you about my very laughable experience trying on maternity jeans!

And so it begins...(16 weeks)

...my life in elastic waistbands.

I'm 16 weeks along today, and, um, can't really wear my jeans anymore. I still fit in them, but I can no longer sit in them. :o) I mean, gosh, who needs their jeans to button, right? I'm SO glad that fashionable t-shirts are longer now (for covering bellies and unbuttoned jeans). Long gone are the midriff tees - Hallelujah!

I will enter the world of maternity clothes soon, but until then, I plan to protest (while wearing some of Dave's sweatpants).

I have to laugh, though, when people who don't know me say something like "You're how far along? Gosh, you're not even showing!" And I think "Huh. You don't know what my belly looked like 16 weeks ago, so zip it!"

Here are the latest belly shots:

Size at belly button

Size at widest point

Side shot

Livin' the High Life

Nothing much to report here, I just know it's been a while.


It's a beautiful morning in Southern California. The kitty cats are reclining in patches of sunshine, I've got the doors open for fresh air (I love fresh air!). I'll be hanging bed sheets out on my makeshift clothesline in about 15 minutes.


Dave is going to the Big Orange Home Store to pick up supplies for his Saturday Honey-Do list. Should I be nervous that he's going alone? :o)


Last night we enjoyed a lovely steak dinner at Outback after waiting over an hour for our table. I have forgotten about "call ahead seating". I shall not forget again!


Last weekend we drove to Redondo Beach for a little afternoon stroll. It was a bit breezy, but we had a nice walk, and saw people playing volleyball, and laying out (crazy!), and surfing, and sailing...all those fun water sports!

As we were walking, I was thinking that next summer, once Kelly and her crew move here, (and after May 26th, of course), she and I can drive up to the beach, and walk our little babewskis along the beach path for a some sunshiney exercise! Cool, eh? Wanna come?

I've found about 3 Christmas gifts so far...which is 3 more than I was expecting to have before February...I'm just not very with-it this year. Ah, well, I'm sure it is the Movers' fault somehow! :o)

Hope you have a great week!

My Birth Story

Obviously, everyone has a "birth story"...but I suspect not everyone knows (or cares to know?) theirs. Since becoming pregnant, I've read a few people's baby birthing stories...and I have to say that if I'd read them before I got pregnant...I would probably have waited a little longer! :o)

All fear aside...

Last week my dad said a couple of things that I want to share with my bloggie friends.

When my brother was going through his date book the list of names we couldn't name our child...my dad went up to Dave with a drink in his hand and toasted him saying "Here's to the two men who made Uncle Rob Uncle Rob." (how cute is that?)

The other is my birth story. I knew the very very end of it, but think the parts I didn't know are kinda funny. Here is Dad's perspective of the story:

It was after midnight, and Dad was sleeping well when Mom woke him up to say that her water had broken 3 or 4 hours ago, and she was pretty sure it was time to go to the hospital now. While she got her stuff ready, Dad ran across the yard to get Grandma (his mom) to come along and "catch" if necessary. They lived WAY out in the country, and "town" was a million miles away. Mom and Grandma were in the backseat as Dad tried to get that old car to go faster - he wasn't very pleased with 90 miles an hour at that point. But he figured Grandma had had 5 babies of her own, and as a farmer's wife, she'd helped to deliver lots of calves, so she was well trained in case I came out before they got to the hospital. :o) Then they finally got into town, then through town (that hospital was in the middle of town, so they had to maneuver through the streets and lights).

They got to the hospital at about 1:30, and they put Mom in a wheelchair and took her to the delivery room right away. Dad said "times had changed from when Rob was born" and he could have gone in with her, but chose not to. :o) I'm guessing she was pretty far along because I was born at 1:57 am!

Does anyone know if "speed and ease of birth" is genetic? They say stretch marks are (woo.hoo.)...but what about birthing? I know first babies take longer, but maybe it won't be so bad for me?

Here's hoping... :o)

Creativity Abounds

Today we get our new sofa (sectional) and entertainment center. Yay!! Then tomorrow, we get our shipment of stuff we had in storage in Colorado the last 3 years. I have NO CLUE what's in there! None! :o) Maybe 2% of it is known to me. Maybe.

But, I still haven't found the can opener. Dave found the spatula, which is nice...but no can opener. I know it's here somewhere! So, when fixing dinner last night, I needed a way to get into the green beans. What I found :o) was a pointy contraption thingy that I think is from when my dad was in basic training in the '60s! It mostly opened the can...but after about 10 minutes and only 3 inches around, I decided I needed heftier reinforcements, and went to the garage and found a pair of pliers.

:o) A photo of my ingenuity for your viewing pleasure - jagged edges and all:

The Big Reveal (with photos)

Happy Black Friday! Anyone dropped from their shopping, yet? I opted to stay home today and sit on my kiester rather than brave the crowds! I decided that there isn't anyone on my Christmas list that needs a gift bought today. Call me "chicken" - I don't care!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and for those of you still celebrating, Enjoy! :o)

Dave and I are in Houston spending T-Day with my brother and aunt and uncle who live here. It's great because it's the first time in a year that Dave has seen most of my family, and my dad and his wife drove over from Mississippi to be here, too, and it's been 3 years since he's seen them!

We had a non-traditional Thanksgiving combination at the dinner table this year. Well, we've done it this way a few times before, but most families don't do it like this. Around the table were my dad, his wife, my mom, her partner, my uncle, my aunt (Mom's sister), my brother, Dave and I. Non-traditional is great, though, because you get to see everyone at once! :o)

And this year, that was extra important because we've been gone so long. It was such a blessing to hang out with everyone all mixed up together. I only wish my grandparents could have been there. But, good news, Grandpa is home from the hospital now, so it's more important for him to be home.

And (as some of you know), as we gathered around the dinner table, before anyone got up for seconds, I made the following announcement:

"Um, since there's a lull in conversation, Dave and I have an announcement to make. I am 3 months pregnant, and we're going to have a baby in May. And I have ultrasound pictures." (which I gracefully flung into the middle of the table because I was so scared!)

Everyone was VERY excited. There were squeals, and tears and hugs. (Hmmm...come to think of it, I think everyone forgot about seconds!) I wish I had my little camera set to video, though, because I don't remember anyone's facial expressions! I was very nervous!

I don't know about you guys, but for me, this was a BIGGIE!

