Trip to Florida was nice. The weather was good, windy but sunny. Spent too much time on the beach with too little sunblock. The closer I get to 40, the more I worry about wrinkles. Honestly, basking in the sun is just too delicious to avoid. I put on 50spf sunblock, but got burned anyway.

My hormones seem to be in a tailspin. I’m wondering if I have a monster case of pms or ppdd. The thoughts zipping through my brain are reminding me of the infertility-drug-induced madness we weathered during iuis and ivfs. Our marriage barely made it out alive. Right now, FlyGuy and I are on solid ground. So, why do I feel crazy? Hormones? Bad karma? Emotionally immature? Or just plain funked?

I’ve been debating going password protected and think this is the time to do it. I will happily share my password with my internets, but prefer to debrief my in-real-life peeps- well, in real life. Only a few posts will be pw protected to protect the innocent. I will definitely need feedback when I confront the funk, so if we have never met in real life, please use the email button on the left sidebar of this page to request the pw.

thanks.

Our water emergency has finally been reduced to a mere trickle of pain. Walls and floors are dry in all homes, now we are dealing with insurance interviews, adjuster calls and drywall/carpet replacement companies. In an effort to close the barn door after the horse is gone, we have a G*E repairman coming today to give the washer a final clean bill of health before we use it.

Last week was exciting, given our water woes and this week promises to be even better. Little Lassie and I are joining FlyGuy at a conference in Florida. When we planned this months ago, we discussed it at length. It will be a long weekend (Thursday-Sunday) and I agreed because FlyGuy really wanted us to go. Also, he keeps using his boatload of frequent flyer miles on trips with his buddies, so I took the opportunity to relieve him of some miles thus lessening the burden of thinking up another reason to drink and smoke cigars with his buddies out of state.

FlyGuy got the tickets over a month ago. In the beginning, we were going to be on the same flight. AFTER he made the reservations he told me there was a small glitch and we are leaving at the same time (7:30am) but on different flights. I would have to take Little Lassie with me. I was lukewarm with this idea, but agreed. A week or so later, I saw that we were not flying at the same time. FlyGuy is leaving at 7:30 AM. Little Lassie and I are leaving at 7:30 PM. Yes, I married a man who does not know the difference between an A and a P. FlyGuy does not want to pay $200 to get on the same flight as us because “it doesn’t make sense for all of us to get in really late.”

After much gnashing of teeth, eye-rolling and against my better judgement, we decided Little Lassie and I will go to Ohare airport, during rush hour on a Thursday, fly to Florida arriving at midnight while FlyGuy spends a quiet day on the beach awaiting our arrival.

In preparation for this lovely journey, I will do 8 loads of laundry tonight because its piled to the ceiling since the washer has been our enemy for a week. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

FlyGuy and I were married 9 years ago. Since hindsight is 20/20, this is what I would say to me 9 years ago.

1. Don’t worry, that big nuclear plum of smoke over the church in Detroit is not a message from God saying your life is about to go up in flames. Its a tire fire down the block. Cover your mouth when you get out of the car, the smell is horrible.

2. Don’t bother with birth control

3. Keep track of the handkerchief used to tie your hands together during the ceremony. If you lose it you’ll never find it. sigh.

4. You forgot to pack your sandals for the honeymoon, buy some in London on your layover

5. FlyGuy was not exaggerating, you will not have access to electricity for 3 weeks. Leave the hairdryer and curling iron at home.

6. Don’t let your dad watch Simon while you are on your honeymoon. Your dad will leave the door open and Simon will run away and be gone for weeks. If you have to post Lost Cat signs, put the words $500 reward on the first version of the signs, you’ll have him back in a day!

7. Be nice to FlyGuy’s mom. Your sister yelled at her earlier today.

8. Check the weather before you go to sleep, its going to snow and you need extra time to go to the airport. Ummmm, scratch that- the British Air agents will feel sorry for the newlyweds running through the airport and they’ll upgrade you to first class. The leg room is worth the stress.

9. My dear blushing bride, enjoy this day. It is your first step toward creating the family you have always dreamed about. Be patient, it may take a long time for your family to grow. As the years pass, and your friends and family have many children while you have none, have faith. My dear young bride, don’t worry about when your family will grow, just know it will.

My favorite picture from our day

This next picture is one of the few I have of us from the honeymoon in Zimbabwe. I look like I’m 12 years old (I’m 28 in the picture.) Those pictures were taken a week apart. What a difference electricity can make.

Update on the home flood: Huge humidifiers still taking up half our tiny home. Can’t watch TV, listen to the radio or read because of the noise. Am still living on chocolate and an occasional mug of hot, fruity tea. India has terrible phone service or FlyGuy is avoiding my calls. When I finally get a connection, I often hear FlyGuy saying, “Hello… Hello?? …HELLO?” and then he hangs up on me while I mutter obscenities about the ratty Indian phone system.