How The Dad Stole Christmas

For the most part, it was a nice visit with my folks. Minimal arguing with my dad was a nice change. And then, there was the computer...

Momma tells me that her machine is slow and she doesn't know why. I'm decent with computers, so I gave it a gander. I added some malware protection and looked over what was going on. It all looked OK, until the big day.

The other day my dad told me he was going downstairs to work on the computer (it lives in the basement). The night before I managed to fix the volume control problem on the machine. Mom hadn't had noise from the machine in a while, so I found the problem and fixed it. Anyway...

My dad is a Christmas music freak, so the first noise I heard was carols. OK, I thought, it is what it is. Then I heard the next sound. A woman moaning, in a dirty way. The next sound I heard was a man moaning in a dirty way. The final sound I heard was my father moaning in a dirty way.

UGH!!! I've never liked Christmas music, but now it grosses me out.

So very, very grateful to be home.

Found One!

I found my new apartment. It's lovely - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, screened-in deck, and is reasonably priced. It's odd that the floor plan I chose has the most square footage but is the least expensive. Go figure. Either way, I'll take it.

It's definitely time for me to head back to D.C. My welcome is pretty much worn out here at my folks' place, and I'm getting tired of them as well. Even Mom and I are getting on each other's nerves. I don't relish the 11-hour drive, but it will certainly be good to be back in my own space where things happen as I want them to.

I'm headed out tomorrow morning, bright and early. Talk more when I'm home!

Apartment-O-Matic!

Mom, W. and I went to look for my new apartment today. The best part? Looking at all the places that were clearly designed by Roger Hazard from "Sell This House". The worst part? Trying to remember everything we saw from all the complexes! One has free cable and a free full-size washer and dryer. Nice, tres nice. Another has free cable and HBO and check this - free valet garbage pickup! This means I leave my trash outside my apartment every day and someone comes and throws it out for me. This one is a serious contender. Tomorrow we have 4 more to look at, one with reasonable prices, gated access, and screened-in porches!

Yeah for me!

Sweet Home

I'm back!! It's so nice to be home. I didn't get all my errands done today, but I did finally get my hair cut. My hairdresser said my hair was so bad it was like I had a really ugly goatee and beard. I love her honesty.

In a bit I'm headed over to my friend D's house to check out the new place. If only I could remember her house number! That could make the trip take a bit longer than I had planned.

Friday is apartment-shopping day! My very own version of Black Friday will be here soon. Wish me luck in finding fabulous new digs with a gorgeous deck for Biggs and a garage.

Comments

Well, at least I got two. No, I don't blog enough. I don't always have anything to say! I am a boring girl.

It's 5 a.m., I haven't been to sleep yet for any good reason I can figure, and I'm trying to figure out what kinds of witty comments I can say to my Mom for our Sunday conversation.

I did the dutiful daughter thing and called my dad on his birthday on Friday. After a decent conversation, he tried to tell me about my health. Great, now I get to look forward to that over Thanksgiving. I told him that maybe we should let things be. His response was that we could always share our opinions with each other, right? I agreed, but now I don't. Sometimes loving someone is about keeping your damn mouth shut.

Wish me luck, I'll need it.

Message Or No?

B. tells me I don't blog often enough, so here's what I've been thinking about today:

A few weeks ago, one of my friends and I were discussing whether or not to leave messages on each other's cell phone. I told her that I don't like the voice mail, because I have to check it, which wastes minutes, and because the phone tells me who called. She agreed.

So, my question is: Do you like to get a message on your cell phone, or does it just mean another call to make?

Pissed Off Teens

Tonight, after hearing B's news, I was a bit cranky and overemotional. Luckily for me, there were teenagers outside my window screeching like banshees and also like what they had to holler actually matter. After listening to it for about 5 minutes, I yelled out the window, "Shut up!!" Clearly I got some very vulgar responses. I next yelled, "Back at you, bitch!" Childish, I know, but damnit, it was almost 10pm and I didn't want to hear it.

