I'm shutting down now. While I *will* have my computer, I won't be getting internet access for a while. I need a break. I've got to evaluate some things, and there's a list of books I'd like to read. A swimming pool to be utilized, and a rec center too.
I've lots of decisions to make. That whole "To homeschool or Not to Homeschool" war is still raging in my head, no matter how many times I've made up my mind one way or the other.
So, here's a good-bye to you. Could be for a week, could be 6 months...
Laterz,
Me
Friday, May 25, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
If I blog it, then it must be true...
Recap:
Last September Christopher came home, having heard the rumors that Oreck was moving up to Cookeville. "Wanna move to TN, honey??" It was an attempt at humor, on his part. He was worried that his job was going to be lost, and we were going to be completely screwed. It was enough to make all future planning stop... everything that was certain...wasn't.
December came, and came with answers. We were offered the opportunity to go to TN. With nary a bit of hesitation, we started making plans. Well, tentative plans, because we weren't going to go to Cookeville until the last part of this year, and you know...anything could happen.
I managed to forget about Cookeville sometime in mid-January, determined to get in the groove of life and school. Chris came home one day in late February and announced that we were moving in July.... Preparations began, but they were slow. We'd put the house on the market at the end of May and be ready to move in July. We set up a meeting with the realtor, and all hell broke loose.
"We need to put your house on the market as soon as possible," she said, referring to the slow real-estate market.
Panic set in, and we got to work. We never stopped working....not for 8 weeks. Sometimes 18 hours a day, but rarely less than 14. It was gruesome, tiresome, and hellacious.
Mid-April came, and we were ready. The house went on the market. We just had to keep it clean, but otherwise we could relax and wait for things to happen. Right? Wrong. In less than 3 days, we had offers, showings, and the house was sold. Plans began for our home finding trip in TN. My mind was spinning. Somewhere in this chaos, Chris got his promotion, too.
Septic broke. Everything was on hold. Cost us way too much money. Everything back on track. Finally secure a home in TN...
NOW here I sit, my house half-packed up. We're moving to Biloxi for 6 months. BILOXI?!?! Yes. Chris has to stay here a bit longer than anticipated because of his promotion. So, Oreck put us up in a nice place in Biloxi. The kids and I will probably go to TN in October or so, though we'll have the house in mid-July. The apartment in Biloxi is on the beach (Yo! Hurricane!) and has a pool and gym, and is bigger than our first house, so it's definitely liveable. It's just...not what I expected. Oh, and 3 days ago we were informed that the moving company wouldn't pack. We had to pack. They brought boxes. They brought unwieldy boxes. Like 503 wardrobe boxes and 3 book boxes. Huh?
So...I've got boxes going to TN, boxes going to the apartment, and I'm stuck in some chaotic whirlwind in between.
Yay.
Reality has finally set in. If I blog it, it must be true. I'm going to get off my arse now, and finish packing... because the movers will be here tomorrow, and well... I'm just not ready. I'm still in denial....
Last September Christopher came home, having heard the rumors that Oreck was moving up to Cookeville. "Wanna move to TN, honey??" It was an attempt at humor, on his part. He was worried that his job was going to be lost, and we were going to be completely screwed. It was enough to make all future planning stop... everything that was certain...wasn't.
December came, and came with answers. We were offered the opportunity to go to TN. With nary a bit of hesitation, we started making plans. Well, tentative plans, because we weren't going to go to Cookeville until the last part of this year, and you know...anything could happen.
I managed to forget about Cookeville sometime in mid-January, determined to get in the groove of life and school. Chris came home one day in late February and announced that we were moving in July.... Preparations began, but they were slow. We'd put the house on the market at the end of May and be ready to move in July. We set up a meeting with the realtor, and all hell broke loose.
"We need to put your house on the market as soon as possible," she said, referring to the slow real-estate market.
Panic set in, and we got to work. We never stopped working....not for 8 weeks. Sometimes 18 hours a day, but rarely less than 14. It was gruesome, tiresome, and hellacious.
Mid-April came, and we were ready. The house went on the market. We just had to keep it clean, but otherwise we could relax and wait for things to happen. Right? Wrong. In less than 3 days, we had offers, showings, and the house was sold. Plans began for our home finding trip in TN. My mind was spinning. Somewhere in this chaos, Chris got his promotion, too.
Septic broke. Everything was on hold. Cost us way too much money. Everything back on track. Finally secure a home in TN...
NOW here I sit, my house half-packed up. We're moving to Biloxi for 6 months. BILOXI?!?! Yes. Chris has to stay here a bit longer than anticipated because of his promotion. So, Oreck put us up in a nice place in Biloxi. The kids and I will probably go to TN in October or so, though we'll have the house in mid-July. The apartment in Biloxi is on the beach (Yo! Hurricane!) and has a pool and gym, and is bigger than our first house, so it's definitely liveable. It's just...not what I expected. Oh, and 3 days ago we were informed that the moving company wouldn't pack. We had to pack. They brought boxes. They brought unwieldy boxes. Like 503 wardrobe boxes and 3 book boxes. Huh?
