My parents are planning on selling their big ol' house next year and downsizing. Justin, the middle brother, will still be living with them but he'll be busy getting his bachelor's from UofH. Alden, the youngest, will be off in Tyler TX working with the best and the brightest in film stuffz. And we'll still be in this 'orrible city, bugging them to come and visit again.
So my mom is trying to downsize. With that in mind, I meandered through the house and came up with a list of what I wanted. I don't think she was quite expecting that, but hey, she was just going to throw it away, right? My haul so far is a glass plate from Milan that Justin got for my mom but she's trying not to buy knickknacks and I really liked it so I got to keep it, my old futon that is still in perfect condition once we buy a new mattress, and an old dresser painted a lovely shade of green that totally matches my color scheme. We're hoping to drive to Houston this Christmas and pick the furniture up to save on shipping ... plus we won't need the stuff til then.
We had lots of fun in Houston. My grandparents arrived Saturday night, and by Sunday morning the Orclette thought my grandmother was the best thing ever and wanted her to hold her new baby (found at a thrift store in mint condition for $2. Can you guess what my mom and I did? Spend money and save! Woot!). She called my dad "gam'pa," my mom "ga'ma" and Alden "Aldy." Given another day or two and I think she would've figured out Justin's name. She certainly remembered him-wanted him to hold her right away. I really wish her great-grandparents had had more time-my grandmother fell in love instantly. But they have relatives in Alberquerque so there's a good chance they'll be down our way soonish.
And then the leaving. I wanted to cry. I really, really miss Houston and I really, really HATE Las Cruces. But that's not an attitude I want to have because I'm stuck here for 3 years so I really made an effort to push that to the back of my head and I succeeded after a few hours. It helped that I decided to view Damm's absence as my first period of freedom ever-I lived with my parents and then Damm, no break there. His parents have absolutely no authority/sway over me (my mother can still put the fear of God into me, but I don't think that ever changes) and so, like I said, I'm free! Ignoring the fact that I'll have 2 small children :D And I decided that we will make a concerted effort to create our own life in Las Cruces when Damm gets back and not spend near as much time around his parents-not because we don't like them but because Wulfa needs to have her own family separate. You know, that territory thing. I'm suppressing it now and will be til November but it's there, a roaring lion waiting to be allowed freedom. And I don't want the lion free-grandparents are a gift from God. As long as they live 15 minutes away :D
And now we're back to the school grind. I tell ya, we really need to schedule these trips so we get a day of rest and relaxation. I'm wiped. But we only have 3 weeks left. We'll be staggering into that finish line :D
During the summer months I plan on taking piano lessons, working just a few hours, and reading all the really cool and interesting history books that I had no time for this semester. Like 1421, another book that explains how Europe gained dominance over sub-Saharan Africa, my comprehensive survey of Europe that's much longer than War and Peace, etc. Then in August my mom will fly in, hopefully little tyke will be born on time, and I will start one class in the fall (the one that starts where my Roots of Modern Europe leaves off) and hopefully find someone to give me flute lessons. Then Damm will be here again and all will be well with the world.
And the elliptical trainer is calling my name. You know, for all my mom's swimming, biking, running, lifeguarding, and general involvement at the YMCA, she didn't know how to work an elliptical until I showed her this weekend?
So my mom is trying to downsize. With that in mind, I meandered through the house and came up with a list of what I wanted. I don't think she was quite expecting that, but hey, she was just going to throw it away, right? My haul so far is a glass plate from Milan that Justin got for my mom but she's trying not to buy knickknacks and I really liked it so I got to keep it, my old futon that is still in perfect condition once we buy a new mattress, and an old dresser painted a lovely shade of green that totally matches my color scheme. We're hoping to drive to Houston this Christmas and pick the furniture up to save on shipping ... plus we won't need the stuff til then.
We had lots of fun in Houston. My grandparents arrived Saturday night, and by Sunday morning the Orclette thought my grandmother was the best thing ever and wanted her to hold her new baby (found at a thrift store in mint condition for $2. Can you guess what my mom and I did? Spend money and save! Woot!). She called my dad "gam'pa," my mom "ga'ma" and Alden "Aldy." Given another day or two and I think she would've figured out Justin's name. She certainly remembered him-wanted him to hold her right away. I really wish her great-grandparents had had more time-my grandmother fell in love instantly. But they have relatives in Alberquerque so there's a good chance they'll be down our way soonish.
And then the leaving. I wanted to cry. I really, really miss Houston and I really, really HATE Las Cruces. But that's not an attitude I want to have because I'm stuck here for 3 years so I really made an effort to push that to the back of my head and I succeeded after a few hours. It helped that I decided to view Damm's absence as my first period of freedom ever-I lived with my parents and then Damm, no break there. His parents have absolutely no authority/sway over me (my mother can still put the fear of God into me, but I don't think that ever changes) and so, like I said, I'm free! Ignoring the fact that I'll have 2 small children :D And I decided that we will make a concerted effort to create our own life in Las Cruces when Damm gets back and not spend near as much time around his parents-not because we don't like them but because Wulfa needs to have her own family separate. You know, that territory thing. I'm suppressing it now and will be til November but it's there, a roaring lion waiting to be allowed freedom. And I don't want the lion free-grandparents are a gift from God. As long as they live 15 minutes away :D
And now we're back to the school grind. I tell ya, we really need to schedule these trips so we get a day of rest and relaxation. I'm wiped. But we only have 3 weeks left. We'll be staggering into that finish line :D
During the summer months I plan on taking piano lessons, working just a few hours, and reading all the really cool and interesting history books that I had no time for this semester. Like 1421, another book that explains how Europe gained dominance over sub-Saharan Africa, my comprehensive survey of Europe that's much longer than War and Peace, etc. Then in August my mom will fly in, hopefully little tyke will be born on time, and I will start one class in the fall (the one that starts where my Roots of Modern Europe leaves off) and hopefully find someone to give me flute lessons. Then Damm will be here again and all will be well with the world.
And the elliptical trainer is calling my name. You know, for all my mom's swimming, biking, running, lifeguarding, and general involvement at the YMCA, she didn't know how to work an elliptical until I showed her this weekend?
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