HatcherHome

So I was only gone for one and a half days. My husband was away on business but returned with just about an hour before he had to be repacked for his bachelor party weekend. Love him dearly, but how he managed to turn the house up-side-down, I’ll never know! When I left I had the house immaculate. The couches were freshly vacuumed, the floors were swept, the counter tops buffed, and the trash empty. This is the way every house should be left when traveling. Well imagine my surprise when I walked in the door this evening after 4+ hours of driving (yes, mom was driving, but we made it home without incident). I walk in to the following:
– dog water bowl is bone dry.. Kooper was frantically panting because it was hot in the house and there was no water
– the floor is covered with dog hair (which is not surprising really, because the dogs are big shedders)
– the blankets on the couches appear as if the pugs had a dance party on each of the couches
– the shudders are an interesting shade of brown. This is worthy of comment- It looked as if a dust storm came through Harbor Cliff Way and stopped at our condo and just came in!! Nothing happened to the shudders upstairs with open windows, just the downstairs. This is something I have not seen before, but you live and you learn!
– the granite has a film over the top which is familiar to me- my dear husband didn’t want me to think the dishwasher was empty so rather than pull out one item and unlock it, he just cut the cheese on the granite. He did tell me though that granite is the hardest surface and that we can cut anything on it. This is fine, but we should probably wipe it down after??

This might not sound so bad, but if you knew just how perfect I left the house, you would understand it was just a little stressful for me (thanks mom for my neurosis!!). I immediately unpacked my stuff and got to cleaning the shutters. My dogs could wait for their walk, the shutters could go on no longer being so nasty!! The house is now shining and smelling good (lots-a-candles!). While I broke a slight sweat when I walked in the house, the wonderful remnants are a loving reminder that my husband is.. well, training me for kids!!!

Tiff

Today my mom and I drove to Tehachapi to visit for my grandma’s 81st birthday and to help her take care of my grandpa after his hip surgery. We conveniently made our trip for during my Grandma’s 81st birthday. They both look and sound great! It’s always a pleasure to see them because they are upbeat and we always have a great time just talking and catching up.

Now for the most important story: the dive up here! My mother for sure did not teach me to drive. My father has taught me many things, but one thing I can say I remember is that you should always be a defensive driver. My mom missed that lesson. As we are pulling into our second Starbucks stop for the 3 hour trip my mom rounds the parking lot two times. Just when she found the perfect spot up front, someone slid right in and took it. So, naturally my mom pulls into a side lot that has all but one spot filled and there is no room to turn around if we don’t fit. Rather than passing this spot up, she decides to reverse into the spot! WTF?! After about six reverses and several squeals of the breaks I am convinced that we are in the scene of Austin Powers where the car is jammed between the two walls. She assures me we are ‘fine.’ I decide to put my head between my knees and say a quick prayer. With a sudden jerk she somehow manages to get her Harley-Davidson F150 straight into the spot! As I raise my head and wipe the sweat from my brow I feel a quick jolt! As only my mother will say, we just “tapped” the car behind us. She throws the car in drive, inches forward about two inches and puts it in park. She quickly makes sure that the car is unharmed and joyfully skipped into Starbucks with her ear piece in one ear and luggage-sized purse on her shoulder. 15 minutes later, we were on our way to complete our 3 hour turned 4.5 hour trip to Tehachapi.

Now it is five hours later and I have had the pleasure of good company and a glass or two of boxed wine with grandma. Happy 81st and see ya next time on the 82nd!

Cheers!

Today I went to the doctor for my annual check up and chat with the doctor. He is so awesome! Anyway, as I have the summer off I try and take care of personal maintenance. Monday we did the dentist thing and today we did the doctor thing. In my appointment the doctor said it’s time for two more moles to go. I am very thankful that my doctor is proactive and would rather cut and stitch than just “wait and see”. My feeling is: just take it, in fact take them all! As I have a family history of melanoma it is so important that I get myself checked. The doctor wants me to ask to be checked every time I go in, just to be proactive. I guess my mood today is that it is so important that we all take the time to have a maintenance check up. Now-a-days it seems like no one is safe from one type of cancer or another. I try to live healthy (yes, I do try!), but there are always things that can go undetected. Part of my ‘let’s-get-healthy’ attitude is the sheer willpower of my aunt-in-law (is that the term?). Anyway, she is such an amazing woman who has been dealt a difficult hand when it comes to health. This lady, who happens to be my eldest pug’s name-sake (Jinx), has a presence that is ten times bigger than her physical presence. She has recently come through a challenge and defied the odds yet again. Her strength is inspiring to say the least, but it reminds me that although I think I am invincible being 27, that my health is not something to be taken advantage of… but thankful for.

Tiff

Day one of summer break:

I spent today doing a variety of activities and love the time I have to be doing them! I started my day with a relaxing 4 mile run at the beach. I then ventured off to the periodontist to get a consultation of a gum grafting that I need. My wonderful father-in-law made a great recommendation to a dentist in Carlsbad. I had already had one consultation and basically they said it would be $600+ out of pocket and two appointments (one of which would require someone driving me home). This doctor that I went to today said it was an easy procedure that would be one quick appointment and I would be paying a third of the price out-of-pocket and can drive myself. Yahoo!! I then made my way to the grocery store and didn’t have to deal with crowds or long lines. Yahoo!! I came home had some lunch and went on a long walk with the pugs. I then worked on some homework while doing about 3 loads of laundry. Yahoo! I finished my day by vacuuming the couch and making my husband my favorite dinner- teriyaki steak Kabobs and a family recipe of rice pilaf. Yahooooo!!

Tomorrow’s agenda to follow….

Tiff

Usually on Sunday afternoon I am mentally preparing for work on Monday. I guess most people would say the same thing. Well not today folks! I am officially on summer break with absolutely no plans to go to work. I am staying home to finish one of the most important projects that I will probably ever work on- my Master’s research project. I am also in the middle of another class to clear my credential, which means I am dangerously close to being completely done with school. How am I still in school at 27 and not able to write Dr. in front of my name?? I am thankful though that I am doing this now with little distraction and Scotty also working on his Master’s. So this summer I do have some plans: finish being a student, clean the grout in the kitchen and bathroom, start reading again for pleasure, and become fluent in Spanish (thanks Scotty for the Rosetta Stone!). Not a long list, but plenty of things to keep me busy!

Tiff