My body, Acting out

It is now (officially) a month since I first started feeling ill.  In retrospect, I'm wondering at the fact that it happened right after I graduated, and had a sudden resurgence in the last week of my job.  I blew out an eardrum, then had a wicked cough and sore throat, and this week, nausea, aches, and fatigue.

I'm beginning to work on a new theory here (it's not pregnancy--yes, I'm sure), because I'm starting to think these symptoms are in part psychosomatic.  I think my body is physically rebelling against my not being in school and over worked; I went two years being swamped with relatively good health.  Even being overweight, I had great scores on my cholesterol and blood pressure, and that's something coming from a family history that's horrifically bad on both fronts.  Now I'm sleeping, watching television, catching up on reading, and have time to write and publish--so why do I feel so crappy?

Every time I sit down to write I feel like I need to be doing something; mostly, I think I need to be finding a job.  I think I put in 10 new job applications today.  I finally have my husband's full support to focus on getting published, and after years of dreaming of doing just this, I suddenly have some subconsciousness need to avoid.  Last night I stayed up until after midnight researching jobs and property in Montana (would I *really* do it, now that my education isn't in the way?  I have no idea).

Munchkin, thank you for agreeing to hold the whip on the publishing cause.  I need it.  Until I adjust to this strange new way of life, I need someone providing structure for me.

Alula

I refuse to take the train again!!

OK so in an attempt to save money on gas, I took the train back home from a visit to the city. Plus I really needed to get away from my mother we can only stand so much quality time together with out problems. So me and little man took the train home. The trip was long, tedious and boring! So I refuse to take the train again, making it a little difficult to get back to the city for a plane ride to my uncles wedding. So my insane solution to this since Mr. Man said to take the bus if the train was so bad, once again I refuse got my fill of buses in high school. Basically that was Mr. mans way of saying he won't drive us down and my step dad has his head buried in books. He offered to come get us the day before the date to leave on the plane, which is another bad idea that seems like it would be more stress than its worth. Well any way my insane solution was to ask my mother to come get us. This will put my mother and Mr man under the same roof, and they really don't get along so well. And since they are both trying to not stress me out due to last months miscarriage will therefore make it more stressful by completely and utterly ignoring each others existence. And added to that since my mother I think is feeling a little left out since we are all leaving for the wedding she doesn't want to go to anyway, feels that getting us 2 1/2 weeks before the trip to the wedding is a good idea. I was thinking a week would be a better solution, that got shot down real quick. The only good thing is that my mother will go wine tasting with me which is kinda fun to get a sample of the drink all the flavors and textures is actually fascinating. So I will be leaving home 2 1/2 weeks before we leave on the 31st to spend 11 days on this trip and I haven't even figured out how I am getting home yet. Lets all count down to my descent into insanity and my doctor said I need to not be very stressed for the next month, yeah she has never met or dealt with my family. Oh add school work to my stress load and a way to active 3 year old at least my sister will be around to help with him. And I might be having another one eventually Mr. man and I talked about it, OK I talked he didn't say anything back, I decided we would just leave it up to mother nature. One thing I refuse to stress about. I seem to be refusing a lot of things lately must be me attempting to control my life in some way. I am starting to get my energy back and my blood chem levels are also back to where they are supposed to be. I still have a bruise from that blood draw. Well that's the rant for now, keep a look out for another one in the not so distant future.

Accomplishing too much

Since getting out of school, I have done the following:

-bought a few new games for my PSP, which I am new playing.  One of them is called Class of Heroes; it's kind of Harry Potter meets classic D&D.  A group of students attends a school for adventurers and goes on dungeon raids where turn-taking fights ensue.  I bought it used and on sale through GameStop along with two other games for 1/4 the cost of a new pair of shoes!  

-I am now rewriting Redemption in the 3rd person and with a more generous narrative.  Anyone who wants in on this editing project, contact me.

-I am attempting to beat all of the campaigns in Zoo Tycoon 2.  I am halfway there.

-My MIL the Librarian got me a wok for Xmas, which I now cook with daily, and all the chicken breast and veggie stir fry is part of my campaign to lose weight.  (Anyone who would like to adjust their resolutions for this year, please email me--I did well this year except for my weight, which is now higher than ever since the fast food binge I went on while Mr. Borealis was sick the first half of the year.)

-I finally talked myself into treating myself to some new skins from Decal Girl.  I have never had a skin from this company before, but the reviews are very good.  I'm getting one for my Barnes & Noble Nook and another for my new phone.

-Speaking of new phone--I wanted to get an LG Ally, but it turns out this phone has been discontinued (LG, I feel this is a bad move, as the slide out keyboard is a very functional feature that does not usurp screen space to use).  Instead, I am getting the LG Vortex.  I should have it in hand by the end of this week--review to follow.

