Wednesday, March 30, 2011

To The Missus On Year #3 Of Her Purgatory

I don't mention it often but I'm a very lucky man.  I'm not easy to be around for long periods of time.  I ramble on about bizarre things.  I listen to music some people wouldn't let their children hear.  I snore.  I talk in my sleep.  I am stubborn, out-going, opinionated and right most of the time... (Ok, that last part is a bit overboard.)  But, for some reason, I was lucky enough to find someone as caring, stubborn, patient and as loving as my wife.  She doesn't like the spotlight on her but I wouldn't be half of what I am without her.  Thank you for 3 wonderful years and making my family that much better for it.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Moving Can't Be Painless: Part 1

I know, it's been a bit.  Here is the Cliff's Notes synopsis.  We moved.  Computers remained unplugged for over a week.  (The shakes started wearing off after a few days.)  Moved crap around.  Broke things.  Fixed things.  Built things.  (It amazes me more and more how companies can send extra pieces for bookshelves... has to be a psychological trick to make us feel stupid as we re-read the instructions for the 49th time.)

I have to say that the physical move went great and a big Thank You goes out to my brother-in-law Greg and friend William.  Let's dwell on the move for a moment.  Kerry and I picked up the U-Haul early and went straight to a store to pick up some furniture we ordered.  We then headed to the house to start unplugging the computers, loaded up the delicate items in her car and prepped the big items for loading up.  Greg and Willie arrived and we loaded up a few items going to my Dad's house and then everything else joined the party.  We were mainly concerned about the big items as there were many and we left more than we should have (but didn't have much more room in the truck.)  We then drove to the new place and dropped off the goodies and ate lunch.  We then went to my father's and dropped off some big items for him and loaded up a lot of items that he'd been holding there for us.  Off we went to the new place to drop off the stuff.  I was able to drop off Willie and the U-Haul in time to not get charged.  (I'm not going to mention the turn signal light issue to save time.)  I then ran to the old house to see if there was anything we'd need for the night.  Called the wife and told her I'd call when I got closer to the new place to pick up food on the way back.

So, it seemed like a busy day already.  Right?  I take these items over to Greg's house and add two tired dogs to my cargo (as my sister-in-law Kelly watched over them during the move.)  I'm now heading out and I get a frantic call from the wife saying, "Head home!  Head home!," and, confused as I can be, I reply, "Which home?!"  It didn't help matters.  Needless to say, my son David was working as hard as a one-armed child could (seeing as he broke one in a scooter accident.)  While helping out by breaking down boxes, he cut his wrist open...  he screamed, ran towards where his mom was (and this is where I lose track of the story because from my later view of the crime scene... it looked like he ran circles around the house.)  Kerry took him to the emergency room while I continued to drive home.  I had a heck of a time keeping the dogs away from the puddles of coagulating fluid.  Oh, did I mention the nice new cream colored carpet at the new place?  No?  Well, I got acquainted with it for 3 hours as Spray & Wash with Resolve works wonders but requires a lot of elbow grease.  (Leave it to me to leave the steam cleaner at the old house.)  I finished moments before they got back from seeing the doctor.  David earned 3 stitches, a lot of praise for being a 'big help' and a wrapping covering his unbroken other arm... yes, his best hand for doing anything was at the end of a cast now.  Great for the upcoming CRTs.

I have a photo stashed away somewhere but... it was a painful but satisfying move.  David's cast was removed a week later and he still has the stitches in.  He's also getting to know the neighborhood really well.  Anyhow, there is more to the move but it'll have to wait.  Still have more stuff to get done around here but wanted to check in and let you know what's been going on.

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

20+

As much as I loathe moving, there is something cathartic to it.  It's a time for you to re-evaluate items you've been holding onto.  The last time I moved (almost 3 years ago when I got married), I discovered a stack of notes from a girl in high school.  I thought that it was funny that here were 20+ letters that were jotted down during a history class that I knew I read but they were scattered in a little paper bag all by themselves.  They came from my senior year and my correspondence with a classroom pseudo-pen pal.  So, I decided to look at the notes.  I told the wife about it and even read them to her -- partially to absolve myself of the contents but also to share in the discovery.  Yes, the girl (no names) was persistent and had a crush.  It even reminded me of a time when she came over (in a tight black leotard... my favorite color) and received a massage... and I didn't take it further.  To this day, I don't know why I didn't (because massages always lead me into trouble) but I do know that some things aren't meant to happen.  I tossed each of the letters away after reading them.  But, being 20+ years older and going over 20+ letters really reminds a man of how much he's grown and how oblivious to some things he can be.

So, it's funny that as I was doing some early pre-packing for the latest move, I discovered another set of letters --  this time from an ex-girlfriend.  You can say she was the first significant one after high school.  No, there weren't 20+ there but I let them sit on the desk for about two months and explained what they were to the wife (with the intention to do the same as before.)  It was as we were talking about the move and some logistics that the phone rang.  I looked over at the letters (post-marked 1991-92) and started opening them.  The wife was on the phone as I browsed the first one, ripped it up, browsed the second, ripped it up... and then just ripped the others up.  I came to the conclusion that sometimes there are reasons why the past is the past and the present is the present.  Holding on to some great memories of the past are fine.  Clinging onto them can be maniacal.  So, I'm feeling good.  Purging some things always lightens my soul and... I was able to share it with the one I love.  Back to packing but... I might have to be more selective of what I keep for now on.  B)

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Leaving Las Vegas

The phrase 'Las Vegas native' has always been odd for me.  I mean, when you move to a town when you are 2 years old, you really don't remember enough of your old one to say that it was home.  So, after 37 wonderful years (minus a 6-month sabbatical in Reno), we're leaving.  We signed the papers today.  It's hard to do when you have a lot of great memories of the place and, yes, even the stigma of 'Sin City' on your back never seemed that bad.  Heck, I'm a huge fan of the weather.  I really can't stand the cold.  So, as I start packing up my things along with my wife and son, I say farewell to a city that never sleeps and never did me wrong... and say "hello" to Henderson.