One Month Anniversary

Today is my husband and my monthiversary. I have friends who claim that it should technically be called a mensiversary, but that just sounds too bloody to me. So yes, Craig and I have been married for a whole month. It sounds like we are just starting out, even though we have been together for over 5 years. Somehow all of that disappears as one starts counting post marriage.

So what has life been like after the wedding?

I feel old. Having a husband just makes me sound so much older than having a fiance. There is a strange mix of comfort and serious maturity with having a husband. A fiance is a much flightier creature. A fiance has not yet really committed, though he might help pick out wedding colors. A fiance is the sexy stage of almost getting married. It's all about buying diamonds and using French words.

Somehow, husband doesn't have the same effect. It's not a bad thing. I feel much more mature telling people about my husband. I am still slipping and calling him my fiance. After all, we dated two years and then were engaged for three years. He's been my fiance a damn long time.

The rest of life has been on the process of settling down. The initial insanity of the wedding was over. (Still thinking of an excuse to rent another water park.) The honeymoon was a fantastic trip. Kids just started school, there were no lines for anything. There were a few wedding and honeymoon mishaps, but that's another story.

Life if a lot similar to life before. This is true despite people who would try to convince us otherwise. I have heard from some that marriage will lead to the guy saying less stupid things (and from more reliable sources, the opposite tends to be true.) My new husband and I got an article a very religious family member thought we'd like. It basically said to cut out all your external relationship. Craig and I feel outside friends and space is key for any healthy relationship.

The biggest change is my new job, but that didn't come from being married. We still go out. We watch TV and dote on our pets, especially Buttercup. We make each other laugh a lot and cry a little. Marriage has not fixed any, but that wasn't really the point. We do work on things, but we don't need to be fixed.

We are celebrating our monthiversary by seeing the photographer tonight and getting the wedding photos. I am excited. They are truly lovely. And it's a great way to remember that big party we had, not to improve our relationship, but to celebrate and confirm a rad relationship we already had.

It's been a good month. I love Craig, my fiance... I mean husband.

What's Been Going on

I am officially a quarter of a century old. I feel sooo old! But at the day was nice. Following a lovely Glen Ivy trip, we did a small dinner party with some friends. Craig cooked up tasty foods as always. And Christy made a super tasty red velvet cake.

Just make a wish and blow!

Ahh- wish came true. It was a lovely time. It was a little tough that so much money was spent on the move that we couldn't do much, but it was still a nice time.

I wish I could say things were going as well with my parent. Post stem cell transplant, my dad caught the swine flu. There is all sorts of crap in his lungs and he's down to 130lb. They also worry he may have pneumonia. The specialist are still trying to figure out exactly what's wrong, and more importantly, how to make it better. The scariest was a call I got from him at 9pm and he told me his heart wasn't working. Freaked me out. Turns out it was cuz he wasn't eating, so they pumped him full of potassium, and he's doing better. He still sends update emails in the middle of the night after taking too much ambien, and those are pretty hard to understand (there is a lesson here kids about the dangers of emailing, calling, shopping ebay or amazon while on drugs...). We're just praying and taking it one day at a time. I never cease to be amazed at my mom's strength to be on the front lines all the time.

While I have much better health, I have had a constant string of migraines for the last 3 weeks. My neuro doctor is out of town, and his PA said the meds take time to kick in. Doesn't comfort much the fact that I still have to get through school, work, and finals...

We were able to move out of the old place by the deadline. I'm so happy not to feel gross all day from packing and cleaning. I will miss the paint job we did to my old room. It was truly lovely.

I love the new place, but I'm sure I'll love it even more when it's unpack!

But the cats seem to be enjoying it.

And some super exciting news- Stef got into grad school!! Yay!! Super congrats to my little sis. We'll both be graduating summer of 2011 now! I'm so proud of her and happy for her!

Last Friday Craig and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary. We were both pretty tired and broke from moving, but had a lovely night out at the Cheesecake Factory. Then we went home to play a board game I got for my lover/nerd.

I heart Craig. :)

Counting Down

I would like to thank everyone for their wonderful birthday wishes!  The Glen Ivy trip was a wonderful way to relax.  Ahhhh.... and all that leaves is a move across town...

I have decided that the next time I move, I will be moving into a fully furnished house.  FULLY.  I will be leaving behind everything at the old place- the furntiure, the dishes, my toothbrush.  I guess I'll take the cats and Craig, but that's it.  

The countdown is coming to a close in our deadline of being out of the old place by the end of the month.  I've been off work this week and Craig and I have typically been making a few trips to the old place to pack and clean, and then repeate.  I'd post pictures, but I don't even know where connector cables are at this point.  Even though we have a ton of unpacking here, I'll be thrilled to be all done with the old place and working on a more relaxed time frame.  While it's been stressful to move during school (getting migraines almost everyday!), I'm excited to have a the chill time after school where were are happily moved into our lovely loft!  Anyone want to come over for a pool side bbq?  We just need to find our towels, swimsuits, and get a bbq... at least we have a pool!

But despite the freak outs, pains, and the extra expenses, I'm can't wait to be settled it.  A little home with my fiancee and the kitties.  Yay.  Both Tesla and Curie are doing well with the new digs, and really enjoying scampering up and down the stairs.  Kelvin is doing ok, but like to spend a lot of time in the mattress frame of my bed.

My dad unfortunately, is not doing so hot.  They have to check his lungs, since he still has some flu-goo.  So they are bringing in the experts.  That's good at least, these people should at least know their shit.  Guess we can just take it one day at a time.

Are We There Yet?

