The Rental Remodel - Part II

Our AC went out again. For the fourth time in less than three months. At about 8:00 in the evening.

I had the pleasure of packing of up my SHRIEKING child and heading to the nearest pet friendly hotel. At least this time I could leave the cats behind. 

Our home desperately needs a new AC unit. Because we live in North Texas and it is HOT. With a capital H. O. T. hot. But our landlord refuses to replace it because he pays for this home warranty thing. He wants them to replace it, but the AC repairmen have informed me that isn't going to happen. But hey, at least we're getting new carpet. Rolling my eyes.

I don't know if I can handle this again - packing up my baby and myself and my dog while it's 90 degrees inside the house and my son is screaming bloody murder. It's enough to make someone lose their ever lovin' mind.

And he hasn't even left yet. In fact, he gets home tomorrow from CAST. And all I want to do is collapse into his arms and tell him how hard these two weeks have been without him. Before we had a child I missed him but daily life was no big deal. Now that we have a baby, this is really hard. I'm fortunate to have a great support system here but sometimes it's not enough.
But of course I can't tell him any of that. Because the military wives' code is:

1. Paste a smile on your face and for God's sake do not let him see you cry about a deployment.
2. Deal with it and don't complain.

3. Lose a crap ton of weight before he gets home.

He's not even gone and I miss him already.

Oh Em Gee!!!

I was out watering my garden this morning and I found one of these in my zucchini.

AHHHHHHHHH!!!!

It was THIS BIG

And it attacked me!! Then it tried to bite my neck - a vampire spider! But I fought it off! 

Okay not really.

It was about this big

But still - gluugghhhh. I was completely squicked out (squeamish and icked out).
So now I have to go buy spider-proof chain mail to work in.
As if it's not already hot enough outside.

The Rental Remodel - Part I

Life is daily getting more ridiculous.

We originally signed a three year lease on our current home. That was about 21 months ago. Unfortunately, our landlord, who is also military, just got orders to Japan and has no desire to be a landlord while in a foreign country. Which is completely understandable. I guess.

Sgt Daddy and I put a lot of work into the house when we moved in, painting and updating, replacing light fixtures and all the outlets and switches. Landlord has been good about reimbursing us for the material costs but not super keen on doing upgrades he said he'd do - ie: the 1/4 remodeled kitchen that is exactly the same as it was when we moved in.

But now that he's considering selling the house (he's still telling us he hasn't completely decided to list it) he's started doing all the outstanding repairs. Like adjusting the doors so they close. And refinishing the tub. I have to take my newborn, my two cats, my dog, and our foster dog, and move out for 24 hours this Friday.

And then today I got a call from the carpet people. They have movers to help move the furniture - that should be super helpful, right? Except. They don't move the small stuff, so I have to pack up the books, knick-knacks, etc. Oh, and they won't move the boxes once they're packed because they can't see what's in them. Also I need to move the electronics. Oh, and the closets have to be cleared, but only to a four foot clearance. And also any furniture that won't fit through the doorways needs to be disassembled. 

Don't they know I have one of these?

And two of these?

 

And, oh yeah, one of these?

Sigh. This deployment hasn't even started and we're already having so much fun!

Fly Away Daddy

Sgt Daddy left on a TDY today. He sewed on Tech last Monday and got short notice deployment orders on Tuesday. This is the first time he's left since Sgt Baby arrived about 2 months ago. Sgt Daddy will be home in two weeks and then we have three more until he goes to the sandbox.

So I'm keeping myself busy with my garden 

And learning new skills

And keeping this little guy alive!

But before Sgt Daddy leaves, we get to go visit Babs and Pop in Wyoming!

It looks like this:

Gonna be an adventure! Flying with a baby, visiting a national park or too, being a single mom for six months. Ready, set, go!