unpacking

Moving into our new house has been pretty great. We’ve got worries and not everything is perfect, but this morning I walked out on my porch (my big, fat porch!) just as the sun was coming up and I heard a rooster in the distance. The air was cool and crisp and smelled like jasmine. Maybe it was honeysuckle. I get those two mixed up. I thought, it’s like a poem or something. Sure, there’s still construction junk on my big, fat porch, but something in the air smells sweet and I feel good. I like where I live and I feel pretty damned good about that.

I was worried I’d miss Pasadena…like I was far away or something. While Altadena isn’t Pasadena, it’s close enough for jazz. I have to go down the hill all the time for everything anyway. It’s not like I really left. The more I learn about Altadena, the more I like it. It’s a neat little town and what it lacks in shopping and dining it makes up for in colorful characters, nice neighbors, and WOW! THE MOUNTAINS ARE REALLY CLOSE! It’s just kind of pretty here. It’s pretty in a “I never really looked at it before” kind of way.

Today I’m unpacking and attempting to organize my kitchen. It’s slow going because I’d rather be taking a nap so I end up wasting time writing blog entries. I’m pretty tired. It’s been non-stop for a few weeks and I haven’t really had any time to unwind. In fact, I’ve been complaining I need a vacation since my honeymoon a year and a half ago. What I really want is a weekend getaway with my husband. Some place like Big Sur or Catalina. Wishful thinking. Too much to do and not enough time. And let’s face it, money ain’t cheap. The good news is because no one ever labels boxes correctly (myself absolutely included) unpacking has kind of been like Christmas. What’s in the box? Could be anything in there! I just unwrapped my 1970′s green glass collection. I started my collection with a few pieces I inherited from my grand mother. AJB kind of hates them. I can’t tell you how much I love them. Childhood, Kool-Aid, look at how pretty they are? I’ve always loved them, ever since I was a kid. I also found my Chinese tea set – I got it at the 99 Ranch Market a few years ago for 10 bucks. I’ve never used it, but I’m having a hard time putting it in the yard sale box.

The end of a really long year

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I know. It’s cliche, but it’s truly a phrase that captures the essence of being human and living. At least, it seems to capture this last year in general. I thought I’d write a quick note about where we find ourselves. We’re at the end of a very long year and felt I should commemorate it somehow. It was April 2010 that we started this journey; the one that found us trading in a 1.5 million dollar for a home not quite worth as much, but about a thousand times better. I often find myself explaining why we’re doing what we’re doing. What was it we didn’t like about the Linda Vista House? Whats not to like? It was a grand house, but it wasn’t ours…not in spirit anyway. It just never felt like home. This new place, for all it’s cracks, sinking floors, chipped paint, and quirky lines, has felt more like my house than any other place I’ve lived…and I haven’t even lived in it. It’s our home. We’re making it ours. With Linda Vista, we couldn’t help but feel something was missing. Perhaps I’m romanticizing it a bit, but there’s something special about a place that just feels like home. I don’t think I ever had that with Linda Vista. It felt like a chore. I never really felt comfortable there. The difference here is I’m in love with our new home. I wasn’t in love with Linda Vista. I may never really know why. Perhaps it’s just that inexplicable feeling: When you know, you know. I suppose in this way, homes are like relationships. You don’t choose who you love and while there wasn’t anything physically wrong with the house, it just didn’t have that spark.

We’re no where near finished with the new house. New paint, refinished floors, torn down murder sheds, and about a billion little tasks – all just about done. Well, it’s move-in ready, anyway. We still have the entire outside to go. Even if the contractor didn’t finish everything on time, this move is happening. It’s been a long time coming. We moved to Glendale in August 2010 and while Glendale isn’t my favorite city in the whole world, things have been fine because I’ve been with my loving and patient husband. He has, without a doubt, helped get me through this mess. He’s been there for me when I’ve needed him and he’s brought me down from the proverbial ledge more than a few times. His magical ability to make it all better has not gone unnoticed. I’m still standing, I’m still raring to go…and I honestly believe it’s because of him.

We’re moving in 7 hours. I’m still up because I still need to pack my office and bedroom. Granted, there isn’t that much to move, but it means I’ll be the walking dead tomorrow. As usual, I’m sure I’ll dig up some energy from the depths of my reserves and get it done…I always do. I’ll sleep on Sunday. I’ve established this rather annoying habit of starting things at the last minute.

