Unacceptable

Prior to moving, Rocket Man and I made a few electronics purchases. He eats toast every single morning as part of a balanced breakfast. Therefore, we (and by we I mean mostly me) perused the internets in search of a 220V toaster. Why? Um, because we'd really rather not have to use a transformer with our own toaster.

Obviously we would not do this with everything. The fact that he uses it every morning weighed heavily in the pro buy-a-toaster column. We would have purchased it at the local (ish...it was almost an hour from our house, but still in "Houston") East/West store, where all sorts of 220V things are sold, but the prices there are through the roof.

One thing that can be said about the local store is that everything we've purchased there actually works as it should...

...as long as the slow-cooker we bought there works...haven't tried it yet.

ANYWAY.

We're unpacking boxes last week and we open the toaster - you know, the one that we paid more than normal for and had shipped to our house, etc. etc., and the Nanny frowns and shows me the cord.

Um, yeah. It's not 220V. Not even close. Our families back home could make use of it, sure, but not us.

     Dear toaster,

          Your plug us unacceptable to me.

Today we open up our 220V vacuum. The one that says 240V on the box, but says 220V-240V on the appliance itself. We have to use an adapter plug so that it will fit into the outlet, but that is no big thing.

Right?

It does say 220V-240V.

Um...yeah.

It turns on for about two seconds, makes a little pop (and there might have been a spark) and that is it.

     Dear vacuum,

          Your behavior is unacceptable to me.

At least the vacuum was not pricey. Then again, perhaps that is the problem.

Our plans for the morning? Go to a local appliance store to get a bread-maker and toaster and to at least take a look at the options for vacuums. The only concerning part is that usually vacuums over this-a-way aren't all that great, as evidenced by the one currently in our abode.

Snippets

I just logged into the email associated with this blog and saw that my one unread message was "Your friends think you need a vacation."

Oh really?

Who am I to argue with that one? I'd love to go see somewhere new. Of course there is that small thing of needing to plan something...

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Thanks to a friend and my nanny the kitchen is about 95% unpacked and put away. The other 5%? In a box somewhere...probably one labeled "Bedding; Master Bedroom" or something equally silly.

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We have found and unpacked a large number of the chica's toys and this means that for the first time in a looooooooooooong time she came downstairs and wanted to play instead of immediately attempting to turn on the television.

Small improvements, people.

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I have already had a request this morning to "Open boxes, Mama?"

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Rocket Man didn't come home last night until 10pm.

I am assuming it was just a great day at work.

In addition, he left his badge here yesterday morning, so he called me at 9-something (I was in bed) to ask how to get into our neighborhood without it. [There is an entry gate and you show your badge to get in quickly and easily.]

He called back about seven minutes later to tell me his keys are on his badge, so please leave the door unlocked.

So yeah, I didn't go to bed until he got home.

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While the kitchen is mostly done the rest of my house is a disaster.

Great.

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Miss Thing enjoys playing with the rolls of tape, small level and assorted screwdrivers lying (for now) on the table beside me:

"I do it."

"This one's better."

"I fix it."

"Try again."

"Mama? I working, Mama"

"You working, Mama - onna computer."

"Bracelets! I wear them! I got all the bracelets, Mama" [tape rolls]

"This one makes one bracelet, this one makes two bracelets, this one makes three bracelets, this one makes four bracelets, this one makes five bracelets!"

[Followed immediately by counting the SAME items over again:]

One, two, five, six, SEVEN BRACELETS!!!"

[She likes to keep us guessing.]

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Now apparently there is a Mama screwdriver and a bunch of kid screwdrivers. The babies are looking for their Mama; she is giving the babies kisses and so forth.

Screwdrivers; who knew?

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That is it for this morning. To recap, my child is entertained by the stuff from boxes; our house is a disaster. Oh, and she apparently has an imagination.

Welcome...

