Saturday, October 31, 2009

Mwa-ha-ha!

Happy Halloween, folks! Hope everyone is having a smashing good time today, or at least will be tonight. In lieu of the fact that everything is packed, I'm going to be a cat. Painting my face and pulling my newly-shorn hair into two "ears" and wearing a black shirt is all I'm doing this year. Quite unique, as you can tell. I'm going to Port Arthur to our family church for a little fall carnival/ trunk-or-treat thing they're throwing and having some fun with Shelby for our last Texas Halloween.

Today is Dustin's last day of work. He'll be off for a week during the move and then he'll start his training with the City of New Orleans. Just a few more days until the big M- craziness! I can't believe it (and wish I had a dollar for every time I've said it!).

I can't stay long, I'm going to go spend some time with Dustin at his station before donning my kitty attire and going to Mid-County. It's so weird that neither of us will ever see the inside of one of Beaumont's med stations again! They leave much to be desired, but I'm sure we'll miss them, the same way you kind of miss a really awful dog you've had forever that suddenly runs away or other.

Have a safe and fun All Hallow's Eve. Check your candy, don't walk in the street after dark, yada yada. Gotta say these things. I can't help it. It's the mom in me.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Yea & Boo

Yea for our moving sale! We aren't rolling in the moola Scrooge McDuck-style, but we did make a good little chunk of change. More than we had before we sold things we didn't really need. So yea!

Boo to being sick. Or feeling as though you may become sick very, very soon. My eyeballs feel hot and my nose feels pressureized. Ick. This is exactly what I need 10 days before we load all our worldly posessions into a U-Haul and move to another state. Spectacular.

But we've gotten so much done- have lightened our load and scraped together some extra cash, so things will be fine. I'm realitively in good health the majority of the time, so I should feel better soon. All I have to do is take it easy and get some fluids and rest.

I just wish the only juice we have wasn't some sort of strawberry-orange-banana stuff Dustin bought. Bananas don't have juice. It just ain't right.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Shh.....

.... Don't tell, but I'm shamelessly using updating the blog as an excuse to not actually do any packing. I went to Mom Chat at the Barking Dog put on each month by the Whole Mothering Center despite the torrential rain we woke up to this morning, as it will be one of the last times I get to see playgroup people before we leave. Ten more days! I can't believe it. Next week is the playgroup's Halloween party, and in honor of my departure, we're bringing Creole food to share. It gives me the warm fuzzies to know that my leaving will be integrated with one of everyone's favorite holiday get-togethers. I'm thinking fish creole for my dish. I think that's what the dish I'm thinking of is called. It's like jambalaya, but more tomato-y and with chunks of fish rather than sausage (I'm not so much a fan of sausage, especially integrated into a dish... I hope this doesn't interfere with my assimilation into my new culture....).

And (kind of) speaking of Halloween parties, I'm so excited that we're going to not one but two parties this year! One of which is tomorrow night. Each of the medical cliques (EMS companies, different ER's, etc) each has their own party, naturally, and we'll be going to the party with the ER staff of St. Elizabeth's tomorrow night, and then Beaumont EMS's next week. Skibby! I didn't think we'd be doing anything this year. We didn't really last year, because we were in a similar moving situation. We just went out and had a few drinks (a few each at a few different places- I wore new slingbacks, and ended up falling numerous times and woke up with a twisted ankle and a sprained ankle... two separate ankle injuries... Hopefully this year will be better). Because I was so taken by surprise, I have nothing planned. I think I'm going to throw together a pirate outfit. That and the vampire, they always come through in a pinch. The last time I dressed up, two years ago, I was a pirate (I made Shelby and I matching costumes), but this one will be more gypsy-esque. I have a cool layered wrap skirt I wear a lot (my "hippie" skirt) and a corset to throw into the mix. I specifically didn't pack my high brown boots for the occasion. Dustin was like "Why do you need a pair of flip-flops, a pair of tennis shoes and a pair of boots to get you through the next two weeks?" Um, fashion. Hello. With the fishnets I haven't worn yet, and my mom's expensive, elaborate pirate hat, I'm gonna look goooood.

