Well, it’s been a while since I last wrote a blog—time for a fractured, but hopefully complete, update.
Who would have thought that quitting our jobs; moving our household, ourselves and our two cats across the country; planning a wedding; helping to build a house; and, working three jobs would have been so utterly chaotic, exhausting and fulfilling?! Most days, I’m lucky if I remember to wear deodorant, let alone actually check things off one of the many scribbled, yet meticulous and thorough, ‘to do’ lists.
Our attic apartment is now organized and cooled by an 8,000 BTU A/C unit that is no longer leaking copious amounts of stale water onto my ancient futon couch. The kitties have now realized that there is a huge, 4-story house surrounding them, have all but abandoned us and our love for them, and come back dirty and shedding for food twice a day. Dante has become quite the bully, so we are going to try this diffused liquid that vets use that is supposed to keep them calm (read: stoned like catnip) and non-aggressive. Also, to save our sanity and beauty rest, we are trying an automatic pet feeder. Sigh.
Wedding plans are moving along. I bought this great organizer for crazy people like me who think they don’t need no stinkin’ wedding planner. It has lots of pre-printed lists with satisfying little check boxes and whatnot. I’m happily checking things off, adding circles and asterisks and underlines to items that are far past overdue, and trying to remember to enjoy the process. We have food, flowers and the cake figured out; I have my dress, hair and makeup decided; we’re working on music choices; the rehearsal dinner is pretty much figured out; and, there’s only one person left to dress for the ceremony—well, that’s not counting my father, who will require everything from head to toe to be purchased during a trip to the store where he wanders around like Stevie Wonder without a cane and I constantly either (a) panic that I’ve lost him or (b) scramble to keep him focused. I’ve purchased all the random stuff that goes along with getting married: gifts, thank you notes, a journal for not forgetting our vows during the ceremony, guest favors, etc. etc. etc.
But, of course, having the wedding depends on actually having the new Keefer cottage finished. First think folks, we can’t really call it a cottage or camp anymore. It’s more of a “huge house by the water.” For those of you who remember the old Keefer camp, you will recognize the same floor plan, with an extra 10 feet of length and three feet of width. And the ceiling goes on forever. There’s more window and more light, more fans and more air, more space and more silence. (If you’re on Facebook, I have photos of the new construction, as well as renovations to the rental house across the street.) I’ve dreamt of getting hitched at the camp my whole life – and we’re 54 days away! It will take more than a few more weekends of work in New York, endless shopping trips, and a whole lot of breath holding and finger crossing to get both houses ready for the big day…but I have faith in my parents, Matt, and those wonderful people who have offered to come up early the week before to get things in order.
I’m finished with teaching until August. I’m still teaching Business Writing online for Arizona State University, and am slated for two courses in the fall. My second job is working for my Dad. I help him bid jobs, pay bills, stay organized. You know those people who are handlers for superstars and/or wild animals…yeah, that’s me for my Dad J The bulk of my working time is going to the IJIS Institute right now. My boss tried to hire me a few times over the past few months, but it was always bad timing. Now, I have a great salary for part time work, and a title that makes me happy. Although they are located in Virginia, I am working from a hastily curtained and air-conditioned office in our lovely temporary home. They set me up with a kick-ass wireless printer and a nice desk phone, and only require that I physically visit the office every few months. We will be discussing me going full time after the wedding. What a sublimely perfect setup – I’m more content with my professional life than I’ve ever been, and I’m looking forward to a long relationship with the IJIS Institute.
Matt is working for my Dad for the time being. He doesn’t know what he wants to do when he grows up. I’m trying to bring home the bacon the best I can, so Matt can have some time to be purposeful and thoughtful as he considers a complete industry and job title change. If anyone has any suggestions or contacts or gurus or mentors or ideas for a smart, organized, man in Pittsburgh who is looking for a new line of work, let me know…
I have my 6-month x-rays and spine eval on Thursday. Please, everyone, pray for me or howl at the moon or send me good juju or just keep me in your thoughts. Matt and I are absolutely ready to be done with the odyssey of “Chelsea and Her Messed Up Back.”
I hope to have at least a little time this summer to read, listen to records, take some photos, and explore Pittsburgh; however, I’m content to simply focus on the wedding, float through the next 54 days, and rejoin the real world sometime in August or September.
No comments:
Post a Comment