My Indiana-bound convoy took off this morning around 9am. I had to leave for work around 8. You know, I made it through the packing up of the house, loading it on the truck, and enjoying the kids for the evening here at our house with nary a tear. But when I got that last hug from Stephen as I walked out the door, that did it. The tears flowed and I couldn't help it. I managed to pull myself together enough to appear normal (I think..hopefully) at work. I got through the day. And as of a half hour or so, the convoy is still rolling away towards Lafayette. They weren't even quite halfway, and I am sure they are going to have to find someplace to spend the night and finish the trip tomorrow morning. It makes me feel exhausted just thinking about it, but I never really enjoy road trips.
But anyway, I am going to have a weekend of self-indulgence. It's been a long hard emotional week, and I feel like its my right. I am going to eat ice cream for breakfast and have wine and chocolate for dinner if I happen to feel like it. I may nap, or I may have a good cry, or I may shop, or I may just curl up on the couch with the cats and watch hours and hours of mindless tv like Cake Boss, Hoarders, or House Hunters. Who knows what I might do. But hopefully when real life and work rolls around again on Monday morning, I will feel rested and ready to go with it. I am going to be just fine. And so will the kids. Just send us all some happy thoughts that everything goes smoothly and they slide right in to life in the mid-west. I can't fathom it. I have never been there....I know the area they are moving too is really conservative. I also know that they drove long miles through cornfields and nothing but religious or country music on the radio. It may be a touch of culture shock, but while it may be different it will definitely be a new experience with a lot of new things to see and do. I hope all of you have a great weekend ahead.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
I'm not quite right....
I am really not quite right at the moment. I am still feeling sad, I guess. This evening I was in the kitchen chopping veggies for a salad, and Bruce turned on some music. Sad music. Well, its sad to me. Do you remember this really old song "Seasons in the Sun". The lyrics go something like:
Good-bye Michelle, it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky....
And I could tell right away it was going to make me cry. That song depresses me on a really good day. I asked him to please turn it off. And he did for a few seconds, but then it came on again as he was adjusting something on the television and Netflix. I don't know what or why. But hearing it again, even a couple of seconds of it just got to me. I burst into tears and hid out in my room until I could get myself together. He came in to check on me and honestly? He seems to be totally surprised that I am sad. My dog just died, my son is moving a thousand miles away....and yeah....I am sad and feel entitled to be sad. I will be fine in a few days. Its this waiting for the awful part of watching them drive away on Friday that is hard. I will get over it and start looking forward to a visit to see their new place soon. In September. I will be fine. But in the meantime, over the course of these next few days, please do NOT play sad music in my presence.
Because for the moment, I am just not right. One day I will look back on all this and laugh. I am sure of it.
Good-bye Michelle, it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky....
And I could tell right away it was going to make me cry. That song depresses me on a really good day. I asked him to please turn it off. And he did for a few seconds, but then it came on again as he was adjusting something on the television and Netflix. I don't know what or why. But hearing it again, even a couple of seconds of it just got to me. I burst into tears and hid out in my room until I could get myself together. He came in to check on me and honestly? He seems to be totally surprised that I am sad. My dog just died, my son is moving a thousand miles away....and yeah....I am sad and feel entitled to be sad. I will be fine in a few days. Its this waiting for the awful part of watching them drive away on Friday that is hard. I will get over it and start looking forward to a visit to see their new place soon. In September. I will be fine. But in the meantime, over the course of these next few days, please do NOT play sad music in my presence.
Because for the moment, I am just not right. One day I will look back on all this and laugh. I am sure of it.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
On losing Scooter
We made the decision to have our last sheltie, Scooter, put to sleep this week. It is never an easy thing to do, and if you have ever loved a pet than I am sure you can sympathize. Its hard, but he was so old and weak. He had pretty much lost all interest in food, and in the past couple of weeks had started having trouble breathing. We decided he had suffered enough. He lived a long full life here with us. He was born here, being one of Scarlet's pups. All of our shelties lived past the normal life expectancy, so apparently we raised them well. Shep is starting to slow down and show a little age, but for the most part he is still doing pretty good considering.
