Our First Fire

At 9:00 p.m. I decided to make a red velvet cake that I had bought at Kroger at approximately 8:50 p.m. It was something of a comedy of errors that culminated in our first fire. Here's what happened:

1. At the store I didn't know what kind of icing to get. I called Sarah, but, apparently, she had more important things to do with her Saturday night than help me with my icing decisions.
2. When I got home we didn't have oil. Or eggs. I decided to substitute melted butter. And just use less eggs.
3. I sneezed all over everything.
4. I looked down at the oven and it was smoking. I yelled at Matt, "Did you spill crap in the bottom of the oven? Because it is smoking!" He said he didn't but ran over (a guilty run, I think). He opened the oven and there was a flame under the bottom of the oven, down where I thought the cookie sheet drawer was. Is that what gas ovens are supposed to do? No, it's not. Matt tried to blow the fire out, but had a hard time. I freaked out because we don't have a fire extinguisher. He eventually got it blown out and looked up at me. "There's a taquito down there. It's charred." Yup, to add insult to injury, we had taquitos for dinner Thursday night. One of them had fallen down into this little oven compartment that seems to exist for the sole purpose of hiding taquitos so that they can catch on fire later.
5. As we tried to clean up all the burned on taquito char I told Matt, "Cleaning up burnt-on taquitos at 9:30 on a Saturday night is not exactly how I envisioned my life." Matt replied, "Really? This is pretty much what I was expecting."

So there.

Bad Week for Relationships

We all know that long term relationships are hard and demanding and that they're not like in the movies, but this week has been especially bad for relationships across the globe. This week I learned of two marriages that were destroyed because the husband had a long affair, one marriage where the husband decided he just didn't love his wife anymore and left, and one live-together couple that broke up because the girl was actually married to someone in prison. It doesn't get much better than that. Luckily these were all only in my semi-close circle, so I don't personally have to deal with the fall-out from these breakups. Still, it's made me wonder... if so many seemingly successful marriages fail, how will mine ever work?

So, in an attempt to remind myself that relationships aren't all doomed, I've compilied a short and non-inclusive list of ones that give me hope. Here it is:

Heather and Ben - Since Heather's been my best friend forever, I would say I know more about her relationship with Ben than I do about any other couple. And vice versa, I think. Even though they have hectic schedules, they make a genuine effort to be together and love each other as best they can. And they do.

My Parents - They've been married for 35 years. That's a really long time. During those 35 years I'm sure they've had to deal with lots and lots and lots of stuff, but they did and they got through it in a relatively stable, accommodating manner. Since "stable" and "accommodating" aren't exactly words that describe me, I can only hope to accomplish the same.

Matt's Parents - I get the feeling that Bev and Tom's relationship runs much deeper than they let on to the general public, which, I guess, includes me. They've been together for a long time, too... like just under 30 years. They've raised three kids and kept their marriage and their sanity, which is amazing.

Barack and Michelle Obama - It will kill me if either of them pulls a Bill Clinton. Harbingers of hope, the Obamas embody a modern, loving marriage. I love how Michelle is not a "traditional" 1st lady. She is strong, smart, and outspoken. Barack always says he married up. Yes, the president of the United States thinks he married up. If you have made it to be president, you're a catch (well...), so to genuinely believe that he married up means that he sees and embraces all the beautiful things about her. They are each other's rock, support, help, and friend. And I'm a little jealous!

Just because you're thinking about a puppy doesn't mean your ready for a baby

After watching Marley and Me and hating that dog and then crying like a baby when he died at the end (too-late-spoiler-alert!), I decided that if this time next year I had my life in order we could get a puppy. Actually, we'd probably wait until the summer so that I could be at home with it to train it. I'm thinking a labradoodle or a whoodle... some kind of oodle-dog. I've only ever had bad dogs (thank you, Mattie!) so I think having a good dog might be a good thing for me.

Which leads to my new years resolution: To get my life together. "Reeeeeaaaaach for the sky!" (said in a mechanic voice - name that movie!)

So start mentally preparing... potential dog, summer of 2010.

Home again, home again...

