Having found this picture, I feel like I won the lottery. It has nothing to do with this post, but I must put it here. I MUST.What the hell have I been doing?? I guess a lot of things. I participated in a garage sale last weekend and spent a bit of time preparing for it. It paid off, as I made some pretty good bank. I sold a lot of Joe's and my old stuff. I got his permission for most of hist stuff that I sold, with the exception of his lava lamp and his desk that I literally sold right out of his bedroom. He was so caught off guard when I told him about it, I couldn't stop laughing. He even tried to tell me there was sentimental value with the lava lamp. I laughed harder. Kinda sad thing with the desk, though. When the lady came back to pick it up, she hit her face on the corner of it when they were moving it and pretty well had to be rushed to the ER. I wasn't there for it, but as her face gushed blood, she still managed to give Janiece the $20 for it. Now that's good business.
After the garage sale, I recuperated for a couple days before going to Oklahoma to visit Sarah. My car had to stay in the shop an extra week (and ironically, I got charged an extra $100), so I had to take Joe's wiener car.
The damn thing couldn't hold a set speed on the cruise because it's so underpowered, and whenever it (or I) would try to speed it back up, it would shoot up to 5000 RPMS. It was nuts. And for a four cylinder, it tore the crap out of the fuel economy. Also, I remembered it once threw a tire rod, so if there was any weird movement during the trip, I ultimately thought the tire was going to fly off and that I was going to flip and die. Not so, though, as I managed to stay alive and have a great visit with Sarah. We just hung out, chatted, stayed laid back, and she did a very beautiful thing in introducing me to Band of Brothers. It was amazing. OH, and get this - SHE bought me flowers. Beautiful roses were sitting in my nicely cleaned room when I arrived. At first sight of them, I immediately embraced Sarah. When people do really nice things for me, I get so caught off guard. Last year when Jan and Dad told me they were sending Joe and me to the beach, I burst into sobs and had to face away from the family while I tried to get it together. It's just really nice to be surrounded by such thoughtful people; Sarah took good care of me.And so here I am back at David Shore's house again. I leave to go scout a place to live and attend Joe's graduation in a little more than two weeks. It's really amazing. Oh, and from now on, we refer to Joe's occupation as "the cook." Uh huh. I said too much shit in other posts that will soon be deleted. Also, in a week's time, I'm going to change the address to this blog. I'll let everyone know via e-mail and facebook. Just keep a heads up. But anyway. Yeah, not long and we'll be living elsewhere, the cook and me. He's doing well in his training and will soon start his second week. It's a good time. For the most part....
7 comments:
Awww Katie! :) The roses are starting to wilt a bit...probably due to your absence. ;)
It's so nice reading your blog and knowing you are in a good place. Hell yeah! Good luck with the coming weeks - call me if you need a freak out moment. :)
Oh, and I now find myself using words such as 'dickbag' and I jumped a little every time the announcer for the Mizzou game said, "...off the chain!" Awesome!
Katie,
(this is Aunti Barb)
Sitting here in Madison waiting for the weather people to decide that Gustav is NOT the next Katrina - they won't get off the TV; can't watch the Open. It's Labor day and it IS raining. But that's about all. (Are you sure that wasn't a tie rod instead of a tire rod?) I just finished eating buttermilk pancakes with Uncle Mike and Ari and Gene. Burt and Zale got to lick the plates.
It's great to hear you talk about the nice things people do for you. After 29 years of marriage (and you know it hasn't always been a rose garden), acknowledging when your SO has done something nice is the easieast way to relationship harmony. It just means you aren't taking anything for granted, and you shouldn't (nor should he). It's almost always the oldest teachings in the book that are the smartest. Say "Please" and also say "Thank you". Two cases, then I'll get my own blog; every morning Uncle Mike brings me a cup of coffee when he gets home from his early morning workout at about 7:20 while I'm getting ready for work. He has to fill up the cup at the gym, put the cream in it the way I like, carry it to the car (no lid), drive home with it, carry it into the house and into the bathroom and put it in my hand. I ALWAYS say thank you. #2 - the other Saturday morning he got up early to go to deer camp and made coffee, but he wrapped the coffee maker with a towell to keep the grinding part quiet (you've heard it). He was being considerate and I thanked him for that.
(thanks, Ari)
Auntie, what you've described is what I learned (in my psych classes) to be a form of behavior modification. Positive reinforcement following a behavior that one desires to be repeated. And you're dang right it's the easiest way to relationship harmony. When I have the opportunity to recognize Joe's efforts, I try to, though I know I'm not always successful. Where we run into trouble is the current nature of our relationship - he's not around to do anything particularly special - just phone calls. Which I do thank him for when he squeezes it in at an inopportune time. However, a shining example of him doing something nice the last time I saw him was him offering to make me sandwiches for the trip back to MO from AZ, and heck yeah, I let him. I gave him much praise for that. I still bring it up on occasion and tell him how nice it was. Recently, though, he'd had a lot of time off and was hanging out with his buddies and not so much as throwing a card (or flowers for that matter - hey, he's still married!) my way - it's the nature of the beast - his lifestyle versus mine, which are impossible to sync up at this point. Finally, though, I got a couple cards from him ( I hear another is in the mail), and I made it known how awesome it was to get them!! It's weird to have a relationship, much less a marriage, where we're constantly a part and leading very different lives amidst our separation. I know recognition will be something I have to continue to work on as we return to some type of norm - i.e. just realizing those special things in everyday life together. I'll remember your words, just as I do your "dickhead" wisdom which you relayed some years ago, and I still have somewhere. Thank you, Auntie Barb; you're awesome!
I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR PANCAKES. DANG IT!! xoxox
PS. Sarah, heck yeah you speak my language. I guess I shouldn't be particularly proud that I say 'dick bag,' but I think 'off the chain' can communicate a wide range of characteristics on a particular subject.
your comment on my blog made me laugh until i cried. i think i peed a little too. tell him, sometime down the road, i make d-shizz something. but it's going to be weird. i guarantee.
katie, your life is going to change so many times. Try to hold on to good and dump the bad! love you, Ma
Holy shit, my mom made a comment!
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