The day has finally come. It’s been the longest year of my life and not all of it has been unpleasant. There were indeed some good times, but mostly it’s been a challenge. It’s been a rough road and we’ve endured quite a bit of stress. It’s a testament to the strength of our relationship that we’re still making each other laugh, getting through it, and getting it done. Having good people around you helps. Bad times be damned! It’s on to new and better things. The future is ours and it’s a fresh start at the horizon.

Progress….We Has It

Good thing I’m blogging. It turns out, several blog posts from last year might actually help us with the previous owners. At least, it paints a picture of our frustration, what was actually going on, and how they have been terrorizing us. I suppose terrorizing is a strong word – frustrating isn’t strong enough. Somewhere in between. Again, I’m still not sure I can talk about exactly what’s going on – which is a shame. I wish I could. Just know, AJB and I will easily rise above, get through it, and move on. We’re good people, we don’t deserve to be treated like this, but I suppose the world isn’t fair. It’s not fair, but it’s true.

In happier news, the house is coming along. Our contractor has made some amazing strides. He and his crew have been working tirelessly on helping us build our dream home.

Current projects include:

The laundry room – which has been given entirely new walls. Before, it was actually a small room built attached to the house and no one bothered to take down or cover the exterior shingling. It’s gone now and looks like a real laundry room. The laundry room has an adjoining room which we called the “laundry foyer”. We’re going to add a utility sink and some new cabinets. It’s also where our Ethernet hub, food pantry, and kitty stuff will go.

My new massive closet: We’re turning what used to be a sitting room into a closet; of which I had no idea would be as large as it is. I guess I’ll have to fill it up…somehow. Kidding. It’s not quite Carrie Bradshaw’s closet from Sex in the City the motion picture, but it’s huge. Truthfully, it’s also a lot plainer than I’d imagined – just rods and a shoe rack – that’s my fault. I didn’t really contribute to the design and now its kind of too late. Besides, any more and it would have surpassed our budget. Anyway, it’s a big-honkin’ closet. I can’t complain.

All the broken windows are being repaired. They should be done this week. I haven’t had a chance to check them out yet.

The murder shed is officially gone and I’m confident we’ll start the electrical work this week. Now, the electrical work is going to be a huge undertaking. Not only do we still have working and non-working knob and tube wiring, we also have older wiring that isn’t grounded and none of its 3-prong. We’re also adding new light fixtures – the house has surprisingly little light already built in. AJB and I did a lighting fixture shopping spree yesterday and got most of what we need. Just about every room needs something.

All in all, I’m so very happy with the way things are going at the house. As for the previous owners…I don’t know. I just hope it’s all over soon.

Houses of the Haunted Variety

The Universe is a funny thing. It giveth and it taketh away. On Wednesday I hand delivered wedding images to an ecstatic client who even teared up over a few of them. I couldn’t have asked for a better response. I love what I do. My job actually makes people happy. It makes me happy. I have chosen my career wisely. Everyone, including her parents and sister, seemed very pleased. It may also lead to more work. No matter how much marketing I do, my work will be mostly referral based. Aside from getting more work, it’s also highly satisfying to make my clients happy. Funny how that works out.

After riding the extreme high of delivering the images to my client, things seemed like they were getting on track. Except, we got a new letter from the people we bought our house from. I suppose I can’t talk about it just yet, but use your imagination. I won’t go into details just yet, but my basic feeling is this: A POX ON THEM! BOILS AND POXES AND FIRE!!

*sigh*

Why can’t things stay good? Why do bad things have to crop out of nowhere, fuck shit up, and ruin it all? I wish I knew why bad people existed. After 5 months of turmoil, I wish I had it in my heart to give them the benefit of the doubt. What’s the matter with them? I’m not sure why they’re targeting their (un)righteous indignation at us. What did we do, besides pay them more than the house was worth? Um, nothing. In fact, they’ve been the ones making us miserable. We’ve been pleasant and fair – more than fair – since this whole thing started. I suppose I must accept that people are jerks. I shouldn’t let it get to me. It’s just another challenge to overcome. An annoying challenge, but we’ll be fine.

Onto other things.

