Willi's Grandpa Brown

Oh wow! Christmas is basically over. How crazy. What a crazy time it's been.

Yesterday morning, Mary (Willi's mom) called us to tell us that Willi's grandfather had passed away just a half hour before her call. I guess it wasn't a complete shock (as Willi didn't seem stunned, and he said his health has been horrible for over ten years), but it was still overwhelming. Christmas wasn't quite as happy as it usually would have been as a result, but . . . what can you do? Poor Willi . . . no more grandpas. Me neither. It's so sad, too: the (extended family) Browns were already such a serious family about death (Willi lost a cousin two years ago that was nearly his age), and adding this to the already-serious nature was nearly unbearable. We got through it, though.

This means we're going to have to miss work to go to the funeral (and we were already only working three days this week). Willi struggles with that a lot, as he feels like he should be at work Friday (because it's an extra holiday off for us), but . . . I tend to disagree with that. I feel like he should still have that day off for the sheer fact that it is a holiday given to us, and we should take it . . . and enjoy it with each other.

Anywho . . . I think my boy is doing okay. I think he's sad, but he's strong. I'm gonna be there for him, and I'm glad that I can.

BTW, he got me a digital camera for Christmas! I was totally stoked as I have been wanting one of those FOREVER! Pictures will be posted . . . and soon. I must get more memory, though. But first . . . real life must be attended.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Family Christmas, Cat, and Mouse

Oh man . . . I am so incredibly sleepy and relaxed right now. It's kind-of unreal. Willi and I drove (he drove, I guess I just rode) five hours to get to Columbus tonight. We had originally intended to leave work at 2 p.m., but I couldn't get everything done in time (meaning, people were lookin' over/proofin' pages for the flyer that I'm doing at work, and they were taking for stinking ever). So, we ended up leaving at nearly 3:30 . . . which was harsh. We got here at 10 p.m.

I just came in a little bit ago from the outdoors: Jeremy, Marlene, and I were hanging out in the hot tub . . . outdoors. Man! That's such a great experience. If you've never been outdoors in the winter in a hot tub (preferably with snow around), you should definitely find a way to try it out. It's pretty sweet, and it's extremely relaxing. I'm totally comatosed right now. Sersly. It is glorious.

Now I must go join my husband in some seriously deep slumber.

Tomorrow (or basically today): it's Christmas with my immediate family (and spawns).  I hope little kids like scarves handmade by aunt Jennys. I also hope they like pop rocks. If they don't, they're not normal--and that's final! 

OH CRAP! I totally forgot to mention the most eventful thing that happened today! This morning, as I was getting ready for work, I heard the cat, Hank, meowing. He never meows unless he has a reason, so I went to peek on him in the hallway. Unfortunately, he was vomiting (which ended up not being a big deal because it wasn't -like- nasty). Then, after that, he was totally happy and skippy. A little later, I was walking to the kitchen, when I noticed the cat doing some seriously strange acrobatics around something dark and odd on the floor by the front door. He was doing somersaults and all kinds of weird flips and stuff, and then it hit me: he's finally broken into the gecko's cage, and he's eaten him!

Nope. I soon realized that this critter was much too large to be the gecko. I got closer, and I realized that it was the BIGGEST FREAKIN' MOUSE I'VE EVER LAID EYES ON IN A HOME! Hank had killed it. He was showing it off to us, and he was so proud. It was so stinking funny, but I still had the nagging question of, "Where the crap did this giant mouse come from?"

The only guess we have: Christmas tree.

When Willi took the mouse out with the trash, Hank cried. He gave out about five or six good tomcat-like meows, and he was good to go. Poor guy . . . He was so proud. Hah! He was probably thinking, "Finally you guys splurged and got me a real toy!"

My First Bob

And now . . . picture time. Here you'll see Willi and me at the gas station. Note the short hair. Try not to note my increasingly pudgy face. 

