Certain uncertainty...

I am certainly hoping so! This weekend, we are leaving Desert Shores behind for the quieter Green Valley. Instead in 27.5 miles of freeway, our daily commute will be 2.5 miles of bike lane. I can completely understand why people who live in Henderson seldom leave. I can completely see myself becoming one of those people who seldom venture north of Flamingo or west of Industrial. Why should I? Everything is here! Here's the rundown on the new digs: 2 bedroom/ 2.5 bath, detached Single car garage 1300 square feet Backyard is completely enclosed (slump block, so lots of privacy) 2 good-sized pine trees providing lots of shade Fresh and Easy is less than one block away! 2.5 miles from Zappos Closest movie theater is 1/2 mile away Less than one mile from the beltway, so easy access anywhere 45 minutes closer to Yuma Those are the important things, I think. I picked up the keys this morning and am taking a carload of things over this afternoon. Tomorrow, Jon is re...

I am a girl who needs her sleep. My body requires a solid 7 hours to even function well, and I really thrive when I can get 8.5 hours. (I know it is not cool to admit to a need for sleep; I hear those around me bragging about how little sleep they get. Ugh) Needless to say, I am less than thrilled to have my nights interrupted by concerns, both real and imagined. In an effort to purge my overact brain of this junk, I am going to put the crazy thoughts out into the world and look at the rationally. 1) We have to move. The woman who owns our condo defaulted on her mortgage. Ok. Nothing to be done but move. 2) We don't yet know where we are going to live. We filed an application for a cute little house down in Green Valley. It's 2.5 miles from Zappos. Just waiting to hear, so nothing more to be done there. 3) What if we don't get that house? Well, it's not like there is any shortage of homes in the valley. So we will find someplace else. 4) What about A finding ...

1) Played Bunco last might with some dear girlfriends from church. Note: dried apricots stuffed with almonds are yummy. Note also: sometimes food can look unintentionally naughty. I brought the snacks in question to the Rock Star for his inspection-- he just shook his head. 2) I was not built for this heat. I have been listless, my gut is all upset, and I am praying for a break. The break should be here this weekend, just in time for... 3) Jon scored us a couple tickets to see Jane's Addiction Saturday night at Red Rock . Concert is outside at the pool. I am hoping this means we can at least stick our feet in the water. My favorite kind of show-- FREE! 4) Before said concert, we are going to grab a bite with a couple of Zappos peeps. I am looking forward to that as much as, if not more than, the concert. Frank and Fina's has some darned good guacamole. 5) Two movies in the last week: Get Smart, which made me laugh so hard that I truly thought I might wet my pants...

He could try to deny it, but the proof is there each time I look in the mirror. It's in the deep-set eyes, the high cheekbones, the long face that runs to hollow-cheeked when I am tired. It's all there. It is in my hands and feet- the fingers and toes so long and straight, the instep high. Many who know me say I am my mother all over again, or even "Little Madge," but that is mannerisms. No, I may act like Mudder, and hold my head like she and Gram do, but much of the raw material is Dad. Dad gave me his love of history, poetry, and Poe. In fact, he wanted to name me Lenore , a fight I am eternally grateful he lost! It is a lovely name, but I am not sure I could handle the knowledge that I was named after "the queenliest dead that ever died so young". (I never said the man was always practical!) We both tend to favor American History, though he prefers the Civil War Era and I lean more toward The Revolution. One summer, our travel plans included a day...

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My Gram turned 85 last Friday. She keeps a schedule that is just madness- sheer madness! Between her hospice volunteer work, Emmaus community events and groups, and running errands for various homebound friends, Gram does more at 85 than most people half her age. Last year, she came up to Vegas for Thanksgiving (she lives in Yuma, AZ). The evening before she headed home, we all went out to hear Jon's band play. The above pic is the result of a little fun we had when she dozed off. (It was after midnight) Please know that none of the empties are hers (neither bottles nor glasses)...

Four days until a hug from Mandy, a Caleb laugh, that chicken smell. A morning with Dad (since he and I will be up way before anyone else), an afternoon jaunt, a late night cribbage game with Mom. Family vacation is upon us, and that means some surf fishing with Uncle Jim, pool time with Tara and the boys, and hanging with my baby brother . I have a few predictions for the week: 1) My nephews will be completely taken with my Uncle Jim, as he is simply the coolest uncle ever. (Sorry Jon, but it is true. You are second coolest, if that helps) 2) I will forget sunscreen on my feet and ears at least once and end up looking like some strange Vulcan-Hobbit cross. 3) It will take four hours before Mandy and I are rolling our eyes at one another. (Sisters are fun for that, right?) 4) After 24 hours, Jon and Matt will be itching to get away from so many women folk. Uncle Jim will already be on the beach with his fishing poles. 5) At least one Wolske (legal or biological) will end up with a...

A little over twenty years ago, I wrote an essay for a Father's Day contest. Our task was to finish the sentence "My dad is the greatest because..." My parents still have that essay -my careful fourth grade cursive on its Cabbage Patch Kids stationery. My guess is that it is in the stack of framed photos that need to be hung somewhere sometime (Does every home have a stack like that or is this a problem unique to Hutsons?) I do not remember all the particulars, but I know that some mention was made of pancakes for breakfast. I recall that, when the essay was read to the congregation, there were a few chuckles-- I imagine that I would chuckle myself to read it now. A lot has changed in those twenty years. Dad is no longer the "man in my life;" I cannot remember the last time I ate his pancakes for breakfast; it's been months since I even had breakfast with him! One thing has not changed- my dad is the greatest. He is the greatest provider I could have h...

Jon and I have been married just over four years. I wouldn't have thought I could grow too much, but thinking about Christine's questions helped me realize that I don't really know that girl anymore. I was not exactly a kid when we married, but I was far from prepared to share my life and all that entails. I can remember our pre-marital counselor telling us that we "just made the cut" for age and success rates or something like that. At the time, I was probably rolling my eyes (on the inside)- I was twenty-seven years old, after all! My mother married at twenty, and my younger brother was making snarky comments about Jon maybe being my only chance. As far as I was concerned, I was getting long in the tooth. Yeah, the age thing-- not really convinced that helps much. We were statistically old enough, but no more "ready" than anyone else. The funniest part is that, no matter what my expectations were, they were way off base. Whatever I thought abou...

So glad to be back in my own bed, with my own cat and my husband. I had a lovely visit with family and friends, but the time on each end without Jon wasn't as much fun, I have to say. I suppose I am a sap, but I just do not like being away from him. I have to start with a mini-rant, I think. A few observations from our trip 1) Why does the Salisbury Regional Airport rate FOUR TSA officers on duty at one time-- this time being 5:30 AM on a January 1. There is only one security gate and the planes only have 37 passengers when full. Is this my federal tax money at work, or are they just sucking the citizens of the Peoples Republic of Maryland for this? 2) Note to supervisors everywhere: when talking to your charges on a two-way, beware of snarky comments about customers. I have enough brain cells to compose a letter of complaint. 3) Lovely Fruitland W@(-m@%t pharmacist: with that attitude, you will always be ringing up Stouffer's lasagna with the Advil Cold and Sinus. S...

There has been some sparring going on over at the Family Guy's place . It would appear that we have a class-A man law violation in progress. Cookie is her name, and she sent this message . I think it goes to any detractors, not just Uncle Jon (who will, by the way, be completely stupid over this dog). NB- The message is PG. Mild language and violence.