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.