State of the Union - 2 Weeks in a Small Central Texas Town

I know that you haven't heard much from me - I've been trying to unpack and settle down. My office is pretty much done, except for hanging pictures and cleaning out the previous two principal's stuff.

Home is a bit slower. Still a few boxes and I'm waiting for new furniture on August 14. My Dad needs to bring me my birthday TV and help me hang curtains and pictures. Then I think this place will start to be home.

I've got my car insurance done and I've found a nail place. I have a library card and I can get to Walmart in minutes. I know where Sonic is and where I can get a good margarita. I still need to find a hair salon.

My friend Kam came last weekend, it was so great to see her. I think I talked her ear off. We had a few 'ritas, lots of conversation, and a most delicious breakfast at Maxine's on Main. My sister will be coming next weekend, so I'm excited to show her around. We'll also head to Austin for some fun too. I think my Mom is coming over Labor Day, so Hotel Mo is up and running.

While things are working out, I thought I'd generate two lists, one of things I miss and one of things I like about my new life. So here goes:

Things I Miss

1. Sushi - apparently the Chinese buffet in town has sushi. But I'm a bit of a sushi snob after having great sushi in Dallas. I will be driving to Austin and finding good sushi. I also know that each time I come to Dallas, someone is going to get drug to my favorite sushi spots.
2. Shopping - Whether it's the mall or Target/Bath & Body Works/Bed Bath & Beyond/Hobby Lobby, I miss how close it was to me. The good news is I'm not spending as much money (which will benefit the house fund). Yesterday, Kathy & I went to Austin and found many of these shops, so it was good to know where it is.
3. Friends - I'm still meeting people and trying to find friends to hang out with. I'm about sick and tired of myself. I should use this time to read more, scrapbook, or unpack, but I dunno....... and even when I do find friends, where will we go?
4. Grocery Store - I miss Market Street so much. HEB just doesn't cut it.

Things I Love

1. Location - While I'm away from good shopping and some restaurants, I love how the bank, work, grocery store, post office, library, etc. are no more than a few miles away. I've been on the same tank of gas for over a week and I've only gone 60 miles. My gas expenditures will be less (which will benefit the house fund).
2. Local Restaurants/Shopping - There are some really wonderful restaurants here in town. Not chains, but locally owned. And there are a ton of cute shops - I haven't ventured out to shop, but I will do that and can't wait. For a town of this size, there is a lot to do!
3. My Home - I love where I live. The rent is very reasonable ($300 less than in Frisco) and there is a lot of grassy areas for Maude to roam. It's a new apartment with nice amenities and the office staff is fabulous! I referred a friend here, and I'll get $500 off rent (which will not benefit the house fund, but will benefit either the Albuquerque or Hot Springs fund!).
4. People - The people here are friendly and helpful. It's nice.

Bottom line, I'm glad to be here. And I'm available for shopping, pedicures, and/or margaritas.

Hello, My Name is Mo and I'm a TV-aholic

Okay, so as I get ready to make my to-do list and tackle another hot and humid Central Texas day, I have an ephiphany, actually two.

The first one is I'm hungry. I have to go the grocery store and get some food in my house. I went yesterday, loaded up my cart, got to the register, and realized I left my wallet at home when I was balancing my checkbook. I snuck out, cried the whole way home about how I hate my life here.

Then I got home and turned the TV on. I was fine. No tears, and just happy as can be. I'd been really testy and tense on Friday night. When the washer broke, you would have the thought the world is coming to an end. I couldn't even do my champagne welcome home toast that I was all excited about. WTF?

I was upset because I couldn't watch TV. Most of the time, I don't watch it, I just have it on as background noise. It soothes me. It's like a middle-aged lullaby. I was more worried about setting up my Tivo to record series than I was to unpack my kitchen, what is up with that?

I'm reading Dr. Drew's book about celebrity, narcissism, and how reality TV really exacerbates (sp?) the problem. I'm addicted to reality TV. I have got to break the cycle. I mean seriously, these people on these shows would never be my friends in real life, I couldn't handle their idiocy on a regular basis. But on TV, it's like I'm drawn in. Vetos, roses, torches, quick fire challenges, runway walks, clocks, backstage passes, table tossing NJ hoochies, I can't get enough. I can't......

And I will, I promise.... as soon as I find out who's getting put on the block on Big Brother tonight......

Things I'm Learning About My New Home

So, I've been a resident of my new town for about 2 days now. I've come to some conclusions about where I live:

1. The people here are sooo nice! Everyone has been very welcoming and very helpful. No Dallas bitchiness here.
2. People are not in a hurry here. It's taken me a while to do everything because no one is in a hurry. I used to think I was going to have a heart attack because I was killing myself, but now, I may have one because it's so slow I get impatient! I'm still in the Dallas mentality of gotta get it done that I've gotten frustrated a few times - but because it's a small town, I smile and am nice - people talk!
3. People here aren't afraid to ask questions - that is different. There really are no topics off limits. And they like to talk, there is no such thing as a quick question.
4. It's a small town..... I can get anywhere in 10 minutes, usually 5. That is nice. My school is 5 minutes from my house (3 if I make the light!). What an awesome commute!
5. It's hot as hell here...... I'm sure it's just as hot as in Dallas, but still.....