...to my own little corner of Hades.*

The temps are down and the hinges won't singe you, but man oh man is it a torturous place to be.**

*Please do not misunderstand; we will eventually be glad to have our things...I'd say about a week or two after we've finally unpacked and found a place for it all. Until then, it is a rather unpleasant experience as any of you who have recently packed up your entire house and then unpacked it a few months later are well aware.

Unless of course you are a two-year-old. Then it is mighty exciting. And causes you to exclaim about boxes to everyone you see. Also, it may cause you to demand that boxes be opened right before bed as if we should continue doing so throughout the night. You might also deem it necessary to peer out the window in search of more "peoples" on a "big truck, Mama" to bring in more boxes...as if it will now happen every day just to entertain you. Let's not forget the fact that it is exceptionally overwhelming to open boxes with your own toys and things in them and this makes for a grumpy little kid.

So, yeah. The stuff is here. Whenever we get it all sorted, I'll finally post some photos of what our place really looks like. You know, now that it will feel more like our own.

**For those of you who feel inclined to declare that it is our own fault that we have to unpack again, since it is we who chose this life, please note that there is a bit of sarcasm in this post. Also of note is the fact that we are well aware of our choices because contrary to popular belief we do think them through and yes this is one of the things we deal with. It is absolutely worth it. It does not mean that we have to love this part.

T-Minus Ten and Counting.

So.

The movers come on Monday and Tuesday to pack everything up and send it off to its respective locations.

We fly on Saturday, May 8th. We wanted to fly on the 7th, but since we had to wait until, oh, Tuesday, to make the reservations, there were no seats on those flights. As is, we are booked in three aisle seats, one in front of the other. Someone is going to have a grand time sitting next to Miss Thing.

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Had Miss Thing's two year appointment a little early. She is now suddenly in the 80th percentile for height. No wonder the clothes are just barely still fitting.

Oh, and she's been getting the hiccups the last couple of days, and usually this means she is growing. If so, she will have to go naked in Russia. The locals will just love us.

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I've been looking for underpants. I know. You really wanted to know that. I've been to Victoria's Secret...three times, JCPenney, Macy's and Target. Let's all guess where I found the best-fitting pair? And by best-fitting I mean covers my tush without sending me back to middle school and the land of wedgies. That's right, people: Target. 13 pair for about $13. Let's hope they don't fall apart in the wash.

Oh, wait. That is what the $5/pair Victoria's Secret ones do lately. So even if they do, I've still saved.

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I wasn't ever the recipient (or giver, for that matter) of wedgies in middle-school. Was that mostly a boy thing?

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Miss Thing has some hair. Shocking, I know. Not long enough for anything except the non-use of baby brushes. They just don't work any more. Therefore, we have been using a comb.

She says: "Cone."

Tonight after her bath (in the kitchen sink because as long as she fits in it, I am using it. Gotta save the back, people.) I was cutting her finger- and toe-nails, an activity she looks forward to about as much as I look forward to the dentist, and I had the "cone" on the bed with us. She distracted herself from the awfulness with it: "Ice-cream cone...Where did it go?...I get it!...I've got you, ice-cream cone!"

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This post is brought to you by the letters M and N. One day we'll learn the difference.

Aaaaannnnndddd.....More Shopping!

So I went to my class this morning...for the first time in two weeks. I am a slacker and it showed.

Then we all got ready and headed out to shop for Rocket Man's weather gear for Russia. Oh, and I had to return half of Miss Thing's because she grew and some things just aren't going to fit when we get there. Thankfully they had the clothing in the next size up, so we could get her rain suit and things in the right size.

I think RM can finally see how overwhelming the shopping can be for this move...since he basically turned to me when we got there and said "So what did you buy here?" Um, yeah. I didn't have that kinda help; we were just wandering.

Anyway, he was able to get his rain gear, a pair of boots, socks and a fleece. Then we headed to a ski place and he purchased the warmest coat ever. Apparently he was in danger of sweating in it at the store, so that is pretty warm.

