Bleh

I. Am. Beat.

In other news, hubby and I have decided, after 2 years and 4 months of marriage, to invest in a bed that we can sleep in, AT THE SAME TIME!! Lol... I mean, at first we were working different shifts, so no big deal, but now that he is a daywalker, we really, really would like to have a nice, king sized bed. No more waiting until we have a hotel to snuggle!! Hehe. 

We also got a new TV since hubbs is tired of not being able to watch his blue rays. And a new TV stand cuz we need more shelves!! My mantra of "when we get a house" seemed silly after 2 years. Why wait to enjoy things? Yeah, well have to move this crap, but that's what movers are FOR! In the meantime, we can sleep in the same bed, watch blue rays, and hopefully find places for more of our knick knacks.

Ace is so helpful when I'm tired. He makes sure I don't move a muscle until HES ready to move. Hehe. My next apt project is going thru stuff we don't use and playing keep or donate. 😁 and rearranging storage areas.

MAGIC!! The plants, they GROW!!

Happy basil 

The bed was ordered on Monday, we got the notice it was ready to be delivered on Wednesday, and they automatically scheduled for Thursday. I rescheduled for Friday and then a whole shit show happened and... no delivery. All because of one missed call, being unable to reach the damn delivery driver, and the fact that they didnt call earlier. Its been the biggest pain in the butt EVER. The new shelves/TV stand were delivered on friday and I put them together on Saturday. The new TV comes in on the 28th. We are gonna goblin SO HARD next weekend. 

We removed the old bed to prepare for the new. Now the old bed is on the floor cuz I didn't want to set EVERYTHING up again. Ace was super confused. Which works because I was confused at how much Ace hair was under the bed! Hopefully we will be able to reschedule the delivery of the bed for Wednesday. I just didn't have it in me to try to reschedule on Friday. I was too pissed at the shitshow the delivery turned into. 

Ace was trying to find the under the bed. It was kinda funny.

Saturday I woke up an absolute mucus monster. So, hubby and I stayed home. He apparently didn't feel great, either. I did get the TV stand put together, and we ordered pizza. I thought my issue was just from the wildfire smoke and the dust we stirred up with all the new furniture. I still think that contributed, but it's definitely just a head cold. Nothing from the lungs, just the head. Sigh. No fever tho, so that's good. 

Plenty more shelves! 

We are gonna need to be careful that what we put on the shelves can't be moved by the kitty.

I'm feeling better today, but don't want to leave my self-imposed quarantine yet. When a coughing fit hits, it sounds horrible. More tea, throat lozenges, sudafed, and rest. Hugs all, I hope you're doing ok.

I've Reached the Age

I saw a preview for a movie the other day. It was a British movie about a married woman who started saving money for a trip to Greece (i think she was a housewife, so she was squirrling away money she saved from what her husband gave her for groceries and such). Her husband and daughter think she's crazy and are hugely upset about this dream of hers. Her friend that she was going to go with apparently can't, but gives her a present for having the courage to go. From what I gathered, she does go.

The thing that struck me about this trailer was so often both the woman and the people around her kept saying "you're 42!" with varying levels of incredulousness. The message seemed to be "you're 42, you're married, you've raised a child, you have fulfilled your purpose, therefore you should not have any more dreams and just need to accept that your life has passed and get on with the (long) process of dying, taking care of the house and your husband, and being grateful for what you did have." My question is: was this really how people thought/is it still how people think?? I couldn't help but look back on my own life through that lense. No children, only recently married, traveled the world, friends on different continents, good job, great friends... I can't imagine being in that woman's shoes. I am hugely grateful for being able to live the life that I have, and I can't imagine believing that it's over now that I'm 42. 

Then I thought of some of the people I know who got to 42 before me. Seems like something fairly pivotal happened to them. I'm pretty sure older sis and BIL quit truck driving when she was 42. My friend A came with me to Europe when she was 42 (and she hasn't aged a BIT in the years since, btw). I'm pretty sure my parents separated and started the divorce process when they were 42... no wonder Douglas Adam's chose that as the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything. Seems to me perhaps one phase of life ends around 42 and another begins. I'm not expecting anything crazy to happen this year... but if it does, I'll manage. There's a ton of things that could happen (bad and good). I'm just excited to see what happens. 

This happened when I got back to the ranch. I got it back over and I tried to anchor it again.

