Weef asked for an update on everything.
The update is, I am swamped underneath a pile of paper and haven’t done anything on the moving end. Well, I take that back. I called the movers today, and I will be out of here sometime mid-day next Thursday. JOY!!! Bonus, they’ve officially announced the construction of a massive grocery store one block down the street. As it turns out, if I’d stayed in this place, I wouldn’t be able to back out of my driveway in a year due to all the congestion.
The guy downstairs has not made a peep in the past week or so. I think he’s figured out that I’m moving. If all of his crazy, bizarre antics were in effort to get me to move away, then I’m actually thrilled because that means there’s a good chance that he’ll leave me alone until I’m out of here. (Sigh of relief.)
Dad is scheduled to come soon. This has been a hilarious venture. Don’t get me wrong; I’m thrilled that he’s coming to help, but can I just say these few things…
-There was no consultation with me about his arrival or departure. He just sent me the itinerary.
-He arrives on Monday – which means that he won’t be around to help pack this weekend, and I’m not about to leave him alone to pack up the house by himself during the week.
-He wanted me to pick out the paint samples beforehand and test them on the walls to see how I liked them before he got here. Um, a) I don’t have time to do that, and b) every day that I have keys to the apartment is a day that I’m paying rent – so, no, I don’t really want to go out and play with paint samples for a week to the tune of $250.
-He told me that I needed to ask the landlord to pay for the painting. Again, after meeting with the landlord, I know that’s not how it goes.
-He asked if my Kia had a GPS. Dude, first of all I don’t have a Kia, and OMG, GPS? My car doesn’t even lock automatically when I start it. Seriously, I’m five figures in debt over here. I bought a Hyundai for crying out loud – the bottom of the line Hyundai. GPS?!! Cute, Daddy, cute.
-He made his reservation for NINE days. (OMGSERIOUSLY?!?!)
-His flight arrives in the middle of French class.
-He sent me an email the other day asking me if I would mind if he brought his clubs because he’d like to play golf one day, and DID I THINK THAT DURING ONE OF THE NINE DAYS THAT HE WAS HERE I MIGHT GO INTO THE OFFICE? What sweet kind of work situation did our parents have where nine days off was even a possibility? Yeah, I told him to bring the clubs because he had at least SEVEN days where he could golf. Will he have time to golf? That’s adorable.
Other than that, the dog is self-destructing, and I’ve packed approximately 7 boxes – BUT it will all be over in a week! I’m getting so excited about this new place with no dishwasher or disposal that backs up to a freeway. (Hey - no obstructed views and plenty of light!)
And omigosh, I’m totally enjoying work right now, too. My new job duties are kick-ass, and I’m buzzing and whirring the whole time I’m at work - hence, looking at the clock today and realizing that I’d been there for eleven hours. Maybe this is the start of a whole new phase in life.
PS - Does anyone in the Houston area want to buy my keg-o-rator and/or my rattan patio table and chairs set?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Quick update...
First off, I’m still alive.
The new lease is signed and the current landlord has agreed to waive the notice period (on account of the fact that I live above a psychotic) so I can move anytime I want to! This has amounted to a huge sense of relief.
Major work conference all this week with 7:30 am start time AND the first day was on Sunday. (Am about to drop from exhaustion.)
Dad called to say he made plane reservations and will be in town soon. Is coming early so that we can father-daughter bond over Home Depot adventures and apartment painting. (Awwww!)
Trying to stay afloat in French class.
Packed two boxes and dog went completely batty. Don’t remember if I wrote about this before, but Martha had an AWFUL time with the last move. I mean, AWFUL. She was fine after we got to the new place, but in the weeks leading up it, she couldn’t stand to let me out of her sight, howled whenever I left the apartment, lost functional use of her digestive system, and went fully insane on the day the movers were here. Any advice on how to handle this? Everything I've found relates to helping her adjust to the new place, but it's the pre-move and move that drives her nuts. I think she thinks that I'm moving, but leaving her here! I've asked a friend that she really likes to take her for play dates during the times that I'm packing and for the move itself.
Need to coordinate change of address with sixteen billion different organizations, switch insurance, hire movers, and a host of other stuff. Not sure that’s going to happen this week.
