Batam

Larry and I spent the day after Christmas on the island of Batam.  It's only a 35 minute ferry ride from Sing, and once you step onto the jetty, it's like stepping into a different world.  It's part of indonesia, and feels a little like Bali.  It's beautiful, quiet and very relaxing.  We stayed at a small resort that was very nice, and enjoyed a day of lazing by the pool, walks on the beach, and a yummy dinner.  There was no internet service, and cell reception was poor, so Larry was able to really chill out and not worry about work stuff.  He even asked if I had packed him a book (uh, no.) I was in mid sentence when I started snoring (according to Lar).  Saturday morning we woke to a gorgeous day, and met friends Leone and John for breakfast at the resort.  They have a villa up the road about 10 minutes.  We walked to their place after breakfast, along the beach and that alone was a treat.  Their villa is at the top of a hill, so Miss Out Of Shape 2008 was huffing and puffing and *glowing* like no tomorrow.  However, I do not exaggerate when I say it was a beautiful and completely worth it walk.  Their home is beyond lovely, and peaceful.  We enjoyed a house tour, and after cooling off a bit, we had a wonderful, traditional Indonesian lunch.  YUMMY!!  The company, food and wine were all superb.  One more thing to be thankful for about Singapore. I must have said the word "beautiful, or gorgeous" about 9000 times...I need a thesaurus for next time. We walked back to the resort to catch the shuttle back to the ferry terminal, and we realized Larry didn't have his wallet.  So we were sitting at the pool, waiting for Larry to get it out of his suitcase, and a man walked up to us and asked if were were staying there, and the room number.  I told him, and he produced Larry's wallet and our passports from behind his back.  He was one of the managers, and was looking for us.  BIG relief to say the least.  The rest of the trip was uneventful, and we arrived home to a very happy to see us Frank.  We will definitely be back, and will even be bringing my Aunt and Uncle when they come to visit in February (um yeah, I'm slightly excited, and need to buy towels stat!!).  it's just such a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Singapore...we highly recommend it!

Larry and I are getting ready to go to Cambodia in the next few days as well.  We've wanted to go since we've gotten here, so we're very excited to finally go.  The big draw are the temples, and we plan on going to the biggest one, Angkor Wat.  I just checked out the hotel online and it looks pretty nifty as well.  Should be a good trip.

I've been spending this week getting ready to go back to the US.  I am coming in the next few weeks and am looking forward to seeing my family and friends.  I'm planning on a good chunk of time with my best friend, as well as hanging with my parents.  We're also going to a wedding in Texas (Larry's brother) and to Seattle for Annabella's 3rd birthday (can you say pink bike with a basket and a bell??).  So lots of laundry and cooking for me this week!  

Happy New Year to all of you!  Here's to a wonderful, healthy 2009!

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Pam

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!  It is Dec. 25th, and not a creature is stirring.  Larry is napping, and frank is snoring in his suitcase bed.  We're enjoying a quiet day at home, might watch a movie,dip extravaganza (various dips...yeah, we're excited), opening presents, and having my famous pasta carbonarra for dinner.  There may be wine involved too...and perhaps some chocolate.  It is Christmas, after all.  Larry had to work on Christmas eve, so I joined my friends Sarah and Tommy for dinner and drinks in Chinatown.  It was a hoot and a half.  Tommy called Larry at work with updates on our whereabouts and what we were doing, and even though he wasn't with us, I think he felt like part of the fun.

We are going to an island called Batam tomorrow for one night.  It is a 35 min ferry ride from Sing, and we're staying at the Turi Beach resort (sorry Deb...don't hate).  A friend of mine has a villa on the island as well, so we are going to see them on saturday, and visit them at their place.  We're really looking forward to it.  

Christmas is very different this year, compared to last years slightly dreary one.  I'm glad I put the tree up, and only had one bad day of homesickness and tears (sorry Babe!)  I think staying busy was the key, and just finally realizing that this is our reality, and to make the best of it. Missing family and friends goes with being an expat.  If I am ever asked to give a new expat advice, it will be that.  Expect it to suck a little.  But also be open to the wonderful experiences and new friendship that can come into your lives.  It's a pretty amazing thing.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you.  You are deeply missed and loved!  