So it turns out our new house is HAUNTED!!! I know. What house have I lived in that wasn’t? This one especially, I think. I’m usually the canary in a coal mine when it comes to hauntings. I’m the one who’s troubled by strange noises in the middle of the night and feelings of dread in my basement or attic. I haven’t sensed anything. Except, last week AJB’s assistant and I visited the house and started finding garlic cloves in doorways and window sills. We made light of it and tried to figure out why. I finally called the contractor’s head employee, Alex, who’d been on the job the most. He told me it was something the other guy, Edgar, did. Perfect name, don’t you think? I told him it was fine and we didn’t care if the house smelled like garlic – which it did.

The next time we met with our contractor, he pulled us aside. “What I’m about to tell you is something I’ve never told a client,” he said. Turns out, Alex had called him and said he refused to go back on the job. He said this because he and Edgar had heard noises like people walking around the house, fans turning on, and at one point, they walked out to the back of the house – when they came back in, all the kitchen cabinets were open. I’d probably be calling a priest right about now. Except, I’m used to this sort of thing. I’ve had way too many unexplained occurrences: jiggling door knobs, haunted door bells, voices, sightings, dark entities, noises in other rooms, the cats watching walking ghosts, my sister’s cats watching a woman walk back and forth across a room, the Hong Kong camera experience, and so much more. I could write a 3000 word post about it all. I’m a fairly logical person. I’d explain it if I could.

I read an article recently that talked about how feelings of dread are actually NOT caused by ghosts, but rather a low frequency which comes from old pipes and actually triggers the human fear response. I don’t know about that, but I’ve seen and heard things that will turn you WHITE! Truth is, I know how crazy it all sounds. When I tell people about the things I’ve experienced, I often wonder if they think I’m nuts. I also know what I’ve seen and heard, but even I question it.

Anyway, Alex returned to the job and seems to be fine now. I want to ask if he’s experienced anything else lately. I’ve also heard that construction jobs tend to rile up the spirits, so it makes sense they’re all up and about. Or it could be the noises are simply the house settling with all the work being done. OK, so how do you explain the kitchen cabinets? Either way, something is spooking the handymen. It’s an old house, after all. 108 years old this year.

When we moved into the temp Glendale house, I did a cleansing ritual – I walked around with sage and chanted nice things claiming temporary ownership of the house. I banished all bad energy and even though I felt silly doing it, it made me feel better. I’ll do the same thing at the new house. Twice if I have to.

New Year and Beyond

We spent NYE with Andy, Mae, and JCS. Andy cooked like a fiend making spinach balls, stuffed mushrooms, and baked Brie. The closest word I can think of to accurately describe their deliciousness is “nom”, but it was more like nomyumchompchewdrool. Mae brought over Kinect and showed us all how old we really are. Young people have that effect, especially where tests of endurance are concerned. We grubbed and played Beatles Rock Band. I crashed on the couch – too much delicious Champagne. What a fun night. Probably the most fun I’ve had on NYE in a long time.

And so here it is, the New Year. It’s 2011 and while my Facebook strike continues to mostly hold, I’ve noticed a lot of people posting this: Fuck You, 2010. The basic idea is that 2010 was a crappy year and everything sucked. I think that’s a bit harsh. I had a pretty bad year, but looking back (as I do), I realize that I have so many good things to be happy about. Alright, so the moving and the people we bought our house from sucked, the not having all my things, the turmoil and strife…it could have been worse. I figure, I have some wonderful people in my life, a fantastic husband, 3 amazing step-kids, siblings I adore, a beautiful nephew, my Mom is still around, I looked at my income for last year and I actually made a profit – a super small, couldn’t live on it if I wanted to profit, but a profit nonetheless – I’m healthy, the people around me are healthy, I’m working on my career and we just bought a big house. So what’s to complain about? Sure, the world is going to hell in a hand basket, but I can only control my world. I have no control over natural disasters and can only do so much when it comes to politics. I’m easy. I’m happy to be alive and yeah, 2010 wasn’t the greatest year ever, but when you list everything out like that, every year sucks. You might as well just kill yourself and put yourself out of your misery.

2011 has great potential. For once, I’m feeling pretty great about what’s to come. I try not to think about the “what ifs”. I could get hit by a bus, but until that does or doesn’t happen, I have high hopes. I realize not everyone has it as good as me. I have a pretty great life, but I honestly think it’s because I make it this way. I try not to get hung up on the bad things, I try to move on, focus on the positive, and be thankful for what I have. I believe in manifest destiny. I control and create the world around me. It wasn’t always like this. Remember, my sister and I used to steal toilet paper we were so poor.

