The Other Gals May 8, 2008

Last night I had dinner with Gretty, Cubby, Court and Ali. It was really great to see them, and I am proud to report that I held it together. No tears, though I was close to turning on the waterworks a few times (not sure if anyone noticed or not - I am not usually as smooth as I might think that I am).

I think I have a kinda uncertain, worried, stressed out vibe going on right now, and I don’t like it. I hope the gals didn’t pick up on it too much. I tried to push it down and be just regular Tingaling, like I prefer to be.

It does make me happy that I will be seeing most of them in the next few months (like Gretty said “The Summer of Us!” )- San Diego trip for Gretty and Cubby, and then Court is coming down for the Red Sox - Astros series. And I’ll def be back up to get the house packed up and Kandy A and Stevie’s weddings this fall, so hopefully I’ll be able to catch up with them all in person then. And I am promoting January and February for H-town visits, as it is so nice during the winter.

Gretty and Ali - so cute!

Court, Cubby & I - cute cute cute!

When I think about it, I met all these great gals through Gretty. Boy, am I glad I was in push up position next to her at Seals that morning! And I am glad that I basically forced her to be friends with me - I really don’t think she was all that fond of me in the beginning. But my perseverance paid off - she is great as are all the others.

Oddly enough, Cubs and I became closer when Gretty was on her 2 month adventure last summer between jobs. I guess we were both missing her, so hung out together. Which was great - as Cubby is so awesome. Sometimes (most times) I can’t believe that she is younger than me (4 years! born in 1980!!!!) as I usually feel like she is more mature than I (guess that isn’t too hard). I also think that since she is a big sis and I am a little sis, that somehow plays into the dynamic (perhaps subconsciously).

Court is the founder of wine club and a rabid Red Sox / Patriots fan, like Boom. So it is great because she and Boom have a real connection as do she and I - I love it when that happens! (and yes, Boom has a connection with the others as well: Cubs - their shared love of music / same sense of humor and wittiness, Gretty - they are great buddies - always have something to talk about, and he - as well as I - loves all the members of her family!) and she’s always up for having a good time, which is great.

{BTW - Ruby is tooting! Audibly! That dog…}

And last but not least, Ali (and Chuck). She is so great b/c she is always smiling and laughing, and just a great, genuine person. She and Chuck are one of my fav couples I have met in RIC. So nice, too, ’cause Boom likes them both - which sometimes can be tricky if spouses don’t get along. I wish I had had more time to get to know Ali, but I am hopeful that we can stay in touch.

I am really gonna miss everyone. But I guess we have to leave to move onto the next adventure…

the gals May 7, 2008

Life has been weird lately. Monday night (first night back from trip to H-town), I couldn’t sleep. Rarely can I not sleep. Boom was all, You can ALWAYS sleep! You never have issues sleeping! I KNOW, which makes it that much worse when I can’t… and a couple nights ago I had a nightmare about Boom leaving me behind. Don’t remember exactly what it was about, but woke up telling him that I had had a nightmare and that he can’t leave me behind. Clearly the stress of the move is getting to me, even if I don’t realize it.

So last night I had dinner with KB, Jojo and Sam. The three ladies I moved to RIC with at the same time. I was over tired and had a glass of pink champagne, so maybe a bit emotional. Tears were shed. Like KB said, we all grew up once we were here in RIC. Our grown up lives started when we got here - which I totally agree with (marriage, house, all that good stuff!). and we’ve been through so much together. 6 kids and counting (Sam is preggers! with a BOY!!!!) and even when life got in the way, when we all go super busy, when I needed support / help / etc, they were there.

I think back to the tragedy, when I needed to be picked up, to have people rally around me, and they were there. With meals, books, care packages, and just to talk and to listen (which was so great as some of them had been through what I had been through, and they all were at a stage in their lives where they got how devastating it was). And I appreciate that more than I think they know. It means a lot to me to have friends that I can depend on, even if I can’t talk to them every day, or even every week

I guess I am a bit more apprehensive about moving than maybe I fully realize. Some people don’t need good girl friends, but I am not one of those folks. I love having good girl friends - gals to have fun with but also who really care and are there for me when I need it (and vice versa, of course).

Boom says I am crazy to worry, that I didn’t know that many folks when we moved to RIC, so of course I will be able to make good friends once we move. But I am still worried. I just seemed to have more energy 5 years ago… of course I’ll make the best of it and better yet, Yarbs will be there, in H-town which is definitely a good security blanket to have.

Blog Envy April 19, 2008

Every time I read my favorite blog, Dooce (by Heather Armstrong), I vow to either become a wittier, better blogger or to just stop blogging altogether. And since I check her out at least one a day, I am making lots of vows to myself. I guess since I haven’t stopped blogging altogether, I just need to become a better writer. Which stinks for me, since I’ve never been a great writer, nor have I ever wanted to be.

Sometimes I think I need to have a more interesting life, but then I realize her life is not really all that interesting - it is her reaction and description of the mundane that is just hilarious. Granted, she battles depression (and is an ex-Mormon) which helps create drama (?) or at least she has some demons she is battling. I guess I am just too normal (not that I want to be on anti-depressants) but that is my excuse of why this blog is neither interesting nor well written.

List April 15, 2008

Moving is very stressful and nerve-wracking.  So I am going to focus on the positive…

Things That Make Me Happy About Moving to Houston:

1) I’ll be in the same city as my sissy!  She left for college in ‘89, so we really haven’t lived in close proximity in a long time!

2) The selection of grocery stores (which may sound dumb, but in RIC there are few choices - and not really good choices, in my opinion):

Whole foods will make eating organic easier and maybe a little less expensive.  They have a huge selection of all kinds of things, which will be quite nice (to get organic cleaners and the what not) - and a prepared foods section, which is great!

I haven’t yet been in the Central Market here, but I still remember the gherkin stuffed olives that my sister’s friend had at Yarb’s per-bachlorette party.  She got them there, and I have been looking ever since (6 years!) and haven’t been able to find ‘em.  So I am hopeful that they still have them at CM.  I hear that CM also has a great prepared foods section.

3) Boom’s job opportunity - it is good!

4) Marm and dad being only less than 4 hours away via car.  That is quite a change - since 1998 I have not been within driving distance to them.

5) Living some place where going to UVa is unique!

Wahoowa!  We hear the UVa Club of Houston is pretty good, so we’ll have to check it out.

6) A yard with grass for little Ruby!  She will be beside herself with all the space in our new house, once we get a new house (the houses here are just bigger than in RIC).

7) A real international airport, that a major carrier uses as it’s hub.  Will be much easier for us to get to the West Coast and also to Mexico and South America.  and easy to get to the East coast / Northeast as well.

I am sure there are other reasons that I just can’t think of off the top of my head…  Boom and I are excited for the change of scenery, especially post-tragedy.  So hopefully this will be good for our bodies, spirits and minds.

Truth from a Tea Bag April 8, 2008

Since it can’t seem to warm up (even though it is spring!), I am still drinking lots of hot tea - loving my Yogi Tea. This morning, I thought the “fortune” as I like to call it (though it is not a fortune as much as it is wise words) was very good.

This is true emotionally, mentally and physically.  It’s meaning is not to be selfish and self-centered, but to know yourself, love yourself and to always strive to improve yourself.  I also take it to mean being nice to your physical body - not putting things into your body that are not good or hurt it.  Doing all this will make you a better person, and a better person is a better friend / wife / daughter / sister / etc.

Deep thoughts, I know, from someone who giggled this morning at Seals after I heard someone toot whilst bear crawling…