-My husband got me Hermione Granger's Time Turner for Christmas.  I was very impressed by this present, because I never directly told him I wanted it, but I really love it.  

-I've made it through a few more rounds towards the library position I am applying for, which I still dearly hope I get.

-We went to Oklahoma between Xmas and New Years.  We drove with my family.  At the last minute, my brother decided to come, bringing two of his kids along (7 & almost 5).  My husband and I got to drive in the car with my dad and the 7-year-old; she traveled very well.  However, my mom and my sister shop WAY too much, and we had too much luggage (for TWO cars, mind you) on the way home, resulting in airline-like seating conditions.  Once again, Mr. B and I have vowed that we will never again drive with family out to Oklahoma--we will take our own car.  The gas money is worth it to have the leg room, stop when we want, listen to what we want, and not have to mind our language.

-I have fully organized my basement using the shelves Mr. B got for me for our anniversary.  The room is now functional.

-I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins on the way back from Oklahoma.  Actually, I started reading it in a Barnes & Noble in Tulsa using the "read for free" feature on the Nook while using my Nook coupon for a free raspberry smoothie.  The smoothie was awesome, and the first chapter of The Hunger Games was so good that I felt $5 was worth it to get the whole book.  The storyline follows Katniss, a teenage girl who finds herself entered into the morbid Hunger Games that are orchestrated by the Capitol--twenty-four children are picked ever year to fight to the death in these games for the Capitol's amusement, and the winner takes home food and glory to their District.  (I can lend this book from my Nook, so let me know if you're interested.  Also, check out the free e-reader screensavers Barnes & Noble are offering here.)

Alula

More Montana...and Maine?

Well, I was wrong about the population of the town in Montana.  I had quoted the population for the city and two surrounding counties.  The actual population of the "city" we could potentially be moving to is about 30,000 (half of the town I currently live in).

Mr. Borealis went to his interview in Minneapolis for the position in Montana yesterday.  It went well, though he said they kept stressing the point that the position was "in Montana", and he had to sign a waiver acknowledging that he knew the position was in Montana, and he would relocate there, if he were offered and accepted the job position.  Apparently it's hard to get people to move out there, and they wanted to make it clear in his mind that he would, in fact, be living in Montana.

I ask you:  Does it make a city more or less of a place if it qualifies for listing on ePodunk.com??

He also got an email on Monday from the folks in Maine.  (Did I tell you about Maine...?)  He had previously been turned down for a phone interview because he didn't want to pay his way to fly out for an in-person interview (the Minneapolis people paid for him to fly out).  They later sent him a personal note apologizing for not being able to accommodate his phone interview, and then the email came saying they had held on to his resume and wanted to talk to him about a different position.

I have decided it's more likely than not at this point that we are moving out of state; don't know where, don't know when.  Dodging one bullet is a feat, but now I've got two coming straight at me.  I am thoroughly stuck halfway between two worlds: one where I am a hard working professional with my career laid out before me, and one where I am exhausted and doing terrible things to my health by taking too many hours at work and school (both fueling each other at this point--need student status to keep job, need job to pay for school), waiting for Prince Charming to take me away from it all before I hurt myself.

I need advice.  Badly.

Alula

Montana???

Well, ladies,

Yesterday my husband texted me late in the afternoon while I was still at work.  He said he got a call back from a job he applied for in Montana, and they were paying to fly him out for an interview.  The job is a highly paid one for the government (Federal), and the interview is in Minneapolis.  Apparently the position in Montana is hard to fill, owing to the fact that the city it is in is small and does not have any nearby major universities to turn out employees in this field of work.

He's been called for interviews before.  He's even been flown  out for interviews before, and didn't end up getting the position (this is pretty standard for fed jobs--they fly out a few of the well-qualified candidates before hiring).  But this time, when he texted me, I got a feeling like he'd just told me we were moving.  I think he's going to get this job, and it's making me a little sad and nervous and excited.

The city we would be moving to has a population of just over 70,000.  For reference, my (our) hometown in Colorado has a population of almost 55,000--and that's our hometown, ladies, not Denver, which has a population of about 610,000.  We're talking about living in a place where the closest major city is just barely larger than the current town that we live in.  The town we are looking at living in out there has a population of less than 1,500!

Think about it: no traffic.  Small town lifestyle.  Wilderness.  Sounds great.

Sounds lonely.  FYI, the city out there does not have a Qdoba, a Barnes & Noble, or a Hobby Lobby (they do have a Michael's on the far north side).  This is a place where you have to buy an engine block heater and turn it on an hour before you plan to drive, or your car may not start.  The average daily high does not get above freezing during December and January, which I have no qualms with because I like the cold and snow, but good grief that's cold--the average lows that time of year are single digit.