Mom was happy about the news. But the last time my mom and I discussed pregnancy, I was 15, and Mom and I had "The Talk". I don't remember much, except that the beginning went something like "So-and-so's 15-year-old daughter that goes to Harrison, is pregnant. And I better not hear about you getting pregnant." :o) Yes, I'm a grown woman, and I've been married to a wonderful man for the last 8 years, but for that to be the last impression I had about me and pregnancy...I was a wee bit nervous to tell her.

And Dad was happy as well. Honestly, I don't think Dad and I have ever discussed pregnancy or having children. But I'm a card-carrying Daddy's Girl, and there's something about saying "I'm pregnant." to my dad that is just plain scary. Maybe it's the part where he knows, now, that I'm no longer a virgin? :o) Yes, I'm a grown woman, and I've been married to a wonderful man for the last 8 years, but dads aren't supposed to know that kind of thing about their little girls. :o) I know there are some of you out there that feel my pain! While I'm on the subject, later on, some of us were in the kitchen, and I said something like "Well, thankfully, we didn't have to 'try' too long." And Dave said "Yup, put me in, Coach. I'll make the goal. He shoots, he SCORES!" To which I said "Shh, honey, my dad is in the room. Let's not talk about how it happened." :o)

We won't know it's gender until after Christmas. I'm not sure here if it's picking it's nose, or if it's doing the "thumb-on-nose-waving-fingers" thing. :o) But the doctor said it was growing well, looked healthy, has a good heartbeat, and happy just playing around in it's little world. There are no real concerns about my age ('cuz I'm so old, ya know).

My aunt and mom are convinced it's a girl because in the picture below, they say "she" is reclining in her "I'm a goddess, come worship me" pose. But my brother and step-mom swear it's a boy because they think "he" is reclining in his "I'm watching football, bring me a beer" pose. :o)
They spent a good hour bantering about with name suggestions...mostly saying what we couldn't name the baby! At one point, based on my brother's list, I had to ask him if he was going through his date book! :o) I'm glad they had so much fun!

Dave also called his family, and everyone was very excited, and very pleased! Dave has a 15-year-old nephew, and then all the other grandkids are "steps"...so they were overjoyed at the thought of welcoming another new baby into the fold. Everyone (on both sides) said that our announcement "made their Thanksgiving." And we even heard a few "best Christmas present you could give"...which is super cool, because now I can cross them off the Christmas list! :o) Ha ha!

I promise not to make this strictly a "mommy blog" - I intend to have other interests and share other stories not related to the growth in my abdomen...but beware, I'm also going to want to keep the far-flung family and friends updated about my expansion, and this is going to be my way of doing it! So, just know, you're bound to get a little of all that's going on in our lives.

I also promise to share belly-expansion photos. I've been keeping a bit of a journal, so I'll electronify that for you all one of these days. :o) I've had some nausea, and lots of fatigue, but nothing extreme, and nothing out of the ordinary...and for that, I am very thankful!

I think that's it! Now the Bloggie World knows our news. Have a great weekend!

3 Week Gestation Period...

Yup, not 9 months, only 3 weeks!

My dear friend Katie has just gotten the call from the adoption agency that she and her awesome hubby, Keith, have been "chosen" by a birth mother to be the best Momma and Daddy that little baby could ever have. They adopted a 2-year old from Russia a few years ago, and have been working and praying for another baby ever since.

Her latest post is here at Roses are Red, Violets are Violet. You should check out the rest of her blog, too, if you've never been there. She's a great writer, and a fabulous storyteller, and an all-around stupendous person.

She's going berserk, though, because, in God's will, they'll be bringing the baby boy home in just 3 weeks! They don't have a nursery put together, they haven't chosen a diaper disposal machine, they haven't bought a newborn car seat... Can you imagine your life changing THAT DRASTICALLY in only 3 weeks? Most people get 8-9 months to figure out stuff like formula and diaper changes and the most comfortable rocking chairs.

But, man, is she excited! And scared. Justifiably so. The birth mother will have 14 whole days after the baby is born to change her mind. Keith and Katie ultimately want God's will for that little baby, and they are praying for him no matter which house he ends up in. And they are praying for the birth mother - for an uncomplicated birth, and that she follows God's will, too. And they are praying that they can accept and be at peace with it if the birth mother decides to keep the baby she's been growing for the last 38 weeks.

Adoption is such a wonderful, amazing, miraculous blessing. This woman has the power and capacity to bless Keith and Katie (and son Daniel) in a life-altering way. She's not choosing to give up an unwanted baby, she's choosing to allow that little boy the chance to grow up in a house filled with love, and kisses, and hugs, and to feel cherished beyond imagination. What a blessing.

I tell you all this because, if you are so inclined, I am asking you to pray along with me about this adoption. I know God hears our prayers, and I would love for Him to get inundated with prayers about Keith and Katie's new addition.

I will also try to update you when the time comes...but you will have a much better time if you jut read Katie's blog. :o) She's gifted.

Thanks!

6 Minutes

That's all I've got to update you. I promised Dave I'd try to be home by 6:00, and it's 5:54 now...thankfully the Starbucks is right around the corner from the house! And, well, there's always the caveat that "I tried!" right? :o)



We still don't have internet access in the house. Supposedly PhoneMonopoly&T is sending a technician out tomorrow. Not holding my breath...I feel really disconnected from the world! It's like an addiction, and I know you know what I mean, because you're all reading this, and you're all addicted too! But, the Starbucks is right around the corner (wish I'd thought about this days ago!).

We are still really loving the house. Loving that there is a garage door that opens at the touch of a button, and we can park 2 whole cars (and random crap) in it at the same time! Loving that with the flip of a switch, dinner's cast-offs can be ground up to a pulp and zipped away forever! LOVing that there are screens on the windows so I can open them and let fresh air in and not fear that fresh kitties will get out! Loving the dishwasher! Hoo-wee! Loving the pressure in the shower.

Not loving the 350 bajillion boxes that stop me from getting through my house, though! :o)

We now have a washer, but the dryer gets delivered next Saturday. So, in a moment of creative genius, I fashioned out my own clothesline this morning. We aren't supposed to have them in our yards, so I made one on my patio. I took our garden swing (with a canopy and poles on the top), and placed it about 6 feet from our "privacy fence" (which is a 6-ft tall, 6-ft wide fence blocking the neighbor's view of us), and zig-zagged some rope back and forth between the two! :o) Totally loving it! I hung out the sheets this morning at about 8:15...BUT...
when we were pulling out of the garage at 10:15 to go to church, I noticed some sprinkles on the windshield, so we had to run around real quick and take the sheets of the garden swing ropes. :o) Now the sheets are draped over doors. Drying. That's all that matters.