Today at the gas station down the street, the lady behind the counter looked especially nice. Generally, she’s rather haggard and she’s very overweight. I complimented her on her new look and she explained her New Years Resolution is to start looking better and taking care of herself. It’s her hope that some desperate (her words) guy asks her out. I wanted to express that confidence goes a long way, but she was too busy coming down on herself when a crowd came in. I told her she looked good and wished her luck. And she really did look good. I hope she gets compliments all day and starts to feel good about herself. It got me thinking about my own resolutions. I don’t make them because I often forget about them after a day or two. I guess if I were to throw a few out there, I want to eat better, sleep better, drink more water, exercise more…that kind of stuff. 2011 is going to be a busy year. I’m hoping for the best and preparing for the worst, as I do. At the end of Back to the Future III Jennifer asks Doc Brown what it means when the FAX erases. He replies, “It means your future hasn’t been written yet. No one’s has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one, both of you.” Of course this introduces a major plot hole in the series – like, how can you go to the future if it hasn’t been written yet? Huh? Anyway, it’s a nice sentiment and I agree.

Christmas Booty 2010

Months from now I won’t remember what anyone got me for Christmas and vice versa. I know, it’s terrible. I don’t remember what anyone got me last year and I’m almost certain it was all awesome. Because my brain is apparently Swiss cheese, I’m going to start blogging what I get and give for Christmas every year. It’s not about who gave me what or how someone’s gift is more awesome than someone else’s gift. It’s just about me remembering.

To…

  • Mom: “The Handmade Marketplace” by Kari Chapin + iPod speakers
  • JCS: Gaylord the Pup – a pull-string toy and recreation of the 1960′s classic.
  • Secret Santa: Dutch Hot Cocoa + Mug from Peets
  • DKS: Skull and flower earrings from Etsy
  • JSwaff: Travel pouches
  • PMS: Midnight Riders T-Shirt
  • JSim: White tiger pendant from Etsy
  • MJS: Golden Books: Peter Pan + The Poky Puppy
  • JDB.: Storming the Castle – The Princess Bride card game
  • CJB: Never Shout Never T-Shirt
  • CAB: Green plaid flannel robe
  • MJBez: Brown medallions necklace
  • AJB: Addams Family CD (music from the TV show) + Wine Country Trails by Horseback in Temecula
  • To the Kids from Santa: Stratego

  • From…

  • Mom: Black jewelry box for rings only + a 1920′s flapper cameo ring + Food sealer
  • JCS: Emergency car kit
  • Secret Santa: Pocky + Tiffin Set + Porcelain chop sticks
  • DKS: Hasn’t arrived yet
  • JSwaff: Hasn’t arrived yet
  • JDB.: Twilight Zone action figure + 2011 Star Trek calendar
  • CJB: Organic clove soap + Pomegranate home fragrance oil + Lotion
  • CAB: Veganomicon cook book
  • MJBez: Crock pot + went in with Adam to buy Alien Skin filters for Photoshop
  • AJB: Haunted Mansion mug + cat towels + cat treat mix + Cat sponge holder + went in with MJ to buy Alien Skin filters for Photoshop + Star Trek communicator
  • Susan and Phillip: Cats napping calendar


  • Pretty great haul this year. Notice a trend? Cats, Star Trek, and Cooking. I’m easy.

    P.S. I’m future dating this post because some items haven’t arrived in the mail yet – both ways. Damn post office. They wonder why they’re having trouble staying in business.

    So here it is….Merry Christmas

    It’s Christmas Day. The presents are wrapped, the house is a mess and we’ve got people coming over in 3 hours. I’m actually in a great mood.