Jason's Deli was our lunch and then home we went so that Miss Thing and I could take a nap. The night-time sleeping, at least for me, hasn't been the greatest lately.

We slept for three hours.

THREE.

I, for one, should never get to sleep tonight.

We're headed to a neighborhood dinner at a tex-mex restaurant in a few minutes; everyone is getting together to say SEE YA! to us. And by everyone I mean whoever is able to show up. It should be good.

Have I mentioned that Rocket Man has been out of town more since January 1st than he has been at home? And that the trend continues up until we leave?

Awesome!

Long Time No Write

Howdy, Strangers!

It's been a while.

We've been exceptionally busy here at Casa Crazy Pants so I had to take a break from the blogging. The good news is that we've purchased a lot. The bad news is that it cost a lot. Oh, and did I mention that we aren't done? Oh, yeah. It is tough to keep going with it since I feel like I've made a ton of progress...and yet, there are those things that haven't been covered yet.

Aside from that, things are moving along. The paperwork is being processed for tons of things: visas, health certificates, home sale, and the list goes on. We still have our cars to sell, and that hasn't really begun yet, but since we are most likely going the carmax route, there isn't really much involved.

The dog, he has a home. All of you out there who know him or of him can thank B because thanks to him Senor Cooper shall have somewhere to live. He'll have one person all to himself with some visits from R-Shelly (and he loves her) not to mention the back yard with a fence and some dogs to terrorize.

No, really. He will.

Miss thing knows we are going to Russia. And that Cooper is going to live with "Cooper's B". Apparently that is how it works. Cooper will now own B. Not that Cooper would complain about that distinction. She's always trying to add people to the list of who goes to Russia: "Mama, Daddy, Miss Thing, Guga, Papa Jim RUSSIA!!!" And yes, she shouts the RUSSIA part.

At least she's excited.

I will leave you with a few quotes:

"Uh, oh, Skuttios!" (when something falls)

"I found Mama!" (surely you can figure this one out)

"Mama's HAT!" (when she brings me one of her two cowgirl hats so we are both wearing one)

"Too Tight!" (Whenever something feels different...or LOOKS uncomfortable...like on her baby doll)


Have I mentioned that she now has a few books memorized and she enjoys reading them? It is too funny.

THAT IS ALL!

Holy Shopping, Batman!

We've been shopping the last couple of days. Little things that we need for our place in Russia as well as all of the decorative items we want to have in our very neutral home. Rugs - indoor, outdoor and everything in between have been looked at, felt, walked on, and purchased.

Curtains are the bane of my existence.

The list for winter gear has a dent in it. As does my bank account.

We are all exhausted; Miss Thing especially. That is what happens when you push lunch and nap times back more than an hour two days in a row. Thankfully, we only had one minor melt-down and it was remedied with a few crackers. When we all got home everyone took a nap. Unfortunately, she only slept an hour and a half. Normally this would be fine, but with people here and so many things happening, it is not nearly enough. She did sleep another hour with her Guga, so that was nice.

We are going to attempt curtains again tomorrow. Take 24,546,573.

I might just buy the ugliest things we see just to have it done.

Let's hope not.

Draining the Bank Account

And so it begins.

I think that for the foreseeable future shopping will be a daily activity.

Since I don't really like shopping, this is not a good thing.

Since my daughter gets tired of shopping (who can blame her?), this is really not a good thing.

When we moved to Spain, we didn't really have a bunch of things to purchase. Sure, we bought some spices and a couple of things here and there...like a hand-held can-opener...but overall, we didn't have to buy a lot in order to live there.

On the flip side, we did have to make decisions regarding how much of our own stuff we would take with little to no indication of what we would actually need once we arrived. We knew housing came furnished, but there are varying degrees of furnished in this world, and who knew what we would end up with.