My time is more than over (took 10 minutes). Hope you are all well! And I'll be back with pictures when I have more time!

Update (as promised)

Okay, I promised to update you on our arrival into "sunny" LA. I apologize for the delay - we've been a leeetle busy.

What with finding a great house (in base housing), and then finding out the next day that we couldn't have that house (bummer!), and then going down to the housing office 3 days in a row looking looking looking for another acceptable house...and then finding one that (maybe, probably, maybe) is better than the first! Yay!

The best part about the house is that there are no houses blocking our view of the O-Cean! We're not right on the water...in fact, we are about a mile from the water...but our view is line-o-sight to the ocean. Dave says the view is "primo." :o) We get the keys tomorrow morning, and our long-lost household goods will be delivered mid-morning. Then we will be swimming through a sea of cardboard boxes. Woo and hoo.

We've been furniture shopping a couple of places. Dave has been a Star Shopper...trying out how the recliners work, and trying to talk me into the cushiest sofas, making sure they were "nap-worthy," etc. We haven't decided on anything for sure, but we're closing in on some good-looking things. We need to get some final measurements of the living room to be sure, then we'll place our big, humongous order!

Dave retrieved his beloved, Miata, that he shipped from England in mid-September. It was the only sunny day we've had so far. He, of course, put the top down first thing, and then drove from the port to our hotel along the Pacific Coast Highway...slowly soaking up the rays and the sea-breeze all along the way. I think his smile was permanently affixed to his face for about 2 days! :o)

We know that we know 4 families in base housing already, which is nice. And there is a great possibility that we'll know even more! That's the cool thing about the AF...you never go somewhere you don't already know someone. :o) (Even on our remote tour to England we knew people!)

What else don't you know? I'll post pictures in a few days (once our phone/broadband/lifeline get set up in the house) so you can ooh and aah with us. :o) And for those of you that actually know me...I'll be sending an email with our contact details in a day or so.

So, if you don't hear from me in 10 days, send a search party...we've obviously been swallowed by the Box Monster! :o)

In The City of Angels

We're Here!! More later.

Halfway There

Well, we're almost halfway to our new home. Our new destination. The next chapter in the book of our life. We're spending the night in Richfield, Utah.

We are all travelling just fine. The kitties don't like going into their cage, but they don't chatter too much once we're moving. I think they just settle down and go to sleep. They were glad to get out, though, when we got to our hotel room. (and glad to get some foodies!) Dave and I stopped for lunch at Village Inn, and got back on the road.

The best part is that we drove 487 miles and didn't have to stop for fuel! I know I haven't mentioned it much, but we bought a new Toyota Prius. It's a hybrid. It gets stinkin' awesome gas mileage. As we crossed (and tunnelled through) the Rocky Mountains, this beautiful piece of engineering brilliance got 50.1 mpg. At, what, $3.00/gallon, that's about $0.06 per mile. Suwheet! And it's a comfortable car, too! We were also able to get all our travel stuff (luggage, cats, other purchases) into the car without too much trouble (without too much rear-view-visibility, either...).

The drive has been pretty boring for me, though. We've got music, but there isn't much scenery. I didn't take a picture of the Welcome to Utah sign - sorry. :-( I did take some other pictures, though. Utah has some vast scapes. You can see for miles and miles and miles.















I'll write another blog for our Utah-LA leg of the trip.

Sweet Reunion

8 Years, one month, and two days. That's how long I've been a married girl.

We took a week-long honeymoon to Ecuador (cool, I know!), then returned to "our" home in Atlanta, and Dave woke up the next morning and returned to his home in Ohio. Over the next three months we saw each other only three or four times. Then he finished his job there, and moved to Atlanta to begin his tail-whoopin' Masters degree at Georgia Tech.

The next summer, he spent in Albuquerque doing research, while I stayed in Atlanta. I went out for 3 weeks, but he was gone for 3 months.

Then we actually lived together, like married folks, for the next 4 years.

Which brings me to September 2004. He drove away one Monday afternoon, towards Baltimore, where he would eventually board a plane to England. I would board a similar plane a month later. That was a busy month apart for both of us as he was beginning his char-grillin' PhD program and I was wrapping things up in Colorado Springs (and waiting for the "Pet Transport Scheme" timeline to complete so I could take our 2 cats and 1 dog to England without quarantine).

Together again, until May 2006, and we made another jaunt to Albuquerque for more research. We spent another month apart then. It was broken up because I went back to the States for a little bit, too, but it was a total month apart.

Flash forward to September 29, 2007. This time I was the first to leave, and come back to America early. A whole month early. To leave Dave alone so he could finish up some of his work un-interrupted by a wifey. :o)

That's about 9 months in our 8 years that we've been apart. I know lots more folks spend time apart. Dave has, thankfully, never been deployed. He doesn't have the kind of job that takes him away for 6 months every year, or even for regular periods throughout the year. He really doesn't travel to conferences, much. So, mostly, I've got nothing to complain about, right?

But he's here now! I picked him up at the airport last night. And he's here now. We're on the same side of the planet -- hopefully for good this time! I know he'll have to go back to England a couple of times in the next 6 months, but that's okay because he's not going to be gone for weeks and/or months at a time. :o) Only days.

My reasoning for telling you about all the times we've been "separated" is for pity, and sympathy. :o) No, it's just that, to me, remembering the times apart makes the reunion that much sweeter. It helps me appreciate the time that much more.

The relaxed reunion stops on Monday morning, though, when we load up the car and start driving to LA. But we travel well together, so it will be fine.

Hope you all have a great Halloween week!

"If You Don't Like the Weather...

...wait 5 minutes. It will change."

Or so They say.

They, who did not enjoy sunny temps in the mid-70s yesterday and then wake up, shocked, to see inches and inches of snow on the ground this morning.

They, who could probably see past the houses across the street, but I can't for all the big flakes blowing sideways for the last few hours.

They, who say it doesn't snow in Colorado until Halloween.

They, who did not plan to take the dog for a hike, then drive an hour to visit Grandpa today.

They, who probably have proper snow attire, and would probably be playing in it right now.

They, who are not likely going to spend their day in their pj's and bathrobe in front of the fire. (yeah, me!)

They, who might be more willing to go outside and get better pictures than me!

Precious Jasper

I'm living such an incredible life right now! The highlight of my weekend will surely be the call by my best friend, Angela, to come help her paint her kitchen. Her mom was in town, and I hadn't seen her in a few years, and I also thought that if I didn't go, I might just not get out of my fluffy pjs, so I said "Yes."

