The Holiday Aftermath Post

WHOA. So much. Okay.

The other day I posted pictures of our hallway in the beginning stages of being torn apart by the plumber. I was depressed because everyone told me that once he cut away the wood they'd have to replace it with some other flooring material, or as Alison put it, "maybe tile?" NO. No No NOOOO!! I realize I'm fully outing myself as a spoiled American (resident), but I can't help it. I winced as they sawed away at my beautiful blonde maple floors, and I unabashedly frowned when I walked into the kitchen over the patch of floor that was missing, especially when the plumbers had finished and covered their work site with the sides of discarded cardboard boxes.
Here's something, though. The building manager loves us, so he sent in a flooring guy right away, who took one look and said, "oh yeah, we can fix this. We'll install the wood tomorrow, and finish it first thing on Monday." So soon nobody will be able to tell that there was once a sad, wilted cardboard box there, and all that tearing asunder of garments on my part was for naught. Isn't that neat? Also, we get to take $100 off our rent for the inconvenience(s). Yes! Moneys!

Next topic: Alison and Elias left yesterday (she to work in Seattle, he to await his acceptance to the Peace Corps and the subsequent instructions), and while Kyle and I will no doubt miss their mind-boggling tendency to wake up at 8 every morning - even on weekends! - bright eyed and ready to discuss international politics or domestic environmental policy and practices, I'm glad that I now get a moment to myself to clean. Yes, I'm excited to go home and scrub the kitchen floors, and swiffer under the bed, and reorganize my vanity counter. I don't know why, but I prefer to clean in solitude, so I didn't do anything remotely domestic for the two weeks that our guests were here, and my sanity/the state of our respective closets is suffering. It's kind of gross.

I think the craziness of the last few days and the rain that's been pouring down since yesterday have teamed up to give me a cold. I've been taking Grapefruit Seed Extract to try and ward it off but I believe I have finally succumbed. Wah. I just talked to Kyle, and he seems to think that yet more GSE will help. O RLY???

I still don't know when I'm going to be in Houston. I keep suggesting dates, and then my mom keeps countering with "why don't you come this weekend and stay for three weeks?" I would love to kick back for a month on a whim, but I have a job and stuff. And rent to pay. I don't know, it's hard trying to tell her these things because she doesn't relate.
"Well, why don't you just quit?"
"Then I wouldn't be able to pay rent or eat when I get back."
"So stay here! You won't have to pay rent to us!"
And then we're right back where we started.
*Pulls hair out*

Yesterday I walked home from my bus stop in pouring rain, which was fun. *sarcasm* I arrived home dripping and shaking, so Kyle started up a hot shower for me and then tucked me in bed to watch 3 movies: 10 Things I Hate About You, Aliens 3 and Aliens: Resurrection. It was a nice night, full of teenaged witty banter and the horrific images of extraterrestrial mutant monster carnage. *contented sigh*

Anyway, I'm going to go wallow in my contagion now. Don't feel sorry for me. I don't need your pity (But just so you know, I'm pretty sure I'm going to die. Cholera, FYI). I don't need your charity! (Sniffle)