*dim bulb alert*

Wednesday afternoon I had to hurry off to an orientation related to the job starting next week. As soon as I set foot outside, it started raining like a cow peeing on a flat rock.

I hurried to my car and yanked the door open, the top corner of which soundly smacked me on the head just forward of my left temple. It smarted like you wouldn't believe.

So I was hurrying and owchie!ing and then thought of Natasha Richardson and I thought Crap! What if I die and no one knows I stupidly killed myself with my own car door? Then I realized if I did die of stupidity, maybe it was best if I just let folks wonder.

Well, so far, it didn't kill me, and here I am: removing all doubt.

The U-Haul Has Landed

The UHaul has been unloaded, partly into a storage unit and the rest into the house I will occupy very soon. The funny thing about this turn of events is that the house which has been generously offered me on modest terms is so much nicer than the one I was going to rent. I do have to put in a lot of elbow grease, but it's coming along with more help from those friends.

Wednesday I was motoring up the highway and noticed that for about a mile ahead and at least as far behind me and on both sides of the highway there was not a single other car in sight from the last hill to the next. Here's to a staggering lack of traffic jams.

The pups have been blissed-out playing with the children of our hosts. I think they're going to miss the excitement and energy of the kids once we are ensconced in our own place, but hopefully the big yard will be a consolation of sorts. Hopefully Mr. & Mrs. Tolewyn will let me babysit in attempt to repay their kindness, and the pups can enjoy visits from the kids.

There are moments when it is impossible to deny the intelligence of Praline. Wednesday night, the two-year-old was having quite a grand time chasing Praline around a large recliner, and every time she got very far ahead of the child, she would stop and wait for him to round the corner to continue the game. She wanted to keep him interested, to keep the chase spooling out. She's so fleet she could handily have run circles around him, yet she found more delight in the game and tempered her pace accordingly. I laughed and laughed to see her patience, as that is not a trait I tend to associate with her. Likewise, she seems to understand he's a little one, and unlike when she wants to have a struggle with adults for the ball so they can throw it and she can fetch it, she will walk up to the small child and deposit the ball at his feet. She's one intense little hairball, but her brain is working in ways which surprise me. What a dear girl.

Things look good and later today I have a follow up interview for the job I mentioned yesterday. The other job starts Monday, but it's a temporary job on a very strict probationary term, and the orientation has made me suspect the job will be rigid in ways which make me restless. We shall see. I am grateful for the opportunity, but I'm yearning for a job which will afford more permanence from the gitgo. Things have been odd and a little up-in-the-air, but in the main things have been really good and I'm very happy. I'm looking forward to feeling more settled and to be living in my new place, but the important thing is that I made it here.

*squeeeee!*

Would you hire me? I'd hire me...

Tuesday morning I had a job interview. Having applied for, oh, say about 60 or 70 jobs in the last several months, I was thinking it would be fun to mix it up in interviews by paraphrasing quotes from movie weirdos. I could go on, but the exertions of the day just too too much out of me. I'm hopeful I'll get to spend my first night at my new place on Wednesday night, but it's more likely it'll be Thursday.

*************

Ya know in Planet of the Apes when Taylor and the other astronauts arrive at the edge of Monkey Mondo and you see the stretched hides of (?) chimps or orangutans(can't remember which) -- were those meant to be scarecrows, or were they the hides of dead outlaws or what? I never really got the purpose of that. Perhaps it would have been more clear if there'd been a sign that read "hitchikers may be escaped convicts."

See? Tired.

Will try to post more later today.

Why isn't it surprising...

...that the White House authorized a cheap stunt which involved an Air Force One 747 flying at low altitude over the Statue of Liberty and other NYC landmarks? The purported purpose of the event was a Department of Defense photo shoot. The comments of witnesses describe hundreds of terrified people streaming from buildings as the jumbo jet made one after another fly-by. Considering the not-too-distant history of the New York skyline and big, commercial airline meesiles, it's scorchingly tacky to have done such a thing without letting the planned event be widely publicized in advance.

I just keep wondering when the MSM will finally wake up and smell the reek of cheapness? It stinks on ice.

...you know, if Bush had been in the White House when this happened, I think the MSM would be all lathered up speculating that El Prez had taken AF1 for a joy-ride. I'll bet that's what happened here. Has anyone thought of pimping a 747 ride, yet? Does anyone know the POTUS' whereabouts at the time of the *aherm* photo opportunity?

I have the incomparable felicty...

of being a houseguest these three days in the home of the dazzlingly talented (truly indimidating, he!) Tolewyn and his pretty Mrs. and their three delightful children.

Saturday I was stressed-out, in a way, but something in me just felt everything would work out alright. Mr. & Mrs. Tolewyn took me in, and I feel so much better, and their kindness and hospitality only served to reinforce my feeling that things were going to work out incredibly well.

I can't talk longer tonight- I'm SO sleepy. Extended family of friends have come up with brilliant solutions to my problem. My first night here (Saturday night) was exhausting and that night I slept 6 hours. That extra 3 hours made all the difference. Here's to waking up to yet another brand new day on Monday.

change of plans...