Angela has great decorating taste, and is much braver and bolder than I am, so I have to paint vicariously through her. Her living room is a sort of eggplant color (very nice), with light gray accents. She took that gray into the kitchen, making the majority of the walls that color, but the accent wall in the kitchen, and the dining room is called "precious jasper" -- I'da called it "guacamole". But I really like it! It's an incredible color combination, and once she gets the black tile flooring, it will be an incredible makeover!

Me? I still can't figure out how to move away from white and blue plates. Bo. Ring. :o)

But that's okay. We don't have a kitchen to decorate anyways. Dunno when we'll know. But I'm ready to know!

Dave comes home on Friday. We're both ready. He's tired of doing what he's doing. And I'm tired of him having to keep dragging it out. He's beyond burned out - he's char-broiled! I just want him done so he can relax and enjoy life a little, watch college football guilt-free, sleep-in, leave his dirty clothes on the floor, go out to dinner with his wifey, pat the phat-kitty belly...you know, normal stuff. :o) He gets two chillin' days, then we pack up the car and go west, young man. He has to sign in to his new job on Wednesday. Not much degauss time if you ask me. But he'll be here, and that counts for a whole heckuva lot!

So, with that, I bid you adieu.

Boring Cows.

Maybe I should have named this blog "Boring Cows" instead.

Life seems so anticlimactic lately. You know, after the movers showing up a day early, moving across the planet, not finding a buyable house when I was hoping I would.

I've been doing stuff pretty much every day, but it's just nothing I feel compelled to blog about. Like, I shower every day, and I brush my teeth, and I eat, and I hike (some), and I shop (but haven't bought much more than a few t-shirts because the weather is warmer than I predicted) (about which I am not complaining, thankyouverymuch).

So, know that I'm still here. I'm just boring. Maybe my life will take an exciting, blog-worthy turn soon. Until then, feel free to snooze. :o)

Done Due Diligence

I'm back in Denver now from a short, exhausting trip to the city of icky, filthy, overpriced and stinky houses (LA). I'm disappointed because I was really hoping that I would find a diamond in the rough. Well, there was sure a lot of rough! No diamonds, though!

I'm laying low for a week. Gonna spend Monday with my best friend, Angela. We're going to shop and eat and try on clothes and shoes we would never buy. Maybe see a movie. Big fun! :o) She gets me, and never, ever judges me. And she's about the least selfish person I know. I like that in a friend. (lets me be the selfish one, you know.) :o) No, really, just kidding. Being around selfless people makes me want to be more selfless, not more selfish.

Life is pretty quiet these days. Which. Is. Nice. There's been too much going going going going-on of late!

With that, I hope everyone has a great week!

Pictures of the Good

...because, even though you think you want to see pictures of the BAD housing I've looked at, I'm not going to take the time or blogger space to do it right now. Maybe later. :o) I know your curiosity is getting the best of you, but those pictures are hardly worth seeing.

So, instead, I'm going to post some "home" pictures today - because it's good to be home.

The Cozy Kitties


My Mountain (Pikes Peak)

My Guideposts (the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains)


Ralph and Maddie on our hike

Lookout on the Mountains

As good as my little Canon camera is, it is impossible to convey to you over the web the vast magnitude of space and distance and beauty I can see with my little, less-than-20/20 peepers. If you've never been to Colorado, you've just never BEEN.

In 1893, Katherine Lee Bates wrote America the Beautiful while standing in a hotel in Colorado Springs looking at Pikes Peak, and the plains behind her. I am pretty sure she wrote it for me, for right now, to my heart.

Here are the words. It is a lovely, gentle, rolling hymn, and if you've never heard it, I suggest you find it somewhere on the web, and listen to it...especially if you have any fondness at all for America. :o)

O beautiful, for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.

O beautiful, for pilgrim feet

Whose stern, impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw;

Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!

O beautiful, for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life!

America! America! May God thy gold refine,

'Til all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine!

O beautiful, for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years,

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!

(you can even hear Elvis singing it!)

Have a great weekend!

Back to Cali

Three days in LA. Hard-core house-hunting.

Day 1 (today)

• 5 properties total- 3 SERIOUS dumps! Ho. Ly. COW!! I cannot believe the trash these people are showing at the mint they're asking!!! You could buy a niiiiihhiiiiihhhiiiice property in Denver, or north Atlanta for the price they are asking for a piece-o-horse-pucky townhouse! I mean, I know it's LA, and all. But dadgum!!!
• 2 of the 5 were nice. The nicest one is just out of our price-range, but the seller may be willing to come down some. The second one is way within our price-range, and has lots of great features (gated community, pool, quiet part of neighborhood), but it doesn't have any yard at all. No place for a sweet-little-poopy to go outside and wag its tail.

Day 2 (Friday)
We have 6-8 more properties on the list for tomorrow. Pretty hard-hitting, but I hope we find a diamond in the rough.

Day 3 (Saturday)
We may or may not go see more properties on Saturday, depending on how Friday goes.

This is tiring! But the good news is that we aren't desperate. God will show us where He wants us to live - of that I am confident. He just continues to withhold the information. But I'm waiting! Got pencil and paper in hand! :o)

Tonight, it's TV in bed with a chocolate milk nightcap...it doesn't get much better than that!

Mama and The Girlies

My sweet kitties arrived safely last night. They had a really long journey from Papa to Mama, but they handled it with complete grace and dignity. :o)

I brought them home, and they both had a drink and a nibble and started exploring their new (temporary) home.

We settled down about 10:00, and went to sleep, and slept peacefully until about 3:30 this morning when they were both awake and active. Alley was trying to drink my water and was knocking my glasses off the nightstand. And Gypsy was stepping on all my, um, "tender parts" trying to find a comfortable spot. (THAT will wake you up quick!) :o) We talked and snuggled for an hour, and finally fell back asleep till about 6:30 when we got up for good.

I didn't know cats got jet lag, but I think it's pretty cute -- Kitty Cat Jet Lag.

They enjoyed their first day back in America, though. There was a huge patch of afternoon sun on the bed, so they were both soaking it up.

Hopefully tonight we'll all sleep all through the night. I'm ready for one of those.

(and maybe tomorrow I'll post the pictures I've been taking!)

I'm HERE!

I made it, I made it, and now I'm paying for it!

I woke up at 4:03 this morning. (grr)

At 4:32, I decided to start up my laptop and re-connect with everyone. I didn't have too many emails. I've caught up on most people's blogs, and read today's comics.