XOXOXOXO

Pam and Larry and Frank

p.s. the fudge and shortbread cookies I made both turned out perfect!  I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree!

Beginning To Look Like Christmas

In a counter strike against the ol' homesick blues that like to sneak up and bite me on my ample booty, I've been decorating and getting stuff ready for Christmas.  I made cards this year (it didn't go well, please keep your guffawing to yourselves when they arrive), I'm baking and making fudge for gifts for Larry's office mates, and getting gifts ready to bring home.  It's been fun, and it's been a good distraction.  The minute I let myself be quiet for a little bit though, the bug takes a good chunk...so...busy I will try and stay!

Our cute little Charlie Brown tree from Ikea, flown all the way from the US in a refrigerated container!

Larry brought this little guy back from China.  I added the festive hat.

                                    Chestnuts roasting over an open fire...in Chinatown.

This is Frank and his big hairy butt on the Christmas place mats.  (don't worry, if you come over for dinner, I won't give you that one to eat off of!)

                   This a Singapore Santa...I found him at a craft fair...we think he's pretty nifty.

Hope your Holiday prep is going well too...today I attempt my first solo fudge making of the famous Rick Schuler Christmas fudge...results tomorrow!

Sparkle Cat

So, I stumbled out of bed today, bleary eyed and trying not to trip over Frank as we made our way into the kitchen.  Frank was protesting loudly about his bowl being 1/3 full.  I went about my morning routine, turning on the kettle, throwing a load of laundry in, scooping out the litter box.  After Frank ate for five full minutes, and drank a full bowl of water, he was lounging on the little rug I have by the sink, lolling about, looking content and cute.  Something caught the corner of my eye.  Something sparkly.  I looked more closely at Frank.  To my horror, I realized he was COMPLETELY covered in glitter.  I had been making my christmas cards, and had left a plate of the leftover glitter on the table over night.  With dread in my heart, I walked as if in slow motion to the table.  My worst fears had been realized.  He had turned the plate over, and laid in the glitter.  I'm sure there was some rolling around too.  And jumping up and down from all the chairs.  Then walking all over the entire house before I could find this little surprise and clean it up.  I thought it was sweet that Larry had glitter at his hair line when he came to bed....I thought '"hmmm, maybe he was looking at the cards".  Now I know he was holding Frank.  Frank, the sweet, not overly bright, intensely loyal little guy I wanted so badly.  Frank the extremely mischievous little guy that gets into EVERYTHING and makes us laugh so hard we gasp, every day.

Anyone want him?

Something Fishy A Foot

I've been wanting to try a fish pedicure since I got to Sing,  so I finally had the chance this week with my buddies.  There is a new fish spa that opened right up the street from our house, so after a day of doing hair and lunch, we checked it out.  You wash your feet, and sit on benches that surround a big fish tank.  The tank is filled with Doctor Fish, just ready and waiting to nibble on the dead, calloused skin on your feet and legs.  I didn't know what to expect, and it is definitely sensory overload at first.  The fish swarm your feet at first and it's such a  weird feeling!  It doesn't hurt at all, and once you get accustomed to the feeling, it's actually very relaxing and fun.  My close friends and family know my little secret about my fred flinstone feet....they are majorly calloused and kinda gross ( Larry is thinking "Kinda??")  I have tried everything under the sun to get rid of it...I even have a dremmel tool I use ( seriously??  did I just write that for the whole flippin world to read?!?!)  Anyway....after the fish were done with my feet, they immediately signed up for weight watchers.  My feet felt great, and the fishies had a nice BIG meal.  Larry and I had joked previously that they would all eat so much the fish would be belly up after I left...I'm happy to report no fish were harmed in the treatment of my feet.

Here are a few videos from the experience.  I'm bringing Larry back this weekend, so he can experience it too.

P.S.  Don't ya just hate the sound of your own voice?? I'm seriously cringing over here in Sing!

Joyful Eating

A few saturdays ago I dragged Larry out for Dim Sum. I had read about this place on another blog, the greedy glutton . I had been bugging him to go ever since. It was worth the wait! Boy was it yummy! The food was fresh, delicious and served with a smile and the thoughtful offer of forks (we declined). It was hard to find, tucked away off a side street in chinatown, but after 4 passes, we finally found it.

