Note to self:

When Fort Wayne is expecting ANY snow amount, brace yourself.  The Rapture is approaching.  No joke.  Forget about any meat, dairy, bread, or water at Kroger.  Batten down the hatches and prepare yourselves.  It is ridiculous.  Further, when there is some amount of snow/ice on the roads, that does NOT mean drive like a crazed maniac in your Escalade or drive like Grandma Moses going 3 miles an hour.  Drive cautiously and slow down.  It is really not a big deal.  I feel like I need to get on the news and reconfirm to everyone that we won't die, face extinction, or find ourselves engulfed in flames.  This isn't the Hunger Games.

Moreover, I am going to shoot my eye out if I go another day listening to anyone bitch about Obamacare.  Seriously.  Let's talk about the NFL, subzero temperatures, OR how pretty the snow is. 

Christmas hath come and gone and I am currently loving the sunshine and snow that the New Year brought us.  I decided to go on hiatus with the Clean by Carrie, considering my back and hamstrings could not take it anymore.  Trips the chiropractor and Dave listening to me complain was enough for me---while I am only half way through the pregnancy, common sense tells me cleaning WON'T get any easier.  I decided to go with my gut and hang it up for now.  I am currently looking for a receptionist job---I run around enough with Gertie, I suppose I should find something stationary for the time being. 

It has actually been really nice, staying home with Greta for the last few weeks.  We have a nice schedule that includes at least a two hour nap in the afternoon.  I can't complain. The neighbor kids have been home for the last week and Greta loves having them over.  It is even better not having anxiety about what the week has to offer, juggling cleanings and trying to keep up with house.  I suppose this is a good time to mention a resolution I have for myself:  stop biting off more than I can chew.  I am notorious for this.  I will and take things as they come.

Aside for the holidays, and me going on a job hiatus, Dave got a new car.  The ol' Honda was ready to cross her rainbow bridge and I gladly ushered her across.  He purchased a 2011 Hyundai Sonata and he loves it.  He has an hour long commute to work and he deserves to drive that is SAFE and comfortable.  My Subura is great for now, but come spring, she'll be replaced as well.  The Forester can't accommodate two car seats.  It is too small.  Again, great foresight on my behalf.

Not only did Dave get a new car, but the Detroit Lions CANNED Schwartz!  (Great transition, right?)  I am waiting with baited breath upon their coaching choice. Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden are out of the mix, which stinks, but there are great choices out there.   Just not Jim Caldwell.  The Lions need someone who can run the show and deal with Stafford's ego. 

 

Oh cleaning.  Last night, I cleaned the filthiest apartment.  With the light of one lightbulb.  Five hours later, and 7 dirty rags later, I think I did a good job.  Too bad I worried all night about the things that could only be seen in good light.  At what point do you replace the stove, floor, cabinets, and countertops?  I am going back today because I am totally freaked out that my mark wasn't excellent.  We shall see.....

Apparently Indiana is on some "snow alert."  Woke up this morning to find NO Snow.  We call that trickery in the Land of Carrie.  Not only was I upset, but Gertie was not happy too.  So unhappy, she wore regular play clothes to the babysitter. 

Further, I am a bit disappointed about the current display of Christmas lights NOT displayed in our neighborhood.  Very disappointed.  We should be seeing at least 4 alien landing pads per block.  Instead, we get two strands of blah lights, mismatched, and in no particular order or fashion.  C'mon people!  That is the best you've got?!?!

To hopefully change our luck, we will be heading to Franke Park on Sunday for a Christmas carriage ride through the parade of lights display.  Lots of baby Jesus' and lots of Ho-Hos.  It better be good.

 

Her Halloween get-up:  Lame princess dress, puppy backpack, and a Lions hat. 

 

Waiting for trick-or-treaters.  Her favorite part of the festivities.
 

OH MY, have I been busy.  With the holiday (hallerdays) season kicking off this weekend (we set up Greta's tree), cleaning, Dave working, and watching Beau for the last week, this has been a crazy few days.  Actually, few months.  The business, Clean by Carrie, has slowed down quite a bit.  I went from having 10 residential clients to just four. With folks changing jobs, marital status changes, and with Christmas shopping approaching, having your house cleaned is a total luxury.  Sadly,  I am the one taking a hit.  It actually has worked out pretty good because.........................I'm prego.  Yep, the baby apartment is occupied.  While we weren't "trying," (and I always HATE when people have said that/say that), I was a fool to think otherwise.  We literally didn't have to "try."  So, baby #dos is due June 8th, Gertie's bday.  It technically has a due date, but it will come before then, thanks to a little something called "scheduled C-section."  No labor for me, which is FINE.  I've been pretty tired and blah feeling.  I basically have no energy and our own house/homemaking duties that I usually take on have completely fallen to the wayside.  Seriously, I have a 10 hour window of energy and once that is gone, I'm in bed.  No later than 8.  Seriously.  Dave has been pulling up the slack by helping out a bit more, even though he is still working a ton.  I don't know how women with more than 1 kid do this.  So, I'm pregnant.  Good times. 

