I'm not getting any younger...

After a marathon day of painting, I'm very aware that a thirtysomething body is not the same as a twentysomething body. Ow. Good thing we hired movers.

However, the paint colors are gorgeous. Pictures to follow, when I can find my camera again.

It's only fair - Reasons we will miss our apartment.

It seemed the equitable thing to do, despite a breakdown in the water heater, meaning no hot water on a day during the first cold "snap" of the year. But anyway. Here's what we'll miss:

1) All the mature trees outside our windows. It's so nice to see green - I feel like I live in a treehouse.
2) The swimming pool.
3) The weight room.
4) Friendly neighbors.
5) Being able to call management when the drains are clogged, filters need changing, etc.
6) The green common area with barbecues and picnic tables.
7) Ummmm....

Well, we gave it our best shot!

Reasons we will not miss our apartment.

In no particular order, here are the things we will not miss about apartment life.
1) It's old. Things keep breaking down or not working. Yes, I realize this could happen in a new home, too, but...there's been 30 years of home-building technology since our apartments were built. That's gotta count for something.
2) Doing laundry in the laundry room.
3) Cheap carpet.
4) Sharing walls with the breezeway, and hearing everyone walk or run by.
5) Parking garage.
6) Slow elevator (see also #1).
7) Doing laundry in the laundry room.
8) Revelers who decide to party on Thursday at 3 am.
9) Smokers whose cigarette smoke wafts in regularly, every day, at half hour increments. We've identified at least 3 different smokers by their scents.
10) A crappy oven.
11) Popcorn ceiling.
12) Shower doors and the yucky stuff that grows in the door runners.
13) Metal mini-blinds.
14) The lack of trick-or-treaters. Although the complex has lots of families, no one goes trick-or-treating. It's very sad.
15) Kids who pee in the pool.
16a) Paying rent.
16b) Rent increases every year.
17) Doing laundry in the laundry room.
18) One toilet.
19) Hearing our neighbors. Um, enough said.
20) Dealing with apartment management.

And did we mention doing laundry in the laundry room??

Now we can never stop working.

It's official - we signed our lives away on Tuesday. We finished our mortgage paperwork and loan documents. And then Wednesday, the interest rates drop. Figures.

But, our place is beautiful!! We went over there last weekend and the carpet is in. It's so soft and clean...not like our current worn apartment stuff. One week till escrow closes and we get our keys! I feel alternately excited and sick. Meanwhile, we keep packing. Still throwing out a bunch of stuff, recycling old papers, and putting stuff in the freecycle pile. I'm so sick of sorting, and packing.

Celebrating a Life: Harriet May, April 25, 1921 - September 12, 2007

Fiery personality. Amazing gardener. Fiercely loyal to family. Bright. Party girl. Athlete. Great legs! Loved a good wine and a good meal. World traveler. Thoughtful debater of issues. Raised four kids. Loved 6 grandkids and 4 great-grandkids, plus 2 step-grandkids. Married 60 years - now reunited with her husband. A Phenomenal Woman!!

Phenomenal Woman

by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I'm telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It's the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can't touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them

They say they still can't see.

I say,

It's in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Now you understand

Just why my head's not bowed.

I don't shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It's in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need of my care,

'Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Thank you for showing me how to be phenomenal, Grandma. I love you.

Stuff and Nonsense

Is it just me or does stuff beget more stuff?? TH and I are cleaning out closets and cupboards, sorting, packing, tossing, in preparation to move. I am amazed at how much STUFF we have. Where does it all come from? How does it breed so quickly? I always thought we were pretty good at moving stuff out - to Goodwill, to the used bookstore, to friends and family. But it seems for every two boxes we fill, we have one more to get rid of. Thank God for Freecycle!! No matter what you have, someone will want it...

Meanwhile, I found some awesome curtains for the new place at Cost Plus. (No more metal miniblinds...NO MORE METAL MINIBLINDS...) And I think we've narrowed down the painters we'll be hiring...stay tuned for more house news.

Thanks, Dad!!

My Dad sent me this. Love it. Some items are admittedly from the male perspective - but as I happen to appreciate males, I can appreciate their perspective.

21 Big Lessons from Little Kids
Little gems you may have forgotten.
By the Editors of Men's Health
1. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Even when there's not a prize in the bottom of the box.

2. Sometimes it's best to be completely blunt with people, as you used to be with relatives who wanted you to do something embarrassing or tedious for a shiny quarter.

3. Asking questions is how you figure things out. Lots and lots of questions.

4. An older, wiser Gordie Lachance says in Stand By Me, "I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12." Lachance is right. The trick is to try to be the friend you were when you were 12: fun-loving and loyal, with no strings attached.

5. Playing is work. Approach your downtime with all the seriousness of a 5-year-old with a secret treasure map.

6. Real guys don't dip their toes in the water. They jump right in.

7. Girls have cooties. Well, the ones you meet in certain bars do, anyway.

8. You hated it when a grown-up told you, "We'll see." It's still unacceptable. Don't say it yourself.

9. The only way to know how something works is to completely disassemble it. (This is still good advice when tackling a complex problem. Your plasma TV? Not so much).

10. There's a reason they don't give credit cards to 8-year-olds. You're supposed to save up money before you buy a new toy.

11. Your body was designed for throwing baseballs, shooting hoops, and jumping off diving boards and stuff. In the secret language of children, the word "fitness" doesn't exist. It's called "having fun."

12. Your world can be half-real and half-imaginary.

13. Homework blows. Bring work home with you and it'll ruin your night. And your marriage. And your family. And your life.

14. Too much of anything will give you a tummy ache. Like, say, bourbon.

15. If there's even the slightest doubt, hit the potty before you leave.

16. The coolest adults were the ones who took the time to listen to you. You still want to grow up to be a cool adult, right?

17. Treasure Island, Dracula: The best books are consumed after dark with a flashlight.

18. Use adrenaline as your drug of choice. You don't need beer, pot, or cigarettes to have a good time.

19. Kissing a girl on the cheek is a big deal. Kissing her lips is an even bigger deal. Seeing her naked for the first time is a major, life-altering event.

20. Going after a target in the urinal makes the time whiz by.

21. Seeing a thunderstorm roll in is better than watching HDTV. And rain isn't something to curse, but to enjoy. Hurry up, before it clears.

They seek him here...

I just finished The Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Orczy. I was madly reading this morning before I left for work. I couldn't wait all day to find out what happens in the last 10 pages!! TH and I love the story, especially the musical version. Aha - bet you didn't know it was a Broadway show, eh? But yes, mon ami! (See picture. Note the awesome Terrence Mann as Chauvelin. Unfortunately we didn't get to see him, but he's on the soundtrack. Yay!) Besides the musical, I have also watched the Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour version (lovely), and an A&E version, with Richard E. Grant (thank God for PBS and A&E, or TV would truly suck). You can get either version on netflix.

Anywho. Swashbuckling adventure with a hint of romance? Count me in. However, one caveat - seeing as how the original was written in 1905, beware of some slightly stilted language (to our modern ears), a relatively slow start to the plot, and some racist and sexist attitudes. But, sink me, I'm forever charmed by Marguerite, intrigued by Sir Percy, and reviled by Chauvelin. A book that makes you feel you know the characters is some good writing.

Let the chaos commence

We're officially in escrow for our new home. Yay! It's been about 15 months since we started the whole process, and we're so excited to be getting closer to move-in. The only bummer is now we have to really start packing...and sorting...and purging...and living with boxes in every room. Joy.

Any tips for making a smooth transition? I'll take all the help I can get. Oh, and if anyone's free to help paint, let me know!