What makes a house a home?

Blogging about my house issues made me feel better yesterday. Today as I was driving to work I was thinking about how blogging can be so therapeutic to me. Sometimes I wonder if I just use this as an outlet to bitch. But who cares? It's my blog and often I feel like I can say things on here that I can't say in 'real life'.

I am feeling so sad today. I have never felt so scared in my life. Except once.

When I was about 20 I remember coming home to my parents house in Corpus Christi from college in Austin and having an epiphany. I can't remember what triggered it or how the emotions came on. But I vividly remember that Sunday as I was packing up for the drive back to Austin. I had this sadness pass over me. I realized that my parents home did not feel like home to me anymore. It wasn't anything they had said or done, and if I had even an idea of moving back they would have jumped at the chance (and even today they still would). But up until that point I would always say to friends or family, "I am going home for the weekend to visit my parents."

That particular weekend visiting 'home' didn't feel like home to me anymore. It probably hadn't for a short while, and it just took me that moment to realize it. I was so upset. I remember crying to my parents and them kind of laughing and joking and my Mom tearing up. I didn't know how to put it into words until later that I felt a loss of my youth. This was it, this was adulthood. I had to create the home I wanted from here on out. I was scared to have so much responsibility, and I remember being freaked out that people trusted me to make major life decisions. I can truly remember watching my parents wave their goodbyes as we drove out of the driveway. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. It got better of course, and I remember watching the movie "Garden State" a year or so later and Zach Braff's character experiencing something very similar. I guess we all go through that rite of passage.

Today I am feeling the same emotions. I never thought that finding a home would be such an experience. When we bought our first home we were just so excited and we didn't fret over the little things. We closed on our home the week we got married, three days before our wedding. We didn't even have a list of must haves... except a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom would have been nice. We didn't care where we lived or even think much of it. We love our house so much and it was so much more than we thought we could ever have, even though we have outgrown its 1128 square feet.

This time has been so different. It isn't even the list of things I won't compromise on...it's other things. When I walk into these houses (and to give you an idea we saw 26 houses on Friday...twenty-six and I am not exaggerating). When I step into the door I try to picture myself living there, cooking in the kitchen, cuddling in the bedroom, taking a bath, doing laundry, celebrating holidays. I think of the pictures we may take, the memories that might occur. I wonder if this will be where we have our first child? Will our dogs outlive our time in this house? Will our parent's outlive our time in this house? How will we look and change from now until we leave here? What legacy will become of this home?

This is a lot of pressure (especially for my realtor). I guess most people just pick a place and don't worry about all the details. I wish it were simpler for me. I wish that when I was incredibly excited to put my home on the market I prepared myself for what it would be like when it did sell.

I know it will all work out. I remember that one of the things that made me feel better about that revelation of growing older and losing the 'home' that I knew and trusted was Ryan. I remember that when I was with him I felt safe and excited about being an adult and making decisions and our scary uncertain future.

No matter what the world may bring, he always makes me feel like I am home.

Dental Hygiene

Today I took the first step in overcoming my fear of the dentist.

I was frustrated because a few months ago I tried making an appointment and they called a day before my cleaning and cavity treatment to tell me that I had to reschedule. This was after I had scheduled for a substitute to come and wrote lesson plans for the following day. Her exact words "We lost a hygienist and need to reschedule you." What? How do you lose a hygienist? Do you know where you left her? Ugh, annoying.

But I let my boycott go on too long and felt a horrible toothache on the horizon. I called yesterday to make an appointment and they told me they couldn't see me until mid September. I considered throwing the phone, but instead I politely asked if they could send my films to another dentist as soon as I found one to take me. She put me on hold and then came back to let me know a miracle had occured. She would be able to fit me in today at 8am with the dentist and 9:15 with the hygienist.

I did embarrassingly scream loud when she snuck in a shot near the front of my mouth. I couldn't believe I had done that. I just knew my face was red. I immediately said sorry and told the patrons in the rooms around me that I was sorry if I scared anyone and it really wasn't too bad. The assistant started laughing. I don't think they were prepared for me.

I survived. The hygienist was cute and sweet, and gentle. I think we should all appreciate medical professionals being easy on the eyes. It just makes things better. I am sure he thought I was just adorable with drool running down my face, blood on the front of my shirt from jumping during the shot, my eyes constantly watering, coughing because I hate that sucker thing, and asking to go to the bathroom twice during treatment.

Did I mention I look like I had a stroke with the left part of my face all saggy from the 7 injections of novacaine. Which leads me to the Whole Foods trip I took afterwards to purchase soup. But I will have to save that story for later. This whole adventure is tempting me to overdose on vicodin and catch up on Oprah.

it's that time again...

It is the time I dread all freakin' year long.

Seriously, I psyche myself out for this so bad I practically have panic attacks in the days leading up to it.

Have you guessed it?



It's time for my annual pelvic exam and pap smear (in which the word pap smear makes me gag a little)

Thankfully my awesome doctor has online scheduling.

Now the wait until my appointment time is confirmed.