Such a Waste…

Have you ever noticed how little I blog about Mike?
I may “mention” him from time to time,
But I never out and out blog about him.

Why you wonder?
Because he’s off limits.
He told me so a long time ago.

Oh I’ve tried before.
But he’s nixed them every time.

The only reason I mention him now is because people ask.
They think he’s hilarious
And I have to agree with them.
Mikey makes for good material.
He’s a Blogger’s dream.

But blogging about someone personally,
Even if it’s intended to be funny,
Can quickly cross the line and hurt feelings.
Or at the very least, piss them off.

So don’t look for Mikey’s antics to be reported here.
I have to live with the man.
You don’t.

That said…
I wish I could tell you what he did at the Demolition Derby last week.
It was classic.
Classic Mikey!

But sorry, Mum’s the word!
I’ll tell him his fans have been asking for him.
Maybe he’ll give in and throw me a bone.

Mi-KEY…Mi-KEY…Mi-KEY…

Are you going to Scarborough Fair

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Remember me to the one who lives there,
She once was a true love of mine.
(Simon and Garfunkel)

One of my true loves is gardening.
Flowers mostly…
And herbs.

I was in a quiet panic until this weekend.
Having only moved back into the house June 1,
We were overwhelmed with how much we had to do before leaving for vacation in just 2 short weeks.
Both the outside and the inside of the house were screaming for our attention.
In my opinion, the inside could wait.
After all, we still have more years than I care to count left on our mortgage!

But the outside was like a race against time.
The temperatures were quickly rising,
And the selection of flowers… diminishing.
I needed to act quickly, and I did.
The front of the house (the neighbors view!) looks great now.
But I ran out of time, and the nurseries ran out of flowers.
Begrudgingly, I accepted the fact that the backyard, the one place we love to hang out the most,
Would be barren this year.
Bummer!

Even more discouraging however,
Was the fact that we missed out on planting our herb garden as well.
This disappointment has a trickle down effect!
Mike and I love to cook.
And without our beloved herb garden,
What’s the point!
It was shaping up to be an aesthetically challenging and bland tasting summer at our house!

Then… a Miracle.
The flower Gods smiled down on me.
At Wal-Mart of all places!

Having cut through the near defunct gardening section of the store for some sunscreen,
I spied with my little eye the sorriest looking hanging baskets of Impatiens in varying colors tucked away in the corner.
They were marked down from their original price of $14.99, to 2 bucks a piece.
I gathered up 20 of them and a box of Miracle Grow!

Then, as if I wasn’t giddy enough…
Peeking out from behind the sorry-ass looking flowers were WHAT???
Could it possibly be???
Yes!
Herbs!!!
Parsley (flat Italian), Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.
And Basil, lots of basil.

Mike and I worked like savages all day yesterday.
I think we took 3 showers each!
But today…we rest.
We sit back, sip wine and enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Our backyard is now bursting with color against a palette of deep green shade trees.
The fresh sent of herbs is in the air.
We are finally home.

The Wait is Over…

The work begins!

Today we (I), move the few belongings we have here in the crappy corporate apartment to Mom’s house for a week.

Tomorrow we drive to Indy to meet the packers/movers who won’t actually be there until Tuesday.
Yep…we screwed up!
We’ve known for 92 days (I checked them off the calendar daily!) that we could get back into the house Memorial Day weekend.
You’d think we would have remembered to schedule the movers!

So that gives us a couple of free days to catch up with the few friends we made in India-No-Place.
Sunday we’ve got tickies to the big race…vroom, vroom.
Monday…a cookout at Ned and Josie’s.
Tuesday they pack up the house.
And Wednesday we hit I-70 West for the final time! (God willing)

This time next week, our 2 year journey will be over.
We’ll be home!

I’ve got a hot date with the Cable Guy June 3rd.
Until then I’ll be offline no doubt accumulating some good blogging material.
Week’s like we’ve got coming up don’t usually go smoothly!
I hope yours does…
See you in a week!

Life As We Know It…

We are only into the 5th game of Nick’s baseball season and we’ve already lost an integral part of his uniform.
His shirt!!!

How does this happen?
Socks I can understand.
I actually anticipated losing a sock so I bought 2 pair.
But his shirt???
Holy crap!

I’ve got until 5:30 this afternoon to come up with a new one.
Did I mention it’s “moving day” today?
We need to be out of the crappy corporate apartment by tomorrow.
But I’ll be busy trying to find a baseball shirt. (Maybe I packed it?)

And oh yeah…today is our anniversary…15 years!
Mike said to me late last night in a panic…
“Don’t give me my card in the morning Chrissy; let’s wait till I get home.”
Translation: He doesn’t have one yet!

I was happy for the head’s up though.
Hopefully I can pick one up for him between stops at one of the 17 sporting goods stores I’ll be at today looking for a new baseball shirt!

Yep…15 years ago today, Mike and I made all sorts of promises to each other.
Exotic anniversary trips, expensive jewels, perfect children.

Instead we will be spending the evening taking separate cars to the ballgame so we can each take a shift.
Dinner will be every man for himself.
And the only Jewels involved will be the ones Nick tucks in to his brand new jock strap!

So Mikey…
If you had it all to do all over again…
Forget it.
Don’t answer that.

Happy anniversary baby!