My clock says 4:57 right now. It's 11:57 in Dave's world. He should be on his way back from the airport right now because he had to drop Alley and Gypsy off at BA World Cargo so they could get on a plane and come home to Mama. I really hope he did better than I did 3 years ago when I went through the same thing sending the cats to England. I honestly do not think I have ever cried so hard in my life as I did that day. Gypsy was just yyyyyoooooowwwwwwllllling (as cats do) at the top of her little lungs. So upset! And Daisy (our sweet little peek-a-poo/Shi Tzu that has since passed away)...Daisy was climbing the door of the cage trying to get out, or get closer to Mama. And Alley, who is normally totally calm and collected (unless she's hungry - then she's a pain in the kiester!)...Alley went to the very far back corner of her crate and just faintly mewed. I knew I was doing the right thing taking them with us for the 3 year journey, I certainly couldn't leave My Girls behind...but it was SO hard! So, I wonder how they did today. One major difference is that BA allowed us to put them in the same crate, together, which the other company did not. So, at least they get to snuggle together. I get to pick them up at the Denver Airport tonight at 7:30 and bring them to our temporary home. I know they'll be fine, but it still breaks my heart when they are so upset.

Last year when I came back to the US for a visit, I didn't struggle with jet lag at all. This year, apparently, I am. I woke up yesterday morning at about the same time, and laid awake and laid awake...finally I made a deal with myself that if I was awake at 5:00, I would unpack my suitcases. Hee hee, magically, I fell asleep! :o)

I'm staying with family friends named Pam and Ralph, and yesterday (Day 1 after travelling for 23 hours), Ralph tried to wear me down so I would sleep all through the night. (no such luck, I'm afraid) At about 9:30, or so, we drove to Morrison to a little 5 table cafe called Base Camp Cafe. Yum. Meee! Then we drove up Parmalee Gulch Road to the base of what Ralph called a "baby hike". I'm sure it's a baby hike for someone who is used to living at an altitude of 6000 ft (as opposed to me...Guildford was, like 150 ft above sea level). I only complained a couple of times. :o) The weather was perfect, though! It's so good to be home. Wide. Open. Spaces. The sweet wildflowers. The junipers with their dusty-blue berries. The rattle of the grasshoppers' wings. We got home about 1:45, and I turned right around and went to visit my grandfather in the hospital. He had surgery in late July, and due to some complications, he's still in a hospital. Poor guy. He desperately wants to go home, but knows he's got to pass a few more tests before he can do that. So, we chatted, we watched (the good part) of the Bronco game (the good part being the beginning, where they were actually winning!), and then at about 3:00, I had the strong urge to lay down on his cold, tiled, hospital floor and go to sleep...which made me think that maybe, just maybe, I ought to go home. :o)

But first, I had to make the obligatory stop at TarJhay. Ah, my old friend welcomed me home with fanfare, pomp and circumstance, and some awesome clearance racks! :o) You wanna know what "hardship" is? Try living 3 years without Target. I love the font. I love the red and white. I love the marketing strategy. I love that store. I tried to restrain myself, though, and only buy necessities. (Well, considering the clearance rack, it was more like "necessi-Tees"...) $2.24 for a tank. $4.24 for a cute green t-shirt. $4.24 for some new shorts I will get to wear next summer in LA. Sweet!

Then home. I called Dave, I called my mom, Ralph called me up to dinner.... :o) And then, after dinner, I watched a little Desperate Housewives (yip-yip-yippee!). Then I crashed out. Darn tuckered after a VERY busy Day 1. Did it work? Did it help me sleep through the night? Nope. Sure didn't. Oh, well, there's always tonight.

I think my camera is in the car, so I'll have to post pictures of our hike tomorrow. For now, I'm going to try to get some more sleep. Good morning/night!

Forty-leven

Whew!

Holy Cow! I just realized that my nifty-swifty "Going Home" banner must have disappeared with my old blogger template! Gosh. Well, for all those (three) of you wondering, I leave tomorrow. Going on a jet plane. From this side of the planet to the other. Off to turn the page on a new chapter in our lives. Dave is still here reading the same old chapter for another month. :-( Poor guy.

I haven't been stressed, but I woke up today and I started thinking about all the stuff, and my stomach started churning, and then I started to forget some of the things that I'd already thought about, which made me even more stressed out!

I've defrosted the freezer, taken the cats to the vet for their final check-up, given some stuff to the neighbors, the dryer we've borrowed for 3 years has been taken away, I've boxed up all our leftover food (more than I expected!!) and cleaning supplies to give to some friends, mopped the area under the dryer that was icky, and got a 6-month registration for the car (which Dave will have to get reimbursed for later...but it expires on Sunday, so it has to be done!).

And NOW I've got to pack my suitcases, clean the garage, clean off one shelf and put it back in the living room, Oh, EAT, give away the living room furniture, finish putting together stuff for tonight (because we're having a little going-away at a pub in town), then get myself ready for tonight. All in the space of 4 hours.

I would LOVE a nap. Just heat up my Rice Dream (sock) and snuggle down and drift away to la-la land. But, come to think of it, I probably wouldn't be able to sleep because I'd be thinking about the forty-leven things I've got to do in the next 4 hours!

I don't know when I'll be back in Bloggie World, but I'll get back here when I get landed and semi-settled.

Take care!

No, WAY Better!

Here's a conversation Dave and I had this morning:

Me: Hey. Hey, guess what happens tomorrow?

Dave: It's our anniversary. (very succinctly, like that would be the very bestest thing that could happen tomorrow)

Me: No. Better.

Dave: It's your dad's birthday? (a little more hesitant this time.)

Me: No. Better.

Dave: Um...we get to have dinner at the new Mexican restaurant with David and Vonda?

Me: Nope. Even better! (although that's gonna be pretty darned awesome!)

Dave: I don't know, what?

Me: We get to download the new season premier of NCIS and we'll get to find out what happened with Tony and Jeanne and Ziva, and Gibbs, and McGee, and Abby, and the Director!!!!

iTunes is awesome.

Ode to Summer

an original piece of poo-etry from Melissa in honor of the Autumnal Equinox

I have missed you this year.
Summer, Oh Summer.
Where did you go?
Did you spend too much time in Texas and Florida and New York?

I miss the way you gently caressed my skin with your warmth.
Summer, Oh Summer.
I miss the way you magically lightened my hair and darkened my skin.
Have you forgotten me?

I love you and thought you loved me, too.
Summer, Oh Summer.
I can't wait for you to wake me with your brightness next year.
I'll be waiting for you on the beach.

A Season of Lasts

Time is winding down. Or winding up, and speeding up, one of the two.