This is the definition of Dim Sum, fond on Wikipedia :Dim sum is the name for a Chinese cuisine which involves a wide range of light dishes served alongside Chinese tea. It is usually served in the mornings until noon time at Chinese restaurants and at specialty dim sum eateries where typical dishes are available throughout the day. Dishes come in small portions and may include meat, seafood, and vegetables, as well as desserts and fruit. The items are usually served in a small steamer basket or on a small plate. Yum cha(literally "tea drinking") is the term used to describe the dining session, especially in contemporary Cantonese. Chinese families in particular typically like to gather at Chinese restaurants for dim sum on occasions such as Mother’s Day or Chinese New Years.

It was a yummy light meal, and we will be back for sure.  if you live in Sing, make it a priority to check it out!

Famous?

When you woke up this morning, did you have a message asking you to be in a movie? 

 

No?  

I DID!!!  

How cool is that?  I had a facebook message from a fellow American woman who is a grad film student here in Sing.  She is shooting a movie in December, and needs an american woman to play the lead.  She looked at my photos, and pretty much the sheer fact that I have an american accent led her to contact me.  I wrote her back and told her I thought it would be super fun, but gave her a heads up about the stuttering.  I'll let you know what comes of it.  The director is an award winning director from Chicago, and this film would be shown in other competitions. Maybe I'll be strolling down the red carpet (in valentino, I already know which dress I want!) at Cannes!

Thanks for you!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone far away (and near too)!  This is our second year celebrating Thanksgiving in Sing.....I saw that after I wrote it, and it looked so weird!  Sometimes I still can't believe it.   Larry is on second shift, so I am going to my friend Euvah's for dinner.  I didn't get off the hook cooking though, Larry and I are celebrating on saturday.  

I am running out the door, and I will write more later, but I wanted to wish everyone a wonderful holiday.  I am so thankful for all of you.  Be well, and enjoy your day.  You are dearly missed.

xoxoxo

Pam and Larry 

Frank too!

Catching Up

Things have been a little crazy lately, and I've noticed if I'm not feeling great, if something is bugging me, or if there is something happening to someone I love, the blog falls quickly to the wayside. 

So, an update.  

Being here a year has really been a cause for me to reflect on stuff.  I know I dropped the ball on that "one year" series I had planned, but it hasn't stopped me thinking.  The person who started this blog last year is certainly not the person that sits here today, tapping away at the computer.  I look back on those earlier posts and have to laugh at my wide eyes goofiness.  Now I take for granted that I regularly see men in skirts, bow when saying thank you (sometimes in chinese) ride the subway, put a dollar into the shopping cart to use it, say carpark, flat and lift instead of parking lot, apartment, and elevator.  I say "Can" and "Can not" when I mean yes and no. I hand my credit card to the cashier with 2 hands and nod and smile. I am a wife...I fold my husband's underwear, and iron his shirts.  This still throws me every now and then even though it been 18 months of wedded bliss (occasional non- bliss, but overall, very nice!)  I am rested for the first time in I don't know how long.  I don't have a sleep deficit, and I even have time to apply body lotion!  Amazing! 

I do feel out of the loop sometimes...I have missed a lot over this year...my dad retiring, my mom turing the big (significant birthday) friends and family having babies, holidays, Deb's moms struggle with cancer.  That was one of my worst fears about moving so far away...that I would miss stuff.  It's gotten a little easier, but I do still love to be caught up on stuff.  Don't forget about me over here! I still care about all of you and your lives...and miss you so, so much.

I have a Furson...one of the best decisions we made this year.  He is a furry, purring salve on my homesick heart. He follows me around ALL day and is endlessly amusing.  There isn't a cupboard or cabinet he hasn't investigated.  He takes his post on my desk, usually in front of my laptop as I write and fool around online.  He must be touching me at all times.   I only wish we would have done it sooner.  He is such a love!