    Last night was truly wonderful. I love my family (as crazy as they are) and I love spending time with them. Not everyone was there, but those who came made the night memorable. My aunt had a neighbor who was dressing up as Santa and offered to come by to treat the kids. My eldest little cousin, Erika, began telling me that she didn’t believe in Santa – she’s 7 years old – but as soon as Santa started up the walkway she lost her shit and began screaming as if Justin Bieber was coming towards the house. As AJB said, there are no atheists in fox holes. All the kids were so excited and I managed to get some video. As soon as I take a look at it and pretty it up for the web, I’ll pass it around to family. For the first time ever, we sang Christmas carols as a family – oh and I got video of that too. It was a night filled with conversation, laughing at Xander every time he did a cartwheel and his butt crack hung out, drinking, eating, and making merry. The kids were high on sugar and ran around like Christmas maniacs. The gift exchange was fun (as always) and some good gifts circulated the room. I ended up with a pair of beautiful chop sticks, a small tiffin set, and Pocky. AJB got the quesadilla maker, which is appropriate because I think he’s the only one in the family who doesn’t know how to make quesadillas – being a Mid-Western Jew and all. Grandma was there and in good spirits. She looked lovely as always. My Mother-in-Law came and had a great time. It was a good night and I hope we have many more to come.

    Wrapping paper is the epitome of wastefulness. You use it once and then toss it out. These days, more and more papers are recyclable, but hardly anyone is selling paper made out of recycled paper and it’s often expensive. Furthermore, if your city recycles the paper, you have to remove the tape. What a pain. Every year I TRY really hard to wrap my gifts in some form of recycled material. This year, I made it happen and the results are pretty fantastic, if you ask me.

    Most years I simply re-use old wrapping paper, gift bags, or saved tissue paper. I finally found a use for all those paper shopping bags I’ve been saving. I wrapped everything in old paper shopping bags, hemp twine, and paper doilies. I’m not sure how eco-friendly the paper doilies or the scotch tape are, but for the most part I did pretty great and people are telling me they look nice – so I guess they do. I cut the labels out of scrap paper from the bags with scalloped craft scissors. While I was looking up inspiration for this year’s eco-wrapping, I came across a great idea for next year: Old maps. I always see them at thrift stores. I think I’ll start collecting for 2011. I’m pretty happy with the results and I feel really great about not wasting paper. Paper bags are definitely recyclable in more ways than one.

    Merry Christmas everyone!

    Oh, that we could always see such spirit through the year

    ARE people nicer during the holidays? I’ve noticed a few more people actually held doors open for me – I always hold doors for people and when I’m preoccupied and let the door slam in their face, I apologize. Seemed to me people were in bad moods this year. Not just me. Everyone seems to be kinda annoyed with the holiday. People in general seem worried about the economy, yet I just read an article that said we’re setting records this year. How’s that work? The economy is bad and we’re spending more money than ever? Perhaps this is why everyone’s in such tight fixes.

    Ever since my Dad died I’ve become increasingly cold towards Christmas. I’m not one of those people who needs Christmas to be perfect and then implodes when it isn’t. Here’s what I want for Christmas:

  • Get gifts for my loved ones
  • Have my shopping done before Christmas Eve
  • Watch my favorite Christmas movies: It’s a Wonderful Life, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Miracle on 34th St., and A Christmas Story.
  • Bake cookies
  • Have and decorate a Christmas tree
  • Spend time with my family and have fun
  • Go to a Christmas party or two


  • So far I’ve done two of those things and they both relate to shopping. This year, however, I kept my gift limit to $20 and I pretty much stayed in budget. Only one or two went over because of insane shipping prices. Overall, I did pretty well and I think I got some nice gifts for my family. I’m also wrapping my gifts in paper bags, twine, and simple embellishments. They really look nice and the bonus: Recycling.

    *le sigh* I guess everyone’s been tense this year. You can kind of feel it in the air. Cashiers are glum, shoppers look worried, families are fighting, and I didn’t get a Christmas tree this year. Oh, I got the little ones AJB bought, but I didn’t get to decorate them. I was playing Left 4 Dead 2 with my brothers when it happened and wasn’t given fair enough warning; although I was told I had been.

    Yesterday I didn’t get anything done. I felt like I was in a car most of the day. We had lunch and then took my Mother-in-Law to see the new house – and also meet with the contractor to give him money. The house is coming along. All of the demo is done. The murder shed is gone, the ugly white cabinet that was blocking a beautiful window is gone, lots of ugliness is gone. Unearthed beneath the murder shed was 100 year old siding in a deep forest green. We think this was the original color of the house. The siding’s in great condition and there’s a slim chance most of it might be preserved under the stucco, which would be awesome. Eventually we’ll get to the outside of the house and we’re thinking we’ll restore it back to it’s original (or near original) look. I like the siding a lot.

