The house is looking good. I am not. I have a chest infection. I used to get them once a year like clockwork. The past two years I didn't for some reason. Seems to be back, though. Oh well. At least it's as sick as I ever seem to get. The coughing sucks but I sound much worse than I feel.

I find that I have more than the average number of Swiss army knives. Do you think this is because I lived in Switzerland or because I like useful gadgets? Probably both, methinks.

The girls move in this weekend. Wow. What the fuck are we getting into? While I'm nervous about the close quarters, I also think it will be much easier to all be in one place.

OK. I'm off to finish decorating the kitchen. I should probably just lay down, but I can't help myself.

Oh, I should add that while I think that Money As Debt piece is super interesting, I’m sure it is not the full story. It certainly would seem, however, when looking at the current financial crisis, it is certainly telling a good part of it.

Realized the burglar stole David’s iPod as well. He actually wasn’t too sad about it, as he’s been wanting a new one for quite a while but we both balk at buying new things when we have an old one that works perfectly fine. So, in a way, that one works out.

I’m still really pissed about my Dyson though. THAT will take some time to get over. Basically the time until I get a new one. Also, discovered they stole our laundry detergent. The hell?

Last night I finally got more than five hours of sleep. David and I curled into bed with a bottle of wine and watched some Penn & Teller’s Bullshit, then I fell asleep before midnight. It was wonderful. We did not unpack or organize anything. We just relaxed. And we needed it.

Today I am leaving work early to vote. I’ll take the girls to their homecoming game, and we’ll meet up with Nebraska Ron since he is in town for the night. Then I’ll unpack books. And that will be it. I’d still love another night of eight hours sleep. I’m focusing on decorating the house this weekend – I’m ready for it to be finally, fully, home.

I saw this 45 minute presentation on what money is and how it is created a couple weeks ago when I was in Boston. I just re-watched it and think it is very good. If you are curious about our modern monetary system, I recommend it. I’ll post the link for now, and embed when I get home.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9050474362583451279

Fantastique! I love one-shot shit.

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/lip%2Bdub/video/x70vsr_lip-dub-iut-src-rouen-2008_creation

Clouds have rolled into Dallas today, dark and grey and autumnal. I like that in my current office there is a large expanse of window that faces to the northwest. The clouds can be seen looming into the far distance. It looks as though it will be chilly outside, but as this is Texas I am sure I will step out and it will still be about 70 degrees. Which is nice, of course, but not the October weather I am most used to.

I went to a lovely little spa yesterday and had a really relaxing time. And you know if a waxing appointment is relaxing it has to be pretty good, because yanking one’s hair out is rarely considered soothing. My aesthetician was really nice and we waxed nostalgic (hah!) for northeastern autumns (she is from Long Island). It was a pleasant little place. I realized it had been ages since I did anything nice like that for myself – you know, extras like facials, massages, spa treatments, etc. – and I resolved that I am going to go for one treatment a month. Even if it is something small. I deserve it after these past two crazy years of Dallas living.

Two years. Wow.

The job offer seems to be on hold, because no one has gotten back to me on my counter-offer. This is a good thing, really. It’s given me some time to gain some perspective on it. I still believe I will change if they meet my counter, but I’m not feeling all stressed out about it either way anymore. My job is currently very challenging without being overwhelming and I’ll be happy to stay if they don’t come back with a positive. And if they do, then that’s cool too, and I think my boss will understand my position.

We are having Josh and Leslee as our very first dinner guests next week. That is pretty exciting. Finally, Ashbloem the entertainer returns!

The kittens are at the house. The 15 minute car ride between the houses proved to be the most stressful part of the journey. Gus and Tugboat seem disappointed in their appearance. I think they thought they were getting a new life sans kittens.

Off to see Davey for a little bit at Double Wide. Then off to finish the bookshelves. Yay.

I am so happy. Tonight David has off work, and I have no commitment with the girls. We are going to go on a date, then put together our new bookshelves.

I know this probably does not sound overly romantic, but once the shelves are up the office is finished. And having all our books unpacked and within easy reach sounds pretty romantic to me.

I really don't have time for more.

We had the internest hooked up this evening at the new place so I think more regular updates are imminent. On the other hand, my life is just a whirlwind. I am not used to it, and frankly not handling it well. I'm used to distinct boundaries on Me Time, and generally great expanses of it. I do not do well with too many obligations, to be frank.