We're looking at finding a foreclosure out there on some land.  About ten acres.  I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, looking out the windows in my living room at snow blanketing the meadows and forests with a clear starry sky and moon.  A white Christmas...with all my friends and family back in Colorado.

Mr. Borealis expects that I will find a similarly successful career out there as I have here.  But let's face it: he expects me to find a fantastic federal career job in a city of ~70,000?  I've been scoping out the libraries and jobs out there, and have yet to find anything like what I have here.  I've told Mr. B this, and he's conceded slightly that if we move, it represents a shift in focus towards his career.  I don't know what that means for me.  I'm sure I'll find something, and I can run some of the web oriented stuff for our business from out there, but it feels like my education is going down the toilet--it isn't exactly a hotbed of information science out there.

Alula

Frogs, Twisted Metal, and Maine

Update on frogs: the next day, two more frogs died.  I swapped out more of the water, and the last frog looked fine.  I was really hoping he was going to make  it.  Then, today, I discovered him dead.  I don't know what happened, but it is an incredibly sad moment for me; I've had those frogs since my early teen years.

Mr. B and I drove out to Emporia, Kansas, over the weekend to attend a class weekend.  He spent the three nights before the trip trying to fix up his car with his dad because there are several problems he's let go for a while (the catalytic converter, some small parts in need of replacing, and the noise it makes when he turns the wheel, just to name a few).  He managed to replace the small parts, but they didn't have time for the "big" stuff.  Mr. B's dad assured him the car would make the trip.  Then, getting dinner Saturday night, Mr. B fouled a U-turn into a field and something went CLA-CLUNK under the car.  Mr. B assured me we just hit a rock, but I was sure I felt something break in the wheel well next to my feet on the passenger side.  Then, driving back on Sunday, we make a pit stop and I see Mr. B looking under the car.  Then he's calling his dad.

Then I look under the car.  There's a twisted metal chunk hanging out from under the passenger side front wheel, and something dripping out of the engine.  His dad couldn't identify it (and still can't, beyond the fact that it was some kind of wheel/axle support--we think the clear fluid may have just been condensation of some sort), but told us that if the wheels were turning, it was probably okay.  We made it home.

I'm now hoping that Mr. B will somehow start taking care of problems with his car when they occur instead of waiting until the last possible moment.  (Fat chance, but I can wish.)

Mr. B is now applying for jobs in Maine, and I am finding myself kind of hoping he gets one.  Property is extremely cheap out there because the average yearly income is so low (like 3bed2bath on acreage with a river for 50K cheap).  It would disappointed me to have to leave my job here, but it's nice to dream of running away to a little farmhouse with a library job and time to write.  :)

Alula

Ulcers, Job Interviews, and Quiet Babies

He went off of his prednisone about two weeks ago, and weird symptoms have been popping up ever since. He sleeps 16+ hours a day and is still tired. He has no appetite but he's always thirsty. And he's really nauseas at night, and sometimes has to get up to vomit (sometimes more than once, and the anti-nausea medication doesn't help).

Worried? Yes, I am. The doctor thinks he has stomach ulcers. I think he may have an adrenal deficiency since stopping the pred. And for reasons of his untimely success, he's having trouble getting in to the doctor.

Today he has a job interview for a field economist position. He also got a call back for an examiner position with the government last Friday, and returned the call this morning. They want to fly him out of state for the final interview this coming Friday (this position is local to our state, but involves a good deal of travel to neighboring states--it's kind of the job he has now, but at the federal level instead of the state level). He also has a blood test this afternoon.

So between taking most of the day today for interviews and blood testing, and taking Friday to fly out of state for an interview, he's hitting a time crunch with his job. Next week isn't much better, but he *needs* to get in to the doctor if he's having some kind of complication here. I told him to call his doctor with the new symptoms--I'm hoping he actually does it.

Also, we attended the birthday party of our niece this weekend. It was held at one of those giant indoor playgrounds, which I remember as being totally awesome when I was a kid. The kids (probably around twenty of them) had a great time, and the whole family was there. I didn't want to let Mr. B come with me, but he had done nothing but sleep all weekend and he wanted to get out of the house. I insisted that indoor playgrounds were cess pools of bacteria and viruses, and I didn't want him going to one without an immune system. He insisted he would use a lot of hand sanitizer. So we went, and had a great time, and then halfway through the party I turn around and see this:

That's my husband. Holding my cousin's 9-month-old, cheerful, quiet, perfect baby that never cries. And they're both laughing and giggling and having a great time. Then my cousin comes back and takes the baby back from him, and he looks all forlorn until she leaves to go down the slide with her 3-year-old (also a very well-mannered, quiet, sweet child) and gives him back the baby. He's all smiles the rest of the day when he gets to play with the baby--he's tickling her chin and "booping" her nose and letting her hold onto his fingers so she can stand up and trying to get her to crawl to him.