First Day at GWB

I made it through day one of working at G.W.Berkheimer headquarters. I think I'm gonna like it there. It's so surreal knowing that when I walk into the other half of the building, I'm gonna look and see the back of my husband's head, and then when lunch comes, I'll get to sit with him. Then, I also get to ride to and from work with him while I'm at it. That's a lot of togetherness, folks. I know we're not really going to talk while at work, however. That's going to be my time to socialize with other people, and . . . get work done. Willi's serious about what he's doing with his jorb, and he's deeply focused most of the day, so I don't really like to bug him. Plus . . . I don't need to talk to the man all day long.  I see 'im at night after all (and in the car to and from)! It's just a cool situation. It really is. Now . . . I just hope I can get a routine going. Working out needs to start being even a remote priority again . . . maybe I'll start with that tomorrow.  In the meantime, Hank's doin' well . . . even though he's randomly bleeding tiny bits from time to time from his poor little paws. He got Willi's shirt this morning before he came into work. I think that happened when Willi gave him his medicine. Our couch is sooooo amazingly comfortable now . . . it's waay more cushy and lovely than our couch before I recovered it. I'm proud of mahself. Our apartment is like a home now! Finally! I'm starting to really like it here. We're hopin' to find a house to move into next summer. We're thinking more and more that we like this area. It's so beautiful here. Do you realize we're only 15-20 minutes away from the Dunes beach? It's sooo gorgeous. We went there for only an hour yesterday, and I think at that moment, I was sold on Valpo for sure. I can't believe we have that sort of beauty so close to us. We live next door to another gorgeous small lake, too. I like to walk there . . . So pretty. I know it'd be pretty in the winter, too. It's unreal . . . I really am starting to feel like this place is home. I hadn't felt that way yet. I mean . . . I felt it at home, of course. I even had a strong affinity for Purdue as a home in itself. Here . . . here's different. It's my home, and it's my home to share with Willi and even Hank. It's a relief. It's awesome. For now, I've surely got something to do . . . see ya!

Wedding Photos

I did it. I can't believe it. Our wedding photos are posted online! Wanna see 'em?

Here. Check 'em out.

Furniture and Hank

Whelp . . . the couch is done. SHEW!!! Yessss . . . it looks AMAZING, too. Here! See for yourself!  The fabric here is actually a little darker thank it looks. I have recovered the chair that's sitting next to it, too. It's plaid.





That was exhausting . . . I won't be doing that again for awhile.

Oh! I also have a picture of Hank so you can see what he looks like.

It's picture day! 


Isn't he sweet!? I think he was annoyed with me getting in his face with the flash there. You can see it in his eyes.

Later today, we talked about potentially going to the Dunes . . . we'll see, though. We did somehow manage to drag ourselves to church this mornin'.

The weather is GORGEMOUS outside . . . so we really should get out into it.

I start work tomorrow! Eeek!!

Hank

Holy crap! I bet people thought we died! We haven't had internet since the day before we moved. We're dying without it. Supposedly, it was installed at our apartment in Valpo today. We're currently in Columbus, Ohio visiting my sibs Julie and Jeremy. We'll find out if we have it when we come home on Sunday night.
The move went well and everything, and our apartment is almost right where we want it as far as set-up goes. We also have a kitty. He's pretty sweet, and he's been keeping me company while Willi goes to work during the week. His name is Hank. Hank's gonna hate us come Wednesday because he's getting neutered, declawed, and shots all in one visit. Eeek . . . I feel so wrong doing this because I've never had to do it before. When I was a kid, we had cats on the farm, and we just let them run rampant . . . so this is new for me.

My sister Jody is deathly allergic to cats, and I'm afraid she may be offended by the fact that we now own one. Willi wanted one so badly . . . and he followed us home on our last night in Lebanon. It was almost as if it were meant to be . . .

For now, I'm just keepin' busy . . . Our lives are kinda uneventful right now, but I have a feeling that once we get used to this new place, things will be fantastical. Having cable and internet will definitely help with that. :) Starting my new job next Monday might help, too. I'm just ready to adapt to this new place, I guess . . . I've been longing for that for quite awhile. Being settled . . . oh yeah.

I miss all of you, friends. How are you? Man . . . I hope we have internet so I can really be in touch with everyone again. Love yas . . .