I am just feeling a little blue this week. Losing Scooter was hard. Wednesday was my mother's birthday and that always makes me nostalgic and sad. And of course, the kids' move is imminent. I have a lot on my mind lately. But it is going to be ok. I know that. Stephen and Hannia are heading out for a wonderful new experience, and there will be visits and holidays. Our house full of cats gives me plenty of needy little bodies to lavish my attention on. I may be feeling a little teary-eyed for now, but I plan to get over myself soon. If anybody catches me still wallowing in misery, feeling all sorry for myself by say...September...give me a good kick in the rear to jolt me out of this funk. Fall is just around the corner, and that always makes me feel better. Summer is a cruel, cruel mistress and she can't leave fast enough to suit me.
I am just feeling a little blue this week. Losing Scooter was hard. Wednesday was my mother's birthday and that always makes me nostalgic and sad. And of course, the kids' move is imminent. I have a lot on my mind lately. But it is going to be ok. I know that. Stephen and Hannia are heading out for a wonderful new experience, and there will be visits and holidays. Our house full of cats gives me plenty of needy little bodies to lavish my attention on. I may be feeling a little teary-eyed for now, but I plan to get over myself soon. If anybody catches me still wallowing in misery, feeling all sorry for myself by say...September...give me a good kick in the rear to jolt me out of this funk. Fall is just around the corner, and that always makes me feel better. Summer is a cruel, cruel mistress and she can't leave fast enough to suit me.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Birthday/Anniversary 2010
Our day started here at the Sanitary Fish Market. I know the name is strange. One would hope that the word sanitary would be implied and not need to be advertised. But, it's a local landmark that has been here on the Morehead City waterfront since 1938. It serves some of the best seafood you will ever have. Seriously. Bruce and I both had scallops and mini crab cakes along with the prerequisite slaw and hushpuppies.
Oh My God their hushpuppies are amazing! But those scallops were absolutely divine.
After lunch we did a little bit of shopping and decided to go check out the aquarium since we haven't been there in ages. And not since it has been redone. It is really nice now. Bruce did some strange things to a turtle:
And I did strange things to a frog:
We both got to experience life as a crab:
And then we went to hang out on the beach for a while. It was a beautiful day. Not too hot. And the water actually had a clear green tint that reminded us of the Carribean. Very pretty. I don't know if the picture picks up the colors enough though.
And here is the birthday boy:
It was a lovely day and we had a good time. Its only a little more than an hour's drive and we can't for the life of us figure out why we make it down there so rarely.
The last time was when Stephen and Hannia got married. We are considering going back for a little getaway for my birthday next month. It is still plenty warm and wonderfully uncrowded in September. You just have to check the tropical updates for hurricanes. LOL.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Happy Birthday Bruce
Today is Bruce's birthday. Happy Birthday hubby! Also? It is our 28th Anniversary, too. Historically speaking August 2nd is a really good day!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Snippets
Here are some snippets of information that you probably don't really want to know, but I am going to tell you anyway:
-Erica got stuck for an extra night in Michigan because her flight back got cancelled yesterday (Thursday). There were some really nasty storms here on the east coast. She wasn't real happy about that but mercifully she is home safe and sound this evening. Delta at least put her up in a hotel for the night. When she first sent me a text message about the flight cancellation, I was afraid she was going to have to spend the night at the airport. And that? That would be awful. She said that she found this seminar really helpful though. She learned how to successfully write a grant, met lots of people in her field and got a lot of information and ideas of where she might want to apply to do her post doc. So, even with the flight screw up, I think her week was a success.
-We have had an ongoing battle the past week or so with ANTS (yuck). In my kitchen, no less. It must be something about the weather, because Stephen said he had them coming in to his place too. Its such a pain to find them crawling around on your counters and stuff. Luckily, they didn't get into anything important. But I did have to throw away a bunch of hard cat food that they got into. In the cat's dish....not the bag. We THINK we have it under control now, but those ants are sneaky little bastards and I don't trust them.
-Bruce went down to Wilmington today to see Delaney and Casey before they move tomorrow. He also helped with some packing and stuff because he is just a nice guy like that. I would have loved to have gone, but I had to work. All I know is that everybody I have ever met who has gone to Nashville has loved it. I have never been.