So...I've got boxes going to TN, boxes going to the apartment, and I'm stuck in some chaotic whirlwind in between.
Yay.
Reality has finally set in. If I blog it, it must be true. I'm going to get off my arse now, and finish packing... because the movers will be here tomorrow, and well... I'm just not ready. I'm still in denial....
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
8 Random Thoughts About Me
Saw this on someone's blog the other day and thought it would be fun. If you are reading, consider yourself tagged and do the same thing!
8. I really love my dogs. They're like my kids.
7. I get tickled at the smell of blooming honeysuckle, and always notice it before anyone else in the family.
6. While I don't care much for being seaside, I love to be in the mountains or high upon a cliff, listening to the sounds of a waterfall nearby. TN is really going to be "home" for me.
5. I sometimes miss having close friends, but truly am a loner at heart.
4. My husband's touch *still* makes my heart jump and the butterflies flutter.
3. I like fairies. They're cute and different and mystical.
2. I don't like Tinkerbell.
1. I get giddy during Autumn. It's my favorite time of the year.
Oh! And a most random thought... The movers come in less than 3 days. I still haven't packed a box. There are reasons for this, but it's quite unnerving, isn't it?
8. I really love my dogs. They're like my kids.
7. I get tickled at the smell of blooming honeysuckle, and always notice it before anyone else in the family.
6. While I don't care much for being seaside, I love to be in the mountains or high upon a cliff, listening to the sounds of a waterfall nearby. TN is really going to be "home" for me.
5. I sometimes miss having close friends, but truly am a loner at heart.
4. My husband's touch *still* makes my heart jump and the butterflies flutter.
3. I like fairies. They're cute and different and mystical.
2. I don't like Tinkerbell.
1. I get giddy during Autumn. It's my favorite time of the year.
Oh! And a most random thought... The movers come in less than 3 days. I still haven't packed a box. There are reasons for this, but it's quite unnerving, isn't it?
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Details!
Well, we went to Cookeville on Saturday. By Sunday night, Christopher had picked out a house and made an acceptable offer. On Monday, there was the home inspection. We spent some nice time with the owners of the house. Really sweet people.
The house is really nice. It's a little bigger than our current house, and has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bath. There is a sunroom, laundry room and a garage, all new to me! The house sits at the end of a cul-de-sac, which is great for the kids. I don't know how big the yard is, but it's small. I'm not too worried about the small yard, though I was put off a bit at first. Then we discovered that there is a beautiful lake just a couple minutes away with fishing piers and a boat launch. There are hiking trails and beautiful parks right outside the little subdivision that is to be "home." The views from the house are gorgeous. Big grassy hills in the front and back, and a couple Bradford Pear trees decorating the front yard. I can't wait to see what the fall brings! Pure beauty.
Our current house is 37 years old, but the new one is 8 years old. The home inspection only turned up a handful of really minor things like a missing shingle on the roof. We will be painting and putting hardwood floors down on main level of the house upon our arrival. The upstairs looks brand new, as it was rarely used.
We're really looking forward to the move. We can't close on our new house until July, but here's the kicker...
I have about 10 days to get out of *this* house... and I haven't packed a single box. Not one.
...and we don't know where we're going to stay for those transitional weeks, either.
How's THAT for details? :)
The house is really nice. It's a little bigger than our current house, and has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bath. There is a sunroom, laundry room and a garage, all new to me! The house sits at the end of a cul-de-sac, which is great for the kids. I don't know how big the yard is, but it's small. I'm not too worried about the small yard, though I was put off a bit at first. Then we discovered that there is a beautiful lake just a couple minutes away with fishing piers and a boat launch. There are hiking trails and beautiful parks right outside the little subdivision that is to be "home." The views from the house are gorgeous. Big grassy hills in the front and back, and a couple Bradford Pear trees decorating the front yard. I can't wait to see what the fall brings! Pure beauty.
Our current house is 37 years old, but the new one is 8 years old. The home inspection only turned up a handful of really minor things like a missing shingle on the roof. We will be painting and putting hardwood floors down on main level of the house upon our arrival. The upstairs looks brand new, as it was rarely used.
We're really looking forward to the move. We can't close on our new house until July, but here's the kicker...
I have about 10 days to get out of *this* house... and I haven't packed a single box. Not one.
...and we don't know where we're going to stay for those transitional weeks, either.
How's THAT for details? :)
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Off to Cookeville
Finally...issues have been resolved. 2 weeks before closing. Nothing like cutting it close, eh? We're going to find a new house. Be back in a few days...