In the past few months, we've also finally settled the house/home inspector lawsuit-situation.  We went to mediation two weeks ago and settled.  We didn't get exactly what we wanted to repair all of the water damage/fix everything, but with 50% of what we asked for, it is better than what Dave thought we'd get.  I went into it knowing I was right and THEY were wrong, and I had to get my point across.  I was not about to let the home owners/home inspector/mobility company pull the wool over my eyes.  It was clearly evident that all three parties had zero integrity, in regard to the ability to maintain a decent house, and disclose any problems it might have.  This has been a huge learning experience for me.  In the future, I will definitely be a part of every tiny aspect of selling our house, finding a new house, then buying a house.  It is the largest investment of your life, so why wouldn't you take your time?  I find it interesting that real estate agents expect a buyer to go out in one day, find a house, make an offer, and be done with it in a week. Now I know that is definitely NOT how things should go down.  I've been inspired to do something in an effort to make sure this does not happen to someone else in the future.  I wish there were more resources to home buyers/home owners about the dangers of bad contractors and crappy real estate.  I'm also very much interested in a home owner's idea of maintaining a house.  With the lawsuit going on, I began to pay a lot more attention to our own neighborhood and just how outdated it really looks.  I have been to 2 open houses in the neighborhood in the last few months and I couldn't believe how dated the décor was, and the realtor's play it off as "updated."  Very.  Disturbing.  Not just interiors, but exteriors as well---landscaping, siding, windows, etc.  Yikes.  Thankfully, I think our neighborhood is at the beginning of a transition--older folks moving out, younger folks moving in.  Now if there was a way to ensure these newbies had some taste.  Hmmm.....

And I'm sitting here, with strep throat, feeling incredibly unproductive, however I feel like garbage. It has given me a chance to spend an hour on Pinterest, only to remind me of all of the projects I'd like to finish/start.  I have two chairs in the garage I'd like to reupholster, a ladder I'd like to paint to make into a hook/storage thing for the laundry room, a HUGE mess in the basement I'd like to do something with---the list goes on.  This day also pushes me back a day with cleanings, something I don't like doing before a weekend.  Thankfully, I have great clients who are very understanding.  I suppose this was one reason why I love being self employed:  making my own hours and picking my own clients.  A charmed career.

And to commence today's lack of activities, Biscuit decided to kick things off right, bringing up a prescriptive offering right to my door:  A dead rabbit's head.  Yep, a freshly decapitated adult rabbit.  Soft ears and all.  Thankfully, she licked all the blood off, so there were no carpet stains.  Now, I just wait for her to have horrible digestive issues.  GREAT.  It was like the Corleone house all up in here.

My Friday Night Lights obsession continues....I am ready to begin season 4.  I'd invite you to start watching, but with a SERIOUS warning:  You'll become addicted.

I blame my most recent lapse of blogging from newest obsession:  Friday Night Lights AND Southern culture, i.e., fashions, child rearing, and home-making.  Jennie first mentioned FNL a few months ago, and I quickly wrote off her compliments.  This past month, I DVR'd a few episodes, watched one, and instantly became hooked.  We are talking INTERVENTION style.  I finished Season 2 last night, thanks to my local library carrying the first 3 seasons.  I'm saving the 3rd season until this weekend.  I have 2 houses to clean tomorrow, and 1 on Friday.  Saturday is a bit nuts, so I'm saving myself for Sunday.  You know, the day of rest, or my day to obsess a bit more over FNL. 

Now, I'm ready to discuss Southern women.  My obsession started years ago when I first saw Steel Magnolias, a term given to an older Southern woman who has lived through stress and drama and maintained her grace, reputation and dignity.  I only dream to be called a SM when I am old.  I've been googling like crazy, trying to find some literature on the sociology of the South, but I've come to a bit of a road block.  I believe my best research will be done via Facebook, connecting with some of my friends from Arkansas.  I'm not sure what it is about the South, but I suppose it is the obvious differences about women that I have met that were born and raised there----their appearance, understanding of the home and family, their fashions.  Again, it is so interesting.  It is right up there with wealthy Persian families in the US and hoarding.

My Clean by Carrie business is going great!  I'm lucky to have several amazing clients that have passed my name on to friends, family and neighbors.  I have a new client cleaning on Friday and a jam packed week next week.  It has been a great way for me to make new friends as well.  I am truly blessed.

Next topic:  I am undertaking a drastic diet change in an effort to help get my skin cleared up.  I was diagnosed with Perioral Dermatitis a few months ago, and it has worsened.  I am not open to taking Accutane or oral antibiotics, which is truly the best treatment.  These aren't options for me currently, as I am seriously considering having another  baby.  I don't need any more 4 legged/tailed creatures in my house.  So, my diet is the obvious area of change.  I'm going gluten/dairy free for 8 weeks, hoping this might calm things down.  I've also heard of the Failsafe Diet as a possible option.  Who knows----I'm open to anything at this point.  I look like a 13 year old band dork.  Tim Riggins would not look twice at me.