After dinner tonight, we went out in our driveway to give Henry a chance to ride his bike. Our neighbors came out to join us because we had Kirby with us and they wanted to see him. Soon enough, they had pulled out all sorts of ride-on toys, and Henry tooled around with them for awhile before bed. It was so fun to watch him riding his bike with the other kids, mimicking them, and laughing. Talk about a 180 from our non-existent yard in Chicago!
On another note, it took Andy 15 minutes to get to work today. Compare that with the hour + commute he used to have. Beautiful!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Howdy Y'all!
Tomorrow marks our first full week in Texas, and, so far, we are doing well. Our movers came on Monday, so we have been able to unpack and start organizing. After finishing unpacking the kitchen, Andy commented on how he couldn't believe how we fit all of our stuff in our kitchen in Chicago. It is so nice to not have to pile everything on top of each other.
We have also been furniture shopping fiends. My mom came into town to be on Henry duty while Andy and I outfitted our great room and master bedroom. Our bedroom furniture was delivered today, taking us one step closer to being settled.
Henry is doing super. He loves his yard and the new water table we bought him for the backyard--hours of fun. Kirby also loves the yard, but his favorite spot is perched on the upstairs balcony where he can guard the house. He has a view outside and below, which, apparently, is all a dog really needs for hours of enjoyment.
The best part of our transition thus far is our neighborhood. On our cul-de-sac, three of our neighbors have come over to introduce themselves, and everyone is so nice. Our neighbors to our immediate left are Midwesterners with 4 kids, and we really like them. It is amazing how convenient our neighborhood is to everything we need--Target, Home Depot, grocery stores, banks, doctor's office, etc. The whole community is so well-planned. (I guess there is a reason it's called a "master-planned community" after all!)
I will try to get some pics up soon, once I dig out my camera. For now, though, know we are doing well. Andy and I are already saying "y'all," which is going to make my sister-in-law (who is from Tennessee) so very proud!
Oh, and it's hot. Really hot.
We have also been furniture shopping fiends. My mom came into town to be on Henry duty while Andy and I outfitted our great room and master bedroom. Our bedroom furniture was delivered today, taking us one step closer to being settled.
Henry is doing super. He loves his yard and the new water table we bought him for the backyard--hours of fun. Kirby also loves the yard, but his favorite spot is perched on the upstairs balcony where he can guard the house. He has a view outside and below, which, apparently, is all a dog really needs for hours of enjoyment.
The best part of our transition thus far is our neighborhood. On our cul-de-sac, three of our neighbors have come over to introduce themselves, and everyone is so nice. Our neighbors to our immediate left are Midwesterners with 4 kids, and we really like them. It is amazing how convenient our neighborhood is to everything we need--Target, Home Depot, grocery stores, banks, doctor's office, etc. The whole community is so well-planned. (I guess there is a reason it's called a "master-planned community" after all!)
I will try to get some pics up soon, once I dig out my camera. For now, though, know we are doing well. Andy and I are already saying "y'all," which is going to make my sister-in-law (who is from Tennessee) so very proud!
Oh, and it's hot. Really hot.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Making the Rounds
We've had a glorious last few days in Chicago. Andy finished work on Wednesday, so we spent Thursday, Friday and today seeing our friends and bidding them adieu. I don't think we were prepared as to how sad we'd be to say goodbye to everyone. We've had some great memories here over the past nine years. In fact, we spent Wednesday going through a sort of "greatest moments" with some of our friends.
Andy and I ended our last night here together with a toast outside, enjoying the cool summer evening. This morning we went to our favorite diner, and then Andy and Kirby left to pick up my dad and head South. They are sleeping in Memphis tonight, and will continue on to Texas tomorrow. They'll drop off some things at our new home before heading to Hobby Airport to pick Henry and me up and drop off my dad at the Hilton by the airport. He flies out early Monday.
We have learned that our goods will be delivered on Monday morning, which is great news. We're also set to get our Direct TV and new washer/dryer early in the week. We have a lot of furniture shopping to do, which will be made easier with my mom in town to watch Henry while we do our errands.
So from here our adventure really begins! Goodbye to Chicago...hello Houston!
Andy and I ended our last night here together with a toast outside, enjoying the cool summer evening. This morning we went to our favorite diner, and then Andy and Kirby left to pick up my dad and head South. They are sleeping in Memphis tonight, and will continue on to Texas tomorrow. They'll drop off some things at our new home before heading to Hobby Airport to pick Henry and me up and drop off my dad at the Hilton by the airport. He flies out early Monday.
We have learned that our goods will be delivered on Monday morning, which is great news. We're also set to get our Direct TV and new washer/dryer early in the week. We have a lot of furniture shopping to do, which will be made easier with my mom in town to watch Henry while we do our errands.
So from here our adventure really begins! Goodbye to Chicago...hello Houston!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Super Packers
I am doomed. I will never again be able to move without the help of packers. The packing service was provided for us through the company, and it was great! On Monday, the team showed up, packed the majority of the house, and loaded the basement. Yesterday, they finished up the one room left to pack and loaded the rest of the boxes and furniture. Today was the final day, when they disasmembled the bed and crib and off they went.
I will admit that I was sad last night. Something about giving Henry his bath and putting him to bed for the last time in his nursery made this move such a reality. It seems like yesterday that Andy and I were painting and readying the nursery, and to see it stripped down, with nothing but the paint to remind us that this was our little boy's room, was really depressing.
But, this morning was a new day, and now I feel like we are ready to make our move. We also found out that our delivery will be very early in the spread. Our moving representative gave us a spread of the 7th to the 14th for the possible delivery of our goods. We were nervous that the 4th of July holiday would mean that we'd be waiting for days for our things. Today, however, we learned we'd get them on July 8th, with the possibility of them coming on the 7th. I am thrilled to think that we won't have to spend a week on an air mattress and Henry won't have to deal with the pack n play for too long.