And as I've been trying to type this, Martha keeps putting her head on my laptop - in exactly the spot where the backspace key is - guess that's my cue to sign off.
Thanks for all the support and comments! Hopefully everything will be back to normal soon!
Monday, January 03, 2011
The 2010 Meme...
Hat tip to pseudostoops.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
I didn't once complain! Oh, you wanted a non-sarcastic answer?
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn’t make any, but I’ve got one or two new ones in mind.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A bonanza year for the other bloggers, but no close friends.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.
5. What countries did you visit?
None, but I’m pretty sure I had calls and emails with people in all of them.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A well-insulated living arrangement where I can’t hear my neighbors and they can’t hear me. (And yes, I'm looking!)
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Late May 2010 – Wine-Time-Girl and I weekend road-tripping to the Kerrville Folk Festival for our birthdays with not much more than a little tent, fixings for mimosas, and a couple of rolls of toilet paper. We had a lot of giggles, stopped at a Wal-Mart in San Antonio for a six pack of Lone Star tall boys, thought that the dude one campsite over would NEVER stop playing the same Robert Earl Keen song over and over on his guitar, and then laughed hysterically when at 3 am the guy found an AMP(!) and kept playing the same song – only much louder. For a few days it felt like we were in law school again without much care in the world.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I’m not sure it’s an achievement per se, but out of a group of about ten people in my department, I was the only one left standing at the end of 2010. If it says anything I think it’s that I have an ability to adapt, get along with personalities of all types, and accurately complete one bitch of a workload.
Also, I’m still enrolled in French classes – using my little free time for what may turn into the ability to speak a second language is something I’m kind of (tentatively) proud of. Also, I suck at it, and I’m impressed that I keep going back despite the lack of star-student status.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn’t achieve the right type of balance in my life for most of the year between work, home, dog, personal, you name it. I think I got better near the end, but 2011 will involve a concerted effort to worry less about things in general, worry less about WHAT I am doing (and where I am going) with my life, worry less about money, and instead concentrate on getting the right exercise, eating healthier food, getting enough sleep, and letting myself enjoy the day to day.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I’m guessing that my definition of illness and injury differs from what was intended with this question.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new ipod – which still has space no matter how much music I put on it. My new clock radio – which plays and charges my ipod. My new car – which hooks up to my ipod and can play all of my music as I drive around.
12. Where did most of your money go?
That would be a three-way tie between rent, student loans, and savings. I’m sexy that way.
13. What did you get really excited about?
Dude, I think it was the ipod…and the Guy Clark concert in October…and the last song the Indigo Girls played when they performed at Kerrville. Wine-Time-Girl said she couldn’t believe how happy and excited I got when they were playing the last song.
14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
I’m not sure that any of them were actually released in 2010, but all of these got heavy play time on my ipod this year:
Candy – Paolo Nutini
The Lucky One – Raul Malo
Picture Cards – Blaze Foley
Officer Norris – Blaze Foley
Clay Pigeons – Blaze Foley
40 Dogs – Bob Schneider
Something ‘Bout You – Kevin Welch
Banker - Green Mountain Grass
The Weary Kind – Ryan Bingham
Outskirts of Blue - Greencards
15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- happier or sadder? I think I’m more content than anything else (with a not so healthy dose of neuroticism).
- thinner or fatter? Thinner! Yee-haw!
- richer or poorer? About the same – although I’ve made a small dent in the student loans and started building my savings.
16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
-Emailed my mother (or returned her emails).
-SLEPT! (We’re definitely doing a new and improved earlier bedtime this year.)
-Relaxed.
17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
-Worried about stupid shit.
-Worried about non-stupid shit.
-Smoking
-Drinking
18. How did you spend Christmas?
At my parents’ house. It was good to see them, but I woefully missed the dog.
19. What was your favorite TV program?
Nothing jumps out at me – although I saw a good documentary on PBS about Merle Haggard this year – does that count?
20. What were your favorite books of the year?
I finally read 1984 by Orwell. Now I no longer have to have those conversations where someone says, “OMG! You’ve never read 1984?!?!” Whatever dudes - you've only read it because it was required at most high schools.
