Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Squeaky Wheel Strikes Again

While I try not to be negative on the blog, many of you know how much I hate being here and cannot wait until we leave. I swear I try to look at the positives -- beaches, no snow, beautiful views right outside our bedroom -- but it occasionally catches up with me and I become rather unbearable. Or so Ibis says.

Yesterday he must have reached his limit because he went online, found me a flight home for $300 (including tax!), I called my parents to make sure they'll be in town, and I booked it! I told my parents I'd fly in August 27, but when I went to buy the tickets I realized it was the same price if I left a day earlier, and hey, why not? It was only when I told Ibis the dates that I realized the 26th is our wedding anniversary. Oops.

I'll be in Chicago through that first weekend, all over Michigan during the week, then I'll spend Labor Day weekend with my sister and her family at their cabin "up north." I've already been informed that I'll have to show them how to get three people into their four-person hammock -- something was apparently lost in the translation. I fly back September 9th.

Since I leave in three weeks and I have roughly 20 chapters to edit in After the Fall, my goal is to get through this draft before I leave. I'm feeling more motivated now that I have something to look forward to, so fingers crossed I'll get through it.

The only negative to my leaving (aside from missing my honey) is we'll only have had our new puppy for two weeks. Ibis is excited to have him all to himself but I, of course, am worried about him training the little guy all on his own. Ibis is not concerned. I believe his exact words were, "He's going to love me and he won't even know who you are." Which prompted a discussion about me bringing the puppy along with me. :)

21 comments:

WendyCinNYC said...

Enjoy your trip home. It sounds like a good opportunity for you to recharge. Tell Ibis you fully expect the puppy to be housebroken and leash trained upon your return. ;)

Nadine said...

I am so excited you get to go home!! Buffalo wings with ranch, yay!! And I agree with Wendy - tell Ibis to have the puppy trained by the time you get back!

erica m. chapman said...

Hmm. I think you're getting the good deal out of the puppy sitch. They sure are cute, but man o man are they a lot of work. I really feel for Ibis here... I'm sure the puppy will bond with him, but as soon as you get back, he/she will be all over you!! Enjoy your trip :)

JLC said...

Oh Yay! Glad you get to escape for a while!

LOL- about Ibis. He doesn't know what he is in for! That puppy will be waking him at 5am each morning for a potty walk.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Wendy, you mean they don't COME that way? Oh crap. :P

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Nadine, I'm so glad you mentioned those! A couple people that I'll be staying with have already asked if there's anything special I want to eat and I couldn't think of anything. Those go on the list!

I've also had an odd craving for potato skins lately, but I doubt I'll eat those.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Erica, I hope so. Ibis is excited about it. I think the harder part will be giving the puppy "alone time" in his crate so he gets used to being without us.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

JLC, I'm so excited too!

Ibis actually gets up on his own by 5 or 5:30, so I'm really lucking out here. He can take the early shift and I can take the late one, although I'm scared to go outside at night, so maybe he'll have to do that too...

Janna Leadbetter said...

Your trip's going to be so great! What foods are you most looking forward to eating while home? (Hint: Blog post idea.) ;)

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Honestly Janna, there's nothing that comes to mind. Of course there are things I won't turn down, but the things I miss are all weird things, and mostly stuff with strong flavors: kalamata olives, feta cheese, blueberries. :)

Lauren said...

I hope you have a great trip home. It looks like Chicago weather is finally starting to come around. I hope your trip is beautiful! :)

Penguin said...

I know two things that will tickle your tongue.....

I have mentioned one, something about potatoes, birds,......Ray's.

And of course Pizza.
Hey I can make sure you get copies of the pictures you gave me back in 98, the Red Wings party.

Amy Mullis said...

You need this trip! You'll be amazed at how eager you are to get back to your writing and how fresh things will look after this break. It'll be great for you, Ibis, AND the puppy! Have a safe, wonderful trip.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Lauren, I hope it's nicer than the last time I was home -- all my plans were rained out!

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Mmmm... Ray's. I just mentioned that place to my friend Ray. :P

I think I'll have time for lunch on Tuesday the 1st -- let's email.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Amy, I hope you're right. I got a burst of motivation on Monday, but today it's fizzled again. Poo.

La Familia Lopez Robinson said...

What a great husband for knowing that you needed to get home for a visit! When I was in Mexico for two years waiting for immigration, I ended up getting hives because I was so anxious about getting home. A doctor at a government hospital I went to about the hives told me it was all pyschological and I needed to get home. A doctor at a govn't hospital telling me that! I knew it was serious. LOL I hope you hear good news soon!

erica m. chapman said...

That's true, it is hard to leave the puppy alone in the crate! They are so cute!!

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Rooster, hives? Yikes? I do have several physical ailments, but nothing visible. I'm glad everything worked out for you. :)

Jan said...

I haven't been blogging that long, but I enjoy your blog and had no idea you didn't like being where you are. What a shame. Do you plan to stay in Mexico? It's awful when you are in a place you don't like....it's like wasting time. I love Mexico so much that I can't imagine someone not liking it. Maybe in the states you will miss Mexico?

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Jan, we use that phrase "wasting time" a lot. We're here waiting for my husband's papers to return to the US. We're past the time when they said we'd have an answer so that just aggravates everything.

We plan to go to Canada if he's denied and have talked about going there before we have an answer, but I don't want to spend the money to move until we know. So we wait...

Also, it's different living here than vacationing here, as is true in most any place.