But now I have a really good reason to go. So....yeah....we will have to plan a visit later on when everybody gets settled and hopefully have some time to really see the city.
-This week, work-wise, has been really really tough. I say that every week, I know...but this time it was tougher than usual. For some reason, all of those sales catalogs that generally come in around mid-August to early September are pouring in right now like a flood. I don't know if they are just early and it will be over with earlier (a girl can hope right?). Or if this is just going to be a continual onslaught until the holidays. Maybe a lot of it is back-to-school stuff. I don't know because I honestly don't look at it. But having it be this heavy in this kind of heat is unusual and particularly brutal and cruel.
-Still dealing with cat problems and integrating the "pride". Samantha is a stubborn little hussy when it comes to behaving herself. If Vixen would just find the moxie to stand up and kick her rear end once....seriously all it would take is ONCE....I think she might back off at least a little. I had no idea my Vixen was such a wimp.
LOL. I am still working on it though. And trust me when I say I love my little wimp no matter how much of a scaredy cat she is.
-Stephen and Hannia have exactly 2 weeks before moving day. I have their new mailing address and phone number...so if you need it email me and I will send it. It looks like everything is getting done on schedule, so hopefully this will be a smooth transition for them.
-We have booked tickets to Las Vegas for Halloween! Yay! We have been spending the past several years trying to find the best Halloween celebrations around and saw something about Vegas doing it up big time. We are going with our friends' Chris and Jessica, and that should be a real blast. October can't get here fast enough.
-I am still dreaming about someplace like this:
-Erica got stuck for an extra night in Michigan because her flight back got cancelled yesterday (Thursday). There were some really nasty storms here on the east coast. She wasn't real happy about that but mercifully she is home safe and sound this evening. Delta at least put her up in a hotel for the night. When she first sent me a text message about the flight cancellation, I was afraid she was going to have to spend the night at the airport. And that? That would be awful. She said that she found this seminar really helpful though. She learned how to successfully write a grant, met lots of people in her field and got a lot of information and ideas of where she might want to apply to do her post doc. So, even with the flight screw up, I think her week was a success.
-We have had an ongoing battle the past week or so with ANTS (yuck). In my kitchen, no less. It must be something about the weather, because Stephen said he had them coming in to his place too. Its such a pain to find them crawling around on your counters and stuff. Luckily, they didn't get into anything important. But I did have to throw away a bunch of hard cat food that they got into. In the cat's dish....not the bag. We THINK we have it under control now, but those ants are sneaky little bastards and I don't trust them.
-Bruce went down to Wilmington today to see Delaney and Casey before they move tomorrow. He also helped with some packing and stuff because he is just a nice guy like that. I would have loved to have gone, but I had to work. All I know is that everybody I have ever met who has gone to Nashville has loved it. I have never been.
But now I have a really good reason to go. So....yeah....we will have to plan a visit later on when everybody gets settled and hopefully have some time to really see the city.
-This week, work-wise, has been really really tough. I say that every week, I know...but this time it was tougher than usual. For some reason, all of those sales catalogs that generally come in around mid-August to early September are pouring in right now like a flood. I don't know if they are just early and it will be over with earlier (a girl can hope right?). Or if this is just going to be a continual onslaught until the holidays. Maybe a lot of it is back-to-school stuff. I don't know because I honestly don't look at it. But having it be this heavy in this kind of heat is unusual and particularly brutal and cruel.
-Still dealing with cat problems and integrating the "pride". Samantha is a stubborn little hussy when it comes to behaving herself. If Vixen would just find the moxie to stand up and kick her rear end once....seriously all it would take is ONCE....I think she might back off at least a little. I had no idea my Vixen was such a wimp.
LOL. I am still working on it though. And trust me when I say I love my little wimp no matter how much of a scaredy cat she is.
-Stephen and Hannia have exactly 2 weeks before moving day. I have their new mailing address and phone number...so if you need it email me and I will send it. It looks like everything is getting done on schedule, so hopefully this will be a smooth transition for them.
-We have booked tickets to Las Vegas for Halloween! Yay! We have been spending the past several years trying to find the best Halloween celebrations around and saw something about Vegas doing it up big time. We are going with our friends' Chris and Jessica, and that should be a real blast. October can't get here fast enough.
