Adjustments and Adulting

Things are finally pretty calm here after the horrible move and all the drama that ensued during it.  Our temporary house is as furnished and put together as well as can be expected.  Our physical space has been  downsized quite a bit and we're still finding this home quite a bit smaller than what we'd like.  Don't get me wrong, I love the cathedral ceilings and sunken living room, but the kitchen is a lot smaller than I'm used to and the husby feels a tad bit claustrophobic in his office.  So, after a productive conversation this evening, we've made a new list of needs for the (new) semi-permanent house that we will soon start actively looking for.  And our dream list??  Here:

• Three bedrooms (four if we don't have a separate family room (we want a dedicated guest bedroom).
• Two baths (an additional half-bath would be desirable, but not necessary).
• Larger kitchen (I'd like to have an island or a bar for guests to sit at).
• Hardwoods or laminate throughout (we're willing to rip out carpets and install new flooring).
• New tile for the bathroom (I'm eyeing some slate...  delicious!!).
• Soaking tub/garden tub for moi.
• Full paint job - using some of the colors I love (husby agreed).
• Garage.
• Screened in attached porch (AKA "Florida Room").
• Living closer to the beach.

I think I found an excellent realtor and our budget is pretty large (I'm still pushing for the in-ground pool, though - just because I'd love to have one) - so I'm sure we'll have a lot to choose from.  Besides, compared to New Orleans, property here is seriously cheap.  

Husby's schedule is crazy...  he's gone for two weeks in June, comes home for two days, then does his week-long reserve duty in Missouri.  He'll have two weeks home and then we fly up to DC for a four day weekend (one of my favorite nieces is getting married.... squeeeeeeee!!).  After that, two weeks at home and then B heads out again for another three weeks.  Anyone have any non-crafty hobby suggestions???  Derby season will be pretty much wrapping up after that, so I need to find something to occupy some of my free time!!!

I am planning on having company come in from Massachusetts, California, and Louisiana while B is away (importing friends again... 10 shades of North Carolina - ugh) - but if you want to visit, shoot me a PM if we're friends on FB or email me at findingjuggsy[at]gmail.com.  I love to entertain!!!  :0))  I promise I'm not "dangerous" or anything... hahahahaha!!

Sleepy. Decisions.

I'm tired.  As in sleepy.  :D  This is a good thing.  I think I'll take a hint from the dog and just go back to bed.  I've had too much on my mind this morning.  Nothing major... I just feel like I'm being cluttered by words.  And I have no desire to listen to any more words.  Silence for a little while is perfectly fine.  As am I.

Sometimes words are not the answer.  Behavior can be more indicative.  Chog can't speak, but I certainly understand her. 

When I get up from my nap, I'm going to make a list of pros and cons.  Once I see what I've written [decluttered], I'll make my decision.  Calmly and decisively.  I'm in a good place right now to do what may need to be done. 

Now... off to nap.

Gaps. Reset.

I'm back.  I've re-opened my blog to the (probably very, very, very small) public who may read this... and if you were a regular reader, you'll probably notice some very big gaps between dates.

Those posts have been reverted back to drafts.  I'm keeping them (for my own personal journal) and to remind me of certain things.  So, apologies if you're missing those entries.  They simply evoked very negative feelings and that's not what I want to look at.  This is supposed to be about me - nothing more and nothing less.

So, I'm going to reset myself.  Oh, yes, I am.  And guess what??  It started this very morning.  There was a jabby little post (which could've made me feel downright stabbity) and I just looked at it, did a mental shrug, and didn't even bother.  Then, I talked to a friend, packed up my gear, went to the gym, and then over to the beach.  While there, the dark storm clouds moved in and I simply got up and went to the car.  Finished my errands (post office, bank, store, get the Vee-Dubs some gas) and now I'm home. 

From now on, I'm staying away from the storms.  I'll watch them from a distance, but that will be it. 

Not to say that there won't be some sort of rant from time to time.  But I've got a ton of stuff on my list that I'd like to do - and being in abject misery isn't going to make any of that happen.  So piss off, negativity. 

Mellowing In Progress.

I'm quite sure that I'm moving towards a far happier existence.  Today is the day that all of the boxes have been EMPTIED!!!!  Art once again decorates the walls.  I can see the top of my desk!!!  Went and spent some money on some little things for the house.  New lamps, some comfy throws, and pillows.  I'm hoping to have everything done (house-wise) and have my initial insurance claim paperwork filled out before I leave tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the road trip I'm taking tomorrow isn't for pleasure.  It's to deal with a tenant, find a decent property management company, and deal with contractors (in order to fix any issues the tenants may have left).  I'm quite sure that I'm going to have to replace carpet in three bedrooms, get a commercial cleaning crew in there, and paint some (if not all) of the rooms.  Luckily, the property management companies that I'm looking at all have realtors - so if a tenant wants to buy the house after living in it, we will apply some of the rent toward the down payment.  I'm just not really wanting to do this - but it's better to get it over with and move along.

There are still some unresolved issues that have been circling around in this putrid little brain of mine.  I can't leave it hanging forever - even though part of me is still uneasy with certain aspects of behavior exhibited.  Some of it I believe is par for the course and that I should accept it for what it is - the other more cynical part believes that I could get burned.  Maybe 10 hours on the road will help me come to a decision.  For a good portion of this year, I didn't even feel like I was dealing with the same person.

As for me??  I'm getting back to myself.  Then again, as I told everyone who would pay attention and listen... moving makes me fucking crazy.  I was sure to warn people when I was in a bad mood and the only time I think that writing context can be misconstrued is when the person writing the note, message, email, PM, or IM deliberately makes it so.  This, I've learned first hand. 

Now, it's neither here nor there.  I'm not stressing out about anything this afternoon - I have a ton of errands to run and then I'm going to figure out dinner.  Rotisserie chicken and salad will probably be on the menu.  As long as I get all the chicken skin, I'm good.