His Side

August 26, 2004 - Wow, it's been a little over 1000 years since my last update. That's the biggest danger of time travel: falling behind on your e-mail and utility bills.

Libations to cousin Veronica for updating her website. I was getting a little tired of looking at the rodeo clown.

Stacey's going to New Orleans this weekend to help her big sister fill out wedding invitations. I'm going to take the opportunity to sit around and watch videos while she's gone. No wait, that's what I do at work. I'm actually going to seal the grout in the bathrooms and BBQ a beef brisket - that's about as manly as I can manage without any power tools.

August 12, 1004 - Yes, we are alive. We bought a new laptop and put the old computer into storage. My plan was to re-install Microsoft Frontpage on the new 'puter and start updating the web site again, but it seems that I put Frontpage into storage too. Plus I was having a senior moment trying to remember the password to get into our website.

Our first week in Mississippi started off with a little car accident. No one was hurt, but the Cherokee ended up on it's side. Other motorists stopped to help us seconds after the accident happened and enough of them showed up to finally push us back over onto our tires. Paramedics and police showed up, but by then all the action was over.

As many of you know, we bought a house. We'll get some pictures uploaded to the site at some point. Oh yeah, we bought a digital camera too (a Minolta Dimage XG), so we'll be filling up our disk space in no time now. It (the house, not the camera) should be finished next week, in time for us to close the deal on Wednesday. Stacey's mom and step-dad are going to help us move it. Ain't they great, folks? Let's have a round of applause.

The job is going pretty well. I'm pretty much in training mode right now since what I'm doing is a lot different that what I did in California. Speaking of my old work, my old program manager called on Monday to ask if I could go to Sweden next week to help with some system support. Dang! I would have gone any other week but next week, because we're supposed to close on the house.

Speaking of Europe, I hope you're having fun in France, Mike. Bring me back some good brit (the un-pasteurized stuff!!) and a snow-globe for the wife.

Other overdue shoutouts: To Jennifer and Frank on their approaching wedding. To Emily and Frank (different Frank) for finding that special someone in each other. To Dave for not (I hope) having to return to Afghanistan. To my mom for taking care of our three cats for the last couple of months.

Her Side

8/30/04 - New Orleans, hands down, is the most beautiful city I have ever been to, and quite possibly the most beautiful city I'll ever go to.  Yesterday morning, after dropping Rob and Angie off at work and going to La Madeleine for breakfast, I walked all the way from that corner of Jackson Square to the end of Canal (to deliver breakfast to Rob) to the 700 block of Royal (which is pretty far in French Quarter terms, and in flip-flops on the French Quarter's notoriously slippery banquettes) to go to my second favorite shop in the Quarter, The Bottom of the Cup Tea Room.  On the way, I must have seen a hundred little things that I miss about New Orleans that only appreciative natives would recognize.  I miss being able to spot a native from a tourist in two seconds or less.  I miss walking around fearless pigeons.  I miss looking around then following a pigeon's flight path to an even more beautiful view. 

I miss the culture, history, and passion of the city.  I miss walking by a native and hearing "Mawnin'" in addition to the stranger smile.  I miss walking into a shop and being immediately refreshed by the air conditioning.  I miss freezing in one of those shops and walking outside and being immediately warmed.  I miss being told by complete strangers that they know where I got my shoes at.  I miss sitting in the Square in the morning, especially Sunday morning, before everyone but the natives are awake.  I miss St. Anthony's Garden and the little orange kitty I named Tony (not after my ex, after the garden).  I miss watching ships dominate the mighty river.  I miss living near the mighty river and hearing the cranes on the dock loading things onto ships, and having that sound lull me to sleep.  I miss being able to walk to anything I want.  I miss colorful streetcar operators.  I miss shotguns, double shotguns, and Greek revivals.  I miss living close enough to my friends to organize an elaborate penny poker night within an hour.  I miss arriving at the shop I had just walked so far to reach only to realize it's not there anymore.