This move to Russia is much easier in some ways. For example, I really am not worried at all about selling the house because I know how that works now. I am also not all that concerned about what we need to take (of our own items) because there is company-maintained housing there and we literally have a list of what is in each place.

Plus, there are some very nice people over there responding to all of my silly email questions about strange things like are there bookshelves and how about trashcans...

In other ways this move is much more difficult. The main difficulty is that of the weather. Or, to explain it better, what in the world we should wear for the weather. I mean, we've lived in the land of many snowfalls (aka Virginia), but not anywhere that has arctic temps. ARCTIC.

We know nothing about it.

Nothing, Nada, Zilch.

This makes purchasing the correct clothing a little difficult. What complicates matters is the fact that we live in Houston, Texas. Our "winter" weather is their spring/summer weather. With the exception of August, when I believe they get warmer temps.

Even with all of that, things aren't soooo bad. I mean, I love to wear pants and loathe shorts (on me, they just feel wrong...unless I am working out), so I am actually quite happy that I will be able to wear them practically all year.

So what is so tough? Aside from needing rain suits and snow suits and all that goes with them (which I know little about), there is the fact that I have a young child.

You know the saying?

They grow like weeds.

That phrase should have an addendum: but who knows when!

I've been told to bring snow suits for when we get there and also that we need to bring all of our own summer clothes because they don't sell much there. Rocket Man and I can easily purchase these items and know they will still fit when we get there.

Miss Thing? Not so much.

In addition to clothing uncertainties, there are the other items we should bring: Curtains, bedding, food, craft storage, any and all toys/learning manipulatives/books that we want to be in English, skis ??!?!, and the list goes on.

Today I made a small dent: craft storage.

I made a trip to the Container Store.

I spent some money.

I came away with a six-drawer scrapbook paper storage unit, some stack-able drawers for yarn/craft storage and a small unit of the elfa closet organizer bins. Everything is on casters and will fit into closets if we want it to.

Tomorrow? I hope to tackle sheets, comforter set, curtains, and whatever else I can think of to get at JCPenney, since that is where we are headed!

Good-bye money, hello sanity!

Goodnight, Moon

"Mooooooooonnnnnnn!"

If we are in the car after it is dark out and the moon is up, Perpetual Motion cries out for the moon until she catches a glimpse of it through the car window.

Watch out if for some reason, like, I dunno - we are DRIVING somewhere and have to TURN - and therefore she can no longer spot her shiny friend.

Then there is much sadness and wailing for the moon.

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A friend came over to play with us today and Miss Thing did sooooooo much better than previous play-date events. She only took things a couple of times, and gave them back if I asked her to.

She also cried when they left because she was already missing them.

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For the first time EVER (aside from a few newborn moments), Rocket Man put the child to bed. She did her usual whine a bit about anything she can think of to delay bedtime routine, which doesn't ever work for her, so I am not sure why she keeps doing it...but aside from that, it was smooth bed-time-ing.

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We are supposed to clean out closets this weekend. That may sound like a strange thing to you all, but we tend to, um, store things in our closets. This storage is most likely to occur when we really don't need or want the items any longer. Therefore, cleaning out aka tossing a bunch of stuff, will greatly assist us in moving right along the we're moving to Russia track.

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Today it was about 60 degrees outside, though very overcast and somewhat chilly with the breeze. Yes, I am aware that most of my relatives have some choice words for me after that revelation. My point? We shall soon be the "It's sooooo cold...." winners because where we're headed the SUMMER months are what we experienced today.

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At least I can wear pants all year long. I hate shorts. They are awful. Skirts are okay, but pants? Awesome.

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I wonder how I'll feel about snow-pants. Looking and feeling like the Good-Year Blimp can't possibly be all it's cracked up to be. Actually, I've never heard of it being cracked up to be anything, so...who came up with that phrase anyway?!?

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Still no Doggy home. Poor Cooper. Flop, flop, flop.

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Goodnight, Moon.

Sad Times Ahead

It will be sad to leave our neighborhood friends here in the next month or so.