Our life of "camping" in the house is going okay - we're managing fairly well, I think. We've figured out how to stay warm on our air mattress 6" off the ground (put plain rice in a sock and microwave (dry) for 2 minutes...it's about the bestest cheap bed warmer around! Gives new meaning to the term "bed sock". Oh, Uncle Ben, you're still my idol.) Our new bedside "tables" strangely resemble cardboard boxes. I can now wash all our dirty clothes in 2 loads (suwheet!)

But the rest of the days have been about Lasts. The last time I will drive up to the military base. The last time I'll hang out with my Girlie friends. The last time Dave will drive the Miata with the top down in England. The last time I will see my old work colleagues from CWR. The last time I will drive that route to CWR through Seale and Sands. The last time I will hang clothes on that line. The last time I will work at Oxfam. The honest-to-goodness last time I will see most of these people ever again. The last time I will drive the scooter. The last time I will use my beloved vacuum cleaner. The last time I will shut the door to this old house. The last time we will have a drink with the sweetest neighbors on the planet, Tony and Carmel. The last time I will have to squeegie those stupid shower doors so the limescaley water doesn't leave spots. :o) The last time I'll have to think about how many hours ahead we are if I want to make a phone call to family or friends. The last time Dave comes to bed at "stupid:30" because he's been working on his thesis all night. The last time the kitties rub their bellies bald coming down the stairs. The last time I'll walk Jet. The last time I'll watch Grey's Anatomy out of sync. The last time we'll drive down Vicarage Gate. The last time we'll have dinner and devos with DB and His Mrs. The last time we will consider Pizza Hut to be the best pizza in town. :o) The last time I'll hear sweet Millie bark and run up to me and give my excited-doggie kisses.

Dave is working hard to "get-er-done". This mistress he calls a PhD is soon to know the meaning of them fightin' words: "We are finished." (Ooh. Can't wait!) Unfortunately for both of us, it won't be soon enough. :o)

The cats seem to be coping well in the House of Echoes. Alley doesn't really care as long as there's a patch of sunshine or a free windowsill. Gypsy spends most of her time hiding under the couch slip-cover. Poor girl. I'm afraid that this is going to be a traumatic 2 months for the kitties, but, to their credit, they are pretty adaptive girls, and I'm sure they'll be fine.

And me? I'm tired. I think I'm going to tape Grey's Anatomy (the one after the one where Izzie and George...ya know), and go to sleep. It's been a long day of lasts.

Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

Alley in a patch of sunshine
The Rocker all wrapped up

The Girlies at TGIFriday's

G'nite.

Must EVERYTHING Change???

My blogger template has mysteriously vanished, and I'm not bright enough to make it reappear!! So, I'm sad to say that not only are the environs of my physical living space changing, but so are the environs of my virtual living space. :(

Big sad face!

I've changed it now, though. I don't like it as much as my previous template, but sometimes you just gotta be flexible.

Anyways, hope you're having a good weekend!

And the fun continues...

The movers were out yesterday by 1:00. It was a happy and sad moment. Happy because we are past that gigantic hurdle, and sad because it's a gigantic signpost marking the end of this chapter in our lives.

I also had fabulous response on the scooter. Much more fabulous than I expected, as a matter of fact. So much so, that I sold it last night! I got my asking price and everything! (I shoulda asked more!)

And so far today, I have discovered a broken window pane, that the movers will pay for, thankyouverymuch. AND...(the fun continues)

...I have discovered that, even though I asked, stressed, begged, and otherwise indicated that they should NOT...I see today (in the clarity of the moment) that the movers have securely packed all of our suitcases.

Yuppers.

No suitcases into which to pack the clothes we are going to be wearing for the next 2-3 months.

None.

This deserves a two-thumbs up

AWESOME.

Welcome to CRAZYVILLE!!

Here I am. Tired. It's been a snot-slingin', shin-kickin' kinda day.

Last night a took a couple of very cute pictures and planned a really funny (in my esteemed opinion of myself) post for today that was bound to generate tons of comments. But I had paved my road with too many good intentions. Can you guess what today felt like?

So, without further ado, I am going to recount for you my day. I hope I don't bore you. (Too much). I will say, however, thankfully, that it has ended better than it began. (Look for the moral of the story at the end)

• 7:30 - alarm went off, Dave got out of bed, I stayed in bed and prayed for a while, telling God what I wanted out of the day (you know how that goes)
• 8:15 - I got up, put my glasses on, brushed my hair, took the sheets off the guest bed so we can use them for our air-mattress bed for the next two weeks
• 8:30 - Dave left for school, I made my breakfast, put some white clothes in the washer, started washing dishes.
• 8:45 - the doorbell rang (I was still in my pjs, by the way).
  

• Me: "Who is it?"
  
• Them (three men on my doorstep): "It's the movers"
  
• Me (slowly open door as heartrate skyrockets): "Umm. Okay. Well. Hi. Umm. Huh. Well. I thought it was supposed to be Company A, but your shirts say Company S-C"
  
• Them: "Yes, that's right, we're Company A, and we're here for your household goods shipment."
  
• Me: "Ummm. Well. Huh. Okay. Good. But, here's the thing. Umm. You're not supposed to be here till tomorrow, because tomorrow is the 13th and today is only the 12th and I'm not ready for you." (clearly, considering I'm still in my jim-jams)
• Them: "Well, our paperwork says we need 2 1/2 days, and that we need to start today."
• Me: "But no one told me. No one told me. And I'm not ready. I had a plan."
• Them: "That doesn't surprise me, but since we've driven 200 miles and left our place at 5:30 this morning, we're really hoping we can get started today."
• Me (panic rising): "But I'm not ready for you. You were supposed to come tomorrow. I would be ready for you tomorrow. I have things I was going to do today to get ready for you tomorrow."
• Them: "Um." (probably thinking I was going to send them away)
  
• Me: "Well, okay. It is what it is. Come in and have a seat. Let me call my husband."

• 9:00 - called Dave's office. He wasn't there yet. Told office-mate the movers were here today, but not supposed to be till tomorrow. Tried his cell. No answer. Sent him a 911 text. No response.
• 9:05 - Dave called back, and said he had to send an email, but would be home soon.
• 9:06 - Called Marion to see if she could come sit with me and my stuff today so Dave could write (which he seriously needs to do, and God heard a lot about Dave writing in my prayers this morning). But she couldn't. :o(
  
• 9:07 - changed out of my pjs, and put my hair in a ponytail.
  