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Caught Without my Makeup!
I went blog-hopping yesterday, and stopped by Nan's. She has this deal where if you link to her, she'll link to you. Isn't that nice? I had already linked to her when I found this, so don't accuse me of trying to "attract the press." So, anyway, she's put me in a slightly VISIBLE spot this week.
If you're here from Nan's, then I'm sorry. You've caught me without my makeup on. I've done nothing special to my blog lately. I've been busy with the house. The house that sold...before the septic tank went to ...crap...
So, I'm thinking of decorating this place. I've figured out how to make a banner and pretty font and stuff. I want a 3 column blog...but I don't know how to do that, yet.
Oh, and amazingly enough, my children ARE still being educated. Cayden, 5, started Singapore Primary 1a yesterday and did great! Jordan is moving into 3B, and we're going to start My Pals Science this week. I promise to finish Johnny Tremain sometime in the next 2 weeks. We started it months ago, and shelved it during renovations, but Jordan is really wanting us to read it again. Mea culpa. We're also doing well in grammar and spelling. I'm noticing improvement in Jordan's handwriting since I've started him with Classically Cursive. Cayden thanks me daily for doing school with him. Isn't that the sweetest thing? I love that the boys enjoy it so much. I'm still considering putting them in school in a couple of years, but we'll evaluate the situation year by year.
If you're here from Nan's, then I'm sorry. You've caught me without my makeup on. I've done nothing special to my blog lately. I've been busy with the house. The house that sold...before the septic tank went to ...crap...
So, I'm thinking of decorating this place. I've figured out how to make a banner and pretty font and stuff. I want a 3 column blog...but I don't know how to do that, yet.
Oh, and amazingly enough, my children ARE still being educated. Cayden, 5, started Singapore Primary 1a yesterday and did great! Jordan is moving into 3B, and we're going to start My Pals Science this week. I promise to finish Johnny Tremain sometime in the next 2 weeks. We started it months ago, and shelved it during renovations, but Jordan is really wanting us to read it again. Mea culpa. We're also doing well in grammar and spelling. I'm noticing improvement in Jordan's handwriting since I've started him with Classically Cursive. Cayden thanks me daily for doing school with him. Isn't that the sweetest thing? I love that the boys enjoy it so much. I'm still considering putting them in school in a couple of years, but we'll evaluate the situation year by year.
Friday, May 04, 2007
I Haven't Killed any Kittens Lately...
But, you know, I'm really frustrated with our buyer's realtor. She's passive. She waits for people to call her, and she doesn't return voicemails to my realtor for hours and hours or even days. My realtor, on the other hand, is a GODSEND and she's so amazingly perfect it's not even funny. Every day that passes, my confidence in her soars. She's one of the best at what she does. Still, it's making this other realtor stick out like a sore thumb on some days.
We're still not sure what's going down with the house. We listed it, and then the septic system started getting all...crappy...on us.
So, now we wait. We wait for water tests, buyer approvals, blahblahblah. Meanwhile, we've got no house in CV, and I'm finding more gray hairs everyday.
My husband is still the best, and contributes to saving the kittens, and makes me happy, and provides hearty distraction from the grim realities of relocation woes.
We're still not sure what's going down with the house. We listed it, and then the septic system started getting all...crappy...on us.
So, now we wait. We wait for water tests, buyer approvals, blahblahblah. Meanwhile, we've got no house in CV, and I'm finding more gray hairs everyday.
My husband is still the best, and contributes to saving the kittens, and makes me happy, and provides hearty distraction from the grim realities of relocation woes.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Well, THIS Made Me Laugh...
Today is a crappy day. Our trip has been delayed because we're having house issues. I'm frustrated and near tears. I drop in my chair with a heavy sigh and a Diet Dr. Pepper. And then....
I decide to see what Amy is up to.
Thank goodness for Amy and her yummy soap, but oh my... this made me laugh! In the midst of needing a new drainage field and not being able to buy a new house right now and nitpicky buyers... this made me laugh.
So, here it is... tacky and unrefined, but hilarious:
I decide to see what Amy is up to.
Thank goodness for Amy and her yummy soap, but oh my... this made me laugh! In the midst of needing a new drainage field and not being able to buy a new house right now and nitpicky buyers... this made me laugh.
So, here it is... tacky and unrefined, but hilarious:
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Random Thoughts
I woke up this morning, looked up at the ceiling, and then my mind went into overdrive. I wasn't even out of bed, yet.
Chris is having a rough time managing two positions at work. He's going to bring a proposal to his boss this week that would solve his problems. It may, however, involve a great deal of time apart from us for a couple of months. I've never been away from him for more than a week or two. Blech. This doesn't make me feel good, and it puts a damper on our relocation plans. Even so, I know it has to be done, and Chris will profit immeasurably from the time he'll have to dedicate to his new job.
