Novel

Introduction

Hi girls, I am having a really tough morning. Not because of lack of motivation but because so much stuff is happening it's giving me a headache. Where shall I start...

Chapter 1

Let's start with school. Yesterday the summer course schedule came out - all the courses listed for "session E" (the first eight weeks of summer) and "session F" (the second eight weeks). Much to my astonishment, ALL of the remaining five classes (15 credits) I need were offered in session E! I immediately called my advisor who informed me that:

• I can only take up to 12 credits in the summer.
• I can only take up to 9 credits in a session.

She then told me that there is an English elective available this session that I can rush into. I filled out the form to get myself added, contacted the instructor, rush-ordered the books, and now I am taking three classes. So there's still the problem of the 12 credits offered in Session E. The only solution for that is to file a petition to take 12 credits instead of the usual 9. Yes it will be a crazy and awful eight weeks, but after they're over I'll be graduated! So I'm really hoping they accept my petition. In the petition I also said if they moved one of the classes to session F that would solve the whole problem. In a most ideal world I could take two in session E and two in Session F.

So the next eight weeks will be more hectic, school-wise, than I originally thought. I'm taking English Senior Seminar (ENGL 485), The Art of the Essay (ENGL 305), and Contemporary American Literature (ENGL 368). Just now I organized all my assignments for this session by date, and I even put it in Google Docs so you guys can see it. Just click here. I'll edit and update it and maybe even put entertaining details in the notes.

I am claiming all three of you as my companions in the next eight weeks because I'm going to need a lot of prayer and encouragement - a LOT. I've taken 9 credits in a session before and I know I can do it, but these are all English classes - and, this isn't the biggest thing going on in my life right now

Chapter 2

We had the house inspected, more as a formality than anything. Our agent said "with a house this new, we really just do the inspection so your bank will give you the loan" because the bank wants to make sure we really want the house before they appraise it.

We were present at the inspection. There were two semi-major things: bad windows and water in the crawl space. But the good news was the solution for the crawl space was relatively simple and would cost about $1500. We discussed it and signed our approval before even seeing the report.

We got the report via email yesterday (Joe's birthday). Joe came home from work at 9:30 to my amazing dinner, then went upstairs to check his email. He was very somber when he finished reading the report and said he is having doubts. There are so many little things, but we don't know if all these things are typical in a 10 year old house and we just have a thorough inspector.

I cried a lot last night, and did not sleep well. I had horrible, horrible dreams that I had to read a book with moving pictures of people being mutilated. Joe was really frustrated too. I told him I was crying just because I'd had my heart set on it, but we still need to make the right decision for both of us. I told him that if he "gave in" just because he knew I really wanted it, I would turn him down. He asked why; I said, "We're already living in a house where you're not happy; why would I want to move to another house that makes you unhappy?" And can you imagine the undercurrent of resentment that might happen if he bought the house just for my sake? I'd be all happy-go-lucky and he would always have regrets.

This morning we called our realtor. Thankfully he had not sent the signed paperwork yet, so if we back out now we will get our earnest money back and not lose anything except the cost of the inspection. Our realtor is going to go back to the house today with a contractor (Joe works again today) and check out some areas of concern, especially areas that we weren't able to look at because there were obstructions.

And how am I? I feel fine right now but I can tell you one thing - if we don't get this house, we probably won't be moving for several months because I do not have time to research houses and plan visiting dates while I'm on school overload. If we don't get this house it'll be a while before I even have motivation to look at other houses. I feel really good about our marriage - I know that's a strange thing to say, but I feel like Joe trusts me not to manipulate him with my emotions, and I trust him to make wise practical decisions despite my emotions.

Chapter 3

Cats. Gordo seems to be all better, but we're still giving him meds and not letting him outside. He eats and drinks on his own now and he's just as annoying as ever, meowing and waking us up and jumping on the counters (BAD CAT).

I was feeling overwhelmed with everything this morning and went to make myself tea. The kitchen rug was all folded over on itself and I assumed Wiggle had been wrestling with it. I sighed and unfolded it and there was CAT POOP on it. Um, they have never done that. And I cleaned the litter box last night and I've been doing it diligently. They have fresh water and food; maybe Gordo is mad because I won't let him out?

I cleaned up the poop and started the water boiling for tea, intending to wash the rug later. When I went back to make tea, I stepped in something wet, sighed thinking he must have peed too, but no - it was some *ahem* liquid poo I had missed - and stepped in - and tracked on the kitchen floor! I almost cried. All I wanted was a cup of tea.

When I picked up the rug more poo particles fell on the floor. Ugh ugh ugh ugh, I know you girls don't want to hear these details but I'm just emphasizing how this one incident made me feel like I'll never be able to relax again. I threw the rug (and my sock) in the wash with a ton of soap and sprayed the floor with 409 and wiped it up. But I'm still mad at whichever cat did it.

Chapter 4

I went to the gym yesterday! I did the elliptical which didn't put a lot of stress on my ankle, probably because even though you're doing a running motion, you're not jumping on one foot with your full weight like you do when you're running. And I made an appointment with a trainer for today at 5, so that'll be a good escape. Especially during the next eight weeks I need to make gym a priority.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading this photo-less post. If you want a photo, go back and gaze at my steak photo. It's the thing I'm clinging to right now; the thing I did right, that was the "only good part" of my husband's birthday (his words); the thing I was scared to do and did it anyway and did it WELL.