I have buddies! We are an unlikely trio, a decade or two apart in age,  happily thrown together. We would have never met each other in our 'other' lives.  I have explored more parts of singapore with them than I ever did on my own.  We've gotten lost, had ice cream for lunch, giggled, cried and shared.  It is sooo good to have them.  One of the friends (Sarah) and I wonder often why in the hell it took so long to meet each other, as we both frequented the same places. We've come to the conclusion that we had to have a long, lonely year so we could appreciate each other more. I had made attempts to make friends, and a few were cooly ignored (if you think it might be you, it probably is)...so to be so welcomed and understood is super cool.  And in turn it has made me start to really love Singapore.  When asked over this past year if I liked it, or was happy, I'd always respond with a quick "yes, and, of course!"  The truth is, sometimes in down right sucked. I have to try to  be a little more honest on here.  No more rose colored glasses!   But no one wanted to hear me whine. I get it.  My dad mentioned he thought I may have been whiny at Christmas last year.  I looked at that long and hard.  Yes, I was whiny, but also thankful. I was away from my family for the first time in 35 years.  I think I was allowed a few moments of blue.  I tried to tamp down any boo-hooing, especially on the blog, because, believe me, if I had heard someone whining about living in the tropics with their love, and having the adventure of a lifetime, I'd want to throw tomatoes too. But I didn't take for granted for a minute that my big butt was sitting on a Bali beach.  I am a lot more aware of grace and being grateful too.  There are just little moments when you are thrown into a new situation such as this that just make you tingle.  A kind word in a different language, from a stranger, a smile and a nod from a construction worker.  A hug from a little neighbor and finding a wonderful caring doctor. Finding friends that just "get it".  A care package from my parents, or friends.  A real letter in the mail, not just a bill.  A snoring, gassy husband and a snoring, gassy cat. Web cam chats...if you have one, lemme know...it helps so, so much.   My veggie guy being delighted to see me.  A phone call (you can call us anytime one the vonage phone, it is free for you!!) from friends and family...we really don't care if you wake us up.  Email me if you want the number.  My pool...I love my pool.  The promise of visitors ( I am so excited I might pee!!!) I could go on, but you get the point.

I can now say, that as much as I still have homesick days (today is one, for some reason...I really miss my parents), that I do love it here.  It is truly a gift to be here.  As maddening as it is sometimes, it's still a nifty little island, with good people.  We love having a car...man has that been an eye opener.  I love getting lost in neighborhoods.  Once we were so lost looking for a restaurant a nice guy had us follow him...that wouldn't have happened in the states...at least not in Detroit.  And really, how lost can you get on a 23 mile across island?  One of our new favorite things to do is jump in the car at night and just drive.  I usually shout out cool stuff I see, and Lar concentrates on not getting us killed.  We found the 2 drive through mcdonald's on the island and will have a 60 cent ice cream cone every now and then.  I amaze Lar with my mad car dancing skills, and he amazes me with his stellar singing voice.  If only I could figure out a way to take Frank with us and not have him want to scratch the hell out of us, it would be perfect.  I also like to randomly honk at people and wave...still making my own fun here in Sing-Sing.  

I have started doing hair here...what a BLAST!  I did a hair party that was a rousing success (at least I think so!) and have a few more cuts and colors in the next few weeks. Call or email if you want to set something up.  I also had my first singapore haircut about 2 months ago...and that's what really got me thinking about doing it a little here.  He was really good, and it stirred up all my creative juices.  Larry is lucky he isn't sporting hi-lights and a faux hawk. (as far as you know)

Back to the honesty part of the blog.  I have to say that being away from Debbie when her mom died this month has blown big chunks.  I still can't wrap my head around why we are apart right now.  Some lesson is being learned, it's just about as clear as mud right now.  Flying home was an option we discussed, and Deb, in the end said she'd rather have me after the fact. So I will be home sometime soon to help wade through the hard stuff.   I just wished I could have been there to hold her hand as she has held mine so often.  I am thankful for the moments we had on the phone and im chats.  As she said at one point this year, technology has saved our asses big time.

 

So...in conclusion...haha....things are going fine here.  We are getting ready for thanksgiving and Christmas, and are pretty busy these days.  Larry is working on his masters, and now that I have buddies, I am not home nearly as much as I used to be.  Thank you for the gentle (and not so gentle) nudges to keep the blog up.  I am taking suggestions for topics....what do you want to see on here?

I miss you and love you all (or at least like you a LOT)

xoxoxo

Pam

Sad News

Debbie's mom, Donna lost her battle with cancer today.  Please send her and her family all the love and prayers you can.  You can read more about it on Deb's blog. 

xoxoxo

Pam

p.s. Sometimes, it really sucks being so far away.

Good Stuff Needed.