We're leaving in two days to go find a house. I'm so excited. I'm also scared and sickly nervous and anxious. I did meet a woman online yesterday that lives in Cookeville. She's a realtor, and I happened upon her page as I was looking at houses. She is a homeschooling mom, coaches youth leagues at the "Y", and heads up the robotics teams for the kids. There is a jr. league that Jordan and Cayden can join. How cool! That email exchange really made my day. It also cemented my choice to go ahead and homeschool next year.
Which brings me to my other thoughts. I had been considering letting Jordan and Cayden go to school next year. The district is apparently really good. I figured they could go to school next year, and then after Adrian goes, I could start at TTU. Well, I couldn't fathom myself home with just ONE kid, but I was willing to give it a try. Then, I talked to Tracy, and I got to thinking about the different opportunities the boys will have next year, by homeschooling. So, we're staying home again. Cayden is already learning so much. We're reading our first chapter book together, albeit a small one. He really enjoys it, though, and his listening and comprehension skills are improving daily.
I wrote that post about my Aunt and now this rambling mess. I'm considering starting a more anonymous blog. I'll keep Scatterbrained, but it'll be a little less...personal. The other spot could be my little hideaway. So, we'll see. If things get strangely impersonal here, you'll know why...
~Me
Chris is having a rough time managing two positions at work. He's going to bring a proposal to his boss this week that would solve his problems. It may, however, involve a great deal of time apart from us for a couple of months. I've never been away from him for more than a week or two. Blech. This doesn't make me feel good, and it puts a damper on our relocation plans. Even so, I know it has to be done, and Chris will profit immeasurably from the time he'll have to dedicate to his new job.
We're leaving in two days to go find a house. I'm so excited. I'm also scared and sickly nervous and anxious. I did meet a woman online yesterday that lives in Cookeville. She's a realtor, and I happened upon her page as I was looking at houses. She is a homeschooling mom, coaches youth leagues at the "Y", and heads up the robotics teams for the kids. There is a jr. league that Jordan and Cayden can join. How cool! That email exchange really made my day. It also cemented my choice to go ahead and homeschool next year.
Which brings me to my other thoughts. I had been considering letting Jordan and Cayden go to school next year. The district is apparently really good. I figured they could go to school next year, and then after Adrian goes, I could start at TTU. Well, I couldn't fathom myself home with just ONE kid, but I was willing to give it a try. Then, I talked to Tracy, and I got to thinking about the different opportunities the boys will have next year, by homeschooling. So, we're staying home again. Cayden is already learning so much. We're reading our first chapter book together, albeit a small one. He really enjoys it, though, and his listening and comprehension skills are improving daily.
I wrote that post about my Aunt and now this rambling mess. I'm considering starting a more anonymous blog. I'll keep Scatterbrained, but it'll be a little less...personal. The other spot could be my little hideaway. So, we'll see. If things get strangely impersonal here, you'll know why...
~Me
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Mending Hearts
I had dinner with my aunt tonight. I haven't seen her since "the storm." Yet, over the past year or so I've reflected so much on her life, and the ways it parallels mine. I've pondered my own judgements of her character and decisions she's made. Her life has become easier to understand, her path seeming wise, though rocky at times, as I've found myself in her steps.
Tonight, we joined hearts and hands. We talked, cried, laughed, and shared. She said something to me that mended my heart, and comforted my soul. Something I didn't realize I needed to hear. She said she was sorry. And that was really soothing to me. I just needed to know that, indeed, she understood why things went amok, and why I strayed so many years ago from a clear cut path of academic accomplishment and self-sufficiency. I needed to know that she understood why survival and self-preservation was the highest goal I could attain.
She understands me, and I understand how she turned and walked away from the chaos that continues to ensue even today, destroying lives and dashing hopes. I follow her.
She smiled, her eyes warm. Moments of my own reflection. Our bonds so strong so many years ago, resumed in an evening. Warm and tender expressions of love lost...regained.
Thank you, Aunt ~M~ for who you are, and for leaving me with an impression upon my life that always caused me to strive to be more... even when *more* wasn't always much.
Thank you for listening, and for saying "I'm sorry."
I'm proud of you, and who you are. Not just for your career (however incredibly amazing and stellar it is) but for being you, and choosing to walk away, because without you... there very literally would be noone else.
Tonight, we joined hearts and hands. We talked, cried, laughed, and shared. She said something to me that mended my heart, and comforted my soul. Something I didn't realize I needed to hear. She said she was sorry. And that was really soothing to me. I just needed to know that, indeed, she understood why things went amok, and why I strayed so many years ago from a clear cut path of academic accomplishment and self-sufficiency. I needed to know that she understood why survival and self-preservation was the highest goal I could attain.
She understands me, and I understand how she turned and walked away from the chaos that continues to ensue even today, destroying lives and dashing hopes. I follow her.
