Our definition of Home

Build a photobooth, we will come. May '11, after  a crazy 12 hours on the beach.

     A few days ago, my mom moved to Houston, Texas from Atlanta, Georgia. It's a funny feeling to not have a reason to occasionally visit the city where I was born and raised. Over the past four years, I'd escape to Atlanta for some R&R. A visit to mom meant I'd eat good food, do some good shopping, and stock up on shampoo. I still called Atlanta "home," because that's where mommy was.
   Now that I'm an adult (how did that happen?) and married, my definition of home has to change. To be fair, I haven't really lived in Atlanta for about 11 years. Greensboro felt temporary. Every day Shawn and I look around us we ask ourselves, "how did we get there?" It honestly feels like vacation, but its home. To me, home is where my Hubby is. And Bully. Now, can I get a million dollars so we can buy a Victoria Park home?


Looted

With our stuff.

  On the way to Florida we pick up my mom's breakfront and dining room table. These things are probably over 40 years old and solidly built. I'm glad that I can have them in my possession and little Shawlani willl grow up looking at the plates and opening the drawers. Just like I did.

I kept a couple of Atlanta plates. My parents used to sell these at our Underground Atlanta store, before I was born. I get a kick out of the pics of the Omni, Fulton County Stadium, and the Scream Machine. Oooooold school.

Have the best time in Houston, Mommy!

Recap: Celebrations and Farewells

      We are Floridians, though I'm not sure in which city we live. I think it's Plantation, but I have already sent all our necessary business to Sunrise. I really hope the postal carrier has half a brain.

The past week and a half has been hectic, celebratory, hopeful, and stressful. There were some tears. Joyful tears and stressed tears. If I ever see a car carrying Budget truck in front of me on the highway again I will have nightmares.

One thing is for sure: we will hire movers next time. I'll save up for it if we have to. Our next move will be pretty local and hopefully less than a year. The Bull needs a yard a playmate. I won't even have to pack my underwear. Someone will do that for me. In fact, I 'd like to hire someone to make me lunch right now.

 The move went well, and only one Hello Kitty plate broke. So Good-bye Kitty. Survival of the fittest. Our condo is a disaster. It was more of a disaster on the first day, but we've since painted the terra cotta wall in the bathroom. He wanted a Carolina blue and I wanted Tiffany. We compromised with a nice seafoam. We did some touch-ups. Had a maintenance man stop by to verify we needed a new washer. Nice welcome, huh?

But enough with that until I can show you how it turns out.

Instead I'll show you a recap of the last week, including a Cinco de Mayo graduation party at Bin 33, our going away party hosted by Erin, Matt & Meg,  the after party at Snackbar (I'm still waiting for my food), and a farewell at my work.

Good-bye, Greensboro

 Seriously, WHERE is our food???

 Farewell at the "office:"

Thanks for the good times, friends!

Problem Child

Hey guys, please help. My mom and dad are messing everything up again. They're always making messes and stacking things high so I have nowhere to lay. This week they cleaned up our house, which was nice for a change. I had a lot of room. But then mommy and I sat in the car again for a very long time. We saw some of my brown family, and my lola. That was nice. Then we got back in the car and stayed there all day. I just kept flipping back and forth in the back seat. I was cramped. 

I haven't eaten until yesterday. Mommy wasn't giving me soup any more, just dry kibbles.

We stayed in this room last night. I rode an elevator for the first time. Then today I got in the car again for a little while and came to this place. There are boxes everywhere again. I stayed on the patio all evening while they put them inside. I made sure no one came to bother our house. I bark at everyone coming towards our house and it works because they don't come and bother us. I love that I can see everything below.

Well, I hope tomorrow I get to go for another walk. The trees are different here and I saw lots of lizards today.

Please tell my mommy and daddy to give me more room. They are so messy lately.

Love, 

Bully

All our ducks in a row

from my friend's baby shower. it's a boy!

   

So far the transition into living in another state is going well. We have about a month left here and we've started the process of packing very early. We've discovered that banana boxes are the a mover's best friend. So waxy, and sturdy and have handles. And free. Shawn's called every grocer in town and made appointments to get these babies. (I recall from working in my father's fruit store that tomato boxes are ideal too. Lids & handles.)

   Lots of things are packed. Things we don't use everyday, like fancy glassware & dinnerware, and books we wonder why we've held onto in the first place. Winter stuff, if not already donated to Goodwill.

   Craigslist has been good to us. Sold the couch! Dresser, you are next. As if my clothes don't already live on the floor.

   I've stopped cooking a lot. My plan is to use all the ingredients in the fridge & cupboards, leaving less to toss out at moving time. Other than for eggs, milk, and some fresh items, I have haven't gone grocery shopping in about a month. Our meals are interesting, though. Lately, I'm making lots of Asian dishes because I've found two packs of spring roll wrappers and rice noodles. Last week it was Mexican, 'till I ran out of beans. We swore to keep it up until we're down to an onion, which we'll just have to batter & fry.

One really weird phenomenon is the going away party. Multiple people have asked us, "Are you having a party?"

 Um, as if are we throwing ourselves a going away party? Now my understanding is that one doesn't throw themselves a going away party, or a surprise party or a shower of any sort. I mean, I think birthday parties are acceptable. And people pay for their own weddings.



But, no. And no, we won't slip your birthday celebration into our going away party either. (Yeah, someone actually implied this.)

  If we had time, money and a clutter-free (I just choked with laughter) house, we wouldn't do that anyway. We've played host countless times.


That's what friends are for.

Now, its time to find out who's been really paying attention?

Partying among boxes marked "fragile?" I think not.

 The fact that we haven't locked down where we're going to live or where I'm going to work is reallllllllly, realllllly,  on our minds. Yikes. If I allowed myself to think about it for more than 2 minutes, my brain might explode. Then I'd have to clean the floor for the fifth time today.

In it together, though, right?



On a lighter side of things-

  This weekend was my friend's baby shower, which is an eye opener for those not in baby mode. I mean there are 21 different types of newborn diapers. Swaddlers, Snugglers, Cruisers, Sensitive. OMG. I am out of my element, I am thinking.

But I play it off real cool and talk about babies when my only reference is the 85lb dog I've had for about ten years. Kinda the same?

So

If you like duckies, this segment is for you.


One talented lady hand made this cake. One day this will be me.

It was delicious.

All my loot.

I contemplated photoshopping the bed head. Don't say this blog ain't real.

  There's my friend on the right, due in three weeks... one of my first friends when I moved to Greensboro. Four years ago we were concerned with which club to go to.

And now were both married to guys named Shawn/Sean (who actually have the same middle name, too. Weird).

Bride Wars.

from [here]

Finally seeing  Bride Wars last night with a friend,


I have concluded a few things:

1. This movie was everything I dislike about the wedding industrial complex.
2. Liv is a very bad attorney. (Seriously, did she forget that she signed a contract? Her negotiating skills suck!)
3. That guy who plays Van in Reba is even more enjoyable than on Reba.
4. I'm so glad Shawn & I did what we did. (That one girl didn't even marry that guy. Sheesh!)

But,

5. Since the movie was really about friendship, I found it endearing.

from [here]

Friends are good. I wonder which friendships I will carry to  our new home?