Happy Windsday, Piglet.

I sure do need a lot of sleep.  And I still have bags under my eyes.  Going to go to bed early tonight.

I had plans for this evening, but they didn't become realities.  We did some Thanksgiving planning instead.  So many people are coming!  I'm really combining two Thanksgivings: my grandmother's, and Josh's mom's.  I think it is going to be great!

Still love my library.  I wish I had more free time.  I kind of want to re-organize it.

We've had some weather lately.  We had a 100 Acre Wood Windsday last week. Some flashing blew off the house, and something happened to our garage door, too.  Bub is coming on Saturday to help Josh fix it.  I hear there might be snow this week.  Sadly, the are predicting rain on Thanksgiving.

Last weekend, I had a super great day.  We had lunch with friends at The Fountain On Locust, and I had the Royale and pickle soup.  I never would have ordered pickle soup on my own.  The waitress recommended it.  It was amazing, while still tasting pickley.  Strange and incredible.  Everything was.  The kids had fountain sodas:  Abbie chocolate and blueberry for Grant.  We saw an IMAX movie at the Science Center, and I got to see Grant playing with some of his fiends from JET.  After the Science Center we went to The London Tea Room.  My jasmine tea was there.  I drank a pot of it.

It was a wonderful day.

My hands are so cold.

Cross your fingers that none of us get sick before Thanksgiving!

Keeping On.

I guess you could say that things are rocky right now.  I thought we were all adjusted, but Grant is having a rough couple of months.  I don't want to get into it, but if you see giant green clouds of discontent out your window, there is a chance they came from my house.

We are all in health, though.  Josh still likes his job.  Abbie loves the new school.  The dogs are great. 

I think other than Grant, I'm doing well.  But that is a little too close to home, and has affected me greatly.  

We are having Thanksgiving this year, and I've been using the planning as some stress relief (and a little bit of taiko).  But Josh just pulled in all the junk from the garage, so the house feels claustrophobic, and I am tense here.

The good news is that we are definitely going on our long anticipated trip to Orlando this January.  Yay!

I'm still reading.  Recently, I read Girl Waits With Gun, The Thirteenth Tale, Island of the Sequined Love Nun, and Girl On The Train.  I'm currently reading The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde.  Love him.

And you.  Muah.

Response to "How are you?"

Well.

The carpet smells like cat piss, but we can replace it, and at least we own a steam cleaner!

The kids have been spending the summer in Rolla with my parents.  It's far, and I'm lonely for them, but they are having a great summer.

The air conditioning at work broke, but the weather was pretty cool (for July) for most of it.  It was pretty bad on Friday, but they fixed it today around noon - before it got too bad.

Josh's grandmother Mroczkowski died.  It was peaceful, and in her sleep.  We brought Uncle Jim some Jamaican food for dinner and helped clean The Room.  The whole experience was weird.

The next day I fell down the basement stairs.  I'm trying to see the humor in it.  Maybe when my bruises don't hurt so much.  I'm grateful that I didn't injure my back, and that I didn't break any fingers on my left hand.  I was wondering for the first few minutes.  In fact, if one must topple down a flight of stairs onto concrete, one would be fortunate to come away with as few injuries as I have.

Today, at work, one of our clients was too personal with me.  I refuse to cause a scene.  I will keep smiling and keep the small talk going even if I am not particularly enjoying the conversation.  Some people think that means I am encouraging them.  With this person, it is worse.  I gave him useful advice once on the phone.  It is no more than what my boss always says.  He called to tell me how grateful he was.  Then he sent thank you cards.  And roses.  At this point, my boss and husband still thought I was exaggerating, fabricating or over reacting.  They both thought it was funny.  Or I was funny for being flustered and annoyed.  Today, this same guy asked me if it would be inappropriate to take me to the zoo.  I said it would be. This was after he tried to hire me for his business, but before he implied that he wanted to call me after his divorce was final.

I promise I wear a wedding ring.

Also, he knows I have kids.  I was actually the most annoyed today because he was prying about my kids and I couldn't politely derail him.  So now he knows their gender and ages.  Which are not his business. 

Moving on.