She smiled, her eyes warm. Moments of my own reflection. Our bonds so strong so many years ago, resumed in an evening. Warm and tender expressions of love lost...regained.
Thank you, Aunt ~M~ for who you are, and for leaving me with an impression upon my life that always caused me to strive to be more... even when *more* wasn't always much.
Thank you for listening, and for saying "I'm sorry."
I'm proud of you, and who you are. Not just for your career (however incredibly amazing and stellar it is) but for being you, and choosing to walk away, because without you... there very literally would be noone else.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Dual offers = Dueling...
And DUEL she did. The woman buying our house raised her offer in light of another that came in. So, we're selling our house for a higher price than we asked, sold in a matter of DAYS, and get to go to Cookeville next week! It'll be fun picking out a new house and actually having a little money to pick and choose with!
All that's holding us back right now is that home inspection, but we made her a pretty generous counter-offer in light of the fact that there ARE issues that will come up during the inspection. Our realtor feels really good about the situation and our buyer is really excited. She wants to close ASAP but um...we have to get another home first. :)
All that's holding us back right now is that home inspection, but we made her a pretty generous counter-offer in light of the fact that there ARE issues that will come up during the inspection. Our realtor feels really good about the situation and our buyer is really excited. She wants to close ASAP but um...we have to get another home first. :)
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
That Was Quick!
Sometime this afternoon, our house will be under contract. We received a great offer last night, and we have another showing today! So long as the financing and home inspection goes smoothly, then the house will be SOLD and the profit generous!
Monday, April 23, 2007
The Promotion Pt. 2 and More
So, Chris got a promotion a couple months ago. Since then, he's been in training. His "promotion" is official once we get things settled in Cookeville. Well, apparently, he's up for another promotion already. But, as before, details are sketchy.
It's interesting because we spent quite a bit of time praying about Chris' job, and even had friends that were in agreement with us that Chris would be blessed with the opportunity to use his potential. He's being recognized heartily and almost daily for his amazing capacity to learn and take initiative in everything he does.
I mentioned our house went on the market on Friday. We're waiting for the realtor to call. Apparently, we have an offer already. 3 showings today, and one scheduled for tomorrow.
I'm nervous. If the house sells this soon, I could be spending some time alone in Cookeville without Christopher. I want the house to sell! I just dread time away from my husband. We're the clingy type...
Stay REAL
~Me
It's interesting because we spent quite a bit of time praying about Chris' job, and even had friends that were in agreement with us that Chris would be blessed with the opportunity to use his potential. He's being recognized heartily and almost daily for his amazing capacity to learn and take initiative in everything he does.
I mentioned our house went on the market on Friday. We're waiting for the realtor to call. Apparently, we have an offer already. 3 showings today, and one scheduled for tomorrow.
I'm nervous. If the house sells this soon, I could be spending some time alone in Cookeville without Christopher. I want the house to sell! I just dread time away from my husband. We're the clingy type...
Stay REAL
~Me
Sunday, April 22, 2007
MIL Clean!
Apparently I'm in a state of confession. I confessed on my homeschooling board last night that "punk ass" is a term of endearment in our house and that my kids DO know cuss words from the non-cuss-words, and have been known to test the waters by interjecting "ass" into their vocabulary on occasion. Fortunately, it's the best homeschooling board in the world, and they felt no need to dissociate themselves from me.
My next confession is this: I hate cleaning house, and my house is generally !clean. That's "NOT clean" for all of you coding illiterate folks. :) Generally, there are 534 pieces of laundry to put away, at least 1/2 sink full of dishes, bathrooms with *gasp* icky toilet rings... you get my drift. My house is NEVER "mother-in-law ready" except the one time when my MIL came to our house 3 years ago. We cleaned that house for a MONTH to get it ready.
Now, having made that confession, allow me a brag! My house is MIL-Clean and it has been for 48 hours! That's right, folks. And to top it off, my MIL isn't even coming to see us!
Since we've readied the house and cleaned it up so well, I've decided I actually LIKE it this way. I think I'm going to keep it this way. Right now, it sorta has to stay like this for house showings (which we have 1 today at noon!), and it's great practice for the whole family. No longer does everyone step over the mess, but rather we seem to be actually migrating TOWARDS the mess, and taking part in it's destruction.
The boys are begging for homemade waffles with strawberries and fresh whipped cream.
Never said I can't COOK. :)
~Sunshyne
My next confession is this: I hate cleaning house, and my house is generally !clean. That's "NOT clean" for all of you coding illiterate folks. :) Generally, there are 534 pieces of laundry to put away, at least 1/2 sink full of dishes, bathrooms with *gasp* icky toilet rings... you get my drift. My house is NEVER "mother-in-law ready" except the one time when my MIL came to our house 3 years ago. We cleaned that house for a MONTH to get it ready.