21. What was your favorite music from this year?
For most of the summer I listened to Live at the Old Quarter by Townes Van Zandt (released in ’73?), but I often found myself responding out loud to the lyrics with phrases like, “Oh, you think so, do you?” “That’s one way to rationalize it.” Don’t you just have it all figured out?” “Poor baby” and “I don’t think so.” Apparently I like his music, but sometimes it rubs me the wrong way.
A friend of mine gave me Live at the Fillmore: Lucinda Williams which is awesome for blasting on road trips, especially if you’re in angry chick mode – which isn’t a difficult state for me to tap into some days.
The same friend gave me some Blaze Foley music. I’d never heard him before and instantly fell in love.
As for shows, my favorites for the year were (in this order): Guy Clark (in Austin), Big Wide Grin (at Anderson Fair), and the Indigo Girls (in Kerrville).
Ok shows were – Micheal Fracasso and Beaver Nelson, John Prine, The Greencards, and Hayes Carll.
Ones I could have done without: Steve Forbert (at Cactus Café – I actually left - ugh, it was bad) and Terri Hendrix at Kerrville. (I dunno, she was singing some song that was too hippy-dippy even for me, and WTG and I could NOT stop laughing over it while everyone else looked at us like the assholes we were.)
22. What were your favorite films of the year?
I saw the King’s Speech with my parents – it was okay. The only other film I saw was Crazy Horse which seemed a little heavy with cliché – plus there was that whole part about the relationship with the Maggie Gyllenhaal character which was just kind of unbelievable (and downright creepy during the love scenes) as was the main character’s sudden and assumed permanent ascent to the wagon.
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 35 and a friend came over with chips and queso and a bottle of wine. Doesn’t get much better than that.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Figuring out a way to pay off ALL of my student loans. Figuring out a way to magically quit smoking with no effort. Winning the lottery. Falling in love. Any one of those would have worked.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Skinny jeans and egregiously long hair. We're approaching Miss Godiva over here.
26. What kept you sane?
The dog. Not sure I would have made it without her.
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
I’ve always known that much of life is beyond my control, but this year I realized that in some cases it’s good to let go of even those things that you can control and instead exercise a little faith that the universe will work things out on its own, possibly in a better way than you envisioned. There doesn’t always need to be a plan and an escape route. This year I hope to let the path lead me for a little while.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
I didn't once complain! Oh, you wanted a non-sarcastic answer?
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn’t make any, but I’ve got one or two new ones in mind.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A bonanza year for the other bloggers, but no close friends.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.
5. What countries did you visit?
None, but I’m pretty sure I had calls and emails with people in all of them.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A well-insulated living arrangement where I can’t hear my neighbors and they can’t hear me. (And yes, I'm looking!)
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Late May 2010 – Wine-Time-Girl and I weekend road-tripping to the Kerrville Folk Festival for our birthdays with not much more than a little tent, fixings for mimosas, and a couple of rolls of toilet paper. We had a lot of giggles, stopped at a Wal-Mart in San Antonio for a six pack of Lone Star tall boys, thought that the dude one campsite over would NEVER stop playing the same Robert Earl Keen song over and over on his guitar, and then laughed hysterically when at 3 am the guy found an AMP(!) and kept playing the same song – only much louder. For a few days it felt like we were in law school again without much care in the world.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I’m not sure it’s an achievement per se, but out of a group of about ten people in my department, I was the only one left standing at the end of 2010. If it says anything I think it’s that I have an ability to adapt, get along with personalities of all types, and accurately complete one bitch of a workload.
Also, I’m still enrolled in French classes – using my little free time for what may turn into the ability to speak a second language is something I’m kind of (tentatively) proud of. Also, I suck at it, and I’m impressed that I keep going back despite the lack of star-student status.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn’t achieve the right type of balance in my life for most of the year between work, home, dog, personal, you name it. I think I got better near the end, but 2011 will involve a concerted effort to worry less about things in general, worry less about WHAT I am doing (and where I am going) with my life, worry less about money, and instead concentrate on getting the right exercise, eating healthier food, getting enough sleep, and letting myself enjoy the day to day.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I’m guessing that my definition of illness and injury differs from what was intended with this question.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new ipod – which still has space no matter how much music I put on it. My new clock radio – which plays and charges my ipod. My new car – which hooks up to my ipod and can play all of my music as I drive around.
