I'm a thirsty Yeti!

As you know I've been busy packing. Yesterday was the kitchen and today was the closet in Son's room. While that may sound like an easy task it's actually the storage area for the whole house, including all of the stuff from my office and bedroom. I put on a movie for Son and left him happily watching while I went in the closet and shut the door. Not the best parenting technique I know but it's better than fighting with him in the cramped, hot closet. I packed our extra clothes and checked on him. I packed the clothes for freecycle and checked on him. Then I packed one very large box with the bits and babbles still laying around and checked on him. This time instead of watching his movie he was standing on a chair at the bar drawing on it with a purple permanent marker.

OMG I'm georgous. :)

I was so mad. Not really at him, although he does know better than to move or climb on the chairs. Not really at myself, I had been checking on him and there was no reason to suspect he might start vandalizing our bar with toddler graffiti. Mainly I was just pissed off that the bar now had purple permanent marker all over it. In case you were wondering, the marker was laying on the bar waiting to mark the boxes.

I was still fuming 20mins later when the FedEx guy showed up with a little package for mommy. Instant smiles. Son knew something was up as I chased him down and tackled him. I pulled his new costume on him and he was not the least bit amused. I however, was totally thrilled. I picked my crying Yeti Son up and carried him to the bathroom where he instantly started laughing as he looked in the mirror.

All smiles.

He pretended to ignore me as I snapped pictures of his adorable new costume. When I put him down on the floor (he was on the bathroom counter) he started chasing me around the house.

He's the cutest little Yeti I've ever seen. Bring on Zoo Boo we're ready!

Adieu.

Looking for some inspiration?

Check out Redefining Normal over at Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op. It was just what I needed to give me a boost this late afternoon. If you've ever heard me talk about getting off the consumer treadmill this may seem familiar to you but it's much more in depth and well said. Well worth the read.

When I should have been starting the rice for dinner I was balancing my accounts and noticed a couple of charges I didn't make. Damn. So a 30min call to Wamu later I now have canceled my cards (apparently I had two, only the other one was lost and replaced 2 years ago) and ordered a new one. Right in the middle of moving, not the best time but when is it is good time to have your card make unauthorized purchases. You know, the ones I can't dispute until they have actually cleared my account (right now they are just pending). Wamu sucks. Hopefully since Chase bought them out the service will get better. In the mean time I will try not to stress over whether or not my whole identity has been stolen or just my Wamu card.

I got one of my English assignments done. It's only Wednesday. WOOT!!

I almost have the kitchen packed. Given the torrents of rain that are falling outside and the splashes that are falling inside I'm so glad we're moving. I will miss the view. The thunder is shaking my whole apartment. I'm trying to remember the song Pooh sang to Piglet when he was frightened, something along the lines of "when I hear thunder, it makes me wonder, is the rain above or am I under." It's raining so hard that I can't see the parking lot. I hope Charlie stays at work until it stops.

They came and inspected the apartment today. Mainly just looked in my fridge, laundry room, a/c closet and asked how many ceiling fans I have. Hmmm... odd. I'm thinking it was more of an inventory than an inspection.

Son is having a good day today. He is carrying around his moving box and enjoying putting things in and taking them out. He talked to Livey on the phone today. I love it when they talk. Since I didn't grow up around my cousins and Charlie practically lived with his it makes me hopeful that they (Son & Liv) will be close friends.

I've had Amy Tan's new book Saving Fish From Drowning for about a month now. I just started yesterday forcing myself to take a few minutes and read. I'm already enraptured with it. I love the way she writes and what she writes. Mmm... I'm thinking some nice hot coco and Amy Tan sound really good about now. I always want to sit and read cuddled under a warm blanket when it's raining and gray out.

Hope your all having a wonderful day. Head over to Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op to get those greener love banks filled. I think I'm going to go re-read and then officially start my evening filled with inspiration and hope.

xoxo

During various periods of my life I have loved and even dearly needed a good cuppa. I don't know if it's my welsh stock or my brief time spent in Bexhill by the Sea but I love love love tea. I love the ritual of making tea. Even before my days were jam packed with the duties of mother and wife I would love the calm enhancing moments from selection, to waiting for the water to boil, to experimenting with different sweeteners and types of cream, to the at last the deep inhalation of a well made cuppa.