Well all those things I was wondering about Midland feeling like home were answered. The things that I thought would be frustrating were and the things that I thought would be wonderful were. I hated the weather, but I liked wearing snowboots. I felt trapped by how small it was, but I was happy to have the half hour in the car that it takes to get to the nearest Target with family. It all seemed, for lack of a better word, very midwestern. And it's not that I'm not midwestern it's just that, well, you know, I've never liked Cracker Barrel and that's just who I am. I've never identified with the Cracker Barrel crowd. So do I identify more with the southern/Texan mentality? No, I don't think so. Someone said something about Texas and I was like, "We live in Houston, not Texas." "But isn't Houston in Texas?" "Yes, but it's not Texas-y... except for how I have to say the Texas pledge every day..." So I'm not really midwestern and I'm not really southern, which is fine because since we've moved here Matt and I have had this 6 months and thousands of miles to figure out who we are and actually live it, without anyone's (dis?)approval. It's been both liberating and frightening, but certainly good, overall. And that, my friend, just might be the beginning of being an actual grown up.

Except for how Matt got/has the stomach flu and has reverted to childhood. That sounds kind of mean, but I mean it in a cute way, I just don't know how to word it better. He wants to be cuddled (even though I won't touch him because I sure don't want the stomach flu!) and he's all, "I love you!" and whatnot. He stayed home from work today. All he keeps saying is, "I prooooooobably could have made it through the day." I keep saying, "Yes, and given everyone else the stomach flu. Do you think that's what they want? The stomach flu? Because I don't know anyone who wants that."

I'll be home for Christmas...

Tomorrow morning, extremely bright and early, we leave for Midland. We heard the whole state just got blasted with snow so it should be pretty interesting for. Currently we are having a warm spell here and the low tonight is 65. I told Matt I was scared of the snow and cold weather and I didn't know what shoes to wear and I thought my hair would be frizzy. He said I was being dramatic. That's probably (almost always) true, but it remains the same. Can you ever go home again?

...please have snow and mistletoe...

Home

With Christmas in the air, I've been thinking about comfort and home a lot lately. We are officially in our house, but it doesn't feel like home yet. I'm sure it's because we've only been in there for a few days, there are boxes of stuff everywhere, and the walls are still the blandest shade of vanilla imaginable, but still. It's even weird to think that we don't have the apartment anymore and that we won't be moving again in 6 months. This is our home now.

Midland has been in my head, too. I'm excited to be home for 10 days... see family, get presents, be knee-deep in snow... you know. But I'm wondering how home-y it will feel. Will it feel awkwardly un-homey? Like, "Hm, let's go to Pizza Sams...?" Or will it feel too homey? Like, crying when I see the snow and my mom bringing me Starbucks (no one brings me Starbucks here!). Will I want to go back to Houston or stay in Midland? Will I love or hate the weather?

There is very loose talk of doing Christmas in Houston next year. Even though I really don't think that will happen, I would love it if it did. The thought of having all our family, busy and crazy and fun, in one house seems like home to me.

The Calm Before the Storm

After Thanksgiving on Thursday and waking up before the sun on Friday to go buy our appliances, Matt and I both needed a break on Saturday and Sunday.  We absolutely lazed around yesterday and are planning on doing the same today.  I took up Simming again, which I thought was impossible with release of Sims 3 right around the corner.  It's not as exciting as I'm sure Sims 3 will be, but I've been enjoying it anyway.

This next month will be crazy for us, just like I'm sure it is crazy for everyone.  Next week we will do our first walk-through on the house and have our inspection.  Next weekend we will start to pack all of our stuff up.  Then we will have our second walk-through, and close next Tuesday or Wednesday.  Then we'll start the move-in process, which must be complete by the 14th since we need to be out of our apartment on the 15th.  Our appliances get delivered/picked up sometime between the 11th and 13th.  After all that we'll have about a week to get settled into the house and unpack before we go to Michigan for 10 days over Christmas.  Then, once we're back in Houston, my mom will come down to visit and help shop for the house.  Then I'll go back to school after New Years!

A crazy month, but one we've been looking forward to for a long time and still can't wait for.  The 1st is Monday!