Burden or Selfishness?

Anger rose in me again today as I thought of people in my life that are pushing that extremely large button I have. We'll call it, "the useless button." Not because I find these people actually useless, but merely because I haven't a clue what else to call it at the moment. The button's parameters have the following traits:
1. People paralyzed by fear to the point of being unable to move forward for months/years at a time.
2. People that seem to be blissfully unaware of the needs of others around them to the point of fulfilling their own selfish desires until specially told how they are needed.
3. People that too prideful to realize how their actions affect those around them, or even that their actions have an impact on anyone other than themselves.

While contemplating my anger I decided to take my own advice I give often. When angry, find a way to tap into your empathy for that person. This is mainly because anger often has a selfish root. So I decided to figure out how I'm being selfish.

Inspections CAN be fun

I did not know that an inspection of anything could be fun, however, when you are buying a home, suddenly inspections are fun (among other things). We lasted through a 3-hr inspection today and Inspector Dan did not find anything wrong with the house. So that's super exciting! We learned all about our radiant heating floor system, air filtration system, humidastat, and keeping up on grading our yard as the basement continues to settle. The word I would use to describe my current feeling on being a homeowner would be "inadequate." Mainly because I haven't the slightest clue how to do most things beyond changing a light bulb. I've never mowed a lawn, let alone fertilized or landscaped one. I haven't had to research garage door installation companies, or remember to get my furnace cleaned. So all of this will be a new experience for me (and us).

Per usual, Dr. Laid-back is unphased by all the things that come along with being a homeowner which is helpful for me. It's certainly keeping me from getting overwhelmed and to stay excited. I also called a friend and professional organizer to come for a consult on Monday. I'm excited to her what she has to say about how to organize our home before we move all our stuff in. I would like to create a good system so that I don't become a hoarder. My current purging plan consists of moving every year or two, but that will now be obsolete...at least for the foreseeable future. We're also thinking about hiring a professional landscape architect I know from Sailing Club. (Sailing Club is where all the good connections are made.) Dan mapped out what we have now for us and gave his thoughts about the garden placement. I asked a Botany Professor friend from Kvul to ID our trees for us. So all of that is very exciting as well as how smoothly it's all coming together!

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!

See pictures here

built in 1927, renovated completely from 1998-2010, gourmet kitchen w/2009 stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and cherry cabinet. Finished attic and basement with radiant heated floors! Original windows and maple hardwood floors and fixtures. Buildable adjacent lot. 2-car garage. Charm of old with all the stuff you want in a new place. We love it!

AR

I love her. Her vocab is really growing even in French. She's even started answering me in French instead of just in English! She's know requesting Lil Pim in French all the time. "Watch French! More French! Watch French!" She's saying, "au revoir" and "jouyent" :) She's so fun!

New Look for a new Season

It occurred to me this week that I've had this blog (and template) since 2004. That's a long time to have one template... especially for a gal that loves her options! So, I have decided to finally upgrade! It look less than 2mins to choose... and I might not leave it up for another 6yrs, but I'm loving it for the moment. This is exactly what I needed as I enter this new season of life.

Part of this new season includes a new, real career. Clients have been slow to come in, but my thesis I confess is not yet completed. Perhaps, clients will call once I officially finish my thesis? That's what I'm hoping. In the meantime I'm recommitted to finishing it soon. And I figure if I actually admit that to the "world" on my blog, then I might actually do it. I'm not typically a procrastinator by design. I tend to keep up on things or do them early. Yet for some reason this whole thesis business is throwing me for a loop. I think I finally decided it's because I think I should know more about my topic than I actually do and since I don't, I'm not writing it. Once this realization had appeared I have since decided that it's silly and shouldn't be followed henceforth. So I'm working on it today :)

Also in this new season includes house shopping, which I just noted I have not discussed at all! So in house hunting... my friend told me this should be looked at as a lot of blind dates. There are many times where you'll have wished you had left at the salad, but you find yourself ordering dessert. But then, one day, you'll find THE ONE. Well, I'm still waiting to find THE ONE (for houses that is) and I've begun to embrace the "blind date" mentality that is house shopping. Perhaps it's because there are so many options in Southeast MI that I'm being too choosy? But then again, I was choosy with a husband and that seems to be working out splendidly. Maybe I'm expecting too much concerning my stage of life, and the cost of living in A2? I'm not sure, but this is proving to be a much lengthier process that I had 1st hoped. Meanwhile I'm being reminded of the fruit of patience (in more ways than one). So we've found a couple houses we could live with, but none that feel right. (Yes, I want it to "feel" right... I am an "F" after all). But, at least Shaun and I agree on what's important in a house... so we're still on the hunt.

We still have a roommate. It's been one year this month and I can say that it has grown Shaun and I a lot to have another person living with us 24/7. It has been a good experience for us, and while we were ready to move out ourselves a few months ago, we have settled back into a rhythm. Once again, impatient branches are being pruned. It appears our roommate will have a job soon and be moving on and for this I am actually quite sad. At least my approach to good-byes is to not think about them until they've passed and that way you enjoy every minute you have.

Last but not least in this season of patience improvement we are still without child. My anticipated reaction was one of retreat and hiding. I'm pleasantly surprised to find myself quiet and sad but not overwhelmed by grief. When I look at this piece of the puzzle in light of the bigger picture of this season it seems that patience is all around. With patience comes self-control and I could sure use more of that! So I'm learning to rest in the lesson.

4th of July!

Tis my favorite holiday of them all. Grilled food, people I love, warm weather, and of course - fireworks. Few things in life get me to apply the "romantic" label, yet, white roses, dinner cruises and fireworks make the very short list. I love fireworks! They are fun, bright, loud and romantic. This year we had 3 day extravaganza. Friday night we had a friend over and Shaun made pork tenderloin tacos and margaritas. And we watched my all-time favorite movie, Almost Famous while playing Scrabble! Saturday we went to the Sailing Club where we ate grilled food and watched the fireworks over Portage Lake. Sunday we had more friends over and Shaun made grilled mint chicken skewers, potato salad and shortcake biscuits with mixed berry topping out of the berries Dan and I handpicked. Oh man was it yummy. Then we played two games of Settlers. What an awesome weekend!

Living with Boys

While I prefer to live with men over women, I've come to realize a few, shall we say, appalling traits of such an arrangement. For instance, the other day I examined my shower curtain THE DAY the cleaning lady had left. She does not clean the shower curtain per her normal duties, so this was not disturbing, but what I saw on there was! It looks like a science experiment! What do they do in there?! Being an only child and then a single woman I've always had my own shower until I got married. I assure you that my shower curtain NEVER looked like that. So, I was inclined to take care of it in one attempt... so I poured straight bleach on it, turned a fan out to blow the air out the window and left. Several hours later I returned to find the slimy things growing on there to just be lighter in color but not actually gone... what a mess. I may just have to forgo my attempts at correcting the problem and get a new curtain. Then this morning I come downstairs to find the sink and counter littered with dishes. Status of the dishwasher? Basically empty, and the few things that were in there were not organized.

They also makes weird noises...