It will be sad that we will not have good HOT Mexican food (Tex-Mex, really).

It will be most sad that we have to leave our dog, our Chompy-Lones here in the states while we embark on our next adventure.

It just isn't fair to take him where we will have trouble exercising him and where our housing will be smaller, and the list goes on.

We have one person interested in him at this point, but it is just a maybe.

Hopefully we can find a home for him, because he is a good boy and has brought so much joy to our lives.

I think the giving away falls to me because Rocket Man has already told me that he does not think that he will be able to be there when the final hand-off occurs. Since Miss Thing won't understand it, perhaps she should not be there either.

I don't know.

It is just sad.

We Have Lift-off!

We made a visit to the passport agency in Houston today. It was slightly involved...mostly because we like to stress each other out for things like this - you know, just to make it fun.

Miss Thing's passport photo was "too far away", so we had to get that taken again. Then we had to wait for an eternity to a 20-month-old for them to call our number a-la-DMV.

All in all the process was fairly painless, somewhat expensive, easier than I thought it would be and to top it all off Miss Thing and I should receive our new and renewed passports within a week if not sooner.

Yup.

That's what I call expedited.

Russia, here we come!

Has It Really Only Been Four Days?

This week feels like it has been two or three. Britn just went home on Monday, but is feels like she left weeks ago. We've had ear and eye infections, and now I'm getting that tell-tale scratch in the back of my throat that means high-grade congestion is about to set in.

We found out for certain that we are going to Sakhalin, RF, which means lots of good things are in store...as well as lots of pain in the neck items as well. Preparing to move is not the greatest, especially when you have to find and follow various rules and regulations, which are different every time you move. I am apparently going to be very adept at detailed inventory-ing for this move...as in every single box will have its very own inventory.

Awesome.

The last time we moved I was six month pregnant. I packed everything, labeled/inventoried (as if that is a verb?) everything, cleaned the apartment as well as moved furniture back to its original position. It was a lot of work. This time I will not be pregnant, but I will have to manage to do the same things with a child in the house, and since her idea of a good time is to move things out of clean, organized piles and spread them all over tarnation, we will be butting heads.

Awesome.

A childhood friend of mine is pregnant right now, and she recently declared that she is nesting. What a strange term. When we returned from Spain, no nesting occurred. Oh, sure, we bought some furniture and unpacked, and things like that, but we would have done that anyway. And yes, we purchased things for the child, but I am fairly certain that is required if you want to take your kid home from the hospital.

At no point was I overcome by an overwhelming urge to clean/organize/be ready and at no point did I in any way tell my husband that THIS HAS TO BE DONE OR ELSE or anything like that. I never felt that way at all.

Tell me I'm moving to Russia, however, and I want to get into every closet, dresser, drawer, cabinet, and crevice and THROW CRAP AWAY. When you know that you're moving, it is way easier to take a look at something and know whether or not you want to take it or store it or trash it.

Don't get me wrong, once we found out for real (Monday...feels like weeks ago), I freaked out and then did nothing. I finished reading a book, started reading another (both I had read previously, by the way), looked up a little info on passports for minors and then did nothing.

Nada.

Now? I am wanting to chuck things into the trashcans.

Hopefully I shall refrain myself a tad so as to not chuck something important. But all of that "important" stuff? If it is only pretending to be, it is gone.

We are going to get the tiny one's passport stuff taken care of on Monday, which means photos tomorrow. HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAH! I expect that to go really well!

Have a fabulous evening, happy Olympics, and I'm out (chucking things in the trash).

Finally:

A tour for all of you who have been asking!

Front of the house:

Once inside, if you look to your right you will see what is supposed to be a dining room. We won't be using it as one, as you can see. Through that door is the butler's pantry and to the right of that is the laundry room.




If you look to your left once you enter the house, you will see this area. We have purchased some furniture to go on/with that rug, but it isn't here yet so the rug is all you get. That other piece won't be in here once we get the other items.