• 9:08 - started to show the mover guys around the house that would have been ready tomorrow so they could get started.
• 9:15 - realized the front door was wide open, and the kitty-cats were not securely locked in the upstairs bathroom (which I had planned to do before they got here tomorrow). Alley was thoroughly nonplussed, and Gypsy was AWOL. She's the most scaredy scaredy-cat ever.
  
• 9:18 - called Dave to tell him that I couldn't find Gypsy, and could he please hurry faster.
• 9:19 - found Gypsy. Cuddled with her for a minute, then put her into the bathroom with Alley, some food, their litterbox, and I pulled the door shut.
• 9:30 - brushed my teeth
• 9:35 - felt like I was finally starting to calm down after the shock and horror of the past hour.
  
• 9:45 - Dave got home, showed them his Professional Gear, and they started packing it.
  
• 10:00 - I put some stuff in our car and secured it so it didn't accidentally get packed (laptop, purse, pillows, fancy-labelled yellow folder, etc.)
  
• 10:05 - Dave noticed that the guy packing his office had accidentally packed some of his research articles that he needs for his defense - and quickly got them un-packed.
• 10:15 - Found out they could pack food (I had been told they would not pack any food. Maybe tea, cuz it's not food, but no food-food.) so I hustled a few food items into the car to protect them!
• 10:30 - Finally started to work on the room that I had planned to work on at 9:00! (I wanted to save some crafty bits to have around for the next 2-3 months when I am without all of my crafty bits)
• 10:45 - Realized they had packed the CDs that I had planned to burn to my iPod today. Stinkers!
• 11:00 - I decided that I would no longer mention the fact that THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TOMORROW! To-freakin-morrow! Grrr. (I'm not bitter, I'm just sayin')
• 12:30 - Saw that they had packed the dish drainer and my scrubber, so I made them unpack it, thankyouverymuch.
• 1:30 - had a sandwich while hovering/watching like a hawk to make sure nothing else got wrongly packed.
• 1:40 - Looked in bedroom, noticed that they had packed my worn-so-not-yet-cleaned pjs. (I won't see them again for 2-3 months. They are just going to fester in their dirtiness and infect whatever else they got packed with! Now, mind you, I'm not THAT dirty, so it's not like they are really festering, but I just wanted to only pack clean things!)
• 1:45 - they started loading the crates.
• 2:30 - I noticed that they had packed the sheets that were on the bed that we had been sleeping in. Again, to fester in their dirtiness for the next 2-3 months! Again, we're not THAT dirty. But you wash things like sheets and pjs before they go into boxes for months at a time!
• 3:00 - Dave went back to school to (hopefully) get some work done on the albatross around his neck also known as a thesis.
• 3:50 - They were done, the truck had pulled away. I was free to actually do some of the stuff I had intended to do today - like wash my pjs and bedsheets. :o)
• 4:30 - I went for a litttle jaunt on my scoot-a-boot, and when I was coming home, my lovely neighbor, Tony, invited me over for a cup of tea. So I went. I thought it would be nice and relaxing after my day! As I was walking out onto their porch, his wife, Carmel, said "Oh, Melissa, what scent are you wearing? It's lovely!" I laughed a good, hearty laugh. I said "Carmel, when the doorbell rang at 8:45, I was still in my pjs. I haven't bathed today. My scent is called 'Holy Cow! The Movers Came A Day Early'" :o)
• 6:30 - Dave came home with ingredients to make French Bread Pizza, which was Tase.Tee.
• 8:00 - Dave took his two big black trash bags full of office papers to the back garden and built a nice bonfire. It was dark, and there was a slight crisp in the air - a nice autumnal feeling. We have 3 apple trees in our back garden, so I decided to periodically throw some apples on the fire. It made our burning trash smell a little less like burning trash, and a little more palatable.
• 11:00 - we were done. Campfire was doused. We are pretty stinkin' tired.

And now, for "The Rest of the Story"

I didn't get to read today's reading from the Bible study I do every day (IWED, by CWR) because of the chaos that started my day. Until just now. Hah. It's incredible! Today is totally one of those days that the Bible study you are reading smacks you right in the kisser and says "Listen up, 'cuz I'm about to tell you something important!" Amazing.

The title is "God's Road Map", and the Scriptures are Jeremiah 29:1–13; and Psalm 32:8–10
My all-time favorite verse, ever, in the whole of the Bible is Jeremiah 29:11..."For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." And today's reading is all about that. All about choosing God's pathway for our life, and not our own. Choosing to let God lead us in everything we do, and not seek to do our own will. Choosing to accept the curveballs that life throws at us sometimes (or, shall I say, answer the doorbells that life rings sometimes), and turn it into good.

I know I jinxed myself by praying for things this morning like "God, you know what I am hoping to accomplish today. Please help me to be 100% perfectly prepared for this move, and not have anything hanging when the moving guys show up tomorrow. You know how nervous I am about all of this." (totally jinxed myself, right?) (it's like praying for patience!)

And, looking back on the day, I have to laugh at myself. Raise your hand if anything like this has ever happened to you:

• ding-dong You: Who is it?
• Him: It's God.
• You (slowly open door as heartrate skyrockets): Umm. Okay. Well. Hi. Umm. Huh. I thought you were going to give me lots of energy and clarity and help me get stuff done in accordance with my perfect (perfectly human) plan.
  
• Him: Yes. I'm here to help you, but not in the way you were planning.
• You: Um. Huh. Well. Okay. But here's the thing. I wasn't ready for you today. I will be ready for your call tomorrow, God. I'm just not ready today.
  
• Him: Well my perfect plan says that you and I are going to need to get started today.
  
• You: Yeah, but today I've got a million other things to do. Really, God. I mean, you know everything, right, so you know my to-do list, and you know it's as long as my leg, and you have to understand because you made me like this, and so you're just going to have to wait.
• Him: Yes, child, I know all that, but I also know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
• You: But no one told me that today was the day.
• Him: Well...not true. Maybe you were just too busy to listen? Dearest, the truth is that I love you more than you could ever know, and I was really hoping we could get started today. But, it's up to you. I'm going to wait for you right over here until you are ready. Just don't wait too long, okay?
  
• You (panic rising): Okay, but I'm just not ready for you today. I'll be ready for you tomorrow. I have things I was going to do today. I'm just not ready.
• Him: I'm just over here.
• You: Well, okay then. I can change my plans today. I'm ready to listen to your plans for my life.

I am humbled by God today. In the midst of the chaos and craziness of the day that started out so awfully, for God to show me that He was with me all along. Right there.