I was not able to move into the house I'd rented as planned on Saturday - the previous tenants never vacated. Fortunately, some lovely friends have generously invited me and the pups to help myself to their sofa. I hope my snoring doesn't scare the kids.

I'm wiped out. I don't know exactly how all this is going to pan out, but I'm so happy to be here, and I know it will all be okay. :) The complexion of this situation is tempered entirely by the fact that some incredibly nice people are so generous and kind. :)

Life is sweet. Just a little unpredictable.

Oh what a change there'll be...

the world will see



a new phlegmmy girl!

On the road first thing today and then home at last. WOOHOO!

Last day on the job, part deux, I sweartagahd I haven't been drinking but I can't stop laughing...

I'm working.
Really.




h/t to Blowfuzzy von Saucy

Last day on the job...

Leaving this place is easy, really, but I didn't think I'd feel emotional about any of it. In truth, I'm so excited about waking up Sunday morning in my new home. The new job will be a nice change of pace, too, and I'll be living near dear friends and starting a new life. It's gonna be great.

Thursday afternoon was stressful. I was tied up with worky headaches on property and I came back to the office to wrap up, and found the following message in my email:

I heard that tomorrow is your last day with us at Phlegm Gardens*. I have known you for very little time but I know you have put in some time at the property. As a short time resident I want you to know that you are so great and we are losing a great manager. I am so sad that you are going but know that the future is a bright happy place with you and your new road! Take care and please be safe on your drive to your new home!!!!
Thank you again for all your help!!

What's that in my eyes? Why is my nose tingling?

omg. Typing this Thursday afternoon. One of my residents just came in to wish me well and thank me for everything. There go the waterworks.


*not really the name of the place. Ahem.

It has come to this...

...but I did warn you. I'm a galloping lunatic by now.

I made a phenomenal amount of progress packing on Wednesday night. Almost finished, in fact. I should handily complete the chore Thursday night, save the bare essentials I'll need for Friday. Thursday night I'll load a lot of the crystal and things I want to handle gingerly into my SUV so they don't get smushed by the truck loaders.

Friday afternoon I pick up my big UHaul truck-- I'm just that strong-- and immediately after work, I've secured a crew to load it for me. I'll lock it up for the night and get to the UHaul place at 9 Saturday morning to have my SUV loaded onto a trailer attached to the truck, and then I'm on the road. I expect to arrive at my new place about 12:30 or 1:00.

I'll be relieved when it's all done with. Miles to go before I sleep...

Dear Dallas: How Do I Leave Thee?

Let me count the ways:

How about the fact that it's not bad enough that oodles of prime parking are reserved for differently-abled folk, generally sitting empty, but now, we have parking lots with the remainder of the good spots [read: MY spots-- I have ossum parking mojo] are reserved for eco-friendly/hybrid vehicle.

I shit you not.

Whole Foods Market at Gaston and Abrams

Whistling Wednesday...

Ah-ah-ah-roooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Who? Us?

Praline: Just act casual.
Chuy: Yeah. Pretend nothing's wrong.
Praline: I don't think she'll notice.
Chuy: Why not?
Praline: It looks nicer this way.

Amazingly...

A week from Sunday I will have spent an entire day and night in my new place. I'm moving from a swank, hepcat pad in the shadows of skyscrapers and drawn from stuff of bachelorette heaven to a small house in a rugged landscape and I couldn't be happier at the prospect. I know just what I'm going to plant around the base of the house and where. I have new friends, dear ones in my new town. I've spent some time there by now, but the first time I visited, it felt like home. No expressway noise. No arena traffic. No more... well, I could go on all day, couldn't I? Suffice to say this little town, Elsewhere, is wonderful in ways to which Dallas could never aspire.

I admit I'm anxious, but I'm excited beyond measure.

Before high school, my folks moved us from Arkansas to a Dallas suburb. I now have a new appreciation for the boldness that took on my parents' part to change everything and make a go of shifting us all to this strange state. [I'm so glad they did.] During my adult life I've moved distances of 30 or 40 miles within the Dallas area, but I've never picked up and moved 4 or 5 times that many, so this is a big deal for me. This will be a very big adventure, and though I expect it will have its challenges, I know it's going to be the very best thing I've done for myself in a great long while.

My soon-to-be house is small, but it's plenty big enough for me and the pups, and I can afford it. (no more common walls. YAYS!) There's a nice little room at the back which will be great for my indoor plants and for my studio stuff. I'll probably put in a storm door at the back with a doggie flap for the hellpups. There's a shed at the back which I think will be great for my torch work. There's a garage for LouLou and a storm cellar, since I'm moving to pure-dee tornado country. Note to self: set up renter's insurance.

I'll have a dining room where I'll put the Beetlejuice bookcase, and in my mind it's all arranged. It's going to be fabulous. Did I mention I'm just a leetle bit excited?

I am.

So this post is by way of apology for whatever spazzery litters this space over the course of the next week. There may be 50 posts, or there may be 3. Or aubergine.

I cannot be responsible. Anyhoo. I'm really, rilly happy. Love ya, darlings!

Please get here soon, Saturday?

*squeeeeeeeeee!*