In The Poor House

Not to be confused with a whore house.

Although, living in a whore house would

certainly be more exciting.

I've always believed that if there were such a thing as a past life,

I would have either been a 

Madame of a Ladies House of Ill Repute,

a Lounge Singer,

or Jessica Rabbit.

Either way, I would have been kinda slutty.

Alas, I am not.

I am just a middle aged women living in a house that is trying to kill me.

Financially, that is.

Let me start by telling you that there are so many things

that I love about this house.

I love my kitchen.

It's small and easy to work in.

I have a place for everything.

 I love my back yard.

Even though caring for it is very time consuming.

 I love that I have that ash tree there between the two patios.

The leaves change to orange and red in the fall and remind me of Indiana.

I love all the storage in this house.

However, since buying this home almost a year ago,

it is being a total douche canoe.

I am so grateful that we have a home warranty.

In the past year, this is what we have experienced.

Leak under the jetted tub causing damage to bedroom carpet.

Toilet leaking all over the bathroom floor.

Air conditioner going out twice.

Evaporative cooler going out.

Water softener leak.

Leak in the roof causing damage to bedroom ceiling.

Garage door opener calling it quits.

Tree in front yard infested with bore beetles.

Sprinkler system not working.

Polybutelene pipes replaced in garage.

Pool pump needing repair

Leak in the pool fountain

You may be asking yourself why we didn't get an inspection

prior to moving in.

We did, and all was fine.

Like I said, I am so thankful to have a home warranty

so that many of these things were covered and didn't

cost a lot out of pocket.

We have put ourselves back on a really strict budget.

Our paychecks just don't stretch like they used to.

Times are hard.

Money is tight.

The only shopping I do is at the grocery.

I don't go out for lunches.

Budgets are hard and boring.

But still, I sit here in my living room,

with my TV on mute,

listening for any strange noise that may indicate 

that the next shoe has dropped.

Seriously, how many shoes can this house have???!!

Brian:  Did you hear that?

Holly:  Yes, it was just the ice maker.

Brian:  Is it supposed to sound like that?

Holly:  I think we have heavy ice.

Brian:  That's not a real thing.

Holly:  Turn the TV up.

Holly

xxx-ooo

 

I Remember How To Do This

Did you know that I haven't blogged in ages?

Possibly no one noticed.

My friend, Jo, stopped blogging almost a year ago 

and I followed suit.

And because I want to be just like Jo, 

when she posted yesterday, I had to do it also.

I have to do everything she does because 

I don't have a mind of my own.

Many things have happened since I last posted 

and I'm going to try to get everything in 

within the next few posts.

Let's start here:

That is my mother's engagement ring.

It is now perched, along with a gold band

on my daughter's finger.

I've been saving it for her

since my mother passed away almost twenty years ago.

She's always loved this ring.

Katie married Travis in June.

They decided to elope in Palm Springs.

I was just so thrilled for them both.

Travis is in the Marines.

He is stationed in Twenty Nine Palms, California.

Katie was living here in Glendale

and they were driving back and forth

every weekend to see one another.

This handsome boy is our dream come true for her.

We love him like no body's business.

He is loving,

tenderhearted,

and just as goofy as our Katie.

They came over for dinner several months ago

and Travis asked me for her hand.

I knew this was coming so I had prepared for it. 

Here is what I had written out and said to this boy:

Travis:

For the most part, I raised this beautiful girl by myself.

I was the first person to hold her when she was born.

I was the first person in this world to even know she existed.

And I was the first person to love her.

And that love is fierce.

There is nothing I can begin to compare it to.

I would do anything for my daughter.

I live for her; I would die for her,

And just so you know, I could kill for her.

I’ve invested everything I have in her.

There is nothing more precious to me.

You come to me now, not just asking for my daughter’s hand,

But asking for everything I’ve invested in over the past 25 years.

You’re asking for all the training I’ve provided,

the money I’ve sank into medical bills,

the clothes and education. 

You are asking to reap the harvest that I so carefully tended

and protected for the best part of my life.

And now she’s a woman.

A beautiful, caring, loving, woman.

Yes, she’s opinionated, strong willed, and highly emotional. 

She stands up for what she believes in.

She’s strong, but so fragile.

She’s the most precious thing I have in this world.

And not just anyone can come and take that from me.

It would have to be a man that knows himself,

that would be willing to protect her with his life.

That would love her not because of who she is in good times,

But in spite of all the hard times.

I need you to understand how hard God and I have worked to get her ready for you.

I believe that you know your own heart,

And that you know hers too.

I would do anything to see her happy.

And that includes giving my blessing to you both.

Your parents raised you to be the wonderful man that you’ve become.

And I couldn’t be more thankful for that.

And I couldn’t see giving my most precious gift to anyone but you.

Take good care of each other.

 

 

After they were married,

Katie and Travis moved into a house in Yucca Valley, CA.

It's difficult for me that she is so far away 

but I am am just so happy for them both.

They are in town this weekend and

she is on her way over with their new puppy.

That's what I've got today.

I'm hoping to start posting at least once a week.

xxx-ooo

Holly