Let's see how long it lasts. While I was busy with this, mister wheeler was incensed that I wasn't playing fetch with him.

I tried to wear him out, but he might be un-wear-outable.

The paw over the nose!!! So cute!!!

I have another thing that has been bothering me. My dentist has told me that I need a night guard. Last year I had the bare minimum insurance, so this year I upped it thinking maybe it would be covered. My dentist said they checked with insurance and it would only be $136 for me. I said let's do it. We did it. I got a bill for over $300 more for said night guard. I paid it and disputed with insurance. I got something back that said we would pay for one IF you had this certain dental surgery first. Now. Did the insurance lie to my dentist? Or did my dentist lie to me? Did my insurance say one thing to the dentist and another to me? WHERE did the breakdown happen?? Cuz when I go to check my benefits there is NOTHING about ANYTHING on there. Basically insurance is a scam, living is too expensive, we're all gonna die on a barren wasteland due to data centers, so what's the point of anything?? 

On the other hand, why does paying $400+ for something that is supposed to help me keep my teeth chafe so bad?? Why will I drop that amount on bags, clothes, and earrings but LOATH spending it at the dentist? Is it because it's all at once? Or is it because I feel lied to? I pay for insurance all year, why doesn't it cover things like this? And why do teeth need their own insurance anyway? Why is this all acceptable? Viva la revolution!! I'm so tired of trying to live in a society that was made to keep people down.

Anyway... I've been watching my friends animals for YEARS now and this was the first time I've used their pool.

Imma do a swim... blub blub. I tried to rock the Martha Stewart thirst trap... how did I do??

The pups were my lifeguards

I forgot a towel. But I remembered water, my phone, and a book! Been reading "the devil and Sherlock Holmes" by David grann and the weirdest thing has been... he is writing about things that have happened in my lifetime. Usually I'm reading about historical events, bit these are from the 90s and 2000s. It's WILD. I guess I'm just THAT old now, too.

 

Poor pups are exhausted.

Lies.... they lie

They want attentions.

Hubby came out on Saturday and we wandered downtown, then went to have lunch.

Hehe, hubbs found his ancestor

Good beers

Good brat... with angry jalapeños

The on to whiskey woods for some more food

Good cheese board!

Then hubbs came out to the ranch with me. He fed with me, which was fun. Then I took him back to the van. He went home and I went back to the ranch. It was REALLY nice to see my hubby. I missed him. 

Sunday I got up with the pups, did all the feeding, swept up the house, took out the trash, and loaded the car. The plan is going to Mass at 1130, then home from there. Looking forward to being home after a week away. I hope you're all doing well, sending tons of love from TX.

Setting up presents

Hubby gave me presents with a theme this year.

The candle smells amazing, then it is a planter for rosemary! 

He is DETERMINED to make basil survive in our home.

We shall see if the seeds germinate

So many seeds...

The whole setup! Water and nutrients underneath, each dome thing has seeds from the packets above. I've been checking every time I walk past to see if there's a sprout yet. YES, I know it takes longer than 5 mins... but I'm so EXCITED!! We start with herbs, then we will go for a whole salad bar. There are 3 spots for basil. Two Italian basil and one Thai basil. Hehe 😁 apparently for herbs and veg the grow light uses white, red, and blue lights. For fruits and flowers just white and red. 

The grow light is BRIGHT!!

We had to shut it off, then turn it back on the morning after we moved it. 16 hrs on, 8 hrs off. So now it turns on around 630 am and off around 1030pm. Better for us, but poor Ace might be somewhat confused. 

And the void was snuggly. We needed a day to be home with the kitty after leaving him for so many days. Such a sweetie cat. The day off also let me clean his water fountain, wash all the towels, do my laundry, and change the sheets. You know, all those monthly chores. Usually I'd do them on Sunday, but that day was unpacking. I also started packing for my week out on the ranch, which started on Friday. 

Tue thru Fri were normal work days. Bleh. At least I have another trip to look forward to. And I get to see my bestie sooner rather than later! 😁

Happy tomato plant

Look at all those green peppers that are forming!!

This one doesn't want to make peppers... but it's still alive after a year, so I'm happy. Thinking I may need to add some dirt to the pots.

Fri after work I went out to the ranch to take care of the animals. 

