While I was away

Domestic Pet Peeve of the Day: Husband's coffee sludge from yesterday's coffee dumped into the sink and all over a dish cloth with no rinsing.

Just by way of catching everyone (who's interested) up on my life while I've been away from the blogosphere these past few weeks, here are some highlights:

• I turned 35 and Sister turned 8. Both of us are feeling a little iffy about the whole growing up thing.
• As I've already mentioned, we are officially moved into our new house one street over from our old house. This was easier in terms of my emotional state than I expected. Only once did I almost cry about leaving my garden, and that's as bad as it got. As my friends know, I'm a bridge-burning kind of girl. I don't look back.
• However, this doesn't mean I don't feel my fair share of freak-out about this move. Mostly, I'm still feeling unsure that I belong in this house. It's a big damn house! It has 2 stories which I find intimidating. I never imagined myself living in a big house before and, let's face it, being surrounded by the trappings of a prosperous life. I mean, we're by no means filthy rich. This house is 40 years old and no McMansion, I assure you. But I've been so used to a financial struggle all my life, whether it was my single mom being unable to pay the power bill from time to time or being on my own in college and subsisting on egg salad, Saltines, and baked potatoes for weeks on end. I feel nervous not worrying about groceries or utility bills. I feel really, really guilty actually.
  
• Husband and I had a couple of tense weeks leading up to our move which seem to have died down now. We actually had a big fight the very first night we spent at the beach with my family, all about how much of a bitchy tone I have in general, like, throughout every day. This was sucky news from my very beloved spouse, but not too surprising. I've always considered myself somewhat of a bitch, to the point where I don't even flinch when someone slings that particular barb my way. But I'll never win if my comparison is Husband's saintly and soft-spoken mother. What's a sometimes bitchy and lately-stressed mama to do? Especially one who grew up with a similarly bitchy and stressed mama as an example?
  
• On a lighter note, I spent some time poring over my new homeowner's insurance policy recently. It was hysterical! Have y'all ever read the fine print of yours? For example, the policy does not include coverage of events related to "nuclear hazard," but WILL reimburse for damages sustained during volcanic eruptions. Phew! Thank God for that! (Fine print: "One or more volcanic eruptions sustained during a 72-hour period will be considered as one volcanic eruption." Subtext: don't try anything sneaky, you litigious Southern bastards! We'll bust out the Richter scale on your asses. Or Geiger counter. Or whatever the hell.) I was literally laughing out loud, though that might've been the gin.
  
• Finding both a plastic grocery bag of nasty deer bones and a baggie containing a large shed snake skin stashed in Sister's closet. The girl is into natural science, but give a mother a break, will you, child?

That's all for now. Dry laundry and a hot doggie left outside are calling.