Attack of the Water-Bug and His Mighty Drumsticks

Okay people, I really need to get better at keeping up with this blog-thingy. I really like the idea of keeping everyone up to date, but the actual remembering to do so seems to elude me. Will work harder at that!

Seems like a lot has been going on here in the fine town of Walla Walla. Steve is working hard every day and getting used to his new role here. Linus and I are tackling the tough task of getting used to eating veggies that don't come in a jar and trying to get that walking thing down.

We just started doing swimming lessons with Linus. I knew he liked the water for the most part, but wasn't sure how well he would take to a more structured lesson. I think the fact that on the second day he cried because we weren't getting in the water quick enough told me. He loves it!!! He's made a new friend, as it has ended up being only two kids., and I think he may even have a tiny crush on the instructor. :-)

Today he has started a new pointing phase, which I kinda hope he keeps up. He keeps pointing at different things wanting to touch them. A new discovery phase. One great thing, it seems to indicate he is getting over his fear of plant-life, as he pointed at them continuously on our walk today. Another thing he pointed at, his Daddy's drumset. Yep, it has taken over, he seems to have the drummer infection. And, really, for 11 months old, he ain't too shabby.

This weekend we are looking forward to a nice lazy time of it. Probably going to head an hour west to the Tri-Cities, the closest place with a mall and Target. Target, Oh How I Miss Thee!!! The weather is getting hot and here in the Eastern Washington desert, the heat and dry air are going to make for a very interesting summer for us.

Luck of the draw, I guess...

So, here I am on a lazy Friday afternoon. I can hear Linus rustling over the monitor, naps almost over. I just got done doing just a little bit of cleaning and rearranging, always find it cathartic. Thinking about things, what has happened, what hasn't happened yet, how I have ended up in this place. All in all, I am a DAMN LUCKY gal!!! I mean, I now live in one of the safest spots in the U.S. (somebody knock on wood), I am married to a wonderful man who lives to take care of myself and our son, I have a beautiful little boy who may be the easiest child (though it scares me how that could change in the blink of an eye... :-)...). We are doing well. We are certainly far from rich. We, like most, have our money issues. But we handle them and work on them together. I have wonderful friends and family. I mean, how the heck lucky am I.

But here is what we have been up to lately. Getting used to Walla Walla still. Had a date night for only the third time since Linus was born (babysitter to work out pretty good). We just got tickets to head back to Michigan this summer (Hell Yeah!!!). And we just visited Portland, our favorite city ever. Fun, fun!!! Linus seemed to like Portland as well. We even got the chance to take him by Multnomah Falls. (When we got home we figured out that we had been at the falls on July 20, 2007, a day shy of two years from Linus' birth. Who knew then what we had in store.)

Here's Linus snoozing in the hotel in Portland.

We have Memorial Day weekend to look forward to now. Thinking about grilling, sitting back, maybe doing some hiking. It should be nice. (Of course, I should probably also think about getting some stuff done around the house...like finishing the unpacking...We'll see.)

We Got A Home Finally

We finally found a home for ourselves!!! Feels like we are finally fitting in to this little hamlet of the Northwest. It is a simple, two-bedroom deal in the southeast side of town. What's best? Steve only has a 6 minute drive to work. He can make it from our door to his desk in about 10 minutes. Awesome Sauce!!! Another great thing is that it is near the doctor's office, which means I will never have to go far to get Linus into the doc. (Though he doesn't really go in that often anyway - knock on wood people.) Also, it has a big kitchen, so no more cramped corners, and it has a - drum roll please - dishwasher!!! So excited about that.

Now, how do I feel about the house itself. It's okay. It will work. It isn't the fanciest place and definitely not the biggest place. But, we can have our pets and it is in a pretty good place. I mean, we don't have to stay there forever and maybe we will even buy a house here someday. (They do have some pretty fantastic places.) For right now it works and that is what matters.

And for right now, my biggest worry is just getting used to the days around here. Keeping Linus on a schedule. He's doing pretty good. Just gotta keep myself strong and awake enough to get through the day. Of course, this is not helped by his waking up at 3am the last two nights. Someday, in the far off future, Steve and I will recover from the exhausting move to this place. Until then, coffee will remain a dear friend.

Getting To Know This Town

So, Steve, Linus, and I find ourselves living in the Walla Walla Valley. It's a pretty cool place...nice atmosphere, nice vistas, nice folks. I have visited many of places around town already and am starting to get a feel for the place. Linus and I have tried to visit a store or spot each day and it is kind of nice. Of course, we are starting to run out of places to visit, as this town isn't really all that large. We have also taken drives and seen the sights of the valley surrounding the town. Such a beautiful place. The green fields are so phenomenal. It kinda reminds me of the scene where they are driving through the green fields in the movie "TOYS". If you've seen it, you will know what I am talking about.

