It's a NO GO.

So we went to Loyalton today and LOVED the house. It's really a great spot and the owners are wonderful people. But then we went to the schools. We just didn't get a good feeling there. The middle school is three portables on the elementary school playground. The high school is one hallway with lockers falling off the walls. Even after that we still spent time talking about making it work, but in the end, the pros just don't outweigh the cons. This has been a great experience though and got us talking about important things.
We will begin a search for a house here in Nevada - one that feels like the home we are looking for... some land, space for a big garden and maybe some animals, not a big house - just a home.
Thanks for all the support and words of wisdom!

Talked to the schools

I called the schools in Loyalton today - NICE people! The secretary at the middle school has a daughter exactly Kate's age..... made appointments to see the schools tomorrow. All of a sudden I'm nervous and nauseous... could be good - could be bad.......

This and That

Tax meeting tomorrow - ick!
Go to see the house in Loyalton on Friday - Yay!
No school work tomorrow or Friday - Yay!
Trying to find a way to have a free mom/wife sabbatical - I need a break from it all! (pity party!)
Miss my friends! boo hoo
Miss alcohol and sugar! (pity party times 2)
Glad to have a job, a house, a husband and two healthy daughters! Yay!

THE PRODUCTION

The final show of Broadway Bits 2009 was yesterday! Bailie was a fabulous stage manager and Kate was a wonderful Marci. The whole show was really great. It was all consuming - but when you watch the final production it all seems worth it. (Even though there are times I doubted that when I was pulling my hair out!)

There is a really feeling of belonging with this group of people - not only for the kids but for me as well.

It was an experience worth having - not all are - so I'm cherishing it and I know the girls are too.

Food experiment update

Just an update on the food experiment and my hives. My hives have decreased dramatically - making me a believer. I've lost a total of 12 pounds - most of this in the first two weeks. I'm holding steady now - but expect that to keep going down but at a healthier rate. I must confess that on Friday after being faithful for a whole month - I ate LOTS of Valentine's candy. Then Saturday I ate ice cream and yesterday I ate pizza!!!! However - I am bag on track with a vengeance today. I suffered miserably for my sins. Again - proof that sugar and dairy are not my friends.

Before my leap off the wagon though - I have to say - I have never felt better. My skin is looking healthy again, my hives have decreased to the point that I rarely notice them, my head is clearer, I have energy and my life is not centered around food. (well, not as much anyway) The doctor gave me permission to have the occasional cup of coffee with unsweetened soy milk and the occasional glass of very dry red wine. This was so exciting at first - but I'm not really taking advantage of that as much as I thought I would. Oh, and I had my first buckwheat pancakes a couple weekends ago and I have to say they were pretty good! :-)

No new news on moving - we will be looking at the house this Friday..... still feeling skeptical about dealing with the issues in California - but not sure they are any worse than Nevada's issues!

Tell me what you think!

Okay - the decisions about my previous post are plaguing me. HELP! Is this the right time to do this? Will my children have more benefits or more suffering? With this economy should we just stay put? Thoughts people, give me your thoughts!

If the stars align....

We might be moving. Capitalize 'MIGHT'. Dan and I went to our cabin last weekend - just a quick night away for our anniversary. The girls are in a production and all the insanity of it comes to a head starting today so we decided on an early get away. We took a drive on our way home and found what could be our dream house - what my mom would call a "toes up" up house because they will take us out of there toes up. :-) It has the porch I've always wanted and views from every angle. Open space as far as the eye can see. We haven't actually seen the inside yet - that's scheduled for next week - but the pictures are divine. A kitchen that is open, airy and gorgeous- granite counter tops, custom cherry cabinets, a Thermador 5 burner cook top, double ovens, built-in refrigerator, a Dacor warming drawer.....

The home has a geothermal exchange heating and cooling system oh and it sits on 1.1 acre......

The draw backs- it is 47 miles from Reno. It is in California which - no offense to my dear California friends - is fricking falling apart. The town it is in has around 800 people. (That's not a typo - only two zeros.) The high school as around 150 students - the middle school in the 80's I think. This could be a plus or a negative depending on who you ask. Dan would have to commute. My parents are trying to move to Reno - only to have us move away.... (but we would be close - and the house is over 3,000 sq. feet and one story so they could even move in with us if need be.)

Other positives - the girls would have the options of all the California colleges with out the need to pay out of state tuition. We could have the enormous garden we've dreamed about - the girls could have a horse. Maybe they would join 4-H? When Dan goes hunting, my book-club girl friends can come spend the weekend! It's close enough that I can drive the girls back for any events they don't want to miss......

This is a huge decision and the stars would have to align - we'd have to sell our house, the owners of our dream home would have to take a lower offer, the schools will have to look like we want our girls there....

Dan and I figure we do it now - or we wait 5 or 6 years when the girls are gone and move there to retire on our own......

Decisions, decisions......

15 years

One week from today, Dan and I will celebrate 15 years of marriage.

15 years!

Filled with more love than I could have ever imagined,

more laughter than should be humanly possible,

uninhibited passion,

some tears,

joy,

contentment,

more laughter,

more love,

Genuine Bliss.

Less cranky

A friend told me yesterday that I've been angry a lot lately. I took that to heart. I have been cranky. I'm guessing it's the food thing. I totally use food for comfort, and I don't have that right now. Plus, my daughters are involved in a production that we've been rehearsing for since September - every weekend. (With the exception of a few holiday weekends) The show is in a couple of weeks so now the rehearsals are more intense and tiring. I open and close the rehearsal space so take on more of the stress than necessary. Those two things combined with no money and the economy falling apart have made it harder for me to find that positive space I usually want to hang out in.

I'm making a concentrated effort though, starting today. Hives or no hives, yummy food or no yummy food, money or no money - I have lots for which to be grateful. Including good friends who tell me I've been angry a lot. :-)