Last noises I heard were thumps on my balcony. I almost wish that they threw stuff at my place. I look forward to tattling to my landlords and possibly filing a police report. Mostly, I look forward to leaving this place.

"Case CSO Checking In"

This was the subject header of an email I received from my law school's Career Services Office. I thought, hey! Isn't that nice? Needless to say, I knew that email was a fishing expedition into whether I had a job.

The emailed offered me resources and access to a job site service I hadn't heard of. I wrote back, saying that I was interested in resources about alternative careers for those with a law degree and that I would love access to the job service. Oddly, I never received a response. That was a few weeks ago. The CSO even has my updated email address. Hmmm...

I found an article in the Plain Dealer that explained that my law school has the lowest bar passage rate for those taking the bar in that state. Something to the effect of 85% from my school to over 90% from other (public) law schools. My school's excuse? "Well, of the 275 (approx.) grads, only 70 stayed here to take the bar.

Nice. A law school failure in that state and in the others.

Article

Dr. Phil v. Reality

These are comments about today's Dr. Phil show on racism and birth control.

1. Dr. Phil played a portion of the infamous tape released to the media. I have only heard the parts on today's show; I have not listened to the full tape.

The saddest part about the tape was the recognition that Dog knew what he was saying was wrong and that his biggest concern was that the tape would be released to the tabloids. His remarks were clearly wrong, but it upsets me more that he knew what he was saying. If you know what you're saying is wrong, if your defense is that it might ruin your career, then the question becomes - why say it at all?

2. Birth control being offered to middle schoolers in Maine. Reality clearly is not taking hold here. We all say that sex education begins at home. Seriously, how many of us got real sex ed from our parents? I think the problem is that families forget that each member is an individual and not a reflection of our own selves. I still don't like to think that parents had sex, and I know they don't want to think that I have. I think the issue is getting over the "icky factor" and realizing that there is very little about another person, despite close relations, that we can control.

Dr. Phil - Can we have a real talk about this?

"You Were A Good Tenant"

The die is cast. I gave notice to my landlord about my upcoming move. My family knows, most of my friends know, and I'm so ready to go. Have to say, though, that I don't anticipate the actual finding a new apartment, moving furntiure part. I know this will all pass, and sooner rather than later, but there's still some lingering doubts.

I think those are because I really hate to move. I did it a lot as a kid, and each time the move left its mark. This time, however, I'm moving home. Home. What a great feeling. Depsite the eventual home purchase, this will be my last move.

It was nice to hear that I was a good tenant. This has been a good place. DC, though, is not home.

The Decision

I've decided to move back to Alabama. A couple of things influenced me. One was my car getting egged after the Bama/LSU game. Since I live in the DC area, I can only have 2 theories: One, someone doesn't like me and the timing is coincidental, or Two, someone is a LSU fan and thought it'd be fun to rub salt into the wound.

I am not an Alabama fan. I am an Auburn fan. And really, is egging after losing at all charming?

I don't know anyone here. Chances are, the result is from the comment above.

Regardless, I'm doing online apartment shopping and asking my friends there to investigate good complexes for me to visit. Any advice, please let me know.

Farewell, Virginia! I'm going home.

Thoughts

I need to just talk a bit, so if what I write doesn't make sense to you, take heart in that, chances are, it doesn't yet make sense to me.

1. Life Coach - I think I need one. It's November, I'm jobless, and it's only a matter of days before I run out of money. I've never really supported myself and I don't know how. I mean, I made it through almost 35 years and I'm OK, but I've never done any of it on my own. If there are any real suggestions, I would gladly take them.

2. Job Hunting - is terrible. I've already blogged about my insecurities. Still, I'm not sure what happens next.

3. Home - I'm really torn about going back to Alabama. When I just let my emotions run, I wonder why I'm still in D.C. Then I'll see a commercial about parts of this area I haven't seen. I wonder if I would have preferred this place as a vacation and not a home. My friends are torn about my plan.

Golly, I know there was more, but I guess I got distracted.