All in all, I'm very excited. It's nice to have something to look forward to that doesn't involve packing, planning or worrying. Dustin says he'll start dressing up once we're in NOLA since more people do around there and there are actually places to go dressed up. The first time we went was for Halloween, and it was a blast.

I totally plan to get schnockered tomorrow night, BTW. Let's see what kind of deals I can make at my garage sale bright and early Saturday morning after partying with the nurses all night! The nurses are crazy. It's gonna be awesome.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Things, They Are A'Changin'

Wow. It is so crazy to look around our house and see bare walls and empty shelves. It's also hard to believe that it's been less than a year since the house looked like this as we were moving in. When we bought this house, we researched carefully, picked paint and flooring lovingly, and fully intended to live in this house for many, many years to come. But, if you want to make God laugh, tell him you plans, right? I love this house, and I'm gonna miss it. We'll be moving out on November 4, one year ago to the day that we moved in. It was Election Day, so if you don't like the State of the Union, don't blame me, I didn't get a say (I was all pumped to vote for the first time, but I missed the early elections and couldn't leave the movers to their own devices to go cast my ballot. Oops).

Everything is such a wreck right now. More so than usual. I don't understand how we can have so much packed, and yet still have enough crap out to have a mess all over the place. It makes me feel itchy. And defeated. Where is all the hard work? I've worked on Shelby's room for two days, and the floor is covered in crap. Granted, it's rugs and blankets and clothes that need to be put in the hamper, and a few books and toys I'm letting her keep out until the move. Everything is out of her toy boxes, off of her walls and the top of her closet is bare. Nothing left but the dollhouses, the Cherry Blossom Market (which needs to be dismantled) and a huge bag of books that has yet to be sorted for keeping, much less packed. And of course clothes, lots of clothes. There's a similar situation in our bedroom, nothing but clothes left.

I realize, as I read over this, that it is incredibly boring. But I suppose that's half the reason of moving- to make life more interesting, and to have more to talk about than what happened on Toot & Puddle today.

If you're so inclined, stay with me. Hopefully you'll witness the evolution. From cartoon od-ing SAHM to hip city dweller. With pictures.

It's gonna be great. Stay tuned!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Texas Towel Holders and Woo-Woos

The inevitable move is creeping up on me. Not very well, as I'm aware of it's approach, but every now and then I forget for a moment, and then it jumps out and goes "Surprise!" before settling back in. For instance, a few moments ago I was watching Mythbusters and a commercial came on for a movie called The Men Who Stare at Goats- which sounds terribly amusing- that comes out on November 6th. I immediately thought "I want to see that!" and then remembered that on November 6th, we will have moved to NOLA, and that I don't know where the movie theatre is, and it made me sad. 

It's the little things that get you.

But I've been thinking for a few days that compiling a list of the things I'm not going to miss about Texas might help me embrace the future a bit more.

