Tuesday, June 29, 2010

There's Always a Drought in the Summer

Every time Neal leaves for an extended period of time, I always think This is going to be great! I'm going to spend every waking minute beading, blogging, and scrapbooking! I will cook fantastic meals with chocolate sauce and workout 3 times a day. I will read every single book that is threatening to topple my bookcase.

In reality, I spend a morning at the vet's office, an afternoon getting the oil changed. The washing machine quits spinning or the insurance company needs me to sign forms...in person. And I never cook anything more extravagant than spaghetti with marinara or a grilled cheese sandwich. And yet, every time I have the same thought: I am going to be soooo productive! What I'm beginning to learn about myself is that I am much more productive with Neal here. He is a machine that inspires me to answer emails, make phone calls, get things done. Without him, I hang out by the pool, watch an entire run of television shows on instant streaming Netflix, and watch the cats watch the squirrels on the patio.

Clearly, I am not productive. I was this time, however, very productive IRL. And because I love lists, especially lists that demonstrate my productivity, here's one for the last month:

*Number of houses sold: 1

(Mama Virgo is literally being held up by our sign. This was the day we unpacked 40 heavier-than-Heavy D boxes out of the attic and moved all of the furniture to storage.)

*Number of townhouses purchased: 1

(And yes, God love my husband because he just spent a fortune on an abode that he's never actually been in. We call that trust, boys and girls. Although that was trust in me, our Realtor, Mama Virgo, and biff Susie Q....not to be confused with trust just in me.)

*Number of houses that had to be completely emptied by me, Mama Virgo, and Anna Banana before the expedited closing tomorrow: 1

Now, wasn't that infinitely more fun than coming all the way down to Georgia just to float in our pool and watch airmen in flight suits at the commissary, ladies? Yeah, I thought not.

*Number of palmetto bugs sent to a watery death in our guest bathroom toilet: 6 (no pictures. It is, after all, almost lunch time)

*Number of meltdowns because of palmetto bugs in the bedroom: 1

*Number of bottles of wine drank to ease Palmetto Bug Fear at bedtime: 6

*Number of meals eaten out because cooking for 1 seemed like such a hassle: I lost track, but my skirts say "way too many".

*Number of pieces of jewelry created while Neal was gone: 1
(I've just quit checking my weekly Facebook updates that tells me how many fans/visits I have to the fan page. It's too depressing. They're dropping like flies.)

*Number of days spent laying by the pool, thinking I really needed to come home and make jewelry: 5

*Number of days I wished Neal was home: 28

Technically, today is Try a New Food Tuesday, but I felt like I needed to justify my absence before diving head-first into my commissary finds (and, I've discovered, that you need to actually go to the commissary to find food for Try a New Food Tuesday. I managed to completely avoid that for a month. Thank you, Wendy's, Arby's, Chick-Fil-A, and Chili's.)

Neal has been living on MRE's while out in the field and he brought me a couple home. Unfortunately, they are lost in the black hole where bags go when they don't arrive with your plane. So, next Tuesday will be Try a New Food Tuesday: the MRE version. I've never eaten food that was reconstituted with water. This will be an adventure. Sort of like being an astronaut, without having to wear a onesie or drink Tang.

I appreciate all of your emails over the past few weeks, checking on my progress or just my continued existence on earth. It has been such a wild ride, but (and I say this with some reservation), I think it will actually slow down some now. Maybe I'll make something with chocolate sauce tonight....

19 comments:

  1. Congrats on your house sale and purchase! This is so exciting (although I am extremely jealous!) My house is for sale....

    You have been very, very missed though!!! I'm going to have to google what a palmetto bug looks like now. Must be horrible.

    Luv ya!

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  2. Welcome back lady!!! I missed hearing about your journey. Sign me up for chocolate sauce dinner asap!

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  3. Soooooo good to hear from you and to know that you ARE, in fact, alive and well somewhere out there! ;) Though I have a hard time keeping track of what state you're currently residing in...

    I love your list. And I miss your writing. Looking forward to seeing more of you again once you're more settled. One day... maybe??

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  4. okay. what have I missed while I was off having a meltdown?!

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  5. I'm glad you have been productive and everything is ok!! So where are you going to live? GA or KY??? So confused, lol!

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  6. I feel your pain with the bugs. We have roaches in the garage and I refuse to go out there until the problem is solved. I scream bloody murder whenever I see one..it's awful.

    congrats on selling that house!!! Fab!! Where is the townhouse located? GA?

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  7. oh my how i've missed you!

    im soooo much less productive without my better half, too. although i think jsut like you.

    awesome job on the house and everything freakin else

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  8. Hey your're back! Glad to see you here again. Wow...you had a jam packed June. Your new townhouse looks wonderful. Have fun making it your new home. I'm not looking forward to seeing what a MRE looks like. God Bless your husband and all the other soldiers who eat them for all of us! May your Palmetto bug body count diminish!

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  9. Congrats on the house sale!!!!! Oh, and I would totally be out next to the pool with you--that'd blow anything else out of the water =)

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  10. You're back, yay! I was just thinking about you this past weekend, when my mom was wearing her new necklace and commenting on how she needs earrings to go with it now...any interest? :)

    Im not sure how you're managing alone with those bugs, it would take far more than 6 bottles of wine!

    I think you should make chocolate pasta (minus the marinara, maybe some berries instead).

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  11. Welcome back Busy Bee! You are a trooper and a half!

    I always say I'm more productive when Mike is gone. When it comes to cleaning I rock when it comes to other stuff I slack big time.

    I need a pool!

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  12. Congrats on the new townhouse. Sorry about the Palmettos. They are the curse of the south.

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  13. Congrats on the new home lady! Sounds like you've been a busy bee!

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  14. congrats on your new home :) that's very exciting news indeed! sometimes you just need some time to lay low, reflect on life, and indulge in the quiet. you have every right and should feel no guilt. everything will wait for you until you are ready to face it!

    http://mypixieblog.com

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  15. Wow, busy woman! I love the fireplace in the new townhouse. So pretty. Here's to hoping that things do slow down for you and that Neal is almost home. Also, can't wait to hear what MREs taste like. I haven't heard good things.

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  16. congrats on the house! and all the pool days...i always say pool days are better than work days. i mean really, when you are old are you really going to think "gee i wish i worked more"? no. we are going to think "gee, i wish i spent more time with my young hot bod in a bikini sipping champagne". :)
    excited to hear about the MREs. manfriend keeps some in the basement in case of a nuclear fall out or something...curious what i am in for if there is a disaster of some nature.
    so glad you are back! boo to evil bugs.

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  17. I'm exhausted just reading all that. You clearly have your Superwoman panties on.

    P.S. I miss the Airmen. I hardly EVER see them here.

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  18. I missed you on here! The new place looks nice!!!

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That's it, let it all out....