Please keep my best friend Debbie and her Mom in your thoughts and prayers right now. Donna is battling cancer, and things aren't going well.  So, if you can muster up some good vibes, prayers, anything, please send it their way. You can read more about what is going on right now here.

Lucky

My Mom works for the city of farmington, in Michigan, and she got to ride the fire truck for her birthday...just thought these pictures were cool!

It's Raining, It's Pouring...

In a strange turn of weather events in Singapore, it rained the other day.  Oh heck, who am I kidding?  It pretty much rains everyday for at least a little bit.  But this time, we were in our new car, stuck in it...and it was slightly awe inspiring. Here is Larry's Texan take on it.

Wheels

Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace

Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die

Born to be wild
Born to be wild

© MCA Music (BMI)

We got our new wheels this weekend!  We took over the lease on Larry's co-workers car.  Linda is headed to Hong Kong, so we now have her car!  We spent the weekend cruising around, and only got lost about 5 times.  We're looking forward to being able to explore the island on our own, and the freedom of jumping in our car and going somewhere.  Anyone need a ride?

Dreaming Of Sari's

 

This past month we have been celebrating Deepavali in Little India.  It is the Hindi New Year. Called the "Festival of Lights," where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being, light versus dark.  Deepavali is celebrated on the new moon day (approx fifteenth day) of the month.  I was here for it last year, but knew very little about it. This year, I did a little research, and having been here a year and bumming around little india all the time, I really enjoyed it.  Little India is by far my favorite part of Singapore.  I say it a million times when I'm down there, how comfortable I am, how "real" this part of town is, ect. I love how it swirls around me in a haze of color and aroma, overwhelming my senses, and making me wonder just how many yards of fabric I would need for a sari of my own.  I actually have one(thanks Deb!!), but I left it in Michigan.  You see, I have always had a fascination with the Indian culture.  I think it's highly likely I lived there in a past life.   I can't get enough of the food, smiling people and sense of peace that comes over me when I am there.  I love strolling along, looking in the jewelry store windows,  admiring the sari's and sidestepping a fresh load of flower garlands being delivered.  The smell of curry and other spices wafting from the stalls and shops intoxicates me.  I also love that I am not so much an oddity in little india as I am in other parts of Sing.  Big healthy girls like myself are looked at as a sign of prosperity.  I can actually find clothes to fit me here, and I love to stock up on the indian blouses that line the streets for the tourists. When I am asked where I am from by the shop keepers, and I say that I am from America, but I live here...this always delights them, and they ask if I've had my lunch, would I like to buy some gold, and did I need a good tailor?  Then they ask if I like it here, and their eyes light up when I say I do.  They are proud of their little community, and it shows.  One of my great hopes in being over here is to be able to get to India.  I just have this burning need to see the real thing for myself.  I'm trying to talk Larry into taking a quick, weekend trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.  We'll see if we get there...and if we do, I'll have my sari all ready to go.

Meet The Other Man.

This is the "other man" I spend time with...he is my super cute neighbor, Josh, and we've been buddies almost a year now.  He is from the UK, and he and his family live in our building.  We met at the pool, and we just hit it off...he is such a fun guy, and we have a blast together.  He comes to visit at my place from time to time, and we have fun building forts, playing with rocks, and pretending all sorts of stuff.  I often have to giggle at the way he and I sometimes struggle with our different versions of the english language....but we figure it out, and he's patient with my nasaly mid-western accent and stuttering.

He has made some my more homesick days a little easier.  He's definitely a bright spot in my life here in Sing.  

                                                       

                                                       He thinks my red shoes are fabulous too!

You Haven't Lived.

A recent conversation between Larry and I:

Larry: Motley Crue is coming to Fort canning Park, wanna go?

Me: (guffawing,trying to breathe, snickering,gasping) Um, DUH....how could we NOT go??

Larry: Ok, order tickets.

Me: Honey?

Larry: (warily)Yes?

Me: Can I wear my leather bustier, and leopard print stretch pants?

Larry: Um, do you own a leather bustier and leopard print stretch pants?

Me:  Well, no.  But I could.

Larry: Maybe you should try to 'blend in'.

Me: hhhmmmppffttttt. (pouting)

Me: Honey?

Larry: (sighing) Yes?