I'm slowly getting unpacked... and so far the only snafu I have is that my washing machine isn't working. It fills, washes, but won't drain, rinse and spin. So I have someone coming on Monday to get it fixed. I'm almost done with my bedroom, bathroom, and closet. Tonight I'll dump trash, break down boxes and start putting holiday stuff in the garage. My goal tomorrow is the grocery store and unpacking the kitchen so I can cook instead of eating out, I'm sick of it!!

I'm sure there is much more to learn about my new home.....

Small Wonders (1995)

When you move into a new place and you have no cable... and all of your DVDs are packed, then you decide it's time to finally watch the Netflix movies you've had for the past 3 months.

Tonight, I watched "Small Wonders." This is a documentary (you know I love documentaries) about Roberta Guaspari, a woman who teaches students in East Harlem the violin. She works at three different schools, lugging instruments and supplies up and down stairs. She teaches these children the violin, but also self-discipline and how to build self-confidence.

It was amazing to see what these kids were able to play. The kids got to play the National Anthem at a Knicks game and it was awesome to see how excited they were and how the crowd reacted to them. The players were nice, but Pat Riley ignored them. They also did a concert at Carnegie Hall and had several renown violin players join them.

This documentary was the seed for the 1999 movie "Music of the Heart," which had Meryl Streep play Roberta. I haven't seen that movie, but it's in my Netflix queue, so I'm sure I will see it - it would interesting to see how the movie is spun from the documentary.

It was an interesting film if you are into music and/or education.

Mo's Review:
Small Wonders (1995): 3 out of 5 stars

And The Move Begins!!

This morning begins the first day of the three day move process. I'm excited and exhausted at the same time.

I know I haven't blogged in a while, but I've got some movies and books to review and will do that when I'm settled down south. Surgery, packing, the move, saying goodbye.... all had to be done and I wanted to enjoy them (well, maybe not the surgery!).

I still can't believe that I'm moving. I've been here 8 years and that's a long time for me (I was in Florida for 6, then Dallas for 3 prior to that.). But there are opportunities and adventures awaiting me that weren't available here. As a matter of fact, in some facets of my life here, it's changed so much it looks like I never was there. A fresh start is good too -new age, new job, new start. (Ed.'s Note: Let's see how long it takes before I jack any or all of it up!)

I have some deep thoughts to share, but those will have to wait until the dust settles. But I can tell you one thing I've learned this past week - I have too much crap!! I've probably filled a dumpster with my trash and junk. And I never did finish my bedroom closet, that'll have to be weeded out when I unpack. I just couldn't do it all!! How did I get this stuff and why do I have it all? Dumping a bunch of it feels like taking a weight off of my shoulders. I think sometimes we get weighed down by the possesions that we have......

I also want to thank my friends who called and checked on me, who met me for lunch, dinner, or drinks to say goodbye, who encouraged me when I was ready to fold. They really helped me through these tough last couple of weeks. And I've learned that some people who I thought were my friends, well..... they may have been more fair-weathered than I originally thought.

Let the adventure begin..... see you on the other side!!

Happy Birthday, America!!

So Happy Birthday, America!

At least it's not raining today. I'm still indoors, recuperating from my surgery. Things are going well, the swelling is going down, the pain is subsiding, and I think tomorrow I'll be ready to reenter society - just in time to tackle my 2 1/2 page to do list of things to do before I move down South.

I was supposed to go to the Rough Riders game today to see one of my teachers get engaged as well as another teacher's christening for her son. Unfortunately, I'm still on pain meds and swollen, so I thought it best to stay home and give it one more day. So congrats to Baby Michael on his baptism and congrats to Kristen on her engagement!!

Happy Fourth of July!!

Skin Cancer Surgery.... AGAIN!!!!

Well, this is becoming a recurrent theme that I'm NOT liking. Today I had to go get some skin cancer cut out of my forehead......

I got to the doctor's office about 8:15 for my 8:30 appointment. They brought me in and prepped me. My blood pressure and pulse were a little high..... I was freaking out!!

The doctor comes in, cuts out a piece, cautherizes (sp?) my head, then they bandage me up and send me to the waiting room. It's like me and a bunch of people over the age of 65. The nurses keep coming out and telling people they are clean, then they take them back to stitch them up.

Finally my nurse opens the door and points her finger at me. I don't like that. I shake my head no. She tells me I can't say no and to get in there. They don't have a clean margin, so they want to cut again. Shit! That means a bigger wound to heal and it means more money (they charge by the number of cuts they have to make).

While I cursed my parents for giving me fair skin and a predisposition for this as well as cursing myself for deciding that being as tan as possible during the 80's was a good idea, they recut, recautherize, re-bandage, and send me out to wait again. At this point, I'm the only one in the waiting room - everyone else has been stitched up and gone home.

I finally get the clear, and I head back to stitch. Because they had to recut, now my stitches are vertical instead of horizontal and about 2 inches long. But the doctor swears that I'll heal better this way than with horizontal stitches.

So now I'm enjoying my PJs, some Vicodin, and some Tivo. Sarah's coming over tonight for chicken spaghetti and watching the Bachelorette..... I think I'll learn to enjoy forced relaxation!!