Henry has been pleasently resiliant thus far. We got to our temporary residence today (Joe and Melissa's house since they're out of town), and Henry went right down for his nap after eating lunch. I hope this bodes well for the future.
For now, we are going to spend the next few days bidding adieu to our home and friends here in this magnificent city. We will miss it so!
I will admit that I was sad last night. Something about giving Henry his bath and putting him to bed for the last time in his nursery made this move such a reality. It seems like yesterday that Andy and I were painting and readying the nursery, and to see it stripped down, with nothing but the paint to remind us that this was our little boy's room, was really depressing.
But, this morning was a new day, and now I feel like we are ready to make our move. We also found out that our delivery will be very early in the spread. Our moving representative gave us a spread of the 7th to the 14th for the possible delivery of our goods. We were nervous that the 4th of July holiday would mean that we'd be waiting for days for our things. Today, however, we learned we'd get them on July 8th, with the possibility of them coming on the 7th. I am thrilled to think that we won't have to spend a week on an air mattress and Henry won't have to deal with the pack n play for too long.
Henry has been pleasently resiliant thus far. We got to our temporary residence today (Joe and Melissa's house since they're out of town), and Henry went right down for his nap after eating lunch. I hope this bodes well for the future.
For now, we are going to spend the next few days bidding adieu to our home and friends here in this magnificent city. We will miss it so!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
The Last of the Bread Pudding Pancakes
Here is Henry and me, at one of our favorite spots: Southport Grocery and Cafe, eating our last order of their delicious bread pudding pancakes. They come with a side of vanilla custard sauce and are a dream! I had to get my cholesterol test the next day, so it it's high, we know why!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Final Week in Chicago
We are heading into our final week in Chicago. It will be very hectic because we'll be out of our house on Wednesday. Luckily, we can stay in the city until we have to leave on July 6th. It will be nice to have a few remaining days, but, once we are out of our place, it will be hard to not have a home here anymore. Andy has been in Canada for the last 5 days, fishing. Lucky guy. He was scheduled to go on this trip long before we knew about the move. He'll return home tomorrow night, and then he'll have to get busy packing his personal items that he use for the next week or so.
I am trying so hard not to be sad, but I am. It really is the best time of the year in our neighborhood. But I have to remember that with summer comes other annoyances...like loud neighbors, drunk Cubs fans and all the other general ballyhoo that summer brings--the local color of summer in the city as we English teachers would call it. I do love this town, but I know there is so much in store for us in Katy. I just need to remember that!
I am trying so hard not to be sad, but I am. It really is the best time of the year in our neighborhood. But I have to remember that with summer comes other annoyances...like loud neighbors, drunk Cubs fans and all the other general ballyhoo that summer brings--the local color of summer in the city as we English teachers would call it. I do love this town, but I know there is so much in store for us in Katy. I just need to remember that!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
My Liminal State
One of the major components of the qualifying exam for my M.A. in English was a focus on the post-colonial notion of "liminality" made famous by political theorist Edward Said. Said argues that the post-colonial world results in a state of exile for those who don't belong in their native land, nor fit in with their "new world." In his essay "Intellectual Exile: Expatriates and Marginals," Said describes the unrest felt by the exile:
The exile therefore exists in a median state, neither completely at one with the new setting not fully disencumbered of the old, beset with half-involvements and half-detachments, nostalgic and sentimental on one level, an adept mimic or a secret outcast on another. (49)
Now, I am not suggesting that this move to Texas allows me to understand the post-colonial experience, but I do think the notion of being in a liminal state is intriguing. When I was studying for my exams, I was pregnant. In fact, I took the test at 8 months along. (Let me say, sitting in front of a computer, writing three separate essays for 8 hours while 8 months pregnant is NOT something I'd recommend!) But, during my studying, I often found ways to compare my pregnant state with a lot of the theory I was reading. I wasn't quite a mother, but I also wasn't the same as I was before I was pregnant.
Now that we are moving, I recognize my liminal state once again. Next week, when we move out of our home, we'll be like exiles until we leave Chicago 5 days later. Once we arrive in Texas, we'll be trying to find our identity. Where are we from? Do we say Pennsylvania, by way of Chicago? Do we launch into our geographic history? Do we simply say "North of the Mason-Dixon line?" Can the exile really answer this question? I guess we are transients, finding our new home, existing in a space of what was, and what will be.
The exile therefore exists in a median state, neither completely at one with the new setting not fully disencumbered of the old, beset with half-involvements and half-detachments, nostalgic and sentimental on one level, an adept mimic or a secret outcast on another. (49)
Now, I am not suggesting that this move to Texas allows me to understand the post-colonial experience, but I do think the notion of being in a liminal state is intriguing. When I was studying for my exams, I was pregnant. In fact, I took the test at 8 months along. (Let me say, sitting in front of a computer, writing three separate essays for 8 hours while 8 months pregnant is NOT something I'd recommend!) But, during my studying, I often found ways to compare my pregnant state with a lot of the theory I was reading. I wasn't quite a mother, but I also wasn't the same as I was before I was pregnant.
Now that we are moving, I recognize my liminal state once again. Next week, when we move out of our home, we'll be like exiles until we leave Chicago 5 days later. Once we arrive in Texas, we'll be trying to find our identity. Where are we from? Do we say Pennsylvania, by way of Chicago? Do we launch into our geographic history? Do we simply say "North of the Mason-Dixon line?" Can the exile really answer this question? I guess we are transients, finding our new home, existing in a space of what was, and what will be.
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