What?!  How could it not be there anymore?  It's one of the oldest modern businesses in the Quarter, not to mention that the shop had a reputation for a very friendly famous ghost named Julie that I have been dying to see for about 10 years.  Hmm...  Oh well, I'll just walk down to Chartres to my most favorite shop in the Quarter, Librarie Book Shop at 823 Chartres.  They have great deals on trades, which brought me back a million times back in my kiosk days.  They also have awesome first editions, OLD books, and cute little cartoons all over the store.  I love, love, love old bookstores, and that's one of the older ones.  As I was making my purchase, I saw a little list of other used bookstores in the Quarter and noticed there was another one in the 200 block of Chartres, so away I went, since I had never been there.  On the way, what did I see but The Bottom of the Cup Tea Room.  Huh, whaddaya know?  It was closed, so I went to Crescent City Books and as I was looking around their local interest used and new shelf, I actually saw my Cousin Nina's book!  It's such a classic that it's already on used bookstore shelves!  It's an awesome book for hikers, non-hikers, birders, and Louisiana lovers alike.  After I nearly bought the entire local interest bookshelf, I started to walk down to The Bottom of the Cup and added another thing to my list of things I miss about New Orleans: completely random, sudden rains.  It started raining shortly after I walked out of the boosktore and I watched a harder front of rain make its way down Chartres, and was able to make it across the street under an awning before that rain arrived.  I got a few teas from The Bottom of the Cup (they have excellent herbal teas) and made my slippery way back to my car and left the most beautiful city in the world. 

Did you actually read this far?  You must either love New Orleans or me (or both). 

As for the rest of my weekend, while not as magical and wonderful as the three hours I spent in the Quarter happy as a clam, it was pretty awesome.  Friday night, my little brother ROCKED the football game.  I felt like a highschool freshman watching the Castle Knights when Tony Salpietra took every game to victory.  My baby brother scored three of those extra point thingies after touchdowns.  My baby brother!  Unfortunately, he thinks he pulled a groin muscle.  But hey, he worked that game.  His team was sucking in the first half, and I told my mom that if they put Seth in, the point spread would shrink, and sure enough!  The first string kicker got hurt and the coach put my brother in, even though he had only begun to practice kicking last Monday.  Man, he did so well.  And under extreme pressure, too.  I could not be more proud of him.  He was even in the Sunday paper - well, at least his name was.  Several times.  *beam*

Saturday, Rob, Charity, Angie, and I went to The Cheesecake Bistro, a new (at least to me) Copeland's gold mine on St. Charles.  I did not cheat on you, Dr. Atkins.  OKAY!  Stop looking at me!  I had 2 bites of cheesecake.  They were small bites!  And it was WORTH IT.  Hmph n' stuff. 

Yesterday, after the super fantastic time in the Quarter, I drove to the ultra magical land of Marrero, where I helped write out wedding invitations for my sister and had an awesome time.  We danced to the oldies in our heads, we tested the endurance of our taste buds, we found out that Miss Linda has a potty mouth, but is five kinds of hilarious.  Oh, and we finished the wedding invitations.  But oh, what good times.  I drove to the enchanted forest of Slidell to pick up my kitties!  They were understandably irked, but they've adjusted pretty well.  They're enjoying the exploration. 

The worst part of the weekend, second only to the fact that I drove the Jeep in the rain which makes me want to take much Valium, was the fact that my husband wasn't with me.  I only realize how profoundly I miss him when I'm doing something I really enjoy - alone.  The magical three hours in the quarter would have been so much better if my man had been holding my hand.  I wuv him! 

Longest update yet this month.  Not bad!

8/27/04 - Anagrams for Republican:  "Nubile crap," "Can burp lie,"  "Nice burlap," "I burp clean," "Crab lineup."  Since I'm fair and balanced and can't stand either party, anagrams for Democrat:  "Metro cad," "Made ROTC," "Mater cod," "Meat cord," "Me, rat doc."  And me, love anagrams.

My last couple of weekends have been the bomb.  The weekend before last, I got to do my laundry for free just for watching my parents' dog overnight, then on Saturday, I went to Middendorf's, Brocato's, and Crazy Johnnie's all in one day!  WHAT!?  Course, Sunday was a little lame, what with my best friend getting all sick on us.  But you take the good with the bad because I was able to go to lunch with Drew and Rob, two of my favorite men on the planet, and a deadly funny combination of people!  If only Andy, Ronnie, and Ringo could have been there, it would have been the best lunch with men ever.  And, I drove the Jeep and didn't flip it over!  Wahoo!  AND, I saw my sister's be-yoo-tee-ful house (well, the shell of it).  Last weekend, I bought myself a house!  And moved in!  SWEET! 