Me: Can I rat my hair real big and wear an inappropriate amount of eyeliner?

Larry: (rolling eyes) Sure, go for it.

Me: SAAWEEEET.

So, I've heard you haven't lived until you've seen a rock show in Asia.  Not only did we see one, but it was the venerable aging rock gods in Motley Crue.  This was their first time in Singapore, and it was an awesome show.  I was fully prepared to make snarky comments all night about how old they are, and how they needed walkers to get to the stage.  In reality, I only made a few.  The show was great, and the crowds were a hoot.  Lots of middle age expats squeezed into leather and do-rags.  Loads of Americans so stinkin happy to have a little taste of home that everyone was their best friend.  Larry made friends with some very friendly and very drunk Indian fellows that couldn't get enough of him or beer.  We think they passed out after 2 songs. Once the band got started, the crowds really let loose and it was mayhem. Everyone was so excited they were here, and the vibe was electric.  I can't remember the last time I had that much fun.  

p.s. For the record, I did leave the house with HUGE, fabulous hair, but the minute we got to the concert it fell in the humidity and heat, so I threw it up.  Just sayin.

Comments

I changed the settings, so you can't leave anonymous comments anymore...just type in your name, and do the word verification...sorry for the trouble, but I think I've been spammed!

Whoops.

Note to self:

Dear Pam,

Always remember to check Larry's pockets before you do laundry.

Hugs and Kisses,

Pam

p.s. you're looking quite lovely today, and dinner?  FAB!!

The Big 4-0.

From whence I came.....

Happy 40th Anniversary to my parents!   Thanks for getting married and having such great kids!

xoxoxo

Pam

One Year: Part One

Warning:  Long winded, navel contemplating blog post.  Enter at your own risk.

