Sunflowers in My Future

I had one of those days.  That seems to be happening at an alarming rate and I'm concerned.  Especially since my GRE classes are now over and so I get to "enjoy" my Tuesday evenings instead of spending them rapidly aging and questioning my intellectual capability.

On the drive home from work I had a surprising turn-that-frown-upside-down transition.  I live in Colorado!  I have a new house!  I have a (good) job!  Cheer the eff up and stop complaining, you moron, is what I told myself.

I'm watching a late afternoon storm roll in and I love it.

This is the first house we have lived in that so closely faces another one.  It took some getting used to (these windows are covered by blinds 99.99% of the time) but it can also be cozy.

The lady who lives in that house has a mannequin in her front window, like in a store.  We don't understand it at all; it's kind of like a scarecrow in a field, except it is backlit in her living room and I have images of Boo Radley in the night.  But she seems cool and she gets around the neighborhood on a scooter.  So, you know, to each his own and all that.

I'm not the only one who thinks this storm is cozy:

Look at that fat butt.  G and I are getting into Falling Skies (turns out the X Box is good for something! Watching re-runs of shows!) and now Lucy's nickname is Skitter.  She's our little alien.

I think all the activity of late has caught up with me, mentally and emotionally.  I am learning that in busy or stressful or crazy situations, I go into Deal With It mode, and only later does the true significance kick in.  It happened after my Papa died.  I went for years, watching him cope with Alzheimers, then he died, then there was his funeral, and about a month later was when everything went to hell in a hand basket for me.  It also happens after positive things: I went through the entire Africa trip on one long high, experiencing coolness upon coolness like it was NBD, and about a month later I was like, "OMG I WENT TO AFRICA!"  You know, after it was all over.

This comes to mind because we have spent the past few weeks packing and moving, and now that things are *starting* to settle the teensiest bit, I'm all, "WHY AM I STILL STEPPING OVER BOXES?!  I SWEAR I'M THROWING AWAY ALL OF OUR STUFF AND SO HELP ME GOD IF WE DON'T GET THIS WATER PRESSURE FIXED I'M LEAVING." {firstworldproblems}

I'm a joy to live with.

But renovations on the library are coming along.  I'm almost ready for some more before and after pictures!  And I'm planning lots of walks around the neighborhood and local parks so I can remember (daily) to take advantage of the (Colorado!) beauty around me.

And next Spring we'll plant sunflowers in our side yard (Rapper L, any tips?).  Because, you know, by then we just may be unpacked, and hopefully still married and employed.