Home Cooking

This is so embarrassing.
We’ve been in the crappy corporate apartment for 62 days.
We have 29 left.
Last night was the first time I turned on the oven.
Guess what?
It doesn’t work.
So here’s the conundrum…
Do I call the office and report the faulty appliance therefore outing myself as the world’s biggest loser mother who NEVER cooks for her family?
Or do I just keep my mouth shut, give up on Take-and-Bake pizza’s and stick to delivery?
Mike wants me to report it…
I think the man is jonesin for a home cooked meal.
We’re free most nights folks…
Anyone???

Goodnight Baby!

Crap!
What I meant to say was, “Have a good day baby.”
It was 6:45 am, way too early yet to be cognizant in my world, but I could vaguely hear Mike at the front door getting ready to leave for work.

Another day of putting a roof (two actually) over my head,
Providing me with all my needs and most of my wants.
But instead of getting up with him and brewing the coffee,
I’m planted face down, completely snuggled under the covers, drooling on HIS pillow, mumbling “goodnight” to him!

He must hate me in the morning!
I think I’ll take him to lunch this afternoon.
The later the better.
That way maybe he won’t notice that I didn’t cook dinner again!
Come to think of it…
He must not be too keen on me at night either!!!

I love you Mikey!

ABC…

A: Move back to KC and stay with Mom.
B: Move into Corporate Apartment.
C: Move back into our HOME!!!


We just got to Stage B in this current journey we’re on.
The apartment sucks, but we’re one step closer to home.
June 1st we take back possession.

Ordinarily…I am guilty of “wishing my life away”.
I wish it was summer, I wish Christmas would be over with, I wish we were back in the house.
I wish, I wish, I wish!

But given our current circumstances,
I now fully understand that each day is a gift.
Especially for TC.
And I’d live in this crappy apartment for the rest of my life if TC could have that many days too.

I wish.

Paperless World???

I think it’s a fair estimate to say I have personally been responsible for the demise of an entire tree this week.
Maybe even a Great Sequoia!

Forms, forms and more forms.
Weren’t we supposed to be going paperless?
I have more papers on my desk right now than food in my cabinets, socks in my drawer, lame ideas in my head!
Papers are everywhere and they all need filled out.

Some of the papers (school registration forms) ask the same question two or three times!
They are very serious about knowing your Doctor, Dentist and Emergency Contacts…God forbid they get stuck with a sick kid.
I tend to write “see previous answer” a lot…maybe they’ll get it.

The real issue though is the paper!
Why can’t these forms be filled out online…it’s 2006 folks!
With “Cut & Paste” I could be through it all in an hour.
But this antiquated way puts me at Day 3 and countless cups of Coffee & Bailey’s!
It’s all becoming a blur.

Then factor in that everything I fill out,
There is some poor soul on the other end that has to input it somewhere.
What a waste…
At least the address I’m returning them to isn’t someplace in India!
Yet!!!

And The Fun Begins…

The house is officially on the market.
I am officially certifiable.

Two kids, two dogs, a turtle and a husband M.I.A.,
And I’m supposed to have this house “show” ready 24/7.
Good luck to me on that!

The last time we sold a home,
Cell phones were a luxury item.
Now they call you from the driveway,
“Hey can I come in and check out your crib”?

Not enough time to pick up the underwear on the bathroom floor much less fill a dishwasher and spray Febreeze.

A prediction?
Someone…some poor sweet woman no doubt,
Is going to catch me at just the right (wrong) moment and get the wrath of Chrissy.

My goal is to avoid that.
As well as the underwear on the floor.
No promises but I’m trying here folks.

I'm Going To Kansas City…Kansas City Here I Come

Kansas City, Kansas City here I come.
They've got some crazy little women there
and I'm gonna get me one.
(Wilbert Harrison)

Mike has accepted a position with his employer, Advatek, back in Kansas City which means we will be going home soon!
The timing couldn’t be better.

It’s been quite a journey, these last 2 years.
Texas was a hoot…
Indy just never really won over our hearts,
But it’s not like we really gave it a fair shot.
We will however miss Josie & Ned and the Egg Man!

We can’t wait to get home,
See y’all soon!

Solar Powered Jaw

Occasionally, I can be very chatty before daybreak.
Today was such an occasion.

The kids were up early checking the news hoping for a snow day.
Mike already knew there would be a two hour delay and hollered for them to go back to bed.

In my mind…Game On.

I started chattin Mike up about the day ahead.
“Hey, I’ve got an idea” I told him.

No response.

“Let’s try that new Thai place for lunch today.”

No response.

“Mike, are you asleep?”

Finally…a response.
Just not the one I was looking for.

“Chrissy”, he said.
“Pretend your jaw is solar powered.
No daylight, no talking.”

So now …I’m vewy, vewy quiet;
I’m hunting Mikey!!!

Eight More Sucky Sunday’s

Sunday evening through late Thursday night,
Mikey lives in Kentucky.
The plan is for him to be home for good come January.

The kids and I tease him and inquire about his “other” family down there.
He always responds the same way,
“Honey…down there teethe are considered Bling,
You have nothing to worry about.”

And we all laugh.

But I do worry.
About hazardous roads and crummy weather,
Too few cell towers and long distances between exits.
Car trouble in Hooterville and who will stop to help him.
I worry…until he finally calls me late at night and says,
"Chrissy, I’m in room 212… again.”

And we laugh.

Tonight is Sunday.
Sunday’s Suck.