Now, having made that confession, allow me a brag! My house is MIL-Clean and it has been for 48 hours! That's right, folks. And to top it off, my MIL isn't even coming to see us!
Since we've readied the house and cleaned it up so well, I've decided I actually LIKE it this way. I think I'm going to keep it this way. Right now, it sorta has to stay like this for house showings (which we have 1 today at noon!), and it's great practice for the whole family. No longer does everyone step over the mess, but rather we seem to be actually migrating TOWARDS the mess, and taking part in it's destruction.
The boys are begging for homemade waffles with strawberries and fresh whipped cream.
Never said I can't COOK. :)
~Sunshyne
Friday, April 20, 2007
It's Official!
Our house is "For Sale"!
We've been working on it for a couple months. Not a little here and there, mind you. We've been busting our arses getting this place ready. Our Realtor was absolutely amazed at the walkthrough yesterday. Chris and I make a heck of a team, and we're very proud of what we've accomplished. I hope we sell quickly. I'm ready to go to Cookeville and pick out a new house! I think we may do a bit of a fixer upper again, as we're turning this place over for a nice little profit.
One thing I've learned though: I'm going to start renovating as soon as we get moved in, as I love having such a fresh house! I love the new floors, new paint, and cleanliness of it all. We threw so much stuff away. How did we accumulate this much junk in a year?!? I think most of it was stuff the previous owners left behind here. Just...stuff. Old chairs, old paint, old appliances...old junk.
I'm exhausted. I need sleep, and a lazy day. For now, though, I wait with my phone nearby. We have to leave at a moments notice for showings. Let's hope that there won't be many showings, and the offers will be generous and plentiful!!! :)
Need a house?
~Sunshyne
We've been working on it for a couple months. Not a little here and there, mind you. We've been busting our arses getting this place ready. Our Realtor was absolutely amazed at the walkthrough yesterday. Chris and I make a heck of a team, and we're very proud of what we've accomplished. I hope we sell quickly. I'm ready to go to Cookeville and pick out a new house! I think we may do a bit of a fixer upper again, as we're turning this place over for a nice little profit.
One thing I've learned though: I'm going to start renovating as soon as we get moved in, as I love having such a fresh house! I love the new floors, new paint, and cleanliness of it all. We threw so much stuff away. How did we accumulate this much junk in a year?!? I think most of it was stuff the previous owners left behind here. Just...stuff. Old chairs, old paint, old appliances...old junk.
I'm exhausted. I need sleep, and a lazy day. For now, though, I wait with my phone nearby. We have to leave at a moments notice for showings. Let's hope that there won't be many showings, and the offers will be generous and plentiful!!! :)
Need a house?
~Sunshyne
Monday, April 16, 2007
Growing up under false pretenses...
My wife and I have set up this blog together.
By my wife and I, I really mean my wife set up her blog, and forced me to be part of it by adding all of my information in it against my will. Much like my own personal myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/cmorack . It is very clever, and so popular that all the music from the artists I enjoy all gets deleted and forgotten with time, age, and cholesterol.
Speaking of getting fat though, I’m feeling rather well actually. And I’m not really all that fat at all. In fact, I’m feeling pretty good about myself right now. Except of course, for the core reason I’m writing this blog entry. That reason is that I am not an astronaut.
Since I was a child, I grew up wanting to be an astronaut. Like many children, I would wake up every morning on the frozen northern lands of the greater Central New York region, whilst looking through the overcast sky at what may have been stars through the early morning haze. I remember saying to myself on many of those cold days, “I hope I didn’t miss the bus,” while shivering a bit and glancing down 38A and waving to the my friends standing in the road a little ways up from me. “I sure hope they get hit by the bus today. That’d be cool,” were some of my next thoughts.
Needless to say, space was on my mind. I just KNEW that I would be an astronaut. I even figured out what people would call me. I’d be Chris Morack, Astronaut Extraordinaire. I would be so cool that not even the zero-g’s of space could contain my sheer amount of awesome. I just knew, at the ripe young age of around 16 or something, that I was going to be an astronaut.
Well, unfortunately, I can now safely say that I did not become an astronaut. In fact, I didn’t become a lot of things that I had hoped to become. 
However, like all blogs, this one too will end with some sort of sappy, woman-friendly ending like a Disney movie, or perhaps like Rocky Balboa if I was able to stomach it any further than about the mid-way point. So you had better brace yourself. There is good news to this. It’s happy news. I became something special. Something not everybody could manage to pull off.
So I suppose in a way, I can still look back on things, smile a bit, and know that I had in fact done a pretty good job with things. I might not have been many of the things I was told I could be if I ‘put my mind to it’, by my teachers. My parents’ big goal for me was ‘I hope you move out some day’, and by god, I moved out!