Oh boy--not before the PhD, if ever. I swear, he does this just to get on my nerves.

Alula

Tastes like victory...

Today I met with my an advisor for the PhD program I'm investigating. She thinks I'm a good fit to apply to the program. I think I'm a good fit for the program. I can apply to start in the Spring because my work offers tuition reimbursement, ahead of the students who are applying for full funding in the Fall.

On the way home, I stopped at the Wendy's where Q and I used to stop at when we picked up dog poop for a living. I got some chicken nuggets and fries and sat in the lot where we used to sit, eating my chicken nuggets and wearing an outfit composed of new cloths I bought for my conference in DC two weeks ago (also comped by my work).

Dog poop. That was my job the last time I ate there, and then I was wearing dirty jeans with winter frozen bells and a sweaty shirt. That was just over a year ago, too. I used to eat chicken nuggets while hauling dog poop in the back of the car. Now may way is paid. I have an income that pays for school, and my husband's school (if he ever applies and gets accepted), and then some. In DC they put me up in a hotel room bigger than my first apartment in college.

I thought about what a difference a year makes. Thank goodness I had faith that things could change, and I had the support system to chase my opportunities down when they presented. Thank goodness for school advisors who forward job listings and employers who recognize potential. Thank goodness for friends who believe in me.

For any of you out there still waiting, just remember that it can happen. Things can change drastically, very quickly. Just hang in there.

Alula

Living Dangerously

I'm down in Colorado Springs visiting my husband at work for the weekend. I'm going out of town next week to give a presentation in DC at AAG. Last night, we met with our friends down here in the Springs (you all know them--the ones that own the publishing company...?).

Anyways, we were talking about hitting the metaphorical wall in life, and how I have yet to hit said wall. According to my friend, when you hit the wall, you drop everything and have a critical fail. She believes I'm in trouble of hitting said wall with all the crap that's happening in my life. But here's the thing: I don't ever think I will hit the wall. I keep piling on school and work and hobbies and family, and the wall never appears. I just keep going, and part of me wishes that I would hit the wall, just so I know my limit--like where "enough" is, because I have never found "enough." And it's like all of this stuff happens to me--I sign up for classes and then lose half a semester taking care of my extremely ill husband, and I'm still going to come out of it passing all my classes. And writing half of a novel in the process. And hardly missing 10 hours of work, and receiving offers from researchers who now want to work with me in the future.

I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth, but does this seem normal? I feel like I've rolled in the crap heap of life over the last few months and I'm still coming out smelling (relatively) like roses. And it's not the first time it's happened, either...my first semester of grad school was probably worse what with the births, the deaths, the marriages, etc., and I still managed to get things done. I guess I'm feeling a little too powerful and sure of myself, and I want that wall: I want to know exactly where my limit is, because not knowing is scaring me.

How much crap can I take, exactly? I feel like I need to know, because once I do, it will be enough somehow--like getting full.

So, with regards to hitting this wall, and my seemingly destructive need to find my wall, my friend believes I have somehow channeled the "risk taking gene" that we hear about in various studies into doing the most seemingly productive tasks I can until they eat me alive. I'm like Eval Knieval, but because I'm physically fragile and have no physical addictions, I'm taking risks in loading up on academia. She thinks I'm zapping myself physically by trying to feed my need for risky behavior with as many productive activities as possible. Weirdly, this makes sense to me--it explains why I needed an MA, and then two MAs, and then working 30 hrs while getting those MAs, and now a PhD...Mr. Borealis has been telling me he's afraid I will double PhD, because it seems like something I would do.

It does seem like something I would do. Of course, my friend being a publisher, her solution is that I channel my risk taking by showing my writing to the world via her publishing company (who didn't see that one coming...?).

So anyways, I decided to see if any of you think this is plausible (that I'm secretly living out my need to live dangerously in the most geeky way possible), and to test the theory.

Today, Mr. B and I went horse back riding. I'm not supposed to do this because of my weak and easily dislocated joints. The last time I was on a horse was when I was like 16 (we won't count Santorini, because that was technically a donkey), and I fell off and hooked my left leg in the stirrup and got dragged for 20 feet, ripping up the knee surgery I had done 7 months earlier. After a 3 hour ride, my butt feels like it's been attacked by a crazed nun with a ruler the size of a two-by-four, and my body feels sore and weak all over, but I had a great time (pictures to come). My horse tripped and did a chest dive into the ground (and I got it on VIDEO!!!) and I didn't fall off (the horse and I were both fine). Aside from the horn on the saddle punching me in the stomach and the bruises on my hands from grabbing the saddle, it didn't even give me a rise. There was seriously no adrenaline. The event rattled the guide and my husband, and I didn't even get butterflies.