The move + the girls + a very busy time at work has put way too much on my mental plate. I had been pretty gung-ho about having a baby, but this experience has changed everything. Frankly, I don't think I will handle it well at all. Not to say we won't have one – but I think more and more it will be ONE and I will wait as long as I can. I do NOT do well with a.) creatures NEEDING me; and b.) the constant patience it requires; and c.) the time constraints it puts on Davey's & my time together. We haven't had sex in about ten days and I start getting exceedingly grumpy when it has been that long.

I have also found it too difficult to do anything for myself. I got my hair done but that's about all I have managed in the past two months. Finally I made a booking for a bikini wax tomorrow. That's been a billion years. David says he digs playing 70s pornstars but I'm thinking I would like a little something more modern.

Anyway, I think the move part is really, honestly, almost over. We have to paint the old kitchen and do up the girls' room at the new house, but those are the only two major projects. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

For all friends I have woefully neglected, either online or off, please forgive me. I think once the end of November rolls around I will be a new person. My brain really will not allow for much more at this stage.

The kitchen is organized and cozy. Gus & Tugboat are here and I will move Ernie & Ronnie the Bear tomorrow. That will make it more home too. I seriously have a vision of what life will look like by this time next month and that is what is driving me though this very busy time.

Someone give me a Klonopin and an E at the end of November and I'll be fine.

I love my husband very much. I revere and protect our relationship to the point of sacredness, and as an atheist you KNOW I don't consider much sacred. We both are very good at communicating our frustrations with each other, and rarely have fights. We both are careful to be thoughtful with the other and like to keep dates and sexy time regular and fun. All in all, we are a GREAT TEAM.

But there is one thing that seems to split us completely, and all connection breaks down. MOVING.

For the love of god. This is the second move I have had with David, and I am pretty convinced that should we do it again I will just set aside a couple grand simply to have people come in, box everything up for us, and get it all done with minimal work from the two of us. That is money I have until now not been interested in spending, but for the SAKE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP it will be necessary in the future.

Not counting moving to college, and all the requisite shuffling around that comes with that (different dorms, different summer apartments, etc.), I have moved 10 times now. TEN. Maybe even more, now that I think about it. In addition to the multitude of times I have done this, I am also project oriented. This means that when it comes to moves, I am experienced, methodical, and thorough. I have a system and I am very, very, very good at moving.

David is not. And delegating seems to not work, so my project management skills are useless. I will leave him with simple instructions (e.g. "PACK YOUR CLOTHES"), and when I come home he has managed to eat lunch.

It makes for some trying times, I tell you.

We do not have our internet up at the new house yet, so I can only do random updates between work projects, trainings, and corresponding with possible new employers during the day. Sorry it has been so boring around here these days.

The house is moving right along. The front room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom are totally unpacked (if not organized). I am a machine when it comes to unpacking. A MACHINE, I tell you. I also went to the old house and got the rest of my clothes. Now I pretty much just have to get my shoes, some junk in the kitchen, and that’s it. I would LOVE to go finish some of it tonight, but I told our girls I would take them to the Fair for half-price ride night. I don’t much feel like it right now, but I’m sure once I get on a couple spinning terror rides I will be just fine.

Weird thing I discovered while packing/unpacking: before the wedding, we had about 10 placemats and napkins. Now we seem to have enough for a dinner party of 100 million. Not sure how that happened, but I guess we’ll get on that dinner party planning as soon as the last of the house is unpacked so we can put it all to good use. Speaking of parties, we are tentatively planning a housewarming/David’s birthday party for the weekend of November 14. Mark it now; we’ll confirm exact day/time/etc.

Last night we went to parent-teacher conference night at the high school. We felt pretty silly. Teachers seemed to think we were either really brave or totally crazy to take in two teenagers in our first six months of being married. I think it is probably a little of both. They are doing generally really well in their classes though, so I was relieved to see that. Miss V had been having such a hard first three weeks that I was a little afraid her grades would be affected. Luckily, it is not the case. They are well liked and by all the teachers’ accounts adjusting really well.

No official word on the job yet. The person I need to speak with was not in the office today, so looks like the excitement/torture will be extended by at least one day, if not several. The good news is that the excitement of the new job is starting to outweigh the anxiety I feel about giving my notice, so maybe in a couple days I’ll be more cool-headed about the whole thing. I mean, I can APPEAR cool-headed about the whole thing, but I’d rather feel it as well. Makes it easier.

I’m pretty excited too, because this year I will be an Art Conspiracy artist! Yay. I haven’t painted regularly since I left Amsterdam, so I’d better dust off my brushes and start practicing on some ideas. I keep wanting to paint Ernie’s freaky mitten paws, but we’ll just see what I come up with. Fortunately my brain is pretty crazy right now so hopefully something good will make its way into my fingers.