Now this weekend is promising to be pretty great too, except for that I unfortunately have to spend it without Drew.  Tonight, I get to see my baby brother whoop up on some Wesson boys in his first football game of the season.  So natch, I'll have to wear my Yellowjackets shirt.  I'm also going to burn the 10 whole garbage bags full of packing paper that we've accumulated from unpacking only the living room, kitchen, and half of a guest bedroom.  Man, they waste some paper.  They took at least 6 pieces of 3'x3' paper to wrap each martini glass, and I have five of them.  Anyway!  Then tomorrow, I'm off to hang with my bestest friends, Angie and Rob (and whoever else might show up) to see "Garden State," a movie I've been wanting to see for several months.  Unfortunately, I live where indie movies don't so I have to go all the way to New Orleans to see it.  Which is okay.  Then Sunday, I'm going to hang out in my favorite place in the world, New Orleans' famous French Quarter, until it's time for me to go to my sister's fiance's house to write wedding invitations.  Seriously, could there be a better weekend planned? 

Really, I'm just letting y'all down softly since I'm not going to be updating for the entire weekend.  In my absence, tell Cousin Veronica that she needs to update.  I'm dying for July.  

8/26/04 - I spent my first day in nearly a week yesterday not unpacking.  It was very rewarding.  Except I stepped on something metal and bled profusely and nearly ruined a pair of flip flops, which y'all KNOW made me mad, stubbed my toe on the way into a doctor's office, and stubbed another toe on one of my living room tables.  Otherwise, the day was fantastic.  I also bought a skirt to wear to my sister's wedding, to hopefully be matched up with something fabulous at a later date.  Would it be wrong to wear flip flops to my sister's wedding if I promise not to make a bunch of noise in them?  I love flip-flops.  I'm considering a year where I wear nothing but.  Think I could get on the news? 

8/24/04 - So I used to look at the rain as being kinda pretty and peaceful - now I look at it as a concerned homeowner.  The good news is that my house is high up enough that there's no flooding on it.  The bad news is that my house is high up enough so that all the flooding goes around it.  Last night, it rained pretty hard for about 2 hours, with some sprinkling before and after that.  We have a corner lot, and the builder asked if he could use the back corner as part of a drainage system, and we agreed, since we want the water to drain out of our main yard and we probably couldn't really use the back corner anyway.  So what happens is that the water runs from our backyard to this corner and down to the street, screaming through our fence and side yard and partially over our driveway, then into the street drain.  It looked like a river last night.  I was standing in my garage, hands on hips, just grumbling thinking about what this'll do to my driveway and wondering if the river would pick my car up.  And of course the phone line was installed yesterday, but not buried, which meant our phone line, while still connected, was flowing in this river too. 

Grumpy, grumpy.  The good news is that the laundry room and kitchen are completely unpacked and organized!  Yippy!  Well, a few things in the laundry room need touching up, but that'll take nary a moment.  I plan on getting the living room all done today, as much as I possibly can without a couch or chairs, at least.  I kinda took it easy yesterday (while still getting a lot done) because my feet and back were in such stabbing pain on Saturday and Sunday night that I needed to take it easy. 

We got a local phone number, by the way, and will be changing our cell phone numbers soon.  Anybody that needs those numbers should e-mail me!   (That's my test of how many people actually read this website, by the way ;).)

8/21/04 - Is it possible for feet to unionize and strike?  Because I think mine are doing that.  Maybe they hate the flip flops.  Whatever it is, my feet are killing me. 

It's been a very, very busy day.  We went to Home Depot, then to Wal-Mart, then to the house, where I contact papered like a crazy woman.  I also got one box unpacked.  I've been awake since 7:30, and I can't believe that's all I've done today...  HEY!  Don't judge me!  You have no idea how much needs to be contact papered.  Lots and lots and lots, just so you know. 

We won't have internet access until Monday, so no updates till then.  It's probably a good thing, because I is grumpy.  Bye now!