Here’s to you, mom and dad!
At least one of us got our big wishes to come true!
Oh and by the way, I never dreamed of becoming a father and a husband when I was a child, but it's a great thing to be. Not only do I have the opportunity to tell my children they can be astronauts and firemen when they grow up, I can still reach for the stars and get a little higher by holding them on my shoulders.
Never give up on a dream.
By my wife and I, I really mean my wife set up her blog, and forced me to be part of it by adding all of my information in it against my will. Much like my own personal myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/cmorack . It is very clever, and so popular that all the music from the artists I enjoy all gets deleted and forgotten with time, age, and cholesterol.
Speaking of getting fat though, I’m feeling rather well actually. And I’m not really all that fat at all. In fact, I’m feeling pretty good about myself right now. Except of course, for the core reason I’m writing this blog entry. That reason is that I am not an astronaut.Since I was a child, I grew up wanting to be an astronaut. Like many children, I would wake up every morning on the frozen northern lands of the greater Central New York region, whilst looking through the overcast sky at what may have been stars through the early morning haze. I remember saying to myself on many of those cold days, “I hope I didn’t miss the bus,” while shivering a bit and glancing down 38A and waving to the my friends standing in the road a little ways up from me. “I sure hope they get hit by the bus today. That’d be cool,” were some of my next thoughts.
Needless to say, space was on my mind. I just KNEW that I would be an astronaut. I even figured out what people would call me. I’d be Chris Morack, Astronaut Extraordinaire. I would be so cool that not even the zero-g’s of space could contain my sheer amount of awesome. I just knew, at the ripe young age of around 16 or something, that I was going to be an astronaut.
Well, unfortunately, I can now safely say that I did not become an astronaut. In fact, I didn’t become a lot of things that I had hoped to become. However, like all blogs, this one too will end with some sort of sappy, woman-friendly ending like a Disney movie, or perhaps like Rocky Balboa if I was able to stomach it any further than about the mid-way point. So you had better brace yourself. There is good news to this. It’s happy news. I became something special. Something not everybody could manage to pull off. So I suppose in a way, I can still look back on things, smile a bit, and know that I had in fact done a pretty good job with things. I might not have been many of the things I was told I could be if I ‘put my mind to it’, by my teachers. My parents’ big goal for me was ‘I hope you move out some day’, and by god, I moved out!Here’s to you, mom and dad!
At least one of us got our big wishes to come true!
Oh and by the way, I never dreamed of becoming a father and a husband when I was a child, but it's a great thing to be. Not only do I have the opportunity to tell my children they can be astronauts and firemen when they grow up, I can still reach for the stars and get a little higher by holding them on my shoulders.
Never give up on a dream.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
American History X: Incredible Movie
"We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."
Abraham Lincoln
Chris and I watched American History X last night. It came out in 1998, so I'm not sure why we haven't seen it before. I think we were both expecting a Spike Lee production, and that was probably the reason for the delay.
I think this may be one of the only movies I've ever seen that had me crying more than once. It was gut-wrenching, moving, and shameful all at once.
Issues of my childhood were laid bare, as there was a scene between the father and son that actually took place at my own dinner table more than once.
Racism. I've spent my latter teen years and adult life overcoming false convictions planted in my head as a young child. My family wasn't a bunch of skinheads. Rather...they were closet racists. The kind that begins the sentence with "I'm not racist but..." Time has softened my dad, but even recently my grandfather couldn't resist the "n" word.
I've always felt, and still do, that I shouldn't need to apologize for something my forefathers and ancestors did. Yet, American History X wasn't about slavery or affirmative action (which may have had it's place once, but turned out to be counterproductive). It was about hate. It was about anger. And in the end, it dealt with reconciliation of the heart.
I caution most of my readers NOT to get this movie. I guess there were about 2356 swear words, a horrendous prison scene, and plenty of other activity not for the faint of heart.
Still, this movie will stay with me for a very long time. It affirms my allegiance to my own family, and especially my children that I will never propagate a predisposition to racism, stereotyping, and judgment. My children will be raised to see beyond the surface, and to see with eyes of love and acceptance.
Oh...and Edward Norton was pretty easy on the eyes, too!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Friends...
I'm overwhelmed with anxiety and excitement about our upcoming move. I'm also terrified. I'm leaving everything I know behind. Over the years that we've spent here, I've dealt with so much disappointment and failed expectations.
I haven't seen my mother in months. I have nothing to do with my brother or my biological father's family. I've had to face the fact that I'm just... *different* from them. That's been a hard truth to learn.
So, as we prepare to move to TN, I've been faced with the realization that, aside from my immediate family and a handful of long distance friends, I'm going to be alone. Completely alone. No friends. Noone to call up and say, "Let's go have coffee." I've been worried. Loneliness and I are a terrible combination, though we've met many times. This time I prayed. God please don't let me fall backwards into a dark hole. It's too hard to get out. I've been psyching myself up, promising my kids tons of friends in an effort to manipulate myself to go out and meet people when we get there.
