Friday, November 20, 2009

La plus ca change...

I'm heading to my parents' home in Utah tomorrow for a week of fun, family, food, friends, and probably a myriad of other (decent) F words I can't think of right now.

Unfortunately, Blake is stuck at work until Wednesday morning, so he won't be joining me until then.  I'm pretty bummed about it, but I guess I can console myself by thinking that I'd be alone at home anyway since Blake will be working most of the weekend.  Don't worry, we've already planned the first thing we'll do when he arrives: eat Bajio, of course (or Cafe Rio if we can't wait until Provo). 

It'll be really different going back this time.  My old bedroom has recently been converted into the new TV room.  The guest bedrooms are now downstairs.  There's a new deck.  I've heard my Mom recovered the basement couches.  Yep, home will be different.  But, in a way, I can still count on it being the same. 

So, happy weekend, all.  I'll be passing my time on the airplane scheming of a way to convince Blake to come with me to this next summer.  Seeing as it's in the south (have I ever told you of Blake's distate for all things southern?) and it involves shopping, there may not be a chance in Hell that he'll agree to it...but, four states of yard-sale?  That's my kind of activity.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Spectre

There is a woman at work whom I find 100% terrifying.

I don't know her name or even what department she works in.  But, I do know that she walks without moving her arms even the slightest bit and that she doesn't wash her hands after using the bathroom.

She is the spectre, clad all in black and grey, walking the third floor of McDonough.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Week in Review

Last Friday we closed on our house. We also found out the Blake passed the bar! Next to our wedding day, I'd say that that was probably the second most important day of our lives. Not that I had any question that my Blake would pass, it's just nice to see it in writing.

Saturday we moved into our house. Thanks to the help from Pace, Valerie, Matt, Courtney, Austin, Bryan and Blake's parents we got everything packed into our Uhaul and moved in one day. We also got a new fridge and a new couch. The new fridge is hanging out in the middle of the kitchen until we re-do the cabinets (the measurements were off by 3/4 of an inch). Who doesn't like an angled fridge?

Sunday we cleaned our old apartment one last time and handed off the keys to the new tenant. We also spent the day unpacking, listening to music, and generally enjoying our new freedom of space.

Monday we went back to work, sore, and tired. My calves took three days to recover. I guess that means two things: 1. I am out of shape and should exercise more. 2. Carrying boxes up and down stairs really does hurt.

Tuesday we went to work (still sore, I might add) and then got to go to lovely Maeve's birthday celebration with all of these folks.

Wednesday As previoiusly mentioned, I got a free massage at work (it's worth mentioning twice, right?). Blake got the day off work for Veterans' day. He put our lovely new stools together before I got home as a surprise.

Thursday/yesterday I got notice of acceptance into my teaching program. I'll start in January! Hooray! To celebrate, I searched through boxes to unpack some plates (we've been using paper and plastic this week) and we ate dinner at the kitchen bar on our new stools. Then, Blake took me to World Market to use my 15% off coupon to buy some candles for the silver candle sticks we found at a garage sale for $10.00. I also splurged and bought some asian and indian spices ... can't wait to use them.

As you can see, it's been a very eventful week for us.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Lost Shanna

On Monday night we had to park our car two blocks away where no permit is required. So we wouldn't get towed, you know? On our walk back to the house we passed a flyer on a telephone pole that said "Lost Shanna" with a picture of a fluffy white dog. I was reading the flyer as I walked by and saw the picture of the dog, so I was expecting it to say "Lost Dog," so when I read it out loud, it came out like "Lost ... Shanna?"

I got a kick out of it because it sounded like someone had lost a person...that or an infomercial about how to get your Lost Shanna back in action...

Anyhow.

Today is a good day.

Blake has the day off (federal holiday on a Wednesday..hmmm), so he spent an hour on the phone with Verizon and they are going to come install the Internet at our place on Saturday. Sure, the block of time they gave us is 8:00 - 5:00 --essentially confining us for all of the usable errand-running time -- but it's better than the alternatives.

The alternatives being:

a. Not coming at all (see last post).
b. Coming on December 7 (the quote earliest date they could come).
c. Monday between 8:00 and 5:00 (after much wrangling, the next earliest date they could come).

I've missed the Internet and the ability to post pictures of our house and house projects on my new blog. I've missed updating this blog. I've missed not living in the stone age. I'm suffering from pre-missing the Office and 30 Rock on Thursday. Alas. What was life like before FIOS?

Today is also a good day because:

1. It was the wellness fair today at work. I got a free 10-minute massage. I am now feeling loosey-goosey and quite pleasant. I am also wondering how I can work that into my work schedule more often. Oh wait, I'm not rich. Nevermind.

2. The bar stools I ordered arrived at Blake's parents' house. Blake is chivalrously going to pick them up for me. I can't wait to see them. They are Pottery Barn look-alikes for a quarter of the price. Thank you allbarstools.com.

3. When I get off work I get to go home to Blake.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Home at Last

We are officially homeowners!

Although Verizon was supposed to come yesterday between the hours of 1:00 and 5:00 to set up our Internet and TV, they never showed up, so we're currently living in the stone age and relying solely on Blake's blackberry to interact with the outside world.

Other than that, and the fact that our fridge currently resides in the middle of the kitchen floor, we are absolutely loving our house. We feel like we're on vacation in someone else's mansion. (Please note, our house is not a mansion, but it feels enormous after having been confined to a 600 square foot box).

(sigh) Worth every penny.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Friday

Waiting for closing is even more excruciating than waiting for Christmas.

Halloween 2009

We had a pretty laid-back weekend. Well, actually...

Blake wasn't feeling well, so we tried to do a lot of relaxing. Tried, being the operative word (and the misspelled TIRED being the operative's result). We're moving on Friday and Saturday, so we're frantically trying to get everything in order by closing on Friday. AND, it also happens to be the week where Blake has his interview for the Maryland bar...busy week.

On Halloween we:

a. Bought the perfect refrigerator for 60% off.
b. Bought a new dishwasher for 24% off.
c. Had to do a and b that day because we need them delivered on the day/ day after we move in and don't have any other time to go to the store. Fun thing to do when you're sick, eh Blake? Sears is nearly as comfortable as being at home in bed, right?
d. Had a free 3-course meal at Chili's.
d. Had to skip a fun party because we were so exhausted and dizzy from our friendly neighborhood Sears.
e. Rented and watched Wait Until Dark (a new experience for Blake and a favorite of mine).
f. Were the creepers that drove around looking at trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood (they were just so cute!)
g. Scavenged the last two bags of 50% off fun-sized candy at Safeway.
h. Switched our clocks and enjoyed an extra hour of sleep (making our 9:00 church the next day not quite so painful).