October « 2010 « American Family

crying uncle

I really like to have a project. Since we have moved into this house, I have had a big project and plenty of small projects to go with it. I am pretty sure we are going to build a house next door and that is another big project to look forward to.

To be honest, I am a little project-ed out here. I would like a break. We still have three more days to wait and see if we are going to China this winter– the planning of which will be a massive undertaking in such a short amount of time.

I am usually go-go-going to get my next project underway, but this time I am crying uncle. I don’t need to go to China in January. I don’t want to deal with the issues of north/south, winter/tropical weather and traveling during Chinese New Year. I want a couple months to just hang out at our new house that do not involve frantic painting or other messy projects. I want the option of getting cheap plane tickets and reserving hotels in advance.

This decision is out of my control, though. It depends on the direction of the wind, the weather on tuesday and the turnout of the fickle citizens of our fine state.

I am crossing my fingers but looking at January flights at the same time.

Introvert Party

We had our housewarming party today.

Between trying to sell our house (and failing) then selling it unexpectedly, moving into a rental, deconstructing and fixing this house then moving in, we have been in housing flux for the past 1 1/2 years. We owe LOTs of people dinners, playdates, visits etc. To kill 50 birds with one stone, I invited everyone I know to the party. Mr. A invited everyone he knows (including work people I have never met). Then we invited all the neighbors on our street.

We did an open house so people could come and go without stress. In general, that plan worked ok. People came and went for about 4 hours. The only flaw with my plan was there was a steady stream of people coming in. I added it up and I think we ended up with over 100 people, not including kids.

There were so many people, I only had a chance to say hello and a few pleasantries with each person before someone else new showed up. Because it was a housewarming, I think I gave over 20 house tours. I love to talk about houses in general (and my house in particular), but seriously, that was a LOT of house talk. I am actually losing my voice right now because I talked so much.

The problems I have with parties is the quick hellos were so superficial, I didn’t have much of a chance to have an in depth conversation with anyone. There were many people I haven’t seen in months and I would have loved to sit down and talk with them one on one for a hour or more, but there wasn’t enough time.

I also worry about all the people who didn’t know other people. Mr. A and I know lots of people who don’t know any of our other friends, and we are not connectors. (To be honest, I prefer my different spheres to not intersect at all.) Did they find people to talk to? Were they uncomfortable? Should I have talked to them more?

Right now, I have a party hangover. I am exhausted and vaguely worried that I should have been a better hostess in this way or that. Some people love parties, but they just aren’t my thing. Mr. A is an extrovert. He would love a party every day of the week. (He is a reserved extrovert though, he isn’t super-chatty.)

Around people I know, I am an outgoing introvert. (I am shy around new people, but that is a different thing). I am talkative and entertaining and fun enough, but oh my god, it sucks the energy right out of me. The more people, the more energy. Right now, I feel like I have been run over by a truck.

I need to sit in a quiet room for a week or so to recover.

Weird stuff in our house: the Mailbox

I have been MIA because we are hosting a housewarming party / open house this weekend. I suppose having it so soon is good motivation for me to get stuff done, but the downside is I have to get stuff done. I have been painting trim for what seems like forever and I effing HATE it. (The painting, not the painted trim.)

It is therapeutic for me to do these weird shit posts because I look through the pictures of the house before we moved in. I forget how much progress we have made in the past two months. When the house is clean for the open house, I will try to post some pics of the rooms that are not still in a state of deconstruction. (Don’t even ask about the downstairs bathroom that currently has no sink. THAT will be fun to explain to 50 guests.)

Weird thing of the day: The mailbox.

I am sure the mailbox must have been built by the Frustrated Engineer. The handle at the top appears to be some kind of knocker, because using your own knuckles to knock is just so passe.

The top opens like a normal mailbox. The mailman (mail person) puts the mail in there.

BUT! If you want to get the mail out, you don’t need to use that uncouth servant’s entrance. Oh no. To get the mail out, you open the side door. Why this is superior to a standard mailbox, I don’t really know.

I don’t know if we will replace the mailbox or not. It kind of blends in to the front of the house, so I might just save the $100 I would spend to buy this mailbox. The next owner might like the backdoor mailbox?

crying uncle

Introvert Party

Weird stuff in our house: the Mailbox

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