I'm amazed at how cluttered my room looks, despite the fact that 90% of the stuff that used to live there is now in boxes in the living room. Just over a week till we have to be out of the house, and I'm darn glad it's not February. We need the extra three days at the end of the month. So much stuff has yet to be moved. But I will not panic (a lot...). I think the stress is triggering a string of migraines I've been getting. Oh well, it will be over soon! Craig's friends and brother are coming over tomorrow to take care of the big stuff. I hate moving, but am actually looking forward to decorating the new place. There was a 'yard sale' we had at work after cleaning out storage. I have a great variety of vases and pillows for the new place.

The flu my dad has is like Swine Flu. And he might have pneumonia. Never a dull moment. My mom flew back to Chicago yesterday. We can only wait and see how things turn out.

Seriously?

It's been a pretty smashing full day.  Full of what, you ask?

Data entry all day for a rush project at work.  So much data slowly turns my brain to mush.

However, leaving work, things must get better.  That's what I thought.  On the drive home from work, I talk to Mom and Craig, both on the phone.  I find out Dad still have a fever, and the flu.  Not sure what kind of flue.  Further tests needed.  But the hospital said be may be able to go back to the hotel soon- which is a good sign.  You have to stay at the hospital if you're really sick.

From Craig I learn my roommates and landlord are freaking out about rent.  I could have sworn we paid first and last month rent when we moved in.  I swear that's what the landlord said.  And damn it- turns out that what I thought was last month's rent was actually a security deposit.  Was not planning on paying rent this month- not with rent and deposit on the new place.  Just hoping to get most of the deposit back.

Then on to an unproductive conference call with my study group.  We attempted to meet on a call to save time.  Instead, the call was so ineffective, we're meeting tomorrow, in person.

I process to spend the next few hours packing and am a wee bit tired.

And yet....

Craig has been wonderful.  In addition to feeling better, he's taken charge of the move.  He will deal with roommates, landlords, the majority of the moving, and utilities.  What a guy!  Now it's true that he has more time without school and work, and I have to foot the bill with some of the larger checks, but he's really reduced my stress.  Always a plus for me!

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Kittens

On the bright side, I really like the hotel.  I'm staying with my mom at the Seneca hotel.  She's been here for 3 months.  With my dad in the hospital, I get the second bed.  Yay for not having to sleep on the couch.  Two years ago my dad was really sick and my parents stayed at the W Hotel near UCLA Medical Center.  While that place is a chic/trendy

place for a drink, it was a little weird (ok, a lot weird) for people trying to deal with serious illness.  The hotel here is much cozier.  And oh-my-god the water is so soft! I could shower for hours in its soft, warm caress.  Being used to water hard enough to bruise in Los Angeles, this is heaven.  I may never shower again.  (Just kidding Craig... mostly...)

Shower Bliss

I have to admit that I miss my cats.  Ok, I miss my fiance Craig and my friends, but at night, I really miss my cats- especially my grumpy little Scottish Fold Kelvin.  While Craig and I do live together, we have separate rooms.  (Actually works really well- I have room for my shoes and he has room for his multiple fish tanks.)  Since Craig has a back issue, he likes to sleep on the floor (I kid you not).  Plus, he's a night owl and I live in the world of sunshine, so between the weird hours and the fact I enjoy sleeping in a bed, generally the man in my bed at night is my kitty Kelvin.   

Some people have accused me of becoming a crazy cat lady, and well, they're probably right.  If I had the room, money, and time, I'd love to adopt more cats.  As it is, we're a big happy family with 3 cats and 2 more fosters.  Craig also likes to name our cats after scientists.

Our kitties:

Tesla

My big love bug.  We adopted her (with a buddy, Edison, who sadly didn't make it) from the local shelter when she was 4 months old.  She's a total attention slut kitty, and getting fat.  When I feel guilty, I let her sleep in my room.  But then she'll wake me up at 4 in the morning by deciding to sleep on my head.  I then decide to use her as a pillow.

Kelvin

Like a burnt marshmallow, he's grumpy on the outside and sweet on the inside.  (Some would say the same thing about Craig.)  I've loved Scottish Folds since my mom read me the memoirs of the famous Scottish Fold Norman in "The Who Went to Paris," and have read a lot about them.  They are quiet, sweet, and loyal.  So I was thrilled to find a Craigslist posting for a 9 month old Scottish Fold. However, Kelvin is the loudest (meow- feed me I'm dying- meow- I haven't eaten wet food since last night- meow- I'm lonely...), grumpiest kitty I've ever had.  He hates our roommate's dog (who just wants to be his friend), and barely tolerates the other cats.  Yet, all this changes come bedtime.  Then, he's all snuggles and purrs as he flops onto his back in a fat Buddha way to demand Pounce cat treats and belly rubs.

And the rescue kittens! 

My roommate found 3 5-week old kittens on the street, and Craig and I are taking care of them.  We're keeping one, but looking for homes for the other 2 cuties.  (Anyone looking for 2 adorable kittens in the LA area?)

Curie

The little girl.  She's more shy than the boys, but a total sweetie once she warms up.  Craig felt she's too shy to be on her own, so she's the one we're keeping.  (Plus, she has Craig wrapped around her little finger... errr... tail.)  She looks like a mini-Tesla, and is even acting like her.

Franklin (I adore the yawn/moon the camera/nap video)

He was originally called Gimpy.  When we first got him he was the tiniest, scrawniest kitten and one eye was sealed shut.  Happily, he's just as big as his brother now, and his eye is fine.  Totally playful, and with strong attention loving qualities (he purrs when you pick him up).

Bootsy

The only kitty we didn't name, he is the most adventurous of the trio.  He will even take on P-Funk, our roommate's dog.  Ok, it's a small dog, but still bigger than the kittens.  Bootsy is ready for action!