Today was not the day for tea. Our family is still recovering from a little bug Son picked up at the gym. I'm the last to recover and even though I'm usually a reluctant riser the last few mornings have been exceptionally tough. I ache, I'm snotty, I'm tired and I just am not ready to face the damn day. This morning I had barely opened my eyes when I thought I heard the door and Charlie leaving but the door didn't close. Hmm... then back in comes Charlie with a notice from the Apartment Complex stating that they will be doing a unit by unit inspection starting tomorrow. Since it's now October and given what I know about the shocking lack of competence of our Apartment Managers I have to assume this was supposed to be done sometime last spring and they are just now getting to it. Lovely. I'm not too worried about it, after all Charlie finally got the damn apartment manager to our actual apartment along with the maintenance supervisor just last week. The apartment was still in it's early morning state (air mattresses and blankets and pillows strewn hither and yon. In addition to yesterdays clothes and last nights pajamas) all left right where they were due to my and Son's all important engagement at LA Fitness. That was the day I went to water aerobics but forgot to bring a bra and chonies to change into. Yeah. All of that aside, this morning the idea of having another inspection by these horrible people is not thrilling. Certainly not when I'd rather be doing English or Blogging or packing instead of cleaning.

We pressed on this morning with the usual routine and just added a little extra cleaning. Then Charlie came home from lunch. I had him bring up the boxes I bought yesterday so I can start packing for the move. He stopped by the leasing office to plague to remind our leasing agent that we were indeed the people moving into #902 and ask that he not let it to anyone else. We now have a move in date of the 27th and can do the walk through Saturday. I think we'll send another subtle reminder in the imposing form of Charlie again on Thursday, lest they forget. It seems like it's actually real that we're finally going to move and I'm excited. And a bit freaked out by all that I need to do before Friday (Friday=Wine Night, Sat= Community yard sale, Pumpkin Patch & Walk Through, oh yeah and Charlie has to work, Sun = Zoo Boo w/ Grandma & Grandpa, English essay due! & Philosophy Test) so that the movers can come Monday and get us moved.

*deep breath*

Other than that it was a pretty normal lunch. Turkey roll-ups with cranberry sauce, chips and soda. That is until Son started choking. Not like in the past where he chokes a bit and I look him in the eye and tell him to cough it out. No this was a full on, wild eyed, lips turning blue choking event. I get to him first and pull him off his chair. "Cough son! ach ach ach. Come on son cough! Spit it out!" Charlie gets there and does the first sweep of the boy's mouth. He echos me "Cough Son" and shows him how he spits out the food he still had in his mouth when this started. I realize it's not working, precious seconds thunder by. I can feel my brain scanning it's memory banks for the right process, I come up with baby choking and adult choking no toddler choking scenarios in sight. I'm crouching down next to him as I act on instinct and press my left hand at the top of his little belly (sternum area) and whack him as hard as I can between the shoulder blades with my right hand pushing him into my left. Food comes tumbling out of his mouth. Charlie does another sweep. I can't tell you how desperate I felt. I whack him again and hear the slightest little wheeze of air sucked down his throat. OMG, it was a relief. I whack him again and the rest is up. He starts coughing and for some reason Charlie and I both back away. "Cough it up, that's my boy." Son sways a bit, I'm guessing light headed from the lack of oxygen and the adrenaline. He gives a little cry. Then I turn him toward me, (he was perpendicular to me) and he falls into my arms sobbing. I look up and see Charlie as wide eyed as I know I must be. I take the two steps to him and we have a group hug. The mama lion in me wants nothing more than to hold this little guy against me forever but the wife in me knows Charlie needs to hold our Son and know he's safe before he goes back to work. Charlie tenderly takes him from me and just like he has since he was born Son buried his head in his daddy's neck and cried his little heart out. As I was cleaning up the food both Son and Charlie spit out I heard Charlie whisper "Well you've gone and done it again Son. You've made Mom and Dad love more than ever." Five minutes later Son was back at work stacking moving boxes here and there.