The downtown city center is super cute and quaint. They have some awesome little shops down there. A particular favorite already is the "Book & Game Company". Linus seemed to love this store as well. They also have what look like very good restaurants in the city center. Whenever I get the chance to try them out, I will of course tell you all about their magnificence. One place we did try already was "Clarette's". Delicious!!! It is a nice little greasy spoon with affordable eats. We are pretty sure it will become a staple in our diet each month (or more than that...:)...)

Here is a picture of one of the buses that runs through town. Aren't they just darn cute. Right out of the early 1900s or something. You can ride these on into Oregon if you want. Of course, we are only a few miles from the Oregon border, which means every time you go to a store they have to ask whether you are a Washington or Oregon resident ('cause those Oregonians don't pay a sales tax).

This here is City Hall, right across from the St. Vincent de Paul store. Definitely old school Americana.

This is Steve's workplace. It's right in the city center and just 1.4 miles from our new home. This means, if we ever get the gumption to be more athletic, he could just ride his bike into town. Awesome Sauce!!!

Well, I leave you now with a view down a street in town showing the mountains in the distance. Have a fantastic day oh those of the internet world and see you soon.

WE ARE FINALLY HERE!!! We made it!!!

I am much disbelief about how fairly easy it was to make the trek here. It took us five long days of traveling, but we made it to Walla Walla on Thursday, March 18th (Oswald and Hennessey's 7th birthday) and couldn't be happier to be on "solid ground". I am pretty certain Linus is glad to not be trapped in his car seat everyday and the pets are glad to at least be staying in one spot for a while. Oswald is much appreciative of being able to take walks again and have the comfort of a couch to snooze on.

It is weird being here...being so far away. Not too much different, really most places end up being near the same as where you came from, but those little differences catch us each time. It is a small town, so we are getting used to being in a place that isn't all hustle & bustle at all hours. The veterinary clinic has no weekend hours and neither does the daycare down the street, something I haven't seen in a long time. Overall, we feel pretty happy here so far and can really see ourselves settling in quite well. No matter where we went, it was going to be tough to be away from friends and family.

The biggest problem facing us currently is finding a home to rent that will allow our pets. Most places, we are finding, are quite anti-pet...Dangit!!! Why do so many bad pet-owners have to ruin it for the rest of us who truly take care of and clean-up after their pets. Oh well. We are going to look at a place on Monday evening...right now it is the only possible place. Wish us luck, oh peeps of the internet, that things work out in the near, near future.

The Lights Over Strip-Club Central

Last night, after getting home from having dinner with some family members, I noticed the strip club search lights blaring in the sky. Pretty sure those are sending the light high over the Coliseum Club. Doesn't matter anyway, as there are about two or three other strip clubs right there. Not sure why I am blogging about it...seems a bit odd of a post after so long not leaving one. I just noticed them and the weirdest thing entered my mind,...I am going to miss them. Yeah, those search lights indicate bad crap...rough clientele, hookers, drugs, etc....but it is the crap that I am used to having nearby...the crap I have seen right in my neighborhood for years now.

I am getting ready to move to a place that is nice and charming and not much crime happens. There was like one murder in Walla Walla last year. People that live there, stay there. There isn't a push to get out so you can get away from the crime. And while I look forward to living in such a serene atmosphere and having Linus grow up with such seemingly good people, I wonder how I will actually take to it. I am so used to being on guard and keeping a shield up in case this person isn't good. Am I going to be standoffish to these people. I really don't think so, seeing as I will talk to anyone, but I just don't know. On the other hand, are they going to look at us with weird wondering eyes as "those people from Detroit". Yeah, we haven't lived in the very worst neighborhood, but 8 Mile and Gratiot certainly isn't fancy-free. Are they going to think odd of us, as I have heard has happened to some folks that move away. I don't think so again, but you just never know.

All just wonderings from an overactive mind...all just musings.

But I really am going to miss the search lights and the strip clubs.

It Is All Going To Be Fabulous...

So, Walla Walla is constantly on my mind these days. Whether it is how I am going to pack for the trip or where we are going to live or what it will be like to be there finally...All of it tends to go right back to Walla Walla...And strangely, I am already feeling a sense of home for the place (strange because I have never been there). I am getting super-duper excited about the trip out there and about starting our life out there. Adventure yes, but I also think a great turning point. It seems like such a wonderful place to be and, for someone living in metro Detroit which is as close to the pit of despair as you can get, wonderful sounds, well, wonderful. I have already made contact with one of the natives...or rather a person who lives there, as she is a transplant herself. She seems happy as peach pie, which helps me to think I will be, too.

I actually got a box packaged up yesterday and it made me feel all top-notch, like I had accomplished something. Yeah, I am quite aware it was only one box, but it proved I could get a start going. And today I have been going through crud on our desk and getting rid of bunches and organizing the rest. Things are looking good. And though the renting of our current home may cause me to have massive migraines, I think in the end it is going to be all fabulous.
Just as my adventure in moving to Michigan was fabulous...