-I am still dreaming about someplace like this:
Monday, July 26, 2010
Once a week
Once a week is all I seem to be capable of blogging. I don't know why I can't get myself into gear??? It has GOT to be this heat. It is burning the life right out of me. There are no words to describe how bad I hate it. It makes me feel so dirty. I shower until my skin is raw, but no amount of soap and water can make me feel clean and dry as long as its 100 degrees with unGodly humidity. This has been the longest hottest summer that I can remember. Of course, I have probably been brain damaged from searing heat so that's not saying much.
Samantha was spayed on Friday, and she did so well. She slept for most of the afternoon and evening, but by Saturday morning, it was like nothing ever happened. She was perky and playing and you would never know she had just had major surgery. There is just one thing....Sam is NOT integrating into the "pride" as well as we had hoped. She is a purring little darling with us, but she is an aggressive instigator with our other 2 cats. Vixen has been hiding under our bed for weeks. Omen, who hasn't got an aggressive bone in her body, finally just snapped and let Sam have it. We were afraid she was going to kill Sam, because Omen is at least twice her size. But not only did Sam survive....she didn't learn a damn thing and was right back with the stalking and taunting. I don't know what to do. We are entertaining the idea of finding her another home. I hate it. I would love to keep her. But if she doesn't calm down and learn to get along with the other cats then its just not going to work. We hoped having her spayed would help, but right now its the same as ever. Any suggestions?
As for the kids....Erica is in Michigan right now at a seminar. Hopefully she is having a great time and learning lots of useful information. She texted me when she got there, but I haven't heard anything since. I am sure she is really busy. One thing she was going to have to do is read and critique her roommate's paper. Her roommate is a girl that Erica has never met, but she is also a microbiologist in the same line of research. Erica said it would be interesting to see what her "competition" is up to. LOL.
Stephen and Hannia are just 3 weeks away from the big move to Indiana and have been insanely busy trying to get everything ready. They have sold or given away lot of their stuff that just won't work in the new place. Stephen has ambitiously taken on the task of refinishing their bedroom furniture. And there are just so many little tasks to take care of. I can't even list them all, but its all coming together. I can't wait to get out there for a visit sometime in late September and see not only their new place, but the whole town. I have never been to any place in Indiana before, so it will definitely be something new.
And to leave you with something to keep us cool....I wish I was here:
Samantha was spayed on Friday, and she did so well. She slept for most of the afternoon and evening, but by Saturday morning, it was like nothing ever happened. She was perky and playing and you would never know she had just had major surgery. There is just one thing....Sam is NOT integrating into the "pride" as well as we had hoped. She is a purring little darling with us, but she is an aggressive instigator with our other 2 cats. Vixen has been hiding under our bed for weeks. Omen, who hasn't got an aggressive bone in her body, finally just snapped and let Sam have it. We were afraid she was going to kill Sam, because Omen is at least twice her size. But not only did Sam survive....she didn't learn a damn thing and was right back with the stalking and taunting. I don't know what to do. We are entertaining the idea of finding her another home. I hate it. I would love to keep her. But if she doesn't calm down and learn to get along with the other cats then its just not going to work. We hoped having her spayed would help, but right now its the same as ever. Any suggestions?
As for the kids....Erica is in Michigan right now at a seminar. Hopefully she is having a great time and learning lots of useful information. She texted me when she got there, but I haven't heard anything since. I am sure she is really busy. One thing she was going to have to do is read and critique her roommate's paper. Her roommate is a girl that Erica has never met, but she is also a microbiologist in the same line of research. Erica said it would be interesting to see what her "competition" is up to. LOL.
Stephen and Hannia are just 3 weeks away from the big move to Indiana and have been insanely busy trying to get everything ready. They have sold or given away lot of their stuff that just won't work in the new place. Stephen has ambitiously taken on the task of refinishing their bedroom furniture. And there are just so many little tasks to take care of. I can't even list them all, but its all coming together. I can't wait to get out there for a visit sometime in late September and see not only their new place, but the whole town. I have never been to any place in Indiana before, so it will definitely be something new.
And to leave you with something to keep us cool....I wish I was here:
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