Being yelled at by sheep

The cow pix are always so good

So Texas

Snuggle butt boys. They even spent the whole night with me. One curled up under my armpit and one by my leg.

Saturday morning wheeler tried to play with Gabby and... failed. 

Ankle biting cat. I went to Burleson and...

MET UP WITH THE BESTIE!! We got to check out the farmers market and then hit up twisted Sisters (with the hubby, don't worry). 

We stopped by the apt to see the baby ace. While there, we checked the planter and... WE SAW TINY GREEN LEAVES!! Too small for pix, but it appears that we may have herbs soon!!

Then back out to the ranch. Good news: no indoor poops from Wheeler the Mad Pooper. 

Good puppers. 

The sheep enjoying the fan from the shop. I thought about getting in the pool, but thought maybe I'd had enough sun today.

Sundays plan is Mass, then meeting A in weatherford for chuys, and more time in the country. It's gonna be a good day. Here's to a week of a 10 min commute, tho I do miss my hubby. ☹️ 

Bday week shenanigans

Sunday: book fair at the brewery with A.

Hubby turned up, too! He had to work, but he stopped by on his way home. 

How everyone pictures A... until they experience her angry side..

Her angry side. She mentioned that people say they are scared of her, but shes just a cute, fluffy, koala. I asked if she had ever seen the wet, angry one and she said no. Showed her this pic and she LAUGHED... now she knows what she looks like when shes angry. Hehe.

Monday: business as usual. Work was work, but also kinda crazy. Hubbs and I decided to try palios pizza Cafe for dinner. So good. 

Tuesday: 1/2 day at work, torchys happy hr with hubby. 

The face I make when I'm leaving work and won't be back for a week!

The health inspector was there at the same time we were. Lol, food was good, tho. We got me a cake at HEB. Hehe.

White cake with strawberry icing and liars chocolate curls.

Even Ace wanted some (he NEVER does this, it was HILARIOUS). 

We painted. Hehe... guess who is the Warhammer painter.

Wednesday: massage and facial, frescoes cocina for dinner. 

Bday cinnamon roll

And mimosa! Its OK cuz hubby is being driver for me today. He also gave me the best presents 😁 we gonna grow herbs and veg in the apartment! And A got me a work bat!!

LOOK HOW CUTE AND FLUFFY!!!! 

I got a massage and a facial as a present to myself.

The on to frescoes cocina 😁 I sooooo love their black pearl margaritas.

Thursday: waco for book stores and beer spa.

Bfast spot.

The ravens nook

Adorable, cozy, 10/10 recommend.

Beer spa.

Relaxing, chill... also recommend. We also stayed at the hotel and had dinner at their restaurant. Everything was 10/10. I even bought their beer shampoo. 😁

Appetizer

We split the Ruben

Then.... the train came by 

We got a shot! Hehe. It was super yummy. Some kind of brandy and cream.

Wine bar with tapas... then back to the room!

Friday: blissful folly farms and stay in LA Grange.

We met up with Jess!

Had some GREAT mead

Wandered a bit and found a bar

Took over the upstairs of the bar 

until we decided to go back to the hotel..

And tried the WORST wine spritzer EVER. We decided to call it a night after this. 

Bestie feeds my bag obsession.

Saturday: Bastrop fun

WE FOUND RED HATS!!

Also, awesome plant and ceramics store. 

Somehow we managed to be here in Bastrop at the same time as their homecoming parade and rodeo. So it was pretty crazy in the AM, then people slowly started leaving. By the early afternoon the downtown area was pretty chill and we even got a bit of a rainstorm which helped it be less godawful hot. We decided to still wander the downtown area, as no one was particularly jazzed about the rodeo. 

 Bastrop brewing company

We had mead for national mead day

Then off to the copper shot for more drinks

Blackberry marg with rum... so good!!

Cool place

I love this idea 😁

Ended the night at 602 brewery. This is a black lotus. SO GOOD.

Sunday's plan: mass, lunch at 90s style pizza hut in Bastrop before home via West for sausage rolls. Hubby is feeling a bit rough, so we will see if he's going to be human in time for mass. Lol.

So those were my bday week shenanigans. We have had a wonderful time together and with the bestie. Truly, I am so grateful for the people I have in my world. They are the best. Hugs and love to all of you as well, I hope you are doing OK and also have a bday week of treating yourself. And making your TBR pile higher. Lol... so. Many. Books!!