Walk forward from the front door, pass the stairs, and arrive in the living room. Yup. No furniture. It is ordered as well. Methinks the bambina will arrive before the furniture.




Take a left upon entering the living room and you'll find our master bedroom. This photo was taken prior to the movers arriving; we do have furniture in here.




Connected to that is our master bathroom. Oh, yes. It is fabulous. Tile, tile everywhere...large shower...large bath tub...two sinks and plenty of storage and counter space.




Back at the living room - if you look to the right you will see the kitchen.




The kitchen and living room are open to one another as well as this "breakfast" area. We'll be using it as our all-kinds-of-dining area.




The door to the all-kinds-of-dining area opens up to a somewhat covered patio which leads to...




...the garage! All the men go "ooohhhhh" and "aaaahhhhh". I don't get it, but whatever floats your boat.




Here's a shot of the small fenced-in back yard. We have dogs both behind us and beside us. Good times.




Here's the side yard and the entrance to the garage from another angle.




Remember this? Oh yes, we're back to the front!




Okey dokey. So. If you enter and then go up the stairs you might run into my husband eating pizza. This is sort-of a tradition. We did it when we first moved to Houston - ordered pizza and ate it in our empty apartment - so we decided we should do it again.




This time we had our lones with us...which made for an interesting evening...at least for him. HOW EXCITING it was to sniff the whole house and to discover that there are STAIRS in here!



Back to the tour. At the top of the stairs, and open to the rest of the house is what they call a "game" room in Houston. Some might call it a loft, since it is open to everything.




At the top of the stairs, if you take a right, you'll end up in the bambina's bedroom.




If you go left you'll pass a full bathroom and then there are two rooms here. This is one of them (they're practically identical, so no need for more photos). It will be my room to do whatever...and we've painted it a very very light blue color so that it will appear to be lighter in there. Perhaps one day I'll have a photo of that. Perhaps not, so get your imaginations going!




There it is, more or less. Less, really, since these photos were for the most part taken before the movers brought all of our things. We do have furniture in most rooms now, just not the two downstairs that I mentioned. If you come and visit us, you can see it all!

Hope this satisfies the curiosities!!

Noticias, Baby Version 80%2

We are alive! I am sure you've been wondering. We've just been a little busy what with moving from overseas, establishing our lives here and preparing for the baby's arrival.

We now have a house, two vehicles, and most of the furniture we need for the house. We are still waiting for some painting to occur and two rooms of furniture to arrive...oh yeah, and then there's the baby.

I am writing today because I have some news about the imminent arrival. At my doctor's appointment today I found out that I am already 2 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced. For those of you who have not ever had a baby or been involved in the process at all, women have their children when they are 10 centimeters and 100%. So. I am on my way and have only felt a wee bit o' fake contractions Sunday night.

I informed the doctor that my Mom had her children in about 4 hours and didn't know she was in labor - with my brother her water broke at home before she realized she was in labor and then with me she only went to the hospital because she realized that she was feeling just like she had with my brother. Those contractions that peak and fall away and last a certain amount of time, etc.? None of that, really. Not that there wasn't pain, but just not the kind that makes you count them or anything like that.

My doctor's reaction? "Ohhhhhh...."

I wanted to know when I should come to the hospital...or if I would even know at all that I should leave the house...

Since we think I'll be like my Mom, and especially with today's stats on the check, she thinks a more planned delivery date would be better than the very real possibility of having the baby at home or in a car.

What does this all mean?

Well, at this point, I have an appointment next Tuesday, and if I am still progressing, then she is planning to schedule me for a delivery on Tuesday, May 27th. That is about 12 days early. I assume that if I haven't moved along at all then she might change her mind about the date...and if I am even further along than she thinks I will be next week then I guess she might schedule me for even earlier.

For now, May 27th is the new date to anticipate.

Good times, indeed!