I am beginning to believe there's something to the theory that my ability to judge risky situations, or the way I respond to them, has become non-typical in the last few years. I'm wondering if I hit the wall, would I even feel it?

Alula

Hope everyone had a very Merry Holiday!

Ladies,

I just wanted to drop a quick post to wish everyone a late
merryXmas (or whatever holiday you may have celebrated with friends and family). We did our share to support the economy and brighten the lives of those around us this year, and I truly hope all of you, my cherished friends, had a bright and good season filled with love and wonder.

This year was the first time I had my own money to spend on a gift for Mr. Borealis. He's put up with a lot from me over the last few years, what with my perpetual unemployment and student status, so I wanted to get him something really nice. When his iPod died a few months back and he started pining after the sleek purplr nano on the iPod website, I knew what had to be done.

I saved up and bougt him that nano. It was expensive, but good god, after him supporting both of us for so long by himself, he deserved that much. He had no idea it was coming and his face lit up like a freaking atomic bomb when he opened it.

This season I also learned that despite my strong character, my love can be bought. In the most immediate return of karma I have ever seen, this post was typed and delivered via the new iPod touch my mother-in-law got for me.

God bless us, every one!

Alula

A Summary of Kansas

With my pictures uploaded, here is a visual summary of driving through Kansas:

So on my drive I played ABC's I Spy with Q (you take a picture, and it has to be alphabetic and pertinent to the trip: A is for Agriculture, driving through Kansas, B is for Bridge, a miniature overpass, C is for corn, as far as the eye can see...). I made it all the way to O, and as you can imagine, Q was rather annoyed with me that day, because let's face it, there isn't much in Kansas. Did I mention that my mother-in-law decided we all had to listen to some book on tape the whole way home? It was about an older woman married to a guy with heart problems. They had relations on a rug in front of a fire and got sweaty and jiggly. And I had to listen to it with my in-laws.

Whole Lotta Nothin'.

Farm equipment advertisement.

Do they really need to advertise this?

The Largest Prairie Dog in the World?? Who could miss that? (If you're really curious click here to see it--reviews aren't good so I have never stopped to see it.)

Alula hates books on tape.

(Especially ones that are trapped in the car with me and my in-laws and discuss having carnal knowledge of old people.)

Happy Thankgiving, All!

Well, here I am, in Oklahoma with Mr. B's family again. His grandparents (paternal side) gave us our own room, which was good. It's the only room in their home with a computer (hence, internet) which is bad.

Mr. B's younger early teens cousin has a friend with apparently no family to eat with on Thanksgiving, so he came over last night. I got to come back to our room, where unbeknownst to me the 2 teen boys were doing good knows what on the internet with the lights off. Next to my open suitcase, where my unspeakables were in plain view.

Good Grief, Charley Brown. The lack of consideration for privacy in this family is astounding.

I delayed going to bed last night by an hour so I wouldn't have to have the hey-you-get-the-BLEEP-out-of-my-room-I-need-to-undress conversation with the orphan boy.

Both of Mr. B's parents have iPod Touch's now, and I reeeeeallly want one. (They have Kindle for iPod Touch now too!)

My sister sent me this website, where you may take a quiz to see how likely it is your cat is trying to kill you (Count and Gretal scored a combined 91% -- the house sitter has been warned):

http://www.catswhothrowupgrass.com/kill.php

But on this holiday, whether you are cooking or not, I hope this day finds you all surrounded by friends, family, love, and good food.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Alula

Cars, Business, Wasps, Screaming, and Camping

Once again, I find myself in the situation that a lot has happened in my life and I'm behind on posting. I've written a summary in prose for those of you who don't want to read the novel:

Mr. B's Outback had just gotten fixed and gone to Pueblo,
It got into a fight with a hailstorm and to more fixing insurance said "no",
Went car shopping & tried to trade in the '93 trooper C4C,
Found it wasn't eligible due to procrastination by Mr. B,
Then went Rolla on a business dealing,
Mr. B found a wasps' nest in the kitchen ceiling,
Had to beg Q for assistance due to husband's vanity,
Q of course came through and saved my kitties and my sanity,
Mr. B freaked out and decided to clean basement,
Apparently got rid of my stuff with permission and still hasn't f-ing apologized,
Got off the plane just in time to fight with husband,
Packed my crap post haste and almost decided marriage was canned,
Briefly discussed if free education was prudent,
Got accused by Mr. B of being perpetual dirty-hippie student,
Went camping one hour later with Q, Munchkin, and spouses,
Banned fighting for the weekend even though all men are louses,
Had 6 hours to share alone with Mr. B on Sunday,
Then we both woke up and went our separate ways.