Thank you, God, for showing me, once again, that your plans are perfectly perfect. And I may not always see the perfection of them in the midst of it, but you do. And I thank you for loving me so much to hang with me when I was trying to put you at the bottom of my to-do list during this, one of the most challenging times of my life, when I need you the most. When I can't stand on my own, and I have to lean on you. Thank you for being there for me to lean on. I know I can't do this alone. And I know you don't give us more than we can handle, and I'm trusting you to keep me up. And, most importantly, thank you for loving me in spite of the fact that I keep "releasing" this all to you, only to take it all right back. I'm going to try harder tomorrow, God. I know your grace is sufficient for tomorrow. Thanks, God. Goodnight.

Kaputski

Do you know what I did?

I was so excited yesterday after my celebratory scooter ride, that I washed it. Scrubbed all those bugs and stuff right off! Then my friend, Jane, called and asked if I wanted to come over for a little while. (Of course!) So I dried off the scooter and pushed it into the garage, and closed the door. I went off to Jane's, drank some tea, and introduced her 16-month-old son to Chocolate Chip Cookies (they are NOT biscuits, thankyouverymuch!) :o) Good times, man.

So today, the sun is shining, I've got stuff on my to-do list that I want to procrastinate, and I thought "what better way to not do what I need to do than to scoot down to the local Tesco for some dinner innards" (gonna make stuffed peepers). I went to the garage, and sat down to start the Old Girl. And I realized my fatal error. Yesterday in my haste to get to Jane's, I hadn't actually turned the key to the all-important OFF position. I had left the key in the ignition. And guess what? She's deaderna doornail, folks. D.E.D. :-( I'm very sad about this.

I'm charging the battery now, but I'm still sad. I'm such a dork!

So, it's only fitting that I take the Miata out, instead. Bye!

Goodbye Ole Friend

The time has come to part with my beloved scoot-a-boot. :-( It has served me well these two years. I love my scooter.

I remember four or five years ago, Target was giving away a Vespa in each store, and my friend Angela and I went on a Target Pilgrimage filling out the little forms in all the Targets in Denver, Colorado Springs, and surrounds. I did not win that scooter, but I also did not give up on my dream to have a zoom-zoomy scooter.

When we moved into the house we are in now, I was able to justify buying a scooter because we lived close enough to town that I wouldn't have to go on any scary roads, and I could drive it to work if I wanted to, or to town when I went shopping (had to get creative with where to stash my purchases, though!), or when I just wanted to get out and feel the sun on my back and the wind on my face. (Okay, more like "sun in my eyes" and "wind through my shirt", but shh, don't tell!)

But now, we have to sell her because we are moving and can't take her with us. I am very sad for this day. I love her. I feel like I'm leaving my beloved Tinkles at the pound because I'm moving to a dog-free apartment.

I hope her new Mama and Papa treat her well, and keep her in a warm, safe, covered home. And feed her only the best food. And bathe her often. And take her out to get sunshine. And never ever let her sit out in the rain and get cold. She doesn't like cold. She likes to go for long drives in the country, and likes to run fast, too. And I hope they never let her fall and scrape her knees on the pavement.

By the way, if you live near me and know someone looking for a scooter, I can hook 'em up, yo! :o)

Okay, peace out.

Going back, way back!

I know it's not Throwback Thursday (because it's not Thursday, and because I'm never quite that with-it), but I thought after yesterday's post about two chairs, I would send you a little throwback.

This pic was taken, oh, about three decades and a half ago, but you can see the sighing chair there on the right of the bright and sparkly Christmas tree. :o) Ain't that a great tree? Silver and blue is about the best Christmas decoration combo, ever...even back in the day! Grandma's aluminum tree. Hmmm. Wonder what that would get on eBay today!

And check out those threads! Mom? Was I wearing a pair of your walking shorts just all hunched up at the waist? Or was I just a "wide-legged trouser" trend-setter?

Hah! This cracks me up.

Hasta la beesting - I've got some more chores to do.

(wanna see other Throwbacks from other folks? click this button)

My English Garden

I've been busy taking pictures of all of our worldly goods these days (because we're moving across the planet), and I thought I would share this one with you.

I feel like it's just a snippet from one of those Better Homes and Gardens spreads about someone's shabby chic garden all green, and beautiful, and filled with antiquey things. Except if you look around the rest of our garden, you won't find anything else! :o) We have lots of vines, and bushes, of course, but nothing growing in quaint locations like this.

Been busy busy bizzzeee lately. Yesterday I had to clean (hard-core clean) all of our outdoor furniture so the moving company will actually pack it up and send it back. I think I'm getting too old for this! Ugh.

And then, once that was done, I came inside and repotted most of my houseplants so that I could clean and pack all of my good planters. I am going to try to sell or give away all of my houseplants. I'd prefer to sell them because every £1.00 I make now equals $2.00 in a month when we're looking at houses and furniture and refrigerators and stuff. Finally this wretched exchange rate is swinging in our favor! Whew! It's been an agonizing 3 years, let me tell you!

And then I got on the phone. Between the phone company almost cancelling our phone line instantaneously (yes, I did shriek down the telephone at Jaz, the idiot) (I mean, for Pete's sake, how could anyone expect me to coordinate and organize an interplanetary move without a phone!), and not getting anyone from the carpet cleaners/window cleaners/house cleaners to call me back after leaving multiple messages...I'm getting the feeling that someone doesn't want me to move. Well, here's a shout-out to whomever that is: "We're Going! Like it or not!"

I've just taken some pictures of our old family rocking chair. I'm going to see an Antiques Appraiser today so I can have documentation (for insurance purposes) of the value of it. How can you put a price on sentimental value? How can you put a price on memories? How can you quantify the comfort that comes from the sound of the wicker creaking and sighing when I sit down? Ah, well, it made it here safely, and I'm praying it will return safely. I love that old chair.

And then I've got to send off the deposit and booking form for my sweet kitties to be able to get on a plane and follow their Mama back to their Homeland. £660. That's how much it's going to cost to bring my girls home. Worth every penny, thank you very much.

Poor Dave is going to be a lonely man - all his girls gone. He's not finished yet, but he's working like a dog to get finished. We don't know, yet, when he'll be heading back, but sometime before the end of October. So, maybe it's better that he won't have us distracting him from completing his work. His torturous work. That he loves. And hates. :o)

I've got letters to send, clothes to pack (that's another post waiting to happen), other phone calls to make, other photos to take. And here it is, 10:20 am, and I'm not getting much done.

So, with that, have a great weekend, and good luck getting through your To Do list! Here's hoping and praying I get through mine! :o)

(and the rocker)