fire

in our new house, we have a gas fireplace. One of the best things that this house has brought to me is the way that Hendrix and I spend the early waking times. After I hear him call to me at about 4, 5, or 6 in the morning, I bring him to the living room. I turn one of the armchairs towards the fire and we sit there watching the flames. He also loves to watch the shadows across the ceiling and along the wall. It is a very peaceful way to wake up and enjoy the baby.

My team is on TV!

OK, my team sucks this year. Ok, today is the big matchup where we are going to be trounced. But, at least I get to see it with my own eyes.

Go Cougs!

Update at 6:43 p.m.
I had to take Henry out of the house to stop watching the game. It was even too difficult for him to watch and he is a baby. And, did I say, "trounced"? I meant, TROUNCED. (this does not make me happy, yet I'm thinking that Katie will really get some happiness out of this post.)

Help for my little brother

This Thanksgiving, my youngest brother was not home celebrating. He was in a local drug rehab facility, trying to get clean. I sent him a card. My other brother visited him. The fact that he is there and safe, was what I was very thankful for yesterday. Although, when we were all asked what we were thankful for, I said, "my garbage disposal". Which is true. But in my heart I was thankful for the help for the almost baby of the family.

the world wide web

I just got through setting up dinner plans with one of my favorite people in the world. My bud from kindergarten, who now lives in CHINA!! Seriously. Before we were computer savvy, she and I would go on forever without connecting. Our socializing consisted of one of us dropping by each other's moms houses. Just randomly hoping to catch each other.

But no more. For years now, I know her exact plans and she knows mine. I watch her house while she is gone and give her updates on if her lawn is being mowed on time. She sends me digital photos of all of the amazing places she visits that I wouldn't see unless for her.

When I first heard of the world wide web, I thought that I'd have less use for it than I would for a Honeywell Barcode Scanner, which actually isn't a very needed item in my line of work. but as it turns out, I can barely go a few hours without jumping onto the web. I don't think that I have a future in foretelling trends.

Finished!

Yesterday we signed papers completing the sale of the little house! I kind of don't know how to feel besides very relieved, yet still a bit cautious until we close on the big house.

It's nice to be surprised (in a good way) by your emotions. I had thought that I'd be crying and upset and wistful leaving the house that I had brought all of my children home to. The house that I was married in. The house that my grand aunt and uncle built. But I didn't feel that way at all. I felt ready.

And now I feel excited to move in more surely to the house that we are in. It feels like a goal accomplished.

Having the money from the sale is odd. it is in the bank account, waiting for instruction on how to apply it to the new mortgage, old debt, etc. We are hoping to have a little bit to play with, hopefully taking miss ivy to CA (needing anaheim motels) this summer. And possibly do some updating of the outside and inside of the house.

We are ready.

spumante champagne

At my old office, T and I would have wine and sushi fridays. Since we moved, we had let the ritual go by the wayside. Mostly because I was pregnant, but also because our new office isn't close to any wine or sushi.

This Friday I brought in champagne and sushi to celebrate a couple of big tasks that I had accomplished that morning. We were giggling and enjoying ourselves to the fullest, wondering how we had forgotten to resume our Friday treat, not caring about the wrinkle treatment we will need for our laugh lines.

Today was Sunday and we were in the office for a soap making session. T showed up with champagne. Ah, I love my life.

a quick visit with a sweet friend

While there are many things about my life that leave much to be desired, one good thing about my life right now is how attuned I am to the blessings I do have.

Yesterday while in a nearby town for my son's swimmeet, I got to meet up with Karianne. Not for long, not one-on-one with good, deep conversation, but for a stretch of time long enough to remind me that in the friend department I am over-blessed, if that's even possible.

It's a mystery.

At the new house, we have no mailbox. I'm thinking that we either have one of those communal boxes somewhere in the neighborhood or that we have to pick it up at another location.

I haven't changed our address yet. So many people give me a weird look when I tell them that. It's just that I didn't feel secure in the fact that our move would be permanent, so why mix up the mailman in the meantime? I wonder how I find out about this mail situation? Guess I'll have to talk to the neighbors!

I like the fact that we still have this tie to the little house. Kind of like I'm just letting go a tiny bit at a time, not really saying goodbye yet. And, all of my friends know how to find me, least of all through web directory. I'm still here. And I'm still there. At least for another week or so.

We have hi-speed!

the move has been crazy. boxes everywhere that seem to multiply behind my back. But getting to know little things about the new house makes me feel secure. Like I'm falling in love with where I'm at.

One of the things that I love about this house, that I just found out about is that it has 9, read it, NINE cable outlets! to get the computer set up, complete with hard drives and everything has just made me feel a little bit more at home.