I am having a party on Friday.  My brother will even be there.  I am excited.  My brother will also be here on the day I had scheduled to clean for the party.  That's going to be a trick.  I think it will work, though.

And now, for the house.

I love my house.  Love it.  I love living in this town, and this neighborhood.  Love.  Love it.  We are slowly moving in, and it is more my space every day.  Best part? 

I.
Have.
A.
Library.
<3 p="">

More later.  This is easier now that the computer is hooked up. 
 

Boxes, boxes. Everywhere boxes.

We are packing up our house!!!  Wow, do we own some books.  I mean, it's a little ridiculous.  And I love it.  It makes me want to do the happy dance!!!!  ...until I am boxing them up.  And same with dishes, but don't tell Josh.

You know what I love about nerds?  I love the way nerds love.  Unlike his foil, the Nerd never looks over his shoulder before he declares, "That is SO COOL!!!!"  Bless the nerds. 

I am the worst taiko member ever right now.  But I warned them all.  I will be a real taiko player again beginning June.

I am so depressed that I have to work tomorrow after all the boxing we've been doing. 

Love you all!  I will have a new house in 3 weeks! 

How is Rosie Today?

Scrutinized.

I am feeling judged.  And I don't measure up. I am not good enough for people who are not me.  I stand out.  I am an eyesore.  An earsore.  A brainsore.  I am Wrong.

Sorry for the Hiatus

Hello!  I exist!

We are busy.  REALLY busy.  In fact, the fact that I am here and writing is amazing.  I should be napping. 

Life is good.  Josh got a fancy new job.  We put our house up for sale through some really GREAT realtors, and it has a contract on it!  We went to see my mother in Baton Rouge, and Dad came with us, and Brother flew in and met us there!  It was a fun, delicious, fattening, amazing trip.  When we came back, all we did was work, sleep and look for houses.  This morning was the first chance we had to even clean house. 

Today rocked.  We had lunch with Mom and Dad, and then drove them past a house that we made an offer on last night.  While they were still at our house, we got a counter offer and accepted it!  We now have a house under contract! 

Tomorrow is Easter.  We got to Josh's family.  I even got out a kite.  I always bring kites.

Next weekend, I am hoping to sleep all day Saturday.  Then, we can start with the packing!

I know that doesn't begin to cover what has been going on....but I'm sleepy.  :P

Love you all! 

Bleaugh.

It's not that I'm squeamish, it's just that I really thought that when my youngest was 9, I would be past scrubbing vomit OFF OF THE WALLS.


Yeesh.


So, Abbie's....a bit under the weather.  I went to work, and Josh worked from home, since there was no school.  I thought that it would be a one day thing, but Abbie was just sick again a minute ago (no walls this time, thank goodness) so she will be staying home tomorrow, too.


She had her birthday party at Emperor's Palace, like Grant.  It was fun, and my mom even got to come to it!  She spent her gift cards this weekend at Barnes and Noble and V-Stock. 


I finally own a DVD of Stranger Than Fiction.  Yay for small victories.  We also own the 1971 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.


I got 10 books for Christmas.  I feel all warm inside... The one I'm on right now is called The Ballad of Sad Café, and Other Stories.  So far, pretty sad stuff.  That's two sad books out of 10 so far.  And one dystopian adventure, and one slightly amusing ghost story.  Have I really read 4 of them already?  Maybe I should pace myself...


I love my job.  They love me back.  I had my first review, and they told me that I am getting a raise.  I'm shocked, because I assumed that hiring another employee after me meant that my raise was no longer in the budget.  I am also salary now.  And I got fussed for not taking lunch breaks.


Grant got his hair cut the other day, and it is a nice cut.....but it is not at all what we asked for.  Getting a little sick of that place.  Might be shopping for new hair people.


The house was taken off the market, and will soon be back, but we haven't done any improvements yet.  I'm starting to feel the pressure, but my attempts to speed things up haven't worked.  At all.


I have felt a little rushed, for a very long time.  My calendar on the wall still says June.


Miss all my friends.  Maybe this spring I will finally get that picnic I've been wanting to have.


Had all sorts of things to talk about, but I was up most of the night with Sickie.  I'm thinking of an early bed time today....