8/20/04 - Man, if only I drank coffee.  It's 7:23 in the grumble grumble morning and I've been up for an hour.  I couldn't fall asleep until at least 1 this morning.  But...

IT'S MOVING DAY!  The best day in every compulsive re-organizer's life.  I get to put everything exactly where I want it.  I'm SO blessed to have such a chill husband, because I sure don't know what I'd do if he, too, were a compulsive re-organizer.  Hopefully, I'll be sleeping in my new house tonight instead of at the Roof.  Not that the Roof's bed isn't comfortable, but, well... I have 1000-thread-count sheets.  I can't wait to snuggle up in those again.  And with *my* pillows, not these lumpy little 2 dollar dealies. 

It's so exciting.  Now we need furniture...  We sold our couch and recliners before we left L.A. for very reasonable prices because we really wanted new stuff, now we're pretty undecided as to what we want.  A couch, two chairs, a few more chairs for fireplace sittin'...  Big ups to my mom for contributing a washer, dryer, and a bookshelf that she and my dad built (and a few other things).  Just a few more things we don't have to think about.  I bought a little temporary blind yesterday for the master bathroom, but totally forgot to buy some for the bedroom.  Duh. 

We're off to see the movers, the wonderfulest movers of all!  Wee!

8/19/04 - Happy birthday cousin Kelly!  And happy birthday Billy!  I hope y'all have wunnerful birthdays!

I have noticed, among other tiny culture shocks, a completely bizarre phenomenon.  Not only do people leave their cars unlocked or with the windows down here, but they also leave their cars running.  Especially at convenience stores and at the post office.  They will get out of their cars and go do their business, all while their cars are running.  Unlocked, windows down, running.  This is absolutely bizarre to me.  Brandon is a pretty nice, seemingly safe town, and while the temptation is right in the face of a burglar, there were only 14 auto thefts between 2001 and 2002.  That seems strange to me.  I'm not saying that there should be more auto thefts or something, but it just seems grossly irresponsible to leave your car unlocked and running .  Unlocked, maybe.  But unlocked and running?  Sorry.  It's just weird to me.   

8/18/04 - Punch yourself in the mouth real quick.  Seriously, right there in the teeth.  Just tag yourself.  Blam.  Now you understand what it's like to have braces.  For the first couple visits, wayyyyy back in 2002, it hurt so incredibly bad, but then for about a year, I was able to eat a couple of hours after a visit, then right after a visit.  Then today, I went to my new orthodontist.  Super nice guy, by the way.  I ate about an hour after the visit, but now my teeth are killing me and it goes beyond Aleve. 

So our loan company is a jerk.  They just called Drew yesterday and told him that they've tried to call us at our old home phone number in El Segundo and it just rings and rings.  That, my friends, is a lie.  Call our old phone number, there's a recording that says it's changed to Drew's cell number.  Apparently, they've been calling us for two weeks.  So they drop a HUGE bomb on us yesterday about two or three things that we need by today, since we were supposed to close today.  We moved the closing back to Friday, and everything should go well, but I'm incredibly disappointed by the loan company.  

I just want a Dairy Queen brownie batter blizzard.  That'd make everything better.  But no-o-o.  Dr. Atkins says I can't have one.   

8/17/04 - Ha!  Yeah, we'll update on the 12th.  The 12th of NEVER!  Since Drew pretty much brought everyone up to speed on the whole moving thing, I'll update you on the haps since then.  We had the walkthrough on the house last night, and will be moving in on Friday, but only if the closing goes as planned, which it hasn't so far.  It's been one of those days - you know - the ones you'd like to skip?  Unfortunately, most of what went wrong today directly affects our closing process.  Hopefully we'll close before Friday, because that's when our stuff is supposed to arrive.  If we change the date of the delivery, we'll possibly have to wait another two weeks!  Haha, woops!  Hmph.  We'll keep y'all updated.

Since I'm desperately in need of a blog lately, I'm just gonna go ahead and use this as one.  Hope y'all don't mind.  Blogity blog blog blog.  That being blogged, I'll be updating as much as humanly possible, I promise! 

Today is the birthday of my best friend from highschool.  I know she doesn't read this since I haven't talked to her in a year and a half, but it's the thought that counts.  Happy birthday, Nicki!