    Now we start the…uh…what are we starting now? Technically we should be starting electrical, but our bids were so discombobulated we’ve had to start over. Again. The house will be upgraded to 120 amps (is that right? Is it amps?), we’ll have ethernet all over the house, all the superfluous wiring in the basement will be taken out – if it’s dead, it’s gone – new outlets, new light-switch plates for all the missing ones, a couple of phone lines in AJB’s office, a ceiling light in my office, better lighting in AJB’s office, push button switches in the downstairs, and I think that’s it. We’re also moving some ill advised switches to more convenient locations.

    By the time I got home yesterday, it was 5:30pm and I was kinda pooped. AJB and his mom had more shopping to do and I was going to help my brother make mashed potatoes. Except, he had to leave and now I’m making the mashed potatoes he’s taking to Christmas Eve. Go figure. Because I was having a bad day, I decided to treat myself to a glass of wine. Except, we packed all our wine glasses and yes, even the cork screw. I must continue to remind myself that NO ONE thought we’d still be in storage by December. It was inconceivable at the time, but certain things grind my gears like packing up the cork screw. Why? Had I actually done the packing, I’m not sure I would have stowed it. Serves me right. So then I tried to push the cork through and it’s one of those not-a-cork corks and was jammed in pretty tight. By now I was really frustrated and decided to venture out to buy a new one. I stood in line at Rite-Aid for 15 minutes while three cashiers SLOWLY rang up customers, none of them with smiles on their faces, and the lady behind me kept pushing her cart into my ankles. All I wanted was to relax and have a glass of wine.

    I used to love Christmas. I used to get so happy when I’d see the decorations and lights on the streets. I’d hear music and my heart would sing. Not this year. This year I kinda just want it to be over with. I miss my Dad and all the traditions I’ve held dear which are rather nonexistent. My husband also told me that he can take or leave Christmas. I mean, he’s a Jew after all, but his family has always celebrated Christmas. Don’t you lose Jew points for celebrating Christmas? He also doesn’t celebrate Hanukkah. Bad Jew. I watch him getting into the spirit and he seems to really enjoy it, but then to say he can take it or leave it. Man. Last year I swore this year’s Christmas would be better. It’s somehow worse. That we’re not in our house, no tree, no movies, no baking, all rushing around, tired all the time…people are in crappy moods. Christmas seems more like something we endure rather than celebrate. When Charlie Brown exclaims “Isn’t there anybody who knows what Christmas is all about?” I feel his pain. Next year will be better. We’ll be in our new house, I’ll have a tree, and perhaps…just perhaps, I’ll be in a better mood.

    Appropriately, I woke up with this in my head this morning: I think Charlie sums it up best.

    Merry Christmas everyone.

    It’s a Mad Mad Mad Holiday

    The holidays are madness and it’s only when we watch It’s a Wonderful Life that we’re reminded what the holidays are really about. Except, no, it’s not really about that, George, is it? You wish it was, but it’s not. Christmas is about shopping, baking, cleaning, impressing, giving, getting, and running around like a maniac because every year you swear you’ll get it done early and you never do. At least, that’s how it is for me. This year is particularly odd because we don’t have a Christmas tree – all of our ornaments and decorations are in storage and when I think about it, I’m sad, but who has time to think about it? Last night AJB came home with two small plastic Christmas trees for us to decorate. Not quite the eco-friendly thing to do, but most certainly the wife-friendly thing to do. He got little ornaments and lights and we’re going to decorate when the kids come over tomorrow. My husband is pretty sweet.

    It’s 2.5 days until Christmas. Or depending on how you count, 3 days. I have yet to mail my gifts to siblings in far off places and I have to come to terms that they’ll just have to get them late. The good news is, I’m done shopping. Tomorrow I’m spending the entire day baking cookies with my Mom and as much as I love doing it, in the back of my mind I’m worried I just can’t get it all done in time. I have to wrap presents, work on real work, visit the house again – I have to make sure all this rain hasn’t flooded the pool or basement. To top if off, I’m fighting a headache that just doesn’t seem to want to let up. The added bonus is that we found termites in this rental house we’re in. Termites. Lovely. Hi Stress. How’ve ya been?

    I’m looking forward to making cookies all day, I just wish I was done with everything else. The truth is, I know it will all work out and I’m just getting worked up for nothing.

    This morning I woke up with this in my head: