"Just" a housewife

Lauren Update!

You've heard my wedding preparation ramblings for a while now and I've neglected my neice on this blog for too long.

Lauren is doing well. Approaching 4.5 years old and she's getting a great understanding of the concept of time. She knows, unfortunately, that she doesn't see Auntie Emma very often. She also said the other day that in May she's going to come to my house and 'I've never seen your house.'

Lauren is very excited that she's going to be a big sister in early September and she knows that she'll have a brother or sister before she turns 5 years old.

She also told my sister today that it's Easter soon. To her Easter means that the Easter bunny comes and brings her chocolate. Well...maybe the religious story is a bit too violent for a 4 year old!

I spoke to my good friend Amy last night and we spoke about being away from loved ones. I explained to her how hard it is to live far away from Lauren. I always get to the fourth month of not seeing her and crave for a visit. I want to see how tall she's grown. I have to accept that I'm not close by and I almost have to be a little be hard in my emotions sometimes so it doesn't hurt so much. In years to come, I'll sit down and explain her that despite not seeing her as often as I'd like, she's loved as much as anyone could love a neice or nephew.

Sarah and I planned a little surprise for her later in the year too.

Names!

David and I had to create a name for our wireless network when we moved in. Then we needed to give our TiVo system a name.

Just in case you care, the wireless network is called 'Chris Waddle.'

The TiVo is called 'David Hirst.'

I am from here!

On Friday night David and I joined our former neighbors (and still good friends) Darrell and Erin at Mamacito's for margaritas and some great mexican food like only California chef's can make!

Towards the end of the dinner, the long banquet table next to ours was taken over by a group of late 20's, early 30's girls all "dolled-up-to-the-nines." It was clearly a birthday celebration or bachelorette. With my bachellorette just a month away, and Erin already on the attendee list, we left the restaurant and couldn't help but inquire. Yes, one of the girls was getting married very soon!

Just before leaving, I asked where they were from. 'Orange County' came the response. "Where are you from?" they asked.

"I'm from here," I replied as I continued to walk out.

I was completely perplexed by her reaction. On the sidewalk as we waited for a taxi, David, Erin and Darrell made me realize that my British accent clearly told her that I wasn't from here...

I guess after 9 years 'here' I really do feel like I am from here more than there!

P.S. the photo is from last weekend's bike ride to Tiburon. Not bad for a mid-March day!

Road to No Where?

I'm staying in a hotel close to work. It's a great hotel, free internet access, one bedroom suite with a separate living room and kitchen, dishwasher, etc. The damaged wood floors in our house are getting resanded and revarnished, so we had to vacate for the week! David is in New York and Boston.

I thought it would be great. No commute. I could watch all my favorite trash TV. I could get up at 6 a.m., go to the gym and still be at work by 8 a.m. But it's not all that great. I feel like I'm in limbo. Just going through the motions until I go home.

I'm trying to get on with 'wedding actions' in the evening. But there's still something missing...

...roll on Friday.

How clean is my house?

I've been known to watch any TV that's vaguely interesting, but I think even I stooped low when I got engrossed in a BBC America program recently (or should that be programme) called 'How Clean Is Your House?'

I saw a tip for how to get remnants of red wine out of a decanter, and today I used that top tip! Rice and white vinegar by the way...

Today as I'm packing things away out of our lounge, dining room and kitchen, I started doing a spring clean. Those woman on that show were in my mind. I couldn't just put things away in cupboards I had to clear out the cupboard, clean it and then repack it neatly!

On Monday, the movers come to take away the furniture, so that the wood flooring specialists can re-sand and re-varnish the floors after the mini-flood we had at Christmas.

My mum would be proud of me since she thinks I never clean and I leave it to our lovely Chinese lady Mei once every two weeks...back to my cleaning, then on to ironing!

Where's David in all this? On the golf course, in 70 degree sunshine, drinking beer with 3 of his mates. Hard life hey! ;-)

Impatience, reluctance to see the end?

I get bored easily. I'm impatient.

I no longer play golf because of my bad back, but I would get to 15 holes and want to go home. 9 was not enough, but 18 was too many. Often I would beg David to leave complaining that we needed to get home for something or other.

When we go to the Baseball, I love the atmosphere, I love the hot dogs. I like seeing some of the play. I get to the 7th inning or about 9:30 and I want to go home. I have eaten my fix of 'bad' food and I want to be home in bed before 10 or 10:30 p.m.

Last night David and I went to see Snow Patrol and Ok Go! in concert. A good concert; OK Go! was a little sub par, (Damien the lead singer was sick and we'd seen them at MUCH smaller venues) and Snow Patrol was great, but not as great as I expected. However, after 3 hours of music and way past my bed time at 11 p.m. I was ready to go.

David wasn't. He wanted more.

The final song. I wanted to go.

David wanted to hear the encore. I didn't.

We stayed for the encore.

As soon as the last song finished we left. Me sleepy and grumpy, back aching. The cab ride home was quiet.

Must learn compromise, must learn patience, must get more sleep.