  1. Ridiculous Rednecks- Funny that this makes the list, as I was quite the sh*t-kicker in my high school days, even driving an enormous truck (my beloved rusty-white '81 one ton, four door, four wheel drive pick-up with a giant gas tank in the bed that I had to measure gas levels with a yard stick to see if I need to refuel) dubbed the Redneck Limo. But since leaving the woods, I've moved on. I still have a soft spot for my blue collar days, and the friends I left behind, but the ones who take it just that liiiiitle bit too far, I will not be missing.
  2. Woo-Woos- Maybe they have them in the Crescent City as well, but in the Piney Woods area, they're quite prevalent. Yes, firefighters & paramedics are the absolute shizzle (I married one of the latter, didn't I?), and yes, volunteer firefighters and EMTs are honor-worthy citizens, but if you're a volunteer who donates their time in a rural area with one small flame situation a month or only the occasional minor head injury, you do not get to go around saying "I'm a firefighter/paramedic!", get a tattoo of the crest or caduceus on your bicep and have 12 decals- and red flood lights- on your truck. You just don't. And you irritate me. 
  3. Texas Flag Bathroom Accessories- I think of all the flags in the union, ours is the coolest. And not just because it was once a national flag (of the Republic of Texas). I think it's pretty. But. I don't care for the aisle at Wal-Mart with all the ceramic and plastic Texas flag soap holders, soap dispensers (does anyone need both???), tooth brush holders, shower curtains, shower curtain hangers, bath mats, toilet seat covers, toilet brush covers, night lights, etc, etc. And the bathrooms that are decked out in all the flagness.... gag-ola.
  4. The Ignorant Bias Against Anything New- There are idiots everywhere, but I truly hate the back-woods prejudice about citified or "Northern" or new age or whatever they call things that are unlike what they've known for 100 years. You know- recycling, yoga, the Green movement.... all those groovy things that are starting to become popular. Fear of the unkown and a need to cling to what your grandpa did are understandable, but when they're hurting the ability for good, then adjust! I'm no hippie, or activist (although I do refer to myself as slightly crunchy), but I've evolved. Get with the program, or at least don't spit tobacco juice at it! Like with the woo-woos, I'm sure our destination has it's fair share of the dibilitatingly old fashioned, but I don't think it will be all up in my face. Especially in the City, which seems to have a good amount of bohemians and natural advocates.
That's all I can think up right now. I'll post more as they come to me. And I'm sorry if I've offended anyone, as that was not my intention. I feel like a turn coat, dissing my beloved home state like that, but maybe it will help with the transition, ya know? I think she understands. 

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Almost Houma

So.... We've decided to pack our bags for our favorite city. Since the first time we made our way to the French Quarter on Halloween of 2006, we've been madly in love with New Orleans. So much so that we made the trip more than 15 times. Only this time, we won't be coming back. Well, not after just a few days at the Place d'Armes, anyway. We've decided to make the Big Easy our home. It won't be the first time I've lived outside the Great State of Texas, but it will be the first time I've lived so far away from my mama. Not an easy thing to do (or break to said mother), but if nothing else, I expect it will be a grand adventure. If nothing else, it will be a new one.

What could drag me away from the Lone Star State? More pay for half the hours. Not for me, but for my dear hubby, a paramedic who's taken a position with the City of New Orleans. What will I be doing? Other than the same old gig of housewife and stay-at-home mom, I'm not quite sure yet. Write this blog, I suppose. I thought it would be a good way to keep my mind occupied being disconnected from friends, family and all things familiar. But it will be good- a change of scenery is always nice, and NOLA is in no way lacking distraction. I intend to experience all I can; visit every shop, restaurant and hang-out within walking distance and beyond; and chronicle it all here for you, my adoring fans. Or at least, the bored and literate. I'm not picky.

But we have yet to make the move. We anticipate the beginning of next month to switch our mailing address. But I wanted to go ahead and establish this blog, an investment in my sanity's future. And I also get paranoid, thinking that as soon as an idea pops into my head, I have to jump on it, lest some mind reader somewhere steal it. Wanted to make sure my New in Nola name wasn't taken. Neurotic, maybe. But I got it, didn't I? :)

So stay tuned. Once we make our way to the banks of the Mississippi (is that not the longest word ever?), I intend to update regularly with goings-on in my new little world. And you don't want to miss out on the fun.

....... Also, I'd like to say that we are not moving to Houma, but to the Uptown area of NOLA (one of my stipulations of being ripped from Southeast Texas), misleading though it may be. But it sounded like "Almost Home", and Houma is relatively near New Orleans as I understand it. It's some sort of language thing... a pun maybe? Yes? No? Frazzled as I am, I believe a little slack is in order. Thank you, you're too kind. :)