Author: Michelle

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Admitting Defeat, or Plan B

So about 18 months ago,  I wrote about moving at least 1/2 of our worldly possessions into a POD container.

The idea was, if I do say so myself, BRILLIANT.

We moved everything we didn’t want around while our house was on the market into this container, and then, when we sold our house, we could have the container delivered to our new home.

Flashforward 18 MONTHS and untold dollars later (I know how many dollars we’ve spent on this container, but I don’t really want to admit it, so I’m omitting this fact):

We’ve yet to get one offer on this house of ours.

I miss my blender.

The kids have outgrown half the toys we’ve stored.

We’ve paid the value of the items in the unit, along with what movers would have cost and have nothing to show for it, except that we don’t have access to the stuff.

And we just got a notice in the mail stating that the rental fee is going up in September.

So here’s Plan B:

The unit has been delivered to our home, and we’re going to unpack it. (eek!)

We’re selling a bunch of it.

We’re keeping a bit of it (Christmas decorations, love seat, limited number of toys).

We’re donating the rest of it.

This means one of two things- either our house will remain on the market indefinitely, and we will be satisfied with our savings OR we’ll sell this sucker next week and then be faced with moving all this stuff AGAIN.

Sometimes, being a grown up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Go ahead– tell me some of your worst packing/moving/waiting to move/storage stories. It’s not like I have any moving to do myself!

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Around the Internet

This past week two fun things happened– I took part in a podcast with my friends Heather Sokol and Lorraine Ball, AND I got to read an advance copy of my friend Judy Miller’s new e-book, What to Expect from your Adopted Tween.

Wednesday, Heather and I invaded the world headquarters of Roundpeg, and had a good chat with Lorraine and Allison Carter about the world of the mom blogger. Joining us was Cami Back, of GetoutMom.com, and it was a great conversation regarding the changing face of motherhood and how the Internet can be a really useful tool for so many different reasons. Check it out at BlogTalk Radio.

My review of Judy’s book went up on the Open Adoption Examiner this weekend. If you are in any way involved in open adoption, or know someone who is, please read the review and get Judy’s book for yourself. All of those thoughts, fears and questions you’ve thought about yourself? She addresses them with grace, poise and a positive attitude. Adolesence is going to happen to your kid whether you like it or not, you may as well be prepared!

What else happened on the Internet this week?

My friend and cohort at Persephone, Selena, wrote a great piece on how not to talk to infertile people. She had to put a few dollars in the swear jar, but it’s a great post, with fantastic comments to continue the conversation.

Marcie wrote about not being the mom she wants to be– don’t we all feel that way sometimes?

Lori wrote on Gratitude, and it struck me. And it’s striking me now, as I attempt to link this up and the kids are playing “haircut guys.” Mam is combing my hair with a wooden comb she got with a Melissa & Doug vanity set for her birthday, and the Fox is blow drying my hair with an (empty) water shooter. Gratitude, indeed.

 

 

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Indiana State Fair: A Good Way to Wrap Up Summer {and a Giveaway}

Edited: This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to comment #19, by Nathan Miller- it was picked by random.org! Thanks to everyone who entered, it’s gotten me really excited to go to the Indiana State Fair! 

 

In addition to MaM turning six this week, we also finished the last week of our summer routine. She loved every minute of daycamp, and the Fox thoroughly enjoyed his “new school” (we are seriously so happy at his new Montessori school I will be gushing about this at another time). In exactly two weeks, she’ll be on the bus to first grade (gasp!) and Summer 2011 will be officially over.

There is one shred of summer to hold onto, and it’s something that I’ve grown to love about living in Indianapolis. It’s the Indiana State Fair. Much like racing, I once poo-poo’d it. I have to say though, I look forward to it every year. (I do NOT look forward to the historic train that runs every 45 minutes all hours of the day and night for the duration of the fair, but that’s another blog post)

We eat at the Dairy Bar.

We see all kinds of animals, including the world’s largest boar (who, in turn has the world’s largest, well, you know….).

We get a deep fried something.

We enjoy the little mini-farm they have each year for the kiddos.

We climb all over the farm equipment Reynolds has on display.

The kids ride ponies.

We walk all over the grounds, seeing what there is to see, and there’s always something to see.

I scanned my archives, and I can’t believe I’ve never done a post about the fun we have at the fair, because it’s always a great day when we go.

We’re going on Monday to see some behind the scenes things, with Indiana Family of Farmers. I’m excited for the kids to learn more about the agricultural parts of the fair, and hello, Indiana Beef, Indiana Pork and the Dairy Bar are feeding us. YUMMO. It’s the Year of the Soybean, and there’s supposed to be some taste testing involved as well. And seeing baby animals. And milking cows and what not.

{The Giveaway}
Want to win two tickets to the Indiana State Fair yourself?

There are two ways to enter, and you may do so each one time:

1) Simply enter below with the ONE THING you have to see/eat/do at the fair every year, or the ONE THING you’d like to check out if you’ve never been.

2) Tweet the following, “Raise your hand if you love @indystatefair! Enter to win tix from @familyoffarmers & @gotchababy http://wp.me/pVbJS-Dp” and leave a comment here to tell me that that you’ve done so. 

(Comment moderation will be on, but I promise I will approve them with lightening fast speed. Be sure to enter your email on the comment form.)

Comments will be open until Friday, August 5th at 9pm. I’ll pick a random winner that evening! (The winning tickets will be mailed, so my guess is that you should have them by 8/10 or so)

Disclosure: Thanks to Indiana Family of Farmers for providing my family with a fun day at the fair. This giveaway was optional, but I wanted to share the love and pass on some tickets! Check out their blog and Facebook page  for great State Fair info, memories, and promotions, and follow them on Twitter!