I am a bit rattled. I know that we are lucky and I should focus on that but if this last year had taught me anything it's that Death does indeed know my family's name. Instead of being busy out stalking someone else He just so happened to brush by today to remind me how fragile life really is and how quickly it can and does change. Thanks a lot Asshole!

Later Charlie has gone back to the office and I've curled up in the man chair pondering what just happened. Son leaves his work (rearranging boxes) and climbs into the chair with me. I stare into his gold and green flecked eyes and he stares into mine. I rub my fingers against his peach soft cheek and he rubs his against my weather worn one. I brush my fingers across his now raspberry colored lips and try to banish the memory of the dark gray blue they were less than 20mins ago. He hyperventilates a few time and then starts to fake cry. I pull him close to me, "I know Son, Mommy was scared too." I bury my nose in his sugar sweet hair and try not to cry. I picture my mom and dad doing this same thing with Saul. They love their son just like I love mine. I can't imagine the heartache of losing him.

---->>> love for mom and dad <<<----

Tea will simply not due. I'm going to go make myself a margarita. (I'm rationing the last of my anxiety pills.) I'm going to silence that stupid voice that keeps saying 'What if? What if? What if?" And I'm going to go take my shower. It's about time for nap to be over and dinner to start. I know Charlie is going to rush home asap, not for anything special but just to be with us.

Finally I get back to my blog. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of chaos. Taking my life as I know it (and kind of liked it) and tossing it to the hurricane force winds. It could have been worse, Charlie could have flown to PA like I told him to and left Son and I here alone. In which case I don't know where we would be, probably in Washington plotting and planning our triumphant return. Instead of a damaged roof and thereby damaged bedroom and office we could be out an entire home and life time of belongings. I'm trying, trying, trying to surrender to the changes that are coming about in my life. Charlie and I both feel as if we are getting ready to turn the page to another chapter in our lives. (No we're not pregnant as my barren womb and bitter tears will evidence.) We have reached our initial goals and are setting course for the stars.


GOAL #1
The very night I flew into Houston for the first time Charlie drove me though an apartment complex, painting a picture of our life unfolding here. I too fell in love with the trees and the bay windows of these 'luxury' apartments. Now we live here. Yes, we hate the management but for the most part of the last year we didn't have much reason to deal with them. Yes, post Katrina it has been a bit ghetto-fied but living on the third floor we don't fear too much crime. Plus we choose to focus on the fact that most of our neighbors are just people like us who like the location and the price per square foot. Now we are getting ready to move (almost 1 1/2 months after Ike, I told you the management sucks) to a ground floor (HALLELUJAH!!) of the floor plan I loved the very most when we first started looking into making Charlie's dream of living here a reality. Provided of course that the management doesn't fuck us over screw things up again by trying to put us in an apartment that already has someone living in it for the 3rd!! time in less than a week.

GOAL #2
Charlie has finished school & is doing very well in his job. There are some potential changes going on at work for him that I believe will advance him even further along his career path. Keep your fingers crossed for him, I know I am.

GOAL #3
I am back in school. I just finished my 3rd class and passed it. YAY for sociology. I've had a hard time catching up after the hurricane but managed to have all my work done for a few hours last night until one of my professors posted my new assignments. It was a good three hours though. With the upcoming move and of course our usual busy fall activities I'm anxious to stay on top of it lest I fall behind again.

GOAL #4
We're happy. For the most part we stick to our 80/20 rule of being happy 80% of the time and allowing ourselves to be folly filled humans the other 20%. I love Charlie. He loves me. We both are hopelessly and endlessly in love with our Son. It's really a wonderful place to be in. Shocking for me. I feel like Marlin from Finding Nemo when he and Dori are being entranced by that deep sea creature "I feel happy and that's a big deal for me." It's a really big deal for me. Especially since it was only a short few years ago I was entraced by a short Irish hypnotist and clearly remember wanting to scratch his eyes our for continually asking me if I was happy. I truly didn't believe that it exsisted or if it did it was only for other people, not me. I'm veryhappy to be wrong about that. (hehe)

Now to get packed and moved and start the next chapter. I need to think about what I want from my up and comming 'real life' but I can't wait to see what it will bring.