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January 29, 2007
Discombobulation
What a weird few days it's been. And yet, not really that weird at all.
Clara Jane's visiting my parents. She told them, "I love to visit Mimi and Grandpa ... but I also love to visit Mommy and Daddy."
We sent her to visit because 1)we were tired of listening to my parents beg, 2)we've got tons of house stuff to do before we start showing on Wednesday, and 3)my mom has a photographer friend who takes beautiful photos of my kid, and it's time for her three-year shots. (You can see six-week-old Clara Jane if you go to the "Maternity & Infants" gallery and click on the 15th thumbnail. She's also in the "Collections" section. The next-to-last thumbnail is a collage of her two-year photos.)
How productive have we been?
Friday After dropping the kiddo with my parents, but before making the drive home, I was striken. By what, I'm not sure. I felt similar to the way I felt six years ago when I had an ovarian cyst blow the hell up for no good reason. Well, not quite that bad, but I felt icky in a punched in the kidneys fashion.
I sent B. out for Chinese carry-out, as that was the only thing that sounded even a little appealing. Particularly, cashew chicken was the only food I could possibly consume that wouldn't cause my ovaries and kidneys to burst into flames.
He came home with hunan chicken. I'm still considering divorce in retaliation for this obvious attempt on my life.
Saturday We spent three hours in Prettytown, viewing houses with our real estate agent. We found two more winners, and learned that the agency's had quite a few requests to view our house. I have a good feeling about all of this.
After our appointment, we finally investigated Prettytown's wine and cheese shop. Oh, I can't move fast enough! It's two doors down from the coffeehouse. That's right - wine, cheese and coffee in the same plaza. If we don't find the perfect house, I just might live in a tent in their parking lot.
Before parenthood, our favorite dinner used to be several kinds of cheese and salami, good bread, olives, fruit, and a really great bottle of wine. I can't remember the last time we did that. It's not exactly toddler-friendly, although our toddler enjoys everything on that menu. Well, except the wine, but she digs sparkling grape juice. Anyway, we got three cheddars, bread, and a delightful, robust bottle of Meeker Mendocino County Zinfandel for dinner.
We got home, and B. went to work on the bathroom while I puttered around, made some jelly for my pal Stormy, and waited. And waited. And waited.
Long story short, it was 9:00, too late for me to drink wine without it reacting with the brain drugs. For the second night in a row, I scrounged the fridge for leftovers in a huff.
Sunday I can tell we're in house mode, because the idea of going to Home Depot or Lowe's doesn't fill me with anger and fear. I hate those places so much that I have adverse physical reactions every time I walk in the door. The only time I've enjoyed those places was when we were buying our current house. In fact, we were walking in the door of Home Quarters eight years ago this month when we got the call from our real estate agent, informing us that the offer we'd made on our house was accepted.
We went to Lowe's on Sunday, and I went so far as to pick paint colors for our new bedroom. Nevermind that I have no idea in which house this bedroom might be located, but damn if I don't know exactly what shade of green (Aloe Essence), white (Sea Salt), pink (Spring Romance) and purple (Dusty Plum) that room is going to be.
You know what's funny? Watching a long train of chained-together gas grills making a little road trip down the hill of the Lowe's parking lot. Granted, it wouldn't have been funny if someone had gotten injured. It also wouldn't have been funny if the grills had hit my car; no, that would have been cool, because we probably would have gotten a free grill. Note to Lowe's staff: when your store sits on top of a hill, lock the wheel on the ol' grill train.
But yes. We went to Lowe's, and I did not burst into flames.
Upon returning home we took a little nap while waiting for the cheese to come to room temperature. B. woke up before me and started painting the bathroom. I even joined him. But then I noticed the state of the kitchen, where everything from the bathroom had been dumped. It was past 7:00, again too late for wine for me.
Yes, I know there are so, so, so many people in the world who go without adequate food. You know I love America's Second Harvest and Operation Food Search and I think we should all give them lots and lots of money and help. But goddamn it, I was not happy to find myself dinnerless three nights in a row, especially with something as indulgent at imported cheese and California Zinfandel just sitting there! Waiting! Begging me to eat them!
At 8:30, I sent B. to our friendly neighborhood Indian vegetarian location for paneer tikka masala (because if I'm finally going to get a decent dinner, it's going to consist of my current favorite food), veggie korma, rice pudding, and samosas.
Today I'm not even going to talk about the return of the death backache from Thursday, because I've done nothing but bitch through this entire post. I popped some Alieve, looked at my disaster area of a house, and said fuck it. I'm going to the coffeehouse as planned, where I'm going to drink coffee, knit my sock, and gab with my newest pal, Heather.
Amazingly, after doing that, my back no longer hurts. My house may not be ready, but I feel better. That's worth something.
Oh, and in the meantime, Clara Jane's gone country.
Posted by Robin at January 29, 2007 08:27 AM
Comments
I've used aloe essence and it's a lovely shade of green. Highly recommended.
Posted by: Lori at January 29, 2007 06:18 PM
Mmm...paneer. Drew's making me some Indian food Wednesday. We picked up some good spices when we hit the curry mile in Rusholme with Sara and Mark on New Year's Day.
P.S. I wish I were small enough to wear CJ's boots.
Posted by: Exena at January 29, 2007 07:31 PM
Oh man, I feel your pain. That would kill me to have fresh bread, good cheese and wine just sitting there. Fortunately, alcohol actually makes my brain drugs work better. Or so I believe.
Posted by: Lunasea at January 29, 2007 07:59 PM
Oh Poppy....just when I think she can't get anymore adorable, she goes country.
Too cute for words.
Posted by: pkb at January 30, 2007 06:58 AM
I've always wished I could pull off the Cowboy Boots & Dress look, but for some reason, I just can't make it look right... She's such a cutie!! And that baby picture just stole my heart!!!
Posted by: Debbie at January 30, 2007 10:51 AM
Country Clara Jane is just too cute! Look at those little pink boots. :) And wine and cheese next to a coffeshop? I agree with you -- live in a tent in Prettytown's plaza.
Posted by: Katya at January 30, 2007 06:32 PM
OMG. I must borrow your header in a year when we try to put our crapshack up for sale.
It's never too late for wine in my neck of the woods. But hey, I'm trying to forget I live in Alabama, brain chemistry be damned.
Girl, I haven't been by lately, but I still read you faithfully via that old alienating biotch of a gadget, Google Reader. I want you to get that little rock house in Prettytown so damn bad. You should just say fuck it to all the layers of agent formality and call the peeps directly.
10000 Smooches,
Michelle
Posted by: michelle/weaker vessel at January 30, 2007 10:33 PM
I want Clara Jane's boots. And for you to paint my bedroom all those beautiful colors.
Posted by: Dixie at January 31, 2007 03:20 PM
