Homing

We're trying to figure out where we're going to live and all those delicious details when my housband graduates come May.  We have no idea.  At this point, we're going where the jobs are... which is... somewhere?

Anyway, we were having a conversation about owning a home.

I asked, "Are we going to buy a house?"

He answered, "Why wouldn't we?"

I love that.  I am SO excited to have a place to paint and decorate.


Another quick conversation:

I said, "I'm going to want our house to be nice.  NICE.  You know that, right?"
He said, "So what you're saying is, I'm going to be busy a lot of the time with stuff you give me to do."
"Yes."

You guys.  YOU. GUYS.  I'm so excited.

An image from a house for sale near mine.  I probably won't even live in this county, but I still like to look and dream.  Also, I have an aversion to tan walls.  So.

Dream a little

Back in August, we were coming back to Logan so my housband could finish school.

I saw this house for rent:

And died a little.  COME ON!  Why is this house not already mine?

Anyway, we didn't rent it.  I think it had something to do with the fact that my husband's in school, I'm home all day, we have two kids, and a shockingly small income at the moment...

Someday, though, I would love a little house just like this one.  Until then, I'll just keep dreaming.

It's finally past the middle of January.

Which means that January is almost over.  AND it means that Valentine's Day will soon be here.

I have a secret to tell you:  I think Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday.  It's not that I expect great things from it, like presents and surprises and undying declarations of love; no, not that.  I just remember Valentine's days growing up as sweet and simple.  My mom gave me something small every year, made treats, and decked the house in hearts and pretty pink things.  I think I'd like to continue that tradition and keep on loving Valentine's Day properly and with abandon.


I also quite enjoy St. Patrick's day, but I enjoy it more when I happen to be in a big city.  It's a bigger deal elsewhere than my little town, and I like that.  Something about people celebrating in unison (I told you I really like synchronicity).

ANYhow, I plan on decking our little apartment out in pink stuff and hearts and perhaps I'll even find time to dye Bert pink.  Probably not, but maybe. 

This weekend, I rearranged our bedroom furniture and vacuumed places I haven't been able to reach because my vacuum is not wonderful.  Let me tell you something:  that furniture is NOT LIGHT.  I thought about going to Pilates on Saturday morning but by the time I was doing rearranging, late in the afternoon, I think I got a better workout doing that anyway.  Then I wandered around Home Depot for an hour or so to pick the perfect wood, paint and screws for a project on which I am currently working.  The guy who helped me cut the piece of pine was Australian and asked if I'm a "creative."  I didn't know what to say.  So I said, "I guess so." 

Also, we watched animal hoarders Friday night, which made me want to get rid of everything I own, except, somehow, my dogs.  Then last night, housband made me watch this show about mice, cockroach, and other nasty infestations, so my skin's kind of crawling right now just thinking about it.  And I'm really thinking about getting rid of everything I own.  (Do you want any art projects I made while in elementary school?  How about random drawings?  No?)

On the other hand, I rented an Apartment Therapy design book from the library.  (Do you rent books?  I rent books.  I prefer calling them rented to checked out.  I don't know why.)  I'm now inspired to paint all our walls, build a ton of crap with wood, and basking in the awesomeness that is my apartment.  We'll see if it happens.  I have a lot of plans.  No money, but a lot of plans. 

The Times

When my husband and I were both in college and dating (each other), we'd meet up on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the late morning to have donuts in the hub (common area in our student center). I grew to love that time with him, looking forward to eating sweets (I have a horrible, horrible sweet tooth and I wish I could say I dislike it, but... I love treats) and talking with him.

We'd find a booth and sit together, chat about our days or plans together or separately. Often I'd ask him if we could have an adventure, and he'd begin to plot things like acting like pirates or finding treasure or plundering.

Sometimes, a previous person at the booth where we'd sit would leave a copy of The New York Times. On days like that, we'd spend time looking through the different sections and articles and cultures included within such a small but expansive newspaper.

It makes me wish our local newspaper would try harder, but then again, we do live in a city quite (QUITE) a bit smaller than NYC.

Today, I read this article about Wendy Burden, a descendant of the Vanderbilts. It's kind of interesting to get a little snippet about her life--I love human interest stories.  They also talk a little bit about her memoir, which sounds pretty interesting... I like windows into other people's lives, don't you?  I guess that's why memoirs are so popular.

I think if I ever subscribe to a newspaper, it'll probably be that one. Because you know what? The Times is good. It's real good.

Wendy Burden's home.  Top:  Dining area, bottom:  the outside.  Images from here.

Also, I love the exterior of her home.

I have something else to share with you guys, and if I can track down the video, I'll share it later!

Hello again, dear friend.

Have I ever told you that You've Got Mail is one of my very favorite movies? 

I have discovered as I've gotten older that I like movies for weird reasons.  My #1 reason is usually because of a pretty set--Meg Ryan's apartment is about as close to perfection as I can imagine (though I often wonder where her junk is... I really am stuck on the whole de-junking thing).  She also has a fabulous apartment in Kate & Leopold.

Maybe it's just a thing I have for Meg Ryan's homes in movies, but in The Women, she had a fabulous home, and her wardrobe was great.  I think I already wrote about it.  Yep, I did here.  (That movie is weird, though--there are no men in it at all.  None!  Weird.)  Anyway, when my hair's longer, I'm going to spend time curling it so it will look something like this:

But messier, because everyone knows I'm not good at having curly, non-frizzy hair.  (I don't really care about having perfect hair.)

ANYway, back to what I was saying.  I've noticed that a lot of lines from You've Got Mail fit with my life lately.  It's just the little things... bouquets of newly sharpened pencils... nothings turning into somethings...  This probably all points to one thing:  I've seen this movie too many times.  I can think of a quote from it to fit almost anything in my life. 

This is all to say, I'd like to have a penpal.  I like writing letters.  I'm not good at doing it in a timely fashion, but I genuinely like getting to know other people's stories, their backgrounds, and sharing myself with other people.  Anyone need a penpal?  Or an e-mail pal?

Also, I would like to have an apartment like Meg Ryan's in any given movie of hers. 

I bought tulips this week, and they're spread all over our main floor living spaces.  I love tulips.  They smell so good, and they're so pretty.

This weekend, I'll probably edit photos (surprise, surprise) and watch movies on my computer simultaneously.  It will be a good weekend--I just know it!

What are your plans?  Do you like Meg Ryan, too?  (If you don't, that's ok.  Just don't tell me or we can't be friends.)  (I'm kidding.)  (Kind of.)  (Ok, I don't like her plastic surgery as of late.  And yet.)

Jobs which I think sound fun:

• set decorator for a movie
• undercover high school student (thanks, Kenny, for the idea)
• full-time photographer
• interior designer
• painter
• hot air balloon operator
• letterpress aficionado
• graphic design guru of journals/stationary
• carpenter of fine furniture
• professional dog walker
• ceramicist
• travel ratings-giver (at hotels, restaurants, countries, cities, etc.)

Now how can I go about getting any of these jobs....?
List may be lengthened later.