God had a better idea. A really good plan.
I'll rewind. After the hurricane (yes THAT one), we lived in that dirt pit with other families from Oreck that needed a place to stay. One day, this little girl came to my steps are started reciting all the dinosaurs she knew. The list was long. She kept rattling off Latin genus/species combinations and creatures I'd never fathomed. Finally, after some contemplation, I had to ask, "Are you homeschooled?!?"
...and indeed she was. So, began a bit of correspondence between her mother and I. Our families met a few times during those trying months. We even baked Christmas cookies together. Of course, we lost touch as we moved on to bigger dwellings, better times.
A few weeks ago, we ran into the family at Petsmart. The news was grand! They're moving to Cookeville, too! Diane and I have since had coffee and shared all the stresses of the storm and moving and moving AGAIN and homeschooling and life and... let's just say it was great to have someone to talk to. We'll be getting the kids together next week, and we're making plans for Cookeville.
"Kindred spirits," she said.
Thanks God.
I haven't seen my mother in months. I have nothing to do with my brother or my biological father's family. I've had to face the fact that I'm just... *different* from them. That's been a hard truth to learn.
So, as we prepare to move to TN, I've been faced with the realization that, aside from my immediate family and a handful of long distance friends, I'm going to be alone. Completely alone. No friends. Noone to call up and say, "Let's go have coffee." I've been worried. Loneliness and I are a terrible combination, though we've met many times. This time I prayed. God please don't let me fall backwards into a dark hole. It's too hard to get out. I've been psyching myself up, promising my kids tons of friends in an effort to manipulate myself to go out and meet people when we get there.
God had a better idea. A really good plan.
I'll rewind. After the hurricane (yes THAT one), we lived in that dirt pit with other families from Oreck that needed a place to stay. One day, this little girl came to my steps are started reciting all the dinosaurs she knew. The list was long. She kept rattling off Latin genus/species combinations and creatures I'd never fathomed. Finally, after some contemplation, I had to ask, "Are you homeschooled?!?"
...and indeed she was. So, began a bit of correspondence between her mother and I. Our families met a few times during those trying months. We even baked Christmas cookies together. Of course, we lost touch as we moved on to bigger dwellings, better times.
A few weeks ago, we ran into the family at Petsmart. The news was grand! They're moving to Cookeville, too! Diane and I have since had coffee and shared all the stresses of the storm and moving and moving AGAIN and homeschooling and life and... let's just say it was great to have someone to talk to. We'll be getting the kids together next week, and we're making plans for Cookeville.
"Kindred spirits," she said.
Thanks God.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Jodi
My coffee is perfect this morning. I woke up thinking of Jodi, and I'm sad that she's leaving in a couple of days.
Jodi came in my life through the fellowship we've been attending on Sundays. At first I was intimidated by her forward, open manner. As time passed, I saw in her a warm, genuine friend. We shared a few evenings at Starbucks and dinner. It has been Jodi that pulled me away from the daily grind to savor a few moments of relaxation and companionship that only a girlfriend can really provide. These days, those moments are so precious.
A while back I wrote a post about "hurting" and I couldn't imagine that anything but time would really make me feel better. Jodi did. She pulled me out of that slump of despair and loneliness. In these past weeks, she left her mark on my heart. I'm glad to have known Jodi and shared those great times. I hope that, even though our lives part, we'll still keep in touch.
I'm not great with words and I don't like goodbyes. So, I'll see ya later, Jodi. I love you, and I wish you the very best. I hope that you soon find yourself in the midst of everything you hope for, and everything you really do deserve to have. I think you're incredible, and I admire you in so many ways. Thank you for being my friend.
...pass the tissue, please.
Jodi came in my life through the fellowship we've been attending on Sundays. At first I was intimidated by her forward, open manner. As time passed, I saw in her a warm, genuine friend. We shared a few evenings at Starbucks and dinner. It has been Jodi that pulled me away from the daily grind to savor a few moments of relaxation and companionship that only a girlfriend can really provide. These days, those moments are so precious.
A while back I wrote a post about "hurting" and I couldn't imagine that anything but time would really make me feel better. Jodi did. She pulled me out of that slump of despair and loneliness. In these past weeks, she left her mark on my heart. I'm glad to have known Jodi and shared those great times. I hope that, even though our lives part, we'll still keep in touch.
I'm not great with words and I don't like goodbyes. So, I'll see ya later, Jodi. I love you, and I wish you the very best. I hope that you soon find yourself in the midst of everything you hope for, and everything you really do deserve to have. I think you're incredible, and I admire you in so many ways. Thank you for being my friend.
...pass the tissue, please.
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