I recently read a blog post from one of my favorite sites.  She was feeling introspective and posed this question to her readers: Is your life in the past ten years what you thought it would be?  How are things different?  Do you have any regrets?  This really made me think.  My first reaction was “UM, NO!!!”  I spent several days thinking about how things were nowhere near the neat little package I had detailed for my self.  Married by 28, baby by 30, house, career, happy dog playing in the yard.  Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, and nope.  A lot of my friends followed this course.  I always thought I was lagging behind, trying in vain to catch up, the whole time wondering what the hell was wrong with me.  I always knew that as much as I was like my friends, and people my age, I was also different.  In my twenties, I liked living independently.   I also had the defensive, authority challanging reaction “ why can’t I ?” when asked why I moved out when I did, and chucked college.  It wasn’t always easy, and I got myself into plenty of trouble that I probably would have had I stayed at home longer.  I don’t regret that decision, I think it helped me to grow, and become more self sufficient (my dad is guffawing right now….)  I have wonderful memories of living with roommates, figuring out who we were, being goofy twenty something’s. I formed strong, lasting friendships with people, that can only happen in that time when you are all struggling.  I also lost my sister in my early twenties.  I think this had a huge factor in shaping me, and what I perceived as normal and good for my life.  It taught me not to take stuff for granted, and if I wasn’t happy, to try and change it.  Try is the operative word.  Lord knows I spent a ton of that time miserable.  Lonely, freaked out, broke and lost.  So I tried and tried.  I made HUGE mistakes, little mistakes, and occasionally a good choice.  I chose a career I thought would make me happy for a long time.  I worked my butt off, sometimes at 2 or 3 jobs. Into my thirties, I told myself it was fine I was single, lived in an apartment and lived with a much loved, overfed cat.  I still liked my job, was on the cusp of finally doing it the way I wanted.  Something was about to give and change, I just knew it.  I had heard the Oprah-esque hype about how great my thirties would be, and what I would learn and do.  I waited, and waited.  I made a big move in my career and location.  I moved to the country, lived in a friend’s house, and finally had a little success with my business.  I told myself this was what I wanted.  I wondered then why I wasn’t as happy as I thought I would be. I had dodged a pretty big romance bullet, ended up on my feet, albeit a little shakily, and questioning everything.  I’d stare at my bedroom ceiling and wonder: is this it?  Is this all there is?  A tiny voice usually answered back,  “NO.  There is more.”  The elusive MORE.  What the hell was that?!   I questioned it at every chance.  I loved my job, caring for kids was endlessly rewarding. I gave it my all, and in the end, that was the final push.  I knew if I wanted children of my own, I needed to make a change, before I became so burned out, I wouldn’t do it.  I knew this change would effect many people, and be somewhat difficult.  I tacked on several more years of loans and went back to school.  I was 33. What the hell was I doing?  I was in classes with 18 year olds.  I was endlessly exhausted, living alone again, working several odd jobs to make ends meet, and still not succeeding.  I LOVED it.  I was finally doing something creative, and in the end, it made people happy.  As a life long people pleaser, this was my nirvana.  I’d lose myself in the creative process and actual work of doing hair, and in the end, get the pay off of a happy client (not always…I was still learning, after all…Deb can attest to that…haha...).  With tears in my eyes, I would whisper to my friend with the chair next to mine, “I Love doing hair Mikey!” and he would roll his eyes and agree. This happened weekly.  I was satisfied for the first time in my life. My heart felt full. I had a lot to be thankful for. I was still broke, alone and didn’t have solid place to live.  I’d look for change in my couch for gas money.  I froze my butt off in a friend’s spare room. I had veered way off the course I had thought my life would take.  But I was doing something I had always dreamed of, and I had enough faith in myself at that point to know I would bounce if I fell.  I was also held up and supported by family and friends.  Their kindness and generosity was the biggest thing that got me through.  I am extremely grateful.  If something crappy would happen, it wasn’t long before I was put back on my feet.  My roommate became pregnant, and I got to experience it with her the entire time.  That was a gift.  When it came time for me to move out, a dear friend of the family came through on an empty condo.  If I needed some cash, Deb would find stuff for me to do at her house.  She’d listen and pass the tissues too, if it got to be too much.  She always gave me more love and support than I deserved. My Parents had me over for lots of dinners, hired me to clean their house, and I'd find a mysterious 20 in my purse from time to time.  It seemed life was telling me, ok, you’re doing something for yourself, you’re happy, we got your back.  I think the fact that I was open to new things, happy and fulfilled is the reason that Larry came into my life.  On paper, he was nothing like the person I thought I would end up with.  Thinking openly and with an open heart had gotten me pretty far before, why not now?  So we took a chance on each other.  I was not looking for a serious relationship, and certainly not marriage.  I wasn’t looking to move, not to Seattle and certainly not to Singapore.  People in my circle didn’t do this kinda thing.  You followed the path, had the big white fancy schamncy wedding, had the cute babies, lovely home and happy dog in the yard.  I was going to veer again, and this time it was BIG.  This was some scary shit, and not something I took lightly.  Was this the More I had coming?  Was this the portal I would take to new experiences and places?  The tiny voice in my head answered back with a resounding YES.

Frank Update #1

My cousin Janet asked for a Frank update, so here ya go!

He's been here a month, and is settling in really well.  He has several spots he likes to snooze, and has finally gotten over his weird fear of our bedroom.  He sometimes sleeps on a pillow on the floor by my side of the bed.  I don't think he sleeps though, just hangs out.  He is really rowdy in the mornings, and at around 9 pm every night, all hell breaks loose.  He runs like a maniac from one room to another, and plays with his toys and us.  He's obsessed with my makeup brushes and I've found them all over the house.  I started locking them up...same with lip gloss tubes...loves them.

He seems to have switched allegiances, and is currently giving Larry the cold furry shoulder.  I think he'll come around though...he even seemed to a little last night, and curled up on Larry's legs when we were watching T.V.  I suspect it may have something to do with the hunk of roast chicken he gave him, but hey, whatever works.

He is a very mannerly cat, and doesn't use his claws at all.  He's only scratched me once, and that was because he got startled.  He does better with gentle, quiet corrections, rather than yelling. He really seems to listen well, and if we tell him to stop scratching the carpet, or furniture, he usually stops, blinks at us, and goes over to his scratching post.  He never begs for food (except that one tuna can incident), and waits patiently for a bite.

His latest kitty entertainment has been the black birds nesting in the tree outside our window. He spends hours watching them, growling, and making this weird, half meow, half gurgle noise in the back of his throat.  And his tail!  It goes a hundred miles an hour...very funny to watch. The birds totally mess with his too, and get right up on the ledge, puff up and peck at the windows....it's just driving him crazy!

He's a really funny guy, and we love having him here.   More soon....