12. Where did most of your money go?
That would be a three-way tie between rent, student loans, and savings. I’m sexy that way.
13. What did you get really excited about?
Dude, I think it was the ipod…and the Guy Clark concert in October…and the last song the Indigo Girls played when they performed at Kerrville. Wine-Time-Girl said she couldn’t believe how happy and excited I got when they were playing the last song.
14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
I’m not sure that any of them were actually released in 2010, but all of these got heavy play time on my ipod this year:
Candy – Paolo Nutini
The Lucky One – Raul Malo
Picture Cards – Blaze Foley
Officer Norris – Blaze Foley
Clay Pigeons – Blaze Foley
40 Dogs – Bob Schneider
Something ‘Bout You – Kevin Welch
Banker - Green Mountain Grass
The Weary Kind – Ryan Bingham
Outskirts of Blue - Greencards
15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- happier or sadder? I think I’m more content than anything else (with a not so healthy dose of neuroticism).
- thinner or fatter? Thinner! Yee-haw!
- richer or poorer? About the same – although I’ve made a small dent in the student loans and started building my savings.
16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
-Emailed my mother (or returned her emails).
-SLEPT! (We’re definitely doing a new and improved earlier bedtime this year.)
-Relaxed.
17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
-Worried about stupid shit.
-Worried about non-stupid shit.
-Smoking
-Drinking
18. How did you spend Christmas?
At my parents’ house. It was good to see them, but I woefully missed the dog.
19. What was your favorite TV program?
Nothing jumps out at me – although I saw a good documentary on PBS about Merle Haggard this year – does that count?
20. What were your favorite books of the year?
I finally read 1984 by Orwell. Now I no longer have to have those conversations where someone says, “OMG! You’ve never read 1984?!?!” Whatever dudes - you've only read it because it was required at most high schools.
21. What was your favorite music from this year?
For most of the summer I listened to Live at the Old Quarter by Townes Van Zandt (released in ’73?), but I often found myself responding out loud to the lyrics with phrases like, “Oh, you think so, do you?” “That’s one way to rationalize it.” Don’t you just have it all figured out?” “Poor baby” and “I don’t think so.” Apparently I like his music, but sometimes it rubs me the wrong way.
A friend of mine gave me Live at the Fillmore: Lucinda Williams which is awesome for blasting on road trips, especially if you’re in angry chick mode – which isn’t a difficult state for me to tap into some days.
The same friend gave me some Blaze Foley music. I’d never heard him before and instantly fell in love.
As for shows, my favorites for the year were (in this order): Guy Clark (in Austin), Big Wide Grin (at Anderson Fair), and the Indigo Girls (in Kerrville).
Ok shows were – Micheal Fracasso and Beaver Nelson, John Prine, The Greencards, and Hayes Carll.
Ones I could have done without: Steve Forbert (at Cactus Café – I actually left - ugh, it was bad) and Terri Hendrix at Kerrville. (I dunno, she was singing some song that was too hippy-dippy even for me, and WTG and I could NOT stop laughing over it while everyone else looked at us like the assholes we were.)
22. What were your favorite films of the year?
I saw the King’s Speech with my parents – it was okay. The only other film I saw was Crazy Horse which seemed a little heavy with cliché – plus there was that whole part about the relationship with the Maggie Gyllenhaal character which was just kind of unbelievable (and downright creepy during the love scenes) as was the main character’s sudden and assumed permanent ascent to the wagon.
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 35 and a friend came over with chips and queso and a bottle of wine. Doesn’t get much better than that.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Figuring out a way to pay off ALL of my student loans. Figuring out a way to magically quit smoking with no effort. Winning the lottery. Falling in love. Any one of those would have worked.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Skinny jeans and egregiously long hair. We're approaching Miss Godiva over here.
26. What kept you sane?
The dog. Not sure I would have made it without her.
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
I’ve always known that much of life is beyond my control, but this year I realized that in some cases it’s good to let go of even those things that you can control and instead exercise a little faith that the universe will work things out on its own, possibly in a better way than you envisioned. There doesn’t always need to be a plan and an escape route. This year I hope to let the path lead me for a little while.
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