And the long version:

Well, in case I didn't say this already, Mr. B's Outback had just gotten fixed from the run in with the deer when he drove it down to Pueblo and got stuck in a hail storm. It didn't do any real damage, but apparantly it dinged every exterior portion of the shell of the car to the extent that insurance called it a total loss: cost of repair exceeds total value of car. So we took a settlement and now have a no-value dinged up car.

Realizing we were nowin possession of two cars in need of replacement, we decided to make a move on Cash for Clunkers because my trooper is 16 years old and gets 15 miles to the gallon. Well, thanks to the fact that my husband dragged his butt getting it registered (and had me driving it without registration for 3 months without knowing it), we have not technically "owned" this vehicle for 1 year so it does not qualify. And my husband's procrastination has finally screwed us over in the form of losing a $4,500 coupon for a new car.

I went to Rolla, MO for my first business trip last week; I feel I should note here that they took really good care of us because the flights and hotels were awesome. On Wednesday morning I get this phone call just as I walk through the door to my first meeting:

"Hello?"

"Hey."

"Oh, hey Mr. B--unless something serious is happening, can I call you back around lunch?"

"Oh, um, well...I woke up this morning and there's wasps inside the house?"

"Inside the house?"

"Yeah they're coming through a hole in the kitchen ceiling."

"Uh...okay."

"Can I take care of this when I get home tonight?"

I laugh. "Not unless you want to come home to a house full of wasps--they could swarm and kill our cats. You need to take care of this like now."



Said in irritated tone: "Well, Alula, what do I do?"

I sit there in stunned disbelief for a moment. Then I respond: "Well hon, I'm in Missouri right now, so you're going to have to take care of this one by yourself."

"By doing what?!"

"Call someone."

"Who?!"

And about this time, in my head, I'm going well, there are bugs in the house and you don't want them there...who the bleep do you think you call? I say: "I'm guessing anyone from your dad to 911 depending on how many there are and what they're doing. Jesus--just assess the situation and take care of it. Or keep calling responsible adults until you find one that can help you!"

And I hung up and went to my meeting. I text him that he needs to call Orkin and then let it go. I call his father a little later to be sure he isn't suffering death by wasps alone in our home. Turns out Mr. B has gone to work.

The irony of the situation? I call Q later and she starts with "I got this frantic call from your husband earlier. He needed to know what to do to get wasps out of the house..."

The wasps really freaked him out. Orkin came the next day and gased the invaders and the nest, which was apparently inside our kitchen ceiling. We're still dealing with stragglers trying to rebuild.

Apparently Mr. B thought the basement was too dirty for Orkin to see (no kidding, that was his reasoning) so he "cleaned" it. By breaking a lot of my stuff and donating some of it without permission. I'm still not okay with it and much screaming ensued.

Then when I got home I saw the real damage and there was more screaming. And then I tried to talk to him about how my work is now offering to pay for me to get a PhD--literally pay for it. And pay me regular salary in addition and accomodate my scheduling needs for school. Mr. B said I can't do it because I was "going to become a permanent student" and blah blah blah. We were both pretty pissy and yelly and angry.

Then we took a fifteen mminute breather, started over, and just packed our crap and went out to the camp site where Q and Munchkin and spouses were waiting. We had a lovely weekend of geocaching, s'mores, and freezing our chicklets off. The tight sleeping arrangements of our tent allowed me the perfect excuse to get an albeit amature form of revenge on my husband by breaking gas while we were forced to spoon.

Then we got home, watched some TV, fought a little more, went to bed, and woke up. Now I'm back at work and he's back in Pueblo and we're getting along fine and missing each other terribly. I'm exhausted and I have to plan Movie Night for tomorrow and my family is not making things easy.

Ociffer and Snow were having a rough time of it with Post Partum Depression--she kicked him out and basically absconded with his child for a couple of weeks only allowing him visitation. According to my mom they're "doing better now". God bless him, I hate to see my brother going through these situations. My sister is having some sort of issue now too that she won't tell me about, and my cousin had her baby--another August baby--a healthy little girl. And my grandmother wants to spend more time with me, which I feel guilty about because she lives literally on my same block and I have like no time. I'm setting something up with her for later this week.

Alula

One Day at a Time

Alula all I can tell you is for you to take one day at a time. And Enjoy the good things that come your way. Above is a picture of my little garden my zucchini are taking over and my tomato plants (not in the picture) are getting really big. Lots of random things in this garden like some onions and strawberries even my lavender is growing. Now if Mr Man remembers to water the garden in my coming up absence from the house. Little man and I will be coming into your area next Saturday we will try to convince Mr Man to go to the Flea Market Sunday and then the big water Park on Monday. I just have to get little man watched on that Monday he's just too little to be going to such a big water park and I love my mom but I don't think she will be able to keep up with Little Man. So then Mr Man will be coming back home and to the garden, I will stay with my mom and leave for a family reunion in Florida on the 29Th Thu the 10Th. And then Mr Man will Have to come get us because he doesn't want to be without the car for that long. Who knows how much longer that truck is going to last. And if anyone wonders for this trip to Florida Mom will be on oxygen a cpap for the plane, Nessy the "Service Dog" will be going on the plane actually with us not in the baggage area, and Little Man is going as a lap Child for this very long flight. Please wish me luck that I don't completely loose my mind, not that I haven't lost it already. Well fun and games, one day at time.

fuzzy

Rain just keeps on pouring down...

The National Weather Service should issue a warning for my life.

Sultry red sunflower in my garden.

Ladies, let me give you the update since last for those of you who haven't heard yet. We spent the 4th of July in hospital room 213 this year; we actually had a pretty decent view of several fireworks shows out the window. Mr. B's father was released from the hospital on Sunday the 5th.

Now allow me to give a play-by-play of last Monday, the 6th. I wake up and see Mr. B out the door; he was going on an out-of-town job this week. So in a very relieved state of mind that his father is out of the hospital, we both go off to work. Around ten, I get a calm phone message from Mr. B. He has some bad news. I'm dialing him back at my office when the phone rings and I answer. It's Mr. B, and he sounds worried and sheepish--he tells me his father has been readmitted to the hospital for chest pain. I keep my voice calm as I give my condolences and he explains they are treating with blood thinners. Then he takes a deep breath.

"Well, there's something else, too..."

Apparently he hit a deer halfway out to his destination. He was going about 60 when it leaped out in front of the car. I try to not freak out (hey, we get big deer out here) in the middle of my office and ask if he's okay. He mumbles something "that's always the first thing people ask.." and then says he's fine--except he probably didn't need another scare after all of last week. Unfortunately the deer died on impact. He got the news about his dad while he was waiting for the state troopers to show up, and thought it best to leave out his own news given that his mother was pretty hysterical already.

The car sustained, as we now know, more than $4,000 in damage. Our insurance deductible is only $350, so it wasn't a terribly big deal. Mr. B called his boss, and explained about the heart attack, and the relapse, and the babies (our good friend the Valedictorian and his wife had their first child on the 1st, just before my new niece on the 2nd), and the deer, and got cleared to take the week off to recover mentally and spend time with family.

While I was driving home that afternoon, I hear sirens as I enter an intersection. I'm twisting this way and that trying to find the damn ambulance but I can't see it; as my brain debates whether to stop or go, my foot just hits the gas and I clear the second half of the intersection. Then, in my rear view mirror, I see the car on the perpendicular street that had been just to my left pull into the intersection with such speed that it hit the car right behind me and spun out. The ambulance he'd been trying to let through stopped right there, and in my head I'm going "Oh my god, if I had stopped I would have been between those two cars that just collided."

So I keep my mouth shut about it until we've carefully broken the news of Mr. B's accident to his parents, then I tell him. We both feel a little sick to our stomachs because 2 babies and a heart attack are a coincidence; both of us having a near-death experience on the same day? What is God trying to tell me?

I'm really freaked out.

Alula

Things I have been meaning to share.

Military Mr. Q at a firing range in New Mexico! Don't worry he is shooting at a pumices mound.
Pumices!
Plucky little lizard!

These are pictures from a shooting range in NM, we were there about a year ago. I just never got around to posting the pictures.
Now I know I have a picture of me shooting too but I do not seem to have it on this computer. So sad! I did really good that day! Mostly I just hiked around taking hundreds of pictures with Mr. Q's mother. We talked about the kind of father Mr. Q is gonna be someday. It was hot and loud but its one of my happy memoirs shared with Mr. Q.

whats new

first I don't know any chicken recipes that are actually good just bleh. Sorry about your rat Alula and congrats on the new car Q hopefully its good for you. Well lets see for me whats new I really want to quit my job because it is horrible but I need to stick with it for a little longer just a couple more bills to pay off then I can quit and Mr Man said he would pay my insurance and all the bills because that's still cheaper than paying for a babysitter. And bills paid or not I will have to quit come hunting season because Mr man has trips planned for California, Idaho, Nevada and a few other places this fall. Next month he will be going to Florida to go deep sea fishing with some buddies, shark meat is supposed to be really good. My mom is planning to come up for that week to be my babysitter because her daycare kid is gone for the summer and Bug will be at camp, plus it gives her an excuse to make Bugs dad act like a dad for a while. I'm still hoping I can find an online job that I can do to earn a little money but most of the ones I find look like scams. Little man is doing great decidedly a little boy loves being outside though it has rained for the last 3 days giving this child cabin fever. Yesterday was a little nice so we all went out on the ATVs with Mr mans little brother. Of course as newtons law requires it started to rain and hail on us at the top of the trail we were on. So just because I felt like it I called in sick today actually I called in my kid is sick though he is doing fine. My schedule had me off for two days work one day and off another two days well I don't like that idea so I called in. OK little man is demanding attention so I have to cut this off now.

fuzzy

I'll see all y'all tonight!

I'm so excited! Except my laptop is borked. But I'm excited anyways! *dances*

Travel Plans

Hey Ladies
Mr. Q is coming home on leave this week. Yeah! I'm so excited I could pee my pants, and that's a understatement.
Now if I could just get him home. Due to security reasons they will not give him a flight plan, but I am starting to think its because the army does not have them ether. Right now I have no idea where he is. I have not heard from him in 24 hours. I'm trying not to freak out but I am. Its hard not too. I keep telling myself that he is fine and he must be traveling or his cell is not working. I would be so much happier if I knew he was safe! I just have to keep myself busy! Good think the house is not clean yet!
Would it be a overreaction to go wait at the airport?

The Borealis Family Christmas Adventure

Apologies it's long--none of these places had internet so this represents my whole week. I've also commented on your last posts since getting back. :)



Well, we got back last night. I don't think I told you all about the last-minute vacation we planned to visit our out of town grandparents; here goes:

The day before we left (Teusday, December 23rd), my WALL-E tree arrived. For those of you unfamiliar with this movement, if you buy a copy of WALL-E the movie you can use a special code online to have them send you a totally free tree that is native to your area. Of course, I was all over this, and our free tree, a Blue Spruce, arrived that day looking just like a Charley Brown Christmas:

I planted it indoors, but we're putting it outside in the Spring in our back courtyard. We drove out to Oklahoma on Christmas Eve. Here's Kansas: Those blurry black dots are cows. Imagine ten hours of this while reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince aloud and eating fast food and you've pretty well got the idea of my Christmas Eve.



Christmas Day we woke up at Mr. Borealis's maternal grandmother. She's onery, in her seventies, and unapologetically smokes like a damn chimney. Nice old woman, but this trip just about killed my lungs. We stayed with her the three nights we were in Oklahoma City because everyone and their mom stays at his paternal grandparents and winds up way too many to a room with no privacy. We only woke up there, though; Day 1 belonged to the paternal grandparents, and we opened presents and ate and yadda yadda yadda, there was much rejoicing. I helped one of his little cousins set up her nifty new IPod and she was so happy she nearly peed herself (really cute). Of course, this represented Xmas Round 2 for us, because we did Xmas with my immediate family the Monday evening before to accomdate everyone's schedules.



Day 2, the day after Christmas, aka Xmas Round 3, belonged to Mr. Borealis's maternal Grandmother (the smoker). More presents and eating, and watching old family videos of Mr. B and his generation when they were kids opening presents. I told Q a few weeks back that there were 3 reasons Mr. B was going to change his mind and want kids some day--1) Everyone in his family has kids and his biologic clock was ticking down, 2) He fears being the sole provider, but the second I have a "real" job he won't have this pressure, and 3) Mr. Borealis subconciously likes screwing me over, and the second I establish myself in a career he will decide it is my duty to sit in a corner and gestate. Folks, reason number one approaches; while watching the family videos he remarked on how cute his little sister was, then he looked at me with this silly-ass grin and says: "I want one!"



Yeah. Not happening. I told him to pay a surrogate because I have not the time, money, or desire to kill my body when we already have perfectly good nieces and nephews. Anyone who tells you I don't already have kids lies.



Day number 3, aka Xmas round 4, we drove up from Oklahoma City to visit my maternal grandmother in Tulsa. Two uncles, an aunt, and a cousin were also there; they thought we had picked up smoking when we walked in the door because the smell from Mr. B's grandmother had thoroughly soaked into our cloths and hair. I'm currently washing EVERYTHING trying to get the smell out. Mr. B annoyedly has sprayed everything down with air freshener already; didn't help.



We went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; I give it three stars out of five. Wasn't fantastic. After the movie the restrooms were crowded, and the girl in line behind me was on her cell phone. She continued her conversation into the stall, out of the stall, to the sinks, and right out of the bathroom. Never stopped talking. That's classy.



Here we are driving out of Tulsa:

So Merry (Late) Christmas to all! I'm in the process of taking down the Xmas deco around the site and replacing it with other wintery fare; we might get a new layout for the 1st.

And a Happy New Year!

Alula